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A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has begun.

Commencing at 2am UK time (4am local time) on Wednesday, the deal marks a notable step forward in diplomatic efforts in the region.

Previously such talks had floundered and failed to produce results – until this week.

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Explained: Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire

The deal, brokered by the US and France, was announced by President Joe Biden and will see an initial 60-day halt to the fighting that has claimed thousands of Lebanese lives and displaced over a million people.

It will also allow tens of thousands of people both sides of the border to return home.

Israel will gradually withdraw its forces from Lebanon as the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah leaves its positions in the region, and retreats north of the Litani River – which runs around 30km (20miles) north of the border.

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The Lebanese army will take control of the territory to ensure Hezbollah doesn’t rebuild infrastructure there, with the country’s foreign minister Abdallah Bou Habib saying it could deploy at least 5,000 troops.

“This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities,” Mr Biden said.

“Civilians on both sides will soon be able to safely return to their communities,” he added.

There appeared to be lingering disagreement over whether Israel would have the right to attack Hezbollah if it believed the militants had broken the agreement.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was part of the deal but Lebanese and Hezbollah officials reportedly claimed otherwise.

“If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack. For every violation, we will attack with might,” Mr Netanyahu said.

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Biden announcing ceasefire

Mr Biden said Israel had the right to quickly resume operations if Hezbollah did break the truce.

Within Israel, there was not total support for the ceasefire, with a poll conducted by Israel’s Channel 12 TV finding that 37% of Israelis were in favour of the ceasefire, and 32% against.

In Lebanon, people cheered on the streets as it was confirmed.

Israel bombards Lebanon right until ceasefire deadline

With less than half an hour to go until the ceasefire, Israel was still launching strikes on Beirut.

In the days and hours before, it had unleashed a wave of attacks across Lebanon, killing at least 42 people according to Associated Press.

Explosions lit up Lebanon’s skies in the day before the ceasefire with both Beirut and the port city of Tyre targeted by Israel as its cabinet discussed, and eventually voted for, the peace offer.

Smoke rises over Dahiyeh, Beirut, after an Israeli strike on Tuesday.
Pic: AP/Bilal Hussein
Image:
Smoke rises over Dahiyeh, Beirut, after an Israeli strike on Tuesday.
Pic: AP/Bilal Hussein

Rescuers search for victims at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
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Rescuers search for victims in the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike in Beirut.
Pic: AP/Hassan Ammar

Israel also later launched strikes at the north Lebanon crossing with Syria for the first time, according to Lebanon’s transport minister Ali Hamieh.

The most recent deaths mean at least 3,760 people have been killed in Lebanon in the 13 months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, which includes the two months since the ground invasion.

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Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Lebanon’s Health Ministry says the war has displaced 1.2 million people.

In Israel, Hezbollah rockets have struck as far south as Tel Aviv and at least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians.

But while the ceasefire will end hostilities in Lebanon, worries over the situation in Gaza continued.

Charities have repeated warnings of a humanitarian crisis in parts of the enclave and the United Nations Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said that the coming winter would lead to more deaths as well.

Meanwhile, Hamas is still holding dozens of hostages who have spent more than a year captive.

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Two married couples found dead in British car after crash in Germany

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Two married couples found dead in British car after crash in Germany

Two married couples have died after a British car veered off the road and crashed in Germany, according to police.

The fatal accident happened shortly after midnight on Saturday in the trees near a highway in the Kassel district, north of Hesse in central Germany.

The 32-year-old male driver, a 31-year-old female passenger, a 32-year-old female passenger, and a 30-year-old female passenger all died at the scene, despite the efforts of German emergency services.

Sky News understands UK officials have not been contacted for assistance.

At roughly 12.30am on Saturday, the car appears to have veered off the road and crashed into nearby trees around 30m from the road, according to the Kassel police department.

Pic: Feuerwehr Reinhardshagen
Image:
Pic: Feuerwehr Reinhardshagen

One of the victim’s phones automatically alerted the emergency services to the incident, who sent an ambulance to the scene.

Soon, fire engines, ambulances, command vehicles and emergency support vehicles were all dispatched.

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When emergency workers arrived, the car was lying on its side, wedged between several trees.

It wasn’t until they removed the roof that they found all four passengers.

Pic: Feuerwehr Reinhardshagen
Image:
Pic: Feuerwehr Reinhardshagen

The accident happened on Highway L3229
Image:
The accident happened on Highway L3229

The emergency workers who dealt with the victims were immediately supported by the specialist mental health workers at the fire station in Reinhardshagen.

“This high number of deaths is an extraordinary operation for our Reinhardshagen Volunteer Fire Department,” said a fire department spokesperson.

“For some of the emergency personnel, it is the first time they have been confronted with death in this way.

“Therefore, a great deal is being done to help us process these images. We will also discuss this among ourselves and within families, because not everyone can easily shake off what they have seen.”

An investigation into the accident is ongoing and is being conducted by the Hofgeismar police station.

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Legendary boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. to stand trial in Mexico over alleged cartel ties

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Legendary boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. to stand trial in Mexico over alleged cartel ties

Legendary boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. will stand trial over alleged cartel ties and arms trafficking, his lawyer has said. 

A Mexican court has granted a three-month extension for further investigation into the case, according to Chávez’s lawyer, Rubén Fernando Benítez Alvarez.

He said the claims against his client were “speculation” and “urban legends” after a court hearing on Saturday in the northern Mexican city of Hermosillo.

If convicted, Chávez – who took part in the hearing virtually from a detention facility – could face a prison sentence of four to eight years, Mr Alvarez said.

Chávez, 39, who has been living in the United States for several years, was arrested in early July by federal agents outside his Los Angeles home for overstaying his visa and providing inaccurate details on an application to obtain a green card.

The arrest came just days after a fight he had with famed American boxer Jake Paul in Los Angeles.

Mexican prosecutors have been investigating the boxer since 2019 after US authorities filed a complaint against the Sinaloa Cartel for organized crime, human trafficking, arms smuggling, and drug trafficking.

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The case prompted investigations into 13 individuals, including Ovidio Guzmán López – the son of convicted drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán – as well as several associates, hitmen, and accomplices of the criminal organization. Guzmán López was arrested in January 2023 and extradited to the US eight months later.

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Following the inquiry, the Federal Attorney General’s Office issued several arrest warrants, including one against Chávez.

The boxer was deported by the US on 9 August and handed over to agents of the Federal Attorney General’s Office in Sonora state, who transferred him to the Federal Social Reintegration Center in Hermosillo.

The high-profile case comes amid the Trump administration’s efforts to pressure Mexico into cracking down on organized crime, including cancelling visas of prominent Mexican artists and celebrities, and increasing deportations.

Chávez has struggled with drug addiction throughout his career and has been arrested multiple times. In 2012, he was found guilty of driving under the influence in Los Angeles and was sentenced to 13 days in jail.

The boxer was arrested last year for weapons possession. Police said Chávez had two rifles.

He was released shortly afterward upon posting $50,000 bail (£36,000), on the condition that he attend a facility to receive treatment for his addiction.

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Pro-Palestine Australians protest after week of tension with Israel

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Pro-Palestine Australians protest after week of tension with Israel

Thousands of Australians protested in support of Palestine on Sunday, two weeks after the country announced it would recognise a Palestinian state. 

More than 40 protests took place across the country, according to Palestine Action Group, an Australian organisation.

Pic: Reuters
Image:
Pic: Reuters

The group said around 350,000 people attended rallies nationwide, although police have estimated lower numbers in some cities.

Organiser Josh Lees in Sydney said the protesters were marching to “demand an end to this genocide in Gaza and to demand that our government sanction Israel“.

Women pray during the protests on 24 August. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Women pray during the protests on 24 August. Pic: Reuters

A demonstrator carries a doll during the Nationwide March for Palestine protest in Sydney on 24 August. Pic: Reuters
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A demonstrator carries a doll during the Nationwide March for Palestine protest in Sydney on 24 August. Pic: Reuters

A group representing Australia’s Jewish community, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said the rallies created “an unsafe environment and shouldn’t be happening”.

In the last week, Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched more personal attacks against Australia’s Anthony Albanese.

Protests took place across Australia. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Protests took place across Australia. Pic: Reuters

“I think his record is forever tarnished by the weakness that he showed in the face of [these] Hamas terrorist monsters,” he said on Wednesday, after earlier describing Mr Albanese as “a weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia’s Jews.”

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Mr Albanese said he did not “take these things personally” and that he treated the leaders of other countries with respect.

His government’s decision to formally recognise the Palestinian state in September, made on 11 August, came after tens of thousands of Australians marched over Sydney’s iconic Harbour Bridge in support of Palestine.

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