Japan Considers Extra Budget Aid Amid Rising Fuel and Utility Costs 
RFK Jr. Spokesman Resigns Over Trump Administration’s Flavored E-Cigarette Policy 
Nvidia’s China AI Chip Sales Remain Frozen Despite U.S. Approval 
Trump, Xi Begin High-Stakes China Summit Focused on Trade, Taiwan and Global Tensions 
US Expects China to Boost Purchases of American Farm Products After Trump-Xi Summit 
Trump Faces Uphill Battle Seeking China’s Help on Iran Conflict 
Russian Border Drone Attack Leaves One Dead in Belgorod Region 
Trump Administration Appoints David Venturella as Acting ICE Director Amid Immigration Crackdown 
CIA Director John Ratcliffe Meets Cuban Officials in Havana Amid Renewed U.S.-Cuba Talks 
Russia Resumes Heavy Drone Attacks on Ukraine After Ceasefire Ends 
Starmer Faces Leadership Crisis as Wes Streeting Reportedly Considers Challenge 
Oil Prices Climb as Strait of Hormuz Tensions and Supply Concerns Persist 
Trump Pushes China Market Access During High-Stakes Xi Summit 
Elon Musk’s China Influence Faces New Challenges Amid Rising EV Competition 
Trump DOJ Accuses Yale Medical School of Racial Bias in Admissions 
U.S. Urges China to Help Curb Iran’s Actions in Gulf, Rubio Says 
New Zealand Budget 2026 Focuses on Fiscal Discipline and Infrastructure Investment 
Iran has reportedly revealed its underground air force base, the first such base that can house its fighter jets. This follows previous details revealed by Tehran of another base that houses drones.
Iran’s IRNA news outlet reported on Tuesday that the country had unveiled its underground air force base, also referred to as “Eagle 44,” which is capable of storing fighter jets and drones. The report did not reveal the location of the base, but IRNA said it was one of Iran’s most important air force bases built deep underground that has fighter jets equipped with long-range missiles.
“Any attack on Iran from our enemies, including Israel, will see a response from our many air force bases including Eagle 44,” Iran’s armed forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri told state TV.
The unveiling this year follows previous details revealed by Iran’s army back in May of another underground base that houses drones as Tehran looks to protect its military assets from potential air strikes by its adversary Israel.
On Monday, Reuters reported that Iranian state firms along with the firms in Venezuela, are set to undergo a 100-day revamp of Venezuela’s largest oil refining complex to restore its crude distillation capacity, according to four sources familiar with the matter.
The Venezuelan state firm Petroleos de Venezuela and the Iranian state-owned National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company will work together to boost fuel output at the Paraguana Refining Center.
This marks the first step towards Venezuela ending its reliance on US refinery technology, according to the sources. This comes as Venezuela has struggled in recent years to produce enough gasoline and fuel because of refinery outages, even as the nation has the world’s largest crude reserves. Other factors included the lack of investment and sanctions from the US that led to obstacles in imports.
In recent years, Iran has also strengthened its ties with Venezuela, providing crude and condensate as well as parts and feedstock for Venezuela’s 1.3 million barrel per day refining network. The companies are expected to sign a contract worth 460 million euros in the coming weeks to revamp the 995,000 bpd Paraguana refinery complex located on the coast of western Venezuela.
