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/ 31 May 2007

Casinos or culture? Singapore seeks tourists

What makes a successful tourist destination? Casinos, theme parks and Bollywood films — or a mix of historic sites and local culture? As Singapore reduces its dependence on electronics exports it wants to boost its tourism industry — currently about 5% of gross domestic product — and is betting on casinos and other imported entertainment to lure millions more visitors.

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/ 31 May 2007

Afro-Asia Cup survives with new TV deal

The Afro-Asia series in India will go ahead as scheduled next week after the ESPN-Star network stepped in to save the beleaguered event, the Asian Cricket Council said on Thursday. The series, featuring three one-dayers and a Twenty20 match between Asia and Africa from June 5 to 10, was in jeopardy after the original rights holder pulled out.

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/ 31 May 2007

French flops stun Roland Garros faithful

French hopes of a first men’s singles title at Roland Garros since Yannick Noah nearly a quarter of a century ago lay in tatters on Wednesday after the defeat of their top players in two rounds. Veterans Sebastien Grosjean (28), Arnaud Clement (29) and Fabrice Santoro (34) all failed to make it past the first round.

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/ 31 May 2007

April credit data raises rate-hike chances

Growth in demand for credit by South Africa’s private sector quickened to 25,08% year-on-year in April, central bank data showed on Thursday, making another interest rate increase next week more likely. Credit growth accelerated from a downwardly revised 24,09% in March while the broadly defined M3 measure of money supply grew by 22,27%.