ISRAEL

Diplomatic row with Britain intensifies

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said on Thursday that the British consulate in Jerusalem is ending its operations, citing a series of British measures against Israel. "As I announced, the British Consulate in Jerusalem ended its role today. The Consul General and 19 diplomats are ending their assignments and will leave Israel," said Sa'ar in a statement published by the Israeli Foreign Ministry on social media platform X. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said on Thursday that the Consulate General in East Jerusalem will remain open. "We have been clear that we do not accept that the Government of Israel has the legal right to close the British Consulate General in Jerusalem," Miliband said in a statement on social media platform X. Relations between Britain and Israel have deteriorated as Israel has stepped up its military campaign against the Gaza Strip.

UNITED STATES

World Bank appoints new managing director

The World Bank said on Thursday it has appointed David Vaillant as managing director and chief financial officer. Vaillant has spent two decades at BNP Paribas leading finance and strategy functions and structuring landmark capital markets transactions for financial institutions, governments, and central banks across emerging and developed markets, according to the agency's website.

JAPAN

Scandal-hit minister to stay on amid criticism

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Thursday she has no intention of dismissing Kazuo Yana, the farm minister, despite mounting criticism over his past controversial remarks about road budget cuts. "I see his remarks as inappropriate and reprimanded him, but it is important that he explains the matter appropriately and I expect him to renew his commitment to fulfill his duties," Takaichi told a parliamentary session. Yana has been under fire since media reported last week that he told supporters in his constituency in May that fiscal 2026 road budgets had been sharply cut for Nasukarasuyama City and Nakagawa Town, two municipalities in his constituency whose mayors did not support him in the House of Representatives election in February. In the session, Yana said he had made remarks that were "not based on the facts".

MALAYSIA

PM says to work on Myanmar's ASEAN bid

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Thursday his government would do "whatever possible" to ensure Myanmar was reintegrated into the Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN. Anwar also pledged to continue working with Myanmar, including on the repatriation of thousands of Myanmar nationals from Malaysia. President of Myanmar Min Aung Hlaing is on a two-day visit to Malaysia.

SOUTH KOREA

Country recalls back ambassador to Ukraine

South Korea's foreign ministry said on Thursday that it is recalling its ambassador to Ukraine. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a brief statement that the government hoped for a smooth resolution to the various pending issues between the two countries, adding that Seoul will continue consultations with the Ukrainian side to address the issues.

BELGIUM

Students protest against education fees

Hundreds of students, inspired in part by student unrest in neighboring France, have taken to the streets of the eastern Belgian city of Liege, with local media reporting 107 arrests in recent days. Authorities have advised shopkeepers to close their businesses early, warning of riots. Students have protested over Belgium's French-language education system, citing rising education costs, overcrowded classrooms and difficulties accessing study materials.

AGENCIES-XINHUA