News in brief

US to consider waivers on Iran sanctions
Reuters, Washington
The United States in certain cases will consider waivers for countries that need more time to wind down imports of oil from Iran as it seeks to avoid disrupting global oil markets while reimposing sanctions against Tehran, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said.
“We want people to reduce oil purchases to zero, but in certain cases if people can’t do that overnight, we’ll consider exceptions,” Mnuchin told reporters on Friday, clarifying some U.S. officials’ comments that there would be no exemptions.

5 dead in South Korean copter crash
AP, Seoul
South Korea’s military says five people died in a helicopter crash at a marines base in the southeastern city of Pohang. Seoul’s Defense Ministry says the helicopter caught fire Tuesday after it crashed to the ground from about 10 meters (33 feet) in the air.
The ministry says one person survived the crash and was being treated at a nearby hospital. The names of the pilots and passengers weren’t immediately announced.

Air strikes kill 7 civilians in Syria
AFP, Beirut
Air strikes on Tuesday killed seven civilians in a sensitive southwestern province of Syria bordering the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, a war monitor said.
The Damascus regime has been pounding Quneitra since Sunday in a bid to retake the southwestern province from rebels, after winning back most of the neighbouring governorate of Daraa in less than a month.