• Pope Francis delivers his speech during a meeting with bishops and priests, at the Our Lady of Salvation Church, in Baghdad. AP Photo
    Pope Francis delivers his speech during a meeting with bishops and priests, at the Our Lady of Salvation Church, in Baghdad. AP Photo
  • Our Lady of Salvation Church, a Syriac Catholic Church, was the scene of a deadly Al Qaeda attack that occurred within the church's walls 11 years ago. AFP
    Our Lady of Salvation Church, a Syriac Catholic Church, was the scene of a deadly Al Qaeda attack that occurred within the church's walls 11 years ago. AFP
  • People listen as Pope Francis speaks during a visit to the Our Lady of Salvation Church. Reuters
    People listen as Pope Francis speaks during a visit to the Our Lady of Salvation Church. Reuters
  • Forty-eight were killed, including two priests, in an October 31, 2010 attack claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq, an offshoot of Al Qaeda. AFP
    Forty-eight were killed, including two priests, in an October 31, 2010 attack claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq, an offshoot of Al Qaeda. AFP
  • "We are gathered in this Cathedral of Our Lady of Salvation, hallowed by the blood of our brothers and sisters who here paid the ultimate price for their fidelity to the Lord and his church," said the Pope. AFP
    "We are gathered in this Cathedral of Our Lady of Salvation, hallowed by the blood of our brothers and sisters who here paid the ultimate price for their fidelity to the Lord and his church," said the Pope. AFP
  • Pope Francis was joined by Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans and head of the Chaldean Catholic Church. AP Photo
    Pope Francis was joined by Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans and head of the Chaldean Catholic Church. AP Photo
  • Pope Francis walks through the Our Lady of Salvation Church. Reuters
    Pope Francis walks through the Our Lady of Salvation Church. Reuters
  • Pope Francis receives flowers are he arrives at the Our Lady of Salvation Church. Reuters
    Pope Francis receives flowers are he arrives at the Our Lady of Salvation Church. Reuters
  • A motorcade carrying Pope Francis arrives at Our Lady of Salvation Church. EPA
    A motorcade carrying Pope Francis arrives at Our Lady of Salvation Church. EPA

Pope Francis gifted handmade shawl telling the story of Iraq's Christians


  • English
  • Arabic

Pulling golden thread with her frail fingers, elderly Christian Karjiya Baqtar has embroidered a precious prayer shawl that was gifted to the most cherished visitor to her country – Pope Francis.

The Pope wore the shawl on Friday night as he delivered an address inside Baghdad's Our Lady of Salvation Syro-Catholic church.

The Pope will visit Ms Baqtar's northern home town of Qaraqosh, ravaged in 2014 by the Islamic State jihadist group, on the third day of his history-making trip to Iraq.

Ms Baqtar, a petite woman with veiny hands and wisps of hair gently brushed back from her face, has worked with other Christians in Qaraqosh for two months on the stole vestment.

The two-metre stole is entirely locally produced – from the checkered red and black fabric to the Syriac prayers hand-stitched along its edges in glimmering gold.

Iraqi Christian Karjiya Baqtar embroiders a precious prayer shawl using golden thread, to gift to Pope Francis. AFP
Iraqi Christian Karjiya Baqtar embroiders a precious prayer shawl using golden thread, to gift to Pope Francis. AFP

It was designed by Ammar Yaqo, the priest at the Al-Tahera Church in Qaraqosh.

"Khaya Baqtar wove the fabric, while Karjiya and Miss Adhraa Daaboul embroidered it," Mr Yaqo told AFP proudly.

The "Our Father" and "Hail Mary" prayers are carefully stitched on either side in Syriac, a dialect of the language spoken by Jesus Christ and still used in Qaraqosh.

"This is the first time this kind of stole has been produced in Qaraqosh, and it represents the heritage of this town," said Mr Yaqo.

Also known as Bakhdida and Hamdaniya, Qaraqosh has a long pre-Christian history and is also one of Iraq's oldest Christian towns.

It was largely destroyed in 2014 when the ISIS swept through the surrounding province of Nineveh, but its residents have trickled back since 2017 and slowly worked at rebuilding their home town.

The security situation remains tense, with state-sponsored armed groups deployed in large numbers in nearby plains.

Iraqi priest Ammar Yaqo looks on as Karjiya Baqtar embroiders a precious prayer shawl using golden thread, to gift to Pope Francis during his visit to her Iraqi hometown Qaraqosh, in the Nineveh province. AFP
Iraqi priest Ammar Yaqo looks on as Karjiya Baqtar embroiders a precious prayer shawl using golden thread, to gift to Pope Francis during his visit to her Iraqi hometown Qaraqosh, in the Nineveh province. AFP

The prayer stole features Christian emblems, including grapes used for wine – which for Catholics represents the blood of Jesus – and wheat for bread, or his body.

There are Iraqi emblems, including date fronds, for which the country is well-known, and even symbols of Qaraqosh.

"It features three crosses, which were designed to look like the crosses on top of the Al Tahera Church in the town, which was smashed by IS," Mr Yaqo said.

Christians in Qaraqosh have rehabilitated the church but opted to leave the cross as it is, as a memento of the jihadist onslaught they survived.

"The fabric, the embroidery, everything about this stole is local," Mr Yaqo added.

"It was made specifically for the Pope and will be presented to him during the mass."

It's not the only handmade garment the Pope will be gifted on this trip.

Kurdish Muslim designer Shanaz Jamal has stitched an ornate cross, inlaid with semi-precious turquoise and emerald stones, on to a burgundy fabric.

In 2019, Ms Jamal sewed interfaith symbols on to a white ecclesiastical cloak using 3,000 beads, including the same bright stones.

The 40-year-old artist told AFP at the time that she hoped her artwork would be offered to Pope Francis as a "symbol of peace and harmony in the world".

Just a few months later, President Barham Salih formally invited the pontiff to visit Iraq, saying it could help heal the country's scars after years of "strife."

Trump v Khan

2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US

2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks

2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit

2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”

2022:  Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency

July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”

Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.

Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”

Scores

Oman 109-3 in 18.4 overs (Aqib Ilyas 45 not out, Aamir Kaleem 27) beat UAE 108-9 in 20 overs (Usman 27, Mustafa 24, Fayyaz 3-16, Bilal 3-23)

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Profile of Tarabut Gateway

Founder: Abdulla Almoayed

Based: UAE

Founded: 2017

Number of employees: 35

Sector: FinTech

Raised: $13 million

Backers: Berlin-based venture capital company Target Global, Kingsway, CE Ventures, Entrée Capital, Zamil Investment Group, Global Ventures, Almoayed Technologies and Mad’a Investment.

Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDirect%20Debit%20System%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sept%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20with%20a%20subsidiary%20in%20the%20UK%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elaine%20Jones%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Financial considerations before buying a property

Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.

“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says. 

Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.

Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier. 

The biog

Favourite colour: Brown

Favourite Movie: Resident Evil

Hobbies: Painting, Cooking, Imitating Voices

Favourite food: Pizza

Trivia: Was the voice of three characters in the Emirati animation, Shaabiyat Al Cartoon

RESULT

Aston Villa 1
Samatta (41')
Manchester City 2
Aguero (20')
Rodri (30')

Fight Night

FIGHT NIGHT

Four title fights:

Amir Khan v Billy Dib - WBC International title
Hughie Fury v Samuel Peter - Heavyweight co-main event  
Dave Penalosa v Lerato Dlamini - WBC Silver title
Prince Patel v Michell Banquiz - IBO World title

Six undercard bouts:

Michael Hennessy Jr v Abdul Julaidan Fatah
Amandeep Singh v Shakhobidin Zoirov
Zuhayr Al Qahtani v Farhad Hazratzada
Lolito Sonsona v Isack Junior
Rodrigo Caraballo v Sajid Abid
Ali Kiydin v Hemi Ahio

Difference between fractional ownership and timeshare

Although similar in its appearance, the concept of a fractional title deed is unlike that of a timeshare, which usually involves multiple investors buying “time” in a property whereby the owner has the right to occupation for a specified period of time in any year, as opposed to the actual real estate, said John Peacock, Head of Indirect Tax and Conveyancing, BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates, a law firm.

Infiniti QX80 specs

Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

Power: 450hp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000

Available: Now

Leaderboard

15 under: Paul Casey (ENG)

-14: Robert MacIntyre (SCO)

-13 Brandon Stone (SA)

-10 Laurie Canter (ENG) , Sergio Garcia (ESP)

-9 Kalle Samooja (FIN)

-8 Thomas Detry (BEL), Justin Harding (SA), Justin Rose (ENG)

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dresos%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20September%202020%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Vladimir%20Radojevic%20and%20Aleksandar%20Jankovic%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Fashion%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24285%2C000%3B%20%24500%2C000%20currently%20being%20raised%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Crowdfunding%2C%20family%2C%20friends%20and%20self-funding%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
RESULT

Wolves 1 (Traore 67')

Tottenham 2 (Moura 8', Vertonghen 90 1')

Man of the Match: Adama Traore (Wolves)

SERIE A FIXTURES

Friday Sassuolo v Benevento (Kick-off 11.45pm)

Saturday Crotone v Spezia (6pm), Torino v Udinese (9pm), Lazio v Verona (11.45pm)

Sunday Cagliari v Inter Milan (3.30pm), Atalanta v Fiorentina (6pm), Napoli v Sampdoria (6pm), Bologna v Roma (6pm), Genoa v Juventus (9pm), AC Milan v Parma (11.45pm)

MATCH INFO

Tottenham 4 (Alli 51', Kane 50', 77'. Aurier 73')

Olympiakos 2 (El-Arabi 06', Semedo')

Match info

Deccan Gladiators 87-8

Asif Khan 25, Dwayne Bravo 2-16

Maratha Arabians 89-2

Chadwick Walton 51 not out

Arabians won the final by eight wickets