The Korea Herald

Nigeria Bombing Kills as Many as 50 Near Church in Kaduna

Apr 9, 2012

As many as 50 people were killed in a suicide car bombing today near a church in the northern Nigerian city of Kaduna. “It was a big explosion that shook the whole city,” and about 50 people may have died, Shehu Sani, president of the Civil Rights Congress, said by phone from Kaduna. The explosion occurred about 8:30 a.m. local time near the Assemblies of God Protestant church in the city, Sani sa
Turkmen president wins on racing track

Apr 9, 2012

Turkmenistan's authoritarian leader has proven he doesn't only win elections easily, coming first in a car race he wasn't even supposed to take part in. Turkmenistan`s President Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov sits in a Volkicar after winning a car race in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Saturday. (AP-Yonhap News)President Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov drove to the racing track in a Bugatti sports car Saturday mo
Facts on N.K. missile program

Apr 8, 2012

North Korea, which is scheduled within days to launch a long-range rocket, has been developing missiles for decades both for what it terms self-defense and as a lucrative export commodity.It says its upcoming launch, sometime between April 12-16, will put a peaceful satellite in orbit. The United States and its allies have condemned what they see as a disguised test of ballistic missile technology in defiance of U.N. resolutions.The North began its program in the late 1970s or early 1980s, when
World has few ways to punish North Korea launch: analysts

Apr 8, 2012

The United States and its allies vow a tough response if North Korea goes ahead with its planned long-range rocket launch, but analysts say they will struggle to exert meaningful pressure on Pyongyang.“After various governments finish beating their chests, we have to find a way to talk to the North Koreans,” said Peter Beck, Seoul representative of the Asia Foundation.“The United States has no available options: there are no (further) meaningful sanctions that can be employed.”Pyongyang says it
Japan, China to consult on support for IMF

Apr 8, 2012

Japan and China will seek to coordinate on supporting the International Monetary Fund’s effort to contain Europe’s debt crisis, Japanese Finance Minister Jun Azumi said. “Rather than make decisions independently, we’ve agreed to consult each other very closely” on financial contributions to the IMF, Azumi told reporters Saturday after meeting with Chinese Finance Minister Xie Xuren in Tokyo. The finance ministers of Asia’s two largest economies met before the Group of 20 countries gathering late
Ferdinand Porsche, 911 designer, dies

Apr 8, 2012

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) ― The Porsche 911, with its sloping roof line, long hood and powerful rear engine, has been a sports car-lover’s fantasy for the half century since its 1963 introduction. Its creator, Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, grandson of the automaker’s founder, is dead at age 76.Porsche died Thursday in Salzburg, Austria, Porsche AG said Thursday. No cause was provided.Known as F.A. to his colleagues, Porsche headed the company’s design studio in the early 1960s when it needed a repl
Pakistan chief heads to India for low-profile trip

Apr 8, 2012

NEW DELHI (AP) ― Officially, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari is just having a quick lunch with India’s leader on his way to visit a Muslim shrine. But Zardari’s trip to New Delhi on Sunday marks a milestone in the warming relations between the two neighbors.Such are the pressures on the nuclear-armed rivals that even as they inch closer together, they cannot be seen as fully embracing.Zardari can’t risk angering Pakistan’s hawkish army and its powerful anti-Indian Islamic groups by holding o
Egypt’s Brotherhood picks alternate candidate

Apr 8, 2012

CAIRO (AP) ― Egypt’s most powerful political group, the Muslim Brotherhood, announced Saturday it is nominating the head of its party as a back-up candidate for president in the face of attempts to disqualify their primary nominee.The decision to put forth a second candidate was spurred by fears that the ruling military council may use Egypt’s election committee to disqualify Islamist presidential hopefuls in order to make room for former regime officials to win.The upcoming election, slated for
Up to 135 feared dead in Pakistan avalanche

Apr 8, 2012

ISLAMABAD (AFP) ― Up to 135 people, mostly soldiers, were feared dead Sunday after an avalanche buried a Pakistan army camp in mountainous Kashmir, in an area known as the world’s highest battleground.The avalanche early Saturday engulfed the camp near the Siachen glacier, an inhospitable area that nevertheless became the site of fierce fighting between nuclear-armed rivals Pakistan and India.No survivors had been found after a huge all-day search involving more than 150 soldiers, sniffer dogs,
Malawi’s female activist becomes president

Apr 8, 2012

BLANTYRE, Malawi (AP) ― Malawi has known rule by Britain and by a mercurial dictator. Over the last few days, however, it wasn’t clear who was leading this impoverished southern African country, as doctors disclosed Malawi’s President Bingu wa Mutharika had died but the government insisted he was only ill.In the end, Joyce Banda, who had held onto her post of vice president despite falling out with Mutharika, was sworn in on Saturday in a brief ceremony in Lilongwe, the capital. Earlier Saturday
Pilots in U.S. Navy jet crash had tough choices

Apr 8, 2012

VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia (AP) ― Zooming along at 170 mph in a fighter jet carrying thousands of pounds of volatile fuel, two Navy pilots faced nothing but bad choices when their aircraft malfunctioned over Virginia’s most populated city.Somehow, however, the student pilot and his instructor and everyone on the ground survived Friday when the men ejected from their F/A-18D jet moments before it crashed in a fireball in an apartment complex courtyard. The pilots and five on the ground were hurt, b
Myanmar president meets ethnic rebels

Apr 8, 2012

YANGON (AFP) ― Myanmar’s president held his first meeting with Karen rebels on Saturday, officials said, as the government intensifies efforts to bolster peace with the country’s oldest insurgent group.The meeting is the latest sign that Myanmar is keen to cement a ceasefire in the war-torn eastern state, amid pressure from the international community to end ethnic conflict as it considers lifting sanctions to reward recent reforms.Delegates from the Karen National Union (KNU) met President Thei
Romney hits Obama after soft jobs numbers

Apr 8, 2012

WASHINGTON (AFP) ― Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney pounced Friday after weaker than expected jobs data cast doubt on the health of the economic rebound that President Barack Obama hopes to ride to reelection.“It is increasingly clear the Obama economy is not working and that after three years in office the president’s excuses have run out,” Romney said, hitting a theme underpinning his bid to evict Obama after a single term.Economists had expected the economy to power ahead in March a
Christians in Holy Land pray on Easter

Apr 8, 2012

JERUSALEM (AP) ― Thousands of Christians gathered near Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulcher for Easter Saturday and marched in processions brimming with tradition, taking turns to pray in the site where they believe Jesus was slain and buried.Easter Saturday is a day of reflection and waiting for many Christians, who believe Jesus was crucified on Friday and rose from the dead on Sunday.“This day is very important for us. It’s the waiting for the great celebration of the resurrection,” said
Up to 135 feared dead in Pakistan avalanche

Apr 8, 2012

ISLAMABAD (AFP) - Up to 135 people, mostly soldiers, were feared dead Sunday after an avalanche buried a Pakistan army camp in mountainous Kashmir, in an area known as the world's highest battleground.The avalanche early Saturday engulfed the camp near the Siachen glacier, an inhospitable area that nevertheless became the site of fierce fighting between nuclear-armed rivals Pakistan and India.No s