BTS are on top of the world right now.
For those who are unaware, the seven-member boy band from South Korea have been growing in popularity over the last few years. They recently debuted at No 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with their second English-language single Butter and were also the first K-pop act to be nominated for a Grammy Award back in March.
In addition to topping the music charts and breaking records, they can also add having their own limited-edition McDonald's meal to the resume. The BTS Meal is now available in the UAE and will also soon launch in other GCC countries such as Bahrain, Oman and Qatar.
It costs Dh24 ($6) and consists of 10 chicken nuggets, medium World Famous Fries, medium Coke and sweet chilli and Cajun dipping sauces inspired by popular recipes from McDonald's South Korea.
It's the band's signature order, and they've even launched a merchandise line to complement (see photo gallery above).
As a BTS fan, I obviously had to give it a try, so my partner and I headed to the closest McDonald’s near us, in Al Bahia, Abu Dhabi, opting to use the drive-thru. Whether it was because our trip coincided with the meal launch, or pure coincidence, I don't know, but we found ourselves in a queue with at least seven cars ahead of us.
About 30 minutes later, we finally had our food, which comes in special purple packaging, the group's signature colour. We decided to eat at home, so, as we drove back, I decided it would be a good time to introduce my partner to Spotify’s curated BTS playlist, to really prepare for the occasion.
Was the meal worth it?
Well, if you like McDonald's chicken nuggets, there's no doubt you'll enjoy it, but the real test is the two sauces it comes with.
Overall, I found the sweet chilli variety to be better suited with the nuggets. While its overall sweetness hits you first, the spiciness eventually catches up, giving your meal an extra kick.
The Cajun sauce is a more unique offering, with its creamy hot mustard base and hints of salt and vinegar, but it can be slightly overpowering.
Both are worth trying, however, as they do elevate the meal, which, when it comes down to it, is no different to a regular McDonald's takeaway – it just has a famous name associated with it.
While it may not become your favourite go-to meal (and it's only available until Monday, June 28, anyway), it's still a nice and easy way to honour a group that is very deserving of all this hype.
Challenge Cup result:
1. UAE 3 faults
2. Ireland 9 faults
3. Brazil 11 faults
4. Spain 15 faults
5. Great Britain 17 faults
6. New Zealand 20 faults
7. Italy 26 faults
Sleep Well Beast
The National
4AD
The biog
Favourite book: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Favourite holiday destination: Spain
Favourite film: Bohemian Rhapsody
Favourite place to visit in the UAE: The beach or Satwa
Children: Stepdaughter Tyler 27, daughter Quito 22 and son Dali 19
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
UAE tour of the Netherlands
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures and results:
Monday, UAE won by three wickets
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match
How to become a Boglehead
Bogleheads follow simple investing philosophies to build their wealth and live better lives. Just follow these steps.
• Spend less than you earn and save the rest. You can do this by earning more, or being frugal. Better still, do both.
• Invest early, invest often. It takes time to grow your wealth on the stock market. The sooner you begin, the better.
• Choose the right level of risk. Don't gamble by investing in get-rich-quick schemes or high-risk plays. Don't play it too safe, either, by leaving long-term savings in cash.
• Diversify. Do not keep all your eggs in one basket. Spread your money between different companies, sectors, markets and asset classes such as bonds and property.
• Keep charges low. The biggest drag on investment performance is all the charges you pay to advisers and active fund managers.
• Keep it simple. Complexity is your enemy. You can build a balanced, diversified portfolio with just a handful of ETFs.
• Forget timing the market. Nobody knows where share prices will go next, so don't try to second-guess them.
• Stick with it. Do not sell up in a market crash. Use the opportunity to invest more at the lower price.
RESULT
Valencia 3
Kevin Gameiro 21', 51'
Ferran Torres 67'
Atlanta 4
Josip Llicic 3' (P), 43' (P), 71', 82'
