Pope Leo XIV Calls for Christmas Peace; Tarique Rahman Returns to Bangladesh Ahead of Elections

Pope Leo XIV has called for a 'one day of peace' during Christmas, expressing disappointment over Russia's refusal for a Christmas truce in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Tarique Rahman, son of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, is set to return to Dhaka ahead of the February 12 elections, amid rising tensions with India following a violent incident in Mymensingh.

In other news, the US is in discussions with Palau regarding the resettlement of third-country nationals, despite earlier parliamentary rejection. China has inaugurated a hydrogen-fueled steel plant in Guangdong, aiming to reduce carbon emissions by up to 80%.

Additionally, Kyoto University has created a Protestant AI bot for religious education, while Kyiv City Council has decided to remove 15 monuments linked to the Russian Empire and Soviet Union. Lastly, a Korean language training center has opened in Dushanbe to prepare Tajiks for work in South Korea.