DECREASING DEPENDENCE: A report said the importance of the US to Asia as a destination for exports was declining in most countries, with the exception of China
The slowdown in the US economy may have some effect on demand for Asian exports, but its overall impact on the region is likely to be relatively well contained, the IMF said.

[ FULL STORY ]

SAFETY MEASURES: Company adviser Hiroshi Okuda said last month that adding a non-Japanese board member could help Toyota avoid a backlash in the US
Toyota named a non-Japanese to its board of directors for the first time yesterday, appointing US businessman James Press, the Japanese automaker's president of North American operations.

[ FULL STORY ]

The EU imposed tariffs of as high as 67.4 percent on imports from the US, China and Taiwan of a chemical used for treating water and metals, seeking to protect German manufacturers including Degussa GmbH.

[ FULL STORY ]

A Mexican telecommunications tycoon has become the second richest man in the world, pushing US investment guru Warren Buffett down to third place and breathing down the neck of Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Forbes.com reported on Wednesday.

[ FULL STORY ]

FOCUSED: After the sale, Novartis will be left with contact-lens maker Ciba Vision as its only business not related to producing medicines and vaccines
Nestle SA, the world's largest food company, agreed to buy baby food brand Gerber from Swiss drugmaker Novartis AG for US$5.5 billion in cash to gain almost four-fifths of the US market for infant purees.

[ FULL STORY ]

■ COURIERS
[ FULL STORY ]