The ruling Grand National Party is in the process of redefining its ideological guidelines, which will be contained in a new official platform. A similar procedure will soon start at the main opposition Democratic United Party, which has now completed the process of establishing a new leadership to manage the April general elections. What is emerging at this early stage of electoral preparations provides a glimpse into, if not a whole picture of, the nation’s future political landscape: There is

The prosecutors’ office is often accused of political bias in its criminal investigations. Such accusations have gained greater credence from recent court decisions on two politically fraught cases. One case involved Han Myeong-sook, who was prime minister for President Roh Moo-hyun’s administration in 2006-07. The other involved Chung Yeon-ju, who was forced out of the post of president of the Korea Broadcasting System, the country’s most powerful radio and TV network, shortly after President L

Barack Obama puzzles many of us. His performance as president has disappointed so dramatically that it prompts me to wonder what makes him tick.The most widely used tool for understanding personality types is a questionnaire called the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. So I bought a book called “Do What You Are,” by Paul Tieger and Barbara Barron-Tieger, and read their explanation of the Myers-Briggs classifications to try to understand our president in the broad terms commonly used by professionals.

ZUBAIR, Iraq (AP) ― A bomb tore through a procession of Shiite pilgrims heading toward a largely Sunni town in southern Iraq on Saturday, killing at least 53 people in the latest sign of a power struggle between rival Muslim sects that has escalated since the American military withdrawal.Fears of more bloodshed have risen in recent weeks, with the U.S. no longer enjoying the leverage it once had to encourage the two sides to work together to rein in extremists. Most of the latest attacks appear

CARACAS (AP) ― Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Friday that his government will close its consulate in Miami after the U.S. government expelled a diplomat.Chavez said he decided the consulate will shut its doors in response to what he called an unfair action by the U.S. State Department.“We’re going to close it. It’s OK. There won’t be a consulate in Miami,” Chavez said during his annual speech to the National Assembly.Livia Acosta Noguera, Venezuela’s consul general in Miami, was ordered o

The U.S. Embassy is inviting photographers here to submit their best work to a World Wetlands Day photo celebration.The event, under the theme of “Wetlands Tourism: A Great Experience,” is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in partnership with the Ramsar Convention Secretariat and is running from Jan. 3-20. Photography enthusiasts are invited to upload images to a Flickr site under the categories of wildlife, landscapes, plants and tourists. People a

Seoul Global Center is to host a New Year’s party on Jan. 19. The event to run from 2-5 p.m. will include a review session of SGC’s progress as well as an awards ceremony to recognize its volunteers. There will be an exhibition of photographs showcasing SGC activities as well as international foods to sample. Foreign guests are invited to wear their traditional costumes to the event. Attendees will also get the chance to experience Korean New Year customs, foods and folk games. Those wishing to