8k8 17 Israel has agreed to a ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon that will take effect at 4 a.m. Wednesday. Moments after U.S. President Joe Biden announced the ceasefire deal , which Israel's Cabinet approved late Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike slammed into the Lebanese capital. Residents of Beirut and its southern suburbs have endured the most intense day of Israeli strikes since the war began nearly 14 months ago, as Israel's nationwide onslaught of bombings signaled it aims to keep pummeling Hezbollah before the ceasefire is set to take hold. At least 42 people have killed by Israeli strikes across Lebanon on Tuesday, according to local authorities. Hezbollah also fired rockets into Israel on Tuesday, triggering air raid sirens in the country’s north. An Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire would mark the first major step toward ending the regionwide unrest triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. But it does not address the devastating war in Gaza. Hezbollah began attacking Israel a day after Hamas’ attack. The fighting in Lebanon escalated into all-out war in September with massive Israeli airstrikes across the country and an Israeli ground invasion of the south. In Gaza, more than 44,000 people have been killed and more than 104,000 wounded in the nearly 14-month war between Israel and Hamas, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Here's the Latest: BEIRUT — The Health Ministry in Lebanon says 18 more people have been killed by Israeli airstrikes across the country, bringing the total death toll on Tuesday to at least 42 people. Eleven people were killed by Israeli bombing in eastern Lebanon, four were killed by strikes on border crossings between northern Lebanon and Syria, and three people were killed in southern Lebanon, the Health Ministry said early Wednesday. In the hours before a ceasefire with Hezbollah was to take effect, Israel launched its most intense wave of strikes on the capital Beirut and its southern suburbs since the start of the conflict. Strikes have targeted what Israel said were Hezbollah-related targets in several other parts of the country as well. Israel’s military issued a record number of evacuation warnings in Beirut, sending people fleeing from their homes. Hezbollah also fired rockets into Israel on Tuesday, triggering air raid sirens across the country’s north. UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations chief welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah, and hopes it can end the violence and suffering of people in both countries, the U.N. spokesman says. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Israel and Hezbollah to swiftly implement all commitments under the agreement, and take immediate steps toward fully implementing the 2006 U.N. Security Council resolution that ended the last Israel-Hezbollah war, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said late Tuesday. Resolution 1701 called for the deployment of Lebanese forces throughout the south, which borders Israel and is now mainly controlled by Hezbollah, and it calls for all armed groups including Hezbollah to be disarmed. Neither has happened in the past 17 years. Dujarric said U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon “both stand ready to support the implementation of this agreement, in line with their respective mandates.” WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump’s senior national security team was briefed by the Biden administration as negotiations unfolded, according to the senior U.S. official. The official, who spoke to reporters on the condition of anonymity in a White House-organized call, added that the incoming Trump administration officials were not directly involved in the talks, but that it was important that the incoming administration knew “what we were negotiating and what the commitments were.” The official said “all fire will stop from all parties” at 4 a.m. local time. The next step would be what the official described as a “phased withdrawal” by the Israeli military. As the Israelis pull back, Lebanese national forces will occupy the territories. The process is slated to finish within 60 days. Lebanese forces is supposed to patrol the area and remove Hezbollah weaponry and infrastructure there. “Hezbollah is incredibly weak at this moment, both militarily and politically,” the official said. “And this is the opportunity for Lebanon to re-establish its sovereignty over its territory.” The official said the ceasefire agreement will strengthen what’s known as the “tripartite mechanism” by including the United States and France. The goal is to address violations of the ceasefire without a return to hostilities. UNITED NATIONS – The top U.N. envoy for Lebanon welcomed the ceasefire announcement and urged Israel and Hezbollah militants to take concrete actions to fully implement the 2006 agreement that ended their last war. U.N. Special Coordinator Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert said the agreement “marks the starting point of a critical process” that must see both sides fully implement U.N. Security Council resolution 1701. It called for the deployment of Lebanese armed forces in the south bordering Israel and the disarmament of all armed groups including Hezbollah – neither of which has happened in the past 17 years. “Nothing less than the full and unwavering commitment of both parties is required,” Hennis-Plasschaert said. “Neither side can afford another period of disingenuous implementation under the guise of ostensible calm.” She commended the parties for “seizing the opportunity to close this devastating chapter,” stressing that “Now is the time to deliver, through concrete actions, to consolidate today’s achievement.” UNITED NATIONS — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is calling for urgent international intervention to stop what he described as “an ongoing genocidal war” in Gaza. Abbas heads the Palestinian Authority which has limited self-rule in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, but not Gaza, which has been controlled by Hamas. The U.S. and others want a reinvigorated Palestinian Authority to run Gaza when the war ends. In a speech on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Abbas accused Israel of repeating what happened to the Palestinians in 1948 and 1967 – displacing them and seizing their land and resources. Abbas demanded to know how long the world will remain silent and refuse to compel Israel to abide by international law. The speech to U.N. member nations was read by Palestinian U.N. ambassador Riyad Mansour. “The only way to halt the halt the dangerous escalation we are witnessing in the region, and maintain regional and international stability, security and peace, is to resolve the question of Palestine,” Abbas' speech said. This must be done in accordance with U.N. Security Council resolutions which call for a two-state solution, he said. BEIRUT -- Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the U.S.-brokered ceasefire proposal between Israel and Hezbollah, describing it as a crucial step toward stability, the return of displaced people to their homes and regional calm. Mikati made these comments in a statement issued just after U.S. President Joe announced the truce deal. Mikati said he discussed the ceasefire agreement with Biden by phone earlier Tuesday. The prime minister reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to implementing U.N. resolution 1701, strengthening the Lebanese army’s presence in the south, and cooperating with the U.N. peacekeeping force. He also called on Israel to fully comply with the ceasefire and withdraw from southern Lebanon in accordance the U.N. resolution. JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security Cabinet has approved a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah, clearing the way for the truce to take effect. Netanyahu’s office said the plan was approved by a 10-1 margin. The late-night vote came shortly before President Joe Biden was expected to announced details of the deal in Washington. Earlier, Netanyahu defended the ceasefire, saying Israel has inflicted heavy damage on Hezbollah and could now focus its efforts on Hamas militants in Gaza and his top security concern, Iran. Netanyahu vowed to strike Hezbollah hard if it violates the expected deal. WASHINGTON — Rep. Mike Waltz, President-elect Donald Trump’s designate to be national security adviser, credited Trump’s victory with helping bring the parties together toward a ceasefire in Lebanon. “Everyone is coming to the table because of President Trump,” he said in a post on X on Tuesday. “His resounding victory sent a clear message to the rest of the world that chaos won’t be tolerated. I’m glad to see concrete steps towards deescalation in the Middle East.” He added: “But let’s be clear: The Iran Regime is the root cause of the chaos & terror that has been unleashed across the region. We will not tolerate the status quo of their support for terrorism.” BEIRUT — Israeli jets targeted a building in a bustling commercial area of Beirut for the first time since the start of the 13-month war between Hezbollah and Israel. The strike on Hamra is around 400 meters (yards) from the country’s central bank. A separate strike hit the Mar Elias neighborhood in the country’s capital Tuesday. There was no immediate word on casualties from either strike, part of the biggest wave of attacks on the capital since the war started. Residents in central Beirut were seen fleeing after the Israeli army issued evacuation warnings for four targets in the city. Meanwhile, the Israeli army carried out airstrikes on at least 30 targets in Beirut’s southern suburbs Tuesday, including two strikes in the Jnah neighborhood near the Kuwaiti Embassy. Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that 13 people were injured in the strikes on the southern suburbs. BEIRUT — Hezbollah has said it accepts the ceasefire proposal with Israel, but a senior official with the group said Tuesday that it had not seen the agreement in its final form. “After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Al Jazeera news network. “We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state.” of Lebanon, he said. “Any violation of sovereignty is refused.” Among the issues that may remain is an Israeli demand to reserve the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations under the emerging deal. The deal seeks to push Hezbollah and Israeli troops out of southern Lebanon. JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that he would recommend his Cabinet adopt a United States-brokered ceasefire agreement with Lebanon’s Hezbollah, as Israeli warplanes struck across Lebanon, killing at least 23 people. The Israeli military also issued a flurry of evacuation warnings — a sign it was aiming to inflict punishment on Hezbollah down to the final moments before any ceasefire takes hold. For the first time in the conflict, Israeli ground troops reached parts of Lebanon’s Litani River, a focal point of the emerging deal. In a televised statement, Netanyahu said he would present the ceasefire to Cabinet ministers later on Tuesday, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting. Netanyahu said the vote was expected later Tuesday. It was not immediately clear when the ceasefire would go into effect, and the exact terms of the deal were not released. The deal does not affect Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, which shows no signs of ending. BEIRUT — Lebanon’s state media said Israeli strikes on Tuesday killed at least 10 people in Baalbek province the country’s east. At least three people were killed in the southern city of Tyre when Israel bombed a Palestinian refugee camp, said Mohammed Bikai, a representative of the Fatah group in the area. He said several more people were missing and at least three children were among the wounded. He said the sites struck inside the camp were “completely civilian places” and included a kitchen that was being used to cook food for displaced people. JERUSALEM — Dozens of Israeli protesters took to a major highway in Tel Aviv on Tuesday evening to call for the return of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, as the country awaited news of a potential ceasefire in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah. Protesters chanted “We are all hostages,” and “Deal now!” waving signs with faces of some of the roughly 100 hostages believed to be still held in Gaza, at least a third of whom are thought to be dead. Most of the other hostages Hamas captured in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack were released during a ceasefire last year. The prospect of a ceasefire deal in Lebanon has raised desperation among the relatives of captives still held in Gaza, who once hoped that the release of hostages from Gaza would be included. Instead of a comprehensive deal, the ceasefire on the table is instead narrowly confined to Lebanon. Dozens of Israelis were also demonstrating against the expected cease-fire, gathering outside Israel’s military headquarters in central Tel Aviv. One of the protesters, Yair Ansbacher, says the deal is merely a return to the failed 2006 U.N. resolution that was meant to uproot Hezbollah from the area. “Of course that didn’t happen,” he says. “This agreement is not worth the paper it is written on.” FIUGGI, Italy — Foreign ministers from the world’s industrialized countries said Tuesday they strongly supported an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah and insisted that Israel comply with international law in its ongoing military operations in the region. At the end of their two-day summit, the ministers didn’t refer directly to the International Criminal Court and its recent arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister over crimes against humanity . Italy had put the ICC warrants on the official meeting agenda, even though the G7 was split on the issue. The U.S., Israel’s closest ally, isn’t a signatory to the court and has called the warrants “outrageous.” However, the EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell said all the other G7 countries were signatories and therefore obliged to respect the warrants. In the end, the final statement adopted by the ministers said Israel, in exercising its right to defend itself, “must fully comply with its obligations under international law in all circumstances, including international humanitarian law.” And it said all G7 members — Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States – “reiterate our commitment to international humanitarian law and will comply with our respective obligations.” It stressed that “there can be no equivalence between the terrorist group Hamas and the State of Israel.” The ICC warrants say there's reason to believe Netanyahu used “starvation as a method of warfare” by restricting humanitarian aid and intentionally targeted civilians in Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza — charges Israeli officials deny. BEIRUT — An Israeli strike on Tuesday levelled a residential building in the central Beirut district of Basta — the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near the city’s downtown. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded in Beirut, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. It was not immediately clear if anyone in particular was targeted, though Israel says its airstrikes target Hezbollah officials and assets. The Israeli military spokesman issued a flurry of evacuation warnings for many areas, including areas in Beirut that have not been targeted throughout the war, like the capital’s commercial Hamra district, where many people displaced by the war have been staying. The warnings, coupled with fear that Israel was ratcheting up attacks in Lebanon during the final hours before a ceasefire is reached, sparked panic and sent residents fleeing in their cars to safer areas. In areas close to Hamra, families including women and children were seen running away toward the Mediterranean Sea’s beaches carrying their belongings. Traffic was completely gridlocked as people tried to get away, honking their car horns as Israeli drones buzzed loudly overhead. The Israeli military also issued warnings for 20 more buildings in Beirut’s suburbs to evacuate before they too were struck — a sign it was aiming to inflict punishment on Hezbollah in the final moments before any ceasefire takes hold. TEL AVIV, Israel — The independent civilian commission of inquiry into the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel has found Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly responsible for the failures leading up to the attack, alongside former defense ministers, the army chief and the heads of the security services. The civil commission presented its findings today after a four-month probe in which it heard some 120 witnesses. It was set up by relatives of victims of the Hamas attack, in response to the absence of any state probe. The commission determined that the Israeli government, its army and security services “failed in their primary mission of protecting the citizens of Israel.” It said Netanyahu was responsible for ignoring “repeated warnings” ahead of Oct. 7, 2023 for what it described as his appeasing approach over the years toward Hamas, and for “undermining all decision-making centers, including the cabinet and the National Security Council, in a way that prevented any serious discussion” on security issues. The commission further determined that the military and defense leaders bear blame for ignoring warnings from within the army, and for reducing the army’s presence along the Gaza border while relying excessively on technological means. On the day of the Hamas attack, the report says, the army’s response was both slow and lacking. The civil commission called for the immediate establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the Oct. 7 attack. Netanyahu has opposed launching a state commission of inquiry, arguing that such an investigation should begin only once the war is over. JERUSALEM -- The Israeli military says its ground troops have reached parts of Lebanon’s Litani River — a focal point of the emerging ceasefire. In a statement Tuesday, the army said it had reached the Wadi Slouqi area in southern Lebanon and clashed with Hezbollah forces. Under a proposed ceasefire, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is some 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the Israeli border. The military says the clashes with Hezbollah took place on the eastern end of the Litani, just a few kilometers (miles) from the border. It is one of the deepest places Israeli forces have reached in a nearly two-month ground operation. The military says soldiers destroyed rocket launchers and missiles and engaged in “close-quarters combat” with Hezbollah forces. The announcement came hours before Israel’s security Cabinet is expected to approve a ceasefire that would end nearly 14 months of fighting. BEIRUT — Israeli jets Tuesday struck at least six buildings in Beirut’s southern suburbs Tuesday, including one that slammed near the country’s only airport. Large plumes of smoke could be seen around the airport near the Mediterranean coast, which has continued to function despite its location beside the densely populated suburbs where many of Hezbollah’s operations are based. The strikes come hours before Israel’s cabinet was scheduled to meet to discuss a proposal to end the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. The proposal calls for an initial two-month ceasefire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River. There were no immediate reports of casualties from Tuesday’s airstrikes. FIUGGI, Italy — EU top diplomat Josep Borrell, whose term ends Dec. 1, said he proposed to the G7 and Arab ministers who joined in talks on Monday that the U.N. Security Council take up a resolution specifically demanding humanitarian assistance reach Palestinians in Gaza, saying deliveries have been completely impeded. “The two-state solution will come later. Everything will come later. But we are talking about weeks or days,” for desperate Palestinians, he said. “Hunger has been used as an arm against people who are completely abandoned.” It was a reference to the main accusation levelled by the International Criminal Court in its arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister. Borrell said the signatories to the court, including six of the seven G7 members, are obliged under international law to respect and implement the court’s decisions. Host Italy put the ICC warrants on the G7 agenda at the last minute, but there was no consensus on the wording of how the G7 would respond given the U.S., Israel’s closest ally, has called the warrants “outrageous.” Italy, too, has said it respects the court but expressed concern that the warrants were politically motivated and ill-advised given Netanyahu is necessary for any deal to end the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. “Like it or not, the International Criminal Court is a court as powerful as any national court,” Borrell said. “And if the Europeans don’t support International Criminal Court then there would not be any hope for justice,” he said. Borrell, whose term ends Dec. 1, said he proposed to the G7 and Arab ministers who joined in talks on Monday that the U.N. Security Council take up a resolution specifically demanding humanitarian assistance reach Palestinians in Gaza, saying deliveries have been completely impeded. “The two-state solution will come later. Everything will come later. But we are talking about weeks or days,” for desperate Palestinians, he said. “Hunger has been used as an arm against people who are completely abandoned.” It was a reference to the main accusation levelled by the International Criminal Court in its arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister. Borrell said the signatories to the court, including six of the seven G7 members, are obliged under international law to respect and implement the court’s decisions. Host Italy put the ICC warrants on the G7 agenda at the last minute, but there was no consensus on the wording of how the G7 would respond given the U.S., Israel’s closest ally, has called the warrants “outrageous.” Italy, too, has said it respects the court but expressed concern that the warrants were politically motivated and ill-advised given Netanyahu is necessary for any deal to end the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. “Like it or not, the International Criminal Court is a court as powerful as any national court,” Borrell said. “And if the Europeans don’t support International Criminal Court then there would not be any hope for justice,” he said. (edited)

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Hezbollah leaders also signalled tentative backing for the US-brokered deal, which offers both sides an off-ramp from hostilities that have driven more than 1.2 million Lebanese and 50,000 Israelis from their homes. An intense bombing campaign by Israel has killed more than 3,700 people, many of them civilians, Lebanese officials say. But while the deal, set to take effect early Wednesday, could significantly calm the tensions that have inflamed the region, it does little directly to resolve the much deadlier war that has raged in Gaza since the Hamas attack on southern Israel in October 2023 that killed 1,200 people. Hezbollah, which began firing scores of rockets into Israel the following day in support of Hamas, has previously said it would keep fighting until there was a stop to the fighting in Gaza. Here’s what to know about the tentative ceasefire agreement and its potential implications: – The terms of the deal The agreement reportedly calls for a 60-day halt in fighting that would see Israeli troops retreat to their side of the border while requiring Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swathe of southern Lebanon. Us President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that the deal is set to take effect at 4am local time on Wednesday. Under the deal, thousands of Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers are to deploy to the region south of the Litani River. An international panel lead by the US would monitor compliance by all sides. Mr Biden said the deal “was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.” Israel has demanded the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations. Lebanese officials have rejected writing that into the proposal. Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, insisted on Tuesday that the military would strike Hezbollah if the UN peacekeeping force, known as Unifil, does not provide “effective enforcement” of the deal. – Lingering uncertainty A Hezbollah leader said the group’s support for the deal hinged on clarity that Israel would not renew its attacks. “After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Qatari satellite news network Al Jazeera. “We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state” of Lebanon, he said. The European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said on Tuesday that Israel’s security concerns had been addressed in the deal also brokered by France. – Where the fighting has left both sides After months of cross-border bombings, Israel can claim major victories, including the killing of Hezbollah’s top leader, Hassan Nasrallah, most of his senior commanders and the destruction of extensive militant infrastructure. A complex attack in September involving the explosion of hundreds of walkie-talkies and pagers used by Hezbollah was widely attributed to Israel, signalling a remarkable penetration of the militant group. The damage inflicted on Hezbollah has come not only in its ranks, but to the reputation it built by fighting Israel to a stalemate in the 2006 war. Still, its fighters managed to put up heavy resistance on the ground, slowing Israel’s advance while continuing to fire scores of rockets, missiles and drones across the border each day. The ceasefire offers relief to both sides, giving Israel’s overstretched army a break and allowing Hezbollah leaders to tout the group’s effectiveness in holding their ground despite Israel’s massive advantage in weaponry. But the group is likely to face a reckoning, with many Lebanese accusing it of tying their country’s fate to Gaza’s at the service of key ally Iran, inflicting great damage on a Lebanese economy that was already in a grave condition. – No answers for Gaza Until now, Hezbollah has insisted that it would only halt its attacks on Israel when it agreed to stop fighting in Gaza. Some in the region are likely to view a deal between the Lebanon-based group and Israel as a capitulation. In Gaza, where officials say the war has killed more than 44,000 Palestinians, Israel’s attacks have inflicted a heavy toll on Hamas, including the killing of the group’s top leaders. But Hamas fighters continue to hold scores of Israeli hostages, giving the militant group a bargaining chip if indirect ceasefire negotiations resume. Hamas is likely to continue to demand a lasting truce and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in any such deal. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas offered a pointed reminder on Tuesday of the intractability of the war, demanding urgent international intervention. “The only way to halt the dangerous escalation we are witnessing in the region, and maintain regional and international stability, security and peace, is to resolve the question of Palestine,” he said in a speech to the UN read by his ambassador.Just when it looked like being a fairly regulation Champions League night, Manchester City delivered yet again. City’s late capitulation at home to Feyenoord was the shock result as the group stage entered its fifth round of matches. There were 40 goals in nine games, a few thrashings and contrasting fortunes for two of Europe’s most prolific strikers. Here at the big talking points from Tuesday night. Pep Guardiola marked by Manchester City collapse Isn’t it amazing how a few defeats can lead to utterly scrambled minds. Manchester City may have ended their five-game losing run with a 3-3 draw against Feyenoord but the rueful, sad smile on Pep Guardiola’s face at full-time reflected another humiliating night that may have actually been the worst result of their horrific recent run. Advertisement This was arguably the most un-City-like thing to have happened in the last month. Being 3-0 up and absolutely cruising with 16 minutes to go...they just don’t throw away leads like this. In fact, no one does. No team in Champions League history has ever had a three-goal lead that late in a game and not gone on to win. The reasons and excuses are running out. This was nothing to do with injuries and judging on the red marks on his forehead Guardiola was literally left scratching his head. Josko Gvardiol started the panic with another error (he contributed to two of Tottenham Hotspur ’s goals on Sunday), sending a terrible, bouncing back-pass too short for Ederson , gobbled up by Anis Hadj-Moussa. Guardiola put his head in his hands and looked bereft. Perhaps he knew what was coming. Thereafter, City’s game management was found wanting. At 3-2 up with a couple of minutes to go they were still taking quick free-kicks and defending on the halfway line, allowing a ball over the top which led to David Hancko ’s dramatic equaliser. Video for UK readers INCREDIBLE SCENES AT THE ETIHAD! 😳 From 3-0 down, Feyenoord are now DRAWING 3-3 with Man City! #UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/pMUCrA0jLD — Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) November 26, 2024 Video for U.S. readers FEYENOORD COME BACK FROM 3-0 DOWN TO STUN MANCHESTER CITY 😱 pic.twitter.com/HWB2NGMOjN — CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 26, 2024 It was the 14th goal they have conceded in just four matches. Feyenoord brutally exposed the fragility, nervousness and lack of confidence of a team which has won every trophy imaginable in the last three years but has forgotten how to win football matches. Next up? Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League on Sunday. Toothless PSG are not helping themselves We are used to Paris Saint-Germain not converting their domestic dominance into Champions League success, but at least they always get out of the group stage. PSG have been in the competition exclusively since 2012 (winning 10 of 12 Ligue 1 titles in that time) and have progressed to at least the last 16 in every season. Advertisement However after yet another defeat in the revamped group stage, losing 1-0 away at Bayern Munich , PSG are now in real danger of not even reaching the play-offs for the last 16. They currently sit 26th in the table on four points from five matches (scoring just three goals) and still have to face Manchester City (home) and Stuttgart (away) in their final three fixtures. Although to be fair that City game looks pretty easy right now. Luis Enrique is building a long-term project in Paris, moving away from the galacticos era and trying to create a young, cohesive team with and without the ball. They were also hampered by having to play most of the second half with 10 men after Ousmane Dembele’s red card. But he’s not helping himself with some odd decisions, like keeping Gianluigi Donnarumma out the team in favour of Matvey Safonov who was at fault for the winning goal in Munich (Donnarumma has had his issues with set pieces too, it must be said). Video for UK readers Kim Min-jae puts Bayern ahead against PSG! PSG get it all wrong from the corner 😬 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/cF38X8Ld0A — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 26, 2024 Video for U.S. readers Right place, right time as Kim Min-jae heads it home 💥 pic.twitter.com/o5p2blYEk2 — CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 26, 2024 Enrique deserves leeway because of PSG’s new long-term approach but with the talent they still have it would be a disaster if they finished outside the top 24 in the group stage. Perhaps PSG just don’t have enough match-winners. Bradley Barcola epitomises their contrasting form at home and abroad, with 10 goals in 12 Ligue 1 appearances and not a goal or assist to speak of in the Champions League. Sporting feel the No-Amorim Effect On the night that one of the new kings of European football was all set to ascend to his throne, it was left to an old stager to show him how it was done. Viktor Gyokeres hasn’t had many off-nights lately. In 25 matches this season Gyokeres had only failed to score in six of them, netting 33 goals and leading to suggestions he could break Lionel Messi ’s record for the most goals in a campaign. Advertisement Well, against one of the best centre-back pairings in Europe in Gabriel and William Saliba , Gyokeres endured a frustrating night, only managing a couple of attempts in what was a dreadful night for a Sporting team very much missing their old manager Ruben Amorim. Video for UK readers What a start for Arsenal 👏 Bukayo Saka puts it on a plate for Kai Havertz to extend the Gunners' lead ⭐ 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/Xpm3Vp8vRp — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 26, 2024 Video for U.S. readers The nutmeg assist from Bukayo Saka was COLD 🥶 pic.twitter.com/0exJSacKOt — CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 26, 2024 It ended 5-1 to serene Arsenal , who picked up where they left off against Nottingham Forest at the weekend with some sublime goals, carving through Sporting at will. Gabriel even mugged Gyokeres off by copying his celebration after scoring the third. Gyokeres is good, but he has an awful long way to go to reach the standard set by someone like Robert Lewandowski, whose two goals in Barcelona ’s breezy 3-0 victory at home to Brest saw the Pole reach a new landmark. He is just the third player to reach 100 Champions League goals, after Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo , and he helped put Barcelona in a dominant position in second place with 12 points. They are also the top scorers in the competition with 18 goals from five matches. USMNT’s Pulisic joins Champions League’s form players Who are the most in-form players in the group stage so far? Raphinha is up there, so too Gyokeres, Lewandowski, Harry Kane , Jonathan David and Vinicius Junior . Christian Pulisic is definitely in the conversation too for a return of three goals and one assist from his five appearances, adding to five goals and four assists in Serie A so far this season. Advertisement On the day a trailer dropped for a new documentary series about America’s captain/Captain America, featuring contributions from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Jurgen Klopp, imaginatively titled ‘Pulisic’, the 26-year-old continued his fine recent form by giving AC Milan the lead in Bratislava. To the relief of Tim Howard and AC Milan’s media team, no, he didn’t do the Trump dance. Video for UK readers Pulisic opens the scoring for Milan! A lovely run and finish after Abraham plays him through 🤝 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/x4u6TkeROx — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 26, 2024 Video for U.S. readers Christian Pulisic with pace to burn 🔥 Another Champions League goal for Milan's in-form man ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/DP1l96qWLR — CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 26, 2024 Milan weren’t all that convincing against the second-worst team in the competition (Bratislava have lost all five games, conceding 18 goals) but edged through 3-2 thanks to further goals from substitute Rafael Leao and Tammy Abraham. That victory at Real Madrid earlier this month has transformed Milan’s Champions League campaign and, despite losing their first two matches, they could well nick an automatic qualifying spot for the last 16 if they win their next two games, both at home to Red Star Belgrade and Girona . If they keep Pulisic and Leao fit and firing in the second half of the season, Milan could be ones to watch. Tuesday’s results What’s next? The remaining nine fixtures for match-week five of the eight-round league phase take place on Wednesday. (Top image: Amazon)Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic’s magnificent seven grand slam finals

Sun, fun and theme parks – what more could you want in a destination? But in Anaheim, California, there is more – much more – for travellers of all ages, with all budgets and preferences. In this week’s Take 5, we sit down with Kathy Abrams, Director, Tourism Development of Visit Anaheim, who shares with us selling tips for travel advisors, new offerings that all travellers will love, and top recommendations for things to see and do beyond California’s famed theme parks. 1. . How do Canadians get to Anaheim? “Anaheim’s central location in Southern California makes it easily accessible from numerous airports like LAX, SNA, LGB, and ONT. The closest airport to Anaheim is John Wayne Airport (SNA) which is only 19 kms from the Anaheim Resort. What’s great is that Canadians can fly into SNA with direct flights from Calgary with WestJet and from Vancouver with Air Canada. John Wayne Airport makes traveling to Anaheim easy with its proximity and transportation options and was even ranked #1 in customer satisfaction among large airports in the J.D. Power 2024 North America Airport Satisfaction Study.” 2. Who should travel advisors sell the destination to? “The best part about selling Anaheim is that it is great for a variety of travellers – from families, to couples, to friends looking for a fun getaway. Anaheim has a wide variety of hotel accommodations like family-friendly hotels, upscale luxury accommodations and more. Families will enjoy creating lifelong memories at our theme parks including Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park and Knott’s Berry Farm. Those looking for nightlife fun can enjoy the views from one of our rooftop bars or enjoy local hot spots like our hidden speakeasies, live music venues, and craft breweries. Also, sports fans can watch their favourite hockey team play at Honda Center or catch a baseball game at Angel Stadium – both venues just minutes from the Anaheim Resort.” 3. What would you suggest as something to do outside of the theme parks? “One tip is to space out theme park days to allow time to rest and relax before heading back for a full day. Guests can visit Anaheim GardenWalk and channel their inner pilot at Flight Deck where guests can experience flying a fighter jet in one of their simulators or make their own rug at 528 Entertainment. Downtown Anaheim is also a great place to visit for some delicious eats at the Anaheim Packing House and on Center Street Promenade. Another option is for guests to take a day trip to Catalina Island or to one of the beach cities in Orange County.” 4. What’s new in the pipeline for 2025? What are you most excited about? “There are so many things to be excited for in 2025. The Disneyland Resort will be celebrating its 70 th anniversary with a special celebration that starts May 16. With this comes so many things to look forward to like a new nighttime spectacular ‘World of Color Happiness!’ that will take place in Disney California Adventure Park and ‘Walt Disney – A Magical Life’ that will make its debut at Disneyland Park featuring the first ever Audio-Animatronics figure of Walt Disney, and so much more.” 5. How do travel advisors learn more about the destination and to stay up-to-date on new offerings? “Travel agents can check out our website for updates and inspiration for their clients at visitanaheim.org . We also have a resources page just for Canadian travel agents available at visitanaheim.org/ca-resources . Here, we have tools for travel professionals like our Anaheim Specialist destination training, itinerary ideas, blogs, a digital version of our guide and more.” For more information go to www.visitanaheim.org .

TOMS RIVER, N.J. (AP) — A U.S. senator has called for mysterious drones spotted flying at night over sensitive areas in New Jersey and other parts of the Mid-Atlantic region to be “shot down, if necessary,” even as it remains unclear who owns the unmanned aircraft. “We should be doing some very urgent intelligence analysis and take them out of the skies, especially if they’re flying over airports or military bases,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said Thursday, as concerns about the drones spread across Capitol Hill. People in the New York region are also concerned that the drones may be sharing airspace with commercial airlines, he said, demanding more transparency from the Biden administration. The White House said Thursday that a review of the reported sightings shows that many of them are actually manned aircraft being flown lawfully. White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said there were no reported sightings in any restricted airspace. He said the U.S. Coast Guard has not uncovered any foreign involvement from coastal vessels. “We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or a public safety threat, or have a foreign nexus,” Kirby said, echoing statements from the Pentagon and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh has said they are not U.S. military drones. In a joint statement issued Thursday afternoon, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security said they and their federal partners, in close coordination with the New Jersey State Police, “continue to deploy personnel and technology to investigate this situation and confirm whether the reported drone flights are actually drones or are instead manned aircraft or otherwise inaccurate sightings.” The agencies said they have not corroborated any of the reported sightings with electronic detection, and that reviews of available images appear to show many of the reported drones are actually manned aircraft. “There are no reported or confirmed drone sightings in any restricted air space,” according to the statement. The drones appear to avoid detection by traditional methods such as helicopter and radio, according to a state lawmaker briefed Wednesday by the Department of Homeland Security. The number of sightings has increased in recent days, though officials say many of the objects seen may have been planes rather than drones. It’s also possible that a single drone has been reported more than once. The worry stems partly from the flying objects initially being spotted near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster. In a post on the social media platform X, Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia described the drones as up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) in diameter and sometimes traveling with their lights switched off. Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use but are subject to local and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and flight restrictions. Operators must be FAA certified. Most, but not all, of the drones spotted in New Jersey appeared to be larger than those typically used by hobbyists. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said he was frustrated by the lack of transparency, saying it could help spread fear and misinformation. “We should know what’s going on over our skies,” he said Thursday. John Duesler, president of the Pennsylvania Drone Association, said witnesses may be confused about what they are seeing, especially in the dark, and noted it’s hard to know the size of the drones or how close they might be. “There are certainly big drones, such as agricultural drones, but typically they are not the type you see flying around in urban or suburban spaces,” Duesler said Thursday. Duesler said the drones — and those flying them — likely cannot evade detection. “They will leave a radio frequency footprint, they all leave a signature," he said. "We will find out what kind of drones they were, who was flying them and where they were flying them.” Fantasia, a Morris County Republican, was among several lawmakers who met with state police and Homeland Security officials to discuss the sightings from the New York City area across New Jersey and westward into parts of Pennsylvania, including over Philadelphia. It is unknown at this time whether the sightings are related. Duesler said the public wants to know what's going on. “I hope (the government agencies) will come out with more information about this to ease our fears. But this could just be the acts of rogue drone operators, it’s not an ‘invasion’ as some reports have called it,” Duesler said. “I am concerned about this it but not alarmed by it.” Associated Press reporters Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and reporter Darlene Superville and videojournalists Serkan Gurbuz and Nathan Ellgren in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.Law enforcers have arrested a Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) soldier as part of an ongoing investigation into a sophisticated phishing scam that defrauded the National Commercial Bank (NCB) of over $47 million dollars. The Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) says the arrest was made this morning by its officers, collaborating with the Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime Branch (CTOC) of the Jamaica Constabulary Force. It says the soldier is suspected to be part of an organised criminal syndicate. It is alleged that between April and June 2022, the funds were illegally accessed from a number of accounts held at NCB, via an online phishing scam. The stolen money was subsequently transferred to various beneficiary accounts, which have since been used to withdraw the funds or further transfer them to other banking institutions. MOCA says the soldier was picked up approximately 10 a.m. today, and taken to his residence in Kingston which was subsequently searched. An address linked to another suspect who is currently in custody was also searched. A number of electronic devices were seized during the search and charges are expected to be laid shortly. Director of Communications at MOCA, Major Basil Jarrett, says “this morning's arrest highlights the commitment of MOCA and its law enforcement partners to dismantling organised crime networks and holding accountable those involved in complex financial crimes. It also underscores the importance of collaboration between intelligence, investigative, and technological capabilities in tackling cyber-enabled financial crimes.” Major Jarrett is also thanking the JDF for its collaboration on the matter, noting its zero-tolerance approach towards illicit activities of its members. “The JDF has a long history of discipline and integrity and is determined to preserve that reputation. Their support and partnership on this case was invaluable,” he adds. Belinda Williams, Corporate Affairs Lead at NCB, is praising the efforts of the law enforcement teams, noting that, over the past five years, the bank's customers have been impacted by phishing and smishing scams. "These are matters that we at NCB take very seriously and as such we take great steps to educate and inform our customers about online safety. This, along with our efforts to report these incidents to law enforcement for investigation and appropriate action, have helped in these arrests today and we applaud the efforts of the MOCA and CTOC teams for their efforts in actively taking steps to safeguard our citizens and businesses,” she says. Follow The Gleaner on X and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com .

Check our live blog below for the latest breaking news, traffic and travel from across the Illawarra, the South Coast and beyond. Black Friday Sale Subscribe Now! Login or signup to continue reading What's making news today? Home ownership 'beyond reach' for many in the Illawarra; mayor should be able to kick out unruly people at meetings ; and new clinic to help women during menopause opens in Wollongong's southern suburbs. Please stick with us; it might take a moment for the blog to load The blog is free for all Illawarra Mercury readers, but some article links may only be accessible exclusively to our subscribers. If you have any feedback about the blog, please email news@illawarramercury.com.au. You can also send in news tips, diary dates, and anything else the news team needs to know. You can join the conversation in the comment section below; scroll down to discuss today's news. Are you reading this on your mobile? Download our news app. It's faster and easier to read, and we'll send you alerts for breaking news as it happens. Download it from the Apple Store or Google Play . Nadine Morton covers emergency services and breaking news for the Illawarra Mercury. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au Nadine Morton covers emergency services and breaking news for the Illawarra Mercury. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au More from Latest News Newsletters & Alerts DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Get the latest property and development news here. WEEKLY Find out what's happening in local business. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily!

Celtic legend John Hartson had punch-up with Vinnie Jones to decide who was 'hardest'IRVING, Texas (AP) — The NFL will consider expanding replay assist to include facemask penalties and other plays. Officials have missed several obvious facemask penalties this season, including two in a three-week span during Thursday night games. “When we see it, because I see it like yourselves and the fans, I have an opportunity to see it from a different angle and see it from a slow-mo,” NFL executive Troy Vincent said Wednesday at the league’s winter meetings. “When you think about the position of where the officials are, things are happening so fast. Sometimes the facemask can be the same color as the gloves. There’s a lot happening. Concerning? Yes, because that’s a big miss. That’s a big foul. That’s why we would like to consider putting that for the membership to consider putting that foul category that we can see, putting that (penalty flag) on the field to help. There is a frustration, and we believe that is one category we can potentially get right." Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold was grabbed by his facemask and brought down in the end zone to end Minnesota’s comeback attempt against the Rams on Oct. 24. But there was no call. On Oct. 3, officials missed a facemask on Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving while he ran for 7 yards late in the fourth quarter. Tampa Bay instead was called for holding on the play, got forced out of field-goal range and Kirk Cousins rallied the Falcons to an overtime victory. “That is one this year, the facemask seems like it was the obvious one” Vincent said. “That keeps showing up.” Vincent also cited hits on a defenseless player, tripping, the fair catch, an illegal batted ball, an illegal double-team block, illegal formations on kickoffs and taunting as other areas that warrant consideration for replay assist. Current rules only allow replay assist to help officials pick up a flag incorrectly thrown on the field, or in assisting proper enforcement of a foul called on the field. The NFL’s Competition Committee will review potential recommendations for owners to vote on for expanding replay assist. Vincent was emphatic about the league’s desire to eliminate low blocks that could lead to serious injuries. “The low block below the knee needs to be removed from the game,” Vincent said. “You look at high school, you look at college, too. Every block should be above the knee, but below the neck. All the work that we’ve done for the head and neck area, all the things that we’ve taken out of the game, this is the right time for us to remove the low block out of the game. Be consistent with high school. Be consistent with college. Every block should be above the knee and below the neck.” The league will consider changes to the onside kick after dramatically overhauling the kickoff rule on a one-year basis. “We need to look at that. That’s a dead play,” Vincent said of the onside kick’s low success rate. “That is a ceremonial play. Very low recovery rate. When we look at the kickoff and maybe where the touchback area should be during the offseason, we need to revisit the onside kick.” Options include giving the team an opportunity to run one play to gain a certain number of yards to keep possession. The Washington Commanders’ search for a new stadium site includes options in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, and work has escalated on one in particular. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and controlling owner Josh Harris met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill last week about the RFK Stadium site in Washington, which requires a bill getting through Congress to transfer the land to the District government before anything else can happen. “I think there’s a bipartisan support for this,” Goodell said, adding he’d like to see it get to a vote soon. “We hope that it will be addressed and approved so that it’s at least an alternative for the Commanders if we go forward. I grew up in Washington, and I know would be exciting for a lot of fans.” The NFL continues to discuss a potential 18-game season, but would need approval from the players’ union. “We are doing analysis I would say, but we are not finalizing any plans at this point,” Goodell said. “They’ll share that analysis with the players’ union, which would need to agree to any change.” AP Sports Writer Stephen Whyno contributed. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflMutual of America Capital Management LLC Purchases Shares of 21,904 Hamilton Lane Incorporated (NASDAQ:HLNE)

Syria: how to rebuild a ‘corrupted narco-state’

The decision by the New York Giants to replace quarterback Daniel Jones with Tommy DeVito failed to turn around the team's fortune, as the Giants suffered a 30-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. When asked about the team's issues after New York's losing streak extended to six straight games, star rookie receiver Malik Nabers said the team's play was "soft as f--k." Nabers added the team's struggles weren't due to quarterback play, but he was at a loss for words as to what is actually holding the team back. "I don't know what it is, but I know I'm tired of losing," Nabers told reporters. This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis. For more from Bleacher Report on this topic and from around the sports world, check out our B/R app , homepage and social feeds—including Twitter , Instagram , Facebook and TikTok .Sean Higgins: To solve burgeoning retail theft problem ... more machines? Probably not

Percentages: FG .431, FT .654. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

Warner Bros Discovery re-enters the spin zonePick a social media platform and a fishing-related hashtag, say #patroutfishing on Instagram. It’ll turn up thousands upon thousands of posts. Anglers have long posed for photos with their latest and biggest catches, but the phenomenon of being able to pull out a smartphone and share your achievement globally is unique to the past 10 or 15 years. It’s something that’s been on Travis Pantaleo’s mind since the coronavirus pandemic drove so many of us into nature for socially isolated recreation — and it was the focus of his master’s research thesis in fisheries management at Oregon State University. Wednesday night, he brought his look into “Fish Out of Water” to Lost Tavern Brewing in Hellertown, as part of the Watershed Coalition of the Lehigh Valley’s Tap Talk series. “What impact, if any, does the use of social media have on recreational angling from a catch-and-release or even a mortality perspective?” is the question he posed. “And the reason that this is important is because some of your most dedicated anglers will do everything that they absolutely can to make sure that a fish swims off. But there’s still a 10% mortality assigned to any catch-and-release angling ... .” Numerous managers of fisheries across the United States offer tips — online, of course — on how to practice safe catch and release. The intersection of the internet and fishing isn’t necessarily a bad thing, Pantaleo said. Anglers can visit the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s GIS site for maps of trout streams; where-and-when details on the 4.4 million trout stocked this year in Pennsylvania, including 1.2 million stocked by cooperative nurseries that help raise trout for anglers to go out and catch; and more. Those who manage fishing can draw on information gleaned from social media to influence decision making on stocking and conservation, he said. Pantaleo admits to taking photos of some of the fish he catches while out on Cooks Creek in Upper Bucks or other local steams. But his research has shown the extra time to snap a shot can increase the risk to the fish. “When you go to take a photo, the chances are the percentage and times that you’re keeping that fish out of the water multiplies by 1.6,” he cited. “So keeping a fish out for 30 seconds just became 45. Keeping a fish out of water for 60 seconds just became a minute and a half. “And so it kind of extrapolates the possibility of harming that fish without even really thinking about it. And when you see a lot of photos online, they look pretty good. You know, if you’re anything like me, if you go take a picture of a fish, you’re rushing. Like for me it’s quick, it’s awful because the photo comes out really bad because I’m just trying to get it back in the water and I’m not a good photographer.” Pantaleo is a member of the Cooks Creek Watershed Association and a board member at the Watershed Coalition of the Lehigh Valley, a nonprofit organization that encompasses 13 waterway groups in all. His research shows that the time a fish spends out of water, assuming it’s being released, can cause serious damage. “It’s not too different from if you were to try to hold your breath under the water for 60 seconds or more,” he said. “The only thing is where we would asphyxiate because we would take in too much water, fish kind of have the opposite: They have a large buildup of carbon dioxide. When they’re reintroduced into the water, to put it simply, the oxygen moves through their body so fast that it causes cardiac issues.” That sudden exchange can kill a fish, or cause difficulty righting or balancing itself, or lead to reproductive problems, Pantaleo said, voicing particular concern for native populations of brook or brown trout. “There can be injury to the fish,” Pantaleo said. “So depending on how you hook it, if you hook a fish relatively deep inside of its throat with its gills, there’s a good chance it’s going to swim away bleeding and ultimately die from loss of blood. You can scrape it, it can get infected.” Some examples of best practices for catch-and-release fishing include using barbless hooks, going with a silicone or rubber-mesh net instead of nets with knots, and wetting hands or gloves to reduce harm to the protective slime covering the fish’s skin. Anglers are good partners in conservation, said Stefanie Green, who coordinates the Watershed Coalition of the Lehigh Valley’s Tap Talk series. Rod and gun clubs promote coalition events. They organize stream cleanups. Pennsylvania’s fishing license sales estimated at 782,989 in 2023-24 help protect native species, conserve the outdoors and enhance waterways, according to Fish and Boat. Pantaleo cited examples of anglers calling others out on social media, over pics of fish that have been dropped or which are covered in dust or dirt. “And on the opposite side of that, you have other forums where people are very encouraging of folks to go out and experience this type of experience for themselves,” he told about 18 people gathered for Wednesday night’s Tap Talk. “So it goes back to that idea that social media can both be a positive and a negative.” The Watershed Coalition started its Tap Talks in spring 2019 at Birthright Brewing Co. in Nazareth. They’re held in conjunction with the Penn State Extension, whose master watershed steward coordinator for Lehigh and Northampton counties, Shannon Frankosky, was in attendance Wednesday. The series grew out of visits to local businesses that use Lehigh Valley water, and the talks don’t always take place at beer breweries. The members have held events at Portch Tea, a kombucha-tea maker in the Emmaus area; Taylor House Brewing Co. and Blocker’s Coffeehouse in Catasauqua; Seven Sirens Brewing Co. in Bethlehem; and Black River Farms Vineyard & Winery in Lower Saucon Township. “Give us something delicious with local water and we’re there,” said Green, who is president of the Bertsch-Hokendauqua-Catasauqua Watershed Association. For more tips on safe catch-and-release fishing, including to keep both the fight and the fish’s time out water as brief as possible, visit the websites of the National Park Service website or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife is blunt in its recommendation: ” Photos can be so stressful. SKIP SOCIAL MEDIA! But if you feel you must get a picture, prepare for taking photos with your fish safely under the water surface. When lifting the fish out of the water, do it for 5 second intervals or less. Try to get the shot (within reason), but return your fish to the water for a rest between attempts. Take it slow down below.” More tips from keepfishwet.org include making sure your camera is easily accessible and ready to use and being mindful of conditions where a photo simply isn’t a good idea, like if the water is warm or the fish is deeply hooked. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat also offers a video on “How to Handle Fish for Safe Catch and Release”: