Latest International agreements News

Israel releases more Palestinian prisoners on sixth day of Gaza truce after Hamas frees 16 hostages

Nov. 29, 2023 20:46 PM EST

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel released another group of Palestinian prisoners early Thursday in exchange for 16 hostages freed hours earlier by the Islamic militant group Hamas in Gaza. The releases came on the sixth day of a temporary truce in the Israel-Hamas war. The latest swap for...

Families of American hostages in Gaza describe their anguish and call on US government for help

Nov. 29, 2023 18:00 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The last Omer Neutra's parents heard from him, he told them reassuringly that he anticipated a quiet weekend. But they checked the news anyway before getting ready for bed in New York, their nightly routine as parents of a soldier in the Israeli military tasked...

Sweden halts adoptions from South Korea after claims of falsified papers on origins of children

Nov. 29, 2023 17:47 PM EST

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Sweden’s main adoption agency said Wednesday it was halting adoptions from South Korea, following claims of falsified papers on the origins of children adopted from the Asian country. Swedes have been adopting children from South Korea since the 1950s....

South Africa march demands a permanent Gaza cease-fire on day of solidarity with Palestinians

Nov. 29, 2023 09:54 AM EST

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Members of South African political parties, civil society organisations and other supporters marched through the streets of Johannesburg on Wednesday demanding a permanent cease-fire in Gaza as they marked the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. ...

Mali's government will probe Tuareg rebel leaders as crucial 2015 peace deal appears to crumble

Nov. 29, 2023 09:27 AM EST

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Mali's military government has announced an investigation into the Tuareg rebel leaders who signed a peace agreement in 2015 and now accuse the government of failing to comply with it, as experts worry that the deal crucial to establishing a measure of stability in the...

Blinken seeks a new extension of the Gaza cease-fire as he heads again to the Middle East

Nov. 29, 2023 07:20 AM EST

BRUSSELS (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the Biden administration would like to see a new extension of the cease-fire agreement in Israel’s war with Hamas after the current one expires to secure the release of additional hostages held by the militant group and to ramp up...

Myanmar and China conduct naval drills together as fighting surges in border area

Nov. 29, 2023 02:41 AM EST

BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar and China are conducting naval drills together as the military government in the Southeast Asian nation loses ground in its northeast border region to a coalition of militias that also has strong ties to Beijing. State-run Myanma Alinn newspaper said...

Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh chosen to host the 2030 World Expo

Nov. 29, 2023 01:19 AM EST

ISSY-LES-MOULINEAUX, France (AP) — Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh was chosen Tuesday to host the 2030 World Expo following its bid that focused on shaping a prosperous and sustainable future, beating out Rome and the South Korean port city of Busan for an event expected to draw millions of...

With deadline looming, diplomats seek to extend Gaza truce; more hostages, prisoners are freed

Nov. 28, 2023 20:23 PM EST

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas and Israel released more hostages and prisoners under terms of a fragile cease-fire that held for a fifth day Tuesday as international mediators in Qatar worked to extend the truce. The United States urged Israel to better protect Palestinian civilians in...

The US tells Israel any ground campaign in southern Gaza must limit further civilian displacement

Nov. 28, 2023 18:57 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has told Israel that it must work to avoid “significant further displacement” of Palestinian civilians in southern Gaza if it renews its ground campaign aimed at eradicating the Hamas militant group, senior U.S. officials said Tuesday. ...