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Malaysian firm makes surprise bid for Macau gaming licence

A company controlled by Malaysian tycoon and Genting chairman Lim Kok Thay has put in a bid for a casino licence in Macau, a surprise challenge to the decades-long oligopoly of the six incumbent operators.. The six operators all submitted bids by Wednesday to renew their licences but the spotlight was stolen by newcomer GMM. A GMM representative told reporters that the bid was submitted on behalf of leisure and entertainment firm Genting, according to Macao Daily.

Thu, Sep 15, 2022 2 mins read

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Bangladeshi mystic fights demons with psychiatry

Evil spirits bedevil the families that seek blessings from an elderly Bangladeshi mystic -- but he knows his prayers alone are not enough to soothe their troubled minds. . "Don't worry, you will be fine," Hoque says reassuringly, reciting prayers that he says will rid Rakib of the spirit and to help him concentrate on his studies.

Wed, Sep 14, 2022 3 mins read

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Syrian ex-prisoners haunted by horrors of 'salt rooms'

When a Syrian prison guard tossed him into a dimly-lit room, the inmate Abdo was surprised to find himself standing ankle-deep in what appeared to be salt.. Moments later came the second, grisly, surprise: as a barefoot Abdo was treading gingerly across the room, he stumbled on a corpse, emaciated and half-buried in the salt.

Wed, Sep 14, 2022 7 mins read

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Putin, Xi meet for high-stakes talks in challenge to West

Russia's Vladimir Putin and China's Xi Jinping gather with other Asian leaders in the ancient Silk Road city of Samarkand from Thursday for a regional summit touted as a challenge to Western global influence.. - Tight security, empty streets - Entry to Samarkand, a city of grand tiled mosques that was one of the hubs of Silk Road trade routes between China and Europe, was restricted in the days ahead of the summit, with its airport shut to commercial flights. 

Wed, Sep 14, 2022 3 mins read

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California sues Amazon for allegedly thwarting lower prices

California filed a lawsuit Wednesday accusing Amazon of using its market influence to prevent merchants from offering buyers better deals elsewhere online, in violation of state antitrust law.. Seattle-based Amazon is also likely concerned that the California lawsuit is a prelude to federal antitrust action, Saunders said.

Wed, Sep 14, 2022 2 mins read

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History evoked as William, Harry walk behind queen's coffin

Twenty-five years after capturing the hearts of the world when they walked behind their mother Diana's coffin, princes William and Harry on Wednesday again helped lead the most poignant of processions.. Next to William and Harry was their cousin, Anne's son Peter Phillips.

Wed, Sep 14, 2022 3 mins read

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Zelensky vows 'victory' on frontline visit to liberated Kharkiv region

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday promised "victory" on a visit to the strategic city of Izyum that was recently recaptured from Russia by Kyiv's army in a lightning counter-offensive.. Zelensky said Wednesday that Russia's occupation of Crimea -- annexed by Russia in 2014 -- was a "tragedy" and promised that his forces would eventually recapture the peninsula.

Wed, Sep 14, 2022 3 mins read

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Russian Orthodox Church says ready for new pope meeting

The Russian Orthodox Church said Wednesday it was ready for a new meeting between Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francis after weeks of diplomatic tensions sparked by the Ukraine war.. "We were ready for this meeting but it was cancelled by the Holy See," after an announcement by Pope Francis in an interview to Italian daily Corriere della Sera.

Wed, Sep 14, 2022 2 mins read

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EU plans 'comprehensive reform' of electricity market

The EU plans a "deep and comprehensive" reform of the electricity market to cope with an energy crisis spurred by Russia's war in Ukraine, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday.. As for Russia, the EU chief signalled that the bloc would maintain its sanctions pressure on Russia as long as it waged its war in Ukraine.

Wed, Sep 14, 2022 3 mins read

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Foxconn strikes $19.4 bn deal to make chips in India

Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn will invest $19.4 billion to make semiconductors in India with local conglomerate Vedanta, backed by New Delhi's push to boost tech self-reliance after a global chip shortage.. The government's semiconductor incentive scheme has already successfully wooed several investors, with Singapore's IGSS Ventures announcing $3.2 billion in July to make chips in Tamil Nadu state.

Wed, Sep 14, 2022 1 mins read