• On Monday Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited a Covid-19 vaccination hub at Stoke Mandeville Stadium in Aylesbury, north-west of London. The following day the UK reported a record 218,000 new coronavirus cases. AFP
    On Monday Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited a Covid-19 vaccination hub at Stoke Mandeville Stadium in Aylesbury, north-west of London. The following day the UK reported a record 218,000 new coronavirus cases. AFP
  • The 'Princess Seaways' ferry sails along the horizon as the sun rises at Tynemouth on Monday morning. PA
    The 'Princess Seaways' ferry sails along the horizon as the sun rises at Tynemouth on Monday morning. PA
  • Tuesday saw the the annual stock take at ZSL London Zoo. A zoo keeper counts Humboldt penguins. PA
    Tuesday saw the the annual stock take at ZSL London Zoo. A zoo keeper counts Humboldt penguins. PA
  • Flooding on Tuesday saw the A1101 road surrounded by water in Welney. Unseasonably warm weather over the festive break was replaced by rain and freezing temperatures. Getty Images
    Flooding on Tuesday saw the A1101 road surrounded by water in Welney. Unseasonably warm weather over the festive break was replaced by rain and freezing temperatures. Getty Images
  • Runners and riders in action on Tuesday afternoon in the Handicap Chase at Hereford Racecourse. PA
    Runners and riders in action on Tuesday afternoon in the Handicap Chase at Hereford Racecourse. PA
  • A new 'Nightingale' hub was set up in the grounds of St Georges Hospital on Wednesday in London. NHS Nightingale Surge Hubs are being set up in eight English hospitals in preparation for a possible increase in patient admissions due to the Omicron variant. Getty Images
    A new 'Nightingale' hub was set up in the grounds of St Georges Hospital on Wednesday in London. NHS Nightingale Surge Hubs are being set up in eight English hospitals in preparation for a possible increase in patient admissions due to the Omicron variant. Getty Images
  • A skier was pictured jumping on the slopes at Allenheads in the Pennines in Northumberland on Wednesday. PA
    A skier was pictured jumping on the slopes at Allenheads in the Pennines in Northumberland on Wednesday. PA
  • On Wednesday the 'Glade of Light' memorial to the victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena terrorist attack was opened to the public in Manchester. Reuters
    On Wednesday the 'Glade of Light' memorial to the victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena terrorist attack was opened to the public in Manchester. Reuters
  • A couple take photographs alongside the National Monument on Calton Hill, Edinburgh, on Wednesday. PA
    A couple take photographs alongside the National Monument on Calton Hill, Edinburgh, on Wednesday. PA
  • Sage Willoughby, Jake Skuse, Milo Ponsford and Rhian Graham celebrate after receiving a not guilty verdict at Bristol Crown Court on Wednesday. The four protesters were found not-guilty of criminal damage after the statue of 17th-century slave trader Edward Colston was pulled down and thrown into Bristol Harbour on June 7, 2020. Getty Images
    Sage Willoughby, Jake Skuse, Milo Ponsford and Rhian Graham celebrate after receiving a not guilty verdict at Bristol Crown Court on Wednesday. The four protesters were found not-guilty of criminal damage after the statue of 17th-century slave trader Edward Colston was pulled down and thrown into Bristol Harbour on June 7, 2020. Getty Images
  • A snow plough and gritting vehicle driving along the snow-lined Buttertubs Pass near Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales on Thursday. After a warm start to the year the UK experienced snowfall across parts of Scotland and the north of England. PA
    A snow plough and gritting vehicle driving along the snow-lined Buttertubs Pass near Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales on Thursday. After a warm start to the year the UK experienced snowfall across parts of Scotland and the north of England. PA
  • An aerial view of St Thomas Becket church during morning frost in Fairfield on Thursday morning, following freezing overnight temperatures. PA
    An aerial view of St Thomas Becket church during morning frost in Fairfield on Thursday morning, following freezing overnight temperatures. PA
  • A jogger runs through a frost-covered landscape in Wanstead Park in north-east London on Thursday, after a night of low temperatures in the capital. AP
    A jogger runs through a frost-covered landscape in Wanstead Park in north-east London on Thursday, after a night of low temperatures in the capital. AP
  • A digital sign displays current waiting times outside Blackpool Victoria Hospital on Thursday. By the New Year, nearly one in 10 NHS staff were off work. with 50,000 at home either sick or self-isolating with Covid-19. Getty Images
    A digital sign displays current waiting times outside Blackpool Victoria Hospital on Thursday. By the New Year, nearly one in 10 NHS staff were off work. with 50,000 at home either sick or self-isolating with Covid-19. Getty Images
  • On Thursday Boris Johnson visited a vaccine centre in Northampton. Mr Johnson said this week that ministers hoped to 'ride out' the latest wave without the need for further restrictions in England. Getty Images
    On Thursday Boris Johnson visited a vaccine centre in Northampton. Mr Johnson said this week that ministers hoped to 'ride out' the latest wave without the need for further restrictions in England. Getty Images
  • A visitor views the 12,000 tennis balls comprising 'Mayfair Tennis Ball Exchange' by artist David Shrigley at the Stephen Friedman Gallery in London on Thursday. Visitors are invited to bring in an old tennis ball to swap with one of the new ones, creating a gradually evolving artwork. PA
    A visitor views the 12,000 tennis balls comprising 'Mayfair Tennis Ball Exchange' by artist David Shrigley at the Stephen Friedman Gallery in London on Thursday. Visitors are invited to bring in an old tennis ball to swap with one of the new ones, creating a gradually evolving artwork. PA
  • Members of the congregation listen during a service of the Nativity of Christ Liturgy at the Serbian Orthodox Church of the Holy Prince Lazar in Birmingham, on Friday. Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar, with Christmas Day falling on January 7. AFP
    Members of the congregation listen during a service of the Nativity of Christ Liturgy at the Serbian Orthodox Church of the Holy Prince Lazar in Birmingham, on Friday. Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar, with Christmas Day falling on January 7. AFP

The UK week in pictures: snowfall, Colston statue verdict, and Omicron surge continues


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This week, after a warm start to the year, the UK experienced snowfalls across parts of Scotland and the north of England, the “Colston Four” were cleared of criminal damage for pulling down a statue of slave trader Edward Colston during a Black Lives Matter protest in Bristol, and the UK Covid-19 case record was broken as the daily total reached 218,000 on Tuesday.

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

LOVE%20AGAIN
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
  • Flexible work arrangements
  • Pension support
  • Mental well-being assistance
  • Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
  • Financial well-being incentives 
Winners

Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)

Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski

Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)

Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea

Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona

Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)

Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)

Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)

Best National Team of the Year: Italy 

Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello

Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)

Player Career Award: Ronaldinho

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While you're here
'Worse than a prison sentence'

Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.

“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.

“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.

“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.

“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.

“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”

Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
  1. Join parent networks
  2. Look beyond school fees
  3. Keep an open mind
Updated: January 07, 2022, 2:00 PM