Bowing to pressure, Hong Kong leader suspends extradition bill
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam on Saturday indefinitely delayed a proposed law that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China, in a dramatic retreat after anger over the bill triggered the city’s biggest and most violent street protests in decades…
Spain’s conservatives retake Madrid in pact with far-right
A conservative was sworn in on Saturday as Madrid’s new mayor, regaining control of the Spanish capital for his People’s Party (PP) after forging a rightist coalition involving the anti-immigration Vox group.
Brexit: Irish PM says no backstop as bad for Ireland as no deal
Ireland will not allow the Northern Ireland “backstop” clause in Britain’s EU withdrawal agreement to be dropped because doing so would be as big a threat to the country as Britain leaving without a deal, Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Saturday.
Worshippers in hard hats to attend Notre-Dame’s first mass since fire
A small congregation wearing hard hats will attend mass at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on Saturday, the first service to be held since fire devastated the Gothic landmark two months ago.
Beijing supports Hong Kong move to delay extradition bill, condemns violent acts
The central government in Beijing has expressed its support, respect and understanding for Hong Kong’s decision to suspend an extradition bill that would allow people to be sent to mainland China to face trial, China’s official Xinhua news agency repor…
China foreign ministry says Hong Kong affairs an internal matter
China’s foreign ministry said on Saturday Hong Kong matters were a Chinese internal affair and no country, organization or individual has a right to interfere.
UAE foreign minister says Iran fingerprints clear on oil tanker attacks: Arabiya TV
UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahya said Iran’s fingerprints were clear on the attacks on oil tankers on May 12, Arabiya TV reported on Saturday.
Iran renews nuclear pact ultimatum amid tensions with U.S.
Iran will continue scaling back compliance with a nuclear deal unless other signatories to the pact show “positive signals”, the Iranian president said on Saturday as tensions with the United States escalated over tanker attacks in the Gulf region.
British opposition leader questions Iran accusations
The leader of Britain’s main opposition party has questioned whether the government had evidence to back up its accusations that Iran was behind attacks on oil tankers in the entrance to the Gulf, and warned against escalating tensions.
Russia’s Putin gives China’s Xi ice cream on his 66th birthday
Chinese President Xi Jinping celebrated his 66th birthday on Saturday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who Xi considers a close friend and who gave Xi ice cream as a present, Chinese state media reported.
