Briefly

IRAN

Agreement with Teheran gives 'time to diplomacy'

The head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog applauded an agreement struck with Iran on Sunday over access to surveillance equipment at Iranian nuclear facilities, saying it allowed space for diplomatic talks. "This has always been seen, for me at least, as a stopgap, as a measure to allow time for diplomacy," said International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Grossi to reporters at Vienna airport after returning from talks in Iran. The IAEA and Iran had earlier announced that they had agreed to allow inspectors to service the agency's surveillance equipment as Teheran restricted access earlier this year. Grossi traveled to Iran Saturday for talks, days after the IAEA had criticized Teheran for a lack of cooperation.

FRANCE

Macron's ex-bodyguard on trial over assault

President Emmanuel Macron's former bodyguard was expected to go on trial on Monday for assaulting two people during a 2018 protest while posing as a police officer, in an incident that caused embarrassment for France's then newly elected leader. Macron, who had made integrity in office a cornerstone of his campaign, was forced to fire Alexandre Benalla, now 30, after a video showed him striking a young man and grabbing a young woman by the neck during a May Day protest in 2018. The former bouncer was wearing a police helmet, although he had only been given leave to accompany security forces as an observer.

Agencies - Xinhua