The Korea Herald

Sleepy Air Canada pilot dives plane; 16 injured

World NewsApr 17, 2012

A sleepy Air Canada pilot who mistakenly believed his jet was about to crash into a U.S. military plane forced a sudden dive that caused 16 injuries among passengers and crew on a transatlantic flight, a report says. The Transportation Safety Board report released Monday describes the 46 seconds in which the plane dived and lurched back up during an overnight Air Canada flight from Toronto to Zuri
Argentine leader moves to nationalize oil company

World NewsApr 17, 2012

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) -- In a bold move to gain control of Argentina's energy reserves, President Cristina Fernandez pushed forward a bill to renationalize the country's largest oil company on Monday despite fierce criticism from abroad and the risk of a major rift with Spain.In a national address, Fernandez said the legislation put to congress would give Argentina a majority stake in oil a
15 hurt in Virgin Atlantic emergency landing

World NewsApr 17, 2012

LONDON (AP) ― A Virgin Atlantic Airways plane flying from Britain to Florida returned to Gatwick Airport for an emergency landing Monday, forcing more than 300 people to evacuate the plane using slides. Fifteen people were taken to the hospital with injuries, ambulance officials said.Fire officials said there were reports of a small fire on the plane, an Airbus A330-300, and it flew back to Gatwick about two hours into the flight.“Due to a technical problem, the captain decided as a precautionar
Trial opens for alleged New York bomb plotter

World NewsApr 17, 2012

The high-profile trial began Monday of a man accused of being part of a New York trio that was only “days” from launching suicide bombs in the city‘s crowded subway to take revenge for the U.S. war in Afghanistan.The trial in Brooklyn features New York immigrant Muslims who became radicalized in the feverish post-9/11 atmosphere and allegedly became homegrown terrorists with a plan to cause carnage in America’s biggest city.Federal prosecutor James Loonam opened by pointing across the courtroom
Pippa Middleton caught in gun photo flap

World NewsApr 17, 2012

British Prince William's sister-in-law, Pippa Middleton, was photographed in a car in Paris as a male friend allegedly waved a gun at paparazzi, police said.The Sun newspaper in London said Middleton was with three male companions in an Audi convertible when the driver took out the alleged weapon and pointed it at a French photographer following them.The Paris Judicial Police are investigating the
As ice cap melts, militaries vie for Arctic edge

World NewsApr 17, 2012

In this March 19, 2011 photo released by the U.S. Navy, crew members look out from the USS Connecticut, a Sea Wolf-class nuclear submarine, after it surfaced through ice in the Arctic Ocean. (AP)To the world’s military leaders, the debate over climate change is long over. They are preparing for a new kind of Cold War in the Arctic, anticipating that rising temperatures there will open up a treasur
Witness: Berlusconi guests dressed as nuns

World NewsApr 17, 2012

A model testified Monday that female guests at Silvio Berlusconi's ``bunga bunga'' parties dressed up like nuns in the ``Sister Act'' musical, then stripped to their underwear.The former Italian premier is on trial for allegedly paying a 17-year-old Moroccan girl for sex, then using his influence as Italian premier in 2010 to cover it up. He has denied the charges.State TV quoted witness Imane Fad
Jim Yong Kim is chosen to lead World Bank

World BusinessApr 17, 2012

Jim Yong Kim (Xinhua-Yonhap News)WASHINGTON (AP) -- Jim Yong Kim, an American who is president of Dartmouth College, has been chosen to be the next president of the World Bank. His selection Monday extends the U.S. hold on the top job at the 187-nation development agency.Kim, a surprise nominee of President Barack Obama, was selected Monday in a vote by the World Bank's 25-member executive board.
Terrain of terrorism changes in Southeast Asia

World NewsApr 16, 2012

Southeast Asian governments continue to manage home-grown extremism reasonably well, but the problem is not going away.Indonesia used to have one major attack a year ― last year, there were seven separate plots, of which five ended in violence, although the efforts were amateurish and the casualty rate was low. The recent foiled plot by suspected Islamic militants to bomb Bali marks an escalation of the violent threat in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim country.Several factors could affect
Chinese elite’s foreign ties pose risks

World NewsApr 16, 2012

The downfall of former Chongqing party boss Bo Xilai has thrown the spotlight on China’s political elite and their increasing foreign connections.Bo’s political fate was sealed after his wife Gu Kailai was named as a suspect in the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood, who had business ties with the family and helped Bo’s son gain admission to prestigious schools in Britain.Unlike the cloistered China of yesteryear, many top Chinese politicians and their families now have overseas links. F
Toyota turns to BMW to power European rebound against VW

World BusinessApr 16, 2012

Toyota Motor Corp., which was overtaken by Volkswagen AG in sales last year, is striking back on the German automaker’s home turf. Toyota is rolling out Europe’s first hybrid subcompact and the image-boosting GT86 sports coupe this year in a bid to claw back market share in the region after sales plunged 41 percent since 2007. The Toyota City, Japan-based company will further bolster its European business by outfitting its vehicles with diesel engines from Bayerische Motoren Werke AG from 2014.
Japan to lend $60b to IMF

World BusinessApr 16, 2012

TOKYO (AFP) ― Japan is considering lending about $60 billion to the International Monetary Fund to help strengthen a global firewall against contagion from the European sovereign debt crisis, Kyodo news agency said on Sunday.Tokyo is talking with some other key members of the IMF such as China and European nations to finalize their possible contributions to the multilateral lender, ahead of the Group of 20 finance chiefs’ meeting later this week in Washington. If realized, Japan’s contribution
Euro area seeks bigger IMF war chest

World BusinessApr 16, 2012

European officials travel to Washington this week seeking a bigger global war chest to combat the debt crisis as Spain’s government battles to quell renewed market turmoil over its finances. Three weeks after European leaders unveiled emergency euro- area funding exceeding the symbolic $1 trillion mark, concerns about Spain’s position have ratcheted the nation’s borrowing costs to the highest levels this year. Crisis-fighting resources will dominate talks at the International Monetary Fund’s spr
South Africa’s Zuma to wed 4th wife

World NewsApr 16, 2012

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) ― South African President Jacob Zuma will marry his fourth wife this weekend, his spokesman confirmed Sunday.Zuma will tie the knot at his family homestead in Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal province, said presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj.“I can confirm that President Zuma will formalise his relationship with his fiancee, Ms Bongi Ngema, in a private traditional ceremony at Nkandla this weekend,” Maharaj said.Zuma, a known polygamist, will be married the sixth time. He divorced Nko
At least twenty feared trapped in India factory collapse

World NewsApr 16, 2012

AMRITSAR, India (AFP) -- At least 20 people were feared trapped Monday after a building housing a blanket factory collapsed in northern India, a senior police official said.Television footage showed emergency workers searching through the debris of the building which collapsed late Sunday night in the town of Jalandhar in Punjab state.Jalandhar‘s deputy commissioner of police, Tulsi Ram, told AFP about 90 people had been working in the factory when it caved in, according to rescued workers.“We h