The European Union has backed calls to independently evaluate the World Health Organisation’s response to the global coronavirus outbreak.
The 27-country bloc joined more than half of the WHO’s member states in pushing for the probe, as Europe further emerges from a months-long lockdown.
According to the draft resolution supported by 122 countries, the WHO should “initiate, at the earliest appropriate moment, and in consultation with Member States, a stepwise process of impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation, including using existing mechanisms, as appropriate, to review experience gained and lessons learned from the WHO-coordinated international health response to Covid-19”.
This includes “the effectiveness of the mechanisms at WHO’s disposal” and “the actions of WHO and their timelines pertaining to the Covid-19 pandemic”.
The motion, which will be ratified later this week, also called for the identification of “the zoonotic source of the virus and the route of introduction to the human population, including the possible role of intermediate hosts, including through efforts such as scientific and collaborative field missions”. It did not mention China specifically, where the virus is believed to have originated.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel offered support for the WHO’s efforts to combat the pandemic but said that countries should “work to improve procedures” at it and ensure its funding is sustainable.
Germany has fared far better than other European key players with more than 175,000 cases but only just over 8,000 deaths. While it has begun easing some lockdown measures, small-scale protests against government policy still took place over the weekend in Berlin, Munich and Stuttgart.
On Sunday roughly 70 people tested positive for the coronavirus at a refugee home in western Germany. It’s reported another 500 asylum-seekers who live at the same facility will now need to be tested.
The news angered Green Party politician Horst Becker, who said “we have repeatedly called for blanket testing in these homes”.
"Now we can see that this is happening far too late," he told the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger.
Parts of Europe have slowly begun to ease the lockdown after a strict quarantine period that has lasted since early March for some.
Restaurants, cafes and shops are being re-opened in Italy, one of the hardest hit countries in the world with more than 32,000 deaths, albeit with social distancing measures. Reports said Italians flocked back to old haunts with a mixture of relief and joy.
Tourist hotspot Spain – another severely hit EU country - is hoping to allow foreign visitors back by late June in an effort to kick-start its economy, although there is a two week quarantine on overseas travellers for now.
Britain meanwhile was set to delay the nationwide launch of a contract-tracing App until June at the earliest. Care homes in the country remained a blackspot for the outbreak with a 38 per cent rise in cases over the latest week of reporting.
Super Bowl LIII schedule
What Super Bowl LIII
Who is playing New England Patriots v Los Angeles Rams
Where Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, United States
When Sunday (start time is 3.30am on Monday UAE time)
Salah in numbers
€39 million: Liverpool agreed a fee, including add-ons, in the region of €39m (nearly Dh176m) to sign Salah from Roma last year. The exchange rate at the time meant that cost the Reds £34.3m - a bargain given his performances since.
13: The 25-year-old player was not a complete stranger to the Premier League when he arrived at Liverpool this summer. However, during his previous stint at Chelsea, he made just 13 Premier League appearances, seven of which were off the bench, and scored only twice.
57: It was in the 57th minute of his Liverpool bow when Salah opened his account for the Reds in the 3-3 draw with Watford back in August. The Egyptian prodded the ball over the line from close range after latching onto Roberto Firmino's attempted lob.
7: Salah's best scoring streak of the season occurred between an FA Cup tie against West Brom on January 27 and a Premier League win over Newcastle on March 3. He scored for seven games running in all competitions and struck twice against Tottenham.
3: This season Salah became the first player in Premier League history to win the player of the month award three times during a term. He was voted as the division's best player in November, February and March.
40: Salah joined Roger Hunt and Ian Rush as the only players in Liverpool's history to have scored 40 times in a single season when he headed home against Bournemouth at Anfield earlier this month.
30: The goal against Bournemouth ensured the Egyptian achieved another milestone in becoming the first African player to score 30 times across one Premier League campaign.
8: As well as his fine form in England, Salah has also scored eight times in the tournament phase of this season's Champions League. Only Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, with 15 to his credit, has found the net more often in the group stages and knockout rounds of Europe's premier club competition.
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Price, base / as tested: Dhxxx
Engine: 5.7L V8
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 395hp @ 5,600rpm
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THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
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David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go…
Emirates launched a new daily service to Mexico City this week, flying via Barcelona from Dh3,995.
Emirati citizens are among 67 nationalities who do not require a visa to Mexico. Entry is granted on arrival for stays of up to 180 days.
