The Korea Herald

U.N. condemns rights abuses in N.K., Syria, Iran

Dec 21, 2012

UNITED NATIONS (AP) ― The U.N. General Assembly is condemning human rights violations in Syria, Iran and North Korea and demanding an immediate halt to actions ranging from attacks on civilians to torture and restrictions on freedom of movement. The 193-member world body voted 135-12 with 36 abstentions Thursday for a resolution demanding an immediate end to “widespread and systematic” gross human rights violations by Syrian authorities. It approved a resolution calling for an end to Iran’s cont
China sends ships into disputed waters

Dec 21, 2012

TOKYO (AFP) ― China sent its ships into territorial waters around disputed islands Friday, in the first incursion since Japan elected a new government.The move is a setback to hopes in Tokyo that Beijing might use the poll as a chance for a fresh start after months of bitter wrangling and rhetoric over an issue that neither side is prepared to budge on.Japan’s coastguard said three surveillance vessels were inside the 12-nautical mile band around the Tokyo-controlled Senkakus, which Beijing call
Bernard Madoff’s brother gets 10-year sentence

Dec 21, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) ― The brother of imprisoned financier Bernard Madoff was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison for crimes committed in the shadow of his notorious sibling by a judge who said she disbelieved his claims that he did not know about the epic fraud.Peter Madoff, 67, had agreed when he pleaded guilty in June to serve the maximum sentence allowable to the charges of conspiracy and falsifying the books and records of an investment adviser. He follows to prison his 74-year-old brother, w
Psy named top celebrity on Chinese version of Twitter

Dec 21, 2012

South Korea’s pop sensation Psy was named the No. 1 celebrity on China’s own Twitter-like social network service, the service operator said Friday, reflecting his popularity even in China. Sina Corp., a leading Chinese online media company, said Psy was the celebrity who was the most talked about by users on its popular Weibo microblog service in 2012, garnering 109 million mentions. Psy, who is called “Uncle Bird” by Chinese fans, was the distinctive leader on the list of 2012 Weibo Celebrities
U.N. chief channels Psy for female education

Dec 21, 2012

Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, stressed the importance of female education during the annual awards Gala of U.N. Correspondents Association. But instead of his usual solemn speech, Ban made an amusing parody video to make his point.In the video, a flustering advisor rushes into what appears to be a meeting of Ban’s advisers. “We’ve got a problem. Because of this man, Secretary-General is no longer the most famous Korean on the planet,” the adviser says, showing everyon
Argentina reforms sex slave law after uproar

Dec 21, 2012

Argentina's congress voted nearly unanimously to toughen human-trafficking laws following outrage over the acquittal of 13 people accused of running a sex slave ring.The chamber of deputies approved the reforms late Wednesday with 224 votes in favor and one abstention.Public fury over last week's acquittal had led to clashes between demonstrators and police, and protests were held in at least seven provinces including Tucuman, where the sex trafficking case had been heard.The new legislation fea
Internet sex rumors spark riot

Dec 21, 2012

Gothenburg, Sweden, high school students, outraged over sexual Internet rumors, barricaded a school in protest and rioted in a shopping mall, police said.The turmoil began after a user of the Internet message service Instagram sought advice on local young girls, receiving over 200 pictures of girls age 13 to 14, with their names and alleged sexual activities posted. After the account was shut down the allegations appeared on a Facebook page, and commenters began naming each other and offering th
U.N. hits out at Syria, Iran, N. Korea over rights

Dec 21, 2012

The U.N. General Assembly on Thursday voted overwhelmingly to rebuke Syria, Iran and North Korea for human rights abuses.With Syria's conflict worsening by the day, a resolution condemning the Syrian government and its allied militias came as a diplomatic blow for President Bashar al-Assad.The 193-state assembly passed the resolution slamming "grave" and "systematic" abuses with 135 votes in favor, 12 against, including Russia and China, and 36 abstentions.A similar resolution last year gained 1
U.N. Security Council approves Mali intervention force

Dec 21, 2012

The U.N. Security Council on Thursday unanimously approved sending an African-led military force to help re-conquer northern Mali from Islamist militants.A resolution passed by the 15-member council gave the force an initial one-year mandate to use "all necessary measures" to help the Mali government take back territory from "terrorist, extremist and armed groups."West African nations say they have 3,300 troops ready to go to Mali to help rebuild the country's army and support a military operati
U.N. steps up pressure on Israel over settlements

Dec 20, 2012

UNITED NATIONS (AP) ― U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and all members of the Security Council except the United States criticized Israel on Wednesday, demanding an immediate halt to new settlement construction. Representatives of the 14 council members stepped to the microphone outside the council chamber after its monthly Mideast briefing to denounce the Israeli settlement plans, which they warned are threatening a two-state settlement with the Palestinians. The move was clearly aimed at int
U.S. State Department security chief resigns after Benghazi report

Dec 20, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) ― Three State Department officials resigned under pressure Wednesday, less than a day after a damning report blamed management failures for a lack of security at the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, where militants killed the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans on Sept. 11. The resignations came as lawmakers expressed anger and frustration over the findings of an independent review panel, and the State Department struggled to find a balance between protecting its
Obama to send Congress gun proposals

Dec 20, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) ― President Barack Obama promised on Wednesday to send Congress broad proposals in January for tightening gun laws and curbing violence, declaring the time for action overdue after last week’s massacre of children at a Connecticut school. Even before those proposals are drafted, Obama pressed lawmakers to reinstate a ban on military-style assault weapons, close loopholes that allow gun buyers to skirt background checks and restrict high-capacity ammunition clips. “The fact that t
Woman said to be drug lord's daughter is freed

Dec 20, 2012

A pregnant woman who identified herself to U.S. border inspectors as a daughter of Mexico's most-wanted drug lord returned to Mexico after pleading guilty to an immigration charge.Alejandrina Gisselle Guzman Salazar, 31, pleaded guilty in San Diego on Monday to fraud and misuse of visas, and U.S. District Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo immediately ordered her release.``She's happy to be back in Mexico and out of custody to have her baby,'' her attorney, Guadalupe Valencia, said Wednesday. ``She's a
U.S. Army seeks death penalty in 16 Afghan killings

Dec 20, 2012

The U.S. Army said Wednesday it will seek the death penalty against the soldier accused of killing 16 Afghan villagers in a predawn rampage in March, a decision his lawyer called “totally irresponsible.”The announcement followed a pretrial hearing last month for Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, 39, who faces premeditated murder and other charges in the attack on two villages in southern Afghanistan.The slayings drew such angry protests that the U.S. temporarily halted combat operations in Afghanistan, a
U.N. steps up pressure on Israel over settlements

Dec 20, 2012

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and all members of the Security Council except the United States criticized Israel on Wednesday, demanding an immediate halt to new settlement construction.Representatives of the 14 council members stepped to the microphone outside the council chamber after its monthly Mideast briefing to denounce the Israeli settlement plans, which they warned are threatening a two-state settlement with the Palestinians. The move was clearly aimed at intensifying pressure on I