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…
H5N1 bird flu outbreak detected in Laos. (Photo from VNA/VNS) VIENTIANE – The Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s Department of Livestock and Fisheries recently reported an H5N1 bird flu outbreak in a Vientiane market. The Lao centre for animal disease research said, of the 65 poultry samples it received from Danxang market in Saythani district, 30 were…
BOGOTA, Colombia – At least 99 people have been killed and 1,600 have been left homeless by forest fires in central Chile’s Valparaiso region, authorities said. Chile’s Legal Medical Service, the state coroner said “its forensic institution delivers its deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims.” There are 161 active fires across Chile, according to Alvaro Hormazabal, director…
WASHINGTON – The US on Saturday carried out airstrikes against a Houthi anti-ship missile that was aimed at the Gulf of Aden, according to the American military. “U.S. CENTCOM Destroys Houthi Terrorists’ Anti-Ship Missile as part of ongoing efforts to protect freedom of navigation and prevent attacks on maritime vessels, on January 20 at approximately 4 a.m….
