EU withdraws ambassador to Russia in response to ex-spy poisoning; Trump abruptly replaces adviser

1. EU withdraws ambassador to Russia in response to former spy poisoning

Mr. Markus Ederer. Photo: AFP.

On March 23, the EU decided to recall its ambassador to Russia, supporting Britain in accusing Moscow of being behind the poisoning of former spy Skripal.

"After agreeing on accountability, EU leaders discussed what action they should take instead of just words,"AFPquoted a senior EU official on March 23. "The EU ambassador to Russia will be recalled for consultations." Markus Ederer, a German diplomat, is currently the head of the EU delegation to Russia.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte confirmed the information. Some EU member states are also considering expelling Russian diplomats or recalling their ambassadors.

The leaders of the 28 EU countries said that "it is highly likely that Russia is responsible and there is no other plausible explanation" for the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, England, on March 4. British Prime Minister Theresa May welcomed the support from the EU.

2. Mr. Trump suddenly changed his security advisor.

General HR McMaster (left) and Mr. John Bolton. Photo: Fox

US President Donald Trump has just shared information about replacing National Security Advisor HR McMaster with Mr. John Bolton.

According to CNN, on his personal Twitter account, Mr. Trump said he would appoint former US Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton as national security advisor, replacing Mr. McMaster.

"I am pleased to announce that, effective April 9, Ambassador John Bolton will be my new national security adviser. I would like to thank General HR McMaster, who has done a great job and will always be my friend," Trump wrote.

According to Reuters, John Bolton, born in 1948, is a hawkish politician. He served as US Ambassador to the United Nations from August 2005 to December 2006. Bolton pursued a hardline stance on the nuclear deal with Iran as well as the North Korea issue.

3. South Korea issues arrest warrant for former president Lee Myung Bak

Former South Korean President Lee Myung Bak at a summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in 2012. Photo: Reuters

The arrest warrant was issued about a week after Lee Myung Bak underwent a marathon questioning by prosecutors on suspicion of embezzling millions of dollars in various cases, according to Yonhap.

With this arrest, Mr. Lee is the fourth former high-ranking official to be arrested in the ongoing large-scale corruption investigation in South Korea. Mr. Lee Myung Bak (76 years old) led South Korea from 2008 to 2013.

The charges against Mr. Lee include receiving money in 2009 to pardon the chairman of Samsung Group, receiving $100,000 from the National Intelligence Service and embezzling millions of dollars from an auto parts company, according to AFP (France).

Mr. Lee has always maintained his innocence and accused the investigation against him of being "political revenge" by his political opponents.

4. Russia announces official results of presidential election

Russia announced the official results of the Russian presidential election.

According to Ria Novosti, the Russian Central Election Commission announced on March 23 the official results of the presidential election on March 18.

Incumbent President Vladimir Putin won an absolute victory in the first round with 76.69% of the votes (equivalent to 56,430,712 voters).

In second place was the Communist Party candidate, Pavel Grudinin, with 11.77% of the votes (8,659,206 voters), in third place - Vladimir Zhirinovsky, with 5.65% of the votes (4,154,985 voters).

The Russian presidential campaign officially began on December 18, 2017, and the vote took place on March 18, 2018.

5.Fearing China, US Deploys Record Number of Marines to Australia

US Marines are preparing to arrive in Australia for military exercises.

According to Channel News Asia, the US will deploy a record number of Marines for military exercises in Australia, in the context of Washington wanting to deal with China's aggressive actions in the region.

Australian Defense Minister Marise Payne said 1,587 US Marines will spend six months training in northern Australia, 27% more than the previous deployment last year.

“The US military plays a vital role in ensuring stability in the Asia-Pacific region, and this operation will be a key element of maintaining security for decades to come,” said Ms. Payne.

6.IS-linked man takes hostages in France, two dead

French police cordoned off the scene of the attack. Photo: AFP.

On March 23, a man entered a Super U supermarket in the town of Trebes, southwestern France, opened fire, taking hostages.AFPreport.

A security source said two people were killed in the attack. Witnesses said the gunman shouted “Allahu Akbar” before entering the supermarket.

The man has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS), according to the local prosecutor's office. The incident is being treated as a terrorist attack.

Local authorities tweeted that the area around the supermarket had been cordoned off and the attacker was still holed up inside. French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said the incident was "serious".

7.China is about to send warships to the East Sea again

The Chinese navy destroyer Yuncheng conducts drills near Hainan Island in July 2016. Photo: AP.

In a brief social media post on March 23, the PLA Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese military, said the combat exercise was about to take place but did not specify the time, location or participating ships.

"This is an annual scheduled activity of the navy, the purpose is to test and improve the military's training level, and enhance the ability to win. This is not aimed at any specific country or target," PLA Daily said.

Earlier, Taiwan's defense agency said it had detected and tracked a Chinese aircraft carrier strike group passing through the Taiwan Strait in a southwesterly direction, entering theEast Sea. Taipei said the group of ships was participating in an exercise.