Indians in the UK have raised more than £1.5 million ($2m) to buy oxygen for the subcontinent as it grapples with a devastating wave of Covid-19.
The British Asian Trust said the Oxygen for India appeal aims to send as many oxygen concentrators to Indian hospitals as possible.
The world's second-most populous country has reported more than 300,000 new infections daily for nine consecutive days.
Another global record of 386,452 cases and 3,500 deaths were reported by India on Friday.
The coronavirus surge has led to a public health crisis, forcing the government to seek oxygen and medicine from overseas.
Despite the government’s efforts, oxygen supplies and hospital beds remain in desperately short supply.
Many relatives of Covid-19 patients have paid inflated prices for oxygen on the black market.
Manoj Badale, chairman of the British Asian Trust, said Indians in the UK “simply cannot stand by and do nothing”.
“The situation is desperate right now. The scenes people are witnessing are deeply tragic – they see people lying in hospital car parks full of screaming relatives,” he said.
The organisation aims to raise £2m for the purchase of oxygen concentrators – a device that recycles oxygen from the air and delivers it to the patient. In contrast, oxygen cylinders deliver air from a limited supply.
The trust says a single low-flow oxygen concentrator costs £450, while a high-flow device costs £830.
Britain’s Prince Charles urged people to donate.
“Indian aid and ingenuity has been a support to other countries through this immensely difficult time,” he said. “As India has helped others, so now must we help India.”
To donate, visit justgiving.com/campaign/indiacovidappeal.
More on coronavirus in India
Indian army opens hospitals as Covid-19 crisis accelerates
'Stay strong India': Dubai billboards deliver public display of support
India can't afford to let its guard down again
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Blah
Started: 2018
Founder: Aliyah Al Abbar and Hend Al Marri
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and talent management
Initial investment: Dh20,000
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 40
MATCH INFO
Fixture: Thailand v UAE, Tuesday, 4pm (UAE)
TV: Abu Dhabi Sports
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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
