TOKYO, Feb 18, 2012 (AFP) - Japan Emperor Akihito's heart bypass surgery that lasted about five hours ended successfully Saturday, national network NHK and other media said.The 78-year-old emperor was advised to undergo the procedure after tests showed a narrowing of two of his coronary arteries.The

World News Feb. 18, 2012

SEOUL, Feb. 18 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Saturday rejected South Korea's offer to hold Red Cross talks on reunions of separated families, saying Seoul should first respond to its demand for an apology for not paying official respect over the death of former leader Kim Jong-il and for a promise to c

North Korea Feb. 18, 2012

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- Outgoing South Korean Ambassador to Washington Han Duck-soo paid a visit to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday as he prepared to end a three-year stint in the job that he said put him under constant pressure over a free trade deal and North Korea.The fa

Foreign Affairs Feb. 18, 2012

SEOUL, Feb. 18 (Yonhap) -- Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin said Saturday he backs Army commanders who ordered officers in their units to delete smartphone applications considered pro-North Korea and critical of the government of President Lee Myung-bak.So far, the commanders of at least two Army units

Defense Feb. 18, 2012

SEOUL, Feb. 18 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attended a music concert held in commemoration of the birthday of his late father and former leader Kim Jong-il, state media said Saturday.North Korea held a military parade and other events this week to mark the 70th birthday on Feb. 16 of

North Korea Feb. 18, 2012

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- The United States made clear Friday that North Korea's demand for the pullout of American troops on the Korean Peninsula is not negotiable."I think you know that we have said, for quite some time, that we are not prepared to accept preconditions for the  resumpti

North Korea Feb. 18, 2012

SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- About 70 judges held a rare meeting in Seoul on Friday in a sign of simmering protests over the recent dismissal of an outspoken judge who has gained national fame for openly ridiculing President Lee Myung-bak in a post on Facebook.The judges held the closed-door meeting a

Politics Feb. 18, 2012

SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- A renowned South Korean conductor plans to meet with North Korean music officials this weekend in China to discuss a joint orchestra performance in Pyongyang, an official said Friday.South Korea allowed Chung Myung-whun, who leads the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, to hold

Culture Feb. 18, 2012

SEOUL, Feb. 7 (Yonhap) -- Software mogul Ahn Cheol-soo unveiled more details of his management plan for his new charity Tuesday, saying he will sell part of his stake in his software company to raise the funds needed to operate the charity.Ahn, the founder of the nation's largest anti-computer virus

Industry Feb. 7, 2012

RIYADH, Feb. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday on a mission to win commitment from one of the world's largest oil producers to export more crude to the Asian nation after it cuts back on imports from Iran.The three-day trip to Riyadh comes as South

Politics Feb. 7, 2012

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (AP) — A police officer under investigation for sexual misconduct with a teenage minor was shot and killed while on duty by fellow officers Saturday as they tried to arrest him on California's central coast, authorities said.The officer was manning a DUI checkpoint when the

World News Jan. 30, 2012

Tablet-computer shipments more than doubled in the fourth quarter, reflecting demand for Apple Inc.’s iPad and Amazon (AMZN).com Inc.’s new Kindle Fire, according to market-research firm Strategy Analytics. Global tablet shipments rose to a record 26.8 million units in the last three months of 2011,

Technology Jan. 27, 2012

Home births rose 29 percent from 2004 to 2009, to almost three quarters of a percent of all U.S. live deliveries, the highest level since 1989, according to health authorities. They were most common among non-Hispanic white women, where about 1 in 90 births are at home, according to a report from th

Technology Jan. 27, 2012