Briefly

INDIA

First monkeypox death reported in Asia

India reported its first monkeypox death in the southern state of Kerala on Sunday, the Indian Express quoted the state's Health Minister Veena George as saying. The 22-year-old man who died on Saturday afternoon returned from the United Arab Emirates last week. The state government has launched a probe into his death. The deceased, first in Asia, showed no symptoms of monkeypox on his return and his relatives had handed over the positive test result conducted abroad only on Saturday.

IRAN

Teheran 'optimistic' after EU proposal

Iran said on Monday it remains "optimistic" about a possible revival of the 2015 nuclear deal after the European Union tabled a proposal aiming for a compromise in the talks stalled since March. The comment of the country's Foreign Ministry comes after EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell last Tuesday submitted a new draft text and urged the different sides to accept it or "risk a dangerous nuclear crisis".

BULGARIA

Leader sets October date for snap poll

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev on Monday set Oct 2 as the date for the country's fourth parliamentary election in less than two years, after the collapse in June of Prime Minister Kiril Petkov's coalition government. Radev also appointed former labor minister Galab Donev to lead a caretaker government as the European Union country faces surging inflation, gas supply doubts and other impacts from the conflict in Ukraine. The cabinet is due to serve from Tuesday until a new government is formed after the snap polls.

Xinhua - Agencies