World News Summary: Ethnic cleansing in Myanmar; America's psychological war against Iran

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Russia calls Britain's Black Sea air force interceptions dangerous

Russia accused Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) of intercepting its military aircraft over the Black Sea in a dangerous fashion designed to provoke Moscow after the RAF made two such interceptions in a single week. The accusation, leveled by Russia's embassy in London, came after the RAF intercepted a Russian maritime patrol aircraft over the Black Sea on Friday and scrambled to intercept two suspected Russian fighter aircraft on Wednesday.

Zimbabwe's president takes oath amid U.S censure over vote

Emmerson Mnangagwa took the oath as Zimbabwe's president in front of a stadium crowd on Sunday after a divisive election, as U.S. observers of that vote questioned the country's democratic credentials. The Constitutional Court confirmed Mnangagwa as president in a ruling released on Friday, dismissing a challenge by the man he defeated in the July 30 ballot, opposition leader Nelson Chamisa.

Timeline: Reuters journalists detained in Myanmar

Two Reuters journalists, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, have been detained in Myanmar since Dec. 12, 2017. At the time of their arrests, they had been working on an investigation into the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men and boys in a village in Rakhine state. After eight months of hearings, a court is set to decide on Monday whether or not to convict the reporters under the Official Secrets Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.

In Ireland Pope begs forgiveness for 'betrayal' of Church abuse

Pope Francis on Sunday asked for forgiveness for the "scandal and betrayal" felt by victims of sexual exploitation by Catholic clergy as he continued his tour of Ireland where years of abuse scandals have shattered the Church's former dominance. On the first papal visit to Ireland in almost four decades, Francis privately met with eight victims of clerical, religious and institutional abuse on Saturday and said he would seek a greater commitment to eliminating this "scourge".

America is waging 'psychological war' against Iran: foreign minister

America is waging a psychological war against Iran and its business partners, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Sunday, according to the Tasnim news agency. "[America's] focus is on a psychological war against Iran and its business partners," Zarif said.

Pompeo decries 'abhorrent ethnic cleansing' in Myanmar on anniversary

The United States will continue to hold accountable those responsible for what he described as the "abhorrent ethnic cleansing" of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday. Pompeo's statement came on the one year anniversary of the conflict in western Myanmar's Rakhine state that drove more than 700,000 Rohingya from their homes into neighboring Bangladesh.

Head of Islamic State in Afghanistan killed, says government

The head of Islamic State in Afghanistan, Abu Saad Erhabi, was killed in a strike on the group's hideouts in Nangarhar province on Saturday night, authorities said on Sunday. Ten other members of the militant group were also killed in a joint ground and air operation by Afghan and foreign forces, the National Directorate of Security in Kabul said in a statement.

Japanese PM Abe seen headed for extended term despite flat ratings

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced on Sunday his candidacy for a ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership election that he is expected to win despite flat ratings and low expectations for his economic policies. The expected victory over ex-defense minister Shigeru Ishiba in the Sept. 20 party poll would put him on track to become Japan's longest-serving premier. The winner becomes prime minister due to the LDP-led coalition's grip on parliament.

North Korea newspaper blasts 'double-dealing' U.S. after Pompeo's trip canceled

North Korea's state-controlled newspaper on Sunday accused the United States of "double-dealing" and "hatching a criminal plot" against Pyongyang after Washington abruptly canceled a visit by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Negotiations have been all but deadlocked since U.S. President Donald Trump's summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore in June.

Australian foreign minister resigns amid Cabinet revamp

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop resigned from new Prime Minister Scott Morrison's Cabinet on Sunday, two days after a bruising leadership battle that toppled former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and led to a major ministerial shake-up. Bishop announced she would move to the backbench and had not yet decided whether to contest the next election, which is due by May 2019. That decision could have serious implications for Morrison's government, which has a parliamentary majority of only one seat.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)