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Qatar says Israel, Hamas 'not near a deal' for Gaza truce

Israel and Hamas are not close to a deal on a cessation of hostilities in Gaza and releasing hostages, mediator Qatar said on Tuesday.

"We are not near a deal, meaning that we are not seeing both sides converging on language that can resolve the current disagreement over the implementation of a deal," foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari told a news conference, adding that talks between the parties continued.

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Moscow says fought off multiple attacks on border regions

Moscow on Tuesday said its army had beaten back Ukrainian forces trying to claim territory in two Russian border regions, deploying warplanes, missiles and artillery to fend off the assaults.

The defence ministry said in a statement that Russian forces "thwarted an attempt by the Kyiv regime to make a breakthrough into the border territory of the Russian Federation in the Belgorod and Kursk regions".

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One civilian killed, 6 injured in Israeli airstrikes near Baalbek

Israeli air strikes near Lebanon's eastern city of Baalbek killed one person on Monday, a security source said, in the second raid in the region since cross-border hostilities began after the Gaza war.

Since October 8, the day after the war broke out in the Gaza Strip, Hamas ally Hezbollah and its arch-foe Israel have exchanged near-daily fire.

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China caps key political meet with pledges to boost ailing economy

China's leaders on Monday wrapped up a week-long key conclave at which they admitted more was needed to revive a sluggish economy battered by an ailing housing market, poor domestic demand and record-high youth unemployment.

Top officials have been upfront about the myriad challenges China is facing, admitting that a modest five percent growth goal will not be easy and that "hidden risks" are dragging the economy down. But they have supplied few details about how they plan to tackle the problems.

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Hiroshima grapples with 'Oppenheimer' Oscars success

"Oppenheimer" had a glittering night at the Oscars but in Hiroshima, devastated by the first nuclear bomb in 1945, the film about the weapon's creator is harder to stomach.

"Is this really a movie that people in Hiroshima can bear to watch?" said Kyoko Heya, president of the Japanese city's international film festival, on Monday after the blockbuster won seven Academy Awards including best picture.

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Hezbollah fires dozens of rockets at Israel's Meron after deadly Khirbet Selm strike

Hezbollah on Sunday said it fired dozens of rockets into northern Israel after Israeli strikes the day before left five dead in southern Lebanon, including three of the group's members.

Hamas ally Hezbollah and its arch-foe Israel have been exchanging near-daily fire across the border since the Israel-Hamas war broke out on October 7.

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Plans to get aid into Gaza by sea gain pace as airdrop mishap kills five

An international effort is gathering pace to get desperately needed humanitarian relief into Gaza by sea in a bid to counter overland access restrictions blamed on Israel as it battles Hamas militants.

The dire conditions more than five months into the war have led some countries to airdrop food and other assistance over the besieged Gaza Strip, but a parachute malfunction turned the latest operation lethal on Friday.

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US-led coalition shoots down 15 Yemen rebel drones

U.S. and allied forces shot down 15 one-way attack drones fired by Iran-backed Yemeni rebels into the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden on Saturday, the U.S. military said.

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Erdogan says Turkey firmly backs Hamas leaders

Turkish President Recep Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday Ankara "firmly backs" Palestinian militant group Hamas.

"No-one can make us qualify Hamas as a terrorist organization," he said in a speech in Istanbul. "Turkey is a country that speaks openly with Hamas leaders and firmly backs them."

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Zelensky lands in Istanbul for Erdogan talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky landed in Istanbul on Friday for talks with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan over the Russian invasion and navigation on the Black Sea.

Zelensky, accompanied by a delegation including his defence minister, is due to meet with Erdogan at his office at Dolmabahce palace, the state-run TRT television reported.

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