Thais mark new King’s birthday with monks, stamps

BANGKOK – Monks lined the streets and glittering commemorative stamps were issued on Friday as Thais marked the 65th birthday of King Maha Vajiralongkorn- his first as monarch of the politically febrile nation. Vajiralongkorn took the throne late last year after the death of his deeply revered father, Bhumibol Adulyadej, who commanded a cult-like following […]

President Xi’s envoy to attend Iranian president’s inauguration ceremony

BEIJING – As the special envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping, He Lifeng, head of China’s National Development and Reform Commission, will attend the inauguration ceremony of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran on Aug. 5. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang made the announcement on Friday. Noting that He will attend at the invitation […]

Sri Lanka to sign China port deal despite protests

COLOMBO – Sri Lanka will proceed with the billion-dollar sale of a deep sea port to China despite protests in an effort to slash its foreign debt, the prime minister said Friday. Hambantota port straddles the world’s busiest east-west shipping route and several countries, including neighboring India, had raised concerns China could use it for […]

‘Piece of Peace’ Project Carried out by International Peace Organization and Youth Group of the Middle East

Training Of Trainees (TOT) camp was held to implement peace education and activities for youth in Marouf Saad elementary school of Saida in Lebanon from June 30th to July 3rd. Students from Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria and social representatives including a politician, a journalist, and leaders of civil society participated in this event. The event was hosted by the […]

European Youth in Interfaith Peace Camps

Warsaw, Poland/ Kaunas, Lithuania – Young leaders’ interfaith peace camps took place following one after another in Poland and Lithuania from June 23rd to July 2nd under the subject of the role of religion and youth for resolving conflicts in the world. With total 104 participants from Catholic, Protestant, Islam, Sikhism, and ISKCON attending, HWPL […]

Turkey marks year since ‘epic’ defeat of anti-Erdogan coup

ISTANBUL, July 15 : Turkey on Saturday marked one year since the defeat of the coup aimed at ousting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, seeking to showcase national unity and his grip on power in an increasingly polarised society. The authorities have declared July 15 an annual national holiday of “democracy and unity”, billing the foiling […]

France aims to be ‘facilitator’ in Gulf crisis talks

DOHA, July 15 : French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in Doha on Saturday that Paris wants to assist Kuwait-led mediation on the crisis between Qatar and four other Arab states. “France should be a facilitator in the mediation” led by Kuwait, Le Drian told reporters following talks with his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed […]