South Korea votes after Yoon’s impeachment
Millions of South Koreans are casting their ballots in a snap election triggered by the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, following his failed martial law attempt in December.
Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung is leading in the polls, while ruling party candidate Kim Moon-soo, a former Yoon cabinet member, is trailing, BBC reported.
The next president will inherit a divided country, mounting economic worry over US tariffs, and a volatile ally in President Donald Trump.
Polls close at 8:00 p.m. local time (11:00 GMT), with results expected within hours, according to BBC.
Ukraine-Russia talks in Istanbul show humanitarian progress
Ukraine and Russia made limited but concrete progress on humanitarian issues during peace talks held Monday in Istanbul under Turkish mediation, according to Xinhua.
Ukraine proposed a 30-day ceasefire, prisoner releases, and the return of children and young soldiers, as stated by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.
Russia agreed to repatriate 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers' dead in exchange for all severely injured and 18-25-year-old troops. Moscow also proposed a brief ceasefire in certain frontline sectors, Xinhua reported.
Officials regarded the discussions as positive. It was the second direct encounter in Istanbul since May, indicating a tentative move toward future engagement.
UK to strengthen military in response to Russian threat
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans to significantly upgrade the UK's military capabilities, including the development of new nuclear-powered attack submarines and increased army preparedness for potential conflict in Europe, according to Firstpost.
Speaking at a naval shipyard in Scotland, Starmer said that the threat from Russia is more serious and immediate than at any time since the Cold War.
The announcement comes amid a broader reassessment of defense strategies by NATO members following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Starmer described the upgrades as the most substantial in over three decades, Firstpost reported.
Karol Nawrocki wins Polish presidential runoff
Karol Nawrocki has won Poland’s presidential runoff election, according to the final results released by the National Electoral Commission (PKW) on Monday.
Nawrocki, an independent candidate supported by the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, secured 50.89 percent of the vote, narrowly defeating Civic Coalition (KO) candidate and Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, who received 49.11 percent, according to Xinhua.
Nawrocki, a historian and director of the Institute of National Remembrance, ran his first presidential campaign as an underdog, consistently trailing in polls. Despite early exit polls predicting defeat, he emerged victorious.
Born in 1983 in Gdansk, Nawrocki will take office on August 6, succeeding President Andrzej Duda at the end of his second and final term, Xinhua reported.
