Italian government won’t fall over high speed rail link row: minister
The Italian government will not collapse over a dispute within the ruling coalition about a planned high speed rail link with France, Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli said on Monday.
Berlin: Don’t see Germany taking part in U.S. naval mission in Strait of Hormuz
Chancellor Angela Merkel and the whole German government do not see Germany taking part in a U.S-led naval mission in the Strait of Hormuz at the moment, a government spokeswoman said on Monday.
Palestinian app helps drivers avoid Israeli checkpoint bottlenecks
A new locally-developed app helps Palestinian drivers in the occupied West Bank negotiate traffic at Israeli military checkpoints and uncover routes to towns mainstream providers often miss.
U.S. seeks to renew Pacific islands security pact to foil China
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday negotiations have begun with three Pacific island nations to renew a national security agreement that would help Washington counter growing Chinese influence in the region.
Zarif says Iran will act over ‘maritime offences’ in Gulf
Iran will no longer turn a blind eye to “maritime offenses” in the Gulf, its foreign minister said on Monday, a day after it seized an Iraqi oil tanker there that it accused of smuggling fuel.
Turkey says all parties should cooperate in eastern Mediterranean
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called on all parties in the eastern Mediterranean to cooperate with Turkey to solve problems in the area.
Quake of magnitude 6.1 strikes northwest off Tonga: USGS
An earthquake of magnitude 6.1 struck northwest of the South Pacific island nation of Tonga, the United States Geological Survey said on Monday.
English? Non merci, French minister tells fellow citizens
France’s culture minister has urged people to cut down on their increasing use of English, in the latest effort to protect the French language, even though President Emmanuel Macron himself often slips English idioms into his speech.
Pakistan says India has taken ‘illegal steps’ in scrapping special status for Kashmir
Pakistan said on Monday it “strongly condemns” India’s decision to revoke the special status for its portion of the Kashmir region claimed by both countries.
Hong Kong police fire tear gas as strikes paralyze city
Hong Kong police fired tear gas at protesters on Monday as a general strike plunged the Asian financial hub into fresh chaos, paralyzing transport and bringing the city to an unprecedented standstill for much of the morning.
