International

By SJA Jafri + Agencies MELBOURNE/ WASHINGTON: The US called off military strikes against Iran on Thursday night that were approved by President Donald Trump, according to an administration official, abandoning a move that would have dramatically escalated tensions that are already running high between the two countries. The attack, …

By SJA Jafri + BBC MELBOURNE/ NEW YORK/ TEHRAN: Iran “made a very big mistake” in shooting down a US military surveillance drone over the Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump says. However, he told reporters it could have been the result of human error, saying: “I find it hard …

By SJA Jafri + IRNA Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it had shot down a US drone aircraft, further raising tensions between Tehran and Washington and sending oil prices sharply higher. The guard announced on Thursday that its air force “targeted and shot down a Global Hawk, a US spy aircraft, …

  By SJA Jafri + Agencies MELBOURNE/ LYON: Former Interpol Chief Meng Hongwei has pleaded guilty to charges of accepting bribes, Chinese state media reported. Meng – a Chinese citizen – has been under investigation since October 2018. He is accused of taking 14.5 million yuan ($2.1m) in unlawful payments …

By SJA Jafri + Agencies MELBOURNE/ RIYADH/ NEW YORK: An independent UN Human Rights Expert investigating the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi has recommended an investigation into the possible role of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, citing “credible evidence”. The 101-page report released by Agnes Callamard into the …

SJA Jafri + Agencies MELBOURNE/PHILADELPHIA: United States (US) authorities seized 33,000 pounds, or 15,000 kilograms, of cocaine from a ship at Philadelphia’s port in what they described as one of the largest drug busts in American history. They said the haul could have been worth more than $1 billion on …

By SJA Jafri + Agencies MELBOURNE/PHILADELPHIA: United States (US) authorities seized 33,000 pounds, or 15,000 kilograms, of cocaine from a ship at Philadelphia’s port in what they described as one of the largest drug busts in American history. They said the haul could have been worth more than $1 billion …

By SJA Jafri + Agencies CANBERRA/ WELLINGTON: A New Zealand man has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for sharing a video of the Christchurch massacre. Philip Arps pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing the video, which was livestreamed on Facebook. 51 people were martyred in the attack at two Christchurch …

By SJA Jafri + Agencies MELBOURNE/ TORONTO: After four people were injured Monday in a shooting during the Toronto Raptors’ NBA Championship celebration, Canadian officials urged the public to not let it undermine a mostly peaceful commemoration of a historic win. “I hope all those injured in today’s shooting have a speedy …

By SJA Jafri + Agencies MELBOURNE/ CAIRO: Egypt’s former president, Mohammed Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood leader who rose to office in the country’s first free elections in 2012 and was ousted a year later by the military, has collapsed in court during an espionage trial and died, according to state …