South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is scheduled to appear before the Constitutional Court on Tuesday for a hearing in his impeachment trial. This marks a significant moment in the proceedings, as the detained leader may have an opportunity to present his defense or respond to questions regarding his controversial attempt to enforce martial law. President Yoon has been in custody since last week as part of a separate criminal investigation into allegations that he orchestrated an insurrection. The inquiry centers on his efforts in early December to impose martial law—a move that stunned the nation but was swiftly overturned by parliamentary intervention just hours later. This dual legal predicament has placed Yoon at the heart of South Korea's ongoing political turmoil. Disclaimer:This image is taken from Reuters.

ISLAMABAD – Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was sentenced to 14 years in prison on Friday, January 17, in a high-profile land corruption case. The verdict was delivered by an anti-graft court in Rawalpindi, where Khan has been detained since August 2023, according to ARY News. The case, involving alleged financial misconduct during Khan’s premiership from 2018 to 2022, is considered the most significant of the many legal battles he has faced. Prosecutors accused Khan, 72, and his wife, Bushra Bibi, of accepting land as a gift from a real estate developer in exchange for illegal favors. Both had denied the charges. Bushra Bibi, who is in her late 40s and had been out on bail, was also convicted and taken into custody following the verdict, as reported by Geo News. The announcement of the judgment had been delayed multiple times, most recently earlier this week, as negotiations continued between the government and Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. In a statement, PTI’s foreign media wing criticized the verdict, calling the case against Khan and his wife “baseless” and predicting that it would not hold up under scrutiny. The ruling is a major blow to Khan and his party, which had shown resilience in the 2024 general elections despite political turmoil. PTI-affiliated candidates, forced to run as independents, secured the most seats but fell short of forming a majority government. Khan, a former cricket star turned politician, has faced a series of legal challenges since being ousted from office in a parliamentary vote of no confidence in April 2022. While he has been acquitted or seen sentences suspended in most cases, he remains convicted in charges related to inciting violence. The May 9, 2023, arrest of Khan triggered violent protests, with his supporters storming military installations. This led to a heightened security situation and his subsequent trial being conducted within the jail premises. Khan’s sentencing marks another chapter in Pakistan’s turbulent political landscape, as his party continues to grapple with the fallout of legal battles and a fractured political base. Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters file

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully achieved space docking for the first time, joining two small spacecraft in orbit. This technological breakthrough is a crucial step toward India's long-term goals of constructing a space station and sending humans to the Moon. The mission, known as SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment), launched from Sriharikota on December 30 aboard a single rocket carrying two spacecraft. After reaching orbit, the spacecraft separated and began traveling at carefully calibrated speeds. Although the docking was initially planned for January 7, it faced multiple delays due to additional testing and technical adjustments. On January 16, ISRO announced that India had become only the fourth nation—after the United States, Russia, and China—to master space docking technology. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, present at ISRO's Bangalore office during the operation, called the achievement a "significant stepping stone" for India's future space endeavors. Federal Science Minister Jitendra Singh also expressed relief and pride in the mission's success. The two spacecraft involved, named SDX01 (the Chaser) and SDX02 (the Target), each weigh approximately 220 kilograms. After separation, they maintained a distance of 10-20 kilometers to prepare for the docking process. According to Mila Mitra, a former NASA scientist, scientists gradually reduced this distance, maneuvering the Chaser closer to the Target until they successfully mated the two satellites. The docking operation required extreme precision and coordination. Initially, both spacecraft were placed in the same orbit to enable the Chaser to approach the Target. On the final day, engineers reduced their speeds, gradually closing the gap to just three meters. The spacecraft were then latched and screwed together, forming an airtight connection to enable the safe transfer of materials or crew. ISRO officials revealed that the next phase of the mission involves testing the transfer of electrical power from the Chaser to the Target. This critical experiment aims to demonstrate India's capability to send spacecraft to service others in orbit. Additionally, the mission will test undocking procedures and inter-satellite communication, as the spacecraft must relay data both to Earth and to each other during these operations. ISRO's SpaDeX mission represents a significant milestone in India's space program, showcasing the nation's growing expertise in advanced space technologies and paving the way for ambitious future missions. Disclaimer:This image is taken from ISRO.

South Korea’s Constitutional Court has convened its first hearing to decide whether suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol should be permanently removed from office following his controversial martial law attempt last month. The session, however, concluded in just four minutes due to Yoon’s absence. His lawyers had earlier stated that he would not attend the hearing, citing concerns for his safety as a warrant for his arrest on separate insurrection charges remains active. President Yoon was suspended in December when members of his own party joined the opposition in a parliamentary vote to impeach him. For the impeachment to be upheld, at least six of the court's eight justices must rule in favor of his removal. South Korean law requires the court to set a new date for proceedings if the accused does not participate. The next hearing is scheduled for Thursday. Yoon’s legal team has suggested that he might attend the hearing at a more “appropriate time” but criticized the court’s “unilateral decision” to set the current trial dates. On Tuesday, the court dismissed their request to recuse one of the eight justices from the case. Meanwhile, Yoon has refrained from making public statements since his impeachment on December 14, opting instead to communicate through his lawyers. Separately, investigators are preparing for another attempt to arrest Yoon on charges of insurrection. The first attempt, on January 3, ended in a tense standoff between law enforcement and his security detail. Local media reports indicate that a second bid to detain him could happen as soon as this week. Yoon’s arrest, if it happens, would mark the first time a sitting South Korean president faces such an action. Yoon’s declaration of martial law on December 3 has plunged South Korea into a deep political crisis. He claimed that the move was necessary to protect the nation from “anti-state” elements, but critics argue it was an attempt to deflect attention from his own political difficulties. The fallout from this decision led to the impeachment of both Yoon and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who now serves as acting president. The turmoil has taken a toll on South Korea’s economy. The national currency, the won, has weakened, and global credit rating agencies have warned of declining consumer and business confidence. The situation echoes the impeachment trials of former presidents Roh Moo-hyun in 2004 and Park Geun-hye in 2017, both of whom also chose not to attend their hearings. Notably, Park’s first trial session ended after nine minutes due to her absence. While Roh was reinstated following a two-month review, Park’s impeachment was upheld, serving as a precedent for the high stakes in Yoon’s ongoing trial. Disclaimer:This image is taken from Reuters.

SingPost fired three senior executives for mishandling internal investigations related to a whistleblower report. This raises questions about the protections available for whistleblowers and how companies can ensure transparency and independence when investigating such complaints. Steven Chia and Crispina Robert delve into these issues with insights from Professor Mak Yuen Teen from NUS and Celeste Ang from Baker & McKenzie Wong & Leow. Disclaimer: This Podcats is taken from CNA.

On December 26, 2004, a massive earthquake triggered devastating tsunami waves that claimed over 225,000 lives across 12 countries. In a special anniversary episode, CNA's Saifulbahri Ismail shares his discussions with survivors from Indonesia and Sri Lanka with Teresa Tang. Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

The Northern Territory coroner has released findings from an inquest into the tragic domestic violence deaths of four Aboriginal women. The landmark report highlights widespread systemic failures and offers 35 recommendations to address what has been described as an “epidemic of violence.” Nour Haydar discusses the inquest with Guardian Australia’s Indigenous affairs editor, Lorena Allam, and reporter Sarah Collard, focusing on the lives of the four women at the center of the investigation and the coroner’s conclusions. Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has warned of imposing tariffs on all imports to the United States, a decision that could trigger a trade war and endanger export-reliant economies in Asia, including Malaysia. In 2023, the U.S. was Malaysia’s third-largest trading partner, and the country is home to foreign companies vital to global supply chains. Arnold Gay discusses with CNA’s Malaysia correspondent, Melissa Goh, to explore how Malaysia, as an ASEAN member, is gearing up for Trump's 'America First' policy. Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.