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This is the world in brief from The Economist.

Our top stories.

The White House said Steve Wickhuff and Jared Kushner, two of Donald Trump's top envoys,

would meet with Iranian officials in Islamabad on Saturday for talks.

Earlier, Iranian state media said Iran's foreign minister would travel to the Pakistani capital.

Mr. Trump has insisted on maintaining a naval blockade of Iranian ports and shipping until Iran makes

a deal.

America's Department of Justice dropped its criminal probe into Jerome Powell.

The decision removes a major obstacle for Kevin Walsh, Donald Trump's pick, to succeed him as

chair of the Federal Reserve. A Republican senator had promised to hold up his nomination

while the investigation was underway, arguing it interfered with the central bank's independence.

Fighting between Israel and Hizbola intensified a day after Mr. Trump announced that a ceasefire

between Israel and Lebanon would be extended

for three weeks. Israel launched air strikes in southern Lebanon after issuing evacuation warnings,

while Hezbollah said it fired rockets and drones at Israeli forces. The militant group said the

ceasefire was, quote, meaningless. Google agreed to invest

...