South Korea's foreign ministry said Saturday that no decision has been made yet on when to hold a three-way meeting among Seoul, Washington and Tokyo to discuss the resumption of long-stalled talks on denuclearizing North Korea.   Japan's Asahi Shimbun had reported earlier that U.S. nuclear envoy Glyn Davis called his Japanese counterpart on Friday to discuss the stalled six-party talks. The U.S. has been discussing the issue periodically with its two major Asian allies.   "It is our turn this

 세계적인 힙합 가수 윌 아이엠(will.i.am)이 새 음반 수록곡의 표절 사실을 인정했다.빌보드 비즈(Billboard biz)는 23일(현지시간) 윌아이엠이 네번째 정규음반 ’#윌파워(#Willpower)’의 5번 트랙 ’렛츠고(Let’s go)’의 표절 사실을 인정했다고 보도했다.그는 ‘렛츠고’가 아티&멧조(Arty&Mat Zo)의 곡 ‘리바운드(Rebound)’와 인트로 부분이 흡사하다는 의혹에 대해 사전에 협의를 거쳤다고 주장해왔다. 그러나 아티가 16일(현지시간) 자신 트위터에 "윌아이엠 측 제작팀 중 누구도 이 사안에 대해 우리 소속사와 접촉한 적이 없었다"고 밝혀 논란이 됐다.논란이 커지자 윌아이엠은 23일 “우연히 곡을 훔치게 됐다”고 시인했다. 그는 “오해에서 비롯된 사건이 잘 해결되길 바란다”고 덧붙였다.한편, 그의 음반 다른 수록곡 4곡을 놓고 표절 논란이 계속될 전망이다.<관련 영문 기사>Will.i.am admits stealing songMusic sta

 북한과 유럽의 합작 영화에서 주연을 맡은 북한 여배우가 이탈리아에서 열리는 국제영화제에 참가한다고 미국 자유아시아방송(RFA)이 25일 보도했다.북한과 벨기에, 영국의 합작 영화 ‘김 동무는 하늘을 난다’(Comrade Kim Goes Flying)의 주연 여배우인 한정심<사진>이 이탈리아 우디네 극동영화제에 참가한다고 연합뉴스가 RFA의 보도를 인용해 전했다.우디네 극동영화제는 아시아 영화를 소개하는 영화제로는 유럽에서 최대 규모다. 지난 19일 개막한 이번 영화제는 이달 27일 막을 내린다.한정심은 지난 22일에는 이탈리아 방문 길에 중국 베이징에 들러 팬 사인회도 가졌다고 RFA가 전했다.RFA는 북한 여배우의 국제영화제 참석이 매우 이례적인 일인데다 최근 한반도 긴장이 고조된 가운데 이뤄져 눈길을 끈다고 강조했다. 또 한정심이 우디네 극동영화제에서 남측 영화인들과 만날 가능성에도 주목했다.이번 영화제에서 김동호 부산국제영화제 명예집행위원장은 평생공로상 수상자로 결정됐으며 ‘

 South Korean stocks closed 0.84 percent higher Thursday on the back of a brighter outlook over Wall Street as U.S. firms' first-quarter earnings met market expectations, analysts said. The local currency gained against theU.S. dollar.   The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 16.29 points to finish at 1951.60. Trading volume was moderate at 329.4 million shares worth 4.5 trillion won (US$4 billion) with gainers outnumbering decliners 438 to 373.   "Investors scooped up und

 South Korean stocks traded 0.39 percent higher late Thursday morning, led by gains in autos and builders, analysts said.   The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) movedup 7.63 points to 1,942.94 as of 11:20 a.m.   Carmakers led the market gain, with leading player Hyundai Motor rising 1.89 percent and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors adding 1.79 percent. Top auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis gained 1.74 percent.  Construction firms traded higher, with Hyundai Engineering & Construc

South Korean stocks closed 0.87 percent higher Wednesday due to the improved economic outlook for the United States and the eurozone, analysts said. The local currency gained against the U.S. dollar.  The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 16.68 points to finish at 1,935.31. Trading volume was moderate at 334.7 million shares worth 4.3 trillion won (US$3.9 billion) with gainers outnumbering decliners 626 to 195.   "The local stock market gathered ground due to the overnigh

The government is moving to strengthen penalties for any behavior that could jeopardize the safety of a flight, including any type of violence against flightattendants, it said Wednesday.   The move comes after an executive of POSCO Energy Co., an affiliate of the country's top steelmaker POSCO, was denied entry into the United States for allegedly assaulting a female flight attendant on a Korean Air flight from Incheon. The company official offered to step down Tuesday.   Violence against the c

South Korean consumer electronics giant LG Electronics Inc. said Wednesday its first-quarter earnings sank from a year earlier largely due to reduced prices and increased marketing costs.   Net profit reached 22 billion won (US$19.6 million) in the January-March period on a consolidated basis, compared with a profit of 248 billion won a year earlier, LG Electronics said in a regulatory filing.   Revenue slipped 6.8 percent on-year to 14.1 trillion won over the cited period, while operating profi

South Korean stocks traded 0.49 percent higher late Wednesday morning, led by gains in builders and logistics firms, analysts said.   The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) moved up 9.38 points to 1,928.01 as of 11:20 a.m.   Construction firms traded higher, with Hyundai Engineering & Construction rising 1.21 percent and Daewoo Engineering & Construction advancing 1.03 percent. GS Engineering & Construction added 2.39 percent.   Logistics firms also gathered ground, with Hyundai

South Korean stocks closed 0.4 percent lower Tuesday as foreigners became net sellers of local shares amid the weak yen, analysts said. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.   The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 7.68 points to finish at 1,918.63. Trading volume was low at 253 million shares worth 3.4 trillion won (US$3.08 billion) with gainers outnumbering decliners 478 to 316.   "The local stock market lost steam as the Japanese currency is anticipated to tra

 South Korean stocks traded 0.65 percent lower late Tuesday morning, led by losses in techs and autos, analysts said.  The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) moved down 12.49 points to 1,913.82 as of 11:20 a.m.   Tech heavyweights lost ground, with market behemoth Samsung Electronics falling 1.06 percent, and top chipmaker SK hynix losing 0.69 percent. Leading flat panel manufacturer LG Display decreased 1.31 percent.  Carmakers also traded lower, with Hyundai Motor falling 0.27

 South Korean stocks closed 1.03 percent higher Monday as investors scooped up shares on bargain hunting, analysts said. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.   The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 19.56 points to finish at 1,926.31. Trading volume was low at 254.9 million shares worth 3.6 trillion won (US$3.25 billion) with gainers outnumbering decliners 521 to 283.   "The market gain came as investors scooped up undervalued shares despite the listed firms' w

South Korean stocks traded 0.14 percent higher late Monday morning, led by gains in techs and mobile carriers, analysts said.   The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 2.64 points to 1,909.39 as of 11:20 a.m.   Tech heavyweight Samsung Electronics edged up 0.07 percent, an top chipmaker SK hynix added 0.35 percent. Leading flat panel manufacturer LG Display advanced 1.17 percent.  Mobile carriers also gathered ground, with No. 1 SK Telecom rising 1.33 percent and KT moving u

Rescuers and relief teams struggled to rush supplies into the rural hills of China's Sichuan province Sunday after an earthquake left at least 179 people dead and more than 6,700 injured and prompted frightened survivors to spend a night in cars, tents and makeshift shelters.The earthquake Saturday morning triggered landslides that cut off roads and disrupted phone and power connections in mountainous Lushan county, further south on the same fault line where a devastating quake wreaked widesprea

South Korean stocks are expected to move in a narrow range in the coming week amid concerns on poor quarterly earnings and the global economic slowdown, analysts said Saturday.   The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed on Friday at 1,906.75, down 0.88 percent, or 17.48 points, from one week ago.  Analysts anticipate that the benchmark index may move around the 1,900 level next week.  They said investor sentiment could be weighed down by concerns on quarterly earnings of So

Italy's Parliament on Saturday re-elected Giorgio Napolitano to an unprecedented second term as president, after party leaders persuaded the 87-year-old to serve again in hopes of easing the hostility that has thwarted formation of a new government.Napolitano easily surpassed the simple majority required to be elected Saturday afternoon. He garnered 738 votes, far more than the 504 needed for victory for another seven-year mandate.Parliament had a much harder time. It took it three days of ballo

 Residents huddled outdoors Saturday night in a town near the epicenter of a powerful earthquake that struck the steep hills of China's southwestern Sichuan province, leaving at least 160 people dead and more than 6,700 injured.Saturday morning's earthquake triggered landslides and disrupted phone and power connections in mountainous Lushan county five years after a devastating quake wreaked widespread damage across the region. The village of Longmen was hit particularly hard, with authorities s

South Korean stocks closed 1.24 percent lower Thursday due to rising concerns over the listed firms' earnings for the first quarter, analysts said. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.   The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 23.78 points to finish at 1900.06. Trading volume was moderate at 336.9 million shares worth 4.2 trillion won (US$3.75 billion) with losers outnumbering gainers 464 to 339.  "Investors sat on the sidelines as the first-quarter earnings of l

South Korean stocks closed slightly higher Wednesday in a volatile session as institutions' net buying of local equities offset losses from a foreign selloff, analysts said. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.In a choppy trading session, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index finished up 1.63 points, or 0.08 percent to 1,923.84. Trading volume was moderate at 408.1 million shares worth 5.29 trillion won (US$4.75 billion) with gainers outpacing losers 414 to 394."Institution

The Japanese ambassador to Seoul said Wednesday that Tokyo is prepared to sign a military intelligence pact with South Korea "at any time," urging Seoul to boost military partnership in the face of North Korea's bellicosethreats.  South Korea and Japan postponed the signing of the military intelligence-sharing agreement last July -- which would have been the first military pact between the two nations -- due to discontent among Koreans. Memories of Japan's brutal colonial rule on the Korean Peni