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XTrade’s Partnership with Ronaldo Opens the Company Up to Over 200 Million Social Media Followers

Dana R
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XTrade’s Partnership with Ronaldo Opens the Company Up to Over 200 Million Social Media Followers

Celebrity ambassadors have always been a great way for brands to appeal to larger audiences or enhance their image, but in the social media age, big stars bring far more to the table than just their recognisable faces. Celebrities can have millions of followers on Twitter, huge Facebook fan bases, and all kinds of other useful outreach through things like Instagram. While brands themselves also often have big followings of their own on social media, people tend to be less excited about hearing what businesses have to tweet about than their favourite stars, so by connecting themselves with their celebrity ambassadors they not only get more views, but those views mean more to the people who see them.

This could be one of several reasons why financial trading company XTrade.com has recently announced a strategic partnership with Real Madrid and Portugal football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.

ronaldo

Ronaldo Is the New Face of XTrade

XTrade is a company with a global online CFD trading (contract for difference) platform, which can be used to make CFD trades on a huge range of markets, including the international stock exchanges, Forex pairs, and commodities. XTrade already has the biggest market share of mobile app users for CFD trading, and has global scope, with 38 languages supported by the platform and round the clock customer support. XTrade recently announced that they had partnered up with Cristiano Ronaldo as their new brand ambassador, with a press release quoting their head of operations Mike Leigh as saying:

“We are very excited to have Cristiano Ronaldo as our partner. We recognise strong similarities between us, as we both strive to be the number one performers in our fields. This partnership signifies an opportunity to support one of the world’s most exciting talents while promoting our market-leading and innovative online CFD trading products globally, increasing our international presence.”

What Ronaldo Can Bring To The XTrade Brand

Ronaldo’s social media outreach is huge even by celebrity standards. Footballers tend to have high social media performance as fans look for exclusive insight into the sport and the glamorous lives of the players, and Ronaldo appeals to football fans and general celeb spotters alike as he is also something of a sex symbol and male fashion icon. His outreach across his social media accounts is estimated to be over 200 million people all over the world, and this makes him a very tantalising prospect for XTrade’s brand to work with.

Ronaldo’s Comments on the New Partnership

It is still early in the partnership, but Ronaldo is already appearing in images for XTrade and has commented on the relationship between himself and the trading company:

“To be the best, you need the best. That is why I have chosen to partner with XTrade, one of the world’s leading digital trading platforms. And there is no easy way to become the world’s best. The only way is through perseverance, practice, and more practice – until perfection.”

We are looking forward to seeing how XTrade will leverage Ronaldo’s following to gain bigger brand awareness in the coming months.

Twitter:

Instagram:

Facebook:

I am delighted to announce that I have become the official ambassador of XTrade, one of the world’s leading trading…

Posted by Cristiano Ronaldo on Monday, April 4, 2016

Led Zeppelin Founders Must Face Copyright Trial over Stairway to Heaven

Sonia Pantiss
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Led Zeppelin Founders Must Face Copyright Trial over Stairway to Heaven

Robert Plant and Jimmy Page must face trial in a copyright row over Led Zeppelin’s song Stairway to Heaven, a Los Angeles court has ruled.

The LA district judge said there were enough similarities between the song and an instrumental by the band Spirit to let a jury decide.

The trial has been scheduled for May 10.

Stairway to Heaven, released in 1971, is widely seen as one of the greatest rock compositions of all time.Stairway to Heaven copyright trial

The copyright infringement action has been brought by Michael Skidmore, a trustee for the late Spirit guitarist Randy Wolfe, who played on the same bill as Led Zeppelin in the 1960s, and claims he should be given a writing credit on the track.

Guitarist Jimmy Page and lead singer Robert Plant are reputed to have written Stairway to Heaven in a remote cottage in Wales.

Michael Skidmore has suggested the song came about after the band heard Spirit perform the instrumental Taurus while the bands toured together in 1968 and 1969.

Judge Gary Klausner said a jury could find “substantial” similarity between the first two minutes of Stairway and Taurus.

“While it is true that a descending chromatic four-chord progression is a common convention that abounds in the music industry, the similarities here transcend this core structure,” Judge Gary Klausner ruled.

“What remains is a subjective assessment of the <<concept and feel>> of two works… a task no more suitable for a judge than for a jury.”

The judge also said the trustee can get only 50% of any damages awarded, citing a 1967 contract Randy Wolfe signed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q7Vr3yQYWQ

World’s Tallest Building: Emaar Tower to Surpass Burj Khalifa

Nancy Clayson
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World’s Tallest Building: Emaar Tower to Surpass Burj Khalifa

Dubai developer Emaar Properties is planning to build a new tower that will surpass the Burj Khalifa, currently the world’s tallest building.

The government-backed company has not announced the height of the proposed tower, saying only that it would be “a notch” taller than the Burj Khalifa’s 2,717ft (828m).

The $1 billion project is scheduled to be completed for the Dubai Expo trade fair in 2020.Emaar tower Dubai

The new tower is expected to have residential units, a rooftop courtyard and a hotel.

It is designed by Spanish-Swiss neo-futuristic architect Santiago Calatrava Valls and will be supported by a matrix of cables.

The structure’s design means that it is unlikely to be widely recognized as a taller “building” than the Burj Khalifa even if it surpasses it in height, Associated Press reported.

Emaar-built Burj Khalifa is expected to be overtaken by the 0.6 mile-high Kingdom Tower in Jeddah as the world’s tallest building in 2020.

The construction will be the center piece of the redevelopment of the Dubai Creek, the heart of old Dubai. It will also have observation decks and restaurants.

Emaar Properties’ announcement from comes as developers continue to launch new projects amid what experts are saying is a softening real estate sector.

Skoda Posts Record Sales for Q1 2016

Clyde K. Valle
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Skoda Posts Record Sales for Q1 2016

Skoda has posted its best first quarter to date as it shrugged off the emissions scandal hanging over parent company Volkswagen.

The Czech automaker sold 276,600 cars in Q1 of 2016, rising 4.3% on the same period of 2015.Skoda record sales 2016

Skoda sales director Werner Eichhorn said growth in China and Europe contributed to the strongest start in the company’s 121-year history.

However, Werner Eichorn said sales in some markets, particularly Russia, remained “tense”.

Sales of Skoda cars dropped in some markets in 2015 amid a controversy over the level of emissions from VW’s diesel and petrol cars.

In September 2015, Skoda said 1.2 million of its cars were fitted with the software that allowed VW to cheat US emissions tests.

Japan Stock Market Trades Higher as Yen Continues to Weaken

Clyde K. Valle
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Japan Stock Market Trades Higher as Yen Continues to Weaken

Japan’s stock markets traded higher on April 12, as the yen continues to weaken.

At the end of the day, Nikkei 225 index was up 177.66 points, or 1.1%, at 15,928.79.

The Japanese yen dipped to 108.35 against the US dollar in Asian trade from 107.94 during US trade overnight.

Toyota shares closed higher by nearly 4% after several days of losses, with rival Nissan seeing a 3.2% jump in its shares.

A cheaper yen makes Japanese goods cheaper and more competitive, and is generally seen as a boost for export-related companies.Japan stock market falls

Shares of brokerage firm Nomura surged 7.4% on reports it plans to cut up to 1,000 jobs in US and Europe. Investors had been worried about Nomura’s non-performing businesses overseas.

In South Korea, the benchmark Kospi closed up 0.6% at 1,981.32.

In Australia, the S&P ASX 200 index also rose, ending the day up 0.9% at 4,975.60.

Hong Kong markets were also higher. By midday, the benchmark Hang Seng was 0.2% higher at 20,482.30.

However, Chinese markets were lower for most of the session and by midday the Shanghai composite index was down 0.7% at 3,014.20. Investors were selling off shares across the board, including telecommunications and property shares.

US stocks closed lower on April 11 after a late sell-off erased gains made earlier in the day. Investors were preparing themselves for a slew of company results this week.

Later this week, investors will be looking out for earnings from America’s biggest banks.

Dilma Rousseff Impeachment: Congressional Committee Votes to Go Ahead with Proceedings

Diane A. Wade
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Dilma Rousseff Impeachment: Congressional Committee Votes to Go Ahead with Proceedings

A Brazilian congressional committee voted to go ahead with President Dilma Rousseff impeachment proceedings.

The 65-member committee voted 38 to 27 to recommend impeachment over claims Dilma Rousseff manipulated government accounts to hide a growing deficit.

All eyes will now be on a full vote in the lower house on April 17 or 18.

The issue has divided Brazil, with police preparing for mass protests in the capital, Brasilia.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

The vote took place amid chaotic scenes with supporters and opponents of President Dilma Rousseff shouting slogans and waving placards.

The committee’s vote is largely symbolic, but has been watched as a measure of how much support there is for the impeachment process ahead of the crucial vote in the full lower house of Congress, correspondents say.

There, a two-thirds majority is needed to send the matter on to the Senate. The latest opinion poll by the Estadao daily suggests 292 of the 513 members are in favor, with 115 against and 106 undecided.

The Senate would then have the power to suspend Dilma Rousseff, put her on trial and ultimately drive her from office.

During a bad-tempered debate leading up to the vote, Attorney General Jose Eduardo Cordozo, speaking for the president, said the impeachment process was “flawed”.

“It is absurd to dismiss a president who has not committed crimes, nor stolen a penny. And such a process without crime or fraud, would be a coup,” he said.

Opposition lawmaker Vanderlei Macris said Dilma Rousseff’s impeachment would be important to Brazilian society and would bring change.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRpdc8tXoWE

5 Step-by-Step Guide to Removing Pet Stains & Smells from Carpets & Furniture

Nancy Clayson
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5 Step-by-Step Guide to Removing Pet Stains & Smells from Carpets & Furniture

Pet lovers cringe at the mere mention of the word “accident.” For households with toddlers and pets, accidents are a near-constant concern.

Fortunately, removing pet stains and smells from your home’s once-spotless carpets and furniture — and subsequently tidying up those fixtures as best as you can — doesn’t have to be a time-consuming, stressful or expensive process. But it does demand that you follow a process, step by careful step.

This guide assumes freshly laid (yuck) pet stains and odours. Older, ground-in messes may require more work. Also, remember that your pets may be trying to tell you something with their messes. If your pup or kitty seems to be vomiting more often than usual, for instance, it may indicate a potentially serious underlying condition that requires medical attention at one of your local animal hospitals or veterinary clinics.

Step 1: Determine the Extent of the Stain/Odor

First things first: you need to determine the extent of the problem. Spend some time outdoors or in another room far away from the source of the odor or stain. Then, enter the affected room and gaze upon the scene with fresh eyes (and nose).

If odor is the primary problem, determine the “acute zone” in which the actual deed occurred. If stain is the worry, use visual cues to determine the same. Keep in mind that, on darker coloured carpets, ascertaining the precise extent of a pet mess is tricky. And pinpointing the exact source of an odour is always an approximate science.

Step 2: Mix a Cleaning Solution

Depending on the type of surface you’re cleaning, you may need to go with a low-impact natural cleaning solution that won’t discolour or warp flooring or furniture material. Refer to a trusted guide for the appropriate materials and dilution instructions — e.g., so much vinegar to so much water. If you’re cleaning a hardier surface, a store-bought chemical cleaner may be fine.

Step 3: Test on an Out-of-the-Way Area

Always test your cleaning solution, whether pre-bottled or prepared in your kitchen, prior to widespread use. Do this in a small and/or inconspicuous area. Note how well the cleaner does its intended job and how, if at all, it affects the flooring or furniture material. If the cleaner doesn’t work or makes the problem worse, consider another method.

Step 4: Blot, Dry, Spray & Repeat As Needed

Once you’ve determined that your chosen remedy is safe and effective, blot and dry the affected area as instructed. Since stains and odours tend to go hand in hand, you’ll then need to spray some odour-neutralizer in the affected room (and possibly on the affected item, if safe). Wait a few minutes to allow the remedy to take effect, assess your work, and repeat as needed.

Step 5: Make the Area Unattractive to Mess-Makers

The final step: reducing the likelihood of future messes. While any realistic pet owner knows that there’s only so much one can do to keep Puppy or Kitty in check, simple steps such as closing doors to off-limits rooms, applying no-scratch solution to off-limits furniture and carpets, and practicing positive reinforcement when pets don’t make messes can all limit damage in future.

Longest Ever Caught Python Dies in Captivity

Nancy Clayson
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Longest Ever Caught Python Dies in Captivity

Longest-ever captured python found on a Malaysian building site, has died, officials say.

The 26ft-long snake was spotted on April 7 under a fallen tree on the island of Penang.

The python died on April 10 after laying eggs.Longest Ever Caught Python Dies in Captivity

According to Guinness World Record, the current record for longest snake ever caught is 7.67m.

Medusa, a reticulated python weighing 348.3 lbs, is kept at a haunted house in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Malaysian snake, also thought to be a reticulated python, has not been officially measured by record keepers.

It weighed 551lbs and took 30 minutes to rescue.

The python was due to be transferred to the government’s Department of Wildlife before it died.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ziy-pvSCZiU

US States Look at Drunk Driving Law Reform

Dana R
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US States Look at Drunk Driving Law Reform

Drunk driving is the cause of many accidents in the US, and indeed around the world. Many see it as a despicable crime, and efforts to reduce its occurrence are everywhere. Even alcohol manufacturers are playing their part. For example, Budweiser aired an anti-drink driving ad during the Super Bowl. In the US, several states are attempting to tighten the laws. Maryland and New Jersey are just two of the states with campaigns to strengthen the laws on the books. Many people think there need to be tougher consequences for anyone convicted of a DUI.

In Maryland, legislators have been fighting to push through a bill nicknamed Noah’s Law. It’s named after a Montgomery County police officer, Noah Leotta, who was killed by a suspected drunk driver. The bill would mean that convicted drunk drivers must have ignition interlock devices fitted. These devices mean that the driver has to pass a breathalyzer before they are able to start their car. While these are already used in Maryland, they are only given to repeat offenders or excessively drunk drivers.

Drink Driving, Drunk, Alcohol, Drinking, Intoxicated

Image by stevepb

On Sunday 10th April 2016, supporters of the bill became worried. At the last minute, the House added a punitive damages clause to the bill. It is intended to increase penalties for death or injuries from drunk driving. It was receiving little support, making proponents of the bill worried that it wouldn’t pass. Some believe that the bill has been changed due to pressure from the liquor lobby.

In New Jersey, many believe that the drunk driving laws aren’t effective. The state has strict consequences for DUI convictions, including fines and license suspensions. However, these methods are seen as ineffective by many people. People often don’t ever pay their fines or get their licenses back. It is expensive to have a valid driver’s license returned. Soo many drivers simply drive on a suspended license instead. As in Maryland, there are calls for New Jersey to use ignition interlock devices. However, a bill aiming to increase their use last year was vetoed by Governor Christie. The governor thought the bill was too lenient. It would mean first-time offenders could use an interlock device. This would be instead of having their license suspended for a full three months. However, advocacy groups for victims of drunk driving disagree.

Drunk Driving, Alcohol, Driving, Drunk, Liquor, Dui

Image from Pixabay

Suspending drivers’ licenses doesn’t stop people driving their cars. One of the reasons for this is that people need to drive to get around. Without their vehicle, they may be unable to go to work, take their kids to school, and do other essential daily tasks. The laws allow for some leniency for drug users, but not for drinkers. However, an ignition interlock device allows someone to drive but only if they first pass a breathalyzer. Currently, not even the best DUI lawyer could argue for an ignition interlock device. The state found that more than 40% of drivers who have their license suspended then lose their job.

Although drunk drivers should be punished, they also need help with rehabilitation. For many, the answer lies in ignition interlock devices to improve safety on the roads.

Bryan Adams Cancels Show over Mississippi Religious Liberty Law

Sonia Pantiss
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Bryan Adams Cancels Show over Mississippi Religious Liberty Law

Bryan Adams has decided to cancel a concert in Mississippi over the state’s new controversial religious liberty law.

The law, which allows some private businesses and religious groups to refuse service to gay people, was passed last week.

Bryan Adams issued a statement saying he could not “in good conscience” perform in Mississippi.

The singer added he found it “incomprehensible that LGBT citizens are being discriminated against”.

Bryan Adams was due to play the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi on April 14.

Photo Facebook
Photo Facebook

Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant signed HB1523 into law on April 5 amid opposition from equal rights groups and businesses.

The law offers protection for Christians who adhere to traditional views of marriage and gender roles, which Governor Phil Bryant said “protects sincerely held religious beliefs and moral convictions”.

The new law will take effect from July 1.

Bryan Adams said he was using his voice to “stand in solidarity with all my LGBT friends to repeal this extremely discriminatory bill”.

“Hopefully Mississippi will right itself and I can come back and perform for all of my many fans. I look forward to that day.”

Bryan Adams’s cancelation comes after Bruce Springsteen canceled a show in North Carolina last week because of a new law in that state.

Bruce Springsteen joined business groups in condemning the law which rolls back local anti-discrimination measures that protected gay and transgender people.

The Boss Tops US Box Office in Its Opening Weekend

Sonia Pantiss
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The Boss Tops US Box Office in Its Opening Weekend

The Boss has unseated Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice from the top of the North American box office.

Melissa McCarthy’s new comedy, in which she plays an eccentric tycoon, took an estimated $23.5 million on its debut weekend.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was knocked to second place in its third week, pulling in an estimated $23.4 million.

The margin between the top two films is one of the closest in recent years, according to industry analysts.

Dawn of Justice has defied poor reviews, having taken almost $300 million in the US.The Boss box office

The movie, in which Ben Affleck plays Batman and Henry Cavill takes the role of Superman, now ranks as the third highest-grossing DC Comics release to date in the US, according to Box Office Mojo.

Dawn of Justice’s box office haul has now surpassed 2013’s Man of Steel, also starring Henry Cavill, which took $291 million. However, Dawn of Justice‘s takings has dropped by 54% since its first week of release.

The Boss was co-written by Melissa McCarthy and her husband Ben Falcone.

Critics had not expected it to perform well, but the movie has done better than Melissa McCarthy’s 2014 comedy Tammy.

In third place came Disney’s Zootopia with $14.4 million, slipping one spot from last week.

Now in its sixth weekend of release, the animated movie featuring the voices of Jason Bateman and Ginnifer Goodwin has made a US total of $296 million.

Comedy sequel My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 was at No 4, making $6.4 million.

North American box office top 4:

  1. The Boss – $23.5 million
  2. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice – $23.4 million
  3. Zootopia – $14.4 million
  4. My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 – $6.4 million

Melinda Rose Woodward: Tom Jones’ Wife Dies After Fierce Battle with Cancer

Sonia Pantiss
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Melinda Rose Woodward: Tom Jones’ Wife Dies After Fierce Battle with Cancer

Tom Jones’ wife, Melinda Rose Woodward, has died after a “short but fierce battle with cancer”.

Melinda Rose Woodward – known as Linda – who was married to Tom Jones for 59 years, died on April 10 at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.

According to a statement on the 75-year-old musician’s website, she died “surrounded by her husband and loved ones”.

Tom Jones recently cancelled concerts due to a “serious illness” in his family.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

The singer, famous for hits including Delilah and It’s Not Unusual, had been due to perform at a number of his tour dates in Japan, Thailand, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates, but apologized to fans after pulling out.

Tom Jones met his wife, his childhood sweetheart, when they were both 12 and growing up together in Treforest, Pontypridd.

They started dating at 15 and married when they were 16 in 1957.

They had one son Mark, 59, who is also Tom Jones’ manager.

In his 2015 autobiography titled Over The Top And Back, Tom Jones revealed they wanted more children, but a miscarriage had left Melinda infertile.

Speaking ahead of the book’s release, Tom Jones told the Sunday Times Magazine while he enjoyed life in the spotlight, his wife had always preferred being at home and had become increasingly reclusive in recent years, rarely leaving their Beverley Hills home.

Tom Jones said of his wife: “She is an unbelievable woman. She’s the most important thing in my life. All the rest is just fun and games.”

John Kerry Becomes First US Secretary of State to Visit Hiroshima Memorial

Diane A. Wade
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John Kerry Becomes First US Secretary of State to Visit Hiroshima Memorial

John Kerry has become the most senior US official to visit the Hiroshima memorial in Japan, which commemorates the world’s first atomic bombing.

Around 140,000 people were killed in Hiroshima when the US dropped its atomic bomb in 1945.

John Kerry was joined by foreign ministers from the G7 group of nations who are holding talks in the city.

They laid wreaths at the memorial and observed a minute of silence.

The ministers also visited the Bomb Dome, over which the A-bomb exploded, and the nearby Hiroshima museum, which tells the personal stories of people who died.John Kerry Hiroshima

John Kerry wrote in the museum guestbook that it was “a stark, harsh, compelling reminder not only of our obligation to end the threat of nuclear weapons, but to rededicate all our effort to avoid war itself”.

At 08:10 local time on August 6, 1945, the US B-29 bomber the Enola Gay dropped a uranium bomb nicknamed “Little Boy” on Hiroshima.

The bomb exploded 1,800ft above what is now the Hiroshima Peace Dome.

About 70,000 people died immediately. At least 140,000 people had died by the end of the year through injury and the effects of radiation.

The bombing, and a second bomb dropped on Nagasaki three days later, forced Japan to surrender, initiating the end of World War Two.

In 2008, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Hiroshima, but US diplomats have largely avoided official visits.

Many in the US believe the bombing was necessary to end the war, and do not want their leaders to take any action which might be seen as an apology.

John Kerry previously said his time in Hiroshima would “revisit the past and honor those who perished” but stressed that his trip was “about the present and the future”.

It also comes amid efforts to strengthen the relationship between the US and Japan, particularly with growing concern about China’s assertiveness in territorial disputes in Asia, affecting Japan and other US allies.

President Barack Obama is attending a G7 leaders’ summit elsewhere in Japan in May, and there are reports he is considering a stop in Hiroshima.

If it happens, it will be the first time a sitting US president visits Hiroshima.

Senior North Korean Spy Defects to South Korea

Diane A. Wade
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Senior North Korean Spy Defects to South Korea

A senior North Korean spy has defected to South Korea, South Korean officials confirm.

The officer has not been named, but the defense ministry in Seoul said he was a senior colonel in the Reconnaissance General Bureau and left in 2015.

Announcement of defection follows revelation that 13 North Koreans believed to have been working in China had also fled to South Korea. It was the largest group defection since North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, took power in late 2011. South Korean media reported that the restaurant is located in the eastern city of Ningbo.

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency quoted a source as saying the colonel was seen as an elite among other defectors.North Korean spy defects to South Korea

The colonel worked for the North Korean military’s general reconnaissance bureau before defecting, according to Seoul’s defense ministry and unification ministry. Both ministries refused to provide further details including a motive for the defection.

The reconnaissance agency was believed to be behind two deadly attacks blamed on Pyongyang that killed 50 South Koreans in 2010.

There have been occasional reports of lower-level North Korean soldiers defecting but it is unusual for a colonel to flee to South Korea.

More than 29,000 people have fled North Korea since the end of the Korean War, but high level defections are rare.

Some more senior figures have also fled while working overseas.

Defense Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun said South Korea could not release further information on the colonel.

One unnamed official told Yonhap the man was the highest-level military official ever to have defected.

“He is believed to have stated details about the bureau’s operations against South Korea to the authorities here,” said the official.

The Reconnaissance General Bureau handles intelligence gathering and spying operations, as well as cyber warfare, said Yonhap.

The highest-level North Korean who took asylum in South Korea has been Hwang Jang-yop, a senior ruling Workers’ party official who once tutored Kim’s late dictator father, Kim Jong-il. His 1997 defection was hailed as a coup by many South Koreans and a clear sign that North Korea’s political system was inferior to the South’s.

Hwang Jang-yop died in 2010.

Afghanistan Earthquake Shakes India and Pakistan

Nancy Clayson
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Afghanistan Earthquake Shakes India and Pakistan

A 6.6-earthquake has struck Afghanistan shaking a number of major cities across south-west Asia.

According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the quake struck close to Afghanistan’s border with Tajikistan at 10:28 GMT.

The tremor was felt in Kabul, Islamabad, Lahore and Delhi, forcing residents to leave their homes.

In October 2015, a magnitude-7.5 quake in the same border area killed close to 300 people.

The latest quake, in the sparsely-populated Hindu Kush mountains, struck at a depth of 210km, the USGS reported. It was the same depth as the 2015 quake.Afghanistan earthquake April 2016

At least one person died in Pakistan’s Swat region, with another 30 injured, emergency officials said.

There were no reports of significant damage, but a spokesman for Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority said there was a high risk of landslides.

The USGS says the earthquake took place in “one of the most seismically hazardous regions on earth”.

The Hindu Kush mountains sit on the corner of the Indian plate, rather than being at the front line of the continental collision, where the Himalayas are thrust upwards as India disappears beneath Eurasia at a rate of 2ins per year.

It is in this rugged region that the sideways slip between India and Afghanistan meets the head-on impact of the Himalayan fault line. There are many small, interacting faults and forces pushing in different directions.

Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper reported on April 9 that the region had been shaken by a series of strong quakes centered on Hindu Kush in recent days.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9huGbliH_0

Kerala Fire: At Least 100 People Killed in Hindu Temple Fireworks Explosion

Diane A. Wade
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Kerala Fire: At Least 100 People Killed in Hindu Temple Fireworks Explosion

At least 100 people have been killed after fireworks sparked an explosion and blaze at a Hindu temple in the Indian state of Kerala, police say.

The fireworks, which were to be used to celebrate a local new year festival, exploded about 03:30 AM local time, local media say.

A building at the temple then collapsed, causing many of the deaths. More than 200 people were injured.

Indian fficials said permits for the display had been refused after safety fears.

PM Narendra Modi is traveling to the scene, in the coastal town of Paravur.

He tweeted that the incident was “heart-rending and shocking beyond words”.Kerala Hindu temple fire

As morning broke, hundreds of people arrived at the temple in search of relatives and friends while emergency teams used bulldozers to clear the area looking for survivors.

A team of specialist doctors was being sent from Delhi amid reports of horrific burns suffered by those injured. Many are said to be in a critical condition in several hospitals.

Many of the dead were charred beyond recognition and would have to be identified by DNA tests, Kerala police chief TP Senkumar said.

Thousands were at the temple complex for the festivities when the explosion happened.

TV footages showed big clouds of smoke as fireworks went off in the night sky.

The fireworks had been stored ready for celebrations of Vishu, a Keralan festival marking the Hindu new year.

The local district magistrate had denied permission for the display to be held this year because of safety concerns and complaints from residents.

The Kerala government has ordered an investigation, and the police are planning to take action against the temple administration and the contractors who were putting on the display.

“There was no permission to even store the fireworks,” Kerala’s Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said.

Fireworks and firecrackers are commonly used at temple festivals and other public events and accidents are not uncommon.

Kerala is in the midst of an election for a new state assembly but political parties have called off campaigning as a mark of respect for the victims.

White House 2016: Bernie Sanders Wins Wyoming Primary

Diane A. Wade
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White House 2016: Bernie Sanders Wins Wyoming Primary

Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders has won the Wyoming primaries after beating rival Hillary Clinton.

The state’s 14 delegates will be awarded proportionally. Bernie Sanders has won seven of the latest eight states.

However, Hillary Clinton maintains a clear lead in the overall race. Both are concentrating their efforts on the key New York primary later this month.

In the Republican race, Ted Cruz hopes to pick up more delegates in Colorado.Bernie Sanders wins Wyoming

In state assemblies which culminated on April 8, Ted Cruz won 21 delegates to just two for Donald Trump, who still has a comfortable lead in the overall nomination race for the Republicans.

On April, a further 13 delegates are at stake at the Colorado Republican Convention.

Ted Cruz has 520 Republican delegates to 743 for Donald Trump. Ted Cruz is hoping to win at least enough votes to block an outright win for Donald Trump and force a decision at the party’s convention in July.

The next big prize for both parties is the New York primaries on April 19: 291 delegates are at stake for the Democrats and 95 for Republicans.

Despite April 9 win in the Wyoming caucuses, Bernie Sanders still has only 1,061 delegates to 1,749 for Hillary Clinton, when the latter’s 469 superdelegates are added to the tally. To win, a candidate needs 2,383.

The presidential election itself, on November 8, will see America vote for a successor to Barack Obama, a Democratic president standing down after two terms in office which have seen the Republicans take control of both houses of Congress.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMvZ35oL5cE

Mohamed Abrini Identifies Himself as Man in Hat at Brussels Airport

Roy Siemens
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Mohamed Abrini Identifies Himself as Man in Hat at Brussels Airport

Mohamed Abrini, who was arrested in Belgium on April 8, has admitted being the “man in the hat” seen with the suicide bombers at Brussels airport, prosecutors say.

Belgian prosecutors say Mohamed Abrini told investigators that he was at the scene of the March 22 bombings.

Mohamed Abrini, 31, is also wanted in connection with the attacks in Paris that killed 130 people last November.Mohamed Abrini man in hat Brussels

He is one of six men arrested in Brussels on April 8. Four have been charged with terror offences.

The attacks at Zaventem airport and a metro station in Brussels left 32 people dead.

Officials believe those who carried out the Brussels and the Paris attacks were part of the same network backed by ISIS.

Mohamed Abrini was placed in detention by the Belgian judge in charge on the investigation into the Paris attacks. His fingerprints and DNA were found in two “safe houses” in Brussels, as well as in a car used during the Paris attacks, investigators say.

Reviews of Reliable Academic Essay Helper

Nancy Clayson
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Reviews of Reliable Academic Essay Helper

It is always a wise decision to depend on a professional academic essay helper who can indeed help you write a quality content essay. There are some excellent service providers of essay writing. One of the biggest challenges in a student life is to complete the assignments and also meet the deadline. The academic essay helpers have made their presence very prominent by launching their official websites. You can also see their advertisements popping out on various frequently visited websites.

Services

These writers provide flexible services and customize their services according to the users’ needs. The essays are written by well qualified professional writers who have years of experience in their respective fields. There are a lot of sample essays that are available on the internet. Must most of these essays are copied from other sources and would surely fail the plagiarism test. Hence, one should take help from professional essay writers.tips-for-writing-excellent-essays

Why to choose Essay Helpers:

  • Provide quality essay assignments
  • Strictly meet the dead line of assignment
  • Write papers, essays that are without plagiarism
  • Very well written assignments without any error

Most of these services are accessible 24/7. They have the option of live chat where you can talk any time with their customer care team and they can sort out all your queries. They also have an efficient customer calling hotline, through which you can get in touch with the writing team.

Apart from writing essays, their websites also offer writing tips through which you can help polishing your writing skills. Most of the essay writing services are very widely spread and are worthy of writing articles on a variety of topics. It is important that before choosing an academic service provider, you must go through the reviews and see what their past users have to say about them or people who availed their services earlier.

Panel of Writers

The writing panel mostly consists of academic experts who have great proficiency. These writers are true professionals and help to give you a customized essay, as required by you. Many essay writers write paper ranging from high school to graduation to Ph. D level.

These services employ large number of freelancer writers throughout the world who hold excellence and mastery in various subjects and fields. These writers are experts in their own specific domain.They are chosen in the writing panel after checking their credibility for writing non plagiarized articles that are of high quality. Once the user provides the topic and the other required details of the essay, the papers are assigned to the writers and very soon they start working on the same. When the article is complete and submitted by the writer, the evaluation panel checks the article for plagiarism and make sure is an original work and not copied content.Once this process is complete the article is submitted to the client.

There are also services that levy hefty fines on writers who repeatedly submit copied articles, which is actually a good practice to follow.

One should prefer writers that are very experienced and have been doing this for quite a long time. Such writers understand the needs of the students very well and write good customized articles, as desired by the client.

You can go through the link for better understanding essay help from CustomWritings.com writing service.

There are many college students who are dependent upon the professional academic writers for completing their essays and papers. There are a lot of things that student has to deal with. So in order to save time students rely on these services.

Affordable Prices

One of the biggest reasons for this is also that these services are very affordable. They are light on pocket and do not cost you much. You just have tospend few dollars and can get efficient and reliable writing services.There are many writing services that also come back with a money back policy. They guarantee returning the money, if the client is not satisfied. If one is not satisfied with their essay, then the money can be refunded back. Moreover they have very secure payment gateways and keep all your billing information secure and confidential.

There are many services that provide the service of revising the paper. If the client is not happy with the essay written, then he can also ask for getting the essay revised, till the time he isn’t fully satisfied with the end product.

Have You Been Making These Car Insurance Comparison Mistakes?

James J. Williams
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Have You Been Making These Car Insurance Comparison Mistakes?

You’re a smart and savvy consumer, always looking for a way to save money while still getting the best service. Because of this, you’ve probably done a lot of car insurance comparison shopping. It’s great to take charge, but the road to best and most affordable car insurance isn’t without pitfalls.

Below are some of the most common car insurance comparison mistakes and how to avoid them.

Mistake #1: Not Shopping Around

You have to start somewhere, and by far one of the biggest mistakes you can make is purchasing the first insurance package you come across. How can you possibly find the coverage that best suits your needs and budget if you don’t compare?

Mistake #2: Not Providing Accurate Information

When you’re using car insurance comparison sites like CoverHound, you are directed to fill out an online form. This form asks you several questions in order to gain information used to generate a quote. If you enter details that are incorrect about your car, or give inaccurate answers to questions about your driving record, you’re not helping yourself. If you have traffic violations or previous accidents on your driving record, your car insurance package will reflect it. The only way to get an accurate quote is to provide all the necessary and correct information to the best of your ability.

Mistake #3: Misunderstanding Coverage

If you don’t do your research before shopping around, you may fall into the trap of buying coverage you don’t really need—or worse—not buying enough! Understanding the type of car insurance your state requires motorists to carry is essential to finding a package that works for you. This is a big help when comparison-shopping for auto insurance, because if you know precisely what your needs are, you can whittle down the competition and find an insurance package you need at a price you can afford.

Mistake #4: Failing to Consider the Extras

You may think that you only need to buy the minimum amount of insurance required by your state, hoping to save money by not getting the extra add-ons insurance companies provide. For example, you may have coverage to repair your vehicle if an accident should occur, but what will you drive in the meantime? Unless you have an extra car, you should consider whether or not you need a policy that will cover a rental car while yours is in the shop.

A good strategy is to familiarize yourself with the ins and outs of any car insurance policy you’re thinking of buying while weighing the extra add-ons that may come in handy.

Mistake #5: Concentrating on Cost Alone

One of the misconceptions about shopping for car insurance revolves around the idea that the less money you pay, the better the deal. What you really should be looking at is what you’re getting for the price of the policy. Make sure you examine all of the things included in the policy; this is the only way to truly compare different policies. Just because a company offers a good deal on minimum coverage doesn’t mean that they’ll offer a better deal on higher coverage policies.

In the End

When you finally make the choice toward an insurance plan, you want to rest easy knowing you’re not only getting your money’s worth, but also the coverage you need in case of an accident. Use the knowledge you’ve gained here to go out and get the right coverage for the right price!

Adolf Hitler’s Birth Home to Be Seized by Austrian Government

James J. Williams
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Adolf Hitler’s Birth Home to Be Seized by Austrian Government

Austria is planning to seize the house where Adolf Hitler was born to stop it being a focal point for Nazi sympathizers.

Government officials say the decision was taken after several years of discussion about how to prevent neo-Nazi interest.

Adolf Hitler was born in the house in the town of Braunau am Inn in April, 1889.

The property has been leased from its owner by the government since 1972, and it was used for many years as a center for people with disabilities.

He house fell empty in 2011 following a dispute between the government and the owner, Gerlinde Pommer, who refused to grant permission for renovation.

The new plan would include an offer of compensation from the state to Gerlinde Pommer, interior ministry spokesman Karl-Heinz Grundboeck told AFP news agency.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

“We are currently examining the creation of a law, which would force a change of ownership and pass the property to the Republic of Austria.

“We have come to the conclusion over the past few years that expropriation is the only way to avoid the building being used for the purposes of Nazi [sympathizers].”

Karl-Heinz Grundboeck did not say what the government might then do with the property.

The house is unmarked and the only link to its past is a stone outside inscribed with the words: “Never again Fascism. In memory of millions of dead.”

Adolf Hitler’s name does not appear.

Various proposals have been put forward about how to use the house, including turning it into flats, a centre for adult education, a museum or a centre designed to confront the Nazi past.

There have also been calls for its demolition, with one Russian lawmaker offering to buy the house and blow it up.

Adolf Hitler went on to rule Nazi Germany from 1933 until his death at the end of World War Two in 1945.

The Nazi regime, which triggered the war with the invasion of Poland in 1939, killed millions of people, mainly Jews, in the Holocaust.

Dennis Hastert Faces Six-Month Jail Sentence for Covering up Abuse

Nancy Clayson
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Dennis Hastert Faces Six-Month Jail Sentence for Covering up Abuse

Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert is facing a six-month jail sentence after allegedly paying hush money to cover up an abuse.

According to court documents, Dennis Hastert agreed to pay $3.5 million to a person he abused when the victim was aged 14 and Hastert was working as a teacher and wrestling coach.

Prosecutors allege he abused five boys.

Dennis Hastert, 74, has admitted lying and breaking financial laws.

The plea represents a dramatic fall for the former senior Republican politician, who has had his portrait removed from the House of Representatives in the US Congress.

The alleged abuse happened while Dennis Hastert was working in Yorkville, a suburb of Chicago, between 1965 and 1981. Three of the victims were wrestlers on a team he coached.

He cannot be charged with abuse as the statute of limitations has expired in the cases.

One of the victims – referred to in court documents as Individual A – said Dennis Hastert had stayed with him in a motel room on the way back from a trip to a wrestling camp and touched him inappropriately.

Two of the others, aged 14 and 17, said Dennis Hastert abused them in the locker room at the high school in Yorkville.

All the victims “struggled and are still struggling” with what Dennis Hastert did to them, prosecutors argue. He made them feel “alone, ashamed, guilty and devoid of dignity”, they say.

Dennis Hastert, who retired in 2007 after serving as House Speaker for eight years, will be sentenced later this month for concealing the large sums of money he paid to Individual A to buy his silence.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

Between 2010 and 2012 Dennis Hastert withdrew $750,000 in lump sums of $50,000 before learning of rules requiring banks to report large transactions.

After that he withdrew a further $952,000 in lump sums of less than $10,000 between 2012 and 2014.

Dennis Hastert was able to pay Individual A $1.7 million in payments of $100,000 before being questioned by the FBI in 2014 about his withdrawals.

One of the reasons he gave for the large withdrawals was that he was being blackmailed by someone making a false claim of abuse.

He agreed to let investigators record phone conversations he had with Individual A, but prosecutors said the “tone and comments” of Individual A in the conversations were “inconsistent with someone committing extortion”.

In a deal with prosecutors, Dennis Hastert admitted the charge of “structuring and assisting in structuring currency transactions” by removing small sums of money to avoid the transactions being reported.

However, the charge of lying to FBI investigators is set to be dropped.

Defense lawyers want Dennis Hastert to be spared jail because they say he is suffering from ill health.

Dennis Hastert is due to be sentenced on April 27.

North Korea Successfully Tests Missile Engine

Roy Siemens
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North Korea Successfully Tests Missile Engine

North Korea has announced that it successfully tested an engine designed for an intercontinental ballistic missile.

According to the KCNA news agency, the new type of engine would “guarantee” the ability to launch a nuclear strike on the US mainland.

The test was conducted at North Korea’s long-range missile launch site near its west coast.

It is the latest in a series of tests and launches carried out by North Korea.

Kim Jong-un supervised the test, state media report, during which “the engine spewed out huge flames with a deafening boom”.North Korea missile engine

North Korea would now be able to “keep any cesspool of evils in the earth including the US mainland within our striking range,” the country’s leader was quoted as saying.

In response to the latest announcement, US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said North Korea should “refrain from actions and rhetoric that further destabilize the region and focus instead on taking concrete steps toward fulfilling its commitments and international obligations”.

In March, North Korea said it had developed nuclear warheads small enough to fit on ballistic missiles.

However, experts cast doubt on the claims.

Last month also saw North Korea threaten “indiscriminate” nuclear strikes on the US and South Korea as they held big joint military drills, which the north sees as a rehearsal for an eventual invasion.

Meanwhile, the US imposed new sanctions on North Korea following a nuclear test in January and a satellite launch in February, widely seen as a test of banned missile technology.

Red Sea Bridge to Connect Saudi Arabia and Egypt

Diane A. Wade
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Red Sea Bridge to Connect Saudi Arabia and Egypt

A bridge linking Saudi Arabia to Egypt will be built over the Red Sea, King Salman has announced.

In a statement, King Salman of Saudi Arabia says the bridge would boost commerce between the two allies.

The royal made the announcement on April 8 during the second day of his visit to Cairo.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries have supported Egypt with billions of dollars since President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi took power in 2013 following mass street protests.

Saudi Arabia regards Egypt as a crucial partner in efforts to build a bloc of friendly Sunni Muslim states as a bulwark against growing regional influence of Shia-led Iran.

King Salman’s visit comes amid recent strains in the relationship, with Abdul Fattah al-Sisi taking a less hard-line stance against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Riyadh seeking more support from Cairo for its war against rebels in Yemen.

Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi said the bridge would be named after the Saudi king.

“I agreed with my brother his Excellency President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi to build a bridge connecting the two countries” King Salman said.

“This historic step to connect the two continents, Africa and Asia, is a qualitative transformation that will increase trade between the two continents to unprecedented levels” he added.

President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi said it marked “a new chapter on the road of Arab joint action”.

A Red Sea bridge linking Saudi Arabia and Egypt has been proposed several times before but has failed to become a reality.

Previous estimates for the bridge project suggested a cost of around $3-4 billion, but no further information has yet been released for the latest plan.

King Salman is currently on a five-day visit to Egypt, where he is expected to announce more trade and co-operation agreements.

Panama Papers: Mossack Fonseca’s El Salvador Branch Raided by Police

Clyde K. Valle
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Panama Papers: Mossack Fonseca’s El Salvador Branch Raided by Police

Mossack Fonseca offices in El Salvador have been raided by police, the attorney general’s office says.

The Panama law firm is at the center of a recent massive data leak, known as the Panama Papers.

Documents and computer equipment were seized from the Mossack Fonseca office, officials said on Twitter.

The attorney general’s office said the Mossack Fonseca sign had been removed a day earlier and quoted an employee as saying the company was moving.

The leak showed how some wealthy people use offshore companies to evade tax.

The raid was overseen by El Salvador’s Attorney General Douglas Melendez.Mossack Fonseca El Salvador

Mossack Fonseca’s El Salvador branch was able to provide “back office” functions for the company’s clients all over the world, according to a document posted on Twitter by the attorney general’s office.

Local news website El Faro reported that Salvadorans had used Mossack Fonseca to buy property in the country without declaring the purchases to the Salvadoran authorities.

Mossack Fonseca has denied it has done anything wrong and says the information is being presented out of context.

Mossack Fonseca offices in El Salvador have been raided by authorities, the attorney general’s office says.

The Panama law firm is at the center of a recent massive data leak, known as the Panama Papers.

Documents and computer equipment were seized from the Mossack Fonseca office, officials said on Twitter.

The attorney general’s office said the Mossack Fonseca sign had been removed a day earlier and quoted an employee as saying the company was moving.

The leak showed how some wealthy people use offshore companies to evade tax.

The raid was overseen by El Salvador’s Attorney General Douglas Melendez.

Mossack Fonseca’s El Salvador branch was able to provide “back office” functions for the company’s clients all over the world, according to a document posted on Twitter by the attorney general’s office.

Local news website El Faro reported that Salvadorans had used Mossack Fonseca to buy property in the country without declaring the purchases to the Salvadoran authorities.

Mossack Fonseca has denied it has done anything wrong and says the information is being presented out of context.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl1l8gKJ-0w

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