Australia’s Qantas directs flights away from Strait of Hormuz
Australia’s flag carrier, Qantas Airways Ltd, said on Friday that its flights over the Middle East would avoid the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman following the downing of a U.S. surveillance drone in the region.
Georgian president accuses Russian ‘fifth column’ of stirring unrest
Georgia’s president called Russia “an enemy and occupier” and suggested Moscow had helped trigger protests that rocked Tbilisi, but the Kremlin on Friday blamed radical Georgian politicians for what it called “an anti-Russian provocation”.
Trump calls off Iran strikes at the last minute: NYT
U.S. President Donald Trump approved military strikes against Iran on Friday in retaliation for the downing of a U.S. surveillance drone, but called off the attacks at the last minute, the New York Times reported.
U.N. official urges China not to deport North Korean escapees, who could face torture
China should not repatriate the increasing number of North Korean escapees it has arrested in recent months, because severe punishment faces those sent home, a U.N. human rights investigator said on Friday.
Bank of England’s Carney dismisses Johnson trade claim on no-deal Brexit
Bank of England Governor Mark Carney has dismissed a claim by Boris Johnson, the frontrunner in the race to become prime minister, that Britain can avoid the hit of European Union trade tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
UK junior minister refers himself for investigation after grappling with protester
Mark Field, a British junior foreign minister, has referred himself for a government investigation after grabbing a demonstrator by the neck and pushing her when a climate-change protest interrupted a speech by Britain’s finance minister.
America is trying to create ‘Iran phobia’: Iran’s defence minister
The United States is trying to create “Iran phobia”, Iran’s defence minister Amir Hatami said on Friday, according to the Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA).
KLM avoiding parts of Iranian airspace
Air France-KLM’s Dutch subsidiary KLM is avoiding flying over parts of Iran as a precautionary measure, a spokesman said on Friday, confirming a report by the Netherlands’ state broadcaster NOS.
U.S. envoy for Iran meets Saudi deputy defense minister in Riyadh
U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook met Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman in Riyadh on Friday, the minister tweeted.
China’s President Xi completes state visit to North Korea: China state media
China’s President Xi Jinping has departed North Korea, following a two-day state visit, Chinese state media reported Friday.
