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South Korea Former PM Launches Presidential Bid

Han Duck-soo became acting president after Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment. Anthony WALLACE / AFP
Han Duck-soo became acting president after Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment. Anthony WALLACE / AFP
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South Korea Former PM Launches Presidential Bid

Han Duck-soo became acting president after Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment. Anthony WALLACE / AFP
Han Duck-soo became acting president after Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment. Anthony WALLACE / AFP

South Korea's former prime minister Han Duck-soo announced his bid for the presidency on Friday, joining the race in a snap election triggered by the impeachment of the ex-president.

The June 3 vote will decide who replaces impeached former president Yoon Suk Yeol, who was removed from office over his ill-fated declaration of martial law in December that sank South Korea into prolonged political turmoil.

Political instability in the country intensified Thursday after a retrial was ordered for a presidential frontrunner over alleged election law violations, and as two key government figures -- including Han -- resigned.

Han had hinted at a possible presidential bid when he resigned as acting president and prime minister on Thursday, suggesting that he was willing to "take on a greater responsibility".

"For the future of the Republic of Korea, a country I deeply love, and for all of us, I have decided to do what I can," Han said in a televised speech on Friday.

"I will do my utmost to be chosen by our people in this presidential election."

The former prime minister took over as the country's acting president after Yoon was impeached by parliament in December.

The 75-year-old career bureaucrat is expected to team up with Yoon's People Power Party to launch a unified conservative campaign against liberal frontrunner Lee Jae-myung.

Across both liberal and conservative governments, Han has held a range of senior roles, including finance minister, trade minister and the country's ambassador to the US.

Notably, Han has twice served as prime minister, first under late former president Roh Moo-hyun and more recently under Yoon.

"I have dedicated my life to serving on the front lines of economic development as a proud public servant of the Republic of Korea," Han said, pledging that he will tackle the ongoing crisis in trade involving Washington's tariffs.

He also vowed to amend the Constitution to shorten the presidential term.

South Korea's single five-year presidential term has long faced criticism for concentrating excessive power in one individual, with critics accusing it of lacking sufficient checks and balances.

Han's announcement comes a day after the country's highest court overturned a ruling that found frontrunner Lee not guilty of making false statements during a previous campaign, potentially scuppering his chances of running in the election next month.

On the same day, finance minister Choi Sang-mok, set to replace Han as acting president, stepped down as opposition lawmakers voted on his impeachment over alleged involvement in the martial law incident, among others.

The impeachment procedure was suspended after Choi's resignation.

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World

One Minor, One Young Adult Killed in French School Bus Accident

Representation photo: A firefighter sprays water on a burnt bus as unrest continues in Nanterre, Paris suburb, France, July 1, 2023. Yves Herman, Reuters
Representation photo: A firefighter sprays water on a burnt bus as unrest continues in Nanterre, Paris suburb, France, July 1, 2023. Yves Herman, Reuters
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One Minor, One Young Adult Killed in French School Bus Accident

Representation photo: A firefighter sprays water on a burnt bus as unrest continues in Nanterre, Paris suburb, France, July 1, 2023. Yves Herman, Reuters
Representation photo: A firefighter sprays water on a burnt bus as unrest continues in Nanterre, Paris suburb, France, July 1, 2023. Yves Herman, Reuters

A minor and a young adult were killed and 16 others injured when a bus veered off the road in eastern France on Friday, officials said.
The bus, which was travelling between Lyon and Bourg-en-Bresse, was carrying 43 passengers, including 15 minors, said prosecutors.

World

NATO Seeks ‘Just’ End to Ukraine War as Trump Touts Deal Involving Europe

A firefighter tries to extinguish a fire at a destroyed warehouse after a Russian drone attack in Sofiivska Borshchahivka, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. (AP)
A firefighter tries to extinguish a fire at a destroyed warehouse after a Russian drone attack in Sofiivska Borshchahivka, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. (AP)
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NATO Seeks ‘Just’ End to Ukraine War as Trump Touts Deal Involving Europe

A firefighter tries to extinguish a fire at a destroyed warehouse after a Russian drone attack in Sofiivska Borshchahivka, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. (AP)
A firefighter tries to extinguish a fire at a destroyed warehouse after a Russian drone attack in Sofiivska Borshchahivka, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. (AP)

Ukraine's allies are working for a "just and sustainable" end to the war ahead of US-mediated talks next week in Abu Dhabi, NATO said Friday, after US President Donald Trump touted a deal with Russia involving "all of Europe".

Talks in Brussels on Thursday involving NATO, US, Ukrainian and European officials "built on productive discussions in Miami and Oslo and sought to advance a just and sustainable end to the war in Ukraine", an alliance spokeswoman said.

Trump on Thursday predicted a "very big" deal with Russia involving not only the Ukraine war but "all of Europe," in remarks that will fuel fears on the continent of a pivot towards the Kremlin.

Jared Kushner, the president's envoy and son-in-law, said the United States was working on "a broader European security architecture that can help establish the conditions for lasting peace".

Kushner, who participated in the Brussels talks via videolink, said that Washington's "objective is to develop practical arrangements that address the security concerns of all sides".

"We are exploring five principal goals: permanent security consultations, reliable crisis communications, greater military transparency, reciprocal measures to reduce escalation risks, and an enduring framework for long-term European security and stability," he posted online.

He insisted that "any arrangements must fully respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independent decision-making of every nation" and said NATO would "remain central to European collective defense".

The US push will rattle Washington's European allies, who have long rejected Moscow's desire to rewrite the European security architecture.

Before launching the war in Ukraine in 2022, the Kremlin delivered an ultimatum to NATO which included a demand that the alliance's troops be withdrawn from eastern Europe.

That was rejected by the Western military alliance.

Europe has meanwhile been seeking to play a bigger role in the US-led push to end the fighting.

Kushner said that Washington will "consult closely with our European partners on the sidelines" of the Abu Dhabi talks and "if progress is made, aim to move toward a broader multilateral format with their direct participation".

World

Italy's Meloni Blasts Europe's 'Disarray' on Ukraine Talks

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni gestures during a press conference following a cabinet meeting that approves the government's budget measures, at Palazzo Chigi in Rome, Italy, October 28, 2026. REUTERS/Francesco Fotia
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni gestures during a press conference following a cabinet meeting that approves the government's budget measures, at Palazzo Chigi in Rome, Italy, October 28, 2026. REUTERS/Francesco Fotia
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Italy's Meloni Blasts Europe's 'Disarray' on Ukraine Talks

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni gestures during a press conference following a cabinet meeting that approves the government's budget measures, at Palazzo Chigi in Rome, Italy, October 28, 2026. REUTERS/Francesco Fotia
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni gestures during a press conference following a cabinet meeting that approves the government's budget measures, at Palazzo Chigi in Rome, Italy, October 28, 2026. REUTERS/Francesco Fotia

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has slammed Europe's "disorderly" approach to Ukraine negotiations and demanded the EU decide who speaks on its behalf, in a letter seen by AFP Thursday.

In the message to European Council chief Antonio Costa, who chairs summits of EU leaders, Meloni complained about the recent proliferation of meetings in different formats for talks on Russia's war on Ukraine.

"All this is making us look utterly lacking in credibility in handling one of the most complicated dossiers our nations are facing," the Italian leader wrote.

"I am convinced that we all realize how, by giving the image of a Europe that is proceeding in disarray, we are doing nothing but serving the interests of those who want this war to continue."

As examples she cited recent talks in Miami and Oslo as well as meetings this week in Brussels between representatives of Ukraine, the United States, several European countries, NATO and the EU.

She also mentioned a call between the leaders of Norway and Finland and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"I want it on record that I will not go along with this dynamic, nor do I intend to stand by and watch it unfold," Meloni wrote.

"Proceeding in disarray, with initiatives that chase and overlap one another, will not help us, neither with our partners nor with those we must convince to stop a senseless aggression."

The Italian leader said that she wanted EU leaders to decide "once and for all who sits at the negotiating table on behalf of the European Union, and with what mandate."

- Leaders to discuss -

Meloni said she was not requesting a role for herself or Italy.

She asked that the issue be discussed at a summit of EU leaders in Dublin this month, and for a formal decision to be taken at a second meeting in December.

"Otherwise, I fear we risk condemning Europe to irrelevance in the negotiating process," she said.

In response, Costa wrote back to Meloni that he agreed "that Europe needs to act with coherence, unity and determination."

"The European Union's participation must be organized in a manner that enables it to convey a clear and unified message, to defend its interests and to support Ukraine," he said in a letter shared by his office.

The European Council president said that in accordance with the bloc's treaties the EU's "interests need to be represented by its institutions".

He said he would include the issue at the next meeting of EU leaders.

Meloni initially called for the EU to name a single envoy to deal with talks on the Ukraine war at the start of this year, but the push fizzled out.

Europe has long been seeking to play a bigger role in US-led efforts to stop the fighting in Ukraine.

After they largely stalled, Washington has revived its push in recent weeks and will meet with Russian and Ukrainian officials in Abu Dhabi next week.