Capital hosts new energy group

ABU DHABI // The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs addressed more than 150 representatives of 70 countries at the first meeting of the administrative committee of the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) yesterday. At a meeting at Emirates Palace, Dr Mohammed Anwar Gargash, said: "This gathering symbolises the world's determination to prepare for a post-oil era and the UAE's readiness to take a lead in the region in the task of diversifying our energy sources," according to the state-owned news agency, WAM.

Abu Dhabi was chosen to host the headquarters of the international organisation in June after Austria and Germany withdrew their bids to avoid a contentious vote. Irena was established early last year to encourage governments to adopt renewable energy sources. The UAE lobbied aggressively to host the headquarters in the hope that it would increase the country's profile. The offices are to be established in the carbon-neutral Masdar City, which is currently under construction.

Irena's administrative committee will meet again today to further discuss the organisation's establishment.
newsdesk@thenational.ae

From Europe to the Middle East, economic success brings wealth - and lifestyle diseases

A rise in obesity figures and the need for more public spending is a familiar trend in the developing world as western lifestyles are adopted.

One in five deaths around the world is now caused by bad diet, with obesity the fastest growing global risk. A high body mass index is also the top cause of metabolic diseases relating to death and disability in Kuwait, Qatar and Oman – and second on the list in Bahrain.

In Britain, heart disease, lung cancer and Alzheimer’s remain among the leading causes of death, and people there are spending more time suffering from health problems.

The UK is expected to spend $421.4 billion on healthcare by 2040, up from $239.3 billion in 2014.

And development assistance for health is talking about the financial aid given to governments to support social, environmental development of developing countries.