分类： world

In a powerful response to escalating global divisions, Macao has positioned itself as a beacon for international cooperation with the unveiling of the groundbreaking “Macao Initiative” during the inaugural International Forum on Mutual Learning among Civilizations. The two-day gathering, held from December 17-18, 2025, brought together distinguished scholars and professionals from diverse regions including North Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Europe to address pressing global challenges through sustained intercultural dialogue.

The forum, presented by the Macao Special Administrative Region government and organized by its Cultural Affairs Bureau with support from the Chinese Academy of History, produced a consensus that cultural diversity represents humanity’s greatest strength rather than a source of conflict. Participants emphasized that ongoing communication serves as the essential antidote to misunderstanding, exclusion, and societal fragmentation.

Leong Wai-man, President of the Macao SAR Cultural Affairs Bureau, formally introduced the initiative during the closing ceremony, outlining five strategic directions: enhancing global civilizational dialogue, promoting openness-driven exchange, strengthening heritage preservation, engaging youth through digital innovation, and establishing platforms to advance China’s Global Civilization Initiative. “The essence of civilizational dialogue lies in acknowledging differences while seeking common ground, not enforcing uniformity,” Leong stated. “Macao’s mission is to ensure this vital dialogue continues indefinitely.

International experts provided compelling testimony supporting this approach. Elhaj Ahmed Khaled, Assistant Professor of Chinese Language and Literature at Tunisia’s University of Carthage, noted the alignment between China’s philosophy of “harmony without uniformity” and Tunisia’s cultural traditions. While celebrating four decades of Chinese language education in Tunisia and growing interest among youth, Khaled cautioned about persistent Western media influence in Arab and African regions, where political agendas often promote distorted narratives of civilizational clash.

From Argentina, Professor Veronica Noelia Flores of the National Scientific and Technical Research Council emphasized culture’s role in rebuilding social cohesion and community values. “Such spaces must enable people to imagine alternative worlds and futures that respect cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue,” she observed.

Practical success stories emerged from Indonesia, where Ruddy Erieyanto, a tourism and cultural heritage activist from Semarang, demonstrated how cultural preservation drives economic viability. The city’s transformation of its historic Chinatown into a vibrant cultural hub shows how heritage can coexist with urban development.

Looking toward future conservation efforts, Canada’s Professor Mario Santana Quintero, co-UNESCO Chair on Digital Twins for World Heritage Conservation, highlighted the importance of balanced technological application. While digital tools offer unprecedented conservation possibilities, he advocated for low-capital, high-impact models that avoid creating new inequalities while protecting civilizational diversity.

The Macao Initiative emerges as a timely framework for international cooperation, advocating for sustained dialogue as the foundation for global understanding and peace.

Australian authorities have formally charged Naveed Akram, the primary suspect in the devastating Bondi Beach shooting, with 59 criminal offenses including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act. The charges come three days after the horrific attack that claimed 15 lives and left over 40 injured at the iconic Sydney location, marking Australia’s deadliest shooting incident in thirty years.

Police confirmed that the 24-year-old suspect was charged at his hospital bedside after emerging from a coma, where he remains under heavy police guard. According to official statements, investigators will present evidence in court demonstrating that Akram engaged in conduct specifically designed to cause mass casualties, advance a religious cause, and instill widespread fear within the community. Early indications strongly point to an ISIS-inspired terrorist attack, with the Islamic State being a officially listed terrorist organization in Australia.

The attack targeted a Hanukkah celebration event, the Jewish Festival of Lights, with Rabbi Eli Schlanger among the victims mourned at a Wednesday funeral service. Current hospitalization figures indicate 41 shooting victims remain in medical care, including four children, with 20 patients continuing to receive treatment across multiple Sydney hospitals.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed in media interviews that the attack was directly inspired by ISIS ideology, noting evidence that the perpetrators “were motivated by the sort of ideology of the Islamic State” and that terrorist flags were discovered in their vehicle. The Prime Minister committed to implementing “any legislative change” and “additional powers that are needed across the board” to enhance community safety, particularly for Jewish communities.

New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon revealed that both attackers had traveled to the Philippines last month, amid emerging reports suggesting they may have received military-style training in the country’s southern regions. The exact purpose and details of their international travel remain under active investigation.

Background information indicates that Sajid Akram, the second gunman who was killed by police during the incident, was born into a Muslim family in India before immigrating to Australia in 1998. His son Naveed, an Australian citizen, maintained limited contact with relatives in Hyderabad, India, making six visits primarily for family matters according to national broadcaster reports.

The tragedy has triggered immediate political action, with the New South Wales Parliament being recalled ahead of Christmas to fast-track gun reform legislation. Proposed measures include limits on the number of firearms licensed to individual owners and a comprehensive reclassification of shotguns. State Premier Chris Minns also indicated the government would consider restricting protest activities in response to terror threats, expressing concern about “combustible situations” within Australia’s multicultural community.

Prime Minister Albanese emphasized the need for nationwide consistency in gun control, stating that Australia’s firearm laws “are only as strong as the weakest link in them” unless all states implement strengthened regulations simultaneously.

The Philippine government has formally dismissed allegations that the country served as a terrorist training ground for the perpetrators of Australia’s Bondi Beach massacre. This response comes after revelations that father-son duo Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram spent November in the southern Davao province before carrying out the attack that killed 15 people at a Hanukkah celebration.

Presidential spokeswoman Claire Castro, reading from a National Security Council statement, asserted that “no evidence has been presented to support claims that the country was used for terrorist training.” She emphasized President Ferdinand Marcos’s strong rejection of characterizations labeling the Philippines as an “ISIS training hotspot.”

Immigration records confirmed the Akrams entered the Philippines on November 1 with destination Davao, located on Mindanao island—a region with a documented history of Islamist insurgencies. However, military officials challenged the notion that significant training could occur during their month-long stay.

Colonel Xerxes Trinidad, speaking to reporters, stated that “training cannot be acquired in just 30 days… especially if you are to undergo marksmanship training.” Military spokeswoman Colonel Francel Padilla added that armed groups in Mindanao have been “fragmented” and lacking leadership since the beginning of 2024, with no recorded major terrorist operations or training activities.

The contrasting perspectives emerged as Australian authorities investigate potential extremist connections during the Akrams’ visit. While military officials maintain insurgent capabilities have been significantly degraded since the 2017 Marawi siege that claimed over 1,000 lives, security analyst Rommel Banlaoi cautioned that active training camps persist in central Mindanao, with weakened insurgent movements maintaining “local and global online” connections.

Myanmar’s military junta has launched a highly publicized offensive against industrial-scale cyberscam operations within its borders, implementing a new “zero tolerance” policy that culminated in the raid and partial demolition of KK Park—a notorious compound emblematic of the country’s sprawling cybercrime industry. The dramatic measures come amid mounting international scrutiny preceding national elections, positioning the regime as committed to combating one of the world’s most profitable criminal enterprises.

Satellite imagery analysis conducted by the London-based Center for Information Resilience reveals a discrepancy between government claims and actual demolition outcomes. While authorities announced the complete demolition of 413 structures by December 13th, visual evidence indicates only 31 buildings were fully flattened, with at least 78 sustaining partial damage. Investigators note that heavy machinery primarily targeted lower floors, leaving roofs and internal structures largely intact—suggesting potential for future reconstruction and reuse.

Historical patterns indicate this crackdown may represent more theater than substantive reform. Data from conflict analysis organization C4ADS demonstrates that previous raids conducted under Chinese pressure failed to curtail the industry’s expansion. Of 21 known scam compounds in Myawaddy Township, 14—including KK Park—have actually expanded since January. “This continued growth exemplifies the junta’s inability to rein in the industry,” noted C4ADS analyst Michael Di Girolamo.

The human dimension remains particularly troubling. While Thai authorities report approximately 1,500 workers exiting through official channels, this represents a fraction of the estimated tens of thousands employed at KK Park alone. Telegram channels now buzz with relocation offers for displaced workers, many reportedly transferring to operations in Cambodia, Mauritius, and African nations. Current victims trapped in neighboring compounds describe uninterrupted operations despite government claims of widespread raids.

Even technological countermeasures show limited effectiveness. Despite SpaceX deactivating over 2,500 Starlink units in Myanmar and state media showcasing confiscated equipment, workers at multiple compounds confirm continued access to the satellite internet service essential for their operations.

With approximately 30 similar compounds operating along the Thailand-Myanmar border, including the notorious Shwe Kokko complex targeted by U.S. authorities, activists remain skeptical about the operation’s long-term impact. “This doesn’t constitute a genuine crackdown,” stated Jay Kritiya of the Civil Society Network for Human Trafficking Victim Assistance, capturing the prevailing sentiment that systemic change remains elusive despite surface-level demonstrations of enforcement.

Myanmar’s military junta has launched highly publicized operations against cyberscam compounds in what appears to be a response to mounting international pressure. The raid and subsequent demolition of KK Park—a notorious facility symbolizing the nation’s struggle against organized cybercrime—was broadcast as evidence of the government’s commitment to eradicate fraudulent operations.

However, investigations reveal these actions may constitute more theater than substantive reform. Despite government claims of complete demolition, satellite imagery analysis indicates only 31 structures were fully leveled at KK Park, with at least 78 others sustaining partial damage. The London-based Center for Information Resilience notes that many buildings retain reconstructible elements, suggesting potential future reuse.

The crackdown has triggered operational displacement rather than industry elimination. Current and former workers report thousands of employees scattering to alternative compounds within Myanmar and across borders. Telegram channels buzz with recruitment ads targeting displaced scammers, while operations continue uninterrupted at approximately 30 other facilities along the Thailand-Myanmar border.

Critical infrastructure persists despite enforcement efforts. Multiple compounds continue utilizing Starlink internet services despite SpaceX’s announced ban, highlighting the challenge of controlling technology access. Meanwhile, construction and expansion activities have been documented at 14 of 21 known scam centers since January, including installations of solar panels for energy independence.

Analysts attribute the persistence to deep institutional connections. U.S. and European sanctions notices indicate most border compounds operate under protection of the Karen Border Guard Force, which maintains affiliations with Myanmar’s military. Experts suggest the raids primarily serve to alleviate pressure from the United States and China while allowing criminal networks to adapt and relocate.

The human toll remains staggering. While Thai authorities report approximately 1,500 workers escaping through official channels, tens of thousands remain unaccounted for. Trafficked individuals from Africa, Asia, and beyond continue awaiting rescue, with many transferred between compounds under duress. Distressing reports emerge of beaten workers pleading for assistance while criminal operations continue unabated.