The discovery of a 1.8-million-year-old skull of a human ancestor buried under a medieval Georgian village provides a vivid picture of early evolution and indicates our family tree may have fewer branches than some believe, scientists say.The fossil is the most complete pre-human skull uncovered. With other partial remains previously found at the rural site, it gives researchers the earliest evidence of human ancestors moving out of Africa and spreading north to the rest of the world, according

South Korea's central bank said Friday that household debt could become a potential risk factor for the economy as the rate of debt growth is continuing to outpace that of income.The Bank of Korea (BOK) said in a report for the annual parliamentary audit that it is unlikely household debt will sour massively in the short term and the growth rate of household debt has slowed on the back of the government's efforts to lessen indebtedness problems.However, the central bank warned that since househo

 [기사요약]한국은행은 2014년 경제성장률 전망치를 기존 4.0%에서 3.8%로 하향조정을 했으며 10월 기준금리를 2.5%로 동결했다. 미국 정부 폐쇄, 부채한도 협상 난항, 양적완화 축소 등 여러 외부 요인들로 인해 불가피하게 내년 한국 경제 전망을 수정하게 됐다.(1) The Bank of Korea on Thursday revised its 2014 growth outlook for the Korean economy down to 3.8 percent from its initial forecast of 4.0 percent after its monetary policy committee unanimously decided to keep its key base rate unchanged at 2.5 percent for October.*Bank of Korea (BOK): 한국은행 (중앙은행)*revise down: 하향조정, 수정*outlook: 전망*key base rat

A Japanese cabinet minister visited a controversial war shrine in Tokyo on Friday, in a move likely to cause anger in China and South Korea, which see it as a symbol of Japan's past militarism.Yoshitaka Shindo, minister for internal affairs and communications, paid homage at the Yasukuni shrine but insisted he was there as a private citizen, playing down the potential for diplomatic fallout as a result of a visit from a member of the government."I offered prayers in my private capacity. I mourne

Samsung Engineering Co., one of South Korea's largest industrial plant builders, said Friday that it swung to a net loss in the third quarter due to massive losses in overseas projects.Net loss reached 525 billion won ($494 million) in the July-September period, compared with a net profit of 124 billion a year earlier, the Seoul-based company said in a regulatory filing.Sales dropped 32 percent on-year to reach 1.9 trillion won over the cited period. The builder also posted an operating loss of

South Korean stocks opened higher Friday as investors' sentiment got a boost from a breakthrough in the U.S. debt ceiling talks, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) moved up 2.84 points, or 0.14 percent, to 2,043.45 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Tech shares led the market gain, with market behemoth Samsung Electronics adding 0.41 percent and leading chipmaker SK hynix rising 1.33 percent. Flat panel maker LG Display gained 2.88 percent.Mobile carriers trade

The South Korean military has formally asked the Pentagon to provide detailed information on Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems, an informed source here privy to defense issues said Thursday.As part of efforts to bolster its missile defense against North Korea's threats, South Korea is apparently seeking to combine U.S.technologies with its own, added the source."South Korea recently requested additional information on THAAD as well as PAC-III from the Pentagon, including prices

The top security advisor to South Korean President Park Geun-hye plans to visit the United States next week for talks about the North Korean nuclear standoff and bilateral security issues, a news report and an official said Friday.Kim Jang-soo, the chief of the presidential national security office, plans to meet with the White House national security advisor, Susan Rice, and other senior foreign affairs and security officials during the trip, the Dong-a Ilbo newspaper reported.A presidential of

Samsung Electronics Co., the world's largest maker of smartphones, has offered not to lodge patent lawsuits over wireless technology for five years, European regulators said Thursday.Samsung's concession came as the European Commission has focused its probe on suspicions that Samsung abused its right to the so-called standard essential patents (SEPs) in pushing for lawsuits against its competitors.Since late last year, European regulators have looked into whether Samsung may have violated EU ant

A barrage of car bomb and suicide bomb blasts rocked Baghdad and two northern Iraqi communities Thursday, killing at least 61 people during a major holiday period and extending a relentless wave of bloodshed gripping the country. The bulk of the blasts struck in mainly Shiite Muslim parts of the Iraqi capital shortly after nightfall, sending ambulances racing through the streets with sirens blaring. Authorities reported nine car bomb explosions across Baghdad, including one near a playground tha

One of Syria's most powerful military officers was killed in fighting with al-Qaida-linked Islamic extremists in an oil-rich eastern province largely controlled by the rebels, Syrian state-run television said Thursday.The fighting came amid a new push to hold an elusive peace conference for Syria's civil war, with the government proposing the talks start late next month, though there was no sign the opposition would attend.Maj. Gen. Jameh Jameh was killed in the provincial capital of Deir el-Zou

The stock market hit an all-time high Thursday as Wall Street put the government shutdown and debt ceiling crisis behind it and focused on corporate earnings.The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 11.61 points, or 0.7 percent, to close at 1,733.15 _ a record close. Nine of the 10 industry groups in the index finished higher, with technology the only group that fell.The market rose throughout the day as investors got back to focusing on corporate earnings and economic data. American Express and Ver

Hyundai Steel Co., the country's No. 2 steelmaker, said Thursday that it plans to merge with an auto steel sheet-making division of its affiliate, in order to cut costs and improve profitability.Hyundai Steel said its board of directors approved a merger with Hyundai Hysco Co.'s cold-rolled steel-making division on Dec. 31, the company said in a regulatory filing.Currently, Hyundai Steel, a unit of Hyundai Motor Group, supplies steel sheets to Hyundai Hysco, which processes them into steel sheet

The government is considering giving more support to hard-pressed South Korean companies with factories in an inter-Korean factory park located in the North, an official said Thursday.The unification ministry source said that while Seoul does not plan to alter the contract regarding the return of insurance money given to companies prior to the reopening of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex on Sept. 16, it is nevertheless looking at ways to alleviate their financial plight."Discussions are underway

원더걸스 선예가 집에서 아이를 낳는 홈벌쓰로 딸을 출산해 화제를 모으고 있다.선예는 17일 오전 자신의 트위터에 “많은 분들의 기도와 응원 덕분에 예쁜딸 홈벌쓰(Home-Birth)로 8시간 만에 순산했습니다^^”라고 적으며 딸의 사진을 공개했다.선예는 “탄생축하선물도 정말정말 감사드려요...!!! 건강히 잘 키우겠습니다^^”라고 덧붙였다. 공개된 사진엔 갓 태어난 선예의 딸이 담겨 있다.선예는 지난 1월 26일 캐나다 교포 출신 선교사 제임스 박과 결혼, 이후 곧바로 임신 소식을 알려 화제가 됐다. 결혼과 임신으로 원더걸스 활동을 사실상 중단한 선예는 시댁이 있는 캐나다에 신접살림을 차리고 한국을 오가며 생활해왔다. <관련 영문 기사>Wonder Girls’ Sun-ye gives birth to baby girlWonder Girls’ leader Sun-ye announced Thursday that she gave birth to a baby girl.“Thanks to pr

Congress passed legislation Wednesday night to avert a U.S. debt default and end a government shutdown, a bipartisan deal set along President Barack Obama's strict terms that left Republicans little to show for the epic political drama that threatened to rattle the world economy.The Senate voted 81-18 to send the measure to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, which passed it late in the evening 285-144. Obama pledged to sign it “immediately” after the House vote.The bill reopens

The financial regulator will ensure that the probe into the debt-saddled Tong Yang Group is done by principle to bring those responsible to account and minimize investor losses, its chief said Thursday, amid growing criticism that the regulator failed to prevent the crisis from occurring. "We won't allow any tolerance or hesitation whatsoever in executing the probe on Tong Yang Group. Everything will be done as a matter of principle," Shin Je-yoon, the chairman of the Financial Services Commissi

South Korean stocks got off to a strong start Thursday, cheered by the last-minute progress in talks among U.S. lawmakers to avoid a default, analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) jumped 13.07 points, or 0.64 percent, to 2,047.68 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Shares gathered ground across the board, with Samsung Electronics moving up 0.9 percent and Hyundai Mobis, a blue-chip auto parts maker, rising 1.2 percent. U.S. markets closed more than 1 percent high

Nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers ended on an upbeat note Wednesday, with top Western and Iranian negotiators announcing a follow-up round early next month while speaking of significant progress in efforts to reduce fears that Tehran may be seeking atomic arms.Despite abandoning the pessimistic tone of previous meetings, however, negotiators refused to reveal details on what _ if any _ concessions Iran offered. That gives potential traction to skeptics who can claim the conference

JPMorgan Chase & Co. has agreed to pay a $100 million penalty and admitted that its traders acted “recklessly” during a series of London trades that ultimately cost the bank $6 billion.The settlement announced Wednesday by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission comes less than a month after JPMorgan, the nation's largest bank, agreed to pay $920 million and admit fault in a deal with the Securities and Exchange Commission and other U.S. and British regulators.The stunning trading losses that s