Author: dailyguardian.ae
A Russian cosmonaut has just set a new record for the longest time spent in space. Set over five missions, Oleg Kononenko on Sunday has now spent more than 878 days in orbit, or nearly two-and-a-half years. Kononenko, 59, snatched the record from compatriot Gennady Padalka, who retired in 2017 following five trips to space. Currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS) about 250 miles above Earth, Kononenko, whose latest mission started in September last year, is set to return to Earth in seven months’ time, with his record set to extend to 1,110 days in orbit. “I fly into…
Teachers cannot offer private tuitions to students from their own schools, Khaleej Times can reveal. A ‘code of conduct’ that teachers must sign to get a private tuition work permit categorically states that it is “prohibited” for them to “provide services directly to students affiliated with their schools”. Disclosure of any conflict of interest is necessary, the 7-point document states. In December last year, the UAE legalised private tuitions as it announced a new permit to offer lessons outside educational institutions. When the permit was first announced, educators had said they would discourage teachers from coaching their own students privately…
Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca will host the opening match of the 2026 World Cup on June 11, Gianni Infantino, president of world soccer’s governing body Fifa, said on Sunday. Mexico staged the World Cup in 1970 and 1986, with the finals of both editions held at Estadio Azteca. Argentina striker Diego Maradona also scored the famous “Hand of God” goal and the “Goal of the Century” against England at the venue.
Astronomers have discovered a type of exoplanet called a “super-Earth” located in the habitable zone of its small star, and it’s right in our cosmic backyard, just 137 light-years away. The planet, named TOI-715 b, is intriguing to astronomers who are increasingly interested in the possibility of habitable planets orbiting stars quite different from our sun. Although it might seem to make sense to look for potentially habitable planets when looking for Earth-like planets orbiting sun-like stars, those aren’t the only targets that astronomers are interested in. One issue is that most discovered exoplanets are much larger than Earth, partly…
Wearing his favourite jersey number 189, Shimron Hetmyer flayed the Sharjah Warriors bowling attack to score an unbeaten 53, helping Gulf Giants post an impressive total of 187 for 6 in 20 overs. Then it was the turn of Zuhaib Zubair to show his talent as the 20-year-old UAE leg-spinner claimed four wickets to script a thumping 79-run win for the Giants in the ILT20 at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. Hetmyer’s stunning 28-ball knock entertained the Sunday crowd that filled almost every seat at the stadium. The West Indian recorded a partnership of 35 runs with Gerhard Erasmus…
Despite some ups and downs as of late, the Milwaukee Bucks still hold the second spot in the Eastern Conference rankings. The Bucks may be in a bit of transition with new coach Doc Rivers fitting into the system, but with Rivers being a success story in the league as well as the power duo of Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo, they should stay afloat in the top three of the conference. Tonight they go head-to-head with the Utah Jazz, who are sitting in the 10th spot of the seeding right now. They look to rebound after three straight losses…
Liverpool’s usually reliable stalwarts Virgil van Dijk and Alisson suffered the sort of defensive meltdown that would not have looked out of place in a pub match on Sunday but manager Juergen Klopp was not playing the blame game. Van Dijk hesitated under pressure from Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli in the 67th minute, failing to deal with a long punt forward, then keeper Alisson rushed out and made no contact with the ball, leaving Martinelli a tap-in to make it 2-1. It knocked the stuffing out of Klopp’s league leaders and Leandro Trossard’s stoppage time goal confirmed their second league defeat…
If you’re new to climbing, your first introduction to Alex Honnold likely came in 2018’s Free Solo, the Oscar-winning documentary from Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin. Free Solo depicts Honnold’s pursuit to become the first climber to free solo El Captain (El Cap) in Yosemite National Park. Free soloing means no rope, so Honnold scaled a 3,000-foot wall with climbing shoes and chalk. Free Solo is one of the most inspiring and anxiety-inducing documentaries about the human spirit. Honnold’s groundbreaking accomplishment does beg the question of how he can top it. Honnold is unsure how he’ll ever top Free Solo. However, the…
A health centre in Abu Dhabi has been fined Dh1 million by the Department of Health in the emirate (DoH). Some of the doctors at the centre are being investigated on suspicion of fraud. All branches of the health centre have been barred from offering dental services in the future. In addition to this, eight healthcare facilities – four home care facilities, a dental clinic, an occupational medicine centre, a laboratory, and a medical centre – have been closed for committing violations. These include: – failing to report cases of infectious diseases – non-compliance with regulations for electronic reporting -…
Palestinian gunmen kept up attacks against Israeli forces on Sunday in the Gaza Strip’s two main cities, weeks after they were overrun by troops and tanks, in a sign Hamas still maintains some control ahead of any potential truce. Nearly four months into the war triggered by the militant Palestinian group’s deadly assault on Israel, there was persistent fighting in Gaza City in the north of the densely populated enclave, and in Khan Younis in the south. Israel said last week its main focus was now Rafah, on the southern border with Egypt, which has piled pressure on the hundreds…