International News

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, January 16 ------ Iran closed its airspace to commercial flights for hours without explanation as tensions remained high with the United States over Tehran’s bloody crackdown on nationwide protests. The closure ran for over four hours, according to pilot guidance issued by Iran, which lies on a key East-West flight route. International carriers diverted north and south around Iran, but after one extension, the closure appeared to have expired, and

CARACAS, Venezuela, January 16 ------ The social network X was once again accessible in Venezuela on Tuesday, more than a year after users were blocked by deposed president Nicolas Maduro, who was captured by US forces last week.   Interim president Delcy Rodriguez updated her bio -- she served as vice president under Maduro -- and wrote: "Let us stay united, moving toward economic stability, social justice, and the welfare state we deserve to aspire to." Access remained spot

January 16 ------ Ukraine’s parliament on Wednesday appointed Mykhailo Fedorov as the country’s new defense minister, approving the move with 277 votes in the Verkhovna Rada.   Fedorov, formerly first vice prime minister and minister of digital transformation, immediately pledged to launch a full financial audit of the Defense Ministry, citing a Hr.300 billion ($7 billion) budget shortfall compared to last year. “My first task is a real audit of Defense Ministry finances, to

January 16 ------ Two million Ukrainians are currently wanted for alleged mobilization evasion, while another 200,000 servicemen are listed as absent without official leave (AWOL), Ukraine’s newly appointed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said.   Fedorov made the statement during a speech in the parliament ahead of the vote on his appointment as defense minister. “I don’t want to be a populist – I want to be a realist. The Ministry of Defense is coming into my hands with a

TOKYO, January 15 ------ U.S. oil prices fell more than $1 in early Asian trade on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump said killings in Iran's crackdown on nationwide protests were subsiding, easing fears of supply disruptions and possible military action against Iran. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were trading at $60.78 a barrel at 2322 GMT, down $1.24, or 2 per cent, from the previous day's close. WTI had settled more than 1 per cent higher on Wednesday,

NARA, Japan, January 15 ------ South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi agreed to step up cooperation in areas including economic security, defense, and searching for the remains of Korean forced laborers. The two neighbors are both longtime U.S. allies, but their relations have frequently been strained by issues including disputes over their wartime history. "I believe cooperation between Korea and Japan is now more important than ever

January 15 ------ President Volodymyr Zelensky declared a state of emergency in Ukraine’s energy sector – prompting a review of Ukraine’s regional curfew rules and the establishment of an energy headquarters in Kyiv, among other special measures. In recent weeks, Russian missile attacks have created disasters verging on a humanitarian crisis by targeting energy infrastructure across Ukraine. Early Tuesday, a massive overnight Russian drone attack on Kryvyi Rih knocked out hea

January 15 ------ The European Commission presented a package of legislative proposals designed to secure €90 billion ($105 billion) in financial support for Ukraine in 2026 and 2027, advancing December’s political agreement by EU leaders. The loan, agreed by the European Council in December, is intended to cover Ukraine’s budgetary and military financing needs as the war with Russia approaches its fifth year and longer-term funding arrangements remain uncertain. The EU Commi