 "FirstUp: Impeached South Korean president's second hearing, Blue Origin's New Glenn launch… The big news today")
It will be a busy Thursday today with several events lined up for the day.
South Korean Constitutional Court will hear President Yoon Seok Yeol’s impeachment trial for the second time while Blue Origin will attempt to launch its New Glenn rocket again.
In the US, Vice President Kamala Harris is poised to meet with leaders in Bahrain. Whereas, the tiny Pacific island nation of Vanuatu will hold its general elections.
In Pakistan, the government and Imran Khan’s party PTI will hold the third round of talks.
Here’s a glimpse of what will happen today.
Yoon Suk Yeol’s second hearing in impeachment trial
South Korea’s Constitutional Court is set to hold the second hearing of President Yoon Seok Yeol’s impeachment trial after the first session was abruptly adjourned due to his absence.
The trial, which began on Tuesday in Seoul, will decide whether Yoon should be stripped of his presidential duties following a failed martial law attempt in December. The first hearing lasted only four minutes before being adjourned due to Yoon’s nonattendance. However, the court has stated that the second hearing will proceed regardless of his presence.
The now- arrested leader had defended his absence from the initial session citing security concerns. for his absence in the first hearing.
Blue Origin’s rocket launch
Jeff Bezos’ rocket company Blue Origin will attempt to launch its New Glenn rocket for the second time today from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The towering 320-foot rocket, named in honour of astronaut John Glenn, was originally scheduled to lift off on Tuesday. However, the launch was called off due to a technical issue discovered shortly before takeoff.
As part of the mission, Blue Origin plans to land New Glenn’s first-stage booster on a sea-faring barge in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 10 minutes after liftoff. Meanwhile, the rocket’s second stage will continue its journey toward orbit.
Although delays have marked this launch, Blue Origin is determined to showcase New Glenn’s potential as it seeks to compete with SpaceX in the satellite launch market.
Kamala Harris’s Bahrain visit
US Vice President Kamala Harris , who is on her diplomatic farewell tour, is set to meet leaders in Bahrain’s capital, Manama. She will also visit Naval Support Activity–Bahrain, which serves as the headquarters for US Naval Forces Central Command and the US 5th Fleet.
As the outgoing Vice President, Harris is undertaking a final international tour spanning Europe, West Asia, and Asia. The White House confirmed her itinerary includes stops in Singapore (January 15), Bahrain, and Germany (January 16).
During her visits, Harris will highlight the accomplishments of the Biden-Harris administration and underscore the pivotal role of US forces in maintaining regional and global security.
General election in Vanuatu
The Pacific island nation of Vanuatu is heading to the polls today for a snap election, postponed after a devastating 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck the region last month.
The election follows the dissolution of Vanuatu’s parliament in November, a move made to prevent disgruntled MPs from launching a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Charlot Salwai.
According to the Vanuatu Electoral Office, 52 parliamentary seats across 18 constituencies are being contested by 217 candidates, including seven women.
Notably, no-confidence motions have in recent years come to define Vanuatu’s creaky democracy. The country has changed prime minister 20 times between 1991 and 2017.
Talks between Pakistan govt & PTI
The Pakistani government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party are set to engage in a third round of talks today, aimed at diffusing the ongoing political tensions, according to Dawn.
Relations between the two sides have deteriorated significantly since the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan last year, leading to widespread violent protests and state crackdowns.
In a shift in strategy, Imran Khan formed a five-member committee to engage in dialogue with relevant stakeholders, signalling a new approach to PTI’s parliamentary tactics, reported the Pakistani media outlet.
In response, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif established a committee comprising members of the ruling coalition to facilitate the discussions.
With input from agencies
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