THE HAGUE, June 25 — Nato leaders gathered in The Hague on Wednesday for a summit tailor-made for United States (US) President Donald Trump, with European allies hoping a pledge to hike defence spending will prompt him to dispel doubts about his commitment to the alliance.

HANOI, June 25 — Vietnam's National Assembly has passed a revised Penal Code, abolishing the death penalty for eight crimes, including embezzlement, reported Xinhua, quoting a Vietnam News Agency report.

CAIRO, June 25 — Israeli forces killed at least 40 Palestinians in Gaza and ordered new evacuations yesterday, local medics and residents said, in further bloodshed shortly after Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire in their air war.

VIENNA, June 25 — The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has called for nuclear inspections in Iran to resume following the ceasefire between the Islamic Republic and Israel, reported German news agency dpa.

WASHINGTON/TEL AVIV/ISTANBUL, June 25 — US airstrikes did not destroy Iran's nuclear capability and only set it back by a few months, according to a preliminary US intelligence assessment, as a shaky ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump took hold between Iran and Israel.

TEL AVIV, June 35 — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that Israel in its 12 days of war with Iran had removed the threat of nuclear annihilation and was determined to thwart any attempt by Tehran to revive its programme.

WASHINGTON, June 24 — Explosions rang out here from Israeli airstrikes today despite United States President Donald Trump saying Israel had called off strikes at his command to preserve an hours-old ceasefire.

WASHINGTON, June 24 — United States President Donald Trump accused both Israel and Iran of violating a ceasefire today hours after he announced it, expressing particular frustration with Israel for announcing major new strikes on Tehran.

BANGKOK, June 24 — Thailand’s Bhumjaithai party, which left the ruling coalition last week, said today it will seek a parliamentary no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and her cabinet, in another blow to the embattled leader.

GENEVA, June 24 — The United Nations human rights office said today that the “weaponisation” of food for civilians in Gaza, Palestine, constitutes a war crime, in its strongest remarks yet on a new model of aid distribution run by an Israel-backed organisation.

WASHINGTON, June 24 — United States President Donald Trump said today a ceasefire between Israel and Iran is now in place and asked both sides not to break it, raising hopes of an end to the 12-day war even as deadly attacks were reported in both countries.

BANGKOK, June 24 — Thailand's military has closed border crossings into Cambodia to almost all travellers, including tourists and traders, citing security concerns as tensions between the two Southeast Asian neighbours remain escalated over a simmering border dispute.

BOSTON, June 24 — A federal judge yesterday blocked President Donald Trump's administration from implementing his plan to bar foreign nationals from entering the United States to study at Harvard University.

WASHINGTON, June 24 — Iran's foreign minister said today that, as of now, there is "no agreement" on any ceasefire between Iran and Israel, Anadolu Ajansi reported.

WASHINGTON, June 24 — President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Iran through talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday while his team, including Vice-President JD Vance, held talks with Tehran, a senior White House official said.

ISTANBUL, June 24 — Several Arab nations temporarily closed their airspace late yesterday as a precautionary measure amid heightened tensions in the region following an Iranian missile strike on a United States (US) military base in Qatar earlier, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.

SINGAPORE, June 24 — The dollar fell today while the Australian and New Zealand dollars rose after US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, in news that sent investors cheering and sparked a risk rally across markets.

WASHINGTON/DOHA/ISTANBUL, June 24 — US President Donald Trump said that a "complete and total"ceasefire between Israel and Iran will go into force with a view to ending the 12-day conflict between the two nations, moments after both sides threatened new attacks.

MOSCOW, June 23 — Russian President Vladimir Putin said today that “unjustified” attacks by the United States on Iran’s nuclear sites were pushing the world towards great danger and promised to try to help the people of the Islamic Republic, though he gave no specifics.

BEIJING, June 23 — China said the United States’ attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities has damaged Washington’s credibility and warned the situation “may go out of control”, its state broadcaster reported, following a United Nations Security Council meeting yesterday.