The Israeli defense minister says his country's troops will stay in "security zones" in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria indefinitely, after Israel unilaterally expanded its frontiers in the war unleashed by Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack.

Israel says it needs to hold on to the zones to prevent similar attacks, but the takeovers appear to meet the dictionary definition of military occupation.

Qatar is sending scores of military vehicles to the Lebanese army and a new, $60 million donation to help it pay salaries to officers as the small Mediterranean country recovers from the fighting in Hezbollah's latest war with Israel, the two Arab countries announced Wednesday.

Gas-rich Qatar has been a main backer of the Lebanese army since an unprecedented economic crisis engulfed the country in late 2019. Qatar was first sending food aid for the military while cash donations began in 2022.

Israel's defense minister said Wednesday that troops will remain in so-called security zones in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria indefinitely, remarks that could further complicate talks with Hamas over a ceasefire and hostage release.

Israeli forces have taken over more than half of Gaza in a renewed campaign to pressure Hamas to release hostages after Israel ended their ceasefire last month. Israel has also refused to withdraw from some areas in Lebanon following a ceasefire with Hezbollah last year, and it seized a buffer zone in southern Syria after rebels overthrew President Bashar Assad in December.

Jordan's intelligence service on Tuesday announced the arrests of 16 people for allegedly planning to target national security and sow "chaos", state media reported.

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin launched his fiancee Lauren Sanchez into space Monday with an all-female celebrity crew that included Katy Perry and Gayle King.

It was the latest wave in space tourism, where more of the rich and famous than ever before — or lucky and well-connected — can enter the zero-gravity realm traditionally dominated by professional astronauts.

Japanese regulators on Tuesday accused U.S. tech giant Google of violating anti-monopoly laws, echoing similar moves in the U.S. and Europe.

Google Japan said in a statement that it found the action "regrettable." It said it has invested in Japan significantly to promote innovation as a technology leader.

Before Swedish slow TV hit "The Great Moose Migration" began airing Tuesday, Ulla Malmgren stocked up on coffee and prepared meals so she doesn't miss a moment of the 20-day, 24-hour event.

"Sleep? Forget it. I don't sleep," she said.

Real Madrid great Luka Modric became a co-owner of Swansea City on Monday.

While the amount invested by the six-time Champions League winner was not revealed, Swansea said Modric would "play a key role in helping the club garner global attention and progress both on and off the pitch."

The toll from clashes between violent fans and police at the weekend's Rome derby includes 24 law enforcement officers injured, one arrest and at least 40,000 euros ($45,000) in damaged garbage dumpsters.

Officials in the capital were still trying to sum up the damages after fans on Sunday attacked police in riot gear in a heavily populated area where people had been gathering ahead of the Serie A game between Lazio and Roma.

After shedding its "galácticos," Paris Saint-Germain looks in better shape than ever to win the Champions League and can reach the semifinals on Tuesday by completing the job against Aston Villa.

PSG takes a 3-1 lead to Villa Park, where Villa hasn't lost since October and has already beaten Bayern Munich in the Champions League.