WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 (Yonhap) -- The United States announced Wednesday that Stephen Bosworth will quit his part-time job as Washington's top envoy on Pyongyang as the two sides plan to hold another round of high-level talks next week in Geneva.After two and a half years of service, Bosworth will be r

World News Oct. 20, 2011

SEOUL, Oct. 19 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has pressed for the quick resumption of long-stalled talks on ending Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programs without preconditions, Pyongyang's state media said Wednesday.Kim also repeated the North's longstanding stance that the denuclearizati

North Korea Oct. 20, 2011

PARIS, Oct 19, 2011 (AFP) - Does Facebook alter the brain?That's the question which flows from an unusual investigation into the online social network used by 800 million people.Volunteers placed in a 3-D scanner had bigger, denser structures in three areas of the brain if they had a big list of Fac

Culture Oct. 19, 2011

SEOUL, Oct. 19 (Yonhap) -- About 40 people, including public officials and soldiers, are under police investigation on suspicion of producing or circulating pro-North Korean materials on the Internet in breach of the National Security Law, police said Wednesday.The people under probe are suspected o

Social Affairs Oct. 19, 2011

SEOUL, Oct. 19 (Yonhap) -- Multiple citizenship holders will be barred from joining courts or prosecutors' offices here as part of the government's efforts to better protect national security, the Justice Ministry said Wednesday.Under the legal revision drafted by the ministry earlier this week, mul

Social Affairs Oct. 19, 2011

SEOUL, Oct. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korean credit card companies on Wednesday voiced strong opposition to the ruling party's move to unify their commission rates on retailers of different industries and sizes.On Tuesday, Grand National Party leader Hong Joon-pyo tabled a bill that would ban card firms

Oct. 19, 2011

Samsung Electronics Co. won dismissal of some of Apple Inc. (AAPL)’s claims over smartphone patents in a lawsuit in federal court in California. The iPhone maker’s claims that Samsung misrepresented its intent to license certain patents on fair terms was dismissed and Samsung’s request to throw out

Industry Oct. 19, 2011

LONDON (AP) — The European Union's top court ruled Tuesday that scientists cannot patent stem cell techniques that use human embryos for research, a decision some scientists said could threaten major medical advances if it prevents biotech companies from turning a profit.The ruling sets Europe

World News Oct. 19, 2011

ATLANTA (AP) — The quest for the world's first malaria vaccine appears to have taken a big step: A study in Africa shows experimental shots cut the risk of disease in young children by half.The initial results from a final stage of vaccine testing were released Tuesday, and the vaccine's devel

Technology Oct. 19, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) — Apple, the juggernaut of consumer electronics, stumbled in its latest quarter, as the later-than-usual launch of the new iPhone held back sales.On Tuesday, Apple reported earnings and revenue that came in below analyst expectations, sending its stock down 7 percent.It was a rar

World Business Oct. 19, 2011

SEOUL, Oct. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and Brazil have agreed to expand their bilateral trade and investment as part of efforts to boost their overall economic cooperation, officials said Wednesday. The countries also shared the view that they and other emerging countries should keep their fiscal he

Oct. 19, 2011

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Barack Obama will sign the free trade accords with South Korea, Colombia and Panama on Friday, completing Washington's long-delayed legislative and administrative procedures necessary for the implementation of the deals, according to the White House.Oba

Politics Oct. 19, 2011

SEOUL, Oct. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak was to hold a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on Wednesday to talk mainly about bilateral relations, North Korea and a possible free trade agreement between the two neighbors.Noda arrived in Seoul on Wednesday for a t

Politics Oct. 19, 2011

SEOUL, Oct. 19 (Yonhap) -- A local pilot with a South Korean passenger airline is under police investigation on suspicion of uploading pro-North Korean materials on the Internet in breach of the National Security Law, police said Wednesday.The 44-year-old plane captain surnamed Kim posted about 60 a

Social Affairs Oct. 19, 2011

SEOUL, Oct. 18 (Yonhap) -- Smokers who are caught lighting up in Seoul's major city parks will be fined 100,000 won (US$93) from December when a stricter anti-tobacco rule goes into effect, the municipal government said Tuesday. The Seoul Metropolitan Government last month revised a city ordinance t

Social Affairs Oct. 18, 2011