Diet Foods That Makes You Fatter?

Diets are highly used by people who want to get rid of extra pounds, but some of the foods that make up these schemes to have the desired effect, are actually acting contrary to the expectations of those who consume them!

Any person who wishes to lose weight at some point in their life, known some diet foods that should help not to accumulate body fat. However you may be surprise that not all common diet products have a good effect on the human body. Contrary to those who use them, these diet foods helps consumers to get fatter!

Diet soda, the liquid that adds pounds

Although it has fewer calories and low sugar intake, diet soda may have an contrary effect to the expectations of those who consume it. A study claims that people who drank diet soda every day were getting fatter. Nutrition experts have no precise explanation for this effect, but they tend to believe that in the absence of sugar, the body will try to supplement this intake with other foods.

Homemade fruit juices with milk (Smoothies)

Even if these juices contain vitamins, nutrients and minerals they may have significant quantities of sugar and fat. To avoid some unpleasant effects, the list of ingredients for preparing smoothies must contain as many fruit as possible, and fat-free milk. Avoid these juices that have chocolate or peanut butter. If you take a diet juice as a meal substitute, well, this smoothie must have between  350-400 calories.

Frozen foods

These types of foods are only good in one sense: because it teaches us to portion what we eat. The truth is that frozen foods have many sugars and sodium in them, and you will still feel the hunger soon after you’ll finish eating. Thus, after a dinner that includes this type of food, a lot of people who are following a diet are not satisfied and resort to eating more. An suitable alternative for maintaining a perfect body is a portion of pasta with fiber ( you may use soya instead of meat).

Yogurt with fruit

Yogurts are a great solution for diet, especially because they contain calcium and protein, substances that will help your body to remove hunger. However, fruit-flavored yogurts are made up of sugar and calories that can sabotage the plans of those who wish to follow a diet. That’s right, if you want to eat yogurts, you better choose the simple ones!

Baked potatoes or chips

Although this type of potatoes preparation also reduce the number of calories they contain, baked chips are still having pretty much sugar. If you are craving something to nibble try to eat raw vegetables!

Beer Can Make Us Live Longer!

What a great news for beer lovers: hops, a key ingredient of beer, is considered to be a remedy against the effects of time on the human body!

According to studies conducted by researchers from Austria, Japan and Czec Republic, beer that is consumed in moderation can have anti-inflammatory properties with the effect of slowing the aging process!

“Hops is known as a good antioxidant, it was used mainly, besides breweries, in the pharmaceutical industry. The fact that hops is among the ingredients of beer can only make us happy, with a view to its health benefits. Moreover, beer lovers have an extra reason to enjoy their favorite beverage as this may even delay the effects of aging, “said researchers from the  Beer Studies Centre, Health and Nutrition.

In the study published by the journal International Immunopharmacology, scientists at Innsbruck Medical University in Austria revealed that hops used in brewing can influence the production of neopterin, a marker of inflammatory processes, as well as the level of tryptophan, this essential amino acid is associated with increased inflammation when it is in low level.

Austrian researchers findings are supporting the scientists from Czech Republic. They brought to public attention the results of a study showing that moderate beer consumption slows the aging process and, moreover, reduces the possibility of a heart attack.

In another study conducted by Sapporo Medical University in Japan, scientists show that hops, can be the key element  in preventing respiratory virus diseases specific to cold season. Specifically, Humulona, a compound of  hops, demonstrated positive properties in preventing colds and bronchitis.

The study made by Japanese researchers show that this ingredient may protect the body against respiratory syncytial virus underlying pneumonia and bronchitis which is affecting millions of people every winter.

At this time there is no vaccine against this virus, such as Japanese discovery can be a real milestone in treating respiratory problems caused by it. In addition, this compound apparently has anti-inflammatory effects.

“Beer is a product made from only natural ingredients and this does not cease to expand its positive effects. Hops is again in the spotlight, one compound – Humulona, is proving to be an enemy of viral respiratory infections in winter.” said Japannese scientists.

More of a product for periods with high temperatures, beer is recommended to be included in food during the cold season, this study provides further proof for this. Although the quantities of Humulona found in beer are small, the study remains valuable and legit!

Members of Beer Studies Centre, Health and Nutrition warn that moderate consumption of beer must be completed by a healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition.

Improve Your Business Now!

For a business to be good there are numerous right things that need to be done, like the promotion of your products or services, having a great pay structure that attracts gifted individuals, providing a buyer after sales service and delivering everything on time. However it is not simply by doing the correct things that your business will expand and produce, if you want your business to be successful you have to ensure that you’re doing the correct things correctly. Get started with that here.

Your Business Needs Leaders

First of all, to be successfull, a great business needs a great leader! This person have to be many-sided, who has a lot of strengths and capabilities. He may manage budgets, spearhead marketing campaigns, plan products, network with industry experts, and assess contract management software. He’s dedicated, industrious, bright, and creative. But after all, a business leader is really only a leader if it has one crucial trait: motivation skills. So if you seek to be a successful leader you have to be able to motivate those individuals who follow your guidance!

Motivated people are more productive and cohesive. They likewise are more likely to be pleased with their job and less likely to look for work elsewhere. However how may you motivate your people and accomplish these results? How may you make them as passionate about your business as you are? Here are a few hints:

There are 2 general tactics for motivating people: positive bonuses and negative tactics. The positive motivation produces goals and incentives to which your people may strive. On the other side, negative motivation involves utilizing threats or fear of reprisal in order to accomplish productivity goals. Many business owners utilize a combination of the 2 in their attempt to motivate; this approach causes threats and incentives to cancel one another out and bring about counterproductive ends. For this reason it’s crucial to have a clear approach!

If you are not decided what to chose, keep in mind that most experts would say that positive motivation nearly always works best.

While producing individualized incentives might breed stress and competition among people, group projects and targets may transform into productivity, cohesion, and more propelled people, even on an individual level.Hopefully these tips may help you plan a suitable motivational approach. While a good business leader might be highly motivated, a great one needs to be just as capable of instilling that same spirit in his people.

What you need to know in order to motivate yourself and people who are in your business?

-Accomplish your aspirations. Avoid negative individuals, things and places. Roosevelt once said, “the future belongs to those who trust in the beauty of their aspirations.”
- Trust in yourself, and in what you can accomplish.
-Think about things on every angle and aspect. Motivation derives from determination. To be able to understand life, you ought to feel the sun from both sides.
-Don’t quit and don’t give in.
- Enjoy. Work as though you don’t need cash. Dance as if nobody’s looking on. Love as though you never cried. Learn like you’ll live forever. Motivation takes place if individuals are happy.
- Loved ones and Friends – are life’s greatest treasures. Don’t lose sight of them.
-Give more. Where does motivation and self-reformation take place at work? At home? At school? If you exert additional effort in doing things.
-Hold on to your aspirations. They might dangle in there for a bit, but these little stars will be your drive.
- Dismiss those who attempt to destroy you. Don’t let other individuals to get the best of you. Stay away from toxic individuals – the sort of friends who hate to hear about your success.
- Simply be yourself. The key to success is to be yourself. And the key to failure is to attempt to please everybody.
-Continue trying no matter how difficult life might seem. If a person is motivated, sooner or later he sees a harsh life finally clearing out, paving the way to self improvement.
-Never lie, cheat or steal. Always play a fair game.
-Practice makes perfect. Practice is about motivation. It lets us learn repertoire and ways on how can we recover from our errors.
-Ready yourself. Motivation is likewise about preparation. Stop procrastinating.
-Understand other people. If you know very well how to talk, you ought to also learn how to listen. Understand first, and to be understood the second.
-Visualize it. Motivation without vision is like a boat on land.
-Want it more than anything. Dreaming means believing.
- Zero in on your aspirations and go for it!!!

Your Business Needs Teamwork

Every successful business needs teamwork! Building a strong team is a continuous process and isn’t something that goes inactive over time. If the team has to act successfully together as a group, the team constructing ought to start from early on when it’s being formed and worked at continuously for the team to work and finish projects assigned to it.
Here are some tips on what forms an exceptional team and what takes them to the next level.

The team members in the team ought to be aware of what is happening in reference to anything affecting the team. If anything of importance is materializing, everyone in the team ought to be made aware of the occurrence and how it’s going to affect the team.

-The members of the team and the team leaders should have beneficial communication and be open at all times. Such open communicating is essential to build rapport among team members and for the evolution of trust.

-All the team members ought to be made aware of their duties towards the project. They ought to be apportioned truthful goals and be made to accomplish them with ease. Any help that’s needed toward completion of their responsibilities ought to be supplied when demanded.

-The team leader ought to work hand in hand with the team members with beneficial time management and participation. Such participations won’t only assist in getting the job accomplished effectively, the team leader will also know the advancement of the project firsthand and this will likewise help build great rapport and trust. However, at the same time, the team leader shouldn’t butt into the functions being accomplished by the other team members as this will lead to friction and bitterness. As much independence in making decisions ought to be furnished with enough support from the periphery.
-The project will be a job that’s achieved by the climax of the efforts of all the members of the team. This is like matching all the pieces of a puzzle to produce a big picture. In order to accomplish this, the parts ought to be properly matched in the correct place. If one isn’t correct the picture won’t turn out right. For this reason, there should be a beneficial action design in place for the team to work in tandem and achieve the project cleanly.
-The team leader shouldn’t be dominating over the other members of the team. Everyone ought to be an equal participant in the project and have their say in the preparation of plans. However, it ought to be the leader’s last say in deciding the course of action after carefully hashing it out with all the team members.
-Team building ought to be a cautiously figured process and these self improvement tips ought to help. If attempts are taken to arrange the correct team and the team is worked at an individual level and collective level, it might run well as a group and the joint attempts may be utilized to execute the required jobs without a great deal of issues.

Make Your Business a Brand

The opening move to building a successful brand is to set a clear-cut brand vision and set of objectives, which ought to be aimed at the following criteria for a successful brand.

1. Distinction-Your brand has to be different, if you provide the same value at the same price why would a consumer select you over your established rival? Your brand has to clearly convey this.

2. Added worth-Your business has to add extra value to the buyer. ‘Me too’ products are all right as part of an extended product portfolio, however if your buyers are to part with their money, they require added value and this ought to extend right through to the entire product level e.g. to include services.

3. Quality-If your business and products are of inferior quality, you are able to forget brand allegiance. Regrettably there are a number of rivals waiting to take your market share, and brand allegiance is becoming less common as rivals utilize all sorts of tricks to win over your buyers; don’t let pitiful quality be a reason for lost business.

4. Structured communications-With markets getting saturated, being memorable for the correct reasons is central to any brand’s success. Your promotional technique has to be tight, sending one marketing e-mail a month isn’t adequate; you need an intermingled, ‘through the line’ communications technique which keeps the momentum of your brand.

5. Direction and support-Individuals are the key to your business and internal marketing ought to be a top precedence for any marketing manager. You are able to spend 10’s of thousands on your brand all to be forgotten when a buyer pops up and your people haven’t heard of the deal or offer! Invest time and cash in internal marketing and ensure you’ve a strong set of brand guidelines to support your people.

6. Origination-Innovation is more than simply a thought; it’s about innovating products, procedures, structure and your brand! Your buyers needs are always shifting and your brand must respond to this; the product life cycle is a denotation that it won’t sell forever, so keep your brand running.

Your Business Needs Marketing

Top sales business owners affirm that it a great deal of the time takes seven or more communications or sales messages before prospective buyers make a purchase. They in addition to that confirm that it’s normally easier to sell to a referral, because somebody they know gave favorable testimonial about their products or services.

What would come about if you combined both of these potent ideas? A nifty and thrifty two-step. Check out this two-step tip:

1. Accumulate leads with your auto responder. Ask for mailing addresses and phone numbers, too, for additional ways to follow up with each individual. When you download the e-mail digest of everyone’s e-mail addresses and additional information from those who asked for additional information from your auto responder, follow up multiple ways. Send out postcards. Call. Mail or e-mail sales letters and additional promotional pieces.

2. Release a price list of all the products and services that you provide in an insert, direct marketing package and / or .pdf to be made available thru your auto responder. You might likewise include order forms, product descriptions, and additional sales material. Then send to the individuals in #1 above with monthly updates, announcements of recent sales and products / services, and a request for referrals. So why not improve your closing ratio and reach out even farther at the same time? Do the two-step!

Finding fresh positive influences is a key to success. Anybody who thinks positive will rub off on you, is right. To have new positive influences you have to learn communication skills.Throughout our life, we choose what we want to do with our time. Time is crucial, since time runs out quick. For this reason you, wish to invest time, spending your time wisely. Spending time wisely includes activities, entertainment, work, quality time and so on.Values make us as an individual and define how we invest our time, energy and cash. If our values are high, we may reach the limits of improving our personal and business life.

Wise words about loans

Are you struggling with the fact that you really don’t know anything about loans and how to stay out of trouble with them? In this article I can offer you a solution that will help you to understand loans, the best ways to budget and how to make loan decisions!

Almost nothing in life is free and loans are no different. Loans are basically a seemingly non complicated way of lending and borrowing but you need to take the time to read all the details of the agreement before you sign it. A loan is an advancement of money or something of value with the promise or a bargain struck between the parties involved to redeem the full sum with interest within a stipulated period of time. The interest is usually calculated proportionate to the sum borrowed and paid back along with the principal in segment for an agreed amount of time. The terms and interest amounts are usually not negotiable and in most cases are quite high. However it is still the most popular means of acquiring something legally and legitimately where payment is not immediately completely covered.

The general calculation of a loan would be that, more is incurred the longer the period taken to pay off the initial sum borrowed, and even more will be added on to the agreed sum should the schedule of payment in place is not strictly kept. Although banks are the most popular avenues from which to seek out a loan from there are also other lending establishments that function sole for the purpose of facilitating loan arrangements. Most of these are legal and with strict rules in place with proper accompanying documentation.

There are two very basic types of loans which are the secured one and the unsecured one. The secured ones are based on some kind of acceptable collateral being offered in place of the loan which may include anything of value such as property, stocks, bond and others, and the unsecured one doesn’t offer anything. In terms of their purpouse, we will present the most important loans: business loans,  home equity loans , car loans and payday loans.

Business loans

The basics of a business loan is very similar to that of other types of loans, which is the agreement struck between parties to lend a stipulated amount for a business where upon payment is returned with interest to the borrower over a fixed period of time. These loans can be gotten from different sources of which banks are usually featured as the first choice as they generally do not own any part of the business and are just in the agreement to make money.There are also equity investors, involving establishments or individuals who are willing to lend a sum of money in return for a vested interest in the business which usually comes in the form of shares in the said business.

The main differences between the two is that the former does not have any direct involvement in the business and only requires for the principal sum borrowed to be returned in full with interest paid over an agreed amount of time but the latter may sometimes incur the involvement of the lender and though no payment is required for the sum borrowed, the lender now legally has a share in the business entity. The promissory note is usually a document that is signed and witnessed in a legal setting where loan amounts, payment requirements, interest charged, time frames and any other agreed upon demands are clearly stated in the documentation.

loans can be made in different methods which are also agreed upon at the onset of the process. These may include the following:
• Lump sum payments
• Periodic interest and lump sum repayment of principal
• Periodic payment of principal and interest
• Amortized payments
• Amortized payments with a balloon.

Home equity loan

The home equity loan is another popular style often used for business purposes. Basically the home equity loan is a second mortgage taken out over an already existing one in which the property owner leverages the equity of their home against the borrowed amount.

The two main categories of the home equity loan would include the fixed rate loan and the line of credit loan. Both these are equally popular but usually chosen according the needs and compatibility of the borrower at the time monetary funds are an issue.

• The fixed rate loan provides a single, onetime payment to the borrower in which the repayment is done over a fixed period of time and at a fixed amount. The payment and interest does not change over the stipulated agreed upon period.
• Lines of credit style however differs in the basic dispersement of the borrowed amount. The initial amount is usually offered and agreed upon at the onset of the agreement; however the dispersement can be taken in amounts required at a particular time and for a particular amount. The monthly payments will vary depending on the amounts dispersed as the interests are only calculated on what has been utilized and not on the whole amount. However all outstanding amounts have to be repaid in full at the end of the due date of the agreement.

The home equity loan provides for a comparatively easy source of cash although the interest rates are higher than the first mortgage it is still a more viable way of acquiring cash resources quickly. It has been noted that besides using the money for business purposes the home equity lines of credit is also recommended to be a better option to use than credit cards advances as the interest rates incurred are far less in comparison. There are also better tax relief benefits in using the home equity loan option.

Car loans

Car title loans are also another type of typically short term loan styles. In this scenario the car which is already paid for and considered a viable asset is put up as collateral for the intended loan amount. The loan amount usually agreed upon is far less than the value of the car itself. Adding to this the interest charged for this type of loan is usually much higher than other types in the market as the risks involved are also usually higher. Although credit checks are done before the loans are approved these checks are rarely very stringent in nature.

Payday loans

Payday loans are probably the best option for everyone in need of quick cash!  Most people turn to lending institutions such as banks, lending houses, finance houses and the likes for such assistance where some form of collateral is usually a designated requirement. The process would require the lender to look over the company’s history if any, business credit, revenues, balance sheets and equity contributions before an agreed sum can be settled upon.

However, for the benefit of those who need a payday loan, all of the requirements from above can be made online, in just several minutes! The next step would be for the borrower to provide collateral to secure the loan. The collateral is most commonly property, stocks, bonds and any other valuable assets the borrower may have that can equal or be more than the intended borrowed sum.

The following are some things that can be used as collateral to secure a loan:
• Real property – still the most popular asset to be put up as collateral.
• Business inventory and accounts receivable – this is a little trickier but banks are usually willing to lend if there is clear evidence of an authenticated sizable order in the works.
• Cash savings and fixed deposits – personal assets that are tangible are more like to be favored by the lender as their risks are minimalized.

In trying to minimize the possible occurrences of defaulting on payments, or not being able to make payments at the stipulated times and therefore incurring further interest on already outstanding amount one should consider consolidation the loans altogether. Over time and statistically this has proven to be a better option to choose from as it not only facilitates lower interest rates by comparison it also is easier to manage when all loan payments are now less thus effectively converting it into one single payment.

Cash Crisis Needs Immediate Attention

At least once in every person’s life comes a time when the resources are few and a cash crisis appear. It can be hard enough to make ends meet on a decent wage, but, when the times get tough and the money just is not there to meet the need, a person can easily despair.

If you are hit with a serious financial situation and you find yourself scrambling around for emergency money, here’s how to assess your situation and get back on your feet. Let’s say you have a major home problem, or health issues, legal or tax problems or other tipes of emergency…what do you do?

Learn To Deal With Cash Crisis

Wherever there are cash crisis, you can be sure to find some emotional setback. You might just as well begin to prepare for the devastating fiscal and the emotional fallout that is sure to come. You will need to cope very well with both if you hope to make a solid financial comeback.

You must NEVER allow yourself the luxury of panic. There is no one there for you to just take over. You are all you have! The more you panic, the less effective you will be. It is only when you are at your most calm that you will be prepared to get to where you need to be and then overcome.

At even the first hint of a cash crisis, it’s important not to act right away. If you do it this way, you will inevitably make a mistake! You absolutely must regain your balance before you can even begin to make a plan. Whenever possible think about seeking out the aid of a financially perceptive friend or family member who can help you to come to a clearer perspective. Remember that ―”two heads are always better than just one!”

First, you need to know exactly how much you owe, how much money you have in hand and what it will take to cover the distance between the two. If you are not properly prepared, you must become prepared on the spot. Any type of cash crisis will catch you unaware and you will feel cornered.

Increase Your Income In Case of a Cash Crisis

Keep in mind that if you were to lose your job, you’d have to repay the loan immediately, or be taxed as though it was a withdrawal. This remedy could be very costly in the long run. So, what can you do?

-Take on a hobby that you can translate into dollars. Can you walk a neighborhood dog? Teach basket weaving? Host a dining room? Baby-sit for other kids? Do Computer graphics? Consider which of your talents might be worth a few extra bucks and then go out there and do it.

-Take on a part-time job. Many people suppliment their salaries with part-time jobs!

-Spend more wisely. We all hawe our own ways to waste money, now you need to see how you can eliminate the ones that you wouldn’t miss.

-Borrow from a trusted friend or relative. The interest rate can be zero, the cash is quick, but be sure you can repay. You need to have a plan for how you will pay back the loan even before you approach them.

Suffering a serious cash crisis is an excellent time to self-assess. Ask yourself where you went wrong, where you’re not paying attention and how you might be setting yourself up for future financial setbacks. Understanding the answer to this important questions will help you out next time you will be in this situation.

It is better for you to be prepared before the cash crisis starts! You won’t be able to anticipate every time a financial burden lands in your lap, but if you want to be cushioned against it, you have to anticipate the unanticipated. Be very careful because an emergency fund is for…Emergencies! It’s not supposed to be depleted every month. Take a closer look at your expenses for the last months, because it’s almost sure that you need to rethink your money management issues, and in a hurry!

Some Quick Fixes For Cash Crisis

1.The first thing you want to do is to get back on track very fast. If that means letting your credit card bill go for a bit, so be it! As soon you realize that you have a cash crisis, contact your credit card issuers and request reduced interest rates and payments, not only one, both!

2.For your car payment, call the creditor and request a payment extension.Perhaps you hate payment extensions because they requaire a fee and you still have to make the payment at the end of the contract. In this case, a payment extension can allow you a little breathing room to help you recover during your cash crisis. You have to know that you will have to pay a fee (usualy about 1/4 or 1/3 the car payment) for the extension. Your first and only goal at this time is freeing up the money you need!

3.Check to see if your mortgage holder will allow you an extension for a nominal fee. Do this today if possible!

4.Another quick fix is to host an on the spot yard sale. You will not have too much time for planning, so do a quick survey of your personal goods. That can include clothes that you no longer use, but that are in good condition,  put a notice on laundry mats and grocery stores around town, and remember to place a sign at the end of your driveway. You can make quick $100-300  this way with very little time and effort!

5. If you have a larger item to sell, call into the local radio stations to see if they have a -Call in swap show-  on the weekends.  This is a very popular way to quick convert a gently used and more expensive items to fast cash in times of this situations!

6.Another quick option is with utility and telephone bill. If you aren’t already on a budget plan, ask that the current bill (plus any other previous balance you owe) to be set up for a budget plan. Expect to pay a down payment ( usualy 1/4 of the bill). The nice thing about it…it’s usualy interest free, and can give you some much needed breathing space for a month, you must be sure though that you maintain the regular utility payments and the budget payments in the coming month.

7.Getting fast cash through borrowing: if you are in a more advanced cash crisis, and all of the above solutions can’t fix it, you need to consider to take a small borrowing plan – payday loans. For more and more people this seems to be the best solution because you can have instant cash when anything else fails. Even more you can see if you are eligible and get a payday loan online, in just a few minutes, this way you are saving time, which is precious in when you have a cash crisis!

Russia was the largest producer of oil last year

Russia was the largest producer of oil in the world in 2012, surpassing Saudi Arabia, but natural gas production declined in terms of lower sales in Europe, writes AFP.

Russia’s oil production rose by 1.3% last year compared to 2011, to 518 million tons (10.4 million barrels per day), according to the Russian Ministry of Energy. Russian government wants to maintain production above the level of 10 million barrels per day by 2020. oil and gas sector, are dominated by state-owned companies, contributing about half of Russia’s budget revenues.

But analysts do not believe that last year’s performance could be repeated in 2013, as 80% of Russia’s oil production comes from mature fields, that are from long while in operation. Furthermore, although Russia has surpassed Saudi Arabia in the top oil producers, the title was won in terms of the maximum extraction capacity. Unlike Russia, the United Arab has the ability to increase production to adapt quickly to higher demand when the global economy returns to growth, or in the case of turbulence in the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia has very limited extraction activities to stabilize crude oil prices, which reached record levels last year. Brent oil price stood on average at $ 111 per barrel in 2012.

Rosneft, the state-controlled company, represented 22.8% of the Russian market of oil last year. According to the experts, Rosneft share will exceed 40% this year, after taking full control of the company TNK-BP from British group BP and a consortium of Russian investors. Following the transaction, which will probably be completed in the first half of the year, Rosneft will become the largest company listed on “oil and gas”,  after his production exceeded U.S. group ExxonMobil.

Gazprom produced less gas, due to lower demand in Europe

In contrast to the oil, gas production in Russia fell by 2.3% to 655 billion cubic meters. Giant Gazprom, witch is state-controlled, announced a production of 478.8 billion cubic meters, well below the result of 513.1 billion cubic meters in 2011.

Sharp decline highlights the essential role played by exports in Europe and the former Soviet states, regions witch now registered the slowest growth in the world, for Gazprom businesses. The group hesitated to move out production of liquefied natural gas, which could sell in emerging markets in Asia and South America.

European Union, which covers about 30% of gas consumption by imports from Russia, made it a priority to diversify gas suppliers, in the idea of ​​reducing their dependence on Moscow policy.

The main political chalanges of 2013

The economic crisis in the U.S. and Europe, amplifying tensions in Asia, war in Syria or Iran nuclear file are some of the main challenges in 2013 for leaders like Barack Obama, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and Europeans François Hollande and Angela Merkel, according to AFP.

Economic crisis in U.S. and Europe

“No foreign policy issue of 2013 will not count more than the ability of U.S. and Europe to solve economic crises”, says Jessica Mathews, president of the Carnegie Centre reflection in a collective work entitled “Ten Global: challenges and Opportunities for the president in 2013 “.

United States is facing a “fiscal summit” (fiscal cliff) worrying austerity cure that will affect the country if Congress does not reach an agreement on debt reduction and the budget until the end of 2012. On January 2,the U.S. will face  a combination of increased taxes and reductions in public expenditure, a shock that could throw the U.S. economy into recession again. “A political agreement to overcome strong peak tax would remove uncertainties affecting the country for a year and a half,” says Mathews.

Regarding Europe, “the challenge remains to combine economic and political discipline”, says American expert. Eurozone crisis’ has been a shift in 2012 from a deadly disease to a chronic disease that will take several years, “she notes, warning leaders of French, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese that in 2013 it will be necessary” to maintain a treatment of shock,  to avoid setbacks – especially in France – and they must continue to work towards a resumption of economic growth”.

Some experts shows that U.S. position for a revival of economic growth is closer to that of France or Italy than Germany defending budgetary rigor.

Eurozone GDP expected to contract by 0.3% next year, but Justin Vais, director of research at the Brookings Institution and author of “Barack Obama et politique Etrangere” think “what was worse in euro crisis has passed. “”The Americans and the markets have concluded that the euro will not explode, otherwise they would have collapsed and there was a leak of capital”.

Perrin also expresses his concern about “slowing economic effects that world could have on China.” Under a pessimistic scenario, that the Eurozone will “drastically cut Chinese imports because of a major recession than expected” involving “political, social and geopolitical consequences in China.” The new leader Xi Jinping “may not allow a economic downturn and an accumulation of political and economic problems”, says Jessica Mathews.

China’s territorial disputes with its neighbors and the U.S. role

Many analysts fear an increase in tensions in the Asia-Pacific region, followed by an arms race or even armed conflict. Outbreaks these tensions are China Sea archipelagos which they dispute with its neighbors in Southeast Asia, Japan and South Korea. The United States has a military alliance with Japan, but refuses to get involved.

“China’s neighbors consider the United States as a country that can rebalance China’s political and military power, otherwise it will totally dominate the region,”  analyzes former Secretary of Defense Jimmy Carte.

IRAN

Iranian nuclear issue remains “the hottest record” in 2013, with “a very high probability of a first-order regional conflagration” expected Vaïsse. The greatest powers of the world and Israel suspect Tehran that wants to acquire nuclear weapons under cover of its civilian nuclear program, which is denied by the Islamic regime.

Vaïsse believes that compared to an Iran that continues to enrich uranium,  ”the last ten years of logic sanctions coupled to negotiations is over.”  Brown hopes, on the other hand,  that the international community can “make an offer to the Iranians in exchange for a stop or a pause the enrichment (…), without excluding the possibility of bombing the nuclear facilities”.

SYRIA

Some experts foresee priming an “international consensus” – especially after a Russian flexible position – allowing the 2013 to be a “beginning of a long and difficult political transition”, says Mathews. Recalling the chemical weapons threat, Vaisala considered that  ”possible civil war to end, but there is, however, a need for Western intervention in order to ensure order and stability.”

The richest people in the world gain more wealth in the las year

Wealth of the top 100 richest  people in the world, was increased by 241 billion dollars last year, to 1,900 billion, with an advance of 22% for the top leader, Mexican Carlos Slim Helu at $ 75.2 billion, and 12, 6% for the second, Bill Gates, to $ 62.7 billion.

The value of assets held by the richest 100 people in the world was calculated according to Bloomberg stock quotes and data available from 31 December. The best sectors to increase their wealth last year was retail and telecommunications, with an average growth of about 20%. Of the 100 wealthiest included in the Bloomberg index for 2012, only 16 were decreased.

“Last year was very good for billionaires. In 2013 I will continue to seek investment opportunities in all over the world, not necessarily in the U.S., that provide an advantage” said billionaire John Catsimatidis, owner of Red Apple Group.

Spanish Amancio Ortega, founder of Inditex retailer, has made the biggest increase in wealth of 22.2 billion dollars, or 63%, to 57.5 billion dollars. This development was supported by Inditex shares increased by 66.7% last year.

Top ten is completed by Warren Buffett with $ 47.9 billion (+12%), Ingvar Kamprad (IKEA) with  $ 42.9 billion (+16.6%), Charles Koch, with $40.9 billion (20.9%), David Koch, with $40.9 billion dollars (20.9%), Larry Ellison (Oracle), with $ 39.3 billion (+19.4%), Bernard Arnault, with $28.8 billion (+39%), and Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud, with a wealth of 28.7 billion dollars (65.2%).

Five of the top ten richest people in the world – Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Charles Koch, David Koch and Larry Ellison – are American.

Among those who lost their welth in 2012 is the founder of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg. Facebook chief wealth fell by 5.2 billion dollars last year against a decline of 30% of the shares of the social network company that he operates.

U.S. investor George Soros increased his wealth for less than 2%, to 21.6 billion dollars, while Ukrainian billionaire Rinat Akhmetov, owner of football club Shakhtar Donetsk, has increased its wealth by 47.6%, from 21.2 billion.

China will surpass this year the Europe cars production

China will produce this year, for the first time, more cars than Europe, a situation which highlights the rise of Asian countries in the automotive sector, while the European market encounters difficulties, according to the Financial Times.

Autotusime production of China and other light vehicles such as trucks, will amount this year to 19.6 million units compared to 18.3 million in Europe, according to forecasts made ​​by five research companies.

China’s rise is even more impressive given that Europe includes in to the European Union, countries like Russia and Turkey.

In 2012, according to estimates from the automotive sector, Europe has produced 18.9 million cars and other vehicles in this category, compared to 17.8 million in China.

Financial Times projections are based on data provided by IHS consulting firms, LMC Automotive and PwC, and divisions of UBS and Credit Suisse.

Global car market, estimated at 1,300 billion dollars annually, will recover only slightly in 2013, with an advance of only 2.2%, compared with an increase of 4.9% in 2012.

This year, Europe produces only slightly more than a fifth of global cars, while in 2011 had a share of 35%. In the early ’70s, nearly one in two new cars worldwide came from Europe.

Meanwhile, in China,the production of cars for this year is estimated at 10 times the level in 2000, when the country’s share in global auto sector was only 3.5%.

Elections in key countries of the world

Inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama will be the first major event in 2013, a year marked by elections in Israel, Tunisia, Iran and Pakistan, as well as in Italy and Germany.

JANUARY

- 20 and 21 – WASHINGTON: Oath by President Barack Obama, followed in the next day, by his inauguration marks the beginning of the second term of the 44th U.S. president.

- 22 – ISRAEL: early parliamentary elections after dissolving the Israeli Parliament in October, where incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is the big favorite in an atmosphere of regional tensions.

- 23 – JORDAN: early parliamentary elections after the dissolution of Parliament by King Abdullah II.

FEBRUARY

- 7-17 – BERLIN: The 63rd Berlinale – International Film Festival in Berlin. Chinese director Wong Kar Wai is president of the jury.

- 24 – HOLLYWOOD (USA): The 85th Academy Awards ceremony of the film.

-24 And 25 – ITALY: early parliamentary elections.

MARCH

- 4 – KENYA: General elections (presidential and parliamentary), an election that promises to be tense, the past elections degenerated into violence on a unprecedented scale in 2007-2008.

MAY

- 15-26 – CANNES (France): The 66th film festival.

- PAKISTAN: legislative elections, seen as a major test for democracy in this country, where three civil governments were removed by coup, after the establishment of the State in 1947.

JUNE

- 14 – Iran Presidential Elections to appoint the successor of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

- 15-30: BRAZIL: Confederations  Football Cup.

- 17 and 18 – NORTHERN IRELAND / UK: G8 Summit

- 23 – TUNISIA: Presidential and legislative elections (2nd round is scheduled for July 7) after the adoption of the new Constitution.

JULY

- July 19 to August 4 – BARCELONA (Spain): World Swimming Championships.

- 23 to 28 – RIO DE JANEIRO (Brazil): World Youth Day (WYD) in the presence of Pope Benedict XVI.

- 10-18 – MOSCOW: World Athletics Championship in Moscow.

- July 28-September 7 – VENICE (Italy): The 70th Mostra Film Festival.

SEPTEMBER

- GERMANY: legislative elections. Christian Democrat Chancellor Angela Merkel, running for a third term.

October

- STOCKHOLM / OSLO (Sweden / Norway): Announcement of the Nobel Prize.

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER

- Poland: UN Conference on Climate Change.