The Korea Herald

Foreign minister concerned about Japanese textbooks

Foreign affairsFeb 15, 2011

TOKYO (Yonhap News) ― South Korea’s foreign minister voiced concern about possible negative effects that the upcoming outcome of Japan’s review of new middle school textbooks could have on relations between the two countries, according to an interview published Tuesday. Japanese school texts accused of glorifying the country’s wartime past have long been considered a thorn in relations between S...
Tunisians vote with their feet and flee

InternationalFeb 15, 2011

Minister rejects Italy's offer to send police to help tackle waves of illegal migration LAMPEDUSA, Italy (AP) ― A month after massive protests ousted Tunisia’s longtime dictator, waves of Tunisians are voting with their feet, fleeing the country’s political limbo by climbing into rickety boats and sailing across the Mediterranean to Europe. More than 5,000 illegal immigrants have recently washe...
Freed Korean ship reaches Kenya

PoliticsFeb 15, 2011

A South Korean fishing vessel released by Somali pirates arrived in Kenya on Tuesday, its crew walking on land for the first time since being kidnapped four months ago, according to news reports. Seoul’s Keummi 305 arrived at Kenya’s Port Mombasa about a week after it was freed on Feb. 9 under the escort of a Finnish warship belonging to a fleet of the European Union. All 43 crew members of the...
State support increased for rough sleepers

Social affairsFeb 15, 2011

The government is strengthening measures for homeless people and rough sleepers to help them support themselves and earn a living. The Ministry of Health and Welfare on Tuesday announced a set of guidelines to help the rehabilitation of people who sleep on the streets and lodge at state-run shelters. The ministry will provide around-the-clock care and accommodation through 74 shelters nationwid...
Mayor Oh vows to proceed with pet projects

Social affairsFeb 15, 2011

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said Tuesday that he would spend reserve funds to continue the city’s projects that have been suspended due to the opposition of the city council. The announcement comes after a series of talks between Oh and the Seoul City Council ended without reaching any agreement by Monday. “(The city government) has decided not to neglect any more citizens’ inconvenience and suspend...
President Lee rolls up sleeves for 2018 bid

PoliticsFeb 15, 2011

President Lee Myung-bak is rolling up his sleeves to support the country’s third attempt at hosting the Winter Olympics in the popular winter sports resort city of PyeongChang in Gangwon Province. Lee flew to the city Tuesday to host a reception for the 14-member delegation of the International Olympic Committee, which arrived here Monday to carry out an onsite inspection until Feb. 20. The pre...
NASA spacecraft speeds toward comet encounter

ScienceFeb 15, 2011

WASHINGTON, (AFP) - A NASA spacecraft is just hours from its long-anticipated encounter with a comet, and skywatchers hope the flyby will shed light on how the comet's surface has changed since it skimmed by the Sun in 2005. The US space agency's Stardust-NExT mission spacecraft "is within a quarter-million miles (402,336 kilometers) of its quarry, comet Tempel 1, which it will fly by tonight," ...
Police launch manhunt for husband of woman after her body found 12 years after death

Social affairsFeb 15, 2011

Police said Monday they have launched a manhunt for the husband of a woman after her body was found over the weekend, at least 12 years after her death. Her 20-year-old daughter found the body wrapped in 10 layers of vinyl and contained in a cardboard box at her home in Seoul on Saturday and then alerted police, officials said. Fingerprints have shown the body was that of her mother, identified...
'Mubarak possibly in terminal stages of cancer'

PoliticsFeb 15, 2011

Ousted Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak is suffering from serious health problems and fainted before his last speech, informed sources in Egypt told Palestinian news agency Ma’an on Sunday. “Mubarak’s condition was the reason his much anticipated speech on Thursday was delayed. Egyptian army leaders avoided exerting more pressure on the former president in the final days of his rule due to his poor...
World kissing record broken amid explosion of loving acts

Social affairsFeb 15, 2011

Lovers nationwide celebrated Valentine's Day yesterday, with 250 couples registering their wedding at Bangkok's Bang Rak (Village of Love) district, while Pattaya hosted a contest for the longest kiss - and seven couples broke the world record. As has become tradition, couples made their weddings memorable at various sites in Thailand. Nine couples in Chiang Mai registered their marriage midair ...
Released Korean ship expected to reach Kenya today

PoliticsFeb 14, 2011

A South Korean fishing vessel recently released by Somali pirates is expected to reach Kenya early Tuesday, as it heads back home after four months of captivity, the Foreign Ministry here said. Seoul’s Keummi 305 is currently passing through international waters at an 8-knot average speed after receiving fuel over the weekend, a ministry official said. The 241-ton boat is expected to arrive at ...
Clashes in Algeria as opposition plans new protest

InternationalFeb 14, 2011

ALGIERS (AFP) ― Hundreds of stone-throwing demonstrators clashed with police in the eastern Algerian city of Annaba on Sunday, as the opposition announced another major anti-government rally next weekend. Washington meanwhile called on Algeria’s security forces to show restraint, a day after nationwide protests against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika that reportedly led to dozens of arrests and p...
Palestinian Cabinet to resign ahead of elections

InternationalFeb 14, 2011

Leadership announces Sept. election plan; P.M. will stay for new government RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories (AFP) ― Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad will tender his government’s resignation to president Mahmud Abbas on Monday morning, a senior official told AFP on Sunday. Abbas will immediately ask Fayyad to form a new government, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity, ...
Rivals lay siege to Park’s presidential bid

PoliticsFeb 14, 2011

Contenders attack leading potential candidate for 2012 poll Political competitors of former Grand National Party Chairwoman Rep. Park Geun-hye are moving to dampen her increasing efforts to keep the political pendulum swinging in her favor ahead of the 2012 presidential vote. Park, the frontrunner among potential presidential candidates, has recently made moves toward her bid for Cheong Wa Dae,...
More snow hinders east coast clean-up

Social affairsFeb 14, 2011

Another round of heavy snow hit the nation’s east coastal area Monday, which had already received a record snowfall of more than 100 centimeters over the weekend. While officials and local residents were busy clearing streets and vehicles, the weather agency expected more snow of up to 50 centimeters in Gangwon Province until Monday evening. On Friday alone, Gangneung, a major city in the regio...