Indian cities are 149% more congested than other Asian cities, said Uber commissioned BCG report on Wednesday.

According to the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) survey, up to 89% of people plan to buy a new car in the next five years.

"However, over 79% would refrain from buying a car if ride sharing matches car ownership for affordability and convenience," said the report.

The 40-page report titled 'Unlocking Cities: The impact of ridesharing across India' was commissioned to better understand the benefits and potential of ridesharing in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Bangalore.

The report was launched in the presence of Barney Harford, Uber's Global COO Amit Jain, President, Uber India and South Asia Suresh Subudhi, Partner, BCG & Ann Lavin, Senior Director, Public Policy & Government Relations, Uber APAC.

"For over 9 years now, Uber has been a pioneer in ridesharing, globally. Closer home, we continue to be at the forefront when it comes to unlocking the true potential of ridesharing for India. Through this study, we are hoping to draw the attention of administrators and urban planners on how shared cars and mobility can be part of the solution vs. individual car ownership," said Amit Jain.

"In the coming months, we will introduce several India first innovations that will help bring the benefits of ridesharing to many more Indians and enable us to work with the Government towards a common goal: reduce private car ownership and expand access to public transit systems. We are delighted that India has embraced shared mobility in a big way -- but we still have a long way to go. Together with the Government, we aim to continue playing a key role in improving lives and cities," added Jain.

Suresh Subudhi said, "Cost of congestion is alarmingly high across Indian cities. We need to creatively think about increasing public transport usage and network while managing private transport growth. On-demand ride sharing is a practical way to reduce no of private vehicles on the road and reduce congestion. It is important to encourage this proactively."

The study found that rideshare vehicle delivers on average 1.4-3.3 times more passenger-kilometres compared to private vehicles.&nbsp;

The study found that rideshare vehicle deliver on average 1.4-3.3 times more passenger-kilometres compared to private vehicles.

Indian cities are 149% more congested than other Asian cities, said Uber commissioned BCG report on Wednesday. According to the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) survey, up to 89% of people plan to buy a new car in the next five years. "However, over 79% would refrain from buying a car if ride sharing matches car ownership for affordability and convenience," said the report. The 40-page report titled 'Unlocking Cities: The impact of ridesharing across India' was commissioned to better understand the benefits and potential of ridesharing in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Bangalore. The report was launched in the presence of Barney Harford, Uber's Global COO Amit Jain, President, Uber India and South Asia Suresh Subudhi, Partner, BCG & Ann Lavin, Senior Director, Public Policy & Government Relations, Uber APAC. "For over 9 years now, Uber has been a pioneer in ridesharing, globally. Closer home, we continue to be at the forefront when it comes to unlocking the true potential of ridesharing for India. Through this study, we are hoping to draw the attention of administrators and urban planners on how shared cars and mobility can be part of the solution vs. individual car ownership," said Amit Jain. "In the coming months, we will introduce several India first innovations that will help bring the benefits of ridesharing to many more Indians and enable us to work with the Government towards a common goal: reduce private car ownership and expand access to public transit systems. We are delighted that India has embraced shared mobility in a big way -- but we still have a long way to go. Together with the Government, we aim to continue playing a key role in improving lives and cities," added Jain. Suresh Subudhi said, "Cost of congestion is alarmingly high across Indian cities. We need to creatively think about increasing public transport usage and network while managing private transport growth. On-demand ride sharing is a practical way to reduce no of private vehicles on the road and reduce congestion. It is important to encourage this proactively." The study found that rideshare vehicle delivers on average 1.4-3.3 times more passenger-kilometres compared to private vehicles.

Indian cities 149% more congested than Asian counterparts: Report

The Delhi police on Tuesday filed a chargesheet against four people for allegedly misbehaving and stalking Union Minister Smriti Irani last year. The accused have been booked under various sections of IPC for stalking Smriti Irani in a state of inebriation.

The incident happened in April 2017 when she was returning home to Chanakyapuri from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport when four men from Delhi University followed Irani's car in Lutyens Delhi in an "inebriated" state.

They were later arrested for stalking, criminal intimidation and intention to insult modesty of a woman. An FIR under section 354 D (stalking) and section 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code was filed against them in April 2017. The students had consumed alcohol at a friend’s birthday party.

The Union Minister had first made a PCR call and then lodged a formal complaint with Chanakyapuri Police Station following which the students were detained and later arrested. &nbsp;The call was received from the minister’s staff that the youths were trying to overtake her vehicle near Moti Bagh flyover and their actions were unwanted.

According to the medical report, the four tested positive for alcohol, confirming that they were intoxicated while trying to overtake the Union Minister's car.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) said that these students tried to overtake Irani' vehicle, when she was crossing the Moti Bagh flyover.&nbsp;

They had also apologised for their action and said that they didn’t know that they had overtaken Irani’s car and that they didn’t indulge in any “misbehaviour”. “…whatever happened was in ignorance. We apologise for whatever happened,” one of them had said.

The incident happened in April 2017 when she was returning home to Chanakyapuri from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport when four men from Delhi University followed Irani's car in Lutyens Delhi in an 'inebriated' state

The Delhi police on Tuesday filed a chargesheet against four people for allegedly misbehaving and stalking Union Minister Smriti Irani last year. The accused have been booked under various sections of IPC for stalking Smriti Irani in a state of inebriation. The incident happened in April 2017 when she was returning home to Chanakyapuri from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport when four men from Delhi University followed Irani's car in Lutyens Delhi in an "inebriated" state. They were later arrested for stalking, criminal intimidation and intention to insult modesty of a woman. An FIR under section 354 D (stalking) and section 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code was filed against them in April 2017. The students had consumed alcohol at a friend’s birthday party. The Union Minister had first made a PCR call and then lodged a formal complaint with Chanakyapuri Police Station following which the students were detained and later arrested. The call was received from the minister’s staff that the youths were trying to overtake her vehicle near Moti Bagh flyover and their actions were unwanted. According to the medical report, the four tested positive for alcohol, confirming that they were intoxicated while trying to overtake the Union Minister's car. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) said that these students tried to overtake Irani' vehicle, when she was crossing the Moti Bagh flyover. They had also apologised for their action and said that they didn’t know that they had overtaken Irani’s car and that they didn’t indulge in any “misbehaviour”. “…whatever happened was in ignorance. We apologise for whatever happened,” one of them had said.

Delhi police files chargesheet against 4 students for allegedly misbehaving, stalking Smriti Irani

Security forces on Monday put the city of Pathankot in Punjab on high alert after a local claimed to have given a lift to two suspected terrorists.

A massive search operation has been launched by police in Pathankot to hunt them down. Police have set up check posts and security has been beefed up in the area. The armed suspicious men were in Army fatigue.

The local claimed that he gave lift to two men last night. The duo got down at a place nearby Kathua region in neighbouring Jammu and Kashmir, the police said. 
&nbsp; 
"We are on alert and the matter is being investigated. A local told us that he gave lift to two youths. The local felt that the duo could be terror suspects as they were apparently carrying weapons and got down at a place nearby Kathua," Pathankot SSP Vivek Sheel Soni said.

"At this stage, we are treating the two as possible suspects and proceeding accordingly," he said.&nbsp;

Dinanagar in Gurdaspur and the Air Force base in Pathankot were attacked by terrorists in July 2015 and January 2016, respectively.&nbsp;

A massive search operation has been launched by police in Pathankot to hunt them down

Security forces on Monday put the city of Pathankot in Punjab on high alert after a local claimed to have given a lift to two suspected terrorists. A massive search operation has been launched by police in Pathankot to hunt them down. Police have set up check posts and security has been beefed up in the area. The armed suspicious men were in Army fatigue. The local claimed that he gave lift to two men last night. The duo got down at a place nearby Kathua region in neighbouring Jammu and Kashmir, the police said. "We are on alert and the matter is being investigated. A local told us that he gave lift to two youths. The local felt that the duo could be terror suspects as they were apparently carrying weapons and got down at a place nearby Kathua," Pathankot SSP Vivek Sheel Soni said. "At this stage, we are treating the two as possible suspects and proceeding accordingly," he said. Dinanagar in Gurdaspur and the Air Force base in Pathankot were attacked by terrorists in July 2015 and January 2016, respectively.

Punjab's Pathankot on high alert after suspected terrorists sighted in army fatigues

The death toll from the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/18-killed-as-2-bomb-blasts-gunfire-rock-somalias-capital-mogadishu-33874"> two suicide car bomb</a> blasts that ripped through the Somali capital on Friday has risen to 45 people, according to a senior government official.

A loud explosion&nbsp;took place on Friday, followed by a second blast and sustained gunfire which broke out near the president&#39;s residence. The second blast took place beside a popular hotel.&nbsp;

The Aamin Ambulance service, which confirmed the death toll, transported victims to the hospital.&nbsp;

Abdulkadir Abdirahman Adan of the Aamin Ambulance Service said the bombings targeted the presidential palace and a hotel. He said that most of the victims were civilians.

&quot;The militants got off when they neared the palace, the suicide car bomb exploded outside the palace where there were many military soldiers who guarded the street adjacent to the palace,&quot; Major Omar Abdullahi told Reuters.

The militant group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack.

The group frequently carries out suicide attacks in Somalia and parts of East Africa.

Shooting broke out near the president`s residence at the time of the explosions, police and ambulance services said

The death toll from the two suicide car bomb blasts that ripped through the Somali capital on Friday has risen to 45 people, according to a senior government official. A loud explosion took place on Friday, followed by a second blast and sustained gunfire which broke out near the president's residence. The second blast took place beside a popular hotel. The Aamin Ambulance service, which confirmed the death toll, transported victims to the hospital. Abdulkadir Abdirahman Adan of the Aamin Ambulance Service said the bombings targeted the presidential palace and a hotel. He said that most of the victims were civilians. "The militants got off when they neared the palace, the suicide car bomb exploded outside the palace where there were many military soldiers who guarded the street adjacent to the palace," Major Omar Abdullahi told Reuters. The militant group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack. The group frequently carries out suicide attacks in Somalia and parts of East Africa.

Somalia twin blast: Death toll rises to 45

After 9,000km of brutal racing across Peru, Bolivia and Argentina the competitors finally crossed the finish line of the 2018 Dakar Rally in C&oacute;rdoba.

Carlos Sainz, Matthias Walkner, Ignacio Casale and Eduard Nikolaev all carried big leads heading into the final 120km special stage around the home of rallying in Argentina and were not to be denied.

For Walkner, it was a maiden victory in the toughest rally raid on the planet, a second for Sainz and Casale while Nikolaev now has a hat-trick of truck titles.

Car

The experience was the name of the game for Carlos Sainz claiming a second Dakar victory and his first since 2010. The Spaniard had it all to lose going into the final few stages but kept his cool and controlled the race perfectly.

Sainz, 55, said: &ldquo;I am extremely happy for me and everyone behind the victory. It was hard when you have such a big lead as it is easy to start making mistakes. This was the hardest Dakar I have ever done, including the ones in Africa.&rdquo;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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What a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dakar2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dakar2018</a> for <a href="https://twitter.com/CSainz_oficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CSainz_oficial</a> ????????, who celebrates is 2nd overall victory. 
// Qu&eacute; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DakarRally?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DakarRally</a> para C. Sainz ????????, quien celebra si segunda victoria en esta carrera ???? <a href="https://t.co/oKBoRFEuei">pic.twitter.com/oKBoRFEuei</a>
&mdash; DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) <a href="https://twitter.com/dakar/status/954903726099259392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

Nasser Al-Attiyah enjoyed four stage wins in 2018 to finish second overall, while final stage winner Giniel de Villiers edged Mr Dakar St&eacute;phane Peterhansel to the final podium spot.

Peterhansel said: &ldquo;We did two big mistakes and lost a lot of time. This is the race though. At the end, I still don&rsquo;t know if I will continue, I need time to think about it.&rdquo;

Bike

Matthias Walkner created a little bit of history in Argentina by becoming the first Austrian to ever win the bike category of the Dakar Rally.

The 31-year-old has been a consistent presence towards the front of the pack throughout the race and in a stage won by Kevin Benavides, Walkner brought his KTM home in eighth to start the party.

Walkner said: &ldquo;When you are leading with such a big gap in the biggest event in our sport, it was crazy. Now it is time to celebrate. I was never the guy who was winning a lot or losing a lot, just riding always near the front.&rdquo;

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His team runs to celebrate the 1st place of <a href="https://twitter.com/MatthiasWalkner?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MatthiasWalkner</a> on ???? 
// Su equipo corre para celebrar el 1er lugar de M. Walkner en ???? ???????????? <a href="https://t.co/WxKOqQ2LF9">pic.twitter.com/WxKOqQ2LF9</a>
&mdash; DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) <a href="https://twitter.com/dakar/status/954887403604496384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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Third-placed finisher Toby Price said: &ldquo;It is crazy to be here at the finish line on the podium. I couldn&rsquo;t expect any more. We will come back bigger and better for the next one.&rdquo;

Laia Sanz, who finished 12th, said: &ldquo;It was really tough, but to finish in this position is really good. I can be happy. I have started eight Dakar&rsquo;s and finished all eight which is fantastic.&rdquo;

Quad

Chilean Ignacio Casale has dominated this race from start to finish.

After winning the opening three stages in Peru he never looked back and comfortably lifted a second title to add to his 2014 triumph with a huge margin of one hour and 38 minutes to spare.

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&quot;This event changed my life &quot; said the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/quads?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#quads</a> winner <a href="https://twitter.com/IgnacioCasale?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IgnacioCasale</a> ???????? about <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DakarRally?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DakarRally</a> 
// &quot;Este evento me cambi&oacute; la vida&quot; dice el ganador de quads Casale ???????? <a href="https://t.co/unarQ4Rd3k">pic.twitter.com/unarQ4Rd3k</a>
&mdash; DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) <a href="https://twitter.com/dakar/status/954884105451208712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Truck

The records will show Eduard Nikolaev won this race by nearly four hours, however, it was far from that simple.

The Russian was involved in a neck and neck fight with Federico Villagra up until the penultimate stage when the Argentine suffered a mechanical and had to abandon.

Nikolaev acknowledged after: &ldquo;Villagra is a very fast competitor. Congratulations to all the teams.&rdquo;

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???? GC - TRUCKS???????? 
1. Eduard Nikolaev 
2. Siarhei Viazovich +3h57&#39;17&quot; 
3. Airat Maardev +5h22&#39;34&quot; 
More / m&aacute;s info &gt; <a href="https://t.co/R0ezQ07YE0">https://t.co/R0ezQ07YE0</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dakar2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dakar2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/82K3SeAJ4U">pic.twitter.com/82K3SeAJ4U</a>
&mdash; DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) <a href="https://twitter.com/dakar/status/954753075302031362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Sainz, Walkner, Casale and Nikolaev win the 40th edition of the Dakar Rally in style

After 9,000km of brutal racing across Peru, Bolivia and Argentina the competitors finally crossed the finish line of the 2018 Dakar Rally in Córdoba. Carlos Sainz, Matthias Walkner, Ignacio Casale and Eduard Nikolaev all carried big leads heading into the final 120km special stage around the home of rallying in Argentina and were not to be denied. For Walkner, it was a maiden victory in the toughest rally raid on the planet, a second for Sainz and Casale while Nikolaev now has a hat-trick of truck titles. Car The experience was the name of the game for Carlos Sainz claiming a second Dakar victory and his first since 2010. The Spaniard had it all to lose going into the final few stages but kept his cool and controlled the race perfectly. Sainz, 55, said: “I am extremely happy for me and everyone behind the victory. It was hard when you have such a big lead as it is easy to start making mistakes. This was the hardest Dakar I have ever done, including the ones in Africa.” What a #Dakar2018 for @CSainz_oficial ????????, who celebrates is 2nd overall victory. // Qué #DakarRally para C. Sainz ????????, quien celebra si segunda victoria en esta carrera ???? pic.twitter.com/oKBoRFEuei — DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) January 21, 2018 × Nasser Al-Attiyah enjoyed four stage wins in 2018 to finish second overall, while final stage winner Giniel de Villiers edged Mr Dakar Stéphane Peterhansel to the final podium spot. Peterhansel said: “We did two big mistakes and lost a lot of time. This is the race though. At the end, I still don’t know if I will continue, I need time to think about it.” Bike Matthias Walkner created a little bit of history in Argentina by becoming the first Austrian to ever win the bike category of the Dakar Rally. The 31-year-old has been a consistent presence towards the front of the pack throughout the race and in a stage won by Kevin Benavides, Walkner brought his KTM home in eighth to start the party. Walkner said: “When you are leading with such a big gap in the biggest event in our sport, it was crazy. Now it is time to celebrate. I was never the guy who was winning a lot or losing a lot, just riding always near the front.” His team runs to celebrate the 1st place of @MatthiasWalkner on ???? // Su equipo corre para celebrar el 1er lugar de M. Walkner en ???? ???????????? pic.twitter.com/WxKOqQ2LF9 — DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) January 21, 2018 × Third-placed finisher Toby Price said: “It is crazy to be here at the finish line on the podium. I couldn’t expect any more. We will come back bigger and better for the next one.” Laia Sanz, who finished 12th, said: “It was really tough, but to finish in this position is really good. I can be happy. I have started eight Dakar’s and finished all eight which is fantastic.” Quad Chilean Ignacio Casale has dominated this race from start to finish. After winning the opening three stages in Peru he never looked back and comfortably lifted a second title to add to his 2014 triumph with a huge margin of one hour and 38 minutes to spare. "This event changed my life " said the #quads winner @IgnacioCasale ???????? about #DakarRally // "Este evento me cambió la vida" dice el ganador de quads Casale ???????? pic.twitter.com/unarQ4Rd3k — DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) January 21, 2018 × Truck The records will show Eduard Nikolaev won this race by nearly four hours, however, it was far from that simple. The Russian was involved in a neck and neck fight with Federico Villagra up until the penultimate stage when the Argentine suffered a mechanical and had to abandon. Nikolaev acknowledged after: “Villagra is a very fast competitor. Congratulations to all the teams.” ???? GC - TRUCKS???????? 1. Eduard Nikolaev 2. Siarhei Viazovich +3h57'17" 3. Airat Maardev +5h22'34" More / más info > https://t.co/R0ezQ07YE0 #Dakar2018 pic.twitter.com/82K3SeAJ4U — DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) January 20, 2018 ×

The 40th edition of Dakar rally ends in Argentina

The new Maruti Suzuki E-Survivor was unveiled on the first day of the Auto Expo 2018 on Wednesday. The company is has dubbed this as a tribute to its proud four-wheel-drive heritage.&nbsp;

The E-survivor is a design study model for a compact SUV and aims to develop the entire lifecycle of electronic vehicles in India including local manufacturers of the components, charging infrastructure and recycling batteries.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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Maruti Suzuki E-Survivor (Others)
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&nbsp;

The e-survivor idea first came up at the Toyota motor show in October 2017 which gained a lot of attention with its futuristic look. The e-survivor has a lightweight body of the SUV with a ladder frame and a high ground clearance for durability and easy of drive in rough areas. Suzuki has even equipped the e-survivor with autonomous driving abilities, which can easily be switched to manual.

The SUV is a two-seater which has transparent doors and comes with a touchscreen dashboard used for navigation. The steering wheel has a spherical display which helps the driver keep track of the vehicles and road condition.&nbsp;

Although, this design is not final and is expected to undergo some changes externally and internally when it will ultimately be launched in 2020.&nbsp;

The E-survivor is a design study model for a compact SUV and aims to develop the entire lifecycle of electronic vehicles in India including local manufacturers of the components, charging infrastructure and recycling batteries

The new Maruti Suzuki E-Survivor was unveiled on the first day of the Auto Expo 2018 on Wednesday. The company is has dubbed this as a tribute to its proud four-wheel-drive heritage. The E-survivor is a design study model for a compact SUV and aims to develop the entire lifecycle of electronic vehicles in India including local manufacturers of the components, charging infrastructure and recycling batteries. Maruti Suzuki E-Survivor (Others) × The e-survivor idea first came up at the Toyota motor show in October 2017 which gained a lot of attention with its futuristic look. The e-survivor has a lightweight body of the SUV with a ladder frame and a high ground clearance for durability and easy of drive in rough areas. Suzuki has even equipped the e-survivor with autonomous driving abilities, which can easily be switched to manual. The SUV is a two-seater which has transparent doors and comes with a touchscreen dashboard used for navigation. The steering wheel has a spherical display which helps the driver keep track of the vehicles and road condition. Although, this design is not final and is expected to undergo some changes externally and internally when it will ultimately be launched in 2020.

Auto Expo 2018: Maruti Suzuki unveils the new E-Survivor

Volkswagen&#39;s core autos division increased vehicle sales to a record 6.23 million cars last year, as rising demand for VW brand models in the Americas and the key Chinese market offset a decline in western Europe.

Although the emissions test-cheating scandal of September 2015 has cost the German group billions of euros in fines and penalties, it does not seem to have caused major damage to the carmaker&#39;s popularity with consumers.

Deliveries rose 4.2 percent in 2017 to 6.23 million Volkswagen (VW) brand cars, the automaker said on Sunday at the Detroit auto show, helped by an expanding line-up of sport-utility vehicles including the all-new Atlas and Tremont models.

The carmaker expects to keep growing volume this year.

&quot;Based on economic forecasts and our plans for new models, there is no reason to expect that 2018 should turn worse than 2017,&quot; VW brand sales chief Juergen Stackmann said on Sunday at the Detroit auto show, declining to be more specific.

Higher deliveries at the mass-market brand, accounting for almost 60 percent of VW group sales, may have helped the Wolfsburg-based company beat Toyota for a second year in the global sales race. VW&#39;s premium divisions, Audi and Porsche, had already posted record 2017 deliveries last week.

Toyota said last month it expected to sell 10.35 million cars worldwide in 2017 across its Toyota, Lexus, Daihatsu and Hino brands, up 2 percent from 2016, and 10.5 million this year. VW is due to announce 2017 deliveries for the group as a whole on Jan. 17.

In China, Volkswagen&#39;s largest market, accounting for about half the core brand&#39;s deliveries, sales rose 5.9 percent last year to 3.18 million cars. In the United States, they were up 5.2 percent to 339,700 cars.

Deliveries dropped 2.5 percent to 1.43 million cars in the higher-margin, but diesel-heavy western European market as customers reacted to a backlash against diesel technology in the wake of Volkswagen&#39;s emissions trickery.

Sales of the VW brand, which is pushing a turnaround plan to revive profits, may continue to outpace rivals, according to industry forecaster IHS Markit.

Deliveries of VW passenger cars and light commercial vehicles could increase 14.6 percent to 7.75 million units by 2025 from 6.76 million last year, IHS data indicated.

That compares with gains of 11.6 percent to 9.65 million at Toyota and 3.7 percent to 5.84 million at Ford.&nbsp;

Deliveries rose 4.2 percent in 2017 to 6.23 million Volkswagen cars, the automaker said on Sunday at the Detroit auto show, helped by an expanding line-up of sport-utility vehicles including the all-new Atlas and Tremont models

Volkswagen's core autos division increased vehicle sales to a record 6.23 million cars last year, as rising demand for VW brand models in the Americas and the key Chinese market offset a decline in western Europe. Although the emissions test-cheating scandal of September 2015 has cost the German group billions of euros in fines and penalties, it does not seem to have caused major damage to the carmaker's popularity with consumers. Deliveries rose 4.2 percent in 2017 to 6.23 million Volkswagen (VW) brand cars, the automaker said on Sunday at the Detroit auto show, helped by an expanding line-up of sport-utility vehicles including the all-new Atlas and Tremont models. The carmaker expects to keep growing volume this year. "Based on economic forecasts and our plans for new models, there is no reason to expect that 2018 should turn worse than 2017," VW brand sales chief Juergen Stackmann said on Sunday at the Detroit auto show, declining to be more specific. Higher deliveries at the mass-market brand, accounting for almost 60 percent of VW group sales, may have helped the Wolfsburg-based company beat Toyota for a second year in the global sales race. VW's premium divisions, Audi and Porsche, had already posted record 2017 deliveries last week. Toyota said last month it expected to sell 10.35 million cars worldwide in 2017 across its Toyota, Lexus, Daihatsu and Hino brands, up 2 percent from 2016, and 10.5 million this year. VW is due to announce 2017 deliveries for the group as a whole on Jan. 17. In China, Volkswagen's largest market, accounting for about half the core brand's deliveries, sales rose 5.9 percent last year to 3.18 million cars. In the United States, they were up 5.2 percent to 339,700 cars. Deliveries dropped 2.5 percent to 1.43 million cars in the higher-margin, but diesel-heavy western European market as customers reacted to a backlash against diesel technology in the wake of Volkswagen's emissions trickery. Sales of the VW brand, which is pushing a turnaround plan to revive profits, may continue to outpace rivals, according to industry forecaster IHS Markit. Deliveries of VW passenger cars and light commercial vehicles could increase 14.6 percent to 7.75 million units by 2025 from 6.76 million last year, IHS data indicated. That compares with gains of 11.6 percent to 9.65 million at Toyota and 3.7 percent to 5.84 million at Ford.

Volkswagen brand car sales hit record 6.23 million in 2017

Henrik Fisker unveiled his $129,000 electric luxury car Tuesday, in a rebooted effort by the renowned auto designer to take on Tesla and other luxury automakers.&nbsp;

The Fisker EMotion, which made its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, is part of a comeback effort for Henrik Fisker, a former BMW and Aston Martin designer whose first venture was halted in 2013 after selling only a few thousand vehicles.&nbsp;

This time, the company Fisker Inc. is pulling out all the stops for the vehicle, designed with butterfly doors and a sleek sportscar look, semi-autonomous driving, and a range of some 400 miles (650 kilometres) on a single charge.&nbsp;

The car, which is still two years from deliveries, &quot;is a new take on the future of a luxury sedan,&quot; Fisker said on the CES show floor.&nbsp;

Fisker said the features such as the extended driving range &quot;will make even people sitting on the fence (about electric cars) look at it.&quot;&nbsp;

The new effort nonetheless faces an uphill battle in an industry where Tesla is showing rapid growth and other rivals from major automakers to start-ups -- including one other making a debut at the tech show -- are producing new electric cars.&nbsp;

Fisker is also working on its own battery technology aimed at improving range and speeding the charging time.&nbsp;

He hopes to have a charging system that can enable an extra 125 miles in nine minutes.&nbsp;

The company is also working on a solid-state battery that Fisker maintained could achieve a full charge in one minute. Like Tesla, Fisker is also working on a more affordable vehicle that would be priced around $40,000 after the Emotion. And it has designed a self-driving shuttle bus called the Orbit that could also launch in the next few years.&nbsp;

Partnering with Fisker is California-based technology firm Quanergy, which is developing the LIDAR used for autonomous driving.&nbsp;

The Emotion uses five LIDAR sensors integrated into the body and &quot;it&#39;s the only LIDAR with no moving parts,&quot; said Quanergy CEO Louay Eldada.&nbsp;

The launch by Fisker&#39;s new company comes after a high-profile bankruptcy by Fisker Automotive.&nbsp;

Before launching his own venture and the Fisker Karma, Fisker designed vehicles including the BMW Z8 and Aston Martin DB89.&nbsp;

Other firms at CES appear to be making a play for Tesla clients with electric vehicles with autonomous capabilities.&nbsp;

China-based start-up Byton announced this week it planned to launch a $45,000 electric car featuring a &quot;digital&quot; lounge with a panoramic display acting as a hub for navigation, entertainment and even monitoring the health of its occupants.&nbsp;

Last year, Chinese-backed Faraday Future unveiled its premium electric vehicle but since then have offered few clues on its availability.&nbsp;

Still, Tesla remains a target for both established automakers and start-ups.&nbsp;

&quot;In my opinion Tesla is vulnerable,&quot; said Jack Gold, an analyst who follows the tech sector and who was attending CES.&nbsp;

In addition to the companies presenting at CES, Gold said, there are a number of other Chinese firms which could use the shift in consumer trends to break into new markets.&nbsp;

&quot;I think it`s a big opening for the Chinese. And the Chinese government is subsidizing them.&quot; &nbsp;

The electronics show is often used to debut new automotive technology even though it takes place just days ahead of the big Detroit auto show.&nbsp;

The launch by Fisker's new company comes after a high-profile bankruptcy by Fisker Automotive

Henrik Fisker unveiled his $129,000 electric luxury car Tuesday, in a rebooted effort by the renowned auto designer to take on Tesla and other luxury automakers. The Fisker EMotion, which made its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, is part of a comeback effort for Henrik Fisker, a former BMW and Aston Martin designer whose first venture was halted in 2013 after selling only a few thousand vehicles. This time, the company Fisker Inc. is pulling out all the stops for the vehicle, designed with butterfly doors and a sleek sportscar look, semi-autonomous driving, and a range of some 400 miles (650 kilometres) on a single charge. The car, which is still two years from deliveries, "is a new take on the future of a luxury sedan," Fisker said on the CES show floor. Fisker said the features such as the extended driving range "will make even people sitting on the fence (about electric cars) look at it." The new effort nonetheless faces an uphill battle in an industry where Tesla is showing rapid growth and other rivals from major automakers to start-ups -- including one other making a debut at the tech show -- are producing new electric cars. Fisker is also working on its own battery technology aimed at improving range and speeding the charging time. He hopes to have a charging system that can enable an extra 125 miles in nine minutes. The company is also working on a solid-state battery that Fisker maintained could achieve a full charge in one minute. Like Tesla, Fisker is also working on a more affordable vehicle that would be priced around $40,000 after the Emotion. And it has designed a self-driving shuttle bus called the Orbit that could also launch in the next few years. Partnering with Fisker is California-based technology firm Quanergy, which is developing the LIDAR used for autonomous driving. The Emotion uses five LIDAR sensors integrated into the body and "it's the only LIDAR with no moving parts," said Quanergy CEO Louay Eldada. The launch by Fisker's new company comes after a high-profile bankruptcy by Fisker Automotive. Before launching his own venture and the Fisker Karma, Fisker designed vehicles including the BMW Z8 and Aston Martin DB89. Other firms at CES appear to be making a play for Tesla clients with electric vehicles with autonomous capabilities. China-based start-up Byton announced this week it planned to launch a $45,000 electric car featuring a "digital" lounge with a panoramic display acting as a hub for navigation, entertainment and even monitoring the health of its occupants. Last year, Chinese-backed Faraday Future unveiled its premium electric vehicle but since then have offered few clues on its availability. Still, Tesla remains a target for both established automakers and start-ups. "In my opinion Tesla is vulnerable," said Jack Gold, an analyst who follows the tech sector and who was attending CES. In addition to the companies presenting at CES, Gold said, there are a number of other Chinese firms which could use the shift in consumer trends to break into new markets. "I think it`s a big opening for the Chinese. And the Chinese government is subsidizing them." The electronics show is often used to debut new automotive technology even though it takes place just days ahead of the big Detroit auto show.

With pricey electric car 'EMotion', Fisker eyes comeback

Tata Motors&rsquo; Nano, launched in 2008 as the world&#39;s cheapest car, may soon be phased with dealers in most parts of the country having stopped placing orders for the vehicle.&nbsp;

Media reports said a mere two Nano cars are manufactured daily at the company&#39;s Sanand, Gujarat plant -- proof enough that the vehicle is a loss-making model for Tata Motors.&nbsp;

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The reports said Tata Motors dispatched 180 Nanos to its 630 showrooms in August, which plummetted to just 57 units in October.

Most Tata showrooms are now focusing on selling contemporary models like the Tiago, Tigor, Hexa and Nexon.&nbsp;

The reports added that Tata is working on an electric version of the Nano, in a joint venture with Coimbatore-based Jayem Automotives.

The new car will be called the &#39;Neo&#39;.

The&nbsp;48-volt vehicle would be put together and marketed by Jayem Auto while some of the associated components will be supplied by Tata Motors.

The first batch of cars will be supplied shortly, media reports quoted Jayem Automotives Managing Director J Anand as saying in a statement.

Dealers have stopped placing orders for the 'world's cheapest car'

Tata Motors’ Nano, launched in 2008 as the world's cheapest car, may soon be phased with dealers in most parts of the country having stopped placing orders for the vehicle. Media reports said a mere two Nano cars are manufactured daily at the company's Sanand, Gujarat plant -- proof enough that the vehicle is a loss-making model for Tata Motors. Tata is working on an electric version of the Nano. The new 48-volt vehicle will be called the 'Neo' × The reports said Tata Motors dispatched 180 Nanos to its 630 showrooms in August, which plummetted to just 57 units in October. Most Tata showrooms are now focusing on selling contemporary models like the Tiago, Tigor, Hexa and Nexon. The reports added that Tata is working on an electric version of the Nano, in a joint venture with Coimbatore-based Jayem Automotives. The new car will be called the 'Neo'. The 48-volt vehicle would be put together and marketed by Jayem Auto while some of the associated components will be supplied by Tata Motors. The first batch of cars will be supplied shortly, media reports quoted Jayem Automotives Managing Director J Anand as saying in a statement.

Tata's Nano may soon be phased out: Reports

In a move to reduce the increasing deaths resulting from road accidents, road transport minister Nitin Gadkari has devised a system for all new manufacturing cars.&nbsp;

The plan will direct all cars manufactured after July 1, 2019, to be equipped with airbags, seat belt reminders, alert system for speed raging above 80kmph, reverse parking alerts and a manual override over the central locking system.

Currently, only luxury cars have these facilities.

The alert system feature will notify the drivers on the increasing speed of the cars. It will give a sharper audio alert with the increasing speed after 80kmph. The alert will be non stop when the vehicle crosses 120kmph.

The manual override system will ensure exit in case the central locking system gets dysfunctional and traps passengers.&nbsp;

Transport ministry sources have also indicated that airbags and reverse sensors will also be made compulsory for light commercial vehicles.&nbsp;

The timeline for the plan has been approved and it will be notified soon.&nbsp;

Nitin Gadkari has approved the move for countering the growing road accidents.Thousands of passengers die in road crash every year.&nbsp;

The move seeks to ensure safety of passenger as well as pedestrian on Indian roads

In a move to reduce the increasing deaths resulting from road accidents, union transport minister Nitin Gadkari has devised a new system for all new manufacturing cars

In a move to reduce the increasing deaths resulting from road accidents, road transport minister Nitin Gadkari has devised a system for all new manufacturing cars. The plan will direct all cars manufactured after July 1, 2019, to be equipped with airbags, seat belt reminders, alert system for speed raging above 80kmph, reverse parking alerts and a manual override over the central locking system. Currently, only luxury cars have these facilities. The alert system feature will notify the drivers on the increasing speed of the cars. It will give a sharper audio alert with the increasing speed after 80kmph. The alert will be non stop when the vehicle crosses 120kmph. The manual override system will ensure exit in case the central locking system gets dysfunctional and traps passengers. Transport ministry sources have also indicated that airbags and reverse sensors will also be made compulsory for light commercial vehicles. The timeline for the plan has been approved and it will be notified soon. Nitin Gadkari has approved the move for countering the growing road accidents.Thousands of passengers die in road crash every year. The move seeks to ensure safety of passenger as well as pedestrian on Indian roads

All new cars in India to have airbags, speed alert from July 2019

Tata Nano may have come up with a small car with a budget of 1 lakh some years ago but a young&nbsp;Indian man&nbsp;from Punjab has made a small car for even less than Tata&#39;s famed Nano car.&nbsp;

Jasveer Singh, 21, who hails from Bakshipur, Sangrur in Punjab has manufactured a small car for only&nbsp;Rs 60,000. His car&nbsp;which looks no less than an SUV&nbsp;has seating&nbsp;capacity for at least&nbsp;6 people.

The car has been made keeping in mind the increasing traffic problems in India.

Jasveer used Maruti&#39;s 800 cc engine in his car and designed it himself after&nbsp;a private school sponsored his dream car.&nbsp;

The car&nbsp;geek had also made a tractor earlier with a budget of just Rs 50,000. He ingeniously used an engine scooter in the tractor, a perfect example of Indian &#39;jugaad&#39;.&nbsp;

Jasveer&#39;s father has sought the Indian government&#39;s help&nbsp;in achieving his son&#39;s future mechanical endeavours.&nbsp;

Jasveer Singh has made a small car which has a seating capacity of 5 to 6 persons

Tata Nano may have come up with a small car with a budget of 1 lakh some years ago but a young Indian man from Punjab has made a small car for even less than Tata's famed Nano car. Jasveer Singh, 21, who hails from Bakshipur, Sangrur in Punjab has manufactured a small car for only Rs 60,000. His car which looks no less than an SUV has seating capacity for at least 6 people. The car has been made keeping in mind the increasing traffic problems in India. Jasveer used Maruti's 800 cc engine in his car and designed it himself after a private school sponsored his dream car. The car geek had also made a tractor earlier with a budget of just Rs 50,000. He ingeniously used an engine scooter in the tractor, a perfect example of Indian 'jugaad'. Jasveer's father has sought the Indian government's help in achieving his son's future mechanical endeavours.

WATCH: Using jugaad, Punjab man builds Rs 60K 'dream car'

Formula&nbsp;One&nbsp;world champions&nbsp;Mercedes&nbsp;announced what they said was a &#39;no-brainer&#39; of a deal on Wednesday by signing Finnish driver Valtteri&nbsp;Bottas&nbsp;for another season&nbsp;alongside Lewis Hamilton.

Bottas&nbsp;joined from Williams in January after Hamilton&#39;s previous team mate, Germany&#39;s 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg, decided to retire within days of winning the title last November.

The 28-year-old has won two races so far this&nbsp;season, in Austria and Russia, and is third in the standings with a 41 point gap to championship leader Hamilton.

The extension was widely expected after four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel signed a new long-term deal with Ferrari last month, removing a leading candidate for the job.

&quot;We gave Valtteri a big challenge this year: joining the team at the 11th hour, stepping up to the forefront of F1 and pairing with the sport&#39;s best driver as his team mate,&quot; said team boss Toto Wolff in a statement.

&quot;With that in mind, his results have been probably even more impressive... the balance of his performances and his upward trajectory made it a no-brainer for us to continue with him into2018.

&quot;For our team, the bonus factors are the respect and sportsmanship that have grown between our two drivers. The chemistry and dynamic between Valtteri and Lewis work and are what we need to take the fight to our competitors.&quot;

Bottas&nbsp;joined on a&nbsp;one-year-deal and his new contract still leaves everything open for 2019, when the driver market is likely to go through major upheaval with several top names in the spotlight.

Both Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo are tied to that team for&nbsp;2018&nbsp;but are hot properties while Ferrari are likely to be seeking a replacement for Kimi Raikkonen.

Hamilton&#39;s contract is also up for renewal and expires at the end of&nbsp;2018, although he has said he expects to agree a new deal.

Bottas&nbsp;at least gets a chance to cement his reputation and win more races.

&quot;Together, we continue to grow stronger day by day, and by keeping up our hard work I believe the sky is the limit,&quot; said the Finn, thanking&nbsp;Mercedes&nbsp;for their &#39;leap of faith&#39; in him.

&quot;Since joining the team in January, I&#39;ve enjoyed every day working with them... as a driver, I&#39;ve been able to learn and grow massively, and we have already enjoyed some really good moments this&nbsp;season&nbsp;that I will never forget.

&quot;Partnering Lewis has also been really good, and I&#39;m enjoying the respect we have and the will to push this team forward together.&quot;

Bottas?joined from Williams in January after Hamilton's previous team mate, Germany's 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg, decided to retire within days of winning the title last November.

Formula One world champions Mercedes announced what they said was a 'no-brainer' of a deal on Wednesday by signing Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas for another season alongside Lewis Hamilton. Bottas joined from Williams in January after Hamilton's previous team mate, Germany's 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg, decided to retire within days of winning the title last November. The 28-year-old has won two races so far this season, in Austria and Russia, and is third in the standings with a 41 point gap to championship leader Hamilton. The extension was widely expected after four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel signed a new long-term deal with Ferrari last month, removing a leading candidate for the job. "We gave Valtteri a big challenge this year: joining the team at the 11th hour, stepping up to the forefront of F1 and pairing with the sport's best driver as his team mate," said team boss Toto Wolff in a statement. "With that in mind, his results have been probably even more impressive... the balance of his performances and his upward trajectory made it a no-brainer for us to continue with him into2018. "For our team, the bonus factors are the respect and sportsmanship that have grown between our two drivers. The chemistry and dynamic between Valtteri and Lewis work and are what we need to take the fight to our competitors." Bottas joined on a one-year-deal and his new contract still leaves everything open for 2019, when the driver market is likely to go through major upheaval with several top names in the spotlight. Both Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo are tied to that team for 2018 but are hot properties while Ferrari are likely to be seeking a replacement for Kimi Raikkonen. Hamilton's contract is also up for renewal and expires at the end of 2018, although he has said he expects to agree a new deal. Bottas at least gets a chance to cement his reputation and win more races. "Together, we continue to grow stronger day by day, and by keeping up our hard work I believe the sky is the limit," said the Finn, thanking Mercedes for their 'leap of faith' in him. "Since joining the team in January, I've enjoyed every day working with them... as a driver, I've been able to learn and grow massively, and we have already enjoyed some really good moments this season that I will never forget. "Partnering Lewis has also been really good, and I'm enjoying the respect we have and the will to push this team forward together."

Formula-1: Mercedes confirm Bottas for 2018

European carmakers offered a further 20 percent cut in average carbon dioxide emissions for their vehicles in the next round of EU goals currently being drawn up, but said full compliance should wait until 2030 and remain conditional on consumer uptake of electrified cars.

The industry needs a &quot;clear and foreseeable time frame&quot; for emission goals beyond 2021, when a new limit of 95 grammes of CO2 per kilometre is due to enter force, said Daimler boss Dieter Zetsche, who currently chairs ACEA, the main European carmakers&#39; association.

Europe&#39;s powerful car industry has come under fire since Volkswagen admitted to cheating on emission tests in the United States.

The further 20 per cent cut proposed by ACEA would reduce average CO2 emission goals to 76 grammes per kilometre.

Full implementation of the next round of goals should be conditional on consumer acceptance of the dozens of electric cars and rechargeable hybrids currently in development, Zetsche told reporters at the Frankfurt auto show.

During a mid-term review in 2025 the 20 per cent reduction goal could be either raised or lowered depending not only on the uptake of electric cars but also on the availability of battery re-charging infrastructure, he added.

&quot;This conditionality principle links Europe&#39;s long-term climate objectives to the reality of the market,&quot; he said.

Zetsche said the latest generation of diesel vehicles needed to remain part of the industry&#39;s efforts to decarbonise road transport as long as the market share of electric vehicles remained low.

According to ACEA data, chargeable electric vehicles made up 1.2 per cent of new car sales in the first half of this year.

&quot;Any rash move away from this technology (diesel) will make it more difficult for our industry to meet the European Commission targets,&quot; he said.

The industry needs a "clear and foreseeable time frame" for emission goals beyond 2021, when a new limit of 95 grammes of CO2 per kilometre is due to enter force, said Daimler boss Dieter Zetsche, who currently chairs ACEA, the main European carmakers' association.

European carmakers offered a further 20 percent cut in average carbon dioxide emissions for their vehicles in the next round of EU goals currently being drawn up, but said full compliance should wait until 2030 and remain conditional on consumer uptake of electrified cars. The industry needs a "clear and foreseeable time frame" for emission goals beyond 2021, when a new limit of 95 grammes of CO2 per kilometre is due to enter force, said Daimler boss Dieter Zetsche, who currently chairs ACEA, the main European carmakers' association. Europe's powerful car industry has come under fire since Volkswagen admitted to cheating on emission tests in the United States. The further 20 per cent cut proposed by ACEA would reduce average CO2 emission goals to 76 grammes per kilometre. Full implementation of the next round of goals should be conditional on consumer acceptance of the dozens of electric cars and rechargeable hybrids currently in development, Zetsche told reporters at the Frankfurt auto show. During a mid-term review in 2025 the 20 per cent reduction goal could be either raised or lowered depending not only on the uptake of electric cars but also on the availability of battery re-charging infrastructure, he added. "This conditionality principle links Europe's long-term climate objectives to the reality of the market," he said. Zetsche said the latest generation of diesel vehicles needed to remain part of the industry's efforts to decarbonise road transport as long as the market share of electric vehicles remained low. According to ACEA data, chargeable electric vehicles made up 1.2 per cent of new car sales in the first half of this year. "Any rash move away from this technology (diesel) will make it more difficult for our industry to meet the European Commission targets," he said.

EU carmakers offer conditional 20 per cent CO2 cut by 2030

Nearly 120 people were killed and 200 wounded in two bombings overnight in Baghdad, most of them in a busy shopping area as residents celebrated Ramzan, police and medical sources said on Sunday. 
 
The attack on the shopping area of Karrada is the deadliest since US-backed Iraqi forces last month scored a major victory when it dislodged Islamic State from their stronghold of Fallujah, an hour&#39;s drive West of the capital. It is also the deadliest so far this year. 
 
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi had ordered the offensive after a series of deadly bombings in Baghdad, saying Fallujah served as a launchpad for such attacks on the capital. However, bombings have continued.&nbsp; 
 
A convoy carrying Abadi who had come to tour the site of the bombings was pelted with stones and bottles by residents, angry at what they felt were false promises of better security.&nbsp; 
 
A refrigerator truck packed with explosives blew up in the central district of Karrada, killing 115 people and injuring at least 200. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement circulated online by supporters of the ultra-hard line Sunni group. It said the blast was a suicide bombing. 
 
Karrada was busy at the time as Iraqis eat out and shop late during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which ends next week with the Eid al-Fitr festival.&nbsp; 
 
Videos posted on social media showed people running after the SUV convoy of Abadi as he departed Karrada after touring the scene, throwing pavement stones, bottles of water, empty buckets and slippers, venting their anger at the inability of the security forces to protect the area. 
 
Another video posted on social media showed a large blaze in the main street of Karrada, a largely Shi`ite district with a small Christian community and a few Sunni mosques. 
 
Reuters TV footage taken in the morning showed at least four buildings severely damaged or partly collapsed, including a shopping mall believed to be the target, and gutted cars scattered all around.&nbsp; 
 
The toll climbed during the day as rescuers pulled out more bodies from under the rubble and people succumbed from their injuries. 
Comments posted on social media accused security forces of continuing to use fake bomb detectors at checkpoints filtering traffic in Baghdad, five years after the scandal broke out about a device commonly known as the `magic wand`. 
 
A police officer in Baghdad confirmed these hand-held ADE 651 detectors were still in use. They were sold to Iraq and other nations by a British businessman who was jailed for 10 years in 2013 in the United Kingdom for endangering lives for profit. 
 
AL SHAAB ATTACK 
In a second attack, a roadside explosive device also blew up around midnight in a market in al-Shaab, a Shi&#39;ite district in the North of the capital, killing at least two people, police and medical sources said. 
 
Iraqi forces on June 26 declared the defeat of IS militants in Fallujah, a historic bastion of Sunni insurgency, following a month of fighting. 
 
Now the militants were &quot;trying to compensate for their humiliating defeat in Falluja,&quot; said Jasim al-Bahadli, a former army officer and security analyst in Baghdad. 
 
&quot;It was a mistake for the government to think that the source of the bombings was restricted to just one area,&quot; he said. &quot;There are sleeper cells that operate independently from each other.&quot; 
 
Fallujah was the first Iraqi city to fall to Islamic State in January 2014. Abadi said the next target of the Iraqi forces is Mosul, the de facto capital of the militants and the largest city under their control in both Iraq and Syria. 
 
(Reuters) 
 
 
&nbsp;

The suicide car bombing and roadside explosion also injured almost 200. Islamic State claimed responsibility

Nearly 120 people were killed and 200 wounded in two bombings overnight in Baghdad, most of them in a busy shopping area as residents celebrated Ramzan, police and medical sources said on Sunday. The attack on the shopping area of Karrada is the deadliest since US-backed Iraqi forces last month scored a major victory when it dislodged Islamic State from their stronghold of Fallujah, an hour's drive West of the capital. It is also the deadliest so far this year. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi had ordered the offensive after a series of deadly bombings in Baghdad, saying Fallujah served as a launchpad for such attacks on the capital. However, bombings have continued. A convoy carrying Abadi who had come to tour the site of the bombings was pelted with stones and bottles by residents, angry at what they felt were false promises of better security. A refrigerator truck packed with explosives blew up in the central district of Karrada, killing 115 people and injuring at least 200. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement circulated online by supporters of the ultra-hard line Sunni group. It said the blast was a suicide bombing. Karrada was busy at the time as Iraqis eat out and shop late during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which ends next week with the Eid al-Fitr festival. Videos posted on social media showed people running after the SUV convoy of Abadi as he departed Karrada after touring the scene, throwing pavement stones, bottles of water, empty buckets and slippers, venting their anger at the inability of the security forces to protect the area. Another video posted on social media showed a large blaze in the main street of Karrada, a largely Shi`ite district with a small Christian community and a few Sunni mosques. Reuters TV footage taken in the morning showed at least four buildings severely damaged or partly collapsed, including a shopping mall believed to be the target, and gutted cars scattered all around. The toll climbed during the day as rescuers pulled out more bodies from under the rubble and people succumbed from their injuries. Comments posted on social media accused security forces of continuing to use fake bomb detectors at checkpoints filtering traffic in Baghdad, five years after the scandal broke out about a device commonly known as the `magic wand`. A police officer in Baghdad confirmed these hand-held ADE 651 detectors were still in use. They were sold to Iraq and other nations by a British businessman who was jailed for 10 years in 2013 in the United Kingdom for endangering lives for profit. AL SHAAB ATTACK In a second attack, a roadside explosive device also blew up around midnight in a market in al-Shaab, a Shi'ite district in the North of the capital, killing at least two people, police and medical sources said. Iraqi forces on June 26 declared the defeat of IS militants in Fallujah, a historic bastion of Sunni insurgency, following a month of fighting. Now the militants were "trying to compensate for their humiliating defeat in Falluja," said Jasim al-Bahadli, a former army officer and security analyst in Baghdad. "It was a mistake for the government to think that the source of the bombings was restricted to just one area," he said. "There are sleeper cells that operate independently from each other." Fallujah was the first Iraqi city to fall to Islamic State in January 2014. Abadi said the next target of the Iraqi forces is Mosul, the de facto capital of the militants and the largest city under their control in both Iraq and Syria. (Reuters)

Death toll in Baghdad twin bombing rises to 120

&nbsp;A car&nbsp;bomb&nbsp;ripped through a&nbsp;police&nbsp;bus in central&nbsp;Istanbul&nbsp;during the morning rush hour on Tuesday, killing 11 people and wounding 36 near the main tourist district, a major university and the mayor&#39;s office. 
 
The car was detonated as&nbsp;police&nbsp;buses passed,&nbsp;Istanbul&nbsp;Governor Vasip Sahin told reporters, in the fourth major&nbsp;bombing in Turkey&#39;s biggest city this year. There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Kurdish militants have staged similar&nbsp;attacks, including one last month inIstanbul. 
 
&quot;A car-bomb&nbsp;attack&nbsp;was made against vehicles carrying our rapid-response&nbsp;police&nbsp;and passing by on the road, resulting in seven&nbsp;police&nbsp;and four civilians losing their lives,&quot; Sahin said. 
 
Three of the 36 wounded were in critical condition, he added. 
 
The blast hit the Vezneciler district, between the headquarters of the local municipality and the campus of&nbsp;Istanbul&nbsp;University, not far from the city&#39;s historic heart. It shattered shop windows and scattered rubble over nearby streets. 
 
&quot;There was a loud bang, we thought it was lightning but right at that second the windows of the shop came down. It was extremely scary,&quot; said Cevher, a shopkeeper who declined to give his surname. The blast was strong enough to topple all the goods from the shelves of his store. 
 
The&nbsp;police&nbsp;bus that appeared to have borne the brunt of the blast was tipped onto its roof on the side of the road. A second&nbsp;police&nbsp;bus was also damaged. The charred wreckage of several other vehicles lined the street. 
 
Gunshots were heard in the area after the blast, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. 
 
Turkey has suffered a spate of&nbsp;bombings this year, including two suicide&nbsp;attacks in tourist areas of&nbsp;Istanbul&nbsp;blamed on Islamic State, and two car&nbsp;bombings in the capital, Ankara, which were claimed by a Kurdish militant group. 
 
The outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) claimed responsibility for a May 12 car&nbsp;bombattack&nbsp;in&nbsp;Istanbul&nbsp;that wounded seven people. In that&nbsp;attack, a parked car was also blown up as a bus carrying security force personnel passed by. 
 
The PKK, which has waged an armed insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, frequently targets passing&nbsp;police&nbsp;and military vehicles with remote-controlled car&nbsp;bombs in itsattacks in the largely Kurdish southeast.

A car bomb in central Istanbul killed 11 people and wounded 36 today. The car was detonated as?police?buses passed,?Istanbul?Governor Vasip Sahin told reporters

A car bomb ripped through a police bus in central Istanbul during the morning rush hour on Tuesday, killing 11 people and wounding 36 near the main tourist district, a major university and the mayor's office. The car was detonated as police buses passed, Istanbul Governor Vasip Sahin told reporters, in the fourth major bombing in Turkey's biggest city this year. There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Kurdish militants have staged similar attacks, including one last month inIstanbul. "A car-bomb attack was made against vehicles carrying our rapid-response police and passing by on the road, resulting in seven police and four civilians losing their lives," Sahin said. Three of the 36 wounded were in critical condition, he added. The blast hit the Vezneciler district, between the headquarters of the local municipality and the campus of Istanbul University, not far from the city's historic heart. It shattered shop windows and scattered rubble over nearby streets. "There was a loud bang, we thought it was lightning but right at that second the windows of the shop came down. It was extremely scary," said Cevher, a shopkeeper who declined to give his surname. The blast was strong enough to topple all the goods from the shelves of his store. The police bus that appeared to have borne the brunt of the blast was tipped onto its roof on the side of the road. A second police bus was also damaged. The charred wreckage of several other vehicles lined the street. Gunshots were heard in the area after the blast, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. Turkey has suffered a spate of bombings this year, including two suicide attacks in tourist areas of Istanbul blamed on Islamic State, and two car bombings in the capital, Ankara, which were claimed by a Kurdish militant group. The outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) claimed responsibility for a May 12 car bombattack in Istanbul that wounded seven people. In that attack, a parked car was also blown up as a bus carrying security force personnel passed by. The PKK, which has waged an armed insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, frequently targets passing police and military vehicles with remote-controlled car bombs in itsattacks in the largely Kurdish southeast.

Car bomb targeting police in Istanbul kills 11, wounds 36

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