International News

Iran warns time running out for political solution in Gaza war

TEHRAN: Iran on Monday said time was running short to reach a political solution in the Israel-Gaza conflict, warning of the "possibility of expanding the scope of war and conflict to other fronts".
Israel declared war on the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas a day after waves of its fighters broke through Gaza heavily militarised border with Israel on October 7 and shot, stabbed and burned to death over 1,400 people, most of them civilians.

Pope calls for humanitarian corridors for Gaza residents

VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis called on Sunday for humanitarian corridors to allow the delivery of essentials to the Gaza Strip, which is under heavy Israeli bombardment following a bloody attack by its rulers, Hamas.
"Humanitarian law must be respected, especially in Gaza, where it is urgent and necessary to guarantee humanitarian corridors and help the population," said the Pope after his traditional Angelus prayer in Rome Saint Peter Square.

Saudi pauses talks on normalisation with Israel: source

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has suspended talks on potentially normalising ties with Israel, a source told AFP on Saturday, as the war raged between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel on October 7 which killed 1,300 people, sparking a retaliatory bombing campaign that has killed at least 2,215 in the Gaza Strip, before a potential Israeli ground invasion of the territory.

Race for US House speaker in chaos as Republican nominee drops out

WASHINGTON: The Republican nominee to lead the US House of Representatives announced he was dropping out Thursday after failing to find enough support to win the election, plunging the paralyzed lower chamber of Congress deeper into crisis.
Louisiana congressman Steve Scalise narrowly won a secret internal Republican ballot Wednesday to replace ousted speaker Kevin McCarthy.