In Friday's Asia papers
29 August 2008 02:00 [Source: ICIS news]
ASAHI SHIMBUN, Japan
Front page
Japan set to back U.S.-India N-deal
Japan plans to give its approval to Washington's decision to provide civilian nuclear cooperation to India--even though that country possesses nuclear weapons but refuses to join the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), sources said.
Business & Industry
Nippon Oil to reduce wholesale prices of gas by 5.1 yen per liter
Nippon Oil Corp. said Wednesday it will reduce wholesale prices of its oil products--including gasoline--by 5.1 yen per liter starting Monday, the first cut by Japan's largest oil refiner since November 2006.
CHINA DAILY, China
Front page
SCO: Solve problems by dialogue
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) leaders Thursday agreed that attempts to solve a problem through use of force would never work, and instead it would hinder a comprehensive settlement.
Premier Wen lights Beijing Paralympic flame at Temple of Heaven
Chinese premier Wen Jiabao lit the Beijing Paralympic flame at the ancient Temple of Heaven in Beijing on Thursday, kicking off the torch relay across China before the 13th Paralympics opens on September 6.
Business & Industry
Chinese economy where to go post-Olympics
As the 2008 Beijing Olympics ended in a splendor of fireworks, concerns over a post-Games downturn for the Chinese economy re-emerged
TAIPEI TIMES, Taiwan
Front page
Ex-investigator indicted in Chen case
Yeh Sheng-mao, former head of the Ministry of Justice’s Investigation Bureau, was indicted yesterday for withholding information about former president Chen Shui-bian’s possible involvement in money laundering.
Ibrahim Anwar returns to parliament, leads walkout
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in to parliament yesterday, only to stage a walkout hours later in a dispute over a controversial bill on forced DNA sampling.
Business & Industry
China Steel raises prices 3.92%
China Steel Corp, the nation’s largest and only integrated steelmaker, yesterday announced it would raise domestic steel prices by an average of 3.92 percent for the fourth quarter, following a 17.8 percent increase in the third quarter and a rise of 19 percent in the second quarter, to reflect rising raw material costs and shipping fees.
Investment risks in China rising, association says
The investment environment in China deteriorated while investment risks increased for the first time this year, and nearly 10 percent of Taiwanese manufacturers in China expressed a willingness to return if the government would provide sufficient incentives, a report released yesterday said.
KOREA HERALD, South Korea
Front page
Support for small firms fine-tuned
The government will exclude about 2,000 companies from the category of small and medium- sized enterprises in an effort to more efficiently support smaller firms.
LCD technology leaked to China
Prosecutors have indicted two executives of a flat-panel display maker who allegedly passed key technology to a Chinese firm.
Business & Industry
Lee's financial reform bills face political test
President Lee Myung-bak's pledge to ease regulations on the financial sector and help its competitiveness will undergo its first major test in the National Asssembly.
Ban on cross shareholding to stay
Fair Trade Commission Chairman Baek Yong-ho said yesterday that the prohibition on cross shareholding among the affiliates of conglomerates would remain in place.
NEW STRAITS TIMES, Malaysia
Front page
Graft in Puspakom: Puspakom deploys more men but queues build up
Puspakom yesterday deployed additional officers nationwide to ensure smooth operations after 36 officers were arrested by the Anti-Corruption Agency for taking bribes.
Umno to study why voters turned their backs on BN
Umno will conduct an in-depth study on why the Permatang Pauh electorate voted against Barisan Nasional in the by-election.
Business & Industry
AirAsia Q2 net profit plummets
A forex loss of RM76.9 million and record high jet fuel prices hurt the budget airline, leading to a 95 per cent drop in net profit to RM9.4 million
'Amount owed to MAHB settled'
The airline can't provide the amount as it has a non-disclosure agreement, but it has settled the old debts, says its group chief executive officer
BUSINESS TIMES, Singapore
Front page
India FTA in the bag; Aussie, NZ talks wrapped up
After nearly six long years of back-and-forth negotiations and missed deadlines, Asean has finally come to an agreement over a deal for free trade in goods with India.
BCA taps China as costs go through the roof
With the cost of construction escalating to new highs, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has flown missions to China in the hope of attracting construction companies to set up business here.
Business & Industry
US banks, securities firms face massive refinance bill
Merrill Lynch, Wachovia Corp, Lehman Brothers and the rest of the US finance industry are about to find out how expensive credit has become.
US thrifts in record Q2 provisions for bad debt
The US savings and loan industry has set aside a record US$14 billion for bad debt provisions for the second quarter, amid predictions from its regulator that thrifts are only halfway through the credit crisis.
BANGKOK POST, Thailand
Front page
Shoving match
Protesters armed with clubs pushed and forced police off the grounds of Government House early on Friday morning as a senior PAD member threatened to make demonstrations "more aggressive".
PAD appeal denied
The Civil Court refused on Thursday to lift its order for protesters to leave Government House immediately - but said it could appeal the order later.
Business & Industry
B200m project to build shops under expressways
Dhanarak Asset Development plans to invest 200 million baht in a pilot project to develop property for commercial use under expressways in Bangkok
Political skirmishes damage fragile investor sentiment
Political uncertainties and social infighting represented a direct opportunity loss for the Thai economy, according to Pannee Stawarodom, the director-general of the Fiscal Policy Office.
JAKARTA POST, Indonesia
Front page
Party list ranking best for women candidates
The preference of some political parties to use the majority vote as the basis for the selection of legislative candidates will prejudice the chances of female legislative candidates to win seats in the 2009 elections, a women's activist warned here Wednesday
Food, drugs safety now high priority: Agency
The Drug and Food Monitoring Agency (BPOM) and the Attorney General's Office (AGO) have said violations against food and drugs safety standards are "high-priority cases" that demand special treatment.
Business & Industry
Govt eyes water transportation system
The government is inviting the private sector to assist it in developing an integrated system of river and railway-based transportation systems across the archipelago.
ICIS Copyright © Reed Business Information 2009
Author: Staff Reporter+44 20 8652 3214
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