The Swiss government on Wednesday announced further easing of its Covid-19 restrictions, allowing restaurants to reopen outdoor terraces from next week and sports events to take place with audiences, Reuters reported.

US President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have agreed to call on Russia to reduce its troops on the border with Ukraine, Merkel’s office said Wednesday. During a phone conversation on Wednesday, the two leaders both agreed that scaling down Russian troops there would help bring “a de-escalation” of tension in the region, the statement, cited by AFP, said.

NATO foreign and defence ministers decided on Wednesday to start withdrawing forces from the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan by 1 May  and plan to complete the drawdown of all troops within a few months.

Russia said on Wednesday it was too early to talk tangibly about US President Joe Biden’s proposal to meet President Vladimir Putin, and the Kremlin told Washington not to impose any new sanctions on Moscow, according to the RIA news agency.

US President Joe Biden’s top national security aides were consulting with NATO on Wednesday to coordinate the alliance’s withdrawal from Afghanistan with the planned pullout of American troops by the 20th anniversary of the 11 September terrorist attacks, news wires reported.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday its decision to boost uranium enrichment to 60% was a response to arch-foe Israel's "nuclear terrorism" against its Natanz facility, AFP reports.

Brazil must demonstrate it can reduce the ongoing deforestation in the Amazon before Norway will resume payments in support of preserving the world’s largest rainforest, the Norwegian environment minister told Reuters.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in ordered officials on Wednesday to explore petitioning an international court over Japan’s decision to release water from its Fukushima nuclear plant, his spokesman said, amid protests by fisheries and environmental groups.

US President Joe Biden’s administration has told Congress it is proceeding with more than $23 billion in weapons sales to the United Arab Emirates, including advanced F-35 aircraft, armed drones and other equipment, congressional aides said on Tuesday.

President Joe Biden will withdraw all US troops from Afghanistan before this year's 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, finally ending America's longest war despite mounting fears of a Taliban victory, officials said on Tuesday, AFP reported.