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Israel and Lebanon Agree to 10‑Day Ceasefire as Trump Announces Breakthrough

  Israel and Lebanon Reach 10‑Day Ceasefire Following Trump Announcement Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10‑day ceasefire set to begin at 5 p.m. EST, according to U.S. President Donald Trump, who said the truce followed “excellent conversations” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.  The ceasefire comes after more than six weeks of intense fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran‑backed armed group operating in southern Lebanon. The conflict has resulted in over 2,000 deaths in Lebanon and displaced more than a million residents, while Israel has maintained a 10‑kilometre security zone in southern Lebanon. Trump stated that both leaders agreed to begin the truce to pursue peace, adding that he plans to invite them to the White House for the first direct talks between the two countries since 1983. Lebanese officials have welcomed the ceasefire, though Hezbollah has said its adherence depends on Israel halting all attacks....

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U.S. Consumer Prices Rise More Than Expected in December; Weekly Jobless Claims Fall

 

The U.S. consumer prices rose more than expected in December, according to a recent report by the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.3% last month after nudging up 0.1% in November

The cost of shelter accounted for more than half of the increase in the CPI. In the 12 months through December, the CPI rose 3.4% after increasing 3.1% in November. This increase was higher than the 0.2% on the month and 3.2% on a year-on-year basis that economists polled by Reuters had forecasted.

In addition, the report also stated that weekly jobless claims fell. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits were unchanged at a seasonally adjusted 205,000 for the week ended Dec. 18, the Labor Department said.

This report could delay a much anticipated interest rate cut in March from the Federal Reserve. With the resilient labor market keeping wage growth elevated, some economists expect a rate cut in May or June.


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