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Martial Law: South Korean President Survives Impeachment

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South Korean President, Yoon Suk Yeol narrowly avoided impeachment on Saturday after a brief and controversial declaration of martial law.

Despite widespread protests outside parliament, lawmakers from Yoon’s ruling People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote, effectively preventing the motion from reaching the required two-thirds majority for approval.

Yoon’s martial law declaration, which saw troops deployed to parliament, shocked the nation and drew international criticism.

RELATED NEWS: Martial Law: South Korea Opposition Files Impeachment Motion Against President Yoon

The decree, announced late Tuesday, aimed to “eliminate anti-state elements,” but was quickly reversed after a wave of backlash.

His party’s lawmakers staged a near-total boycott during the impeachment vote, resulting in its failure.

National Assembly speaker Woo Won-shik confirmed that the vote was invalid due to insufficient participation.

“The number of members who voted did not reach the required two-thirds majority,” Woo said. “It is very regrettable that a vote could not even be held on such a significant national issue,” he added, criticizing the PPP for its failure to engage in the democratic process.

The decision disappointed the massive crowds that had gathered outside parliament, with some protestors numbering up to one million according to organizers.

As PPP lawmakers left the chamber without voting, demonstrators expressed their frustration.

“Even though we didn’t get the outcome we wanted today, I am neither discouraged nor disappointed because we will get it eventually,” said Jo Ah-gyeong, a 30-year-old protester. “I’ll keep coming here until we get it,” she told AFP.

Opposition leaders vowed to continue their fight, promising to push for a new impeachment motion as early as Wednesday.

Many protesters also pledged to keep demonstrating until Yoon is removed from office. “I will impeach Yoon Suk Yeol, who has become the worst risk for South Korea, at any cost,” said opposition leader Lee Jae-myung.

Before the vote, Yoon, 63, apologized for the turmoil caused by his actions. “I caused anxiety and inconvenience to the public. I sincerely apologise,” he said, adding that he would leave decisions about his political future to his party. “I will entrust the party with measures to stabilise the political situation, including my term in office,” he said.

Despite Yoon’s apology, the PPP’s internal divisions remain apparent. Only three PPP lawmakers—Ahn Cheol-soo, Kim Yea-ji, and Kim Sang-wook—cast votes in favor of the impeachment motion.

The party defended its stance, saying it blocked the vote to avoid “severe division and chaos” and pledged to resolve the crisis in a “more orderly and responsible manner.”

Yoon’s approval rating has plummeted to a record low of 13%, and public frustration continues to mount.

“The public will not forgive him,” said 63-year-old retiree Lee Wan-pyo. “I just want him to step down,” said 70-year-old housewife Han Jeong-hwa.

The martial law episode, which included soldiers sealing off the National Assembly and helicopters landing on the roof, has drawn comparisons to South Korea’s autocratic past.

Nearly 300 soldiers were sent to lock down parliament, but MPs managed to resist the move, with some climbing walls to enter the building.

The martial law order was voted down after members of parliament successfully thwarted the military intervention.

As investigations into alleged insurrection unfold, experts suggest the failure of the impeachment vote signals a prolonged political crisis for Yoon.

“We will have a politically dead president—basically unable to govern any longer—and hundreds of thousands coming to the streets every week until Yoon is removed,” said Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean Studies at the University of Oslo.

The international community, including the United States, has expressed concern over the unfolding crisis.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged South Korea’s government to uphold democratic processes in a call with his Korean counterpart, Cho Tae-yul.

 

 

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Miracle in Venezuela: Toddler Rescued Alive Six Days After Deadly Earthquakes

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Morocco Earthquake Victims Passes 2,000

A three-year-old child has been rescued alive from beneath the rubble in Venezuela, six days after two powerful earthquakes devastated parts of the South American nation, offering a glimmer of hope amid a worsening humanitarian crisis.

The remarkable rescue took place in La Guaira, one of the areas hardest hit by the twin earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitudes, which struck less than a minute apart on June 24.

SEE ALSO: Over 800 Dead As Earthquake Devastates Eastern Afghanistan

Rescue workers have continued round-the-clock search operations despite the challenges posed by repeated aftershocks.

The United Nations described the rescue as a powerful reminder that every life matters as emergency teams continue combing collapsed buildings for survivors.

According to Venezuelan authorities, the earthquakes have claimed nearly 2,000 lives, while more than 6,400 people have been rescued since the disaster struck.

Tens of thousands of survivors remain without adequate shelter, with humanitarian agencies warning that urgent needs continue to grow.

The UN refugee agency said the scale of the disaster has left thousands of families in desperate need of emergency assistance, while the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) confirmed that national and international rescue teams remain active in the affected communities.

UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) teams are also assessing the extent of the destruction and identifying communities most in need of humanitarian support.

Officials said about 1,000 buildings, including hospitals, have either been damaged or completely destroyed.

More than 400 schools and water systems have also been severely affected, worsening living conditions for residents.

To support relief efforts, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has delivered an initial 47-tonne shipment of humanitarian supplies, including emergency medical kits, water purification materials, safe birth supplies, wheelchairs, child-friendly tents and educational materials. The shipment follows an earlier consignment that arrived from Panama.

UNICEF said the combined aid will support more than 100,000 children and their families over the next three months.

Speaking from La Guaira, UNICEF representative Gabriel Vockel said the organisation is working around the clock to reach as many children and families as possible, while appealing for more donations to expand its life-saving operations.

UNICEF Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Roberto Benes, said many affected families are sleeping outdoors for fear of continued aftershocks and remain in urgent need of clean water, healthcare and safe shelter.

The agency estimates that about 680,000 children across six affected states require humanitarian assistance following what has been described as Venezuela’s most significant earthquake disaster in more than a century.

Authorities also reported that more than 600 aftershocks have been recorded since the initial earthquakes, increasing concerns over further damage and risks to survivors.

UNICEF is seeking $52 million to respond to the earthquake emergency as part of its broader 2026 Humanitarian Action for Children appeal for Venezuela, which remains significantly underfunded.

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Panic in Europe as France Records First-Ever Ebola Case

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France has confirmed its first-ever case of Ebola virus disease, triggering concern across Europe as health authorities move swiftly to contain the deadly infection.

The French Health Ministry announced on Wednesday that a doctor returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which is currently battling a major Ebola outbreak, tested positive for the virus after arriving in France.

SEE ALSO: Fresh Ebola Alert: Lagos Tightens Airport Surveillance as Virus Threat Looms

According to officials, the patient was immediately isolated upon arrival, even before laboratory tests confirmed the diagnosis, helping to reduce the risk of transmission.

In a statement, the ministry confirmed the identification of “a first positive case of Ebola virus disease on national territory,” marking the first time the virus has been detected in France.

The development also represents the first confirmed Ebola case recorded outside Africa during the current outbreak, which has affected both the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

French authorities disclosed that the case was detected in mainland France, while Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is closely monitoring the situation as health agencies intensify surveillance and response measures.

The current outbreak in the DRC was officially declared on May 15 following a series of unexplained deaths in the eastern Ituri Province.

The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

Despite growing concerns, public health experts have stressed that the risk of widespread global transmission remains low because Ebola is less contagious than many airborne infectious diseases.

The virus spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids and contaminated materials.

Ebola is a severe and often fatal haemorrhagic fever that can cause symptoms including high fever, weakness, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, and in severe cases, internal and external bleeding.

French health authorities have assured the public that all necessary precautions are being taken to contain the case and prevent any further spread of the disease.

The announcement has nevertheless sparked anxiety across Europe, given the deadly nature of the virus and its emergence outside the African continent during the ongoing outbreak.

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“He Failed Badly” — Trump Says Starmer Will Step Down as UK PM

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U.S. President Donald Trump has predicted that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will step down from office, accusing the Labour leader of failing on two critical issues — immigration and energy policy.

Trump made the remarks on Sunday in a post on his Truth Social platform, where he claimed Starmer’s leadership had fallen short in addressing challenges facing the United Kingdom.

SEE MORE:New US Strike on Iran Sends Oil Prices Soaring as Middle East Tensions Escalate

“Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom,” Trump wrote. “He failed badly on two very important subjects — IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!). I wish him well!”

The U.S. president did not provide any evidence to support his claim, nor did he reveal the basis for his prediction that Starmer would leave office.

Starmer, who leads the Labour Party, became Prime Minister after securing victory in the UK’s general election.

Since taking office, his government has faced criticism over a range of issues, including migration policies, energy security, and the cost-of-living challenges confronting many Britons.

Trump’s comments come as debates over immigration and energy continue to dominate political discussions in the UK.

However, there has been no official statement from Starmer, his office, or the British government suggesting that he plans to resign.

As of the time of filing this report, Starmer remains in office and continues to lead the government despite the claims made by the American president.

 

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