By-election. Deals. Trees.

 Andy Burnham has won the Makerfield by-election. Some people are speculating on how soon he will be prime minister. Kier Starmer says he will not back down. Wes Streeting lurks on the edges. Any more for a leadership contest? And we need a new mayor for Greater Manchester. Interesting times!

Elsewhere Donald Trump has signed a peace agreement between Iran and the US but further talks seem to have broken down because Lebanon is still being targeted.:

“At least 16 killed in Israeli strikes, says Lebanese media

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency has said at least 16 people have been killed in the Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, which Israel’s military said were ongoing, while Hezbollah said there was intense fighting in the area.

The fighting poses a threat to the new US-Iran agreement on ending the war, which calls for an immediate halt of military operations “on all fronts, including in Lebanon”.

The deal also calls for ensuring the “territorial integrity and sovereignty” of Lebanon, where Israel has been battling the Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out any immediate withdrawal from southern Lebanon, saying Israeli forces will stay there “for as long as necessary”.

As just mentioned, Donald Trump said on Thursday the US expected “a ⁠complete ceasefire on all fronts, including ⁠Lebanon, Hezbollah and Israel”, also encouraging “everyone ‌in the ‌Middle East region to maintain their commitment to allowing our negotiations ‌to beautifully unfold”.

 Here’s a cartoon about the deal:

And Mr Trump claims wider responsibility also:

“Trump: 'If it weren’t for me, Israel would not exist today'

Donald Trump has repeated his view that if it weren’t for him “Israel would not exist today”.

He made the remarks to American news outlet Axios, which has released snippets of a 45-minute interview with the US president that has yet to be broadcast.

“If it weren’t for me, Israel would not exist today,” Trump said, adding that his relationship with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “good, but we have to keep him a little bit sane”.”

There you go.

Here’s a piece of sentimental, sad news:

“The Major oak, one of Europe’s oldest, largest and most celebrated ancient trees, has died.

The huge tree, which has grown in Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, England, for at least 1,000 years, failed to produce any leaves this year, after becoming stressed by a series of hot, dry summers.

Thousands of visitors admire the oak each year, with its great age, enormous 11-metre girth and 28-metre canopy inspiring a forest of folklore. Although the oak would not have been hollow in Robin Hood’s day, it was said to have provided a sanctuary for the outlaw and his gang when fleeing the tyrannical Sheriff of Nottingham.”

We get very sentimental about trees.

We have a similar dead tree not far from our house. Not an oak tree, just a tree that failed to grow new leaf last year. I labeled it “the tree that nature forgot”.

Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!