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South Korea sets June 3 for presidential election following Yoon’s impeachment

South Korea will head to the polls on 3 June to elect a new president, the country’s acting leader announced on Tuesday, following the dramatic removal of former President Yoon Suk Yeol over an attempted imposition of martial law. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who is currently serving as acting president
South Korea sets June 3 for presidential election following Yoon’s impeachment

South Korea will head to the polls on 3 June to elect a new president, the country’s acting leader announced on Tuesday, following the dramatic removal of former President Yoon Suk Yeol over an attempted imposition of martial law.

The announcement was made by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who is currently serving as acting president after the Constitutional Court upheld Yoon’s impeachment last week, formally ending his presidency and triggering a constitutional mandate to hold fresh elections within 60 days.

Yoon, who attempted to subvert civilian rule in December by deploying armed soldiers to Parliament, was impeached by lawmakers and suspended from office.

The court later ruled that his actions amounted to the use of military force for “political purposes”.

“The presidential election will be held on 3 June, and the day will be declared a temporary public holiday to enable full participation in the democratic process,” Prime Minister Han announced on Tuesday.

The official campaign period will run from 12 May to 2 June, and the new president will be sworn in the day after the election, bypassing the usual two-month transition period due to the leadership vacuum.

Han urged all ministries and the National Election Commission to “ensure a fair and transparent election process that earns the trust of the people.”

The latest Gallup poll places opposition leader Lee Jae-myung as the frontrunner with 34 per cent support, well ahead of any rivals.

A familiar face in South Korean politics, Lee narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 election but has since staged a comeback as leader of the Democratic Party, which currently controls the National Assembly.

Despite legal challenges—including ongoing court cases—Lee is widely expected to run, with sources revealing he is preparing to step down as party leader to compete freely for the nomination.

“The current polling shows Lee Jae-myung has high approval ratings and he is very likely to win, as it seems he doesn’t have a proper challenger,” said Professor Lee Jun-han of Incheon National University.

Trailing far behind in second place is Labour Minister Kim Moon-soo, polling at around 9 per cent, followed by former People Power Party chief Han Dong-hoon and other minor candidates from the embattled ruling party.

Yoon’s removal marks only the second time a South Korean president has been impeached and removed by the Constitutional Court, following Park Geun-hye’s ousting in 2017.

His attempt to declare martial law came amid political unrest and was seen as a power grab that shocked the nation. Millions watched the live broadcast of the court’s verdict last Friday, making it one of the most dramatic moments in South Korean political history.

Since Yoon’s suspension in December, the country has faced several crises, including an aviation disaster, deadly wildfires, and rising trade tensions with the United States, where President Donald Trump recently announced 26 per cent tariffs on South Korean exports.

Yoon now faces a separate criminal trial on charges of insurrection, further cementing his fall from grace.

As the country prepares for a critical election, political analysts say South Koreans are likely to vote for stability and legitimacy in the wake of months of uncertainty.

“South Koreans are craving responsible leadership,” said political analyst Jang Woo-seok. “This election is not just about choosing a president—it’s about restoring democratic confidence.”

South Korea sets June 3 for presidential election following Yoon’s impeachment

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EU urges China to ensure responsible tariff response

The European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday called for China to ensure a negotiated solution to problems caused by the sweeping import tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. Von der Leyen, in a phone call with China’s Premier Li Qiang, emphasised the responsibility of Europe and China, as two of
EU urges China to ensure responsible tariff response

The European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday called for China to ensure a negotiated solution to problems caused by the sweeping import tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.

Von der Leyen, in a phone call with China’s Premier Li Qiang, emphasised the responsibility of Europe and China, as two of the world’s largest markets, to support a strong, reformed trading system—free, fair, and founded on a level playing field.

According to von der Leyen’s office, both politicians discussed setting up a mechanism to track possible trade diversion caused by the tariffs, as the EU fears that China will redirect cheap exports from the US to Europe.

DAILY POST reports that US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose an additional 50 per cent tariff on China and frowned at China’s retaliatory tariffs of 34 per cent against the US.

Responding, China vowed never to yield to the threats issued by President Donald Trump of the United States.

The spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the US, Liu Pengyu, said the US cannot pressure or threaten Beijing, disclosing that China will protect its legitimate interests.

“We have made it clear repeatedly that pressuring or threatening China is not the right way to engage with us. China will firmly protect its legitimate rights and interests,” Pengyu said.

EU urges China to ensure responsible tariff response

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Singapore condemns US tariffs

Singapore on Tuesday said US President Donald Trump’s tariffs are not actions one does to a friend, stating that the government will likely downgrade this year’s economic growth forecast. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, in an address to Parliament, warned that the likelihood of a full-blown global trade war is growing, urging his trade-reliant nation to
Singapore condemns US tariffs

Singapore on Tuesday said US President Donald Trump’s tariffs are not actions one does to a friend, stating that the government will likely downgrade this year’s economic growth forecast.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, in an address to Parliament, warned that the likelihood of a full-blown global trade war is growing, urging his trade-reliant nation to prepare for difficult times ahead.

“We are very disappointed by the US move, especially considering the deep and long-standing friendship between our two countries. These are not actions one does to a friend,” he said.

Recall that Trump last week announced sweeping levies on friends and foes alike after accusing the world of ripping off the United States for years.

DAILY POST reports that Singapore was hit with a 10 percent tariff, despite a free-trade agreement with the United States.

Though the rate is much less than those imposed on other countries, Wong said the trade-dependent nation will be particularly hurt by a slump in the world economy and the unravelling of the global trading system based on free trade.

“Singapore may or may not go into recession this year, but I have no doubt that our growth will be significantly impacted,” he said.

Singapore condemns US tariffs

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Almost 70 countries approach US to negotiate Trump’s tariffs – Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent

Almost 70 countries have now approached the United States to negotiate President Donald Trump’s tariffs. This was revealed by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Bessent spoke on Monday while providing an update on America’s tariff negotiations with other nations during an interview with Fox Business host Larry Kudlow. He said: “As I advised on many
Almost 70 countries approach US to negotiate Trump’s tariffs – Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent

Almost 70 countries have now approached the United States to negotiate President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

This was revealed by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Bessent spoke on Monday while providing an update on America’s tariff negotiations with other nations during an interview with Fox Business host Larry Kudlow.

He said: “As I advised on many shows on April 2, I suggested that the foreign officials ‘keep your cool’. Don’t escalate. Come to us with your offers on how you are going to drop tariffs, how you are going to stop the subsidised financing, and at a point, President Trump will be ready to negotiate.

“Almost 70 countries have now approached us wanting to help rebalance global trade. So it’s going to be a busy April, May, maybe into June.”

Trump recently announced new tariffs on goods imported from other countries into the United States.

He included a baseline levy of 10 per cent and individualised reciprocal higher tariffs on certain countries.

Almost 70 countries approach US to negotiate Trump’s tariffs – Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent

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Putin’s envoy hails US-Russia space cooperation

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s investment envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, on Tuesday, lauded US–Russia space cooperation after a Russian Soyuz rocket carrying an American astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts blasted off for the International Space Station. According to Russia’s space agency, the Soyuz MS-27 was carrying Russians Sergei Ryzhikov and Alexei Zubritsky and NASA’s Jonathan Kim, adding
Putin’s envoy hails US-Russia space cooperation

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s investment envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, on Tuesday, lauded US–Russia space cooperation after a Russian Soyuz rocket carrying an American astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts blasted off for the International Space Station.

According to Russia’s space agency, the Soyuz MS-27 was carrying Russians Sergei Ryzhikov and Alexei Zubritsky and NASA’s Jonathan Kim, adding that it was expected to dock at the ISS at 09:04 GMT.

Dmitriev said Tuesday’s launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan was the latest example of an enduring relationship that traces its history back to 1975.

That was when the first crewed international space mission, carried out jointly by the United States and the Soviet Union, saw an Apollo and a Soyuz dock in space.

That mission, which featured the first international handshake in space, was a symbol of Cold War détente.

“Russian and US cooperation in the space industry continues today,” Dmitriev said on Tuesday, posting a video on his official Telegram channel of the Soyuz rocket blasting off.

Putin’s envoy hails US-Russia space cooperation

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Zelenskyy confirms Ukrainian troops operating in Russia’s Belgorod

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly acknowledged for the first time that the country’s troops are holding positions inside Russia’s Belgorod region. In his nightly address from Kyiv, Zelenskyy said: “We continue to conduct active operations in the border areas on the enemy’s territory, and this is absolutely right. The war must return to where
Zelenskyy confirms Ukrainian troops operating in Russia’s Belgorod

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly acknowledged for the first time that the country’s troops are holding positions inside Russia’s Belgorod region.

In his nightly address from Kyiv, Zelenskyy said: “We continue to conduct active operations in the border areas on the enemy’s territory, and this is absolutely right. The war must return to where it came from.”

He also stated that Ukrainian troop activity continued in Russia’s Kursk region, where incursions first took place in early August.

He added that the operations inside Russia aim to protect Ukraine’s border regions, particularly Kharkiv and Sumy.

There has been no official confirmation from the government in Moscow that Ukrainian troops are operating in Belgorod.

However, the local Belgorod authorities have acknowledged military activity, as parts of the region came under sustained Ukrainian fire.

Zelenskyy said that the country’s commander-in-chief, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, briefed him directly on the operations in Belgorod and Kursk.

Russian military bloggers recently reported that Russian troops had destroyed one of their own dams with an air-dropped bomb near the village of Popovka.

This occurred just a few hundred metres from the Ukrainian border, in an apparent attempt to prevent Ukrainian armoured vehicles from advancing.

In the neighbouring Kursk region, Ukrainian forces had maintained control over parts of the territory for several months.

However, the troops have since retreated from most of Kursk.

Some Western analysts have expressed concern that cross-border incursions could drain resources from key battlefields elsewhere along the front.

Zelenskyy confirms Ukrainian troops operating in Russia’s Belgorod