Asia Africa Intelligence Wire articles from December 2004

Asia Africa Intelligence Wire archives from December 2004

HIV POSITIVE WOMEN, CHILDREN ACCOUNT FOR A QUARTER OF NEW CASES.
December 1, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) (Eds: EMBARGOED until 0100 Dec 1) Wellington, Dec 1 - One quarter of New Zealanders diagosed HIV positive so far this year are women and children. Latest figures from the AIDS Epidemiology Group...

SOUTHERN FERTILISER GIANT RAISES PRICES.
December 1, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) (Eds: EMBARGOED until MIDNIGHT 30/11) Wellington, Dec 1 - Big fertiliser company Ravensdown says sharp rises in global freight costs and oil-based raw materials are the main reason its prices for...

NZ THAILAND SAY TRADE DEAL NEGOTIATIONS SUCCESSFUL.
December 1, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) (Eds: EMBARGOED 0100 DEC 1) Vientiane, Nov 30 - Another piece in the trade deal jigsaw fell into place for New Zealand today with the successful conclusion of trade negotiations with Thailand. ...

NZ SET TO PART WAYS WITH AUSTRALIA OVER ASEAN TREATY.
December 1, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) (Eds: EMBARGOED 0100 DEC1) Vientiane, Nov 30 NZPA - New Zealand is looking to sign a non-aggression pact with the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean), a treaty that Australia has shunned...

CLARK HAILS HISTORIC SUMMIT AS A SIGNIFICANT BREAKTHROUGH.
December 1, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) (Eds: EMBARGOED 0100 1/12) Vientiane, Nov 30 NZPA - The formal launch of trade talks with the Association of South East Asian Nations ( Asean) announced today was a breakthrough in building closer...

CLARK ANNOUNCES INITIATIVES TO BUILD LINKS WITH ASEAN.
December 1, 2004... (From New Zealand Press Association) (Eds: EMBARGOED 0100 DEC 1) Vientiane, Nov 30 - New Zealand has announced a range of initiatives to build closer ties with the Association of South East Asian Nations ( Asean). Prime Minister...

Bacolod declared cholera 'hot spot'.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Carla P. Gomez, PDI Visayas Bureau BACOLOD CITY-The Regional Epidemiology Center of the Department of Health in Western Visayas yesterday declared a cholera alert situation in Negros Occidental...

GMA adviser sees no obstacle to pact with MILF.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) PIKIT, North Cotabato-An adviser of President Macapagal-Arroyo expressed confidence a peace agreement would be signed with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, saying there are no more contentious issues...

Where are the bones of Bonifacio?
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Ambeth R. Ocampo YESTERDAY, I found myself on a hill known as Nagpatong in Maragondon, Cavite. It is "officially" the place where Andres Bonifacio and his brother Procopio were executed by a...

Asian parliament endorsed.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Carlito Pablo ISLAMABAD-House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. succeeded in getting the 5th General Assembly of the 40-nation Association of Asian Parliamentarians for Peace to unanimously endorse...

Go offers the BAP a conscience.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Recah Trinidad NOW comes the unsinkable Go Teng Kok applying for a job. That, indeed, should be news to Mr. Go's countless admirers and haters. For one, GTK does not have to work a...

GMA approves of AFP handling of corruption probe.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Gil Cabacungan Jr. PRESIDENT Macapagal-Arroyo approves of the way the Armed Forces of the Philippines handled the investigation of corruption in the military amid claims of a cover-up in the...

It's a breeze for DOT chief.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Michael Lim Ubac PRACTICALLY, it's in the bag. Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano is expected to be formally confirmed by the 25-member Commission on Appointments (CA) when it convenes today...

RP cagers' stint in Taiwan a shameful disaster.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Anthony Suntay, Contributor IT'S SOMETHING I will never forget. Unfortunately, it's an experience I would much rather erase from my memory because it leaves a bad taste in the mouth. ...

GMA may call special session over tax bills.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Juliet Labog-Javellana and Christine O. Avenda[currency]o PRESIDENT Macapagal-Arroyo is inclined to call a special session of Congress to ensure the passage of four tax measures deemed necessary...

The US-moral and traditional?
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Asuncion David Maramba HEADLINE: "Moral values won the vote." Knee-jerk reaction: Huh, the US, moral? Where but through American TV and movies have we and great parts of the world learned to...

Changes in the Cabinet.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Amando Doronila THE ADMINISTRATION has fueled speculation about a sweeping Cabinet shake-up by the end of the year, as a shock therapy to counter two adverse developments converging at the close...

Getting Robot was easier for colonel.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Christine O. Avenda[currency]o GIVEN the grilling he underwent yesterday, this Army colonel probably thought it was much easier facing down Abu Sayyaf bandit Commander Robot, which he did in...

Defense revamp is on.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Juliet Labog-Javellana THE REVAMP of the defense department took effect yesterday after President Macapagal-Arroyo named four new undersecretaries and one assistant secretary. Presidential...

Ex-hostage reporting for work at DFA today.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: TJ Burgonio FORMER hostage Angelito Nayan will be reporting for work today at the Department of Foreign Affairs six days after his return to the country from almost a month in captivity in the...

Musical chairs.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) WHEN President Macapagal-Arroyo first told the Inquirer she intended to further "civilianize" the Department of National Defense by replacing its undersecretaries and assistant secretaries, her move was not...

Graft raps set vs Abadia for P11-M wealth.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Armand N. Nocum GEN. Lisandro Abadia, former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, will be charged with graft for his P11,262,876 in alleged unexplained wealth that he...

Solons back drive vs EIA; races to go on at S. Lazaro.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Edwin Villanueva, Contributor THE PHILIPPINE Racing Commission's intensive drive against the horse disease equine infectious anemia (EIA) yesterday got the full backing of several lawmakers...

Illegal logging blamed.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) OFFICIALS partly blamed the extensive floods on illegal logging which had denuded the mountains. In Quezon, flash floods from the Sierra Madre mountain range swept away houses and destroyed bridges in...

Magnolia, Toyota-Otis whip rivals.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Jasmine W. Payo MAGNOLIA-FEU jumped out to a double-digit lead early in the game to shut down cellar-dwelling Air Philippines, 86-55, in the PBL Open Championship yesterday at the Letran Gym....

Goofy was more like it.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Jocelyn Valle, Contributor "DON'T linger at curtain call." This is just one of many words of wisdom imparted to actor Leo Martinez by his friend, theater great Zenaida Amador, who passed...

Housewives, maids not spared from AIDS, says DOH study.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Blanche S. Rivera and Maurice Malanes MORE women in the home, particularly housewives and maids in the Philippines, are infected with HIV/AIDS, the Department of Health said yesterday. ...

Play anthem in malls-Atienza.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Tarra V. Quismundo MALL goers in Manila may soon have to stop and stand in attention for the national anthem. As part of his nationalism campaign launched on the 141st birth anniversary of...

'Sakit ng lalake'.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Michael L. Tan I COULD have kicked myself. I was taking my lunch after delivering a plenary lecture at the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (PSMID) when I realized I...

Barrera says no to Pacquiao.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Recah Trinidad IT'S being billed as the biggest boxing event in 2005, but the projected rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Marco Antonio Barrera has crashed before it could take off. ...

Maynilad tells customers: Boil water first.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Tina G. Santos USE FILTERS or boil drinking water. This was the advice of the Maynilad Water Services Inc. after the water supply in some parts of Metro Manila turned brown yesterday. ...

Pagasa needs, hopes for rain gauge radars.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Norman Bordadora THE MISERY brought by Tropical Depression Winnie underlines once again the need to forecast with some degree of accuracy how much rain would fall in a particular area so that...

Full speed ahead for railroad, north and south.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Neal H. Cruz SOME opposition senators have got their priorities screwed up. They are opposing the NorthRail because the project, they say, would displace the squatters along the railroad tracks....

Palace won't release Customs list of big-time smugglers.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Gil C. Cabacungan Jr. MALACAYENANG yesterday said it would not bare the contents of the list of big-time smugglers in the country which a leading business group wants to publicize as an added...

'Petty things,' not money, cause Dolphy-Zsa Zsa fights.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Nini Valera DOLPHY will still marry longtime live-in partner Zsa Zsa Padilla as soon as the court grants her petition for the annulment of her marriage, according to the couple's spokesperson....

Mandaluyong street lights up for Xmas.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Ruth L. Navarra CHRISTMAS can never be too early, extravagant or overrated on Policarpio Street in Mandaluyong City. Take it from Norma Lim, a resident who said that as soon as they took...

PSC lady tossers survive Lyceum.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Musong R. Castillo PSC'S motley crew of veterans surged to the solo lead of the Shakey's V-League eliminations yesterday, but only after being dragged to an extra set by a gritty Lyceum side,...

Racela player to watch as SMB battles FedEx.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) OLSEN Racela is just three steals away from accomplishing another feat, barely three weeks after reaching his second Philippine Basketball Association milestone. But joining the elite 500-steals club...

Nature's wake-up call in Dingalan.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Tonette Orejas SAVE for a loud bang heard from atop Mount Mingan, a rapid avalanche of logs, boulders and thick mud about 15 foot high rolled down with hardly any warning onto Barangay Paltic in...

Not for the squeamish.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Oliver M. Pulumbarit, Contributor GOOD horror movie villains are often the ones who score with the most memorable dastardly deeds, if not the best rationale for their deranged behavior. ...

Mindoro folk protest entry of nickel mine firm.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) VICTORIA, Oriental Mindoro-Residents of this province held a rally to protest the operations of a nickel mining company that the protesters said was environmentally destructive. At least 5,000 residents...

SEAG preparations on track, says Obet.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Marc Anthony Reyes THE P800 million budget is yet to be raised, the overall organization plan is not yet in place, and even the official website is still off-line. But if you'll ask 2005...

School execs sued for P1.3-M fund scam.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) BAGUIO CITY-Parents of 2,300 students enrolled at the Benguet National High School (BNHS) have sued their principal and two teachers for allegedly defrauding their organization of P1.3 million in illegally...

Snipers seek 1st finals berth.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) CEBU CITY-The Ilocos Sur Snipers shoot for the first finals seat when they tangle with the Quezon Coco Huskers at 5 p.m. today in the United Regional Basketball League (URBL) semifinal round at the New Cebu...

Reyes faces CA bypass.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) IT looks like Interior Secretary Angelo Reyes will be the first Cabinet member appointed to the second Arroyo administration to be bypassed by the congressional Commission on Appointments. Sen. Rodolfo...

10 soldiers dead in clash with NPA.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Tonette T. Orejas CITY OF SAN FERNANDO-Ten Philippine Army soldiers were killed while six others were wounded in an encounter Tuesday with New People's Army rebels in San Rafael, Bulacan, the...

Southwoods seniors stay in front.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Frank Cimatu BAGUIO CITY-Heavy rains suspended play in the 55th Fil-Am International Golf Tournament Tuesday, leaving the Manila Southwoods seniors atop the "Fil" division with 108 points. ...

Shots signaled burst of floodwaters.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Ruth L. Navarra WHEN a series of gunshots were heard in the middle of "Krystala," the residents of Sitio Saba in Montalban, Rizal, knew that it was not a good sign. Twelve-year-old Pilbert...

Weird logic.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Conrado de Quiros ONE TV station had a curious commentary about the transport strike last week. A TV personality was interviewing a government official who seemed perfectly reasonable. The...

Talks still ongoing for Tarongoy freedom.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: TJ Burgonio FOREIGN affairs officials yesterday squelched speculations that negotiations with the captors of Robert Tarongoy in Iraq had bogged down, saying the team working for his release had...

Typhoon alert: 'Yoyong' to hit all of Luzon.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Fe Zamora STOCK up on food, blankets, baby food, medicines-and pray it will change course. Said to be stronger than "Unding," "Violeta" and "Winnie," Typhoon "Yoyong," with projected...

Witness vs gay officer says he fears for his life.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Christine O. Avenda[currency]o THE MILITARY recruit who claimed last week that Army Maj. Ferdinand Ramos solicited sexual favors from him and fellow recruits yesterday went to the Senate to seek...

Encourage people to go back to the provinces.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Tita Datu Puangco I READ your sound advice to your reader who was thinking of moving to the province. I wish to share my opinion. The Philippines is my adopted home and after living in Metro...

RP agrees to swap agri tech with US, 3 others.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Christine A. Gaylican AGRICULTURE Secretary Arthur Yap and his counterparts from Iran, Thailand, Vietnam and the United States yesterday have agreed in principle to set up an agriculture...

Banks get year-long grace period to adopt new accounting system.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Elizabeth Sanchez THE SECURITIES and Exchange Commission (SEC) is giving banks, mutual funds and pre-need firms until the end of 2005 to comply with the new accounting standards. These...

UP economists ask Church to soften population stand.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Blanche S. Rivera THE COUNTRY'S top economists have called on the Catholic Church hierarchy to adopt a "more tolerant and humane" stance on the need for a national population policy for the sake...

Why are they killing journalists?
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Christian V. Esguerra WHO'S killing journalists and why? His guess may be only as good as yours. The country's top investigator is admittedly at a loss on why media practitioners are...

Market gets Moody.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Ron Nathan MOODY'S is arriving in the Philippines today for the Thriller in Manila. They will study the economic data and decide whether to downgrade our bonds, already rated as junk. Ron Moody,...

5 Japan IT firms to locate in RP.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Ronnel W. Domingo FIVE Japanese information technology companies have firmed up plans to locate their offshore operations in the country, according to the Department of Trade and Industry. ...

Electronics investments surge to $520M.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Ronnel W. Domingo TOTAL investments in electronics and information technology approved during the first 10 months reached $502 million or 118 percent higher than the amount reached for the...

Equitable PCI sells P8.3B in idle assets.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Doris C. Dumlao EQUITABLE PCI Bank has finalized the sale of P8.32 billion worth of non-performing loans to Philippine Investment One Inc., a unit of US investment bank Lehman Brothers Inc. ...

How to give and take criticism.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) PERHAPS the two toughest things to do are to give criticism and to receive criticism. Both sides of this dynamic exchange should be examined because if you are committed to your career and those of your...

ICTSI unit obtains $36-M loan.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) POLAND'S Baltic Container Terminal, a subsidiary of listed port operator International Container Terminal Services Inc., has signed a $36-million loan with foreign banks for its expansion program at a port...

5-year bond rises sharply to 12.45%.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Michelle V. Remo BANKS, wanting to manage their liquidity, showed strong appetite for the government's five-year Treasury bond, which yesterday fetched a rate of 12.45 percent. The new...

Meralco seen signing supply deal with Napocor.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Abigail L. Ho THE DEPARTMENT of Energy expects Manila Electric Co., the country's biggest power distributor, to sign a transition supply contract (TSC) with the state-owned National Power Corp.,...

'Winnie' leaves 341 dead.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Luige A. del Puerto, Volt Contreras and Delfin T. Mallari Jr. TWENTY-YEAR-OLD Dante Runes and his wife Florence, nine months pregnant, were the lucky ones. They survived a murderous flood that...

PAL refleeting starts with new Airbus 320.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Clarissa S. Batino PHILIPPINE Airlines yesterday said it was expecting the arrival today of a newly leased Airbus 320, one of several 156-seater planes PAL would use to start upgrading its...

Pre-need firms see 21% growth in '05.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Elizabeth L. Sanchez OFFICIALS of the pre-need industry are expecting sales to grow by more than 21 percent in 2005, driven by higher investment income from higher interest rates and by tapping...

Survive the vertigo of a working mom's life.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: An Mercado Alcantara THE HUSBAND is surfacing from a severe bout with vertigo. For an entire week, he was lost in a spinning dizzy world that swallowed up all his energy and his will power. A...

Sickness drove man to organic farming, pili oil.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Emir Emano Gamis, PDI Southern Luzon Bureau IN SORSOGON, the pili tree is known as the "majestic tree" due to its many uses. More than just a source of nuts made into food and candies that...

DOF: Balanced budget before '09 'unrealistic'.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Michelle V. Remo THE DEPARTMENT of Finance is not inclined to change its target of wiping out the national government's budget deficit by 2009, saying proposals to hasten the consolidation of...

Town hit by gastro declares calamity.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) CEBU CITY-The municipality of Moalboal has declared itself in a state of calamity after the town was struck by a gastroenteritis outbreak that killed two people and took ill at least 256 people. The...

Sun Cellular targets 2M subscribers in '05.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Clarissa S. Batino SUN Cellular of Gokongwei-owned Digitel Mobile Philippines Inc. is targeting to grow its subscribers to two million by the end of 2005 from about 1.2 million by year's end,...

Telecommuting facilitates a new way of efficiency.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Manolita A. Gonzales, Contributor IF YOU think being the ideal employee means going to the office on time come rain or shine, and staying glued to your desk from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., then smile....

219 stations now offer discount on diesel.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) TO EASE the cost burdens of the public transport sector, 219 various fuel stations are now offering discount on diesel. From only 154 stations last week, the number of service stations providing diesel...

Igniting the electric scooter mania in RP.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Charles E. Buban IT WOULD seem unusual for the country's exclusive distributor of big and brawny Hummer vehicles to also sell light and nimble electric-powered two wheelers. Says Benedict...

NLEX opening eagerly awaited; Toyota award.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Al Mendoza THE AIR is now wafting with Christmas carols. The Birth is just around the corner, so to speak. By the time it comes, it is hoped that the new North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) is fully...

Is your boss a friend?
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) PEOPLE at Work and the Ateneo Center for Organization Research and Development (Ateneo CORD) partner to listen to the heartbeats of working people through this People at Work Pulse. The results of taking...

Horsepower.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Andre Palma HORSEPOWER is probably the most misrepresented and misunderstood term in the world motoring industry. Vehicle manufacturers and aftermarket speed mongers sell it like sex and the...

Trade pact seen to attract more Japanese to Subic.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) SUBIC BAY FREEPORT-Officials of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) are optimistic that the signing of a free trade agreement (FTA) with Japan will entice more Japanese investors to the freeport...

MB SLK 350: 0 to 100 in 5.5 seconds.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Tessa R. Salazar IT WAS the last of a six-weekend test fest. Members of the Car of the Year Philippines (Coty-P) were anticipating a slam-bang affair, what with the group saving the most...

Art attack.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Pam Pastor THERE'S an artist lurking inside everyone of us. That's what we believe. And apparently, Havaianas, The Store With No Name, Robinsons Department Store, Converse and Inquirer's...

Getting crafty.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Bianca Consunji, 2bU! Correspondent IF you think crafts are horrible Ghosts of School Projects Past, then you are not alone. I got through grade school Home Economics by asking my parents to...

All by myself-happily.
December 1, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Ni[currency]o Mark M. Sablan, 2bU! Correspondent THERE are activities that we think we can do only when with companions. Like having a manicure, going out on a Saturday night or dating. But...