Pope Leo XIV

calls for peace

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Leo XIV, during his first Christmas Day message, urged the faithful to shed indifference toward those who are suffering. The first U.S. pontiff highlighted the suffering in Gaza, Yemen, and that of migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea and the American continent.

Addressing 26,000 people from St. Peter’s Square, he called for peace, justice, and stability in troubled regions like Lebanon, Ukraine, and Syria. The pope emphasized that everyone can contribute to peace through humility and responsibility.

He received especially warm cheers when he made his greetings in his native English and Spanish, the language of his adopted country of Peru, where he served as a missionary and then as archbishop.

Turkey detains

IS suspects

ISTANBUL (AP) — Istanbul police have launched simultaneous raids at 124 locations, detaining over a hundred suspected members of the militant Islamic State group.

The raids took place on Thursday. Authorities say the suspects were allegedly planning attacks against Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.

The Istanbul public prosecutor’s office said the militant group had issued a call for action against non-Muslims during these celebrations. Warrants were issued for 137 suspects, and 115 have been detained so far. Officers seized firearms, cartridges, and organizational documents during the raids.

The police counter-terrorism operation was still ongoing.

Asfura elected

in Honduras

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — Trump-backed candidate Nasry Asfura has won Honduras’ presidential election, according to electoral authorities. This result continues Latin America’s shift to the right, following Chile’s recent election of a far-right leader. Asfura, of the conservative National Party, narrowly defeated Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party.

The election faced delays and accusations of fraud, with Asfura’s supporters celebrating his victory.

Trump endorsed Asfura days before the vote, sparking controversy. The European Union and other leaders have congratulated Asfura. The election is seen as a setback for the current leftist leader, Xiomara Castro, and her party.

Putin critic

sentenced

(AP) — A Russian court has sentenced pro-war activist Sergei Udaltsov to six years in prison for justifying terrorism. Udaltsov, a critic of President Vladimir Putin, was arrested last year.

The charges relate to an article he posted supporting activists accused of forming a terrorist organization, according to Russian independent news site Mediazona. Those activists received prison sentences earlier this month. Udaltsov, who has rejected the charges as fabricated, announced a hunger strike after the verdict.

He will serve his sentence in a maximum-security penal colony. Udaltsov was a prominent opposition figure during the 2011-12 mass protests in Russia, triggered by reports of widespread rigging of a parliamentary election.