Foreign Archives - Page 13 of 36

New Syrian Leader Speaks On Saudi Arabia’s Role During Transition Period

Syria’s de factor leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa has praised the role of Saudi Arabia in the country’s transition period. “I am proud of everything Saudi Arabia has...

Russia Foils Thwarts Plot To Kill Blogger, Other

Foreign6 months ago

Russia Thwarts Plot To Kill Blogger, Other

Russia’s Federal Security Service, FSB, said on Saturday that it thwarted a plot by Ukraine to kill a high-ranking Russian officer and a pro-Russian war blogger...

Home News Featured Investigations Metro Plus Videos Politics Business HealthWise Editorial Columns PUNCH Lite Lawmakers impeach South Korean acting President Duck-soo 27th December 2024 South Korea South Korea Agency Report Kindly share this story: South Korean lawmakers impeached the acting president on Friday, as the country struggles to shake off political turmoil sparked by his predecessor’s martial law declaration that shocked the world. Han Duck-soo took over as acting president from President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was suspended following a parliamentary vote over his move to impose martial law on December 3. However, opposition MPs demanded Han, who is also prime minister, be removed from office as well, arguing that he had refused demands to complete Yoon’s impeachment process and to bring him to justice. “I announce that Prime Minister Han Duck-soo’s impeachment motion has passed. Out of the 192 lawmakers who voted, 192 voted to impeach,” said National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik. Counting for the impeachment was delayed as ruling People’s Power Party (PPP) lawmakers protested in parliament after Woo said only a simple majority was needed in the 300-member parliament to proceed with the impeachment. PPP lawmakers began chanting angrily and many rushed towards Woo, demanding that he resign. They did not take part in the vote. It became the second impeachment of a South Korean head of state in just two weeks, adding to the turmoil of the country’s dynamic political landscape. It was also South Korea’s first impeachment of an acting president. PPP leader Kweon Seong-dong said after the vote that Han “must continue to lead state affairs without yielding to the opposition’s passage of the impeachment motion”. However, Han said in a statement after the vote that he “respects the parliament’s decision” and would wait for the Constitutional Court’s subsequent decision on whether to uphold it. The opposition said in its impeachment motion that Han was “intentionally avoiding the special investigation to probe those involved in the insurrection and has clearly stated his intention to reject the appointments of three Constitutional Court judges”. Such actions, it said, were “in violation of a public official’s duty to uphold the law… and serve the public”. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok will step in as acting president in Han’s place. Choi had pleaded with the opposition lawmakers not to go ahead with the motion. “An impeachment motion against the acting authority is no different from an impeachment motion against the entire cabinet,” he told a news conference with other cabinet members earlier on Friday. “Our economy and people’s livelihoods, which are walking on thin ice in a national emergency, cannot bear the expansion of political uncertainty surrounding the acting authority,” he said. Related News Cut allocations to presidency, lawmakers in 2025 budget, SERAP urges N’Assembly South Korean interior minister Sang-min resigns Tax reform bills: Tinubu directs justice ministry to address lawmakers' concerns – ‘True colours’ – At the heart of the current row is the composition of the Constitutional Court, which will decide whether to uphold parliament’s decision to impeach Yoon and now Han. The court is currently short of three judges. While it can go ahead with its six members on the bench, a single dissenting vote would reinstate Yoon. The opposition wanted Han to approve three more nominees to fill the nine-member bench, which he had refused to do, leaving both sides in deadlock. Han’s refusal to formally appoint the three judges “revealed his true colours”, said Democratic Party lawmaker Jo Seoung-lae. The refusal “is a direct challenge to the Constitution and the law”, said Jo. They sought to impeach Han to “restore constitutional order and stabilise state affairs”. Han had said he wanted his PPP and the opposition to reach a compromise on the nominees. “The consistent principle embedded in our constitution and laws is to refrain from exercising significant exclusive presidential powers, including the appointment of constitutional institutions,” Han argued. “A consensus between the ruling and opposition parties in the National Assembly, representing the people, must first be reached,” the 75-year-old career bureaucrat said. The Constitutional Court held its first preliminary hearing on the validity of Yoon’s impeachment on Friday despite the latest controversy. Yoon’s legal team said they would attend a preparatory hearing of the court’s impeachment trial at 2:00 pm (0500 GMT). The South Korean won plummeted to 1480.2 per US dollar on Friday morning, marking its lowest level in nearly 16 years. The won earlier plunged to a two-year low against the dollar after the declaration of martial law as investors, already concerned about the state of Asia’s number four economy, shunned the currency. Police said on Friday that they had begun a raid on a presidential safe house and were collecting footage from nearby security cameras as part of the martial law probe. AFP

Foreign6 months ago

South Korean Lawmakers Impeach Acting President Han Duck-Soo

South Korean lawmakers impeached the acting president on Friday, as the country struggles to shake off political turmoil sparked by his predecessor’s martial law declaration that...

UN Chief Condemns ‘Escalation’ Between Yemen’s Houthis And Israel

Foreign6 months ago

UN Chief Condemns ‘Escalation’ Between Yemen’s Houthis And Israel

The United Nations chief on Thursday denounced the “escalation” in hostilities between Yemen’s Houthi militias and Israel, terming strikes on the Sanaa airport “especially alarming.” “The...

Russian Cargo Ship Sinks In Mediterranean Sea

Foreign6 months ago

Russian Cargo Ship Sinks In Mediterranean Sea

A Russian cargo ship called Ursa Major hss sank in the Mediterranean Sea. The overnight incident reportedly occurred after an explosion ripped through the cargo ship’s...

All Weapons To Come Under ‘State Control’ - Syrian New Leader Assures Turkish FM

Foreign6 months ago

All Weapons To Come Under ‘State Control’ – Syrian New Leader Assures Turkish FM

Turkiye’s foreign minister Hakan Fidan met with Syria’s new leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa in Damascus on Sunday, Ankara’s foreign ministry said. A video released by the Anadolu...

Ukraine Drone Hits Russian Righ-rise Building

Foreign6 months ago

Ukraine Drone Hits Russian Righ-rise Building

A Ukrainian town, Kyiv, on Saturday staged a major drone attack on the Russian city of Kazan, 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) from the frontier. It was...

Shutdown: Republican Party Taking Order From Elon Musk – Hillary Clinton

Foreign6 months ago

Shutdown: Republican Party Taking Order From Elon Musk – Hillary Clinton

United States former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton has sounded off about Elon Musk’s influence over the spending drama on Capitol Hill. Clinton’s comments come as...

Gov Adeleke Orders Action for Prerogative Of Mercy On Man Sentenced To Death By Hanging For Stealing Fowl

Foreign6 months ago

Gov Adeleke Orders Action For Prerogative Of Mercy On Man Sentenced To Death By Hanging For Stealing Fowl

Governor Ademola Adeleke has directed immediate investigation and pardoning action on the case of a young man reportedly sentenced to death by hanging in Osun state...

Blaze Newz Nigeria

New Syrian Leader Speaks On Saudi Arabia’s Role During Transition Period

Russia Thwarts Plot To Kill Blogger, Other

South Korean Lawmakers Impeach Acting President Han Duck-Soo

UN Chief Condemns ‘Escalation’ Between Yemen’s Houthis And Israel

Russian Cargo Ship Sinks In Mediterranean Sea

All Weapons To Come Under ‘State Control’ – Syrian New Leader Assures Turkish FM

Ukraine Drone Hits Russian Righ-rise Building

Shutdown: Republican Party Taking Order From Elon Musk – Hillary Clinton

Gov Adeleke Orders Action For Prerogative Of Mercy On Man Sentenced To Death By Hanging For Stealing Fowl