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Congress Averts Government Shutdown with Last-Minute Spending Bill

  In a dramatic turn of events, Congress narrowly avoided a government shutdown by passing a crucial spending bill late Friday night. The bill, which extends government funding until mid-March, was approved by the House with a vote of 366 to 34 and later passed by the Senate. This legislation provides $110 billion in relief for natural disaster survivors and aid to farmers, while also extending the farm bill. However, the bill notably excludes President-elect Donald Trump's demand to raise the debt ceiling. Instead, Republicans are considering a handshake deal to raise the debt limit by $1.5 trillion early next year and reduce future government spending by $2.5 trillion. This compromise does not have the force of law and will be revisited in the coming months. The spending package also left out key Democratic priorities, such as funding for pediatric cancer research. Despite these omissions, the bill's passage was seen as a significant achievement for House Speaker Mike Johnson...

UN Resolution 1701: The Blueprint for Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire


In 2006, following a month-long conflict between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1701. This resolution aimed to end hostilities and pave the way for lasting security along the Israel-Lebanon border.

Key Provisions of Resolution 1701:

Israeli Withdrawal: Israel was required to withdraw all its forces from southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah's Position: Hezbollah was to move north of the Litani River, with the area exclusively under the Lebanese military and U.N. peacekeepers.

UN Peacekeeping Forces: The resolution called for up to 15,000 U.N. peacekeepers to help maintain calm and secure the area.

Disarmament: It reaffirmed previous resolutions calling for the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon, including Hezbollah.

Despite relative calm for nearly two decades, the resolution's terms were never fully enforced. Recent U.S.-brokered ceasefire efforts have renewed commitment to Resolution 1701, aiming to implement it more strictly and ensure long-term stability.




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