New Thai carrier Angel Airline Co. officially opened for services on Sunday with its first domestic flight from Bangkok to the southern resort island of Phuket. It begins operations at a time when most Asian airlines are struggling to stem losses as a result of the region's financial crisis. Chief executive officer Somchai Benjarongkakul told reporters Angel Airline will be able to operate up to 11 flights per day. It is currently leasing three aircraft, he said. They are a 112-seat Boeing 737-500, a 30-seat Dornier 328 and a luxury eight-seat Beech Jet.

Labor Board to dismiss Teamsters, Anheuser charges: The National Labour Relations Board (NLRB) has told Anheuser-Busch Cos Inc that it intends to dismiss charges filed in connection with the company's bargaining with the Teamsters union over a new national contract, Anheuser-Busch said. Numerous charges, including failure to bargain in good faith, were filed against the company by the Teamsters duringnearly a year of bargaining, a company release said. Anheuser-Busch had also filed similar charges against the union. The NLRB's action covers charges filed by both parties.

Malaysia appoints chief of RAM as head of debt panel: Malaysia's central bank said it has appointed C. Rajandram, Chief executive of Rating Agency of Malaysia Bhd (RAM), to head its new Corporate Debt Restructuring Committee. Rajandram, a former adviser with the central Bank Negara, will head the panel that will help ease the debt burden on corporate entities, caused by the regional financial crisis.

Hong Kong telecom staff to protest planned wage cuts: Hong Kong Telecommunications Ltd staff plan to stage a series of protests over the company's decision to cut wages by 10 per cent, newspapers said on Sunday. The staff would organise a signature campaign in the busy Causeway Bay shopping district on Sunday to garner community support, and would hold a sit-in at the company's headquarters in the Wanchai area in theevening, the reports said. Unionists also urged all Hong Kong Telecom staff to end overtime work, the South China Morning Post said.

Near term SIA investment unlikely, says Ansett: Ansett Australia said on Sunday that Singapore Airlines was not likely to buy a stake in Australia's struggling second carrier in the near term despite speculation that it was a willing investor. "There's been plenty of speculation in the past about Singapore Airlines becoming an equity partner in Ansett," Ansett executive chairman Rod Eddington said told the Nine Network's Business Sunday programme.

Saudi firm wins licence for $267 m petrochem plant: Saudi Arabia's National Industrialisation Co has obtained a licence to set up a one billion riyal ($267 million) petrochemicals complex in the industrial city of Jubail, a newspaper reported on Sunday. The Saudi daily al-Eqtisadiah said NIC had won the licence from the ministry of industry and electricity to produce 4,00,000 tonnes of propane derivatives. Thetotal project investment would be one billion riyals.

Funds adviser wants BHP director rejected: A US-based advisory firm said on Sunday it will recommend against the re-election of David Asimus as a director of the Broken Hill Pty Co Ltd (BHP) when it holds its annual meeting on Tuesday. The recommendation by Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) is in line with a move by the Australian Shareholders' Association (ASA) to oppose the reappointment of Asimus at the Perth meeting. ISS advises institutional clients about corporate governance issues it also ensures that the company's meeting will be one of the most contentious corporate events in Australia this year.