Paris, June 30 - The first round of France's snap legislative elections kicked off Sunday in Metropolitan France for voters to elect 577 members for the National Assembly out of over 4,000 candidates.

Seoul, June 30 - Houses and roads were flooded Sunday as strong winds and heavy rain pounded the country, disrupting flights and passenger ships, and causing landslides and power outages in some areas, fire and provincial authorities said.

Moscow, June 30 - Russia extended the permit for the export of gasoline until July 31, according to a government document.

Berlin, June 30 - Two police officers were seriously injured during clashes at a mass demonstration against the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party congress in the western German city of Essen, while several others sustained minor injuries, local media quoted police as

Baghdad, June 30 - The Iraqi Foreign Ministry rebuked the threat by a US congressman to designate Faiq Zidan, head of Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), as a "tool of Iranian influence" in Iraq.

Seoul, June 30 - North Korea vowed Sunday to take "offensive and overwhelming countermeasures" to protect its sovereignty as it condemned South Korea, the US and Japan for their recent joint military exercises.

Athens, June 30 - A wildfire broke out on Mount Parnitha, north of Athens, prompting a large response from local fire brigade.

Tehran, June 30 - The final result of Iran's 14th presidential election will be decided in a runoff between top contenders Masoud Pezeshkian and Saeed Jalili on July 5, said Spokesman of Iran's Election Headquarters Mohsen Eslami.

Tehran, June 30 - Two policemen were killed in an attack by armed assailants targeting a vehicle carrying a ballot box in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, following the first round of Iran's 14th presidential election, the media reported.