Latest International agreements News
Significant progress made in talks over Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage release, officials say
CAIRO (AP) — U.S. and Arab mediators made significant progress overnight toward brokering a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war and the release of scores of hostages held in the Gaza Strip, but a deal hasn't been reached yet, officials said Monday. Four officials acknowledged that...
Middle East latest: Gaza ceasefire talks press on in Qatar
Israel and Hamas appear to be inching closer to a phased ceasefire agreement, officials said Monday. However, a deal hasn't been reached yet and there are a number of obstacles that could still scupper the talks in Qatar. Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza has ground on for more than...
Prominent diplomat and jurist who heads top UN court named Lebanon's new prime minister
BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s new president has asked prominent diplomat and jurist Nawaf Salam to form the country’s new government after Salam was named prime minister by a large number of legislators Monday. The move apparently angered the Hezbollah group and its allies. Salam is...
Russia says Iran's president will visit this week and sign a partnership pact with Putin
MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin will host his Iranian counterpart this week for the signing of a broad partnership pact between Moscow and Tehran, the Kremlin said Monday. The agreement on “comprehensive strategic partnership” between the countries will be signed...
What are the main obstacles to a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages?
Israel and Hamas have been holding indirect talks for more than a year aimed at ending the war in Gaza and returning scores of militant-held hostages in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. But despite intensive mediation by the United States, Qatar and Egypt, the talks...
Austrian far right and conservatives reach budget accord in a step toward new government
VIENNA (AP) — Austrian far-right leader Herbert Kickl and his prospective coalition partners said Monday that they have reached an agreement to bring down the budget deficit, an important first step toward what would be the country's first post-World War II government led by the far right. ...
Biden and Netanyahu discuss the latest in the effort to reach an Israel-Hamas war ceasefire
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Joe Biden spoke Sunday about efforts to reach a ceasefire and hostage release deal in the Israel-Hamas war, a sign of the intensifying push to reach a deal before Donald Trump’s inauguration next week....
EU ministers will consider easing sanctions on Syria at a meeting later in January
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — European Union foreign ministers will meet in late January to discuss easing sanctions imposed on Syria, the bloc's foreign policy chief said Sunday. However, she said the move would depend on Syria's new rulers carrying out an inclusive political transition after last...
Lebanese whose homes were destroyed in the war want to rebuild. Many face a long wait
BEIRUT (AP) — Six weeks into a ceasefire that halted the war between Israel and Hezbollah, many displaced Lebanese whose homes were destroyed in the fighting want to rebuild — but reconstruction and compensation are slow in coming. Large swaths of southern and eastern Lebanon, as...
Israel's Netanyahu sends Mossad director to Gaza ceasefire talks in Qatar in sign of progress
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is sending the director of the Mossad foreign intelligence agency to ceasefire negotiations in Qatar, his office said Saturday, in a sign of progress in talks on the war in Gaza. It was not immediately clear...
