Simona Petrova Secures Third Place in Beirut Beauty Pageant Amid Controversy
Miss Bulgaria 2024, Simona Petrova, recently competed in a major international beauty pageant in Beirut, Lebanon, where she finished in third place
Lebanese security forces clashed with protesters near the United States embassy in Beirut on Sunday over President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, CNN reports.
Hundreds of protesters and dozens of riot police gathered in front of the entrance leading to the heavily fortified embassy. Some youths in the crowd threw stones toward the gate leading to the US embassy.
Despite calls to keep the demonstration peaceful, clashes broke out as crowds threw plastic water bottles, stones and sticks at the police.
Lebanese security forces on the scene responded with tear gas and water cannons, as demonstrators lit a large garbage can and car tires on fire. One American flag was burned.
At least five protesters affected by tear gas were carried away from the scene.
Protesters told CNN they condemned Trump's steps on Jerusalem's status, and said they were angry at the "impotence" of Arab leaders in the wake of the controversial decision.
"Sheep who are the Arab leaders betrayed Jerusalem years ago," Mustafa, a Syrian demonstrator, told CNN.
The demonstration outside the embassy comes as Lebanese group Hezbollah plans to hold a demonstration Monday in the Beirut suburbs to condemn Trump's decision.
Trump's move Wednesday to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and commit to moving the US embassy to the holy city has prompted international condemnation and sparked protests worldwide, from Indonesia and Malaysia, to Iraq, Jordan, Turkey and Egypt.
Israel launched airstrikes early Saturday against what it said were Hamas targets in Gaza, after several rockets were fired out of Gaza towards Israel. Two Palestinians were killed in those airstrikes, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.
More than 300 people were injured Friday across the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem, 50 of whom needed hospital treatment, during protests against Trump's decision, according to the Palestinian Authority's Health Ministry.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has rejected claims that Ukrainian units are encircled in Russia's Kursk Oblast, which were made by both Russian President Vladimir Putin
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has stated that relations with Russia should eventually be restored after the war in Ukraine comes to an end
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that his administration held "productive discussions" with Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressing optimism that the war in Ukraine could come to an end
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office in Sofia has charged a Bulgarian entrepreneur with subsidy fraud after he allegedly used forged documents to unlawfully obtain 54,000 euros
Russia announced on Friday that its forces had successfully retaken the village of Goncharovka in the Kursk region, which had previously been under Ukrainian control
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized Ukraine’s previous ceasefire agreements, claiming that every time since 2014, the Ukrainian government has lied about honoring ceasefire commitments
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