MADRID ― The exchange of prisoners between enemies is often a prelude to political reconciliation. Unfortunately, the recent exchange between Israel and Hamas, in which the Islamist organization gained the lion’s share of more than 1,000 prisoners in exchange for the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, does not augur well for the chances of an Israeli-Palestinian peace.Contrary to appearances, the deal is not a reflection of both sides’ interest in beginning a political rapprochement that might lead t

TRIPOLI (AP) ― Some weapons depots in Libya have still not been secured properly, and “much has already gone missing” from unguarded sites, the top U.N. envoy in Libya said in an interview Sunday.Preventing more weapons from being smuggled out of country will be difficult, considering the nature of the vast desert nation’s borders, the envoy, Ian Martin, told the Associated Press.“That has to be a priority now, to secure what still remains in Libya,” he said. “Over time, the international commun

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ― The revolution will be trademarked and put on T-shirts if an increasing number of entrepreneurs succeed in their attempts to profit from the Occupy demonstrations.A few T-shirts began to appear several days after the first protest began on Sept. 17 with a march through the streets of lower Manhattan.Now, T-shirts, coffee mugs and other merchandise emblazoned with Occupy locations and slogans are being offered online and amid the camp sites that have sprung up in cities acros

Taiwanese violinist Yu Chien Tseng has topped the 2011 Isang Yun Competition, the Tongyeong International Music Festival Foundation said on Monday. In the final competition in the violin category this year held on Saturday, Tseng performed Brahms Violin Concerto with the TIMF Ensemble, led by Adriel Kim. Despite her young age, the 17-year-old’s academic but seasoned performance not only put him at the top of the competition, but won him the Isang Yun Special Prize, which is given to a musician w

Big Bang won Best Worldwide Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Sunday evening.It was the first time a Korean act has won at the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMA), Big Bang’s agency YG Entertainment said.The Best Worldwide Act, a new award this year, is chosen through online fan voting on the MTV EMA’s official Website, with voters given the option of five acts representing five regions of the world.The five candidates were Restart from Latin America, Big Bang from As

Kia Motors Corp. vehicles bound for export are driven into a car carrier ship at the port in Mokpo. (Bloomberg)Fitch Ratings on Monday raised Korea’s sovereign credit outlook to “positive” from “stable” and kept it’s A+ rating amid signs of improving economic fundamentals, sources said. The country’

LONDON (AFP) ― Miss Venezuela, Ivian Sarcos, was crowned the 2011 winner of the Miss World beauty pageant on Sunday at a glittering final ceremony in London.Wearing a pink dress with diamante studs that had a giant cascade of frills slashed below the waist, the 22-year-old gasped and threw her hands to her face as she was declared the winner.“I felt the most gorgeous woman in the world. I was so happy and I wanted to shout, to cry, to stand still and to smile. So many emotions,” she told AFP.“I’

LONDON (AP) ― The MTV Europe Music Awards turned into a celebration of Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga Sunday night as the two picked up a number of top prizes, including best male and best female act.Gaga, striking in several outfits throughout the evening, also won for best song and best video for “Born This Way.” Bieber picked up best pop act as well.Their live performances captured the differences between the two ascendant mega-stars: the teenage Bieber, wholesome and almost impossibly cute; Gag