MOGADISHU (AP) ― An American couple that has sailed the world with a yacht full of Bibles was hijacked by Somali pirates, and the U.S. said Saturday it is assessing possible options.Pirates say the yacht will make landfall in Somalia on Sunday, which would reduce the chances of a fast rescue dramatically. A British sailing couple hijacked by pirates was held hostage in a stiflingly hot Somali regi

Tensions high after longtime ruler's announcement on banks controlABIDJAN (AFP) ― Security forces loyal to Ivory Coast strongman Laurent Gbagbo opened fire at a rally of several hundred supporters of his rival Alassane Ouattara, killing three youths, witnesses said Saturday. Gbagbo’s security forces in the capital’s Abobo district, a stronghold of Ouattara, “fired into the crowd leaving people running for cover but they chased them,” a resident told AFP. “Three youths were shot dead” in front of

Viewing North Korea not only as a military threat, but also a diplomatic rival, South Korea strove to prevent its major allies from increasing exchanges with the North three decades ago, Seoul’s declassified diplomatic papers showed Monday. Following the assassination of its authoritarian strongman Park Chung-hee in 1979, Seoul went through a rough period in the early 1980s, striving to prevent di

More foreigners are coming to Korea to study, but their universities seem incapable of managing them properly, the government said Sunday. Many schools did not monitor student attendance and even awarded diplomas to students who had not qualified for them.The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology investigated 29 universities nationwide from December through January and found that all of th

A civic activist is pushing for a debate on the sovereignty of Dokdo with a Japanese figure who claims the rocky islets are part of Japanese territory. Kim Jum-ku, head of the Dokdo Protection Party, said Sunday that he will deliver his invitation to Shimojo Masao, a renowned scholar known for his claims on Japan’s sovereignty over Dokdo, known as Takeshima in Japan. The invitation will take place

EVA Junior Fellows Network for international students, researchers and young graduates is inviting 25 new junior fellows for a two-day seminar in Helsinki.To be held at the end of August, the seminar provides the junior fellows with the opportunity to exchange ideas with Finnish business leaders and experts from different sectors. Fellows must be between the ages of 18-28, graduate or post-graduat

In December 2010, the United States Embassy began offering consular services in Busan on a monthly basis. Officials from the Embassy’s American Citizen Services Unit will offer consular services in Busan this month on Tuesday and Wednesday. A consular officer will be available tomorrow from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon at the American Presence Post, Lotte Gold Rose Buildin

The United States Embassy is closed on Feb. 21 in observance of Presidents’ Day. The embassy informed that generally, workdays following a holiday are exceptionally busy in the American Citizens Services Unit at the embassy, especially in the afternoon when appointments are required.A complete list of all of U.S. Embassy holiday closings for this year is available at http://seoul.usembassy.gov

Germany, like South Korea is an export nation that relies heavily on the free access of shipping lanes across the oceans.Previously, for Germany, its major exports headed across the Atlantic Ocean towards North America where there is never a problem with pirates.“Maritime security is something that has become more and more important for Korea and for Germany. We are both export nations and we depe