State media says vessel was taken on Wednesday carrying a cargo of 700,000 litres Iran claims it has seized a third foreign oil tanker in the Gulf in a further escalation of tensions between Tehran and Washington and its regional allies, who continue to stare each other down over ... Read More »
Exclusive: Analysis includes stark assessments of potential problems including panic-buying and civil disorder The UK is currently less able to cope with a hard Brexit than it was in the spring, with the real risk of panic-buying in the run-up to Christmas and civil disorder if the country leaves the ... Read More »
The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, targeting the country’s top spokesman and potentially hurting chances of diplomatic talks amid rising tensions between the two countries. Zarif, a critical figure in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, dismissed the action and said it would ... Read More »
Chinese military garrison chief in Hong Kong says army is determined to protect China’s sovereignty, stoking fears of intervention The head of the Chinese army in Hong Kong has spoken on the protests for the first time, saying the unrest has “seriously threatened the life and safety” of the people ... Read More »
HMS Duncan will accompany tankers along strategic waterway as tensions with Iran soar A second warship has arrived in the Strait of Hormuz to protect British ships in the strategic waterway, as the foreign secretary urged Iran to “come out of the dark” and release a British-flagged tanker it detained ... Read More »
Brussels rallies amid elevation of Brexiteer Boris Johnson to UK’s highest office, says it will stick to Brexit deal. The European Union’s elect for the bloc’s top job has warned incoming British Prime Minister Boris Johnson of “challenging times ahead” over his plan to renegotiate Brexit. Ursula von der Leyen, ... Read More »
An emergency meeting with parties to Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal was constructive but there are unresolved issues and Tehran will continue to reduce its nuclear commitments if Europeans fail to salvage the pact, Iranian official Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday. “The atmosphere was constructive. Discussions were good. I cannot say ... Read More »
The European Central Bank announced on Thursday it had “no objection” to the nomination of Christine Lagarde as its new president, noting that Lagarde has the experience and competence required for the job. “The Governing Council has no objection to the proposed candidate, Christine Lagarde, who is a person ... Read More »
British Foreign Office minister Sir Alan Duncan has announced his resignation, being the first minister to walk out of government because they are unwilling to serve under Boris Johnson. Many other resignations are still expected. The pro EU minister said in his resignation letter to Theresa May that “the dark cloud of Brexit” was getting in ... Read More »
Japan is considering taking a dispute with South Korea over its compensation for wartime forced laborers to the International Court of Justice as the deadline for seeking third-country arbitration passes on Thursday, public broadcaster NHK reported. The question of compensation for South Koreans for labor during Japan’s 1910-45 occupation of ... Read More »
Lebanese Ministry of Information