'I’ve had a scratchy throat for a couple days, but am feeling fine otherwise,' former president Barack Obama said on Twitter. AFP
'I’ve had a scratchy throat for a couple days, but am feeling fine otherwise,' former president Barack Obama said on Twitter. AFP
'I’ve had a scratchy throat for a couple days, but am feeling fine otherwise,' former president Barack Obama said on Twitter. AFP
'I’ve had a scratchy throat for a couple days, but am feeling fine otherwise,' former president Barack Obama said on Twitter. AFP

Barack Obama tests positive for Covid-19


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Former US president Barack Obama said that he has tested positive for coronavirus, though he is feeling relatively healthy.

His wife, former first lady Michelle Obama, tested negative.

“I’ve had a scratchy throat for a couple days, but am feeling fine otherwise,” Mr Obama said via Twitter on Sunday. “Michelle and I are grateful to be vaccinated and boosted.”

The former president said his diagnosis is a reminder for those in the US to be vaccinated, even as cases of coronavirus in the country have dipped.

There were about 35,000 infections reported on average over the past week, down sharply from mid-January, when that average was closer to 800,000.

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention report that 75.2 per cent of US adults have been fully vaccinated and 47.7 per cent of those have received a booster shot.

The CDC relaxed its guidelines for indoor masking in late February, a move that means 72 per cent of the population now resides in communities where indoor face coverings are no longer recommended.

Mr Obama last year joined fellow former presidents George W Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter to encourage Americans to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.

“Michelle and I got vaccinated against Covid-19 because we know it's the best way to get the country back up and running again — and get us back to the moments we miss,” Mr Obama said in the campaign.

Mr Obama, who turned 60 this summer, scaled back his birthday party in August because of the Delta variant surge.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

The Bio

Favourite vegetable: “I really like the taste of the beetroot, the potatoes and the eggplant we are producing.”

Holiday destination: “I like Paris very much, it’s a city very close to my heart.”

Book: “Das Kapital, by Karl Marx. I am not a communist, but there are a lot of lessons for the capitalist system, if you let it get out of control, and humanity.”

Musician: “I like very much Fairuz, the Lebanese singer, and the other is Umm Kulthum. Fairuz is for listening to in the morning, Umm Kulthum for the night.”

The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela
Edited by Sahm Venter
Published by Liveright

RESULTS

Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Azizbek Satibaldiev (KYG). Round 1 KO

Featherweight: Izzeddin Farhan (JOR) beat Ozodbek Azimov (UZB). Round 1 rear naked choke

Middleweight: Zaakir Badat (RSA) beat Ercin Sirin (TUR). Round 1 triangle choke

Featherweight: Ali Alqaisi (JOR) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (UZB). Round 1 TKO

Featherweight: Abu Muslim Alikhanov (RUS) beat Atabek Abdimitalipov (KYG). Unanimous decision

Catchweight 74kg: Mirafzal Akhtamov (UZB) beat Marcos Costa (BRA). Split decision

Welterweight: Andre Fialho (POR) beat Sang Hoon-yu (KOR). Round 1 TKO

Lightweight: John Mitchell (IRE) beat Arbi Emiev (RUS). Round 2 RSC (deep cuts)

Middleweight: Gianni Melillo (ITA) beat Mohammed Karaki (LEB)

Welterweight: Handesson Ferreira (BRA) beat Amiran Gogoladze (GEO). Unanimous decision

Flyweight (Female): Carolina Jimenez (VEN) beat Lucrezia Ria (ITA), Round 1 rear naked choke

Welterweight: Daniel Skibinski (POL) beat Acoidan Duque (ESP). Round 3 TKO

Lightweight: Martun Mezhlumyan (ARM) beat Attila Korkmaz (TUR). Unanimous decision

Bantamweight: Ray Borg (USA) beat Jesse Arnett (CAN). Unanimous decision

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Al Sadd v Esteghlal (8pm)
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Al Nassr v Al Rayyan (10pm)

Tuesday, Oct 1
Al Hilal v Al Shorta (10pm)
Al Gharafa v Al Ain (10pm)

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

Our legal consultants

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

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

The specs

A4 35 TFSI

Engine: 2.0-litre, four-cylinder

Transmission: seven-speed S-tronic automatic

Power: 150bhp

Torque: 270Nm

Price: Dh150,000 (estimate)

On sale: First Q 2020

A4 S4 TDI

Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel

Transmission: eight-speed PDK automatic

Power: 350bhp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: Dh165,000 (estimate)

On sale: First Q 2020

How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

MATCH INFO

Norwich City 0 Southampton 3 (Ings 49', Armstrong 54', Redmond 79')

Updated: March 14, 2022, 3:53 PM`