Malaysia sees drops in marriages, divorces
Kuala Lumpur, Nov 21: Malaysia has recorded a lower number of marriages and divorces in 2023, official data showed Thursday.
The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) said in a statement that the number of marriages in the country stood at 188,100 in 2023, a decrease of 12.5 per cent as compared to 215,022 in 2022, Xinhua reported.
Thus, the crude marriage rate decreased to 5.7 per thousand population in 2023, from 6.6 in 2022.
According to the DOSM, the median age for grooms and brides remained at 28 and 26, respectively.
The highest number of marriages falls under the age group 25-29 years for both grooms and brides.
Meanwhile, the number of divorces in Malaysia fell 8.7 per cent to 57,835 in 2023 from 63,338 in 2022.
The crude divorce rate, therefore, improved to 1.8 per thousand population in 2023 from 1.9 in 2022.
According to the DOSM, the highest number of divorces falls under the age group 30-34 years for males and females. (IANS)
1st school meals summit ends in Cambodia
Phnom Penh, Nov 21: The first-ever Southeast Asia School Meals Coalition Summit concluded in Cambodia’s Siem Reap province with strong commitments to enhancing child nutrition and education in the region, said a joint press release on Thursday.
Held from Monday to Wednesday under the umbrella of the Global School Meals Coalition, the summit brought together 130 delegates from seven countries in the region and 39 partner organisations, Xinhua news agency reported.
“While governments in Southeast Asia have made significant progress in developing school meal policies, allocating national budgets, and launching large-scale innovative programs that leverage local food systems, further actions are needed to improve the quality and coverage to ensure that no child is left behind,” the press release said.
The summit underscored the transformative potential of school meal programs to advance multiple Sustainable Development Goals, including child nutrition, education, and local agriculture, while addressing pressing global challenges like climate change and food system resilience, it added.
Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Youth and Sport, Hang Chuon Naron said that in a world where education serves as the cornerstone for personal and societal progress, nourishment plays a critical role in this equation. (IANS)
London ranks as World’s Best City for 10th consecutive yr
London, Nov 21: London has been crowned the world’s best city for the 10th consecutive year in the annual World’s Best Cities rankings. The British capital retained its top spot, ahead of New York, Paris, and Tokyo.
The rankings, compiled by Resonance, a global advisor in real estate, tourism, and economic development, evaluate cities with populations of over 1 million. London has consistently dominated the rankings since their inception, even as the evaluation criteria evolve each year, Xinhua news agency reported.
The rankings underscore London’s global appeal as a city that consistently combines rich cultural heritage, robust business infrastructure, and an unmatched quality of life.
This year’s rankings, in partnership with leading pollster Ipsos, introduced public perception as a key metric. For the first time, insights from over 22,000 people across 30 countries were incorporated, adding perception-based data to the analysis.
The evaluation considered a wide range of other factors, including the quality of natural and built environments, cultural vibrancy, dining, nightlife, shopping, and business infrastructure. It also assessed regional airport connectivity and the quality of universities, all of which have shown strong correlations with attracting residents aged 25 to 44.
“People are moving and migrating, a trend amplified during the pandemic as individuals sought not just affordable places but lovable places,” said Chris Fair, Resonance’s president and CEO. “The results show that people around the world continue to aspire to live, visit, and work in the world’s largest cities.”
Fair acknowledged inherent biases in the rankings due to reliance on data from platforms like TripAdvisor, which tend to favour a Western perspective. (IANS)
Philippines breaks ground on massive solar farm
Manila, Nov 21: The Philippines started building its largest single-site solar and battery energy storage facility on Thursday, the Department of Energy said.
The Meralco Terra solar project spans 3,500 hectares of land across the provinces of Nueva Ecija and Bulacan, north of Manila, Xinhua reported.
Once operational, the project is expected to generate over 5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, providing a substantial contribution to the Luzon grid, addressing the growing demand for clean and sustainable energy, and reducing dependence on fossil fuels, the energy department said. “This major investment in solar and energy storage technology is a crucial step toward achieving our goal of increasing the share of renewables in the energy mix, reducing our carbon footprint, and addressing electricity demand in the main Luzon Island,” Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said, quoted by Xinhua news agency.
The project will enhance the country’s energy security and resilience, and will contribute to economic development by creating jobs and promoting sustainable growth, Lotilla said. (IANS)