Whether they continue the lockdown and prioritise public health, or ease measures to avoid an economic collapse that will be devastating for their current and future financial and psychological wellbeing, nations and their leaders will be forced to reinvent themselves. Certainly, it will not be possible for them to return to the broad-based policies that had been put in place before Covid-19, with the virus having already altered the globalised landscape and upended nations’ geopolitical plans.
Even as the large, rich and powerful countries currently struggle to contain the coronavirus pandemic, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned of its dire consequences on the future of vulnerable countries in the Middle East.
A medical worker prepares to check the temperature of an AFP photojournalist before a COVID-19 coronavirus test in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province. AFP
People queue up outside a fruit shop in Beijing. AFP
A man eats in a restaurant that has only one seat per table and markings on the floor to enforce social distancing in Beijing. AFP
A delivery courier tapes a package along a road in the central business district in Beijing. AP Photo
A man walks past bronze bull statues along a business street in Beijing. AFP
A vendor waits for customers at a market in Shenyang in China's northeastern Liaoning province. AFP
A security guard in Personal Protective Equipment suit gives directions to a passerby during lunch hour in Beijing's Central Business District. Reuters
Office workers wear protective during lunch hour near Beijing’s Central Business District. Reuters
Office workers wearing protective masks walk in a park as people practice boxing during lunch hour near Beijing's Central Business District. Reuters
A worker produces face masks at a factory in Shenyang in China's northeastern Liaoning province. AFP
The ICRC has also noted that these nations are vulnerable not just due to their poor health and social infrastructure, but also because they are susceptible to violent social and political unrest as a reaction to their respective governments’ inadequate response to the crisis.
Iran, despite being one of the first countries in the Middle East to be hit by the coronavirus, has discovered that even in these circumstances, the US will not lift sanctions and Europe will not circumvent them. Tehran could well be upset by this reality, but it may also have concluded that unless it changes its regional policies, as well as its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, the sanctions will remain in place.
The question, therefore, is whether the pandemic will force the region’s countries to reconsider their policies and reinvent themselves in order to save themselves. One problem is that global powers will be less capable of coming to their rescue due to their focus on the devastation in their own backyards.
In the post-Covid-19 brave new era, countries such as China, Russia and the US – as well as members of the EU and the G20 – will be forced to submit to radical reforms, both locally and globally.
Reform could also be waiting to happen within global institutions, such as the United Nations and its various agencies – including the World Health Organisation. President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend US funding for the WHO – in a protest against its alleged bias towards China – has been met with positive and negative responses within that country. The reaction outside the US has mostly been negative – irrespective of whether Mr Trump was justified or not in taking such action – given the realisation that we are all in this together.
Supranational groups such as the European Union have also been seen to be wanting in their ability to deliver solutions. The 27-nation bloc can no longer pretend as if nothing has changed following Brexit and the spread of Covid-19. Few will doubt the EU is facing huge economic, political and social challenges at the moment.
The dynamics that prevailed before the pandemic within the Group of 20, or G20, cannot continue to exist either, while the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will find an opportunity to review some of its policies amid shrinking oil prices – due in large part to the glut in oil supplies, which can be attributed to a collapse in the demand for hydrocarbons in the wake of the global viral outbreak.
GCC ministers met via video link. Wam
Dr Andrei Fedorov, former deputy foreign minister of Russia and chairman of the Fund for Political Research, expects oil reservoirs to be nearly full in Russia, the US and everywhere else in the world – to the extent that these countries will be “obliged to get rid of it at any price even if the oil price goes down to zero” and the reason is that “you cannot stop production in the pipelines”. He added that this could happen in four weeks, and therefore, “by the end or mid-May, there will be a new oil crisis if it is not possible to go back to oil production”. He warned that if we get to the zero-point in May, “there will be no chance to restart the world economy without heavy losses”.
Most world leaders are moving with extreme caution, fearing they could squander a chance to restart the world economy, and expedite collapse.
May seems to be the month when most leaders hope to see a return to work and a gradual reduction in unemployment that has especially been devastating for the US, where more than 20 million people are claiming jobless allowances. The stakes are high, including Mr Trump’s re-election chances later this year. There is also concern of the adverse impact of America’s continued lockdown on other economies around the globe. “If the US economy is not reopened soon, this will kill the world economy,” Dr Fedorov said.
Iranian army commander-in-chief Abdolrahim Mousavi speaking during an army parade in Tehran. AFP
For its part, he added, “Russia is unable to play a role in the global economic agenda because of oil as well as the impact of the global economic crisis”. For this reason, there is talk in Moscow about reformulating the priorities of Russian foreign policy as the global conversation focuses on assessing how the coronavirus has impacted globalisation and the world economy.
There is, of course, an opportunity to restart the economy between the months of May and September – instead of keeping everything on lockdown indefinitely. But with fears of a second wave of the pandemic in China in the autumn season, many world leaders will be expected to formulate plans accordingly but also fearing for the future.
Raghida Dergham is the founder and executive chairwoman of the Beirut Institute
Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)
Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister. "We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know. “All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.” It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins. Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement. The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
Red flags
Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
Favourite hobby: I love to sing but I don’t get to sing as much nowadays sadly.
Favourite book: Anything by Sidney Sheldon.
Favourite movie: The Exorcist 2. It is a big thing in our family to sit around together and watch horror movies, I love watching them.
Favourite holiday destination: The favourite place I have been to is Florence, it is a beautiful city. My dream though has always been to visit Cyprus, I really want to go there.
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The Equaliser 2
Director Antoine Fuqua
Starring: Denzel Washington, Bill Pullman, Melissa Leo, Ashton Sanders
Three stars
Biography
Favourite book: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Holiday choice: Anything Disney-related
Proudest achievement: Receiving a presidential award for foreign services.
Family: Wife and three children.
Like motto: You always get what you ask for, the universe listens.
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
ATP China Open
G Dimitrov (BUL x3) bt R Bautista Agut (ESP x5)
7-6, 4-6, 6-2
R Nadal (ESP x1) bt J Isner (USA x6)
6-4, 7-6
WTA China Open
S Halep (ROU x2) bt D Kasatkina (RUS)
6-2, 6-1
J Ostapenko (LAT x9) bt S Cirstea (ROU)
6-4, 6-4
ATP Japan Open
D Schwartzman (ARG x8) bt S Johnson (USA)
6-0, 7-5
D Goffin (BEL x4) bt R Gasquet (FRA)
7-5, 6-2
M Cilic (CRO x1) bt R Harrison (USA)
6-2, 6-0
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
