When Damascus traffic cops fled, volunteers stepped in

Gaza's civil defence agency reported that Israeli strikes killed at least 28 Palestinians, including a family's home and a school building used by Hamas, amidst ongoing violence in the Gaza Strip despite ceasefire talks. Pope Francis condemned the deadly bombardment that killed children as "cruelty", leading to a backlash from Israel. The Israeli military defended its actions, targeting Hamas militants in various locations, while negotiations for a truce continue with multiple challenges and unresolved issues....

The enforcement of a law banning alcohol sales in Iraq has led to the closure of private clubs in Baghdad, causing unrest among the Christian and Yazidi communities. Despite opposition, conservative lawmakers have pushed for stricter measures, resulting in the shutdown of numerous establishments. Prohibition policies have been ineffective and have sparked violence, with some questioning the constitutionality of the ban. Many are considering moving overseas or to the Kurdish region to escape the impact...

Pope Francis condemned the bombing of children in Gaza as "cruelty", prompting Israel to accuse him of double standards. The pontiff criticized the Israeli air strike that killed seven children from one family, calling it "not war". The ongoing violence in Gaza, including Hamas attacks and Israeli retaliation, has led to a significant number of casualties and international efforts to negotiate a ceasefire. Full Article

The suspected perpetrator of a deadly ramming at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, is a 50-year-old Saudi refugee named Taleb Jawad al-Abdulmohsen, who declared himself an atheist and "anti-Islam". Despite living in Germany since 2006 and practicing as a psychiatrist, Abdulmohsen had no known links to jihadists. He portrayed himself as a victim of persecution, renouncing Islam and decrying the Islamisation of Germany, while some media outlets reported possible links to the far-right in...

A projectile fired from Yemen struck Tel Aviv, wounding 16 people, the second attack in days, with Huthi rebels claiming responsibility using a ballistic missile. Israel failed to intercept the projectile, causing damage and injuries, prompting residents to evacuate. Israel retaliated by striking Huthi sites in Yemen, with Prime Minister Netanyahu warning of severe repercussions for those targeting Israel. Full Article

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