Gibraltar decides to free seized Iranian tanker; U.S. seeks to hold it
Britain’s Mediterranean territory Gibraltar decided on Thursday to free a seized Iranian oil tanker, but did not immediately indicate when or if the ship would set sail after the United States launched a new, last-minute legal bid to hold it.
U.S. House Speaker Pelosi urges Israel to reverse decision to block lawmakers’ visit
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday Israel’s decision to block a visit to the country by Democratic congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib was “deeply disappointing” and called on it to reverse the move.
Vietnam says Facebook steps up local content restrictions
Facebook is restricting access to increasing amounts of content in Vietnam, a government official said on Thursday, as the Southeast Asian country ramps up a campaign to tighten access to the internet.
Beijing has option of forceful intervention in Hong Kong: Global Times tabloid
China has the option to “forcefully intervene” to quell violent protests in Hong Kong, an influential state-controlled tabloid warned in an editorial on Friday, lashing out at what Beijing describes as U.S. interference in Hong Kong.
U.S. lawmakers did not plan ‘balanced’ visit to Israel: U.S. ambassador
The two Democratic U.S. lawmakers who Israel has blocked from entering the country did not plan “a balanced visit” with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders, the U.S. ambassador to Israel said in a statement on Thursday backing the decision.
Iranian tanker’s owner says ship will head to Mediterranean ports – report
The owner of an Iranian oil tanker that was seized off Gibraltar says the ship will head to Mediterranean ports, an Iranian maritime official was quoted as saying on Thursday, after Gibraltar decided to free the tanker.
Russian nuclear agency committed crime by holding test near city: ecologist
An ecologist in northern Russia said on Thursday the state nuclear agency Rosatom had committed a crime by carrying out a mysterious test last week close to inhabited areas, which caused a spike in radiation in his native city.
Italy says six EU states will take in Open Arms migrants
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Thursday that six EU countries had agreed to take in some 150 migrants from a rescue ship that Italy had blocked from docking, resolving the latest standoff over immigration to Europe across the Mediterrane…
Israel bars visit by U.S. Democratic lawmakers Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib
Israel will bar a visit by U.S. Democratic Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday, shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump called on Israel not to let them in.
Beer with the prince: Liechtenstein marks 300th anniversary
The tiny principality of Liechtenstein celebrated its 300th anniversary on Thursday as an island of peace and prosperity in an unsettled world — and a place where citizens can go drink a beer with their monarch.
