April, 2018

• 15 April

  Emirates NBD launches ‘Cheque Chain’ service

  

  Dubai / WAM Emirates NBD has become the first to successfully go-live at scale with ‘Cheque Chain’, integrating blockchain technology into issued cheques to strengthen their authenticity and minimise potential fraud. Following a successful pilot last year, overseen by Emirates NBD Future Lab, the bank is now rolling out its security-enhancing technology for the benefit of customers across the UAE. ...

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• 15 April

  UAE launches contest to select ‘Gift of Zayed’ to UN

  ABU DHABI / WAM The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC), announced the launch of a national design competition to select the best design for a gift the UAE will present to the United Nations in New York, dubbed the “Gift of Zayed”. The nationwide competition is an opportunity for all Emirati nationals and residents in the UAE ...

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• 15 April

  Norway’s Statoil assesses future projects with Mexico’s Pemex

  

  MEXICO CITY / Reuters Norway’s Statoil will evaluate new offshore projects in Mexico, including potential tie-ups with state oil company Pemex, the firm’s top executive said, adding that a first deepwater well in an existing Gulf project will likely be drilled next year. Statoil is focussed mostly on future deepwater opportunities in Mexico but does not rule out others, CEO ...

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• 15 April

  Mercuria set to take stake in ChemChina’s refining system

  LONDON / Reuters Global energy trader Mercuria Group has agreed to take an interest in the oil refining system of China’s ChemChina, sources familiar with the matter said. As part of the deal, state-run ChemChina would increase its stake in Mercuria, one of the world’s largest oil trading firms. ChemChina already holds a 12 percent stake in the Swiss-based company ...

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• 15 April

  Japan protesters call for ‘liar’ Abe to resign over scandal

  

  Bloomberg Tens of thousands of people joined a demonstration outside Japan’s parliament, in a sign of growing public anger over cronyism scandals engulfing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Organisers say about 50,000 people attended this weekend’s rally in Tokyo — the biggest in nearly three years. Protesters, many young, held up signs calling Abe a “liar” and seeking his resignation. The ...

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• 15 April

  Russia faces sanctions for Syria chemical attack

  Bloomberg The US Treasury Department will announce fresh sanctions on Monday on Russia related to its involvement in Syria’s use of chemical weapons, US United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley said. “Russian sanctions will be coming down, Secretary Mnuchin will be announcing those on Monday if he hasn’t already and they will go directly to any sort of companies that were ...

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• 15 April

  Montenegro’s Djukanovic set to win presidential poll

  Bloomberg Montenegrins are voting in an election that looks set to return Milo Djukanovic to the presidency, giving the veteran leader a chance to fulfill his pledge to lead the country into the European Union after parting ways with Russia by joining NATO last year. Djukanovic, the dominant leader in the country of 620,000 since he became prime minister in ...

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• 15 April

  ‘Mission accomplished’ as Syria strike unanswered

  

  Bloomberg The Pentagon said missile strikes on Syria have hampered Bashar al-Assad’s ability to use chemical weapons again, without encountering serious resistance from the Syrian military or its Russian allies. President Donald Trump summed up that achievement in two words: “Mission accomplished.” The tweet was an echo of predecessor George W. Bush, who, speaking on an aircraft carrier in front ...

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• 15 April

  Mass protest in Hungary exposes split post Orban win

  Bloomberg Tens of thousands of Hungarians packed Budapest’s most iconic avenue to protest Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s re-election, saying it may further stifle democratic freedoms in the ex-Communist European Union member. Protesters marched on April 14 from the Opera on Andrassy Avenue to the square in front of Parliament in the biggest anti-government protest in years. Organisers demanded a new ...

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• 15 April

  Venezuela anti-US revolt fizzles as exodus mounts

  

  Bloomberg After using the Summit of the Americas for more than a decade to help whip up anti-US sentiment in Latin America, Venezuela this week found out how isolated it truly is. Barred from attending the two-day event, Venezuela had to watch as country after country condemned the administration of President Nicolas Maduro and called for the restoration of democracy ...

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