Landmarks around the world go dark for Earth Hour
Berlin (dpa)Iconic landmarks and city skylines around the world went dark on Saturday as millions joined Earth Hour, a global campaign by environmental group WWF calling for urgent action to tackle climate change and halt nature loss. From Asia to Europe, buildings large and small switched off their lights in a symbolic show of solidarity for the planet. The rolling blackout began in New Zealand, where Auckland's Sky Tower and Harbour Bridge, along with Wellington's parliament buildings, were plunged into darkness at 8:30 pm. Monuments and buildings across the country joined in to mark the start of the worldwide event. As Earth Hour moved west, other landmarks followed - including the Sydney Opera House, Singapore's Gardens by the Bay, Bangkok's Wat Arun temple, Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, Rome's Colosseum and the London Eye. "Every light turned off is a step towards a sustainable future," said the governor of the Thai capital, Chadchart Sittipunt.In Berlin, passers-by gathered at the darkened Brandenburg Gate at 8:30 pm, singing songs such as "What a Wonderful World" and "Imagine" to mark the moment. The Earth Hour campaign, which began in Australia in 2007, has grown into a global movement. Entire streets, city skylines, and landmarks now routinely go dark to draw attention to the climate crisis. Supporters are also invited to "give an hour for Earth" by spending 60 minutes doing something positive for the planet - from planting trees to cutting energy use. In 2024, more than 1.5 million hours were pledged worldwide."The stakes have never been higher," said WWF International Director General Kirsten Schuijt. "The past year was the hottest on record - capping off the hottest decade, with the hottest seas ever recorded. We've witnessed historic wildfires, storms, and droughts as well."
"Our world is in peril, and we are rapidly approaching dangerous climate tipping points beyond which key ecosystems may never recover," she said.
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What's On
11-08-2025
- What's On
13 places to eat before (or after) the Limp Bizkit performance at Etihad Arena
Limp Bizkit has been 'rocking the set' for the past three decades, and they will be performing in Abu Dhabi for the first time ever this year on August 12 at the Etihad Arena. If you've already got your tickets booked, you're Ready to Go, but eat at one of these restaurants close to the venue beforehand to keep your energy levels high for the whole performance. Here are 13 places to eat before the Limp Bizkit performance at Etihad Arena Asia Asia Trendy Asiatic decor, a great menu that rolls out all the Asian specialities you came for, and a gorgeous view of the Yas Bay pier are all that you need before you jump, headbang and dance along to Limp Bizkit. Location: Asia Asia, Yas Bay Waterfront, Yas Island Times: Mon to Thurs 5pm to 1am, Fri 12pm to 1am, Sat 2pm to 1am Contact: (02) 235 8663 Barbossa Want to experience vibrant beats before the battle? Barbossa is the place to be. Known for its Mexican and Latin American flavours and a lively atmosphere, this restaurant combines authentic flavours with brilliant beats. PS: there are some cool deals to enjoy here, but make plans to visit another time to enjoy them to avoid missing even a second of the performance. Location: Barbossa, Yas Bay Waterfront, Yas Island Times: Sun to Wed 12pm to 1am, Thurs and Fri 12pm to 3am, Sat 1pm to 3am Contact: (050) 185 8068 @barbossa_auh Bua Thai Café Want to keep it casual, yet flavourful? Bua Thai Café brings a cosy slice of Bangkok to Yas Bay, with comforting Thai classics. Pick from fragrant green curry to punchy papaya salad and creamy Thai iced teas. Location: Bua Thai Café by Desert Lotus, Yas Bay Waterfront, Yas Island Times: Sun to Thurs 12pm to 11pm, Fri and Sat 12pm to 12am Contact: ( 02) 575 3158 @buathaicafe Bushra by Buddha-Bar Want a dash of drama with your meal? Bushra by Buddha-Bar serves it up in a glamorous, lounge-style setting. Tuck into bold Levantine flavours such as shanklish with avocado purée, succulent kebabs, grilled octopus, and more. If you want to check it out after the concert, head on over, as it's open until 2am. Location: Bushra by Buddha-Bar, Yas Bay Waterfront, Yas Island Times: daily 1pm to 2am Contact: (050) 601 1195 @bushra_abudhabi Daikan Izakaya Want your meal to pack a flavourful punch? Daikan Izakaya at Yas Bay is the perfect pit stop. It serves up bold Japanese street food in a cool, industrial-style setting. Think steaming bowls of ramen, crispy gyoza, and signature bao buns. Slurp. Location: Daikan Izakaya, Yas Bay Waterfront, Yas Island Times:Sun to Thurs 12pm to 12am. Fri and Sat 12pm to 1am Contact: (058) 124 1529 @daikanizakaya_ae EL&N London Don't want to miss a second of the Limp Bizkit performance at Etihad Arena? Consider EL&N London. It is probably one of the shiniest restaurants near Etihad Arena, so you can't miss it. It's great if what you're after is a quick bite with a spot of coffee before the music begins. Plus, you're so close you can see the crowds start to thin as they enter the arena, so you don't have to wait in line. And you're sure to walk away with some pretty Instagrammable photos. Location: EL&N Cafe, Yas Bay Waterfront, Yas Island Times: daily 12am to 12pm Contact: (02) 883 9395 Hanar At Hanar, you'll be spoiled for choice with a menu of Mesopotamian flavours. If this is your choice of restaurant for the night, visit before the concert, as Hanar closes its doors by 11pm. Location: Hanar, Yas Bay Waterfront, Yas Island Times: Mon to Fri 5pm to 11pm, Sat 2pm to 11pm and Sun 12pm to 11pm Contact: (02) 675 1641 @hanar_restaurant Hunter & Barrel Yas Bay Love a good steakhouse? Book a table at Australian steakhouse joint Hunter and Barrel, and sink your teeth into a carnivorous feast. Serious comfort food is on the menu here, and it comes in the form of sticky, smoky chicken wings, lightly battered prawns, spicy calamari, and a three-cheese dip with fresh-baked pita bread for dunking. As for the steaks, pick from fillet, rump, striploin, or rib-eye. The sharing steaks start from Dhs590, which is a great option to share with a friend. They even do fire-grilled burgers and vegetarian mains. Location: Hunter & Barrel, The Pier, Yas Bay Waterfront Times: daily 11am to 1am Contact: (02) 886 8299 @hunterandbarreluae McCafferty's Everyone loves McCafferty's, and if you want a bar that won't disappoint, make your way to Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island. You will be able to sip on your favourite hops, grapes and cocktails at unbeatable prices. Pair it with some bar bites to ensure you don't get hungry during the performance. Location: McCafferty's, Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island Times: daily, 9am to 8pm Contact: (058) 598 3623 @mccaffertysyas NURI Grill & Bar NURI Grill & Bar picked up the What's On award for Favourite Fine Dining Asian Restaurant this year. The sleek Korean steakhouse is one of Yas Bay's finest, with an enjoyable restaurant and bar experience. Location: NURI Grill & Bar, Yas Bay Waterfront, Yas Island Times: Sun to Thurs 12pm to 12am, Fri and Sat 12pm to 1am Contact: (054) 211 5151 @nurigrillbar Paradiso is a partnership between celebrated French chef Pierre Gagnaire and Nicole Rubi of La Petite Maison in Cannes. Mediterranean is the cuisine to savour here, so expect dishes like snails and roast poussin to fritto misto, pizza, and assorted pasta. Don't miss your photo op with the cute Vespa out front. Location: Paradiso, Yas Bay Waterfront, Yas Island Times: Sun to Thurs 12pm to 11pm, Fri and Sat 12pm to 1am Contact: ( 050) 437 2869 @paradisoabudhabi The Trilogy by Buddha-Bar has a rooftop lounge offering sweeping views of Yas Bay. It's a neat spot to tuck into a fusion of Mediterranean and Asian flavors. And it's presented in a tapas-style format, so you won't be too stuffed as you jump the night away. There's also an impressive cocktail selection, too. If you want to grab a bite or a drink post the concert, this is a good option, too. Location: Siddharta Lounge by Buddha-Bar, Yas Bay Waterfront, Yas Island Times: Sun to Thurs 5pm to 2am, Fri and Sat 5pm to 3am Contact: (050) 601 1194 @siddhartalounge_abudhabi The Lighthouse Restaurant and Bar This exciting Mediterranean restaurant offers up quaint and relaxing vibes if that's what you're seeking are flatbreads and seafood, standout signature cocktails, and waterfront views. Location: The Lighthouse Restaurant & Bar, Yas Bay Waterfront, Yas Island Times: Sun to Thurs 8am to 12am, Fri and Sat 8am to 1am Contact: (02) 236 7831 @thelighthouse_abudhabi Images: Instagram
The National
25-07-2025
- The National
Hulk Hogan obituary: Larger-than-life character and wrestling giant
Hulk Hogan, the two-time WWE Hall of Fame wrestler who has died aged 71, will be remembered by many as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time before his star faded. The American, who rose to prominence during the mid-1980s and resurrected his career a decade later, became a star after performing in the WWE, then the WWF, and WCW in the 1980s and 1990s with his skyrocketing popularity helping him crossover to television and films before scandal and controversy later marred his legacy. He is often remembered for his trademark blonde handlebar moustache and red bandana during his initial Hulkamania run in the mid-1980s, in which he was portrayed as the good guy (known in the industry as a face) as he came out to the theme song Real American. He later sported a darker black-and-white theme with his days in the villainous faction known as the nWo (New World Order) where he played a bad guy (called a heel) in WCW in the late 1990s. For his involvement in professional wrestling, Hogan was twice inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame — once in 2005 and again in 2020 as a founding member of the nWo. He was also a member of the International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame class of 2021. Born Terry Bollea on August 11, 1953, in Augusta, Georgia, he grew up with an interest in sports by playing baseball as a child. He drew interest from scouts before an injury ended his career. His first foray into wrestling began after he met Jack and Gerald Brisco, both wrestlers, at a gym in Florida. The brothers were impressed with Hogan's physique and asked Hiro Matsuda to train him in 1976. Training with Matsuda for more than a year, Hogan's first wrestling match took place against Brian Blair in the promotion Championship Wrestling from Florida in 1977. However, he took a hiatus afterwards, becoming the manager of the Anchor Club in Cocoa Beach, Florida. After a meeting with Ed Leslie (later known as wrestler Brutus Beefcake), Hogan was inspired to give wrestling another chance — this time convinced to work as a tag team with Leslie called The Boulder Brothers. They joined Continental Wrestling Association in Memphis. During an appearance on a local talk show, Hogan sat beside Lou Ferrigno, star of the television show The Incredible Hulk. Hogan actually looked bigger than Ferrigno, and he soon adopted 'The Hulk' into his wrestling persona, performing as Terry 'The Hulk' Boulder. After competing in various wrestling promotions, wrestler Terry Funk introduced Hogan to the World Wrestling Federation (now known as WWE) owner and promoter Vince McMahon Senior, who was impressed with Hogan. He wrestled his first match in the WWF by defeating Harry Valdez in Championship Wrestling in 1979 and appeared at Madison Square Garden, New York, against Ted DiBiase. He began in-ring feuds with Bob Backlund and Andre the Giant before competing in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he earned the nickname 'Ichiban' (number one). After the WWF took new ownership under McMahon's son, also called Vince, who bought the company in 1982, Hogan returned and became the face of the company. He defeated the Iron Sheikh in 1984 to win his first WWF World Heavyweight Championship at Madison Square Garden, with ringside announcer Gorilla Monsoon proclaiming afterwards: 'Hulkamania is here!' Hogan would build on this as part of his character, referring to fans as 'Hulkamaniacs' during interviews and introducing his three demands: training, saying prayers and eating vitamins. The next year he competed in the main event of the first WrestleMania in 1985, teaming up with Mr T to defeat 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper and 'Mr Wonderful' Paul Orndorff, beginning a trend of where he headlined seven of the next eight WrestleManias. His star power rose throughout the 1980s; he was the most requested celebrity for the Make-A-Wish Foundation children's charity and featured on covers of Sports Illustrated, TV Guide and People magazines. He also had his own Saturday morning cartoon called Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling. In 1993, after a steroid scandal hit professional wrestling, Hogan left the promotion to take time off. He ventured into acting, starring in his own television show, Thunder in Paradise, which was cancelled after one season. He returned to New Japan Pro Wrestling before signing with World Championship Wrestling, also known as WCW, in the mid-1990s. In his debut match against Ric Flair, he won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. At Bash at the Beach in 1996, Hogan turned heel for the first time in his 15-year career as he sided with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash, forming the New World Order and going by "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan. The nWo maintained popularity throughout the late-1990s as the faction grew to include more wrestlers but also helped heat up the Monday night ratings war between WCW and WWF. After the WCW was bought by WWF in 2001, Hogan, Hall and Nash rejoined the WWF in 2002 at No Way Out. The trio soon shared a feud with The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin — leading to an anticipated 'Icon vs Icon' match between The Rock and Hogan at WrestleMania X8. While Hogan was supposed to be the heel, he was heavily cheered on by the crowd of more than 60,000 at the SkyDome in Toronto, Canada. Although he ultimately lost the match, his career resurged as he turned face and returned to his old signature red and yellow tights in the following weeks. Hogan would continue being involved with pro wrestling with stints in the WWE, Impact Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling and Memphis Wrestling throughout the next decade. His last match took place during an Impact Wrestling show in London where he teamed up with Sting and Bully Ray to take on DOC, Devon and Mr Anderson in 2013. Outside the ring, Hogan had legal issues throughout the years. In 1994, he testified in the trial of McMahon Senior admitting to taking anabolic steroids but stating that McMahon had neither sold nor ordered him to take them. In 2012, he sued Gawker after a private tape was released, eventually settling for $31 million. However, one of the biggest backlashes he faced came in 2015 after the National Enquirer and Radar Online released a racist rant recorded on tape. The WWE immediately cut ties with him and Hogan apologised for his remarks. 'This is not who I am. I believe very strongly that every person in the world is important and should not be treated differently based on race, gender, orientation, religious beliefs or otherwise,' he said at the time announcing his departure from the WWE. Hogan later made a televised apology where he pleaded forgiveness for his comments. Afterwards, a number of black wrestlers later expressed their support including wrestlers Booker T, Mark Henry and Big E. In 2018, Hogan returned to the WWE appearing as the host of the inaugural Crown Jewel event in Riyadh. He's appeared in numerous events for the company since including co-hosting WrestleMania 37 in 2021 and appearing at WWE Raw is XXX that celebrated the 30th anniversary of Raw in 2023. Hogan's final WWE appearance came on January 6, during the company's Netflix debut of Monday Night Raw at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. Accompanied by longtime friend and former manager Jimmy Hart, Hogan was met with a chorus of heavy boos from the crowd — a sharp contrast to the adoration he once commanded during his 'Hulkamania' days. The hostile reception reflected growing backlash over his controversial social and political stances, particularly his outspoken support for US President Donald Trump, as well as the lingering shadow of his past racist remarks. Outside of wrestling, Hogan was also involved in television and film. He found success on the reality show Hogan Knows Best, released in 2005 and aired for four seasons. He also has credits in films such as Rocky III (1982), Mr Nanny (1993) and 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain (1998).
The National
24-07-2025
- The National
Evelyn Lau
Hulk Hogan, the two-time WWE Hall of Fame wrestler who has died aged 71, will be remembered by many as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time before his star faded. The American, who rose to prominence during the mid-1980s and resurrected his career a decade later, became a star after performing in the WWE, then the WWF, and WCW in the 1980s and 1990s with his skyrocketing popularity helping him crossover to television and films before scandal and controversy later marred his legacy. He is often remembered for his trademark blonde handlebar moustache and red bandana during his initial Hulkamania run in the mid-1980s, in which he was portrayed as the good guy (known in the industry as a face) as he came out to the theme song Real American. He later sported a darker black-and-white theme with his days in the villainous faction known as the nWo (New World Order) where he played a bad guy (called a heel) in WCW in the late 1990s. For his involvement in professional wrestling, Hogan was twice inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame — once in 2005 and again in 2020 as a founding member of the nWo. He was also a member of the International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame class of 2021. Born Terry Bollea on August 11, 1953, in Augusta, Georgia, he grew up with an interest in sports by playing baseball as a child. He drew interest from scouts before an injury ended his career. His first foray into wrestling began after he met Jack and Gerald Brisco, both wrestlers, at a gym in Florida. The brothers were impressed with Hogan's physique and asked Hiro Matsuda to train him in 1976. Training with Matsuda for more than a year, Hogan's first wrestling match took place against Brian Blair in the promotion Championship Wrestling from Florida in 1977. However, he took a hiatus afterwards, becoming the manager of the Anchor Club in Cocoa Beach, Florida. After a meeting with Ed Leslie (later known as wrestler Brutus Beefcake), Hogan was inspired to give wrestling another chance — this time convinced to work as a tag team with Leslie called The Boulder Brothers. They joined Continental Wrestling Association in Memphis. During an appearance on a local talk show, Hogan sat beside Lou Ferrigno, star of the television show The Incredible Hulk. Hogan actually looked bigger than Ferrigno, and he soon adopted 'The Hulk' into his wrestling persona, performing as Terry 'The Hulk' Boulder. After competing in various wrestling promotions, wrestler Terry Funk introduced Hogan to the World Wrestling Federation (now known as WWE) owner and promoter Vince McMahon Senior, who was impressed with Hogan. He wrestled his first match in the WWF by defeating Harry Valdez in Championship Wrestling in 1979 and appeared at Madison Square Garden, New York, against Ted DiBiase. He began in-ring feuds with Bob Backlund and Andre the Giant before competing in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he earned the nickname 'Ichiban' (number one). After the WWF took new ownership under McMahon's son, also called Vince, who bought the company in 1982, Hogan returned and became the face of the company. He defeated the Iron Sheikh in 1984 to win his first WWF World Heavyweight Championship at Madison Square Garden, with ringside announcer Gorilla Monsoon proclaiming afterwards: 'Hulkamania is here!' Hogan would build on this as part of his character, referring to fans as 'Hulkamaniacs' during interviews and introducing his three demands: training, saying prayers and eating vitamins. The next year he competed in the main event of the first WrestleMania in 1985, teaming up with Mr T to defeat 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper and 'Mr Wonderful' Paul Orndorff, beginning a trend of where he headlined seven of the next eight WrestleManias. His star power rose throughout the 1980s; he was the most requested celebrity for the Make-A-Wish Foundation children's charity and featured on covers of Sports Illustrated, TV Guide and People magazines. He also had his own Saturday morning cartoon called Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling. In 1993, after a steroid scandal hit professional wrestling, Hogan left the promotion to take time off. He ventured into acting, starring in his own television show, Thunder in Paradise, which was cancelled after one season. He returned to New Japan Pro Wrestling before signing with World Championship Wrestling, also known as WCW, in the mid-1990s. In his debut match against Ric Flair, he won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. At Bash at the Beach in 1996, Hogan turned heel for the first time in his 15-year career as he sided with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash, forming the New World Order and going by "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan. The nWo maintained popularity throughout the late-1990s as the faction grew to include more wrestlers but also helped heat up the Monday night ratings war between WCW and WWF. After the WCW was bought by WWF in 2001, Hogan, Hall and Nash rejoined the WWF in 2002 at No Way Out. The trio soon shared a feud with The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin — leading to an anticipated 'Icon vs Icon' match between The Rock and Hogan at WrestleMania X8. While Hogan was supposed to be the heel, he was heavily cheered on by the crowd of more than 60,000 at the SkyDome in Toronto, Canada. Although he ultimately lost the match, his career resurged as he turned face and returned to his old signature red and yellow tights in the following weeks. Hogan would continue being involved with pro wrestling with stints in the WWE, Impact Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling and Memphis Wrestling throughout the next decade. His last match took place during an Impact Wrestling show in London where he teamed up with Sting and Bully Ray to take on DOC, Devon and Mr Anderson in 2013. Outside the ring, Hogan had legal issues throughout the years. In 1994, he testified in the trial of McMahon Senior admitting to taking anabolic steroids but stating that McMahon had neither sold nor ordered him to take them. In 2012, he sued Gawker after a private tape was released, eventually settling for $31 million. However, one of the biggest backlashes he faced came in 2015 after the National Enquirer and Radar Online released a racist rant recorded on tape. The WWE immediately cut ties with him and Hogan apologised for his remarks. 'This is not who I am. I believe very strongly that every person in the world is important and should not be treated differently based on race, gender, orientation, religious beliefs or otherwise,' he said at the time announcing his departure from the WWE. Hogan later made a televised apology where he pleaded forgiveness for his comments. Afterwards, a number of black wrestlers later expressed their support including wrestlers Booker T, Mark Henry and Big E. In 2018, Hogan returned to the WWE appearing as the host of the inaugural Crown Jewel event in Riyadh. He's appeared in numerous events for the company since including co-hosting WrestleMania 37 in 2021 and appearing at WWE Raw is XXX that celebrated the 30th anniversary of Raw in 2023. Hogan's final WWE appearance came on January 6, during the company's Netflix debut of Monday Night Raw at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. Accompanied by longtime friend and former manager Jimmy Hart, Hogan was met with a chorus of heavy boos from the crowd — a sharp contrast to the adoration he once commanded during his 'Hulkamania' days. The hostile reception reflected growing backlash over his controversial social and political stances, particularly his outspoken support for US President Donald Trump, as well as the lingering shadow of his past racist remarks. Outside of wrestling, Hogan was also involved in television and film. He found success on the reality show Hogan Knows Best, released in 2005 and aired for four seasons. He also has credits in films such as Rocky III (1982), Mr Nanny (1993) and 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain (1998). He is survived by his ex-wife Linda Claridge and their children, Brooke and Nick.
