So many of the global challenges facing us today seem beyond our ability to meet. War in the Middle East, the relentless breaking of climate records, economic instability – to name but three – present themselves as problems of labyrinthine complexity. It is frustrating today that there are issues that continue to blight millions of lives, despite clear remedies.
Malaria is one such issue. On this World Malaria Day, statistics from the World Health Organisation make sobering reading. In 2022, more than 600,000 people died from the disease and nearly 250 million new cases were recorded, almost all of them in Africa. And yet, even though global health programmes and private philanthropy have succeeded in reducing the number of fatalities from malaria, the mosquito-borne infection still claims too many lives.
Worryingly, the WHO this week said that progress in reducing malaria has “ground to a standstill” and important 2025 targets in its global malaria strategy look set to pass unmet. It is a cruel fact that vulnerable people – pregnant women, infants, children under five, refugees, migrants, the internally displaced, and indigenous peoples – bear the brunt of a collective failure to halt the disease.
Although a malaria infection can be cured if medical treatment is swift, too many people lack access to good-quality health care. This presents a long-term problem; untreated malaria frequently becomes a life-long, recurring infection. The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine highlights that it “exerts a tremendous impact on the body, which can have long-term health repercussions” that include increased susceptibility to bacterial infection as well as cognitive impairment. “Mounting evidence”, the institution says, “suggest that this is merely the tip of the iceberg”.
Thankfully, some remain undaunted by the apparent intractability of this challenge. The UAE, whose years of concerted effort to control the disease led to the country being officially declared malaria free in 2007, continues to support international efforts to eradicate it. The UAE is among the largest donors to ending malaria. Yesterday, it was announced that Reaching the Last Mile – a collection of global health programmes driven by the philanthropy of President Sheikh Mohamed – has made a Dh55 million ($14.9 million) commitment to the Global Institute for Disease Elimination, its second since the institute’s launch in 2019. Over the past 10 years, Sheikh Mohamed has committed more than $470 million to improving health outcomes for people around the world, through strategic partnerships.
Well-funded and strategic international co-operation gets results. According to Reaching the Last Mile, two other major global diseases – Guinea worm disease and polio – are set to become the next human diseases to be eradicated, going the way of smallpox in 1980. In addition, fewer people are suffering from neglected tropical diseases; in the past five years, the number of people at risk for such conditions has fallen by 20 per cent – from two billion to 1.6 billion.
This shows what can be achieved with the right will, targeted funding and clear strategies. The sheer number of people at risk from malaria, and the devastating effect the disease can have on fragile societies and economies, should focus minds on reaching what should be an attainable goal, and chalking up another win for humanity.
Honeymoonish
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WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Specs – Taycan 4S
Engine: Electric
Transmission: 2-speed auto
Power: 571bhp
Torque: 650Nm
Price: Dh431,800
Specs – Panamera
Engine: 3-litre V6 with 100kW electric motor
Transmission: 2-speed auto
Power: 455bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: from Dh431,800
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Director: Laila Abbas
Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5
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
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
Company profile
Name: Infinite8
Based: Dubai
Launch year: 2017
Number of employees: 90
Sector: Online gaming industry
Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor
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In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
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What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
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Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
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Fight card
Bantamweight
Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK) v Rey Nacionales (PHI)
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROM) v Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR)
Catch 74kg
Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) v Omar Hussein (JOR)
Strawweight (Female)
Weronika Zygmunt (POL) v Seo Ye-dam (KOR)
Featherweight
Kaan Ofli (TUR) v Walid Laidi (ALG)
Lightweight
Leandro Martins (BRA) v Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW)
Welterweight
Ahmad Labban (LEB) v Sofiane Benchohra (ALG)
Bantamweight
Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR)
Lightweight
Mohammed Yahya (UAE) v Glen Ranillo (PHI)
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) v Aidan Aguilera (AUS)
Welterweight
Mounir Lazzez (TUN) Sasha Palatnikov (HKG)
Featherweight title bout
Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR)
BMW M5 specs
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
MO
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Analysis
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
