UKRAINE: President Volodymyr Zelensky said today Ukraine may face a choice between defending its sovereignty or losing US backing as Washington pushes a peace plan that includes major concessions to Russia.

The proposal, which foresees Ukraine ceding territory, shrinking its army and abandoning its Nato ambitions, will mean that talks with Britain will be “very difficult,” Mr Zelensky said.

Meanwhile, Russian strikes killed five people in Zaporizhzhia and Odessa overnight, injuring dozens, including children, according to Ukrainian officials.

SOUTH KOREA: Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was indicted today on charges that he and senior officials abused their power to manipulate an investigation into a marine’s 2023 drowning.

Mr Yoon, already on trial for an alleged rebellion linked to a martial-law decree, is accused of pressing the marine corps to alter findings that implicated a division commander.

Prosecutors said that the interference undermined the independence of the investigation team, but Mr Yoon, currently jailed, denies wrongdoing.

JAPAN: The new Cabinet approved a 21.3 trillion yen (£100bn) stimulus package today aimed at easing cost-of-living crisis and countering economic pressure from new US tariffs.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the expansionary spending will support households through subsidies, tax cuts and cash handouts, though critics warn it could worsen Japan’s already massive national debt.

The plan, which requires a supplementary budget despite the government lacking a parliamentary majority, comes amid falling income from exports to the US due to higher tariffs.

IRAN: Tehran denounced a new International Atomic Energy Agency resolution demanding full co-operation on its near-weapons-grade uranium stockpile today, warning it may take unspecified retaliatory steps.

The nation, which halted co-operation after its war with Israel in June, said the watchdog ignored the context of US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.

The dispute raises the prospect of further escalation, with Iranian officials suggesting increased enrichment is possible after the collapse of a September inspection agreement.