Latest news with #NationalAssembly
Miami Herald
39 minutes ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Special prosecutors file arrest warrant for South Korean ex-Pres. Yoon
SEOUL, July 30 (UPI) -- South Korean special prosecutors investigating allegations against former First Lady Kim Keon Hee said Wednesday that they requested an arrest warrant to bring in former President Yoon Suk Yeol for questioning over election meddling charges. The request was made after Yoon defied a summons by prosecutor Min Joong-ki for a second time. "The special prosecutors again notified former President Yoon, who failed to appear yesterday, to appear at 10:00 AM today," assistant special counsel Oh Jeong-hee said during a press briefing. "However, former President Yoon did not appear, both yesterday and today, without providing any reason." "The special prosecutor's office filed an arrest warrant for former President Yoon Suk Yeol this afternoon," Oh said. Yoon's legal representatives claim the former president was unable to attend due to health issues, according to local media reports. Yoon is already being held at the Seoul Detention Center on separate charges related to his short-lived Dec. 3 declaration of martial law. A court-issued arrest warrant would allow the special counsel team to physically bring in Yoon for questioning. Min Joong-ki's team is investigating the former first lady on a range of allegations, including stock price manipulation, accepting luxury goods in exchange for political favors and meddling in election nominations. Yoon faces questioning over the election meddling charges, which involve power broker Myung Tae-kyun, the special prosecutor's office said last week. The former presidential couple is suspected of influencing candidate nominations for Yoon's People Power Party in local and parliamentary elections. The arrest warrant comes as Yoon awaits trial on charges including insurrection for his martial law declaration. The decree was quickly overturned by the National Assembly and led to Yoon's impeachment and eventual removal from office. The former president was arrested on Jul. 10 over concerns he may destroy evidence ahead of the trial, marking Yoon's second time in custody. In January, after a weeks-long standoff using his presidential security detail, Yoon was arrested on insurrection charges. He was later released in March on procedural grounds. Special prosecutors indicted Yoon on additional charges last week, including an allegation that he abused power by not holding a required meeting with all cabinet members before declaring martial law. He is also accused of creating a false document claiming the full cabinet endorsed the martial law decree and later destroying it. The insurrection charges Yoon faces are punishable by life imprisonment or the death penalty. On Wednesday, the ruling Democratic Party launched a committee to assist the ongoing special counsel probes into Yoon. In addition to the martial law bid and corruption allegations against Kim Keon Hee, Yoon is also at the center of a third investigation over alleged interference in the probe of the 2023 death of a marine. "We will do our utmost to ensure that the special prosecutors' investigations proceed without a hitch and restore the constitutional order and judicial system that the Yoon Suk Yeol administration has undermined," Rep. Jeon Hyun-heui, who will head the 46-member committee, said. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Politics
- Hans India
North Korean assembly chief claims US, South Korea preparing to 'actualise' nuclear war
Geneva: The head of North Korea's legislative body on Wednesday accused the United States and South Korea of preparing to "actualise" a nuclear war, insisting that its nuclear development is a self-defence measure vital to ensuring its security against such threats. Pak In-chol, Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly, made such a claim during a United Nations-led gathering of top legislators around the world in Switzerland, blaming the US and other Western countries for causing "instability and chaos" to maintain their "hegemonic position". "The advanced preparations of the United States and the ROK to actualise a nuclear war have entered the gravity stage," Pak said through an interpreter at the sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament. "This impels the DPRK to take every necessary measure in response to such a geopolitical crisis. Possessing capabilities to cope proactively with various security threats ... is an issue of vital importance to our state for defending its sovereignty, security threats and territorial integrity," he said, Yonhap news agency reported. The ROK is short for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea. The DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's official name. Pak said that North Korea will never tolerate the "high-handedness, arbitrariness of the US and its following forces," and will "fully discharge its responsibility" to defend international justice. He also claimed that his country is carrying out various activities under its development road map for the "prosperity and happiness" of its people, including long-term construction plans and other measures to improve education, health care and science. "Our people are achieving miraculous successes in their struggle for overall development," Pak said. South Korea's National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik attended the meeting and delivered a speech calling for communication channels between the two Koreas to be kept open even as inter-Korean relations remain frayed. No encounter between Woo and Pak took place at the meeting.
Zawya
2 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: National Council of Provinces Passes Two Bills
The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) passed the 2025 Appropriation Bill and the Eskom Debt Relief Amendment Bill during its plenary sitting held today. The Appropriation Bill is a key part of the national budget. It outlines how government funds will be allocated among various departments. Section 27(1) of the Public Finance Management Act requires the Minister of Finance to table the annual budget for a financial year in the National Assembly before the start of that financial year or, in exceptional circumstances, on a date as soon as possible thereafter. The Minister of Finance tabled the National Budget for the 2025/26 financial year, including the Appropriation Bill and the Eskom Debt Relief Bill, in May this year. Following the passing of the Bill in the National Assembly last week, the Appropriation Bill was subsequently referred to the Select Committee on Appropriations for consideration and reporting back to the NCOP plenary sitting for adoption. This Bill is the law that authorises government to use public funds for various departments and entities, enabling them to deliver services and develop infrastructure and social programmes such as healthcare, education and social grants, while also supporting economic growth. The Bill also focuses on job creation and addressing unemployment. On the other hand, the main objective of the Eskom Debt Relief Bill is to amend the Eskom Debt Relief Act of 2023 by reducing the financial requirements for Eskom for the 2025/26 financial year. It proposes that the entire amount for that year be treated as a loan, which can be converted into equity upon the fulfilment of certain conditions. The Bill also introduces interest into the Eskom debt relief package at a market-related rate. The aim is to balance the interest charge and Eskom's cash flow, while reflecting a fair market-related rate. This is part of ongoing interventions to stabilise the power utility, which has faced years of operational challenges and financial crisis, and to modify its debt relief plan. Now that the Bill has been passed, there is hope that Eskom will have a more enabling balance sheet to spend more money on improving its capacity to supply electricity. These two Bills passed by the NCOP will now be sent to the President for assent, as required by the Constitution. Once Parliament passes the Appropriation Bill and signed into law by the President, government departments are allocated funds and commence implementing their approved spending plans. Parliament then exercises ongoing oversight through its portfolio and select committees to ensure accountability in the use of public funds. The Auditor-General conducts independent audits of departmental spending and reports the findings to Parliament. Where instances of financial mismanagement or underspending are identified, Parliament may recommend corrective action to ensure responsible and effective use of public resources. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
News18
2 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Book Review: ‘Man of Peace' Is More Than Just A Biography Of The Dalai Lama Of Tibet
It is a vivid exploration of the life and spiritual journey of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama 'Man of Peace: The Illustrated Life Story of the Dalai Lama of Tibet' is a powerful illustrated non-fiction graphic novel written by William Meyers, Robert Thurman, and Michael G. Burbank. The illustrations are presented by Steve Buccellato, Donald Hudson, Kinsun Loh, Miranda Meeks and Andrey Pervukhin. It is a vivid exploration of the life and spiritual journey of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, presented against the turbulent backdrop of Tibet's modern political history. Spanning over a century—from the British invasion of Tibet in 1904 to recent global activism—this book inculcates geopolitics, history, spirituality, and human rights into a visually compelling narrative. Divided into ten parts, the book documents the Dalai Lama's journey from his birth to his recognition as a global symbol of peace, compassion and resistance. It explores the political turmoil of the 20th century, particularly the Chinese occupation of Tibet and the cultural genocide that followed. The book confronts difficult realities head-on. It portrays the brutalities of the Chinese invasion, the 1959 Tibetan Uprising, and the massive loss of Tibetan lives, while simultaneously showcasing the resilience and compassion of His Holiness. The first part sets the geopolitical stage, highlighting Tibet's geographic significance and the interplay between powers such as British India, China, Russia, and Mongolia. The visuals combined with historical context—like the Younghusband mission and the 13th Dalai Lama's pilgrimage to India—help readers understand how the Tibetan cause was not just local, but political as well. The second part focuses on the early years of Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, and his enthronement. His training at Drepung Monastery's Gomang College, where emphasis was laid on logic and debate, is a testament to the deeply scholastic tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. The third and fourth parts capture the growing tension with Mao Zedong's China. While the Dalai Lama initially tried diplomacy—attending the National Assembly in Beijing and meeting Mao, the atrocities in Amdo and Kham revealed China's true intentions. The supposed peace guaranteed in the 1951 Seventeen Point Agreement was betrayed. By 1959, over 15,000 Tibetans were killed in a matter of days during a violent crackdown. The book provides statistics, maps, and real quotes that reflect emotions arising out of painful historical events. The fifth part shifts to India, where a 23-year-old Dalai Lama finds refuge after fleeing Tibet. His dialogue with Prime Minister Nehru and the UN's 1959 Resolution on Tibet marked the beginning of Tibet's internationalization. While India's support remained mostly humanitarian, the global recognition of the Tibetan cause was a turning point. In the sixth and seventh parts, the book traces the 1960s and 1970s. The Dalai Lama is shown engaging with world leaders, including Indira Gandhi, while atrocities in Tibet continued. The narration is explained in the backdrop of global events which includes Cold War dynamics, China- US rapprochement, and Vietnam—which shaped the Dalai Lama's path. Simultaneously, he began spreading his spiritual teachings, notably the Kalachakra teachings, making Tibetan Buddhism accessible to Western audiences. The eighth part presents the Dalai Lama's 1987 Five-Point Peace Plan and his address at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. This section is rich with political nuance from the Tiananmen Square massacre to his receipt of the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, the Dalai Lama emerges not just as a spiritual leader, but as a statesman advocating for peaceful solutions rooted in compassion. The ninth and tenth parts cover his increasing global recognition and the challenges he continues to face. From the Lhasa Riots to widespread self-immolations in Tibet to countries hesitating to welcome His Holiness under Chinese pressure, the struggle for Tibetan autonomy remains unresolved. The book ends with the Dalai Lama's three lifelong commitments—as a human being, a Buddhist monk, and a Tibetan. What makes this book truly stand out is the graphic novel format, which allows complex ideas such as geopolitical negotiations, refugee trauma, spiritual wisdom—to be presented in a way that is accessible, yet keeping the details intact. Readers unfamiliar with the China-Tibet issue will benefit from the concise timelines, maps, and infographics embedded within the book. However, there are some limitations. It may not be suitable for children under 12, as it contains graphic depictions of violence, politically sensitive language, and mature themes such as torture and immolation. The reading experience can also be dense at times, requiring readers to pause, reflect, and sometimes research further. The readers may find it a bit tedious to read this book in a single sitting as the reading demands attention and emotional engagement. The authors made concerted efforts in deepening the understanding of the Tibetan cause and to induce feelings of courage, patience, and standing up for what is right, even when the odds are against the situation. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama's character which embodies resilience, gentleness and pragmatism is beautifully portrayed. The scenes of cultural preservation, like the founding of Tibet House in the U.S., or the construction of Kalachakra temple in St. Petersburg, Russia reveal how deeply rooted he is in his spiritual tradition while being open to modern dialogue. Ultimately, Man of Peace is more than just a biography. It is a dialogue on identity crisis, loss, resistance, and hope. For students of international relations, it offers insight into realpolitik, diplomacy, and moral leadership. For readers seeking the spiritual aspect, it presents a lived example of non-violence and inner strength. And for everyone else, it's a reminder that one person's life can transcend beyond their territory. This book will be enticing for anyone interested in world history, peace movements, and spiritual resilience. It will instill a shift in perspective regarding leadership and invoke a renewed belief in the power of compassion as a tool of resistance. This writer is Research Assistant, International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) New Delhi. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 30, 2025, 18:54 IST News opinion Book Review: 'Man of Peace' Is More Than Just A Biography Of The Dalai Lama Of Tibet Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
IOL News
3 hours ago
- Business
- IOL News
NCOP approves Appropriation Bill and Eskom debt relief amendment
The National Council of Provinces has taken decisive action to bolster South Africa's economic future and address Eskom's financial crisis by passing the 2025 Appropriation Bill and the Eskom Debt Relief Amendment Bill during its plenary sitting on Wednesday. These legislative measures pave the way for government funding and address the financial woes plaguing Eskom, a central player in the nation's energy landscape. The Appropriation Bill holds a critical position within the national budget framework. Under Section 27(1) of the Public Finance Management Act, the Minister of Finance is obligated to table the annual budget before the National Assembly prior to the commencement of each financial year. This year's National Budget, encompassing both the Appropriation Bill and the Eskom Debt Relief Bill, was introduced in May. It follows the recent approval of the Bill in the National Assembly last week, subsequently sending it to the Select Committee on Appropriations for further consideration before returning to the NCOP for final adoption. This crucial Bill authorises the government to utilise public funds across various departments and entities, enabling them to provide essential services and invest in infrastructure projects and social programmes such as healthcare, education, and social grants.
