China, EU officially launch trade, investment consultation mechanism
China and the European Union (EU) have confirmed the official establishment of China-EU trade and investment consultation mechanism as the two sides held the first meeting of the mechanism, according to a joint statement issued on Tuesday.
The two sides identified four initial workstreams under the mechanism, which include trade and investment balancing, export controls, intellectual property rights and WTO reform, the joint statement said.
Venezuela quake death toll rises to 1,719
The death toll from the two earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday has risen to 1,719, with more than 5,000 people injured, Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said Monday.
Giving an update, Rodriguez said 1,719 people had been confirmed dead, while 5,034 others had been injured, and 15,866 people had been affected by the disaster.
Afghanistan says hit by Pakistani airstrikes
Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on X early Monday that eastern areas of Afghanistan bordering Pakistan had come under Pakistani airstrikes the previous night, resulting in casualties.
According to Mujahid, the Pakistani military carried out airstrikes on Gayan District in Paktika Province, Tsamkani District in Paktia Province, and Manogai District in Kunar Province.
He said the strikes caused dozens of civilian casualties, including women and children.
Israel could be at war with Iran as early as "tomorrow" -- defense minister
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Monday that Israel could be at war with Iran as early as "tomorrow," amid growing regional tensions.
Speaking during a briefing for military and diplomatic reporters, Katz said Israel is closely monitoring developments and fully prepared for rapid escalation.
He warned that any Iranian missile attack would trigger an immediate and forceful Israeli response, calling it a clear red line that has also been communicated to U.S. officials.
Trump says Iran requested meeting in Doha on Tuesday, Iran denies
In a social media post early Monday without giving any details, U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran had requested a meeting in Doha on Tuesday.
"IRAN HAS REQUESTED A MEETING. IT WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW IN DOHA!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social.
Iran's foreign ministry on Monday denied the reports that Iranian and American technical teams will meet in the coming days.
Iran says experts delegation to visit Qatar this week for frozen funds' release
A delegation comprising Iranian experts will visit Qatar this week to pursue the release of Iran's frozen assets, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Monday.
Baghaei said the concurrent visit by senior U.S. officials to Doha has nothing to do with the Iranian delegation's trip, as Iran will not hold talks at any level with the United States in the coming days, read a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
Baghaei said Iran and the United States have not yet entered the stage of starting negotiations to reach a final agreement, which can begin only after the implementation of key provisions of the recently signed memorandum of understanding (MoU), including ending conflict on all fronts, lifting the U.S. naval blockade, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, issuing U.S. waivers for Iran's crude oil exports, and releasing Iranian frozen assets.
Israel continues attacks on S. Lebanon despite framework agreement
Israel launched more attacks on southern Lebanon on Monday despite a recently signed Lebanon-Israel framework agreement, Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported.
An Israeli airstrike hit the area between the villages of Qantara and Deir Siriane in the eastern sector of the border region, and Israeli artillery shelling targeted the town of Haddatha in the Bint Jbeil district as well as the outskirts of Deir Siriane toward the Litani River, the NNA reported.
An Israeli drone dropped a stun grenade on the Ghassan Daher quarry along the road to Ibl al-Saqi, and another drone flew over the Zahrani area and nearby villages, it reported.
Keiko Fujimori takes more than half of votes in Peru presidential election
Peru's right-wing Popular Force candidate Keiko Fujimori secured more than half of the valid votes in the presidential election, the 100-percent official count results showed Monday.
According to figures released by Peru's National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) on its real-time vote-counting platform, Fujimori received 50.135 percent of the valid votes, while her rival Roberto Sanchez of Together for Peru got 49.865 percent.■
