World

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief imposition of martial law marks a new warning for the worldwide fragility of democracy, even in a country hailed as a model of political transformation.Yoon’s overnight attempt to shut down political activity, censor media and lock out opposition lawmakers stunned South Korea’s longtime ally, the United States, which …

S.Korea political upheaval shows global democracy’s fragility – and resilience Read More »

Georgia’s rights ombudsman on Tuesday accused police of torturing pro-European Union protesters rallying for six consecutive days against the government’s decision to shelve EU accession talks amid a post-election crisis. The country of some 3.7 million has been rocked by demonstrations since the ruling Georgian Dream party announced last week it would halt EU accession talks.Police …

Georgia’s ombudsman accuses police of torturing pro-EU protesters Read More »

Syrian rebel forces arrived at the gates of the key city of Hama on Tuesday, as their fighting with the military sparked “a large wave of displacement”, a war monitor said.The Islamist-led rebels were advancing on Syria’s fourth-largest city, buoyed by their lightning capture of swathes of the north in an offensive that ended four …

Syria rebels ‘at gates’ of central city Hama Read More »

Namibia’s ruling SWAPO party was declared winner Tuesday of last week’s disputed elections, ushering in the southern African country’s first woman president after a disputed vote that the main opposition has already said it does not recognise.Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah took just over 57 percent of ballots followed by the candidate for the main opposition Independent …

Namibia elects its first woman president Read More »

South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol said Wednesday he would lift martial law, just hours after imposing it in a bid to quell what he called “anti-state forces”.Yoon backed down after lawmakers voted to oppose the unexpected declaration, which caught even South Korea’s closest allies around the world off guard. Earlier the National Assembly was sealed …

S. Korea president says will lift martial law Read More »

Islamist-led rebels advanced Tuesday on Syria’s fourth-largest city Hama, buoyed by their lightning capture of swathes of the north in an offensive that ended four years of relative calm.The sudden flare-up in the more than decade-old civil war in Syria drew appeals for de-escalation from across the international community.Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and …

Syria rebels advance on central city Read More »

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who declared martial law on Tuesday, was elected in 2022 as a conservative political novice promising a tougher line on North Korea.He has not had an easy ride, taking office with some of the lowest approval ratings of any democratically elected South Korean president.Those ratings dropped even further to …

S. Korea’s President Yoon, embattled conservative Read More »

UK officials hinted Tuesday that a deal was in the works with Greece to end a decades-long dispute over the highly contested and priceless Parthenon Marbles.The British Museum said it was holding “constructive” talks with Athens over “sharing” the ancient sculptures, raising the likelihood that the friezes will be loaned back to Greece.The comments came …

UK museum in talks with Greece over ‘long-term’ deal for Parthenon Marbles Read More »

South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday declared martial law, accusing the opposition of being “anti-state forces” and saying he was acting to protect the country from “threats” posed by the North.Lawmakers quickly voted to oppose the shock declaration but the military backed Yoon, setting up a stand-off with no clear way forward.The National …

South Korea president declares martial law Read More »

Antony Blinken, America’s French-speaking, Europhile top diplomat, paid his last visit to NATO headquarters in Brussels Tuesday on a bittersweet trip ahead of Donald Trump taking over in the United States. The US secretary of state can look back on a tenure spent strengthening Washington’s transatlantic bond as Russia launched the largest conflict in Europe since …

Europe-loving Blinken on last trip to NATO before Trump handover Read More »