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McDonald’s CEO Don Thompson steps down after two and a half years

Clyde K. Valle
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McDonald’s CEO Don Thompson steps down after two and a half years

McDonald’s CEO Don Thompson has stepped down after two and a half years in the job.

McDonald’s Corp said Don Thompson will retire as its chief executive and be replaced by Steve Easterbrook, effective March 1.

British-born Steve Easterbrook is the company’s current chief brand officer.

The move comes as McDonald’s continues to struggle with a declining customer base in the US.

In a press release, Don Thompson, a 25-year veteran, said: “It’s tough to say goodbye to the McFamily.”

McDonald’s recently reported disappointing results.McDonald's CEO Don Thompson

Q4 2014 earnings were $1.1 billion, down 21% from a year earlier. The company also reported its fifth consecutive decline in sales.

Sales in the lucrative US market were down by 4.1%, as consumers continue to eschew McDonald’s, in favor of so-called “fast-casual” restaurants like Chipotle and Shake Shack.

After the earnings were released on January 23, McDonald’s said its profits would remain under pressure for the next several months as it sought to lure back consumers with menu changes.

McDonald’s is also facing a labor issue in the US, where efforts to unionize fast food workers have led to a spate of lawsuits.

Don Thompson was paid $9.5 million in 2013, the most recent year for which data is available.

His successor, Steve Easterbrook, grew up in Watford, UK, and previously ran the Pizza Express and Wagamama restaurant chains.

He attended Watford Boys Grammar School and studied Natural Sciences at Durham University, before becoming an accountant at Price Waterhouse.

Steve Easterbrook will become McDonald’s first ever non-US chief executive.

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AirAsia Flight QZ8501crash: Co-pilot Remi Plesel was flying plane before crash

Diane A. Wade
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AirAsia Flight QZ8501crash: Co-pilot Remi Plesel was flying plane before crash

According to Indonesian investigators, the co-pilot of AirAsia Flight QZ8501, French national Remi Plesel, was controlling the plane before it crashed.

Authorities said this information came from the flight data recorder, which was retrieved along with the cockpit voice recorder earlier this month.

The plane was carrying 162 people from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore when it crashed into the Java Sea on December 28.

Only 70 bodies have been recovered.

Mardjono Siswosuwarno, head investigator of Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSB), said the flight data recorder had provided a “pretty clear picture” of what happened in the flight’s last moments.

Capt. Remi Plesel was in charge from take-off until the cockpit voice recording ends, he said, adding that this was common practice.AirAsia Flight QZ8501 co-pilot Remi Plesel

Investigators said the plane ascended sharply before dropping, rising from 32,000ft to 37,400ft within 30 seconds, then dipping back to 32,000ft. The process took about three minutes.

Mardjono Siswosuwarno said the plane was “flying before the incident within the limits of its weight and balance envelope” and that the flight crew all had correct licenses and medical certificates.

A preliminary report has been submitted to the International Civil Aviation Organization, but has not been made public. The full report is likely to take about seven months, said the committee’s chief Tatang Kurniadi.

Earlier this week, the military announced it was stopping attempts to retrieve the fuselage from the seabed. Authorities had believed earlier that most of the missing bodies were still in the wreckage but now believe it is empty and too fragile to move.

The civilian National Search and Rescue Agency said on January 28 that it would continue search operations but their efforts could also end by next week if no more bodies are found.

Alberto Nisman’s death: Argentine prosecutor borrowed gun because he did not trust guards

Diane A. Wade
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Alberto Nisman’s death: Argentine prosecutor borrowed gun because he did not trust guards

According to one of his colleagues, Argentine prosecutor Alberto Nisman, who died in unexplained circumstances, borrowed a gun because he did not trust the police protecting him.

Diego Lagomarsino lent Alberto Nisman a gun the day before he was found shot dead.

Alberto Nisman was about to testify about alleged attempts to cover up Iranian involvement in a bombing in 1994.

Prosecutors have yet to establish if he committed suicide or was killed. He will be buried on January 29.

Alberto Nisman had been due to appear in Congress to publicly accuse President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner of being behind an attempt to hide the alleged involvement of Iranian suspects in the Jewish centre bombing, which killed 85 people.

He was found dead in his apartment on January 18.

On January 28, Alberto Nisman was mourned at a private wake. He will be buried on January 29 at a Jewish cemetery in La Tablada, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires.

Photo AP
Photo AP

Diego Lagomarsino, a computer specialist and long-time acquaintance of Alberto Nisman, lent him the gun that killed him.

He told a news conference that Alberto Nisman had told him he “feared for the safety of his daughters”.

“I told him, <<Look this (gun) is old, it’s an old weapon… I don’t know if you will be able to protect yourself with it>>.

“He said to me, <<Don’t worry, it’s to have in the glove box just in case a crazy person with a stick comes up and says I am a traitor>>.”

Diego Lagomarsino, the last person to see Alberto Nisman alive, said he showed him how to load and unload the gun, but the prosecutor had assured him he would not use it.

But he added that Alberto Nisman had told him: “I don’t even trust my security detail.”

Diego Lagomarsino has been charged with giving a firearm to someone who was not the registered owner – the only person to be charged in the case so far.

Alberto Nisman’s security chief has been suspended and is under investigation along with two other members of his guard.

Ruben Benitez had co-ordinated a security team of 10 officers to protect Alberto Nisman.

Police say the team broke with protocol by remaining out of contact with Alberto Nisman for several hours on the day of his death and failing to report to their superiors.

In a national address on January 26 and in two letters, President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner accused former intelligence agents of manipulating Alberto Nisman to bring charges against her.

She suggested he was killed to increase the damage to her.

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner announced plans to disband Argentina’s intelligence services and replace them with a new agency.

Investigators have said they believe Alberto Nisman committed suicide, but have classified his death as suspicious because they could not rule out murder or an “induced suicide”.

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Sydney cafe siege inquest: Hostage Katrina Dawson killed by police bullet

Roy Siemens
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Sydney cafe siege inquest: Hostage Katrina Dawson killed by police bullet

An inquest into the Sydney cafe siege has heard that hostage Katrina Dawson was killed by fragments from a police bullet or bullets.

Another hostage, cafe manager Tori Johnson, was killed by a bullet to the head from gunman Man Haron Monis.

The café manager’s death prompted police to storm the Lindt Chocolate Cafe and kill Man Haron Monis.

The inquest aims to establish whether deaths were avoidable and if it should have been treated as a terrorist event.

Eighteen people were taken hostage.

The stand-off at the cafe in Martin Place in Sydney’s business district on December 15 led to a massive police operation and the shutdown of a large part of the city centre.

At the opening of the coroner’s inquest in Sydney, Jeremy Gormly, the lawyer assisting the state coroner, said Katrina Dawson was “struck by six fragments of a police bullet or bullets which ricocheted from hard surfaces into her body”.Sydney siege inquest

“I will not detail the damage done to Ms Dawson other than to say that one fragment struck a major blood vessel. She lost consciousness quickly and died shortly afterwards.”

Australian media reports earlier this month had indicated that Katrina Dawson, a 38-year-old barrister and mother of three young children, had died after being hit in the heart and shoulder by fragments from a police bullet.

The inquest heard that Man Haron Monis entered the cafe on the morning of December 15 with a sawn-off shotgun hidden in a plastic bag.

He ordered chocolate cake and tea, and asked to speak to the manager, Tori Johnson. After ordering Tori Johnson to lock the cafe, he announced: “This is an attack. I have a bomb.”

Later that morning, Man Haron Monis ordered Tori Johnson to phone Australia’s emergency number.

He ordered the cafe manager to say that Australia was under attack from Islamic State militants and that Man Haron Monis had planted radio-controlled bombs around the busy Sydney tourist precinct, Circular Quay, and Martin Place – none of which was true.

A number of hostages managed to escape as the siege went on, then at 02:00 local time on December 16, special police stormed the cafe after a police marksman saw Man Haron Monis shoot the kneeling Tori Johnson in the back of the head.

Earlier unconfirmed reports in the Australian press had said Tori Johnson was shot while trying to disarm Man Haron Monis, but this was not mentioned by the coronial report.

The inquest heard that Man Haron Monis was killed instantly when police entered the cafe. At least two police bullets hit him in the head and 11 other bullets or fragments struck his body. The police used stun grenades, known as flash bangs, as they went in.

Man Haron Monis fired five shots during the entire siege, the inquest heard.

The first shot was directed at hostages as they fled the scene. He then shot Tori Johnson. The other bullets were fired when police stormed the cafe. Man Haron Monis was later found to have had 21 more cartridges in his pocket.

Man Haron Monis, who came to Australia as a refugee from Iran, had a history of religious activism and was on bail at the time of the siege for dozens of s**ual assault charges and for being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife.

He claimed to be a cleric and asked his hostages to display an Islamic flag during the siege. However, questions remain about whether he had any links to international militant networks.

His partner Amirah Droudis, who is also facing murder charges over his ex-wife, will be represented at the inquest.

“Rarely have such horrifying events unfolded so publicly,” New South Wales coroner Michael Barnes told the court.

“These events have precipitated an outpouring of emotion, anguish, anger, resentment and despair.”

Six of Tori Johnson’s family members attended the session. None of Katrina Dawson’s family were present.

The inquest has now adjourned. A date has yet to be announced for the next hearing. All the surviving hostages are expected to give evidence.

Meanwhile other investigations into the siege are continuing, including a joint federal and New South Wales state government review of why Man Haron Monis was given asylum and eventually citizenship in Australia and why he was granted bail in 2013.

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European vs US Forex Trading Markets

James J. Williams
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European vs US Forex Trading Markets

To understand the difference between the European vs US Forex trading markets it is essential that you first understand the difference between the currency.  The euro and the US dollar (USD) are the two most common form of money in the world.  These are the two currencies that are found in the reserves in many places around the globe.  They are the two currencies that are part of the global economy.

The Impact

The Euro – The European Union has 28 countries and 18 of these use the euro as their form of currency.  This form of money was not in circulation until 1999 but has quickly been gaining in popularity and is expected to become the most used money in the world.  Even though other countries still have their own currency, the euro is accepted in most places around the globe.

One thing that affects the euro that does not affect other types of currency is that since it is accepted in many countries, it can be affected by many different countries.  This means that government decisions in more than one place can change the market value of the euro.  This is very complicated and an issue that is going to need to be addressed as the euro continues to grow in popularity.

European vs US Forex Trading Markets
European vs US Forex Trading Markets

The USD – The USD remains the main form of money around the globe.  It is accepted in more places than any other currency.  There are currently 8 other countries that use the USD as their main currency.  You must understand that the reason that the USD is used as the main currency in these countries is that their own money was no longer perceived as having any type of backing.  Therefore their own money became worthless on the global market making it essential for them to find a currency that was going to allow them to trade with other countries.

Around the world, the USD remains the main currency that is found in reserves.  Since the financial crisis of 2008 it has made a steady but slow decline in popularity.  Many times when dealing with international business the USD is the preferred form of currency.  The reason that it is so accepted is that it is known for being a stable currency.

Since the US has the largest economy it would be only natural that other powerhouse countries would adapt to using the USD for their transactions.  This happens frequently in business including offshore Forex trading with Netotrade.

The Choice

The main choice of determining whether a business transaction is down with the USD or the euro really breaks down to the overall stability.  While the euro has not proven to be unstable by any means it also has not had the years of stability that the USD has.  This means that in most cases the USD has such a large head start on the economy of the world that some doubt that the euro will ever be able to surpass it.  Others believe that with faltering economic conditions that the USD is in threat of becoming meaningless in the coming years and that the euro will rise to be the number one currency in the world.

CNN shares up to date and current information about currencies.  You can learn more about the value of the euro or the USD there.  This is a great place to check before entering into any Forex relationships with either form of currency.  You can learn which is going to be best for you.

Transitioning to Video Conferencing for Most of Your Communications

Ricky Robinson
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Transitioning to Video Conferencing for Most of Your Communications

Video conferencing has provided many businesses with greater productivity and opportunities for communication. What makes it even better is that it has also helped businesses save money. Increasingly more businesses are considering using video conferencing as their primary means of communication. It can save money, make the team more efficient, and reduce roadblocks to networking. However, it can still be challenging for some employees to make the change. Here are some of the ways that you can make the transition smoother.

 

Explain General Expectations of Conduct

 

One of the first things to make sure everyone understands is the general expectation of conduct. Intuit reports that one of the best ways to get the team to collaborate through Blue Jeans and other similar video conferencing services is to ensure that everyone knows how they are expected to behave on a video call. Video conferencing is a distinct communication style that has different etiquette requirements. Talk to your employees about how to avoid distracting noises, remain within the frame for the conversation, how to stay healthy and so on.

Transitioning to Video Conferencing for Most of Your Communications
Transitioning to Video Conferencing for Most of Your Communications

Expectations of conduct should also extend to potential cultural misunderstandings. For businesses generally focused within the same geographic area are not as likely to run into this issue. However, if you are working in a more global or multicultural setting, you should make sure everyone is on the same page. Be aware of common points for concern and have recommended procedures in place for potential issues. Hand gestures that are benign in the US, for instance, may be offensive to someone from a Latin American country. Avoiding these sort of faux pas can make the collaboration run far smoother.

 

Provide Expectations of Available Times

 

Being on call at all times can be trying. The International Trade Association recommends making the expectations clear from the beginning for all aspects of the communication. The most important thing you can let them know is whether they are to be on call at all times, specific times, and so on. People who are always on call for situations that involve video cameras may feel self conscious, particularly if they are telecommuters who work from their homes. Be sure to explain this to them in advance. It may be wise to have downtimes as well so that your employees can recuperate.

 

Determine and Discuss Policies on Recording Conversations and Meetings

 

Business Insider reports that record numbers of employees are starting to record evaluations, business meetings, and regular discussions. While 12 states require all participants being recorded give consent, the majority do not. However, you, as the business owner, need to determine how you want these to be handled. If you prohibit unauthorized recordings, you can help protect yourself, even though the recordings may not be criminally offensive. A no recording policy can also make dismissals and protection of corporate secrets safer.

Have a Training Session

 

Even when using an intuitive service provider like Blue Jeans, you should still have a training session for all your team members. You can either do this as a group or require that they go through the necessary tutorials. Most of your employees will probably have a general understanding of how the cloud video conferencing system will work. However, some of the more nuanced tasks may require some give and take. Having a group session is not a bad idea though as some of your employees may be uneasy about asking questions for fear of appearing stupid.

 

Continue to Have Feedback Sessions

 

It’s important to determine what concerns your employees have as they transition into the video conferencing for their primary communication. Having the initial guidelines will get things off on the right foot. However, as time passes, you should consider having additional feedback sessions to determine how well the current setup is working and whether there are additional concerns that should be addressed. These can be conducted privately or in group sessions. Group sessions may give a greater perspective on the overlying issues but private sessions will more likely reveal less censored concerns. After the feedback session, revise the conduct requirements as needed.

It will take time for any business to adjust to using video conferencing as their primary form of communication. Even when a service provides significant improvements for productivity and efficiency as well as savings, some people may be resistant to the change. However, you can make it easier for them. Start off by making sure that everyone understands general behavior expectations as well as the times when they are supposed to be available. You should also make sure that your business’s policies on recording and so forth are made quite clear. To help avoid any usage issues, offer a training session. If you make this mandatory or put it into a group setting, you will be more likely to cover all the potential issues even if your employees are embarrassed. As this is a learning process, continue to have feedback sessions with your employees. Look to see what needs to be improved and what you can do to further streamline the process.

Raul Castro issues Guantanamo Bay demand to US

Diane A. Wade
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Raul Castro issues Guantanamo Bay demand to US

Cuban leader Raul Castro has demanded the US hand back the Guantanamo Bay military base before relations with Washington are normalized.

In a speech, President Raul Castro also called for the lifting of the US trade embargo and Cuba’s removal from a terror list.

Last month Cuba and the US announced a thaw in relations, agreeing to restore diplomatic ties which were severed in 1961.

High-level talks were held last week.

A Congressional delegation arrived in Havana to begin negotiations aimed at reopening embassies in the two countries’ capitals.

Meanwhile, former Cuban leader Fidel Castro appeared to signal his approval for the political rapprochement.

Cuba’s state-run newspaper Gramma published a letter on January 27 in which he wrote: “We will always defend co-operation and friendship with all the people of the world, including with our political adversaries.”

He wrote that although he did not “trust the policy of the US”, it did not mean he rejected a “peaceful solution to conflicts”.Barack Obama and Raul Castro

Fidel Castro’s brother, Raul, who succeeded him as president in 2008, made his demands at the summit of Community of Latin American and Caribbean States in Costa Rica.

“The reestablishment of diplomatic relations is the start of a process of normalising bilateral relations,” he said.

“But this will not be possible while the blockade still exists, while they don’t give back the territory illegally occupied by the Guantanamo naval base.”

The land on which the base stands was leased to the US government in 1903 by Cuba’s then-rulers.

US officials have so far not responded to Raul Castro’s remarks.

President Barack Obama has called on Congress to put an end to the trade embargo, which has been in place since 1962.

Earlier this month President Barack Obama also used his executive powers to loosen trade and restrictions on travel to Cuba.

Carbonated drinks with added sugars cause early puberty in girls

Kathryn R. Bown
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Carbonated drinks with added sugars cause early puberty in girls

According to a Harvard Medical School study, girls who drink sugary soda more often are more likely to start their menstrual cycles at a younger age.

Researchers analyzed data from 5,583 girls in the Growing up Today Study (GUTS), surveying American children from 1996 to 2001, beginning when they were between the ages of 9 to 14. The study, published in Human Reproduction, found that girls were 24% more likely to start menarche (their first menstrual cycle) in the next month if they drank at least 1.5 servings of sugar-sweetened drinks a day than if they drank no more than two servings per week.Sugary drinks and early puberty

This correlation was true for the carbonated drinks with added sugars, but not for drinks with natural sugars like fruit juice, says Karin Michels, a co-author and associate professor at Harvard Medical School. This study did not examine the underlying reasons for this, but according to Dr. Karin Michels, it’s probably because the natural sugar in fruit juice has less of an effect on insulin levels and changes to hormonal metabolism the sugar often added to carbonated drinks.

The researchers say sugary sodas also put kids at risk for obesity, which is another cause of early menstruation. They accounted for obesity in this study, and found that sugary drinks cause early menstruation regardless of weight.

Hershey’s bars import of Cadbury chocolates in US

Clyde K. Valle
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Hershey’s bars import of Cadbury chocolates in US

A lawsuit brought by Hershey’s effectively bars the import of chocolates made in the UK by Cadbury.

Using the hashtag #boycotthershey, Cadbury products lovers called for a boycott of the American chocolate giant on Twitter and Facebook.

A protest petition on MoveOn.org had over 22,000 signatures by January 28.

The protest comes after Hershey’s, which holds a license to manufacture Cadbury chocolates in the US, agreed on a settlement with the New Jersey importer of Cadbury chocolates, Let’s Buy British (LBB).

Hershey’s accused LBB of infringing its brand trademark rights and importing British products that were not intended for sale in the US, The New York Times reported.Hershey's bans Cadbury in US

Last week, LBB agreed to stop shipments of any Cadbury products made in the UK to the US.

Many expat Brits insist that Cadbury chocolate tastes better (despite Cadbury being owned by U.S. food giant Kraft Foods’ snacks business Mondelez).

It is true that British and American chocolate are different in terms of constitution. To qualify as chocolate in the UK, a product must contain at least 20% cocoa solids; in the US, the minimum is 10%.

Cadbury products are not the only ones to fall fowl of Hershey’s lawsuit, with other brands. Switzerland’s Nestle also came under fire because they look like existing Hershey’s products.

Toffee Crisps, which are made by chocolate giant Nestle in the UK and are a favorite with the British public, have also been banned because their bright orange packaging resembles that of Hershey’s Peanut Butter Cups too closely.

Nestle’s Yorkie bars also face the chop as they sound too much like Hershey’s York Peppermint Patties. Maltesers also resemble a Hershey’s product of an almost identical name.

Hershey’s spokesman Jeff Beckman defended the company’s lawsuit and settlement, telling The New York Times last week that it was: “Important for Hershey to protect its trademark rights and to prevent consumers from being confused or misled when they see a product name or product package that is confusingly similar to a Hershey name or trade dress.”

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Northeast blizzard 2015: New England digs out of heavy snow

Nancy Clayson
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Northeast blizzard 2015: New England digs out of heavy snow

New England residents are digging out after up to 36in of snow fell in a day-long blizzard.

The Northeast snow storm, which also destroyed part of a seawall and flooded parts of coastal Massachusetts, is being blamed for two deaths in Long Island.

Clean-up is being hindered by freezing temperatures in the coming days forecast to be as low as 10F.

However, New York City and areas south were spared from an earlier prediction of a “potentially historic blizzard”.

New York City officials imposed a driving ban and took the unprecedented step of shutting the subway on Monday evening but less than a foot of snow fell overnight.

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio denied he had overreacted to warnings, saying he could only go on information available and would rather err on the side of safety

The National Weather Service (NWS) has admitted its forecasts were wrong, saying the storm moved faster than they expected.New England blizzard 2015

National Weather Service director Louis Uccellini said his agency should have done a better job of communicating the uncertainties in the forecast.

In Massachusetts, heavy snow – falling as fast as four inches an hour – and high winds combined to created blizzard and white-out conditions.

More than 24in of snow coated Boston’s Logan Airport, the sixth-highest in recorded history. Worcester got 33.5in, the highest amount recorded since 1905, and Auburn and Lunenburg each reported 36in.

More than two feet fell in parts of Maine, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

Portland, Maine and Providence, Rhode Island both set a daily record for snowfall.

A 110-ft replica of a Revolutionary War ship in Newport, Rhode Island was damaged after the storm flipped it. Wind gusts were as high as 78mph.

On January 28, Boston’s transport system began running again and the first flight since January 26 took off from Logan Airport.

Snowploughs struggled to clear the roads, and Boston police drove several dozen doctors and nurses to work at hospitals.

Further south, the eastern tip of Long Island saw as much as 30in of snow.

Police have connected two deaths there with the snow – a 17-year-old who crashed into a lamp post while in an inflatable tube and an 83-year-old with dementia found dead in his backyard.

The storm also caused coastal flooding in Massachusetts. High tides breached a sea wall and damaged 11 homes in Marshfield, 30 miles south of Boston.

Massachusetts’ only nuclear power station shut down after the blizzard interrupted its power flow.

Thousands of people are still without power, many of them in Massachusetts.

Governor Charlie Baker said the snow had been “fluffier and lighter”, meaning there were fewer power outages than anticipated.

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Tesco to close 43 stores across UK

Clyde K. Valle
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Tesco to close 43 stores across UK

Tesco has named the 43 stores it is closing across the UK, a move that will see 2,000 staff lose their jobs.

The supermarket giant is currently informing staff at the affected stores.

The Express and Home Plus stores will close on March 15 with the Tesco Metros and Superstores on the list closing on April 4.

Tesco warned earlier this month that 43 stores would be shut as part of plans to cut costs.

The company’s CEO Dave Lewis said the decision to close the stores was “exceptionally difficult”.Tesco to close 43 stores in UK

“Our priority is to explain what this announcement means for our colleagues and, wherever possible, offer them alternative roles with Tesco,” he added.

Superstore closures include those in Doncaster and Chatham, while the DIY and homeware Homeplus closures include stores in Edinburgh and Southampton.

In total, 18 Express, 12 Metro, seven superstores and six Homeplus stores are shutting their doors.

Tesco’s announcement marks a stark contrast to Tuesday’s update from online grocery shopping Waitrose that detailed plans to create 2,000 jobs in new shops and by expanding existing sites.

The retailer is opening 14 new shops from spring this year, seven of them smaller convenience outlets.

However, of the so-called “big four” supermarkets, which includes Tesco as well as Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Asda, most are shelving expansion plans or even closing stores.

In November, Sainsbury’s said it was scrapping plans for new stores, while Morrissons plans to close 10 loss-making stores this year.

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Bart the Miracle Cat: Florida cat buried by his owner crawls out of grave

Nancy Clayson
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Bart the Miracle Cat: Florida cat buried by his owner crawls out of grave

A Florida cat has had surgery after apparently clawing its way out of his grave following a collision with a car.

Bart the cat was discovered by its owner’s neighbor in Tampa five days after he was found lying in the road stiff in a pool of blood, and was presumed dead.

The cat is now recovering after treatment for a broken jaw and ruptured eye.Bart the Miracle Cat

The Humane Society of Tampa Bay, which is caring for the animal they have dubbed “Bart the Miracle Cat”, say they have never seen a case like it.

Bart’s owner, Ellis Hutson, told the Tampa Bay Times he “couldn’t stand” to bury the animal and asked his neighbor Dave to dig him a shallow grave.

Five days later, bedraggled Bart was found meowing for food by another of Ellis Hutson’s neighbors, Dusty Albritton.

“At first it blew me away,” Dusty Albritton said.

“All I knew was this cat was dead and <<Pet Sematary>> is real,” she added, referring to the horror film and book by writer Stephen King.

A shocked but delighted Ellis Hutson, discovering that vets’ bills would be too expensive, took Bart to Tampa’s Humane Society.

Bart had surgery on January 27 to remove his ruined eye and treat his broken jaw, and is now resting comfortably according to the society’s Facebook page.

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Alexis Tsipras first cabinet meeting: Greece will not default on its debts

Clyde K. Valle
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Alexis Tsipras first cabinet meeting: Greece will not default on its debts

Addressing his first cabinet meeting, Greece’s new Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras says his country will not default on its debts.

Alexis Tsipras said he would negotiate with creditors over the €240 billion ($270 billion) bailout.

“We won’t get into a mutually destructive clash but we will not continue a policy of subjection,” said the left-wing Syriza party leader.

Germany’s vice-chancellor, Sigmar Gabriel, said it was unfair of Greece to expect other states to pick up its bills.

“I cannot imagine a haircut [debt reduction],” Sigmar Gabriel said.

As Alex Tsipras made his debut cabinet speech, Greek government bond yields rose to their highest since the 2012 debt restructuring, amid investor concern that the anti-austerity coalition was gearing up for a clash with international creditors.

The Athens Stock Exchange fell by 8% in response to Alexis Tsipras’s remarks, and as it emerged that his government was putting on hold major privatization projects, including the port of Piraeus and the main power company, the Public Power Corporation of Greece.Alexis Tsipras first cabinet meeting

Greece has endured tough budget cuts in return for its 2010 bailout, negotiated with the “troika” – the European Union, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and European Central Bank (ECB).

The country’s economy has shrunk drastically since the 2008 global financial crisis, and high unemployment has thrown many Greeks into poverty.

Vowing to defend Greek dignity, Alexis Tsipras said a renegotiation of the Greek debts would aim for a “viable, fair, mutually beneficial solution”. He did not give any details.

Alexis Tsipras promised “realistic proposals” for an economic recovery and vowed to fight corruption and tax evasion. His recovery plan, he said, was aimed at preventing deficits in the future.

The new coalition government – with the right-wing but equally anti-austerity Greek Independents – was sworn into office on January 27.

Its chief economics spokesman, Euclid Tsakalotos, has argued that it is unrealistic to expect Greece to repay its huge debt in full.

The current bailout program of loans to Greece ends on February 28. There are still 1.8 billion euros of loans that could be disbursed to Greece if it meets the conditions imposed by the troika.

Economists estimate that Greece needs to raise about 4.3 billion euros in Q1 2015 to help pay its way, with Athens possibly having to ask the IMF and eurozone countries.

Sigmar Gabriel, who is also economy minister and leads the junior partner in Angela Merkel’s coalition government, said: “Our aim must be to keep Greece in the eurozone but solidarity and fairness work both ways.”

“Citizens of other euro states have a right to see that the deals linked to their acts of solidarity are upheld,” he said.

“Every country in Europe has its own history and cannot separate itself from this through new elections.”

Sigmar Gabriel urged the Greek government to talk to its partners before going ahead with decisions such as halting the privatization of the port of Piraeus.

“Things that Greece itself won’t do cannot be shunted on to the taxpayers and employers in neighboring states,” the German Social Democrat leader said.

Greek 10-year bond yields climbed above 10%, reflecting fears that investors may not get their money back.

The yield of a bond is inverse to its price: as the price goes down, the yield grows.

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Demis Roussos was held hostage for five days in 1985

Sonia Pantiss
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0
Demis Roussos was held hostage for five days in 1985

Demis Roussos, the Greek singer who is best known for his soaring voice, has died on January 25 at the age of 68.

Few people remember that the larger-than-life singer was held hostage for five days in 1985.

On 14 June, 1985, Demis Roussos boarded TWA Flight 847 from Athens to Rome – and found himself at the mercy of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Two hijackers, who had smuggled a pistol and grenades through airport security, held the passengers at gunpoint, demanding the release of 17 members of Hezbollah and the Iraqi Islamic Daawa Party.

The plane was diverted to Beirut, then Algiers, and 23-year-old US Navy Petty Officer Robert Dean Stethem was killed.

Demis Roussos spent five days – including his 39th birthday – in captivity, before being released in Beirut (another 40 or so passengers, mainly from the US, endured a further two weeks on the plane).Demis Roussos held hostage in 1985

Speaking at a press conference after his release, Demis Roussos said he had been “treated quite well”.

“They gave me a birthday cake and they gave me a guitar, to sing,” Demis Roussos said.

“They have been very polite and very nice with us.”

Over the years, some papers said Demis Roussos had serenaded the hijackers. Others claimed the singer had pledged allegiance to Hezbollah.

Demis Roussos, who rarely spoke about the incident, admitted he was riled by the exaggerations in an interview with Australia’s Daily Telegraph in 2006: “It is not every day that a pop superstar gets involved with terrorism as a victim, so the press takes advantage of that to say things they think are funny.

”I would like to see the journalist [who first reported the claim] in front of gunpoint like I was. Believe me, if he was there he would be so scared he wouldn’t care about writing such stupidities like that.”

The experience changed the singer’s life, and Demis Roussos spent years promoting peace through music.

“Musicians are like a preacher, a teacher, an actor,” Demis Roussos said.

“You are the mediator who can transfer the energy of beautiful music to the others.”

Demis Roussos spent half a million dollars trying to break America

Sonia Pantiss
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0
Demis Roussos spent half a million dollars trying to break America

Demis Roussos sold 30 million albums in Europe in the mid-70s, rivaling The Beatles in several countries.

His success earned him a mansion outside Paris, a private jet and an estate in the south of France.

But Demis Roussos wanted something more: to break the US.

In 1978, Demis Roussos bank-rolled a promotional trip to the US and Canada to the tune of $500,000 ($1.8 million in 2014 terms).Demis Roussos trying to break America

With a billboard on Sunset Boulevard and an exhausting run of TV appearances, Deemis Roussos set about his conquest.

The famous Greek singer told Canada’s Courier and Mail: “If I succeed, it will be as a pioneer of the European invasion, breaking a few barriers and not appealing only to Greeks or the French or the Italians in America.

“I am not like any other singer in America – I am a new creation.”

America, however, remained largely unmoved.

His album, That Once In A Lifetime, spent 11 weeks on the Billboard chart, but never climbed higher than 47.

Demis Roussos died on January 25 in an Athens hospital. He was 68. A cause of death was not made public.

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What was underneath Demis Roussos’ kaftans?

Sonia Pantiss
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0
What was underneath Demis Roussos’ kaftans?

Demis Roussos, who died on January 25 at the age of 68, was famed for his voluminous kaftans and soaring voice.

The Greek singer was a fixture on the European charts in the mid-70s, scoring a number one single with Forever and Ever and global album sales of more than 60 million.

Demis Roussos’ trademark stage outfits earned him the nickname “the king of the kaftan” – or, more cruelly, “the singing tent”.Demis Roussos King of Kaftan

He told the Daily Mirror in 2002: “Designers from all over the world used to make them for me.

“I had some very dramatic designs. People liked them, I liked them and I felt great in them.”

When Demis Roussos decided to sell his kaftan collection for charity in the 1990s, it required three auctions – one each in the UK, Germany and France.

Asked whether he wore anything underneath those billowing robes, Demis Roussos once replied: “Of course not. I never did.

“It was fantastic. It was funny. When I was on stage there were always women in the front row who’d try and look up my kaftan.”

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666: Demis Roussos and Aphrodite’s Child created rock’s first concept album

Sonia Pantiss
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0
666: Demis Roussos and Aphrodite’s Child created rock’s first concept album

Famous Greek singer Demis Roussos has died on Sunday, January 25, at the age of 68.

Demis Roussos’ first musical endeavor was in the 1960s band Aphrodite’s Child, a Greek trio which also featured Vangelis Papathanassiou, the composer who later scored Chariots of Fire and Blade Runner.

The final release of Aphrodite’s Child, 666, was a double album based on the Book of Revelation.Demis Roussos 666 album

Demis Roussos’ excitable, operatic wail lends the music an escalating sense of panic, while the extended instrumentals and improvisations presage the progressive rock movement.

666 is it viewed as one rock’s first concept albums.

After Aphrodite’s Child disbanded, Demis Roussos continued to record with Vangelis, even during his successful easy listening years.

Demis Roussos and Vangelis’ most successful collaboration was Race to the End – a vocal adaption of the theme to Chariots of Fire.

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Disneyland measles outbreak: 87 cases confirmed in seven states and Mexico

Kathryn R. Bown
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Disneyland measles outbreak: 87 cases confirmed in seven states and Mexico

At least 87 cases of measles have been confirmed in seven states and Mexico, health officials said, as the outbreak centered in California continues to spread.

The California Department of Public Health said on January 26 there were now 73 cases in the state, of which 50 can be linked directly to Disneyland.

Some people who were contagious visited in January as well as December.

Four new measles patients who visited Disneyland were reported in Arizona, bringing Arizona’s total number of Disneyland-related patients to five. Cases connected to Disneyland also have been confirmed in Utah (3), Washington state (2), Oregon (1), Colorado (1), Nebraska (1) and Mexico (1).

The measles outbreak has also expanded beyond those who visited Disneyland in December and January and is infecting people in the broader community.

Nine counties in California have confirmed measles cases: Alameda, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Ventura.

Orange County now has 23 confirmed cases. Los Angeles County follows with 15 cases and San Diego County with 13.

The California patients range in age from 7 months to 70 years. The vaccination status is known for at least 39 of the patients. Of those, 32 were unvaccinated and seven were fully vaccinated.

Of the cases in California, about one in four has had to be hospitalized, officials said.Disneyland measles outbreak 2015

Across California, officials have been scrambling to get ahead of the outbreak, identifying farmers markets, grocery stores, malls and other public locations where contagious people have been.

Health officials are urging people suspected of having the measles to first call their health provider before going to a clinic, enabling caregivers to make special preparations so patients don’t risk infecting others in the waiting room. An urgent-care clinic in the San Diego suburb of La Mesa was forced to shut down for a few hours when five people arrived with a rash. Anyone without proof of vaccination who came in contact with the five at the clinic was put under a mandatory quarantine for 21 days.

At Santa Monica High School, students and parents were alerted Friday night that a freshman baseball coach had been diagnosed with measles. Health officials concluded that because every student on the baseball team had a record of measles immunization, it was unlikely that students could have caught the highly contagious virus.

No students have been asked to stay away from campus at this time, school officials said.

After Disneyland officials confirmed that five of its employees had been diagnosed with measles, all Disneyland employees who could have been in contact with those five were asked to provide vaccination records or do a blood test that showed they had built immunity to the disease.

Any employees who had not been vaccinated or could not confirm their immunity status were asked to go on paid leave until their status could be confirmed, company officials said.

Health care officials said it was safe to go Disneyland and other venues with large crowds if you were immunized for measles.

“I think it is absolutely safe for you to go to Disneyland if you’re vaccinated,” said Dr. Gil Chavez, California state epidemiologist.

However, he cautioned that those with infants too young to be immunized should avoid large crowds where international travelers are concentrated, such as theme parks and airports. Six of the California cases occurred in infants who were too young to be immunized, state officials said.

Symptoms of measles include fever as high as 105, cough, runny nose, redness of eyes, and a rash that begins at the head and then spreads to the rest of the body. It can lead to inflammation of the brain, pneumonia and death.

Federal recommendations call for the first dose of measles vaccination, known as MMR, to be given at 12 to 15 months of age, with a second between ages 4 and 6. California law requires two doses of measles vaccination before kindergartners can enroll, but parents can obtain exemptions for the vaccines if they say the inoculations conflict with their personal beliefs.

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Michelle Obama causes stir in Saudi Arabia after not wearing a head scarf

Lisa.Felice
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Michelle Obama causes stir in Saudi Arabia after not wearing a head scarf

President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama visited Saudi Arabia to pay respects to late King Abdullah and the first lady’s outfit caused a stir in a country known for its oppression of women.

Michelle Obama chose a fairly conservative outfit with loose sleeves that covered her from neck to toe. She wore a colorful long jacket with sleeves over a bright blue blouse and long black pants.Michelle Obama outfit in Saudi Arabia

However, it was her uncovered hair and the lack of a head scarf that drew scrutiny.

Saudi women are required to cover their heads in public, although it is not required of visitors.

Politico reported that Saudi Arabians on Twitter criticized the first lady for forgoing this custom, using hashtags such as “Michelle—Obama—Immodest.”

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Big Sean denies stealing Naya Rivera’s Rolex watch

Lisa.Felice
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0
Big Sean denies stealing Naya Rivera’s Rolex watch

In the February edition of Complex magazine, Big Sean opens up about the theft his ex-fiancée Naya Rivera accused him of.

After deciding to call off their wedding, the rapper and his Glee-starring ex started hating each other rather publicly and turned to social media, music and any forum they could find to trash one another.

Naya Rivera even went so far as to accuse Big Sean of stealing a pricey Rolex Submariner from her.

“@bigsean stealing rolexes from a lady’s house now. Maybe cuz I’m on Glee and making more money or something. #triflin,” Naya Rivera tweeted at the time. She later deleted it.

Although she married Ryan Dorsey three months later, their apparent hatred for one another continued as Big Sean then released I Don’t F— With You, which was rumored to be about Naya Rivera.Big Sean and Naya Rivera

Big Sean told the publication: “First of all, why would I have to steal a Rolex?”

“Second of all, every Rolex that I have, I have receipts for, papers for, certificates of authenticity for. I would never steal a Rolex from anybody.

“You see [Naya Rivera’s] tweet got deleted in like 20 seconds,” the rapper adds.

Big Sean doesn’t comment on whether or not rumors of Naya Rivera’s alleged jealousy and controlling tendencies are true, but he does open up about the reason why their relationship dissolved.

He said they began fighting more than they did anything else. But he does add that he “wasn’t surprised” by her accusation.

Big Sean said: “I felt like it was unnecessary drama ’cause in my eyes it wasn’t true. I wasn’t surprised by it.

“Even though I didn’t steal anything, I wasn’t surprised by it.”

Big Sean is now dating Ariana Grande. He says that they began as really good friends, which is one of the aspects he respects most about their relationship.

 

GM ignition switches fault death toll rises to 50

Clyde K. Valle
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GM ignition switches fault death toll rises to 50

According to compensation expert Kenneth Feinberg, 50 death cases are eligible for money due to crashes caused by faulty General Motors ignition switches.

Kenneth Feinberg’s decision came few days before the deadline to seek payments.

The expert, who was hired by GM to handle death and injury claims, released new totals earlier this week.

Camille Biros, deputy administrator of the compensation fund, says she expects a flurry of claims before January 31 deadline, and the number of deaths and injuries to rise.

Kenneth Feinberg, in an internet posting, determined that as of January 30 the families of 50 people killed and 75 people injured are eligible for payments. The fund has received 338 death claims and 2,730 claims for injuries. Of those, 58 death claims have been rejected as ineligible for compensation, as have 328 injury claims.

The expert is either reviewing or awaiting documentation on 230 additional death claims and 2,327 injury cases.GM ignition switches death toll

GM was aware of faulty ignition switches on Chevrolet Cobalts and other small cars for more than a decade, but it didn’t recall them until 2014. On 2.6 million of them worldwide, the switches can slip out of the “on” position, causing the cars to stall, knocking out power steering and turning off the air bags.

In 2014, GM set aside $400 million to make payments, but conceded that could grow to $600 million. The company’s chief financial officer told analysts earlier in January that those numbers had not changed. Compensation for deaths starts at $1 million.

Camille Biros said that so far the GM claims are following the usual pattern for compensation cases with a large number of claims at the beginning, a lull in the middle, and a large number toward the deadline.

Kenneth Feinberg is among the nation’s most prominent compensation experts. He previously handled payments to victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the BP oil spill.

Claims filed by mail will trickle in next week and will be considered as long as they are postmarked by January 31.

Kenneth Feinberg has promised to decide the claims within 90 to 180 days from when he determines they are substantially complete. His law firm expects to continue working on claims at least through the northern spring, and perhaps into the summer.

The ignition switch debacle, which brought congressional and Justice Department investigations and the maximum $35 million fine from the government’s auto safety agency, touched off a companywide safety review. That brought a total of 84 recalls involving more than 30 million vehicles.

As of Friday, GM had fixed just over 56 per cent of the 2.19 million cars with faulty ignition switches that are still on the road in the US, according to documents filed with federal safety regulators. The company said it could not reach about 80,000 of the car owners.

GM hasn’t been able to get all the owners to have their cars repaired about a year after the recalls started. It’s not unusual for some car owners to ignore recall notices. The average completion rate one-and-a-half years after a recall begins is 75%, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Northeast blizzard 2015: Why did forecasters get it wrong?

Nancy Clayson
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Northeast blizzard 2015: Why did forecasters get it wrong?

According to several independent meteorologists, National Weather Service experts misjudged the path and impact of the blizzard that struck the Northeast on January 26 and 27, in large part because they trusted the wrong forecasting model.

Rather than rely on their own forecasting system—upgraded in recent weeks—the federal experts placed their faith instead on a well-regarded European computer model that predicted the worst of this storm would squarely hit New York City. That system earlier had outperformed the US forecasting system in predicting the path of superstorm Sandy.

This time, the European forecasting model was wrong, several commercial forecasters said. That model, one of four complex computer simulations normally used to calculate weather patterns along the Eastern seaboard, predicted that the heaviest snow would fall between 50 and 100 miles farther west than actually occurred.NYC blizzard 2015

As predicted, the storm pounded parts of Long Island, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Maine, with winds in excess of 50 mph and snow in some locales up to 30 in deep.

The National Weather Service had recently improved its own system, called the Global Forecast System, and its forecast correctly predicted that the storm would go farther out to sea, away from New York City.

In a statement on January 27, the National Weather Service’s New York office said: “The science of forecasting storms, while continually improving, still can be subject to error, especially if we’re on the edge of the heavy precipitation shield. Efforts, including research, are already under way to more easily communicate that forecast uncertainty.”

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Solar Power: The Future of Renewable Energy Resource

Dana R
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Solar Power: The Future of Renewable Energy Resource

The consumption of non-renewable resources has been increasing around the world at a rapid rate. New technologies have made it possible to harness solar energy to fuel our electricity and mechanics, making it possible to decrease the amount of non-renewable resources being used. Solar energy technology has spread and is now largely used worldwide. Many countries have built solar power plants to fuel factories and many people are now using solar panels to fuel their own residences.

What is Solar Energy?

 solar-energy

Image via Flickr by KUTAustin

Solar energy is a term that refers to energy from the sun. This is considered environmentally friendly and is a renewable resource that we can never use up. The sun is one of the most natural forms of energy and has been producing this energy for eons. Whether we are harnessing the energy or not, it will always be there. Solar energy comes in a form that we do not have to burn, as we do with fossil fuels, and therefore produces no airborne pollutants.

This natural source of energy is available all around the world and only requires an installation of the solar panels. Because of this and the affordable cost of home solar panels, many people have taken to using solar energy in their homes. This is one of the many reasons why it has spread so well worldwide. So how are countries around the world able to harness solar power energy and how do they use it to fuel solar power plants as a major source of electricity?

Germany

In 2014, Germany produced one of the highest amounts of solar energy worldwide. The country generated approximately 31 percent of its electricity from renewable resources. Now this percentage can also include wind power and hydropower, but it is a start in a greener direction. Germany has advanced to using solar power energy for as much as possible, lining solar panels along the rooftops of residential homes and businesses, along train tracks, and even around the outskirts of what used to be coal mines.

In one day in 2012, Germany produced approximately 22 gigawatts of energy from the sun, which is equal to the energy produced by 20 nuclear power plants. Germany also experienced a huge price cut in the cost of using solar power energy, costing about 2000 euros/kW in 2012 and decreasing to about 1200 euros/kW by 2015. The cost of using this more efficient source of energy has almost been cut in half, making it much more affordable and accessible to companies and residences.

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom’s production of solar energy has rapidly increased over the past few years, making them also one of the highest solar energy producing countries. Despite the fact that the UK gets about half as many hours of sunlight as many other countries in Europe, the UK government predicted that by 2020, they will be able to produce enough energy to power 4 million homes across the country with the sun’s natural energy. By the end of 2011, there were as many as 230,000 solar power projects in the works.

Residences in the United Kingdom have been greatly encouraged to use solar energy to fuel their homes. The UK government funded the Energy Savings Trust, a government program which gives out loans in order for people to install solar power panels into their homes. The Green Energy for Schools program installed solar panels into about 100 schools across the country. In a continuing effort to make solar energy affordable and accessible, IKEA stores in the UK began selling solar panel packages for residential homes in 2014.

China

Solar production in China continues to increase and currently the country has over 400 different solar energy companies. The installation of panels has increased from 2.5 GW in 2011 to about 11.3 GW installed in 2013. The Chinese government has created a five-year plan, set to end in 2015. This plan produces a layout to install 1,000 more MW of solar panelling by the end of 2015.

Although the initial installation rate was slow for residential homes and businesses in China, the National Energy Administration has stepped up to help distribute more solar projects and subsidies to schools and hospitals. Continuing efforts will ensure that more residences across the country switch to using solar energy.

Solar power energy is increasing worldwide and becoming more efficient for residences and businesses alike. With continuing advances, solar energy will take the place of nuclear energy in the near future.

Apple reports biggest quarterly profit ever made by a public company

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Apple reports biggest quarterly profit ever made by a public company

Apple has posted the biggest quarterly profit ever made by a public company.

The giant tech reported a net profit of $18 billion in its fiscal first quarter, which tops the $15.9 billion made by ExxonMobil in Q2 2012, according to Standard and Poor’s.

Record sales of iPhones were behind the surge in profits.

Apple sold 74.5 million iPhones in the three months to December 27 – well ahead of most analysts’ expectations.

In a conference call with financial analysts Apple’s chief executive Tim Cook said that demand for phones was “staggering”.

However, sales of the iPad continued to disappoint, falling by 18% in 2014 from a year earlier.

The demand for Apple’s larger iPhone 6 Plus model appeared to help boost profits and increase the iPhone’s gross profit margin – or how much Apple makes per phone – by 2% to 39.9%.Apple biggest profit in history

However, Apple did not give a breakdown of sales for the iPhone 6 and other models.

Apple shares rose more than 5% in trading after the US markets had closed.

Apple’s revenue grew to $74.6 billion in 2014 – a 30% increase from a year earlier.

However, on a conference call to discuss earnings, Tim Cook complained of “fierce foreign exchange volatility”, which added Apple to a growing list of US firms who have been hurt by the strong dollar abroad.

Apple said that currency fluctuations shaved 4% from its Q1 2015 revenue.

Sales in greater China hit $16 billion in 2014 – a 70% increase from a year earlier, and almost equaling the $17 billion in sales the company recorded in Europe last year.

A report by research firm Canalys released on Tuesday said that Apple had overtaken competitors to become China’s number one seller of smartphones by units shipped in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Apple also said that its newest product, the Apple Watch, was still on schedule and would begin shipping in April.

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Kim Jong-un to visit Russia in May

Diane A. Wade
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Kim Jong-un to visit Russia in May

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has accepted an invitation to Moscow in May, South Korea’s Yonhap reports.

The news agency cites a written response from the Kremlin, but says it does not mention Kim Jong-un by name.

Yonhap quotes a Unification Ministry official as saying the reference to the leader could be ambiguous, as Kim Yong-un is the nominal head of state.

Kim Jong-un has not made any overseas visits since taking power in North Korea in late 2011.

His first destination will been keenly watched for what it might indicate about his policies and strategy.

Earlier this month, reports emerged suggesting Russia could be the recipient of Kim Jong-un’s first official visit.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told journalists on January 21 that Russia had invited Kim Jong-un to the May 9 celebrations to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two.Kim Jong un to visit Russia in May

He said that the “first signal was positive” from the North Korean government.

Yonhap news agency said the response from the Russian presidential office confirmed that North Korea’s leader was among heads of state from 20 nations who had confirmed plans to attend.

However, the response did not specify Kim Jong-un by name and said: “The list of attendees has not been finalized yet, as we continue a process of confirming the attendance of those invited,” Yonhap reported.

There has been no statement from North Korea. Kim Yong-un, whose official title is president of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, has more traditionally represented North Korea at overseas events.

Visits by Kim Jong-un’s late father, Kim Jong-il, were never announced ahead of his departure.

The late Kim Jong-il visited Russia in August 2011, shortly before his death. But he paid more regular visits to China which, under his leadership, was seen as Pyongyang’s closest ally.

If Kim Jong-un did choose to visit Moscow ahead of Beijing, the decision would be seen as significant – and as a snub to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In recent years, China has come under pressure from Japan, South Korea and the US to exert more pressure on Pyongyang over its nuclear program.

Beijing has, on some occasions, expressed exasperation with its northern neighbor via official media channels.

It also backed UN resolutions strengthening sanctions on Pyongyang after its recent missile and nuclear tests in 2013.

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