The Wall Street Journal-20080114-Politics -amp- Economics- In Brief
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Politics & Economics: In Brief
Euro-Zone Growth Is Seen
At Less Than 2% in 2008
Luxembourg's Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker said the European Commission "is considering [the euro zone] could have growth of 1.8 or 1.9%" in 2008. The Commission's latest forecast, in November, saw 2.2% growth in 2008. Mr. Juncker chairs a grouping of finance ministers of countries that use the euro.
-- Reuters
Suharto Suffers Organ Failure
Doctors said former Indonesian President Suharto was in "very critical condition" yesterday after suffering multiple organ failure. Mr. Suharto's chief doctor told reporters: "Almost all of his organs have experienced a decline, especially his heart and lungs." Mr. Suharto, 86 years old, was hospitalized Jan. 4. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said of the former autocrat, "certainly he made mistakes and committed wrongdoing, but it would not hurt us to thank him and appreciate his achievements and services to the country."
Chinese Protest Maglev Train
Police broke up a demonstration against a planned extension of Shanghai's high-speed "maglev" train line yesterday, removing dozens of protesters from one of the city's most crowded shopping streets. Officers cordoned off part of Nanjing Road to prevent a repeat of a demonstration Saturday by hundreds of people. Demonstrators assembled to demand city authorities reconsider the project because it could damage residents' health. They said they feared electromagnetic radiation from the line would sicken them, and also complained about the noise. During Saturday's larger demonstration, police detained dozens of protesters for brief periods but then let the march continue.
-- Reuters
