MOSCOW (AFP) ― Russia has remained stoic about the threat of tighter Western sanctions over the Ukraine crisis, but analysts are concerned that the uncertainty they generate could alone choke off growth. The downing of a Malaysian passenger airliner over eastern Ukraine on July 17, which was carrying mostly Dutch passengers, has hardened Western resolve to impose tighter sanctions against Russia...

HAVANA (AFP) ― Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up a nine-day Latin American tour in Cuba on Wednesday, heading home with dozens of deals underlining Beijing’s growing interest ― and influence ― in the region. Xi kicked off his trip at a summit of the BRICS emerging powers in Brazil, then traveled to Argentina, Venezuela and Cuba ― three countries that have often been among the most outspoke...

Jakarta governor Joko Widodo, who captured the hearts of millions of Indonesians with his common man image, won the country's presidential election with 53 percent of the vote, final results showed Tuesday. Widodo, a former furniture exporter known to most as “Jokowi,” is the first candidate in a direct presidential election with no ties to the former dictator Suharto, who ruled for 30 years bef...

A local education office on Tuesday made a move to turn one of its elite high schools into a regular one on Tuesday, hinting at a potential all-out feud between the government and education superintendents over the autonomous private high school system. Dongsan Christian High School, located in Ansan, fell short of standards required for an autonomous private high school, according to the Gyeong...

MOSCOW (AFP) ― Russia risks burning bridges with the West over the deadly Malaysian plane crash in Ukraine, as analysts warn that President Vladimir Putin might never accept responsibility for the disaster. Observers said Thursday’s shooting down of a Boeing 777 with 298 people on board over Ukrainian territory held by pro-Kremlin rebels would have unpredictable political and economic consequenc...

Prime Minister Chung Hong-won vowed to continue to play a pivotal role in Korea’s reform drive, despite widespread concerns that the designation of ruling party bigwigs as deputy premiers will reduce his clout. Chung, who unexpectedly retained his post after two potential successors withdrew their nominations, told reporters Friday that he is planning to work in tandem with the newly appointed f...

Chong Jong-sup, the home affairs minister who took office Thursday, confronts the daunting challenge of revamping the public sector. The former constitutional scholar, entrusted with the task of regaining the public’s trust via governmental reforms, vowed to put his efforts into ensuring that accidents like April’s deadly sinking of the Sewol will not happen again. The ferry sank off the countr...

Former Saenuri Party chairman and pro-Park Geun-hye heavyweight Rep. Hwang Woo-yea is generating mixed reactions as President Park continues to struggle with her personnel selections. Past precedents indicate that Hwang will not face much trouble in passing the parliamentary confirmation hearing. So far, no lawmaker tapped for a Cabinet position has been blocked by the hearings. However, his tr...

Rep. Kim Moo-sung, who was elected as the chairman of the ruling Saenuri Party at a national convention on Tuesday, is in for a raft of challenges, to say the least. Both sides of the political spectrum have high expectations for his tenure, in the long term, and his role in the July 30 by-elections, in the short term. Kim’s actions are expected to vary greatly from those of his predecessor Rep...

LOS ANGELES (Yonhap) ― Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers earned his 10th victory of the season after tossing six shutout innings against the San Diego Padres at home on Sunday. In his final start before the All-Star break, Ryu left the game after six innings with the Dodgers leading 1-0. Ryu allowed only two hits and struck out a season-high 10 batters before handing things over to Brandon...

Whenever the fictional city of Gotham finds itself threatened by thugs, gangsters and psychopathic killers who are too much for its police force to cope with, the helpless city lights a distress signal calling for reinforcement. A man in a dark suit of armor with high-tech military gadgets races to save the city he has unconditionally sworn to protect from further falling into disgrace stemming ...

Former police officer Kwon Eun-hee has returned to the spotlight with her nomination as a New Politics Alliance for Democracy candidate fueling heated debate within and outside the progressive bloc. Kwon was nominated for Gwangju’s Gwangsan-B constituency on Wednesday, about a month after she left the police force. Kwon shot to fame last year when she claimed that former Seoul police chief Kim ...

Miroslav Klose found perhaps the only way to make matters worse for Brazil. On a night when Germany routed the host nation 7-1 in the World Cup semifinals, Klose also became the tournament's all-time record scorer _ surpassing Brazil great Ronaldo. Klose scored Germany's second goal in the 23rd minute, giving him 16 career World Cup goals. It broke the mark of 15 goals he shared with the retire...

The fate of mobile phone maker Pantech hangs in the balance as its creditor-led debt restructuring program shows no signs of improvement and the country’s three telecom giants resist joining in the recovery efforts. SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus were given extra time to consider a proposal by Pantech’s creditors led by the state-run Korea Development Bank. But judging by their comments to the pres...

JERUSALEM (AFP) ― Israel has arrested a group of Jewish extremists suspected of kidnapping and murdering a Palestinian teenager in a revenge killing, triggering violent clashes spreading from east Jerusalem throughout Israel. Tensions were already peaking early Monday in the south after two Israeli strikes on Gaza left five militants dead, following continuous mortar and rocket fire at southern ...