China criticized Japan Wednesday for reportedly planning to invite foreign correspondents stationed in Beijing and Seoul to promote Tokyo's stance on territorial issues, urging Japan not to "waste time to make vain efforts." China's foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the remarks when asked about a Japanese media report that the Japanese foreign ministry would invite more than 100 U.S. and European correspondents in Beijing and Seoul early this year to brief them on territorial issues

Facebook Inc. acquired a technology startup in India as the largest social-networking service seeks to bolster its presence among mobile-device users.Facebook bought Little Eye Labs, which develops tools that Android application developers can use to analyze and enhance efficiency of mobile apps, the Bangalore, India-based company said on its website. Financial terms weren’t disclosed for Facebook’s first purchase in India and Carson Dalton, the India spokesman of Menlo Park, California-based co

South Korea football coach Hong Myong-bo said he's planning to lobby former Manchester United star Park Ji-sung to return to the national team to play in this year's World Cup, Korean media reported Wednesday.The 32-year-old Park, now with PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch league, ended his international career after leading South Korea to the semifinals of the Asian Cup in January 2011. He has said repeatedly since then through representatives that he has no intention of returning to the international

South Korea has ordered companies to suspend tear gas exports to Bahrain amid pressure from human rights groups, officials said Wednesday.The state-run Defense Acquisition Program Administration instructed two companies not to ship tear gas to the Gulf state after they inquired about possible exports, agency officials said.The two companies exported tear gas to Bahrain in 2011 and 2012, the officials said. Exports of tear gas need government approval because a key ingredient is listed as a strat

Dennis Rodman has sung ``Happy Birthday'' to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un before leading a squad of former NBA stars onto the court at a Pyongyang stadium for a game Rodman said is part of his ``basketball diplomacy'' with the North that has been heavily criticized in the United States.Rodman dedicated the game Wednesday to his ``best friend'' Kim, who along with his wife and other senior officials and their wives watched from a special seating area. The capacity crowd of about 14,000 clapped

U.N. nuclear chief Yukiya Amano is heading to Tehran as part of efforts to probe suspicions that Iran worked secretly on nuclear weapons.Those attempts have been stymied for nearly two years of arguments over what can be seen, and who can be interviewed how many times by Amano's experts.Iran in the past rejected the open-ended investigation Amano seeks. But Iran's new leadership has promised more cooperation than in the past. Amano said `'we aim to build'' on new ideas presented by Iran.Amano le

At least two people were killed and 22 hurt in a shooting at a house party packed with young adults near Houston, Texas, police told US media Sunday.Police are looking for two suspects in connection with the shooting late Saturday in Cypress, a suburb of Houston, Christina Garza at the Harris County Sheriff's Department told CNN."We have not been able to talk to a lot of the witnesses, because of the nature of their injuries. But we don't have any shooters in custody," Garza told CNN.One person

Iranian officials said Sunday the country made progress with world powers during ``serious'' talks over Tehran's nuclear program, but insisted the nation cannot be pushed to give up uranium enrichment as negotiations move into tougher ground over ways to ease Western concerns that Iran could one day develop atomic weapons.The remarks on enrichment repeat past declarations on the country's ``right'' to produce nuclear fuel, which is a key element of the talks over its scope. But President Hassan

대기업, 은행, 공공기관을 포함한 국내 기업에 2000여개의 ‘반듯한 시간제 일자리’가 생긴다. 박근혜 정부가 제시한 정부의 ‘고용률 70%’ 달성을 위한 핵심 과제 중 하나다.노사발전재단은 지난 19일 ‘반듯한 시간제 일자리 창출 지원사업’ 심사위원회를 열어 CJ그룹 계열사 8곳과 IBK기업은행 등 269개 대•중소기업의 시간제 일자리 2천118개 창출을 지원하기로 승인했다고 21일 밝혔다.　‘반듯한 시간제 일자리’는 주 15∼30시간 근무하면서 무기 계약직으로 4대보험에 가입되는 혜택을 누리는 시간제 일자리를 말한다..노사발전재단이 2010년에 사업을 시작한 이후로 대기업들의 참여가 이뤄진 것으로 알려졌다. 기업들이 제출한 계획안에 따르면 CJ제일제당, CJ푸드빌, CJ올리브영, CJ CGV 등 CJ그룹 계열사 7곳은 마케팅, 바리스타, 매장운영 등 다양한 직종의 시간제 일자리 285개를 만들어 경력단절 여성을 채용할 예정이다.IBK기업은행은 창구텔러, 사무지원 등 직종에서 10