In the three decades since HIV and AIDS were first identified, patients, activists and medical researchers have been struggling against not only the disease itself but also the social stigma it brings. Thanks to their strenuous efforts, AIDS is now perceived as a chronic illness rather than a death sentence. Medical experts paint a sanguine picture about their research, saying that as long as pa...

By Shin Hyon-hee Hurricane Irene triggered cancellations of thousands of flights over the weekend as the storm raced up the United States’ northeastern shore. Korean Air, Korea’s top airline, pre-canceled its routes to and from New York on Saturday and Sunday, and delayed Washington-bound services by three hours. Asiana Airlines also halted flights to New York on Sunday. Nearly two dozen airp...

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il wrapped up his week-long trip to Russia and China, where he struggled to pave the way for resumption of the long-stalled regional nuclear disarmament talks and economic support. Kim returned home via train on Saturday, greeted by his youngest son and apparent successor Kim Jong-un, who had been waiting at the border railway station, Pyongyang’s official Korean Cen...

Rival political parties are expected to clash once again over the long-disputed Korea-U.S Free Trade Agreement ratification during the parliament’s regular session, starting this week. The ruling Grand National Party aims at having the pact ratified within October, in step with the U.S. Congress, which is expected to endorse its part next month, or in October at the latest. Opposition parities,...

BAGHDAD (AP) ― Bombs in Baghdad killed six people Saturday night, capping a deadly day in which at least 33 people died across Iraq, officials said. Late Saturday night, a bomb hidden in a bicycle outside a Sunni mosque killed three worshippers and wounded eight others leaving evening prayers at the Omer Bin Abdul Aziz mosque just north of Baghdad, police said. A half hour later, three policeme...

BEIRUT (AP) ― Syria’s closest ally, Iran, warned Saturday that a power vacuum in Damascus could spark an unprecedented regional crisis while urging President Bashar Assad to listen to some of his people’s “legitimate demands.” Thousands of protesters, meanwhile, insisted they will defy tanks and bullets until Assad goes. The 5-month-old uprising in Syria has left Assad with few international all...

BEIJING (AP) ― More Chinese books need to be translated and more thought-provoking ideas need to be used in novels to elevate China’s literary standing in the world, some of the country’s top writers said Friday. Speaking to promote China’s top literary award ― the Mao Dun Literature Prize ― the authors said modern Chinese literature still does not attract many Western readers despite the countr...