Good morning! The weekend edition is xx words, a xx minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Italian journalist arrested in Iran

• Free ski lift tickets in New Hampshire

• Kindness may improve health

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Today’s Big Story

Political Chaos in Korea

South Korea's parliament has impeached acting President Han Duck-soo, just weeks after doing the same to President Yoon Suk Yeol for briefly declaring martial law.

• Han’s impeachment follows his refusal to fill Constitutional Court vacancies, leading to a parliamentary vote dominated by the opposition Democratic Party. Financial markets have reacted negatively, with the Korean won hitting a 15-year low. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is now serving as acting president.

• Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court is reviewing whether to reinstate President Yoon or permanently remove him, with a decision expected within 180 days. A new presidential election must be held within 60 days if Yoon is officially ousted. The opposition has overwhelming public support for his removal.

• Yoon’s brief martial law declaration on Dec. 3 shocked the nation and received a swift parliamentary rejection. The situation has been compared to the 1987 democratic protests that ended military rule. Prosecutors are now targeting officials linked to the martial law attempt.

Saturday’s Quick Hits

• President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court to delay a law that would ban TikTok in the US unless its Chinese parent company sells it by January 19. The court will discuss the case on January 10. Trump’s lawyer said he isn’t taking sides in the dispute but wants more time to find a political solution after he takes office. (More)

• Kim Kardashian is no longer involved in managing SKKY Partners, the private equity firm she co-founded in 2022. Despite her fame and success with Skims, the firm struggled to raise its target of $1 billion, collecting just $121 million by April and completing only one deal with hot sauce brand Truff. (More)

• Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, 29, was arrested in Tehran, Iran, on December 19 while reporting with a valid journalist visa. She was held in solitary confinement for a week, Italy’s foreign ministry confirmed. Sala had been covering changes in Iran following the fall of Syria’s Assad regime. (More)

• Mexico is creating a phone app to help migrants alert family and local consulates if they believe US immigration might detain them. This is a response to President-elect Donald Trump’s plans for mass deportations after he starts his term on January 20. (More)

• Aldi plans to open 17 new stores in nine states soon, though exact dates aren't clear yet. These are part of a larger plan to have 800 more US stores by 2028. Aldi is also turning old Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket locations into new stores. (More)

• Homelessness in the US rose by 18% this year, with children seeing the biggest increase, according to federal data. Over 770,000 people were homeless on a single night in January 2024, a record high. While factors contributing to homelessness have balanced somewhat since then, nearly all groups experienced significant increases. (More)

Weekly Dose of Positive

• Storrs Hill ski area in Lebanon, New Hampshire, is offering free lift tickets and trail access all winter, thanks to a donation from the Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation. The foundation has donated tens of millions to various causes in the state. (More)

• Since 2015, bestselling author James Patterson has given holiday bonuses to independent bookstore workers. This year, 600 employees from bookstores nationwide received $500 bonuses. (More)

• A new AI camera is being tested in the UK to catch drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The "Heads-Up" machine uses advanced technology to spot driving behaviors that suggest impairment. (More)

• Eight-year-old Zayin Berry saw kids teasing a stray kitten but knew he couldn’t take them on. Instead, he traded his skateboard to make them stop. The plan worked, and now the kitten is safe and has become Zayin’s best friend. (More)

Extra Credit

👷‍♂️ How long Americans stay at their jobs.

❤️ Acts of kindness may improve our health.

🐻 California bears skip hibernation to raid trash cans.

🥒 Glitter pickles are gaining popularity.