A digital vaccine passport that acts as proof of immunisation against Covid-19 for its carrier was launched in Bahrain on Wednesday, making the island nation the first Gulf country to adopt the policy.
The country's BeAware app will update a user's immunity status two weeks after receiving both doses of the vaccine, allowing for the time it takes for antibodies to develop and offer protection against coronavirus.
Residents have a choice of four vaccines in the country, all without charge: Sinopharm, Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca and Sputnik V.
Once fully inoculated, the app will present a green "Covid-19 vaccinated" shield with an official certificate detailing the user's name, date of birth, nationality and which vaccine they received.
A QR code linked to Bahrain’s national vaccine register allows authorities to check the status of an app user.
Similar programmes under development in Sweden and Denmark are scheduled to launch shortly.
The passport would have to be accepted and recognised worldwide before it can be used as a travel stamp allowing crossing into other nations without the need to quarantine, but Bahrain's programme could open up safe travel around the GCC.
The nation is just 40 minutes from Saudi Arabia, and relies heavily on close links with the kingdom for trade and tourism via the King Fahd Causeway.
The idea of vaccine passports was mooted across Europe, not just to aid a reopening of travel but to allow the hospitality sector to recover by welcoming back customers.
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Inside Bahrain International Airport's new art-infused passenger terminal
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Although some international travel is likely to require proof of inoculation against Covid-19, European governments are split on a bloc-wide endorsement of vaccination passports.
The UK government is also divided on the use of inoculation certificates to allow international travel. Some ministers say they are discriminatory.
Proof of vaccine in a digital wallet could provide an incentive for some to get vaccinated and offer new work opportunities.
Critics, however, say there is a lack of evidence that vaccines effectively prohibit transmission, too little is known about emerging new variants and passports could be vulnerable to fraud.
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Navdeep Suri, India's Ambassador to the UAE
There has been a longstanding need from the Indian community to have a religious premises where they can practise their beliefs. Currently there is a very, very small temple in Bur Dubai and the community has outgrown this. So this will be a major temple and open to all denominations and a place should reflect India’s diversity.
It fits so well into the UAE’s own commitment to tolerance and pluralism and coming in the year of tolerance gives it that extra dimension.
What we will see on April 20 is the foundation ceremony and we expect a pretty broad cross section of the Indian community to be present, both from the UAE and abroad. The Hindu group that is building the temple will have their holiest leader attending – and we expect very senior representation from the leadership of the UAE.
When the designs were taken to the leadership, there were two clear options. There was a New Jersey model with a rectangular structure with the temple recessed inside so it was not too visible from the outside and another was the Neasden temple in London with the spires in its classical shape. And they said: look we said we wanted a temple so it should look like a temple. So this should be a classical style temple in all its glory.
It is beautifully located - 30 minutes outside of Abu Dhabi and barely 45 minutes to Dubai so it serves the needs of both communities.
This is going to be the big temple where I expect people to come from across the country at major festivals and occasions.
It is hugely important – it will take a couple of years to complete given the scale. It is going to be remarkable and will contribute something not just to the landscape in terms of visual architecture but also to the ethos. Here will be a real representation of UAE’s pluralism.
Day 4, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage appeared to have been hard done by when he had his dismissal of Sami Aslam chalked off for a no-ball. Replays suggested he had not overstepped. No matter. Two balls later, the exact same combination – Gamage the bowler and Kusal Mendis at second slip – combined again to send Aslam back.
Stat of the day Haris Sohail took three wickets for one run in the only over he bowled, to end the Sri Lanka second innings in a hurry. That was as many as he had managed in total in his 10-year, 58-match first-class career to date. It was also the first time a bowler had taken three wickets having bowled just one over in an innings in Tests.
The verdict Just 119 more and with five wickets remaining seems like a perfectly attainable target for Pakistan. Factor in the fact the pitch is worn, is turning prodigiously, and that Sri Lanka’s seam bowlers have also been finding the strip to their liking, it is apparent the task is still a tough one. Still, though, thanks to Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed, it is possible.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
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