The iconic spire of Notre-Dame Cathedral, which was destroyed in a devastating fire in 2019, will be reinstated by the end of 2023, according to the French culture ministry
Although the reconstruction of the cathedral is on track for completion by the end of 2024, authorities have confirmed that the cathedral will not be fully reopened before the Paris Olympic Games in July and August 2024.
The rebuilding of the cathedral has been progressing well, and authorities had earlier set a possible completion deadline for 8 December 2023. However, the wooden spire that had previously adorned the cathedral's peak had fallen into disrepair and was replaced by a sharp spire during the 19th-century redesign by architect Eugene Viollet-Le-Duc. The collapse of the wooden spire was one of the most dramatic moments of the 2019 fire.
Once completed, the cathedral is expected to draw millions of visitors from around the world, as it did before the fire, which saw over 12 million visitors annually. Despite the delay in its full reopening, the reinstatement of the spire will be a significant milestone in the reconstruction process, bringing hope to people who have been eagerly awaiting the restoration of this historic landmark.
Qatar's Ministry of Defence has announced that an oil tanker was struck by a cruise missile in its territorial waters on Wednesday, with no casualties reported.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has warned the economic shocks of the war in the Middle East would be felt for months and encouraged citizens to take public transport in a rare address to the nation on Wednesday.
An Iranian drone attack has targeted fuel tanks at Kuwait International Airport on Wednesday, causing a major fire that broke out at the site, with no injuries reported.
At least 18 people were killed when an inflatable boat carrying migrants sank off Turkey's western province of Mugla on Wednesday, the coastguard said in a statement, adding that search and rescue efforts continued in the area.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said on Tuesday that Washington could see the "finish line" in the Iran war, which is now in its fifth week, and the US will have to reexamine ties with NATO after the conflict.
Bahrain's Interior Ministry has announced on Wednesday that its civil defence teams were extinguishing a fire at a company facility caused by an Iranian attack.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday the next few days in the war against Iran would be decisive and warned Tehran the conflict would intensify if it did not make a deal, while Iran said it will target US companies in the region from Wednesday.
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