Briefly

IRAN

Teheran to open two nuclear sites to checks

Iran has agreed to allow inspectors in to two sites where the country is suspected of having stored or used undeclared nuclear material, the UN atomic watchdog agency said on Wednesday. The International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran was "voluntarily providing the IAEA with access to the two locations specified by the IAEA and facilitating the IAEA verification activities to resolve the issues". It said in a joint statement with Iran that the dates for the inspections had been agreed, but did not elaborate. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi wouldn't name the dates after returning to Vienna on Wednesday evening, but said they will take place "very, very soon".

SYRIA

Russia blames US for military vehicle collision

The Russian military on Thursday blamed US troops for a collision of Russian and US military vehicles in Syria's northeast. US officials said on Wednesday that a Russian vehicle sideswiped a light-armored US military vehicle, injuring four US citizens, while two Russian helicopters flew overhead. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian military's General Staff, said the Russian military had notified the US-led coalition about the route of a Russian military police convoy.

MAURITIUS

Dolphins found dead in wake of oil spill

At least 14 dead dolphins have washed up on the coast of the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius, where a Japanese ship ran aground last month and spilled more than 1,000 tons of fuel, environmental groups and experts said on Wednesday. The Japanese bulk carrier MV Wakashio ran aground on a coral reef near the eastern coast of Mauritius on July 25. Pounded by the surf for days, the ship's hull cracked and on Aug 6 it began leaking fuel into the waters of the Mahebourg Lagoon, fouling a protected wetlands area, mangroves and a small island that was a bird and wildlife sanctuary.

Agencies - Xinhua