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  • Aluminium-Lithium Alloys Fight Back

    FRANCE, 2017/09/16 At the same time as it comes to the aviation industry, new technologies and manufacturing techniques have been mounting a silent revolution in the new generation of commercial twin-aisle aircraft: the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350. Both these aircraft contain around 50% of CFRP composites, as opposed to their previous iterations where aluminium alloys had dominated. This explains why, at the same time as Boeing and Airbus introduced these two crafts several years ago, most experts thought that the next generation of planes would be made out of composites, a trend that would again expand to include smaller jets – but as turns out, they were wrong.
  • Zhongwang Acquires German Alumnium Extrusion Firm ALUnna

    CHINA, 2017/09/16 The world’s second major aluminium extrusion firm China Zhongwang Holdings Ltd announced yesterday that it presently holds a controlling interest in German aluminium extrusion firm Aluminiumwerk Unna AG (ALUnna). Although no price for the purchase was given, the transaction gives all owned German subsidiary Zhongwang Aluminium Deutschland GmbH a 99.72-% equity interest in ALUnna. According to experts, the purchase enhances Zhongwang’s position in the world aviation market inclunding giving the firm a stronger foothold on the European continent.
  • UNWTO: International tourism – strongest half-year results since 2010

    AFGHANISTAN, 2017/09/09 Destinations worldwide welcomed 598 million international tourists in the initial six months of 2017, some 36 million additional than in the same period of 2016. At 6%, increase was well above the trend of recent years, making the current January-June period the strongest half-year since 2010. Visitor numbers reported by destinations around the world reflect strong request for international travel in the initial half of 2017, according to the new UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. Worldwide, international tourist arrivals (overnight visitors) increased by 6% compared to the same six-month period last year, well above the sustained and consistent trend of 4% or higher increase since 2010. This represents the strongest half-year in seven years.
  • Hungary recalls its Dutch ambassador following diplomatic clash

    HUNGARY, 2017/09/04 Budapest has recalled its ambassador in the Hague for consultations, and the diplomatic ties of ambassador level will be suspended between the two nations for an undetermined period, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said on Friday. "This is one of the majority radical measures in diplomacy," Szijjarto told reporters. Budapest has recalled its ambassador in the Hague next the outgoing Dutch Ambassador to Hungary Gajus Scheltema harshly criticized the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban in the political opposition weekly 168 ora (168 hours) issued on Thursday.
  • Peugeot-Citroen lifted by Iran sales

    IRAN, 2017/08/28 French auto giant Peugeot Citroen (PSA) said Thursday world sales rose slightly in the initial half with its Iran comeback compensating for problems in China where volumes plunged by almost 50 %. Between January and June, PSA's sales in China fell by 48.6 % to 152,380 units, while in Europe, its major market, turnover was down 1.9 % to 1.03 million units, largely due to a poor performance by its luxury DS brand.French auto giant Peugeot Citroen says global sales rise slightly with Iran comeback, despite problems from China market.
  • US LNG exports make European market more competitive

    ALBANIA, 2017/08/27 The European gas market is becoming additional and additional competitive and US exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) are part of this landscape, Francis Perrin, energy expert, chairman of Energy Strategies and Policies (France) told Trend. “Energy is always a strategic business. Economic aspects are very significant of course, particularly the price of LNG, but nations as well take into account strategic issues. For some Central and Eastern European nations one of the key priorities of their energy policies is the diversification of their supplies, in particular gas imports, in order to reduce their dependence on Russia,” said the expert.
  • Azerbaijan, EU set to continue talks on common aviation area deal

    AZERBAIJAN, 2017/08/26 Azerbaijan and the EU plan to hold an extra round of negotiations on the Common Aviation Area Agreement, a diplomatic source told Trend. The sides are expected to coordinate the final version of the agreement during the Baku conference.
  • UK seeks to 'align' with EU on data protection rules

    EUROPEAN UNION, 2017/08/24 The United Kingdom will propose in a position paper on Thursday (24 August) to maintain a “strong next data relationship” with the European Union next exiting the bloc. “In the modern world, data flows increasingly underpin trade, business and all relationships,” digital minister Matt Hancock said in a statement released to UK media.
  • ECB Rate-setters Raise Concern Over Euro Strength

    EUROPEAN UNION, 2017/08/22 European Central Bank policymakers raised concern over the appreciation of the euro in July, pointing out the risk of the exchange rate overshooting someday, and stressed that the favorable financing conditions are still supported by the massive stimulus. "Concerns were expressed about a possible overshooting in the repricing by financial markets, notably the foreign exchange markets, someday," the bank said in the minutes, which it calls "the account", of the July 20 rate-setting session released on Thursday.
  • German Producer Price Inflation Slowest In 7 Months

    GERMANY, 2017/08/22 German producer prices rose at the slowest pace so far this year in July, data from Destatis showed Friday. Producer prices for industrial products advanced 2.3 % year-on-year in July, slightly weaker than the 2.4 % increase seen in June. This was the weakest since December, at the same time as prices gained 1 %. Economists had estimate 2.2 % annual increase.