SINGAPORE, Aug 9 (Reuters) - The Financial Times and the Wall Street Journal carried the following stories in their Asia print and Web site editions on Thursday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. FINANCIAL TIMES (www.ft.com)

--China was put on notice that if it did not address its air pollution problems before the 2008 Beijing Olympics, it could see games organisers ordering some endurance events to be rescheduled.

--Blackstone Group <BX.N> on Wednesday closed the world's biggest private equity fund at $21.7 billion, setting a high-water mark for fundraising in the buy-out industry even as turmoil in global credit markets has raised questions about its future.

--Higher borrowing costs took centre stage in Australia's forthcoming federal election yesterday when the country's central bank raised its benchmark interest rate to an 11-year high of 6.5 per cent.

--Tata Steel's <TISC.BO> bankers are likely to sweeten the terms on a 3.6 billion pounds ($7.3bn) refinancing package for the Indian group's takeover of Anglo-Dutch steel maker Corus as a result of the turmoil in the credit markets.

--The North and South Korean leaders will meet in Pyongyang this month in a move aimed at easing tension and fostering permanent peace on the divided peninsula.

--General Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday pulled out of a long-planned grand assembly of Pakistani and Afghan tribal leaders, snubbing an initiative that had the ­personal backing of US President George W. Bush.

--Kazakhstan turned up the heat on a consortium developing the giant Kashagan oilfield in the Caspian Sea, as investors opened talks with the government about possible changes to contract terms because of technical challenges.

--China and Nepal have the largest rich-poor gaps in Asia following a decade in which income distribution in the region has become increasingly skewed in favour of the rich.

--The Korean Fair Trade Commission might launch an investigation following a complaint by a lawmaker accusing the country's four major oil refiners of price rigging on the island of Jeju. WALL STREET JOURNAL (www.wsj.com)

--Toyota <7203.T> decided to delay the launches of new high-mileage hybrids with lithium-ion battery technology by one to two years.

--China is investigating a Hong Kong-based company that Mattel <MAT.N> says supplied it with 1.5 million toys believed to contain lead paint.

--North and South Korean leaders will hold their second-ever summit, capitalizing on progress in shutting down the North's nuclear program.

--Fast Retailing <9983.T> faces a Thursday deadline to raise its offer for Barneys after Jones Apparel <JNY.N> agreed to sell the chain to Dubai's Istithmar for $942.3 million.

--Australia's central bank raised its official cash-rate target to its highest level in 11 years, citing heightened inflation risks and strong domestic activity.

--Cathay Pacific <0293.HK> said its first-half net profit rose 55 percent, boosted by strong passenger demand and higher average fares, especially on long-haul flights to North America and Europe.

--Softbank's <9984.T> earnings and revenue jumped, as its purchase of Vodafone's <VOD.L> Japanese operations appears to be paying off.

--A powerful earthquake shook Indonesia's capital. Geophysicists said there was little risk of a tsunami.

--Singapore bank OCBC's <OCBC.SI> net fell 33 percent from a year earlier, when it booked a gain, and reflecting a write-down.

--Taiwan's financial regulator found 16 of its 42 local banks have some exposure to debt backed by U.S. subprime mortgages, but the impact on domestic financial institutions likely will be limited.

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