News

Sharjah / WAM The Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) has announced the completion of all preparations for the eighth edition of the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF) 2016, which will take place from April 20-30 at Expo Centre Sharjah. Themed ‘Shine Out,’ SCRF 2016 will be held under the patronage of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council ...

Tokyo / DPA Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is considering delaying an increase in the consumption tax rate if the economy remains stuck in low gear, due to concerns the hike could hurt the economy more than initial forecast as the global economy slows down. Abe will make a final decision around the time Japan hosts the Group of Seven major ...

New Delhi / DPA Honeywell Aerospace has been selected by Jet Airways to provide maintenance services for Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) on board its fleet of 10 Boeing 777 airplanes. The five-year agreement will help Jet Airways better predict and manage maintenance cycles, allowing the India-based airline to reduce unscheduled downtime and improve reliability of its fleets. The announcement was ...

HCM City / DPA Severe drought in the Mekong Delta has badly affected agriculture and aquaculture, threatening a scarcity of raw materials for seafood exports. Shrimp farmers in Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, Soc Trang and Kien Giang provinces are nervous as their shrimp keep dying because of drought and saltwater intrusion up rivers. “Shrimp farming is so risky,” Sai Gon ...

Jakarta / Bloomberg An Indonesian consortium led by veteran investment banker Agus Projosasmito is in talks to raise $1 billion of debt to back its bid for control of Newmont Mining Corp.’s copper operations in the country, according to the group’s financial adviser. The investor group is in discussions with banks on borrowing $750 million in senior loans and $250 ...

Bangkok / DPA Thailand’s power peak will hit a new record this year when electricity usage is expected to hit 28,500 megawatt, according to an estimate by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand under the assumption that average temperature would rise by 4 percent to 38.5 degree Celcius. The electricity consumption should hit a new peak some time during April ...

Bandar Seri Begawan / DPA The Ministry of Communications is looking to use public-private partnership (PPP) to make the Brunei International Airport on par with the best in the world. Interior refurbishment of the Brunei International Airport will need to be done to make it one of the best in the world,” Mustappa Sirat said at 12th Legislative Council (LegCo) ...

Tokyo / AFP A former Toshiba president has been questioned by Japan’s markets watchdog and may face criminal charges over his alleged involvement in a falsified earnings scandal, reports said on Saturday. The company has been roiled by a profit-padding scandal, in which bosses for years systematically pushed their subordinates to cover-up weak financial figures. Hisao Tanaka was quizzed by ...

Emirates Business Etihad Rail — the developer and operator of the UAE’s $11 billion national rail network — has announced that it has been awarded the Estidama 2 Pearl Construction Rating by the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) for seven sustainable buildings at its depot in Mirfa, Al Gharbia. It is a significant achievement to receive 2 Pearls for ...

Sunaina Rana / EMIRATES BUSINESS The demand for automobile parts and accessories is on the rise in UAE, according to Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, as the region’s leading exhibition organizer is gearing up for the 14th edition of Automechanika Dubai 2016. The event, which will be held from May 8-10 at the Dubai International Convention and ...