Progress made in talks over Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage release, officials say

CAIRO (AP) — Officials say U.S. and Arab mediators made significant progress overnight toward brokering a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war and the release of scores of hostages held in the Gaza Strip, but a deal has not been reached yet. Four officials said Monday that progress has been made and that the coming days would be critical for ending more than 15 months of fighting that has destabilized the Middle East. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the talks. On several occasions over the past year, U.S. officials have said they were on the verge of reaching a deal, only to have the talks stall.

Spy agency says NKorean soldiers captured in Ukraine haven’t shown desire to defect

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s spy agency has told lawmakers that two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces while fighting alongside Russian forces in Russia’s Kursk border region haven’t expressed a desire to seek asylum in South Korea. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he’s willing to hand over the soldiers to North Korea if the country’s authoritarian leader, Kim Jong Un, arranges for an exchange with Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russia. Zelenskyy added that “there may be other options” for North Korean soldiers who do not wish to return home. Seoul’s National Intelligence Service said in a briefing Monday that the soldiers haven’t made a request to resettle in South Korea.

Congo says several towns recaptured from rebels but fighting intensifies in its east

GOMA, Congo (AP) — The Congolese army says several towns that fell to armed groups in the eastern North Kivu and South Kivu provinces have been recaptured by government forces. A Congolese army spokesman said on Sunday that a joint military operation uprooted the rebels from at least six towns. This is even as rebels try to expand to other areas. An army spokesman says the rebel forces “have seen their adventure come to a halt.” Aid workers warn that the displaced camps and aid facilities are being overstretched as more people try to seek refuge from the violence.

Prominent diplomat and jurist who heads top UN court named Lebanon’s new PM

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s new president has asked prominent diplomat and jurist Nawaf Salam to form the country’s new government after Salam was named prime minister by a large number of legislators. Monday’s move by legislators appears to have angered the Hezbollah group and its allies. Salam is serving as the head of the International Court of Justice and his nomination was made by Western-backed groups as well as independents in the Lebanese parliament. Salam will have a difficult mission on top of it following on the truce with Israel that caused wide destruction in the Mediterranean nation and weakened the Iran-backed Hezbollah.