International News
Political Turmoil In South Korea As President Yoon’s Impeachment Trial Begins
South Korea’s Constitutional Court opened the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday, marking a pivotal moment in the nation’s political history following his controversial attempt to impose martial law.
The court’s first hearing was brief, adjourning shortly after it began at 2:00 pm (0500 GMT) due to Yoon’s absence.
A spokesperson confirmed the adjournment, stating the hearing lasted only minutes.
Yoon’s legal team cited “safety concerns” for his nonattendance, but the court plans to proceed with the remaining hearings as scheduled.
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Yoon’s impeachment follows his December 3 directive for soldiers to storm parliament in an effort to block lawmakers from voting on his suspension of civilian rule.
The failed bid to impose martial law, South Korea’s first in over four decades, lasted just six hours and plunged the nation into its worst political crisis in decades.
The president was swiftly impeached and suspended from office. Since then, Yoon has remained at his residence, refusing summonses from investigators and relying on his presidential security team to resist arrest.
The Constitutional Court’s eight judges will assess whether Yoon’s declaration of martial law was unconstitutional or illegal—either of which would justify his removal.
A decision to uphold the impeachment requires six votes in favor.
The trial, which comprises five scheduled hearings, will continue Thursday, with additional sessions planned for January 21, January 23, and February 4. The court has until mid-June to deliver its ruling.
“This impeachment case focuses solely on the martial law situation,” said Kim Nam-ju, one of Yoon’s lawyers. “Since most of the individuals involved have already been indicted and the facts have been somewhat established, it doesn’t seem like it will take a long time.”
The National Assembly’s legal team has argued for swift action. “There are overwhelming reasons for the immediate dismissal of Yoon,” a representative said before the trial began Tuesday.
While the impeachment trial proceeds, a parallel criminal investigation into Yoon’s actions continues.
A joint team of investigators from the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) and police is preparing another attempt to arrest the suspended president on insurrection charges.
A previous effort to detain Yoon was blocked by his security team, who have since fortified his residence with barbed wire, barricades, and increased patrols.
The defence ministry has clarified that nearby military units will not assist in any arrest attempts.
Yoon’s chief of staff, Chung Jin-suk, indicated a willingness to cooperate under specific conditions. “We are ready to consider all options for investigation or visits to the sitting leader at a third location,” he said.
If arrested, Yoon would become the first sitting South Korean president to face detention. A conviction on insurrection charges could result in life imprisonment or even the death penalty.
The impeachment trial comes as South Korea grapples with heightened political instability. Lawmakers also impeached Yoon’s stand-in last month, leaving the country’s leadership in disarray.
The acting president has called for dialogue and urged all parties to resolve the crisis peacefully.
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday, shaking the region and sending tremors as far as Thailand and China.
The quake’s epicenter was located in the Sagaing region, near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, home to around one million people and renowned for its historic temple complexes.
Panic erupted as buildings swayed and dust filled the air.
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In Mandalay, videos shared online showed terrified residents rushing out of residential towers while traffic came to a sudden halt.
Reports indicate that a major bridge spanning the Irrawaddy River collapsed into the water in a cloud of dust and debris.
The quake was felt as far as Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, where video footage showed a partially constructed building in Chatuchak Park crumbling to the ground.
Thai authorities reported that 43 people were trapped in the wreckage, while seven others sustained injuries.
In Chiang Mai, a resident described feeling the tremors for about ten seconds before fleeing into the streets.
In Myanmar’s commercial hub, Yangon—about 380 miles from the epicenter—residents also experienced the powerful shaking.
One resident recalled, “We felt the quake for about a minute, then ran out of the building.
It was very sudden and very strong.” Another noted that phone networks in the city, home to around 8 million people, briefly went down but were later restored.
Myanmar, one of Asia’s poorest nations, is already grappling with the effects of a brutal civil war sparked by a military coup over four years ago.
The conflict has devastated the economy, and the country remains ill-equipped to handle a major natural disaster of this scale.
The Sagaing region, where the earthquake struck, is a war zone with multiple factions—including the ruling junta, pro-military militias, and rebel groups—fighting for control.
The ongoing violence has made travel by road or river extremely dangerous, posing significant challenges to delivering emergency aid and assessing the full extent of the damage.
Tremors were also felt in China’s southwestern Yunnan province, underscoring the quake’s intensity.
Authorities across the region are now assessing the situation, with emergency teams mobilizing in both Myanmar and Thailand.
Han Jong-hee, co-CEO of Samsung Electronics and a driving force behind the company’s dominance in the global television market, has died of a heart attack at the age of 63, the company confirmed on Tuesday.
“He died from cardiac arrest today,” a Samsung spokesperson stated, adding that Han is survived by his wife and three children.
Having joined the company in 1988, Han played a significant role in shaping Samsung’s television business.
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His leadership was instrumental in the launch and success of the company’s high-end LED TVs, which helped establish Samsung as a global leader in the industry.
“Han was central in the unveiling of Samsung’s world-class LED TVs,” the company noted in a biography published earlier this month. “His numerous other innovations enabled the company to continually demonstrate its technology leadership.”
His efforts ensured that Samsung maintained its position as a dominant force in the global television market.
Han’s death comes at a time when Samsung Electronics is grappling with challenges in the AI chip sector.
The company has been facing difficulties in meeting Nvidia’s standards, while its South Korean competitor, SK Hynix, has emerged as the leading supplier of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips for Nvidia’s AI processors.
Chairman Lee Jae-yong recently underscored the urgency of the situation, urging Samsung to adopt a “do-or-die” approach to overcome the growing challenges in the AI industry.
Last October, the company acknowledged it was facing a “crisis,” citing concerns over its “fundamental technological competitiveness and the future of the company.”
Pope Francis will on Sunday be discharged from Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where he has been receiving treatment since February 14 for breathing difficulties and pneumonia.
The 88-year-old pontiff will return to his residence at Saint Martha’s House in the Vatican, where doctors have advised that he undergo “a long convalescence… of at least two months.”
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Dr. Sergio Alfieri explained that while the pope’s health is improving, further recovery is best achieved at home.
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“Further progress will take place at his home, because a hospital — even if this seems strange — is the worst place to recover because it’s where one can contract more infections,” Alfieri said.
Dr. Luca Carbone, another physician at Gemelli, added that there are positive signs in the pope’s condition. “We hope that he will soon be able to resume his normal activities,” he stated.
Before leaving the hospital, Pope Francis is expected to greet the public and offer a blessing from a hospital balcony after the Angelus prayers on Sunday, marking his first appearance in weeks.
Speculation about a possible resignation has been circulating due to the pope’s prolonged absence from public duties, but Vatican officials have firmly denied such claims.
When asked if the topic had been discussed, Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin was clear in his response: “No, no, no, absolutely not.”
The pope, who had part of a lung removed in his youth, has received an outpouring of prayers and well-wishes from Catholics worldwide.
Supporters have been gathering outside Gemelli hospital, leaving flowers, candles, and messages of encouragement.
His hospitalization, the longest of his papacy has led to questions about how Easter celebrations will be handled in his absence.
However, Vatican officials remain optimistic about his gradual return to his duties in the coming weeks.
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