The attack comes amid fears of a return to conflict following clashes between government troops and Tigrayan forces.
Published On 31 Jan 202631 Jan 2026
Share
One person has been killed and another injured in drone strikes in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region, a senior Tigrayan official and a humanitarian worker said, in another sign of renewed conflict between regional and federal forces.
The Tigrayan official on Saturday said the drone strikes hit two Isuzu trucks near Enticho and Gendebta, two places in Tigray about 20km (12 miles) apart.
Recommended Stories
list of 4 itemsend of list
The official said the Ethiopian National Defence Force launched the strikes, but did not provide evidence.
A local humanitarian worker confirmed the strikes had happened. Both asked not to be named, the Reuters news agency reported.
It was not immediately clear what the trucks were carrying.
TPLF-affiliated news outlet Dimtsi Weyane posted pictures on Facebook that it said showed the trucks damaged in the strikes. It said the trucks were transporting food and cooking items.
Pro-government activists posting on social media said the trucks were carrying weapons.
Ethiopia’s national army fought fighters from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) for two years until late 2022, in a war researchers say killed hundreds of thousands through direct violence, the collapse of healthcare and famine.
Fighting broke out between regional and national forces in Tsemlet in the disputed territory of western Tigray earlier this week, an area claimed by forces from the neighbouring Amhara region.
Tension has been brewing over the presence of troops from Amhara and the neighbouring country of Eritrea in Tigray, violating a peace deal in November 2022 that ended the war.
Last year, the head of Tigray’s interim administration established by Addis Ababa was forced to flee Mekele, the regional capital, amid growing divisions within the TPLF, which controlled all of Ethiopia before being displaced by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Addis Ababa accuses the group of forging ties with neighbouring Eritrea and “actively preparing to wage war against Ethiopia”.
Earlier this week, national carrier Ethiopian Airlines cancelled flights to Tigray, where residents rushed to try to withdraw cash from banks.
The Tigray war ended in 2022, but disagreements have continued over a range of issues, including contested territories in western Tigray, and the delayed disarmament of Tigray forces.
The province is also suffering the effects of United States President Donald Trump’s funding cuts to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) last year, which was once Ethiopia’s largest source of humanitarian aid.
Humanitarian organisations say up to 80 percent of the population is in need of emergency support, and funding shortfalls are placing a strain on the health system.
The African Union’s chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, on Friday urged all parties to “exercise maximum restraint” and “resolve all outstanding issues through constructive dialogue”.
He emphasised the importance of preserving the “hard-won gains achieved under the AU-led Permanent Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA)” signed in Pretoria in 2022.
Two journalists were arrested and taken to court in the US for covering an anti-ICE protest inside a Minnesota church, as protests were held across the country against two killings by federal agents and President Trump’s immigration raids.
Following back-to-back Australian Open wins, Aryna Sabalenka has now lost two consecutive finals with Elena Rybakina defeat.
Published On 31 Jan 202631 Jan 2026
Share
Following two years of triumph at the Australian Open, Aryna Sabalenka is now processing another two years of pain – and a series of missed chances in Melbourne that have left her “really upset”.
A year on from losing the final in three sets to American Madison Keys, Sabalenka fell 6-4 4-6 6-4 to Elena Rybakina on Saturday, the Russia-born Kazakh turning the tables on the Belarusian who beat her for the 2023 title.
Recommended Stories
list of 4 itemsend of list
“I was really upset with myself, I would say, because once again I had opportunities,” Sabalenka said.
“I played great until a certain point, and then I couldn’t resist that aggression that she had on court.”
While the Keys shock left Sabalenka inconsolable and her racket in pieces, defeat to fifth seed Rybakina had its own unique sting.
The world number one held a 3-0 lead in the third set and had all the running before former Wimbledon champion Rybakina broke back in the fifth game and stormed to her second Grand Slam trophy.
“She made some winners. I made a couple of unforced errors,” Sabalenka continued.
“Of course, I have regrets. You know, when you lead 3-0 and then it felt like in a few seconds it was 3-4 and I was down with a break. So it was very fast.
“Great tennis from her. Maybe not so smart for me but, as I say, today I’m a loser, maybe tomorrow I’m a winner, maybe again a loser. Hopefully not. We’ll see.”
It was Sabalenka’s second significant loss to Rybakina in a few months, having been beaten for the season-ending WTA Finals crown.
More alarmingly, it was her third loss in her last four major finals, with Coco Gauff flooring her at last year’s French Open.
Sabalenka did not lose a set coming into the Melbourne final and had won 46 of her 48 previous matches at hardcourt Grand Slams.
Now Rybakina, one of the few players able to match her for power, has dealt Sabalenka’s aura a heavy blow.
Sabalenka laughed ruefully and shrugged through her post-match news conference but was honest enough to admit she had been despondent outside the room.
On court, she draped a white towel over her head to conceal her anguish before gathering herself to deliver gracious congratulations to Rybakina, her most frequent opponent on tour.
She consoled herself that, barring a few errors in the final set, Rybakina had simply wrested the trophy from her grip with the quality of her tennis.
“Even in this final, I feel like I played great. I was fighting. I did my best, and today she was a better player,” said Sabalenka.
“So I don’t know. We’ll speak with the team. Now they try to avoid and escape me because they see that it’s not really healthy to be around me right now.”
Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
A camera mounted on the wingtip of a Ukrainian Air Force Su-25 Frogfoot close air support jet recorded the dramatic demise of the aircraft, after it was reportedly struck by a Russian long-range air-to-air missile. This is not the first time in the Ukrainian conflict that we’ve seen the destruction of a combat jet at such close quarters. However, with the death of the pilot confirmed by Ukrainian authorities, the footage is a sobering reminder of the huge risks faced by aircrew in some of the most lethal airspace in history.
The loss of a Ukrainian Su-25. The aircraft was hit by an R-37 missile; the responsibility likely lies with either a MiG-31BM or a Su-35S fighter, as these are the types that typically patrol with such long-range missiles. The pilot lost his life during the action. Blue skies to… pic.twitter.com/lNXZPuzHXS
The footage in question was apparently captured by a GoPro or similar camera mounted under the starboard wing of the Su-25, which was flying straight and level when engaged. The first indication that the Frogfoot has been hit is a flash and a shower of sparks, and the suggestion that the cockpit canopy may have been partly torn away. Then, one of its external fuel tanks is seen breaking away. The aircraft starts to cartwheel through the sky, its fuselage clearly ripped open, evidenced by the exposed main landing gear. The wing-mounted camera continues to record the plane breaking up, including the forward fuselage and cockpit, now separated from the fuselage, which is burning fiercely. The wing spirals to the ground, with the sequence ending with a black column of smoke in the near distance.
A bright flash is the first sign that the jet has been struck. via XA shower of sparks is visible in this screencap, which also suggests that the cockpit canopy has been partially torn away by the impact. via X
There is less than 20 seconds from the first signs of impact to the wing lying on the ground, motionless, and an indication of just how quickly the pilot’s fate was sealed. Provided they weren’t killed or incapacitated in the initial impact, there was very little time to activate his Zvezda K-36 ejection seat, if that was even an option, given the catastrophic damage.
The still-retracted main landing gear is visible in this capture. via XThe front fuselage section tumbles away, as seen at bottom center in this view. via X
The specific Su-25 carried the tactical number ‘21 Blue.’ It was reportedly at the controls of this jet that Ukrainian Air Force pilot Stanislav Rykov, from the 299th Tactical Aviation Brigade, was killed during a sortie on February 7, 2024. Rykov was described as one of the more experienced ground-attack pilots in the force, with 385 combat sorties to his name.
Soon after his death, fellow Ukrainian Air Force pilot Rostyslav Lazarenko posted on Facebook. “My heart was ripped out yesterday.” He added that Rykov “was the best pilot and commander I knew.”
Ukrainian Air Force pilot Stanislav Rykov in his jet. Ukrainian Air Force
The exact whereabouts of Rykov’s loss were not reported by the Ukrainian side, although a Russian Ministry of Defense briefing stated that a Ukrainian Su-25 was destroyed on the same date, close to the settlement of Novotroitske, in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
Exactly why the video only began to circulate in public now is not clear.
Multiple unconfirmed accounts suggest that the weapon responsible for bringing the Su-25 down was an R-37M, a long-range air-to-air missile with the Western codename AA-13 Axehead. The missile is mainly used by Su-35S Flanker multirole fighters and MiG-31BM Foxhound interceptors.
A Su-35S fires an R-37M missile. Russian Ministry of Defense screencap Russian Ministry of Defense
With a range of 124 miles, it flies to the target on a lofted trajectory, controlled by an inertial navigation system with mid-course radio correction, and uses an active radar seeker for its terminal phase attack. It has been a key threat to the Ukrainian Air Force since the start of the full-scale invasion.
Speaking to TWZ before his death in a 2023 flying accident, Ukrainian MiG-29 pilot Andrii “Juice” Pilshchykov said that the R-37M, typically fired from within Russian airspace, was “limiting our capabilities to conduct our missions. Of course, if you’re maneuvering, we are not able to provide an airstrike or something else, so the game is still very, very, very tough in the air and very, very risky. If you’re not aware of the launch of a missile, you’re dead.”
Once again, we don’t know for sure that an R-37M was involved in this incident, but it’s certainly a strong possibility. On the other hand, there is no shortage of other Russian air-to-air missiles and ground-based air defense systems that present a very serious hazard to Ukrainian tactical aviation.
The Su-25 is particularly vulnerable due to the high-risk envelope in which it operates and its performance. This is reflected in the documented losses of 22 examples in Ukrainian hands. That figure is almost certainly higher since it only comprises losses that can be confirmed visually.
Soon after the start of the conflict, Ukrainian Su-25s adopted loft tactics to add extra range to their unguided rockets. By the summer of 2024, stockpiles of unguided rockets were reportedly exhausted, but adding the French-made Hammer rocket-assisted bomb has provided much greater standoff reach and a much harder-hitting weapon specifically adapted for low-altitude launch profiles.
A Ukrainian Su-25 launches a French-supplied Hammer rocket-boosted precision-guided munition. Ukrainian Air Force screencap
Since the full-scale invasion began, the Su-25 has been heavily utilized by both sides. Confirmed Russian Su-25 losses amount to 41 — the highest for any fixed-wing tactical type.
People look at the tail section of a Russian Su-25SM near the military museum in Kyiv. The aircraft was shot down by the Ukrainian military on March 2, 2022, in the Kyiv region. Photo by Sergei Chuzavkov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images SOPA Images
At least one Russian Su-25 loss has also been filmed from on board, in this case, in dramatic headcam footage from the pilot, who survived. You can see that video below and read more about it here.
Катапультирование из Су-25 глазами лётчика.
While videos like these might look like something from a combat flight sim, they are all too real. This latest one to be released reflects the brutal realities of life — and death — for tactical aviation pilots over and around the frontlines of Ukraine.
The Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics open on Monday but one rapper Ghali’s inclusion draws criticism in his native Italy.
Published On 31 Jan 202631 Jan 2026
Share
The inclusion of Italian rapper Ghali in the cast of performers at the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics has led to a dispute in Italy.
The artist, born in Milan to Tunisian parents, has been criticised in Italy because of his comments on Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.
Recommended Stories
list of 4 itemsend of list
Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at the latest example of sport and politics colliding and why this case has hit the headlines.
Who is criticising Ghali’s inclusion at the Winter Olympics?
Members of Italy’s right-wing League party, part of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, have criticised the choice of Ghali to perform at the event in the San Siro stadium on February 6.
What is Ghali criticised for saying about Israel?
Ghali was at the centre of a political spat two years ago during the popular Sanremo song contest, when he called for a “stop to the genocide” in reference to Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.
A League party source called Ghali a “pro-Palestinian fanatic” who hated Israel and the centre-right, in comments to the Italian media.
Is Ghali’s Winter Olympics opening ceremony role set to be controversial?
Sport Minister Andrea Abodi said he did not expect Ghali to use the Olympic stage to make a political point.
“I am not embarrassed to disagree with Ghali’s views and the messages he has sent, but I believe that a country must be able to absorb the impact of an artist who has expressed an opinion that we do not share, which will not be expressed on that stage,” he said.
What other names will be alongside Ghali to open the Milano Cortino Games?
Ghali, who has not commented on the dispute, is likely to appeal to a younger audience more than other performers at the opening ceremony, who will include tenor Andrea Bocelli and US pop singer Mariah Carey.
Franco-Malian pop star Aya Nakamura was the target of racist abuse online when it emerged that she would sing at the opening of the Summer Olympics in Paris in 2024.
Who: Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic What: Men’s singles final – Australian Open 2026 When: Sunday, February 1 at 19:30 (08:30 GMT) Where: Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia How to follow: Al Jazeera’s live text and photo stream gets under way at 05:30 GMT
Novak Djokovic stands one step away from cementing his place as the greatest tennis player of all time. In his way, though, is Carlos Alcaraz – a modern adversary seeking a career milestone of his own.
Recommended Stories
list of 4 itemsend of list
Tennis history will be rewritten when the pair meet in the men’s singles final of the Australian Open 2026 on Sunday.
Djokovic is seeking his 25th major title to go past Margaret Court in the all-time Grand Slam winners’ list in the Open Era, while Alcaraz – 16 years his junior – is looking to become the youngest player to complete a Career Grand Slam by winning the only one eluding his trophy cabinet.
At 38 years old, the Serb is already the oldest man to have qualified for a Grand Slam final, but he will be looking to make the most of his appearance in Sunday’s blockbuster final to seal a record-extending 25th men’s title.
Meanwhile, Alcaraz, who was the last man to beat Djokovic in a Grand Slam final at Wimbledon 2024, will aim to convert his debut final at the Australian Open into a night when he seals a career Slam.
Both men enter the match on the back of epic semifinal wins on Rod Laver Arena on Friday, with top seed and world number one Alcaraz having a slightly longer recovery period than fourth-seeded Djokovic.
What’s the Alcaraz-Djokovic tennis rivalry?
In the five years since his first appearance in the main round of a Grand Slam, Alcaraz has swiftly become the face of men’s tennis, and his brief history with the iconic Djokovic is often seen as a passing-of-the-baton inter-generational rivalry.
Alcaraz is known for his speed and power, while Djokovic relies on his experience, consistency and resilience to fend off the next generation of tennis talents.
The young Spaniard’s first meeting against Djokovic came at the Madrid Open in 2022, where the home favourite beat the veteran in straight sets.
Since then, the pair have met in Grand Slam settings on five occasions, with Alcaraz winning both finals but Djokovic emerging victorious at the Olympics to complete his Career Super Slam.
Overall, the Serb edges his rival by five wins to four in their nine meetings.
Their last encounter was in the semifinals of the US Open 2025, where eventual champion Alcaraz was too strong for the four-time winner Djokovic.
The match ended 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 in Alcaraz’s favour.
How did Alcaraz reach the Australian Open 2026 final?
An ailing Alcaraz battled past Alexander Zverev in a five-set epic to reach his first Australian Open final in a match lasting five hours and 27 minutes. The world number one outlasted the German third seed in hot conditions with a cramping body.
Road to the final:
First round: Beat Adam Walton 6-3, 7-6(7-2), 6-2
Second round: Beat Yannick Hanfmann 7-6(7-4), 6-3, 6-2
How did Djokovic reach the Australian Open 2026 final?
Djokovic stunned reigning champion Jannik Sinner early on Saturday, with the veteran turning back the clock to upset the Italian in a gruelling four-hour-nine-minute match.
Road to the final:
First round: Beat Pedro Martinez 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
Second round: Beat Francesco Maestrelli 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
Third round: Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(7-4)
Fourth round: Beat Jakub Mensik via walkover
Quarterfinal: Beat Lorenzo Musetti 4-6, 3-6, 3-1 retired
What’s being said about the Djokovic-Alcaraz Australian Open final?
Tennis experts, fans and former champions have been weighing in on what promises to be a modern epic.
Rafael Nadal: “I think the favourite is Carlos. He’s young, he has the energy and he’s in his prime. But I mean, Novak is Novak. He’s a very special player. I think it’s a positive example of commitment, of resilience. Novak, for obvious reasons, is not at his prime, but he is still very, very competitive at an age that is difficult to be very competitive. So full respect.”
Andy Roddick: “Man regrets inspiring child.”
How much is the prize money for the Australian Open champion?
The men’s singles champion and runner-up will receive $2.9m and $1.5m, respectively, from the total tournament prize money of $78.1m.
How to stream and follow the Australian Open 2026 final?
Al Jazeera’s build-up to the final will begin at 05:30 GMT, before the live score, photo and text commentary stream from 08:30 GMT.
Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel has denounced what he called an attempt by his United States counterpart, Donald Trump, to “suffocate” the sanctions-hit country’s economy.
Trump signed an executive order on Thursday threatening additional tariffs on countries that sell oil to Cuba, the latest move in Washington’s campaign of pressure on Havana. The order alleged that the government of communist-run Cuba was an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to US national security.
In a social media post on Friday, Diaz-Canel said that under “a false and baseless pretext”, Trump plans “to suffocate” Cuba’s economy by slapping tariffs “on countries that sovereignly trade oil” with it.
“This new measure reveals the fascist, criminal and genocidal nature of a clique that has hijacked the interests of the American people for purely personal ends,” he said, in an apparent allusion to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a Cuban American and a known anti-Cuban government hawk.
Cuba, which is suffering rolling electricity blackouts blamed on fuel shortages, was cut off from critical supplies of Venezuelan oil after the US abducted Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in a bloody military night raid on the capital, Caracas, earlier this month. At least 32 members of Cuba’s armed forces and intelligence agencies were killed in the January 3 attack.
The US has since taken effective control of Venezuela’s oil sector, and Trump, a Republican, has issued threats against other left-wing governments in the region, promising to stop oil shipments previously sent to Cuba.
Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez on Friday declared an “international emergency” in response to Trump’s move, which he said constitutes “an unusual and extraordinary threat”.
Venezuela’s government also condemned the measure in a statement on Friday, saying it violates international law and the principles of global commerce.
Reporting from Cuba’s capital, Al Jazeera’s Ed Augustin said Trump’s announcement “is a massive psychological blow”, noting that analysts describe it as the “most powerful economic blow the United States has ever dealt the island”.
Days after Maduro’s abduction and transfer to the US, Trump urged Cuba to make a deal “before it is too late,” without specifying what kind of agreement he was referring to.
In a post on social media, Trump suggested Rubio could become the president of Cuba. “Sounds good to me!” he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
‘There’s no solution’
In Havana, residents expressed anger at Trump’s tariff threat, which will only make life harder for Cubans already struggling with an increase in US sanctions.
“My food is going bad. We haven’t had electricity since 6am,” Yenia Leon told Al Jazeera. “You can’t sleep. You have to buy food every day. There’s no solution to the power situation,” she said.
“This is a war,” Lazaro Alfonso, an 89-year-old retired graphic designer, told The Associated Press news agency, describing Trump as the “sheriff of the world” and saying he feels like he is living in the Wild West, where anything goes.
A man sells vegetables on the street during a blackout in Havana on January 22 [Norlys Perez/Reuters]
Alfonso, who lived through the severe economic depression in the 1990s known as the “Special Period” following cuts in Soviet aid, said the current situation in Cuba is worse, given the severe blackouts, a lack of basic goods and a scarcity of fuel.
“The only thing that’s missing here in Cuba … is for bombs to start falling,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she would seek alternatives to continue helping Cuba after Trump’s announcement following a decision this week to temporarily halt oil shipments to the island amid heightened rhetoric from Trump.
Mexico became a key supplier of fuel to Cuba, along with Russia, after the US sanctions on Venezuela paralysed the delivery of crude oil to the island.
Sheinbaum said cutting off oil shipments to Cuba could trigger a “far-reaching humanitarian crisis” on the island, affecting transportation, hospitals and access to food. She did not say whether Mexico would cut shipments of oil or refined products to Cuba, which she said accounted for 1 percent of Mexico’s production.
“Our interest is that the Cuban people don’t suffer,” Sheinbaum said, adding that she had instructed her foreign minister to contact the US State Department to better understand the scope of the executive order.
Mexico supplied 44 percent of Cuban oil imports and Venezuela exported 33 percent until last month, while some 10 percent of Cuban oil is sourced from Russia. Some oil is also sourced from Algeria, according to The Financial Times figures.
In November last year, a senior United Nations expert said the long-running US sanctions on Cuba must be lifted as they are “causing significant effects across all aspects of life”.
The US imposed a near-total trade embargo on Cuba in 1962, with the goal of toppling the government put in place by Fidel Castro after he took power in a 1959 revolution. Castro himself was the target of numerous assassination attempts by the US’s Central Intelligence Agency, or CIA.
Alena Douhan, special rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on human rights, said the “extensive regime of economic, trade and financial restrictions” against Cuba marks the longest-running unilateral sanctions policy in US history.
She noted that there are shortages of food, medicine, electricity, water, essential machinery and spare parts in Cuba, while a growing emigration of skilled workers, including medical staff, engineers and teachers, is further straining the country.
The accumulative effect has “severe consequences for the enjoyment of human rights, including the rights to life, food, health and development”, Douhan said.
Fifth seed Elena Rybakina wins the Australian Open tennis final beating world number one Aryna Sabalenka in Melbourne.
Published On 31 Jan 202631 Jan 2026
Share
Elena Rybakina produced a thunderous display to dismantle Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 4-6 6-4 on Saturday and capture a maiden Australian Open title, turning the tables on the world number one in their Melbourne Park final rematch from three years ago.
Rybakina returned to the site of her heartbreak in 2023 to complete an impressive victory and earn her second major trophy after Wimbledon 2022, underlining her credentials as the player best equipped to puncture Sabalenka’s hardcourt aura.
Recommended Stories
list of 4 itemsend of list
The 26-year-old capped a fortnight of relentless efficiency while largely flying under the radar, adding the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup to a resume that also includes the 2025 WTA Finals crown where she downed Sabalenka.
“It’s hard to find words now but I want to congratulate Aryna for her amazing results in the last couple of years. I hope we’re going to play many more finals together,” Kazakh Rybakina said.
“I want to say thank you to you guys (fans). Thank you so much to Kazakhstan. I felt the support from that corner a lot. It’s really a Happy Slam and I always enjoy coming here and playing in front of you guys.”
Aryna Sabalenka was seeking a third Australian Open title at Melbourne Park [Phil Walter/Getty Images]
In the first Grand Slam final since 2008 featuring players yet to drop a set, it was top seed Sabalenka who blinked first under the Rod Laver Arena roof as Rybakina came out all guns blazing to break in the opening game and wrest control.
The Kazakh fifth seed’s huge ball-striking caused all sorts of problems for twice champion Sabalenka, as she comfortably got to set point in the 10th game and finished it off to send alarm bells ringing in her opponent’s dugout.
Having arrived with 46 hardcourt Grand Slam match wins from the last 48, four-time major winner Sabalenka found her groove and started the second set more positively, but Rybakina saved three breakpoints to hold for 1-1.
A wayward forehand from Rybakina handed Sabalenka the chance to level at one set apiece, and the Belarusian gleefully took it to turn the final set into a shootout destined to be decided by whichever player held their nerves.
Having beaten Rybakina from a similar situation in the 2023 title clash, Sabalenka unleashed a flurry of winners to go ahead 3-0, but the Kazakh erased the deficit and broke for 4-3 before securing victory to add to her All England club triumph.
Elena Rybakina celebrates a point in the Women’s Singles Final against Aryna Sabalenka [Phil Walter/Getty Images]
The knockout blow was a huge ace, after which the typically restrained Rybakina walked forward, smiled and pumped her fist before celebrating with her team.
Sabalenka, denied an Australian Open “three-peat” by American outsider Madison Keys in last year’s final, endured heartbreak again as she retreated to her chair and draped a white towel over her head to conceal her anguish.
“I’m really speechless right now,” she said, before turning to her victorious opponent and the fans.
“I want to congratulate you on an incredible run and incredible tennis. Such an incredible achievement. I love being here, love playing in front of you all. You guys are incredible support. Let’s hope next year is going to be a better year.”
Niger Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani (C) blamed France, Bejin and the Ivory Coast for the Wednesday night attack on Niger’s Diori Hamani International Airport. Photo by Issifou Djibo/EPA
Jan. 30 (UPI) — Four Nigerien military personnel were injured and 20 attackers were killed during an attack on the Diori Hamani International Airport near Niger’s capital city, Niamey.
The attack started late Wednesday night and lasted for about 30 minutes, during which loud explosions and sustained gunfire could be heard, the BBC reported.
Niger’s Defense Ministry said 11 were arrested after the attack ended, and a French national was among the 20 attackers who were killed.
The Islamic State group on Friday claimed responsibility for coordinating the attack that it said targeted a military base used by Niger’s army.
The Islamic State’s Amaq information wing said “major damage” was done to the airport but did not cite any casualty figures.
Video footage recorded during the attack and witness statements indicate Niger’s air-defense system engaged incoming projectiles.
The airport resumed its normal operations Thursday, and Nigerien officials credited Russian military personnel with helping to fend off the attackers.
Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani, who seized power in Niger during a July 2023 military coup, appeared on state-run television, blaming the presidents of France, Benin and the Ivory Coast for the attack. Tiani did not cite any evidence to support the allegation, but he said retaliation was forthcoming.
“We have heard them bark,” Tiani said. “They should be ready to hear us roar.”
Niger recently experienced diminished relations with France and neighboring nations, which he accused of being French proxies.
Tiani and Nigerien officials have close ties with Russia, which helped the Nigerien military to thwart a rebellion by militants associated with al-Qaida and ISIS.
Niger maintains close relations with Mali and Burkina Faso, all of which have faced rebellions that have caused thousands of deaths and displaced millions.
The three nations formed the Alliance of Sahel States in response and engaged Russia while ending military ties with France.
Passengers at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, La Guaira State, Venezuela. (AFP)
Caracas, January 30, 2026 (venezuelanalysis.com) – Venezuelan Acting President, Delcy Rodríguez, welcomed the “lifting of restrictions on the country’s commercial airspace”, which had been in place since last November, following talks with the US government.
Speaking at a rally on Thursday, Rodríguez said she received a phone call from US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to address the issue as part of a “working agenda” between the two countries that includes the resumption of diplomatic relations.
“Let all the airlines that need to come, come. Let all the investors that need to come, come”, Rodríguez said. She assumed office following the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, amid the January 3 US attacks.
Earlier in the day, Trump ordered the reopening of “all Venezuelan airspace” to commercial flights, stating that US citizens would be able to travel safely and that Venezuelans wishing to return—either permanently or temporarily—would also be able to do so.
Trump ordered Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and other officials, including military commanders, to ensure the reopening was “immediate.”
Trump went on to describe the exchange with his Venezuelan counterpart as “highly positive,” emphasizing that “relations have been very solid and very good.” He further sought to reassure international travelers by stressing that they would be safe while in Venezuelan territory.
Following the announcements, the US Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that it had removed four Notices to Airmen (NOTAM) in the Caribbean region, including one related to Venezuela. “They were issued as a precautionary measure and are no longer necessary”, the agency argued.
Likewise on Thursday, American Airlines announced its intention to resume daily direct flights between the United States and Venezuela, becoming the first US airline to take such a step.
The company, which began operations in Venezuela in 1987, stated that the resumption of the route would be subject to approval by both US and Venezuelan authorities, as well as the corresponding security assessments.
American Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Nat Pieper said the company was eager to offer its customers the opportunity to reunite with family members and to generate new business and trade opportunities with the United States.
Direct flights between the two countries were suspended in 2019, the same year diplomatic relations between Washington and Caracas were severed after the US recognized Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s interim president.
Last November, Trump declared that Venezuela’s airspace should be considered “completely closed.” A flurry of NOTAM warnings led international airlines to suspend their connections to the Caribbean country. Caracas withdrew licenses from several companies, including TAP, Iberia and Turkish Airlines.
On January 13, Panama’s Copa Airlines announced the resumption of flights to and from Caracas.
Embassy reopening in the works
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday during a Senate hearing that he expects the United States to reestablish a diplomatic presence in Venezuela in the near future. “We have a team there evaluating it, and I think we’ll be able to open a diplomatic presence soon,” he said.
Rubio argued that such a presence would allow Washington to “have real-time information and interact not only with government officials but also with members of civil society and the opposition.”
Laura Dogu has so far been appointed to lead the diplomatic mission from the Venezuela Affairs Unit in Bogotá, Colombia. According to CNN, the CIA is looking to establish a “foothold” in the South American country that may preced the formal arrival of US diplomats.
For her part, Rodríguez has defended her administration’s diplomatic engagement with the United States, while also urging Venezuelan political sectors to resolve their differences and internal conflicts without “orders from Washington.”
Kim Sang-hwan (2-L), chief justice of the Constitutional Court, and the court’s other justices attend a hearing to deliver a verdict on the impeachment of former police chief Cho Ji-ho at the court in Seoul, South Korea, 18 December 2025. The court upheld Cho’s impeachment over his involvement in former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s short-lived imposition of martial law. File. Photo by YONHAP / EPA
Jan. 30 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s Innovation Party said Thursday that the Constitutional Court’s decision striking down the 3% vote threshold for proportional representation is a warning to the country’s two major parties and called on the Democratic Party to amend the Public Official Election Act.
The party argued that the ruling requires broader electoral reform, including abolishing two-member local council districts, expanding regional proportional representation and introducing runoff voting for mayors and governors.
Park Byeong-won, interim spokesperson for the Innovation Party, told a news conference at the National Assembly Communication Center that the court’s decision underscored violations of popular sovereignty. He said the Democratic Party, which holds a majority in the National Assembly, should take responsibility for revising the election law.
Park said the court found partially unconstitutional a provision of the Public Official Election Act that denied proportional representation seats to parties that failed to secure at least 3% of the nationwide vote. As a result, he said, parties receiving less than 3% support will be eligible for seat allocation in the 2028 general election without further legislation.
He added that the court criticized the current system as favoring the two major parties and blocking new political forces from entering the National Assembly. Park said it would be unrealistic to expect the major parties to voluntarily reform a system that benefits them and called the ruling a rebuke that lawmakers must heed.
Park said the decision highlighted the need to abolish two-member local council districts, expand regional proportional representation and introduce runoff voting for local chief executives in upcoming local elections. He said the Democratic Party should move unilaterally to amend the election law to reflect the principle of popular sovereignty.
On Wednesday, the Constitutional Court ruled 7-2 that Article 189(1) of the Public Official Election Act was unconstitutional. The provision limited proportional representation seats to parties that won at least 3% of the national vote or secured five constituency seats.
Minor parties and candidates who failed to meet the threshold in the 21st and 22nd general elections under a semi-linked proportional representation system had filed the constitutional complaint.
Left-arm pacer Ben Dwarshuis will replace Cummins after he failed to recover in time for the tournament.
Published On 31 Jan 202631 Jan 2026
Share
Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the ICC Twenty20 World Cup after failing to recover from a nagging back injury, with Ben Dwarshuis named as his replacement in the tournament starting next month.
“With Pat needing more time to recover from his back injury, Ben is a ready replacement who offers a left-arm pace option as well as dynamic fielding and late-order hitting,” selector Tony Dodemaide said on Saturday.
Recommended Stories
list of 3 itemsend of list
“We believe his ability to swing the ball at good pace, along with clever variations, will be well-suited to the conditions we expect and overall structure of the squad.”
Cummins played just one of the five Ashes Tests against England, but Australia kept him in the provisional World Cup squad, hoping for his availability in the Super Eight stage of the tournament to be played in India and Sri Lanka.
Matt Renshaw also replaced fellow batter Matthew Short but veteran Steve Smith could not break into the World Cup squad despite his strong form in the Big Bash League.
The Mitchell Marsh-led side are currently playing a three-match T20 series in Pakistan as part of their preparation for the World Cup.
“With the top order settled and spin-heavy conditions expected in the pool stages in Sri Lanka, we also feel Matt provides extra middle-order support, with Tim David completing his return-to-play programme in the early phase of the tournament,” Dodemaide said of Renshaw’s selection.
“As a left-hander, he also offers a point of difference to the middle-order batting.”
Renshaw scored 15 in his T20 debut for Australia in Thursday’s defeat in Lahore.
The former champions begin their World Cup campaign against Ireland in a February 11 match in Colombo.
Australia’s squad for the T20 World Cup: Mitchell Marsh (captain), Travis Head, Xavier Bartlett, Josh Hazlewood, Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis, Tim David, Matthew Kuhnemann, Ben Dwarshuis, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Matthew Renshaw, Nathan Ellis, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
England’s Justin Rose shot a seven-under-par 65 to extend his lead to four shots at the Farmers Insurance Open while returning Brooks Koepka made the cut in San Diego.
The 45-year-old, who leads Ireland’s Seamus Power, sits on 17 under after breaking his own 36-hole record at the tournament.
Rose shot the round of the day on Friday at the more challenging South Course with an eagle, six birdies and just one bogey.
“I feel like in my career I’ve won on tough golf courses generally, so that’s my M.O., I would say,” said 2025 Masters runner-up Rose, who led by a shot after an opening-round 62.
“It’s the kind of a place I enjoy. It’s one of my favourite tournaments on Tour, just the whole area, the whole atmosphere, the whole vibe.”
Meanwhile, Koepka continued his return to the PGA Tour with a second-round 68 to make the cut on three under.
Five-time major winner Koepka, who agreed a release from his LIV Golf contract at the end of 2025, struggled on the South Course on Thursday, shooting a round of 73.
But on the North Course he found his form in his first PGA Tour event in four years, sinking an eagle putt on the 17th.
“I think [Thursday] I was excited to play, nervous, and kind of didn’t know what to expect, but today felt more normal, I guess,” Koepka said.
“But yeah, I mean, don’t get me wrong, I definitely still got antsy, but I guess maybe a little bit of nerves, just trying to figure it out and test – see where my game’s at too, right? I feel like I’m playing really well. It’s just been a long layoff.”
Xander Schauffele’s streak of making consecutive cuts – the longest active on tour at 72 – came to an end, while Patrick Cantlay, Gary Woodland, Will Zalatoris, JJ Spaun, Max Homa and Ludvig Aberg also all missed the cut.
Taiwan navy Hai Hu (SS-794) submarine is anchored inside a naval base in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 09 January 2025. Taiwanese President William Lai (Lai Cheng-te) pledged in his new year speech to boost Tawan’s defense budget amidst rising tensions with China. File. Photo by RITCHIE B. TONGO / EPA
Jan. 30 (Asia Today) — Taiwan’s first domestically built conventional submarine completed its first submerged sea trial Thursday, a milestone for an eight-boat program aimed at strengthening deterrence against China.
The submarine, named Hai Kun and also known as Narwhal, conducted a shallow-water submerged navigation test and returned safely to port near the southern city of Kaohsiung, according to Taiwan’s China Shipbuilding Corp., the state-linked builder leading the project.
The company said the program has faced obstacles because of international constraints and pressure from China but described the trial as a key step before staged sea testing continues.
Beijing has long opposed Taiwan’s submarine program. A Chinese newspaper commentary described the vessel as having performance issues, reflecting Beijing’s criticism of Taipei’s defense buildup.
According to people familiar with the trial, the test focused on basic checks such as watertight integrity and underwater stability at shallow depth, with later trials expected to proceed to deeper dives and stress testing.
The diesel-electric submarine is about 70 meters long with an underwater displacement of about 2,800 tons and a crew of about 60, according to published specifications.
Taiwan launched the first boat in September 2023 and the delivery timeline has slipped from earlier targets. The first vessel is budgeted at NT$49.36 billion (about ₩2.26 trillion, about $1.57 billion), with Taiwan aiming to have at least two of the new submarines operational by 2027.
The program has drawn scrutiny in South Korea after court rulings found contractors linked to Taiwan’s submarine effort guilty of leaking torpedo-launch system design documents, a case that raised concerns about possible technology transfer.
Danish company will replace Hong Kong-based firm, CK Hutchison, after Trump claimed strategic waterway was controlled by China.
Published On 31 Jan 202631 Jan 2026
Share
Danish firm Maersk will temporarily operate two ports on the Panama Canal after a court ruled that contracts given to a Hong Kong firm were unconstitutional.
The Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) announced the changes on Friday, a day after the Central American country’s Supreme Court invalidated port contracts held by Hong Kong-based firm CK Hutchison.
According to the court ruling that annulled the deal, CK Hutchison’s contract to operate the ports had “disproportionate bias” towards the Hong Kong-based company.
On Friday, the AMP said port operator APM Terminals, part of the Maersk Group, would take over as the “temporary administrator” of the Balboa and Cristobal ports on either end of the canal.
Maersk takes over from the Panama Ports Company (PPC) – a subsidiary of CK Hutchison Holdings – which has managed the ports since 1997 under a concession renewed in 2021 for 25 years.
The canal, an artificial waterway, handles about 40 percent of US container shipping traffic and 5 percent of world trade. It has been controlled by Panama since 1999, when the US, which funded the building of the canal between 1904 and 1914, ceded control.
Washington on Friday welcomed the decision, but China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Beijing “will take all measures necessary to firmly protect the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies”.
For its part, PPC said the ruling “lacks legal basis and endangers … the welfare and stability of thousands of Panamanian families” who depend on its operations.
Tens of thousands of workers dug the 82km- (51-mile-) passageway that became the Panama Canal, allowing ships to pass from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic without having to travel around the northernmost or southernmost ends of the Americas.
Panama has always denied Chinese control of the canal, which is used mainly by the US and China.
Rodriguez calls for healing ‘wounds left by political confrontation’ while announcing notorious El Helicoide prison to shut down.
Published On 31 Jan 202631 Jan 2026
Share
Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez has announced an amnesty bill that could lead to the release of hundreds of prisoners, her latest major reform since the US military abducted the country’s President Nicolas Maduro and his wife earlier this month.
“We have decided to push ahead with a general amnesty law that covers the whole period of political violence from 1999 to the present day,” Rodriguez said on Friday.
Recommended Stories
list of 4 itemsend of list
Speaking at a gathering of justices, magistrates, ministers, military officials and other government leaders, the acting president said the National Assembly would take up the amnesty bill with urgency.
“May this law serve to heal the wounds left by the political confrontation fuelled by violence and extremism,” Rodriguez said in the prerecorded televised event.
“May it serve to redirect justice in our country, and may it serve to redirect coexistence among Venezuelans,” she said.
Rodriguez also announced the shutdown of El Helicoide, a notorious secret service prison in Caracas, where torture and other human rights abuses have been documented by independent organisations.
El Helicoide, she said, will be transformed into a sports, social and cultural centre for the surrounding neighbourhoods.
Rodriguez made her announcement before officials whom former prisoners and human rights watchdogs have accused of overseeing El Helicoide and other detention facilities.
The Venezuelan-based prisoners’ rights group Foro Penal estimates that 711 people are in detention in facilities across Venezuela over their political activities. Of those, 183 have been sentenced, the group said.
Foro Penal President Alfredo Romero welcomed the planned amnesty but said it must apply to all prisoners “without discrimination”.
“A general amnesty is welcome as long as its elements and conditions include all of civil society, without discrimination, that it does not become a cloak of impunity, and that it contributes to dismantling the repressive apparatus of political persecution,” Romero wrote in a post on social media.
Foro Penal has calculated that some 302 prisoners have been released by Rodriguez’s government in the aftermath of the abduction of Maduro by the US.
The organisation later released a video clip on social media of what is said showed the moment that human rights worker Eduardo Torres was released from prison on Friday night, following his detention since May 2025.
Translation: Our colleague from @proveaong Eduardo Torres has been released from prison, human rights defender, former political prisoner.
Families and rights advocates have long demanded that charges and convictions against detainees who are considered political prisoners be dropped.
Government officials – who deny holding political prisoners and say those jailed have committed crimes – report that more than 600 people have been released from prison, but they have not been clear on the timeline and appear to be including prisoners released in previous years.
Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
The U.S. Navy’s top officer says global proliferation of increasingly capable air defense systems underscores the vital need to move ahead with work on the F/A-XX next-generation carrier-based fighter. He further warned that the Navy’s “ability to fly with impunity” using non-stealthy types like the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, even against smaller nation-state adversaries like Iran and non-state actors, is now “fleeting.”
A rendering of Northrop Grumman’s proposed F/A-XX design. Northrop Grumman
The “next-generation airframe, F/A-XX, is so vital,” Caudle said yesterday. “This [carrier] air wing of the future design is so important for so many reasons … nothing delivers the mass of an air wing if you want to deliver mass fires.”
“I know these things are expensive, and I know the defense industrial base is compressed, but we have got to figure out how to walk and chew gum here with aircraft,” he added. It is worth noting here that both Boeing and Northrop Grumman have pushed back publicly, to different degrees, on concerns that the U.S. industrial base cannot support work on two sixth-generation fighter programs simultaneously.
You can listen to Adm. Caudle’s full opening remarks at the Apex Defense conference and the follow-on question-and-answer session in the video below.
CNO APEX REMARKS
Caudle has long been outspoken in his support for F/A-XX, which is the Navy’s planned successor to its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters and EA-18G Growler electronic warfare jets. In addition to being very stealthy, the sixth-generation jets would come with increased range and other advancements, giving the Navy’s carrier air wings a major boost in kinetic capability. F/A-XX will also be able to perform electronic warfare and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, as well as contribute to battle space management.
The CNO highlighted many of these expected capabilities in his comments yesterday. He also called particular attention to how “vital” F/A-XX will be because of “the CCAs [Collaborative Combat Aircraft drones] that it will command and control.”
A rendering depicting members of General Atomics Gambit drone family operating from a U.S. Navy Ford class aircraft carrier. General Atomics is one of four companies now under contract to the Navy to develop conceptual carrier-based CCA designs. General Atomics
“But the bigger part is … just the ever-lowering cost of entry” when it comes to air defense threats, Caudle said. “The folks that used to be not in [the] headspace that I needed a stealth aircraft of this level to fly a mission into their country, will gain capability that the F-18 will not match against.”
“This is an ever-evolving theme, and when you’ve got partnerships … well coupled with each other across China and Russia and Iran and North Korea, and terrorist groups that are getting that kit from all of those through back-channel ways, our ability to fly with impunity with our existing airframes is fleeting,” he continued. “So, if I don’t start building that [F/A-XX] immediately, you’re not going to get it for some time.”
“I hate to say it, sounds cliche, but you know, when things heat up in Iran, guess who steamed over there? Right? It was the United States Navy and the Abraham [Lincoln Carrier] Strike Group,” the Navy’s top officer added. “So you can imagine what that looks like 10 years from now, with a different Iran, with different capability, that can go against F-18 capabilities of today.”
An F/A-18E Super Hornet seen landing aboard the Nimitz class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in January 2026. USN
U.S. military operations in and around the Middle East in the past two years have provided substantial evidence to underscore Caudle’s remarks. There were multiple reported instances in which Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen were able to threaten existing fourth and fifth-generation U.S. fighters, at least to a degree, with their relatively modest air defense capabilities. Sources differ on the total number, but the Houthis were also able to successfully down 20 or so MQ-9 Reaper drones.
🇾🇪🇺🇸 | The Houthis show footage from the shootdown of another U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper UCAV.
If I’m not mistaken, that would be the 20th MQ-9 downed by the Houthis from Yemen. pic.twitter.com/SCwRVLSs7s
— Status-6 (War & Military News) (@Archer83Able) April 18, 2025
TWZ has previously explored in detail the scale and scope of Houthi air defenses, as well as their ability to punch above their weight, and not just against U.S. forces. Infrared sensors and seekers, including the repurposing of heat-seeking air-to-air missiles as surface-to-air weapons, have been a major factor, given that they are not impacted by radar cross-section-reducing features on stealthy targets. They are also passive, meaning that they do not pump out signals that can give opponents advanced warning that they are being tracked and targeted.
Examples of heat-seeking air-to-air missiles that the Houthis have repurposed as surface-to-air weapons. Houthi-controlled media
Infrared capabilities can also help in cueing traditional radars, and pairing the two together offers benefits for spotting and tracking targets, whether they have features to reduce their radar and other signatures or not. This also just allows the radars to not have to start radiating (and expose themselves as a result) until very late in the engagement cycle. The Houthis have also focused heavily on mobile systems that are hard to find and fix in advance, and that present additional complications given their ability to pop up suddenly in unexpected locations.
Houthi Fater-1 radar-guided surface-to-air missiles on parade in 2023. The Fater-1 is a copy or clone of the Soviet 3M9 used in the 2K12 Kub/SA-6 mobile surface-to-air missile system. Mohammed Hamoud/Getty Images
The Tabas road-mobile surface-to-air missile system seen here is one of the more modern types in Iranian service. Iranian State Media
This all, in many ways, reflects broader air defense global trends that have been emerging in China, Russia, North Korea, and elsewhere. As Adm. Caudle noted yesterday, there has also been cooperation on various levels between America’s adversaries, well beyond Iran and the Houthis, on the development and proliferation of more capable air defense systems.
The threat picture also goes beyond individual anti-air weapons and sensors. Fully-networked integrated air defenses, which offer a multitude of benefits when it comes to operational flexibility and more efficiently utilizing available resources, are only set to become a bigger part of the equation. These networks will be able to detect, successfully track, and engage targets in ways that federated air defense systems cannot. The barrier to entry in acquiring these capabilities is likely to keep dropping as time goes on, as well.
The Navy does still, of course, see F/A-XX as critical to projecting carrier-based airpower into denser, higher-end air defense threat ecosystems, especially in any future conflicts against a major competitor like China or Russia. A year ago, the U.S. Air Force released a report projecting that American aircraft will be challenged by anti-air missiles with ranges up to 1,000 miles by 2050.
“This [F/A-XX] is, again, a global solution, not just for a pressing scenario,” Adm. Caudle said yesterday.
The F/A-XX saga still has yet to play out, but Iranian air defenses, in particular, look to have emerged as a major factor in whatever the future might hold for that program.
Jang Dong-hyeok (L), leader of the main opposition People Power Party, shakes hands with Jung Chung-rae, leader of the ruling Democratic Party, after paying their respects to late former South Korean prime minister Lee Hae-chan at his altar at the funeral hall of Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul, South Korea, 30 January 2026. File. Photo by YONHAP / EPA
Jan. 30 (Asia Today) — Leaders of South Korea’s Democratic Party and conservative People Power Party shook hands Friday at the funeral of former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan and exchanged brief words about working toward “good politics,” marking their first handshake in months.
Democratic Party leader Chung Cheong-rae greeted People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk at the funeral hall at Seoul National University Hospital in central Seoul after Jang paid his respects.
Chung, who has previously avoided handshakes with political rivals, asked Jang how he was doing and remarked that he looked thinner, according to aides. Jang replied that he had lost weight and had struggled to regain it.
After the exchange, the two leaders offered each other well-wishes and said they would try to pursue better politics in line with Lee’s legacy, the aides said.
Jang visited with other senior People Power Party officials, including floor leader Song Eon-seok and policy committee chairman Jeong Jeom-sik. Conservative lawmakers and former lawmakers had continued condolence visits through Thursday, the party said. Jang had sent a funeral wreath earlier this week.
Chung declared after his election as party leader last August that he would not shake hands with the opposition, saying handshakes should be reserved for “people.” He last shook hands with rival-party leaders in September during a meeting at the presidential office, at the urging of President Lee Jae-myung.
Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
The pace of U.S. military aircraft movements to the Middle East is picking up. The flights, which potentially include F-35A stealth fighters, come amid a growing buildup of U.S. forces in the region. Washington and Tehran continue to trade threats ahead of a potential attack on or from Iran. Meanwhile, in anticipation of conflict, Iran claims it has distributed additional air and sea drones to its troops for potential attacks on U.S. and Israeli assets if needed.
You can catch up with our most recent coverage of tensions in the Middle East in our story here.
During President Donald Trump’s cabinet meeting on Thursday, War Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon is ready to fulfill any orders given as the American leader is increasing the pressure on Iran to end its nuclear weapons program.
“They should not pursue nuclear capabilities. We will be prepared to deliver whatever this president expects of the War Department,” Hegseth said.
Hegseth:
Iran has all the options to make a deal.
They should not pursue nuclear capabilities, or we will be prepared to deliver whatever Trump expects. pic.twitter.com/E4jr2eFciv
Trump is now considering options that “include U.S. military airstrikes aimed at Iran’s leaders and the security officials believed to be responsible for the killings, as well as strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and government institutions,” CNN reported, citing sources. “Trump has not made a final decision on how to proceed, sources said, but he believes his military options have been expanded from earlier this month now that a US carrier strike group is in the region.”
As the rhetoric continues to heat up, there are strong indications that the first flight of U.S. Air Force F-35A stealth fighters may be headed to the Middle East. The jets, from the Vermont Air National Guard, were in Puerto Rico for the pressure campaign that led to the operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro. Video from Andre Inacio, who also took the top image in this post, shows some of those jets landing in Lajes, Portugal.
The same F-35s involved in the U.S. mission to capture Venezuelan President Maduro arrived in Lajes on their way to the Middle East this evening.
The F-35As would be the latest tactical aircraft sent to the region. As we previously reported, squadrons of F-35Cs, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and E/A-18G Growlers embarked on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. The aircraft carrier and three escorts are now in the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility (AOR). In addition, a dozen F-15E Strike Eagles were sent to Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan.
An F-35C Lightning II, attached to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, prepares to make an arrested landing on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) on Jan. 10, 2026. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Daniel Kimmelman) Seaman Daniel Kimmelman
The F-35As would give the U.S. additional capability to strike targets deep inside Iran. They played a key suppression of enemy air defense (SEAD) role during last June’s Operation Midnight Hammer mission, paving the way for B-2A Spirit bombers that dropped 14 30,000-pound GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker buster bombs on Iran’s Fordow and Natanz nuclear facilities. The F-35As, from the 388th Fighter Wing, were the first aircraft in and the last ones out.
We still don’t know for sure where the F-35As that originally deployed to the Caribbean will end up. The Vermont Air National Guard declined to comment on the deployment, citing operational security concerns and U.S. Central Command does not discuss any movements. That being said, the movement would fit the same pattern we have seen of the influx of capabilities into the Middle East.
A U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II aircraft assigned to the 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard, follows a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft assigned to the 171st Air Refueling Wing, Pennsylvania Air National Guard, to perform a routine aerial refueling mission on Oct. 10, 2024. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Zoe M. Wockenfuss) Tech. Sgt. Zoe Wockenfuss
Case in point, F/A-18G Growler electronic warfare (EW) jets have also crossed the Atlantic. Flight-tracking data shows that they have left Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia, headed toward Moron Air Base in Spain. From there, they could potentially fly to the Middle East. Yesterday, we reported that, just like the F-35As, these aircraft departed from their assignment to the Caribbean.
As we pointed out, “Growlers in the Middle East would be critical force multipliers. Such a deployment could be indicative of what one would see in the lead-up to a kinetic operation centered heavily on strikes on targets in inland areas, such as ones the U.S. and possibly Israel might carry out in Iran in the future. Growlers can provide electronic warfare support for standoff munitions and/or aircraft penetrating into enemy air defenses, among other battlefield effects.”
#USAF United States Air Force – Middle East Activity (CORONET) 29 January 2026 – 1050z
CORONET East 037 – Four KC-46 Pegasus tankers have departed Pease Air National Guard Base, to meet with TABOR 51-53 and TABOR 61-63 flights of F/A-18G Growler’s from Oceana Naval Air Station.… https://t.co/OtkcYs3yLjpic.twitter.com/Nvyvbu5W7D
Even before these recent moves, there was a small number of tactical jets in the region, including F-15Es, A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and F-16 Fighting Falcons.
The F-16 Fighting Falcon is one of the most iconic fighter jets that the U.S. Air Force operates. Now in operation for over 50 years, the F-16 remains one of the most widely flown fighters in the world, operated by more than 25 countries. pic.twitter.com/uY6IrWkvrB
In addition to these aircraft, an HC-130J Combat King II combat search and rescue (CSAR) plane, callsign King40, landed at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan today, according to flight tracking data. That was a possibility we suggested yesterday.
A C 130J Combat King has arrived at Al Muwaffaq in Jordan.
HC 130J deployments often signal preparation for high risk operations, as these combat search and rescue aircraft are positioned to recover downed pilots or crews if airstrikes or special operations unfold over hostile… pic.twitter.com/CdgYfGWoRm
Another Combat King may be on the way, according to flight tracking data showing it left Rota, Spain. It is possibly headed to Muwaffaq Salti as well. Again, we have no independent confirmation of this. However, sending them to the Middle East at this time makes sense should Trump order a strike on Iran. Combat Kings would be needed for the rapid rescue of any aircrews lost during military operations, specifically over contested territory. They can also support special operations aircraft with aerial refueling for non-personnel recovery missions.
At the same time a HC-130J Combat King II CSAR (Combat Search and Rescue) aircraft has been forward deployed to Jordan.
A second one landed in Rota yesterday and will likely join the first in Jordan later today.
Also drawing a lot of interest from flight trackers online, a WC-135R Constant Phoenix “nuke sniffing” jet, callsign COBRA31, has arrived at RAF Mildenhall from Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, according to flight-tracking data and the ADS-B exchange. The jets collect air samples to screen for the presence of notable nuclear materials. Beyond taking baseline readings around the globe, the Constant Phoenix jets can be deployed to monitor nuclear weapons tests and look for and track nuclear leaks and other nuclear incidents.
Constant Phoenix jets are no strangers to Europe, as we have noted in the past, so this could very well be a routine flight. While Mildenhall is a frequent jumping-off point for flights to the CENTCOM region, we don’t know for sure where this one is headed. At the same time, moving a jet like this to the Middle East, or at least closer to that region, could make sense if strikes on nuclear sites are being planned. We just don’t know at this time.
A U.S. Air Force WC-135R Constant Phoenix is now leaving CONUS for Europe and possibly onwards to the Middle East.
They are commonly referred to as “nuke sniffers” due to their role detecting and identifying nuclear material in the atmosphere. pic.twitter.com/8fwIGmwzML
So many changes today I’ve had to move to an A3 layout. 6x EA-18Gs and reportedly 6x F-35As from PR on the way to Europe with supporting tankers, possibly more to come this evening. C-17 flights spiked suggesting strikes could commence tomorrow!
These aircraft movements appear to be the latest sign of a large surge of U.S. forces to the Middle East. As we reported yesterday, an RC-135V Rivet Joint electronic surveillance plane arrived at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, according to online flight trackers. In addition, an E-11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) jet was heading to Souda Air Base in Crete, a common route for deployments to the Middle East.
It should be noted, however, that CENTCOM is conducting a multi-day readiness exercise, so some of these aircraft movements could be related to that.
Beyond aircraft, the U.S. is moving warships to the region. Yesterday, we were the first to report that the Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black arrived in the Red Sea, joining the Lincoln and its three escort Arleigh Burkes, two independently deployed Arleigh Burkes, and three Littoral Combat Ships in the CENTCOM region. You can read more about these moves and what they could mean for a possible attack on or from Iran in our story here.
The Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black became the 10 warship currently deployed to the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jeremy R. Boan) (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jeremy R. Boan)
The buildup of forces comes amid back-and-forth threats between U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian officials.
As we reported yesterday, Trump warned Iran to halt its nuclear arms ambitions or face an attack.
“Hopefully Iran will quickly “Come to the Table” and negotiate a fair and equitable deal – NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS – one that is good for all parties,” Trump proclaimed on his Truth Social platform. “Time is running out, it is truly of the essence! As I told Iran once before, MAKE A DEAL! They didn’t, and there was “Operation Midnight Hammer,” a major destruction of Iran. The next attack will be far worse! Don’t make that happen again…”
Today, Iranian military officials claimed they are beefing up their drone force to counter any attack.
“By the order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army, 1,000 strategic drones were added today to the combat organization of the four branches of the army,” according to the official Iranian IRNA News Agency. “These drones, designed according to new threats and the experiences of the 12-day war, were built by army specialists in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense and are designed in strike, offensive, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare classes to destroy specific fixed and moving targets at sea, air, and land.”
Major General Hatami added that, “In line with upcoming threats, maintaining and enhancing strategic advantages for rapid combat and a crushing response to any aggression and attacker is always on the army’s agenda,” IRNA added, without offering any details.
“Due to considerations for protecting military secrets, no images of the attached drones have been released,” the news outlet explained.
While Iran’s claims must be viewed with a high degree of skepticism, it has launched a lot of drones in previous conflicts. Distributing air and sea drones to its forces that are ready for launch makes a lot of sense, especially given the proximity of U.S. bases in the region and the growing presence of Navy ships. Moving these assets out of storage also would help ensure their survival during the opening stages of a conflict. It’s worth noting that while Israel primarily targeted Iran’s longer-range missile and drone capacity, including its launchers and storage areas, the country’s short-range systems were largely left untouched. These ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones, exist in far greater numbers and would be used to strike U.S. and allied assets in the region.
On a more defensive note, Tehran is preparing civil defense measures ahead of potential U.S. or Israeli attacks.
“Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani announced on Thursday the launch of a project to build shelters in underground parking facilities in the city, saying they would serve as emergency refuges in times of crisis,” the Israel Hayom news outlet reported. “He added that the capital’s metro stations could also be used as shelters if necessary, and said the program would eventually be expanded to all neighborhoods of Tehran in the coming years.”
Zakani also “detailed plans that include constructing shelters, installing warning systems and protecting civilians in the event of a possible war,” the publication further noted. “He said the initiative was conceived after what he described as the ’12-day war,’ and was designed to allow underground parking lots to function normally during the year while being converted into shelters in times of danger.”
The Mayor of Tehran, Alireza Zakani, has announced that underground parking lots and metro stations across the city will be transformed into “war shelters” in case of resumed hostilities with Israel and the United States.
Amid all the military maneuvers and harsh rhetoric, there are still ongoing negotiations to avoid conflict.
“Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held separate calls Wednesday with his Iranian counterpart and Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff but made no progress,” The Wall Street Journal reported. “Iran strongly objected to the U.S. terms and warned targets across the region would be fair game in the event of a U.S. strike, people familiar with the conversations said.”
In addition, efforts by Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia in recent days were similarly fruitless, the Journal added.
“The Trump administration is hosting senior defense and intelligence officials from Israel and Saudi Arabia for talks on Iran this week as President Trump considers military strikes,” Axios reported, citing two U.S. officials and two other sources with knowledge. “The Saudis have been passing messages in recent days between the U.S. and Iran in an effort to de-escalate the situation.”
This follows decisions by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates not to allow the U.S. to use their bases or airspace for any attack on Iran. You can read more about the implications of that in our story here.
🇸🇦📞🇮🇷 | HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke by phone with the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian. pic.twitter.com/sjcDjoHYCv
1 of 2 | epa12689577 flutters outside its headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, 29 January 2026. File. Photo by YONHAP/ EPA
Jan. 30 (Asia Today) — Despite sluggish domestic demand, South Korea’s stock market is surging, driven largely by a semiconductor supercycle led by SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics.
SK Hynix last year posted record sales exceeding 97 trillion won (about $67.6 billion) and operating profit of 47 trillion won (about $32.8 billion), with both its annual and fourth-quarter results reaching all-time highs. Notably, its fourth-quarter operating margin surpassed that of Taiwan’s leading foundry, underscoring not only for growth but also for profitability. Samsung Electronics also reported sales of 333 trillion won (about $232.2 billion) and operating profit of 43 trillion won (about $30.0 billion), up 11% and 33% year on year. Its semiconductor division alone generated 44 trillion won (about $30.7 billion) in sales and 16 trillion won (about $11.2 billion) in operating profit in the fourth quarter.
These earnings surprises were fueled by higher sales of high-value products such as high-bandwidth memory and rising memory prices. On the back of the two chipmakers, the benchmark KOSPI index climbed past 5,200 on Jan. 29. Industry forecasts suggest the semiconductor supercycle could continue this year, with combined operating profit potentially exceeding 200 trillion won (about $139.4 billion) and, in some projections, approaching 300 trillion won (about $209.2 billion) as memory shortages deepen and dominance in the high-bandwidth memory market strengthens.
What is troubling, however, is the extent to which the broader economy relies on this single engine. Although exports topped $700 billion last year, fourth-quarter growth turned negative and annual growth was limited. The semiconductor-centered IT manufacturing sector accounted for most of the country’s modest GDP expansion, implying that without semiconductors overall growth would have been far weaker.
While the semiconductor boom is expected to last at least through this year, stock markets typically price in conditions about six months ahead. The chip-led rally may therefore run into limits later this year. Beyond that point, risks loom. The automotive sector faces uncertainty from Trump-era tariffs and rapid shifts toward autonomous and next-generation mobility. Steel, petrochemicals and batteries are struggling amid oversupply driven by China-led competition.
The previous administration pledged to foster pharmaceuticals and biotechnology as next-generation core industries, but tangible progress has been limited. Building new growth engines ultimately depends on government policy resolve. A recent report by the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics & Trade noted that major powers such as the United States and China are aggressively promoting strategic industries with a wide range of policy tools, while South Korea remains comparatively passive.
Revitalizing industrial policy will require active restructuring of lagging sectors and stronger coordination across ministries. Leaving everything to private initiative is not enough. To secure sustainable growth beyond semiconductors, the government must mobilize far more policy tools to strengthen domestic production and cultivate new core industries.
Venezuelan leaders vowed that the law will lead to a significant growth of the oil industry. (Asamblea Nacional)
Caracas, January 30, 2026 (venezuelanalysis.com) – The Venezuelan National Assembly has approved a sweeping reform of the country’s 2001 Hydrocarbon Law that rolls back the state’s role in the energy sector in favor of private capital.
Legislators unanimously endorsed the bill at its second discussion on Thursday, with only opposition deputy Henrique Capriles abstaining. The legislative overhaul follows years of US sanctions against the Venezuelan oil industry and a naval blockade imposed in December.
National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez hailed the vote a “historic day” and claimed the new bill will lead oil production to “skyrocket.”
“The reform will make the oil sector much more competitive for national and foreign corporations to extract crude,” he told reporters. “We are implementing mechanisms that have proven very successful.”
Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodríguez signed and enacted the law after the parliamentary session, claiming that the industry will be guided by “the best international practices” and undertake a “historic leap forward.”
Former President Hugo Chávez revamped the country’s oil legislation in 2001 and introduced further reforms in 2006 and 2007 to assert the Venezuelan state’s primacy over the industry. Policies included a mandatory stakeholding majority for state oil company PDVSA in joint ventures, PDVSA control over operations and sales, and increased royalties and income tax to 30 and 50 percent, respectively. Increased oil revenues bankrolled the Venezuelan government’s expanded social programs in the 2000s.
The text approved during Thursday’s legislative session, following meetings between Venezuelan authorities and oil executives, went further than the draft preliminarily endorsed one week earlier.
The final version of the legislation establishes 30 percent as an upper bound for royalties, with the Venezuelan government given the discretionary power to determine the rate for each project. A 33 percent extraction tax in the present law was scrapped in favor of an “integrated hydrocarbon tax” to be set by the executive with a 15 percent limit.
Similarly, the Venezuelan government can reduce income taxes for companies involved in oil activities while also granting several other fiscal exemptions. The bill cites the “need to ensure international competitiveness” as a factor to be considered when decreasing royalty and tax demands for private corporations.
The reform additionally grants operational and sales control to minority partners and private contractors. PDVSA can furthermore lease out oilfields and projects in exchange for a fixed portion of extracted crude. The new legislation likewise allows disputes to be settled by outside arbitration instances.
Thursday’s legislative reform was immediately followed by a US Treasury general license allowing US corporations to re-engage with the Venezuelan oil sector.
General License 46 (GL46) authorizes US firms to purchase and market Venezuelan crude while demanding that contracts be subjected to US jurisdiction so potential disputes are referred to US courts. The license bars transactions with companies from Russia, Iran, North Korea, or Cuba. Concerning China, it only blocks dealings with Venezuelan joint ventures with Chinese involvement.
Economist Francisco Rodríguez pointed out that the sanctions waiver does not explicitly allow for production or investment and that companies would require an additional license before signing contracts with Venezuelan authorities.
GL46 also mandates that payments to blocked agents, including PDVSA, be made to the US Foreign Government Deposit Funds or another account defined by the US Treasury Department.
Following the January 3 military strikes and kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, the Trump administration has vowed to take control of the Venezuelan oil industry by administering crude transactions. Proceeds from initial sales have been deposited in US-run bank accounts in Qatar, with a portion rerouted to Caracas for forex injections run by private banks. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio vowed that the resources will begin to be channeled to US Treasury accounts in the near future.
In a press conference on Friday, Trump said his administration is “very happy” with the actions of Venezuelan authorities and would soon invite other countries to get involved in the Caribbean nation’s oil industry. Rubio had previously argued that Caracas “deserved credit” for the oil reform that “eradicates Chávez-era restrictions on private investments.”
Despite the White House’s calls for substantial investment, Western oil corporations have expressed reservations over major projects in the Venezuelan energy sector. Chevron, the largest US company operating in the country, stated that it is looking to fund increased production with revenues from oil sales as opposed to new capital commitments.
Since 2017, Venezuela’s oil industry has been under wide-reaching US unilateral coercive measures, including financial sanctions and an export embargo, in an effort to strangle the country’s most important revenue source. The US Treasury Department has also levied and threatened secondary sanctions against third-country companies to deter involvement in the Venezuelan petroleum sector.
