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A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has been agreed, to celebrations in Lebanon but scepticism in Israel.Lebanese people are finally looking forward to some calm after months of heavy bombardment in the capital Beirut and across the country. An estimated 1.2 million people have been displaced and many towns and villages heavily damaged.Middle East latest: Israel and Lebanon agree ceasefireBut a snap poll for one Israeli news channel found only 37% of Israelis in favour of the deal. Not everyone in the Israeli cabinet was supportive of the deal, either.Itamar Ben-Gvir describes it as "a historic mistake" but didn't threaten to withdraw his party from government. He was the one person who voted against the truce. So what have those critics extracted from Prime Minister Benjamin Neta...

The notion that Donald Trump would hike tariffs is hardly a surprise - it was a plan front and centre of his economic pitch during the election campaign.If that softened the landing, it still hit hard in the three countries in the frame. Mexico warned it would cause inflation and job losses in both their countries and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke of a relationship that needs a "certain amount of working on".It's the weary assessment of a man who's seen this movie before.On the face of it, it's symptomatic of a muscular economic stance that fits entirely with Donald Trump's "America First" strategy. It would have a significant impact, far beyond the countries that Trump has placed in the frame, raising the spectre of trade war and, accordingly, grinding the gears of internat...

Tesco is among retailers stopping the sale of alcohol brands linked to Conor McGregor after he lost a civil rape case.The mixed martial arts star was accused of raping Nikita Hand, who was last week awarded €248,603 (£206,000) after a jury found McGregor assaulted her in a hotel. A Tesco spokesperson said it was removing Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey from sale in stores and online.McGregor sold his stake in the drink three years ago for a reported £103m, but his image currently still appears prominently on its website.The 36-year-old fighter also owns the Forged Irish Stout brand. Major Irish wholesaler Musgrave said alcohol linked to McGregor was "no longer available to our store network".It's understood Costcutter, Carry Out off-licences and a wholesaler to Ireland's Spar and Londis st...

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will put a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah to his cabinet shortly.An agreement could bring about an end to fighting that has seen more than 3,500 Lebanese killed and more than 15,000 injured in over a year. In a TV address Mr Netanyahu said: "It's not the same Hezbollah any more. We've attacked strategic targets throughout Lebanon. We pushed Hezbollah back decades."That is why I will bring before the cabinet tonight a plan for a ceasefire."If Hezbollah tries to attack us, we will attack." Middle East latest: Netanyahu to present ceasefire deal to Israeli cabinetMr Netanyahu said there are three main reasons for a ceasefire now: the Iranian threat, "refreshing our forces and rearming our troops".Any potential agreement would also reportedl...

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin says his party has made "a policy decision" not to enter coalition government with Sinn Fein after Ireland's general election.Current polling shows the three largest parties - Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein - in a three-way tie. In the third of our leader interviews ahead of Friday's vote, Mr Martin told Sky News that Sinn Fein's housing strategy would "crucify first-time buyers".Politics latest: 'It's more worrying for Starmer than he thinks,' says man behind election petitionHe said: "They want to get rid of the help-to-buy scheme and the first home bridge-the-gap scheme. "If you put them together, they can give up to €80,000 to a first-time buyer.""Sinn Fein's housing policies would mean delay, disruption and higher prices at the end of the day," ...

At least six people have died in Pakistan after violence broke out during protests to free former prime minister Imran Khan.Supporters fighting for the release of Khan clashed with security services and broke through a ring of shipping containers locking down the capital Islamabad on Tuesday. Four members of Pakistan's security services and one civilian were killed when a vehicle rammed them in a street.No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Another police officer died in a separate incident. Image: Four security officials and one other person were killed in a ramming attack. Pic: AP Condemning the ramming attack, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said an "anarchist group" was deliberately targeting law enforcemen...

Workers at a backpackers hostel in Laos have been arrested after six tourists, including a British woman, died from suspected methanol poisoning.Eight staff of the Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng were detained for investigation. They are aged between 23 and 44. Simone White, from Orpington, Kent, was one of those who fell ill earlier this month after reportedly drinking "free shots" from a local bar and later died. Image: Simone White from Kent is one of six people who have died from suspected methanol poisoning On Friday, the 28-year-old's parents said they were "devastated by the loss of our beautiful, kind and loving daughter".An American, two Danish citizens and two Australians have also died, following the suspect...

The government's financial sanctions watchdog has admitted it has only imposed a single £15,000 fine for evasion of Russian sanctions since they were introduced two and a half years ago.Appearing before the Treasury Select Committee, the Treasury's economic crime chief said that despite the imposition of the most far-reaching set of sanctions on any country, so far the organisation has levied only one fine. That fine, on a company called Integral Concierge Services (ICSL), was imposed in September after it was found that ICSL helped a designated person transfer and receive money. Image: The Kremlin and St Basil's Cathedral in Moscow. File pic: Reuters Money blog: Major retailers named over questionable Black Friday dealsSo ...

A search and rescue team is "intensifying its efforts" to find 16 people, reportedly including two Britons, who are missing after their yacht capsized in the Red Sea.The 34-metre-long tourist boat Sea Story sank on Monday south of the Egyptian coastal town of Marsa Alam with 44 people on board. Egyptian military forces, which are co-ordinating operations, have already rescued 28 people "in cooperation with a cruise ship that happened to be in the area".In a statement on Facebook, it said "the general command of the armed forces has also issued its orders to the Navy to intensify its... search operations" for 16 people who are still missing. Image: Naval forces are intensifying their search for missing passengers and crew. Pic: Egyptian Armed F...

Donald Trump has threatened sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China on his first day in office.The president-elect, who takes office on 20 January next year, said he would introduce a 25% tax on all products entering the country from Canada and Mexico. Posting on his Truth Social platform he also threatened an additional 10% tariff on goods from China on top of any additional tariffs he might impose as one of his first executive orders.What Trump's tariffs could mean for UK, EU, China and the worldIf implemented, the tariffs could raise prices for ordinary American consumers on everything from petrol to cars and agricultural products. The US is the largest importer of goods worldwide and Mexico, China and Canada are its top three suppliers according to the country's own census dat...