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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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Fragile Hopes as Russia and Ukraine Resume Peace Talks After Three Years

In a significant diplomatic development, Russia and Ukraine have begun their first direct peace talks in over three years, meeting in Istanbul for negotiations brokered by Turkey. The discussions come amid widespread skepticism, with officials and observers expressing doubts about any immediate breakthroughs.

The Ukrainian delegation, led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, is facing off against a Russian team headed by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky. Notably absent from the talks are Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, raising concerns about the level of commitment from both sides.

The negotiations follow a rocky start, with both countries initially sending delegations to different Turkish cities and assembling teams of differing diplomatic weight. While Ukraine has accepted a U.S. and European proposal for a full, 30-day ceasefire, Russia has effectively rejected it by imposing additional conditions.

Despite the low expectations, the talks mark a rare moment of direct engagement between the two nations, offering a glimmer of hope for progress in resolving the ongoing conflict. However, with Russian forces reportedly preparing a fresh military offensive and Ukraine seeking stronger security guarantees from Western allies, the path to peace remains uncertain.

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