White House says U.S. working on modified plan ahead of talks with Iran

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that Washington is working on a modified peace plan ahead of closed-door talks beginning soon in Islamabad.

Leavitt said at a White House press briefing that "the president's red lines, namely, the end of uranium enrichment in Iran, have not changed."

Leavitt claimed that U.S. willingness to hold talks is contingent on the reopening of the crucial global energy waterway "with no limitations or delays."

Trump says in-person talks with Iran to be held in Pakistan "very soon"

U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he expects in-person peace talks with Iran to happen in Pakistan "very soon" but Vice President JD Vance may not attend due to security concerns.

"Very soon, actually -- it's going to take place very soon," Trump told New York Post in a phone interview, one day after Washington and Tehran agreed to a two-week ceasefire deal.

The president said his envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner will attend the negotiations.

China sets up bureau for overseas state-owned assets

China's state-owned assets watchdog has set up a bureau for overseas state-owned assets to better guide state firms' international operations and strengthen risk prevention.

The new bureau, established by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) of the State Council, will guide enterprises under its supervision in their international operations and help them optimize the layout and adjust the structure of their overseas assets, the SASAC said on Wednesday.

The bureau's responsibilities also include overseeing overseas assets of these enterprises, strengthening risk prevention and mitigation related to overseas investment and operations, and handling overseas emergencies and crisis situations, the SASAC said.

First vessels transit Strait of Hormuz after U.S.-Iran ceasefire

Vessel movements resumed on Wednesday in the Strait of Hormuz following a ceasefire announced by the United States and Iran, ship-tracking service MarineTraffic said on X.

The ceasefire included a temporary reopening of the strategic waterway to allow for negotiations.

The Greek-owned bulk carrier NJ Earth and the Liberia-flagged Daytona Beach transited the strait after departing Bandar Abbas, MarineTraffic said, adding that "initial movements are now being recorded."

According to the service's data, hundreds of vessels remain in the area, including 426 tankers, 34 LPG carriers, and 19 LNG vessels, many of which had been effectively stranded during the disruption.

Trump says Lebanon not included in two-week ceasefire deal

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Lebanon is not included in the U.S.-Iran two-week ceasefire.

"That's a separate skirmish," Trump told PBS in a phone interview when asked about Israel's continued strikes on Lebanon.

He added that Hezbollah is not included in the deal and will "get taken care of too."

Russia says ties with Japan at unprecedented low

Relations between Russia and Japan have deteriorated to an unprecedented low level, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, the ministry summoned the Japanese Ambassador to Moscow Akira Muto to protest over reported drone-related cooperation between a Japanese company and a Ukrainian combat drone developer.

The Russian side said Ukraine's continued use of drones in attacks on civilian infrastructure and residents in Russia gave grounds to view such cooperation as openly hostile and damaging to Russia's security interests, including the protection of civilians.■