World News in Pictures

[Backspin]

Do it by contributing to the thread then and not by inane posts. Mr lick, the op spent a lot of time and effort updating this thread. I don't like to see it being filled with trash posts.

Ppl doing what they gotta do. It's not their fault that keys were lost.

[Joe 90]

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz attended a candle-lighting ceremony at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate to mark the start of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights.


The lighting of a giant Hanukkah menorah, also known as a Hanukkiah, has become an annual event in Berlin, but this is the first time a German chancellor has attended.


Chancellor Scholz's attendance has been widely welcomed, as Germany's renascent Jewish community has been shaken by a surge in antisemitic attacks since the start of the war between Israel and Gaza.


Speaking at the Brandenburg Gate, and wearing a kippah, Mr Scholz also urged the immediate release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.


"I hope the light of this candelabra will shine across this square long beyond the eight days of the Hanukkah celebration," Mr Scholz said.


"That is why I'm also happy to be here today," he said, adding that he wanted to underscore that Jews were an "inextricable part" of German society. He said it was unacceptable for Jews in Germany "to have to be afraid to practise their religion, their culture".


The ceremony, held under tight security, was attended by two family members of Itai Svirsky, a German-Israeli hostage held by Hamas in Gaza. They lit the torch that was handed to Mr Scholz to ignite the first candle.


The festival of Hanukkah, or Chanukah, symbolises the victory of light over darkness.


Jewish communities around the world have come together to mark the beginning of the festival.


IMAGE SOURCE,REUTERS
Image caption,Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky lit a candle in Kyiv

IMAGE SOURCE,REUTERS
Image caption,Members of Hungary's Jewish community gathered in Budapest to light the first candle

Hanukkah marks the date over 2,000 years ago when, according to Jewish tradition, Jewish partisans in Jerusalem recaptured their desecrated Holy temple and rededicated it to Jewish worship.

[Joe 90]

A man who has taken photos of his beloved Cambridge and uploaded them every day for 13 years said the project was a "blessing" after deciding to stop following his 5,000th snap.


Martin Bond started his project - A Cambridge Diary - in March 2010.


The portrait images have captured the different communities co-existing in the city, known for its grandeur and famous university.


Almost 14 years after starting out, Mr Bond told the BBC his 5,000th shot would be his last.


IMAGE SOURCE,MARTIN BOND
Image caption,A picture of King's College Chapel was the 5,000th captured by Martin Bond

IMAGE SOURCE,MARTIN BOND
Image caption,26 February 2018 - An image of a sudden snowfall made the front page of The Times

IMAGE SOURCE,MARTIN BOND
Image caption,25 June 2016 - A hail storm moment in the middle of summer

"It seems to be a nice, round figure and I did kind of want to relieve the pressure of doing it every day," said the professional photographer.


However, he admitted he would also "miss it tremendously", adding: "Psychologically and emotionally, it feeds me.


"It has become so important that the difference between a good day and a bad day depends on if I get a good picture."


IMAGE SOURCE,MARTIN BOND
Image caption,In this image, taken on 24 December 2010, the woman looked like she had "conjured the birds up", Mr Bond said

[Joe 90]

IMAGE SOURCE,EPA
Image caption,A nativity scene in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, shows Jesus in the manger

IMAGE SOURCE,EPA
Image caption,The faithful prayed in St Francis church in Sri Lanka

IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES
Image caption,Worshippers of the Legio Maria African Church Mission also gathered for a Christmas Eve vigil Mass in a church near Ugunja, Kenya

IMAGE SOURCE,EPA
Image caption,Surfers at Bondi Beach in Sydney dressed festively for the occasion

IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES
Image caption,At the Vatican, Pope Francis presides over Christmas Eve midnight Mass in St Peter's Basilica

IMAGE SOURCE,REUTERS
Image caption,Ukrainian service members attend a Christmas celebration, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Lviv

IMAGE SOURCE,REUTERS
Image caption,Children in Lviv wore traditional dress for a Christmas celebration in Lviv

[david44]

Thanks Chitty the wet woman gliding through the waves reminds me to share the tub when my lady arrives back this afternoon, Badedas and prose echo bubbles inside and out.Some understandably worried littel uns in Lviv who have grown up with random attacks by Russia.

Peace and goodwill to all men and Willy

[malmomike77]

reminds me to share the tub when my lady arrives back this afternoon, Badedas and prose echo bubbles

Ask her if she's had any Pla Ra first and also, i wouldn't invite Cyrille

[DrWilly]

Peace and goodwill to all men and Willy

Stick a pipe in it, ya demented loon.

[malmomike77]

i wouldn't invite Cyrille

or Monkey Boy

[cyrille]

Or numpty.

Snigger Snigger.

[cyrille]

Oh!

Or Joe90.

[Joe 90]

Nordic countries have recorded their coldest temperatures of the winter, with areas of Sweden and Finland dropping to as low as -40C this week. Here we select some of the most striking photos of the winter freeze.



IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES
Image caption,The Nordic states are used to cold winters but in Sweden it is rare for temperatures to plummet below -40C

IMAGE SOURCE,REUTERS
Image caption,Sweden's far north is seeing some of its iciest temperatures for years - here in Vittangi temperatures have dropped as low as -30C

IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES
Image caption,A few joggers in the capital Stockholm have braved the snow and wind

IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES
Image caption,This man was not prepared to give up his swim in Helsinki, although some places in Finland have recorded their lowest winter temperatures

[cyrille]

Joe, these are just photographs.

Not news.

And put a link ffs.

Or is it against your principles to put a link to ‘The Guardian’.

[Joe 90]

That's Hal or was it Helge that sent me that last pic via WhatsApp, pray for them.

The crazy fvckers think it's normal to hit the sauna then go for an ice plunge

You know I much prefer a GB news link to the Guardian

[DrWilly]

That's Hal or was it Helge that sent me that last pic via WhatsApp, pray for them.

Why keep lying?

The entire article/series is from here In pictures: Nordic states gripped by winter freeze - BBC News

[KWAN]

Bangkok, Thailand

Workers cover people with white cloth as they lie down in coffins at the Wat Bang Na Nai temple, offering prayers as part of a ritual marking the new year.
Photograph: Rungroj Yongrit/EPA

[Joe 90]

Getting a big chilly now ..

GETTY IMAGES
Image caption,Leeds Castle is seen with a snowy backdrop in Kent

IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES
Image caption,A member of the Household Cavalry mounted at House Guards in London

IMAGE SOURCE,PA MEDIA
Image caption,Drivers have been warned to check tyres and de-ice their car before travelling

​

[S Landreth]

The week around the world in 20 pictures

Viña Del Mar, Chile

Homes destroyed by a wildfire in El Olivar neighbourhood. Chile, Argentina and other parts of South America’s southern cone have been facing a severe heatwave, something experts say will become more common during the southern hemisphere summer months as a result of climate change.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

Corina Mrazek Gonzalez is proclaimed carnival queen.

Grindavík, Iceland

Smoke and lava pouring out of a new fissure during a volcanic eruption on the outskirts of the evacuated town of Grindavík. The lava flow hit thermal-based water pipes in the region just south of the capital, Reykjavík, disrupting the supply of hot water to more than 20,000 people and leading the civil protection agency to raise its alert level to emergency status.

Burgos, Spain

Farmers protest to demand fair conditions for the agricultural sector.

[BusterCherry]

A drone show during the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix