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

On Monday, President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow plans to increase its bombardment of military objectives in Ukraine. This decision follows an extraordinary assault on the Russian city of Belgorod over the weekend. Putin, during his visit to a military hospital, emphasized that any criminal actions against civilians will not be overlooked and confirmed that the intensified strikes would focus …

The Israeli military has begun withdrawing thousands of troops from the Gaza Strip, marking the first significant reduction of forces since the onset of the war. This move seems to indicate a de-escalation of conflict in some parts of Gaza, particularly the northern region where Israel is nearing operational control. Despite pressure from the United States for Israel to engage …

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has concluded the operations of an international court established to investigate the 2005 assassination of Rafik Hariri, former Prime Minister of Lebanon, as announced by the U.N. spokesperson. Over its tenure, the U.N.-sponsored Special Tribunal for Lebanon, located in The Hague, Netherlands, conducted trials in absentia. It convicted three Hezbollah members – Salim Jamil Ayyash, …

On Monday afternoon, a devastating 7.5 magnitude earthquake hit western Japan, setting off tsunami waves and inflicting damage on roads, utilities, transportation services, and other infrastructure. Japanese authorities urged people in the impacted regions to move to higher ground. In response, 1,000 members of the Self-Defense Forces were mobilized to support rescue and recovery operations. Key updates include: – The …

Jayson Tatum led the way with 25 points, while Jaylen Brown contributed 24, guiding the top-ranked Boston Celtics to a commanding 134-101 victory over San Antonio on Sunday. This win marked their sixth consecutive success. Kristaps Porzingis also played a key role for Boston, adding 14 points and leading the game in rebounds with nine. The Celtics’ performance was further …

2023 has been a challenging year for mainstream movies, both in terms of creativity and box office performance, as noted by critics. Despite the financial backing of streaming services for numerous high-profile films, many of the eagerly awaited titles didn’t meet expectations. A notable example is “Killers of the Flower Moon,” which critics felt was excessively long – an issue …

David Warner is poised to retire from Test cricket after the conclusion of the third Test against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), commencing on January 3rd. Additionally, Warner revealed on January 1st that he plans to step down from One Day Internationals (ODIs) as well, although he remains hopeful about participating in the 2025 Champions Trophy. In a …

The U.S. military has reported that its forces engaged in defensive action against Houthi rebels following their assault on a cargo ship in the Red Sea, resulting in several rebel fatalities. This incident marks an intensification in the maritime conflict connected to the war in Gaza. A White House official emphasized the U.S.’s commitment to self-defense in future operations. According …