South Korean parliament votes to impeach acting president

The political turmoil involving key U.S. ally South Korea deepens as its acting president is impeached. And severe weather could disrupt plans for millions on one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Dec. 27, 2024.

South Korean parliament votes to impeach acting president

South Korea’s parliament voted to impeach acting president Han Duck-soo Friday, Dec. 27. The vote came on the same day hearings began for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived and highly opposed imposition of martial law earlier this month.

Han, South Korea’s number two official, has been leading the country since the opposition-controlled National Assembly moved to get rid of Yoon. The assembly voted Friday to approve the impeachment motion against Han 192-0, with current governing party lawmakers boycotting the vote.

Han’s impeachment comes after he refused earlier this week to immediately appoint three justices to fill vacancies on the constitutional court.

Meanwhile, two lawyers from Yoon’s legal team appeared before the constitutional court on Yoon’s behalf as hearings into his impeachment begin. The court has 180 days to decide whether to reinstate Yoon or remove him from office.

Han’s impeachment will also need to be confirmed by the constitutional court within 180 days.

South Korea is a key ally of the United States. The U.S. has nearly 30,000 troops stationed there. Any new government would have to deal with President-elect Donald Trump come January. Trump has previously stated that South Korea should pay as much as $10 billion to have American troops there.

Israeli airstrikes hit Yemen airport where WHO chief was boarding plane

A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports Thursday, Dec. 26. The World Health Organization’s director-general said the bombardment happened not far from where he was about to board a flight, injuring a crew member with the U.N. Humanitarian Air Service.

Our mission to negotiate the release of @UN staff detainees and to assess the health and humanitarian situation in #Yemen concluded today. We continue to call for the detainees' immediate release.

As we were about to board our flight from Sana’a, about two hours ago, the airport… pic.twitter.com/riZayWHkvf

— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) December 26, 2024

At least three people were later reported killed and dozens injured in the airport strike.

A U.S. spokesperson said U.N. team members have since left the airport and are “safe and sound” in Sanaa. The injured crew member was getting treatment at a hospital.

The Israeli army told the Associated Press it was not aware that the WHO chief or delegation was at the location in Yemen.

Meanwhile, in Gaza, Israeli strikes left 20 people dead, including five Palestinian journalists, according to the territory’s health ministry. The Israeli military claimed they were militants posing as reporters.

Russian anti-aircraft system may have struck Azerbaijan passenger plane

Early indications point to a Russian anti-aircraft system as the cause of a deadly Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane crash in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, Dec. 25, a U.S. official told multiple outlets. There are reports that the Russian system used a surface-to-air missile to hit the flight before it crashed near the city of Aktau, killing 38 of the 67 people on board. 

A commission has been set up to investigate the crash, including representatives from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Russia. However, Russian and Azerbaijani investigators will not be allowed to conduct their own forensics investigations, according to Kazakh state media. 

Both black boxes have now been recovered from the crash. 

The flight was en route, from Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny when it was diverted. Russian state media said the diversion was because of fog. The plane crash landed while attempting to make an emergency landing in Kazakhstan. 

Some aviation experts have pointed to holes in the underside of the plane as evidence of shrapnel and that the plane appeared to have been shot down.

Judge rules ‘Diddy’ and Jay-Z rape accuser can remain anonymous

A New York judge has ruled a woman who is accusing music moguls Sean “Diddy” Combs and Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, of raping her when she was 13 can stay anonymous for now.

Judge says woman accusing Jay-Z, Sean 'Diddy' Combs of raping her at age 13 can proceed anonymously https://t.co/GwuLF7l5N0

— CTV London (@CTVLondon) December 27, 2024

In her decision, Judge Analisa Torres reserved the right to revisit the decision at a future date if the case moves forward, which would help defense lawyers prepare for trial. Torres also cited “substantial interest” from the public.

Both Diddy and Jay-Z have denied any wrongdoing.

Severe weather threatens to disrupt post-Christmas travel

Friday is the start of one of the busiest travel weekends of the year and severe weather will likely throw a wrench in many people’s plans. Storms across the western and southern U.S. are threatening delays for millions of passengers, especially Saturday, Dec. 28.

Here are some key messages regarding the severe weather threat this Saturday (12/28). pic.twitter.com/BmzmpznyeE

— NWS Storm Prediction Center (@NWSSPC) December 26, 2024

The National Weather Service said another round of severe thunderstorms is expected to hit the deep south Saturday with strong tornadoes, damaging winds and large hail from Louisiana to Alabama. Meanwhile, a series of Pacific storm systems will continue to impact the west, bringing strong winds, low-elevation rain and heavy mountain snow.

Americans get lottery fever as Mega Millions jackpot hits $1.15 billion

Americans are flocking to get their Mega Millions tickets ahead of Friday night’s drawing as the jackpot tops $1 billion again. The potential $1.15 billion prize would be the fifth largest in the game’s history.

Friday’s Mega Millions Jackpot rises to $1.15 BILLION.

It’s currently the fifth-largest prize in the drawing’s history. pic.twitter.com/JEIXZgsS1T

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) December 26, 2024

While lottery officials say the odds of winning any Mega Millions prize are 1 in 24, chances of hitting the jackpot are 1 in 302.5 million. However, come April, the chances will go up — along with ticket prices.

Right now, Mega Millions is $2 per ticket, but that cost will jump to $5 in April. Lottery officials insist the price hike will lead to improved jackpot odds along with more frequent giant prizes and even bigger payouts.

Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing is at 11 p.m. ET.