New Zealand has defended a recent military patrol flight after China accused it of undermining national security and disrupting regional stability.

Thursday’s news across Russia focuses on intensifying diplomatic efforts to prevent a full-scale regional war in the Middle East, while economic markets react to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Wednesday, according to South Korea’s military, marking a consecutive day of weapons activity following President Lee Jae Myung’s expression of regret over unauthorized drone flights into the North.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja ⁠Kallas says she has discussed with UN Secretary General ⁠Antonio Guterres the idea of freeing up transport of oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz by replicating ⁠a deal that gets grain out of Ukraine during wartime.

North Korea launched two projectiles believed to be ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Tuesday, marking Pyongyang’s second missile firing of the year, according to Japanese and South Korean officials.

China is deploying more than 100 naval and coast guard vessels across East Asian waters, marking its largest maritime show of force to date, sources told Reuters. The fleet spans the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, South China Sea, and parts of the Pacific.

North Korea fired at least one unidentified ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Friday, South Korea’s military informed.