World

On Thursday, January 5, Pope Francis presided over the burial of previous Pope Benedict, giving a speech that compared his predecessor to Jesus in front of tens of thousands of mourners in St. Peter’s square. Twelve pallbearers carried the wooden casket containing Benedict’s remains out of St. Peter’s Basilica and put it on the ground in front of Christendom’s biggest …

In its second week in the Top 10, “Glass Onion” by Rian Johnson became Netflix’s third most viewed film in terms of hours viewed in its first 10 days. During the watching window of December 26 to January 1, the sequel to “Knives Out” amassed 127 million hours seen. With 209.4 million hours, the film enters the ranks of “Red …

Friday, December 30, a starkly split federal appeals court maintained a Florida high school’s policy prohibiting transgender students from using bathrooms that correspond to their chosen identities. The 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled, by a vote of 7-4, that the St. Johns County school board did not violate the U.S. Constitution or federal civil rights legislation by mandating …

Cristiano Ronaldo, the captain of Portugal, has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, the club announced on Friday, December 30, after leaving Manchester United to become a free agent. Ronaldo left Old Trafford last month after an explosive televised interview in which the 37-year-old forward said he felt betrayed by the club and had no respect …

Pele passed away at the age of 82 on Thursday, December 29. Tributes poured in for the Brazilian legend who defined the sport and inspired generations. The Brazilian government proclaimed three days of mourning, and the arch of football’s cathedral, Wembley Stadium, was lighted in Brazil’s national colors, as sports stars and leaders of state bowed to the man who …

The G20 meeting has increased Indonesia’s standing in the Asia-Pacific region symbolically. Bali 2022 confirmed Jakarta’s position as ASEAN’s political stabilizer and economic heavyweight. Indonesia has everything: the seventh-largest economy in the world, a massive labor force, and abundant natural resources, yet it has yet to realize its full potential. Following years of political turmoil, during which four Indonesian presidents …

President Vladimir Putin delivered Russia’s long-awaited reaction to a Western price ceiling on Tuesday, December 27, by signing an order prohibiting the delivery of crude oil and oil products to nations that adhere to the quota for five months beginning on February 1. In response to Moscow’s “special military operation” in Ukraine, the Group of Seven, the European Union, and …

President Vladimir Putin stated in an interview televised on December 25 that Russia is willing to discuss with all parties involved in the conflict in Ukraine, but Kyiv and its Western allies have refused to participate. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24 precipitated the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II and the most significant confrontation between Moscow …

In his first Christmas speech as monarch, King Charles invoked his late mother, Queen Elizabeth, and spoke of his confidence in humanity during a time of “vast concern and misery.” Charles stated that he shares his mother’s faith in God and humanity with his “full heart.” He was speaking from St. George’s Chapel, the final resting place of the late …

Since their announcement, the inaugural China-Arab States Summit and the China-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit, which ushered in a new era in Chinese-Arab ties, have attracted global interest, and their successful convening has brought China-Arab and China-GCC relations to new heights. As the globe grapples with increased uncertainty and a potentially protracted economic slowdown, the partnership between China and Arab …