- Vessel taken near Hormuz -

A ship off the UAE coast near the Strait of Hormuz has been taken by unknown people and is now headed towards Iran, a UK maritime agency said.

The vessel was "taken by unauthorised personnel whilst at anchor" 38 nautical miles northeast of Fujairah, and "is now bound for Iranian territorial waters", according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre.

- Trump, Xi discuss Mideast -

US President Donald Trump and China's leader Xi Jinping discussed the war in the Middle East, along with the conflict in Ukraine and issues on the Korean Peninsula when they met in Beijing, the Chinese government said.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier that the United States was looking for China to "play a more active role in getting Iran to walk away from what they are doing now, and trying to do now in the Persian Gulf".

- UAE 'denies reports' of Netanyahu visit -

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he held a "secret" meeting with the president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, during the war with Iran.

"The visit marked a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates," it said.

The UAE foreign ministry said it "denies reports circulating regarding an alleged visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the UAE, or receiving any Israeli military delegation in the country".

- Strikes in Lebanon -

Lebanon's health ministry said 22 people including eight children were killed on Wednesday as Israel intensified strikes on the country, with several deadly raids hitting south of Beirut.

The state-run National News Agency said Israeli airstrikes had pounded around 40 locations in Lebanon's south and east.

- Iran threatens Kuwait -

Iran's foreign minister said Wednesday Tehran had the right to respond after he accused Kuwait of attacking an Iranian boat and arresting four of its citizens in the Gulf, and called for their release.

"This illegal act took place near island used by the U.S. to attack Iran. We demand immediate release of our nationals and reserve right to respond," Abbas Araghchi wrote on X.

- Senate backs Trump on war -

US senators on Wednesday narrowly rejected a resolution curbing President Donald Trump's power to wage war on Iran -- their first vote on the conflict since a 60-day deadline expired for the White House to seek formal authorisation.

The vote tally was 50-49.

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