Israeli PM says Hamas leader in Gaza killed in Israeli airstrike

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday confirmed that Mohammed Sinwar, Hamas leader in Gaza and brother of late Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, was killed in an Israeli airstrike earlier this month.

Speaking in parliament, Netanyahu said Israel was at a "dramatic turning point" in its war against Hamas and that the military had "eliminated Mohammad Sinwar."

He added that recent Israeli operations were focused on dismantling Hamas' governing capabilities in Gaza.

There was no immediate confirmation from Hamas or independent sources regarding Sinwar's death.

Hamas says reached agreement with U.S. envoy over Gaza ceasefire framework

Hamas said in an official statement on Wednesday that it has reached an agreement with U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff on a general framework for Gaza ceasefire.

According to Hamas, the framework includes the release of 10 Israeli hostages and several bodies, in exchange for the release of an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners, guaranteed by mediators.

Hamas said it is awaiting a final response to this framework, adding that "it is making significant efforts to halt the brutal war on the Gaza Strip."

U.S. trade court blocks Trump from imposing sweeping tariffs

A U.S. federal court blocked on Wednesday President Donald Trump from imposing sweeping tariffs on imports under an emergency-powers law, according to U.S. media.

The ruling from a New York-based Court of International Trade came after a number of lawsuits arguing Trump has overstepped his authority on imposing across-the-board duties on imports.

Trump says Harvard should have 15 pct cap on foreign students

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that there should be a cap of around 15 percent on foreign students at Harvard University, while continuing to pressure it to submit its list of foreign students.

"Harvard has to show us their lists," Trump told reporters at the White House. "They have foreign students. About 31 percent of their students are foreign based. Almost 31 percent. We want to know where those students come. Are they troublemakers?"

Trump claimed that many of those students were troublemakers "caused by the radical left lunatics in this country."

Next round of Russia-Ukraine talks to be held on June 2

The second round of talks between Russia and Ukraine will be held in Istanbul, Trkiye on June 2, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.

The Russian delegation, to be led by Russian Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky, will hand over a draft peace memorandum to Ukraine during the meeting, Lavrov said.

The delegation is ready to provide necessary clarifications on the memorandum at the second round of talks, Lavrov said, adding that Russia has set out its position on all aspects of "overcoming the root causes" of the Ukrainian crisis in the document.

EU, UAE launch free trade talks amid U.S. tariff pressure

The European Union (EU) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have formally launched negotiations for a bilateral Free Trade Agreement, marking a potential breakthrough towards the EU's first comprehensive trade deal in the Gulf region, said the European Commission on Wednesday.

This initiative also aims to expand further the EU's global trade network, which currently comprises 44 agreements with 76 countries, said the Commission.

EU adopts legal acts to lift economic sanctions on Syria

The European Union (EU) adopted legal acts on Wednesday to lift nearly all of its economic sanctions on Syria, enacting a political agreement announced on May 20 aimed at supporting the country's recovery and transition, according to a press release by the Council of the EU.

The EU would lift all restrictive measures related to trade, investment and financing, except those based on security grounds, said the press release.

Third China-Pacific Island countries FMs' meeting reach five-point consensus

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi co-chaired the Third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting with Kiribati's President and Foreign Minister Taneti Maamau on Wednesday in Xiamen, east China's Fujian Province.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the beginning of diplomatic relations between China and the Pacific Island countries, and noted that China has always regarded the Pacific Island countries as its good friends, partners and brothers.

Wang said following the in-depth exchanges on strengthening cooperation and international and regional issues of common concern, China and Pacific Island countries reached five points of consensus.

EU set to undershoot 2030 climate target by 1 percentage

The European Union is on track to miss its legally binding 55 percent greenhouse-gas reduction target for 2030 by roughly one percentage point, the European Commission said on Wednesday.

In an assessment of the final National Energy and Climate Plans submitted by member states, the Commission found that existing and planned measures would cut net EU emissions by approximately 54 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, compared with the 55 percent reduction enshrined in the European Climate Law.