London shares lose 5% during 2015

The 100 share index has ended the year lower than it started, for the fourth time in the past 10 years.

In the traditional half day New Year's Eve session, the index closed at 6,242, down 32 points or 0.5% on the day, and 5% down on the start of the year.

The market's fall has been due to the preponderance of international gas, oil and mining shares in the 100 index.

Their businesses have been hit by the huge drop in commodity prices in the past year.

The FTSE-100 index has also ended the year 12% below its record level recorded in April this year of 7,104.

Steve Clayton, head of equity research at the investment firm Hargreaves Lansdown, said: "It has been a fairly polarised year - weakness in share prices has been a second-half phenomenon."

"Staying away from the mining and energy market stocks, it has been a quite an even story," he added.

The value of the 100 share index also fell in the calendar years 2008, 2011 and 2014.

Reinvested dividends

According to figures from the Bloomberg financial information service, £100 invested at the start of the year in the broader FTSE All-Share index, which covers all publicly listed companies, would now be worth 2% less.

But if dividends from those shares had been reinvested then a shareholder would still have seen the value of their holdings rise by 1.4% in the past year.

This reflects the fact that the income from share dividends across the whole of the UK stock market currently offers investors a yield of more than 3.5% year.

This is highly attractive compared to the nugatory returns that savers receive on their short- and medium-term cash savings accounts.

"If you have been trying to live off your interest you have been living from hand-to-mouth" Mr Clayton said.

According to Ben Kumar, at Seven Investment Management, outside of the mining and energy sectors it has in fact not been a bad year for stock market investors,

"Shares in the FTSE 250 index [covering the 250 biggest shares beyond those in the 100 index] have risen by about 8.5% this year, as the index is based more on consumer and UK focussed stocks", he said.

"By comparison, only 25% of FTSE 100 revenues come from the UK," he added.

But Steve Clayton at Hargreaves Lansdown pointed out that investors relying on dividend income might suffer a "sting in the tail" from the fall in revenues faced by the big gas, oil and mining firms.

These have traditionally been big dividend payers.

"These sorts of companies make up 13% of the All-Share index, and their dividend yields are running high at the moment," Mr Clayton said.

"But this year both Glencore and Anglo American abolished their dividends [to save cash] which shows that other firms' dividends may be cut too."

Source: BBC

None of my ministers is corrupt – Buhari (Nigerian President)

PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI (M) ANSWERING QUESTION FROM A PANEL OF JOURNALIST

ABUJA—President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, made a robust defence of the integrity of all 36 ministers in his cabinet challenging anyone with a contrary view to present evidence against such a minister.

Speaking in his first media chat, the president said the first gains of the war against corruption would become evident by the end of March, next year, even as he accused erstwhile National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) of having allegedly committed atrocities against Nigeria through reckless disbursement of billions of government funds.

The president made his first dismissal of the agitation for Biafra stating that Igbo were in strategic position in the cabinet including holding the petroleum and labour portfolios besides the stewardship of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

President Buhari also assured of the administration’s readiness to implement the N5,000 monthly transfer to vulnerable Nigerians even as he said the campaign promise did not emanate from him but from his then running mate, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo. He also frowned at the allocation of N47.7 billion for the purchase of vehicles by the National Assembly even after the lawmakers had collected car loans from the government.

The president, who expressed his readiness to negotiate with any credible leadership of the Boko Haram sect for the release of the kidnapped Chibok girls also disclosed his readiness to consider a ban on the use of hijab should the trend of bombing through young veiled girls continue.

Noting the dire economic conditions facing the country, President Buhari was, nevertheless, against the immediate devaluation of the naira even as he revealed that N1.5 trillion had been recovered into the federation account through the implementation of the Treasury Single Account.

The president also spoke on the fate of the Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, saying that he had allowed the Kaduna State government and the military authorities to take the lead in the investigations. He affirmed that the cleric had over time overstepped his bounds to the distress of the communities he lived.

On the panel that interviewed the president yesterday were Kayode Akintemi, Channels TV; Dr. Ngozi Anyaegbulam, Media World International; Munir Dan Ali, Daily Trust and Ibanga Isine, Premium Times.

On the ministers

“I don’t think I tolerate corruption, I don’t think I picked anybody that I know will embarrass my government. But if you have any evidence about any of my ministers, I accept responsibility for the 36 ministers that I have".

“I don’t think I took anybody among the ministers who has got a case in court. Tell me one out of the 36. I don’t think I will deliberately make that mistake.”

Asked if he would sack any of the ministers if he or she is charged to court for corruption, he said:

“No, I will insist that the case go through the courts.”

On the location and condition of the Chibok girls, he said he would be prepared to negotiate with credible elements in the Boko Haram leadership if there is precise intelligence that could help return the girls to their parents. He, however, affirmed that presently he did not superior intelligence on the fate of the girls.

“We are still keeping our options open. If a credible leadership of Boko Haram can be established and they tell us where those girls are, we are prepared to negotiate with them without any pre-condition. This we have made absolutely clear. But while they are keeping the Chibok girls, they must not get away with the idea that we will not attempt to secure the rest of Nigeria”.

“We have no firm intelligence on where they are physically and what condition they are in. But what we believe from our intelligence, they keep taking the girls around, they are not keeping all the girls in one place, we don’t know how many divisions they made of them and where they are.

On the crisis in Kaduna involving followers of the Shite leader, Sheikh El-Zakzaky, he said:

“I expect the Kaduna State Government to set up a judicial inquiry because it happened in Kaduna, in one of the cities and it has been there for the last twenty years from what I have been reading from papers. They will occupy a federal highway, sometimes from Kano to Kaduna. This is what I heard”.

“We have a system of investigation, the military that was involved too have a tradition of investigation and I am the head of the federal government, I have to wait for the official report before I can come out as head of the federal government and make a statement. So I am allowing the Army and the Kaduna State government to submit their report of inquiry. Meanwhile it does not mean that the police, the SSS and other directorate involved are not doing their own part of constitutional role.”

Frowning at the activities of the group, he said:

“Unfortunately it is very serious. How can any group proclaim statehood in a state? I don’t want to speak about it in details now, I better leave it still after the report of the inquiry but there are a number of clips I saw, where some excited teenagers were visually hitting the chest of a general, mounting road blocks and threatening them with missiles.”

On the contentious issue of subsidy, the president said that by the end of the next quarter that there would be no more talk about subsidy in the price of petroleum.

Money recovered

“Money has been recovered but whatever we recover, has to end up in court because I feel personally that Nigerians are entitled to know the truth and the truth will be what the court has discovered by the submission made to them in terms of documentation and the documentation includes the bank statement of where our money was lodged, when it was lodged and how much. Whether it is petrol from NNPC or Customs and Excise or money directly from the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

Told that he was limited in his disclosure of his assets, the president said that he had declared his assets at least four times in the past.

The president expressed reservation on proposals by the National Assembly to commit N47.7 billion to purchase new vehicles after members had collected car loans from the government.

N5,000 monthly stipend for the less privileged

“When my VP was quoted, how can I come here and disown it? First, I believe in getting facts, how many are involved? How are we going to do it? Is it state by state or geo-political zone by geo-political zone? In trying to get the bottom of the problem, a lot of work has to be done and if it is undertaken, we have to look at it very well.”

On Dasuki, Kanu and others

Asked on the alleged flouting of court orders by the state on the issue of Dasuki and detained Biafran agitator, Nnamdi Kanu, he said:

“Technically, if you see the kind of atrocities those people committed, if they jump bail? I am sorry to say this publicly…the former president just wrote to the governor of the CBN and said give N40 billion to someone while you have two million Internally Displaced Persons, what kind of country do you want to run?”

“The one you called Kanu, do you know he has two passports? One Nigerian, one British and he came to this country without using any passport? Do you know that he brought sophisticated equipment into this country and started broadcasting for Radio Biafra? There is a treasonable charge against him and I hope the court will listen to the case.”

Biafra and marginalisation of Ndigbo

“They say they are marginalised but they have not defined the extent of marginalisation. Who is marginalising them? Where? Do you know? Choosing a minister is not a matter of ethnicity, it is a matter of the constitution. I am limited by what the constitution says that there must be a member of the executive council from each state. There is a lot of partisan politics in it. Who is the Minister of State for Petroleum? Is he not an Igbo? Who is the governor of the CBN? Is he not an Igbo? Who is the Minister of Labour? Who is the Minister of Science and Technology? What do they want? I stood elections and I won, I am limited by the constitution, I have a member of every state in the Federal Executive Council and I have to listen to them when I sit as chairman. That is the limit the constitution gave me”.

Asked if he would consider banning the use of hijab in the face of the continued use of veiled girls in suicide missions in the Northeast, the president said:

“Placing ban on hijab is not enough. However, if this continues it will be banned. Because it is for the safety of the people generally.”

Source: Vanguard

Jurgen Klopp shrugs off Sam Allardyce 'soft German' jibe

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has played down Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce calling him a "soft German".

Allardyce made the remark after Klopp said Sunderland's Jeremain Lens should have been sent off for a late tackle on Mamadou Sakho during Liverpool's 1-0 win at Sunderland on Wednesday.

"It's not a problem," said Klopp. "A lot of people have said worse things about me. It's not the first time.

"If you see the situation again then you know that I was not too wrong."

Reds staff became involved in heated exchanges with their Black Cats counterparts on the sideline in the aftermath of the challenge.

Lens was booked, while Sakho was able to finish the match.

Klopp added: "So Mama is alive and everything is OK. That's all I want to say. But I had no arguments with the bench at Sunderland."

Klopp on West Ham approach

Liverpool's win at the Stadium of Light lifted them up to seventh in the table, five points off a top-four spot.

On Saturday they visit West Ham, whose co-owner David Sullivan revealed the club approached Klopp last summer about becoming their manager, before appointing Slaven Bilic.

"In the summer, I was not available. I'm sure I should say not too much about this," said Klopp.

"I'm lucky I had a lot of interest. West Ham is a good club but it was the wrong time, like all the clubs who approached me.

"Everything is OK. The Hammers. More my second name than 'soft'."

Source: BBC

B.Reith Releases New Freestyle TEST TEST Freestyle "Let's Ride" teases new music

B.Reith has released a new freestyle titled "Let's Ride" in which he teases upcoming new music.

It's been three years since B.Reith's last full release, How The Story Continues Vol 1. The freestyle references the creative and personal desert the artist went through while also looking towards new music to come next year.

"Let's Ride" follows up a mixtape single B.Reith created and released a few weeks ago with friends and fellow artists Beleaf and Christon Gray (listen and download here: http://www.breith.com/news).

Source: NRT

Turbulence on Air Canada flight from China injures 21

A Canada-bound airliner was forced to make an emergency landing after severe turbulence injured 21 passengers, including three children, officials said.

The Air Canada flight from Shanghai to Toronto was diverted to Calgary after the turbulence hit.

Eight passengers suffered neck and back injuries and 13 more were taken to hospital for observation.

The injured were in a stable condition, an emergency services spokesman said.

Bing Feng, a passenger, described hearing "lots of screaming" as the plane became "like a rollercoaster".

Another passenger, Yi Lee, said: "To start with it was just OK, normal just up and down, and all of a sudden it was really violent and just shaking everybody.

Analysis: Richard Westcott, transport correspondent, BBC News

Even enthusiastic fliers like me can get nervous when there is some chunky turbulence around. But although people can get hurt if they aren't strapped in, turbulence doesn't crash airplanes.

Lots of things can cause turbulence, but pilots can often predict when it's coming, so they can either avoid it or put on the fasten seat-belt signs. And aircraft are built to withstand even the worst excesses of mother nature. Wings are bent until they snap, hulls are tested by attacking them with artificial lightning strikes. In the most extreme examples, turbulence could potentially damage an aircraft, but it won't knock it out of the sky.

There is a brilliant blog about it here. It points out that most of the small number of injuries each year are to flight crews. It also says that the best place to sit if you hate turbulence is over the wings - and the worst place is at the back.

Follow Richard on Twitter

"Suddenly the flight is just going down and everything is really scary. The girl sitting next to me, she was sleeping and she just fly up [to the ceiling]."

Gord Murray, a frequent flyer, said the turbulence was the worst he'd ever experienced.

Some passengers were taken off the plane strapped to stretchers. Emergency Medical Services spokesman Stuart Brideaux said the injuries were limited to non-life-threatening neck and back injuries.

Air Canada's chief operating officer Klaus Goersch said the passengers had been through a "very unsettling experience".

He praised the crew's response and said some of the injured had been quickly discharged.

The Boeing 777 with 332 passengers and 19 crew on board landed at Calgary without further incident, the airline said in a statement.

Source: BBC

New Year: Celebrations begin to mark start of 2016

Fireworks lit up the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge

The world has begun celebrating the New Year, with revellers in Australia and New Zealand among the first to usher in 2016.

Crowds counted down the last seconds of 2015 at Auckland's Sky Tower in New Zealand at 1100 GMT, with a laser show and fireworks display.

Up to 25,000 people had been expected to turn up for the festivities.

In Australia, fireworks lit up Sydney harbour at midnight (13:00 GMT). A million were expected to turn up.

Auckland marked New Year with fireworks at the Sky Tower

New Zealand welcomed in 2016 an hour after Samoa and Kiribati, the first countries to ring in the New Year.

A special New Year artwork in Amritsar, India

As the New Year sweeps across Asia, major cities like Hong Kong, Singapore and Beijing will kick off their own celebrations.

Photographers prepared to capture fireworks at the Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taiwan

In Egypt, festivities will be staged in front of the pyramids near Cairo, as the government works to revive its tourist industry.

A parade on the island of Bali, Indonesia

Meanwhile, in Dubai, an extravagant display will illuminate the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, with 400,000 LED lights and 1.6 tons of fireworks set to be used.

When 2016 hits Europe, approximately one million people will countdown at the Brandenburg Gate in Germany's capital, Berlin.

Despite security fears across the continent, many major public events are going ahead, though with heightened security restrictions.

In Madrid, only 25,000 people will be allowed into the Puerta del Sol Square. More than 100,000 people are expected to watch the Mayor of London's fireworks show, a ticketed event.

Over in Sierra Leone, the declared end of Ebola will mark a return to festivities, after Freetown, the capital, was left deserted a year ago due to the disease's outbreak.

As 2016 finally reaches the Americas, up to a million people are expected to converge on Times Square in New York, amid tight security, to watch the famous ball descend.

On Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Beach, crowds will not only mark the New Year - they will also fete the 100th anniversary of Samba music, and the upcoming summer Olympics.

Source: BBC

Brussels police detain six over 'New Year terror plot'

Security on the Champs-Elysees in Paris is tight

Police in Belgium have detained a further six people in connection with an alleged plot to target Brussels on New Year's Eve, prosecutors say.

Cities around the world have heightened security measures as New Year celebrations get under way.

Belgian police detained the six during raids at locations in and around the Belgian capital on Thursday. Two men were arrested earlier in the week.

The city's main fireworks display has been cancelled over the feared plot.

Moscow's normally crowded Red Square will be closed

The two men seized in Brussels on Sunday morning, named as 30-year-old Said Saouti and 27-year-old Mohammed Karay, both Belgian nationals, can be held for another month, a judge ruled on Thursday.

Both are members of a motorcycle club called the Kamikaze Riders. Some members have links to Islamist groups and to Belgians who have travelled to Syria to fight with so-called Islamic State, Belgian media report.

It is not clear whether the six taken in for questioning on Thursday morning are also connected to the motorcycle club.

Brussels is on high alert

Police seized material during Thursday's raids including computers, phones and materials for playing airsoft - a type of military simulation game in which replica weapons firing plastic pellets are used.

Separately, Belgian police arrested a tenth suspect over the 13 November Paris attacks, in which 130 people were killed.

The Belgian national, identified as Ayoub B, was detained on Wednesday during a raid in the Brussels district of Molenbeek. He has been charged with terrorist murder and participation in the activities of a terrorist group.

Authorities say the apparent plots to target New Year celebrations are not related to the suspected network behind the Paris attacks.

The Mayor of Brussels, Yvan Mayeur, said the decision to cancel the city's New Year celebrations was based on intelligence suggesting they could be targeted.

Extra measures

Security is being stepped up in other major European cities ahead of New Year celebrations, including Paris, London, Berlin and Moscow, with officials wary of possible terror plots.

Meanwhile in Turkey, security services say they have thwarted a major plot to attack celebrations in Ankara.

Earlier this week, Austrian police claimed a "friendly intelligence service" had tipped them off that major European capitals were at risk of being attacked over the holiday period.

The French capital has also cancelled its main New Year fireworks display but the traditional gathering on the Champs-Elysees will take place, amid tight security.

Projections on the Arc de Triomphe will be shorter than normal and four giant screens will be placed at intervals to avoid creating tightly packed crowds.

Arrests in Ankara

On Wednesday, Turkish police arrested two suspected IS members over an alleged plot to attack celebrations in Ankara.

State media said they were planning two separate attacks on crowded areas. Suicide vests and explosives were found during police raids.

Security will also be stepped up in Istanbul, with local media reports saying that some officers will be wearing Father Christmas outfits and other disguises to patrol crowds undetected.

Red Square closed

Security is also being tightened in cities where the authorities say there is no specific intelligence about a possible attack.

Authorities in Moscow will completely close off Red Square, where crowds normally count down to midnight.

Berlin bag ban

In Berlin, backpacks and fireworks will be prohibited and bags searched on the "party mile" leading up to the Brandenburg Gate.

Up to a million people are expected to attend the celebration.

Berlin's interior minister Frank Henkel encouraged party-goers to not allow fear to sour their celebratory mood. "Caution is a good counsellor, fear is not," he told broadcaster RBB.

Precautions in London

London's Metropolitan Police will deploy 3,000 officers in the inner city, including extra armed officers.

More than 100,000 people are expected to watch the Mayor of London's fireworks show, a ticketed event.

"Our plans are purely precautionary and not as a result of any specific intelligence," said a spokesperson.

Asia drills

Australian officials had assured revellers that thousands of extra police would patrol major cities, but urged residents to celebrate. "Don't change your way of life," said Melbourne's Lord Mayor Robert Doyle.

The US embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh, warned its citizens of "possible attacks" against hotels and clubs in the city in connection with New Year's Eve celebrations.

And a number of other cities around the world have been put on high alert or called up additional police officers, including Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur and New Delhi, where police and anti-terror squads conducted mock terror drills this week.

Source: BBC

Leicester City missed the chance to return to the top of the Premier League as they played out a goalless draw with Manchester City at the King Power Stadium.

Claudio Ranieri's side can take great heart, however, from a highly impressive response to only their second league defeat of the season at Liverpool on Boxing Day - but Arsenal stay top on goal difference.

Leicester and Manchester City both had chances in an entertaining encounter, with goalkeepers Kasper Schmeichel and Joe Hart excelling with a succession of saves.

Man of the moment Jamie Vardy missed Leicester's best chance when he shot over the top after racing clear in the first half while the normally lethal Sergio Aguero was off target from inside the six-yard box as both sides pushed for the win.

Aguero still searching for spark

Aguero's frustrating season continues as he was replaced by Wilfried Bony after just 62 minutes with Manchester City pressing strongly for a breakthrough.

The 27-year-old Argentine is a striker of undisputed world class but his edge has been blunted by a succession of niggling injuries that have interrupted his season.

Aguero has scored seven Premier League goals this term - and five of those came in the space of 20 minutes in the 6-1 win against Newcastle United at the Etihad in early October.

He had a couple of opportunities here, none better than when he stole in on a corner seconds after the break but his touch was too heavy at the near post and he was well off target.

Aguero went down under the challenge of Gokhan Inler and wanted a penalty shortly before being substituted

Aguero is a player of such quality that it is only a matter of time before the brilliance returns but he seems to be struggling for full fitness - and as City search for the victories that will give them consistency, it is a vital missing ingredient.

Leicester not going away

It is the question that has been asked all season - how will Leicester City react to a defeat?

After the 1-0 defeat at Liverpool on Boxing Day, the visit of Manuel Pellegrini's expensively assembled squad was both a test and an opportunity.

They answered the question emphatically with a performance bursting with spirit and energy, roared on by the trademark vibrant atmosphere at a packed King Power Stadium.

This was a night when Ranieri's undercard once again came to the fore and outshone the pair he calls "the pinnacle of the iceberg" - Vardy and Riyad Mahrez.

N'Golo Kante, a £5.6m summer signing from French club Caen, has been winning plaudits and he looked a bargain again here.

Kante almost broke the deadlock with a flashing 25-yard shot just wide then showed remarkable pace to catch Raheem Sterling in a footrace to stop a City attack.

Wes Morgan was once again a powerhouse in defence alongside Robert Huth, while Christian Fuchs ran a marathon down the left, almost creating a first-half goal for Marc Albrighton with a superb cross.

Vardy and Mahrez deserve every headline written about them this season - but there is much more going on under the pinnacle of the Leicester iceberg.

Manchester City's travel sickness continues

While Manchester City may be formidable at home, there is a missing link away from home that is undermining their chances of taking the Premier League title back from Chelsea.

This goalless draw leaves their league away record this season as won three, drawn three and lost three with eight goals scored and eight conceded - not title-winning form.

City's last away league victory was at Crystal Palace on 12 September after starting with impressive victories at West Bromwich Albion and Everton.

There is still time to put it right - but the lack of punch away from home must be a concern for Pellegrini because it is often on travels where titles are won.

Man of the match - N'Golo Kante

N'Golo Kante ran over 11km in the match, only Marc Albrighton covered more ground

Manager reaction

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri: "I think we made a very good match. It was difficult. We played well, we created some chances. I wanted to see how my players responded after the Liverpool defeat and they responded well.

"Every match is difficult for us. This league is very crazy...nobody wants to win the league. It's very strange. We're the basement and the other teams are a villa with a swimming pool. It's not easy for us but we want to fight with everybody. It's a miracle what we're doing."

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini: "I think we did more than Leicester to win the game. We had more possession, more attempts, more options but it was a tough game against a tough team playing away. This is a crucial period. I think at the end of January we will know exactly what position we are in. "

Source: BBC

Donald Trump 'to spend $2m a week on campaign'

Donald Trump is a property tycoon with no political experience

US Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump says he is planning to spend $2m (£1.3m) a week on campaign advertising.

Mr Trump said he would bring out "substantial" adverts in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina ahead of primary elections in February.

Meanwhile, former New York Governor George Pataki has pulled out of the race for the Republican nomination.

Correspondents say he has failed to make any impact in the polls.

Mr Trump, a property tycoon, has previously said that he is funding his campaign himself and wouldn't be in the pocket of lobbyists or powerful corporate entities. He has also insisted that he has spent very little on his campaign so far, and yet is the frontrunner.

"I'll be spending a minimum of $2m a week and perhaps substantially more," Mr Trump said in a video broadcast on CNN.

"I'm going to be doing big ads in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and they're going to be very substantial."

Mr Trump's campaign so far has been marked by a series of controversial statements.

Earlier this month, he said Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton had been "schlonged" by Barack Obama in 2008, using a vulgar Yiddish term that means a penis.

He said he was referring to Mrs Clinton's defeat to then Senator Obama in the primary contests that year.

He has also called for Muslims to be banned from entering the US following a deadly attack in California carried out by a radicalised Muslim couple.

The billionaire, who has no political experience, leads the polls nationally among Republican voters, and is also ahead in some key states.

In a tweet on Tuesday, Mr Pataki said he was suspending his campaign but was "confident we can elect the right person".

George Pataki has struggled to raise funds or raise media interest

He launched his campaign in May, positioning himself as a moderate in a heavily conservative field.

However, he has barely registered in state or national polls and was not eligible to take part in televised debates involving the high-profile candidates.

Bruce Breton, a member of Mr Pataki's New Hampshire steering committee, said the former governor had told him on Tuesday that he would be leaving the race.

He said Mr Pataki's campaign had struggled to win media attention or to raise funds.

"He said he couldn't get any traction. He worked hard, it's just a different type of year,'' Mr Breton said.

The primary contests begin at the start of February and the presidential election is in November.

Source: BBC