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People gather next to the Christmas tree at Manger Square in Bethlehem (Pictur credit: AP) BETHLEHEM: Thousands of people flocked to Bethlehem’s Manger Square on Christmas Eve as families heralded a much-needed boost of holiday spirit. The giant Christmas tree that was absent during the Israel-Hamas war returned Wednesday, overlooking a parade of scouts playing songs on bagpipes.The city where Christians believe Jesus was born cancelled Christmas celebrations for the past two years. Manger Square had instead featured a nativity scene of baby Jesus surrounded by rubble and barbed wire in homage to the situation in Gaza. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, top Catholic leader in the Holy Land, kicked off this year’s celebrations during the traditional procession from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, calling for “a Christmas full of light”. Hamas Refuses To End Gaza Fight? Netanyahu Gets Chilling Warning | ‘3rd INTIFADA Would Break Out’ Arriving in Manger Square, Pizzaballa said he came bearing gree..

File photo: Tarique Rahman, son of former PM Khaleda Zia (Picture credit: AP) DHAKA: Tarique Rahman, former PM Khaleda Zia’s son and BNP’s heir apparent, returns to Bangladesh Thursday along with his family, ending over 17 years of self-exile. On the eve of his return, the country’s largest political party described the moment as “both politically significant and emotionally charged.”His return, along with wife Zubaida and daughter Zaima, comes less than two months before the parliamentary elections and BNP sources said his presence in campaigns as its star leader will help boost its prospects and its workers’ morale. Osman Hadi's Brother Accuses Yunus Regime Of Murder Plot To Defer Bangladesh Polls Scheduled in Feb BNP is facing the challenge of growing popularity of the coalition led by the country’s largest Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami, especially among the youth. To mark his return, BNP has organised a reception in the outskirts of Dhaka, for which the party expects thousand..

AdvertisementAustraliaAsiaAustralasiaAustralia investigates after car with Hanukkah sign torched in Christmas Day attackThe vehicle was scorched by the ‘suspicious fire’ while parked in a house driveway in Melbourne
Reading Time:1 minuteWhy you can trust SCMPAgence France-PressePublished: 12:07pm, 25 Dec 2025Australian police are investigating a “suspicious fire” after a car carrying a sign celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah was set ablaze on Thursday in Melbourne.
The empty car, which had a “Happy Chanukah” sign fixed to the roof, was scorched by the fire while parked in a house driveway, images on national broadcaster ABC television showed.
It was set alight in the early hours of Thursday morning in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda East, Victoria police said in a statement, describing it as a “suspicious fire”.
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“Detectives have identified a person who may be able to assist with their investigation and they a..

AdvertisementUnited StatesWorldUnited States & CanadaSouthern California drenched by powerful Christmas storms, flash floodingGovernor declares state of emergency as powerful ‘Pineapple Express’ atmospheric river triggers flash floods and mudslide warnings
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPAgence France-PressePublished: 11:35am, 25 Dec 2025Flash flood warnings were in effect in Los Angeles and most of southern California on Wednesday as one of the worst Christmas storms in recent memory brought heavy rain and fears of deadly mudslides.
Driven by an atmospheric river known as “the Pineapple Express”, which moves heavy moisture from the tropical climes of Hawaii to rain on the West Coast, the storm is expected to deliver months’ worth of rain over the next few days.
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in several counties, including Los Angeles, to facilitate the rapid mobilisation and allocation of resources if needed.
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