Friends in London. Clockwise from top left: Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox and Matthew Perry. Getty Images
Friends in London. Clockwise from top left: Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox and Matthew Perry. Getty Images
Friends in London. Clockwise from top left: Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox and Matthew Perry. Getty Images
Friends in London. Clockwise from top left: Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox and Matthew Perry. Getty Images

Matt LeBlanc and Courteney Cox pay tribute to Friends co-star Matthew Perry


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US actors Matt LeBlanc and Courteney Cox on Tuesday paid tribute to Matthew Perry, their Friends co-star who died last month.

“Matthew, it is with a heavy heart I say goodbye,” LeBlanc wrote in an Instagram post on Tuesday.

LeBlanc played the character Joey Tribbiani, who shared an apartment with Perry's wisecracking Chandler Bing for much of the hit American sit-com's run.

“The times we had together are honestly among the favourite times of my life. It was an honour to share the stage with you and to call you my friend,” LeBlanc wrote.

“I will always smile when I think of you and I’ll never forget you. Never.

“Spread your wings and fly, brother, you’re finally free. Much love. And I guess you’re keeping the 20 bucks you owe me.”

In her own Instagram post, Cox shared a video of the scene that revealed her character's love affair with Chandler Bing.

"To give a little backstory, Chandler and Monica were supposed to have a one night fling in London. But because of the audience’s reaction, it became the beginning of their love story," she wrote.

"In this scene, before we started rolling, he whispered a funny line for me to say. He often did things like that. He was funny and he was kind."

LeBlanc and Cox were the first of the Friends main cast to post individual tributes to Perry since the actor was found dead at his Los Angeles home on October 28.

LeBlanc and the other surviving Friends stars – Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow and David Schwimmer – had previously paid tribute to Perry in a joint statement.

“We were more than just castmates. We are a family,” they wrote.

“There is so much to say, but right now we're going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.

“In time we will say more, as and when we are able.”

The cause of Perry's death is yet to be determined after he underwent a post mortem examination, US media reported.

  • Matthew Perry at the premiere of The Invention of Lying in Los Angeles, 2009. He has died aged 54. AP
    Matthew Perry at the premiere of The Invention of Lying in Los Angeles, 2009. He has died aged 54. AP
  • Johnny Depp and Perry at the Limelight in New York City, circa 1988. Getty Images
    Johnny Depp and Perry at the Limelight in New York City, circa 1988. Getty Images
  • Actress Martha Plimpton and Perry at the Limelight in New York, circa 1988. Getty Images
    Actress Martha Plimpton and Perry at the Limelight in New York, circa 1988. Getty Images
  • From left, Friends cast Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing; Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green; David Schwimmer as Ross Geller; Courteney Cox as Monica Geller; Matt Le Blanc as Joey Tribbiani; and Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay. Photo: NBC
    From left, Friends cast Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing; Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green; David Schwimmer as Ross Geller; Courteney Cox as Monica Geller; Matt Le Blanc as Joey Tribbiani; and Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay. Photo: NBC
  • Cox and Perry's characters were married in the show. Photo: NBC
    Cox and Perry's characters were married in the show. Photo: NBC
  • Rosanna Arquette and Perry in The Whole Nine Yards (2000). Alamy
    Rosanna Arquette and Perry in The Whole Nine Yards (2000). Alamy
  • Bruce Willis and Perry at the premiere of The Whole Nine Yards in Los Angeles. AFP
    Bruce Willis and Perry at the premiere of The Whole Nine Yards in Los Angeles. AFP
  • Perry and studio executive Peter Roth at an NBA game at the Staples Centre, Los Angeles, in 2000. Reuters
    Perry and studio executive Peter Roth at an NBA game at the Staples Centre, Los Angeles, in 2000. Reuters
  • British actress Kelly Reilly and Perry perform on stage at The Comedy Theatre, London, in 2003. Reuters
    British actress Kelly Reilly and Perry perform on stage at The Comedy Theatre, London, in 2003. Reuters
  • Perry and Thomas Lennon in The Odd Couple, which ran from 2015 to 2017. Photo: CBS
    Perry and Thomas Lennon in The Odd Couple, which ran from 2015 to 2017. Photo: CBS
  • Perry with chat show host Jimmy Fallon in 2017. Getty Images
    Perry with chat show host Jimmy Fallon in 2017. Getty Images
Scotland's team:

15-Sean Maitland, 14-Darcy Graham, 13-Nick Grigg, 12-Sam Johnson, 11-Byron McGuigan, 10-Finn Russell, 9-Ali Price, 8-Magnus Bradbury, 7-Hamish Watson, 6-Sam Skinner, 5-Grant Gilchrist, 4-Ben Toolis, 3-Willem Nel, 2-Stuart McInally (captain), 1-Allan Dell

Replacements: 16-Fraser Brown, 17-Gordon Reid, 18-Simon Berghan, 19-Jonny Gray, 20-Josh Strauss, 21-Greig Laidlaw, 22-Adam Hastings, 23-Chris Harris

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French business

France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo

Power: 178hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 280Nm at 1,350-4,200rpm

Transmission: seven-speed dual-clutch auto

Price: from Dh209,000 

On sale: now

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Turkish Ladies

Various artists, Sony Music Turkey 

SERIE A FIXTURES

Friday (UAE kick-off times)

Sassuolo v Bologna (11.45pm)

Saturday

Brescia v Torino (6pm)

Inter Milan v Verona (9pm)

Napoli v Genoa (11.45pm)

Sunday

Cagliari v Verona (3.30pm)

Udinese v SPAL (6pm)

Sampdoria v Atalanta (6pm)

Lazio v Lecce (6pm)

Parma v Roma (9pm)

Juventus v Milan (11.45pm)

 

Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima


Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650

Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder

Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm

Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission

Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km

While you're here

If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).

How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Mica

Director: Ismael Ferroukhi

Stars: Zakaria Inan, Sabrina Ouazani

3 stars

Fixtures

Friday Leganes v Alaves, 10.15pm; Valencia v Las Palmas, 12.15am

Saturday Celta Vigo v Real Sociedad, 8.15pm; Girona v Atletico Madrid, 10.15pm; Sevilla v Espanyol, 12.15am

Sunday Athletic Bilbao v Getafe, 8.15am; Barcelona v Real Betis, 10.15pm; Deportivo v Real Madrid, 12.15am

Monday Levante v Villarreal, 10.15pm; Malaga v Eibar, midnight

PROFILE

Name: Enhance Fitness 

Year started: 2018 

Based: UAE 

Employees: 200 

Amount raised: $3m 

Investors: Global Ventures and angel investors 

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Why seagrass matters
  • Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
  • Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
  • Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
  • Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
The alternatives

• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.

• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.

• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.

2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.

• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases -  but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.

Updated: November 15, 2023, 8:36 AM