US-China “open” exchange; Japanese princess to marry commoner

US Defense Secretary visits China for 'open and frank' talks

US Defense Secretary James Mattis held what were described as "open and candid" talks with his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe during a three-day visit to the country, according toReuters.

"I came here because of the importance of the military-to-military relationship. This military relationship is really important to the broader relationship between our two countries," Mattis said of the first visit to China by a US defense secretary since 2014.

The Chinese minister said Mattis' visit was a positive impetus for military-to-military relations as well as state-to-state relations. "It is really meaningful for us to build strategic trust and even cooperate," Wei stressed.

Israeli airstrikes hit Hamas targets in Gaza

Smoke rises after an airstrike by Israeli forces in Gaza on June 18. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

The Israeli military announced that an airstrike hit a car belonging to the Hamas Islamist movement in the Gaza Strip on the night of June 26-27. In addition, the airstrike also hit two Hamas-related observation posts.

The Israeli military also said that militants in the Gaza Strip fired dozens of rockets into southern Israel overnight on June 26, but caused no casualties or damage. Of these, Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system detected and intercepted at least three rockets.

Assets seized from former Malaysian prime minister's home worth up to $270 million

Mr. Amar Singh (second from left) - Director of the Commercial Crime Investigation Department of the Malaysian Federal Police, and police officers released images of items seized from the family of former Prime Minister Najib Razak at a press conference on 27/ in the capital Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Reuters

The total value of cash and items seized from six apartments whose owners were linked to former prime minister Najib in May was between 900 million (US$223 million) and 1.1 billion ringgit (US$270 million), Malaysian Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief Amar Singh said today.Channel News Asia.

A total of 12,000 pieces of jewelry were confiscated, including 1,400 necklaces, 2,200 rings, 2,800 pairs of earrings, 2,100 bracelets, 1,600 brooches, 14 crowns, with the most expensive item being a gold necklace worth more than one million USD.

Turkish police. Source: AFP/VNA

The Turkish government has ordered the arrest of 192 military personnel, the next step in a campaign targeting those suspected of having links to Fetullah Gulen, a cleric currently living in exile in the United States and accused of masterminding a failed coup in July 2016 in Türkiye.

Among those arrested were 99 members of the Turkish air force, including a former chief of staff and 30 pilots. The arrests came after Ankara prosecutors conducted investigations in 20 provinces in the country.

Zimbabwean President Suspected Former First Lady's Faction of Failed Assassination

On June 23, an explosion occurred near Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa as he left the stage after addressing a crowd in Bulawayo.

Two people were killed and 49 injured. No one has claimed responsibility and no suspects have been arrested.

"I think this is a political act by some people who are resentful of the current democratic system in the country," Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa toldBBCand believes that the G40 group, which supports former first lady Grace Mugabe, are such people.

"That's the reasonable conclusion one can draw," he said, but stressed that authorities would seek evidence to find out exactly what happened.

Japanese princess to marry commoner

According to a June 26 announcement from Japan's Imperial Household Agency, the wedding between Princess Ayako and Kei Moriya, 32, an employee of a shipping company, will take place in October.

Princess Ayako, 27 years old, is the third daughter of the late Prince Takamado, cousin of Emperor Akihito.

Princess Ayako is the second female member of the Japanese royal family to announce her engagement to a commoner in the past two years. With this decision, Ayako will give up her royal status, according to Japanese Imperial House Law.