Latest news with #Batool
Gulf Today
28-05-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Indian national wins $1 million in Dubai Duty Free draw for second time
Pakistani and second time Indian nationals Win US1 Million in Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire Promotion Two others to drive away luxury vehicle A Pakistani and a second-time Indian nationals have been announced as winners of $1 million each in the latest Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire and Finest Surprise draw, held on Wednesday at Concourse B of Dubai International Airport. Kiran Batool, a Pakistani national based in Saudi Arabia became a $1 million winner, in Millennium Millionaire Series 502 with ticket number 2252 which he purchased online on May 5. Batool, who is the 27th Pakistani national to have won the Millennium Millionaire promotion since 1999, is currently uncontactable, but will no doubt be delighted to learn of his newfound fortune. Joining Batool as a fellow US dollar millionaire is Paul Jose Mavely, a 60-year-old Indian national based in Dubai who became the 11th person to win the Millennium Millionaire twice with his winning ticket number 3532 in Millennium Millionaire Series 503, which he purchased online on May 19. A resident of Dubai for 38 years now, Mavely shared the cost of the ticket with his 17 friends, who have been participating in the Dubai Duty Free promotion since 1999, alternating the name on the ticket for each series whenever they purchase. In November 2016, he previously won $1 million in Millennium Millionaire Series 228 with ticket number 0972, when he shared the ticket cost with his nine friends. Mavely is a father of two and works as a site supervisor for a small contracting company. 'I'm very thankful to Dubai Duty Free for this second win in your amazing promotion,' he said. Mavely who hails from Kerala is the 251st Indian national to have won $1 million in the Millennium Millionaire promotion since 1999, with Indian nationals being by far the biggest purchasers of tickets. Wednesday's draw was conducted by Dubai Duty Free Deputy Managing Director, Salah Tahlak, Sinead El Sibai, SVP - Marketing, Michael Schmidt, SVP - Retail, Sharon Beecham, SVP - Purchasing, Mohamad Al Khaja, VP - Retail Support, Thankachan Varghese, Senior Manager- Retail Support, Nasser Al Jasmi, Senior Manager - Exchange Bureau, Salim Dahman, Senior Manager – Marketing, and Khalid Saleh, Senior Manager - Loss Prevention & Corporate Security. Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise draw for a luxury car and motorbike. Following the Millennium Millionaire draw, the Finest Surprise draw was conducted for a luxury car and motorbike. Martin Rettich, a 30-year-old German national based in Bingen, Germany won a BMW 740i M Sport (Black Sapphire Metallic) car with ticket number 0939 in the Finest Surprise Series 1923, which he purchased at Concourse A on May 13. A first-time ticket buyer, Rettich works for a chimney sweeping company in Germany. 'It's overwhelming! I'm very happy and lucky to have won with my first ever ticket to your promotion,' he said. Lastly, Fathollah Mostafa Mokhtar, a 42-year-old Iranian national based in Dubai won a BMW F 900 XR (Light White/ Blue/ Red) motorbike, with ticket number 0043 in the Finest Surprise Series 624 which he purchased online on May 4. Mokhtar, a resident of Dubai for 20 years, has been a regular participant in Dubai Duty Free's promotion for the past 3 years, inspired by his brother's win of a BMW 750Li car in the Finest Surprise Series 1359 back in 2008. Mokhtar is a father of two and works in a car upholstery shop. "Thank you Dubai Duty Free! I can't wait to see m winning bike!" he said.
Express Tribune
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Who is Maham Batool? Meet Ahmed Ali Akbar's bride
Listen to article Maham Batool has now captured the spotlight as the bride of renowned Pakistani actor Ahmed Ali Akbar. The wedding, which kicked off with a grand Qawwali night, has been the talk of the town, creating excitement and speculation among fans and social media users alike. Batool, who made her name as a lawyer, has seamlessly transitioned into the world of content creation and digital influencing. Her unique mix of law and creativity has gained her widespread recognition, but her recent marriage has brought her further into the public eye. In an unexpected turn of events, Batool's journey from law to social media stardom now extends into the entertainment industry. Her marriage to Ahmed Ali Akbar, known for his performances in Pakistani television and film, has left fans curious to know more about their love story, how they met, and what's next for this newlywed couple. Akbar, who has kept his personal life relatively private, has broken the silence with this marriage.
Yahoo
26-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
After years of war, they were finally about to start their American life — until Trump
Batool's 9-year-old sister no longer draws pictures of a united family. That's because her older sisters are in the U.S. while she remains in Afghanistan, hiding with her parents and two brothers. It's been nearly a decade since the family has been together. Batool, who lives in the U.S., and her little sister thousands of miles away are just some of the several thousand people impacted by President Donald Trump's executive order suspending the admission of refugees into the U.S. On Monday, Trump signed the order titled 'Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program,' effectively shutting down refugee resettlement immediately. It's unknown how long the order will be in effect, but it vaguely states the policy will remain until further entry into the United States aligns with the interests of the country. The order also impacts the relatives of American service members. Refugees who were scheduled to travel to the U.S. are from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Egypt, Burma, the Democratic Republic of Congo and other countries. The new policy does not apply to those who hold Special Immigrant Visas. Batool thought things would have been easier for her family. Her father supported the U.S. mission in Afghanistan and a sister joined the U.S. military after graduating from university. They were told the American government would take care of them after the country's withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. The family has been approved for travel with the Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts since 2022. Refugees cleared for travel to the U.S. are some of the most vetted people coming to the country. They endure intensive interviews and provide extensive documentation detailing who they are and their intentions for moving to the country. Still, Batool's parents have hoped every day for three years to get a phone call telling them to head to the airport. Their suitcases are always packed. Now, it's not clear what happens next. The Independent emailed the Department of State for comment but did not hear back before publication. 'We thought that my family would be finally evacuated after three, four years of waiting,' said Batool, in her 30s and living in North Carolina. She asked to use limited identifying details out of concern for her family's safety. 'Hearing news like this makes it even harder and pretty much heartbreaking for a family that has been waiting this long.,' she added. 'We don't have any stable plan for our life,' her father told The Independent in a phone call from Afghanistan. He and his family can seldom leave their home out of fear they'll be discovered by the Taliban and killed. 'We were very disappointed to hear this,' he continued. 'We have a lot of hope that finally we will be evacuated and I could reunite with my daughters, but now I lost all my hope.' His 9-year-old daughter used to pepper him with questions about traveling to the U.S. to see her sisters, but now she no longer does. If they do come to the U.S., he wants to find a good school to further his children's education and find a way to support himself in America. Batool wants them to join her in North Carolina. 'I think this is a great place for them to start their life in the U.S.,' she said. 'Not every refugee is going to be a criminal or dependent on taxpayer money.' If her family tried to move to another country now, the process could take another several years and their passports are due to expire soon. Contacting officials who can provide information about their case has also been a challenge. Most of the time they are not given updates and told to wait. 'Waiting has been the hardest thing my family has been doing in the last few years,' said Batool, explaining how officials do not give refugees advance notice of travel for security concerns. Yaman, a refugee resettlement case worker in Orange County, California, knows exactly what families like Batool's are going through. In 2016, she was awaiting travel to the U.S. after fleeing Syria with her two children. Trump suspended her refugee resettlement program during his last administration, and she was forced to wait four years to immigrate. 'We lost everything and we were not able to find a safe place to stay,' she said. 'It was difficult for us.' Now, it is her brother who is stuck in Egypt with his wife and children. He fled Syria in 2021 and planned to immigrate to the U.S. through the program Welcome Corps. He was awaiting travel information when Trump issued the executive order. His goal was to find a country that would welcome him without restrictions on work or studying, he told The Independent in a phone interview. His sister doesn't want to see him go through what she had to endure. 'I don't need my brother to be stuck at the same point,' said Yaman.
Yahoo
26-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
After years of war, they were finally about to start their American life — until Trump
Batool's 9-year-old sister no longer draws pictures of a united family. That's because her older sisters are in the U.S. while she remains in Afghanistan, hiding with her parents and two brothers. It's been nearly a decade since the family has been together. Batool, who lives in the U.S., and her little sister thousands of miles away are just some of the several thousand people impacted by President Donald Trump's executive order suspending the admission of refugees into the U.S. On Monday, Trump signed the order titled 'Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program,' effectively shutting down refugee resettlement immediately. It's unknown how long the order will be in effect, but it vaguely states the policy will remain until further entry into the United States aligns with the interests of the country. The order also impacts the relatives of American service members. Refugees who were scheduled to travel to the U.S. are from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Egypt, Burma, the Democratic Republic of Congo and other countries. The new policy does not apply to those who hold Special Immigrant Visas. Batool thought things would have been easier for her family. Her father supported the U.S. mission in Afghanistan and a sister joined the U.S. military after graduating from university. They were told the American government would take care of them after the country's withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. The family has been approved for travel with the Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts since 2022. Refugees cleared for travel to the U.S. are some of the most vetted people coming to the country. They endure intensive interviews and provide extensive documentation detailing who they are and their intentions for moving to the country. Still, Batool's parents have hoped every day for three years to get a phone call telling them to head to the airport. Their suitcases are always packed. Now, it's not clear what happens next. The Independent emailed the Department of State for comment but did not hear back before publication. 'We thought that my family would be finally evacuated after three, four years of waiting,' said Batool, in her 30s and living in North Carolina. She asked to use limited identifying details out of concern for her family's safety. 'Hearing news like this makes it even harder and pretty much heartbreaking for a family that has been waiting this long.,' she added. 'We don't have any stable plan for our life,' her father told The Independent in a phone call from Afghanistan. He and his family can seldom leave their home out of fear they'll be discovered by the Taliban and killed. 'We were very disappointed to hear this,' he continued. 'We have a lot of hope that finally we will be evacuated and I could reunite with my daughters, but now I lost all my hope.' His 9-year-old daughter used to pepper him with questions about traveling to the U.S. to see her sisters, but now she no longer does. If they do come to the U.S., he wants to find a good school to further his children's education and find a way to support himself in America. Batool wants them to join her in North Carolina. 'I think this is a great place for them to start their life in the U.S.,' she said. 'Not every refugee is going to be a criminal or dependent on taxpayer money.' If her family tried to move to another country now, the process could take another several years and their passports are due to expire soon. Contacting officials who can provide information about their case has also been a challenge. Most of the time they are not given updates and told to wait. 'Waiting has been the hardest thing my family has been doing in the last few years,' said Batool, explaining how officials do not give refugees advance notice of travel for security concerns. Yaman, a refugee resettlement case worker in Orange County, California, knows exactly what families like Batool's are going through. In 2016, she was awaiting travel to the U.S. after fleeing Syria with her two children. Trump suspended her refugee resettlement program during his last administration, and she was forced to wait four years to immigrate. 'We lost everything and we were not able to find a safe place to stay,' she said. 'It was difficult for us.' Now, it is her brother who is stuck in Egypt with his wife and children. He fled Syria in 2021 and planned to immigrate to the U.S. through the program Welcome Corps. He was awaiting travel information when Trump issued the executive order. His goal was to find a country that would welcome him without restrictions on work or studying, he told The Independent in a phone interview. His sister doesn't want to see him go through what she had to endure. 'I don't need my brother to be stuck at the same point,' said Yaman.
The Independent
26-01-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
After years of war, they were finally about to start their American life — until Trump
Batool's 9-year-old sister no longer draws pictures of a united family. That's because her older sisters are in the U.S. while she remains in Afghanistan, hiding with her parents and two brothers. It's been nearly a decade since the family has been together. Batool, who lives in the U.S., and her little sister thousands of miles away are just some of the several thousand people impacted by President Donald Trump's executive order suspending the admission of refugees into the U.S. On Monday, Trump signed the order titled 'Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program,' effectively shutting down refugee resettlement immediately. It's unknown how long the order will be in effect, but it vaguely states the policy will remain until further entry into the United States aligns with the interests of the country. The order also impacts the relatives of American service members. Refugees who were scheduled to travel to the U.S. are from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Egypt, Burma, the Democratic Republic of Congo and other countries. The new policy does not apply to those who hold Special Immigrant Visas. Batool thought things would have been easier for her family. Her father supported the U.S. mission in Afghanistan and a sister joined the U.S. military after graduating from university. They were told the American government would take care of them after the country's withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. The family has been approved for travel with the Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts since 2022. Refugees cleared for travel to the U.S. are some of the most vetted people coming to the country. They endure intensive interviews and provide extensive documentation detailing who they are and their intentions for moving to the country. Still, Batool's parents have hoped every day for three years to get a phone call telling them to head to the airport. Their suitcases are always packed. Now, it's not clear what happens next. The Independent emailed the Department of State for comment but did not hear back before publication. 'We thought that my family would be finally evacuated after three, four years of waiting,' said Batool, in her 30s and living in North Carolina. She asked to use limited identifying details out of concern for her family's safety. 'Hearing news like this makes it even harder and pretty much heartbreaking for a family that has been waiting this long.,' she added. 'We don't have any stable plan for our life,' her father told The Independent in a phone call from Afghanistan. He and his family can seldom leave their home out of fear they'll be discovered by the Taliban and killed. 'We were very disappointed to hear this,' he continued. 'We have a lot of hope that finally we will be evacuated and I could reunite with my daughters, but now I lost all my hope.' His 9-year-old daughter used to pepper him with questions about traveling to the U.S. to see her sisters, but now she no longer does. If they do come to the U.S., he wants to find a good school to further his children's education and find a way to support himself in America. Batool wants them to join her in North Carolina. 'I think this is a great place for them to start their life in the U.S.,' she said. 'Not every refugee is going to be a criminal or dependent on taxpayer money.' If her family tried to move to another country now, the process could take another several years and their passports are due to expire soon. Contacting officials who can provide information about their case has also been a challenge. Most of the time they are not given updates and told to wait. 'Waiting has been the hardest thing my family has been doing in the last few years,' said Batool, explaining how officials do not give refugees advance notice of travel for security concerns. Yaman, a refugee resettlement case worker in Orange County, California, knows exactly what families like Batool's are going through. In 2016, she was awaiting travel to the U.S. after fleeing Syria with her two children. Trump suspended her refugee resettlement program during his last administration, and she was forced to wait four years to immigrate. 'We lost everything and we were not able to find a safe place to stay,' she said. 'It was difficult for us.' Now, it is her brother who is stuck in Egypt with his wife and children. He fled Syria in 2021 and planned to immigrate to the U.S. through the program Welcome Corps. He was awaiting travel information when Trump issued the executive order. His goal was to find a country that would welcome him without restrictions on work or studying, he told The Independent in a phone interview. His sister doesn't want to see him go through what she had to endure. 'I don't need my brother to be stuck at the same point,' said Yaman.
