Transport South Korea on Friday announcedit aims to double the number of inbound foreign tourists toover 10 million a year and lift the global competitivenessranking of its tourism sector from 31st to within the top 20 by2012.

Transport

Transport Emirates Airline plans tolaunch a non-stop direct flight from Dubai to San Francisco inthe United States using a polar route to test ways to save fueland reduce harmful carbon emissions.

Publishing

North America Dec. 11,2008-- Ayala Corporation and Providence Equity Partners todayannounced the completion of the tender offer for alloutstanding common shares and American Depositary Shares ofeTelecare Global Solutions, Inc. The common shares are listedon the Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc. (PSE: ETEL) and theAmerican Depositary Shares or ADSs, each representing onecommon share, are quoted on the Nasdaq Global Market (NASDAQ:ETEL). The offer expired, as scheduled, at 2:00 p.m.Philippines time, 1:00 a.m.

Transport The Cabinet approved Thursday adraft amendment to the Commodity Tax Act that would provide anNT & #36;30,000 (US & #36;898) excise tax discount for car owners whoreplace their unserviceable vehicles, in a bid to stimulate thesluggish automobile market.

Transport Finnish carrier Finnair onThursday said an Indo-Finn air services agreement is hamperingconnectivity between the two countries and its plans to land inmore cities in India.

Economy The South Korean economy isexpected to grow at the slowest pace in 11 years in 2009 as aglobal recession will likely hurt exports amid stubbornly weakdomestic demand, the central bank said Friday.

Infrastructure Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayevopened a metallurgical silicon production plant with two newfurnaces in Karaganda on December 9.

Financial Markets Thai share prices closed 0.19percent higher on Thursday due to gains in large banking andenergy companies, though short term profiteering share saleshad an impact.

Financial Markets Singapore shares closed1.51 per cent lower on Thursday as expectations of a US autoindustry bailout faded, traders said.

Infrastructure

Regulations / Law South Korean quarantineauthorities will check all imports of pork by-products fordioxin following the recent discovery of the cancer-causingtoxin in Irish meat, officials said Thursday.

Environment / water pollution Residents in an areadevastated by South Korea's worst-ever oil spill urged thegovernment and an affiliate of Samsung Group, the largestconglomerate in South Korea, to provide redress for damages.

Financial Markets

Share/credit issues

Infrastructure REHABILITATION OF SCHOOLS

Infrastructure IMPROVEMENT OF MOHANDRANAGAR -SHUKANDIGHI ROAD

Food Harvests have been completedthroughout the former USSR, and the overall picture, asexpected, does not look very bad at all.