The Taliban confirm they will attend a UN-led meeting in Qatar on Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The Taliban on Tuesday confirmed their delegation will attend an upcoming U.N.-led meeting in Qatar on Afghanistan after the organizers said last week that women would be excluded from the gathering. The meeting on June 30 and July 1 is the third U.N.-sponsored...

UN envoy defends failure to include Afghan women in upcoming meeting with the Taliban in Qatar

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations' top official in Afghanistan defended the failure to include Afghan women in the upcoming first meeting between the Taliban and envoys from 22 countries, insisting that demands for women’s rights are certain to be raised. U.N. special...

Gold bars and Sen. Bob Menendez's curiosity about their price takes central role at bribery trial

NEW YORK (AP) — Prosecutors showed jurors at Sen. Bob Menendez ’s trial on Thursday multiple instances when he researched the value of gold as he tried to help a New Jersey businessman who authorities say bribed him with gold and cash. The evidence about the Democrat’s online...

Hamas says it has given Qatar and Egypt its reply to the cease-fire proposal for Gaza, with some “remarks” on the deal.

What does Israel's rescue of 4 captives, and the killing of 274 Palestinians, mean for truce talks?

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel's dramatic weekend rescue of four hostages from the Gaza Strip, in an operation that local health officials say killed 274 Palestinians, came at a sensitive time in the 8-month-old war, as Israel and Hamas weigh a U.S. proposal for a cease-fire and the release of...

Euro 2024 in Germany is UEFA's 1st step to raise pandemic-hit cash reserves above $550 million

GENEVA (AP) — UEFA’s two-step financial plan to refill its pandemic-hit cash reserves starts with a men’s 2024 European Championship held in the home of the continent’s largest economy. Revenue of about 2.5 billion euros ($2.7 billion) is expected from broadcast and sponsor...

US launches lobbying blitz to sell Gaza cease-fire plan to Hamas through Arab and Muslim nations

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has launched an intense drive to persuade Hamas and Israel to accept a new cease-fire proposal in the nearly eight-month-old war in Gaza while it also presses Arab nations to get the militant group to go along with the terms. It comes as...

Qatar's ruler looking to invest in energy, ports and high-tech in Cyprus, official says

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — The emir of Qatar is looking to invest in energy and high-tech in Cyprus — projects seen as having a strong economic potential, a Cypriot official said Tuesday. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who visited the east Mediterranean island nation on Tuesday for...

Lawyer opens defense of US Sen. Bob Menendez in his corruption trial by blaming his wife

NEW YORK (AP) — A lawyer for U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez blamed the politician’s wife Wednesday for his legal problems, telling a jury at the start of a corruption trial that the Democrat wasn’t aware his spouse had taken gifts from a trio of businessmen and didn't know about cash and gold bars...

Openings expected Wednesday in Menendez corruption trial

NEW YORK (AP) — Opening statements were expected to occur Wednesday in the New York corruption trial of Sen. Bob Menendez after the jury selection process is completed in the morning, a federal judge said Tuesday. Judge Sidney H. Stein also made rulings that will define what...