■ Electronics
Wyse to expand in Asia
California-based Wyse Technology Inc wants its Asia-Pacific and Japan operations to contribute 30 percent to gross global revenues over the next two years, a published report said yesterday. The region currently accounts for 12 percent. Wyse is setting up its Southeast Asia regional headquarters in Singapore next month, The Business Times reported. "We now have about half of our 350 employees in Asia, as compared to about 20 percent previously," San-Jose-based president John Kish was quoted as saying. "The reason for this is to have engineers closer to the market for rapid turnaround and customization." Wyse is aiming to increase global revenues from US$200 million to US$1 billion in the next five years.
■ Internet
Yahoo, BlackBerry in deal
Yahoo Inc, the second-most used Internet search engine, signed an agreement to distribute the company's instant messenger software with the BlackBerry e-mail pager made by Research In Motion Ltd. Yahoo's instant messaging software will be distributed with the BlackBerry in the next two months, said Doug Garland, senior vice president of Yahoo mobile. Yahoo's agreement with Waterloo, Ontario-based Research in Motion is for "multiple years," he said. Terms of the agreement weren't disclosed. The agreement is Yahoo's first with a mobile device manufacturer and illustrates the growing links between the Web and mobile devices. "People are increasingly living on their mobile devices," said Garland. "We believe there's a lot of room for growth," in mobile services. Yahoo and Research In Motion plan to release a version of Yahoo's e-mail service for the BlackBerry in the future, Garland said.
■ Entertainment
Casino project planned
US casino operator Las Vegas Sands will team up with Hong Kong's Regal Hotels International on a hotel-casino project in the booming southern Chinese gambling enclave of Macau, the Hong Kong company said yesterday. The first phase of the project in Macau's Cotai area will offer at least 1,500 rooms, a casino and a showroom for large performances, Regal Hotels said in a statement posted on the Web site of Hong Kong's stock exchange. The statement said Regal Hotels International Ltd will build the complex and Las Vegas Sands Inc will lease and run the casino and showroom. It said construction of the hotel-casino's initial phase is scheduled for completion by late 2007. The hotel and casino portions of the project will be expanded later, it said.
■ Aviation
Lufthansa talks with Swiss
German carrier Lufthansa announced it was negotiating with Swiss International Air Lines about a possible takeover of the money-losing carrier. In a statement on Sunday, Lufthansa described the talks as "constructive" and said the two companies had come up with a business plan to integrate Swiss into its operations. It said "pillars" of any deal would be keeping Switzerland's air connections and the Swiss brand. "The business plan that has been developed by the two companies must still be approved by the Lufthansa board of directors, the board of Swiss and Swiss shareholders," the statement said. Should the plan meet with board approval, Lufthansa said it would make an offer to buy out smaller investors based on Swiss stock's average price in recent weeks.
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A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
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