The Korea Herald

U.S. said likely to approve Google's Motorola Mobility bid

The U.S. Justice Department will probably give antitrust approval next week to Google Inc.'s bid for Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc., said two people familiar with the matter.If approved by regulators, the acquisition of Libertyville, Illinois-based Motorola Mobility will give Google more than 17,00

IndustryFeb. 11, 2012

U.S. said likely to approve Google's Motorola Mobility bid

Discount stores perplexed over forced days off

More local councils, governments to restrict big stores to protect smaller onesRetail giants are under growing pressure from local governments seeking legal action to cut their operating hours as part of their efforts to support small retailers and moribund traditional markets.Jeonju, the largest city in North Jeolla Province, was the first to approve an ordinance aimed at reducing large discount stores’ business hours on Tuesday.After a revision to the Distribution Industry Development was pass

IndustryFeb. 10, 2012

Samsung to sue KT over Internet cut

Samsung Electronics said Friday that it will take legal action against KT Corp. as its smart TV users are unable to access the Internet via their TV sets from that day. KT, the nation’s largest fixed-line operator, has started limiting the Internet access of Samsung-made smart TVs from 9 a.m. Friday in protest against the company’s refusal to pay for network use. Of some 1 million smart TVs sold here, about 340,000 units are Samsung TV sets. The owners who subscribe to KT’s Internet network cann

IndustryFeb. 10, 2012

Korea, Japan show similar credit default risks

Korea and Japan had a similar chance of declaring a national credit default as of the end of last month, a report showed Friday, after a recent surge in Japan’s economic woes.The likelihood of the two countries plunging into sovereign default became almost the same after Japan logged its first trade deficit in 31 years and may be subject to a downgrade in its credit rating. According to a report released by the Korea Center for International Finance, Japan’s credit default swap premium stood at

Feb. 10, 2012

2011 national tax revenue grows over 8%

Korea’s national tax revenue grew more than 8 percent on-year in 2011 as a better-than-expected economic recovery led to expanded collections of income and corporate taxes, the Finance Ministry said Friday.The country’s national tax revenue came to 192.4 trillion won ($171.8 billion) last year, up 8.3 percent from 177.7 trillion won in the previous year, the ministry said in a press release. It is slightly lower than the 192.8 trillion won projected in September.Income tax jumped 12.9 percent on

Feb. 10, 2012

Foreigners buy W10tr in Korean securities

Foreign investors have scooped up more than a net 10 trillion won ($8.93 billion) worth of Korean equities this year, with their holdings of local stocks and bonds accounting for over one third of the country’s market capitalization, data showed Friday. The combined value of stocks and bonds listed on the main bourse and owned by foreigners reached a net 10.8 trillion won as of Feb. 9, according to the data by the Korea Exchange. As of Jan. 25, foreign investors accounted for 33.3 percent of the

Feb. 10, 2012

Kia Motors named best low-cost ownership brand in U.S.

Korea’s Kia Motors Corp. said Friday that it was named the best low-cost ownership brand in the United States, outperforming rivals such as Toyota Motor Corp. and General Motors Co.Kia Motor was awarded the inaugural 2012 Total Cost of Ownership Awards, which is given to brands and vehicles with the lowest projected ownership expenses by Kelly Blue Book (www.kbb.com). Korea’s second-largest carmaker received the highest points after calculating depreciation, fuel costs, fees associated with fin

MobilityFeb. 10, 2012

Samsung’s win in Germany to boost sales

Court says Galaxy Tab 10.1N differs from Apple’s registered designApple Inc.’s failure to win a ban on the sales of Samsung Electronics Co.’ Galaxy Tab 10.1N in Germany could help boost global sales of the Korean-made tablet computer, but is unlikely to affect other ongoing legal disputes between the two companies.The Dusseldorf Regional Court on Thursday rejected Apple’s bid for an emergency ruling in a case where Apple invoked a European design right. Apple last week lost a similar attempt ove

IndustryFeb. 10, 2012

Japan scientist makes ‘Avatar’ robot

A Japanese-developed robot that mimics the movements of its human controller is bringing the Hollywood blockbuster “Avatar” one step closer to reality. A scene from Movie "Avatar" Telesar V robot (AFP-Yonhap News)Users of the TELESAR V don special equipment that allows them not only to direct the ac

TechnologyFeb. 10, 2012

Financial groups vie for 'matrix'

Despite worries, they seek to connect affiliates for high-end synergyMajor financial groups have been in competition to introduce a fresh business concept which connects units, such as banks and brokerages.Hana Financial Group introduced the “matrix” system in the local market in 2008.Shinhan Financial launched a similar unit by selecting a group of employees from Shinhan Bank and Shinhan Investment Corp. last month.Woori Financial has been in discussion with major affiliates to join the move la

Feb. 10, 2012

Zebra stripes seen as bug defense

A zebra's black and white stripes, puzzling biologists for centuries, may have been an evolutionary defense against biting insects, Hungarian researchers say. Grevy’s zebras, one of three species of zebra, are shown at the Bronx Zoo in New York, U.S. (Bloomberg)Adam Egri at Eotvos University in Buda

TechnologyFeb. 10, 2012

Kodak to stop making cameras, digital frames

Eastman Kodak Co. said Thursday that it will stop making digital cameras, pocket video cameras and digital picture frames in a move that marks the end of an era for the beleaguered 132-year-old company. A Kodak Easyshare digital camera is displayed at B&H Photo & Video, in New York (AP)Founded

IndustryFeb. 10, 2012

Kodak to stop making cameras, digital frames

March rumored for iPad 3 launch

Apple's iPad 3 will make its debut in the first week of March, sources told AllThingsD.The tech news site reported Wednesday unnamed sources have said the first week of next month has been chosen by Apple for the launch event, probably at San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, site of a nu

TechnologyFeb. 10, 2012

Apple loses bid to ban German sales of Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1N

Apple Inc., maker of the iPad and iPhone, for the second time failed to win a ban on sales of Samsung Electronics Co.'s Galaxy 10.1N from a German court.The Dusseldorf Regional Court rejected the bid today in a case where Apple invoked a European design right. Apple last week lost a similar attempt

TechnologyFeb. 9, 2012

KT plans to limit smart TV’s access to Internet from Friday

KT Corp., the nation’s largest fixed-line operator, said Thursday that it would limit the Internet access of smart TVs from Friday, urging TV makers like Samsung and LG to pay the costs for network use. “The decision is aimed at protecting a majority of Internet users and preventing (smart TVs) from distorting the market system,” said Kim Hyo-sil, executive vice president of KT’s smart network policy task force. “If the fast adoption of smart TVs continues, there is also possibility of network b

IndustryFeb. 9, 2012

KT plans to limit smart TV’s access to Internet from Friday

Google’s policy update raises privacy concerns

Korean authorities considering regulatory actionPlanned changes to Google’s privacy policy are raising concerns about the safety of personal data around the world. Critics say that Korea, one of the world’s most wired countries, could be particularly vulnerable.Google announced last month that it will start combining nearly all information on its users under a new privacy policy that will take effect March 1.Information from some 60 Google services such as its flagship search engine, Gmail, and

IndustryFeb. 9, 2012

Google’s policy update raises privacy concerns

Philips releases affordable AED

Philips Healthcare said Thursday that it has started the sales of an affordable version of its automated external defibrillator online early this month. AEDs are portable devices that monitor heart rhythm and send an electric shock to restore a normal rhythm in emergencies such as sudden cardiac arrest.The Philips Heart Start HS1 weighs about 1 kilogram but takes only 8.4 seconds from analysis of the patient condition to electric shock, the company said. “About 60 percent of sudden cardiac arres

TechnologyFeb. 9, 2012

‘RotarixPrefilled’ to be released

GlaxoSmithKline said Monday it will release its Rotavirus vaccine, Rotarix, in a prefilled form as it acquired the Korea Food and Drug Administration approval. Rotarix is a viral vaccine containing live, attenuated human rotavirus that helps to protect children, starting from the age of 6 weeks, from gastro-enteritis (diarrhea and vomiting) caused by rotavirus infection.According to Diagnosia.com, Rotavirus infection is the most common cause of severe diarrhea in infants and young children. Rota

TechnologyFeb. 9, 2012

Young patients draw strength from art

AKRON, Ohio ― The courageous lion has nothing on Ethan Puhalsky.The 7-year-old from Norton, Ohio, bravely endures countless tests, treatments and lengthy hospital stays as he battles leukemia.So when he had the chance to work with an artist during one of his many stays at Akron Children’s Hospital, it’s only fitting that he decided to paint a portrait of his favorite stuffed lion.Ethan’s piece is one of 34 works of art that went on display in the Gallery of Strength art show at Akron Children’s

TechnologyFeb. 9, 2012

How to lower cholesterol ― Five facts and misunderstandings

While performing medical check-ups, I commonly notice an overflow of people who have higher cholesterol than normal. A study was conducted on 50,000 people who took regular medical check-ups at Samsung Seoul Hospital in 2010. It showed that approximately 40 percent of them had higher cholesterol than normal. This means that the level of serum cholesterol is higher than normal in about half of people who have consulted me. But it takes a very short time to find an answer to my question of how Kor

TechnologyFeb. 9, 2012

How to lower cholesterol ― Five facts and misunderstandings