Iran Summons Australian Ambassador over 'Biased Stance'

The Iranian flag waves in front of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters, before the beginning of a board of governors meeting, in Vienna, Austria, March 1, 2021. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner The Iranian flag waves in front of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters, before the beginning of a board of governors meeting, in Vienna, Austria, March 1, 2021. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner
The Iranian flag waves in front of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters, before the beginning of a board of governors meeting, in Vienna, Austria, March 1, 2021. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner The Iranian flag waves in front of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters, before the beginning of a board of governors meeting, in Vienna, Austria, March 1, 2021. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner
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Iran Summons Australian Ambassador over 'Biased Stance'

The Iranian flag waves in front of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters, before the beginning of a board of governors meeting, in Vienna, Austria, March 1, 2021. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner The Iranian flag waves in front of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters, before the beginning of a board of governors meeting, in Vienna, Austria, March 1, 2021. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner
The Iranian flag waves in front of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters, before the beginning of a board of governors meeting, in Vienna, Austria, March 1, 2021. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner The Iranian flag waves in front of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters, before the beginning of a board of governors meeting, in Vienna, Austria, March 1, 2021. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

Iran's foreign ministry has summoned the Australian ambassador in Tehran over what it said was his country's biased stance on Iran's attack against Israel, Iranian news agency Tasnim reported on Sunday.

Ian McConville was summoned due to his country's repeated bias, including on Iran's response to what it called "the Zionist regime," meaning Israel, Reuters reported.

Australia's embassy in Tehran did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday.

Tehran launched a missile attack against Israel on Tuesday in retaliation for the killing of several leaders of Iran-aligned armed groups.

Israel has said it will respond.



Germany Plans $62 mln Boost for Syrian Schools, Projects

Students attend a class at a school in Qamishli, Syria, December 16, 2024. REUTERS/Orhan Qereman/File Photo
Students attend a class at a school in Qamishli, Syria, December 16, 2024. REUTERS/Orhan Qereman/File Photo
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Germany Plans $62 mln Boost for Syrian Schools, Projects

Students attend a class at a school in Qamishli, Syria, December 16, 2024. REUTERS/Orhan Qereman/File Photo
Students attend a class at a school in Qamishli, Syria, December 16, 2024. REUTERS/Orhan Qereman/File Photo

Germany said on Monday it would back 60 million euros ($62.70 million) worth of projects in Syria to boost education, women's rights and other areas in the aftermath of the overthrow of president Bashar al-Assad.

Development Minister Svenja Schulze said a "historic window" had opened since opposition seized control of Damascus on Dec. 8, forcing Assad to flee after more than 13 years of civil war and ending his family's decades-long rule.

"What will happen next has not yet been decided. But the opportunity for positive development is there and we should now do everything we can to support it," she said in a statement, Reuters reported.

Around half the projects were focused on education with 25 million euros going to the UN children's agency UNICEF, and 6 million euros for aid group Arche Nova, which runs schools for about 3,000 children.

"We have clearly formulated our expectations: an education system free of ideology, discrimination and exclusion," Schulze said in the statement.

Another 19 million euros will go to the United Nations development agency UNDP, Syrian NGOs will get 7 million euros, and 3 million euros will go to a special UN fund supporting Syrian women's groups, the statement said.

All projects would be run through non-governmental organisations and UN aid agencies, not Syria's new authorities, the ministry added.