A prominent K-pop music video director was charged today as part of a corruption scandal rocking South Korea and engulfing President Park Geun-Hye.
	Cha Eun-Taek, who has worked with "Gangnam Style" star Psy and boy band megastars Big Bang, used his ties to a secret confidante of Park to win lucrative projects from state agencies and private firms, prosecutors say.
	That confidante - Choi Soon-Sil - has been labelled Park's eminence grise, a shadowy figure who is believed to have leveraged her close relationship with the president to extract more than USD 60 million from top firms, including Samsung.
	Prosecutors say Park herself ordered her former economic adviser to help Cha pressure officials and private firms so that he would win contracts.
	Cha, 46, has been charged with abuse of power, coercion and embezzlement and becomes the latest public figure to be embroiled in the snowballing scandal.
	Choi, 60, is accused of meddling in a wide range of state affairs including the ...

K-pop video director charged in S Korea's scandal

PTI Automatic

Five people on board an Iranian helicopter were killed when it crashed into the Caspian Sea today, state television reported.
	The bodies of four crew and a civilian, plus the helicopter, had been found, a security official told state television website.
	The helicopter, owned by the National Iranian Drilling Company, was carrying an emergency patient from Amir Kabir offshore oil platform when it "disappeared half a mile from the oil rig on its way back," ISNA news agency quoted Behshahr governor Khalegh Sajadi as saying.
	"The reason of the crash will not be known until the black box is found," he added.
	Amir Kabir drilling rig is 137 air miles (250 kilometres) off the Caspian Sea coastal line and extracts oil from the water depth of 1,000 metres, according to official IRNA news agency.

Helicopter crashes in Iran, killing five: official

Kuwait opposition groups and their allies had bagged nearly half parliament's 50 seats today, raising fears of fresh political wrangling in the oil-rich Gulf state.
	The opposition and its allies won 24 seats, according to official results announced by the election authority.
	The Islamist, nationalist and liberal opposition contested Saturday's election after a four-year boycott protesting the government's amendment of the key voting system.
	Around half of the successful opposition MPs are Islamists from a Muslim Brotherhood-linked group and Salafists.
	Only one woman was elected and the Muslim Shiite minority was reduced to six seats from nine in the previous house. A third of the new parliament are new young members.
	The polls saw a turnout of around 70 percent amid divisions over cuts in subsidies due to falling oil revenues.
	Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah called the snap polls after dissolving the previous parliament due to a dispute over raising petrol prices.
	Kuwaiti ..

Kuwait opposition, allies win nearly half of parliament

Twenty-two pro-Ankara Syrian rebels were hit by a chemical gas attack from Islamic State (IS) jihadists in northern Syria, the Turkish army said today.
	"After a rocket was fired by Daesh (IS), 22 opposition members were observed to have been exposed in their eyes and bodies to chemical gas,"  the general staff said in a statement, quoted by the state-run Anadolu news agency.

Turkey army says 22 Syria rebels hurt in IS chemical attack

Chinese household debt has risen at an "alarming" pace as property values have soared, analysts say, raising the risk that a real estate downturn could send shockwaves through the world's second largest economy.
	Loose credit and changing habits have rapidly transformed the country's famously loan-averse consumers into enthusiastic borrowers.
	   Skyrocketing real estate prices in major Chinese cities in recent years have seen families' wealth surge.
	   But at the same time they have fuelled a historic boom in mortgage lending, as buyers race to get on the property ladder, or invest to profit from the phenomenon.
	   Now the debt owed by households in the world's second largest economy has surged from 28 percent of GDP to more than 40 percent in the past five years.
	   "The notion that Chinese people do not like to borrow is clearly outdated," said Chen Long of Gavekal Dragonomics.
	   The share of household loans to overall lending hit 67.5 percent in the third quarter of 2016, ...

Surging homeowner loans in China raise alarms over debt

Scoreboard at tea on the fourth
day of the day-night third Test between Australia and South Africa at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
     South Africa first innings 259 for 9 declared
     Australia first innings 383
     South Africa second innings 250 all out
     Australia second innings
     M. Renshaw     not out                  3
     D. Warner      not out                 20
     Extras (lb4)                            4
     Total (0 wicket; 8 overs)              27
     Bowling: Abbott 3-1-9-0, Philander 3-1-7-0, Rabada 1-1-0-0, Shamsi 1-0-7-0.

Adelaide, Nov 27 (AFP) Scoreboard at tea on the fourth

Australia made a steady start as they chased 127 runs to win the day-night third Test after dismissing South Africa early on the fourth day at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
     At the tea break, the Australians were 27 without loss and 100 runs away from victory with David Warner on 20 and newcomer Matt Renshaw three not out.
     The South Africans thought they had taken the wicket of Renshaw in the second over when they claimed a slips catch by Hashim Amla off Vernon Philander.
     But umpire Richard Kettleborough was unmoved and a review showed no contact with Renshaw's bat.
     It was the ninth review in this series involving Englishman Kettleborough, who has a 100 percent success rate.
     South Africa will be hoping to repeat their predecessors' famous five-run victory in Sydney 22 years ago when they bowled out Australia for 111.
     The Proteas, who thrashed Australia in the first two Tests to claim a third consecutive series Down Under, added 56 runs to their overnight ...

Australia 27-0 at tea, chasing 127 to win 3rd Test

Kalawani has spent the past six years hiding from the Qatari authorities, but finally she is going home to Sri Lanka for the first time since 2010.
	The former housemaid is one of 9,000 undocumented residents expected to leave Qatar before December 1 after Doha introduced a three-month amnesty for those living in the country illegally to leave without "legal consequences".
	Kalawani ran away after her employer refused to pay her monthly wage of 1,000 Qatari riyals ($275, 260 euros), a common problem.
	"I didn't get any salary from my sponsor," she says while waiting for her papers to be approved.
	Under Qatar's strict sponsorship laws, anyone wishing to change their job must get permission from their employer, so Kalawani became an "illegal" after fleeing.
	She has existed by relying on her family for help and working in a cafe, though that was also illegal as her entry visa to Qatar allowed her to work only as a housemaid.
	"This amnesty is good for me. I want to go home," she says ..

Qatar's 'illegals' scramble to leave under amnesty

Millions of French voters head to the polls today to select a presidential candidate for the centre- right Republicans party, with ex-premier Francois Fillon tipped to emerge the winner and become the favourite for next year's election.
	The US-style primary contest, the first for the Republicans, is a battle between socially conservative and economic "radical" Fillon and the more moderate Alain Juppe, also a former prime minister who is nine years older at 71.
	The French presidential vote is being seen as a key test for mainstream political parties after the success of Donald Trump in the United States and the Brexit campaign in Britain, both of which harnessed anti-elite, anti-establishment anger.
	Whoever wins today will face fierce competition from far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen, who is waiting in the wings ready to attack the victor as a symbol of France's ruling class.
	Fillon, a career politician and prime minister from 2007- 12, has warned that France is "on ...

Fillon tipped to win French rightwing primary

Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig beat Argentine pair Juan Martin del Potro and Leonardo Mayer 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 in Saturday's doubles to put Croatia 2-1 up in the Davis Cup final.
     Former US Open champion Cilic gave Croatia the upper hand in Zagreb by winning Friday's opening singles rubber against Federico Delbonis before Del Potro levelled for Argentina with a four-set win over Ivo Karlovic.
     Both Cilic and Del Potro were drafted in for Saturday's doubles with the former teaming up with Dodig to claim the first two sets in a tie-break before wrapping up victory after Mayer dropped serve at 3-2 down in the third.
     "The atmosphere was absolutely fantastic as our fans carried us throughout the contest," said Cilic.
     Dodig added: "This is a once in a lifetime experience and I have to thank the fans for creating a fantastic atmosphere.
     "We will be rooting for Marin to finish the job tomorrow."
     Olympic silver medallist Del Potro, who has bounced back after two .

Cilic, Dodig push Croatia to brink of Davis Cup

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte warned his players to remain grounded after they returned to the Premier League summit courtesy of a gritty 2-1 victory at home to Tottenham Hotspur.
     Christian Eriksen fired Spurs ahead at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, but Pedro Rodriguez -- with a glorious curler -- and Victor Moses scored either side of half-time to give Chelsea a seventh successive league win.
     The win took Chelsea back above Liverpool and Manchester City, who welcome Conte's side to the Etihad Stadium next weekend, but the Italian said it was far too early to think about the title.
     "I think that today or in this period, if you talk about this, it is not right because we have to improve a lot and we have a long way in front of us," Conte said.
     "Above all after this type of game we have to wait, to speak, to not write things (in the media). It's important to stay humble, to continue to work, to trust in our work.
     "Above all after this type of game, because we won .

Conte urges leaders Chelsea to stay 'humble'

Tim Southee bagged six wickets as New Zealand took a 55-run lead over Pakistan on a rain-shortened third day of the second Test in Hamilton on Sunday.
     Only rookie batsman Babar Azam was able to cope with New Zealand's chief strike bowler and he was left stranded on 90 after running out of partners as Pakistan fought their way back into the match.
     Pakistan, after resuming the day on the ropes at 76-5, clawed their way to 216 in reply to New Zealand's first innings 271.
     New Zealand only faced one dot ball in their second innings before rain sent the players from the field for the third and final time in a day when only 38 overs were possible.
     Southee was given a pounding in his first three overs of the morning and was removed from the attack after yielding 32 runs.
     But he came back to wrap up the tail and finish with figures of 6-80, his third best bowling performance.
     While the 54-Test veteran headlined the New Zealand bowling performance, it was Azam in ..

Southee's six keeps New Zealand in front of Pakistan

Scoreboard on the fourth day of
the day-night third Test between Australia and South Africa at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
     South Africa first innings 259 for 9 declared
     Australia first innings 383
     South Africa second innings (overnight 194-6)
     S. Cook       b Starc                 104
     D. Elgar      c Smith b Starc           0
     H. Amla       c Wade B Hazlewood       45
     J.P. Duminy   b Lyon                   26
     F. Du Plessis c Handscomb b Starc      12
     T. Bavuma     c Smith b Lyon           21
     K. Abbott     lbw b Lyon                0
     Q. De Kock    lbw b Bird                5
     V. Philander  lbw b Starc              17
     K. Rabada     c Wade b Hazlewood        7
     T. Shamsi     not out                   0
     Extras (LB-10, NB-3)                   13
     Total (all out; 85.2 overs)           250
     Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Elgar), 2-82 (Amla), 3-131 (Duminy), 4-154 (du Plessis), 5-190 (Bavuma), 6-194 (Abbott), 7-201 (de ...

Adelaide, Nov 27 (AFP) Scoreboard on the fourth day of

Scoreboard at the close on the
third day of the second Test between New Zealand and Pakistan at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Sunday.
     New Zealand first innings 271
     Pakistan first innings (overnight 76-5)
     Sami Aslam c Raval b Southee      5
     Azhar Ali c Watling b Southee     1
     Babar Azam not out               90
     Younis Khan c Watling b Southee   2
     Asad Shafiq b Wagner             23
     Mohammad Rizwan c Henry b Wagner  0
     Sarfraz Ahmed c Raval b Wagner   41
     Sohail Khan c Watling b Southee  37
     Wahab Riaz lbw de Grandhomme      0
     Mohammad Amir c Raval b Southee   5
     Imran Khan c Watling b Southee    6
     Extras: (b4, lb1, nb1)            6
     Total: (all out; 67 overs)      216
     Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Aslam), 2-8 (Azhar), 3-12 (Younis), 4-51 (Shafiq), 5-51 (Rizwan), 6-125 (Ahmed), 7-192 (Sohail), 8-193 (Riaz), 9-206 (Amir), 10-216 (Imran)
     Bowling: Southee 21-4-80-6, Henry 19-5-30-0 (1nb), de Grandhomme 9-2-29-1, Wagner ..

Hamilton, Nov 27 (AFP) Scoreboard at the close on the

Rookie batsman Babar Azam had a maiden Test century in sight as he led Pakistan's first innings salvage mission in the second Test against New Zealand in Hamilton on Sunday.
     Pakistan were 200 for 8 at lunch on the third day, trailing New Zealand by 71 when rain forced the players from the field 10 minutes early.
     The 22-year-old Azam, in only his third Test, was not out 81, surpassing his previous Test best of 69 on debut against the West Indies last month.
     Mohammad Amir was 4 not out with only Imran Khan left to bat.
     After starting the day on the ropes at 76 for 5, Pakistan added 124 in 31.4 overs during the session, which began 30 minutes early to make up time lost to rain on the first day.
     Azam resumed on 34 and took the senior role of keeping the innings together while Sarfraz Ahmed (41) and Sohail Kahn (37) attacked the bowling.
     Ahmed had luck on his side when he pulled Tim Southee to midwicket where the ball went through the hands of a leaping Henry .

Rookie Azam leads Pakistan fightback

Scoreboard at lunch on the third day of the second Test between New Zealand and Pakistan at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Sunday.
     New Zealand first innings 271
     Pakistan first innings (overnight 76-5)
     Sami Aslam c Raval b Southee      5
     Azhar Ali c Watling b Southee     1
     Babar Azam not out               81
     Younis Khan c Watling b Southee   2
     Asad Shafiq b Wagner             23
     Mohammad Rizwan c Henry b Wagner  0
     Sarfraz Ahmed c Raval b Wagner   41
     Sohail Khan c Watling b Southee  37
     Wahab Riaz lbw de Grandhomme      0
     Mohammad Amir not out             4
     Extras: (b4, lb1, nb1)            6
     Total: (8 wkts; 60.4 overs)     200
     Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Aslam), 2-8 (Azhar), 3-12 (Younis), 4-51 (Shafiq), 5-51 (Rizwan), 6-125 (Ahmed), 7-192 (Sohail), 8-193 (Riaz)
     Bowling: Southee 17.4-4-68-4, Henry 16-3-26-0 (1nb), de Grandhomme 9-2-29-1, Wagner 14-2-59-3, Santner 4-0-13-0.

Hamilton, Nov 27 (AFP) Scoreboard at lunch on the third day of the second Test between New Zealand and Pakistan at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Sunday.

The death toll from Australia's "thunderstorm asthma" episode has risen to six and three others are in critical condition, authorities said today, as they assessed the fallout from the unprecedented event.
	Four victims -- ranging from the ages of 18 to 35 -- were last week linked to the unusual weather phenomenon, where a thunderstorm coincided with a high pollen count and sent more than 8,500 patients to hospital emergency departments.
	The rare event in Australia's southern state of Victoria triggered respiratory problems for asthma and hay fever sufferers.
	"There have now been six deaths that may have occurred as a result of conditions relating to the thunderstorm asthma events on Monday," Victoria's health department spokesman said in a statement.
	"Five patients are continuing to receive specialist ICU (intensive care unit) care in hospitals in Melbourne, with three still in a critical condition."
	A further 12 people were being treated for respiratory and other health ...

Death toll rises in Australia 'thunderstorm asthma'

Juanita Castro, a sister of late Cuban leader Fidel Castro who has lived in Miami for decades, will not attend his funeral, local media has reported.
	"Given unhealthy rumours that I was headed to Cuba for the funeral, I want to state clearly that I have never returned to the island, and I don't plan to do so," Castro told El Nuevo Herald yesterday.
	"I'm not rejoicing in any human being's death, nor would I do that with someone who shares my family names," she went on. "As Fidel's sister, I am going through the loss of a human being who shared my blood."
	President Raul Castro, Fidel's 85-year-old younger brother, made the announcement of Fidel's death on state television around midnight Friday.
	Fidel and Cuban President Raul Castro were among their parents' seven offspring. Juanita, born in 1933, was the only one to publicly oppose the Communist regime her brother led for over five decades.
	She has been living in Miami since 1964, and said she cooperated with a CIA plot to oust ...

Juanita Castro, Fidel's sister, will not attend funeral

The head of Iranian Railways resigned after three of his employees were arrested over a collision between two trains that left at least 44 people dead.
	Mohsen Poor-Seyed Aghaie, a deputy minister in the transport ministry and head of the state-owned railway company, appeared on state television yesterday and announced his resignation "as a social responsibility and out of sympathy for the survivors of this accident".
	Two trains collided and one caught fire in the northern province of Semnan on Friday, killing 44 people and injuring dozens more, in one of the country's worst ever rail disasters.
	The crash took place on the main line between Tehran and Iran's second city Mashhad.
	One of the trains had stopped between the towns of Semnan and Damghan after an apparent mechanical failure, forcing officials to halt others on the line.
	But when a new shift started at the control centre in Shahroud, the second train was allowed to resume its journey.
	The accident happened due to "human .

Top official resigns, 3 arrested in Iran's train crash

Cuban-Americans poured onto the streets of Miami early today to cries of "Cuba Libre!" and "Freedom! Freedom!" celebrating the death of their nemesis Fidel Castro.
	Revelers -- many exiled by Havana's communist regime -- honked car horns, banged on pots and drums, and danced, cried, and waved Cuban flags in a crush of communal euphoria.
	Castro died late yesterday, his brother Cuban President Raul Castro announced on national television around midnight.
	In Miami -- home to the largest concentration of Cuban-Americans in the US -- the news spread quickly and with fervour.
	"It's sad that one finds joy in the death of a person -- but that person should never have been born," said Pablo Arencibia, 67, a teacher who fled Cuba 20 years ago.
	"Satan is now the one who has to worry," because "Fidel is heading there and is going to try to get his job," joked Arencibia amid the loud party-like atmosphere.
	Sensing the historic moment, younger revelers streamed the event on Facebook Live, ...

Party in Miami after Fidel Castro's death

The bodies of two pilots killed when their tourist plane crashed in the French Alps were recovered today after intense searches in the mountains east of Chambery, the city's prosecutor said.
	The two men, who have not yet been identified, had taken off from Dortmund in Germany yesterday, according to the Chambery prosecutor who is investigating the cause of the accident in the Savoie region of eastern France.
	The two-seater tourist plane was heading to the French city of Albertville and a search began yesterday evening when it failed to land as scheduled.
	The wreckage was spotted on Mount Trelod in the Bauges mountains with an altitude of around 2,200 metres.
	"The aircraft had slammed into the eastern face of the summit during bad weather conditions," the prosecutor said.
	Rescuers on the ground brought down the bodies of the two victims on Saturday.
	An autopsy will be carried out Monday to determine if either of the pilots had fallen ill.

AFP

AFP

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