The Daily Star Lebanon Breaking News, Lebanon News, Middle East News & World News

In an unexpected turn of events at the Australian Open 2024, former World No.1 and defending Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz was eliminated after a straight-sets loss to Germany’s Alexander Zverev on Wednesday, January 24. Alcaraz, who was among the top contenders for the title, fell to Zverev in a match that ended with scores of 6-1, 6-3, 7-5. Zverev, an …

Without LeBron James, sidelined by a sore ankle, the Los Angeles Lakers were led by D’Angelo Russell’s 27 points and Anthony Davis’ 26 in their recent game. Initially, the Lakers fell behind early in the first quarter, but the Los Angeles Clippers soon took control. The Clippers established a 16-point lead just before halftime and managed to keep the Lakers …

The Russian Defense Ministry on Wednesday alleged that Ukrainian forces shot down a Russian military transport plane, resulting in the deaths of all 74 people on board. This included 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war who were part of a swap. The crash occurred in Russia’s Belgorod border region, but Ukrainian officials have yet to confirm or deny these claims. The …

U.S. forces recently neutralized two anti-ship missiles in Yemen, belonging to the Houthi rebels, which posed a serious threat to both merchant and U.S. Navy ships in the region. This operation was part of the United States and Britain’s collaborative efforts to limit the Houthis’ capability to attack maritime targets. These joint military efforts have been complemented by Washington’s individual …

China, as the world’s leading exporter, has expressed deep concern regarding the escalating tensions in the Red Sea, which have disrupted global trade by leading many shipping companies to circumvent the Suez Canal. The Chinese Foreign Ministry, through spokesperson Wang Wenbin, stated on Wednesday that China is actively engaged in efforts to calm the situation, which has been exacerbated by …

On Wednesday, Israeli soldiers destroyed the home of a Palestinian, Basil Shehadeh, who is accused of aiding in an attack that resulted in the death of four Israelis near a West Bank settlement in June. Witnesses reported that Basil Shehadeh was arrested for allegedly assisting two Palestinians, Muhannad Shehadeh and Khaled Sabah, in carrying out the shooting at a gas …

On Tuesday, NATO finalized a substantial $1.2 billion contract to manufacture approximately 220,000 artillery shells, a move aimed at replenishing the ammunition stocks of its member nations. This initiative is particularly significant as these countries have been supplying Ukraine with ammunition in its ongoing conflict against Russia’s invasion. The 155-millimeter ammunition, which is in high demand, will be procured under …

Walid Jumblat, the former leader of the Progressive Socialist Party, is expressing frustration over Lebanon’s prolonged absence of a president, which has been ongoing for over a year amid political deadlock. In an interview published Wednesday in al-Akhbar, Jumblat voiced his exasperation, particularly with the Christian factions’ failure to reach an agreement for two years. He stated his readiness to …