SEOUL, Oct. 6 (Yonhap) -- Hwang Jang-yop, the highest-ranking North Korean defector, had sought to create North Korea's interim government before he died last year, his adopted daughter said Thursday.Hwang, a former secretary of the North's ruling Workers' Party, drafted a plan on how to set up the

Podcast Oct. 6, 2011

SEOUL, Oct. 6 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co. expressed Thursday its condolences over the death of Steve Jobs, describing the late Apple Inc. founder as a great entrepreneur with innovative spirit who pioneered revolutionary changes in the technology industry. Choi Gee-sung, the chief executive

Industry Oct. 6, 2011

SEOUL, Oct. 6 (Yonhap) -- The government will improve and increase the number of its programs to teach the Korean language to foreigners next year as the recent boom of Korean pop culture has helped push up demand for learning the language, the culture ministry said on Thursday.The Ministry of Cultu

Social Affairs Oct. 6, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. scientists used a cloning technique to create the type of customized stem cells that show promise for treating disease. But the first-of-its-kind result comes with a big hitch.The newly created stem cells have too much genetic material to function properly. They include

Podcast Oct. 6, 2011

Podcast Oct. 6, 2011

SEVILLE, Spain (AP) — A wealthy, 85-year-old Spanish duchess considered the world's most title-laden noble married a civil servant 25 years her junior on Wednesday, shrugging off her children's qualms and celebrating by kicking off her shoes and dancing flamenco.A crowd of several hundred clap

Podcast Oct. 6, 2011

WASHINGTON, Oct 5, 2011 (AFP) - US President Barack Obama mourned Apple visionary Steve Jobs Wednesday as one of America's "greatest innovators" and said it was fitting many people learned of his death on a device he invented."He transformed our lives, redefined entire industries, and achieved one o

Podcast Oct. 6, 2011

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Six weeks before Michael Jackson died, his doctor recorded the semi-comatose superstar mumbling what might have been his farewell address to the world.In a slow, slurred voice, clearly under the influence of sedatives, Jackson spoke about leaving a performance legacy bigger than E

Podcast Oct. 6, 2011

Celebrities took to Twitter to share their thoughts about Steve Jobs' death Wednesday. A sampling of posts:"Steve lived the California Dream every day of his life and he changed the world and inspired all of us. (hash)ThankYouSteve" — Arnold Schwarzenegger."My heart weeps for all who worked wi

Film Oct. 6, 2011

Steve Jobs was a college dropout who built computers in his parents’ garage in the mid-1970s with a friend, Steve Wozniak. They founded what is now Apple Inc. (AAPL) in 1976 to sell their creations. Apple, based in Cupertino, California, surpassed Microsoft Corp. in 2010 to become the world’s most v

Podcast Oct. 6, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) — In its 23rd year on TV, "The Simpsons" could be on the endangered species list.The show's producer said Tuesday the show can't continue under its current financial model, following a report that big pay cuts are being sought for the actors who provide voices for Homer, Marge an

Podcast Oct. 5, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) -- We all want a bite out of Apple, according to a report valuing global brands out Tuesday.The maker of the popular iPhone, iPad2, music players and computers was one of the biggest gainers in an annual marketing industry report on the top 100 global brands, jumping to No. 8 from No.

Podcast Oct. 5, 2011

SEOUL, Oct. 5 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co. said Wednesday that it has asked a European Union (EU) agency to invalidate the iPad's design rights in Europe, as the world's No. 2 mobile phone maker seeks to resume sales of its tablet computers in the pivotal market.Samsung filed an application w

Technology Oct. 5, 2011

SEOUL, Oct. 5 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's financial markets are reacting "sensitively" to international anxieties, the top economic policymaker said Wednesday, calling for more confidence in the nation's economic and financial fundamentals."Financial and currency markets are reacting sensitively to ex

Oct. 5, 2011

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. State Department expressed hope Tuesday that Congress will ratify a free trade pact with South Korea before South Korean President Lee Myung-bak makes a state visit here next week."That is the hope," department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said at a press brief

Politics Oct. 5, 2011