LONDON (AFP) -- The British government and police faced fresh pressure over their ties to Rupert Murdoch on Saturday as the media mogul published apologies in national newspapers over the phone hacking scandal.A day after Murdoch lost two of his most senior executives, the crisis returned to haunt the British establishment with new allegations about the close ties between the media baron's empire

World News July 17, 2011

Less than 10 percent of salaried Koreans intend to spend their summer vacation abroad this year, a survey said Sunday.The survey of 600 people by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry comes amid soaring inflationary pressure and global economic uncertainties from possible insolvency of the governments of the United States and several European countries.About 9.6 percent of the respondents sai

Industry July 17, 2011

A KTX train was brought to an abrupt halt inside a tunnel near Busan on Sunday, rekindling concerns over the accident-prone Korean high-speed rail system.About 400 passengers were stranded for one hour due to the stoppage believed to have been caused by a defective motor system. Train services from Busan were delayed.The incident occurred around 11:00 a.m. when the Seoul-bound train was passing th

Industry July 17, 2011

CALIFORNIA, Pennsylvania (AP) _ Much has happened in the 53 years since Vonnie sent Clark the letter, wondering why he hadn't called before going back to college.They married later that year. He graduated. They had four children.They divorced. And he changed his name.And, at last, the letter is wending its way to Clark _ that is, Muhammad Siddeeq _ who awaits its arrival with mixed emotions.``I'm

July 17, 2011

A U.S. soldier was arrested Sunday for allegedly breaking into the home of an elderly Korean woman and assaulting her, local police said.The 27-year-old staff sergeant, identified only by his initial W, is accused of trespassing in the home of a 67-year-old woman, identified only as A, in the city of Uijeongbu, north of Seoul, at around 9:30 p.m. Saturday. The U.S. soldier was allegedly under the

Social Affairs July 17, 2011

BEIJING (AP) -- China has slammed President Barack Obama's meeting with the Dalai Lama as an act that has ``grossly interfered in China's internal affairs'' and damaged Chinese-American relations.The statement from China's Foreign Ministry comes hours after Obama met with the Tibetan spiritual leader in Washington.China had already called on the United States to stop Saturday's White House meeting

World News July 17, 2011

LONDON (AP) -- ``We are sorry'' the full-page ad began, as Rupert Murdoch tried to halt a phone-hacking scandal that has claimed two of his top executives with a gesture of atonement and promises to right the wrongs committed by his now-shuttered tabloid, News of the World.Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservative-led government and the London police, meanwhile, faced increasing questions Saturd

World News July 17, 2011

Heavy downpours battered much of North Korea earlier this week, causing casualties and flooding homes, farmlands, and roads, the country's media reported Saturday.The massive flooding raises fresh concern that the North's already serious food shortages may worsen. The North's Korean Central News Agency said that downpours hit many parts of the country from July 12-15, with North and South Hwanghae

North Korea July 17, 2011

Sweden is planning to send medical aid worth US$2.94 million to North Korea, the Voice of America reported Saturday.The supply of medical aid to the communist state will be made through European relief agencies such as Save the Children U.K., according to the report.The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) said the medical aid to the North is part of its humanitarian assista

North Korea July 17, 2011

Domestic gold prices set a fresh record high on Saturday on the back of recent surges in international prices of the precious metal and the weak U.S. dollar, industry sources said.The retail price of 1 don (3.75 grams) of pure gold in the country stood at 217,800 won (US$206) on Saturday, up 600 won from Friday's quotation, according to the Korea Gold Exchange, a local gold dealer. Don is a unit u

July 17, 2011

The government should have the right to remove severely obese children from their parents’ home and place them in foster care, two US doctors argued in a controversial editorial.“State intervention may serve the best interests of many children with life-threatening obesity, comprising the only realistic way to control harmful behaviors,” wrote Lindsey Murtagh of the Harvard School of Public Health

Technology July 14, 2011