Author: space4knews

September 13, Tehran (RAS/RSS) — Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday issued a warning to South Korea against any military presence or participation in the U.S. campaign at the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Tehran stated that such actions could lead to “serious consequences.” South Korea had announced on Friday that it was considering supporting U.S. security efforts in this crucial maritime passage.

Since the outbreak of hostilities with the United States on February 28, Iran has maintained significant control over the area. Seoul indicated that it is exploring potential involvement on the condition that its military readiness would not be compromised; however, no definitive decision has yet been made. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghayi urged South Korea on Monday not to succumb to U.S. pressure or intimidation.

“Any military presence or participation by other countries in the Persian Gulf or the Strait of Hormuz can only be seen as direct support for the aggressor side and will have serious consequences,” Baghayi stated on the social media platform X. Although a ceasefire in April halted intense initial bombardments, tensions and exchanges of fire between Iran and the U.S. continue in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

Under normal circumstances, approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments transit through this strait. Since the start of the conflict, vessel traffic along this vital route has been nearly halted, causing disruptions in the global energy markets. Iran has mandated that ships passing through obtain its permission, a policy opposed by Washington and many regional countries. Tehran, however, remains firm that unrestricted navigation, as before the war, will not be restored.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is planning to reshuffle the cabinet and the executive team of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) as soon as possible, according to local media reports on Monday. On the same day, Takaichi met with senior LDP officials at her Tokyo office to discuss future management ahead of the party leadership change. The meeting included LDP Policy Chief Takayuki Kobayashi, Acting Secretary-General Koichi Hagiuda, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara.

On Monday afternoon, Takaichi also held talks with LDP Secretary-General Shunichi Suzuki. These discussions about leadership changes come on the eve of an extraordinary parliamentary session scheduled for autumn. Reports indicate that “Takaichi plans to strengthen her administration by offering key positions to potential rivals ahead of the party presidential election in the upcoming autumn to keep them under control.”

September 8, USA – At Miami International Airport, a cargo plane operated by Amazon Air crashed after veering off the runway, resulting in the deaths of at least five individuals and injuring another five. The Boeing 767-300 aircraft had landed at approximately 2 p.m. local time on Sunday when it veered off the runway at a speed of around 209 kilometers per hour.

Following the crash, the aircraft struck several vehicles within the airport premises before catching fire. Upon receiving the accident report, around 200 firefighters responded promptly to the scene. Rescue and relief teams managed to control the fire and evacuate the injured. Authorities reported that three of the injured were admitted to a local trauma center, while the remaining two continue to receive treatment at a hospital.

September 7, Jayapura (Indonesia) (RAS/RIA Novosti). A fire that broke out on Monday in Indonesia’s eastern Papua region has resulted in the deaths of 11 people, including six children. The fire began shortly after midnight in the town of Paniai in Central Papua province and rapidly spread, destroying at least 40 shops, kiosks, and homes. According to local police spokesman Henry J. Manurungka, among the deceased were five adults and six children. The children who died were between two and nine years old.

The fire took more than three hours to bring under control with the deployment of fire brigades and water tank vehicles. Authorities reported difficulties in containing the blaze because the houses and shops were closely situated. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and officials are conducting an investigation. Indonesia has experienced other deadly fires in the past; notably, in December last year, a fire in the Satetle office building in Jakarta claimed 22 lives.

September 8, Kyiv (RAS/Sinhua) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described his meeting with US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner as extremely productive and significant. Speaking to reporters after Sunday’s discussions, Zelensky revealed that they held important talks about restarting the stalled peace negotiations to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He also noted discussions concerning security and economic guarantees for Ukraine, as well as needed assistance for the upcoming winter season.

Zelensky highlighted Ukraine’s expectations for increased support in air defense and the energy sector. He further expressed hope for ample supplies of US liquefied natural gas and the potential utilization of this resource. Representatives from several European countries, including the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, participated in the third phase of the talks. Zelensky stated that an agreement was reached to hold follow-up meetings in the coming days aimed at continuing the peace process.

He added that efforts to resume the previously paused trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia are also moving forward. These talks are expected to facilitate a peaceful resolution to the conflict. US special envoy Witkoff confirmed that significant progress was made during the discussions in Moscow and expressed optimism for an imminent announcement regarding trilateral talks among Ukraine, the US, and Russia. Witkoff and Kushner arrived in Ukraine on Sunday after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Prior to this, two rounds of trilateral talks were held in Abu Dhabi and one in Geneva, but such negotiations have since stalled.

Amid the ongoing war with Russia, the Ukrainian government is preparing to legalize and impose taxes on the adult content industry, anticipating an annual revenue collection of approximately 25 million US dollars. On July 14, the Ukrainian parliament passed a bill in the first reading with 231 votes in favor to remove pornographic content produced consensually among adults from the list of criminal offenses. Under current laws, creators face issues such as investigations, blackmail, and bribery attempts when trying to declare their earnings for taxation.

During the conflict with Russia, Ukraine is advancing plans to officially recognize and tax the adult content business operating nationwide. According to a report by the American publication The Wall Street Journal, this move is expected to generate about 25 million US dollars in additional annual tax revenue. A Ukrainian lawmaker noted that this sum could be used to purchase around 30,000 drones needed for wartime efforts.

While pornography has not yet been fully legalized in Ukraine in terms of corruption control and tax collection reforms, government officials state that the primary goal of legalizing it is not only to increase government revenue but also to curb widespread corruption. Supporters of the proposal argue that legal recognition will enable law enforcement to focus on more serious crimes rather than minor cases related to adult content.

On July 14, the Ukrainian parliament approved the bill in a first reading to exempt pornographic content created consensually among adults from criminal liability. The vote saw 231 parliamentarians in favor, 8 against, 3 abstaining, and 55 absent. The bill will now proceed to the next phase of parliamentary discussion.

September 7, Kathmandu – Since early August, the Philippines has been severely impacted by an active monsoon season and four tropical cyclones, resulting in 43 fatalities. According to the country’s civil defense office report released on Sunday, these natural disasters have caused significant damage to agriculture and infrastructure. Preliminary estimates indicate economic losses amounting to 1.192 billion pesos (approximately 19.1 million US dollars).

Damage Assessment Details: Human Impact — So far, 43 people have died and 20 others are injured. Search efforts continue for 5 individuals still reported missing. Affected Population — Over 10.2 million people belonging to approximately 2.9 million families across 6,900 villages have been affected by the calamities. Physical Damage — A total of 4,500 houses have suffered damage; among these, 3,900 sustained partial damage, while 585 homes were completely destroyed. Officials report that the relentless monsoon and repeated cyclones have disrupted daily life and caused extensive harm to agricultural production and transportation networks. (With agency inputs)

Following the September 6, 2026 election results in Magdeburg, Ulrich Sigmund (left), a candidate from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, alongside party chair Alice Weidel on September 8, 2026, in Kathmandu. Germany’s far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) achieved a historic victory in the state election of Saxony-Anhalt in eastern Germany. According to exit polls and preliminary results, AfD secured nearly 44 percent of the vote, establishing itself as the largest party in the state. This marks the first time since World War II that a far-right party has come this close to power at the German state level. The result is seen as a major blow to Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party. Compared to the previous election, the CDU vote share is projected to drop drastically by more than half, falling to approximately 17.4 to 18.5 percent.

American President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and billionaire businessman Elon Musk, among others, have expressed support for AfD’s victory. How significant is AfD’s success in German politics? Due to Germany’s history under Nazi rule, mainstream parties have long maintained a ‘firewall’ policy to distance themselves from far-right parties. AfD has been accused of being anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim, and an extremist far-right group, and German intelligence agencies have classified the Saxony-Anhalt branch similarly. Therefore, the party’s rise close to state power is viewed as a political earthquake in Germany. AfD has also grown highly popular on a national scale. Recent national polls show it capturing 28 percent of the vote, surpassing Chancellor Merz’s coalition.

The party advocates a tough stance on immigration, calls for halting aid to Ukraine, proposes abandoning the euro, and seeks improved relations with Russia. Why is support for AfD increasing? AfD positions itself as a strong alternative to established political parties. During the campaign, it focused on immigration crises, the economy, security, and German identity as key issues. This time, AfD nominated 35-year-old Ulrich Sigmund as its lead candidate. Sigmund described the election result as ‘historic,’ stating, ‘We have made history in this country. People have shown that things cannot continue as before.’ He sees this victory as the first stepping stone towards gaining power ahead of the 2029 national elections. AfD’s national co-chair Alice Weidel called the result ‘sensational.’

Trump, Musk, and Russian Support: U.S. President Donald Trump shared an image of the election results on social media platform Truth Social without any caption. Both Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance have previously pressured German parties to break the ‘firewall’ with AfD. Kirill Dmitriev, Russia’s presidential special envoy, shared a screenshot of Trump’s post expressing happiness over AfD’s ‘practical historic victory.’ Billionaire Elon Musk congratulated AfD, posting ‘Sehr gut’ (very good) in German on social platform X after Alice Weidel shared the election results. Candidate Sigmund thanked Musk and expressed hopes for ‘strong cooperation’ in the future.

France and Poland Respond: A Serious Turning Point for Europe: European neighbors have voiced significant concern about AfD’s success. France’s Minister for European Affairs Benjamin Haddad described it as a ‘serious moment’ for Europe. ‘We must never forget our history,’ Haddad warned. Critics are particularly alarmed by AfD’s conciliatory stance toward Russia. If AfD assumes control of the state government, it would gain influence over state intelligence and security agencies, raising fears across Europe and especially among neighboring countries such as Poland and the Baltic states. However, despite securing 44 percent of the vote, AfD did not obtain a majority in the 83-seat parliament (which requires 42 seats), and other parties may attempt to form a broad coalition to keep it out of government. (With agency contributions)

September 7, Kathmandu – More than 170,000 passengers are stranded at eight airports in Indonesia after a volcanic eruption disrupted flights. The airports temporarily suspended operations due to volcanic ash in the airspace. The Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in the capital, Jakarta, was the first to close early Sunday morning after volcanic ash from Anak Krakatoa was detected in the surrounding airspace.

According to Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation, 1,558 flights have been delayed. The airports are expected to remain closed until 9 a.m. local time on Monday. Officials reported that the volcanic eruption began late Friday night, followed by ongoing seismic activity in the region, accompanied by lava spews and loud explosions. Additional eruptions occurred early Sunday morning. The ministry noted that flight disruptions particularly affected routes to and from Singapore, as well as international destinations including Doha, Sydney, and Kuala Lumpur.