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ENEC Group CEO becomes first Arab appointed to Chair WANO

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) today announced that its Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Al Hammadi, has been appointed Chairman of the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO)-Atlanta Center in the United States.

This appointment marks the first time an Arab and Asian leader has held this position, reflecting the UAE’s growing global leadership in the civil nuclear energy sector.

WANO advances nuclear safety and reliability through its global network that connects operators and shares best practice across the industry. The WANO-Atlanta Center brings together member utilities that operate more than 100 commercial nuclear units across North America as well as select international operators, creating a strong platform for alignment on performance, peer review and operational experience.

Al Hammadi’s appointment as Chairman reflects international recognition of ENEC’s contributions to global nuclear operating excellence and commitment to the highest international standards of nuclear quality and safety. He has played an active leadership role within WANO for over a decade, joining the Atlanta Center Governing Board in August 2015 and serving as WANO President in 2022-2024.

This announcement comes amid a new level of momentum in the United States’ civil nuclear sector, with recent federal actions and industry partnerships signaling support for accelerating the deployment of new civil nuclear energy plants. It also follows recent partnership agreements between ENEC and U.S. industry leaders to advance global civil nuclear deployment.

Through MoUs with Westinghouse and GE Vernova, among others, ENEC is exploring joint development opportunities including expansion of the fuel supply chain and potential investment in nuclear deployment.

As a member of the WANO-Atlanta Center, ENEC is aligned with U.S civil nuclear operating practices, and with the UAE regulatory environment and requirements originating from US NRC Regulations, ENEC is now poised to mobilize quickly with U.S. partners on joint projects.

Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of ENEC, said, “This appointment highlights our advanced Emirati expertise in the civil nuclear energy sector, which has been achieved thanks to the guidance and continuous support of the UAE Leadership. In this regard, we reaffirm our commitment to continue supporting all members as part of our ongoing efforts to achieve nuclear operational excellence. WANO’s mission – to maximise safety and reliability – has been central to ENEC’s operating philosophy, and we are committed to contributing to WANO-Atlanta Center’s expertise in addition to operating excellence for the global nuclear fleet.”

“Building on ENEC’s proven expertise in delivery and operations, I look forward to continuing our work with U.S. partners to accelerate nuclear deployment to the highest standards of nuclear quality, safety and reliability to boost national energy security at a time of unprecedented power demand.”

As the developer and operator of the four-unit Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the UAE, ENEC has delivered one of the most successful new nuclear programs globally. Barakah generates 40 TWh of clean electricity annually, providing 25 percent of the UAE’s total electricity demand. It is the largest source of electricity in the region – offering clean baseload electricity to power energy-intensive industries, technology companies and communities across the nation.

ENEC is now leveraging this expertise through global partnerships to invest, partner and cooperate with other nations and companies to realise the benefits of civil nuclear energy.

Story by WAM

People

UAE Urges Public to Improve Online Safety

The UAE Cybersecurity Council has urged the public to begin the new year by adopting smarter cybersecurity habits.

In an official post on its social media channels, the council highlighted the importance of following simple guidelines to stay safe online. These include securing home Wi-Fi networks, keeping devices and software up to date, verifying the safety of websites and applications before use, regularly reviewing app permissions, and deleting old or unused accounts.

The council also stressed the need to encrypt emails, use secure digital networks when connecting to public Wi-Fi, and back up important data.

It added that adopting these measures can help individuals better protect themselves and their information as the new year begins.

Story by Gulf News

People

Beyoncé becomes fifth billionaire musician: Forbes

Grammy-winning artist joins husband Jay-Z and artists like Taylor Swift following the success of Cowboy Carter tour

Beyoncé is now a billionaire, according to a report from Forbes – becoming the fifth musician to obtain the status.

The Grammy award-winning artist, 44, has joined the world’s wealthiest people following the success of her Cowboy Carter tour, which grossed more than $400m in ticket sales, and an additional $50m in merchandise sales. Her previous Renaissance world tour brought in about more than $579m.

Her husband, Jay-Z, was the first musician to become a billionaire on Forbes’s list in 2019. Rihanna, Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift have also achieved the elite status.

Though Beyoncé has launched several ventures including a hair care brand, Cécred, a whiskey label called SirDavis and a clothing line called Ivy Park, most of her personal wealth comes from her music – including revenue from her catalogue and from her global tours – according to Forbes.

In 2010, she founded Parkwood Entertainment, a management and production company, bringing control of all her artistic ventures – including music, concerts and documentaries – in house.

Her 2024 album Cowboy Carter was critically acclaimed, winning Beyoncé her first album of the year Grammy. The tour that followed the album’s release was the world’s highest-grossing music tour of 2025. The three-hour production included guest appearances by her husband, children and former Destiny’s Child bandmates.

“Across any category of the entertainment industry, there is practically no enterprise more lucrative than a musician who can sell out stadiums,” Forbes wrote – noting that the concert tour employed 350 crew members, used 100 semi-trucks worth of equipment, and required eight 747 cargo planes to move the show from city from city.

Beyoncé began her career as a member of the pop group Destiny’s Child before launching her solo career in the early 2000s. She holds the record for most-awarded and most-nominated artist in Grammy history. The artist also made an estimated $50m for the 2024 “Beyoncé Bowl” half-time show for the NFL’s Christmas game, and $10m for starring in Levi’s commercials.

The artist – who sang on her track Pure/Honey, “It should cost a billion to look this good / But she make it look easy ‘cause she got it” – has now officially got it.

In 2025, there are more than 3,000 billionaires around the world, according to Forbes.

The Gurdian

People

George Clooney and wife Amal granted French citizenship

The actor said privacy laws protecting children from paparazzi were a key factor in the family’s decision

George Clooney has been granted French citizenship, along with his wife Amal Clooney and their two children, according to an official decree in France’s government gazette.

The publication confirms an ambition Clooney alluded to early in December when he praised French privacy laws that keep his family shielded from paparazzi.

“I love the French culture, your language, even if I’m still bad at it after 400 days of courses,” the actor told RTL radio at the time – in English.

“Here, they don’t take photos of kids. There aren’t any paparazzi hidden at the school gates. That’s number one for us,” he said.

The now-dual US-French citizen has a long attachment to Europe that predates his 2014 marriage to his wife, a British-Lebanese human rights lawyer who speaks fluent French.

Clooney owns an estate in Italy’s Lake Como region, purchased in 2002, and he and his wife also bought a historic manor in England.

Their property in southern France – a former wine estate called the Domaine du Canadel, near the village of Brignoles – was purchased in 2021.

They also own a New York apartment and a property in Kentucky, but reportedly sold homes in Los Angeles and Mexico over the past decade.

The couple are parents to eight-year-old twins.

Clooney told RTL that although the family travels frequently, their home in France “is where we’re happiest”.

Clooney is also a director and producer, and has won two Oscars: one for best supporting actor in 2006’s Syriana and another as a producer on 2012’s Argo.

Clooney is not the only Hollywood figure seeking French citizenship. The US director Jim Jarmusch told France Inter radio on Friday that he also plans to apply for French nationality.

“I would like a place that will allow me to escape from the United States,” he said, adding that he was also drawn to French culture.

Story by the Guardian