Jackpot nets one ticket seller $1m

ATLANTA (AP) ― Two lucky winning tickets have been sold in the near-record $636 million U.S. Mega Millions drawing: one at a tiny newsstand in Atlanta, and the other at a gift shop in California. A Georgia woman, Ira Curry, of Stone Mountain, bought just one ticket and used family birthdays and lucky No. 7 to choose her numbers in the second-largest jackpot in U.S. history, lottery officials said. “She has not decided how she’ll spend those winnings,” Georgia Lottery chief executive Debbie Alfor

PeopleDec. 19, 2013

[Photo News] Deal on medical tourism

PeopleDec. 19, 2013

Baucus to be named ambassador to China

WASHINGTON (AP) ― President Barack Obama intends to nominate Sen. Max Baucus as ambassador to China, Democratic officials said Wednesday, turning to a lawmaker well-versed in trade issues to fill one of the nation’s most sensitive diplomatic posts. If confirmed by the Senate, Baucus would replace Ambassador Gary Locke, who announced last month he was stepping down. The Montanan’s departure from the Senate would have an instant impact on one of Congress’ most powerful committees and on the 2014 e

PeopleDec. 19, 2013

‘Great Train Robber’ Ronnie Biggs dies

LONDON (AFP) ― Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs, whose audacious escape from jail and decades spent on the run made him one of Britain’s most notorious criminals, died on Wednesday aged 84.Biggs, who was unable to speak and could barely walk after a series of strokes, was being cared for at a nursing home in north London at the time of his death, reports said.He was part of the gang that robbed a night mail train traveling from Glasgow to London on Aug. 8, 1963, seizing 2.6 million pounds ― a rec

PeopleDec. 19, 2013

[Photo News] Bea Rose Santiago crowned Miss International in Tokyo

Bea Rose Santiago, a Filipina fashion model, was crowned the new Miss International 2013 in a beauty pageant ceremony held Tuesday in Tokyo. “I’m going to use the crown and my title to help the victims of super-typhoon Haiyan, which raked the Phillipines last month, leaving nearly 8,000 people dead or missing,” said the 23-year-old beauty queen.The beauty pageant, however, was marred by allegations made by the absent former title-holder Ikumi Yoshimatsu. She claimed the organizers have prevented

TelevisionDec. 19, 2013

Koreans take pride in cultural heritage, K-pop

Koreans take great pride in their culture, especially their pop culture, thanks to the K-pop boom, and think that the level of culture is way above the level of their economy, a government survey showed Wednesday. In the “mindset and values of Koreans 2013” survey by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, involving 2,537 people aged between 19 and 79, the respondents showed pride in cultural heritage (93.1 percent); the traditional costume hanbok and Korean food (92.7 percent); Confucian v

CultureDec. 18, 2013

[Graphic News] 200 million go to the movies

More than 200 million people were expected to have watched films in theaters this year as of Wednesday, setting a record in Korean cinema history. Last year, a total of 194,890,587 people hit theaters to watch films in Korea. Korean films alone attracted 118,160,000 viewers this year, exceeding last year’s record of 114,613,190. The market share of Korean movies also reached 59.1 percent this year, surpassing that of foreign films, which stood at 40.9 percent. This year saw releases of English-l

FilmDec. 18, 2013

Craft Trend Fair offers gift ideas for holiday season

The biggest showcase of craftwork in Korea will be held from Thursday to Sunday at Coex in Seoul, presenting unique and creative works made by more than 600 artists.The 8th Craft Trend Fair will feature a wide range of craftworks such as tableware, home decor items, accessories, stationary and clothes designed by Korean, French and British artists. Craft galleries and lifestyle brands are also participating in the fair, presenting a diverse array of lifestyle objects and gift ideas for the holid

Arts & DesignDec. 18, 2013

[Photo News] Warding off bad spirits

CultureDec. 18, 2013

Greenwich Village gets N.Y. landmark status

NEW YORK (AP) ― The city’s newest historic landmark is part of a neighborhood where generations of American cultural greats staged their art, music, literature and politics ― from Edgar Allan Poe and Bob Dylan to Miles Davis and Allen Ginsberg.About 250 buildings in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village that reach back to the 1800s gained historic district status Tuesday after a unanimous vote by the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission. Row houses, small theaters, cafes and clubs that welcomed the

CultureDec. 18, 2013

Korean theaters welcome 200m viewers this year

More than 200 million tickets have been sold in movie theaters this year as of Wednesday, according to the state-run Korean Film Council. It is the first time that Korean theaters welcomed such a high number of local viewers.Last year, a total of 194,890,587 people hit theaters to watch films in Korea. Korean films alone attracted 118,160,000 viewers this year, exceeding last year’s record of 114,613,190. The market share of Korean movies also reached 59.1 percent in 2013, surpassing that of for

FilmDec. 18, 2013

Sixteen acts to represent Korean music at 2014 SXSW showcase

Of the 50 Korean acts that applied, 16 bands have been selected to represent themselves and the Korean music industry at the next South by Southwest music showcase in Austin, Texas. The handful of bands ― five more acts than this year ― that have been selected to perform at the upcoming music festival in March will participate as the Korean lineup for the annual 2014 SXSW’s “K-pop Night Out” showcase, which was first established at last year’s event by event director James Minor to highlight Kor

PerformanceDec. 18, 2013