Cop26 delegates will be exempt from the Scottish government’s vaccine passport requirement and will instead be asked to take a lateral flow test each day.
In a move which has said to have angered hospitality bosses, about 30,000 delegates will be allowed to enter the main conference – Scottish Event Campus – and fringe events without showing proof of having had two jabs. Instead, guests will be asked to take a daily lateral flow device test and provide a negative result.
Under a Scottish government scheme launched last Friday, full vaccination against Covid is required to attend events with more than 10,000 people, as well as nightclubs and unseated indoor events with more than 500 attendees.
The introduction of the rule was racked by teething problems as the mobile phone app used to prove inoculation suffered failures. Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, apologised to Scots who were unable to access their records on the app, which led to several venues not asking for proof of jabs over the weekend.
About 30,000 people are expected to the visit the UN climate change conference in Glasgow between October 31 and November 12. The Scotsman newspaper reported that the Scottish Hospitality Group was angered by the vaccine passport exemption for Cop26.
Meanwhile, Cop26 President Alok Sharma said the bold climate change warnings put forward by Greta Thunberg should be heeded by world leaders, who should take action to protect the environment.
Mr Sharma, a senior Conservative MP, admitted he felt “really uncomfortable” when he first heard the Swedish activist speak in 2019. But he said this was because the teenager had held a mirror up to his generation and highlighted why they needed to act.
Mr Sharma made the admission during a conversation with Stanley Johnson, father of Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson, at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester.
Ms Thunberg, 18, last month took a dig at Mr Johnson by quoting parts of his speeches on climate change and adding “blah, blah, blah”.
The prime minister’s father referred to himself as “very pro-Greta”, saying: “I thought she did a fantastic job … she’s helped mobilise the young and it’s the young who are going to live through this.”
Turning to Cop26, he then asked Mr Sharma: “What about Greta, can we manage to get Greta somehow?”
Mr Sharma replied: “Last week I was in Milan where we held a youth climate event and we had 400 youth delegates coming together from 200 countries and Greta spoke at this.
“It was the wake-up call for world leaders and the reality is that the decisions that this set of world leaders make is going to impact most on your children and your grandchildren and that’s why we need to get it right.
“Their message at this event was very clear: we need world leaders to walk the walk and not just talk the talk.”
He said: “Greta Thunberg, I first heard her speak at the UN General Assembly in 2019, I was there together with the prime minister and I felt really uncomfortable.
“Not because of Greta speaking, but because of what she was saying – and she was holding a mirror up to my generation, our generation, and that’s why we need Cop26 to be a success.
“We need the biggest emitters – the G20 is responsible for 80 per cent of emissions – to step up to the plate and deliver in Glasgow.”
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Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Haircare resolutions 2021
From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.
1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'
You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.
2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'
Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.
3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’
Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: SimpliFi
Started: August 2021
Founder: Ali Sattar
Based: UAE
Industry: Finance, technology
Investors: 4DX, Rally Cap, Raed, Global Founders, Sukna and individuals
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
About Takalam
Date started: early 2020
Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech and wellness
Number of staff: 4
Funding to date: Bootstrapped
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Where to apply
Applicants should send their completed applications - CV, covering letter, sample(s) of your work, letter of recommendation - to Nick March, Assistant Editor in Chief at The National and UAE programme administrator for the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, by 5pm on April 30, 2020.
Please send applications to nmarch@thenational.ae and please mark the subject line as “Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism (UAE programme application)”.
The local advisory board will consider all applications and will interview a short list of candidates in Abu Dhabi in June 2020. Successful candidates will be informed before July 30, 2020.
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 300 Cabriolet
Price, base / as tested: Dh275,250 / Dh328,465
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder
Power: 245hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,300rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder
Started: October 2021
Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Industry: technology, logistics
Investors: A15 and self-funded
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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