The Korea Herald

[Jon Lee] Trust your employees

ViewpointsAug 14, 2011

The following is a second personal letter to SCB Group CEO, Peter Sands, from Jon Lee, a management consultant, regarding the current disputes at SC First Bank. The first letter was published on July 27. ― Ed.Dear Mr. Peter Sands:I wrote to you two weeks ago in this newspaper column to provide you w
[Daniel Akst] Americans have Congress’ number

ViewpointsAug 14, 2011

The American people believe all kinds of things. Three years ago, for example, a Harris Poll found that 71 percent believe in angels but only 47 percent believe in evolution.That’s not all. Skepticism on global warming has been increasing, and surprising numbers believe all kinds of nonsense about t
WFP expands relief work in famine-hit Somalia

World NewsAug 14, 2011

MOGADISHU (AP) ― The World Food Program said Saturday that it is expanding its food distribution efforts in famine-struck Somalia, where the U.N. estimates that only 20 percent of people needing aid are getting it.Some of those from the outlying regions have walked for days to the capital for help,
Anti-terrorism unit sent to China’s west

World NewsAug 14, 2011

BEIJING (AP) ― China has sent its elite Snow Leopard anti-terrorism unit to its far western frontier where ethnic violence has flared, hoping to boost security before the area stages an international trade convention in weeks, a state newspaper reported Saturday.At least 20 people died in two attack
Dalai Lama begins 3-day visit to France

World NewsAug 14, 2011

PARIS (AP) ― The Dalai Lama began a three-day spiritual visit to France on Saturday, saying that rapprochement with Beijing was possible and that if all rights are genuinely implemented “then it’s in our interest to remain within” China.The Dalai Lama, now 76, gave up his role as head of the Tibetan
Israel plants mines along Syria border

World NewsAug 14, 2011

JERUSALEM (AP) ― Israel’s army is planting new land mines along its border with Syria in an attempt to dissuade protesters from rushing into the Golan Heights, according to a report in an Israeli military magazine.The preparations come as part of Israel’s beefed-up measures ahead of rallies that Pal
Syrian army sweeps against protesters, kills 5

World NewsAug 14, 2011

Clinton calls for tougher action against Damascus, including oil and gas embargoBEIRUT (AP) ― Syrian tanks, security agents and pro-regime gunmen fanned out into the streets of several towns to root out protesters demanding the ouster of President Bashar Assad in a sweep Saturday that killed at leas
Chile draws hard line on education protests

World NewsAug 14, 2011

SANTIAGO (AP) ― The government of Chile is standing firm against social protests, saying education reform can only happen through official channels.Government spokesman Andres Chadwick says Chile “is not going to be governed from the street.”That’s a hard-line message to students who have been strik
U.S. Republican race jolted by Iowa poll

World NewsAug 14, 2011

Bachmann tops test vote for 2012, Texas Gov. Rick Perry announces his candidacyAMES, Iowa (AP) ― The 2012 Republican presidential race heated up Saturday as latecomer Texas Gov. Rick Perry formally announced his candidacy and Iowans weighed in for the first time on their expanding field of president
Cultural events to fill Liberation Day

CultureAug 14, 2011

From concerts to exhibitions to religious ceremonies, many cultural events are being held Aug. 15 to mark the Liberation Day.At the demilitarized zone, world renowned conductor Daniel Barenboim will hold a special concert, titled “Daniel Barenboim’s Peace Concert” at 7 p.m.An Argentinean-Israeli pia
Help kids find values in music: El Sistema teacher

MusicAug 14, 2011

Susan Siman, a Venezuelan violinist, conductor and teacher of “El Sistema” said orchestral music can teach children important values that are quickly disappearing in modern society. El Sistema, or The System, is a music education program in Venezuela dedicated to teaching juvenile delinquents and ch
Nelson Mandela opera comes to Johannesburg

TheaterAug 14, 2011

JOHANNESBURG (AP) ― A sexy dose of jazz and the refined strains of Western opera and traditional Xhosa song drive a new opera about South Africa’s former president and anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela.The range of musical styles in “Mandela Trilogy” reflects South Africa’s mix of cultures, the pro
The exquisite torture of playing King Lear

TheaterAug 14, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) ― On a “King Lear” day, the torture starts early in the morning for Greg Hicks.Even before the actor opens his eyes in his hotel room, the lines of Shakespeare’s great play come coursing through his brain like some dastardly internal alarm clock, more fiendish than any real one. And th
Bollywood film on caste stirs controversy in India

FilmAug 14, 2011

NEW DELHI (AP) ― A star-filled Bollywood film on India’s caste system churned up passionate debate as it opened Friday, with angry lower caste groups trying to torpedo its release, saying it reinforces social prejudices against them.The furor makes clear that caste ― the millennia-old Hindu custom t
Supporting Ghana’s need for electricity

Foreign affairsAug 14, 2011

The Korea government announced it will provide a multi-million dollar loan to support Ghana’s power grid expansion. The $67 million loan will be used to construct a 185-kilometer power transmission line.The Korean government aspires to supply electrical power to most of Africa by the year 2020.Also,