The Korea Herald

Obama warns both Iran and Israel, ‘I don’t bluff’

Mar 4, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) ― President Barack Obama delivered his most explicit threat yet that the United States will attack Iran if that is what it takes to prevent the Islamic republic from developing a nuclear bomb. At the same time, he warned Israelis they would only make a bad situation worse if they moved pre-emptively against Iranian nuclear facilities.The double-barreled warning, in an interview published Friday, came before Obama’s high-stakes meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyah
China to up defense spending by 11.2% in 2012

Mar 4, 2012

BEIJING (AP) ― China said Sunday that it would boost its defense spending by 11.2 percent in 2012, the latest in a nearly two-decade string of double-digit increases.Although the planned figure is less than last year’s 12.7 percent increase, China’s military leaders have said they are unhappy with recent moves by the Obama administration to increase the U.S. military presence in the Asia-Pacific region. Only twice since the early 1990s has the increase been less than double digits.National Peopl
China to up defense spending by 11.2 pct in 2012

Mar 4, 2012

China said Sunday that it would boost its defense spending by 11.2 percent in 2012, the latest in a nearly two-decade string of double-digit increases.Although the planned figure is less than last year's 12.7 percent increase, China's military leaders have said they are unhappy with recent moves by
Four straight: Romney wins Washington caucus

Mar 4, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Mitt Romney rolled to a double-digit victory in Washington state's Republican presidential caucuses, his fourth triumph in a row and a fresh show of strength in the run-up to 10 campaign contests being held all across America on Tuesday. Republican presidential candidate, former Ma
Death toll at 37 after tornadoes rage across US

Mar 4, 2012

Rescuers and residents searched house to house Saturday a day after tornadoes killed at least 37 people and injured hundreds, tearing across the US heartland and virtually wiping out communities.Even as stunned Americans grappled with the magnitude of the destruction brought by Friday's twisters, th
Chinese village gets rare taste of democracy

Mar 4, 2012

A Chinese village that rebelled against corrupt Communist leaders went to the polls Saturday in a contested election seen as a landmark for those seeking more democracy in the one-party state.The vote for the committee governing Wukan went ahead with official approval after a long campaign by local
EU leaders endorse Serbian candidacy

Mar 2, 2012

BRUSSELS (AP) ― European Union leaders formally made Serbia a candidate for membership in the bloc, in a remarkable turnaround for a country considered a pariah just over a decade ago.Serbia had been widely expected to get EU candidacy in December after it captured two top war crimes suspects, but was disappointed when Germany delayed the move, saying it wanted to see more progress in talks with Kosovo.“We agreed tonight to grant Serbia the status of candidate country,” EU President Herman Van R
Floor of world's oldest forest uncovered

Mar 2, 2012

The floor of the world’s oldest forest, dating from 385 million years ago, has been discovered in a New York county, researchers say.The finding in Schoharie County could shed new light on the role of modern-day forests and their impact on climate change, they said.“It was like discovering the botan
7 U.S. pro-democracy workers fly out of Egypt

Mar 2, 2012

CAIRO (AP) ― Seven Americans on trial over charges their pro-democracy groups fomented unrest flew out of Egypt on Thursday after the U.S. posted nearly $5 million in bail for them and nine others who managed to leave before a travel ban was imposed.The departure of the seven eased a deep diplomatic crisis between the U.S. and Egypt that had been building for two months, following a crackdown on pro-democracy and human rights groups by the Egyptian government.Though the Americans were safely on
UK jury convicts 2 of killing boy for ‘witchcraft’

Mar 2, 2012

A British jury on Thursday found a couple guilty of torturing and murdering a 15-year-old boy whom they accused of witchcraft.Magalie Bamu and her partner Eric Bikubi, originally from Congo, were convicted of killing Magalie’s brother Kristy Bamu, who drowned in a bathtub on Christmas Day 2010.Prose
Construction spending slips 0.1 percent in January

Mar 2, 2012

A contractor works on a roof at the Civita housing development construction site in San Diego, California, U.S., on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012. (Bloomberg)A sharp drop in commercial building projects caused a slight decline in U.S. construction spending in January. But the dip comes after previous
French leader holes up in bar to escape protesters

Mar 2, 2012

BAYONNE, France (AP) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy took refuge from a crowd of several hundred angry protesters in a cafe, as riot police swarmed in to protect him while he campaigned in the country's southwest Basque country.Riot police surrounded the Bar du Palais in central Bayonne where Sa
Israeli P.M. to visit U.S. for talks on Iran tensions

Mar 1, 2012

JERUSALEM (AP) ― Israel’s prime minister sets off this week on a U.S. visit clouded by a deepening rift with Washington, which is pressing Israel to hold off on any attack against Iran’s suspect nuclear program.Although Israel says it hasn’t decided whether to strike, it has signaled readiness to do so ― a move that would have deep worldwide implications.Senior Israeli officials say Israel would have to act by summer in order to be effective. U.S. officials, wary that an Israeli strike could dri
Egypt lifts travel ban on U.S. pro-democracy workers

Mar 1, 2012

Clinton says no confirmation ban lifted, expects resolution soonCAIRO (AP) ― Egypt lifted a travel ban Wednesday on seven Americans charged with fomenting unrest by working for illegally funded pro-democracy groups, signaling an end to the worst crisis in Egypt-U.S. relations in 30 years.The clash put $1.5 billion in annual American aid to Egypt at risk and sparked intense behind-the-scenes negotiations between the two countries to find a way out.Defense lawyer Tharwat Abdel-Shaheed said the sev
Vatican reveals documents on Pope Pius XII, the Jews

Mar 1, 2012

The Vatican on Wednesday unveiled secret documents aimed at showing controversial pope Pius XII’s attention to the persecution of the Jews and promised the full archives would be opened soon.The documents are part of an unprecedented exhibition in Rome of rare Vatican archives spanning centuries of history and include a report from a papal envoy on the conditions inside seven internment camps in southern Italy.Another document is a letter from a formerly interned rabbi in 1942 who thanks the the