This is Beirut

Despite Hopes Of a Ceasefire, Violence Continues In Gaza

This is Beirut, 2024-12-23 03:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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Despite growing hopes of a ceasefire, the violence continues in the Gaza Strip, where 35 people have been killed in the last 24 hours according to the Civil Defence of the Palestinian territory, ravaged by more than a year of war between Hamas and Israel. The Islamist movement Hamas and two other Palestinian groups had suggested on Saturday that ...

Usyk Beats Fury in Heavyweight Championship Rematch

This is Beirut, 2024-12-22 17:05 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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Oleksandr Usyk won his heavyweight championship rematch against Tyson Fury by unanimous decision overnight on Saturday to stay unbeaten across two divisions and cement his place among the greats. The Ukrainian, who forced the pace and repeatedly tagged Fury with his accurate left hook, was awarded the fight 116-112 by all three judges, handing ...

Meeting Between Syria's New Leader and US Diplomats 'Positive'

This is Beirut, 2024-12-20 17:41 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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A delegation of US diplomats visiting Syria had a "positive" meeting on Friday with the country's new ruler, Ahmed al-Sharaa, a Syrian official told AFP. "The meeting took place, and it was positive. And the results will be positive, God willing," the official said on condition of anonymity. A planned press conference by ...

American Strike Killed Islamic State Group Leader in Syria

This is Beirut, 2024-12-20 17:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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American forces killed an Islamic State (IS) group leader and another of the group's members in a strike in Syria, the US military said on Friday. Washington has stepped up military action against the jihadist group since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government earlier this month, hitting areas that were shielded by Syrian and Russian air ...

Thousands Protest in Northeast Syria in Support of Kurdish-Led Force

This is Beirut, 2024-12-19 16:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Thousands of people demonstrated Thursday in northeast Syria in support of a US-backed, Kurdish-led force that for weeks has been pushing back against Turkey-backed fighters, an AFP correspondent said. The show of support for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) comes after Islamist-led rebels toppled Syria's longtime strongman Bashar al-Assad ...

Syria: Turkey Promises to Press On, Demands Kurdish Fighters Disarm

This is Beirut, 2024-12-19 13:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Ankara will push ahead with its military preparations until Kurdish fighters "disarm", a defense ministry source said Thursday, stressing Turkey faces an ongoing threat along its border with northern Syria. The comments came as concerns grew over a possible Turkish assault on the Kurdish-held Syrian border town of Kobane, also known as Ain ...

US Fed Cuts Rate by Quarter-Point in Third Straight Reduction

This is Beirut, 2024-12-18 21:30 - Reading : less than a minute

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The US Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter point Wednesday and signaled a slower pace of cuts ahead, amid uncertainty about inflation and President-elect Donald Trump's economic plans. Policymakers voted 11-to-1 to lower the US central bank's key lending rate to between 4.25 percent and 4.50 percent, the Fed announced in a statement. ...

SOHR Says 21 Pro-Turkey Fighters Killed Near Flashpoint Northern Town

This is Beirut, 2024-12-18 21:05 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) war monitor said 21 pro-Turkey fighters were killed Wednesday after they attacked a Kurdish-held position near a flashpoint northern town despite a US-brokered ceasefire extension in the area. The persistent fighting between Turkish-backed factions and US-backed Kurdish-led forces comes more than a ...

UN Humanitarian Chief Urges Massive Aid Boost for Syria

This is Beirut, 2024-12-18 20:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Visiting UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher called Wednesday for a massive aid boost for Syria to respond to "this moment of hope" after the ouster of longtime strongman Bashar al-Assad. "Across the country, the needs are huge. Seven in 10 people are needing support right now," Fletcher told AFP in a telephone interview as he visited Syria. "I ...

Zelensky Huddles With European Leaders as Trump Looms

This is Beirut, 2024-12-18 18:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meets NATO chief Mark Rutte and key European leaders in Brussels Wednesday to strategise over Russia's war ahead of Donald Trump's return to power in the United States. This evening's gathering was due to involve leaders from Germany, Poland, Italy, Denmark, The Netherlands and the European Union's main ...

Trump Jokes Canada Becoming 51st US State ‘A Great Idea'

This is Beirut, 2024-12-18 18:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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US President-elect Donald Trump said Wednesday it would be "a great idea" for Canada to become the 51st US state, teasing on social media that "many Canadians" welcome the idea, as Ottawa is wracked by a political crisis. "Many Canadians want Canada to become the 51st State," Trump posted on Truth Social. "They would save massively on taxes and ...

UN Calls for Free Elections in Syria

This is Beirut, 2024-12-18 14:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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United Nations special envoy Geir Pedersen called Wednesday for "free and fair elections" in Syria and urged humanitarian assistance to the war-torn country after Bashar al-Assad's ouster this month. Addressing reporters in Damascus, Pedersen said, "There is a lot of hope that we can now see the beginning of a new Syria," which he expressed hope ...

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