News in Brief(2023-08-12)

China rains death toll rises to 78 as new storm approaches
BEIJING, Aug 11: The death toll from record-breaking rains across northern China rose to at least 78 on Friday, as authorities warned of more flooding and another storm approached the country. Deaths from flooding in Hebei province rose to 29, state media reported Friday, after Storm Doksuri, which hit mainland China as a typhoon two weeks ago, brought on the most severe rainfall since records began 140 years ago. Rescuers have continued to search for people swept away by the floods, as another storm, Khanun, approaches over the weekend. — AFP
Blinken says no sanctions relief for Iran under prisoner deal
WASHINGTON, Aug 11: Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday that the United States would offer no sanctions relief to Iran under a draft deal that would free five Americans. "In any event, in any respect, Iran will not be receiving any sanctions relief," Blinken told reporters when asked about the expected release of $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds. "Iran's own funds would be used and transferred to restricted accounts such that the monies can only be used for humanitarian purposes," he said. Blinken said that the United States has been in contact with the families of five Americans freed from prison to house arrest in an expected first step to their release. — Arab News
Russia launches first Moon mission in nearly 50 years
MOSCOW, Aug 11: Russia launched its first probe to the Moon in almost 50 years on Friday, a mission designed to give fresh impetus to its space sector, which has been struggling for years and become isolated by the conflict in Ukraine. The launch of the Luna-25 probe is Moscow's first lunar mission since 1976, when the USSR was a pioneer in the conquest of space. The rocket with the Luna-25 probe lifted off at 02:10 a.m. Moscow time (2310 GMT Thursday) from the Vostochny Cosmodrome, according to live images broadcast by the Russian space agency Roscosmos. The spacecraft is due to reach lunar orbit in five days. — Arab News
S Africa's ex-president Zuma sent to jail, immediately released
PRETORIA, Aug 11: South Africa's former president Jacob Zuma reported back to jail on Friday only to be swiftly released, the government said in the latest twist in the judicial saga over his contempt of court sentence. Zuma was ordered to report back to prison and arrived at 6am local time at a detention facility in Estcourt, northwest of Durban, where was "admitted into the system", the prison service said. — AFP