Abu Dhabi / WAM The Director-General of the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) Obaid Rashid Al Shamsi, has said that the UAE is a pioneering global model in the way it responded to the pandemic, thanks to the government’s foresight and proactive approach in managing the crisis. In a speech on the occasion of International Day for ...

SHARJAH / WAM The Commercial Officers at Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) carried out 35,971 inspections on establishments since the beginning of coronavirus pandemic until September, to ensure they are adhering to precautionary measures. These campaigns were held periodically to ensure the safety of all establishments and practices across the Emirate of Sharjah. Likely, SEDD intensified its role during the ...

Abu Dhabi / WAM The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) announced that it conducted 96,989 additional Covid-19 tests over the past 24 hours, using state-of-the-art medical testing equipment. In a statement, the ministry stressed its aim to continue expanding the scope of testing nationwide to facilitate the early detection of coronavirus cases and carry out the necessary treatment. As ...

Abu Dhabi / WAM Khalifa University of Science and Technology today announced a team of researchers has successfully developed the first working prototypes of NavaMASK, a fully ‘biodegradable’, ‘biocompatible’, environment-friendly and novel anti-viral adaptive face mask with nanofibers that will have strong anti-microbial properties. The researchers have already filed for a patent license for the mask’s bio-material. NavaMASK will offer ...

DUBAI / WAM Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) launched an online campaign for World Energy Day, which is observed on October 22 every year. This is part of its continuous efforts to engage the public in achieving sustainable development and raise awareness on the importance of energy conservation, increasing energy efficiency and supporting energy sustainability. World Energy Day is ...

Bloomberg SSE Plc rose after it agreed to sell its 50% stakes in two energy from waste ventures as part of its plan to focus on renewable generation. The Scottish utility will sell its holdings in Multifuel Energy Ltd and Multifuel Energy 2 Ltd to the European Diversified Infrastructure Fund III, a fund managed by First Sentier Investors, for a ...

What if the coronavirus pandemic delayed an election and no one cared? That’s pretty much what’s happening in New Zealand, where Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern appears to be cruising towards victory in an election this Saturday after rival politicians sought postponement from the original September 19 date. At a time when America is tearing itself apart over the crises of ...

The pandemic has prompted governments to take a more active role in managing their economies. Politicians are giving out generous loan guarantees and subsidising wages to reduce the risk of a wave of bankruptcies and mass unemployment. The next step is taking over companies directly. After a spree of recent acquisitions — from payment systems to airlines — Italy appears ...

China’s leaders recognise the importance of symbolism. Decisions such as the positioning of officials at public events, even the order in which names are read out on news bulletins, delineate relative power relationships. Those who can interpret the arcane signals of communist protocol have built careers out of it. The discipline even has a name: tea-leaf reading. In this light, ...

With pollsters predicting that Donald Trump will soon be out of the picture, global investors can finally breathe a big sigh of relief. Foreign policy could become more predictable, so they can start buying Chinese government bonds, which actually pay interest. They can also invest in the mainland, where a successful Covid-19 containment strategy has allowed businesses to resume. Money ...