Category: World

SINGAPORE, May 26, 2006 (AFP) – Singapore-based luxury resort and spa chain the Banyan Tree on Friday launched an initial public offering (IPO) worth up to 407 million Singapore dollars (259 million US). The resort and spa chain is issuing some 380 million shares at a maximum price of 1.07 dollars each and will make […]

SINGAPORE, May 26, 2006 (AFP) – Singapore-based luxury resort and spa chain the Banyan Tree on Friday launched an initial public offering (IPO) worth up to 407 million Singapore dollars (259 million US). The resort and spa chain is issuing some 380 million shares at a maximum price of 1.07 dollars each and will make […]

KATHMANDU, May 26, 2006 (AFP) – Humbled King Gyanendra must “behave” or he has no future even as a ceremonial monarch, Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat told AFP, revealing a royal spending spree before absolute rule was brought to an end.Gyanendra’s conduct had been “very good” in the month since he relinquished his 14-month […]

KATHMANDU, May 26, 2006 (AFP) – Humbled King Gyanendra must “behave” or he has no future even as a ceremonial monarch, Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat told AFP, revealing a royal spending spree before absolute rule was brought to an end.Gyanendra’s conduct had been “very good” in the month since he relinquished his 14-month […]

KUALA LUMPUR, May 24, 2006 (AFP) – Malaysian carmaker Proton said Wednesday it is in talks with Chinese manufacturer Chery on a deal to assemble and distribute Proton and Chery models in China, Malaysia and elsewhere in Southeast Asia.Proton said in a statement that the two firms would work on a feasibility study over the […]

BANGKOK, May 24, 2006 (AFP) – The head of the Stock Exchange of Thailand quit Wednesday after the local stock market failed to list the country’s best-selling brewer, which instead went to Singapore.Kittiratt Na-Ranong resigned and the stock exchange board appointed his deputy, Patareeya Benjapolchai, as the new president, effective from May 31, the Stock […]

KUALA LUMPUR, May 24, 2006 (AFP) – Malaysian carmaker Proton said Wednesday it is in talks with Chinese manufacturer Chery on a deal to assemble and distribute Proton and Chery models in China, Malaysia and elsewhere in Southeast Asia.Proton said in a statement that the two firms would work on a feasibility study over the […]

NAIROBI, May 23, 2006 (AFP) – Kenya’s famed lion prides could be driven to extinction because ritual killings by tribal warriors are decimating their ranks in and around the country’s protected game reserves, wildlife experts warned Tuesday.The findings were immediately dismissed by members of the Maasai tribe, which is blamed for most of the deaths […]

BANGALORE, India, May 23, 2006 (AFP) – US-based Intel Corp, the world’s largest maker of semiconductors for computers, may build a facility to test its devices in India, the company’s chief executive said Tuesday.“We are in discussion with the Indian government for setting up an ATMP (assembly-test-mark-pack) plant in India with partners,” Paul Otellini told […]

NEW DELHI, May 23, 2006 (AFP) – India, the world’s largest mango producer, is set for a big push to sell its succulent “king of fruit” to countries like Japan and the United States, officials say. The mango is native to India, which grows 12 million tons (10.8 million metric tonnes) of the fruit, more […]

NEW DELHI, May 22, 2006 (AFP) – India has agreed to cut tariffs on a basket of products to pave way for the implementation of a proposed free trade argreement (FTA) with Southeast Asia, a report said Monday.The agreement between India and the 10-member ASEAN is scheduled to come into effect on January 1, 2007 […]

MANILA, May 22, 2006 (AFP) – For decades the troubled Philippines economy has been able to bank on one key asset in attracting foreign investors — proficiency in the English language.In recent years it has helped win outsourcing contracts in the booming business process and call center sectors, one of the few areas of the […]