Born on the outskirts of Quito, Ecuadorian artist Miguel Betancourt grew up seeing clear blue sky, colorful vegetation and trees and the spirited people of the Andean mountains. Over the next several decades, the powerful images imbued in his early consciousness would set him on a mission to distill the mystic beauty of Ecuador, a melting pot of antiquity and ecology at the northwestern edge of South America. From the untamed tropical jungle to timeworn colonial architecture, Betancourt has tapp

Foreign Affairs Aug. 15, 2017

Similar to Koreans living near the Demilitarized Zone dividing the Korean Peninsula, Georgians know what it feels like to dwell precariously at the edge of fortified borders. But unlike here, where the off-limit zone has remained fixed over the last seven decades, Georgia’s territorial sovereignty encompassing what they see as occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia is increasingly encroached upon and threatened by razor and barbed wire fences erected by Russian soldiers.According to Geor

Foreign Affairs Aug. 15, 2017

Skincare, spa at Sheraton Seoul D Cube City The Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel is offering a package of luxurious spa and skincare treatments with the Swiss company Valmont, a leading skincare brand with over 30 years of experience, at its Aequalis Spa.Valmont’s signature product Energy Ritual features four different facial treatments designed to replenish the skin using glacial water and reduce wrinkles. Guests can receive a treatment for 30, 90, 110, or 120 minutes. The 30-minute treatment s

Food Aug. 11, 2017

WASHINGTON -- Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urged calm and said Americans should have ``no concerns‘’ after North Korea and President Donald Trump traded fiery threats, insisting Wednesday he doesn‘t believe there is ``any imminent threat.’‘　 ``Americans should sleep well at night,’‘ Tillerson said.　 In more tranquil terms, Tillerson sought to explain the thinking behind Trump’s warning to Pyongyang that it would be ``met with fire and fury like the world has never seen‘’ if it made more thre

North Korea Aug. 9, 2017

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Qatar is scrapping visa requirements for visitors from 80 countries as it weathers a boycott by four Arab states and gears up to host the World Cup in 2022. 　 Under the new policy announced by Qatar Airways and authorities on Wednesday, citizens of 33 mostly European countries can enter without a visa for 90 days in single or multiple trips during a 180-day period. 　  (Official Twitter of Qatar Airways)Americans, Britons, Canadians and citizens of 44 other countrie

North Korea Aug. 9, 2017

SEOUL, South Korea -- In an exchange of threats, President Donald Trump warned Pyongyang of ``fire and fury like the world has never seen‘’ and the North‘s military claimed Wednesday it was examining plans for attacking Guam. The high-level tit-for-tat follows reports that North Korea has mastered a crucial technology needed to strike the United States with a nuclear missile.　 Despite regular North Korean threats against Guam, a US territory in the Pacific about 2,100 miles (3,400 kilometers) fr

North Korea Aug. 9, 2017

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un claps from a balcony during a parade for the 'Day of the Sun' festival on Kim Il-Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea, 15 April 2017. (EPA-Yonhap)A nuclear war between North Korea and the United States is not imminent, analysts said, but the inflammatory rhetoric on both sides is increasing the risk. They called on all parties to de-escalate.　 North Korea‘s army said in a statement distributed by state media Wednesday that it was examining a plan to use ballistic

North Korea Aug. 9, 2017

SEOUL, South Korea -- Despite North Korea‘s threat to attack Guam, it appears extremely unlikely that its leadership would risk its own destruction with a pre-emptive attack on the American territory. Still, analysts believe North Korea does have several missiles in its arsenal capable of reaching the Pacific island, which Pyongyang has regularly threatened because of its U.S. military bases.　 What’s much less certain, however, is whether the North‘s missiles can inflict serious damage once they

North Korea Aug. 9, 2017

North Korea said Wednesday that it has released an imprisoned Canadian pastor for humanitarian reasons amid escalating tensions on the Korean peninsular stemming from the North‘s continued provocations.The Korea Central News Agency, the communist state’s official media outlet, reported that Lim Hyeon-su, a Canadian civilian, was released on sick bail in line with the decision of the Central Court of the North. (Yonhap)Lim, a Korean-Canadian pastor, has been held in captivity in the North since h

North Korea Aug. 9, 2017

The United Kingdom government launched the first phase of its multimillion-dollar investment in battery technology, paving the way for the country’s lead in designing, developing and manufacturing of electric vehicle batteries, according to the British Embassy in Seoul. The $320 million investment, known as the Faraday Challenge, comes as the UK tries to secure a strategic position in the global renewable energy market and fight against global warming. “The launch of the Faraday Challenge is a p

Foreign Affairs Aug. 7, 2017

In an effort to streamline the consular process in Korea, the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul has instituted an immigration attache tasked with providing up-to-date services for its 40,000 nationals here. At the inauguration ceremony at the diplomatic mission in Seoul on July 31, newly appointed Indonesian Ambassador Umar Hadi highlighted the importance of protecting citizens and offering efficient assistance using an accurate database. “It was necessary to establish an appropriate system of service

Foreign Affairs Aug. 7, 2017