SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean law enforcement officials on Monday requested a court warrant to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol as they investigate whether his short-lived martial law decree on Dec. 3 amounted to rebellion. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which is leading a joint investigation with police and military authorities into the power grab that lasted only a few hours, confirmed it requested the warrant from the Seoul Western District Court. They plan to question Yoon on charges of abuse of authority and orchestrating a rebellion. Yoon has dodged several requests by the joint investigation team and public prosecutors to appear for questioning and has also blocked searches of his offices. It’s not clear whether the court will grant the warrant or whether Yoon can be compelled to appear for questioning. Under the country’s laws, locations potentially linked to military secrets cannot be seized or searched without the consent of the person in charge, and it’s unlikely that Yoon will voluntarily leave his residence if he faces detainment. Yoon’s presidential powers were suspended after the National Assembly voted to impeach him on Dec. 14 over his imposition of martial law that lasted only hours but has triggered weeks of political turmoil, halted high-level diplomacy and rattled financial markets. Yoon’s fate now lies with the Constitutional Court, which has begun deliberations on whether to uphold the impeachment and formally remove Yoon from office or reinstate him. Yoon has defended the martial law decree as a necessary act of governance, describing it as a warning against the liberal opposition Democratic Party, which has been bogging down his agenda with its majority in the parliament. Parliament voted last week to also impeach Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who had assumed the role of acting president after Yoon’s powers were suspended, over his reluctance to fill three Constitutional Court vacancies ahead of the court’s review of Yoon’s case. The country’s new interim leader is Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, who is also finance minister.
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AP Business SummaryBrief at 6:23 p.m. ESTGovernment to block incinerators that do not contribute to green plansThe first Egyptian-Sudanese Business Forum, held on Saturday, focused on strengthening economic cooperation between the two nations. Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport, Kamel Al-Wazir, opened the forum by emphasizing the importance of expanding industrial investment and trade. He stated that the forum aims “to strengthen existing cooperation frameworks between Egypt and Sudan across all sectors, maximizing both countries’ potential and boosting trade levels for the mutual benefit of both peoples.” Al-Wazir underscored the benefits of deeper industrial investment, including job creation and technological advancement. Held under Al-Wazir’s patronage, the forum featured participation from several high-ranking officials: Omar Bannafir, Sudanese Minister of Trade and Supply; Mahasen Yaqoub, Sudanese Minister of Industry; Abubakr Abu Al-Qasim Abdullah, Sudanese Minister of Transport; Muhyi El-Din Naeem, Sudanese Minister of Energy and Oil; Sherif Farouk, Egyptian Minister of Supply and Domestic Trade; and Emad El-Din Mostafa Adawi, Sudanese Ambassador to Cairo. In his address, Al-Wazir conveyed greetings from President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and expressed hope for the forum’s success. He welcomed the Sudanese delegation, highlighting the strong bonds between the two nations and reaffirming Egypt’s support for Sudan. Stressing the forum’s goal of fostering cooperation and boosting trade, Al-Wazir also addressed the economic impact of regional conflicts, emphasizing the importance of creating new frameworks to mitigate these effects and advocating for international cooperation to find solutions. Al-Wazir reiterated Egypt’s commitment to regional economic stability and development, affirming the country’s ongoing support for Arab nations facing conflict. He emphasized national unity as a key to overcoming challenges and highlighted Egypt’s active role in promoting regional peace efforts and international collaboration. Focusing on Egypt’s support for Sudan’s economic recovery, Al-Wazir outlined the shared history and strong ties between the two nations. He described existing transport networks linking Egypt and Sudan, including three land transport axes—Toshka-Arqin (West Nile, 100 km), Qustul-Wadi Halfa (East Nile, 35 km), and Halaib-Port Sudan (Red Sea coast, 280 km). Additionally, he mentioned plans for an intermodal railway station at Abu Simbel, three land ports (Qustul, Arqin, and Ras Hadarba), logistics zones in Qustul and Arqin, and a new river wharf at Wadi Halfa port in Sudan. Highlighting the benefits of enhanced industrial investment between the two nations, Al-Wazir pointed to mutual gains such as job creation, the provision of equipment, technological advancements, and economic growth. He emphasized the forum’s role in initiating an industrial integration partnership to promote regional collaboration, enabling both countries to capitalize on their strengths and address shared challenges. Al-Wazir also noted the untapped cooperation potential between Egypt and Sudan and reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to attracting Sudanese investments. He cited Egypt’s favorable investment climate, its range of incentives, and access to free trade agreements. He added that Egypt has undertaken significant institutional reforms to improve investor procedures, enhancing its appeal to foreign investors. The minister highlighted the transport sector’s critical role in economic integration, stressing the importance of strong infrastructure for sustainable development. He detailed the Egyptian Ministry of Transport’s initiatives to transform Egypt into a regional transport and logistics hub, including logistics corridor developments and plans for 32 dry ports and logistics zones across the country. These efforts align with President Al-Sisi’s directives to enhance Egypt’s regional connectivity. Concluding his remarks, Al-Wazir highlighted the forum’s timeliness, noting Sudan’s economic reforms and its progress in attracting investments for public-private partnerships in key sectors such as agriculture, energy, infrastructure, information and communication technology, and mining. He praised Sudan’s abundant resources and strategic location, which continue to attract global investors to its agricultural and food industries. Al-Wazir closed by reiterating the need for sustained cooperation between Egypt and Sudan to strengthen their relationship across all levels, particularly in trade and investment. Expressing optimism for the future, he emphasized the importance of continuous collaboration to enhance mutual benefits.
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A designated disability minister will be appointed to each Government department to “champion disability inclusion and accessibility”, the Government has announced. Work and pensions minister Sir Stephen Timms said the move aims to drive “real improvements” for disabled people, whom the ministers will be encouraged to engage with on a regular basis. He told the Commons: “I am very pleased to be able to announce today the appointment of new lead ministers for disability in each Government department, they will represent the interests of disabled people, champion disability inclusion and accessibility within their departments. “I’m going to chair regular meetings with them and will encourage them to engage directly with disabled people and their representative organisations, as they take forward their departmental priorities. “And I look forward to this new group of lead ministers for disability together driving real improvements across Government for disabled people.” This came during an adjournment debate on International Day of Persons with Disabilities, where Liberal Democrat MP Steve Darling raised concerns about “floating bus stops”, which have a cycle lane between the stop and the pavement. Intervening, the MP for Torbay, who is registered blind, said: “The Government needs to ban floating bus stops.” Sir Stephen said: “I do think this issue about floating bus stops is an important issue which we need to work across Government to reflect on.” Labour MP Debbie Abrahams, who led the debate, had earlier criticised the lack of accessibility for disabled people on trains. The Oldham East and Saddleworth MP said: “Our train network does not have level access, and we heard Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson from the other place make this plea back in the summer, absolutely outrageous what she was put through. “But I was absolutely shocked to find, when I had a presentation of the TransPennine route upgrade, that the rolling stock yet to be commissioned is not going to provide that level access. “It’s absolute nonsense, it’s not even in the design of that procurement, so we must do better than this.”Disability ministers will ‘champion’ inclusion and accessibility, says Timms
The number of businesses expecting a higher turnover increased by 13% when compared with the previous year’s survey. Almost three quarters of Scottish businesses are confident about their prospects next year, a survey has suggested. The Bank of Scotland’s business barometer poll showed 73% of Scottish businesses expect to see turnover increase in 2025, up from 60% polled in 2023. Almost a quarter (23%) of businesses expect to see their revenue rise by between six and 10% over the next 12 months, with just over a fifth (21%) expecting it to grow by even more. The poll found that 70% of businesses were confident they would become more profitable in 2025, a two per cent increase when compared with the previous year. Revenue and profitability growth was firms’ top priority at 52%, though 40% said they will be targeting improved productivity, and the same proportion said they will be aiming to enhance their technology – such as automation or AI – or upskill their staff (both 29%). More than one in five (22%) want to improve their environmental sustainability. Other areas businesses are hoping to build upon AI-assisted technology (19%), and 24% will be investing in expanding into new UK markets and 23% plan to invest in staff training. The business barometer has surveyed 1,200 businesses every month since 2002, providing early signals about UK economic trends. Martyn Kendrick, Scotland director at Bank of Scotland commercial banking, said: “Scottish businesses are looking ahead to 2025 with stronger growth expectations, and setting out clear plans to drive this expansion through investments in new technology, new markets and their own teams. “As we enter the new year, we’ll continue to by their side to help them pursue their ambitions and seize all opportunities that lie ahead.”
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