By Serdar Dincel
ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Tuesday with, including Israeli media reporting that Israel’s Cabinet is expected to convene today to approve a proposed cease-fire agreement with Lebanon, Lebanese lawmaker Qassem Hashem telling Anadolu that a cease-fire deal with Israel is nearing completion, and US President Joe Biden's senior envoy for the Middle East preparing to visit Saudi Arabia on Tuesday in the hopes of using diplomatic momentum for a potential Lebanon cease-fire deal to make a push for a similar effort in Gaza.
TOP STORIES
- Israeli Cabinet may meet Tuesday to approve cease-fire with Lebanon: Media
Israeli media reported that the country’s Cabinet is expected to convene Tuesday to approve a proposed cease-fire agreement with Lebanon.
The reports come amid a flurry of optimistic statements from US and Israeli officials over the past 24 hours suggesting that a deal may be close.
"An agreement has been reached regarding the elements of the deal, and the Cabinet is expected to meet on Tuesday to approve it," the news website Walla quoted an unnamed senior Israeli official as saying.
- Lebanese lawmaker says cease-fire deal with Israel close
A cease-fire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel is nearing completion and could be declared within the next 36 hours if negotiations proceed smoothly, a Lebanese parliamentarian said Monday.
“The atmosphere is positive, and cease-fire discussions have reached an advanced stage. It’s only a matter of hours before an agreement is finalized and announced if progress continues as expected,” Qassem Hashem told Anadolu.
The development coincides with reports that Israel’s security cabinet will convene on Tuesday to approve a cease-fire deal with Hezbollah.
Lebanon’s private Al Jadeed channel reported that Lebanon had been officially informed of the cease-fire agreement but is remaining silent to ensure its success.
- US envoy to visit Saudi Arabia in hopes of using potential Lebanon cease-fire as 'catalyst' for Gaza
US President Joe Biden's senior envoy for the Middle East will visit Saudi Arabia this week in the hopes of using diplomatic momentum for a potential Lebanon cease-fire deal to make a push for a similar effort in Gaza, the White House said.
On Tuesday, Brett McGurk will visit the Kingdom, "where he will discuss using the potential of a cease-fire deal in Lebanon as a catalyst for a potential Gaza cease-fire and for the return of hostages and for increased stability in the region," spokesperson Andy Bates told reporters.
The White House earlier acknowledged "significant progress" in efforts to broker a cease-fire between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah group but said more work remains before a pact can be completed.
NEWS IN BRIEF
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, during which the two leaders discussed the Russia-Ukraine war and steps that can be taken to end the ongoing massacre in Palestine, according to Türkiye’s Communications Directorate.
- The NATO-Ukraine Council is expected to meet Tuesday to discuss the conflict with Russia in the wake of last week's test of a new Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile on Dnipro.
- Admiral Rob Bauer, chairman of NATO’s military committee, called on businesses to prepare for a “wartime scenario” by bringing their production lines back home instead of relying on China and Russia, which could shut off access after starting a war.
- G7 counterparts gathered for a second day of meetings hosted by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
- Italy said it will not send its soldiers to fight in Ukraine amid reports of Anglo-French plans to deploy troops to the country, Italian media reported.
- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov for talks on bilateral relations and international issues.
- Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko is set to meet with Pakistan’s leadership including President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during his three-day visit to Islamabad.
- South Africa reiterated its call for an immediate cease-fire in Palestine and Lebanon and the initiation of a political process to secure a just and lasting peace.
- Türkiye is doing much more for Palestine, Gaza and Lebanon – all currently under a relentless Israeli assault – than "what is visible, what is being talked about," said the nation’s president.
- Italy and Japan signed an agreement aimed at further strengthening defense cooperation.
SPORTS
- Türkiye get EuroBasket 2025 ticket by beating Hungary 81-76
Türkiye secured a ticket for the 2025 European Basketball Championship (EuroBasket 2025) by beating Hungary 81-76 in the qualifiers.
Forward Cedi Osman led the Crescent Stars to victory with 33 points and 11 rebounds, while his teammate Omer Yurtseven contributed 22 points at Hungary's Savaria Arena.
Gyorgy Goloman was the top scorer for Hungary with 16 points
- Reigning EuroBasket champions Spain qualify for 2025 finals
Reigning EuroBasket champions Spain qualified for the 2025 edition of the competition by beating Slovakia 84-71 in a Group C match Monday.
Spanish forward Santi Yusta rallied his team to victory with 25 points at Spain's Pazo dos Deportes Paco Paz.
Power forward Vladimir Brodziansky's 19-point contribution was not enough for Slovakia to grab victory.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
- Trump vows day one tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico over fentanyl, immigration
US President-elect Donald Trump vowed to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China via executive orders he plans to sign on his first day in office in retaliation for what he says is their involvement in the flow deadly fentanyl and migrants into the United States.
"On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders," Trump said in one of a series of posts on his Truth Social network.
- Zambia says power outage caused by fault in interconnected network with Zimbabwe
Zambia said that a 30-minute nationwide power outage over the weekend was due to a technical fault in the interconnected power networks between it and Zimbabwe.
A similar occurrence was experienced in the neighboring state, a senior government official told reporters in the capital Lusaka.