Latest Diplomacy News
With Palestinian deal and Ukrainian foreign minister's visit, China shows its rising influence
In consecutive days this week, China brokered a deal between rival Palestinian factions and hosted Ukraine's foreign minister at a moment when pressure is mounting on the country to negotiate an end to the grinding war there. While it's unclear if the agreement between Hamas and...
Martin Indyk, former US diplomat and author who devoted career to Middle East peace, dies at 73
NORWICH, Conn. (AP) — Veteran diplomat Martin S. Indyk, an author and leader at prominent U.S. think tanks who devoted years to finding a path toward peace in the Middle East, died Thursday. He was 73. His wife, Gahl Hodges Burt, confirmed in a phone call that he died from...
A prominent Myanmar Christian leader is released from prison for a second time in 4 months
BANGKOK (AP) — A prominent Christian church leader and human rights advocate from Myanmar’s Kachin ethnic minority was released from prison earlier this week, a member of a Kachin peace organization said Wednesday. The Rev. Hkalam Samson was first arrested in December 2022. In...
Colombia ends cease-fire with largest faction of FARC rebel holdout group
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombia’s government on Tuesday said it will end a cease-fire with the largest faction of the FARC-EMC, a holdout rebel group that refused to sign a 2016 peace deal but which had been involved in peace talks with President Gustavo Petro's administration until March. ...
Western envoys criticize South Sudan security bill that could allow warrantless detentions
JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — The U.S. and other western governments criticized a controversial security bill in South Sudan that would allow the government to detain people without warrants, saying it would undermine open political and civil space ahead of the country’s elections. ...
South Sudan peace talks face collapse over a new security law as country gears up for first election
JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — South Sudan peace talks that almost reached completion faced a stumbling block with opposition groups demanding a newly passed bill allowing the detention of people without an arrest warrant scratched out in order to sign a proposed agreement. Kenya has...
Deforestation in Colombia fell to historic lows in 2023, environment minister says
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Deforestation in Colombia fell 36% in 2023 versus the previous year, the government said Monday, marking the lowest level since records began. The decline was driven by a drop in environmental destruction in the Amazon, the world's largest rainforest,...
Japanese emperor reconnects with the River Thames in state visit meant to bolster ties with UK
LONDON (AP) — Before Emperor Naruhito of Japan hopped into a horse-drawn carriage with King Charles III, laid a wreath at Westminster Abbey or toured one of Britain’s premier biomedical research institutes, he kicked off his trip to the U.K. by visiting a site that has special meaning for him:...
Colombia launches talks with rebel group led by fighters who returned to arms after 2016 peace deal
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombia launched peace talks with the Second Marquetalia rebel group on Monday as the administration of leftist President Gustavo Petro tries to pacify rural areas of the country that have seen rising violence despite efforts to broker ceasefires with various armed...
Emperor and Empress of Japan arrive in the UK ahead of a long-awaited state visit
LONDON (AP) — Emperor Naruhito of Japan and his wife Empress Masako arrived in the U.K. on Saturday ahead of a long-awaited official state visit originally scheduled for 2020 before the coronavirus pandemic delayed those plans. The smiling couple, who landed late afternoon at...
