Pharmaceutical company Pfizer announced positive early results on its Covid-19 vaccine trial and has proven to be 90 per cent effective in preventing infection of the virus. Getty Images
Pharmaceutical company Pfizer announced positive early results on its Covid-19 vaccine trial and has proven to be 90 per cent effective in preventing infection of the virus. Getty Images
Pharmaceutical company Pfizer announced positive early results on its Covid-19 vaccine trial and has proven to be 90 per cent effective in preventing infection of the virus. Getty Images
Pharmaceutical company Pfizer announced positive early results on its Covid-19 vaccine trial and has proven to be 90 per cent effective in preventing infection of the virus. Getty Images

How can we deliver a Covid-19 vaccine to everyone in the world?


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Thank you for covering the heartening news about Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine, which has shown 90 per cent effectiveness (November 10). The drug company said that it can produce 50 million vaccines in 2020 and 1.3 billion more in 2021. These doses are not enough. Pharmaceutical companies should increase production exponentially by involving their subsidiaries worldwide.

Although news of a potential breakthrough is great, perhaps it is best if we wait for the final results before declaring an effective vaccine has finally been found. Every country should finalise plans to inoculate its population within three months of the vaccine being freely available. Some countries have expressed concerns about their ability to source enough vials, syringes and needles to inoculate millions of citizens. They also have concerns about establishing an efficient cold chain to deliver the vaccine across the world.

These are surmountable hurdles. Governments in countries with large populations should gear large private companies to produce the equipment needed. Private companies also have robust cold chains and distribution systems that can reach remote areas.

There are two critical elements to ensure that countries inoculate their populations within three months of the vaccine being available. First, there has to be a decision at the highest executive level in every country, to make vaccination a priority. Secondly, strong national leadership, capable of delivering on these promises is required.

Rajendra Aneja, Dubai

Saeb Erekat: the world has lost a great advocate for Palestinians

I am writing to you in reference to a video posted on The National's Facebook page with the following caption: Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat dies of Covid-19. Erekat was a hero who fought for peace and freedom for the Palestinians. May he rest in peace.

Abdi Ngurusi, Kenya

India is proud of Kamala Harris and Americans should be too

I write to you in reference to your article Why Kamala Harris's suffragette white suit is a beacon of hope for the future (November 9). After a heated race, the results of the American election have finally come out. Americans have decided that Joe Biden will be their 46th president. The government's failure to curb the spread of the coronavirus, as well as its controversial migration policies, may have led to the downfall of Donald Trump.

The fact that Mr Biden’s running mate is a woman of Indian descent is a matter of great pride for ordinary Indians, given her inspirational story. The people have voted and it is now time to accept the outcome of the elections. It is sad to see that 1.3 billion Indians are more proud of Ms Harris’s success than some Americans who refuse to accept the results of the election. Kudos to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

K Ragavan, Bengaluru

Day 3 stumps

New Zealand 153 & 249
Pakistan 227 & 37-0 (target 176)

Pakistan require another 139 runs with 10 wickets remaining

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

GOLF’S RAHMBO

- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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UAE squad

Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.

UAE tour of Zimbabwe

All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I

if you go

The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow. 
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes). 

Race card

6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 (PA) US$100,000 (Dirt) 2,000m

7.05pm: Meydan Classic Listed (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,600m

7.40pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 2,000m

8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (D) 1,600m

8.50pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy Group 2 (TB) $300,000 (T) 2,810m

9.25pm: Curlin Stakes Listed (TB) $175,000 (D) 2,000m

10pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 2,000m

10.35pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,400m

The National selections

6.30pm: Shahm, 7.05pm: Well Of Wisdom, 7.40pm: Lucius Tiberius, 8.15pm: Captain Von Trapp, 8.50pm: Secret Advisor, 9.25pm: George Villiers, 10pm: American Graffiti, 10.35pm: On The Warpath

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

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Company Profile

Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million

Karwaan

Producer: Ronnie Screwvala

Director: Akarsh Khurana

Starring: Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan, Mithila Palkar

Rating: 4/5

Student Of The Year 2

Director: Punit Malhotra

Stars: Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutaria, Ananya Pandey, Aditya Seal 

1.5 stars