U.S., Ukraine agree to establish Reconstruction Investment Fund

The United States and Ukraine have signed an agreement to establish the U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, the U.S. Treasury Department announced on Wednesday.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hailed the agreement as a "historic economic partnership," saying it is a signal to Russia that the U.S. government is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign and prosperous Ukraine over the long term.

Pakistani, Indian fighter jets in brief standoff

Pakistani and Indian fighter jets were involved in a brief standoff around the airspace over the Line of Control late Tuesday night, Pakistani security sources said on Wednesday.

Four Rafale fighter jets of the Indian Air Force conducted a high-altitude patrol in the airspace over the Indian-controlled Kashmir along the Line of Control, prompting an immediate and vigilant response from Pakistan's Air Force, the sources told Xinhua.

Israel strikes town near Damascus amid sectarian unrest

Israel strikes the town of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya southwest of Damascus on Wednesday, as Syrian forces regained control of the area following days of intense sectarian clashes, according to state media and a monitoring group.

Loud explosions echoed through the town amid Israeli aerial bombardment, coinciding with the presence of Israeli warplanes and drones, local sources reported. The strikes came after Israel had warned it would act to protect the Druze community in Syria, following widespread violence that has left dozens dead.

Power outage in Dutch city leaves over 20,000 households in dark

A major power outage struck the eastern Dutch city of Enschede on Wednesday, leaving more than 20,000 households without electricity for about two hours, local authorities said.

According to Dutch grid operator Enexis, the blackout was caused by a short circuit during maintenance work at a distribution station. The outage began around 11 a.m. local time and affected homes and businesses across the city of approximately 160,000 residents. Many shops were forced to close as cash registers and ATMs became inoperable.

Cambodia inaugurates 3 China-funded national roads

Cambodia on Tuesday inaugurated three China-funded national roads with a total length of around 201 km stretching across five provinces in the kingdom's southwestern region.

National Road 31 (53.5 km) connects Takeo with Kampot, National Road 33 (52.5 km) links Kampot with Kep, and National Road 41 (95 km) stretches across Kandal, Kampong Speu, Takeo and Kampot.

U.S. economy in Q1 shrinks amid new tariff policies

U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) shrank at an annual rate of 0.3 percent in the first quarter of this year, amid new tariff policies that have increased uncertainty and dampened confidence.

The latest figure follows a 2.4 percent GDP growth in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Vietnam marks 50th anniversary of south liberation

Vietnam on Wednesday held a grand ceremony, military parade and mass march in Ho Chi Minh City to mark the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification.

Vietnamese leaders, including General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam, President Luong Cuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man, attended the event along with representatives from various sectors.

Houthi group says its attacks led to downing of U.S. fighter jet

Yemen's Houthi group said on Wednesday it had downed a U.S. F-18 fighter jet during an earlier assault on the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, and launched fresh drone attacks over the past 24 hours targeting another U.S. carrier and Israeli cities.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in a televised statement on the group's al-Masirah TV channel that the attack in the Red Sea resulted in the "downing of an F-18 fighter jet into the sea" and forced the Truman to "retreat toward the Suez Canal."