Thursday Briefing: A fragile cease-fire in Lebanon

November 28, 2024

	By Gaya Gupta

Good morning. We’re covering the first day of a cease-fire in Lebanon and Donald Trump’s new envoy to Russia and Ukraine.

Plus, a post-election Thanksgiving.

People on foot and in cars around a destroyed building in a city, with a yellow and green flag visible.

Residents of the Dahiya, south of Beirut, celebrated the cease-fire announcement yesterday. Diego Ibarra Sanchez for The New York Times

A fragile peace began in Lebanon

The Lebanese Army said yesterday that it was sending more forces to southern Lebanon to support a U.S.-backed cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah as it began to take hold.

Thousands of displaced people began to return to areas ruined by Israeli strikes. Bumper-to-bumper traffic jammed roads leading out of Beirut as people sought to make their way back to southern towns and villages. Israel’s military warned civilians against immediately returning to some areas and declared a curfew over much of southern Lebanon that was scheduled to end today.

Many questions remain about the truce’s durability, which was underscored by the Israeli shelling of two villages in southern Lebanon, Khiam and Kfar Kila. Israel’s military said its soldiers 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, Ben Hubbard writes.

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.

A man with gray hair, wearing glasses and a blue suit with a red patterned tie.

Keith Kellogg Stefani Reynolds for The New York Times

Trump chose a Ukraine-Russia envoy

President-elect 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 likely to play a crucial role in 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 of imposing 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 is the list of nominations so far.

Analysis: There are two presidents leading the country, Peter Baker writes: one officially, the other unofficially — and each 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.

The White House, with black vehicles parked out front.

Pete Marovich for The New York Times

Three Americans were freed in a prisoner swap with China

The Biden administration negotiated a prisoner swap with China for the release of three American men, including one who had been an F.B.I. informant, U.S. officials said. The three men — John Leung, Kai Li and Mark Swidan — were on planes to the U.S. yesterday.

The swap has been in the works for months and involves the release of at least one Chinese prisoner in the U.S. China, which does not typically do prisoner swaps, may be signaling to Trump about the possibility of making important concessions, an expert said.

MORE TOP NEWS

Police officers stand guard in the dark.

Police officers in Islamabad, yesterday. Aamir Qureshi/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Pakistan: More than 600 people were arrested in Islamabad during an overnight crackdown on supporters of Imran Khan, the jailed former prime minister.
Myanmar: The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor sought an arrest warrant for Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the junta leader, for crimes against humanity.
Britain: A number of small drones have been spotted flying over four bases used by the U.S. Air Force in England. The Pentagon said they were monitoring.
China: Volkswagen said it would pull out of the Xinjiang region, after criticism from human rights groups for doing business there.

Climate: Documents show how some big petrochemical and plastics companies are waging a campaign to push back against a “tide of anti-plastic sentiment.”
Namibia: SWAPO, the party that has governed the southern African country since independence, is facing a tough test in elections.
South Korea: A record November snowfall in Seoul felt like a sudden plunge into winter.
Hong Kong: For Chan Po-ying, a labor rights leader and one of the city’s last remaining pro-democracy activists, life is one of constant police surveillance.
Education: Oxford University named William Hague, a former Conservative Party leader, its next chancellor.

Sports

Soccer: As a civil war raged, Sudan’s national football team qualified for the Africa Cup in 2025. This podcast from The Athletic talks about the hope of sports amid the horror of war.
Baseball: The pitcher Blake Snell, a free agent, agreed to a five-year, $182 million contract with the Dodgers.
Shohei Ohtani: The baseball star’s deal with New Balance features a signature collection and a new logo. Take a look.

MORNING READ

A woman surrounded by people with cameras and microphones.

Gisele Pelicot at the courthouse in Avignon, France, yesterday. Alexandre Dimou/Reuters

A mass trial that has deeply shaken France has focused on Dominique Pelicot, who drugged his wife and invited men to rape her for almost a decade. The 50 other men on trial have been dubbed by French media “Monsieur Tout-le-monde” — Mr. Every Man — because of how varied and ordinary they are.

The men appeared in court over 10 weeks for a trial that offered small glimpses into their lives.

CONVERSATION STARTERS

Remembering the Menswear Dog: Bodhi, a Shiba Inu who became a canine men’s fashion influencer, died at 15.
As nature intended: A French museum has a show about social nudity, and on some nights visitors also attend naked. Our reporter observed the dress code.
A much bigger boat: The MSC World America, the eighth-largest cruise ship in the world, will begin offering itineraries next year.
The story behind the sale: A 74-year-old sidewalk fruit vendor was stunned to hear that his 25-cent banana was resold for $6.2 million at a New York art auction.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times .

ARTS AND IDEAS

An illustration of two figures arguing over a holiday turkey, while a woman holding a dish and a child cower in the background.

Eleanor Davis

A post-election Thanksgiving

For a holiday that’s usually about coming together, this Thanksgiving arrives today to a deeply divided America.

Some people, like Michael Troy, 50, have found their relationship with their partner in jeopardy because of how they each voted. Others, like Jon May, are spending only part of the day with family and the rest with friends so they can actually unwind.

I’m writing this newsletter from my family’s home in California, where the focus is on food: My dad is making the brine for Ligaya Mishan’s Jamaican-spiced turkey. My mom is planning to make this sweet-and-tangy cranberry sauce, and my sister is prepping creamy, double-garlic mashed potatoes.

I plan to spend some time on the couch, getting an early start on Black Friday online shopping. To the Americans celebrating abroad today, I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Star power: We also gathered some of the biggest names in cooking and culture to share warm memories, hot takes and delicious recipes.

RECOMMENDATIONS

A plate of French toast with bananas, nuts and syrup.

Linda Xiao for The New York Times

Cook: This French toast recipe uses ipo, a Tahitian bread rich with grated coconut and coconut milk.

Read: In “The New India,” Rahul Bhatia writes about his country’s turn to Hindu nationalism.

Watch: “Moana 2” features the Disney princess Moana as she continues her seafaring ways.

Improve: We have tips on how to become a master microwaver.

Play: Spelling Bee, the Mini Crossword, Wordle and Sudoku. Find all our games here.

That’s it for today. See you tomorrow. — Gaya

We welcome your feedback. Send us your suggestions 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: Asia Pacific Edition from The New York Times.

To stop receiving Morning Briefing: Asia Pacific 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.

Subscribe to The Times Get The New York Times app

Connect with us on: