International News
Martial Law: South Korea Opposition Files Impeachment Motion Against President Yoon
South Korea’s political landscape was thrown into chaos on Wednesday as lawmakers accused President Yoon Suk Yeol of declaring martial law in a bid to avoid criminal investigations into himself and his family.
The unprecedented declaration of martial law—South Korea’s first in over four decades—was swiftly overturned by a dramatic overnight vote in parliament, but the fallout has plunged the nation into political turmoil and raised alarm among its allies.
Yoon, elected president in 2022 and a former star public prosecutor, now faces an impeachment push after opposition lawmakers filed a motion accusing him of “gravely and extensively” violating the constitution.
The motion claims that Yoon’s imposition of martial law was an unconstitutional and illegal effort to avoid impending investigations into alleged illegal acts involving himself and his family.
The motion could be put to a vote as soon as Friday morning, and with the opposition holding a large majority in the 300-member National Assembly, Yoon’s chances of surviving the vote appear slim.
The dramatic events began Tuesday evening when Yoon declared martial law, citing the threat from North Korea and “anti-state forces.”
In response, more than 190 lawmakers defied the military’s lockdown of parliament and forced their way into the chamber to vote against the declaration.
Under South Korea’s constitution, martial law must be lifted if a majority of lawmakers demand it, which forced Yoon to rescind his order just six hours later in a televised address.
Yoon’s decision has been met with outrage across the nation.
Senior aides, including the defense minister, resigned on Wednesday, taking responsibility for the confusion caused by the martial law order.
By evening, Yoon had not made a public appearance, and protests continued to intensify.
Outside parliament, demonstrators celebrated the repeal of martial law, with many calling for Yoon’s resignation.
Lim Myeong-pan, a 55-year-old protester, said, “Yoon’s act of imposing it in the first place without legitimate cause is a serious crime in itself.
“He has paved his own path to impeachment with this.”
In another show of defiance, thousands of protesters gathered outside Yoon’s office in central Seoul, demanding that he step down.
“I was so incensed I couldn’t sleep a wink last night, I came out to make sure we push out Yoon once and for all,” said 50-year-old Kim Min-ho, a protester at the assembly.
The opposition’s Democratic Party has also filed a complaint of “insurrection” against Yoon, several of his ministers, and top military and police officials—charges that could lead to life imprisonment or even death if proven.
Yoon’s declaration took South Korea’s close allies by surprise.
The United States, which has nearly 30,000 troops stationed in the country, said it had not been informed in advance and expressed relief when the martial law order was reversed.
While China refrained from commenting on the situation, it urged Seoul to take steps to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens.
Yoon’s approval rating has dropped to a record low of 19% following controversies surrounding his leadership, including issues involving his wife, Kim Keon Hee.
The United Kingdom is considering sweeping new restrictions that could limit or completely block children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms, as part of a broader push to improve online safety and reduce excessive screen time among young users.
The proposal, currently under government consultation, is being led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and focuses on addressing concerns over how teenagers interact with platforms such as Instagram and TikTok.
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Officials say the move is driven by growing evidence and public concern that algorithm-driven feeds and “endless scrolling” features may be negatively affecting children’s sleep patterns, concentration levels, and overall well-being.
The government is also reviewing whether additional measures such as app curfews and time limits should be introduced.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the consultation has already attracted widespread public input, with tens of thousands of responses from parents, teenagers, and advocacy groups.
She noted that the government is particularly interested in feedback on addictive platform design features and the use of AI tools targeting younger users.
The UK is also studying policies already implemented in other countries. Australia has introduced stricter age-based restrictions, while Greece and Indonesia have also moved toward tighter regulation of children’s access to social media.
Authorities emphasize that no final decision has been made, but the consultation process is expected to shape future legislation on how tech companies operate and how young users are protected online in the digital age.
U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked global reactions following his remarks about Pope Leo XIV after the Pope’s recent anti-war message calling for peace in conflict-hit regions.
The controversy began after Pope Leo XIV delivered a strong appeal at the Vatican, urging world leaders to end ongoing wars and prioritise dialogue over violenceviolence.
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The pontiff warned against the “idolatry of power” and called for global cooperation to restore peace.
Reacting to the message, Trump told reporters he is “not a big fan” of Pope Leo XIV, describing him as “very liberal” and questioning his views on crime and international security.
The U.S. President further criticised the Pope’s stance on global conflicts, suggesting his message overlooks serious security challenges linked to rising geopolitical tensions, including nuclear concerns.
In a follow-up post on Truth Social, Trump intensified his criticism, accusing the Pope of taking a weak position on foreign policy matters and suggesting political factors influenced his leadership position.
The comments have since triggered widespread debate across political and religious circles, adding to ongoing tensions between Washington and the Vatican over issues such as immigration policy, military action, and global diplomacy.
While both sides have previously denied any formal rift, the latest exchange has renewed global attention on their differing positions regarding war and peace efforts.
The Israeli military said on Thursday that Mohammed Wishah, an Al Jazeera journalist killed in a strike in Gaza on Wednesday, was a Hamas operative “operating under the guise of a journalist.”
According to Israeli forces, Wishah was “a key terrorist in Hamas’ rocket and weapons production headquarters” and had been planning attacks against soldiers in the area.
The military said he used his journalist identity to advance Hamas’ operations against Israel.
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Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based broadcaster, strongly condemned the killing. In a statement, the network described the attack as a “heinous crime of targeting and killing” its correspondent and insisted the strike was deliberate, not accidental.
The channel vowed to pursue “all necessary legal action to prosecute those responsible for the killing of its correspondents and staff in Gaza.”
Media rights organization Reporters Without Borders also condemned the incident, stating that Wishah’s name now joins “more than 220 journalists killed in two and a half years by Israeli forces in Gaza, at least 70 of whom were killed while performing their duties.”
The killing occurred despite a US-backed ceasefire in Gaza that has been in effect since October 2025, highlighting ongoing tensions and frequent accusations of truce violations by both Israel and Hamas.
Al Jazeera listed Wishah among 11 of its journalists killed in Gaza since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on southern Israel that triggered the Gaza war.
Past incidents include the killing of Mohammad Salama in August 2025 and the deaths of four Al Jazeera staff and two freelancers outside Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City earlier that year, prompting widespread condemnation.
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