UAE to discuss Covid-19's effect on education at Unesco conference

The UAE delegation at the Unesco General Conference this year will turn the spotlight on how the Covid-19 pandemic affected and changed the education sector.

The delegation, led by Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, will discuss global educational needs, including lessons learnt from the Covid-19 education response.

Ms Al Kaabi will deliver the UAE's speech at the 41st General Conference on Saturday morning to representatives from around the world.

Hosted every two years, the conference determines the policies and main lines of work undertaken by the organisation.

Running from November 9-24, delegates participating at the event set the programmes and budget for Unesco and elect the members of the executive board and appoints, every four years, the director general.

Ms Al Kaabi congratulated Audrey Azoulay on her re-election as director general of Unesco for a second four-year term.

Ms Azoulay was first elected in 2017, and was the only candidate for this new mandate, with 155 votes in favour, nine against and one abstention.

Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth at Unesco's 41st General Conference. Photo: Wam

"Congratulations to @AAzoulay on the trust of the international community and getting re-elected as director general of Unesco for the period 2022-2025,” Ms Al Kaabi tweeted.

“We wish her continued success and look forward to new co-operative partnerships.”

Earlier this year, the UAE was awarded a seat on Unesco’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

The country's membership will last until 2025. By becoming a member of the committee, the UAE promises to foster and promote cultural diversity.

Abu Dhabi this week was officially named the City of Music by Unesco and has pledged to host more international concerts to promote culture and creativity.

More than 50 locations around the world have been awarded the title, including Liverpool in England, which was the birthplace of the Beatles, and Ramallah in Palestine.

Ms Al Kaabi congratulated the emirate and said its new role plays a major factor in the UAE’s sustainable urban development plans.

“We congratulate the Emirate of Abu Dhabi for joining the Unesco Creative Cities Network,” she said.

“The designation of the City of Music corroborates the emirate’s successful strategy in developing cultural and creative industries."

Since its launch in 2004, the Cities of Music initiative has helped to establish creative projects around the world, including annual music festivals, dedicated podcasts and the expansion of creative spaces, such as theatres and concert halls.

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Winners

Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)

Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)

Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)

Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)

Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)

Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)

Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)

Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)

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Duterte Harry: Fire and Fury in the Philippines
Jonathan Miller, Scribe Publications

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Kumulus Water

Started: 2021

Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid

Based: Tunisia

Sector: Water technology

Number of staff: 22

Investment raised: $4 million

French business

France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.

No more lice

Defining head lice

Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.

Identifying lice

Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.

Treating lice at home

Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.

Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital

Russia's Muslim Heartlands

Dominic Rubin, Oxford

'Worse than a prison sentence'

Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.

“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.

“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.

“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.

“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.

“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”

Company Fact Box

Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019

Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO

Based: Amman, Jordan

Sector: Education Technology

Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed

Stage: early-stage startup

Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.