The Korea Herald

Clinton suffers concussion

Dec 16, 2012

WASHINGTON (AFP) ― U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton fainted and suffered a concussion while battling a nasty stomach bug, an official said Saturday, just days before the release of a key probe into the Benghazi attack.The news came just as Clinton, 65, had been expected to testify on Thursday to U.S. lawmakers about the findings of the investigation into September’s militant attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya.The normally indefatigable Clinton, who in her four years as the to
Massacre at U.S. school

Dec 16, 2012

NEWTOWN, Connecticut ― The gunman behind the Connecticut elementary school massacre stormed into the building and shot 20 children at least twice with a high-powered rifle, executing some at close range and killing adults who tried to stop the carnage, authorities said Saturday.He forced his way into the school by breaking a window, officials said. Asked whether the children suffered, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. H. Wayne Carver paused. “If so,” he said, “not for very long.”The terrible details ab
‘U.S. gunman was intelligent, odd loner’

Dec 16, 2012

Some described him as weird, others said he was smart, but none of the Connecticut gunman Adam Lanza’s acquaintances saw a potential killer in the 20-year-old.On Friday, Lanza opened fire at a U.S. elementary school and slaughtered 20 children and six adults before killing himself. He also murdered his mother by shooting her in the face before embarking upon the atrocious rampage.The tragic incident -- the second deadliest only to the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre, which left 33 people dead -- lef
[Newsmaker] ‘U.S. gunman was intelligent, odd loner’

Dec 16, 2012

Some described him as weird, others said he was smart, but none of the Connecticut gunman Adam Lanza’s acquaintances saw a potential killer in the 20-year-old.On Friday, Lanza opened fire at a U.S. elementary school and slaughtered 20 children and six adults before killing himself. He also murdered his mother by shooting her in the face before embarking upon the atrocious rampage.The tragic incident ― the second deadliest only to the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre, which left 33 people dead ― lef
Man fires some 50 shots at Calif. mall parking lot

Dec 16, 2012

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) — A man was arrested Saturday after firing about 50 shots in the parking lot of a Southern California shopping mall, prompting a lockdown of stores crowded with holiday shoppers.Marcos Gurrola, 42, of Garden Grove was taken into custody by bicycle police officers patrolling around the open-air Fashion Island mall around 4:30 p.m., police spokeswoman Cathy Lowe said. She said he fired into the air and onto the ground in the parking lot near a Macy's department store.No
Obama picks Kerry for top diplomatic post: TV

Dec 16, 2012

President Barack Obama has chosen Senator John Kerry to succeed Hillary Clinton as U.S. secretary of state, news networks CNN and ABC reported Saturday.CNN cited a Democratic source who had spoken to Kerry, while ABC mentioned unnamed sources. Asked for comment by AFP, the White House did not immediately confirm the reports, but Kerry is seen as a frontrunner for the role.The defeated 2004 Democratic presidential candidate, Kerry is currently head of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations committ
Japan conservatives win election: broadcasters

Dec 16, 2012

Japan's conservative Liberal Democratic Party looked to have secured a convincing majority in Sunday's general election, broadcasters said.NHK, citing forecasts based on its own exit polls, said hawkish Shinzo Abe's LDP was likely to win 275 to 310 seats in the 480-seat lower house against 55 to 77 seats to be secured by Yoshihiko Noda's Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ).New Komeito, LDP's coalition partner, is likely to win 27 to 35 seats, NHK said.That could give the pair a more than two-thirds
World leaders express shock over latest U.S. shooting

Dec 15, 2012

World leaders expressed shock and horror after a gunman massacred 20 small children and six teachers Friday in the U.S. state of Connecticut, in one of the worst school shootings in history.UN chief Ban Ki-moon wrote to Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy to give his "deepest condolences at the shocking murders," a statement said."The targeting of children is heinous and unthinkable," he added in condemning the "horrendous" crime.European Union diplomacy chief Catherine Ashton expressed "shock" at t
Divided Egypt votes on new constitution

Dec 15, 2012

Egyptians began voting on Saturday on a new constitution supported by the ruling Islamists but bitterly contested by a secular-leaning opposition.Polls opened in Cairo, Alexandria and eight other provinces and are scheduled to close at 7:00 pm in the first round. The rest of the country votes on Dec. 22.Alexandria, the country's second largest city, was the scene of clashes on the eve of the referendum between opponents of the draft charter and Islamists after a cleric told worshippers at a mosq
Japan election candidates make final pitches

Dec 15, 2012

Hundreds of candidates vying for a seat in Japan's parliament made their final pitches on Saturday in an election expected to see the return of the country's old guard.Opinion polls show the Liberal Democratic Party on course for a convincing victory in Sunday's lower house election, with the Democratic Party of Japan led by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda set to be ousted.Hawkish LDP leader Shinzo Abe is predicted to return to the premiership, a job he held without much distinction in 2006-7, in
Gunman kills 27, including 20 kids, at U.S. school

Dec 15, 2012

A gunman killed 26 people, including 20 young children, at a U.S. school where his mother worked Friday as youngsters cowered in their classrooms and trembled helplessly to the sound of gunfire reverberating through the building. The mother was presumed among the dead.The 20-year-old killer, carrying two handguns, committed suicide at the school, and another person was found dead at a second scene, bringing the toll to 28, authorities said.The rampage in the northeastern state of Connecticut was
Barbados man cleared of raping tourists

Dec 14, 2012

A Barbados man was cleared of rape Thursday after 18 months in jail when his alleged victims, both British tourists, said he was not the man who attacked them.A magistrate in Barbados dismissed the charges against Derick Crawford, 47, The Guardian reported. Rachel Turner, 30, from Hertfordshire and Diane Davies, 63, of Anglesey had campaigned for his release and said they would testify for the defense. "They are extremely gutsy women, extremely brave, and I am completely amazed at what they have
U.K. hoax-call nurse said found hanged

Dec 14, 2012

The nurse found dead after a prank call to the London hospital treating Kate Middleton was found hanged, the London Evening Standard reported.Jacintha Saldanha, 46, a mother of two from Bristol, England, was discovered unconscious at her nurses apartment near the private King Edward VII hospital in central London around 9:30 a.m. Friday, three days after taking the prank call from two Australian disc jockeys pretending to be Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles.The Evening Standard reported Sal
Egypt’s opposition backs ‘no’ vote

Dec 13, 2012

CAIRO (AP) ― Egypt’s opposition called on its followers Wednesday to vote “no” in a crucial referendum on a disputed constitution drafted by Islamist supporters of President Mohammed Morsi.The decision came as Morsi’s government forged ahead with its own plan, starting overseas voting in diplomatic missions for expatriates.The moves reinforced the atmosphere of a nation in crisis, deeply divided over whether Egypt might move toward Islamic theocracy or retain its secular traditions. More opposit
114 countries back new Syrian coalition

Dec 13, 2012

MARRAKECH, Morocco (AP) ― More than 100 countries on Wednesday recognized a new Syrian opposition coalition, further isolating the regime and opening the way for greater humanitarian assistance to the forces battling Bashar Assad.The opposition has been under intense international pressure to create a more organized and representative body to receive foreign aid, so it formed the Syrian National Coalition in Doha, Qatar, in November, and it was widely applauded at the conference in Morocco.“With