Malikpur, 45 families without food or clothes for winter: The lockdown in brick factories

In his Sunday homily, the Maronite patriarch attacked the “political and sectarian” turn taken by the investigation into the port explosion. He warned that “the time of responsibility has come” to avert a “national schism”. Former Prime Minister Hassan Diab and three former ministers have been indicted.

"This year Fr Pascal gave us cereals and other necessities to celebrate Christmas and we are happy to be able to celebrate it even during this pandemic." "We have received these gifts for free, from the church of Mary of Nazareth, and we will freely share them with our neighbours".

The priest died from the coronavirus. Born in Grodno, between Belarus and Poland, he arrived in Russia in 1991, rebuilding the fabric of Catholic communities, after decades of atheism.

Germany, Italy, France and Austria have withdrawn their attendance at an event (online due to Covid-19) scheduled for today in the Iranian capital. A protest over the death sentence carried out against the dissident journalist. Paris terms it "barbaric and unacceptable". Tehran summons ambassadors.

She is accused of threatening national security. The EU calls for the release of all reporters imprisoned in China. Chinese authorities: it is a domestic matter. Press targeted by Chinese and Hong Kong authorities.

Those in the Church tasked with proclaiming Christ to others must have John the Baptist as their model, but they can do so only by detaching themselves from themselves and from worldliness, i.e. “by not attracting people to themselves but directing them toward Jesus.”

Pope Francis received in audience pop, rock, soul, gospel, and opera singers as well the promoters and organisers of the annual concert. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Pontifical Scholas Occurrentes Foundation and the Salesian Missioni Don Bosco Foundation. As Paul VI put it, the world “needs beauty in order not to sink into despair”.

For months, the daily average stood at only 50 new infections per day. In the past week, the number averaged at least 600 per day. Today’s is the highest in 11 months. Out of a population of 52 million people, South Korea has reported 41, 736 cases with 578 deaths.

Her lawyer made the allegation, demanding her immediate release. After she went on a hunger strike to protest her incarceration, she was force-fed through a tube. She refuses to break her fast and finds comfort in prayer. She ended up in the crosshairs of the authorities after writing about the outbreak in Wuhan, the pandemic’s ground zero.

Bishop Rubén Tierrablanca González has been in critical conditions for the past week at the Koç University Hospital. After testing positive 10 days ago, his health quickly deteriorated. Almost 1,8 million people have tested positive in Turkey since the start of the pandemic with almost 16,000 deaths.

Two plaster statues of the Virgin were smashed whilst the concrete statue of Mother Teresa was damaged. Police and the Minorities minister expressed solidarity. For Bishop Shyamal Bose: “This attack is puzzling. People of different faiths keep statues of Mother Teresa in their homes. Many NGOs and non-Christian clubs are named after Mother Teresa.” She is “an inspiration for her commitment to serve the poor”.

The Palestinian authorities have restricted liturgical services to the clergy. The isolation imposed by the novel coronavirus has led to the rediscovery of the family. For Fr Rami, this Christmas will be a special celebration because it is an “opportunity to focus on the essential”. It will bring joy “that is not worldly” but “stems from faith”.

In their plea on Human Rights Day, the clergymen urge the parties to work towards social reconciliation and an end to the violence. They also call on the Bishops' Conference to be more active. For Card Suharyo, the Church has been attentive and shown compassion for the Papuan people.