The Korea Herald

Ruling party rules out using speaker's authority for FTA vote

PoliticsNov 2, 2011

SEOUL, Nov. 2 (Yonhap) -- The floor leader of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) Wednesday opposed using the Assembly speaker's authority to pass the long-pending free trade deal with the United States on the floor, saying a unilateral passage would cause distrust in party politics.Since the U.S.
Tablo ranks No. 1 on iTunes hip hop chart

MusicNov 2, 2011

Singer-songwriter and rapper Tablo’s first solo album “Fever’s End Part 2” ranked first place on the iTunes hip hop/rap chart, as he returned to the music scene more than a year after he was embroiled in a controversy over his academic background at Stanford University.Hip hop group Epik High, of which Tablo is a member, reached top of the same chart with the album “Epilogue” in March last year.Tablo recently signed a four-year contract with YG Entertainment which boasts several K-pop idols incl
Viking 'sunstone' more than a myth

World NewsNov 2, 2011

Ancient tales of Norse mariners using mysterious sunstones to navigate the ocean when clouds obscured the Sun and stars are more than just legend, according to a study published Wednesday.Over 1,000 years ago, before the invention of the compass, Vikings ventured thousands of kilometres from home to
Women far behind men in economic participation

World NewsNov 2, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) _ The world has make great progress in eliminating inequality between men and women in health and education, but not in economic participation and political empowerment, according to a survey of 135 nations released Tuesday.The annual survey by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum sho
Australian government introduces mining tax bills

World NewsNov 2, 2011

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) _ Australia's government has introduced legislation to impose a 30 percent tax on the burgeoning profits of iron ore and coal mining companies that are feeding Chinese demand.The legislation introduced to Parliament on Wednesday is not certain to pass since key independent l
Greek cabinet backs referendum on debt rescue plan

World BusinessNov 2, 2011

ATHENS, Nov 2, 2011 (AFP) - Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou secured the unanimous backing of his cabinet for a referendum on the eurozone debt rescue plan, government spokesman Elias Mossialos said early Wednesday.The cabinet also approved Papandreou's decision to hold a vote of confidence in
For wounded Marines, a 'lollipop' to ease pain

World NewsNov 2, 2011

US Marines badly wounded in Afghanistan may get a "lollipop" with a powerful pain killer from now on instead of the traditional shot of morphine, a Marine Corps spokesman said Tuesday.The new treatment offers an alternative to the morphine needle "you see in the World War II movies," with medics jab
Light drinking linked to slight breast cancer risk

HealthNov 2, 2011

CHICAGO (AP) — Whether sipping beer, wine or whiskey, women who drink just three alcoholic beverages a week face slightly higher chances for developing breast cancer compared with teetotalers, a study of more than 100,000 U.S. nurses found.The link between alcohol and breast cancer isn't new,
N. Korea's heir apparent fathered daughter last year: source

North KoreaNov 2, 2011

BEIJING, Nov. 2 (Yonhap) -- The youngest son and heir apparent of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il appears to have fathered a daughter last year with his reported wife, an informed source here said Wednesday.Kim Jong-un, believed to be in his late 20s, has cemented his status as leader-in-waiting sin
Hugh Grant becomes a dad, but mother undisclosed

FilmNov 2, 2011

LONDON (AP) — Hugh Grant has become a father for the first time after a brief fling, his spokesman said Tuesday — but the identity of the baby's mother is not being disclosed.Publicist Carrie Gordon said Grant "is the delighted father of a baby girl."She said Grant and the mother "had a
Apple to launch iPhone 4S in S. Korea on Nov. 11

TechnologyNov 2, 2011

SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- Apple Inc. said Tuesday that the U.S.-based company plans to launch its new iPhone 4S in the South Korean market on Nov. 11.Apple said on its Web site that it will launch the iPhone 4S in 15 countries including South Korea and Hong Kong and customers will be able to pre-ord
S. Korea's foreign reserves rebound in Oct.

Nov 2, 2011

SEOUL, Nov. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's foreign exchange reserves rebounded in October from a three-year low as a weaker dollar raised the conversion value of non-dollar assets, the central bank said Wednesday.The country's foreign reserves reached US$310.98 billion as of the end of October, up $7.6
Scientists discover mechanism behind cancer growth

ScienceNov 2, 2011

SEOUL, Nov. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korean and U.S. scientists have discovered the mechanism behind the growth and spread of cancer that may help doctors better fight the potentially fatal disease in the future, the government said Wednesday.According to the science ministry, the team led by Yook Jong-i
GNP moves for floor vote on U.S. FTA

PoliticsNov 1, 2011

DP demands Lee’s promise to renegotiate ISD clause with ObamaThe Grand National Party on Tuesday was moving to have a floor vote on whether to ratify a free trade agreement with the U.S., as a parliamentary subcommittee was unable to deliberate the bill due to physical obstruction from the opposition. According to reports, GNP leaders were discussing ways to have the FTA bill by-pass the foreign affairs and trade committee. The committee delayed handling of the bill to Wednesday, after oppositio
S. Korea plans $50b fund for reunification

North KoreaNov 1, 2011

South Korea will set up a fund as early as this year to begin raising up to 55 trillion won ($50 billion) to pay for its eventual reunification with North Korea. Individual Koreans at home and abroad will be able to make donations to the fund and the government in Seoul may earmark money including budget surpluses, Unification Minister Yu Woo Ik said in his first interview since being sworn in on Sept. 19. While foreigners will also be allowed to donate, there is no plan to ask overseas governme