July 18, 2015

Top News Stories –

South Korea spy kills himself amid hacking scandal –
An employee of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) spying agency has been found dead in his car after apparently taking his own life on a mountain road, police say. His death comes as a scandal over phone-hacking gathers pace. The man left a suicide note admitting that he had deleted important information about the hacking. It has emerged that mobile phones were tracked and monitored just before the presidential election in 2012. [BBC]

North Korean elections – not too close to call –
Worker’s Party expected to fare well in polls this Sunday with only one name on ballot paper and punishment for anyone who fails to endorse Kim Jong-un’s policies. To indicate support for the approved candidate, the voter goes into a booth and carries out his democratic duty. Anyone who does not agree with the name on the ballot paper must go to a different booth and cross out the candidate’s name. With the every move closely scrutinised, it would be an act of extreme bravery in a nation that is not known for tolerating dissenting voices for that to happen. [Daily Telegraph]
Kim_Jong-unKim Jong-un (sketch)

Bratz are back after Barbie owner fails to kill franchise –
After almost a decade of a back-and-forth legal battle between Mattel and Bratz-owner MGA, the spunky dolls are back and ready to take on an already weak Barbie. Years before toys of Frozen characters knocked Barbie off her perennial perch, a gaggle of ethnically-diverse fashionistas known as Bratz temporarily toppled the word-famous doll – and now they’re back after winning a protracted legal battle with Barbie-owner Mattel.
Bratz, which first came to market in 2001, is relaunching this weekend with a revamped look, an extra character and new range of accessories in an attempt to regain its place at the top of toytown. [Daily Telegraph]

Video of the Day –

Chuck Jones – The Evolution of an Artist from Tony Zhou on Vimeo.

Top Twitter Trends –

Worldwide USA UK
1 #ZaynAppreciationDay McCain #lyricsthatshouldbeshouted
2 Stereo Kicks #UFCGlasgow #ZaynAppreciationDay
3 #ArianaRESPECTLouis #MandelaDay Nazi
4 あなたの心の壁 #arianarespectlouis #ImInWorkJeremy
5 #MeGustaCuando #OTRAVancouver #RIPJules
6 #RIPJules #LyricsThatShouldBeShouted Jules Bianchi
7 DEIXA ELE SOFRER MUSIC VIDEO #GrowingUpWithSiblings #UFCGlasgow
8 ICFES Van Miller #ArianaRESPECTLouis
9 #OTRAVancouver #ROWYSOVegas Stereo Kicks
10 jules bianchi #LouisAppreciationDay #DavisCup

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks
Disasters and accidents
Law and crime

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource