Headline
‘I’m Deeply Pained,’ Pope Leo XIV Emotionally Begs World Leaders To End Wars In Ukraine, Gaza
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4 months agoon
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Pope Leo XIV has made a strong and emotional appeal for global peace, condemning the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza while urging world leaders to end the violence and prioritise humanitarian efforts.
During his first-ever Regina Coeli address on Sunday, the new pontiff appeared at the window of the Apostolic Palace and spoke to thousands gathered in St Peter’s Square, as well as millions watching across the globe.
Echoing the legacy of his predecessor, Pope Francis, Pope Leo declared: “In today’s dramatic context of a third world war fought piecemeal… I too appeal to the powerful of the world by repeating these ever-relevant words: never again war!”
He began his message by referencing one of the deadliest periods in human history — the Second World War — which ended 80 years ago on 8 May.
READ ALSO: Pope Leo XIV Outlines A Path For A Modern Church That Follows Francis’ Steps
He described it as an “immense tragedy” that caused the deaths of over 60 million people, using the historical moment to highlight the urgent need to prevent another global catastrophe.
Pope Leo XIV turned his attention to the modern theatres of war, starting with Ukraine, where the prolonged war with Russia has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions.
“I carry in my heart the suffering of the beloved Ukrainian people,” he said.
He urged that “every effort be made to reach a true, just, and lasting peace as soon as possible.”
READ ALSO: Trump Reacts To Election Of American Leo XIV As New Pope
The Pope further pleaded for the release of war prisoners and the reunification of families: “May all prisoners be freed, and may the children be returned to their families.”
He was visibly emotional when addressing the crisis in Gaza, calling for an immediate end to hostilities in the besieged Palestinian enclave.
“I am deeply pained by what is happening. Let the fighting cease immediately, let humanitarian aid be provided to the exhausted civilian population, and may all hostages be released,” he said.
Despite the grim tone of his message, Pope Leo expressed cautious optimism about a recent breakthrough in South Asia.
He welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, countries that have a long history of border clashes and military standoffs.
READ ALSO: Meet America’s Robert Francis Prevost, First American Chosen As New Pope
“I hope that, through the upcoming negotiations, a lasting agreement may soon be reached,” he said.
As he concluded his address, Pope Leo XIV turned to faith for a solution to the violence and unrest in many regions of the world.
“How many other conflicts are there in the world?” he asked, before offering a spiritual plea.
He entrusted his heartfelt appeal to Mary, Queen of Peace, praying that she may “present it to the Lord Jesus and obtain for us the miracle of peace.”
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Headline
Four Places In The World Without Traffic Lights
Published
15 hours agoon
August 29, 2025By
Editor
In a world where traffic lights are an essential part of road management, a few countries and regions stand out for functioning without them. These places rely on alternative systems ranging from police officers and roundabouts to cultural driving habits to manage traffic. Here’s a closer look at the nations and areas where traffic lights are absent.
Bhutan
Bhutan is famously known as the only country in the world that operates entirely without traffic lights. Even in its capital city, Thimphu, which has witnessed growing traffic due to urbanisation, automated signals have never been adopted. Instead, traffic management is handled by police officers who stand at major intersections, directing vehicles with hand signals.
In 1995, when a set of traffic lights was briefly installed in Thimphu, public complaints led to their swift removal, as locals felt the system clashed with the country’s traditions and culture of cooperation. Bhutan’s reliance on human-directed traffic reflects both its small population and strong sense of civic responsibility.
READ ALSO:Top 10 African Countries With Cheapest Petrol Prices In July 2025
Vatican City
Vatican City, the world’s smallest sovereign nation, also operates without any traffic lights. With an area of just 44 hectares and a population of around 800 people, the city-state does not require traffic signals to regulate movement. Roads inside the Vatican are short and few, and traffic is mostly managed by signage and the Vatican’s own police force. However, just outside the Vatican’s walls, in Rome, traffic lights are abundant, highlighting the contrast between the bustling Italian capital and the tranquil governance of the Holy See.
Niue
In the South Pacific, Niue, one of the world’s smallest island nations, also has no traffic lights. With a population of less than 2,000 people and very limited vehicle traffic, there is little need for automated signals. Roads are quiet, and driving is relaxed, with motorists often waving to one another as they pass.
The absence of traffic lights in Niue is less a necessity than a reflection of the island’s lifestyle, where community trust and minimal congestion make formal traffic control unnecessary.
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Tekesi County, China
A unique example of urban planning without traffic lights can be found in Tekesi County, Xinjiang, China. The county town was designed based on the ancient Bagua (Eight Trigrams) symbol from Taoist philosophy. Its distinctive circular and radiating street layout relies on roundabouts to direct vehicles.
In 1996, authorities cancelled the installation of traffic lights in order to preserve the Bagua system, making Tekesi a rare modern settlement that manages traffic without signals. The design has since become both a cultural attraction and a point of pride for residents, who see it as a symbol of harmony and balance.
Headline
Nigerian Student Wins ‘Top In World’ Cambridge IGCSE English Award
Published
15 hours agoon
August 29, 2025By
Editor
A Nigerian student, Kenechukwu Oluwanifemi Uba, has emerged the “Top in World” candidate in the November 2024 Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement).
Uba, a pupil of Caleb International College, Magodo, Lagos, received the Outstanding Cambridge Learners Award for her performance, which was recognised by Cambridge University Press & Assessment.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Spokesperson to the Proprietor and Founder, Caleb Group of Schools and University, Prof. Elvis Otobo, and made available to The PUNCH on Friday.
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The certificate, signed by the Group Managing Director of International Education at Cambridge, Rod Smith, was presented during a ceremony organised by the British Council and Cambridge University Press & Assessment at the Civic Centre, Lagos.
Speaking on the achievement, the Proprietor/CEO of Caleb Group of Schools and University, Dr. Oladega Adebogun, said the recognition reflected the school’s values of integrity, perseverance and innovation.
“We are overjoyed by Kenechukwu’s outstanding performance.
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“Her success embodies our core values of integrity, perseverance, and innovation. We invest heavily in cutting-edge teaching methods—from flipped classrooms to AI-driven language labs—so that every student can discover their potential and lead with confidence,” Adebogun said.
Uba expressed gratitude to her teachers, classmates and family, noting that preparing in the school’s language lab helped build her confidence.
“From the moment I joined Caleb, I felt inspired by teachers who challenged me to think deeply and by peers who encouraged me to persevere. Preparing for the speaking endorsement in our state-of-the-art lab sharpened my confidence. This recognition belongs to everyone—my mentors, my classmates, and my family,” she said.
Caleb International College described the award as proof of its commitment to raising globally competitive students through advanced learning facilities and strong character development programmes.
Headline
Iran Has Executed At Least 841 People This Year — UN
Published
16 hours agoon
August 29, 2025By
Editor
At least 841 people have been executed in Iran since the start of the year, the UN said Friday, decrying “a systematic pattern of using the death penalty as a tool of state intimidation”.
The United Nations’ human rights office said there had been a “major increase in executions” by Tehran during the first half of 2025.
“Iranian authorities have executed at least 841 people since the beginning of the year,” spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told reporters in Geneva.
“The real situation might be different,” she added. “It might be worse, given the lack of transparency.”
In July alone, she said, Iran had executed at least 110 individuals — twice the number of people executed in July 2024.
READ ALSO:Why Nigeria Needs Female President – Presidential Aspirant
“The high number of executions indicates a systematic pattern of using the death penalty as a tool of state intimidation, with disproportionate targeting of ethnic minorities and migrants,” Shamdasani added.
She cited the executions of Afghan nationals, and of Baluch, Kurdish, and Arab citizens.
In the first six months of the year, at least 289 people were executed for drug-related offences.
Shamdasani said the pattern witnessed across multiple countries showed that when their governments perceive threats to their grip on public order, they become increasingly repressive and less tolerant of dissent.
– Hangings before children –
The spokeswoman in particular criticised the staging of public executions in Iran. The rights office documented seven such cases since the beginning of the year — some reportedly in front of children.
READ ALSO:We Would Have Killed Iran’s Supreme Leader If Given Opportunity – Israel
“Public executions add an extra layer of outrage upon human dignity… not only on the dignity of the people concerned — the people who are executed — but also on all those who have to bear witness,” she said.
“The psychological trauma of bearing witness to somebody being hanged in public, particularly for children, is unacceptable.”
The UN human rights office said there were serious concerns over due process in capital punishment cases.
“What we are particularly worried about is that a lot of these death sentences are imposed based on vague laws,” the spokeswoman said, such as charges of enmity against God.
Shamdasani said that 11 individuals were currently facing “imminent execution” in Iran, including six charged with “armed rebellion” due to alleged membership of the exiled opposition People’s Mujahedeen Organization of Iran (MEK).
READ ALSO:US Struck Iran With B-2 Bombers, Submarine-launched Missiles – Top US General
The other five had been sentenced to death over their participation in large-scale protests in 2022, she said. Iran’s supreme court last week confirmed the death sentence against workers’ rights activist Sharifeh Mohammadi, she added.
The UN rights office was urging Iran’s government “not to implement the death penalty against these and other individuals on death row”, Shamdasani said.
“The death penalty is incompatible with the right to life and irreconcilable with human dignity,” she added.
“It creates an unacceptable risk of executing innocent people. It should never be imposed for conduct that is protected under international human rights law.”
UN human rights chief Volker Turk is calling on Tehran to impose a moratorium on the application of capital punishment, as a step towards abolition.
AFP
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