The Korea Herald

U.S., France clash over Palestinians

Nov 28, 2012

WASHINGTON (AFP) ― The United States publicly disagreed with France, one of its closest allies, on Tuesday, after Paris said it would back a Palestinian bid for enhanced status at the United Nations.“We obviously disagree with our oldest ally on this issue. They know that we disagree with them,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said. “But it’s their sovereign decision to make, how to proceed.”She confirmed that if a vote goes ahead as planned in the U.N. General Assembly this week, t
Arafat grave dug up for probe of poison suspicion

Nov 28, 2012

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) ― Eight years after Yasser Arafat’s mysterious death, his political heirs opened his grave Tuesday and let forensics experts take samples from his remains, defying strong cultural taboos in search of evidence that the icon of Palestinian nationalism was poisoned.Palestinians have claimed for years that Israel poisoned Arafat, who died in a French hospital. Israel has denied the charges.The exhumation marked the end of months of procedural wrangling but only the beginning
Rice fails to mollify 3 Republicans after meetings

Nov 28, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) ― U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice told lawmakers Tuesday that her initial explanation of the deadly Sept. 11 raid in Libya was wrong, but her concession failed to mollify three Republican senators who signaled they would try to block her possible nomination to be secretary of state.In a closed-door meeting that Rice requested, the ambassador answered questions from Sens. John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Kelly Ayotte about her much-maligned explanations about the cause of the attack on
Spain backs enhanced U.N. status for Palestinians

Nov 28, 2012

Spain said Wednesday it will back a Palestinian bid for enhanced U.N. status and new global recognition at a General Assembly vote this week."Spain will vote 'yes' tomorrow to the Palestinian request in line with our history," Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo told parliament, adding Madrid's support to that of France and several other European countries.Spain believed the Palestinian bid to upgrade its rank from a U.N. General Assembly observer entity to that of a non-member observer
Blasts kill 54 near Syria capital, second aircraft downed

Nov 28, 2012

Simultaneous car bombings killed more than 50 people and left a trail of destruction in a town near Syria's capital on Wednesday, as rebels downed a military aircraft for a second straight day.The explosives-packed cars were detonated at daybreak in a pro-regime neighborhood of the mainly Christian and Druze town of Jaramana, residents, state media and a rights watchdog reported.The blasts ripped through a central square near a petrol station, sending residents fleeing in panic.There was a ball
US man who killed bird with fork gets 6 months

Nov 28, 2012

A 63-year-old Everett, Washington state, man has been sentenced to six months in jail for fatally stabbing his ex-girlfriend‘s parrot with a serving fork.The Daily Herald reports that Richard J. Atkinson pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and domestic-violence malicious mischief in the Aug. 19 attack.In a letter to the newspaper in September, the woman said she had the parrot, Bailey, for 18 years.Defense lawyer William Steffener said at Tuesday’s sentencing that his client doesn‘t remember what h
China's party paper falls for Onion joke about Kim

Nov 28, 2012

The online version of China's Communist Party newspaper has hailed a report by The Onion naming North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un as the “Sexiest Man Alive” _ not realizing it is satire.The People's Daily on Tuesday ran a 55-page photo spread on its website in a tribute to the round-faced leader, under the headline “North Korea's top leader named The Onion's Sexiest Man Alive for 2012.”Quoting The Onion's spoof report, the Chinese newspaper wrote, `'With his devastatingly handsome, round face, h
Egypt mass protests challenge Islamist president

Nov 28, 2012

The same chants used against Hosni Mubarak were turned against his successor Tuesday as more than 200,000 people packed Egypt’s Tahrir Square in the biggest challenge yet to Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. The massive, flag-waving throng protesting Morsi’s assertion of near-absolute powers rivaled some of the largest crowds that helped drive Mubarak from office last year.“The people want to bring down the regime!” and “erhal, erhal” _ Arabic for “leave, leave” _ rang out across the plaza, thi
Arafat’s remains exhumed as poison probe begins

Nov 27, 2012

RAMALLAH (AFP) ― Eight years after the death of iconic Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, his remains were exhumed Tuesday, with experts set to test for signs that the late president was poisoned.The process was carried out in secrecy, with Arafat’s grave carefully shielded from the public eye and media kept far away, but Palestinian sources confirmed the remains had been removed for testing on Tuesday morning.“At 5:00 a.m., experts began to remove the stones and began opening the grave in an ord
Israel, militants begin talks on truce details

Nov 27, 2012

JERUSALEM (AP) ― Israel and Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip began indirect talks Monday in Egypt aimed at forging a new era of relations between the bitter enemies following a cease-fire that ended the heaviest fighting in nearly four years. The talks, being mediated by Egypt, were the first negotiations since the cease-fire took effect last Wednesday, halting eight days of airstrikes targeting militant groups in the Palestinian territory and rocket attacks that reached deep into Israe
Syrian rebels close Aleppo ring as France finances opposition

Nov 27, 2012

DAMASCUS (AFP) ― Syrian rebels virtually cut off roads to Aleppo from neighboring Raqa province on Monday, severing regime supply lines, as France announced it had earmarked financial aid for the opposition coalition.Reflecting its growing recognition since being formed earlier this month, the National Coalition said it had named an “ambassador” to London, its second such appointment, following an invitation to do so by the British government.The Red Cross, meanwhile, called on both sides in the
U.S. defends ‘enormous’ climate efforts at U.N. talks

Nov 27, 2012

DOHA (AP) ― Anticipating an onslaught of criticism from poor nations, the United States claimed “enormous” strides in reducing greenhouse emissions at the opening of U.N. climate talks Monday, despite failing to join other industrialized nations in committing to binding cuts. The pre-emptive U.S. approach underscores one of the major showdowns expected at the two-week conference as China pushes developed countries to take an even greater role in tackling global warming. Speaking for a coalition
Fire at German workshop for disabled kills 14

Nov 27, 2012

BERLIN (AP) -- Fourteen people were killed and eight injured Monday when a fire broke out at a workshop for disabled people in Germany’s Black Forest region, authorities said. Scores had to be rescued from the building as it quickly filled with smoke.　 More than 100 firefighters were deployed to battle the blaze, which began at the complex in Titisee-Neustadt early in the afternoon, said Markus Straub, a spokesman for local firefighters.　 Ambulances races to the scene as smoke poured from the wi
U.S. weighs post-2014 force in Afghanistan

Nov 27, 2012

WASHINGTON (AFP) ― President Barack Obama is weighing plans to keep roughly 10,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan after the NATO-led force hands over security to the Afghan government, a senior U.S. official said Monday.The troop levels under consideration remain tentative but the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said options under consideration range from 6,000 to 15,000 American boots on the ground.“It’s in that ballpark,” the official said, confirming an earlier report by the Wall S
EU dairy farmers protest for better prices

Nov 27, 2012

BRUSSELS (AP) ― Thousands of dairy farmers on Monday protested low prices for their product, choking traffic into the Belgian capital with hundreds of tractors and spraying European Union headquarters and police with milk. Farmers from several EU nations demanded higher prices for milk, which currently is often being sold at below production costs because of a drop in international demand and increased competition. They want milk prices to be managed so the farmers become less dependent on short