China to extend unilateral visa-free policy for over 40 countries, with Sweden newly added
China will extend its unilateral visa-exemption arrangements for more than 40 countries to Dec. 31, 2026, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday.
Mao made the remarks at a regular news briefing as the unilateral visa-free policy for some of those countries will expire at the end of this year.
China also decides to include Sweden in the visa-free scheme effective from Nov. 10, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2026, Mao said.
Foreign leaders to attend 8th China International Import Expo
Leaders of some other countries will attend the eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE) to be held in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday.
The foreign leaders, including Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Serbian Prime Minister Djuro Macut, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria Abbas Tajudeen, and President of the National Council of Slovenia Marko Lotric, will attend the opening ceremony of the CIIE and related events upon invitation, the spokesperson said.
Iran rejects claims of nuclear threat behind Israeli, U.S. strikes
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Sunday night called the claim that the Israeli and U.S. bombing of Iran was motivated by an imminent nuclear threat a "heinous lie."
He made the remarks on X, saying that the claim was "thoroughly debunked" by the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi, and Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi.
Iran didn't "kill diplomacy," but "those who blew up the negotiating table did," said Araghchi.
Israel rejects mediators' request to let militants leave Gaza tunnel
Israel has rejected a request by mediators to allow about 200 militants to safely exit an underground tunnel in southern Gaza and return to an area not controlled by the Israeli military, an Israeli government official said Monday.
The militants, holed up in a tunnel in Rafah, behind the "yellow line" that marks the Israeli army's withdrawal zone under the current ceasefire agreement, "must either surrender and be imprisoned or be killed," the official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military said in a statement that on Monday morning, after identifying militants allegedly crossing the "yellow line" and posing "an immediate threat," Israeli troops struck the militants from the air and on the ground.
DR Congo president says peace talks with M23 rebels to resume in Doha
Peace talks between the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group will resume next week in Doha, Qatar, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi has said.
According to the statement issued late Sunday by the Congolese presidency, Tshisekedi reaffirmed that the DRC remains committed to political and diplomatic means to end the conflict in the eastern provinces, while upholding the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Doha has remained the only operational channel of dialogue between Kinshasa and the M23 for months. In July, Kinshasa and the M23 signed a Declaration of Principles in Doha, a roadmap that initially set a start date for negotiations no later than Aug. 8 and the signing of a peace agreement before Aug. 18. These timelines have now passed without being met.
Death toll rises to 37 in central Vietnam floods
The death toll from heavy rains and flooding in Vietnam's central region has risen to 37, with five people missing and 78 others injured, the Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority reported Monday.
More than 12,600 houses remain inundated, while 103 others were destroyed or swept away, and 451 were damaged, according to the report.
Floods have also submerged nearly 7,900 hectares of crops, killed over 64,000 livestock and poultry, and caused severe damage to irrigation systems and riverbanks.
Earthquake in northern Afghanistan kills 24
An earthquake in northern Afghanistan has left 24 people dead and more than 630 injured, most of them with minor injuries, Afghanistan's National Disaster Management Authority said on Monday.
The epicenter of the earthquake was located in Khulm area. The quake had a magnitude of 6.3 and occurred at a depth of 28 kilometers. The affected areas included the provinces of Balkh, Samangan, Kunduz, Sar-e-Pul and Jawzjan.
The Afghan government has launched rescue operations.
Rescue teams cleared and reopened several main roads, rescuing some residents who had been trapped by road blocks.■
