News
South Korea Opposition Pushes to Impeach President Yoon
The political turmoil in South Korea deepened as Kim Yong-jin, a central committee member of the Democratic Party, declared that democracy must be preserved and called for President Yoon Suk Yeol to face charges of “crimes of rebellion.” The party also named Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and Interior Minister Lee Sang-min as key figures involved in the controversial martial law declaration, advocating for their prosecution alongside the president.
Despite these accusations, the ruling People Power Party, to which President Yoon belongs, announced its decision to oppose any impeachment motion. To pass, the opposition requires at least eight of the 108 ruling party lawmakers to support the bill, a challenging but not impossible feat given the growing dissent.
The impeachment motion was introduced in the early hours of Thursday without any ruling party lawmakers present. Meanwhile, life in Seoul, including schools, banks, and government offices, continued as usual, but protests demanding President Yoon’s resignation have intensified. Demonstrators flooded the streets, chanting, “Arrest Yoon Suk Yeol,” and calling for justice.
Adding to the tension, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the country’s largest labor organization, announced an indefinite strike, vowing to sustain the pressure until the president steps down.
Storm Éowyn has swept across the UK and Ireland, bringing severe disruption, widespread power outages, and tragic loss of life. Authorities report that one person has died as strong winds and hazardous conditions wreak havoc across the region.
Transport Chaos Across the UK and Ireland
Rail
- ScotRail: All services in Scotland have been suspended until at least midday Saturday.
- London: A fallen tree on the Elizabeth Line at Brentwood has caused delays, with severe disruptions also reported on the Mildmay Line. Parts of the Piccadilly Line remain closed.
- Nationwide: LNER, Lumo, Merseyrail, and TransPennine Express services have all been impacted. Travelers are advised to check their journeys before setting out.
Roads
- East Yorkshire: The M62 Ouse Bridge is closed to high-sided vehicles.
- Cheshire: The A550 is closed in both directions after a fallen tree was struck by an HGV.
- Derbyshire/South Yorkshire: The A628 is shut between the A616 (Flouch) and A57 (Hollingworth) due to strong winds.
- National Advice: The RAC has warned motorists in northern England and north Wales, where amber warnings are in effect, to exercise extreme caution if traveling.
Airports
- Over 1,000 flights have been canceled across Ireland and the UK, with Dublin, Edinburgh, Heathrow, and Glasgow airports worst affected.
- Edinburgh Airport: Operations are halted, with officials warning of delays in the coming days until conditions improve.
- Dublin Airport: Flight operations resumed at 16:15 as winds eased significantly, though some delays remain possible.
Power Outages and Damage
Storm Éowyn has left over a million homes and businesses without power across the region. Emergency services are working tirelessly to restore electricity, but the widespread damage may cause delays in reestablishing service.
Warnings and Precautions
- Scotland’s Deputy First Minister has urged residents to remain cautious, even as the red wind warning was downgraded to amber earlier today.
- First Minister John Swinney echoed the sentiment, highlighting the importance of safety amid ongoing hazardous conditions.
President Donald Trump has directed officials to devise a plan to declassify documents related to the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr., signaling a significant step toward unveiling long-concealed historical records.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump stated, “A lot of people have been waiting for this for years, for decades. And everything will be revealed.” The executive order gives administration officials 15 days to present a plan for declassifying the documents, although full disclosure is not guaranteed.
The Assassinations That Shaped America
- John F. Kennedy: The 35th president was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, in 1963 by Lee Harvey Oswald, a Marine veteran with ties to the Soviet Union. While the Warren Commission concluded that Oswald acted alone, lingering questions and alternative theories have persisted for decades.
- Robert F. Kennedy: JFK’s younger brother was killed in Los Angeles in 1968 during his presidential campaign.
- Martin Luther King Jr.: The civil rights leader was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, just two months before RFK’s death in 1968.
While many assassination-related documents have been released over the years, thousands remain partially or fully redacted, especially those tied to the JFK investigation. In 1992, Congress mandated that all JFK-related documents be made public within 25 years. However, both Trump during his first term and President Joe Biden approved delays, citing national security concerns raised by intelligence agencies.
Trump’s new executive order asserts that continued secrecy is “not consistent with the public interest.”
Jefferson Morley, a journalist and expert on the JFK assassination, praised the move but emphasized the importance of execution. “The statement of intention is great. But the details and implementation are everything,” he said, adding that the process remains unclear.
Public interest in the files remains high. Polls over the decades consistently show that most Americans doubt the official conclusion that Oswald acted alone.
On his first day back in office, President Donald Trump signed an array of executive actions aimed at swiftly implementing his administration’s priorities. These measures reflect his campaign promises and address a wide range of domestic and international issues.
Key Executive Actions
1. Withdrawal from Paris Climate Agreement
The U.S. has officially begun the process of exiting the global accord, which aims to combat climate change through collective international efforts.
2. Initiating Exit from WHO
Trump has directed steps to formally withdraw from the World Health Organization, citing concerns about its handling of global health crises.
3. Border National Emergency
A national emergency has been declared at the southern border, signaling heightened measures to address immigration and security concerns.
4. Gender and Federal Policy
The administration enacted measures to “defend women from gender ideology” and promote what Trump referred to as “biological truth” in federal governance.
5. Pardons for January 6 Participants
Individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riots have been pardoned, a move Trump framed as addressing what he called injustices in their prosecution.
6. Election Accountability
An order was signed to investigate and hold “former government officials accountable for election interference.”
7. Free Speech Protections
Trump ordered federal agencies to “restore freedom of speech” and prevent government censorship, emphasizing a commitment to First Amendment rights.
8. Establishment of Department of Government Efficiency (Doge)
An advisory board was created to streamline government operations, although it does not hold the status of a formal department.
9. Regulatory Freeze
A temporary freeze on the issuance of new regulations has been implemented, giving the administration time to assert control over federal rule-making processes.
10. Addressing Cost-of-Living Crisis
All federal departments and agencies were directed to prioritize measures addressing inflation and economic strain on Americans.
11. TikTok Ban Suspension
An action was signed to halt the implementation of a potential ban on TikTok, citing further review requirements.
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