onetary policy compared to the US Fed and the Bank of England. 'While current price pressures may well be weak, they are largely as a result of falling energy prices, which is not necessarily a bad thing, something a lot of commentators appear to be overlooking. Decision day: ECB president Mario Draghi will hold a news conference at the central bank's Frankfurt headquarters today'That’s not to say that there isn’t a deflation problem in Europe, there is, but there’s not much the ECB can do about it given the massive disparity in unit labour costs across the region.'Hewson added: 'The consensus still remains for rates to remain on hold, but it is slowly shifting to some form of action with some predicting a cut of 0.15 per cent in the headline rate and a negative deposit rate.'This still seems unlikely at this stage, and even if implemented would have little lasting effect after the surprise factor had been digested.'Darren Courtney-Cook,NIKE AIR MAX 2013 Womens Pink Black, head of trading at Central Markets Investment Management, said of today's likely market action: 'I don't think we'll do too much ahead of the ECB. My own view is that if they cut, we may rally for a bit and then sell off, and if they don't cut, markets will sell off. 'I think the market has got ahead of itself, ahead of the ECB,' he added.The FTSE 100 closed up 6.43 points at 6,659.04 yesterday,Nike Air Max 90 Womens, its highest close since March 11. It was propped up by banks and mining companies on encouraging economic news from the US.Stocks to watch today include: VODAFONE GROUP: The mobile operator said it would add 150 shops and create 1,400 jobs across the United Kingdom during the next 12 months in a ￡100million investment.ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND: Part-nationalised RBS said it will close 44 branches, of which 14 are classed as 'Last Banks in Town', in the UK.SPORTS DIRECT: The sporting goods retailer has scrapped plans for a shareholder vote on a share bonus scheme worth ￡73million for its founder Mike Ashley after failing to secure enough support.KINGFISHER: Europe's biggest home improvement retailer has entered into exclusive negotiations with the main investors of French rival Mr Bricolage to buy their shareholdings.BRITISH LAND: The landlord has signed a new ￡785million revolving credit facility. 2595821
114 shares 156 View comments In a remarkable interview a North Korean defector has revealed details about assassination attempts on the country’s former leader and plots to overthrow him that help explain the dangerous paranoia that engulfs his son's regime.What makes the revelations so extraordinary is that they’ve come from a highly credible source – a former intelligence officer now living in South Korea.Plots to kill Kim Jong-un’s father, Kim Jong-il, who ruled North Korea from 1994 to December 2011, have involved a lone gunman, a 20-tonne truck and even missile strikes, he said.Scroll down for video Plots: A North Korean defector has revealed details about assassination attempts on the country's former leader, Kim Jong-il - as well as plans to overthrow him The defector, who gave his name only as ‘Mr K’, said that in one assassination attempt a lone gunman plotted to murder Jong-il with machine gun fire, but he was arrested before he could carry out the attack. More... Kim Jong-Un planning to ‘purge’ one of North Korea’s most powerful figures after records show HE is the rightful heir to the communist state ahead of Kim Jong-Il’s son Russia has enough troops on Ukraine's borders to overrun country in THREE DAYS, warns NATO general Another attempt came a bit closer to succeeding. Mr K said that Jong-il’s motorcade was rammed by a 20-tonne lorry, but the driver was fooled by Jong-il’s tactic of deploying decoy cars and he struck the wrong limousine.Mr K also revealed details about two attempted coups. Both were plotted by members of the Korean People’s Army that had been trained at Moscow’s Frunze military academy and established strong links with Russia, according to The Daily Telegraph.Both involved officers taking full advantage of military equipment at their disposal.One group of officers wanted to blow up the Russian consulate in the city of Chongjin in the hope that the attack would prompt military action against North Korea by Russia. North Korea broadcasts Kim Jong Un watching artillery Father and son: Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-un watch from a podium as soldiers march in a parade celebrating the 65th anniversary of the ruling Korean Workers Party in Pyongyang,Nike Air Max 2014 Womens Shoes Blue Orange UK, North Korea,Nike Air Max 2013 Red Black Silver, in 2010 Another was even more audacious - multiple missile strikes on Pyongyang.Both plots were uncovered before they had a chance of being put into action.The North Korean regime is so secretive t