Last chance for Yoon
South Korea, the US, France, the UK, Mauritius, and Cuba.
The five things you need to know today:
SOUTH KOREA. An impeached president builds the drama.
UNITED STATES. The Senate holds its fire on Hegseth.
FRANCE. The prime minister puts survival above reform.
BRITAIN. MAURITIUS. Starmer’s bad deal keeps getting worse.
CUBA. A late easing of sanctions puts Rubio in a bind.
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SOUTH KOREA. Stand-off at high Yoon
An impeached president builds the drama.
Yoon Suk-yeol was taken into custody Wednesday after more than 1,000 officers scaled walls and faced off guards and protesters to enter the president's residence. Yoon did not attend a court trial Tuesday, forcing it to be rescheduled.
INTELLIGENCE. Surrounded by supporters, Yoon sought to turn a legal matter into a political act, but his overall support remains low and his obstructiveness since a six-hour martial law declaration in December will only add to the prosecution’s case. South Korea’s power vacuum is thus closer to resolution, but Yoon can still cause problems, including in testimony. He has form. He built his career on successfully prosecuting former president Park Geun-hye.
FOR BUSINESS. South Korea’s psychodrama isn’t over. Charges of sedition and treason will take months to litigate. The impact on Korean firms would normally be minimal but Korea’s trade and diplomatic landscape isn’t stable and a normally nimble and responsive state is distracted. Allied cooperation will continue to stall. China will continue to complicate. North Korea will continue to intimidate. Pyongyang launched its second missile test of the year Tuesday.
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UNITED STATES. For Pete’s sake
The Senate holds its fire on Hegseth.
Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth was grilled on his attitudes to women, alcohol and ethics Tuesday in a tense confirmation hearing. Majority leader John Thune said Hegseth had made a "strong argument" for leading the Pentagon.
INTELLIGENCE. Hegseth’s real fight wasn’t with the Democrats or the media but Republican moderates. Yet