From the Editors: UAE crosses vaccination milestone

UAE CROSSES VACCINATION MILESTONE: As the UAE’s vaccination programme against the coronavirus progresses at a relentless pace, the country crossed a historic milestone on Saturday as it crossed 12 million vaccine doses being administered to eligible citizens and residents. The total number of doses provided up to Saturday stands at 12,034,349 with a rate of vaccine distribution of 121.68 doses per 100 people. This clearly shows that we are well on the way to reach the numbers that are needed to reach herd immunity and get our lives back to normality. However, we are not there yet, so it is of utmost importance that we keep following the safety protocols. [COMMENT BY:Somshankar Bandyopadhyay, Assistant Editor]

DR CONGO VOLCANO LAVA FLOW STOPS IN SUBURBS OF GOMA: Fortunately, the lava pouring out of Mount Nyiragongo which erupted in the Democratic Republic of Congo today appears to have stopped after reaching the suburbs of the city of Goma and officials have called for calm. Still, it turned the sky red and at least 3,000 people are believed to have fled when the volcano erupted. They have already crossed to Rwanda where they have been accommodated in schools and places of worship. Rwanda's ambassador to the DR Congo Vincent Karega has said the borders are open and people will be welcomed peacefully. Mount Nyiragongo last erupted in 2002 and killed over a hundred people - but hopefully this time there will not be reports of any losses of life, even though there has been severe damage to property. [COMMENT BY: Imran Malik, Assistant Editor]

END OF AN ERA AT MANCHESTER CITY: Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero will be playing his final Premier League game for the club later today. The Argentine striker — the club’s all-time record goalscorer — will don the City shirt for the final time at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, as the Premier League champions will welcome Everton in the Premier League’s season finale. In doing so he will be the last of the 2011-12 Premier League winning side to depart the Etihad, following the likes of Pablo Zabaleta, Edin Dzeko and Vincent Kompany out the exit door after years of glory. Aguero still has one last mission for City before he bows out. After the game against Everton, Aguero could line up to play his final game for City against Chelsea in the Champions League final which will be played on May 29 in Porto. With 10,000 supporters in attendance at the stadium for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, fans will be able to bid an emotional farewell to Aguero, showing their appreciation for a remarkable career in blue. [COMMENT BY: Matthew Smith, Sports Editor]

PRINCE HARRY IS FINALLY SPEAKING HIS TRUTH: The thought-provoking docuseries that Prince Harry and Oprah Winfrey have co-produced has emerged as an ideal platform for the British royal to speak his truth, while giving a platform to others to speak on mental health. ‘The Me You Can’t See’, out now on Apple TV+, has given voice to a young boy who lost his mother in a horrific, very public car crash when he was 12. It has definitely allowed a scared, very helpless husband to speak up about protecting his pregnant wife who was on the verge of suicide. Prince Harry openly speaks about turning to drugs and drinking to dull the pain, while seeking therapy after years of living life as working British royal before he quit with Meghan to protect what’s left of their sanity. Sometimes all it takes is to speak up. [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]