the army attacks a Catholic church, one dead and five wounded

Other news of the day: Marcos travels to China to “open a new chapter” in relations with Beijing; Seoul threatens to break military pact with Pyongyang; for savings purposes, Islamabad orders the early closure of markets and commercial centers; no agreements but only “positive” talks at the first high-level summit between Ankara and Damascus.

MYANMAR

the burmese army bombing another Catholic church in Kachin State. The attack on the parish of San Michel (in the village of San Hka) occurred on December 30, but the news only leaked in the last few hours, leaving one victim -a 52-year-old man- and five injured . The military has carried out attacks since November, although there are no active Kia (Kachin Independence Army) rebels in the area.

CHINA – PHILIPPINES

Philippine President Fernando Marcos heads to Beijing for his first official visit with the purpose of opening “a new chapter”. A meeting with his counterpart and host Xi Jinping and talks aimed at strengthening cooperation in the economic field are scheduled. Also on the table are disputes in the South China Sea, agriculture, energy, infrastructure and investment.

KOREA

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol is considering suspending the military pactr signed in 2018 with Pyongyang if North Korea violates Seoul’s airspace again. A sign of the new escalation of tension between the two neighbors, still formally at war since the 1950s. The agreement establishes a no-fly zone and the removal of antipersonnel mines.

PAKISTAN

In order to save energy and alleviate the effects of the crisis, Islamabad ordered that shopping malls and markets close at 8:30 p.m.. Foreign exchange reserves barely cover a month of imports and deliveries from the International Monetary Fund have been delayed. The prime minister imposed a 30% reduction in consumption by government departments.

TURKEY – SYRIA

Ankara and Damascus have not reached any agreement, especially regarding the withdrawal of the military from northern Syria, which would be just a form of “propaganda”. This was revealed by Turkish sources, although the governments of both countries considered “positive” the first high-level meeting (defense ministers) since the war began in 2011. This took place last week with Russian mediation.

RUSSIA

Russian director Dmitry Krymov, 68, suffered burns over 50% of his body after a mysterious fire broke out in his New York apartment, and was hospitalized with a guarded prognosis along with his wife, who also has severe burns. The theater director had spoken out against the war and in support of the Ukraine, and for that reason he had left his country.

KAZAKHSTAN

The representative of Kazakhstan Imangali Tasmaganbetov, 65, is the new secretary general of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSO), the “Eurasian NATO”. Former prime minister and head of the presidential administration, he was akim (mayor) of Almaty when it was the capital, defense minister, and ambassador to Moscow until December 2019. He is currently retired.