分类： world

A powerful photographic exhibition titled ‘Who Has Been Deceived? Face the Truth, Japanese’ opened in Tokyo on December 19, presenting compelling visual evidence of Japan’s wartime aggression in China during World War II. The exhibition, organized by three international donors, aims to educate Japanese citizens about historical truths often omitted from mainstream narratives.

French national Marcus Detrez, alongside collaborators Bastien Ratat and Zhong Haosong, curated the display featuring 618 historical photographs primarily documenting the Battle of Songhu in 1937 and the Nanjing Massacre. The collection originated from Detrez’s grandfather, Roger-Pierre Laurens, who resided in Shanghai during the 1930s and captured devastating scenes of Japanese bombings and civilian massacres.

Detrez discovered the historically significant collection in his grandfather’s garage in 2021 while working as an English language teacher in France. In August 2025, he donated the entire archive to the Shanghai Songhu Memorial Hall for permanent preservation and academic research regarding the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War.

The Tokyo exhibition represents part of an international awareness campaign that previously included events in Seoul and attendance at the National Memorial Day for the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre on December 13. The organizers produced Japanese-language educational materials and videos to enhance local understanding of the documented atrocities.

Ratat emphasized the exhibition’s critical timing, noting concerning statements from Japan’s new prime minister regarding Taiwan that potentially threaten regional stability. The organizers faced criticism from Western media outlets and encountered obstructions within Japan but remained committed to presenting factual historical accounts.

The exhibition series will continue its global tour throughout 2026 with planned events in Europe and the United States, continuing its mission of promoting historical accuracy and international peace through documented evidence.

On a windswept December morning in the southern Lebanese village of Derdghaya, a small congregation of approximately thirty worshippers gathered for Mass. Mostly elderly residents—the last remaining inhabitants of this predominantly Christian community—filed into a makeshift chapel set within their priest’s residence. Their historic Melkite Greek Catholic St. George Church, reduced to rubble by an Israeli bombing in 2023, lay just steps away as a stark reminder of ongoing conflict.

The service proceeded against a backdrop of howling winds that congregants sometimes mistook for Israeli warplanes—a haunting sound that has become tragically familiar over two years of violence. The conflict escalated significantly in September 2024 when Israel initiated a devastating bombing campaign that forced approximately one million Lebanese from their homes and killed over 4,000 people. While a November 2024 ceasefire agreement reduced large-scale hostilities, Israeli strikes continue almost daily in southern Lebanon, claiming more than 330 lives since the truce began.

Despite this atmosphere of destruction and uncertainty, Christmas preparations continue across southern Lebanon’s diverse religious communities. In Derdghaya, construction workers in bright red hats sorted through church debris during Sunday’s service, attempting to stabilize the structure with scaffolding. Plastic candy canes and Santa figurines swayed precariously in the wind, symbolic of both celebration and fragility.

Georges Elia, a local social activist and son of the village mukhtar, has spearheaded Christmas celebrations despite personal challenges. Recently injured in a serious road accident that nearly cost him both legs, Elia dressed as Santa and visited schools in neighboring Muslim villages on a motorcycle decorated as a sleigh.

The situation is particularly dire in border villages like Deir Mimas, where resident Rami (a pseudonym for security reasons) described adapting to near-daily bombings. “We’ve gotten used to it,” the 26-year-old university student remarked with ironic laughter. His medieval monastery village, which suffered Israeli military incursions including tank and bulldozer damage to its cemetery, has seen many residents flee despite the ceasefire.

Displacement statistics remain incomplete due to Lebanon’s registration system that ties citizens to ancestral villages regardless of actual residence. Pierre Atallah, mayor of the border village Rachaya al-Fukhar, estimates his community lost approximately 20 of its 120 households since the conflict began. Yet he plans to bring his family to the village for Christmas, where a public tree awaits amidst ongoing concerns about regional stability.

The lingering threat of escalation shadows holiday preparations. Lebanon approaches an end-of-year deadline to disarm Hezbollah south of the Litani River per the ceasefire agreement—a task Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated on Saturday is nearing completion. For now, southern Lebanon’s Christians maintain their traditions with resilient determination, celebrating Christmas in damaged villages where wind howls mimic warplanes and church services occur amidst rubble.

In a significant development for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, global insurance giants Allianz and Aviva have terminated their insurance policies with Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems. This decision follows sustained pressure from pro-Palestine activists, including direct actions and protests targeting the companies’ operations.

According to campaign groups, Allianz ceased its coverage of Elbit Systems on November 1st, while Aviva ended its employment liability insurance for UAV Engines Ltd, an Elbit subsidiary, on September 7th. The campaign was spearheaded by Palestine Action, an organization that was subsequently proscribed as a terrorist group by the UK government in July.

Huda Ammori, co-founder of Palestine Action, characterized the insurers’ withdrawal as a victory for direct action tactics, stating this outcome demonstrates why the government moved to ban their organization. The development highlights the growing financial pressure on companies with ties to Israel’s military industry.

Elbit Systems maintains a dominant position in supplying Israel’s military, providing approximately 80% of weapons and equipment for land forces and 85% of combat drones used by the air force. The company has faced persistent allegations of complicity in Israeli military actions against Palestinians.

The activist campaign involved coordinated demonstrations at multiple Allianz offices, including an occupation of their City of London branch in March where premises were spray-painted. Aviva’s Bristol center was similarly targeted in January over its insurance of drone engines linked to an April 2024 attack that killed seven aid workers, including three British veterans.

In response to the insurance withdrawals, Elbit has secured alternative coverage through Aspen Insurance for its UK operations, while Chubb now provides insurance for UAV Engines. This transition has not gone uncontested, as Aspen’s London offices were recently blockaded by activists from Prisoners for Palestine, who sprayed red paint on the entrance.

The situation gained international attention when Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was arrested outside Aspen’s offices for displaying a placard supporting Palestine Action prisoners. She was subsequently released on bail, with police citing violation of anti-terrorism legislation prohibiting support for proscribed organizations.

Neither Allianz nor Aviva provided official comments regarding their policy changes when contacted by media outlets. The developments underscore the ongoing tension between activist movements targeting military supply chains and government counter-terrorism measures.

A private Dassault Falcon 50 jet carrying Libya’s military chief of staff, General Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, and seven others crashed near Ankara on Tuesday following an emergency landing request due to electrical failure. The aircraft, which had departed from Ankara Esenboga Airport, went down near Haymana district shortly after reporting technical malfunctions to aviation authorities.

The tragic incident occurred during General al-Haddad’s official visit to Turkey, where he had just concluded meetings with his Turkish counterpart, General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu. The delegation’s demise has sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles, particularly given its timing one day after Turkey’s parliament approved a two-year extension of its military deployment mandate in Libya.

This accident unfolds against a backdrop of escalating regional tensions. Turkey has maintained substantial military and political support for Libya’s internationally recognized government since 2020, including troop deployments and a controversial maritime demarcation accord opposed by Egypt and Greece. The crash marks the latest in a series of security incidents affecting Turkey, including last month’s military cargo plane crash in Georgia that killed 20 personnel, and multiple maritime attacks on Turkish commercial vessels in the Black Sea allegedly involving Russian ‘kamikaze’ drones.

Turkish nationalist leader Devlet Bahceli characterized the timing as ‘thought-provoking,’ suggesting possible connections to deepening Turkey-Libya cooperation. While no evidence of sabotage has emerged, some analysts have speculated about potential foreign involvement, citing recent trilateral talks between Israel, Cyprus, and Greece that media outlets described as forming a ‘new front against Turkey.’

Turkish media reports have attempted to draw connections to Greece through the aircraft’s flight attendant reportedly being a Greek citizen, and the plane’s alleged previous route between Athens and Tripoli. However, aviation experts emphasize that technical investigation remains crucial. Prominent analyst Ugur Cebeci noted that pilot communications before the crash suggest possible mechanical failure rather than sabotage, though comprehensive analysis of the aircraft’s black boxes in collaboration with French manufacturer Dassault Falcon will be necessary for definitive conclusions.

A significant seismic event measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale rattled southeastern Taiwan on Wednesday evening, according to the United States Geological Survey. The tremor occurred at 5:47 PM local time (0947 GMT) with a shallow depth of approximately 10 kilometers in the Taitung county region.

Despite the substantial magnitude, initial assessments from Taiwan’s National Fire Agency indicated no immediate reports of structural damage or disruptions to the island’s critical transportation infrastructure. The seismic activity was perceptible across considerable distances, reaching as far north as the capital city Taipei, where multiple high-rise buildings experienced noticeable swaying.

Local media broadcasts captured dramatic footage from affected areas, showing merchandise toppling from retail shelves and shattering on the ground in Taitung. Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration provided a slightly divergent magnitude assessment of 6.1, though both monitoring agencies confirmed the earthquake’s significant intensity.

This seismic event occurs against the backdrop of Taiwan’s heightened geological vulnerability, situated precariously along the convergence boundary of two major tectonic plates within the Pacific Ring of Fire. This geographical positioning renders the island particularly susceptible to frequent seismic activity, with the USGS identifying this zone as the world’s most seismically active region.

The recent tremor inevitably evokes memories of April 2024’s catastrophic 7.4-magnitude earthquake that claimed 17 lives and caused extensive damage to buildings in the Hualien region. That disaster represented the most severe seismic event since the devastating 1999 earthquake that remains the deadliest natural catastrophe in Taiwan’s recorded history.

Turkish authorities have successfully recovered the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from the crashed private jet carrying Libya’s armed forces commander, Lieutenant General Mohammed Al Haddad. The military aircraft went down near Ankara on Wednesday, claiming the lives of all eight occupants including General Haddad and four senior aides.

The Falcon 50 executive jet had departed from Turkey’s capital when it reported critical electrical system failure minutes after takeoff. The aircraft was returning to Tripoli following high-level military discussions between Libyan and Turkish defense officials. Contact was lost after the emergency landing request, with wreckage subsequently located across a three-square-kilometer area in Haymana district.

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed recovery operations at the crash site, stating: “The examination and evaluation processes of these devices have been initiated.” A comprehensive investigation involving 408 emergency personnel from AFAD disaster agency, police, and medical services is underway, with drone surveillance providing real-time imagery of the operation.

Aviation expert Tolga Tuzun Inan from Bahcesehir University noted that multiple contributing factors likely combined with meteorological conditions to cause the tragedy. While analysis of the black boxes may require several months, the data is expected to reveal the precise sequence of events leading to the catastrophic failure.

The incident has drawn international attention to Libya’s fractured political landscape. General Haddad had served as army chief of staff since August 2020 under the UN-recognized government in Tripoli, led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah who expressed “deep sadness and great sorrow” over the deaths.

Turkey maintains significant strategic ties with Tripoli’s administration, providing both economic and military support. Recent diplomatic outreach to eastern commander Khalifa Haftar’s rival administration had suggested potential reconciliation efforts, though this tragedy may complicate regional power dynamics.

A 22-member Libyan delegation including relatives of the deceased has arrived in Ankara as investigation continues under the supervision of Ankara’s prosecutor office.

The ancient streets of Damascus’s Old City present a study in contrasts this Christmas season, where festive illuminations and holiday decorations coexist with heightened security patrols and pervasive anxiety. This uneasy atmosphere follows a devastating June attack on the Saint Elias church that claimed 25 lives and injured dozens, leaving Syria’s Christian community grappling with trauma while attempting to maintain traditional celebrations.

The newly established government has publicly recommitted to protecting religious coexistence and involving all sects in Syria’s transitional process. However, these assurances ring hollow for many citizens who have witnessed recent sectarian violence in Alawite regions and major clashes in Druze-majority southern territories.

Security measures have been substantially intensified throughout the capital, with Interior Ministry forces conducting pedestrian searches, stopping motorcycles, and establishing coordinated security perimeters around churches. An anonymous security official detailed the comprehensive protection strategy: “We’ve implemented a multi-district security plan to ensure safety for all citizens. Protecting both Christian and Muslim communities remains the state’s fundamental duty, particularly during religious observances.”

Complementing government efforts, civilian-led neighborhood committees comprising local Christians provide additional protective services through coordinated patrols using communication devices. These community-based security initiatives have reportedly increased some residents’ comfort levels regarding public celebrations.

Demographic shifts underscore the challenges facing Syria’s religious minorities. The Christian population has dramatically declined from approximately one million before the conflict began in 2011 to roughly 300,000 today, with many seeking refuge abroad despite the government’s proclaimed protection stance.

Amid the security concerns, symbolic acts of remembrance continue. At the site of June’s attack, mourners illuminated a memorial tree adorned with stars bearing victims’ images. Hanaa Masoud, who lost her husband and relatives in the attack, articulated the community’s anguish: “If we cannot find safety in our places of worship, where can we feel secure?”

Despite these tensions, some younger Syrians like university student Loris Aasaf maintain hope for cross-sectarian celebration and national rebuilding, asserting that “Syria deserves joy and the promise of a new future.”

A groundbreaking livestock technology initiative spearheaded by China in Mauritania has received international acclaim, being honored as one of the world’s most effective poverty alleviation programs. The recognition came during the 2025 International Seminar on Global Poverty Reduction Partnerships held in Beijing on December 10.

The award-winning project, operating through the Animal Husbandry Technology Demonstration Center in Mauritania, represents the second consecutive year that initiatives from China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region have been selected for the Global Solicitation on Best Poverty Reduction Practices. This prestigious recognition highlights the growing international appreciation for South-South cooperation models in addressing global development challenges.

The seminar was jointly convened by the International Poverty Reduction Center in China alongside multiple United Nations agencies, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). This collaborative framework underscores the importance of multilateral partnerships in tackling poverty worldwide.

Under the leadership of expert Zhang Hong’en, the Mauritania project has introduced advanced juncao cultivation techniques and modern animal husbandry practices to local communities. These innovations have demonstrated significant potential in enhancing food security, creating sustainable livelihoods, and building resilience against climate-related challenges in the West African nation.

The recognition comes as global attention focuses on practical solutions that can deliver measurable results in poverty reduction, particularly in developing regions where agricultural development remains crucial to economic stability and food independence.