Dangerous place in the world

Saudi Aramco is now the world's most valuable listed firm after its initial public offering (IPO) raised $25.6 billion and took its market valuation to $1.7 trillion, comfortably overtaking Apple.Aramco priced its IPO at 32 riyals ($8.53) per share, the top of its indicative range, raising $25.6 billion and beating Alibaba's record $25 billion-listing in 2014.Notably, while the biggest IPO in history and is expected later this month on the Riyadh stock exchange, it still falls short of the towering $2 trillion valuations long sought by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.Close Saudi Arabia relied on domestic and regional investors to sell a 1.5 percent stake after lukewarm interest from abroad, even at the reduced valuation of $1.7 trillion. related news No apology to Elon Musk from British diver at 'pedo guy' defamation trial US likely to hit China over human rights despite trade talks John Kerry endorses Joe Biden for president Sources told Reuters earlier … [Read more...] about Saudi Aramco beats Apple to take most valuable company spot after blockbuster IPO

Just as the Donald Trump administration turned one, the US government was plunged into a historic shutdown – the third in a quarter of a century – after Democrats stalled a spending bill in order to oppose the government’s decision to rescind the Obama-era DACA policy.The DACA protects undocumented immigrants who came to the US as children. But by forcing a US government shutdown, the Democratic Party just doubled down on a bet it has lost badly recently -- that it is willing to stare down Trump on the cornerstone subject of his politics, race. Even at the risk of angering traditional white, “the real”, Americans. The US President, of course, did not waste any time rubbing this in.Not looking good for our great Military or Safety & Security on the very dangerous Southern Border. Dems want a Shutdown in order to help diminish the great success of the Tax Cuts, and what they are doing for our booming economy.— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) … [Read more...] about Year one in office: Donald Trump rides economic boom, xenophia wave

Iraq's parliament approved the resignation of the embattled cabinet on Sunday, after two months of violent unrest that have left more than 420 people dead and thousands mourning them in nationwide marches.Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi said Friday he would submit his resignation to parliament following a spike in the death toll among protesters who accuse the entire ruling elite of being inept, corrupt and beholden to foreign powers.The demonstrations spread from their epicentre in Baghdad and the mostly Shiite south to the northern, majority-Sunni city of Mosul, where hundreds of students dressed in black organised a mourning march for fallen activists.Close Parliament opened its session on Sunday afternoon and within minutes had approved Abdel Mahdi's resignation, which according to the constitution renders him and the entire cabinet a "caretaker government." related news Iraq protesters burn shrine entrance in holy city, PM quitting 'not enough' China's Xi Jinping says … [Read more...] about Iraq parliament approves PM resignation, protesters mourn dead

Before the most recent flight I took from JFK to my hometown, a 90-minute hop across the state of New York, I asked the flight attendant for a drink. “Do you need a double?” he asked, after seeing my likely nervous-looking face. A few minutes later he brought me a plastic cup filled with Johnny Walker wrapped in a napkin, free of charge. advertisement advertisement I have an irrational fear of flying that I usually manage with self-medication, an expensive and not always convenient remedy–gulping down shots at 8 a.m. isn’t exactly ideal. So when I heard of a new (free) app that promises “to relax anxious passengers” from Japan’s All Nippon Airways, it sounded like a healthier and more appealing way to handle my flying anxiety. But can an app really cure a deep, nonsensical phobia? Taking advantage of the recently relaxed FAA regulations on in-flight cell phone use, various airlines and third parties have developed apps catering to the … [Read more...] about Can An App Cure Your Fear Of Flying?

To prepare for his haunting role in The Pianist, actor Adrien Brody broke up with his girlfriend, lost 30 pounds, sold his car, gave up his New York apartment, and moved to Europe with just two bags. He also studied piano and dialects and stopped socializing. Brody ended up winning the 2003 Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, although he told The Guardian that his mental health suffered the following year. advertisement advertisement We often hear how extreme preparation gives film stars and Olympic athletes a winning edge. In business, however, the lines are blurrier. Starting a company without any planning is dangerous. And launching a major project with zero forethought is rarely a wise move. At the same time, spending too much time getting your ducks in a row can slow down innovation, or prevent you from taking action in the first place. There’s a sweet spot between action and preparation—and it looks a little different for everyone. Here’s … [Read more...] about How to draw the line between preparation and procrastination