The Palestinian ambassador to the Czech Republic died on Wednesday after a blast at his Prague residence that police said was an accident.The blast was likely caused by an anti-theft system on the door of a safe that Jamal al-Jamal was opening at the time, Prague police said.The 56-year-old suffered "very serious injuries" in the blast and was taken to Prague's military hospital in an artificial coma, said Jirina Ernestova, spokeswoman for the emergency services.Police later confirmed that he ha

World News Jan. 2, 2014

Former first lady Barbara Bush remains hospitalized with a respiratory-related issue, but her condition hasn't changed, a spokesman for her husband's office said Wednesday.Bush, 88, was admitted to Houston Methodist Hospital on Monday, though it wasn't announced until former President George H.W. Bush's office released a statement Tuesday night.“She is in great spirits, has already received visits from her husband and family, and is receiving fantastic care,” the statement read, promising to pro

World News Jan. 2, 2014

Italian automaker Fiat SpA announced Wednesday that it reached an agreement to acquire the remaining shares of Chrysler for $3.65 billion in payments to a union-controlled trust fund. Fiat already owns 58.5 percent of Chrysler's shares, with the remaining 41.5 percent held by a United Auto Workers union trust fund that pays health care bills for retirees.Under the deal, Fiat will make an initial payment of $1.9 billion to the fund, plus an additional $1.75 billion upon closing the deal.Chrysler

World Business Jan. 2, 2014

Philanthropy in the U.S. made a comeback in large donations in 2013, with the country's wealthiest donors giving more than $3.4 billion to charity, according to a new count of the top 10 gifts of 2013 by the Chronicle of Philanthropy.The analysis of the year's top gifts also found more gifts of $100 million or more than in 2012. In 2013, there were 15 publicly announced gifts of at least $100 million, compared with 11 in 2012.The largest donation of 2013 came from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerber

World News Jan. 2, 2014

The number of business group affiliates subject to restrictions on mutual investments and loan guarantees declined in January from a month earlier, the antitrust watchdog said Thursday.The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) said the number of corporate affiliates on the watch list stood at 1,700 as of Wednesday, down 46 from the previous month.The decline was attributable to the exclusion of 34 affiliates of the crisis-ridden Tong Yang Group from the list as the conglomerate no longer met the business

Industry Jan. 2, 2014

  A 40-year-old man died Wednesday, a day after setting himself on fire following a protest demanding the resignation of President Park Geun-hye, police said.   The man, identified only by his surname Lee, set himself ablaze on an overpass in front of Seoul Station around 5:35 p.m. Tuesday after staging a brief protest where he hung placards demanding Park's resignation and an independent counsel probe into the election meddling scandal.   Lee was immediately taken to the hospital but died aroun

Politics Jan. 1, 2014

Pope Francis on Wednesday urged people to accept each other's differences and for enemies to recognize that they are brothers.    “We are all children of one heavenly father, we belong to the same human family and we share a common destiny,” Francis said, speaking from his studio window overlooking St. Peter's Square, jammed with tens of thousands of faithful, tourists and Romans.   “This brings a responsibility for each to work so that the world becomes a community of brothers who respect each

Culture Jan. 1, 2014

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on Wednesday called for the construction of "world-class" structures, praising the speedy completion of his pet ski resort project.   "The construction sector should set up world-class structures ... and build many other structures that could contribute to improving the people's living conditions," Kim said in a New Year message broadcast on state TV.   He praised soldiers and builders for setting up "numerous monumental structures" including the Masik Pass Ski Re

North Korea Jan. 1, 2014

An elite anti-terrorism police squad killed six suspected militants and arrested another during an extended standoff at a house near the Indonesian capital, a police spokesman said Wednesday.   Intelligence gathered from earlier arrests allowed police to storm hideouts in Ciputat on Jakarta's outskirts as part of an investigation into an alleged plot to bomb the Myanmar Embassy and a Buddhist temple, said National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar.   The nine-hour shootout started late

World News Jan. 1, 2014

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called Wednesday for improved ties with South Korea as he hailed the recent purge and execution of his once-powerful uncle that has apparently strengthened his grip on power.   In an annual New Year's message delivered live on the North's television and radio, the 30-something leader also pledged to rebuild the North's moribund economy in 2014 with emphasis on food production.   "We will make aggressive efforts to improve relations between the North and the South,

North Korea Jan. 1, 2014

South Korea will resume negotiations with the United States next week to rewrite a decades-old nuclear accord under which it is forbidden from enriching uranium or reprocessing spent fuel for peaceful purposes, the foreign ministry said Monday.The two-day meeting, the ninth of its kind, will begin on Jan. 7 in the central city of Daejeon, home to South Korea's major nuclear power research facilities, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."In the upcoming talks, the heads of the two partie

Politics Dec. 30, 2013