Briefly

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

At least 20 killed in violence: UN official

Violence among illegal miners in Papua New Guinea has left between 20 and 50 people dead, a United Nations official said on Monday. The unrest started last month when "illegal miners "inflicted life-threatening injuries on a landowner in the Porgera Valley, home to one of Papua New Guinea's largest gold deposits, according to police. Mate Bagossy, the UN's humanitarian adviser for Papua New Guinea, said, "We have confirmed that at least 20 people have been killed, but as per the last news that I have, it's likely up to 50 people."

UNITED STATES

Congress searches for stopgap funding

The US Congress returned from a weekend recess on Monday and will attempt to broker a deal on legislation to temporarily fund a range of federal programs, with no clear path and just 15 days remaining before money runs out. Unless a stopgap spending bill is sent to President Joe Biden by midnight Sept 30, the end of the current fiscal year, many agency operations will cease with thousands of federal workers furloughed for lack of funds. Last week, House Speaker Mike Johnson had to abandon his attempt to pass a spending bill when it became clear he did not have enough support for passage from his rank-and-file Republicans.

JORDAN

King appoints new prime minister

King Abdullah II of Jordan on Sunday tasked Jaafar Hassan with forming a new government, succeeding Bisher Khasawneh, whose resignation was accepted by the king. Khasawneh's government will continue handling daily affairs until the new government is formed and assumes its duties, the state-run Petra news agency reported. The resignation followed parliamentary elections in which the Islamic Action Front, the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, won 31 out of 138 seats.

JAPAN

Elderly population hits record high

The number of people in Japan aged 65 or older hit a record high of 36.25 million this year, government data showed on Sunday, as the country contends with one of the world's fastest-aging societies. The elderly now account for 29.3 percent of Japan's population, also a new high, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Japan is facing a steadily worsening population crisis as its expanding elderly population leads to soaring medical and welfare costs, with a shrinking labor force to pay for it.

Agencies - Xinhua