BEIJING (AFP) - China rejected on Monday criticism from the United Nations over the detention of a Chinese human rights lawyer, calling it an interference in the country's domestic affairs.The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Friday that it was "deeply troubled" by last Wednesday's detention of Chen Jiangang, a vocal civil rights defender, and his family during a vacation."We are dismayed by this continuing pattern of harassment of lawyers, through continued detention, without full

WASHINGTON (AP) --  An Obama administration official who warned the Trump White House about contacts between one of its key advisers and Russia is set to speak publicly for the first time about the concerns she raised. Former acting Attorney General Sally Yates is testifying Monday before a Senate Judiciary subcommittee investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. The highly anticipated hearing it is Yates's first appearance on Capitol Hill since her firing in January is

LONDON (AP) -- When Emmanuel Macron topped the first round of voting in the French presidential election two weeks ago, French stocks soared to near-decade highs. On Monday, the reaction to his victory in the runoff was decidedly subdued: investors had been fully expecting it and seem wary of the difficulties he'll face governing a divided country.In midday trading, the CAC 40 index of leading French shares was down 1 percent at 5,379. Other indexes across Europe were also trading lower, while t

PARIS (AFP) - Emmanuel Macron won a resounding victory in the French presidential election but the focus shifted immediately Monday to whether he can govern the country without the support of a traditional party.At 39, the pro-EU former investment banker will become France's youngest-ever president when he is inaugurated next weekend after crushing far-right leader Marine Le Pen in a run-off vote on Sunday.The European Union breathed a sigh of relief at the election of a supportive French leader

South Korea beat Zambia 4-1 to collect their second straight win at a FIFA U-20 World Cup test event here on Monday. FC Barcelona Juvenil A forward Lee Seung-woo grabbed a brace, while his club teammate Paik Seung-ho scored a goal and set up another at Cheonan Stadium in Cheonan, some 90 kilometers south of Seoul, for South Korea's impressive performance against Zambia. Gearing up for the U-20 World Cup as the host, South Korea invited Honduras, Zambia and Ecuador for the current tournament as a

South Korea's vice defense minister left for Egypt on Monday in the latest move to boost cooperation with the African country.The trip by Vice Defense Minister Hwang In-moo comes amid South Korea's efforts to weaken North Korea's military network with Africa and strengthen cooperation over the international sanctions regime imposed on Pyongyang. South Korea's Vice Defense Minister Hwang In-moo speaks to reporters on Sept. 6, 2016. (Yonhap)In Egypt, Hwang is set to meet with Egyptian Defense Mini

Syria's national football team head coach Ayman Hakeem said Monday his team is tactically prepared against South Korea in the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifier in Seoul. South Korea and Syria will go head-to-head at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul on Tuesday in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Both teams are in Group A, along with Iran, Uzbekistan, Qatar and China. "Everything has been going well since we arrived here," Hakeem said at a press conference in Seoul. "S

China's commerce ministry said Monday it has launched an anti-dumping probe into South Korean exports of a chemical product amid Chinese economic retaliation against South Korea.China also said methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) imported from Japan or South Africa is also subject to the probe that could last up to Sept. 27, 2018. (Yonhap)MIBK is used as a chemical intermediate, a solvent for manufacturing paints, rubbers, pharmaceuticals, other chemicals, and industrial cleaners, according to the Ame

FRANKFURT (AFP) - Regulators at the European Central Bank said Monday they are "optimistic" that talks on harmonising rules for banks around the world will soon end in a deal.The so-called "Basel III" round of banking talks has stalled in recent months as negotiators battle over questions like how big banks' capital reserves should be and how they should judge risk.Observers feared that Donald Trump's incoming adminstration -- seen as favouring looser regulation of banks and distrustful of multi

BRUSSELS (AFP) -- The EU on Monday approved a $130 billion mega-merger of US agri-chemicals giants Dow Chemical and DuPont, paving the way for major consolidation in a sensitive sector for farmers and the environment.The decision by antitrust regulators was subject to Dupont selling "major parts" of its global pesticide business, said the European Commission, the EU's executive arm."Due to significant commitments on products and the worldwide research and development organisation, the merger of

Hong Seok-hyun, chairman of JoongAng Media Network, on Saturday implied he may join the upcoming 19th presidential election of South Korea. In an email sent to executives and employees of the Korean media group that owns daily newspaper JoongAng Ilbo and cable TV channel JTBC, Hong announced his resignation from the chairman post and suggested he would play a role in the upcoming May 9 election.  “After long agonization, I have made a decision to make a humble contribution for the future of the