AP News Summary at 3:23 p.m. ESTThe Great British Bake Off 2024: fans are all saying the same thing about Dylan in the finalIsraeli Forces Bomb Press Van in Gaza, Killing 5 Palestinian Journalists

With its triumphant premiere in China, "The Lord of the Rings: Battle of Rohan" has set the stage for a new chapter in the beloved franchise, capturing the hearts and imaginations of audiences around the world. As fans eagerly await the next installment in the series, one thing is certain: Middle-earth has never felt more real, more vibrant, or more alive than it does in this monumental cinematic achievement.The real estate market is a key pillar of the economy, with ripple effects on various industries such as construction, banking, and consumer spending. A stable real estate market not only provides a secure investment avenue for individuals and institutions but also contributes to overall economic growth. However, rapid price changes, speculative investments, and unsustainable growth patterns can lead to market volatility and potential risks to financial stability.

“My young daughter had a nightmare of terrorists invading our town, and I told her not to worry, that it won’t happen again,” said Sarit Zehavi. “Then she asked me, ‘But what will happen in 20 years?’ ” In the rugged northern reaches of Israel, the echoes of war reverberate daily. While Gaza still makes headlines, Israel has shifted its focus to its northern front, where it faces a formidable threat from Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shia terrorist group in Lebanon. Israel’s ongoing fight with Hezbollah has dramatically escalated since mid-September. In addition to intensified aerial attacks on Hezbollah positions, Israel has engaged in targeted assassinations, including the killing of Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah. Israel has approved a U.S. plan for a ceasefire with Hezbollah, clearing a way for an end to the conflict that has killed thousands since it was ignited by the Gaza war over a year ago. This violence has forced over 60,000 Israelis from their homes and displaced 1.2-million people in south Lebanon. Israel is grappling with two deeply entwined conflicts — one in the south with Hamas and another in the north with Hezbollah. But would a resolution with Hamas in Gaza lead to peace on the northern front? Last month, I joined an Exigent Foundation media mission to Israel, where I witnessed what is unfolding and got an idea of what the future might hold for this lone Jewish state. Zehavi, a retired IDF lieutenant colonel who founded the Alma Research and Education Center, which conducts research into Israel’s northern border security, shared her perspective as both a defence analyst and a mother living near the border. The horrors of the October 7 attacks on southern Israel have left lasting scars, particularly on the women and children who witnessed unimaginable violence. For women living on Israel’s northern frontier, the nightmare of similar brutality at Hezbollah’s hands feels uncomfortably real. “Those of us next to the north border are living with the horrors of the south,” Zehavi said. “We cannot accept that our daughters or ourselves will face the same risks as our sisters in the south.” To this end, Israel’s new approach on its northern front is markedly more aggressive. In addition to air and artillery strikes, IDF troops have invaded Hezbollah strongholds in villages along the border, dismantling weaponry and military infrastructure the terrorist group has spent years building. Despite these extensive military maneuvers, Hezbollah remains a potent force. With an estimated 25,000 short- and medium-range rockets, the group continues to launch daily assaults — using rockets, drones and anti-tank missiles — that wreak havoc on Israeli border communities. Families have evacuated, schools are closed and roads are risky to travel due to the threat of missiles. “My life changed completely,” Zehavi said. “How do I get my daughter back to school? How do I have a normal life? How do I get a situation where I can drive on these main roads here?” The extent of this conflict reveals the limits of military strategy alone. Despite intense IDF efforts, Hezbollah remains well-armed and entrenched. Zehavi highlighted how the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) — meant to act as a peacekeeping force in the region — failed to curb Hezbollah’s military buildup. According to Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, “Hezbollah terrorists are using UNIFIL outposts as hiding places and as places of ambushes.” The core of Israel’s northern mission is clear: end Hezbollah’s threat, once and for all. But Zehavi and other security experts remain cautious, knowing that without an international framework to prevent Hezbollah’s resurgence, gains on the battlefield may prove short-lived. Israel is adamant that any ceasefire terms must include the freedom to stop Hezbollah from rearming. “A diplomatic arrangement can’t be like the last one,” Zehavi insisted. “We need a force that’s truly capable of monitoring and preventing Hezbollah from reestablishing itself along the border.” So, will peace with Hamas mean peace with Hezbollah? Unlikely. Hezbollah has its own agenda, tied to the strategic objectives of its primary benefactor, Iran. Its sustained conflict with Israel isn’t merely about Gaza; it’s about the broader ideological struggle between Iran and Israel, with Lebanon caught in the middle. According to Zehavi, a lasting peace on Israel’s northern front requires more than military victories or temporary ceasefires — it demands a radical shift in Lebanon’s political landscape. Hezbollah — which is designated a terrorist organization by Canada, the United States and many other countries — must be prevented from holding power within the Lebanese government, a position it has exploited to secure weapons and funding from Iran. In this complex regional chess game, Israel is not solely fighting to defend its borders, it’s grappling with a deep-seated ideology that threatens both Israeli and Lebanese futures. While the battles rage on, many in northern Israel are left with the grim realization that peace may still be a distant hope. “My mission for the next 20 years is to make sure Hezbollah doesn’t recover,” Zehavi concluded. “This isn’t just about securing the border — it’s about ensuring that our daughters don’t live under the same threat 20 years from now.” National Post

Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg has demanded an end to the Albanese’s government’s “weakness” on antisemitism but welcomed the Prime Minister’s response to the Melbourne firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue. The firebombing of the Melbourne synagogue on Friday led to an immediate call from Mr Frydenberg to Mr Albanese to take action against rampant antisemitism in the country by declaring the attack on Friday a terrorist event. Following scathing criticism from the Jewish community and the Coalition, Mr Albanese labelled the recent synagogue firebombing as a “terrorist attack”. Mr Frydenberg said he welcomed the Prime Minister’s comments on the attack, but noted it had come "after the fact". The former treasurer said over the past 14 months the Albanese government has shown “weakness” in combatting antisemitism which had become “emboldened” on campuses and throughout the streets. “Enough is enough because we cannot have Jewish students feeling unsafe on campus. We need a judicial inquiry into antisemitism on campus, which should be houses of learning but have become hotbeds of hate,” Mr Frydenberg told Sky News host Peter Stefanovic. “We need a national police task force not to deal with other forms of hate, but to deal with anti-Semitism, because that is what predominantly we have seen across our country over the last 14 months. “We also need the state premiers to restrict and ban demonstrations of the kind that we've seen outside places of worship, whether they're a church, whether they're a mosque, whether they're a temple or whether they are a synagogue.” NSW Premier Chris Minns has called for a review of laws to prevent the targeting of places of worship following the heinous firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue. “I’ve asked the Attorney-General and the cabinet office to look at ways we can better protect places of worship from protests and provide reform options to the government,” Mr Minns said. The potential laws would regulate protesting outside of religious institutions which seeks to intimidate worshippers. The Premier said “holding the line” was no longer feasible and the government needed to make sure the freedom of religion was “protected”. Mr Frydenberg also acknowledged how demonstrations outside the Great Synagogue in Sydney last week had left people terrified as locked themselves inside. “Enough is enough, Prime Minister,” the former treasurer said on Monday. “No more words. We want to see concrete action. “It needs more than calling it out. It needs stamping it out.” After the synagogue firebombing, Mr Frydenberg stressed his focus was not on Israel, but Australia and becoming the country “we want to be and not what we’ve become". “Once social cohesion has broken down it is only a matter of time before another community is next. This is why the attack on Adass was not an attack on one it was an attack on all,” he said on Saturday.As the word of the Rolls-Royce owner's generosity continued to circulate, donations poured in from individuals inspired by his compassion and desire to help those less fortunate. The ripple effect of his actions created a wave of kindness that extended far beyond the initial donation, demonstrating the profound impact that acts of generosity can have on building a more compassionate and caring society.

Grant of Restricted Stock Units and Warrants to Employees in GenmabStock indexes drifted to a mixed finish on Wall Street as some heavyweight technology and communications sector stocks offset gains elsewhere in the market. The S&P 500 slipped less than 0.1% Thursday, its first loss after three straight gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.1%. Gains by retailers and health care stocks helped temper the losses. Trading volume was lighter than usual as U.S. markets reopened following the Christmas holiday. The Labor Department reported that U.S. applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week, though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years. Treasury yields fell in the bond market. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

The reaction from fans has been mixed, to say the least. Some die-hard Nintendo enthusiasts are willing to wait patiently, seeing it as an opportunity to secure a piece of Nintendo history. Others, however, are not so forgiving. Many took to social media to express their disappointment and frustration at the lengthy delay. Memes and jokes about sleeping through the entire waiting period have flooded the internet, showcasing the light-hearted side of the situation.

During the overnight investigation, samples of the sealed pet food products were collected and sent for laboratory testing to confirm the presence of any undisclosed or mislabeled ingredients. The results of these tests will provide crucial information regarding the accuracy of the ingredient labels and the compliance of manufacturers with regulatory standards.