![Liverpool's Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah speaks on stage after winning the 2018 African Footballer of the Year Award also called Ballon d'Or during the CAF award ceremony in Dakar, Senegal 8 January 2019 [SEYLLOU/AFP/Getty Images]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/GettyImages-1079454896-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
A horse-drawn sleigh rides on the frozen “Lake Cildir” which is almost totally covered by ice in winter in Aradahan province of Turkey on 11 January 2019. [Günay Nuh/Anadolu Agency]
![The Yemeni football team pose for a group photograph prior to the start of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup Group D, football match between Yemen and Iran, for which they qualified for the Asian Cup 2019 at the Mohammed Bin Zayed stadium in Abu Dhabi on 7 January 2019 [Photo by KHALED DESOUKI / AFP/Getty Images]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/yemen-footie-team.jpg?w=401&h=279&ssl=1 "FBL-ASIA-2019-IRN-YEM")
The Yemeni football team pose for a group photograph prior to the start of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup Group D, football match between Yemen and Iran, for which they qualified for the Asian Cup 2019 at the Mohammed Bin Zayed stadium in Abu Dhabi on 7 January 2019 [Photo by KHALED DESOUKI / AFP/Getty Images]
![Australian national football team during the Asian Cup on 6 January 2019 [Yifan Ding/Getty Images]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/2019_1-9-Australian-national-football-teamGettyImages-1078235732.jpg?w=791&h=527&ssl=1 "Australia v Jordan - AFC Asian Cup Group B")
Australian national football team during the Asian Cup on 6 January 2019 [Yifan Ding/Getty Images]
An interior view of Chocolate Museum, which opened its doors in 2013 and takes its visitors on an adventure starting with the history of chocolate-making, in Istanbul, Turkey on January 07, 2019. ( Ahmet Bolat – Anadolu Agency )
![Liverpool's Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah speaks on stage after winning the 2018 African Footballer of the Year Award also called Ballon d'Or during the CAF award ceremony in Dakar, Senegal 8 January 2019 [SEYLLOU/AFP/Getty Images]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/GettyImages-1079454896-scaled.jpg?w=395&h=264&ssl=1 "FBL-AFR-SEN-AWARDS-2018-SOCCER-AWARD")
Liverpool’s Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah speaks on stage after winning the 2018 African Footballer of the Year Award in Dakar, Senegal on 8 January 2019 [SEYLLOU/AFP/Getty Images]
![Christians in Gaza come together to celebrate Christmas, 7 January 2018 [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Mohd-Asad-Xmas-in-Gaza1.jpg?w=395&h=263&ssl=1 "Mohd Asad Xmas in Gaza1")
Christians in Gaza come together to celebrate Christmas, 7 January 2018 [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]