The Korea Herald

Belgium rampage; 5 dead, 122 wounded

Dec 14, 2011

Assault on Christmas shoppers kills 2 boys, an old woman, and a baby; no one knows whyLIEGE, Belgium (AP) ― Summoned for questioning by Belgian police, a man with a history of weapons and drug offenses left home armed with hand grenades, a revolver and an assault rifle. Stopping at a central square filled with holiday shoppers, he lobbed three grenades into the crowd, then opened fire.Four people were killed, including an 18-month-old toddler, and 122 were wounded in the assault Tuesday that br
Pakistani police uncover chained rehab patients

Dec 14, 2011

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) _ Pakistani police discovered drug addicts held in chains at an Islamic seminary that offered rehabilitation services, and said Tuesday that young children were also sometimes shackled at the institution.The parents of around 60 young men at the seminary in the southern port c
Attack in Belgian city leaves 5 dead, 122 wounded

Dec 14, 2011

LIEGE, Belgium (AP) _ A man armed with grenades and an assault rifle attacked holiday shoppers Tuesday at a central square in the Belgian city of Liege. Five people died, including the attacker, and 122 others were wounded, officials said.Police officers guard the street, following a grenade attack
Obama calls on Iran to give back downed U.S. drone

Dec 13, 2011

The Obama administration has delivered a formal request to Iran for the return of a U.S. surveillance drone captured by Iranian armed forces, but said it is not hopeful that Iran will comply.President Barack Obama said Monday that the U.S. wants the top-secret aircraft back.“We have asked for it bac
ICC elects Gambian as chief prosecutor

Dec 13, 2011

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) ― International Criminal Court member states on Monday unanimously elected Fatou Bensouda of Gambia as the new chief prosecutor for the main genocide and war crimes tribunal.The post has become more prominent with the growth of international criminal justice over the past decade and Bensouda vowed to keep up pressure on leaders who order killings and violate rights.Bensouda, a former justice minister in Gambia, is currently the ICC deputy prosecutor. She will take over next
Tunisia elects rights activist as president

Dec 13, 2011

TUNIS (AP) ― Tunisia’s new assembly chose a veteran rights activist Monday as the country’s first democratically elected president.Moncef Marzouki of the Congress for the Republic Party on Monday became interim president with 153 out of 217 votes in the assembly, with three voting against, two abstentions and 44 blank ballots cast as a protest vote by some members.“It is the greatest honor that anyone could dream of being elected by two thirds of the vote,” he said after the election that was fo
Libyans protest against interim government

Dec 13, 2011

Benghazi, formerly frontline against Gadhafi, now demonstrates against country’s new rulersBENGHAZI, Libya (AFP) ― Libya’s new rulers came under fire from disgruntled protesters for the first time Monday as hundreds rallied in Benghazi, cradle of the uprising that toppled Moammar Gadhafi and brought them to power.Faced with angry calls from crowds demanding that National Transitional Council chief Musfata Abdul-Jalil quit, the ruling body decided to make the eastern city the future “economic ca
Japan lawmaker eyes base on disputed islands

Dec 13, 2011

WASHINGTON (AFP) ― Japan should consider building a military base on islands disputed with China to counter Beijing’s rising assertiveness, a leader of Japan’s opposition said Monday on a visit to the United States.Nobuteru Ishihara, sometimes seen as a future prime minister if his Liberal Democratic Party returns to power, said that Japan should also look more broadly at stepping up defense spending in the face of a rising China.Asia’s two largest economic powers dispute control of a set of uni
Putin’s newest challenger: rich playboy

Dec 13, 2011

MOSCOW (AP) ― After a week of surprising challenges to his authority, Vladimir Putin faces a new one from one of Russia’s richest and most glamorous figures: The billionaire owner of the New Jersey Nets says he will run against him in March’s presidential election.The announcement Monday by Mikhail Prokhorov underlines the extent of the discontent with Putin, who has dominated Russian politics for a dozen years ― first as president, then as prime minister.It comes on the heels of Saturday’s unpr
Canada becomes 1st to pull out of Kyoto Protocol

Dec 13, 2011

Ottawa: Climate deal that doesn’t cover U.S. and China will not workTORONTO (AP) ― Canada pulled out of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change Monday, saying the accord won’t help solve the climate crisis. It dealt a blow to the anti-global warming treaty, which has not been formally renounced by any other country.Environment Minister Peter Kent said that Canada is invoking its legal right to withdraw and said Kyoto doesn’t represent the way forward for Canada or the world.Canada, joined by Japan
Fish may have started walking underwater: study

Dec 13, 2011
Chinese media say 15 killed in school bus crash

Dec 13, 2011

BEIJING (AP) _ Chinese state media say a school bus belonging to a primary school has overturned, killing at least 15 students, despite a recent government pledge to improve school safety after an earlier crash of a school van. The official Xinhua News Agency did not give the ages of the victims
Canada pulls out of Kyoto Protocol

Dec 13, 2011

TORONTO (AP) _ Canada's environment minister said Monday his country is pulling out of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.Peter Kent said that Canada is invoking its legal right to withdraw and said Kyoto doesn't represent the way forward for Canada or the world.Canada, joined by Japan and Russia,
Korean credit card companies get personal

Dec 12, 2011

There are 122 million cards in the country, translating to about 4.8 cards per worker or 2.5 per citizenIn Korea, if the only reward you receive from your credit card is air mileage, then you are seriously behind the times. The card market here is replete with some of the most idiosyncratic cards imaginable, and consumers of all stripes are benefiting.For example, a family preparing to welcome a new addition might just be enticed by the With Baby card from Hana SK Card. It gives discounts on
Taliban spokesman denies peace talks

Dec 12, 2011

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) ― A Pakistani Taliban spokesman denied Sunday an earlier announcement by the militant group’s deputy chief that it was holding peace talks with the government.The conflicting claims are a clear sign of splits within the movement, which could make it harder for Islamabad to strike a deal to end the violent insurgency gripping the country. At the same time, the cracks could make it easier to suppress the insurgency militarily.The Pakistani government, meanwhile, said the U.