In Wednesday's Asia papers

ASAHI SHIMBUN, Japan

Front page

Gunmen grab Japanese in Afghanistan

A Japanese aid worker was abducted by gunmen in Afghanistan on Tuesday, and the Foreign Ministry was trying to confirm reports that he had been released.

Business & Industry

Toyota rivals stuck in neutral

Automakers remain cautious about raising passenger car prices after Toyota Motor Corp. announced Monday it was increasing the price of 10 vehicle models amid soaring raw materials costs.

CHINA DAILY, China

Front page

Hu: Peaceful development is our motto

China will follow the path of peaceful development and mutually beneficial strategy as it opens up further to the outside world, President Hu Jintao said Tuesday.

US-led air strikes killed 90 Afghan civilians - UN

The United Nations said Tuesday it had found convincing evidence that 90 Afghan civilians, most of them children, were killed in air strikes by US-led coalition forces in western Afghanistan last week.

Business & Industry

No new updates

TAIPEI TIMES, Taiwan

Front page

KMT bids to let Ma double as chairman

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) plans to allow the president to serve concurrently as party chairman and will revise its party regulations to modify the structure of its central standing committee.

Protesters storm Thai PM’s office and ministries

Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej accused protesters who stormed the seat of government yesterday of trying to provoke bloodshed and instigate a military coup

Business & Industry

Home buyers waiting, poll says

Inflationary pressures sent mixed messages to the housing market with some people seeing positive influences but others seeing the negative side

Graduates find job hunt difficult, 104 Job Bank poll says

Most companies said that they preferred to hire recent graduates as it is easier for them to develop the right attitude towards work

KOREA HERALD, South Korea

Front page

N. Korea halts nuclear reactor disablement

North Korea yesterday announced that it has suspended its nuclear facilities disablement process, in protest against the United States' delay in removing Pyongyang from its list of state sponsors of terrorism.

FTA with U.S. will be ratified in September, GNP whip says

Rival parties have agreed to ratify the Korea-U.S. free trade accord in the upcoming parliamentary session, the ruling Grand National Party's floor leader said yesterday.

Business & Industry

Won continues to slide amid strong dollar

The won further weakened yesterday as foreign investors' dumped local shares and the U.S. currency strengthened globally.

Hyundai Heavy Industries jumps into Daewoo acquisition race

Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. said yesterday that it will bid for its smaller cross-town rival, Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co.

NEW STRAITS TIMES, Malaysia

Front page

Anwar gets his day in the sun

He polled 31,195 votes compared with the 15,524 obtained by Barisan Nasional's Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah.

Anwar: Permatang Pauh folk want change

The by-election victory is a clear signal to the Barisan Nasional government that the people want change, said the new Permatang Pauh member of parliament Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Business & Industry

Proton optimistic of sustaining sales

NATIONAL carmaker Proton Holdings Bhd is confident it can sustain car sales this year despite tough market conditions.

Net profit up 47pc

Sime Darby, however, says that the next financial year will be very tough, and the net profit target will be revised given the sharp drop in palm oil prices

BUSINESS TIMES, Singapore

Front page

Japan's proposed consumer law could boost economy

JAPAN'S recently-appointed Consumer Affairs Minister, Seiko Noda, who has been tipped to become the nation's first woman prime minister at some point, yesterday forecast a consumer revolution in Japan as a result of new consumer protection laws that are due to be introduced soon. This could help kick-start the flagging Japanese economy, which some fear is headed for recession, she suggested.

Sharif pulls party out of coalition

Former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif pulled his party out of the ruling coalition yesterday, deepening a political crisis that has diverted government attention from pressing security and economic problems.

Business & Industry

Temasek warns of lean years as returns dwindle

Temasek Holdings has warned of a growing danger that global economic growth could stall as the fallout from the credit crisis spreads around the world, with possible stagflation posing a severe risk for years to come.

Asean must guard against raising trade barriers: PM Lee

South-east Asia must be careful not to resort to protectionist measures as the international trading system goes through a rough patch, warned Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday.

BANGKOK POST, Thailand

Front page

Situation will return to normalcy 'in 24 hrs'

Government spokesman Wichienchote Sukchotirat said Tuesday government officials will be able to go back to work on Wednesday.

Malaysia's Anwar wins by landslide in election 

Permatang Pauh, Malaysia (dpa) - Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on Tuesday won a landslide victory in a special by-election, marking his return to Parliament after 10 years.

Business & Industry

No new updates

JAKARTA POST, Indonesia

Front page

Journalist Metta wins Udin Award

The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) has awarded Metta Dharmasaputra of Tempo magazine the prestigious Udin Award for uncovering an alleged tax embezzlement by one of the country’s top palm oil producers, PT Asian Agri.

Business & Industry

No new updates

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