Pope Francis, speaking about the Middle East conflict in his yearly address to diplomats, called for a “ceasefire on every front, including Lebanon”, Reuters reports.

In the long address, sometimes called his “state of the world” speech, he also condemned the Oct 7 attack by Hamas as an “atrocious” act of “terrorism and extremism”, and renewed his call for the immediate liberation of those still being held hostage in Gaza.

Editorial

31 Jul, 2026

Expanding conflict

WITH neither of the belligerents willing to back down, and the theatre of conflict expanding geographically, the...
31 Jul, 2026

Spoils and spats

A FIGHT over assembly seats in Azad Jammu and Kashmir has laid bare what seem to be some deep resentments between ...
31 Jul, 2026

Unfair tax system

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30 Jul, 2026

Debt that stays

THE power sector’s circular debt grew by Rs61bn in the last fiscal year, taking the total to roughly Rs1.67tr from...
30 Jul, 2026

HIV warning

THE HIV infections detected around two SESSI-run hospitals in Karachi demand far more than another hurried committee...
30 Jul, 2026

End trafficking

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