Hezbollah’s leader on Saturday criticized a framework agreement that Israel and Lebanon signed a day earlier to end months of conflict between the militant group and Israel, raising concerns about its effectiveness.
Lebanon and Israel signed the deal in Washington on Friday without Hezbollah. The agreement links Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon to the Iran-backed militant group’s disarmament, something Hezbollah rejects.
Several previous ceasefire agreements that Lebanon has negotiated with Israel since the outbreak of the latest Israel-Hezbollah war were never implemented on the ground.
In a statement Saturday, Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem said his group will keep fighting until Israel is forced to leave Lebanon. The group’s supporters protested in the streets of Beirut following the announcement of the agreement.
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Despite the deal, the Lebanese state news agency reported an Israeli drone strike near the southern city of Nabatiyeh.
It also reported that the Israeli military released three Lebanese and three Syrian workers who were taken near the southern village of Ain Arab on Friday.
The deal calls on Israel to withdraw but only if Hezbollah disarms
Details of the deal that the U.S. State Department released Saturday state that Lebanon and Israel aim to eventually end the state of war between them that began when Israel was created in 1948.
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The deal says Israel will withdraw from Lebanon provided Hezbollah disarms.
It calls for Israel to initially withdraw from two small areas — called pilot zones. It did not say where those two initial zones will be. The Lebanese army will gradually assume full security responsibility over those areas. The two countries will agree to future pilot zones for Israel’s withdrawal in the future, the agreement says.
The deal has a security annex that includes the details of the deployment of the Lebanese army and redeployments of Israeli troops. The security annex was not made public.
As part of the deal, Israel stresses that the disarmament of Hezbollah throughout Lebanon and additional security measures to be agreed upon between the two countries will eliminate any future need for Israeli army’s military action or presence in Lebanon.
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The talks between Israel and Lebanon were separate from the interim deal that was signed earlier this month by the leaders of the U.S. and Iran to end the fighting in the Islamic Republic.
Hezbollah’s leader rejects the deal
From Hezbollah’s point of view, the deal is nonexistent, Kassem said Saturday.
He called the agreement a “humiliation,” adding that linking Israel’s withdrawal to Hezbollah’s disarmament as a “very dangerous suggestion.”
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The deal prompted one of the group’s officials, Hassan Fadlallah, to warn that it could result in civil war because Hezbollah won’t give up its weapons and will resist any measures taken by the Lebanese army.
Judge Ahmed Rami al-Hajj, Lebanon’s top public prosecutor, on Saturday told the heads of the country’s security agencies to take measures to prevent riots.
Some Israelis and Lebanese are skeptical that the deal will last
The deal states that both Lebanon and Israel recognize that the restoration of security in southern Lebanon through the deployment of the Lebanese army, the safe return of its civilian population, and the security of Israel’s northern communities, are essential to long-term stability and peace.
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“Personally, I don’t think it will be lasting because the Lebanese military cannot really stand a chance against Hezbollah,” said Israeli citizen Ronit Belson while visiting the town of Metula along the border with Lebanon.
In Lebanon, people were divided with Rabie Sammour, a resident of the southern city of Sidon saying: “People just want to rest for good. I support the Lebanese authorities in the decision” taken.
Another Sidon resident, Khaled Ghannoum, said the deal “legitimized Israel’s occupation.”
In an apparent reference to Iran, that has sent billions of dollars in cash to Hezbollah over the past four decades, the deal states that Lebanon and the United States commit to preventing funds from flowing to any entity, organization, or individual affiliated with non-state armed groups and to take available legal measures to proscribe the activity of any such entity, organization or individual.
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The deal states that the Lebanese government explicitly commits to prevent reconstruction funds from flowing to non-state armed groups and connected entities.
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Mor reported from Metula, Israel. Associated Press journalist Ibrahim Hazboun contributed to this report from Jerusalem.
Elsewhere in the World Cup, it looks like Iran have had enough.
Iran manager Amir Ghalenoei told FIFA president Gianni Infantino to ‘stand up’ to the United States – while captain Mehdi Taremi has described the World Cup as a ‘disaster’. The Iranians have faced challenges on and off the pitch during the tournament, which for them will come to an end if results don’t go their way on Saturday.
skipper Taremi said: “Since the beginning, it’s a disaster World Cup,” the striker bemoaned. I mean, FIFA, they have to solve every problem here but unfortunately this they couldn’t solve since the beginning. Mr Infantino came to our changing room [after the] first game and he said, ‘It’s just the beginning’.
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“But [the] group stage finishes tomorrow and we don’t have our logistic people here, they don’t have a visa. How [is that] possible?”
Asked if he believed that FIFA and the US wanted Iran knocked out, Taremi replied: “We have to fight against everything here. I don’t know what people want or know, but as we see it by our perspective, yeah, they’d like that, I think.”
“Six hours of non-stop thrills and spills, secrets and lies, triumphs and tragedies”
The new series of “real-time thriller” Nightsleeper is set to be filmed in Belfast.
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The first series followed the fictional Heart of Britain sleeper train travelling from Glasgow to London, where two strangers were forced to work together to save the lives of its passengers.
Launching in September 2024, the series became the BBC’s biggest new drama launch of the year, with episode one reaching 8.5 million viewers.
Following the success of the first series, the second instalment will see the action move from the rails to the open water, as a new high-stakes thriller unfolds aboard a ship travelling across the Irish Sea where “behind every cabin door is another story, another surprise”.
Writer Nick Leather said: “It’s so exciting to set sail on season two! The passengers and crew on tonight’s Belfast to Liverpool passenger ferry are about to experience six hours of non-stop thrills and spills, secrets and lies, triumphs and tragedies.
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“None of them are quite as they seem. Nothing in their lives will ever be the same again. Not all of them will make it to the other side. The new Nightsleeper is going to be more nightsleepery than ever…”
Kate Harwood, Executive Producer, added: “Audiences embraced Nightsleeper in such a huge way, and we’re incredibly excited to return with a bold new story.
“Nick has once again created a brilliantly tense thriller packed with new characters, twists, emotion and edge-of-your-seat drama. We can’t wait to bring this new drama from the high seas.”
The new 6×60 series was commissioned by Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, for BBC iPlayer and BBC One, and is produced by Element Pictures (Normal People, The Cage), a Fremantle label, with support from Northern Ireland Screen.
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Filming will take place in Belfast later this year.
Richard Williams, CEO of Northern Ireland Screen, said: “We’re proud to support Element Pictures and the BBC as Nightsleeper returns with an exciting new story rooted in the Irish Sea.
“It’s wonderful to see Northern Ireland’s world-class crew, locations and creative talent playing a part in bringing this ambitious series to audiences around the world.”
For something that affects millions every month, period pain remains surprisingly poorly treated.
A recent analysis of supermarket transaction data from over three million shoppers found that paracetamol is the most purchased painkiller for menstrual cramps – despite being a less effective option than ibuprofen for this type of pain. The finding highlights a mismatch between what people buy and what actually works.
Period pain, or dysmenorrhoea, is caused by hormone-like chemicals called prostaglandins. As the womb lining is broken down each month, the uterus releases these chemicals, which trigger strong contractions to help shed the lining.
High levels of prostaglandins make these contractions more intense and reduce blood flow to the uterus, creating the cramping, dragging pain many people experience. Prostaglandins are linked to inflammation and may also cause other effects during a period, such as nausea.
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Ibuprofen may work better than paracetamol for period pain because it belongs to the family of NSAIDs (non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs). These medicines block cyclooxygenase (Cox) enzymes, which are essential for prostaglandin production. By reducing prostaglandins, ibuprofen tackles the cause of period pain.
Paracetamol works differently. Unlike ibuprofen, paracetamol only weakly inhibits peripheral Cox enzymes, therefore lacking significant anti-inflammatory effects.
Paracetamol’s effects are mainly exerted in the brain and spinal cord. It reduces the perception of pain by blocking pain signals from the body to the brain. This explains why it is helpful for headaches but far less effective for period pain.
This difference is reflected in clinical evidence. A major review of 80 trials involving more than 5,800 women found that NSAIDs were substantially more effective than paracetamol for period pain. The reason it nevertheless remains the most purchased option is likely because it’s familiar, widely marketed and perceived as gentler.
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Pain relief
Ibuprofen is also widely used for period pain because it’s effective, inexpensive and available over the counter. But it’s not the only NSAIDs that can be used. Others include naproxen, mefenamic acid and aspirin.
Paracetamol might be more widely used, but there’s a clear winner when it comes to period pain relief. Mr Doomits/ Shutterstock
Aspirin is less commonly recommended. This is because it can make periods heavier due to its blood-thinning properties. It’s also not recommended for those under 16 years old because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome, a rare but serious condition which can cause organ damage, especially in the brain and liver.
However, in terms of different NSAIDs’ effectiveness at relieving period pain or their rates of side-effects, the evidence shows no convincing differences. In practice, this means that if ibuprofen does not work well for someone, another NSAID may. Mefenamic acid, for instance, is sometimes preferred because it may also reduce heavy bleeding. However, it is only available on prescription.
It’s important to note as well that timing matters. Although NSAIDs can reduce period pain when taken at any point, they work best when started early in a period – usually one to two days before bleeding begins and continued through the first couple of days of bleeding. Taking NSAIDs ahead of the prostaglandin surge means they can shut down prostaglandin production, preventing the cascade that leads to menstrual cramps.
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NSAID alternatives
Although NSAIDs are safe for most people when used short-term, they can irritate the stomach and, in some cases, increase the risk of ulcers or gastrointestinal bleeding. They may also affect kidney function and, with long term use, heart health. People with asthma, kidney disease, heart problems or a history of stomach ulcers should seek medical advice before using NSAIDs.
NSAIDs can also interact with blood thinners, some antidepressants, some blood pressure medicines and steroids.
And although NSAIDs are currently the most effective medicines for period pain, they don’t work for everyone. Around 18% of people with dysmenorrhoea don’t get enough relief from these drugs. Another option sometimes used for period pain is hyoscine butylbromide, an antispasmodic that is more commonly used for treating stomach cramps. Unlike Nsaids, hyoscine does not affect prostaglandins. Instead, it relaxes smooth muscle in the gut and uterus, reducing spasms.
Hyoscine can be helpful for people who cannot take NSAIDs or for additional relief, albeit they’re less effective overall. One study showed that hyoscine butylbromide, combined with paracetamol, reduced pain more than a placebo. However, large-scale studies are needed to compare hyoscine butylbromide directly with NSAIDs or as a combination specifically for period pain.
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The combined oral contraceptive pill can also help with period pain by preventing ovulation and thinning the womb lining, which reduces prostaglandin production. This leads to lighter, less painful periods and is often used as an alternative option, especially when contraception is also needed. But the oral contraceptive pill can come with potential side-effects such as nausea, breast tenderness, spotting and mood changes.
Non-drug measures can also help alongside medicines. Simple approaches, such as applying heat from a hot water bottle or heat patch to the abdomen, can ease cramping.
Some people also benefit from transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (Tens), particularly when it’s used at a high frequency. Tens devices are small, portable and use mild electrical pulses delivered through electrodes placed on the skin to disrupt pain signals and reduce pain. When used correctly it is generally safe, though it should be avoided in situations such as pregnancy, epilepsy, or in people with pacemakers.
When period pain is severe, worsening or interfering with daily life, it’s important to speak to a healthcare professional to rule out conditions such as endometriosis or fibroids.
A man has been charged with murder following the discovery of the body of a two-year-old girl at an address in Chertsey.
Officers were called to an address in Pyrcroft Road about 17:40 BST on Thursday, following reports of a concern for safety.
Kevin Kerjean, 31, has also been charged with the rape and sexual assault of a child under 13 and is due to appear at Guildford Crown Court on Monday.
Surrey Police had previously said the girl was three years old.
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An investigation into the death remains ongoing and the force says it is not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
Kerjean was described by police as a French national who was born in the Central African Republic.
Det Ch Supt Jon Groenen said: “This is a tragic incident, and our thoughts are with the child’s family, as well as all those who knew her.
“Our teams are working hard to build a picture of what happened, and a significant police presence will remain in Pyrcroft Road over the coming days,” he added.
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On Thursday, several bouquets of flowers were left at the entrance to Syward Place, an apartment complex located on the corner of Pyrcroft Road and Bell Bridge Road.
“We appreciate that the incident itself, as well as the significant police presence, will be concerning for residents,” said Groenen.
“We would like to thank them for their cooperation as we conduct our investigation.”
Millionaire Hot Seat is returning to ITV and on the hunt for contestants
Are you ready to take the Hot Seat in one of ITV’s newest game shows?
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Jeremy Clarkson is hosting another exciting series of Millionaire Hot Seat and they are looking for contestants from Belfast to take part.
Each episode of the ITV show sees six hopefuls compete for a £1 million prize, but only one player can take their place in the Hot Seat at a time, answering multiple-choice questions to work their way up the Money Ladder.
But unlike classic Millionaire, each question is against the clock. If a player answers correctly, they remain in the Hot Seat and continue up the Money Ladder.
However, if they get a question wrong, they are eliminated, the top prize drops down, and the next player takes their place.
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The stakes are high, leaving no room for indecision, and in every episode, one player has the chance to walk away with £1 million.
If you would like the chance to win, then you can apply here. Application closing date is Friday, October 16 2026.
Audition/Casting Period: Monday, 15th June 2026 – Friday, 6th November 2026. Applicants must be 18 years of age or over.
The new £50 million train station aims to improve connectivity in the city
Roadworks are due to begin on a major city centre roundabout as work is set to begin on a new train station. Work is underway to build a new £50 million train station for Peterborough, aiming to improve connectivity and provide a double-sided railway station for the city.
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The first stage of construction for the project will begin on Monday, July 6. From 7pm on Sunday, July 5, until Monday, July 6, there will be a full closure of the Queensgate roundabout so traffic management can be set up. From Monday, lanes will be closed.
A Peterborough City Council spokesperson said: “The project will fill in two out of the three subways and create a modern and welcoming surface level route from Peterborough Railway Station to the city centre (via Cowgate). The surrounding landscape will also be enhanced, making the route safer and more attractive. It is expected to be complete in summer 2027.”
Pedestrian diversions will be in place from July 6. People have been advised to allow extra time for their journeys. They have also been encouraged to plan ahead.
A United Airlines flight had a close call at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey Friday after pilots reported nearly striking a drone during landing.
The incident happened around 5:20 p.m. as the Boeing 737, carrying 106 passengers and five crew members, was descending toward the airport after a flight from Key West, Florida, United toldThe Independent Saturday.
“We almost hit a drone,” the pilot said in air traffic control audio obtained by CNN. The pilot described the device as circular, about three feet wide, and flying “about 100 feet below us.”
Around the same time, the pilot of a United Express flight operated by GoJet Airlines also reported spotting a drone at about 2,000 feet while approaching Newark, the outlet reported.
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United confirmed the incident in a statement. “United flight 1513 reported a potential drone sighting prior to arriving in Newark. The flight landed safely, and customers deplaned normally at the gate,” the company said.
The United flight, carrying 106 passengers and five crew members from Key West, nearly collided with a drone Friday while descending toward Newark Liberty International Airport, the airline said (AFP/Getty)
The Federal Aviation Administration, which says it receives more than 100 reports of drones near airports each month, is investigating the incident.
Newark Airport is about 15 miles from East Rutherford, New Jersey, where World Cup matches are underway, though there are strict “No Drone Zone” rules on drone activity at the event.
Drone activity near airports continues to be a growing concern. Through March this year, pilots reported 319 drone sightings, but only eight required evasive action, the FAA says. Despite the frequency of reports, collisions remain rare, with just one confirmed crash involving a drone on a runway at San Carlos Airport in California.
The issue is not new in the New York and New Jersey region, either. In March, pilots at both LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport reported multiple unmanned aircraft sightings, according to FAA data. Similar disruptions were recorded in April 2019, when drone sightings near Teterboro Airport, which is about 17 miles from Newark, led to flight interruptions in and out of Newark.
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Flying drones near airplanes, helicopters and airports is dangerous and illegal, the agency said. Unauthorized operators can face fines, criminal charges and possible jail time.
Matthew Foster-Smith has been arrested following the murder of Natalia Villalba Angarita (Picture: DorsetPolice/BNPS)
A British medic wanted over the murder of a Colombian model found stuffed inside a suitcase has been arrested in Ecuador.
The body of Natalia Villalba Angarita, a 36-year-old model from Cúcuta, in northern Colombia, was found by cleaning staff when they entered her seventh-floor apartment in the capital, Bogotá, after the rental period ended on June 22.
With the shower still running, a grey suitcase was discovered in the bathroom, containing the model’s remains.
Matthew Foster-Smith had been named locally as the man police and prosecutors wanted to question over Villalba’s violent death.
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The 46-year-old from Poole, Dorset, previously jailed twice in the UK for stalking and banned from practising as a doctor in Britain, insisted he was innocent hours before he was detained, using the World Cup as an alibi.
He told The Sun after leaving Colombia a day before her body was found on Monday: ‘I was watching England versus Croatia on a big screen in an Irish bar, so it wasn’t me.’
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The former doctor was wanted by police following the model’s violent death (Picture: DorsetPolice/BNPS)
Foster-Smith claimed that, after the match, he went to the shopping centre for a ‘mooch about’ before buying an ice cream and going back to the bar later to watch another game.
‘I didn’t leave with anyone and went to bed myself at about 11pm local time.’
Overnight, Colombian prosecutors confirmed his arrest as they claimed he had beaten his victim to death before trying to conceal his alleged horrific crime, saying: ‘Pursuant to an arrest warrant obtained by a prosecutor from the Bogotá Sectional Office, and following the issue of an Interpol Red Notice, Ecuador’s National Police apprehended a British citizen at Quito International Airport.
‘He is alleged to be responsible for the death of a 36-year-old woman on June 18 in an apartment located in the Chico neighbourhood of northern Bogota.
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‘Evidence obtained by the Technical Investigation Corps (CTI) indicates that he allegedly entered the apartment where the victim was alone, physically assaulted her until she died, and manipulated the body to place it inside a suitcase.
‘He then carried out various actions aimed at concealing what had happened, altering the crime scene, and fleeing the location.’
Their statement added that ‘the Office of the Attorney General of Colombia will carry out the necessary procedures to ensure that the foreign national is placed at its disposal and prosecuted in Colombia for the crimes of aggravated femicide and concealment, alteration, or destruction of material evidence’.
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‘His location was made possible thanks to the joint efforts of the Attorney General’s Office, @MigracionCol, @SeguridadBOG, Interpol Colombia, and the authorities of Ecuador,’ it concluded, with one well-placed source telling Colombian press that Foster-Smith’s phone calls were traced as he tried to buy a ticket to Europe.
Prosecutors named the arrested man (who was pictured wearing shorts and a baseball cap when he was held at Quito International Airport) as Foster Martinson in their statement for reasons that were not immediately clear this morning.
Angarita’s grieving mother, Claudia, said earlier this week that she became concerned after her daughter stopped taking her calls last Thursday, the same day Foster-Smith was reportedly seen leaving the apartment block after entering hers the previous day.
CCTV cameras reportedly recorded Foster-Smith taking bedsheets to a laundry room in the building before exiting.
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‘My daughter had been living in Bogota for 17 years,’ said Claudia, adding that they spoke ‘all the time’, but her phone is now still missing.
‘Natalia told me she had a company and worked doing that. I don’t know what it was exactly, and I’m waiting to talk to one of her best friends, so she gives me more information about what she was doing work-wise.’
Angarita’s body has not yet been released to her family.
‘I was watching England versus Croatia on a big screen in an Irish bar, so it wasn’t me,’ he said (Picture: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
‘All we want is for the truth to come out.’
Investigators say Angarita initially checked into her apartment between June 3 and 7 with a man from Texas before subsequently extending her stay for another fortnight until June 21.
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Foster-Smith left Colombia on Sunday, June 21, via the Rumichaca International Bridge, which is a bustling border crossing between Colombia and Ecuador.
In 2020, the murder suspect was jailed for 18 months in the UK after stalking an ex and posting revenge porn online. He denied all the allegations against him when he was arrested in June that year, but later pleaded guilty.
After his release, he began stalking another woman in her 40s by hanging around outside her workplace and engineering ‘chance’ meetings with her in public.
Dorset Police publicly warned people not to approach Foster-Smith and to call 999 if they saw him after he was charged with stalking in September 2024 but skipped bail and went on the run for a month.
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The search was called off in October 2024 after he was tracked down to London and re-arrested.
In October last year, Foster-Smith was handed a new prison sentence at Bournemouth Crown Court of two years and two months.
Detective Constable Thomas Norman said at the time that his second victim ‘continued to live in fear’ and her life had been ‘destroyed’ by her convicted stalker’s behaviour.
Now, if convicted of the murder of Angarita, he is likely to face a charge of aggravated femicide, which carries a prison sentence in Colombia of between 40 and 50 years.
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A Colombian foundation assisting the families of femicide victims called Justicia Para Todos, which in English translates to Justice For All, said before Foster-Smith was arrested: ‘We reject the violent death of Natalia Villalba, found on June 22 in an apartment in northern Bogota.
‘Behind every statistic there is a life, a story, and a family that today demands answers.
‘We call on the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation to conduct a thorough, prompt investigation with a gender perspective.’
Officers are looking for help in contacting these people
Police want to speak to these people following an alleged robbery in Longsight. Police say a victim was pushed into a railing with force before their headphones were stolen on Stockport Road.
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The incident is believed to have occurred at 6:15pm on Tuesday 16th June. Officers would like to speak with the five people pictured as they believe they can assist with enquiries.
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GMP said: “Officers are appealing for information after an alleged robbery on Stockport Road.
“The incident is believed to have happened at around 6.15pm on Tuesday 16th June. The victim was pushed into a railing with force and had his headphones stolen.
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“Officers would like to speak with the five people pictured as they believe they can assist with enquiries.”
Any info? Call 101 and quote log 3256-16062026. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The late drama was caused by a big crash for Verstappen, who lost control going into the high-speed downhill right-hander and spun across the gravel into the barrier.
Ferrari and McLaren did their runs early enough to complete their laps before Verstappen, but the Mercedes drivers were running behind the Dutchman on track.
Until Russell’s unexpected improvement, the crash had seemed to secure a front row for Ferrari, who had not looked like pole contenders until the end of qualifying.
Leclerc was 0.059 seconds faster than Hamilton, who had been the quicker Ferrari driver all weekend.
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Hamilton made a mistake on his first run in Q3, locking a brake at Turn Three, and had to abort the lap.
That left him having a different risk-reward balance on the final lap and he did not have quite enough to beat his team-mate.
Antonelli backed off completely on his final lap on the approach to Turn Nine, and was nearly two seconds slower than his final run.
Verstappen’s first lap, which was third fastest behind Antonelli and Russell, was good enough for fifth place.
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The McLaren drivers both improved on their final runs, but Norris ended up just 0.027secs slower than Verstappen, Piastri 0.009secs further behind.
Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar and the Racing Bulls of Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad completed the top 10.
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