Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas signed an agreement on Thursday to cease fire and free Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, in the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s initiative to end the two-year war in Gaza that has upended the Middle East.

Israelis and Palestinians rejoiced on Thursday after a ceasefire and hostage deal was reached under the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to end a war in Gaza that has killed more than 67,000 people and reshaped the Middle East.

Israel and Hamas agreed on Wednesday to the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza, a ceasefire and hostage deal that could open the way to ending a bloody two-year-old war that has upended the Middle East.

President Donald Trump said he may travel to the Middle East this weekend as his negotiators seek to seal a Gaza hostages-for-ceasefire deal.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Tajikistan in Central Asia to attend meetings with leaders of other ex-Soviet republics likely to focus on regional development and their relations with Moscow.

Brazil’s presidential chief of staff, Rui Costa, said the government has no plans to eliminate public transport fares nationwide this year or next, a day after the finance minister had confirmed studies to assess ways to finance the sector.

French President Emmanuel Macron will name a new prime minister in the next 48 hours, the Elysee palace said in a statement.

Spiraling violence in Haiti has displaced 680,000 children, nearly twice as many as a year ago, as armed groups tighten control and public services collapse, UNICEF said.

Hamas said on Tuesday it was ready to reach a deal to end the war in Gaza based on President Donald Trump’s plan but still has demands, as Qatar’s prime minister and senior U.S. mediators headed to Egypt to join indirect negotiations between the Palestinian militant group and Israel.

France’s President Emmanuel Macron faced growing pressure on Tuesday to resign or hold a snap parliamentary election to end political chaos that has forced the resignation of five prime ministers in less than two years.

Britain will not pursue a visa deal with India, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, as he aims to deepen economic ties with the country following this year’s trade agreement.

Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa’s car was surrounded by a group of around 500 people throwing rocks as he approached an event in Canar province, a top minister said, adding that “signs of bullet damage” were found on the president’s vehicle.