Asia Africa Intelligence Wire articles from September 2003, page 1000

Asia Africa Intelligence Wire archives from September 2003

Researchers sew up a smart new future for the fashion world Coming soon - suits that change into dresses at the touch of a button.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Patsy Moy Chameleon-like jackets that change colour according to your mood, power suits that can be changed into party dresses at the push of a button, and gloves that translate sign language...

Residents unaware of permit changes.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Ernest Kong More then 40 per cent of people in Shanghai and Beijing say they do not know they can visit Hong Kong as individual travellers from today, according to a survey. The study,...

New rules aim to improve civil rights.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Verna Yu New rules aimed at improving the civil rights of people on the mainland take effect today. They include one that strengthens homeowners' rights and another that standardises legal aid...

Schools told to stay alert to Sars risk.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Polly Hui Schools and parents should not lower their defences against Sars and other infectious diseases, a pressure group on medical policy has warned. Although wearing masks is no longer...

New schools offer both academic and job training The eight institutions are aiming to give their Form Four pupils all-round skills.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Polly Hui The tough job market has resulted in the emergence of a new type of secondary school aiming to equip students with both academic and vocational qualifications. Among the schools...

Shocking state of Aboriginal health revealed Most die 20 years earlier than other Australians.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Roger Maynard in Sydney A damning report on the health of Aborigines has revealed little progress in narrowing the gap that sees most indigenous people dying 20 years earlier than other...

Racing season threatens soccer bets Analysts predict lower football turnover now that horses are back in the running.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Peter Michael Gambling analysts are predicting a slump in the popularity of soccer betting following yesterday's launch of the horse-racing season. Some observers believe the "thrill...

Arroyo scrambles to restore stability as crisis grows President not doing enough to boost confidence, making economic and political progress unlikely, say analysts.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Peter Kammerer Foreign Editor Amid fears of a coup d'etat, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's officials are taking steps to restore political and economic stability - moves...

Road to recovery.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) We are pleased to see from recent reports in your newspaper that new Financial Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen recognises the need to attend to three issues which the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Hong...

Let the bankers say no.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Recapitalising China's Big Four banks may be a necessary condition for a healthy financial system, but it is hardly a sufficient one ("Massive bailout proposed for banks", South China Morning Post, August...

Business Briefs.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Sales tax I refer to the concern of the French Chamber of Commerce about the effect of a goods and services tax (GST) on tourist shopping in Hong Kong ("French chamber to oppose HK sales tax", August...

Now Tung gets in on the finger-pointing act Artist uses a security laws protest to get his anti-government message across.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Jimmy Cheung A display of pictures featuring Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa raising his middle finger yesterday won an award in a competition organised by a group of artists. The work was...

Spend now, and our children must pay later.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Although marginally less bloated than the US deficit, other rich countries are also drowning in red ink. The European Commission predicts the French government deficit will reach 3.7 per cent of GDP this...

Nuclear horror.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) I refer to the letter headlined "First strike" (August 29). Alex Ng believes a US and allied invasion of North Korea is the perfect way to end the nuclear stand-off. What if Pyongyang is capable...

Lessons from Japan OBSERVEREdith Terry.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Across the crowded ballroom, Japanese management guru Kenichi Ohmae is about to mesmerise 500 businessmen and women in Hong Kong's glittering Marriott Hotel. Sitting next to me is the representative of the...

Parents rush births for school deadlines.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Alice Yan Since the introduction of the one-child policy more than 20 years ago, mainland parents have been exerting pressure on their children to perform well academically. Now, some are going...

Corporate reforms back on agenda HKEx renews efforts to introduce quarterly reporting of company results and disclosure of directors' pay.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Enoch Yiu Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing is planning to relaunch a consultation this year on controversial proposals to require companies to report results every three months and disclose...

Hiker plunges to her death.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) A hiker plunged 50 metres to her death as she tried to help another climber up a cliff near the Po Lin Monastery on Lantau yesterday. Wong Yuk-yin, 40, was among a party of 100 attempting to climb Nei...

HIV-infected haemophiliacs plan to sue US drug firm.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Ella Lee At least 23 Hong Kong haemophiliacs who contracted HIV through contaminated blood products in the 1980s are planning to sue a US drug company for compensation. Their move...

start the week.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Albert Cheng Through my personal network I have managed to expose confidential Executive Council information on my radio show on several occasions over the past few months. My only intention is...

US congressman is optimistic for HK.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Ravina Shamdasani Visiting US Congressman Jim Leach said yesterday he was optimistic over Hong Kong's economic rebound. He said the American people hoped the city's desire for democracy would...

Disabled surgeon finds hope in helping others see the light.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Caryn Yap Mainland orthopaedic surgeon Zhang Xu is tireless in his efforts to help the disabled, having just completed a rehabilitation course at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and a...

Financial chief to get budget advice.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Jimmy Cheung Financial Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen is about to be bomdarded with conflicting proposals on how to prepare his first budget, ranging from an expansionary strategy to a...

Reality TV made these nobodies stars - will it do the same for HK's wannabes? Cable TV considers making a local version of the hit show American Idol.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Niki Law Viewers will have the power to help turn a wannabe into a singing superstar if a television operator goes ahead with proposals to make a Hong Kong version of the hit reality show...

Business conditions 'best for three years' A survey of purchasing managers supports official optimism on growth.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Ravina Shamdasani Business conditions in Hong Kong are the best they have been in three years, according to the latest Purchasing Managers' Index findings. The monthly indicator of...

Caution on 'over-hyped' market.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Kelvin Chan As general manager of the Holiday Inn Golden Mile in Tsim Sha Tsui, Ted Durham has a good reason to welcome the easing of restrictions on mainland visitors to Hong Kong. But...

Scramble for discount packages to HK Mainland travel agents are eager to cash in as the limits on Beijing and Shanghai visitors are lifted.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Michael Jen-siu in Beijing Mainland travel agents are scrambling to find hotel and airline discounts to cater for the demand from individual travellers to Hong Kong from Beijing and Shanghai....

fanny law's moral tips for the young.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fan, the permanent secretary for education and manpower, will write a series of letters to young people in the new academic year to raise concern and stimulate discussion among teachers...

Law degrees not just for lawyers.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Ravina Shamdasani Part-time law courses have become increasingly popular for people who have no intention of practising as lawyers but are simply seeking to improve their knowledge, according...

Full funeral honours requested for pair killed in helicopter crash Officials are believed to be sympathetic for a heroes' farewell at Gallant Garden.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Marcal Joanilho The Security Bureau is considering a written request from the Government Flying Service for funerals with full honours for the two crew members who died in last week's...

Guesthouse plan for HOS flats on the back burner Business opposition could have scuppered the proposal, says legislator.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Chloe Lai The Hong Kong government appears to have delayed its controversial proposal to convert more than 700 flats from the subsidised Home Ownership Scheme into tourist hostels amid strong...

Business Briefs.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) BEIJING Authorities hope to take 28 million people out of poverty The central government said it aimed to pull more than 28 million people out of extreme poverty before 2010, according to a State...

Cosmetic solutions growing in popularity Beijing women resort to surgery to increase their prospects and pay packets.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Josephine Ma in Beijing and Alice Yan Hao Lulu's decision to undergo six months of plastic surgery to transform her appearance seems to have paid off. She has already achieved the fame she...

Comic book publishers hit back at wave of imports.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Jin Yuejue The Communist Party's Propaganda Department and the State Press and Publications Administration mobilised five publishing houses, 15 comic book series and five cartoon magazines -...

Shanghai key to growth in western regions, says Wen Economic challenge is seen as a stamp of approval in the wake of land scandal.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Bill Savadove in Shanghai Premier Wen Jiabao has urged Shanghai to maintain rapid economic development, giving the central government's stamp of approval to the city following a land corruption...

Reforms a test of stock exchange's mettle.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) With other stock markets around the region moving towards quarterly reporting, Hong Kong risks looking like the laggard for continuing to require reporting of results only once every six months. But with...

Debt trap.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: BANGKOK Supapohn Kanwerayotin Entrepreneur Sawuth Wongnongtoey believes that keeping his 50-strong workforce away from the temptation of quick and easy borrowing sprees is an important...

The swelling cancer of corruption.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) After the collapse of China's big pillar industries such as steel, chemicals and coal, two key pillar industries now drive wealth accumulation in China. One is prostitution, which has made China...

Shame on us.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) The Chinese leadership's Hong Kong policy is now quite clear. It will support the Tung administration and appeal for stability. In order to maintain political and social stability, it will try to help Hong...

Waiting for the Sonys of China? Keep waiting.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Will Chinese manufacturing companies take over the world? To go by the sometimes breathless reporting in the international financial press, it seems that this is all but inevitable. China's low labour costs...

Hospital flu scares serve as timely warning.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Two flu outbreaks, several days apart, at two different hospitals in Hong Kong. These are small signs of what is in store for us when the flu and cold season starts in earnest later this year. They are a...

Don't sweat it.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Few would disagree that a low, steady pace of inflation may, other things being equal, be preferable to general price deflation. But, when Financial Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen says that he regards...

Love and hate.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: BEIJING Allen Cheng Donald Straszheim, former chief economist of Merrill Lynch in New York, recently said something shocking to me: China is going to be the No1 force to change America in the...

Kei-kiu's gummy grin the peak of perfection.
September 1, 2003... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Ernest Kong Four-year-old Chan Kei-kiu will have her enthusiastic, if tooth-free, grin printed on Peak Tram tickets for one year after she won a smiling competition yesterday. However, in...

Dutch pharmacists must give up their discounts.
September 1, 2003... (From Chemical Business NewsBase - Het Financieele Dagblad) From 2004 the Dutch health minister will be able to recover an extra EUR 430 M of the discounts which pharmacists receive from drug wholesalers. This was decided on 29 Aug 2003...

German reforms affect drug R&D.
September 1, 2003... (From Chemical Business NewsBase - Chemical and Engineering News) Pfizer and Merck are modifying plans for research and development in Germany because of the country's proposed health care reforms, which look certain to eat into drug...

Profits surge at Sinopec group.
September 1, 2003... (From Chemical Business NewsBase - Chemical and Engineering News) China Petroleum & Chemical (Sinopec) and the majority of its affiliates had a sharp rise in net profits in 1H 2003. Sinopec's profits rose 117% in 1H to $1.18 bn, on sales...

Cephalon makes offer for Cima.
September 1, 2003... (From Chemical Business NewsBase - Chemical and Engineering News) Cephalon has made a competing bid to take over Cima Labs for $26/share. The cash offer is around 5% up on a stock exchange offer made by aaiPharma in early Aug. In response...

Rohm and Haas takes on peptides.
September 1, 2003... (From Chemical Business NewsBase - Chemical and Engineering News) Rohm and Haas has a new product line targeting peptide synthesis. The company says its new 2-chlorotrityl chloride Ambersynth resins, launched in May, aims at addressing...

Nanomaterials. [1 table, 2 figures].
September 1, 2003... (From Chemical Business NewsBase - Chemical and Engineering News) The use of nanomaterials is leading to small changes in product performance. The technology promises still more in the future and is expected to bring further big changes...

Simple dragonfly inspires high-tech aircraft research.
September 1, 2003... (From Canberra Times) Byline: Rosslyn Beeby, Research & Conservation The high-speed antics of a common Canberra dragonfly may provide vital information for new advances in military technology as well as help to develop unmanned...

MV DIABETES CENTRE PLANS MORE BRANCHES (new full-fledged centre to offer complete diabetes care and contain exclusive diabetes shop).
September 1, 2003... (From India Business Insight) As a part of a project to survey diabetics, MV Diabetes Specialities Centre of Chennai proposes to establish a new branch in the city and expand its network to rural areas of Tamil Nadu. World Health...

EMCURE TO VENTURE INTO BIOTECH WITH MFG FACILITY SOON (to set up a vaccine development and recombinant vaccine development facility).
September 1, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Emcure Pharmaceuticals of Pune is establishing a biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility in six acres at Hinjewadi Biotech Park adjacent to its current 10-acre facility. At present, it manufactures...

RUBY HALL CLINIC, YRG CENTRE JOIN TREAT ASIA HIV PROJECT (project will comprise a network of clinics, hospitals and research sites ensuring effective AIDS treatment).
September 1, 2003... (From India Business Insight) India is expected to harbour the largest number of HIV/AIDS cases in the world requiring response at various levels. The amfAR (American foundation for AIDS research)-an American nongovernmental...

MERCK INDIA OUTSOURCES 70% OF ITS PRODUCTION (resorts to outsourcing as a cost cutting measure).
September 1, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Merck India outsources 70 percent of its product portfolio as a cost cutting measure and produces only 30 percent of its products in-house. The company's product range includes bulk drugs, injections,...

JAITLEY COMPLIMENTS PHARMA INDUSTRY FOR REMARKABLE GROWTH (Indian exports to the US were at $16 billion in 2002-2003).
September 1, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Arun Jaitley, Government of India's Law and Commerce and Industry Minister has paid tributes to the Indian Pharmaceutical industry, which has been successful in meeting the challenges of World Trade...

KINFRA TO SET UP BIOTECH PARKS AT THUMBA AND KALAMASSERY (to boost development of immuno diagnostics and vaccines in the health care sector).
September 1, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (KINFRA) has decided to establish two mega biotechnology parks, one at Kalamassery near Kochi and the other within the KINFRA Apparel Park near...

RANBAXY ARM TIES UP WITH US CO TO MARKET LAB PRODUCTS (to offer over 5,000 products of JT Baker and Mallinckrodt brand in the Indian market).
September 1, 2003... (From India Business Insight) In a bid to become a total laboratory solutions provider, Ranbaxy Fine Chemicals Ltd (RFCL) has entered into a marketing alliance with Mallinckrodt Baker Inc (MBI), of the US to market the US company's...

CIRG, NATURAL REMEDIES TEAM UP FOR VETERINARY DRUG R and D PROJECT (project to develop drugs from natural plant extracts against ectoparasites of goats and other animals).
September 1, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Central Institute for Research on Goats (CIRG) of Mathura and Natural Remedies of Bangalore are jointly involved in a veterinary research project, which is approved by Department of Science and Technology...

Statoil not to change executive director.
September 1, 2003... (From Chemical Business NewsBase - Hospodarske Noviny) Statoil (Norway), oil and gas company, is not going to change its executive director for the time being. The board of directors has kept the executive director in post although it...

Dupont fends off allegations of settlement fraud.
September 1, 2003... (From Chemical Business NewsBase - Pesticide and Toxic Chemical News) A ruling made against a grower in a previous lawsuit has been upheld in the US Court of Appeals. The grower had accused Dupont of fraud in the company's out of court...

Worker protection case overturned due to lack of avidence.
September 1, 2003... (From Chemical Business NewsBase - Pesticide and Toxic Chemical News) The US Court of Appeals for the first District of Texas has reversed a $200,000 compensation decision that had already been reduced by another court from a $300,000...

Australia releases biotechnology strategy.
September 1, 2003... (From Chemical Business NewsBase - Pesticide and Toxic Chemical News) Australia's National Biotechnology Strategy for agriculture, food and fibre was released in late Aug 2003. The document identifies the need to gain the benefits of...

Brazilian biosafety bill unlikely to end soybean crisis.
September 1, 2003... (From Chemical Business NewsBase - Pesticide and Toxic Chemical News) It seems unlikely that a draft biosafety law due for scrutiny by the Brazilian Congress will enable legal planting of Roundup Ready (RR) soybeans for the 2003-2004...

States voice opposition to new NSR change.
September 1, 2003... (From Chemical Business NewsBase - Pesticide and Toxic Chemical News) The New Source Review of the Clean Air Act has again become a focus for legal challenge, with the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts taking...

ROYAL ORCHID LAUNCHES SERVICE APARTMENTS (20 service apartments available on daily, weekly and monthly basis).
September 1, 2003... (From India Business Insight) The five-star property Royal Orchid of the Baljee group has opened its hotel in Bangalore, which has 93 rooms along with 20 serviced apartments. The hotel is targeted at three categories, the long...

DEFAULTING HOTELS OFF THE HOOK, ONLY BRIEFLY (Supreme Court ruling on Mardia Chemicals dampens enthusiasm of lenders to recover NPAs from hotels).
September 1, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Hotels in the country which had defaulted on repayment of loans were under threat of foreclosure by lenders, have been given temporary respite owing to a recent Supreme Court (SC) ruling. The SC prevented...

HOWARD JOHNSON TO OPEN THREE MORE HOTELS IN INDIA (to open hotels in Goa, Mysore and Ooty).
September 1, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Howard Johnson International, which operates 500 hotels in 30 countries, has decided to open three new hotels in Goa, Mysore and Ooty. Currently it is managing nine marketing and general sales agent (GSA)...

KOLKATA'S GOLDEN PARK TIES UP WITH CHOICE FOR QUALITY INN (Golden Park to be renamed Quality Inn The Golden Park and will be positioned as a boutique hotel).
September 1, 2003... (From India Business Insight) The Golden Park Hotel of Kolkata has entered into an agreement for the franchise of Quality Inn with Choice India. The Golden Park is a four-star hotel with 72 rooms, which has achieved 70 percent...

AUSTRALIN HOSPITALITY DEGREE COMES TO OOTY (Regency Institute of TAFE, Adelaide offers three-year Bachelor degree in Business Hospitality Management).
September 1, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Regency Institute of TAFE, Adelaide, Australia is a leading name in hospitality education. It has launched a three-year Bachelor degree in Business Hospitality Management at the Monarch International...

HINDUSTAN SWEETS LAUNCHES RANGE OF HERBAL MEDICINAL SWEETS (sweets made from herbs and skimmed milk are expected to prove beneficial for old people and sportsmen).
September 1, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Hindustan Sweets of Kolkata is set to tap the latent demand for medicinal foods by introducing a range of herbal medicinal sweets. Initially the sweetmeat manufacturer plans to launch the medicinal sweets in...

KIHMCT STREAMLINES OPERATIONS TO ENHANCE MARKET POSITIONING (appoints SL Dhargalkar as advisory director-academic).
September 1, 2003... (From India Business Insight) The Management of the Kohinoor Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology (KIHMCT) have initiated a number of measures to streamline their hospitality education division. KIHMCT comprises of a...

LE CREUSET NOW IN INDIA (international kitchenware launched in Mumbai at a discount of 25%).
September 1, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Le Creuset, leading international kitchenware manufacturers, has launched its entire range of 400-odd products in India. The company is offering a discount of 25 percent on the listed price to institutional...

`THE BOOM WILL COME' (Bharat Hotels Ltd opens two new properties in Mumbai and Goa).
September 1, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Bharat Hotels Ltd opened two major hotels in Aug 2003, one in Mumbai and the other in Goa. Lalit Suri, the Chairman and the Managing Director is unperturbed that the supply of rooms is in excess of demand....

IDS TO LAUNCH FORTUNE ENTERPRISE VERSION 4 (is a hospitality operation software applicable to any kind of Windows environment).
September 1, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Intellect Data System and Software (P) Ltd (IDS) of Bangalore proposes to launch its hospitality operation software, Fortune Enterprise Version 4 in India. The software is a `Graphic User Enterprise' (GUE),...

Coca-Cola files suit against Japanese food additive company, Quest International Japan.
September 1, 2003... (From Chemical Business NewsBase - Food Chemical News) Quest International Japan KK is being taken to court by Coca-Cola, accused of using N-ethyl-4-menthane-3-carboxamide, a lemon flavouring, in its production of Boco and Winnie the Pooh...

FDA panel rejects latex glove ban, citing critical missing data.
September 1, 2003... (From Chemical Business NewsBase - Food Chemical News) A call for a ban on the use of latex gloves in the food sector has been rejected by an advisory panel of the FDA. The panel needs a large amount of additional data relating to...

Snow Brand Milk Products settles court case.
September 1, 2003... (From Chemical Business NewsBase - Food Chemical News) In Jul 2001, a case was filed by nine plaintiffs against Snow Brand Milk Products Co, claiming damages as a result of a large outbreak of foodborne illness caused by contaminated...

Kemira Metlkat Oy becomes Ecocat Oy.
September 1, 2003... (From Chemical Business NewsBase - Press Release) Kemira Metalkat's activities and product range have been expanded and the company has thus changed its name to ECOCAT OY. The company has been making catalytic converters since 1989. It is...