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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 on 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 termi

    3 MIN READBy AP
    US military says it shot down Iranian drones launched toward Strait of Hormuz
  • 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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    Bitcoin drops below $60,000, first since October 2024

    1 MIN READBy AFP
    Bitcoin drops below $60,000, first since October 2024
  • World

    US highlights shared denuclearization goal ahead of Xi's NK trip

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    US highlights shared denuclearization goal ahead of Xi's NK trip
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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

From bombs to economic warfare: US pivots on Iran

WASHINGTON — If the U.S. and Iran aren’t able to soon come to a deal to end the war or extend the ceasefire that expires next week, the Trump administration is setting the stage to shift its war campaign toward a more economic-focused effort aimed at choking Tehran into submission rather than relying on bombs alone. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters at a White House briefing Wednesday that the U.S. plans to ramp up economic pain on Iran, and said the new moves will be the “financial equivalent” of a bombing campaign. The threat of secondary economic sanctions on countries doing business with people, firms, and ships under Iranian control — including allies like the United Arab Emirates and competitors like China — represents an escalation of sanctions that the U.S. is already employing. Bessent said the administration has “told companies, we have told countries that if you are buying Iranian oil, that if Iranian money is sitting in your banks, we are now willing to apply secondary sanctions, which is a very stern measure. And the Iranians should know that thi

Apr 16, 2026By AP
From bombs to economic warfare: US pivots on Iran
World

Iran says 26 million have volunteered to do military service

Despite a current ceasefire in the war with the U.S. and Israel, more than 26 million people have volunteered to do military service. This comes as part of a campaign called "Sacrifice Your Life," state broadcaster IRIB reported on Wednesday. Around 90 million people live in Iran. According to state radio, the volunteers are to be deployed alongside the Revolutionary Guards and the army. Human chains are also planned to protect potential targets. According to IRIB, those who have registered include Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, most of his ministers, as well as numerous officials, sportspeople and artists. The influential speaker of parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has also registered.

Apr 16, 2026By DPA
Iran says 26 million have volunteered to do military service
World

White House denies seeking Iran ceasefire extension, says Pakistan talks 'very likely'

WASHINGTON — The White House denied reports Wednesday that the United States requested an extension of a two-week ceasefire with Iran, set to expire next week, while striking a positive note on the prospects of a deal with the Islamic Republic. During a press briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also said that the next round of peace talks with Tehran will "very likely" take place in Pakistan, as Pakistan is working to facilitate the resumption of the talks after Washington and Tehran failed to reach a deal during their talks in Islamabad over the weekend. "I saw some reporting, again bad reporting this morning that we had formally requested an extension of the ceasefire. This is not true at this moment," she said. "We remain very much engaged in these negotiations, in these talks. You heard from the vice president directly, and the president this week that these conversations are productive and ongoing, and that's where we are right now," she added. She also struck a positive note on the prospects of a deal with Iran. "We feel good about the prospects of a deal," she

Apr 16, 2026By Yonhap
White House denies seeking Iran ceasefire extension, says Pakistan talks 'very likely'
World

IMF chief says over 12 countries seek loans amid energy shock

WASHINGTON — The International Monetary Fund expects at least a dozen countries to seek new loan programs to cope with surging energy prices and supply chain disruptions caused by the Middle East war, with several sub-Saharan African nations seeking help, the head of the global crisis lender said on Wednesday. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva also warned of deepening supply disruptions from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz even if the conflict ends quickly and urged countries to take measures to reduce their fuel usage. Speaking at a press conference during the IMF and World Bank spring meetings in Washington, Georgieva repeated her estimate that disruptions from the war could trigger new demand for $20 billion to $50 billion in financial support that could include new loans and augmentation of some of the global lender's 39 existing country financing programs. She did not name specific countries that have requested aid, although she said the IMF was not currently discussing an augmentation of Egypt's $8 billion loan program despite the war's impact on its economy. IMF str

Apr 16, 2026By Reuters
IMF chief says over 12 countries seek loans amid energy shock
World

US reaction backs S. Korea jail term for American streamer

SEATTLE — Online reaction in the U.S. has largely backed a South Korean court’s decision to jail controversial streamer Johnny Somali, with many saying the six-month sentence was justified or even too lenient. The American content creator, whose legal name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael, 25, was sentenced Wednesday by a Seoul court to six months in prison on charges including obstruction of business and other offenses tied to disruptive public behavior. He was taken into custody immediately following the ruling. The case has drawn significant international attention, with major U.S. and global news outlets quickly reporting on the sentence as it spread across online platforms. The streamer was earlier embroiled in widespread controversy in Korea after he filmed himself engaging in provocative acts in public spaces, including at sites of historical sensitivity and confronting locals for online content. Across platforms such as Reddit, X, Instagram, Threads and YouTube, many in the U.S. said the punishment was warranted, arguing that behavior often dismissed as online “trolling” crossed i

Apr 16, 2026By Jane Han
US reaction backs S. Korea jail term for American streamer
World

Trump posts image of himself with Jesus as his pope criticism continues

NEW YORK — U.S. President Donald Trump posted an image of Jesus embracing him on Wednesday, as a war of words between his administration and the pope showed little sign of abating. The image, reposted to Trump's Truth Social account, shows Trump with his eyes closed, touching temple-to-temple with a similarly posed Jesus. Trump is standing behind a microphone, and behind him is an American flag. The original post had a caption that included the words: "God might be playing his Trump card!" Trump's repost added the caption: "The Radical Left Lunatics might not like this, but I think it is quite nice!!!" Earlier this week, Trump posted an image portraying him as a Jesus-like figure. The post prompted widespread criticism of the Republican president, and he later deleted it. Trump, who does not attend church regularly, has a large contingent of Christian voters among his base, including Catholics. He has been feuding with Pope Leo, the first U.S.-born leader of the Catholic Church and an outspoken critic of the war that began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. Trump reiterated his criticis

Apr 16, 2026By Reuters
Trump posts image of himself with Jesus as his pope criticism continues
World

US stocks hit all-time high on Middle East optimism

On Wall Street, the benchmark S&P 500 and tech-heavy Nasdaq rallied to record closing highs on Wednesday as investors were encouraged by corporate earnings and hopeful of progress in U.S.-Iran negotiations. Equities have found support this week from investor hopes that Washington and Tehran could return to the negotiating table with a view to ending the war, which has caused widespread disruption in global oil markets, reignited inflation concerns and muddied the interest-rate outlook. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that discussions about a second round of talks with Iran were ongoing and productive but said reports that the U.S. requested a ceasefire in the Iran war were wrong. Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury Department said it was targeting Iran's oil transportation infrastructure with sanctions on more than two dozen individuals, companies and vessels. The benchmark S&P 500 index hit its first intraday record since the conflict erupted and notched a record closing high on Wednesday after ending Tuesday's session slightly below the 6,978.60 record of January 2

Apr 16, 2026By Reuters
US stocks hit all-time high on Middle East optimism
World

US says 9 vessels turned back in 48 hours of Iran port blockade

WASHINGTON — The U.S. military said Wednesday that it successfully stopped nine vessels from sailing out of Iranian ports during the first 48 hours of a naval blockade against the Islamic republic. "Nine vessels have complied with direction from U.S. forces to turn around and return toward an Iranian port or coastal area," U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which is responsible for American troops in the Middle East, said in a post on X. "No vessels have made it past U.S. forces," CENTCOM said. However, maritime tracking data appeared to contradict the U.S. assertion. Tracking data from Tuesday indicated at least three ships sailing from Iranian ports crossed the Strait of Hormuz, though some vessels taking the route later turned back. The three ships were among at least seven Iran-linked vessels that passed through the strait after Washington's blockade came into effect at 1400 GMT on Monday, according to maritime data provider Kpler. Tehran's forces effectively closed the strait after the start of the U.S.-Israeli air campaign against the Islamic republic on February 28, and the U.S. on S

Apr 16, 2026By AFP
US says 9 vessels turned back in 48 hours of Iran port blockade
World

Student kills 9 in Turkey's second school shooting in 2 days

ANKARA — A 14-year-old student shot at least nine people dead including eight of his fellow pupils and wounded 13 others at a middle school in southeastern Turkey on Wednesday, officials said, in the country's second school shooting in two days. Eight students and one teacher died in the attack in the province of Kahramanmaras, Turkey's Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci told reporters, adding that six of the wounded were in critical condition. "This was solely a personal attack carried out by one of our students, it is not a terror incident," Ciftci said. Earlier, Kahramanmaras Governor Mukerrem Unluer had said the shooter had shot and killed himself in the commotion. "An eighth-grade student came with 5 weapons and 7 magazines - which we believe belong to his former police officer father - in his bag, entered two classrooms with fifth grade students, causing deaths and injuries indiscriminately," Unluer said. Fifth-grade students are usually aged 10 and 11 in Turkey. School shootings are very rare in Turkey. Asked by reporters if authorities would take any measures after the shootings th

Apr 16, 2026By Reuters
Student kills 9 in Turkey's second school shooting in 2 days
World

New Israeli strikes hit southern Lebanon a day after historic talks

TYRE, Lebanon — Israel pressed on with bombarding southern Lebanon on Wednesday, a day after historic talks between Lebanese and Israeli officials in Washington. Smoke rose over the coastal city of Tyre, underscoring the fragility of diplomatic efforts. Although Israeli strikes on Beirut have eased since last week's shattering 10-minute bombardment without warning killed over 350 people across the country, southern Lebanon remains under attack. The Israeli military has periodically issued warnings urging residents to flee wide swathes of southern Lebanon as it targets the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group, but tens of thousands of people have stayed — either because they don't want to leave their homes or because they have nowhere to go. Tyre, too, is under Israeli evacuation order, but many displaced families had seen it as a refuge of last resort, removed from the heaviest clashes closer to the Israeli border. Increasingly, though, residents say nowhere even in Tyre feels safe. Across the city, the war was visible in shattered buildings, mounds of rubble and debris-strewn str

Apr 16, 2026By AP
New Israeli strikes hit southern Lebanon a day after historic talks
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