BERLIN -- The European Central Bank said Sunday it would keep its emergency cash lifeline to debt-hit Greece at current levels, while closely monitoring financial markets and "the potential implications for the monetary policy stance".   "The Governing Council decided to maintain the ceiling to the provision of emergency liquidity assistance (ELA) to Greek banks at the level decided on Friday," it said after a telephone conference.   Bank of Greece chief Yannis Stournaras said in the same statem

World News June 28, 2015

VIENNA -- With the target date for a deal less than two days off, Iran's foreign minister prepared to head home for consultations Sunday before returning to join counterparts from other countries at the negotiating table to push for a breakthrough. Iranian media said Mohammed Zarif's trip was planned in advance. Still,  the fact that he was leaving the talks so close to the Tuesday deadline reflected his need to get instructions on how to proceed on issues where the sides remain apart -- among t

World News June 28, 2015

North Korea reiterated its strong opposition against the opening of a U.N. human rights office in Seoul via its state-controlled media, warning that the move has made the possibility of improved bilateral ties "hardly imaginable."    On Tuesday, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights opened a field office in Seoul as a means to monitor the human rights situation in North Korea.     The Rodong Sinmun, an official newspaper of the North's ruling Communist Party of Korea, slammed the South for

North Korea June 28, 2015

South Korea has significant stakes in ensuring freedom of navigation and global commons around the world, including disputed waters in the South China Sea, a former top American diplomat said.   Former Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, who is now president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, also said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency that Seoul and Washington share a vision for "the rule of the road" that should guide behavior in the South China Sea.   Seoul's intere

Foreign Affairs June 28, 2015

A ruling party lawmaker suspected of receiving illegal political funds in a high profile corruption scandal has refused to answer his summons by the prosecution, prosecution officials said Saturday.   According to the officials, Rep. Rhee In-je of the ruling Saenuri Party has refused to show up for questioning over his allegations despite an earlier promise to meet with prosecution investigators on Saturday.   The six-term lawmaker is suspected of receiving 20 million won (US$17,800) in illicit

Politics June 28, 2015

A film depicting a bloody inter-Korean naval clash 13 years ago surpassed 1 million viewers on Sunday, its distributor said.   The "Northern Limit Line," released in local theaters on Wednesday, was seen by more than 1 million viewers as of 7 a.m., according to NEW.   The movie depicts the naval skirmish off South Korea's border island of Yeonpyeong on June 29, 2002, which left six South Korean sailors killed and 18 others injured.   Another Korean film, "The Classified File," surpassed 2 millio

Film June 28, 2015

Finance Minister Choi Kyung-hwan departed to Beijing Sunday for an inaugural ceremony of the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.   Choi will attend the ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday, sources said.   South Korea and 56 other countries became founding members of the AIIB, which is seen as a potential counterbalance to U.S. and Japan-led multilateral lenders such as the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.   The U.S. and Japan did not join the AIIB,

June 28, 2015

PORT EL KANTAOUI, Tunisia -- Tunisia weighed new security measures Sunday as it scrambled to secure its vital tourism sector after 38 people were killed at a seaside resort in the worst jihadist attack in its history.   The country's National Security Council was to meet later Sunday after authorities vowed to ramp up security following Friday's attack targeting tourists, which saw at least 15 Britons killed.   After an emergency meeting late on Saturday, Interior Minister Najem Gharsalli promis

World News June 28, 2015

ATHENS, Greece ― Greece was anxiously awaiting a decision Sunday by the European Central Bank on whether it will increase the emergency liquidity assistance that Greek banks can draw upon. Worried Greeks continued lining up at ATM machines Sunday morning, the day after the Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras called for a referendum on creditors' financial proposals in return for rescue loans. While some machines were running out of cash, others were being replenished. Tsipras' move for a national vote

World Business June 28, 2015

The Japanese embassy will hold a military anniversary event at the Japanese ambassador's residence here to prevent the ceremony from stoking anti-Japanese sentiment, diplomatic sources said Sunday.   The embassy plans to mark the 61st anniversary of the establishment of Japan's Self-Defense Forces in a ceremony at the residence early next month, the sources said on condition of anonymity.   The decision reflects Japan's cautious attitude amid burgeoning signs of a thaw in the countries' bilatera

Foreign Affairs June 28, 2015

Panic over the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak in South Korea appeared to be waning as people are increasingly going back to their normal lives with no additional cases being reported over the weekend, analysts said Sunday.   The number of people diagnosed with MERS stood at 182 for two days, while 91 were discharged from hospitals after complete recoveries and about 13,000 have been lifted from isolation for suspected infection as of Sunday.    Weeks after shunning populated ar

Social Affairs June 28, 2015