* The Czech coalition government led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala survived a no-confidence vote in the parliament on Wednesday evening amid a scandal involving a bitcoin donation.
* Mongolia's new government, formed by newly appointed Prime Minister Gombojav Zandanshatar, was sworn in Ulan Bator on Wednesday at the State Palace. Gombojav Zandanshatar was appointed as Mongolia's prime minister at the proposal of the ruling Mongolian People's Party (MPP) on June 13.
* UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday called for the immediate de-escalation of the Israeli-Iranian conflict and for an ensuing ceasefire.
* Attacks on Gaza have continued, reportedly killing and injuring scores of people, amid severe shortages of food, fuel, and medical supplies, UN humanitarians said on Wednesday.
* Russian and Ukrainian negotiators are prepared to resume direct talks after June 22, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday during a meeting with the leaders of major global news agencies in St. Petersburg.
* Russia does not consider any rearmament efforts by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as a threat to its national security, President Vladimir Putin said Thursday during a meeting with the heads of major global news agencies.
* Russia is prepared to hand over the bodies of an additional 3,000 fallen Ukrainian soldiers, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.
* The Group of Seven (G7) summit wrapped up in Canada on Tuesday with no joint communique but some stark frictions.
* China has notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of its expanded zero-tariff policy for least developed countries (LDCs) that maintain diplomatic relations with Beijing, raising product coverage from 98 percent to 100 percent.
* The U.S. State Department on Wednesday directed its diplomatic missions to screen the social media and online presence of all foreigners applying for student visas.
* Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Wednesday she had spoken with U.S. President Donald Trump and proposed a broad agreement encompassing security, immigration and trade.
* Republic of Korean President Lee Jae-myung's administration on Thursday proposed 20.2 trillion won (14.7 billion USD) for its first supplementary budget to bolster the Asian economy, weighed down by the U.S. tariffs imposition and the sagging domestic demand.
* The Indonesian authorities have aborted a plan to illegally ship 1,950 eggs of protected turtles to Malaysia, an official from the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries said on Wednesday.
* Net migration to Australia fell by over 30 percent in 2024, driving the country's population growth to a three-year low. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Thursday released official figures showing that Australia's national population grew by 1.7 percent, or 445,900 people, in 2024 to 27.4 million.
* Four agreements were signed to enhance the cooperation between Croatia and India, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Wednesday.
* Pakistan's federal cabinet on Wednesday approved a 1.275 trillion Pakistani rupees (approximately 4.6 billion USD) plan to tackle circular debt in the power sector, aiming to restore financial stability and investor confidence, according to the Prime Minister's Office.
* Iran targeted Israel's military intelligence facilities in its strikes on the southern part of the country on Thursday morning, not a hospital as was reported by some media outlets, Iran's state news agency IRNA said.
* Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Effie Defrin said in a video statement that Israeli Air Force launched new attacks in western Iran on Wednesday evening.
* Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday that Israeli Air Force fighter jets had destroyed "the headquarters of Iran's internal security forces."
* Russia is prepared to support Iran's peaceful nuclear development while addressing Israel's security concerns, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday during a meeting with the heads of leading global news agencies in St. Petersburg.
* Up till now, with the active assistance and support of nearby countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Chinese embassy and consulate in Iran have organized and coordinated the evacuation of 791 Chinese citizens from Iran to safety, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Wednesday.
* Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein on Wednesday called for an emergency meeting of Arab foreign ministers on the sidelines of the upcoming Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) conference in Istanbul to address regional challenges.
* Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Wednesday called for the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), highlighting its essential role in supporting stability in Lebanon, particularly in the south.
* The African Union (AU) is concerned about the security situation in the Sahel and intends to assist in efforts to combat terrorism and promote development, said Angolan Foreign Minister Tete Antonio on Tuesday, following an audience with Malian President Assimi Goita.
* Ongoing military conflict and disease outbreaks are having a devastating impact on children in Sudan, UN humanitarians warned Wednesday.
* The U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday left the target range for the federal funds rates unchanged at 4.25 percent to 4.5 percent, as solid expansion of economic activity supports the wait-and-see mode. This widely-expected decision marked the fourth time that the Fed chose to keep the benchmark interest rates unchanged in a row.
* New Zealand's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.8 percent in the March 2025 quarter, up from a 0.5 percent increase in the previous quarter, according to the statistics department Stats NZ on Thursday.
* Thailand's exports grew for an eleventh straight month in May, driven by industrial shipments ahead of impending U.S. tariff measures, official data showed on Wednesday.
* Inflation in Britain remained unchanged in May, with the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rising 3.4 percent year-on-year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported Wednesday.
* Australia's unemployment rate remained steady at 4.1 percent in May, according to official data. Monthly labor force figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Thursday revealed that the unemployment rate in both seasonally adjusted and trend terms was unchanged at 4.1 percent in May.
* The tourism sector contributed 8.9 percent to the Philippines' gross domestic product in 2024, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Thursday.
* The prices in Austria were 3 percent higher on average in May than a year earlier, according to a press release on Wednesday. The main price driver in May 2025 was the group of housing, water and energy, which saw a rise in price of 5 percent compared to May 2024, Statistics Austria said.
* Airlines from Asia and the Middle East topped the 2025 Skytrax World Airline Awards announced Tuesday, with Qatar Airways named the world's best airline in this annual passenger-voted ranking.
* China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters on Wednesday launched a Level-IV emergency response to flooding in Anhui, Hubei, Hunan, Chongqing and Guizhou, as these regions brace for a new round of torrential rainfall.
