A new push to wind down the Middle East wars faces familiar challenges

BEIRUT (AP) — The United States and other mediators are ramping up efforts to halt the wars in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. They are circulating new proposals to wind down the regional conflict during the Biden administration’s final months. Negotiations have been stalled for months and the warring parties have shown no signs of backing down. Two senior White House officials will visit Israel on Thursday for talks on halting the fighting. A proposal to end the war between Israel and Hezbollah calls for a two-month cease-fire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon, and Hezbollah would end its armed presence in the south. The U.S., Egypt and Qatar have proposed a four-week cease-fire in Gaza during which Hamas would release eight to 10 hostages.

At least 95 people die in devastating flash floods in Spain

UTIEL, Spain (AP) — Authorities say flash floods in Spain turned village streets into rivers, ruined homes, disrupted transportation and killed at least 95 people. Emergency services in Valencia said Wednesday that at least 92 people have died in the eastern region due to the floods. Another two casualties were reported in neighboring Castilla La Mancha. One death occurred in Andalusia, in the south. Floods of muddy water tumbled vehicles down streets at high speeds. Police and rescue services used helicopters to lift people from their homes and rubber boats to rescue drivers stranded atop their cars.

Taxes, spending and borrowing all higher as the new Labour government seeks to ‘rebuild’ the UK

LONDON (AP) — British Treasury chief Rachel Reeves says taxes will rise by $52 billion to plug a hole in the public finances and provide new funding for the U.K.’s cash-starved public services, as she announced a budget that could set the economic tone for years to come. In the Labour Party’s first budget since regaining power after 14 years in July, Reeves also changed the U.K.’s debt rules — a move that will allow the government to borrow more to, as she explained, “invest, invest, invest.” Her pledged an additional $32 billion for the cherished National Health Service. The opposition Conservatives said hiking a tax on employers was a breach of Labour’s election promise and would lead to lower wages.

Cambodian archaeologists discover a dozen centuries-old sandstone statues at Angkor UNESCO site

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Archaeologists in Cambodia have unearthed a dozen centuries-old sandstone statues in a “remarkable discovery” at the Angkor World Heritage Site near the city of Siem Reap. The statues — so-called “door guardians” — were discovered last week near the north gate leading to the 11th-century Royal Palace at Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Khmer Empire. Long Kosal, spokesman for the Apsara National Authority, the government agency that oversees the archaeological park, made the announcement on Wednesday. The statues were uncovered as teams assessed the ancient gate’s structure and searched for fallen stones around the portal on the north side of Angkor Thom, one of four entrances to the complex.