Author: News Desk

Abu Dhabi: Yusuff Ali MA, prominent NRI businessman and Chairman of retail group Lulu has been honoured with Abu Dhabi’s top civilian award. The prestigious Abu Dhabi Award was given to Yusufali for his Outstanding Contribution to Abu Dhabi’s Business, Industry and support to various philanthropical initiatives. His Highness Shaikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces presented the award to Yusuff Ali in Abu Dhabi. “A very proud and emotional moment in my life. I am really overwhelmed and humbled to receive such a great honour from Abu…

LONDON: Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth and a leading figure in the British royal family for almost seven decades, has died aged 99, Buckingham Palace said on Friday. The Duke of Edinburgh, as he was officially known, had been by his wife’s side throughout her 69-year reign, the longest in British history, during which time he earned a reputation for a tough, no-nonsense attitude and a propensity for occasional gaffes. “It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh,” the palace said…

SHARJAH: Sharjah private schools can resume face-to-face classes starting from next week, Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA) announced. Earlier, in February, schools had been directed to shift to 100 per cent distance learning until the end of the second semester. With the spring break coming to an end this week for most international curriculum schools, such schools can, starting April 11, resume face-to-face classes, SPEA confirmed on its social media. They can also follow a hybrid system, combing both online and in-person models. SPEA said: “With the approval of the Sharjah Emergency Crisis & Disaster Management Team and Sharjah Private…

The cryptocurrency market capitalization hit an all-time peak of $2 trillion, according to data and market trackers CoinGecko and Blockfolio, as gains over the last several months attracted demand from both institutional and retail investors. By mid-afternoon, the crypto market cap was at $2.02 trillion. The surge in crypto market cap was led by bitcoin, which hit its own milestone by holding the $1 trillion market cap for one whole week. Bitcoin was last up 1.4% at $59,045. Since hitting a lifetime peak of more than $61,000 in mid-March, bitcoin has since traded in a relatively narrow range. Analysts said…

Novavax Inc said on Monday participants in its ongoing COVID-19 vaccine trials in South Africa and the UK can now receive additional shots, ensuring those who received a placebo can also get the active vaccine. Allowing volunteers to crossover to the active vaccine offers them an incentive to continue in the trials even when other authorized vaccines are available. The company said it planned to cross over participants in its ongoing large, late-stage study in the United States and Mexico, for which the company plans to read out initial clinical data during the second quarter. If authorized for emergency use…

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that could keep him in office in the Kremlin until 2036, the government said on Monday. The legislation allows him to run for two more six-year terms once his current stint ends in 2024. It follows changes to the constitution last year. Those changes were backed in a public vote last summer and could allow Putin, 68, to potentially remain in power until the age of 83. He is currently serving his second consecutive term as president and his fourth in total. The law signed by Putin limits any future president…

BELGRADE: His Majesty the King’s Representative for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa arrived in Serbia on an official visit. HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad was received on his arrival by Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić and other officials. In a statement on his arrival, he praised the warm welcome, hailing strong relations binding the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Republic of Serbia, supported by HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and follow-up by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

MELBOURNE: Australians were celebrating Easter Sunday in a relatively unrestricted manner as the country reported no new locally acquired coronavirus cases. Queensland, the epicentre of a recent, small COVID-19 community outbreak, has had only one infection in the past three days. The state has the tightest restrictions on public gatherings. Elsewhere, Australians flocked to the beaches, capitalising on the warm weather in many parts of the country, or gathered with families, in a stark contrast to last year’s Easter when a nationwide lockdown kept people confined to their homes. While many countries have imposed fresh lockdowns or curtailed services for…

MANAMA: Gulf Air – Bahrain’s national carrier celebrated its new direct service to and from Singapore, operated by the airline’s flagship Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner,  with Flight GF165 landing at Changi Airport at 12:25 local time on Sunday. “We’re happy to land in Singapore and expand our network with direct flights connecting Bahrain and the Far East,” Gulf Air’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Captain Waleed AlAlawi said. “This is a great opportunity for everyone to try our state-of-the-art Dreamliner and explore our latest boutique and premium leisure destination.” The direct flights feature 26 Falcon Gold seats and 256 economy class seats;…