U.S. rejects French request for Iran exemptions, Le Maire tells Le Figaro
The United States has rejected a French request for waivers for its companies operating in Iran that Paris sought after President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told Le Figaro.
Seven explosions in 10 minutes: China chemical plant blast kills 19
A major explosion at a chemical plant in southwestern China has killed 19 people and injured 12, authorities said on Friday, the latest deadly industrial incident in the world’s largest producer of chemicals.
Pakistan’s Imran Khan ‘quietly confident’ he will be PM
Pakistani cricket legend Imran Khan said he was “quietly confident” of victory in a general election this month and that as prime minister, he would drive an anti-corruption and anti-poverty campaign in the south Asian nation.
Turkey signs deal with Pakistan on sale of 30 attack helicopters
Turkey and Pakistan have signed an agreement on the sale of 30 Turkish T129 attack helicopters in what will be the biggest export deal of the Turkish defense industry, the country’s defense industry directorate said on Friday.
Eritrea’s president to visit Ethiopia, Eritrean minister says
Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki will visit Ethiopia on Saturday, Eritrea’s information minister, Yemane Meskel, said on Friday, days after the two neighbors declared their “state of war” over.
Thai soccer team planned to be inside the cave for only an hour
Twelve boys and their soccer coach rescued from a flooded cave in Thailand planned to explore the cavern complex for only about an hour before treacherous flood waters rose to trap them for more than two weeks, one of the boys’ fathers said.
Air China flight’s sudden descent linked to co-pilot smoking, state media say
An emergency descent by an Air China aircraft after cabin oxygen levels dropped has been linked to a co-pilot smoking an e-cigarette during the flight, state media said on Friday, citing China’s aviation regulator.
Britain’s May looking forward to explaining Brexit stance to Trump: May spokesman
British Prime Minister Theresa May is looking forward to sitting down with Donald Trump to talk him through her Brexit negotiating stance after the U.S. president criticized her plans in an interview, her spokesman said on Friday.
What’s in a name? In Uzbekistan, it signals a reform drive
One evening last December, a crane lifted construction workers to the top of the ornate arched entrance to Uzbekistan’s biggest commercial market. Overnight, they replaced the huge letters spelling out its title.
China snuffs memorials of Nobel laureate dissident Liu Xiaobo
China warned supporters of Nobel Peace Prize-winning dissident Liu Xiaobo not to mark Friday’s anniversary of his death, while rights activists in Chinese-ruled Hong Kong gathered to keep his memory alive.
