Why do many customers prefer to use kraft paper as the raw material for packaging boxes?MADRID (AP) — Barcelona got back to winning in the Spanish league in style, routing Mallorca 5-1 on Tuesday with a pair of goals by Raphinha. Ferran Torres, Frenkie de Jong and Pau Víctor also scored for Barcelona, which hadn't won in three consecutive league games to allow Real Madrid to inch closer at the top of the standings. Madrid is now four points back although it has two games in hand. Torres, who got to start in place of league-leading scorer Robert Lewandowski, opened the scoring in the 12th minute after Mallorca defenders failed to clear an easy ball from inside the area. One defender tried to kick it away but it ended ricocheting off a teammate to give Ferran an easy shot on goal. The hosts equalized with Vedat Muriqi in a breakaway just before halftime in what was Mallorca's only shot on target, but Raphinha put Barcelona back in front by converting a 56th-minute penalty kick. He added to the lead in the 74th after a nice assist by Lamine Yamal. Raphinha now has 11 goals in 16 league games this season. “This is probably my best moment, but I want to do more,” Raphinha said. “We knew it was important to win again after three matches in which something was lacking. It wasn't our best match, but it was important to win.” Yamal also helped set up De Jong's goal five minutes later, not long after the midfielder had come off the bench. It was De Jong who then assisted Víctor's goal in the 84th. Barcelona has scored five or more goals in a match for the sixth time this season across all competitions. It has outscored opponents 48-17 in the league alone. Barcelona had lost twice in its last three league matches — 2-1 to Las Palmas at home on Saturday and 1-0 at Real Sociedad three rounds ago. Its other setback was a 2-2 draw at Celta Vigo when it was winning 2-0 until late in the match. The game against Mallorca was moved forward in the schedule because both clubs will be playing in the Spanish Super Cup in January. Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao, the other two clubs in the Super Cup, will meet on Wednesday in Bilbao. Barcelona, which beat Brest in the Champions League last week, will visit Real Betis in its next league match on Saturday. Mallorca, sitting in sixth place in the Spanish league, faces Celta on Friday. Mallorca was coming off two straight league victories — against Valencia and at Las Palmas. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
French lawmakers on Wednesday voted to oust the government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier after just three months in office, an historic move which hurled the country further into political uncertainty. For the first time in over sixty years, the National Assembly lower house toppled the incumbent government, approving a no-confidence motion that had been proposed by the hard left but which crucially was backed by the far-right headed by Marine Le Pen. Barnier's rapid ejection from office comes after snap parliamentary elections this summer which resulted in a hung parliament with no party having an overall majority and the far-right holding the key to the government's survival. President Emmanuel Macron now has the unenviable choice of picking a viable successor with more than two years of his presidential term left. He is to address the nation at 1900 GMT on Thursday, the Elysee said. The National Assembly debated a motion brought by the hard left in a standoff over next year's austerity budget, after the prime minister on Monday forced through a social security financing bill without a vote. With the support of the far-right, a majority of 331 MPs in the 577-member chamber voted to oust the government. Speaker Yael Braun-Pivet confirmed Barnier would now have to "submit his resignation" to Macron and declared the session closed. Macron flew back into Paris just ahead of the vote after wrapping up his three-day state visit to Saudi Arabia, an apparent world away from the domestic crisis. He strolled earlier on Wednesday through the desert sands of the Al-Ula oasis, an iconic tourist project of the kingdom, marvelling at ancient landmarks. After landing, he headed direct to the Elysee Palace. "We are now calling on Macron to go," Mathilde Panot, the head of the parliamentary faction of the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party told reporters, urging "early presidential elections" to solve the deepening political crisis. But taking care not to crow over the fall of the government, Le Pen said in a television interview that her party – once a new premier is appointed – "would let them work" and help create a "budget that is acceptable for everyone." Laurent Wauquiez, the head of right-wing deputies in parliament, said the far-right and hard-left bore the responsibility for a no-confidence vote that will "plunge the country into instability." Macron on Tuesday had rejected calls to resign, saying such a scenario amounted to "political fiction." With markets nervous and France bracing for public-sector strikes against the threat of cutbacks, action that will shut schools and hit air and rail traffic, there is a growing sense of crisis. The unions have called for civil servants, including teachers and air traffic controllers, to strike on Thursday over separate cost-cutting measures proposed by their respective ministries this autumn. Meanwhile, Macron is due to host a major international event on Saturday, with the reopening of the Notre-Dame cathedral after the 2019 fire, with guests including Donald Trump on his first foreign trip since he was elected to be the next US president. (AFP)
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AP Business SummaryBrief at 4:21 p.m. ESTA pro cleaner has lifted the lid on the top three cleaning mistakes we're all too guilty of making at home – and they're not what you'd expect. On TikTok, under the handle @bubblesandbuckets, Amber Elise shared her most significant gripes about our approach to keeping things neat and highlighted a particularly risky kitchen habit. Leading with her first point, she remarked in her video: "Using the sponge in your sink to wipe down your countertops," before adding, "These harbour so much bacteria so instead of using that, grab yourself a microfiber towel." She then flagged the common error of using excessive cleaning products. Amber pointed out: "If you use too much, it's just going to create a residue and film that's left behind, and create more of a mess that's left for you to clean up." READ MORE: Historic equal pay deal struck between Birmingham City Council and unions Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp , click the link to join For her final word of advice, Amber addresses the blunder of impatience with disinfectants. "If you're disinfecting your countertops, be sure to read the label on the bottle. Usually the product has to sit for five-ten minutes before it actually disinfects.", reports the Mirror . Followers flocked to Amber's comments section to confess their own faux pas. A user responded: "Leaving cleaners to sit for a bit is such a great tip," while another was grateful, saying: "I didn't know I was supposed to let the product sit a little while to disinfect. Thank you! ". An advice roundup has surfaced following another cleaner's viral video, which warns against certain popular cleaning hacks. Brogan, known for her TikTok channel 'Not The Worst Cleaner', revealed five cleaning 'tips' to avoid - including the ill-advised method of draping a cloth soaked in laundry detergent over a pan lid to clean sofas. "Honestly it's just spreading dirt around, you can't scrub, and it's not lifting any product," she cautioned. "Detergents are highly concentrated so it will leave behind residue and destroy fabric over time." Brumwish 2024 - buy a gift for a child in need BrumWish 2024 is Birmingham Live's festive drive to get thousands of gifts to children and young people across our city - among them the homeless, the vulnerable, kids in care, kids who are poorly or struggling, and kids who have little. There are THREE simple ways to help. Buy a new gift from the Brumwish 2024 Amazon giftlist . In just a click your donation will be whizzing its way to our volunteers at Edgbaston Stadium. Donate money to the appeal fund hosted by Thrive Together Birmingham - this will help pay for gifts for kids with specialist needs or specific wishes. Buy a gift and, even better, rope in friends, neighbours and workmates to do the same, then drop off your pressies at Edgbaston Stadium, Edgbaston Road, B5 7QU on Friday 6th December, 10am - 3pm; Saturday 7th December, 10am - 1pm; or Monday 9th December, 10am - 1pm. Volunteers will be there to help you. Please don't wrap your gifts. You can also drop off by arrangement until Monday 16th December - contact Louise on 07469 979286. Thanks to our partnership with #Toys4Birmingham, every single gift will find a good home in the loving care of a child living in B&Bs or hotels, hostels or refuges, children receiving support from specialist organisations and charities, and families being supported by children's centres and charities around the city. Making up the Brumwish and Toys4Birmingham gang are Thrive Together Birmingham, Birmingham Playcare Network, Warwickshire Cricket Foundation (the charitable arm of Warwickshire County Cricket Club), Birmingham Forward Steps and BirminghamLive/Birmingham Mail. Thank you to Amazon UK and the amazing team at the Sutton Coldfield depot for their support. Additionally, she discourages the common trick of dropping a bottle of multi-purpose cleaner Fabulosa into the toilet cistern for a fresher smell. Despite being advertised for versatile use on the company's website, from sinks to windows, many have been using it in their toilet tanks to achieve a nicer scent. However, Brogan highlights that such practices might result in expensive plumbing issues, stating: "This is not recommended by any plumber, not only can it be corrosive but it can actually degrade the rubber and seals."Orchard has appointed Anne Ngo to the newly created role of head of customer growth and martech. In her new role at the creative technology agency , Ngo will be responsible for driving Orchard’s martech offering across both its consumer and healthcare divisions, as well as innovating across customer experience, data, and martech. Ngo has over 15 years of global experience in customer growth, lifecycle marketing, and digital transformation and brings a a wealth of experience in both CX and martech to Orchard. She joins the agency after spending nearly four years as Akcelo’s customer strategy and martech director. Throughout her career, Ngo has held positions at some of the world’s most established brands including FlexiGroup’s head of marketing, Latitude Financial Services’ head of marketing, and as American Express’ director of strategic partnerships and global network services. During her tenure at FlexiGroup, Latitude Financial Services and American Express, she led large-scale and insights-driven campaigns, built loyalty programs, and drove martech activation and integration. Wai Kwok , CEO of Orchard, said: “Anne’s depth of experience in CX and martech is a tremendous asset for us as we continue to grow. She brings an approach that’s both strategic and pragmatic—she understands how to unlock the value of data and martech in a way that’s impactful for brands and relevant to customers. “This balance is exactly what we need to continue evolving our martech services, and I’m thrilled to have her leadership at the forefront.” Ngo said of her appointment: “I am delighted to be joining the team at Orchard, whose ‘Invent Better’ mission encapsulates what most excites me about the industry. This mantra not only powers the work and relationships with clients, but it is infused in the culture and talented individuals the agency has developed. “Integrating data and martech with marketing practices and customer experiences is my passion, and I am so glad to be joining a team where this is celebrated.” – Top image: Anne Ngo Mediaweek Morning Report: Sign up here for the most important media, marketing and agency news delivered to your inbox every day
Scottish artist Jasleen Kaur has won the Turner Prize for her solo exhibition Alter Altar, which includes an installation of a car with a giant doily on it. Happy Valley actor James Norton announced the winner in a ceremony held at Tate Britain on Tuesday evening. The five jury members chose Kaur for “her ability to gather different voices through unexpected and playful combinations of material, from Irn-Bru to family photographs and a vintage Ford Escort, locating moments of resilience and possibility”. Kaur, who was born in Glasgow but lives and works in London, used her speech to advocate for the people in Palestine. The 38-year-old said she wanted to “echo the calls of the protesters outside” who had gathered after an open letter urged the Tate to cut ties with “organisations complicit in what the UN and ICJ are finally getting closer to saying is a genocide of the Palestinian people”. “This is not a radical demand,” Kaur said on stage. “This should not risk an artist’s career or safety. We’re trying to build consensus that the ties to these organisations are unethical, just as artists did with Sackler,” she said, referencing the family linked to the opioid epidemic. “I’ve been wondering why artists are required to dream up liberation in the gallery but when that dream meets life we are shut down. “I want the separation between the expression of politics in the gallery and the practice of politics in life to disappear. “I want the institution to understand that if you want us inside, you need to listen to us outside.” Kaur concluded her speech by calling for a ceasefire, adding: “Free Palestine.” BBC reporter Katie Razzall had to apologise to viewers after Kaur used a swear word in her speech. The artist was nominated for an exhibition that was held at the Tramway in her home city last year. The display, a series of installations exploring religious identities, politics and history, makes heavy use of different sounds, embedded into the exhibition by way of worship bells, Sufi Islamic devotional music, Indian harmonium, and pop tracks. This year the arts prize, named after British painter JMW Turner, which awards £25,000 to its winner, is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Established in 1984, the prize is awarded each year to a British artist for an outstanding exhibition or other presentation of their work. Previous recipients include sculptor Sir Anish Kapoor (1991), artist Damien Hirst (1995), and filmmaker Sir Steve McQueen (1999). In 2025, the prize will be presented in Bradford at Cartwright Hall art gallery, marking the 250th anniversary of Turner’s birth. The exhibition of the four shortlisted artists – Pio Abad, Claudette Johnson, Delaine Le Bas, and Kaur – is at Tate Britain until February 16 2025.
But alongside his stark warning of the threats facing Britain and its allies, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said there would be only a “remote chance” Russia would directly attack or invade the UK if the two countries were at war. The Chief of the Defence Staff laid out the landscape of British defence in a wide-ranging speech, after a minister warned the Army would be wiped out in as little as six months if forced to fight a war on the scale of the Ukraine conflict. The admiral cast doubt on the possibility as he gave a speech at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) defence think tank in London. He told the audience Britain needed to be “clear-eyed in our assessment” of the threats it faces, adding: “That includes recognising that there is only a remote chance of a significant direct attack or invasion by Russia on the United Kingdom, and that’s the same for the whole of Nato.” Moscow “knows the response will be overwhelming”, he added, but warned the nuclear deterrent needed to be “kept strong and strengthened”. Sir Tony added: “We are at the dawn of a third nuclear age, which is altogether more complex. It is defined by multiple and concurrent dilemmas, proliferating nuclear and disruptive technologies and the almost total absence of the security architectures that went before.” He listed the “wild threats of tactical nuclear use” by Russia, China building up its weapon stocks, Iran’s failure to co-operate with a nuclear deal, and North Korea’s “erratic behaviour” among the threats faced by the West. But Sir Tony said the UK’s nuclear arsenal is “the one part of our inventory of which Russia is most aware and has more impact on (President Vladimir) Putin than anything else”. Successive British governments had invested “substantial sums of money” in renewing nuclear submarines and warheads because of this, he added. The admiral described the deployment of thousands of North Korean soldiers on Ukraine’s border alongside Russian forces as the year’s “most extraordinary development”. He also signalled further deployments were possible, speaking of “tens of thousands more to follow as part of a new security pact with Russia”. Defence minister Alistair Carns earlier said a rate of casualties similar to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would lead to the army being “expended” within six to 12 months. He said it illustrated the need to “generate depth and mass rapidly in the event of a crisis”. In comments reported by Sky News, Mr Carns, a former Royal Marines colonel, said Russia was suffering losses of around 1,500 soldiers killed or injured a day. “In a war of scale – not a limited intervention, but one similar to Ukraine – our Army for example, on the current casualty rates, would be expended – as part of a broader multinational coalition – in six months to a year,” Mr Carns said in a speech at Rusi. He added: “That doesn’t mean we need a bigger Army, but it does mean you need to generate depth and mass rapidly in the event of a crisis.” Official figures show the Army had 109,245 personnel on October 1, including 25,814 volunteer reservists. Mr Carns, the minister for veterans and people, said the UK needed to “catch up with Nato allies” to place greater emphasis on the reserves. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Defence Secretary John Healey had previously spoken about “the state of the armed forces that were inherited from the previous government”. The spokesman said: “It’s why the Budget invested billions of pounds into defence, it’s why we’re undertaking a strategic defence review to ensure that we have the capabilities and the investment needed to defend this country.”
But alongside his stark warning of the threats facing Britain and its allies, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said there would be only a “remote chance” Russia would directly attack or invade the UK if the two countries were at war. The Chief of the Defence Staff laid out the landscape of British defence in a wide-ranging speech, after a minister warned the Army would be wiped out in as little as six months if forced to fight a war on the scale of the Ukraine conflict. The admiral cast doubt on the possibility as he gave a speech at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) defence think tank in London. He told the audience Britain needed to be “clear-eyed in our assessment” of the threats it faces, adding: “That includes recognising that there is only a remote chance of a significant direct attack or invasion by Russia on the United Kingdom, and that’s the same for the whole of Nato.” Moscow “knows the response will be overwhelming”, he added, but warned the nuclear deterrent needed to be “kept strong and strengthened”. Sir Tony added: “We are at the dawn of a third nuclear age, which is altogether more complex. It is defined by multiple and concurrent dilemmas, proliferating nuclear and disruptive technologies and the almost total absence of the security architectures that went before.” He listed the “wild threats of tactical nuclear use” by Russia, China building up its weapon stocks, Iran’s failure to co-operate with a nuclear deal, and North Korea’s “erratic behaviour” among the threats faced by the West. But Sir Tony said the UK’s nuclear arsenal is “the one part of our inventory of which Russia is most aware and has more impact on (President Vladimir) Putin than anything else”. Successive British governments had invested “substantial sums of money” in renewing nuclear submarines and warheads because of this, he added. The admiral described the deployment of thousands of North Korean soldiers on Ukraine’s border alongside Russian forces as the year’s “most extraordinary development”. He also signalled further deployments were possible, speaking of “tens of thousands more to follow as part of a new security pact with Russia”. Defence minister Alistair Carns earlier said a rate of casualties similar to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would lead to the army being “expended” within six to 12 months. He said it illustrated the need to “generate depth and mass rapidly in the event of a crisis”. In comments reported by Sky News, Mr Carns, a former Royal Marines colonel, said Russia was suffering losses of around 1,500 soldiers killed or injured a day. “In a war of scale – not a limited intervention, but one similar to Ukraine – our Army for example, on the current casualty rates, would be expended – as part of a broader multinational coalition – in six months to a year,” Mr Carns said in a speech at Rusi. He added: “That doesn’t mean we need a bigger Army, but it does mean you need to generate depth and mass rapidly in the event of a crisis.” Official figures show the Army had 109,245 personnel on October 1, including 25,814 volunteer reservists. Mr Carns, the minister for veterans and people, said the UK needed to “catch up with Nato allies” to place greater emphasis on the reserves. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Defence Secretary John Healey had previously spoken about “the state of the armed forces that were inherited from the previous government”. The spokesman said: “It’s why the Budget invested billions of pounds into defence, it’s why we’re undertaking a strategic defence review to ensure that we have the capabilities and the investment needed to defend this country.”NV5 Holdings stock hits 52-week low at $21.54 amid market shifts
Music fans should be easy to shop for this holiday season, right? Wrong! What do you pick up for the friend who knew about that rapper months before the rest of the world? What about the audiophile, whose listening habits are particular and immovable? Your sister loves Taylor Swift, but surely she already owns everything the pop star has ever released, right? Here's a gift guide for the audio lover in your life — from a can't-miss box set for the Elvis Costello obsessive to a set of wine glasses that will be music to everyone's ears. Play it by ... wine Major Scale Musical Wine Glasses Uncommon Goods Chances are, you've seen someone play water glasses before — rubbing the rim of a glass with a finger can produce musical notes, which change depending on how full the glass is. Uncommon Goods has taken the idea a step further: What if, instead of water glasses, you used wine? And what if there was a way to determine which notes could be produced, by marking each glass like a measuring cup? Well, that's exactly what they did. Compose a symphony of one with these wine glasses. $68 People are also reading... Clear the way Herschel Classic Crossbody Clear bag Stephen Wilde, Herschel Supply Company A recent trend in venue security is the clear-bag policy. The goal is to streamline bag checks upon entry, making the process safer and faster. If you're looking for a great gift for a loved one who plans their life around stadium and arena shows, look no further. The clear bag is an alternative to shoving everything in your pockets and clutching your smartphone to your palm. Herschel has a few reasonably priced bags that are practical, stylish and will meet most venue guidelines. $35 Elvis Costello has entered the building “King Of America & Other Realms” by Elvis Costello Universal Music Group A new six-disc Elvis Costello box set, " King Of America & Other Realms ," has what you'd expect from a revisit to Costello's 1986 "King of America" album — a remastered version of the original, demos of most songs, a live concert from the era, even some newly recorded takes. The "Other Realms" is what sets it apart. Building on the original album's roots-based theme, half of the set explores other Costello recording adventures in the United States — many from the 2000s — with alternate versions and previously unreleased tracks. Inventive and full of buried treasures, the box is an enriching look back — and a great gift. $139.98 Learn Korean! "Learn! Korean with BTS" Amazon.com There's no better gift to give or receive than one that expands horizons. In " Learn! Korean with BTS ," K-pop fans can discover a new language through their love of BTS and members Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook. The book package teaches Korean consonants and vowels, using the names and songs of BTS. A workbook is supplemented by video and other media. What could be better — or more rewarding — for the K-pop fan? $44.49 Loud and proud Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack Bose QuietComfort Headphones Bose A decent pair of headphones is step one on the journey to true bliss for the audiophile. However, carrying around a studio set may not always be in the cards. But a noise-canceling pair? That's necessary. Bose's QuietComfort Headphones are a solid investment, all high-fidelity audio perfect for a long plane ride or a daily commute in equal measure. $229 For the Swifties Gold-plated chain link bracelet, featuring the logo for Taylor Swift's album, "The Tortured Poets Department" TAS Rights Management Everyone knows someone who loves Taylor Swift. But what do you give the superfan who already owns all her albums in every colorway? Unisex jewelry, maybe? In honor of this year's release of "The Tortured Poets Department," get them the official gold-plated, stainless-steel, chain-link bracelet featuring the "TTPD" logo on the pop star's website . It comes in two sizes: a small/medium option, 7.5 inches long, and a large/extra-large option, 8.5 inches long. $40 For the soul "High and Rising: A Book About De La Soul" by Marcus J. Moore Dey Street Music books are always a good idea. For the hip-hop expert, a new text from the critic Marcus J. Moore, " High and Rising: A Book About De La Soul ," is a necessary cultural history of the hip-hop trio of Kelvin "Posdnuos" Mercer, Dave "Trugoy the Dove" Jolicoeur and Vincent "Maseo" Mason, who changed music forever. The book covers their ascent, and the ways in which the group defied expectations and defined a new Black alternative music, as well as the legal troubles they faced. $27.89. Get up and go Varieties of Green Day's coffee brand Punk Bunny Coffee, from left, Dookie Roast, American Idiot Roast and Fancy Sauce Roast. Punk Bunny Coffee Pop-punk band Green Day's coffee brand, Punk Bunny Coffee , is ideal for fans of their palm-muted power chords and political anthems — and for those who prefer their morning brew to be organic, fair trade and delicious. This holiday season, they're offering a few limited-edition roasts, including some themed after their best-known albums, like "Dookie" and "American Idiot." If coffee isn't preferable, no worries! They've got a limited-edition hot cocoa, too. $13.99-$17.99 Take a trip to West Germany "Neu Klang: The Definitive History of Krautrock" by Christoph Dallach Faber & Faber Let's be honest: True music lovers enjoy all different genres and styles. Those with the deepest knowledge are insatiable; they want to learn as much as they can about a variety of different subcultures and niches. For those real ones, the best gift this holiday season is the first ever oral history of Krautrock, Christoph Dallach's " Neu Klang: The Definitive History of Krautrock ," featuring German bands like Can, Neu!, Amon Düül, Popul Vuh, Tangerine Dream, Faust, Cluster and, of course, Kraftwerk. $29.80 2024 holiday mailing tips: Deadlines, packaging advice and more things to know Small, luxury foods are great as stocking stuffers or other gifts. Ideas for under $50 Why your favorite catalogs are smaller this holiday season Stay up-to-date on what's happeningHouse panel shares dueling findings in COVID report
Misrepresenting how it collects, maintains, uses, deletes or discloses consumers’ personal information, and the extent to which consumers’ location data is deidentified. Using, transferring, selling and disclosing sensitive location data from health clinics, religious organizations, correctional facilities, labor union offices, LGBTQ+-related locations, political gatherings and military installations. Misrepresenting how it collects, maintains, uses, deletes or discloses consumers’ personal information, and the extent to which consumers’ location data is deidentified. Using, transferring, selling and disclosing sensitive location data from health clinics, religious organizations, correctional facilities, labor union offices, LGBTQ+-related locations, political gatherings and military installations.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday said he would lift martial law just hours after he imposed it, in a brief and confusing episode in which he blasted the opposition as "anti-state forces" threatening the country's democracy. The unexpected move from Yoon -- the first time martial law had been declared in South Korea in more than four decades -- alarmed the United States and the country's other allies. What do we know about the imposition, its lifting and what might come next? In a dramatic, late-night emergency television address to the nation, Yoon announced that he was imposing martial law, as he accused the opposition of paralysing the government with "anti-state activities". A six-point decree from the new martial law commander, army chief General Park An-su swiftly followed, banning political activities and parties, "false propaganda", strikes and "gatherings that incite social unrest". The order also brought all media outlets under the authority of martial law and directed all medical staff, including striking doctors, to return to work within 48 hours. Security forces sealed the National Assembly, helicopters landed on the roof and troops entered the building for a short time, seemingly in a bid to prevent lawmakers from getting inside. But 190 lawmakers managed to enter and voted unanimously to reject Yoon's declaration and call for martial law to be lifted. Outside, hundreds of protesters gathered, many raising chants calling for Yoon to be arrested. Following the lawmakers' vote, Yoon backed down. His cabinet additionally approved the motion to lift the order, Yonhap news agency reported. "Just a moment ago, there was a demand from the National Assembly to lift the state of emergency, and we have withdrawn the military that was deployed for martial law operations," Yoon said in a televised address around 4:30 am (1930 GMT Tuesday). Under South Korea's constitution, the parliamentary vote to lift martial law has to be respected. Yoon said he was acting to safeguard his country's liberal democracy from "anti-state elements" and "threats posed by North Korea" -- but gave little detail. While unexpected, the announcement came in the context of a festering budget row between Yoon and the opposition Democratic Party. The opposition has slashed around 4.1 trillion won ($2.8 billion) from Yoon's proposed 677 trillion won budget for next year, prompting the president to complain that "all key budgets essential to the nation's core functions" were being cut. "What is clear is that Yoon has been a deeply unpopular, ineffectual leader and he is having a hard time getting any kind of public support for anything he's trying to do," said Alan Yu, a former US diplomat in Asia now at the Center for American Progress. "The use of martial law feels almost like a desperation move to try to break out, both in a political and policy sense, but it is really poorly played on both fronts." Domestically, pressure has only grown further on Yoon after his late-night bombshell. South Korea's main opposition party has demanded that Yoon step down, accusing him of "insurrection". The country's main labour union group has also called an "indefinite general strike" until he resigns over the "irrational and anti-democratic measure". Yoon's own People Power Party described his attempt at imposing martial law as "tragic" and demanded that those involved be held accountable. South Korea is a key Western ally in Asia, seen as an important democratic bulwark in a region dominated by authoritarian regimes, and the drama is being watched with concern. Washington said it was "relieved President Yoon has reversed course" on his martial law order. Earlier, Britain and Germany both said they were closely following developments. China, a key ally of nuclear-armed North Korea, urged its citizens to exercise caution, while Russia -- itself increasingly close to Pyongyang -- called the situation "alarming". burs-pdw-bfm-hmn/cwl
Chance of direct attack by Russia ‘remote’, says UK armed forces chiefNone
How major US stock indexes fared Tuesday, 12/3/2024Orange County supervisors approve outside audit of county contracts after Andrew Do scandalStock market today: Wall Street drifts lower as it waits for inflation data