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 Korea vowed stern reaction to any North Korean provocation Monday as the country ratcheted up tension amid growing international pressure on its arms programs and deepening political uncertainties in the South and the United States. "We are closely monitoring North Korea's military moves as it might misinterpret political trouble in the South and the power transition period in the US as a good opportunity to provoke," Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman Jeon Ha-kyu said at a press briefing.The

Loans extended to local businesses rose slightly in the third quarter from a quarter earlier on increased facility investments, central bank data showed Monday.Corporate loans climbed by 15.7 trillion won ($13.3 billion), or 1.6 percent, in the July-September period to 986.4 trillion won from three months earlier, according to data from the Bank of Korea (BOK).Year-on-year, the third quarter results marked a 5.9 percent gain.By purposes, loans extended for companies' operating expenses were up 1

South Korea's ruling Saenuri Party appears to be on the verge of a breakup amid growing tension between rival factions over an impeachment vote against President Park Geun-hye, observers said Monday.Park loyalists in the party are seeking to give her a chance to step down voluntarily, while dissenters plan to join the opposition-led impeachment vote Friday. The dissenters' group previously said it is open to her voluntary resignation if she promises this week to resign by the end of April. With

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

The disposable monthly income of the lowest-income brackets fell 16 percent in the third quarter from a year earlier due to reduced earnings, official data showed Monday.The disposable monthly income of the lowest 10 percent income group came to 717,000 won ($610) in the July-September period, according to data compiled by Statistics Korea.It marked the biggest decline since 2003 when the statistics office began compiling relevant data.The disposable monthly income of the lowest 10 percent incom

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 Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and the head of an international nuclear agency have discussed cooperation against the nuclear threat from North Korea, his office here said Monday.Yun met with Yukiya Amano, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in Vienna during his visit to preside over a nuclear security meeting that kicks off on Monday (local time) for a two-day run.This marked the third meeting between the two following ones in August and October last y

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

Nearly eight out of 10 North Korean escapees believe that defections by the North's officials from its overseas missions will likely hasten the collapse of the regime, a survey showed Monday.Among 314 respondents, 78.5 percent said that defections by North Korean diplomats and other officials working abroad are expected to deal a blow to North Korea, according to the poll on 400 defectors by North Korea Intellectuals Solidarity.Asked how to induce more high-level defections, 40.5 percent of thos

Most of the recent new entrants to the South Korean stock market are trading below their initial public offering (IPO) price, data showed Monday, as investors remain spooked by unfavorable foreign and domestic factors.Out of the 12 companies that have listed their shares on the main and secondary bourses since November, eight finished below their IPO price as of Friday, while the rest managed to make gains by staying above their issue price, according to the data by the Korea Exchange (KRX). A c

OCI Co., South Korea's leading solar power company, said Monday that it has decided to sell its US affiliate for 451 billion won ($385 million) as part of efforts to improve its financial status.In a regulatory filing, OCI said it has agreed to sell OCI Solar San Antonio 6 LLC. The company did not unveil the name of the buyer.Since 2012, OCI has been conducting a 400MW-solar power project in Texas under which a total of seven solar farms have been established. The proceeds from the asset sale wi

South Korea's listed companies have almost doubled their issuance of convertible bonds (CBs) this year amid financial troubles largely attributable to corporate restructuring and lower profitability, data showed Monday.The volume of CBs sold by firms listed on the main KOSPI and secondary KOSDAQ markets in the first 11 months of 2016 totaled 5.03 trillion won ($4.3 billion), up 94.3 percent from a year earlier, according to the Korea Exchange. A image of corporate bond yields (Yonhap)CBs issued

Opposition parties said Monday they will focus on securing enough votes to pass their impeachment motion against President Park Geun-hye, saying that her voluntary retreat in April as proposed by the ruling party cannot be an option.Park has been facing the biggest crisis in her political career amid the influence-peddling scandal surrounding her close confidante Choi Soon-sil, who exerted influence on state affairs without any official seat in the administration.While the opposition parties han

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi announced his resignation on Monday, hours after learning he had suffered a crushing defeat in a referendum on constitutional reform."My experience of government finishes here," Renzi told a press conference, acknowledging that the No campaign had won an "extraordinarily clear" victory in a vote on which he had staked his future.Interior Ministry projections suggested the No camp, led by the populist Five Star Movement, had been backed by 59.5 percent of those

Shelley Mack says she didn't know the converted Oakland warehouse known as the “Ghost Ship” was an illegal residence until after she moved in, when she was instructed to tell visitors it was a 24-hour workspace for artists. The building was often freezing cold. Water and power were sometimes stolen from neighbors, who would get angry and shut them off. Once, a generator blew up, and residents quickly doused the flames, she said. Mack, a 58-year-old tech sales worker and jewelry maker, lived in t

3일 시민단체 등의 새누리당 규탄 집회가 끝난 뒤 경찰이 새누리당사를 청소한 사실이 알려져 경찰 내부에서 비판이 빗발치고 있다. 그러나 해당 부대 지휘관은 이에 "근무지를 청소한 것"이라는 입장을 밝혔다.4일 경찰인권센터 페이스북 페이지에는 경찰 기동대원들이 새누리당사를 청소하는 모습이 담긴 사진과 비판 글이 올라왔다.글과 사진을 게시한 장신중 전 총경은 "경찰관이 새누리당 청소원인가"라는 글에서 청소를 지시한 지휘관에게 책임을 물어야 한다고 주장했다.사진 속 경찰은 서울지방경찰청 1기동단 소속 경찰관과 의경들이다. 사진 속 이들은 물빗자루를 들고 비질을 하면서 물청소를 하고 있다. (사진=연합뉴스)전날 시민단체들은 이곳에서 '박근혜 퇴진! 새누리당 해체! 국정농단 공범 새누리당 규탄 시민대회'를 열었다. 참가자들은 새누리당 해체와 박근혜 대통령 탄핵을 외치며 당사를 향해 달걀을 던지기도 했다.장 전 총경은 "지시한 사람은 서울청장 김정훈인가, 기동본부장 송갑수인가, 1기동단장 최성

서울 강남구는 지난 2개월간 외국인 여성을 불법 고용한 마사지업소를 집중 단속해 13곳을 적발하고, 불법 취업한 외국인 여성 33명을 강제 출국시켰다고 5일 밝혔다.불법 고용으로 적발된 외국인 여성은 태국인 32명, 중국인 1명 등이다.적발된 업소 대부분은 '타이', '방콕' 등 명칭을 사용했고, 관광비자로 들어오거나 체류 기간이 만료된 외국인 여성에게 숙식을 제공하면서 마사지를 하게 했다. (사진=연합뉴스)신사동 A 업소는 관광비자로 입국한 태국 여성 4명을 불법 고용해 밀실에서 마사지하게 했다. 논현동 B 업소는 체류 기간이 만료된 태국 여성 2명을 불법 고용하고 단속에 대비해 선반 아래 몸을 숨길 공간을 만들어놓고 영업하다 적발됐다.청담동 C 업소는 이미 외국인 여성 성매매로 적발된 적이 있는데도 이번 단속에서 관광비자로 입국한 태국 여성 3명을 불법 고용하다 다시 적발됐다.단속 과정에서 일부 업주들은 격렬히 저항했다고 구는 전했다.구는 적발된 외국인 여성 전원을 출입국관리법에

학생들에게 누구보다 모범을 보여야 할 교육청 공직자들의 일탈 행위가 그치지 않고 있다.복무 기강 확립을 위한 교육 당국의 특단의 조처가 필요해 보인다.5일 충북도교육청 등에 따르면 도내 모 학교의 운전직원이 최근 경찰의 성매매 업소 현장 단속에 적발돼 성범죄자로 통보됐다.성 매수는 금품 수수, 음주 운전 등과 함께 정직 이상의 중징계 대상 행위이다. 이 직원은 직위해제 상태에서 징계 처분을 받게 된다. (사진=연합뉴스)다른 학교에 근무하는 교사는 최근 교차로에서 음주 운전 사고를 냈다. 신호를 지키지 않고 달리다 택시를 들이받은 것으로 알려졌다.이 교사는 혈중알코올농도 0.2% 초반대의 만취 상태에서 운전대를 잡은 것으로 전해졌다. 이 교사도 조만간 징계위원회에 중징계 의결 요구될 것으로 보인다.위법 행위로 직위해제 상태에 있는 충북교육청 소속 공무원들이 몇 명 더 있고, 일부는 음주단속에 걸려 징계가 예정된 것으로 파악됐다.교육공무원과 지방공무원 징계 양정이 강화됐지만, 교육계의