Page 10 - ATD29NOV2016

A10 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 29 November 2016
South Korea president accepts justice minister’s resignation

HYUNG-JIN KIM presidential adviser offered of her presidential aides request to step down vol- Court can rule on her fate.
Associated Press to resign last week after and nominated a new untarily. The floor leaders of The court has up to 180
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — prosecutors directly linked prime minister to try to re- three main opposition par- days to make a decision.
South Korea’s embattled President Park Geun-hye gain public trust. But South ties are to meet Wednes- At the heart of the scandal
president accepted the to alleged misdeeds by her Koreans have staged mas- day to determine when to is Choi Soon-sil, Park’s long-
resignation of her justice jailed shadowy confidante sive rallies in Seoul for five submit an impeachment time friend and the daugh-
minister on Monday, the at the center of the scan- straight weekends, calling motion, according to the ter of a late cult leader who
latest in a series of person- dal. Park’s office said in a for her ouster. Opposition Democratic Party, the larg- allegedly meddled in state
nel reshuffles she’s made statement Monday that lawmakers have said they’ll est opposition party. affairs and pressured com-
amid a political scandal she had accepted Kim’s push for Park’s parliamen- If Park is impeached, she’ll panies to donate millions of
that’s threatening her lead- resignation but withheld tary impeachment by early be immediately deprived dollars to foundations con-
ership. Justice Minister Kim the one by her adviser. December because she of her presidential pow- trolled by her at the request
Hyun-woong and a senior Park has already fired eight hasn’t acceded to their ers until the Constitutional of Park.q
Thousands protest across India against currency policy

NEW DELHI (AP) — Thou- roads and businesses and
sands of people demon- shops closed.
strated across India on The main opposition Con-
Monday to protest the gress party said it was hold-
government’s sudden de- ing protests marking a “day
cision to withdraw large- of rage” among the peo-
denomination currency ple, but would not support
from circulation, a move calls for a general strike be-
that has caused enor- cause it would cause eco-
mous hardship to millions nomic disruption.
of people in the coun- Last week, former Prime
try’s predominantly cash- Minister Manmohan Singh
based economy. told Parliament the de-
But the response to the monetization move was a
“day of rage” called by “monumental manage-
opposition parties was ment failure” and “a case
patchy, with the protests of organized loot and le-
only affecting daily life in galized plunder of the
opposition-ruled states. common people.”
Nearly three weeks ago, On Monday, Sitaram Ye-
Prime Minister Narendra chury of the Communist
Modi announced that Party of India (Marxist) said
500- and 1,000-rupee the decision had caused
notes, worth about $7.50 Activists of Trinamool Congress party hold banners and shout slogan during a protest march “unprecedented financial
and $15, would become against the government’s decision to withdraw high denomination notes from circulation, in Kol- turmoil in the country and
kata, India, Monday, Nov. 28, 2016. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Nov. 8 televised
worthless overnight and address, announced the demonetization of India’s 500- and 1,000-rupee notes, which made up
would be replaced by 86 percent of the country’s currency. He said it would wipe out rampant corruption, though in a brought hardship and un-
new currency in a bid to country of 1.3 billion where most people don’t have bank accounts, it also wiped out legally col- imaginable misery on mil-
stamp out corruption and lected savings. Banners in local language read, revolt against demonetization, dethrone Modi lions of poor people.”
tax evasion. and save the country. However, several regional
The surprise decision (AP Photo/Bikas Das) leaders expressed their
pulled 86 percent of the support for Modi, saying
country’s money supply ill-prepared for the move. dress Parliament to explain political differences to hold his decision would help cut
out of circulation, lead- Opposition parties have his decision. a single rally. corruption and end the
ing to serpentine lines at criticized the policy, saying In New Delhi, opposition In the communist party- practice of the rich to hold
banks, which often ran the government misman- parties held separate pro- ruled state of Kerala in stockpiles of undeclared
short of currency, showing aged the currency change tests, indicating that they southern India, buses and cash, known in India as
that the government was and that Modi should ad- could not overcome their cars stopped plying the “black money.”q
Manila police detonate improvised bomb near US Embassy

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — rizing that Maute militants the same (bomb) signa- The trash bin where the de- Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla
An improvised bomb found could be behind Monday’s ture,” dela Rosa said. vice was found was about said.
Monday in a trash bin near “attempted act of terror- He said the Maute group 20 meters (22 yards) from Military officials say that the
the U.S. Embassy and deto- ism” that appeared to tar- may have wanted to cre- the embassy compound. militants, a loosely orga-
nated by police has the get the U.S. Embassy. ate a diversion as it has Philippine troops, backed nized group that has more
same design as one used The improvised bomb fash- been suffering heavy ca- by bomber aircraft, have than 200 members, were
by local sympathizers of ioned from an 81-mm mor- sualties in ongoing military recently attacked the initially affiliated with an
the Islamic State group in tar round, cellphone, blast- and police operations in Maute militants, including Indonesian terror suspect
a Sept. 2 bomb attack that ing cap and a small battery the south. an operation launched but have lately used black
killed 15 people in south- could have been powerful Senior Supt. Joel Coronel, last Thursday based on flags and arm and head
ern Davao city, the Philip- enough to kill people within the Manila city police chief, intelligence reports that
pine police chief said. 100 meters (110 yards), po- said they were checking the group was continuing bands with Islamic State
National police chief Direc- lice officials said. security cameras in the to make bombs after the group symbols in a possible
tor-General Ronald dela “After analysis, we can link area and seeking informa- Sept. 2 bombing in Davao attempt to gain support
Rosa told a news confer- it to the Maute because of tion from at least two eye- city, the president’s home- from the Middle East-based
ence that police are theo- what happened in Davao, witnesses. town, military spokesman group.q