Pope deplores state of democracy, warns against ‘populists’

Pope deplores state of democracy, warns against ‘populists’
Pope Francis blesses a baby as he arrives to lead a mass during a pastoral visit on the occasion of the 50th Social Week of Italian Catholics, on July 7, 2024 at Piazza dell'Unita in Trieste. (File/AFP)
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Updated 08 July 2024
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Pope deplores state of democracy, warns against ‘populists’

Pope deplores state of democracy, warns against ‘populists’
  • Without naming any countries, the pope warned against “ideological temptations and populists” on the day that France holds the second round of parliamentary vote

VATICAN: Pope Francis decried the state of democracy and warned against “populists” during a short visit to Trieste in Italy’s northeast on Sunday ahead of a 12-day trip to Asia — the longest of his papacy.
“Democracy is not in good health in the world today,” Francis said during a speech at the city’s convention center to close a national Catholic event.
Without naming any countries, the pope warned against “ideological temptations and populists” on the day that France holds the second round of a snap parliamentary vote that looks set to see the far-right National Rally (RN) party take the largest share of the vote.
“Ideologies are seductive. Some people compare them to the Pied Piper of Hamelin: they seduce but lead you to deny yourself,” he said in reference to the German fairytale.
“The culture of rejection creates a city where there is no place for the poor, the unborn, the fragile, the sick, children, women, the young,” he regretted, urging facilitation of social participation from childhood.
Ahead of last month’s European parliament elections, bishops in several countries also warned about the rise of populism and nationalism, with far-right parties already holding the reins to power in Italy, Hungary and the Netherlands.
Francis also urged people to “move away from polarizations that impoverish” and hit out at “self-referential power.”
After Venice in April and Verona in May, the half-day trip to Trieste, a city of 200,000 inhabitants on the Adriatic Sea that borders Slovenia, marked the third one within Italy this year for the 87-year-old pontiff, who has suffered increasing health problems in recent years.
Since traveling to the French city of Marseille in September 2023, the Argentine Jesuit has limited himself to domestic travel.
But he plans to spend nearly two weeks in Asia in September visiting Indonesia, Singapore and the islands of Papua New Guinea and East Timor.
He arrived in Trieste shortly before 9:00 am (0600 GMT) and embarked on meetings with various groups from the religious and academic spheres, along with migrants and the disabled.
Pope Francis concluded his visit with a mass in front of some 8,500 worshippers in the city’s main public square before heading back to the Vatican in the early afternoon.


Netflix drops new trailer for ‘Saudi Pro League: Kickoff’ documentary

Netflix drops new trailer for ‘Saudi Pro League: Kickoff’ documentary
Updated 44 sec ago
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Netflix drops new trailer for ‘Saudi Pro League: Kickoff’ documentary

Netflix drops new trailer for ‘Saudi Pro League: Kickoff’ documentary
  • The highly anticipated six-episode series takes viewers into the heart of Saudi Arabia’s football scene

LONDON: Netflix unveiled on Monday a new trailer for its upcoming sports documentary series “Saudi Pro League: Kickoff,” set to premiere on Nov. 21.

The highly anticipated six-episode series takes viewers into the heart of Saudi Arabia’s football scene, chronicling the 48th season of the competition, which was marked by star-studded signings and the country’s ambitious vision to elevate the league’s global standing.

Produced by Whisper, the series offers an inside look at five major clubs — Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, and Al-Ettifaq — as they compete for the championship and delves into the highs and lows of the season, capturing the triumphs and challenges that defined their campaigns.

The documentary promises to explore critical questions about the league’s trajectory: Can its substantial investments bring long-term success? How do international stars adapt to the culture, and how do local players respond to the increased competition?

Fans will get a front-row seat to Cristiano Ronaldo’s pursuit of victory with Al-Nassr, Karim Benzema’s journey at Al-Ittihad, and the resilience of Al-Hilal as they navigated Neymar’s injury and its impact.

The series also highlights Steven Gerrard’s efforts to revive Al-Ettifaq and Matthias Jaissle’s leadership at Al-Ahli, who aimed for Asian Champions League qualification after their return from relegation.

Beyond the marquee names, the documentary showcases emerging local talents like Salem Al-Dawsari, Feras Al-Buraikan, Talal Haji, and Abdulrahman Ghareeb, spotlighting their determination to shine amid the arrival of international football legends.


Oman launches its first satellite into space

Oman launches its first satellite into space
Updated 12 min 1 sec ago
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Oman launches its first satellite into space

Oman launches its first satellite into space
  • The OL-1 satellite, equipped with artificial intelligence technologies, was launched into space by the Chinese rocket manufacturer CAS Space

LONDON: Omani space startup Oman Lens launched the country’s first full-fledged satellite, which will enable Muscat to collect data and detailed images for urban planning, forestry monitoring, and disaster management.

The OL-1 satellite, equipped with artificial intelligence technologies, was launched into space by the Chinese rocket manufacturer CAS Space from the Gobi Desert on Monday and was registered under Oman’s name at the International Telecommunication Organization.

OL-1 is the country’s first advanced and locally developed optical satellite for artificial intelligence computing, specializing in remote sensing and earth observation capabilities, the Oman News Agency reported.

It is fully prepared to monitor Oman from space, capture high-resolution images in real time, collect detailed images of Oman’s landscapes, infrastructure and natural resources, and transmit data faster than traditional satellites.

The launch of the OL-1 satellite was the outcome of a strategic partnership between Star Vision, a Chinese aerospace company, and the Omani government-owned Mars Development and Investment Co., to serve public and private sectors in the country as part of Oman Vision 2040, which aims to diversify the economy.

Oman Lens is planning to launch a constellation of satellites over the next five years, develop new technologies for smart cities, and enhance data analysis in cooperation with its partners, ONA reported.

In November 2020, Oman pledged to launch its first satellite into space in 2024, saying that the private sector was to take the initiative to achieve this goal.


Saudi women weave legacy of traditional goat hair tents

In the heart of Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders region, elderly women skillfully craft traditional goat-hair tents. (SPA)
In the heart of Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders region, elderly women skillfully craft traditional goat-hair tents. (SPA)
Updated 35 min 26 sec ago
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Saudi women weave legacy of traditional goat hair tents

In the heart of Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders region, elderly women skillfully craft traditional goat-hair tents. (SPA)
  • Working with traditional tools like the “mitraq” (hammer) and “awtar” (strings), the artisans create tents of varying sizes and colors

RIYADH: In the heart of Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders region, a time-honored tradition continues to thrive as winter approaches.

Here, elderly women skillfully craft traditional goat-hair tents, known locally as “buyut al-sha’ar” — a living symbol of Saudi hospitality.

According to a report by the Saudi Press Agency, the traditional craft relies on goat and sheep hair, provided by the abundant livestock in the region, which includes more than 7 million heads of camels and cattle.

Working with traditional tools like the “mitraq” (hammer) and “awtar” (strings), the artisans create tents of varying sizes and colors.

“Depending on the craftswoman’s experience, a single tent can take anywhere from three days to a week to complete,” Umm Nada told SPA in an interview.

The making of the tent is a practice that carries immense cultural significance. As the women work, they recite traditional verses of poetry.

The finished tents fetch anywhere from SR1,600 ($427) to SR6,000 ($1,600), depending on size and decorative elements.

These traditional tents are experiencing renewed popularity among local families who set them up for excursions and picnics in the natural landscape.

The northern region’s moderate climate has made these tents particularly appealing to outdoor enthusiasts.


Moroccan court sentences journalist to 18 months in jail for defamation

Moroccan court sentences journalist to 18 months in jail for defamation
Updated 33 min 45 sec ago
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Moroccan court sentences journalist to 18 months in jail for defamation

Moroccan court sentences journalist to 18 months in jail for defamation
  • Hamid Mahdaoui was also fined $150,000 for allegedly defaming the justice minister

RABAT: Moroccan journalist Hamid Mahdaoui said he was sentenced on Monday to 18 months in prison on a charge of defamation against justice minister Abdellatif Ouahbi.
Mahdaoui, who is also editor-in-chief of news website Badil.info and an outspoken critic of government policies, was also fined 1.5 million dirhams ($150,000) by the court of first instance in Rabat.
Mahdaoui was sued after he accused Ouahbi of fraud, among other allegations, in a video on his website. Ouahbi has denied the accusations.
“I am innocent … I did not expect this prison sentence,” Mahdaoui told Reuters, adding that he was still undecided whether to appeal against the verdict to a higher court.
“I already presented all my arguments in my defense at court,” he said.
The justice minister was not immediately available for comment after the verdict.
Mahdaoui was sentenced under the penal code, instead of the press code which does not include jail terms, said Khadija Riadi of the Moroccan human rights group AMDH.
Mahdaoui was released in July 2020, after spending three years in jail on the charge of not reporting a crime against state security.


UN warns toxic smog in Pakistan’s Punjab province is endangering children

UN warns toxic smog in Pakistan’s Punjab province is endangering children
Updated 40 min 55 sec ago
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UN warns toxic smog in Pakistan’s Punjab province is endangering children

UN warns toxic smog in Pakistan’s Punjab province is endangering children
  • Toxic smog has shrouded Lahore and 17 other districts in Punjab since last month
  • Health officials say over 40,000 people have been treated for respiratory ailments

ISLAMABAD: The UN children’s agency on Monday warned that the health of 11 million children in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province is in danger because of air pollution that experts say has become a fifth season in recent years.
Toxic smog has shrouded Pakistan’s cultural capital of Lahore and 17 other districts in Punjab since last month. Health officials say more than 40,000 people have been treated for respiratory ailments.
UNICEF’s representative in Pakistan, Abdullah Fadil, in a statement urged the government to make urgent and greater efforts to reduce air pollution for the 11 million affected children under the age of 5 and others.
“Prior to these record-breaking levels of air pollution, about 12 percent of deaths in children under 5 in Pakistan were due to air pollution,” Fadil said. “The impact of this year’s extraordinary smog will take time to assess, but we know that doubling and tripling the amount of pollution in the air will have devastating effects, particularly on children and pregnant women.”
Pakistan has shut schools until Nov. 17 in parts of Punjab as part of measures aimed at protecting children’s health. Authorities on Friday ordered the closure of all parks and museums for 10 days, and they have been urging people to avoid unnecessary travel.
According to the Environmental Protection Department in Punjab, Multan remained the most polluted city on Monday, with air quality index readings of about 800. Anything over 300 is considered hazardous to health.
Though the government has ordered the mandatory wearing of face masks, that has been widely disregarded. The government has also said it was looking into methods to induce artificial rainfall to combat the pollution.