- Growing hunger fears -

The conflict in the Middle East could push millions more toward hunger as its economic fallout reverberates around the globe, the World Bank's chief economist told AFP.

"You have about 300 million people who suffer from acute food insecurity already," Indermit Gill said. "That'll go up by about 20 percent very, very quickly" as knock-on effects grow.

- Wall Street records -

Major Wall Street stock indices finished at records Wednesday, extending an upward climb on optimism about an accord in the US-Iran conflict.

- 'Identical' goals -

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel and the US are fully aligned in their objectives to contain Iran.

"We want to see enriched material removed from Iran; we want to see the elimination of enrichment capability within Iran; and, of course, we want to see the (Hormuz) strait reopened," he said in a televised speech.

- End of Hezbollah -

Netanyahu said the country's top priority was to secure the "dismantling" of Hezbollah in its first direct talks with Lebanon in decades.

"There are two central objectives: first, the dismantling of Hezbollah; second, a sustainable peace... achieved through strength," he said.

- Round two of talks -

The United States is discussing holding a second round of peace talks with Iran and is optimistic about reaching a deal, the White House said.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that further talks "would very likely" be in Islamabad.

- Israel army chief orders 'Hezbollah kill zone' -

Israel's military chief of staff said he had ordered areas south of Lebanon's Litani River to be turned into a Hezbollah "kill zone" as troops pressed a major offensive there.

- China supports 'momentum' of peace talks -

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Iranian counterpart that Beijing "supports maintaining the momentum of the ceasefire and peace talks."

- US says it blocks 10 vessels from Iran ports -

The US military's Middle East command CENTCOM said it had stopped 10 vessels from sailing out of Iranian ports during the first 48 hours of a naval blockade against the Islamic republic.

But ship tracking data indicated at least three ships sailing from Iranian ports crossed the Strait of Hormuz, though some vessels taking the route later turned back.

- Pakistan shuttle diplomacy -

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Saudi Arabia at the start of a four-day diplomatic blitz which will also take him to Qatar and Turkey.

Another Pakistani delegation led by powerful army chief Asim Munir was welcomed in Tehran by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

- 11 nations urge economic support -

The finance ministers of 11 countries including Britain and Japan called for "coordinated emergency support" from the IMF and World Bank to help countries hit by disruptions from the war in the Middle East.

- Israel hails Lebanon talks as chance to end Hezbollah -

Israel hailed the opening of direct talks with Beirut as a "historic opportunity" that could end Hezbollah's grip on Lebanon.

Israeli government spokesman David Mencer also said there was "no ceasefire discussion" with the Iran-backed militant group.

- Starmer 'won't yield' -

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would not "yield" to pressure from Donald Trump to join the Iran war after the US president threatened to renege on a UK trade deal.

"We're not going to get dragged into this war. It is not our war," Starmer told parliament.

- Iran firm on uranium, keeps talking -

Iran's foreign ministry said Tehran's right to enrich uranium was "indisputable" although the level of enrichment is "negotiable".

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