WTO Dispute -- On Tuesday and Thursday of last week World Trade Organization representatives from the United States and the island nation of Antigua and Barbuda met in Geneva to establish a dispute panel that will settle the islands' grievances against U.S. policies on interactive gaming. Caribbean Media Corporation reports that the parties were not able to agree upon the members of the panel, so the Director-General of the WTO must now choose the members of the panel. The panel is expected to be established by August 24.
Asian News -- Bank of Asia has signed an agreement with the Mobile Payment Club that will enable the bank's customers to use mobile handsets to pay for products and services. The bank's IT system utilizes short message servicing in order to settle payments, and is able to support automatic callback, items processing and personal code checking. Companies joining the bank in its M-Pay services include Thai Ticket Master's, TV Direct, Miss Lily, Tohome.com, Internet Thailand, and BM Media.
Arnold Odds -- Bookmakers everywhere are taking wagers on Arnold Schwarzenegger's success in his run for governor of California. The latest sports book to get in on the fun, BoDog.com, has him listed as a heavy 1-10 favorite.
African News -- A trial is underway in Johannesburg, South Africa to determine whether 1.15 million Rand confiscated at Cape Town International Airport was being laundered in connection with an alleged online lottery scheme. The R1.15 million in cash, which belongs to Gary van der Merwe, was detained after a man tried to take it through an X-ray security check on March 20. Court papers speculate that the R1.15 is just a portion of the R20 million that was obtained through the online lottery.