Putin says he hopes to meet with Trump as the WH presses for a Ukraine peace deal

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A strong earthquake in eastern Afghanistan has killed at least 800 people and injured over 2,500. A Taliban government spokesman said most of the casualties are in Kunar province, near the border with Pakistan. The 6.0-magnitude quake struck late Sunday, causing extensive damage and destroying entire villages. Desperate residents are searching for missing loved ones in the rubble. Rescue operations are underway, with medical teams arriving from Kunar, Nangarhar province, and Kabul. Authorities have pledged to use all available resources to save lives. The quake has worsened communications in the mountainous region, making rescue efforts challenging.

Official: Russia is suspected of jamming navigation on EU leader’s plane above Bulgaria

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — A plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was hit by GPS jamming over Bulgaria in a suspected Russian operation. A spokesperson confirmed the incident on Monday. The plane landed safely at Plovdiv airport. Von der Leyen will continue her planned tour of the European Union’s nations bordering Russia and Belarus, according to the commission’s spokesperson Arianna Podestà. Von der Leyen, a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Moscow’s war in Ukraine, is on a four-day tour of front-line EU nations.

Yemenis mourn killed Houthi prime minister as rebel group targets ship in Red Sea

ADEN, Yemen (AP) — Hundreds of Yemenis have mourned the death of Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi, killed last week in an Israeli strike. The attack also killed several officials. The funeral took place Monday in Sanaa, with mourners chanting against Israel and the United States. The Houthis have also launched a missile at an oil tanker in the Red Sea, claiming it had ties to Israel. The vessel sustained no damage. Meanwhile, the rebels have raided U.N. offices, detaining staff and seizing documents. These actions come amid ongoing tensions and potential ceasefire talks in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

China’s Xi seeks expanded role for Shanghai Cooperation Organization at Tianjin summit

TIANJIN, China (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping has announced plans to accelerate the creation of a development bank and set up an international energy cooperation platform. He made these announcements at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit on Monday. Leaders from Russia and India also attended the summit in Tianjin, China. Xi pledged $1.4 billion in loans to the organization’s members over the next three years. He also opened the way for member states to use China’s BeiDou satellite system. Xi emphasized rejecting Cold War thinking and called for a more balanced global governance system. The summit comes ahead of a military parade in Beijing.