World leaders send condolences after Pope's death
Since the earliest days of his papacy, Pope Francis viewed the Middle East not only as the birthplace of civilisations and faiths, but as a region bleeding from decades of war, occupation, extremism and displacement.
His visits to the Middle East since 2013 were far more than ceremonial stopovers. They were pilgrimages guided by diplomacy.
In 2014, he visited Jordan, Palestine and Israel, calling for peace and interreligious understanding at a time of deepening division. Five years later, in 2019, he became the first pope to visit the Arabian Peninsula, attending the Human Fraternity Conference in Abu Dhabi and signing a landmark interfaith declaration with the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Dr Ahmed Al Tayeb.
In 2021, he defied security concerns and made a groundbreaking visit to Iraq, walking through cities scarred by ISIS, praying among the ruins of Mosul, and embracing Shiite leader Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani in a rare meeting.
The Pope then made a historic visit to Bahrain in 2022, becoming the first pontiff to set foot in the island kingdom. The trip centred on promoting interfaith relations, particularly through the Bahrain Forum for Dialogue.
The Pope, who has died aged 88, said those visits were also acts of witness. “I come as a pilgrim of peace seeking fraternity and reconciliation after years of war and terrorism," he declared when he arrived in Baghdad.
“At his last public appearance, Pope Francis repeated what had become a slogan in his pontificate of peace,” the Vatican said on Monday.
During the Easter Urbi et Orbi blessing, the day before he died, the Pope’s words echoed the countless appeals he had made over the years, urging world leaders to lay down arms and turn to dialogue.
What he said about region
Pope Francis spoke about nearly every major Middle Eastern crisis, from the wars in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Gaza, to the political breakdown in Lebanon and the suffering of migrants and religious minorities.
On Gaza, he was direct and anguished. “This is war, this is terrorism," he said. "Even children are suffering … we pray especially for the children, who are losing their lives in Gaza.”
On Yemen, where years of war and famine have devastated the country, he said: “The cry of these children and their parents rises up to God. Let us pray for the people of Yemen, especially the children.”
On Sudan, as violence engulfed country in 2023, the pontiff said: “I am close to the Sudanese people, who are already so tried. I pray that arms may be laid down and dialogue may prevail.”
Lebanon, with its fragile political system and deepening economic crisis, was close to his heart. “Lebanon is more than a country: it is a message of freedom and an example of pluralism, both for the East and the West," he said.
And on Iraq, during one of the most ambitious trips of his papacy, he said: “The church in Iraq is a living church, courageous and full of hope. Your witness has been like a grain of wheat that dies and bears fruit.”
What he said while among them
Perhaps the most stirring words the Pope offered were spoken on Middle Eastern soil.
In Abu Dhabi, he urged a new paradigm for interfaith relations: “Religious freedom is not limited to freedom of worship, but sees in the other truly a brother or sister to be loved.”
In Ur in southern Iraq, he brought together Muslims, Christians and Yazidis to say: “We believers cannot be silent when terrorism abuses religion. We must walk together, united as brothers and sisters, to bring peace.”
And at the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity in Abu Dhabi, he declared: “Fraternity is the new frontier of humanity. Either we build the future together or there will be no future.”
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Why seagrass matters
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What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand
UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
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Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 2
Rashford 28', Martial 72'
Watford 1
Doucoure 90'
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UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
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“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
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Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
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