Xi says he reaches important consensus with Kim on developing China-DPRK relations in new era
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, said on Tuesday that he reached important consensus with General Secretary Kim Jong Un on developing relations between China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in the new era.
The two sides also had in-depth discussions on safeguarding peace and stability in the region and the world, Xi said when he and his wife Peng Liyuan attended the luncheon hosted by Kim, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, and his wife Ri Sol Ju.
Blasts heard in S. Iran as U.S. announces "self-defense" strikes
A number of explosions were heard early Wednesday and air defense were activated in the port city of Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island, Sirik County and Jask County in southern Iran, state-run IRIB TV reported, citing sources.
The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that six explosions were heard in Sirik, Qeshm Island and the southern city of Minab, adding that areas in the three regions were attacked by U.S. fighter jets.
The explosions came as U.S. Central Command said in a post on social media platform X that its "forces began launching self-defense strikes against Iran at 5 p.m. ET today at the Commander in Chief's direction, in response to yesterday's downing of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter."
Israeli strikes kill 16 in Lebanon, highlighting strains on ceasefire
At least 16 people were killed and dozens injured in a wave of Israeli airstrikes and drone attacks across southern Lebanon on Tuesday, according to Lebanon's sources, underscoring the continuing volatility along the Lebanese-Israeli border.
The deadliest attack targeted a residential area in the southern city of Tyre, where eight people were killed and 32 others wounded, according to Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) and local rescue officials.
Elsewhere, six people were killed in separate drone strikes in the Nabatieh region, including four in a pre-dawn attack on the town of kfar Remmen. In another incident, two Syrian nationals were killed in a preliminary toll from a series of Israeli airstrikes that targeted the area between the towns of Ansariyeh and Adloun.
Six Western countries announce sanctions over West Bank settler violence
Britain, France, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Norway have agreed on coordinated sanctions over settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, the British Foreign Office said in a statement on Tuesday.
Britain will impose sanctions on six entities and one individual accused of financing, enabling or carrying out such violence. France, Canada and Norway announced new sanctions alongside Britain on Tuesday, while Australia and New Zealand unveiled coordinated measures last week, according to the statement.
The latest British sanctions target networks that are involved in providing funds, logistical support and other resources to settler farms and outposts in the West Bank.
Israel could be left alone if war with Iran resumes: Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that he had warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that if Israel resumed its war with Iran, it could find itself fighting alone.
In a phone interview with U.S. online media Axios, Trump claimed that Israel "gave us very late notice" about Sunday's strikes.
"They were already on their way. But eventually I had (the Israeli strike) limited," Trump said.
Trump called Netanyahu on Sunday evening and asked him not to retaliate, the report said, citing a U.S. official.
Former Thai PM Thaksin set free after royal pardon
Thailand's Department of Corrections confirmed on Tuesday that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has completed his probation and been freed under a royal pardon decree, with his electronic monitoring device removed.
Thaksin had been released on probation with the device fitted on May 11 for a term of four months and one day, and complied with all conditions, the department said in a statement.
After the royal pardon decree took effect on June 3, a review committee confirmed he qualified under its criteria, including being over 60 with a remaining sentence under three years, and authorized his release.
EU proposes 21st package of sanctions against Russia
The European Commission has proposed the 21st package of sanctions against Russia, targeting key sectors including energy, financial services and crypto, trade and, for the first time, fisheries, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday.
According to a statement released by the Commission, the proposed measures include suspending the automatic adjustment mechanism of the oil price cap until next January, which would allow oil markets to stabilise while maintaining pressure on Russian revenues.
Thirty additional vessels would be added to the sanctions list, on top of the 632 already designated. For the first time, sanctions would also target vessels providing support services to the "shadow fleet," including bunkering operations.
U.S. House narrowly advances ICE and Border Patrol funding bill
The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday advanced a 69.5-billion-dollar funding package for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol, days after missing President Donald Trump's self-set June 1 deadline.
The lower chamber approved the procedural measure by a vote of 213-211, after the U.S. Senate passed the bill on Friday.
Democrats have pushed for reforms to ICE operations following the fatal shooting of two U.S. citizens by federal agents in Minneapolis in January, but Republicans have repeatedly rejected their demands, resulting in a deadlock in negotiations over funding of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which led to a record 76-day shutdown of the department.■
