Asia Africa Intelligence Wire articles from December 2004, page 9

Asia Africa Intelligence Wire archives from December 2004

PHILIPPINE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - DEC 31, 2004.
December 31, 2004... (From Asia Pulse) MANILA, Dec 31 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: MANILA TIMES: - The Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) said on Thursday that it has gained the consent of creditors World...

PACIFIC ASIA TRAVEL ASSN LAUNCHES TSUNAMI RECOVERY FUND.
December 31, 2004... (From Asia Pulse) (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) BANGKOK, Dec 31 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ - The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has announced the launch of its Tsunami Recovery Fund. PATA is inviting...

PROFILE - CHINA'S NON-FERROUS METALS INDUSTRY (DEC 2004).
December 31, 2004... (From Asia Pulse) ************************************************* A PROFILE OF CHINA'S NON-FERROUS METALS INDUSTRY PREPARED BY ASIA PULSE ANALYSTS (UPDATED DEC 2004) ************************************************* ...

BRIGHT HOPE INT'L, FOOTWEAR EXECUTIVE TO PROVIDE TSUNAMI RELIEF.
December 31, 2004... (From Asia Pulse) (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) CHICAGO, Dec 31 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ - Chicago-based relief organization, Bright Hope International, is partnering with footwear executive Wayne Elsey, of Old...

AUSTRALIA'S ALUMINA ACQUIRES BRAZILIAN DEPOSIT STAKE.
December 31, 2004... (From Asia Pulse) SYDNEY, Dec 31 Asia Pulse - Aluminium miner Alumina Ltd (ASX:AWC) said today that it had acquired a 40 per cent stake in the Alcoa subsidiaries' holding IN the Juruti bauxite deposit in Brazil. Alumina has paid...

NORTHWEST AIRLINES, AMERICARES ANNOUNCE RELIEF EFFORT FOR S.ASIA.
December 31, 2004... (From Asia Pulse) (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) EAGAN, Minn., and STAMFORD, Conn., Dec. 31 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ - Continuing a long-standing partnership, Northwest Airlines and AmeriCares are teaming up to...

KOTRA TO PROVIDE LOGISTICS SERVICES FOR SMALL COMPANIES.
December 31, 2004... (From Asia Pulse) SEOUL, Dec 31 Asia Pulse - The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) said Friday it will start to provide logistics services for small and medium-sized companies in the United States and Canada on Jan. 1. ...

ASSESSMENT OF SITUATION IN MALDIVES AFTER TSUNAMI DISASTER.
December 31, 2004... (From Asia Pulse) (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) MALE, Maldives, Dec 31 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ - An Assessment of the situation in the Maldives after the tsunami disaster beginning 26 Dec 2004: 6 resorts...

OGDCL, MARI GAS AWARDED OIL EXPLORATION LICENCES IN PAKISTAN.
December 31, 2004... (From Asia Pulse) ISLAMABAD, Dec 31 Asia Pulse - The government Wednesday granted four petroleum exploration licences. Two were given for block Nos 2968-3 (Kohlu) and 2969-7 (Kalchas) and two for zones in the Bagh and Shahana areas...

S.KOREA-JAPAN FERRY PASSENGER TRAFFIC SET TO TOP 1 MLN THIS YR.
December 31, 2004... (From Asia Pulse) BUSAN, Dec 31 Asia Pulse - The number of passengers who used ferries to travel between South Korea and Japan is expected to top 1 million this year, officials said Friday. According to the Busan Port Authority, a...

THAI NEWSPAPER HIGLIGHTS - DEC 31, 2004.
December 31, 2004... (From Asia Pulse) BANGKOK, Dec 31 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: BANGKOK POST: - Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday put Smith Thamsaroj, a former Meteorological Department chief, in charge of establishing...

CORRECTION - THAI NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - DEC 31, 2004.
December 31, 2004... (From Asia Pulse) (Corrects spelling in headline) BANGKOK, Dec 31 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: BANGKOK POST: - Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday put Smith Thamsaroj, a former Meteorological...

FOREX - US DOLLAR OPENS LOWER VS WON - DEC 31, 2004.
December 31, 2004... (From Asia Pulse) SEOUL, Dec 31 Asia Pulse - The U.S. dollar opened 3.30 won lower at 1,038.50 won Friday and was changing hands at 1,036.30 won as of 10:00 a.m. The U.S. dollar has fallen more than 12 per cent against the Korean...

RATE POLICY TO FOCUS ON BOOSTING GROWTH IN 2005: BOK CHIEF.
December 31, 2004... (From Asia Pulse) SEOUL, Dec 31 Asia Pulse - South Korea's central bank chief said Friday that the bank's monetary policy in 2005 will focus on bolstering economic growth and job creation. Bank of Korea Gov. Park Seung also said in...

HONG KONG NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - DEC 31, 2004.
December 31, 2004... (From Asia Pulse) HONG KONG, Dec 31 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: THE STANDARD: - China Petroleum & Chemical Corp (Sinopec) offered to buy the 30 per cent of its affiliate Sinopec Beijing Yanhua Petrochemical it...

STOCKS - AUSTRALIAN SHARES SOFTER AT NOON - DEC 31, 2004.
December 31, 2004... (From Asia Pulse) SYDNEY, Dec 31 Asia Pulse - The Australian share market remained weaker at noon, after US markets closed lower overnight in light holiday trade. But local traders say the mood remained upbeat after key indexes hit...

ANOTHER YEAR PASSES WITH NO ANSWER TO KIRSTY BENTLEY MYSTERY.
December 31, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) Ashburton, Dec 31 - She was a much-loved friend, daughter and sister. She was the girl next-door. But that all changed when on the afternoon of December 31, 1998, the Ashburton teenager went for a...

MOBILE PHONES OUTSPACE LANDLINES IN 2004.
December 31, 2004... (From Asia Pulse) NEW DELHI, Dec 30 Asia Pulse - The year 2004 was a turning point in India's telecom history when the use of mobile phones surpassed the use of fixed line phones, but the sector witnessed legal battles over grey traffic....

TIMARU MONDAY DRIVERS 0930.
December 31, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) Club name: Timaru H.R.C. Venue: Phar Lap Raceway in Timaru Date of meeting: Monday, January 3. Jetbet number: 7; TV. Doubles: 4 and 5; 6 and 7; 9 and 10. Trebles: 2, 3 and 4; 5,...

AUCKLAND FRIDAY DRIVERS 0930.
December 31, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) Club name: Auckland Trotting Club Inc Venue: Alexandra Park in Auckland Date of meeting: Friday, December 31. Classification: Premier. Jetbet number: 5; TV. Doubles: 3 and 4; 6...

NZ DR GOING TO HELP TSUNAMI VICTIMS IN INDONESIA.
December 31, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) Gisborne, Dec 31 - Dave Jenkins is cutting short a holiday in Gisborne to give aid and medical treatment to some of those left homeless and diseased in Indonesia since the killer tsunami. Dr...

MAN MISSING AFTER FALLING FROM CLIFF ON GREAT BARRIER ISLAND.
December 31, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) Auckland, Dec 31 - A man is missing on Great Barrier Island in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf after falling over a cliff and into the sea. Police said two men were walking over clifftops when one fell...

HOLMES ESCAPES BIPLANE CRASH UNHURT.
December 31, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) Hastings, Dec 31 - Broadcaster Paul Holmes was understood to have escaped uninjured when his vintage Boeing Stearman biplane flipped on landing near Hastings today. The crash happened next to the...

COST OF CALLS TO TSUNAMI AREAS TO BE CREDITED.
December 31, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) Wellington, Dec 31 - Telecom will credit its customers for the cost of phonecalls made to tsunami-affected regions in Asia. The credit applies to direct dial calls made from home phones to...

ANGLICAN BISHOP CALLS FOR PRAYERS AND DONATIONS.
December 31, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) Wellington, Dec 31 - Wellington's Anglican Bishop, the Rt Reverend Dr Thomas Brown has called for prayers and donations from all Anglicans to help tsunami victims. Bishop Brown said although the...

MERIDIAN TO STUDY DAM ACCCIDENT.
December 31, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) Oamaru, Dec 31 - Meridian Energy and Environment Canterbury are investigating a jet boat's plunge over the Waitaki Dam on Wednesday. Meridian owns and operates the historic hydro dam, the lowest...

CLARK TO CUT HOLIDAY SHORT.
December 31, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) Wellington, Dec 31 NZPA - Prime Minister Helen Clark will cut short an overseas holiday and return home early next week following the devastation from South Asia's tsunami. ``In these...

WOODWARD SAYS LIONS THE ``LAST GREAT PEAK'' OF RUGBY.
December 31, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) Wellington, Dec 31 - The British and Lions' tour of New Zealand next year matches the rugby World Cup in scale and importance says coach Sir Clive Woodward. Less than five months before the Lions...

SOLWAY MONDAY GREYHOUNDS 1300.
December 31, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) 1 82265 Rebecca's Pal nwd Kettlewell 2 73374 Camcaff nwd Caffell 3 63844 Ninia's Lass nwd Donlon 4 44748 Teshamore fsdt Moore 5 65 Liten...

COLOURFUL FORMER MAYOR IN NEW YEAR HONOURS.
December 31, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) Oamaru, Dec 31 - Colourful former Waimate District Mayor David Owen has been acknowledged in the New Year Honours list. He was made a New Zealand Order of Merit for services to local body and...

ADDINGTON THURSDAY GREYHOUNDS 1300.
December 31, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) 1 16232 Micron Gale 30.82 Grant 2 61F55 Monkey Bay fsdt Busch 3 35363 Judyanne Bale 31.03 Roberts 4 86352 Astra Nomacool 30.79 Fahey 5 61546 Disclose ...

HUTT-PARK WEDNESDAY GREYHOUNDS 1300.
December 31, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) 1 73374 Camcaff nwd Caffell 2 73752 Milluna Girl nwd Donlon 3 35438 Sixteen Gauge nwd Caffell 4 26 Sailah Jayne fsdt S Gardner 5 63856...

NORTHLAND WEDNESDAY FIELDS 1400.
December 31, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) Club name: Northland HRC Venue: Ruakaka Raceway in Northland Date of meeting: Wednesday, January 5. Jetbet number: 5; TV. Doubles: 3 and 4; 5 and 6. Trebles: 1, 2 and 3; 5, 6 and...

NORTHLAND WEDNESDAY FORM 1400.
December 31, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) Club name: Northland HRC Venue: Ruakaka Raceway in Northland Date of meeting: Wednesday, January 5. Jetbet number: 5; TV. Doubles: 3 and 4; 5 and 6. Trebles: 1, 2 and 3; 5, 6 and...

NEW ZEALAND FRONTERS.
December 31, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) Wellington, Dec 31 - Main stories in today's morning paper include: CHRISTCHURCH PRESS Page 1: New alert sparks panic Stadium to count the cost NZ Embassy `bracing for the worst...

NORTHLAND WEDNESDAY DRIVERS 1400.
December 31, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) Club name: Northland HRC Venue: Ruakaka Raceway in Northland Date of meeting: Wednesday, January 5. Jetbet number: 5; TV. Doubles: 3 and 4; 5 and 6. Trebles: 1, 2 and 3; 5, 6 and...

TRADING ON FUTURES EXCHANGE TODAY.
December 31, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) Wellington, Dec 31 - Trading on the New Zealand Futures and Options Exchange today involved 300 futures contracts valued at $300 million. The March 90-day bank bill futures contract closed...

NORTHLAND WEDNESDAY DRIVERS 1400.
December 31, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) Club name: Northland HRC Venue: Ruakaka Raceway in Northland Date of meeting: Wednesday, January 5. Jetbet number: 5; TV. Doubles: 3 and 4; 5 and 6. Trebles: 1, 2 and 3; 5, 6 and...

RECORD NUMBER OF NEW LISITNGS ON BUOYANT STOCK EXHCANGE IN 2004.
December 31, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) Wellington, Dec 30 NZPA - The past year saw a record number of new listings on the sharemarket. Many of the floats went swimmingly with investors able to realise quick gains. But some of the...

SHAREMARKET ENDS YEAR ON A HIGH.
December 31, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) Wellington, Dec 31 NZPA - The benchmark sharemarket waved goodbye to 2004 on a high note today in a shortened trading session. By the early close of 1pm today the benchmark NZSX-50 gross index had...

MERIDIAN TO STUDY DAM ACCIDENT.
December 31, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) (eds: repeating h4560, correcting headline) Oamaru, Dec 31 - Meridian Energy and Environment Canterbury are investigating a jet boat's plunge over the Waitaki Dam on Wednesday. Meridian owns...

GOVERNMENT UPS ITS DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR PLEDGE.
December 31, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) Wellington, Dec 31 NZPA - The Government today said it would double its dollar-for-dollar aid contribution to tsunami-affected Asia from $2 million to $4 million. Donations to various aid...

TRADING ON FUTURES EXCHANGE TODAY (CORRECTION).
December 31, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) Rptg H4571 and correcting FoX15 settlement figures. Wellington, Dec 31 - Trading on the New Zealand Futures and Options Exchange today involved 300 futures contracts valued at $300 million. ...

Tourists start changing routes.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) Byline: NONDHANADA INTARAKOMALYASUT, SUJINTANA HEMTASILPA & BOONSONG KOSITCHOTETHANA The tsunami has created extra demand for hotels and travel services at Thai destinations other than the six affected southern...

Put tsunami risk in zoning rules, urges engineer.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) Beachfront areas in the six provinces hit by the tsunami on Sunday should be mapped with regard to their degree of risk in order to protect against a possible repeat of the disaster, said Pennung Warnitchai, a...

AIS forced to stop free service due to heavy load on network.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) Faced with massive network overloads, Advanced Info Service, the country's leading mobile operator, yesterday ended free calling services from the six provinces affected by the tsunami disaster. The company...

B30bn in soft loans for six provinces.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) The Bank of Thailand has approved 30 billion baht in soft loans to aid tsunami victims in the six southern provinces. Interest rates on loans under the programme would be no more than 2% per year, according to...

Insurers asked to speed up claim payments.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) Local insurers are being asked to accelerate payments of insurance claims to tsunami-stricken victims and their beneficiaries. The Insurance Department sent a letter right after the tsunami hit to the Thai Life...

Tourism becomes a risky business.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) Sunday's tsunami has further exposed the fragility of the travel and tourism industry as an investment prospect, and could well lead bankers to look even more closely at the risks associated with the lengthening list...

Tsunami set to lash economy.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) Byline: PARISTA YUTHAMANOP Lost tourism income could shave up to 0.1% per month off of Thailand's overall gross domestic product (GDP) if tourists stop visiting the six southern provinces hit by Sunday's tsunami,...

Building safety awareness rises.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) The Sunday earthquake that could be felt in Bangkok has put staff in charge of safety at high buildings in Bangkok on alert about the efficiency of their systems. A safety expert suggested all building operators...

Healthy food trend growing.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) Byline: SUJINTANA HEMTASILPA The majority of middle- to high-income earners in Bangkok are starting to shun food with high fat levels, preservatives and artificial colours, as well as fast food, according to a...

LAST CALL.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) Byline: Story by NICK GROSSMAN The year in nightlife and entertainment was marked by new ambitions and grand insecurity. While other Southeast Asian cities thrived, Bangkok remained an unpredicatble platform....

ROLL THE CREDITS.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) It was a year of indie bangs and heavyweight duds at Bangkok's theatres. As Tinseltown lurched, alternative cinema and homegrown films stuck their heads in and found more room to breathe. No wonder the Americans will...

Stellar selection.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) It's the end of the year and there are a number of CDs here that I have mentioned briefly in recent columns but would like to recommend more emphatically here. Most are recent releases, although a couple have been...

Three's company.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) THE MORE THE MERRIER (USA, 1943, b&w). : Directed by George Stevens and starring Jean Arthur, Joel McCrea, and Charles Coburn. Full screen, 104 min. In English with no subtitles or extras. (Zone 1, NTSC) ...

Minor restructuring.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) Byline: Sharon Christine Riley With the New Year literally on our doorstep, now is a great time for a "reality check", an analysis of exactly where you are. In today's world, there will always be another fax...

It could only happen here.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) Thailand is full of unusual and mysterious sights, sounds and happenings, most of which we accept as the everyday glue of our lives. Want ice cream on a hot dog bun. Sure, why not? Make a right turn at that elephant....

Balancing land and sea.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) Executive chef Stefano Artosin The Dome at State Tower Stefano Artosin seems to have a penchant for cooking in dazzling locations. Early in his career, he worked at the palatial 150-year-old Excelsior in...

New Year punch.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) Happy New Year! Just in time to liven up the celebrations we have three recipes for punch and one for a cocktail. The punch recipes featured here call for apricot, peach or nectarine juice which can be difficult to...

Fearless fashion.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) Byline: Kanokporn Chanasongkram What a year for Issariya Virajsilp! The budding designer opened her fashion house-cum-concept store on Sukhumvit Soi 31, paraded her daring collection during Elle Fashion Week, and...

Pass the Perrier.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) Not everybody drinks alcohol. Not everybody likes wine. Some refrain from drinking for religious or philosophical reasons, while others drank too much in the past and have decided to abstain for the rest of their...

HITTING THE RIGHT NOTES.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) Jazz has always been a narrow if colourful thread in the weave of Bangkok's music scene, but it has now become broader and more highly visible than ever before. The reasons are simple: we have an increasing number of...

Warning system to be built.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) Byline: YUWADEE TUNYASIRI Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday put Smith Thamsaroj, a former Meteorological Department chief, in charge of establishing an advanced seismic and tidal wave warning system for...

HELPING HANDS PACK DONATED ITEMS.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) Byline: Story by ANJIRA ASSAVANONDA and NAMNUENG SUPSIN Paper boxes, clothes, rice and other donated items piled up in front of Maleenont Building yesterday, as hundreds of good Samaritans were busy packing items...

Coastal areas to be better managed.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) Byline: PIYAPORN WONGRUANG The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is considering a new regulation to manage coastal areas nationwide and strike a balance between land use, conservation and disaster...

Nasty work, but rescuers still keen.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) Long hours in the sun looking for bloated bodies is unenviable work, but hundreds of foreign and Thai rescuers do it wholeheartedly in Phangnga's tsunami-devastated Ban Khao Lak. "We come here simply because we...

Riding field to be named after Khun Poom.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) The Metropolitan Police Bureau will beautify and name its horse-riding field after Khun Poom Jensen, Princess Ubolratana's only son, who had taken riding and shooting training from the bureau for three years before he...

Donations reach B80m.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) Byline: TUL PINKAEW Cash donations reached 80 million baht yesterday as support for tsunami survivors continued to pour in. Pravich Hannarong, vice-president of the Rajaprajanukroh Foundation, said donations...

Subsidence warning goes out.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) Geologists have warned of possible subsidence in three southern provinces hit by the tsunami, after local officials reported land sinking in three areas. Officials said they found an eight-metre-wide hole about 10...

Thai cash to Sri Lanka, Maldives.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) Thailand will donate US$100,000 to devastated Sri Lanka and $30,000 to the Maldives, Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai said. While a list of needed items was being handed out to foreign embassies by the...

Govt advice on cash donations.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) The government is urging the public to make cash donations for tsunami victims through its relief fund. Visanu Krue-ngarm, deputy prime minister, said the government had talked to the banks and the public could...

4,000 missing from Khao Lak alone.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) Phangnga _ The tsunami death toll here is likely to rise further as at least 4,000 hotel guests and staff at Khao Lak are believed to be among the dead and missing, said Natural Resources and Environment Minister...

Cyclists spared tragedy, spread peace message.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) Thirteen Sri Lankan peace cyclists visiting Thailand will not let Sunday's tsunami deter them from speading a message of peace across the world. The Global Peace Secretariat, cycling from Narathiwat to Bangkok,...

Senior officer blasts inquiry.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) Byline: WASSANA NANUAM A senior military officer facing a disciplinary probe for alleged negligence during the Tak Bai protest says the independent inquiry was unfair to accuse him of leaving the scene too early....

Two men shot dead, police outposts raided.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) Yala _ Two people were shot dead yesterday in Muang and Than To districts as violence in the South continued unabated. The first victim was Saha Salae, 56, an informant for the government. Saha was riding his...

Tak to become twin city of China's Dehong.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) Tak _ This northern province will become a twin city of Dehong, a Chinese border town. The two cities will share economic and social development advice and a Thai delegation from Tak will visit Dehong next year....

Theerapat, Suthipong share first round lead.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) Chachoengsao _ Theerapat Wilairat and Suthipong Bhudharaksa yesterday shared the men's first round lead after both carded two under par 70 while Thitiya Prueksataporn took the sole lead in the women's category at the...

Expect the unexpected.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) Mission Flats by William Landay 511 pp, 2004 Corgi paperback Available at Asia Books and leading book stores, 350 baht Literary debuts can be embarrassing (the writer most probably paid the publisher...

Pause and reflect.
December 31, 2004... (From Bangkok Post) Byline: Danai Chanchaochai It's customary for newspaper columnists around the world at this time of year to take a retrospective look at the past 12 months from their own special perspective. This can be a useful...

Sudan's Al-Bashir, Mbeki to witness peace signing fete in Kenya.
December 31, 2004... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Excerpt from report by Sudanese radio on 31 December [Presenter] The president of the republic, Field Marshal Umar Hasan al-Bashir, accompanied by Thabo Mbeki, president of South Africa,...

S KOREA'S AGRICULTURE SECTOR TO ENHANCE COMPETITIVENESS IN 2005.
December 31, 2004... (From Asia Pulse) SEOUL, Dec 31 Asia Pulse - South Korea's agriculture sector will strive to lay the foundation for higher competitiveness next year, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Huh Sang-man said Friday. The official said in...

S KOREAN GOVT AIMS TO CREATE BUSINESS-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT IN 05.
December 31, 2004... (From Asia Pulse) SEOUL, Dec 31 Asia Pulse - The South Korean government intends to create a business-friendly environment and build up the country's sustainable growth potential in the new year, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Energy...

AUSTRALIA'S CAPRAL STARTS SEARCH FOR NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR.
December 31, 2004... (From Asia Pulse) SYDNEY, Dec 31 Asia Pulse - Capral Aluminium Ltd (ASX:CAA) today begins a six month search for a new managing director and chief executive following the sudden departure of Greg L'Estrange. Acting managing director...