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Three foreign law firms to open Korean branches
Three foreign law firms will be allowed to set up branches in Korea, the Ministry of Justice said Sunday. They are Ropes & Gray and Sheppard Mullin from the United States, and Clifford Chance from Britain. It is the first time that the Korean government is to permit the establishment…
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Politics
Mysterious woman again seen flanking NK leader
A chicly-dressed woman was seen closely flanking North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his visit to a Pyongyang kindergarten in state TV footage shown Sunday, reinforcing speculation she may be the wife of the young leader. The unidentified woman appears to be the same person who caught the attention of…
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Column
Electoral politics and Korea-Japan relations
Recently, the controversy of the failure in signing an agreement with Japan on sharing intelligence information largely dominated the South Korean political discussion. The whole diplomatic fiasco ended with a sudden calling off by the Blue House an hour before the scheduled signing ceremony. Criticism was raised substantially afterwards among…
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Business
Smartphones reshape retail landscape
The growing use of smartphones has entirely changed lifestyles in the 21st century, expanding to online shopping and changing the landscape of the retail industry. According to data from the Korea Online Shopping Association (KOLSA), monetary transactions via mobile online shopping totaled 3 billion won in 2009 when there were…
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Mickey mouse in Pyongyang
Six months after Kim Jong-un took the helm in North Korea, signs of change have been palpable in the reclusive state. At least the style, if not the content, of rule has changed. Yet nothing was more astonishing, or even weird, than to watch the 20-something leader seemingly embrace the…
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Business
2,000 Samsung workers apply to eat with Lee
More than 2,000 Samsung employees have bid for a private lunch with Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee, who will only see 10 of them sometime in September, Samsung Group said. The winners will be selected in consideration of age, sex, type of duty and office ranks, according to company officials.…
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Economic democratization
Bipartisan effort needed for fairer, more vital system As in most elections, “it’s the economy, stupid,” too, in this country’s nascent presidential campaign. What sets Korea’s 2012 polls apart from most others, however, is the direction of the debate: how to change its economy to a more just and fair…
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Some big firms to face cash flow problems
Several big firms are tightening their cash flow as a result of the eurozone crisis, coupled with the lack of a strong recovery in the U.S. market and a lackluster performance by the Chinese economy. Adding to the strain are weak domestic demand and a property market slump, online stock…
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South East Asia
Singapore : Singapore’s economy contracts 1.1% in Q2
Top news in <Strait Times> : Singapore’s economy contracts 1.1% in Q2 The economy continued to expand in the second quarter, even though the pace of growth fell sharply. But while there was growth on a year-on-year basis, the pace of growth slowed considerably. Compared with the first three months…
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High Security Prison In Bangladesh To Confine Militants
DHAKA, 14 July– Bangladesh has set up a high security prison near its capital Dhaka where top criminals including the Islamist militants and extremists will be confined. The prison, to be known as ‘Kashimpur High Security Central Jail’ was formally inaugurated by Bangladesh Home Minister Ms Sahara Khatun on Thursday…
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