IMPEACHED South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested on Wednesday over his failed martial law bid, ending a weeks-long standoff with authorities and becoming the first sitting president to be detained in the nation’s history.
Yoon, who faces charges of insurrection over his short-lived effort to impose martial law last month, said he would comply with investigators to avoid “bloodshed”.
A former prosecutor who led the conservative People Power Party (PPP) to election victory in 2022, Yoon could face the death penalty or life in jail if found guilty of insurrection. He had sought to evade arrest for weeks by remaining in his residential compound, protected by members of the Presidential Security Service (PSS) who had remained loyal to him.
His guards had installed barbed wire and barricades at the residence, turning it into what the opposition called a “fortress”. Yoon, who had vowed to “fight to the end”, managed to thwart a first arrest attempt on 3 January following a tense hours-long impasse between the guards and anti-graft investigators working with police. — AFP

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

LEBANON’S parliament elected Army Chief Joseph Aoun as the country’s new president on Thursday, bringing an end to a prolonged political deadlock and presidential vacancy, CNN reported.
Aoun was elected after two rounds of voting, following extensive efforts by the United States and Saudi Arabia to garner support for him. Both countries have close ties with Aoun, who is aligned with Washington and Riyadh.
After his election, Aoun stepped down from his military role and arrived at the parliament in civilian attire to be sworn in. In his acceptance speech, Aoun declared the start of a “new era” for Lebanon, vowing to address the country’s ongoing economic and political crises. He also made a rare pledge to “monopolize weapons” under the state’s authority, signalling his intention to disarm Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, which has significant military influence in Lebanon, as reported by CNN.
Notably, Hezbollah, the most heavily armed militant group in the Middle East, had significant influence in several countries until it suffered heavy losses in a recent war with Israel. This conflict, along with the weakening of its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has reignited domestic debate on disarming the group. — ANI

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

EGYPTIAN Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty voiced on Wednesday Egypt’s “full support” for Lebanon to elect a new president and end its two-year presidential vacuum.
Abdelatty made the remarks during his phone talks with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, one day after the latter called for a general session to be held on Thursday to elect a president for Lebanon. The Egyptian foreign minister emphasized the necessity of reaching a purely Lebanese consensus, free from foreign dictates, to elect a president “capable of leading Lebanon to face internal and regional challenges and risks”.
“Egypt will continue to provide all forms of support to Lebanon,” he reiterated. For his part, Berri expressed his appreciation for Egypt’s continuous political and humanitarian support for Lebanon, especially at such a critical stage and under difficult circumstances. — Xinhua

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IRAN’S Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Monday condemned recent remarks by a White House official about the possibility of the United States hitting Iranian nuclear facilities, calling them “a threat against international peace and security”.
He made the remarks at a weekly press conference in Tehran while reacting to a report published by Axios on Thursday, which revealed that US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan had presented US President Joe Biden with options for a potential US attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, should the Iranians move towards a nuclear weapon before 20 January 2025.
Baghaei said Sullivan’s remarks were threats against another country’s “peaceful” nuclear facilities. He said that Iran and its people would act decisively and use all available tools to defend their national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and dignity. — Xinhua

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

A US federal judge in NewJersey on Friday dismissed a last-minute attempt to block New York City’s congestion pricing plan, allowing it to take effect Sunday.
The decision means that starting from Sunday, drivers entering Manhattan below the 60th Street during peak hours will face a congestion fee of nine US dollars.
While the Metropolitan Transport Authority welcomed the decision, opponents in New Jersey vowed to appeal the decision before Sunday. According to local media, one lawyer for New Jersey suggested seeking emergency relief from the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
As the first of its kind in the United States, the Manhattan congestion pricing plan was first introduced and approved in 2019 under the administration of then New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. — Xinhua

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called for making 2025 “a new beginning” in his message for the New Year. 

“Throughout 2024, hope has been hard to find. Wars are causing enormous pain, suffering and displacement. Inequalities and divisions are rife — fuelling tensions and mistrust,” Guterres said. 

He said that the globe has just endured a decade of deadly heat and the top ten 10 hottest years on record have happened in the last 10 years, including 2024. 

“This is climate breakdown — in real time,” Guterres stressed. “We must exit this road to ruin — and we have no time to lose.” The UN chief urged countries to put the world on a safer path by dramatically slashing emissions, and supporting the transition to a renewable future. “It is essential and it is possible,” he added. — Xinhua

Source: Global New Light of Myanmar

CHINESE President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called for the nation to remain confident in the coming year, saying the world’s second largest economy can overcome its challenges and pressure through hard work. 

Xi made the remarks in his New Year message for 2025 delivered through China Media Group and the internet. 

Set to fully complete its 14th Five-Year Plan in 2025, China will implement more proactive and effective policies, prioritize high-quality development, promote greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology, and maintain sound momentum in economic and social development, Xi said. 

He said the Chinese economy “now faces some new conditions, including challenges of uncertainties in the external environment and pressure of transformation from old growth drivers into new ones”. 

“But we can prevail with our hard work. As always, we grow in the wind and rain, and we get stronger through hard times. We must be confident,” Xi said.

 Reviewing China’s footprint in 2024, Xi said the economy has rebounded and is on an upward trajectory, with the national GDP expected to pass the mark of 130 trillion yuan (about US$18.08 trillion) and the country’s grain output surpassing 700 million tonnes. — Xinhua

Source: Global New Light of Myanmar

DENMARK has announced plans to enhance Greenland’s defence capabilities after US President-elect Donald Trump reiterated his controversial desire for the US to purchase the Arctic territory, Euronews reported on Wednesday.
In response to Trump’s comments, the Danish government revealed a significant defence investment plan aimed at bolstering Greenland’s security.
According to Euronews, Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said that the country would invest a “double-digit” billion amount in Danish kroner to upgrade its defence systems, though he did not specify the exact figure. The investment could range from EUR 1.34 billion to EUR 13.27 billion, as reported by Euronews.
Earlier on Sunday, the US president-elect made his comments via the social media platform Truth Social, stating that the US should seek ownership of Greenland for “purposes of national security and freedom throughout the world.” He made this remark while announcing the former US Ambassador to Sweden, Ken Howery, as the US Ambassador to Denmark.
Meanwhile, Greenland’s Prime Minister, Mute Egede, swiftly rejected the notion, asserting that “Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland” and emphasizing that the country “is not for sale and will never be for sale,” Euronews reported.
Egede further highlighted the importance of preserving Greenland’s long-standing struggle for independence. — ANI

Source: The Global New  Light of Myanmar

Photo: Denmark.dk

SLOVAK Prime Minister Robert Fico said that he had discussed with Russian President Vladimir Putin the situation in Ukraine and the possibilities for resolving the conflict, as well as relations between Russia and Slovakia.
“In a long conversation, Vladimir Putin and I exchanged views on the military situation in Ukraine and the possibilities for a early peaceful end to the war and on relations between Slovakia and Russia, which I intend to standardize,” Fico said on Facebook.
According to Fico, this will also be helped by events related to the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the victory over fascism, “where the decisive role was played by Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians and other peoples of the former USSR”.
The prime minister also noted that President Putin had confirmed Russia’s readiness to continue supplying gas to the West. — SPUTNIK

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Donald Trump proposed making Canada the 51st state, claiming it would reduce costs for Canadians, including taxes and military protection. MAKING Canada the 51st state of the United States would significantly reduce costs for Canadians, who would save on taxes and military protection, US President elect Donald Trump said on Wednesday.
“No one can answer why we subsidize Canada to the tune of over $100,000,000 a year? Makes no sense! Many Canadians want Canada to become the 51st State. They would save massively on taxes and military protection.
I think it is a great idea. 51st State!!!” Trump said on Truth Social. On 10 December, Trump jokingly referred to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the “governor” of the “Great State of Canada” amid tensions over the incoming US president’s threat to slap tariffs on goods from the neighbouring nation.
In late November, Trump announced that upon taking office, he would impose 25 per cent tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico due to unresolved issues related to illegal immigration and drug trafficking in the US. He also promised to add a 10 per cent export tariff on Chinese goods.
Last week, Trudeau vowed a response if Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods. — SPUTNIK

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar