DAKAR, Aug 24 (Reuters) - A mission to observe implementation of a ceasefire between Congolese forces and Rwandan-backed rebels began on Monday in eastern Congo, the first field deployment under a monitoring mechanism established by a Qatari-mediated peace deal signed last year.

• The deployment of the mission is the latest sign of incremental progress under the Qatar-mediated talks, which began last year after AFC/M23 staged a lightning offensive in eastern Congo, seizing the region's two largest cities.

By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Seven protesters who blocked traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge in a 2024 pro-Palestinian protest against Israel's assault on Gaza have been sentenced to 30 days, with credit for time already served.

They were convicted in July of misdemeanor charges by a San Francisco jury that remained deadlocked on the more serious charge of felony conspiracy.

Defense attorneys said demonstrators acted out of a moral responsibility to oppose the devastation from Israeli strikes on Gaza and Washington's support for its ally.

(Removes repetitive bullet)

BEIJING, Aug 24 (Reuters) - China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday the situation in the Middle East and Gulf region had again reached a critical juncture and urged parties involved to return to dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible.

Wang made the remarks in a meeting with Foreign Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah in Beijing, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement.

• Wang said "the old script of recurring conflict should not be repeated" and the top priority is to de-escalate the situation.

Israel announced on Monday it had recovered the wreckage of the Altalena, an arms-smuggling boat whose sinking by the Israeli military just after the state's founding in 1948 exposed divisions that persist today.

The Altalena had set sail from France loaded with weapons packed for the Irgun, the militant Zionist force that conducted attacks against the British colonial authorities and the local Palestinian population in the quest to establish Israel.

By Elwely Elwelly and Menna AlaaElDin

DUBAI, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Iran's foreign minister dismissed the threat of new U.S. sanctions as a sign of desperation on Sunday and said the expected new measures would fail to defeat Tehran.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is due to hold a press conference at 2 p.m. EDT (1800 GMT) on Monday, has threatened to impose "the toughest sanctions in history" on Iran.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday laid out plans for the "economic asphyxiation" of Iran, expanding Washington's secondary sanctions threats and warning of dire consequences for countries that do not join the campaign.

The announcement comes almost six months into a war on Iran that has ground to a stalemate, with stalled peace talks and Tehran blocking most traffic through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

(This August 21 story has been repeated with no changes to the text)

By Kanishka Singh and Nate Raymond

WASHINGTON, Aug 21 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Friday struck down a Trump administration policy suspending the issuance of immigrant visas to applicants from 75 countries, saying that the policy exceeded Secretary of State Marco Rubio's statutory authority.

By Asif Shahzad, Ariba Shahid and Mubasher Bukhari

ISLAMABAD, Aug 24 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir last week ahead of Munir's trip to Tehran on Monday, according to three Pakistani sources, with one saying the main U.S. request was to use Pakistan's influence to bring Iran back to negotiations.

Trump last week warned of economic consequences against any country that provided "any type of lifeline to Iran" as he seeks to isolate the Islamic Republic. Iran has in turn vowed ‌to shut down all oil exports from the Gulf.

(Corrects time of press conference in paragraph 2)

BEIJING, Aug 24 (Reuters) - China's foreign ministry said on Monday Beijing will closely watch developments and do what is necessary to protect its rights as the U.S. prepares to unveil new Iran sanctions that are expected to target Tehran's trading partners.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is set to hold a press conference at 1 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT) on Monday, has threatened to impose "the toughest sanctions in history" on Iran and urged China to cooperate with Washington.

DUBAI, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi will visit Tehran on Tuesday to continue talks between Iran and Oman on the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday.

On Sunday, Baghaei said the army chief of Pakistan, which has mediated between the United States and Iran, will visit Tehran on Monday.

(Reporting by Elwely Elwelly and Ahmed Tolba; Editing by Michael Georgy and Christian Schmollinger)