Israel records 250 launches from Lebanon as Hezbollah targets Tel Aviv, south

Syria's new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is increasing regional contacts, promising not to interfere negatively in Lebanon and meeting with Turkish officials who supported his group in seizing power. Saudi Arabia is also engaging with the new Syrian authorities, as Sharaa vows to respect Lebanon's sovereignty. The Sunni Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has taken control, prompting concerns about the future, but global powers are urging protections for minorities and cooperation in combating terrorism. Full...

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

In Damascus, young volunteers took on the role of traffic cops after police abandoned their posts following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad to rebel forces. Equipped with whistles and batons provided by the victorious Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebels, over 50 volunteers in orange vests managed traffic and resolved jams caused by malfunctioning signals and celebrations marking the end of Assad's rule. Despite unexpected duties, volunteers like Mohammed Mouaffaq al-Awa expressed pride in contributing to...

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...