ISTANBUL– The global population aged 65 and over has nearly doubled to 10.3%, and this trend is expected to continue. The world’s population, which continues to grow at varying rates in different regions, has already surpassed 8 billion people. According to the UN Population Fund’s (UNFPA) “2024 State of World Population Report,” global population dynamics…
JAKARTA — The Indonesian National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB has reported at least 498 houses and three public facilities damaged by the eruption last March 18 of Mount Ruang in Sitaro Islands District, North Sulawesi. The head of BNPB’s Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center, Abdul Muhari, said that in addition to 135 mildly damaged houses and 363 moderately to severely damaged houses, two churches and…
VATICAN — Pope Francis has expressed concern over the conflict situation in the Middle East and called for dialogue and diplomacy among leaders in the region. During his traditional Sunday Angelus prayer at the Vatican, the pope said: “I continue to follow the situation in the Middle East with concern and sadness. I reiterate the plea not to yield to the claims of…
Pope Francis, 87, appeared in relatively good spirits at the Easter Sunday Mass at the Vatican. PHOTO: REUTERS TEHRAN — Pope Francis has renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza in a peace-focused address marking Easter Sunday, the most important day on the Christian calendar. “Let us not allow the current hostilities to continue to have grave…
JERUSALEM – The Knesset on Monday passed the so-called “Al Jazeera Law” authorizing the Prime Minister to shut down the activities of the Qatari-owned network. “There will be no freedom of speech for the Hamas trumpets in Israel. Al Jazeera will be closed in the coming days,” said Communications Minister Shlomo Karai, who spearheaded the legislation,…
By Zhang Tianpei, People’s Daily Every day when the land port of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge opens, a vibrant and bustling scene is on – tourists from the Chinese mainland conversing in different local dialects and Hong Kong and Macao families embarking on trips to the mainland are coming and going. Such lively atmosphere can be…
WASHINGTON – Sweden officially became NATO’s 32nd member as the US received accession instruments Thursday. It came almost two years after Sweden applied to join the military alliance following the start of the Russian war on Ukraine in February 2022. “Good things come to those who wait,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at the State…
WASHINGTON – US President Joe Biden sought to draw stark contrasts between his policies and those of his Republican predecessor and likely election opponent, ex-President Donald Trump, during his State of the Union address on Thursday evening. With just eight months to go until Election Day, Biden launched an oftentimes fiery and defiant speech that repeatedly…
TORONTO – Canada has announced it will resume support to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) after a decision to pause funding because of Israeli allegations. Several countries, including the US, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Canada have initially suspended funding to the agency that was established in 1949 to cater to Palestinian…
TEHRAN – Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has warned that children in Gaza are at risk of death due to lack of food. “Grim findings during @WHO visits to Al-Awda and Kamal Adwan hospitals in northern #Gaza: severe levels of malnutrition, children dying of starvation, serious shortages of fuel, food and medical…
