Boris Johnson ordered England into its third lockdown of the year on Tuesday, telling people to stay at home at all times other than for the following six reasons:
Even when leaving home for a permitted reason, people should always stay in the village, town, or part of the city to which they belong.
They may leave their local area only for a legally permitted reason, such as for work.
Clinically extremely vulnerable people can only go out for medical appointments, exercise or if it is essential. They are not allowed to attend work.
When will schools reopen for everyone and are nurseries still open?
Universities and schools will remain open only for vulnerable children and the children of critical workers.
All other children will learn remotely until February half-term at the earliest. Early years childcare services remain open.
Higher education provision will stay online until mid-February, for all except future critical worker courses.
Can I meet one person outside in lockdown 3?
People in England will be able to meet outside with just one person from another household or support bubble for exercise.
Leaving home to meet in a social setting with anyone other than members of the same household or a person in a support bubble is not allowed.
People should stay two metres apart except when in the company of their own household.
Can I get a takeaway in lockdown 3?
Restaurants can continue to sell food for delivery, collection or takeaway but cannot sell alcohol.
Will Premier League football and other elite sports continue in lockdown 3?
Elite sports such as the Premier League will be able to continue but with the same restrictions. This decision has been made in the face of a doubling in weekly Covid-19 infections in the Premier league which has seen the likes of Manchester City players Gabriel Jesus and Kyle Walker test positive.
Can I go to church and get married in lockdown 3?
Communal worship can continue with adherence to social distancing.
Wedding ceremonies will be allowed only in exceptional circumstances which include terminal illnesses, debilitating treatments or life-changing surgery. Where this applies, up to six people are allowed to attend the wedding, not including the staff.
Are driving tests and lessons allowed in lockdown 3?
All driving tests and lessons are banned during the third lockdown. Previously booked lessons and tests must be suspended.
Are opticians and dentists open in lockdown 3?
Opticians and dentists are allowed to remain open but the former under new strictures.
Opticians can provide urgent or emergency eyecare and essential contact lens check-ups.
Professional eyecare in people's homes can also be provided so long as protocol is followed. All other services must be provided remotely.
Dentists have fewer constraints and can see people for both urgent and non-urgent appointments.
Can tradespeople enter homes in lockdown 3?
Tradespeople can still visit people’s homes as they cannot effectively work from home.
The government guidance applies to those "working in, visiting or delivering to home environments" and includes "repairers, fitters, meter readers, plumbers, cleaners, cooks, childcare workers and surveyors (this is not an exhaustive list).”
Are estate agents open in lockdown 3 and can I still move home?
As with tradespeople, estate agents can also remain open during lockdown 3 as they cannot effectively carry out their jobs from home.
Rules regarding social distancing and wearing face coverings must be followed, however. The government also advises that initial viewings are done virtually, where possible.
Those attending a viewing are urged to avoid touching surfaces and to wash and sanitise their hands regularly.
Removal firms can also continue to operate, although "those outside your household or support bubble should not help with moving house unless absolutely necessary”, the government website states.
Can I go fishing in lockdown 3?
Fishing will not be permitted during the new lockdown and fisheries and clubs must close their waters to anglers.
The Angling Trust called the decision "disappointing" but asked its members to respect the rules "to help save lives and support the NHS".
The trust also said it would be "publishing more detailed guidance on specific areas like bailiffing and fishery maintenance" once it had thoroughly examined the new regulations.
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Greatest Royal Rumble results
John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match
Cedric Alexander retained the WWE Cruiserweight title against Kalisto
Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt win the Raw Tag Team titles against Cesaro and Sheamus
Jeff Hardy retained the United States title against Jinder Mahal
Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos
Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe
AJ Styles remains WWE World Heavyweight champion after he and Shinsuke Nakamura are both counted out
The Undertaker beats Rusev in a casket match
Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Milkman by Anna Burns
Ordinary People by Diana Evans
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Circe by Madeline Miller
T20 World Cup Qualifier A, Muscat
Friday, February 18: 10am - Oman v Nepal, Canada v Philippines; 2pm - Ireland v UAE, Germany v Bahrain
Saturday, February 19: 10am - Oman v Canada, Nepal v Philippines; 2pm - UAE v Germany, Ireland v Bahrain
Monday, February 21: 10am - Ireland v Germany, UAE v Bahrain; 2pm - Nepal v Canada, Oman v Philippines
Tuesday, February 22: 2pm – semi-finals
Thursday, February 24: 2pm – final
UAE squad: Ahmed Raza (captain), Muhammad Waseem, Chirag Suri, Vriitya Aravind, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Raja Akifullah, Karthik Meiyappan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Zafar Farid, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Rahul Bhatia
All matches to be streamed live on icc.tv
Gender equality in the workplace still 200 years away
It will take centuries to achieve gender parity in workplaces around the globe, according to a December report from the World Economic Forum.
The WEF study said there had been some improvements in wage equality in 2018 compared to 2017, when the global gender gap widened for the first time in a decade.
But it warned that these were offset by declining representation of women in politics, coupled with greater inequality in their access to health and education.
At current rates, the global gender gap across a range of areas will not close for another 108 years, while it is expected to take 202 years to close the workplace gap, WEF found.
The Geneva-based organisation's annual report tracked disparities between the sexes in 149 countries across four areas: education, health, economic opportunity and political empowerment.
After years of advances in education, health and political representation, women registered setbacks in all three areas this year, WEF said.
Only in the area of economic opportunity did the gender gap narrow somewhat, although there is not much to celebrate, with the global wage gap narrowing to nearly 51 per cent.
And the number of women in leadership roles has risen to 34 per cent globally, WEF said.
At the same time, the report showed there are now proportionately fewer women than men participating in the workforce, suggesting that automation is having a disproportionate impact on jobs traditionally performed by women.
And women are significantly under-represented in growing areas of employment that require science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills, WEF said.
* Agence France Presse
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.”
Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Geneva from Dh2,845 return, including taxes. The flight takes 6 hours.
The package
Clinique La Prairie offers a variety of programmes. A six-night Master Detox costs from 14,900 Swiss francs (Dh57,655), including all food, accommodation and a set schedule of medical consultations and spa treatments.
