WASHINGTON — The number of Americans who applied for unemployment benefits held steady last week, though continuing claims increased to the highest level in three years. Jobless claim applications ticked down by 1,000 to 219,000 for the week of Dec. 21, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That’s fewer than the 223,000 analysts forecast. Continuing claims, the number of Americans collecting jobless benefits, climbed by 46,000 to 1.91 million for the week of Dec. 14. That’s more than analysts projected and the most since the week of Nov. 13, 2021, when the labor market was recovering from the COVID-19 jobs wipeout in the spring of 2020. The rising level of continuing claims suggests some who are receiving benefits are finding it harder to land new jobs. WASHINGTON — The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. increased for the second week in a row to its highest level since mid-July, reflecting a recent jump in the bond yields lenders use as a guide to price home loans. The rate rose to 6.85% from 6.72% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the rate on a 30-year mortgage averaged 6.61%. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage is now at its highest since the week of July 11, when it was 6.89%. It dipped as low as 6.08% in September — a two-year low — and was as high as 7.22% in May. The average rate on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage, popular with homeowners seeking to refinance their home loan at a lower rate, increased to 6% from 5.92% last week, Freddie Mac said. BRIEFLY NETANYAHU: Israel’s attorney general ordered police to investigate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife, Sara, on suspicion of harassing political opponents and witnesses in the Israeli leader’s corruption trial, the Justice Ministry announced Thursday. RUSSIA: The Federal Security Service in Russia said Thursday it arrested four Russians it accused of involvement in an alleged Ukrainian plot to assassinate senior military officers, an announcement that follows the Dec. 17 killing of Lt. Gen Igor Kirillov. SEVERE WEATHER: At least 90 flights were canceled and two dozen delayed Thursday at Texas airports as a line of thunderstorms moved across parts of the state in a system the National Weather Service predicted could bring high winds, hail and possible tornadoes. PAKISTAN: Pakistani security forces faced off with insurgents in three separate shootouts in the restive northwest bordering Afghanistan on Thursday, killing 13 militants, the military said. PRISON BREAK: Mozambique’s police chief said Thursday at least 6,000 escaped from a high-security prison in Mozambique’s capital Maputo on Christmas Day after a rebellion in which 33 prisoners died and 15 were injured, as widespread post-election riots and violence roil the country. BALTIC CABLE: Finnish authorities said they detained a ship linked to Russia on Thursday as they investigate whether it damaged a Baltic Sea power cable and several data cables, the latest incident involving disruption of key infrastructure in the region. — Associated Press Get local news delivered to your inbox!Farewells, family and a first – F1 drivers’ helmets for the 2024 Abu Dhabi GP | Formula 1
NDB Investment Bank wins Euromoney Award for the 13th consecutive year.A day after halting their "Delhi Chalo" foot march, Punjab farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on Saturday said they have not received any message from the Centre for talks to address their issues. He also said that a group of 101 farmers will resume their march to Delhi on Sunday. On Friday, protesting farmers suspended their foot march to the national capital for the day after some of them suffered injuries due to teargas shells fired by security personnel, who stopped them at the Shambhu border. The farmers have been pressing for various demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP). The Haryana police has written to its Punjab counterpart asking it to ensure media personnel are stopped at a distance from the protest site for their safety as well as to ensure ease in maintaining law and order. Addressing the media at the Punjab-Haryana border on Saturday, Mr Pandher said 16 farmers suffered injuries and one of them lost hearing ability because of the teargas shelling by Haryana security personnel. Except for four injured farmers, the rest of them have been discharged from the hospital, he said, adding, "We have not received any message from the Centre for holding talks. The (Narendra) Modi government is in no mood to hold talks." He added that the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have already decided that a “jattha” of 101 farmers will again march towards the national capital on Sunday noon in a peaceful manner. On the action by security personnel against protesting farmers, Mr Pandher said the BJP government at the Centre has been "exposed". "What did they do yesterday? People are angry with this action. People are asking the BJP since the farmers were not taking tractor-trolleys along with them, then why they were not allowed to move ahead," he posed. Another farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal continued with his fast unto death at another border in the Khanauri area. Meanwhile, the Haryana police, in a communication to the Punjab police chief, said, "It is brought to your notice that on December 6, when the jattha of farmers approached towards the Haryana border, many mediapersons were also accompanying them despite the request made by this office not to allow media persons near the protest site." "Due to this, the Haryana police faced a lot of problems in handling the law-and-order situation at the border. Hence you are again requested to direct all concerned to ensure that mediapersons are stopped at a safe distance (minimum 1 km) in the interest of the safety of media persons as well as their requirements," the letter stated. As part of a call by the farmer unions, a jattha of 101 farmers began its march to Delhi on Friday from their protest site at the Shambhu border to press for their demands. The jattha was stopped by multi-layered barricading erected by Haryana security personnel. Undeterred by prohibitory orders, the farmers attempted to force their way through the barricades but were stopped by security personnel who lobbed multiple teargas shells to force them to return to their protest site at Shambhu, which falls in Punjab’s Patiala district.
South Korea’s Yoon survives impeachment after martial law fiasco
Special counsel moves to dismiss Trump casesSustainability is a popular buzzword, but what does it really mean? The UN Brundtland Commission defines sustainability as "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." To delve deeper into sustainability, the Philippine National Bank (PNB) held its full-day Sustainability Thought Leadership Workshop with the theme "SUMMIT FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH – ENABLING PATHWAYS, BREAKING BARRIERS" last November at Century Park. Organized by SVP Jean Marie Baruelo, PNB’s Corporate Sustainability Head, this event marked a crucial step forward as the Board of Directors and Senior Management convened to strengthen PNB’s commitment to sustainability. Partnering with the International Finance Corporation, S&P Global, the University of the Philippines Los Baños, and the World Wildlife Fund, PNB aims to build long-term sustainable growth that benefits everyone—stakeholders, the bank, communities served, and future generations. The event was spearheaded by PNB President Florido "Doy" Casuela and SVP Baruelo. "Sustainability is no longer at the margins of business; it is a mainstream strategy to build resilience and future-proof our organization," stated PNB Chairman Edgar Cua. "While regulatory requirements have spurred the acceleration of sustainability integration into businesses, successful implementation and achievement of sustainability goals, particularly for banks, can only be gained by viewing sustainability as a natural part of risks and opportunities. Businesses will either adapt and gain access to the opportunities or neglect the risks and bear the effects of climate risks and fragmented or misaligned strategies." He also noted key areas for sustainability integration highlighted by asset managers globally. With the vision to achieve the triple bottom line – People, Planet, Prosperity – the workshop provided valuable insights, helping stakeholders understand how to align with the latest Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) trends and make impactful changes to achieve greater resilience and future-proof the bank. WWF Philippines Chief of Party Edgardo Tongson discussed Nature and Biodiversity Loss and the Sustainable Banking Assessment of top Philippine banks based on public disclosures on ESG metrics and indicators pertaining to Purpose, Policies, People, Products, and Portfolio. International Finance Corporation (IFC) Senior Climate Finance Specialist Quyen Thuc Nguyen, who flew in from Washington, DC, tackled global trends in sustainability strategies and how to integrate them into business activities for responsible banking and operations. IFC Climate Risk Lead for East Asia Pacific Paul Xavier Espinosa discussed Climate Risk Management trends, tools, and methodologies to measure, assess, and integrate Physical, Transition, and Climate Risks into the bank’s risk models for safe, sound, and sustainable banking. IFC Senior Operations Officer for the Asia and Pacific Region, Oluwatoyin Alake, shared how leading financial institutions can fulfill the critical role of channeling financing flows to sustainable green and social projects and leverage thematic capital markets for funding mobilization. A panel fireside chat, composed of PNB Board Chairman Cua, Director Enrico Alfiler, IFC speakers Ms. Nguyen, Mr. Espinosa, and Ms. Alake, and joined by S&P Global Regional Team Lead for Sustainability Analytics Services Terrence Teoh, was moderated by PNB EVP Francis Albalate. The discussion centered on how bank leadership can drive sustainable practices and ESG strategy. Mr. Teoh provided valuable insights on decarbonization pathways and reporting expectations, and tackled use cases of successful ESG transformation, emphasizing the criticality of top-down, bottom-up, inside-out, and outside-in sustainability alignment, integration, and cohesion. Bernadette Tongko-Magadia, UPLB Associate Dean of the College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology, refreshed PNB on the Environmental and Social Risk Management System (ESRMS), highlighting critical areas and recommendations for decarbonization. Breakout sessions with small groups of board and senior management tackled case studies to produce key strategies and initiatives to embed sustainability in all facets of business and operations. Among the topics were: A fun activity involved participants engaging in gardening. Name tags were embedded with actual seeds, and participants "planted" their pencils in pots to support environmental objectives and symbolically pledge to nurture the seeds planted. May the seeds not just grow, but thrive towards meaningful ESG transformation! **** Ms. Tarriela is a former PNB Chairman and now serves as Board Advisor. She was Citibank’s first Filipina Vice President and a former Undersecretary of Finance. She is a director of Nickel Asia Corp., LTG Inc., and FINEX. An environmentalist, she founded Flor’s Garden in Antipolo.
With holiday season upon us, there is a sense of joy and excitement in the air. But for some, mixed emotions can set in this time of year. Read on for some professional perspective on holiday stress management. NORTHWEST VERMONT — This time of year for many conjures up a cornucopia of fall harvest visions, brings forth cuddly, candle-lit cocoas and stews, and sparks a childlike sense of wonder as the thrill of twinkle lights, caroling and snowy magic draws all the more near. However, with lost foliage, brisker temperatures and fewer hours of daylight to soak up — among holiday pressures that can creep up — this time of year also has the potential to add stress and overwhelm to already-hectic lives. In an effort to prepare with our readers for the upcoming holiday season, we spoke to two area-experts about mental health and self-care while weathering a New England winter. Here is what we learned. All things come in cycles Amanda Tanner is a licensed clinical mental health counselor who works as a clinical supervisor at the Howard Center, working with a caseload of her own clients as well as supervising other clinicians for their own licensure. Tanner said following daylight savings time, she and her colleagues typically see an increase in seasonal symptoms like depression or heightened anxiety in kids and adults. University of Vermont Medical Center physician psychiatrist and academic associate professor Andrew Rosenfeld told O’Rourke Media Group seasonal affective disorder is a common issue impacting Vermonters this time of year — essentially a more intense version of the winter blues. Lower mood, lower energy, and sometimes depressive symptoms like trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, thoughts of not wanting to be alive and more can become elevated this time of year, especially among folks who struggle to participate in fun winter activities, he said. Sometimes, the challenge of getting out there is caused by physical abilities like impaired vision or needing a wheelchair, which get harder as it gets darker and colder. The challenge of getting outside in winter could also result from people’s cold tolerance. “When that happens, we tend to do less of the socializing, physical activity — things that are fundamental to our mental health and wellbeing,” Rosenfeld said. The need for depression diagnoses and treatment in the region generally has also climbed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tanner said. Indeed, the Vermont Department of Health reports the number of Vermont adults reporting poor mental health has significantly increased over the course of the last decade, especially for certain demographics of individuals, such as younger adults, low-education and low-income adults, LGBTQ+ adults and adults with disabilities. Vermonters also report a higher rate of depressive disorder than U.S. adults do generally — 25% as opposed to a nationwide average of 19% — and six percent of Vermont adults have seriously considered suicide, with considerable disparities for the demographics listed above. “We live in a northern climate and have significant shifts in the amount of daylight that we're having and the ability to be outside comfortably,” Tanner said. “The trade-off is it makes New Englanders very resilient.” Still, the snow and low temperatures can be very isolating for many people with medical or mobility issues. Tanner’s advice is to get outside and into the sunshine as much as possible, even if just in the context of a short walk, and supplementing with indoor time beside a window. “The other category for many Americans is the big holiday season, which can mean mixed feelings,” Rosenfeld said. “For some people, it's joyful and more togetherness. For others, it's family divisiveness or loneliness if there aren't connections to be had. Because [the holidays] are such a public phenomenon, it’s easier for people to feel left out.” He recommends checking in with oneself about what feelings and needs are coming up personally, and what barriers are getting in the way of that. Remembering to set realistic expectations and boundaries, and making time for those you feel best around, is important. “There might be people who we really want to see and stay connected to, but with whom spending an hour or a day is better than spending three hours or three days,” Rosenfeld said. “We talk a lot about being loving and being kind, but what’s equally important actually is being able to receive kindness and love.” Not only are the seasons cyclical, but so are things like grief and loss of loved ones — navigating a first holiday gathering without a loved one at the dinner table has the potential to be very tender and painful, and we don’t always get to control how or when grief comes up in life. It’s important to make space for whatever ways grief is showing up and to be kind to oneself and to others who might be sharing in that grief, even if you’re grieving differently, Rosenfeld said. In addition to the cycles of life and the seasons, cultural cycles are at play too, Tanner said. “We're shifting in seasons and then additionally, in our shifting in political systems — we just went through an election and are approaching another year of new leadership, and that can be anxiety-provoking for many, and heightens some of the economic stressors,” she said. “One thing that anxiety demands is certainty,” Tanner added. “Theres a lot of uncertainty right now in our world and our culture and I think that has an impact from COVID as well, as it took our world that we at least had a semblance or an assumption that we knew what was going to happen and that things are in our control, and just kind of blew that out of the water.” Now, many folks are grappling with altered expectations around how they can engage socially, at work, with travel and more, and that can come with fears and anxieties as well. “Those shifts are taxing,” Tanner said. “If somebody has already had a predisposition genetically or because of trauma or because of first childhood experiences or other stressors, that shift puts them at an increased risk to experience depression or anxiety and other mental health issues.” But one of the most helpful ways to orient oneself through the ups and downs of this time of year is to do so, always, through the lens of grace and self-compassion — and to prioritize not only self care, but also connecting with others and extending grace to one’s community, too. The value of social connection “Social connection has a lot of power — and may be the most powerful thing — to support our well being,” Rosenfeld said. When life gets hard, it can be really helpful to talk to a therapist if you are able, as well as to connect with a trusted friend or family member, reach out to local community resources, or to tap into a religious organization where one has found solace, Tanner said. Setting intentions about how one wants to participate around a holiday dinner table is equally as important as being intentional about how one is engaging with social media and the news, Rosenfeld said. So long as one feels safe and seen, it may be best to unplug and be present. On the flip side of that, in navigating tense family situations, it’s helpful to be able to recognize when you need a moment to step away from a gathering to get a breath of air or recenter. Financial stress can also sometimes be heightened during the winter, with higher utility bills as heating becomes more important and expensive, snow tires being perhaps hard to afford, and covering holiday travel and traditional gifts for family another possible barrier to connection. “It’s a very real and pervasive problem,” Rosenfeld said. “I think realistic problem-solving is helpful. Like, ‘Okay, if this is my financial resources, how far can it take me? What can I do? What's the best I can do?’ And keeping in mind what’s most valued in making those decisions.” Self-compassion is of the utmost importance, knowing some things aren’t your fault and that you are doing your best will help you focus on useful patterns of thinking, he said. He recommends tele-communication like video chatting to anyone in need of an alternative way to visit with far-away family members, as well as engaging in community centers and affinity spaces as needed to commune with others when the traditional family model is not an option. Though social connection takes time and effort and isn’t always easy to come by, Rosenthal said there’s research indicating even making the most out of brief or casual connections with strangers in places like airports or coffee shops — learning one unintrusive thing about someone in passing and they learning one thing about you — has a massively positive impact on people’s overall health. Also of note is social identities and certain racial, ethnic, religious or other identity-based demographics can play a role in the holiday experience on a number of levels as well. Whether its grappling with the implications of Thanksgiving as an Indigenous person, being unable to visit family for holidays as a refugee, being surrounded by a Christmas-centric culture as a non-celebrator, being discriminated against by loved ones because of gender or sexual orientation, or some other experience, there are a lot of identity-based experiences and various forms of oppression that can be extremely stressful, particularly in navigating the holidays. One of the best-proven stabilization strategies for anyone, both Rosenthal and Tanner agreed, is to put yourself out there, fighting that urge to gravitate toward a solo-style wintertime hibernation. “It's another reason that it's really important to have collective ways that we're supporting each other as human beings,” Tanner said. “Connection is one of the most effective ways to address mental health challenges, and the nature of many of those diagnoses that we see is that they currently isolate you.” “Depression is one that gets heavy, keeps you at home and makes you believe that others don't want to be around you, makes you not want to be around others, and the more that it pulls you out of connection and into isolation, the more impact it has,” she added. “That’s where the risk increases.” Accessible regulation strategies In addition to getting as much sunlight and fresh air as possible, light and brisk exercise increases endorphins and can really help seasonal symptoms, Tanner said. Getting good sleep and eating well are also crucial to mental wellness, she said. “And you know, listening to your body,” she said. “It's okay to slow down a little bit, to take that time to reflect, give yourself grace and compassion. Find things that bring you joy, even when things outside are very dark, physically and emotionally.” Though family dynamic stressors are incredibly common, they are also incredibly unique. Generally, though, Tanner recommends focusing on what you can control and doing your best to let go of what you can’t, as well as making space for self-exploration, journaling and finding mindfulness practices that work for you. Rosenfeld is a proponent of a dialectical behavioral therapy strategy known as TIPP: a sensory-based approach to emotional regulation, involving changing one’s temperature by stepping outside into the cold or splashing cold water onto the face during a moment of anxiety, engaging in intense exercise to let off steam, doing paced breathing — which can be as simple as a minute breathing in for four counts and out for six — and progressive muscle relaxation. The strategy can be tailored to suit specific needs. For instance, taking a warm shower, having a cup of tea or cozying up in a blanket if you’re feeling down and deactivated, rather than reaching for the ice tray as one might do when feeling panicky or too revved up. “Sometimes, distress is in your thoughts, but sometimes that tenseness is in your body, as the holidays approach,” Rosenfeld said — and these feelings often arise from factors outside of our control. “It's a good opportunity to say, ‘What else?’ Drink a glass of water, go for a walk, find a funny YouTube video, if your mind is full of thoughts that are not useful.” Meditation and other mindfulness exercises can also be powerful recentering techniques. Anything that isn’t harmful and could shift a person out of that sticky place of rumination is great, Rosenfeld said. Though there is no magic-wand, one-size fits all solution to seasonal or holiday stress, Tanner advises anyone having challenges to discuss them with their doctor, and with a therapist if possible, as therapists can help their clients process what’s going on and build skills to cope. “It’s hard, but the payoff is New Englanders are very resilient,” Tanner said of wintertime. “It builds a distress tolerance, and an ability to manage stuff that is unique to New Englanders... What this challenge also brings us is an identity, and what it teaches us is understanding that the cycle of the seasons, including seasonal symptoms, can come and go.” “There is a cycle in all things,” she added. “But traditions and routines and rituals also give us such strength and comfort and those are all very important as well. Do your best to have solid routines that care for your body, that care for your mind and connect you with others.” Further resources Beyond the perspectives and tips outlined above, there are a number of other online and in-person resources out there, like therapy and medication for chronic mental health ailments, and for moments of acute or immediate need, crisis hotlines. Some of the crisis hotlines available include the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which offers 24/7, free and confidential support to anyone in distress, providing prevention and crisis resources to callers, who can access support by dialing 988; as well as First Call for Chittenden County , a Howard Center 24/7 crisis support hotline available countywide in Chittenden, at 802-488-7777; and The Trevor Project , which offers a 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention national hotline specifically for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults, at 866-488-7386. In addition to its hotline service, the 988 website happens to offer an interactive webpage with tidbits of advice tailored to a couple of specific holiday-stress related issues, available here . A fuller list of hotlines and warmlines available to Vermonters can be found here , and information about the Howard Center’s new Mental Health Urgent Care is viewable here . The Vermont Department of Health and the Vermont Department of Mental Health have also recently partnered with the Center for Health and Learning to put out a Holiday Mental Health Social Media Toolkit, intended to promote uplifting messaging around mental wellness, support and self-care during the holiday season, linked here for those interested in participating. The toolkit directs users to a number of subsequent resources, including the 988 holiday guide aforementioned, as well as to additional sources of ideas for coping with the winter blues, for dealing with grief or loss, for managing compassion fatigue and burnout, for checking in on loved ones, for LGBTQ+ youth support, for food assistance and for general self-care. From all of O’Rourke Media Group to you, we hope you have a very happy holiday season — and that you find the space to give yourself grace and kindness, even in life’s tougher moments.Canada is already examining tariffs on certain US items following Trump's tariff threat
AP Business SummaryBrief at 6:46 p.m. ESTSEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea's embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol avoided an opposition-led attempt to impeach him over his short-lived imposition of martial law , as most ruling party lawmakers boycotted a parliamentary vote Saturday to deny a two-thirds majority needed to suspend his presidential powers. The scrapping of the motion is expected to intensify public protests calling for Yoon’s ouster and deepen political chaos in South Korea, with a survey suggesting a majority of South Koreans support the president’s impeachment. Yoon’s martial law declaration drew criticism from his own ruling conservative People Power Party, but it is also determined to oppose Yoon’s impeachment apparently because it fears losing the presidency to liberals. After the motion fell through, members of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party rallied inside the National Assembly, chanting slogans calling for Yoon's impeachment or resignation. The party's floor leader, Park Chan-dae, said it will soon prepare for a new impeachment motion. “We'll surely impeach Yoon Suk Yeol, who is the greatest risk to Republic of Korea,” party leader Lee Jae-myung said. “We'll surely bring back this country to normal before Christmas Day or year's end.” Despite escaping the impeachment attempt, many experts worry Yoon won’t be able to serve out his remaining 2 1⁄2 years in office. They say some ruling party lawmakers could eventually join opposition parties’ efforts to impeach Yoon if public demands for it grow further. On Saturday, tens of thousands of people densely packed several blocks of roads leading up to the National Assembly, waving banners, shouting slogans and dancing. Protesters also gathered in front of PPP’s headquarters near the Assembly, angrily shouting for its lawmakers to vote to impeach Yoon. A smaller crowd of Yoon’s supporters, which still seemed to be in the thousands, rallied in separate streets in Seoul, decrying the impeachment attempt they saw as unconstitutional. Impeaching Yoon required support from two-thirds of the National Assembly, or 200 of its 300 members. The Democratic Party and five other small opposition parties, which filed the motion, have 192 seats combined. But only three lawmakers from PPP participated in the vote. The motion was scrapped without ballot counting because the number of votes didn’t reach 200. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik called the result “very regrettable” and an embarrassing moment for the country’s democracy that has been closely watched by the world. “The failure to hold a qualified vote on this matter means we were not even able to exercise the democratic procedure of deciding on a critical national issue,” he said. Opposition parties could submit a new impeachment motion after a new parliamentary session opens next Wednesday. If Yoon is impeached, his powers will be suspended until the Constitutional Court decides whether to remove him from office. If he is removed, an election to replace him must take place within 60 days. Earlier Saturday, Yoon issued a public apology over the martial law decree, saying he won’t shirk legal or political responsibility for the declaration and promising not to make another attempt to impose martial law. He said would leave it to his party to chart a course through the country’s political turmoil, “including matters related to my term in office.” “The declaration of this martial law was made out of my desperation. But in the course of its implementation, it caused anxiety and inconveniences to the public. I feel very sorry over that and truly apologize to the people who must have been shocked a lot,” Yoon said. Since taking office in 2022, Yoon has struggled to push his agenda through an opposition-controlled parliament and grappled with low approval ratings amid scandals involving himself and his wife. In his martial law announcement on Tuesday night, Yoon called parliament a “den of criminals” bogging down state affairs and vowed to eliminate “shameless North Korea followers and anti-state forces.” The turmoil resulting from Yoon’s bizarre and poorly-thought-out stunt has paralyzed South Korean politics and sparked alarm among key diplomatic partners like the U.S. and Japan. Tuesday night saw special forces troops encircling the parliament building and army helicopters hovering over it, but the military withdrew after the National Assembly unanimously voted to overturn the decree, forcing Yoon to lift it before daybreak Wednesday. The declaration of martial law was the first of its kind in more than 40 years in South Korea. Eighteen lawmakers from the ruling party voted to reject Yoon’s martial law decree along with opposition lawmakers. PPP later decided to oppose Yoon's impeachment motion. Yoon’s speech fueled speculation that he and his party may push for a constitutional amendment to shorten his term, instead of accepting impeachment, as a way to ease public anger over the marital law and facilitate Yoon’s early exit from office. Lee told reporters that Yoon’s speech was “greatly disappointing” and that the only way forward is his immediate resignation or impeachment. His party called Yoon’s martial law “unconstitutional, illegal rebellion or coup.” Lawmakers on Saturday first voted on a bill appointing a special prosecutor to investigate stock price manipulation allegations surrounding Yoon’s wife. Some lawmakers from Yoon’s party were seen leaving the hall after that vote, triggering angry shouts from opposition lawmakers. On Friday, PPP chair Han Dong-hun, who criticized Yoon’s martial law declaration, 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, told lawmakers in a closed-door briefing Friday that Yoon had ordered him to help the defense counterintelligence unit to detain key politicians. The targeted politicians included Han, Lee and Woo, according to Kim Byung-kee, one of the lawmakers who attended the meeting. The Defense Ministry said Friday it suspended three military commanders including the head of the defense counterintelligence unit over their involvement in enforcing martial law. Vice Defense Minister Kim Seon Ho has told parliament that Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun ordered the deployment of troops to the National Assembly after Yoon imposed martial law. Opposition parties accused Kim of recommending to Yoon to enforce martial law. Kim resigned Thursday, and prosecutors imposed an overseas travel ban on him.
F1 agrees deal for General Motors and Cadillac grid entry in 2026Red Star's on-loan forward Silas scores against his parent club Stuttgart in Champions League
South Korea's embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol avoided an opposition-led attempt to impeach him over his short-lived imposition of martial law, as most ruling party lawmakers boycotted a parliamentary vote Saturday to deny a two-thirds majority needed to suspend his presidential powers. The scrapping of the motion is expected to intensify public protests calling for Yoon's ouster and deepen political chaos in South Korea, with a survey suggesting a majority of South Koreans support the president's impeachment. Yoon's martial law declaration drew criticism from his own ruling conservative People Power Party, but it is also determined to oppose Yoon's impeachment apparently because it fears losing the presidency to liberals. After the motion fell through, members of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party rallied inside the National Assembly, chanting slogans calling for Yoon's impeachment or resignation. The party's floor leader, Park Chan-dae, said it will soon prepare for a new impeachment motion. "We'll surely impeach Yoon Suk Yeol, who is the greatest risk to Republic of Korea," party leader Lee Jae-myung said. "We'll surely bring back this country to normal before Christmas Day or year's end." RELATED STORY | South Korean parliament defies president by lifting declaration of martial law Despite escaping the impeachment attempt, many experts worry Yoon won't be able to serve out his remaining 2 1⁄2 years in office. They say some ruling party lawmakers could eventually join opposition parties' efforts to impeach Yoon if public demands for it grow further. The ruling party risks "further public outrage and national confusion if they don't find a formula fast for Yoon's departure," said Duyeon Kim, a senior analyst at the Center for a New American Security in Washington. On Saturday, tens of thousands of people densely packed several blocks of roads leading up to the National Assembly, waving banners, shouting slogans and dancing. Protesters also gathered in front of PPP's headquarters near the Assembly, angrily shouting for its lawmakers to vote to impeach Yoon. A smaller crowd of Yoon's supporters, which still seemed to be in the thousands, rallied in separate streets in Seoul, decrying the impeachment attempt they saw as unconstitutional. Impeaching Yoon required support from 200 of the National Assembly's 300 members. The Democratic Party and five other small opposition parties, which filed the motion, have 192 seats combined. But only three lawmakers from PPP participated in the vote. The motion was scrapped without ballot counting because the number of votes didn't reach 200. RELATED STORY | Family of kidnapped American reporter still believes his is alive in Syria National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik called the result "very regrettable" and an embarrassing moment for the country's democracy that has been closely watched by the world. Opposition parties could submit a new impeachment motion after a new parliamentary session opens next Wednesday. If Yoon is impeached, his powers will be suspended until the Constitutional Court decides whether to remove him from office. If he is removed, an election to replace him must take place within 60 days. Earlier Saturday, Yoon issued a public apology over the martial law decree, saying he won't shirk legal or political responsibility for the declaration and promising not to make another attempt to impose martial law. He said would leave it to his party to chart a course through the country's political turmoil, "including matters related to my term in office." "The declaration of this martial law was made out of my desperation. But in the course of its implementation, it caused anxiety and inconveniences to the public. I feel very sorry over that and truly apologize to the people who must have been shocked a lot," Yoon said. Since taking office in 2022, Yoon has struggled to push his agenda through an opposition-controlled parliament and grappled with low approval ratings amid scandals involving himself and his wife. In his martial law announcement on Tuesday night, Yoon called parliament a "den of criminals" bogging down state affairs and vowed to eliminate "shameless North Korea followers and anti-state forces." The turmoil resulting from Yoon's bizarre and poorly-thought-out stunt has paralyzed South Korean politics and sparked alarm among key diplomatic partners like the U.S. and Japan. "Yoon's credibility overseas has been undermined by declaring martial law, so he won't be able to exercise leadership in his foreign policies especially when his days are numbered," Kim, the analyst, said. "Its government bureaucracy will need to continue business as usual for existing alliance and foreign policy initiatives as best it can because there is a lot of important work to do globally." Tuesday night saw special forces troops encircling the parliament building and army helicopters hovering over it, but the military withdrew after the National Assembly unanimously voted to overturn the decree, forcing Yoon to lift it before daybreak Wednesday. The declaration of martial law was the first of its kind in more than 40 years in South Korea. Eighteen lawmakers from the ruling party voted to reject Yoon's martial law decree along with opposition lawmakers. PPP later decided to oppose Yoon's impeachment motion. Yoon's speech fueled speculation that he and his party may push for a constitutional amendment to shorten his term, instead of accepting impeachment, as a way to ease public anger over the marital law and facilitate Yoon's early exit from office. Lee told reporters that Yoon's speech was "greatly disappointing" and that the only way forward is his immediate resignation or impeachment. His party called Yoon's martial law "unconstitutional, illegal rebellion or coup." Lawmakers on Saturday first voted on a bill appointing a special prosecutor to investigate stock price manipulation allegations surrounding Yoon's wife. On Friday, PPP chair Han Dong-hun, who criticized Yoon's martial law declaration, said he had received intelligence that during the brief period of martial law Yoon ordered the country's defense counterintelligence commander to arrest unspecified key politicians based on accusations of "anti-state activities." Hong Jang-won, first deputy director of South Korea's spy agency, told lawmakers Friday that Yoon had ordered him to help the defense counterintelligence unit to detain key politicians including Han, Lee and Woo. The Defense Ministry said Friday it suspended three military commanders including the head of the defense counterintelligence unit over their involvement in enforcing martial law. Vice Defense Minister Kim Seon Ho has told parliament that Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun ordered the deployment of troops to the National Assembly. Opposition parties accused Kim of recommending to Yoon to enforce martial law. Kim resigned Thursday, and prosecutors imposed an overseas travel ban on him.New Delhi, Dec 26 (IANS): Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, who died at the age of 92 here on Thursday, was a visionary leader who is credited with bringing transformations to the country's economy when it was passing through a rough phase. Born on September 26, 1932, in Gah, West Punjab (now in Pakistan), Dr. Manmohan Singh was a celebrated economist and politician who left an indelible mark as the Prime Minister. He headed the Congress-led government at the Centre from 2004 to 2014. As the first Sikh to hold the office of PM, Dr. Singh’s leadership was often credited for steering India through a period of significant economic transformation. He remained instrumental in elevating the country to the ranks of major global economic powers. His academic journey was also remarkable. It began at Panjab University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degree in Economics in the early 1950s. He continued his studies at the University of Cambridge, securing a ‘First Class Honours’ degree in Economics in 1957. He later completed his D.Phil. at Nuffield College, Oxford in 1962. Dr. Singh's early professional career was shaped by his role as an educator at Punjab University, the Delhi School of Economics, and at the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The political journey of Dr Singh began in 1971 when he was appointed as an Economic Advisor in the Ministry of Commerce. He later acquired pivotal roles like Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) and Secretary in the Ministry of Finance. It was his tenure as Finance Minister from 1991 to 1996 that marked a crucial turning point for India's economy. During this period, India faced an economic crisis, and Singh's bold reforms helped transform the country's economic path. He implemented crucial liberalisation measures, devalued the rupee, reduced tax burdens, and attracted foreign investment, stabilising India’s economy and setting the stage for future growth. After Congress' victory in the Lok Sabha elections in 2004, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi appointed Singh as the Prime Minister. India experienced significant economic growth under Singh’s leadership thereafter. His regime was focused on inclusive growth, poverty alleviation, and development in various sectors such as education, food security, and employment. His policies paved the way for economic expansion, lifting millions out of poverty. Dr. Singh was elected again in 2009. However, his second term was full of turmoil, as it was marred by challenges such as inflation, corruption scandals, and criticisms surrounding administrative inefficiencies. Despite these controversies, his government continued to make significant strides in economic and social policy, say observers. Dr. Singh's tenure as Prime Minister was marked by several landmark reforms and initiatives. His government passed legislation guaranteeing food, education, employment, and information rights for citizens. His leadership also solidified India's role as a prominent player in the global economy, with reforms that helped the country navigate a rapid phase of growth. Singh was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award, in 1987, recognising his contributions to economic policymaking. According to some political commentators, despite facing flak over corruption scandals like the 2G spectrum allocation scam and the Commonwealth Games controversy, Dr. Singh's tenure remained a defining period in Indian political history.
Special counsel moves to dismiss election interference classified documents cases against TrumpFive9, Inc. Shareholder Notice: Robbins LLP Reminds Investors of the FIVN Class Action
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save JERUSALEM — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen on Thursday targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital and multiple ports, while the World Health Organization's director-general said the bombardment occurred nearby as he prepared to board a flight in Sanaa, with a crew member injured. "The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge — just a few meters from where we were — and the runway were damaged," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on social media. He added that he and U.N. colleagues were safe. "We will need to wait for the damage to the airport to be repaired before we can leave," he said, without mentioning the source of the bombardment. U.N. spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay later said the injured person was with the U.N. Humanitarian Air Service. Israel's army later told The Associated Press it wasn't aware that the WHO chief or delegation were at the location in Yemen. Ocean City group has no shortage of ideas for area near Gillian's Wonderland Contractors continue to remove rides at former Gillian's Wonderland site in Ocean City 'Great Day Express' takes its maiden voyage to Big SNOW at American Dream Mall Body found in fridge in Belleplain State Forest 'He was one of a kind': Ex-Beach Haven lifeguard chief recalls officer killed in North Carolina shooting DEEM says financing ready to start Bader Field development in Atlantic City Long Beach Island fire damages multimillion-dollar bayfront home Atlantic City police officer accused of assaulting, pointing gun at wife New Jersey 'homelessness czar' at work in Atlantic City, DCA says Lower Township man charged with possession of child porn The heartbeat of Atlantic City: How Midtown is redefining its future 2 Wildwood men accused of sexually assaulting juveniles Who are The Press' 2024 High School Football All-Stars? Who are The Press' football Player, Team and Coach of the Year? Mays Landing's Level Up comic and video game shop to close after 18 years Smoke rises Thursday from the area around the International Airport after an airstrike in Sanaa, Yemen. The Israeli strikes followed several days of Houthi launches setting off sirens in Israel. The Israeli military said in a statement it attacked infrastructure used by the Iran-backed Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa and ports in Hodeida, Al-Salif and Ras Qantib, along with power stations, claiming they were used to smuggle in Iranian weapons and for the entry of senior Iranian officials. Israel's military added it had "capabilities to strike very far from Israel's territory — precisely, powerfully, and repetitively." The strikes, carried out more than 1,000 miles from Jerusalem, came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said "the Houthis, too, will learn what Hamas and Hezbollah and Assad's regime and others learned" as his military has battled those more powerful proxies of Iran. The Houthi-controlled satellite channel al-Masirah reported multiple deaths and showed broken windows, collapsed ceilings and a bloodstained floor and vehicle. Iran's foreign ministry condemned the strikes. The U.S. military also targeted the Houthis in recent days. The U.N. says the targeted ports are important entryways for humanitarian aid for Yemen, the poorest Arab nation that plunged into a civil war in 2014. Over the weekend, 16 people were wounded when a Houthi missile hit a playground in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, while other missiles and drones were shot down. Last week, Israeli jets struck Sanaa and Hodeida, killing nine people, calling it a response to previous Houthi attacks. The Houthis also have been targeting shipping on the Red Sea corridor, calling it solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The U.N. Security Council has an emergency meeting Monday in response to an Israeli request that it condemn the Houthi attacks and Iran for supplying them weapons. Relatives and friends mourn over the bodies of five Palestinian journalists Thursday who were killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City at the Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Meanwhile, an Israeli strike killed five Palestinian journalists outside a hospital in Gaza overnight, the territory's Health Ministry said. The strike hit a car outside Al-Awda Hospital in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The journalists worked for local news outlet Al-Quds Today, a television channel affiliated with the Islamic Jihad militant group. Islamic Jihad is a smaller and more extreme ally of Hamas and took part in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack in southern Israel that ignited the war. Israel's military identified four of the men as combat propagandists and said that intelligence, including a list of Islamic Jihad operatives found by soldiers in Gaza, confirmed that all five were affiliated with the group. Associated Press footage showed the incinerated shell of a van, with press markings visible on the back doors. The Committee to Protect Journalists says more than 130 Palestinian reporters have been killed since the start of the war. Israel hasn't allowed foreign reporters to enter Gaza except on military embeds. Israel banned the pan-Arab Al Jazeera network and accuses six of its Gaza reporters of being militants. The Qatar-based broadcaster denies the allegations and accuses Israel of trying to silence its war coverage, which has focused heavily on civilian casualties from Israeli military operations. Mourners cry Thursday while they take the last look at the body of a relative, one of eight Palestinians killed, during their funeral in the West Bank city of Tulkarem. Separately, Israel's military said a 35-year-old reserve soldier was killed during fighting in central Gaza. A total of 389 soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the start of the ground operation. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed across the border, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting about 250. About 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Israel's air and ground offensive has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry. It says more than half the fatalities are women and children, but doesn't say how many of the dead were fighters. The offensive caused widespread destruction and hunger and drove around 90% of the population of 2.3 million from their homes. Hundreds of thousands are packed into squalid camps along the coast, with little protection from the cold, wet winter. Also Thursday, people mourned eight Palestinians killed by Israeli military operations in and around Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The Israeli military said it opened fire after militants attacked soldiers, and it was aware of uninvolved civilians who were harmed in the raid. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball switched a pair of series involving the Tampa Bay Rays to the first two months of the season in an attempt to avoid summer weather problems at open-air Steinbrenner Field, their temporary home following damage to Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay is scheduled to play 13 of its first 16 games at home and 47 of 59 through May 28, then play 69 of its last 103 games on the road. The Rays are home for eight of 25 games in July and eight of 26 in August. A series scheduled at the Los Angeles Angels from April 7-9 will instead be played at Tampa, Florida, from April 8-10, MLB said Monday. The second series between the teams will be played at Anaheim, California, from Aug. 4-6 instead of at St. Petersburg, Florida, from Aug. 5-7. Minnesota's first series against the Rays will be played at Steinbrenner Field from May 26-28 and the Twins' second will be at Target Field in Minneapolis from July 4-6. The Class A Tampa Tarpons, Steinbrenner Field's usual team, had six home postponements, two cancellations and four suspended games this year from June 21 through their season finale on Sept. 8. Tampa Bay is now scheduled to play its first six games at home against Colorado and Pittsburgh, go to Texas for a three-game series, then return for a 13-game homestand against the Angels, Atlanta, Boston and the New York Yankees. Tropicana Field, the Rays' home since the team started play in 1998, was heavily damaged by Hurricane Milton on Oct. 9, with most of its fabric roof shredded. The Rays cannot return to the Trop until 2026 at the earliest, if at all. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/Boys & girls swimming photos: Bergen Catholic/Immaculate Heart at Passaic Tech, Dec. 9, 2024
Spaid, Winner of CES Innovation Awards for Redefining the Future of Geospatial with AI, to Unveil AI Solution and OpenAI Platform at CES 2025The JSE Index advanced by 583 points on Monday, while the Junior Market Index advanced by 24 points. The 47 shares advancing included Sterling Investments USD shares, First Rock Real Estate Investments USD shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange, Paramount Trading and K.L.E. Group. Losers were led by Productive Business Solutions USD shares, 138 Student Living Variable Preference shares, General Accident, Sterling Investments, and CAC 2000. Twenty shares traded firm. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1531230668029-0'); });