Venezuela has declared a 60-day economic emergency as the country deals with its worsening crisis.
President Nicolas Maduro will govern by decree for two months.
The edict includes tax increases and puts emergency measures in place to pay for welfare services and food imports.
The government’s move came as official figures released by the central bank showed that the Venezuelan economy had contracted by 4.5% in the first nine months of 2015.
The emergency was declared hours before President Nicolas Maduro delivers a State of the Nation address to Congress for the first time since his centre-right opponents took control of the legislature.
The decree also instilled more state controls on businesses, industrial productivity and on electronic currency transactions.
Venezuela has the world’s biggest known oil reserves but the huge fall in oil prices in the past 18 months has slashed its revenues by 60%.
Annual inflation up to September 2014 is said by the Venezuelan Central Bank to have reached 141%.
President Nicolas Maduro and new Economy Minister Luis Salas have argued for the need to protect social program established by his predecessor, former President Hugo Chavez, from the global drop in oil prices.
Oil exports account for as much as 95% of Venezuela’s revenue.
The government says the country’s soaring inflation and basic goods shortages have been induced by political opponents.
Correspondents say Venezuelans will be watching carefully to see if the opposition-dominated Congress will support President Nicolas Maduro.
If it does not, the Maduro administration could appeal to the Supreme Court of Justice.
Walmart has announced it will close 269 stores globally as it struggles to compete with online retailers like Amazon.
The news came on January 15 as US retail figures showed lower than expected holiday sales figures across the market.
Sales rose just 3% in November and December, falling short of the expected 3.7% growth according to the National Retail Federation.
The Walmart closures will affect 10,000 US workers and 16,000 worldwide.
The announcement came three months after Walmart CEO Doug McMillon told investors the company would focus on becoming more nimble.
“Closing stores is never an easy decision. But it is necessary to keep the company strong and positioned for the future,” Doug McMillon said in October 2015.
The national shortfall in holiday shopping came even as retailers offered steep discounts to attract customers.
Online retailing did see a significant increase, rising 9% to $105 billion, but it was not enough lift the overall figures.
Concerns about holiday shopping added to market concerns as stocks fell sharply. The Dow Jones fell 400 points in morning trading.
The weak economic outlook was not confined to the service sector.
On January 15, the Federal Reserve reported industrial production in December shank by 0.4% the second month of contractions.
Industrial production, which includes manufacturing, mining and utilities has been hit by a strengthening dollar and global economic weakness.
Warm weather also hit industrial production figures.
The unusual temperatures pushed utility output down 2% in December following a 5% decline in November.
Actor Matthew Perry will not attend Friends reunion show due to rehearsals for his West End play.
His spokeswoman said “Matthew may tape something” for the tribute to Friends creator James Burrows.
In other words, this is not the reunion people have been hoping for,” Lisa Kasteler told Us Weekly.
Matthew Perry’s former co-stars, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer and Matt LeBlanc are all expected to take part in the special.
The Friends reunion is set to be aired on NBC on February 21.
Friends ended in 2004 after 10 series. As well as Friends, James Burrows worked behind the camera on sitcoms including Cheers and Frasier.
Matthew Perry has written and will star in the play The End of Longing… which is set to run in London’s West End from February 2 until May 14. It will be directed by Lindsay Posner.
The dark comedy follows four disparate people approaching middle age, who meet in a bar one night.
Indonesian police have identified four out of five of the Jakarta attackers.
Two were previously convicted militants.
Police named one of them as Afif Sunakim. He was seen carrying a gun and rucksack during the attacks. He was given a seven-year jail term for attending a militant camp.
All five died in January 14 attacks, which left two civilians dead and were claimed by ISIS.
Three arrests were made on January 15 but it is unclear if they are connected.
Security forces battled militants for hours in the busy commercial district where the militants struck.
A Canadian and an Indonesian national died, and at least 20 people were injured.
The assault ended when two attackers died in a suicide bombing, police say, with the other three killed in gun battles.
Following recent ISIS threats, Indonesia, which had been attacked by Islamist militants several times in the past, had been on high alert.
Gen. Badrodin Haiti, the national police chief, said Afif Sunakim and one other attacker had both been convicted criminals.
Jakarta’s chief of police, Insp. Gen. Tito Karnavian, said a hunt was under way for terror cells believed to be behind the attack.
Three men were arrested near Jakarta, police told local media.
A police spokesman, Anton Charliyan, confirmed on that those who organized the attacks were associated with ISIS.
Two of the perpetrators, he added, were “known to have committed similar radical activities some time ago”.
Earlier, Bahrum Naim, an Indonesian believed to be fighting with ISIS in Syria, was named as the suspected co-ordinator.
Insp. Gen. Tito Karnavian said Bahrum Naim’s “vision” was to unite various ISIS-supporting groups across South East Asia.
ISIS released a statement saying it had targeted citizens of countries which are part of the international coalition fighting the group, which controls parts of Syria and Iraq.
Insp. Gen. Tito Karnavian said Indonesia had significantly developed its understanding of domestic militant networks since the 2002 bomb attack in Bali, which killed 202 people.
Some 1,000 people linked to radical networks had been brought to justice in Indonesia since 2000, he said, but some had since been released from prison and had “the potential to pose a threat”.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo tweeted on January 15 that there was “no place for terrorism on Earth” and that “every citizen in the world” needed to fight it.
Indonesia has suffered militant attacks in the past, but has been relatively successful in curbing home-grown Islamist extremism after a spate of attacks in the last decade.
A recent study by expat company, InterNations, reveals that Singapore is the best place to move abroad. According to metrics including quality of life, security, and healthcare, the country comes out on top. Ecuador and Austria took second and third place, respectively. Interestingly, many South American countries ranked highest for happiness. There must be something in the water there! Back in Singapore, it’s clear that the modern mix of business, social life, and public services puts it on top. We decided to take a look in more detail.
Economy – The World Bank recently named Singapore as the best country on the planet to do business. With its crucial position within emerging Asian markets, there is a HQ here for nearly every major company. Finding a job certainly isn’t difficult here, and the salaries are higher than back home. Meanwhile, starting a business takes only three days on the island, so entrepreneurs will feel at home here. High wages and high-tech economy defines Singapore. Find out more about the Singapore economy at doingbusiness.org.
Housing – There is no shortage of good quality housing here in Singapore. In fact, the country has the fourth fastest-growing real estate market on the planet. It’s a great place to make an investment in property. Even the rental market looks good here, with stunning high rise flats, and generous condos. Take a look for yourself at GreyLoft.com, and get settled into the Asian lifestyle.
Public services – One of the biggest reasons for topping the quality of life index is the public services. Yes, you’ll pay more tax here. But, in return, you get access to wonderful services. The healthcare system is affordable, even to foreigners. As for the public transport, making your way around the small island is easy. These services are what gives expats a feeling of security while living here.
Low crime rate – The locals and expats also feel incredibly safe on the streets of Singapore. There’s a strict no-tolerance policy to drugs here, and they crack down hard on crime. Having said that, you’ll rarely see a policeman on the streets, and public disturbance is rare. There’s a safe and comfortable feeling in the city, even at night.
Education – If you’re looking to bring children up in Singapore, you’re well catered for. The schools here are impeccable, with very high standards. All children are required to learn a second language, so everyone grows up bilingual. They also place an importance on arts and sports here, so every child gets a fully rounded education. The private schools are much more expensive, but that is the case across the globe.
Weather – If there’s one thing that always affects our quality of life, it’s the weather. When you move to Singapore, you enjoy year-round sun and warm temperatures. It’s hard to feel downhearted when it feels like summer all the time. There is one caveat here though, it rains a lot! So, keep an umbrella handy at all times.
If you’re looking for a change in the pace of life, consider making the move to Singapore. Great for business, great for public services, and great for your quality of life.
Donald Trump has attacked Ted Cruz over his birth in Canada in the latest Republican debate for White House hopefuls.
The Republican front-runner said Texas Senator Ted Cruz’s birth in Canada raised questions about his presidential eligibility: “There’s a big question mark over your head.”
The constitution mandates the president be a “natural born citizen” of the US.
Issues of national security, the economy and foreign policy have also played heavily in the debate.
In the polls, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz are leading the five other candidates who were also on the stage in North Charleston.
The debate came just two weeks before the first real test of the campaign, when voters in Iowa pick their Republican and Democratic choices for president.
The event hosted by Fox Business Network came after days of Ted Cruz and Donald Trump taking shots at each other, shattering a months-long period of goodwill between the two men.
The start of hostilities began a week ago when the billionaire businessman started raising questions about whether the Texas senator’s birth in Canada put his eligibility in doubt.
Photo Reuters
However, on the debate stage on January 14, Ted Cruz said there was “zero chance” of a lawsuit succeeding, because the constitution’s definition of “natural born citizens” included people born to an American parent.
Ted Cruz was born in Calgary to an American mother and a Cuban father.
Donald Trump stood firm, noting that a Harvard law scholar had raised doubts and Ted Cruz could face lawsuits by Democrats wishing to challenge his qualification.
They also argued over the meaning of “New York values”, which Ted Cruz threw at the New York billionaire as a slur on his conservative credentials.
Donald Trump said that was an insult to the “great people” who pulled together after the 9/11 attacks.
After the debate, Donald Trump told reporters: “I guess the bromance is over.”
All the candidates targeted leading Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, who was repeatedly attacked for her time as Secretary of State.
The primary contests, in which each party picks their nominee for president, begin in February and the presidential election is in November.
Former comedian Jimmy Morales has been inaugurated as Guatemala’s new president.
Jimmy Morales was elected in October after huge anti-corruption demonstrations that led to the prosecution of a former president and vice-president.
He has no previous experience in government. In his inaugural address, Jimmy Morales promised to fight against corruption.
US Vice-President Joe Biden attended the ceremony.
It was the first time in 30 years that such a high-ranking American official was present at a Guatemalan inauguration.
Photo Getty Images
In a wide-ranging speech, Jimmy Morales praised the anti-corruption movement and said Guatemala was going through a “renaissance”.
He also promised money for health and education.
“We want quality education for everyone, which prepares our children for a modern technical world,” Jimmy Morales said.
His critics said President Jimmy Morales gave few clues as to how he was going to fight corruption and how he was going to deal with Guatemala’s high levels of violence, poverty and social inequality.
Last week legal proceedings began against an aide to Jimmy Morales who is suspected of human rights abuses related to Guatemala’s long and bloody armed conflict which ended in 1996.
Fourteen former military officers – many supporters of Jimmy Morales’s party – were arrested on similar charges.
Jimmy Morales has denied links to the former military officials.
Celine Dion’s husband and former manager Rene Angelil has died at the age of 73, the singer has announced.
Rene Angelil, who Celine Dion married in 1994 and with whom she has three children, died at home in Las Vegas from throat cancer.
Celine Dion took two career breaks to look after Rene Angelil after he was diagnosed with throat cancer, first in 2000.
Rene Angelil was born in Montreal in 1942. After managing groups in Canada, he was approached to manage Celine Dion by her parents when she was aged 12.
In August 2015, Celine Dion told USA Today she was preparing for her husband’s death.
“When it hits me, it’s going to hit me,” the singer said.
“But my biggest job is to tell my husband, we’re fine. I’ll take care of our kids. You’ll watch us from another spot.”
According to the Montreal Gazette, Rene Angelil mortgaged his house to finance Celine Dion’s first album.
Celine Dion has recorded 25 studio albums, and is the fifth-best-paid recording artist in the world, with a value of some $630 million.
In 1999, her song My Heart Will Go On, from the soundtrack of the Titanic movie, won two Grammy awards.
She has been a regular performer at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas since 2003.
Celine Dion returned to performing in 2015 after a year-long hiatus to look after Rene Angelil.
Rene Angelil stepped down as Celine Dion’s manager in 2014.
Trading online is just one of the many investment strategies that people employ in order to make more money. It’s easy to buy and sell stocks over the Internet, and you can do it all from the comfort of your own home. In the same vein that you can make a great deal of money, online trading also has the ability to clean you out. As with any type of an investment strategy, you can bet there are benefits and risks involved when it comes to foreign currency trading online.
No Broker Required In Foreign Currency Trading
Before the heyday of the Internet, you needed a broker in order to make a trade. For those that were never able to trade since they didn’t have the connections, foreign currency trading really looked enticing. With just a few short clicks, you can trade and sell without ever needing to consult a broker. Though brokers are necessary in order to facilitate the trade when you click the button, you don’t have to communicate with them in any way.
Save Money On Trades
Cutting out the middleman means that you no longer have to pay a broker fee in order to trade. The Internet makes trading online simple and cost-effective for people of all backgrounds. Of course, there’s still a fee attached to every trade that you make, but the costs can hardly equate to what it would cost to employ the help of a full-time broker. Many online brokerages allow investors to make trades for under $10, and still more don’t even require a minimum.
You Can Check Your Trading Online Status
One of the biggest advantages of foreign currency trading is your involvement with your trades. You can constantly monitor how your trades are performing and it’s easy to check throughout the day using your phone or computer. Most trading brokerages have user-friendly interfaces that allow traders to make important decisions by always having the most up-to-date data present. You can check out https://www.xtrade.com/ if trading online on a user-friendly interface is what you are after.
Stay In Control Of your Investments
You can trade when you want and how you want when you don’t employ a broker. The problem is that when you deal with a broker directly, there is always a delay in making your trades. This can be a costly problem, but with the help of the Internet, it can be eliminated entirely. You don’t need to rely on a broker to tell you what to do, and you can gauge the situation for yourself. In fact, when you do decide to make a trade, you can do so instantaneously without waiting for the broker to get back to you.
It’s important, however, to take into consideration that online trading removes broker input entirely. Unless you’re well-versed in the world of foreign currency trading, it leaves plenty of room for errors that can be dire and costly in the long-run. Additionally, relying on technology completely can also cause a number of problems and error if the brokerage interface isn’t working properly or you have serious issues with your Internet connection at home.
The Revenant tops the 2016 Oscar nominations with 12 nods, while Mad Max: Fury Road scores 10.
Both movies are nominated for best picture, along with The Big Short, Bridge of Spies, Brooklyn, The Martian, Room and Spotlight.
Eddie Redmayne competes against Leonardo DiCaprio for the best actor award.
Charlotte Rampling is in the running for best actress, while Kate Winslet is up for best supporting actress.
Eddie Redmayne, nominated this year for his role as transgender pioneer Lili Elbe in The Danish Girl, won the 2015 Academy Award for his performance as Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything.
Leonardo DiCaprio, the star of survival epic The Revenant, has been nominated four times but has yet to win an Academy Award.
The best actor category also sees nominations for Michael Fassbender for biopic Steve Jobs, Matt Damon for space saga The Martian and Bryan Cranston for Trumbo, in which he portrays real-life Hollywood screenwriter Dalton Trumbo.
Charlotte Rampling, who receives a nod for marital drama 45 Years, faces competition in the best actress category from Cate Blanchett for Carol, Brie Larson for Room, Jennifer Lawrence for Joy and Saoirse Ronan for Brooklyn.
Other hopefuls include best supporting actor nominees Christian Bale, for The Big Short, Mark Rylance, for Cold War thriller Bridge of Spies, and Tom Hardy for The Revenant.
Nick Hornby is nominated for best adapted screenplay for Colm Toibin’s Brooklyn, with fellow British author Alex Garland honored for his original screenplay for Ex Machina.
Photo Getty Images
Singer Sam Smith is nominated for best original song for Writing’s On the Wall, having already won a Golden Globe for the SPECTRE track alongside writing partner Jimmy Napes. They will compete with singles including Lady Gaga’s track Til It Happens To You, from The Hunting Ground, and The Weeknd’s Earned It, from Fifty Shades Of Grey.
In the best documentary feature category, Amy Winehouse documentary Amy secures a nomination for London-born filmmaker Asif Kapadia and James Gay-Rees.
Movies which also scooped a handful of nominations were The Martian with seven nods, while real-life journalism drama Spotlight, Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies and Cate Blanchett romance Carol have six each.
The Big Short, about the 2008 financial crisis, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens are in the running for five awards.
Room, based on the novel by Irish writer Emma Donoghue about a mother and son living in confinement, picked up four nominations, including best adapted screenplay.
The film’s director Lenny Abrahamson was also nominated.
Sylvester Stallone is nominated for the best supporting actor award for his comeback performance as Rocky Balboa in Creed, having won a Golden Globe for the movie last weekend.
Mark Ruffalo completes the category, having been cited for his role in Spotlight.
Pixar’s Inside Out is in the running for best animated feature film, with competitors including Charlie Kaufman’s Anomalisa and the Shaun the Sheep Movie, featuring the character first seen alongside Wallace and Gromit in Aardman’s A Close Shave.
Steven Spielberg has set the record for the most best picture nominations for an individual producer with nine, having been nominated for Cold War thriller Bridge of Spies.
The 88th Academy Awards, hosted by Chris Rock will be held at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre on February 28.
At least seven people have been killed after a series of explosions hit the Indonesian capital Jakarta on January 14.
The explosions were centered around Thamrin Street, a major shopping and business district in Jakarta close to foreign embassies and the United Nations offices.
According to police, the situation is now under control, with five suspected attackers among at least seven people killed.
ISIS claimed it carried out the attacks, a news agency linked to the militant group said.
Separately, Indonesian police said they suspected a local group allied to ISIS was to blame.
President Joko Widodo described the attacks as an “act of terror”.
“We all are grieving for the fallen victims of this incident, but we also condemn the act that has disturbed the security and peace and spread terror among our people,” he said.
Images from Jakarta have shown several bodies lying on the road outside a cafe, as well as seriously injured people being carried away.
Details remain unclear, but at least one of the blasts hit a Starbucks cafe and a police security post.
It appears the gunmen then holed up in the Djakarta Theater, part of the complex that houses the Starbucks.
Armed police, snipers and armored vehicles were deployed on the streets of the capital.
Gunfire broke out after police arrived at the cafe – there were several further explosions and reports of police chasing suspects. Sporadic gunfire was reported for several hours afterwards.
A few hours later, police said four attackers had been killed, then shortly after revised the number to five, including a foreigner.
National Police Deputy Chief Commander Gen. Budi Gunawan said two had been killed in a shootout outside a theatre and two others blew themselves up at the police post in front of Starbucks.
Police spokesman Col. Muhammad Iqbal said the situation was “under control”, with no suspects hiding inside the shopping centre.
Police had initially said there could be up to 14 assailants. Three attackers have been arrested, reports say.
Indonesia has been attacked by Islamist militant groups in the past and was on high alert over the New Year period after threats from ISIS.
There has been no confirmation of the group’s claim it carried out the attack, but National police spokesman Anton Charliyan said the group had earlier warned of a “concert in Indonesia” which would be international news.
Anton Charliyan said the attackers had tried to imitate the co-ordinated attacks on Paris and there was a “strong suspicion that this is an ISIS-linked group in Indonesia”.
Up to 200 Indonesians are estimated to have gone to Syria to fight with ISIS.
Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim nation but by and large is secular, although in recent years the threat of radicalism has remained high as small networks of militants are still thought to be operating in the country.
At least six people were killed and other 39 injured after a car bomb explosion has hit a police headquarters in south-eastern Turkey, officials say.
Five civilians including a baby were among the dead. Rescuers searched the rubble for survivors at the scene in Cinar district, Diyarbakir province.
Turkish officials blamed the blast on Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) militants, who are active in the mainly Kurdish province.
No group has so far said it carried out the attack.
The bomb was detonated at the entrance of the Cinar district police complex, officials say. The attackers then reportedly fired rockets at the headquarters.
The explosion damaged nearby residential buildings, where a mother and her 5-month-old baby were killed. A girl aged one and a 5-year-old boy also died when a house collapsed.
Another police station, in Midyat town, in neighboring Mardin province, was also attacked by militants, according to Turkish media, but there are no reports of casualties.
A ceasefire between the army and the PKK collapsed in July.
A curfew was imposed on Diyarbakir and several other towns and cities as part of a security crackdown after PKK attacks in the east that left 16 soldiers and 14 police officers dead.
Photo AP
There have been repeated clashes between PKK separatists and the Turkish army in recent months, but the violence has escalated in the past week.
Civilians have been caught up in the clashes in the towns of Cizre and Silopi, close to the borders with Syria and Iraq.
Since August 2015, human rights activists say 170 civilians have lost their lives in areas under curfew.
More than 1,100 Turkish and foreign academics have signed a petition calling for an end to Turkish military operations in the south-east, drawing criticism from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Speaking after a suicide bombing in Istanbul blamed on ISIS jihadists, in which ten German tourists were killed, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the government drew no distinction between terror groups, whatever their name.
The hashtag #1128katil (1,128 killers) was trending in Turkey on January 14, particularly among government and nationalist supporters, apparently in reference to the academics.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu condemned the overnight bomb attack and echoed the president’s criticism of the petition.
Turkish jets have bombed PKK bases in northern Iraq and the army launched a ground operation there.
Turkey is also part of a US-led coalition that has been carrying out air strikes against ISIS militants in Iraq and Syria.
However, Ankara has been accused of hitting mostly PKK targets, angering Kurds who are themselves fighting ISIS in the two countries.
According to new reports, David Bowie’s body has been secretly cremated in New York soon after his death.
The star, who closely guarded his privacy in his final years, wanted to avoid a funeral service.
In line with David Bowie’s wishes, no family or friends were present at the ceremony, the Daily Mirror reported.
David Bowie died of cancer on January 10 at the age of 69.
The singer had released a new album, Blackstar, on his birthday, just two days earlier – which has been retrospectively interpreted as his epitaph.
Although the record features lyrics such as “Look up here, I’m in heaven,” its producer Tony Visconti said David Bowie had written and demo-ed five new songs in recent weeks.
Speaking to Rolling Stone magazine, Tony Visconti said David Bowie had called him about a week before his death and “at that late stage, he was planning the follow-up to Blackstar”.
Tony Visconti will be one of the musicians performing at a memorial concert for David Bowie at New York’s Carnegie Hall in March.
The Music of David Bowie had originally been billed as a tribute show, with artists including Cyndi Lauper and The Roots also performing, but the event will now give fans the opportunity to mourn.
Tributes will also be paid at next month’s Brit Awards, with a performance celebrating the “extraordinary life and work of one of our greatest icons”.
Meanwhile, Blackstar is set to become David Bowie’s first No 1 album in the US, as sales surged after news of his death broke on January 11.
There are at least three winning tickets in the $1.5 billion Powerball jackpot – sold in Los Angeles, Tennessee and Florida – lottery officials said.
The previous draw was the 19th without a grand prize winner, which requires all six numbers to match.
Thousands of people earlier queued up outside shops across the United States, hoping to defy the odds of 292.2 million to one.
Lottery spokesman Alex Traverso told the Associated Press that one of the winning tickets was sold at a 7-Eleven store in Chino Hills, in suburban Los Angeles.
Alex Traverso had no information on where in Tennessee and Florida the other winning tickets were purchased, the AP reports.
The winners can collect their winnings in annual payments over 29 years, or opt to share a lump-sum payment of $930 million.
The government would also share in the big prize, however, levying a 39.6% federal income tax on the winners, plus any taxes that the winners’ home states may impose.
Japanese shares have tumbled after a heavy sell-off on Wall Street added to nervousness among investors.
Nikkei 225 index fell more than 4% before closing down 2.7% at 17,240.95. Earlier, the index had fallen below the key resistance level of 17,000 for the first time since September.
US shares had fallen over 2% as a oil stockpiles report and a Federal Reserve survey suggested more sluggish growth.
Weak economic data from Japan also dented investors’ confidence.
Government data showed that core machinery orders fell 14.4% in November from the previous month.
The orders were down for the first time in three months in the world’s third largest economy.
Brent crude prices, meanwhile, fell 0.9% to $30.05 a barrel after earlier hitting a fresh 12-year low of $29.73.
In Australia, S&P/ASX 200 share index ended 1.6% lower at 4,909.40, despite the release of better than expected employment data.
The unemployment rate in the country was 5.8% in December, with fewer jobs lost than economists were expecting.
Australia lost 1,000 new jobs, as against expectations of 10,000.
In South Korea, the benchmark Kospi index closed down 0.9% at 1,900.01 after its central bank kept interest rates unchanged for the seventh consecutive month.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was 0.5% lower at 19,830.64 in afternoon trade.
China’s Shanghai Composite index was the only bright spot in the region – rising 0.6% to 2,967.35 – as it reversed earlier losses.
Regulators had announced late on January 13 that they had stepped up monitoring share-selling by listed companies’ major shareholders.
The securities commission also said that its transition to a US-style registration system for listings would be a gradual process and not lead to a surge in initial public offerings (IPOs).
The announcement was the latest in a series of measures to support the market after heavy losses since last week.
Elsewhere in the region, Indonesia’s Jakarta composite index was down 1.7% at 4,459.32 after multiple bomb blasts rocked the capital city.
Oil prices fell below $30 a barrel on international markets for the first time since April 2004, before recovering again.
Brent crude, used as an international benchmark, fell as low as $29.96, but bounced back to trade at $30.22.
Oil prices have fallen by 70% in the past 15 months.
Earlier, Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev warned tumbling oil prices could force his country to revise its 2016 budget.
Dmitry Medvedev said that the country must be prepared for a “worst-case” economic scenario if the price continued to fall.
Taxes from oil and gas generates about half the Russian government’s revenue.
The 2016 federal budget that was approved in October was based on an oil price of $50 a barrel in 2016 – a figure President Vladimir Putin has since described as “unrealistic”.
Government departments have been ordered to cut spending by 10%, repeating a policy imposed in 2015, Reuters reported.
Pensions and pay for government workers will be protected from the cuts, which could save as much as 700 billion rubles ($9.1 billion).
Finance minister Anton Siluanov said that the Russian budget could only be balanced at an oil price of $82 a barrel.
He said the 2016 budget should be revised to assume an oil price of $40 a barrel.
“Our task is to adapt our budget to the new realities,” Anton Siluanov said.
Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev warned that Russia faced a long period of low commodity prices with oil at $15 or $20 a barrel.
“The biggest risk is that there will be low prices for a long time – that is, for years, for decades,” he said.
Dmitry Medvedev also said that high interest rates were holding back economic growth in Russia.
The Bank of Russia held rates at 11% last month, with Governor Elvira Nabiullina warning of “high volatility” in global markets.
In 2015, the central bank shocked markets by increasing rates from 10.5% to 17%.
Inflation stands at 15% in Russia, but the bank hopes it would fall to 4% by 2017.
The winning numbers for the $1.5 billion Powerball jackpot at January 13 draw are 4, 8, 19, 27, 34, PB 10.
At least one winning ticket was sold, at a shop in Los Angeles, officials say.
The previous draw was the 19th without a grand prize winner, which requires all six numbers to match.
Thousands of people earlier queued up outside shops across the US, hoping to defy the odds of 292.2 million to one.
The winner – assuming no split in the prize – stands to take home the jackpot in annual payments over 29 years. He or she could also opt for one lump-sum payment of $930 million.
The government would share in the big prize, however, levying a 39.6% federal income tax on the winner, plus any taxes that the winner’s home state may impose.
After paying tax, however, the winner would still be wealthier than Beyonce and Lionel Messi, according to AFP news agency.
Six of the 50 US states do not participate in the lottery, forcing some of their residents to drive hours to buy tickets.
Alabama, Mississippi and Utah cite religious reasons while Alaska has said it would not be economical in such a sparsely populated state.
In Hawaii, proposed legislation to start it fails consistently and in Nevada the lottery is rejected because the state’s world famous casinos prefer not to have competition.
General Motors shares have soared after the company announced it would be more profitable and return more money to shareholders.
Shares in America’s biggest automaker rose more than 2% after it raised its 2016 earnings forecast by 25 cents to between $5.25 and $5.75 per share.
GM also plans to raise its stock buyback program by 80% to $9 billion and extend it to the end of 2017.
In total it plans to give $16 billion back to shareholders by the end of 2017.
Photo AP
GM executive Mary Barra said: “We made significant progress executing our strategic plan and the results are being demonstrated through our improved earnings.”
Shares in rival automaker Ford fell more than 3.5% after it said US margins could hit a plateau of 9.5%.
Ford said on January 12 it would give a special $1 billion dividend, and that it expects pre-tax profit of between $10 billion and $11 billion in 2015.
However, this figure was at the lower end of analyst expectations.
General Electric has announced it is planning to cut up to 6,500 jobs in energy units it bought from French engineering giant Alstom over the next two years.
The figure includes 765 jobs to go in France.
To secure the deal last year, GE had soothed French government concerns by pledging to create 1,000 jobs in the country.
A GE spokesman said the company would stick to its pledge, creating the roles in the next three years.
In Europe as a whole, staff in Alstom’s renewables, power services and energy management divisions could be affected.
A spokesman said unions had been informed.
“This is a plan, which could change following discussion with employee representatives,” he added.
Around 1,300 of the layoffs will be in Switzerland, the company said.
In May 2015, GE pledged to create jobs in France as part of efforts to calm French government concerns about the company’s proposed acquisition of Alstom’s energy units.
At the time, both GE and Siemens were in talks with the French government to try to secure a deal.
The French government had previously given itself powers to block foreign takeover bids for companies deemed “strategic”.
GE’s takeover of Alstom’s energy business – which includes gas and steam turbines, wind turbines, turbines for hydro dams and power grids – added about 65,000 employees to GE’s workforce of about 305,000.
The head of GE’s power division said in September 2015 the company would seek to make $3 billion in cost savings over five years from the Alstom acquisition.
Ten US Navy sailors held in Iran on January 12 for entering its territorial waters have been released on January 13.
The US expressed its gratitude to Iran for swiftly resolving the issue.
The sailors were detained on January 12 when one of their two vessels broke down while training in the Gulf.
It comes at a sensitive time, amid reports that a deal on Iran’s nuclear activities is just days away from implementation.
Iranian state media said the sailors were released into international waters after they apologized. However, White House officials said the US administration had not issued an apology to Iran.
The incursion was “unintentional”, a statement from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards quoted by state media said.
Earlier, the naval commander of the Guards, General Ali Fadavi, said investigations found a navigational failure was to blame.
“We have concluded that passage of Americans in our territorial waters was not a hostile passage or for espionage or similar acts,” he told Iranian television.
The US is investigating how the sailors entered Iranian waters.
Secretary of State John Kerry said he wanted to “express my gratitude to Iranian authorities for their co-operation in swiftly resolving this matter”.
“That this issue was resolved peacefully and efficiently is a testament to the critical role diplomacy plays in keeping our country safe, secure, and strong,” John Kerry said in a statement.
John Kerry called Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif shortly after the incident. The pair developed a personal rapport during the nuclear talks.
Those detained – nine men and one woman – were taken to Farsi Island, in the middle of the Gulf, where Iran has a naval base.
Pictures published on the Revolutionary Guards’ website showed the group sitting on a Persian rug, with the one female member wearing a headscarf.
Conservatives in both countries have opposed the nuclear deal, under which Iran will limit its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.
In the US, Republican presidential candidates were among those expressing outrage at the sailors’ detention.
Iran’s deputy nuclear chief has meanwhile denied a report the Arak heavy-water reactor had been decommissioned, which would be a final step towards implementation of the nuclear deal.
The current estimated jackpot in the multi-state Powerball lottery has now reached $1.5 billion.
That means a single winner would have the option of a lump-sum cash payout of an estimated $930 million.
“Jackpot increased because of yesterday’s strong sales,” Kelly Cripe, director of media relations at the Texas Lottery Commission, said in a statement announcing the higher estimated payoff.
Powerball is played in 44 states, the District of Columbia, the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. No players have correctly selected the six numbers required to win the jackpot in the last 19 drawings dating back to November 11.
Retailers say demand for tickets to the drawing at 10:59 p.m. ET on January 13 has been off the charts, raising the possibility that the payoff could climb even higher.
A $2 ticket has a one in 292.2 million chance of winning the grand prize, Powerball said. That compares with a one in 700,000 chance of being killed by an asteroid in a lifetime, according to astronomers at the Space Science Institute.
Whole-body health means more than just how many push ups you can do. Mental and spiritual health are part of one’s overall well being and as that becomes more and more understood, practices that marry the mind with the body such as yoga have gained enormous popularity (despite having been practices for more than 2,000 years). For many beginners, yoga can seem very intimidating because of the complex postures that are involved. However, with a little bit of understanding even the greenest of yogis can soon enjoy the benefits of the practice of yoga.
Introduce yourself into your instructor
If you are intimidated, before the first class begins get there early and introduce yourself to your instructor before the class begins. If the instructor knows you are feeling a little apprehensive, he is more likely to spend time helping you through the first class. That can give you the boost of confidence and security you might need to feel more at ease.
Choose the right clothes
This isn’t about looking like a Sports Illustrated model. It’s about being comfortable and able to move freely and without restriction. Lines such as Fabletics by Kate Hudson offer affordable and accessible fitness wear pieces that are perfect for everyone, from beginners to more advanced yogis. No matter where you choose to purchase your yoga wear, the important thing is to choose pieces that allow you to move freely without being too loose fitting. You don’t want to accidentally give your classmates a peep show! Form-fitting yoga clothes will also allow your instructor to observe your form and make any necessary corrections.
Accessories
In addition to proper yoga clothing, there are a few things you might also want to consider bringing. A yoga mat is one of the most important things to consider, even if your yoga studio provides them. Not only is it more sanitary to use your own mat, purchasing your own means that you can also practice your poses while at home, for example. In addition, some beginners find it helpful to purchase a yoga block to use during class. Yoga blocks are designed to help steady yourself during postures, allowing you to improve your form.
You’ll also need a towel and a water bottle – especially if you are doing hot yoga. All types of yoga are strenuous on beginners, however, and you will very likely need to hydrate!
Take it all in
One of the biggest benefits of yoga is its ability to give its practitioners a feeling of calm and peace. You won’t get that benefit, however, if you don’t give yourself over to it. It will likely take some practices to learn to control your breathing and calm your mind so that you can fully immerse yourself in the yoga experience, but there are small steps you can take to help you down that road. Focus on one thing at a time. For example, during your first class, go into the class with the intention of being as present as possible. Don’t run through your grocery list or ideas for your presentation at work while you are in yoga class.
Being as fully mentally present as you can be. Or, focus on your breathing. You may not be able to control your breathing to the point of an experience yoga practitioner at first, but you can at least learn to focus and be mindful of your breathing, which is something that most of us probably don’t think about very often. Simply becoming aware of our breath is a good stepping stone toward the kind of mind-body awareness that makes yoga so beneficial for so many people.
South Korea has fired warning shots at a suspected North Korean drone flown across the DMZ.
Soldiers fired about 20 rounds before the craft turned back, Yonhap news agency said citing South Korean officials.
Earlier, South Korea’s President Park Geun-hye urged China to impose the strongest possible sanctions against North Korea, following its apparent nuclear test.
North Korea claims it has tested a hydrogen bomb.
That claim is doubted by experts, who say the blast, though probably nuclear, was not big enough to have been a thermonuclear explosion.
In her annual press conference, President Park Geun-hye said the international community’s response to North Korea “must differ from the past”, without giving details.
Park Geun-hye said new sanctions on Pyongyang must go further than before, with China’s support crucial. She also warned of possible further action by North Korea, including “cyber terrorism”.
China, North Korea’s closest ally, has repeatedly condemned North Korea’s nuclear tests but is often accused of doing little to try and stop them.
Park Geun-hye stressed China’s past statements but added: “I am certain that China is very well aware if such a strong will isn’t followed by necessary steps, we will not be able to stop the North’s fifth and sixth nuclear tests and we cannot guarantee true peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.”
“I believe the Chinese government will not allow the situation on the Korean peninsula to deteriorate further.”
Last week Secretary of State John Kerry also urged China to take a tougher line, telling his Chinese counterpart the relationship with North Korea cannot be “business as usual”.
President Park Geun-hye also spoke about the steps South Korea was taking with the US to “neutralize North Korea’s provocative actions” including additional deployments of American military assets on the Korean peninsula.
Answering a question about whether Seoul would consider ending its involvement in the jointly-run Kaesong industrial zone, just north of the border, Park Geun-hye said its future depended on Pyongyang’s actions.
Seoul has already limited access to Kaesong from South Korea, to only those directly involved in its operations.
