NoneSouth Korea’s parliament impeached Acting President Han Duck-soo, dealing another blow to a government already reeling after President Yoon Suk Yeol’s suspension less than two weeks ago for his brief martial law decree. Lawmakers voted 192-0 in favor of Prime Minister Han’s impeachment on Friday, according to National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik. He said before the vote that a simple majority in the 300-seat parliament was needed for the motion to pass, instead of the two-thirds required to suspend a president. The main opposition Democratic Party, which holds 170 seats, filed the motion to impeach Han on Thursday after he resisted pressure to immediately appoint three judges to the Constitutional Court, which would boost the likelihood of a ruling to finalize Yoon’s removal from power. Dozens of ruling party members protested by chanting slogans calling for Woo’s resignation and boycotting the vote. Han said in a statement that he would respect the National Assembly’s decision and suspend his duties. This is the first time an acting president has been impeached in South Korea. Han took over the role after Yoon was impeached by parliament following his Dec. 3 decision to impose martial law, a move that was reversed six hours later. The crisis has rattled financial markets and disrupted Seoul’s diplomacy efforts with partners like the U.S., all while the country’s facing mounting economic challenges and nuclear threats from North Korea. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, who now steps in as interim leader, said he will work to minimize any confusion in government operations. He has also instructed the Joint Chiefs of Staff to increase monitoring of North Korea to prevent any provocations that might arise, he said in a statement. It would be nearly impossible for Choi to effectively manage all the roles including finance minister, acting president and acting prime minister simultaneously, according to Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University in Seoul. “This is not a normal situation in a country,” he said. The South Korean won declined 0.6 percent against U.S. dollar after the vote. The currency earlier fell as much as 1.1 percent to the lowest since 2009 on Friday. Han said in an emergency public address Thursday that he would hold off on approving the three judges nominated by parliament. He added that the right to approve the judges rests with the president of the nation. Choi didn’t indicate in his statement whether he would follow Han’s position on the appointment of judges. The Democratic Party has called on Choi to make the appointments immediately. Court process The court, which can still rule with six judges, held its first pre-trial hearing Friday and has until June to make a decision. Yoon has vowed to fight in court, saying he declared martial law to protect the nation from an opposition that’s trying to paralyze the government with impeachment motions and cuts to budget plans. The case against the president is more important and urgent than any other impeachment motion involving government officials, Constitutional Court judge Cheong Hyungsik said at the hearing on Friday, according to a pool report. The court has scheduled the next preliminary hearing for Jan. 3. The political turmoil adds to the risks facing South Korea’s economy, which is expected to grow at a slower pace next year. Export momentum is weakening due to lower semiconductor demand, and companies are bracing for Donald Trump’s return to the White House and his protectionist policies. Recent surveys show confidence among South Korean consumers and businesses has slumped the most since the COVID-19 pandemic. Policymakers have pledged “unlimited liquidity” if needed to reassure market participants and mitigate the economic fallout. The central bank said it would cut its benchmark interest rate next year while considering financial risks and economic conditions. Shin said the political uncertainty could spark an outflow of foreign capital. This would worsen the balance sheets of companies due to their large amounts of dollar-denominated debt, he added.777pub net 。

WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said her agency will need to start taking “extraordinary measures,” or special accounting maneuvers intended to prevent the nation from hitting the debt ceiling , as early as January 14, in a letter sent to congressional leaders Friday afternoon. "Treasury expects to hit the statutory debt ceiling between January 14 and January 23," Yellen wrote in a letter addressed to House and Senate leadership, at which point extraordinary measures would be used to prevent the government from breaching the nation's debt ceiling — which has been suspended until Jan. 1, 2025. The department has in the past deployed what are known as “extraordinary measures” or accounting maneuvers to keep the government operating. But once those measures run out the government risks defaulting on its debt unless lawmakers and the president agree to lift the limit on the U.S. government’s ability to borrow. "I respectfully urge Congress to act to protect the full faith and credit of the United States," she said. The news comes after President Joe Biden signed a bill into law last week that averted a government shutdown but did not include President-elect Donald Trump’s core debt demand to raise or suspend the nation’s debt limit. The bill was approved by Congress only after fierce internal debate among Republicans over how to handle Trump's demand. “Anything else is a betrayal of our country,” Trump said in a statement. After a protracted debate in the summer of 2023 over how to fund the government, policymakers crafted the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which included suspending the nation's $31.4 trillion borrowing authority until Jan. 1, 2025. Notably however, Yellen said, on Jan. 2 the debt is projected to temporarily decrease due to a scheduled redemption of nonmarketable securities held by a federal trust fund associated with Medicare payments. As a result, “Treasury does not expect that it will be necessary to start taking extraordinary measures on January 2 to prevent the United States from defaulting on its obligations," she said. The federal debt currently stands at roughly $36 trillion — which ballooned across both Republican and Democratic administrations. And the spike in inflation after the coronavirus pandemic pushed up government borrowing costs such that debt service next year will exceed spending on national security. Republicans, who will have full control of the White House, House and Senate in the new year, have big plans to extend Trump's 2017 tax cuts and other priorities but debate over how to pay for them. Fatima Hussein, The Associated Press

A missing 78-year-old California man was found alive through the use of drones after disappearing while going to get his mail, authorities said. In a Facebook post shared on Tuesday, Dec. 24, the (Malibu SAR) said that it received a request on the evening of Monday, Dec. 23, to help search for the man. According to authorities, the person who reported the man missing said he had gone to his mailbox around 4:30 p.m. local time but never returned. Related: The person, who has not been identified, told authorities she couldn't find the missing man and said he had early-onset dementia. She then contacted the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. At the time of the man's disappearance, the temperature was 48 degrees Fahrenheit and "falling," authorities said. Both Malibu SAR and the sheriff’s department’s Lost Hills Station deployed several drones, one of which contained infrared heat-seeking technology. Malibu Search and Rescue Team Related: According to the Malibu SAR, a drone noticed “a significant heat signature over the side of the roadway in thick brush” and that the object was motionless. Suspecting that it may be the missing person, Malibu SAR said its operators were deployed with medical and evacuation equipment. “Upon arriving on scene, the rescuers observed the missing man suffering from cold related illness, confused and unable to walk,” the Malibu SAR shared. Related: The team added that the man was evaluated, wrapped in a warm blanket and placed into a rescue basket. He was later taken to a waiting ambulance. “A miracle just in time for the holidays!” officials added in their post. “This UAS [drone] deployment proved the incredible value that these newly adopted tools provide for our search and rescue operations...Great work by everyone involved,” the post later read. Read the original article onITV I'm A Celebrity's Melvin Odoom becomes fourth campmate to be axed from jungle

Michael Reagan: Don’t let politics spoil ThanksgivingHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is underscoring his intention to block the purchase of U.S. Steel by Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel Corp. , and he's pledging to use tax incentives and tariffs to strengthen the iconic American steelmaker. Trump had vowed early in the presidential campaign that he would “instantaneously” block the deal, and he reiterated that sentiment in a post on his Truth Social platform on Monday night. “I am totally against the once great and powerful U.S. Steel being bought by a foreign company” and will use tax incentives and tariffs to make U.S. Steel “Strong and Great Again, and it will happen FAST!” he wrote. “As President," he continued, "I will block this deal from happening. Buyer Beware!!!” President Joe Biden , like Trump, also opposes Nippon Steel's purchase of Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel. Biden’s White House in September said that it had yet to see a report from the secretive Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States , which was reviewing the transaction for national security concerns. The committee, which is chaired by the treasury secretary and includes other Cabinet members, can recommend that the president block a transaction, and federal law gives the president that power. Ahead of the November election, the proposed merger carried political importance in Pennsylvania, a critical swing state that Trump eventually won. Biden publicly sided with the United Steelworkers, the labor union, in seeking to reject the deal. When he announced his opposition in a March statement, Biden said: “U.S. Steel has been an iconic American steel company for more than a century, and it is vital for it to remain an American steel company that is domestically owned and operated.” Nippon Steel has said it is the only company that can make the necessary investment in U.S. Steel's factories and strengthen the American steel industry. Both Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel on Tuesday released statements in support of the acquisition. "This transaction should be approved on its merits. The benefits are overwhelmingly clear. Our communities, customers, investors, and employees strongly support this transaction, and we will continue to advocate for them and adherence to the rule of law," U.S. Steel said. The deal follows a long stretch of protectionist U.S. tariffs that analysts say has helped reinvigorate domestic steel, including U.S. Steel. U.S. Steel's shareholders have approved the deal, but the United Steelworkers oppose it. In a statement Tuesday, the union said the deal carries “serious long-term implications for U.S. economic and national security.” “It’s clear that President Trump understands the vital role a strong domestic steel industry plays in our national security, as well as the importance of the jobs and communities the industry supports," the union said. The deal has drawn bipartisan opposition in the U.S. Senate, including from the incoming vice president, Republican Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, although the federal government's objections to the deal have drawn criticism that the opposition is political. Some U.S. Steel workers would prefer Nippon Steel acquire the company, given that it appears to have a better financial balance sheet than another potential buyer, Cleveland-Cliffs. U.S. Steel “provided a very, very good life for our families for a lot of years,” said Jack Maskil, a vice president at the Steelworkers local branch in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. “And we feel that with the Nippon deal that a lot more families for futures to come will be able to share the same.” West Mifflin Mayor Chris Kelly said he met with Nippon Steel executives and found himself satisfied by their commitments. Located southeast of Pittsburgh, West Mifflin is home to U.S. Steel's Mon Valley Works–Irvin Plant. “There’s no question in my mind that it’s the best deal moving forward,” Kelly said at a panel hosted on Tuesday by the conservative think tank Hudson Institute, where Maskil was also speaking. The Biden administration committee vetting the merger is scheduled later this month to decide on the acquisition or possibly extend the ongoing review. William Chou, a deputy director at the Hudson Institute specializing in relations with Japan, said that "President-elect Trump's view on the deal are important." But given the upcoming deadline, “It's up to President Biden to recognize how this deal will advance the interests of future generations of U.S. Steel union steelworkers.” Trump’s statement came two weeks after Nippon Steel’s vice chairman, Takahiro Mori, visited Pittsburgh and Washington to meet with lawmakers, local officials and workers in an ongoing persuasion campaign. That campaign has included Nippon Steel's promises to boost its capital commitments beyond the original deal and, more recently, a pledge that it won’t import steel slabs that would compete with U.S. Steel’s blast furnaces. As part of its proposed $14.9 billion purchase of U.S. Steel, Nippon Steel also pledged to invest at least $1.4 billion in USW-represented facilities, not to conduct layoffs or plant closings during the term of the basic labor agreement, and to protect the best interests of U.S. Steel in trade matters. Boak reported from Washington.

2025 is just around the corner and everyone is looking for clues about the prospects for the global and domestic economies in the coming year.With Donald Trump set to return to the White House on Jan 20, the US factors seem difficult to predict given the personality of the President-elect billionaire we all learned from his first term.But something the world can expect is growing US protectionism, through the proposed import tax hike Trump has clearly announced; countermeasures from the targeted countries, notably China, would put the global economy on the verge of turmoil.Amid the uncertainties and challenges ahead, the Bangkok Post has identified five megatrends for 2025.Let's hear from experts about their potential development in the year to come so we can at least prepare ourselves for what could be another tough year. Pressure to address needs of the elderly Thailand is experiencing a rapid demographic shift towards an ageing population, leading to widespread impacts such as a shrinking workforce, rising financial demands for elderly care, greater care-giving responsibilities for the working-age population, reduced national consumption capacity, and a need for adequate housing solutions for the elderly. According to data from the National Statistical Office, in 2019 the over-60s accounted for 18% of the total population, surpassing the number of children for the first time, which accounted for only 16%. Thailand became an "aged society" in 2005 when the elderly reached 10% of the total population. In 2024, Thailand transitioned to a "complete aged society", with elderly people making up more than 20% of the population. By 2031, Thailand is projected to become a "super aged society", with the elderly constituting more than 28% of the population. Given these prospects, the private sector has urged the government to speed up the implementation of tax measures to support efforts to address the impacts, particularly on housing projects for the elderly. Gengpong Tanaroonsanti, president of the Senior Health Service and Trade Association, said the ideal for elderly housing is to allow seniors to stay in their own homes within the community they have lived in since their youth for as long as possible. However, as people age, they may need to modify their homes to make them safer and more suitable for them. As seniors age, their lifestyle may shift from being socially active to spending more time at home or in bed. This highlights the growing need for innovative housing models, such as high-quality elderly care centres, Dr Gengpong noted. The Public Health and Commerce ministries are working to regulate and oversee the elderly care centres. Quality centres will help address societal needs, whether for specialised care groups, such as post-surgery, bedridden, or Alzheimer's patients. The number of such centres remains far from sufficient, and if only those that meet quality standards for addressing the complex healthcare needs of the elderly are taken into account, the number will be even lower. There are 2,000 to 3,000 centres in the market, but only about 800 are registered with the Public Health Ministry. Regarding elderly care, according to Dr Gengpong, the ultimate goal is to establish national standards, similar to ISO or HA standards used in hospitals, to build consumer confidence. Additionally, the future may see the inclusion of life insurance or health insurance to cover elderly individuals who need medical care, such as knee surgery, with benefits that can be claimed. Dr Gengpong said that establishing an elderly care centre requires a substantial investment. For a centre with standards, including proper care, environmental management, infection control, and room design, around 30 rooms would require a minimum investment of 20 million baht, which is considered medium-sized. He proposed to the government there should be a "filial piety tax" incentive. If a care centre provides high-quality services and citizens place their parents there, they should be able to deduct these expenses from their taxes. This would encourage people to care for their parents properly. Furthermore, if the government could make this business VAT-exempt, it would help support this type of industry, similar to how hospitals are VAT-exempt. The association is currently in discussions with the Revenue Department, which agrees with the principle, according to Dr Gengpong. Agentic AI set to surge in 2025 Unlike current AI, which responds to prompts, agentic AI has the autonomy to execute tasks, solve problems over extended periods, and handle complex workflows with little to no human intervention, according to Dell. In 2025, AI will no longer be a separate technology. It will be the thread weaving through every innovation, redefining industries and reshaping humanity's role in the workforce, said John Roese, Dell's global chief technology officer and chief AI officer. He said agentic AI will be the defining advancement in AI technology and a catalyst for significant progress in how to approach AI architecturally. "These new architectures will enable capabilities beyond traditional reactive AI, fostering profound advancements in problem-solving and automation," said Mr Roese. Agentic AI is a top strategic technology trend for 2025 that organisations need to explore, says global IT research firm Gartner Inc. Gartner predicts that by 2028, at least 15% of day-to-day work decisions will be made autonomously through agentic AI, up from 0% in 2024. Voranuch Dejakaisaya, executive chairman of Kasikorn Business-Technology Group (KBTG), the technology arm of Kasikornbank, told the Bangkok Post that the company's vision is centred on leveraging AI to improve efficiencies and maximise returns on its technology investments. A key component of KBTG's strategy is the agentic AI model, coordinating with other AI systems to carry out more complex tasks, said Ms Voranuch. Economy nearing its potential The economy is gradually recovering, nearing its potential. The economy is expected to grow by 3% in 2025, close to Thailand's average economic potential of 3.2%. According to Pornchai Thiraveja, director-general of the Fiscal Policy Office (FPO), the economy suffered during the pandemic in 2020-21. In 2020, economic growth contracted by 6.1% due to disruptions in economic activities aimed at controlling the pandemic. The economy slowly rebounded in 2021, with a modest growth of 1.5%. The slow recovery caused Thailand to lag many countries in the region. However, signs of accelerated recovery have emerged following the formation of an elected government, which has driven public spending and introduced stimulus measures through the government's digital wallet scheme. As a result, the economy is projected to grow by 2.8% in 2024. Policymakers such as the FPO view Thailand's economic outlook for 2025 as a gradual recovery. This recovery is supported by tourism returning to near pre-Covid levels, a steady improvement in domestic consumption and export growth driven by the recovery of trading partners' economies, alongside public spending normalising. Nevertheless, economic growth still faces challenges from external factors, such as global economic uncertainties, geopolitical conflicts and inflation issues in several countries. Internal factors also pose challenges, particularly high household debt levels and declining income among certain groups. The government has introduced various measures to support the recovery and mitigate the impact on residents and businesses. Tourism in 2025 is forecast to continue its robust recovery, with an estimated 39 million international visitors, up 8.3% from 2024 and close to the figures seen before Covid-19. The recovery is primarily driven by increased arrivals from Asia, particularly China, Malaysia, South Korea and India, generating projected tourism revenue of 1.86 trillion baht. Exports remain a key driver of Thailand's economy, with a projected growth of 3.1% in 2025, particularly in key product categories such as agricultural goods, processed foods, electrical appliances and components, as well as vehicles and parts. This growth is supported by improved economic conditions among trading partners, easing inflation, potential interest rate cuts and China's stimulus measures. Thailand is also working to expand trade opportunities through negotiations with new markets in the Middle East and Africa and accelerating free trade agreements, particularly with the eurozone, to enhance competitiveness and elevate the quality of Thai products. Public spending is expected to return to normal in 2025 following delays in budget approvals in 2024. The 2025 budget, amounting to 3.75 trillion baht, is projected to achieve a total disbursement of 3.5 trillion baht, equivalent to 93.3%. Accelerated disbursements are expected to inject funds into the economy more quickly and efficiently, particularly in the construction sector. According to Mr Pornchai, the economy is projected to grow by an average of 3% in 2025, aligning closer to Thailand's economic potential range of 2.7-3.7%, with a midpoint of 3.2%. He said achieving full growth potential requires the implementation of appropriate fiscal and monetary policies aligned with the economic cycle and consistent policy implementation. Mr Pornchai said it is essential to attract private sector investments in technology industries, which will enhance Thailand's economic potential and competitiveness in the region. The government is committed to supporting these investments and prioritising essential infrastructure development to unlock Thailand's full economic potential and ensure sustainable growth, he said.

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Kanye West Reactivates His Twitter And Fans Don’t Know How To Feel About ItFrom being unsafe in the family home to having parents or caregivers who’ve forbidden their return, youth are not immune to becoming part of the country’s growing population of people without housing. That’s why Cobourg’s Rebound Child and Youth Services (Rebound) offers programs and continues to develop new resources to prevent youth homelessness in Northumberland. The not-for-profit agency that supports children, youth, and families has announced it’s a local beneficiary of the Home Depot Canada Foundation’s “Holiday Orange Door Project Campaign” combatting homelessness, which runs until December 22 at the Cobourg Home Depot and online. “We know that youth experiencing unstable housing is growing in our community,” Rebound’s executive director Sam Rockbrune told kawarthaNOW. “Funds raised through this campaign will help us provide supports, such as mental health services and our family wellness hub, to take preventative steps for youth homelessness. Rebound is already working on prevention for youth homelessness with our current programs and rolling out exciting new programs in the new year.” Rebound services offer a private and confidential process that can assist children, youth, and their families with options and resources for programming. The organization believes that the most effective services are those that are provided in a responsive and respectful manner and in a partnership with families. The agency serves more than 1,800 young people each year. In 2018, Rebound partnered with Northumberland County Community & Social Services to deliver the trusteeship program for youth aged 16 to 17 receiving Ontario Works (OW). “At the time, I was the trusteeship caseworker, and the case load was 13 individuals,” recalled Krystyne Gillespie, Rebound’s outreach and fund development manager, adding the case load has since quadrupled. “We see approximately 50 to 60 individuals per year, with around 40 to 45 of those (youth) continuing to need support through the program,” she said. “The trusteeship is not just about receiving financial support through OW. Our goal is for the youth to stay in school, graduate and go on to post-secondary education or into the workforce.” Rebound provides clients with emotional health supports, access to food and clothing items, and strives to serve as a bridge to other resources, as necessary. The agency saw, on average, two unsheltered youth per year in the first few years of the program. “So far in 2024, we currently have seven youth who are experiencing homelessness,” Gillespie noted. She said Rebound is aware of a large number of youths who are living with grandparents or other family members to provide space between them and their parents, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. “Youth homelessness is often unseen, as youth are resilient and will find places to stay or couch-surf,” she said. “I would encourage parents to ask questions if their child is having a friend sleep over more often or throughout the week.” “Ultimately, Rebound hopes to prevent youth homelessness by helping families creating stronger bonds, building their skills around communication and conflict management, for example. Families that learn together, grow together, (and) hopefully stay together.” As for the Holiday Orange Door Project Campaign, customers can donate during checkout at the Cobourg Home Depot or by visiting and selecting Cobourg as the location for their donation. All local donations will help Rebound provide counselling and therapy, youth justice diversion, youth homelessness prevention programs, along with family and parenting support services. Since 2022, the Cobourg Home Depot has raised over $25,000 for Rebound through the Orange Door Project fundraising campaign, an initiative of the Home Depot Canada Foundation. The foundation is a Canadian registered charity supporting 127 organizations across the country that are committed to preventing and ending youth homelessness. To create new paths for youth experiencing homelessness or at risk of doing so, the foundation will invest $125 million by 2030.

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TALLAHASSEE — Matt Gaetz’ knack for courting controversy has finally caught up with him. The right-wing firebrand, political prankster, steadfast Trump defender and party animal stepped down as the president-elect’s choice for Attorney General once it was made clear to him he didn’t have the needed support in the U.S. Senate. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get the latest news, sports, weather and more delivered right to your inbox.From staff reports SALISBURY — East Rowan’s boys basketball team was smashed by Salisbury on Thursday on the first day of the Dale’s Sporting Goods Sam Moir Christmas Classic, while West Rowan was blown away in the fourth quarter by North Rowan. Both teams regrouped from Thursday’s disappointment and staged a great game at Catawba College in a Friday morning consolation. The sixth-seeded Falcons won 68-65 against the seventh-seeded Mustangs, who are still searching for their first victory. East had a desperation shot come close to tying it in the final seconds. “We played very well and I thought West played well also,” East coach Trey Ledbetter said. “It was a really good high school basketball game. We made a few miscues down the stretch and they scored a few more than us.” East led 39-38 at the half and took a three-point lead to the fourth quarter. The Falcons held East to nine points in the final quarter. Brant Graham made six 3-pointers and scored a season-high 20 for the Falcons (2-7). Graham hit four 3-pointers in the first quarter. Evan Kennedy scored 17, while Ja’mih Tucker, Josiah Young and Israel Ford added nine points each. West overcame a career game by Brody Thomas, who scored 21 for the Mustangs (0-10). Aiden Lino scored 11. Logan Bradley had nine. West ended a five-game losing streak and beat the Mustangs for the 14th straight time since East won 64-62 in the 2018 Christmas tourney. East 20 19 17 9 — 65 West 23 15 15 15 — 68 EAST — Thomas 21, Lino 11, Bradley 9, Butler 7, Krider 7, Shive 6, Ailshie 4. WEST — Graham 20, Kennedy 17, Young 9, Ford 9, Tucker 9, Moten 3.