The Korean Medicine Service Team Abroad, a group of young Oriental medical doctors, will be providing free medical examinations for children of multiethnic families through Sunday at the Seoul Character/Licensing Fair in Coex, Seoul. At the festival dedicated to children’s welfare and fun, the doctors will provide free examinations on atopic dermatitis, rhinitis and various allergic reactions. The

Ewha Womans University Medical Center earned accreditation from Joint Commission International on Monday. The hospital said it was tested on a total of 1,221 factors and passed. The JCI evaluation categories range from price to safety, hygiene, technology, facilities and more.The approval from the internationally acclaimed medical facility evaluation organization will allow the hospital to expand

Korean banks’ foreign currency deposits rose in the first half on solid exports and prospects that the local currency’s sharp ascent may ease soon, industry data showed Wednesday.Foreign currency-denominated deposits at five major banks amounted to $14.56 billion as of end-June, up $2.27 billion from the end of last year, according to industry data.The rise came even as the local currency apprecia

KABUL (AP) ― Taliban spokesmen are denying reports that the insurgent group’s leader Mullah Omar is dead.Zabiullah Mujahid told the Associated Press on Wednesday that a text message sent to journalists on his behalf was fake and the result of a phone hack.Rumors spread that Mullah Omar had died when an earlier text message allegedly sent from Mujahid announced on behalf of the group that the “Amir

SHANGHAI (AP) ― Yao Ming has made it official Wednesday, telling a packed news conference in his hometown that a series of foot and leg injuries have forced him to retire from basketball.“I will formally end my career,” said Yao, the 7-foot-6 center who became a household name in China before starting his NBA career with the Houston Rockets as the top draft pick in 2002.Yao played eight seasons in

New season brings new aspirations, and for Bundesliga club Hamburg their teenage striker Son Heung-min is a new inspiration.Thanks to the young South Korean, the Hamburg SV continued their successful preseason campaign by defeating league rivals Bayern Munich 2-1 in Mainz on Tuesday. Playing against the world’s top footballers, such as Dutch midfielder Arjen Robben and France international Frank R

TAIPEI (AP) ― Taiwan’s Defense Ministry says China’s military advantage over the island is increasing, amid Beijing’s attempts to block foreign forces from intervening in a possible conflict.In its annual defense report, released Tuesday, the ministry says China’s declared 2010 defense expenditures of $77 billion dwarfed Taiwan’s $9 billion, but that the actual Chinese outlay may have exceeded $20

CARACAS (AP) ― An aide to Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez said Monday that there is no doubt the president will run for re-election next year despite his struggle with cancer.The remark by Finance Minister Jorge Giordani came as Chavez was in Cuba undergoing cancer treatment.“There’s no doubt he’s going to be there in the 2012 elections, and afterward for many more years,” Giordani said in an interv

SANDWICH, England (AP) ― Darren Clarke’s bleary, bloodshot eyes told it all.The party began shortly after he walked off the 18th green at Royal St. George’s with the claret jug in hand. Beer and red wine flowed through the night, the revelry not letting up until Clarke had to return Monday morning for a few more interviews and some picture-taking at the spot where he tapped in the final putt to wi