Speculation is growing that President Park Geun-hye may deliver yet another address to the nation over a corruption scandal involving her and her longtime friend, in a last-ditch effort to foil an impeachment vote slated for later this week.Observers said that the embattled president may specify the exact time for her resignation during a speech that could be made on Tuesday or Wednesday -- at least a few days before an impeachment motion is put to a vote on Friday.Last week, Park already expres

This year's Korean Intangible Cultural Heritage Week will open in Mexico City to provide the locals chances to learn and enjoy Korea's traditional arts, organizers said.The Korean Cultural Center in Mexico said on Sunday it is planning a variety of special events to mark the weeks between Dec. 5 to 23 in cooperation with the National Intangible Heritage Center and the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation.The events are to provide education sessions on art as well as performances and exhibitions of

Floods from torrential rains have killed 13 people in central Vietnam, with more rain forecast for the region. Local disaster officials said Monday that floods since late November have killed six people in Binh Dinh province and three in Quang Nam province. The floods have largely receded, they said. The government said in a report that another four died in Quang Ngai. The floods damaged the region's infrastructure, agriculture and livestock, it said.The report says a cold spell from the north i

There was no immediate reaction Monday from Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to the country’s vice president saying she will resign her Cabinet post, citing “major differences in principles and values” with Duterte and an unspecified plot to remove her from the vice presidency.Leni Robredo, a human rights lawyer and respected political newcomer, said in a statement Sunday that she will resign as housing secretary, an appointment made by Duterte, but will stay on in her elected post as vice p

The popular leader of India’s southern Tamil Nadu state was in critical condition Monday morning after suffering a heart attack, the hospital said.Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayaram Jayalalitha was being monitored by “a team of experts, including cardiologists, pulmonologist and critical care specialists,” according to a statement from Dr. Subbaiah Viswanathan at Apollo Hospitals in the state capital of Chennai.The 68-year-old actress-turned-politician suffered the heart attack Sunday night after

South Korean shares ticked down late Monday morning on a risk-off mood following the failure of Italy's referendum on constitutional reform.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 1.76 points, or 0.09 percent, to 1,969.85 as of 11:20 a.m.The KOSPI opened lower but it pared some losses as foreigners and institutions turned to net-buyers. Individuals offloaded shares.The global financial market has paid keen attention to political turmoil in Italy. Concern is widespread about

North Korea has implemented a temporary suspension of railway transportation for its residents in the wake of its worst-ever flooding that has caused havoc in the North's railway system, US-based media reported Monday.Citing a source in the North's Ryanggang Province, Radio Free Asia (RFA) said the Ministry of Railways has taken a measure to halt train services for its residents participating in the 8th Congress of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea. The source told the RFA that the use

South Korea has increased its defense budget for next year to better cope with growing threats from North Korea, the defense ministry said Monday.The government set the defense budget at 40.34 trillion won ($34 billion) for 2017, up 4.0 percent from 38.8 trillion won a year earlier, the Ministry of National Defense said in a statement.Of the total, 28.14 trillion won will be spent on operating military forces and facilities, with 12.2 trillion won set aside to bolster combat capabilities, it sai