Anti-graft probe targets PetroChina vice chairman

BEIJING — The vice chairman of China's biggest state-owned energy company has become the latest prominent executive targeted by Communist Party investigators in a spreading anti-corruption campaign.

Liao Yongyuan, vice chairman of PetroChina Ltd., is under investigation for possible "serious violation of the law," the ruling party's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection announced late Monday. Its one-sentence statement gave no details but a separate statement by PetroChina said Liao was suspected of violating discipline, the party's term for corruption.

PetroChina is a key target of an anti-corruption campaign led by President Xi Jinping that appears to be aimed at tightening the party leadership's control over politically influential and often independent-minded state industries.

The state-owned oil and gas industry was a power base for Zhou Yongkang, the ruling party's former security chief who was arrested in December on charges including bribery and leaking state secrets. Control over state companies can provide political figures with jobs to reward supporters and money to promote their own careers.

PetroChina is Asia's biggest oil and gas producer by volume but is regarded by executives at other companies as bloated and inefficient.

Its vast cash flow and the complexity of its heavily regulated and politically sensitive industry create ample opportunities to divert money or assets to private use.

At least four present and former executives of PetroChina and its parent, China National Petroleum Corp., have been detained. A former CNPC chairman was fired in September as head of the Cabinet body that oversees China's biggest state-owned companies.

Zhou, who stepped down in 2012 as a member of the party's ruling inner circle, the Standing Committee, would be the highest-ranking Chinese political figure to be prosecuted since the early 1980s. He is a former CNPC general manager.

Liao spent most of his career at PetroChina, working in Gansu province in the northwest and Sichuan in the southwest before becoming its vice president in 2005, according to the company website.

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Asia stocks jump as Fed rate hike expectations shift again

SEOUL, South Korea — Asian stocks markets jumped Tuesday as investors cheered the prospect of stimulus in China and second guessed what signals the Federal Reserve will give on interest rates at its policy meeting this week.

KEEPING SCORE: Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 1.1 percent to 19,460.57 and South Korea's Kospi jumped 1.8 percent to 2,022.58. Hong Kong's Hang Seng was up 0.3 percent to 24,009.13 and China's Shanghai Composite added 1.3 percent to 3,494.76, extending its gain from the previous session. Stocks in Australia and Southeast Asia were also higher.

FED WATCH: Whether the Fed will drop the word "patient" in describing its timetable for raising interest rates from a record low is the focal point for investors this week. IG market strategist Evan Lucas said "all but half a handful of economists" expect the word to be removed from the statement the Fed will issue on Wednesday. But estimates of when the first rate hike will come are swinging between mid-year and later in the year. Weak U.S. economic data Monday pushed expectations toward later in the year. Last week, strong U.S. jobs had many picking mid-year. Stock markets have been boosted for several years by low interest rates.

CHINA CHEER: Chinese stocks extended gains a day after the market's key index surged to its highest level in more than five years. The rally was driven by hopes the government will announce new economic stimulus after Premier Li Keqiang said on the weekend it has plenty of room and options for boosting growth. China's economy, the world's second-largest, expanded at its slowest pace in nearly a quarter century last year.

US DATA: Industrial production growth last month was lower than expected while factory output fell for a third month, casting doubt on the strength of the U.S. recovery. Industrial production edged up slightly in February as a big surge by utilities offset a third straight decline in factory output. The Federal Reserve also reported that output at U.S. factories fell 0.2 percent last month following a decline of a 0.3 percent in January, in part due to a stronger dollar.

THE QUOTE: "Weaker U.S. industrial and manufacturing data sparked strong rallies in shares as investors and traders speculated interest rate rises may be pushed back," Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC Markets, said in a commentary.

WALL STREET: On Monday, U.S. stocks bounced back after losing ground for three weeks as the dollar's rally against the euro abated. The Standard & Poor's 500 rose 1.4 percent to 2,081.19. The Dow Jones industrial average climbed 1.3 percent to 17,977.42. The Nasdaq composite jumped 1.2 percent to 4,929.51.

ENERGY: Oil continued its decline after hitting a six-year low on supplies outpacing demand. Benchmark U.S. crude was down 22 cents to $43.66 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 96 cents to close at $43.88 a barrel on Monday. Brent crude, a benchmark for international oils, added 2 cents to $53.96 in London.

CURRENCIES: In currency trading, the euro weakened slightly to $1.0563 from $1.0578. The dollar inched up to 121.40 yen from 121.37 yen.

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Report: Apple set to launch 25-channel online TV service

Apple is set to launch a 25-channel TV service this fall from broadcasters including ABC, CBS and Fox.

The slimmed-down bundle will stream channels live to Apple TV, iPhones, iPads and devices using Apple's iOS, according to the Wall Street Journal. It is expected to also include ESPN and FX, but leave out smaller channels.

The service will reportedly be available from September and cost $30 to $40 per month.

WSJ had previously reported that Apple was teaming up with Comcast on a set-top box that would take advantage of priority Internet traffic, but talks between the two are said to have broken down so the service at present won't include channels from Comcast-owned NBCUniversal.

Earlier this month, Apple struck an exclusive deal to carry HBO's standalone streaming service HBO Now. The new service, which will launch in time for the upcoming fifth season of HBO's dragons-and-swords hit "Game of Thrones," will offer more than 2,000 titles online. For $14.99 people who don't have cable or satellite service will still be able to get HBO programs.

Apple has also cut the price of Apple TV from $99 to $69.

2015 TheWrap news inc. All rights reserved.

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Asian stock markets drift as investors await Fed meeting

HONG KONG — Most Asian stock markets drifted Monday as investors hunkered down ahead of a Federal Reserve meeting this week that may set the stage for the first U.S. interest rate hike since the global financial crisis.

KEEPING SCORE: Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 climbed 0.1 percent to 19,278.08 and South Korea's Kospi added 0.3 percent to 1,990.97. Hong Kong's Hang Seng was up 0.4 percent to 23,917.74. The Shanghai Composite Index in mainland China jumped 2 percent to 3,437.85 as comments by China's top economic official raised hopes of additional stimulus to bolster economic growth. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.2 percent to 5,803.00. Markets in Southeast Asia were mixed.

FED IN FOCUS: The Fed's two-day meeting begins Tuesday. A growing number of investors expect the U.S. central bank to raise its benchmark interest rate sooner rather than later and they will be watching to see whether officials signal through their language whether that's the case. Global stock markets have been lifted for several years by ultralow rates and other monetary stimulus but a Fed rate hike would mark the start of a return to more normal levels for borrowing costs.

THE QUOTE: The Fed meeting will "undoubtedly" be the week's highlight for investors, said Michael Every, head of Asia-Pacific financial market research at Rabobank, in a commentary. "We might well say goodbye to the key term 'patience', which has become a rolling rule of thumb for 'a few more months'. In other words, March could officially open the door to a potential June rate hike."

CHINA CHEER: While the rest of Asia was brooding, Chinese stocks surged on hopes of renewed stimulus a day after Premier Li Keqiang said officials still have plenty of space and means to shore up slowing growth in the world's No. 2 economy. Li said at the close of China's annual legislature Sunday that because authorities have held off on bringing in sweeping stimulus measures over the past few years, policymakers have "fairly ample room" and a "host of policy instruments" to boost economic growth if it slows more than expected.

WALL STREET: U.S. stocks dipped on Friday as investors reacted to slumping oil prices and a jump in the dollar. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 0.8 percent to close at 17,749.31 while the Standard & Poor's 500 lost 0.6 percent to 2,053.40. The Nasdaq composite lost 0.4 percent to 4,871.76.

ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. crude slid to its lowest level in six years, losing 49 cents to $44.35 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell $2.21 to close at $44.84 a barrel on Friday. Brent crude, a benchmark for international oils used by many U.S. refineries, fell 41 cents to $54.60 a barrel in London.

CURRENCIES: The euro strengthened to $1.0515 from $1.0497 Friday. The dollar weakened to 121.29 yen from 121.40 yen.

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Inspector Gadget: Don’t snooze on this sleep tracker

Withings Aura ($299, various retailers)

There are lots of sleep-monitoring devices on the market these days, but this is one that is supposed to actually help you fall asleep and wake up. With a light-emitting bedside alarm clock and a connected sensor that monitors your movements and heartbeat, this is a very intriguing piece of technology.

The good: Well-
designed, futuristic-
looking and easy to use, the Aura lulls you to sleep with peaceful nature sounds and a melatonin-inducing red spectrum light.

An iOS app collects all of your data on REM and deep sleep. And it does a good job of waking you up at the right time in your sleep cycle.

The bad: If there's someone else in the bed, your tracker may be skewed by their movements. Also, the price is a bit steep.

The bottom line: If you're an insomniac who sleeps alone, then this sleep tracker is one to consider.

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Booting Up: Chang’s embrace of technology intrigues

Tommy Chang, Boston's incoming superintendent of schools, wants to talk about something called the three-screen day — where students are focused on learning content, producing content and sharing content on a computer, tablet and smartphone — nearly all day long.

"I'm not saying this is what Boston Public Schools is moving toward," said Chang, 39, a top Los Angeles administrator with a background in charter school innovation, 
recently chosen for the top job in Boston. "I'm saying this is something we should be discussing: How do we create an education system that leverages technology?"

I called Chang on Friday wanting to chat about the three-screen day concept, and I had my arguments at the ready. Chang got back to me almost immediately. But he didn't just make his case: He cited books, education researchers and a specific institution in Los Angeles, the Incubator School, that embodies his philosophy. And I realized something: The three-screen day idea is meant to be provocative. It's Chang's way of getting people talking about innovation in education.

I went in fearing that Chang wanted to shove tablets and smartphones in the hands of kindergarteners, and came out believing that Boston's incoming school chief wants schools to be more like incubators, and each classroom like a startup, where students are the entrepreneurs of their own education, tinkering and testing as they would in a laboratory.

"The mayor has called on all of us to drive innovation," Chang said. "And to ask how we reinvent our schools to be vastly different, and how does Boston become a model for what public education looks like."

Technology has a leading role at the Incubator School that Chang mentioned. But it's equally about making learning relevant to students' lives. They develop prototypes and create their own little businesses. And in online testimonials, they talk about finding friends and acceptance.

If you're a luddite — the type of person who thinks that wooden toys were good enough for Thomas Jefferson, so why not our kids? — then Chang won't be your favorite superintendent.

But if you think technology must be woven though all aspects of education so that our classrooms are laboratories that nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs, then Chang is your man.

And if you're wrestling between those two extremes, like most people — if you know Boston Public Schools need to change and you know that innovation must play a central role — then you'll find Chang's ideas bold, thought-provoking, and you'll want to continue the conversation with him.

"Twenty years from now, should learning exist with a kid going to school at 8 a.m. and going to school six periods a day and going home and doing work?" asked Chang. "Is that really what learning should look like? I don't think so. And I think Boston can lead that conversation."

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Officials: Listeriosis not cause of 3 deaths, may be factor

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A foodborne illness linked to some Blue Bell ice cream products might have been a contributing factor in the deaths of three hospital patients in Kansas, health officials said Saturday.

But listeriosis didn't cause the deaths, according to Kansas Department of Health and Environment spokeswoman Sara Belfry.

Officials have not released the names of the five patients at Via Christi St. Francis hospital in Wichita, Kansas, who developed listeriosis in after eating products from one production line at the Blue Bell creamery in Brenham, Texas.

But the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the five individuals were older adults and three of them are women. The CDC did not specify the gender of those patients who died.

The five patients became ill with listeriosis during their hospitalizations for unrelated causes between December 2013 and January 2015. But hospital spokeswoman Maria Loving said she couldn't discuss why the patients were hospitalized, citing patient confidentiality laws.

According to the CDC, information available for four of the five patients shows they had eaten while hospitalized milkshakes made with Blue Bell ice cream product called "Scoops" in the month before the infection.

The FDA says listeria bacteria were found in samples of Scoops, as well as Blue Bell Chocolate Chip Country Cookies, Great Divide Bars, Sour Pop Green Apple Bars, Cotton Candy Bars, Vanilla Stick Slices, Almond Bars and No Sugar Added Moo Bars.

Blue Bell spokeswoman Jenny Van Dorf said the company has recovered all recalled products from all 23 states where they were sold, as well as those that were in storage.

Cincinnati-based supermarket chain Kroger removed recalled Blue Bell products from 860 of its 2,625 stores and the company is alerting customers through its recall notification system, spokesman Keith Dailey said in an email.

"We would not sell any product that we believed to be potentially harmful to our customers," Dailey responded when asked if Kroger has confidence in Blue Bell products not affected by the recall and that remain on store shelves.

Blue Bell says its regular Moo Bars were untainted, as were its half gallons, quarts, pints, cups, three-gallon ice cream and take-home frozen snack novelties.

The Texas Department of State Health Services said facilities like Blue Bell's are inspected on a monthly basis. The agency added that no enforcement action has previously been taken against the facility in Brenham and it is operating in compliance with food safety laws.

"Our last full inspection was February. We cited a couple minor issues but nothing related to this issue," agency spokeswoman Carrie Williams said in an email.

Van Dorf said the machine that the contamination was traced to has been shut down permanently.

It's not unusual to see listeria outbreaks linked to dairy products, including ice cream, said William Marler, an attorney who represented victims of a 2011 listeria outbreak that killed 33 people and was traced to a Colorado cantaloupe farm.

In December, an ice cream company in Snohomish, Washington, recalled nearly a year's worth of ice cream and related products because of possible listeria contamination that sickened two men.

Marler said he thought Blue Bell had responded appropriately once it knew its products were linked to illnesses and deaths. His only criticism was that Blue Bell didn't mention the patients who were sickened or died in Kansas in a statement on its Web site, instead highlighting that this was the first product recall in its 108-year history.

Listeriosis is a life-threatening infection caused by eating food contaminated with bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes, the CDC said. The disease primarily affects pregnant women and their newborns, older adults, and people with immune systems weakened by cancer, cancer treatments, or other serious conditions.

___

Lozano reported from Houston.

___

Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter at www.twitter.com/juanlozano70

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Juries in the drivers' seats

Two federal lawsuits brought by a Boston labor attorney are going to trial thanks to rulings by federal judges in California last week — with vast implications for Uber and Lyft.

"The judges soundly rejected the companies' arguments that they are not in the car business, they are a technology business," said Shannon Liss-Riordan, the attorney who brought the suits.

Two judges both denied a motion for summary judgment, ruling that the cases would have to be decided by juries.

The suits center on how Uber and Lyft classify their drivers. The companies claim the drivers are independent contractors, but Liss-Riordan and her clients say the drivers should be treated as full employees. By classifying drivers as independent contractors, Uber and Lyft avoid having to pay for benefits including unemployment insurance, worker's compensation and overtime. If the companies are required to pay their drivers as employees, it would mean a huge change to their business model.

"Companies like Uber and Lyft save enormously on their labor costs by calling their workers independent contractors," she said.

The problem, the two federal judges said separately, is that neither the legal definition of employee or contractor seems to describe Uber and Lyft drivers.

Uber and Lyft drivers can choose their own hours and accept or reject ride requests, like independent contractors. However, like employees, the drivers are subject to control and potential termination at will by the ride-for-hire companies.

"The jury in this case will be handed a square peg and asked to choose between two round holes," Judge Vince Chhabria wrote of the Lyft case.

"The application of the traditional test of employment — a test which evolved under an economic model very different from the new 'sharing economy' — to Uber's business model creates significant challenges," wrote Judge Edward Chen in the Uber case. "Arguably, many of the factors in that test appear outmoded in this context."

The lawsuits will only apply to California right now, but another case that would apply to Massachusetts is ongoing. The companies have come under fierce fire in Massachusetts, largely by taxi companies and cab drivers who claim they are being driven out of business.

Traditional employment laws have a long way to go to catch up with the rise of the so-called gig economy, said Pat Petitti, chief executive of HourlyNerd, which connects freelance consultants with companies looking for outside expertise.

"Neither the employee or contractor definition fits what an Uber driver does," he said. "The traditional definitions for an employee and contractor are not correct — they don't work in a world like this, where technology is changing the workforce."

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BCEC expansion weighed against other needs

Boston officials yesterday weighed in on the debate over spending $1 billion to expand the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center amid a deep budget deficit and a crumbling public transit system.

"In difficult economic times we have to look at every single thing ... and determine what's best for now and the long term," said Boston City Councilor Tito Jackson. "Everyone has to take a look at their budgets. We need to look at the T not only as transportation, but as critical infrastructure, and it's literally the driver of our economy."

The Herald reported yesterday the convention center authority's expansion committee held an emergency closed-door session over fears the bond offering meant to pay for the expansion would be cut by Gov. Charlie Baker.

Mayor Martin J. Walsh yesterday said he supports the convention center expansion, which backers say will draw bigger — and more lucrative — shows to Boston, but said the T is in desperate need of a fix.

"The governor has to look at the budget, look at the numbers and how they work for him, but I'll be talking to him as well. I think the expansion of the convention center is about economic development and the future of our city, and this region," Walsh said. "Certainly the governor has a big concern with the MBTA ... it's not going to be one easy fix, the governor inherited a big problem here."

During the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority's public meeting on Friday, MCCA head Jim Rooney said he "has a high level of confidence" that the project will go forward.

Baker remained noncommittal on his plans yesterday, saying his administration needs to look at the numbers involved.

"We're just getting started on the capital budget, and until we have a better understanding about where the capital budget sits — not just for this year but for the next year and the year after — we're not going to say much more about it than that," Baker said. "We need to do a thorough deep dive on the capital budget before we talk about specifics or proposals."

Baker said his administration will spend the next 30 days reviewing capital projects.

In January, Baker told the MCCA he would delay the bond offering until March 30, to give the incoming administration time to review the project. The expansion will add 1.3 million square feet to the South Boston expo center.

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New Honda CRV is a champ in its class

The 2015 Honda CRV, with its tradition of being a spacious, roomy cargo-
hauler, continues to make stylistic improvements enhancing its looks and refinement.

What struck me first about driving the CRV was that it feels smaller than the body and elbow room suggest. Tight and responsive, the car swings easily into parking spaces and handles surprisingly deftly for a small SUV. Although the CRV still has some rough truckness to it — rumbling road noise and bumps get passed into the cabin — the car settles nicely on the highway, offering a quiet and comfortable ride.

The cabin continues to evolve and the refinements are noticeable. The gauge cluster has a new age 3-D tiered appearance with the speedometer centered prominently. The information box is incorporated into the gauges and by ­using the steering wheel you can toggle different screens that keep you up to date on a ­variety of car data and ­audio settings. Safety features abound with lane drift and blind-spot monitors, collision braking and the passenger-side mirror turns into a rearview camera when signaling a right turn. Rounding out the features are a back-up camera that takes full advantage of the 7-inch touch screen.

Despite the big screen, I'm not a fan of the infotainment system. I found it a bit cumbersome to work through the drop-downs and wished for some rudi­mentary dials to make setting up the radio easier. It's also a bit of a stretch to get to it, but once set with my presets I found life a bit simpler working off the steering wheel controls.

The curb appeal continues to improve. From its boxy '90s forefather, the CRV now features a new stylized, sleeker nose and tail. I liked the subtle improve­ments Honda has worked in, using aluminum door and window trim and elongating the windows to turn the once-
utilitarian machine into an eye-pleaser. The upscale Touring Edition tester adds 18-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, leather trim on the interior, a moonroof and a power lift-gate. And I really loved pulling one strap to fold the rear seat into a big cargo area.

The CRV gets about 28 mpg on average and really gets you in and out of traffic. The 185-HP 2.4 liter engine driven through a updated Continuously Variable Transmission is quick, smooth and peppy without the whining and indecision I've found in competitors' SUVs. It's a good match for this AWD and powers the CRV confidently while adding 3 to 4 MPG better fuel economy, according to Honda. Burning regular gas is a plus, too, as we see those prices start to creep up.

Another fuel saver is the ECON mode; when engaged it adjusts the power­train operation to help further sip the gas.

With five trim levels starting at an MSRP of $23,320 and topping out at the loaded Touring model at $33,377, there's a CRV for just about everyone. This is a hugely popular and highly competitive SUV that continues to be one of the leaders of its class. But let's face it, with 35 cubic feet of cargo space and head and leg room to spare, the CRV is a winner. From day one it's has been a champ for doing its job: that's getting you, the clan and a large amount of gear from point A to point B safely.

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