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Josh Hartnett charms Asian festival with fellow heartthrobs from South Korea, Japan

BUSAN, South Korea — Josh Hartnett charmed one of Asia’s top film festivals on Friday with his knowledge of Korean food.

Pusan festival opens with lighthearted look at South Korean presidency

BUSAN, South Korea — One of Asia’s top film festivals opened Thursday by taking a lighthearted look at the South Korean presidency.

From rags to riches: Farmer’s son Yang, pride of SKorea, makes history by winning PGA title

JEJU, South Korea — Baseball, basketball, soccer, volleyball. Y.E. Yang played them all as a child.

‘Tiger Killer’: South Koreans celebrate Y.E. Yang’s historic PGA victory over Tiger Woods

JEJU, South Korea — Eyes glued to the TV, Y.E. Yang’s family on the island of Jeju stayed up all night to watch the South Korean face off against world No. 1 Tiger Woods at the PGA Championship.

Y.E. Yang’s PGA win, the first by an Asian in a major, will help push another Asian golf surge

SEOUL, South Korea — Y.E. Yang’s stunning win over Tiger Woods at the PGA Championship gave the burgeoning golf market in Asia something that no amount of money can buy: the region’s first major champion.

Fans in golf-crazy South Korea celebrate Y.E. Yang’s historic PGA win over Tiger Woods

SEOUL, South Korea — Fans in golf-crazy South Korea set their alarms for 4 a.m. Monday to watch the PGA Championship on television, then celebrated with whoops as Y.E. Yang finished off his historic victory over Tiger Woods.

SKorea’s Pusan film festival to honor Hong Kong director Johnnie To

HONG KONG — One of Asia’s top film festivals will pay tribute to veteran Hong Kong director Johnnie To, known for his stylish action thrillers like “Election” and “Exiled.”

Lady Gaga, on Asia tour, shows off souvenir tattoo and says blond look is permanent

SEOUL, South Korea —Lady Gaga may sport an ever-changing series of risque outfits, but the pop singer says two things are permanent: her tattoos and her bow tie ‘do.

NKorean news agency says Bill Clinton arrives in Pyongyang for talks to free US journalists

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea’s state news agency says former U.S. President Bill Clinton has arrived in Pyongyang, following reports that he’s headed there to win the release of two detained American journalists.

North Korean TV airs edited SKorean programs to highlight social problems in rival nation

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean state TV has aired South Korean footage edited to highlight social and economic problems in the far richer South in a rare move apparently aimed at quashing rumors among the North’s impoverished people that the rival country is better off.

NKorean TV airs new documentary about leader Kim amid speculation about his health

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean state TV has aired a new documentary showing leader Kim Jong Il touring industrial facilities in March.

Michelle Kwan will skate in Seoul ice show, skating before audience for 1st time in 3 years

Michelle Kwan will skate before an audience for the first time in three years when she joins world champion Kim Yu-Na in Ice All-Stars 2009 in Seoul, South Korea, in August.

In apparent first, North Korea airs beer commercial on state TV

SEOUL, South Korea — In an apparent first, North Korea — a country that struggles to feed its 24 million people — has aired a beer commercial on state television.

Grief over Michael Jackson’s sudden death unites the world in mourning, sorrow

LONDON — Michael Jackson was due to make his triumphant return to the stage in London next month — but instead his sudden death has left millions of fans feeling they’ve lost a lifelong friend.

Michael Jackson’s death spurs sorrow transcending world’s borders

LONDON — Michael Jackson was due to make his triumphant return to the stage in London next month — but instead his sudden death has left millions of fans feeling they’ve lost a lifelong friend.

‘We lost a hero:’ Fans around the world in shock over pop superstar Michael Jackson’s death

SYDNEY — The news stunned nearly everyone, from the young man in Colombia who was named after the King of Pop, to Malaysians who named a soy drink for him, to a generation of people around the world who have tried to moonwalk.

North Korean state media news available on Twitter; unclear if Pyongyang behind it

SEOUL, South Korea — It’s best known as the place to tell millions what you had for breakfast. But dispatches from North Korea’s state news agency have begun popping up on Twitter.

‘We lost a hero:’ Fans around the world in shock over Michael Jackson’s death

SYDNEY — The news stunned nearly everyone, from the young man in Colombia who was named after the King of Pop, to Malaysians who named a soy drink for him, to a generation of people around the world who have tried to moonwalk.

‘It just seems so unreal:’ Fans around the world in shock over Michael Jackson’s death

SYDNEY — In Malaysia, they hoped he would be remembered like Princess Diana. In Mexico, one of his impersonators said part of his life had been torn away. Even Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called it “lamentable news,” though he criticized the media for giving it so much attention.

Nukes or cognac? Will UN sanctions really force North Korea’s leader to make a choice?

SEOUL, South Korea — The first time North Korea tested a nuclear device, the United Nations tried to hit the reclusive nation’s leader where it really hurts — in the stomach.

Buddhist calm, bustling markets: Explore Seoul’s ancient sites, modern amenities on a budget

SEOUL — With the South Korean currency, called the won, down against the dollar, now’s the time to wander the grounds of 600-year-old palaces, meditate in Buddhist temples and trawl cafes and markets in the labyrinthine capital city, Seoul.