Israel expands ground operation to southern Gaza

The Israeli military says it is expanding its ground operation to southern Gaza with troops advancing into Rafah.

Troops continued their tasks in the northern and central parts of the territory after the military urged residents to avoid a main north-south road.

Meanwhile, Hamas' armed wing says it launched rocket attacks in retaliation to what it calls Israel’s massacre against civilians.

U.S. teams to meet Ukrainian, Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukrainian and U.S. technical teams will meet in Saudi Arabia on Monday and discuss a potential ceasefire with Russia on energy systems.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine supports a U.S. plan for a partial ceasefire after speaking on the phone with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also accepted the U.S. proposal.

Russia said its next round of talks with the U.S. is also Monday in Saudi Arabia.

U.S. delegation, Afghan FM discuss bilateral relations, prisoner exchange

The foreign ministry of Afghanistan's interim government says the acting foreign minister has met a U.S. delegation in Kabul to discuss bilateral relations and a prisoner exchange.

U.S. envoys said progress on the prisoner exchange is a significant step toward building trust.

This was the first U.S. delegation to visit Afghanistan and meet with top officials since the interim government assumed power in 2021.

The two countries exchanged prisoners in January under the mediation of Qatar.

Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department said the Taliban has released a U.S. citizen detained more than two years ago.

DPRK test-fires latest anti-aircraft missile system

Local media say North Korea has test-fired an anti-aircraft missile system.

It aims to examine the overall performance of the system.

Korean Central News Agency says full-scale production has begun at munitions enterprises.

Kirsty Coventry becomes first female and first African IOC president

Members of the International Olympic Committee have elected Kirsty Coventry IOC president.

It makes the 41-year-old the first woman and the first African to lead the global Olympic movement.

When answering a question from China Media Group, the double Olympic swimming gold medalist spoke highly of the IOC's relations with China.

The Zimbabwean sports minister will officially take office in June to succeed Thomas Bach.

Forest food third largest agricultural product in China

China's forestry authorities say forest food has become the country’s third largest agricultural product after grains and vegetables.

China's output of forest food exceeded 200 million tons last year.

China has issued guidelines and catalogs to improve the yield and quality of forest food.

Friday is International Day of Forests.

2025 Global South Financiers Forum passes Beijing Consensus

Participants at the Global South Financiers Forum have agreed to maintain global financial stability and advocate for a new international financial order that is more just, equitable and inclusive.

The forum gathered representatives from government departments, financial institutions and experts and released the Beijing Consensus.

The document says the Global South financial community should work on the green economy and green financial products.

It says attendees called for efforts to unleash market vitality and create a favorable environment for cross-border trade and investment.

10-man China falls to Saudi Arabia in World Cup qualifier

In football, China’s hopes of qualifying for next year’s World Cup have suffered another blow after the 10-man squad fell to Saudi Arabia 1-0.

The only goal came five minutes into the second half.

China remains bottom of the group after seven matches. It will next take on Australia on Tuesday.