Today marks a hundred days since a new strand of the coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, was officially reported to the World Health Organisation in China. What happened next is no mystery. The virus is considered likely to have originated in one wet market in China, and from there spread to more than 200 countries and territories, with an exponential infection rate. In early March, there were roughly 88,000 confirmed cases.
By the end of the month, that number was greater than 850,000. Now, Covid-19, the disease caused by this coronavirus, has affected more than 1.3 million people worldwide and killed nearly 76,000.
Read More about coronavirus
It is difficult to grasp how much daily life has changed in the past 100 days since the onset of the pandemic. The once-bustling roads of Abu Dhabi, Beirut, London, and beyond have gone silent, and the notion of travelling now seems a distant one. Self-isolation, lockdowns and mass testing have disrupted many routines and foiled many plans, but they are a small price to pay to protect ourselves and our loved ones from disease. Even with these measures, however, lives have been lost.
In the UAE, more than 2,000 people are known to have been infected. While 167 have successfully recovered thus far, 11 have died. It is worth remembering those who have perished, and doing everything necessary to spare others from the same fate. The only way to do this is to continue acting responsibly and heeding the guidance of health authorities.
While many of us can safely remain in our homes, perhaps doing our jobs remotely, many essential workers– from medical staff and pharmacists to supermarket employees, transportation workers, delivery workers and cleaners – continue travelling to their places of work, to the benefit of the wider community. These members of our society have always deserved our appreciation, but they deserve it now more than ever.
It is heartening that, in the face of great adversity, the global community is showing resilience and resolve. The citizens of Wuhan, for instance, initiated a daily 8pm applause from their balconies to inspire one another with courage during the lockdown, and to praise the health workers for their critical role relentlessly to end the crisis.
Self-isolation, lockdowns and mass testing have disrupted daily life, but they are a small price to pay to protect ourselves and our loved ones
This simple gesture has since been replicated on the balconies of the world, from China to the UAE, Italy and Spain. In Dubai, volunteers have brought food and essentials to those quarantined in the Gold Souk on a daily basis, while others have made donations to help people in need and workers who may have lost their main source of income due to the pandemic.
Much of the world has adapted public policy to curb the spread of the virus. In Wuhan, travel restrictions are due to be relaxed for the first time in three months, giving hope to the rest of the world that its ongoing measures will bear fruit. With enough collective effort and will, they will do so sooner rather than later.
How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
All or Nothing
Amazon Prime
Four stars
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Directed: Smeep Kang
Produced: Soham Rockstar Entertainment; SKE Production
Cast: Rishi Kapoor, Jimmy Sheirgill, Sunny Singh, Omkar Kapoor, Rajesh Sharma
Rating: Two out of five stars
Voices: How A Great Singer Can Change Your Life
Nick Coleman
Jonathan Cape
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Wednesday and the pair embraced but he failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset was due to a personal matter.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
ARGENTINA SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Franco Armani, Agustin Marchesin, Esteban Andrada
Defenders: Juan Foyth, Nicolas Otamendi, German Pezzella, Nicolas Tagliafico, Ramiro Funes Mori, Renzo Saravia, Marcos Acuna, Milton Casco
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Guido Rodriguez, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Roberto Pereyra, Rodrigo De Paul, Angel Di Maria
Forwards: Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Lautaro Martinez, Paulo Dybala, Matias Suarez
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Result:
1. Cecilie Hatteland (NOR) atop Alex - 31.46 seconds
2. Anna Gorbacheva (RUS) atop Curt 13 - 31.82 seconds
3. Georgia Tame (GBR) atop Cash Up - 32.81 seconds
4. Sheikha Latifa bint Ahmed Al Maktoum (UAE) atop Peanuts de Beaufour - 35.85 seconds
5. Miriam Schneider (GER) atop Benur du Romet - 37.53 seconds
6. Annika Sande (NOR) atop For Cash 2 - 31.42 seconds (4 penalties)
