Bangkok  - The week-long closure of Bangkok's two airports expected to reduce Thailand's gross domestic product (GDP) by 0.3 to 0.5 per cent in the last quarter of
2008, a government think tank revealed Monday.

The National Economic And Social Development Board (NESDB) has estimated that Thailand lost revenues amounting to 104 billion baht (3 billion dollars) because of the closures of Suvarnabhumi International Airport and Don Mueang airport by anti-government protestors from November 26 to December 3, the Bangkok Post newspaper said.

New Delhi - In an effort to increase liquidity and boost a slowing economy, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Saturday cut two key short term lending rates by 1 per cent.

The central bank reduced the interbank lending rate by 100 basis points to 6.5 per cent.

The reverse repo rate, at which the RBI borrows money from the banks, was also reduced by 100 basis points to 5 per cent.

Both rates would be effective from Monday, bank governor D Subbarao said.

Washington - Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said late Friday that Congress was considering a short-term funding deal for the US automotive industry and that a vote on some sort of bail-out for the Big Three was expected by next week.

Congressional leaders are to spend the weekend ironing out a deal over how to help the US automotive industry survive the economic recession.

San Pedro Sula, Honduras  - The nations of Central America want to institute a common currency and a shared credit fund to combat the global financial crisis, the region's leaders said at a meeting

Washington  - US legislators have proven reluctant to provide the ailing car industry with the money it needs to survive, despite promises by executives to retool for the modern era and warnings of economic "disaster" if any of Detroit's Big Three declare bankruptcy.

It is a sign of just how deep a hole the carmakers find themselves in. Despite record job losses and a deepening economic recession, the government and lawmakers were not prepared to put taxpayer funds at risk for automakers that seemed doomed to fail regardless.

Washington  - Congressional leaders will spend the weekend seeking a solution to a stalemate over how to help the US automotive industry survive the economic recession.

A second day of hearings with car executives ended Friday with no apparent agreement on the industry's request for 34 billion dollars in federal aid.

President George W Bush urged legislators to put a bill together by next week amid warnings that General Motors Corp, the world's largest carmaker, may not last beyond this year without help from the government.

Congressional leaders made no such promises, insisting they would only bring a bail-out bill to the floor of the Senate or House of Representatives if it had enough votes to be approved.