According to North Carolina prosecutors, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Officer Brentley Vinson acted lawfully when he fatally shot African-American Keith Lamont Scott, in September, and will not face charges.
The shooting triggered several nights of protests across the city.
Keith Scott’s family say he was unarmed but police insist he had a gun.
Image source Facebook
In the bodycam and dashcam footage of the shooting released by police, it is unclear if there is anything in Keith Scott’s hands.
At a news conference following the ruling on November 30, prosecutors revealed surveillance footage from a nearby shop of Keith Scott showing the apparent outline of holstered gun on his ankle.
The footage shows Keith Scott getting out of his car to go into the shop and then getting back into his car.
Prosecutors say Keith Scott then parked in the car park at the apartment complex, beside officers.
Plainclothes officers had gone to the complex to look for a suspect with an outstanding warrant – not Keith Scott.
Officers say Keith Scott then proceeded to smoke a joint and hold up a semi-automatic hand gun.
Keith Scott then exited the car when officers approached, they say. At that point they deemed Keith Scott a threat and Officer Brentley Vinson fired his weapon.
Keith Scott was pronounced dead later at a local hospital from gunshot wounds to his back and abdomen.
Oil price has surged after reports that OPEC members have agreed some details of a production cut.
Oil prices rose nearly 7% as energy ministers attended November 30 OPEC meeting in Vienna.
Ahead of the meeting Saudi energy minister Khalid Al-Falih had said “there are good chances” a formal deal could be struck.
Two months ago, oil ministers had said full details of the agreement would be finalized at the meeting.
OPEC pledged to limit production by about 700,000 barrels a day, but said Iran would be allowed to increase production.
Oil prices rose then, but the absence of detail prompted some traders to have second thoughts about whether the cartel would actually take firm action.
Saudi Arabia has agreed to cut output by about 500,000 barrels per day at the meeting, Reuters reported.
That would take its output to 10.06 million barrels per day.
Reuters also reported that OPEC has agreed to suspend Indonesia’s membership to allow Iran to set new production levels at 3.797 million barrels per day.
Ahead of November 30meeting, Khalid Al-Falih said “there are good chances” that a detailed deal can be brokered, and that “the spirit is good”.
The Saudi energy minister said his country would have to “take a big cut and a big hit” to current production – and its 2017 forecast – if OPEC production were limited to 32.5 million barrels per day.
“So we will not do it unless we make sure that there is consensus,” Khalid Al-Falih added.
A production freeze for Iran at pre-sanctions levels would be “very considerate of other OPEC members when they’re having to cut,” he said.
“Iran has recovered to its pre-sanctions levels,” Khalid Al-Falih said.
Saudi Arabia has also been discussing a production cut with Russia, he added.
Brent crude rose 6.9% to $50.58 per barrel, while US crude also rose 6.7% to $48.25.
Traders said markets were jittery and prices could swing sharply in either direction depending on developments in Vienna.
A decision to cut has been hindered by a rivalry between Saudi Arabia, OPEC’s top producer, and Iran.
The Saudis have been hesitant to shoulder the lion’s share of a cut, while Iran has resisted reducing its own production, arguing it has yet to recover its output levels after years of sanctions.
Fiat heir Lapo Elkann is facing court in New York after falsely claiming he had been kidnapped by a transgender prostitute.
The Italian called his family from New York to demand a $10,000 ransom “to guarantee his safety”, an official told the Associated Press.
Having found him in Manhattan, investigators now believe Lapo Elkann, 39, concocted the story after he ran out of money following a drink and drugs binge.
The grandson of Fiat’s Gianni Agnelli is now due in court in January.
Lapo Elkann, who was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of falsely reporting an incident, had only arrived in the US last week.
He had told his Instagram followers he was going abroad to pursue “a lot of projects in development… a lot of new ideas” in a rambling video posted on November 24.
Lap Elkann, dressed in a bright red suit, also said the business trip would bring him into contact with “many very interesting characters”.
Instead, media reports in the US and Italy say Lapo Elkann spent two days with the woman, before calling his family in order to get more money.
He claimed he had been held in a Manhattan flat from about 17:00 local time on November 25, until police arrested him outside a public housing complex at about 02:00 local time on November 26.
Lapo Elkann, who was born in New York, is a Fiat shareholder but has no official role in the company.
Instead, the Fiat heir – who made headlines in Italy in 2005 after he was hospitalized for a drug overdose in Turin – runs a company called Italia Independent.
Lapo Elkann has not yet returned a message seeking comment from AP. His publicist, Alessia Margiotta Broglio, declined to comment.
The rising tuition fees have made attending university a very daunting prospect for many students. When this sharp increase in fees is combined with a high cost of living, it means that managing your finances and ensuring that you can live comfortably can be difficult. Fortunately, today’s students have found a few fantastic way to manage their finances each month and ensure that it does not impact their studies and lifestyle.
Budgeting
The most important tip is to create a budget and stick to it for each week. To establish a budget, you first need to add up your total income. This could include student loan, savings, income from a job, grants or bursaries and money from parents/guardians. Next, you subtract essential outgoings. These include tuition fees, rent, household bills, insurance, phone bill, travel and food. The figure you are left with is what you can then spend on other items such as socialising, household supplies, books for your course and clothes. There are many great online tools or apps that can help with sticking to your budget.
Image source Flickr
Part-Time Work
Another way that students have combated the increase in tuition fees is to take on part-time work. This can give a great boost to your income and give you cash to use on yourself, plus it will it may also give you transferable skills and experience that will help in the future. However, it is crucial that this work does not interfere with your studies, so you must be ruthless at organising your time. Ideally, the work will be flexible and you can communicate openly with your employer about your studies.
Short-Term Loans
If you find yourself in need of some fast cash to cover part of your income, you should consider a short-term loan which is what many students are now doing. There are companies that are created solely to help students, including Smart Pig. Companies like this provide same day loans of up to around £350 until your next student finance payment. Student payday loan businesses typically have improved pricing, loan terms and procedures than regular payday loan companies.
These three methods are all great ways for students to manage their finances and handle the rise of tuition fees. With careful planning and regularly checking your finances each week, you should be able to stay on top of your bills and not have your studies or social life impacted by fees and cost of living.
Donald Trump has just announced he will “business in total” to focus on presidency and avoid perceived conflicts of interest.
The president-elect said he would be expanding on his plans at a press conference with his children next month.
Donald Trump previously dismissed concerns over potential conflicts between his businesses and the presidency.
Meanwhile, former Goldman Sachs executive Steven Mnuchin confirmed he had been picked as treasury secretary.
Steve Mnuchin, who was Donald Trump’s former campaign finance director, also said billionaire investor Wilbur Ross had been chosen for commerce secretary.
Donald Trump and his transition team have yet to confirm the appointments.
Image source Flickr
Instead, the president-elect chose to focus on his plans to distance himself from his business in a series of four tweets released over 20 minutes.
The tweets read: “I will be holding a major news conference in New York City with my children on December 15 to discuss the fact that I will be leaving my great business in total in order to fully focus on running the country in order to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
“While I am not mandated to do this under the law, I feel it is visually important, as President, to in no way have a conflict of interest with my various businesses.
“Hence, legal documents are being crafted which take me completely out of business operations. The Presidency is a far more important task!”
There is no legal requirement to liquidate assets but past presidents have set aside their business dealings. Donald Trump’s rivals have raised repeated concerns this may cause problems in the coming months.
Donald Trump, who takes office on January 20, had previously indicated to the New York Times that he was considering separating his two areas of responsibility but was confident he could run both “perfectly”.
The billionaire’s three eldest children already hold roles within the Trump empire which boasts golf clubs, office towers and other properties in several countries.
However, Reince Priebus, Donald Trump’s incoming White House chief of staff, refused to say on MSNBC’s Morning Joe whether he was handing the business to his children or putting it into a blind trust, which would place the management of his assets in the hands of other experts.
Thousands of fans of Brazil’s Chapecoense soccer team have held a vigil in the city of Chapeco for the victims of a plane crash in Colombia.
People walked from the town center to the stadium where they prayed and sang. A service was also held in Chapeco’s cathedral.
The team was flying to Colombia for the biggest match in their history when their plane went down shortly before landing in Medellin on November 28.
Six of the 77 people on board survived.
It is not clear what brought down the chartered aircraft, but some unconfirmed reports have suggested there was an electrical fault, while others say the plane was low on fuel. Both flight recorders have been recovered.
Brazil has declared three days of official mourning, while minute silences have been held at football grounds around the world.
Some 10,000 people – including family members of the players – gathered in Chapeco’s Arena Conda stadium on November 29, still stunned by the news from earlier in the day.
Fans wearing the club’s green and white colors sang the names of the players and shouted “champions”. Families of the players hugged each other on the pitch.
Brazilians doctors have already flown to Colombia in order to identify the bodies, and arrange for them to be brought home.
This could happen in the coming days, as the lack of a fire at the crash site has made retrieving and identifying the bodies of the 71 victims relatively easy, emergency workers say.
Chapecoense team was due to play in the final of the Copa Sudamericana against the Colombian team Atletico Nacional on November 30.
Atletico Nacional has asked fans instead to come to the stadium dressed in white for a candlelit vigil. They have also offered to concede the game to ensure Chapecoense are declared the champions.
In other tributes, Brazilian first division soccer teams have offered to lend players to Chapecoense free of charge for the 2017 season, and asked the league to protect the club from relegation for the next three years.
Leading soccer players, from Barcelona stars Lionel Messi and Neymar, to Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney, have also paid tribute to the players.
Alongside the soccer team, there were also 21 journalists on board the doomed flight – including well-known Brazilian commentator and former soccer player Mario Sergio Pontes de Paiva.
Three of the six survivors are soccer players:
Defender Alan Ruschel, who suffered spinal injuries
Defender Helio Zampier Neto, who has injuries to his skull and chest
Reserve goalkeeper Jakson Follman, who has had his right leg amputated and is said to be in a stable condition
Two crew members, Ximena Suarez and Erwin Tumiri, and journalist Rafael Valmorbida were also among the survivors.
Hailing from a small city of less than 200,000 inhabitants, Chapecoense soccer club had become an unlikely success stories in recent years, reaching Brazil’s Serie A in 2014 and beating more established teams.
Last week, Chapecoense became the first Brazilian team in three years to make it to the final of the Copa Sudamericana, South America’s second most important club competition, after beating Argentine side San Lorenzo.
The late Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro has been honored with a mass rally in Havana’s Revolution Square.
The gathering began with the national anthem and ended with a tribute from Fidel Castro’s brother, President Raul Castro.
The rallywas attended by a number of world leaders – but some countries sent lower-level officials.
Fidel Castro, who came to power in 1959, died on November 25 at the age of 90. His ashes will be taken to the eastern city of Santiago on November 30.
Opinion on Fidel Castro, who ruled Cuba as a one-party state for almost half a century, remains divided.
Supporters say Fidel Castro returned Cuba to the people and praise him for some of his social programs, such as public health and education.
However, critics call him a dictator, who led a government that did not tolerate opposition and dissent.
This division led to some countries, such as the US, sending lower-ranking emissaries. However, allies including left-wing Latin American leaders were among those attending the ceremony in Revolution Square, where Cubans once gathered to listen to Fidel Castro’s fiery speeches.
On November 29, the crowd chanted “long live the revolution!” and “Fidel! Fidel!” as the rally got under way.
President Raul Castro closed the rally, referring to his brother as the leader of a revolution “for the humble, and by the humble”.
Greece’s left-wing PM Alexis Tsipras was among those who addressed the crowd. The presidents of Mexico, Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela, Panama, South Africa and Zimbabwe also attended.
In his speech, South African President Jacob Zuma praised Cuba’s record on health care and education and its support for African countries.
On November 29, the left-wing presidents of Bolivia and Venezuela, Evo Morales and Nicolas Maduro, were among those who signed a book of condolences at the Jose Marti memorial where a photograph flanked by an honor guard has been on display since November 28.
Another admirer of Fidel Castro, Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa, was joining the two presidents at the commemoration.
However, many Western leaders are not attending the event in person.
The White House announced that its nominee for the post of ambassador to Havana, Jeffrey DeLaurentis, and Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes would attend the commemorative event but that it was not sending an “official delegation” to Cuba.
Ben Rhodes was one of the US officials who negotiated the thaw between the United States and the Cuban government announced in December 2014.
On November 28, President-elect Donald Trump threatened to end the detente if Cuba did not offer a “better deal”.
On November 30, Fidel Castro’s ashes will be taken on a journey to Santiago, which is regarded as the Cuba’s 1959 revolution.
Fidel Castro’s ashes will be placed on December 4 in the Ifigenia Cemetery in Santiago, where Cuban independence hero Jose Marti is buried.
According to new reports, Donald Trump is expected to pick former Goldman Sachs executive Steve Mnuchin to be treasury secretary.
Steve Mnuchin, who was Donald Trump’s campaign finance chairman and has no government experience, could be named on November 30, according to reports.
On November 29, Donald Trump picked Tom Price as health secretary and Elaine Chao as transportation secretary.
The president-elect is still weighing his options in filling the posts of state and defense.
Steve Mnuchin amassed a fortune over 17 years at Goldman Sachs investment bank, before founding a movie production company that was behind such box office hits as the X-Men franchise and American Sniper.
It remains to be seen whether Donald Trump’s first key economic policy move, potentially picking a consummate Wall Street insider to helm the nation’s financial system, will be welcomed by supporters who were energized by the Republican’s vow to “drain the swamp” of special interests.
Billionaire investor Wilbur Ross – known as “the king of bankruptcy” for his restructuring of failing industries – is tipped to be named as Donald Trump’s commerce secretary.
Also on November 29, Donald Trump met Mitt Romney for a second time despite one of his top aides launching a public campaign against offering the former Massachusetts governor the post of secretary of state.
Donald Trump had dinner with Mitt Romney and the president-elect’s chief of staff, Reince Priebus.
Senior adviser Kellyanne Conway spoke out against Mitt Romney on November 27, saying Donald Trump’s supporters felt “betrayed” he would consider the 2012 Republican nominee for the prominent role.
Mitt Romney was one of Donald Trump’s harshest critics during the campaign.
The president-elect will also sit down with Tennessee Senator Bob Corker, the chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee.
The two men are leading contenders for the all-important diplomatic post.
Earlier, Donald Trump met retired General David Petraeus.
In a tweet after their meeting on November 28, Donald Trump said he was “very impressed” with the former CIA director.
Donald Trump met Mitt Romney for a second time despite one of his top aides launching a public campaign against offering the former Massachusetts governor the post of secretary of state.
Donald Trump had dinner with Mitt Romney and the president-elect’s chief of staff, Reince Priebus.
Senior adviser Kellyanne Conway spoke out against Mitt Romney on November 27, saying Donald Trump’s supporters felt “betrayed” he would consider the 2012 Republican nominee for the prominent role.
Photo Getty Images
Mitt Romney was one of Donald Trump’s harshest critics during the campaign.
The president-elect will also sit down with Tennessee Senator Bob Corker, the chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee.
The two men are leading contenders for the all-important diplomatic post.
Earlier, Donald Trump met retired General David Petraeus.
In a tweet after their meeting on November 28, Donald Trump said he was “very impressed” with the former CIA director.
ISIS claims it was behind the Ohio State University car and knife rampage that left 11 people injured.
The November 27 attack at OSU was carried out by one of its students, Somali-born Abdul Razak Ali Artan, the authorities said.
The ISIS-affiliated Amaq news agency called the 18-year-old business undergraduate a “soldier”.
Abdul Razak Ali Artan drove his car at a group of people, then attacked them with a knife before being shot dead.
Amaq posted an image of Abdul Razak Ali Artan wearing a blue shirt and sitting with greenery in the background, but did not say if the attack was directed from abroad, or if Artan had been self-radicalized.
Most of the victims were injured by the attacke’s car, but two were stabbed with a “butcher’s knife” and another suffered a fractured skull, officials said.
One of the wounded victims, William Clark, an OSU professor, described how Abdul Razak Ali Artan’s vehicle had crashed into a large concrete planter before bouncing off and striking him.
Image source The Lantern
“It clipped the back of my right leg and basically flipped me up in the air and I landed on the concrete,” he told a news conference.
William Clark said Abdul Razak Ali Artan then got out of the car and began attacking students before he was shot down.
Surveillance photos showed the attacker in the car by himself just before the attack, but investigators are looking into whether anyone else was involved.
Dozens of FBI agents have searched Abdul Razak Ali Artan’s apartment for clues as to what may have triggered the attacks.
Neighbors described him as polite and said he attended daily prayers at a local mosque.
Abdul Razak Ali Artan, who was born in Somalia and was a US permanent resident, arrived in the country in 2014 as the child of a refugee.
He had been living in Pakistan from 2007 to 2014.
Abdul Razak Ali Artan recently posted on Facebook about the US treatment of Muslims, according to the AP, citing a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
“If you want us Muslims to stop carrying lone wolf attacks, then make peace” with the Islamic State group, he allegedly wrote.
Representative Adam Schiff of California, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said the act was indicative of someone who may have been self-radicalized.
ISIS militants have found recruits in the US Somali community in recent years.
About a dozen young men and women from Minnesota’s Somali community have traveled to Syria to join militant groups.
Nine men in Minnesota were sentenced on terror charges for plotting to join ISIS.
And a Somali-American man attacked 10 people with a knife at a central Minnesota mall before he was killed by an off-duty police officer in September.
Jaylani Hussein, the executive director of Council of American-Islamic Relations’ Minnesota chapter, said some Somali-Americans were concerned about being viewed as “guilty by association”.
On November 29, President-elect Donald Trump is expected to meet Mitt Romney for a second time despite one of his top aides launching a public campaign against the former Massachusetts governor’s nomination.
Senior adviser Kellyanne Conway spoke out against Mitt Romney on November 27, saying Donald Trump’s supporters felt “betrayed” he would consider the 2012 Republican nominee for the prominent role.
Mitt Romney was one of Donald Trump’s harshest critics during the campaign.
Donald Trump will also sit down with Tennessee Senator Bob Corker, the chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee.
The two men are leading contenders for the all-important diplomatic post.
Earlier, Donald Trump met retired General David Petraeus. He said he was “very impressed” with the former CIA director in a tweet after their meeting on November 28.
David Petraeus pleaded guilty in 2015 to mishandling classified information over documents he had shared with his biographer Paula Broadwell, with whom he was also having an affair.
President-elect Donald Trump reportedly plans to pick ex-Labor Secretary Elaine Chao as his transportation secretary.
Elaine Chao, the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, served in President George W. Bush’s cabinet.
Donald Trump is still weighing his options in filling the posts of state, defense and treasury.
Image source Wikimedia
Elaine Chao, who was born in Taiwan, became the first Asian-American woman to hold a position in a presidential cabinet when she led the Labor Department under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009.
The 63-year-old also served as deputy secretary of transportation and director of the Peace Corps in former President George H.W. Bush’s administration.
If confirmed by the Senate, Elaine Chao would become the second person to hold the positions of labor secretary, transportation secretary and the spouse of a Senate majority leader.
Elizabeth Dole previously held that title.
Elaine Chao will play a crucial role under Donald Trump, who has vowed to make infrastructure spending on the country’s roads, bridges and other public transit an integral part of his agenda.
She came to the US with her family at the age of 8 and settled in New York, where her father became a shipping magnate.
Are you fed up of being single and are you ready to find that special someone? Nowadays, it can be difficult to meet prospective partners the old fashioned way. Bars, clubs, and even the workplace are overpopulated with couples or non-suitors these days, meaning that you could be left on the shelf. So, if you haven’t already entered into the world of online dating, now is the time!
Yes, online dating can be a daunting prospect. Meeting someone new for the first time whether it’s for drinks, coffee or dinner can be nerve wracking. But it doesn’t have to be. Read on to find out how to prepare yourself for a successful online date.
Photo Tumblr
Our Top 3 Tips
Play the Field – so, you’ve signed up to an online dating site and having a browse. For many, finding the right match can take days, weeks or even months. That’s why it’s important to remember why you’re there in the first place; to meet someone special and have fun in the process. With this in mind, don’t be embarrassed to chat to or even meet up with more than one person. How will you ever find the one if you don’t play the field?
Be Open and Honest – it can be really easy to get carried away with yourself when it comes to the online world. Try and avoid making things up or exaggerating about things. Chances are, if you do hit it off with someone then you’ll probably end up meeting them and it can leave you in an awkward situation if your online claims don’t follow through.
When filling out your profile and speaking to people online, sell yourself for the great qualities you have. If someone doesn’t like you for who you are, they’re not worth talking too!
Prepare for the Meet! – if you’re ready to go on your big date, you will have been talking to the person online for a while no doubt, so you’ll have a good understanding of them as a person; their likes, interests, hobbies etc. However, when it comes to the date itself, have some key points that you want to talk about. Pick 5 topics such as family, friends, work, favorite films and music. Anything that allows you to get to know your date a little better and keep the conversation flowing is always a good thing!
It can be hard, especially when the nerves kick in, but try and avoid rambling on about yourself too much. Of course, your date will want to know more about you and may ask questions, but always remember to reciprocate those questions and keep the conversation interesting. If you’re into your date and he or she seems into you, get your flirt on! Flirting is harmless fun that can make a date a lot more enjoyable. A little footsie under the table or some light stroking can show that you’re engaged in the person and that you’re enjoying the date and their company!
Be Careful but Have Fun!
Particularly on a first date, it’s important not to drink too much. You don’t want to give off a bad impression by getting so drunk that you black out or make a fool of yourself – hey, it might be what you’re into, but we doubt it.
What’s even more important is that you have your wits about you, especially when it comes to online dating. It’s always better to play it safe. That’s not to say you can’t have a great time! Additionally, if you don’t feel 100% into the date, then you don’t need to continue. If for any reason you don’t feel safe or want to leave, you are completely entitled to do so. Always stay safe and follow your instincts! One last thing to remember is that before you go out on a date, tell someone where you’re going.
Go Get Em’ Tiger If you find these tips helpful and want to get out on the dating scene, check out some online dating sites today and find the right one for you! Why not start off with flirt.com? You never know, the love of your life could be out there waiting for you on a dating site…good luck!
Donald Trump has named Tom Price as his future health secretary.
The 62-year-old Georgia congressman and orthopedic surgeon is a strong critic of President Barack Obama’s healthcare reforms.
He currently chairs the House of Representatives budget committee.
Tom Price will play a key role in Republican plans to replace the Affordable Healthcare Act (ObamaCare).a
Image source Flickr
In his campaign, Donald Trump vowed to repeal and replace the act, considered Barack Obama’s flagship measure.
However, he has since said he favors keeping certain provisions.
Donald Trump said Tom Price was a “tireless problem solver” and “the go-to expert on healthcare policy”.
“He is exceptionally qualified to shepherd our commitment to repeal and replace ObamaCare and bring affordable and accessible healthcare to every American,” the president-elect said in a statement.
Tom Price said he was looking forward to the opportunity of serving as health secretary on behalf of the American people.
He said his aim was to create a new system that worked for patients, families and doctors, adding that it should “protect the well-being of the country while embracing its innovative spirit”.
Tom Price will be working closely with Seema Verma, who will lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which oversees government health programs and insurance standards.
“Together, Chairman Price and Seema Verma are the dream team that will transform our healthcare system,” Donald Trump said.
Earlier this month Donald Trump, who has pledged to repeal the healthcare bill, said he would keep some parts of the law such as allowing young adults to be insured on their parents’ policies and banning insurers from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions.
Thailand’s parliament has invited Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn to take the country’s throne.
It approved the sending of a formal invitation, which Prince Vajiralongkorn has to accept before becoming the country’s new king.
The deeply revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej died on October 13, plunging the Asian country into mourning.
Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn was widely expected to succeed his father, but officials had earlier said he wanted to postpone it by at least a year.
Image source Wikimedia
The official reason given was that the prince wanted to give the Thai people time to mourn his father before he became king.
According to correspondents, Thailand was left in an odd constitutional limbo as Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, the undisputed heir, should have succeeded his father immediately.
In the past doubts have been expressed by senior officials over how the crown prince can perform the role played by King Bhumibol for 70 years.
The monarchy occupies a pivotal place in Thailand’s political order.
King Bhumibol had been seen as a unifying figure amid periods of political unrest, including during the most recent military coup in 2014.
The leader of Thailand’s parliament, the National Legislative Assembly, is expected to meet Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn in the next few days to formally invite him. Once he accepts, his succession would then be announced to the public.
However, it is still not clear when that will happen.
Former PM Prem Tinsulanonda is currently standing in as regent.
Today’s world is filled with ways to make life easier. From cars that drive themselves to phones that can tell you where to get your breakfast. The Digital Age is most certainly upon us; that’s for sure. With all of these gadgets and gizmos, there’s something for everything; even investment.
Nowadays, you don’t have to put much effort into your stock exchange investments. Most of the leg work and research can be handled completely for you. But, how does this work? Well, it’s a little more complicated than simply throwing your money at the computer. This is where Binary Robots come in. They’re specifically designed for binary exchanges. But, you probably won’t be using another type of exchange, anyway.
Usually, when you start trying to trade on a stock market, you have to learn the ropes. You have to know how to use the software for one. And, you also have to figure out what all of the jargon means. All of this is before you start mastering the trade itself. Of course, research and learning will get you somewhere, but not all the way. With something like a stock exchange, experience will trump most other things.
With a binary robot, you take away the need for that experience. Instead, the robot has the experience for you. Of course, a computer can remember things much more effectively than a human can. They also have access to resources that humans have to sift through manually. All together, this gives the robot the edge that you would only find with a team of skilled and experienced investors.
Now, of course, you don’t have a physical robot sit at your desk and make the decisions for you; we haven’t quite reached that point, yet. Instead, the robot operates on your computer or smartphone. It will usually be integrated with an exchange app so that you do everything from one place. For the most part, these systems are free to use, as well. So, you can use them just like you would use a normal exchange app. But, you will likely have to pay a cut of money that you make. Most companies offering this service will offer a mock account trial. This account will be loaded up with some fake money, and loads of stock options. This is a great way to test the water.
Now, this all sounds a bit too simple, right? Well, that’s because all of the hard work is done behind the scenes. Companies use systems like the Fibonacci sequence and Martingale system to predict the way that numbers will move. The Fibonacci sequence was developed by the famous 13th century Math expert, Fibonacci. The system proves that numbers have a tendency to go up and down, and can help determine how stocks will move. The Martingale system was developed by gamblers and has proven to be extremely successful. If you make a lose on an investment you make another investment at double to value. Once an investment pays out, it will give you the return for failed investments, as well as a profit.
Alongside these systems, complex algorithms are used. Finance is extremely variable. But, it does tend to follow a pattern. With observation of stocks and the economy over a long period, you can start to notice a pattern. Algorithms are used to find the pattern of a particular stock, to see if it is likely to rise in price after you invest.
You will have a choice of brokers when you start using a robot. These are the companies that actually handle the stock exchange. The robot you choose will be more successful with some brokers than others. But, they will be honest with this information, and it won’t be hard to find. You should only use a company that has the correct licensing for your country. And, avoid any companies that require huge deposits.
You’ll have to do some learning to use these tools, but it’s not too bad. Use reviews found online to help you find the right choice. Resources like here can be instrumental in starting off your investment journey. Be careful, though. A lot of reviews online will be based purely on opinion. Only trust experts in the field that can prove they know their stuff.
Of course, with any investment, there is some risk. But, by having a percentage tied to that risk, makes everything much clearer. You’re never guaranteed to make a return on any investment. It’s rare, though, that you can get such a leg up in an area like this.
Samsung Electronics said on November 29 it will consider dividing the company in two.
The South Korean tech giant has been under pressure from some investors to break itself into a holding unit and an operating company to boost shareholder value.
Samsung also announced plans to increase dividends and said it would continue to buy back more shares.
Restructuring pressure had been mounting after Samsung Galaxy Note 7 fiasco.
In October, Samsung was forced to stop production of its flagship smartphone model after failing to resolve battery problems leading to overheating and the devices catching fire.
The company it would bring in “external advisers to conduct a thorough review of the optimal corporate structure”.
Samsung pointed out that “the review does not indicate the management or the board’s intention one way or another.”
The company also said it would pay out half of its free cash flow to shareholders for 2016 and 2017 and raise the dividend for 2016 by 36% compared to 2015.
In order to improve governance, Samsung said it would nominate at least “one new, international, independent board member” as well as create a separate governance committee.
Its statement comes after US activist hedge fund Elliott Management called for the company to split into a holding unit for ownership purposes and a separate operating company.
The fund argued that a split would simplify Samsung structure making it easier to get a clear valuation of the company’s assets.
Currently, companies within the wider Samsung Group are linked through a complicated web of cross shareholding, linking Samsung Electronics to many other Samsung’s companies and affiliates ranging from shipping, to heavy industries to insurance business.
That makes it difficult for investors to get a clear idea of what each individual Samsung company is actually worth.
The benefit of splitting Samsung Electronics into two companies would be that the cross-shareholding would affect only the holding company, while the operating unit could be assessed separately – making it a lot easier to arrive at a clean company evaluation.
The proposal has won support from several of the company’s investors and it is also thought that it would give back more control to the founding Lee family behind the company.
Samsung Electronics also said it needed to maintain a net cash position of between 65 trillion won and 70 trillion won, suggesting it is not likely to pay the special dividend sought by Elliott.
A chartered plane carrying 81 people, including top Brazilian soccer team Chapecoense, has crashed on its approach to Medellin, Colombia, officials say.
Reports say there are 25 dead and six survivors.
The chartered aircraft, flying from Bolivia, was carrying members of the Chapecoense soccer team, airport officials said.
The team was due to play in the final of the Copa Sudamericana, against Colombian team Atletico Nacional.
The first leg of the final of the cup, South America’s second most important club competition, was scheduled for November 30, but has now been suspended.
Image source Getty Images
The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) said it was suspending “all activities”.
Chapecoense issued a brief statement saying: “May God be with our athletes, officials, journalists and other guests travelling with our delegation.”
It said it would refrain from any further statements until it had assessed the extent of the crash.
Reports suggest that at least two members of the team – Alan Ruschel and Danilo – may have survived.
The sports network Telemundo Deportes tweeted that Alan Ruschel was in shock but conscious and talking, and asked to keep his wedding ring and to see his family.
The mayor of the nearby town of La Ceja confirmed that a 25-year-old player was among the survivors.
He said that 25 people were known to have died.
The team, from the southern city of Chapeco, was promoted to Brazil’s first division in 2014 and reached the final last week after a victory against Argentina’s San Lorenzo.
Reports say the British Aerospace 146 short-haul plane, operated by Bolivian charter airline Lamia and carrying 72 passengers and nine crew, crashed in Cerro Gordo in the municipality of La Union shortly before midnight local time.
According to an airport press release, it was reporting an electrical fault to the control tower.
Medellin’s Mayor Federico Gutierrez described it as “a tragedy of huge proportions”.
The Jose Maria Cordova de Rionegro airport, which serves Medellin, posted on its Twitter account: “Confirmed, the aircraft licence number CP2933 was carrying the team @ChapecoenseReal. Apparently there are survivors.”
The airport later said in a statement that “all possible aid was being mobilized because six survivors are being reported”.
Poor weather has meant that the crash site, in a mountainous area, is only accessible by land.
However, there was no fire on impact, which has given rescuers hope that more survivors may be found.
CONMEBOL said in a statement that its president, Alejandro Dominguez, was on his way to Medellin.
South Korean President Park Geun-hye has announced she has asked parliament to help her find a way to step down.
Park Geun-hye faced growing calls to resign amid an investigation into whether she allowed close friend Choi Soon-sil to influence political decisions for personal gain.
The president said she would “leave to parliament everything about my future including shortening of my term”, but did not want to leave a power vacuum.
Parliament was due to discuss on December 2 whether President Park Geun-hye should face impeachment.
Opposition parties have said Park Geun-hye should step down “honorably” before it reached that point.
Image source Wikimedia
Park Geun-hye has apologized twice on national TV before, and has said she is “heartbroken” by the political crisis around her, but has refused to resign.
In November 29 TV address, her third since reports of the scandal began, Park Geun-hye said she would resign “once lawmakers come up with measures to transfer power in a way that minimizes any power vacuum and chaos in governance”.
A spokesman for the opposition Democratic Party, Youn Kwan-suk, said the speech was a “trick” which “lacked reflection”.
“What people want is her immediate resignation, not dragging out and dodging the responsibility to the parliament,” he told the Yonhap news agency.
The scandal stems from Park Geun-hye’s relationship with Choi Soon-sil.
Choi Soon-sil is accused of trying to extort huge sums of money from South Korean companies.
She is also suspected of using her friendship with Park Geun-hye to solicit business donations for a non-profit fund she controlled.
Choi Soon-sil is in police detention, facing a string of charges.
The allegations have reached across South Korean politics and industry. Two of Park Geun-hye’s aides have also been charged along with a pop music producer.
The offices of the national pension fund have been raided as have several major Korean companies including Lotte and Samsung.
Investigators believe Park Geun-hye had a “considerable” role in the alleged corruption, but the president’s representatives have said the accusations are a “fantasy”.
In recent weeks, hundreds of thousands of South Koreans have joined huge street protests across the country demanding that Park Geun-hye leave office.
The White House has reacted to Donald Trump’s claim of widespread voter fraud in the 2016 presidential election, saying that there is no evidence to support the allegations.
Press Secretary Josh Earnest dismissed Donald Trump’s unsubstantiated allegations that millions of people had cast illegal votes.
The president-elect also alleged voter fraud in Virginia, New Hampshire and California, states which Hillary Clinton won.
Josh Earnest deferred to Donald Trump’s team for further comment.
Image source Flickr
“What I can say, as an objective fact, is that there has been no evidence produced to substantiate a claim like that,” the press secretary told reporters at a White House briefing.
Donald Trump, who won the all-important Electoral College count, aired his grievances with the election result in a tweet on November 27.
“In addition to winning the Electoral College in a landslide, I won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally,” he wrote.
Donald Trump’s Twitter outburst comes after Hillary Clinton’s camp said it would support a vote recount in Wisconsin initiated by Green Party candidate Jill Stein.
Jill Stein also notified the elections board in Michigan, where Donald Trump’s 16 electoral votes were certified on November 28, that it would seek a statewide recount of the presidential election results.
Her campaign moved to do the same in Pennsylvania.
Donald Trump won by two-tenths of a percentage point out of nearly 4.8 million votes, making it the closest presidential race in Michigan in more than 75 years.
He is the first Republican presidential nominee to win Michigan since 1988.
Jill Stein’s recount effort was driven by the #recount2016 social media campaign, which has raised over $6.3 million.
During her entire presidential run, Jill Stein’s campaign only raised $3.5 million.
Results would need to be overturned in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania to alter the outcome of the November 8 election – something analysts say is highly unlikely.
Abdul Razak Ali Artan, the man who injured 11 people, one critically, in a rampage on November 28 at Ohio State University, was of Somali descent, officials say.
The 18-year-old rammed his car into a group of pedestrians on campus then got out and began stabbing people before police shot him dead.
Police Chief Kim Jacobs said they were investigating whether it was a terrorist attack.
Abdul Razak Ali Artan was a student at the 60,000-student campus in Columbus.
The Somali-born was living in the US as a legal permanent resident, unnamed officials told AP.
Image source The Lantern
Law enforcement officials quoted by NBC News said Abdul Razak Ali Artan had left Somalia with his family in 2007, and lived in Pakistan before resettling two years ago in the US.
Asked at a news conference whether it could have been a terrorist act, Police Chief Kim Jacobs said: “I think we have to consider that it is.”
She added: “Obviously with the purposeful intent that was noticed – driving on the sidewalk – we’re going look at it from the potential that it was planned.”
The FBI has joined the police investigation.
The Ohio State incident began at 10:00 local time on Monday when a vehicle jumped the kerb at the campus, striking pedestrians near Watts Hall, the science and engineering building.
Ohio State Police Chief Craig Stone said the driver got out of the vehicle and began stabbing bystanders with a “butcher’s knife”.
A police officer, who was nearby because of a gas leak, shot the driver dead in less than a minute.
Authorities identified the officer as 28-year-old Alan Horujko, who has been with Ohio State University police since 2015.
The injured included a mix of academic faculty, maintenance staff, and graduate and undergraduate students.
Campus police say that CCTV cameras filmed the suspect arriving on campus alone, indicating that he did not have an accomplice aiding him during the attack.
The college had warned students in a tweet to “Run Hide Fight”, warning there was an “active shooter”, though authorities later said the attacker did not use a firearm.
Hours later, police declared the scene “secure”, lifting the shelter-in-place order and canceling classes for the remainder of the day.
Columbus Police sent a SWAT team, dog units, negotiators and a helicopter to the scene.
Federal officials from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also responded.
Public school districts near to Ohio State placed their students on lockdown during November 28 alert.
The Ohio State attack came just as students were resuming classes following the Thanksgiving week-end, and after the university’s American football team defeated rival Michigan in a match that drew over 100,000 people to the Columbus campus on November 26.
Thousands of Indians have demonstrated in a number of cities against the government’s ban on two major currency notes.
Earlier this month, the 500 and 1,000 rupee notes were banned overnight, causing chaos as people lined up at banks to exchange their old currency.
India’s PM Narendra Modi has defended the decision saying it was an anti-corruption measure.
However, opposition parties say the move was mishandled.
Last week, they stalled parliament and demanded Narendra Modi should apologize for the decision.
Image source Reuters
Correspondents say it is unclear how much public momentum a day of protests will generate as many Indians have supported the move, despite the inconvenience it has caused them.
Most opposition parties said they would participate in the so-called “day of rage”.
A number of important regional leaders – like the chief ministers of Bihar and Orissa – refused to back the protests, saying Narendra Modi’s attempts to curb corruption should be welcomed.
Protest rallies have been held in the cities of Lucknow, Kolkata and Bangalore.
The southern state of Kerala and the eastern state of Tripura, both ruled by the Communists, saw a near total shutdown.
“We are protesting against the undeclared financial emergency imposed by the government and the hardships people across the country are facing because of this illegal decision,” Manish Tiwari of the Congress party told the AFP news agency.
“The decision to demonetize high-value currency was done without any authority and legislation and is clearly illegal.”
About 90% of India’s transactions are in cash and many people do not have a bank account. The two banned notes accounted for about 86% of the cash in circulation.
In his first national address since the government banned the notes, Narendra Modi called on November 27 for people to embrace digital payments and use less cash.
Last week, former PM Manmohan Singh said the government’s move to ban the much-used banknotes was “monumental mismanagement”, and that India’s gross domestic product would fall “by about 2%” because of the move.
Narendra Modi announced that 500 and 1,000 rupee notes were no longer legal tender as part of a crackdown on corruption on November 8.
There have been chaotic scenes in India ever since. People have spent hours queuing outside banks and cash machines which often run out of money.
In some instances the police have had to be called in to manage queues of anxious customers trying to access legal tender.
The business process outsourcing industry continues to thrive as more and more companies engage in subcontracts with third parties for business-related operations. With technological innovations, economies are moving at a faster rate than ever. About this, startups are also growing at a rapid pace. And being one of the types of businesses that can take advantage of the services the BPO industry offers, demands for and within the BPO industry continues to evolve just as rapid growth forecasts remain.
In 2015, the Harvard Business Review published an article detailing how startups are outsourcing contact support and alternative business solutions for IT, marketing, and other industries. The write-up focused mainly on the crucial role the Philippines has by serving as one of the top BPO countries in the world. With more than one million individuals making up the BPO workforce in the country and with an expected $25-billion revenue for 2016, the Philippines identifies as a key player in this global industry.
The sectors with the fastest growth are demanding for high-end skills that can cover data analytics, mobile app development, SEO management, and digital marketing. Hence, the BPO industry also requires people capable of providing technology-driven services. In the last year, the Philippines saw an influx of technology startups. Reasons for the inflow of clients to the Southeast Asian country are related to cost-efficient labor, a dominantly young and educated workforce, and an English-speaking population. Also on the plus side for American startup companies, they find it more appealing to work with Philippine-based BPO companies because of the Filipino labor force’s intimate familiarity with American culture as a product of decades of colonial rule.
Addressing high turnover rates
However, despite the increase in the number of startups working with the outsourcing companies in the Philippines, the country still had to deal with a relatively high turnover rate of employees in the business. In 2011, the BPO industry in the country experienced a whopping 33 percent turnover rate. This number fluctuated in the next couple of years upon garnering 24 and 26 percent attrition rates for 2012 and 2013 respectively. It was only in 2014 when the turnover rate fell to 20 percent. These rates are issues of concern for any business but more for a supposedly growing industry.
If you’re a business owner, you would want to keep a talented and developing workforce instead of continuously hiring different staff members who could do the job for your company but would eventually choose to leave after a relatively short period of employment. Some BPO companies in the Philippines have found a way to retain their skilled employees and consequently decrease the turnover rate. Recently, adopting the culture of a Silicon Valley startup has done the trick for these outsourcing companies. Providing venues and materials for relaxation, exercise, and the reenergizing of individuals has mostly helped increase the productivity rate of employees as well as their desire to stay with the company.
In any business, employees are arguably the most valuable resource and asset as their output and the quality of their work ultimately leads the company to achieve its goals. In turn, the quantity and quality of work are also, to some extent, dependent on the employees’ contentment with their workspace and the social life they have at work.
The relations of stress and efficiency in the workplace
The reactions of every individual to the pressures he or she faces has direct consequences to the overall effectiveness of the work team or organization the person is working under. With greater pressure comes a greater need for an outlet to release the stress. Now, new generations of startups and other companies are designing and implementing a work culture that is more enjoyable, vibrant, and that are, in a sense, more friendly and considerate of their workforce.
Many companies including those in the BPO industry are starting to adopt a Silicon Valley startup culture to achieve greater work engagement and to generate creative and standout ideas for businesses to attract employees. These setups help foster a work culture that thrives on camaraderie among and general well-being of the staff.
Donald Trump has asserted he won the popular vote on 8 November “if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally”.
The president-elect, who won the all-important Electoral College count, offered no evidence to back his claim.
It comes after Hillary Clinton’s campaign said it would support a vote recount in Wisconsin initiated by Green Party candidate Dr. Jill Stein.
Hillary Clinton won about two million votes more than Mr Trump in the popular vote.
However, Donald Trump surpassed the required 270 electoral votes to win the presidency. This was based on the state-by-state contests.
In a tweet, the president-elect wrote: “In addition to winning the Electoral College in a landslide, I won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally.”
In his follow-up tweets, Donald Trump wrote: “It would have been much easier for me to win the so-called popular vote than in the Electoral College in that I would only campaign in 3 or 4 states instead of the 15 states that I visited.
“I would have won even more easily and convincingly (but smaller states are forgotten)!”
Donald Trump also alleged “serious voter fraud” in Virginia, New Hampshire and California – states won by Hillary Clinton – accusing media of not reporting on that issue.
On November 27, Donald Trump reminded Hillary Clinton that she had already admitted defeat, and published remarks from the presidential debates in which she had urged an acceptance of the poll results.
At the time, Hillary Clinton was reacting to Donald Trump’s refusal to respect the outcome.
The Republican narrowly beat the Democratic candidate in Wisconsin, where a recount of the votes was initiated last week by Jill Stein.
Jill Stein also wants recounts in Michigan and Pennsylvania, citing “statistical anomalies”.
The Green Party nominee reportedly wants to be sure computer hackers did not skew the poll in favor of Donald Trump.
Concerns over possible Russian interference had been expressed in the run-up to the vote.
The US government has said Russian state actors were behind hacks on the Democratic National Committee (DNC), a claim denied by Moscow.
Results would need to be overturned in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania to alter the outcome of the November 8 election – something analysts say is highly unlikely.
Hillary Clinton’s campaign has said it will participate in Wisconsin’s recount.
Francois Fillon has won the conservative candidacy in the 2017 French presidential election after his rival Alain Juppe admitted defeat.
With virtually all the results counted, Francois Fillon had won November 27 run-off with nearly 67% of the vote.
He said action was now needed to build a fairer society.
Francois Fillon is likely to face a Socialist candidate and the far-right’s Marine Le Pen in next April’s election.
Image source Wikimedia
“My approach has been understood,” he told his supporters after the result of the Republican party primary became clear.
“France can’t bear its decline. It was truth and it wants action.”
Alain Juppe, the more moderate candidate, congratulated Francois Fillon on his “large victory” and pledged to support him in his bid to become president.
With votes from 9,334 of the 10,229 polling stations counted, Francois Fillon won 66.9% while Alain Juppe had 33.1%.
Francois Fillon, 62, had been widely expected to win the race, after securing 44% of the vote in the first round a week ago that saw former President Nicolas Sarkozy knocked out.
A former prime minister under Nicolas Sarkozy, Francois Fillon is a Catholic who is seen as a traditionalist on issues such as abortion and gay marriage.
Francois Fillon is proposing dramatic economic reforms that include slashing 500,000 public jobs, ending the 35-hour week, raising the retirement age and scrapping the wealth tax.
Alain Juppe, also a former prime minister, had initially been seen as the favorite to win the race, but struggled against Francois Fillon’s strong performances in the primary debates.
