WindowFestive Spirit on the French Riviera: Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus Join Traditional Christmas Bath in Nice

This is Beirut 2024-12-22 14:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

On December 22, 2024, bathers gathered on the French Riviera in Nice to take part in the traditional Christmas bath, a festive event held annually on the shores of the Mediterranean. This year, the scene was filled with participants dressed in Christmas-themed attire, with many donning costumes of Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, while others wore ...

Khamenei Says Iran Does not Have or Need Regional Proxy Forces

This is Beirut 2024-12-22 13:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Hamas Hezbollah Israel Iran

Iran's supreme leader denied Sunday that militant groups around the region functioned as Tehran's proxies, warning that if his country chose to "take action", it would not need them anyway. The remarks came after a year in which Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza suffered heavy losses in wars with Israel, and two weeks after the ...

Russia Claims Capture of Two More East Ukraine Villages

This is Beirut 2024-12-22 12:10 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Kyiv Ukraine russia war

Russia said Sunday it had captured two more villages in east Ukraine, the latest territorial gains for Moscow's advancing army. The defense ministry said on Telegram that its troops had "liberated" the villages of Lozova in the northeastern Kharkiv region and Krasnoye, called Sontsivka in Ukraine. The latter is close to the resource hub of ...

Iraq's Prohibition Zeal Threatens Baghdad's Boozy Subculture

This is Beirut 2024-12-22 09:50 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Iraq christians alcohol Yazidis prohibition

The smell of dampness rises through the dust at a private club in central Baghdad, one of many shut in a crackdown on alcohol sales in Iraq. "We appealed to all authorities in the country, but no one listened to us," said the owner, a Christian who asked not to be named. Although a law banning the sale and import of alcohol was passed in 2016 ...

US Strikes Houthi Targets in Yemen's Capital

This is Beirut 2024-12-21 23:55 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Yemen United States United Kingdom US CENTCOM

The United States said it conducted strikes on Houthi targets in the rebel-held capital Sanaa on Saturday, including what it said was a missile storage center and a "command-and-control facility." During the operation, American forces also shot down multiple Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile over the Red Sea, the US Central Command ...

Hamas, Two Other Palestinian Groups Declare Gaza Ceasefire Deal 'Closer Than Ever'

This is Beirut 2024-12-21 21:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Israel Hamas Gaza

Hamas and two other Palestinian militant groups said on Saturday that a Gaza ceasefire deal with Israel is "closer than ever", provided Israel does not impose new conditions. Last week, indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States were held in Doha, rekindling hope of an agreement. "The ...

Fade Out: Biden Disappears Into Background

This is Beirut 2024-12-21 19:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

United States Joe Biden

In the twilight of his political career, Joe Biden is disappearing into the background even before Donald Trump returns to the White House, despite growing turmoil at home and abroad. The 82-year-old US president's silence on a looming government shutdown over Christmas is just the latest example of how critics say the aging leader is in office ...

Thousands Greet the Sun at Stonehenge Solstice Celebration

This is Beirut 2024-12-21 18:15 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

United Kingdom Stonehenge

Thousands flocked to Stonehenge on Saturday to greet sunrise at the ancient British monument on the northern hemisphere's shortest day of the year. Spectators cheered and applauded as the sun rose over the neolithic site in southwest England at the winter solstice, a pagan celebration that is believed to have been observed there for thousands ...

Syria's New Rulers Nominate New Foreign Minister

This is Beirut 2024-12-21 17:55 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Syria Assaad al-Chibani

The Islamist-led fighters who overthrew president Bashar al-Assad nearly two weeks ago on Saturday named Assaad al-Shibani as Foreign Minister in the transitional government. "The general command announces the nomination of Mr Assaad Hassan al-Shibani to the post of foreign minister in the new Syrian government," a statement said. "He joined the ...

Germany Mourns Five Killed, Hundreds Wounded in Christmas Market Attack

This is Beirut 2024-12-21 17:34 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Germany

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday condemned the "terrible, insane" car-ramming attack on a crowded Christmas market that killed five people and injured more than 200. Police arrested a 50-year-old Saudi psychiatry doctor at the scene Friday, next to the battered SUV that had ploughed through the festive crowd leaving a trail of ...

Qatar Embassy Reopens in Damascus with Flag Raising

This is Beirut 2024-12-21 16:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Qatar Syria

Qatar reopened its embassy in Damascus on Saturday, 13 years after it was closed early in Syria's civil conflict, as foreign governments seek to establish ties with the country's new rulers. An AFP journalist saw Qatar's flag raised over the mission, making it the second nation, after Turkey, to officially reopen its embassy since Islamist-led ...

Germany: Mystery Surrounding Motives for Magdeburg Attack

This is Beirut 2024-12-21 12:05 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

profile germany attack Christmas

Germany reeled Saturday from the shock of a new deadly attack on a crowded Christmas market where Chancellor Olaf Scholz was to visit the scene of the carnage. Police arrested a 50-year-old Saudi doctor at the scene after two people were killed and 68 injured when an SUV plowed through the festive crowd in Magdeburg on Friday night. Residents ...