Navy train: The amphibious assault ship USS Essex leads U.S., Thai and South Korean ships in formation during exercise Cobra Gold 2010 in the Gulf of Thailand on Feb. 8, 2010. Following Essex are the Royal Thai Navy medium landing ship HTMS Surin, the South Korean navy tank landing ship Seongin Bong, the guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh and the amphibious transport dock ship USS Denver. Cobra Gold is a regular joint and multinational exercise hosted annually by Thailand. (U.S. Navy Photo/Geronimo Aquino)
ANALYSIS
By LEE JONG-HEON
Seoul, South Korea, February 9 — North Korea is playing diplomatic hardball to win economic aid while keeping its nuclear weapons drive intact. Pyonyang has launched a flurry of diplomatic activity toward the United States, China, South Korea and the United Nations, all of which are pressing Pyongyang to return to the negotiating table.
By DR. PRADNYA KULKARNI
Hong Kong, China, February 8 — Many parents face the dilemma of whether to vaccinate their teenage girls against infection from the human papilloma virus, or HPV. Many questions arise about the vaccine and its social implications. Since the vaccine does not cure a preexisting infection, it is advisable to vaccinate girls in their teens.
