It may seem that the wild scenes in Seoul, with hundreds of armed troops and frantic lawmakers storming South Korea’s parliament building after the president suddenly declared martial law, came out of nowhere. But the chaotic events, which were still playing out as opposition leaders advanced an impeachment motion and called for President Yoon Suk Yeol’s immediate resignation, should be seen in the context of South Korea’s recent tumultuous political and social history. These moments resonate with South Koreans in their daily lives, and as they look to explain Yoon’s short-lived declaration of emergency martial law, even if there’s still widespread confusion and anger over his decision.

The Hezbollah terror group planned an Oct. 7-Hamas style invasion into Israel’s north, Fox News Digital reported after obtaining and viewing shocking new video footage and documents. “Hezbollah has been planning their own 10/7,” an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intelligence official told Fox News Digital. “The plan has been effectively eliminated. We dismantled the high-level command of Radwan,” the IDF official said about Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force. Fox News Digital viewed a video of the interrogation of a Radwan terrorist who was captured by the IDF in the south Lebanese village of Aita al-Shaab and revealed the group’s chilling plan to “Conquer the Galil” and massacre Israelis.

Sake is perhaps more Japanese than the world-famous sushi. It’s brewed in centuries-old mountaintop warehouses, savored in the country’s pub-like izakayas, poured during weddings and served slightly chilled for special toasts. The smooth rice wine that plays a crucial role in Japan’s culinary traditions was enshrined on Wednesday by UNESCO on its list of the “intangible cultural heritage of humanity.” At a meeting in Luque, Paraguay, members of UNESCO’s committee for safeguarding humanity’s cultural heritage voted to recognize 45 cultural practices and products around the world, including Brazilian white cheese, Caribbean cassava bread and Palestinian olive oil soap.

The Israel Prisons Service (IPS) recently uncovered an attempt by incarcerated terrorists to send covert messages to their families. During preparations for the release of underage security prisoners from a central Israeli prison, inspectors discovered inscriptions on the detainees’ bodies, intended as messages for relatives of other inmates. Following the discovery, IPS launched a thorough investigation, conducting additional searches in the cells of those involved. During these searches, wardens found an improvised pen believed to have been used to write the messages. As a result, all prisoners implicated in the incident will face disciplinary action under the policies of the prison governance and enforcement commissioner.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said Wednesday he is “optimistic” about President-elect Donald Trump’s second term and expressed some excitement about potential regulatory cutbacks in the coming years. “I’m actually very optimistic this time around,” Bezos said on stage during a wide-ranging interview at The New York Times’ DealBook Summit in New York. “He seems to have a lot of energy around reducing regulation. If I can help do that, I’m going to help him.” “We do have too many regulations in this country,” Bezos added.

The new chief of the Los Angeles police force said his department is working with consulate offices for Mexico and other Central American countries to draft a plan to protect immigrants ahead of the Trump administration’s plans for mass deportations. In an interview with The Associated Press, Jim McDonnell said his tenure as police chief will be marked by high engagement with the community, adding that all of society must participate in the criminal justice system to create a safe place to live. A veteran police officer and former sheriff, McDonnell was selected by Mayor Karen Bass in October and sworn in last month.

The National Weather Service canceled its tsunami warning for the U.S. West Coast after a powerful earthquake shook parts of California on Thursday. At least 5.3 million people in California were under a tsunami warning after the 7.0-magnitude temblor, the U.S. Geological Survey said in a yellow alert, which predicted localized but minimal damage. The quake was felt as far south as San Francisco, where residents felt a rolling motion for several seconds. It was followed by smaller aftershocks. There were no immediate reports of major damage or injury. The quake struck at 10:44 a.m. west of Ferndale, a small city in coastal Humboldt County near the Oregon border, according to the USGS.

A new poll reveals that 48% of Israelis believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cannot effectively lead the country during wartime while testifying in his corruption trial, compared to 46% who think he can. The Israel Democracy Institute’s November 2024 survey, conducted with 750 participants, highlights a divide in opinions. Among Jewish respondents, 49% believe Netanyahu can manage both roles, while 61% of Arab respondents disagree. Partisan views also vary sharply, with 70% of left-wing and 55% of centrist Jews doubting his ability, compared to 34% of right-wing respondents. Netanyahu’s testimony is set to begin December 10, but he has requested fewer and non-consecutive court appearances, citing his responsibilities. The State Attorney’s Office opposes these adjustments.

Senator Tom Cotton (R-AK) introduced legislation on Thursday aimed at requiring all official U.S. documents and materials to use the term “Judea and Samaria” instead of the commonly used “West Bank.” The bill, titled the Retiring the Egregious Confusion Over the Genuine Name of Israel’s Zone of Influence by Necessitating Government-use of Judea and Samaria (RECOGNIZING Judea and Samaria) Act, seeks to adopt historically and culturally accurate terminology for the region. “The Jewish people’s legal and historic rights to Judea and Samaria go back thousands of years,” Cotton said. “The U.S.