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South Korea to hold presidential election on May 9

In December last year, South Korea’s parliament voted to impeach scandal-hit President Park Geun-hye

© EPA/JEON HEON-KYUN

TOKYO, March 15. /TASS/. South Korea’s government has decided to hold early presidential election on May 9 to replace the impeached leader, the Kyodo news agency reported on Wednesday, citing the country’s Interior Minister Hong Yun Sik.

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In December last year, South Korea’s parliament voted to impeach scandal-hit President Park Geun-hye and this decision was approved by the Constitutional Court on March 10. Park was dismissed from office and lost immunity from criminal prosecution.

The scandal around the country’s first female president flared up in October 2016 when mass media reports claimed that Park had been under the influence of her close friend Choi Soon-sil. The investigation showed that over the past several years Choi had been meddling in state affairs.

Choi is also accused of exerting pressure on some companies, including electronics giant Samsung, and forcing them to donate tens of millions of dollars to the foundations she controlled. South Korea’s opposition said Park had been involved in these corruption schemes or at least had been aware of them.

Earlier reports said South Korea’s prosecutors will interrogate Park on March 21 as a suspect in connection with the investigation into the high-profile corruption scandal involving the country’s leadership.

Kiev recognizes Russia's tenfold superiority in artillery shells

Vladimir Zelensky admitted that Ukraine had no chance of winning victory without support from the West

US, Europe’s military force insufficient to fight Russia — expert

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Russia’s UN envoy says IAEA too cautious as it doesn’t name culprit behind attacks on ZNPP

Vasily Nebenzya said Russia was calling on the International Atomic Energy Agency to name the source of attacks

Deflecting Iran attack cost billions, Israel, US can't repeat it — former UN inspector

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Demarche delivered to UK consul general in Yekaterinburg over propaganda work

Alexander Kharlov also specified that the provision of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and the bilateral Consular Convention on the need for foreign diplomats to comply with the laws and rules of the host country had been reiterated to Kotecha

Servicemen of Russia’s battlegroup West receive certificates for destroyed Leopard-2 tanks

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Over 80 Ukrainian drones suppressed, downed in Kherson Region over day

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Iran plans negotiations with Russia on purchase of Sukhoi fighters

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US House could consider separate bills on aid to Israel, Ukraine this week — report

US House Speaker Mike Johnson announced the plans in a private meeting with GOP lawmakers on Monday, Politico said

White House effectively rules out option for US forces to intercept Russian missiles

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Israel postpones Rafah operation after Iranian attack — CNN

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Russian forces find coordinates of DPR churches at former Ukrainian positions in Avdeyevka

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Israel Defense Forces announce planned military drills in country’s north on April 16

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Russia to continue boosting cooperation with countries of Global South, East — Lavrov

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Ukraine struggles to garner support for Swiss conference — Russian Foreign Ministry

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Attacks on ZNPP raise risks for nuclear safety — IAEA chief

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Volume of frozen Russian assets in Germany reaches around €3.9 bln

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Italy’s minister estimates Israeli capability to defend from Iranian attack at one billion

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Russian envoy calls UN Security Council meeting on Iran strike parade of hypocrisy

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Ukraine announces blocking of 83 TikTok channels, including 'tass_agency'

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Turkish-mediated Black Sea security pact crumbles as Ukraine backs out — Reuters

According to the draft agreement, seen by the agency, the parties would have extended security guarantees to merchant vessels in the Black Sea, as they committed not to strike or search them as long as they had declared a non-military cargo

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Vilde Hernes stressed that the protection permits for Ukrainian migrants contain many restrictions "such as fewer integration measures, less financial assistance, and no path to permanent residency"

Ukraine actively uses Caesar self-propelled howitzers in Zaporozhye Region — politician

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Russian Armed Forces hit IRIS-T air defense system launcher, Ukrainian ammunition depot

The personnel and equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were also defeated in 129 districts

Israel remains on highest alert as it chooses response to Iran’s attack — senior commander

"Iran will face the consequences for its actions," IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said

Russia, Belarus sign aircraft production agreement

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Yury Borisov noted that SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket was used no more than ten times

Macron draws distinction between Israeli, Russian Olympic participation

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Russian investigators start inquiry into financing of terrorism by US, NATO officials

Investigators have established that the funds that were received through commercial organizations, such as the oil and gas company Burisma Holdings operating in Ukraine, have been used to carry out terrorist acts in Russia and abroad

Ukrainian paratroopers surrender in Avdeyevka area — Russian Defense Ministry

Nine Ukrainian paratroopers of the airborne platoon of the elite brigade of the Ukrainian armed forces seized the opportunity to surrender near Vodyanoye, turned to Russian soldiers and laid down their arms, the ministry said

FSB makes arrest in Ukrainian Security Service officer’s car bombing

According to the FSB, the detainee had departed for Ukraine after the launch of the special military operation where he was recruited by an SBU officer in October 2023

French mercenaries operate Caesar howitzers in Ukraine — French reporter

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Negotiations on safety of navigation in Black Sea continue — source

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US-led coalition’s aircraft violate Syrian airspace eight times in past day

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Russian finance ministry considering abolition of export duty on gold

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Ukrainian Baba Yaga drone found in Moscow office

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Russian air defenses suppress up to 400 Ukrainian UAVs in DPR over week

The drones neutralized by the air defenses included a Mavic-3 UAV and three Baba-Yaga drones carrying improvised explosive devices manufactured with the use of anti-tank aerial bombs and mines

Russian Su-34 jets destroy Ukrainian command post with high-explosive aerial bombs

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Ukraine offers to use neighbors' air defense systems to protect its gas storage facilities

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Iran detains MSC Aries ship over violation of maritime law — Foreign Ministry

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanani noted that Tehran monitors "all ships in the strategic strait" and prevents violations of the country's sovereignty

Netanyahu a threat for Israel, opposition leader says

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Senior Russian diplomat warns about proportional response to threats coming from Finland

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Russian foreign ministry blames Paris for death of French mercenaries in Kharkov

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Japan concerned over Russia-China military cooperation — Foreign Ministry

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The Georgian Interior Ministry said that one police member was injured

Georgian protesters end rally in Tbilisi over foreign agents bill

Rustaveli Avenue has been opened for traffic

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On the evening of April 13, Iran launched dozens of drones and missiles toward Israel in response to what it called "repeated crimes" from Tel Aviv, including the attack on the consular office of the Iranian Embassy in Damascus ascribed to Israel

Share of young men in Ukrainian population drops to record low, says paper

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Moscow shooter identified as European boxing champion Nikita Ivanov

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