Oil prices slip further as markets await clarity on Iran ceasefire deal
Oil prices edged lower on Tuesday (16 June) as traders assessed the possibility of oil supplies returning through the Strait of Hormuz following a pre...
North Korea says it has carried out a series of weapons tests involving tactical ballistic missiles, multiple-launch rocket systems and AI-assisted precision cruise missiles, according to the state-run KCNA news agency.
The launches were overseen by leader Kim Jong Un and are part of what Pyongyang describes as ongoing efforts to modernise its conventional and tactical military capabilities.
The tests reportedly included evaluations of a “special mission warhead” mounted on tactical ballistic missiles, along with long-range artillery rockets and cruise missiles equipped with automated and AI-supported targeting systems.
KCNA said the systems were assessed for combat effectiveness and accuracy, with Kim stating that the upgrades were designed to better reflect “modern warfare conditions” and improve operational use in battle.
North Korea claimed its cruise missiles, which it says can strike targets at up to around 100 km (62 miles), include precision navigation and AI-based control systems capable of identifying and locking onto targets.
Military analysts cited by South Korean media noted this appears to be the first public reference by North Korea to AI integration in missile guidance systems, though the true level of sophistication remains unverified.
The missiles are expected to be deployed to artillery units near the border with South Korea, with the capital Seoul well within range of the reported strike capability.
Officials in South Korea said they detected multiple projectiles on Tuesday, including a ballistic missile launch.
Analysts from the Asan Institute for Policy Studies and the Korea Institute for National Unification suggested the AI component likely involves upgraded digital targeting and automatic recognition features rather than fully autonomous systems.
North Korea has significantly expanded its missile and nuclear programmes in recent years and has also been supplying ballistic missiles and artillery systems to Russia for use in the conflict against Ukraine, according to international assessments. Analysts say this cooperation may be providing Pyongyang with operational battlefield data to refine its own weapons systems.
Details of a reported draft memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran offer the clearest picture yet of how both sides plan to end months of conflict and move towards a longer-term settlement.
The U.S. and Iran say they have reached a deal to end their conflict, with an immediate ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz after the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade. Talks will continue over the next 60 days to finalise the agreement
A senior U.S. official said on Monday that the memorandum of understanding linked to the U.S.-Iran agreement had been signed by President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told U.S. President Donald Trump that Israel does not consider itself bound by a Lebanon-related provision in an emerging agreement with Iran, according to Israeli officials.
Switzerland on Sunday rejected a referendum proposal to cap its population at 10 million, a projection showed, as voters prioritised economic stability and the country's ties with the European Union over immigration concerns.
The United Kingdom has imposed a new wave of sanctions on Russia, targeting key financial institutions, logistics networks and vessels accused of helping Moscow sustain its war in Ukraine.
Ukraine has said it struck an oil refinery in Russia’s Moscow region, marking one of the deepest reported attacks into Russian territory in recent months.
A strong 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's Sulawesi island early Tuesday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
A Chinese-linked hacking group secretly stole data from academic, medical and military research institutions in the U.S. and Canada for more than a year before being discovered, according to a report published by Google on Monday.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 16 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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