When former President Jimmy Carter last visited Cuba, in 2002, he delivered a remarkable speech via the state-run media that criticized the Castro dictatorship and exposed listeners to the truly revolutionary idea that it’s up to the Cuban people, not the one-party regime nor any foreign government, to determine Cuba’s future.Naturally, his visit raised hopes that this might represent an ever-so-s

Even people in the sports world are not free of this craze for money as more in-depth reports on the arrest of three soccer referees show. Lu Jun was arrested for taking bribes from local soccer teams. Before being exposed, he was known as the “golden whistle” for his “integrity.” He officiated in two matches at the 2002 World Cup finals in South Korea and Japan. Praising the clean soccer administ

Conservative Utah has bucked the national GOP trend of embracing hard-line ― and arguably inhumane ― laws meant to make states inhospitable to illegal immigrants. Two weeks ago, Utah Gov. Gary R. Herbert signed into law a bill that will grant work permits, and a path to legal residence, to undocumented immigrants and their immediate families.And conservative Arizona, which last year passed the ant

With U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday announcing his re-election campaign bid, the unofficial starting whistle for the 2012 election has been blown. In a highly unusual move, Obama will be the first U.S. president in modern history to place his campaign headquarters outside of the Washington D.C. and suburban Virginia corridor (basing it instead in his home city of Chicago). The president hop

TBLISI, Georgia ― Nearly 70 years after being deported by Stalin, members of the Meskhetian Turkish community are preparing to return to Georgia. But after all this time, it’s unclear exactly what kind of welcome they will receive.The Meskhetians were one of several ethnic groups who were deported from the Caucasus region during World War II because Stalin feared they might form a fifth column wit

Expats from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, and Sri Lanka are getting together in Busan to hold the “Boishakh & Thingyan Festival” on April 10.Poyela Boishakh is the first day of the Bangla calendar, which is used in Bangladesh and parts of India. Thingyan is the Myanmar New Year Water festival, which celebrates the new year according to Myanmar’s Burma calendar.The event will feature Bangladeshi and

Busan Saha Police Station will start the “4th Foreigner’s Free Driver’s License Class” for foreign nationals living in Busan.The course is available in English, Chinese and Vietnamese, and covers the written exam.Lessons will take place at Busan Saha Police Station between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. every Saturday from April 23 to May 14. To register call the Saha Police Station at (051) 290-2130~1 or (0

Climbers wishing to be crowned “King of the Mountain” are invited to enter a race scaling two Korean mountain peaks. The Mini-King of the Mountain race in Yeosu, Jeollanam-do, will see contestants race over two small peaks ― from near sea level to a top height of 430 meters. Entrants in the April 9 contest will start at the base of Horang San and travel about 6 kilometers to Heung Guk Sa ― tacklin

This is a regular feature introducing associations and clubs for expats. This week, Expat Living spoke to Robert Capriles of KOTESOL ― Ed.-Name of organization: Korea Teachers of English as a Second Language-Location(s): Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Gangwon, Gwangju, North Jeolla, Jeju, Suwon, Seoul, & Yongin-Number of members: 790 plus-Started: 1992Who is it for?All teachers of English both foreign & K