Australia has accused China of failing to provide sufficient notice ahead of a live-fire naval drill between Australia and New Zealand, forcing airlines to alter flight paths. Defence Minister Richard Marles described the lack of communication as “disconcerting” for commercial aviation.
Speaking on Saturday, Marles said Canberra had yet to receive a "satisfactory answer from China" on why more advance notice was not given. “When we do an activity of this kind, we would typically give 12 to 24 hours' notice. A satisfactory answer is why that couldn't have been done,” he told Nine Entertainment.
On Friday, airlines including Qantas, Emirates, and Air New Zealand were forced to modify routes after China announced live-fire exercises in international waters off the coast of Australia’s New South Wales state.
Despite concerns over air traffic disruptions, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese clarified that China had complied with international law. “China did comply with international law, and it’s important to not suggest otherwise,” he said in remarks aired by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun defended the exercises, stating they were conducted in accordance with "relevant international laws and practices."
The drill followed the movement of a Chinese naval fleet, including a frigate, cruiser, and replenishment vessel, which traveled down Australia’s east coast last week. The Australian and New Zealand navies and air forces closely monitored the passage.
The exercise also comes amid rising tensions between Canberra and Beijing over military interactions. Earlier this month, Australia accused a Chinese fighter jet of "unsafe and unprofessional" behavior toward an Australian maritime patrol aircraft in the South China Sea. Beijing, in turn, claimed the Australian aircraft had "deliberately intruded" into its airspace.
China has consistently rejected a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which found that its sweeping claims over the South China Sea were not supported by international law.
On Friday, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong met her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi at the G20 summit in South Africa, where she emphasized the importance of “safe and professional military conduct.”
As Australia continues to seek clarity on China’s military activities near its airspace and maritime zones, tensions between the two nations remain high.
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Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy said a Togo-flagged oil tanker was struck while attempting to make an “illegal passage” through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media said early on Friday.
Saudi civil defence sent an all-clear on Saturday after issuing alerts for a second time for potential danger in Riyadh and the city of Al-Kharj east of the capital, amid an uptick in attacks by Iran-aligned Houthis on the Gulf country.
The European Union will disburse €3.3 billion ($3.8 billion) to Ukraine for missiles and drones, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The U.S. State Department approved a $2.7 billion military sale to Ukraine for air-defence development upgrades, along with related equipment and services, the department said. Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities reported at least 10 people had died in Russian attacks over the last 24 hours.
Houthi attacks target Riyadh amid concerns over Saudi oil supplies, as Iran says it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until its conditions are met and U.S. commitments are implemented, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday.
German voters cast ballots on Sunday in two state elections that could add to the political pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as his government faces growing public frustration and a resurgent far right.
Iraq has returned restricted airspace across the western part of the country to civilian authorities, ending limits imposed for military operations against Islamic State since 2016, the Transport Ministry said.
Denmark and Greenland have moved to reassure the public that their sovereignty will remain intact under a new security agreement with the United States.
World leaders are set to gather at the United Nations General Assembly in New York for several days of high-level debate, with Iran, Ukraine, artificial intelligence (AI) and a range of global crises expected to dominate discussions this week.
Ed Sheeran has broken his silence on the controversy surrounding his U.S. tour, apologising for decisions made after rapper Macklemore was removed from the line-up over his public support for Palestine.
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