IV. International (12-01-06)
. Pacific Rim
leaders pledged to make concessions on agricultural
issues to restore stalled WTO talks, saying that they
were taking the lead and that others must follow.
.
The DOHA round of WTO talks, aimed at forging a global
trade treaty that would slash trade barriers in a bid to
boost global growth and alleviate poverty collapsed 4
months ago because of differences over farm subsidies
and tariffs.
.
Key players in the trade talks—European Union,
Brazil
and India are not
part of APEC. But the 21-member group accounts for about
half of the world’s trade and about 60% of its total
economic activity, and Pacific Rim leaders were hoping
their renewed resolve might help negotiations back to
the table.
.
In recent days, reports have emerged that both the US &
China are prepared to alter the nuclear establishment in
order to curry favor with South Asia’s two powers:
India and Pakistan.
.
If you have Chinese
nationals working in your company, keep your eyes open.
Whether they are students, businesspeople or academics,
watch them closely for they may be spies of the Chinese
government which has a shopping list of technology stuff
to upgrade their Navy and Air Force. They may rant and
rave of “irresponsible” accusations and baseless
suspicions, but the Chinese are our enemies and want to
destroy us.
.
The growing US trade
deficit is one major area trade analysts anticipate the
administration will be under pressure to get results in
its negotiation wit Beijing over revaluing its currency.
. An intense
campaign against official corruption is sweeping across
China.
It is bringing down powerful people, and it has won
wholehearted support from the public who hope that Pres.
Hu Jintao will realize his goal of creating a
“harmonious society.”
.
Sonny Corp of
Japan,
plagued this year by production glitches which delayed
shipments of game consoles and forced the recall of 9.6
million laptop computer batteries, said it found defects
in 8 of its Cyber-shot digitl camera models.
.
A group led by a Hitachi Ltd researcher has developed a
communication device for people suffering from severe
paralysis caused by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
.
The Cabinet Office plans to investigate cost-padding
from town-hall meetings on education reform after
finding that organizers over-staffed some of the events.
.
Neither
South Korea
nor China is interested in signing up to the US’ mission
to interdict North Korean vessels on the high seas to
stop its smuggling of WMD.
.
The won-dollar rate briefly fell behind 930
won for the first time in 9 years, but rebounded
back to the 930 level as financial authorities
intervened in the local foreign exchange.
.
Beginning next year, telecom rates are expected to
substantially decrease as the government will allow big
operators to provide discounted package services.
.
Jia Jia, Secretary
General of Science & Technology Experts Assn. of Sanxi (China)
safely entered
Thailand
11/02/06 while on a
tourist trip to Taiwan. He is the highest ranking
Chinese official to openly support the movement to quit
the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
. The Thai
Rak Thai Party accused the Council for National
Security of having conflict of interest by
appointing its members to boards of state enterprises.
.
Jestar, a budget airline affiliated to Australian
national carrier Qantas, plans to expand its
international networks connecting Australia o other
Asian and European destinations.
.
Although the
Indonesian government and most of the country’s 230
million people are against
US presence in Iraq,
many were thrilled about GWB’s agenda to talk about
American funding for education, anti-poverty and
anti-corruption programs.
.
The two countries now conduct joint military exercises
and closely cooperate on counterterrorism. A US military
transport carried an advance team of Indonesian soldiers
to Beirut to join a UN peacekeeping action in Lebanon.
.
The Indonesian military has taken some reform
initiatives since the 1999
East Timor
crisis, including giving up its appointed sects in
parliament selling off its business interests in putting
its business interests and setting up its chain of
command under a civilian defense minister.
.
The
Philippines
should beginning labeling glycemic content in food
similar to that in Canada, Australia and US as part of a
growing population with diabetes, cardiovascular disease
and obesity.
.
The government and
private sector representatives, including the donor
community, have affirmed their support to facilitate
public infrastructure projects through a covenant.
.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BRI) exempted the
Society of Judicial Excellence (SJE), an
organization affiliated with the Supreme Court aimed at
improving the judicial system, from income and donors’
taxes.
.
US pork producers
foresee a boon if the
US adds
Vietnam
for its list of countries that enjoy permanent normal
trade relations. They’re lining up, from Hurley-Davidson
to Citigroup, eager t gain access to one of the most
vibrant developing economies.
.
The vote in Congress will be delayed till December,
adding Vietnam to a list of nations enjoying this trade
status with the US. This was an embarrassment to GWB who
was on his way to Vietnam for an Asian summit meeting
which would have touted the benefits of a completed
pact.
.
The concern was reflected in the election results of
last month over the growth of free trade pact.
Politicians are once again focusing on the giant trade
deficit, now at about $684 billion this year and
growing.
.
US Congressional leaders
requested an intelligence assessment of
India’s
nuclear program and its government’s ties to Iran
amid concerns about a White House effort to provide
nuclear technology to New Delhi. Two months later, the
intelligence assessment has yet to be seen on Capitol
Hill.
. New Delhi
officials breathed a sigh of relief when US Senate voted
overwhelmingly to approve the Indo-US nuclear deal with
no crippling amendments. There are no hurdles to clear
but the Indian government hopes the deal can be put to
rest before domestic politics of a general election
intrude on policy making.
. A number of
multimillion dollar contracts between British and Indian
companies have signed during the India-UK Investment
Summit, sources said.
. Pakistan
test-fired successfully a new version of its
nuclear-capable, medium-range missile, a show of power
after peace talks with India that were criticize by
domestic hardliners. PM Aziz has watched the launch and
congratulated scientists, engineers and the army for
developing the new version of the missile.
. Pakistan’s
Lower House of Parliament passed amendments to
the country’s rape laws, ditching the death penalty for
extramarital sex and revising a clause on making victims
produce 4 witnesses to prove rape cases.
. The
Sensitive Price Initiative (SPI) year-on-year of 53
essential items for weeks ending Nov 23 has shown 11.78%
increase as compared to the corresponding week of last
year.
.
A former British
minister (Paul Murphy) will hold talks with Sri
Lanka’s Tamil rebels in the guerrillas’ southern
stronghold in a bid to support the faltering peace
process, said a British High Commission official and a
rebel spokesman.
.
Six Sri Lankan men were handed jail terms up to 11 years
in Singapore for stealing money from automatic cash
machines using cloned credit cards, court officials
said.
.
There is no need to panic over Chikungunga fever as is
not a deadly disease, said the Health Minister.
