The Korea Herald

Gaga launches foundation with MacArthur, Harvard

MusicNov 3, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) _ Lady Gaga is launching a foundation with the help of the MacArthur Foundation and Harvard University.The Grammy-winning singer announced Wednesday that she is launching the Born This Way Foundation, a nonprofit focusing on youth empowerment and ``issues like self-confidence, well-bei
Separated Philippine twins doing well after US op

PeopleNov 3, 2011

A pair of 2-year-old formerly conjoined twin girls from the Philippines are recovering well after an operation to separate them in California, a hospital spokeswoman said.Angelina and Angelica Sabuco, born joined at the chest and abdomen, were separated Tuesday by a team of 20 doctors during 10 hour
FDA approves innovative, non-invasive heart valve

HealthNov 3, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal health officials have approved a first-of-a-kind artificial heart valve that can be implanted without major surgery, offering a new treatment option for patients who are too old or frail for the chest-cracking procedure currently used.The Food and Drug Administration
Cain scandal deepens as 3rd woman comes forward

World NewsNov 3, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) _ The sexual harassment scandal surrounding Herman Cain, a leading Republican presidential candidate, deepened Wednesday as another woman accused him of inappropriate behavior when he headed a restaurant industry lobbying group in the 1990s.The woman's account, told to The Associated
Greek vote in early Dec: yes or no to eurozone

World NewsNov 3, 2011

CANNES, France (AP) _ European leaders heaped pressure on Greece over its decision to hold a referendum on its latest bailout deal, calling it a vote on whether it wants to stay in the eurozone and vowing Athens would not get new rescue loans until the result was in.The acknowledgment that the vote
Bernanke: Economic growth to be frustratingly slow

World BusinessNov 3, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Wednesday acknowledged that the pace of economic growth is likely to be ``frustratingly slow,'' after the Fed downgraded its forecast for the next two years.Bernanke said the central bank is open to purchasing more mortgage-backed securities
Corporate regulator puts 13 more firms on watch list

Nov 3, 2011

SEOUL, Nov. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's antitrust watchdog said Thursday that it has placed 13 more companies on its watch list that limits mutual investments and loan guarantees.The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) said the number of corporate affiliates on the list stood at 1,618 from 55 business group
FSC under pressure to penalize Lone Star

Nov 2, 2011

The Financial Services Commission has been under mounting pressure to take stern action against Lone Star Funds, which was convicted of manipulating stocks of Korea Exchange Bank’s credit card affiliate.In particular, a group of lawmakers, professors and lawyers are calling on the FSC to reject Hana Financial Group’s application to acquire KEB from Lone Star.Their calls come amid speculation that the FSC may “simply” order the U.S.-based fund to dispose of its stake in KEB, a decision that could
[Editorial] Push for renewable energy

EditorialNov 2, 2011

Since the government unveiled its “low carbon, green growth” vision in August 2008, the nation’s renewable energy industry has achieved impressive growth. Between 2007 and 2010, the industry’s aggregate sales jumped 6.5-fold, its export revenue surged 7.3-fold and the size of its workforce expanded 3.7-fold.The industry’s rapid growth prompted major Korean corporations to jump on the clean energy bandwagon. They announced large-scale investment plans one after another. This rush boosted expectat
Greek P.M. toughs out referendum pledge

World NewsNov 2, 2011

ATHENS (AP) ― Greece’s prime minister held firm early Wednesday to his shock decision to call for a referendum on a hard-fought European debt deal, despite anger from abroad, market turmoil across the world and dissent from within his own party.George Papandreou’s government still faced a battle for survival, with a vote of confidence scheduled for Friday and a grilling from frustrated European leaders expected later in the day ahead of the Group of 20 summit in the French Riviera.After a grueli
Lee, Medvedev vow to cooperate on gas pipeline venture

PoliticsNov 2, 2011

President Lee Myung-bak and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev reaffirmed their commitment to cooperate on a project to pipe Siberian natural gas to South Korea via North Korea during their summit Wednesday in St. Petersburg.“The two leaders agreed that if carried out successfully, the project to import Russian natural gas will bring economic benefits to all three countries,” Lee’s office said in a press release.Noting that there are concerns over the stability of the pipeline running through Nor
GNP starts action on FTA bill

PoliticsNov 2, 2011

Bill tabled to Assembly panel, but opposition blocks voteThe ruling Grand National Party moved to ratify a free trade agreement with the U.S. on its own Wednesday, submitting the bill for a committee-level vote, despite strong resistance from opposition lawmakers. Rep. Nam Kyung-pil, chair of the parliament’s foreign affairs and trade committee and GNP lawmaker, used his authority to put the bill to the table, as opposition members physically occupied the committee’s main conference room to prev
Education innovation forum opens in Doha

Social affairsNov 2, 2011

DOHA ― The third World Innovation Summit for Education, one of the largest international education forums, kicked off its three-day run in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday with more than 1,000 attending. The forum has attracted about 1,200 participants and 140 distinguished speakers from about 120 countries, including Colombia University professor Jeffrey Sachs, former U.K. prime minister Gordon Brown and Wikipedia Founder Jimmy Wales. They will discuss the future of education and global challenges.The a
Diplomats demand inquiry over death of Thai envoy’s wife

Foreign affairsNov 2, 2011

The diplomatic community is up in arms over the death of Thitinart Satjipanon, spouse of Thai Ambassador Chaiyong Satjipanon, on Sept. 19 at Soonchunhyang University Hospital.A letter sent by Uzbekistan Ambassador and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Vitali Fen to Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik and Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Kim Sung-hwan condemned, in the harshest of language and tone, the treatment of the Thai ambassador’s wife by the hospital. “I would like to convey strong denunciation on
‘N.K. opens bureau to run free trade zone with China’

North KoreaNov 2, 2011

North Korea has opened a bureau tasked with running a free trade zone near its border with China, a source familiar with the country said Wednesday, indicating the North’s continued efforts to revive its forlorn economy.The move came shortly after North Korea and China agreed to create joint economic complexes on the border islands of Hwanggeumpyeong and Wihwa following a summit between their leaders in May.“North Korea has opened a bureau with some 10 staff members on Hwanggumpyong,” the source