Today’s news: Xi Jinping’s ‘war’ on corruption hits record high in 2024. First subway opens in Ho Chi Minh City after years of delays. Mass flight of health personnel since the rise of the Taliban, millions of Afghans without medical care. The Taiwanese government, against the rule voted by the opposition that cuts spending, including defense spending.
ISRAEL – PALESTINE
The Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins, Card Pierbattista Pizzaballa, He entered the Strip yesterday – after the words of Pope Francis on Saturday regarding a refusal by the Israeli authorities – and celebrated Christmas Mass in the parish of the Holy Family in Gaza. The cardinal expressed his “anger and pain” at the enormous destruction, expressing the hope that it can begin again from “forgiveness” and highlighting the role of Christians as a bridge for dialogue between Jews and Muslims. Meanwhile, medical sources speak of at least 50 dead in the Strip due to Israeli air strikes, while Peace Now denounces the creation of at least seven outposts in recent months in the West Bank, in areas under the control of the Palestinian Authority.
CHINA
In 2024, Xi Jinping’s war against corruption reached a record number of senior positions: 56 at the vice-ministerial level or higher ended up being investigated, which represents an increase of almost 25% compared to the previous year. Corruption cases related to the main party bodies and ministries doubled; They also increased in the aviation and defense industries, and decreased in the financial sector.
VIETNAM
Thousands of Ho Chi Minh City residents, from soldiers in uniform to couples with children, witnessed the inauguration of the first metro lineafter years of delays. A $1.7 billion project that extends almost 20 km from the city center. The commercial capital of Vietnam has taken 17 years to complete, thanks to significant investment from Japan.
AFGHANISTAN
Thousands of healthcare workers They fled the rise of the Taliban in the summer of 2021. The severe shortage of doctors has left millions of people with limited or no access to life-saving treatments and operations. Poor working conditions, low wages and harassment are the critical factors. According to the WHO, there are only 10 health workers per 10,000 people, below the average of 44 needed for universal health coverage, with 18 million in need of care and 9.5 million with non-existent services.
TAIWAN
The Taiwanese government sounds the security alarmconsidered in danger after the decision by opposition parties to approve a series of regulations that require significant cuts in public spending, including the defense sector. The norm approved last week in Parliament would end up weakening the island in the face of an escalation of Chinese military activity in the area.
RUSSIA
Novaja Gazeta dedicated an extensive report to the political prisoners who died this year in Russia in camps and isolation cells, which were at least 15 counting the known ones. In addition to Aleksej Naval’nyj, pianist Pavel Kušnir, Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roščina, volunteer Aleksandr Demidenko and those involved in the “Bajmak case” were mentioned.
TURKMENISTAN – MALAYSIA
Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdymukhamedov made his first official visit to Malaysia, where he met with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Both leaders spoke about cooperation between the two countries in the agricultural, textile, energy and transportation sectors, and advocated the creation of a joint commission of the governments of Ashgabat and Kuala-Lumpur.
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