Follow the latest news on Pope Francis' visit to Bahrain
Pope Francis condemned the “monstrous and senseless reality of war” as he began a four-day trip to Bahrain that will focus on peace between religions and dialogue between the East and West.
The leader of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics criticised military spending on conflicts, at a time when there are millions starving.
“Let us reject the logic of weapons and change course, diverting enormous military expenditures to investments in combating hunger and the lack of health care and education,” he said.
The pontiff spoke at Sakhir Royal Palace outside Manama, where members of Bahrain's royal family, government officials and hundreds of media outlets gathered.
May we never allow opportunities for encounter between civilisations, religions and cultures to evaporate, or the roots of our humanity to become desecrated and lifeless
Pope Francis
The occasion marks only the second time in history that a pope has visited the Arabian Peninsula.
On Friday, he will attend a multi-faith event between religious leaders and on Saturday celebrate a Mass for 28,000 Catholics at the country's largest stadium.
Pope Francis did not single out current conflicts, but warned against escalating military spending on “senseless war”.
“May we never allow opportunities for encounter between civilisations, religions and cultures to evaporate, or the roots of our humanity to become desecrated and lifeless,” he said in a translation from Latin.
Clash of weapons
“Let us work together. Let us work in the service of togetherness and hope.”
He briefly spoke of the turmoil in Yemen, where his thoughts were with a place “torn by a forgotten war that, like every war, issues not in victory but only in bitter defeat for everyone”.
He prayed for civilians, children, the elderly and the sick and begged for “an end to the clash of weapons”.
On religion, he said that we are in a period of greater understanding between faiths today.
“These days mark a precious stage in the journey of friendship that has intensified in recent years with various Islamic religious leaders — a fraternal journey that, beneath the gaze of heaven, seeks to foster peace on earth,” he said.
Pope Francis used Bahrain as an example of a multi-faith nation where millions worship in accordance with their own beliefs.
“To all, I express my joy to be in your midst,” he said.
'This multicultural island nation'
“Here, where the waters of the sea surround the sands of the desert, and imposing skyscrapers rise beside traditional Oriental markets, very different realities come together: ancient and modern converge; tradition and progress mix; and above all, people from various backgrounds create a distinctive mosaic of life.”
Using the example of the majestic acacia tree, or Shajarat-al-Hayat, that survives in the desert with very little rainfall, he connected it to a country that has welcomed people over thousands of years.
“We see how Bahrain’s geographical position, the talents and commercial abilities of its people, together with historical events, have enabled it to take shape as a crossroads of mutual enrichment between peoples,” he said.
“One thing stands out in the history of this land: it has always been a place of encounter between different peoples.
“On these islands, we can admire a composite, multi-ethnic and multi-religious society, capable of overcoming the risk of isolation. This is so important in our time.”
He stressed these commitments should be constantly put into practice, “so that religious freedom will be complete and not limited to freedom of worship; that equal dignity and equal opportunities will be concretely recognised for each group and for every individual; that no forms of discrimination exist and that fundamental human rights are not violated but promoted.”
He also spoke of the contribution made by immigrants in a country where they account for 50 per cent of the 1.5 million population.
Touching on dehumanising labour conditions globally, he said this posed the risk of social instability and was a threat to human dignity.
“Let us guarantee that working conditions everywhere are safe and dignified, that they foster rather than hinder people’s cultural and spiritual growth; and that they serve to advance social cohesion, to the benefit of common life and the development of each country,” he said.
King Hamad hailed the Pope’s presence as historic and blessed.
He said the Pope’s visit would leave “a great moral and spiritual legacy in the hearts of admirers in our Gulf and the Arab region.”
King Hamad echoed the Pope’s call for peace by calling on world powers to end the“Russian-Ukrainian war and to begin serious negotiations between the two parties.”
On climate change, the Pope said he hoped the United Nations Climate Change Conference — Cop27 — that will take place from Sunday would mark a step forward.
Pope gives King Hamad a medal
Pope Francis gave a unique medal to King Hamad that records the ancient connections and deep bond between the people of the country and the Catholic church.
Designed by an Italian artist, the work has an image of the country’s famed tree of life, a majestic acacia tree. The roots of the tree frame an archaeological site in Bahrain that was the capital of Dilmun, a kingdom that flourished thousands of years ago in the fourth millennium BCE.
At the centre of the coin is the statue of Our Lady of Arabia that was recently built in a cathedral of the same name in Awali, near Bahrain’s capital Manama.
The cathedral was built on land donated by King Hamad.
The region’s oldest Sacred Heart Church features to the right of the cathedral, the first Catholic church to be built in the region in the late 1930s.
A Latin inscription commemorates the visit with the date of the Pope’s visit to Bahrain.
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
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Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
Brief scores:
Toss: Australia, chose to bat
Australia: 272-9 (50 ov)
Khawaja 100, Handscomb 52; Bhuvneshwar 3-48
India: 237 (50 ov)
Rohit 56, Bhuvneshwar 46; Zampa 3-46
Player of the Match: Usman Khawaja (Australia)
Player of the Series: Usman Khawaja (Australia)
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WandaVision
Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany
Directed by: Matt Shakman
Rating: Four stars
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Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
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Profile of Hala Insurance
Date Started: September 2018
Founders: Walid and Karim Dib
Based: Abu Dhabi
Employees: Nine
Amount raised: $1.2 million
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, AB Accelerator, 500 Startups, private backers
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