Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 4 September 2003

85 articles found

Antiterror talks in RI

Antiterror talks in RICombating terrorism in RI (more accurate summary of article, more eye-catching)Bantarto Bandoro Editor, 'The Indonesian Quarterly', Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Jakarta bandoro@csis.or.id2.

Workers rally to demand salary

Workers rally to demand salary TANGERANG: Some 200 workers of PT Joka Kayu Sentosa, a wood processing company in the Jatake Industrial Estate in Jatiuwung district, Tangerang, urged the Tangerang Manpower Agency to force the company director to pay their salaries.

Three parties join PPP for polls

Three parties join PPP for polls JAKARTA: Three tiny Muslim-based parties have decided to join forces with the United Development Party (PPP) for the 2004 general elections.The Nahdlatul Ulama Party (PNU) led by Syukron Makmun, the New Masyumi Party (PMB) led by Ridwan Saidi and the New Indonesia...

Indonesia needs strong competition regime

Indonesia needs strong competition regimeMuhammad Sauri Hasibuan Fortech Consulting Jakarta 2. Yale -- How Washington can be a hyper-power and a hyper- borrower 1 X 45 Washington: A hyperpower and hyperborrower (If the two "hyper" words appear in the story, hyphens should be deleted.

2.

2. Legislators ask KPU to review House seat allocation 3. Officials told to mediate not litigate 4. Greater access sought to ARV therapy 5. 2 x 16 counts 'Islands for monkeys, not storing oil'

The Ba'asyir verdict

The Ba'asyir verdict As could have been expected, given the amount of strain and pressure that preceded it, the verdict that was read out on Tuesday at the Central Jakarta District Court did not please everyone -- or, to be more precise, it probably pleased no one.

Sutiyoso's power grab rejected by neighbors

Sutiyoso's power grab rejected by neighborsTheresia Sufa and Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Bogor/Tangerang The Tangerang and Bogor administrations have objected to Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso's proposal that Jakarta assume control of the surrounding cities.

Offering small islands to investors is actually not a new idea

Offering small islands to investors is actually not a new idea in this country of 17,000 islands of various sizes. The fact that many of Indonesia's small islands, especially those in the areas bordering neighboring countries, remain uninhabited has caused worries among some in Jakarta that...

Govt upbeat over next bond issue

Govt upbeat over next bond issueThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government is optimistic about the prospects for the bonds it is due to issue next week, saying the market has enough liquidity to absorb the bonds, the Ministry of Finance official in charge of bond issues said on Wednesday.

Police rend passport forgery network

Police rend passport forgery network SURABAYA: East Java Police have uncovered a passport forgery syndicate suspected of sending migrant workers abroad with false documents.Sr. Comr. Sutarman, provincial chief of detectives, said on Tuesday that four suspects in the labor smuggling ring had been...

Combating terrorims in RI

Combating terrorims in RIBantarto Bandoro, Editor, 'The Indonesian Quarterly', Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Jakarta, bandoro@csis.or.id The past few months have seen serious discussion on the dangers of terrorism.

TV Program: Thursday, September 4, 2003

TV Program: Thursday, September 4, 2003 .TB.30" .90"TVRI 6:00 a.m. News: Berita Pagi7:00 Story Telling: Pak Odor8:00 Travel9:00 Business Magazine10:00 Music11:00 Flora and Fauna11:30 Music12:00 p.m. News: Berita Siang2:00 Comedy3:00 City News3:30 Documentary4:30 Music6:00 English News Services7:00...

The Ba'asyir verdict

The Ba'asyir verdict As could have been expected given the strains and pressures that preceded it, the decision that was read out in the Central Jakarta District Court on Tuesday did not please everyone -- or, to be more precise, it probably pleased no one.

'Weak consumer demands helps ease inflation'

'Weak consumer demands helps ease inflation'The Jakarta Post, Jakarta While having a positive impact on the country's economy, the current declining inflationary trend indicates the worrying fact that the public's purchasing power has been on the decline, according to analysts.

Truth commission bill discussed

Truth commission bill discussed JAKARTA: A special committee at the House of Representatives on Wednesday began deliberating a bill on establishing a truth and reconciliation commission.Legislator Sidharto Danusubroto of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) was selected...

Evidence Aceh rebels behind rise in piracy: Separatist rebels

Evidence Aceh rebels behind rise in piracy: Separatist rebels from Indonesia's Aceh province could be behind an increase in pirate attacks on oil tankers in busy sea lanes between Indonesia and Malaysia, the International Maritime Bureau said.

Workers rally to demand salary

Workers rally to demand salary TANGERANG: Some 200 workers of PT Joka Kayu Sentosa, a wood processing company in the Jatake Industrial Estate in Jatiuwung district, Tangerang, urged the Tangerang Manpower Agency to force the company director to pay their salaries.

Tragedy of primary education

Tragedy of primary educationFrom Bisnis Indonesia A heartrending report said recently that a 12-year-old primary school student had committed suicide, because he could not pay for an extracurricular activity that cost only Rp 2,500.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian industries suffered estimated losses of

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian industries suffered estimated losses of between 20 million and 30 million ringgit (US$5.3 - $7.9 million) during Monday's power blackout which hit five states, local media reported on Wednesday.

PKB to replace disloyal councillors

PKB to replace disloyal councillors SEMARANG: The Central Java chapter of the National Awakening Party (PKB) has proposed the replacement of seven councillors for violating party rules.The councillors in question have switched their allegiance to the rival PKB faction led by Minister of Defense...

KLIA cheapest airport in Asia

KLIA cheapest airport in Asia SINGAPORE: Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) has maintained its status as the cheapest in Asia, but Singapore's Changi Airport is narrowing the gap, rankings showed on Wednesday.

Student killed in brutal hazing incident

Student killed in brutal hazing incidentYuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung A 20-year-old student died after allegedly being beaten by older students at the Public Administration Institute (STPDN) in Sumedang, West Java, police and doctors said on Wednesday.

Fitri Wulandari

Fitri Wulandari The Jakarta Post Jakarta The government could face a potential loss of US$3 million if a strike at mining company PT Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC) drags on for more than a month, a senior official said on Wednesday.

Not ready for scrap heap yet

Not ready for scrap heap yetFrom Pos Kota I own a 1979 Toyota Corolla, which I bought after saving up for it over a long period. I am, therefore, very disappointed to hear that Jakarta's governor has issued a decision prohibiting automobiles made before 1990 from entering Jakarta.

'Islands for monkeys, not storing oil'

'Islands for monkeys, not storing oil'Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor, West Java The Bogor Institute of Agriculture has objected to government plans to lease two islands to foreign countries to store their oil products.

Truth commission bill discussed

Truth commission bill discussed JAKARTA: A special committee at the House of Representatives on Wednesday began deliberating a bill on establishing a truth and reconciliation commission.Legislator Sidharto Danusubroto of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) was selected...

Malaysia says regional and bilateral trade pacts necessary

Malaysia says regional and bilateral trade pacts necessary Agency France-Presse Bandar Seri Begawan Asian nations should pursue regional and bilateral free trade arrangements despite their commitments to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi said here...

Legislators ask KPU to review seats allocation

Legislators ask KPU to review seats allocationMoch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Legislators called on the General Elections Commission (KPU) on Wednesday to review its decision on the allocation of 550 seats in the House of Representatives (DPR) in the 2004 election, arguing that the...

Imron set to give firing squad the slip

Imron set to give firing squad the slipWahyoe Boediwardhana and ID Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar/Surabaya Remorseful Bali bomb defendant Ali Imron alias Alik is facing a 20-year jail sentence despite the prosecution's recognition that his role was as pivotal as those of the other defendants...

FISH EXPORTS: A number of workers dry teri nasi (tiny sea fish)

FISH EXPORTS: A number of workers dry teri nasi (tiny sea fish) in the sun. They bought the teri nasi on Wednesday in Demak, Central Java, for Rp 10,000 (US$1.2) per kilogram to be resold for Rp 50,000 per kilogram.

Fashion Week to showcase top local designers

Fashion Week to showcase top local designersRita A. Widiadana, The Jakarta Post, Jimbaran, Bali The fourth Bali Fashion Week from Oct. 13 through Oct. 15 will again feature creations by the country's most prominent fashion designers.

UN appoints Erna Witoelar as special envoy for MDG

UN appoints Erna Witoelar as special envoy for MDGMoch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The United Nations has appointed former minister for resettlement and regional infrastructure Erna Witoelar as its special envoy in the Asia Pacific for the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).

Court seeks a secretary-general

Court seeks a secretary-general JAKARTA: The newly established Constitutional Court has chosen three candidates for the post of secretary-general, chairman Jimly Asshidiqie said Wednesday.The three were Abdul Wahid, Oka Mahendra, both senior officials at the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights,...

PDI-P to pick legislative candidates

PDI-P to pick legislative candidates JAKARTA: The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) will select its legislative candidates for the 2004- 2009 term between Sept. 15 and Dec. 5.The party's deputy secretary general Pramono Anung Wibowo said on Tuesday that mostly rank-and-file...

Thief caught in the act at HI restaurant

Thief caught in the act at HI restaurantThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta A thief was caught red-handed on Thursday morning at Hotel Indonesia's Ramayana Restaurant, while he was trying to steal a briefcase.Hasan Basri bin Usman, 38, was caught in the act by his would- be victim Morteza Granghadr, a...

Pornography to be allowed for medication, education

Pornography to be allowed for medication, educationKurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The House of Representatives paved the way on Wednesday for the deliberation of a bill on pornography that would contain maximum penalties of seven years in jail and fines of Rp 3 billion (US$350,000) for...

C'mon, make my day, if only once a year

C'mon, make my day, if only once a yearEvi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Starting this year, Sept. 4 will be observed nationwide as National Customers Day.The idea, which is aimed at increasing the awareness of the country's business community of the importance of customers, was initiated by...

10 more parties register with KPU

10 more parties register with KPU JAKARTA: The Golkar Party and the Crescent Star Party (PBB) are among 10 political parties which have registered with the General Elections Commission (KPU) to contest the 2004 polls.

Bullying suspected in Brimob deaths

Bullying suspected in Brimob deathsLa Remmy and Eric W., The Jakarta Post, Palu, Central Sulawesi National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar has ordered top officers to lead the investigation into allegations of violence perpetrated against four new recruits to the Central Sulawesi Police's Mobile...

IMF visits Malaysia for first time since crisis

IMF visits Malaysia for first time since crisisSean Yoong, Associated Press, Putrajaya, Malaysia International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Horst Koehler said on Wednesday that - with hindsight - Malaysia's maverick path in dealing with the Asian financial crisis helped it recover faster than some of...

Kuala Lumpur International Airport cheapest in Asia

Kuala Lumpur International Airport cheapest in Asia Deutsche Presse-Agentur SingaporeKuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) has maintained its status as the cheapest in Asia, but Singapore's Changi Airport is narrowing the gap, rankings showed on Wednesday.

Antiterrorism Law

Antiterrorism Law Only a few days before the horrible Bali tragedy occurred, noted human rights activists Hendardi of the Indonesian Legal Aid and Advocacy Association and Daniel Pandjaitan of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute "urged the government not to rush to endorse the (antiterrorism) bill".

Mega urges Muslim scholars to improve country's image

Mega urges Muslim scholars to improve country's imageFabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta President Megawati Soekarnoputri called on Muslim scholars to help Indonesia to defuse the stigma that the country was a breeding ground for terrorists.

Genting bids Jawa Power's stakes

Genting bids Jawa Power's stakes KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian gaming company Genting Bhd. confirmed on Wednesday it is bidding for a stake in Indonesia's PT Jawa Power.In a statement to the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange, the company said it has been shortlisted to make a final binding offer for U.K.

Mark up suspected in 'flag fund'

Mark up suspected in 'flag fund'Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Irregularities were found in the proposed Rp 3.5 billion (US$411,765) budget to relocate Bendera Pusaka (original national flag) from the State Palace to the independence room at the National Monument (Monas).Some Rp 1.

Midas-touch artist Sapto dies at 78

Midas-touch artist Sapto dies at 78Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta Flamboyant, multitalented artist and art dealer Sapto Hoedojo, who was recognizable anywhere with his gray, silky hair, died at his home here on Wednesday morning. He was 78.

Malaysia says regional and bilateral trade pacts necessary

Malaysia says regional and bilateral trade pacts necessary Agency France-Presse Bandar Seri Begawan Asian nations should pursue regional and bilateral free trade arrangements despite their commitments to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi said here...

'Bobo' to hold writing contest

'Bobo' to hold writing contest JAKARTA: Bobo children's magazine will hold a writing contest for elementary fourth, fifth and sixth graders from around the nation with the theme of "Friendship amid Diversity".

4 x 13

4 x 13 Diseases hit as ash, sulfur rains down on East Flores Bandung-Student-ViolenceJP/5/student1 x 32 Student killed in hazing incident JP/5/boat2 x 27 20-crew fishing boat still missing in Sulawesi waters JP/5/husk1 x 45 Indramayu welcomes first rice-husk power plant

New justice named in Akbar's case

New justice named in Akbar's case JAKARTA: Judge Abdurrahman Saleh has been appointed to replace colleague Laica Marzuki to sit on the panel of five judges hearing the graft case of Akbar Tandjung, the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

PGN raises $150m in first overseas bond sale

PGN raises $150m in first overseas bond salePT Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN), Indonesia's state-owned gas distributor, raised US$150 million from its first overseas bond sale, said Credit Suisse First Boston, the sale arranger.The bonds mature in 2013 and pay interest of 7.

Counterfeit dealer gets five years

Counterfeit dealer gets five years BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: The Banjarmasin District Court sentenced a man on Wednesday to five years in jail for keeping and circulating counterfeit banknotes of considerable monetary value.

Fire volunteers to train to fight fires

Fire volunteers to train to fight firesZakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Central Jakarta Fire Department has held a five-day training course for 50 fire volunteers from subdistricts in the mayoralty.

Audit on consumption of used logs underway

Audit on consumption of used logs underwayRendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Ministry of Forestry and BRIK, an industry group, have begun a joint audit of the country's forestry-related industries to get an exact count of the number of logs being used.

Hole-in-one gives Sugiri new sedan

Hole-in-one gives Sugiri new sedan JAKARTA: Rafi Sugiri from Jakarta did what every golfer dreams of on Wednesday when he hit a hole-in-one at the 4th annual Radius Prawiro Cup at the Satelindo golf club near Bogor and drove home in a new car for his feat.

Hassan blames U.S. for Ba'asyir's lenient sentence

Hassan blames U.S. for Ba'asyir's lenient sentenceThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda questioned on Wednesday the United States' commitment to granting Indonesian detectives direct access to terror suspect Riduan Isamuddin.

* Headlines: Mega urges Muslim scholars to improve country's

* Headlines: Mega urges Muslim scholars to improve country's image2 * National: TNI to deploy more troops to Papua 4 * Archipelago: Diseases hit as ash, sulfur rains down on East Flores 5 * Opinion: Indonesia needs strong competition regime 7 * City: Sutiyoso's power grab rejected by neighbors 8 *...

Offering small islands to investors is actually not a new idea

Offering small islands to investors is actually not a new idea in this country of 17,000 islands of various sizes. The fact that many of Indonesia's small islands, especially those in the areas bordering neighboring countries, remain uninhabited has caused worries among some in Jakarta that...

Indramayu welcomes fisrt rice-husk power plant

Indramayu welcomes fisrt rice-husk power plantNana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Indramayu, West Java A power plant (PLTD) using a mixture of rice husk and diesel fuel has been introduced for the first time in Indonesia.

World hails Ba'asyir's conviction, but sentence seen as lenient

World hails Ba'asyir's conviction, but sentence seen as lenientRoberto Coloma, Agence France-Presse, Singapore The conviction of an Indonesian cleric accused of being the clandestine leader of Islamic terrorists in Southeast Asia was welcomed in the region on Wednesday, but his jail term was seen...

1. Reaction -- 3 cols, 3 lines, 48pts, 20 counts

1. Reaction -- 3 cols, 3 lines, 48pts, 20 counts World hails Ba'asyir conviction, but sees sentence as lenient 2. Washington -- 3 cols, 2 lines, 36pts, 26 countsU.S. a bigger terrorist target since Sept. 11 3.

Where to go in Bali for Thursday, September 4, 2003

Where to go in Bali for Thursday, September 4, 2003.TB.30" 1.0" Museums and Galleries * Sika Galery, Jl. Raya Campuhan Sanggingan, Ubud (Tel. 0361 975727, 975085) * Blue Moon Gallery, Jl. Tirta Tawar, Banjar Kutuh Kaja, Ubud (Tel. 0361 976727), daily, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. * Museum Puri Lukisan, Jl.

75 street children to perform

75 street children to perform JAKARTA: As many as 75 street children from the city's five municipalities will enter a "Street Children's Expression Festival" on Sept. 13.The festival, organized by the Cahaya Hati Bangsa foundation and supported by members of the Harley Davidson Owner's Club, will...

Police rend passport forgery network

Police rend passport forgery network SURABAYA: East Java Police have uncovered a passport forgery syndicate suspected of sending migrant workers abroad with false documents.Sr. Comr. Sutarman, provincial chief of detectives, said on Tuesday that four suspects in the labor smuggling ring had been...

The Jakarta Post, Surabaya/Jakarta

The Jakarta Post, Surabaya/Jakarta The prices of several products, especially steel-based products and the cost for housing construction, might soon increase markedly as the result of the recent move by state oil and gas company Pertamina to raise fuel prices for selected industries, businessmen...

Breast cancer cases up by 5%

Breast cancer cases up by 5% JAKARTA: The number of women suffering from breast cancer is increasing by 5 percent every year, said Indah Sri Anggarini from Dharmais Hospital in Jakarta, on Tuesday.She said breast cancer represents the most common of all cancers among women in the country, followed...

Govt sees $3m potential loss due to KPC's strike

Govt sees $3m potential loss due to KPC's strikeFitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government could face a potential loss of US$3 million if a strike at mining company PT Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC) drags on for more than a month, a senior official said on Wednesday.

20-crew fishing boat still missing in Sulawesi water

20-crew fishing boat still missing in Sulawesi waterThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta A fishing boat carrying at least 20 crew members has been reported missing since last week in waters east of Wawonii Island in South Konowe regency, Southeast Sulawesi province, amid rough seas there.

Indonesia needs strong competition regime

Indonesia needs strong competition regimeMuhammad Sauri Hasibuan, Fortech Consulting, Jakarta Many would probably think that competition policy and law are merely tools for the rich. Yet the design and implementation of competition policy also improves the welfare of poor consumers.

Ba'asyir verdict proves Jakarta's halfheartedness

Ba'asyir verdict proves Jakarta's halfheartednessThe Straits Times, Asia News Network, Singapore A Jakarta court on Tuesday said it was unconvinced, on the evidence before it, that the Indonesian Islamic firebrand Abu Bakar Ba'asyir was the head of the Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), the shadowy Southeast...

TNI to deploy more troops to Papua

TNI to deploy more troops to PapuaThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Indonesian Military (TNI) is planning to immediately dispatch four battalions to the country's easternmost province of Papua, where bloody clashes killed at least five people and injured dozens of others two weeks ago.TNI Commander Gen.

Fitri Wulandari

Fitri Wulandari The Jakarta Post Jakarta The government could face a potential loss of US$3 million if a strike at mining company PT Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC) drags on for more than a month, a senior official said on Wednesday.

Rotary Club helps Balinese people "just say no" to drugs

Rotary Club helps Balinese people "just say no" to drugsRita A. Widiadana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali Donny, a 15-year-old, is much like any other ordinary high school student in Denpasar. He was once a star on his school basketball team and was active in other extra-curricular activities.

'Money is more important than real justice here'

'Money is more important than real justice here' The court handed down a verdict of four years in jail for Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir on Tuesday after the panel of judges found him guilty of subversion, document counterfeiting and immigration violations.

Antam might set 7.5% coupon on bond

Antam might set 7.5% coupon on bond JAKARTA: Indonesia's state-owned gold and nickel company PT Aneka Tambang (Antam), is expected to set a coupon rate of between 7 percent and 7.5 percent on its seven-year global bond, a banker familiar with the deal said on Wednesday.

Diseases hit as ash, sulfur rains down on East Flores

Diseases hit as ash, sulfur rains down on East FloresYemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara Thousands of refugees and other villagers affected by the eruptions of Mount Lewotobi in Wulanggitan subdistrict, East Flores regency, East Nusa Tenggara, have begun to suffer from...

Three home players through to quarters

Three home players through to quartersThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Indonesia has been left with three contenders in the men's singles event at the US$15,000 Kratingdaeng tennis tournament as it enters the quarterfinals stage at the Bung Karno tennis center here on Thursday, according to Antara.

An Assessment done among and by Drug Abusers and Addicts in Bali-

An Assessment done among and by Drug Abusers and Addicts in Bali- 2003Data collected by Yakita, Yayasan Hati-Hati and Yakeba. Interviews were done by addicts in recovery, reaching out to other addicts many areas of Bali.

PGN raises $150m in first overseas bond sale

PGN raises $150m in first overseas bond saleBloomberg, Hong Kong PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN), Indonesia's state-owned gas distributor, raised US$150 million from its first overseas bond sale, said Credit Suisse First Boston, the sale arranger.The bonds mature in 2013 and pay interest of 7.

Mega tells officials to seek mediation over litigation

Mega tells officials to seek mediation over litigationFabiola Desy Unidjadja and Muninggar S.S., The Jakarta Post, Jakarta President Megawati Soekarnoputri has told government officials to try and settle their disputes with the press through the Press Council before taking legal action.

National heritage

National heritageFrom Kompas The Kota railway station in Jakarta, built by the Dutch in 1828, is in bad repair. Its annex, used by the colonial government as an office to provide railway-related services, has lost its original form.

TNI OKs provinces to copy Riau

TNI OKs provinces to copy RiauTiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto revealed on Wednesday that he had urged local administrations to purchase patrol boats to support the Navy in securing the country's territorial waters.

Disappointing national museum

Disappointing national museumFrom Media Indonesia At the end of July, I visited the National Museum on Jl. Merdeka Barat, Jakarta, for the first time. While I thought the museum would be a major source of information on the nation's history, I noticed several things that made me very disappointed.

RI defends Ba'asyir verdict

RI defends Ba'asyir verdictThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Playing down international criticism, the Indonesian government claimed on Wednesday that the four-year jail sentence handed down to cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir manifested the country's commitment to combating terrorism.

ASEAN ministers note progress in FTAs

ASEAN ministers note progress in FTAsJason Gutierrez, Agence France-Presse, Phnom Penh Southeast Asian nations reported on Wednesday progress in free trade talks with key economic partners China and Japan, but enthusiasm was tempered by concerns over agricultural tariffs.