Though much of the media’s attention tends to fixate on the endlessly controversial affairs of the United States–from the polarizing presidential election to western wildfires to a presidential death–the rest of the world boasts a wealth of stories worth equal consideration. With updates including the imposition of martial law in South Korea, the toppling of the Assad regime in Syria, the resignation of Canada’s prime minister for the last decade, and a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, the international community has certainly had its own obstacles to face.
On December 3, 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law in a surprise national televised address in response to the “anti-state activities” of the opposing Democratic Party and its alleged collaboration with “North Korean Communists.” President Yoon denounced the opposition, claiming their “legislative dictatorship” prevented him from governing effectively. Despite his address prohibiting all political activities, the National Assembly managed to pass a unanimous resolution to lift the martial law mere hours later.
Ultimately, the president had no choice but to comply with the resolution. Regardless, this affair has only resulted in extensive backlash from the Korean people. Yoon has since been suspended and is now undergoing an impeachment trial following a thwarted attempt of over 100 officials to arrest him in his official residence. He is facing allegations of corruption and insurrection, for which the penalty is harsh, and if he does not win his legal battles, South Korea will be in the market for a new president.
On December 8, 2024, rebel forces took Damascus, and the Syrian Assad regime was overthrown. Syrian state TV broadcasted the message nationwide, announcing that the president had been defeated and all of his prisoners would be released. Abu Mohammad al-Julani, leader of the Al-Qaeda offshoot terror group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, declared victory at Damascus’s Umayyad Mosque later that day. Despite Assad and his family fleeing to Russia, December 8 was nothing but a day of pure joy for the Syrian people. Hundreds gathered publicly in celebration, defacing Assad’s portraits, tearing down statues of his father, and waving Syrian flags.
Since the devastating civil war broke out over a decade ago, dictator Bashar Al-Assad took to carrying out arbitrary and unjust arrests, murders, surveillances, and even torture to opponents he faced, keeping prisoners in horrific conditions for years. The Assad regime has long been synonymous with corruption, brutality, and war crimes. Though the future of Syria remains as uncertain as the time it will take to rebuild, its citizens are elated to see the end of Bashar Al-Assad’s reign of terror.
On January 6, 2025, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced the media and announced his resignation from office. Trudeau reported that his decision to step down after his nine-year-long run was due to “internal battles”–a reference to the recent plummet in his popularity within the Liberal Party that he has led since 2013.
Though the inception of Trudeau’s career was promising to progressives, his popularity among Canadians and Liberals has only sunk since the COVID-19 pandemic. With several personal scandals, misconducts in regards to border control, tariff threats from Trump, the resignation of his former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, and, most notably, a nationwide spike in inflation and cost of living, many have agreed that his public image is, to put it bluntly, beyond repair.
