Third Exchange Of Hostages For Prisoners As Part Of The Truce In Gaza

This is Beirut 30/01 05:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Palestine Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Banks Hamas

Israel and Hamas are due to carry out their third exchange of hostages for prisoners on Thursday, with the release of eight hostages, three Israelis and five Thais, held in the Gaza Strip, as part of the fragile ceasefire intended to put an end to 15 months of war. A fourth exchange is scheduled for Saturday, with the release of three hostages, ...

Syria: New Authorities Announce the Dissolution of All Armed Groups

This is Beirut 29/01 22:48 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

USA Syria

The new authorities in Syria announced on Wednesday evening the dissolution of "all armed groups" that had led the offensive against Bashar al-Assad, as well as the dissolution of the army of the former regime, which was overthrown on December 8. "All armed groups, political and civil bodies claiming to represent the revolution are ...

Ahmad al-Sharaa Appointed Transitional President in Syria

This is Beirut 29/01 21:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Syria

The de facto leader of Syria, Ahmad al-Sharaa, who assumed power on December 8 following the fall of Bashar al-Assad, has been appointed "president" for the transitional period, the new authorities announced on Wednesday evening. In announcing the dissolution of the former Parliament and the suspension of the 2012 Constitution, the new ...

Israel: 11 Gaza Hostages to Be Released This Week

This is Beirut 29/01 20:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Israel Palestine Benjamin Netanyahu Hamas

Israel said on Wednesday that 11 more hostages held in Gaza, including five Thais, would be freed over two days this week as part of a fragile Gaza ceasefire. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said it had received a list from Hamas of eight hostages to be freed on Thursday, including the Thais, and another three, all men, to be released ...

Plane Crash in South Sudan: At Least 20 Dead, One Survivor

This is Beirut 29/01 18:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

A plane has crashed in the north of South Sudan killing at least 20 people, leaving only one confirmed survivor, Unity State's minister for information said Wednesday. The aircraft came down near the oil fields in Unity State at around 10:30 am local time (0830 GMT) shortly after taking off for the capital Juba. "The plane crashed 500 metres ...

EU Pledges 3 Billion Euros for Jordan in New 'Strategic' Partnership

This is Beirut 29/01 18:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Gaza Hamas Donald Trump Jordan USA

The European Union on Wednesday promised 3 billion euros ($3.1 billion) of financing and investments for Jordan as part of a new "strategic" partnership with the key Middle East ally. "With the current geopolitical shifts and growing crises in the region, strengthening the EU-Jordan partnership is the right decision at the right time," European ...

Goma Conflict: What About the Fate of the Lebanese Community in DRC?

Natasha Metni Torbey 29/01 16:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Congo Goma Lebanon Lebanese community Fighting

The recent fighting in the cities of Goma and Kinshasa raises deep concerns about the fate of the Lebanese community in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Intense clashes between the Congolese Army and the M23, an armed anti-government militia backed by Rwanda, have reignited, especially near the Rwandan border. On January 26, fierce fighting ...

Hamas: Israel's Delaying of Aid Delivery to Gaza May Affect Hostage Release

This is Beirut 29/01 15:36 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Hamas Israel Palestine ceasefire agreement

Two Hamas officials on Wednesday accused Israel of delaying the delivery of vital humanitarian aid to Gaza, as agreed in the ceasefire deal, and warned that it could impact the release of hostages. "We warn that continued delays and failure to address these points (delivery of key aid) will affect the natural progression of the agreement, ...

Syria's New Rulers Urge Russia to Fix Past Mistakes

This is Beirut 29/01 15:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

US Secretary of State Damascus European Union Middle East Saudi Arabia

Syria's new leadership on Wednesday urged Moscow to "address past mistakes" during talks with visiting Russian officials -- the first since former president Bashar al-Assad, a Kremlin ally, was toppled last month. The visit came with Russia keen to secure the fate of two military bases in Syria and after Russian President Vladimir Putin denied ...

Syria Demands Israel Pullout from Buffer Golan Zone

This is Beirut 29/01 14:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Israel Benjamin Netanyahu United Nations Golan Syria

Syria's new authorities on Wednesday urged Israel's withdrawal from Syrian territory it occupied in the Golan Heights after president Bashar al-Assad's ousting, during talks with UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix, state media reported. During Lacroix's meeting with Syria's foreign and defense ministers, "it was confirmed that Syria is ...

Ukrainian Drone Barrage on Russia Kills two, Hits oil Refinery

This is Beirut 29/01 11:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Kyiv Ukraine

A Ukrainian drone attack killed a mother and her toddler in a Russian border region on Wednesday, Russian officials said, as Kyiv launched a major overnight barrage that set an oil refinery ablaze and targeted a nuclear facility. Moscow and Kyiv have exchanged almost daily drone or missile attacks over the nearly three-year war, targeting energy ...

Rubio Widens Exemption for US Aid After Freeze

This is Beirut 29/01 10:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

USA Donald Trump US Secretary of State

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday widened exemptions in a sweeping freeze on foreign assistance, saying the United States would keep funding humanitarian items such as shelter and medicine. President Donald Trump on returning office last week ordered a 90-day pause to review assistance by the United States, the world's largest donor in ...