CDI Staff

Articles by CDI Staff

21 Jan, 2025 07:45 EST

Latin America Family & Children Society & Culture Education

Brazil restricts smartphone use in schools following global trend

By CDI Staff

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed a bill on Monday restricting smartphone use in schools, aligning with a global movement to limit devices in educational settings. The law, set to take effect in February, will apply to elementary and high school students across the nation.
20 Jan, 2025 09:31 EST

US & Canada Society & Culture

Donald Trump to be sworn in as 47th President, plans wave of executive actions

By CDI Staff

Donald J. Trump is set to be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States at noon Eastern time on Monday, marking a historic political comeback. He reportedly plans to issue more than 200 executive orders on his first day in office, aiming to rapidly implement a sweeping policy agenda.
19 Jan, 2025 16:07 EST

Middle East Society & Culture

Gaza cease-fire begins as Israel and Hamas exchange hostages and prisoners

By CDI Staff

Three Israeli women were released from captivity in Gaza on Sunday, marking the start of a long-awaited cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. The truce prompted celebrations in Gaza, relief for families of captives and prisoners, and hopes for an end to the 15-month war.
19 Jan, 2025 15:43 EST

US & Canada Society & Culture

TikTok restored in US after Trump announces delay of federal ban

By CDI Staff

TikTok resumed operations in the United States on Sunday after President-elect Donald J. Trump announced plans to issue an executive order delaying a federal ban on the app. The development came just hours after major app stores removed TikTok and the app ceased functioning for U.S. users as a new federal law took effect. In a post on X, TikTok said it was "in the process of restoring service" in agreement with its service providers.
17 Jan, 2025 10:28 EST

US & Canada Society & Culture

US Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban due to national security concerns related to China's access to app data

By CDI Staff

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Friday against TikTok’s First Amendment challenge to a law banning the app in the United States starting Sunday, dealing a critical blow to the platform’s U.S. operations.
17 Jan, 2025 08:37 EST

Asia Church & Missions

1,300 Korean church leaders issue statement opposing World Evangelical Alliance General Assembly in Seoul

By CDI Staff

The Council of Church Leaders Opposing the Hosting of the 2025 WEA Seoul General Assembly, comprising 1,300 pastors and elders from the Presbyterian Church in Korea (Hapdong), the largest denomination in Korea, released a statement on Jan. 16 titled “Our Position on the 2025 WEA Seoul General Assembly.” The council stated, “WEA has serious issues with its theology, members, and activities, and all exchanges, cooperation, and membership with it must be prohibited.”
17 Jan, 2025 07:53 EST

Europe Society & Culture

International experts call for broader obesity diagnosis criteria, as 1 billion globally estimated obese

By CDI Staff

Doctors worldwide should adopt a more comprehensive approach to diagnosing obesity, incorporating broader criteria and focusing on when the condition leads to ill health, according to a new framework proposed by experts and endorsed by 76 medical organizations internationally.
15 Jan, 2025 21:28 EST

Asia Society & Culture

Pakistani Veteran journalist Emanuel Sarfraz passes away at 56

By CDI Staff

Emanuel Sarfraz, a senior journalist and general secretary of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Lahore Chapter, passed away in Lahore on Jan. 13 following cardiac failure. He was 56 years old. A well-respected figure in Pakistan’s media industry, Sarfraz had over three decades of experience with prominent national and international media organizations.
15 Jan, 2025 14:54 EST

Middle East Society & Culture

Long-awaited cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas announced, raising hope for peace

By CDI Staff

Negotiators from Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement on a 42-day cease-fire and hostage release in Gaza, U.S. President Joe Biden and other officials announced Wednesday. The deal raises hopes for an end to over a year of war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and devastated the region.
12 Jan, 2025 16:23 EST

Asia Church & Missions Society & Culture

Korean Christian lawmakers from ruling and opposition parties unite in prayer at National Assembly Prayer Breakfast

By CDI Staff

The National Assembly Prayer Breakfast of Korea held its 2025 New Year Service on Jan. 8 in the second conference room of the National Assembly Members’ Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul. Lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties gathered to pray for the nation and parliament, including Yoon Sang-Hyun, chair of the ruling party’s prayer breakfast group, and Song Ki-Heon, chair of the opposition group.
7 Jan, 2025 10:23 EST

US & Canada Society & Culture

Meta to remove 'biased' fact-checking with new user-based moderation system: 'once again prioritizing speech'

By CDI Staff

On Tuesday (Jan. 7), Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that the social media giant will shift away from using third-party fact-checkers and instead depend on users to contribute notes or corrections to posts on Facebook and Instagram. The change comes as the company admits mistakes and political bias that restricted free conversations on its platforms, a diversion from its core mission.
4 Jan, 2025 19:00 EST

Asia Religious Freedom

First Christian killed in Pakistan this year was recently married

By CDI Staff

A young Christian man was gunned down by Muslim landowners allegedly jealous of his success as a farmer in the first reported killing of a Christian in Pakistan in the new year, sources said.

CDI Staff

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