
Curl-Salemme, Michaela Cava each score twice, Frost beat Sceptres 6-3 in PWHLBritish High Commission spreads Christmas cheer to SOS Children’s Village and Bethlehem HomeSouth 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.
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Jaipur: The chrysanthemum exhibition returned to Rajasthan University after a gap of two years. The 38th Chrysanthemum Exhibition that was inaugurated on the varsity campus by Deputy Chief Minister Premchand Bairwa on Saturday features more than 5,000 plants of more than 30 varieties of this flower. The last exhibition in 2022 showcased 3,700 plants across 45 varieties. "This event will certainly encourage floriculture , promote innovation in the agricultural sector, and raise environmental awareness among students and the community. The variety of flowers and advanced agricultural techniques displayed here will inspire many," said Bairwa in his address at the inauguration ceremony. Jaipur MP Manju Sharma, Civil Lines MLA and RU syndicate member Gopal Sharma, and Vice-Chancellor Alpana Kateja were also present at the inauguration ceremony. The exhibition will be open to the public from 10am to 4pm daily till Dec 9. After the exhibition concludes, the plants will be sold. This year, the price has been set at Rs 150 per plant, which is Rs 50 higher than last time. "Chrysanthemum is a Chinese flower and lacks the essence of Indian culture. I hope RU will focus in future on introducing gardens with flowers that reflect Indian heritage. While it is commendable that the university is maintaining its traditions, there is much room for improvement," said Gopal Sharma. RU has been hosting the chrysanthemum exhibition since 1996. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .Swanson: Galaxy coaches share a rich legacy, but their focus is on the now2 Reasons to Buy British American Tobacco Stock at the End of 2024 and 2 Reasons to Avoid It for Now
No More Ration Cards? New system to get food grains via Mobile App; know about Mera Ration 2.0As rebel forces claimed taking control of the Daraa city in southwestern Syria, inching closer to the capital Damascus and escalating threat to the over two decade-long leadership of President Bashar al-Assad, US President-elect Donald Trump asserted that this is not America's fight and the US should have "nothing to do with it." Published: December 8, 2024 1:58 AM IST By Edited by Syrian government forces withdrew from a number of Damascus suburbs where opposition protests broke out on Saturday, according to war monitoring organisations, the New York Times reported. Government forces have withdrawn from several suburbs of Damascus, including Moadamia al-Sham and Daraya, as well as the neighbouring Mezzeh military airport, according to the British-based war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the New York Times reported. Meanwhile, following a meeting with his Turkish and Iranian counterparts in Qatar on Saturday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia, Turkey, and Iran called for a “dialogue between the government and the legal opposition.” However, he said that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Islamist organisation leading the rebel attack, should not be included in those discussions. Lavrov stated, “It is unacceptable to allow a terrorist group to take control of territories,” TASS reported. On the other hand, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the leader of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in a message on Telegram to his fighters said, “We are now on the doorstep of Homs and Damascus, and the toppling of the criminal regime is near.” According to Al Jazeera, in a message to opposition fighters, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani said, “You are on the edges of Homs and Damascus, and the fall of the regime is within sight. I renew my call to you, my brothers, to be merciful and gentle when dealing with our people in the cities and villages that you enter.” Geir Pedersen, the UN special envoy to Syria, called for calm in the country following rapid advances by the opposition fighters. “I reiterate my call for de-escalation, for calm, for the avoidance of bloodshed and the protection of civilians in line with international humanitarian law,” Pedersen said at the Doha Forum for political dialogue, urging “the start of a process that leads to the realisation of the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people,” Al Jazeera reported. As rebel forces claimed taking control of the Daraa city in southwestern Syria, inching closer to the capital Damascus and escalating threat to the over two decade-long leadership of President Bashar al-Assad, US President-elect Donald Trump asserted that this is not America’s fight and the US should have “nothing to do with it.” The rebels are battling Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces from two directions; the north and the south, in an attempt to close in on Damascus. Daraa is where the Syrian uprising started in 2011, CNN reported. “Opposition fighters in Syria, in an unprecedented move, have totally taken over numerous cities, in a highly coordinated offensive, and are now on the outskirts of Damascus, obviously preparing to make a very big move toward taking out President Bashar al-Assad. Russia, because they are so tied up in Ukraine, and with the loss thereof over 600,000 soldiers, seems incapable of stopping this literal march through Syria, a country they have protected for years,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. Criticising the previous policies of former President Barack Obama, Trump further said that there is the possibility of Assad himself being forced out, which can actually be the “best thing” to happen to Syria. “This is where former President Obama refused to honor his commitment of protecting the RED LINE IN THE SAND, and all hell broke out, with Russia stepping in. But now they are, like possibly Assad himself, being forced out, and it may actually be the best thing that can happen to them,” Trump stated. “There was never much of a benefit in Syria for Russia, other than to make Obama look really stupid. In any event, Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!,” he added. Notably, the conflict in Syria began in 2011, after President Bashar al-Assad moved to stamp out peaceful pro-democracy protests during the Arab Spring. Over 3,00,000 civilians have been killed in more than a decade of war, according to the United Nations, with millions more displaced across the region. For breaking news and live news updates, like us on or follow us on and . Read more on Latest on . TopicsTORONTO (AP) — Britta Curl-Salemme and Michaela Cava each scored twice and the Minnesota Frost beat the Toronto Sceptres 6-3 on Saturday in the Professional Women’s Hockey League. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * TORONTO (AP) — Britta Curl-Salemme and Michaela Cava each scored twice and the Minnesota Frost beat the Toronto Sceptres 6-3 on Saturday in the Professional Women’s Hockey League. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? TORONTO (AP) — Britta Curl-Salemme and Michaela Cava each scored twice and the Minnesota Frost beat the Toronto Sceptres 6-3 on Saturday in the Professional Women’s Hockey League. Curl-Salemme gave Minnesota a 4-3 lead at 6:29 of the third period. Cava scored the final two goals, the last into an empty net. Claire Butorac and Dominique Petrie also scored and Maddy Rooney stopped 21 shots to help Minnesota improve to 2-0-1. Daryl Watts, Victoria Bach and Jesse Compher scored for Toronto. The Sceptres are 1-2-0. Minnesota beat Toronto for the fourth straight game dating to last season’s playoffs. The Frost won the final three games of a best-of-five semifinal after dropping the first two. Takeaways Frost: Defender Maggie Flaherty served the first game of a two-game suspension for a headshot on Boston’s Alina Mueller, with Mae Batherson taking her place for her PWHL debut. Batherson is the younger sister of Ottawa Senators forward Drake Batherson. Sceptres: Rylind MacKinnon is one of only two Canadian university players in the PWHL, with New York’s Emmy Fecteau from Concordia the other. MacKinn, a former University of British Columbia defender, has two assists this season. Up next Toronto is at New York on Wednesday night. Minnesota host Ottawa on Thursday night. ___ AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports Advertisement