News Archive - 18 August 2022

Pope opposes investigating Canadian cardinal over sex assault

Ouellet, a prominent Vatican official, was named earlier this week in a class action lawsuit against the Quebec Catholic diocese that alleged cases of sexual assault by some 88 priests and staff working at the diocese starting in 1940, Reuters reported. In the filing in Quebec Superior Court, an anonymous...

France rejects Mali's allegations it sent weapons and intelli

Diop accused France of supplying "weapons" and collecting "intelligence for the benefit of terrorist groups" operating in Mali. He also alleged France was carrying out "espionage" and "intimidation" of the Malian Armed Forces, Chinese CGTN TV reported. In a statement released on Thursday, the French foreign ministry said France's military...

Ghalibaf calls for prioritizing neutralizing sanctions

Speaking in a commemoration ceremony for martyrs in Hamedan, Mohammad Bagheri Ghalibaf he hailed the role that Holy Shrine Defenders played in foiling the ISIL conspiracy in Syria and Iraq "Had not we fought ISIL and the enemies in Syria and Iraq, today we would have to fight them in our...

Turkish official casts doubt on report of 2nd Russian S-400 s

A Turkish defense official quickly cast doubt on reports that Russia and Turkey signed a contract to ship Ankara a second batch of S-400 air defense systems after Russian-state news agency TASS broke the news Tuesday, citing the head of Russia's military cooperation service, Daily Sabah reported. TASS cited the...

China calls US ‘a bully’ after WH official's comments

A spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry hit back at comments from Kurt Campbell, the US National Security Council Indo-Pacific coordinator, that the country “overreacted” to Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) Taiwan trip earlier this month, the American website the Hill reported. “It is clear that the US is trying to...

Iran offers condolences to Algeria on deadly wildfires

In a statement on Thursday, the Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Nasser Kan'ani offered condolences to the people and government of Algeria over the recent massive forest fires in the country. Kan'ani offered condolences to the Algerian government and nation on the death...

"No good, durable agreement until everything is agreed"

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a telephone consultation with his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr Albusaidi on Thursday. The Iranian foreign minister stressed Iran’s good intention and seriousness in reaching a good and durable agreement and said, "After receiving the United States' viewpoints, we will see if Iran's economic benefits from the...

At least 26 dead in Algeria forest fire

Kamel Beldjoud, the country's interior minister, said 24 died in El Tarf, near the border with Tunisia, as well as a mother and daughter in Setif, the BBC reported. Firefighters, supported by helicopters, were still trying to contain several blazes on Wednesday evening. Reports say some 350 residents have been...

Blast in Kabul kills leaves casualties

According to Tolo TV telegram channel, an explosion was heard in the Kheirkhane district in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Wednesday evening.

Flooding caused by heavy rain kills 16 in western China

Heavy and sudden downpours in Datong Hui and Tu Autonomous County, population 403,368, of Qinghai province started late Wednesday, causing flooding on the mountains and triggered landslides, Reuters quoted China's state broadcaster CCTV as reporting. Rivers changed courses and flooded villages and towns. More than 6,200 people were affected by...

Russia sees 38% rise in energy export earnings this year

The jump in revenues, if it materializes, will help shore up Russia's economy in the face of waves of Western sanctions, Reuters reported. It will provide President Vladimir Putin with cash to fund military spending or to boost wages and pensions at a time when the economy has fallen into...

US says will take steps to counter China’s activity in Taiwan

US State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Wednesday that Washington would take steps in the near future to counter China’s presence around the self-ruled island, Press TV reported. “We will continue to take steps that are resolute but also calm to uphold peace and stability in the face of...

All innocent Iranians imprisoned in US must be freed

"The US has arrested tens of innocent Iranians under the pretext of circumventing its cruel and inhumane sanctions. The last two are Messers #Sarhangpour and #Attar_Kashani. All innocent Iranians must be freed - effective immediately," Iran's Deputy Judiciary for International Affairs and Secretary-General of Human Rights Office wrote in a...

IRGC navy tasked with having presence in high seas: Salami

Speaking to a gathering of the IRGC commanders in Mashhad on Thursday, the IRGC commander-in-chief Major General Hossein Salami hailed the IRGC Navy as a powerful force that has been tasked with being present in the high seas. "Today, we have been tasked with establishing a presence in the high seas,"...