The unidentified virus that might have caused the death of a South Korean woman earlier this week does not seem to be spreading quickly, the nation's disease control agency said Wednesday.   The 36-year-old woman died on Monday in the intensive care unit at a Seoul hospital after being admitted last month for tuberculosis. Her infection and death were caused by an unidentified virus, the first o

BEIRUT (AP) ― Tanks and troops rolled into southern villages near the heart of Syria’s anti-government uprising Tuesday, while officials in Washington said the U.S. administration is edging closer to calling for an end to the Assad family’s long rule after its violent suppression of the protests.The Syrian military has been sealing off various areas and conducting house-to-house raids in search of

One of the 19 KTX-Sancheon high-speed trains has been pulled off line as the system is now under examination by the manufacturer due to a serious structural fault, sources said Wednesday. KTX-Sancheon, or KTX-II, is the first high-speed train produced with locally developed technology that went into service early last year. The train has been in the spotlight in recent months due to frequent break

Judges and prosecutors will be banned from taking cases for a year after retirement at courts where they worked in their last year.The new rule is part of a revised bill on lawyers approved by the Cabinet on Wednesday.The bill is applicable to military judicial officers and lawyers who serve the government as employees, as well as judges and prosecutors.Under the revised law, they are barred for a

President Lee opens Global Green Growth Institute in CopenhagenCOPENHAGEN ― Korea’s ambitious Global Green Growth Institute opened its first overseas office here Wednesday in a show of strengthened ties with Denmark.Denmark has vowed to contribute $5 million annually for three years to the international organization launched by the Lee Myung-bak administration last June. President Lee attended Wed

Sohn Hak-kyu, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party, said on Wednesday that he would object to a bill to ratify the free trade agreement with the United States.His remark, coupled with the Grand National Party floor leader Hwang Woo-yeah’s vow not to run in general elections next year if the ruling party railroads the bill, darkens the prospect for its smooth passage this year.“Damage i

A former worker of Ssangyong Motor was found dead Tuesday at a subcontractor’s plant in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, the company’s union said Wednesday. His death is the 15th among Ssangyong Motor’s former employees or their family members, which recently completed a bailout program after bankruptcy. According to the union, the 45-year-old man identified by the family name Kang was working at th

More than half of Seoul’s citizens believe they belong to society’s lower middle class, marking a slight increase from last year, a survey showed Wednesday.By political, economic and social status, a total of 51.3 percent said they fall under the category of “lower middle class,” while 23.2 percent said they belong to the upper middle class, according to the survey by the Seoul Metropolitan Govern

A group of researchers has found a new way of detecting Alzheimer’s at an early stage using a biomarker, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday. The finding will help in the early treatment of the disease, which is one of the most common forms of dementia in Korea, Dr. Kim Young-yeul, who was in charge of the study, said. According to his report, the amount of interleu

Nearly nine out of 10 child abuse cases were committed by family members, and the majority of offenders were biological parents, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said Wednesday. About 40 percent of victims were assaulted every day. Experts say both victims and offenders need special therapyAccording to the ministry, a total of 5,657 cases of child abuse were reported in 2010. Among them, 530 wer

Military manpower chief says measures will close loopholesThe military conscription agency has been implementing or seeking to introduce a series of measures to block those looking to exploit legal loopholes to dodge their compulsory service, the agency chief said Wednesday.They include toughening screening processes, securing an independent investigative authority, allowing elementary-school grad

Samsung Group on Wednesday denied news reports that its owner Lee Kun-hee instructed his company to reconsider the plans for developing solar batteries, saying Samsung has already earmarked the business as one of its future engines of growth.“We will continue to push forward in the (solar battery) business,” said Rhee In-yong, vice executive president of Samsung’s communications team, in a press b