In Wednesday's Asia papers

24 June 2009 02:00  [Source: ICIS news]

ASAHI SHIMBUN, Japan

Front page

Cabinet opens spending spigots
The Cabinet of Prime Minister Taro Aso on Tuesday approved basic policies for economic and fiscal reform for 2009 that effectively eliminate a key measure pushed by former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in his drive for structural change.

Green focus fuels rise in car-sharing
As concerns about global warming and gas prices affect attitudes to car ownership, more companies are beginning to explore the potential for business in car-sharing services.

Business & Industry

No new updates.

CHINA DAILY, China

Front page

Disputes at sea top defense talks agenda
Sea confrontations surfaced as the first thorny issue at the Sino-US Defense Consultative Talks that began Tuesday in Beijing.

Wildlife on menu spurs smuggling
A rising appetite for wildlife and its increasing use in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are fueling an increase in the illegal imports of endangered animals.

Business & Industry

Airbus delivers first China-assembled A320 jet
Airbus will deliver its the first China-assembled A320 jet on Tuesday in north China's port city of Tianjin where the manufacturer's only plant outside Europe is located.

Minsheng to be listed in HK within 2009
China Minsheng Banking Corp won the overwhelming approval vote by its shareholders Monday to revive an initial H-share sale and is likely to be listed in Hong Kong by the end of the year.

TAIPEI TIMES, Taiwan

Front page

Committee approves landmark mergers, upgrades
The nation's administrative map is expected to see a drastic change following the Ministry of Interior's announcement late last night that its 25-member review committee had reached a preliminary consensus to unanimously approve the upgrade of Taipei County to a municipal city and the mergers of Taichung City and County as well as Kaohsiung City and County.

TFD makes few board changes
The Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD) yesterday ended weeks of speculation over government interference in a major reshuffle by announcing that it was retaining most of its governing board.

Business & Industry

Exports dropped 20 percent last month
Orders for basic metal products registered the biggest drop, contracting US$850 million, or 33.13 percent, from the previous year. Telecoms came second

TRI forecasts 4.45 percent GDP contraction
The Taipei-based institute said GDP would drop 8.13 percent this quarter and 3.01 percent next quarter, while growing 4 percent in the fourth quarter

KOREA HERALD, South Korea

Front page

Obama to do everything against N.K. missile launch
The U.S. government will do everything to counter any further missile launches from North Korea to ensure the safety of Americans, the White House said Tuesday, according to Yonhap News.

Lee says Seoul is only gov't truly helping N.K.
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak urged North Korea Tuesday to halt its provocative military threats and to work with his country, saying South Korea is the only country in the world that is interested in truly helping the communist state, Yonhap News reported.

Business & Industry

'Battery rules within WTO bounds'
Korea's new safety rule on lithium-ion batteries is not against fair trade rules set by the World Trade Organization and it aims to protect customers from possible accidents, a top government official said yesterday.

Private 'bad bank' to launch in September
At least six commercial lenders in Korea will join forces to launch a bad bank in September, which would allow them to remove toxic assets from their balance sheets, industry officials said yesterday.

NEW STRAITS TIMES, Malaysia

Front page

Forest reserve to stay, says MB
The Sungai Menyala forest reserve in Pasir Panjang near here will be left undisturbed although the state government had received numerous proposals from the private sector to develop the area.

Pas leader, wife told to settle row
Perlis Pas Ulama chief Abdul Rashid Rahman, 59, and his wife, Siti Rosmala Mohamed, 37, have been advised to settle the issue of custody of their children.

Business & Industry

Crescent Point holding on to Masterskill
Private equity firm Crescent Point has denied report that it was looking to sell its stake in Masterskill for between US$200 million and US$250 million

Khazanah, Boustead in RM50m KidZania venture
A RM50 million educational theme park from Mexico, KidZania, will open by early 2012 at a new building in Mutiara Damansara in Selangor, just across from the Curve shopping mall.

BUSINESS TIMES, Singapore

Front page

S'pore: Shares rise 0.5%
Singapore stocks opened higher on Wednesday morning with the key Straits Times Index up 10.46 points, or 0.47 per cent, at 2,236.56 on volume of 66.1 million shares.

Japan: Nikkei edges higher, resource shares up
Japan's Nikkei average edged up 0.5 per cent on Wednesday, with Mitsubishi Corp and other resource shares higher after oil prices rose over 2 per cent the previous day.

Business & Industry

US judge rejects GM bondholder committee request
A US bankruptcy judge has denied a request from a small group of General Motors Corp (GM) bondholders to become an 'official committee' in the bankruptcy case.

SEC eyes stricter rules for money market funds
US securities regulators are considering steps to boost money market funds' liquidity and protect investors after last year's sudden losses in industry pioneer Reserve Primary Fund, two sources familiar with the agency's thinking said on Tuesday.

BANGKOK POST, Thailand

Front page

No way but up
When I recall my train rides, the first word that comes to mind is: Dirty COMMENTARY By Atiya Achakulwisut

PM steps into the South
Mr Abhsit is putting the Internal Security Operations Command over the administrative centre running security operations in the deep South.

Business & Industry

Dreamliner delayed again
The latest postponement in a program seen as a key to the aerospace giant's future.

Airbus delivers first China-made jet
Airbus delivered the first A320 aircraft made at its factory in China on Tuesday

JAKARTA POST, Indonesia

Front page

Intensified crackdown mutes protests in Iran
Overwhelmed by police and left with limited alternatives, Iranian demonstrators resorted Tuesday to more subtle ways of challenging the outcome of the presidential election: holding up posters, shouting from rooftops and turning on car headlights.

Argentina says 7 new swine flu deaths; total 17
Argentine officials say seven more people have died of swine flu and public hospitals will delay some surgeries to focus on respiratory illnesses during the South American winter.

Business & industry
No new updates.

By: Staff Reporter
+44 20 8652 3214

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