Korean college system needs market forcesThe following was contributed by Daniel E. Suh, professor of economics and finance, Graduate Program for Technology and Innovation Management, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH). ― Ed.  Daniel E. SuhIn the first class of my investment course, I always toss out a question to my students: Have they ever made any investments? For a moment, t

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (AP) ― Discovery, the world’s most traveled spaceship, thundered into orbit for the final time Thursday, heading toward the International Space Station on a journey that marks the beginning of the end of the shuttle era.The six astronauts on board, all experienced space fliers, were thrilled to be on their way after a delay of nearly four months for fuel tank repairs. But i

The following article was contributed by Muteb Al-Mutoteh, ambassador of the State of Kuwait, on the occasion of the country’s National Day. ― Ed.The Embassy of the State of Kuwait is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the National Day on Feb. 25, 2011 and the 20th Liberation Day of the State of Kuwait on Feb. 26, 2011. On this auspicious Golden Jubilee, I would like to take this opportunity to e

CAIRO (AP) ― After anti-government unrest spread to the Libyan capital of Tripoli and protesters seized military bases and weapons Sunday, Moammar Gadhafi’s son went on state television to proclaim that his father remained in charge with the army’s backing and would “fight until the last man, the last woman, the last bullet.”Seif al-Islam Gadhafi, in the regime’s first comments on the six days of

BEIJING (AP) ― Jittery Chinese authorities staged a show of force to stamp out a mysterious online call for a “Jasmine Revolution,” with hundreds of onlookers but only a handful of people actively joining protests inspired by pro-democracy demonstrations sweeping the Middle East.Authorities detained activists Sunday, increased the number of police on the streets, disconnected some cell phone text

ERLIN, Taiwan (AFP) ― When Wang, 24, went to jail three years ago he had no idea he would end up in a bid to break a record for most inmates dancing together. Wang is one of more than 2,000 inmates in Changhua Prison in central Taiwan who routinely take part in mass dancing sessions as part of a larger program aimed at reforming prisoners through art and creativity.“I’ve made new friends since I j

TRIPOLI (Xinhua) ― Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has left his country for Venezuela, Doha-based Al-Jazeera reported on Sunday. (Reuters) - Libyan security forces shot dead dozens of protesters as they struggled to stamp out a revolt in the second city Benghazi, and Bahrain’s rulers began talks with the opposition as unrest continued to sweep the Middle East.Anti-government demonstrators in Bahrain

MANAMA (AP) ― The swelling protests against Bahrain’s rulers gained momentum Wednesday with huge crowds calling for a sweeping political overhaul and the kingdom’s stunned leaders appearing to shift tactics after attempts to crush the uprising stoked rage on the streets and sharp criticism from Western allies.The widening challenges to the Arab world’s political order ― emboldened by the downfall

WASHINGTON (AFP) ― Reeling from the fall of its ally Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, the United States is hitting back at Iran as the arch foes fight for influence in a Middle East upended by popular unrest, analysts said.Iran presents Mubarak’s fall as a new sign of Washington’s and Israel’s decline in the region, but the United States sees opportunities in a new outbreak of anti-government protests in t

WASHINGTON (AFP) ― President Barack Obama on Tuesday warned autocratic U.S. allies they cannot crush the Middle East’s youthful “hunger” for change and offered “moral support” to Iranian protesters defying a crackdown.Obama walked a fine line between offering American support for political uprisings after the Egypt revolt and openly offending states that use iron-fisted rule yet have guaranteed U.

TEHRAN (AFP) ― Iranian riot police fired tear gas and paintballs at anti-government protesters in Tehran, websites and witnesses said Monday, while an Iranian news agency said a bystander had been shot dead.Fars news agency said a number of other people had been wounded by the gunfire and blamed the outlawed former rebel group, the People’s Mujahedeen of Iran.Some opposition websites said that men

DUBAI (AFP) ― Within less than a month, popular uprisings toppled the long-time presidents of Egypt and Tunisia, and revolts could spread to other Arab countries if they do not implement reforms quickly, analysts say.“The Arab leaders are in a race against time: Either they quickly adopt liberal changes, or they suffer the same fate as (the leaders) of Tunisia and Egypt,” said Anwar Eshki, the dir

CAIRO (AP) ― He survived assassination attempts and wave after wave of Mideast crises, a solid ally of the West whose stable image reassured many Egyptians. Hosni Mubarak ended his presidency as a symbol of what was wrong with Egypt: the repression, the corruption, the lost hopes of a swelling, impoverished class.Mubarak, in power for nearly three decades, was such a fixture that his exit from pow

DUBAI (AP) ― Less than a month after the world watched Tunisia celebrate the collapse of the country’s strong-arm ruler, the scenes in central Cairo on Friday offered an even more potent display of the newfound power of the Arab street: fist-pumping crowds cheering the end of President Hosni Mubarak.The downfall of Mubarak ― one of the mainstays of Middle East politics and Western policies in the

CAIRO (AFP) ― The United States urged Egypt to immediately lift an emergency law and launch democratic reforms as protestors staged the biggest show of defiance against President Hosni Mubarak in a three-week-old revolt.But Mubarak’s newly appointed deputy, Vice President Omar Suleiman, warned that hasty reforms could spell “chaos” in the Arab world’s most populous nation.In Cairo, hundreds of tho

CAIRO (AFP) ― Its wings clipped by a popular revolt, Egypt’s regime is seeking a way out of crisis through national dialogue, but pressure from the street and division among key players could discredit the process.On Sunday, Vice President Omar Suleiman began talks with members of the opposition and announced measures aimed at placating the protesters staging massive protests demanding the end of

CAIRO (AP) ― Egypt’s vice president has met with the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood and other opposition groups for the first time and offered sweeping concessions, including granting press freedom and rolling back police powers in the government’s latest attempt to try to end nearly two weeks of upheaval.But the opposition leaders held firm to a demand the government rejects: that President Hosni Mu

DUBAI (AFP) ― The dramatic events in Tunisia and Egypt have pushed Arab leaders to promise political and economic reforms but the momentum for change now hinges on the outcome of the Egyptian uprising, analysts say.“In one month, the Arab world has changed more than it had done in years,” said Ziad Majed, a lecturer on the modern Middle East at the American University of Paris.“Today, fear has cha

CAIRO (AP) ― Egypt’s military pledged not to fire on protesters in a sign that army support for President Hosni Mubarak may be unraveling on the eve a major escalation ― a push for a million people to take to the streets Tuesday to demand the authoritarian leader’s ouster.More than 10,000 people beat drums, played music and chanted slogans in Tahrir Square, which has become ground zero of a week o

CAIRO (AP) ― Foreign governments stepped up their warnings Sunday about travel to Egypt, with several urging their citizens to evacuate as soon as possible amid uncertainty over where the Arab nation is headed after nearly a week of mass protests.The fears of foreign tourists mirrored those of many Egyptians.Dozens with the means to do so rented jets or hopped aboard their own planes in a mad dash