Norwegian energy firm Statoil ASA reported Tuesday

Norwegian energy firm Statoil ASA (STO) reported Tuesday that fourth-quarter net loss attributable to equity holders of the company was $2.79 billion or $0.87 per share, wider than loss of $1.13 billion or $0.35 per share a year ago.The latest quarter's results were impacted by $2.3 billion in net impairment charges mainly due to reduced long term price assumptions.Adjusted earnings for the quarter were $1.66 billion, down 6 percent from $1.78 billion in the same period in 2015.Adjusted earnings after tax were negative $40 million in the quarter, compared to positive $185 million in the same period last year.Total revenues and other income for the quarter declined to $12.76 billion from $13.09 billion a year ago.

Price of the Brent crude oil at the London ICE…

Oil prices have fallen on the world markets.On NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange) cost of the US light crude oil decreased $0.41 to stand at $51.76. Price of the Brent crude oil at the London ICE (Intercontinental Exchange Futures) fell $0.26 to trade at $54.79.The price of a barrel of Azeri Light crude oil decreased $1.04 to stand at $56.16 on the world markets.

The Armenian armed units shattered ceasefire with Azerbaijan

The Armenian armed units shattered ceasefire with Azerbaijan a total of 39 times throughout the day using 60- 82 mm mortar launchers, large-caliber machine guns and 122-mm howitzers, Azerbaijan`s Defense Ministry said.The Armenian armed forces, stationed in Armenia`s Barekamavan village in Noyemberyan district, Aygepar village in Berd district and nameless hills in Krasnoselsk district subjected to fire the positions of the Azerbaijani armed forces located in Alibayli village in Tovuz district, Gaymagli village in Gazakh district and nameless hills in Gadabay district.The ceasefire was also violated in Chilaburt village in Tartar district, Shikhlar, Bash Garvand, Yusifjanli and Sarijali villages in Aghdam district, Mehdili village in Jabrayil district, Ashagi Seyidahmadli village in Fuzuli district as well as nameless hills in Goranboy, Fuzuli and Jabrayil districts.

According to The Washington Times…

Betsy DeVos, a wealthy Republican donor with almost no experience in public education, was confirmed by the Senate as the nation’s education secretary on Tuesday, but only with the help of a historic tiebreaking vote from Vice President Mike Pence after weeks of protests and two defections within her own party, according to The Washington Times.The 51-to-50 vote capped an all-night vigil on the Senate floor, where, one by one, Democrats denounced Ms. DeVos to a mostly empty chamber. But they did not get a third Republican defection that would have stopped Ms. DeVos — a billionaire who has devoted much of her life to promoting charter schools and vouchers — from becoming the steward of the nation’s nearly 100,000 public schools.It was the first time a vice president has been summoned to the Capitol to break a tie on a cabinet nomination.

Sapporo kicked off its annual snow festival Monday with 200

Sapporo kicked off its annual snow festival Monday with 200 sculptures made from snow and ice, including one of U.S. President Donald Trump, according to The Japan Times.Over 2 million people are expected to visit the weeklong show, which is held at three sites in Hokkaido's capital and runs through February 12.Among the 68th Sapporo Snow Festival's larger attractions are sculptures of "Star Wars" characters crafted to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the release of the first movie as well as the iconic Arc de Triomphe in Paris.There is also a sculpture of the Central Golden Hall at Kofukuji, a major Buddhist temple in the city of Nara, ahead of restoration work scheduled to finish next year.The festival also features smaller statues created by residents, including one of Japanese comedian Pikotaro, whose song "Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen," now holds the Guinness World Record for the shortest song to enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

It’s been 25 years since the signing of the Maastricht Treaty

It's been 25 years since the signing of the Maastricht Treaty, which among other things included provisions that have to be met to join the euro.The two most important elements of these provisions - known as the convergence criteria - concern fiscal discipline, mandating member states to limit their annual budget deficits to less than three percent of their respective economic output while instructing them to hold their national debt to under 60 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). Germany was the driving force behind the inclusion of these provisions in the agreement, even though the "three percent rule" on budget deficits had originally been conceived by a young French official.

The NEA has announced its intention to…

China has become the world’s largest producer of solar energy, according to a new report from the country’s energy administration. The most populous nation on Earth nearly doubled their capacity for solar power in 2016, but they still have a very low per-capita rate for solar power use.The NEA has announced its intention to add an additional 110 gigawatts by 2020, bringing China's total capacity up to about 190 gigawatts. By comparison, the solar-power output of every nation in the world combined in 2015 came to an estimated 250 gigawatts.China is not the only nation embracing renewable power. India announced on Monday that their PV capacity had reached 9 gigawatts, and they hope to replicate China's meteoric rise in alternative energy through the use of tariffs and subsidies. Saudi Arabia, in response to slumping oil prices, announced in January 2017 a $30-50 billion investment in solar and wind power.

The 2019 UEFA European Under-21

The nine qualifying groups for the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Italy and San Marino were decided by Thursday's draw in Nyon.The draw pits Azerbaijan against Germany, Israel, Norway, Republic of Ireland and Kosovo in Group 5.

Armenian armed units violated ceasefire with

The Armenian armed units shattered ceasefire with Azerbaijan a total of 14 times throughout the day, Azerbaijan`s Defense Ministry said.The Armenian armed forces, stationed in Armenia`s Barekamavan and Voskevan villages and nameless hills in Noyemberyan district, Berkaber village and nameless hills in Ijevan district, Aygepar village in Berd district subjected to fire the positions of the Azerbaijani armed forces located in Alibayli village in Tovuz district, Gushchu Ayrim, Gaymagli, Gizilhajili villages and nameless hills in Gazakh district.The ceasefire was also violated in Gorgan village in Fuzuli district as well as nameless hills in Goranboy and Jabrayil districts.

Energy Information Administration announced Wednesday

Weekly inventories of crude oil and gasoline in the U.S. increased, the country's Energy Information Administration (EIA) announced Wednesday.Crude oil stocks rose by 2.8 million barrels, or 0.6 percent, to reach 488.3 million barrels for the week ending Jan. 20, from the previous week.Gasoline inventories increased by 6.8 million barrels, or 2.8 percent, to reach 253.2 million barrels during the same period.The rise in crude inventories is a result of lower demand from American refineries, which often go under maintenance during the first two months of a year when demand is low due to the winter season.The U.S.' oil production increased slightly, by 17,000 barrels per day (bpd), to reach 8.96 million bpd for the week ending January 20, the EIA figures showed.