Source: BBC
Security & Justice
Southern Lebanon Endures Massive Damage: 40,000 Homes Leveled Across 37 Towns
Israeli forces have systematically destroyed entire neighborhoods in southern Lebanon, leveling more than 37 towns and wiping out over 40,000 residential units, according to Lebanon's National News Agency.
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Gaps in Coastal Radar Enabled Israeli Raid in Batroun, Army Commander Says
Lebanon’s army chief, General Joseph Aoun, detailed to Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati how Israeli forces likely exploited gaps in the country's coastal radar system during the recent raid carried out in Batroun. The briefing comes as Lebanese officials seek answers on how Israel’s elite Shayetet 13 unit carried out the landing undetected.
Monday, November 4, 2024
Opinion
The Emptying of Baalbek Is a Moment to Take Stock
“Large numbers of people continue to flee their homes every day, as Israel’s military operations in Lebanon have been going on unabated.” These disturbing words could be from almost any news report about Israel’s invasion of its northern neighbour over the past month. However, they can be found in a report by the Norwegian Refugee Council’s Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre issued on July 27, 2006.
Saturday, November 2, 2024
A Future Without Hezbollah
At the end of September, when Israel’s campaign to destroy Hezbollah was reaching its height, I met one of the group’s supporters in a seaside café in western Beirut. He was a middle-aged man with a thin white beard and the spent look of someone who had not slept for days. He was an academic of sorts, not a fighter, but his ties to Hezbollah were deep and long-standing.
Thursday, October 31, 2024
Sports
Tottenham Forward Son Heung-min Crowned Asia’s International Player of the Year
Tottenham forward Son Heung-min was crowned as Asia’s International Player of the Year for the fourth time by the Asian Football Confederation at its annual awards ceremony Tuesday.
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Real Madrid Launch Investigation into Racist Insults After El Clasico Defeat
Real Madrid has launched an investigation into racist insults directed at players during Saturday’s 4-0 home loss to Barcelona in LaLiga, it said on Sunday.
Monday, October 28, 2024
Friday 22 September 2023 16:03:31
Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky Visits Canada for First Time Since Russia Invasion
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Canada for the first time since the Russian invasion.
Canadian TV showed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meeting Mr Zelensky and the first lady on the runway in Ottawa.
It comes after increasing doubts from international partners over how it should continue providing aid to Kyiv.
Mr Zelensky arrived from Washington where he had hoped to secure further funding but it is unclear if US Congress will back more aid.
Earlier in the week, he urged world leaders to continue to support Ukraine to help fight off Russian forces at the United Nations in New York.
Diplomatic tensions are on the rise, after Mr Zelensky criticised Poland, Slovakia and Hungary, for banning imports of Ukrainian grain.
Mr Zelensky was joined by First Lady Olena Zelenska where they were greeted on the tarmac by hugs from Canadian officials including Mr Trudeau.
Canada reaffirmed its commitment to Ukraine on arrival - the country's UN ambassador told news agency Associated Press it needs "to do more" to help.
"We're going to continue to do everything we can to support the Ukrainian people," said Bob Rae.
Although this the first in person visit for Mr Zelensky since the war began, he has addressed parliament via video link before.
The president will address parliament again to plea for continued support from a country that has already provided weapons, tanks and training for Ukrainian soldiers.
Its package so far has totalled around $6bn (£4.8bn) but in June Trudeau did pledge his country remained committed to supporting Ukraine.
He will also meet business leaders in Toronto on his trip.
In the US, Republican scepticism about funding the war is growing despite pleas from the president not to turn its back on Ukraine.
"Russia believes that the world will grow weary and allow it to brutalise Ukraine without consequence," Mr Biden said.
The US Congress has now authorised more than $110bn (£89bn) in aid to Ukraine, but polls suggest support among Americans for further spending has declined.
Many Republicans argue the money would be better spent on domestic issues, but during Mr Zelensky's visit, President Biden approved further funding for Kyiv valued at £265m ($325m).
It includes upgrades to air defences - but not the long-range missiles that President Zelensky has been requesting.
Poland also announced on Wednesday it would no longer be sending new weapons to Ukraine and would instead be focussing on defending itself with more modern weapons.