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South Korea has been thrown into chaos after the president, Yoon Suk Yeol, declared martial law on the evening of Tuesday Dec. 3. In a late night address at 11 pm local time, Yoon said martial law – temporary rule by the military – was necessary to eliminate "anti-state" forces. He called opposition parties “shameless pro-North Korean anti-state forces who are plundering the freedom and happiness of our citizens", accusing them of trying to "overthrow the free democracy". Yoon said martial law would help to "rebuild and protect" the country from "falling into the depth of national ruin", adding that he would eradicate pro-North Korean forces as soon as possible and "normalize" the country, AP reported. Analysts say that Yoon had invoked martial law as he has been struggling with pushing his agenda through the parliament, which is controlled by the opposition, since 2022. Yoon said that the opposition had "paralyzed the administration" as it had been impeaching members of his cabinet and blocking his government’s budget plans, according to the New York Times. After the announcement, the military deployed troops and police to the parliament and issued a statement banning all political gatherings and taking control of the media. Protests broke out outside the parliament in Seoul after Yoon's declaration, with thousands of people calling for an immediate end to martial law and for Yoon to be impeached. Hours later, the parliament voted to lift martial law by a majority, finding the declaration invalid by 190 votes out of 300. Under South Korean law, the president must lift martial law "without delay" after a majority vote in the parliament. Local TV footage showed soldiers leaving the parliament after the vote. The leader of the liberal opposition Democratic Party, Lee Jae-myung, said its party's lawmakers would remain in the parliament building until Yoon formally lifted his order. Yoon and the military has not yet issued a public response to the parliamentary vote. This was the first time a South Korean president had declared martial law since military dictatorship ended in the country in the late 1980s. #southkorea #martiallaw #politics #yoonsukyeol #military #northkorea #news #worldnews

As the International Court of Justice began hearings on the biggest case in its history linking climate change and human rights, Cynthia Houniuhi, a young woman climate activist from the Solomon Islands delivered a speech about how climate change is impacting her home and future generations. Houniuhi is the president of the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change (@pisfcc) that launched the campaign to call on the ICJ to issue an advisory opinion on countries’ legal obligations to respond to climate change and protect the rights of current and future generations. Speaking on the first day of the hearings on Monday, Dec. 2, 29-year-old Houniuhi spoke about how land is of the utmost value for her people. “My people understand the continuous duty of past and present generations to protect the environment for future generations (Kiramo),” she said. “It is the adherence to this duty that enabled my people to live and thrive in harmony with our environment.” However, she said that due to climate change, her people are unable to uphold the sacred contract. “My people's land of Fanalei, is nearing a critical point, on the verge of being completely engulfed by rising seas. Without our land, our bodies and memories are severed from the fundamental relationships that define who we are,” she said. She also spoke about how the threat is existential for future generations, as their future is reliant upon the decision-making of a handful of large-emitting countries that are responsible for climate change. Over the two weeks, the ICJ will hear from more than 100 countries and organizations as it examines two questions related to climate change and human rights. It will then issue a legal opinion on the issue, which is not binding but carries significant authority and legal weight. #ClimateICJAO #climatejustice #climate #ClimateJusticeAtTheICJ

Same-sex couples in Hong Kong now have the same housing and inheritance rights as heterosexual couples. This comes after Nick Infinger, a man from Hong Kong who married his same-sex partner in Canada, sued the government in 2018. Infinger and his partner were not allowed to apply for public housing provided by the government because they were not recognized as an "ordinary family". This is because in Hong Kong, the constitution only recognizes “marriage” as being between a man and a woman. Infinger won the case in October 2023, but the government disagreed and took it to the top court in February 2024. Ultimately on Tuesday, Nov. 26, the top court ruled against the government, finding that denying same-sex couples access to public housing "cannot be justified." It also found that the government's failure to treat same-sex couples equally in inheritance cases was "discriminatory and unconstitutional." Speaking after the ruling, Infinger said the verdict showed same-sex couples "can love each other and deserve to live together.” In September 2023, a court in Hong Kong ruled that the government must legally recognize same-sex partnerships. However, it still did not find its ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. #world #news #hongkong #lgbtq #equalrights #housing #inheritance

The International Court of Justice has begun hearings on the largest case in its history – examining the link between climate change and human rights. The landmark case – which will see more than 100 countries and organizations present arguments – was spearheaded by the Pacific island of Vanuatu, after a group of students across the Pacific Islands ( Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change )launched a campaign calling on the ICJ to issue its legal opinion about countries’ legal obligations to respond to climate change and protect the rights of current and future generations. On the first day of hearings on Monday Dec. 2, Vanuatu’s special envoy on climate change and the environment, Ralph Regenvanu, delivered a powerful opening statement about the urgent need for a collective response to climate change that is grounded not in political convenience but in international law. “Our peoples have built vibrant cultures and traditions over millennia that are intimately intertwined with our ancestral lands and seas,” Regenvanu said. “Yet today we find ourselves on the front lines of a crisis we did not create, a crisis that threatens our very existence.” He added that the climate crisis is also impacting many other peoples around the world, who have come out in unprecedented numbers to be heard by the court. “I choose my words carefully when I say this may well be the most consequential case in the history of humanity,” Regevanu said. “Let us not allow future generations to look back and wonder why the cause of their doom was.” Over the two weeks, the ICJ will examine two questions with relation to climate change and human rights and issue an advisory opinion, which is not binding but carries significant authority and legal weight. #ClimateICJAO #climatejustice #climate #ClimateJusticeAtTheICJ

The International Court of Justice has begun hearings on the largest case in its history – examining the link between climate change and human rights. The landmark case – which will see more than 100 countries and organizations present arguments – was spearheaded by the Pacific island of Vanuatu, after a group of students across the Pacific Islands ( Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change )launched a campaign calling on the ICJ to issue its legal opinion about countries’ legal obligations to respond to climate change and protect the rights of current and future generations. On the first day of hearings on Monday Dec. 2, Vanuatu’s special envoy on climate change and the environment, Ralph Regenvanu, delivered a powerful opening statement about the urgent need for a collective response to climate change that is grounded not in political convenience but in international law. “Our peoples have built vibrant cultures and traditions over millennia that are intimately intertwined with our ancestral lands and seas,” Regenvanu said. “Yet today we find ourselves on the front lines of a crisis we did not create, a crisis that threatens our very existence.” He added that the climate crisis is also impacting many other peoples around the world, who have come out in unprecedented numbers to be heard by the court. “I choose my words carefully when I say this may well be the most consequential case in the history of humanity,” Regevanu said. “Let us not allow future generations to look back and wonder why the cause of their doom was.” Over the two weeks, the ICJ will examine two questions with relation to climate change and human rights and issue an advisory opinion, which is not binding but carries significant authority and legal weight. #ClimateICJAO #climatejustice #climate #ClimateJusticeAtTheICJ

On Nov. 29, Syrian rebels took control of most of the city of Aleppo in a lightning offensive. The country’s second largest city has been controlled by the Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad’s regime since 2016. The surprise offensive was the biggest challenge to Assad’s regime in years. Syrian activist Omar Alshogre, who was arrested and tortured by the Assad regime for taking part in the Syrian Revolution in 2012, shares with Almost why this moment is so significant. #syria #aleppo #activist #activism #politics #assad #iran #russia #news #worldnews

People in Georgia are holding mass protests after the government suspended talks to join the EU until 2028. The protest has been ongoing for four days as of Dec. 2, with police violently cracking down on protesters with water cannons and tear gas and arresting at least 220 people. #georgia #europe #EU #russia #elections #news #worldnews

Syrian rebels have taken control of most of Aleppo, the country’s second largest city, from the regime in a lightning offensive. Here’s what to know. #aleppo #syria #basharalassad #civilwar #idlib #hama #middleeast #iran #hezbollah #politics #news #worldnews

Here’s a recap of what really happened during Israel’s genocide in Gaza this week. #gaza #israel #palestine #lebanon #hezbollah #truce #ceasefire #icc #benjaminnetanyahu #war #genocide #news #worldnews

Australia has become the first country in the world to ban children under 16 from using social media. The move comes after the government expressed concerns about how social media negatively affects children's mental and physical health. The law, passed on Wednesday, Nov. 28, requires social media companies like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and X to take "reasonable steps" to prevent children under 16 from creating accounts. However, apps for messaging, online gaming and educational services are not affected by the ban. The new law will not punish children or parents who break the rules and instead place the responsibility on social media companies. If social media companies fail to comply with the rules, they could face large fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (US$32 million). "Platforms now have a social responsibility to ensure the safety of our kids is a priority for them," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said after the law was passed.. The legislation will come into effect in about a year, which will give social media companies time to set up systems to check children's ages. However, the government has not yet explained how exactly the ban will be enforced. The government has said it will use an unspecified age-verification technology, but, at the same time, social media companies cannot force children to give personal ID, like a digital ID, to prove their age, according to Times Of India. Albanese, who has long advocated for the ban, said that the law will ensure that ”mums and dads can have that different conversation today and in future days." The new law has received mixed reactions. While 77% of Australians support the ban, some people say it is too harsh and won't solve the problems with social media. They say it might push children to use other parts of the internet that are less safe. In addition, advocacy groups say the ban could stop vulnerable people, like those from the LGBTQ community or immigrant teenagers, from being able to find support online. Australia’s law is one of the strictest in the world when it comes to children's access to social media. #world #australia #anthonyalbanese #socialmedia #children #teenagers