A joint investigation to identify the exact cause of the crash of a South Korean passenger jet in San Francisco got underway with an analysis of the flight data recorder (FDR) from the crashed jet, the government said Wednesday.A joint investigation of the FDR began shortly after two South Korean investigators arrived in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday (U.S. time), according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.Two pilots from Asiana Airlines Inc., the South Korean operator of the

A series of small blasts hit three Buddhist temples in eastern India early Sunday, injuring at least two people and drawing condemnation from the prime minister.   Senior police officer S.K. Bhardwaj said a gate at one of the shrines was badly damaged in Bodhgaya, a town 130 kilometers (80 miles) south of Patna, the capital of Bihar state. No other damage was reported to the Buddhist centers.Bhardwaj said four blasts took place early Sunday on the campus of the Mahabodhi Temple, the Buddhist Gre

South Korean stocks closed 0.79 percent higher Thursday as investors' sentiment was heightened by the Unites States' optimistic job data, analysts said. The local currency rose against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) moved up 14.48 points, or 0.79 percent, to close at 1,839.14. Trading volume was moderate at 309 million shares worth 3.09 trillion won (US$2.71 billion) with gainers outpacing losers 481 to 316.    "Seoul shares gathered ground on the back of

South Korean stocks closed 1.64 percent lower Wednesday as the Japanese currency resumed its downtrend against the greenback, analysts said. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.   The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 30.36 points, or 1.64 percent, to close at 1,824.66. Trading volume was moderate at 399.8 million shares worth 3.65 trillion won (US$3.19 billion) with losers outpacing gainers 633 to 195.   Analysts said the decline came as the yen-dollar exchang

The Defense Ministry plans to ban its staff from using smartphones, except for calling and texting, within its main building in an effort to prevent any leaks of military secrets. Visitors will also be required to leave their smartphones at the entrance, officials said Wednesday.The measures are taken as the ministry is proceeding with a 8.3 trillion ($7.3 million) project to introduce advanced fighter jets. Two military officials are under investigation on charges of leaking classified data rel

 Asia's top security forum, involving the two Koreas, the United States and China, has introduced the latest draft statement that calls for a "verifiable denuclearization" of North Korea, expressing "concerns" over the North's policy of confrontation.  The draft statement of the 27-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum (ARF), obtained by Yonhap News Agency on Sunday, also showed that North Korea urged the U.S. and other nations to end their "hostile" policy toward Pyongyan

지난 2011년 인터넷 언론사 디스패치가 정용진 신세계 부회장과 부인 한씨의 상견례 장면을 몰래 촬영해 보도한 것은 사생활 침해에 해당한다는 대법원의 최종판단이 나왔다.대법원 민사 2부는 27일 정 부회장 부부가 디스패치 등을 상대로 낸 사생활침해행위금지 청구 소송에서 “해당 기사를 삭제하고 1500만원을 배상하라”며 원고 일부 승소 판결한 원심을 확정했다.디스패치는 2011년 4월 서울 한 호텔에서 정 부회장과 한씨 가족이 상견례를 하는 장면과 데이트 장면 등을 몰래 촬영해 기사를 게재했다.이에 정 부회장은 기사 삭제를 요청했으나 거부당하자 다음달 “상견례 자리를 몰래 취재해 동의 없이 보도해 사생활이 침해당했다”며 소송을 냈다. 이에 디스패치 측은 정 부회장이 공적 인물이기 때문에 정당한 취재활동이라고 반박했다.재판부는 “정 부회장이 ‘공적 인물’에 해당하지만 기사에 보도된 내용은 사생활의 영역에 해당한다”며 “특히 정 부회장 부부의 동의를 받지 않고 사진을 촬영한 것은 초상권을

The National Assembly on Thursday passed a bill aimed at collecting billions of won in fines from a former president who was found to have accumulated large amounts of wealth illegally.   The amendment bill calls for extending the statute of limitations on forfeiting and imposing fines on public officials' illegal wealth from three years to 10.   Under the revised law, former President Chun Doo-hwan will be required to pay the remainder of his fines by October 2020, not October this year.   Chun

South Korean stocks shot up 2.87 percent Thursday, as investors opted to scoop up shares after policy jitters stemming from the U.S. and China waned, analysts said. The local currency rose against the U.S. dollar.   The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) surged 51.25 points to close at 1,834.70. Trading volume was light at 281.4 million shares worth 4.06 trillion won (US$3.51 billion) with gainers far outnumbering decliners 743 to 115.   "The index is quickly making up for its s

The main opposition party turned up the heat on the nation's spy chief Wednesday to resign over his decision to disclose a summit transcript containing late South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun's controversial remarks on the disputed Yellow Sea border with North Korea.Monday's disclosure of the transcript has thrown rival political parties into a fierce argument over whether Roh actually made remarks undermining the legitimacy of the sea border, called the Northern Limit Line (NLL), during his 20

South Korean stocks pared earlier gains to trade 0.1 percent lower late Wednesday morning, dented by losses of Samsung Electronics Co.   The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 1.8 points to 1,778.83 as of 11:20 a.m.   Top-cap Samsung Electronics slumped more than 2.5 percent, driving down the main index. The tech heavyweight accounts for about 17 percent of the KOSPI's total market cap.   In contrast, other blue-chip exporters gathered ground, with Kia Motors, an automaker,