MIDDLE EAST

HAMAS RETURNS 3 ISRAELI HOSTAGES AND ISRAEL FREES 90 PALESTINIANS PRISONERS

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After 15 months of collective grief and anxiety, three Israeli hostages left Hamas captivity and returned to Israel, and dozens of Palestinian prisoners walked free from Israeli jail, leaving both Israelis and Palestinians torn between celebration and trepidation as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took hold Sunday.

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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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ITALIAN JOURNALIST FREED FROM IRANIAN JAIL

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Italian journalist Cecilia Sala has returned to Rome after weeks of detention in an Iranian prison. The 29-year-old was arrested on December 19th, reportedly held in solitary confinement at Tehran's notorious Evin prison. Her arrest came three days after Italian authorities detained an Iranian engineer in Milan, suspected of providing drone technology that resulted in the deaths of US soldiers.

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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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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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