World
Impeachment Rejected: South Korean PM Han Duck-soo Reinstated, Calls for Unity
On the 24th, after the impeachment motion against South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was dismissed, he was swiftly reinstated and demonstrated his commitment to national unity. The Constitutional Court’s ruling not only restored him to office but also allowed him to continue serving as acting president. Han emphasized that South Korea is at a critical turning point in its national development, facing rapidly changing domestic and international circumstances, and that only unity can help the country overcome these challenges. He pledged to prioritize the younger generation and the nation’s future, advancing the country in accordance with the Constitution and the law.
Furthermore, Han Duck-soo’s reinstatement has sparked discussions regarding the impeachment case against President Yoon Suk-yeol. The presidential office welcomed the ruling, stating that it signals that the opposition party’s arbitrary impeachment attempts will not be accepted. This development could have significant implications for South Korea’s political future.
This ruling is not only a personal victory for Han Duck-soo but could also serve as an opportunity for greater political unity in South Korea. It is hoped that the country can use this moment as a turning point toward a more stable and united future.
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Israeli Airstrike Hits Southern Gaza, Hamas Political Leader Killed
On the 23rd, Israel carried out intense airstrikes on Khan Younis, southern Gaza, killing Salah al-Bardaweel, Hamas' highest-ranking political leader, along with his wife. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s foreign policy advisor warned that Israel would continue striking Hamas targets until all hostages were returned home.
Salah al-Bardaweel, 66, was born in the Khan Younis refugee camp and had close ties to current Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. He was considered one of the core second-generation leaders within Hamas and played a significant role in the organization. He previously served as the head of Hamas’ parliamentary political department and rejoined Hamas’ political bureau in 2021. Following reports that Sinwar and Rawhi Mushtaha had been killed in the conflict, al-Bardaweel was regarded as Hamas’ highest political leader.
Since Israel resumed its offensive against Hamas on the 18th, military operations have escalated. Netanyahu’s senior advisor, Ophir Falk, stated that the best way to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining 59 hostages was through military force. He claimed that Hamas only returned to negotiations due to military pressure, which is why the Israeli military is continuing its operations.
During her visit to Egypt, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas called for an end to the renewed violence in Gaza. She strongly opposed Israel’s resumption of hostilities, which she said had caused shocking casualties. "The killing must stop, or both sides will lose," Kallas warned.
Kallas is also set to visit Israel and Palestine, where she is expected to meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, and opposition leader Yair Lapid. She emphasized that, from the European perspective, Hamas must release all hostages, Israel must fully restore humanitarian aid to Gaza, and negotiations must resume. In her meetings in Israel and the Palestinian territories, Kallas is expected to stress the importance of ensuring large-scale, uninterrupted humanitarian aid to Gaza.
On the 21st, the United Nations stated that Gaza was facing a "nightmare" following Israel’s resumption of military operations after a six-week ceasefire. Aid workers warned that the humanitarian crisis could worsen as ceasefire negotiations remained stalled and Israel had recently cut off aid and electricity to Gaza.
According to Hamas’ health ministry, over 49,500 Palestinians have been killed in the ongoing conflict, with Gaza’s infrastructure and essential resources suffering unprecedented destruction.
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London Heathrow Airport Closes Due to Substation Fire; Counterterrorism Police Investigate
London Heathrow Airport, the largest airport in the UK, was recently forced to close after a fire broke out at a nearby substation, causing power outages in parts of the airport. Due to the widespread impact of the incident, UK counterterrorism police have launched an investigation to determine whether sabotage or other security threats were involved.
According to reports from the BBC, The Guardian, and The Independent, the fire broke out on the evening of March 22 at a substation in west London, near Heathrow Airport. The power supply to the airport was affected, plunging some terminals into darkness and severely disrupting operations. Many flights were canceled or delayed, affecting thousands of passengers.
The UK National Grid stated that the fire caused a temporary failure of the main power lines at the substation, leading to unstable electricity supply at the airport and in surrounding areas. Firefighters rushed to the scene and took several hours to bring the fire under control. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Given that substations are critical infrastructure, UK authorities are treating the incident with high priority. The Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command has taken over the investigation and is working with intelligence agencies to assess whether the fire was the result of deliberate sabotage or a terrorist attack. While police have stated that there is no clear evidence linking the incident to terrorism at this time, they are conducting a thorough investigation to ensure public safety. Meanwhile, airport authorities are working with relevant agencies to restore power and resume normal flight operations as soon as possible.
Due to the power outage, some flights at Heathrow Airport were canceled, and terminals became overcrowded with passengers waiting for updates. Many travelers expressed frustration over the lack of clear information. One passenger, who was scheduled to fly to New York, told the Daily Mail: "We've been stuck at the airport for hours, and no one can tell us what to do next."
Heathrow Airport officials posted on social media that technical teams were working around the clock to restore power. They also advised passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport. Airlines have begun coordinating rescheduling and compensation measures to minimize disruption to travelers.
The incident has once again raised concerns about airport security and the stability of the UK's critical infrastructure. As one of the busiest aviation hubs in Europe, Heathrow Airport handles over 80 million passengers annually, meaning any infrastructure failure can have severe consequences. Experts are urging the government to strengthen the protection of key facilities to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
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The European Union Issues Defense White Paper, Plans NATO "De-Americanization" Over 5-10 Years
Since U.S. President Donald J. Trump took office, he has repeatedly threatened to withdraw from NATO, creating uncertainty and raising concerns among European countries about the possibility of a unilateral U.S. exit. In response, countries such as the UK, France, Germany, and Nordic nations have been planning contingency strategies. They aim to gradually shift defense responsibilities over the next 5 to 10 years, reducing reliance on the U.S. in preparation for the potential impact and disruption if the U.S. were to withdraw from NATO in the future.
According to several European officials familiar with the situation, these countries have organized informal discussions with the goal of developing a plan that would shift the financial and military burden to European nations. They hope to present the plan to the U.S. before the NATO Annual Summit in The Hague this June.
The proposal includes clear commitments from European countries to gradually increase defense budgets and military capabilities. This is aimed at persuading the U.S. to agree to a phased transfer of defense responsibilities, allowing the U.S. to focus more on Asia to address potential conflicts in the Indo-Pacific region.
Despite this, the U.S. will still play a critical role in European defense. With defense spending greater than the combined total of all NATO allies, the U.S. provides not only nuclear deterrence capabilities that ensure European security but also irreplaceable military capabilities. Additionally, the U.S. has about 80,000 troops stationed in Europe. To replace the current level of U.S. military presence, European nations would need to significantly increase their defense budgets over the next 5 to 10 years, even excluding the U.S. nuclear deterrence capacity.
Although the U.S. State Department has repeatedly assured the EU that America still supports NATO and the collective defense clause under Article 5, where NATO members will defend each other if one is attacked, many European nations remain concerned. With Trump's potential re-election and his performance on the Russia-Ukraine war, many worry that the White House might scale back U.S. military presence in Europe and other deployments, or even withdraw from joint NATO missions. In such a case, European countries would face significant security risks.
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Finland Retains Its Title as the World's Happiest Country; Taiwan Ranks Third in Asia
The United Nations released the 2025 "World Happiness Report" on March 20, ranking the happiness levels of 147 countries and regions worldwide. Finland has held the top spot for the eighth consecutive year, while Taiwan ranked 27th globally, placing third in Asia.
Since 2012, the United Nations has published the annual "World Happiness Report" on March 20, which coincides with International Happiness Day. The report surveys 147 countries and regions, using self-reported life satisfaction, GDP per capita, social support, life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and corruption levels as key indicators. Finland remains at the top this year as the world's happiest country, followed by Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden, with Norway ranking seventh. Nordic countries occupy five spots in the top ten.
The United States dropped one position from last year, ranking 24th, a significant decline from its 11th position in the 2012 report. Taiwan improved to 27th place, surpassing Singapore (34th), Japan (55th), South Korea (58th), and China (68th). In Asia, Taiwan ranks third, behind only Israel (8th) and the United Arab Emirates (21st). At the bottom of the rankings is Afghanistan, under Taliban rule, which remains the least happy country in the world.
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Trump Focuses on Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire, Continues Talks with Putin and Zelensky
Donald Trump officially spoke with Vladimir Putin on March 18 to discuss a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Putin rejected a full 30-day ceasefire, agreeing only to a prisoner exchange and a one-month suspension of attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Further negotiations are required for a permanent ceasefire. In a statement after the call, Russia added additional conditions to the ceasefire agreement, including that Ukraine must agree to limit military mobilization and halt the rearmament process. According to Russia's *Kommersant* newspaper, Putin also demanded that Trump formally recognize Russia's control over four Ukrainian regions and Crimea as Russian territory.
However, just hours after Trump's call with Putin, Russian forces continued airstrikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure in the eastern region, raising doubts about Putin's reliability. Throughout the Russia-Ukraine war, Russia, facing sanctions from Western nations, successfully transitioned its economy to a wartime model and shifted its trade focus to countries like China and India. With the conflict still in Russia's favor, Putin has shown little urgency in negotiating. While Trump has suggested considering pressure on Russia, his approach remains focused on maintaining friendly relations, pending further assessment of the situation.
On March 19, Trump spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who described the conversation as very "positive," "frank," and "productive." The two agreed on a limited ceasefire regarding energy facilities, and Ukraine also requested more air defense systems from the U.S. Trump agreed to help find available resources. Zelensky stated on social media platform X, "We believe that together with the United States and President Trump, under the leadership of the United States, lasting peace can be achieved within this year."
For Ukraine and Europe's power grid, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, controlled by Russia, is of critical importance. Trump also suggested that the U.S. could take over the ownership and operation of the plant, which would allow the U.S. to ensure its safety. Zelensky noted that it could take up to two years to resume operations at the plant.
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Ceasefire Negotiations Collapse, Israel Launches Massive Airstrikes on Gaza, Causing Heavy Casualties
On March 18, Israel launched a large-scale airstrike campaign on the Gaza Strip, resulting in more than 400 deaths and over 560 injuries. The collapse of ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, which had been ongoing for two months, has raised international concerns about the potential for renewed conflict.
According to foreign reports, a White House spokesperson stated that Israel had consulted with the U.S. government before launching the attack on Hamas. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on social media platform X that Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Gallant had instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to carry out military actions on the evening of the 17th, citing Hamas's refusal to release hostages and accept related mediation proposals. Netanyahu emphasized that Israel would intensify military pressure on Hamas, vowing to use force to rescue hostages held in Gaza.
Israeli officials explained that the attack on Gaza in the early hours of the 18th was a preventive, preemptive measure aimed at disrupting Hamas's terrorist activity plans and rearmament. Targets included mid-level Hamas military commanders, leaders, and related infrastructure. The Israeli authorities indicated that the attacks would continue, and if necessary, operations would not be limited to airstrikes.
Sources from Hamas reported that at least five senior officials were killed in the airstrikes. Hamas accused Israel of unilaterally ending the ceasefire agreement, which has further endangered the fate of 59 hostages.
The scale of this attack clearly surpasses Israel's recent drone strikes on smaller militant groups. Palestinian health officials indicated that many of the dead were children, women, and elderly individuals. CNN reported intense airstrike sounds in multiple areas of Gaza, while witnesses told Reuters that Israel used tanks to attack the Rafah area in southern Gaza.
Foreign reports also revealed that Hamas has called on the United States, Qatar, and Egypt to act as mediators and demand a ceasefire from Israel. Additionally, Hamas has urged the United Nations Security Council to convene an emergency meeting to demand that Israel halt its aggressive actions.
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Trump Says He Spoke with Putin on 3/18, U.S. Hopes for Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire in Weeks
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on March 16 that he will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the 18th in an effort to broker a 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Ukraine had already accepted a U.S.-proposed ceasefire agreement on the 11th. Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Putin on the evening of the 13th and described the discussion as problem-solving oriented. Putin has, in principle, agreed to Trump's “vision for ending the Russia-Ukraine war” but requires key conditions to be met before accepting.
Trump stated that the call will address issues related to land and power plants, mentioning discussions on the division of specific assets. U.S. officials have strongly hinted that Ukraine may need to make significant concessions, including ceding some territory and abandoning its NATO aspirations. Witkoff revealed that the gap between the two sides has narrowed and expressed hope for a ceasefire within weeks. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on the 15th the formation of a negotiation team led by his Chief of Staff, Andriy Yermak.
Additionally, Trump has reappointed Keith Kellogg as the U.S. envoy to Ukraine, focusing on engagement with Ukrainian leadership. Reports indicate that Russia is dissatisfied with Kellogg’s pro-Ukraine stance and has excluded him from high-level negotiations. Overall, the Trump administration is actively pushing for a ceasefire and working to bridge the divide between both sides. The progress of negotiations in the coming weeks will be crucial.
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Israeli Attack Kills 9, Gaza Ceasefire Agreement Faces Test
The Gaza Civil Defense Organization stated that an Israeli attack on the 15th resulted in the deaths of nine people, including media professionals, potentially further endangering the fragile truce between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.
According to AFP, following the attack in Gaza, Hamas accused Israel of "blatantly violating" the ceasefire agreement reached between the two sides on January 19 of this year. In October 2023, conflict erupted between Hamas and Israel in Gaza, and after 15 months of warfare, a temporary ceasefire agreement was reached in January of this year. Although the first phase of the ceasefire expired on March 1 and no subsequent agreement has been reached, both sides have exercised restraint and have not resumed full-scale war.
On the 12th, a senior Hamas official stated that both parties had begun a new round of negotiations in Doha, and Israel had also sent mediators.
Gaza Civil Defense Organization spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal told AFP on the 15th, "Nine martyrs were taken to the hospital, including several media professionals and some staff members from the Al-Khair Charitable Organization." He noted that the incident began when Israel launched a drone attack on Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, followed by artillery shelling in the area.
The Israeli side stated that in Beit Lahia, the military used a drone to strike two terrorists who posed a threat to Israeli forces. Subsequently, several other terrorists seized the drone operation equipment and entered a vehicle, prompting the Israeli military to launch an attack on them.
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Pro-Palestinian Protesters Storm Trump Tower, 98 Arrested
Hundreds of protesters from Jewish Voice for Peace occupied Trump Tower in New York on the 13th, in solidarity with Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian student activist who was arrested by the Trump administration. The New York City police arrested 98 protesters on charges of trespassing and other offenses.
Around 11:30 a.m. that day, hundreds of protesters wearing red T-shirts with the slogan "Jews say stop arming Israel" gathered in the dining area of Trump Tower for a sit-in. They held up banners and chanted slogans demanding the release of Khalil, a former Columbia University student and pro-Palestinian activist.
The police arrived at around 12:30 p.m., and after three warnings, arrested 98 protesters on charges of trespassing, obstructing justice, and other offenses. No injuries were reported, and neither Trump nor the protesters have yet commented on the incident.。
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