NewsBeat
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol finally arrested after attempt to impose martial law | World News
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been arrested, six weeks after his short-lived attempt to impose martial law.
Police had been trying to access the president’s official office to detain him but had become engaged in a standoff with the president’s security service.
Hours later hundreds of officers made it onto the grounds of the property by using ladders to climb over barriers.
Earlier police said they had deployed 3,200 officers to execute the arrest warrant.
One person who collapsed amid the standoff has been transported away from the scene by the fire department, local media said.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials and police are jointly investigating whether Mr Yoon’s martial law declaration on 3 December amounted to an attempted rebellion.
What happened on 3 December?
Mr Yoon declared martial law and deployed troops around the National Assembly at the beginning of last month.
It lasted only hours before politicians managed to get through the blockade and voted to lift the measure.
His presidential powers were suspended when the opposition-dominated assembly voted to impeach him on 14 December, accusing him of rebellion.
Mr Yoon has argued his declaration of martial law was a legitimate act of governance, calling it a warning to the main liberal opposition Democratic Party, which he has described as “despicable pro-North Korean anti-state forces”.
He claimed the party used its legislative majority to impeach top officials and undermine the government’s budget.
Over the past two weeks, thousands of anti- and pro-Yoon protesters have gathered daily in competing rallies near his office in Seoul, in anticipation of his detention.
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NewsBeat
Southport killer Axel Rudakubana researched car bombs, detonators and nitric acid amid fixation with violence
Southport killer Axel Rudakubana is understood to have researched car bombs, detonators and nitric acid as his fascination with violence flourished unchecked online.
Searches of his devices have revealed an obsession with massacres, torture and a wide range of brutal conflicts, including the genocide in Rwanda, where his parents are from.
Written material discovered by police after his knife rampage, which saw three girls murdered, also reportedly included documents on Nazi Germany, clan cleansing in Somalia, an uprising in Kenya and a treatise on combat in Chechnya.
The 18-year-old is also believed to have had a cache of weapons stashed at his home, including a machete, scabbard, arrows, castor beans and a 20cm kitchen knife identical to one used in the rampage.
Before he left in a taxi to launch his attack on unsuspecting children at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Merseyside on 29 July last year, it is understood he searched social media for the Mar Mari Emmanuel stabbing, when a bishop and five others were attacked in a Sydney church in April 2024.
Officers also discovered a Tupperware container under his bed containing an unknown substance, which was later found to be homemade biological toxin ricin.
One PDF file entitled “Military Studies In The Jihad Against The Tyrants, The Al Qaeda Training Manual” resulted in him being charged with a terror offence.
Although the documents show a clear fascination with extreme violence, the attack has not been classed as terrorism because police can find no evidence he subscribed to any particular ideology or religion.
Details of his fixation emerged after the prime minister, who has announced a public inquiry into the atrocity, warned Britain is facing a new threat from “young men in their bedrooms” accessing radical materials online.
Laying the groundwork for an overhaul of terrorism laws to guard against the new threat of “loners and misfits” driven to acts of extreme violence, Sir Keir Starmer said: “Terrorism has changed. In the past, the predominant threat was highly organised groups with clear political intent. Groups like al-Qaeda.
“That threat of course remains. But now, alongside that we also see acts of extreme violence perpetrated by loners, misfits, young men in their bedroom, accessing all manner of material online, desperate for notoriety.”
However security experts have warned against expanding terror laws to encompass atrocities carried out by lone attackers.
Neil Basu, a former national head of counter-terrorism, told LBC it would be a “mistake” to label something as “terrorism if it is not terrorism”, as this could lead some to seek out a “day of infamy”.
He added: “I would be wary of expanding terrorism law to cover lone actors… that isn’t what terrorism law is about, but it would be for politicians to debate whether the law needs to be expanded.”
Ian Acheson, a former prison governor and senior Home Office official, meanwhile told The Times newspaper that people “who are mobilised by hatred and contempt for others into committing lone wolf attacks” have been “with us for years”.
The government has also promised to crack down on online retailers after it emerged the then 17-year-old Rudakubana purchased his weapon on Amazon.
Home secretary Yvette Cooper told MPs it is a “total disgrace” that Rudakubana, who had admitted to carrying a knife ten times, was able to buy a weapon online and promised new measures in the Crime and Policing Bill this spring.
Writing in The Sun, Sir Keir said: “It remains shockingly easy for our children to get their hands on deadly knives. The lessons of this case could not be clearer.
“Time and again, as a child, the Southport murderer carried knives. Time and again, he showed clear intent to use them.
“And yet, tragically, he was still able to order the murder weapon off of the internet without any checks or barriers. A two-click killer. This cannot continue.”
Rudakubana pleaded guilty on Monday to 16 offences, including three counts of murder, ten of attempted murder, producing the deadly poison ricin and possession of a document which contained al-Qaeda training material.
Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine; Bebe King, six; and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven; died following the attack at the dance class in The Hart Space.
He is due to be sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday.
Politics
Daughter of Sir David Amess hits out at Prevent scheme following Rudakubana revelations: ‘They failed me!’
The daughter of late MP Sir David Amess has revealed that she “begged and pleaded” for an inquiry into her father’s murder, as she highlighted the “failures” of the Home Office and the Prevent programme.
The Labour Government has announced an inquiry into the Southport attack of July 2024, after it was revealed that killer Axel Rudakubana, 18, was referred to the Government’s anti-extremism scheme Prevent three times, but no intervention was made.
NewsBeat
TikTokers offered $5,000 to join Facebook and Instagram
Social media giant Meta has offered to pay up to $5,000 (£4,040) to popular creators in the United States who join Facebook and Instagram.
It says those joining from “third-party social apps” will get cash based on “an evaluation of your social presence”.
Though it does not mention TikTok by name, the timing would suggest Meta is attempting to capitalise on the uncertainty surrounding its rival, as questions swirl about whether President Trump can find a way of preserving it for US users.
TikTok says it has 170 million users in the US – with many of them relying on it for their livelihoods – meaning lots of people would be seeking an alternative place to post if the platform disappeared.
Meta says on its website that those accepted into the so-called “Breakthrough bonus programme” will be paid the money during their first 90 days on the app, so long as they post regularly.
Users must post at least 20 reels on Facebook and 10 reels on Instagram – Meta’s version of vertical TikTok videos – during each 30-day period.
It also dictates that these must be original videos, rather than those previously shared on other platforms.
But not everyone can join – the cash will only be available to those people who are completely new to either Facebook or Instagram.
And the firm will seemingly decide who to accept on a case-by-case basis, as people must apply to be accepted onto the programme.
It is also offering other perks, such as a free subscription to its blue check verification system.
This is not the first move by Meta to go after ByteDance’s users.
On Sunday, the firm announced Edits, an app strikingly similar to ByteDance’s CapCut – a video editing app which went offline when the ByteDance ban took effect that same day.
And two days earlier, Meta posted a video in which two creators discussed Facebook’s “new affiliate link experience for your shoppable content” – in other words Meta’s attempt to build its own version of the highly successful TikTok Shop.
In the new system, Meta users will be able to add prominent affiliate links directly on their videos – rather than in the comments – exactly how it works on TikTok.
But that’s not all the changes Meta has made – and perhaps the most visually significant is a direct change to how Instagram looks.
Rather than posts and videos being square on user profiles, they are now rectangular – again, clearly taking inspiration from TikTok.
This has led to some backlash from creators frustrated that their profiles now look different, and Instagram boss Adam Mosseri said he was aware of the criticisms.
“One of the mistakes I made was not giving people enough of a heads up,” he said in a post on Threads – a platform which was itself launched by Meta in attempt to capitalise on the turbulence at Twitter, now X.
NewsBeat
Victims let down 'time and time again', domestic abuse commissioner warns after damning report
Victims of domestic abuse are being failed by a criminal justice system that is not up to the job, a damning report by the domestic abuse commissioner for England and Wales has said.
NewsBeat
What does ‘skibidi’ mean? Kids’ top slang words of the year revealed
The top children’s slang words have been revealed by Oxford University Press, with many of the words leaving people scratching their heads.
While “Artificial intelligence” lost out to “Kindness” as the 2024 Children’s Word of the Year, children also had the opportunity to vote on their favourite slang words.
More than 3,000 children across the UK aged six to 14 were asked for their word of the year, with “kindness”, “artificial intelligence” and “conflict” among the most common suggestions, according to publisher Oxford University Press (OUP).
These three words, along with three shortlisted slang words chosen from a a survey of 1,200 children, were then put to a vote by a further 2,000 children.
More than one in four surveyed for a slang word chose “slay”, which has appeared on the colloquial shortlist for the past two years. The terms “sigma” and “skibidi” were voted as second and third choices respectively.
Sigma – a term popularised by figures such as controversial influencer Andrew Tate – is used to describe a highly successful and independent person. The slang term is typically used to describe a “self-reliant” male. It is not to be confused with the eighteenth letter of the Greek alphabet.
The term “slay”, refers to someone who is stylish or successful. It can also mean to impress someone very much or to be very good. It was voted children’s most preferred slang term.
The third most popular term was “skibidi”, which has become prevalent among Gen Alpha – those born after 2010.
Skibidi has no real meaning – it can simultaneously mean bad or good or weird, depending on the context of the conversation. It can also be used a gibberish filler word.
Children surveyed for the OUP poll gave examples of when they would use the term, including, “my chances of winning are very skibidi” and, “oh, it’s totally skibidi mode”.
The phrase first appeared in the “Skibidi Toilet” online series on YouTube. Alexey Gerasimov posted the first video in the series to the website in February 2023,and it swiftly gained popularity online, especially among kids. The animated film sees a battle between human-headed toilets and humanoid beings with electric devices for heads.
All three terms have been increasing in popularity due to social media, particularly TikTok and Instagram. More than one million children under 14 in the UK use TikTok, according to recent estimates.
Away from the perplexing slang terms, 61 per cent of children surveyed chose “kindness” as the Children’s Word of the Year, with some of them associating the word with mental health.
One child said that “it’s always important to be kind as a lot of people struggle with their mental health” while another said kindness is important “as you don’t know who is suffering”.
A quarter who were surveyed chose AI and 53 per cent of the children who selected the word associated it with positive adjectives including “excited” and “optimistic”.
Andrea Quincey, director of early years and primary publishing at OUP, said: “It is so encouraging that kindness has been voted — by a considerable majority — as the Oxford Children’s Word of the Year for 2024.
“We know from previous years that young people are very conscious of the big issues that can divide us as a society and attuned to the important role which language can play in bringing people together.
“This choice suggests something more personal: an awareness of mental health issues and of the hidden challenges others may be facing.
“It tells us that empathy and tolerance and the language we use matter, and that kindness is not only a solution to so many problems but is something everyone and anyone can do to make a difference.”
Politics
Alison McGovern defends ‘important judgment’ in Southport killings
A Labour minister has defended “important judgements” made about withholding information in the Southport killings case, after police claimed they were “gagged” by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Employment minister Alison McGovern said decisions around information disclosure were crucial to protect the possibility of a trial and achieving justice.
NewsBeat
Police probe whether bank exec killer is abroad
Police officers hunting the killer of a senior banking executive who was found dead in her south-east London home are investigating whether the suspect may have fled abroad.
Marianne Kilonzi was found fatally beaten in her flat in Woolwich on Friday evening, the Met Police said.
A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as blunt-force trauma and a head injury.
The 43-year-old, who was a vice president at the major financial institution Citibank, is believed to have known her attacker, the force said, adding that whether the suspect had fled abroad was one line of inquiry.
Officers had been called to Ms Kilonzi’s flat following reports of concerns for her welfare.
On Tuesday, Det Ch Insp Soren, who is leading the murder investigation, said: “We believe the suspect was known to Marianne and there is no wider risk to the public.
“This is a tragic crime and our thoughts at this incredibly difficult time are with Marianne’s loved ones and colleagues.”
In a statement, a Citibank spokesperson said: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our colleague.
“Our thoughts are with Marianne’s family and friends during this difficult time.”
NewsBeat
Plans for two types of ID to buy knives online after Southport attacker bought weapon from Amazon | Politics News
People buying knives online will be asked for two types of identification as the government plans to prevent underage sales following the murder of three girls in Southport.
Axel Rudakubana, who admitted this week to killing the young girls last summer, bought the knife he killed them with from Amazon when he was 17, despite it being illegal to sell knives to under-18s.
Rudakubana, who also admitted 10 counts of attempted murder, had been referred to the anti-terror programme Prevent three times.
Politics latest: New powers needed to tackle knife crime, says minister
The government is proposing buyers will be asked to record a live video and submit an identity document, such as a passport, to prove their age.
Currently, when someone orders knives on Amazon they have to enter their date of birth and are told: “Valid photographic ID with a date of birth may also be required upon delivery.
“The driver will input your year of birth into their device and may then require an ID check to complete the age verification process.”
Amazon said it takes its “responsibility around the sale of all age-restricted items – including bladed products – extremely seriously” and has launched an investigation following the Southport attack.
A review of online knife sales by Commander Stephen Clayman, the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s lead for knife crime, has suggested stronger ID checks.
Commander Clayman was due to report at the end of this month, but the plans are now being brought forward after questions were raised about how easy it was for Rudakubana to buy a knife.
Read more:
Starmer says terrorism has changed and UK faces new threat
Family of Southport attacker ‘moved to secret location’
How Southport is trying to make sense of horror
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced an inquiry into the Southport attack on Monday, hours after Rudakubana’s unexpected guilty plea.
Minister Alison McGovern told Sky News’ Breakfast with Kay Burley: “I hope the inquiry can be as quick as possible.
“I don’t want to prejudge what the person, independently of government doing the inquiry might say, but I want it to be as quick as humanly possible.”
The home secretary said it was a “total disgrace” Rudakubana had been “easily able to order a knife on Amazon”.
Labour won the summer’s election, just before the Southport attack, with a manifesto pledge to halve serious violence, including knife crime, over the next decade.
In September, zombie-style knives and machetes were added to the list of banned weapons and the government launched the Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime to bring together campaign groups, families of victims, young people impacted and community leaders.
New sanctions have also been announced for executives at tech companies that fail to halt illegal knife sales on their platforms.
Knife crime in areas of England has soared over the past five years, with the City of London seeing a 72.73% rise up to June 2024, Northumbria having a 46.2% increase and Avon and Somerset having a 25.56% rise, according to government statistics.
Between 2022 and 2024 knife crime surged by 307% in London.
NewsBeat
Starmer promises tougher rules on online knife sales after Southport murders
Sir Keir Starmer promised urgent action to prevent under-18s buying knives online, saying it was “shockingly easy” for killers such as Southport murderer Axel Rudakubana to get their hands on weapons.
Rudakubana used a knife bought from Amazon to kill three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, Merseyside, in July.
The Government has promised new laws, which could see retailers forced to ask anyone buying a knife for two types of identification.
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir said: “It is unacceptable that these murder weapons could be bought with two clicks. Technology is there to stop it, and we’re going to take action.”
He told MPs: “The senseless, barbaric murder of three young girls in Southport was devastating.
“A measure of justice has been done, but for the victims, the injured and the affected, we must see a fundamental change in how Britain protects its citizens and its children.”
He promised that the public inquiry announced by the Government “will not let any institution deflect from their failings” in the case.
Under the shake-up of online knife sale laws, buyers could be asked to submit an official identity document, such as a passport or driving licence, and also record a live video to prove their age.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told MPs it is “a total disgrace” that Rudakubana, then 17 and with a history of violence, was able to buy a weapon online, and promised new measures in the Crime and Policing Bill this spring.
Writing in The Sun, Sir Keir said: “It remains shockingly easy for our children to get their hands on deadly knives. The lessons of this case could not be clearer.
“Time and again, as a child, the Southport murderer carried knives. Time and again, he showed clear intent to use them.
“And yet, tragically, he was still able to order the murder weapon off of the internet without any checks or barriers.”
The need for action on knife crime has been further illustrated after a 12-year-old boy was stabbed to death in Birmingham on Tuesday.
A 14-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the youngster was found with serious injuries near Scribers Lane in Hall Green shortly after 3pm on Tuesday.
Commander Stephen Clayman, of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, is leading a review of online knife sales and had been due to report at the end of this month, but the plans are now being brought forward.
The forthcoming Crime and Policing Bill is also set to introduce new sanctions for senior tech executives whose companies fail to operate within the law on knife sales.
The current law states that retailers must verify the age of the customer before selling a knife and, for those bought online, at the point of collection or delivery.
An Amazon spokesman said: “We take our responsibility around the sale of all age-restricted items – including bladed products – extremely seriously and have launched an urgent investigation in relation to this tragic case.
“We use trusted ID verification services to check name, date of birth and address details whenever an order is placed for these bladed items.
“We have an age-verification-on-delivery process that requires drivers to verify the recipient’s age through an app on their devices before handing over a parcel containing an age-restricted item.”
NewsBeat
Police end criminal probe into teen’s disappearance
BBC News, Manchester
Police have called off a criminal investigation into the disappearance of British teenager Alex Batty, who returned to the UK in 2024 after going missing for six years.
The boy from Oldham vanished in 2017 aged 11 after going on holiday with his mother and grandfather, before he was found in France in 2023.
A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said a probe into child abduction had been dropped as his family did not support it and there was “no realistic chance of prosecution”.
Det Supt Matt Walker said: “The right thing to do is bring closure to this chapter of Alex and his family’s lives, particularly as this is the outcome they wished for.”
Alex was discovered in the foothills of the Pyrenees in south-western France close to the city of Toulouse on 13 December 2023, after he was last seen in the port of Malaga six years earlier.
The teenager said he, his mother and grandfather, Melanie and David Batty, who were not his legal guardians, had lived a “nomadic lifestyle”, after staying in communes and caravans in the area.
Alex returned to live with his grandmother in Oldham shortly after he was discovered.
‘Safe and reintegrated’
But the probe has now been dropped by police, who found after consulting with lawyers at the Crown Prosecution Service and National Crime Agency that there was no realistic chance of prosecution.
Det Supt Walker said the force felt it important to “properly and thoroughly” investigate the disappearance and had “explored all possible lines of enquiry”.
He said Alex’s safety had been “at the forefront” of the investigation.
“Alex is now an adult, safe, and reintegrated with life back in Greater Manchester surrounded by those who love him, which ultimately is the priority.”
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