World News

By Jamie McKinnell, for ABC Australian broadcaster Alan Jones (file photo). Photo: AFP Warning: This story discusses details of alleged sexual abuse. A list of helplines is at the end of the article. Court documents have shed slightly more light on allegations against broadcaster Alan Jones The offences are alleged to have occurred at various locations including Sydney, Kiama, Newtown and Fitzroy Falls What's next?: Jones remains on bail and his first court appearance is not expected for another fortnight. Court documents have revealed more details about historical charges laid against broadcaster Alan Jones, including allegations he touched or fondled complainants' genitals and squeezed bottoms. Jones was charged last month with 26 offences spanning two decades, after police execu...

By Jack Kim and Ju-min Park, Reuters People gesture as they gather outside the National Assembly in Seoul. Photo: ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Wednesday morning, creating the most serious challenge to South Korea's democracy since the 1980s as lawmakers rejected the move in a vote and protesters gathered outside parliament. Yoon's declaration, which he cast as aimed at his political foes, was vocally opposed by the speaker of parliament and even the leader of Yoon's own party, Han Dong-hoon, who has clashed with the president over his handling of recent scandals. Under South Korean law, the president must immediately lift martial law if parliament demands it by a majority vote. Live television footage showed helmeted troops apparently tasked wit...

South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol made a shock announcement of martial law on television late Tuesday night local time. Soliders, police, and protestors headed to the National Assembly, inside lawmakers voted down the decree. Yoon has since said he will withdraw martial law. Here's how it played out in pictures: South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol made a shock declaration of martial law in a late night television addresss. Photo: ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP Soldiers soon headed to the National Assembly building in Seoul. Photo: JUNG YEON-JE/AFP Police attempt to hold back people trying to enter the National Assembly. Photo: JUNG YEON-JE/AFP Large crows gathered outside the National Assembly. Photo: JUNG YEON-JE Inside lawmakers passed a resolution demanding the immed...

By Jack Kim and Ju-min Park, Reuters South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said he would lift a martial law declaration he had imposed just hours before, backing down in a standoff with parliament which rejected his attempt to ban political activity and censor the media. Yoon declared martial law on Tuesday night local time to thwart "anti-state forces" among his opponents. But outraged lawmakers rejected the decree, in South Korea's biggest political crisis in decades. Yonhap news agency said the cabinet had agreed early on Wednesday to scrap the martial law. Protesters outside parliament shouted and clapped. "We won!" they chanted. One demonstrator banged on a drum. South Korea's won currency recovered somewhat after Yoon backed down and was 0.8 percent lower at 1414.45 per US dollar. Ch...

South Koreans were shocked when President Yoon Suk Yeol said in an unannounced live TV broadcast that he was declaring martial law - then reversed course just hours later. After initial confusion over exactly what measures would be taken, the South Korean military released a decree banning protests and activity by parliament and political parties, and placing media under government control. Few of those steps appeared to have been implemented before 190 of the National Assembly's 300 members defied police and military cordons to vote against the declaration, which Yoon then promised to lift. Photo: YONHAP / AFP Here is what we know so far: Why did Yoon declare martial law? Yoon said opposition parties had taken the parliamentary process hostage. "I declare martial law to protect th...

South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law during a late night televised address. Photo: ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial laws on Wednesday for the first time in the country since 1980. Below is a Reuters translation of the military decree: "In order to protect liberal democracy from the threat of overthrowing the regime of the Republic of Korea by anti-state forces active within the Republic of Korea and to protect the safety of the people, the following is hereby declared throughout the Republic of Korea as of 23:00 on December 3, 2024: 1. All political activities, including the activities of the National Assembly, local councils, and political parties, political associations, rallies and demonstrations, are prohibited. 2. All a...

By Kristian Silva, ABC court reporter Perry Kouroumblis is set to be interviewed by police and could face court later this week if he is charged. Photo: ABC/Supplied The prime suspect in the 1977 Easey Street double-murder investigation, Perry Kouroumblis, has landed in Melbourne. Under police guard, Kouroumblis touched down at Melbourne Airport late on Tuesday night after flying from Italy, via Qatar. With Kouroumblis's extradition from Europe now completed, police are set to interview and charge him over the alleged murders of Suzanne Armstrong and Susan Bartlett. The pair were found dead in their Collingwood share house in January 1977, in what Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton described as "an absolutely gruesome, horrific, frenzied homicide". Armstrong's niece, Wen...

Soldiers try to enter the National Assembly building in Seoul on December 4 2024, after South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law. Photo: AFP / Jung Yeon-je Martial law has been declared in South Korea in a shock move by President Yoon Suk Yeol. It follows a major political battle with the opposition-controlled legislature. Troops made a brief attempt to enter parliament as lawmakers and protesters quickly voiced opposition to the move. In a surprise late-night TV address, Yoon said opposition parties had taken the parliamentary process hostage. He vowed to eradicate "shameless pro-North Korean anti-state forces" and said he had no choice but to take the measure to safeguard constitutional order. Follow the latest with RNZ's live updates: Source link

Soldiers try to enter the National Assembly building in Seoul on December 4 2024, after South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law. Photo: AFP / Jung Yeon-je Martial law has been declared in South Korea in a shock move by President Yoon Suk Yeol. It follows a major political battle with the opposition-controlled legislature. Troops have been at the country's National Assembly building. In a surprise late-night TV address, Yoon said opposition parties had taken the parliamentary process hostage. He vowed to eradicate "shameless pro-North Korean anti-state forces" and said he had no choice but to take the measure to safeguard constitutional order. Follow the latest with RNZ's live updates: Source link

China has fully lifted suspensions on Australian red meat. Photo: 123RF China has fully lifted suspensions on Australian red meat, Canberra said Tuesday, dismantling one of the final barriers in a four-year trade war that hammered US$13 billion of exports. A slew of Australia's most lucrative export commodities were effectively banned from China starting in 2020, as relations between the two nations started to fray. But China has been gradually unwinding these barriers as Australia steps up efforts to mend ties on the diplomatic front. Red meat and lobster were the last two commodities subject to some form of barrier or export ban. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Tuesday that China had paved the way for "full resumption of red meat exports". Meanwhile, full lobster trade...