SKorean parliament votes to defy president by lifting his declaration of martial law

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The South Korean parliament has voted to defy the country’s president and immediately lift his martial law declaration. President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law late Tuesday, vowing to eliminate “anti-state” forces as he struggles against an opposition that controls the country’s parliament and that he accuses of sympathizing with communist North Korea. The surprising move harkened back to an era of authoritarian leaders that the country has not seen since the 1980s, and it was immediately denounced by the opposition and the leader of Yoon’s own conservative party.

An Israeli strike kills a shepherd in Lebanon, further shaking the ceasefire

NABATIYEH, Lebanon (AP) — Lebanon’s Health Ministry and state media say Israeli forces have carried out several new drone and artillery strikes in southern Lebanon, killing a shepherd. The new strikes further shake a tenuous 6-day-old ceasefire, a day after Israeli launched its heaviest barrage of the south of the past week in retaliation to what Hezbollah called a “warning” volley responding to earlier Israeli strikes. The new fire came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue its strikes “with an iron fist” against perceived Hezbollah violations of the truce. His defense minister warned that if the ceasefire collapses, Israel will target not just Hezbollah but the Lebanese state – an expansion of Israel’s campaign.

Syrian insurgents capture four central towns

BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian opposition activists say insurgents have captured four new towns, bringing them closer to the central city of Hama. Meanwhile, government forces retook some territory they lost last week. The latest push is part of a wide offensive by forces opposed to Syrian President Bashar Assad that over the past days have captured large parts of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, as well as towns and villages in southern parts of the northwestern Idlib province. The long war between Assad and his foreign backers and the array of armed opposition forces seeking his overthrow has killed an estimated half-million people over the past 13 years.

Health officials investigate mystery disease in Congo after 143 deaths

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — A flu-like disease that has killed dozens of people over two weeks is being investigated in southwestern Congo, local authorities said. The deaths were recorded between Nov. 10 and Nov. 25 in the Panzi health zone of Kwango province. Symptoms include fever, headache, cough and anemia, provincial health minister Apollinaire Yumba told reporters over the weekend. The deputy provincial governor, Rémy Saki, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that between 67 and 143 people had died. Yumba advised the population to exercise caution and refrain from contact with dead bodies to avoid contamination.