Pope Francis waves from the window of the apostolic palace overlooking St. Peter’s Square for the Angelus prayer on January 19, 2025 in The Vatican. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP)

In its latest report on fiscal policy, the IMF said it expects global public debt to hit 93 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) this year, and to approach 100 percent of GDP by 2030 – 10 percentage points higher than in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

The agreement to buy energy from reactors built by Kairos Power came just weeks after word that Three Mile Island, the site of America’s worst nuclear accident, will restart operations to provide energy to Microsoft.

VATICAN CITY, Holy See — Pope Francis called Sunday for a ceasefire in Gaza to be “immediately respected,” as he thanked mediators and urged a boost in humanitarian aid as well as the return of hostages.

“I express gratitude to all the mediators,” the Argentine pontiff said shortly after the start of a truce between Israel and Hamas began.

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“Thanks to all the parties involved in this important outcome. I hope that, as agreed, it will be immediately respected by the parties and that all the hostages will finally be able to go home to hug their loved ones again,” he said.

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READ: Gaza mediators urge Israel, Hamas to accept truce plan

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“I pray so much for them, and their families. I also hope that humanitarian aid will even more quickly reach… the people of Gaza, who have so many urgent needs,” Francis said.

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“Both Israelis and Palestinians need clear signs of hope. I hope that the political authorities of both, with the help of the international community, can reach the right two-state solution.

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“May everyone say yes to dialogue, yes to reconciliation, yes to peace,” he added.

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A total of 33 hostages taken by militants during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel are scheduled to be returned from Gaza during an initial 42-day truce.

Under the deal, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are to be released from Israeli jails.

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The truce is intended to pave the way for an end to more than 15 months of war sparked by Hamas’s attack, the deadliest in Israeli history.

It follows a deal struck by mediators Qatar, the United States, and Egypt after months of negotiations, and takes effect on the eve of Donald Trump’s inauguration as US president.

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READ: Gaza ceasefire deal gets Israeli government okayjilihot

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