Reuters Southeast Asia News Highlights 0900 GMT Nov 12
by admin on Nov.13, 2008, under Trade & Market
CANBERRA – The execution of three militants for the 2002 Bali bombings should have been more tightly controlled to avoid becoming a public spectacle, Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said.
The three men from the militant Islamist group Jemaah Islamiah — Imam Samudra, Mukhlas, and Amrozi — were executed by firing squad on Sunday for the 2002 nightclub attacks that killed 202 people, including 88 Australians and 38 Indonesians.
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CANBERRA – The world’s major economies must not use global financial turmoil as an excuse to retreat into protectionist trade, Australia and Indonesia said in a coordinated message ahead of a crisis summit in Washington.
Both countries are members of the group of 20 countries, that includes the world’s biggest economies, and their leaders will attend a meeting this weekend called by U.S. President George W. Bush to combat financial turmoil and recession fears.
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MANILA – The Philippines cut 2008 and 2009 growth forecasts and said it expects a wider budget deficit next year as it spends more to boost the economy amid a global financial crisis.
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BANGKOK – Thailand’s finance minister said he would like a weak baht to help exports but said its current level was appropriate.
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CANBERRA/JAKARTA – Indonesia will be able to export rice next year for the first time in 16 years, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said as Asia’s stockpiles of the staple swell.
Indonesia, the world’s fourth-most populous nation, has not exported the widely-consumed medium rice variety for 16 years, although it does export small amounts of premium and organic rice.
via: asia.news.yahoo
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