The UN human rights investigator for North Korea said he would probe allegations of an estimated 20,000 North Koreans working in slave-like conditions abroad, mainly in China, Russia, and the Middle East.

China has protested over the Dalai Lama’s presence at a public event attended by US president Barack Obama, saying America was exploiting the issue of Tibet for political purposes.

A Canadian woman detained in China along with her husband on suspicion of stealing state secrets has been released on bail.

China dismissed accusations it stole F-35 stealth fighter plans as groundless, after documents leaked by former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden on a cyber attack were published by a German magazine.

South Korea 2 Algeria 4

Beijing has launched a security crackdown on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the crushing of pro-democracy protests centred on the capital’s Tiananmen Square.

The father of one of the victims of British-born gunman Elliot Rodger has pleaded with politicians to take action on gun control as the dead were honoured at a memorial service.

Chinese and Australian planes have spotted several objects in an area identified by multiple satellite images as containing possible debris from the missing Malaysian airliner.

Irish students will attend marital arts and origami classes as part of one of the country’s largest ever student exchange trips to China.

China’s top leader-in-waiting Xi Jinping, who has set off a storm of rumours after not showing up at scheduled public events for more than a week, is nursing an ailment, possibly a back injury suffered while swimming, sources said.

The FBI has opened a probe into trading losses at JPMorgan Chase & Co, stepping up the pressure on the bank after the US Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Reserve said they were also looking into the wrong-way bets that led to the losses.

Daily deal sites emerged strongly with the collapse of the economy and Ireland has seen many enter the marketplace: tickles.ie; grabone.ie and groupon.ie being three of the leading lights.

US President Barack Obama held a White House meeting today with the Dalai Lama, a fellow Nobel Peace Prize laureate, hours after China called on the US to rescind an invitation that could sour relations with Beijing.

China said today that Libya’s foreign minister was visiting Beijing just days after Chinese officials announced they had reached out to the rebel forces challenging Libyan dictator Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.

CHINA denied it supports hacking activities and said it is part of global efforts to combat computer security threats yesterday, a day after Google disclosed some of its email users suffered hacking attacks that orginated within the country.

South Korea’s defence minister resigned today amid intense criticism two days after a North Korean artillery attack killed four people on a small island near the Koreas’ disputed frontier.

SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON felt his Ivory Coast players had made their country proud despite seeing their World Cup campaign end yesterday.

Asian number one Thongchai Jaidee defied a niggling elbow injury to card a superb bogey-free eight-under-par 64 today to share a two-shot first round lead at the Volvo China Open alongside Korea's Kim Do-hoon.

Planned memorials to 18 Korean pilots who flew kamikaze missions for Japan in the Second World War have run into flak.

TWO Chinese restaurants have been fined a total of €33,000 for multiple breaches of food hygiene regulations.

American Diana D’Alessio and South Korea’s Jin-Joo Hong were the shock three-shot leaders on seven under par at Friday’s halfway stage of the Evian Masters in France.

A US military commander has said the US and South Korea could repel any attack by North Korea even if it had one or two nuclear bombs, as a top South Korean envoy today headed to Washington to push for new disarmament talks with the North.

South Korea’s two main opposition parties submitted the country’s first ever impeachment motion today in a bid to remove embattled President Roh Moo-hyun for violating election laws.

BONO and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will address the World Newspaper Congress, which will held here for the first time in June.

South Korea captain Hong Myung-bo says his team don't fear anybody ahead of the World Cup semi-final against Germany.

The teams have been announced for the South Korea v Italy clash.

The teams have been announced for the South Korea v Italy clash.

Soccer Teams - South Korea v USA

Hwang Sun-hong sent the whole of South Korea into ecstasy when he scored their first goal of the World Cup against Poland in the Asiad Stadium.

South Korea v Poland - teams

South Korea v Poland - teams

As a player whose heroic qualities are revered in both host countries, it is fitting that South Korea and Japan should provide Hong Myung-bo with the stage to make World Cup history.