Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation, is briefly interrupted by her son while giving a statement during the Yemen pledging conference. Courtesy: Al Arabiya
Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation, is briefly interrupted by her son while giving a statement during the Yemen pledging conference. Courtesy: Al Arabiya
Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation, is briefly interrupted by her son while giving a statement during the Yemen pledging conference. Courtesy: Al Arabiya
Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation, is briefly interrupted by her son while giving a statement during the Yemen pledging conference. Courtesy: Al Arabiya

'Zoombombing': Four of our favourite unexpected video-call cameos


Evelyn Lau
  • English
  • Arabic

While video conferencing has become part of the "new normal" these days, we all know that sometimes live videos can lead to unexpected moments.

Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation, was the latest to discover this, as she was reading the UAE's mission statement during a remote pledging conference.

She was interrupted by her young son Hazza who walked into the shot and leaned on her shoulder as she was reading. The unexpected appearance drew laughs from co-host Mark Lowcock, UN undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs. Slightly red-faced, she continued, gently keeping her arm out to stop her son from walking back into frame.

However, this isn't the first and it probably won't be the last instance  of a photobomb happening during a live video stream. Here are a few other famous ones.

The gold standard of video call cameos 

Back in 2017, political analyst Robert Kelly made headlines around the world as he was interrupted during a live interview with the BBC. The fun begins as Kelly's daughter happily strolls in with a strut, followed by his young son and then his wife as she frantically races through the door to get them out – all in under 45 seconds.

The time a cat interrupted for a cuddle

In a light-hearted moment amid a slightly serious topic, trade policy leader Sally Jones is having a meeting with lordships when her cat breaks into the room by opening the door. Before answering the question, she explains how it's better to let the cat sit on her lap and be petted, which draws laughs from other members. Lord Cavendish of Furness responds with "welcome cat."

The dog who also wants to be petted

A dog really is a man's best friend, as Fox 13 meteorologist Paul Dellegatto learnt during a broadcast from home. As he was reporting on the weather, his dog Brody decided he wanted to join in as well. Although the best part of the clip has to be the fact that Dellagatto has a picture of the very same dog who interrupted the broadcast in the background.

The husband who has way too many costumes

Who knew someone could have so many costumes just laying  around at home? A woman named Cara Fields has shared a series of screenshots onto her LinkedIn feed that she's taken of her husband dressed up in various creative outfits, sitting behind her while they work. Some impressive outfits include Waldo, a cowboy and a Power Ranger mask.

Cara Fields shares a photo of when her husband photobombs her Zoom calls. Courtesy Cara Fields
Cara Fields shares a photo of when her husband photobombs her Zoom calls. Courtesy Cara Fields
Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021

Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.

Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.

Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.

Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.

Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.

Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.

Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”

Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI. 

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