The United ​States and Iran exchanged fire on Thursday in the most serious test yet of their month-long ceasefire, but Iran said the situation returned to normal ‌while the U.S. said it did not want to escalate.

An Israeli air strike has killed the son of Hamas’ chief ‌negotiator in US-mediated talks over the Gaza Strip’s future, as leaders of the militant group held talks in Cairo aimed at safeguarding their truce with Israel.

Countries worldwide are seeking to prevent further spread of the hantavirus, after an outbreak on ‌a cruise ship, by tracking those who had disembarked before the virus was detected and anyone in close contact with them since.

President Donald Trump has predicted a swift end ‌to the war with Iran as Tehran considers a US peace proposal that sources say will formally end the conflict.

Vigils are to be held across Australia on Thursday to remember a 5-year-old girl who was allegedly murdered two weeks ago.

Singapore’s education minister has confirmed that teachers are allowed to use caning to discipline unruly students in certain cases.

Iran said on Wednesday it was reviewing a U.S. peace proposal that sources said would formally end ​the war while leaving unresolved the key U.S. demands that Iran suspend its nuclear program and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

New Zealand has begun discussions with Australia and Britain over replacing its ageing Anzac-class ​frigates, with advice on a preferred path ‌expected to go to government by the end of 2027, Defence Minister Chris Penk said on Thursday.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has told members of a congressional committee in private testimony that he couldn’t recall ‌why he and his family had lunch on Jeffrey Epstein’s private island, members said.

Ukraine has accused Russia of flouting a Kyiv-proposed ceasefire by carrying out dozens of battlefield assaults, air strikes and drone attacks in what President Volodymyr Zelenskiy describes as Moscow’s “obvious ‌spurning” of peace.

The United Arab Emirates said it faced missile and drone attacks from Iran, raising tensions in the region.

The U.S. and Iran launched new attacks in the Gulf on ​Monday as they wrestled for control over the Strait of Hormuz with duelling maritime blockades, shaking a fragile truce.