South Korea's prime minister loses job over golf outing

South Korea's prime minister resigned today after drawing a firestorm of criticism for playing golf rather than overseeing the government's response to a railway strike.

Lee Hae-chan offered his resignation to President Roh Moo-hyun, who accepted the offer today, said ruling Uri Party spokeswoman Seo Young-kyo.

The prime minister has been under fire from the opposition and public for playing golf March 1, the first day of a nationwide walkout by railway workers.

Israel re-establishes contact with Abbas

Elder statesman Shimon Peres secretly met the Palestinian president in Jordan with the blessing of acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, ending a ban that followed the victory by the militant group Hamas in Palestinian elections, Israel said Monday.

Olmert's office said the meeting with President Mahmoud Abbas dealt only with economic affairs. However, Israel TV's Channel 2 said other issues also were discussed.

Peres, a key Olmert ally in the new Kadima Party, re-established Israeli contact with Abbas just two weeks before Israeli elections.

Protests continue over job security

Scores of students stormed one of Paris' most elite schools Monday, hurling stones and cinder blocks at riot police in the latest protest against a government plan to reduce France's unemployment rate among young adults. Police used tear gas to try to disperse the chanting crowd.

About 200 high-school and university students swarmed into the College de France to demand that Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin withdraw a measure that makes it easier for companies to fire workers under 26 during the first two years of employment.

The law takes effect next month. Critics say it would offer younger workers less job security than older colleagues and undermine France's generous labor protections.

PM threatens action against protesters

Thailand's prime minister vowed today to declare an emergency if anti-government protests turned violent, as tens of thousands marched on his office to demand his resignation for alleged corruption.

Thaksin Shinawatra, who has repeatedly said he will not bow to the protesters, said cameras and other high-tech equipment have been put in place to monitor the protests and record any violations.

Thousands of demonstrators seeking Thaksin's resignation marched in Bangkok today, vowing to continue peaceful protests until he steps down. They accuse the tycoon-turned-politician of corruption, mishandling a Muslim insurgency in southern Thailand, stifling the media and allowing cronies to reap gains from state policies.

Free health care for those over 60

Newly inaugurated President Michelle Bachelet said Monday all Chileans older than 60 will immediately begin receiving free care at public hospitals.

"This will become effective immediately," the Socialist physician said. "This is possible because it does not require a law."

The benefit would be for those at least 60 who are registered with the federal insurance system known as Fonasa, Health Minister Maria Soledad Barria told Santiago daily La Segunda. The paper estimated more than 300,000 people would be eligible.

Also

Rails: China announced Monday it will spend $22 billion to build two of the world's most ambitious railway-building projects — the nation's second magnetic levitation train and a high-speed railway linking Beijing and Shanghai.

Compiled from The Associated Press and Reuters