North Korea plans to hold a conference of top performers who are leading efforts to overcome economic difficulties under a new slogan of boosting self-reliance at the end of this year, Pyongyang's state media said Thursday.The central committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea decided to convene a meeting of "Mallima pace-setters" in Pyongyang at the end of 2017, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).Mallima refers to an imaginary horse that can run extreme distances at a very

North Korea Jan. 26, 2017

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- President Donald Trump on Wednesday ordered work to begin on planning and building a wall on the Mexican border, sounding a hardline tone on immigration as he moved to fulfill a key campaign pledge.The US leader instructed officials to begin to "plan, design and construct a physical wall along the southern border" and -- perhaps more problematically -- see how it could be funded."A nation without borders is not a nation," Trump said, echoing former president Ronald Reagan, as

World Jan. 26, 2017

Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Thursday called for enhanced crackdowns on crimes against women and children as part of efforts to ensure public safety amid a national leadership crisis.Since taking over early last month after President Park Geun-hye was impeached by parliament over a corruption scandal, Hwang has prioritized strengthening public safety and national security, and stabilizing citizens' livelihoods."The most important obligation of the government is to seek to

National Jan. 26, 2017

McLEAN, Va. (AP) -- Federal worker Greg Guthrie had held out hope after Donald Trump's election to president that his professed advocacy for the American worker would extend to the federal workforce, too.That hope diminished after Trump on Monday issued an executive order implementing a hiring freeze across the federal government, with exceptions only for military, national security or public safety personnel.So while Guthrie wasn't shocked to learn Trump had imposed the hiring freeze, he was di

World Jan. 24, 2017

KABUL (AFP) -- Deported after years of living in Germany, 26 young Afghans arrived in Kabul Tuesday with only one thought in mind: fleeing this war-torn country.Escorted by 80 German police officers, their plane landed shortly after 7:30 a.m. -- the second batch deported under a disputed Afghan-EU deal signed last October and aimed at curbing the influx of migrants."What would you have me do here? There is only death!" said 19-year-old Ramid Afshah, returning from Germany after five years -- a c

World Jan. 24, 2017

South Korean soprano Sumi Jo's concerts in China have been canceled in what is believed to be China's retaliation against Seoul's plan to deploy an advanced U.S. missile defense system on its soil, the singer said Tuesday."I'd like to tell you that my tour in China has been canceled. I have prepared for the concerts for the past two years and they didn't even give me a reason (for the cancellation)," the Grammy-winning Korean diva wrote on her Twitter account. "It is very unfortunate to see the

Life&Culture Jan. 24, 2017

BAGHDAD (AP) -- The U.N. and several aid organizations said Tuesday that an estimated 750,000 civilians are still living under Islamic State rule in the western part of Mosul, the next target of a U.S.-backed Iraqi offensive launched three months ago.Lise Grande, the U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, said the cost of food and basic goods is soaring, water and electricity are intermittent and that some residents are forced to burn furniture to keep warm.Iraqi and Kurdish forces launched a m

World Business Jan. 24, 2017

LONDON (AFP) -- Britain still intends to start talks on leaving the European Union by the end of March, despite a Supreme Court ruling that the government must first obtain parliamentary approval, Downing Street said Tuesday."The British people voted to leave the EU, and the government will deliver on their verdict -- triggering Article 50, as planned, by the end of March," a spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May's office said."Today's ruling does nothing to change that."Brexit minister David

World Business Jan. 24, 2017

BUCHAREST (AP) -- Romania's president has nominated a regional politician as the next prime minister, after turning down an economist who could have become the country's first female Muslim premier.President Klaus Iohannis on Friday endorsed Sorin Grindeanu, 43, to become premier. Grindeanu is a member of the Social Democratic Party that won Dec. 11 elections, and chairman of the Timis county council. Parliament needs to approve him.The nomination came after Iohannis declined to endorse Sevil Sh

World Dec. 30, 2016

South Korea's Constitutional Court on Friday said it cannot require President Park Geun-hye to testify in her impeachment trial that enters the argument phase next week, dismissing demands by lawmakers who voted to remove her over a corruption scandal.The nine-justice court also confirmed the dates when some witnesses will testify but delayed a decision on whether to make companies answer whether they were really forced into sponsoring foundations controlled by the president's jailed friend, Cho

National Dec. 30, 2016

SHANGHAI (AFP) -- China is the world's second-largest economy and has one of the fastest growth rates of any G20 nation, but its  stock markets have been among the worst performing in the world this year.Starting with a botched attempt to reduce volatility that instead triggered a spectacular meltdown, Chinese bourses have spent the year struggling against feckless policymakers, massive capital flight and a languishing currency.The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index (SCI) closed Friday down 12.3

World Business Dec. 30, 2016

Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Friday named a new vice cultural minister in his first exercise of personnel authority as the acting president.Hwang tapped Song Soo-keun, who heads the strategy division of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, as the ministry's first vice minister in charge of overall cultural policies.The prime minister's office said the decision came as Song holds a variety of experience in the cultural sector as well as public relations.Hwang has b

National Dec. 30, 2016