EASA urges airlines to avoid Iranian airspace
European airlines should avoid Iranian airspace until further notice, the EU Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said on Saturday following Iran’s admission that its armed forces inadvertently shot down a Ukrainian airliner earlier in the week.
Iran’s handling of plane disaster sparks new challenge to rulers
Iran’s clerical rulers risk a legitimacy crisis as popular anger has boiled up at the way the state handled a passenger plane crash, which the military took three days to admit was caused by an Iranian missile fired in error.
Ukraine president calls for plane crash perpetrators to be held accountable
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that Iran’s acknowledgement that it shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane was a step in the right direction but wanted those responsible to be held to account.
Starmer launches UK Labour leadership bid with call to end factionalism
Keir Starmer, the frontrunner in the race to lead Britain’s main opposition Labour Party, has pledged to end feuding within its ranks and take the fight to Prime Minister Boris Johnson if he wins the contest.
German Chancellor urges all parties to back Iran nuclear deal
German chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday repeated a call for all parties to respect the Iranian nuclear accord, despite Iran’s decision to intensify its enrichment of uranium and moves by the United States to impose economic sanctions.
British PM Johnson hails ‘momentous’ restoration of Northern Ireland institutions
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday praised Northern Ireland’s political parties for reaching a “fair and balanced deal” after three years of deadlock and said the restoration of the region’s executive would improve lives.
Taiwan president wins landslide victory in stark rebuke to China
Taiwanese re-elected President Tsai Ing-wen by a landslide on Saturday in a stern rebuke that could fuel further tension with China, which has tried military threats and economic inducements to get the island to accept its rule.
German chancellor Merkel says Berlin will host Libya peace talks
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Libyan peace talks will be held in Berlin, as Turkey and Russia appealed to the north African nation’s warring factions to enter a ceasefire.
French PM offers concession to unions over pension reform
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Saturday offered a major concession to unions contesting his government’s overhaul of the pension system, in a move aimed at ending strikes which are now in their fifth week.
Iranian protesters demand that Khamenei quit over plane downing: video on Twitter
A group of Iranian protesters demanded Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei step down on Saturday after Tehran said that its military had mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian plane, killing all 176 people on board.
