Breaking News

February 28, 2009 Saturday

Updated

Straits Times Headlines

GIC raises Citigroup stake to 11.1 per cent

Courts prepare for 'recession crimes'

Tour bargains snapped up

Inside

It's the middle class, stupid

View Points

10 accused of phantom worker scam

Asia needs to rethink export model

8 per cent growth decline possible

Labour chief: Focus on action

Two-wheel head turners

FTA signed with Australia and NZ

Rights body draft submitted

Hotel occupancy plunges to 60%

Huge crowds look for bargains

China firms turn to home market

Beijing trying to get citizens to spend, not stash cash

S'pore 5 on list of young global leaders

New govt-led plan for Olympic glory

Seniors want flexibility **

Severe economic test

CHA-AM (Thailand) - SOUTH-EAST Asia will be 'severely tested' as the global financial crisis deepens, Thailand's leader warned on Saturday, as the export-dependent region braced for the possibility the world could be blighted by several years of anemic growth.

In his speech at the opening ceremony of the region's annual summit, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva expressed hope the meeting would be a stepping stone for regional measures to combat the economic slump but did not announce anything concrete.

Shun protectionism: PM Lee

HUA HIN (Thailand) - SINGAPORE Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called on Saturday on South-east Asia to shun protectionism and to work together, as he warned that a full global economic recovery could take years.

Speaking in an interview with the Bangkok Post, Mr Lee said that members of the Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) meeting in the Thai beach resort of Hua Hin needed to show that the region was committed to free trade.

Thaksin cancels HK speech

HUA HIN (Thailand) - FORMER Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has called off a planned speech in Hong Kong next week, his spokesman said on Saturday, after Thai authorities threatened to arrest him.

'He has decided not to fly to Hong Kong as he had earlier planned,' Thaksin's legal adviser Noppadon Pattama told Reuters.

Asean unveils anthem, cartoon

CHA-AM (Thailand) - SOUTH-EAST Asia now has an official anthem and its own cartoon characters.

Asean to sign oil pact

Activists barred from talks

System to avoid conflicts

Terror hostage makes contact

2,800 retrenched since Oct

Harrods to promote M'sia craft

100 stitches after maid attack

M'sia toll hike on hold

Aussie, NZ FTA signed