Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan Welcomes Fourth Child, Names Her 'Hind'

DUBAI, Mar 27: Sheikha Shaikha bint Saeed bin Thani Al Maktoum, the wife of Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, welcomed their fourth child, a baby girl, on Saturday. The newborn has been named 'Hind', in honour of Sheikh Hamdan's mother, Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum.

The Crown Prince confirmed the news through an Instagram post, where he shared a brief message announcing the birth and offering a prayer for his daughter. "O Allah, grant her a heart filled with your love, make her a source of light and guidance, and clothe her in the garments of health and well-being," he wrote.

Sheikh Hamdan first became a father in 2021 with the birth of twins - a son, Rashid, and a daughter, Sheikha. In 2023, he welcomed his third child, Mohammed.

The name 'Hind' is of Arabic origin and signifies strength, wealth, and nobility. Historically, it was referred to "a hundred camels", a sign of wealth and prosperity in ancient Arabia. The name has been borne by significant Arab women, including Hind bint Utbah, a powerful figure in early Islamic history.

Sheikh Hamdan has served as the Crown Prince of Dubai since 2008 and also holds key positions as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE. He is the second son of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum.

Popularly known as "Fazza," Sheikh Hamdan married his cousin, Sheikha Shaikha bint Saeed bin Thani Al Maktoum, in 2019. Their wedding was part of a joint ceremony with his brothers, Sheikh Maktoum and Sheikh Ahmad. Sheikha Shaikha is the daughter of Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, making her a member of Dubai's ruling Al Maktoum family.

Earlier this month, Sheikh Hamdan witnessed the signing of an agreement to support the construction and maintenance of mosques in Dubai. Last month, he launched the 'Erth Dubai' initiative, aimed at promoting environmental sustainability and preserving the emirate's natural resources for future generations.

Anti-Ageing Millionaire Bryan Johnson Says He's 'Building A Religion' To Save Human Race

NEW YORK, Mar 8: Bryan Johnson, the American entrepreneur renowned for his anti-ageing endeavours, is "building a religion". In a series of X posts, Johnson introduced his new ideology "Don't Die", which he believes is the key to human survival and aligns artificial intelligence (AI) with humanity's best interests.

"Don't Die is the next great framework. It's how we transition into the era of AI and solving death," he wrote in one of his posts. The tech millionaire also announced the launch of his new app and urged people to be a part of it to become those who can be "admired and respected" by the 25th century.

"Dear humanity, I am building a religion. Wait a second, I know what you're going to say. Hold that knee-jerk reaction and let me explain. First, here's what's going to happen: + Don't Die becomes history's fastest-growing ideology. + It saves the human race. + And ushers in an existence more spectacular than we can imagine. It is inevitable. The only question is: will you be an early or late adopter?" he wrote.

According to Johnson, the world is undergoing "four fundamental shifts". "We are giving birth to superintelligence (AI), No existing ideology solves AI alignment, With AI, our species' survival is not guaranteed and With AI, individual biological death is no longer inevitable," he explained, adding, "We are at risk of extinction without a unifying framework to solve human alignment and AI alignment."

To address this, Johnson described "Don't Die" as "a universal translator and the grand unifying theory of existence". For him, it is not just an idea but something he follows in his daily life.

"On a personal level, for years I've tried to eat, sleep and breathe Don't Die, literally. To embody it in every one of my 35 trillion cells. Practically this means: + going to bed on time, exercising daily, and eating nutritiously + measuring and improving every organ in my body + eliminating toxins, lowering stress, being with family and friends," he shared.

"As a result, I now have the slowest aging speed in recorded history. Science, measurement, and protocols work. The same methodical approach can scale to earth, AI and the human species," the millionaire explained.

But why "Don't Die" now? To answer this, Johnson wrote, "Years ago, I did a thought experiment imagining myself in the presence of people from the 25th century." He added, "It seemed obvious that they'd say Don't Die is how humanity saved itself and merged with AI. Now it's time we scale Don't Die to all intelligent existence using the same methodologies."

He concluded his thread with a link, inviting people to apply and urging them to be a part of the framework. "BECOME A DON'T DIE CITIZEN: Download the Don't Die app, track your Don't Die Score, connect with others, and start a local community. This is how we turn Don't Die from an idea into a global movement," he wrote.

In the comment section, social media users shared varied reactions.

"It's a mistake to call it a religion as most people already have one and don't believe in having two. Better to call it a movement, ideology, something else that isn't generally considered mutually exclusive," wrote one user.

"I'm so excited about this!! I'm going to start doing hikes, meetups, runs, and other/dd activities for Don't Die Michigan starting this Summer. Feel free to add me on the Don't Die app or my community here on X," commented another.

Australian 'Man With Golden Arm', Who Helped Save 2.4 Million Babies, Dies At 88

SYDNEY, Mar 5: An Australian known as the "Man with the Golden Arm" for protecting 2.4 million babies with his rare, antibody-rich blood plasma, has died at 88, health officials say.

James Harrison rolled up his sleeve and donated blood 1,173 times over 64 years, Australian Red Cross organisation Lifeblood said in a statement.

His plasma contained a rare antibody, known as Anti-D, used to make a medication for mothers whose blood was at risk of attacking their unborn babies -- known as rhesus D haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN).

While it is impossible to know how many babies would have died without Anti-D protection, HDFN affected as many as 1 in 100 women until 1966, government data shows.

Following the success of a 1966 Anti-D trial in Australia, Lifeblood looked for people who had the antibody to scale up the project.

Harrison fit the bill. He had started donating a few years earlier and never missed a single appointment until his retirement in 2018, Lifeblood said. His blood was used to make 2.4 million doses.

Of Harrison's 1,173 donations, 1,163 were from his right arm and 10 from his left, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

"It didn't hurt in the right arm," he told the publication, although he never watched the needle go in.

Harrison died in his sleep at a nursing home on the New South Wales Central Coast on February 17.

Among his blood recipients was daughter Tracey Mellowship, who said Harrison would be greatly missed.

"James was a humanitarian at heart, but also very funny," she said. "As an Anti-D recipient myself, he has left behind a family that may not have existed without his precious donations.

"He was also very proud to have saved so many lives, without any cost or pain. It made him happy to hear about the many families like ours, who existed because of his kindness."

Lifeblood chief executive Stephen Cornelissen said Harrison left behind "an incredible legacy".

"It was his hope that one day, someone in Australia would beat his donation record."

About 17 percent of pregnant women require Anti-D, but finding donors for the program remains difficult, the government said.

Scientists hope to use blood from Harrison and other donors to recreate Anti-D antibodies in the lab, helping to prevent HDFN worldwide.

Honrary Knighthood Medal presented to Sunil Bharti Mittal

By Deepak Arora

NEW DELHI, Feb 22: Sunil Bharti Mittal, founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises, has received the insignia of the Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE).

He was presented the medal at a special investiture ceremony in the presence of friends and family at the British High Commissioner’s residence in New Delhi.

The ceremony follows the announcement in 2024 that His Majesty The King has been graciously pleased to confer Mittal the Honorary Knighthood for services to UK-India business relations.

Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India, said: “I was delighted to present Sunil Bharti Mittal the KBE medal on behalf of His Majesty the King. Mr Mittal is a great friend of the UK – with significant investments, including BT, Gleneagles, Norlake Hospitality, and OneWeb.

“Mr. Mittal’s leadership has made a lasting impact on the UK-India partnership, including through his work with the India-UK CEO Forum. Most recently, he led a senior Indian business delegation to the UK to meet with Prime Minister Starmer, the Foreign Secretary, the Chancellor, and other Cabinet Ministers to identify opportunities for accelerating economic growth across both nations. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Mr Mittal and congratulate him once again.”

Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman and Founder, Bharti Enterprises, said: “It is an honour to have received the KBE from His Majesty, King Charles III.

“As India and the United Kingdom continue to chart remarkable scale in our bilateral relations, I acknowledge this recognition both as a privilege and a responsibility. I remain committed to working with stakeholders in our nations towards advancing India – UK business relations.

“On the occasion of this very special milestone, I extend my gratitude to all for their support through this journey.”

The KBE is among the highest honours awarded by His Majesty The King to foreign nationals for pre-eminent contributions in various fields.

Special UK Visa Route Opens for Young Professionals

By Deepak Arora

NEW DELHI, Feb 11: The UK-India Young Professionals Scheme (YPS) 2025 ballot will open next week. This bespoke visa scheme offers Brits and Indians the unique opportunity to live, study, travel, and work in the other country for up to two years.

Indian nationals aged 18-30 must enter the ballot on gov.uk to be considered for one of the 3,000 spots available under the scheme. The ballot is scheduled to open on 18 February and close on 20 February. Applicants do not need to pay to enter the ballot, and successful entries will be picked at random.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old on the date they plan to travel to the UK. They must also have a qualification at UK bachelor’s degree level or above and have proof of £2,530 in savings to support themselves in the UK. Applicants should ensure they meet all eligibility requirements before entering the ballot.

Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India, said: “The Young Professionals Scheme is an excellent programme which helps build a modern understanding of our countries among Brits and Indians alike. I strongly encourage people from all corners of the country to apply – from Itanagar to Coimbatore, from Leh to Surat, and from Bhubaneshwar to Indore.”

Launched in February 2023, the UK-India Young Professionals Scheme (YPS) is a bespoke, reciprocal scheme under which UK and Indian nationals who are aged 18-30 can live, study, travel and work in the other country for up two years.