The Korea Herald

Chavez’s body lies in state for farewell

Mar 7, 2013

Venezuelans begin 3 days of goodbyes; vote due to be called within 30 days
Sham marriage ring jailed in U.K.

Mar 7, 2013

A fraud group in Britain, which arranged fake marriages for men seeking British citizenship, was put behind bars on Wednesday, British media reported.The 11 members of the group were sentenced to imprisonment of up to 3 years and nine months at Manchester Crown Court for arranging fake marriage ceremonies between Indian men and Portuguese women. According to news reports, the group targeted Indian men living in Britain whose visas had expired and were facing having to return to India. By marryin
U.K. man reeled in ’giant fish’

Mar 7, 2013

A British man caught an extremely big fish using only a rod and a line, a British media reported.Kevin Gardener reeled up a blue marlin, described as a “monster” fish due to its massive size, at Ascension Island in Australia while on vacation, according to the Daily Mail. Gardener’s blue marlin is the fourth-largest fish ever caught in the world. Catching a giant blue marlin had long been Gardener’s “dream” since 1988 when he went on a fishing trip to Great Barrier Reef in Australia. “When we la
Facebook 'confessions' craze hits Singapore schools

Mar 7, 2013

The allure of confession pages is now attracting a younger group of students from secondary schools, junior colleges and polytechnics.Confession pages, set up by students in Singapore universities and first reported last week, are the latest craze here.This Valentine's Day, students are turning to their keyboards to profess their desires and share their unrequited feelings.And already, users are getting younger as some follow the example of their lovelorn counterparts at the National University
Syrian refugee figure hits 1 million: U.N.

Mar 6, 2013

BERLIN (AP) ― The number of Syrians who have fled their war-ravaged country and are seeking assistance has now topped the one million mark, the United Nations’ refugee agency said Wednesday. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, said in a statement released in Geneva that the figure is based on reports from his agency’s field offices in neighboring countries that have provided refuge for Syrians escaping the civil war. “With a million people in flight, millions more displace
Doubts emerge over Malaysian assault on Filipino invaders

Mar 6, 2013

FELDA SAHABAT, Malaysia (AFP) ― Malaysia’s military Tuesday launched a fierce assault including jet fighters on up to 300 Filipino intruders after a deadly three-week standoff, but the militants’ supporters said they had escaped and were alive and well.Malaysia’s national police chief had also raised doubts about the success of the air and ground attack, saying “mopping up” operations had yet to find any bodies and suggesting at least some of the militants might have slipped away.Malaysian premi
U.S. commander: Iran sanctions not working

Mar 6, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) ― The Obama administration program of sanctions and diplomatic efforts to stop Iran from gaining nuclear capabilities is not working, the top U.S. commander in the Middle East told a Senate committee Tuesday, adding that Tehran has a history of denial and deceit and is “enriching uranium beyond any plausible peaceful purpose.” Gen. James Mattis, head of U.S. Central Command, said it still may be possible to use sanctions and other pressure to bring Tehran “to its senses.” But he
U.S. Senate panel votes for Obama’s CIA nominee

Mar 6, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) ― The Senate Intelligence Committee voted Tuesday to approve President Barack Obama’s pick to lead the CIA after winning a behind-the-scenes battle with the White House over access to a series of top-secret legal opinions that justify the use of lethal drone strikes against terror suspects, including American citizens. John Brennan’s installation at the spy agency has been delayed as Senate Democrats and Republicans have pressed the Obama administration to allow a review of the c
U.S. to allow pocket knives on domestic flights

Mar 6, 2013

WASHINGTON (AFP) ― Pocket knives and sports equipment ―banned on U.S. flights since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks ― are to be allowed back in aircraft cabins, the Transportation Security Administration said Tuesday.Passengers will be able to carry knives with folding blades 6 centimeters or shorter, as well as sporting goods such as golf clubs, hockey clubs, and novelty-sized baseball bats, the federal agency said.TSA chief John Pistole said the new guidelines, which come into effect on April 25, w
‘Kuroda to hit wall of reality at BOJ’

Mar 6, 2013

Haruhiko Kuroda will have limited options for aggressive easing if he’s confirmed as central bank governor as more Japanese government bond purchases heighten the risk of a market bubble, a former BOJ policy board member said. “Kuroda will hit the wall of reality,” Atsushi Mizuno, vice chairman at Credit Suisse AG in Tokyo and a member of the BOJ board from 2004 to 2009, said in an interview Wednesday. “Increased bond buying would cause over-dependence on the BOJ and that’s not healthy for the m
[Graphic News] Chavez’s death to impact power dynamics in L.America

Mar 6, 2013

The death of Hugo Chavez on Tuesday is expected to have a profound impact on Latin America’s economy and political landscape, as the brash, outspoken Venezuelan ruler was the patron for the anti-American bloc in the region.With the death of Chavez, it seems unclear if the left wing will retain power within Venezuela.Vice President Nicolas Maduro, the next-in-command after the deceased leader, is set to face tough challenges from Henrique Capriles, the runner-up in last year’s presidential electi
Man allegedly takes $600K from church

Mar 6, 2013

Police in Minnesota said a church treasurer allegedly stole more than $600,000 to finance improvements at his family‘s home.Robert D. Larson, 61, was charged in Clay County District Court with one felony count of theft and four felony counts of forgery for allegedly funneling money from the Northwestern Minnesota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to a charity, Rural Life Outreach, where he also kept the books. Larson would then forge the charity director’s signature on a check
Key dates in Hugo Chavez's political life

Mar 6, 2013

Feb. 4, 1992 -- Army paratrooper Lt. Col. Chavez leads botched coup against President Carlos Andres Perez. Faces possible 30-year prison term.March 26, 1994 -- After two years in jail awaiting trial, Chavez and fellow plotters set free when President Rafael Caldera dismisses charges.Dec. 6, 1998 -- Wins presidential election, promising to seek “third way” between socialism and capitalism.Feb. 2, 1999 -- Hours after being sworn in, decrees referendum on whether to rewrite constitution.April 25, 1
Chavez death echoes with leftists worldwide

Mar 6, 2013

Reactions to the death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez were as mixed, polemical and outsized as the leader was in life, with some saying his passing was a tragic loss and others calling it an opportunity for Venezuela to escape his long shadow.Seen as a hero by some for his anti-U.S. rhetoric and gifts of cut-rate oil, others considered him a bully.A teary-eyed Bolivian President Evo Morales, one of Chavez's closest allies and most loyal disciples, declared that “Chavez is more alive than ev
Chavez's successor in Venezuela: Nicolas Maduro

Mar 6, 2013

Vice President Nicolas Maduro is taking over leadership of Hugo Chavez's political movement after the socialist leader died Tuesday at age 58 following a nearly two-year bout with cancer. Maduro now faces the daunting task of rallying support in a deeply divided country while maintaining unity within his party's ranks.Maduro decidedly lacks the vibrant personality that made Chavez a one-man political phenomenon in Venezuela, but he has the advantage of being Chavez's hand-picked successor.The mu