A wide-ranging report into the Covid-19 pandemic has condemned the global response as a "massive failure" brought about by slow decision making from public health authorities and a lack of international co-operation.
The Lancet Covid-19 Commission report, released on Wednesday, is the result of two years' work by more than 28 renowned experts in epidemiology, public policy and international governance.
The authors say that the estimated death toll of 17.7 million people is the result of failures in "transparency, rationality and basic public health practice" that have ultimately reversed progress made towards the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
In particular, the peer-reviewed paper singles out "costly" delays by the World Health Organisation in declaring a global health emergency as reports of the virus's airborne and highly transmissible pathogen were beginning to emerge in early 2020.
The report also outlines its recommendations to prevent further public health threats from reoccurring, including a return to multilateral co-operation, significant reform of the WHO and increased pandemic preparedness.
The report also says that misinformation, fuelled by social media, resulted in a backlash and hampered basic public health measures, such as vaccines and wearing face masks.
Chair of the Commission, Prof Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia University, described the response as a "staggering failure" that was partly fuelled by geopolitical posturing, particularly between the US and China.
Speaking to The National, Prof Sachs was scathing about the lack of leadership, particularly from Washington, in the early stages of the outbreak.
"The Trump administration basically walked out of the WHO in mid-2020, leaving the organisation in the lurch and caught in the US-China geopolitical conflict," he said. "This was an utter debacle, and a setback on many fronts."
"The pandemic was too often handled by politicians more interested in the daily news cycle than in public health: Trump, Boris Johnson, Jair Bolsonaro — the list is long," he added.
The report makes it clear that greater involvement in the WHO from heads of state from each region would have supported better decision making at that level.
"It would have been enormously helpful if the WHO could have turned systematically to a council of heads of government to sustain vital political support and global co-ordination, even as Mr Trump went into his pre-election tantrum," Prof Sachs said.
According to Prof Sachs, countries and territories in the Asia-Pacific region, including China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand performed best in responding to the virus.
He believed that some health authorities had learnt the lessons of the Sars outbreak, but the Europe and the US did not, leading to a significantly higher death rate in those regions.
The commission report favours a "vaccine plus" strategy as a way to emerge from the pandemic.
This would combine effective public health measures and a high level of vaccine coverage, which can slow the emergence of variants and reduce the risk of new waves of infection.
"The faster the world can act to vaccinate everybody, and provide social and economic support, the better the prospects for exiting the pandemic emergency and achieving long-lasting economic recovery,” said co-author Prof Salim Abdool Karimc.
Authors have called for reform of the WHO and greater involvement from heads of state representing each region "to better support decision-making and actions, especially on urgent and controversial matters".
The report has also called for $60 billion yearly for pandemic preparedness and health system strengthening in developing countries. This could be achieved with the support of WHO, the G20, and major financial institutions such as the World Bank.
In addition, it also recommends a 10-year effort by G20 countries to bolster research and development in pandemic control tools "including testing, diagnostics, vaccines, treatments and PPE, alongside support and training for health workers in low and middle-income countries."
It comes as the number of newly reported Covid cases has dropped to the lowest level since March 2020, prompting the WHO to say that the end of the pandemic was in sight.
GRAN%20TURISMO
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Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Manchester City (0) v Liverpool (3)
Uefa Champions League, quarter-final, second leg
Where: Etihad Stadium
When: Tuesday, 10.45pm
Live on beIN Sports HD
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Results
1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 1hr 32mins 03.897sec
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull-Honda) at 0.745s
3. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) 37.383s
4. Lando Norris (McLaren) 46.466s
5.Sergio Perez (Red Bull-Honda) 52.047s
6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 59.090s
7. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) 1:06.004
8. Carlos Sainz Jr (Ferrari) 1:07.100
9. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri-Honda) 1:25.692
10. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:26.713,
Super%20Mario%20Bros%20Wonder
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Steve Smith (capt), David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Jackson Bird, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc.
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
The specs
Engine 60kwh FWD
Battery Rimac 120kwh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry
Power 204hp Torque 360Nm
Price, base / as tested Dh174,500
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cargoz%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Premlal%20Pullisserry%20and%20Lijo%20Antony%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2030%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Zombieland: Double Tap
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Stars: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone
Four out of five stars
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
THE SPECS
2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE
Engine: 1.8 litre combined with 16-volt electric motors
Transmission: Automatic with manual shifting mode
Power: 121hp
Torque: 142Nm
Price: Dh95,900
Labour dispute
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.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Company%20Profile
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Where to buy
Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com
The biog
Favourite Quote: “Real victories are those that protect human life, not those that result from its destruction emerge from its ashes,” by The late king Hussain of Jordan.
Favourite Hobby: Writing and cooking
Favourite Book: The Prophet by Gibran Khalil Gibran
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
MATCH INFO
Wales 1 (Bale 45 3')
Croatia 1 (Vlasic 09')
