A pedestrian walks past the National Covid Memorial Wall in London, which sadly had many new additions this summer. EPA
A pedestrian walks past the National Covid Memorial Wall in London, which sadly had many new additions this summer. EPA
A pedestrian walks past the National Covid Memorial Wall in London, which sadly had many new additions this summer. EPA
A pedestrian walks past the National Covid Memorial Wall in London, which sadly had many new additions this summer. EPA

UK Covid summer deaths double in number on previous year


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The number of Covid fatalities in the UK this summer were double the number of those last summer, data from the UK's Office for National Statistics suggest.

While the overall death toll for the year remains significantly lower than the equivalent period in 2021, the ascendance of two immunity-evading Omicron subvariants in June ensured the summer months told a markedly different story.

Between June 8 and August 12, more than 5,700 Covid deaths were registered in the UK — 95 per cent higher than the 2,936 that were registered in the equivalent period last year.

The Omicron BA.4 and BA.5-driven wave is attenuating, however, with data from the last couple of weeks of this period showing the death toll falling.

This trend is likely to continue into the winter, said Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia.

“[There will be] fewer deaths in August this year than last,” he said. “I suspect that over the next three months, we shall see [that Covid] deaths [are] a lot lower than last year and probably that will remain the case for the entire winter.”

It is also probable that the elderly will continue to be the group most at risk of dying of coronavirus. Older people have been at the highest risk throughout the pandemic, and this summer an amplification of this reality was observed, with Office for National Statistics data showing nearly half of the people who died in England and Wales were aged 85 and over. This represents a seismic 185 per cent increase on summer 2021.

The jump wasn't quite so stark in the demographic of those aged 75 to 84, standing at 77 per cent.

Conversely, deaths in under-65s decreased by about 58 per cent in summer 2022.

Broken down regionally, Wales and the east and south-west of England recorded the biggest increase in Covid summer deaths on the previous year, while the north-west was the only region to report a decline.

Taking mortality as a whole, Covid was the sixth biggest killer in the UK in July, three places higher than in July 2021, when it ranked ninth.

The past winners

2009 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)

2010 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)

2011 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)

2012 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus)

2013 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)

2014 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

2015 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)

2016 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

2017 - Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)

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Winner: AF Alajaj, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)

6.35pm: Race of Future – Handicap (TB) $80,000 (Turf) 2,410m
Winner: Global Storm, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

7.10pm: UAE 2000 Guineas – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Azure Coast, Antonio Fresu, Pavel Vashchenko

7.45pm: Business Bay Challenge – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Storm Damage, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor

20.20pm: Curlin Stakes – Listed (TB) $100,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Appreciated, Fernando Jara, Doug O’Neill

8.55pm: Singspiel Stakes – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Lord Glitters, Daniel Tudhope, David O'Meara

9.30pm: Al Shindagha Sprint – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Meraas, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi

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Company profile

Company name: Suraasa

Started: 2018

Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker

Based: India, UAE and the UK

Industry: EdTech

Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding

Credit Score explained

What is a credit score?

In the UAE your credit score is a number generated by the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB), which represents your credit worthiness – in other words, your risk of defaulting on any debt repayments. In this country, the number is between 300 and 900. A low score indicates a higher risk of default, while a high score indicates you are a lower risk.

Why is it important?

Financial institutions will use it to decide whether or not you are a credit risk. Those with better scores may also receive preferential interest rates or terms on products such as loans, credit cards and mortgages.

How is it calculated?

The AECB collects information on your payment behaviour from banks as well as utilitiy and telecoms providers.

How can I improve my score?

By paying your bills on time and not missing any repayments, particularly your loan, credit card and mortgage payments. It is also wise to limit the number of credit card and loan applications you make and to reduce your outstanding balances.

How do I know if my score is low or high?

By checking it. Visit one of AECB’s Customer Happiness Centres with an original and valid Emirates ID, passport copy and valid email address. Liv. customers can also access the score directly from the banking app.

How much does it cost?

A credit report costs Dh100 while a report with the score included costs Dh150. Those only wanting the credit score pay Dh60. VAT is payable on top.

Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
  • Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

'Skin'

Dir: Guy Nattiv

Starring: Jamie Bell, Danielle McDonald, Bill Camp, Vera Farmiga

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

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THE BIO

Bio Box

Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul

Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader

Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet

Favorite food: seafood

Favorite place to travel: Lebanon

Favorite movie: Braveheart

HIJRA

Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy

Director: Shahad Ameen

Rating: 3/5

Updated: May 31, 2023, 1:32 PM`