The Korea Herald

Market volatility leads to higher alert

Sept 29, 2011

(Yonhap News)Contingency plan activated; top financial regulator sees extended turmoil in marketThe alert level for Korea’s financial market has been raised to the second highest in the five-tier scale, reflecting the growing concerns about the possibility of the global recession as well as th
Civic groups fume at national cemetery burial of coup leaders

PoliticsSept 29, 2011

At least five people who took part in a 1979 military coup were found to have been buried at the national cemetery, rekindling a rumpus over who deserves to be laid to rest there.Civic groups in August had opposed the burial of Ahn Hyun-tae, a member of Hanahoe, a group of military officers led by e
French feminists fight to give ‘mademoiselle’ a miss

CultureSept 29, 2011

PARIS (AFP) ― French feminists have launched a campaign to abolish the use of “mademoiselle,“ a term for an unmarried woman still used on official papers which they say demeans and enshrines sexism.France has no equivalent to the ambiguous “Ms” used in English, and French feminists do not see the ne
Environment group chief convicted of bribery charge

Social affairsSept 29, 2011

The president of Korea Green Foundation was slapped with a fine and prison sentence for taking bribes in an appeal but was not put under court custody.In the ruling by the Seoul High Court, Choi Yul was found guilty for receiving 130 million won ($110,560) in bribes for helping a real estate firm wi
Japan donor leaves 10 million yen gift in public toilet

Sept 29, 2011

TOKYO (AFP) - An anonymous donor has left a wad of cash worth $131,000 in a public toilet in Japan, with instructions it be used to help victims of the March earthquake and tsunami, an official said Thursday.A plastic shopping bag, containing 10 million yen, was found on September22 in a toilet for
Art channel to preview at old Seoul Station

TheaterSept 29, 2011

Souvenirs from Earth, a 24-hour media art cable TV channel, to launch in Korea in 2012Imagine enjoying the latest art from the hottest media artists around the world 24/7 simply by turning on the TV. Such an easy way of relishing contemporary art is possible through Souvenirs from Earth, a cable TV
U.S. ‘threat’ of military action unites Pakistan

World NewsSept 29, 2011

ISLAMABAD (AP) -- U.S. accusations that Pakistan is supporting Afghan insurgents have triggered a nationalist backlash and whipped up media fears of an American invasion, drowning out any discussion over the army’s long use of jihadi groups as deadly proxies in the region.The reaction shows the prob
KIC calls off plan to raise BOA stake

Sept 29, 2011

Sovereign wealth fund Korea Investment Corp. said Thursday it won’t buy additional Bank of America shares, postponing its earlier plans to increase its stake of 69 million shares in the bank.“We decided to call off purchasing additional shares with the dividend from our existing stake. It has been p
Tony Bennett, 85, tops U.S. album chart for first time

MusicSept 29, 2011

LOS ANGELES (AFP) ― Tony Bennett made music history Wednesday when he topped the Billboard album chart for the first time in his 60-year career ― and became the oldest living act ever to do so.Bennett, 85, a 15-time Grammy winner who plays London and Copenhagen next week, reached the summit with “Du
U.S. fugitive caught 41 years after escape

World NewsSept 29, 2011

ALMOCAGEME, Portugal (AP) ― He lived the sweet life for decades. But nobody knew he was on the run.After breaking out of a New Jersey prison 41 years ago, George Wright settled in a picturesque seaside town in Portugal.He married a local woman, raised two children and grew old in a pretty house on a
U.S. approves two solar loans worth $1 billion

World BusinessSept 29, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) ― The Energy Department on Wednesday approved two loan guarantees worth more than $1 billion for solar energy projects in Nevada and Arizona, two days before the expiration date of a program that has become a rallying cry for Republican critics of the Obama administration’s green ene
Russian Orthodox Church slams 2 acclaimed authors

BooksSept 29, 2011

MOSCOW (AP) ― A senior Russian Orthodox official claimed Wednesday that novels by Vladimir Nabokov and Gabriel Garcia Marquez justify pedophilia and said they should be banned in the nation’s high schools.Father Vsevolod Chaplin’s demand that Russia’s government investigate and limit the use of the
Elton John starts 3-year Las Vegas run at Caesars

MusicSept 29, 2011

LAS VEGAS (AP) ― Elton John is returning to Las Vegas for a three-year headlining gig at Caesars Palace.The five-time Grammy winner was set to perform Wednesday night for the first of 16 shows scheduled through October, the first performances of a new show titled “The Million Dollar Piano.”The remai
Bob Dylan paintings under fire

MusicSept 29, 2011

NEW YORK (AFP) ― Bob Dylan faced uncomfortable questions Wednesday over several paintings in a New York exhibition by the prolific singer-songwriter that appear to have been copied directly from other artists’ photographs.The paintings are part of a show at the Gagosian Gallery titled “The Asia Seri
Fitch lowers Slovenia credit rating

World BusinessSept 29, 2011

LJUBLJANA (AFP) ― Fitch ratings agency lowered eurozone member Slovenia’s credit rating by one notch to “AA-“ on Wednesday over concerns over its banks and failure to implement reforms to stabilize public finances.“The downgrade of Slovenia is primarily driven by deterioration in the financial posit