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

Rafael Nadal has been making strides in training after recovering from a hip injury, yet his coach, Carlos Moya, remains concerned about Nadal’s physical resilience in the demanding environment of Grand Slam tournaments. Nadal, 37, experienced a muscle issue at Melbourne Park in January, leading to a hiatus in his season. He plans to return to competitive tennis at Brisbane …

A stunning evening dress once donned by Princess Diana achieved an extraordinary sale price of $1.1 million at an auction, far exceeding its estimated value and setting a new record for the highest auction price for one of her dresses. This record-breaking sale was announced by Julien’s Auctions, a Los Angeles-based auction house. The dress, a black and blue ballerina-length …

Afghanistan fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq has received a 20-month suspension from the ILT20, a United Arab Emirates-based cricket league. This ban was imposed following Naveen’s failure to sign a retention agreement with the Sharjah Warriors, the team he represented in 2023. As a result of the ban, Naveen is prohibited from participating in the ILT20 seasons of 2024 and 2025, both …

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s visit to Israel on Monday was expected to focus on urging the country to de-escalate its extensive combat operations in Gaza. This visit comes as the U.S., despite its unwavering support for Israel’s offensive, seeks to mitigate the severe impact on Palestinian civilians. Over the weekend, France, the U.K., and Germany, all key allies of …

On Monday, Israeli artillery launched attacks on the outskirts of several southern Lebanese border towns, including al-Naqoura, Aitaroun, al-Jebbayn, Dhaira, Yaroun, and Blida. Additionally, a drone strike targeted a building close to the funeral of a Hezbollah fighter in Aita al-Shaab. In response, Hezbollah targeted soldiers at the al-Hamra post. There have been regular exchanges of fire between Israel and …

On Monday, around 70% of gas stations in Iran were rendered non-operational due to what is believed to be an act of sabotage, possibly a cyberattack, as reported by Iranian state TV. The disruption was attributed to a “software problem,” and the public was advised not to crowd the remaining functioning stations. Israeli media sources, including the Times of Israel, …

General Joseph Aoun, the Commander of the Army, hosted a dinner for Suleiman Franjieh, the leader of the Marada Movement, on Sunday evening. Media reports indicated that their discussions covered various current issues, with a particular focus on the presidential situation and the strained relationship with the Free Patriotic Movement. Sources close to Franjieh mentioned that he accepted the invitation …

An attack on a Cayman Islands-flagged tanker in a critical maritime route near Yemen was reported by a U.S. military official on Monday. The Swan Atlantic, a carrier of chemicals and oil products, was targeted in this latest incident among a series of attacks on ships traversing the Red Sea and the strategically important Bab el-Mandeb Strait. These assaults have …