Features

Winds of Change: The Challenge of Modernity in the Middle East and North Africa

Edited by Cyrus Rohani and Behrooz Sabet

London: Saqi Books, 2019

Pp. 304

In this interdisciplinary volume, fourteen scholars address a variety of issues with the aim of promoting understanding, dialogue and cooperation around the Middle East’s role in the world. In view of the importance of Islam in the region, the contributors include scholars in Islamic studies, both Muslims and non-Muslims. According to editors Cyrus Rohani and Behrooz Sabet, the “focus of this book is on long-range approaches that require a fundamental transformation of the current system of values and patterns of thought”. (p. x)

It is assumed that the Middle East is in crisis—an evaluation that few would contest. While the Arab uprisings reasserted the question of democracy, the outcome so far has been mixed. Left unresolved are a series of tensions — between religion and secularism, tradition and modernity, continuity and novelty, local and universal values, tribalism and globalism, faith and reason, technology and culture, dogma and critical thinking. According to the editors, “For some time, the Middle Eastern countries have merely been consumers of goods, services and ideas from the outside world. Illiteracy and cultural stagnation have caused deep psychological humiliation.” (p. 9) 

While acknowledging that the colonial past can be faulted for many problems, several contributors note that this has ended, and governments and people in the region should stop blaming outside factors and recognise that the crisis is internal. One cannot dispute that people should work towards solving their society’s problems, but the elephant in the room is Israel, which is hardly mentioned in the book, but continues to act as a hostile, settler-colonial state. Besides systematically depriving the Palestinian people of their rights, Israel has had deep, negative effects on the surrounding Arab states, prodding them towards increased militarisation. Similarly, the devastating wars led by the United States against Iraq, which unleashed many of the current conflicts, are hardly mentioned. Reading the admirable proposals for openness and cooperation between states and globally, one wonders how these two aggressive powers fit into this optimistic prognosis: “If the Middle Eastern countries were able to overcome their current crises and conflicts and move towards democracy — moving beyond sectarianism and unifying their own values with the universal values that currently constitute the modern world — we would eventually witness an astounding integration of more than twenty countries, ultimately adding vast amounts of natural and human resources to the world.” (p. 24)

Nonetheless, there are many useful ideas in the book. Middle East leaders are urged to cease the culture of violence, to develop the skills for bringing order and creativity out of chaos, to promote pluralism, diversity, consultation and planning, end corruption and empower citizens. A chapter about confronting violence through dialogue cites historical and international efforts and shares the experience of interfaith dialogue in Iraq in 2015, including statistics that overwhelmingly indicate youth’s greater propensity for tolerance. Jordan’s Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies, Ahlulbayt Islamic Thought Foundation, and the Jordanian Interfaith Coexistence Research Centre are listed among current, positive frameworks in the region, which need to be escalated with more focus on the participation of youth and women. Another chapter on non-violence contends that authoritarian-style modernisation and secularisation has no future, but laments that non-violence has not been successful in the Middle East as in India. There is hope, however, in the First Palestinian Intifada, the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions, and the 2009 Green Movement in Iran. 

Justice is singled out as the value stressed in the Koran which could bring Muslim ethics in line with universal ones, while principles of good governance can also be found in Islamic tradition. By studying the rationalist tradition in Islam, it is possible “to locate those places where the ideals of the European Enlightenment overlap with the Qur’an and the thoughts of the Muslim modernists”, indicating that the “intellectual resources for modernisation are within Islam itself”. (pp. 146, 153)

A chapter on women’s rights finds the main problem in the gap between laws and their implementation, as well as women’s overall status in society, arguing that improvement cannot come via international bodies but by building a local counterculture to engage the broader public in support of women’s rights. 

Notwithstanding advances made in education in the region, there persists an imbalance between education, required life skills, and job requirements. Transformation of the educational system is required, cultivating freedom of thought and expression, critical thinking and problem-solving, strengthening the social sciences and abandoning dogmatism. However, based on Jordan’s experience, one must take exception to the assessment that “All reports from the region suggest that efforts to teach a second language, particularly English… remain insufficient and unsuccessful”. (p. 203) 

Most economists believe that the economic challenges faced by the Middle East are aggravated by a relatively low level of integration into the world economy. Yet, there is justified scepticism about globalisation, seeing that it promotes consumerism at the expense of spiritual values and cultural diversity. However, if science and religion are recognised as being complementary, globalisation can be reconceptualised as can many environmental and sustainability issues; again, justice is paramount.

By Emily Baumgaertner

It’s a virus scientists have never seen before. Health officials don’t know exactly where it came from, but it has travelled more than 9,000km since it was discovered late last month in central China. New infections are confirmed every day despite an unprecedented quarantine. The death toll is rising, too.

If this were a Hollywood movie, now would be time to panic. In real life, however, all that most Americans need to do is wash their hands and proceed with their usual weekend plans.

“Don’t panic unless you’re paid to panic,” said Brandon Brown, an epidemiologist at the University of California, Riverside who has studied many deadly outbreaks.

“Public health workers should be on the lookout. The government should be ready to provide resources. Transmitting timely facts to the public is key,” Brown said. “But for everyone else: Breathe.”

More than three weeks into the outbreak that has spread to at least 941 people in 11 countries, scientists have learned some important things about the virus.

It is a coronavirus, which makes it a relative of the pathogens that cause severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). Those diseases have sickened thousands of people around the world and caused hundreds of deaths.

Other coronaviruses result in nothing worse than a common cold.

In addition to humans, coronaviruses can sicken cows, pigs, cats, chickens, camels, bats and other animals. Most of the outbreak’s early victims said they had visited a large seafood and live animal market in the Chinese megacity of Wuhan, suggesting that the virus originated in another species before jumping to humans.

When experts examined the organism’s genetic code, they found a sequence that was entirely new to science. That means many people have not had a chance to develop sufficient natural immunity to the coronavirus that has been dubbed n-CoV2019 — an important consideration since vaccines take years to develop.

Fortunately, the virus seems to cause only minor symptoms — such as fever and difficulty with breathing — in people who are young and healthy. Most of the 26 deaths tied to the coronavirus to date have been in people who were at least 50 years old with underlying medical problems or weakened immune systems, Chinese officials said.

“We don’t have evidence yet to suggest this is any more virulent than the flu you see in the US each year,” said Dr Michael Mina, an epidemiology researcher at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “Most people, with proper medical attention, will do just fine.”

In fact, it’s possible that hundreds or even thousands of people in China and elsewhere have been infected but have had such mild reactions that no one even noticed, said Dr Tom Inglesby, director of the Centre for Health Security at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Some might have fought off the bug without showing any outward symptoms at all.

“It’s too soon to know”, Inglesby said. “Often in new outbreaks, the most serious or severe cases are recognised first,” and that may result in a skewed picture of just how dangerous the virus truly is.

Epidemiologists are also trying to nail down when the new coronavirus gained the ability to jump directly from human to human. More than 85 per cent of patients identified in the past week said they had not visited the Wuhan market that is believed to be ground zero for the outbreak. (The market is now closed.)

“It is clear the growing outbreak is no longer due to on going exposures at the Huanan seafood market,” according to the latest situation report from the World Health Organisation.

Patients in Guangdong Province have spread the virus to family members who had not travelled to Wuhan, which is about 970 kilometres away. The WHO also reports a few cases of hospital employees and other healthcare workers becoming sick after treating infected patients.

Public health officials said they expect to see human-to-human transmissions continue in the short term. That means new cases are sure to emerge throughout Asia, and even in the United States.

Information is spreading faster than the pathogen — and that’s just as novel.

The 2003 SARS outbreak that began in China’s Guangdong Province in 2002 sickened 8,098 people and killed 774 in 29 countries by the time it ended in 2003. But in the outbreak’s early days, the Chinese government obfuscated the number of cases, hindering foreign leaders’ efforts to help and regular citizens’ ability to protect themselves. The resulting public backlash prompted the dismissals of the country’s health minister and mayor of Beijing.

This time around, Chinese officials have moved swiftly to alert other countries to the outbreak’s developments. They’ve also shared the virus’s genetic sequence, which can help epidemiologists track its spread and make predictions about what it might do next.

“This is definitely not 2003,” said Rebecca Katz, the director of the Centre for Global Health Science and Security at Georgetown University. “The speed with which this virus was identified is testament to that.”

Within 24 hours of receiving the coronavirus’s genome, the CDC programmed a real-time diagnostic test called an RT-PCR assay, said Dr Nancy Messonnier, director of the agency’s National Centre for Immunisation and Respiratory Diseases. The tool quickly confirmed that a man in Washington State and a woman in Chicago were infected with n-CoV2019 and not some other pneumonia-causing virus. Other institutions around the world have used the genetic code to design similar tests.

That leads to another reason to avoid alarm: The rapidly rising case counts may be deceiving you. Before these new tools were developed, doctors had no surefire way to confirm a case of n-CoV2019. That means that, as testing becomes available, infections appear to skyrocket.

“You’ll see a spike of 300 cases, but maybe those 300 were there all along,” Mina said. “This might not reflect a growing epidemic as much as it reflects better detection.”

Until they have a better count of the number of people infected, experts can’t calculate the coronavirus’s death rate. And since viruses are capable of mutating quickly, much of the information scientists have gathered may only be temporarily accurate.

“In any evolving outbreak, you need to make response decisions with imperfect information,” Katz said.

Mina said he has “absolute faith” in the CDC’s ability to stay on top of the situation. The health agency alerted doctors to be on the lookout for patients who might have the virus in early January, and last week it began screening passengers at US airports that receive flights from Wuhan.

But the CDC isn’t running the show, and questions still abound about global preparedness. On Thursday, WHO officials said the outbreak did not rise to the level of “a global health emergency,” but that “it may yet become one.”

Dr Guan Yi is almost certain that it will. Yi, an infectious disease expert at the University of Hong Kong, told reporters that even the drastic quarantine measures affecting 36 million people in and around Wuhan won’t be enough to keep the coronavirus from spreading because the Chinese government acted too late.

You’re not doomed to toss and turn every night. Consider simple tips for better sleep, from setting a sleep schedule to including physical activity in your daily routine.

Think about all the factors that can interfere with a good night’s sleep — from work stress and family responsibilities to unexpected challenges, such as illnesses. It’s no wonder that quality sleep is sometimes elusive.

While you might not be able to control the factors that interfere with your sleep, you can adopt habits that encourage better sleep. Start with these simple tips.

1. Stick to a sleep schedule. Set aside no more than eight hours for sleep. The recommended amount of sleep for a healthy adult is at least seven hours. Most people don’t need more than eight hours in bed to achieve this goal.

Go to bed and get up at the same time every day. Try to limit the difference in your sleep schedule on weeknights and weekends to no more than one hour. Being consistent reinforces your body’s sleep-wake cycle.

If you don’t fall asleep within about 20 minutes, leave your bedroom and do something relaxing. Read or listen to soothing music. Go back to bed when you’re tired. Repeat as needed.

2. Pay attention to what you eat and drink. Don’t go to bed hungry or stuffed. In particular, avoid heavy or large meals within a couple of hours of bedtime. Your discomfort might keep you up.

Nicotine, caffeine and alcohol deserve caution, too. The stimulating effects of nicotine and caffeine take hours to wear off and can wreak havoc on quality sleep. And even though alcohol might make you feel sleepy, it can disrupt sleep later in the night.

3. Create a restful environment. Create a room that’s ideal for sleeping. Often, this means cool, dark and quiet. Exposure to light might make it more challenging to fall asleep. Avoid prolonged use of light-emitting screens just before bedtime. Consider using room-darkening shades, earplugs, a fan or other devices to create an environment that suits your needs.

Doing calming activities before bedtime, such as taking a bath or using relaxation techniques, might promote better sleep.

4. Limit daytime naps. Long daytime naps can interfere with nighttime sleep. If you choose to nap, limit yourself to up to 30 minutes and avoid doing so late in the day.

If you work nights, however, you might need to nap late in the day before work to help make up your sleep debt.

5. Include physical activity in your daily routine. Regular physical activity can promote better sleep. Avoid being active too close to bedtime, however.

Spending time outside every day might be helpful, too.

6. Manage worries. Try to resolve your worries or concerns before bedtime. Jot down what’s on your mind and then set it aside for tomorrow.

Stress management might help. Start with the basics, such as getting organised, setting priorities and delegating tasks. Meditation also can ease anxiety.

Know when to contact your health care provider.

Nearly everyone has an occasional sleepless night — but if you often have trouble sleeping, contact your doctor. Identifying and treating any underlying causes can help you get the better sleep you deserve.

Whether you are a technology power user, a moderate or a casual one, chances are your device and your software applications challenge you every now and then with tedious, time-consuming repetitive tasks.

Actually, the very notion “power user” is becoming obsolete. We all are power users by now. There is not even an antonym in the English language for the expression. A few years ago, Jeffrey Henning, an industry analyst from Norwell, Massachusetts, wrote: “The lack of an industry term for the opposite of power users indicates a blind spot — a failure to place user needs before technology. Not everyone loves technology for its own sake”. Things have changed since — drastically.

Repetitive tasks are many and vary in nature, when working at your computer. It could be tagging a large number of photographs where you simply want to replace “Jarash” with “Jerash”, or a group of MP3 music files. Or executing a set of Excel actions several times, like for instance: insert a row, move a given cell to the right and capitalise the first word in the cell above, a hundred times… 

In other cases, you would like to convert many Microsoft Word documents to Acrobat pdf format. Opening each Word document, saving it as pdf and then closing the document is the wrong way of doing it. It would be a waste of time.

There are at least three type of solutions to alleviate the pain of repetitive operations when using a computer. They work in different contexts.

One way is to use a general-purpose macro maker such as Macro Express by Insight Software Solutions. The application lets you easily define the set of keystrokes you would otherwise apply on your keyboard, save it under a name and assign a shortcut to it so as to activate it when needed, like for example “Control+K”. The beauty of Macro Express is that it is easy to learn and use and does not require programming skills or other. Again, it works on anything you may be doing with your computer, on any task, software or job.

Another very practical piece of smart software and that specifically addresses massive file renaming is Better File Rename (BFR) by Frank Reiff. It integrates easily in Windows Explorer, becomes available upon a simple mouse right-click and lets you rename any number of files in any way you can imagine, quickly and effortlessly. Like Macro Express, BFR does not require special skills to learn and to master.

The last utility is more on the professional side of computing and require minimum programming skills, something that most of the population learns at school nowadays. It entails understanding the notions of variables, loops and functions. It consists of creating what are called macro-commands. It does not only work with Excel but also works with MS-Word and actually any Microsoft Office module that accepts VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) coding.

Fortunately, there are two ways to create macro-commands with VBA code: the easy and the hard way! With the first you simply say that you want to “record” a set of commands, activate these commands one after the other, and then save them under a name for you to reuse at will. Excel or Word will then write (generate) for you the VBA programming code pertaining to the macro-command you have just defined. With the second you have to write the VBA programming code yourself from scratch.

The third, hybrid way, consists of creating a macro-command by recording it, then going to the VBA code that has been automatically generated to modify it and to fine-tune it manually. This understandably is for advanced users.

Without any doubt, using a smart, balanced combination of Macro Express, BFR and Microsoft Office macro-commands will save you a lot of precious time and effort and will make you love your computer more.

Google announced a massive shift last week in how it handles cookies, those pesky digital trackers that chase us around the Internet and serve up targeted ads that are both creepy, yet, eerily precise reflections of our wants. The search giant, which just helped Alphabet Inc. surpass a $1 trillion valuation, said it will eventually stop supporting third-party cookies in its ubiquitous Chrome browser.

The move won’t end the Big Brother era of Big Tech, but Google is framing the decision as a significant step away from unbridled data mining. In a blog post, Google references privacy about a dozen times, an awkward pitch for a company that built a juggernaut of a business by tapping into cookies from its billions of users. Can Google, after pioneering and protecting an apparent invasion of privacy, sell its browser to consumers as a privacy-first service?

Google is going to try. That’s because the other browser makers are embracing privacy as a competitive advantage. Apple Inc. added cookie restrictions to Safari several years ago. Microsoft Corp. has been building a raft of tracking-prevention mechanisms into its Edge browser. And Mozilla Corp. has made paid privacy tools a core selling point of its Firefox service, though they’ve failed to catch on so far, leading to job cuts last week.

When Google first introduced Chrome in 2008, it essentially marketed the new browser as an online operating system, one that would treat popular web services — e-mail, messaging, video streaming — as full-blown applications, rather than clunky web pages. Chrome was a fast, refreshing alternative to Firefox and Internet Explorer. In the decade since, it has soared in popularity: Chrome today boasts 63 per cent worldwide market share, according to StatCounter.

Chrome also became a huge source of data, facilitating an ecosystem of Google services that kept feeding its advertising engine with more user information. The browser’s search box defaulted, of course, to Google, while users could log into the platform via Gmail to seamlessly access its products such Drive, Docs, Maps and YouTube, enabling the company to fill up ever-more jars of cookies. The dominance of the browser raised privacy concerns. One test last year found a whopping 11,189 requests for cookies in a week of surfing on Chrome. But only recently has Google started comprehensively rethinking its privacy policies, partly due to regulatory pressure and changing consumer sentiments around data collection.

“Users are demanding greater privacy — including transparency, choice and control over how their data is used — and it’s clear the web ecosystem needs to evolve to meet these increasing demands,” Justin Schuh, director of Chrome engineering, wrote in the blog post last week.

Google deserves a measure of credit for adopting consumer protections that could undermine its relationship with marketers and publishers, and also raise further antitrust scrutiny. Still, such policies stop far short of ridding Google of ad-tracking altogether: They may simply end up increasing the value of so-called first-party cookies, which websites collect directly from their users, rather than through intermediaries. One company well-positioned to keep gobbling those up from its many devoted users? Google.

By Austin Carr

PHILADELPHIA — A new Rutgers study has found that one-fourth of children with autism spectrum disorder may go undiagnosed.

Moreover, children whose autism is not recognised are more likely to be black or Hispanic, according to findings published last month in the journal Autism Research.

The bottom line, the new findings suggest, is that children whose lives could be improved by getting needed services may be falling through the cracks.

“There may be various reasons for the disparity, from communication or cultural barriers between minority parents and physicians to anxiety about the complicated diagnostic process and fear of stigma,” said study co-author Walter Zahorodny, an associate professor of paediatrics at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

“Also, many parents whose children are diagnosed later often attribute their first concern to a behavioural or medical issue rather than a developmental problem,” he added.

Children of colour have long been suspected of being under-diagnosed with autism, the nation’s fastest growing development disability. Characterised by communication and social difficulties or deficits and repetitive behaviours, autism must be detected early in order to help children reach their full potential, experts agree.

The study was conducted by reviewing medical and education records of children in 11 states, including New Jersey, that are part of the federal Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. Studies are performed within the network to estimate autism prevalence rates.

The researchers analysed records of 266,000 eight-year-old children, and found 4,550 who met the diagnostic criteria for autism. Of those children, 1,135 had not been diagnosed with the disorder. Black and Hispanic children were more likely to be in the undiagnosed group.

Zahorodney, who directs the New Jersey portion of the study, said findings like this underline the need for universal screening for autism.

“I have no problem advocating that every child be screened at 18 and 24 months,” Zahorodney said. “In fact, I’m a person who would be most likely to say not only at 18 and 24 months but given what we see about late detection, I would do screening at 30 or 36 months and again at 40 or 48 months because there are still children who are getting to school age without evaluation.”

By Rita Giordano

A testament to how time and trends change, the Audi A6 55 TFSI Quattro is a car that would have verged on being a super saloon not all that long ago. Powered by a turbocharged 335BHP engine driving all four wheels and with sharp lines, subtle bulges, huge alloy wheels and a vast hexagonal grille, it would have looked wild among, and driven with a pace few saloons could match some 20 years ago. But, in its own milieu, it is one of Audi’s most conservative and traditional offerings.

Style over trend

However, and contrary to what some may thing, to say that a car is conservative is by no means a bad thing. The A6 competes in a premium brand executive segment increasingly dominated by heavy crossover SUVs compromised between road and mild off-road abilities, and so-called four-door coupes further encroaching on its traditional territory. A more traditional saloon, the A6 instead offers a sense of clarity, purpose and focus that elude most such trendy vehicles, and aren’t even matched by its own highly accomplished Audi Q5 crossover and low-roof sportback A7 sisters.

Launched two years ago, the latest generation A6 is a sportier and more sculpted design with more defined surfacing and line, a bigger more dramatic low-slung grille and browed moody headlights horizontally bisected by an LED strip. Featuring a flowing roofline for a more coupe-like look, the A6, however, retains a distinct three-box saloon design with the space and visibility benefits, and sensible, formal and elegantly classic demeanour that entails. Over the rear wheel-arches its subtly muscular flaring emphasises its Quattro four-wheel-drive and is equipped alloy wheels ranging from 18- to 21-inches.

Quick and efficient

With its turbocharged direct injection 3-litre V6 engine positioned longitudinally slightly ahead of the front wheels for tenacious traction, the A6 55 TFSI Quattro, however, balances this slightly nose-heavy layout with its four-wheel-drive system. Producing 335BHP at 5,000-6,400rpm and 368lb/ft torque throughout a broad 1,370-4,500rpm range, the A6 55 TFSI Quattro is the range-topping model bar S6 and RS6 performance versions. It is a smooth operator with good low-end response, versatile and accessible mid-range pull and willing high-end delivery. Employing four-wheel-drive traction and lighter more aluminium-intensive construction, it dashes through 0-100km/h in just 5.3-seconds.

Slightly quicker accelerating than its equivalent, yet sportier looking A7 sister model, the A6 55 TFSI Quattro also attains an electronically-governed 250km/h top speed, and is similarly calm, capable and smoothly effortless to drive at speed or in traffic. Standard fit with Audi’s 48v battery mild hybrid electric technology, the A6 recuperates kinetic braking energy to power ancillary systems and mildly boost torque output through the crankshaft. The 48v system also reduces fuel consumption 0.7/l/100km to 7.1l/100km on the combined cycle, by allowing the A6 to coast briefly between 55-160km/h and to engage the stop/start system at 22km/h when coming to a stop.

Confident cornering

Driving all four wheels through a slick and quick shifting dual-clutch automated gearbox, the A6 is swift, stable, refined and reassuring. During recent test drive damp and outright wet roads, its famed Quattro four-wheel-drive delivered confident and committed road-holding through corners. Featuring Audi’s recent ‘ultra’ technology, the A6’s Quattro now disengages drive to the rear wheels in normal conditions to reduce friction and enhance fuel efficiency. However, it near imperceptibly sends power rearwards and varies it between front and rear, when additional grip and traction is needed.

A far more agile car than its front-biased weighting might suggest, the A6 is confidently stable, grippy, responsive and well controlled through corners, fast sweeping bends and when changing lane. Smooth driving and refined at speed or in town, the A6’s suspension finds a happy medium between firm and forgiving. It is comfortable over most bumps and imperfections, yet, settled on rebound and in vertical movement, but can feel slightly on the stiff side over sudden sharp low speed bumps, owing to the driven model’s attractive low profile 255/40R20 tyres.

Classy cabin

For enhanced agility and traction, an optional sport rear differential to distribute power along the rear axle. Big on advanced options including a comprehensive suite of driver assistance safety systems, the A6 can, however, also optioned with four-wheel-steering. Turning opposite to the front wheels at low speed effectively reduce its wheelbase and in the same direction at high speed, four-wheel-steering provides subtly but significantly improved agility, manoeuvrability and high speed stability. Meanwhile, the A6’s new all-round five-link suspension can optionally be fitted with adaptive air springs for a more comfortable ride and better body control through corners.

Slightly larger and more spacious than its predecessor, the A6 has an airier cabin with better visibility and headroom than its more hunkered down shark-like A7 relation. Comfortably accommodating taller passengers in front and well in the rear, the A6’s driving position is alert, high adjustable and comfortably supportive, while good visibility allows for good driving confidence. Highly well equipped with standard and optional features and conveniences, the A6’s cabin has a conservatively classy ambiance that naturally incorporates quality materials and textures, and dark matt woods and brown leathers, as test, with sophisticated twin infotainment screens and configurable Virtual Cockpit instrument panel. 

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 3-litre, turbocharged, in-line V6-cylinders

Bore x stroke: 84.5 x 89mm

Compression ratio: 11.2:1

Valve-train: 32-valve, DOHC, direct injection

Gearbox: 7-speed dual clutch automated, four-wheel-drive

Power, BHP (PS) [kW]: 335 (340) [250] @5,000-6,400rpm

Specific power: 111.8BHP/litre

Power-to-weight: 181.5BHP/tonne

Torque, lb/ft (Nm): 368.8 (500) @1,370-4,500rpm

Specific torque: 166.9Nm/litre

Torque-to-weight: 271Nm/tonne

0-100km/h: 5.1-seconds

Top speed: 250km/h (electronically governed)

Fuel consumption, urban/extra-urban/combined: 9.6-/5.6-/7.1-litres/100km 

CO2 emissions, combined: 161g/km

Fuel capacity: 63-litres

Length: 4,939mm

Width: 1,886mm

Height: 1,457mm

Wheelbase: 2,924mm

Track, F/R: 1,630/1,617mm

Overhang, F/R: 920/1,095mm

Loading height: 676mm

Headroom, F/R: 1,054/973mm

Shoulder room, F/R: 1,467/1,436mm

Elbow room, F/R: 1,527/1,501mm

Luggage volume: 530-litres

Kerb weight: 1,845kg

Steering: Electric-assisted rack & pinion

Turning circle: 12.1-metres

Suspension: Five-link

Brakes: Ventilated discs

Tyres: 255/40R20

By Dr Kamal ‘Akl

Consultant Paediatrician and Paediatric Nephrologist 

Many parents make mistakes in giving their child medicine. One small misstep could have very dangerous consequences.

Waseem (7) was rushed to the Emergency Room with a convulsion. Here’s the background: 

Parent: I am worried that my son Waseem still wets his bed. I hate cleaning and washing the bed sheets every day. 

Neighbour: Don’t worry. Why don’t you try the medicine I give my son. It helped him stop wetting the bed. I will give you some pills to try. 

Parent: Okay; we will try it. 

Unbeknownst to Waseem’s parents is the potentially harmful side effects of this medicine for a child who drinks a lot of water like Waseem. In this case, taking medicine caused water to accumulate in Waseem’s body, leading to a convulsion. While one medicine may work for one child, it may not work or will even harm another child. It is important to use medicine in a safe way to avoid harm to children.

Consider the following: 

• One medication we use for day wetting predisposes the child to heatstroke if she or he plays outside in the hot sun for a prolonged period

• Cold medications should not be used in children younger than four years of age

• Use of cough medicines, which are ineffective, for a child with asthma delays the proper management with nebulisers. Delay in treating the child may transform a mild to moderate asthma attack into a serious one

• Antipyretics should be used judiciously to control fever. Overuse of fever-lowering medicine results in liver and kidney injury that may prove to be very serious. Unfortunately, I see a lot of such cases. The reasons are fever phobia, leading to use of high cumulative doses. Likewise for the syrup. One should always check the concentration in the suppository or syrup

Herbal alternatives

Some parents reject medicine altogether and resort to herbal alternatives, assuming they are safer because they are natural. That’s not always the case. The paediatrician should always be informed about the use of alternative medicine. 

For example, honey should not be given to babies under one because it may carry bacteria that cause serious illness in such babies. 

Remember, once the liver or kidney is harmed, it predisposes a child to lifelong problems if the injury is repeated again and again — whether from medicine or infection. The damage may surface in adulthood with the child not knowing what she or he was exposed to in childhood.

Takeaway message

• Never giving your child medication prescribed to another

• Always reading the concentration of the active ingredient in the medicine

• Avoiding, if possible, herbal medicines for children younger than two years of age and informing the paediatrician if you are using or planning to use such a remedy

Reprinted with permission from Family Flavours magazine