Latest International agreements News

Lebanon is rocked again by exploding devices as Israel declares a 'new phase' of war

Sep. 18, 2024 17:33 PM EDT

BEIRUT (AP) — Walkie-talkies and solar equipment exploded in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon on Wednesday in an apparent second wave of attacks targeting devices a day after pagers used by Hezbollah blew up, state media and officials for the militant group said. At least 20 people were killed...

Haiti creates a provisional electoral council to prepare for the first elections since 2016

Sep. 18, 2024 17:04 PM EDT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Haiti’s government on Wednesday created a provisional electoral council long sought by the international community to prepare the troubled Caribbean country for its first general elections since 2016. Smith Augustin, a member of the country's...

Blinken says surprise escalations threaten to derail talks for a cease-fire in Gaza

Sep. 18, 2024 12:17 PM EDT

CAIRO (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed frustration Wednesday at surprise escalations that threaten to derail efforts to broker a cease-fire deal in Gaza, noting that the United States is assessing a deadly attack that caused pagers used by Hezbollah to explode in Lebanon. ...

Seen abroad as a leader on Indigenous rights, New Zealand enters a divisive new era

Sep. 17, 2024 23:22 PM EDT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — On the eve of New Zealand’s Māori language celebration week, the country’s right-wing political leaders ordered public agencies to stop affirmative action policies for Māori people, who are disadvantaged on almost every metric. The lawmakers...

UN considers resolution demanding Israel end its occupation of Palestinian territories

Sep. 17, 2024 14:50 PM EDT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. General Assembly is considering a Palestinian resolution Tuesday demanding that Israel end its “unlawful presence” in Gaza and the occupied West Bank within a year and calling for sanctions and an arms embargo against the country. It will be put...

EU's top diplomat warns 'tomorrow is already too late' for Israel-Hamas cease-fire

Sep. 17, 2024 11:59 AM EDT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The European Union's top diplomat warned Tuesday that every day that passes without a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war risks the lives of the hostages held by the militants and of those in the Gaza Strip as well as a regional war breaking out. ...

Blinken is heading back to the Middle East, this time without fanfare or a visit to Israel

Sep. 16, 2024 19:32 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken heads to Egypt on Tuesday for his 10th trip to the Middle East since the war in Gaza began nearly a year ago, this one aimed partly at refining a proposal to present to Israel and Hamas for a cease-fire deal and release of hostages. ...

US historian leads charity run in Kyiv to highlight the plight of Ukrainian POWs

Sep. 14, 2024 07:57 AM EDT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — U.S. historian and author Timothy Snyder on Saturday led a charity run in Kyiv to raise awareness of the conditions under which Ukrainian prisoners of war are held in Russia as the conflict approaches a third winter. The race came following a recent escalation...

Today in History: September 13, Rabin and Arafat sign Oslo Accord

Sep. 13, 2024 00:01 AM EDT

Today in History Today is Friday, Sept. 13, the 257th day of 2024. There are 109 days left in the year. Today in history: On Sept. 13, 1993, at the White House, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO chairman Yasser Arafat shook hands after...

Conflict in South Africa's coalition government is 'not catastrophic,' says major party leader

Sep. 12, 2024 13:14 PM EDT

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Conflict is likely among partners in South Africa's new coalition government but that won't be “catastrophic” for its hopes of turning around the country, the leader of the second biggest political party said Thursday. John Steenhuisen's...