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Oil prices gain on attacks in Saudi Arabia, Iran's new tactics to target tankers

NEW YORK — Oil prices rose on Wednesday after the Houthis attacked Saudi Aramco's headquarters and Iran said it was deploying new tactics to target ships and keep oil prices high. Brent crude futures were up 87 cents, or 0.82 percent, at $106.56 a barrel by 1:25 p.m. ET (1725 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude gained $1.46, or 1.55 percent, to $95.60, touching a three-week high. Attacks on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz and strikes between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-allied Houthis are driving up oil prices, said Phil Flynn, senior analyst with the Price Futures Group. "We're seeing a lot of fear trade today," he added. Iranian officials declined to provide details of the new strategy to target ships, but one said Iran had started using different offensive tactics about 10 days ago. Gulf oil flows excluding Iran surged in September to more than 81 percent of prewar levels, data showed, led by a recovery in Saudi exports. Iranian exports fell to zero owing to a U.S. blockade. "More crude reaching international markets does not necessarily mean more oil is being produced," Saxo

USFK chief says 'conditions have changed' while stressing OPCON transfer requirements

WASHINGTON — U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson said Wednesday that "conditions have changed" while stressing the requirements in the transfer of a conditions-based wartime operation control (OPCON) from the United States to South Korea. "Because the conditions have changed, because we've changed our plan, we have new standards which we have to uphold," Brunson said while sharing his thoughts on the topic of OPCON transfer during the annual Indo-Pacific Summit hosted by the Gold Institute for International Strategy in Washington. The general cited North Korea's missile launches carried out earlier this week as evidence of such change. "A cursory glance of a newspaper would tell you that the conditions have most assuredly changed." On Monday, North Korea test-fired tactical ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, part of efforts to upgrade a key component of its weapons systems, with the country's state media calling it a "big success." Brunson's comments come amid a perceived gap between Seoul and Washington over the timing of OPCON transfer. Seoul seeks to retake wa

US stocks drop to their worst day since July as inflation worsens

NEW YORK — U.S. stocks dropped to their worst day since July on Wednesday following the latest signal that inflation is getting worse. The S&P 500 sank 1.1 percent for a fifth loss in the six days since setting its all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 48 points, or 0.1 percent, and the Nasdaq composite slid 1.9 percent as stocks in the artificial-intelligence industry led the way lower. Stocks felt pressure from rising yields in the bond market, where worries grew after a report said U.S. consumers had to pay prices for fuel, food and other costs of living last month that were 3.7 percent higher overall than a year earlier. That means inflation accelerated from its 3.4 percent rate in August and was worse than the 3.6 percent that economists expected. Inflation has remained more painful than anyone would like since the economy catapulted out of the crevasse created by the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s accelerated recently in part because of jumps in fuel prices caused by the war with Iran, and the price for a barrel of Brent crude added 0.4 percent Wednesday to $106.06. Tha

Zelenskyy says 'we count' on US partnership, urges Starlink switch-on

LONDON — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday that Ukraine counts on its partnership with the United States despite agreeing he felt betrayed by President Donald Trump over an "energy ceasefire" and Russian diesel deal. In London — where he received a highly symbolic show of support from the British government — Zelenskyy also called on U.S. tech billionaire Elon Musk to restore the Starlink system used on the battlefield, which Kyiv says has been slowed down. After meeting King Charles III, Zelenskyy told U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham in Downing Street that Ukraine had endured "massive attacks today and it is a pity we had also some difficulties," a reference to strained ties with Washington. Ukraine has accused the U.S. of helping Russia by failing to warn it of incoming missile strikes and hobbling its military response through changes to the Starlink system it uses on the battlefield. "We count on (our) partnership with the United States," Zelenskyy told Burnham during remarks captured on camera before a closed-door bilateral meeting. "We just want to be very honest,

Trump press secretary Katie Zacharia faces scrutiny over claims she's a lawyer

NEW YORK — The new White House press secretary is facing mounting questions about her background and resume as she transitions into her role as the public face of the Trump administration. Katie Zacharia has long described herself as a lawyer as she has worked to establish herself as a commentator for conservative outlets like Fox News and Newsmax. But so far, she and the White House have offered no evidence that she passed the bar exam in any state or in China, where she worked for a large law firm years ago. The questions add to the confusion surrounding President Donald Trump's decision to hire Zacharia , who had worked for his social media company for only a few months when he announced her appointment and whose debut at the podium on Tuesday has been widely panned. Afterward, the president was asked by reporters where Zacharia had passed the bar exam, following a report by the independent outlet Popular Information that she did not appear to be licensed in any state. Trump stepped aside to allow Zacharia to answer. “When I moved to China," she responded over the sound of Marine O

Trump claims again Korea to invest in Alaska LNG project under trade deal

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Korea will invest $50 billion in a massive liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Alaska as part of an investment agreement with Washington, despite uncertainty over Seoul's participation. "This 50 Billion Dollar Infrastructure Investment from The Republic of Korea is part of their Trade and Investment Deal with me," Trump wrote on Truth Social, while describing his visit to Alaska for a campaign rally on Tuesday. The remarks were the latest from the Trump administration claiming that Korea is committed to the Alaska LNG project. Seoul has maintained that its participation remains subject to a commercial viability review. Trump also said that Taiwan has agreed to invest $4.4 billion in equity into the project, calling it the "greatest project in Alaska history." White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia also said Tuesday that $54 billion was tied to the Alaska LNG project as part of a Korean energy investment package. "President Trump also unveiled a Korea energy investment package of up to $200 billion in the United States.

US Teen Arrested For Planning "Mass Shooting" At Chicago Hindu Temple

The suspect has been charged with one count each of making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of weapons, which comprises a rifle with a barrel less than 16 inches in length.

Thousands protest across Colombia against new right-wing president

Thousands of Colombians protested peacefully across the country on Wednesday against right-wing President Abelardo de la Espriella, in the opposition’s first major demonstrations since he took office in August. Former leftist President Gustavo Petro led a rally in Bogota, joined by trade unionists, Indigenous groups, students and feminist activists.

North Korea says it tested cruise missiles designed to be fired from submarines

North Korea says it has test-fired cruise missiles designed for submarines, continuing to expand its military capabilities amid a diplomatic freeze with Washington and Seoul

Why more than 55 cyclists are riding 1,800km in Japan for cancer support

Over 15 days, teams of Bristol Myers Squibb employees are taking on a long-distance cycling challenge to support cancer organisations across Asia Pacific – driven by personal stories of patients, survivors and loved ones.

BOJ should not be overly cautious raising rates, board member Koeda says