LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) ― The author of the internationally acclaimed novel “Things Fall Apart” and other works examining the political failures and corruption of oil-rich Nigeria has rejected a national honor for a second time over what he says are the country’s failings.Chinua Achebe’s decision to turn down the ceremonial title that he would have received Monday brought a curt reaction from Nigeria’s government, which has long tried to portray the country as a properly developing democracy with a

WASHINGTON (AFP) ― Singer-turned-actor Justin Timberlake made good on his promise to accompany a female corporal to a U.S. Marine Corps ball after she invited him on YouTube and says he was “moved” by the experience.The Hollywoood star said on his website he was honored and “stoked to be there” with Corporal Kelsey DeSantis, a blonde martial arts competitor who asked Timberlake to Saturday’s event in Richmond, Virginia.“I knew I would have an evening that I wouldn’t forget ... Something I could

The Royal Asiatic Society will take a walk on the wild side in its next lecture. Robert Neff will use Tuesday’s presentation to talk about the more sordid side of Korea’s first Western residents. His lecture will detail death threats and embezzlement due to gambling debts, alcoholic missionaries and loose women.The talk runs from 7:30-9 p.m. at the Residents’ Lounge in Somerset Palace near Anguk Station in Seoul. Admission is free for society members and 5,000 won for non-members.(paulkerry@hera

The Camarata Music Company is holding auditions for new members for its chamber group. The CMC Chamber Singers is a chamber choir of 24-28 singers that rehearses weekly and performs regularly throughout the year. This year they sang at venues including the Seoul Arts Center, the Blue House and the residence of the U.S. Ambassador. The Chamber Singers cover a wide range, from renaissance to contemporary music, and this year performed a song based on a Robert Frost poem for the first time in the w

Itaewon’s Roofers bar will show “Born Into Brothels” on Nov. 27 as part of its Counter Punch Cinema series. The Oscar-winning documentary follows director Zana Briski’s attempts to photograph the red light district of Kolkata. Though she finds it difficult to persuade the prostitutes to allow her to photograph them, she becomes close to their children, who are fascinated by her camera. After several years of learning with Briski, the kids began to take their own photos, which Briski then sells t

Homebrew Korea opened its online store Saturday to sell supplies for brewing beer.The site currently offers a limited range of equipment for brewers, but will expand its range.Site owner Rob Titley hopes to eventually be able to offer the same quality and range that you would get at a brew store in the West, although he concedes it is difficult to wade through the regulations on importing ingredients.Titley said there were a couple of other online brew stores in Korea, but people sometimes have

LONDON (AP) ― Britain’s defense secretary Philip Hammond is ruling nothing out to protect London during the 2012 Olympics, including the possible use of surface-to-air missiles.Hammond ― responding to a question from his predecessor Liam Fox, who resigned as defense secretary last month ― told parliament Monday that if the military recommends it, “appropriate ground-to-air defense” could be in place.Fox noted that surface-to-air missiles had been in place for the Olympics since the 1996 Atlanta

NEW YORK (AP) ― Craig Kimbrel overpowered hitters with his rocket right arm, then overwhelmed rivals in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.If only, the Atlanta Braves’ closer figured, his final outing could’ve gone better.Kimbrel unanimously won the NL honor on Monday, with Tampa Bay pitcher Jeremy Hellickson a clear choice as the top rookie in the AL.Kimbrel set a major league record for saves by a rookie with 46. He earned all 32 first-place votes in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Associatio

PHILADELPHIA (AP) ― With his championship belt and a pair of gloves draped over his casket, Joe Frazier was going one more round.The Rev. Jesse Jackson asked mourners to rise, put their hands together and for one last time “show your love” for the former heavyweight champion.Muhammad Ali obliged.Wearing a dark suit and sunglasses, a frail and trembling Ali rose from his seat and vigorously clapped for “Smokin’ Joe,” the fighter who handed Ali his first loss.Ali was among the nearly 4,000 people

PITTSBURGH (AP) ― Mike Tomlin never met a bye week he didn’t like. Few, however, are as timely ― and as satisfying ― as this one.The Pittsburgh Steelers get some much needed time off after a 24-17 victory over Cincinnati on Sunday, a win that propelled the defending AFC champions into first place in the AFC North. The Steelers are 7-3, a half-game clear of the Bengals and Ravens.Not bad for a team labeled “old” and “slow” following an unimpressive opening month that saw the Steelers split their