Man in Germany 'had 90 Covid shots so he could sell forged vaccine passes'

A man allegedly had himself vaccinated against Covid-19 dozens of times in Germany so he could sell forged vaccine cards with real batch numbers to people not wanting to be inoculated.

The man, 60, from the eastern Germany city of Magdeburg, is accused of receiving up to 90 shots against Covid-19 at vaccination centres in the eastern state of Saxony for months until police caught him in April, the German news agency DPA reported on Sunday.

The suspect was not detained but is under investigation for unauthorised issuance of vaccination cards and document forgery, DPA reported.

He was caught at a centre in Eilenburg, Saxony, when he showed up for a Covid-19 vaccination for the second day in a row.

Police confiscated blank vaccination cards from him and started criminal proceedings.

It was not immediately clear what effect the about 90 Covid-19 shots, which were from different makers, had on the man’s health.

German police have conducted many raids in connection with forgery of vaccination passports in recent months.

Workers remove social-distancing signs at the Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. AP Photo

Egyptian craftsmen produce Ramadan lanterns, called Fanous, at a workshop in Cairo. EPA

Muslim pilgrims gather at the tomb of Prophet Hud - known in Arabic as Qabr Nabi Hud - in Yemen's central Hadramawt governorate, during the four-day pilgrimage which precedes Ramadan. AFP

Libyans buy fresh fish at a market as residents of the capital Tripoli get ready for the beginning of Ramadan. AFP

A Tunis bakery. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, both wheat suppliers for Maghreb countries, prices of flour and semolina have soared, amplified by a buying frenzy ahead of Ramadan. AFP

A view of Al Sayeda Zeinab Mosque in Cairo, Egypt. EPA

Women and children choose ornaments at a market in Syria's north-eastern city of Hasakeh. AFP

Muslim pilgrims pray at the Grand Mosque during the minor pilgrimage, known as Umrah, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. AP Photo

Many Covid-19 deniers refuse to be vaccinated in Germany, but want the passports that make access to public life and venues such as restaurants, theatres, swimming pools and workplaces much easier.

Germany has had high infection numbers for weeks, yet many measures to rein in the pandemic ended on Friday.

Wearing masks is no longer compulsory in grocery shops and most theatres, but it is still mandatory on public transport.

In most schools in Germany, pupils no longer have to wear masks, which has led teachers’ associations to warn of possible conflicts in class.

“There is now a danger that, on the one hand, children who wear masks will be teased by classmates as wimps and overprotective or, on the other hand, pressure will be exerted on non-mask wearers,” Heinz-Peter Meidinger, president of the German Teachers’ Association, told DPA.

He advocated a voluntary commitment by teachers and students to continue wearing masks in class and on school grounds, at least until the country starts a two-week Easter holiday.

Health experts say the most recent surge of infections in Germany, caused by the BA.2 Omicron subvariant, may have peaked.

On Sunday, the country’s disease control agency reported 74,053 new Covid-19 infections in one day, while less than a week ago it reported 111,224 daily infections.

Overall, Germany has registered 130,029 Covid-19 deaths.

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What is safeguarding?

“Safeguarding, not just in sport, but in all walks of life, is making sure that policies are put in place that make sure your child is safe; when they attend a football club, a tennis club, that there are welfare officers at clubs who are qualified to a standard to make sure your child is safe in that environment,” Derek Bell explains.

SCORES

Multiply Titans 81-2 in 12.1 overs
(Tony de Zorzi, 34)

bt Auckland Aces 80 all out in 16 overs
(Shawn von Borg 4-15, Alfred Mothoa 2-11, Tshepo Moreki 2-16).

EA Sports FC 25

Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5

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RESULT

Manchester United 1 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Man United: Dunk (66' og)

Man of the Match: Shane Duffy (Brighton)

FROM%20THE%20ASHES

%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Khalid%20Fahad%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Shaima%20Al%20Tayeb%2C%20Wafa%20Muhamad%2C%20Hamss%20Bandar%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

UAE v Gibraltar

What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative

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Alistair Burt: Despite Brexit, Britain can remain a world power
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Pieces of Her

Stars: Toni Collette, Bella Heathcote, David Wenham, Omari Hardwick

Director: Minkie Spiro

Rating:2/5

'The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey'

Rating: 3/5

Directors: Ramin Bahrani, Debbie Allen, Hanelle Culpepper, Guillermo Navarro

Writers: Walter Mosley

Stars: Samuel L Jackson, Dominique Fishback, Walton Goggins

Building boom turning to bust as Turkey's economy slows

Deep in a provincial region of northwestern Turkey, it looks like a mirage - hundreds of luxury houses built in neat rows, their pointed towers somewhere between French chateau and Disney castle.

Meant to provide luxurious accommodations for foreign buyers, the houses are however standing empty in what is anything but a fairytale for their investors.

The ambitious development has been hit by regional turmoil as well as the slump in the Turkish construction industry - a key sector - as the country's economy heads towards what could be a hard landing in an intensifying downturn.

After a long period of solid growth, Turkey's economy contracted 1.1 per cent in the third quarter, and many economists expect it will enter into recession this year.

The country has been hit by high inflation and a currency crisis in August. The lira lost 28 per cent of its value against the dollar in 2018 and markets are still unconvinced by the readiness of the government under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to tackle underlying economic issues.

The villas close to the town centre of Mudurnu in the Bolu region are intended to resemble European architecture and are part of the Sarot Group's Burj Al Babas project.

But the development of 732 villas and a shopping centre - which began in 2014 - is now in limbo as Sarot Group has sought bankruptcy protection.

It is one of hundreds of Turkish companies that have done so as they seek cover from creditors and to restructure their debts.

Cricket World Cup League 2

UAE results
Lost to Oman by eight runs
Beat Namibia by three wickets
Lost to Oman by 12 runs
Beat Namibia by 43 runs

UAE fixtures
Free admission. All fixtures broadcast live on icc.tv

Tuesday March 15, v PNG at Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Friday March 18, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
Saturday March 19, v PNG at Dubai International Stadium
Monday March 21, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium