Category: World

On Tuesday, South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol announced martial law to fight what he called “anti-state forces.” In a surprise TV speech, he said these groups were pushing the country toward disaster. This is the first time martial law has been declared since South Korea became a democracy in 1987; the last time was in 1979.

Shortly after his announcement, the South Korean parliament voted to lift the martial law. This forced President Yoon to withdraw his declaration during a Cabinet meeting.

Why did he declare martial law? Yoon said the situation was so serious that he needed to protect the country’s democracy. He accused opposition parties of holding the parliament hostage and claimed they were leading South Korea into danger. He stated, “I will eliminate anti-state forces quickly and bring back normalcy,” asking the citizens for their trust even if it meant dealing with some difficulties.

After Yoon’s announcement, the military said that political gatherings that might cause “social confusion” would be stopped. According to South Korean law, martial law can be lifted with a majority vote in parliament, where the opposition Democratic Party has a majority.

The reaction from opposing parties was immediate. The leader of Yoon’s own party, Han Dong-hoon, called the decision “wrong” and vowed to “stop it with the people.” Also, opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, labeled the martial law decision as “illegal and unconstitutional.”

Since he became president in 2022, Yoon has struggled with an opposition-controlled parliament. They’ve been at a standstill over next year’s budget plan. The opposition has also been trying to impeach the top three prosecutors. Alongside this, Yoon has faced criticism for not allowing an independent investigation into scandals involving his wife and top officials.

Big companies like banks and tech giants are giving money to help Donald Trump with his inauguration as he prepares for another term as president. They want to build a good relationship with him so they can get benefits for their businesses.

Here are some of the companies donating to Trump’s inauguration:

– ROBINHOOD MARKETS: This popular trading app donated $2 million.
– UBER TECHNOLOGIES: Uber and its CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, donated $1 million each.
– AMAZON.COM: Amazon is giving $1 million and will also show the inauguration event on Prime Video.
– META PLATFORMS: This company, which owns Facebook, donated $1 million.
– OPENAI: CEO Sam Altman plans to donate $1 million personally, saying he supports Trump’s plans for AI.
– BANK OF AMERICA AND GOLDMAN SACHS: These big banks are also planning to donate, but they haven’t decided how much yet.

Companies are eager to stay on good terms with Trump as he starts his second term in January.

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is asking the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to support her government’s plan to send some migrants to Albania. This plan is important to her, but Italian courts have blocked it because they believe it goes against European laws.

Speaking to the parliament before an important meeting of EU leaders, Meloni said we need clear rules about this issue because recent court decisions seem to have a political bias. If the ECJ agrees with these decisions, she warned, it could harm how all EU countries handle migrant returns until new asylum rules are in place by 2026.

Her plan focuses on adult men from certain countries that Italy considers “safe.” These men could be sent to detention in Albania and quickly deported if their requests for asylum (a safe place to stay) are denied. Other European countries are also interested in this approach to reduce illegal migration.

However, Italian judges have raised concerns. They cited a recent ECJ decision stating that no country can be labeled “safe” if even a small part of it is dangerous. A further ECJ ruling is expected to clarify the situation, but it won’t come soon. Meanwhile, Italy has stopped sending migrants to Albania, leaving detention centers empty.

Despite this, Meloni remains hopeful that her plan will succeed, even though some critics argue it has been a waste of money.

In a big political surprise, Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, stepped down from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Cabinet on Monday. She mentioned that she could no longer agree with the government’s plan for handling U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s threats of new tariffs. Her resignation has caused more chaos within Trudeau’s Liberal Party, as almost 60 out of 153 MPs are asking for new leadership.

Freeland is the first important Cabinet member to quit, raising questions about Trudeau’s control. She turned down Trudeau’s offer to move her to a different position, stating, “I feel the only honest choice is to resign.”

Party Struggles and Opposition Calls for Change

The Liberal Party is deeply divided now, with about one-third of its MPs wanting Trudeau to resign. Jagmeet Singh, who leads the New Democratic Party (NDP) that has been supporting Trudeau, also asked him to step down. The Conservative Party, the main opposition, hasn’t directly called for Trudeau to resign but is eager for an election.

Trudeau wants to lead the Liberals in the next election, but many party members doubt his chances of winning again. An election must happen before October, but if the NDP withdraws support, an election could be called sooner.

Freeland’s Concerns About Tariffs

In her resignation letter, Freeland pointed to big disagreements with Trudeau’s plans, especially over how to deal with Trump’s proposed 25% tariffs on Canadian goods. She warned that Canada was facing a serious threat and stressed the need to prepare for possible economic troubles. Freeland criticized government plans like tax holidays and cash rebates, saying they were too expensive.

What’s Next for Trudeau and His Party?

Trudeau has named Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc as Freeland’s replacement. LeBlanc will focus on addressing rising living costs and building a positive relationship with the new U.S. government. Trudeau admitted it’s a tough time for him and his party.

The Liberal Party is still divided. MP Chad Collins noted, “Many of our members want a leader change, including me.” Analysts have called Freeland’s resignation a “political earthquake” that could shake Trudeau’s minority government.

Trudeau’s Leadership Under Threat

Trudeau, who became Prime Minister in 2015 with promises of progressive change, is now struggling with lower public support due to rising costs and immigration issues. His successes, like legalizing cannabis and introducing a carbon tax, are being overshadowed by growing economic problems.

Freeland’s resignation marks a significant moment for the future of Trudeau’s leadership, leading to talk about possible new leaders, including former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney.

More than 44,600 Christmas light controllers sold at stores like Cracker Barrel, Target, and Walmart are being recalled because they can cause fires. The warning comes from the Consumer Product Safety Commission and Mr Christmas LLC.

These light controllers, made by Mr Christmas LLC in Memphis, Tennessee, have wireless receivers that can overheat when plugged in, creating a fire hazard. The company reported at least ten cases of overheating, with one resulting in a fire. Luckily, no injuries have been reported.

Mr Christmas is recalling these light controllers for safety and is asking customers to stop using them. If you return your controller, which costs between $25 and $40, you will get a full refund.

The controllers sold at Cracker Barrel and Walmart are called “Christmas Light Controller.” At Target, they are sold under the brand name “Tree Lighting Switch.”

If you bought one of these products, please stop using it and go to the Mr Christmas website or the CPSC website for details on how to return it.

Leslie Hermanson, the President of Mr. Christmas, said, “As a 91-year-old family business, nothing is more important than the safety of families. If you bought one of these products this season, we urge you to return it.”

Remember, controllers made before 2024 are not part of this recall.