WASHINGTON (AP) – A rift within the Republican Party is widening in the aftermath of its clear defeat in the budget-debt brawl that threatened a default and shutdown much of the U.S. federal government for 16 days.Implored by House Speaker John Boehner to unite and ``fight another day'' against President Barack Obama and Democrats, Republicans are instead intensifying attacks on one another.That's an ominous sign for the party in advance of 2014 midterm elections and more difficult policy fights

World News Oct. 19, 2013

SEOUL, Oct. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korean hurler Ryu Hyun-jin's first Major League Baseball (MLB) postseason ended on a sour note in St. Louis on Friday, as his Los Angeles Dodgers were eliminated in the National League Championship Series (NLCS) following their 9-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 6.Ryu made two starts in the playoffs, going 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA in 10 innings pitched. Ryu was lined up to start Game 7 if the Dodgers won Friday to stay alive.In his postseason debut on Oct. 6

Baseball Oct. 19, 2013

SEOUL, Oct. 19 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean stock market is expected to continue its upward trend next week as foreigners are anticipated to maintain their buying rally amid eased woes over the U.S. political impasse, analysts said Saturday.The country's key stock index, the KOSPI, advanced 1 percent this week to close at 2,052.40 on Friday.Earlier this week, the local stock market was dented by concerns stemming from political tension in the U.S. over its debt limit.However, the market returned

Oct. 19, 2013

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Just hours after winning a coveted place on the U.N. Security Council for the first time, Saudi Arabia did a stunning about-face Friday and rejected the seat, denouncing the body for failing to resolve world conflicts such as the Syrian civil war.The unprecedented move at the United Nations appeared largely directed at Saudi Arabia's longtime ally, the United States, reflecting more than two years of frustration.The oil giant and the world's superpower are at odds over a nu

World News Oct. 19, 2013

In a desperate bid to overcome the liquidity crisis, Tong Yang Group said Tuesday it intends to sell off the entire stake in its thermal power arm, after the embattled conglomerate failed to get help from creditor banks and its ex-affiliate. The family-run company said it is willing to sell a 100-percent stake in Tongyang Power Inc., which is valued at about 1 trillion won (US$931.1 million), according to sources familiar with the matter. Tongyang Power is considered Tong Yang's core and lucrati

Companies Sept. 24, 2013

South Korea decided not to select Boeing's F-15SE as the country's next fighter jet Tuesday amid concern the sole-remaining candidate for the 8.3 trillion won (US$7.2 billion) project is not suitable as it lacks stealth features. The decision, which came in a meeting of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) presided over by Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin, prompted the government to restart the procurement program from the beginning, further delaying the replacement of the aging fl

Defense Sept. 24, 2013

Five New Zealand motorcyclists crossed the heavily armed inter-Korean border from North Korea to South Korea on Thursday with the goal of promoting peace on the divided peninsula, officials here said.North Korean media reported earlier on the arrival of the bikers and said they have visited many parts of the country as part of their trek across the Korean Peninsula.On Wednesday, the Seoul government allowed the bikers to cross the demilitarized zone (DMZ) as they want to use the visit to wish fo

North Korea Aug. 29, 2013

Unionized workers of South Korea's second-largest carmaker Kia Motors Corp. went on a partial strike Thursday to press their demand for a wage hike and other fringe benefits, a company official said.The walkout by about 30,000 workers, the second since last Wednesday, comes a day after their leaders failed to work out differences with their management in the latest negotiations. The workers also plan to down tools for four hours on Friday.The union calls for, among other things, a special bonus

Social Affairs Aug. 29, 2013

A scorching heat wave has killed 10 people in South Korea this summer, the health and welfare ministry said Tuesday, as the weather agency issued a heat advisory and heat warning for most parts of the country.The heave wave has gripped South Korea for weeks as temperatures topped 33 C in Seoul and other major cities.Temperatures have reached a record 39.2 C in Gimhae, near South Korea's second-largest city of Busan, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.A heat advisory is issued w

Social Affairs Aug. 13, 2013

State prosecutors on Tuesday raided the properties of former President Chun Doo-hwan's relatives as part of intensive efforts to collect the massive amount of money he had illegally amassed while in office in the 1980s.Chun was ordered by the country's top court in 1997 to return to the state coffers the 220 billion won (US$196.8 million) he was found to have illegally accumulated during his military rule from 1980 to 1988. So far, the former dictator has paid only a quarter of the total, with s

Social Affairs Aug. 13, 2013

The parliamentary spokesman of South Korea's main opposition party resigned under pressure Friday, taking responsibility for making what was perceived by critics as a disparaging remark against the family of President Park Geun-hye.Citing a book he read, Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo, the parliamentary spokesman for the Democratic Party (DP), on Thursday called Park's father, former President Park Chung-hee, a "gwitae," or a "baby born to a ghost," meaning that he should not have been born.The book, authore

Politics July 12, 2013

South Korea's top court on Friday partly reversed a lower court ruling that said two U.S. producers of a toxic chemical should compensate most of the South Korean Vietnam War veterans who sued the firms for their exposure to the defoliant.Sending the case back for review, the Supreme Court said the Seoul High Court should reconsider its 2006 verdict of a combined63 billion won (US$61 million) in damages awarded to 6,795 South Koreans.In a ruling, the court did not recognize epidemiological corre

Social Affairs July 12, 2013

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – South Korean police say a local man is responsible for prank 911 calls that prompted school lockdowns in New Jersey last year.The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said Monday in a statement that a 19-year-old surnamed Lee made calls from South Korea to a New Jersey communications center and threatened to use an AK-47 to kill students at Hackettstown High School.The calls led schools in the northwestern New Jersey town and at Centenary College to keep students inside for

Social Affairs July 1, 2013