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Monterosso won the world’s most valuable race, the $10million Dubai World Cup, here on Saturday to give victory to the brainchild behind the race, his owner Shaikh Mohammed Al Maktoum’s Godolphin Operation.

The winner – third last year – came home clear under Mikael Barzalona ahead of another Godolphin runner Capponi while Planteur was third and hot favourite, the former Australian champion So You Think, was a disappointing fourth.

Barzalona, who rode Pour Moi to victory in last year’s Epsom Derby, produced his much criticised trademark celebration of standing up in the saddle 60 metres before the finish on the 20/1 Mahmood Al Zarooni-trained winner.

There was to be no fairytale finish to the week for American trainer Bob Baffert, who suffered a heart attack last Monday, as his Game On Dude, ridden by the first woman to ride in the race Chantal Sutherland, finished among the also rans.

Earth Hour started in Sydney, Australia in 2007 but now has cities in 135 countries taking part. In 2009, the UAE became the first country in the Arab world to be involved.

The UAE is all set to take the plunge into darkness for saving the earth.

After a little over two years of tireless campaigning on behalf of environmental activists, Earth Hour, a global movement against climate change and global warming, has gained massive recognition in the UAE. Individuals, families, communities, corporates and public figures have readied themselves with candles and lanterns and join the march at 7.30pm near Burj Park today.

The Earth Hour campaign was launched in the UAE in 2009.

The Dubai Water and Electricity Authority said that if energy consumption in the emirate were reduced by 230 megawatts during Earth Hour, it would organise a “victory walk” to celebrate. We urge you all to turn off lights and other electrical equipment.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has denied reports that it intends to introduce a new player by 2015.

“TRA would like to state that it does not have any intention whatsoever to license a third operator in the market,” Majid Al Mesmar, Deputy Director-General of TRA said in an emailed statement.

The deputy director was previously quoted in the media as saying that the UAE is considering plans to open the market to new telecommunications service providers by 2015.
He said both etisalat and du are meeting the needs of the country.

“TRA sees no need to add a new operator at this time; hence it has no immediate plan to do. What was circulated in few local newspapers is misleading and does not accurately express the actual statements of the TRA regarding the issue,” he said.

“The UAE telecoms market represents a classic case of a government controlled duopoly.Etisalat and du being the only telecoms operators in the country leaves consumers with limited choice. Besides, high government ownership of both companies has probably somewhat restrained price competition in the market,” Bhanu Chaddha, IDC senior research analyst, telecommunications, Middle East, Africa and Turkey.

The 29-year old Emirati Mohammad Khamis Majid who was kidnapped by a gang in Nigeria, was reunited with his family and was given a rousing welcome after his arrival in Umm Al Quwain city.

After a gap of almost five years, motorists in the UAE will be able to use credit cards to pay for fuel at filling stations. But there will be surcharge of Dh2 for every such card transaction.

The long-awaited move to permit the use of credit cards at fuel stations was announced by the UAE Ministry of Economy on Wednesday. Mohammed Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz Al Shehhi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy, said the Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection has approved the request of fuel retailers to allow the resumption of credit card use for an extra charge of Dh2 as commission for every transaction.

Al Shehhi said the committee has revoked its earlier decision that prevented fuel retailers from imposing surcharges on credit card use. The earlier decision was taken at the second meeting of the Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection in 2011.

Al Shehhi emphasised the significance of several such “strategic decisions” made by the Ministry and the Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection recently to protect consumer rights and help boost economic competitiveness and growth in the UAE.

A ministry statement said the committee was briefed at its fourth meeting in 2011 on a report about the re-introduction of credit cards to pay for fuel at filling stations after that facility was suspended in 2007 “because of the high costs incurred” by petrol companies.

“In this context, the committee issued a set of recommendations, most notably to study oil retailers’ proposal to allow the re-use of bank cards,” the statement said.

The committee will soon hold meetings with Visa and MasterCard to finalise terms and conditions.

Five years ago, oil companies stopped accepting credit card payments for fuel at filling stations. The new surcharge on credit card payment will only apply to fuel purchases made at gas stations and exclude other goods purchased at the outlets.

Celebratory gunshots during a wedding party in Fujairah killed one person and injured two others, Gulf News has learnt.

The tragedy took place on Friday night when a guest at the party pulled out a gun and started firing in the air to celebrate the wedding resulting in the death of one person, police said.

A police official said a stray bullet hit the head of the 35-year-old victim, killing him on the spot. The guests were shocked as the wedding party turned into a scene of tragedy.

Two others, including the groom’s brother, were also injured by stray bullets. The injured were taken to Dibba and then to Fujairah hospital.