Southeast Asia making good progress on South China Sea conduct code: Thailand
Southeast Asian nations made good progress on a Code of Conduct negotiating draft for the disputed South China Sea and likely will finish a first reading by the end of this year, the Thai foreign ministry said as regional leaders met in Bangkok.
Iran summons UAE envoy to complain about U.S. drone launch: Fars
Iran’s foreign ministry summoned a United Arab Emirates envoy to complain about the UAE allowing a U.S. drone shot down on Thursday to be launched from a U.S. military base on its territory, the Fars news agency reported.
Kim, Xi agree to grow ties whatever the external situation: North Korean media
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and China’s President Xi Jinping reached a consensus on “important issues,” and agreed to build on their countries’ friendly relations “whatever the international situation,” North Korean state media reported.
Germany’s Merkel urges political solution in Iran crisis
The international community must seek a political solution on Iran, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday, after U.S. President Donald Trump said he had aborted a military strike to retaliate against Tehran’s downing of a U.S. drone.
Iran says it will respond firmly to any U.S. threat as tension spikes
Iran said on Saturday it would respond firmly to any U.S. threat against it, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported, amid escalating tension between Tehran and Washington over the shooting down of an unmanned U.S. drone by the Islamic Republic.
Etihad Airways says suspends operations through Iran’s Hormuz, Gulf of Oman airspace
Etihad Airways has suspended operations through Iranian airspace over the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman, a spokeswoman said on Saturday.
British minister to visit Iran on Sunday for talks on tensions
Britain’s Middle East minister Andrew Murrison will visit Iran on Sunday for “frank and constructive” talks, the Foreign Office said, amid escalating tension between Tehran and Washington after the downing of an unmanned U.S. drone.
China needs nearly $440 billion to clean up rural environment: report
China will need to spend 3 trillion yuan ($440 billion) over three years to improve village sanitation and clean up its heavily polluted rural environment, the official People’s Daily reported on Saturday, citing government officials.
Iran says its airspace is fully safe and secure: Tasnim
Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization said on Saturday the country’s airspace was safe for airlines to fly through, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported, amid heightened tension between Tehran and Washington.
Mauritanians vote for president, with insider tipped to win
For the first time since Mauritania’s independence, its citizens voted on Saturday for a successor to a democratically-elected president, though a government insider campaigning on a message of continuity is heavily tipped to win.
