South Korea suspends a military deal with North Korea

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea have taken steps to suspend a contentious military agreement with North Korea and resume front-line military activities. The South Korean moves on Tuesday come as tensions between the rivals are rising over the North’s recent launch of trash-carrying balloons. South Korea’s Cabinet Council and President Yoon Suk Yeol approved a proposal to suspend the 2018 inter-Korean agreement on lowering front-line military tensions. In the past week, North Korea has used balloons to drop manure, cigarette butts, scraps of cloth and waste paper on South Korea, prompting Seoul to vow “unbearable” retaliation.

Modi claims victory in Indian election, vows to continue with his agenda

NEW DELHI (AP) — Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s National Democratic Alliance coalition has won a majority in parliament, according to official results from India’s Election Commission. Modi had already declared victory for his alliance earlier Tuesday, claiming a mandate to push forward with his agenda, even though his party lost seats to a stronger than expected opposition, which pushed back against his mixed economic record and polarizing politics. More than 640 million votes were cast in the marathon election held over a span of six weeks in the world’s largest democratic exercise.

Famine is possibly underway in northern Gaza despite recent aid efforts, a new report warns

JERUSALEM, Israel (AP) — A new report by an independent group of experts says it’s possible that famine is underway in northern Gaza, but that the war between Israel and Hamas and restrictions on humanitarian access have impeded data collection to prove it. The report by the Famine Early Warning Systems Network on Tuesday said that people, including children, are dying of hunger-related causes across the besieged territory. It urges Israel’s government to act urgently to allow more aid in. A formal declaration of a famine could be used as evidence at the International Criminal Court and at the International Court of Justice, where Israel faces allegations of genocide.

The UN says global public debt hit a record $97 trillion in 2023

GENEVA (AP) — The United Nations is reporting that global public debt rose to a record $97 trillion last year, with developing countries owing roughly one-third of that – crimping their ability to pay for basic government services like health care, education and climate action. U.N. Trade and Development, formerly known as UNCTAD, says the value of money owed by governments rose by $5.6 trillion from 2022. In a report released Tuesday, the agency says high interest payments are outstripping growth in essential public spending.