War of words between UK and China on Hong Kong
UK ambassador said relations had been China's UK ambassador said relations had been "damaged" by comments by Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and others backing the demonstrators' actions. Photo: Photo / AFP
China has warned the UK not to "interfere in its domestic affairs" amid a growing diplomatic row over the recent protests in Hong Kong.
Its UK ambassador said relations had been "damaged" by comments by Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and others backing the demonstrators' actions.
Liu Xiaoming said those who illegally occupied Hong Kong's parliament should be "condemned as law breakers".
The ambassador was later summoned to the Foreign Office over the remarks.
A Foreign Office spokesman said Sir Simon McDonald, permanent under secretary and head of the diplomatic service, told the ambassador his comments were "unacceptable and inaccurate".
Earlier, Prime Minister Theresa May said she had raised concerns with Chinese leaders.
- BBC
Australian student released from North Korea
Australian Alek Sigley, who went missing in North Korea last week has been "released and is safe", Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said.
It comes after a meeting between officials from the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang and the North Korean government.
Australia does not have its own embassy in the North Korean capital.
Mr Sigley, who is 29, was pursuing a master's degree and running a tourism business in Pyongyang.
It is not known why the student, a fluent Korean speaker, had been detained.
He is now in China and due to travel to Japan to meet his wife.
- BBC
Read more: Missing Australian released from North Korean detention
North Korea says the US is 'hell-bent' on hostility
North Korea's mission to the United Nations accused the United States of being "more and more hell-bent on hostile acts" against Pyongyang, despite President Donald Trump wanting talks between the two countries.
In a statement the mission said it was responding to a US accusation that Pyongyang breached a cap on refined petroleum imports and a letter that it said was sent on 29 June by the United States, France, Germany and Britain to all UN member states urging them to implement sanctions against North Korea.
The North Korean UN mission said the letter to UN member states "speaks to the reality that the United States is practically more and more hell-bent on the hostile acts against the DPRK, though talking about the DPRK-US dialogue."
Mr Trump became the first sitting US president to set foot in North Korea earlier this week, agreeing to resume stalled talks aimed at getting Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons program.
Reuters
Boeing pledges $100 million for 737-Max compensation.
Boeing says it will give $100 million over multiple years to local governments and non-profit organisations to help families and communities affected by the deadly crashes of its 737 MAX planes in Indonesia and Ethiopia.
Nadia Milleron, the mother of Samya Stumo, who was killed in the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, reacts before an aviation subcommittee hearing on "Status of the Boeing 737 MAX: Stakeholder Perspectives." at the Capitol in Washington, DC. Photo: Photo / AFP
The move appears to be a step toward repairing the image of the world's largest planemaker, which has been severely dented by the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines plane in March just five months after a similar crash of a Lion Air flight in Indonesia.
The two crashes killed a total of 346 people.
Boeing is the target of a US Department of Justice criminal investigation into the development of the 737 MAX, regulatory probes and more than 100 lawsuits by victims' families.
The multi-year payout is independent of the lawsuits and would have no impact on litigation, a Boeing spokesman said.
- Reuters
Read more: Boeing gives $100m to help 737 Max crash families
UN Security Council fails to agree on Libya
The UN Security Council met on Libya behind closed doors but diplomats said the United States prevented the 15-member body from issuing a statement condemning the air strike on a detention centre in Tripoli, which killed at least 44 people, and wounded more than 130.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Photo: Photo / AFP
It was not immediately clear why Washington could not support the statement, diplomats said.
The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was outraged by the air strike and called for an immediate ceasefire, and an independent investigation.
The conflict threatens to disrupt oil supplies, boost migration across the Mediterranean to Europe, scupper UN plans for an election and create a security void that Islamist militants could fill.
- Reuters
Read more: Libya attack: Dozens killed in air strike on migrant centre
Tanks on the streets of Washington for 4 July celebrations
The US military has told Washington DC residents not to panic if they see tanks on the streets for President Donald Trump's Independence Day parade.
At least two Bradley armoured carriers and two M1A1 Abrams tanks will be moved to the heart of the US capital for the president's "Salute to America".
The National Park Service will reportedly divert nearly $2.5million to cover the cost of the event.
Mr Trump tweeted his 4 July celebration will be "the show of a lifetime".
As well as tanks, Mr Trump's 4 July celebration will feature a military jet flyover, an extended fireworks show and speech by the president at the Lincoln Memorial, in a drastic departure from traditional Independence Day celebrations, which are normally devoid of party politics.
- BBC
Stromboli eruption kills tourist
A volcano on the Italian island of Stromboli has erupted, releasing hot trapped magma in a powerful explosion, killing one person and enveloping the popular tourist destination in ash, witnesses and local officials said.
The eruption of the Stromboli volcano on Stromboli island, north of Sicily. Photo: Photo / AFP
The person, believed to be a tourist, was killed by falling stones during a walk, a rescue service official said. A second person was injured.
The unexpected eruption started fires on the western side of the small Mediterranean island, which lies north of Sicily, off the toe of Italy. Fire crews were being called in from nearby locations and a Canadair plane was already in action.
Tourists often climb to the 924m summit of the volcano and peer into its crater, with small puffs of molten rock regularly blasted into the sky.
Stromboli is one of the most active volcanoes on the planet and has been erupting almost continuously since 1932.
- Reuters
