Asia Africa Intelligence Wire articles from January 2004

Asia Africa Intelligence Wire archives from January 2004

New security lineup may bolster U.S. policy change.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) By Sim Sung-tae After 11 months in office, President Roh Moo-hyun replaced his national security adviser yesterday, following a rift within his government over policy toward the United States. Cheong Wa Dae...

Taiwan: gaping hole in WHO net.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) By Andy Ho The Straits Times / Asia News Network In the current bird flu outbreak, there have been no human fatalities in Taiwan yet, but it was scarcely 10 months ago that SARS devastated the island. At the...

Amnesty spoils elections.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) A politician elected to the National Assembly in 2000 was deprived of his office last month when the Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that his election should be annulled because of his illegal...

Getting back into the Confucian groove.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) By Iris Moon Ask any cool Korean teenager to describe Confucius and immediately, the eye-rolling begins. If they choose to reply to your question, they will probably describe a Chinese curmudgeon with a flowing...

Concert celebrates Korea-Hungary ties.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) A special piano concert will mark the 15-year anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and Hungary. Sponsored by the Hungarian Embassy and the Korean Liszt Society, the concert and reception will take...

Han-na Chang wins major recording award.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) By Warren Lee Korean cellist Han-na Chang was awarded a 2004 Prix International du Disque, or Cannes Classical Award, one of the most prestigious prizes in classical music. Her recent EMI Classics recording of...

Korean idol's comeback shiny enough for metal.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) By O Youn-hee and Andrew Petty Impressive, but not fantastic. Not bad, but not amazing. Seo Tai-ji's highly anticipated comeback concert held at Olympic Park Thursday attempted to win over a Korean audience again....

Missing children found dead in Bucheon.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) Two elementary school children who went missing Jan. 14 near their homes in Bucheon near Seoul were found dead on top of a nearby mountain, police said yesterday. According to the local police, a member of a...

Why can't we make a better choice?
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) By Choi Gong-pil As they compete fiercely to promote their national interests, most emerging countries have few available choices, and these invariably involve significant social costs. Their condition can only be...

NIS sparks furor over mobile phone records.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) By Joo Sang-min A dispute is brewing over the state-run spy agency's inspection of the mobile phone records of a reporter from a local daily after she wrote a story on a policy rift within the government. The...

N.K. defectors to launch Web radio station.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) North Korean defectors in South Korea will establish an Internet radio station devoted to the topic of Pyongyang's infringements on human rights. Their goal is to raise awareness among South Koreans and...

Market knows better.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) Pressure is pushing the Korean won up against the U.S. dollar, as the nation's trade surpluses are soaring and foreigners are investing heavily in Korean blue chips. Now policymakers watching fluctuations in...

Contractors, steelmakers feud over product price rises.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) By Revekah Kim Construction companies are feuding with domestic steelmakers over continuing price rises for steel products. The nation's steelmakers increased prices on key steel products 30 percent last year,...

Analysts positive on Shinsegae outlook; Retail giant plans to.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) By Kim Sung-mi Retail giant Shinsegae Co., Ltd. is likely to be on an upward swing this year, with its record investment of 800 billion won to consolidate its market leadership, brokerage houses say. "We advise...

Panel wants 2-year grace period for new airline mileage rules.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) By Koh Byung-joon Fair Trade Commission Chairman Kang Chul-kyu said yesterday that he would report breach of contract violations to prosecutors if Korean airlines do not delay their revision of frequent-flier...

KEB to prioritize client service, asset clean-up: CEO.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) Korea Exchange Bank will place its top priority on developing financial products and trimming impaired assets, rather than seek to acquire another lender just to make it bigger, the bank's new head said yesterday....

Ministry lists 10 technologies to power growth.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) By Kim Ji-hyun The government yesterday announced 10 new technologies developed last year with the most potential to contribute to Korea's economic growth. Of the list, four are the leading technologies in the...

SK Corp. loss narrows on surging margins.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) By Rafael Nam Amid a showdown with its largest foreign shareholder, SK Corp., the nation's largest oil refiner, said yesterday its net loss in the fourth quarter narrowed on surging operating margins. The company...

Government to bring jobs to science sector.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) By Kim Tae-gyun The government plans to create more than 10,000 new jobs by 2007 for students majoring in engineering and sciences, the Ministry of Science and Technology said yesterday. The ministry will launch...

Immigrating to the U.S.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) Dear Sean: I'm an American citizen who married a Korean national three years ago. We intend to move to the U.S. this year. What is the most expedient way to navigate the complicated process? Bewildered in Seoul....

Housewife makes Lao Zi smile again.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) By Kim Jin Three years ago, scholar and television lecturer Kim Yong-oak, known by his penname "Do-ol," created a sensation with his lecture series on the "Dao De Jing" by Lao Zi on KBS. His captivating...

Jeju to host PGA in Nov.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) By O Youn-hee The Korea Golf Championship will be held on Jeju Island from Nov. 22- 28, marking the first time that an Asian country is hosting an officially sanctioned PGA tournament. The Korea National Tourism...

Daum earnings drop 38% in fourth quarter.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) By Lee Kyoung-ah Daum Corp. posted a more than 38-percent drop in ordinary income in the fourth quarter of last year, disappointing analysts who had expected higher results from the portal Web site. Daum,...

Earning an international reputation.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) By Kim Hoo-ran The Grand Hyatt Seoul sits majestically atop Mt. Nam; the glass exterior of the 20-storey building reflecting the sunlight, glowing in warm amber hues. The 25-year-old hotel is literally a gem of a...

Businesses face tougher future: Currency exchange, bird flu, labor.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) By Kim Hyun-chul Many Korean companies are facing a series of difficulties, including a stronger won, rising raw material prices, the spread in Asia of bird flu and industrial actions by labor unions. Among...

MDP, Blue House clash over probe: Former ruling party takes.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) By Lee Joo-hee The Millennium Democratic Party and the Blue House are on a collision course after the prosecution probed the party's former leader over a graft scandal Wednesday. Analysts said the battle...

Exports underpinning shaky production growth; Analysts forecast.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) By Kim Ji-ho New industrial data confirmed again that strengthening external demand is keeping the Korean economy rolling while the country waits for domestic spending to follow suit. The 10.4-percent growth...

Kang set to beat box-office record.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) By Kim Jin The story of director Kang Woo-suk and his film "Silmido" is not about a man climbing to the top of his field. It is the story of a man already at the top soaring to dizzying heights. This week,...

Roh replaces security, defense advisers.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) By Sim Sung-tae President Roh Moo-hyun replaced his national security adviser yesterday in a minor reshuffle of his presidential staff. Kwon Chin-ho, the deputy head of the National Intelligence Service,...

Seoul currency intervention seen too risky.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) By Rafael Nam As far as comments on the domestic currency go, the government is leaving no room for nuance: It will fire all its artillery to prevent the won from appreciating. Several government officials,...

Allies hope to include nuclear inspection in first N.K. checks.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) By Seo Hyun-jin South Korea, the United States and Japan will urge North Korea to accept inspection of its atomic weapons development as one of the first-step actions to end the ongoing nuclear tension, diplomatic...

Goh says may resign after April elections.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) By Choe Yong-shik Prime Minister Goh Kun said he may resign after the April general election regardless of the results for the pro-government Uri Party. "I am seriously considering resigning after the general...

Lotto ticket price, jackpots to be halved.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) By Kim So-young The price of a Lotto ticket will be cut to 1,000 won from 2,000 won beginning in August, but the biggest jackpot of the national lottery is also expected to be halved, a move that will likely draw...

Activists protest ruling on tideland project.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) By Kim Kyung-ho Environmental groups are protesting Thursday's ruling by the Seoul High Court to override a lower court's decision to suspend the controversial Saemangeum reclamation project. They favor the...

December output records highest gains in 12 months.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) By Koh Byung-joon The nation's industrial output increased more than 10 percent in December from a year earlier, the fastest pace in 12 months, suggesting that the economy is mounting a recovery after last year's...

Army opens memorial to war dead.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) The Korean Army will open this weekend a memorial commemorating its approximately 165,000 war dead, an Army official said yesterday. The memorial has the names of fallen soldiers inscribed on copper plates on...

JCS chief to visit U.S. bases in Japan.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) Gen. Kim Jong-hwan, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will visit U.S.-led U.N. Command bases in Japan next week, his office said yesterday. Kim's Feb. 1-4 visit is aimed at cementing the half-century...

Businessman inquired in illicit funds probe.
January 31, 2004... (From The Korea Herald) The special counsel's team yesterday grilled Kim Seong-rae, the vice chairwoman of Sun & Moon Group, over an allegation the group delivered illicit funds to President Roh Moo-hyun's campaign organization during...

FIRE-RETARDANT DOORS (Basic Arch Products launches fire-retardant doors conforming to international standards).
January 31, 2004... (From India Business Insight) Basic Arch Products Pvt Ltd (BAPPL) has launched fire- retardant doors conforming to British Standard BS: 476 Part 22 and IS:3614 Part 2. The doors are available in single leaf and double leaf formats and can...

WINDSOR WORKPLACE (workspace offers 3,00,000 sq ft area in Bombay-Kurla Complex).
January 31, 2004... (From India Business Insight) Windsor Workspace is located in the Bandra-Kurla complex in Mumbai and has been designed by Hafeez Contractor. It has a large and spacious lobby with a triple height atrium and has an area of about 3,00,000...

MARWAH CENTRE (business centre has two wings on each floor and adequate basement parking for vehicles).
January 31, 2004... (From India Business Insight) Marwah Centre is the first of MarwahSpace's business centre in Mumbai. It is located in Andheri (E) and is the latest state-of-the-art project promoted by MarwahSpace. It has an innovative design with...

ITALIAN COMPANIES EYE INDIA FOR WATER, SEWAGE PROJECTS (sign agreements to study water and sewage treatment in Howrah, Asansol, Durgapur and Siliguri).
January 31, 2004... (From India Business Insight) A special wing of the Milan Chamber of Commerce, the Association of Public Utilities of the Lombardi region of Italy has signed agreements for detailed studies on water and sewage treatment technologies of...

PSL TO SUPPLY SPIRAL-WELD PIPES (to supply 75,000 metres of pipes in various diameters to the Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board).
January 31, 2004... (From India Business Insight) PSL Ltd (PSLL) is supplying spiral-weld pipes to the Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board for the Gujarat Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Project to be taken up in the Kutch area of the state....

HCC TO EXECUTE TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS WORTH Rs333 CRORE (to execute civil works of the Laole-Qazigund section of Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla road).
January 31, 2004... (From India Business Insight) Hindustan Construction Co Ltd (HCC) is executing two projects worth Rs333 crore. The company will execute the civil works of the Laole-Qazigund section of Udhampur- Srinagar-Baramulla road in Jammu and...

DLF TO INVEST IN COMMERCIAL SPACE (to invest Rs300 crore to put up 2.4 million sq ft of commercial space).
January 31, 2004... (From India Business Insight) The DLF group is investing Rs300 crore to put up 2.4 million sq ft of commercial space by Mar 2005. It will also put up four million sq ft of residential space and one million sq ft of commercial space by...

A MALL TO SHOWCASE PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING SECTOR (Deepak Fertilizers and Petrochemicals' Urban Spaces to showcase products and services related to construction business).
January 31, 2004... (From India Business Insight) Deepak Fertilizers and Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd (DFPC) plans to put up a specialty mall extending across 5,00,000 sq ft in Pune. It will invest Rs100 crore in the mall, which will showcase all products...

NAVI MUMBAI SEZs MAY BE MERGED (Sea King Infrastructure to take over both the projects).
January 31, 2004... (From India Business Insight) The Navi Mumbai and Maha Mumbai special economic zones likely to be merged and Sea King Infrastructure Ltd (SKIL) is projected to take over both the projects. The projects extend over 100 sq km and...

KERALA INVITES EOI FOR VIZHINJAM PORT (the state proposes to develop the port as a joint venture between the Government of India, the state government and a private partner).
January 31, 2004... (From India Business Insight) The Kerala government will invite expressions of interest for the development of the Vizhinjam port with the first phase slated to be completed by the end of 2007. A consortium of international consultants,...

JNPT'S INTEGRATED EXPANSION PROJECT (plans a $1-billion mega integrated port project at Nhava Sheva).
January 31, 2004... (From India Business Insight) The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) is planning a mega $one billion integrated port project at Nhava Sheva, which will cover the fourth container terminal, a marine chemical terminal, back-up yards and...

KARNATAKA TO DEVELOP MINOR, INTERMEDIATE PORTS (state government to develop at least three more minor ports at strategic locations).
January 31, 2004... (From India Business Insight) The Karnataka government is looking at private investors to develop minor and intermediate ports in the state. Karnataka presently has nine minor ports and the government wants to develop at least three more...

CONCOR TO SET UP CFS AT VIZAQ RAIL STATION (the Rs10 crore project is likely to be completed in nine months).
January 31, 2004... (From India Business Insight) The Container Corporation of India (Concor) has invited tenders to set up a container freight station (CFS) at the old railway station in Visakhapatnam (Vizag), which is lying in disuse since 1997. The Rs10...

ADB APPROVES LOAN FOR RURAL ROAD PROJECT (the $400 million loan to be used for building 11,000 km of all-weather roads in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh).
January 31, 2004... (From India Business Insight) Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $400 million loan for building 11,000 kilometres of all-weather roads in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh as part of the Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Vikas Yojana....

War far from over.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Al S. Mendoza IT WAS like old times. I beat you today, you beat me tomorrow? Such is the rivalry that coaches Leo Austria and Junel Baculi had exhibited in the not-so-distant past. ...

Analysts see close fight.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Juliet Labog-Javellana PRESIDENT Macapagal-Arroyo should convince Raul Roco to drop out of the presidential race so she can work to beat Fernando Poe Jr. Two political analysts-Tony...

Badminton ace loses slot in pool.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Marc Anthony Reyes A FORMER national player yesterday cried foul after he was taken off the Philippine Badminton Association pool. Owen Lopez, ranked No. 5 nationally, questioned the basis...

GMA assures senators she'll talk to Speaker.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Christine O. Avendano and Carlito Pablo PRESIDENT Macapagal-Arroyo assured senators on Thursday she would talk to Speaker Jose de Venecia about the latter's proposal to reenact the 2003...

Arroyo kin accused of estafa.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) A BUSINESSMAN based in Australia has accused an alleged cousin of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo of failing to pay debts amounting to over 110,000 Australian dollars (P4.7 million). Edwin "Alla"...

Laurel deserves state funeral.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Belinda Olivares-Cunanan THE CLOSE Supreme Court voting on the suspension of the Jan. 30 execution of convicted kidnappers Roberto Lara and Roderick Licayan reflects the deep division within...

Comelec asked to disqualify actress from mayoral race.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) AGOO, La Union-Six residents here have asked the Commission on Elections to cancel the certificate of candidacy of the actress-daughter of La Union Rep. Tomas Dumpit and disqualify her from running for...

Coke close to signing up Reavis.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: June Navarro RAFI Reavis, a certified workhorse in the middle, is close to signing a pact that will determine the future of the other Coca-Cola players whose contracts expired at the beginning...

Condemn Kawal plot, GMA dares opponents.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Juliet Labog-Javellana Cynthia D. Balana and TJ Burgonio PRESIDENT Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday dared her political opponents to come out and condemn the latest reported destabilization attempt...

Express stock up on young RP standouts.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) COACH Boni Garcia now has a team teeming with youth. Whether the FedEx Express can translate this to victories is the big question, though. The Express enter their third season in the Philippine...

FPJ's education plan flunks.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) LEGAZPI CITY-Thousands of students from different universities and colleges here expressed disappointment over candidate for president Fernando Poe Jr.'s failure to fully explain his concept of improving...

Bernis takes 1st title by 4 strokes.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Musong Castillo, Contributor CANLUBANG-With steely resolve, Jun Bernis dispatched his pursuers with a three-under-par 69 yesterday to capture the ninth DHL-NGAP Amateur Open championship by...

Fugitive bride nailed on day she got hitched.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Leila Salaverria CLARITA Chua on Thursday afternoon was a blushing bride when she stepped out of the St. Peter's Parish in Quezon City-and walked right into the arms of agents of the National...

RP free of bird flu, Dayrit insists.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Blanche S. Rivera and Martin P. Marfil HEALTH authorities yesterday invited the media to a chicken chowdown in an effort to prove that the bird flu virus has not reached the Philippines. ...

Gabi title defense March 19.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Salven L. Lagumbay, Contributor WORLD Boxing Council International flyweight champion Diosdado "Prince" Gabi defends his title against Thailand's Vanmichok Kannorasing on March 19 at the...

Groups say rights abuses issue vs Gloria in polls.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) LUCENA CITY-Militant human rights groups warned President Macapagal-Arroyo that human rights abuses committed by her soldiers in Southern Tagalog will become an election issue against her. "The GMA...

Reader reactions.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Isagani A. Cruz AT THE RISK of seeming to self-levitate, I am reproducing hereunder some letters I have received recently about this column. If they happen to be uniformly friendly, it is...

'Kawal's only goal is to replace Ermita'.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Tony Bergonia THE EMERGENCE of a group of military officers calling themselves the "Kawal Pilipino" is part of a plot to pressure President Macapagal-Arroyo into dismissing Defense Secretary...

2 Maguindanao bets vow peaceful polls.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) COTABATO CITY-Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan and his challenger Rep. Guimid Matalam have vowed to ensure peaceful and orderly elections in May. "Both have committed not to use force and violence to...

Manila to sell parcel of fire-ravaged Baseco.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Tarra Quismundo THE MANILA City Council has approved a resolution that will give Mayor Joselito Atienza Jr. the power to sell or grant to any party 1,100 sq.m. of land inside the Bataan...

Puzzle.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) WHAT exactly were the five junior military officers up to when they faced selected members of the press last Monday? Malacanang says they were trying to mount a coup. Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio...

Measles kills 27 kids in E. Visayas.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Joey A. Gabieta, PDI Visayas Bureau TACLOBAN CITY-The regional office of the Department of Health reported that a total of 810 children in Eastern Visayas were afflicted with measles last...

Marcos lawyer files graft case vs Soriquez.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Armand N. Nocum A LAWYER of the Marcoses has filed a graft complaint with the Ombudsman against Public Works Acting Secretary Florante Soriquez. Oliver Lozano charged Soriquez of allegedly...

No increase in pay, only promises for teachers on poll duty.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Martin P. Marfil TEACHERS tasked with manning election precincts on May 10 yesterday asked the Commission on Elections for an increase in pay but failed to get it. Instead, Comelec chair...

Muscovado-producing village is last bastion of Comedia.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Jo M. Clemente, Laua-an, Antique CELLULAR phones don't ring in Ginbangaan, a rarity in this day and age when mobile carriers cover just about every nook and corner of the country. But, there...

Pacquiao-Lorona rematch; Tunacao defense slated.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) CEBU CITY-An exciting rematch between bitter local rivals and a WBC International title bout will be the main supporting events of the WBC junior flyweight interim championship between Filipino Juanito...

Palawan gets P100M from gas revenues.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) PUERTO PRINCESA CITY-The provincial government of Palawan has received P100 million from the national government as part of the P300-million financial assistance package promised by President...

Women's voices through the Anti-VAWC Act.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Rowena V. Guanzon AFTER nine years, victims and women's rights advocates finally got the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 (Anti-VAWC), which the Senate ratified last...

2 Mike A pals set to be named to Comelec-Nene.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Michael Lim Ubac REELECTIONIST Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. last night tried to preempt Malacanang's naming of two men associated with First Gentleman Mike Arroyo as replacements for two...

Peso rallies, but jitters linger.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Clarissa S. Batino, Gil C. Cabacungan Jr. and Mike L. Ubac AFTER SINKING to an all-time low of P56.22 on Thursday, the peso recovered on Friday to close higher at P55.98, buoyed by...

PLDT man heads Pana.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) PHILIPPINE Long Distance Telephone Co. assistant vice president for marketing services Raul S. Alvarez, a 30-year veteran of marketing and research, was recently elected president of the Philippine...

Nothing 'civil' about Boy Saycon, says Dinky.
January 31, 2004... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Volt Contreras A VISIBLY annoyed Social Welfare Secretary Corazon ''Dinky'' Soliman yesterday lashed out at Pastor "Boy" Saycon, the secretary general of the Council on Philippine Affairs who...