On Saturday, the world of entertainment lost an inimitable personality in the form of Chadwick Boseman, most famous for his role as King T'Challa in the ground-breaking 2018 film Black Panther. Boseman was just 43 when he died from colon cancer. His death sparked an outpouring of grief around the world – a testament not just to his popularity and celebrity status but also to the circumstances of his passing and the extraordinary times in which we live.
There is no such thing as a timely death, but the fact that Boseman departed in the prime of his life came as a shock to many. Few outside of his most intimate circle had known about his diagnosis with cancer until the day it claimed his life. That he had kept his health condition so private speaks volumes about his humility and the respect those around him gave him, particularly in an era in which those of celebrity status are under unrelenting pressure to do the opposite. It is a difficult thing to live through one's twilight years knowing that that is the case, but Boseman did so with quiet dignity and grace.
The post issued through Boseman's Twitter account announcing his death and memorialising him was the most "liked" tweet in the social media platform's 14-year history. It is an irony that this post-mortem shot brought a greater burst of attention than any tweet Boseman made while alive, but it is nonetheless an apt reminder of the reach and cultural impact of his work. As many of his would-be fans will have realised this week, you don't know what you've got until it's gone.
Boseman is not the only celebrity, or even the only film personality, to have died this year. Indian actors Rishi Kapoor and Irrfan Khan, and English thespian Ben Cross, are among those who lost the battle to cancer as well. They left behind an extensive body of work and etched their names in history. Boseman's seismic impact stands out, however, because it shook so many largely through just one role.
Boseman portrayed great real-life figures, including baseball player Jackie Robinson and musician James Brown, in previous works. But his character in Black Panther – that of a fictional black king ruling a fictional African kingdom named Wakanda, which represents the best a nation could hope for – resonates deeply in the present moment of global inequality and race consciousness. It would hardly be an exaggeration to suggest that the film really captures the zeitgeist. The first blockbuster of such magnitude about a black superhero, it cuts through the depressive nature of such heavy topics and speaks to the aspirations on the other side.
It also reminds us by way of counterfactual that we do not yet live in a post-racial world.
The year 2020 has seen people, irrespective of race, come together and mourn the deaths of other black figures, such as basketball player Kobe Bryant, and politician and civil rights activist John Lewis. But 2020 also witnessed the killing of George Floyd, an African-American, at the hands of a white American policeman. There have been countless incidents of police brutality against people of colour around the world before Floyd's murder and – tragically – there likely will be more to come.
The fact that these incidents have led to such wide anguish, for people from all walks of life, ought to give us some hope – and the impetus to work even harder in stamping out racial prejudice from our hearts, minds and societies.
Hopefully, Boseman’s characters – in real life and in reel life – will serve to appeal to and inspire the better angels of our nature in the years to come.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Favourite things
Luxury: Enjoys window shopping for high-end bags and jewellery
Discount: She works in luxury retail, but is careful about spending, waits for sales, festivals and only buys on discount
University: The only person in her family to go to college, Jiang secured a bachelor’s degree in business management in China
Masters: Studying part-time for a master’s degree in international business marketing in Dubai
Vacation: Heads back home to see family in China
Community work: Member of the Chinese Business Women’s Association of the UAE to encourage other women entrepreneurs
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
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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
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.
Three trading apps to try
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
- For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
- If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
- Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
EGYPT SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Ahmed El Shennawy, Mohamed El Shennawy, Mohamed Abou-Gabal, Mahmoud Abdel Rehem "Genesh"
Defenders: Ahmed Elmohamady, Ahmed Hegazi, Omar Gaber, Ali Gazal, Ayman Ahsraf, Mahmoud Hamdy, Baher Elmohamady, Ahmed Ayman Mansour, Mahmoud Alaa, Ahmed Abou-Elfotouh
Midfielders: Walid Soliman, Abdallah El Said, Mohamed Elneny, Tarek Hamed, Mahmoud “Trezeguet” Hassan, Amr Warda, Nabil Emad
Forwards: Ahmed Ali, Mohamed Salah, Marwan Mohsen, Ahmed "Kouka" Hassan.
The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry
Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 298hp @ 6,600rpm
Torque: 356Nm @ 4,700rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
Director: Shawn Levy
Rating: 3/5
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
