Israel – Lebanon: U.N.-mediated ceasefire has begun to take hold across Lebanon, as Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants stop their attacks after more than a month of conflict.
No major clashes have been reported since the ceasefire took effect at 8 a.m. local time (0500 UTC) today (Monday).
But, the Israeli military says its troops opened fire on a group of Hezbollah fighters who approached an army position after the truce began. Israeli media report one militant was killed in the clash near the Lebanese village of Hadatha.
Israeli military officials say some troops pulled out of southern Lebanon following the ceasefire, but most will hold positions seized in recent days.
Thousands of displaced Lebanese are jamming roads as they try to return to their villages in the south.
Iraq: Authorities in Iraq are still counting the cost of a wave of rocket and bomb attacks that killed at least 57 people in a Shi'ite neighborhood of Baghdad.
Suspected Sunni insurgents fired several rockets into the Zafraniyah district in southern Baghdad late Sunday, demolishing a multi-story building and seriously damaging several others. Casualties mounted as a car bomb went off near rescuers and onlookers, and another explosion was detonated by a suicidal attacker riding a motorcycle.
In addition to the heavy death toll, more than 140 people were wounded.
Sri Lanka: Pakistan's ambassador to Sri Lanka has narrowly escaped a powerful explosion that hit his convoy in Colombo.
Seven people were killed and about eight wounded when a Claymore mine went off today (Monday) as the convoy passed in the Sri Lankan capital. The ambassador (Bashir Wali Mohamed) was not injured.
There has been no claim of responsibility for the blast.
Meanwhile, fighting continues to rage in the country's northeast, with Tamil Tiger rebels accusing the government of bombing an orphanage and a church in rebel-held territory, killing scores of people.
Britain Terror Plot: Britain has lowered its terrorism threat level from critical - the highest level - to severe, because authorities say they no longer believe an attack is imminent.
Home Secretary John Reid said today (Monday) British intelligence agents believe the main suspects in a plot to blow up passenger jets with liquid explosives have been arrested. But he urged the public to remain vigilant, saying there is still a very serious threat of an attack.
Authorities raised the threat level to critical last Thursday when British and Pakistani police foiled an alleged plan to blow up as many as 10 airliners heading to the United States.
Cuba Castro: Cuba's Communist Party newspaper has released new photographs of ailing leader Fidel Castro.
"Granma" published the gallery of photos today (Monday) on its Web site. The pictures show Mr. Castro in bed, wearing a red sweat shirt, and shaking hands with visiting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
On Sunday, the Communist Youth newspaper "Juventud Rebelde" published the first images of Mr. Castro, who has not been seen in public since the announcement of his medical problems two weeks ago.
Israel – Lebanon: Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants have stopped more than a month of fighting after a U.N.-mediated ceasefire took hold earlier today (Monday).
No major clashes have been reported since the ceasefire took effect at 8 a.m. local time (0500 UTC).
But the Israeli military says its troops shot dead two Hezbollah fighters in separate incidents after the truce took hold.
Britain Terror Plot: Britain's Department for Transport has eased restrictions on airline cabin baggage after the government downgraded the terrorism threat level.
The department today (Monday) said passengers may now carry one piece of luggage into the cabin. Other bags, such as handbags, may also be carried on with the single item of cabin baggage.
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