Ukraine and allies boycott Paralympics opening over Russia and Belarus athletes
Ukraine’s National Paralympic Committee has announced it will boycott the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics in Verona on 6 Mar...
US envoy Amos Hochstein arrived in Beirut as Hezbollah and Lebanon approved a US-brokered ceasefire draft. While aligned with UN Resolution 1701, unresolved details and ongoing violence may delay a final deal.
US envoy Amos Hochstein arrived in Beirut on Tuesday for discussions with Lebanese officials regarding a US-brokered ceasefire proposal between Hezbollah and Israel. The visit follows Hezbollah’s approval of a draft ceasefire agreement facilitated by Washington, according to Lebanon’s state news agency.
This development marks significant progress in US-led diplomatic efforts to end the conflict that escalated into full-scale war in late September, after Israel launched a major offensive against Hezbollah.
Ali Hassan Khalil, an aide to Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, confirmed that both the Lebanese government and Hezbollah had agreed to the US proposal and provided comments on its content. Khalil refrained from detailing these comments but described the response as positive and aligned with the principles of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel. The resolution mandates that Hezbollah must not maintain an armed presence in the area between the Israeli-Lebanese border and the Litani River.
Whilst Hezbollah has entrusted Berri with leading negotiations, both sides have intensified military actions during the ongoing political talks. Khalil criticised Israel for attempting to 'negotiate under fire', referencing an escalation in Israeli bombardments targeting Beirut and Hezbollah-controlled regions in southern Lebanon. He emphasised that these actions would not alter Lebanon’s stance.
A diplomat familiar with the discussions noted that some details of the agreement still need to be finalised, warning that unresolved issues could delay a formal deal.
Israel has not issued an official statement on the proposed ceasefire. However, the continuing dialogue signals a potential breakthrough in efforts to halt the violence and restore stability to the region.
Israel is preparing for the possibility of receiving a green light from the United States to launch strikes against Iran’s ballistic missile system, according to Israel’s public broadcaster KAN.
Aghdam’s Qarabag FK experienced a 6–1 defeat to England’s Newcastle United in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League play-off tie in Azerbaijan's capital Baku Wednesday evening (18 February).
U.S. President Donald Trump’s 'Board of Peace' will hold its first leaders’ meeting on Thursday (19 February) in Washington, D.C., launching an initiative aimed at stabilising Gaza and addressing global conflicts. It's drawn support from regional powers but refusals from several EU countries.
The Board of Peace will be "looking over the United Nations," said U.S. President Donald Trump at the inaugural Washington meeting, where representatives from over 20 countries gathered to unveil plans for Gaza’s reconstruction and coordinate international support.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez in the Kremlin on Wednesday, telling him that new restrictions imposed on the communist-run island were unacceptable.
Ukraine’s National Paralympic Committee has announced it will boycott the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics in Verona on 6 March, citing the International Paralympic Committee’s decision to allow some Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags.
The United States and international partners have announced billions of dollars in pledges to rebuild Gaza but many Palestinians remain sceptical about whether the funds will translate into tangible improvements for daily life.
The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down President Trump's sweeping tariffs on Friday (20 February), which he imposed under a law intended for national emergencies.
The former Prince Andrew’s brief arrest on Thursday (19 February) has highlighted the challenges of prosecuting alleged misconduct in public office, with potential implications for the British monarchy’s public role, according to political analyst Nuno Wahnon Martins.
Spain’s Constitutional Court has rejected an appeal by the father of a 25‑year‑old woman who opposed her right to euthanasia, clearing the way for the procedure to go ahead, the court said on Friday (20 February).
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