The scandal has also caught Samsung up in allegations that it backed foundations controlled by Choi Soon-sil in the hope of receiving political favours, which investigators are also examining.
Politicians voted on 9 December to impeach President Park - a decision South Korea's constitutional court has six months to uphold or overturn. Until then she remains formally president but stripped of her powers, which are handed to the prime minister, a presidential appointee.
Ms Park denies wrongdoing but has apologised for the way she managed her relationship with Ms Choi, who also denies committing criminal offences.

In 2017 a larger share of capital inflow will be directed to high-end manufacturing, a key part of the real economy, Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng said at a national commerce work conference concluding Tuesday.

Investment access restrictions will be lowered for general manufacturing as well, he added.

Foreign investment will also highlighted in the development of a modern service industry, as the country opens its finance and telecommunication service sectors in an orderly fashion, Gao said.

Developing the real economy will be a major feature of the country's efforts to go global next year, with more investment for technical and managerial expertise.

The country's foreign direct investment, excluding investment in the financial sector, is likely to be around 785 billion yuan ($126 billion) this year, with 70 percent of the inflow going to the service sector, official estimates show.

To attract more foreign investment, Gao called for repeating the success of free trade zones, which have fewer investment restrictions.

Thereby, this year´s pledge is increased to 13,5 mil. EUR in grant funding for this innovative approach, which aims at improving management structures of natural spaces that deserve particular protection. 6,5 mil. EUR were already pledged during the successful governmental negotiations in Berlin, held November 23rd and 24th 2016. Germany provides Mongolia an amount totaling to 25 mil. EUR for the joint project “Biodiversity and Adaption to Climate Change”.

The Mongolian contribution adds further 3.5 mil. EUR. An increase of the Mongolian contribution is being planned currently. D. Oyunkhorol - Mongolian Minister for Environment and Tourism - highlighted in a meeting with Dr. Christian Glass – Head of the Development Cooperation Division at the German Embassy – and Petar Gjorgjiev – Director of KfW Office Ulaanbaatar – the high importance of the cooperation. She stressed that with this project Mongolia’s unique nature can be preserved, the livelihood can be enhanced and, simultaneously, the basis for sustainable tourism can be established.

As of now, the following 11 protected areas were selected this year with the aim to improve their management and park infrastructure with German and Mongolian support: Dornod, Gorkji Terelj, Khangai, Khan Khentee, Khustai, Onon Balj, Orkhon, Otgontenger, Tarvagatai, Ulaan Taiga und Zed Khantai. With the additional funding, protected areas in western Mongolia shall be supported. Possible measures in the Gobi region may also be assessed. The innovative approach based on the principle of competition, whereby protected areas with good management concepts can apply, remains valid. Dr. Glass stressed that the support for protected areas and their population by the Mongolian Government remains an important investment to the country´s future, even in times of financial challenges.

In 2017, the German–Mongolian Development Cooperation celebrates its 25th anniversary. Approximately 347 mil. EUR of funding were pledged by Germany within these 25 years. Supporting Mongolia in the priority areas “Biodiversity”, “Energy Efficiency” and “Sustainable Resource Management”, Germany promotes the country´s sustainable development and remains an important partner in the sustainable improvement of the living conditions of the Mongolian population throughout the country and the implementation of the “Sustainable Development Goals”.

The plan was filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. Peabody is targeting emergence around the beginning of the second quarter of 2017.

"Today's proposed plan is an important achievement in our path toward emergence," said Peabody Energy President and Chief Executive Officer Glenn Kellow in a news release.

"The plan charts Peabody's course forward and reflects an enormous amount of work by the company and multiple creditor groups to advance a proposal that has broad consensus, maximizes the value of the enterprise and paves the way for a sustainable future. We look forward to moving toward confirmation of the plan."

The company is negogiating with three key stakeholder groups—the First Lien Creditors, the Second Lien Group and the Unsecured Noteholder Group. It is also updating its projections given changes to the industry and commodity prices.

"Eight months ago, we set out on a path to strengthen the balance sheet and position the company for long-term success amid historically challenged coal industry fundamentals," said Kellow.

"While we still have outstanding issues to resolve prior to emergence, this plan demonstrates that Peabody retains an unmatched asset base, leading U.S. platform, substantial Australian thermal and metallurgical coal business, and a team of skilled employees with a fundamental commitment to lasting values. We're pleased to reach this important step as we move to the next phase of Peabody's Chapter 11 process. And we appreciate all of our employees' actions in continuing to manage safe, low-cost operations and deliver the results that can best ensure our success."

Eighty percent of the world's diamonds are cut and polished in India, where the industry employs a million people. The short supply of cash has severely affected the operations.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month withdrew the 500 and 1,000 rupee notes (about $7.35, $14.7) from circulation, turning 86 percent of the cash in the country to paper. The dramatic measure was said to fight tax evasion and corruption.

Indians were given until December 30 to swap their old bills for new ones.

Almost all of India's transactions are in cash and many people don't have a bank account.

The liquidity crunch has badly hit consumer demand for diamond jewelry in India, which is the world's third-biggest market.

Demand for precious stones in India usually picks up in the winter wedding season. This year sales were plunging as nearly two-thirds of jewelry is usually purchased with cash.

Traders also complain lack of money damages their operations. "The market is frozen. We don't have cash to buy diamonds," said trader Kalpesh Savaliya who’s been in the jewelry business for 25 years.

Experts say the disruption could lead to cheaper polished stones on the market, with a temporary glut and lower prices at wholesale and store level.

"During the cash crunch, diamonds are one of the last things people want to buy. At least for the next six months demand will remain weak," Praveenshankar Pandya, head of India's Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) told Reuters.

As for the higher-value jewelry business, it will be protected because cutting and polishing are also done in Israel, Belgium and by bigger Indian companies that rely on bank transactions.

"The knock-on effect of Indian demonetizations has meant a reduction in the price of lower quality diamonds," said Tobias Kormind, managing director of 77 Diamonds, an online jewelry retailer based in London. "As a result, we've seen an increase in demand for those kinds of diamonds as our clients have snapped up these favorable deals."

India's rough diamond imports grew by more than 30 percent between April and November, GJEPC data showed. Exports of cut and polished diamonds rose 12.2 percent.

Shoppers with an Amazon Prime membership, which costs $99 a year and offers free two-day shipping, purchased more than one billion items during the holiday shopping season.
December 19 was the peak shipping day for Amazon (AMZN, Tech30), while December 23 was the biggest day for Prime Now deliveries. Among the most popular items for the two-hour delivery service that day were Oreo cookies.

TVs were hot items this holiday season: The Samsung 32-inch Smart LED TV and the Avera 32-inch LED TV were among the top sellers in the category. But the 4K TVs were also popular, with Amazon saying customers bought enough to reach the top of Mount Everest more than nine times.
There was a lot of sparkle this holiday season as well: 10,451 carats of diamonds were purchased on the website, and a watch was sold every 1.5 seconds.
The fanfare over the Broadway mega-hit Hamilton is still going strong. Amazon reported shoppers ordered enough "Hamilton: The Revolution" collectible books and albums to give every guest at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City (which has 1,319 seats and is where the show performs), a copy for 96 consecutive shows.
When it comes to video games, Pokémon reigned supreme this holiday with Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon for the Nintendo 3DS being the most popular.

Shoppers scooped up a lot of toys and Hasbro's Pie Face games were the best-selling in the category.
The holiday season wouldn't be complete without some homemade treats, and shoppers bought enough KitchenAid mixers to make around 7.5 million cookies at once. Amazon also said it sold enough running shoes to run 18,603 times around the globe. That's a lot of burned calories.

Russia has rejected the request, the report said. Mongolia also applied to Russia’s state-owned VTB bank, asking for a $200 million loan with a “better” interest rate, the report said. This money would be used to pay for the import of “Russian oil products.”

In January, Russian President Vladimir Putin forgave 97.8 percent of Mongolia’s state debt that has piled up since 2010 and amounted to 170 billion rubles ($2.8 billion).

The leaders of the German Industry Association (BDI), the Chambers of Commerce (DIHK) and the Employers' Association all expressed fears about uncertainties, especially with elections in Germany and France due in 2017, and protectionist trends in some countries.

"Expect the unexpected," BDI President Ulrich Grillo told Reuters. "The level of global uncertainty has increased as has the unpredictability. Unfortunately I fear that won't change very much in 2017."

Britain's referendum decision to leave the European Union and Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential election surprised pollsters and markets around the world. Chancellor Angela Merkel and her conservatives are expected to win a fourth consecutive term in September but uncertainties such as terror attacks are clouding the picture and such expected outcomes should be no longer taken for granted, the industrialists said.

Grillo said he fears political instability could increase due to a combination of growing self-doubt in the west, autocrats flexing their muscles elsewhere and the rise of populists.

Anton Boerner, head of the German trade association (BGA), said all the external uncertainties were weighing on export firms.

"Nationalist trends are poison for society as a whole and Europe needs to be reminded of all that it has in common," said Ingo Kramer, president of the Employers' Association. He said an increase in protectionism would be devastating for Germany which relies on exports for about half of its economic output.

Eric Schweitzer, the leader of the DIHK, saw considerable risks for Germany related to Brexit as well as Trump's election.

"I fear there is something deceptive about the relatively good economic situation right now," he said. "The Brexit vote could still hit the EU economy and especially the German economy. Donald Trump's critical comments on free trade in his campaign are causing a lot of uncertainty at German companies."

Association of Skilled Trades president Hans Peter Wollseifer underlined the challenge of integrating hundreds of thousands of refugees who have arrived in the last 18 months.

U.S. mutual fund trustees feel the heat of investor lawsuits
All the industry leaders said they hoped Merkel's conservative party, along with the other parties campaigning ahead of the election expected in September, would focus on industrial competitiveness and the creation of jobs in areas with bright futures.

In October, Germany lowered its economic growth target for 2017 to 1.4 percent from 1.5 percent.

(Writing by Erik Kirschbaum; Editing by Ruth Pitchford)

"This is another very important step for the development of Crimea in the long term. The supplies of Russian gas to the Crimean peninsula will allow us to develop its economy as a whole and will also help to meet the social needs of the Crimea and Sevastopol," said Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The pipeline stretches 358.7 kilometers across Lake Tuzla and the Kerch Strait, with an additional 27.3-kilometer spur to Simferopol.

According to Putin, the pipeline will provide gas for two 470 megawatts (MW) power stations, which will be built by 2018.

In the next four years, Russia will build or reconstruct over 2,500 kilometers of cross-country gas pipelines and build eight gas pumping stations in the Crimea.

Crimea consumes up to 1,300 MW of electricity. Previously 800 MW was supplied by Ukraine. Now the region can meet its own energy demands. With the announced new power stations the peninsula will be able to generate up to 2,000 megawatts, which exceeds demand.

In November 2015, Crimean authorities had to declare a state of emergency after all four Ukrainian power lines providing electricity to the peninsula were blown up, causing a total blackout. This urged the Kremlin to speed up building an independent energy system for the region.

Providing power to Crimea is a part of a bigger project to unite the peninsula with mainland Russia. Moscow expects to open a 19-kilometer long bridge to bypass Ukraine in 2018.

The bridge will have a four-lane highway and two-track railroad, capable of handling up to 40,000 vehicles and dozens of trains a day to the peninsula over the Kerch Strait.

Crimea’s only land border is with Ukraine, but currently, regular passenger and cargo deliveries are organized by direct flights and ferries from ports in southern Russia.

But unlike other countries, China has the flexibility to beat off sharp economic decline as it restructures its economy toward consumption and services, according to the agency.

Statistics showed China's GDP witnessed a 6.7 percent increase in all three quarters of 2016. The country's industrial development, consumption, and investment maintained stable growth in October- November, with a rapid rise in the service industry.

Despite experts’ concerns, Chinese officials are confident in the country’s economy, saying the positive trends of this year will continue into next year.

This month Chinese President Xi Jinping voiced his confidence the country will achieve its major economic targets.

If China's GDP growth comes in line with the government's official full-year target, it will account for 1.2 percentage points of global GDP growth, economist Stephen Roach told the China Daily.

According to the IMF which expects only a 3.1 percent global growth this year, China would contribute over a third of the world's growth. The IMF says China is the primary source of export demand for over 100 economies, which account for about 80 percent of global GDP.

The Chinese media has warned that at times of growing protectionist sentiment around the world trading partners would only have access to China's home market if similar access was given by them.

Analysts say the future of Chinese trade will become more apparent when US President-elect Donald Trump enters the White House. The presidency of Trump, who’s known for his protectionist views, may hit US-China trade which brought Beijing $367.11 billion last year.

Trump has warned China about possible sanctions for depreciating its currency, and thus hitting American manufacturers. Last week he appointed economist Peter Navarro, an outspoken critic of China, as the head of a new US trade body.