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Xinhua world news summary at 0030 GMT, March 31

Xinhua, March 31, 2017 Adjust font size:

Former President Park Geun-hye of South Korea was arrested early Friday as a Seoul court approved the request from prosecutors following her impeachment earlier this month over a corruption scandal embroiling her.

The court said in a statement that Park's major criminal allegations can be justified while concerns remain about a possibility of her destroying evidence. (S. Korea-Park)

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PYONGYANG -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said late Thursday it has reached an agreement with Malaysia on the dispute over the death of a DPRK national in Kuala Lumpur last month.

In a joint communique issued by the Malaysian and DPRK negotiating parties, Malaysia has agreed to transfer the body of the deceased to his family after the latter produced all the required documentation. (DPRK-Malaysia-Death of national)

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WASHINGTON -- U.S. space firm SpaceX made history on Thursday as it launched an already-used Falcon 9 rocket back into space for the first time and then landed its first stage on a droneship in the Atlantic Ocean.

The two-stage rocket, carrying a communications satellite into orbit for Luxembourg-based satellite operator SES, blasted off at 6:27 p.m. EDT (2227 GMT) from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (U.S.-Space)

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PRETORIA -- President Jacob Zuma on Thursday fired Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan in a cabinet reshuffle that affects at least 15 ministers and deputy ministers.

"I have decided to make changes to the National Executive in order to improve efficiency and effectiveness," Zuma said in a statement. (South Africa-Cabinet reshuffle) Endi