When former US president Donald Trump signed into law Executive Order 13769, it was a crushing stroke of the pen for millions across the world, among them the Jomaa family.
The order, which became known as the Muslim ban, prevented millions of people from largely Muslim countries from entering the US. Overnight, families were separated and refugees' dreams of new lives were denied.
The Jomaa brothers had been through the struggle of fleeing Syria – Mohammed with his 10 children. Then there was the bureaucratic morass of interviews and paperwork at the US embassy. Yet there was further heartbreak to come. Abed made it to the US, and Mohammed was set to follow soon after.
But the so-called Muslim ban put a stop to those plans. They were not the only ones. More than 200 million people were affected by the ban, which initially listed seven countries, including Syria, Iraq and Somalia. It was expanded to 13 countries – including Africa’s most populous, Nigeria. Even Myanmar, where the Rohingya were fleeing ethnic cleansing, was caught up in the ban.
Almost four years later, and the two brothers are daring to imagine they will be reunited soon.
The ban was rescinded on January 25, as one of President Joe Biden’s very first moves in office, and a single presidential signature has returned hope to millions of families like the Jomaas.
As they prepared dinner at their home in Lebanon, Mohammed’s son Ahmad said he dreamt of opening a restaurant in the US.
“I hope the Americans will like our food,” he said.
The ban left Mohammed and his family in limbo, unsure whether they might make it to America.
Even four years on, they are furious at Mr Trump.
“He [Trump] destroyed our life, and put it on hold. We didn’t know when we’d be able to leave," he said.
That anger extends to his daughter Zahida, too.
“We were so happy packing our bags and getting ready. We had plans for our future in the US. Suddenly, the ban was passed. I was in shock,” she said.
“The country of liberty and respect for human rights. We fled our country because of suppression and lack of freedom of expression, to be faced with such a racist decision. It is scary. Trump destroyed our dreams.
“The older kids can’t settle down; education has also been put on hold.”
Engine: 80 kWh four-wheel-drive
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 402bhp
Torque: 760Nm
Price: From Dh280,000
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- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
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- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
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Price: From Dh117,059
SPECS
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
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
