Allies play hard to get on U.S. proposal to protect oil shipping lanes
The United States is struggling to win its allies’ support for an initiative to heighten surveillance of vital Middle East oil shipping lanes because of fears it will increase tension with Iran, six sources familiar with the matter said.
Indonesia suggests barter to help cover cost of jet project with South Korea
Indonesia is offering to pay South Korea its share of the cost of developing a fighter jet in the form of barter, state news agency Antara reported on Friday, as it tries to cut its exposure to the $7.9 billion project.
Vietnam says preserved corpse of Ho Chi Minh in great condition
The embalmed corpse of Vietnam’s founding leader, Ho Chi Minh, is in great condition, state media said on Friday, a month after the government recruited a team of Russian experts to help preserve the former revolutionary’s body.
Iran military says all its drones have returned safely to base: report
Iran’s top military spokesman said all the country’s drones had returned safely to base, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported, after President Donald Trump said a U.S. Navy ship had “destroyed” one.
Japan, South Korea dispute over history, trade deepens as man dies of immolation
Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono summoned and admonished South Korea’s ambassador on Friday in a deepening diplomatic dispute over compensation for Korean wartime forced labor that threatens global supply of memory chips and display screens.
South Korea deputy advisor Kim says Japan’s export curbs violate international law
South Korea’s Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Hyun-chong said on Friday that Japan has violated the WTO’s principle of free trade and international law by imposing unilateral export restrictions against South Korea while diplomatic efforts have no…
Italy’s Di Maio calls for meeting with Salvini in peace offering
Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio called for a meeting on Friday with government partner and co-deputy PM Matteo Salvini in a peace offering following mutual recriminations that raised concerns about the stability of the ruling coalition.
South Africa’s Zuma due back at corruption inquiry after adjournment
Former South African president Jacob Zuma was due back at a public inquiry into state corruption on Friday, after his lawyers requested an adjournment because they said he was being questioned unfairly.
Australia ‘deeply disappointed’ by writer’s detention in China
Australia is “deeply disappointed” that Chinese-Australian writer Yang Hengjun has been transferred to criminal detention in China, Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in a strongly worded statement on Friday.
Talks between Venezuela government and opposition continuing, says mediator Norway
Talks between the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the opposition are continuing in Barbados, the foreign ministry from mediator Norway said late on Thursday in a rare statement about the progress of the discussions.
