As deaths in Britain from Covid-19 jumped to 100,162 since the outbreak began, officials were engaged in a bitter scramble for Europe's vaccine supplies.
The row centred on supplies of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine, after it became clear that the British-based company would be unable to fulfil its EU quota on time.
AstraZeneca told the EU last week that it would only be able to deliver 31 million of 80 million shots that EU countries had been expecting by the end of March.
That led Brussels officials to demand diversion of supplies from Britain which drew a response from Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, on Tuesday. "I've got total confidence in our supplies," he said. "We expect and hope that our EU friends will honour all contracts and we fully expect that will happen. The delivery of the vaccine, the creation of the vaccine has been a multinational effort -- the virus knows no borders."
Tensions were not helped when the German press reported Berlin government sources suggesting that the AstraZeneca vaccine was only 8 per cent effective for the over 65s.The allegation was rebutted by the drugs company, which called the report “completely incorrect". German ministers later appeared to blame the story on a misunderstanding of data.
The differing speeds of Covid vaccination programmes raise concerns that disputes could “poison the political atmosphere” between Britain and Europe and cause long-term economic and political damage, leading politicians and academics have warned.
The issue blew up into a major post-Brexit clash between Britain and the EU and in particular – given the 8 per cent allegation – with Germany.
"This has happened because of the most incompetent displays of organisation by the European Union, whose vaccine processing has been an absolutely unmitigated disaster," Prof Angus Dalgleish, a cancer specialist and epidemiologist in London, told The National.
“To all the world Britain looks like it got it correct, so this is the first showcase that the UK is far better off outside the European Union.”
Prof Dalgleish, a strong Brexiteer, believes Germany is trying to bully Britain and dictate terms to other EU countries so it can vaccinate its population first.
He added that Britain, which has vaccinated almost seven million people, would not have been able to protect so many if it had remained in the EU, with its slow medical regulation process.
EU medical regulators are expected to announce whether the Oxford vaccine has been approved later this week.
The pro-Brexit oratory has been reported elsewhere, which leading figures believe could lead to a greater schism between the continent and Britain at a critical time.
“I can imagine a series of human-issue spats that become cumulative and really poison the political atmosphere,” said Prof Michael Clarke, of the Royal United Services Institute, a British defence and security think tank.
“Now, we’re not there yet by any stretch, and I think this one will probably pass because the Covid crisis is so economically serious for everyone.”
His view was supported by Jeremy Hunt, MP, the former foreign secretary.
“If the EU were to take action unilaterally that restricted supplies of vaccines bought legally and fairly by the UK, it would poison economic relations for a generation,” he said
“At such a critical moment, the world needs vaccine nationalism like a hole in the head.”
What has become clear is that Europe has been humbled by the UK’s extremely fast vaccination programme, with one in ten Britons now inoculated, compared to one in 50 in Germany and Italy.
Prof Clarke believes that with Britain likely to become the first major economy to achieve nationwide vaccination it could have an effect on its international relations.
“You can see how this has already annoyed and upset others, the fact that we’re so far ahead because the British government backed this one very, very strongly when the EU Commission didn’t quite know who to back in terms of placing advance orders,” he said.
“We’ll have to handle the messaging of that very carefully and avoid posturing by the British government.”
Britain was also the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer vaccine.
As of Tuesday, nearly seven million people in the UK have received their first vaccine dose, including more than 80 per cent of the over-80s.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Afghanistan fixtures
- v Australia, today
- v Sri Lanka, Tuesday
- v New Zealand, Saturday,
- v South Africa, June 15
- v England, June 18
- v India, June 22
- v Bangladesh, June 24
- v Pakistan, June 29
- v West Indies, July 4
THE BIO:
Sabri Razouk, 74
Athlete and fitness trainer
Married, father of six
Favourite exercise: Bench press
Must-eat weekly meal: Steak with beans, carrots, broccoli, crust and corn
Power drink: A glass of yoghurt
Role model: Any good man
FIGHT%20CARD
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Thanksgiving meals to try
World Cut Steakhouse, Habtoor Palace Hotel, Dubai. On Thursday evening, head chef Diego Solis will be serving a high-end sounding four-course meal that features chestnut veloute with smoked duck breast, turkey roulade accompanied by winter vegetables and foie gras and pecan pie, cranberry compote and popcorn ice cream.
Jones the Grocer, various locations across the UAE. Jones’s take-home holiday menu delivers on the favourites: whole roast turkeys, an array of accompaniments (duck fat roast potatoes, sausages wrapped in beef bacon, honey-glazed parsnips and carrots) and more, as well as festive food platters, canapes and both apple and pumpkin pies.
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, The Address Hotel, Dubai. This New Orleans-style restaurant is keen to take the stress out of entertaining, so until December 25 you can order a full seasonal meal from its Takeaway Turkey Feast menu, which features turkey, homemade gravy and a selection of sides – think green beans with almond flakes, roasted Brussels sprouts, sweet potato casserole and bread stuffing – to pick up and eat at home.
The Mattar Farm Kitchen, Dubai. From now until Christmas, Hattem Mattar and his team will be producing game- changing smoked turkeys that you can enjoy at home over the festive period.
Nolu’s, The Galleria Mall, Maryah Island Abu Dhabi. With much of the menu focused on a California inspired “farm to table” approach (with Afghani influence), it only seems right that Nolu’s will be serving their take on the Thanksgiving spread, with a brunch at the Downtown location from 12pm to 4pm on Friday.
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
The five pillars of Islam
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
T20 World Cup Qualifier
October 18 – November 2
Opening fixtures
Friday, October 18
ICC Academy: 10am, Scotland v Singapore, 2.10pm, Netherlands v Kenya
Zayed Cricket Stadium: 2.10pm, Hong Kong v Ireland, 7.30pm, Oman v UAE
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Rameez Shahzad, Darius D’Silva, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zawar Farid, Ghulam Shabber, Junaid Siddique, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Waheed Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Zahoor Khan
Players out: Mohammed Naveed, Shaiman Anwar, Qadeer Ahmed
Players in: Junaid Siddique, Darius D’Silva, Waheed Ahmed
'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore'
Rating: 3/5
Directed by: David Yates
Starring: Mads Mikkelson, Eddie Redmayne, Ezra Miller, Jude Law
The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
Other key dates
-
Finals draw: December 2
-
Finals (including semi-finals and third-placed game): June 5–9, 2019
-
Euro 2020 play-off draw: November 22, 2019
-
Euro 2020 play-offs: March 26–31, 2020
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
'Skin'
Dir: Guy Nattiv
Starring: Jamie Bell, Danielle McDonald, Bill Camp, Vera Farmiga
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
War
Director: Siddharth Anand
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Vaani Kapoor
Rating: Two out of five stars
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Results
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