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What We're Following on Christmas Morning

By Krishnadev Calamur
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Editor’s Note: This article previously appeared in a different format as part of The Atlantic’s Notes section, retired in 2021.

A surprise visit: Narendra Modi became the first Indian prime minister to visit Pakistan since 2004 when he made an unexpected stop in Lahore today to meet Nawaz Sharif, his Pakistani counterpart. Relations between the two neighbors are usually testy, but have warmed in recent months. Update: More here

Death toll rises: The number of people killed in Wednesday’s storms that struck the South has risen to 14. Mississippi, Tennessee, and Arkansas were the worst affected states.

A papal plea: Pope Francis used his homily on Christmas Eve to urge the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics to act “soberly” and return to the essential values of life. He said the world was “intoxicated by consumerism and hedonism, wealth and extravagance, appearances and narcissism.” You can read his homily here. Update: More here

White Christmas? Not so much on the East Coast where temperatures are still at record highs. In the West, it’s another story:

Having said that, have a Merry Christmas.