South Korea’s main opposition party taps former party chief as presidential candidate

South Korea’s main opposition party taps former party chief as presidential candidate
Former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung (C) leaves after a press conference on his presidential bid for the June election at the National Assembly in Seoul. (AFP)
Updated 27 April 2025

South Korea’s main opposition party taps former party chief as presidential candidate

South Korea’s main opposition party taps former party chief as presidential candidate

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s main liberal opposition party tapped Sunday its former leader Lee Jae-myung as presidential candidate in the upcoming June 3 vote.
The Democratic Party said Lee has won nearly 90% of the votes cast during the party’s primary that ended Sunday, defeating two competitors.
Lee, a liberal who wants greater economic parity in South Korea and warmer ties with North Korea, has solidified his position as front-runner to succeed recently ousted conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Lee had led the opposition-controlled parliament’s impeachment of Yoon over his imposition of martial law before the Constitutional Court formally dismissed him in early April. Yoon’s ouster prompted a snap election set for June 3 to find a new president, who’ll be given a full, single five-year term.
Lee, 60, lost the 2022 election to Yoon in the narrowest margin recorded in the country’s presidential elections.
He is the clear favorite to win the election.
In a Gallup Korea poll released Friday, 38% of respondents chose Lee as their preferred new president, while all other aspirants obtained single-digit support ratings. The main conservative People Power Party is to nominate its candidate next weekend, and its four presidential hopefuls competing to win the party ticket won combined 23% of support ratings in the Gallup survey.
Lee, who served as the governor of South Korea’s most populous Gyeonggi province and a mayor of Seongnam city, has long established an image as an anti-establishment figure who can eliminate deep-rooted unfairness, inequality and corruption in South Korea. But his critics view him as a populist who relies on stoking divisions and demonizing opponents and worry his rule would likely end up intensifying a domestic division.


18 dead, dozens missing in Nigeria mine collapse: local sources

18 dead, dozens missing in Nigeria mine collapse: local sources
Updated 2 min 7 sec ago

18 dead, dozens missing in Nigeria mine collapse: local sources

18 dead, dozens missing in Nigeria mine collapse: local sources
  • “We have managed to pull out 18 dead bodies from the pit,” Lawwali said
  • A dozen other miners were still trapped inside

GUSAU, Nigeria: Rescuers in Nigeria are searching for dozens of people missing after a boulder crashed onto an illegal mine during heavy rains, killing at least 18 people, local sources told AFP on Saturday.
The rock came crashing down on Thursday on the mine in the northern Zamfara state outside the Kadauri village in the Maru district, they said.
“We have managed to pull out 18 dead bodies from the pit and five other survivors who sustained various degrees of injuries,” Sani Lawwali, a miner who works in unauthorized pits, said from Kadauri.
A dozen other miners were still trapped inside and their fate remained unknown, said Lawwali, who took part in the rescue effort.
“The process is slow and laborious as we use our bare hands to chisel the end of the boulder to make holes for limited access into the pit,” he said.
Rescuers have asked for a bulldozer being used at a nearby road construction site to be brought in to help, but had not yet received a response from the company using it, Lawwali added.
Abubakar Nabube, a local community leader, confirmed the death toll of 18. He said that 15 of those killed came from the nearby Maikwanugga and Damaga villages.
“If no help comes from emergency agencies soon, none of those trapped would come out alive,” he said.
Zayyanu Ibrahim, a resident of Kadauri village said the collapse occurred at one of several newly dug sites in the recently established mining site.
“Dozens of miners were working in the pit while it heavily rained outside. A huge boulder at the mouth of the pit collapsed and buried miners inside,” said Ibrahim, who also confirmed the toll.
Sani Abdullahi, a councillor in the area, said it was difficult to say how many people there were in the pit at the time of the accident.
Officials from the Nigerian emergency agency NEMA did not respond to an AFP enquiry about the accident.
Zamfara, a poor agrarian state, is rich in gold deposits where illegal artisanal mining thrives in the countryside, despite several attempts by authorities to stop the practice.
The authorities have blamed illegal mining for the worsening of bandit violence, with criminal gangs getting money from protection fees they extort from miners.


Alvarez double sparks Atletico comeback to stun leaders Real Madrid 5-2​

Alvarez double sparks Atletico comeback to stun leaders Real Madrid 5-2​
Updated 13 min 40 sec ago

Alvarez double sparks Atletico comeback to stun leaders Real Madrid 5-2​

Alvarez double sparks Atletico comeback to stun leaders Real Madrid 5-2​
  • Atletico’s aggressive start paid off when Robin Le Normand opened the scoring with a header
  • Alexander Sorloth’s header in added time before the break gave Atletico a boost

MADRID: Julian Alvarez scored twice as Atletico Madrid came from behind to thrash city rivals Real Madrid 5-2 in a pulsating derby on Saturday that handed the LaLiga leaders their first loss after a perfect start to the season.
The thrilling encounter at a raucous Metropolitano stadium, with nearly 70,000 fans on the edge of their seats, saw Atletico fight back from 2-1 down to claim a memorable victory that lifted them to fourth place with 12 points. Real Madrid remain atop LaLiga on 18 points, two ahead of Barcelona who have a game in hand.
Atletico’s aggressive start paid off when Robin Le Normand opened the scoring with a header in the 14th minute, but Kylian Mbappe burst through to level with an unstoppable strike from close range in a quick counter in the 25th minute, with Arda Guller netting a volley from a Vinicius Jr cross 11 minutes later to put the visitors in front.
Alexander Sorloth’s header in added time before the break gave Atletico a boost and they regained the lead five minutes into the second half when Alvarez converted a penalty after Guler’s high boot clipped rival Nico Gonzalez on the face inside the box.
After Alvarez extended their lead in the 64th minute with a sublime free kick into the top corner, substitute Antoine Griezmann sealed the win in a quick counter in added time.


Russian foreign minister: Any aggression against our country will be met with a ‘decisive response’

Russian foreign minister: Any aggression against our country will be met with a ‘decisive response’
Updated 22 min 16 sec ago

Russian foreign minister: Any aggression against our country will be met with a ‘decisive response’

Russian foreign minister: Any aggression against our country will be met with a ‘decisive response’
  • Lavrov spoke as unauthorized flights into NATO’s airspace have raised alarm around Europe
  • “Russia has never had and does not have any such intentions” of attacking European or NATO countries

UNITED NATIONS: Russia’s top diplomat insisted to world leaders Saturday that his nation has no intention of attacking Europe, but any aggression against his country “will be met with a decisive response.”
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke as unauthorized flights into NATO’s airspace — intrusions blamed on Russia — have raised alarm around Europe in recent weeks, particularly after NATO jets downed drones over Poland and Estonia said Russian fighter jets flew into its territory and lingered for 12 minutes.
Russia denied that its planes entered Estonian airspace and said the drones didn’t target Poland, with Moscow’s ally Belarus maintaining that Ukrainian signal-jamming sent the devices off course.
Lavrov instead maintained that it’s Russia that’s facing threats “Russia has never had and does not have any such intentions” of attacking European or NATO countries, he said. “However, any aggression against my country will be met with a decisive response.”


Grimaldo touch helps Leverkusen to beat St. Pauli 2-1

Grimaldo touch helps Leverkusen to beat St. Pauli 2-1
Updated 38 min 28 sec ago

Grimaldo touch helps Leverkusen to beat St. Pauli 2-1

Grimaldo touch helps Leverkusen to beat St. Pauli 2-1
  • Leverkusen have struggled for form so far with new coach Kasper Hjulmand demanding more time
  • They saw St. Pauli bounce back with Hauke Wahl seven minutes later

HAMBURG: Bayer Leverkusen needed the magic touch of Alejandro Grimaldo to set up goals for Edmond Tapsoba and Ernest Poku and earn a 2-1 victory at St. Pauli on Saturday, maintaining their league-record unbeaten run on the road.
Spain international Grimaldo floated a freekick into the box and Tapsoba pounced on a bad clearance to rifle in from close range for a 25th-minute lead.
Leverkusen, domestic double winners in 2024 and runners-up last season, have struggled for form so far with new coach Kasper Hjulmand demanding more time.
They saw St. Pauli bounce back with Hauke Wahl seven minutes later, but Grimaldo delivered a perfectly-timed assist for the 21-year-old Poku in the 58th and the Dutchman drilled the ball past keeper Nikola Vasilj to put them back in front.
Leverkusen, who face PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Wednesday, held on to the three points to stretch their undefeated run in away matches in the Bundesliga to 36, and climb to fourth on eight points, seven behind leaders Bayern Munich.


Under-fire Amorim accepts criticism as Man Utd crash at Brentford

Under-fire Amorim accepts criticism as Man Utd crash at Brentford
Updated 27 September 2025

Under-fire Amorim accepts criticism as Man Utd crash at Brentford

Under-fire Amorim accepts criticism as Man Utd crash at Brentford
  • Lacklustre United’s third loss in six Premier League games this season has left Amorim fighting to avoid the sack
  • Amorim’s side were punished for shambolic defending as Igor Thiago netted twice in the first half

LONDON: Ruben Amorim said he would not try to protect himself or his players from the mounting pressure after Manchester United crashed to a dismal 3-1 defeat at Brentford on Saturday.
Lacklustre United’s third loss in six Premier League games this season has left Amorim fighting to avoid the sack.
Amorim’s side were punished for shambolic defending as Igor Thiago netted twice in the first half.
Benjamin Sesko, signed from Leipzig in the summer, bagged his first goal for United before half-time.
But Amorim’s misery mounted when United captain Bruno Fernandes had a second half penalty saved by Caoimhin Kelleher before Mathias Jensen struck in stoppage-time.
After Jensen’s decisive goal, Amorim had to endure chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” from jubilant Brentford fans at the Gtech Community Stadium.
“Ups and downs, when you win you feel the momentum is here,” said Amorim, who is still waiting to record successive league wins since taking charge in November.
“When you lose you go back to the same place and fight for the one win that can help you to create the momentum.
“I am always doing my job. If I win I’m in different state of mind, but I am always confident because I know what to do.
“I am trying to do my best for the club and the team, thinking what is the best to win the next game. Not to protect the players or myself, win the next game and create the momentum.”
Brentford might have been reduced to 10 men for the final 20 minutes when Nathan Collins dragged down former Bees striker Bryan Mbeumo.
But referee Craig Pawson deemed a spot-kick sufficient punishment and Collins did not see red, despite the defender not appearing to have any intention to play the ball.
“The referee told me Bryan is not in control of the ball. I think he is not in control of the ball because he was pulled. But that is the decision and I do not want to focus on the referee,” Amorim said.

- ‘We never settled down’ -

Amorim was reportedly backed by United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe during a recent meeting at the club’s training ground.
But Ratcliffe’s support could be wavering after United’s latest ignominious loss.
The former Sporting Lisbon boss was regarded as one of the brightest young coaches in Europe when he arrived to replace the sacked Erik ten Hag.
But Amorim has found it impossible to lift United out of the malaise that has gripped them since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 after winning their most recent Premier League title.
Amorim presided over United’s worst top-flight season since 1973-74 and watched as they slumped to a limp 1-0 defeat against Tottenham in the Europa League final last season.
Ratcliffe gave Amorim over £250 million to spend on Sesko, Matheus Cunha and former Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo in a bid to revitalize his spluttering attack.
United have made a miserable start despite that investment, losing to Arsenal, Manchester City and Brentford, as well as suffering a humiliating League Cup loss at fourth tier Grimsby.
Amorim conceded United have a host of problems to solve before result can improve.
“The penalty in the second half changed things, but we never settled down. Possession and control of the game was never there, so we lost,” he said.
“We need to work on a lot of things and my biggest concern is we did not settle down in the game, missed a lot of crosses in final third, and suffered from transitions.
“We play the game of Brentford and when you play the opponents’ game it is harder to win.”