Asia Africa Intelligence Wire articles from February 2003, page 9

Asia Africa Intelligence Wire archives from February 2003

Cradle Lodge to get facelift.
February 28, 2003... (From ABIX - Australasian Business Intelligence - The Mercury (Australia)) Byline: Mike Bingham P&O Australian Resorts has announced a $A1.5m upgrade of Cradle Mountain Lodge in Tasmania. The upgrade will include a five-star spa and...

Tassie adds five years to GMO ban.
February 28, 2003... (From ABIX - Australasian Business Intelligence - The Mercury (Australia)) Byline: Luke Sayer The Tasmanian Government has announced a five-year extension of the state's ban on genetically-engineered (GE) foods. Tasmanian Primary...

Lennon switches off debate.
February 28, 2003... (From ABIX - Australasian Business Intelligence - The Mercury (Australia)) The Tasmanian Greens party has criticised the Tasmanian Government for refusing to engage in a debate on energy policy. Minister Paul Lennon described the claim...

Ambush claim in war of words over prize fight.
February 28, 2003... (From ABIX - Australasian Business Intelligence - The Mercury (Australia)) Byline: Martine Haley The withdrawal of two short-listed authors from the Tasmanian Pacific Fiction Prize was designed to maximise damage, organisers say....

Email blunder reveals Libs' comeback plan.
February 28, 2003... (From ABIX - Australasian Business Intelligence - The West Australian) Byline: Tony Barrass An e-mail mistakenly sent to several members of the Liberal Party of Western Australian (WA) has revealed deep divisions within the party....

MP urges youth spray-cans ban.
February 28, 2003... (From ABIX - Australasian Business Intelligence - The West Australian) Byline: Andrew Gregory Western Australian (WA) parliamentarian Mark McGowan has called for young people to be banned from buying spray paint cans. McGowan has...

Surprise at union drug shift.
February 28, 2003... (From ABIX - Australasian Business Intelligence - The West Australian) Byline: Jerry Pratley The Australian Workers Union (AWU) has voted to oppose proposed employee screening for drugs and alcohol. The union has argued that a range...

'No escape' on health fees.
February 28, 2003... (From ABIX - Australasian Business Intelligence - The West Australian) Byline: Peta Rasdien Australian Health Consumer Council deputy director Maxine Drake has advised Australians to accept proposed health insurance premium rises....

Cash shared: ex-officer.
February 28, 2003... (From ABIX - Australasian Business Intelligence - The West Australian) Byline: Roy Gibson The Western Australian (WA) royal commission into police corruption has heard how detectives shared money seized from a heroin dealer. A...

Inquiry broke own rules: lawyers.
February 28, 2003... (From ABIX - Australasian Business Intelligence - The West Australian) Byline: Roy Gibson The Western Australian (WA) royal commission into police corruption has been accused of breaching its own suppression orders. Lawyers...

Gold girl becomes a living legend.
February 28, 2003... (From ABIX - Australasian Business Intelligence - The West Australian) Byline: Amanda James Former Australian Olympic athlete Betty Cuthbert has been included in a sporting legends project at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)....

CIB duties ran to hotel minders, beer, barbies.
February 28, 2003... (From ABIX - Australasian Business Intelligence - The West Australian) Byline: Roy Gibson A witness testifying before the Western Australian (WA) royal police commission has detailed his experiences as a corrupt police officer. A...

I-cards for border villagers.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) Statesman News Service COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 27. - Issue of identity cards to residents and land owners on the other side of the fence along the Indo-Bangladesh border by BDOs will start next week, said the Cooch...

Medha mauls govts over erosion.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) MALDA, Feb. 27. - Ms Medha Patkar drew parallels between the Narmada Bachao Andolan and the movement for the rehabilitation of those rendered homeless by the Ganga erosion during a visit to the...

Kurseong civic stand-off affects conservancy work.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) Statesman News Service DARJEELING, Feb. 27. - Garbage has been piling up in Kurseong town amidst the stand-off in the town's civic board, which has been put on abeyance until March following directions of the...

Tea industry to start wage regulation.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) Sudipta Chanda in Siliguri Feb. 27. - The tea industry has succeeded in introducing "regulation of wages" in tea plantations. The bipartite agreement comes after years of deliberation with the trade unions....

Strike scare after teachers' arrests.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) Statesman News Service SILIGURI, Feb. 27. - The Forum for Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff of Private Schools (West Bengal), Siliguri unit, has threatened to call strike in the schools here next month over a...

SUCI wants action against police.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) KOLKATA, Feb. 27. - The CPI-ML (Liberation) and the SUCI today demanded stern action against the Nadia SP and officer-in-charge of Dhantala police station in the wake of the indictment by the West Bengal...

State bureaucracy split over benefits.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) Statesman News Service KOLKATA, Feb. 27 - The hierarchy in the state bureaucracy is witnessing a rift, with officers belonging to the state service associations charging the government of giving all service...

'Mamata's Bengal package a hoax'.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) Statesman News Service KOLKATA, Feb. 27. - The CPI-M today dismissed Miss Mamata Banerjee's "so-called" Bengal package as a hoax. The evaluation of several projects made in yesterday's railway Budget makes it...

Fact-finding mission in Dhantala.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) Statesman News Service KRISHNAGORE, Feb. 27. - A five-member delegation of the national commission for women, led by Ms Sugha Malaiyah, today visited Dhantala and talked to women who were allegedly molested...

Minister cracks down on jails.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) Statesman News Service KOLKATA, Feb. 27.- The six central jails in the state lack the "security measures" required for international prisoners like Aftab Ansari. Mr Biswanath Chowdhury, state jail...

Lift sectoral caps for FDI, says GoM.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) Press Trust of India NEW DELHI, Feb. 27. - Ahead of the budget, the Group of Ministers (GoM) today recommended enhancing the ceiling on foreign direct investment in major sectors like petroleum, civil...

Premji to head task force on hardware.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) Statesman News Service BANGALORE, Feb. 27.- The Karnataka government has appointed Wipro chief, Mr Azim Premji, as chairman of the task force ,set up to prepare a vision document for an all round growth of...

One year on Gujarat's unanswered questions.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) It is a year since that fateful day on which 58 people were burnt alive in a train carriage of the Sabarmati Express at Godhra station. The flames of that fire were the excuse for unleashing a pogrom in which...

100 years ago Today.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) The Geeta Society. - The fifth ordinary monthly meeting of the Geeta Society will be held at the hall of the Khelat Chandra Institution, Wellington Square, on Sunday, the 1st March, at 6 p.m. Swami...

Habitational hazard (Now and Again).
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) By ISHWAR PATI "What all we have to put up with as Delhiites!" My colleague, Prem was describing the hazards of living in the capital. "The DVB and DJB not only torture us, but also fleece us for doing so....

Surveying damage Drought then, war next.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) Why must the government insist on tabling the Economic Survey a day before the Budget? It is supposed to be the government's official assessment of the economy and deserves better treatment than being swept...

BUDGET EXPECTATIONS Hopes Arising From Kelkar Report.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) By SUKUMAR MUKHOPADHYAY Expectations for the Union Budget are based on the general conditions of the economy read with the representations made by industry and trade through different associations. But this...

Nepalese languishes in Japan jail.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) Sudeshna Sarkar in Kathmandu Feb. 27. - Human rights activists in Nepal and Japan are protesting against the imprisonment of a Nepalese in a Japanese prison, saying the labourer's only "crime" is to be an...

11 Chinese stowaways in Tokyo.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) TOKYO, Feb. 27. - Eleven people, believed to be Chinese stowaways, were found in a container on a wharf in Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo, on Thursday. They were arrested on suspicion of violating the Immigrant...

Stung Blair renews offensive on Iraq.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) Associated Press LONDON, Feb. 27. - Mr Tony Blair resumed the diplomatic offensive for disarming Iraq today after suffering a revolt within his party about his hardline policy. The British Prime Minister was...

No decision by Iraq to disarm, says Blix.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) Press Trust of India UNHQ, Feb. 27. - In a remark that could give more ammunition to the US case for a war on Iraq, UN chief weapons inspector Mr Hans Blix has said Baghdad still has not made a "fundamental...

EU concern over custody deaths in Bangladesh.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) Statesman News Service DHAKA, Feb. 27. - A visiting European parliamentary team has expressed concern over the custodial deaths during the recent anti-crime drive and subsequent passage of a Bill indemnifying...

'Gardens of the World' to replace WTC.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) Press Trust of India NEW YORK, Feb. 27. - A 1776-feet high angular structure christened "Gardens of the World", designed by German architect Daniel Libeskind, has been selected to replace the erstwhile World...

National fact-finding team in Dhantala.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) Statesman News Service KRISHNAGORE, Feb. 27. - A five-member delegation of the National Commission for Women, led by Ms Sugha Malaiyah, today visited Dhantala and talked to women who were allegedly molested...

Civic bodies told to pay up.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) KOLKATA, Feb. 27. - The chairmen of 41 municipalities in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area have been asked to pay at least 50 per cent of the money charged by KMDA and KMWSA for supplying water to these...

Howrah continues to thirst...
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) Statesman News Service KOLKATA. Feb. 27 - The Howrah water crisis today entered the third day and civic authorities are still not clear when supply can be restored. In fact the civic body has announced that...

Cries for a better Howrah ignored.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) KOLKATA, Feb. 27. - The ongoing water scarcity in Howrah is not quite a bolt from the blue. It was waiting to happen. And Kolkata Plus had sounded warnings and narrated the plight of residents yearning for...

Bhojshala opens to public.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) Statesman News Service and Agencies NEW DELHI/BHOPAL, Feb. 27. - The Bhojshala-Kamaal Maula mosque in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, has been opened for people with some restrictions. Hindus will be allowed to worship...

Fatal fall after the fury.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) Statesman News Service SONAMUKHI (Bankura), Feb. 27 - The 11-day rogue-shooting drama, which yesterday collapsed into slapstick, with the killer elephant marching past expert hunters bowed over in pranam,...

Democracy & the bugle.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) world view By JONATHAN POWER WE are all in danger of becoming terribly glum. War is nearly upon us. A particularly dangerous war that, Britain's former Conservative Prime Minister John Major, just warned, may...

/net.news/.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) The art of swing One of the fine arts of cricket is swing bowling. Pace bowlers swing the ball away from or into the batsman to scalp a batsman. The more talented among them use the reverse swing, where the...

Mars beware!
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) A US attack on Iraq would mean more trouble for the West, fears SHOMA A CHATTERJI IT'S a clash of civilisations: one is 300 years old, the other 7,000. The West hates to love the first and loves to hate the...

Aussies ride records to Super Six stage.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) Press Trust of India POTCHEFSTROOM (South Africa), Feb. 27. - Glenn McGrath produced the best-ever bowling figures in a World Cup as Australia registered the biggest victory in one-day history against Namibia...

Practise what you preach The USA should open its labs too: an inspector at an Iraqi chemical weapons lab.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) With world opinion turning against the planned US attack on Iraq there's a crying need for Washington to assure the world that it's not seeking domination, says MARTIN SHUBIK THE USA's self image is that of a...

'Spitfire' Glenn.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) KOLKATA, Feb. 27. - Glenn McGrath's all-time best Australian (previous best 6 for 14 by Gary Gilmour against England at Leeds, 1975) and best ever World Cup analysis of 7 for 15 (previous best 7 for 51 by...

Shoaib Akhtar sends out warning signals.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) Statesman News Service Johannesburg, Feb. 27. - Seldom does a private turf enjoy the distinction of playing host to the best cricketers in the world as the Nicky Oppenheimer Ground, Rantjesfontein (small rich...

Day-night matches worry losers.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) Statesman News Service JOHANNESBURG, Feb. 27. - Much ado is being made about how winning the toss affects the results of a day-night match after England beat Pakistan and India beat England after electing to...

Prasanna's Point: EAS Prasanna: Impressive performance.
February 28, 2003... (From The Statesman (India)) I am impressed with the way India played and won the crucial match against England on Wednesday. For England it was a matter of staying alive in the Super Six race. Despite the fact that cricket have often...

/[c] BBC Monitoringitoring quotes from Russian press Friday 28 February 2003.
February 28, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) The following is a selection of quotes from articles published in the 28 February editions of Russian newspapers, as available to the BBC at 0000 gmt: Bush sets out his stall ...

Guyana's president to meet World Bank, IMF officials in Washington.
February 28, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) on 27 February Georgetown, Guyana: President Bharrat Jagdeo has left for Washington for talks with World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) officials on the country's...

Chemicals used in Colombia's coca spraying "damaging" says Ombudsman.
February 28, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) 27 February The damaging effects of the glyphosate aerial fumigation being carried out by the government as part of the war on drugs "constitutes a serious violation of the basic rights...

Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels profits soar The operator of the opulent Peninsula chain has seen earnings swell 833 per cent.
February 28, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Peggy Sito Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels posted a stronger than expected net profit of HK$308 million last year as hotel income rose and financing charges fell. The operator of The...

After a decade at the economy's helm, statistics tell Zhu Rongji's story After a decade at the helm, statistics say it all.
February 28, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Allen T. Cheng Former German chancellor Helmut Schmidt has a telling anecdote about Premier Zhu Rongji. "Mao [Zedong] used to talk to me about [19th century strategist Carl van]...

Failed venture with PCCW hits Telstra.
February 28, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Back page Profits at Australian telecommunications giant Telstra fell 44 per cent in the six months to December 31, thanks in large part to a hefty writedown of a failed business with PCCW. The...

BMW confident of China approval in weeks The German carmaker expects to start production this year BMW confident China will approve venture in weeks.
February 28, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Tom Mitchell in Singapore BMW expects China's State Council to formally approve its planned joint venture with Brilliance China Automotive Holdings "during the next few weeks" in a development...

China and Russia unite to oppose war on Iraq They say conflict `can and should' be avoided, but will not disclose whether they will veto a second UN resolution.
February 28, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Nailene Chou Wiest in Beijing China and Russia yesterday toughened their united opposition to a war in Iraq, saying a conflict "can and should be avoided". But neither country revealed...

Uribe's top adviser visits Ecuador; defends Plan Colombia.
February 28, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of interview with Sandra Suarez, Colombia's top presidential adviser on Plan Colombia, in Quito; no date given; published by Ecuadoran newspaper El Universo web site on 27 February ...

Venezuela: Investigation into TV channels continues, no date set for conclusion.
February 28, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) web site on 27 February Infrastructure (Minfra) Minister Diosdado Cabello has announced that investigations into Globovision and RCTV are the most advanced of the several similar...

Experts raise concern at drop in the birth rate The problem is partly explained by the success of a family planning campaign.
February 28, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Patsy Moy Hong Kong's birth rate is falling, partly because of the success of its family planning policies, which have promoted birth control for the past three decades. But critics say it...

Flat prices in Tin Shui Wai priced at historic low.
February 28, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Sophia Wong Hong Kong's two largest developers are releasing units at their Vianni Cove project in Tin Shui Wai at "a historic low price," fuelling fears of a new price war. The first...

Rolling Stones tickets gather no moss.
February 28, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Goldman Sachs' Eddie Naylor must have a hectic schedule. The bank's director of corporate communications has entered the "grey market", selling his treasured Rolling Stones tickets - via e-mail. ...

Philippines warns of retaliation for the decision to cut maids' pay Warning on maids' pay.
February 28, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Mary Ann Benitez The Philippines yesterday warned of possible retaliation against Hong Kong's decision to cut the pay and impose a levy on the hiring of foreign maids. President Gloria...

Wages could fall even further, warn workers' groups.
February 28, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Mary Ann Benitez The imposition of a levy on maids could accelerate the illegal hiring of foreign domestic helpers, concern groups warned yesterday. More maids will be underpaid and...

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? MARCO FRANCHINI A dedicated follower of fashion.
February 28, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) AFTER 150 YEARS in the footwear, accessories and leather goods business, Bally International has recently been going through some soul searching. Or rebranding, more precisely. The privately-owned...

ABN Amro seals China funds deal The asset manager has positioned itself to launch its first mutual vehicle in the mainland next month.
February 28, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Kirsti Hastings and Bei Hu ABN Amro Asset Management took its first step into China's US$16 billion fund management industry yesterday through a deal sealed with Xiangcai Hefeng Fund Management...

The Guangzhou-Shenzhen superhighway has accounted for the bulk of the profits Toll roads push up Hopewell's interim income.
February 28, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Denise Tsang Strong earnings from its mainland toll roads have driven Hopewell Holdings' net profit up 8 per cent year on year to HK$178 million for the six months to December 31. Profit...

LIFE IN A DAY ANTHONY LAU TING-YIN Industry veteran ensures he is covered, 10 times over.
February 28, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) LIFE INSURANCE Council chairman Anthony Lau Ting-yin has more than 10 life policies to his name - evidence of his loyalty to the industry in which he has worked for 30 years. Back then, the young Mr...

Home loan approvals fall 14.6pc in January.
February 28, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Raymond Ma Residential mortgage approvals fell 14.6 per cent last month from December, led by a fall in primary residential transactions. But the asset quality of home loans remained...

HK retailers predicted to suffer drop in trade.
February 28, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Mary Ann Benitez Retailers and service industries will lose out when the wage cut and levy on employers come into effect, maids' groups said yesterday. Eman Villanueva, of United...

Minsheng bond offer is snapped up.
February 28, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Bei Hu China Minsheng Banking Corp's four billion yuan (about HK$3.76 billion) convertible bond offer has been oversubscribed, underwriter Haitong Securities said yesterday. Analysts had...

Doubts raised on plan to lure rich Critics say the investment threshold is too high and residency terms too steep.
February 28, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Jimmy Cheung Hong Kong will be unable to compete successfully with other countries for rich immigrants unless a new scheme to lure investors is made more appealing, experts warned yesterday....

Developers optimistic on raising sales.
February 28, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Sophia Wong and Kenneth Ko Developers are working on new strategies to tap foreign money following the introduction of the investment immigration policy. Cheung Kong (Holdings) executive...

Local helpers uneasy at levy on maids The two groups serve different markets, says a union, as it calls for cheaper transport and greater job security.
February 28, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Chow Chung-yan Local domestic helpers said yesterday the decision to impose a levy on employers of foreign maids to promote jobs for them was senseless and illogical. The government should...

Limiting welfare rights `will reduce friction in society' The government's top adviser says there will be less discrimination if migrants are not seen as a financial burden.
February 28, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Ella Lee and Louisa Yan Restricting welfare payments to permanent residents will help harmonise society and is in keeping with the Hong Kong spirit, the government's chief adviser said...

The deal is part of an ongoing repayment exercise and keeps a promise to creditors to shed non-core or loss-making assets GDI sells out of five firms to cut debt.
February 28, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Winston Yau Debt-ridden Guangdong Investment (GDI) will sell its stakes in two Hong Kong-listed subsidiaries and three private companies to its parent for HK$1.45 billion. The long-awaited...

Appeals for tax on fuel to be scrapped.
February 28, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Annette Chiu and Cheung Chi-fai With war looming in Iraq, Hong Kong's transport industry has intensified calls for government relief from surging energy prices. A vehicle protest aimed at...

Sustainable Development Council launched The long-awaited group will advise the government on how to balance the needs of the economy, society and environment.
February 28, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Cheung Chi-fai and Heike Philips After a delay of three years, the Sustainable Development Council was officially established yesterday. The council will be headed by the Chief Secretary,...

Core asset of Three Gorges scheme granted 48pc tariff rise The boost to profitability will help fund-raising for the $169b, 18,200 MW project.
February 28, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Eric Ng A 48 per cent rise in tariffs has been approved for the core hydro power assets owned by the developer of China's Three Gorges hydro project. The move would bolster the plant's...

ETA urged to put deals under one firm.
February 28, 2003... (From Bangkok Post) Byline: Wichit Chantanusornsiri The Expressway and Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (ETA) should consolidate its various road concessions under a single company to improve its financial position, according to...

Steep price cuts draw fury of suppliers.
February 28, 2003... (From Bangkok Post) Byline: Sukanya Jitpleecheep Local suppliers and retailers are up in arms against a new wave of deep price cuts by hypermarket operators led by Tesco Lotus, which they say are driving them out of business. ...

SVI's factory to boost revenue.
February 28, 2003... (From Bangkok Post) Byline: Srisamorn Phoosuphanusorn SVI Plc, a printed circuit board assembler for original equipment manufacturers, expects revenue to reach US$120 million (5.1 billion baht) within two years now that its second...

PTTEP to sell B6bn in bonds by mid-year.
February 28, 2003... (From Bangkok Post) Byline: Yuthana Priwan PTT Exploration and Production Plc (PTTEP) plans to issue baht-denominated debentures worth up to six billion baht to fund its business expansion overseas and at home. The debentures,...