All posts tagged: agree

South Korea, US agree that Korean won’s excessive volatility not desirable

South Korea, US agree that Korean won’s excessive volatility not desirable

Published by Sam Flores

SEOUL, April 19 : South Korean Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent agreed that excessive volatility in the Korean won was not desirable and that they would continue consultations on the foreign exchange market, Seoul said on Sunday. Bessent also welcomed South Korea’s efforts to implement a $350 billion investment in the United States pledged as part of a bilateral trade deal. The two ministers met on Friday on the sidelines of the Group of 20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting in Washington, D.C. Source link

Israel and Lebanon agree to 10-day ceasefire, Trump says

Israel and Lebanon agree to 10-day ceasefire, Trump says

Published by Sam Flores

The leaders of Israel and Lebanon agreed to a 10-day ceasefire after officials from the two countries met in Washington, President Donald Trump said Thursday. The temporary truce will start at 5 p.m. ET, Trump said in a Truth Social post. In a follow-up, Trump added that he will be inviting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Joseph Aoun of Lebanon to the White House “for the first meaningful talks between Israel and Lebanon since 1983, a very long time ago.” “Both sides want to see PEACE, and I believe that will happen, quickly!” Trump wrote. The U.S. State Department said in a statement later Thursday that the two countries “will work to create conditions conducive to lasting peace between the two countries, full recognition of each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and establishing genuine security along their shared border, while preserving Israel’s inherent right to self-defense.” “Both countries recognize the significant challenges faced by the Lebanese state from non-state armed groups, which undermine Lebanon’s sovereignty and threaten regional stability,” read the statement, which …

Israel and Lebanon agree to a 10-day ceasefire

Israel and Lebanon agree to a 10-day ceasefire

Published by Sam Flores

It was unclear whether or when people displaced from their homes in southern Lebanon by Israel’s invasion would be allowed to return. The Lebanese army warned people to avoid returning to southern villages and to avoid “approaching areas where Israeli occupation forces have advanced.” The ceasefire deal commits Israel and Lebanon to “engaging in good-faith direct negotiations, facilitated by the United States, with the objective of achieving a comprehensive agreement that ensures lasting security, stability, and peace between the two countries,” the State Department said. In a statement that it said Lebanon and Israel had agreed to, the State Department said the initial 10-day period for the ceasefire “may be extended by mutual agreement between Lebanon and Israel if progress is demonstrated in the negotiations and as Lebanon effectively demonstrates its ability to assert its sovereignty.” Lebanon must “take meaningful steps” to prevent Hezbollah from carrying out any attacks on Israel, the statement added, while Israel “shall preserve its right to take all necessary measures in self-defense, at any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing …

US says its forces ready to restart combat if Iran doesn’t agree to a deal

US says its forces ready to restart combat if Iran doesn’t agree to a deal

Published by Sam Flores

WASHINGTON: US forces in the Middle East are postured to restart combat operations immediately if Iran doesn’t agree to a peace deal, top American military officials said on Thursday (Apr 16). As part of a campaign to pressure Tehran to sign an agreement, US military forces are mounting a blockade on all ships seeking to enter or leave Iran. “You, Iran, can choose a prosperous future, a golden bridge, and we hope that you do for the people of Iran,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a Pentagon briefing. “But if Iran chooses poorly, then they will have a blockade and bombs dropping on infrastructure, power and energy.” The Trump administration expressed optimism on Wednesday about reaching a deal to end the war with Iran, while also warning of increasing economic pressure against Tehran if it remains defiant. Hegseth, addressing the Iranian leadership, said: “This is not a fair fight, and we know what military assets you are moving and where you are moving them to.” General Dan ​Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, …

Indonesia, France agree to boost defence industry ties

Indonesia, France agree to boost defence industry ties

Published by Sam Flores

Jakarta, while defending a non-aligned diplomatic posture, last year joined the BRICS bloc of emerging economies that includes Russia and US-rival China.  Prabowo has also signed a trade deal with US President Donald Trump and joined his so-called “Board of Peace”, although has insisted his country would not pay the US$1 billion joining fee for permanent membership. Indonesia is a major arms buyer from France, with then-Defence Minister Prabowo inking a US$8.1 billion deal in 2022 to purchase 42 French-made Rafale jets.  Prabowo, a former military general who was elected president in 2024, has sought to modernise Indonesia’s ageing military assets. On Monday, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth hosted Indonesian counterpart Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and announced a “Major Defence Cooperation Partnership”. A joint statement underlined the countries’ “shared commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific”. Indonesia is strategically located on the Malacca Strait – the world’s busiest chokepoint for oil and petroleum liquids, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). The vast majority of China-bound oil travels through Malacca Strait. Jakarta on Tuesday …

Israel, Lebanon agree to direct negotiations after DC meeting, US says

Israel, Lebanon agree to direct negotiations after DC meeting, US says

Published by Sam Flores

15/04/2026 – 01:35 Female Iranian student arrives in Iran after release in France, state TV reports Iranian student ​Mahdieh Esfandiari arrived in Iran after being released in France, ​Iranian ‌state TV reported ⁠on Wednesday, after two French ‌nationals facing security charges were ⁠allowed to leave Iran following three-and-a-half years in ​detention. Esfandiari, who was ‌convicted at the end of February for glorifying terrorism ‌in anti-Israel social media posts, ​was released after serving almost a year in prison. “I think ​it’s clear for ​everyone that there ​is no freedom of speech, at ​least not in France where I was. The court’s ruling was very unjust,” ⁠Esfandiari told state television 15/04/2026 – 01:11 Treasury chief says US growth may exceed 3% or 3.5% this year despite Iran war Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday the ​underlying U.S. economy remained strong and that growth could still exceed 3% or 3.5% this year despite the impact of the ​U.S.-Israeli war ‌on Iran. Bessent has cast cuts ⁠in global growth forecasts and higher inflation projections by the International Monetary …

US, Iran fail to agree on peace deal

US, Iran fail to agree on peace deal

Published by Sam Flores

⁠Iran’s ⁠Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad ​Baqer Qalibaf ​said Sunday that Iran raised “forward-looking” ​initiatives ‌during talks ⁠in Islamabad ‌but that the US failed ⁠to “earn” the trust of the Iranian delegation. US Vice President JD Vance said earlier that 21 hours of peace talks had failed to produce a deal to end the war. The latest updates with our France 24 correspondent Hoda Abdel-Hamid in Doha, Qatar. Keywords for this article Source link

Russia, Ukraine Agree To Breakthrough 32-hour Orthodox Easter Ceasefire

Russia, Ukraine Agree To Breakthrough 32-hour Orthodox Easter Ceasefire

Published by Jenni Sidey

In a huge and very positive development, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has announced a 32-hour ceasefire for Orthodox Easter, or Pascha, which is this weekend. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has immediately confirmed that Ukraine will honor the holiday truce.  “We proceed on the basis that the Ukrainian side will follow the example of the Russian Federation,” the Kremlin then further confirmed in a statement. Pravoslavie.Ru Based on regional media reporting of the rare ceasefire, the pause in fighting will begin at 4pm Moscow time (13:00GMT) on Saturday and run until midnight on Sunday. This will cover the whole period of Pascha celebrations in both countries, which is done according to the Julian calendar and thus typically comes a weekend or two later that Western Easter (on the Gregorian calendar). The overwhelming majorities of both countries are adherents of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Typically in orthodox churches there is a long Saturday morning service, and then the main liturgy comes at midnight – going into the early Sunday morning hours, followed by feasting and breaking the …

U.S., Iran agree on 2-week ceasefire but some attacks continue : NPR

U.S., Iran agree on 2-week ceasefire but some attacks continue : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

Iranians react after a ceasefire announcement at the Enqelab square, in Tehran, on Wednesday. AFP via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption AFP via Getty Images The U.S. and Iran reached a temporary ceasefire, with Israel saying it supports the agreement but is continuing its assault on Iranian-backed fighters in Lebanon. Several Gulf Arab countries also reported some attacks, in an early test of the truce. The fragile ceasefire raised hopes it might eventually lead to an end of more than five weeks of war in the region, coming moments before the threat of a major U.S. escalation: President Trump’s Tuesday night deadline for Iran to reach a deal to open the Strait of Hormuz or else face total destruction. Trump hailed the agreement early Wednesday as “a big day for World Peace!” As Trump pledged the U.S. would help free up the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for the world’s fuel and goods that Iran has largely blocked during the war, global investors breathed a sigh of relief, markets surged and crude …