(recasts after South Korea match)
JAKARTA, May 14 (Reuters) - South Korea, who engineered the Thomas Cup quarter-final they wanted by fielding below strength teams at the group stage, almost had their ploy foiled on Wednesday.
The Koreans trailed 2-0 against European champions Denmark after defeats in the first singles and doubles only to race back and win 3-2.
The victory was sealed in the final rubber when Shon Seung-mo beat Jan Jorgensen 21-11 21-9.
The Koreans sparked controversy at the group stage by contriving to lose two matches to set up a playoff on Tuesday with Canada, a minor badminton power, and avoid hosts Indonesia and the might of China until the latter stages.
No rules had been broken but the Badminton World Federation is looking at ways of avoiding a repetition.
For now the ploy has worked and the Koreans meet Indonesia in Friday's semi-finals after the Indonesians earlier breezed past England 3-0.
The other semi will be between six-times winners China and Malaysia after China beat Thailand 3-0 and Malaysia overcame Japan by the same scoreline.
The Chinese, seeking a third Thomas Cup title in a row and seventh in all, fielded their strongest team, headed by world champion Lin Dan who eased past Boonsak Ponsana 21-15 21-14.
After a Chinese victory in the doubles, world ranked three Bao Chunlai clinched the tie with a 21-14 21-11 success over Poompat Sapkulchananart.
The Chinese women, seeking a sixth Uber Cup crown in succession, trailed 2-1 against the Netherlands in their quarter-final but their two experienced doubles teams saw them safely home at 3-2.
In Thursday's semis, China play South Korea while Indonesia face Germany.
(Writing by Dave Thompson in London, editing by Padraic Halpin) ((dave.thompson@reuters.com; +44 207 542 7933; Reuters Messaging: dave.thompson.reuters.com@reuters.net; For the latest Reuters Premier League and international football news see: http://football.uk.reuters.com/))
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Keywords: BADMINTON CUPS/
May 14 (Reuters) - Quarter-final results from Jakarta in the
Thomas and Uber Cup team badminton tournaments (first to three)
on Wednesday (* denotes new result)
Thomas Cup (for men; holders China)
* Indonesia 3 England 0
* South Korea 3 Denmark 2
China 3 Thailand 0
Malaysia 3 Japan 0
Uber Cup (for women; holders China)
* South Korea 3 Malaysia 1
* China 3 Netherlands 2
Indonesia 3 Hong Kong 0
Germany 3 Denmark 0
(Compiled by Dave Thompson, Editing by Tom Pilcher)
((dave.thompson@reuters.com; +44 207 542 0856; Reuters
Messaging: dave.thompson.reuters.com@reuters.net; For the
latest Reuters Premier League and international football news
see: http://football.uk.reuters.com/))
Please double-click on the newslink:
[BADM-LEN] for more badminton stories
(Adds details from minister)
JAKARTA, May 14 (Reuters) - Indonesia plans to raise fuel prices by a maximum 30 percent in an effort to help the 2008 budget, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said on Wednesday.
"The government will increase the fuel price by maximum 30 percent," Indrawati told reporters.
"The government saw that the trend of oil prices will cause subsidies to be higher than the budgeted 126.8 trillion rupiah ($13.6 billion). We estimate if oil prices are like this, it (subsidy bill) can reach above 190 trillion rupiah."
The government is due to hold a news conference at 0900 GMT on Thursday on the planned increase in fuel prices, a move that has already sparked protests in several parts of the country.
Aburizal Bakrie, chief social welfare minister, told reporters late on Wednesday that ministers would report back to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on May 23 about preparations for cash handouts for the poor.
The cash handouts are intended for poor families who would be worst hit by the fuel price increase. About 19 million families could receive the cash handouts, Bakrie said. Indonesia's population is about 226 million.
Bakrie also said that the President would announce the fuel price increase after the ministers have reported back to him.
Price hikes are a sensitive issue in Indonesia, where many live on less than $2 a day and are already grappling with the impact of higher food prices.
Apart from an inflation shock in 2005 -- the last time the government raised fuel prices -- a big increase triggered rioting that helped topple former president Suharto in 1998.
In October 2005, the government more than doubled subsidised fuel prices, pushing inflation to around six-year highs and prompting the central bank to jack up its benchmark interest rate, BI rate <BIPG>, to a three-year high.
The Indonesian government faces tough decisions over how to contain inflation and curb an expanding budget deficit as its subsidy bill balloons because of rising global oil prices. ($1 = 9,293 rupiah) (Reporting by Muklis Ali; editing by Sugita Katyal) ((sara.webb@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging sara.webb.reuters.com@reuters.com; + 6221 384 6364))
Keywords: INDONESIA FUEL/
(Adds background)
JAKARTA, May 14 (Reuters) - Indonesia plans to raise fuel prices by a maximum 30 percent in an effort to help the 2008 budget, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said on Wednesday.
"The government will increase the fuel price by maximum 30 percent," Indrawati told reporters.
"The government saw that the trend of oil prices will cause subsidies to be higher than the budgeted 126.8 trillion rupiah ($13.6 billion). We estimate if oil prices are like this, it (subsidy bill) can reach above 190 trillion rupiah."
The government is due to hold a news conference at 0900 GMT on Thursday on the planned increase in fuel prices, a move that has already sparked protests in several parts of the country.
Price hikes are a sensitive subject in Indonesia, where many live on less than $2 a day and are already grappling with the impact of higher food prices.
Apart from an inflation shock in 2005 -- the last time the government raised fuel prices -- a big increase triggered rioting that helped topple former president Suharto in 1998.
In October 2005, the government more than doubled subsidised fuel prices, pushing inflation to around six-year highs and prompting the central bank to jack up its benchmark interest rate, BI rate <BIPG>, to a three-year high.
The Indonesian government faces tough decisions over how to contain inflation and curb an expanding budget deficit as its subsidy bill balloons because of rising global oil prices.
($1 = 9,293 rupiah) (Reporting by Muklis Ali; editing by Sugita Katyal, David Christian-Edwards) ((sara.webb@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging sara.webb.reuters.com@reuters.com; + 6221 384 6364))
Keywords: INDONESIA FUEL/
(Adds quotes)
JAKARTA, May 14 (Reuters) - Indonesia plans to raise fuel prices by a maximum 30 percent in an effort to help the 2008 budget, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said on Wednesday.
"The government will increase the fuel price by maximum 30 percent," Indrawati told reporters.
"The government saw that the trend of oil prices will cause subsidies to be higher than the budgeted 126.8 trillion rupiah ($13.6 billion). We estimate if oil prices are like this it (subsidy bill) can reach above 190 trillion rupiah."
The government is due to hold a news conference at 0900 GMT on Thursday on the planned increase in fuel prices, a move that has already sparked protests in several parts of the country. ($1 = 9,293 rupiah) (Reporting by Muklis Ali, editing by Sugita Katyal) ((sara.webb@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging sara.webb.reuters.com@reuters.com; + 6221 384 6364)) Keywords: INDONESIA FUEL/
Next: Indonesia says to raise fuel prices by maximum 30 pct