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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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Trump Trial: The Quest for an Impartial Jury

 

Donald Trump, the first former president to ever go on trial, faces an unprecedented criminal case. The courtroom drama began on Monday, with half of a group of potential jurors swiftly ruled out due to impartiality concerns. Mr. Trump denies falsifying business records to conceal a hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

Challenges in Jury Selection

Sixty out of 96 potential jurors promptly declared their inability to be impartial. Those remaining underwent rigorous questioning, including inquiries about their news consumption and reading habits. The dismissals underscore the difficulty of assembling a panel of 12 unbiased jurors for a case centered around a high-profile sex scandal involving a divisive former president who is once again eyeing the White House.

The Allegations

The Manhattan District Attorney’s office alleges that Mr. Trump directed his former attorney, Michael Cohen, to pay Daniels $130,000 (£104,000) in exchange for her silence about an alleged sexual encounter—a claim the former president vehemently denies. Prosecutors contend that this payment was an attempt to “unlawfully influence” the 2016 election. Mr. Trump has pleaded not guilty.

Jury Selection Process

Jury selection commenced in the afternoon. The judge first excused jurors who expressed partiality, leaving approximately 34 individuals. The remaining pool faced a comprehensive 42-question questionnaire, covering topics such as news preferences and familiarity with Trump’s writings. Eighteen prospective jurors were randomly placed in the jury box, where they answered questions one by one.

One juror, a Wall Street Journal reader, and another, an NPR listener, survived initial scrutiny. However, a woman candidly admitted her strong opinions about Donald Trump, leading to her dismissal. Despite objections from Mr. Trump’s legal team, she exited the jury pool.

Anonymity and Trump’s Reaction

All jurors will remain anonymous due to the case’s high-profile nature. While Mr. Trump maintained a stern expression in court, outside, he labeled the trial “nonsense” and an “assault on America.”

The difficult search for an impartial jury continues, as the trial unfolds in one of the bluest parts of the country—Manhattan, where Democrats dominate. The outcome rests in the hands of these 12 jurors, who must navigate a politically charged landscape and weigh the evidence before them.


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