Business Times Online - All The Headlines
The Business Times Online Edition - Singapore



Gillard closer to retaining seat as key lawmaker backs Labor (CANBERRA, Australia) Prime Minister Julia Gillard edged closer to retaining power in Australia yesterday when an independent lawmaker said he would support her centre-left Labor Party to form a government.


Thai court ruling allows 74 stalled projects to restart (BANGKOK) Most of the 76 industrial projects halted last year because of pollution and licensing concerns can be restarted, a Thai court ruled, a decision that may resolve uncertainties about the country's investment regulations.


Saab bets on Brazil, India to save its fighter jet (LONDON) Saab AB is stepping up a campaign to sell its Gripen warplane in Asia and eastern Europe as Switzerland's decision to delay a US$1 billion fighter purchase threatens to curtail production of the 1,320 mile-per-hour jet.


Germany moves burden of planned air tax to long-haul (BERLIN) Germany's government, battling to find new ways of closing its budget gap, amended plans for raising 1 billion euros (S$1.73 billion) a year from a new tax on air passengers, by increasing the levy on long-haul flights.


MAS unit to maintain eight Air Mauritius aircraft (KUALA LUMPUR) Malaysia Airlines System Bhd's wholly-owned unit, MAS Aerospace Engineering Sdn Bhd (MAE), has signed a one-year agreement with Air Mauritius for the maintenance of eight aircraft - six Airbus 340-200s and two Airbus 330-200s.


Garuda begins Jakarta-Tokyo service (JAKARTA) Garuda Indonesia, the country's flag carrier, has started a direct service linking Jakarta and Tokyo, as part of business expansion, a paper said here yesterday.


Ping An seeks control of Shenzhen bank (BEIJING) Ping An Insurance (Group), China's second-largest insurer, will pay 29.1 billion yuan (S$5.75 billion) for a stake that will give it control of Shenzhen Development Bank and bolster its banking operations.


Market access to foreign firms getting worse (BEIJING) China has failed to honour promises to the World Trade Organization to open its oil and phone markets, a European business group said yesterday, adding to complaints of worsening conditions for foreign companies.


Rural credit co-ops put up for sale (BEIJING) China is inviting domestic banks and private and foreign investors to take over the country's most problematic rural credit cooperatives.


No need for another stimulus as growth is stabilising: economist (BEIJING) China's economic slowdown will be modest, ruling out the need for fresh stimulus or a major policy initiative, a senior government researcher said yesterday.