JERUSALEM — Israel approved a United States-brokered ceasefire agreement with Lebanon's Hezbollah on Tuesday, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting linked to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. In the hours leading up to the Cabinet meeting, Israel carried out its most intense wave of strikes in Beirut and its southern suburbs and issued a record number of evacuation warnings. At least 24 people were killed in strikes across the country, according to local authorities, as Israel signaled it aims to keep pummeling Hezbollah in the final hours before any ceasefire takes hold. Israel's security Cabinet approved the ceasefire agreement late Tuesday after it was presented by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his office said. U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking in Washington, called the agreement “good news” and said his administration would make a renewed push for a ceasefire in Gaza. People are also reading... An Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire would mark the first major step toward ending the regionwide unrest triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. But it does not address the devastating war in Gaza. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to bring peace to the Middle East, but neither he nor Netanyahu have proposed a postwar solution for the Palestinian territory, where Hamas is still holding dozens of hostages and the conflict is more intractable. Still, any halt to the fighting in Lebanon is expected to reduce the likelihood of war between Israel and Iran, which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas and exchanged direct fire with Israel on two occasions earlier this year. Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Dahiyeh, in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. Israel says it will ‘attack with might’ if Hezbollah breaks truce Netanyahu presented the ceasefire proposal to Cabinet ministers after a televised address in which he listed a series of accomplishments against Israel’s enemies across the region. He said a ceasefire with Hezbollah would further isolate Hamas in Gaza and allow Israel to focus on its main enemy, Iran, which backs both groups. “If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack,” he said. “For every violation, we will attack with might.” Netanyahu's office later said Israel appreciated the U.S. efforts in securing the deal but "reserves the right to act against every threat to its security.” It was not immediately clear when the ceasefire would go into effect, and the exact terms of the deal were not released. The deal calls for a two-month initial halt in fighting and would require Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swath of southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops would return to their side of the border. Thousands of additional Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers would deploy in the south, and an international panel headed by the United States would monitor all sides’ compliance. But implementation remains a major question mark. Israel has demanded the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations. Lebanese officials have rejected writing that into the proposal. Biden said Israel reserved the right to quickly resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah breaks the terms of the truce, but that the deal "was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.” Hezbollah has said it accepts the proposal, but a senior official with the group said Tuesday that it had not seen the agreement in its final form. “After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Al Jazeera news network. “We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state” of Lebanon, he said. “Any violation of sovereignty is refused.” In this screen grab image from video provide by the Israeli Government Press Office, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes a televised statement Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Jerusalem, Israel. Warplanes bombard Beirut and its southern suburbs Even as Israeli, U.S, Lebanese and international officials have expressed growing optimism over a ceasefire, Israel has continued its campaign in Lebanon, which it says aims to cripple Hezbollah’s military capabilities. An Israeli strike on Tuesday leveled a residential building in the central Beirut district of Basta — the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near the city’s downtown. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. Strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs killed at least one person and wounded 13, it said. Three people were killed in a separate strike in Beirut and three in a strike on a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon. Lebanese state media said another 10 people were killed in the eastern Baalbek province. Israel says it targets Hezbollah fighters and their infrastructure. Israel also struck a building in Beirut's bustling commercial district of Hamra for the first time, hitting a site that is around 400 meters (yards) from Lebanon’s Central Bank. There were no reports of casualties. The Israeli military said it struck targets in Beirut and other areas linked to Hezbollah's financial arm. The evacuation warnings covered many areas, including parts of Beirut that previously have not been targeted. The warnings, coupled with fear that Israel was ratcheting up attacks before a ceasefire, sent residents fleeing. Traffic was gridlocked, and some cars had mattresses tied to them. Dozens of people, some wearing their pajamas, gathered in a central square, huddling under blankets or standing around fires as Israeli drones buzzed loudly overhead. Hezbollah, meanwhile, kept up its rocket fire, triggering air raid sirens across northern Israel. Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings for 20 buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a major presence, as well as a warning for the southern town of Naqoura where the U.N. peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, is headquartered. UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti told The Associated Press that peacekeepers will not evacuate. A police bomb squad officer inspects the site where a rocket fired from Lebanon landed in a backyard in Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel, Tuesday Nov. 26, 2024. Israeli forces reach Litani River in southern Lebanon The Israeli military also said its ground troops clashed with Hezbollah forces and destroyed rocket launchers in the Slouqi area on the eastern end of the Litani River, a few kilometers (miles) from the Israeli border. Under the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is about 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the border. Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel, saying it was showing support for the Palestinians, a day after Hamas carried out its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, triggering the Gaza war. Israel returned fire on Hezbollah, and the two sides have been exchanging barrages ever since. Israel escalated its campaign of bombardment in mid-September and later sent troops into Lebanon, vowing to put an end to Hezbollah fire so tens of thousands of evacuated Israelis could return to their homes. More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Hezbollah fire has forced some 50,000 Israelis to evacuate in the country’s north, and its rockets have reached as far south in Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers have died in the ground offensive in Lebanon. Chehayeb and Mroue reported from Beirut. Associated Press reporters Lujain Jo and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut contributed. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Quinn Ewers’ comment on fellow Longhorns QB Arch Manning given curious label by Texas college football writer | Sporting Newsjili vs casino 。

Drones, helicopters being considered for U.S. border, public safety minister says

EXCLUSIVE Sadiq Khan warned he 'risks bringing New York-style drugs chaos to the capital' over fears London mayor could introduce softer cannabis laws By BRENDAN CARLIN Published: 22:00, 28 December 2024 | Updated: 22:20, 28 December 2024 e-mail 21 View comments The spectre of Sadiq Khan bringing 'New York-style drugs chaos' to the UK was raised last night. Critics raised fears that a new report ordered by the London Labour mayor will next month call for a major liberalisation of Britain's laws on cannabis. They pointed out that the London Drugs Commission is led by Labour peer Charlie Falconer, who has spoken of his regret for 'supporting the war on drugs'. Created two years ago, the commission was asked by Mr Khan to look at the effectiveness of the UK's drug laws but with a specific focus on cannabis, which in this country remains a class B drug. It was set up in May 2022 – the same time as the London mayor toured a cannabis dispensary in California and visited New York, which legalised the personal use of cannabis in 2021. But last night critics at the centre-Right think-tank Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) warned against any plans for the UK to copy the US, saying that the legalisation in New York State had failed to eliminate the illegal market for cannabis. CSJ deputy policy director Sophia Worringer, who recently joined the NYPD on a patrol, told The Mail on Sunday: 'The persistent smog of cannabis that hangs across Manhattan Island could not possibly be sustained by the small handful of official cannabis shops regulated to sell it. 'Despite the legal options, people still prefer their old illegal dealers – who can promise a to-the-door-service of much stronger stuff all while undercutting the legal market.' Critics raised fears that a new report ordered by the London Labour mayor will next month call for a major liberalisation of Britain's laws on cannabis The London mayor visited New York in 2022, which has legalised the personal use of cannabis She added that the legal framework on drug use in New York was now 'confused' and that 'cops feel hamstrung to enforce the law because drug taking is so widespread. The legalisation of cannabis sends a message about the harmless nature of casual drug-taking.' She concluded: 'The last thing in London – or anywhere in the UK for that matter – is to import a similar chaos to NYC by liberalising drug laws'. This month, the CSJ released research that found three-quarters of police here thought that current drug-possession policies were ineffective, and two-thirds said cannabis had effectively been decriminalised already. But the think-tank has warned that where drug laws have been liberalised, such as in Portugal and parts of the US, it has led to an increase in addictions. The London Drugs Commission, involving experts from the worlds of criminal justice, public health and academia, had been expected to report last autumn. However, Mr Khan, who has said he has an 'open mind' about decriminalising cannabis, said then that the issue was 'on the back-burner'. But yesterday, sources said the commission's research was now complete and was expected to be published in January. Sadiq Khan has said he has an 'open mind' about decriminalising cannabis In 2018, former justice secretary Lord Falconer called on his party to fight 'for an end to the drug war and commit to the legal regulation of drug production'. But last night, he declined to comment ahead of the report's publication. Sir Keir Starmer said before the election that he had 'no intention' of changing drug laws and a government source said last night that remained the position. Share or comment on this article: Sadiq Khan warned he 'risks bringing New York-style drugs chaos to the capital' over fears London mayor could introduce softer cannabis laws e-mail Add commentNEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose Monday, with those benefiting the most from lower interest rates and a stronger economy leading the way. The S&P 500 climbed 0.3% to pull closer to its all-time high set two weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 440 points, or 1%, to its own record set on Friday, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.3%. Treasury yields also eased in the bond market amid what some analysts called a “Bessent bounce” after President-elect Donald Trump said he wants Scott Bessent , a hedge fund manager, to be his Treasury Secretary. Bessent has argued for reducing the U.S. government’s deficit, which is how much more it spends than it takes in through taxes and other revenue. Such an approach could soothe worries on Wall Street that Trump’s policies may lead to a much bigger deficit, which in turn would put upward pressure on Treasury yields. After climbing above 4.44% immediately after Trump’s election, the yield on the 10-year Treasury fell back to 4.26% Monday, down from 4.41% late Friday. That’s a notable move, and lower yields make it cheaper for all kinds of companies and households to borrow money. They also give a boost to prices for stocks and other investments. That helped stocks of smaller companies lead the way, and the Russell 2000 index of smaller stocks jumped 1.5%. It finished just shy of its all-time high, which was set three years ago. Smaller companies can feel bigger boosts from lower borrowing costs because of the need for many to borrow to grow. The two-year Treasury yield, which more closely tracks the market’s expectations for what the Federal Reserve will do with overnight interest rates, also eased sharply. The Fed began cutting its main interest rate just a couple months ago from a two-decade high, hoping to keep the job market humming after bringing inflation nearly all the way down to its 2% target. But immediately after Trump’s victory, traders had reduced bets for how many cuts the Fed may deliver next year. They were worried Trump’s preference for lower tax rates and higher spending on the border would balloon the national debt. A report coming on Wednesday could influence how much the Fed may cut rates. Economists expect it to show that an underlying inflation trend the Fed prefers to use accelerated to 2.8% last month from 2.7% in September. Higher inflation would make the Fed more reluctant to cut rates as deeply or as quickly as it would otherwise. Goldman Sachs economist David Mericle expects that to slow by the end of next year to 2.4%, but he said inflation would be even lower if not for expected tariff increases on imports from China and autos favored by Trump. In the stock market, Bath & Body Works jumped 16.5% after delivering stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. The seller of personal care products and home fragrances also raised its financial forecasts for the full year, even though it still sees a “volatile retail environment” and a shorter holiday shopping season this year. Much focus has been on how resilient U.S. shoppers can remain, given high prices across the economy and still-high interest rates. Last week, two major retailers sent mixed messages. Target tumbled after giving a dour forecast for the holiday shopping season. It followed Walmart , which gave a much more encouraging outlook. Another big retailer, Macy’s, said Monday its sales for the latest quarter were in line with its expectations, but it will delay the release of its full financial results. It found a single employee had intentionally hid up to $154 million in delivery expenses, and it needs more time to complete its investigation. Macy’s stock fell 2.2%. Among the market’s leaders were several companies related to the housing industry. Monday’s drop in Treasury yields could translate into easier mortgage rates, which could spur activity for housing. Builders FirstSource, a supplier or building materials, rose 5.9%. Homebuilders, D.R. Horton, PulteGroup and Lennar all rose at least 5.6%. All told, the S&P 500 rose 18.03 points to 5,987.37. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 440.06 to 44,736.57, and the Nasdaq composite gained 51.18 to 19,054.84. In stock markets abroad, indexes moved modestly across much of Europe after finishing mixed in Asia. In the crypto market, bitcoin was trading below $95,000 after threatening to hit $100,000 late last week for the first time. AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Connecticut couple has been charged in Minnesota with being part of a shoplifting ring suspected of stealing around $1 million in goods across the country from the upscale athletic wear retailer Lululemon. Jadion Anthony Richards, 44, and Akwele Nickeisha Lawes-Richards, 45, both of Danbury, Connecticut, were charged this month with one felony count of organized retail theft. Both went free last week after posting bail bonds of $100,000 for him and $30,000 for her, court records show. They're due back in Ramsey County District Court in St. Paul on Dec. 16. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, obituaries, sports, and more.

In the world of football, it is not easy for a young player to make a name for himself at the highest level of the sport. However, Mason Greenwood has defied the odds and proven his talent by scoring 10 goals in just 14 matches in the French Ligue 1. This impressive feat places him among the elite company of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Neymar as one of the fastest players to reach double-digit goals in the 21st century.NonePanic ensued as users frantically tried to refresh their browsers, hoping to gain access to the website. Social media channels were flooded with complaints and memes, highlighting the frustration of users who were met with error screens instead of the promised content. The company behind the launch found themselves in a crisis management situation as they scrambled to address the issues and get the website back online.

The tense situation came to a head when officers received a tip that the suspect had sought refuge in a local McDonald's, attempting to blend in with the lunchtime crowd. Swiftly responding to the lead, authorities descended upon the fast-food restaurant, securing the premises and ushering out patrons to ensure their safety.Fair Grounds Field demolition. Nov. 25, 2024. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save One thing I learned in my last job was that you feel your age when you start covering the children of athletes you covered years earlier, or when those athletes you covered years before become coaches on your beat. I learned a new lesson Monday, just weeks into this job with The Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate, where sports isn't really my beat — I'm bringing you news of public safety and the courts — but I found myself standing in the parking lot of Fair Grounds Field as the monster slowly beat away at the stadium. It's being demolished at a cost of $334,000 by Lloyd D. Nabors Demolition , and one machine was on site Monday afternoon, pounding away at cement on one end of the stands. The lesson? Even the things you don't appreciate enough hurt a bit when they disappear. Fair Grounds Field was state of the art in the 1980s, when I first worked there, running the message center part of the scoreboard. I typed in each hitter's stats and designed graphics to run with each commercial as it played over the intercom or was read by John James Marshall over the public address system. No baseball expert, I worked the job for income, but for some unknown reason I've held on to my first Shreveport Captains polo shirt. It will outlive the stadium itself, though it's been in approximately the same condition for some time. Regardless of your interest in the game itself, there is something so very American about going to a baseball game. And there was something so very Shreveport about Fair Grounds Field. Now subject to the wrecking ball, the stadium opened in 1986, giving the Shreveport Captains Double A baseball team a place to play that didn't embarrass that operation or the city. SPAR Stadium, the team's previous home and just northwest of what is now the Interstate 20/Interstate 49 intersection, seemed to my young eyes to have been a place where cheap beer was its biggest attraction, not for me but for the few who attended games in its final years. Fair Grounds Field brought the city so much more. It was a 4,200-seat place for families to enjoy an evening's entertainment. Tickets could be cheap, even free; the Captains made their money from concessions. Those of us working in the press box got free meals every night, but sometimes you had that urge to bypass what was free to make the walk to the grill adjacent to left field. Those were good hamburgers. Fair Grounds Field demolition, Nov. 25, 2024. The first paycheck I could physically hold in my hands came from that Captains franchise. I saw my first baseball brawl there, and it was shown on national highlight shows. Dee Dixon, himself a fixture on the roster at the time, took his best tool — speed — and turned it into an inside the park grand slam one pitch before a dugout-clearing brawl recalled by Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate sports editor Roy Lang earlier this year. Two pitchers combined for a no-hitter, and it was only the first game of a doubleheader. I remember seeing the San Diego Chicken, as he was known before he lost the city part of his name, and, yes, I got to see him out of costume. I remember at least one Texas League All-Star game and, more significantly to me, a mid-season exhibition against the parent club, the San Francisco Giants. Will Clark was on that team, and I think the Captains won by a run, though the Giants' stars made only short appearances early in the game. For some reason, I remember Marshall's frustration with himself when he learned that Kirt Manwaring, elevated to the Giants, had been dubbed Kirt "What is that" Manwaring by ESPN's Chris Berman. Marshall, who liked to come up with his own monikers for Captains, hadn't thought of it. Royce Clayton, Rod Beck and Juan Gonzalez are among many other players I saw play before their Major League careers. Another memory of mine, being a college student living in Louisiana Tech's Neilson dorm at the time — the dorm where I twice had to climb out of an elevator is already demolished — is that I counted down the outs as the game neared the ninth inning. I had an hour's drive ahead of me and classes the next day, couldn't wait to leave. I thought of that Monday, too, as I watched the monster tear apart cement along the first-base line. As much as I couldn't wait to leave all those nights, now it stings to see it go.

In response to the current economic challenges, experts have been closely monitoring the fiscal and monetary policies implemented by governments worldwide. The recent optimization of these policies has not only met market expectations but has also shown a proactive approach towards strengthening unconventional countercyclical adjustments.Furthermore, Huawei's commitment to corporate social responsibility is evident in its support for education and cultural initiatives in the Zhoushan Islands. By partnering with local schools, Huawei has introduced digital learning platforms and innovative teaching tools, enriching the educational experience for students and teachers alike. Additionally, Huawei has sponsored cultural events and activities that celebrate the unique heritage and traditions of the islands, fostering a sense of pride and belonging among the community.

The emergency declaration by Prime Minister Yoon Suk-yeol took many by surprise, as such a drastic measure had not been seen in South Korea in recent history. The move, which was made in response to escalating tensions with neighboring countries, has raised questions about the motives behind the declaration and its potential implications for the nation's security and stability. In the wake of this development, there have been growing demands for a comprehensive investigation to uncover the truth behind the emergency declaration.There are several factors that could influence the sustainability of the pig price rebound. One key factor is the progress in controlling and preventing the spread of African Swine Fever and other diseases that have plagued the industry in recent years. Efforts to improve biosecurity measures, implement disease monitoring and management strategies, and enhance overall farm management practices will be crucial in ensuring the continued health and stability of pig populations.None

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