Today's news: South Korea's Constitutional Court starts impeachment process for Yoon; India's economy despite slowing growth ends the year on a positive note; Taiwan receives 38 Abrams tanks from the USA; The foundation stone of a church dedicated to John Paul II is laid in Azerbaijan.

ISRAEL - SYRIA - GAZA

The Israeli government approved a plan to increase the number of settlers in the occupied Golan Heights, just days after seizing more Syrian territory following the flight of Bashar al-Assad. Netanyahu's office said the government had ‘unanimously approved’ the ‘demographic development’, which will seek to double the Israeli population. Meanwhile, in the south of the Gaza Strip Israel bombed another UN-run school, killing at least 20 displaced Palestinians who had taken refuge in the building.

SOUTH KOREA

South Korea's Constitutional Court started the process for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeo, following a vote by parliamentarians last Saturday. The court now has six months to decide whether to remove Yoon or reinstate him. Yoon's People Power Party (PPP) is grappling with the consequences of the case and today its leader Han Dong-hoon announced his resignation after supporting the impeachment.

INDIA

Asia's third largest economy grew by less than 5.4% last quarter. But India's economy ends this year with solid momentum: India's private sector output grew at the fastest pace in four months, according to preliminary data, helping the economy to end 2024 on a positive note, buoyed by stronger demand in services and manufacturing and record job growth.

TAIWAN - UNITED STATES

Taiwan has received 38 Abrams tanks from the US, the Defence Ministry said, as the island boosts its military capabilities against a potential Chinese attack. Washington has long been Taipei's most important ally and its biggest arms supplier, angering Beijing, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory.

AZERBAIJAN - VATICAN

The Holy See's Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, Mon. Paul R. Gallagher, visited Azerbaijan from 13 December to today for the ceremony that formally launched the construction of a new church dedicated to St John Paul II. The archbishop expressed his gratitude to the Azerbaijani authorities and his appreciation for the commitment of the local Catholic community, which is carrying out significant social initiatives.

KYRGYZSTAN

The President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov has dismissed Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov. Japarov was ‘dismissed from his post due to a transfer to another position’, reads the statement published by the presidency. Japarov had been prime minister since 2021. The president assigned the functions of prime minister to First Deputy Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliyev.

GEORGIA

The electoral committee in Tbilisi elected almost unanimously the new president of Georgia, 53-year-old former footballer Mikhail Kavelašvili, with only one vote against (annulled) out of 225 and without the 75 votes of the opponents, who were absent from the courtroom. Now clashes are expected over the handing over of powers, which outgoing President Salome Zurabišvili has no intention of granting, considering parliament illegitimate, and street protests continue.

RUSSIA - SYRIA

Russia carried out an evacuation mission from Syria despite the Israeli bombardment in the Tartus region. A special Russian Air Force flight departed from the Khmeimim air base, evacuating Russian diplomatic personnel in Damascus, as well as diplomats from Belarus and North Korea. The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed the operation, ensuring the continuation of embassy operations in Damascus.

 

 

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