Middle East

Gaza Deal: Ceasefire and Hostage Release
VideosGaza Deal: Ceasefire and Hostage Release

A historic deal has been reached in Gaza: Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire following negotiations in Egypt. Hostages taken during the October 7 attack will be exchanged for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Over 400 humanitarian aid trucks will enter Gaza daily, while a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops is planned.  

Pope Leo Puts Poor, Marginalized Center Stage in First Major Text
Pope Leo Puts Poor, Marginalized Center Stage in First Major Text

Pope Leo XIV called Thursday for the poor and marginalized, including migrants, to be at the center of the Catholic Church's mission, in the first major publication of his papacy. In the Apostolic Exhortation "Dilexi te" ("I have loved you", in Latin), the US pope warned against the "growth of a wealthy elite, living ...

Israeli Cabinet to Vote Thursday on Gaza Ceasefire and Hostage Deal
Israeli Cabinet to Vote Thursday on Gaza Ceasefire and Hostage Deal

After nearly two years of war in Gaza, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire and the release of hostages in what is being hailed as a historic step toward ending the conflict. The agreement, brokered through intense negotiations in Egypt with the support of the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, represents the first phase of US ...

Israel says Gaza Deal to Take Effect only After Receiving Cabinet Approval
Israel says Gaza Deal to Take Effect only After Receiving Cabinet Approval

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that an agreement to secure the release of hostages in Gaza will take effect only after receiving cabinet approval. "Contrary to Arab media reports, the 72-hour countdown will begin only after the agreement is approved in the cabinet meeting, which is expected in the ...

How Trump’s Plan Tries to Rewire the Middle East’s Deterrence Map
Op-edHow Trump’s Plan Tries to Rewire the Middle East’s Deterrence Map

In a region addicted to repetition, President Donald Trump is once again attempting to rewrite the script. His new “Gaza Peace Plan,” a 20-point proposal for a ceasefire, hostage exchange and technocratic governance under a US-chaired “Board of Peace,” is more than a humanitarian play. It’s a geopolitical lever meant to corner Tehran, ...

China Bolsters Export Controls on Rare-Earth Industry
China Bolsters Export Controls on Rare-Earth Industry

China announced further controls Thursday on the export of rare-earth technologies and items, adding to existing regulations on the critical industry. Rare earths have represented a major sticking point in recent trade negotiations between China and the United States, with Washington accusing Beijing of slow-walking export license ...

US Faces Travel Delays as Government Shutdown Wears On
US Faces Travel Delays as Government Shutdown Wears On

Concerns over flight delays and missed paychecks due to the US government shutdown escalated Wednesday, as senators rejected yet another bid to end the standoff. Democrats voted for a sixth time to block a Republican stopgap funding measure to reopen government departments, keeping much of the federal workforce home or working without pay. With ...

Israel and Hamas Agree to First Phase of Gaza Peace Deal
Israel and Hamas Agree to First Phase of Gaza Peace Deal

In a pivotal development, Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire and peace deal brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump. The agreement, announced late Wednesday, includes the release of hostages and prisoners, a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces, and a large-scale humanitarian aid effort. Trump, speaking on Fox News ...

Outgoing French PM Sees New Premier Named in Next 48 Hours
Outgoing French PM Sees New Premier Named in Next 48 Hours

French President Emmanuel Macron will name a new prime minister within the next 48 hours, his office said on Wednesday, after the resignation of outgoing premier Sebastien Lecornu tipped the country deeper into political crisis. Lecornu told French TV in an interview earlier that he expected a new premier to be named, rather than early ...

Trump Says May go to Middle East at End of Week
Trump Says May go to Middle East at End of Week

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he may travel to the Middle East later this week, as negotiators in Egypt reported "encouraging" progress toward a deal to end the Gaza war. Trump, whose 20-point peace proposal forms the basis of the talks in the resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh, said a peace deal between Israel and Palestinian ...

Gaza: Paris Meeting on Post-War Plans Sparks Israeli Anger
Gaza: Paris Meeting on Post-War Plans Sparks Israeli Anger

A meeting scheduled for Thursday in Paris, bringing together European and Arab foreign ministers to discuss “modalities for a collective post-war engagement” in the Gaza Strip, has already drawn Israel’s ire, which denounces it as “an attempt to internationalize the conflict.” “This meeting represents a new step in France’s ...

Joan Kennedy, Matriarch in Political Dynasty, Dies at 89
Joan Kennedy, Matriarch in Political Dynasty, Dies at 89

Joan Kennedy, the poised and private former wife of Senator Edward M. “Ted” Kennedy, died Wednesday at her home in Boston. She was 89. Her death was confirmed by Steve Kerrigan, chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, the New York Times reported.. Marrying into one of America’s most visible political dynasties, Ms. Kennedy often ...