LONDON -- British actor Roger Moore, who played James Bond for more than two decades with a suave wit, died Tuesday aged 89, drawing tributes for his portrayal of the womanising super-spy, and for his charity work.“It is with a heavy heart that we must announce our loving father, Sir Roger Moore, has passed away today in Switzerland after a short but brave battle with cancer,” his children said in a statement on Twitter.“We are all devastated,” Deborah, Geoffrey and Christian said. “Thank you Po

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Taiwan could become the first place in Asia to legalize gay marriage Wednesday when a court makes a landmark ruling on whether to allow same-sex unions. Activists are optimistic the decision will go in their favor, with growing momentum behind the push for equal marriage rights on the island.But there is also anger among conservative groups who have staged mass rallies against a change in the law as the debate divides society.Campaigners for and against gay marriage are expecte

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom -- Salman Abedi, the suicide bomber who killed 22 people in an attack on a pop concert in Manchester, was a business student who dropped out of university.Born to a devoutly Islamic Libyan family in Britain's third biggest city, newspapers said he was known to the security services and the Financial Times said he had turned to radical Islam in recent years.Abedi, 22, worshipped at a suburban mosque, where his father was a well-known face who sometimes performed the cal

A day after firing dozens of rounds at a flying object crossing the border from North Korea, South Korea's military said Wednesday it was apparently a balloon carrying propaganda leaflets.The South's military announced Tuesday afternoon that it detected an unidentified object flying across the military demarcation line in the eastern region.More than 90 machine gun rounds were fired as warning shots under a related manual and the object disappeared from radar screens, according to the Joint Chie

The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae installed a new electric bulletin board Wednesday, offering a quick summary of current conditions in the country's employment market, while also highlighting the emphasis the new president and his government place on creating jobs.The new bulletin board was placed at one of President Moon Jae-in's offices, and is largely designed to show a rise or drop in the number of jobs and workers here, Cheong Wa Dae officials said.The board consists of two large panels

The European Union has designated North Korea's state carrier, Air Koryo, as an airline that is restricted from operating in European skies for seven years in a row, a U.S. broadcaster said Wednesday. In its latest update of the EU Air Safety List, the European Commission said it has continuously banned all Air Koryo planes, except for two Russian-made TU-204 airlines, from operating in European airspace as they fail to meet international safety standards, Voice of America said. An Air Koryo pla

MOSCOW -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in's special envoy has told the Russian Far East development minister and parliament leaders that South Korea intends to increase economic cooperation with Russia as a means to dissuade North Korea from its nuclear weapons development and military provocations.After meetings with the Minister for Development of Russian Far East Alexander Galushka and parliamentary leaders on Tuesday, Rep. Song Young-gil of the ruling Democratic Party said the Russian sid

Prime Minister-nominee Lee Nak-yon on Wednesday came under intense scrutiny over his credentials and a string of allegations about his family during a parliamentary confirmation hearing, the first test for cooperation between the nascent government and opposition-led parliament.Opposition lawmakers grilled the former South Jeolla Province governor and four-term lawmaker to see if he is fit to take the government's No. 2 post amid a series of economic and security challenges. "I will take this co

UNITED NATIONS -- China's UN ambassador said Tuesday that multiple North Korean nuclear and ballistic missile tests, with no end in sight, show the "very strong" need for new talks with Pyongyang to reduce tensions and try to achieve denuclearization.Liu Jieyi, whose country is closest to North Korea, said all progress with North Korea on eliminating nuclear weapons from the Korean peninsula has come through dialogue, "so there's no reason why dialogue is not taking place in the current situatio

JEONJU -- Eight shots on target were all South Korea needed to score five goals in their first two matches at the FIFA U-20 World Cup on home soil.South Korea defeated Argentina 2-1 on Tuesday at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul, to become the first among 24 to clinch a spot in the round of 16. South Korea had four shots on target, and one of the goals came on a penalty converted by Paik Seung-ho. This was after the hosts netted three goals on four shots on targe

JEONJU -- South Korean football coach Shin Tae-yong said he was thrilled that his side overcame Argentina's tough test at the FIFA U-20 World Cup here on Tuesday.Hosts South Korea clinched a knockout stage berth after edging out Argentina 2-1 at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, some 240 kilometers south of Seoul. This was South Korea's second straight win in Group A following their 3-0 win over Guinea on Saturday.In the 24-team FIFA competition, the top two from each of the six groups and the

Russia, for the first time, has presented a list of luxury goods that are banned from being exported to North Korea to a UN sanctions committee, a US broadcaster said Tuesday. The list includes luxury products mainly related to sports and recreation, said Radio Free Asia, adding that Russia has notified the committee of its decision to limit their direct and indirect export and transportation to the North on May 3, Radio Free Asia said. Circled in red in the top photo is a glimpse of a luxury ya

The chief of the presidential policy planning advisory panel said Tuesday that it would explore ways to stamp out deep-seated corruption in the defense industry, long blamed for eroding the country's military capabilities.During a regular press briefing, Kim Jin-pyo also said the panel would seek a "comprehensive" approach to ensure that any anti-corruption campaign will not compromise the competitiveness of local defense firms. Kim Jin-pyo, the chief of the presidential policy planning advisory

North Korea on Tuesday lashed out at the United Nations Security Council's condemnation over its latest missile test, warning that it will develop more advanced and diversified nuclear weapons.A spokesman of North Korea's foreign ministry said the North rejected the UNSC's adoption of a press statement condemning Pyongyang's Sunday launch of what it called an intermediate-range ballistic missile, according to the Korean Central News Agency. (Yonhap)"The US and its followers' despicable act of ta

South Korean formed a policy consultative body to actively deal with the global WannaCry ransomware attacks that have affected the country along with the rest of the world, the government said Tuesday.The body is made up of government officials, researchers from state-run tech institutes, including the Korea Internet & Security Agency, and major tech firms such as Microsoft Korea and Samsung Electronics Co., the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning said. (Yonhap)Members held their first