* The first meeting between foreign ministers and defense ministers of China and Cambodia under the "2+2" strategic dialogue mechanism was held here in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Wednesday, aiming at enhancing bilateral cooperation in various fields.
* Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to holding talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, provided that the meeting is aimed at finalizing concrete agreements, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday.
* Russia hopes that visits by U.S. representatives related to a Ukraine settlement will continue, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday.
* From April 23 to 28, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun will visit Russia and Kyrgyzstan and attend a meeting of defense ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz capital, China's defense ministry said on Thursday.
* Japan's House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill to establish a national intelligence committee, local media reported.
* Germany on Wednesday released a comprehensive new military strategy, outlining plans to expand its armed forces and transform the Bundeswehr into the strongest conventional army in Europe. The strategy sets a target to establish a total force of 460,000 troops by 2035, consisting of 260,000 active-duty soldiers and a reserve force of 200,000.
* U.S. President Donald Trump told a media outlet on Wednesday that it's "possible" fresh peace talks between the United States and Iran could take place as soon as Friday.
* Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Thursday that the country's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir are making all-out efforts at every level to help resolve issues between Iran and the United States for lasting peace.
* The U.S. State Department on Wednesday urged U.S. citizens in Iran to leave after the Middle East country partially reopened its airspace.
* Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Wednesday that Iran has always welcomed resolving issues through dialogue and agreement and will continue to do so.
* Iraq's Coordination Framework (CF), an umbrella alliance of Shiite parties and the largest parliamentary bloc, announced Wednesday the postponement of its meeting to nominate a prime minister-designate until Friday.
* U.S. defense officials briefed lawmakers this week on an intelligence assessment that it could take six months to fully clear the Strait of Hormuz of mines deployed by the Iranian military, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.
* Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday Türkiye supports peace and diplomacy in the Middle East conflict.
* Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stressed on Wednesday that the current regional escalation must not divert attention from the need to complete all requirements of the second phase of the Gaza peace plan.
* Britain and France on Wednesday co-hosted a two-day multinational military planning conference in London to advance plans for restoring navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, with military planners from more than 30 countries attending, according to a statement from the British Ministry of Defense.
* Iran has received its first revenue from tolls imposed on the Strait of Hormuz, Tasnim News Agency reported Thursday, citing the country's deputy speaker.
* Italy's navy has signaled readiness to participate in mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz once the current conflict subsides, the ANSA news agency on Wednesday quoted naval sources as saying.
* Lebanon and Russia signed an agreement on Wednesday exempting holders of diplomatic and special passports from entry visa requirements, Lebanon's National News Agency reported.
* Nearly 1,000 Afghan refugee families have returned to their homeland in a single day, highlighting the ongoing trend of repatriation amid evolving regional conditions, the official media Bakhtar news agency reported on Thursday.
* UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher said Wednesday that Syria could be a success story for the world contingent on international support.
* UN Special Envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg said Wednesday that he discussed with the Houthi group ways to advance the UN mediation process and efforts to move forward negotiations on the release of detainees.
* Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Wednesday announced a 500-million-euro (585 million USD) support package aimed at easing the burden of rising living costs, following stronger-than-expected fiscal performance.
* The head of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on Wednesday called for an immediate halt of attacks on commercial vessels and warned of escalating risks to seafarers amid growing tensions in the Middle East.
* South Africa's National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament, on Tuesday passed the Division of Revenue Bill and the Special Appropriation Bill, tabled by the finance minister in February as part of the national Budget.
* China's total installed power generation capacity reached 3.96 billion kilowatts by the end of March 2026, up 15.5 percent year on year, the National Energy Administration said on Thursday.
* Singapore's inflation rose to 1.8 percent in March amid higher fuel prices, official data showed Thursday.
* Azerbaijan's non-oil and gas revenues exceeded the budget forecast by 446.1 million manats (about 262.4 million USD), or 8.8 percent, in the first quarter of 2026, the finance ministry reported Wednesday.
* Sri Lanka's per capita income exceeded 5,000 USD for the first time in 2025, reaching 5,003 USD, state media reported Wednesday night, quoting the latest annual report of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
* The Asian Development Bank (ADB) committed 29.3 billion USD from its own resources in 2025 while advancing key institutional reforms to help Asia and the Pacific navigate change and turn challenges into opportunities.
* The World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (WHO Europe) on Wednesday called for stronger efforts to improve access to influenza vaccines and boost uptake among at-risk groups across Europe, citing findings from a new study.
* Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province erupted on Wednesday, sending a plume of volcanic ash approximately 1,500 meters above its summit, according to the Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG).
