News Headlines - 18 April 2015

▽UK bookmakers offer odds on hung Parliament - JamaicaObserver.com

British bookmakers were yesterday offering their shortest-ever odds on a hung Parliament in next month's general election, with David Cameron's survival as prime minister too close to call.

▽Salmond: Miliband 'foolish' to rule out SNP coalition - ITV News

The former SNP leader has stepped up the pressure on Labour leader Ed Miliband with a fresh warning that he will find it difficult to avoid doing some form of deal with the Scottish nationalists in the event of another hung parliament.

▽China Building Aircraft Runway in Disputed Spratly Islands - NYTimes.com

China is building a concrete runway on an island in the South China Sea’s contested waters that will be capable of handling military aircraft when finished, satellite images released Thursday show.

▽Thousands in Germany protest against Europe-U.S. trade deal | Reuters

Thousands of people marched in Berlin, Munich and other German cities on Saturday in protest against a planned free trade deal between Europe and the United States that they fear will erode food, labor and environmental standards.

▽South Africa faces backlash over violent attacks on migrant workers | The Guardian

South African vehicles were pelted with stones in Mozambique on Friday and South African companies are reportedly being threatened with closure in Nigeria. Protests have been held at various South African embassies across the continent, and several South African musicians have been forced to cancel concerts abroad.