North Korea is expanding its main political prison camps, apparently due either to hikes in the number of prisoners or the consolidation of its facilities, a human rights group said here Monday.The findings came from joint research by the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) and DigitalGlobe, a commercial earth image provider.An analysis of satellite photos of Camp No. 25 in the remote northeastern area of Chongjin-si showed that agricultural development, maintenance and construction

Janet Jackson knows how to keep a secret: The singer has been married since last year.A representative for Jackson confirmed Monday that the musician and Wissam Al Mana wed last year.This is Jackson's second secret marriage. She secretly married Rene Elizondo Jr. in 1991. They separated in 1999.The 46-year-old Jackson first tied the knot when she was 18 to singer James DeBarge, which lasted three months in 1984.In a joint statement to Entertainment Tonight, Jackson and Al Mana said their wedding

Italy faced political paralysis Monday as near-complete results in crucial national elections showed no clear front-runner and raised the possibility of a hung parliament. The uncertainty bodes ill for the nation's efforts to pass the tough reforms it needs to snuff out its economic crisis and reassure jittery markets. The chaotic election scenes in the eurozone's third-biggest economy spilled across the Atlantic to send the Dow Jones index plunging more than 200 points in its sharpest drop sinc

South Korean stocks closed 0.46 percent lower on Monday due to rising uncertainties stemming from the Unites States, analysts said. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) moved down 9.37 points to 2,009.52. Trading volume was low at 333.3 million shares worth 3.1 trillion won ($2.85 billion) with losers outpacing gainers 477 to 317."Investor sentiment was dented by the economic uncertainties in the U.S., despite rising hopes for th

Following is the full text of President Park Geun-hye's inauguration address - Ed. “Opening a New Era of Hope”My fellow Koreans and seven million fellow compatriots overseas, 　As I take office as the 18th-term President of the Republic of Korea, I stand before you today determined to open a new era of hope. I am profoundly grateful to the Korean people for entrusting this historic mission to me. I also thank President Lee Myung-bak, former Presidents, dignitaries who have come from abroad to cel

The value of worldwide shipments of smartphones are expected to dwarf that of PCs for the first time this year amid growing demand for mobile devices, data showed Monday.Global smartphone shipment value is forecast to reach US$239.6 billion this year, surpassing PC shipment value estimated at $218.6 billion, according to the data by market researcher Gartner Inc. and finance industry sources.If the estimated figures are on track, it will mark the first time smartphone shipments topped PC shipmen

Park Geun-hye took the oath of office as South Korea's new president Monday, pledging to revitalize the slumping economy and warning North Korea that the communist nation will be the "biggest victim" of its own nuclear programs."As president of the Republic of Korea, I will live up to the will of the people by achieving economic rejuvenation, the happiness of the people, and the flourishing of our culture," Park said in her inauguration address at the National Assembly plaza."I will do my utmost

South Korean stocks started lower Monday as investor sentiment was dented by rising concerns over the United States' sequestration, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 2.54 points, or 0.13 percent, to 2,016.35 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Shares lost ground across the board, with top chipmaker SK hynix moving down 1.14 percent and top flat panel manufacturer LG Display falling 0.49 percent. Top steelmaker POSCO lost 1.1 percent.Carmakers also traded l

After accumulating titles with Europe's biggest clubs as a player, Michael Laudrup reached unexpected heights in his first year as Swansea manager on Sunday by guiding the Welsh club to its first major trophy in its centenary season.In the heaviest victory League Cup final victory, Swansea overwhelmed Bradford 5-0 in front of 82,597 fans at Wembley Stadium to end the northern English club's hopes of becoming the first fourth-tier side to win a major title in Europe.Beating Bradford provided a re

The murder case involving Olympic star Oscar Pistorius took another unexpected turn Sunday with the news that his older brother, Carl, is himself facing charges for the death of a woman in a traffic accident. Carl Pistorius faces a charge of unlawful, negligent killing for a 2008 road death, “in which a woman motorcyclist sadly lost her life,” Kenneth Oldwage, the Pistorius family lawyer said on Sunday. The accident happened in Vanderbijlpark, south of Johannesburg. The charge of “culpable homic

Conservative candidate Nicos Anastasiades won Cyprus' presidency Sunday by one of the widest margins in 30 years, promising to do what it takes to quickly secure a financial rescue package from international creditors and prevent the country from sliding into economic oblivion.Anastasiades, 66, won the runoff election with 57.48 percent of the vote, well ahead of left-wing rival Stavros Malas, who nabbed 42.51 percent, final results showed.The election comes as Cyprus is negotiating a much-neede

Raul Castro announced Sunday that he will step down as Cuba's president in 2018 following a final five-year term, for the first time putting a date on the end of the Castro era. He tapped rising star Miguel Diaz-Canel as his top lieutenant and first in the line of succession. The 81-year-old Castro also said he hopes to establish two-term limits and age caps for political offices including the presidency _ an astonishing prospect for a nation led by Castro or his older brother Fidel since the 19

The U.N. Security Council is struggling to take what it calls "significant action" against North Korea for its latest nuclear test amid disputes among veto-wielding members, diplomatic sources said Sunday.In the wake of Pyongyang's third known nuclear experiment on Feb. 12, the U.S. government called for a "swift, credible and strong" response by the U.N. council.South Korea aims to release a tough sanctions resolution against North Korea within this month. Seoul holds the rotating presidency of

A major civic group dedicated to protecting mom-and-pop stores with some 6 million members and dozens of other civic groups here vowed on Monday to boycott all Japanese-made products in protest of Tokyo’s latest territorial claims to Dokdo.The groups said they would boycott Japanese goods such as Mild Seven cigarettes, Asahi beer, Nikon cameras, Uniqlo clothes, Sony electronics, Toyota, Lexus and Honda cars, starting March 1.There have been anti-Japan boycotts led by civic groups in the past, bu

한국GM이 앞으로 5년간 8조원을 투자하겠다는 청사진을 내왔다. 지난 2002년 출범 이후 10년간 10조원을 투자한 것과 비교하면 60%가 확대되는 것이다. 신규 투자를 바탕으로 신차 6종을 국내에서 생산, 계발하고 내수시장 점유율은 현재 9.5%에서 두자리수를 달성하겠다고 발표했다. 현재 GM의 경차 및 소형차의 디자인을 담당하고 있는 부평 디자인스튜디오는 두배 이상 규모를 키워 미국, 브라질에 이어 세번째로 큰 디자인센터가 될 예정이다. 　"한국GM은 오늘날 GM의 성공스토리에 크게 기여했다. 우리는 한국에서, 한국과 함께, 한국을 위하여 역량을 키워갈 것이다"고 팀리 GM해외사업부문 사장이 금요일 간담회에서 밝혔다. 최근 지분매각과 크루즈국내생산 중단 등으로 불거진 "GM철수설"에 대해서는 "8조원 결코 가볍게 투자할 수 있는 금액 아니다"며 "GM은 한국에 남을 것"이라고 강조했다. 　(코리아헤럴드 이지윤 기자)　<관련 영문 기사>GM renews commitment to

한국GM이 앞으로 5년간 8조원을 투자하겠다는 청사진을 내왔다. 지난 2002년 출범 이후 10년간 10조원을 투자한 것과 비교하면 60%가 확대되는 것이다. 신규 투자를 바탕으로 신차 6종을 국내에서 생산, 계발하고 내수시장 점유율은 현재 9.5%에서 두자리수를 달성하겠다고 발표했다. 현재 GM의 경차 및 소형차의 디자인을 담당하고 있는 부평 디자인스튜디오는 두배 이상 규모를 키워 미국, 브라질에 이어 세번째로 큰 디자인센터가 될 예정이다. 　"한국GM은 오늘날 GM의 성공스토리에 크게 기여했다. 우리는 한국에서, 한국과 함께, 한국을 위하여 역량을 키워갈 것이다"고 팀리 GM해외사업부문 사장이 금요일 간담회에서 밝혔다. 최근 지분매각과 크루즈국내생산 중단 등으로 불거진 "GM철수설"에 대해서는 "8조원 결코 가볍게 투자할 수 있는 금액 아니다"며 "GM은 한국에 남을 것"이라고 강조했다. 　(코리아헤럴드 이지윤 기자)　<관련 영문 기사>GM renews commitment to

교보문고가 20일 eBook ‘sam’ 런칭 컨퍼런스를 통해 전용 단말기 출시와 함께 국내 최초로 회원제 eBook 서비스를 선보였다.기존 전자책 서비스와는 별도로 샘은 1년 또는 2년 일정 금액을 내면 전자책을 읽고 전용 단말기를 이용하는 약정 요금으로 이용하는 서비스다. ‘sam(샘)‘이라 명명된 이 서비스는 ‘지식과 지혜의 샘’이라는 뜻을 담고 있다. 연간 회원제로 운영되는 샘은 전자책만 보는 건 1년, 전자책과 단말기를 결합한 회원제는 2년으로 마련됐다. 한 달 내려 받을 수 있는 책의 양에 따라 매달 내야 하는 요금이 달라진다. 한 달 5권씩 1년 동안 내려받는 서비스는 매달 1만5천원을 내야 한다. 전자책 단말기와 결합한 서비스는 약정기간이 2년으로 늘어나고 요금은 매달 1만 9천원이다. 한권의 3000원 정도의 가격이라 소비자는 긍정적으로 평가하는 분위기지만, 평균적인 이북가격보다 낮은 가격정책이라는 불만이 업계 관계자들로 부터 나오고 있다.교보문고 홍보팀 관계자는 “낮

장기불황과 꾸준한 물가상승이 이어지면서 신혼 부부들이 혼수 품목을 줄이고 예물이나 예단을 간소하게 하는 대신 꼭 필요한 품목에 집중해 투자하는 이른바 ‘가치소비’가 새로운 혼수 경향으로 자리 잡고 있다.과거 혼수는 럭셔리하게 하는 것이 유행이었다면, 이제는 구매패턴이 알뜰형ㆍ실속형으로 변화되면서 예비 신혼 부부들은 가격ㆍ성능 비교를 통해 합리적으로 소비하면서 타인보다 저렴한 가격으로 고품질의 상품을 구매하는 것으로 바뀌었다. 올해 평균 혼수 품목 수는 65개로 지난해 80개보다 15개 줄어들었지만 올해 우리나라 평균 결혼비용이 2억808만원으로 1999년 대비 전체 2.7배 증가하면서 예비부부들이 혼수구매에 실속을 우선시하면서 급격히 늘고 있다. 이는 예비 신혼 부부들이 구매하는 혼수 품목 수는 줄었지만 오래 쓸 수 있는 실속 상품의 구매는 증가했다는 증거이다. 이런 추세를 반영하듯 올해 혼수 시장에는 ‘뜨는 상품’과 ‘지는 상품’ 등 선호도가 바뀌었다. ‘뜨는 상품’으로는 55인치

Rape allegations against hallyu actor Park Si-hoo took a new turn Friday as police sent the alleged rape victim’s blood sample for a drug test. The move is interpreted as a sign that police are searching for possible traces of drugs in the woman who claimed to have been raped by Park last Friday.The Seoul Seobu Police Station sent the woman’s hair, urine and blood samples to the National Forensic Service to see if she had been drugged or was simply drunk at the time of the incident.Last Friday,

Kim Jung-haeng, a veteran judo administrator, was elected the new president of the Korean Olympic Committee (KOC) on Friday.Kim became the 32nd head of the KOC after narrowly defeating Lee Elisa, a former table tennis world champion and currently a ruling party lawmaker. Kim earned 28 out of 54 possible votes cast by KOC delegates. Lee garnered 25 votes, while one voter abstained. Kim, 69, succeeds Park Yong-sung, who had been the KOC chief since 2009 and recently decided against a second term,