Israel launches intense airstrikes in Lebanon as deadline looms to disarm Hezbollah

BEIRUT (AP) — Israel carried out a series of airstrikes on southern and northeastern Lebanon on Thursday as a deadline looms to disarm the militant Hezbollah group along the countries’ tense frontier. The strikes came a day before a meeting of the committee monitoring the enforcement of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that halted the latest war between Israel and Hezbollah a year ago. The gathering on Friday will be the second meeting of the mechanism after Israel and Lebanon appointed civilian members to a previously military-only committee. The group also includes the United States, France and the U.N. peacekeeping force deployed along the border.

Belgium seeks protection from Russian retaliation as EU leaders weigh a massive loan for Ukraine

BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgium insists on ironclad guarantees from its EU partners to protect against Russian retaliation before backing a massive loan for Ukraine. At a high-stakes EU summit in Brussels, leaders are deciding whether to use frozen Russian assets to underwrite a loan for Ukraine’s needs over the next two years. Belgium fears a Russian backlash and prefers borrowing from international markets. Prime Minister Bart De Wever said Thursday: “give me a parachute and we’ll all jump together.” The EU plans to give 90 billion euros to Ukraine, with other countries covering any shortfall. Belgium insists that it remains a faithful ally to Ukraine but needs strong safeguards. EU leaders have pledged to meet Ukraine’s needs by any means.

Kremlin envoy set to visit Miami for talks on US peace plan for Ukraine

(AP) — A U.S. official says a Kremlin envoy will travel to Florida to discuss a U.S.-proposed plan to end the war in Ukraine. The American official said on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s adviser Kirill Dmitriev is to meet with President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner in Miami on Saturday. The official said that Witkoff and Kushner will sit down with Dmitriev after meetings with Ukrainian and European officials in Berlin earlier this week in which they discussed U.S. security guarantees for Kyiv, territorial concessions and other aspects of the U.S. plan to end the war.

Mourners grieve 10-year-old killed in Bondi mass shooting

SYDNEY (AP) — Hundreds of mourners have gathered in Sydney for the funeral of a 10-year-old girl killed in an antisemitic massacre during a Hanukkah celebration. The attack at Bondi Beach on Sunday left 15 people dead. Authorities say the suspects, a father and son, were inspired by the Islamic State group. The tragedy has sparked a national conversation about antisemitism in Australia. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced reforms to curb radicalization and hate, including tougher hate speech laws and stricter gun controls. Meanwhile, investigations into the suspects’ backgrounds continue, as the Jewish community mourns the victims.