While there may be many different ways used to express yourself around the world, few are quite as universal as the humble emoji.
From the basic smiling face to hand gestures and inclusive skin tones, the emoji has been adapted by different cultures and generations the world over.
And with close to 3,400 emojis now in use, the ever-growing list is making cross-cultural communication easier than ever.
Sunday marks World Emoji Day, and to celebrate, Emojipedia has compiled a list along with sample images containing 31 draft emojis for Emoji 15.0, which will be unveiled in September and is reported to be released later this year.
While there’s always the chance the draft emojis could change between now and then, based on the history of past releases it seems most, if not all, will make it through.
High fives, colourful hearts and a shaking face are some of the contenders for new emojis. Others include a wireless emoji, a baby blue and light pink heart, as well as new animals and plants.
Last year, 112 new emojis were added. And Facebook and Instagram have revealed which of last year’s new symbols are the most used across the UAE.
For Facebook comments, the most popular new emojis used over the past 12 months include a yellow face with tears welling up at the bottom of its large eyes, a yellow face with its hands over its eyes and raised eyebrows, and two hands forming a heart shape.
The birth of the emoji
Emojis were first launched in the 1990s, when Shigetaka Kurita, an employee with Japanese mobile network NTT DoCoMo, began working on an idea to lure teenagers to a new mobile internet service.
He created 176 characters, each 12 pixels square, which took inspiration from kanji — the Japanese script originating in China — and manga, the hugely popular comic art.
Mobile phone manufacturers doubted the potential of the resulting array of birds, suns, watches, and broken hearts, but Kurita’s hunch was right. They were a hit.
His original set is now part of The Museum of Modern Art’s collection in New York.
Gran Gala del Calcio 2019 winners
Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
Best Goal: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria vs Napoli)
Best Team: Atalanta
Best XI: Samir Handanovic (Inter); Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Joao Cancelo (Juventus*); Miralem Pjanic (Juventus), Josip Ilicic (Atalanta), Nicolo Barella (Cagliari*); Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta)
Serie B Best Young Player: Sandro Tonali (Brescia)
Best Women’s Goal: Thaisa (Milan vs Juventus)
Best Women’s Player: Manuela Giugliano (Milan)
Best Women’s XI: Laura Giuliani (Milan); Alia Guagni (Fiorentina), Sara Gama (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Elisa Bartoli (Roma); Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus); Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus)
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2014%20PRO%20MAX
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LOVE%20AGAIN
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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The Perfect Couple
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Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
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On sale: Now
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The%20specs
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Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta
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6.30pm Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
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7.05pm Meydan Cup – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (Turf) 2,810m
Winner Dubai Future, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas – Group 3 (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,600m
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8.15pm Firebreak Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
9.50pm Meydan Classic – Conditions (TB) $$50,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Topper Bill, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
9.25pm Dubai Sprint – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Man Of Promise, William Buick, Charlie Appleby