"No sign of life" from Iranian President Raisi's helicopter crash site

The Iranian state TV says there is no sign of life from President Ebrahim Raisi's helicopter as rescue teams reached the crash site.

The president's helicopter made a hard landing when returning from a border region near Azerbaijan, where he and the Azerbaijani President inaugurated a new dam.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was also on board.

China has expressed concern over the incident and says it stands ready to provide help.

China lists U.S. companies as unreliable entities over arms sales to Taiwan

China has added some U.S. companies to the list of unreliable entities over their involvement in arms sales to Taiwan.

The Chinese commerce ministry says they include General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems.

These companies will be barred from investing in China and their senior executives are no longer allowed to enter the country.

The ministry says the move is intended to safeguard China's sovereignty, security and development interests.

Chinese foreign minister meets Tajik counterpart

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has met his Tajik counterpart Sirojiddin Muhriddin in Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan.

On Saturday, Wang also held talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon.

DRC army says it thwarts attempted coup involving U.S. citizens

Authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have thwarted a coup attempt after killing its leader.

Over 50 people have been arrested, including several American and British citizens.

A military spokesperson says the situation is under control.

Slovakia PM attacker 'may not have acted alone'

The Slovak interior minister says the man accused of trying to assassinate Prime Minister Robert Fico last Wednesday may not have been working alone.

Matus Sutaj Estok told reporters that a team is investigating the possibility that the attack was not carried out by a lone wolf, as previously believed.

The prime minister is no longer in danger following surgery, but still requires intensive care.

The assailant has been identified as a 71-year-old whom local media have described as a poet with known connections to various political organizations.