Strategy is everything for the French. That’s what Elaine Sciolino discovers in her book “La Seduction: How the French Play the Game of Life,” a look at why the food is so delicious, the perfumes so beguiling, the languid conversation of Paris cafes so intoxicating, the French so, well, French. It’s all part of a grand game of seduction, a word with a much more expansive definition in French. Rath

American urban economist visits Seoul for Korean publication of his bookThough convenient and efficient, city life isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Yet for American urban economist Edward Glaeser, cities are “the forges of human capital” and even “what make us more human.”“From Seoul to San Francisco to St. Petersburg, cities are more vibrant and productive than ever,” Glaeser told reporters during a

MOSCOW ― South Korean artists clinched five prizes, including two top vocal prizes, in one of the world’s most prestigious classical music competitions.Bass Park Jong-min, 24, and soprano Seo Sun-young, 27, of Korea won first prizes in the male and female solo vocal categories of the 14th International Tchaikovsky Competition that closed here on Thursday.In the two-week-long contest, Korea’s risin

Korea’s Kim Mi-kyung (right) competes against Farida Azizova of Azerbaijan in the women’s under-67 kg final of the WTF World Qualification Tournament for the 2012 London Olympics in Baku, Azerbaijan on Thursday.  (WTF)South Korea secured two spots in taekwondo for the 2012 London Olympics on the opening day of the World Taekwondo Federation qualification tournament in Baku, Azerbaijan, Thursday.In

LONDON (AFP) ― English Premier League side Sunderland on Thursday announced the signings of South Korea striker Ji Dong-won and English midfielder Craig Gardner.Ji, 20, joined from Chunnam Dragons for an undisclosed fee and signed a three-year contract at the Stadium of Light.He has scored six goals in 11 appearances for South Korea, including four at the Asian Cup in Qatar in January. Ji Dong-won

LOS ANGELES ― Tal Ronnen catered the vegan wedding for Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia de Rossi. Casino mogul Steve Wynn tapped him to add vegan dishes to the menus at all 22 restaurants at the luxurious Wynn and Encore resorts in Vegas. Former McDonald’s executives invited him onboard to help launch a chain of healthful fast-food restaurants later this year. And when Oprah decided to try the vega

If the only Beaujolais you’ve ever encountered is Beaujolais Nouveau and you’ve never tasted a Beaujolais cru, then this is the wine to make you fall head over heels for the region.Unfined and unfiltered, Domaine Chignard’s Fleurie “Les Moriers” from the great 2009 vintage carries the scent of wild sweet strawberries. It’s so lush and vivid, tasting of blueberries, black cherries and plums. The vi

Bulgogi is a dish barbecued of thinly sliced beef that is pre-marinated with a variety of seasonings on a hot barbecue pan. Bulgogi has been popular since the 1950s when the beef was served in thin slices to make it more tender and cut down the waiting time for diners.Bulgogi (Institute of Korean Traditional Food)Ingredients ● 300 g beef (sirloin)● seasoning sauce : 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp sugar,

Ruo, Ippudo dish out great summer noodlesIt’s that time of year again, when children gather around convenience stores to pick up their favorite ice cream bars and all throughout the city people are forsaking standard hot Americanos and cappuccinos for iced caffeine. Cold noodles, of course, are also an all-time summer favorite. Naengmyeon (cold Korean noodles) is a classic, but why not change it u

Men are about five times more likely to be killed by lightning because they are more reckless, a recently survey showed. AccuWeather.com., a U.S. online weather service, has recently unveiled the result of its survey of lightning-related deaths that occurred in the U.S. from 1995 to 2008. (AP)Of 648 people killed by lightning, men accounted for 82 percent. This year, there have been six such death