Nurses and healthcare workers formed the word "Hope" with candles as they mourn and remember colleagues who died during the outbreak of coronavirus outside Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan, New York City. AFP
A parishioner prays as she enters an almost empty church on Good Friday in Bangkok, Thailand. EPA
A woman uses her mobile phone at a subway station in Beijing. AFP
South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun has his temperature checked upon arrival at Dongsan Medical Center in Daegu, South Korea. Yonhap via AP
Aamir Gill plays with his daughter in a public park near a Christian neighbourhood in Islamabad, Pakistan. AFP
A health worker collects a swab sample from another health worker at the Istanbul University Cerrahpasa medical faculty hospital. AFP
A healthcare worker takes the temperature of a visitor to Essentia Health in Duluth, Minnesota. Star Tribune via AP
Rolls of fabric feed into a machine on a protective mask production line at Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Northern Sector staff camp in New Delhi, India. Bloomberg
Martine Milonde, a Congolese community mobiliser who works with the aid group World Vision in Beni, eastern Congo, engages the public about coronavirus prevention. AP Photo
A sign reminds motorists it's "Safer At Home" in Los Angeles, California. AFP
A traveler wearing a protective mask sits with his luggage in Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal in Tokyo, Japan. Bloomberg
An evacuated passenger of a coronavirus-stricken Australian linerdescends from a bus to board the medically equipped plane that will fly Australian and New Zealander passengers to Melbourne, at Carrasco International Airport, Uraguay. AFP
Crosses are seen outside a church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Each cross represents one life lost to coronavirus in the state. Reuters
Unlike previous pandemics, Covid-19 has spread like wildfire across the globe, which can be attributed to the globalised world we live in. According to the World Health Organisation, there are currently more than a million confirmed cases worldwide and over 100,000 deaths spread to at least 195 countries. Millions of people, from all walks of life, are having to adapt to what is an unprecedented challenge we are all facing.
Much of the news has instilled fear – an emotion that puts humans in fight-or-flight mode, and which can suppress the immune system. We have seen supermarket shelves emptied, irrational behaviour, and the mental health of those in isolation being affected.
As social beings, it is understandable that solitude might seem challenging. But it has given us the space to revisit and challenge old constructs and be creative in the process. This period is unlike anything we have experienced in recent times; we have never before been forced to stop and change our way of life so radically and in such a short space of time.
This pandemic is affecting all echelons of society, bringing humanity together and forcing it to build resilience at all levels – for individuals, governments and organisations. It has taught us two key lessons: that what happens in other countries is just as important to us, and that we can bring the human race closer together in order to achieve collective prosperity.
Across all sectors, people are working together like never before to combat the pandemic, and we are realising that we need to improve in some areas and stop certain practices. Humanity must rise positively and innovatively to this challenge in order to limit the devastating losses to our healthcare and economic systems.
Nevertheless, I believe there are ways in which this virus will benefit humanity and the planet in the long run.
Compassion and collaboration
The compassion and empathy being spread around the world are heart-warming and reassuring because the world still faces many inequities that needed addressing even before the pandemic. We are being made to think of those who may not have a roof over their heads, seeking shelter, and/or feeding their families. For instance, a video of a woman in China unable to say goodbye to her mother before she passed away shook me personally.
There has been unprecedented collaboration among companies who are re-purposing their workshops, event centres and laboratories to support healthcare systems. Examples include fashion houses such as Dior producing masks and Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy creating hand sanitisers. Meanwhile, partnerships among large pharmaceutical companies are being struck.
Moneys are taking advantage of India's deserted cities as the country remains in a pandemic lockdown. AFP
There is renewed respect and appreciation for frontline workers who are often forgotten, especially those in the healthcare and food and beverage sectors. To keep our communities healthy, they work tirelessly, putting in long shifts – often late at night – while risking their own lives to care for others.
Digitisation
There has been an expedited transition to digitalisation. With flights being grounded and remote working procedures being put in place, people are now conducting almost all their business from home, paving the way for virtual meetings and events. This will help organisations manage expenses better but also allow more people to attend, giving greater and safer access to events worldwide.
Never has such a large segment of the world's population had to change so quickly in the way things are done.
For instance, lack of affordable child care had forced many mothers to leave the workplace. In 2016, a report by the Centre for American Progress stated that two million parents had to make career sacrifices owing to the challenges of balancing child care and employment. But with current changes, working mothers might be able to extend their maternity leave or remain at work. Organisations, meanwhile, are ironing out technical issues and learning these lessons. Parents should not have to sacrifice their careers because of forced mobility. Thanks to technology, many more people can continue to work.
Lack of affordable child care had forced many mothers to leave the workplace.. EPA
Paradigm shifts
There is no doubt that the status quo and the many constructs we are so used to are being re-evaluated.
When we think of schools, we think of buildings where children sit and learn. But with education being conducted remotely, the notion of distance learning will no longer be frowned upon, and children living in developing nations will be able to access education without the need for brick and mortar infrastructure. I am hopeful that every person will have access to affordable and quality education by 2030 – one of the targets within the UN's Sustainability Development Goals framework – and perhaps this pandemic will help expedite it.
It is also important to understand that mankind and Planet Earth are not mutually exclusive. Our planet has started to heal itself, and that is promising. Pollution levels have dropped, with some cities having seen a 25-50 per cent reduction. I hope we learn from this, and that once the pandemic is behind us, we will appreciate nature more, value the resources we have, and change our behaviour to reduce carbon emissions.
There is a common denominator in the fight against climate change and in dealing with this pandemic, and it is that we need to follow and accept the science.
Going forward, the non-essential consumption of wildlife must stop. Animals not necessary for consumption should be allowed to do what they are supposed to: be part of an ecosystem that supports the planet.
Positive use of data
Data is increasingly key and new technologies are being deployed towards important tasks, such as drones to sanitise streets without the risk of exposing people to chemicals. Meanwhile, a growing sector is one that concerns new technologies that can provide solutions to public policy challenges. We have seen many countries use them to contain the spread of Covid-19.
A couple of ducks spotted on Paris's Rue de Sevres. Getty Images
A lone peacock walks along a street in Dubai. AFP
A herd of cows walk on a deserted road in New Delhi, India. Getty Image
Mountain goats roam the streets of LLandudno in Wales. Getty Images
A sign reads "Attention, wild animals, danger, stay away" near cows on the Mare e Sol beach in Coti-Chiavari, on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica. AFP
A juvenile puma in the streets of Santiago. AFP
A flock of geese on the gander in Assam. Anuwar Ali / Getty Images
There is no doubt that the status quo and the many constructs we are so used to are being re-evaluated
Singapore, for example, has launched an application called TraceTogether that has been downloaded by more than 600,000 people to trace and record the movements of residents within a two-metre radius of someone with the virus. This app is another illustration of the solidarity shown towards others, as it is open-sourced for other nations and developers to use.
Finally, it is important to understand that every cloud has a silver lining. This pandemic will pass. But for now, stay home, stay safe and make good use of your time to do the things you have always wanted to do. I hope that when things get better, we will continue to see humanity working together, experience more inclusion, and allow our planet to heal itself, which in turn heals us.
Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan is chief executive officer of Alliances for Global Sustainability
'Operation Mincemeat'
Director: John Madden
Cast: Colin Firth, Matthew Macfayden, Kelly Macdonald and Penelope Wilton
Rating: 4/5
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Funding: $500,000 in Series A funding from family and friends in 2018. A Series B round looking to raise $1.5m is now live.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
WHEN TO GO:
September to November or March to May; this is when visitors are most likely to see what they’ve come for.
WHERE TO STAY:
Meghauli Serai, A Taj Safari - Chitwan National Park resort (tajhotels.com) is a one-hour drive from Bharatpur Airport with stays costing from Dh1,396 per night, including taxes and breakfast. Return airport transfers cost from Dh661.
HOW TO GET THERE:
Etihad Airways regularly flies from Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu from around Dh1,500 per person return, including taxes. Buddha Air (buddhaair.com) and Yeti Airlines (yetiairlines.com) fly from Kathmandu to Bharatpur several times a day from about Dh660 return and the flight takes just 20 minutes. Driving is possible but the roads are hilly which means it will take you five or six hours to travel 148 kilometres.
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024. It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine. Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages]. The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts. With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians. Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved. Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world. The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
8.15pm: UAE Oaks – Group 3 (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm: Zabeel Mile – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,600m
9.25pm: Balanchine – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m
10pm: Al Shindagha Sprint – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,200m
MATCH INFO
AC Milan v Inter, Sunday, 6pm (UAE), match live on BeIN Sports
How to avoid crypto fraud
Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
TV (UAE time);
OSN Sports: from 10am
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Mykonos, with a flight change to its partner airline Olympic Air in Athens. Return flights cost from Dh4,105 per person, including taxes.
Where to stay
The modern-art-filled Ambassador hotel (myconianambassador.gr) is 15 minutes outside Mykonos Town on a hillside 500 metres from the Platis Gialos Beach, with a bus into town every 30 minutes (a taxi costs €15 [Dh66]). The Nammos and Scorpios beach clubs are a 10- to 20-minute walk (or water-taxi ride) away. All 70 rooms have a large balcony, many with a Jacuzzi, and of the 15 suites, five have a plunge pool. There’s also a private eight-bedroom villa. Double rooms cost from €240 (Dh1,063) including breakfast, out of season, and from €595 (Dh2,636) in July/August.
UAE SQUAD
Ali Khaseif, Mohammed Al Shamsi, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Khalid Essa, Bandar Al Ahbabi, Salem Rashid, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Mohammed Al Attas, Walid Abbas, Hassan Al Mahrami, Mahmoud Khamis, Alhassan Saleh, Ali Salmeen, Yahia Nader, Abdullah Ramadan, Majed Hassan, Abdullah Al Naqbi, Fabio De Lima, Khalil Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Tahnoun Al Zaabi, Muhammed Jumah, Yahya Al Ghassani, Caio Canedo, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue, Zayed Al Ameri
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre flat-six twin-turbocharged
Transmission: eight-speed PDK automatic
Power: 445bhp
Torque: 530Nm
Price: Dh474,600
On Sale: Now
'Ghostbusters: From Beyond'
Director: Jason Reitman
Starring: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace
Rating: 2/5
How to report a beggar
Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411
How to increase your savings
Have a plan for your savings.
Decide on your emergency fund target and once that's achieved, assign your savings to another financial goal such as saving for a house or investing for retirement.
Decide on a financial goal that is important to you and put your savings to work for you.
It's important to have a purpose for your savings as it helps to keep you motivated to continue while also reducing the temptation to spend your savings.
- Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
Goalkeepers: Ali Khaseif, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Mohammed Al Shamsi, Adel Al Hosani
Defenders: Bandar Al Ahbabi, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Walid Abbas, Mahmoud Khamis, Mohammed Barghash, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Hassan Al Mahrami, Yousef Jaber, Mohammed Al Attas
Midfielders: Ali Salmeen, Abdullah Ramadan, Abdullah Al Naqbi, Majed Hassan, Abdullah Hamad, Khalfan Mubarak, Khalil Al Hammadi, Tahnoun Al Zaabi, Harib Abdallah, Mohammed Jumah
Forwards: Fabio De Lima, Caio Canedo, Ali Saleh, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
THE BIG THREE
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
19 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 5 (2011, 14, 15, 18, 19)
French Open: 2 (2016, 21)
US Open: 3 (2011, 15, 18)
Australian Open: 9 (2008, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21)
Prize money: $150m
ROGER FEDERER
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 8 (2003, 04, 05, 06, 07, 09, 12, 17)
French Open: 1 (2009)
US Open: 5 (2004, 05, 06, 07, 08)
Australian Open: 6 (2004, 06, 07, 10, 17, 18)
Prize money: $130m
RAFAEL NADAL
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 2 (2008, 10)
French Open: 13 (2005, 06, 07, 08, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20)
US Open: 4 (2010, 13, 17, 19)
Australian Open: 1 (2009)
Prize money: $125m
The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
