April, 2016

• 18 April

  Everyone in China wants an SUV. That’s a problem

  

    China is determined to become the low-emissions electric-car capital of the world. Unfortunately, its car buyers aren’t cooperating. Cleaner Cars The Chinese government has been spending billions on research grants, steep subsidies and new infrastructure — such as charging stations — to encourage consumers to go electric. It hopes to boost the number of such vehicles on the road ...

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• 18 April

  Oil’s losses drag Ruble, Loonie lower; Stocks pare their drop

  

    BLOOMBERG Crude oil’s fourth-straight decline weighed on energy companies and currencies of commodity-exporting nations after talks between major producers ended in Doha without any agreement on limiting output. While the drop in energy prices was moderated by a labor strike in Kuwait that curbed production, it dragged down the ruble, which posted the biggest loss among major currencies. The ...

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• 18 April

  Emirates Securities Market up by 0.30 percent

  

    ABU DHABI / EMIRATES BUSINESS The Emirates Securities Market Index has increased by 0.30% to close at 4650.89 points. Accordingly the Market Capitalization has gained AED 2.26 billion attaining AED 754.43 billion. A total of 0.71 Billion Shares were traded with a total value of AED 1.03 billion during the trading session of 18-04-2016 through 9363 transactions. The number of companies ...

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• 18 April

  US defence chief in Iraq to discuss fight against IS

  

  Baghdad / AFP US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter visited Baghdad on Monday for talks on stepping up the fight against the IS group in Iraq, where the US has deployed troops to fight the extremists. Carter’s visit comes after a week of political turmoil that has been a setback for Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi, and the US defence ...

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• 18 April

  Yemeni rebels back out of peace talks at last moment

    SANAA / AP Yemen’s Shiite rebels backed out of UN-brokered peace talks just hours before the negotiations were to start on Monday in Kuwait, demanding an immediate halt to airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition that has waged a year-long war against them, officials said. It was not immediately clear if the negotiations were completely scuttled. According to two media ...

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• 18 April

  38 killed in Afghan floods

    KABUL / AP Afghan officials say flash floods in northern provinces have killed at least 38 people overnight. Remote, northern areas of Afghanistan often see flash floods triggered by heavy rains, which also cause landslides. The officials said on Monday that the flash floods struck the provinces of Takhar, Badghis and Samangan. Heavy rains have also hit the capital, ...

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• 18 April

  Syria rebels vow retaliation as talks falter

  

  Beirut / AFP Key Syrian rebel groups vowed on Monday to strike back against alleged regime ceasefire violations, casting doubt on the future of fragile peace talks due to resume in Geneva. A truce agreed in February dramatically curtailed violence across much of Syria, but fighting has surged in recent days around second city Aleppo, causing tens of thousands to ...

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• 18 April

  S Korea’s president to visit Iran

    SEOUL/ AFP South Korea’s president is to visit Iran early next month for what would be the two countries’ first summit talks, her office said Monday. Iran has been seeking to integrate into the global financial system and improve ties with other countries since nuclear-related sanctions were lifted in January. Tehran last year agreed to curb nuclear activities in ...

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• 18 April

  More followers of Iraqi Shiite cleric join rally in Baghdad

    Addis Ababa / AFP More followers of an influential Iraqi Shiite cleric on Monday joined a rally in central Baghdad to press lawmakers to vote on a Cabinet shakeup proposed by the prime minister amid a simmering political crisis that could jeopardize the country’s fight against the Islamic State group. Police cordoned off a downtown square with razor wire ...

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• 18 April

  S Sudan rebel chief’s return delayed

  

    Juba / AFP South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar’s highly-anticipated return to the capital Juba, to take up the role of vice president, was delayed on Monday, his spokesman said, citing “logistical reasons”. “We are committed to the peace agreement, but there have been logistical issues and the first vice president, Riek Machar, will come tomorrow,” spokesman William Ezekiel ...

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