
2 cheap dividend stocks to kickstart your 2025 portfolio - Finbold - Finance in Bold
Mayor Adams didn’t rule out switching parties and becoming a Republican on Friday, quickly sparking backlash over his latest remarks that have Democrats questioning his allegiance and political observers speculating about what he’s up to. Adams, who was a registered Republican in the late-90s and early 2000s, was asked whether he would consider rejoining the party during a series of TV news hits Friday morning. “I’m a part of the American party. I love this country,” he said on NY1. Pressed a few minutes later on PIX11 , Adams said: “My focus is the American people and the people of New York City. And those who don’t like it, they would cancel me. And I say, ‘Cancel me.’ I’m for America.” The mayor has drawn the ire of Democrats on a number of fronts lately, although political observers say he could be reading the pulse of a shifting electorate. Some Democrats have also speculated Adams’ could be hoping Donald Trump’s election would help him with his legal problems. Trump, once president, could sway Adams’ five-count corruption indictment. Basil Smikle, a longtime Democratic strategist, said Adams may be trying to harness right-wing energy in the city, where Trump made significant inroads in the 2024 election , as the mayor runs for a second term. “He believes that the city and the voters are making a rightward shift, and he wants to be part of that wave,” Smikle said. Trump’s victory may have opened the door for Adams, who has long held moderate-to-conservative views , to be more outspoken on center-right issues, the former executive director of the New York State Democratic Party said. “What we don’t know is whether that is still a good strategy to win re-election,” Smikle said. “We also don’t know if it helps support the city at a time when there are a lot of leaders and voters that feel that under Trump, the city is going to be worse off than it was before.” Friday’s comments were the latest to spark backlash among local Democrats. During the presidential campaign, Adams declined to distance himself from Donald Trump after the president-elect expressed sympathy over Adams’ indictment. He praised Trump’s new efficiency czar Elon Musk and has been more outspoken in support of typically conservative political stances , like getting tough on migrants who commit crimes. When pressed during the PIX11 appearance, Adams did say that he plans to run for reelection next year as a Democrat: “That is what I’m proposing to do,” he said. Mayoral challengers quickly jumped on Adams’ Friday comments. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries also declined to back Adams in the Democratic primary on Friday. “At a time when the Republican Party has never been more out of line with New York values, we need a Mayor who isn’t scared to call himself a Democrat,” State Sen. Zellnor Myrie said in a statement , emphasizing a need to protect reproductive rights, climate measures and voting rights, among other issues Trump has hinted at rolling back. “Instead of playing footsie with the next President, we need a Mayor with the courage to stand up for our city,” Myrie continued. City Comptroller Brad Lander sarcastically wrote on X that he has “ruled out switching to the Republican party”; State Sen. Jessica Ramos said that if Adams was choosing to be “honest about being a Republican” then he should just run as one; and former comptroller Scott Stringer argued that Adams’ “legal problems are literally trumping the priorities of New Yorkers.”Mayor Adams didn’t rule out switching parties and becoming a Republican on Friday, quickly sparking backlash over his latest remarks that have Democrats questioning his allegiance and political observers speculating about what he’s up to. Adams, who was a registered Republican in the late-90s and early 2000s, was asked whether he would consider rejoining the party during a series of TV news hits Friday morning. “I’m a part of the American party. I love this country,” he said on NY1. Pressed a few minutes later on PIX11 , Adams said: “My focus is the American people and the people of New York City. And those who don’t like it, they would cancel me. And I say, ‘Cancel me.’ I’m for America.” The mayor has drawn the ire of Democrats on a number of fronts lately, although political observers say he could be reading the pulse of a shifting electorate. Some Democrats have also speculated Adams’ could be hoping Donald Trump’s election would help him with his legal problems. Trump, once president, could sway Adams’ five-count corruption indictment. Basil Smikle, a longtime Democratic strategist, said Adams may be trying to harness right-wing energy in the city, where Trump made significant inroads in the 2024 election , as the mayor runs for a second term. “He believes that the city and the voters are making a rightward shift, and he wants to be part of that wave,” Smikle said. Trump’s victory may have opened the door for Adams, who has long held moderate-to-conservative views , to be more outspoken on center-right issues, the former executive director of the New York State Democratic Party said. “What we don’t know is whether that is still a good strategy to win re-election,” Smikle said. “We also don’t know if it helps support the city at a time when there are a lot of leaders and voters that feel that under Trump, the city is going to be worse off than it was before.” Friday’s comments were the latest to spark backlash among local Democrats. During the presidential campaign, Adams declined to distance himself from Donald Trump after the president-elect expressed sympathy over Adams’ indictment. He praised Trump’s new efficiency czar Elon Musk and has been more outspoken in support of typically conservative political stances , like getting tough on migrants who commit crimes. When pressed during the PIX11 appearance, Adams did say that he plans to run for reelection next year as a Democrat: “That is what I’m proposing to do,” he said. Mayoral challengers quickly jumped on Adams’ Friday comments. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries also declined to back Adams in the Democratic primary on Friday. “At a time when the Republican Party has never been more out of line with New York values, we need a Mayor who isn’t scared to call himself a Democrat,” State Sen. Zellnor Myrie said in a statement , emphasizing a need to protect reproductive rights, climate measures and voting rights, among other issues Trump has hinted at rolling back. “Instead of playing footsie with the next President, we need a Mayor with the courage to stand up for our city,” Myrie continued. City Comptroller Brad Lander sarcastically wrote on X that he has “ruled out switching to the Republican party”; State Sen. Jessica Ramos said that if Adams was choosing to be “honest about being a Republican” then he should just run as one; and former comptroller Scott Stringer argued that Adams’ “legal problems are literally trumping the priorities of New Yorkers.”
In celebration of the launch of Marvel Rivals , a free Iron Man costume is being given away to all who claim it. Called the Armor Model 42, this black-and-gold skin will make your Iron Man an intimidating force on the battlefield during cross-platform battles. Unlike all the other skins in the game, you can't earn this one just by playing. Instead, you need to do a little work to find and redeem a special code. Fear not, because we can help you through the entire process. How to redeem the Iron Man Armor Model 42 skin Cosmetics in Marvel Rivals are one of the few things that can cost you some premium currency, but NetEase Games is giving everyone a chance to earn this skin for free. All you need to do is know the code and how to redeem it in the game. Step 1: Copy this code down: nwarh4k3xqy Step 2: Start Marvel Rivals on any platform. Step 3: Select Settings . Step 4: Choose Bundle Code and enter in the code provided above. Step 5: Select Use and you will now be able to apply this skin to your Iron Man by going into Cosmetics and equipping it.Ravens’ Roquan Smith Out for Monday Night against Chargers
Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the first person of India's minority Sikh faith to hold that office, died in New Delhi on Thursday at age 92. A renowned economist, he was known as the father of economic reforms in India but was seen as a weak leader by many, including some within his party, the Indian National Congress. "India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji," Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X. "Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. ... As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people's lives." Singh served as prime minister between 2004 and 2014, but political commentators say it was his time as finance minister in the early 1990s that was most significant. His policies during that period set India on the path of economic liberalization and globalization. "Wise, thoughtful, and scrupulously honest" is how former U.S. President Barack Obama described Singh in his memoir A Promised Land. Singh was born on Sept. 26, 1932, in a village called Gah in what is now Pakistan. His family migrated east when Great Britain divided the subcontinent into independent India and the Muslim-majority nation of Pakistan in 1947. The partition triggered mass migration and sectarian violence that killed hundreds of thousands of people, including Singh's grandfather. An Oxford-educated economist, Singh in 1991 drafted what economists call one of the most radical budgets in India's history: It opened up the country to the free market. "Let the whole world hear it loud and clear. India is now wide awake," Singh proclaimed during his budget speech . "The budget declaration was a shocker because it almost turned on its head most of what was the received economic wisdom of the day," says Rajesh Chakrabarti, a finance and public policy expert. Until 1991, Chakrabarti explains, India had been a socialist, public sector-dominated and import-restricted economy. When Singh became finance minister, the situation was dire. India was in a severe balance of payments crisis. "We were importing far, far more than what we were exporting, and our foreign exchange reserves had touched a low," says Chakrabarti. "India had to actually ship out gold — that means physically putting its gold reserves in ships and sending them to [banks in] London, to get money for running the economy." Singh's landmark budget opened India's economy to foreign direct investment, cut import duties and put an end to the Permit Raj, a complex system of regulations and red tape that discouraged private investment. In 2004, Singh was once again thrust into the limelight when Sonia Gandhi, the Italian-born matriarch of the Congress party, named Singh to the top job after she declined to become the prime minister following the party's landslide victory. But critics called him the Gandhis' " puppet ," ridiculed his soft-spoken manner and said he lacked oratory skills. "Humility was his strength and, at some level, his weakness, because he could not play to the gallery," says Rasheed Kidwai, author of a book on the Congress party. Even so, he steered India through several international and domestic crises, says Kidwai. "When the world economy tottered in 2008, India stood firmly," he says. While Singh was in office, "there was no confrontation with difficult neighbors like Pakistan and China," despite a deadly 2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai by Pakistani militants. Kidwai says Singh was particularly successful when it came to foreign policy. "He was not one-dimensional," he says. "[Singh] had very good relations and functional ties with Iran, and at the same time he was highly welcomed in Saudi Arabia." Under Singh's leadership, India drew closer to the U.S. on multiple fronts. Notably, the two countries agreed to a nuclear deal lifting a decades-long moratorium on nuclear trade. Singh's other achievements included accelerating India's economy and launching a social welfare program that guaranteed employment in rural areas. But his second term was marred by corruption scandals followed by the worst-ever defeat for his Congress party in the 2014 national elections. Singh did not run again for office in those elections, which were swept by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. He was absolved of wrongdoing in the corruption scandals. After leaving office, Singh continued to live in Delhi with his family. He is survived by his wife, Gursharan Kaur, a historian, and their three daughters. Chakrabarti says Singh was one of India's most graceful prime ministers. "I don't think even his worst critics will ever have anything but respect for the man," he says. "My life and tenure in public office are an open book," Singh, wearing his signature light-blue Sikh turban, said in his farewell speech in 2014. "Serving this nation has been my privilege. There is nothing more that I could ask for." Copyright 2024 NPRKirby Smart's Georgia Bulldogs will have three weeks off before taking the field again. And the UGA staff will be using some of that time to scout transfer players that could help add depth in Athens next season. Georgia (11-2) secured the No. 2 seed and a bye week in the final College Football Playoff rankings after taking down then No. 2 Texas in the SEC Championship Game on Saturday. It was the Bulldogs' second time beating Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns this season. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.
Global Agritourism Market Growth Driven by Sustainability and Local Experiences | Valuates ReportsFox News Digital spoke to Gabriella Hoffman, Independent Women’s Forum Center for Energy & Conservation Director, about what she hopes the Trump administration will prioritize in the energy sector President-elect Trump is expected by many of his supporters to preside over an energy "boom" in the United States by slashing Biden administration regulations, and one industry expert told Fox News Digital that she is encouraged by Trump’s energy sector cabinet nominees while outlining specific moves she hopes to see over the next four years. " I think the three cabinet picks that Trump has so far chosen to lead EPA, Interior and Energy are a vast improvement to who we have currently in those respective positions," Gabriella Hoffman, Independent Women’s Forum Center for Energy & Conservation Director, told Fox News Digital. "They're going to be taking a more tactful approach to energy development. They're not going to be keeping things in the ground. They're going to be prioritizing reliable energy sources like coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear even, and most recently, geothermal has also taken a renewed interest by Congress, and we will probably see geothermal as well unleashed. But also there's going to be this balance of this energy abundant mindset with promoting land stewardship, expanding hunting and fishing opportunities, expanding ocean access, and reevaluating so-called clean energy projects that promise to be greener or are believed to be green but actually might be worse for the environment and don't produce enough reliable energy or electricity." Hoffman told Fox News Digital the country is going to see a "reassessment of what conservation looks like" that is "balanced out by this robust kind of development of energy here in the United States. I KNOW WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP’S ENERGY POLICY WILL BE. I USED TO RUN HIS ENERGY REGULATORY AGENCY President-elect Trump has vowed to unleash American energy (Getty Images) "So it's going to be great for the economy, we believe. As a center, we believe it's going to lead to better national security with more energy being produced here. We're going to be less reliant on countries that produce certain energy sources less cleanly, less environmentally friendly than we do." In recent days, President-elect Trump has named former Republican Congressman Lee Zeldin to head the EPA, Liberty Energy CEO Chris Wright to head the Energy Department, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to oversee the Interior Department. Hoffman outlined several top line agenda items that her center hopes to see from the three departments. TRUMP'S PROPOSED TARIFFS COULD DRIVE UP FOOD PRICES, EXPERTS SAY Then-Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Mint Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) " Emphasizing reliable energy production, moving away from sources that are subsidized like solar and wind to reliable sources that don't really need to be subsidized or that are actually very plentiful and can be extracted safely and responsibly here in the United States," Hoffman said. "Another priority is to kind of clamp down on this regulatory overreach we have seen across all three agencies. We have seen them take extreme positions with devising so-called tailpipe emissions standards, all these different green energy efficiency, household appliance directives. We've seen them take extreme positions on policies like the America the Beautiful Plan, or the 30 by 30 plan to protect so-called 30% of waters in lands by 2030, which is a very extreme position, not rooted in conservation whatsoever. It's a control mechanism, not a conservation tool." Hoffman said she anticipates a "return back to true conservation" under Trump "where you don't see environmentalist groups suing agencies in perpetuity to block different measures of progress to go into effect." Trump often vowed on the campaign trail to unleash an energy boom in the United States by slashing regulations and expanding drilling in the United States and Hoffman told Fox News Digital she is optimistic that will happen. ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS PRESENT DIFFERING OPINIONS OF TRUMP'S ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT APPOINTEES A Valero refinery in Benicia, California, US (David Paul Morris) " Our center is very optimistic that there will be an energy boom," Hoffman said. "It's not going to happen overnight, but it could be seen within a couple of months. I think realistically, once we hit the six-month mark, perhaps the year-end mark if President-elect Trump is going to be able to repeal some of the Biden-Harris directives as it relates to all the climate measures, the day one executive orders are really going to be a weight off of the administrative state’s shoulders and then all other policies that emanate from that tackling the climate crisis executive order will similarly be probably clamped down." Trump has for months vowed to "undo" the Inflation Reduction Act, the Democrats' marquee climate and clean energy spending legislation that allocates $369 billion in subsidies aimed at re-shoring investments for electric vehicle manufacturing and battery production as well as new utility-scale wind and solar projects. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Hoffman told Fox News Digital that repealing the IRA will be critical to unleashing American energy despite possible opposition from some Republicans in Congress who like certain aspects of the bill. "For gas prices, electricity prices to truly be lowered, you're going to have to see that law terminated or repealed, because that is what invited a lot of the so-called energy or environmental inflation," Hoffman said. "These higher prices at the pump, higher utility bills, higher food costs, because everything emanates from energy, transportation, food delivery, things of that sort. So that law really does have to be kind of called into question. And perhaps Trump will work with Congress to ensure that that is repealed." Hoffman also explained that a focus on nuclear energy will be critical over the next four years. "It is a really safe technology, especially produced here, and we don't want China or Russia to have an edge," Hoffman said. Fox News Digital’s Breanne Deppisch contributed to this report. Andrew Mark Miller is a reporter at Fox News. Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email tips to AndrewMark.Miller@Fox.com.
Bills' push for AFC top seed continues with visit to Rams, who need to keep pace in NFC West
I last covered the GraniteShares 2x Long COIN Daily ETF ( NASDAQ: CONL ) for Seeking Alpha in late August. For the second time this year, I rated CONL a 'sell' and made the argument that the proof was in the pudding on the fund. At Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of BTC-USD, ETH-USD, COIN, ETHU either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. I'm not an investment advisor. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Pep Guardiola defends Josko Gvardiol and explains triple Man City change before incredible collapse
Séamus Coleman has revealed how he tried his best to frustrate Erling Haaland just seconds before the striker’s penalty miss as Everton held Manchester City. The champions’ dismal run of form continued on St Stephen’s Day as Coleman captained the Toffees to a 1-1 draw at the Etihad, following on from recent stalemates with Chelsea and Arsenal. It was only the Donegal native’s second league start of the season and first since August having recovered from injury. And the Irish skipper played a key role to help Everton earn a point against Pep Guardiola’s out-of-sorts side. He was also seen having a word in Haaland’s ear as the Norwegian striker stepped up to take a second-half spot kick with the score at 1-1. While the 36-year-old didn’t divulge exactly what he said to the Norwegian striker to put him off, he admitted that sometimes you have to do whatever it takes to earn a result. “No comment,” said Coleman, when asked about the confrontation with the Man City star. Then asked if it was perhaps a festive message to Haaland, Coleman replied: “Yeah, Merry Christmas! We came here wanting to get a point and you’ll do anything you can sometimes to win. There was no swearing or anything like that.” Everton are in 15th and remain unbeaten in their last four league outings, as the right-back hailed his team for earning a point at the home of the champions. “It was always going to be a tough shift coming here,” he continued. “They might not be in the best of form, but Manchester City have a side full of good players. Going 1-0 down wasn’t easy, but we showed the spirit we had in the group at the moment. “They have top players and an unbelievable manager. They are going through a tough time and we felt it was an opportunity today to come away with a point. In the end, we could have got the three points but we are very happy with the point. “We nearly won it 2-1, but it wasn’t to be. But coming here, and with the run of fixtures, to pick up the points that we have has been impressive. “People would have looked at the fixtures and would have thought ‘Everton are going to have a very tough December’, but thankfully the lads stuck together. We played Wolves at home, a big game and we won comfortably [4-0]. “We have carried that togetherness through. Sometimes getting a point here [City] may be more impressive than the three points at home, the way you have to get it and really work hard and dig in. You can be proud of the lads putting their bodies to come out of here with a point.” Meanwhile, Watford boss Tom Cleverley hailed winger Rocco Vata after the Ireland U-21 star netted a 95th-minute winner in their Championship victory over Portsmouth yesterday. The 19-year-old departed Celtic for Watford last summer and has now hit two goals and two assists in his last four league games, as Cleverley spoke highly of the winger after his late winner helped the Hornets up to sixth. “I said it earlier in the season, to not expect too much, too soon, from one of our highly-talented youngsters and the same goes with Rocco,” said Cleverley. “But we have an exciting prospect on our hands and he’s really improving. He is desperate to score goals. He’s an animal in and around the box and it’s no fluke he’s got two big goals for us.”WAKE RADIOLOGY’S DR. RAJ B. GONDALIA NAMED TO INAUGURAL RADIOLOGY BUSINESS 40 UNDER 40 LIST
Baltimore is all Mariah Carey wants for Christmas during holiday visitSEOUL, South Korea: South Korea's president said he's "truly sorry" for causing public anxiety with his declaration of martial law earlier this week, and promised not to make another attempt to impose it. President Yoon Suk Yeol made a public apology in a brief televised address Saturday morning, hours ahead of a parliamentary vote on a motion to impeach him. Yoon said he won't shirk legal or political responsibility for the declaration, adding that he will leave it to his conservative party to map out measures to stabilize politics, "including matters related to my term in office." THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP's earlier story follows below. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - South Korean lawmakers are set to vote later Saturday on impeaching President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived attempt to impose martial law, as protests grew nationwide calling for his removal. Finance Financial Literacy for Non-Finance Executives By - CA Raja, Chartered Accountant | Financial Management Educator | Former AVP - Credit, SBI View Program Entrepreneurship Building Your Winning Startup Team: Key Strategies for Success By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Web Development Intermediate C++ Skills: Master Pointers, Structures and File Stream By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Advanced C++ Mastery: OOPs and Template Techniques By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) ChatGPT Mastery from Zero to Hero: The Complete AI Course By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Generative AI for Dynamic Java Web Applications with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Crypto & NFT Mastery: From Basics to Advanced By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Web Development Master RESTful APIs with Python and Django REST Framework: Web API Development By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance AI and Generative AI for Finance By - Hariom Tatsat, Vice President- Quantitative Analytics at Barclays View Program Web Development Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Entrepreneurship Boosting Startup Revenue with 6 AI-Powered Sales Automation Techniques By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Web Development Advanced Java Mastery: Object-Oriented Programming Techniques By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Astrology Vastu Shastra Course By - Sachenkumar Rai, Vastu Shashtri View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Learn InVideo AI: Create Videos from Text Easily By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Marketing Modern Marketing Masterclass by Seth Godin By - Seth Godin, Former dot com Business Executive and Best Selling Author View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Entrepreneurship Marketing & Sales Strategies for Startups: From Concept to Conversion By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Data Analysis Learn Power BI with Microsoft Fabric: Complete Course By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Web Development C++ Fundamentals for Absolute Beginners By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Intermediate Java Mastery: Method, Collections, and Beyond By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance Analysis By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By - Neil Patel, Co-Founder and Author at Neil Patel Digital Digital Marketing Guru View Program Legal Complete Guide to AI Governance and Compliance By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Entrepreneurship Crafting a Powerful Startup Value Proposition By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program It wasn't immediately clear whether the motion submitted by opposition lawmakers would get the two-thirds majority required for Yoon to be impeached. But it appeared more likely after the leader of Yoon's own party on Friday called for suspending his constitutional powers, describing him as unfit to hold the office and capable of taking more extreme action, including renewed attempts to impose martial law. Impeaching Yoon would require support from 200 of the National Assembly's 300 members. The opposition parties that jointly brought the impeachment motion have 192 seats combined. That means they would need at least eight votes from Yoon's People Power Party. On Wednesday, 18 members of the PPP joined a vote that unanimously canceled martial law 190-0 less than three hours after Yoon declared the measure on television, calling the opposition-controlled parliament a "den of criminals" bogging down state affairs. The vote took place as hundreds of heavily-armed troops encircled the National Assembly in an attempt to disrupt the vote and possibly to detain key politicians. Parliament said Saturday that it would meet at 5 p.m. It will first vote on a bill appointing a special prosecutor to investigate influence peddling allegations surrounding Yoon's wife, and then on impeaching Yoon. The turmoil resulting from Yoon's bizarre and poorly-thought-out stunt has paralyzed South Korean politics and sparked alarm among key diplomatic partners, including neighboring Japan and Seoul's top ally the United States, as one of the strongest democracies in Asia faces a political crisis that could unseat its leader. Opposition lawmakers claim that Yoon's martial law declaration amounted to a self-coup and drafted the impeachment motion around rebellion charges. The PPP decided to oppose impeachment at a lawmakers' meeting, despite pleas by its leader Han Dong-hun, who isn't a lawmaker and has no vote. Following a party meeting on Friday, Han stressed the need to suspend Yoon's presidential duties and power swiftly, saying he "could potentially put the Republic of Korea and its citizens in great danger." Han said he had received intelligence that during the brief period of martial law Yoon ordered the country's defense counterintelligence commander to arrest and detain unspecified key politicians based on accusations of "anti-state activities." Hong Jang-won, first deputy director of South Korea's National Intelligence Service, later told lawmakers in a closed-door briefing that Yoon called after imposing martial law and ordered him to help the defense counterintelligence unit to detain key politicians. The targeted politicians included Han, opposition leader Lee Jae-myung and National Assembly speaker Woo Won Shik, according to Kim Byung-kee, one of the lawmakers who attended the meeting. The Defense Ministry said it had suspended the defense counterintelligence commander, Yeo In-hyung, who Han alleged had received orders from Yoon to detain the politicians. The ministry also suspended Lee Jin-woo, commander of the capital defense command, and Kwak Jong-geun, commander of the special warfare command, over their involvement in enforcing martial law. Former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, who has been accused of recommending Yoon to enforce martial law, has been placed under a travel ban and faces an investigation by prosecutors over rebellion charges. Vice Defense Minister Kim Seon Ho, who became acting defense minister after Yoon accepted Kim Yong Hyun's resignation on Thursday, has testified to parliament that it was Kim Yong Hyun who ordered troops to be deployed to the National Assembly after Yoon imposed martial law. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )Trump names David Sacks as White House AI and crypto czar