Friday Briefing: Day 2 of Lebanon’s cease-fire
Good morning. We’re covering Day 2 of the cease-fire in Lebanon and a major Russian attack on Ukraine. Plus, the gangs stealing hiring exams in India.
Lebanon’s cease-fire appeared to holdThe uneasy truce between Israel and Hezbollah largely held through its second day in Lebanon yesterday, though Israel conducted an airstrike that it said targeted militants violating terms of the cease-fire deal. The Israeli strike was the first of its kind since the cease-fire went into effect before dawn on Wednesday. But despite an exchange of blame between two parties of the deal — Israel and Lebanon — neither of the war’s combatants, Israel or Hezbollah, seemed keen to return to full-scale fighting. The Israeli military said its airstrike, near the border in southern Lebanon, had targeted two militants arriving at a Hezbollah rocket facility that had been used to fire into Israel. Lebanon’s army, which is set to play a major role in enforcing the truce, accused Israel of violating the cease-fire “several times” yesterday. Hezbollah did not immediately comment. Across Lebanon, people greeted the cease-fire that ended the country’s deadliest war in three decades with relief, hoping that some sense of normalcy would return. Joy and tears: Many Lebanese returned to their towns and villages to find homes that would require costly repairs to make them livable again. Some found no homes at all, just piles of concrete and twisted metal with their possessions somewhere beneath. Read more about their journey home. Also in the Middle East:
Russia attacked Ukraine’s energy gridMore than a million Ukrainians were left without power yesterday after Russia targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure with missiles and drones. President Vladimir Putin said the attack was in retaliation for Kyiv’s assaults on Russian territory with long-range U.S. missiles. Ukraine’s energy ministry said it was the 11th major attack on the country’s energy infrastructure this year. During a visit to Kazakhstan, Putin said that strikes on Ukraine could intensify, with possible missile attacks on Kyiv. Context: Russia and Ukraine have been engaged in an escalating cycle of strikes in recent weeks. Some analysts say both sides are trying to improve their negotiating position before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January.
Australia barred children under 16 from social mediaAustralia’s Senate yesterday approved a law that imposes a ban on social media for children under 16, one of the world’s most sweeping measures to protect young people online. Under the new law, social media platforms must take “reasonable steps” to prevent anyone under 16 from having an account. Corporations could be fined for failing to implement age requirements, but neither underage users nor their parents will face punishment for violations. What’s next: Social media companies have a 12-month period to meet the law’s requirements. Critics say big questions remain about how the law will be enforced, and whether it will work. Here’s what else to know about the ban. |
