The News Review:

- Forex reserves rise by USD 689 million
- Audit of register of voters continues
- Zimbabwe Special Report
- Serendipity now goes Greek sometimes!
- Inflation dips to 4.52%

Forex reserves rise by USD 689 million
Free with registration – PTI – The Press Trust of India Ltd – AccessMyLibrary.com – Jul 29, 2006
PTI – The Press Trust of India Ltd. 348 billion during the week ended on July 21 2006 as against US.

Audit of register of voters continues
El Universal – El Universal (Venezuela) – Jul 29, 2006
Naime dismissed the Capel report and claimed that the whole staff employed for the fingerprint study “was managed exclusively by people selected by the National Electoral Council (CNE). He asked CNE to clarify the irregularities and added that his party would disclose the findings of its assessment of the voters’ register. * Non-governmental organization “Súmate does not need to register with the Forex Administration Board (Cadivi) as the association has never received US dollars from any organization” said Alejandro Plaz president of Súmate. Plaz’ comments came in response to pro-government parliamentarian José Albornoz (PPT) who claimed that Súmate has received US dollar donations and yet it has not registered with Cadivi the body regulating foreign exchange in Venezuela. Plaz explained that all of the contributions Súmate has received from US National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and from all of the other foreign groups that have collaborated with Súmate have been delivered in Venezuelan bolivars. Plaz added that he was not served any notice to occur to the National Assembly for purposes of being interrogated in connection with an investigation into Súmate funding to conduct the opposition primary election. July 27th * Based on a comparative analysis between the electoral laws in Germany Costa Rica Argentina and Uruguay and the electoral legal framework in Venezuela experts of The Carter Center concluded that Venezuela needs to resume public and private funding of political organizations and claimed that such a practice “facilitates competitiveness in the electoral process.

Zimbabwe Special Report
News24.com – Jul 30, 2006
"I would never have accepted this assignment if I believed that it cannot be done" he told Reuters in a recent interview. "I am part of a team which believes that with unity hard work commitment and the full utilisation of all our resources Zimbabwe can overcome its current problems and realise its real potential" he said. Analysts believe another devaluation of the sliding local currency is on the cards on Monday. When Gono came on board he applied a crackdown on errant bankers and set to tackle black market trade with some success. Inflation initially fell but analysts say he has been let down by the government's loose fiscal policy and his own tendency to be inconsistent. They also maintain that while Gono enjoys Mugabe's confidence he lacks the political muscle to steer the economy out of a freefall critics blame on skewed government policies including the seizure of white-owned farms for blacks.

Serendipity now goes Greek sometimes!
Zimbabwe Standard – The Zimbabwe Standard – Jul 30, 2006
With a supper date ahead declined what I am sure would have been good soup of the day at $450 000 and after mulling chicken curry at $14 million or vegetarian lasagna $11m chose really splendid home-made fish pie featuring lots of lovely white flaky meaty tilapia (bream) and a very substantial mixed salad at $14m. The baklava proved as pleasant as any in town at $450 000. I believe that if the dish is to be made totally authentically it needs pistachios but following the collapse of the Zim$ a total lack of forex and the world generally telling Zimbabwe to pistachio off! we must make do with crushed pecans or other locally available nuts. Whichever nuts were used worked well. I had been torn between the other choice of pudding (all cakes sold out during a very busy morning in which re-baking wasn’t possible due to a lack of Zesa). That was meringues topped with peaches and whipped cream. Initially one then because it looked so stunning a second portion served to the next table had punters oohing and aahing.

Inflation dips to 4.52%
Calcutta Telegraph – Jul 29, 2006
68 per cent in the previous week but was higher than 4. 45 per cent in the corresponding week last year according to the data released by the government today. Forex kitty Mumbai July 28: The country?s forex reserves increased by $689 million to $163. 348 billion during the week ended July 21 from $162. 659 billion during the week ended July 14. Greenply buy Mumbai July 28: Greenply Industries has approved a proposal to acquire Singapore-based Gil International Pte as a wholly owned subsidiary. Calsoft plan Mumbai July 28: California Software Co (Calsoft) today said its wholly owned US subsidiary CSWL Inc has signed an MoU with Japan?s Codex Co Ltd to acquire a minimum 66 per cent stake in the company for Rs 4.