Six In The Morning Friday 4 April 2025

South Korea's president has been removed from power: What happens now?

Jean Mackenzie

Seoul correspondent

South Korea's president has been removed from office after the Constitutional Court voted unanimously to uphold his impeachment.

Yoon Suk Yeol was suspended from duty in December after being impeached by parliament, following his failed attempt to impose martial law.

The ruling on Friday was met with tears of joy and sadness among Yoon's critics and supporters, who had gathered in various parts of Seoul to watch the verdict live.

A snap election to vote for Yoon's replacement must be held by 3 June.

‘Only job I know’: tiny Lesotho’s garment workers reel from Trump’s 50% tariffs

Impoverished African country is hit with highest tariff rate, overturning decades of global trade policy

Rachel Savage in Johannesburg and Majirata Latela in Maseru

Fri 4 Apr 2025 13.17 BST

The day after Donald Trump announced sweeping global tariffs, Lesotho’s garment workers feared for their jobs.

Last year, Lesotho sent about 20% of its $1.1bn (£845m) of exports to the US, most of it clothing under a continent-wide trade agreement meant to help African countries’ development via tariff-free exports, as well as diamonds.

Now, all that is at risk, after the US president imposed a 50% tariff on the impoverished landlocked country, which he claimed last month “nobody had ever heard of”.

Sexist chants shouted at female referee prompt investigation

Referee Fabienne Michel was reportedly subjected to sexist abuse from the stands while officiating a football match in Germany's third division. The German Football Federation has opened an investigation.

The German Football Federation (DFB) has opened an investigation into reports that referee Fabienne Michel was subjected to sexist abuse by fans during a third-division fixture last weekend, according to German public broadcaster Sportschau.

Michel, 30, is currently the only female referee in Germany's top three professional football leagues and took charge of the 3. Liga game between SC Verl and Rot-Weiss Essen last Friday.

In the build-up to Verl's opening goal in the first half, she inadvertently stood in the way of Essen midfielder Klaus Gjasula as he tried to get in position to block the shot.

Returning to Khartoum: In Sudan, civilians try to rebuild their lives after war

The Sudanese army has just won the battle of Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, after two years of civil war. It is now calling on inhabitants to return home. But at what price? Our reporters were on the front line during the final phase of the offensive against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Ex-announcer: Sex harassment became ‘normal’ at Fuji Television

THE ASAHI SHIMBUN

April 4, 2025 at 17:57 JST

A former TV announcer at Fuji Television Network Inc. said an unwritten requirement of her job was to quickly make jokes after being groped or sexually harassed by a VIP.

“The ability of an announcer was measured in fending off such sexual harassment and turning the act into laughter,” she said.

The woman explained the work conditions at Fuji TV after a third-party investigative committee released a report concerning a suspected sexual assault by Masahiro Nakai, a now-retired entertainer who appeared on Fuji TV programs.

Russia stalls ceasefire talks as it intensifies attacks on Ukraine

Russia and Ukraine continue long-range drone and missile attacks, but observe an informal ceasefire in the Black Sea.

By John T Psaropoulos

Published On 4 Apr 20254 Apr 2025

Russia has added new conditions for a ceasefire to a litany of existing ones, prompting United States President Donald Trump to threaten new sanctions against Russian oil.

Visiting Russia’s newest nuclear submarine, the Arkhangelsk, on March 27, Russian President Vladimir Putin said a temporary administration should be installed in Ukraine to lead the country to elections.

Russian officials have been trying to discredit Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy since negotiations began in February, in an apparent effort to undermine Ukraine’s position.