• Overseas voting in doubt

    Parties must cooperate to introduce viable system  Korean citizens living abroad have been granted the vote in the Dec. 19 presidential election, following their inaugural ballot-casting in the April parliamentary elections. But the effectiveness of the overseas voting system is in doubt, because only a fraction of overseas Koreans are…

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  • East Asia

    North Korea phases out ‘strong and prosperous’ claim

    North Korea is not known to shy away from hyperbole. The impoverished country, after all, boasts that the late despot Kim Jong-il scored 11 hole-in-ones during his first round of golf. It appears to be taking a more measured tone, however, on its long-held claim that it will emerge a…

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  • Depression hits 1 in 3 female NK defectors

    Life in South Korea is not easy for North Korean defectors and their difficult situation is reflected in numbers. A study showed Tuesday that 30 percent of 140 female North Korean defectors settled here suffered from depression. The depression was a comprehensive result of their weakened physical condition and psychological…

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  • East Asia

    Korea 8th in business environment

    Korea ranked eighth on the ease of doing business list this year, unchanged from a year ago, remaining in the top-10 list for two consecutive years, the finance ministry and the World Bank said Tuesday. The country was second in terms of enforcing contracts, showing that its judicial system provides…

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  • East Asia

    Apple fires Korea’s country head

    Apple, headquartered in Cupertino, California, has dismissed its Korea country manager Dominique Oh, allegedly over sluggish sales of its products here. “Apple terminated the contract with Oh last week,’’ Apple spokesman Steve Park said by telephone, late Tuesday. “We acknowledge that there are many speculations surrounding Oh’s contract termination. But…

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  • South East Asia

    [Indonesia Report] Hallyu Wave in Indonesia seems to continue enjoying popularity

    Some music critics in Indonesia predicted the Hallyu Wave would be over soon, but it doesn’t seem to be correct. After Mblaq’s successful concert in their tour of “The Blaq” in Jakarta, capital of Indonesia, on June this year, Indonesian Hallyu fans were also entertained by another Korean Boy Band, Big…

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  • West Asia

    Tunisians Protest Against Gov’t Policy In Tunis Amid Chaotic Political Climate

    A demonstrator leads other Tunisians who took to the streets of Tunis Monday Oct. 22, 2012, to protest against government policy. Tunisia will celebrate on Tuesday a year since its first free elections in a political climate marked by tensions within the national assembly, a stalled new constitution and sporadic…

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  • West Asia

    Annual Islamic Pilgrimage Attracts Pilgrims From Around World To Grand Mosque In Mecca, Saudi Arabia

    Palestinian children perform a simulated pilgrimage celebrating the upcoming Islamic pilgrimage and Eid al-Adha festival at their school in the West Bank city of Nablus on Oct. 22, 2012. <Xinhua/Ayman Nobani> Muslim pilgrims leave the Grand mosque after the noon prayer in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Monday, Oct. 22, 2012. The…

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  • East Asia

    Japan’s Justice Minister Resigns Over His Alleged Connection With Yakuza

    In this Oct. 12, 2012 photo, Japan’s Justice Minister Keishu Tanaka speaks during a press conference at justice ministry in Tokyo. Japanese media reported that Tanaka submitted his resignation on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012 over health issues and allegations that he took questionable contributions and attended a gangster’s wedding. <AP…

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  • West Asia

    Turkish Youths In Region Bordering Syria Protest Against Foreign Intervention In Syria

    Demonstrators gesture during a protest in Hatay of Turkey, on Oct. 21, 2012. A group of youth protested against foreign intervention in Syria, near the Turkish-Syrian border on Sunday. Five people were detained as some protestors clashed with police. A demonstrator is arrested by police during a protest in Hatay…

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