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Power Vacuum in Tehran After Reported Death of Iran’s Supreme Leader

                                A man holds a portrait of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the national flag. A senior Israeli official has stated that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a series of U.S.–Israeli strikes targeting leadership sites in Tehran. Satellite imagery reportedly shows heavy damage and smoke rising from Khamenei’s compound following the attacks.  Multiple outlets, including Reuters and Al Arabiya, report that the strikes were part of a coordinated operation aimed at crippling Iran’s top leadership structure. U.S. President Donald Trump publicly confirmed Khamenei’s death, calling him “one of the most evil people in history” and framing the operation as a step toward ending what he described as a long‑standing security threat.  Iranian state media has since acknowledged Khamenei’s death, announcing a 40‑day mourning p...

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A Symbol of Hope: Tiny Christmas Tree Amidst Church Ruins in Lebanon

 

In the southern Lebanese town of Dardghaya, amidst the ruins of the 18th-century St. George Melkite Catholic Church, a tiny Christmas tree now stands as a symbol of hope and resilience. The church, devastated by an Israeli airstrike in October, once served as a vibrant community center. 

Georges Elia, a 40-year-old municipal worker and churchgoer, took it upon himself to bring some normalcy to the holiday season. "This year, Christmas is arriving with sadness for us, but we didn't want it to be a sad one for the town's residents and its church," Elia said. 

The modest tree, shorter than Elia himself, is decorated with a shining garland and a star. Despite the lack of lights and a traditional Nativity scene due to the war's destruction, the tree stands tall among the fallen stones and shattered pews. "But, of course, Christ is born in our hearts, lit with our love for him," Elia added.

The church's priest, Father Maurice el Khoury, who has served for 11 years, conducts Sunday Mass in a small underground room that once housed visiting bishops. "This room is more like the cave where Jesus was born," he said, reminding families of the true essence of the holiday season.

The community's faith remains unshaken, and despite the staggering financial toll of the damage, estimated at nearly $3 million, they continue to celebrate Christmas with hope and love.



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