With regard to Simon Rushton's report UK joins global effort to tackle Covid-19 crisis in India (April 25): Thank you to the UK and the other countries proving the necessity of international co-operation when we so desperately need it. Millions in our country will be grateful. But we have to learn from this horrible reality. The longer-term solution though is preparedness, discipline and a successful vaccination drive in our overpopulated country, all of which are tough tasks.
Suman Juyal, Delhi
Thank God the world is coming to their aid.
Pauline Van Lelyveld, Blantyre, Malawi
India's Covid-19 cases shot up from about 100,000 a day in the last quarter of 2020 to about 350,000 daily these days. The Indian health structure is nearing collapse. What will happen if the number of daily cases spiral to 500,000 or more cases per day?
We have to plan for the worst-case scenarios in terms of equipment and resources, even as we hope for the best. India should not be caught with its guard down again. We cannot get complacent like we did earlier this year, believing we had this under control and the worst was over. India must also research the new double mutant aggressively to understand how the virus works and how best to counter it.
Rajendra Aneja, Dubai
The pictures are heartbreaking. Sending solidarity from across the border to our brothers and sisters in India. May God help the people in need.
Kashif Naseem, Peshawar, Pakistan
Hats off to government initiatives in the UAE in controlling the pandemic and also helping India in the true spirit of Ramadan.
Shivanand Savur, Pune, India
Thanks to all countries that are helping India. There is a lot of goodness in this world.
Evon Rawlings, Ajman
Ramadan traditions that warm the heart
With reference to Nilanjana Gupta's report Journey of Dubai's Ramadan cannon that signals iftar for thousands of people (April 13): Lovely to see some of these traditions carried down through generations. They have immense value.
Alice Proudfoot, Abu Dhabi
Sympathies for the Indonesian crew on the submarine
With regard to the report Indonesia mourns as lost submarine crew say goodbye in last video (April 27): this is so painful and heart breaking. My deepest sympathies.
Musatapha Ahmad, Abu Dhabi
A sad moment for the people of Indonesia. We, the people of Pakistan, pay our condolences to loved ones of all the 53 crew on board KRI Nanggala 402. We feel your loss and pray for you.
Mehran Ali Tipo, Khanewal, Pakistan
2024%20Dubai%20Marathon%20Results
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Boulder shooting victims
• Denny Strong, 20
• Neven Stanisic, 23
• Rikki Olds, 25
• Tralona Bartkowiak, 49
• Suzanne Fountain, 59
• Teri Leiker, 51
• Eric Talley, 51
• Kevin Mahoney, 61
• Lynn Murray, 62
• Jody Waters, 65
Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
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Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
The years Ramadan fell in May
