Earos Raises $10 Million from Lemon Ltd. to Build Decentralized AI Infrastructure 12-03-2024 11:28 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: SHENZHEN HMEDIUM INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD Earos, an innovative Web3 initiative combining artificial intelligence agent with blockchain, has announced a successful $10 million funding round led by Lemon Ltd. This investment will fuel the development of Earos's decentralized digital ecosystem, designed to empower users through cutting-edge technology and sustainability. Image: https://www.getnews.info/uploads/dbe61c1bb09387372afd9577e5bda07a.jpg Headquartered in Singapore, Earos is backed by a team of experts from leading global internet companies. The project's mission is to build the first decentralized AI Agent platform, enabling individuals and developers to create, deploy, and monetize their AI agents seamlessly. At the core of this effort is the Agent Workstation, a groundbreaking distributed infrastructure that allows global nodes to collaborate on AI model training, deployment, and validation. This innovative approach decentralizes AI technology while ensuring scalability and accessibility. https://x.com/Lemon_invest/status/1863834405871272108 Earos Information Table Earos Basic Information Official Website: https://earos.io [ https://earos.io/ ] Headquarter: Singapore Social Media: X [ https://x.com/Earos_official]Medium [ https://medium.com/@Earos]Telegram [ https://t.me/EarosOfficialGroup ] The $10 million funding will support the enhancement of this infrastructure, the onboarding of developers, and the expansion of Earos's global footprint. Lemon Ltd.'s investment underscores growing confidence in the potential of decentralized platforms to redefine digital economies. "With Lemon Ltd.'s support, we're taking a major step toward realizing our vision of a decentralized, user-driven digital future," said the Earos team. "This funding empowers us to scale innovation, expand the Agent Workstation ecosystem, and provide tools that ensure AI and blockchain work harmoniously to benefit all users." The project is set to redefine the relationship between AI, blockchain, and user empowerment, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of decentralized technologies. Media Contact Company Name: Earos Inc Contact Person: Steve Chan Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=earos-raises-10-million-from-lemon-ltd-to-build-decentralized-ai-infrastructure ] Country: Singapore Website: http://earos.io This release was published on openPR.WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he will nominate former White House aide Brooke Rollins to be his agriculture secretary, the last of his picks to lead executive agencies and another choice from within his established circle of advisers and allies. The nomination must be confirmed by the Senate, which will be controlled by Republicans when Trump takes office Jan. 20, 2025. Rollins would succeed Tom Vilsack, President Joe Biden’s agriculture secretary, who oversees the sprawling agency that controls policies, regulations and aid programs related to farming, forestry, ranching, food quality and nutrition. Rollins, an attorney who graduated from Texas A&M University with an undergraduate degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. Rollins previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. She worked as a litigation attorney in Dallas and clerked for a federal judge in the Northern District of Texas after earning her law degree from the University of Texas. Tariffs could affect farmers The pick completes Trump’s selection of the heads of executive branch departments, just two and a half weeks after the former president won the White House again. Several other picks that are traditionally Cabinet-level remain, including U.S. trade representative and head of the Small Business Administration. Rollins, speaking on the Christian talk show “Family Talk” earlier this year, said Trump was an “amazing boss.” Trump didn’t offer many specifics about his agriculture policies during the campaign, but farmers could be affected if he carries out his pledge to impose widespread tariffs. During his first administration, countries like China responded to Trump’s tariffs by imposing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports like the corn and soybeans routinely sold overseas. Trump countered by offering massive multibillion-dollar aid to farmers to help them weather the trade war. President Abraham Lincoln founded the USDA in 1862, when about half of all Americans lived on farms. The USDA oversees multiple support programs for farmers; animal and plant health; and the safety of meat, poultry and eggs that anchor the nation’s food supply. Its federal nutrition programs provide food to low-income people, pregnant women and young children. And the agency sets standards for school meals.
Late kickoff return TDs by Turpin and Thomas spark the Cowboys as they end their 5-game skid
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This video may be the most memorable moment ever at a drive-thru in Alberta! Meet Magnum, the sweet-toothed steer who pulled into one Tim Hortons drive-thru Saturday morning in Sylvan Lake in central Alberta to pick up his favourite Timbits. Kelly Landry is originally from Quebec. She moved to Alberta last April. She tells CityNews she’s been riding the eight-year-old steer since he was 10-months-old. “I just strap and go. When I know there’s something that could be dangerous I just talk and prepare myself and try to just distract him,” she explained. Landry says she used to take Magnum on adventures to local businesses and drive-thru’s when she lived in Quebec, and she’ll continue to do the same now in Alberta. “I just rode him two times in town. He’s been here since the end of October. I can take him to the grocery. I’ll try to go to the beach.” And whether Magnum is a local celebrity, she says, “I think he will.” The video of Magnum at Tim Hortons is going viral on social media. Landry says the reactions she received online and from locals were priceless. “Many were surprised and took pictures of him. Sometimes I let people go on him, more kids.”
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has lauded the Federal Government for approving the construction of the Nigeria Customs facilities in the State, adding that with the provision of infrastructure by his administration, the State would continue to be the industrial hub of the country. The Governor also disclosed that the Special Agro-Processing Zone at the Gateway International Agro-cargo Airport would be ready by the third quarter of next year. According to him, the airport which would be equipped with the latest equipment in the aviation industry, would turn out to be the best in the world. Speaking at the 38th Akesan Day celebration held at the Apostolic Church Grammar School, Iperu, Ikenne Local Government Area, Prince Abiodun noted that that corridor of the State would play a significant role in the nation’s quest for industrial revolution. He said: “We have the airport, the first truly Agricultural Processing Zone which is one of the six zones approved by the Federal Government across the the states. That zone will be completed in the third quarter of 2025.” The governor noted that his administration would embark on people-oriented projects to open up the State for more investment opportunities and access. “We will ensure that we are defined by people-oriented policies, programmes and projects. We will work till the end of our tenure in 2027,” he added. He said the Akesan Day was an opportunity for all sons and daughters of the community to come together to foster unity and to celebrate the deep culture and traditions of the town. The governor while noting the development strides the town has made in recent years, promised to provide the town with the needed infrastructure for more development. The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, described Governor Abiodun as a living historian who is working to leave lasting legacies in the State. “I have seen well-constructed road networks with concrete drainages. The governor’s nitch for infrastructural facilities is well documented. The governor is concerned about the progress of this town and the welfare of the people. I want to commend him for this,” he said. Also speaking, the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who represented the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, noted that despite the governor’s performance in his first term, he is even working harder, a development which means his seriousness for governance. Bamidele: “We are happy that he is leaving legacies that will stand the test of time. He has told us about some of the moves he is making to turn Ogun State into the modern-day commercial hub.” The occasion, which featured cultural displays, attracted about 50 senators, members of the House of Representatives, traditional rulers, political bigwigs, among others.( MENAFN - IANS) Mumbai, Nov 28 (IANS) actress and social media sensation Shehnaaz Gill shared a video of herself dancing on a revamped version of the classic“Kajra Mohabbat Wala” and declared that reel is her“meal”. Shehnaaz took to her Instagram, where she was seen dancing on the sets of her upcoming film with her team. The actress looked every-inch a“desi kudi” as she wore a mint kurta paired with a white pyajama. “Dancing, acting, and a little fan moment-because reel is my meal! #KajraMohabbatWala #SetLife,” she wrote. Talking about the song“Kajra Mohabbat Wala”, the track is from the 1969 film“Kismat” and is sung by Asha Bhosle and Shamshad Begum. The film stars Babita, Shetty, Jagdeesh Raj, Biswajeet, Helen, Ulhas, Murad, Kamal Mehra, Hiralal and Indra Kumar. Earlier, Shehnaaz grooved on rapper Badshah's latest track“Morni” on the sets of her film and said that she is never too busy for what she loves. She was joined by her team as she grooved on the track and captioned the video:“When work's got you running on full speed, but passion says, 'Let's do this real quick!' Busy, but never too busy for what I love. @badboyshah,” she wrote as the caption. Talking about the song, it has a few lines from the 1991 Rajasthani folk-inspired song“Morni Baga Ma Bole” from Bollywood movie“Lamhe” starring Anil Kapoor and Sridevi. It was composed by Shiv-Hari, with lyrics by Anand Bakshi and sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Ila Arun. Shehnaaz has just started to shoot for her Punjabi film, directed by Amarjit Saron, known for making films such as“Honsla Rakh”,“Saunkan Saunkne”,“Kala Shah Kala”,“Jhalle”,“Babe Bhangra Paunde Ne.” On November 22, she took to her Instagram and shared a motley picture of herself holding on to the clapboard of the film, and captioned it:“Starting a new journey today and immensely proud and happy to announce that today we commence the shooting of my Punjabi film with my dream team.” MENAFN27112024000231011071ID1108934611 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Tafara Gapare scored 19 points, freshman Derik Queen had 15 points and eight rebounds and Maryland beat Bucknell 91-67 on Wednesday night. Maryland opened the game on a 15-2 run, extended it to 25-7 with 10:38 left and led 51-28 at the break. The Terrapins led by at least 16 points the entire second half, which included runs of 12-0 and 9-0. Gapare scored the 10 straight points during the second-half run. Gapare threw down a highlight dunk while being fouled with 2:08 remaining to give Maryland an 89-62 lead. He was called for a technical foul after stepping over Patrick O’Brien, who was attempting to take a charge. Jayden Williams made the two free throws for Bucknell and Gapare missed his free-throw attempt that would have tied his career high of 20 points. Maryland (6-1) has won 20 consecutive home games against unranked nonconference foes with its last loss coming on Dec. 1, 2021, against Virginia Tech in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Julian Reese added 14 points and Selton Miguel scored 13 for Maryland. Gapare, a Georgia Tech transfer, reached double-figure scoring as a Terp for the first time. The Terrapins shot 50% from the field with three 3-pointers apiece by Gapare and Miguel. Ruot Bijiek led Bucknell (4-4) with 20 points and Josh Bascoe added 10. The Bison turned it over 20 times leading to 22 Maryland points. Maryland stays at home to play Alcorn State on Sunday. Bucknell returns home to play Siena on Saturday. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
LOS ANGELES — Londynn Jones scored 15 points, making all five of her 3-pointers, and fifth-ranked UCLA stunned No. 1 South Carolina 77-62 on Sunday, ending the Gamecocks' overall 43-game winning streak and their run of 33 consecutive road victories. The Gamecocks (5-1) lost for the first time since April 2023, when Caitlin Clark and Iowa beat them in the NCAA Tournament national semifinals. Te-Hina Paopao scored 18 points and Tessa Johnson scored 14 for the Gamecocks, whose road winning streak was third-longest in Division I history. It was the first time UCLA took down a No. 1 team in school history, having been 0-20 in such games. The program's previous best wins were over a couple of No. 2s — Oregon in 2019 and Stanford in 2008. Elina Aarnisalo added 13 points as one of five Bruins in double figures. UCLA (5-0) dominated from start to finish, with the Bruins' suffocating defense preventing the Gamecocks from making any sustained scoring runs. South Carolina: The Gamecocks trailed by double-digits at halftime for the first time since Dec. 21, 2021, against Stanford, according to ESPN. Chloe Kitts, who averages a team-leading 14 points, finished the game with 2 points on 1 of 7 shooting. UCLA: The Bruins led 43-22 at halftime. Eight different players scored and contributed to 11-0 and 7-0 runs in the first and second quarters as they shot 52% from the field. The first quarter set the tone for a game in which the Gamecocks never led. They missed their first nine shots and were 4 of 18 from the floor in the quarter. UCLA ran off 11 straight points to take a 20-10 lead into the second quarter. The Bruins dominated the boards, 41-34, and held the Gamecocks well under their scoring average of 80.2 points. South Carolina travels to Florida to meet Iowa State in the Fort Myers Tipoff on Thanksgiving. UCLA travels to the Rainbow Wahine Showdown in Hawaii to play UT Martin on Friday. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Zoë Modiga and the politics of love
Wake Forest keeps trying new things early in the season, even if not all of the adjustments are by design. The Demon Deacons will try to stick to the script when Detroit Mercy visits for Saturday's game in Winston-Salem, N.C. The Demon Deacons (5-1) will be at home for the final time prior to three consecutive road games. Detroit Mercy (3-2) already has two more victories than all of last season. After a couple of narrow wins and a loss at Xavier, Wake Forest had a smoother time earlier this week in defeating visiting Western Carolina 82-69 on Tuesday night. Yet these are games when teams have to figure where contributions are going to come from in certain situations. The experimenting took a turn for Wake Forest in the Western Carolina game. Center Efton Reid III had limited minutes because of migraines, so there was a shift in responsibilities. Normal backcourt players Cameron Hildreth and Juke Harris logged time at the power forward slot. "That's just part of it," coach Steve Forbes said. "They did a good job adjusting. We ran a lot of stuff and there are several guys learning different positions. ... I give credit to those guys for doing the best job that they could do on the fly and adjusting to the play calls that we ran and the stuff that we changed." Wake Forest could excel if both Parker Friedrichsen and Davin Cosby can be consistent 3-point threats. Friedrichsen slumped with shooting in the first few games of the season and was replaced in the starting lineup by Cosby. In Tuesday's game, Friedrichsen drained four 3-pointers, while Cosby hit two. "It was really good to see Parker and Davin both make shots together," Forbes said. Not everything was solved for the Demon Deacons. Western Carolina collected 12 offensive rebounds, and that took some of the shine off Wake Forest's defensive efforts. "We can't be a good defensive team, or a really good defensive team, unless we rebound the ball," Forbes said. "It's demoralizing to your defense to get stops and then not get the ball." In Detroit Mercy's 70-59 win at Ball State on Wednesday, Orlando Lovejoy tallied 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists. "We got the ball to the shooters and playmakers," first-year Titans coach Mark Montgomery said. "You could tell by the guys' body language that we were going to get a road win. It had been a long time coming." On Saturday, the Titans will look for their second road victory since February 2023. The outcome at Ball State seemed significant to Montgomery. "We had to get over the hump," he said. "Our guys grinded it out." --Field Level MediaNoneJust weeks after voters cast ballots in a presidential election many described as the most critical of their lifetime, another highly anticipated contest looms. Two candidates — both political newcomers — have jumped in, announcing they intend to enter the 2025 race to be the next mayor of Santa Fe. Tarin Nix, a political consultant and deputy commissioner of public affairs for the State Land Office, has launched an initiative called "Fix Our City Different," which she describes as a precursor to a mayoral campaign. Meanwhile, Oscar Rodriguez, a former Taos town manager and Santa Fe finance director, announced his candidacy this week in an op-ed published in The New Mexican . But elected officials, some of whom have been named as potential mayoral candidates or have expressed interest in the race, remain reluctant to publicly declare whether they have decided to run. Some said in September they were focused on the general election and weren't yet prepared to make a decision about next year's municipal election. One of them was Mayor Alan Webber, who is in his second term. Asked recently if he plans to seek a third term in office, Webber said it was still too early to comment. "We're still recovering from the general election," he said. Official filing deadlines for the 2025 local election won't come until summer. If Webber chooses to run, however, other contenders likely will need a significant amount of time to raise campaign funds and build name recognition. In 2021, Webber raised almost $500,000 — a record for the office. Rodriguez said in an interview he chose to declare his candidacy for mayor now because he believes he will need a long runway to get his name out there. "I just don't have the level of ID that others might have, particularly those who are on the [City] Council already," he said. City Councilor Carol Romero-Wirth — whose District 2 seat also is up for election in November 2025 — declined to comment in September on whether she plans to seek the higher office; like Webber, she cited a focus on the general election. She did not respond to multiple requests for comment this week on whether she plans to run for reelection or make a bid for mayor. Fellow District 2 Councilor Michael Garcia, whose political future has been the subject of significant speculation, said in September he was "seriously considering running" for mayor. More recently, however, he said it was too early for him to discuss any plans. Garcia, reelected to a second term in November 2023, wouldn't have to give up his council seat to run for mayor. In a statement last week, Garcia said it was an "honor" to be discussed as a potential candidate. "I will always fight to ensure that residents have a local government that represents them and their interests," he said. "I am still in the process of taking the necessary time with my family to make this important decision." Nix and Rodriguez have both framed their decision to enter the mayor's race around a desire to improve what they described as inadequate or failing city services. Nix released a video earlier this month detailing her Fix Our City Different initiative and describing what she sees as problems with city services as stemming from "a lack of will." "A majority of our issues could have been solved with real leadership and common sense," she said. Rodriguez wrote in his op-ed his campaign that getting basic city services right "only improves the quality of life of our community, it also builds the muscle to tackle bigger, more complex issues." He said in an interview he hopes people will be ready for a race focused on issues. He cited a quote from famed Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi. After taking over the team, Lombardi said he would turn it around not by making drastic changes or replacing the players but by becoming "brilliant at the basics." Rodriguez said the city needs more focus on maintenance and a system for addressing potholes and other problems as they arise. "A big part of delivering quality services is to prevent problems coming up in the first place," he said. He also expressed concern about high-level job vacancies at the city, which currently lacks a permanent city manager and community development director. Rodriguez served as the city's finance director for nearly two years, leaving in 2016 for a new job at the New Mexico Finance Authority, where he has remained since then. He believes he would be able to hit the ground running. "I'm confident I would be able to step into this role and make a significant immediate impact on morale, on transparency in the organization, on the quality of the services, etc.," he said. Nix had similar sentiments about improving city services. "If we can't do the basic functions of City Hall — which are infrastructure, roads, transportation, public safety, public health — then how do we get to really big ideas that move our community forward?" she said in an interview. She pointed to a recent, brief lapse of the city's contract with the Santa Fe Animal Shelter & Humane Society as evidence the city would be "hard-pressed" to say it is delivering basic services. She said the response to Fix Our City Different has been positive. "I think people are ready for a change." A website for the initiative will publish weekly videos about different issues affecting Santa Fe and allow people to self-report problems with things like sewer lines, roads, noise and light pollution. "The whole premise is that this is not political," Nix said. "This is really about how you deliver good government, and if you do it correctly, there shouldn't be this political undertone that exists right now in our city." Four city councilors' seats are also up for election in November. So far, only District 3 Councilor Lee Garcia has said he plans to run again. Signe Lindell in District 1, Romero-Wirth in District 2 and Amanda Chavez in District 4 did not respond to requests for comment. Some people who ran unsuccessfully for council seats in 2023 signaled they may be open to running again. Joel Nava, who lost a District 4 challenge against Councilor Jamie Cassutt, said he is exploring the possibility of another run but probably won't make a decision until spring. "I'm still disappointed with this administration, and I do feel that change is still needed, now more than ever," he said. Katherine Rivera, one of four candidates in last year's District 1 race, said she is exploring the possibility of running again and will make a decision in the new year. "I am definitely a potential candidate," Rivera said. Brian Gutierrez, a District 1 contender in both 2021 and 2023, said his decision will hinge on who else declares a candidacy. "If there’s a good candidate out there, then I will stay out. If nothing looks appealing, then I’ll probably throw my hat in the ring," he said Monday. He added, "I’m hoping somebody good jumps in, because I’m busy." Geno Zamora, the district's best-funded candidate in 2023, who lost to Alma Castro, said it's "too early to know anything." Phil Lucero, who ran unsuccessfully against Michael Garcia in District 2 last year, declined to comment.
Lam Research Corporation Announces Participation at Upcoming ConferencesSEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The president of South Korea early Wednesday lifted the martial law he imposed on the country hours earlier, bending to political pressure after a tense night in which troops surrounded parliament and lawmakers voted to reject military rule. President Yoon Suk Yeol, who appeared likely to be impeached over his actions, imposed martial law late Tuesday out of frustration with the opposition, vowing to eliminate “anti-state” forces as he struggles against opponents who control parliament and that he accuses of sympathizing with communist North Korea. Police and military personnel were seen leaving the grounds of parliament following the bipartisan vote to overrule the president, and the declaration was formally lifted around 4:30 a.m. during a Cabinet meeting. Parliament acted swiftly after martial law was imposed, with National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik declaring that the law was “invalid” and that lawmakers would “protect democracy with the people.” In all, martial law was in effect for about six hours. The president’s surprising move harkened back to an era of authoritarian leaders that the country has not seen since the 1980s, and it was immediately denounced by the opposition and the leader of Yoon’s own conservative party. Lee Jae-myung , leader of the liberal Democratic Party, which holds the majority in the 300-seat parliament, said the party’s lawmakers would remain in the Assembly’s main hall until Yoon formally lifted his order. Woo applauded how troops quickly left the Assembly after the vote. “Even with our unfortunate memories of military coups, our citizens have surely observed the events of today and saw the maturity of our military,” Woo said. While announcing his plan to lift martial law, Yoon continued to criticize parliament’s attempts to impeach key government officials and senior prosecutors. He said lawmakers had engaged in “unscrupulous acts of legislative and budgetary manipulation that are paralyzing the functions of the state.” Jo Seung-lae, a Democratic lawmaker, claimed that security camera footage following Yoon’s declaration showed that troops moved in a way that suggested they were trying to arrest Lee, Woo and even Han Dong-hoon, the leader of Yoon’s People Power Party. Officials from Yoon’s office and the Defense Ministry did not respond to requests for comment early Wednesday. Seemingly hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the Assembly, waving banners and calling for Yoon’s impeachment. Some protesters scuffled with troops ahead of the lawmakers’ vote, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or major property damage. At least one window was broken as troops attempted to enter the Assembly building. One woman tried unsuccessfully to pull a rifle away from one of the soldiers, while shouting “Aren’t you embarrassed?” Under South Korea’s constitution, the president can declare martial law during “wartime, war-like situations or other comparable national emergency states” that require the use of military force to maintain peace and order. It was questionable whether South Korea is currently in such a state. When martial law is declared, “special measures” can be employed to restrict freedom of press, freedom of assembly and other rights, as well as the power of courts. The constitution also states that the president must oblige when the National Assembly demands the lifting of martial law with a majority vote. Following Yoon’s announcement of martial law, South Korea’s military proclaimed that parliament and other political gatherings that could cause “social confusion” would be suspended, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said. The military said anyone who violated the decree could be arrested without a warrant. In Washington, the White House said the U.S. was “seriously concerned” by the events in Seoul. A spokesperson for the National Security Council said President Joe Biden’s administration was not notified in advance of the martial law announcement and was in contact with the South Korean government. Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said there was no effect on the more than 27,000 U.S. service members based in South Korea. The South Korean military also said that the country’s striking doctors should return to work within 48 hours, Yonhap said. Thousands of doctors have been striking for months over government plans to expand the number of students at medical schools. Soon after martial law was declared, the parliament speaker called on his YouTube channel for all lawmakers to gather at the National Assembly. He urged military and law enforcement personnel to “remain calm and hold their positions. All 190 lawmakers who participated in the vote supported the lifting of martial law. At one point, television footage showed police officers blocking the entrance of the National Assembly and helmeted soldiers carrying rifles in front of the building. An Associated Press photographer saw at least three helicopters, likely from the military, that landed inside the Assembly grounds, while two or three helicopters circled above the site. The leader of Yoon’s conservative party called the decision to impose martial law “wrong.” Lee, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, said Yoon’s announcement was “illegal and unconstitutional.” Yoon said during a televised speech that martial law would help “rebuild and protect” the country from “falling into the depths of national ruin.” He said he would “eradicate pro-North Korean forces and protect the constitutional democratic order.” “I will eliminate anti-state forces as quickly as possible and normalize the country,” he said, while asking the people to believe in him and tolerate “some inconveniences.” Yoon — whose approval rating dipped in recent months — has struggled to push his agenda against an opposition-controlled parliament since taking office in 2022. His party has been locked in an impasse with the liberal opposition over next year’s budget bill. The opposition has also attempted to impeach three top prosecutors, including the chief of the central Seoul prosecutors’ office, in what the conservatives have called a vendetta against their criminal investigations of Lee, who has been seen as the favorite for the next presidential election in 2027 in opinion polls. During his televised announcement, Yoon also described the opposition as “shameless pro-North Korean anti-state forces who are plundering the freedom and happiness of our citizens.” He did not elaborate. Yoon has taken a hard line on North Korea over its nuclear ambitions, departing from the policies of his liberal predecessor, Moon Jae-in, who pursued inter-Korean engagement. Yoon has also dismissed calls for independent investigations into scandals involving his wife and top officials, drawing quick, strong rebukes from his political rivals. Yoon’s move was the first declaration of martial law since the country’s democratization in 1987. The country’s last previous martial law was in October 1979, following the assassination of former military dictator Park Chung-hee. Sydney Seiler, Korean chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, argued that the move was symbolic for Yoon to express his frustration with the opposition-controlled parliament. “He has nothing to lose,” said Seiler, comparing Yoon’s move to the Hail Mary pass in American football, with a slim chance of success. Now Yoon faces likely impeachment, a scenario that was also possible before he made the bold move, Seiler said. Natalia Slavney, research analyst at the Stimson Center’s 38 North website that focuses on Korean affairs, said Yoon’s imposition of martial law was “a serious backslide of democracy" that followed a “worrying trend of abuse” since he took office in 2022. South Korea “has a robust history of political pluralism and is no stranger to mass protests and swift impeachments,” Slavney said, citing the example of former President Park Geun-hye, the country’s first female president, who was ousted from office and imprisoned for bribery and other crimes in 2017 . Associated Press writers Hyung-jin Kim in Seoul, South Korea, and Matt Lee, Didi Tang and Tara Copp in Washington contributed to this report.
Global surface temperatures reached record levels in 2024 as the impacts of climate change are being felt around the world. All countries, no matter their development status, are affected by climate change. For example, this month has seen floods in Valencia, Spain, claiming more than 200 lives, and flooding in Colombia causing a state of emergency affecting over 200,000 people. In China, the rated precipitation in the first three quarters of this year was 10.5 percent higher than in the same period of a normal year, with extreme rainfall, and sudden and frequent floods and climate-related disasters resulting in a large number of casualties, relocation of people and economic losses. Multilateral talks at the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, have delivered some progress, especially on climate finance. The just-concluded Baku conference was “finance COP” where a new goal for climate finance was negotiated. According to the deal, developed countries have promised to contribute $300 billion as climate finance per year by 2035. Though it was far short of the trillion dollars sought by the least- and less-developed countries, it was a hard-won achievement for developing countries. For the first time the total climate finance includes a possible voluntary contribution from China, which acknowledges its position both as a major economy and a major investor in green technology in developing countries. The participating countries also agreed to the rules of the carbon market, which should boost market-oriented cooperation on climate and enable businesses to support the recovery of nature and promotion of carbon removal technologies in other countries. However, there was less progress on climate mitigation aspects. At the COP28 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, last year, the participating countries agreed to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030 and transition away from fossil fuels. Yet it was difficult to reach a consensus on the mitigation work program which would continue this progress in Baku, with the participating countries eventually deciding to revisit the issue next year and continue talking meanwhile. The slow progress on multilateral issues means there is increasing focus on bilateral, sub-national and country-group dialogues that can offer ways to further progress. Amid rising political tensions worldwide, strong bilateral cooperation between the United Kingdom and China can provide the international leadership needed to boost the fight against climate change this decade. During the COP29 talks in Baku, British and Chinese leaders met at the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and agreed to cooperate on areas such as clean energy and climate change as part of their efforts to address shared global challenges. Following this meeting, and to support both multilateral and bilateral cooperation, we propose that our expert climate change committees advance our interactions. Our committees have different mandates and institutional structures. Nevertheless, we can collaborate effectively to better advise our countries on how to decarbonize and achieve green transition in a way that creates jobs and boosts the economy. The UK climate committee recently advised the UK government on its 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution, while the Chinese climate committee is advising the Chinese government on how to achieve its dual carbon goals and minimize climate risks, as well as support the international climate negotiations. Both countries could reach a broader and more practical consensus with support from their respective climate committees. Supported by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment and Chatham House, the UK climate science community and policy experts have been collaborating since 2013 in order to better understand the risks posed by climate change, and the policies needed to improve resilience against climate change. In the last two years, this collaboration has deepened. The two countries’ climate committees have jointly explored how to provide constructive advice to our governments across a range of agreed issues of common interest and relevance to our respective national context. We, hereby, propose that our expert committees advance the interaction within their current institutional structures to help us better advise our respective governments. There is a need to support our countries’ efforts to decarbonize their energy supply while ensuring energy security. Both countries have ambitious plans to increase renewable energy generation and our committees can support this effort through their work. The committees can further deepen their collaboration on evaluating climate risks, especially in urban and regional areas, and river basins. We also need to better understand and link climate governance with nature governance. Piers Forster, interim chair of the UK Climate Change Committee, presented the results from the London Climate Resilience Review at two China-led events on the sidelines of COP29, and the UK climate committee is preparing a report on how well can the UK adapt to climate change. As an expert in the Chinese delegation, Wang Yi, vice-chair of China Expert Panel on Climate Change, was invited to the “China Pavilion” on the sidelines the official events of the UNFCCC, and various events organised by the business communities and social organisations at COP29, to speak on the progress of the climate conference, share China’s experience in energy transition, and policies to address climate change and overcome common challenges. Experts and scholars from the UK and China, who have been engaged in cooperation and have attended several UN climate change conferences, shared their research findings and assessment of climate risk assessment, asserting the need to link climate governance with nature management. And by deepening their cooperation, they can improve our climate risk assessments and response. In order to build a greener, more climate-resilient and inclusive sustainable society, the UK and China should take full advantage of their successful climate cooperation over the past decade to further deepen our cooperation. The two countries could also consider issuing a joint statement to promote the multilateral climate agenda. And workstreams could be set up with focus on clean energy transition, co-governance of climate and nature, reducing climate risks, strengthening climate-resilience, green finance to work together with other countries to promote the green transition in an equitable, just and orderly manner, and facilitate sustainable economic development. We look forward to the UK and China formally submitting comprehensive and strong NDCs for 2035. By progressing toward these targets, the two sides can set an example for the rest of the world to follow.