My mum has been my rock for as long as I can remember. Every core memory I have and every thing I’ve ever been through, she has always been there – guiding me, supporting me and cheering me on.
I was two when I was diagnosed with cancer, and the only vivid memory I have of that time is my mother by my side at the hospital. I was seven when I participated in a talent show, and while my friends still mention my winning performance to this day, my favourite part was my mum helping me choreograph and practise my dance routine. I was 10 when I had to miss the school trip after catching chicken pox, so she turned the house into a play area to console me.
I was 14 when she came raging at my school because my physics teacher unfairly kicked me out of class. I was 17 when I experienced my first "heartbreak" and she ordered in my comfort meal to cheer me up. And I was 20 when I graduated from university with high distinction and highest GPA, so she turned every waking moment of that summer into a celebration for me.
Growing up, I knew the only thing I wanted to be for certain was like my mother
Fatima Al Mahmoud
It’s safe to say my mother has been the embodiment of a "mama bear" for me and my two brothers, and while I didn’t always appreciate it growing up (especially during my insufferable teenage years), I admire her for it. More so on days like Mother's Day.
My mother, Eliana, did a spectacular job at raising us and teaching us right from wrong, but it was in observing my mother and the kind of person she is that taught me everything I need to know and thrive in this world. From her bubbly personality and the way she lights up every room she walks into, to her strength, resilience and composure in the face of hardships, she leaves me in absolute awe.
Growing up, I knew the only thing I wanted to be for certain was like my mother, and I wanted to do everything in my power to make her proud. From spelling bees and science fairs to my career and how I carry myself as a woman today, everything I am and everything I have accomplished, I owe to my mum. She taught me to be loving, caring and selfless, but also assertive, unapologetic and autonomous.
So naturally, when the opportunity presented itself for me to move out and move abroad to start a life of my own, I did not hesitate for a second. I knew I was ready – I am my mother’s daughter after all, and I could take on whatever life threw my way. In May 2021, I packed my bags and left my family home in Beirut to start my job with The National in Abu Dhabi – a city where I knew nothing and no one. It was a bittersweet moment. Bawling my eyes out at Beirut airport as I hugged my mum goodbye, I thought to myself: "This was only temporary. Once I get there, settle in, and build the life I want, it won’t hurt as much." Little did I know.
When I first landed in the UAE and checked into my hotel, my mother was the first person I called. On my first day at the office, I sent her an outfit picture, which has turned into a daily series over the past four years. When I went apartment hunting and found the one bedroom of my dreams, I sent her a video tour. She helped me pick out my furniture and appliances over WhatsApp.
First time I did my own laundry, I called her to celebrate. First meal I cooked in my kitchen, she was on the phone with me guiding me through the recipe. My mum was the first to know when I got my driving licence, and was obviously the first to get a picture of the brand new car I bought. On my first solo trip to London, I was regularly sending her pictures and updates. And from every work event I attend or project I complete, I forward my videos and coverage. This constant communication is how I make sure my mum is a part of the life I built for myself, and a way for me to show her that I will always need her, no matter where I am or what I’m up to.
To those around me and to the world, I am a journalist, a writer, a storyteller, a fitness enthusiast and an athlete. I’m ambitious, driven, passionate, disciplined and goal-oriented. But when I’m in Beirut, back under my family’s roof, all I am is a girl who needs her mother. I am 27 today, and my mum still makes me a zaatar sandwich when I’m hungry at night because it tastes 10 times better.
She plays with my hair till I fall asleep when I’ve had a long day. And she is the first face I want to see when I wake up in the morning. I love spending time with her in the kitchen as she cooks and I chew her ear off. I love taking her out on coffee and breakfast dates. I love it when she helps me choose an outfit, and I need her final approval on how I look before I go out. I still run to the door like a giddy child when she’s away from home for hours, and my absolute favourite thing in the world is seeing the look on her face when I surprise her with an impromptu trip to Beirut.
I’m also not ashamed to say that every time I leave Beirut, I still bawl my eyes out saying goodbye to my mum, and probably always will, because no life is worth living away from her. But I have to do what I have to do to make her proud.
THE DETAILS
Kaala
Dir: Pa. Ranjith
Starring: Rajinikanth, Huma Qureshi, Easwari Rao, Nana Patekar
Rating: 1.5/5
RESULT
Manchester United 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1
Man United: Sanchez (24' ), Herrera (62')
Spurs: Alli (11')
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Heavily-sugared soft drinks slip through the tax net
Some popular drinks with high levels of sugar and caffeine have slipped through the fizz drink tax loophole, as they are not carbonated or classed as an energy drink.
Arizona Iced Tea with lemon is one of those beverages, with one 240 millilitre serving offering up 23 grams of sugar - about six teaspoons.
A 680ml can of Arizona Iced Tea costs just Dh6.
Most sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, five teaspoons of sugar in a 500ml bottle.
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TO%20CATCH%20A%20KILLER
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDamian%20Szifron%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Shailene%20Woodley%2C%20Ben%20Mendelsohn%2C%20Ralph%20Ineson%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
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How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
In 2018, the ICRC received 27,756 trace requests in the Middle East alone. The global total was 45,507.
There are 139,018 global trace requests that have not been resolved yet, 55,672 of these are in the Middle East region.
More than 540,000 individuals approached the ICRC in the Middle East asking to be reunited with missing loved ones in 2018.
The total figure for the entire world was 654,000 in 2018.
Crime%20Wave
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Three tips from La Perle's performers
1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.
2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.
The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Zayed Sustainability Prize
More on Quran memorisation:
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Teachers' pay - what you need to know
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
