News in Brief (2023-05-31)

China declines meeting with US
defense chief: Pentagon
WASHINGTON, May 30: Beijing has declined a US invitation for a meeting in Singapore between Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu, the Pentagon said. "Overnight, the PRC informed the US that they have declined our early May invitation for Secretary Austin to meet with PRC Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu in Singapore this week," Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder said Monday in a statement, referring to the People's Republic of China. —AFP
IAEA resolves nuclear issues with Iran
TEHRAN, May 30: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has resolved nuclear issues with Iran relating to one of three sites being investigated over the presence of uranium particles, Iranian media reported on Tuesday. The agency's alleged case regarding the findings of uranium particles with 83.7 purity has also been closed, a source told the semi-official Mehr news agency. The IAEA is due to issue quarterly reports on Iran this week, ahead of a regular meeting of its 35-nation Board of Governors next week.—Reuters
Three dead in Austria hospital fire
VIENNA, May 30: Three people died Tuesday in a fire at a hospital just south of Austria's capital, a spokeswoman said. "The cause of the fire could not yet be determined with certainty," said the spokeswoman for the hospital in Modling, about 14 kilometres (9 miles) from Vienna. The fire broke out at the hospital at around 1:00 am local time (2300 GMT on Monday), according to a statement from the regional health agency. Authorities said 33 vehicles, 170 firefighters and a Red Cross team were dispatched to put out the blaze, which was brought under control after two hours. —AFP