Asia Africa Intelligence Wire articles from August 2005

Asia Africa Intelligence Wire archives from August 2005

Draft: Action needed by all sides.
August 1, 2005... (From The Yomiuri Shimbun/Daily Yomiuri) Draft: Action needed by all sides Yomiuri BEIJING A draft six-party joint document on North Korea's nuclear program proposed by China calls for its abolition while listing...

Govt to press for part-return of U.S. Army depot.
August 1, 2005... (From The Yomiuri Shimbun/Daily Yomiuri) Govt to press for part-return of U.S. Army depot Yomiuri Japan will ask the United States to return part of the U.S. Army General Supply Depot in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture in return...

Agency chief 'sacked' over Okinawa stance.
August 1, 2005... (From The Yomiuri Shimbun/Daily Yomiuri) Agency chief 'sacked' over Okinawa stance Yomiuri In what has been viewed as tantamount to a dismissal, Shoei Yamanaka, director general of the Defense Facilities Administration Agency,...

U.S. beef ban hits tongue eateries.
August 1, 2005... (From The Yomiuri Shimbun/Daily Yomiuri) U.S. beef ban hits tongue eateries Yomiuri SENDAI The number of restaurants in Sendai serving beef tongue--gyutan in Japanese--has plunged by 60 percent from 1-1/2 years ago due to an...

Communists won't contest every seat.
August 1, 2005... (From The Yomiuri Shimbun/Daily Yomiuri) Communists won't contest every seat Yomiuri In an abrupt change of its long-standing practice, the Japanese Communist Party has decided not to field candidates in every single-seat...

Kanebo gave rebates for fake sales.
August 1, 2005... (From The Yomiuri Shimbun/Daily Yomiuri) Kanebo gave rebates for fake sales Yomiuri "Purchase 10 million yen worth of our products and I'll give you a rebate." A former executive of a cosmetics sales company affiliated with...

Japanese astronaut Wakata hails Noguchi's repair work.
August 1, 2005... (From The Yomiuri Shimbun/Daily Yomiuri) Japanese astronaut Wakata hails Noguchi's repair work Kyoko Takita Yomiuri Shimbun Correspondent Yomiuri JOHNSON SPACE CENTERC Houston Koichi Wakata, an astronaut who successfully...

Ex-NHK newscaster quits foreign ministry media post.
August 1, 2005... (From The Yomiuri Shimbun/Daily Yomiuri) Ex-NHK newscaster quits foreign ministry media post Yomiuri Foreign Ministry Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima, who has acted as the Japanese spokesman for many international events,...

EDITORIAL / Give ill-gotten gains back to crime victims.
August 1, 2005... (From The Yomiuri Shimbun/Daily Yomiuri) EDITORIAL / Give ill-gotten gains back to crime victims Yomiuri Crimes committed by underworld organizations, including gangsters, loan sharks and telephone swindlers, are rampant. ...

BUSINESS FRONT LINE / Cobbler treads carefully in battling.
August 1, 2005... (From The Yomiuri Shimbun/Daily Yomiuri) BUSINESS FRONT LINE / Cobbler treads carefully in battling imports Yoko Mizui / Daily Yomiuri Staff Writer Yomiuri Formed in 1872, Otsuka Shoe Co. has outlasted two world wars and...

BRAND NAMES / Jill Stuart comes of age.
August 1, 2005... (From The Yomiuri Shimbun/Daily Yomiuri) BRAND NAMES / Jill Stuart comes of age Yomiuri Departing from the frilly and embroidered designs that were in vogue among the upper class in the early 20th century, Jill Stuart's range of...

House brands seen as retailers' savior.
August 1, 2005... (From The Yomiuri Shimbun/Daily Yomiuri) House brands seen as retailers' savior Yomiuri Major supermarket and discount retail chains are rapidly developing products of their own brands to improve their corporate images and...

Fate of postal privatization bills up in air.
August 1, 2005... (From The Yomiuri Shimbun/Daily Yomiuri) Fate of postal privatization bills up in air Yomiuri The fate of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's bills to privatize Japan Post remains unclear with the Liberal Democratic Party...

Integrated strategy key to Afghan development.
August 1, 2005... (From The Yomiuri Shimbun/Daily Yomiuri) Integrated strategy key to Afghan development Haron Amin Special to The Daily Yomiuri Yomiuri Afghanistan has reached a critical turning point. Since the Bonn Accord of late 2001 and...

NPT regime in crisis after failed N.Y. confab.
August 1, 2005... (From The Yomiuri Shimbun/Daily Yomiuri) NPT regime in crisis after failed N.Y. confab Ramesh Thakur Special to The Daily Yomiuri Yomiuri The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty is the centerpiece of the global nonproliferation...

Hall restricts dancing due to floor damage.
August 1, 2005... (From The Yomiuri Shimbun/Daily Yomiuri) Hall restricts dancing due to floor damage Yomiuri OSAKA The decision by the Central Public Hall in Kita Ward, Osaka, to close a room to dancing on certain days to protect the floor...

Dogged pursuits / ARK looks to curb increase of stray cani.
August 1, 2005... (From The Yomiuri Shimbun/Daily Yomiuri) Dogged pursuits / ARK looks to curb increase of stray canines Hiroyuki Ueba / Daily Yomiuri Staff Writer Yomiuri OSAKA In mid-May, 16 of 36 dogs fed by a homeless man near Osaka...

Island's spirit is a rum specialty.
August 1, 2005... (From The Yomiuri Shimbun/Daily Yomiuri) Island's spirit is a rum specialty Yomiuri A venture liquor company run by Okinawa Electric Power Co. has started marketing its first product, a rum made from sugarcane grown on...

Tug-of-war over North Korean N-programs.
August 1, 2005... (From The Yomiuri Shimbun/Daily Yomiuri) Tug-of-war over North Korean N-programs Hidetoshi Ikebe and Tetsuya Suetsugu Yomiuri Shimbun Correspondents Yomiuri BEIJING The focal point of the six-party talks in Beijing on...

House renovation feted with dance.
August 1, 2005... (From The Yomiuri Shimbun/Daily Yomiuri) House renovation feted with dance Yomiuri A spiritual dance and music ceremony was held last last month to mark the completion of renovation work on a 170-year-old residence on Okinoshima...

A-bomb survivor's tale republished.
August 1, 2005... (From The Yomiuri Shimbun/Daily Yomiuri) A-bomb survivor's tale republished Yomiuri A book describing the tragedy caused by the atomic bombing of Nagasaki at the end of World War II has been republished by a peace activist to...

Dragons extend streak to 11.
August 1, 2005... (From The Yomiuri Shimbun/Daily Yomiuri) Dragons extend streak to 11 By Jim Allen/Daily Yomiuri Sportswriter Yomiuri Shigeki Noguchi turned back the clock at Tokyo Dome on Sunday. The veteran southpaw pushed the Chunichi...

Kobe offering free pass to lure students to city.
August 1, 2005... (From The Yomiuri Shimbun/Daily Yomiuri) Kobe offering free pass to lure students to city Yomiuri KOBE In advance of the February opening of Kobe Airport, a local government has launched a campaign to attract student...

English Web site eyed to explain social security to foreig.
August 1, 2005... (From The Yomiuri Shimbun/Daily Yomiuri) English Web site eyed to explain social security to foreigners Yomiuri The Social Insurance Agency will open an English-language Web site in September to provide information on the social...

Japan downed.
August 1, 2005... (From The Yomiuri Shimbun/Daily Yomiuri) Japan downed Michael Church Special to The Daily Yomiuri Yomiuri DAEJEONC South Korea Japan may have qualified for the World Cup and impressed at the Confederations Cup, but its'...

Abu Sayyaf blamed for bombings.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) KORONADAL CITY-Police have blamed the Abu Sayyaf group for the bombings here and in Cotabato City on Saturday. The first blast occurred around 11 a.m. inside the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao...

Cavite gov charged for 'ghost' purchase.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) IMUS, Cavite-Cavite Vice Gov. Johnvic Remulla on Friday filed graft and corruption charges against Gov. Erineo 'Ayong' Maliksi before the Ombudsman for the alleged 'ghost purchase' of P7.5-million worth of...

Dream turns into baby nightmare.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Recah Trinidad HE'S supposed to fascinate. He nearly succeeded in putting the whole stadium to sleep. He's fancied to knock out his foe cold. He sent frustrated fans leaving and...

Children have no future under GMA, say militants.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Alcuin Papa THE FUTURE of millions of Filipino children under President Macapagal-Arroyo's Bright Child campaign may not be so bright after all, according to militant student groups. Anak...

Comelec starts probe, but where's Garci?
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Leila B. Salaverria THE COMMISSION on Elections announced yesterday it had started its investigation into the "Hello Garci" tapes-more than a month after calling for it-by sending out letters to...

BAP neglected its duty to develop RP caging.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Manolo R. Iigo THE WELL-LOVED sport of basketball is dying in this country mainly because the Basketball Association of the Philippines has continuously failed to develop it effectively. Gone...

The Ramos factor.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Luis V. Teodoro DESPITE her basement-level approval and trust ratings-and calls for her resignation from the opposition, business groups, academe, erstwhile members of her Cabinet, former...

Councils to regulate water use, ensure supply.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) CLARK SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE-Local officials in Central Luzon on Saturday agreed to establish water councils to coordinate actions to stop an "impending serious water shortage" in the region in 2025. ...

Cruz may drop Dy as 'jueteng' witness.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Christian V. Esguerra and TJ Burgonio HAS FAUSTINO Dy Jr. become too hot to handle? The question arose yesterday after Archbishop Oscar Cruz said he was no longer keen on taking the former...

Diarrhea alert in Mandaluyong.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Edson C. Tandoc Jr. HUNDREDS of Mandaluyong City residents have complained of stomach pain and diarrhea, alarming and puzzling local officials. In Barangay Harapin ang Bukas, Victoria...

Relief for GMA may be short-lived.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Amando Doronila THE STATE of the Nation Address of President Macapagal-Arroyo has, for the time being, pulled her from the brink of the gravest crisis of her five-year presidency and allowed her...

Digital invades cable.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Bayani San Diego Jr. QUICK on the heels of the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, ABS-CBN's Filipino movie channel held the Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival July 29 to 31 at SM...

First Gentleman returns for sister's burial.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Nikko Dizon and Christine O. Avendao THERE was not even the smallest wave or the faintest hint of a smile when he came home from "voluntary exile" yesterday. All he wanted, his lawyer said, was...

Holy Cross, RMC prevail.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) DAVAO CITY-Magnolia Nutri-Oil-Rizal Memorial College shut down Purefoods Chicken Chunks-University of Mindanao's ace player on the way to a vengeful 61-55 win and the crown in the 1st San Miguel Corp.-Sen....

Local motion.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) THE TWO-MONTH-OLD political crisis has driven home an almost-new, altogether vital lesson: The country's political map has been truly redrawn. We mean this quite literally. Last Friday, we ran a "political...

Gonzalez just won't shut up, hits UP this time.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Nestor P. Burgos Jr. ILOILO CITY-After his controversial attacks on critics of President Macapagal-Arroyo, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez has turned his attention to the University of the...

Illegal logging case vs UPLB head endorsed.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) LOS BAYENOS, Laguna-The Office of the Environment Ombudsman has recommended the filing of criminal and administrative charges against University of the Philippines at Los Baos Chancellor Dr. Wilfredo David...

Let's get it over with.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Fr. Joaquin G. Bernas, S.J. THE JOKE has been going around that Speaker Jose de Venecia landed in St. Luke's Hospital with bleeding hands from too much vigorous clapping during the last Sona of...

Joker blames minority for delay in GMA impeachment.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Michael Lim Ubac THE "INDOLENCE" of the minority in the Lower House has delayed impeachment proceedings, according to Sen. Joker Arroyo. "You have to argue from a position of strength. If...

Peoples' lawyers.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Carlos Isagani T. Zarate AS a young and new lawyer in 1958, Fred Gapuz of Cagayan de Oro City was thrust into the whirlpool of the protest movement against the Parity Rights and the presence of...

Shangri-La robbers caught on camera.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) THEY are not the usual suspects. The Makati Police Department (MPD) reached that conclusion after investigators saw pictures of two robbers who recently struck inside the Shangri-La Hotel. They are new...

MMDA footbridges lightning hazards?
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) THE MANILA Electric Co. (Meralco) has a suggestion to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA): ground your footbridges. Rustico de Borja, Meralco assistant vice president and distribution...

Truck runs over mother rushing to son hit by bus.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) WHEN Maria Rosario Malatag saw her eight-year-old son get hit by a bus, she ran to him without thought of her own safety. She thus never saw the oncoming truck that delivered to her the same fate that...

NBI agents monitor NCAA venues; Banal debuts for San Beda.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) THE PHILIPPINE Christian U Dolphins try to get back on track against the hopeful San Beda Lions today in a game that will be played against a rather intriguing backdrop-that of NBI agents posted in and out...

NDF execs may lose immunity, says Confessor.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Christine O. Avendao IT WAS the turn of government chief negotiator Nieves Confessor to warn officials of the communist National Democratic Front that they "stand to lose so much," including...

Open poll returns to find out who cheated whom.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Neal H. Cruz BELIEVE it or not, amid growing demands by the people for President Macapagal-Arroyo to resign for cheating in the last elections, she has now turned the tables on her accusers by...

New champs head Davao bets in Milo 42-K finals.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) DAVAO CITY-Runners from University of Mindanao shone with Angelito Sibayan and Jho-An Banayag of Maragusan, Compostela Valley, emerging as Davao regional elimination champions of the 29th National Milo...

Palace sets Cha-cha blitz.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) THE PALACE yesterday said President Macapagal-Arroyo would bring the Charter change debate to the people since lawmakers, particularly senators, are reluctant to take this up in their chamber. To show that...

Capulong in impeachment team.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) A FORMER judge ad litem in the International Court of Justice has joined the prosecution team of opposition lawmakers who will pin down President Macapagal-Arroyo for her alleged human rights abuses. Veteran...

Bear Stearns report boosts GMA morale.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Christine O. Avendao and Michael Lim Ubac FOR EMBATTLED President Macapagal-Arroyo and her allies, the good news came when they were most needed. After she was named by Forbes magazine as...

Paraaque five halts skid, raps Warriors.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) BUENAVISTA, Guimaras-The Paraaque Jets bounced back from three straight losses Saturday by crushing the Iloilo Warriors, 81-73, at the Spring Joy gym here. Veteran Rolly Basilides scored all of the...

PDI story on education wins award.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) AN INQUIRER article about a school in Bohol where homework means helping one's parents and school work is something one does in school won the Outstanding Story for Print in the 2005 Lasallian Scholarum...

Police tighten security in Metro following Mindanao blasts.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Edson C. Tandoc Jr. THE National Capital Region Police Office has intensified security measures in Metro Manila, particularly around shopping malls and other key areas, following the explosions...

First order of business.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Manuel L. Quezon III THE PRESIDENT'S decision to submit to her party's desire for Charter change ignores one central question: Should the President preside over the undertaking and related...

I refuse.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Conrado de Quiros OVER THE PAST couple of weeks, I've heard a lament from several groups of people, representative of the eight out of 10 Filipinos who want GMA out of Malacaang. The tack of...

Rosales says wrong values at heart of RP problem.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Christian V. Esguerra MANILA Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales says he is no great fan of President Macapagal-Arroyo but he doesn't think getting rid of her now is going to do the country any good....

Raquel scores, this time on Wild Orchid.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Edwin Villanueva, Contributor JULY has proved to be a very good month for star jockey Fernando "Dhunoy" Raquel Jr. Raquel came up with a tactical ride aboard Wild Orchid and powered the...

GMA situation likened to Marcos' twilight years.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Volt Contreras and Norman Bordadora PRESIDENT Macapagal-Arroyo is pressing familiar panic buttons and using similar survival tactics devised by Ferdinand Marcos to muffle critics, project...

Sperm whale rescued in Bohol.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Jhunnex Napallacan CEBU CITY-A wounded sperm whale, believed to be a victim of illegal fishing, was rescued on Friday in the waters off Puntod Islet in Panglao town in Bohol. Panglao Mayor...

RP-San Miguel bows to Yanks, winds up 4th.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Musong R. Castillo TAIPEI-The RP-San Miguel squad plodded on despite being down by 21 points, pushing the United States to the limit before falling, 99-96, to finish fourth in the 27th Jones Cup...

Submit 2006 budget to Congress early, Villar urges Malacaang.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) ADMINISTRATION Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. yesterday pressed Malacaang to submit the 2006 budget early for congressional approval if only to show to the world that it was running the country's affairs smoothly...

Tams thunder past Archers; Tigers escape.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Jasmine W. Payo THE FAR Eastern U Tamaraws simply kept their remarkable season going. Clicking on all cylinders all the way, the Tamaraws subdued the defending champion La Salle Archers,...

Cinemalaya 2006 coming up.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Nestor U. Torre FIRST, the good news: last month's Cinemalaya's Independent Film Festival was so successful that the next one will be held not two years from now, as originally planned, but in...

BIR may ease program for tax delinquents.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Michelle V. Remo THE BUREAU of Internal Revenue plans to further ease the requirements of its compromise program for tax delinquents after the agency failed to attract a significant number of...

BIR exec favors lifting of ban on sale of TCCs.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Michelle V. Remo BIR Officer-in-Charge Jose Mario Buag said he would consider lifting the rule barring certain firms to sell their tax credit certificates as he questioned the prudence of...

Bulacan to bid out water projects worth P4.5B.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Ronnel W. Domingo THE PROVINCIAL government of Bulacan is bidding out two bulk water projects worth at least P4.5 billion to meet the growing demand in the province and in Metro Manila. ...

Drive vs tax evaders starts to weaken.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Daxim L. Lucas and Michelle V. Remo (First of three parts) NO ONE has ever gone to jail for evading taxes in the Philippines. In fact, only one person has been convicted of tax evasion...

Paper trail.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Raul Palabrica LIKE taxes, there is no escaping by private companies of their duty to submit periodic reports on their operations to the Securities and Exchange Commission and whatever agency...

Crime dropped when streets were lit.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Tina Arceo-Dumlao BARANGAY 22C Piapi along Quezon Boulevard in Davao City had one of the highest crime rates in 1996. Crime lurked on every corner of its dark streets, with about three...

DA to impose stricter rules for meat importers.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Christine A. Gaylican THE DEPARTMENT of Agriculture will soon impose stricter guidelines in issuing permits to meat importers in an effort to curb the abuses of unscrupulous traders,...

DMCI eyes P8B worth of projects.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Elizabeth L. Sanchez DMCI Holdings Inc. is bidding for P8 billion worth of construction projects this year. The projects are the P6-billion St. Luke's Medical Center in Fort Bonifacio, the...

Farmers as active market players.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Tonette Orejas CLARK SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE-Direct selling, as a concept, has come of age to farmers, fishermen and poultry and livestock raisers in Candaba, Pampanga, who are blessed by the...

Gateway to north bids to become industry hub.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Trina A. Lagura HIS vision to make Valenzuela an industry hub of the country might be too ambitious, but Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian believes the city is fated to become one in 10 years. A...

Globe sees lower H2 revenue.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Clarissa S. Batino GLOBE Telecom Inc. is worried that its second semester revenue may be weaker due to a shrinking consumer wallet as well as continuing pressure from competition, according to...

GMA 7 revives IPO plan.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Clarissa S. Batino GMA NETWORK Inc. has revived plans to sell 25 to 30 percent of its shares to the public by early next year, with its major shareholders convinced they had found a way to iron...

Lower energy demand prompts DOE to reconsider power shortage forecast.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Abigail L. Ho WITH ELECTRICITY demand seen to be slowing down, particularly in the residential sector, the Department of Energy may push back its power shortage forecast in the Luzon grid to...

For lasting change, change your 'shoulds' to 'musts'.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Franco G. del Rosario THE THEME of this year's Annual MAP CEO Conference is "Change Or Perish: The Choice Is Yours!" For those who missed my last article in this column, I wrote about the...

Market awaits high court decision.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) SHARE prices are expected to track the high tribunal's next move on whether or not it would lift a temporary restraining order on the implementation of the expanded value-added tax law, a key reform to plug...

Metrobank unit offers to raise funds for Ayala subsidiaries.
August 1, 2005... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Elizabeth L. Sanchez FIRST Metro Investment Corp. (FMIC), the investment banking arm of the Metrobank Group, is proposing to raise P5 billion in fresh funds for the Ayala Group, FMIC president...