Vials of the AstraZeneca (L) and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines are pictured at the pharmacy of the Sant'Andrea hospital in Vercelli, Piedmont, Italy. AFP
Vials of the AstraZeneca (L) and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines are pictured at the pharmacy of the Sant'Andrea hospital in Vercelli, Piedmont, Italy. AFP
Vials of the AstraZeneca (L) and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines are pictured at the pharmacy of the Sant'Andrea hospital in Vercelli, Piedmont, Italy. AFP
Vials of the AstraZeneca (L) and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines are pictured at the pharmacy of the Sant'Andrea hospital in Vercelli, Piedmont, Italy. AFP

Canada's health authority says benefits of AstraZeneca vaccine 'far outweigh risks'


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The AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine remains safe, Canadian health authorities said, after a rare case of blood clotting affected a person who had been administered the shot.

The patient, who lives in the western province of Alberta and received a version of the AstraZeneca vaccine supplied by the Serum Institute of India, "has received treatment and is recovering," health authorities wrote on Twitter.

Canada reported its first case of blood clotting associated with low platelets on Tuesday in a Quebec woman who received the same shot.

Blood clot formations linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine "remain very rare" and Canada still believes that the vaccine's benefits "outweigh the potential risks," Health Canada and the Public Health Agency said.

Authorities said they would "continue to monitor the use of all #COVID19 vaccines closely and examine and assess any new safety concerns."

At the end of March Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunisation recommended suspending the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in people under the age of 55 while it evaluated the risks.

However Health Canada said on Wednesday, that according to its analysis, limiting the use of the vaccine to certain populations was not necessary for the moment.

After a slow start, Canada's vaccine campaign is gaining momentum. To date, 23.3 per cent of the Canadian population has received at least one vaccine dose according to the Covid-19 Tracker Canada website.

The country is facing a third coronavirus wave, however, that has recently forced provinces to tighten restrictions.

Ontario, which has the highest number of cases, announced on Friday it would strengthen and extend lockdown measures until May 19, and also close its borders with the provinces of Quebec and Manitoba beginning on Monday.

Canada has recorded more than 1.1 million cases of Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic and more than 23,500 deaths.

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Gallery: Europe battles Covid-19

  • Workers administer rapid antigen tests to high school students at the Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus Gymnasium high school in Dresden, Germany. Getty Images
    Workers administer rapid antigen tests to high school students at the Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus Gymnasium high school in Dresden, Germany. Getty Images
  • An illustration of a syringe is used to indicate the city's vaccination centre to pedestrians in Osnabrueck, Germany. AP Photo
    An illustration of a syringe is used to indicate the city's vaccination centre to pedestrians in Osnabrueck, Germany. AP Photo
  • The vaccination centre at the Erfurt exhibition centre in Germany is deserted. After the suspension of AstraZeneca vaccinations, thousands of appointments were cancelled in Thuringia. AP Photo
    The vaccination centre at the Erfurt exhibition centre in Germany is deserted. After the suspension of AstraZeneca vaccinations, thousands of appointments were cancelled in Thuringia. AP Photo
  • A person adds drops of a sample to the test device for a Covid-19 antigen rapid test in Berlin, Germany. AFP
    A person adds drops of a sample to the test device for a Covid-19 antigen rapid test in Berlin, Germany. AFP
  • People walk down a crowded street in the Neukoelln neighbourhood of Berlin, Germany. AP Photo
    People walk down a crowded street in the Neukoelln neighbourhood of Berlin, Germany. AP Photo
  • Dancers perform in front of the Theatre de l'Odeon in Paris, France. Workers have occupied the Theatre de l'Odeon since March 4 to protest against the French government's decision to close all theatres. Getty Images
    Dancers perform in front of the Theatre de l'Odeon in Paris, France. Workers have occupied the Theatre de l'Odeon since March 4 to protest against the French government's decision to close all theatres. Getty Images
  • Hospital staff carry a Covid-19 patient at the Clinic du Millenaire, in Montpellier, France. EPA
    Hospital staff carry a Covid-19 patient at the Clinic du Millenaire, in Montpellier, France. EPA
  • A healthcare worker administers a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at Paris 17th district city hall in Paris, France. Reuters
    A healthcare worker administers a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at Paris 17th district city hall in Paris, France. Reuters
  • Teresa Cabello, 88, waits in a seat before receiving a Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine in Pamplona, northern Spain. AP Photo
    Teresa Cabello, 88, waits in a seat before receiving a Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine in Pamplona, northern Spain. AP Photo
  • Taxi drivers stage a fake funeral for a taxi in a protest against the reduction of customers caused by restrictive measures aimed at stopping the spread of Covid-19 in the Campania Region in Naples, Italy. EPA
    Taxi drivers stage a fake funeral for a taxi in a protest against the reduction of customers caused by restrictive measures aimed at stopping the spread of Covid-19 in the Campania Region in Naples, Italy. EPA
  • Employees of the Lazio Region close the entrance of the new vaccination centre in Rome, Italy. AFP
    Employees of the Lazio Region close the entrance of the new vaccination centre in Rome, Italy. AFP
  • Customers makes purchases at an IKEA store in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Due to the lifting of some coronavirus restrictions, stores can receive a maximum of 50 customers per time slot instead of two. AFP
    Customers makes purchases at an IKEA store in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Due to the lifting of some coronavirus restrictions, stores can receive a maximum of 50 customers per time slot instead of two. AFP
Which honey takes your fancy?

Al Ghaf Honey

The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year

Sidr Honey

The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest

Samar Honey

The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments

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Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Know your Camel lingo

The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home

Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless

Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers

Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s

Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival

Day 2, Dubai Test: At a glance

Moment of the day Pakistan’s effort in the field had hints of shambles about it. The wheels were officially off when Wahab Riaz lost his run up and aborted the delivery four times in a row. He re-measured his run, jogged in for two practice goes. Then, when he was finally ready to go, he bailed out again. It was a total cringefest.

Stat of the day – 139.5 Yasir Shah has bowled 139.5 overs in three innings so far in this Test series. Judged by his returns, the workload has not withered him. He has 14 wickets so far, and became history’s first spinner to take five-wickets in an innings in five consecutive Tests. Not bad for someone whose fitness was in question before the series.

The verdict Stranger things have happened, but it is going to take something extraordinary for Pakistan to keep their undefeated record in Test series in the UAE in tact from this position. At least Shan Masood and Sami Aslam have made a positive start to the salvage effort.

Tips to stay safe during hot weather
  • Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
  • Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
  • Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
  • Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
  • Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
  • Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Long read

Mageed Yahia, director of WFP in UAE: Coronavirus knows no borders, and neither should the response

How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now

Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.

The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.

1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):

a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33

b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.

2. For those who have worked more than five years

c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.

Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.

Company%20profile
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if you go

The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow. 
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).