Impeached Trump says Democrats 'consumed with hatred'

BATTLE CREEK (AFP) -- US President Donald Trump railed against a Democratic Party "consumed with hatred" after he was impeached Wednesday for abuse of power and obstructing Congress.  "While we're creating jobs and fighting for Michigan, the radical Left in Congress is consumed with envy and hatred and rage, you see what's going on,"  the Republican leader seethed at campaign rally in the state. "These people are crazy." Trump said the Democratic Party, wh

World NewsDec. 19, 2019

Samsung heir, Swedish tycoon Wallenberg discuss AI, 5G network cooperation

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong has met with the point man of Swedish business dynasty Wallenberg Group to discuss cooperation opportunities, company officials said Thursday.Lee, the de facto leader of Samsung Group, spoke with Marcus Wallenberg, a key member of the Wallenberg family who also heads financial group SEB AB, on Wednesday during a South Korea-Sweden business summit in Seoul, according to them.Wallenberg came to South Korea as part of a business delegation accompanying

IndustryDec. 19, 2019

House votes to impeach Trump for obstruction of Congress

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- The US House of Representatives voted 229-198 on Wednesday to impeach President Donald Trump for obstruction of Congress.Trump was facing two articles of impeachment -- for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress -- and both articles were passed in the Democratic-majority House. The House impeached Trump for abuse of power by a 230-197 vote.The 45th US president is just the third occupant of the White House in US history to be impeached.Trump will now face a trial in the S

World NewsDec. 19, 2019

Trump impeached for abuse of power

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- President Donald Trump was impeached for abuse of power in a historic vote in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, setting up a Senate trial on removing him from office after three turbulent years.By a 230 to 197 vote in the Democratic-majority House, the 45th US president becomes just the third occupant of the White House in American history to be impeached.Democrats said they had "no choice" but to formally charge the Republican president, whose impeachment

World NewsDec. 19, 2019

Samsung's policy shift toward allowing labor union in offing

South Korea's top conglomerate Samsung Group, known to stick with 'no-union' policy, has hinted at changing its unfriendly stance towards labor unions after key company executives were found guilty of union busting, industry observers said Thursday.A day after Samsung Electronics Co. board chairman Lee Sang-hoon was sentenced to 18 months in prison for sabotaging a labor union, Samsung issued a public apology and promised to make a "healthy labor-management relationship." Of the 32 ind

IndustryDec. 19, 2019

Hyundai Mobis to unveil upgraded autonomous concept at CES

Hyundai Mobis Co., South Korea's biggest auto parts maker, said Thursday it will unveil an upgraded autonomous concept car at the annual Consumer Electronics Show, the world's biggest consumer technology-focused conference, in the United States next month.Hyundai Mobis plans to promote its fully autonomous M.Vision S concept and a hydrogen fuel cell electric system for hydrogen-powered vehicles at CES in Las Vegas, the company said in a statement.Hyundai Mobis has invested in overseas startups w

IndustryDec. 19, 2019

Lotte Group excluded from FSC watchlist upon disposal of financial arms

South Korea’s fifth-largest conglomerate Lotte Group was excluded from supervision by financial authorities, in line with its disposal of financial subsidiaries earlier this year, the Financial Services Commission said Wednesday.With this, the number of those subject to financial supervision came to six -- Samsung, Hyundai Motor, Hanwha, Kyobo Life Insurance, Mirae Asset Financial Group and DB Group.“The current regulations state that financial groups with assets of 5 trillion won ($

MarketDec. 19, 2019

S. Korea’s risk premium hits below 10-year low

South Korea’s credit default risk fell below its 10-year low, following trade talk progress between the US and China and the latest result of the British election, the Ministry of Economy and Finance said Wednesday.The country’s credit default swap premium for foreign exchange stabilization bonds with a five-year maturity stood at 22.2 basis points as of Tuesday, marking the lowest since the 22.1 basis points observed on Oct. 15, 2007.While the United States and Japan respectively sa

EconomyDec. 19, 2019

Barcelona, Real draw as Clasico marred by violence

BARCELONA (AFP) -- Barcelona and Real Madrid could not be separated on Wednesday in a Clasico that was overshadowed by violent clashes between Catalan independence protestors and police outside Camp Nou.After being postponed in October, there were renewed fears of unrest around Spain's most famous fixture and while the match was only briefly interrupted by yellow beach balls thrown onto the pitch, outside the stadium, chaos ensued.Masked protesters had set bins on fire and thrown rocks and glass

SoccerDec. 19, 2019

UN adopts NK human rights resolution for 15th straight year

WASHINGTON -- The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday adopted a resolution calling for accountability for gross human rights violations in North Korea.It is the 15th straight year the UN General Assembly has adopted such a document, which passed by consensus without a vote.The Assembly "condemns the long-standing and ongoing systematic, widespread and gross violations of human rights in and by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, including those that may amount to crimes agai

North KoreaDec. 19, 2019

US senators warn N. Korea of more sanctions for provocation

WASHINGTON -- A bipartisan group of US senators Wednesday warned North Korea of further economic sanctions in response to any provocation, such as a long-range missile test.The four senators -- Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Pat Toomey (R-PA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) -- led passage of a North Korea sanctions bill as part of an annual defense policy bill that passed the Senate on Tuesday.The defense bill is certain to be enacted into law as US President Donald Trump said last week h

North KoreaDec. 19, 2019

Solemnity, tension for Trump impeachment reckoning

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- As lawmakers trickled into the US House of Representatives Wednesday to debate the impeachment of Donald Trump, the congresswoman who gaveled in the session felt the full weight of history upon her shoulders."Of course I was nervous," House Democrat Diana DeGette told AFP just outside the chamber, after presiding over the opening hours of debate on whether to charge Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress."It's a big responsibility, it's sobering,

World NewsDec. 19, 2019

Mnet to refrain from producing audition shows amid vote-rigging scandal

South Korean cable channel Mnet said Wednesday that it will launch no new K-pop audition shows in the future amid a widening police probe into a vote-rigging scandal involving its popular competition series "Produce X101." "We will refrain from producing audition programs," Kang Ji-hoon from Mnet said in a session of the Korea Communications Standards Commission. "We are making efforts to create content focusing more on music." The music channel has been embroi

PerformanceDec. 18, 2019

Top US negotiator says US 'not focused on' initial $5 billion demand anymore

The top US negotiator in defense cost-sharing talks with South Korea said Wednesday that his team is "not focused on" its initial demand for a five-fold increase to $5 billion in Seoul's financial contributions to the upkeep of American troops here.In an interview with the Korean press corps, James DeHart also pointed out that South Korea's weapons purchases from the United States are an "important consideration for us in the burden-sharing context." DeHart and his South

Foreign AffairsDec. 18, 2019

FM Kang meets Saudi King in Riyadh

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha has paid a courtesy call on Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud and discussed bilateral ties, her ministry said Wednesday. Kang met the king at the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh as part of her three-day trip to the Middle Eastern nation this week, Seoul's foreign ministry said in a release. During the meeting, Kang expressed satisfaction that the bilateral relations between the two sides have further deepened into a wider range of areas, especiall

Foreign AffairsDec. 18, 2019

Speaker submits bill on compensation for Japan's wartime forced labor

South Korea's parliamentary speaker on Wednesday submitted a bill to compensate victims of Japan's wartime forced labor through contributions from firms and citizens from both nations.National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang spearheaded the writing of the bill to create a fund that would compensate 1,500 Korean victims of Tokyo's forced labor via voluntary contributions.The bill, co-authored by 13 lawmakers, has the potential to resolve bilateral diplomatic tensions sparked by Japan's protest aga

PoliticsDec. 18, 2019

Kia workers strike for higher wages

Unionized workers at Kia Motors Corp. on Wednesday began a partial strike for higher wages after rejecting the company's proposals last week.Kia's union said they held a four-hour strike on Wednesday and plan to walk out for eight hours on Thursday.  On Friday, 56 percent of the union's 27,050 workers voted down the deal tentatively agreed between the company and the union on Dec. 10. Under the initial agreement, Kia offered to raise workers' basic monthly wage by 40,000 won (US$34) and pro

MobilityDec. 18, 2019

[Graphic News] 35 conglomerates earn W1.28tr in brand license fees

　Thirty-five conglomerates earned 1.28 trillion won ($1.07 billion) last year by selling brand licenses to their affiliates, South Korea’s antitrust watchdog said, amid concerns that such transactions may help owners of conglomerates pocket profits.　Brand commission fees earned by 35 conglomerates last year rose 11.5 percent on-year, the Fair Trade Commission said in a statement.　LG and SK topped the list by charging their affiliates 268.4 billion won and 233.2 billion won, respectively, l

BusinessDec. 18, 2019

South Korea-US defense cost-sharing meeting ends inconclusively

South Korea and the US failed to conclude their talks on determining how much Seoul will pay for the upkeep of the 28,500 US Forces Korea next year during their meetings in Seoul. “The two sides are expanding their mutual understanding through discussions despite the differences in their positions on various issues, and decided to continue close consultations to draw up a mutually acceptable agreement,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release. The ministry did no

Foreign AffairsDec. 18, 2019

Korea, Sweden seek closer cooperation in economic, social issues

President Moon Jae-in and Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven on Thursday held a summit meeting in Seoul, discussing ways to improve ties as well as economic and political cooperation. According to Seoul’s presidential office, Moon and Lofven agreed to strengthen Korea-Sweden cooperation in trade, investment, defense, science and technology, and to expand cooperation in responding to the “fourth industrial revolution.”　 “(I) hope the bilateral cooperation to go beyond st

Foreign AffairsDec. 18, 2019