International News
South Korean Court To Decide Fate Of Detained President Yoon Suk Yeol
A South Korean court will decide on Saturday whether to extend the detention of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was arrested earlier this week over an alleged attempt to impose martial law.
Yoon, detained in a pre-dawn raid on Wednesday, is accused of trying to suspend civilian rule on December 3, citing threats from “anti-state elements.”
His attempt to deploy soldiers to storm parliament failed, as lawmakers rejected the martial law declaration just six hours after his surprise announcement.
RELATED NEWS: Political Turmoil In South Korea As President Yoon’s Impeachment Trial Begins
The fallout was swift: Yoon became the first sitting South Korean president to face impeachment and arrest.
Investigators accuse him of insurrection, a charge that could result in life imprisonment or even execution if proven.
The Seoul Western District Court will review a request to extend Yoon’s detention by 20 days during a 2:00 p.m. (0500 GMT) hearing on Saturday.
If approved, the extension would allow prosecutors additional time to prepare a formal indictment.
Yoon’s lawyer, Yoon Kab-keun, said the embattled president plans to attend the hearing “with the intention of restoring his honour.”
The court has closed public access to its premises, citing safety concerns as Yoon’s supporters gathered outside.
Waving South Korean and American flags, they have called for the dismissal of the detention extension request.
The Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) is leading the probe into Yoon’s failed martial law bid. The president reportedly resisted arrest for weeks, staying holed up in his guarded residence until Wednesday’s raid.
In a statement following his detention, Yoon said he surrendered “to avoid bloodshed” but questioned the legality of the investigation.
READ ALSO: Power Outage Hits Presidential Villa, Maitama, Others As Vandals Strike
His legal team claims he has already provided his position and has refused to answer further questions.
Yoon’s impeachment is under separate review by the Constitutional Court, which could permanently remove him from office and trigger fresh elections within 60 days.
The president has missed the first two hearings, but the trial will proceed in his absence.
Meanwhile, the opposition Democratic Party, which holds a majority in parliament, has intensified its push against Yoon.
The party hailed his arrest as “the first step” toward restoring constitutional order. Late Friday, lawmakers passed a bill to launch a special counsel investigation into the failed martial law plan.
The crisis has left South Korea in political uncertainty. Despite winning the presidency in 2022, Yoon has faced mounting opposition, with his impeachment exposing sharp divisions in the country’s leadership.
International News
DOJ Confirms Federal Criminal Investigation After Agents Raid Ilhan Omar’s Home
Federal agents raided the Washington, D.C., home of Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar early Monday morning as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has confirmed.
Homeland Security Investigations agents arrived at the Minnesota congresswoman’s residence at about 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time, according to a report by Fox News.
SEE MORE: Trump Sparks Outrage With Shock Proposal to Rename New Mexico
The report said both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the DOJ are involved in the investigation.
A DOJ spokesperson confirmed the operation, stating: “Today in the Washington, D.C. area, Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the Department of Justice.”
The spokesperson added: “This enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation.”
Details later……….
International News
Bangkok Underwater: Nearly 4,900 Evacuated as Floods Hit Thailand Capital
Heavy rains have triggered severe flooding across parts of Bangkok, Thailand, forcing nearly 4,900 residents to evacuate to shelters as floodwaters swept through roads and residential areas.
The flooding has disrupted movement across parts of the Thai capital, with motorists and pedestrians forced to navigate submerged roads and seek alternative routes.
SEE ALSO: NAFDAC Warns Nigerians As Fake Cowbell Milk Floods Market
According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, about 52,000 households have been affected by the flooding, prompting authorities to declare a flood disaster and intensify emergency response efforts.
Emergency teams have been deployed to assist affected communities and move residents from vulnerable areas to safer locations as water levels rise.
Bangkok is accustomed to seasonal heavy rainfall, but intense downpours can overwhelm drainage systems, particularly in low-lying areas, resulting in widespread flooding and disruption.
Authorities are continuing to monitor affected locations while coordinating evacuations and other emergency measures.
For thousands of residents, the immediate priority remains securing safe shelter and protecting homes and livelihoods as authorities work to manage the situation and restore normal activities once the floodwaters recede.
International News
‘They Are Dying’ — Trump Explains Why He Rejected Iran’s Hormuz Proposal
US President Donald Trump has explained his decision to reject Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying Tehran was seeking an agreement because it was losing revenue.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said Iran wanted to immediately reopen the strategically important waterway but argued that the proposal was not acceptable to his administration.
“They want to make a deal, and I think that’s fine. I like making a deal, too, but that deal would not be acceptable,” Trump said.
SEE ALSO: How the Strait of Hormuz Attack Could Trigger a Fresh Global Oil Shock
According to the US president, Iran’s push to reopen the strait was driven by the economic pressure it was facing.
“What they want to do is immediately open the Hormuz Strait. Do you know why? Because they are dying,” Trump said.
“You know why they’re dying? Because they have no money coming in, because they get their money from the Hormuz Strait.”
Trump also claimed that the US had established an unprecedented naval blockade against Iran, describing it as “a wall of steel.”
“So they outsmarted themselves. We put up the greatest blockade ever in military history. It’s a wall of steel,” he said.
“And guess what? They don’t have any money now because they wanted to close the strait.”
The Strait of Hormuz is a major global energy shipping route, and disruption to traffic through the waterway has significant implications for international oil markets and countries that depend on energy imports.
Trump’s remarks came amid continued tensions between Washington and Tehran over the reopening of the strategic waterway and negotiations involving Iran.





