In the age of Covid-19, video calling is the new going out. Being able to catch up with our friends and family in real-time through our phone and computer screens has become a lifeline for people in self-isolation, with applications like Houseparty and Google Hangouts allowing us to video chat with multiple people at once.
However, Zoom has fast emerged as one of the best apps for video calling thanks to its function that allows you to call up to 100 people (yes, you read that right) at any one time, with free chats able to last up to 40 minutes.
The app is widely used among businesses around the world as a conferencing tool when workers are based remotely. But since social distancing measures have been put in place around the globe, many people have been turning to Zoom socially, too.
If you are looking for some fun ideas for your next Zoom catch up, here are six ways to liven up your calls…
Pub quiz
If you haven’t tried this with your friends on Zoom already, what have you been doing all quarantine? There’s nothing quite like a pub quiz for a few hours of fun and useless facts, and Zoom is a great way to do it alongside friends and family the world over. You can select one person each time to be the quiz master, or, make like me and my friends and each draw up 10 questions to host your own round. Or, if that sounds like too much hard work, sign up to websites like myquiz.org where you can select a quiz to do together in real time. Make it more fun by saving up prizes for when self-isolation is over, you could come out of it with plenty of IOUs.
Virtual dinner party
It might sounds like a strange one, but we can confirm virtual dinner parties are awesome. Choose a meal to eat together, or pick a theme that each household has to build a menu around, and talk each other through your dishes when you sit down to dine. Once the food is ready, the socialising is much the same through the screen as it would be around a normal table, you'll just have to make do with a virtual "cheers" instead of a real one.
Charades
An oldie, but a goody. Charades is a great way to pass the time, and you can play it without any equipment. Just come up with a TV show, film or book, and act out the title to your fellow Zoom-ers without saying anything. It’s a game that stands the test of time, even in this new world of virtual socialising.
Virtual book club
If you and friends have found yourselves reading a lot since spending more time at home, why not launch a virtual book club to share your favourite reads with each other? Whether you just want to discuss new books you have found, or co-ordinate what you are reading in traditional book club style, it’s a great way to spark interesting discussion and connect with like-minded friends, making a usually solitary pastime social.
Themed nights
If you just fancy having a Thursday night catch up at the end of a long week, why not add a little fun by setting a theme for your video call. You might have an old fancy dress lying around from parties gone by, or just like the idea of getting dressed up after a week spent in loungewear. Regardless, getting dressed up for your Zoom date will make you feel like you are heading for a proper night out socialising, and will be a nice break from those same old comfies.
Have a bake off
If baking is your thing, why not set your laptop up in the kitchen and have a bake along with loved ones? You could each take it in turns to choose a cake or dessert, and follow the recipe step-by-step together. Not only will you be able to help each other through with any questions or problems, you’ll be able to enjoy the big reveal as you pull your cake out of the oven at the same time. And the best part? You won’t even have to share.
How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
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.
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
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
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
New schools in Dubai
Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier
Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August
Group A
Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar
Group B
UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
UAE group fixtures
Sunday Feb 23, 9.30am, v Iran
Monday Feb 25, 1pm, v Kuwait
Tuesday Feb 26, 9.30am, v Saudi
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza, Rohan Mustafa, Alishan Sharafu, Ansh Tandon, Vriitya Aravind, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Karthik Meiyappan, Basil Hameed, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Ayaz, Zahoor Khan, Chirag Suri, Sultan Ahmed
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Switching%20sides
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Five ways to get fit like Craig David (we tried for seven but ran out of time)
Start the week as you mean to go on. So get your training on strong on a Monday.
Train hard, but don’t take it all so seriously that it gets to the point where you’re not having fun and enjoying your friends and your family and going out for nice meals and doing that stuff.
Think about what you’re training or eating a certain way for — don’t, for example, get a six-pack to impress somebody else or lose weight to conform to society’s norms. It’s all nonsense.
Get your priorities right.
And last but not least, you should always, always chill on Sundays.
The UAE squad for the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games
The jiu-jitsu men’s team: Faisal Al Ketbi, Zayed Al Kaabi, Yahia Al Hammadi, Taleb Al Kirbi, Obaid Al Nuaimi, Omar Al Fadhli, Zayed Al Mansoori, Saeed Al Mazroui, Ibrahim Al Hosani, Mohammed Al Qubaisi, Salem Al Suwaidi, Khalfan Belhol, Saood Al Hammadi.
Women’s team: Mouza Al Shamsi, Wadeema Al Yafei, Reem Al Hashmi, Mahra Al Hanaei, Bashayer Al Matrooshi, Hessa Thani, Salwa Al Ali.
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