News in Brief- (3-10-2018)

Melania Trump arrives in Ghana

ACCRA, Oct 02: US First Lady Melania Trump arrived in Ghana's capital Accra on Tuesday on her first solo international trip in Africa, during which she will visit child health facilities, orphanages and meet caregivers. The stop is Trump's first on a four-country tour that will include visits to Kenya, Malawi and Egypt. — Reuters

Sierra Leone military truck flips over, killing 13

SIERRA LEONE, Oct 02: Thirteen people were killed and at least 30 more injured on Monday when a military transport truck flipped over on a major road in the Sierra Leone capital, a military spokesman said. The open-air truck was carrying more than 40 soldiers from their barracks to a funeral in Freetown when its brakes failed as it descended a steep hill. — Reuters

France seizes Iranian assets in retaliation for bomb plot

PARIS, Oct 02: France seized assets belonging to Iran's intelligence services and two Iranian nationals in response to a June plot to attack an exiled Iranian opposition group's rally outside Paris, the government said on Tuesday. A senior French official said Paris had no doubt that elements of the Iranian state were behind the bomb plot and that it was likely to have been hatched by hardliners looking to undermine President Hassan Rouhani. The hardening of relations between Paris and Tehran could have deep consequences for Iran, coming at a time when Rouhani's government is looking to European capitals to salvage a 2015 nuclear deal after the United States pulled out. — Reuters

Japan defence minister out in cabinet reshuffle

TOKYO, Oct 02: Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is replacing his defence minister in a cabinet reshuffle that otherwise leaves key government positions largely unchanged, local media said Tuesday. The final line-up for the new cabinet is expected to be announced later Tuesday, but local media reported Abe was replacing Itsunori Onodera, defence minister since August 2017. Onodera, seen as a defence expert, will reportedly be succeeded by Takeshi Iwaya, 61, a veteran politician who has had short stints in roles including vice minister for defence and foreign affairs. — AFP