The massive revolt by British Conservative Party Members of Parliament against Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s plans to introduce new anti-Covid-19 measures this week reflects the growing unease throughout Europe over the re-introduction of restrictions against the virus.
Mr Johnson’s bruising encounter with his own MPs this week stemmed from his government’s attempts to introduce a measure that legally required attendees at large events, such as nightclubs and football matches, to provide either proof of vaccination or a negative test before entering.
Opponents of the move accused Mr Johnson of attempting to introduce so-called vaccination passports, a measure civil liberties campaigners argue unfairly discriminates against those who have not received jabs.
Even though Mr Johnson personally sought to reassure MPs that the requirement was a temporary measure, almost 100 Tory MPs voted against the new rule when it was presented to the Commons, and the legislation only passed due to the support it received from opposition Labour MPs.
Moreover, the difficulties Mr Johnson experienced in seeking to reintroduce measures last used during last winter’s lockdown in England are symptomatic of the growing resistance governments throughout Europe are encountering as they struggle to contend with the spread of the new Omicron variant.
Opposition to the imposition of new measures essentially appears to stem from two fundamental issues. The first concerns complaints that governments are seeking to impose unnecessary restrictions on personal liberties in their drive to tackle the virus.
Protesters gather for a flashmob demonstration to demand emergency income and financing in front of the Milan branch of the Bank of Italy. EPA
Owners of restaurants and event organisers gather to protest at rally in front of the colosseum in Verona. EPA
Italian chefs and restaurant owners gather near place settings positioned on the street as they participate in a protest at Pantheon Square in Rome. AFP
People take part in a protest organised by fairs and events workers in Warsaw, Poland. EPA
A sticker reading "Hospitality not at closing" is pictured during a protest in Barcelona, Spain. Reuters
A Guy Fawkes mask hangs on a wing mirror as taxi drivers protest in Barcelona, Spain. Reuters
Owners of bars and restaurants in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, protest against the new restrictions imposed to stop the coronavirus spread. EPA
Artists and employees of events companies protest at Alexanderplatz in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images
Protesters demonstrate in support of the event sector in Berlin, Germany. Reuters
Demonstrators protest against the Czech government's measures in Prague, Czech Republic. EPA
The Czech Republic recorded a rise in Covid-19 cases, resulting in the government imposing a series of new restrictive measures. EPA
The other, more worrying, dissent comes from anti-vaxxer groups who are fundamentally opposed to receiving anti-Covid-19 jabs for a variety of ideological reasons.
Anti-vaxxers mainly seem to consist of supporters of populist and far-right parties, although some are adherents of alternative medicine, hippies and libertarians. Others object to the jabs on religious grounds.
Not being vaccinated certainly has its risks. In Britain, where more than 80 per cent of the adult population has received at least two jabs, the majority of those who have been hospitalised with the virus in recent weeks are those who remain unvaccinated.
In Europe, opposition to vaccinations means that around one third of the EU’s total population still have not received their jabs.
Moreover, their failure to do so is increasingly becoming a source of friction with those who have had their jabs, who accuse the refuseniks of prolonging the pandemic by failing to act in the public interest.
By far the most dramatic incident in Europe relating to anti-vaxxer groups took place in Germany this week when police in the eastern state of Saxony launched a series of raids after death threats were made against a prominent politician for backing coronavirus measures.
The death threats were made against Premier Michael Kretschmer who has publicly declared his support for the introduction of new coronavirus measures. A German television documentary accused far-right anti-vaccination activists of making threats against the state premier, prompting German anti-extremist officers to raid a number of locations in Saxony, which has the lowest vaccination take-up in the country. Far-right activists in the state are also suspected of plotting violence with crossbows or other "piercing weapons".
Suggestions that far-right anti-vaccination groups have been plotting against German politicians have caused a major headache for Germany's new chancellor, Olaf Scholz, who told MPs on Wednesday that "this tiny minority of uninhibited extremists" would not be allowed to impose their will on society.
Last week Germany's new government steered through a draft law to require all health workers and soldiers to get vaccinated by next spring, and Chancellor Scholz has backed mandatory vaccines for all adults early in 2022.
The German government’s no-nonsense moves to tackle the new strain certainly appear to have the backing of both politicians and the public. While support for a nationwide vaccine mandate had previously been regarded as taboo, several state premiers are now backing such measures for the entire country. And a recent opinion poll suggests 72 per cent of Germans are in favour of imposing a vaccine mandate.
Opponents of rules to enforce vaccinations are not just confined to Germany, where on Monday night some 3,500 people demonstrated in the eastern city of Magdeburg, chanting "peace, freedom, no dictatorship".
Thousands of opponents of anti-covid-19 measures have staged protests in Italy, Switzerland and Northern Ireland, while in Belgium and the Netherlands rioters have sparked violent clashes with the police.
Emotions have also been running high in neighbouring Austria, where the government imposed a nationwide lockdown in response to the emergence of the new Omicron variant. An estimated 40,000 unvaccinated Austrians marched through the capital, Vienna, with some protesters carrying placards likening Alexander Schallenberg, Austria’s new chancellor, to Josef Mengele, the sadistic physician at the Nazi concentration camp in Auschwitz.
In France, meanwhile, the authorities are concentrating their attention on the over-65s, placing anyone who has not received a third booster jab under lockdown from Wednesday.
The new measure has been introduced as the country seeks to ward off a massive Christmas surge of both the Delta and Omicron variants. As a result, France's health pass, the “passe sanitaire”, will no longer be valid without a booster, barring those without a third dose from visiting any restaurant or cafe, using inter-city trains and going to cultural venues like cinemas or museums.
The French government says some 400,000 people aged 65 and over who are eligible for the boosters are yet to receive them, accounting for 12 per cent of those aged 80 and above and 10 per cent of those aged 65 to 79.
Amid all the gloom surrounding the new measures in Europe there is, though, one note of optimism. A study by American researchers at the Nestle Purina Research institute in Missouri has found that dog-owners are better-equipped to deal with lockdowns and other measures, as owning a dog generates a feeling of being loved and valued during the pandemic, and that dog-owners are less likely to show signs of depression.
Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:
• Dubai Marina
The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104
• Downtown
Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure. “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154
• City Walk
The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena. “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210
• Jumeirah Lake Towers
Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941
• Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152
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The Africa Institute 101
Housed on the same site as the original Africa Hall, which first hosted an Arab-African Symposium in 1976, the newly renovated building will be home to a think tank and postgraduate studies hub (it will offer master’s and PhD programmes). The centre will focus on both the historical and contemporary links between Africa and the Gulf, and will serve as a meeting place for conferences, symposia, lectures, film screenings, plays, musical performances and more. In fact, today it is hosting a symposium – 5-plus-1: Rethinking Abstraction that will look at the six decades of Frank Bowling’s career, as well as those of his contemporaries that invested social, cultural and personal meaning into abstraction.
This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens
450,000
More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps
1.5 million
There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m
73
The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association
18,000
The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme
77,400
The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study
4,926
This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
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DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Date started: January 2017 Founder: Khaled Zaatarah Based: Dubai and Los Angeles Sector: Technology Size: 21 employees Funding: $7 million Investors: Shorooq Partners, KBW Ventures, Vision Ventures, Hala Ventures, 500Startups, Plug and Play, Magnus Olsson, Samih Toukan, Jonathan Labin
Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi
From: Dara
To: Team@
Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT
Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East
Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.
Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.
I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.
This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.
It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.
