
Pope calls for 'responsibility and reason' from Zionist entity, Iran
Pope calls for 'responsibility and reason' from Zionist entity, Iran
VATICAN CITY: Pope Leo XIV on Saturday called on the Zionist entity and Iran to show responsiblity and reason, as the two arch-foes clashed in their largest conflict.
"The situation in Iran and the Zionist entity has seriously deteriorated at such a delicate moment. I wish to forcefully renew an appeal for responsibility and reason," the pope said in a statement. "The commitment to build a safer world free from the nuclear threat must be pursued through a respectful meeting and sincere dialogue," he said. "No-one should ever threaten the existence of the other."--AFP

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Kuwait Times
4 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
Preparing for the risk of radioactive contamination - Dr Khalid Al-Saleh
Preparing for the risk of radioactive contamination Radioactive leaks represent a significant threat to both the environment and the communities surrounding the Arabian Gulf. It is therefore essential to take immediate and coordinated action to mitigate these risks. Regional and international cooperation must be strengthened to ensure the safety of our water sources and marine ecosystems, and to shield future generations from the consequences of radioactive contamination—particularly considering the ongoing Zionist entity-Iranian war. The Arabian Gulf is among the world's most environmentally sensitive regions. It holds immense strategic and economic importance due to its vast oil and gas reserves and its heavy dependence on Gulf waters for drinking water through desalination. As such, environmental threats, whether from oil pollution or radioactive leaks, present increasing and urgent challenges. Today, we are facing one of the most serious potential environmental challenges. In its attacks on Iran, the Zionist entity is targeting Iranian nuclear infrastructure such as the Bushehr nuclear plant, which is in proximity to Gulf waters. Radioactive pollution of Gulf waters would have severe ecological and public health consequences. A leak could disperse radioactive elements across marine environments, threatening not only aquatic life but also fish and desalinated water supplies. The immediate effects include the destruction of marine ecosystems, while long-term consequences involve elevated rates of radiation-related diseases, particularly cancers such as leukemia and thyroid cancer. The economic repercussions of such contamination would also be considerable. The costs of cleanup, environmental rehabilitation, and healthcare could be devastating. Fortunately, the Gulf countries, including Kuwait, maintain strong relations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). I am confident that Kuwait's liaison officer to the IAEA, along with relevant experts, is actively monitoring the situation and cooperating to detect any potential radiation leakage that may arise from the conflict and in preparing public awareness and response plans, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. Preparedness and preventive planning are essential, even if the likelihood of a leak remains low. The potential scale of damage is too great to ignore. We pray to Almighty Allah to protect our country and region from such dangers.

Kuwait Times
4 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
Final exams, summer term set to continue as scheduled in Kuwait amid regional tensions
KUWAIT: Kuwait's education authorities have confirmed that schools and universities will continue operations as scheduled, with emergency plans activated to ensure the safety of students, educators, and administrative staff. The statements come amid rising regional tension after the Zionist entity launched an unprovoked aerial bombing campaign on Iran Friday, striking military and nuclear facilities and reportedly killing dozens, including senior commanders and civilians. Iran responded with overnight missile and drone attacks on the Zionist entity, deepening instability across the region. Kuwaiti Authorities have moved swiftly to reassure the public that despite the volatile regional environment, academic operations—including final exams and the start of the summer term—will proceed without disruption, under heightened readiness and safety measures. The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research said on Saturday it is monitoring developments 'closely and in continuous daily coordination with the relevant authorities.' The ministry emphasized its commitment to ensuring the safety of all students and staff across its affiliated institutions. 'Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Dr. Nader Al-Jalal has directed all affiliated entities to activate emergency plans and raise readiness levels at all levels,' the ministry said in a statement. 'It is crucial to maintain accurate and on-the-ground follow-up to ensure the safety of the academic community and the continuity of the educational process without interruption.' Emergency teams in universities and research institutions are said to be highly prepared and in direct coordination with civil defense and other national agencies to enable immediate response measures if needed. The ministry reassured students and parents that the summer academic term will begin as planned on Sunday, with all safety protocols in place. 'The summer semester will launch tomorrow as scheduled and in accordance with approved academic plans,' the ministry confirmed, adding that all educational institutions are on full alert to provide 'a safe and stable learning environment.' 90 shelter centers In a parallel effort, the Ministry of Education has announced the activation of field emergency plans and the readiness of 90 fully equipped shelter centers, currently under the supervision of civil defense teams. Minister of Education Jalal Al-Tabtabaei held a virtual meeting on Saturday with educational leadership to review school readiness and ongoing safety coordination. He emphasized the importance of strong inter-agency collaboration to maintain safety and educational continuity. 'Emergency response teams in educational regions and schools are at a high level of readiness to respond to any incident,' the ministry said. 'This ensures the safety of students during final exams and protects teaching and administrative staff, while allowing the educational process to continue smoothly.' The ministry also confirmed that Grade 12 second-term final exams are proceeding without changes to the schedule. 'The second-term exams for Grade 12 students are continuing according to the approved timetable, with no modifications,' the ministry said. 'Exam operations and control procedures are running smoothly under the direct supervision of the minister and educational leadership.' Both ministries concluded their statements by assuring students and families that daily coordination with authorities is ongoing, and that all necessary precautions are being taken to protect the stability of the educational system. 'We pray that Kuwait, its leadership, and its people remain safe and secure,' both ministries said in closing remarks. — Agencies

Kuwait Times
4 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
Deadly shooting fuels debate on Austria gun laws
VIENNA: With Austria still reeling from this week's deadly school shooting that killed 10 people, a debate is now raging over the Alpine country's gun laws. The unprecedented case of deadly gun violence stunned the country of almost 9.2 million people, which ranks among the 10 safest in the world, according to the Global Peace Index. While politicians have called for tighter restrictions on private gun ownership in the wake of the shooting in Graz, interest in firearms and demand for weapons training courses has surged. 'You can't imagine how many people have signed up for shooting courses' since Tuesday's attack, Viennese gun dealer Markus Schwaiger, who also offers training courses at shooting ranges, told AFP. 'People are worried that gun laws are about to get tightened' in the coming months, he added. Austria has a relatively high number of weapons in circulation, with more than 1.5 million registered to about 370,000 owners. 'Strong gun culture' According to industry expert Aaron Karp, Austria has a 'strong gun culture' centered around 'hunting and sports shooting, especially in the countryside', which is rich with game. The Alpine nation is also one of the European countries with the largest number of small arms in circulation per capita, said Karp, one of the authors of the Small Arms Survey, which compiles data on gun ownership. Famous for the Glock pistol, invented by Austrian engineer Gaston Glock, gun ownership is deeply rooted in the country - and has been on a steady rise in recent decades: only about 900,000 weapons were registered in Austria in 2015, according to official figures. For Schwaiger, 'rising populism' has also played its part, with right-wing politicians tapping into people's anxieties over crises, arguing that the world has become a more dangerous place. 'For twenty years, right-wing populism has been scaring people' and 'every crisis causes sales to skyrocket,' he told AFP. The shooting at a secondary school in the southern city of Graz by a 21-year-old former pupil was the deadliest postwar mass shooting in Austria. But a study published online in 2020 in the European Psychiatry journal suggests that the number of violent deaths in Austria has been increasing in lockstep with the number of weapons. In order to join the European Union in 1995, Austria had to regulate the sale of firearms, which temporarily led to a drop in violent deaths - until the financial crisis of 2008 hit. According to the study, the positive effect of the reform has been 'offset by the global economic slowdown', which increased anxiety among the public and thus the tendency to purchase weapons. 'After such an act of madness... there must be consequences and changes,' Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said on Friday. Under the current legislation, anyone without a criminal record and over the age of 21 can buy handguns after undergoing an assessment and registering their weapon. 'Unfit' 'The standards for psychological testing' to grant gun licenses in Austria are 'very good', said Karp, but proper implementation appears to be the bottleneck. The gunman, who killed nine pupils and a teacher in Graz, was rejected from Austria's mandatory military service after failing the psychological tests and being deemed 'unfit'. He was nonetheless able to receive a gun license and purchase the shotgun and pistol that he used in the attack. 'He obviously found a gun dealer and a psychologist who didn't look too closely,' Schwaiger lamented. 'There is still too much leeway.' Such shortcomings have been dominating and fuelling the most recent debate on Austria's gun laws, with the opposition Green Party tabling a bill to tighten legislation in May. Austrian authorities have said they plan to consult other European countries like France, Sweden and the Czech Republic, which have experienced mass shootings in the past. 'But there are cultural differences and each country must chart its own course,' Karp said. — AFP