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    US military says it shot down Iranian drones launched toward Strait of Hormuz

    CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wisc. — The U.S. military said it shot down four Iranian drones that were launched toward the Strait of Hormuz, Friday, and then struck some of the Islamic Republic’s coastal surveillance radar sites in response, raising the risk to a shaky ceasefire as the Trump administration ramps up pressure on Iran . “The attack drones posed an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic,” U.S. Central Command said on social media. The military is enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports in response to Tehran’s chokehold on the crucial corridor for global oil and natural gas shipments, which has sent energy prices spiking and posed political problems for President Donald Trump's Republican Party ahead of the midterm congressional elections. U.S. Central Command said it hit the radar sites, including an island in the strait, “to defend against further attacks.” It was the latest in back-and-forth attacks that have strained the tenuous ceasefire in the war and efforts to reach a deal to extend that truce. Earlier this week, Iranian drones heavily damaged a passenger termin

    3 MIN READBy AP
    US military says it shot down Iranian drones launched toward Strait of Hormuz
  • World

    Iran FM urges Lebanon president to save country from 'real foe'

    1 MIN READBy AFP
    Iran FM urges Lebanon president to save country from 'real foe'
  • World

    Pope Leo heads to Spain with migrants and polarisation in focus

    2 MIN READBy Reuters
    Pope Leo heads to Spain with migrants and polarisation in focus
  • World

    Trump's UFC fight at White House combines punches and politics

    3 MIN READBy Reuters
    Trump's UFC fight at White House combines punches and politics
  • World

    NASA reverses evacuation alert order for astronauts aboard space station

    3 MIN READBy Reuters
    NASA reverses evacuation alert order for astronauts aboard space station
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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

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World

Trump has not set deadline to receive 'unified' proposal from Iran: White House

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump has not set a firm deadline for Iran to submit a "unified" peace proposal, the White House said Wednesday, dismissing a report that he has given Iran three to five days to provide its coherent response. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt made the remarks during a press availability, stressing that the president is "generously" offering "a bit of flexibility" to get a proposal from Iran, a country that she said grapples with "a lot of internal division." "The president has not set a firm deadline to receive an Iranian proposal, unlike some of the reporting I've seen today," she said. "Ultimately, the timeline will be dictated by the commander-in-chief." On the eve of the ceasefire deadline set for Wednesday (Washington time), Trump said that at the request of Pakistan, he will extend the ceasefire until Iran submits a unified proposal, and bilateral discussions are "concluded, one way or the other." He called the Tehran government "seriously fractured." Trump's extension of the ceasefire was initially viewed by some as an indefinite one

Apr 23, 2026By Yonhap
Trump has not set deadline to receive 'unified' proposal from Iran: White House
World

USTR seeks ‘outcomes’ on digital regulation with S. Korea, Australia, EU

WASHINGTON — U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer expressed hopes Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump's administration will see "outcomes" from South Korea, Australia and the European Union, as it seeks to ensure that foreign digital regulations do not affect American companies. Greer made the remarks during a House Ways and Means Committee hearing in Washington, as his office is conducting trade investigations into the countries under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act — a provision that allows the USTR to investigate "unfair" foreign trade practices on a country-by-country basis. "We have certain Section 301 potential actions in draft. The reality is we want to see outcomes in these countries, whether it's the European Union, Australia, Korea or member states within the European Union," he said. "It's not a situation where you want to do a 301 (inquiry) to have tariffs just for tariffs' sake or something. We want to make sure we have outcomes," he added. As an example for an outcome, Greer pointed out that France has held off on a proposal to move digital services

Apr 23, 2026By Yonhap
USTR seeks ‘outcomes’ on digital regulation with S. Korea, Australia, EU
World

US set to reclassify marijuana as early as Wednesday, Axios reports

WASHINGTON — The United States administration is expected to move to reclassify marijuana as soon as Wednesday, Axios reported, citing an official familiar with the matter, sending U.S. stocks of cannabis-related companies higher. The decision to reclassify marijuana would represent one of the most significant federal changes to marijuana policy in decades, removing barriers to researching the drug's potential use cases. In December, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the loosening of federal regulations on marijuana, paving the way for reclassification. The move could lead to the psychoactive plant being listed alongside common painkillers, ketamine and testosterone as a less dangerous drug. It would also likely reshape the cannabis industry by lowering tax burdens and make it easier for companies to secure funding, benefiting firms like Canopy Growth, Tilray Brands and Trulieve Cannabis. U.S.-listed shares of Canopy surged 23 percent while Tilray rose 15 percent following the Axios report. The Justice Department and its Drug Enforcement Administration did

Apr 23, 2026By Reuters
US set to reclassify marijuana as early as Wednesday, Axios reports
World

Trump says US-Iran talks 'possible' within 36 to 72 hours: report

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday a new round of peace talks with Iran is "possible" within the next 36 to 72 hours, a report said, a day after he announced an extension of a ceasefire with the Islamic Republic to allow for diplomatic efforts to continue. The New York Post reported that sources in Pakistan touted positive mediation efforts with Tehran, renewing the possibility of additional negotiations within the next 36 to 72 hours, and that Trump said in a text message, "It's possible! President DJT." DJT is short for Trump's full name. On the eve of the ceasefire deadline set for Wednesday (Washington time), Trump said that at the request of Pakistan, he will extend the ceasefire until Iran submits a "unified proposal," and bilateral discussions are "concluded, one way or the other." He called the Tehran government "seriously fractured." But Iran's state television reported that the country does not recognize the ceasefire announced by Trump, and will act in accordance with its national interests -- a statement that added to uncertainty over the prospects of

Apr 23, 2026By Yonhap
Trump says US-Iran talks 'possible' within 36 to 72 hours: report
World

Iran fires on 3 ships in the Strait of Hormuz as US maintains blockade, diplomacy stalls

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran fired on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz and seized two of them on Wednesday, intensifying its assault on shipping in the key waterway. The attacks came a day after U.S. President Donald Trump extended a ceasefire while maintaining an American blockade of Iranian ports. The standoff between the U.S. and Iran has effectively choked off nearly all exports through the strait — where 20 percent of the world’s traded oil passes in peacetime — with no end in sight. Iranian media said the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard was bringing the two ships to Iran, marking a further escalation, though the White House said the seizures didn't violate ceasefire terms. The conflict has already sent gas prices skyrocketing far beyond the region and raised the cost of food and a wide array of other products. The price of Brent crude oil, the international standard, nosed over $100 per barrel, marking a 35 percent increase from prewar levels, but stock markets still appear to be shrugging it off. The European Union energy commissioner, Dan Jørgensen, warned of

Apr 23, 2026By AP
Iran fires on 3 ships in the Strait of Hormuz as US maintains blockade, diplomacy stalls
World

US Republicans urge S. Korea to end ‘discrimination’ against US firms like Coupang

More than 50 U.S. Republicans have urged South Korea to halt what they describe as a "targeted assault" on American companies, including Coupang Inc., through discriminatory regulations, calling it an "unacceptable" move that could risk helping Chinese firms gain market dominance. The lawmakers made the call in a letter to South Korean Ambassador to the U.S. Kang Kyung-wha on Monday (U.S. time), calling on Seoul to honor its commitment to avoid unnecessary legal and policy barriers in line with the summit agreements reached between the two countries' leaders last year. "We are deeply concerned by the ROK government's targeted and discriminatory actions against U.S. companies," the letter from 54 members of the Republican Study Committee showed. ROK is short for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea. "Many American tech companies have faced a range of regulatory actions that seek to punish them while shielding Korean domestic competition," it read. Citing Coupang Inc., the U.S.-listed e-commerce giant that has faced intense scrutiny in Korea over its massive data leak of more

Apr 23, 2026By Yonhap
US Republicans urge S. Korea to end ‘discrimination’ against US firms like Coupang
World

Iran seizes ships in strait after Trump halts attacks

Iran seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, tightening its grip on the strategic waterway, after U.S. President Donald Trump called off attacks indefinitely with no sign of peace talks restarting. Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency said the Revolutionary Guards had seized two vessels for maritime violations and escorted them to Iranian shores. It was the first time Iran has seized ships since the beginning of the war at the end of February. Earlier, a British maritime security agency reported three ships had come under fire. Trump said in a statement on social media late on Tuesday that the U.S. had agreed to a request by Pakistani mediators "to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal ... and discussions are concluded, one way or the other." But even as he announced what appeared to be a unilateral ceasefire extension, Trump also said he would continue the U.S. Navy's blockade of Iran's trade by sea. The United States fired on and seized an Iranian cargo vessel on Saturday and boa

Apr 22, 2026By Reuters
Iran seizes ships in strait after Trump halts attacks
World

Taiwan president postpones Eswatini visit and says China pressured African countries

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan’s president postponed a visit to Africa this week when three countries withdrew permission for him to fly over their territories after pressure from China, his office said Tuesday. President Lai Ching-te was set to visit Eswatini, Taiwan’s sole remaining diplomatic ally in Africa, from April 22-26. But flight permits were canceled in island nations along the route, Secretary-General to the president, Pan Meng-an, told journalists in Taipei. “The cancellation of flight permits by Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar without prior warning was actually due to strong pressure from the Chinese authorities, including economic coercion,” Pan said. China’s alleged pressure “constitutes blatant interference in the internal affairs of other countries, disrupts the regional status quo and hurts the feelings of the Taiwanese people,” he added. China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its breakaway province, to be retaken by force if necessary, and prohibits countries it has diplomatic relations with from maintaining formal ties with Taipei. China’s Ministry of Foreig

Apr 22, 2026By AP
Taiwan president postpones Eswatini visit and says China pressured African countries
World

Australia asks Roblox, Minecraft to detail child safety measures

SYDNEY — Australia's internet regulator on Wednesday asked online gaming platforms including Roblox and Microsoft's Minecraft to spell out how they were protecting children from grooming by sexual predators and youth from radicalisation. The eSafety regulator said it had issued legally enforceable transparency notices to Roblox, Minecraft, Epic Games' Fortnite and Valve's Steam covering systems, staffing and safety aligned with cyber security protocols. Companies must respond to the notices, with non-compliance exposing them to penalties and potential civil action. eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said gaming-adjacent services, including encrypted messaging, can be the first point of contact between children and offenders in cases of grooming, sexual extortion and radicalisation. "What we often see after these offenders make contact with children in online game environments, they then move children to private messaging services," Inman Grant said in a statement. She said gaming platforms also function as social spaces, noting nine in 10 Australians aged eight to 17 have played onl

Apr 22, 2026By Reuters
Australia asks Roblox, Minecraft to detail child safety measures
World

UK approves ban on cigarette sales for people born after 2008

LONDON — Both chambers of Britain's parliament have approved a bill that would ban children aged 17 and under from buying cigarettes during their lifetime. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill aims to stop anyone born after Jan. 1, 2009, (now aged 17) from taking up smoking. Health Minister Wes Streeting called this a "historic moment for the nation's health" that will lead to the "first smoke-free generation, protected from a lifetime of addiction and harm." When it gets royal assent and becomes law, it will give the government powers to extend an indoor smoking ban to outdoor spaces such as children's playgrounds and areas outside schools and hospitals. It will also give the government new powers to restrict the flavours and packaging of vapes and ban vaping in places where smoking is already banned. The bill is part of a drive to ramp up preventative health measures and ease long-term pressure on the U.K.'s state-funded National Health Service (NHS). Hazel Cheeseman, director of public health charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), told LBC radio station that the bill was a "decisive turnin

Apr 22, 2026By AFP
UK approves ban on cigarette sales for people born after 2008
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