Month: January 2017

Let’s Play 2: NBA heads to London, Mexico City on Thursday

The league will play somewhat of a unique doubleheader Thursday with games in London and Mexico City, the first time it will stage multiple international games in different countries on the same day in the regular season. Indiana and Denver are the new teams getting to take what’s become an annual trip to Britain, while the Phoenix Suns will be hosting the first of a two-game trip south of the border.

In 2016, David Bowie died

On Jan. 10, 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson, in his State of the Union address, asked Congress to impose a surcharge on both corporate and individual income taxes to help pay for his “Great Society” programs as well as the war in Vietnam. That same day, Massachusetts Republican Edward W. Brooke, the first black elected to the U.S. Senate by popular vote, took his seat.

VietJet CEO says net profit to climb 30 pct in 2017

Jan 10 Private Vietnamese airline VietJet expects net profit to climb 30 percent in 2017, after its bottomline almost doubled over the past 12 months, founder and CEO Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao said in an interview on Tuesday. Thao said the budget airline’s pre-tax profit rose 91.6 percent year-on-year in 2016 to 2.3 trillion dong .

Recruitment firm Robert Walters’ FY gross profit rises 9 pct

Jan 10 Robert Walters reported a 9 percent rise in full-year gross profit on a constant currency basis and said pretax profit for the year would be slightly ahead of market expectations. The company, which places people in finance, engineering, legal and marketing jobs, reported higher quarterly gross profit, driven by growth in all its regions and said UK gross profit rose 16 percent to 23.1 million pounds in the three months ended Dec. 31. Robert Walters, which makes nearly two-thirds of its gross profit outside the UK, said in a trading statement on Tuesday that it had entered two new countries with the opening of offices in Canada and Portugal.

CNOOC diverted two LNG cargoes from Tianjin after pipeline fire -traders

Jan 10 China’s state-owned energy company CNOOC diverted two cargoes of imported liquefied natural gas after a pipeline fire in northern China’s Tianjin, though imports were normal as of Monday, traders with knowledge of the matter said on Tuesday. Reuters reported on Dec. 28 that a natural gas pipeline was in Tianjin was closed after it ruptured and caught fire.

Brexit Bulletin: Orderly or Disorderly?

Investors may need to move beyond them too, after spending much of 2016 trying to guess if the prime minister would go hard or soft . British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks to members of the Charity Commision for England and Wales at The Royal Society on January 09, 2017 in London.

Inside the tourist centre giving unemployed youths new direction

The Hunter Valley Tourist Centre in New South Wales is normally a hub for wine tasting and getting directions, but is now offering career routes for the region’s unemployed youth thanks to an innovative employment program. The Cessnock Council-run program at the visitor centre provides on-the-spot training and courses, such as the Responsible Service of Alcohol , to young people searching for employment.

Beauty queen Anastasia Lin won’t back down

When she entered Miss World 2016, the Canadian was under no illusions about coming home with the crown. Getting on stage would be enough: the final is broadcast around the globe, including in her native China, where her father has been harassed and prevented from leaving since 2015.

Sea Piracy Plunges to 18-Year Low but Kidnappings Rise

Sea piracy plunged to its lowest levels in 18 years in 2016, but kidnappings of crew members for ransom is escalating off west Africa and in the Sulu Seas near the Philippines , a global maritime watchdog said Tuesday. The International Maritime Bureau said in its annual report that 191 piracy incidents were recorded worldwide, down from 246 in 2015 and the lowest level since 1998.

Oil recovers some of its recent losses

Oil markets edged higher today on expectations that at least some planned production cuts would be implemented, making a slight recovery from big losses the previous day over doubts the agreed reductions would rebalance an oversupplied market. Brent crude futures, the international benchmark for oil prices, were trading at $55.14 per barrel early this morning, up 20 cents from their last close.

Naomie Harris is widely tipped to get a Bafta best supporting actress nod

The EE British Academy Film Awards, the biggest awards show outside the US, attracts Hollywood A-listers as well as home-grown talent. Skyfall star Naomie Harris is considered a favourite for a best supporting actress nod for her role as a crack addict in coming-of-age drama Moonlight, while Andrew Garfield will be hoping for a best actor nomination for his performance as a combat medic in Mel Gibson’s Second World War film Hacksaw Ridge.

Move over Washington, Moscow is coming to the Philippines

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gestures with Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev and other officials at the anti-submarine navy ship Admiral Tributs at the south pier in Metro Manila, Philippines Jan 6, 2017. Source: Reuters/Noel Celis/Pool No longer is the United States influencing the region as it once did, leaving space for Russia and China to fill the void.

Rail trail donation box stolen

Port Fairy police are appealing for witnesses after the box, estimated to have contained up to $500 in cash, was cut away from a metal pole sometime between Tuesday, January 3 and Saturday, January 7. Leading senior constable Glenn McDuff said the metal pole attached to the donation box had been cut with a tool such as a hacksaw or battery-operated metal grinder.

NK leader’s public activity in decline since 2013: data

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s public activity has been on the decline since 2013 as he is seen to have established his power base, reducing the need to show his presence publicly, a Seoul government official said Tuesday. The North’s leader conducted public activities on 132 occasions in 2016, down 14 percent from the previous year, according to the data compiled by South Korea’s unification ministry.

Korea to spend W937.2b won in 2017 for Winter Olympic preparations

South Korea plans to spend 937.2 billion won this year in support for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games preparations, the sports ministry said Tuesday. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said its 2017 budget for the Olympic preparations is down 49.4 percent from 2016, due largely to a decrease in costs of facility construction that has entered the final stretch.

BSF rejects jawans claims, alleges soldier has ‘troubled past’

Jammu , Jan. 9 : The Border Security Force on Monday rejected claims made by a soldier, who in a shared video complained of poor treatment and lack of food supplies, clarifying that even though conditions for soldiers were tough they were provided with regular rations while asserting that the jawan in particular had a troubled past. [NK India] “Mentioned BSF Constable who has uploaded his selfie declarations on his Facebook page is posted in a Battalion deployed on Line of Control.

Akhilesh will Up CM after elections: Mulayam Singh Yadav

Lucknow, Jan 9 : Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Monday said there is no rift between him and his son and made it clear that Akhilesh Yadav will be the Chief Minister after the election. [NK India] Speaking to mediapersons, he said, Akhilesh will be the Chief Minister after the election.

Poster of film ‘Alif’ releases

Mumbai, Jan 9 : Poster of award winning film ‘Alif-Ladna nahi padhna zaroori hai,’ narrated by Jaya Bachchan, released on Monday. [NK Bollywood] The film is written and directed by Zaigham Imam and produced by Pawan Tiwari and Zaigham Imam.

Security Council strongly condemns terrorist attack in Jerusalem that kills four Israelis

New York, Jan 9 : The Security Council has strongly denounced the terrorist attack in Jerusalem yesterday, in which four Israelis were killed and 15 injured. [NK Middle East] In a press statement issued overnight, the Council condemned in the strongest terms the attack and reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.

UN agency seeks $813 million to support Palestine refugees fleeing…

New York, Jan 9 : With Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory – including East Jerusalem – and those who have fled the conflict in Syria, facing humanitarian crises, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East today launched an $813 million emergency aid appeal. [NK Middle East] Speaking to UN News, Pierre Krhenbhl, the Commissioner General for UNRWA said: Palestine refugees are among the worst affected by the conflict.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly receives death threat

Kolkata, Jan 9 : Former captain of Indian cricket team and current president of Cricket Association of Bengal , Sourav Ganguly, on Monday claimed that he has received a letter with death threat. [NK Cricket] According to reports, an anonymous letter was sent to his address via courier on Jan 5, where he was threatened to be killed if Sourav visits West Medinipur in future.

Yemen: EU-UN partnership to target ‘alarming’ food insecurity

New York, Jan 10 : With 14 million people in Yemen lacking reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food, the European Union has committed 12 million euros to assist the efforts of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization to tackle rising hunger in the strife-torn Gulf of Aden country. [NK Middle East] This is one of the worlds worst humanitarian crises.

Mixed bag at carnival

COUNTRY week cricket continues this week, with teams from the Wimmera in Portland to compete in the under-13 carnival. Teams have been sent to represent the Horsham, Wimmera-Mallee and West Wimmera Cricket Associations.

Haiti: UN-supported supply system provides clean water to remote community

New York, Jan 10 : A new drinking water distribution system, partly funded by the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti , is now providing safe water for the people of Los Palis – a community in the district of Hinche, located in the centre of the island nation. [NK World] A remote area mainly consisting of dry mountains, Los Palis is located 15 minutes away from the city centre of Hinche.

Trump’s Man in Indonesia to Boost Ties With Theme Park, Racing Track

Indonesian tycoon Hary Tanoesoedibjo says he’s fending off potential rivals to his pact with the Trump Organization by building new projects such as a motorbike-racing track and Disneyland-like theme park to cement the alliance. Tanoesoedibjo’s MNC Group, which is redeveloping two Indonesian resorts to be managed by the company owned by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, is open to more joint ventures given his existing relationship and access.

Ceres Negros, 7 other FCs join PFL

NEGROS Occidental’s Ceres Negros FC and seven other professional football clubs have officially signed up with the country’s first national premier league, the Philippines Football League , set to kick off in March or early April. After the Philippine Football Federation introduced PFL last year, the teams that have confirmed their participation are last year’s United Football League double champions Global FC, UFL runner-up Ceres Negros FC, Stallion FC, Loyola Meralco Sparks FC, Kaya FC, Green Archers United FC, and JP Voltes FC.

Pacete: Other stories in Negros

THEN and now, our province has nonpareil stories to tella Don Juan tragedy, Kanlaon eruption, the unforgotten massacre, the Swanson kidnapping, and more. These stories are always retold in whisper in gatherings to give color to the special event.

No train services south of Prachuap Khiri Khan

With a section of the rail track between Bang Saphan Yai and Cha Muang railway stations in Prachuap Khiri Khan province flooded and impassable, the State Railway of Thailand has suspended most southern rail services. The announcement was made by the SRT’s public relations office on Facebook on Tuesday.

Stephens, Cirelli biggest names traded in OHL

Centres Mitchell Stephens and Anthony Cirelli, who won silver for Canada together at the world junior hockey championship, were two of the biggest names moved on Monday as the Ontario Hockey League’s trade deadline approaches. Stephens was traded by the Saginaw Spirit to the London Knights for four second-round picks between the 2018 and 2020 OHL Priority Selection Drafts and three third-round picks between 2017 and 2021.

Berlina s Brandenburg Gate lit up in solidarity with Israeli truck-ramming victims

The famous Brandenburg Gate in Berlin was lit up in the colors of Israel’s flag in solidarity with the victims of Sunday’s terror attack in Jerusalem that took the lives of four Israeli soldiers. The symbolic gesture on Monday by the Berlin Senate came about in part due to efforts by Green Party Bundestag member Volker Beck and a petition started by a member of the Jewish community.

NZ’s luckiest Lotto town revealed

Kiwi punters may wish to buy their next Lotto ticket in Otorohanga, after the Waikato district was named the country’s “luckiest” area for 2016. On average Otorohanga District residents won about $1526 per capita, almost $600 more than the second most prosperous area .

Cuomo: NY can show the nation an alternative to Trump

” New York state must stand as an alternative to Donald Trump, showing the nation that tolerance, progressive policies like a higher minimum wage and investments in education can create an economy that works for all, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday. Without mentioning the Republican president-elect by name, Cuomo, a Democrat, said it is up to New York to find a different way to address the middle-class angst that propelled Trump to the White House.