In Thursday's Asia papers
20 November 2008 01:00 [Source: ICIS news]
ASAHI SHIMBUN, Japan
Front page
Security tight with killer at large
Fears spread among government officials Wednesday that a lone killer, possibly responsible for two brutal attacks at the homes of former vice welfare ministers, could be plotting more assaults.
Opposition to put key vote on hold
Three opposition parties will refuse to vote on an anti-terror refueling bill until the government submits a second supplementary budget during the current Diet session.
Business & Industry
No new updates
CHINA DAILY, China
Front page
Global car giants bet heavily on China
Global automakers may be hurting from a worldwide slump in sales but in China, they see a bright beacon of hope.
US treasury bonds 'still the best option'
China is likely to continue increasing holdings of US treasury bonds even after becoming the No 1 holder because it is the best way to deploy its $1.9 trillion foreign exchange reserves, economists say.
Business & Industry
No new updates
TAIPEI TIMES, Taiwan
Front page
Lawmakers look to pass voucher laws
The legislature may approve a Cabinet proposal to distribute consumer vouchers by Friday of next week at the earliest, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus said yesterday.
Ma’s approval rating cut in half since coming to power
President Ma Ying-jeou has seen his approval rating nearly halved since his May 20 inauguration because of public anger over the nation’s deteriorating economy, a newspaper poll published yesterday found.
Business & Industry
Lawmakers question voucher program
The government plans to begin issuing consumer vouchers on Jan. 18 or Jan. 19, Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD) Chairman Chen Tian-jy said yesterday.
Citibank Taiwan to shed some staffers: sources
Citibank Taiwan Ltd is likely to join its parent group and cut 15 percent of its local 5,000-member workforce in the coming quarters, sources said yesterday.
KOREA HERALD, South Korea
Front page
No new updates
Business & Industry
No new updates
NEW STRAITS TIMES, Malaysia
Front page
'Reject all forms of radicalism'
Instead of turning multiracial societies into a source of strength, Raja Muda of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah said, race, culture and religion had become the dominant discourse.
More states against proposed plan
Wanita Umno divisions in Perak, Negri Sembilan and Sabah have joined their counterparts in Penang in speaking up against Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz's leadership transition plan.
Business & Industry
Strong bookings to fuel AirAsia's revenue
AirAsia Bhd is poised for a record fourth-quarter revenue, driven by a blistering pace of bookings for its flights.
Cut resources diligently, firms told
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak reminded companies to be careful when cutting costs, especially in manpower, because skilled resources are important for their long-term competitiveness.
BUSINESS TIMES, Singapore
Front page
Take advantage of FTA with China, firms urged
SINGAPORE companies should not miss out on the many business opportunities that the recently signed China-Singapore free trade agreement has opened up, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said at Business China's first anniversary dinner last night.
JTC in second phase of floating storage study
SINGAPORE is pushing ahead to build more oil and petrochemical infrastructure - the latest being floating storage for oil traders - to prepare for the eventual economic rebound and shore up the oil refining and trading activity here.
Business & Industry
NOL to ship out 1,000 workers worldwide
Amid a worsening container shipping market, Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) announced a major retrenchment exercise that involves slashing 1,000 jobs or about 9 per cent of its worldwide workforce. NOL's US operations will bear the brunt of this axing, while its Singapore outfit, which employs around 800 staff, could see 50 positions go.
Small car COE premium falls to $2
The COE premium for a small car went into free-fall all the way down to just a dollar above the minimum bid in yesterday's exercise.
BANGKOK POST, Thailand
Front page
No new updates
Business & Industry
No new updates
JAKARTA POST, Indonesia
Front page
Rupiah still within ‘favorable range’
The rupiah’s recent heavy falls against the U.S. dollar do not pose a threat yet to the business community, with the fluctuations still within an acceptable range, businesspeople say.
Aburizal still politically powerful, experts say
Chief welfare minister Aburizal Bakrie is still widely perceived as politically and financially influential in the country, despite huge debts wreaking havoc on his business empire.
Business & Industry
No new updates
ICIS Copyright © Reed Business Information 2009
Author: Staff Reporter+44 20 8652 3214
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