S. Korea's ex-prime minister announces presidential runHan Duck-soo, South Korea's former prime minister, on Friday announced his presidential run after stepping down on the previous day.Han told a televised press conference in the National Assembly that he will run for president in the June 3 election as he made up his mind to find what he can do for the future of the country, vowing all-out efforts to be selected by the people in the upcoming presidential election.China assessing U.S. messages of hoping to hold tariff talks: commerce ministryChina's Ministry of Commerce said on Friday that the country is currently assessing the situation, as the United States has recently reached out through relevant channels multiple times, expressing a desire to engage in talks with China over tariff issues.China's position has been consistent -- if forced to fight, China will fight to the end, and for talks, the door is open, a commerce ministry spokesperson said in a statement.Thousands stage May Day protest against Trump administration in New YorkThousands of protesters gathered Thursday at Lower Manhattan's Foley Square for May Day demonstrations, protesting against the U.S. President Donald Trump administration's initiatives on the economy, immigration, education, workers' rights, and more.Workers across the globe celebrate May 1 each year as May Day, also known as International Labor Day.Israeli warplanes strike target near Syrian presidential palace, no casualties reportedIsraeli fighter jets carried out airstrikes early Friday on a site near the official residence of the Syrian president in central Damascus, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.Loud explosions were heard across wide areas of the capital, though there were no immediate reports of casualties.Israeli aircraft were also reportedly seen reconnoitering over Damascus shortly after the strikes. The raid marks the latest in a series of Israeli operations in the country.Reform UK surges in local elections, shaking Conservatives, Labour dominanceRight-wing party Reform UK made sweeping gains in Britain's local elections concluding on Friday, winning 10 out of 23 local councils for grabs. The result delivered a major blow to the country's two dominant parties -- the Conservatives and Labour.Reform UK secured over 670 council seats, two mayoral victories, and a parliamentary by-election win in the voting taking place on Thursday across 23 councils, six mayoralties, and one parliamentary by-election, with results announced throughout Friday.PBS chief slams Trump's executive order as "blatantly unlawful"The head of The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) said on Friday that U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order aiming to slash public subsidies to PBS and National Public Radio (NPR) was "blatantly unlawful."In a brief statement, PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger said Trump's executive order, issued in the middle of the night, "threatens our ability to serve the American public with educational programming, as we have for the past 50-plus years."