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Malaysia PM Najib Razak Cleared of Corruption

Diane A. Wade
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Malaysia PM Najib Razak Cleared of Corruption

Malaysian PM Najib Razak has been cleared of corruption in a long-running financial scandal that has gripped the country.

According to the attorney-general’s office, the $681 million that Najib Razak received in his bank account was a personal donation from the Saudi royal family.

Critics had alleged the money came from state-owned investment fund 1MDB.Najib Razak corruption

Najib Razak has consistently denied these accusations, but has faced pressure to resign over them.

Anti-corruption officials have previously said he received money as a gift from a foreign funder.

Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi Ali said in a press statement on January 26 that the amount was a “personal donation” from the royal family in Saudi Arabia, transferred between the end of March and early April 2013.

He added that anti-corruption officials had met witnesses including the person they identified as the donor to confirm it.

“I am satisfied that there is no evidence to show that the donation was a form of gratification given corruptly,” Mohamed Apandi Ali said, adding that evidence did not show the donation was used as an “inducement or reward” for Najib Razak to do anything in his capacity as prime minister.

Malaysia held its last general election in May 2013, which returned Najib Razak’s party to power but with one of its poorest showings on record.

The attorney general also said no criminal offence was committed by Najib Razak in relation to three other related investigations and that no further action would be taken.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kQSkD8zWlU

An Expert Guide To Health In The Workplace

Dana R
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An Expert Guide To Health In The Workplace

Health is an extremely important part of life. Everyone needs to ensure that they take care of themselves. Healthy people will live a lot longer than unhealthy people; it’s not rocket science. However, health isn’t just about eating well and living right. It’s not a topic only spoken about in gyms or fitness clubs. In fact, it’s a topic spoken about a lot in the business world.

Yes, you read that correctly. People in business will often speak about health. It may not seem as though these two things go hand in hand, but they do. Business owners are constantly concerned with health in the workplace. And, that’s what I’m going to talk about today. I’ve done the research and had a look at how health is dealt with in the workplace. What are business owners doing to ensure employees remain healthy? And, why is it important that they care about the health of their staff? These two questions will soon be answered, and things will be clearer to you.

health

(Image via Flickr: https://flic.kr/p/rRTDZ1)

Why Is Employee Health Important To Business Owners?

The first thing I had a look at was how employee health affected a business. It soon became clear to me that business owners valued the health of their staff massively. The simple truth is, having unhealthy staff can be a huge problem for a business owner. Why is this? Well, think about things from the viewpoint of the owner. If you own a company, you want all your employees to be working hard and doing their jobs to a high standard. For them to do this, they need to be in good health. The moment an employee becomes unhealthy or has health issues, it can impact their work. They may not work as well as they used to because their health is restricting them. Even if one employee starts having problems with their health, it can cause issues for the business. But, imagine if all your employees experienced health problems. It would leave your company in a horrible state. Productivity would be at an all time low, and you’d be struggling to make profits.

When I talk about unhealthy employees, what do I mean? I’m not necessarily speaking about people that eat badly and have lots of chocolates. It’s more to do with people not being in good health. They might have issues like obesity, anxiety, depression, etc. Or, they could have health related illnesses that prevent them from working to a high standard. Employees that are in pain are also struggling with their health. It’s not healthy to be in pain and have muscle and joint issues. You can see that employee health covers a whole range of things. When people suffer from some of the things I’ve mentioned, it can be hard for them to work as well as they’d like. So, keeping employees healthy is hugely important to business owners.

However, this isn’t the only reason it’s important. Business owners must take care of their employees for health & safety reasons. If the workplace isn’t safe, it can present numerous health hazards to people working there. A lot of you reading this will work in a typical office workplace. An office may not seem dangerous, but there are loads of ways you can damage your health there. For example, there might be asbestos in the ceiling tiles. This is a common problem in a lot of old office buildings. Being exposed to asbestos can lead to numerous medical conditions. And, if you’re an employee that gets exposed to it, you can claim worker’s compensation. There’s plenty of workers compensation claim information out there to help you understand it better. So, I won’t go into much detail with it here. All I’ll say is that if you get ill or injured, because of work, you can claim some money. And, where does this money come from? Your boss, of course. This is why employee health is important to business owners. If employee health is affected because of work, the owner will have to pay lots of compensation money. Naturally, no business owner wants to do this. So, taking care of the health of their staff is high on their priority list.

640px-Natalie_Abrams_and_Megan_Masters_in_the_break_room_(3817586419)

(Source: https://goo.gl/E8zEzs)

What Are Business Owners Doing To Ensure Staff Remain Healthy?

After seeing why employee health is important to business owners, now let’s see how they deal with it. What do they do to ensure their workers remain healthy? In truth, they do, and can do many different things. During my research, I found that certain business owners will adopt different tactics. But, they all have the same goal. To keep all of their employees in good health and prevent problems from occurring. Sadly, there are too many things to go through all of them. But, I’ve picked out a few of the most common, and most effective techniques.

Firstly, I found that many business owners employed the rest tactic. What does this mean? All it means is that they give employees some time to rest. They don’t overwork them throughout the day. Instead of working long hours in a row, employees are given a couple of breaks. They’ll get one or two short breaks during a normal day’s work. These breaks won’t be any longer that ten-fifteen minutes. They’re used to help refresh workers and give them a rest. Of course, they’re entitled to a lunch break as well. By allowing employees to rest, it ensures they don’t burn out or get stressed. Overworking can lead to health problems like high-stress levels and also physical injuries. Standing or sitting for a long time can give people back problems. And, business owners don’t want to inflict pain on their staff.

Another thing they do is provide a comfortable place to work. Office chairs are comfy and won’t cause any back or neck problems. It’s a simple thing to do, and will have a huge difference on employee health. By providing comfortable seating, it shows a boss cares about health in the workplace. In conjunction with this, they also make sure the workplace is safe. Providing a safe working environment is crucial. It means there’s very little risk of employees getting injured at work. Thus, they lower the risk of having to pay workers compensation.

The final thing is fairly modern and quite interesting. In some countries, employers will make their workers take part in physical activities. In Japan, the day will often start with a few minutes of yoga or stretching. Obviously, the aim is to try and keep employees fit and healthy. By doing physical activities before work, they also make them more alert and ready for the day ahead. It’s a clever tactic and can end up benefitting a business. More and more businesses are starting to employ this idea too. Some are starting to put days aside devoted to exercise. Instead of having a training day, businesses have days where they go and do physical activities as a group. It’s designed to help employees bond while keeping them healthy.

The importance of health in the workplace can’t be understated. After reading this article, you can now see why it’s such a big thing. Employees with poor health will be a problem for people that own businesses. If everyone is healthy and feeling good, a business will prosper. So, it’s no wonder that owners are doing all that they can to keep their staff healthy. A successful business is built around its employees. But, they must be in good health and able to work to a high standard at all times.

China Stock Market Closes Down as Investors Worry about Oil Prices

Clyde K. Valle
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China Stock Market Closes Down as Investors Worry about Oil Prices

Chinese shares saw steep losses in late trade on January 26 as investors worried about oil prices, and despite an injection of liquidity into the mainland market by the central bank.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite closed down 6.42% at 2,749.79.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng shed 2.48% to 18,860.8 points in afternoon trade.

Elsewhere, markets in Asia followed US stocks lower as further falls in the price of oil continued to unsettle investors.

Brent crude prices dropped below $30 a barrel ending a short-lived rebound as persistent concerns of oversupply were exacerbated by news that Iraq’s output reached a record high last month.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

Wall Street also fell, wiping out most of its gains from the past two days.

Asia’s biggest index, Japan’s Nikkei 225, followed the US, dropping 2.4% to close at 16,708.90 points.

The ongoing slump in the oil price has investors worried that slowing growth in the global economy, and China in particular, is far from any substantial recovery.

South Korean stocks also fell, with the Kospi index closing 1.2% lower at 1,871.42 points.

Investor sentiment in Seoul was also dampened by data showing the country’s economy grew at a slightly lower rate in Q4 of 2015 from the previous three months.

Q4 growth rose 0.6% in seasonally-adjusted terms from the third quarter, slowing from its 1.3% expansion in the previous quarter.

In Australia, markets remained closed for a national holiday.

Denmark Votes on Proposal to Seize Refugees’ Valuables

Diane A. Wade
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Denmark Votes on Proposal to Seize Refugees’ Valuables

Denmark’s lawmakers will vote on January 26 on a highly controversial proposal to confiscate asylum seekers’ valuables to pay for their upkeep.

The proposal drew sharp criticism in Denmark and abroad when it was announced earlier this month.

Danish authorities insist the policy brings refugees in line with jobless Danes, who must sell assets above a certain level to claim benefits.

With broad cross-party support, the bill looks set to pass into law.

The Danish government will also vote on another controversial proposal – delaying family reunifications for refugees in an attempt to discourage them from travelling to the country.Denmark refugee asset bill

Denmark expects to receive around 20,000 asylum seekers in 2016, compared with 15,000 in 2015.

The country insists that the new laws are needed to stem the flow of refugees, despite both Denmark and Sweden recently tightening their borders.

Many have compared the plan to the confiscation of valuables from Jews during the World War II.

Integration Minister Inger Stoejberg was forced to announce that no items deemed sentimental would be taken. The law would apply to cash or assets worth more than 10,000 kroner ($1,450) – a figure raised from 3,000 kroner following objections.

UN refugee agency the UNHCR has warned that the proposals violate the European Convention on Human Rights, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the UN Refugee Convention.

Both the ruling center-right Venstre party and the right-wing, anti-immigration Danish People’s Party back the bill, meaning it is likely to pass.

PM Lars Lokke Rasmussen of the Venstre party has shrugged off criticism, calling the bill “the most misunderstood bill in Denmark’s history”.

The Revenant Tops US Box Office with $16 Million

Sonia Pantiss
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The Revenant Tops US Box Office with $16 Million

The Revenant has topped the US box office in a weekend affected by the East Coast snowstorm.

The Oscar nominated movie, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, is about a frontiersman fighting for survival after being attacked by a Grizzly bear.

The Revenant took $16 million with Star Wars: The Force Awakens in second place with $14.3 million.

Storm Jonas forced theater closures in Washington DC and New York, while hundreds of others suspended showings.

The Revenant, directed by Alejandro G. Inarritu, has taken $119.2 million in North America so far.

The movie had a limited release on Christmas Day, followed by a wide release on January 8.The Revenant box office

Star Wars: The Force Awakens has made $1.94 billion globally to date and is likely to cross the $2 billion mark over the next week.

Last week’s No 1, Kevin Hart and Ice Cube comedy Ride Along 2, dropped to third with $13 million.

Rounding out the top five were two new entries, comedy Dirty Grandpa and The Boy, about an American nanny who finds her English family’s boy is a life-sized doll.

Next week’s new releases include thriller The Finest Hours starring Chris Pine, Holliday Grainger and Casey Affleck, and Kung Fu Panda 3.

US box office top 5:

  1. The Revenant – $16 million
  2. Star Wars: The Force Awakens – $14.3 million
  3. Ride Along 2 – $13 million
  4. Dirty Grandpa – $11.5 million
  5. The Boy – $11.3 million

McDonald’s Q4 Sales Boosted by Lunch of All-Day Breakfast in US

Nancy Clayson
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McDonald’s Q4 Sales Boosted by Lunch of All-Day Breakfast in US

McDonald’s has reported better than expected sales in Q4 of 2015, boosted by the launch of all-day breakfasts in the US.

The fast food giant extended US breakfasts beyond 10:30am in October 2015, saying it was customers’ number one request.McDonalds all day breakfast

The company, working to turnaround its business under chief executive Steve Easterbrook, said the breakfast change helped US sales grow 5.7%.

Q4 revenue fell 4% to $6.4 billion due to the strong dollar, but profits rose 10% to $1.2 billion, McDonald’s said.

Steve Easterbrook, who was appointed a year ago, said: “We took bold, urgent action in 2015 to reset the business and position McDonald’s to deliver sustained profitable growth.”

McDonald’s said sales in its “high growth” markets, which include Russia and China, rose 3%.

Zika Outbreak: Virus Likely to Spread Across Americas

Kathryn R. Bown
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Zika Outbreak: Virus Likely to Spread Across Americas

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Zika virus is likely to spread across nearly all of the Americas.

The Zika virus, which causes symptoms including mild fever, conjunctivitis and headache, has already been found in 21 countries in the Caribbean, North and South America.

It has been linked to thousands of babies being born with underdeveloped brains and some countries have advised women not to get pregnant.

No treatment or vaccine is available.

The Zika virus was first detected in 1947 in monkeys in Africa. There have since been small, short-lived outbreaks in people on the continent, parts of Asia and in the Pacific Islands.

It has spread on a massive scale in the Americas, where transmission was first detected in Brazil in May 2015.

Large numbers of the mosquitoes which carry the virus and a lack of any natural immunity is thought to be helping the infection to spread rapidly.

Zika is transmitted by the bite of Aedes mosquitoes, which are found in all countries in the region except Canada and Chile.

Photo AFP
Photo AFP

In a statement, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the regional office of the WHO, said: “PAHO anticipates that Zika virus will continue to spread and will likely reach all countries and territories of the region where Aedes mosquitoes are found.”

PAHO is advising people to protect themselves from the mosquitoes, which also spread dengue fever and chikungunya.

It also confirmed the virus had been detected in semen and there was “one case of possible person-to-person transmission” but further evidence was still needed.

Around 80% of infections do not result in symptoms.

However, the biggest concern is the potential impact on babies developing in the womb. There have been around 3,500 reported cases of microcephaly – babies born with tiny brains – in Brazil alone since October.

PAHO warned pregnant women to be “especially careful” and to see their doctor before and after visiting areas affected by the Zika virus.

Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador and Jamaica last week recommended women delay pregnancies until more was known about the virus.

Although officially PAHO says “any decision to defer pregnancy is an individual one between a woman, her partner and her healthcare provider”.

Prof. Laura Rodrigues, a fellow of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said some data suggested that up to one-in-fifty babies had birth defects in one of the worst hit areas – Pernambuco state in Brazil.

She said: “Until November we knew nothing, this has caught us by surprise and we’re trying to learn as fast as we can.

“Wherever there is dengue, there is mosquito, then it will spread and not just in Americas I think there is a very real chance it will spread in Asia.”

PAHO advice is to ensure all containers that can hold even small amounts of water should be emptied and cleaned to prevent mosquitoes breeding.

People should protect themselves by using insect repellent, covering up and keeping windows and doors closed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUhy3g-7yUQ

Oil Price Falls Again amid OPEC Calls for Co-Operation in Tackling Oversupply

Clyde K. Valle
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Oil Price Falls Again amid OPEC Calls for Co-Operation in Tackling Oversupply

Oil prices fell again on January 25, eroding last week’s gains, as OPEC called for co-operation from oil-producing nations outside the cartel.

Brent crude fell 2.6% to $31.34 a barrel following a 10% rise on January 22, while US oil shed 95 cents to $31.24.

The slide came as the head of OPEC called for all oil-producing nations to work together.

Abdalla Salem el-Badri said both OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers needed to tackle oversupply to help prices rise.

“It is vital the market addresses the issue of the stock overhang. As you can see from previous cycles, once this overhang starts falling then prices start to rise,” he told a conference in London.

Photo AP
Photo AP

Despite the ongoing refusal of Saudi Arabia, the dominant OPEC member, to cut production, Abdalla Salem el-Badrinevertheless blamed countries outside the cartel for the huge global oil glut.

“Yes, OPEC provided some of the additional supply last year, but the majority of this has come from non-OPEC countries,” he said.

The organization accounts for almost 42% of the world’s oil production.

The OPEC secretary-general said all major producers should agree on methods to reduce stockpiles and thus help prices recover.

“The current environment is putting this future at risk. At current price levels, it is clear that not all of the necessary future investment is viable,” Abdullah al-Badri said.

Oil prices briefly fell to less than $28 a barrel earlier this month.

HSBC has lowered its forecast for the average price of Brent crude in 2016 from $60 to $45 a barrel, while UniCredit lowered it from $52.50 to $37 a barrel.

The prospect of OPEC members cutting production remains unlikely. Indonesia’s OPEC representative said that only one member of the cartel supported calling an emergency meeting to discuss ways of boosting oil prices.

The chairman of Saudi Aramco, the state-owned oil giant, said on January 25 that prices would ultimately rise to a moderate level as global demand increased.

The Iraqi government said on the same day that oil output reached a record high in December, producing as much as 4.13 million barrels a day.

Iran, which has the world’s fourth-biggest oil reserves, is also preparing to resume exports now that sanctions have been lifted.

A fall in the number of oil rigs in the US, one of OPEC’s biggest production rivals, could reduce output, with Goldman Sachs predicting a decline of 95,000 barrels per day this year.

Russia Economy Contracted by 3.7% in 2015

Clyde K. Valle
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Russia Economy Contracted by 3.7% in 2015

According to preliminary figures published by Russia’s statistics service, the country’s economy contracted by 3.7% in 2015.

Retail sales plunged by 10% and capital investment fell by 8.4% in the economy’s worst performance since 2009.

In contrast, Russian GDP increased by 0.6% in 2014.

Russia’s economy has been hit hard by the extraordinary collapse in oil prices, which have fallen by 70% in the past 15 months.

Sanctions imposed by the West after Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea region in 2014 have also had an impact.

Photo AP
Photo AP

PM Dmitry Medvedev warned earlier this month that the fall could force Russia’s 2016 budget to be revised.

President Vladimir Putin said in December that the budget had been calculated based on oil at $50 a barrel. Oil is trading at just over $30 a barrel.

The state-controlled media blames the crisis, principally, on low oil prices and, to a lesser extent, on western sanctions.

In 15 years that Vladimir Putin has ruled Russia as president or prime minister, Russia failed to prepare for the possibility of low oil prices and did little to diversify its economy and reduce its reliance on energy exports.

Russian citizens are increasingly concerned. Inflation is rising, so is the fear of job losses. Meanwhile, real incomes in Russia are falling and social benefits are being cut.

Earlier this month senior citizens blocked streets in Sochi and Krasnodar to protest against the scrapping of free travel passes for pensioners. People power persuaded the local authorities to reverse the decision. The longer Russia’s economic woes continue, the greater the likelihood that social protest here will spread.

Taxes from oil and gas generate about half the Russian government’s revenue.

The ruble fell to record lows against the US dollar last week, before regaining some ground as oil prices recovered slightly.

The currency was down more than 1% on January 25 at 78.87 after oil prices fell about 3%.

Economy minister Alexei Ulyukayev said he expected the Russian central bank to leave interest rates on hold at 11%.

Elvira Nabiullina, the head of the central bank, said last week that authorities had “all the means” needed to keep the economy stable.

Unemployment in Russia was steady at 5.8% in December, meaning that 4.4 million people were out of work, and real wages fell by 10%.

Despite the gloomy economic news, McDonald’s said on January 25 it planned to open more than 60 restaurants in Russia in 2016.

Khamzat Khasbulatov, chief executive of McDonald’s Russia, said sanctions and the weak ruble had forced the fast food giant to make “serious adjustments” to its business model, but focusing on local suppliers and affordable menus had proved successful.

Avatar 2 Release Date Delayed

Sonia Pantiss
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Avatar 2 Release Date Delayed

Avatar 2’s release date is being delayed and it could be because of Star Wars.

The follow-up to the 2009 blockbuster was supposed to be ready by Christmas 2017.

However, according to several reports, Avatar 2 filming hasn’t even started.

This comes just after Disney announced the sequel to The Force Awakens was being delayed and would be coming out at the same time as Avatar 2 was due for release.

Avatar and Star Wars already have a good rivalry going.

Earlier this month, Star Wars overtook Avatar as the biggest ever movie in America.Avatar 2 release date

However, Avatar remains the highest-grossing movie around the world, for now at least.

Avatar introduced the world to 3D as a realistic cinema experience.

Last month, director James Cameron said work on the follow-up trilogy was nearly complete.

James Cameron told Entertainment Weekly: “We’ve been designing for about a year and a half. All the characters, settings and creatures are all pretty much done.”

The idea is to film them all at once.

So far, Twentieth Century Fox hasn’t explained what’s happened.

It’s likely Disney must have known about the delay – otherwise it probably wouldn’t have shifted the Star Wars release date back.

IAAF Scandal: Adidas to Terminate Sponsorship Deal Four Years Early

Clyde K. Valle
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IAAF Scandal: Adidas to Terminate Sponsorship Deal Four Years Early

Adidas has announced it is to terminate the IAAF -the International Association of Athletics Federations – sponsorship deal four years early.

The sportswear giant is the IAAF’s biggest sponsor.

Adidas informed the athletics’ world governing body of its decision – understood to be a direct result of the doping scandal sweeping the sport – last week.

The company has not commented, but the IAAF issued a short statement on January 25.

It made no reference to its deal with Adidas, revealing it was “in close contact with all its sponsors and partners as we embark on our reform process”.

Adidas is one of the IAAF’s official partners, along with Canon, Toyota, Seiko, TDK, TBS and Mondo.

According to several reports, Adidas informed the IAAF in November 2015 it was considering ending their relationship early after a report detailed claims of “state sponsored doping” within Russia.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

The report was compiled by an independent commission set up by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Earlier this month, the commission’s chairman, Dick Pound, delivered a second, damning report that revealed “corruption was embedded” within the IAAF under former president Lamine Diack.

Within days, a decision at the highest level in Adidas was taken to terminate the relationship with the IAAF.

It is understood the German multinational believes the doping revelations in Dick Pound’s reports constitute a breach of its agreement with the IAAF.

The 11-year deal was signed in 2008 and due to run until 2019. At the time it was signed, it was reported the deal was worth $33 million.

The withdrawal of Adidas will come as a major blow to the sport – and to IAAF president Sebastian Coe – in a time of unprecedented turmoil.

The WADA reports on state sponsored doping have left athletics facing an Olympic year with major reputational damage to repair.

It is also facing a French criminal investigation into corruption, which is looking into the awarding of every World Championships since 2007.

It now seems Adidas believes there is too much reputational risk to its brand to continue its association with the IAAF.

Adidas has also expressed its displeasure at the corruption scandal that continues to engulf FIFA, although it remains world soccer’s governing body’s oldest commercial partner.

Japan Stock Market Trades Higher Despite Weak Export Data

Clyde K. Valle
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Japan Stock Market Trades Higher Despite Weak Export Data

Japan stock market has traded higher, despite the latest trade figures showing exports falling for a third straight month.

Its exports fell by 8% in December 2015 from a year earlier, suggesting that China’s slowdown continues to affect demand.

The Nikkei 225 index rose 0.9%, closing at 17,110.91, building on January 22 rally when it climbed almost 6%.

Global stock markets surged late last week on hints that central banks in Europe and Japan would continue monetary easing.

On January 21, sentiment got a boost as European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi suggested the bank would review its policies in March and could launch further stimulus.

Photo AsiaNews
Photo AsiaNews

One day later, media reports suggested that the Bank of Japan (BOJ) would also ease further.

The BOJ is set for its first meeting of 2016 later this week, where it is expected to make a policy announcement as weak growth and a drop in oil prices weigh on its attempts to lift inflation.

Led by energy shares, Chinese markets also continued last week’s strong finish, trading higher both in Hong Kong and on the mainland markets.

The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong rose by 1.5% to 19,373.09, while the Shanghai Composite edged 0.4% higher to 2,926.04.

In Australia, the benchmark S&P ASX 200 closed 1.8% up at 5,006.60 points.

The commodity-heavy market was helped by a rebound in both oil and iron ore prices.

In South Korea, the Kospi index followed the region’s trend, increasing 0.7% to close the day at 1,893.43 points.

Should you pitch your Tent with Stocks, Oil, or Gold Investors?

Dana R
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Should you pitch your Tent with Stocks, Oil, or Gold Investors?

Investors might find it somewhat difficult to decide on where to put their money this year because the headlines coming from investment circles are mostly depressing. The weakness in Chinese economy is weighing down much of Asia and American manufacturers are starting to feel the pinch. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East remain unresolved and oil prices are in troubled waters. Economic data in the U.S. is mixed and the fact that 2016 is an election year doesn’t provide much of an economic direction.

trade

It is already obvious that 2016 will be very volatile year in the global economic scene. The move by the U.S. Federal Reserve to raise interest rates at the end of 2015 was the harbinger of things to come. Economic  events in the first three weeks of 2016 has shown that 2016 will be characterized by a rollercoaster of exciting highs and depressing lows in the global economy. This piece seeks to explore the outlook in stocks, precious metals, and global oil prices so that investors might pitch their tents on the winning side.

Stocks are swimming in wild swings

trade-forex

If you have investments in the equities market, you’ll have already seen the handwriting on the wall that stocks will be volatile this year. On Wednesday, all the major U.S. market indices were down. For instance, the S&P 500 was down by a significant 1.56%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 1.17%, and the NASDAQ Composite was down 0.12%. More so, all the major market sectors (except healthcare) were down in yesterday’s session, with the energy sector taking the biggest hit with a 3.14% decline.

The global equities scene was also not impressive. In Asia, stocks are suffering in China as the Shanghai index dropped 3.23%. The situation was not different in Japan as Nikkei 225 had a 2.43% decline while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index was down 1.82%. The situation also appears to be worse in Europe as Euro STOXX 50 was down 0.19% and France’s CAC 40 was down 0.16%.

It is well known saying in the equities market that as “January goes, goes the year”; hence, stock investors will not be surprised if they make massive gains in a session and then lose everything in the next session.

The outlook for oil is uncertain

trade-oil

Crude oil has been facing significant headwinds since last year and it seems that the situation has taken a turn for the worse this year. Oil futures have dropped to the lowest price since September 2003 this week, as a glut in the supply of oil and drop in demand (especially from China) has caused the price to fall lower. On Thursday, Benchmark Brent was down 3.2%o $27.10 per barrel. The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down an incredulous 6.7% to $26.55 per barrel. The decline marks the largest monthly fall since May 2003.

Hans van Cleef, senior energy economist at ABN Amro in Amsterdam notes that “There are worries surrounding demand and oversupply“. Dominick Chirichella, oil analyst at the New York-based Energy Management Institute also notes that “no matter how one looks at the fundamental data every angle points toward lower prices as supply is continuing to outstrip demand.”

However, the uncertainties in oil prices provide smart traders with an opportunity to benefit from trading oil futures. If you know how to trade oil, you’ll find the current weakness in oil prices as a good opportunity to make consistent gains from the economic dynamics of oil. It is obvious that oil prices are searching for a bottom and you can make gains when you sell. When the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are resolved, you can expect oil prices to recover and then you’ll buy oil futures.

The safe-haven status of gold might be back

trade-money

The weakness in the global equities market as discussed earlier is already causing investors to think twice about investing in stocks and they are running into the inherent stability of gold. Gold is considered a safe-haven asset because it tends to keep its value over time, because it is a good hedge against inflation and because it tends to outperform fiat currencies.

The reigniting of the safe haven status of gold suggests that 2016 might be the year of precious metal investors. A Bloomberg data analysis shows that in the five days to January 14, investors have bought 26.8 metric tons of gold through ETFs that are physically backed by the bullion. Gold prices per ounce have climbed more than 4% since the market opened this year in sharp contrast to the decline in equities.

Citigroup analysts in their 2016 commodities outlook note, “gold’s safe haven rationale is back in vogue“. They also mentioned that “geopolitical issues typically tend to be short-lived in terms of lending support to gold prices; we expect ongoing global macro concerns to lend support this quarter, aided by a modestly more benign U.S. dollar outlook.”

Shimon Peres Taken to Hospital after Suffering Chest Pain

Diane A. Wade
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Shimon Peres Taken to Hospital after Suffering Chest Pain

Israel’s ex-President Shimon Peres has been taken to hospital after suffering chest pains, 10 days after he had a small heart attack.

Shimon Peres, 92, underwent minor surgery last week for a constricted artery.

A spokeswoman said on January 24 that Shimon Peres was readmitted to a Tel Aviv hospital “for observation and testing”.

The former president was not due to undergo any invasive procedures, Haaretz reported.

Shimon Peres twice served as Israel’s prime minister and was president from 2007 to 2014.Shimon Peres hospitalized

On January 24, he was found by doctors to have an irregular heartbeat, his spokeswoman said.

Shimon Peres won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 for his role negotiating the Oslo peace accords with the Palestinians a year earlier, a prize he shared with PM Yitzhak Rabin, who was later assassinated, and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

He was defeated in the 1996 election by the head of the opposition Likud, Benjamin Netanyahu.

Shimon Peres has held almost every major political office since Israel was founded in 1948, and was the architect of Israel’s secret nuclear program in 1959.

Despite his age, Shimon Peres has maintained an active public schedule, mostly through his non-governmental Peres Center for Peace, which promotes closer ties between Israel and the Palestinians.

Hong Kong’s Coldest Day in Nearly 60 Years

Nancy Clayson
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Hong Kong’s Coldest Day in Nearly 60 Years

Hong Kong has experienced its coldest day in 59 years at three degrees Celsius.

“It is very cold and windy over Hong Kong. People are advised to put on warm clothes and to avoid prolonged exposure to wintry winds,” read a statement on a city government website.

On Tai Mo Shan, Hong Kong’s tallest mountain, it was 2 degrees Celsius early in the morning, and temperatures kept on dropping to about six degrees below freezing. The fire service had to come to the rescue to treat more than 65 frost chasers and race participants – a 100-KM ultra trail race took place during the night – with symptoms of hypothermia.

Forty five persons were sent to hospital but many were released by the end of the day. Meanwhile many people came to enjoy and experience the ice cold.

Photo AFP
Photo AFP

Meanwhile, the South Korean island of Jeju has seen its biggest snowfall in three decades, causing hundreds of flights to be canceled.

Jeju is a popular holiday destination and thousands of visitors are reported to have been left stranded.

All 517 flights scheduled for January 24 were canceled, as well as about 60 on January 25, following 4.3in of snow.

In Japan, the Kyodo news agency said five people had died and more than 100 had been injured in weather-related accidents across the country in the past 24 hours.

Transport services continue to be disrupted.

The agency also said it had snowed in Amami Island, a subtropical island 235 miles south-west of Kagoshima City, for the first time in 115 years.

China has issued its second highest weather alert amid the coldest weather in decades.

The state-run People’s Daily said on its Weibo social media account that the city of Guangzhou had recorded its first snowfall since 1929.

Tutankhamun Mask: Eight Museum Employees Face Trial over Botched Beard Job

Sonia Pantiss
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Tutankhamun Mask: Eight Museum Employees Face Trial over Botched Beard Job

Eight employees at the Egyptian Museum face trial over the botched reattachment of the beard on the burial mask of Tutankhamun, Egyptian media say.

It comes a year after officials opened an investigation into how the blue and gold braided beard came to be detached and then hastily glued back on.

The accused face charges of negligence and violating professional standards.

Tutankhamun’s mask – a 3,000-year-old artifact – is one of Cairo’s biggest tourist attractions.

Conservators at the Egyptian Museum had given differing accounts of the circumstances of the beard becoming detached.

Photo AP
Photo AP

One suggestion was that it had been knocked off accidentally, another that it had been removed after becoming loose.

According to prosecutors, workers then “recklessly” tried to cover up the mistake, using large amounts of inappropriate glue in an effort to fix it.

In all, they made four attempts to reattach the beard, on the later three occasions also trying to remove evidence of their earlier failed efforts.

The Daily News Egypt quoted prosecutors as saying: “Ignoring all scientific methods of restoration, the suspects tried to conceal their crime by using sharp metal tools to remove parts of the glue that became visible, thus damaging the 3,000-year-old piece without a moment of conscience.”

Those due to face trial include a former director of the museum and a former director of restoration.

In October 2015, a team of conservators led by German experts began work to remove the damage and reattach the beard professionally.

Following successful restoration, Tutankhamun’s mask was put back on public display in December 2015.

Walmart Ordered to Give Jobs Back to 16 Workers

Clyde K. Valle
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Walmart Ordered to Give Jobs Back to 16 Workers

Walmart has been ordered to give jobs back to 16 workers it fired for missing shifts to take part in a strike.

Administrative Law Judge Geoffrey Carter found the workers had suffered discrimination.

In a statement, Walmart said it felt the “actions were legal and justified” and that it would pursue other options to defend the company.

Most of the allegations filed by employees related to protests in 2013, when Walmart workers – backed by labor groups – traveled to the company’s headquarters to protest at a shareholder meeting.

Photo AP
Photo AP

Walmart had said the employees were fired due to unexcused absences not protected by labor law.

The judge disagreed and ordered Walmart to compensate the workers for “loss of earnings and other benefits suffered as a result of the discrimination against them”.

Judge Geoffrey Carter also ordered Wal-Mart to hold a meeting in 29 stores throughout the country to inform employees of their right to strike, and to promise not to threaten or discipline employees for doing so.

The company has faced mounting protests over the last several years targeting its employee pay, the ability of workers to organize into a union and working conditions.

Walmart announced on January 20 that it will raise the pay of 1.2 million workers, lifting its average hourly wage to $13.38 per hour.

Douglas Tompkins’ Widow Kristine McDivitt Offers Land to Chile

Diane A. Wade
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Douglas Tompkins’ Widow Kristine McDivitt Offers Land to Chile

The widow of American billionaire Douglas Tompkins has begun talks with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet over the donation of a vast nature reserve in southern Chile.

Kristine McDivitt Tompkins said she had formally offered Chile 400,000 hectares of land in Patagonia to be made into national parks.

The negotiations are expected to take two years.

Douglas Tompkins, who died in December 2015 in a kayaking accident, caused controversy in the 1990s by buying up land in southern Chile and Argentina to preserve it.

Last month, Kristine McDivitt met the new Argentinean President Mauricio Macri to donate to the country 150,000 hectares of threatened wetlands near the border with Brazil, with the aim of creating the Ibera National Park.

Douglas Tompkins was a globe-trotting rock climber and skier in his youth who was the co-founder of the outdoor clothing company The North Face.

In the early 1990s Douglas Tompinks got divorced, abandoned corporate life and moved to isolated southern Chile.

With his second wife Kristine, a former CEO of outdoor clothing company Patagonia Inc, he began buying up land in order to protect an ancient forest in Patagonia.Kristine McDivitt Tompkins and Michelle Bachelet

Over 25 years Douglas and Kristine Tompkins invested more than $375 million in conservation, donating part of their lands in Chile and Argentina to create four national parks.

After the meeting with President Michelle Bachelet, Kristine McDivitt said that the donation of the latest tranche of land to Chile was being made on condition that it would be used to create national parks which people could freely visit.

“The process will take a long time,” she said.

“We won’t be deciding the timing and I know there will be a compromise both sides will have to make to work through all the stages that will be necessary.

“We want people from all over the world to be able to visit these places. With the donation of these parks, Chile will be able offer a historic legacy to the world.”

In 2005, Douglas and Kristine Tompkins donated another tranche of land to Chile, 294 hectares near the Corcovado volcano, creating the sixth largest national park in Chile – the Corcovado National Park.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvYzHc-cxsM

Zika Outbreak: Rio Authorities Announce Olympics Plans

Diane A. Wade
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Zika Outbreak: Rio Authorities Announce Olympics Plans

Authorities in Rio de Janeiro have announced plans to prevent the spread of the Zika virus during the Olympic Games later this year.

Zika outbreak – which is being linked to severe birth defects – has caused growing concern in Brazil and abroad.

Inspections of Olympic facilities will begin four months before the Games to get rid of mosquito breeding grounds.

Daily sweeps will also take place during the Games.Zika outbreak Rio Olympics 2016

However, fumigation would only be an option on a case-by-case basis because of concerns for the health of the athletes and visitors.

The Brazilian health ministry says it is also banking on the fact that the Games are taking place in the cooler, drier month of August when mosquitoes are far less evident and there are considerably less cases of mosquito-borne virus.

Brazil has the largest-known outbreak of the Zika virus which has been linked to a spike in birth defects in new-born babies whose mothers were bitten by the mosquito during pregnancy.

The US, Canada and EU health agencies have issued warnings saying pregnant women should avoid travelling to Brazil and other countries in the Americas which have registered cases of Zika.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqKKiGqwGSo

La Loche Shootings: Teenager Charged over Canada Deaths

Diane A. Wade
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La Loche Shootings: Teenager Charged over Canada Deaths

A Canadian teenager has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder after shootings in Saskatchewan province, police say.

The boy – who cannot be named because of his age – is also charged with seven counts of attempted murder.

Four people were killed and several injured after the shootings at La Loche Community School and another location.

The January 22 attack in the remote community was “every parent’s worst nightmare”, Canada’s PM Justin Trudeau has said.La Loche shootings 2016

At a news conference on January 23, Grant St Germaine from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said the suspect would appear in court next week.

“The days and weeks are going to be difficult as we come to terms with the impact of what has happened in our community,” he said.

“It’s a sad and difficult time and no words will take away the pain and sorrow of what has happened.”

The RCMP said Dayne Fontaine, 17, and his brother Drayden, 13, were shot dead in a house.

The gunmen then went to the school, killing teacher Adam Wood, 35, and 21-year-old teaching assistant Marie Janvier, the daughter of acting mayor Kevin Janvier.

The suspect was later disarmed and arrested. The motive behind the shootings is unclear.

Witnesses at the school described screaming and more than half a dozen shots.

The RCMP said officers were called about “an active shooter” at 13:00 local time and detained the suspect 45 minutes later, Canada’s CBC reports.

About 900 students attend La Loche Community School for kindergarten through to grade 12 (the last year of high school).

La Loche is a mainly aboriginal community of about 3,000 people.

Louis Tomlinson Baby: One Direction Singer Becomes a Father for First Time

Lisa.Felice
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Louis Tomlinson Baby: One Direction Singer Becomes a Father for First Time

One Direction singer Louis Tomlinson has confirmed that he has become a dad for the first time.

After much speculation, Louis Tomlinson tweeted that his baby son was born on January 22.

Louis Tomlinson tweeted: “He is healthy and pretty amazing. I’m very happy.” Louis Tomlinson and Briana Jungwirth baby

Last year reports came out about how Louis Tomlinson was having a baby with American stylist Briana Jungwirth.

There was never any official press statement about it but Louis Tomlinson did confirm the news of his impending fatherhood during an awkward moment on US television.

When he was congratulated by the interviewer, Louis Tomlinson replied: “Thank you, yeah, erm, obviously it’s a very exciting time, so, err, I’m buzzing, thank you.”

Louis Tomlinson is the first member of One Direction to become a father although there’s no word on a name for his child as yet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghEoDRbx6SI

White House 2016: Michael Bloomberg Thinking about Running for President

Diane A. Wade
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White House 2016: Michael Bloomberg Thinking about Running for President

Ex-NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg is thinking about running for president as an independent candidate, several outlets report.

Unnamed advisers told the New York Times that Michael Bloomberg, 73, sees a gap and has instructed staff to draw up plans.

In 2015, Michael Bloomberg commissioned a poll to see how he might perform against Republican frontrunner Donald Trump and Democratic favorite Hillary Clinton.

Photo AP
Photo AP

Michael Bloomberg would reportedly pump $1 billion of his fortune into a campaign.

The billionaire has yet to make a statement on the issue but members of his staff have told other US media that he is indeed thinking about running, especially if Hillary Clinton is wounded by her rival Bernie Sanders.

The New York Times also reports that he has set a deadline for making a final decision in early March, when he could still enter the race in all 50 states.

The Republican and Democratic candidates face their first real test in just over a week, when Iowa becomes the first state to make its choice of nominee.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fGIHZMd6kM

Snowstorm 2016: At Least 9 People Dead as Two Feet of Snow Fall in Huge Blizzard

Diane A. Wade
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Snowstorm 2016: At Least 9 People Dead as Two Feet of Snow Fall in Huge Blizzard

Eastern states have received more than two feet of snow fall in a huge blizzard that is sweeping across the region.

Heavy snow began falling on January 22 across more than 20 states, affecting some 85 million people.

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio said the storm could be one of the worst to ever hit the city. He is considering a travel ban.

At least nine people have died and emergencies declared in 10 states.

Tens of thousands of homes are without power and traffic jams lasting at least 12 hours have been reported in Kentucky and Pennsylvania.

Washington DC could lie under a record 30in of snow by the time the storm passes on January 23. At the White House, 13in of snow fell overnight.Snowstorm 2016

The heaviest snowfall recorded so far (up to 09:00 eastern time) include:

  • 28in – Terra Alta, West Virginia
  • 24in – Philippi, West Virginia; Oakland, Maryland
  • 23in – Ridgeley, Maryland; Champion and Marklesburg, Pennsylvania

The weather system affects a huge swathe of the country, from Alabama in the south to Massachusetts in the north-east.

Bill de Blasio said New York City was now expecting up to two feet of snow, which would make it one of the five largest storms ever to hit the city.

In a press conference, he urged citizens to get off the road.

His office tweeted: “This is bad and getting worse rapidly.”

In Kentucky, a 35-mile traffic jam has started to clear in the past few hours, after thousands of drivers found themselves stranded on I-75 overnight by heavy snow and a number of accidents.

The Red Cross erected shelters along the highway and Kentucky State Police tweeted that officers were taking water, fuel and snacks to the motorists, some of whom had been stuck for more than 12 hours.

Further north, on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, a number of other vehicles have been stuck in snow for at least 12 hours after the road closed. One university basketball team that was stranded said they were running out of leftover pizza and getting hungry.

The US federal government closed down at noon on January 22 while President Barack Obama remained at the White House.

The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that the worst of the snow would fall in the Washington area from the early hours of Saturday to the early afternoon, with winds of more than 50mph.

In a warning at 02:17, the NWS tweeted that an “intense snow band” was moving through the area.

“Expect rapid accumulations and near-whiteout conditions,” it warned.

The most intense parts of the snowstorm are heading north towards New York state on January 23.

James Bond SPECTRE Car Up for Auction

Sonia Pantiss
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James Bond SPECTRE Car Up for Auction

Aston Martin will auction one of 10 DB10 cars made for James Bond movie SPECTRE along with 23 other Bond-related items for charity.

The car, which was specially built for SPECTRE, will be put up on February 18 with a minimum price of £1 million ($1.6 million).

It forms part of SPECTRE – The Auction, timed to coincide with the release of the 24th James Bond movie on DVD.

The car has a 4.7-litre V8 petrol engine and a top speed of 190 mph, but it cannot be driven on public roads.James Bond Spectre car auction

Aston Martin has been associated with James Bond since 1964’s Goldfinger, which featured a DB5.

Most of the DB10s were modified for use in the filming of SPECTRE, but the DB10 offered at Christie’s auction house is one of only two “show” cars, which were left unmodified and used for display purposes.

SPECTRE is reported to have destroyed $36 million worth of cars during shooting.

The car up for auction has been signed by James Bond actor Daniel Craig.

Unilever to Shrink Magnum and Cornetto Ice Creams

Nancy Clayson
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0
Unilever to Shrink Magnum and Cornetto Ice Creams

Magnum and Cornetto maker, Unilever, has decided to make all its ice creams aimed at adults smaller.

According to a report in trade journal The Grocer, Ben & Jerry’s tubs and Feast ice creams are among those whose portion size will shrink.

Unilever said the move was to help consumers “make healthier choices”.Magnum shrinks

From the spring, “single serving” portions will contain no more than 250 calories.

Unilever’s UK ice cream marketing director Noel Clarke said: “We have introduced this 250 calorie cap to help make it easier for our consumers to make informed and healthier choices when enjoying their favorite ice creams as part of a balanced lifestyle.”

Some products will be dropped altogether, The Guardian reported.

Magnum Infinity Chocolate, Magnum Infinity Chocolate & Caramel and Cornetto Choc ‘N’ Ball are some products that will melt away, the newspaper said.

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