The Delhi High Court has stayed proceedings in a criminal defamation case filed against Sudarshan TV and its editor Suresh Chavhanke in connection with allegations that his channel made false accusations against a madrasa. The case against Chavhanke was filed by Mohammed Tufail Khan
The Trump Intervention That Got the DOJ Off Live Nation’s Back Antitrust case started out aiming to force the concert giant to sell Ticketmaster. After two White House meetings, a deal kept the company intact. Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 14:02:07 IST WSJ Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link The
China said on Sunday (August 23, 2026) it was postponing its planned ambitious Chang'e-7 lunar mission, which was set to carry out explorations including searching for water ice on the moon. The Chang'e-7 spacecraft was originally set to lift off in the coming days from the Wenchang Space Launch
Canada’s Carney Puts His ‘No Deal Is Better Than a Bad Deal’ Doctrine to the Test The prime minister ’s approach has broad support from the Canadian public and his political opponents, but it isn’t without risks. Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 14:05:27 IST WSJ Prefer HTon Google Share via
An Indian national was killed in a shooting incident in New York on Friday night, said the Indian consulate general in the city. The man, Gurdeep Singh, was killed on Crescent Street in the city’s Brooklyn area, in what police believe may have been a road rage incident, CBS News reported
A group of former cricket captains, including Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar and one of England's longest-serving skippers Sir Alastair Cook, have called on Pakistan to ensure its ex-PM Imran Khan be given proper care while in custody. The cricketer-turned-politician has been in jail since
Fewer than 20 commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz at the weekend, shipping data showed on Monday (August 24, 2026), as Iranian and U.S. blockades restrict traffic through the chokepoint for energy shipments. Four vessels crossed the strait on Sunday (August 23, 2026)
India had asked the United States not to allow reporters to ask questions during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France in June, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said on Saturday
Make Korea great again: The right-wing group wooing disenchanted youth
Make Korea great again: The right-wing group wooing disenchanted youth
The line for a selfie with South Korea's disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol stretched around Seoul's iconic Gwanghwamun gate.
Except Yoon wasn't there; it was just a picture of him.
The real Yoon is in prison facing insurrection charges. But that didn't matter to the thousands of excited young men and women who had joined the rally organised by right-wing youth group Freedom University.
Spearheaded by 24-year-old student Park Joon-young, Freedom University opposes what it sees as a status quo of corrupt, left-wing South Korean governments promising much but delivering little, especially for the nation's youth.
And in Yoon, they have found an unlikely hero.
On the night of 3 December last year, Yoon, whose party had lost its majority in parliament, launched a desperate bid to reverse his fortunes by declaring martial law.
He ordered troops into the parliament and the national election commission, claiming, without offering any evidence, that the country was under threat from North Korean sympathisers and Chinese spies who were conspiring to steal elections.
Yoon's move was defeated within hours, as furious South Koreans rallied. Thousands of citizens blocked the soldiers, and lawmakers made it inside the National Assembly - some even scaling the walls - to vote down the order.
Yoon was impeached soon after and is now on trial, facing the possibility of life in prison. The saga was considered his political death. But to some, it has also made him a martyr.
While he was never a popular president, and was especially unpopular among young South Koreans, Yoon has since his imprisonment become a symbol of rebellion for young people who have increasingly been feeling left behind.
"When Yoon was elected, I think it wasn't so much that we were happy to see a right-wing candidate win. It was more that a left-wing candidate lost," Mr Park told the BBC.
Not many among the young people who are with us thought Yoon was doing well or that they liked Yoon when he was in power.
But, he says, while declaring martial law, Yoon had called out the Democratic Party for "abusing its power, passing absurd bills and cutting budget for youth policy".
We saw that and now we are with him.
Hyung Ki-sang, a 28-year-old who has been attending pro-Yoon rallies since the martial law declaration, told the BBC that he has been feeling for years that no political party cared about him. After watching Yoon's claim of rigged elections - as well as many YouTube videos purporting to show evidence - he joined his first pro-Yoon rally.
That was also organised by Freedom University.
The group mobilised in universities across the country last year to oppose Yoon's impeachment, and has grown quickly, drawing thousands of attendees to their rallies with aggressive social media campaigns.
Freedom University's founding philosophies are displayed prominently on banners and picket signs at its rallies: "Korea for Koreans," "Chinese Communist Party out!"
Many are also inspired by the American right's Maga movement. "Make Korea Great Again" one sign read, while another said "We are Charlie Kirk" - a reference to the young Maga influencer who was assassinated in September.
And while the latest polling shows that only around 27% of the Korean public actually agree with their views on Yoon, their rise represents a deeper polarisation that is taking hold in South Korea.
Like many of Freedom University's supporters, Mr Park says he first turned to the right by rebelling against what he saw as the prevailing influence of the left.
His father was the chief of a TV network that is often considered left-leaning, while his mother was an aide to left-wing former president Moon Jae-in. His mother and sister are outspoken feminists who had tried to "inject him" with their ideology, he told the BBC.
Mr Park says he began to question his family's politics in the #MeToo era, and was soon exposed to right-wing views online.
For him, the American right is an inspiration.
I was often called extreme right and it is very easy to get cancelled in Korea. But in the US, it's not like that. Charlie Kirk and Maga confidently delivered their message and spoke up," he says. "We are trying to build the same type of platform where people can debate without fear.
He has rejected allegations that he and his movement are "far right".
He told the BBC that the most effective message for his group is the simplest one: "Korea is for Koreans."
This is accompanied by a series of claims against Chinese immigrants - the most popular of which are unproven and disputed allegations of them stuffing ballots and attacking Koreans. The government has strongly refuted these.
The group also portrays President Lee Jae Myung's efforts to thaw ties between Seoul and Beijing as proof that the current government is subservient to China.
Mr Park says he mostly uses social media platforms popular with young people to spread his message. He started with EveryTime, a Korean online forum exclusive to university students, but has since moved his focus to making short-form videos which have gone viral on Instagram, Threads, and YouTube.
The group then gained notoriety in September when it marched through Seoul's Myeongdong neighbourhood, which is frequented by Chinese tourists and home to the Chinese embassy.
Their videos, where protesters chant anti-Chinese slurs, have gone viral enough that Lee has declared that disinformation and hate speech has reached a dangerous level, and directed his government to criminalise them.
But Freedom University's message has proved effective in a country where Sinophobia is widespread and the population regularly ranks as one of the world's least favourable towards China.
It has also resonated deeply with Korean youth, many of whom are disenchanted with the state of the economy and their future prospects.
The latest national survey suggests young South Koreans are the most pessimistic about their country's future.
Nearly 75% of them believe the economy is in poor shape, compared to their parents. Around 50% of that generation hold a positive view of the economy.
The country's economy has grown only 1 to 2% since the pandemic - and with Trump's trade war and growing Chinese competition, young South Koreans are feeling the squeeze.
Home ownership rates for younger generations are at an all-time low. And despite South Korea's education level being one of the highest in the world, the median monthly income sits around $1,600 per month.
Youth psychiatrist and author Kim Hyun Soo says many of these youths hold a deep grudge against Lee's Democratic Party, which has dominated politics for the past decade yet failed to deliver on its economic promises.
[Lee's party] had completely failed its housing policy," Mr Kim says. "Their largest grievances are really the lack of housing and employment.
The economic pinch, mixed with thriving reactionary online culture and tense gender dynamics, creates a fertile soil for groups like Park's to recruit from.
They are also the least critical of Yoon's martial law move - only half of those under 30 believe he is guilty of insurrection.
"The policies put forth by this government, they are absurd. They are not good for the youth. It's so natural that the youth are speaking up now," said 26-year-old Bae Jang-won, who spoke to the BBC at one of Freedom University's rallies.
The psychiatrist, Mr Kim, says it is "imperative" that the youth are offered "new visions" to avoid deeper polarisation in the country: "We must show them that there's hope."
And in the absence of that, he warns that the youth will increasingly turn to movements like Freedom University.
Back at the rally, Kim Ji-min, 24, held up the "Korea for Koreans" sign next to his girlfriend, who waved a Korean flag. He said he joined the demonstration out of frustration that his country was going down the wrong path - his first time attending any kind of political event.
"I was nervous and scared at first. But it feels nice after seeing many other young and like-minded people," he said.
Next to him, a girl, barely a teenager, picked up a sign that read "Never Surrender".
Source: BBC
Related Posts: World
Former Australian captain Greg Chappell with the support of 20 other former international skippers appealed to the Pakistan Government led by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, to provide ‘humane treatment and proper medical care’ for Imran Khan
11 hours ago
The shock resignation of Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran earlier this month has left corporate India's top job vacant. But finding his successor will be no easy task for the country's most revered conglomerate, whose sprawling $300bn empire spans Jaguar Land Rover and Air India as well as
11 hours ago
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian defended a memorandum of understanding with the United States as the best way out of a stalled war. Meanwhile, the new head of the Islamic Republic's top security body warned, in a more forceful tone, of retaliation if neighbouring countries support U.S
11 hours ago
Authorities in China have launched an investigation into reports of formaldehyde being used to preserve the freshness of cabbages for human consumption. Officials in the northeastern Hebei province confirmed that they had verified footage showing individuals dipping cabbages in a solution before
11 hours ago
Three newborns died after a fire that broke out in the neonatal intensive care unit of a government hospital in Maharashtra’s Amravati district in the early hours of Monday, PTI reported. The fire broke out at the Amravati District Women’s Hospital around 3
11 hours ago
Imran's party demands immediate cardiac care for him at Shifa International Hospital Imran's party demands immediate cardiac care for him at Shifa International Hospital Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 11:10:49 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Islamabad
11 hours ago
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s three-day visit to New Delhi in July 2026 for the India-Japan summit appears to have elevated relations between the two Asian countries into a fresh phase of strategic expansion. Ties had already undergone a remarkable transformation over the past decade
11 hours ago
How well do COVID antivirals actually work? Not as well as we thought How well do COVID antivirals actually work? Not as well as we thought Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 11:11:50 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Sydeny, If you're aged over 70
11 hours ago
On Sunday, in a post on X, Wali said the audio contained "explosive evidence" and claimed that Brar admitted his gang had ordered Nijjar's killing, alleging that the assassination was driven by an inter-gang feud. Ottawa: Three years after NIA designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed in
15 hours ago
Until recently, there would have been little to distinguish Vietnam's so-called Justice Tree from the hundreds of others lining the streets of Hanoi. Then the bouquets started piling up. It was here that former politician Nguyen Sy Cuong was driving his BMW in May last year when he veered into the
15 hours ago
Fast-fashion giant Shein says it plans to raise up to HK13.86bn (£1.3bn; $1.77bn) when its shares start trading on the Hong Kong stock market on 1 September. In a filing on Monday, Shein said it will offer nearly 280 million shares for between HK$47.60 and HK$49.50
15 hours ago
A fast-moving, wind-driven wildfire near Reno, Nevada, has forced about 42,000 people to evacuate, while another 45,000 have been urged to prepare to leave. The Hawk Fire has burned 15,040 acres, destroyed some homes and injured six people. Officials declared a state of emergency as the blaze
15 hours ago
Former Indian diplomat Navdeep Suri has raised concerns about the verification process under the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Suri, a retired Indian Foreign Services officer, went through the process in Punjab. It is among the 16 states where the voter roll revision is being
15 hours ago
A moderate earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.9 rattled eastern Japan, including the Tokyo area, early Sunday (August 23, 2026), injuring more than 20 people, most of them slightly, officials said. There was no danger of a tsunami. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency
1 days ago
Chinese humanoid robots broke records set by humans, including beating Usain Bolt’s 100-meter sprint world record, on the opening day of the Olympics-like World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Saturday (August 22, 2026). More than 2,000 humanoid robots were participating in the event
1 days ago
One afternoon in 1907, a young accountant named Chandrasekhar Venkata Raman walked into the laboratory of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science at 210 Bowbazar Street in Calcutta. Though he had a passion for the sciences, colonial India offered no stable careers in the field
1 days ago
Three first information reports were filed against 14 identified and more than 200 unidentified persons on Saturday in connection with clashes between the police and student protesters a day earlier, PTI quoted Ranchi Superintendent of Police Paras Rana as saying
1 days ago
Did an Amazon delivery guy assault a 71-year-old man in California? What we know about the attack and lawsuit A California lawsuit alleged that an Amazon delivery driver assaulted a 71-year-old man at an Elk Grove gas station. Updated on: Aug 23, 2026
1 days ago
‘Pure evil’: Videos of mothers splashing water at their kids spark outrage amid Lindsay Clancy trial Social media videos of mothers throwing water at their children have sparked concerns amid Lindsay Clancy's trial. Published on: Aug 23, 2026
1 days ago
The sister of jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday (August 22, 2026) filed a petition in the Supreme Court, accusing the government and senior officials of violating the top court’s order to shift him to a private hospital for medical examination and treatment
1 days ago
The United States and Canada have entered into uncharted territory. The longtime allies and economic partners, who have enjoyed free trade for decades, are now in an escalating trade war with no clear off ramp. And for Prime Minister Mark Carney
1 days ago
Harrisburg weather update: Special Weather Statement issued for central Pennsylvania as thunderstorms bring 40mph wind NWS has issued a Special Weather Statement for Harrisburg and surrounding parts of central Pennsylvania. Published on: Aug 23, 2026
1 days ago
The police in Maharashtra’s Latur have registered a first information report against Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the Cockroach Janta Party political campaign, for allegedly entering a government school without permission, threatening teachers and defaming the institution
1 days ago
The United States and Iran exchanged defiant messages ahead of Monday’s (August 24, 2026) scheduled announcement of new U.S. economic sanctions that could impact the Islamic Republic and Tehran’s most important trading partners including China
1 days ago
Fourteen people were killed in military air strikes at a monastery in Myanmar early on Friday, opposition fighters and a local rescue worker have said. All of those killed were elderly and a number of monks were also injured, the rescue worker told BBC Burmese, adding that the site was struck twice
1 days ago
Deadly airstrikes in Gaza killed at least ten people on Wednesday. These attacks occurred just days after U.S. negotiators asked Israel to reduce its actions. Israeli troops also crossed the Gaza ceasefire line and detained a Hamas official. The ongoing conflict has killed over seventy-three
1 days ago
The Armed Forces Tribunal on Thursday upheld an administrative censure for a brigadier who was commanding a sector of the Rashtriya Rifles in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district in December 2023 when three civilians died during an interrogation following a militant attack
1 days ago
