The former Pope Benedict XVI has died aged 95. Joseph Alois Ratzinger in February 2013 became the first pope to resign since 1415 but during his papacy, widely regarded as a difficult tenure, he was confronted with secularism, a dwindling interest in Catholicism — reflected in declining church attendances — and a schism over the direction of the church. His leadership was scarred deeply by the ramifications of a scandal towards the end of the 20th century, when the Vatican’s handling of a plethora of clerical sexual abuse cases came under fire. He also faced allegations of being a Nazi sympathiser and took a firm stand in defending celibacy in the priesthood.
After taking office in 2005, the pontiff travelled extensively throughout Europe and to Brazil, the US, Australia, Cameroon, Angola and Turkey, where he sought to bridge the gap between the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches. In May 2009, Pope Benedict arrived in Amman, Jordan, for a week-long tour of the region, also taking in Israel and Palestine.
In Jerusalem, he condemned Holocaust deniers, urged co-operation between Palestinians and Israelis and offered an iconic sculpture as a gift to the people of Bethlehem in the West Bank.
He met political and religious leaders on a three-day tour of Lebanon in 2012, during which he visited the settlements of Bzommar and Baabda. Describing himself as a "pilgrim of peace", the pontiff highlighted the need for deeper interfaith co-operation, particularly between Muslims and Christians.
Born in the south-west German market town of Marktl am Inn on April 16, 1927, Ratzinger’s parents were staunch Catholics and, when the Nazis came to power in 1933, were opposed to the regime.
Having entered theological school as the Second World War broke out, he was compelled to join the Hitler Youth two years later, under mandatory membership, then the military in 1943. He was posted to Hungary but deserted in April 1945, only to be held briefly as a prisoner of war by the Americans.
Post-war, his seminary education continued at pace. He was ordained in 1951 and received a doctorate in theology at the University of Munich. He taught at a school of philosophy and theology in Freising until 1959, later moving to the universities of Bonn, Muenster, Tuebingen and Regensburg, where he became vice president. His theological works drew an invitation to join the Second Vatican Council, where he was considered progressive and challenged ambitions to curtail reforms. But having settled on a more conservative outlook, Ratzinger was appointed archbishop of Munich and Freising by Paul VI.
In 1972, Ratzinger co-founded the journal Communio, considered one of the touchstones of Catholic thinking. As his status within the establishment gathered momentum, he continued to reaffirm what he held as vital elements of doctrine, such as birth control and inter-religious dialogue. He became a prefect and friend of his predecessor John Paul II, and went on to become his most trusted adviser, becoming instrumental in attempts to interact with other faiths, Islam and Judaism in particular. This long-standing service was later thought to have secured his election as Pope.
Ratzinger was elevated to the papacy on April 19, 2005, after the death of John Paul II. As the oldest newly elected pope since 1730, he sought to transform his perceived rigidity, vowing to rejuvenate the Catholic church in Europe but, at the same time, perpetuating his predecessor’s orthodoxy on sexuality, priestly celibacy and clerical matters.
In 2008, Benedict made his first papal visit to the US, where he gave a speech to the United Nations, championing human rights, and spoke out against sexual abuse in the priesthood. Later that year he addressed the inaugural Catholic-Muslim Forum, an assembly of church theologians and Islamic scholars. In 2010, allegations of abuse by parish priests and in religiously affiliated schools — including in his native Germany — put Benedict under extreme pressure. He was moved to reproach bishops in the Irish church on the matter: “It must be admitted that grave errors of judgment were made and failures of leadership occurred," he said. The Vatican rejected charges that Benedict had been responsible for the policy of covering up sexual abuse cases, stating that his guidance throughout the scandal demonstrated “wisdom and firmness”.
Ill health dogged his term of leadership and led ultimately to his surprise resignation in 2013, aged 85. Citing mobility issues and a marked deterioration in strength, he told gathered cardinals at the Vatican: "For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter.” Benedict's announcement still shocked the world, however, and was said to have left some of his aides astonished — even members of his inner sanctum had been unaware of his intention to quit.
The sexual abuse scandal surrounding the church might forever cloud his papacy. Commissioned by the archdiocese in Munich, a report this year accused the retired pope of mishandling cases of abuse by priests when he was archbishop in the Bavarian city. He denied any wrongdoing yet pleaded for forgiveness. "All the greater is my pain for the abuses and the errors that occurred in those different places during the time of my mandate,” he said in response to the findings.
“I have come to understand that we ourselves are drawn into this grievous fault whenever we neglect it or fail to confront it with the necessary decisiveness and responsibility, as too often happened and continues to happen. Once again I can only express to all the victims of sexual abuse my profound shame, my deep sorrow and my heartfelt request for forgiveness.”
Upon retirement, he continued to be known as Benedict XVI and was bestowed the title of pope emeritus.
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
CHINESE GRAND PRIX STARTING GRID
1st row
Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
2nd row
Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-GP)
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
3rd row
Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull Racing)
4th row
Nico Hulkenberg (Renault)
Sergio Perez (Force India)
5th row
Carlos Sainz Jr (Renault)
Romain Grosjean (Haas)
6th row
Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
Esteban Ocon (Force India)
7th row
Fernando Alonso (McLaren)
Stoffel Vandoorne (McLaren)
8th row
Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso)
Sergey Sirotkin (Williams)
9th row
Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso)
Lance Stroll (Williams)
10th row
Charles Leclerc (Sauber)
arcus Ericsson (Sauber)
Wenger's Arsenal reign in numbers
1,228 - games at the helm, ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
704 - wins to date as Arsenal manager.
3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
1,549 - goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger's teams.
10 - major trophies won.
473 - Premier League victories.
7 - FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
151 - Premier League losses.
21 - full seasons in charge.
49 - games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.
CONCRETE COWBOY
Directed by: Ricky Staub
Starring: Idris Elba, Caleb McLaughlin, Jharrel Jerome
3.5/5 stars
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs
Price: From Dh529,000
Engine: 5-litre V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 520hp
Torque: 625Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.8L/100km
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Personalities on the Plate: The Lives and Minds of Animals We Eat
Barbara J King, University of Chicago Press
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
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How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Score
Third Test, Day 1
New Zealand 229-7 (90 ov)
Pakistan
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
On sale: now
The%20specs
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Company%20Profile
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Company%C2%A0profile
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
THE BIO: Mohammed Ashiq Ali
Proudest achievement: “I came to a new country and started this shop”
Favourite TV programme: the news
Favourite place in Dubai: Al Fahidi. “They started the metro in 2009 and I didn’t take it yet.”
Family: six sons in Dubai and a daughter in Faisalabad
SPECS
Mini John Cooper Works Clubman and Mini John Cooper Works Countryman
Engine: two-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 306hp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: JCW Clubman, Dh220,500; JCW Countryman, Dh225,500
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What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
'Dark Waters'
Directed by: Todd Haynes
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, William Jackson Harper
Rating: ****
RESULTS
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WHAT%20START-UPS%20IS%20VISA%20SEEKING%3F
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEnablers%20of%20digital%20services%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Blockchain%20and%20cryptocurrency%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Crowdfunding%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Banking-as-a-service%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Banking%20identification%20number%20sponsors%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Issuers%2Fprocessors%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Programme%20managers%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDigital%20issuance%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Blockchain%20and%20cryptocurrency%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Alternative%20lending%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Personal%20financial%20management%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Money%20transfer%20and%20remittance%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Digital%20banking%20(neo%20banks)%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Digital%20wallets%2C%20peer-to-peer%20and%20transfers%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Employee%20benefits%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Payables%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Corporate%20cards%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EValue-add%20for%20merchants%2Fconsumers%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Data%20and%20analytics%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20ID%2C%20authentication%20and%20security%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Insurance%20technology%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Loyalty%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Merchant%20services%20and%20tools%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Process%20and%20payment%20infrastructure%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Retail%20technology%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESME%20recovery%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Money%20movement%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Acceptance%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Risk%20management%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Brand%20management%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ENew%20categories%20for%202023%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Sustainable%20FinTechs%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Risk%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Urban%20mobility%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tree of Hell
Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla
Director: Raed Zeno
Rating: 4/5
As You Were
Liam Gallagher
(Warner Bros)
BLACKBERRY
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