• MiMIC Journal

China's financial system harbours large risks, says IMF

Rising levels of debt pose "large risks" to China's economy, according to the International Monetary Fund. In its first report since 2011 on China's resilience to shocks and contagion, the IMF said it still had concerns over imbalances in the world's second-largest economy. A stress test on China's banks found four-fifths were vulnerable. Beijing should put less emphasis on growth, beef up regulation, and improve banks' finances, the IMF said. China's "big four" banks had adequate capital but "large, medium, and city-commercial banks appear vulnerable", the IMF said.

Jailed for a text: China's censors are spying on mobile chat groups

Chinese authorities scour messaging apps for sensitive words and images—even those sent privately—prompting police to question, and even jail, some who send them.

• Law Firm Marketing

Are you giving away too much information?
By Tom Trush

Time to tackle the most common question I get from prospects and clients.

As you know, I recommend sharing knowledge that helps your prospects address problems related to your product/service. Although I prefer using special reports, you can use this sharing strategy with all types of media, including audio and video.

Regardless of the format, there's really no better way to attract prospects.

But I understand why some people hesitate to give away their knowledge. They believe sharing what you know leads prospects to solve problems themselves, without needing your product/service.

But this belief is far from reality.

I'll explain why. But first, let's get into the most common question...

If you share information, how do you know when you've given away too much?

Honestly, I don't worry about this "problem." You see, when you share your knowledge, you make your marketing all about your prospects. This step alone puts you in a stronger position than your competitors whose marketing only focuses on their own desires.

Also, sharing information is a lot like cooking from a recipe. For example, imagine Bobby Flay and I get the same step-by-step instructions on how to grill filet mignon with a balsamic glaze. Even if we both have identical grills, ingredients and tools, do you think we'd end up with the same result?

Of course not!

Bobby is a grilling expert, while I'm a novice who can only hope to create a meal my kids will eat without much fuss.

The information you share with prospects is supported by experience that comes from applying your product/service to your business every day. You could deliver exact instructions to your prospects on how to solve their problem, but there's little chance they'll end up with the same outcome as you.

Another advantage of sharing knowledge is the time savings. You don't waste hours repeating answers to the same questions. What's more, your message reaches a wider audience. After all, there are only so many people you can talk to in a day.

And that's not all...

When prospect read your information, they instantly recognize you as an expert on your topic.

Remember, prospects won't hire you or buy your product unless they understand what you can do for them. So when you share your knowledge, you help establish credibility and trust, while proving you can help your prospects.

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Tom Trush is available at https://www.writewaysolutions.com.

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• Historias Verdaderas

Incumplimiento

• Brief News

Bitcoin breaks through the $16,000 mark

Bitcoin has breached the $16,000 mark, extending the digital currency's record-breaking surge. The cryptocurrency began the year below $1,000 but continues to rise despite warnings of a dangerous bubble. According to Coindesk.com, Bitcoin reached $16,663.18, having soared over 50% in a week. The new high comes days before the launch of Bitcoin futures on two exchanges, including the world's largest futures exchange, CME. Spread betting firm CMC Markets said the rise had all the symptoms of a bubble market, warning "there is no way to know when the bubble will burst".

EU to sue Poland, Hungary and Czechs for refusing refugee quotas

US warns against scrapping Abbas talks

The US has warned Palestinians against cancelling talks with Vice-President Mike Pence, after Washington recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital. It would be "counterproductive" to scrap talks between Pence and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas planned later this month, the US said. A senior Palestinian official earlier said Pence would not be welcome. Trump's announcement on Jerusalem this week reversed decades of US policy on Jerusalem's status.

Warrantless surveillance can continue even if law expires, officials say

The Trump administration has decided that the National Security Agency and the F.B.I. can lawfully keep operating their warrantless surveillance program even if Congress fails to extend the law authorizing it before an expiration date of New Year’s Eve, according to American officials. National security officials have implored Congress for the past year and a half to extend the legal basis for the program, Section 702 of the FISA Amendments Act, before it lapses at the end of the month. They portrayed such a bill as the “top legislative priority” for keeping the country safe. But with Congress focused on passing a major tax cut and divided over what changes, if any, to make to the surveillance program, lawmakers may miss that deadline. Hedging against that risk, executive branch lawyers have now concluded that the government could lawfully continue to spy under the program through late April without new legislation.

SEC freezes assets of PlexCorp during initial coin offering for PlexCoins cryptocurrency

The US Securities and Exchange Commission Cyber Unit announced Monday that it has obtained an emergency asset freeze against Dominic Lacroix, Lacroix's partner Sabrina Paradis-Royer, and his company, PlexCorps, after filing charges alleging that the company's initial coin offering for the cryptocurrency PlexCoins was a cyber scam. Lacroix, Paradis-Royer and PlexCorps have been charged with violating anti-fraud provisions of US federal securities laws. Lacroix and PlexCorps were also charged with violating the registration provision of the federal securities laws. Lacroix has previously pleaded guilty in a Quebec court for securities fraud. The ICO has so far raised $15 million since August and involves investments from thousands of individuals. The PlexCoins were marketed as being able to provide a 1,354 percent profit in less than 29 days. Lacroix and Paradis-Royer are accused of misappropriating $200,000 of the funds raised on "extravagant personal expenditures." Despite PlexCorps claims that the PlexCoin is a cryptocurrency, the SEC has stated that they are "securities within the meaning of the US federal securities laws."

Ex Volkswagen executive jailed in US amid diesel scandal

A former Volkswagen executive has been sentenced to seven years in prison and a $400,000 fine, after admitting he helped the firm evade clean-air laws. Oliver Schmidt is the second person to be imprisoned in the US over the diesel emissions scandal. Volkswagen first admitted in September 2015 that it had used illegal software to cheat US emissions tests. The scandal has cost it almost $30bn. US prosecutors say Volkswagen installed special software in certain diesel vehicles that allowed them to perform better during emissions tests than they did under normal driving conditions.

Argentina judge seeks arrest of ex-leader Cristina Fernández

A judge in Argentina says he is seeking the arrest of former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner over accusations she took part in a political cover-up. Fernández, who governed for eight years from December 2007, was recently elected a senator and as such enjoys parliamentary immunity. For her to be arrested, the Senate would have to lift that immunity with a two-thirds majority vote. She called the move a "nonsense... violates the rule of law". Senators said they would consider the judge's request once they received it.

House passes legislation extending concealed carry privilege across state lines

A highly divided US House of Representatives on Wednesday voted 231-198 to pass HR 38, a bill loosening gun regulations and allowing individuals with concealed weapons carrying permits to legally travel between states. The votes fell largely along partisan lines with most Democrats voting against the bill and Republicans voting in favor, although six Democrats voted in favor of the bill while 14 Republicans voted against it. Called "the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act," the bill was proposed by Doug Collins of Georgia in January and sponsored by Richard Hudson of North Carolina and amends Title 18 of the US Code, "to provide a means by which nonresidents of a State whose residents may carry concealed firearms may also do so in the State." The US House Judiciary Committee approved the bill late last month despite severe opposition to the bill from 17 states.

US House passes resolution condemning 'ethnic cleansing' in Myanmar

General Electric to shed 12,000 jobs

General Electric is to cut 12,000 jobs in its power business, 18% of the division's global workforce. The US industrial group expects the "painful but necessary" job losses to help save $1bn next year as demand for fossil fuel power plants wanes.

Australian stock exchange to move to blockchain

Australia's main stock exchange has said it will become the first global market to use the technology behind Bitcoin to clear and settle trades. The Australian Securities Exchange will replace its current clearing system with blockchain technology. The new system has been in development and testing for more than two years and aims to cut the cost of transactions, and make them faster and more secure.

Researchers look for gun violence clues in Google searches and background checks

After the 2012 mass shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., there was a spike in gun sales. A study examined the spike and links increased gun exposure to more accidental firearm deaths.

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