Over the course of their nine-year relationship, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West did, whatever your opinion of them, become one of the most famous couples on the planet.
Kardashian, with her reality television empire and undoubtable star power, and West, with his Grammy-winning rap career and intent for world domination, were a match made in Hollywood heaven. Their combined empires catapulted them to the top of just about every celebrity gossip sheet going.
While they may still be prime tabloid fodder, they managed to earn the respect of the high-end fashion world, too, although West's recent string of controversial outbursts meant that his standing among fashion's elite severely declined, with labels including adidas and Balenciaga cutting ties with the star. Still, in years gone by, West's Yeezy label was launched at Paris Fashion Week. And Kardashian's star continues to soar, as her sell-out shapewear brand Skims is stocked at luxury retailers around the globe and she features on the runways and front pages of brands and magazines the world over.
Add into the mix their four children, and the past decade has been quite the evolution for the couple, who have just settled their divorce.
Here, we take a look back at the rise, and fall, of Kimye.
2003
It was in the early Noughties that Kardashian and West’s paths first crossed. At the time, Kardashian, who was married to record producer Damon Thomas, was working as an assistant to singer Brandy, the sister of RnB star Ray-J, who she went on to date after her split from Thomas the following year.
2008
In one of West's most random ventures (which is really saying something), he got Kardashian on board to star in his hip-hop comedy puppet show, Alligator Boots. While the show never actually was shown, clips of Kardashian's involvement in the project surfaced online years later. She was seen dressed as Princess Leia, while West and his puppet friend Beary White attempted some cheesy chat-up lines.
2009
A year after West and Beary White's failed attempts to woo Kardashian, he released a verse on Keri Hilson's Knock You Down, widely believe to be about the star, that implored her to leave her then-boyfriend, NFL player Reggie Bush.
2010
West made his first appearance on Keeping Up With The Kardashians, attending the opening of Kim and sister Kourtney's NYC Dash Boutique. In a clip from the show, Kim said: "Kanye and I have been good friends for a long time. He's someone that we definitely respect his fashion taste and his style and so we wanted him to come check out the store." At the time, she had just started dating NBA player Kris Humphries, who she famously went on to marry for only 72 days.
2012
The official start of Kimye. After years of trying, West finally bags the girl, and not long after releases his track Cold, which throws some serious shade at Kardashian's ex-husband. Humphries, at the time, played for the Brooklyn Nets, owned by West's friend and collaborator Jay-Z.
He raps on the track: “And I’ll admit, I had fell in love with Kim / Around the same time she had fell in love with him / Well that’s cool, baby girl, do ya thang / Lucky I ain’t had Jay drop him from the team.”
The year of Kimye was rounded off by West dropping the bombshell at a New Year’s Eve concert that the couple were expecting their first child together.
“It’s true! Kanye and I are expecting a baby,” Kardashian later confirmed in a post on her personal blog. “We feel so blessed and lucky and wish that in addition to both of our families, his mom and my dad could be here to celebrate this special time with us.
“Looking forward to great new beginnings in 2013 and to starting a family. Happy New Year!!! Xo.”
2013
In May, the couple attended the Met Gala together, when Kardashian was heavily pregnant. Her first time at the prestigious event, it was a big moment for Kardashian, who had officially taken her first steps into the world of the A-list, beginning to shed the skin of her reality television past.
A month later, on June 15, 2013, the couple welcomed their daughter, whose name, North West, caused a whole new media swarm.
Four months later, in October, West surprised Kardashian with a proposal at an empty AT&T Stadium in San Francisco. However, the entire Kardashian clan were hiding in the shadows waiting to surprise the star and, of course, the whole thing was filmed for KUWTK.
2014
Another big year for Kimye. In April, the pair got the call they had been waiting for – inviting them to appear on the cover of Vogue. Photographed in a bridal gown with her 15-carat engagement ring on show, they were deemed the "#worldsmosttalkedaboutcouple", which, by 2014, was not an overstatement.
A month later, on May 24, 2014, the pair tied the knot in Florence, Italy, in a wedding attended by 200 people and, of course, watched by millions more through the all-seeing eyes of the KUWTK cameras.
2015
In late 2015, following another difficult pregnancy for Kardashian, the couple welcomed their son, Saint West, born on December 5. The pair had spent the previous year dealing with fertility issues.
2016
A tumultuous year for the couple. West had some serious beef with Taylor Swift, who accused him of disrespecting her on his track Famous. Swift was unhappy with how her image had been used in the song's music video, however, Kardashian quickly leapt to her husband's defence, posting recordings of Swift supposedly giving West her permission to use the content.
Later that year, in October, Kardashian flew to the French capital for Paris Fashion Week, where she was held at gunpoint as her hotel room was raided by masked thieves. They escaped with $6.7 million worth of jewellery, including her prized engagement ring, leaving the star traumatised. West was performing in the US when he learnt of the robbery, cutting the show short to jump on a private jet to be at his wife's side.
In November, West was admitted to hospital after suffering from mental health issues and exhaustion.
2018
After the trauma of 2016, the couple remained quiet for 2017, reemerging in early 2018 to announce that they had welcomed their third child, Chicago West, via a surrogate, on January 15. Kardashian had been diagnosed with placenta accrete the previous year, making it difficult to conceive and carry another baby naturally.
Later that year, West confirmed he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and caused yet more media controversy after he made public comments deeming slavery as a choice. In an interview with TMZ, he said: "When you hear about slavery for 400 years ... for 400 years? That sounds like a choice."
It was in 2018 that he also publicly stated his support for President Donald Trump, appearing alongside him in the White House wearing a "Make America Great Again" cap.
2019
The couple announced they were expecting their fourth child via a surrogate in January 2019, with Psalm West arriving on May 9.
Shortly after his birth, the pair renewed their marriage vows.
2020
On American Independence Day, July 4, West announced his intention to officially run for president in the upcoming US election. Following the initial announcement, Kardashian showed her support for her husband, retweeting his post alongside a US flag emoji.
However, West’s mental health appeared to deteriorate as the year went on, leading to a series of erratic tweets from the star, in which he revealed a number of personal details about his wife and their family. He also claimed he was trying to divorce the star.
Kardashian later released a statement calling for "compassion and empathy" for her husband and his mental health.
"As many of you know, Kanye has bipolar disorder," she wrote, calling him a "brilliant but complicated person."
"Those who are close with Kanye know his heart and understand his words sometimes do not align with his intentions," Kardashian added.
Throughout the rest of 2020, the couple spent time together at the family's ranch in Wyoming, and holidayed together, including Kardashian's controversial private island 40th birthday trip.
2021
Kardashian filed for divorce from West, after reportedly hiring celebrity divorce lawyer Laura Wasser. Reports suggest the couple had a prenuptial agreement, and that discussions on a property settlement are well advanced.
In the months following their split, the pair remained friendly as they navigated their co-parenting relationship. On October 21, Kardashian hosted Saturday Night Live, which she described as a momentous time in her career, and joked that she was divorcing West "for his personality". It was there she met comedian Pete Davidson, who she started dating shortly afterwards.
However, West made several public attempts to win his estranged wife back, including asking her to "run right back to him" during a December 9 concert in Los Angeles, for which Kardashian was in the audience with children North and Saint.
The following day, on December 10, Kardashian filed to be declared legally single.
2022
Things appeared to turn sour between the former couple at the start of the year. On March 1, Kardashian was declared officially single, despite an attempt from West's lawyers to contest the ruling.
West also made several public statements and social media posts concerning Kardashian's new boyfriend, culminating in the release of a disturbing music video on March 4, in which an animated version of West appears to kidnap and bury an animated version of Davidson alive. Kardashian was reported to be extremely upset and disturbed by the video.
However, the following month, Kardashian said during an ABC televised interview with Robin Roberts that she and West would "always be family".
"You have to just be there for them," she said. "No matter what, even in this crazy life that we live, you just have to have a really open dialogue with your children. Kanye and I have had conversations. We have to talk daily for the kids so you know, I hate that it had to play out like that. But when it comes to family, I mean, Kanye and I will always be family.
"At the end of the day, I just want my kids to be happy and healthy, and think the world of their dad," she said. "And they do."
In an episode of the star's Hulu reality show The Kardashians which was shown in June, she told her sister Khloe she had tried "everything humanly possible" to make her marriage work.
"If people knew what my relationship really was like, I think they would be like, 'How did this last this long?' " she said. "But I can live with myself knowing that I tried everything humanly possible to make a situation work and so I can walk away feeling absolutely guilt-free."
In September, West caused yet more controversy when he debuted a "White Lives Matter" slogan t-shirt at his Paris Fashion Week showcase, which attracted universal criticism. He also made anti-Semitic comments on social media, causing several brands including adidas and Balenciaga to cut ties with the star, causing him to lose his billionaire status overnight.
On November 29, the couple reached a settlement in their divorce, averting a trial that had been set for the next month.
The duo and their lawyers filed documents asking for a judge's approval of terms they have agreed on, including $200,000-per-month child support payments from Ye to Kardashian.
The two will have joint custody, and neither will pay the other spousal support, according to the documents filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. They will equally split the expenses for the children's private security and private school, including college, according to the settlement proposal.
Results
5.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m
Winner Spirit Of Light, Clement Lecoeuvre (jockey), Erwan Charpy (trainer)
6.05pm Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner Bright Start, Pat Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor
6.40pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 2,000m
Winner Twelfthofneverland, Nathan Crosse, Satish Seemar
7.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Imperial Empire, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
7.50pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (T) 2,000m
Winner Record Man, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
8.25pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 1,600m
Winner Celtic Prince, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly
Results
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStage%207%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E1.%20Adam%20Yates%20(GBR)%20UAE%20Team%20Emirates%20%E2%80%93%203hrs%2029min%2042ses%3Cbr%3E2.%20Remco%20Evenepoel%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%20%E2%80%93%2010sec%3Cbr%3E3.%20Geoffrey%20Bouchard%20(FRA)%20AG2R%20Citroen%20Team%20%E2%80%93%2042sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EGeneral%20Classification%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E1.%20Remco%20Evenepoel%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%3Cbr%3E2.%20Lucas%20Plapp%20(AUS)%20Ineos%20Grenaders%20%E2%80%93%2059se%3Cbr%3E3.%20Adam%20Yates%20(GBR)%20UAE%20Team%20Emirates%20%E2%80%9360sec%3Cbr%3ERed%20Jersey%20(General%20Classification)%3A%20Remco%20Evenepoel%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%3Cbr%3EGreen%20Jersey%20(Points%20Classification)%3A%20Tim%20Merlier%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%3Cbr%3EWhite%20Jersey%20(Young%20Rider%20Classification)%3A%20Remco%20Evenepoel%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%3Cbr%3EBlack%20Jersey%20(Intermediate%20Sprint%20Classification)%3A%20Edward%20Planckaert%20(FRA)%20Alpecin-Deceuninck%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
COMPANY%20PROFILE%3A
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Envision%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKarthik%20Mahadevan%20and%20Karthik%20Kannan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20The%20Netherlands%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Technology%2FAssistive%20Technology%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%241.5%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2020%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204impact%2C%20ABN%20Amro%2C%20Impact%20Ventures%20and%20group%20of%20angels%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
TERMINAL HIGH ALTITUDE AREA DEFENCE (THAAD)
What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US's most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was created in 2008.
Speed:
THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
Abilities:
THAAD is designed to take out ballistic missiles as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".
Purpose:
To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.
Range:
THAAD can target projectiles inside and outside the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 150 kilometres above the Earth's surface.
Creators:
Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.
UAE and THAAD:
In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then stationed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
The specs
Common to all models unless otherwise stated
Engine: 4-cylinder 2-litre T-GDi
0-100kph: 5.3 seconds (Elantra); 5.5 seconds (Kona); 6.1 seconds (Veloster)
Power: 276hp
Torque: 392Nm
Transmission: 6-Speed Manual/ 8-Speed Dual Clutch FWD
Price: TBC
Children who witnessed blood bath want to help others
Aged just 11, Khulood Al Najjar’s daughter, Nora, bravely attempted to fight off Philip Spence. Her finger was injured when she put her hand in between the claw hammer and her mother’s head.
As a vital witness, she was forced to relive the ordeal by police who needed to identify the attacker and ensure he was found guilty.
Now aged 16, Nora has decided she wants to dedicate her career to helping other victims of crime.
“It was very horrible for her. She saw her mum, dying, just next to her eyes. But now she just wants to go forward,” said Khulood, speaking about how her eldest daughter was dealing with the trauma of the incident five years ago. “She is saying, 'mama, I want to be a lawyer, I want to help people achieve justice'.”
Khulood’s youngest daughter, Fatima, was seven at the time of the attack and attempted to help paramedics responding to the incident.
“Now she wants to be a maxillofacial doctor,” Khulood said. “She said to me ‘it is because a maxillofacial doctor returned your face, mama’. Now she wants to help people see themselves in the mirror again.”
Khulood’s son, Saeed, was nine in 2014 and slept through the attack. While he did not witness the trauma, this made it more difficult for him to understand what had happened. He has ambitions to become an engineer.
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
What is dialysis?
Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.
It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.
There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.
In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.
In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.
It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.
THE%20SPECS
%3Cp%3EBattery%3A%2060kW%20lithium-ion%20phosphate%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20Up%20to%20201bhp%3Cbr%3E0%20to%20100kph%3A%207.3%20seconds%3Cbr%3ERange%3A%20418km%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh149%2C900%3Cbr%3EAvailable%3A%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
11 cabbie-recommended restaurants and dishes to try in Abu Dhabi
Iqbal Restaurant behind Wendy’s on Hamdan Street for the chicken karahi (Dh14)
Pathemari in Navy Gate for prawn biryani (from Dh12 to Dh35)
Abu Al Nasar near Abu Dhabi Mall, for biryani (from Dh12 to Dh20)
Bonna Annee at Navy Gate for Ethiopian food (the Bonna Annee special costs Dh42 and comes with a mix of six house stews – key wet, minchet abesh, kekel, meser be sega, tibs fir fir and shiro).
Al Habasha in Tanker Mai for Ethiopian food (tibs, a hearty stew with meat, is a popular dish; here it costs Dh36.75 for lamb and beef versions)
Himalayan Restaurant in Mussaffa for Nepalese (the momos and chowmein noodles are best-selling items, and go for between Dh14 and Dh20)
Makalu in Mussaffa for Nepalese (get the chicken curry or chicken fry for Dh11)
Al Shaheen Cafeteria near Guardian Towers for a quick morning bite, especially the egg sandwich in paratha (Dh3.50)
Pinky Food Restaurant in Tanker Mai for tilapia
Tasty Zone for Nepalese-style noodles (Dh15)
Ibrahimi for Pakistani food (a quarter chicken tikka with roti costs Dh16)
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%3Cp%3E-%20Congress%20is%20one%20of%20three%20branches%20of%20the%20US%20government%2C%20and%20the%20one%20that%20creates%20the%20nation's%20federal%20laws%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20Congress%20is%20divided%20into%20two%20chambers%3A%20The%20House%20of%20Representatives%20and%20the%20Senate%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%C2%A0The%20House%20is%20made%20up%20of%20435%20members%20based%20on%20a%20state's%20population.%20House%20members%20are%20up%20for%20election%20every%20two%20years%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20A%20bill%20must%20be%20approved%20by%20both%20the%20House%20and%20Senate%20before%20it%20goes%20to%20the%20president's%20desk%20for%20signature%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20A%20political%20party%20needs%20218%20seats%20to%20be%20in%20control%20of%20the%20House%20of%20Representatives%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20The%20Senate%20is%20comprised%20of%20100%20members%2C%20with%20each%20state%20receiving%20two%20senators.%20Senate%20members%20serve%20six-year%20terms%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20A%20political%20party%20needs%2051%20seats%20to%20control%20the%20Senate.%20In%20the%20case%20of%20a%2050-50%20tie%2C%20the%20party%20of%20the%20president%20controls%20the%20Senate%3C%2Fp%3E%0A