World powers gathered Monday for fresh talks with Iran on its controversial nuclear programme, seen as a test of a new mood since reputed moderate President Hassan Rouhani took office in August.Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was expected to have dinner with his European Union opposite number Catherine Ashton in Geneva Monday evening, on the eve of the two-day meeting of the "P5+1" group and Tehran's delegation.Both sides downplayed expectations of a major advance, however. "I am n

The world economy is still in disarray five years after the financial crash, a new U.N. economic report released Monday said.The U.N. Conference on Trade and Development issued a gloomy assessment of a stagnant global economy.``The global economy is still struggling to return to a strong and sustained growth path,'' UNCTAD reported. The rate of world output was 2.2 percent in 2012, and is forecast to grow at a similar rate in 2013, it said.Developed countries are expected to show the poorest per

Rival Republican and Democratic Senate leaders Monday said they were optimistic they could agree a deal to stave off a debt default that would shred US credibility and rock the global economy.Signs of hope emerged three days before a deadline to raise the US government's borrowing limit and with a partial government shutdown on the cusp of entering its third week.After several failed attempts to end the impasse, veteran political prize fighters Senate Majority leader Harry Reid and his Republica

A published report says the National Security Agency has collected millions of contact lists from personal email and instant messaging accounts around the world _ including those of Americans _ in its effort to find links to terrorism or other criminal activity.The Washington Post said late Monday it learned about the effort from secret documents provided by NSA leaker Edward Snowden and confirmed by senior intelligence officials.The Post says the spy agency intercepts hundreds of thousands of e

A Libyan who has been held and interrogated for a week aboard a U.S. warship is now in New York awaiting trial on terrorism charges, U.S. officials said Monday.   The al-Qaida suspect, known as Abu Anas al-Libi, has been under federal indictment in New York for more than a decade. He's due to stand trial over whether he helped plan and conduct surveillance for the bombings of U.S. embassies in Africa in 1998.Two U.S. officials said he arrived in New York on Saturday and has been held while he aw

The Doosan Bears defeated the Nexen Heroes 8-5 in extra innings on the road on Monday to advance to the second round in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason, holding off a frenetic late charge by their opponents in one of the most thrilling playoff games in the league's history.At Mokdong Stadium, Choi Jun-seok and Oh Jae-won each hit a home run in the Bears' five-run 13th inning, after their team blew a 3-0 lead with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.Lee Taek-geun of the Heroes hi

Around one person in 2,000 in Britain carries the protein linked to the human version of mad cow disease, a figure higher than previous estimates, a study said on Tuesday.But how many people will actually develop the crippling and ultimately fatal disease is unknown, its authors say.They also warn Britain to fight the risk of wider contamination through blood transfusions and surgical instruments.The study, published online by the British Medical Journal (BMJ), is the most exhaustive attempt yet

South Korean stocks got off to a strong start Tuesday, buoyed by hopes that the United States could soon reach a deal to solve the political impasse over its debt ceiling, analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) advanced 17.23 points, or 0.85 percent, to 2,037.50 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Shares gathered ground across the board, with machineries and service companies leading the climb. Doosan Heavy Industries, a major heavy equipment maker, soared nearly

The Military Manpower Administration of South Korea came under 1,607 cyber attacks in the past three years, a lawmaker said on Monday, citing a report from the agency to a parliamentary audit.The online attacks came from 36 countries, in addition to home-grown hacking attempts. The majority of attacks traced back to South Korean Internet addresses, followed by the United States and China. MMA stores and manages the vast database of those serving in the Korean military. The agency said it runs bu

병무청이 지난 3년간 1천607건의 사이버공격을 받은 것으로 14일 나타났다.민주당 김진표 의원이 인용한 병무청 국감자료에 따르면 최근 3년간 병무청을 대상으로 한 사이버공격은 우리나라를 포함해 총 37개국에서 시도됐다.공격을 시도한 국가는 국내가 345 건으로 가장 많았고, 미국이 41건, 중국이 39건으로 많았다.병무청은 한국 남성의 데이터베이스 종합보관소이다. 병무청이 업무 망과 인터넷이 분리되 외부접근이 불가능하다고 전한 반면, 김진표 의원은 최근 해킹 기술의 지능, 다양화로 침해사고 가능성이 있다며 보안 인력과 관제시스템 확충이 필요하다고 지적했다.(임우정 인턴기자 / 코리아헤럴드)　<관련영문기사>Military agency suffered 1,607 cyber attacks: lawmakerThe Military Manpower Administration of South Korea came under 1,607 cyber attacks in the past three ye

South Korea’s investigative agencies obtained a record 7.88 million personal records from telecom operators last year amid deepening worries over the security of personal data across the globe. The figure marked a sharp increase from 2011 when local authorities obtained 5.85 million personal records, according to the data provided by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning. The amount of personal data given to the agencies has been growing steadily in recent years.Under the current law,

통신사업자가 지난해 국내 수사기관에 제공한 개인정보 수가 788만 것으로 14일 나타나면서, 개인정보 보안 문제에 대한 우려가 깊어지고 있다.미래창조과학부가 제출한 국감자료에 의하면 2011년에는 약 585만 건의 개인정보가 수사기관에 제공됐다.이는 2012과 비교했을때 200만 건 이상 증가한 수치이다. 수사기관에 제공되는 개인정보 수는 최근 몇 년 간 꾸준히 증가하고 있는 추세다.현재 국내 법은 수사기관이 개인정보가 담긴 통신자료를 요청하면 해당 사업자가 해당 정보를 제공할 수 있도록 규정하고 있다.한편, 전문가들은 개인정보가 경찰, 검찰, 국정원에 손쉽게 전달되고 있는 현상을 지적했다 . (임우정 인턴기자 / 코리아헤럴드) <관련영문기사>Personal data provided to agencies skyrocketingSouth Korea’s investigative agencies obtained a record 7.88 million personal records from

The parliamentary defense committee on Monday approved President Park Geun-hye's nominee for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JSC), saying the candidate demonstrated his ability to command all three branches of the military.Adm. Choi Yun-hee was named to head the JCS in a high-level military reshuffle last month, marking the first time that a Navy chief has been appointed to the post. He underwent a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly last Friday as his appointment is subject

South Korean stocks closed 0.23 percent lower Monday, as investor sentiment was dented by concerns stemming from the political impasse in the U.S. over its debt limit with its deadline only three days away, analysts said. The local currency inched down against the U.S. dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) slid 4.63 points, or 0.23 percent, to finish at 2,020.27. Trading volume was light at 217.5 million shares worth 3.57 trillion won ($3.33billion) with decliners outpa

David Ortiz revived the Red Sox with a tying grand slam in the eighth inning, then Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a winning single in the ninth that sent Boston past the Detroit Tigers 6-5 Sunday night to even the AL championship series at 1-1.The Tigers were cruising to their second straight win at Fenway Park, with starter Max Scherzer taking a no-hitter and a 5-0 lead into the sixth inning.But with one swing, Ortiz changed everything. His two-out shot sent right fielder Torii Hunter jack-knifing i