News of the Day From Around the World

1 Seized tanker: Britain will facilitate the release of a seized Iranian tanker if Iran can provide guarantees the vessel would not breach European sanctions on oil shipments to Syria, Britain’s top diplomat said. The comments by Jeremy Hunt could help de-escalate tensions that have spiked in recent days. In apparent retaliation for the seized tanker, Iranian paramilitary vessels tried to impede the passage of a British oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz, only turning away after receiving “verbal warnings” from a British navy vessel accompanying the ship, the British government said. The tanker’s interception came on the heels of already high tensions in the Persian Gulf as the Trump administration continues its campaign of maximum pressure on Iran.

2 Pipeline attack: Militants targeted a gas pipeline in government-controlled central Syria, putting it out of order Sunday, according to state media. The area in central Homs province is close to where remnants of the Islamic State are still holed up after losing all the territory they once held in the country. The SANA news agency said technical teams are working to fix the pipeline, which links the Shaer fields to the Ebla processing plant. The pipeline carries about 2.5 million cubic meters of gas to the processing plant and onward to power stations. Islamic State militants briefly seized the Shaer fields in 2014 and 2016 before pro-government forces recaptured them in heavy fighting. Today much of Syria’s oil fields and infrastructure are held by U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led forces in the east.

3 Canadian arrested: China has detained another Canadian citizen, authorities in Canada have said, adding to the high tensions between the two countries’ governments. The person, who was not identified by the...