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Big fall in French factory output
French industrial output falls four times more sharply than expected in March, raising concerns about the economy.

Burma cyclone raises rice prices
Rice prices rise for a sixth straight day as supplies continue to be stretched after cyclone damage in Burma.

Supply fears push oil beyond $126
Crude oil has hit yet another all-time high in Friday trading, as strong demand and supply fears continue.

Centrica warns over wind farms
Centrica warns that the prospect of making money from wind farms is looking "marginal" due to high costs.

UK interest rates stable at 5%
UK interest rates are held at 5% by the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, as inflation concerns persist.

Eurozone rates kept steady at 4%
The European Central Bank leaves eurozone interest rates on hold at 4% after its latest meeting.

Paulson sees end of credit crunch
US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson says the worst of the credit crunch may have passed.

Putin in 2020 pledge on economy
Vladimir Putin promises to rein in inflation and boost social spending in his new job as Russia's prime minister.

Power to SA mines 'not at risk'
South Africa promises that its lucrative mining sector will not suffer further power disruption during the winter months.

Carbon market's value hits $64bn
The market that enables firms to buy and sell the ability to pollute doubled in value in 2007, the World Bank says.

US productivity beats forecasts
US worker productivity topped analysts' forecasts during the first three months of 2008, official figures show.

UK manufacturing falls in March
UK manufacturing output fell in 0.5% in March - its sharpest decline in six months, official data shows.

Further decline in US home sales
Sales of previously-owned US homes fell 20% in March as the housing downturn continued, figures show.

Fall in eurozone retail sales
Retail spending across the eurozone declined more than expected in March, official figures show.

'Squeeze' on household spending
The share of household income spent on food and bills has risen over the past six years, research shows.

US business bankruptcies rise
US commercial bankruptcy filings jumped 49% in April from a year earlier, court records show.

Clashes as strike grips Lebanon
Explosions and gunfire ring out across the Lebanese capital during a highly politicised strike for a hike in minimum wages.

Repossession orders climb by 17%
The number of people under threat of losing their homes has risen sharply in England and Wales, figures show.

French swoop for British Energy
French utility EDF makes an offer for British Energy, although the price has not been disclosed.

Tackling under-age online sales
Young people are using the anonymity of the web to buy goods suitable only for adults but software could stop that.

Microsoft contests $1.4bn EU fine
Microsoft appeals against a $1.4bn fine given for defying sanctions imposed on it for anti-competitive behaviour.

Npower axes staff in sales probe
Npower dismisses six staff from its sales team after claims of mis-selling energy contracts.

Centrica wind farm cost warning
Centrica warns that the prospect of making money from wind farms is looking "marginal" due to high costs.

BAA's shareholders agree funding
BAA shareholders have agreed to stump up £400m ($779m) as the firm struggles to refinance its debt.

Citigroup to shed $400bn assets
US bank giant Citigroup aims to sell $400bn of assets over the next three years to bolster its financial position.

Weak dollar shrinks US trade gap
The US trade deficit shrinks by more than expected as the weak dollar leads to a surge in exports, figures show.

BA confirms June move for flights
British Airways will begin to move its long-haul flights to Heathrow's Terminal 5 from June, the firm confirms.

Alliance and Leicester's rates up
Alliance and Leicester joins other lenders in charging new customers with smaller deposits higher rates.

Burma cyclone raises rice prices
Rice prices rise for a sixth straight day as supplies continue to be stretched after cyclone damage in Burma.

Supply fears push oil beyond $126
Crude oil has hit yet another all-time high in Friday trading, as strong demand and supply fears continue.

Strong games demand helps HMV
HMV shares rise 4% after the retailer says it is confident that profits will be at the top end of expectations.

Big fall in French factory output
French industrial output falls four times more sharply than expected in March, raising concerns about the economy.

Google keen on extra Yahoo ties
Google expresses interest in extending an advertising partnership with fellow search engine Yahoo.

New Dublin brewery for Guinness
Drinks giant Diageo says it will invest 650m euros in its Irish beer business - its largest capital investment to date.

AIG posts record loss on bad debt
Insurance giant AIG posts its biggest ever quarterly loss due to its continuing exposure to bad US mortgage debt.

Magners firm hit by wet weather
C&C, the maker of Magners cider, says revenues have fallen in the past year after cider lost popularity.

UK interest rates stay at 5%
UK interest rates are held at 5% by the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, as inflation concerns persist.

CD slump squeezes Warner Music
Warner Music sees quarterly losses widen after consumers opt for digital music over CDs.

Insurance price sites 'errors'
Some insurance comparison websites give incorrect information, a probe by watchdog the FSA finds.

Last stage of home packs delayed
Homeowners in England and Wales are given extra time to comply with the final rules for Home Information Packs.

Property prices fuel inheritances
More than a million adults a year in the UK are inheriting money from their relatives, new research reveals.

Websites misled air passengers
One in three European consumers buying plane tickets online is being misled, the European Commission warns.

Eurozone rates kept steady at 4%
The European Central Bank leaves eurozone interest rates on hold at 4% after its latest meeting.

Paulson sees end of credit crunch
US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson says the worst of the credit crunch may have passed.

Putin in 2020 pledge on economy
Vladimir Putin promises to rein in inflation and boost social spending in his new job as Russia's prime minister.

Power to SA mines 'not at risk'
South Africa promises that its lucrative mining sector will not suffer further power disruption during the winter months.

Fewer letters widen Mail's losses
A slump in the number of stamped letters sees Royal Mail's losses widen to £279m in the year to March.

Gangmaster is stripped of licence
A gangmaster is stripped of his licence after investigators said they uncovered forced labour.

US discount stores beat downturn
Discount firms Wal-Mart and Costco see April sales rise as consumers seek cheaper options, figures indicate.

Guidelines for financial journalists

Hints of a Shift at OPEC About Output
An oil official signaled for the first time in months that the oil cartel might increase its output if prices keep rising.

High Prices for Staple Foods Dip, but Volatile Markets Persist
The prices of rice, wheat, soybeans and several other foods have come down recently, a development that could ease some of the panic in global food markets.

Thank Goodness, Dublin Keeps Its Guinness Plant
Ending speculation that it would shut the 250-year-old St. James’s Gate brewery, the owner of Guinness stout said it was committed to continuing operations at the site because of its iconic status.

Toyota Expects Decline in Annual Profit
The drop in annual profit is accelerating a shift by the Toyota Motor Corporation into emerging markets like China, Latin America and the Middle East.

Europeans and British Leave Rates Unchanged
The European Central Bank left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 4 percent on Thursday, saying that the region’s economy remained resilient despite financial turmoil.

Push to End Europe’s Ban on U.S. Poultry Backfires
American pressure for a quick end to a Europe-wide ban on U.S. poultry imports threatened to backfire after European officials contradicted claims that the dispute was almost resolved.

U.S. Detains Executive, Deepening UBS Inquiry
A UBS executive was briefly detained by U.S. authorities in connection with a widening investigation into the Swiss bank’s work with questionable tax transactions.

Citi to Send a Top Banker to Dubai
Hoping to establish a stronger foothold in the oil-rich region, Citigroup is sending Alberto J. Verme, a co-head of investment banking, to Dubai by the end of the month.

Criticized in U.S., the F.A.A. Is Seen in Many Regions as a First-Rate Regulator
Despite the heightened scrutiny of the F.A.A., regulators elsewhere say they still view the American agency as a model for safety and regulatory compliance.

Europe Delays Decision on Growing of Modified Crops
The European Union delayed decisions on whether to allow European farmers to grow types of genetically modified crops.

Airbus Suffers Setback to Recovery Plans
The airplane manufacturer said that tighter credit and the weakening dollar had forced it to break off talks with a second supplier over the sale of several European factories.

Some Signs of an Upturn for the Dollar
After six years of stumbling against the euro, the dollar may be showing signs of getting back on its feet.

Gas Prices Expected to Peak in June
As oil futures rose above $122 a barrel, the Energy Department said it expected gasoline prices to peak at a national average of $3.73 a gallon in June.

China-India Rivalry Possible in African Telecom Deal
The battle for the African telecommunications company, the MTN Group, could come down to a clash between the world’s largest, and fastest growing, emerging markets.

In Europe, New Scrutiny of Ethical Standards
A series of bribery investigations at leading European companies has helped to accelerate compliance with global anti-corruption standards, legal analysts and international regulators say.

Baltic Pipeline Stalls 3 Years After Deal
A pipeline that Russia and Germany want to build under the Baltic Sea is facing so much opposition and scrutiny that the pipeline company, Nord Stream, has yet to obtain a single construction permit.

NYSE Euronext Profit Triples on Higher Volumes
The trans-Atlantic stock exchange operator said it earned $230 million in the first quarter, reflecting the addition of Euronext’s activities to those of the parent of the New York Stock Exchange.

August Said to Be Target for New iPhone in Europe
Apple plans to begin selling the long-awaited, faster 3G version of its iPhone by August in some European countries, as part of an expanded rollout announced on Tuesday.

Microsoft to Put Voice-Activation Software in Hyundais
With both Ford and Hyundai as customers, Microsoft’s software could potentially be put into more than eight million vehicles worldwide each year.

In China City, Protesters See Pollution Risk of New Plant
It was the latest in a series of rare but increasingly ambitious protests against government-backed industrial projects on environmental and health grounds.

World Business Briefing | Asia: Japan: Tire Maker’s Profit Falls
Bridgestone, the tire maker, said its profit fell 18.4 percent in the first quarter as a result of sluggish demand in the United States and a strengthening yen. Net profit fell to 22.96 billion yen ($220 million) from 28.14 billion yen a year earlier. Revenue rose 3.6 percent to 797.84 billion yen ($7.6 billion).

World Business Briefing | Europe: The Netherlands: Unilever Profit
Unilever reported a better-than-expected 31 percent increase in first-quarter profit, partly because of asset sales, and raised its full-year sales growth target. The company, whose products include Skippy peanut butter and Dove soap, said its profit rose to 1.41 billion euros ($2.18 billion) from 1.07 billion euros a year earlier. Sales from continuing operations for the quarter rose slightly to 9.57 billion euros ($14.8 billion) from 9.53 billion euros.

World Business Briefing | Europe: Germany: Telekom Earnings Up
Deutsche Telekom said first-quarter profit rose more than 33 percent on the sale of its media and broadcast unit and lower interest expenses. The company, which provides landline, mobile phone and Internet access, earned 750 million euros ($1.16 billion) in the period, compared with 563 million euros in the year-earlier period. Revenue fell 3 percent to 15 billion euros ($23.2 billion) from 15.5 billion euros.

World Business Briefing | Europe: Belgium: Brewer’s Profit Drops
InBev, brewer of Stella Artois and Beck’s, posted an unexpected 11 percent decline in first-quarter profit, blaming rising costs for ingredients and shipping, and weak sales in Brazil. The company also said that the latest results were being compared with strong earnings a year ago. InBev’s profit fell to 249 million euros ($385 million) from 280 million euros a year earlier. Revenue rose to 3.19 billion euros ($4.93 billion) from 3.05 billion euros.

World Business Briefing | Europe: Britain: Restaurant Supplier Bid
Illinois Tool Works, the conglomerate based in Glenview, Ill., agreed to buy a British restaurant equipment supplier, Enodis, for $2 billion, the companies said. Illinois Tool’s bid was 8.5 percent higher than an offer that Enodis agreed to last month from the Manitowoc Company of Manitowoc, Wis. Manitowoc said it was considering its position and would make an announcement later.

World Business Briefing | Europe: Britain: Best Buy in Venture
The Best Buy Company, the electronics retailer, will open its first stores in Europe by investing £1.1 billion ($2.16 billion) in a joint venture with the Carphone Warehouse Group. Best Buy, based in Richfield, Minn., will open stores under its brand name across Europe beginning next year in Britain.

Tourism to Bring $110 Billion to Asia Pacific by 2009
Tourism should bring the Asia Pacific region $110 billion in revenues over the next three years, with much of that coming from travelers in the region, according according to the report from the Pacific Asia Travel Association or PATA, reports AP.

US Agency Revenue Up 8.8% to $28.2 Billion
U.S. agencies offering digital marketing services led the charge as overall agency revenue grew 8.8% to $28.2 billion in 2006, reports AdAge. Billings from traditional advertising and media were up just 4.2%, reaching $13.1 billion. Income from marketing offerings rose from 13.1% to hit $15.1 billion. 

Ethanol Demand Boosts Corn Planting 15% in 2007, Biggest Since 1944
Corn planting will be up 15% this year to 90.5 million acres and 12.1 million more acres than in 2006,  the biggest U.S. corn planting since 1944, boosted by high demand from the ethanol industry and strong export sales, reports AP, citing the U.S. Department of Agriculture's annual prospective plantings report. 

Easter Spending Expected to Hit $14 billion
American consumers are eager to celebrate Easter with their family and friends, with the tTotal holiday spending estimated to reach $14.37 billion, according to NRF’s 2007 Easter Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey. This year, shoppers who are planning to celebrate Easter (79.5%) are expected to spend an average of $135.07, up 11% from last year’s $121.72 per person. 

$22B US Generic Drugs Industry by the Numbers
With the new Democratic Congress promising to lower health care costs, generic drug makers take on brand-name rivals to level the playing field, reports AP. Here are some key metrics and stats on the generic drugs market: 

U.S. Sales of Hybrid Vehicles Jump 28% to 254,545 in 2006; 1.5% of US Vehicles
U.S. sales of gas-electric hybrid vehicles rose 28% to 254,545 in 2006, but the rate of growth is starting to slow, according to a report by R.L. Polk & Co.  Hybrids accounted for about 1.5% of U.S. vehicle sales last year.  Toyota Prius led the segment with 42.8% of new registrations. 

12th-Graders Math Proficiency Falls; Reading Skills Lowest Since 1992: Study
The average U.S. 12th-grader reading score in 2006 was the lowest since 1992, while less than one-quarter (23 percent) of 12th-graders scored at or above the Proficient level in the 2005 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), according to The Nation’s Report Card. 

Venture-backed companies in US Account for 17% of GDP and 10 million Jobs: Study
U.S. companies that received venture capital from 1970-2005 accounted for 10 million jobs and $2.1 trillion in revenues in 2005, according to a study conducted by Global Insight for the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA). This represents 9% of the total private sector work force and 16.6% of total U.S. GDP. Venture investment itself represents just 0.2% of U.S. GDP.  

Private Equity Bonus Scorecard 2006: Dealmaker
Private-equity funds continued to increase their dominant position on both ends of the domestic markets; they accounted for roughly one-fourth of M&A activity and sponsored more than 40% of all IPOs, with the time between purchase and sale often shrinking to mere months, reports Dealmaker magazine. 

Pre-money Valuation of VC-backed Startups Reaches $18.5 million in 2006, Highest Since 2000
The median pre-money valuation of U.S. venture-backed companies reached $18.5 million in 2006, compared to $15 million in 2005, according to VentureOne data. This is the highest median valuation since the peak of $25.1 million in 2000. 

Charitable Giving to Colleges Grew to a Record $28 billion; Top 20 Colleges and Sources
Charitable contributions to higher education grew 9.4% to a record $28 billion in the last academic year, according to a report by the Council for Aid to Education. Contributions to Stanford University rose 50% to top $911.6 million, the largest amount ever raised by a U.S. university in a year, according to the report.

ETF Assets Jump 1.1% to $422 billion in January; Set to Climb 40% in 2007 
The net amount of money invested in exchange traded funds climbed 1.1% or $4.5 billion in January to $422 billion, according to State Street Global Advisors, reports IBD. 

Affluent North Americans to Reach 37.7 million and $19 trillion in Assets by 2010
The population of affluent and wealthy individuals in North America will grow 24% to 37.7 million by 2010 from from 30.4 million in 2006, according to Celent. The report expects this affluent group to control over $19 trillion in assets by 2010. 

Identity Theft Loss Falls 12% to $49 billion in 2006
Americans lost about $49.3 billion in 2006 to identity theft criminals, a 11.5% decline from $55.7 billion identity theft loss in 2005, on increased vigilance among consumers and businesses, according to The 2007 Identity Fraud Survey Report by Javelin Strategy & Research. 

Microsoft contests $1.4bn EU fine
Microsoft appeals against a $1.4bn fine given for defying sanctions imposed on it for anti-competitive behaviour.

Citigroup to shed $400bn assets
US bank giant Citigroup aims to sell $400bn of assets over the next three years to bolster its financial position.

Burma cyclone raises rice prices
Rice prices rise for a sixth straight day as supplies continue to be stretched after cyclone damage in Burma.

Weak dollar narrows US trade gap
The US trade deficit shrinks by more than expected as the weak dollar leads to a surge in exports, figures show.

Supply fears push oil beyond $126
Crude oil has hit yet another all-time high in Friday trading, as strong demand and supply fears continue.

Big fall in French factory output
French industrial output falls four times more sharply than expected in March, raising concerns about the economy.

BA confirms June move for flights
British Airways will begin to move its long-haul flights to Heathrow's Terminal 5 from June, the firm confirms.

Centrica warns over wind farms
Centrica warns that the prospect of making money from wind farms is looking "marginal" due to high costs.

UK interest rates stable at 5%
UK interest rates are held at 5% by the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, as inflation concerns persist.

French swoop for British Energy
French utility EDF makes an offer for British Energy, although the price has not been disclosed.

Npower axes staff in sales probe
Npower dismisses six staff from its sales team after claims of mis-selling energy contracts.

Power to SA mines 'not at risk'
South Africa promises that its lucrative mining sector will not suffer further power disruption during the winter months.

Oil falls as Nigeria strike ends
Oil prices fall on news that a strike in Nigeria by Exxon workers which had disrupted production has ended.

AIG posts record loss on bad debt
Insurance giant AIG posts its biggest ever quarterly loss due to its continuing exposure to bad US mortgage debt.

Google keen on greater Yahoo ties
Google expresses interest in extending an advertising partnership with fellow search engine Yahoo.

Rice prices rise for a fifth day
Rice prices soar for a fifth straight day as the cyclone damage in Burma worsens already tight supplies.

Slowdown puts brakes on Toyota
Toyota predicts its first annual profit fall for seven years as the US slowdown takes its toll.

BAA's shareholders agree funding
BAA shareholders have agreed to stump up £400m ($779m) as the firm struggles to refinance its debt.

Putin in 2020 pledge on economy
Vladimir Putin promises to rein in inflation and boost social spending in his new job as Russia's prime minister.

Crude oil climbs to fresh record
The cost of a barrel of oil goes above the $124 mark for the first time in after-hours trading in New York.

Oil price 'may hit $200 a barrel'
The price of oil could soar to $200 a barrel in as little as six months, a report warns as crude passes $123.

Cyclone fuels rice price increase
Rice prices have gained for the fourth consecutive day, as shortages are aggravated by the cyclone in Burma.

Indian prices at three year high
India's inflation rate accelerates to its highest since 2004 because of rising food and fuel costs.

Released Japanese sorry over Yemen kidnapping
Two Japanese women, who were released within hours of being kidnapped in Yemen, apologised Thursday for worrying people back home and said they felt no threat to their lives. (AFP)

2 U.S. Marines nabbed over trespassing in Okinawa
Japanese police arrested two U.S. Marines on Thursday on suspicion of trespassing in a bar restaurant after business hours in Okinawa Prefecture. (Kyodo)

Man arrested for allegedly stealing radioactive substance in Chiba
Police arrested an employee of a subcontractor Thursday on suspicion of stealing a container bearing a radioactive substance last month from a company in Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture, police officials said. (Kyodo)

Japan drops to 31st in annual 'Mothers' Index'
apan was ranked 31st among 146 nations in an annual survey that helps document the best and worst places to be a mother, a nongovernmental organization said Wednesday, based on research by its U.S. affiliate. (Kyodo)

Japan's butter meltdown
The world's second largest economy is now crying over spilled milk — and its delicious by-product, butter. Japan, insulated from rice shortages that plague other parts of Asia, is experiencing an unprecedented shortage of the household staple — and discovering that it is not as immune from the growing global food crisis as it wants to be. (Time)

Gallows broadcast shocks Japan into debating the death penalty
At 10 o’clock this morning, with glorious sunshine forecast for the final day of Golden Week holidays, a nation will pause for perhaps the darkest five minutes ever broadcast on Japanese radio: an execution by hanging. (Times Online)

Japan looks to immigrants as population shrinks
Japan's ruling party is considering plans to encourage foreign workers to stay in the country long-term, a daily reported Monday after the birth rate fell for the 27th successive year. (AFP)

Japan's child population sags to record low for 27th year in row
The number of children aged 14 or younger is estimated to have totaled 17.25 million in Japan as of April 1, marking a record low for the 27th straight year, according to a government report released one day ahead of the Children's Day holiday on Monday. (Kyodo)

Ruling finding ASDF dispatch to Iraq unconstitutional finalized
A Nagoya High Court ruling that found Japan's dispatch of the Air Self-Defense Force to Iraq unconstitutional was finalized at midnight Thursday as plaintiffs did not appeal. (Kyodo)

Government plans blocking of child porn sites
The ruling parties will introduce legislation for Internet service providers to block access to child pornography sites with major providers in favor of the move, sources said. (Yomiuri)

Japan worker in 780,000 porn hits
A local council employee in Japan has been punished after it was discovered he had accessed porn websites at work more than 780,000 times in nine months. (BBC)

New train service uses 'secret' track
Tokyo Metro Co. and Odakyu Electric Railway Co. are to begin joint operation Saturday of the latter's Romancecar express trains using a "secret" underground track in central Tokyo. (Yomiuri)

Food price hikes hit household budgets
The ongoing rise in the price of cooking oil and foodstuffs has caused a sharp uptick in overall food prices. And for consumers trying to tighten the purse strings, more bad news is on the way. (Yomiuri)

Copyright blunder forces Japan to redesign coin
After minting 4.8 million commemorative coins to mark a centenary of ties with Brazil, Japan has been forced to change the design due to an infringement of copyright, the finance ministry has said. (AFP)

Japan May Issue Longer Visa for Foreigners With Language Skill
Japan plans to increase the length of stay for long-term visa holders who have Japanese-language ability, Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said today. (Bloomberg)

Japan confirms H5N1 bird flu strain in swans
Japan on Tuesday confirmed four swans found last week were infected with the H5N1 strain of bird flu. (Reuters)

Chinese leader to thaw 10-year freeze with Japan
China confirmed on Tuesday that President Hu Jintao will make a landmark visit to Japan next week, signaling a further warming of ties between the rival neighbors. (USA Today)

Japanese businessman shot to death in Mexico
A Japanese businessman has been shot to death in the Mexican port city of Ensenada. (AP)

Gov't to grant decorations to 4,000 people including 51 foreigners
The government released a list Tuesday of recipients of this year's spring decorations, comprising 3,973 Japanese and 51 foreign nationals, for their contributions to the nation and public in politics, business, culture and the arts. (Kyodo)

Ultimatums given on fees for school meals
Some municipal boards of education have introduced stricter measures, including the threat of legal action, to ensure parents pay their children's meal fees at public schools. (Asahi)

Woman sentenced to 15 years in prison for killing husband
A 33-year-old woman was sentenced to 15 years in prison Monday for killing her husband and abandoning his dismembered body, after being diagnosed as insane at the time of the crime by two psychiatrists during the trial at the Tokyo District Court. (Kyodo)

Japan woman jailed for killing, cutting up husband
An abused wife who killed her husband, cut up his body and dumped the parts on a street and in a park was jailed for 15 years by a Tokyo court on Monday, a court official and Japanese media said. (Reuters)

Japan's Inflation: Bad Timing
Japan's policy makers, dogged for years by falling prices, had long yearned for a little bit of inflation. But now that the global tide of inflation has finally reached Japan, nobody is cheering. (Wall Street Journal)

Fine weather expected in Japan during Golden Week holiday period
Fine weather is expected to prevail in most parts of Japan during the Golden Week holiday period from Tuesday through May 6, with temperatures expected to rise in some parts in early May, the Japan Meteorological Agency said Monday. (Kyodo)

Travelers begin Golden Week rush
Holidaymakers kicked off the Golden Week exodus Saturday at Narita airport and other airports, packing planes for holiday destinations overseas. (Japan Times)

South East Asian government and business hails arrest of Hamadi
The arrest of Riduan bin Isomuddin alias Hamadi in Thailand can only be good news for business in South East Asia. Hamadi was responsible for severe damage to the economies of much of South East Asia, by instilling fear in foreign and local investors, increasing country risk and insecurity, driving away tourism dollars, and slowing down the participation of many South East Asian countries in the global economy.

Thailand visa fees to increase substantially
Thailand visa fees for tourism, business and residency purposes will rise by around 100 to 400 percent in late August 2003. While such fees may not represent a significant increase in business travel or tourism costs overall, it makes Thai visa fees in many cases (depending on length of stay) similar or significantly higher than those for neighbouring countries Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand, canceling out a previous competitive advantage for Thailand.

Asia Pacific to provide highest economic growth of any global region through 2007
The Economist Intelligence Unit predicts 5.9 percent annual economic growth for the Asia Pacific ex Japan through 2007, making the region the fastest-growing globally. However this growth is not evenly spread, with China and India leading the charge, while other Asian economies struggle or show limited growth.

Blast rocks J.W. Marriott Hotel in Jakarta Indonesia
Jakarta's J.W. Marriott hotel was the scene of an explosion today, just as Indonesia and the Indonesian economy was recovering from the Bali incident and leaders receiving praise for their fight against terrorism.

Strange Sunday in Makati
There’s an eerie parallel with today's military rebellion in the Philippines with the Cory years - a female leader swept into office by People Power swears to clean up corruption, but somehow never quite delivers and things just get more and more crooked. Bottom line - nobody's delivering pizza in Makati, Manila's financial district, tonight...

Competitiveness Rankings sees South East Asia on the rise
Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore are the rising stars of the IMD's World Competitiveness Scorecard for 2003 published in their yearbook last week. At the same time traditional lean and mean Scandinavian economies which have dominated the rankings since their inception, as well as the mature East Asian economies, seem to be losing their competitive advantage.

SARS and ASEAN: Some facts - Some perspective
In the lead-up to the ASEAN SARS summit in Bangkok Thailand this week, a call for some perspective. SARS is not so much an Asian problem, but a world-wide and China and Singapore problem. China, Singapore and Hong Kong distinguish themselves by high incidence levels and local transmission. Incidence and local transmission among other countries, Western and Asian alike, is much lower, at least for the moment. And latest data suggests that the peak of new infections, especially outside China, may have been reached.

Why when China sneezed, the world caught a cold
It used to be said that when the US sneezed, Asia caught a cold, usually referring to the economic health of the US, based on the importance of that market both to the dependence of Asian manufacturers on US imports, and the central place of the US economy and investment on the global economy. However in the case of the SARS virus, for maybe the first time of many, the reverse is true.

Iraq: The view from Washington - Washington Square that is - Bangkok Thailand
The view on the Iraq war from Washington - Washington Square that is - Bangkok Thailand - is at once predictable and surprising. There is much agreement on the 'need' or 'justification' for the US triggering a war with Iraq that many thought unnecessary for example. After all many regulars here have suffered from risking their lives and seeing mates lost in the cause of 'freedom' and 'democracy'.

Malaysia and the Iraq War
Malaysians are predominantly anti the Iraq war. And that's a under-statement. For the first time in living memory the Iraq war has unified the ruling Barisan Nasional government and their bitter rivals the fundamentalist PAS party. So much so that members from both political groups staged a demonstration outside the US embassy yesterday. It was a small gathering or perhaps 100 or so, but in Malaysian terms it was significant.

Will a war against Iraq reduce terrorism - or increase it?
Bush's tilts against the UN, accusing it of irrelevance and losing credibility, as well as statements that continue to emphasize that the US will go it alone in Iraq if necessary, does little to convince many that this war is more about terrorism and protecting the world than it is about increasing US power and influence by force of arms.

Building a Brand and Losing Your Shirt
In Asian countries where competition, individual achievement and standing out from the rest are not among the most important values, there are typically few well known brands. Still, Asian marketers have always understood the need to persuade and compete in their advertising messages.

Bali tourism on the road to recovery
There is optimism all around for the Bali tourism industry as international and regional travel and professional organizations rally around to choose Bali for their 2003 meetings strengthening the MICE market and reinforcing confidence in Bali. There are strong signs of recovery in the holiday and incentive sectors as well.

Malaysiakini: Not the Messiah - just a very naughty boy
To the Malaysian ruling government, MalaysiaKini is not the Messiah of the Press - he's just a very naughty boy...

MalaysiaKini press release on police raid on offices
Malaysiakini press release dated Jan 20th 2003 on the police raid and confiscation of Malaysiakini computers following a complaint lodged against the newspaper by the ruling government's youth wing.

China fuels energy cold war
Driven by the lack of a coherent multilateral approach to energy security in Asia and by China's already tense relations with neighboring states, competition for energy resources may prove to be the spark for regional and international conflict. Ultimately, this would bring China into confrontation with the world's largest energy consumer, the US. - Chietigj Bajpaee

Cornering the dragon
The goals of confrontationists in the Bush administration are to ring China with military bases, support Taiwanese independence, and work for the fall of the Communist Party. In short, corner the dragon.

Bush has a clear run at Syria
Despite the highly questionable assertions that form the basis of President George W Bush's antipathy toward Syria, there have been no serious challenges to his views on Capitol Hill: Bush appears to have few obstacles should he once again choose to lead his country to war.

Asians kick Big Tobacco in the butt
It was a formidable challenge: slow the poisoning of Asians by foreign cigarettes without poisoning multilateral trade ties. But the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control became a reality over the weekend, and it could be a landmark achievement not just for human health in Asia, but also for long-term economic well-being. - Alan Boyd

SOUTHEAST ASIA:
Thailand wants to become the "gold standard" in the drive to snuff out smoking.

Commentary - by Francesco Sisci Black holes and rogue states
The US, having dealt with one "rogue" state, Iraq, now has its sights set on Iran, and to a lesser extent on North Korea. This is a dangerous strategy because, by dealing with a rogue state, what in effect is created is a lawless geopolitical black hole that offers terrorists a sanctuary they would otherwise not have had.

SOUTH ASIA:
Delhi put a dent in Kabul's dreams about a pipeline project. - Sudha Ramachandran Bangladesh could be coming out of denial on Islamic miliancy.

CENTRAL ASIA:
Europe is unfazed by a uranium deal signed by Russia and Iran.

KOREA:
North Korea may need to rescue the South from its too-rapid aging. - Jeffrey Robertson SPEAKING FREELY: Forget the "Libya model" for Pyongyang. - Yoshinori Takeda

CHINA:
Hong Kong is already anxious about its next chief executive, as is Beijing. - Qiu Xin

MIDDLE EAST:
Long suppressed by Saddam Hussein, the Shi'ite Da'wa Party has risen from the ashes.

China's takeover battle in a tangled web
China's leading online game operator Shanda seemed poised to take over top portal Sina and create a national Internet giant. But Sina's poison pill may signal "game over" and set the stage for a global bidding war. - Gary LaMoshi

Boom time for India's primary share market
Indian share markets have experienced an unprecedented bull run over the past two years, thanks mainly to young investors who are willing to wait. This is also one of the reasons initial public offerings are doing so well. - Indrajit Basu

Philippines follows Argentina's debt path
Public-sector debt default is looming in the Philippines, where just as in Argentina, the risk of default is being driven by social revolt and weak governance. - Jephraim P Gundzik

Daily Forex Commentary
There were more bad signs for the US dollar, but there were bad signs for the euro, too. Both had their backers and their detractors. Who's right? - Jack Crooks

Asia Times Online Community
Discuss any of the articles above on The Edge - your forum for incisive global discussion.

Banks retreat but miners help FTSE hold its ground
LONDON FTSE 100 CLOSE 6,270.8 +9.8

One to watch: Misys
172.75p -1.5p Scotsman says BUY

Magners hit by flat results
MAGNERS producer C&C has seen its earnings plunge by 37 per cent as cider sales volumes slipped by 11 per cent.

City Diary
THE following business news is expected on Monday:

Earnings fall at Royal Mail
PROFITS at Royal Mail have fallen by almost a third to £162 million, its lowest figure for five years.

Broker says hold: Carphone Warehouse
289p -10.25p

Broker says sell: Barratt
293.25p +10.75p