Thursday Briefing: A cease-fire takes hold

Plus, a divided Thanksgiving holiday.

View in browser|nytimes.com November 28, 2024 By Natasha Frost Good morning. We're covering the first day of a truce between Hezbollah and Israel, and Donald Trump's Russian-Ukraine envoy. Plus: A divided Thanksgiving holiday. Cars moving south on a busy road near Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. There are hopes that a cease-fire agreement will end 13 months of bloodshed. Daniel Berehulak/The New York Times A fragile peace began in Lebanon Thousands of civilians began to return to war-ravaged communities around Beirut and in southern Lebanon yesterday, as a U.S.-backed cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah took tenuous hold after more than 13 months of bloodshed. About one-quarter of Lebanon's more than five million people had been forced from their homes by the war. In northern Israel, where tens of thousands of people had fled to escape barrages of Hezbollah rockets and drones, there was no apparent rush back to the evacuated towns, where residents — and the Israeli authorities — were wary of the truce. Many questions remain about the agreement's durability, particularly in light of Israeli's shelling of two villages in southern Lebanon, Khiam and Kfar Kila. Israel's military said that its soldiers had opened fire after identifying a vehicle in "a zone prohibited for movement." Here's what else to know about the deal. Analysis: After 13 months of war, Hezbollah will struggle to convince anyone other than its most fervent loyalists that its acceptance of a cease-fire is not a defeat. In Gaza: The Israeli military struck dozens of sites that it said were Hamas military structures, killing at least 33 people, according to the Gazan Health Ministry. I.C.C.: France's Foreign Ministry strongly suggested that Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, would not immediately be arrested if he were to enter French territory, despite a warrant for his arrest. Keith Kellogg, during a news conference at the White House this week. Stefani Reynolds for The New York Times Trump chose a Ukraine-Russia envoy Donald Trump said yesterday that Keith Kellogg, a retired general who served in his first administration, would be his special envoy to Russia and Ukraine. In the newly created position, Kellogg would be central to Trump's effort to bring a swift end to the war in Ukraine. Trump has wrapped up most of his cabinet picks, after announcing his choices for top trade negotiator and for the head of the National Economic Council — roles that will be crucial to his plans to impose heavy tariffs on products from Canada, Mexico and China. Jamieson Greer, who is a lawyer and a former Trump official, is his pick for U.S. trade representative. Here's the list of nominations so far. Analysis: In Biden and Trump, there are two presidents leading the country, our White House correspondent writes — each moving in a different direction. World leaders are calculating whether it makes more sense to try to get something done with the outgoing leader, or to brace for his successor's administration. Gisèle Pelicot at the courthouse in Avignon, France, yesterday. She was the victim of an alleged mass rape orchestrated by her then-husband, Dominique Pelicot. Alexandre Dimou/Reuters Dozens of men were cross-examined in France Dominique Pelicot faces up to 20 years in prison, the longest possible sentence, for drugging his wife of 50 years, Gisèle Pelicot, over almost a decade to rape her, and for offering her unconscious body to strangers he met online. Fifty other men, aged between 27 and 74, have been cross-examined over the course of the 12-week mass rape trial that has left France deeply shaken. All but one of the men have been charged with aggravated rape, attempted rape or sexual assault. The French media have called them "Mr. Every Man" because of how varied, and how ordinary, the men appear. MORE TOP NEWS Aamir Qureshi/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Pakistan: More than 600 people were arrested in an overnight crackdown on supporters of Imran Khan, the former prime minister jailed in Islamabad. Myanmar: The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor sought an arrest warrant for Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, accusing him of crimes against humanity. Diplomacy: The Biden administration negotiated a prisoner swap with China for the release of three American men, including one who was an F.B.I. informant. China: Volkswagen said it would pull out of the Xinjiang region after being criticized by human rights groups for doing business there. Climate: Documents show how some big petrochemical and plastics companies have been pushing back against a "tide of anti-plastic sentiment." Namibia: Voters yesterday went to the polls in a general election that will test support for SWAPO, the party that has governed the nation since it gained independence. France: Boualem Sansal, an outspoken French Algerian writer, has been detained in Algeria on accusations of "endangering the nation" with his proclamations, his lawyer said. Education: William Hague, a former leader of Britain's Conservative Party, was elected the next chancellor of the University of Oxford. England: Unidentified drones have been sighted flying over four bases used by the U.S. Air Force. Russia: Moscow ordered the expulsion of two German journalists in retaliation for what it said was Germany's move to close the Russian state broadcaster's Berlin bureau. SPORTS NEWS Basketball: Our writer offers suggestions about ways to improve the N.B.A. All-Star Game. Running: At the N.C.A.A. Division I cross-country championships, one school turned to a trick both ancient and innovative. Shohei Ohtani: The baseball star's deal with New Balance features a signature collection and a new logo. Take a look. N.F.L.: Why the Lions and the Cowboys host games on Thanksgiving every year. MORNING READ Eleanor Davis Thanksgiving, which Americans are celebrating today, is usually a holiday about coming together. But this year it will be celebrated in a deeply divided nation, as families wrangle with sometimes significant differences of opinion post-election. Lives lived: You might have known him as the Menswear Dog. Bodhi, a Shiba Inu who became a men's fashion influencer, died at 15. CONVERSATION STARTERS Battle of the mega-ships: A hulking European cruise ship is heading to the Caribbean. We took a look inside. Stray dog on a pyramid: A video from Egypt took off on social media — but only after it was appropriated and doctored. As nature intended: A museum in Marseille, France, has a show about social nudity. On some nights, visitors attend naked. ARTS AND IDEAS Amir Hamja for The New York Times Flipping fruit A cryptocurrency entrepreneur last week bought a piece of absurdist art that prominently featured a banana for $5.2 million (plus about a million in in-house fees). The Times interviewed Shah Alam, the migrant street vendor outside the auction house who initially sold the fruit for less than a dollar. "I am a poor man," he said after learning of the art's sale price, his voice breaking. "I have never had this kind of money; I have never seen this kind of money." We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. RECOMMENDATIONS Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. Cook: Feta baked with a drizzle of honey is so easy — and so tasty. Wear: Teeny T-shirts are back. Watch: "The Seed of the Sacred Fig" is a powerful drama about Iran's government. Read: These are nine of the most anticipated books of December. Prepare: Discussing your advance care directive can make life, and death, a bit easier. Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today's Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here. That's it for today's briefing. And a very happy Thanksgiving to those who are celebrating. — Natasha Reach Natasha and the team at briefing@nytimes.com. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Morning Briefing: Europe Edition from The New York Times. To stop receiving Morning Briefing: Europe Edition, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. 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