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Iran's Top Diplomat Tests Positive for COVID-19

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian waves as he leaves after his meeting with his Lebanese counterpart Abdullah Bou Habib in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian waves as he leaves after his meeting with his Lebanese counterpart Abdullah Bou Habib in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
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Iran's Top Diplomat Tests Positive for COVID-19

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian waves as he leaves after his meeting with his Lebanese counterpart Abdullah Bou Habib in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian waves as he leaves after his meeting with his Lebanese counterpart Abdullah Bou Habib in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Iran's foreign minister is at home in quarantine after testing positive for the coronavirus, the country's state TV reported on Monday.

According to the official IRNA news agency, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian's general condition was described as good. The report quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh as saying the country's top diplomat is able to perform his work-related duties remotely.

IRNA did not confirm that Abdollahian has COVID-19 as the state TV later did. Many Iranian officials have had the illness caused by the coronavirus.

With nearly 6 million positive cases, Iran has been hit the worst by the pandemic in the Middle East. The country of 84 million people has reported more than 125,000 deaths, The Associated Press reported.

Iranian officials have warned that with less than 45% of the nation fully vaccinated, more surges of the virus are expected. The latest surge came in August, fueled by the contagious delta variant.

Less than half the population in Iran follows measures such as wearing face masks and social distancing.

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South Korean President Faces Impeachment

A man looks at a newspaper reporting South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced his intention to lift the emergency martial law in Seoul, South Korea, 04 December 2024. EPA/HAN MYUNG-GU
A man looks at a newspaper reporting South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced his intention to lift the emergency martial law in Seoul, South Korea, 04 December 2024. EPA/HAN MYUNG-GU
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South Korean President Faces Impeachment

A man looks at a newspaper reporting South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced his intention to lift the emergency martial law in Seoul, South Korea, 04 December 2024. EPA/HAN MYUNG-GU
A man looks at a newspaper reporting South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced his intention to lift the emergency martial law in Seoul, South Korea, 04 December 2024. EPA/HAN MYUNG-GU

South Korean lawmakers submitted a bill on Wednesday to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol after he declared martial law before reversing the move hours later, triggering a political crisis in Asia's fourth-largest economy.
The surprise declaration of martial law late on Tuesday caused a standoff with parliament, which rejected his attempt to ban political activity and censor the media, as armed troops forced their way into the National Assembly building in Seoul.
The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) called for Yoon, who has been in office since 2022, to resign or face impeachment.
Six South Korean opposition parties later submitted a bill in parliament to impeach Yoon, with voting set for Friday or Saturday.
"It was clearly revealed to the entire nation that President Yoon could no longer run the country normally. He should step down," senior DP member of parliament Park Chan-dae said in a statement.
There were deep divisions in Yoon's ruling People Power Party as well, as its leader called for Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun to be fired and the entire cabinet to resign.
Yoon told the nation in a television speech late on Tuesday that martial law was needed to defend the country from pro-North Korean anti-state forces, and protect the free constitutional order, although he cited no specific threats.
Chaotic scenes ensued as troops tried to seize control of the parliament building, parliamentary aides sprayed fire extinguishers to push them back, and protesters scuffled with police outside, Reuters reported.
The military said activities by parliament and political parties would be banned, and that media and publishers would be under the control of the martial law command.
But lawmakers defied the security cordon and within hours of the declaration, South Korea's parliament, with 190 of its 300 members present, unanimously passed a motion for martial law be lifted, with 18 members of Yoon's party present.
The president then rescinded the declaration of martial law, just about six hours after its proclamation.
Protesters outside the National Assembly shouted and clapped. "We won!" they chanted, and one demonstrator banged on a drum.