RIYADH: On the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr, Saudi Telecom Company (STC) has offered a 50 percent discount on all international calls through prepaid telephone cards and phone booths for three days from 6 a.m. on the first day of the Eid. “These reductions are applicable to all prepaid phone cards (Zujool, Marhaba, Allo, Salam) as well as calls through telephone booths, allowing our customers to enjoy more time while making international calls at half the price and connecting families, relatives, and friends during this special occasion,” STC President Saud ibn Majed Al-Daweesh said.
Amadeus renews deal with EPTAG
DAMMAM: Amadeus, a global leader in technology and distribution solutions for the travel and tourism industry, has renewed its exclusive agreement with the Eastern Province Travel Agency Group (EPTAG). EPTAG, which comprises 13 travel agencies located in the Eastern province, has been one of Amadeus’ long-standing customers for the last 10 years. The agreement, which has been renewed and extended for a period for five years, is a step forward in enabling local travel agencies to remain competitive in Saudi Arabia’s booming travel and tourism industry.
British home-loan approvals decline
LONDON: Approvals of British home loans sank to all-time lows in August amid a global squeeze on credit, the Bank of England revealed yesterday. Seasonally-adjusted mortgage approvals for house purchases dropped to 32,000 in August from 33,000 in July — the lowest level since records began in 1993. The Bank of England also revealed that net mortgage lending plunged to 143 million (179 million euros, $258 million) pounds in August from 2.9 billion pounds in July.
Thomas Cook pulls out of merger talks
LONDON: Thomas Cook, Europe’s second-biggest travel firm, said yesterday it had withdrawn from talks over a potential merger of its airline Condor, with TUI Travel’s TUIfly and Lufthansa’s Germanwings. Thomas Cook also said trading in the summer 2008 season had been strong and was confident it was on track to meet its expectations for the full year, ending Sept 30.
Toyota to curb output in China
TOKYO: Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp. is curbing production in China as sales slow in the once-booming market, a company spokesman said yesterday. “As sales growth has become slower than we projected earlier, we are adjusting output,” Toyota spokesman Toshiaki Hori said.
