The Korea Herald

Voters prefer cockroaches to Congress

Jan 9, 2013

With approval ratings for Congress languishing in the single digits, a new poll suggests calling a lawmaker subhuman might be an insult -- to cockroaches.Public Policy Polling asked Americans a series of either-or questions between Congress and some traditionally unpleasant alternatives. As it turns out, Congress lost out to root canals, the rock band Nickelback, colonoscopies, traffic jams, Donald Trump, France, the warlord Genghis Kahn and cockroaches.On the plus-side, Congress was preferred t
Income disparity, debt lead risk list

Jan 8, 2013

Experts surveyed by the World Economic Forum say rising income gaps between rich and poor and burgeoning government deficits are the risks most likely to have a global impact over the next decade.Climate change, water shortages and aging populations rounded out the WEF's top five risks.The over 1,000 experts surveyed for the Switzerland-based forum's annual risk report also warn that risk factors could combine to produce unique problems. These risk combinations included climate change putting a
Hagel stance 'cause for concern': Israel speaker

Jan 8, 2013

The foreign policy outlook of US President Barak Obama's nominee for defence secretary, Chuck Hagel, is "cause for concern" for Israel, parliament speaker Reuven Rivlin said on Tuesday."This concept of 'splendid isolation' which Hagel espouses changes US strategy in the world and accordingly it also affects Israel," Rivlin said in a statement. "This outlook must give Israel cause for concern but not scare it," said Rivlin, adding it was "important that Israel know how to deal with" such a wor
Winehouse inquest confirms alcohol death

Jan 8, 2013

A British court holding a second inquest into the death of Amy Winehouse has confirmed that the singer drank herself to death.The inquest was held for a second time after the coroner in the first inquest was found to lack the proper qualifications.The soul singer was found dead at her London home in July 2011 at the age of 27. An inquest later that year found that the star had died from accidental alcohol poisoning.The coroner later resigned after her qualifications were questioned. She had been
Protesters gather at Chinese paper in censorship row

Jan 8, 2013

BEIJING (AFP) ― Hundreds of people demonstrated in support of media freedom in China on Monday outside the offices of a newspaper at the centre of a censorship row, in a rare public display of anger on the issue.The protesters were outside the Southern Weekly’s office in Guangzhou, with one banner reading: “We want press freedom, constitutionalism and democracy.”The demonstration in the southern city came after censors on Thursday blocked a New Year article in the popular liberal newspaper which
Bahrain court upholds life sentences on opposition

Jan 8, 2013

MANAMA (AP) ― Bahrain’s highest court Monday upheld jail terms for 20 opposition figures ― including eight sentenced to life ― for alleged plots to “overthrow” the state in a decision likely to touch off more protests in the Gulf nation and bring renewed criticism from its Western allies. The group includes a rights activist who staged a 110-day hunger strike last year to protest the verdicts, which critics have denounced as part of attempts to crush an Arab Spring-inspired uprising began nearly
Japan plans to raise military budget

Jan 8, 2013

TOKYO (AFP) ― Japan will raise military spending this year for the first time in over a decade under a ruling party plan, an official said Tuesday, as Tokyo summoned Beijing’s envoy amid a territorial row.The national defense task force of the newly-elected Liberal Democratic Party will increase the defense budget request by more than 100 billion yen ($1.15 billion) in response to an emboldened China, a party official said.The relatively small amount ― just over two percent of the total military
Fighting in Syria as world slams Assad

Jan 8, 2013

BEIRUT (AP) ― U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday expressed disappointment with Syrian President Bashar Assad for rejecting the most important elements of an international roadmap to end the country’s civil war ― a political handover and establishment of a transitional governing body. Assad in a rare speech Sunday outlined his own vision for ending the country’s conflict with a plan that would keep him in power. He also dismissed any chance of dialogue with the armed opposition and call
Wildfires rage across southeast Australia amid searing heat

Jan 8, 2013

COOMA, Australia (AP) ― Firefighters battled scores of wildfires raging across southeast Australia on Tuesday as authorities evacuated national parks and warned that blistering temperatures and high winds had led to “catastrophic” conditions in some areas. No deaths had been reported, although officials in Tasmania were still trying to find around 100 residents who have been missing since a fire tore through the small town of Dunalley, east of the state capital of Hobart, last week, destroying a
Obama to host Afghan president at White House

Jan 8, 2013

WASHINGTON (AFP) ― U.S. President Barack Obama will host Afghan President Hamid Karzai at the White House on Friday for talks centered on the long-term security compact between the two countries.Obama looks forward to “discussing our continued transition in Afghanistan, and our shared vision of an enduring partnership between the United States and Afghanistan,” a White House statement said.The Afghan leader has expressed support for keeping U.S. troops in Afghanistan but sensitive details ― incl
Obama picks new Pentagon, CIA chiefs

Jan 8, 2013

WASHINGTON (AFP) ― U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday nominated controversial former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel to lead the Pentagon and hard-nosed counterterrorism czar John Brennan to head the CIA.The second term revamp to two pillars of Obama’s national security team is expected to win ultimate Senate approval, although Hagel has been strongly criticized by fellow Republicans for his positions on Israel and Iran.Obama paid particular tribute to retiring Pentagon chief Leon Panetta befo
Cruise returns with new film ’Jack Reacher’

Jan 8, 2013

Hollywood actor Tom Cruise will visit Korea again to premiere his latest film, “Jack Reacher,” on Thursday.Cruise will hold a press conference in Seoul early in the morning and head down to Busan, a hub for Asian cinema and the host city of the prestigious Busan International Film Festival, in the afternoon. He is expected to receive an honorary citizenship from Busan mayor Hur Nam-sik.“Jack Reacher” is an adaptation of Lee Child’s 2005 novel “One Shot," where Cruise will play a homicide investi
Grave to be searched for missing girl

Jan 8, 2013

A Scottish family has given permission for the family plot to be opened to determine if a missing girl‘s body was hidden there half a century ago.The family of Moira Anderson believes she was killed by Alexander Gartshore, a bus driver and convicted child molester who died in 2006, The Scotsman reported. Gartshore knew Sinclair Upton, who died and was buried in Old Monkland Cemetery around the time Moira vanished in 1957.Moira, 11, left her home in Coatbridge to buy something for her grandmother
Bardot might leave France over elephant euthanization

Jan 8, 2013

French actress Brigitte Bardot says she will apply for Russian citizenship if French authorities euthanize two sick elephants at a Lyon zoo as planned.“If those in power have the cowardice and insolence to kill the two elephants Baby and Nepal ... I have decided to ask for Russian nationality in order to flee this country, which is now just an animal cemetery,” Radio France Internationale reported the 78-year-old actress said in a statement posted on the website of the Brigitte Bardot Foundation
Ketchup dispute escalates at restaurant

Jan 8, 2013

An employee at a Subway restaurant in Florida says he was fired after arguing with a customer about putting ketchup on a sandwich. The ketchup fight occurred Tuesday at a Subway inside a Walmart store in Orlando, WFTV reported. Luis Martinez said he asked for a Philly cheese steak sandwich with his usual accompaniments: "American cheese, onions and ketchup."Lawrence Ordone, who was working behind the counter, said he was unable to give Martinez what he wanted. "He wants ketchup on the Philly che