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LONDON and TEL AVIV -- The Israeli government adopted a series of significant, bureaucratically complex measures that would allow Israelis and Jews abroad to more easily purchase and build on land in the West Bank, consolidating Israeli control in the area that would potentially serve as the heartland for a future Palestinian state.

The measures, which were approved over the weekend, are likely to be challenged in the Israeli Supreme Court. But they represent the most far-reaching attempts by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government to advance a de-facto annexation of the West Bank.

The Palestinian Authority, the governing body for Palestinians that already has only limited powers in the West Bank, described the moves as an "unprecedented escalation" and "illegal," views echoed by regional Arab states.

U.S. President Donald Trump has previously said the U.S. opposes attempts by Israel to annex the West Bank, a long-held dream of some settler groups and far-right ministers who now hold powerful positions in Netanyahu's government.

The newly adopted measures are expected to deepen Israeli civil -- as opposed to military -- control of new areas within the West Bank, including key religious sites in Hebron, and are designed to make it easier for Israelis to buy land in the territory.

Israel's Security Cabinet, headed by Netanyahu, approved on Sunday a series of new measures that would lift a ban on the sale of land to private Israeli Jews, transfer construction authority at religious and sensitive sites in the city of Hebron to the Israeli government, and declassify land registry records.

The United Nations condemned the measures, with a spokesperson for the secretary-general saying ina statementthat "all Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and their associated regime and infrastructure, have no legal validity and are in flagrant violation of international law, including relevant United Nations resolutions."

The measures would allow the Israeli government to operate under the guise of civilian issues in Palestinian areas A and B for the first time, which contravenes the Oslo Accords. Under the Oslo Accords, the Palestinian Authority is the sole authority responsible for civilian matters in Area A and B. Israel, in contrast, has full Israeli civil and security control over Area C, which represents about 60% of the West Bank.

Bezalel Smotrich, Israel's far-right, pro-settlement finance minister, hailed the move as an "historic day for settlement for Judea and Samaria," as parts of the West Bank are known in Hebrew.

He said the changes would "fundamentally change the legal and civil reality." He boasted that it would end the prospects for a potential Palestinian State.

Netanyahu has vowed that a Palestinian state "will not be established," even as Western countries, including France, Canada and the United Kingdom, have moved to recognize a Palestinian state.

The office of the Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, issued a statement condemning the measures as "dangerous decisions" designed to "deepen attempts to annex the occupied West Bank."

The president's office said the move was a "blatant violation" of the Oslo Accords, which divided the West Bank into Areas A, B and C, adding that the move represents an "unprecedented escalation targeting the Palestinian presence and its national and historical rights throughout the Palestinian territory."

Abbas' office described the move as illegal and called for the U.S. and the European Union to intervene.

​A joint statement by the foreign ministers of eight Muslim countries condemned the new measures.

The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, Indonesia, Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates said ina statementposted on social media that they collectively "condemned in the strongest terms the illegal Israeli decisions and measures aimed at imposing unlawful Israeli sovereignty, entrenching settlement activity, and enforcing a new legal and administrative reality in the occupied West Bank, thereby accelerating attempts at its illegal annexation and the displacement of the Palestinian people."

"They reaffirmed that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories," the statement added.

According to Peace Now, an Israeli settlement watchdog and activist nongovernmental organization, the measures adopted over the weekend would effectively mean that Israeli authorities can now carry out legal demolitions of Palestinian property in Areas A and B, which comprise around 40% of the West Bank and which under the Oslo accords have been governed by the Palestinian Authority.

While the Israeli military could operate in those areas as the occupying power, the "government is now seeking to ignore its international commitments and begin administrative operations inside areas of the Palestinian Authority. Under the Oslo Accords, Israel has operated militarily in PA areas since the early 2000s," the watchdog said.

Governors of two Russian regions bordering Ukraine said Tuesday that residents are facing sustained power outages as a result of Ukrainian attacks on energy infrastructure, as both sides continue long-range strikes in the run-up to the fourth anniversary of Moscow's full-scale invasion of its neighbor.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russia's western Belgorod region said in posts to Telegram that power and heating outages had forced hundreds of people to rely on "heating points."

"Unfortunately, rolling blackouts are inevitable," Gladkov said, noting that Belgorod city will be among the areas subject to unpredictable outages.

Gov. Alexander Khinshtein of the neighboring Kursk region said that 28,000 customers were without power as a result of "another series of cowardly attacks on our territory."

Both regions have been subject to regular Ukrainian drone, missile and artillery attacks. Both have also seen Ukrainian ground incursions during the nearly 4-year-old war.

'Normal life has disappeared': Russia's energy offensive plunges Ukraine into dark and bitter cold

Recent months have seen both Russia and Ukraine focus attacks on energy infrastructure targets. In Ukraine, millions have facedrolling outagesas a result of months of Russian missile and drone strikes on energy targets all across the country. Moscow, Kyiv has said, is trying to freeze Ukrainians into submission.

The Kremlin, meanwhile, has framed long-range Ukrainian strikes as "terrorist attacks."

Zelenskyy on Sunday defended Ukraine's retaliatory attacks inside Russia, describing the Russian energy sector as "a legitimate target."

"We do not have to choose whether we strike a military target or energy," Zelenskyy said while addressing students at the National Aviation University in Kyiv. "He sells this energy. He sells oil. So is it energy, or is it a military target? Honestly, it's the same thing. He sells oil, takes the money, invests it in weapons. And with those weapons, he kills Ukrainians."

Zelenskyy said that left Ukraine with two options: "We either build weapons and strike their weapons. Or we strike the source where their money is generated and multiplied. And that source is their energy sector. That is what is happening. All of this is a legitimate target for us."

Russian strikes kill 3 in Ukraine as Zelenskyy calls for Western air defense aid

The nightly exchange of drones continued on Monday night.

Ukraine's air force said Russia launched 125 drones into the country overnight, of which 110 were shot down or suppressed. Thirteen drones impacted across six locations, the air force said in a post to Telegram.

Vadym Filashkin, the governor of Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, said in a post to social media that two people were killed and seven people injured by a Russian strike in the city of Slovyansk, close to the front line.

At least four people were injured by a drone strike on a house in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine's Interior Ministry said. Among the injured was a 1-year-old child, the ministry said.

Oleh Kiper, the governor of the southern Odesa region, said in a post to Telegram that Russian drones attacked energy infrastructure overnight, leaving at least three communities partially without power.

The Russian Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said its forces shot down at least six Ukrainian drones overnight into Tuesday morning.

Ukraine war must become 'untenable' for Russia, Zelenskyy says after latest strikes

Russia's federal air transport agency, Rosaviatsiya, said that temporary flight restrictions were introduced at airports in the Black Sea city of Gelendzhik and in the western city of Kaluga.

Peace maneuvers are ongoing against the backdrop of long-range strikes and Russia's attritional offensive operations in eastern Ukraine.

Zelenskyy said in a post to social media on Monday night that proposed post-war Western security guarantees intended to protect Ukraine from repeated Russian aggression are "ready."

"There is no alternative to security. There is no alternative to peace. There is no alternative to rebuilding our country," Zelenskyy said.

The Ukrainian president also said there will be "significant international events this week -- on defense and security."

Russia launches more than 440 drones, missiles at Ukraine overnight, Zelenskyy says

"Our negotiating team is working every single day on the documents and proposals that could deliver results at the upcoming meetings," Zelenskyy said.

"Most importantly, our partners must be aligned the same way we are in Ukraine: peace is needed, and reliable security guarantees are the only real foundation for peace and for preventing the Russians from breaking agreements through strikes or hybrid operation of some kind," he added.

LONDON (AP) — British Prime MinisterKeir Starmerhas faced the biggest crisis of his leadership because of his decision to appoint a close ally of the late convicted sex offenderJeffrey Epsteinto the plum job of U.K. ambassador to the United States.

Many warned him not to appointPeter Mandelson, a 72-year-old grandee of the Labour Party, to the job. Starmer, who never met Epstein, accepts that Mandelson's appointment was a mistake, and has apologized to Epstein's victims as well as to Labour and the country as a whole.

Starmer remains in office, butquestions remainas to how long he can do so.

How one appointment nearly brought the demise of the prime minister:

July 2024

Under Starmer,Labour returns to powerafter 14 years in opposition with a landslide victory on a promise to dial down the politics, following the turmoil of the preceding Conservative years.

December 2024

Starmer appoints Mandelson the U.K. ambassador to the U.S., despite knowing of his previous relationship with Epstein, whodied in prison in 2019, and of his two previous resignations from Tony Blair's government in 1998 and 2001. Mandelson, it was hoped, would be able to use his undoubted charm and networking skills to help the U.K. be spared from tariffs that the incoming Trump administration was planning.

February 2025

Mandelson plays a central role inStarmer's visit to the White House, during which U.S. President Donald Trump is invited to the U.K. for an unprecedented second state visit.

September 2025

On the eve of Trump's visit,Starmer fires Mandelsonafter email exchanges between him and Epstein are published, which indicate that he maintained a friendship with the disgraced financier after his 2008 conviction for sex offenses involving a minor. Starmer's judgment in appointing Mandelson is openly questioned, and Mandelson warns there may be more embarrassing disclosures to come.

Jan. 30, 2026

The U.S. Justice Department publishesmore than 3 million pages of documents related to Epstein.

Feb. 1, 2026

Mandelson quits his membership in the Labour Party to avoid causing "further embarrassment" as a result of his links to Epstein. A few days later, he resigned his place in the U.K.'s revising chamber, the House of Lords.

Feb. 2, 2026

Epstein files indicate that Mandelson shared market-sensitive information to the disgraced financier in 2009 when he was a member of then Prime MinisterGordon Brown's governmentduring the global financial crisis. The files also indicate that a year later, he tipped off Epstein about an imminent 500 billion-euro deal to prop up the European single currency. Payments reportedly totaling $75,000 from Epstein to accounts linked to Mandelson or his partner Reinaldo Avia da Silva are also revealed.

Feb. 3, 2026

British police open a criminal investigationinto Mandelson over alleged misconduct in public office.

Feb. 4, 2026

Starmer agrees to release documentscasting light on the decision to appoint Mandelson, and promises to introduce legislation to strip Mandelson of his honorific title of Lord Mandelson. A visibly shaken Starmer tells Parliament that Mandelson had "lied repeatedly" about his ties to Epstein. Starmer faced angry questions about his judgment, with some Labour lawmakers suggesting that he should resign.

Feb. 5, 2026

Starmer apologizesto Epstein's victims, saying Mandelson had portrayed Epstein as someone he barely knew. "I am sorry, sorry for what was done to you, sorry that so many people with power failed you," Starmer said. "Sorry for having believed Mandelson's lies and appointed him."

Feb. 6, 2026

Police search two propertieslinked to Mandelson.

Feb. 8, 2026

Morgan McSweeney, Starmer's chief of staff, quits, saying he takes full responsibility for advising the prime minister to appoint Mandelson. Critics say advisers advise, but leaders decide.

Feb. 9, 2026

Anas Sarwar, leader of Scottish Labour, urges Starmer to stand down, saying "there have been too many mistakes." Cabinet ministers rally behind the prime minister and Starmer wins thesupport of Labour lawmakersat a crucial behind-closed-doors meeting. "I'm not prepared to walk away from my mandate and my responsibility to my country," he said.

David Njoku is taking his talents elsewhere.

The longtime Browns tight end is not returning to Cleveland after spending the first nine years of his career with the organization, he revealed in an Instagram post Monday night.

"Cleveland, first off I love you. These 9 years have been a beautiful journey,"he wrote in the post."I'm am so grateful for all the memories we shared together. Thank you to The Haslams, Andrew Berry and the whole browns organization for everything!! All my teammates I shared the battle with I'm so grateful for you guys. The time for me to find a new home has come and all I can think of is just the gratefulness in my heart. The city of Cleveland will forever be home."

He ended the message with a heart emoji and the hashtag, "ChiefOut.

Njoku was taken with the No. 29 overall pick by the Browns in 2017 and has gone on to make significant contributions to the franchise since his arrival.

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He will depart Cleveland ranked second among tight ends in franchise history in touchdown catches with 34 and receptions with 384.

Rumors had started to swirl about Njoku before the NFL trade deadline in November, but he did not end up getting moved.

The Browns are expected to look very different next season withnew head coach Todd Monkenat the helm, which is something general manager Andrew Berry implied, saying the offense will see "significant turnover."

Njoku dealt with injury issues during his final two seasons in Cleveland, missing a combined 11 games over that time.

He finished last season with only 33 catches for 293 yards and four touchdowns, which were the fewest catches and receiving yards he's had since the 2020 season.

In his nine years with the Browns, Njoku earned Pro Bowl honors in 2023.

The final two of nearly 30 civil lawsuits that Cleveland Browns quarterbackDeshaun Watsonhad faced from women accusing him of sexual misconduct have been dismissed, according to court records.

The dismissal of these two lawsuits clears Watson of legal problems he had been facing since 2021 after 27 women came forward and accused him in court filings in Texas of exposing himself, touching them with his genitals or kissing them against their will, mostly during massage appointments.

Some of the women alleged Watson, 30, forced them to perform oral sex and one woman accused him of sexually assaulting her.

In one of the lastcasesfiled, a woman brought a civil lawsuit against Watson in September 2024, which alleged that he forced himself on her four years earlier while he was playing for Houston. That lawsuit, which was filed in Texas, sued Watson for $1 million in damages.

The two dismissals this week come as both of those lawsuits had been set to go to trial in the next few weeks. The accusations against Watson were made when he played for the Houston Texans.

It is believed that Watson has no other lawsuits pending in connection with the sexual misconduct allegations.

One of the lawsuits that was dismissed on Friday has been settled, said Tony Buzbee, the attorney for the woman who had filed it. Buzbee declined to comment further, citing confidentiality of the settlement agreement. Buzbee's client alleged Watson touched her with his penis multiple times during a massage session.

It was not immediately known if the other dismissed lawsuit had also been settled. Anissah Nguyen, an attorney for the woman who filed the lawsuit, didn't immediately respond to an email or call seeking comment. Nguyen's client had accused Watson of pressuring her to perform oral sex during a massage.

Watson's attorneys declined to comment.

Watson, who was traded to the Browns in March 2022, has long denied any wrongdoing, and two separate Texas grand juries declined to indict him. One of his attorneys, Rusty Hardin, had previously said the allegations against Watson were "meritless."

"I don't remember or recall any sexual encounters with her," Watson said in a 2023 deposition he gave while being questioned about the woman represented by Nguyen.

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The woman represented by Nguyen had also sued the Houston Texans, alleging Watson had assaulted women with the help and resources of the team. The lawsuit against the Texans was also dismissed last week.

A spokesperson for the Texans didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

In July 2022, 30 women who had accused the Texans of turning a blind eye to allegations against their former star quarterback settled their legal claims against the team.

It was not unusual that all the cases against Watson were settled, said David Ring, a California-based attorney who is not connected to the lawsuits and who has represented victims of sexual assault. He said the majority of civil lawsuits are typically resolved before going to trial and that high-profile defendants typically don't want cases to play out in a public courtroom.

"He's trying to put all of this behind him," Ring said.

Watson's legal problems began after dozens of women claimed to have been the victims of sexual misconduct or assault between 2017 and 2020.

Most of the lawsuits against Watson were settled in 2022.

Following the allegations,Watson was suspendedfor the first 11 games in 2022 forviolating the league's personal conduct policy.

Watson was also fined $5 million and underwent a mandatory evaluation before being reinstated by the league. He has played in only 19 games for the Browns due to the NFL suspension and injuries.

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This is the kind of chaos that has you glued to the screen … insanity!

In the third quarter of theDetroit Pistons-Charlotte Hornets game Monday night, a brawl ended up breaking out and the scene is pure bananas. A total offour players were ejectedas a result of the fight.

ForwardMoussa Diabateand forwardMiles Bridgeswere ejected on the Hornets' side, while the Pistons saw centerJalen Durenand forwardIsaiah Stewarttossed. Charles Lee, the head coach of Charlotte, was later ejected during fourth quarter action after being restrained from charging toward a referee regarding a call.

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With a little more than seven minutes remaining in the third quarter, Duren was fouled by Diabate while driving into the paint. After the former turned around, the two then got face-to-face, seemingly butting heads in the process. Eventually, Duren pushed Diabate's head, and from there, all hell broke loose. It was so crazy that the police even had to get involved.(RELATED: Olympic Athletes Are Being Warned Not To Celebrate With Their Medals Too Much Because They're Breaking)

While Diabate was being held back byDetroitforwardTobias Harris, Diabate tried to punch Duren, who walked away from the scene. However, Bridges ran after him and tossed a punch, with Duren retaliating with his own. Diabate tried to charge once again at Duren, but was held back.

To make the scene even wackier, Stewart got involved by exiting the bench for a confrontation with Bridges, with the latter throwing a punch at his opponent. From there, the two wrestled. In one portion of the chaos, Stewart had Bridges headlocked and punched him over and over again on the head.

It was chaos, absolutely beautiful chaos.

If theNBAcould be like this every night, sign me up for season tickets!

GAINESVILLE, Ga. (AP) — A single-engine plane made an emergency landing on a busy road in Georgia, striking three vehicles and leaving two people with minor injuries, authorities said, after one of the two pilots on board told air traffic controllers to let his wife and parents know he loved them.

The Hawker Beechcraft Bonanza landed Monday on Browns Bridge Road in Gainesville, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast of Atlanta. It was headed to Cherokee County Regional Airport in Canton from Gainesville's Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport. The plane turned back after experiencing problems with the engine just after departure, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a statement.

The plane didn't have enough power to make it to the airport. It landed on the road, the NTSB said.

"I think we're not going to make it," air traffic audio recorded by LiveATC.net said. "Please tell my wife, Molly, I love her, and my parents. I love them so much."

More than 10 minutes later, "We're going to be fine" is heard on the recording.

"We lost our engine taking off out of Gainesville," pilot Thomas Rogers toldWAGA-TV. "We tried to glide back, did everything by the book, but realized we weren't going to make it back with how far out we were, so we came down on the road."

The plane struck three cars, dislodging a fuel tank into one of them, Gainesville police Capt. Kevin Holbrook said. Two people were taken to a hospital with minor injuries, he said.

"The fact that they were able to land in the middle of hundreds of vehicles and only hit three of them, no power lines is very remarkable," Holbrook said, noting that the road is one of the main arteries through northeast Georgia. "The fact that no one was seriously injured or killed is just astonishing."