IV. International (7-16-09)

. Gradual stabilization in some economies, a muted recovery in others, and a long way to go overall—that was the picture painted by a cluster of data from Asia after the dramatic slowdown of the past few months. The data offered a mix of good and bad news showing that while the free fall in the global economy has at least come to a halt, actual recovery will be patchy, fragile and a long way off.

     . In Japan, the already watched Tankan survey of big manufacturers conducted quarterly by the Bank of Japan, bounced back from a record low it hit in March, coming in at minus 48 (-48) in its June survey. In Japan, which has slipped into its deepest recession in decades, the Tankan business survey rebounded but at a much lower reading than economists had widely expected. In China an official purchasing manager’s index, an equally barometer of economic activity, rose for the 4^th month in June.

     . South Korea reported that exports in June were 11.2% lower than a year earlier, a much smaller decline than the surprisingly poor 28.5% fall recorded in May. The recovery in China’s P.M.I. was muted. Unlike in US and Europe, China’s PMI reading has been above the 50 mark that separates expansion from contraction for 4 months.

. Ethnic violence in China’s restive Xinjiang province has left almost 300 people dead and hundreds injured, Chinese authorities said, the bloodiest violence in the country since the Tienanmen Square protests.

     . The protests started when several thousand people rallied in the grand bazaar to protest the death of two Uighur migrants, and inquiries suffered by hundreds of others, during an ethnic conflict between workers in a factory in Guangdong, southern China last month.

     . Muslim Uighurs are indigenous ethnic majority in Xinjiang. The region has seen an influx of Han Chinese, seeking to profit from its gas & oil resources, which has stirred up resentment.

. How long will China come out of the public relations nightmare of their repression of minorities in their midst, using deadly force to silence dissent and stifle free expression. US lawmakers came to the defense of Rebiya Kadeer, the leader of Uighur exiles in the US, after Beijing accused her of promoting te county’s deadliest ethnic violence in decades.

     . During a Free Tibet concert in Taipei (7/11), supporters made the “T” (sign) to represent Tibet. The campaign gathered over 200 supporters and watched a video of the Dalai Lama’s message for young people in Taiwan and to protest over the Chinese Communist rule in Tibet.

     . The passionate anger of the weekend riots that killed over 200 people gave way to old bitterness on both sides of the ethnic divide in China’s strife-torn Muslim region of Xinjiang and was likely to last long after the troops depart.

. North Korea fired two short-range missiles off its eastern coast (7/2) in defiance of UN sanctions imposed after a nuclear test, South Korea’s military said.

     . The US and North Korea put their military forces in high alert after NK renounced the truce keeping the peace between the two Koreas since 1953. The North also accused the US of preparing to attack the isolated Communist country in the wake of its second nuclear bomb test and warned that it would retaliate to any hostility with merciless and dangerous ferocity.

     . North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has life-threatening pancreatic cancer, a report said 7/13, days after fresh images of him looking grunt spawned speculation that his health was worsening after a reported stroke last year.

. Visitors covered in mud in a pool during a mud festival at Daechon swimming beach in Boryeong, 190 kms, SW of Seoul, South Korea. The annual festival aims to encourage use of mud as cosmetic skin cure and to provide tourism in the region. The 12^th annual mud festival features mud wrestling, mud sliding and a mud king contest.

     . The Financial Supervisory Service said (7/14) that a total of 113 small- and medium-sized companies would be subject to corporate restructuring. FSC said 13.1% of the total 816 SMEs with debts of 5 to 50 billion won received a C- or D- grade in the 1^st round of credit-risk evaluation by 18 creditor banks.

     . The CEO of Korea Investment Corp (KIC) said it would invest $1 billion in inflation-hedging assets, such as priced-link bonds, commodities and real estate assets as part of the existing strategy.

. The Philippine population now stands at around 90 million, with an annual growth rate of 2.04%, one of the highest in Asia and above the government’s target of 1.9%.

     . What kind of government is so corrupt to steal from its own people, using various underhanded tactics? One of these actions is to charge departing immigrants to other countries or returning immigrants from abroad fees that are normally charged OFWs (overseas foreign workers). Where does the money go? What do they get in return for these fees?

     . Expect the end of Philippine nurses coming to the US! The government is responsible for killing the program by requiring graduating nurses to spend a 3-year internship before they can be certified. What is wrong with the internship is that the nurses must pay the hospital between 3k to 6k pesos for providing them “training” while they hospital benefits from their services pro bono? This is legitimizing robbery and stealing from poor families!

. With influenza A H1N1 infections spreading across the country, Indonesia recorded its second death from what was believed to be H1N1 in Bali (7/14). Two days earlier, a 9-year old boy died at M. Djamil General Hospital in Padang, West Sumatra. On 7/14, a 55-year old man died at Sanglah Hospital in Denpasar.

     . Daily life in Jakarta has returned to normal following the reelection of Pres. Yudhoyono who will now be challenged to assemble a government that is bold enough to take on persistent corruption, poverty and human rights violations.

     . Following the Golkar Party’s poor showing in the April 9 legislative election and outright defeat in the July 9 presidential election, the party’s younger members have demanded they be given significant leadership roles to prevent the party from losing additional ground in the future.

. Malaysia will abandon teaching math and science in English, saying that too many children from poor rural areas were failing in and was being failed by the program.

     . The concept of a water taxi service connecting Penang Island and the mainland under the Northern Corridor Economic Region has received the federal government’s approval.

     . Malaysia’s palm oil output, down 4% in the first half from a year ago, is likely to fall further as the government continues to drop down unproductive oil palm trees.

. Viet Nam demanded the “immediate and unconditional” release of twelve Vietnamese fishermen being held by them, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on 7/9.

     . The 18^th conference of Ha Noi Municipal People’s Council, was opened here (7/15) to review socio-economic development over the first half of the year, and plan for the rest of the year.

     . A campaign to mobilize support and call for justice for victims of Agent Orange (AO) will be held August 10. AO is a toxic chemical used by the US military during the American War (Vietnam War).

. An offensive launched by Myanmar troops against ethnic Karen rebels has caused what aid groups say is the biggest exodus of refugees since 1997, with some 4k people fleeing for safety since the start of June.

     . The US is defending its efforts to push Myanmar to make democratic changes as the State Dept reviews US policy towards the military-run country.

     . Myanmar’s pro democracy opposition said was skeptical of the government’s plan to grant amnesty to political prisoners despite an announcement to the United Nations to do so.

. The clause in the Major Economies Forum’s statement that since the global temperatures can be capped at two degrees above pre-industrial levels has been interpreted as indirectly “foisting emission caps on India.”

     . The Intelligence Bureau warned that at least seven place in Maharahtra, including a reported bank in Mumbai and an important railway junction in Navi Mumbai, could be attacked. The alert also contains photographs of the seven targets.

     . Overseas Indians sent $52 billion to their homeland in 2008.

. Pakistani battle against the Taliban widened to the N. Waziristan tribal region after fighters loyal to a local militant commander killed 23 soldiers in an ambush on an army convoy in apparent retaliation from recent US drone attack.

     . PM Yousuf R. Gilani said that relations with India were on the right track and that peace between the 2 arch foes was achievable. Gilani was addressing participants at a Summit of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Egypt.

     . State Secretary Hillary Clinton is going to Pakistan in the fall saying the US goal of defeating al Quaeda and its Taliban allies required working with Pakistan. She reiterated US willingness to deal with Taliban members who renounce al Quaeda, lay down their arms and are willing to participate in a democratic Afghanistan.

. Ford cars were formally launched in Bangladesh on 7/13. Commerce Minister Muhammad Faruk Khan formally launched the new 2010 model cars of RORD as chief guest at an inaugural ceremony at Fords Center in Uttara.

     . Was Banglasdeshi PM Sheikh Hasina Wajed fed poisoned food while in detention during 2007-2008? The question is a matter of concern not only for her health alone but also for the country that gave her a landslide election victory at the end of last year.

     . On 6/27 in a TV program that went almost unnoticed outside Bangladesh, a top leader of Hasina’s Awami League (AL) alleged that she was served poison-laced food for an unspecified period as an under-trial prisoner facing charges of corruption during her earlier term in elected office. He was arrested 7-16-07 by an army-backed regime and released on bail 6-12-08.

" Supporting Asian and Minority Businesses"