[NEWSMAKER] Clinton prep overrides Trump omissions

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Studious and diligent, Hillary Clinton spent weeks getting ready for the first presidential debate, poring over policy papers and sharpening attack lines in practice sessions. Donald Trump did not want to over-prepare and skipped running through a full mock session.At the first presidential debate of general election, it was clear who had done their homework.Hillary Clinton (UPI-Yonhap)Trump was forced to defend his role in the birther movement questioning President Barack Oba

World NewsSept. 28, 2016

[Newsmaker] New evidence of water plumes on Jupiter's moon Europa

More evidence of possible water plumes erupting from the surface of Jupiter‘s icy moon Europa has been spotted using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, the US space agency said Monday.　Europa, one of more than 50 moons circling the gas giant, is considered by NASA as a “top candidate” for life elsewhere in the solar system because it is believed to possess a massive, salty, subsurface ocean that is twice the size of Earth‘s.　The latest finding has given scientists fresh hope that a robotic spacecraf

World NewsSept. 27, 2016

[Newsmaker] Santos, Timochenko: Colombia foes turned peacemakers

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC guerrilla leader Timoleon “Timochenko” Jimenez come from different worlds: one a rich businessman and politician; the other a country boy turned communist guerrilla.But the two former mortal enemies smiled and shook hands Monday after signing a historic peace deal to end a war they both spent much of their lives fighting.Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos (front left) shakes hands with Commander in Chief of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Col

World NewsSept. 27, 2016

[Newsmaker] Palmer's skill and charisma redefined golf

Arnold Palmer, the golf great whose charisma and common touch drew a legion of fans known as "Arnie's Army" and propelled the game into the mainstream, died Sunday at the age of 87.Palmer's longtime assistant Doc Griffin confirmed the player known as "The King" had died at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Presbyterian Hospital.No cause of death was immediately given, although the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported he had undergone cardiac tests. (AP-Yonhap)"We just lost one of the incredibl

World NewsSept. 26, 2016

[Newsmaker] Obama: Black history museum tells US story

Black history officially has a new, prominent place in America’s story. With hugs, tears and the ringing of church bells, the new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture opened its doors Saturday to help this nation understand, reconcile and celebrate African-Americans’ often-ignored contributions toward making this country what it is today.President Barack Obama, the nation’s first black president, wiped away a tear as he formally opened the Smithsonian’s 19th museum

World NewsSept. 25, 2016

[Newsmaker] Bumpy road ahead for Hanjin, despite W60b from Korean Air

Hanjin Shipping still faces a bumpy road ahead, despite Korean Air's decision to provide financial support for the near-bankrupt company. The airliner, the largest shareholder of Hanjin Group, decided late Wednesday to provide 60 billion won ($58.9 million) to the ailing shipper in loans secured by accounts receivable. Hanjin Shipping’s accounts receivable are estimated to be around $200 million, as of the time when the company filed for the court receivership. The final decision came two weeks

IndustrySept. 22, 2016

[Newsmaker] Jolie files for divorce from Pitt 'for health of the family’

Angelina Jolie Pitt has filed for divorce from Brad Pitt, bringing an end to what began as the world's most tabloid headline-generating romance before morphing into a glamorous engine of family and philanthropy. Jolie Pitt, 41, cited "irreconcilable difference" in divorce papers filed Monday in Los Angeles. She is seeking physical custody of their six children, with visitation rights for Pitt. An attorney for Jolie Pitt, Robert Offer, said Tuesday that her decision to divorce was made "for the h

World NewsSept. 21, 2016

[Newsmaker] New York bomb suspect charged with attempted murder

Shock reigned supreme in the working-class neighborhood where Afghan-American Ahmad Khan Rahami apparently kept a low profile while allegedly plotting to bomb New York and New Jersey.Behind yellow police tape, FBI agents and police dogs on Monday inspected the Rahami family restaurant where the 28-year-old suspect had worked in the New Jersey town of Elizabeth. Ahmad Khan Rahami is taken into custody after a shootout with police in Linden, New Jersey, Monday. (AP-Yonhap)Worshippers at nearby mos

World NewsSept. 20, 2016

[Newsmaker] Record-breaking Chun heads Korean lockout in Evian

Chun In-gee clinched the Evian Championship in record-breaking style Sunday, winning by four shots to secure her second major with the lowest ever 72-hole score in a major.The 22-year-old South Korean sank a difficult 10-foot putt to finish on 21 under, breaking the record for men and women of 20 co-held by Henrik Stenson and Jason Day. She bettered the women‘s record by two.``Without nerves I feel bored,’‘ Chun said. ``I had a lot of pressure on the course, but I much enjoyed my game.’‘She led

GolfSept. 19, 2016

[Newsmaker] Belgian teen becomes 1st minor to be euthanized

A terminally ill 17-year-old has become the first minor to be euthanized in Belgium since age restrictions on such mercy killings in the country were lifted in 2014, it was reported Saturday.“The euthanasia has taken place,” Jacqueline Herremans, a member of Belgium’s federal euthanasia commission, told Agence France-Presse.She added that the assisted death had taken place according to Belgian law. (123rf)Wim Distelmans, head of the euthanasia commission, gave no details of the minor involved be

World NewsSept. 18, 2016

[Newsmaker] Opposition parties 'not fundamentally opposed to THAAD'

South Korean National Assembly Speaker Chung Se-kyun on Tuesday said the country's opposition parties are "not fundamentally opposed" to the deployment of the U.S. THAAD missile defense system to the country.Chung made the remark during a meeting with U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) after Ryan said THAAD's deployment is important for the sake of the solid alliance between the two countries, National Assembly spokesman Kim Young-soo said."Opposition parties are pointing out the way the govern

Diplomatic CircuitSept. 14, 2016

[Newsmaker] US sends B-1B bombers to S. Korea amid N. Korean threats

The flight by two U.S. B-1B bombers over South Korea demonstrates the “steadfast and unshakable” U.S. commitment to its key Asian ally in the wake of North Korea‘s nuclear test, the U.S. Forces Korea commander (USFK) said Tuesday. The supersonic bombers left U.S. Andersen Air Force Base in Guam on Tuesday morning and arrived over the skies above the Osan Air Base, south of Seoul, at 10:00 a.m. They flew past the U.S. air base in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul, accompanied by a flight o

World NewsSept. 13, 2016

[Newsmaker] Clinton scraps trip over pneumonia

Democrat Hillary Clinton faced questions about her health Monday after being diagnosed with pneumonia and falling ill at a 9/11 ceremony, renewing speculation about her fitness barely eight weeks from Election Day. (AP-Yonhap)Clinton, who was forced to cancel a California fundraising trip on Monday and Tuesday, also faces questions over why her campaign took two days to reveal the pneumonia diagnosis.A campaign spokesman announced the trip was cancelled just hours after the 68-year-old Democrati

World NewsSept. 12, 2016

[Newsmaker] LG Chem merger with LG Life Sciences to boost biotech business

South Korea’s top chemicals company LG Chem on Monday said it has decided to merge with its biopharmaceuticals unit LG Life Sciences to drive up its competitiveness in the biotechnology business.　The two companies said in a joint regulatory filing that each company approved of the merger -- plans for which had been recently publicized via media reports -- during a board meeting Monday.“The merger reflects LG Group’s aims to nurture its biotechnology business and bridges the strategic needs of th

IndustrySept. 12, 2016

[Newsmaker] Samsung urges consumers globally to stop using Galaxy Note 7

Samsung Electronics is urging consumers worldwide to stop using Galaxy Note 7 smartphones immediately and exchange them as soon as possible, as more reports of the phones catching fire emerged even after the company’s global recall.The call from the South Korean company, the world’s largest smartphone maker, comes after US. authorities urged users to switch the Galaxy Note 7 off and not to use or charge it during a flight. Several airlines around the world asked travelers not switch on the jumbo

TechnologySept. 11, 2016

[Newsmaker] Apple unveils new iPhones, waterproof smartwatch

Apple Inc. unveiled an iPhone 7 with high-resolution cameras and no headphone jack at its annual launch event Wednesday, though the biggest surprise was the debut of a three-decade-old Nintendo game franchise, Super Mario Bros, on the smartphone.While shares of Apple barely budged, Nintendo‘s US-listed shares jumped 29 pct on investors’ hopes that Super Mario would be another mobile gaming hit for the Japanese company akin to the wildly popular Pokemon Go. Apple inc. CEO Tim Cook discusses the i

BusinessSept. 8, 2016

[Newsmaker] Probe of prosecutor scandal quickens

The prosecution said Wednesday it had formed a special team tasked with investigating allegations that an incumbent prosecutor received kickbacks from a businessman in exchange for influence peddling in court proceedings. According to the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, the special inspection team -- consisting of four prosecutors and 10 investigators -- will look into bribery allegations involving senior prosecutor Kim Hyung-joon. “In regard to the case, the special inspection team will thoroughly

Social AffairsSept. 7, 2016

[Newsmaker] Chief justice apologizes for corruption scandal

Supreme Court Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae on Tuesday offered a public apology over an incumbent senior judge who was arrested last week on suspicions of taking bribes from a scandal-ridden businessman.　“I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize on behalf of the judiciary for causing concern to the people. I promise to take stern measures following what comes to light,” Yang said during an opening speech at an emergency meeting of local court chiefs. 　Yang Sung-tae, chief justi

Social AffairsSept. 6, 2016

[Newsmaker] Saenuri chief seeks to appease Honam

South Korea’s conservative Saenuri Party on Monday tried to appease the progressive-leaning southwestern Honam region, claiming the party is open to establishing closer political ties. “I would like to make an apology to (the Honam people) for any wrongdoing by the party, as well as its predecessors, for discrimination and hurting the dignity of the people of the region, both intentionally and inadvertently,” Lee Jung-hyun, who heads the Saenuri, said during a parliamentary speech. Rep. Lee Jung

PoliticsSept. 5, 2016

[Newsmaker] Saint Teresa: revered, reviled and misunderstood

The woman the world came to know as Mother Teresa of Calcutta was called a lot of things in her lifetime.She was the “Saint of the Gutters” and an “Angel of Mercy.” But also a “religious imperialist” and, in the words of British author Christopher Hitchens, “a fanatic, a fundamentalist and a fraud.”For all the eloquence of her critics, she was always far more revered than reviled.The celebrated nun was proclaimed a saint on Sunday. Pope Francis presided over a solemn canonization mass in the pre

World NewsSept. 4, 2016