ZURICH ― A new election triumph in the midst of a corruption scandal established FIFA president Sepp Blatter as the politician who can come through any storm. Unapologetically divisive, Blatter has had to deal with scandal virtually since his first day in office. And Blatter knows that he still has a long way to go to reach the aim he outlined Friday of getting FIFA in a safe port “where the bo...

NEW YORK ― In accusing soccer federation leaders of tarnishing the sport by taking $150 million in bribes and payoffs, U.S. prosecutors laid out a sweeping corruption case that hinges on the testimony of insiders, including some who have agreed to cooperate in plea deals. Prosecutors announced the racketeering conspiracy and other charges Wednesday against 14 defendants ― nine current and former...

The new chairman of the main opposition party’s reform panel vowed on Wednesday to overhaul the beleaguered party, urging its members to abandon their factional interest and rebuild the party for the next general election. Kim Sang-kon, the former chief of Gyeonggi Provincial Education Office, pledged “zero-tolerance” against any attempts to build factions within the New Politics Alliance for De...

As Seoul on Monday confirmed its fourth MERS case ― the daughter of the third confirmed patient, who asked to be quarantined but was rejected by the authorities ― the Health Ministry is under fire for the poor handling of the potential patients. Fear of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in Korea further spread on Tuesday as two medical staff members who had been in contact with the patients s...

WARSAW ― Andrzej Duda, the 43-year-old conservative MEP and lawyer who won Poland’s cliffhanger presidential election on Sunday, has strong ties to the powerful Kaczynski twins. The devout Catholic was close to the late president Lech Kaczynski, who died in a 2010 plane crash in Russia, and calls himself his “spiritual heir.” But Duda only became well-known after Lech’s controversial twin broth...

Hwang Kyo-ahn, the nominee for South Korea’s new prime minister, is expected to face a daunting task of proving his capability to serve as the nation’s No. 2 during his parliamentary confirmation hearing, with the opposition blocs already voicing concerns about what they alleged as his unbalanced political views. President Park Geun-hye designated current Justice Minister Hwang on Thursday to fi...

So, Steve Yoo wants to be taken back into Korea, the country he abandoned 13 years ago to avoid military service. In an interview in Hong Kong late Tuesday night, the ’90s pop star who performed as Yoo Seung-jun ― but is now better known here as a high-profile draft-dodger ― knelt down, shed tears and apologized for his “foolish” decision in 2002 to renounce his Korean citizenship and become a U...

A top presidential aide’s resignation worsened tensions on Tuesday between the main political parties over a draft law reforming the civil service pension bill, as Korea’s top lawmakers struggled to restart the negotiations on the legislation. Cho Yoon-sun was the top secretary for political affairs at Cheong Wa Dae, a liaison job between the ruling Saenuri Party and President Park Geun-hye. Par...

The ongoing suit over a multibillion-dollar investment compensation against U.S. private equity firm Lone Star is a battle with no retreat for the South Korean government, which has much to lose. The $4.7 billion dispute settlement has so far cost 24 billion won ($22 million) in litigation expenses, and the amount is expected to escalate further in upcoming years, now that the hearing has kicked...

BEIJING ― China’s foreign minister told top U.S. diplomat John Kerry on Saturday that Beijing was “unshakeable” in its defense of sovereignty, as tensions between the powers mount over Chinese island-building in strategic but disputed waters. The United States is weighing sending warships and surveillance aircraft within 12 nautical miles ― the normal territorial zone around natural land ― of ar...

BEIJING ― They are the strongest leaders to emerge in years from the world’s two most populous nations ― and appear to be trying to forge a strong working relationship. In a rare personal touch, Chinese President Xi Jinping will host the Indian prime minister in his hometown of Xi’an for Thursday’s start of Narendra’s Modi’s three-day visit, highlighting warming ties between the Asian giants des...

Hyon Yong-chol, a once-high-flying North Korean general, ended his dramatic life after he was executed late last month for “dozing off at a military event and talking back” to Kim Jong-un, the leader of the dictatorial regime. Until his execution on April 30, the 66-year-old official served as the chief of the People’s Armed Forces ― equivalent to South Korea’s defense minister. His position was...

NEW YORK ― A Picasso masterpiece fetched more than $179 million in New York on Monday, smashing the world record for the most expensive art sold at auction in what was dubbed the “sale of the century.” A bronze statue by Alberto Giacometti also broke the record for most expensive sculpture sold at auction, fetching more than $141 million at the same sale in a packed auction room at Christie’s. ...

North Korea’s push to develop a submarine-launched ballistic missile is posing a daunting security challenge to South Korea and the U.S. as the allies would have almost no means to counter the emerging threat should it become fully operational. The allies have so far been focusing on countering missile threats from land-based launchers as they believed Pyongyang was far from developing an SLBM g...

Im Heung-soon, the winner of the Silver Lion award at this year’s Venice Biennale for his documentary “Factory Complex,” has gained recognition for entwining art and film in his documentaries that reflect on society, its people and their histories. The artist goes by a number of titles ― cinematographer, director and scriptwriter. With a bachelor’s and master’s degree in painting from Kyungwon U...