As the European Union moved to re-open its borders to tourists this week, mixed messages, queues and chaos followed as inconsistencies and double standards became apparent in national coronavirus responses.
Since Monday, travellers have been able to move freely between most of the 22 EU countries in the Schengen area, but some, including Spain, have decided to keep restrictions in place.
European Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson has urged Schengen members to lift as many restrictions as possible to allow summer holidays to restart in July.
Unlike other members of the EU, Spain has said it will not allow any foreign visitors until June 21.
This includes visitors from Britain, which has left the EU, but Spain’s Foreign Minister, Arancha González Laya, said on Tuesday that her country was considering introducing a quarantine rule for Britons when it re-opens its borders.
Spain’s move was in response to a similar policy introduced last week by the UK. France will also maintain a quarantine policy for British travellers in response to the measures.
"We will be in a dialogue with the UK to see whether or not we should be introducing reciprocity as they have different measures than the rest of the European Union," Ms Laya told the BBC on Tuesday.
Both Spain and Britain have been hit hard by the pandemic, with Covid-19 claiming about 42,000 lives in the UK and close to 27,000 in Spain. Britain has the third highest coronavirus death toll after Brazil and the United States.
Sweden is the only EU country to have adopted the controversial herd-immunity strategy in which stringent lockdown measures have not been imposed, allowing the virus to spread to at least 60 per cent of the population who then build up immunity to it.
Although all Europeans are welcome in Sweden, it is not reciprocal given the country’s coronavirus strategy and high death rate.
Britons also remain barred from visiting some other EU countries that had opened their borders to other members of the bloc.
EU members may feel vindicated after New Zealand ended on Tuesday its 24-day streak of no new coronavirus cases. The two new cases are women from the same family, both of whom had travelled from the UK and were given special permission to visit a grieving parent.
Greece has extended the ban on UK arrivals for another two weeks. After Greece opened its borders yesterday, long queues of cars formed at Bulgaria’s Makaza and Kulata checkpoints on the Greek border.
Tourism and travel executives are outraged that the UK has refused to take part in an EU-led data-sharing project to reboot tourism as lockdowns lift.
The European Commission launched an app and a website that allows travellers to view real-time information about coronavirus rules and infection rates in each country. The information includes border policies, transport options and health and safety measures, such as the wearing of face masks.
Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy the PC Agency, told The Guardian that the UK side-stepping the platform meant it gave the impression the country was "closed for business".
“Not providing information about how visitors can easily travel around the UK is worrying because it shows a country that wishes to be isolated,” he said.
“In the coronavirus crisis, countries have to be as open and communicative as possible about what visitors can see and expect to do, so I would urge the UK to reconsider.”
A fresh outbreak of Covid-19 in Beijing has highlighted the vigilance countries need to take when re-opening amid the pandemic.
Authorities in the Chinese capital have described the new outbreak as “extremely severe” after more than 100 new cases were reported and travel restrictions were imposed.
The story of Edge
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.
It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.
Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.
Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Recipe
Garlicky shrimp in olive oil
Gambas Al Ajillo
Preparation time: 5 to 10 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
180ml extra virgin olive oil; 4 to 5 large cloves of garlic, minced or pureed (or 3 to 4 garlic scapes, roughly chopped); 1 or 2 small hot red chillies, dried (or ¼ teaspoon dried red chilli flakes); 400g raw prawns, deveined, heads removed and tails left intact; a generous splash of sweet chilli vinegar; sea salt flakes for seasoning; a small handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
Method
▶ Heat the oil in a terracotta dish or frying pan. Once the oil is sizzling hot, add the garlic and chilli, stirring continuously for about 10 seconds until golden and aromatic.
▶ Add a splash of sweet chilli vinegar and as it vigorously simmers, releasing perfumed aromas, add the prawns and cook, stirring a few times.
▶ Once the prawns turn pink, after 1 or 2 minutes of cooking, remove from the heat and season with sea salt flakes.
▶ Once the prawns are cool enough to eat, scatter with parsley and serve with small forks or toothpicks as the perfect sharing starter. Finish off with crusty bread to soak up all that flavour-infused olive oil.
23-man shortlist for next six Hall of Fame inductees
Tony Adams, David Beckham, Dennis Bergkamp, Sol Campbell, Eric Cantona, Andrew Cole, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba, Les Ferdinand, Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard, Roy Keane, Frank Lampard, Matt Le Tissier, Michael Owen, Peter Schmeichel, Paul Scholes, John Terry, Robin van Persie, Nemanja Vidic, Patrick Viera, Ian Wright.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Results
2pm Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 1,800m
Winner AF Al Baher, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
2.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh75,000 1,400m
Winner Alla Mahlak, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.
3pm Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner Davy Lamp, Adrie de Vries, Rashed Bouresly.
3.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 1,400m
Winner Ode To Autumn, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
4pm Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 1,950m
Winner Arch Gold, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
4.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh75,000 1,800m
Winner Meqdam, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
5pm Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,800m
Winner Native Appeal, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
5.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh75,000 1,400m
Winner Amani Pico, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
Sui Dhaaga: Made in India
Director: Sharat Katariya
Starring: Varun Dhawan, Anushka Sharma, Raghubir Yadav
3.5/5
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
