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Lightning strikes Burj Khalifa as heavy rains lash parts of UAE

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Lightning strikes Burj Khalifa as heavy rains lash parts of UAE


Lightning strikes the tip of the Burj Khalifa as storm clouds gather over Dubai during heavy rainfall on December 18, 2025. — Instagram@Fazza

Dubai witnessed a dramatic weather moment on Thursday as lightning struck the tip of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, amid heavy rain hit parts of the UAE.

Crown Prince of Dubai and Minister of Defence of the UAE, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, shared a video capturing the rare sight. The footage shows the Burj Khalifa standing against green, cloud-filled skies as a bolt of lightning hits its peak.

The video was shared hours after the crown prince urged residents to prepare for rainy days ahead. On Wednesday, Sheikh Hamdan posted Instagram Reels showing rain-laden clouds drifting slowly over sand dunes, followed by a weather map illustrating cloud movement over the coming days.

According to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), the UAE entered the peak of the ‘Al Bashayer’ low-pressure system on Thursday, December 18.

Parts of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah also experienced heavy rainfall and hail on Thursday.

“The UAE is affected by an unstable weather situation due to an extension of a surface low-pressure system from the Red Sea. This will result in cloud formations of varying heights, leading to rainfall of different intensities accompanied by lightning, thunder, and a chance of hail over limited areas.”

Authorities have advised residents to stay updated with official weather alerts and take necessary precautions during the unstable conditions.





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Keira Knightley makes bombshell claim about Christmas film ‘Love Actually’

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Keira Knightley makes bombshell claim about Christmas film ‘Love Actually’


Keira Knightley makes bombshell claim about Christmas film ‘Love Actually’

Keira Knightly’s has made a surprising admission about the beloved Christmas classic Love Actually.

The 40-year-old, who played the newlywed Juliet in Richard Curtis’ 2003 romcom, revealed she has watched the film only once and has forgotten her lines.

The Pride and Prejudice star revealed she has what she calls a ‘delete button’ in her head.

“I’ve definitely got a delete button in my head for every single line I’ve ever said in any film I’ve done,” Knightley explained on her recent appearance on The Dish podcast.

She added that even if she had to redo a scene, she’d need to relearn it from scratch.

Her lack of ability to recall her dialogues often leaves her puzzled and confused when fans quote her iconic lines back to her.

She mentioned the Juliet’s ‘I look quite pretty’ moment from the wedding video which has now became a viral TikTok meme.

Pirates of the Caribbean actress admitted she gets a “particular look” from fans when they’re quoting her, but she rarely recognizes the dialogue.

“I get the look, but I have no idea what the line is,” she added. “It’s actually quoting me at me, but I don’t realise that.”





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Australia plans gun buyback after Bondi massacre, as surfers honour victims

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Australia plans gun buyback after Bondi massacre, as surfers honour victims


People observe as the Bondi surfing community pays tribute in the water to honour the victims of the mass shooting at Bondi Beach on Sunday, as the crime scene was reopened in Sydney, Australia, December 19, 2025. — Reuters
  • Community gathers at beach vigil, paddle-out to honour 15 killed.
  • Police detain seven men in separate incident.
  • Shooting appears to have been inspired by Daesh: officials.

SYDNEY: Australia will launch a national gun buyback scheme following the mass shooting in Sydney, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday, as hundreds of surfers and swimmers paddled out at Bondi Beach to honour victims.

The buyback would be similar to gun reforms introduced soon after the massacre in 1996 in Tasmania’s Port Arthur after a lone gunman killed 35 people, which prompted authorities to implement some of the world’s toughest gun laws.

“Australia’s gun laws were last substantially reformed in the wake of the Port Arthur tragedy. The terrible events at Bondi show we need to get more guns off our streets,” Albanese said during a media briefing.

Fifteen people were killed and dozens wounded on Sunday in Bondi after two gunmen opened fire at people celebrating Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights.

A 50-year-old gunman, who was killed at the scene, held a firearm license and had six guns registered, drawing criticisms that Australia’s gun laws needed an overhaul.

An estimated four million firearms are currently in the country, Albanese said. The government would target surplus, newly banned and illegal firearms, with the costs to be shared between the federal and state governments, he said.

Following the Port Arthur massacre, Australia announced a gun buy-back scheme and secured the surrender of about 640,000 prohibited firearms nationwide. The total cost of compensation to owners was about A$304 million ($201 million).

Neighbouring New Zealand announced sweeping gun reforms, including gun buyback schemes, after the Christchurch terror attack in 2019.

Seven men detained

Albanese, under pressure from critics who say his centre-left government has not done enough to curb a surge in antisemitism since the start of the Gaza war, has said the government would also strengthen hate laws.

Members of the Jewish community gather for Shacharit, morning prayers, as the crime scene was reopened following the mass shooting at Bondi Beach on Sunday, in Sydney, Australia, December 19, 2025. — Reuters
Members of the Jewish community gather for Shacharit, morning prayers, as the crime scene was reopened following the mass shooting at Bondi Beach on Sunday, in Sydney, Australia, December 19, 2025. — Reuters

The government said it has consistently denounced antisemitism over the last two years and passed legislation to criminalise hate speech. It expelled the Iranian ambassador after accusing Tehran of directing two antisemitic arson attacks.

Authorities have said Sunday’s shooting appears to have been inspired by Daesh, and police have ramped up patrols and policing in an effort to prevent further violence.

Late on Thursday, police said they had intercepted two cars and detained seven men in Sydney’s southwest after receiving information that “a violent act was possibly being planned.”

New South Wales state Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said the men could be released soon after assessing that the specific threat posed by them was unknown, and officials would continue to monitor them.

Lanyon said police were not prepared to take any risks after suspecting the group was planning to visit Bondi.

There was no “confirmed link” between the detained men and the two Bondi gunmen, but they likely had similar ideologies, he added.

Daesh has called the Bondi mass shooting a “source of pride”, in an article published on the group’s Telegram channel, though it did not explicitly claim responsibility.

Police and additional security have been deployed at Sydney’s Lakemba mosque, one of the largest in Australia, ahead of Friday prayers, Australian media reported.

Australia’s Jewish community gathered at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Friday for prayers, while hundreds of swimmers and surfers formed a huge circle in the waters off the beach to honour victims.

Community leaders described the support as deeply moving amid heightened fears over a surge in antisemitic incidents.

“Over the past two years, there’s been a lot of people who have been questioning whether we’re still welcome here in Australia because we saw people calling for our death on the streets on a weekly basis,” Rabbi Yosef Eichenblatt from Sydney’s Central Synagogue told ABC News, after attending the paddle-out event.

“So it’s been so heart-warming to see the outpouring of love and support. It’s really so therapeutic.”





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Holly Ramsay shares ‘winter wonderland’ snaps as Adam Peaty’s mum turns 60

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Holly Ramsay shares ‘winter wonderland’ snaps as Adam Peaty’s mum turns 60


Caroline previously admitted the last 12 months had been among the most difficult of her life

Holly Ramsay ignored her fiancé’ Adam Peaty’s mum’s 60th birthday on Thursday, and instead enjoyed a lavish trip to Lapland as their family feud continues. 

The couple are excited for their big day as they prepare to exchange vows in Bath just days after Christmas.

However, despite the positive developments in their love lives, their wedding has become the centre of controversy after it was revealed that the pair had banned Adam’s family from celebrations, with his father reportedly not even invited to his stag do.

Caroline was also not invited to her daughter-in-law’s hen-party. 

And while the Peaty family celebrated the milestone birthday back in the UK, Holly slipped into a stylish red ski-suit for a series of snowy Instagram snaps.

She stood in the freezing snow with picturesque views behind her and captioned the post: ‘Winter Wonderland’. 

Taking to Instagram on Thursday, Caroline confirmed her birthday as she shared a number of tributes from family members. What caught fans’ attention was that Adam was notably absent from the birthday messages posted publicly. 

Taking to Instagram on Monday, Caroline admitted the last 12 months had been among the most difficult of her life, but vowed to bounce back in the new year.





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