A South Korean court on Wednesday, Jan 28, sentenced former First Lady Kim Keon-hee to one year and eight months in prison after finding her guilty of accepting bribes from officials associated with the Unification Church in exchange for political favors. Kim, who is married to former president Yoon Suk-yeol, was cleared of other allegations, including stock price manipulation and violations of political funding laws. The court ruled that prosecutors failed to present sufficient evidence proving she influenced polling decisions or candidates in return for receiving opinion survey data from a political broker.

The ruling is part of a broader series of legal cases arising from investigations into scandals surrounding Yoon’s administration, including his brief declaration of martial law in 2024. Both Kim and prosecutors retain the right to appeal the verdict. Prosecutors had sought a much harsher punishment, requesting a 15-year prison sentence along with fines totaling 2.9 billion won, citing accusations that Kim received luxury gifts such as Chanel handbags and a diamond necklace in return for political favors.

Kim denied all charges throughout the trial. Her legal team said it would review the court’s decision before determining whether to challenge the bribery conviction. During the hearing at the Seoul Central District Court, Kim appeared in a dark suit and face mask and remained silent as a three-judge panel delivered the verdict.

The Unification Church stated that the gifts were provided without any expectation of political benefits. Its leader, Han Hak-ja, who is also facing trial, denied directing anyone to bribe Kim. The Yoon, who was removed from office last April, is facing eight separate trials, including charges of insurrection related to his failed attempt to impose martial law in December 2024. He has appealed a five-year prison sentence imposed earlier this month for obstructing efforts to arrest him.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

During a joint press meet in the national capital on Tuesday, European Council President Antonio Costa highlighted his connection to India, saying, “I’m the President of the European Council, but I’m also an overseas Indian citizen. This has a special meaning for me. I’m very proud of my roots in Goa, where my father’s family is from, and the link between Europe and India is personal to me.”

He noted the conclusion of trade negotiations between the EU and India, recalling their relaunch during a summit he hosted in May 2021. Costa emphasized that the agreement sends a strong message globally: amid a shifting global order, the European Union and India are strategic and reliable partners. “Today, we are taking our partnership to the next level. As the world’s two largest democracies, we are working together to deliver tangible benefits for our citizens and to promote a resilient global order that supports peace, stability, economic growth, and sustainable development,” he said.

Costa underlined that EU-India cooperation is vital for shared prosperity and security, adding that trade acts as a geopolitical stabilizer and a driver of economic growth. He called the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) historically significant, reinforcing a rules-based economic order and promoting mutual prosperity.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the conclusion of the India-EU FTA, describing it as “not just a trade agreement, but a blueprint for shared prosperity.” He highlighted the exponential growth in India-EU relations, rooted in democratic values, economic synergy, and strong people-to-people ties, noting that bilateral trade now stands at €180 billion. Modi emphasized expanding cooperation in areas such as strategic technology, clean energy, digital governance, and development, which will benefit all sections of society.

The FTA, India’s largest to date, is expected to create opportunities for farmers, small businesses, and service providers. In the presence of PM Modi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Antonio Costa, India and the EU signed several agreements and MoUs. These include the ‘Towards 2030 – A Joint India-European Union Comprehensive Strategic Agenda,’ the India-EU Security and Defence Partnership, and agreements on mobility, disaster risk management, green hydrogen, and financial regulatory cooperation between the Reserve Bank of India and the European Securities and Markets Authority, among others.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Youtube@MEAIndia.

Thousands of residents from Tirah Maidan have been forcibly uprooted during a security operation amid freezing winter conditions, sparking a severe humanitarian crisis and criticism of the state’s treatment of civilians in conflict zones. According to a post by PTM Khyber on X, entire families—including children, women, and the elderly—were forced to leave their homes on foot, enduring days of trekking through mountainous terrain in extreme cold. Heavy snowfall blocked roads, leaving many stranded, with some taking shelter in vehicles without sufficient food, warmth, or medical care.

After the dangerous journey, displaced families faced further hardship during the “registration” process, reportedly waiting for three to four days on open roads without tents, sanitation, or basic facilities. The delays exposed vulnerable groups to illness, exhaustion, and severe distress. “There was no planning and no dignity,” PTM Khyber said, describing the residents as left hopeless in the harsh cold.

The incident reflects a wider trend of forced displacement in Pakistan’s tribal areas, where military operations frequently cause civilian suffering with little accountability. The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement Khyber condemned the Tirah operation as inhumane and unnecessary, demanding immediate relief, reopening of snow-blocked routes, and an end to policies that uproot communities without safeguards. They emphasized the need to protect human rights and prevent the oppression of civilians under the pretext of security.

Using the hashtag #PashtunsRejectTirahOperations, PTM Khyber stressed that loyalty cannot be expected from citizens who are denied protection and dignity. Residents insist they are not seeking charity but asserting their constitutional rights, safety, and the ability to live without fear of forced displacement.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

Pakistani households are now spending more on education than the government, underscoring deep structural weaknesses in public education financing and intensifying concerns about inequality and state responsibility. A newly released report presented at a national policy dialogue revealed that families spent an estimated PKR 2.8 trillion on education, exceeding the government’s allocation of PKR 2.23 trillion. As a result, Pakistan’s total education expenditure has reached PKR 5.03 trillion, with households contributing 56 percent of the total while the public sector accounts for only 44 percent.

The findings were shared during the launch of the 15th annual Public Financing of Education report by the Institute of Social and Policy Sciences (I-SAPS). This marks the first nationwide assessment to merge official education budgets with household-level spending, offering a more comprehensive view of how education is financed in the country. According to the report, families spent PKR 1.31 trillion on private school fees, PKR 613 billion on tuition and coaching centers, and PKR 878 billion on related costs such as books, uniforms, and transportation.

I-SAPS Executive Director Salman Humayun warned that the growing reliance on private spending poses serious equity challenges. He noted that when families are forced to outspend the state, children from poorer households face an increased risk of being excluded from education altogether. Participants at the policy dialogue linked rising private expenditure to ongoing shortcomings in public schools, including declining quality, weak accountability, and limited responsiveness.

Experts emphasized that simply increasing education budgets will not resolve these issues. Instead, they called for improved governance, greater efficiency, and outcome-focused financing to restore confidence in the public education system. Federal officials acknowledged progress in education data collection but stressed the importance of independent research to guide policymaking amid ongoing fiscal constraints.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will visit Japan on January 13–14 for a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The leaders are scheduled to meet in Nara City on January 13, followed by a dinner, where discussions are expected to cover regional and global matters, as well as economic and social issues. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman speak with Michiyo Ishida, CNA’s senior correspondent, for more details.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

Singapore’s “dead birds” hotline recorded its highest number of reports last year, reflecting a growing toll of birds killed after colliding with glass surfaces on buildings. The museum notes that the problem is expanding beyond sheer numbers, now affecting newer and sometimes rarer species as urban development intensifies. The report explores the causes behind these collisions, the reasons bird-friendly architecture has yet to become common practice, and the practical solutions—such as specially treated glass and façade modifications—that could significantly reduce bird deaths. Andrea Heng and Rani Samtani discuss these issues with Dr Tan Yen Yi, Research Fellow at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

Thailand’s Pheu Thai Party has selected 46-year-old academic Yodchanan Wongsawat, a nephew of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, as its leading candidate for the premiership in the February election. The move brings the influential Shinawatra family back into focus as Thailand grapples with deadly border clashes with Cambodia and internal challenges within the party. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman discuss the implications of his candidacy for party cohesion, border security, and the country’s political trajectory with Kevin Hewison, Emeritus Professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

Starting 6 pm tomorrow (13 Dec 2025), train commuters can check a single webpage for updates on trip delays. Daniel Martin talks with Professor Raymond Ong, Transport Analyst and Deputy Head (Research) at NUS’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.