* Azerbaijan needs to hold early parliamentary elections, Sahiba Gafarova, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan, told lawmakers on Friday.
* Armenia has officially recognised a Palestinian state, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday, defying Israel which is opposed to such moves.
* Mexico's president-elect, Claudia Sheinbaum, on Thursday announced the first six members of her government cabinet for the 2024-2030 period, composed of three women and three men to ensure gender parity.
* China's commerce ministry said Friday that the European Union is to blame for escalating trade frictions, which could lead to a "trade war."
* The United States will redirect near-term arms sales planned for other countries to Ukraine to "reprioritize" Kiev's need for advanced missile systems, a senior U.S. national security official said Thursday.
* Cyprus said on Thursday that it is not involved in any way in the conflicts in the Middle East, dismissing claims made by the leader of Hezbollah in Lebanon Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
* The Russian nuclear-powered missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov will begin sea trials in August, local media reported Thursday.
* The European Union (EU) has agreed on a "powerful and substantial" 14th package of sanctions against Russia, the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU announced on Thursday.
* Over 30 United Nations (UN) experts on Thursday called on states and companies to put an end to the transfer of weapons and ammunition to Israel.
* Ukraine and the European Union (EU) have amended and extended their agreement on freight transport liberalization, which was due to expire on June 30, for another year, the Ukrainian government press service reported Thursday.
* Digital technology offers an incredible opportunity to create a more just, equal, sustainable and peaceful future for all, but malicious activity online erodes trust, fuels tensions, and even sows the seeds of violence and conflict, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Thursday.
* Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia have reached an agreement to enter into a memorandum of understanding to attract direct investment to Sri Lanka, a statement from the government's information department said on Thursday.
* The Lebanese-Cypriot ties are strong, said the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants on Thursday, a day after Hezbollah Leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah threatened to wage a war against Cyprus.
* At least 200 people were injured and more than 100 arrested across Kenya in Thursday's nationwide protests against government plans to raise $2.7 billion in additional taxes, an alliance of rights groups said.
* First-time applications for U.S. unemployment benefits fell moderately last week, while new housing construction dropped to the lowest level in nearly four years in May, suggesting that economic activity remained moderate in the second quarter.
* The central bank of Indonesia, Bank Indonesia (BI), has decided to maintain its benchmark interest rate at 6.25 percent, BI Governor Perry Warjiyo announced on Thursday.
* The Bank of England (BoE) has held its benchmark interest rate at 5.25 percent, the United Kingdom's (UK) central bank said in a statement on Thursday.
* Government data showed that the Philippines approved 640.22 billion pesos (roughly 10.8 billion USD) worth of investments from January to May this year, 14 percent higher than the approved investments in the same period last year.
* The IMF said on Thursday its executive board approved funding for Tanzania of $786.2 million to help tackle climate change while also completing a separate review allowing for the disbursement of $149.4 million for budget support.
* The death toll from the latest case of tainted liquor in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu has climbed to 47, with over 100 people still in hospital, a government official said on Friday.
* Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said Thursday that 28 deaths were confirmed among the 50,752 officially registered Egyptian pilgrims during Hajj in Saudi Arabia's Mecca.
* At least 35 Pakistani citizens died while performing Hajj rituals in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan's Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony said on Thursday.
* At least 21 people have been reportedly killed so far in an outbreak of cholera in Nigeria's southwestern state of Lagos, an official said Thursday.
* Rare summer snow is falling in parts of Mongolia, including the national capital Ulan Bator here on Friday. Heavy rains have been falling in the eastern, western and central parts of the country since Thursday morning, turning into snow on Friday morning.
