On Wednesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the United States and Iran -- and their allies had -- agreed to a ceasefire "everywhere" following mediation by his government.

The Philippine Coast Guard unveiled on Thursday its first dedicated command center in the Spratly island chain, a flashpoint in the disputed South China Sea that has been the site of repeated confrontations with Chinese vessels.

The strikes raised questions about regional truce efforts, with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian saying a ceasefire inLebanon was an essential condition of his country's agreement with the US.

"Let me be clear: We still have objectives to complete, and we will achieve them -- either through agreement or through renewed fighting," Netanyahu said in a televised statement.

A wolf that escaped from a zoo in South Korea remained at large Thursday, authorities said, prompting a local school to close over safety concerns as the search continued.

Iran announced alternative routes on Thursday for ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, citing the risk of sea mines in the main zone of the vital waterway.

Rohingya activists and legal advocacy groups are pinning their hopes on Indonesia’s new penal code to push forward a genocide case against Myanmar's newly-elected President Min Aung Hlaing, in what they say could be a long-awaited breakthrough for accountability.

United States-Iran ceasefire fractures emerged quickly as Israel carried out its heaviest strikes on its neighbor -- including in densely packed central Beirut -- since the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah joined the war in early March.

The government has called for a thorough investigation into two incidents in Lebanon that left three Indonesian peacekeepers dead, following the release of preliminary findings from a United Nations probe that highlighted the probable roles of Israel and Hezbollah in the deadly events.

Indonesian respondents overwhelmingly indicated a preference for China over the US at 80 percent amid a corresponding regional shift, with the majority of all respondents citing Trump's leadership and Washington's use of sanctions as top concerns.

Tehran has agreed to temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which much of the world's oil, gas and fertilizer passes, easing concerns for the battered global economy.

The United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire, reaching a deal less than two hours before President Donald Trump's deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face the wiping out of "a whole civilization". 

"I... extend deepest gratitude to the leadership of both the countries and invite their delegations to Islamabad on Friday, 10th April 2026, to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes," he said in a post on X.

"For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X.

"I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY," Sharif posted on X.

"These are preliminary findings, based on initial physical evidence," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told a news briefing, adding that a full investigation process was continuing that included engagement with the parties concerned.

Secretary General's spokesman called the incidents "unacceptable" and said they could amount to war crimes under international law.

After more than a month of blistering attacks by the United States and Israel, Iran said it had agreed to talks with Washington to begin Friday in Pakistan on a path to end the conflict.

The widely anticipated move marks a break from Vietnam's traditional collective leadership system, consolidating authority in one figure in ways analysts say could tilt the one‑party state toward greater authoritarianism, while also enabling faster decision making, similar to its neighbor China.

"An attack caused a fire at the SABIC plants in Jubail. The sounds of explosions were very loud," the source told AFP, referring to the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation.  

Iran effectively closed the vital sea route, a corridor that carries a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows, in response to US and Israeli airstrikes that began in late February.

Calls are mounting for a thorough review of Indonesia’s peacekeeping deployment to Lebanon following last week’s fatal incidents, with some urging a full suspension of the mission as ongoing Israeli attacks continue to claim lives and heighten risks for troops on the ground. 

The complaint, which also includes "genocide" allegations, will be forwarded to a division of the Attorney-General's Office that specializes in serious crimes, spokesman Anang Supriatna told AFP.

In a statement, UNIFIL said it was "extremely concerned" about attacks from both sides "carried out from near our positions, which could potentially draw return fire".

Reuters could not immediately verify the report. The White House and the US State Department did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. 

The Indonesian Military (TNI) is open to the possibility of reducing the number of peacekeepers deployed to Lebanon next month, as more Indonesian blue helmets were injured in the southern part of the country amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

The statement came after US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the officer had been rescued in a search and rescue operation and was "SAFE and SOUND".