Israeli and Palestinian negotiators announced Tuesday that they have agreed to an extended ceasefire after seven weeks of deadly fighting in Gaza.
The ceasefire took effect at 7 p.m. local time (1600 GMT). Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced the truce from his headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
Egypt organized the truce. It calls for Israel to ease its blockade of Gaza. The agreement will permit shipments of humanitarian aid and building materials for repair and reconstruction in Gaza. The two sides will continue talks about Israel’s demand that Hamas militants surrender their weapons.
The United States said it strongly supports the truce.
Over 2,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and more than 60 Israelis were killed in the almost two month long conflict.
Ukraine and Russia Agree to Talk
Ukraine and Russia have agreed to begin talks that could lead to a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin reached the agreement during a meeting Tuesday in the Belarusian capital, Minsk.
Mr. Putin said they discussed the need for a quick end to the violence. Mr. Poroshenko said a plan for the cease-fire would be prepared as soon as possible.
Cambodian Opposition Gets Parliamentary Commissions
This week lawmakers from Cambodia’s opposition party are being voted onto 10 parliament committees. The vote is one term of a political deal to end the country’s political crisis.
The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party boycotted the parliament after winning 55 seats in the 132-seat National Assembly. The opposition accused Prime Minister Hun Sen of cheating to keep a small majority.
Son Chhay, a leader of the opposition expressed hope for the future. He said the agreement was a very good beginning.
Old Favorites ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Modern Family’ Win Emmys
“Breaking Bad” was honored at the Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday as the top drama series on U.S. television. The show received the Emmy for a second straight year. It also won three acting awards.
In comedy, “Modern Family” won the Emmy for best series. It has won the award the last four years as well.
The award program also honored actor Robin Williams whose recent suicide shocked people around the world. Williams was found dead in his California home on August eleventh.
Words in the News
truce – n. a temporary halt in fighting agreed to by all sides involved
possible - adj. able to be done; can happen or is expected to happen
term – n. a limited period of time during which someone does a job or carries out a responsibility (“He served two terms in Congress.”); the conditions of an agreement that have been accepted by those involved in it
series – n. a number of similar things or events that follow one after another in time, position or order
suicide – n. the act of killing oneself
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