Britain has already announced a commitment of $1.047 billion to the Act-A global vaccination programme. AFP
Britain has already announced a commitment of $1.047 billion to the Act-A global vaccination programme. AFP
Britain has already announced a commitment of $1.047 billion to the Act-A global vaccination programme. AFP
Britain has already announced a commitment of $1.047 billion to the Act-A global vaccination programme. AFP

Support global Covid vaccination efforts or lose billions, UK told


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The UK will protect its own economy by contributing to the costs of global vaccine distribution, a report commissioned by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has found.

The Global Britain and the Last Mile of Economic Recovery study concluded that by supporting and expanding the effects of the global vaccination programme, the UK will boost its public health stature and reaffirm its commitment to a multilateral solution for the Covid crisis.

The findings of the report come days after UK Finance Minister Rishi Sunak announced that Britain would pare back its foreign aid spending to try to reduce Britain's Covid-fuelled deficit.

Mr Sunak was looking for short-term gains whereas the study extols the long-term gains of a more outward-looking approach.

Britain has already announced a commitment of $1.04 billion to the global Act-A programme, a commitment the report says will pay dividends.

It said that given the UK’s close ties to several fast-growing low and lower-middle-income countries, the contribution will pay for itself.

The report said this was because of the divergence in outcomes between global equitable vaccine distribution and a situation where only some countries could treat Covid-19 effectively.

It highlights the divergence in this chart:

Low and lower middle countries face markedly different prognoses contingent on the support they receive rolling out the Covid vaccine. IMF
Low and lower middle countries face markedly different prognoses contingent on the support they receive rolling out the Covid vaccine. IMF

And in this chart it shows how the fortunes of the UK's economy are inextricably linked with the economies of low and lower-middle-income countries:

UK economic interests are entwined with those of LLMICs. Eurasia Group
UK economic interests are entwined with those of LLMICs. Eurasia Group

What the UK stands to lose if those countries are not supported

Visitors from those countries spend about £2.4bn ($3.21bn) in the UK each year, led by tourists from India, Nigeria, and Pakistan.

The report suggests the UK stands to lose as much as a third of these tourism receipts (£820 million) in 2020-21 should equitable vaccine efforts fail.

And it says that this figure could rise to £1.95bn over the next five years.

The UK's education sector also stands to lose significantly, up to £240m between 2020-25, the report said.

And with emerging markets an increasing source of growth for Britain's manufacturing sector, UK producers could find themselves losing £1.51bn during the same period.

The UK's trailblazing financial sector is not inured from harm either.

Britain exports nearly £60bn in financial services a year with £400m in receipts coming from countries outside the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

The report estimates that £65m could be at risk for the sector.

Chance to prove multilateral intent

Aside from monetary gains, the report says that with Brexit looming, the UK can reassert its multilateral credentials by playing a prominent role in global aid efforts.

Such a role "would reaffirm the UK’s alignment with the UN Development Goals and build goodwill with high-potential emerging markets.

"Supporting these countries economically can further pave improved opportunities for British companies to pursue growth in markets beyond Europe and North America."

The report's conclusion opposes the idea that nationalism best serves the economic interests of states.

"The world cannot return to normal until the pandemic is contained everywhere," it said.

"The UK’s economic links to [lower-income nations] ensure this contribution will pay for itself.

"The benefits to domestic pandemic management and the projection of Global Britain at this crucial juncture add further weight to the case."

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson jubilantly heralded the approval of the Pfizer vaccine on Wednesday but warned that the UK "can't think it's game over".

Whether Mr Johnson was thinking of the rest of the world remains to be seen.

F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Gothia Cup 2025

4,872 matches 

1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

26 UAE teams

15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

Quick%20facts
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EStorstockholms%20Lokaltrafik%20(SL)%20offers%20free%20guided%20tours%20of%20art%20in%20the%20metro%20and%20at%20the%20stations%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20tours%20are%20free%20of%20charge%3B%20all%20you%20need%20is%20a%20valid%20SL%20ticket%2C%20for%20which%20a%20single%20journey%20(valid%20for%2075%20minutes)%20costs%2039%20Swedish%20krone%20(%243.75)%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ETravel%20cards%20for%20unlimited%20journeys%20are%20priced%20at%20165%20Swedish%20krone%20for%2024%20hours%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EAvoid%20rush%20hour%20%E2%80%93%20between%209.30%20am%20and%204.30%20pm%20%E2%80%93%20to%20explore%20the%20artwork%20at%20leisure%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
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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)

UAE central contracts

Full time contracts

Rohan Mustafa, Ahmed Raza, Mohammed Usman, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid

Part time contracts

Aryan Lakra, Ansh Tandon, Karthik Meiyappan, Rahul Bhatia, Alishan Sharafu, CP Rizwaan, Basil Hameed, Matiullah, Fahad Nawaz, Sanchit Sharma

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Company%20profile
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MATCH INFO

Red Star Belgrade v Tottenham Hotspur, midnight (Thursday), UAE

AL%20BOOM
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet

Petrarch: Everywhere a Wanderer
Christopher Celenza,
Reaktion Books

MATCH INFO

Manchester United v Brighton, Sunday, 6pm UAE

Fixtures

Friday Leganes v Alaves, 10.15pm; Valencia v Las Palmas, 12.15am

Saturday Celta Vigo v Real Sociedad, 8.15pm; Girona v Atletico Madrid, 10.15pm; Sevilla v Espanyol, 12.15am

Sunday Athletic Bilbao v Getafe, 8.15am; Barcelona v Real Betis, 10.15pm; Deportivo v Real Madrid, 12.15am

Monday Levante v Villarreal, 10.15pm; Malaga v Eibar, midnight

Company%C2%A0profile
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Arrogate's winning run

1. Maiden Special Weight, Santa Anita Park, June 5, 2016

2. Allowance Optional Claiming, Santa Anita Park, June 24, 2016

3. Allowance Optional Claiming, Del Mar, August 4, 2016

4. Travers Stakes, Saratoga, August 27, 2016

5. Breeders' Cup Classic, Santa Anita Park, November 5, 2016

6. Pegasus World Cup, Gulfstream Park, January 28, 2017

7. Dubai World Cup, Meydan Racecourse, March 25, 2017

Match info

Arsenal 0

Manchester City 2
Sterling (14'), Bernardo Silva (64')

The Bio

Name: Lynn Davison

Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi

Children: She has one son, Casey, 28

Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK

Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Favourite Author: CJ Sansom

Favourite holiday destination: Bali

Favourite food: A Sunday roast