The Korea Herald

S. Korea eyes return to U.N. Security Council

Oct 18, 2012

South Korean diplomats on Wednesday made their final pitch for Seoul's bid to regain a seat on the U.N. Security Council. A vote will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday at the U.N. General Assembly in New York.South Korea is competing with Cambodia and Bhutan for the seat assigned to the Asian region. The winning nation will replace India for the 2013-2014 term. Asia has two slots for nonpermanent members
Las Vegas eyes turnaround, as Obama bets on recovery

Oct 16, 2012

LAS VEGAS (AFP) ― Like “everybody” in 2005, Las Vegas casino worker Jay Nagasako bought his house ― for $244,000, thinking it was a one-way bet to wealth and security.This year he sold it for $75,000, losing a fortune but saying: “You have to move on with your life.”In the four years since President Barack Obama was first elected, thousands of homeowners have faced a similar nightmare in the Nevada gambling city, which has the dubious honor of being America’s foreclosure capital.As Nov. 6 looms,
Bollywood’s glittering star couple set to wed: family

Oct 16, 2012

MUMBAI (AFP) ― Two of Bollywood’s biggest stars, Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor, are set to tie the knot on Tuesday in India’s celebrity wedding of the year, a relative said.Actor Khan, 42, will marry actress Kapoor, 32, at the grand Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai in a union that has long been the subject of frenzied media speculation in the movie-mad country.“The wedding is taking place tomorrow and then we will have a reception in Delhi later on. It is a very joyous moment for our family,”
U.S. 'not neutral' in call for Seoul-Tokyo territorial talks: Burns

Oct 16, 2012

The United States is "not neutral" about Japan's move to resolve its territorial tensions with South Korea through arbitration at an international court, a top American official said."Our position is not neutral with regard to the focus on dialogue and finding diplomatic means to address these issues,"Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, on a visit to Tokyo, told reporters Monday (local time),
Cambodia’s former King Norodom Sihanouk dies at 89

Oct 15, 2012

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) ― Norodom Sihanouk, the revered former king who was a towering figure in Cambodian politics through a half-century of war, genocide and upheaval, died Monday. He was 89. Sihanouk abdicated the throne in 2004, citing his poor health. He had been getting medical treatment in China since January and had suffered a variety of illnesses, including colon cancer, diabetes and hypertension.Prince Sisowath Thomico, a royal family member who also was Sihanouk’s assistant, said th
IEA forecasts cheaper oil on weak demand

Oct 14, 2012

The International Energy Agency has slashed its five-year global oil demand forecast, saying prices could fall by about 17 percent over the period.The report released Friday cut growth in demand over the period by 500,000 barrels a day, citing slowing growth worldwide and moves to reduce the use of fossil fuels.However, the report noted that uncertainty about the supply was exceptional, citing particularly worries of disruptions in Iran and the rest of the Middle East. Oil prices had risen in re
On patrol with Mumbai’s grandma spit inspector

Oct 14, 2012

MUMBAI (AFP) ― At a bus stop in south Mumbai, a man hawks loudly before expelling a mouthful of brown saliva into the road without a second thought ― but unfortunately for him, the spit inspector is watching.Rajeshree Rajaram Kamble, a 53-year-old grandmother dressed in a flowery tunic with matching blue shawl and trousers, strides towards her prey and firmly requests a fine of 200 rupees ($3.60).The man appears surprised by her finger-waggling admonishment, and says he does not have any money o
Low cost flying arrives in luxury loving Japan

Oct 14, 2012

NARITA, Japan (AP) ― Japan has a reputation for loving expensive things like overpriced real estate, gourmet melons and luxury brands. But the nation is finally discovering the joy of flying cheap, with the arrival this year of three low-cost carriers. The takeoff of AirAsia Japan, Peach Aviation and Jetstar Japan could change lifestyles. No longer will air travel be mostly confined to business trips and fancy once-in-a-lifetime vacations to places such as Hawaii. Flying is suddenly growing more
One in eight people in world still hungry: U.N.

Oct 11, 2012

Chronic hunger still plagues 870 million people worldwide, the U.N.’s Food and Agricultural Organization said Tuesday.The FAO’s 2012 report on food insecurity said progress against hunger in the past 20 years was better than previously believed, but that most of the progress was achieved before 2007-08.East Asia had fared well, but the number of people affected by hunger in Sub-Saharan Africa had risen from 170 million to 234 million people over the period. “We live in a world of plenty which ha
Korean students, parents do their pre-college homework

Oct 7, 2012

LOS ANGELES ― He’s only 11. Still, BJ Bae blended in with the thousands of people of Korean heritage who swarmed an Orange County, Calif., college fair this weekend. He stopped to sign up for a concentration test so “I can know what job might be good for me.”Angela Kim, 10, headed straight for the Stanford University table, then the University of California-Berkeley, then Columbia University. “We have lots of choices,” she said confidently.The mothers of both children tagged along, stuffing hand
Georgian billionaire aims to soothe Russia relations

Oct 4, 2012

Georgian opposition leader Bidzina Ivanishvili spent the second day after his election victory toning things down.After a first day of bluster, he moved to soothe Western worries by stating Wednesday that he intended to make his first overseas trip as prime minister to the U.S.He had said that Georgia’s pro-Western President Mikheil Saakashvili should step down, but he moved Wednesday to soften the statement somewhat, saying it was intended as a suggestion rather than a demand. Despite Ivanishvi
U.S. keeps mum on missile talks with S. Korea

Oct 4, 2012

The United States on Wednesday remained guarded publicly about talks on South Korea's ballistic missile capability, apparently reflecting the sensitivity of an issue associated with nonproliferation efforts.A series of press reports in Seoul said the allies have reached a deal to allow South Korea to develop ballistic missiles with the range of up to 800 kilometers, enough to cover all of North Ko
Afghan bombing kills 3 NATO troops, translator

Oct 1, 2012

NATO forces in Afghanistan say that a bombing in the country's east has killed 3 international service members and their translator.Coalition spokesman Maj. Adam Wojack says the attack happened on Monday morning. He declined to provide further details, saying the alliance is still gathering information about the incident.Afghan officials said there was a suicide bombing against a joint Afghan-inte
Korea brings to Korean court more crimes involving U.S. soldiers

Oct 1, 2012

South Korea has brought to court more U.S. soldiers suspected of murder, rape and other serious crimes last year than the previous year, figures from the Justice Ministry showed Monday.A Status of Forces Agreement between Seoul and Washington allows South Korean law enforcement authorities to try U.S. soldiers in cases in which they are suspected of having committed serious crimes.The U.S. station
More Japanese visit Korea despite territorial disputes

Oct 1, 2012

The number of Japanese visitors surged during the first eight months this year despite Seoul and Tokyo wrangling over territorial and historical disputes.As many as 2.5 million Japanese visited South Korea during the January-August period, up 23.3 percent from a year earlier, according to figures from the Justice Ministry.August also witnessed a rise of 6.5 percent to 345,163 Japanese visitors ami