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Discussions on the next stage of engine emissions controls for Europe will commence in due course. This will follow the completion of the EC Consultation process on Stage V Emissions, which is being closed shortly. The consultation on the next round of changes to the engine emissions directive has been taking key topics under consideration. This is reviewing possible extensions to the legislation to include large and small engines and more petrol engines. Setting new stages including a Stage V with particle

Europe’s construction contracting association, the FIEC, is calling for increased investment in training programmes for the construction sector. FIEC president Thomas Schleicher spoke at the Tripartite Social Summit as part of the employers’ delegation, co-chaired by Irish prime minister Enda Kenny, the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy and the president of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso. Schleicher said, “The focus of this Summit was on the challenges of the recovery and the

Itaipu Binacional and Parque Tecnologico de Itaipu (PTI) are said to be in the planning stages of developing a second electric car in Paraguay, following on from the Aguara electric prototype car. The new small family electric car will be able to travel 100km-120km on a full battery charge, reaching a maximum speed of 100km/h. The ultimate aim is to depend less on imported fuels.

Italian motorway operator SIAS saw a rise in net profits to €508 million (US$ 661.99mn) in 2012, from €180.6 million the previous year. The firm’s Ebitda was down by 14.7% to €558 million, while revenues decreased to €853 million, down by 0.8%, traffic dropped by 7.48% and road infrastructure investments amounted to €272 million. Sias's saw a reduction of €235 million in its net debt to €1.521 billion. The company has proposed an overall dividend of €273 million, corresponding to €1.2 per share.

A ‘pay-as-you-go’ policy is set to be introduced on some of Taiwan’s national freeways from August or September 2013, the country’s Minister of Communications, Yeh Kuang-shih, has revealed. People driving along north-south freeways will get 20km of toll-free distance before having to pay a fee. According to results of a survey carried out by the National Freeway Bureau (NFB), the 20km toll-free policy was supported by 40% of Taiwan's population. The ministry will soon be briefing parliament’s Transportation

Authorities in Algeria have given the go-ahead for work on the 14km motorway link connecting the port in Oran to the East-West Highway. Algerian company Engeoa and a Japanese partner are reportedly set to be entrusted with creating the infrastructure. The project is estimated to cost close to US$ 252.22 million (DZD 20bn), not including lighting, ventilation equipment, signalising systems and CCTV in tunnels. The new motorway link means journey time between the Port of Oran and the East-West Highway will be