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.

Wellington  - New Zealand's newly elected government Monday signed off on a fast-track programme of legislation to be passed by parliament which includes tax cuts designed to stimulate the economy, Prime Minister John Key said.

Key was talking to reporters shortly before the swearing in of legislators elected in the November 8 poll. His government's detailed programme for the next three years is to be unveiled at Tuesday's official opening of parliament.

Frankfurt, Germany - Enthusiasm for the internet is cooling, said German futurologist and trend analyst Matthias Horx.

"It's becoming increasingly apparent that virtual worlds can replace actual ones only up to a point," he said in Frankfurt during an interview with Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

"A small but growing group of people who had a strong affinity to the internet and digitalization are dropping out now," remarked Horx, noting that many companies had declared e-mail-free days. He cited studies showing that some 2.6 million people regard themselves as "ex-onliners," having cut down on their digital communication to enhance the quality of their lives.

Tokyo  - Japan markets opened stronger on Monday, with stocks driven up by hope for the US economy to recover as president-elect Barack Obama Saturday pledged a large-scale spending plan.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average was up 203.2 points, or 2.57 per cent, to 8,120.71 by mid-trading, carrying over Friday's positive sentiment at Wall Street.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues rose 11.34 points, or 1.44 per cent to 797.36.

Los Angeles  - Last weekend's top-grossing movie, the romantic comedy Four Christmases, had 18.2 million dollars in ticket sales under its tree in its second three-day weekend in cinemas.

The number was good enough to hold onto the North American box- office revenue title for the Friday-Sunday period.

Sao Paulo/Bras