Swiss offer to mediate in North Korea crisis

ZURICH (Reuters) - Switzerland has offered to mediate with North Korea as tension rises on the Korean peninsula following U.N. sanctions imposed in response to a North Korean nuclear weapon test in February.

The Swiss foreign ministry recently made contact with the North Korean authorities but there are no current plans for any talks, a spokeswoman said.

"Switzerland is willing to contribute to a de-escalation on the Korean peninsula and is always willing to help find a solution, if this is the wish of the parties, such as hosting meetings between them," she said in an emailed statement.

North Korea has issued increasingly strident warnings of imminent war with South Korea and the United States, urging diplomats on Friday to consider leaving Pyongyang.

Swiss media say that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who took over in December 2011 after the death of his father Kim Jong-il, apparently spent several years in Switzerland being educated under a pseudonym.

Neutral Switzerland often hosts peace talks and mediates in international conflicts, more recently between Russia and Ukraine and between the United States and Iran and Cuba.

The Swiss Foreign Ministry said it had been involved in more than 15 sets of peace negotiations in the past seven years, including in Sudan, Colombia, Sri Lanka, Uganda and Nepal.

Former Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey, who in 2003 became the first foreign government official to cross the demarcation line separating North and South Korea, said Pyongyang's wishes had not changed much since then.

"For North Korea, symbols are very important," she told the SonntagsZeitung newspaper in an interview. "What the North Koreans still want is recognition and security guarantees from the United States."

Five Swiss and five Swedish officers monitor the demilitarised zone between the North and South. Urs Gerber, the Swiss head of the operation, said not much has changed in recent months. "We are just monitoring the situation more intensively," he also told the SonntagsZeitung.

(Reporting by Emma Thomasson; editing by Mark Heinrich)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/swiss-offer-mediate-north-korea-100337459.html

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Florida Businesses Can Switch To PC Payroll Software Easily With ...

EzPaycheck 2013 payroll software was updated with user-friendly graphic interface to help non-accountant small business users start computer payroll program easily. 30-day trial version is available for free download at http://www.halfpricesoft.com

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For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prwebFL-payroll-software/payroll-tax-florida/prweb10578548.htm

Source: http://www.virtual-strategy.com/2013/04/06/florida-businesses-can-switch-pc-payroll-software-easily-new-ezpaycheck-2013-halfpricesof

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Dempsey says NKorean provocations fit long pattern

STUTTGART, Germany (AP) ? North Korea's bellicose rhetoric and threats, while worrisome, appear to fit a decadeslong pattern of provocation followed by uneasy peace, the top U.S. military officer said Friday.

"I wouldn't say I see anything to lead me to believe that this is a different kind of cycle," Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in an interview after speaking at a ceremony installing Gen. David Rodriquez as chief of U.S. Africa Command.

Dempsey's remarks suggested that he does not believe the situation is headed toward war, despite a series of threatening statements by the North, including a declaration this week that its military is authorized to launch a nuclear attack on the United States.

Other U.S. officials have said this week they see no North Korean preparations for large-scale military action.

Dempsey called the North's nuclear threat "just reckless" and contrasted such talk with what he described as measured moves by the U.S. to deter the North and to reassure South Korea.

"Our moves have been largely defensive and exclusively intended to reassure our allies," he said, referring in part to the announcement that a more advanced missile defense system, designed to knock down hostile missiles in the upper atmosphere and beyond, would be deployed to Guam, a U.S. territory in the Pacific that hosts U.S. forces.

The U.S. also has made a point of highlighting aspects of an annual U.S.-South Korean military exercise that included a practice bombing run over South Korea by B-2 stealth bombers, as well as flights of B-52 bombers and the presence of F-22 stealth fighter planes. Two of the Navy's missile-defense ships were positioned closer to the Korean peninsula, and the Pentagon has announced plans to beef up its U.S.-based missile defenses.

Dempsey said he does not foresee any further U.S. military moves in the near future.

Dempsey said he has talked in the past few days to the commander of the 28,500 U.S. troops in Korea, Gen. James Thurman, about the safety of forces and their families. He said Thurman has made no recommendation to evacuate any military dependents.

The U.S. and South Korea have been at odds with North Korea for more than a half century. The two sides fought a three-year war in the 1950s that ended in a truce, and the North has long complained that the U.S. intends to overthrow its leaders.

Washington is treaty-bound to come to South Korea's defense if Seoul is attacked.

North Korea responded with fury to U.N. sanctions following its third nuclear test Feb. 12, and to the U.S.-South Korean military exercise known as Foal Eagle. Among other statements, it has threatened a nuclear strike against the U.S., declared that it has scrapped the Korean War truce, blocked South Koreans from entering a jointly run industrial park and announced that it will takes new steps to produce more fuel for nuclear bombs.

Despite downplaying the threat of imminent war, Dempsey said there is no room to be casual about the current tensions on the Korean peninsula. He noted, for example, that the North's threat to launch a nuclear attack on the U.S. "is new" and is worrisome, given the North's development of ballistic missiles as well as nuclear devices. He said it is not clear that they have reached the point where they can fit a nuclear warhead atop a missile that could reach distant targets.

"The combination of that makes it very reckless" to threaten a nuclear attack, he said.

Asked how the U.S. is dealing with that, he said, "We'll live up to our alliance obligations and protect our national interests, and that's not being bellicose, that's being very matter-of-fact."

Dempsey said another troublesome factor is the North's young leader, Kim Jong Un, who came to power after his father's death in December 2011 and is a grandson of North Korea's founder, Kim Il Sung. He said U.S. officials do not know who in his inner circle influences Kim.

"Though we've always said that North Korea has been a bit opaque to us, in the past we've understood their leadership and the influencers a little better than we do today," he said. "And so the extent to which this cycle (of provocation) is a little more unpredictable, it's because of him. We know less about him. But the pattern is very similar."

Dempsey said that in preparation for a trip to Beijing in a few weeks, he recently spoke by phone to his Chinese counterpart about the North Korea problem, among others, and that this will be on the agenda when he makes his first visit as Joint Chiefs chairman.

"What I'm not going to do is go over there and deliver the traditional talking point of: 'You need to get your southern neighbor under control,'" he said, adding that it's pretty clear China cannot compel North Korea to act differently.

"I would rather take the opportunity to gain a little deeper understanding of what are the Chinese issues" with the North Koreans, he said.

___

Follow Robert Burns on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/robertburnsAP

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/dempsey-says-nkorean-provocations-fit-long-pattern-142235146--politics.html

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Hornswoggle wins the 2013 2K Sports Superstar Challenge trophy

Hornswoggle wins the 2013 2K "WWE '13" Superstar Challenge: WWE.com Exclusive, April 5, 2013WrestleMania 29 Diary - AJ Lee signs a creative picture taken by a member of the WWE Universe: WWE.com Exclusive, April 6, 2013Witness WrestleMania 29 tonight on pay-per-view!Trish Stratus talks about her Hall of Fame career: WWE.com Exclusive, April 6, 2013Mick Foley gives his thoughts on being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame: WWE.com Exclusive, April 6, 2013Terry Funk discusses his emotions inducting Mick Foley into the WWE Hall of Fame: WWE.com Exclusive, April 6, 2013WWE Superstars take part in the sixth annual Make-A-Wish pizza party

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. ? The final of the 2013 2K Sports Superstar Challenge proved to be a veritable David versus Goliath when Hornswoggle faced off with the mighty Big E Langston. Only this David didn?t need a slingshot to fell Goliath ? just an Xbox 360 controller.

Hornswoggle survived a 16-person tournament ? which included two Divas, two Usos and a very underwhelmed Damien Sandow ? to claim the 2013 2K Sports Superstar Challenge trophy at WrestleMania Axxess in East Rutherford, N.J.?s IZOD Center.

?This is my WrestleMania moment!? the proud champion declared as he hoisted his trophy into the air.

Indeed it was a hard-fought victory for the Raw Superstar, who defeated former Superstar Challenge champs Kofi Kingston and JTG ? as well as an underhanded Sandow, who swiped the diminutive Superstar?s controller ? on his way to besting Langston in a heated final.

?I got really, really, extremely lucky,? a humble Hornswoggle said. ?I always said I wanted to win this, so this was big for me.?

?Swoggle?s victory wasn?t the only surprise of the evening. Rosa Mendes dispatched Divas Champion Kaitlyn in a little more than 20 seconds in an opening round bout, shocking the WWE fans in attendance.

Watch all the (virtual) action!?| Dueling Divas photos

?I?m not going to make excuses for myself,? an unwaveringly positive Kaitlyn said. ?I?m going to say I?m proud, because I set a record. I?m going to continue to break records and dream big!?

Although 2012?s winner, AJ Lee, did not compete in this year?s tournament, her bestie, Big E, proved a force to be reckoned with ? until he met Hornswoggle. A sentimental favorite of many of the Superstars in the backstage area, the former Cruiserweight Champion had the support of the WWE Universe and a few close friends on his way to making history.

?That?s the most cardio Hornswoggle has gotten in God knows how many years,? Kingston told WWE.com. ?But he was out there working hard and he deserved it.?

Official results:????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Qualifying round:

JTG def. Tyson Kidd

Big E Langston def. Zack Ryder

Jey Uso def. Epico

Jimmy Uso def. Primo

Kofi Kingston def. Alex Riley

Hornswoggle def. Damien Sandow

Hunico def. Sin Cara

Rosa Mendes def. Kaitlyn

Quarterfinals:

Big E Langston def. Jey Uso

Jimmy Uso def. Hunico

Hornswoggle def. Kofi Kingston

JTG def. Rosa Mendes

Semifinals:

Hornswoggle def. JTG

Big E Langston def. Jimmy Uso

Final:

Hornswoggle def. Big E Langston

View Comments

Source: http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/hornswoggle-wins-the-2013-2k-sports-superstar-challenge-trophy

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As North Korea threatens attacks, a search for clues about Kim Jong Un (cbsnews)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/297056365?client_source=feed&format=rss

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2nd lost hiker rescued from Calif. forest

Friends of missing hikers, from left, Paige Wallace, Sarah Souza and Halie Teague, who says she's known the two missing hikers since high school, plan their search route Wednesday morning April 3, 2013, in Trabuco Canyon, Calif. Nineteen-year-old Nicholas Cendoya and 18-year-old Kyndall Jack were last heard from Sunday night when they called for help on a cellphone. (AP Photo/The Orange County Register, Mindy Schauer) MAGS OUT; LOS ANGELES TIMES OUT

Friends of missing hikers, from left, Paige Wallace, Sarah Souza and Halie Teague, who says she's known the two missing hikers since high school, plan their search route Wednesday morning April 3, 2013, in Trabuco Canyon, Calif. Nineteen-year-old Nicholas Cendoya and 18-year-old Kyndall Jack were last heard from Sunday night when they called for help on a cellphone. (AP Photo/The Orange County Register, Mindy Schauer) MAGS OUT; LOS ANGELES TIMES OUT

This image provided by the Orange County Sheriff?s Department shows hiker, Nicholas Cendoya, who has been missing along with companion, Kyndall Jack, since the weekend. Cendoya, was discovered by another hiker Wednesday, March 3, 2013, and airlifted to a hospital. He was talking to paramedics but struggling to answer questions about what had happened and where Jack might be. Searchers aided by a sheriff's helicopter with infrared sensors were on the scene early Thursday hoping to locate 18-year-old Kyndall Jack. (AP Photo/Orange County Sheriff?s Department)

This image provided by the Orange County Sheriff?s Department shows hiker, Kyndall Jack who has been missing along with companion, Nicholas Cendoya, since the weekend. Southern California authorities are resuming the search for Jack, 18, and Cendoya, 19, who vanished during a weekend hike in Cleveland National Forest.(AP Photo/Orange County Sheriff?s Department)

Friends of Nicholas Cendoya and Kyndall Jack, wait Wednesday April 3, 2013, for any word about Jack after Cendoya was found alive Wednesday night in Trabuco Canyon in th4 Southern California wilderness. The couple became lost on a hike on Easter Sunday. (AP Photo/Los Angeles Times,Don Kelson ) NO FORNS; NO SALES; MAGS OUT; ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER OUT; LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS OUT; VENTURA COUNTY STAR OUT; INLAND VALLEY DAILY BULLETIN OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT: Don Kelson, Los Angeles Times, TV OUT

Family members and friends prepare to tow the vehicle of missing hikers Nicholas Cendoya, 19, and Kyndall Jack, 18, early Wednesday April 3, 2013 in Cleveland National Forest in Trabuco Hills in Southern California. The hikers were reported missing Sunday.(AP Photo/Kevin Warn)

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Calif. (AP) ? A young woman missing in a Southern California forest since setting out on a Sunday hike was rescued from a rocky ledge on steep slope Thursday, authorities.

Kyndall Jack, 18, was hoisted out of Cleveland National Forest by a rescue helicopter and rushed to a hospital.

"We have confirmation that we have Kyndall and she is alive," Orange County sheriff's Lt. Jason Park said.

Park said she was responsive but dehydrated and weak. There was no information on whether she had other injuries.

A reserve deputy suffered a head injury and was also flown to a hospital.

Crews had ramped up efforts to find Jack after her companion was discovered dehydrated and disoriented the night before.

Nicolas Cendoya, 19, was discovered parched and without shoes by another hiker shortly before 8 p.m. Wednesday less than a mile from where the pair's car was parked. He was airlifted to a hospital.

Cendoya was talking to paramedics but struggling to answer questions about what had happened and where Jack might be.

"He was extremely confused and disoriented," Park said.

Kyndall's father, Russ Jack, told the Los Angeles Times that Cendoya was able to share some information despite his dazed state.

"Nicolas obviously was disoriented because of dehydration. ... He thought that Kyndall had already been rescued," the father said. "But apparently Kyndall has twisted her ankle or something and could not keep up with Nicholas trying to get out of the brush they're in."

Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Jon Muir said he had not heard about the possible injury to Jack, and noted that Cendoya had been giving all kinds of inconsistent answers.

Sheriff's investigators planned to talk to him at length once he was recovering at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo.

The pair made a 911 call from a dying cellphone Sunday night and set off the search.

Muir gave new details about Cendoya's phone call.

"He was panting and said, 'We're out of water.' You could hear Kyndall in the background. He said, 'I think we're about a mile or two from the car,' and he was right about the distance but in totally the wrong direction," Muir said.

The hiker who came across Cendoya on Wednesday night went for help and found a firefighting training crew not involved in the search that just happened to be nearby, Park said.

They found Cendoya eight-tenths of a mile south of where much of the search had focused, about 500 feet from a dirt road that sees regular vehicle traffic. He was surrounded by so much vegetation that the helicopter rescue crew had trouble keeping track of him once they found him.

"When the rescuer was lowered he lost sight of him," said Division Chief Kris Concepcion of the Orange County Fire Authority. "That's how thick the brush was."

When he was found he was wearing board shorts, a shirt but no shoes.

Cendoya was in serious but stable condition, Mission Hospital's Dr. Matthew Kaplan told TV reporters.

"He's strong, he's young, he's a healthy young man, and he's pulling through," Kaplan said.

Several dozen searchers with help from helicopters had been combing the rugged hills of Trabuco Canyon in the national forest.

Two volunteers got lost themselves and had to be airlifted out Wednesday afternoon. They were searching the area because the Sunday 911 call was traced to a nearby cell tower, Muir said.

Muir said earlier that Cendoya and Jack's "probability for survival is good" with mild weather both day and night.

The two were believed to have gone off trail near Holy Jim Trail, a tree-lined dirt path along a creek that leads to a waterfall and is popular with day hikers.

The area is in a section of the national forest in the Santa Ana Mountains, which lie along the border of Orange and Riverside counties southeast of Los Angeles. The trail ranges in elevation from about 2,000 feet to about 4,000 feet.

___

Associated Press writers Christopher Weber and Robert Jablon in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-04-04-Lost%20Hikers/id-f6ae55781e9241d6ba4b52ace25f8afd

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Rich investors betting on emerging equities | Global Investing

By Philip Baillie

Emerging equities may have significantly underperformed their richer peers so far this year (they are about 4 percent in the red compared with gains of more than 6 percent for their MSCI?s index of developed stocks) , but almost a third of high net-worth individuals are betting on a rebound in coming months.

A survey of more than 1,000 high net-worth investors by J.P. Morgan Private Bank reveals that 28 percent of respondents expect emerging market equities to perform best in the next 12 months, outstripping the 24 per cent that bet their money on U.S. stocks.

That gels with the findings of recent Reuters polls where a majority of the 450 analysts surveyed said they expect emerging equities to end 2013 with double-digit returns.

(Note a caveat on the survey ? the responses were collated before recent unsettling events in Cyprus ? which could have some knock-on effects on emerging markets, especially given the banking exposure to countries such as Slovenia, Luxembourg, Malta and Russia).

However, regardless of the growing list of risks, 60 percent of the investors pick equities as their top performing asset class for the next 12 months ?? more evidence that the so-called Great Rotation ? the offloading of bond holdings in favour of equities ? remains a theme despite some growth and political risks.

This from Cesar Perez, Chief Investment Strategist for J.P. Morgan Private Bank in EMEA:

For the first time in four years we are not underweight in our global equities allocation?..Similar to respondents, we believe there is considerable value in global equity markets. In the current environment, we have tilted our equity allocations towards the U.S. and emerging markets, increasing exposure to Asian equities in early 2013.

Despite the tilt towards equities, almost half the? respondents cited global growth as their biggest investment concern. Politics (23 percent) geopolitical unrest (15 percent) and monetary policy mistakes (11 percent) also emerged as acute risk themes. A mere 4 percent worried about inflation.

Nevertheless,? 14 per cent of those surveyed believe the supposedly riskier European periphery will perform better than the European core which garnered the votes of just 10 percent.? Interestingly, Japan, the best performing equity market so far in 2013 with gains of almost 20 percent, was least favoured at? just 6 per cent.

The J.P. Morgan Private Bank (assets of $878 billion) survey was conducted throughout January and February. See below for a graphic detailing the survey?s findings.

Source: http://blogs.reuters.com/globalinvesting/2013/04/04/rich-investors-betting-on-emerging-equities/

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