Hong Kong began a mass coronavirus testing programme on Tuesday, while the number of infections in the United States surpassed six million.
The voluntary initiative in the southern Chinese city offers free tests to millions of Hong Kongers as authorities worldwide continue efforts to stamp out the virus, which has now killed about 850,000 and infected more than 25 million.
But populations around the world are increasingly wary of coronavirus curbs and distrust is growing in governments’ handling of the pandemic, with protesters taking to the streets in major cities in recent days.
German demonstrators against mask rules and other restrictions tried to storm parliament in the biggest of several European protests at the weekend.
Suspicions about the state’s intentions have done much to undermine the testing programme in Hong Kong, where disillusionment with officials has been fuelled by China’s crushing of the city’s democracy movement.
The project to stamp out a third wave of infections in the densely populated finance hub began in late June, when the city reimposed economically painful social distancing measures.
But the programme has been hampered by a limited response due to the involvement of mainland Chinese testing labs and doctors – and swirling public fears of the harvesting of data and DNA.
Since registration began on Saturday, 510,000 people have signed up to take the tests. Health experts advising the government, however, said as many as five million people might need to be tested for the measure to end the current wave.
“I think it’s a waste of time,” local resident Emily Li told AFP. “The government can’t convince me in terms of the effectiveness of the testing programme.”
The World Health Organisation on Monday urged governments to engage with people demonstrating against Covid-19 curbs and listen to their concerns, but stressed protesters needed to understand the virus was dangerous.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was important to “listen to what people are asking, what people are saying”.
“We should engage in an honest dialogue”, but demonstrators have a responsibility to ensure protests are safe, he said.
“The virus is real. It is dangerous. It moves fast and it kills. We have to do everything to protect ourselves and to protect others.”
Mr Tedros took issue with the opinion that high death rates are not a major concern if fatalities are mainly among the elderly.
“Accepting someone to die because of age is moral bankruptcy at its highest, and we shouldn’t allow our society to behave this way,” he said.
A million new coronavirus infections have been detected worldwide roughly every four days since mid-July.
In the US, which accounts for a quarter of the global caseload, a million infections have been recorded in three weeks.
India on Sunday set the record for the highest single-day rise in cases, with 78,761.
But there have been attempts to return to normality even as the virus continues to circulate, with French pupils back in classrooms on Tuesday as schools across Europe reopen their doors.
Pupils in Belgium return the same day, while in Greece classes are set to resume next Monday with a maximum of 25 children in each.
Youngsters in Germany went back last month and in England and Wales children are studying together again this week after a six-month closure.
But strict anti-virus rules are in place at many learning institutions as communities go to great lengths to avoid any return to painful lockdowns.
“The confinement period was hellish,” said Florence, 42, a mother-of-three in the southern French city of Nice.
“We will not go through it again – it’s out of the question.”
The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite Author: CJ Sansom
Favourite holiday destination: Bali
Favourite food: A Sunday roast
Know your camel milk:
Flavour: Similar to goat’s milk, although less pungent. Vaguely sweet with a subtle, salty aftertaste.
Texture: Smooth and creamy, with a slightly thinner consistency than cow’s milk.
Use it: In your morning coffee, to add flavour to homemade ice cream and milk-heavy desserts, smoothies, spiced camel-milk hot chocolate.
Goes well with: chocolate and caramel, saffron, cardamom and cloves. Also works well with honey and dates.
Company info
Company name: Entrupy
Co-founders: Vidyuth Srinivasan, co-founder/chief executive, Ashlesh Sharma, co-founder/chief technology officer, Lakshmi Subramanian, co-founder/chief scientist
Based: New York, New York
Sector/About: Entrupy is a hardware-enabled SaaS company whose mission is to protect businesses, borders and consumers from transactions involving counterfeit goods.
Initial investment/Investors: Entrupy secured a $2.6m Series A funding round in 2017. The round was led by Tokyo-based Digital Garage and Daiwa Securities Group's jointly established venture arm, DG Lab Fund I Investment Limited Partnership, along with Zach Coelius.
Total customers: Entrupy’s customers include hundreds of secondary resellers, marketplaces and other retail organisations around the world. They are also testing with shipping companies as well as customs agencies to stop fake items from reaching the market in the first place.
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 720hp
Torque: 770Nm
Price: Dh1,100,000
On sale: now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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