David Petraeus calls for 'national service' of Americans to test for Covid-19

David Petraeus, the commander of US forces who led the anti-insurgency push in Iraq, has called for millions of Americans to be tested for Covid-19 as the country moves to war footing against the pandemic.

Mr Petraeus said mass testing was the most effective response to the crisis sweeping the US.

"That's what we should be doing for any area where we suspect there are people who have contracted coronavirus," he said.

The former CIA director and general called for the establishment of a "national service" of Americans administering tests to their fellow citizens, and helping to oversee the quarantine of those testing positive.

Contact-tracing people and those sent to support those facing the challenges in isolation could be recruited by appealing to their sense of patriotism and generosity.

"It is appropriate to talk about some kind of national service that could be employed," Mr Petraeus said.

He told an online seminar at the London School of Economics that talk of wartime conditions and mobilisation was a fair comparison for the challenge posed by the pandemic.

"I don't think it is unreasonable to liken this to a war," Mr Petraeus said.

"In the US we have lost more in one month, in April, than we lost in the Vietnam war."

He spoke of his admiration for Jacinda Ardern, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, who has declared the country is "halfway down Everest" as new infections have been wiped out.

"She has been hugely impressive, getting the big ideas across, and relentless," he said.

America has the highest infection number with 1.33 million people contracting Covid-19. The death toll was 79,606 on Monday.

New Zealand, a much smaller nation, shut its borders on March 15 and kept the number infected below 1,500.

Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites

The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.

It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.

“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.

The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

On Women's Day

Dr Nawal Al-Hosany: Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action

Shelina Janmohamed: Why shouldn't a spouse be compensated fairly for housework?

Samar Elmnhrawy: How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality

Justin Thomas: Challenge the notion that 'men are from Mars, women are from Venus'

The specs: McLaren 600LT

Price, base: Dh914,000

Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8

Transmission: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 600hp @ 7,500rpm

Torque: 620Nm @ 5,500rpm

Fuel economy 12.2.L / 100km

SQUAD

Ali Khaseif, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Adel Al Hosani, Mohammed Al Shamsi, Bandar Al Ahbabi, Mohammed Barghash, Salem Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Hassan Al Mahrami, Walid Abbas, Mahmoud Khamis, Yousef Jaber, Saeed Ahmed, Majed Sorour, Majed Hassan, Ali Salmeen, Abdullah Ramadan, Khalil Al Hammadi, Fabio De Lima, Khalfan Mubarak, Tahnoun Al Zaabi, Ali Saleh, Caio Canedo, Muhammed Jumah, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue, Zayed Al Ameri