Living hostages and Palestinian prisoners are released as part of ceasefire in Gaza
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — All 20 remaining living hostages held in Gaza and scores of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel have walked free as part of a ceasefire pausing two years of war. The conflict decimated the Gaza Strip, killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, triggered other conflicts in the Middle East, and had left scores of captives in militant hands. Speaking to parliament, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared he was “committed to this peace.” That raised hopes that the ruinous war might come to an end. But fundamental questions remain over when and how.
Trump arrives in Egypt for Gaza summit after urging Israel to seize a chance for peace
SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt (AP) — President Donald Trump has arrived in Egypt for a global summit on Gaza’s future. This follows Trump’s visit to Israel, where he celebrated a U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Hamas. The summit is co-hosted with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and aims to advance peace in the Middle East. More than two dozen countries are expected to attend. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was invited but declined due to a Jewish holiday. Trump is determined to seize the opportunity for regional harmony, despite unanswered questions about Gaza’s next steps. The summit marks a fragile moment of hope for peace.
What to know as Israel and Hamas exchange hostages and prisoners as Trump is in the Middle East
Israel says it has received 20 hostages released by Hamas as the ceasefire in Gaza held amid a critical day for all sides and the region. Israel also released dozens of the hundreds of Palestinian prisoners under the ceasefire agreement. Ramped-up aid is being readied for Gaza, much of which is in ruins after two years of war that began when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. U.S. President Donald Trump is making a whirlwind visit to the region. In Israel, he addressed the Knesset on Monday before heading to Egypt to co-chair a summit with the Egyptian president on a peace vision for Gaza.
World leaders gathering in Egypt throw their weight behind the Gaza ceasefire deal
SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt (AP) — The U.S. and Egyptian presidents are chairing a gathering of world leaders dubbed “Summit for Peace” to support ending the more than two-year Israel-Hamas war in Gaza after a breakthrough ceasefire deal. Israel and Hamas have no direct contacts and were not expected to attend Monday’s summit. The Israeli prime minister’s office said Benjamin Netanyahu will not travel to the venue because of a Jewish holiday. Israel has rejected any role in Gaza for the internationally backed Palestinian Authority, whose leader, Mahmoud Abbas, arrived on Monday at the summit venue. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said ahead of the summit that for U.S. President Donald Trump’s vision for Mideast peace to become reality, the region needs “American engagement.”
Nobel economics prize goes to 3 researchers for explaining innovation-driven economic growth
STOCKHOLM (AP) — Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion, and Peter Howitt have won the Nobel memorial prize in economics for explaining how innovation drives economic growth and human welfare. Their work sheds light on “creative destruction,” where new innovations replace older technologies and businesses. This concept, associated with economist Joseph Schumpeter, is crucial for understanding capitalism. Mokyr is an economic historian, while Aghion and Howitt use mathematics to explore these ideas. The Nobel Committee emphasized that economic growth requires maintaining the mechanisms of creative destruction. Mokyr expressed surprise at winning the prize, of which he will receive half the money while Aghion and Howitt share the other half.
Bus crash in mountainous region of South Africa kills at least 42 people
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Authorities say a bus veered off a road and plunged down an embankment on a steep mountain pass in northern South Africa, killing at least 42 people and injuring another 49. The crash happened Sunday on the N1 highway near the town of Louis Trichardt, around 250 miles north of Pretoria. The Transport Ministry said the victims included seven children. It said six people were critically injured and another 31 had serious injuries and had been taken to hospitals. The bus was traveling to Zimbabwe and was carrying Zimbabwean and Malawian nationals who were on their way to their home countries. The cause of the crash was not yet known. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa offered his condolences.
Dozens rescued as remnants of typhoon hits Alaska while nor’easter brings flooding to East Coast
Authorities say more than 30 people were rescued and three people remain unaccounted for in western Alaska after the remnants of Typhoon Halong brought hurricane-force winds and flooding strong enough to sweep away entire homes in coastal communities. Alaska State Troopers say at least 18 people were rescued in Kwigillingok, where three people remain missing. In Kipnuk, at least 16 people were rescued and troopers had received secondhand reports of people who were unaccounted for. They were working with local officials to determine how many people were missing. Meanwhile on the East Coast, forecasters warn that major coastal flooding was likely Monday in the mid-Atlantic, particularly from Virginia to New Jersey.
Wall Street rallies to recover some of Friday’s sell-off after Trump softens his criticism of China
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are rising and recovering some of their sell-off from Friday. The S&P 500 climbed 1.4%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 473 points, and the Nasdaq composite jumped 2%. The indexes are still below where they were when President Donald Trump threatened much higher tariffs on China on Friday. But they clawed back some of those losses after Trump softened his criticism of the world’s second-largest economy. That raised hopes for another trade truce that could allow stocks to keep setting records. Trading in the U.S. bond market is closed for a holiday.
China shows no sign of backing down while issuing call for US to withdraw tariff threat
BANGKOK (AP) — China has called for the U.S. to withdraw a new threat of a 100% tariff and other export control measures. The statement Monday came after President Donald Trump announced the new tariff threat in the latest escalation of the ongoing trade war. Trump issued a 100% tariff threat on all Chinese imports into the U.S. China last week placed stricter restrictions on rare earths, which is a vital resource used in electronics. Trump on Sunday did not withdraw his tariff threat but seemed more conciliatory. The latest economic indicators show the retaliatory actions and uncertainty is having an impact on existing trade between the two nations.
Marc Maron ends his podcast with final guest Barack Obama after 16 years and nearly 1,700 episodes
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Barack Obama has helped Marc Maron close out his podcast, “WTF With Marc Maron,” after 16 years and over 1,600 episodes. Obama first appeared on the show a decade ago and joined Maron for the final episode released on Monday. The two talked in Obama’s Washington office. Maron shared his feelings about ending the podcast, expressing readiness for a break but also fear of what comes next. Obama offered advice on moving forward, encouraging Maron to reflect and not rush into new projects. The episode marked the end of a pioneering podcast that began as a venue for stand-up comedians but became a major media player.
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