ABU DHABI / EMIRATES BUSINESS The Emirates Securities Market Index has increased by 1.06% to close at 4507.24 points. Accordingly the Market Capitalization has gained AED 7.68 billion attaining AED 731.13 billion. A total of 0.77 Billion Shares were traded with a total value of AED 0.84 billion during the trading session of 04-04-2016 through 8238 transactions. The number of companies which …

Bloomberg Avolon, the aircraft-leasing company acquired by the parent of China’s Hainan Airlines Co., is in talks with carriers keen to add Airbus Group SE’s A330neo to their fleets and may increase orders for the new wide-body jet as Asian travel demand spikes. “We’ve been in discussions with Airbus, as we place more, we may order more,” Chief Executive Officer …

New York / AFP Amazon has been making moves over the past few months to position itself as a force in the ready-to-wear fashion world. The Seattle-based online retail titan has already revolutionised how consumers shop and has been selling clothes for more than a decade. In 2006, it bought the site Shopbop and snapped up online footwear go-to Zappos …

WASHINGTON /AP A US government-sponsored committee is recommending standards that could clear the way for commercial drone flights over populated areas and help speed the introduction of package delivery drones and other uses not yet possible. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) currently prohibits most commercial drone flights over populated areas, especially crowds. That ban frustrates a host of industries that …

Singapore / DPA Asian airports are not rolling out self-service options fast enough, with just over two in 10 travellers having access to do-it-yourself check-in or bag tagging, for example. A global airline body has flagged this as a problem in a region that faces serious infrastructure constraints and an ever-increasing number of air travellers. Getting travellers to do things …

Dubai / AFP “Daddy, where are you now? In Turkey or Sweden?” a Syrian girl asks her father in her first voice message to him since he joined hundreds of thousands fleeing the war. The recording, sent by smartphone, is one of many messages between Syrians that Jordanian photographer Tanya Habjouqa has compiled into her short film “Syria Via WhatsApp”. …

Sydney / AFP Archaeologists have uncovered ancient human remains and various burial practices at the mysterious Plain of Jars in Laos, Australian researchers said, as scientists attempt to unravel the puzzle of the stone vessels. The Plain of Jars in Laos’ central Xieng Khouang province is scattered with thousands of stone jars and scientists have long been perplexed by their …

Our Correspondent / EMIRATES BUSINESS A 5-star luxury at a convenient address, facing Dubai International Financial Centre; Millennium Plaza Hotel is perfectly positioned right in the heart of the city. The hotel has 65-storey tower which offers 398 spacious guest rooms, with stunning views overlooking Zabeel Palace and Jumeirah Beach. Business travellers will appreciate its state-of-the-art business centre and ten …

Our Correspondent/ Emirates Business Since 1885, Saint Honore has been synonym to the famous ‘Paris style’ by manufacturing collections of unmatched creations. Throughout the world, its elegant style and watch-making expertise attract lovers of contemporary design. Offering all the assurance of Swiss Made quality, its timepieces have a unique character and are crafted in the finest materials with eye-catching details. …

ABU DHABI / WAM Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), financed seven development projects in Bangladesh with a total project outlay of nearly half a billion dirhams over the past four decades, with the majority of these projects serving strategically important sectors including industry, energy and infrastructure. Energy and irrigation projects account for about 65% of the total development assistance …