20/02/2026

FRIDAY | FEB 20, 2026

7

Life sentence for ousted South Korean president

Australia condemns harassment of residents

SYDNEY: Australia condemned foreign harassment of its residents yesterday after a media report alleged Chinese police had pressured food delivery riders in the country. Public broadcaster ABC said certain Chinese riders with food delivery service HungryPanda in Australia were in a dispute over their pay and work conditions. ABC added that they discussed protest plans in a group chat on Chinese messaging app WeChat. Some riders reportedly said police in China then called them directly or warned them through their families not to get involved in protests. HungryPanda, an Asian food delivery firm founded by a Chinese international student in Britain in 2017, did not immediately reply to a request for comment. “The Australian government does not tolerate surveillance, harassment or threats towards any citizens or individuals lawfully in Australia,“ said a spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs. The spokesperson added that Australia’s counter foreign interference taskforce was “aware” of the ABC report on HungryPanda riders but declined to comment on individual cases. An unnamed government source told ABC that Chinese police may have been trying to prevent Chinese nationals getting involved in protests abroad, or to help the company for some reason. Australia’s spy service did not comment on the case. In its annual threat assessment last year, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation said “multiple foreign regimes” attempt to monitor, harass and intimidate Australians and Australian residents. This month, Australia’s federal police charged two Chinese nationals with foreign interference, accusing them of spying on a Buddhist group at the behest of police in China. The Chinese embassy in

Several major Chinese cities have banned the use of fireworks and firecrackers in recent years for safety and pollution control, but the practice remains popular in rural areas. Fatal explosions regularly occur around the holidays. On Sunday, an explosion at a fireworks shop in the Jiangsu province killed eight and injured two. – AFP “It was possible because it was the Republic of Korea”, Lee said, using South Korea’s official name, adding citizens would serve as an example for human history. His post was attached to a newspaper story about how some academics had recommended that the South Korean public be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for facing off against troops and police to oppose martial law without violence. – Reuters engaged in a high-stakes political brawl that erupted within weeks of their 2022 win in the presidential election, when the vice-president was denied her favoured Cabinet portfolios and instead named education secretary. Two analysts who spoke to AFP suggested the announcement of Sara’s candidacy was aimed at keeping allies in line by underscoring the possibility of her faction’s return to power. – AFP martial law and that his action was aimed at sounding the alarm over opposition parties’ obstruction of government. Yoon, who has been detained at the Seoul Detention Centre, is likely to remain there regardless of the ruling. If found guilty of those charges, he is expected to appeal the ruling and could again challenge any appellate court decision at the Supreme Court. Judicial guidelines say the first trial should conclude within six months and the entire process, including appeals, in two years. But trials often stretch beyond that. Yoon, who faces eight trial proceedings, was given a five-year jail sentence in January in a separate trial on charges that include obstructing attempts by authorities to arrest him following his martial law declaration. He has appealed that ruling. While Yoon’s bid to impose martial law lasted only about six hours before it was met by large street protests and voted down by parliament, it sent shockwaves through South Korea, which is Asia’s fourth-largest economy, a key United States security ally and long considered one of the world’s most resilient democracies. In a post on X, President Lee Jae Myung, a liberal who won the presidency in a snap election in June after Yoon’s removal, commended the actions of the public to thwart the attempt to bring in martial law.

executed anyone since 1997. There was a strong police presence at the Seoul Central District Court, which tried the case, with police buses forming a security cordon around the building. The court will also rule on charges that Yoon abused his authority by ordering troops to storm parliament to drag his opponents out and jail them, as well as dispatching soldiers and police to block, inspect and control access to facilities such as the opposition party building. Yoon, 65, has denied the charges. The conservative former career prosecutor argued he had presidential authority to declare

in a deeply divided country. It is the most consequential yet for the ousted leader, whose bid triggered a national political crisis and tested democratic resilience. Prosecutors in January said Yoon’s “unconstitutional and illegal emergency martial law undermined the function of the National Assembly and the Election Commission, actually destroying the liberal democratic constitutional order”. Masterminding an insurrection carries a maximum sentence of the death penalty or life imprisonment under South Korean law. South Korea last handed down a death sentence in 2016, but has not

SEOUL: A South Korean court yesterday ordered life in jail for former president Yoon Suk Yeol, after finding him guilty on charges of abuse of authority and masterminding an insurrection, stemming from his December 2024 attempt to impose martial law. Prosecutors had sought the death penalty in the case, closely-watched o Yoon found guilty of insurrection, abuse of authority

Supporters of Yoon waiting for his arrival for the trial in front of the Seoul Central District Court under the watchful eyes of police. – REUTERSPIC

At least 12 killed in explosion at China fireworks store BEIJING: Five children were among 12 individuals killed in an explosion at a general store selling fireworks in China during the Lunar New Year holiday, state media said yesterday. Wednesday in Jinpu village, in the central province of Hubei. “Aside from one individual, identified as the proprietor Mr Lin, the remaining 11 were customers purchasing fireworks.“

“Following thorough search and rescue operations, the incident was confirmed to have resulted in 12 fatalities – seven adults and five minors,“ state broadcaster CCTV said yesterday, citing authorities. It added that the identities of all the deceased have been verified.

It also said three of the deceased had travelled from Chengdu, roughly 780km away, to visit their relatives. A police investigation is underway to determine the cause of the explosion.

Setting off fireworks and crackers is common during holiday celebrations in China, especially around the Lunar New Year. The explosion occurred on Canberra was also asked for its reaction to the HungryPanda report. – AFP Fourth impeachment case filed against Sara Duterte

MANILA: Philippine vice-president and newly-declared presidential candidate Sara Duterte is facing a fourth impeachment case against her, documents seen by AFP yesterday showed. The complaint, which accuses her of misusing public funds and cites “disturbing” allegations of undeclared wealth, was filed on Wednesday, hours after she tossed her hat into the ring for the 2028 election.

vice-president and as education secretary. Representative Leila de Lima, one of the endorsers for the complaint, called it “an improved version” of the complaint tossed out by the Supreme Court last year. Sara on Wednesday announced plans to run for president in 2028, calling out President Ferdinand Marcos for failing to live up to his campaign promises. The two former allies have been

accountability. Any undeclared asset or unexplained wealth is a grave issue,“ said La Union Representative Paolo Ortega, one of two lawmakers to endorse the complaint. As with previous impeachment cases filed against the vice-president this year, the new complaint leans on allegations of graft and corruption. A complaint filed on Feb 9 accused Sara of bilking taxpayers of at least US$10 million (RM39.1 million) while serving as

The daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives last year, only to see the country’s Supreme Court throw the case out over procedural issues. Under the Philippine constitution, an impeachment triggers a Senate trial. A guilty verdict would see Sara barred from politics and her presidential hopes permanently derailed. “This is about constitutional