Source: Al Jazeera & News Agencies
Security & Justice
Mawlawi Ensures Strict Monitoring for Wanted Syrian Regime Figures at Beirut Airport
Caretaker Minister of Interior, Bassam Mawlawi, conducted an inspection tour of Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut to review the security arrangements and measures implemented by the Airport Security Apparatus ahead of the holiday season.
Thursday, December 19, 2024
Hezbollah Faces Internal Criticism Over Missing Fighters and Captured Prisoners
Hezbollah is grappling with increasing internal and external pressure as the fate of over 1,000 of its fighters remains uncertain following the recent war with Israel, Asharq al-Awsat newspaper revealed.
Thursday, December 19, 2024
Opinion
Lebanon After the Assads
The United States has important equities in Lebanon, including a desire for a generally friendly government’s economic and political stability; security cooperation; long-standing relations with the large Christian community in Lebanon and Lebanese diaspora in the United States; and ultimately peace between Israel and Lebanon within a broader regional settlement. Achieving these objectives will require navigating a tumultuous period in the country’s history following a war between Hezbollah and Israel that has devastated a large part of the country, exacerbating Lebanon’s already challenging economic conditions. But perhaps the most important dynamic will be how a likely Sunni-dominated state of uncertain composition in Syria will differ in its intentions toward Lebanon from the previous Alawite-led minoritarian Assad regime.
Thursday, December 19, 2024
Europe’s Syrian Dilemma
The news of the sudden and unexpected demise of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria has met a mixed response in Europe. The jubilation that a murderous dictator and close ally of Russia and Iran has fallen is not just good for the Syrian people but serves as a morale booster for Eastern Europeans wondering whether Russia can be defeated
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
Sports
Cristiano Ronaldo Unveils New Private Jet Worth $73 Million
Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the richest global athletes, has unveiled his upgraded private jet reportedly worth $73 million. With its top-notch design, exceptional speed and range of 7500 nautical miles, the Gulfstream G650 is among the fastest jets in the world.
Monday, December 16, 2024
Guardiola Accepts Man City May Need to Sign More Players to Cope with Schedule
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes he will need a bigger squad to handle soccer’s ever-expanding fixture schedule.
Saturday, December 14, 2024
Thursday 19 October 2023 13:28:28
Israel-Hamas War: List of Key Events, Day 13
Here is the situation on Thursday, October 19, 2023:
Latest developments
An Israeli air raid in southern Gaza, near Rafah, killed at least 30 people and injured another 21.
Israel hit Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon early on Thursday. At least two people were reported injured.
At least five Palestinians were killed in Israeli raids in the occupied West Bank.
Palestinian security forces in Ramallah fired tear gas and stun grenades at protesters who were throwing rocks and chanting against President Mahmoud Abbas.
An estimated 300 protesters from the human rights organisation Jewish Voice for Peace calling for a ceasefire were arrested after they occupied one of the blocks in the United States Capitol complex on Wednesday.
Israeli forces stormed at least two cities in the occupied West Bank, arresting suspected Hamas members.
Global protests in support of Palestine continue: thousands gathered in the Philippines and demonstrators near the US embassy in Lebanon clashed with police.
Human impact
The death toll in Gaza stands at 3,478 killed while 12,065 others have been wounded. In the occupied West Bank, 69 people have been killed and 1,300 wounded. In Israel, at least 1,400 people have been killed and 3,800 injured since the October 7 Hamas attacks.
Israel has issued new evacuation orders, telling residents of Gaza to move southwards along the coast where humanitarian aid would be available.
The only cancer hospital in Gaza, Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, is on the verge of shutting down due to a lack of fuel.
Diplomacy
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has landed in Tel Aviv to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog. Sunak will visit Herzog’s residence at 11am [8:00 GMT].
US President Joe Biden visited Tel Aviv on Wednesday to extend support to Israel. He backed the Israeli version of the horrific bombing of al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza that it was caused by Palestinian groups.
Biden also said he has struck a deal with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza by Friday.
But on Wednesday, the US vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution that called for sending humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made a series of phone calls to leaders of Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia. Talking to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he expressed his outrage over the hospital attack and announced $10m aid for Palestinians.
Russia announced it would deliver 27 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Chinese President Xi Jinping told Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly that Beijing wants to “enhance cooperation” with Egypt for “stability” in the Middle East region.
Business and Economy
Asian markets tumbled amid fear of the Israel-Hamas crisis spilling into a wider conflict in the Middle East or a full-blown war.
All three of the main Wall Street indexes ended in the red. Asia followed suit, with Hong Kong, Tokyo, Sydney, Seoul and Singapore dipping more than 1 percent, according to Reuters.
Losses were also observed in Shanghai, Manila, Jakarta and Wellington.
