MIDDLE EAST

SAUDI SEES SHARP RISE IN EXECUTIONS IN 2024

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Despite Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's (MBS) 2022 claim that the death penalty would be limited to murder cases, Saudi Arabia executed 330 people this year, marking the highest number in decades. This contradicts MBS's Vision 2030 plan to transform the kingdom into a tourism and entertainment hub, shedding its reputation for strict religious restrictions and human rights abuses.

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SYRIAN REBELS RETAKE ALEPPO IN SHOCK OFFENSIVE, MARKING FIRST ENTRY IN 8 YEARS

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In a series of radical and unexpected turn of events, Syrian opposition forces have shattered years of stalemate, sweeping into Aleppo and dramatically challenging President Bashar al-Assad's regime. The lightning-fast offensive marks the first time rebels have controlled significant portions of the city since 2016, signaling a potential transformation in Syria's protracted civil war.

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PROTESTS ERUPT AFTER CHRISTMAS TREE GETS BURNT IN SYRIA

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Following the burning of a Christmas tree in Suqaylabiyah, a Christian-majority town in central Syria, protests have erupted, with calls for the new Islamist authorities to ensure the protection of minorities. Social media footage captured the tree ablaze in the town's main square.

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LEBANESE CIVILIANS RETURN TO DEVASTATION AS CEASEFIRE WITH ISRAEL TAKES HOLD

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The recent ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah marks a significant diplomatic breakthrough, offering a momentary respite to communities ravaged by 13 months of relentless conflict. Brokered by the United States and France, the agreement promises a carefully choreographed withdrawal that could reshape the geopolitical landscape of southern Lebanon.

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JUDGE FINDS ISRAELI SPYWARE FIRM NSO GROUP LIABLE IN WHATSAPP HACKING LAWSUIT

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In favor of the social media giant Meta, a U.S. district judge in Oakland, California, that the Israeli spyware company NSO Group is liable for hacking and breach of contract. This decision marks a pivotal moment in the fight against unauthorized surveillance by private companies.

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FIVE RESCUED FROM TOURIST YACHT WHICH SANK IN RED SEA

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Five people have been found alive a day after a tourist boat capsized in the Red Sea, Egypt's local governor said. Four bodies have also been recovered from the capsized tourist boat.

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SYRIA'S ASSAD SECRETLY SENT $250 MILLION TO RUSSIA

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Between 2018 and 2019, Syria's central bank secretly transferred $250 million in cash to Russia. The Financial Times uncovered these covert operations, highlighting how Bashar al-Assad's regime, reeling under Western sanctions, resorted to such measures to secure funds and maintain power. The cash shipments, flown in $100 bills and €500 notes, were deposited into sanctioned Russian banks through Moscow's Vnukovo Airport, underscoring the deep financial ties between Assad's regime and the Kremlin.

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TOURIST BOAT SINKS IN RED SEA, 17 REPORTED MISSING

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Seventeen people are missing, while 28 others have been rescued after a tourist boat sank in the Red Sea. The boat with 31 tourists and 14 crew - who were all Egyptians - sent a distress signal at 05:30 (03:30 GMT), according to the governor of Red Sea province. Authorities have not indicated the possible cause of the incident.

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