SYRIA: Newly installed Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani met with his Qatari counterpart and Qatar’s prime minister in Doha today, as the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham government continues its efforts to widen diplomatic ties. 

Mr Shibani posted on X that he will also be visiting Jordan and the United Arabs Emirates to develop strategic partnerships.

PAKISTAN: A blast from an improvised explosive device killed one person and wounded 35 others on Saturday in Pakistan’s southwestern city of Turbat, a police official said.

Police officer Roshan Baloch said that eight of the wounded were in critical condition, while the rest were stable. Most of the casualties are soldiers. 

The device was in a car parked on the side of the road and was detonated remotely, Officer Baloch added.

DR CONGO: Forces allegedly backed by Rwanda have captured the town of Masisi in eastern DRC, according to reports today.

This is the second town said to have been seized by the so-called M23 group in as many days in the mineral-rich North Kivu province.

Angola has been attempting to mediate talks between DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame. But talks broke down last month.

CHINA: A fire at a food market on Saturday in northern China has killed at least eight people and injured 15 others.

The fire at the Liguang market in the Qiaoxi district of the city of Zhangjiakou broke out midday on Saturday, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.