Dollar caught in crossfire as Trump talks currency wars

People walk past an electronic board showing stock prices outside a brokerage at a business district in Tokyo, Japan, January 23, 2017. Photo: REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon The dollar was put on the defensive in Asia on Wednesday after the Trump administration accused Germany and Japan of devaluing their currencies to gain a trade advantage, fuelling a risk-off mood that also kept stocks subdued.

Dureza wants to retain gov’t truce despite Reds withdrawal

THE Duterte administration respects the decision of the New People Army’s to withdraw its unilateral ceasefire with the government, Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Jesus Dureza said on Wednesday. “We respect their decision,” Dureza said in a statement, in reaction to NPA’s move to cancel its truce with the government.

DOST-Bicol’s SETUP grants P15M to 21 MSMEs

By Philippine News Agency Some 21 micro, small and medium enterprises in the Bicol Region received P15.15 million to become the first batch of recipients of the fund for this year under the Department of Science and Technology – Bicol’s banner program called “Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program” or SETUP. The fund, which was handed over to the “new technology-adoptor-beneficiaries” by DOST-Bicol Director Tomas B. Brinas, is in the amount of P15,152,494, said Dr. Rafaelita Lucena, public information officer of DOST-Bicol.

Alfie Mawson celebrates his first half opener at the Liberty Stadium last night. PICTURE: PA Wire.

Goals from Alfie Mawson and Gylfi Sigurdsson secured back to back Premier League wins for Swansea City for the first time this season – and continued the club’s recent revival under new manager Paul Clement. And fittingly, the goals came from the home side’s two best players on the night, with the outstanding Mawson heading in a Sigurdsson corner to give his side a half time lead, and after Shane Long levelled in the second half for the visitors, it was the Icelander who proved the match-winner as he volleyed home debutant Luciano Narsingh’s cross.

Bristol to be ‘badly hit’ by Brexit, as figures reveal two-thirds of exports go to the EU

Politicians from Bristol’s opposition parties have urged Theresa May to ditch her plans for a hard Brexit after it was revealed that two-thirds of the city’s exports are sold to countries within the European Union. According to the Cities Outlook report, Bristol is the third-most reliant city in the country on the European market, with 66 per cent of our 2014 exports heading to EU members, putting it behind only Plymouth and Exeter.

Sri Lanka arrest astrologer who predicted president’s death

Most Sri Lankans follow advises of astrologers for making decisions, and the suspect, astrologer Vijitha Rohana Wijemuni, is a former navy sailor convicted of attempting to assassinate India’s then-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi by assaulting him when he visited the island in 1989. The Police Media Division said Wijemuni was arrested Tuesday evening on the charges of making false predictions and comments that could mislead people.

Politics | The Banality of Trump: Guest MINDSETTERa Geoff Schoos

The past ten days have seemed like a lifetime, with each hour presenting us with some new Executive Order addressing a controversial public topic. Whether the Affordable Care Act, the “Wall” on the US/Mexico border, or just a few days ago the ban on entry into the United States, it becomes increasingly evident that this administration is ruling by executive fiat rather than by any sense of a Constitutional process and rule of law.

Administrator to meet with Stevenson staff

A meeting is to be held with staff at Maurice Stevenson Ltd today after the company was placed into administration earlier this week – putting 33 jobs at risk. Maurice Stevenson Limited , one of Northern Ireland’s longest established mechanical installation firms, has appointed Administrator Gerard Gildernew to assess the options available in respect of the business.

Last chance for holiday fun

Most schools go back next week so this weekend will be the last part of the holidays for many students. It’s great to see that there are plenty of young people going fishing, getting a lot of pleasure from it and making the most of their school holidays.

Bolt rediscovers form and his love of tennis

The 24-year-old from Murray Bridge has only recently returned to the court following a year away from the sport but has made an immediate impact. Bolt has been one of the in-form players so far at the 2017 Caterpillar Burnie International and said it was a tough decision to take a break from tennis but it had paid off so far following his return.

Roche 2016 core net profit up 7 pct to 12.7 billion Sfr

Feb 1 Roche on Wednesday reported full-year core net income rose 7 percent at constant exchange rates, just shy of analyst expectations, as the company continued to launch new drugs it hopes will offset looming patent expirations on older medicines. Core net income rose to 12.7 billion Swiss francs , Roche said, compared to the average 12.8 billion franc estimate by analysts in a Reuters poll.

BRIEF-Lonza Group raises 865 mln Sfr from bookbuilding, shares placed 173 Sfr per share

Addressing parliament, Jaitley called his fourth budget one for the poor. Yet, while vowing prudent fiscal management, he also raised his 2017/18 federal deficit target to 3.2 percent of gross domestic product to cov TOKYO, Feb 1 Japan’s top government spokesman said on Wednesday there is no change to the government’s stance that it will take steps on foreign exchange when it deems it necessary.

Video Pick: Robben’s left foot part of Bundesliga golazos

Arjen Robben ‘s golden left foot features in the Top 5 Bundesliga goals of the week, as does a fantastic Hoffenheim passing sequence finished by Nadiem Amiri , a David Alaba free kick for Bayern Munich following Thomas Mueller ‘s distraction, a rocket from Ingolstadt’s Pascal Gross , and a 35-yard blast from Hamburg SV’s Gotoku Sakai.

No smoking

Year 8 pupils from Cyfarthfa High School in Merthyr Tydfil have designed posters to try and stop people smoking outside their hospitals On a crisp afternoon a group of school children stand outside Prince Charles Hospital holding their handmade no smoking posters. As ambulances pull up outside the Merthyr Tydfil A&E department, the 10 and 11 year-olds watch as patients and visitors light up, puffing smoke into the air.

‘I hate paedos and now I have become one’: Pervert’s…

A depraved paedophile who sexually abused a young girl up to four times a week called himself a “monster” in sick text messages to his victim, a court has heard. In one of the messages to the girl, who was abused when she was aged eight and nine, Calum Adams wrote: “I hate paedos and now I have become one.”