News

Oscar-winning actor George Clooney has opened up about his relationship with his wife Amal Clooney.
The couple first met in July 2013 and married the following year in September 2014. However, Clooney has admitted that meeting Amal changed everything for him.

Prior to their relationship, the actor was convinced marriage and kids were not for him.
“I was like, ‘I’m never getting married. I’m not gonna have kids. I’m gonna work, I’ve got great friends, my life is full, I’m doing well,” he told GQ in a recent interview. “And I didn’t know how un-full it was until I met Amal.

“And then everything changed. And I was like, ‘Oh, actually, this has been a huge empty space.’”

It was especially after the pair welcomed their twin children – Ella and Alexander – in 2017 that Clooney felt he was given a greater purpose in life.
“I’d never been in the position where someone else’s life was infinitely more important to me than my own. You know?” he said. “And then tack on two more individuals, who are small and have to be fed.”
The couple now resides in the UK together with their two children. Clooney is still acting and Amal is a top barrister as well as being a human rights activist.
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Feature image: Getty More

If there’s one thing that this New Year marks for many, it’s a reset button after the challenging year that has been 2020.
It’s been announced that the fireworks and laser show at the Burj Khalifa will take place on December 31, starting at 8.30pm, with the New Year countdown beginning at 11.58pm.

In line with safety precautions, thermal cameras will be present, social distancing measures will also be in place for those attending in person and regular disinfection and cleaning will take place. In particular, for families attending, Burj Park will be a dedicated space for them with screens, food and beverage stands and more to see in the New Year.
However, the whole spectacle will also be live-streamed for those staying home.

Of course, surrounding venues with Burj Khalifa views will also be open for punters to view the fireworks.
In a year that’s been difficult, Mohamed Alabbar, founder of Emaar, the owner of the tallest building in the world, explain that this year’s spectacle aims to send a message of “hope, happiness and positivity”.
“We want to send a message of hope, happiness and positivity into the world because that is the spirit of Dubai that we have learned from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who continues to inspire what we do with his extraordinary leadership,” he said.
“Here we reinvent ourselves, achieve the impossible and execute the unimaginable, and we are doing that again with Emaar NYE 2021.”
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Feature image: Visit Dubai Instagram More

It seems like just a minute ago we were confirming the dates for Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr 2020, but as this year draws to a close we’re getting ready to mark the ninth month of the Islamic calendar again in 2021.

A UAE-based expert astronomer has now predicted the dates for Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr 2021, believing the first day of Ramadan will fall in mid-April.
Per Gulf News, Ebrahim Al Jarwan, a member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences and the head of Sharjah Planetarium, predicted the “new crescent moon for Ramadan will form on Monday, April 12, 2021 at 6.31 am”.
“We will be able to see the crescent moon the next day, although with some difficulty, on the evening of April 13, which signifies the start of Ramadan,” he told the news outlet.
Of course, these are just predicted dates right now and we won’t know the official dates until they are determined by UAE authorities closer to the time.
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Feature image: Photo by Mohamad from Pexels More

An American-Jordanian Muslim woman has alleged she was removed from a flight after a male passenger expressed his discomfort at her being on the flight.
Amani Al-Khatahtbeh was meant to be on a flight from Newark, New Jersey to Charlotte, North Carolina on November 14.

The US-based activist, who is the founder of Muslim Girl – a website dedicated to sharing news, culture and history surrounding Muslims – opened up about the ordeal on her Twitter page and her website.
Al-Khatahtbeh explained their first encounter was at the security check in the airport where a white male became impatient and frustrated with her as she had to remove her shoes – a normal requirement during a security check.

I had the craziest experience in TSA this morning.
An entitled white man behind me insisted on cutting me in line because I was “still taking my shoes off.”
When I said he could wait like everyone else, he started going off about how he’s “pre check” and “first class” 1/3
— AMANI (@AMANI2020) November 14, 2020

“An entitled white man behind me insisted on cutting me in line because I was ‘still taking my shoes off,’” she said on Twitter.
“When I said he could wait like everyone else, he started going off about how he’s ‘pre check’ and ‘first class’”.
Once Al-Khatahtbeh boarded the flight and she took her seat, a member of airport security approached her – an encounter which was filmed by the website founder – to explain that she was going to be removed from the flight as there was a passenger who was uncomfortable with her.

This is the @AmericanAir manager coming onboard to tell me that they’re removing me from my flight because “there is a passenger onboard who doesn’t feel comfortable” with me. pic.twitter.com/pwBS5NkvAn
— AMANI (@AMANI2020) November 15, 2020

“This is the American Airlines manager coming onboard to tell me that they’re removing me from my flight because ‘there is a passenger onboard who doesn’t feel comfortable’ with me,” Al-Khatahtbeh tweeted along with the video.
Following this Al-Khatahtbeh was reportedly escorted off the flight by police officers and was briefly taken into custody, but has now been released.
In a statement issued by American Airlines, they stated there was “verbal altercation” which took place between Al-Khatahtbeh and the male passenger.
“Initial witness accounts indicate the conflict began during TSA screening,” the statement said. “Both PreCheck and non-PreCheck screening were consolidated into one open lane.
“Our understanding is that Ms Al-Khatahtbeh believed the other passenger, who is enrolled in PreCheck, was getting favourable treatment because he was allowed to proceed through security while she was removing her shoes.
“This led to a verbal altercation that continued through the terminal and on the plane, where Ms Al-Khatahtbeh confronted the passenger and began filming him before taking her seat.”
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Images: Amani Al-Khatahtbeh Instagram More

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has praised the efforts of medical staff in Dubai for performing a groundbreaking surgery in the region.
The Crown Prince of Dubai visited Latifa Hosptial in Dubai to meet the medical team which completed a rare surgery to correct a spinal defect of an unborn baby.

“I am proud to see this inspiring team bring hope and relief to an Emirati family preparing to welcome their healthy child,” Sheikh Hamdan said in a statement on Twitter.

Today, I met an Emirati medical team who performed the region’s first-ever corrective fetal surgery on the spine of a 25-week-old fetus in the womb. I am proud to see this inspiring team bring hope and relief to an Emirati family preparing to welcome their healthy child. pic.twitter.com/mPIK8RB8H3
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) November 17, 2020

“Our expert Emirati medical talents continue to uplift our confidence in our healthcare services. To all our medical & nursing staff, you are extremely valued… Thank you for your tireless efforts.
“The health and happiness of our society is in your hands.”

Our expert Emirati medical talents continue to uplift our confidence in our healthcare services. To all our medical & nursing staff, you are extremely valued… Thank you for your tireless efforts. The health and happiness of our society is in your hands. pic.twitter.com/EsRsHJqr70
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) November 17, 2020

The surgery was performed on a 25-week-old foetus and its mother after the baby was diagnosed with myelomeningocele, which is a form of Spina bifida.
The six-hour surgery will hopefully help improve the unborn baby’s cognitive function and lower limb function.
This type of surgery is region’s first-ever foetal corrective surgery, according to Sheikh Hamdan.
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Images: Sheikh Hamdan Twitter More

Ahead of UAE National Day and Christmas celebrations, the UAE has urged the public to be cautious amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The busy festive season in the UAE is normally marked with many joyous celebrations, but authorities have highlighted the public needs to be mindful when it comes to gatherings.
“With the UAE National Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve celebrations approaching, we stress the importance of adhering to precautionary and preventive health and safety measures during all activities to tackle COVID-19,” a spokesperson for the UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority said in a media briefing.
Stringent guidelines were outlined for celebrations over the coming month including a ban on exchanging gifts and food and the cancellation of workplace parties.
In addition, concerts can only be permitted if approval is given by authorities.
“Concerts can be held only after receiving approval from authorities and only with the application of all precautionary measures,” the spokesperson said. “Also, workplace celebrations are cancelled and restricted to the hanging of decorations, flags and banners only, while gatherings to watch shows such as fireworks are not permitted.”
It was highlighted that masks should be worn at all times and social distancing measures of two metres must be adhered to.
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Feature Image: Supplied More

The UAE has announced it will be offering free mental health support to COVID-19 frontline workers.
The Frontline Heroes Office, which was launched back in July, announced a free helpline has been launched in order to help frontline workers cope with the mental health pressures faced throughout the pandemic.

The new initiative has been implemented after research found by the authority found that 46 per cent of professionals in the country have felt their mental health has been impacted by the pandemic. Meanwhile, 25 per cent of frontliners claimed they felt burnt out from work.
With a team of 55 trained volunteers, the helpline will be available from 8am to 8pm for frontline workers via the number 800-HOPE (800-4673). Support is available in both Arabic and English and the entire team of 55 volunteers are supported by 12 clinical psychologists.

The Frontline Heroes Office also released a statement on the new mental health support: “This initiative falls under the framework of the efforts of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, in his role as chairman of the Frontline Heroes Office, to support frontline professionals in facing the Coronavirus pandemic on a national level.”
The Chairman of the Board for the Frontline Heroes Office, Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, also made a statement thanking frontline professionals for facing “the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic”.
“Their selfless work has meant that the UAE has been one of the leading countries in tackling the pandemic with sincerity and passion, which is why we must take care of them in appreciation of their dedication and generosity,” he said.
“The current pandemic has highlighted the unique challenges faced by our invaluable frontline professionals, and our hope is that through this helpline, we can help provide impactful mental health support to these brave individuals who are dedicating their lives to protecting us all.”
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Feature Image: WAM More