IV. International (08-16-06)
. China, Russia and several Central Asian
nations, along with Iran, North Korea, Cuba & Venezuela
(among others) have combined to create various foreign
policy problems for the US.
. For cell phone users in parts of Asia,
camera phones with resolutions of up to 10 megapixels
are yesterday’s news. But for people on this side of the
globe, a3.2 megapixel camera phone that just hit the
streets is a big deal.
. There is in all of Africa no more
destructive bilateral relationship than that between
China and Sudan, certainly when viewed from the
perspective of US interests and those of the people of
Sudan.
. Beijing’s relentless military, commercial
and diplomatic support of the National Islamic Front
regime has done much to ensure that Sudan remains
controlled by a vicious cabal of genocidaires.
. The Chinese government’s focus on
curbing lending by banks to cool down the economy is
misplaced. It won’t work because companies increasingly
rely on their own resources and business networks to
raise investment capital. The only solution is to
increase the value of the yuan.
. Despite belt-tightening measures to cool
down the overheated real-estate sector, China’s property
developers are set to post strong earnings for the first
half of the year. But Beijing’s measures, which include
a new tax, could push up the price of second-hand
houses.
. Industry insiders say US health care and
cosmetics giant Johnson & Johnson is on the verge
of taking over Beijing Daboo Cosmetics.
. The current 40% ceiling on investment in
mainland China by Taiwan enterprises remains in
place because no consensus was forged on the issue
during a recent economic conference.
. Former DPP (Dem Progressive Party) chairman
Shih Ming-the, “Nelson Mandela of Taiwan” unveiled his
drive to depose Pres. Chen Shui-bian, saying he had
taken action on behalf of Taiwan, justice and integrity.
. While still pursuing closer relationship
with Taiwan, US officials now appear to be balancing
criticisms of PRC military buildup opposite Taiwan with
periodic cautions and warning—to the effect that US
support for Taiwan is now conditional.
. The summer exodus reached its peak at the main
international airports in the Osaka and Tokyo
areas in Japan amid heightened security,
following the foiled British terror plot.
. August 15 was the 61st
anniversary of Emperor Hirohito’s capitulation speech
that ended WWII. Yet even in a world assailed ever since
with ghastly images of conflicts, few rank with ferocity
both sides showed in the battle for Iwo Jima,
Japan’s first “home” island to fall in the spring of
1945.
. In 5 weeks of fighting in February & March
1945, after the guns fell silent, nearly 7k Allied
troops were dead and just 1,080 of the 21,800 Japanese
defenders had been taken alive.
. The number of air travelers and Incheon
International Airport in South Korea
surpassed 100k last Saturday for the first time since
the airport opened in 2001. The peak of the summer
vacation period contributed to the record high.
. Seven out of ten housewives are reluctant
to buy beef produced in the US, even though the
government is set to lift its 31-month ban on imports of
US beef in a nationwide survey of 651 housewives by the
Korea Rural Economic Institute.
. More than one in three owners of imported
cars were women, according to a recent survey by the
Korean Automobile Importers and Distributors Assn.
(KAIDA), at 42,250 registered by female owners as of
June 2006 versus 77,658 units registered by men.
.
A volcano (Mayon) in the
Philippines
sent 6
explosions of ash about half a mile into the air
prompting authorities to evacuate tens of thousands of
people. It is one of the country’s 22active volcanoes.
Its most violent eruption in 1814 killed more than 1,200
people and buried a town in mud. A 1993 eruption killed
79 people.
.
Over the past decade, RP has become a retirement haven
for thousands of foreigners, particularly Japanese,
Koreans and Northern Europeans. Along with Thailand &
Malaysia, RP developed
communications
infrastructure & service delivery systems, specifically
geared to meet the needs of foreign retirees and
returning nationals.
.
Principal appeal for RP is lower cost of living,
e.g., housing, food and labor costs. As for health care,
most HMOs pay for medical expenses incurred in RP. All
major newspapers and major broadcast companies use
English. Communication links within the country and
other countries are up to international standards.
.
Strategically locate, RP is an airline hub. Hong Kong,
Ho Chi Minh City,
Kuala Lumpur and
Taipei are just an hour and a half flight away; with
Tokyo, Shanghai,
Bangkok & Jakarta are approximately 5 hours.
. Thai
stocks had their biggest drop in 4 weeks on concerns
travel to the country will decline after
London police said they
foiled a plan to blow up airlines.
.
Inflows of investment
from abroad have pushed the baht up 9% this year,
setting it on course for the fastest advance since 1998
and threatening export growth.
.
Flag carrier Thai Airways International returned
to profit in the 3 months to June after a loss a year
earlier, thanks to robust demand from foreign tourists.
.
In a 5-day program (Gourami), which will be held in
Phuket, on September 21-26 this year. Participants will
get to test their various skills as they go about
formulating and executing a business expansion plan.
. The
Shell Gourami Business Challenge was set up by Shell
as an entry requirement for graduates who want to join
the multinational energy corporation. Gourami has been
held across the world to stimulate the full range of
technical and commercial issues that international
energy group face in developing countries.
.
Proton Parts Centre Sdn
Bhd of
Malaysia
expects sales of Proton car parts to grow 19% to RM250
million this year, from RM 210 million previously,
managing director Rali Mohd Nor said.
.
Sun Microsystems Malaysia Sdn Bhd has signed a
collaborative agreement with Universiti
Teknologi Petronas (UTP) to create a partnership
with the Sun Academic Initiative (SAI) to provide
students with training in Sun technologies.
.
The public and non-governmental organizations ae
encouraged to play a more active role in fighting crime,
said MCA deputy president Datuk Choy, by
involving themselves in programs, such as Rakan Cop,
to help create a safer neighborhood.
.
The National Assembly
in Vietnam
has agreed that the Tax Office should have total
responsibility for the investigation of tax fraud and
evasion.
.
The PM has issued a decree, providing a legal framework
and streamling procedures for domestic investments down,
said the Ministry of Planning & Investment (MPI).
.
Marketing their agricultural products is always an issue
for farmers. However, a number of farmers in HCM
City with
marketing concerns have succeeded in getting customers
to selling their products at super markets.
.
An American delegation,
perhaps the largest to a single country, is going to
India
this fall. It
underscores the economic potential of a nation of 1.1
billion with an annual growth rate of 8%. Trade between
the 2 countries has grown by a projected 21% this year
to nearly $26 billion, said the US Trade Commission.
.
Two Indian cities (Mumbai and New Delhi) may be
targeted by foreign militants at this week’s
Independence Day celebrations, the US Embassy in New
Delhi warned.
.
India should focus on manufacturing and services to
ensure creation of larger employment opportunities in
all states, said, Assocham Pres. Anil Aggarwal.
. Pakistan
cannot start direct
flights to the US because the latter has reservations
about security arrangements at Pakistani airports,
Parliamentary Secretary Hussain told the National
Assembly.
.
Extra armed police stood guard at major airports in
Karachi,
Islamabad, and Lahore
while passengers were subject to hand baggage
restrictions and extra screening. Vehicles entering
airport car parks were thoroughly checked.
.
PM Aziz said mega-development projects in Balochistan
will help reduce poverty, create jobs and improve
the standards of living of its people.
.
A convoy of trucks
carrying food and essential items left
Batticaloa,
Sri Lanka
for the un-cleared area of Vokaria when a larger
number of displaced civilians had taken refuge following
the fighting in Mavilaru.
. The
government has allocated Rs. 150 million to provide
relief to people displaced in Muttur owing to
terrorist attacks and ensure the safe return to their
homes.
.
The tourism industry will focus more on niche
markets and the demand for high quality rooms would
increase as more high spenders are expected. The present
cycle of violence would not have long-term negative
impacts for the industry.
