Xi looks forward to talks with Kim on advancing China-DPRK ties
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, said on Monday he looks forward to meeting with Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), to discuss the traditional friendship between the two countries, and exchange views on the overall development of bilateral relations.
Xi made the remarks in a signed article published on Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the DPRK, ahead of his state visit to the country slated for Monday and Tuesday, his first in seven years.
Xi said that China and the DPRK are friendly socialist neighbors who stand by each other and share a common future.
Iran launches missiles at Israel for first time since April ceasefire
Iran on Sunday evening launched several waves of missiles against Israel and warned the latter not to retaliate, in the first such strikes since a ceasefire was reached in April.
The missiles triggered sirens across northern Israel. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said the military "will strike the enemy with determination as soon as the order is given."
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps confirmed in a statement that it targeted Israel's Ramat David Airbase with ballistic missiles in response to its "widespread crimes" in Lebanon.
1 dead, 2 critically injured in French gendarmerie helicopter crash
A French gendarme was killed and two others were critically injured when a National Gendarmerie helicopter crashed on Sunday afternoon in the north-central French department of Loiret, French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said.
The "tragic accident" occurred during a search-and-rescue mission for a missing person when the helicopter crashed in the forest of Bray-Saint-Aignan, Nunez said in a post on social media platform X on Sunday evening.
The two injured gendarmes remain in critical condition, according to local authorities.
E3 leaders support direct Ukraine-Russia dialogue, call for ceasefire
The leaders of Britain, France and Germany, collectively known as the E3, on Sunday voiced support for direct dialogue between Ukraine and Russia aimed at achieving a ceasefire and advancing peace negotiations, following talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in London.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz issued a joint statement with Zelensky after the meeting, saying they backed direct Ukraine-Russia talks with the active participation of the United States and Europe.
The four leaders called for an immediate and complete ceasefire, saying the current line of contact should serve as the starting point for negotiations.
12 people wounded in shooting near U.S. Ohio festival
At least 12 people were shot Saturday afternoon near a community festival in Toledo, U.S. state of Ohio, with two in critical condition.
It appeared there were at least two people who were "probably shooting at each other," Toledo Deputy Police Chief Joe Heffernan said, adding that police are still searching for the suspects and advise the public to avoid the surrounding areas.
Toledo Police Department officers responded to a report of a person shot in an area near the Old West End Festival at approximately 5:37 p.m. local time (2137 GMT) and discovered multiple shooting victims. The injured were taken to hospitals for treatment.■
