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casino game free spins no deposit Biden opens final White House holiday season with turkey pardons and first lady gets Christmas tree WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has kicked off his final holiday season at the White House, issuing the traditional reprieve to two turkeys who will bypass the Thanksgiving table to live out their days in Minnesota. The president welcomed 2,500 guests under sunny skies as he cracked jokes about the fates of “Peach” and “Blossom.” He also sounded wistful tones about the last weeks of his presidency. Separately, first lady Jill Biden received the delivery of the official White House Christmas tree. And the Bidens are traveling to New York later Monday for an early holiday celebration with members of the Coast Guard. Formula 1 expands grid to add General Motors' Cadillac brand and new American team for 2026 season LAS VEGAS (AP) — Formula 1 will expand the grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. The approval ends years of wrangling that launched a federal investigation into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, would not approve the team initially started by Michael Andretti, who has since stepped aside. The 11th team will be called Cadillac F1 and be run by new Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The team will use Ferrari engines its first two years until GM has a Cadillac engine built for competition in time for the 2028 season. US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher is retiring from international soccer U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher is retiring from international soccer. Naeher is on the team’s roster for a pair of upcoming matches in Europe but those will be her last after a full 11 years playing for the United States. Naeher was on the U.S. team that won the Women’s World Cup in 2019 and the gold medal at this year's Olympics in France. She’s the only U.S. goalkeeper to earn a shutout in both a World Cup and an Olympic final. Bah, humbug! Vandal smashes Ebenezer Scrooge's tombstone used in 'A Christmas Carol' movie LONDON (AP) — If life imitates art, a vandal in the English countryside may be haunted by The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Police in the town of Shrewsbury are investigating how a tombstone at the fictional grave of Ebenezer Scrooge was destroyed. The movie prop used in the 1984 adaption of Charles Dickens' “A Christmas Carol” had become a tourist attraction. The film starred George C. Scott as the cold-hearted curmudgeon who is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve who show him what will become of his life if he doesn’t become a better person. West Mercia Police say the stone was vandalized in the past week. Megachurch founder T.D. Jakes suffers health incident during sermon at Dallas church DALLAS (AP) — The founder of Dallas-based megachurch The Potter's House, Bishop T.D. Jakes, was hospitalized after suffering what the church called a “slight health incident.” Jakes was speaking to churchgoers after he sat down and began trembling as several people gathered around him Sunday at the church. Jakes' daughter Sarah Jakes Roberts and her husband Touré Roberts said in a statement on social media late Sunday that Jakes was improving. The 67-year-old Jakes founded the non-denominational The Potter's House in 1996 and his website says it now has more than 30,000 members with campuses in Fort Worth and Frisco, Texas; and in Denver. At the crossroads of news and opinion, 'Morning Joe' hosts grapple with aftermath of Trump meeting The reaction of those who defended “Morning Joe” hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski for meeting with President-elect Trump sounds almost quaint in the days of opinionated journalism. Doesn't it makes sense, they said, for hosts of a political news show to meet with such an important figure? But given how “Morning Joe” has attacked Trump, its viewers felt insulted. Many reacted quickly by staying away. It all reflects the broader trend of opinion crowding out traditional journalist in today's marketplace, and the expectations that creates among consumers. By mid-week, the show's audience was less than two-thirds what it has typically been this year. Pilot dies in plane crash in remote woods of New York, puppy found alive WINDHAM, N.Y. (AP) — Authorities say a pilot and at least one dog he was transporting died when a small plane crashed in the snowy woods of the Catskill Mountains, though a puppy on the flight was found alive with two broken legs. The Greene County sheriff’s office says Seuk Kim of Springfield, Virginia, was flying from Maryland to Albany, New York, when the plane crashed at about 6:10 p.m. Sunday in a remote area. Officials believe the pilot died from the impact. The surviving dog was hospitalized, while a third dog was not located. The flight was connected with a not-for-profit group that transports rescue animals. Warren Buffett gives away another $1.1B and plans for distributing his $147B fortune after his death OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Investor Warren Buffett renewed his Thanksgiving tradition of giving by handing out more than $1.1 billion of Berkshire Hathaway stock to four of his family's foundations Monday, and he offered new details about who will be handing out the rest of his fortune after his death. Buffett has said previously that his three kids will distribute his remaining $147.4 billion fortune in the 10 years after his death, but now he has also designated successors for them because it’s possible that Buffett’s children could die before giving it all away. Buffett said he has no regrets about his decision to start giving away his fortune in 2006. Pop star Ed Sheeran apologizes to Man United boss Ruben Amorim for crashing interview MANCHESTER, England (AP) — British pop star Ed Sheeran has apologized to Ruben Amorim after inadvertently interrupting the new Manchester United head coach during a live television interview. Amorim was talking on Sky Sports after United’s 1-1 draw with Ipswich on Sunday when Sheeran walked up to embrace analyst Jamie Redknapp. The interview was paused before Redknapp told the pop star to “come and say hello in a minute.” Sheeran is a lifelong Ipswich fan and holds a minority stake in the club. He was pictured celebrating after Omari Hutchinson’s equalizing goal in the game at Portman Road. A desert oasis outside of Dubai draws a new caravan: A family of rodents from Argentina AL QUDRA LAKES, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A desert oasis hidden away in the dunes in the far reaches of skyscraper-studded Dubai has drawn a surprising new set of weary world travelers: a pack of Argentinian rodents. A number of Patagonian mara, a rabbit-like mammal with long legs, big ears and a body like a hoofed animal, now roam the grounds of Al Qudra Lakes, typically home to gazelle and other desert creatures of the United Arab Emirates. How they got there remains a mystery in the UAE, a country where exotic animals have ended up in the private homes and farms of the wealthy. But the pack appears to be thriving there and likely have survived several years already in a network of warrens among the dunes.Meta faces April trial in FTC case seeking to unwind Instagram mergerHis recent beef with Drake ended in a resounding victory, he was awarded a coveted performance slot at the Super Bowl halftime show, and, earlier this month, he was nominated for seven Grammys. Yet on his surprise-released LP GNX , Kendrick Lamar seems mad as hell. A closer look at the lyrics offer some clues to his reasoning: People he cares about are dying and getting locked up; others he looked up to are either disappointed by him or disappointing him. Also, he’s clearly still sour about the entire feud with Drake. Even when he slips into standard rapper braggadocio (private jets, etc.), it feels like his heart isn’t in it. GNX Kendrick feels like someone trying to convince himself that all of this is still worth it. Being lonely at the top, of course, is nothing new; Drake himself expertly — if a bit cynically — commodified the successful sadboi schtick. And while it’s possible Kendrick saw the success of “Not Like Us” and leaned into indignance for commercial purposes, it’s also unlikely. Kendrick has been called many things, but a cynic is not one of them. What follows are 11 moments on GNX that force us to consider: After all the wins, what is Kendrick Lamar still so bitter about? Yesterday, somebody whacked out my mural That energy’ll make you niggas move to Europe But it’s regular for me, yeah, that’s for sure The love and hate is definite without a cure” — “wacced out murals” From the first bar on the first track, Kendrick wants us to know that, despite near universal acclaim, he’s not immune to hatred — even in his hometown. The mural in question, on the exterior of a Compton restaurant, was vandalized earlier this year with an “OVO” tag, among other verbal detritus. Snoop posted “Taylor Made,” I prayed it was the edibles — “wacced out murals” This bar is the facepalm emoji in lyric form. During their recent beef, Drake released a song called “Taylor Made Freestyle” that used computer-simulated voices emulating Tupac and Snoop Dogg. Snoop posted the track to Instagram , which Kendrick is clearly still sore about, but chalked it up to Uncle Snoop’s love for weed. (Snoop clearly still finds all of this hilarious .) Used to bump Tha Carter III, I held my Rollie chain proud Irony, I think my hard work let Lil Wayne down” — “wacced out murals” Won the Super Bowl and Nas the only one congratulate me — “wacced out murals” After Kendrick was announced as the headliner of the Super Bowl LIX halftime show in New Orleans, the typical praise chorus was far quieter. In its stead came (loud) doubts, with Birdman, Master P, Nicki Minaj, and others openly questioning the snub of hometown hero Lil Wayne. So while Kendrick will still get the benefits of the largest promotional vehicle in music, the fact that it comes at the cost of disappointing an artist he looks up to has clearly tarnished the experience. For his part, Wayne appears plagued by hurt feelings and short-term memory loss, wondering “ Man Wtf I Do ?!” just two months after admitting the snub “broke” him. Okay, fuck your hip-hop, I watched the party just die Niggas cackling about— while all of y’all is on trial Niggas thought that I was antisocial when I stayed inside of my house — “wacced out murals” It’s hard to tell which specific death or trial Kendrick is referring to here. What’s clear is that he’s hyperaware of the dangers that rappers face. Whether it’s prosecution by the government or violence from other gang members , Kendrick is fearful enough for his freedom and safety to simply stay inside. More money, more power, more freedom Everything Heaven allowed us, bitch I deserve it all — “man at the garden” Kendrick sounds like he’s trying to convince himself that he deserves his success and accolades. The doubt is coming from inside the house... How annoying, does it angers me to know the lames can speak On the origins of the game I breathe? That’s insane to me— “man at the garden” Certain levels of fame and fortune invite criticism from, well, everyone. Including “the lames.” It seems Kendrick has yet to accept this. I got this fire burnin’ in me from within Concentrated thoughts on who I used to be, I’m sheddin’ skin Every day, a new version of me, a third of me demented, cemented in pain Juggling opposing kinds of fame I don’t know how to make friends, I’m a lonely soul — “reincarnated” “Reincarnated” is a fascinating exercise in exploring the concept of reincarnation, imagining a spiritual connection to the ancestors. But before his trip through the past, he sets the emotional stage by reflecting on his painful growth as a remedy for his struggles with loneliness and self-doubt. He seeks not pity but salvation, searching for the fire to fuel his personal growth. It’s commendable, if a little sad. To all my young niggas, let me be the demonstration How to conduct differences with a healthy conversation If that’s your family, then handle it as such Don’t let the socials gas you up or let emotions be your crutch— “heart pt. 6” “Heart pt. 6” is a full-on nostalgia trip, with Kendrick reminiscing on a time when TDE was underground, Jay Rock was about to be the major label star, Ab-Soul was the genius lyricist, and Schoolboy Q wasn’t even rapping. But there’s a clear undertone of regret in how his relationship with TDE and Black Hippy dissolved, evidenced by this attempt at wise words directed at those who may follow in his footsteps. He’s achieved nearly everything someone in his position can achieve. But mans still misses making music with his best friends. Nigga feel like he entitled ’cause he knew me since a kid Bitch, I cut my granny off if she don’t see it how I see it, hm Got a big mouth but he lack big ideas — “tv off” Play that opp shit around me, I’ma tell you, “Turn it off” Heard what happened to your mans, not sorry for your loss — “peekaboo” True bitterness transcends even death. #RIPBOZO .

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Nov, 2024) Minister for Planning and Development on Monday said that Tehreek e Insaf ( ), is playing political tactics to gain personal interest. PTI had been involved in attacking security institutions on 9, he said while talking to a private channel. Ali Amin Gandapur is utilizing official resources of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa for creating trouble in the Center, he said. The law enforcement institutions are fully to take action against any violators, he warned. In reply to a question about dialogue with , he said the always tried to hold talks with leaders but they refused to go forward. We never closed the doors for dialogue but leaders didn’t show any sincerity for talks, he said. To another question about release of the founder of , he said founder is facing charges including 9 , and the courts will decide the cases of . He said that will not allow to spread unrest through public rallies or halt activity by arranging demonstration anywhere. Commenting on rule in , he said the has failed to resolve the people's problems and constitutional options are available to address genuine issues of the province. We want to make a modern economic state and for this, no hindrance would be tolerated at any , he stated.

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Remee Wire & Cable's Class 4 Fault-Managed Power Cabling Installed in Largest LED Lighting ProjectDemocrats plan to elect new party leader just days after Trump's inaugurationBaku’s bleak outlook The Baku climate conference appears to have delivered a deadly blow to international efforts in limiting global warming. At a time when the developing nations are already struggling to emerge out of the economic slowdown triggered by the ongoing wars in Europe and West Asia, it would be an impossible task for them to mobilise the necessary finances for adaptation and climate mitigation. In addition, the political change in the United States will bring its own set of challenges in the journey of global climate actions. With developed countries reneging on their responsibility to help the developing nations fight climate change, the outlook for global climate mitigation efforts appears bleak. As such, the Global South needs to find innovative ways to find the resources to fight climate change on its own. Kosaraju Chandramouli, Hyderabad Manipur burning It is saddening that the State of Manipur has been burning for months and there appears to be wanton and wilful inaction on the part of both the State and Centre in not taking any meaningful steps to curb the incendiarism. The cauldron of enmity and vengeance may boil over at any time. Time waits for none. It includes the ruling party, the Bharatiya Janata Party too. Mani Nataraajan, Chennai In Jeddah While cricket is undeniably a beloved sport in our country and the Indian Premier League provides a platform for exceptional talent, the astronomical figures involved in player auctions leave many common citizens bewildered and disheartened (‘Sport’ page, “Super Sunday for Pant, Shreyas and Venkatesh”, November 25). At a time when millions in our country are struggling with scant basic necessities, the idea of spending crores on individual players seems both extravagant and misplaced. Such immense financial outlays not only widen the disparity between the privileged and the underprivileged but also set a precedent where sportsmanship takes a back seat to commercialisation. Could not a fraction of this amount be directed toward the grassroots development of cricket, nurturing rural talent, or supporting other sports that struggle for recognition and resources? C.M. Samuel, Thazhathangadi, Kerala Rishab Pant’s journey from a harrowing car accident to becoming the most expensive player in IPL history is a testament to his resilience, determination, and a little bit of destiny. R. Sivakumar, Chennai Published - November 26, 2024 12:24 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit lettersOle Miss Player Takes Shot At Florida Before Saturday's Showdown

The revolutionary idea that "no one is above the law" was a 16th-century Renaissance death knell to the long-established medieval adherence to Latin Christianity’s heretical doctrine of the "divine right of kings." The coronation on Christmas Day 800 A.D. of Frankish King Charlemagne by Pope Leo III created the Holy Roman Empire (it was none of the three). A millennium later, on Aug. 6, 1806, Napoleonic war victories and the American and French Revolutions ended the medieval version of Christian nationalism’s days of political dominance in Western Europe and the U.S. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

Stocks closed higher on Wall Street as the market posted its fifth straight gain and the Dow Jones Industrial Average notched another record high. The S&P 500 rose 0.3%. The benchmark index’s 1.7% gain for the week erased most of its loss from last week. The Dow rose 1% as it nudged past its most recent high set last week, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.2%. Markets have been volatile over the last few weeks, losing ground in the runup to elections in November, then surging following Donald Trump’s victory, before falling again. The S&P 500 has been steadily rising throughout this week to within close range of its record. It’s now within about 0.5% of its all-time high set last week. “Overall, market behavior has normalized following an intense few weeks,” said Mark Hackett, chief of investment research at Nationwide, in a statement. Several retailers jumped after giving Wall Street encouraging financial updates. Gap soared 12.8% after handily beating analysts’ third-quarter earnings and revenue expectations, while raising its own revenue forecast for the year. Discount retailer Ross Stores rose 2.2% after raising its earnings forecast for the year. EchoStar fell 2.8% after DirecTV called off its purchase of that company’s Dish Network unit. Smaller company stocks had some of the biggest gains. The Russell 2000 index rose 1.8%. A majority of stocks in the S&P 500 gained ground, but those gains were kept in check by slumps for several big technology companies. Nvidia fell 3.2%. Its pricey valuation makes it among the heaviest influences on whether the broader market gains or loses ground. The company has grown into a nearly $3.6 trillion behemoth because of demand for its chips used in artificial-intelligence technology. Intuit, which makes TurboTax and other accounting software, fell 5.7%. It gave investors a quarterly earnings forecast that fell short of analysts’ expectations. Facebook owner Meta Platforms fell 0.7% following a decision by the Supreme Court to allow a multibillion-dollar class action investors’ lawsuit to proceed against the company. It stems from the privacy scandal involving the Cambridge Analytica political consulting firm. All told, the S&P 500 rose 20.63 points to 5,969.34. The Dow climbed 426.16 points to 44,296.51, and the Nasdaq picked up 42.65 points to close at 2,406.67. European markets closed mostly higher and Asian markets ended mixed. Crude oil prices rose. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.41% from 4.42% late Thursday. In the crypto market, bitcoin hovered around $99,000, according to CoinDesk. It has more than doubled this year and first surpassed the $99,000 level on Thursday. Retailers remained a big focus for investors this week amid close scrutiny on consumer spending habits headed into the holiday shopping season. Walmart, the nation’s largest retailer, reported a quarter of strong sales and gave investors an encouraging financial forecast. Target, though, reported weaker earnings than analysts’ expected and its forecast disappointed Wall Street. Consumer spending has fueled economic growth, despite a persistent squeeze from inflation and high borrowing costs. Inflation has been easing and the Federal Reserve has started trimming its benchmark interest rates. That is likely to help relieve pressure on consumers, but any major shift in spending could prompt the Fed to reassess its path ahead on interest rates. Also, any big reversals on the rate of inflation could curtail spending. Consumer sentiment remains strong, according to the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index. It revised its latest figure for November to 71.8 from an initial reading of 73 earlier this month, though economists expected a slight increase. It’s still up from 70.5 in October. The survey also showed that consumers’ inflation expectations for the year ahead fell slightly to 2.6%, which is the lowest reading since December of 2020. Wall Street will get another update on how consumers feel when the business group The Conference Board releases its monthly consumer confidence survey on Tuesday. A key inflation update will come on Wednesday when the U.S. releases its October personal consumption expenditures index. The PCE is the Fed’s preferred measure of inflation and this will be the last PCE reading prior to the central bank’s meeting in December.Rays will play 13 of first 16 games at home and 47 of 59, then have 69 of last 103 on road

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Dan Campbell, Lions no longer satisfied with making playoffsBy KINSEY COTE Special to the Herald A local Vietnam War veteran hopes to help other military members and families navigate death through his soon-to-be-published comprehensive guide, “End of Life Planning for Veterans and Spouses/Families.” Kenneth Johnson, a now retired psychologist living in Statesboro, served in the Vietnam War from Christmas Eve 1968 to Nov. 19, 1969. Johnson operated in a combat role with the 25th Infantry Division and retired from the U.S. Army as a Specialist 5th Class. He was awarded the Bronze Star and twice awarded the Army Commendation for Valor due to his actions in combat. Johnson said that he willingly enlisted to help fight in the Vietnam War, and didn’t think twice about his decision since he comes from a military family. His father, retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 Edwin R. Johnson, served in the U.S. Army for more than 30 years and fought in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Following his retirement from the Army after Vietnam, Johnson pursued his Bachelors of Arts in Psychology/Biology from the University of Delaware, a Masters of Science in Clinical Psychology and completed all courses for his Ph.D in Counseling Psychology from the University of Miami, but did not complete his dissertation. “In my conscious mind, certainly I wanted to help others deal with situations in life, and help themselves,” Johnson said. “I think unconsciously, I was seeking to understand myself and dealing with my own personal problems, some of which I had no idea I had.” Johnson said his experiences in Vietnam helped lead him to pursue his degree in psychology and now he wants to help other veterans as much as possible, even now past retirement. Johnson moved from the Miami area to Statesboro in 1995. He said the years following the destruction caused by Category 5 Hurricane Andrew in 1992 saw most of his clientele leave the area. He said he loves Statesboro “due to the quiet and safe area, as well as nice people.” In 2008, Johnson was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and began preparing for his own death. Johnson said he saw how distressed his wife became following this diagnosis, and he saw his needs were not as great as the need to relieve her stress. Johnson said he wanted to ensure that all his financial affairs were handled and that his wife’s stress would be limited to her grieving. Johnson was able to manage his condition and his symptoms went into full remission in 2019. Shortly after that, he joined American Legion Dexter Allen Post 90 in Statesboro and began volunteering as a service officer. He continues in the same role today, assisting veterans and their families in navigating VA-related issues. Johnson said he now realizes that his own prior preparations for death were nowhere near complete, despite his months of research. He said he saw a need to compile a comprehensive, step-by-step guide for end-of-life planning of before, during and after death, containing documents and steps for veterans and their families to take. “The book I have written, and will hopefully be published soon, is meant to supply all the information that is necessary to navigate this end-of-life planning,” Johnson said. Both Johnson and his wife said they believe the resources and forms he outlines in his guide and needed by veterans and their families, aren’t easily accessible due to technology barriers, as well as forms being located in a variety of places. Johnson’s wife, Barbara, recounted how she felt when he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in 2008 and not being sure of where to begin with arrangements. “I was terrified of ever having to deal with that and I’m old, but I’m not completely out of the loop. There’s no way I could navigate that if he should suddenly die,” Barbara said. U.S. Army veteran Kenneth Johnson and his wife Barbara talk about why he wanted to compile and publish information that will help veterans make more educated end-of-life decisions. Content of the book Johnson said “End-of-Life Planning for Veterans and Spouses/Families” was inspired by his need to understand how to navigate death for veterans, stemming from his own experience. “If I had a message for my fellow veterans, it would be: ‘Come on guys, wake up, smell the roses, pay attention,’” Johnson said. “This isn’t something that you put off until later. It’s time to man up and do it now.” Johnson also said that even if the veteran is experiencing denial surrounding their death, the six-chapter book provides an empowering approach to spouses about being able to handle the process and start preparing by themselves. Johnson’s book may be purchased as a virtual book via Kindle or from Amazon as a physical, paperback book. The Kindle version contains hyperlinks that will take readers to the most recent version of the forms needed. Now finished with his book, Johnson said he has two priorities. He said he plans to continue to periodically update the book and continue his research to make it even better, and spend more quality time and enjoy life with his wife.

Get TECNO’s latest AI-powered PHANTOM V Flip 2 5G on its first sale for only P27,999BEIRUT (AP) — Israel's military launched airstrikes across Lebanon on Monday, unleashing explosions throughout the country and killing at least 12 while Israeli leaders appeared to be closing in on a negotiated ceasefire with the Hezbollah militant group. Israeli strikes hit commercial and residential buildings in Beirut as well as in the port city of Tyre. Military officials said they targeted areas known as Hezbollah strongholds. They issued evacuation orders for Beirut's southern suburbs, and strikes landed across the city, including meters from a Lebanese police base and the city's largest public park. The barrage came as officials indicated they were nearing agreement on a ceasefire, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Security Cabinet prepared to discuss an offer on the table. Massive explosions lit up Lebanon's skies with flashes of orange, sending towering plumes of smoke into the air as Israeli airstrikes pounded Beirut’s southern suburbs Monday. The blasts damaged buildings and left shattered glass and debris scattered across nearby streets. No casualties were reported after many residents fled the targeted sites. Some of the strikes landed close to central Beirut and near Christian neighborhoods and other targets where Israel had issued evacuation warnings, including in Tyre and Nabatieh province. Israeli airstrikes also hit the northeast Baalbek-Hermel region without warning. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said Monday that at least 12 people were killed in the strikes in the Tyre province, adding to the more than 3,700 people in Lebanon who have been killed since Israel launched its invasion two months ago. Many of those killed since the start of the war between Israel and Hezbollah have been civilians , and health officials said some of the recovered bodies were so severely damaged that DNA testing would be required to confirm their identities. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Lebanon's Health Ministry says the war has displaced 1.2 million people. The latest round of airstrikes came weeks after Israeli ground forces invaded southern Lebanon in early October, meeting heavy resistance in a narrow strip of land along the border. The military had previously exchanged attacks across the border with Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group that began firing rockets into Israel the day after the war in Gaza began last year. Lebanese politicians have decried the ongoing airstrikes and said they are impeding U.S.-led ceasefire negotiations. The country's deputy parliament speaker accused Israel of ramping up its bombardment in order to pressure Lebanon to make concessions in indirect ceasefire negotiations with Hezbollah. Elias Bousaab, an ally of the militant group, said Monday that the pressure has increased because “we are close to the hour that is decisive regarding reaching a ceasefire.” Israeli officials voiced similar optimism Monday about prospects for a ceasefire. Mike Herzog, the country's ambassador to Washington, earlier in the day told Israeli Army Radio that several points had yet to be finalized. Though any deal would require agreement from the government, Herzog said Israel and Hezbollah were “close to a deal." “It can happen within days,” he said. Israeli officials have said the sides are close to an agreement that would include withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and a pullback of Hezbollah fighters from the Israeli border. But several sticking points remain. Two Israeli officials told The Associated Press that Netanyahu’s security Cabinet had scheduled a meeting for Tuesday, but they said it remained unclear whether the Cabinet would vote to approve the deal. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing internal deliberations. Danny Danon, Israel’s U.N. ambassador, told reporters Monday that he expected a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah to have stages and to be discussed by leaders Monday or Tuesday. Still, he warned, “it’s not going to happen overnight.” After previous hopes for a ceasefire were dashed, U.S. officials cautioned that negotiations were not yet complete and noted that there could be last-minute hitches that either delay or destroy an agreement. "Nothing is done until everything is done," White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Monday. The proposal under discussion to end the fighting calls for an initial two-month ceasefire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River. The withdrawals would be accompanied by an influx of thousands more Lebanese army troops, who have been largely sidelined in the war, to patrol the border area along with an existing U.N. peacekeeping force . Western diplomats and Israeli officials said Israel is demanding the right to strike in Lebanon if it believes Hezbollah is violating the terms. The Lebanese government has said that such an arrangement would authorize violations of the country's sovereignty. A ceasefire could mark a step toward ending the regionwide war that ballooned after Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250 . The lack of a ceasefire has emerged as a political liability for Israeli leaders including Netanyahu, particularly while 60,000 Israelis remain away from their homes in the country's north after more than a year of cross-border violence. Hezbollah rockets have reached as far south into Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers died fighting in the ground offensive in Lebanon. The Israeli military said about 250 projectiles were fired Sunday, with some intercepted. A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, the strongest of Iran’s armed proxies , is expected to significantly calm regional tensions that have led to fears of a direct, all-out war between Israel and Iran. It’s not clear how the ceasefire will affect the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Hezbollah had long insisted that it would not agree to a ceasefire until the war in Gaza ends, but it dropped that condition. While the proposal is expected to be approved if Netanyahu brings it to a vote in his security Cabinet, one hard-line member, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, said he would oppose it. He said on X that a deal with Lebanon would be a “big mistake” and a “missed historic opportunity to eradicate Hezbollah.” If the ceasefire talks fail, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said, “it will mean more destruction and more and more animosity and more dehumanization and more hatred and more bitterness.” Speaking at a G7 meeting in Fiuggi, Italy, the last summit of its kind before U.S. President Joe Biden leaves office, Safadi said such a failure "will doom the future of the region to more conflict and more killing and more destruction.” Federman reported from Jerusalem and Metz from Rabat, Morocco. Associated Press writers Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, Nicole Winfield in Fiuggi, Italy, and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed to this report. Find more of AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

He is sought, though unlikely to surrender, to answer charges “for crimes against humanity and war crimes” in Gaza. The warrants, and Israel’s refusal to honour them or recognise the legitimacy of the UN court, will increase the country’s political isolation internationally over a war that began after the horrific massacre of Israeli civilians by Hamas and is now almost universally seen as being conducted using disproportionate means. More than 43,000 Gazans are believed to have been killed, while the flattened territory is teetering on the verge of famine. The ICC warrants, sought since May by the court’s chief prosecutor, target Netanyahu, recently fired Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant, and a leader of Hamas, Muhammad Deif, who may have been killed in an Israeli attack. Two other former Hamas leaders, Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Hanniyeh, were also sought but both have been killed by Israeli forces. Israel appears determined not to surrender Netanyahu or Gallant and continues to maintain that the court has no jurisdiction as Israel is not one of the 124 signatory states to the Rome Statute which established the ICC and confers legal authority on it. But the State of Palestine, recognised as such by the UN, and more recently by Ireland, is a signatory – it signed up in January 2015 despite vigorous Israeli protests – and the court has already found that its jurisdiction does extend to considering acts by Israel’s forces in a foreign signatory state, such as Gaza and the West Bank. The court yesterday firmly rejected Israel’s contention to the contrary and the idea that a state can buck the rule of law, particularly international humanitarian law related to armed conflict, by opting out of its collective enforcement. Importantly, the court has not pronounced on Netanyahu’s guilt, only that there are reasonable cases to answer on charges that include impeding humanitarian aid, restricting access for relief operations and using hunger as a weapon of war. Because of lack of evidence, the court considered only two cases of attacks directed against civilians, but found that both men bear criminal responsibility as civilian superiors for the war crime of intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population of Gaza. Netanyahu has behaved for years with impunity, as if he will never have to answer for his actions, whether in the conduct of war or in the face of long-standing criminal charges of corruption. It is entirely right that he should face the court in The Hague, thought this is unlikely to happen.AES Announces 2% Increase in Quarterly Dividend