The Korea Herald

Ethnic strife continues in western Myanmar city

Jun 12, 2012

SITTWE, Myanmar (AP) ― With residents cowering indoors, security forces patrolling a tense town in western Myanmar collected bodies Monday from homes burned to ashes in some of the country’s deadliest sectarian bloodshed in years.The conflict along ethnic and religious lines has left at least seven people dead and hundreds of homes torched since Friday and poses one the biggest tests yet for Myanmar’s new government as it tries to reform the nation after generations of military rule. The handlin
Car carrying British envoy to Libya attacked

Jun 12, 2012

CAIRO (AP) ― A vehicle carrying Britain’s ambassador to Libya was attacked with rocket-propelled grenades Monday in Benghazi, days after a bomb went off just outside the U.S. consulate in the eastern city that was the cradle of last year’s uprising. Two of Ambassador Dominic Asquith’s bodyguards were injured in the attack. Britain’s Foreign Office said the ambassador was not hurt, but the Libyan state news agency reported he was one of two people lightly injured. “A convoy carrying the British a
Up to 100 feared dead in Afghan earthquake

Jun 12, 2012

KABUL (AP) ― As many as 100 people are feared dead in an earthquake and landslide that buried more than 20 houses in northern Afghanistan on Monday, officials said. Rescuers have so far pulled two women’s bodies from the rubble of the landslide in Baghlan province, said provincial Gov. Abdul Majid. The U.N. confirmed one other death and said houses were destroyed across five districts. A massive landslide of mud and rocks buried houses so deep in the remote mountain village of Sayi Hazara that r
U.S. leaves unsettled supply talks with Pakistan

Jun 12, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) ― The U.S. team that tried for more than a month to negotiate a reopening of blocked Pakistani supply routes into Afghanistan is coming home without an agreement, U.S. officials said Monday. Both sides indicated they remain open to making a deal, but the departure of the U.S. negotiators appeared to signal that the Americans see little prospect of a breakthrough any time soon. Adding to the appearance of an impasse was the Pakistanis’ refusal to grant a visiting Pentagon official
U.S. accuses Syria of new tactics, fears massacre

Jun 12, 2012

BEIRUT (AP) ― The United States accused the Syrian government of using “new horrific tactics” Monday, as U.N. observers reported Syrian helicopters were firing on rebellious areas and concerns mounted that civilians were trapped in besieged cities. Violence in Syria has spiked in recent weeks, as both sides ignore an internationally brokered cease-fire that was supposed to go into effect April 12 but never took hold. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland expressed concern about reports th
Russian police search apartments of protest leaders

Jun 12, 2012

MOSCOW (AP) ― Russian investigators have searched the apartments of several protest leaders and called them in for questioning Tuesday, making it difficult if not impossible for them to lead a mass demonstration against President Vladimir Putin planned for the June 12 national holiday. It was a sudden escalation in pressure on the opposition, but tensions already were running high. Putin has taken a harder line against the opposition since returning to the presidency in May, seemingly no longer
Chavez rallies thousands to launch re-election bid

Jun 12, 2012

CARACAS (AP) ― President Hugo Chavez rallied tens of thousands of supporters on Monday, wearing his signature red beret and singing a folk song as he formalized his presidential candidacy and launched his re-election bid. Chavez waved and blew kisses to crowds as he rode atop a truck to the country’s elections office, then picked up a document registering as a candidate. Afterward, he stepped onto a stage and energetically sang along with a band to a traditional tune from the rural plains where
U.S. Commerce Secretary to take leave after car accidents

Jun 12, 2012

U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson Monday took medical leave, after he was found unconscious following two mysterious hit-and-run car accidents, possibly caused by a seizure, the White House said.Bryson, 68, is under investigation over two incidents in California on Saturday, where he was traveling privately without his security detail. Authorities say neither alcohol nor drugs are suspected.Pres
Lady Gaga puts cockroaches on her head

Jun 12, 2012

Lady Gaga has ordered her designer to produce a new outfit -- a hat filled with cockroaches.Since learning of a study that proves the insects respond to her songs more than other artists, Gaga has become more interested in them.According to a source, Gaga has been looking for something more shocking than her meat dress. “She dubbed cockroaches ‘My real life monsters’ after hearing of the recent study,” the source said. “Now she wants to incorporate them in a headpiece by having them crawling aro
Woman forced to drop pants on subway train after giant rat runs up her trouser leg

Jun 12, 2012

A woman had to drop her pants in front of everyone in a New York subway train during a morning rush hour after a big rat ran up her trouser leg, news reports said Tuesday.The 40-year-old Ana Vargas was sitting in the train at 7:50 am as it approached New York's Columbus Circle station when the incident occurred.“I had to pull my pants down in front of everyone on the train,” Vargas said.Then, thr
Ex-boyfriend allegedly sets woman ablaze

Jun 12, 2012

A Florida man alleged doused his ex-girlfriend with gasoline at a convenience store and set her on fire early Monday, authorities said.Roosevelt Mondesir, 52, of Lake Worth was in custody on an attempted murder charge and his alleged victim, Naomie Breton, 34, was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported.The attack took place about 3 a.m. at a 7-Elev
Turtles unhappy after century together

Jun 12, 2012

(AP-Yonhap News)Officials at an Austrian zoo said two 115-year-old turtles appear to be ending a romance that spanned more than a century.Helga Happ, head of the zoo in Klagenfurt, said the giant turtles, together since they were young, came to the facility from the Basel Zoo in Switzerland 36 years ago, the Austrian Times reported Monday."But for no reason that anyone can discover they seem to ha
Police: 3 killed in shooting near Auburn U

Jun 12, 2012

Investigators were searching for a gunman who killed three people _ including two former Auburn University football players _ and wounded three others at a pool party near campus after several men began punching each other in a fight over a woman, authorities and witnesses said Sunday. (AP-Yonhap News)One of the wounded was shot in the head and critically hurt. Another was a current player, Eric M
Up to 100 feared dead in Afghan earthquake

Jun 12, 2012

As many as 100 people are feared dead in an earthquake and landslide that buried more than 20 houses in northern Afghanistan on Monday, officials said.Rescuers have so far pulled two women's bodies from the rubble of the landslide in Baghlan province, said provincial Gov. Abdul Majid. The U.N. confirmed one other death and said houses were destroyed across five districts.A massive landslide of mud
Leftists lead French elections

Jun 11, 2012

PARIS (AP) ― Leftist candidates led the first round of France’s parliamentary elections Sunday, according to polling agencies and partial official results, in a vote that is crucial to President Francois Hollande’s Socialist agenda. Hollande needs leftists to take control of the lower house of parliament ― currently dominated by conservatives ― to carry out his plans to redirect France’s economy, with repercussions around debt-laden Europe. Conservatives said the Socialists’ spending plans could