Seoul / AFP The woman at the heart of a lurid political scandal engulfing South Korean President Park Geun-Hye returned to the country on Sunday to face accusations of influence-peddling and meddling in state affairs. With just over a year left to run, Park’s presidency has unravelled over shocking revelations that she discussed and sought advice on government policy from …

  Manila / AFP Chinese coastguard ships are still patrolling the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea but are not stopping Filipinos from fishing there, a Philippine defence spokesman said on Sunday. The information — from fishermen who have just returned from the shoal — came despite earlier Philippine government statements that the Chinese had left the outcrop they …

  Reykjavik / AFP Iceland on Sunday faced a wrangle over its next government after the anti-establishment Pirate Party and its allies gained ground but fell short of a majority in snap elections. Prime Minister Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson told the national broadcaster RUV he would resign on Sunday after his Progressive Party suffered a plunge in support. Polls had predicted …