Residents in the South Korean city of Seoul expressed frustration and concern about their future followinging President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment due to his failed attempt to impose martial law, which sent shockwaves through the country's economy.
South Korea's parliament on Saturday passed the second impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol over his martial law declaration. Of 300 lawmakers of the unicameral National Assembly attending the historical plenary session, 204 voted in favor and 85 against, with three abstentions and eight voided.
With the parliamentary approval, the constitutional court will deliberate the impeachment for up to 180 days, during which Yoon's constitutional power will be suspended and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will be an acting president.
In the street interviews with China Global Television Network (CGTN), South Koreans in Seoul have voiced support for the impeachment, accusing Yoon of undermining democracy.
"I believe the decision is a step forward restoring society through the power of South Korea's democracy," said office worker Kim Jin-seong.
"l believe it's a matter of undermining democracy. I think the impeachment should proceed, and someone who truly understands democracy should become the next president," said Park Dae-sun, a university student.
Economic impact was a primary concern among those interviewed, and the turmoil has also fueled anxieties about the nation's stability and economic future.
"I believe this incident has caused the entire South Korean population to live in fear and harmed the economy. I think he is unfit to be president," said Lee So-yoen, office worker.
"The economy was already tough, and this turmoil made diplomatic issues even more severe and worsened the economy. Many citizens who hold stocks are struggling, and there are also those finding it difficult due to the rising exchange rates. Small business owners are also suffering from worsening economic conditions. I believe this has had a very negative impact on the national economy," said Kim Jin-seong.
Seoul residents voices support for Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment
Switzerland, known for its pristine lakes and rich tradition of fishing, is facing a significant challenge of plunging fish stocks that could threaten the livelihood of many in the fisheries industry.
In recent years, local fishermen have seen their catches decline drastically, with about 90 percent of the fish consumed in the country now being imported. This shift reflects broader environmental changes impacting Swiss fisheries, and the difficulties local fishermen are enduring are becoming more evident each year.
At seven in the morning, as the first light of dawn begins to break, a handful of fishermen at a dock in Geneva prepare to head out to the lake to check the nets they set the previous day. As the long nets were hauled from the water, the catch of perch was relatively small, but the fishermen were still satisfied, especially since they managed to net two large pike, which would fetch a good price.
Francois Liani, a fisherman of 30 years, said 2024 has been the worst year for fishing with the lowest amount of catch.
"I have never seen anything like this in over 30 years. That's right, 2024 is the worst year in the past 30 years," he said.
Fifty years ago, there were more than 800 professional fishermen in Switzerland. Today, that number has dropped to fewer than 90.
"There are many reasons, but one of the most important reasons is global warming -- it is one of the biggest problems. We have also new mussels that come from the Black Sea on the Eastern Europe that came about five, seven years ago. They have a large impact on the food availability for the fishes," said Maxime Prevedello, communication officer for the French-speaking region of the Swiss Fishing Federation (SFV).
As a result, the growth rate of fish has slowed significantly. In 2012, 2013, and 2014, a professional fisherman was able to catch around 1,000 tons of fish annually. Today, that number has dropped to just around 100 tons -- a mere one-tenth of what it used to be, according to Prevedello.
In the summer of 2024, Switzerland once again endured high temperatures. Native fish species such as perch, grayling, and the Alpine char, which have adapted to cold water, have been particularly affected. According to Switzerland's environmental authorities, 58 percent of the country's native fish species are now classified as endangered.
Swiss fishermen face growing struggle as local fish stocks plunge
