The Korea Herald

Julian Assange puts himself on auction

Julian Assange has put himself on eBay. You can now bid to be one of eight people to join Assange for lunch, accompanied by Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Žižek, Digital Trends reported. The winning bidders will get to dine with the pair in London on July 2 and also receive a front-row ticket to Assange’s presentation regarding “the impact of Wikileaks.”The initial price was $564. As the number of b

June 19, 2011

Ban's second-term bid endorsed by Security Council

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is almost certain to succeed in his pursuit of a second term after the Security Council on Friday unanimously adopted a resolution of support. If Ban, a South Korean national, is appointed by the U.N.General Assembly in a formal vote, expected Tuesday, he willcontinue to lead the 192-member organization through 2016. "The Security Council adopted by

June 18, 2011

U.N. council backs Ban for 2nd term

UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- The U.N. Security Council approved Friday a second five-year term for Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, a critical last step before the 192-member General Assembly holds the definitive vote next week. U.N. Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon (Yonhap News)The vote by acclamation came after a one-day delay due to what U.N. diplomats described as procedural and technical hold ups from s

June 18, 2011

We will kill Zawahiri just like bin Laden: U.S.

WASHINGTON (AFP) ― The United States on Thursday dismissed new al-Qaida supremo Ayman al-Zawahiri as a pale imitation of Osama bin Laden and warned the Egyptian to expect a similar fate to his slain predecessor.U.S. officials painted the 59-year-old long-time No. 2 as an “armchair general” with no combat experience, saying he not only lacked charisma and leadership skills but was also a divisive f

June 17, 2011

We will kill Zawahiri just like bin Laden: U.S.

Syrian troops take over northwestern town

BEIRUT (AP) ― Syrian troops backed by tanks and helicopter gunships swept into another northwestern city early Friday, just days after laying siege to it, activists said. Big demonstrations were expected nationwide as the Syrian people pressed on with the uprising to oust President Bashar Assad.Syria-based rights activist Mustafa Osso said large numbers of soldiers entered Maaret al-Numan. It was

June 17, 2011

Nearly 150 hurt in Vancouver riot following loss

Canucks fans jump onto a destroyed car during a riot in Vancouver, Canada, June 15, 2011. (Xinhua-Yonhap News)Riot police look on as two police cars burn during a riot in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia Wednesday, June 15, 2011 following the Vancouver Canucks 4-0 loss to the Boston Bruins in game 7 of the Stanley Cup hockey final.(AP-Yonhap News)VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) _ Almost 150 p

June 17, 2011

Nearly 150 hurt in Vancouver riot following loss

U.S. congressman resigns in sex scandal

NEW YORK (AP) -- New York Rep. Anthony Weiner, defiant and combative no longer, soberly announced his resignation from Congress, bowing to the furor caused by his sexually charged online dalliances with a former porn actress and other women.Democratic Party leaders, concerned that Weiner could weigh the party down in the 2012 elections, welcomed the announcement Thursday after days spent trying to

June 17, 2011

Greek riots, chaos hammer markets

Prime minister to reshuffle Cabinet, seek vote of confidenceATHENS (AP) ― Greece’s prime minister, struggling to ensure parliamentary approval for a crucial austerity bill, said he would reshuffle his Cabinet and seek a vote of confidence for his new government after coalition talks with opposition parties failed.The negotiations collapsed Thursday as rioters clashed with police in the streets of

June 16, 2011

Pakistan denies army major was arrested because of CIA link

ISLAMABAD (AP) ― The Pakistani army denied Wednesday that one of its majors was among a group of Pakistanis who Western officials say were arrested for feeding the CIA information before the American raid that killed Osama bin Laden.The New York Times, which first reported the arrests of five Pakistani informants Tuesday, said an army major was detained who copied license plates of cars visiting t

June 16, 2011

Pakistan denies army major was arrested because of CIA link

Al-Qaida says al-Zawahri has succeeded bin Laden

CAIRO (AP) -- Al-Qaida has selected its longtime No. 2 to succeed Osama bin Laden following last month's U.S. commando raid that killed the terror leader, according to a statement posted Thursday on a web site affiliated with the network.Ayman al-Zawahri, who will turn 60 next week, is the son of an upper middle class Egyptian family of doctors and scholars.His father was a pharmacology professor

June 16, 2011

Hackers say they hit CIA website

An 18-year-old Greek man has been arrested in Athens, accused of hacking into websites of the U.S. government and the international crime fighting agency Interpol, and engaging in credit card fraud, Greek police said. (AP-Yonhap News)WASHINGTON (AP) -- A group of hackers who breached the Senate's computer system this week claimed responsibility Wednesday for problems with the CIA's website.The gro

June 16, 2011

Japan nuke plants to add vents

TOKYO (AP) ― The operator of Japan’s tsunami-damaged nuclear plant said Tuesday it is installing rooftop vents and taking additional safety measures at two other plants to help cope with any severe accident in the future.Tokyo Electric Power Co. said it will add vents to seven reactors at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant in north-central Japan to prevent devastating hydrogen explosions like those that

June 15, 2011

India searches for executioners

(MCT)India is on the search for hangmen, as it needs to carry out only its third execution in 15 years, the Time magazine reported. It has about 1.2 billion people working in almost every field, but lacks qualified executioners who can prepare the rope and tie the knot in the right way to ensure a quick death. Convicted murderer Mahendra Nath Das in Assam state is just one of 346 people who are on

June 15, 2011

German two-year-old dies from E. coli

BERLIN (AFP) – A two-year-old boy Tuesday became the first child to die in an outbreak of a virulent strain of E. coli in Germany that authorities say is abating, taking the death toll to at least 37.The child died in hospital in Hanover overnight after becoming infected with enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), authorities in the northern state of Lower Saxony said.He had been in intensive care for

June 15, 2011

S&P cuts Greece’s rating to lowest

ATHENS (AP) ― Standard & Poor’s cut Greece’s credit rating deeper into junk territory Monday, saying the country is likely to default on its massive debts at least once by 2013 ― a decision Athens said ignored its efforts to secure continued funding in coming yearsThe rating agency said the downgrade from “B” to “CCC” “reflects our view that there is a significantly higher likelihood of one or mor

June 14, 2011

Death can’t stop woman from becoming a mother

An Israeli woman has become a mother two years after her death, local reports told.Keren Ayash, who was suffering from cancer, had to leave her husband in 2009 at age 35. After her diagnosis, the couple had embryos frozen for future use.Her last wish was to have a baby via a surrogate mother, which Nisim, her husband, agreed to.(MCT)However, Nisim had to go through many legal difficulties. The Isr

June 14, 2011

Death can’t stop woman from becoming a mother

Elderly woman uses AIDS threat to rob Colorado bank: police

June 14, 2011

Could prenatal DNA testing open Pandora’s box?

NEW YORK (AP) ― Imagine being pregnant and taking a simple blood test that lays bare the DNA of your fetus. And suppose that DNA could reveal not only medical conditions like Down syndrome, but also things like eye color and height. And the risk for developing depression or Alzheimer’s disease. And the chances of being gay.So far that’s still science fiction. But scientists have been taking some b

June 13, 2011

Syria’s army seizes back restive town

BEIRUT (AP) ― Elite Syrian troops backed by helicopters and tanks regained control Sunday of a town where police and soldiers joined forces with the protesters they were ordered to shoot ― a decisive assault from a government prepared for an all-out battle to keep power.Troops led by the president’s brother shelled Jisr al-Shughour as the gunships hovered overhead, paving the way for scores of tan

June 13, 2011

Strong quake again rocks damaged New Zealand city

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) _ A series of strong earthquakes shook the quake-weary New Zealand city of Christchurch on Monday, briefly trapping two people inside a church.The quakes forced people to flee in panic from buildings. There were no initial reports of injuries.Christchurch has been shaken by thousands of aftershocks since a 6.3-magnitude quake killed 181 people in February.A series of t

June 13, 2011

Strong quake again rocks damaged New Zealand city