The Wishful Thinker ( World News To You )

Using HEPA filters may improve cardiovascular health (EurekAlert!)
One day doctors may recommend using high efficiency particle air (HEPA) filters along with weight loss, smoking cessation, and exercise to improve cardiovascular health, according to researchers in Denmark.

Bookmark It

Pakistan polls: Voters and boycotters (BBC News)
People across Pakistan talk about the election in their area and who they are going to vote for.

Bookmark It

Pakistan election puts US in dilemma (AFP via Yahoo! News)
The United States hopes Pakistan's upcoming election will be free and fair and bring an end to domestic violence so that Islamabad can focus on the "war on terror." But it may not get what it wants.

Bookmark It

Pakistan polls: Voters and boycotters (BBC News)
People across Pakistan talk about the election in their area and who they are going to vote for.

Bookmark It

HK's Bank of E.Asia books $183 mln for CDOs,other items (Reuters via Yahoo! Malaysia News)
HONG KONG, Feb 15 – Bank of East Asia Ltd , Hong Kong's fifth-largest lender by assets, booked revaluation and impairment losses totalling HK$1.42 billion , largely for its holdings in collateralised debt obligations battered by the U.S. subprime mortgage meltdown.

MATRADE, ITC & WTO To Organise Asia Healthcare 2008 (Malaysian National News Agency (BERNAMA))
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 15 (Bernama) — Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), International Trade Centre (ITC) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) will join hands to organise the Asia Healthcare 2008 show here next month.

Bookmark It

Bank of East Asia 2nd-Half Profit Rises on Loans (Update5) (Bloomberg.com)
Feb. 15 (Bloomberg) — Bank of East Asia Ltd., Hong Kong's third biggest, had a 21 percent increase in second-half profit as economic growth in the city and mainland China drove demand for loans.

Bookmark It

HK's Bank of East Asia says holds $560 mln in CDOs (Reuters via Yahoo! Singapore News)
HONG KONG, Feb 15 – Bank of East Asia Ltd , Hong Kong's fifth-largest lender by assets, said its holdings in collateralised debt obligations now total about $560 million after the company booked a revaluation loss on Friday of about $147 million for 2007.

S'pore duo wins Amazing Race Asia (Straits Times)
SINGAPORE and Asia found out on Thursday that Singaporeans Collin Low and Adrian Yap crossed the finish line first in The Amazing Race Asia 2. But the dynamic duo had known about the results since July as the production wrapped up last year after a 24-day shoot.

Bookmark It

Aguilar soars into halfway Indonesia lead (CNN.com)
Chile's Felipe Aguilar fired an eight-under-par 62 to lead by two strokes at the halfway stage of the Indonesia Open in Jakarta on Friday.

Speedcar heads to Indonesia (Pitpass)
Speedcar heads to Indonesia

Bookmark It

Indonesia reaffirms deadline for Newmont to sell 10% stake (Denver Post)
Indonesia's government reiterated Thursday a threat to cancel Newmont Mining's rights to the nation's second- largest copper mine unless the Denver-based company and overseas partners sell a 10 percent stake by Feb. 22.

Indonesia Mandiri eyes more than 22 pct '08 loan growth (Reuters via Yahoo! Malaysia News)
JAKARTA, Feb 15 – Indonesia's largest lender, PT Bank Mandiri Tbk , said on Friday it expects more than 22 percent loan growth in 2008, stronger than an estimated 17.5 percent expansion last year.

Bookmark It

Higher Posts At Workplace: Brunei Women Below Par (BruDirect.com)
Bandar Seri Begawan – The percentage of women holding higher positions at workplaces is still low in Brunei, with a recent United Nations report stating that the country is ranked 79 out of 156 countries in gender-related development.

Empire Hotel Promotes Brunei To Korean Market (BruDirect.com)
Bandar Seri Begawan – The Empire Hotel & Country Club recently welcomed a production team from Korea to produce a promotional video of Brunei Darussalam and the hotel, which will be featured on TV's Hyundai Home Shopping in Korea.

Thai Suspends Flights To Brunei (BruDirect.com)
Bandar Seri Begawan – Thailand's national carrier Thai Airways International has suspended all its flights in and out of Brunei Darussalam, sources told the Bulletin.

Bookmark It

Pub with no peer (The Australian)
IF you feel in need of some right royal treatment, find a hotel owned by a king, I say. The Empire Hotel and Country Club in Brunei Darussalam is one of several prestigious hotels belonging to the Sultan of this tiny nation.

Empire Hotel Promotes Brunei To Korean Market (BruDirect.com)
Bandar Seri Begawan – The Empire Hotel & Country Club recently welcomed a production team from Korea to produce a promotional video of Brunei Darussalam and the hotel, which will be featured on TV's Hyundai Home Shopping in Korea.

Thai Suspends Flights To Brunei (BruDirect.com)
Bandar Seri Begawan – Thailand's national carrier Thai Airways International has suspended all its flights in and out of Brunei Darussalam, sources told the Bulletin.

Bookmark It

Europe stock losses mount on banks, U.S. data (Market Watch)
Stocks in Europe turned sharply lower on Friday, as worries about the health of banks combined with poor U.S. economic data to send shares lower.

Toray Plastics (America), Inc., to Lead Toray Industries's Expansion in Europe (ThomasNet)
U.S. company's technological leadership enables launch of new metallized BOPP operation in France North Kingstown, RI (February 12, 2008)-Toray Plastics (America), Inc., North America's only manufacturer of precision-performance polyester (PET) and polypropylene (PP) films, is pleased to announce its leading role in Toray Industries, Inc.'s decision to grow its packaging film business in Europe. …

Bookmark It

Pipe fears Europe domination (RT News)
David Pipe believes Sizing Europe is definitely the horse to beat in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle. Henry De Bromhead's runner was an eight-length winner of the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown last month, a victory that propelled him to the head of the ante-post market.

Europe Posts First Trade Deficit in 16 Months (Update1) (Bloomberg.com)
Feb. 15 (Bloomberg) — Europe posted its first trade deficit in more than a year in December as slowing global growth and the euro's strength curbed exports.

Europe's New Car Registrations Fall In January (Nasdaq)
(RTTNews) – Europe's new passenger car registrations decreased 0.3% year-on-year to 1,308,761 units in January, the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, or ACEA, said Friday. A year ago, 1,312,131 units of cars were registered.

Bookmark It

Philippine leader sings Carpenters duet despite threats (AFP via Yahoo! News)
Philippine President Gloria Arroyo shrugged off assassination plots and political scandals Thursday to spend Valentines Day singing a duet with Richard Carpenter of "The Carpenters" fame.

Philippine president said target of plot (AP via Yahoo! News)
Authorities have uncovered alleged plots by al-Qaida-linked militants to assassinate the Philippine president and bomb foreign embassies, officials said Thursday.

UPDATE: Philippine Banks' End-Dec Loans +9.2% On Year (Nasdaq)
MANILA -(Dow Jones)- Philippine banks' outstanding loans increased 9.2% on year in December, probably aided by recent monetary policy easing, the central bank said Friday.

Bookmark It

Philippine bank lending at 8-month high in December (Reuters via Yahoo! Malaysia News)
MANILA, Feb 15 – Philippine banks' outstanding loans in December climbed 9.2 percent from a year earlier, the highest since April 2007, as bank lending gained pace following a series of rate cuts, the central bank said on Friday.

'Philippine Idol' journey ends for Miguel Mendoza (PEP)
Miguel Mendoza was voted out of Philippine Idol last night, November 27; leaving Mau Marcelo, Jan Nieto and Gian Magdangal to battle it out for the last two spots to become the first Philippine Idol.

Officials cite plot to kill Philippine president (USA Today)
The Philippine government has uncovered an alleged plot by al-Qaeda-linked militants to assassinate President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, officials said Thursday.

Bookmark It