Covid-19 has wreaked havoc across the globe since it first appeared a year ago. The virus has killed more than a million, infected many millions more, damaged economies and put the world in retreat. News of the success of several vaccines including Pfizer and Moderna's brought hope the pandemic may be ending. But there is still much we don't know about the deadly virus. Here are five:
How long immunity will last
People who have been infected with the coronavirus typically produce antibodies, which are created by types of white blood cells called B cells. Other white blood cells called T cells are also key to the immune response.
Studies have shown antibody count in the blood may fall significantly after a person has cleared a coronavirus infection.
Despite this, the person may still be resistant to a further infection, because the immune system retains a “memory” of the original infection and so is able to mount a renewed response quickly. It is not known how long this immunity lasts.
It is also unclear how long immunity generated by a vaccine, which may differ in longevity from immunity after infection, will persist.
These unknowns about immunity from vaccination and infection can only be resolved, for obvious reasons, with the passage of time.
If coronavirus vaccines prevent transmission as well as illness
While several coronavirus vaccines have been shown in clinical trials to be highly effective at preventing illness, what is less clear is whether they can also stop transmission of the virus. This is key to cutting the virus’s prevalence.
There are positive signs with the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca vaccine. The university said there is an “early indication that [the] vaccine could reduce virus transmission” because fewer asymptomatic infections were seen among those who had been given the jab.
The World Health Organisation’s chief scientist, Dr Soumya Swaminathan, has said it is thought “it needs at least 60 to 70 per cent of the population to have immunity to really break the chain of transmission”.
However, some surveys show that a significant proportion of the population in some countries will not get themselves vaccinated.
A US survey in September found just 51 per cent of people there were willing to be vaccinated, with concerns centred on possible side effects and the effectiveness of vaccines, a potential stumbling block to efforts to create “herd immunity”, which cuts the spread of infectious diseases.
How long lasting the symptoms of infections will be
While many people with the coronavirus get back to normal quickly, or do not have any symptoms in the first place, others suffer effects that are long lasting.
Just how long that “long covid” can last remains to be seen, although experience with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic of 2002 to 2004 in Asia suggests that the effects in some patients may extend for a number of years.
One study of SARS patients found that the lung function of more than half of individuals was still affected two years after their illness.
With the new coronavirus, effects have persisted even in some people whose initial symptoms were relatively mild.
There is a wide range of long-lasting symptoms encompassing breathing difficulties, fatigue, depression, headaches, dizziness, neurological problems and kidney damage.
High levels of inflammation can cause damage to the heart, potentially increasing the risk of a heart attack, with research in Germany suggesting that even younger people may be affected longer term.
Why some people suffer much more severe symptoms than others
It is well known that certain groups are much more vulnerable to the coronavirus than others. Notably, elderly people, whose immune systems are likely to be weaker, along with men, people who are overweight, members of some ethnic groups and individuals with serious medical conditions have suffered much higher death rates.
However, sometimes younger people without obvious risk factors have become severely ill and even died, and clinicians have said that it is difficult to know in advance who will fall into this category.
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Some individuals have weak production of proteins called type I interferons and excessive production of substances called cytokines, a pattern associated with a potentially fatal state of hyperinflammation.
Genetic factors have been linked to some cases of severe illness among younger healthy people and members of other groups.
However, much remains to be understood about why some healthy individuals can deal with the virus without any illness, while in others the immune system ends up attacking the body’s own tissues and severe illness results.
How many people have actually been infected with the coronavirus
According to official World Health Organisation figures, there have been more than 63m confirmed cases of Covid-19, but the real number of infections, which is much higher, is unknown.
In early October, Dr Michael Ryan, the WHO’s head of emergencies, estimated that about one in 10 people worldwide had been infected, which translates to about 760 million cases. The official number of positive cases at the time was just over 35m or less than five percent the estimated actual total.
Studies have produced estimates of actual case numbers by testing for antibodies produced in response to the coronavirus.
For example, a study by scientists at Imperial College London, based on antibody testing of tens of thousands of people, suggested that by mid-July about 3.4 million people in the UK had had the disease. At that time the official number was below 300,000.
The ratio of official cases to actual cases will differ significantly from country to country because testing capacity varies.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Scoreline:
Manchester City 1
Jesus 4'
Brighton 0
The%20specs
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
SUCCESSION%20SEASON%204%20EPISODE%201
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreated%20by%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJesse%20Armstrong%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Brian%20Cox%2C%20Jeremy%20Strong%2C%20Kieran%20Culkin%2C%20Sarah%20Snook%2C%20Nicholas%20Braun%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
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The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
Black Panther
Dir: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o
Five stars
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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
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
The language of diplomacy in 1853
Treaty of Peace in Perpetuity Agreed Upon by the Chiefs of the Arabian Coast on Behalf of Themselves, Their Heirs and Successors Under the Mediation of the Resident of the Persian Gulf, 1853
(This treaty gave the region the name “Trucial States”.)
We, whose seals are hereunto affixed, Sheikh Sultan bin Suggar, Chief of Rassool-Kheimah, Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon, Chief of Aboo Dhebbee, Sheikh Saeed bin Buyte, Chief of Debay, Sheikh Hamid bin Rashed, Chief of Ejman, Sheikh Abdoola bin Rashed, Chief of Umm-ool-Keiweyn, having experienced for a series of years the benefits and advantages resulting from a maritime truce contracted amongst ourselves under the mediation of the Resident in the Persian Gulf and renewed from time to time up to the present period, and being fully impressed, therefore, with a sense of evil consequence formerly arising, from the prosecution of our feuds at sea, whereby our subjects and dependants were prevented from carrying on the pearl fishery in security, and were exposed to interruption and molestation when passing on their lawful occasions, accordingly, we, as aforesaid have determined, for ourselves, our heirs and successors, to conclude together a lasting and inviolable peace from this time forth in perpetuity.
Taken from Britain and Saudi Arabia, 1925-1939: the Imperial Oasis, by Clive Leatherdale
CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Read more about the coronavirus
UAE v Zimbabwe A
Results
Match 1 – UAE won by 4 wickets
Match 2 – UAE won by 5 wickets
Match 3 – UAE won by 25 runs
Match 4 – UAE won by 77 runs
Fixture
Match 5, Saturday, 9.30am start, ICC Academy, Dubai
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cargoz%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Premlal%20Pullisserry%20and%20Lijo%20Antony%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2030%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The bio
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite travel destination: Maldives and south of France
Favourite pastime: Family and friends, meditation, discovering new cuisines
Favourite Movie: Joker (2019). I didn’t like it while I was watching it but then afterwards I loved it. I loved the psychology behind it.
Favourite Author: My father for sure
Favourite Artist: Damien Hurst
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Quick%20facts
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The%20specs
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%E2%80%98White%20Elephant%E2%80%99
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Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes.
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
