Xinhua world news summary at 0030 GMT, July 5

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday strongly criticized an Israeli decision to advance settlement plans in the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem, reiterating that "settlements are illegal under international law."

"The secretary-general strongly criticizes the decision by Israeli authorities to advance plans to build some 560 housing units in the West Bank settlement of Maale Adumim, as well as the advancement of plans to build 240 housing units in a number of settlements in occupied East Jerusalem," said a statement issued by Ban's spokesman. (UN-Israel)

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STRASBOURG -- European parliamentarians are set to have their first debate on the European Union (EU)'s new strategy toward China in this week's plenary section, a spokesperson said Monday.

Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign affairs chief, is scheduled to attend the plenary in Strasbourg on Wednesday afternoon for a series of subjects, particularly a debate on the EU new strategy for China, said European Parliament (EP) spokesman Jaume Duch in a news briefing(EU-China-New strategy)

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BAGHDAD -- A rocket barrage hit a place near Baghdad international airport on Monday, targeting a camp housing an exile Iranian opposition group, a police source said.

There were no immediate reports about casualties among the People's Mujahideen Organisation of Iran (PMOI), it said, adding that some of the rockets missed their targets and hit a village near Ameriyah district in western Baghdad, wounding several civilians. (Iraq-Rocket)

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DAR ES SALAAM -- At least 30 people were killed and more than 40 others injured after two 60-seat buses from the same transport company on Monday collided head-on in central Tanzania's Singida region, police said.

Thobias Sedoyeka, the Singida regional police commander, said the death toll could rise as most of the injured persons were in serious condition. (Tanzania-Society) Endi