Mask-clad Iraqi Kurdish students gather in the courtyard of their school in the northeastern city of Sulaimaniyah, on the first day of reopening. Schools were shut down in the region for three months due to the coronavirus pandemic. Grade 12 students returned to class last month. AFP
Mask-clad Iraqi Kurdish students gather in the courtyard of their school in the northeastern city of Sulaimaniyah, on the first day of reopening. Schools were shut down in the region for three months due to the coronavirus pandemic. Grade 12 students returned to class last month. AFP
Since January, the Iraqi Kurdistan region has witnessed a decrease in the number of infections and deaths from the Coronavirus. AFP
Since January, the Iraqi Kurdistan region has witnessed a decrease in the number of infections and deaths from the Coronavirus. AFP
A committee of teachers and health workers was to be formed to monitor the situation across Iraqi Kurdistan schools, reports said. AFP
A committee of teachers and health workers was to be formed to monitor the situation across Iraqi Kurdistan schools, reports said. AFP
Jordanian pupils return to school for the first time in nearly a year, in the capital Amman. Educational institutions were gradually reopening after a governmental directive to ease Covid-19 restrictions. AFP
Jordanian pupils return to school for the first time in nearly a year, in the capital Amman. Educational institutions were gradually reopening after a governmental directive to ease Covid-19 restrictions. AFP
A Jordanian teacher accompanies pupils leaving the school building after attending class for the first time in nearly a year, in the capital Amman. AFP
A Jordanian teacher accompanies pupils leaving the school building after attending class for the first time in nearly a year, in the capital Amman. AFP
Students stand in line following the reopening of their school, after the government eased Covid-19 restrictions in Amman. Reuters
Students stand in line following the reopening of their school, after the government eased Covid-19 restrictions in Amman. Reuters
Jordanian pupils return to school for the first time in nearly a year, in the capital Amman. AFP
Jordanian pupils return to school for the first time in nearly a year, in the capital Amman. AFP
Jordan's government decided to reopen schools after a drop in the number of Covid-19 cases over the past four weeks, reports said. Reuters
Jordan's government decided to reopen schools after a drop in the number of Covid-19 cases over the past four weeks, reports said. Reuters
Students listen to their teacher during a lesson following the reopening of their school in Amman. Reuters
Students listen to their teacher during a lesson following the reopening of their school in Amman. Reuters

MENA

From Jordan to Iraqi Kurdistan, pupils across Mena region return to school - in pictures

Youngsters in Jordan had been away from school for nearly a year

The National

February 11, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

More galleries from The National:

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
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Key changes

Commission caps

For life insurance products with a savings component, Peter Hodgins of Clyde & Co said different caps apply to the saving and protection elements:

• For the saving component, a cap of 4.5 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 90 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term). 

• On the protection component, there is a cap  of 10 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 160 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).

• Indemnity commission, the amount of commission that can be advanced to a product salesperson, can be 50 per cent of the annualised premium for the first year or 50 per cent of the total commissions on the policy calculated. 

• The remaining commission after deduction of the indemnity commission is paid equally over the premium payment term.

• For pure protection products, which only offer a life insurance component, the maximum commission will be 10 per cent of the annualised premium multiplied by the length of the policy in years.

Disclosure

Customers must now be provided with a full illustration of the product they are buying to ensure they understand the potential returns on savings products as well as the effects of any charges. There is also a “free-look” period of 30 days, where insurers must provide a full refund if the buyer wishes to cancel the policy.

“The illustration should provide for at least two scenarios to illustrate the performance of the product,” said Mr Hodgins. “All illustrations are required to be signed by the customer.”

Another illustration must outline surrender charges to ensure they understand the costs of exiting a fixed-term product early.

Illustrations must also be kept updatedand insurers must provide information on the top five investment funds available annually, including at least five years' performance data.

“This may be segregated based on the risk appetite of the customer (in which case, the top five funds for each segment must be provided),” said Mr Hodgins.

Product providers must also disclose the ratio of protection benefit to savings benefits. If a protection benefit ratio is less than 10 per cent "the product must carry a warning stating that it has limited or no protection benefit" Mr Hodgins added.

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

MENA