Ukraine says it’s ready to sign a key rare-minerals deal sought by the US

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian officials say Kyiv is ready to sign an agreement that would give the U.S. access to its valuable rare minerals in the hopes of ensuring continued American support for Kyiv in its grinding war with Russia. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal says Ukraine’s economy minister and deputy prime minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, flew to Washington on Wednesday to help finalize the deal. U.S. President Donald Trump indicated in February that he wanted access to the country’s rare earth materials as a condition for continuing U.S. support in the war. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday that the Trump administration stands ready to sign a deal, but that Ukraine made some last-minute changes and work still remains.

Pakistan says it has ‘credible intelligence’ India will attack within days

ATTARI, India (AP) — Pakistan says it has “credible intelligence” that India is planning to attack it within days over last week’s deadly attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Pakistan has vowed to respond “very strongly.” There is no immediate comment from Indian officials. Soldiers have exchanged gunfire along borders. Pakistanis are heeding New Delhi’s orders to leave the country. India has moved to punish Pakistan after accusing it of backing the attack. That has driven tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals to their highest point since 2019. Pakistan denies backing the attack in which 26 people were killed. Most were local Hindu tourists.

Center-left party approves German coalition deal

BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s center-left Social Democrats have voted to approve a coalition agreement. The vote’s results were announced Wednesday. It paves the way to elect Friedrich Merz as the new German chancellor. Merz’s Union bloc previously approved the agreement. The parliament will meet May 6 to elect Merz who will need a majority of all members of the lower house to be elected as post-World War II Germany’s 10th chancellor and succeed Olaf Scholz. The coalition aims to spur economic growth, ramp up defense spending, take a tougher approach to migration and catch up on long-neglected modernization.

UK military launches airstrikes with US targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The British military has launched airstrikes with the United States targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The strikes Tuesday night marked their first attack in Washington’s new intense campaign targeting the Iranian-backed group. The U.K. Defense Ministry on Wednesday described the site attacked as “a cluster of buildings” used by the “Houthis to manufacture drones of the type used to attack ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.” The ministry said that the site was located about 15 miles or 25 kilometers south of Sanaa. The Houthis acknowledged strikes around Sanaa overnight. The U.S. military’s Central Command didn’t acknowledge the strike.