Author: dailyguardian.ae

When walking through one of the transit halls of Dubai Airports, a top GDRFA official noticed a mother playing with her children. Moved by their interaction, General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA) decided to bring something for them and approached the mother to inquire about her situation. She revealed that she was a Syrian returning to refugee camps in Jordan. Upon further conversation, the authorities discovered that she was pregnant and about to give birth. The mother also revealed that she had a sister residing in Abu Dhabi. Keen to…

The Indian navy rescued two Iranian fishing vessels that had been hijacked by Somali pirates in one day, India’s defence ministry said on Tuesday. The INS Sumitra patrol vessel rescued 17 Iranian crew members aboard one boat early on Monday before responding to another distress call to free 19 Pakistani nationals on another, the ministry said in a statement. The rescues came amid a resurgence of Somali piracy in the Indian Ocean since last month following years without a major attack. The pirates appear to be taking advantage of instability around the Red Sea, where the Iranian-backed Houthi militia has…

Actor Nia Long has been roped in to essay a crucial role in late pop singer Michael Jackson’s biopic. As per Variety, Nia will essay the role of Michael Jackson’s mother Katherine Jackson in director Antoine Fuqua’s upcoming biographical drama. On having Nia on board, Fuqua in a statement, said, “Nia has delivered iconic performances throughout her career. I’ve been a fan for a long time because her characters stay with you. I’m excited to now work alongside her as she pours all of that into Katherine Jackson: a woman who was the glue, the rock, and the heart of…

Effective January 1, the Ministry of Interior requires all UAE villas to install the Hassantuk Fire Alarm System. In the UAE, the lack of fire alarm systems in villas has contributed to delays in fire detection, resulting in loss of life and property. The civil defense is often informed about fires manually, only after they have spread extensively and become visible, making it too late to save lives or prevent significant damage. Hassantuk for Homes, provided by Etisalat by e&, offers a unique and comprehensive solution to these challenges by ensuring automated early detection and faster response. Consequently, the UAE…

Pakistan host arch-political foe India this weekend in their first Davis Cup tennis clash on home soil in six decades — one of the few encounters in any sport between the two nations in years. The two sides meet in a Group 1 playoff fixture on the grass courts of the Pakistan Sports Complex in Islamabad, although it has yet to be decided if spectators will be allowed because of security concerns. When India and Pakistan were forged out of violent partition 76 years ago, the split also created one of sport’s greatest rivalries — mostly in cricket, but also…

Pearson opens bookings for new PTE Core English proficiency test for Canadian economic migration visa purposes Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 31st January 2024: Pearson, the world’s leading learning company, today announced that bookings are now open for PTE Core, its newest English language proficiency test. PTE Core received approval from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) last year and can now be taken to provide proof of English language proficiency for the purposes of permanent economic immigration to Canada or Canadian citizenship. The first PTE Core tests can be taken from February 12 onwards. PTE Core is a new addition…

Looking to bounce back from this weekend’s defeat, Barcelona will take on Osasuna Wednesday at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. The loss dropped Xavi’s side to fourth in La Liga, and now they’ll need to be careful against an Osasuna squad that has just one defeat in its last seven league matches. If you’re in the United States, the match kicks off at 1:00 p.m. ET and can be watched live on  ESPN+ (English or Spanish broadcast) or ESPN Deportes (Spanish). Here’s a rundown of the different ways you can watch a live stream of Barcelona vs Osasuna, including some…

Convoys of tractors edged closer to Paris, Lyon and other strategic locations in France on Wednesday, as thousands of protesting farmers appeared to ignore warnings of police intervention if they cross red lines laid down by the government. Farmers’ unions, unimpressed by concessions offered by President Emmanuel Macron’s government, encouraged their members to fight on for improved pay, less red tape and protection from foreign competition. “I’m so proud of you,” Serge Bousquet-Cassagne, head of the farmers’ association in the southwestern Lot-et-Garonne department, told protesters headed for the wholesale Rungis market south of Paris, a key food distribution platform for…

The Middle East’s ambitious transformation plans, and the region’s youthful demographics – more than half of whom are under 30 years age – is attracting Indian investment, at pace. Data from the International Trade Centre (ITC) and HSBC analysis show an estimated $61 billion export opportunity for India to tap the key Menat markets, with top destinations including the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. Patricia Gomes, Regional Head of Commercial Banking, Middle East North Africa and Türkiye (Menat), HSBC Bank Middle East, said: “Buoyed by strong mutual interests, solid economic fundamentals and enduring historical ties, corporates and investors are looking…

Singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor is all set to showcase her singing skills at the upcoming edition of the BAFTA Awards. According to Variety, the British Academy announced that Sophie will perform her hit Murder on the Dancefloor at the ceremony, marking the latest stage in a triumphant comeback for the track, first released in December 2001. The track, which was released almost 20 years ago, found renewed attention on social media. It was recently featured in Emerald Fennell’s BAFTA-nominated film Saltburn. So the latest edition of BAFTA is truly going to usher in a wave of nostalgia among fans. The Saltburn…