The global market for Internet advertisements jumped 12.1 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier, growing faster than traditional advertising channels, a report showed Thursday.The increase surpassed a 3.1 percent growth in the overall global advertising market as well as single-digit growth in other advertising channels such as TV, newspaper and radio, according to the quarterly report

The average price of houses in South Korea dropped for the first time in two years, related data showed Thursday, offering another clear indication of the country's struggling housing market.The average price of homes across the country dropped 0.1 percent from a month earlier in July, according to the data released by Kookmin Bank, the largest bank in South Korea. July marks the first time since

South Korean stocks started a whisker higher Thursday as investors remained optimistic on stimulus packages at a key meeting of the European Central Bank (ECB) later this week, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 2.27 points, or 0.12 percent, to 1,882.2 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Large-cap shares lent support to the increase, with the world's bigges

LONDON - Brazil saw Porto star Alex Sandro sent-off but still overpowered New Zealand 3-0 at Newcastle's St James' Park to ease intothe quarter-finals of the men's Olympic football tournament on Wednesday.By the time he was dismissed for a second bookable offence, after a yellow card for diving following one for an earlier foul, Internacional strikerLeandro Damiao had sent the South Americans on t

LONDON -- South Korea doubled its gold medal total Wednesday, picking up three Olympic titles to shoot up to six gold medals at the start of the new month in London.The country is now halfway past its stated goal of winning at least 10 gold medals for its third straight top-10 finish in the medal table.Teenage shooter Kim Jang-mi got the ball rolling, taking the women's 25-meter pistol. As the wor

LONDON -- North Koreans are receiving substantial television coverage of the London Olympics as their athletes are off to a strong start in the medal race, officials said Wednesday.Ri Kwang-chol, head of the press delegation from the North's Radio and Television Broadcasting Committee, said Pyongyang is caught up in Olympic fever."People back home are excited about our athletes' great performances

LONDON - Maria Sharapova set up a revenge mission against Sabine Lisicki as the Russian world number three beat Britain's Laura Robson 7-6 (7/5) 6-3 in the second round of the Olympics on Tuesday.Sharapova lost her world number one ranking after losing to Lisicki in the Wimbledon fourth round earlier this month, but the French Open champion will have a chance to make amends by knocking out the Ger

LONDON - World champions Japan advanced into the quarter-finals of the Olympic women's football tournament after a goalless draw with South Africa in Cardiff on Tuesday.Striker Kozue Ando and midfielder Asuna Tanaka wasted the best chances for Japan, who are now set for a last eight clash with Great Britain should the hosts beat Brazil later Tuesday.For South Africa, the draw was their first point

LONDON -- South Korea still remains on course to meet its gold medal target at the London Olympics despite its slower-than-expected start, officials here said Wednesday.South Korea, with 245 athletes in 22 sports, has set out to grab at least 10 gold medals for its third consecutive top-10 finish at the Summer Olympics. Through Tuesday, South Korea had earned three gold medals and eight medals ove