The Korea Herald

‘Investors shouldn’t act on headline’

World BusinessMay 8, 2012

Buffett says Europe will have hard time resolving fiscal problems, won’t affect his plansOMAHA (AP) ― Billionaire Warren Buffett said Monday that Europe will have a hard time resolving its fiscal problems because of the structure of the European Union and this weekend’s election results in Greece and France. But he says the turmoil in Europe won’t keep him from investing. Buffett said Berkshire plans to add to its stakes Monday in two U.S. companies. “I think the worst mistake you can make in st
Japan warns France to stick to fiscal reform plans

World BusinessMay 8, 2012

TOKYO (AFP) ― Japan on Tuesday warned French president-elect Francois Hollande to keep the nation’s fiscal discipline in place amid worries the new leader will overspend in a bid to boost the economy.“Our stance is unchanged,” Finance Minister Jun Azumi told a regular news conference in Tokyo, according to Dow Jones Newswires.“We want (France) to do what has been decided so far, and I’d like to tell them about that if there is the opportunity.”On Monday, Azumi said Hollande “fully understands” t
No honeymoon from EU debt for Hollande

World BusinessMay 8, 2012

PARIS (AFP) ― France’s president-elect Francois Hollande was plunged straight into the European economic debate as doubts over his plans and turmoil in Greece threatened to tip the eurozone back into crisis.The 57-year-old Socialist won power on Sunday, ousting right-wing leader Nicolas Sarkozy, and is due to take office formally on May 15 before embarking on a packed calendar of major international summits.First on his agenda will be Europe’s debt crisis, where he is on a collision course with
China’s defense chief at Pentagon amid diplomatic row

World NewsMay 8, 2012

WASHINGTON (AFP) ― U.S. and Chinese defense chiefs pledged Monday to work together on cyber threats and forge a dialogue on security as both sides steered clear of a diplomatic dispute over a top Chinese dissident.Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and China’s Defense Minister Liang Guanglie struck a positive note at a joint press conference at the Pentagon, announcing a joint counter-piracy naval exercise in the Gulf of Aden later this year and tentative plans to cooperate in the sensitive realm of
Israeli media: Early election canceled

World NewsMay 8, 2012

JERUSALEM (AP) ― In a dramatic turn of events that could influence a possible Israeli strike on Iran, Israeli media reports early Tuesday indicate that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reached an agreement with the Kadima opposition party for a unity government, canceling an early election.There was no immediate comment from official sources on the decision that was reported at about 2 a.m.The reports came as Israel’s parliament held debates long into the night over whether to break up ahea
China prepared for escalation of Philippine standoff

World NewsMay 8, 2012

BEIJING (AFP) -- Chinese vice foreign minister Fu Ying said Beijing was ready for "any escalation" of a tense maritime standoff with the Philippines over a disputed shoal.The month-long flare-up is one of the most high-profile incidents for years between the two countries over their competing territorial claims to parts of the South China Sea, which is believed to sit atop vast oil and gas deposits."The Chinese side has... made all preparations to respond to any escalation of the situation by th
Wife alongside Putin in rare Kremlin appearance

World NewsMay 8, 2012

MOSCOW (AFP) ― Vladimir Putin’s wife Monday made a rare joint appearance with her husband as she became the new Russian First Lady, watching his inauguration and then standing by his side at a Kremlin prayer service.Lyudmila Putina, who was last seen with Vladimir Putin at a polling station in March, stood beside him wearing a white headscarf draped over her hair as demanded by Russian Orthodox tradition.Earlier, she watched the glittering inauguration ceremony and stood by as her husband review
France’s unwed first lady may pose diplomatic dilemmas

World NewsMay 8, 2012

PARIS (AFP) ― Taking over from a supermodel should not be a problem for Valerie Trierweiler, who has plenty of glamour of her own, but making state visits abroad as France’s first unmarried first lady just might.There is some speculation as to whether Trierweiler, whose partner Francois Hollande was elected Socialist president on Sunday, will marry her man before he gets the keys to the Elysee Palace on May 15.If she does not, certain host countries may face some embarrassment as to the proper p
Romney, Obama nearly tied in swing states: poll

World NewsMay 8, 2012

WASHINGTON (AFP) ― Republican Mitt Romney has evened it up with President Barack Obama in swing states six months ahead of the U.S. election, with the challenger seen as a better economic steward but Obama more likeable, a new poll showed Monday.In the 12 battleground states likely to determine the outcome on Nov. 6, the president led Romney 47-45 percent among registered voters, according to the USA Today/Gallup Swing States poll.That represents a substantial tightening from the nine-point lead
Al-Jazeera closes bureau after China bars reporter

World NewsMay 8, 2012

Al-Jazeera said Tuesday it has shut its English-language bureau in China after its correspondent became the first foreign journalist to be expelled from the country since 1998.Beijing's refusal to renew the visa of US citizen Melissa Chan sparked anger among press groups, which linked the decision to a documentary by the international news channel on forced prison labor in China.The Foreign Corres
World’s fattest man starts dieting

World NewsMay 8, 2012

The world’s fattest man has started dieting after doctors told him he won’t reach 50 unless he loses weight. Keith Martin, 42, confessed that he last left his home on Sept. 11, 2001, for a health checkup.Martin decided to lose weight after finding out he was the fattest man on Earth. His weight was 368kg and waistline 182cm at the time. “I don’t blame anyone other than myself for this horrible situation,” he said.When Martin was at his worst he was eating up to 20,000 calories a day, comprising
Female assassin suspected of 20 killings

World NewsMay 8, 2012

Maria Jimenez, 26, was arrested by police in Monterrey, Mexico, Monday on charges of 20 murders for the drug cartel Zetas, according to news reports.Jimenez confessed to the killings and other crimes, and will be charged for murder, theft, and kidnapping, an official said.She was reportedly paid about $1,700 per month to carry out the killings. Her victims include rival drug traffickers and a poli
Woman shreds money that would’ve helped her

World NewsMay 8, 2012

In a tragic twist, a mentally ill woman in China shredded the money her husband had been saving up to treat her conditions.According to Chinese news reports, the woman’s husband desperately sought help from local bank workers, who tried to save what’s left of his 50,000 yuan ($7,900).But after six hours, they only managed to splice only one bank note. It is not known if the man was able to get hel
Lightning strikes sleeping man in Texas

World NewsMay 8, 2012

A Texas man said he plans to install rods on his home after he was struck by lightning while sleeping in his favorite chair.Cheval Silva of Edwards County said he fell asleep while watching TV with his 5-year-old granddaughter Monday evening and he awoke thinking his house had been shot by a hunter, KSAT-TV, San Antonio, reported Friday."Searing pain in my right foot, and when I woke up, I could s
Formaldehyde-tainted cabbage sparks alarm in China

World NewsMay 7, 2012

BEIJING (AP) -- Cabbage sellers in China have been caught spritzing their product with formaldehyde to keep it fresh during long trips to market in the country's latest food safety scandal.China's food industry and regulatory agencies have been scrambling to clean up their reputations following a series of serious problems including melamine-tainted milk and pork laced with a banned growth promote