The Punjab government has promoted the Christmas Interfaith Harmony Rally. Thousands of participants, with the capital decorated for the festivities. The Christian community rejoices at this sign of recognition and public dignity and the fight against discrimination. A step by Maryam Nawaz's administration towards the inclusion of Christians in Pakistani society.
Today's headlines: Amazon blocks applications from 1,800 North Korean workers; ASEAN announces meeting between Cambodian and Thai delegations tomorrow to stop the war; Japan uses AI to counter bear attacks; New clashes between government militias and Kurdish forces in Aleppo.
Political scientists, philosophers, analysts and representatives of various associations meet at the annual conference of the Sakharov Centre in Berlin. What emerges is a picture of a society divided between the Z-Patrioty, the ‘turbo-supporters’ of the special operation in Ukraine, and the Uklonisty, the ‘reluctant’ who do not want to openly express their opinions on the war.
Pakistan has reportedly reached a deal worth over US$ 4 billion to supply weapons to the Libyan National Army, despite the UN arms embargo imposed in 2011. This follows a meeting last week in Benghazi between General Munir and the leader of the Libyan faction. The Pakistani defence chief cited the effectiveness shown by the JF-17s in the clashes with India last May.
Leo XIV met with cardinals and heads of Vatican dicasteries. In his address, he remembered Francis’s “prophetic voice". Citing Evangelii Gaudium, he reflected on two "fundamental aspects" of the Church: mission and communion. Structures "must not weigh down [. . .] the dynamism of evangelization”. The authorities are called to be "the leaven of fraternity," without masks or subterfuge.
Just days before Christmas, a major security operation is underway in a town in the so-called Jerusalem of the East, Zhejiang Province. A Protestant community refused to display the flag of the People's Republic of China, after years of fighting against the removal of crosses. China Aid reports that at least 20 people have been arrested, a disturbing sign for all underground churches.
