Yas Mall brought the spirit of community and appreciation to life on 20 May with the reveal of its Tree of Gratitude artwork; a special moment held as part of Yas Mall’s Week of Wonder.

Located in Yas Mall’s Town Square, the interactive installation invited visitors to share heartfelt messages of gratitude dedicated to the UAE and its leadership. Thousands of contributions became part of a growing digital artwork symbolising unity, reflection and national pride. The completed mosaic was officially unveiled, revealing a collective artwork inspired by the UAE flag and shaped by the voices of the community. Families and friends gathered to witness the moment, celebrating together in an atmosphere filled with appreciation and national pride.

The reveal was accompanied by a special live performance by the UAE Police Band, alongside traditional Al Ayallah performances that brought an added sense of celebration and cultural spirit to the evening. UAE flags were also distributed to visitors during the performances, creating a vibrant community moment as guests came together in tribute to the nation.

The activation formed part of Yas Mall’s wider Week of Wonder experience, which transformed the destination into an engaging space for discovery and shared experiences from 8 – 20 May.

Pakistan has successfully completed its inaugural Panda bond issuance in China’s interbank bond market, raising RMB 1.75 billion through a three-year transaction that marks the country’s first direct entry into China’s capital markets.

Standard Chartered (China) Ltd. Co acted as the only foreign bank serving as joint lead underwriter and joint book runner for the transaction, supporting Pakistan in broadening its international financing channels while strengthening financial connectivity between regional capital markets.

The issuance received strong support from multilateral development institutions, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which together guaranteed 95 per cent of the bond’s principal and interest payments. The structure helped attract significant demand from Chinese banks, securities houses, and international financial institutions.

The transaction was reportedly more than five times oversubscribed, allowing Pakistan to price the bond at 2.50 per cent, the tightest end of the indicated pricing range.

Salman Ansari, Global Head, Capital Markets, Standard Chartered, described the issuance as a strategically important transaction that expands Pakistan’s access to global liquidity pools while demonstrating the growing relevance of regional capital markets within the international funding landscape.

The transaction also reflects the broader evolution of the Renminbi within global financial markets, as China continues expanding the role of its currency beyond trade settlement into cross-border financing and sovereign funding structures.

Jerry Zhang, Global Head of Banks & Broker Dealers and Head of Coverage, Greater China and North Asia at Standard Chartered, said the transaction highlighted the bank’s role in connecting international issuers with China’s domestic capital markets while also reflecting the continued internationalisation of the Renminbi.

The Panda bond market has increasingly attracted a wider range of sovereign, supranational, and institutional issuers in recent years as regional economies explore diversified funding channels and deeper access to Chinese liquidity pools.

Students at GEMS Modern Academy (“Modern”) have delivered another year of outstanding student performance in the ICSE Grade 10 and ISC Grade 12 Board examinations, as the school achieved a 100% pass rate across both cohorts.

Students delivered exceptional performances, with a significant proportion attaining top scores across subjects. At the ICSE level, 61.3% of students achieved above 90%, while at the ISC level, an impressive 73.7% of students scored above 90%. The school recorded strong overall averages of 90.1% for ICSE and 92.5% for ISC, reflecting sustained academic excellence.

These results further reinforce GEMS Modern Academy’s reputation as one of the UAE’s leading Indian curriculum schools, known for balancing academic rigour with a strong focus on innovation, wellbeing, and global citizenship.

Sydney Atkins, Principal of GEMS Modern Academy, said: “In a year filled with uncertainty, we knew this for sure; the collective effort of a community united in a singular purpose is stronger than any external circumstance. We are so proud of our students, our passionate and dedicated teachers, and our parents who are our biggest cheerleaders and critical friends. Because of this dream team, we are able to make our students’ dreams come true. Well done, boys and girls, we are so proud of every one of you.”

ISC Grade 12 results

• Total Strength: 175
• Pass Rate: 100%
• Batch Average: 92.5%
• 95% and above: 40% (70 students)
• 90% and above: 73.7% (129 students)
• 80% and above: 97.1% (170 Students)
• 90% and above in all five subjects: 39.4% (69 Students)
• Number of 100s: 29 (Math – 7, Chemistry – 6, Computer Science – 4, Accounts – 2, Political Science – 4, EVS – 4, Mass Media – 2)
• 175 students appeared for the ISC (Grade 12) including, 4 students with Special Education Needs. 
• Average of Students of Determination in ISC is 87.25%
• 3 Students on the KHDA Rahhal program have successfully completed their schooling through this flexible academic arrangement. 
• Girls batch average 93.1%; Boys batch average 92%

Leading the cohort with the highest score is Khyati Agarwal with 99.5%; Mukul Agarwal stood a close second with 99.25% and 6 students tied at 3rd place with 98.75%

Khyati Agarwal, has secured offers from top universities including Duke, Imperial College London, UCLA, Northwestern, and the University of Michigan said: “This year asked more of me than I thought I had and gave me even more in return. I’ll always be grateful to my Principal, supervisors, and teachers. They all taught me that consistency, faith and the support of my school, family and friends can turn a dream into a reality! I could not have asked for a better finish to the first chapter of my life. Here’s to my next.”

Mukul Agarwal, who is Modern’s first student to receive an offer from Oxford University, said: “Studying at the University of Oxford has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember, and I’m incredibly grateful to see that dream become a reality. This milestone would not have been possible without the unwavering support of my parents and grandparents, the guidance and encouragement of my teachers, and the constant belief they all had in me.”

ICSE Grade 10 results:

• Total Strength: 150
• Pass Rate: 100%
• Batch Average: 90.1%
• 95% and above: 20% (30 students)
• 90% and above: 61.3% (92 students)
• 80% and above: 96.7% (145 Students)
• 90% and above in all six subjects: ­22.7% (34 students)
• Number of 100s: 7 (Economics – 3, Drama – 1, Robotics and AI – 3)
• 150 students appeared for the ICSE (Grade 10) examination, including 2 students with Special Education Needs.
• Average of Students of Determination in ICSE is 81.3%
• Girls batch average 90.42 Boys batch average 90%

Geetika Pati topped the batch with 97.2% and Eshan Tikam and Medha Ratheesh tied in the second place with 96.6%.

Reflecting on her achievement, Geetika Pati, said: “My learning experience at GMA has been a very fruitful one. This was not my journey alone but one of my parents, my teachers who are willing to push you forward at every turn, and everyone who has been there for me throughout this year. I dedicate this victory to my family and GMA.”

GEMS Modern Academy, which is celebrating 40 years of excellence this year, continues to set benchmarks in delivering a balanced education that nurtures both academic capability and personal growth.

Nargish Khambatta, Executive Vice President – Education, GEMS Education, added: “Good results are not achieved perchance. Each accomplishment represents hours of consistent effort and patience, supported by a committed team of teachers, parents and leadership team all working towards the same goal. Maintaining this level of disciplined focus for 40 years is testament to a culture of excellence that has been carefully nurtured over the years keeping the children at the heart of all our decisions. Congratulations on yet another set of excellent results that validates Team Modern! Bravo!”

Graduates from the school consistently secure placements at leading universities worldwide, pursuing diverse pathways across disciplines.