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published in QATAR since 1978

MONDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11615 July 20, 2020 Dhul-Qa’da 29, 1441 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Amir congratulates Amir meets Turkish defence minister Kuwait leader on his successful surgery Municipalities His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani sent yesterday a cable of congratulations to the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad make detailed al-Jaber al-Sabah on his successful surgery, wishing him good health and well-being. His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani and HE the Prime Minister preparations and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani also sent similar cables of congratulations to the Kuwaiti Amir. Earlier, the off icial Qatar News Agency, quoting Kuwait for Eid al-Adha news agency said the Amir of Kuwait underwent a successful surgery yesterday morning. QNA quirements and standards in the fi elds Wednesday is first Doha of storage and refrigeration, and see that workers hold valid health certifi - day of Dhul Hijjah cates, and they follow standards while The first day of the Hijri month of unicipalities in Qatar have handling foodstuff s, and the food ma- Dhul Hijjah will be on Wednesday, announced intensive prepa- terials are safe for human consumption. July 22, and the day of Arafat will be Mrations for Eid al-Adha The municipalities provide high- on Thursday, July 30, according to through action plans chalked out by quality veterinary service in the abat- astronomical calculations by Qatar the Municipal Control Department toirs and the meat shops of all kinds. Calendar House (QCH). The new and the Department of Services Af- These inspectors supervise all stages of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met yesterday morning at Al Bahr Palace with the visiting crescent of Dhul Hijjah 1441 H will be fairs, including extensive inspection slaughtering in the abattoirs, and en- Turkish Minister of the National Defence Lieutenant General Hulusi Akar and his accompanying delegation. born this evening - Monday, 29 Dhul campaigns on food facilities, along sure immediate disposal of slaughtered Qa’da (July 20) - at 08:34pm Doha with disinfecting and equipping public carcasses not fi t for human consump- local time, so it is not possible to see parks to receive visitors. tion. the crescent at sunset today by the A statement issued by the Minis- Doha Municipality’s health control eye or with astronomical devices in the try of Municipality and Environment section has adopted a work plan in co- skies of Qatar and all the countries of (MME) said the municipalities have set operation with Widam Food Company QNRF awards No progress in EU the Arab and Islamic region. Therefore, up a work plan that includes the imple- to provide adequate number of butch- Tuesday, July 21 will be the last day of mentation of intensive daily inspection ers, cleaning workers and security per- Dhul Qa’da, said Dr Beshir Marzouk, campaigns on meat and poultry stores, sonnel to off er the public high quality grants to four recovery fund talks astronomer at QCH. (QNA) vegetable and fruit shops, candy and services throughout the Eid days. Work nut stores , and daily inspection of will be in shifts from 5am until 5pm Sidra Medicine to accept commercial complexes and consumer daily. ‘vital’ projects Reuters for the EU’s next long-term societies ,to ensure the safety of the Fish coming directly from the sea to Brussels budget and recovery fund. The only card payments products off ered for sale and ‘special Doha Corniche’s open fi sh market will 750 billion euros proposed for Sidra Medicine has announced that it off ers’. be also regularly checked. our research projects designed to contrib- the recovery fund would be will accept only debit or credit cards Under the work plan, the inspectors Also, food inspectors will visit the ute to Qatar’s development in the areas of European Union plan raised on capital markets by as payment for services from August 1. will monitor the food establishments food manufacturers and storehouses at Fglobal citizenship education, cybersecu- to breathe life into the EU’s executive European “Cashless transactions are quicker and to ensure the application of health re- the Industrial Area. To Page 20 rity, environmental management, and STEM A economies throttled Commission and funnelled will significantly reduce your waiting education have been awarded grants by Qatar by the Covid-19 pandemic mostly to hard-hit Mediter- time at registration. On account of National Research Fund. hung in the balance yester- ranean rim countries. Covid-19, a cashless transaction will Designed to address Qatar’s strategic chal- day as leaders quarrelled over European Central Bank also ensure in keeping you safe,” lenges, the Qatar Foundation (QF) member’s how to carve up a vast recov- President Christine Lagarde according to a statement on the Sidra National Priorities Research Program-Cluster ery fund and what strings to said it would be better for the Medicine website. Page 20 track (NPRP-C) aims to develop solutions that attach for countries it would EU leaders to agree an “am- produce tangible societal and economic im- benefi t. bitious” aid package than to Aspire Zone reopens pact. Through this programme, Qatar National After three days of meetings have a quick deal at any cost. Research Fund (QNRF) supports multi-institu- in Brussels, the 27 EU states “Ideally, the leaders’ agree- outdoor venues tional and inter- or multi-disciplinary research were still seeking a compro- ment should be ambitious in Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) has to solve signifi cant and complex problems that mise on the fund after hag- terms of size and composi- announced the reopening of its need an unconventional approach. gling into the evening over tion of the package ... even if it outdoor venues. This is in accordance The NPRP-C encourages researchers from moves designed to help haul takes a bit more time,” she told with the phased and gradual lifting of multiple institutions and disciplines to work on Europe out of its deepest re- Reuters. Covid-19 restrictions in the country mega-research projects in areas of national im- cession since World War Two. Lagarde’s comments sug- by the Supreme Committee for Crisis portance, including energy, health, resource sus- Diplomats said it was not gested she was relaxed about Management. A maximum of 10 tainability, society, and digital technology. Under clear whether they would the possibility of an adverse people will be allowed on each pitch, this cycle, QNRF received 25 initial proposals abandon the summit and try reaction on fi nancial markets AZF tweeted yesterday. One has to submitted by researchers in seven Qatar-based again next month, or plough if the summit fails, especially fill up and submit a form available on institutions. with 10 shortlisted for the fi nal on through the night. as the ECB has a 1 trillion eu- the website - aspirezone.qa/book - to round of evaluation, and four ultimately selected On the table is a 1.8-trillion- ro-plus war chest to buy up avail of these facilities. Parks are being prepared to receive visitors. to receive funding for 3-5 years. Page 4 euro ($2.06-trillion) package government debt. Fourth drive-through swabbing centre planned MoPH launches ‘Heroes of the White Army’ colouring e-booklet for children

he Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), in collaboration with T Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and Primary Health Care Cor- poration (PHCC), has launched an electronic colouring booklet contain- ing drawings with awareness messages addressed to children through heroic characters resembling medical staff (doctors, nurses and paramedics) dur- ing the Covid-19 pandemic. Titled ‘Heroes of the White Army’, the booklet contains awareness tips for children to deal with Covid-19 in a simplifi ed way, in both Arabic and English, from heroes in the medical sector during Qatar’s eff orts to tackle the novel coronavirus pandemic, the the health sector in Qatar is to estab- of Media and Public Relations at HMC, offi cial Qatar News Agency reports. lish a generation that understands the said: “The launch of the new booklet Alyaa Hassan al-Kuwari, director importance of the medical profession coincides with the implementation of of Public Relations and Communica- in various specialities, dream and have the second phase of the gradual lift- tion at the MoPH, said: “The launch the passion to work within the ranks of ing of Covid-19 restrictions, with the of the e-booklet is part of the Ministry this high profession, instil enthusiasm aim of contributing to raising aware- of Public Health’s eff orts, in collabora- in children for the future and motivate ness among children in Qatar about tion with Hamad Medical Corporation them to join the leading medical staff , the coronavirus, how to protect them- and Primary Health Care Corpora- by highlighting our true heroes in the selves from infection and to identify tion, to promote awareness about the health sector facilities”. the inspiring roles played by medical Covid-19 pandemic among children in Al-Kuwari added that the design of the staff to fi ght the virus.” Qatari society. This comes as the pre- characters in the booklet and the advice “Through the booklet, the health There are plans to open a fourth ‘Drive Through’ swabbing hub soon, HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed cautionary and preventive measures given therein target children aged 4-10 sector seeks to introduce children to al-Kuwari said during a visit to the Al Waab Health Centre yesterday. She was briefed by Primary Health Care Corporation associated with the virus continue, years. An electronic link has been cre- and educate them about reliable health (PHCC) managing director Dr Mariam Ali Abdulmalik on the role of the ‘Drive Through’ swabbing hubs and their and represents a symbolic recognition ated on the MoPH’s website and posted information on the Covid-19 virus,” achievements. On the occasion, HE the minister lauded the PHCC’s proactive role in stemming the spread of Covid-19 in of the eff orts of medical staff in com- on various social media platforms, in ad- added Huda al-Wahedi, executive di- Qatar, saying the swift establishment of ‘Drive Through’ swabbing hubs helped manage the outbreak. The PHCC currently bating the Covid-19 pandemic.” dition to the hashtag #whitearmy_qatar. rector of Corporate Communications, operates three ‘Drive Through’ swabbing hubs at the Al Waab, Al Thumama and Leabaib health centres. Page 2 She explained that “our main goal in Hassan al-Hail, executive director PHCC. Gulf Times 2 Monday, July 20, 2020 QATAR Minister praises role of Shura Council takes part in GCC meeting PHCC ‘Drive Through’ Covid-19 swabbing hubs

zDrive through testing service runs zTo date, over 14,236 appointments across 3 permanent sites with a have been made, with 10,679 The Shura Council participated yesterday in the 12th meeting of the Parliamentary and Foreign fourth planned soon attendance and swabbing performed Relations Co-ordination Committee of Shura Councils, Council of Representatives and the National Assembly in the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) that was held via video conference technology. QNA The meeting’s objective was to prepare for the upcoming meeting of the presidents of the GCC Doha legislative councils, which will be held on Tuesday via video conference technology. The Shura Council was represented by its members Hadi bin Saeed al-Khayareen and Mohamed bin Ali al- Maadid and Secretary-General of the Council Fahd bin Mubarak al-Khayareen. E the Minister of Pub- lic Health, Dr Hanan HMohamed al-Kuwari, expressed yesterday her ap- preciation for the Primary Health Care Centre’s (PHCC) proactive role in stemming the Ooredoo: 5G network enabled spread of coronavirus in Qatar, saying the swift establishment of ‘Drive Through’ swabbing hubs helped manage the out- on Samsung Galaxy S20 series break. This came during a visit by HE the minister to Al Waab Health oredoo Qatar has an- Centre, where she was briefed nounced that customers by PHCC Managing Director Ocan now take full advan- Dr Mariam Ali Abdulmalik on tage of the power and potential the role of the ‘Drive Through’ of its ultrafast 5G network with swabbing hubs and their the all-new Samsung Galaxy achievements. S20 series. In this context, she praised the The Samsung Galaxy S20 se- active role of PHCC in reducing ries is the latest round of devices the spread of the coronavirus to have the 5G network enabled, Covid-19 pandemic in Qatar. HE the Minister of Public Health, Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari, being briefed by PHCC off icials at Al Waab meaning customers can access On May 31, as part of the Min- Health Centre on the role of the ‘Drive Through’ swabbing hubs. “all the phenomenal benefi ts of istry of Public Health’s (MoPH) the network on the S20+ 5G and eff orts to control the pandemic, know that early diagnosis and the S20 Ultra”, the company has PHCC initiated three dedicated timely management makes a said in a statement. ‘Drive Through’ swabbing hubs big difference in the health Customers wanting to choose at the Al Waab, Al Thumama, outcomes. Our unique prevent- a new Samsung S20 device can Samsung S20 series device from etable devices to enjoy every- and Leabaib health centres, to ative approach to seek out our also take advantage of exclusive the Ooredoo eShop will get free thing with the awesome po- assist with early detection. patients, test them and treat deals with Ooredoo. Buds+ worth QR509 with every tential of 5G, and are pleased The ‘Drive Through’ initia- them early is one of the success The Galaxy S20 series — in- purchase. to be able to offer added value tive required signifi cant logis- factors of Qatar which has con- cluding the Galaxy S20, Galaxy Sabah Rabiah al-Kuwari – with the Free Buds+ offer.” tical preparations and capac- tributes to Qatar’s low mortal- S20+5G and Galaxy S20 Ultra – director of PR at Ooredoo – The Samsung Galaxy S20 5G ity expansion, ranging from the ity rate” she said. introduces a brand-new camera said: “Like Samsung, Ooredoo series is available in various col- availability of trained person- The minister noted: “We in- architecture that combines AI is dedicated to building a 5G ours from the Ooredoo eShop: nel to take accurate swabbing to vite you to respond to the invi- with Samsung’s “largest mobile world that enables custom- the Galaxy S20+5G in Cosmic the time required to delivering tation when you get and ensure image sensor yet for stunning ers to fulfil their ambitions Grey, Cloud Blue and Cosmic swabs to a laboratory for further you are tested. Remember pre- image quality”. Device capabili- for communication, educa- Black and the Samsung Galaxy analysis. vention is always better than ties include “phenomenal gam- tion and entertainment. We’re S20 Ultra in Cosmic Grey and To date, more than 14,236 ap- cure...keep protected, keep your ing, superior picture quality delighted the Samsung S20 Cosmic Black. pointments have been made, physical distances, wear your with 100x zoom and a super-fast series will have our incred- For more details on the Sam- with 10,679 attendance and mask and wash your hands regu- operating system”. ible 5G enabled, meaning our sung Galaxy S20, one can visit swabbing performed. larly.” Customers choosing a new customers can use these cov- www.samsung.com. With a focus on vulnerable For her part, Dr Abdulmalik HE the Minister of Public Health, Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari, members of the community, the said: “Operating the swabbing during her visit to Al Waab Health Centre. drive through testing focuses on hubs on immediate notice has ensuring the elderly and those been a great accomplishment for tainment of Covid-19. Positive receive an SMS appointment with chronic conditions are pri- PHCC, supporting the country diagnosis of patients in their confirmation from PHCC with oritised. increase daily testing capac- early stages, especially those a date, time, slot, and location. QRCS, OCHA provide shelter “The Drive through testing ity and proven to be an eff ec- at higher risk, has helped treat They will be required to show service runs across 3 perma- tive measure in suppressing the them better, as well as ensuring their QID to verify their invita- nent sites with a fourth planned spread of the virus. the community is safer.” tion on arrival. Once swabbed, soon. The primary health cen- “The tireless work and dedi- The ‘Drive Through’ swab- patients will receive results for displaced Yemenis tre through a booking system cation of the PHCC staff through bing hubs are accessible by from MoPH by phone call if invites all our high risk popu- this period, has helped early de- invitation only. Patients will positive and by SMS if nega- lation to regularly check. We tection and the resultant con- be contacted by telephone and tive. atar Red Crescent So- six-month residential rentals for measures to prevent the spread ciety (QRCS) has said it 1,000 families. of Covid-19. Qis further meeting the Adel al-Nuwaihi, QRCS’s fol- The benefi ciaries are advised needs of those aff ected by the low-up and evaluation offi cer in to follow the instructions in or- confl ict in Yemen, by securing Dhale, said two training work- der to protect themselves and shelter requirements and non- shops had previously been held their families.” food items (NFIs) in three dis- for the survey and verifi cation She explained that seven fi xed Health ministry reports 103,377 tricts of the Dhale Province. personnel, followed by com- and mobile points of distribu- With funding from the United munity surveys for one month tion were designated in the three Nations Offi ce for the Coordi- in the target areas of internally districts. “All health precautions nation of Humanitarian Aff airs displaced persons. and safe distancing measures are total Covid-19 recovery cases (OCHA), the project will last un- After that, the verifi cation strictly observed,” said the rep- til November this year. It is ad- group made fi eld visits to make resentative of QRCS. “To avoid dressed to the most vulnerable sure that all the information of crowds, we have developed an QNA ing there are already signs of this families displaced from the con- the target families was true and emergency plan to allocate the Doha happening in other countries fl ict zones, losing their homes meeting the criteria. Then, the benefi ciaries to the distribution around the world. Avoid close and livelihoods, QRCS has said fi nal lists of benefi ciaries were points based on the available contact with others, crowded in a statement. prepared and the cash aid was spaces.” he Ministry of Public places and confi ned closed spac- To help those families and distributed in the districts of Al- This is the fi rst of six phases Health (MoPH) reported es where other people aggregate. preserve their dignity, QRCS’s Hussein, Jahaf and Qa’atabah. under the $882,743 project, Tyesterday 340 new con- Now more than ever, we must representation mission in Yem- The relief offi cer at QRCS’s which is planned to cover a total fi rmed cases of coronavirus be careful and protect the most en will provide the basic shelter representation mission in Sana’a of 1,500 families, or 9,000 peo- (Covid-19) and 354 recover- vulnerable.” needs for 500 families and pay said, “We have taken all the ple, in Dhale. ies from the virus in the last 24 While the restrictions of Cov- hours, bringing the total number id-19 are gradually being lifted in of people recovered in Qatar to Qatar, it is important for every- 103,377 cases. It also reported one to play their role in control- the deaths of three people aged ling the virus by following pre- 56, 59 and 69 who were all re- cautionary measures: ceiving the necessary medical zAdherence to physical dis- care. tancing. The MoPH said in a statement zAvoid close contact with that all new cases have been kept others, crowded places and con- in isolation and are receiving fi ned closed spaces where other necessary healthcare. people congregate. Measures to tackle Covid-19 zWearing a face mask in Qatar have succeeded in fl at- zWashing hands regularly. tening the curve and limiting zMost importantly, it is vital the spread of the virus and the that we continue to protect the number of new daily cases and elderly and those with chronic hospital admissions is continu- medical conditions. ing to decline each week. Anyone suff ering from Cov- “Qatar’s proactive and exten- id-19 symptoms should either sive testing of suspected cases contact 16000 helpline or go has enabled us to identify a high directly to one of the designated number of positive cases in the health centres to undergo the community,” the ministry said. necessary checks at Muaither, Qatar has one of the low- Rawdat Al Khail, Umm Slal, or Al est Covid-19 death rates in the zExpanding hospital capac- that the Covid-19 pandemic is Gharrafa. world. This is a result of: ity, especially intensive care, to over in Qatar: every day between This is important as the ear- zVery high quality of care ensure all patients receive the 50 and 100 people are admitted lier the disease is detected the provided thorough the public medical care they need to hospital with moderate to se- easier it will be to receive the healthcare sector for Covid-19 zProtecting the elderly and vere Covid-19 symptoms. right treatment and recover patients those with chronic diseases. “Unless we follow all precau- from it. The health ministry zQatar’s young population Even though restrictions are tionary measures, we may ex- urges people to visit its website zProactive testing to identify being lifted, and numbers are perience a second wave of the for regular updates and new in- cases early declining, this does not mean virus and see numbers increas- formation. All health precautions are observed to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Gulf Times Monday, July 20, 2020 3 QATAR

Huawei’s Petal Search Widget ‘gateway to a million apps’

uawei has announced the - Find Apps, users can fi nd and an easy way for users to transfer Currently, the search tool lists ware-based security and safety their home screen via Petal availability of the Petal download apps on to their HMS their apps, contacts, data, fi les apps from multiple sources - al- technologies, combined with the Search. The nova 7 5G is avail- HSearch Widget - Find devices by simply using it direct- and photos from their old smart- ways listing the source origin. unparalleled privacy standards able for pre-order from the Apps, which can be download via ly from the home screen of their phone to their new smartphone, Huawei’s AppGallery is com- set by these leading privacy-by- Huawei website - https://bit. the Huawei AppGallery starting device, alongside two more op- in a few simple steps. pletely integrated into the widget design search engines, to ensure ly/2C5WSQ7. with the recently launched nova tions; the AppGallery and Phone Powered by the Petal Search and any apps already available in the highest standards of data pri- The Petal Search Widget - Find 7 5G. Clone. engine, the Petal Search Widget the AppGallery will appear at the vacy and security for Huawei us- Apps currently supports more The new search tool off ers The AppGallery is Huawei’s - Find Apps brings an alternative top of any search in the new tool. ers, the statement said. than 40 languages and is avail- Huawei users “an open gateway offi cial app store with more than search experience that locates Hundreds of new apps continue Huawei’s smartphones are able in 45 countries and regions, to a million apps”, the company 420mn monthly active users and and aggregates information, de- to be added to the AppGallery all pre-installed with AppGal- with plans for wider rollout to has said in a statement. a constantly growing list of apps. livering the most accurate and every week. lery and the recently launched even more countries in the fu- It is now even easier for Hua- It features a four-layer detec- relevant results for each user Created in partnership with Huawei nova 7 5G. On Hua- ture. It is now available to down- wei users to have the apps they tion mechanism to ensure apps in order to enable them to fully global search engine leaders, the wei’s official app market- load from the AppGallery by want on their HMS devices. featured are safe to download personalise and manage their Petal Search Widget - Find Apps place, users can download the simply searching for Petal Search Through the Petal Search Widget and use. As for Phone Clone, it is smartphone experience. brings together the best in hard- apps they want directly from – Find Apps. QIB’s credit cards now Don’t leave children have contactless feature

atar Islamic Bank (QIB) in hot cars, says HMC has launched its new Qcontactless credit cards. The contactless payment solu- ith the hot and humid cars unintentionally, with par- tion allows QIB credit cardhold- weather expected ents forgetting the child is ers to safely and conveniently tap Wto continue into the there, often because he or she and pay, using their credit card at coming weeks, and with tem- has fallen asleep in the back- any contactless enabled point of peratures rising above 40C in seat. He says there are things sale (POS) machine, the bank has most parts of the country, rep- parents can do to help safeguard said in a statement. resentatives from the Hamad against this, such as keeping “Contactless cardholders Trauma Centre’s Hamad Injury their mobile phone, wallet or can conveniently tap and pay Prevention Programme (HIPP) bag, or another item that they for transactions under QR300 are providing the public with will need, in the backseat with without a need for a PIN. For best practices to keep children the child. He also recommends purchases over QR300, custom- safe. placing an item belonging to the ers can simply tap their card and ted to continuously expand our card, and powered by their NFC “With the rising tempera- child in the front seat, to serve enter their PIN to confi rm the digital off erings to suit the fast- platforms, with this initiative, tures, we want to remind the as a visual reminder, such as the transaction,” the statement said. evolving needs and expectations QIB is aligning with Qatar Cen- public of the increased health child’s lunchbox. Newly-issued cards and re- of today’s consumers. We aim to tral Bank (QCB)’s vision for a risks associated with children He says parents should always placements due to expiry, dam- provide digital experiences that safe, secure and cashless econo- being left in hot cars. The tem- lock their vehicle doors when the age or loss will be issued with a off er the utmost speed and con- my, ahead of the FIFA World Cup perature inside a parked car can car is not in use, saying children contactless feature going for- venience for all our customers. Qatar 2022, the statement added. be as much as 40C hotter than might hide inside and acciden- ward. Current QIB credit card- “With contactless payment In line with QCB’s goal to it is outside. On a cool day, the tally lock themselves in. He rec- holders can digitally, from the solutions now available for our achieve a safe, secure and cashless temperature can be over 20C ommends keeping car keys out of comfort of their home, request customers, on top of previously economy, QIB recently launched hotter. Most of this tempera- reach of children, never allowing for a credit card upgrade from launched services such as the full its mPay digital wallet, which pro- ture increase can happen within children to play with the car’s QIB’s mobile app to receive the control and management of cus- vides a cashless and cardless pay- fi ve minutes, putting children Dr Rafael Consunji, director of the HIPP. control buttons and encourages new contactless credit card. tomers’ credit cards through the ment gateway within Qatar. at great risk for high fever, de- parents to talk to their children The credit cards will be deliv- app, the mPay wallet for instant QIB customers can activate hydration, seizures, heatstroke “Even when a car is parked the seats and interior of the car about safety around vehicles. He ered to the customers’ preferred mobile-to-mobile transfers and their mPay digital wallet through and even death,” Dr Rafael Con- in the shade, the tempera- also does not aff ect the rising says this includes teaching the location using Qatar Post or can NFC-enabled POS machines, the award-winning QIB mobile sunji, director of the HIPP, said ture inside can rise to danger- heat. And large cars heat up just child how to use the horn in the be collected from the C-Ring we are supporting Qatar’s digital app, which will be linked to their in a statement issued by Hamad ous and even fatal levels very as fast as small cars,” Dr Con- case of an emergency. Road service centre. transformation and innovation mobile number. Once activated, Medical Corporation (HMC). quickly. The younger the child, sunji said. Dr Aisha Abeid, assistant D Anand, QIB’s general man- towards a smart and contactless customers will be able to send “The hot weather can be a the greater their sensitivity to “The bottomline is that it director of the HIPP, said the ager - Personal Banking Group, future.” and receive money, as easily as danger for everyone, but for heatstroke, and the faster they is not safe to leave a child un- elderly and those with existing said: “At QIB, we are commit- Certifi ed by Visa and Master- sending an SMS. children, the dangers are mag- can become dehydrated. Deaths attended in a vehicle for any medical conditions are also at nifi ed. A child’s temperature from heatstroke can happen amount of time, even for a increased risk for heat-related will rise fi ve times faster than an even when cars are parked in minute. If you must leave your illnesses. She says these indi- adult’s temperature, especially the shade and the windows are car for any reason, always take viduals can be more vulnerable on hot days,” he said. down. A small opening of 5cm, your child with you.” to dehydration, heatstroke, and Parked cars can get “very hot, for example, has little eff ect on Dr Consunji said that some even death when left inside a very quickly,” he added. the rising heat. The colour of children have been left in hot hot vehicle. Azerbaijan embassy

Encroachments removed in Al Wakra staff donate blood

taff from the embassy of Azerbaijan in Qatar, in co- Soperation with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), have carried out a blood dona- tion initiative at the HMC Blood Donor Centre. Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Qatar Rashad Ismayilov and members of the diplomatic mis- sion expressed their satisfaction at having participated in such a humane initiative. “When we read news about blood donation campaigns in newspapers, and found out that Hamad Medical Corporation Azerbaijan embassy staff donate blood. highlighted the country’s need for blood types O+, O-, A-, B- and those in urgent need, helps save AB-, while taking into account lives and benefi ts people suff er- that there are people among us ing from diseases that require who have the rare blood types re- regular blood transfusions,” the quired, we decided to join this no- ambassador said. ble move. This supports the tire- “We are confident that shar- less eff orts of doctors and marks ing our blood with the broth- our personal contribution to sav- erly Qatari people is a duty of ing people’s lives,” the envoy said humanity and we will continue while stressing the importance of to do our best for the benefit donating blood. of the society we live in. Using “Our step arises from a sense this opportunity, I would like of social responsibility and de- to express, on behalf of myself Al Wakra Municipality’s municipal control department, in co-operation with the mechanical equipment department, has carried out rives from the deep fraternal ties and my colleagues, our deep a campaign to remove encroachments from State property in Al Wakra city. These included some buildings and a storehouse, the between the Azerbaijan and Qa- gratitude to the officials and Ministry of Municipality and Environment said. The initiative was carried out in accordance with Law No 10 of 1987 with regard to tar,” Ismayilov said. medical staff of the HMC Blood Public and Private State Property. “Blood donation is an act that Donor Centre for their excellent is always needed, especially for co-operation.” Hamas chief hails Qatar’s support for Palestinian cause

QNA fi rst country to support the Pal- unjust blockade imposed on Qa- project was based on two pillars: the lands occupied in 1967. as lands behind the wall,” he has three foundations, including Doha estinian people internally and tar in the interest of the region the fi rst is the occupation of the “Today we are talking about said. agreement on a national basis externally. and restoring unity to face vari- land and the second the expul- 750,000 settlers living in the On reconciliation between and on the leadership for the Pal- Haniyeh praised Qatar’s fi- ous challenges. sion of the Palestinian people. West Bank, half of them live in Fatah and Hamas movements, estinian people, which is the Pal- hairman of the Hamas nancial support to the Pales- He hailed Doha’s abil- He said at the heart of the Jerusalem, and there are blocs, Haniyeh said they are taking estine Liberation Organisation. Political Bureau, Ismail tinian people. It has contrib- ity to overcome the eff ects of the Israeli strategy is Jerusalem called the major blocs of Israeli steps towards achieving recon- “We do not off er a substitute CHaniyeh, has hailed Qa- uted $180mn in the past year blockade, as Qatar has become a - whether in terms of occupa- settlements that occupy 12% of ciliation through a national dia- for that organisation, but it needs tar’s support to the Palestinian alone, which helped the re- State of strategic stability, capa- tion, Judaisation or changing the West Bank lands, in addi- logue, adding right now it is more to be rebuilt,” he said. cause regionally and internation- construction of 10,000 homes ble of coexisting with the chang- the Palestinian Arab-Islamic tion to the construction of the urgent to confront the recent The third foundation is an ally. that were destroyed in the es in the region. identity and isolating it from its wall inside the lands of the West changes caused by the Deal of the agreement on the resistance In an interview with Qatari wars in Gaza. Haniyeh said the Palestinian Palestinian and Arab connec- Bank,” he said. Century and the Israeli entity’s strategy, whether diplomatic or newspapers, Haniyeh said that He said that the Qatari Recon- issue is going through the most tion by intensifying settlements “This wall had great reper- plan to annex parts of the occu- armed. the Palestinian people recognise struction Committee is respon- dangerous phase since the con- there. cussions on geography and de- pied West Bank and the Jordan “We are ready to sit at the same Qatar’s supportive position, es- sible for managing all projects in fl ict began with the Zionist oc- He also said the issue of set- mography, because it cut off the Valley. table and agree on how to exer- pecially during the crises over Gaza. cupation in 1948. tlement has spread from the Pal- lands of a very large part of the Haniyeh pointed out that re- cise our national struggle to end the past years, adding it is the Haniyeh called for lifting the He pointed out that the Zionist estinian territories since 1948 to West Bank in what was known inforcing the national project the occupation.” Gulf Times 4 Monday, July 20, 2020 QATAR

Malabar Gold launches fi rst-ever discount campaign

alabar Gold & Dia- and suit their diverse tastes and ‘Shubh Aarambham Price and up to 25% discount on dia- will be delighted with the incred- that further increases the attrac- monds has launched preferences. The discount is be- Promise’ campaign will mond jewellery. ible collection and prices. It is also tiveness of this metal, the state- Mits fi rst-ever discount ing off ered to speed up the sale showcase the most attractive Additionally, there will also an opportunity to acquire gold; ment noted. campaign, titled ‘Shubh Aara- of products purchased at the be- and unique trends in gold be an exclusive display of ‘Spe- the only performing asset dur- Various brands of Malabar mbham Price Promise,’ off ering ginning of the year, targeting key and diamond jewellery cial Buy’ products at “attractive ing the unprecedented situation Gold & Diamonds will be on off er customers discounts on gold and occasions like Akshaya Tritiya bargains”. that also serves as an investment as part of the campaign, includ- diamond jewellery. and summer travel. The busi- products,” the leading jeweller “The ‘Shubh Aaarambham as well as an adornment,” said ing Mine Diamonds, Era - Un- “This exclusive and much- ness disruption brought about said in a statement. Price Promise’ campaign is for all Shamlal Ahamed, MD – Interna- cut Diamond Jewellery, Precia awaited campaign from the by the lockdowns had aff ected The ‘Shubh Aarambham Price our value-conscious customers tional Operations, Malabar Gold - Gem Jewellery, Divine- Indian brand will showcase the most the product cycles and with new Promise’ discount campaign who seek both fi nancial and emo- fering such discounts and we hope & Diamonds. Heritage Jewellery and Ethnix attractive and unique trends collections due to arrive in Sep- will off er customers a 20-50% tional benefi ts from their jewel- to see our customers take maxi- It is the ease to liquidate gold - Handcrafted Designer Jewel- in gold and diamond jewellery, tember 2020, it was critical to discount on making charges for lery purchase. This is the fi rst time mum benefi t from this campaign. for cash without losing much lery. The off er will be valid until bound to captivate customers ensure a faster sale of existing 18K, 21K and 22K gold jewellery Malabar Gold & Diamonds is of- We are certain that our customers value during these diffi cult times August 18. QNRF awards grants to projects focused on Qatar’s socioeconomic development z NPRP-C supports research that takes unconventional approach to solving Qatar’s key challenges

our research projects de- signed to contribute to FQatar’s development in the areas of global citizenship edu- cation, cybersecurity, environ- mental management and STEM education have been awarded grants by Qatar National Re- search Fund (QNRF). Designed to address Qatar’s strategic challenges, the Qatar Foundation (QF) member’s Na- tional Priorities Research Pro- gramme-Cluster track (NPRP- C) aims to develop solutions that produce tangible societal and economic impact. Through this programme, QNRF supports multi-institutional and inter- or multi-disciplinary research to solve signifi cant and complex Dr Haitham Abu-Rub Dr Evren Tok Dr Ahmed A al-Emadi Dr Abdul Sattar al-Taie problems that need an uncon- ventional approach. “Our team of researchers for a project promoting sustain- strategies.” A research project er, inclusive and co-ordinated air-conditioning system to cap- “As with every year, the qual- The NPRP-C encourages re- from Texas A&M University at able development of K-12 STEM that aims to promote education educational spaces and applica- ture CO2 from the atmosphere ity of this year’s awarded re- searchers from multiple institu- Qatar and Qatar Environment education in Qatar in the digital about sustainable development tions to improve the awareness eff ectively and economically. We search projects is exceptional,” tions and disciplines to work on and Energy Research Institute age. “STEM education and skills goals (SDGs) and global citizen- and knowledge of students about aim to reduce atmospheric CO2 he said. “I congratulate all the mega-research projects in areas (Qeeri) aims to create a cyber- are now more important than ship locally has also been award- global citizenship and the SDGs concentrations independent of four project directors and the 20 of national importance, includ- physical security infrastructure ever, as a high quality of STEM ed a grant. Dr Evren Tok, asso- and increase their levels of civic the complexities of the global lead principal investigators and ing energy, health, resource sus- for Qatar’s smart grid while ad- education is critical for provid- ciate professor at the College of participation.” energy system, thereby connect- their team researchers who will tainability, society and digital dressing the challenges associ- ing skilled graduates for growing Islamic Studies at QF member The fourth project that re- ing the problem to a solution. execute these research cluster technology. Under this cycle , ated with cyber-physical secu- number of STEM-related jobs, Hamad Bin Khalifa University ceived funding aims to develop The success of the proposal will projects, and wish them the best QNRF received 25 initial propos- rity and situational awareness which are essential for economic (HBKU), said: “The overarch- an effi cient and practical car- permit an unambiguous metric as they join us in our mission of als submitted by researchers in of Qatar’s power grid. We will growth and development in Qa- ing objective of our project is bon management system to im- to assess eff ectiveness of direct fostering a thriving research ec- seven Qatar-based institutions also explore the development of tar,” he said. to provide applied solutions to prove Qatar’s sustainability. Dr air capture.” osystem in Qatar.” with 10 shortlisted for the fi nal critical infrastructure through “Our project employs a com- educational challenges with the Abdulkarem Amhamed, Senior Qatari stakeholders and re- QNRF is now accepting appli- round of evaluation, and four the integration of cybersecurity prehensive interdisciplinary aim of providing evidence-based scientist and Energy Effi ciency search end-users that are col- cations for the thirteenth cycle ultimately selected to receive mechanisms, machine learning, approach that involves experts designs and piloting innovative Programme director at HBKU’s laborating with the research of the NPRP-C, which will focus funding for 3-5 years. smart devices and multi-agent from multiple domains includ- educational modalities in Qatar. Qeeri, said: “The motivation team and co-funding the project on four major thematic areas: Dr Haitham Abu-Rub, profes- distributed networked proactive ing pedagogy, aff ective and “We will be pursuing a multi- behind this project is to address include the Ministry of Munici- national emergency prepared- sor at QF partner university Tex- control strategy. cognitive sciences, math educa- layered approach and identify, the challenges faced by Qatar pality and Environment, Kah- ness, response and resilience; as A&M University at Qatar, is “The outcomes of this project tion, pedagogy and engineer- design, implement and evaluate due to the perennial increase of ramaa, Agrico and Qatar Shell as the clinical implementation of the project director of one of the will ensure the security of Qa- ing. “This approach will help us educational models and modali- CO2 concentration in the at- well as international partners. precision medicine; artifi cial awarded projects, titled Multi- tar’s critical infrastructure by identify the challenges in STEM ties by rescaling global citizen- mosphere, as it can aff ect indoor Dr Abdul Sattar al-Taie, ex- intelligence and applications; layer Cybersecurity and Situ- helping to protect Qatar’s smart education and subsequently ship and SDGs towards a process air quality and lead to issues ecutive director of QNRF, said and next Qatari society, which ational Awareness to Enhance grid and critical infrastructures develop and design pedagogy that is localised, contextually relating to economic diversity since the inception of the NPRP, encourages researchers to study Resiliency in Qatar’s Power Grid. from any cyberattacks, damage that addresses development of sensitive and centred on human and food security. “Addressing the projects it funds have played New and Emerging Technologies “The main motivation behind and energy disruption.” STEM learning at K12 level. We values. these challenges will put Qatar an instrumental role in helping (N&ET) and their impact on the applying for this project is to Dr Ahmed A al-Emadi, pro- also aim to apply and implement “Our team aims to produce a in the spotlight as a country that Qatar to build resilience in key Qatari identity and social trans- contribute to building a smart fessor and dean of the College new technology designs to pro- creative space in education eco- takes climate change seriously. sectors and develop evidence- formation. grid cybersecurity infrastructure of Education at Qatar Univer- mote STEM education and pro- system in Qatar which fosters Our project aims to take on the based and sustainable solutions For more details, visit www. in Qatar,” he said. sity, has been awarded a grant pose sustainable development the creation of multi-stakehold- challenge of using an existing to its key challenges. qnrf.org.

HEC Paris sets up Centre for Humanistic Executive Education Research to meet needs of learning partners

EC Paris has announced the external changes often lead to skill – enabling leaders and managers to launch of the Centre for Hu- gaps,” HEC Paris has said in a state- cope with an increasingly complex Hmanistic Executive Educa- ment. world. In addition to that, CHEER tion Research (CHEER). CHEER currently investigates a off ers a variety of initiatives such Founded by Professor Dr Wolf- number of themes that come under as knowledge labs to bring together gang Amann, CHEER has been set executive education: artifi cial intel- key expert practitioners and form up keeping in mind the practical ligence and its impact on society, consortia to jointly explore topics needs of HEC Paris’s learning part- business and management educa- eff ectively, exclusively and confi - ners. “The centre creates and dis- tion; humanistic business schools dentially. It also carries out rigorous seminates thought leadership and and management education. and relevant research for a specifi c relevant research insights on how The centre also examines institu- organisation, helping transitions to optimise executive education tional readiness for the United Na- and promotions across all stages of eff orts at the individual, team, or- tions Global Compact Principles of the leadership pipeline. ganisational and societal levels. It Responsible Management Educa- To learn more about CHEER’s ac- was established on the observation tion; leadership and learning style tivities, contact Prof Dr Amann at that an organisation’s internal and versatility; and practical wisdom [email protected]. Prof Dr Wolfgang Amann

QCS in ‘Protect Yourself’ liver cancer awareness drive

atar Cancer Society (QCS) has Nour Mekkia, health educator at QCS, launched the ‘Protect Yourself’ said: “There are many risk factors that Qcampaign to raise awareness can increase the chances of developing of liver cancer, which has the seventh liver cancer. It is more common among highest incidence among both genders males than female and most common in in Qatar. older people. Most people diagnosed are aged 55 years and above.” “There are many risk factors People with Type 2 diabetes and who that can increase the chances are overweight or obese, in addition to of developing liver cancer. It is occupational exposure to chemicals, more common among males than might suff er from health problems in female and most common in older the liver, according to Mekkia. people. Most people diagnosed Weight loss due to unknown reasons, are aged 55 years and above” loss of appetite, feeling full after a small meal, nausea or vomiting, general weak- Liver cancer also accounts for the ness and fatigue, pain in the abdomen second highest cancer deaths among or near the right shoulder blade, itch- both genders, according to Qatar Na- ing, white, chalky stools, yellowing of tional Cancer registry 2016, Ministry of the skin and eyes and enlarged liver and Public Health. spleen, are the symptoms, she added. Monday, July 20, 2020 5 QATAR Qatar Charity invests voluntary capabilities in community service ttaching great importance to voluntary activities, Qatar Charity (QC) has launched a Avariety of volunteering initiatives, programmes, and events to provide community service and pieces of trainings and promote the culture of voluntary activities within the country. This comes as part of Qatar Charity’s endeavor to contribute to achieving the Qatar National Vision 2030. Qatar Charity’s voluntary programs aim to encourage people in Qatar to support charity works, provide youths with opportunities to participate in community service and humanitarian action, and enhance citizens and residents, recording youth initiatives, as part of the cooperation and partnership with the participation of more than relief campaign named “A call of relevant volunteers. 8,000 volunteers, who contributed Humanity” launched by Qatar Volunteer For Qatar significantly to the projects and Charity to contribute to helping and assistance provided by Qatar saving thousands of lives affected Recently, Qatar Charity has Charity during the pandemic. by the coronavirus (COVID-19) launched an initiative under the pandemic around the world. hashtag “#VolunteerForQatar” You Deserve the Reward The rescue team consists of five to a specific charitable project mainly on the competition aiming at improving the social, to contribute to the efforts made The ‘You Deserve the Reward’ youth initiatives, which are 974 Event chosen by the household from Qatar between companies to carry out psychological and health situation by the State of Qatar to limit initiative, launched by some Qatari Management, Sanad for Community Charity’s project directory, which is the maintenance and renovation of low-income families, and the spread of the coronavirus youths, in cooperation with Qatar Services, Future Compass, Our Hope, implemented by Qatar Charity on of low-income families’ houses, achieving social solidarity to (COVID-19) pandemic. The Charity, contributed to distributing initiative came to support the and Greener Future. the behalf of the household. in cooperation with community ensure a dignified life for all Iftar meals and food parcels to initiatives and companies. The members of the community. civil society, respond quickly Qatar Charity has been designing workers and low-income families in Restoration programme continues throughout to an emergency, and benefit the holy month of Ramadan. a variety of programs for several The idea of the “Restoration the year by repairing and from volunteers’ capabilities for years in support of community Challenge” programme is based furnishing old houses adequately, community service. Rescue Mission initiatives in Qatar. The initiative has received Qatar Charity (QC) has launched Initiatives’ Challenge an overwhelming response the ‘Rescue Mission’ initiative, from the people in Qatar, both in cooperation with Qatari This is a competition in which several voluntary youth initiatives compete to promote and finance community projects during the month of Ramadan, with the participation of youths and social media influencers. Khair Homes This is a competition among Qatari families in community entrepreneurship during the month of Ramadan. Each household designs a charity corner at home and puts a set of materials like toys and sweets for children, in addition to some necessary items for adults. Profits are then donated 4 years of nurturing young writing talents by Qatar Charity’s “Future’s Writers” he “Future’s Writers” them, and promoting the culture of programme, since its reading and writing among them, launch by Qatar Charity in cooperation with the Ministry of in 2017, has managed to Culture and Sports, the Ministry of Tnurture 64 young talents of both Education and Higher Education, male and female students in the Qatar University, Qatari Forum for field of short story writing during Authors, Khair Jalees Book Club, its last four seasons. Roza Publishing House, and Lusail Publishing and Distribution House. Qatar Charity has printed 36 winning stories during the three The program, which is considered seasons and get some stories the first national program for all translated into the Russian academic levels within the State of language, expecting the number Qatar, witnessed a significant rise in will rise to 64 printed stories by the number of participants in each completing the works of the fourth season. Some 137 female students season. from 32 government preparatory The programme reflects Qatar and secondary schools took part in Charity’s keenness to achieve its the first season of the programme, various local development goals, while its second season recorded including cultural and knowledge the participation of 375 male and targets, under the Qatar National female students from 55 preparatory Vision 2030, establish, deepen and and secondary schools. Besides, consolidate human values, promote the third season of the programme the culture of humanitarian saw a steep increase in the number action among youngsters, and of applicants, recoding 1697 male strengthen its local partnerships and female participants from 259 with the relevant bodies within the primary, preparatory and secondary framework of social responsibility. schools. The programme is aimed at Significantly, the programme, for developing the writing skills of the first time, allowed students with students, nurturing talents in special needs and Qatar University’s male and female students to take part in its fourth season, in which 2355 male and female students from 287 schools, in addition of the students of Qatar University, registered their participations. The programme has several phases, which are training, screening, interviewing by judges, and printing and signing winning books. The “Future’s Writers” programme won the Social Responsibility Award in the category of the best national initiative during the 6th Social Responsibility Awards organized by Dar Al Sharq in 2019. Gulf Times 6 Monday, July 20, 2020 REGION/ARAB WORLD

Libyan govt says Iraq seeks balanced battle ‘very near’ to retake key city

DPA ment from Haftar’s self-styled Tripoli Libyan National Army (LNA) ties as Zarif visits based in eastern Libya. GNA fi ghters advanced to- DPA ibya’s internationally rec- wards Sirte several weeks ago in Baghdad ognised government is a bid to capture it from Haftar’s Lamassing forces for a bat- loyalists, who have controlled it tle that is “very near” to retake since January. raq’s leaders asserted yes- the strategic city of Sirte from The coastal city is a key gate- terday that Baghdad seeks the rival forces of commander way to Libya’s major oilfi elds in Ito build balanced ties with Khalifa Haftar, a military offi cial the east. its neighbours and rejects in- said yesterday. Fighters allied with the GNA tervention in its internal aff airs, The spokesman for the forces government have recently re- as they met with Iran’s foreign aligned with the Government of gained control of several areas minister. National Accord (GNA), Mostafa close to the capital Tripoli, foil- Iran’s top diplomat, Moham- al-Majai, added that the military ing Haftar’s campaign to seize ed Javad Zarif, arrived in the build-up by the Tripoli-based the city which began last year. Iraqi capital, Baghdad, earlier in government near Sirte is un- GNA has the backing of Turkey. the day on an offi cial visit, the precedented. Egyptian President Abdel fi rst since a US air strike outside “The eruption of the battle to Fattah al-Sissi has warned that Baghdad airport killed Qassem liberate Sirte is taken for granted Sirte is a red line that should not Soleimani, a top Iranian com- and very near,” al-Majai said. be crossed and threatened direct mander, in January. He added that the battle would military intervention in neigh- The visit also comes ahead of also aim to retake oilfi elds under bouring Libya. Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa the control of Haftar’s forces. Oil-wealthy Libya has been in al-Kadhimi’s planned tour that “The ultimate aim is to elimi- turmoil since a 2011 revolt top- will take him to Iran, Saudi Ara- nate rebellion and expand (GNA) pled long-time dictator Mua- bia and the United States. control over the whole Libyan mmar Gaddafi and has become “We want balanced relations territory,” he added. a battleground for rival proxy with all neighbouring countries So far, there has been no com- forces. based on the Iraqi national in- terest and non-interference in Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi and Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif, wearing protective masks, attend a meeting in internal aff airs,” Foreign Min- Baghdad, yesterday. ister Fuad Hussein told a press conference following his meet- work of non-interference in in- to crises and tensions. “Iraq is seeks to “assert its balanced Baghdad’s heavily fortified ing with Zarif. ternal aff airs. keen on protecting its sover- and positive role in making Green Zone, home to foreign Oman reports 1,157 He added that Baghdad is He also called for building re- eignty, security and stability, peace and achieving progress embassies and government working on keeping the region lations in the fi eld of energy and and co-operates with allies in the region.” offices, Iraq’s Joint Operations and the country away from in- expanding trade ties. and friends in the framework He stressed the need to Command said. new Covid-19 cases ternational tensions and pro- Iraqi President Barham Sa- of mutual respect and non-in- boost bilateral relations in One of the mortars did not tecting Iraqi sovereignty. lih also asserted during his tervention in internal affairs,” various fields and jointly work explode, it said in a state- Zarif, for his part, said his meeting with Zarif that the he said. to support the security and ment carried by official Iraqi QNA intensive care units were 165. country welcomes Iraq’s role region needs balanced rela- Al-Kadhimi said during his stability of the region. News Agency, adding that Muscat KUWAIT SEES 300 in the Gulf region and building tions, joint understanding and meeting with the top Iranian Hours after Zarif’s arrival, the groups behind the attack NEW VIRUS CASES bilateral relations in the frame- clear vision to reach solutions diplomat that his country three mortar shells struck wanted to weaken the state. The Kuwait Ministry of he Oman Ministry of Health announced yesterday the Health reported yesterday registration of 300 new cases of T1,157 new cases of coro- Covid-19, and one death during navirus (Covid-19), of which the last 933 were Omanis and 224 were 24 hours, bringing the total Explosion hits power plant in central Iranian province non-Omanis. of confi rmed cases in the coun- This brings the total number try to 59,204, in addition to 408 of cases to 66,661, while the deaths. AFP at around 5:00am today,” the managing fire brigade was quoted as saying. earlier this month. Iranian authori- number of recoveries reached All the new cases were in Tehran director of Isfahan’s electricity company The incidents are the latest in a ties called the Natanz fire an accident 44,004. contact with those previously Said Mohseni told the agency. string of fires and explosions at mili- without elaborating and later said they The ministry announced 10 infected or were being investi- The facility returned to normal work- tary and civilian sites across Iran in would not reveal the cause, citing “se- new deaths for people infected gated for sources of infection, n explosion hit a power plant in ing conditions after about two hours and recent weeks. Two explosions rocked curity reasons”. The string of fires and with the virus, bringing the total the ministry spokesperson Dr the central Iranian province of Is- Isfahan’s power supply was uninterrupt- Tehran in late June, one near a military explosions have prompted speculation deaths in the Sultanate as a re- Abdullah al-Sanad said. Afahan yesterday, state news agen- ed, he added. site and the other in a health centre, the in Iran that they may be the result of sult of the disease to 318, Oman’s The Kuwait Ministry of cy IRNA reported, saying it was triggered A cellophane factory also caught fire latter killing 19 people. sabotage by Israel. ONA reported. Health had announced ear- by faulty equipment and caused no casu- yesterday in the northeastern province Fires or blasts also hit a shipyard The Jewish state accuses the Islamic The ministry pointed out that lier the recovery of 667 people alties. of Eastern Azerbaijan, IRNA said. in southern Iran last week, a factory republic of seeking to acquire a nuclear 3,943 tests of Covid-19 were from Covid-19 during the last A “worn out transformer...at Isfahan’s Two firefighters suffered injuries south of Tehran with two dead and the bomb while Tehran insists its nuclear conducted in the past 24 hours, 24 hours, bringing the total to Islamabad thermal power plant exploded while battling that blaze, the province’s Natanz nuclear complex in central Iran programme is entirely peaceful. while the number of people in 49,687 recoveries.

Offi cials play down Rouhani’s fi gure of virus cases Sudan forces say 160 Libya

Reuters massively higher than the offi cial a person has been exposed to a tests of the throat and nose are bound ‘mercenaries’ arrested Tehran number of Covid-19 cases. disease by showing their anti- needed to diagnose Covid-19, he Offi cial case numbers rose to body response. added. 273,788 yesterday, with 14,188 In the coronavirus pandemic, Iran has been hardest hit by AFP Libyan border arrested 160 do Hamdan, the RSF’s com- ranian health offi cials sought deaths, Health Ministry spokes- they have been used by countries the pandemic in the Middle East, Khartoum people who were going to mander in North Darfur state. yesterday to play down the woman Sima Sadat Lari said. to survey samples of the popula- with infections and deaths rising work as mercenaries to fight “We have been monitoring Ipresident’s estimate that A Health Ministry statement tion and estimate overall infec- sharply since restrictions were in Libya, including two for- and securing the border with some 25mn people have been carried by Iranian news me- tion rates — whether or not peo- eased, beginning in mid-April. udanese forces arrested eigners,” Sudan’s Rapid Sup- Libya to combat illegal migra- infected with the coronavirus, dia said the fi gure given by the ple have had severe, mild or no Still, the number given by around 160 people on port Forces (RSF) said in a tion, human trafficking and saying it was based on serologi- president was based on num- symptoms of Covid-19. “Sero- Rouhani took many Iranians by Sthe border with Libya statement. all cross-border criminal en- cal blood tests that measure ex- bers produced by a deputy in the logical tests only show if people surprise. Turkey has suspended who were en-route to the war- The RSF is led by Mohamed terprises,” he added. posure to the illness and that ministry. have been exposed to the virus fl ights to Iran because of corona- torn neighbouring country to Hamdan Dagalo, a leading Sudan is currently under- cannot be relied on to show the “It is not possible to rely on in the past,” Mostafa Qanei, head virus worries, a spokesman for work as “mercenaries”, a state- member of Sudan’s transi- going a fragile democratic current state of disease. serological tests to diagnose the of the government’s scientifi c Iran’s Civil Aviation Organisa- linked paramilitary group said tional ruling council. transition after massive pro- The 25mn fi gure put forward current state of the disease,” the committee of the coronavirus tion, Reza Jafarzadeh, was quot- yesterday. “Sending Sudanese to fight tests last year prompted the by Rouhani on Saturday is nearly statement said. task force, was quoted as saying ed as saying yesterday by the of- “The joint security forces in Libya as mercenaries is un- military to topple long-time a third of the population and Serological tests determine if by the state IRINN website. PCR fi cial IRNA news agency. stationed at the Sudanese- acceptable,” said General Jad- leader Omar al-Bashir.

Five dead, Syria votes in parliamentary polls amid new US sanctions

85 hurt in DPA car bomb Damascus oting to elect a new parliament was under attack Vway in Syria yesterday, its third such poll since a pro- democracy uprising erupted Reuters against President Bashar al- Istanbul Assad in 2011. The one-day vote has been postponed twice since April due car bomb attack in north- to the global coronavirus pan- western Syria’s Azaz re- demic. Agion killed fi ve people and The voter turnout was slug- wounded 85 others, a local hospi- gish in diff erent government- tal in Syria and Turkish state me- controlled areas, local witnesses dia said yesterday. said. The incident took place in the Syria’s state news agency village of Siccu, across the border SANA reported that Assad and People cast their votes inside a polling station during the parliamentary elections in Douma, in the eastern suburbs of Damascus, yesterday. from Turkey’s southern province of his wife had voted in the capital Kilis, Turkey’s Anadolu agency said. Damascus. “Elections are a constitutional the blast for which no-one has Syria’s northwest and Raqqa in States came into eff ect on key pected by tomorrow. It said 15 of the wounded had The agency showed images obligation that confirms Syr- claimed responsibility. the north. fi gures in the Syrian regime, The elections are being held been taken to a hospital on the of voters casting their ballots ia’s determination to exercise The polls, which opened at On Saturday, an anti-govern- and amid a deepening economic two days after Assad marked the Turkish side of the border and that inside some of the 7,277 polling its national sovereignty,” he 7am (0400 GMT), were extend- ment Kurdish administration crisis. 20th anniversary of succeeding some were in critical condition. centres in the country. said. ed by four hours to last until running a self-governing region Some 1,656 candidates, in- his father, Hafez, who died in Azaz has been under the control of SANA said voters had shown The Syrian Observatory for 11pm (2000 GMT), in all polling in northern Syria said it would cluding 200 women, are stand- 2000. rebels backed by Turkey since An- up at polling stations since the Human Rights said a bomb stations, the election commis- not allow the polls to take place ing for the 250-strong parlia- Assad’s Baath Party and its kara’s fi rst incursion into Syria in early hours but did not give spe- planted under a car exploded sion said. in areas under its control. ment, SANA reported. allies are anticipated to win the 2016, in an operation that aimed to cifi c fi gures on voter turnout. near a polling station in the The vote is also being held in The elections come more Most contenders belong to majority of seats in the parlia- drive away Islamic State militants Foreign Minister Walid southern province of Daraa. areas where the government has than a month after new sanc- the ruling Baath party and loyal ment elected for a four-year and the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia. al-Moallem hailed the vote. One person was injured in partial control, such as Idlib in tions imposed by the United groups. Offi cial results are ex- mandate. Gulf Times Monday, July 20, 2020 7 AFRICA

Team Lioness: Kenya’s women rangers risk their lives to save wildlife

By Georgina Smith decimated tourism revenues and male ranger has been hard are lions, or where there are hy- Guardian News & Media left donor-funded wildlife con- enough. enas that attack the boma (live- servation hanging in the balance. “Before, women were not em- stock enclosure) to kill the cattle, In neighbouring Tanzania, ployed in this job because they they will run for us and give us er black boots brush- many rangers have lost their jobs said … ‘a woman cannot walk that information. But right now, ing through swathes as tourism has dwindled, putting long distances in harsh climates’. we can’t meet with them unless Hof yellow-brown bush, more pressure on Team Lioness But after we were employed … they call us,” she adds. 24-year-old Purity Amleset is and other community rangers our community realised that we Another challenge “is that feeling tense. But fear is just part because they are forced to patrol can make it … we can walk long people are sitting idle at home, of the job, she says, as she pa- larger areas. distances, we can run – we usu- because of the lack of jobs, so trols her section of the 147,000 There are fears that fewer ally go on a morning run and after they might engage in poaching to hectare community land around rangers could prompt a spike in that we compete with men. get something to eat, they might Kenya’s Amboseli National Park, poaching, threatening the deli- “They think that we can’t be in sell bushmeat so they can have a Unesco-designated biosphere cate balance of the ecosystem these dangerous places, we can’t money to use for food or other reserve. and future tourism. be in the bush, they think we just basic needs,” says Sikeita. Amleset is one of eight rangers “For us now the job has in- spend our time in town. So … we Eunice Mantei, 20, says: “You in the all-female International creased,” says 20-year-old Sha- can make it, we can do the hard- know before, us females in our Fund for Animal Welfare’s Team ron Nankinyi, speaking before est job and we stand on our own,” community we were seen as a Lioness, a patrol unit among 76 the announcement of a phased says Nankinyi. weak point. In our society we are rangers from the local Maa com- reopening in Kenya. Part of the ranger’s job is to not recognised, our worth is just munity. “The most diffi cult thing is relay information to the national to give birth and take care of the Their job is to protect wild- dangerous animals. If you meet Kenya Wildlife Service, and talk children. life from poaching, traffi cking in them in the bush, they can attack to the community to gather intel- “But now we have been rec- bushmeat and human-wildlife you. But we know that without ligence – though this activity has ognised. We are working in the confl ict. wildlife, people will not survive, become more diffi cult during the same fi eld like men … Our fami- Amleset has not seen her fam- and without people, wildlife will pandemic. lies depend on us ... before they ily since country-wide travel re- not survive. Ruth Sikeita, a 27-year-old used to depend on men solely. strictions were imposed follow- Team Lioness on patrol around Kenya’s Amboseli National Park. “I miss making beads, slaugh- mother of two, says: “We are Maa “Now … I can use my salary to ing the fi rst case of coronavirus tering a goat, fetching water with ladies. They (the village women) educate my younger brother … to in Kenya in March. the local community, tracking cious activity along the way. together with wildlife. The grass my sister,” she adds, refl ecting on are our mothers. So they give us give my mother good health and “I risk my life to spare their life and recording GPS co-ordinates “I grew up here with wildlife as we use to herd the cattle, we herd the months she has spent away information freely, without any raise the standard of my family. (wildlife),” says Amleset, who is of wildlife sightings, as well as our friends. We are thriving to- together with wildlife,” she says. from home. fear.” That feeling of being recognised on a regular 20km patrol to visit threats like snares or any suspi- gether. The water point, we share The Covid-19 pandemic has The journey to become a fe- Before Covid-19, “where there drives me to be a female ranger.” Sierra Leonean Vaccine test protest protesters fi red upon, four dead

Reuters head at the University of Makeni. main hospital, said the city’s medical Freetown “They began by fi ring into the sky superintendent, Mohamed Sheku. and people started running away...but Ten others were admitted to hospi- after that, when people kept throwing tal with bullet wounds, four of whom t least four people includ- stones, they started shooting into the were in critical condition as of Satur- ing a teenager were killed and people,” he said. day night, he said. A10 wounded when police and A police spokesman did not imme- “It was complete chaos all day. We soldiers opened fi re on protesters in diately comment. An army spokes- were afraid that If we left we’d get northern Sierra Leone, a health offi - man did not respond to a request for caught in the crossfi re,” Sheku told cial and witnesses said yesterday. comment. In a statement on Sat- Reuters. “Many hospital staff haven’t Hundreds gathered on a rainy day urday night, the government said it come into work because they’re afraid in the city of Makeni on Saturday to was aware of a “potential loss of life”, of things fl aring up again outside.” try to block the movement of a power without providing details. Sierra Leone’s power generation generator to another town, fearing it It said that any attempt to under- capacity falls far short of the needs of would jeopardise the area’s electricity mine public peace would be met with its 7mn citizens. Protesters hold placards during a demonstration against Covid-19 vaccine testing outside Baragwanath hospital in supply, fi ve witnesses said. “the fullest force of the law.” Prolonged blackouts are common Soweto, South Africa. When protesters began throwing The youngest among the dead was even in the capital and urban areas, rocks, the authorities opened fi re, a 15-year-old schoolboy who died and area a source of frustration for the said Matthew Kanu, a department shortly after arriving at Makeni’s population. Nigerian foreign minister tests positive Mali mediators call for power-sharing govt Reuters/AFP government working while abiding by South Africa has the highest number Abuja/Johannesburg social distancing rules. of coronavirus cases on the continent AFP After days of talks with the govern- country on Wednesday. The government started a phased with nearly 5,000 deaths and 350,000 Bamako ment and the opposition, mediators On Friday, however, Mali’s main easing of lockdowns in May after im- infections. from the 15-nation Economic Com- opposition alliance spurned an off er igerian Foreign Minister Geof- plementing measures to slow the It also has one of the highest crime munity of West African States pro- from the mediators and stuck to its frey Onyeama said yesterday spread of the virus, which has killed rates in the world. est African mediators try- posed that the current ruling coalition demand that Keita resign. Nhe had tested positive for Cov- 778 people in Nigeria and infected more “A group of suspects entered the ing to resolve Mali’s politi- make up 50% of a new unity govern- The June 5 Movement has triggered id-19, and became the fi rst member of than 36,000. cargo section at the O R Tambo Airport Wcal crisis yesterday called ment. a show-down with the government President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabi- Onyeama has played a role in repat- and held the staff at gunpoint at one of for a power-sharing government and A proposed 30% should be mem- over its unfl inching demands that net to contract the new coronavirus. riating Nigerians stranded because of the warehouses,” police said. a new constitutional court in their bers of the opposition and the re- Keita quit for perceived failures in Onyeama, 64, said on Twitter he travel restrictions during the Covid-19 “A high speed chase and shootout latest bid to calm tensions. maining 20% from civil-society tackling the dire economy and Mali’s had taken a Covid-19 test because of a pandemic. resulted” in which two suspects were The country is in the grip of a po- groups. eight-year jihadist confl ict. throat irritation. Buhari’s former chief of staff , Abba shot dead and seven others were ar- litical impasse between President The mediators also suggested ap- At a news conference in the capi- “Did my fourth Covid-19 test yester- Kyari, died in April from the novel rested. Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, and a newly- pointing new judges to the country’s tal Bamako yesterday, Jonathan told day at the fi rst sign of a throat irritation coronavirus, making him the most high “A civilian in the vicinity sustained galvanised opposition which is intent constitutional court, to resolve a reporters that it was not within the and unfortunately this time it came profi le person in the country to die from a gunshot wound apparently by a stray on his resignation. dispute over the March-April parlia- remit of ECOWAS to seek Keita’s res- back positive,” he tweeted. “Head- the virus. bullet. At least 11 people died over three mentary election. ignation. ing for isolation in a health facility and Meanwhile, two people were killed The police upon searching the sus- days of unrest last week following an ECOWAS mediators — led by “We met with the M5 four times praying for the best.” at Johannesburg airport on Saturday pects’ truck recovered the stolen per- anti-Keita protest, in the worst polit- former Nigerian president Goodluck and we couldn’t resolve our diff er- Buhari’s cabinet has been conduct- during a shootout between police and sonal protective equipment (masks) ical unrest the West African state has Jonathan — fi nished their mission ences,” he said, referring to the June 5 ing executive council meetings virtu- thieves who stole facemasks and cell- as well as three crates containing cell- seen in years. yesterday after having landed in the Movement. ally as part of measures to keep the phones, police said. phones.” police said. South African artisanal cheesery hopes virus will boost ‘slow food’

By Sofia Christensen, AFP etjie and her husband Danie be- on solar energy and sources its raw hit that they were stuck in the The couple have worked hard Clarens, South Africa lieve coronavirus could boost de- materials from surrounding land. city, where there is no way you to fi nd new delis and are current- mand for locally-produced foods The mozzarella is smoked with can produce food for yourself,” ly negotiating shelf space with a in the long run. wood from a neighbouring ap- said Marietjie. local supermarket chain. heddar-making was put “I have noticed that some re- ple farm. Condiments are made “People suddenly became They also have high hopes in on hold when coronavirus tailers tell us they want to focus with fruit pulp left over from more aware that we must use the launch of an online shop next Cstruck an artisanal chee- more on local products,” said nearby breweries. That unusual what is in our area,” Danie added. week that will deliver cheese di- sery on the outskirts of Clarens, a Danie, who co-owns Noah’s setup helped the fi rm survive the “Even those who do not neces- rectly to customers stuck at home. town tucked into the foothills of Cheese with his wife. crushing impact of coronavirus. sarily know about the Slow Food South Africa has a growing the Maluti mountains of central “To rely on food from far away “We didn’t have a fi xed cost on movement.” market of foodies seeking more South Africa. Hard cheeses re- doesn’t make sense anymore,” he electricity,” said Danie. For Noah’s Cheese, the chal- sophisticated fl avours than fac- quiring months of ripening were explained. “The cost in terms of “We are not reliant on (im- lenge will be to tap into that bud- tory-made feta and gouda. no longer viable, and the small the environment, the risk when a ported) produce...It is here, it is ding market. Artisanal cheeseries have business battled to stay afl oat as disaster like this happens, is too local.” The Crowthers relied heavily entered the scene to meet this sales plummeted. high.” Noah’s Cheese is a member of on festivals to sell their products demand, adapting classic tech- Cheesemaker Marietjie Eating locally is the favoured the Slow Food movement, which and seek business partners — all niques from France and Italy to Crowther only managed to pro- goal of locavores — foodies who originated in Italy during the of which have been cancelled for local ingredients. duce small amounts of her sig- believe in produce grown from 1980s to protect local food cul- the rest of the year. Marietjie, for instance, ages nature smoked mozzarella and nearby sources, in the belief that Assistant cheesemaker Jeanet Mapula Mokwena (left) prepares tures and traditions. Clarens has missed the bulk of cheese in the by-products of chilli-infused “string cheese”. it retains nutrients and fl avours fig-filled scamorza cheese at the dairy of South African cheesemaker The short supply chains and its tourist season, which peaks cherry liquor rather than wine — Rare buyers were found among that may be lost through trans- Marietjie Crowther (right) in Clarens in the small lab-turned-hut of small-scale nature of Slow Food over Easter, and travel between a northern Italian tradition. the few butcher’s shops and delis port and carries a far smaller car- Noah’s Cheese. production has seen new inter- provinces remains banned. “The taste for cheese in South that stayed open during the virus bon footprint. est from consumers concerned “I would say more than two Africa is...still at a very early lockdown. But local food of this purity can lines and dependence on fossil Nestled at the bottom of a rock about food provision during thirds of our market was lost stage,” said Danie. “We are young But with restrictions eased and be near-impossible to achieve in fuels. The small cheesery says it formation named after Mount Ara- lockdown. overnight,” said Danie. “So it’s a industries,” he added. “But we customers trickling back, Mari- a world of long, complex supply has overcome these concerns. rat, Noah’s Cheese runs entirely “They realised when this virus diffi cult thing to adapt to.” make exceptional cheeses.” Gulf Times 8 Monday, July 20, 2020 AMERICAS

Trump claims Biden is ‘not competent’ to lead country

By Brian Knowlton, AFP Washington

resident Donald Trump yesterday assailed likely opponent Joe Biden as “not compe- Ptent” to lead the country, speaking as polls over the weekend showed deepening voter disen- chantment with his own handling of the coronavi- rus pandemic. “He’s shot, he’s mentally shot,” Trump said about Biden in a wide-ranging interview with Fox News Sunday. He said that if Biden is elected on November 3, he will “destroy this country.” Facing the multiple challenges of a spreading pandemic, racial unrest and a struggling economy, Trump made several unfounded or highly specula- Mothers participate in a demonstration outside the Justice Center during a protest against racial inequality in Portland late on Saturday. tive accusations against the former vice president, saying Biden would “triple your taxes” and “de- fund the police.” He added, “religion will be gone,” referring to Democratic offi cials banning large church services to stem the virus spread. Asked whether he would accept the election re- sult in November, even if he loses, Trump echoed his position of 2016, saying, “I have to see...I’m not going to just say yes.” Portland mayor wants The interview, which was taped in advance, came as new polling results showed support for Biden surging as doubts about Trump’s handling of the pandemic grow amid a resurgence in many states. Interviewer Chris Wallace told the president that a new Fox opinion poll showed Biden with a sub- stantial lead over Trump not only on his ability to manage the pandemic (with a 17-point edge) and feds out of restive city to deal with racial unrest (by 21 points), but even — by a single point — on handling the economy, AFP Wheeler, however, said the pres- long a Trump strong point. And a new Washing- Washington ‘Confederate fl ag proud symbol of the South’ ence and actions of the federal offi c- ton Post-ABC News poll has Biden leading Trump ers had ignited “a powder keg.” among registered voters nationwide by a resound- President Donald Trump declined Confederate flags they’re not talking Earlier this month, he criticized “The reason we want those fed- ing 15-point margin, 55% to 40%. he mayor of Portland has to say the Confederate flag was an about racism. They love their flag, it NASCAR’s ban of the Confederate flag eral troops out of our city is they are Trump dismissed such polling as “fake,” saying demanded the withdrawal off ensive symbol in an interview represents the South. They like the from its events. making the situation much more White House surveys show him winning both na- Tof federal offi cers from the broadcast yesterday, saying it is a South...I say it’s freedom of many Trump has promised a veto, dangerous. tionally and in key swing states. northwestern US city, accusing source of pride for people who love things, but it’s freedom of speech.” breaking with several of his fellow Re- “I’m worried that one of our He repeatedly pummelled Biden, who has kept a them of dangerously escalating the the South. Trump has in the past appeared publicans in Congress, of the annual residents or one of our local or state relatively low profi le amid the restraints imposed situation with abusive, unconstitu- The Republican president was sympathetic to the flag and symbols National Defense Authorization Act law enforcement offi cers is going by the pandemic. tional tactics against protesters. asked on Fox News Sunday if the flag, of the Confederacy of 1861-65 Ameri- over an amendment to remove the to get killed because of the tactics Trump claimed that the Democrat wanted to The accusations followed another considered a symbol of slavery and can Civil War. names of Confederate generals from that they are currently engaged in,” “defund the police” — a battle cry of some anti- night of protests in the Oregon city oppression by most Americans, was In 2017, he decried the removal military bases within a year. he said. racist protesters — and insisted that such language that saw a police association build- off ensive. of monuments to the Confederacy, “We won World Wars out of these, Police declared a state of riot yes- was in a Biden policy document, though he was un- ing set afl ame. “It depends on who you’re talking laying blame on “both sides” in out of these military bases, no I’m not terday morning after people broke able to produce it when challenged by Wallace. Mayor Ted Wheeler said federal about, when you’re talking about,” Charlottesville, Virginia, after protests gonna go changing. I’m not gonna go into a Portland Police Association As he repeatedly questioned his rival’s mental offi cers sent to the city had escalat- Trump responded. against the removal of a statue of changing.” Trump said in the inter- offi ce and set the building on re. fi acuity, Wallace asked him directly if thought Biden ed a long-running standoff between “When people proudly had their Robert E Lee, a Confederate general. view, which was taped on Friday. The blaze was put out and the was senile. protesters and police with tactics situation brought under control, the “I don’t want to say that,” Trump replied: “I say that included scooping people off police said on Twitter. he’s not competent to be president.” the streets into unmarked vans situation at all. They’re not wanted Security offi cers in camoufl age uni- police offi cer knelt on his neck for Earlier, at another location He questioned whether the Democrat could pass without identifying themselves. here. We haven’t asked them here. forms last week followed threats by nearly nine minutes. outside a judicial centre and a cognitive ability test that he said he had “aced,” “What’s happening here is we In fact, we want them to leave,” he US President Donald Trump to use In a tweet yesterday, Trump, who federal court building that has and said the former vice president would fall apart have dozens, if not hundreds, of said. federal might to restore order after has been campaigning as a “law been at the centre of protests, under tough questioning. federal troops descending upon our The Oregon attorney general and a weeks-long standoff between pro- and order” president, said the fed- police said people in a large “Let Biden sit through an interview like this, city. What they’re doing is they are the American Civil Liberties Union testers and police. eral government was “trying to help crowd were seen tearing down he’ll be on the ground crying for Mommy. He’ll say, sharply escalating the situation,” fi led a lawsuit on Friday against the The Portland protests were part Portland, not hurt it.” fencing and using it to barricade ‘Mommy, Mommy, please take me home.’” Wheeler told CNN yesterday. federal government, accusing it of of a nationwide wave against police “Their leadership has, for courthouse doors. Trump again defended his handling of the pan- “Their presence here is actually overstepping its powers and injuring brutality sparked by the killing in months, lost control of the anar- “Some others tried to persuade demic, claiming that “we are the envy of the world” leading to more violence and more or threatening peaceful protesters. May of George Floyd, the unarmed chists and agitators. They are miss- them to stop but were shouted on testing; and, of his early prediction that the vi- vandalism. And it’s not helping the The deployment of Homeland African American who died when a ing in action,” he said. down,” police said on Twitter. rus would someday disappear, said, “I’ll be right eventually.” He again opposed any national mandate for Twitter removes Trump retweet mask-wearing, saying, “I want people to have a certain freedom.” video after Linkin Park complaint Referring to the racial unrest in the country, and 3 dead after glacier tour bus rolls over a recent spike in violent crime in some cities, the Twitter has taken down a campaign-style video retweeted by president blamed “Democrat-run cities,” which he President Donald Trump after rock group Linkin Park issued said were “stupidly run.” a cease-and-desist order over the unauthorised use of their AFP the hill, witness Vanja Krtolica told the The injured were transported by heli- Asked about statistics showing American blacks music, media reports said. The video, which featured a cover Montreal Globe and Mail. copter from the remote site to a triage are twice as likely to be shot and killed by police of the band’s 2001 hit In the End, was posted by White House “All of a sudden, everybody started point. as whites, Trump replied, “Many whites are killed social media director Dan Scavino and retweeted on Saturday screaming because they saw the coach Alberta Health Services said 24 pa- also. You have to say that.” by Trump. The tweet now says: “This media has been disabled glacier-viewing bus overturned lose control,” said Krtolica, who was on tients were then taken by air and ground Trump again stated his opposition to renaming in response to a report by the copyright owner.” on Saturday at a popular tour- a similar bus. ambulances to hospitals in Edmonton, US military bases named after Confederate gen- Linkin Park said they did not authorise the use of their Aist spot in the Canadian Rockies, “It was careening down that 33 de- Grande Prairie, Hinton and Calgary. erals — even after the military supported the idea. music by Trump or his campaign. “Linkin Park did not and killing three people and seriously in- gree...steep hill and lost control,” he “Multiple EMS crews attended the “I don’t care what the military says,” the president does not endorse Trump, nor authorize his organization to juring several others, news reports said told the newspaper. tragic accident on the Columbia Ice- said. “We’re going to name it after the Reverend use any of our music. A cease and desist has been issued,” yesterday. The bus was owned by Pursuit, a fi eld,” it said on Twitter. Al Sharpton?” he asked rhetorically, referring to a the rock group said on Twitter. The group’s late lead singer The all-terrain vehicle rolled off the company which takes tourists on sight- The accident occurred in one of the prominent African-American civil rights leader. Chester Bennington was outspoken in his disapproval of the road near the Columbia Icefi eld in Jas- seeing trips to the Athabasca Glacier, most popular tourist areas in western There was no immediate response to the in- Republican president. “Trump is a greater threat to the USA per National Park, Alberta, national which is one of the “toes” of the Colum- Canada along the scenic Icefi elds Park- terview from Biden or his campaign, though the than terrorism!! We have to take back our voices and stand broadcaster CBC said. bia Icefi eld, CBC said. way that runs through Banff and Jasper former vice president did tweet that “Banning the for what we believe in,” Bennington had tweeted in 2017. Photos published by media outlets Of the 27 passengers on board, “three national parks. Confederate fl ag from military installations was Linkin Park are not the first band to take issue with the show the upturned red-and-white bus, adults were confi rmed deceased, along Spanning the continental divide, long overdue.” president’s use of their music. equipped with monster-truck style tires with a number of other passengers crit- Columbia Icefi eld is the largest in the On other subjects, Trump said the economy was The Rolling Stones last month threatened legal action against for crossing ice, on a rocky slope below ically injured,” the Jasper Royal Canadi- Canadian Rockies, covering 230sq km “doing very well,” even as millions remain jobless, Trump if he does not stop using their songs at his campaign the road across the glacier’s moraine. an Mounted Police said in a statement, to a depth of 365m, according to Travel with some states reimposing lockdowns. rallies. The bus lost control and rolled down quoted by Global News. Alberta. The stock market, he said, was near record highs.

Leaky border: Tourists and quarantine cheats threaten Canada amid US Covid-19 surge

By Julie Gordon and gist and assistant professor at the essential workers and truckers Public opinion in Canada is to an alarming 80% as Covid-19 Tessa Vikander, Reuters University of Toronto. “It’s a lit- must isolate for 14 days, but not fi rmly in favour of border restric- has crippled the hospitality sec- Ottawa/Vancouver tle bit scary.” everyone is. tions, with 81% of polled Cana- tor, said Leslie Bruce, chief ex- As Canada’s Covid-19 infec- Canada’s public health agency dians saying they want the bor- ecutive of Banff and Lake Louise tions and deaths moderate, the has so far contacted 175,723 for- der to stay closed. Tourism. or 67 days, tiny Prince Ed- explosion of new cases in the eigners to verify their compliance, The Canadian government is Since the border restrictions ward Island went without United States presents a chal- while the Royal Canadian Mounted under pressure from a group of 29 were imposed, more than 10,000 Fa single new case of Cov- lenge for Canadian authorities Police said police have performed US lawmakers who want a phased US citizens have been turned id-19. That changed earlier this who must deal with both un- physical verifi cation checks on plan for reopening, and from fam- back because they wanted to month when Canada’s small- wanted tourists slipping though 1,492 “priority individuals.” ily reunifi cation advocates who enter for tourism, shopping or est province, best known as the the border and legitimate travel- A Florida couple were fi ned in say it is unfair that married people other non-essential reasons, ac- home of fi ction’s Anne of Green lers who break the strict quaran- rural Ontario last week for break- can cross the border to join their cording to the Canada Border Gables, announced a cluster of tine laws. ing the quarantine law, while a spouses while fi ances or non- Services Agency. new cases linked to a foreign stu- The problem is compounded Minnesota couple were fi ned last cohabitating domestic partners of In Whistler, a British Colum- dent who entered Canada from by a recent jump in crossings. week, also in Ontario. Canadians cannot. bian mountain resort where US the United States. More than 187,000 truck driv- Police have also fi ned numer- “We are not asking for open tourists typically account for The man, who did not imme- ers and individuals entered last ous US citizens for stopping to borders, we are just asking to be 25% of all summer visitors, ho- diately self-isolate upon arrival week from the US, a 30% increase hike in picturesque Banff Nation- together,” said David Poon, who tel occupancy dropped to “pretty in Canada as required by law, in- over the end of May. al Park while en route to Alaska. runs a Facebook group advocat- much zero” from mid-March fected at least one person, who “The ice beneath our feet is get- Canadians, too, have faced scru- ing to reunify couples separated through the end of June, said then infected at least four more. ting steadily thinner in terms of A mural by Sam Welty on a building in Virginia Beach, Virginia, thanks tiny. Three Irving Oil executives by the border closure. Barrett Fisher, president and “With tens of thousands of what we’re allowing and the risk medical workers around the world. were granted an exemption in June Canada’s most iconic tourist CEO of Tourism Whistler. people crossing the border every that we’re taking,” Furness said. to travel to the US and not quaran- towns are feeling the pinch. “The US is an important tour- day, there’s no way to enforce While the border has been nadians, essential workers and Americans driving to Alaska, are tine on return. After public back- The unemployment rate in ism market for Whistler, but the that” they follow the rules, said closed to non-essential travel truckers, foreigners coming for all allowed in. lash, the local health authority back- Banff , a resort town in Canada’s safety of all of our communities Colin Furness, an epidemiolo- since March 21, returning Ca- family reunifi cation, and even The law dictates that all but tracked and the men were isolated. fl agship national park, has risen is fi rst and foremost,” she said. Gulf Times Monday, July 20, 2020 9 ASIA

Bangladesh plans special US and China trade barbs in police station to deal with Myanmar as sea rift deepens cybercrimes

Reuters ing things” to contain China and The US statement drew paral- grapes” attitude by the US ence between the two countries main possible, in this coming IANS Yangon had showed a “selfi sh, hypo- lels between China’s actions in towards “fl ourishing China- since relations between the gov- period of increasingly febrile Dhaka critical, contemptible, and ugly the South China Sea and Hong Myanmar relations” and was ernment led by Nobel laureate superpower rivalry,” he said. face”. Kong with large-scale Chinese “another farce on a global Aung San Suu Kyi and the West “The sheer weight of China’s hina’s embassy in My- The United States last week investments projects in Myan- tour by the US authorities to became strained over its treat- giant industrial revolution next olice in Bangladesh anmar yesterday ac- hardened its position on the mar that the US warned could shift the attention on domes- ment of the Rohingya Muslim door is already transforming are setting up a special Ccused the United States South China Sea, saying it would become debt-traps, along with tic problems and seek selfi sh minority. Myanmar; if multi-billion dollar Pstation experimentally of “outrageously smearing” the back countries in the region traffi cking of women from My- political gains”. Author and historian Thant infrastructure projects are added under the Criminal Investi- country and driving a wedge that challenge Beijing’s claim anmar to China as brides, and “The US should fi rst look in Myint-U told Reuters in an email to the mix, the border between gation Department (CID) to with its southeast Asian neigh- to about 90% of the strategic the infl ow of drugs from China the mirror to see whether it still although the country was of the two countries will become deal with cybercrime cases, bours over the contested South waterway. into Myanmar. looks like a major country now,” negligible economic value to the increasingly diffi cult to see,” he which will be headed by an China Sea and Hong Kong, as In a statement on Saturday, “This is how modern sover- it said. rivals, its strategic importance said. Additional Deputy Inspector tensions mount between the the US embassy in Yangon called eignty is often lost - not through The Chinese embassy in Yan- as a bridge between mainland “It’s important to remember General, a media report said superpowers. China’s actions in the South dramatic, overt action, but gon did not answer phone calls China and the Bay of Bengal was that Myanmar was one of the few yesterday. Responding to US claims Bei- China Sea and Hong Kong, where through a cascade of smaller seeking further comment. The hard to ignore. countries in the world where the The police are going for the jing was undermining the sov- Beijing has imposed tough new ones that lead to its slow erosion US embassy was not immediate- “Myanmar’s instincts since last Cold War led to proxy armed experimental launch because ereignty of its neighbours, the national security laws, part of a over time,” the US embassy said. ly available for comment. independence in 1948 are to try fi ghting which in turn led to mil- the fi nal approval may take time Chinese embassy said US agen- “larger pattern to undermine the In its rebuke, China said Myanmar has increasingly to be friends with everyone, but itary dictatorship and decades of though the drafting of a detailed cies abroad were doing “disgust- sovereignty of its neighbours”. the statement showed a “sour become a battleground for infl u- it’s not clear that’s going to re- self-imposed isolation.” guideline, bdnews24 quoted Shah Alam, DIG at CID’s Cyber Police Centre, as saying. The draft will need fi nal clear- ance from the National Imple- mentation Committee for Ad- ministrative Reforms (NICAR) Bangladesh, Nepal after approvals from the Police Headquarters and the Home Ministry. The police will open the make- shift station at the CID Head- warn of rising rivers quarters as the search continues for a permanent venue in Dhaka. Currently, the CID’s Cyber- crime Centre provides the people with advice through its hotline, as monsoon toll rises while the victims fi le complaints with police stations or cases at AFP other 2.6mn had been aff ected derwater and authorities have court. Dhaka by swollen rivers bursting their warned up to 40 percent of the Now, the victims of cyber- banks and inundating villages fl ood-prone South Asian nation crimes will be able to fi le com- over the past two weeks. could be inundated. plaints online to the special he death toll from heavy “Of the total, 55 people have In Nepal, 79 people have died police station, Additional IGP monsoon rains across died from drowning and eight and 46 are missing after fl oods Mahbubur Rahman, who heads TSouth Asia has climbed from lighting strikes,” Bangla- and landslides, with the govern- the CID, said. to nearly 200, offi cials said yes- desh health department spokes- ment warning of rising river lev- The online system will be terday, as Bangladesh and Nepal woman Ayesha Akther said. els over the next three days. launched gradually, with two su- warned that rising waters would “The fl ood situation improved Floods killed another 45 peo- perintendents of police assisting bring further fl ooding. in the last few days. But now riv- ple across India’s northeast- the additional DIG for monitor- Torrential rains during the ers are again rising in the north,” ern Assam state in the last two ing and investigation units, Alam monsoon season between June the country’s Flood Forecasting weeks, offi cials said. told bdnews24. and September trigger fl oods, and Warning Centre chief Ari- More than 100 animals in As- The special police station will landslides and lightning strikes fuzzaman Bhuiyan added. sam’s World Heritage-listed have an over 300-strong work- across the region, with hundreds Bhuiyan said rivers were ris- Kaziranga National Park - home force, including four additional dying every year. ing in the country’s north after a to two-thirds of the world’s re- SPs, eight assistant SPs, 30 in- Offi cials in Bangladesh said at fresh deluge of rainfall. maining one-horned rhinos - spectors and at least 60 sub-in- People run to find a shelter during a heavy rainfall in Dhaka yesterday. least 67 people had died and an- A third of Bangladesh is un- have died in the fl oods. spectors. Bangladeshis shun virus testing after fake screening scandal

AFP “The number of The low death rate - offi cially man said he did not trust the Dhaka at 1.28% - rather than concerns testing regime as his 42-year- tests carried out over the veracity of test results old brother received a negative daily has fallen also meant people with virus- result in mid-June even though he number of people be- symptoms preferred to stay at he was suff ering from virus ing tested for coronavirus from about 18,000 home, she added. symptoms. Tin Bangladesh has fallen in late June to just But leading public health ex- His brother died a week later, by almost half, offi cials said pert Muzaherul Huq said there and his sister-in-law, aged 34, yesterday, in the wake of a huge over 10,000 in the was increasing public distrust of followed him in early July. Nei- screening scandal. past two weeks” testing following the alleged fake ther was formally diagnosed as The number of tests carried screenings. having the virus. out daily has fallen from about “The panic among the people Two hospitals and a testing Huq, a former World Health 18,000 in late June to just over (over the virus) has gone,” health centre in Dhaka were also shut Organisation (WHO) adviser, 10,000 in the past two weeks, department spokeswoman Nasi- by authorities over the scandal. said authorities urgently needed the health department said. ma Sultana told AFP about the “It naturally raises questions to ramp up testing to determine The huge drop followed the lower testing fi gures. about the credibility of the (test) the real spread of the virus in the arrest of more than a dozen peo- She added that monsoon centres. It has strongly discour- impoverished nation. A tourist posing for photos in front of life-sized sculptures of characters from the Transformers film ple, including a Dhaka hospital fl oods, the cost of tests at 200 aged them to go for a check,” Huq, The country of 168 million franchise made of scrap metal parts at the Ban Hun Lek museum in Ang Thong, some 100km north of owner, on charges they issued Taka ($2.40) and fears of being the former head of the state-run people has recorded more than Bangkok yesterday. fake certifi cates to thousands of quarantined were making people Institute of Epidemiology, Disease 200,000 infections, but experts patients saying they were virus- reluctant to get properly diag- Control and Research, said. say the real fi gures are likely to free without testing them. nosed. Dhaka banker Muminur Rah- be much higher. Thai metal workshop Death toll in Indonesian dazzles tourists with fl ash fl oods movie-inspired fi gures rises to 36 AFP anomwong’s welding work- creation unique, he said. DPA Ang Thong shop gaze up at 8m-high (26ft) A one-metre-high piece Jakarta sculptures modelled after the sells for up to 30,000 baht robots of the Transformers ($950), and the majority of his owering Transformers, franchise and a jet-black King customers are overseas buyers. he death toll from fl ash life-sized Marvel su- Kong hewn together from old Since the coronavirus pan- fl oods that hit Indonesia’s Tperheroes and extrater- car parts. demic spread around the world TSouth Sulawesi province restrial lifeforms - a “House Phairote opened his weld- and sent the global economy has risen to 36, while 40 are still of Steel Robots” in Thailand ing workshop 20 years ago and into a tailspin, Phairote says his reported missing, offi cials said has made a name for itself by eventually converted its front art exports have been put on yesterday. transforming scrap metal into section into a gallery for curi- pause. Wisnu Widjaja of the Nation- dazzling sculptures inspired by ous tourists. Still, the towering metal al Disaster Mitigation Agency Rescue staff evacuate victims in Radda Village, following flash floods that left several dead and dozens Hollywood blockbusters. “It was just a hobby at fi rst,” brontosaurus at Ban Hun Lek, (BNPB) said in an online press missing, in North Luwu, South Sulawesi, yesterday. Ban Hun Lek, an hour’s drive he says. “When I was a child, which can be seen from the conference that the number of north of Bangkok, has become a I liked mechanics a lot... so main freeway, draws dozens of those wounded was 58, while Three rivers in the area over- “The fl ash fl oods were caused spokesman Raditya Djati said in popular weekend spot for fami- I made what I liked into my Thai visitors each weekend. 14,483 people have been dis- fl owed following intense rainfall by land conversion. A joint team the press conference. lies eager for Instagram selfi es work.” “If they want to see some- placed and are staying in 76 shel- that lasted two days, triggering a has been deployed to clear the He said the mud-clearing against a backdrop that looks Every sculpture is built thing amazing, they should ters in Sabbang, Masamba and fl ash fl ood that struck the North roads that are blocked by the process is expected to fi nish by plucked from the silver screen. using scrap metal and recy- come here,” Phairote says with Baebunta sub-districts. Luwu area last Monday evening. mud using excavators,” BNPB today. Visitors to Phairote Th- clables, which makes each a laugh. Gulf Times 10 Monday, July 20, 2020 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Virus now spreading ‘out of control’ in Hong Kong

AFP However, in the last two control,” Lam told reporters. barren land near the city’s Dis- However, she said she was Hong Kong weeks, infections have spiked Lam announced new social neyland resort to monitor and keen to avoid ordering people to once more and doctors fear the distancing measures last week, treat those who test positive, she remain at home. new outbreak is now spread- shuttering many businesses in- added. “We can’t just make a simple he deadly coronavirus ing undetected in the dense- cluding bars, gyms and night- Hong Kong was already mired and extreme move to cut every- is spreading out of con- ly packed territory of 7.5mn clubs, and ordering everyone to in recession when the pandemic thing at once,” Lam said. Ttrol in Hong Kong with a people. wear masks on public transport. hit thanks to the US-China trade Authorities say testing will be record 100 new cases confi rmed, Chief executive Carrie Lam Restaurants were ordered to war and months of political ramped up, targeting high-risk the fi nance hub’s leader said said more than 500 infections only off er takeout services in the unrest last year. populations such as taxi driv- yesterday as she tightened social had been confi rmed in the last evenings. The new partial lockdown ers and restaurant workers after distancing measures to tackle fortnight alone, nearly a third Lam announced even more has compounded the economic clusters were found within their Carrie Lam wearing a protective mask speaks during a news conference the sudden surge in infections. since the outbreak began. regulations, including plans misery. ranks. following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), in Hong The fi nance hub was one of Yesterday, 108 new infections to make it compulsory to wear Lam called for landlords to Some of the new infections Kong yesterday. the fi rst places to be struck by were recorded by health authori- masks inside any public indoor look at lowering rents in the no- have swept through elderly the virus when it emerged from ties, a daily high for the fi nance venue – and a new order for toriously expensive city where care homes, a major cause of Lam said offi cials would try out... many places have ordered central China. hub, bringing the total to 1,886 non-essential civil servants to inequality is rampant. concern given how deadly the to strike a balance between pro- people to stay home,” she said. But the city had impressive cases. work for home. She said further social dis- coronavirus is to older people. tecting health and keeping the “We haven’t adopted that in success in tackling the disease, “I think the situation is really As hospital wards fi ll, offi cials tancing measures would be So far, 12 people have died af- economy partially afl oat. the last six months because we all but ending local transmis- critical and there is no sign the are also scrambling to build a rolled out if the daily infection ter contracting the virus in Hong “It’s hard to tell what kind of wanted to maintain a normal life sions by late June. situation is being brought under further 2,000 isolation rooms on rate did not ease in coming days. Kong – four in the last fortnight. measures we will need to roll for everyone.” UK says China committing ‘gross’ abuses against Uighurs

AFP going on... it is deeply, deeply clashed over Beijing’s imposi- that it will make a “resolute London troubling,” he told the BBC. tion of a controversial national response” if Britain follows “The reports and the human security law in Hong Kong. the US in sanctioning Chinese aspects of it... are reminiscent The United States earlier this offi cials for the alleged abuses. ritain yesterday ac- of something we have not seen month slapped sanctions on “We never believe in unilat- cused Beijing of “gross, for a long, long time, and this is senior Chinese offi cials, as it eral sanctions, we believe the Begregious human rights from a leading member of the demanded an end to the “hor- UN (United Nations) has the abuses” over its “deeply trou- international community that rifi c” abuses against Uighurs authority to impose sanctions,” bling” treatment of ethnic and wants to be taken seriously. and other Turkic Muslims in Liu Xiaoming told the BBC. religious minorities in China’s “We want a positive relation- Xinjiang. “If the UK government goes western Xinjiang region. ship (with China), but we can- Beijing swiftly responded that far to impose sanctions on Rights groups and experts not see behaviour like that and with counter measures in one of any individuals in China, China estimate that more than one not call it out,” Raab added. the latest episodes in deterio- will certainly make resolute million ethnic Uighurs and His comments come as ten- rating US-China relations. response to it.” other Turkic-speaking minori- sions between London and Raab said he will update Brit- Liu said he did not want to ties have been rounded up into China are rising over a host of ish lawmakers on Monday on see “tit-for-tat” diplomatic a network of internment camps. issues. the UK government’s next steps skirmishes between Britain and British Foreign Secretary Do- Britain on Tuesday bowed to regarding Beijing’s draconian Beijing, as was happening with A medical worker (right) tests a woman in her car at a Covid-19 coronavirus testing station in Sydney. minic Raab said the reports of sustained pressure from Wash- new law in Hong Kong. the US. forced sterilisations and mass ington and ordered the phased That will include announc- “I think (the) UK should have detentions in the predomi- removal of Chinese telecoms ing the outcome of a review of its own independent foreign nantly Muslim region required giant Huawei from its 5G net- extradition arrangements with policy rather than dance to international attention. work despite warnings of retali- the former colonial territory. the tune of the Americans like “It is clear that there are gross, ation from Beijing. However, China’s ambassa- what happened to Huawei,” he Melbourne makes egregious human rights abuses The two sides have also dor to London warned Sunday added. masks mandatory China raises after virus cases rise fl ood alert levels along Reuters wildly infectious virus,” he said. for part of its population. Melbourne Masks are “a simple thing, but New South Wales (NSW), the it’s about changing habits, it’s most populous state that had Huai River about becoming a simple part of moved to relax its social dis- eople in Melbourne must your routine.” tancing guidelines earlier this Reuters now wear masks when Australia has recorded about month, has since moved to re- Beijing Pleaving their homes as 11,800 coronavirus cases, a frac- strict again some social mingling Victoria, Australia’s second tion of what has been seen in as cases have been growing. most-populous state, marked other countries or even some US Yesterday, NSW reported 18 hina yesterday raised two weeks of triple-digit in- states, but an outbreak of com- new infections, its highest in the fl ood alert level in creases in new coronavirus munity transmission in Victoria three months. The transmission Cthe Huai River region infections yesterday. has been growing, prompting rate in the state is higher than in in the country’s east to Level Melbournians not wear- authorities to impose stricter Victoria, causing concerns. II from Level III, the second A flooded tourist site is seen on the bank of the Yangtze river in Nanjing, in China’s eastern Jiangsu ing face coverings will be fi ned social distancing measures. “People are urged to avoid highest on its four-tier scale, province yesterday. A$200 ($140), said Victoria “Community transmission is non-essential travel and gather- after days of torrential down- Premier Daniel Andrews. diffi cult and challenging,” Aus- ings,” NSW Deputy Chief Health pours and amid expectations of Anhui and Jiangsu provinces. same time at the Yantze River, the safety guaranteed level, Victoria, which has forced tralia’s Health Minister Greg Offi cer Jeremy McAnulty said in further heavy rainfall. Torrential rains have bat- Huai River and Tai Lake...The according to government data. nearly 5mn people into a partial Hunt told a televised brief- a video statement. Ten reservoirs on the Huai tered China for two weeks from fl ood prevention situation is The summer rainy season six-week lockdown on July 9, ing. “That remains our single “Of particular concern is River have seen water levels Chongqing in the southwest to very severe,” the water resourc- brings fl oods to China almost reported 363 new cases of the greatest threat.” transmission in venues such as exceeding warning levels by as Shanghai on the east coast. es ministry said. Water levels every year but the impact of the coronavirus on Sunday, after 217 Three deaths from the Cov- hotels and restaurants, the gym much as 6.85m, according to Several regions alongside the in the region were likely to ex- disruption they cause is being cases the previous day. id-19 disease were reported in and social gatherings.” the Huaihe River Commission Yangtze River, including Wuhan ceed the maximum level that felt further afi eld as Chinese “We’re going to be wearing Victoria yesterday, bringing the About 60 people in Sydney of China’s Ministry of Water city in Hubei province and in reservoirs can withstand, the goods become more important masks in Victoria and potentially total to 38 and raising Australia’s face a fi ne of $1,000 each after Resources. Jiangxi province, where China’s ministry added. in global supply chains for vari- in other parts of the country for death toll to 122. attending a party Saturday night The 1,000km (620 mile) largest freshwater lake is locat- At Lake Tai, on the border of ous items, including personal a very long time,” Andrews told a Victoria became the fi rst state and breaking the public health Huai River fl ows through ed, declared the highest fl ood the wealthy coastal provinces protective equipment, vital televised briefi ng. in Australia, a country of a loose guidelines of no more than 20 major agriculture and manu- alerts. of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, water in the fi ght against the novel “There’s no vaccine to this federal system, to require masks visitors to a home, police said. facturing hubs in Henan, “Floods are occurring at the levels have already risen above coronavirus. Malaysia uncovers discarded shipment Beijing to lower of illegal toxic waste from Romania Reuters “1,864 tonnes of electric arc furnace Convention, had been listed as Covid-19 response Kuala Lumpur dust – a byproduct of steel production concentrated zinc in declaration forms. Reuters Since June 11, Beijing has libraries and museums, but will that contains heavy metals like zinc, “The Department of Environ- Beijing recorded a total of 335 cases cap the number of visitors at alaysia discovered 110 ment, as the Basel Convention linked to Xinfadi, but no new 50% of capacity. containers of hazard- cadmium and lead – were found authority (for Malaysia), has not cases have been reported in the Conferences with no more Mous heavy metals from abandoned at the Tanjung Pelepas granted approval for or received no- eijing will lower the past two weeks. than 500 participants will be Romania and bound for Indo- tifi cations from the waste exporter emergency response level “Overall, the risks of get- allowed, while exhibitions, nesia that had illegally entered port in the southern state of Johor” to transit in Malaysia,” he said. Bof the coronavirus out- ting coronavirus infection in sports matches and cinemas the country and were abandoned of containers of plastic that en- Pelepas port in the southern state Malaysia has contacted the break in the Chinese capital to Beijing...and exporting to other are also expected to reopen last month, its largest case of tered the country illegally. of Johor, according to Bernama. Romanian Basel Convention Level III from level II starting on regions are low, and the general gradually, Liu said. dumped toxic waste, state media Environment and Water Min- “The discovery of the EAFD, authority to arrange for the re- July 20, a municipal government situation of tackling the pan- Meanwhile, underground Bernama reported yesterday. ister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man on transit in Malaysia and bound patriation of the containers and offi cial said yesterday. demic is under control,” said spaces with poor ventilation Malaysia in recent years be- said 1,864 tonnes of electric for Indonesia, is the biggest fi nd- have engaged Interpol for further The city issued the second level Liu Bei, vice secretary of the will be banned from being used came the world’s main destina- arc furnace dust (EAFD) – a ing of its kind in Malaysian his- investigations, Bernama said. response on June 16 after a clus- Beijing Municipal government, for business while wholesale tion for plastic waste after China by-product of steel production tory,” Tuan Ibrahim was quoted The Romanian embassy in ter of new coronavirus cases was told a news conference. markets, restaurants, con- banned imports of scrap. It has that contains heavy metals like as saying. Kuala Lumpur did not imme- found to be linked to Xinfadi, a After lowering the coronavi- struction sites and factories been negotiating with origin zinc, cadmium and lead – were He said the EAFD, classifi ed diately respond to a request for major wholesale food market in a rus response, Beijing will reo- will continue to be strictly countries to take back hundreds found abandoned at the Tanjung as a toxic waste under the Basel comment. southwestern district of Beijing. pen parks, tourism sites, gyms, monitored for the coronavirus. Gulf Times Monday, July 20, 2020 11 BRITAIN

Test and trace failures risk exponential case growth: experts

Guardian News and Media virus patient in towns with high any delay beyond 48-72 hours Matt Hancock, the health sec- Greater Manchester, said people “But councils shouldn’t have to ham said. “That is proved by the London infection rates in the north-west. in isolating an infected person’s retary, is expected this week to al- would be “extremely concerned” pick up the pieces for an expen- fact that Public Health England In Blackburn with Darwen, contact would result in a signifi - low local authorities access to the by the test-and-trace data from sive, outsourced system which is have only in the last day or so where offi cials are battling a “ris- cant increase to the local infec- crucial “named patient data” they the north-west and that the gov- costing £10bn.” agreed to provide named patient ailures of the government’s ing tide” of cases, only 44% of 799 tion rate, adding: “The sooner it is have been requesting for weeks, ernment should respond urgently. Burnham also called on Han- data. As a time like this, accu- test-and-trace system close contacts of someone with done, the better.” in another major government U- He added: “We are heading cock to address the Commons to- racy matters.” Fare risking an exponential coronavirus had been success- Harrison said it was critical that turn. straight for a dangerous winter day to correct the record, after the Harrison’s analysis found that growth of coronavirus in hotspots fully contacted by call handlers, the test-and-trace system was Local directors of public health without a vaccine and it is abso- health secretary said last Tuesday many of the local authorities ar- across England, a director of pub- according to Harrison’s analysis. improved if they were to avoid an have said their ability to hunt lutely essential that we see action that “patient identifi able data” eas with the highest rate of infec- lic health has warned. In Manchester, Oldham, Ro- exponential growth in cases. “If down the virus has been ham- now to plug these gaping holes in was available to local authorities tion per 100,000 population also Dominic Harrison, the director chdale and St Helens, fewer than more of that contact tracing was strung by the lack of timely, the test-and-trace system. It is if they signed a data protection had “amongst the lowest rates of of public health in Blackburn with half of the at-risk people had been done at a local authority level, I detailed information from the precisely for this reason that we agreement. completed contact traces”. “The Darwen, said the national trac- reached. am convinced we could improve government’s “pillar 2” testing have pushed very hard for the re- “Every public health expert implications for this are obvious,” ing system was only managing to The government’s Scientifi c dramatically that contact-trac- programme in England, in which lease of named patient data and it I know tells me that the health he warned in an internal memo reach half of those who had been Advisory Group for Emergencies ing rate,” he told BBC Radio 4’s anyone can be swab-tested. is good that the government has secretary’s statement in the reported by the Independent yes- in close contact with a corona- (Sage) told ministers in May that Broadcasting House programme. Andy Burnham, the mayor of fi nally agreed to this. Commons was incorrect,” Burn- terday. Concern over lack PM insists of summer camp options he does not

Guardian News and Media London

he mass withdrawal of want another summer camps for chil- Tdren has left parents con- cerned for their children’s men- tal health and their own careers, with some even sending children to residential camps abroad that are able to operate under more lockdown relaxed guidelines than in the UK. Other parents, who say they Guardian News and Media cautious remarks from Vallance to see an increase in the number have struggled to home school London in an evidence session with peers of infections as lockdown was their children since schools on Friday. lifted, he told Sky’s Sophy Ridge closed in March, say they have no “As you release measures it is yesterday it depended on “how idea how they will look after their oris Johnson has insisted he inevitable as you get more con- the population works”. He added: children during the summer holi- can avoid imposing another tacts that you will see more cases “The message has been quite days while still working. BEngland-wide lockdown … Come winter, the challenges consistent in that we must be One scientist working full- this winter, describing it as a “nu- will be very much greater and alert and we must be socially dis- time on Covid-19 solutions said clear deterrent” that he hopes of course there is a risk that this tanced and if we are really super- she was worried about the mental never to use. could need national measures,” careful and if we are able to fol- health of her young children, who Despite chief scientifi c adviser Vallance said. low all the rules it does seem to would usually spend the summer Patrick Vallance saying “national He was was giving evidence at a me that we should expect there at camps. measures” might be necessary House of Lords committee on Fri- to be a relative fl atline at the mo- “I will be continuing the im- if there were fresh waves of the day, alongside the chief medical ment … Clearly over the autumn possible task of managing the virus in the coming months, the offi cer for England, Chris Whitty, we will need to be ever vigilant.” emotional and developmental prime minister said he “certainly” after the prime minister raised the In his Sunday Telegraph inter- needs of my son while working did not want to have to order the prospect of a “signifi cant return view, the prime minister also crit- 50-hour weeks on the develop- public to “stay at home” again. to normality” by the year-end. icised the civil service, saying he ment of medical devices to help “I can’t abandon that tool any Vallance warned: “Everyone wanted to see more “confi dence with Covid,” said the Cambridge- more than I would abandon a nu- that I’ve spoken to thinks it’s and belief” from Whitehall. based scientist, who asked to re- clear deterrent. But it is like a nu- highly likely that this disease will Amid controversy over the main anonymous. clear deterrent, I certainly don’t continue to circulate and will shakeup being spearheaded by “I feel very let down by the want to use it. And nor do I think come back in waves. And there- his chief adviser, Dominic Cum- government failing to provide an we will be in that position again,” fore the measures of reducing mings, Johnson said: “I think outlet for isolated and increas- he told the Sunday Telegraph. contact to reduce spread, the sorts the possibility of change really is ingly distressed children.” “It’s not just that we’re getting of social distancing measures that there.” Eleanor Clarke, a charity man- much better at spotting the dis- we’ve talked about, and the hy- The prime minister also con- ager in Brighton, said: “We are ease and isolating it locally, but giene measures that go along with fi rmed he is planning an anti- panicking. We are worn out from we understand far more which that, will be necessary.” obesity crackdown, but appeared working full-time at home and groups it aff ects, how it works, Dominic Raab, the foreign sec- to rule out increases in the sugar part-time home schooling. I am how it’s transmitted, so the pos- retary, denied yesterday there was tax as part of the package of heartbroken that my nine-year- sibility of diff erent types of seg- any diff erence between Johnson measures, expected to be an- old son will have much of his mentation, of enhanced shield- and Vallance, telling Sophy Ridge nounced this week. holiday to fi ll by himself while ing for particular groups, is now on SkyNews: “National measures “On putting up prices of food his parents are expected to com- there.” and national lockdown are the for people who may not be on high mit their time to work. “I don’t The department of health and same thing.” incomes, I’m not instinctively in understand how holiday clubs social care set out further details He defended the prime min- favour of that. There are other can’t open when restaurants can, on Friday of how local lockdowns ister’s upbeat message on Fri- ways of doing it,” Johnson said, and schools have taken some year would work, including powers day, saying it was important to also saying he wanted to avoid groups back,” she added. for local authorities to close in- give businesses and their staff “a “nannying” the public. No residential, UK summer dividual businesses and outdoor sense of a target, and a sense of “I think what people need camps have been able to open this spaces – with ministers able to hope”. The UK’s national statis- to remember is that if you lose year after government guidelines step in and impose more draco- tician, Prof Sir Ian Diamond, said weight, you feel better, you really released in early July stipulated nian measures, including travel yesterday he had not noticed any do feel better. It’s a psychological that “holiday providers should restrictions and “stay at home” rise in coronavirus cases since thing. It’s a mental boon, as well not be off ering overnight or resi- People gather to listen to speakers at a protest organised by “Keep Britain Free” in London yesterday, in orders. the lockdown measures were as greatly reducing your risk of all dential provision for children”. response to the government’s decision to impose mask wearing for shoppers as a precaution against the The prime minister’s confi - eased. sorts of conditions, Covid being transmission of the novel coronavirus. dence appeared to contrast with When asked if he had expected one of them,” he said. 140 freed inmates housed Shapps breaks ranks to book holiday abroad in hotels during lockdown Guardian News and Media holiday, whether coastal or oth- London erwise. And I am certainly go- ing to be doing that, but I won’t Guardian News and Media temporary measures are part of would have to be installed in an necessarily tell you where at this London the unprecedented response to off ender’s hotel room to ensure rant Shapps has become stage,” he told reporters. the pandemic which has helped they abide by a curfew. the fi rst senior politician The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, protect the NHS and save lives.” It said staff would not be re- Gto break ranks and declare and the Labour leader, Sir Keir ore than 140 released The MoJ has been using hotels sponsible for managing a pris- he is taking a summer holiday Starmer, have also chosen to en- prisoners were housed as part of its conditional release oner’s licence conditions. abroad this year. joy the attractions of the UK. Min hotels and B&Bs dur- date accommodation scheme, “All incidents of concern should The transport secretary said The Health Secretary, Matt ing lockdown, in what the min- which launched in May and will be dealt with in the same way as he and his wife, Belinda, had Hancock, said as far back as May istry of justice said was a “last run until the end of this month. you would deal with any other res- decided to take advantage of the that he would be remaining in the resort” to prevent them from be- It said the scheme also helped ident and if local measures don’t relaxation of Foreign Offi ce guid- UK. coming homeless and reduce the former prisoners with their long- work (eg a phone call from recep- ance on non-essential overseas Shapps had previously risk of coronavirus spreading. term resettlement and rehabilita- tion to keep the noise down) be re- travel. warned that anyone booking Of the 304 off enders who were tion. ported to police,” it said. “My wife looked at all of these a holiday for August would be due for release and provided A hotel owner in the north of Separately, an NHS England new changes that were made and taking a chance, but he told the with accommodation, 136 were England told the BBC he had re- survey found inmates at the has now booked a break for the Today programme: “Of course, housed in hotels or B&Bs after ceived a letter from the Prison closed-category women’s jails fi rst time for a couple of years,” since that time the Foreign and all other options were exhausted, and Probation Service asking HMP Send and HMP Downview, he told BBC Radio 4’s Today pro- Commonwealth Office have the MoJ said. whether he would have rooms both in Surrey, felt their physical gramme. been able to change their travel Additionally, of the 172 of- available for off enders on the and mental health had deterio- Senior politicians had previ- advice. fenders released under the end- early-release scheme. rated due to lockdown restrictions. ously been queuing up to indicate “We have established air of-custody temporary release The letter said accommoda- The chief inspector of prisons, they would be staying in the UK bridges or international travel scheme – in which prisoners who tion in hotels, B&Bs and serviced Peter Clarke, said: “The suspen- after the coronavirus pandemic corridors to a number of diff er- are within two months of their apartments would be needed for sion of visits has had a particu- threw international travel plans ent countries allowing that to release date are freed – six were up to 56 days. larly acute impact in the women’s into disarray. happen. housed in hotels. “We will not share information estate; many prisoners in Send Boris Johnson, who spent the “These are personal choices “All off enders due for release with you regarding the off ence(s) and Downview had not seen their new year in the Caribbean with but we have issued guidance now are thoroughly risk-assessed the individual has committed children for over three months. his partner Carrie Symonds, said for airlines to ensure that people and hotels have only been used but would wish to reassure that “Video-calling provision had this week he would be holidaying can travel in a Covid-safe man- as a last resort to reduce any po- they have been subject to strict only recently been rolled out in People wearing protective masks look at a market stall at Columbia in the UK. ner as well. So there is much tential spread of coronavirus,” vetting,” the letter stated, add- both sites, which women appre- Road Flower Market after it reopened following the coronavirus “This country is uniquely more structure in place now as an MoJ spokesman said. “These ing that monitoring equipment ciated.” outbreak, in London, Britain, yesterday. blessed with fantastic places to we approach the summer.” Gulf Times 12 Monday, July 20, 2020 BRITAIN

Science Museum asks public to help identify mystery items

Guardian News and Media 7.3mn items, from photographs National Collections Centre in Bradford said discoveries have thing of a head scratcher – until measuring devices were often is a gadget with a base like a hat London to devices, that form the col- Wiltshire. already been made by the team a curator who had spent time in used during rituals or ceremo- stand and a hook at the top, a lection of the Science Museum “As part of that move we are over the course of the project, China had a look. nies, she added. semi-circular scoop-like device Group. having to look at and handle and which began in 2018, through The mazes, it seemed, were But the stories of many other on a handle, and a metal object worn metal tool with a Curators are seeking the pub- inventory, and photograph every detective work. used to create a trail of incense objects have yet to be uncov- in a silken box that is said to be hefty-looking handle, a lic’s help to solve the puzzle of object stored at Blythe House,” This ranged from hunting that would burn for a specifi c ered. an air purifi er presented to Pope Adelicate gadget with ped- what these items were used for, said Jessica Bradford, the keeper through records to looking at length of time. “In some cases we reach a Leo XIII. als, arms and cogs, and a piece of and the stories behind them. of collection engagement at the the items a particular object was “Essentially, the way it works dead end and that is where it The latter two items are part glassware with a snail-like coil in Many of the mysterious items Science Museum. “It is like one stored with. is that the incense is burned and would be amazing to see whether of the Wellcome Collection, a the middle. They might seem a have come to light amid the giant house move project but Among the revelations was an there are diff erent fragrances the wider public, the hive mind huge, eclectic array of objects motley collection of objects but transportation of 300,000 ob- with the added excitement that understanding of a Chinese in- and diff erent fragrant notes of the public, can help us unpick gathered together by Sir Henry they have one thing in common jects from Blythe House in Lon- these objects are part of the na- cense clock – a device with small throughout the incense wick,” some of these mysteries,” said Wellcome, who died in 1936, – they are all mysteries. don to a purpose-built facility tional collection, and that they square, metal tray and maze-like said Bradford. Bradford. that is cared for by the Science The objects are among the at the Science Museum Group’s have incredible stories to tell.” stencils – that had been some- These scent-based, time- Among the mystery objects Museum Group. Colleges ‘agreed Royal wedding to share data of pupils referred to anti-terror scheme’

Guardian News and Media continue to blight a young person London throughout their life. Aked said: “These agreements enable Prevent referral data to be olleges in Greater Man- shared whether the young person chester entered a secre- concerned gives their consent or Ctive agreement to tip off not. Highly dubious in terms of universities when an incoming necessity and proportionality, student had been referred to the this also undermines the already government’s programme for paper-thin claim that Prevent is stopping people from becom- a consensual, supportive safe- ing terrorists, the Guardian re- guarding programme. vealed. “What kind of ‘support’ is Further education and higher forced on people in this way? education institutions in the area It means that a Prevent refer- drew up the data-sharing agree- ral – which may have been made ment in the last two years with on completely spurious or rac- the help of counter-terrorism ist grounds – could continue to Princess Beatrice of York and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, pose with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh outside The Royal Chapel of All police and the department for blight a young person through- Saints at Royal Lodge, Windsor, west of London, after their marriage ceremony. Prince Andrew’s eldest daughter Princess Beatrice married her Italian businessman education (DfE) to share details out their life, leading them to be fiance Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi on July 17 in a small private ceremony in front of Queen Elizabeth II, after postponing the wedding because of the coronavirus outbreak. of students referred to Prevent. treated like a potential terrorist The arrangement, revealed in and targeted for unwarranted documents uncovered by the re- suspicion and surveillance. searcher Dr Hilary Aked, includes “Although the universities in- University of Manchester, Uni- volved claim this data is not be- versity of Salford, Manchester ing shared to inform admissions Metropolitan University, Univer- decisions, it is also concerning sity of Chester and the Manches- that there are no real guarantees a ter College, the largest further Prevent referral won’t also dam- education college in the UK. age a young person’s chances of The plans were drawn up af- getting a place at university.” Govt ‘sure Russia helped ter the bombing of Manchester Under the agreement, refer- Arena in 2017, in which 23 people ral forms should be sent from the died, including the attacker Sal- further education college to the man Abedi – a former student of university with details of criminal Manchester College. convictions, ethnicity, religious The agreement says the pur- belief, information concerning pose of data-sharing is not to the individual’s health, well- hackers target virus jab’ inform a university’s decision to being and mental health and any make or withdraw an off er to a support provided by the college AFP Russian intelligence, and in- ternationally with a view either any kind of computer hackers at loggerheads since Moscow student but to ensure “that those and other agencies including the London tended to steal information and to sabotage or to profi t,” he told to any country, it is impossible.” was accused of trying to kill people who need support serv- police and social services. intellectual property. Sky News. Kelin also rejected a separate double agent Sergei Skripal with ices can receive them”. A young A paper trail of correspond- Moscow quickly rejected the “At the time that the world claim by London that “Russian a powerful military-grade nerve person subject to a Prevent re- ence and draft documents, going oreign Secretary Dominic accusations as “groundless”, has come together to try and actors” sought to disrupt last agent in 2018. ferral does not have to consent back to 2018, suggests Greater Raab yesterday said he and its ambassador to London tackle Covid-19... I think it’s year’s UK general election. The attack in Salisbury, to the information being shared, Manchester police and the In- Fwas “absolutely confi - said in a British television in- outrageous and reprehensible Raab said on Thursday that southwest England, came 12 though they are informed, the formation Commissioner’s Of- dent” in allegations by the UK terview yesterday the claims that the Russian government is perpetrators in Russia had cir- years after the radiation poi- documents show. fi ce were initially sceptical about and its allies that Russia target- made “no sense”. However, engaged in this activity.” culated leaked trade documents soning of former spy Alexander The stated aim of Prevent, a the lawful basis under data pro- ed labs conducting coronavirus Raab reiterated that the trio’s However Andrei Kelin, who between Britain and the US, in a Litvinenko in London. voluntary programme, is to di- tection legislation for such an research, branding the behav- conclusions were based on as- was appointed Moscow’s top bid to sow greater division in the Again, Russia has denied in- vert people from terrorism before arrangement. iour “outrageous and reprehen- sessments by the National Cy- envoy in Britain last November, contest. volvement and Kelin said the they off end and crucially deals A letter from a senior lecturer at sible”. ber Security Centre (NCSC) and ridiculed the claims in a BBC in- |”I do not see any point in us- country is ready to move on with individuals who have yet to Salford to the ICO seeking advice Britain, the US and Canada its counterparts in the US and terview. ing this subject as a matter of from the controversies. “We cross the criminality threshold. on how to formulate the agree- on Thursday accused a hacking Canada. “I don’t believe in this story interference,” Kelin said. “We still don’t understand why some Critics say the data-sharing ment refers to “obstacles that the group called APT29 of spear- “We’re absolutely confi dent at all, there is no sense in it,” do not interfere at all. We do not spy story should disrupt this agreement in Greater Manchester police perceived to proclude (sic) heading the online attacks on that the Russian intelligence he told the Andrew Marr Show, see any point in interference... important business relation- raises the possibility that a refer- information sharing”. But ulti- various organisations involved in agencies were engaged in a adding he had learned about the we will try to settle relations ship,” he added. ral – the vast majority of which mately a fi nal agreement appears Covid-19 vaccine development. cyber attack on research and hacking collective’s existence and to establish better relations “We are prepared to turn the do not progress to specialist sup- to have been concluded in January They said the collective is development eff orts in organi- from British media reports. than now.” page and we are prepared to do port for radicalisation – could last year and remains in place. “almost certainly” linked to sations in this country and in- “In this world, to attribute Russia and Britain have been business with Britain.”

Charity initiative Govt to appoint chief Man held on suspicion of attempted murder inspector of buildings Guardian News and Media working with security staff to London confi rm that nobody else had been injured and that staff and Guardian News and Media and incompetence of our land- a system that breached build- patients are safe.” London lord, the Kensington and Chel- ing codes but still won approval man has been arrested on The statement continued: sea Tenant Management Organi- from the local authority’s build- suspicion of attempted “Following immediate police sation”. ing inspectors. Amurder after a staff member searches and inquiries a 30-year- inisters are to appoint The regulator promises new This week, it will hear from of a Brighton hospital was stabbed. old man was arrested in nearby the UK’s fi rst chief in- complaints handling require- Simon Lawrence, a manager for The victim, who is in his 50s, Wilson Avenue at 9.40am on Mspector of buildings in ments “to make sure eff ective Rydon Maintenance Limited, the sustained injuries that were un- suspicion of attempted murder reforms prompted by the Gren- action is taken where concerns main contractor. derstood not to be life-threat- and is currently in custody for in- fell Tower disaster and the dis- are raised”. One of the architects told the ening during the incident at the terview and further inquiries. covery that thousands of other “It will ensure that high-rise inquiry earlier this year that the Royal Sussex county hospital “This apparently isolated and high-rise buildings breach fi re buildings and the people who way in which combustible ma- yesterday morning. unexplained incident is not be- safety regulations. live in them are being kept safe terials were sold for use on the Local police ruled out any ter- ing treated as terrorism at this The inspector will lead a na- and will have new powers to raise building was like “masquerading rorist motive for the attack. time and there is currently noth- tional regulator of building and enforce higher standards of horse meat as beef lasagne”. The hospital went into lock- ing to suggest that any other safety that will also police a sys- safety and performance across The new regulator will over- down following the stabbing as person has been involved or that tem to designate an “account- all buildings,” said a spokes- see the safety and standard of police searched for the attacker anyone else is at risk.” able person” for each high-rise person for the department of all buildings, directly assure the in an area around the hospital. Sussex police added that the building. housing, communities and local safety of higher-risk buildings, In a statement, Sussex po- victim’s family had been in- They will be obliged to re- government ahead of the publi- and will be tasked with improv- lice said: “A man has been ar- formed about the incident and spond to residents’ complaints cation of the draft building safe- ing the competence of people rested and police and security confi rmed the man’s injuries after the tenants and leasehold- ty bill today. responsible for managing and staff worked to ensure the safety were not life-threatening. ers of Grenfell Tower said their “The regulator will appoint a overseeing building work. of everyone at the Royal Sus- The Labour MP for Hove, fears about the safety of their panel of residents who will have “These are the biggest chang- sex county hospital following a Peter Kyle, tweeted: “Shock- homes were ignored by their a voice in the development of its es to building safety legislation stabbing incident. ing news from our hospital. We landlords before the fi re on June work.” for nearly 40 years, and they “At 8.42am yesterday police don’t know yet why a member of 14, 2017, which killed 72 people. The move comes as the public will raise standards across the were called to the Royal Sus- staff was stabbed but I’m thank- The Grenfell Action Group inquiry into the Grenfell disas- industry and ensure building sex County Hospital in Brighton ful to @BtonHovepolice for a community blog famously pub- ter continues to hear evidence owners have nowhere to hide if Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, visits the Garden after a report that a member of swift arrest for attempted mur- lished a post in November 2016 of how the designers and build- they break the rules,” said Lord House, part of the Light Project, which works on getting staff had sustained a stab wound. der. All aff ected by this are in my that said “only a catastrophic ers of the disastrous recladding Greenhalgh, the building safety people safely off the streets, in Peterborough, Britain. “The hospital site was quickly thoughts, especially the victim event will expose the ineptitude of the tower managed to erect and fi re minister. secured while offi cers have been who I wish a swift recovery.” Gulf Times Monday, July 20, 2020 13 EUROPE

DEPLOYED NATURE SLAM DUNK CRIME MOURNED All-female Russian Navy Rumbling Stromboli wakes Serb president seeks to People-smuggling gang Celebrated Spanish writer crew sails off on patrol up Italian island residents fulfil his hoop dream busted by Greek police Juan Marse dies aged 87

In a first for the Russian Navy, an all-female Two powerful explosions in the Stromboli volcano Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has enrolled in Greek security forces prevented 28 migrants Spanish writer Juan Marse died at his home in navy crew carried out patrols on the Black Sea made for an unpleasant awakening yesterday a sports college to fulfil what he called his boyhood from travelling to Italy from Greece by boat, Barcelona late on Saturday evening at the age of on Friday in preparation for Russia’s Navy Day for many residents on the Italian island of the dream of becoming a basketball coach. “For the and have broken up a human-smuggling 87, the author’s agent, Carmen Balcells, said in the celebrations later this month. The crew, on same name. The crater hurled glowing rocks into second time in my life I became a student...in a gang, they said in a statement yesterday. The Catalan capital yesterday. Marse was considered board a patrol boat, fulfilled a broad array of the surrounding area, media reported, citing the wish to become a basketball coach for kids,” Vucic gang was systematically bringing migrants to be one of the greatest contemporary Spanish drills on their maiden voyage, simulating how National Institute for Geophysics and Volcanology. said on Instagram over the weekend. “You would to Europe via Greece and Italy, the statement narrators and has repeatedly been considered an they would react to an incursion by saboteurs However, no one was initially reported as injured. not believe how happy I am that after many years I said. Coast guards found five migrants in outside candidate for the Nobel prize for literature, including by tossing RGD-5 hand grenades “Around five in the morning, we were awakened by am starting to realise my boyhood dreams.” Vucic, Igoumenitsa port, in a truck that was bound which he was never awarded. In addition to many into the sea. The voyage marks a symbolic two loud bangs that really scared us for a second. 50, who is a law graduate, posed in the photo for Italy, the coast guard said. Officials other awards, the author of Last Afternoons with step in Russian women’s quest to play a more Luckily nothing happened and everything is under with his student ID book from the Belgrade-based detained six people suspected of being Teresa received the prestigious Spanish Cervantes active role in the armed forces, an institution control,” said shopkeeper Gianluca Giuff re, in the college of sports and health and a small basketball. members of a human-smuggling gang and Prize in 2008. “I got the sad news in Brussels that dominated by men. Russia’s Black Sea Fleet is village of Ginostra, according to the Ansa news Vucic told a pro-government tabloid in June that 23 migrants on Saturday, the police said. The Juan Marse has left us. He was a key figure in based in Crimea, which Moscow annexed from agency. Stromboli is considered one of the most his unfulfilled wish was to become a basketball migrants had paid 5,500 euros ($6,284) each Spanish literature,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Ukraine in 2014. active volcanoes in the world. coach in basketball-mad Serbia. for the journey, the police said. Sanchez wrote on Twitter yesterday. France to fi ne fl outers Probe seeks cause behind of indoor mask norms church blaze AFP/Reuters Paris/Frankfurt/Madrid Movie magic as Paris turns Seine into open-air cinema AFP investigations were at the scene Nantes Sunday, awaiting authorisation By Noemie Olive, Reuters from fi refi ghters to examine the eople in France will risk a fi ne of 135 Paris platform which had held the euros ($154) from today for failure to rench investigators yes- grand organ. Pcomply with a new decree to wear a While the cinema drive-in may have gotten terday questioned a man On Saturday, Sennes said a mask in public places indoors, the govern- a boost as lockdowns gradually come to Fwho worked as a volun- preliminary examination had ment has announced. an end amid the Covid-19 outbreak, in Paris teer at the Gothic cathedral found no signs of forced entry As offi cials noted signs of an uptick in film fans can now munch on their popcorn of Nantes which was badly at the cathedral. virus circulation, Prime Minister Jean watching a movie from a boat on the river damaged by fi re hours after he Investigators did fi nd three Castex had said last week masks will be- Seine. closed it up for the night. separate fi re outbreak spots, at come compulsory in enclosed public As part of Paris Plages, the yearly Prosecutors launched an ar- “a substantial distance” from spaces from next week in a bid to prevent transformation of sections of the Seine into son investigation after the Sat- one another and at opposite a second wave of coronavirus infections. man-made beaches, moviegoers over the urday morning blaze which they ends of the church, he said, Masks are already required on public weekend were able to board 38 electric said appeared to have broken out which led to the opening of an transport, punishable with a fi ne of the boats for a free showing of the 2018 French in three diff erent parts of the arson probe. same amount, in a country that has lost comedy Le Grand Bain. Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul One of the fi res started near over 30,150 people to the epidemic. “I really enjoy open-air cinema. It marks in Nantes, western France. the organ which was on the fi rst On Saturday, the health minister said the beginning of the summer, and even if we Yesterday’s questioning level of the cathedral and acces- the new obligation will enter into force already are in mid-July, for me it marks the sought to “clarify elements of sible by 66 steps. today and will apply to shops and super- beginning of the Parisian summer adven- the schedule” of the volunteer, Father Francois Renaud, who markets, covered fresh produce markets, tures,” said 25-year-old Eloise Blomme. who had been charged with oversees the cathedral, said the banks and other establishments that re- “I really enjoy the idea of the boats — as- closing up the cathedral on Fri- organ console had “completely ceive members of the public. sociating the Seine with a movie on water, I day evening, Nantes prosecutor disappeared”, and described it And yesterday, the health department didn’t want to miss this.” Pierre Sennes told AFP. as “an unimaginable loss”. announced contraventions can be pun- Each boat can seat up to six people who He was being held as part “The console of the choir or- ished with a fi ne of up to 135 euros — al- know each other. Organisers hope to hold of “normal procedure” and it gan has gone up in smoke along most double the price of a monthly Paris similar showings during the six-week Paris would be “premature” to sug- with the adjoining wooden choir public transport pass. Plages (Paris Beaches) festivities. gest the man was a suspect in stalls. Original stained glass For people working in communal of- Others watch from deck chairs as the the case, he added. windows behind the great organ fi ces, the government has said employ- screen floats over the Seine. People attend the screening of Le Grand Bain in La Villette Dassin on the first day of Quentin Chabert, a lawyer have all shattered,” he said. ers will have to judge the need for mask- Cinemas have reopened in France, but the 19th edition of the ‘Paris Plages’ (Paris Beaches) summer event on Saturday in for the volunteer, told report- Champenois had told AFP on wearing on a case-by-case basis. occupancy levels remain very low. Paris. ers that for the moment “there Saturday that “everything was France’s public health service noted over While the virus has been under control with is nothing that directly links my in order” the previous night and the weekend that the so-called “R” number fatalities and the number of people in inten- Villette, a man-made lake in the northeast of Paris’ architecture, Paris Plage off ers sporting client to the fi re”. “a very close inspection was indicating the viral transmission rate has sive care falling, daily cases have increased the city, have been a roaring success since opportunities such as fencing, giant table- The cathedral’s rector, Hu- made before it closed, like every grown to over one, meaning that every in- ahead of the summer holiday season. they were launched by Paris Mayor Bertrand football, and open-air gyms looking out over bert Champenois, said the man other evening.” fected person infects about 1.2 people in turn. The artificial beaches on the banks of the Delanoe in 2002. the Seine, although this year the tighter health was a Rwandan asylum seeker The volunteer was being According to the latest offi cial data, re- Seine in central Paris and the Bassin de la As well as sand and views of central restrictions have limited some of the activities. in France for several years. questioned about “the condi- leased on Wednesday, France had 119 new The man volunteered as an tions of the closing of the ca- coronavirus patients hospitalised in 24 altar server and would have thedral” on Friday evening, hours, down from a high of 4,281 people in the region, including in its capital Bar- Five offi cers were injured in the riot that background”, Bereswill added. been the last to leave the cathe- Sennes said yesterday. hospitalised in one day in April. celona, that were on Friday urged to stay began at around 3am when police tried to Eight people remain in custody and face dral on Friday, he said. The cathedral website states One of the hardest-hit countries in Europe, at home as regional authorities toughened stop a brawl involving around 30 people in possible charges of disturbing the peace. Champenois said he had that lay people, volunteers, help France has all but emerged from a weeks-long their response to the crisis. Frankfurt’s historic Opera square. German police unions and emergency known the 39-year-old for four with administrative tasks such countrywide lockdown to contain the Cov- In a statement yesterday, authorities The square has become a popular gath- workers have been warning of authorities or fi ve years, adding: “I trust as account-keeping, clean- id-19 epidemic, which had placed immense urged people living in Figueres and Vila- ering place for what local media have facing greater hostility as they go about him like I trust all the helpers”. ing, security, and opening and pressure on its hospital system. fant, in the province of Girona, and Sant dubbed “corona parties” as Germany’s their work. The blaze, which came just closing the cathedral on a daily The government of France, like many Feliu de Llobregat, near Barcelona, to stay bars and clubs remain closed to contain Tensions have also spilled over from the 15 months after a devastating basis. other countries, counselled against mask- at home except for essential journeys. the spread of the virus. Black Lives Matter demonstrations in the fi re tore through the Notre- The building was last hit by wearing at the start of the epidemic, urg- The stay-home call stops short of im- Some 3,000 mainly young people fi lled United States where offi cers are accused Dame cathedral in Paris, de- fi re in 1972, requiring 13 years of ing people to reserve limited mask stocks posing a mandatory lockdown, but is the the square again on Saturday evening but of being racist. stroyed the Nantes congrega- large-scale reconstruction. for healthcare workers and arguing they strongest measure taken to returning people only around 500 to 800 were still there Bereswill said although the majority of tion’s famed organ, which dated Regional fi re chief Laurent did not really work for infection control. to home confi nement since Spain emerged when the unrest started, Frankfurt police revellers were peaceful, Frankfurt police from 1621 and had survived the Ferlay said the latest damage But since a partial lifting of lockdown from a nationwide lockdown last month. chief Gerhard Bereswill told a press con- have noticed “increasing aggression” to- French revolution and World was not comparable to the 1972 on May 11, mask-wearing is obligatory on New measures include a ban on meet- ference. wards offi cers. War II bombardment. blaze, nor to last year’s blaze at public transport and required for entry ings of over 10 people. Bars and restau- A small group of offi cers moved in to Yesterday’s escalation “was absolutely Also lost were priceless arte- the Notre-Dame. into facilities such as the Louvre Museum, rants will be allowed to open, but at 50% help a bleeding man and end the brawl, the most negative climax of this develop- facts and paintings, including Much of the Paris cathedral’s Disneyland Paris and the Eiff el Tower. capacity inside and with a 2m distance but the crowd turned on them. ment”, he told reporters. a work by 19th century artist roof and wooden structure was between tables outside. “What I fi nd especially abhorrent is Several police vehicles and a bus stop Hippolyte Flandrin and stained destroyed, its steeple collapsed that bystanders cheered and clapped were also attacked in the violence, caus- glass windows which contained and fumes containing toxic Catalans hunker down when bottles hit my colleagues,” Bereswill ing thousands of euros in damage. remnants of 16th century glass. molten lead billowed into the Riot at ‘corona party’ said. Frankfurt Mayor Peter Feldmann on About 100 fi refi ghters man- air. Authorities in Catalonia yesterday Back-up police then arrived and cleared Twitter condemned the rioters’ “unac- aged to save the main structure Prime Minister Jean Castex, urged more than 96,000 people in three Thirty-nine people were detained yes- the square, while facing “a hail of bottles” ceptable” behaviour and called for more of the cathedral, which was visiting the Nantes cathedral towns to stay at home, as coronavirus terday after police were attacked with “a from the angry crowd, he said. police presence at party “hotspots”. constructed over more than 450 on Saturday, promised the state cases continued to rise in one of Spain’s hail of bottles” at an open-air party in A total of 39 arrests were made, includ- City authorities will meet today to dis- years starting in 1434. would “play a major role” in its worst-hit regions. central Frankfurt attended by thousands ing one woman. The others were men cuss possible measures in response to the Sennes said experts from a reconstruction which “I want to This is in addition to some 4mn people of revellers, police in the German city said. aged 17-21 “most of whom have a migrant unrest. police unit specialised in fi re happen as quickly as possible.”

Russian governor’s arrest becomes lightning rod for people’s anger

By Andrew Roth eventually subside, particularly days of unprecedented demonstra- Guardian News & Media as new details emerge about the tions against Furgal’s arrest. murder charges. The protests have aired bitter Vladimir Putin may name a feelings of resentment toward he Kremlin is poised to new acting governor to the region Moscow in remote, independ- replace a governor from as soon as today, said Vladimir ent-minded Khabarovsk Krai, TRussia’s far east charged Zhirinovsky, a nationalist fi re- which in a recent referendum de- with multiple murders, poten- brand politician who heads the livered one of the country’s low- tially kindling a fresh round of rightwing Liberal Democratic est turnouts and least support for public anger that has already ig- party, a token opposition party. allowing Putin to run for presi- nited the largest protests in the Zhirinovsky claimed in a radio dent twice more. Furgal, who region’s history. appearance he had been prom- made his fortune in the danger- As many as 50,000 people ised the replacement would also ous scrap metal business in the took to the streets on Saturday be a member of his party, appar- 2000s, is an unlikely folk hero. in Khabarovsk, a city 8,500km ently as a concession. Investigators say they have east of Moscow, to demand the The Kremlin has also signalled witnesses and other evidence return of Sergei Furgal, a former it is planning to move soon. tying Furgal to the 15-year-old scrap metals trader charged with On Friday, a spokesman said murders. Supporters say Furgal is the murder of two business rivals Putin had not chosen a new head innocent and that his crime was and the attempted killing of a but added that “the region can- to anger the Kremlin by refusing third in 2004-05. not be left without an acting to drop out of a 2018 gubernato- So far, police have largely head for a long time.” rial race in favour of Moscow’s avoided cracking down on the Earlier, the Kremlin had said preferred candidate from the rul- unsanctioned rallies, which have Putin could formally fi re Furgal ing United Russia party. attracted hundreds of supporters based on the information uncov- Observers say that it is unlikely on weekdays and swelled to tens ered by investigators. that any protest movement could of thousands at weekends. Any replacement is unlikely to secure Furgal’s release, given The Kremlin appears to hope satisfy critics in Russia’s far east, the severity of the accusations that the wave of protests will where there have been eight straight against him. People take part in a rally in support of arrested regional governor Sergei Furgal in Khabarovsk on Saturday. Gulf Times 14 Monday, July 20, 2020 INDIA

Sack Shekhawat from cabinet over Rajasthan row: Congress

IANS was still a minister and “resist- unit chief also asked why the ED and IT raids in the state? This money? How is it being trans- corruption bureau had launched “In fact, all limits were Jaipur ing” to give his voice sample af- Haryana government and Delhi proves their nexus.” ferred? Whom is it being deliv- a fair investigation against crossed when the BJP govern- ter his name cropped up in audio police were “stopping” Rajas- Maken also asked why the BJP ered to? These questions need to Bhanwarlal Sharma, Shekhawat ment allowed the MLAs to move tapes related to horse-trading of than Special Operations Group was demanding a CBI probe into be answered.” and BJP leader Sanjay Jain after out of a hotel in Haryana from he Congress party yester- legislators in the desert state. (SOG) team from collecting alleged phone-tapping after his The former minister asked registering an FIR against them the back door after the Rajasthan day asked Prime Minister “Isn’t it the moral duty of the voice samples of Congress MLAs party released the audio clips. if the BJP had no role in the at- in the audio clips case. police went there as part of their TNarendra Modi to sack prime minister to divest Shek- Bhanwarlal Sharma and Vishv- “Is it because there are many tempts to topple the Gehlot gov- The Congress leader empha- probe,” he added. federal minister and Bharatiya Ja- hawat of his portfolio so that he endra Singh who belong to the other prominent leaders in- ernment, why were Haryana sised that the BJP had played a ma- Now, reports are coming that nata Party leader Gajendra Singh doesn’t interfere in the fair inves- Sachin Pilot camp. volved in horse-trading and a police and Delhi police providing jor role in the attempted toppling Delhi police under union Home Shekhawat from his ministry for tigation in this case? Also, why is “If they are innocent, they too fair investigation will reveal their security to rebel Congress MLAs which, he claimed, was very much Minister Amit Shah are protect- his alleged role in the attempts to he refusing to give a voice sam- should have no issues in giving identities?” and the Income Tax and Enforce- evident from the fact that Mane- ing these Congress MLAs lodged topple Rajasthan Chief Minister ple despite registration of a case their voice samples,” Maken said. Maken also brought up the ment Directorate come into the sar and Gurgaon hotels played in diff erent hotels and are be- Ashok Gehlot’s government. against him under the Prevention “Why is the BJP coming into issue of black money used in picture to obstruct fair investiga- host to rebel Congress MLAs and ing shunted to diff erent places Senior Congress leader Ajay of Corruption Act,” Maken asked. the picture and threatening a horse-trading. tions by the Rajasthan police. the Haryana government ensured to thwart SOG investigations, Maken asked why Shekhawat The former Delhi Congress CBI probe and also orchestrating “Who is supplying the black Maken said that the state anti- them complete security. Maken alleged. Shop owners in Maharashtra urge govt to reopen malls

IANS corona guidelines for safe shop- Mumbai ping, the Masharashtra govern- ment too should permit control- led operations for the industry’s all owners yesterday survival. urged the Maharashtra Palladium and High Street Mgovernment to reopen Phoenix malls president Ra- malls in the state as otherwise jendra Kalkar said in cities like there will be heavy job losses by Bengaluru and Lucknow serious August. shoppers were coming unlike the In a letter to Tourism Minister times when malls were seen as a Aditya Thackeray, the Shopping hangout destination, and there Centres Association of India said is increased demand in certain at least 5mn jobs could be hit categories like electronics, cos- if the malls - shut since nearly metics and apparels. mid-March due to the Covid-19 Taneja said that with a cap on pandemic - are not reopened visitors, crowd control and strict soon. safety measures in place, a re- The SCAI has over 75 malls in cent survey revealed that malls the state, with more than 50% in were the safest places to visit. People wearing protective masks walk in front of a hoarding of Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan wishing him a speedy recovery in Mumbai yesterday. Bachchan and members the Mumbai Metropolitan Re- SCAI has also recommended of his family who tested positive for coronavirus disease are under treatment in a Mumbai hospital. gion, 20% in Pune and the rest its own set of guidelines after scattered across other cities, and the malls are reopened includ- plans of another 30 new malls ing crowd control by adopting a are currently on hold. 75 sqft per person formula, man- Due to freeze in revenues be- datory Aarogya Setu app, single- cause of the lockdown, the en- shift operations with around tire retail industry is hit hard; 30-40% staff , food courts and they can’t meet routine expens- restaurants seating at 50%, re- es including the salaries of staff , duced parking, encouraging Monsoon may worsen stocks worth crores of rupees contactless payments, isolation will be damaged even as the in- room facility and availability of dustry has piled up losses of over oxygen cylinders. Rs100,000 crore, SCI chairman In other developments, the Amitabh Taneja said. Goa government said the lock- “We have already taken sev- down in the state will end today eral measures to maintain safety morning except in the Mormu- Covid spread: study and hygiene, all Covid precau- gao sub-district, which is the tions,” said Mukesh Kumar, CEO state’s fi rst containment zone. IANS patterns and cases in 28 states similar to that of temperature, In all, 26 personnel including a managing our own health and of Infi niti Malls, urging for reo- The night curfew however will Bhubaneswar between April and June. the results showed. woman constable of Delhi police motivation of force were also a pening of the malls. continue in Goa till August 10, Particularly, the researchers fo- The study comes at a time kicked off the campaign by do- challenge. Being visible arms of Taneja said several states have the government said in a state- cused on the relationship between when daily Covid-19 cases are nating their plasma. the government, police must en- already opened up their malls ment. he spread of coronavirus Covid-19 spread and environ- setting new records. “More than 650 Delhi police sure implementation of govern- with stringent precautionary A tweet from the state gov- in India may speed up mental factors such as tempera- India’s total coronavirus cases personnel are likely to donate their ment’s directions.” measures in place. ernment said that the lockdown Tduring peak monsoon and ture, relative humidity, specifi c have already surpassed 1mn, plasma during the week-long Being frontline warriors, po- Manoj K Agarwal, CEO of in Mormugao - which is home winter, with a continuous fall humidity, and solar radiation. with a record 38,902 new cases campaign,” the spokesman said. lice personnel were most sus- Viviana Malls, said just as other to more than one-third of the in temperature, claims a study The results showed that tem- reported in the past 24 hours. Randeep Guleria, director of ceptible to the exposure of the states have expressed confi dence state’s 1,425 active Covid-19 conducted jointly by researchers perature and relative humidity With 543 new deaths, the total AIIMS, appreciated the initiative virus. As a result more than in the malls to strictly adhere to cases - will continue till July 24. at the Indian Institute of Tech- have a signifi cant impact on the death toll stood at 26,816 yester- of the Delhi police and termed 2,500 personnel got infected and nology and the All India Institute disease growth rate and doubling day. the donor police personnel ‘Su- a dozen succumbed to the virus of Medical Sciences. time, according to the abstract In other developments, on the per Corona Warriors’, as being in the line of duty. Every degree rise in tempera- of the study posted on Research- initiative of Delhi police, a ‘Plas- aff ected by the deadly virus they However, the recovery rate ture corresponds to a 0.99% Gate, a professional network for ma Donation Campaign’ was fi rst fought against it and then is more than 84% as more than decrease in the number of cases scientists and researchers. launched at AIIMS in New Delhi voluntarily donated their plasma 2,100 personnel have recovered and an increase in doubling time The study is currently at pre- yesterday. to save lives of others. and resumed duty. by approximately 1.13 days, im- print stage and yet to be peer- Federal Minister of Health and He appealed to people to do- Lauding the eff orts of Delhi plying a slowing down of spread, reviewed. Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vard- nate plasma as it would help police for taking the initiative to said the study titled “Covid-19 An analysis for relative hu- han and Police Commissioner treat critical patients. build the plasma bank, Vardhan spread in India and its depend- midity revealed that more mois- S N Shrivastava attended the “Dealing with coronavirus called it noble and inspiring. ence on temperature and relative ture leads to a higher growth rate launch event. has been a unique experience “Delhi police personnel have humidity”. of Covid-19 cases and reduced “The objective of the cam- as none of us knew what to do,” set an example by voluntarily The study, led by V Vinoj, As- doubling time, said the study. paign is to encourage people to Shrivastava said. donating plasma in order to save sistant Professor of the School of Lower specifi c humidity and come forward to donate plasma “The police had two major lives of others, while ignoring Actors wearing protective masks perform as they rehearse for This Earth, Ocean and Climatic Sci- higher surface-reaching solar to be used for the treatment of responsibilities - to maintain their own suff erings. It will in- Valley of Death is Not My Country play at the Bidhan Auditorium, ences at IIT-Bhubaneswar, ex- radiation reduced the spread Covid-19 patients,” Delhi police law and order and to enforce spire other corona warriors to after authorities eased lockdown restrictions in Kolkata yesterday. amined the Covid-19 outbreak and increased the doubling time spokesman Anil Mittal said. the lockdown. At the same time, donate their plasma,” he said.

Rahul very much in India: Congress

Three die, traffi c disrupted Amid a political slugfest between the Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress, social as heavy rains lash Delhi media has been abuzz with speculation that former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi IANS died in fl oods yesterday in the been aff ected by floods. has left the country, but sources New Delhi northeastern state of Assam, Assam State Disaster Man- close to the party leader have raising the death toll due to the agement Authority (ASDMA) denied this, adding the ruling monsoon deluge 84. offi cials said that of the 25.30 BJP is rattled because of its hree people including a Prime Minister Narendra Modi lakh distressed people in 24 dis- failure on all fronts which child died in rain-related telephoned Assam Chief Minister tricts, around 17 lakh are in fi ve Gandhi has been highlighting. Tincidents in the national Sarbananda Sonowal and took districts - Goalpara (453,858), “Of course he is in the country. capital yesterday. stock of the fl ood, Covid-19 and Barpeta (343,707), Morigaon There are no flights leaving The fi rst death was reported Baghjan oil well fi re in Tinsukia (341,788), Dhubri (315,838) and India. All this is because they from Minto Bridge where a tem- district situation in the state. South Sakmara (225,209). (BJP) are disturbed by his latest po driver, identifi ed as 56-year- “Expressing his concern and Forest Department and AS- videos on China. Millions have old Kundan Kumar, drowned solidarity with the people, the DMA offi cials said that at least watched,” the sources said. when his vehicle got stuck on a PM assured all support to the 108 animals were killed, and 134 Gandhi on Friday released fl ooded road under the bridge state,” Sonowal said in a tweet. animals were rescued as 95% a video questioning the early yesterday morning. Modi inquired about the steps of the world-famous Kaziranga government’s foreign policy. The two other deaths were taken by the state government National Park, home to more He slammed the government in southeast Delhi’s Jaitpur and for the relief and rehabilitation than 2,200 one-horned Indian over the face-off with China in Amar Colony areas. of the fl ood-aff ected people and rhinoceros, remained fl ooded. Ladakh. He has been critical The heavy downpour brought the treatment of Covid-19 posi- The offi cials said that due to of the government over the traffi c to a standstill as reports tive patients in the state. the fl oods, 84 deaths were re- handling of the Line of Actual of water-logging trickled from An offi cial said during the ported in various districts, while Control (LAC) situation with almost every part of the capital. conversation, the chief minister 26 others have been killed in National Disaster Response Force personnel visit an area where some shanty houses collapsed into a China after deaths of 20 Indian Meanwhile, fi ve more people told Modi that 24 districts had separate landslides since May 22. canal due to heavy rains in New Delhi yesterday. soldiers. Gulf Times Monday, July 20, 2020 15 LATIN AMERICA

Ex-offi cer accused of human rights crimes in Argentina found in Berlin

Guardian News and Media ble for the deaths of at least convicted in Argentina. Marocchi in a video posted by killed in 1976 in the city of Mar Mayo, an organisation of wom- The discovery of Kyburg’s Berlin 150 people, was fi lmed by the About 30,000 people are be- the European Center for Con- del Plata by a naval unit whose en who have so far located 130 presence in Berlin follows the Bild tabloidwalking down the lieved to have been murdered by stitutional and Human Rights deputy commander at the time of their grandchildren. case of another alleged Argen- streets of Berlin’s trendy Frie- Argentina’s dictatorship, which (ECCHR), a Berlin-based hu- was Kyburg. The young activist “Luis K’s German citizenship tinian torturer, Mario San- former naval offi cer, drichshain district . set up Nazi-style death camps man rights organisation. “In disappeared together with his must not shield him from pros- doval, who was discovered to charged with human “I’m waiting here. Court in where its victims were tortured Argentina, Luis Kyburg, who partner Susana Valor, who was ecution,” said the ECCHR gen- have worked as a professor at A rights crimes during Ar- Germany, not in Argentina. and then killed, many of them shares responsibility for my three months pregnant. eral secretary, Wolfgang Kaleck, the Sorbonne in Paris, before he gentina’s bloody 1976-83 dic- I’m waiting, innocent, calmly,” thrown alive from military brother’s murder, would have Pregnant women were often in a statement. was detected in December and tatorship, has been discovered Kyburg is seen telling a Bild re- planes into the South Atlantic. been convicted long ago. I have kept alive until they gave birth, “As the commander of an extradited to Argentina. living in Berlin – despite being porter in the video. Anahí Marocchi, the sister of hope that the German jus- then murdered, and their child elite combat swimmer unit, Kyburg’s fl ight to Germany the subject of an international Kyburg, who has dual Ar- one of Kyburg’s alleged victims, tice system will now ensure he handed over to a military family he is believed to have been in- off ers a mirror image of the arrest warrant. gentinian-German citizenship, called for Germany to bring him will be justly punished for his to raise as their own. volved in the kidnapping and escape to Argentina of a large Luis Esteban Kyburg, the al- escaped to Berlin in 2013, after to justice. crimes.” Valor’s child is on the list of murder of 152 people during the number of Nazis after World leged commander of an elite fellow members of the military “I came to Germany seek- Her brother, Omar Maroc- grandchildren being sought by military dictatorship in Argen- War II, including Josef Mengele navy unit believed responsi- task force he belonged to were ing justice for my brother,” said chi, is thought to have been the Grandmothers of Plaza de tina,” said ECCHR. and Adolf Eichmann.

Colombian Fight to clear name cartels killing those fl outing virus lockdowns

Guardian News and Media of the coronavirus pandemic. Bogota Since the fi rst case of Covid-19 was confi rmed on March 6, medi- cal authorities have confi rmed rug cartels and rebel 159,898 cases, with 5,625 deaths. groups are imposing their Cases regularly climb by over Down bloody coronavirus 5,000 a day. lockdowns across Colombia – The government has imposed and killing those who do not obey, lockdowns, both nationwide according to a new report by Hu- and locally, but they have never man Rights Watch (HRW). been as strict as those decreed At least eight civilians have by armed groups, and the conse- been murdered by the armed quences for breaking them no- groups, some of them holdovers where near as grave. from Colombia’s half-century Colombia was supposed to be civil war, which are using What- turning a chapter on such vio- sapp chats and pamphlets to warn lence. citizens of the lockdowns in the A historic peace accord signed rural areas where they operate. with the Revolutionary Armed In Tumaco, an impoverished Forces of Colombia (Farc), then and violent port city on the Pacif- South America’s largest rebel Mexican farmer and activist Ignacio del Valle walks together with Mexican labour lawyer Susana Prieto who leads a demonstration with supporters and workers along the ic coast, residents are banned by group, in 2016 formally ended streets as she fights to prove her innocence following criminal charges in the northern state of Tamaulipas, in Mexico City, Mexico. gangs from fi shing, limiting their over fi ve decades of civil war that ability to earn money and food. killed more than 260,000 peo- A 5pm curfew – far stricter ple and forced 7mn to fl ee their than the measures imposed by homes. the government – is also forcing But that has not translated to street vendors inside. peace on the ground. Across the country, violent At least 271 community leaders gangs are stopping people from have been killed since the peace leaving their homes at all, even deal was implemented in early when sick, according to humani- 2017, while armed groups contin- tarian workers cited in the report. ue to jostle over territory the Farc Mexico plans arrests In two provinces, Cauca and left behind. Guaviare, armed groups have Some of the armed groups are torched the motorcycles of those dissident Farc fi ghters who re- of those who ignored their re- fused to hand in their guns; oth- strictions. ers belong to smaller rebel armies “They have shut down trans- and rightwing paramilitary mili- port between villages, and when tias. All make their money in part in tax crackdown soon someone is suspected to have from the cocaine trade. Covid-19 they are told to leave the HRW called on the govern- Reuters tler Femsa to fork over hundreds Under it, suspects can be ar- Mexico’s tax chief, Raquel she did not have knowledge of region or they will be killed,” one ment of Iván Duque to do more Mexico City of millions of dollars. rested when charged and held in Buenrostro, said last month a criminal complaint, after the community leader in Colombia’s to protect those at the mercy of Various criminal complaints custody during proceedings. that offi cials had opened “four company said it paid 8.08bn pe- southern Putumayo province myriad armed groups during the over tax violations are pending, Romero said the timing of ar- or fi ve” cases of corporate tax sos ($359.94mn) in an agreement told the Guardian, on condition lockdown. exico could issue arrest fi scal prosecutor Carlos Romero rests would depend on courts and fraud this year alone, without with the tax authority over the of anonymity for fear of reprisal. “Draconian ‘punishments’ im- warrants for suspected said in an interview, without pro- other authorities being able to disclosing names. sale of a restaurant chain. “And people have no choice but to posed by armed groups to prevent Mtax dodgers by Septem- viding details on the number or re-open after Mexico’s pandemic Romero said this year his offi ce Femsa, which pledged to pay obey because they never see the the spread of Covid-19 mean that ber, a top prosecutor said, as the the targets. lockdown. closed two “important” criminal 8.8bn pesos in taxes, was not government here.” people in remote and impover- government ramps up an aggres- “We were going to have the The attorney general’s offi ce cases against companies, with- presented with a criminal charge, On June 8, Edison Leon Perez, ished communities across Colom- sive campaign to squeeze more fi rst arrest orders between April is responsible for fi ling charges out specifying how they were a spokeswoman said. a community leader and activist, bia risk being attacked and even revenue out of businesses and and May, but a pandemic hit us. with a judge and carrying out ar- resolved. President Andres Manuel was murdered in the Putumayo killed if they leave their homes,” end years of what it calls weak tax Right now, I expect it will be be- rests based on complaints fi led by In a third instance, a company Lopez Obrador in June said Japa- town of San Miguel by La Mafi a, Jose Miguel Vivanco, HRW’s collection. tween September and October,” the tax prosecutor. reached a deal with the govern- nese automaker Toyota Motor a drug traffi cking gang with ties America’s director, said in a state- A crackdown aimed at boost- Romero said. “Between 2020 and If large corporate taxpayers ment when presented with the Corporation was in the process of to rightwing paramilitarism, days ment. “The government should ing state coff ers in the country 2021, there will be people in jail.” were to come under scrutiny, ar- risk of criminal charges, he said. putting its tax situation in order. after he called on local authorities urgently ramp up its eff orts to pro- with the lowest tax take in the The tough tactics are possible rest warrants could target several He did not identify the cas- Toyota in Mexico declined to to address the gang’s lockdown tect these communities, ensuring Organisation for Economic Co- due to a reform implemented this types of positions, including the es closed or the company that comment on its tax aff airs. orders. they have adequate food and wa- operation and Development has year that classifi es tax fraud over person in charge of tax payments, reached an agreement. “If the president has not made Like much of South America, ter, and protect their health from already pushed retailer Walmart’s 7.8mn pesos ($343,419) as a seri- board members, lawyers and ac- Walmart de Mexico’s cor- an announcement, it’s because Colombia is bracing for the worst the eff ects of Covid-19.” Mexico unit and Coca-Cola bot- ous crime. countants, Romero added. porate aff airs director has said there’s still no news,” Romero said. Brazil indigenous chief Virus restrictions kill economy: Bolsonaro

Raoni hospitalised from his supporters. Reuters Sao Paulo Bolsonaro said he is feeling AFP gastric ulcer, estimating that he He “started to be sick 15 days well, despite the virus, and again Rio de Janeiro would remain at the facility “at ago with fever, diarrhoea and credited his health to the use least three days.” vomiting” and was very dehy- razilian President Jair Bol- of hydroxychloroquine to fi ght The transfer was made by plane drated, said Gert-Peter Bruch, the sonaro said that lockdown Covid-19, despite no scientifi c ndigenous leader Raoni after Raoni, now in his 90s, ap- association’s leader. Bmeasures used to curb the evidence. “I am a living proof Metuktire, one of the Amazon peared to be in a “worsening con- Raoni tested negative for coro- spread of the novel coronavirus (that the drug works),” he told Irainforest’s best-known de- dition, with an increase in weak- navirus, Bruch said, even as many “kill” and have “suff ocated” the supporters. fenders, was transferred between ening and a deterioration of renal indigenous people in the Amazon country’s economy. hospitals due to weakness and a function,” Santa Ines Hospital have contracted the illness as it “Without salaries and jobs, “Lockdown kills,” “worsening” state of health, one reported in a statement. sweeps across the country. people die,” he said refer- Bolsonaro said adding of the medical facilities said. It said that since it “did not Brazil, the world’s second hard- ring to restrictions imposed by some politicians have Raoni, a chief of the Kayapo have an intensive care unit, he was est-hit country, is nearing 80,000 some states and municipalities. suff ocated the economy people in northern Brazil, was transferred with some urgency” deaths from the coronavirus. “Lockdown kills,” he added, say- with forced curfews likely suff ering from a digestive just in case “his clinical condition Another iconic indigenous ing that some politicians have hemorrhage, said Santa Ines Hos- worsens.” leader in Brazil, chief Paulinho suff ocated the economy with Besides hydroxychloroquine, pital, in the small town of Colider Known for his colourful feather Paiakan, died in June after con- forced curfews. the far-right president said he is in Mato Grosso state, where he headdresses and the large disc in- tracting the virus. The president’s statement also taking an anti-parasite drug was admitted Thursday. serted in his lower lip, Raoni has The same month, in an inter- comes as Brazil’s economy is to fi ght coronavirus. Raoni was already showing travelled the world raising aware- view with AFP, Raoni said Bra- expected to contract 6.4% this Brazil registered 28,532 new “signs of improvement” includ- ness of the threat posed by de- zilian President Jair Bolsonaro year, hit by the pandemic. confi rmed cases of the novel ing a rise in blood pressure after struction of the Amazon. “wants to take advantage of this Bolsonaro, who announced he coronavirus and 921 new deaths being administered fi rst aid, ac- The president of French NGO disease” to eliminate indigenous tested positive for Covid-19 on on Saturday, the health ministry cording to Dois Pinheiros Hospi- Planete Amazon reported that people. July 7, met his supporters in the said. tal in the city of Sinop, where he Raoni had been in a depressed Bolsonaro has faced criticism grounds of his offi cial residence, Total cases in Brazil, the was transferred. state following the loss of his for pushing to open protected the Alvorada Palace, in Brasilia. world’s second most aff ected The hospital said it would con- wife of more than 60 years, Bek- Amazon lands to farming and Demonstrators take part in a demonstration in support of Brazilian The president was wear- country after the United States, duct exams to detect whether wyjka, who died in June following mining, which he argues would President Jair Bolsonaro, amid the coronavirus outbreak, in Brasilia, ing a mask and kept some have now risen to 2,074,860 Raoni might be suff ering from a a stroke. benefi t indigenous communities. Brazil, yesterday. meters (yards) of distance while deaths totaled 78,772. Gulf Times 16 Monday, July 20, 2020 PAKISTAN KP moves SC to extend PIA sacks 7 pilots after superannuation age revocation Internews cial Assembly, Secretary Finance in response to Federal Govern- proceeding with the amendment, The cabinet approved it and Islamabad Department, Secretary Estab- ment letter dated 11/06/2019, the revision of retirement age then a proper bill was presented lishment Department and Sec- the Government of Khyber Pa- will result in saving of approxi- before the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa retary Law, Parliamentary Aff air khtunkhwa went on with its plan mately Rs18bn per year for three Provincial Assembly. of licences hyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Human Rights Department of pension reforms by collecting years so as to reduce the pension Finance ministry offi cials province government has challenging the Peshawar High the pension data. expenditure and liabilities. stated that the issue of pension is Kapproached the Supreme Court (PHC) judgment. According to it, most of civil The provincial government also being addressed by bringing Internews “The inquiry Court (SC) to allow it to extend The PHC on the petitions servants opt to voluntarily retire intends that the saving made by reforms in the pension system Karachi superannuation age for KP civil of Prosecution Offi cers’ Wel- at the age of 45 years by com- it through reforms will be spent and Auditor General of Paki- which was initiated servants from 60 to 63 years. fare Association KP, and Senior pleting the qualifying services on development, health, educa- stan Revenues has sought three in February 2019 Last week there were reports Public Prosecutor (respondents) i.e. 25 years while some employ- tion and social sectors to gener- months’ time to computerise the akistan International in media that the federal govern- on 19th February, struck down ees retired on attaining the age ate more employment oppor- entire civil pension system. Airlines (PIA) dismissed showed that 262 ment is considering reducing the the amendment in Section 13 of superannuation. tunities to large numbers of its Discussions with military ac- Pseven pilots after their pilots did not give age of retirement to 55 for the of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Civil Those civil servants who get population along-side of general countant general are also under licences were cancelled by government employees. Servant Act 1973. retirement at an early age get population. process with the suggestion by the Civil Aviation Authority the [pilot] exam However, Minister of State for The KP government raised ob- other job opportunities like con- In view of these facts and cir- him that a pilot project would be (CAA), reported local media. themselves and Parliamentary Aff airs Ali Mu- jection to the PHC judgment. sultancy by virtue of training cumstances the KP government initiated from Kasur, Punjab. A PIA offi cial confi rmed hamed Khan told Senate on July 17 The advocate general submit- and experience gained in gov- had decided to make necessary They added that pension is a that the pilots, including some asked someone that there is no truth in the reports. ted that the provincial govern- ernment service while receiving amendment in the civil serv- very complicated issue and the fi rst offi cers, have been issued else to give it on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa advo- ment had started working on pension from government. ant law. In this respect a proper government has been trying to termination letters. cate general fi led an appeal be- pension reforms since 2016 and The appeal said therefore summary was prepared which remove discrepancies and ghost According to details, CAA their behalf” fore the apex court on behalf of the report was also shared with comprehensive groundwork and was placed before the Cabinet pensioners to fi x the problem in director-general had issued Chief Secretary, Speaker Provin- the Federal Government and analysis was carried out before for discussion and approval. a sustainable way. the licence revocation let- The European Union Avia- ters after the government’s tion Safety Agency had sus- approval. pended Pakistan International Number of Earlier, the Airline Trans- Airlines (PIA) authorisation to port Pilot licences of 48 PIA fl y to the bloc for six months Covid-19 Capital march pilots had been suspended and in a major blow to the carrier’s recoveries the pilots given two weeks to operations. fi le their reply. The US Federal Aviation continues to rise Last month, Federal Avia- Administration (FAA) also tion Minister Ghulam Sarwar downgraded Pakistan’s air The number of recoveries from Khan, while presenting a pre- safety rating, while barring the Covid-19 continues to increase liminary report regarding the PIA from entering its airspace. across Pakistan with 204,276 PIA plane crash in Karachi, Meanwhile, the UK Civil patients so far recovered from the had said 40% of pilots were Aviation Authority also sus- disease. fl ying aircraft with dubious pended the national fl ag car- According to the statistics, 1,579 licences. rier’s operations from three new coronavirus cases were Pakistan has 860 active pi- airports Birmingham, London reported in the country during lots, which include pilots em- Heathrow and Manchester. the last 24 hours taking the tally ployed by PIA, Serene Air and Airlines in 10 countries had to 263,496. Air Blue. demanded proof of valid fl y- These include 112,118 in Sindh, The inquiry which was initi- ing licences for their Paki- 89793 in Punjab, 31,890 in ated in February 2019 showed stani pilots after the shocking Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 11,424 in that 262 pilots did not give the statement from the aviation Balochistan, 14,576 in Islamabad, [pilot] exam themselves and minister. 1,807 Gilgit Baltistan and 1,888 in asked someone else to give it In all, the foreign airlines Azad Kashmir. on their behalf, the minister asked for proof of 176 Paki- Meanwhile, 46 patients died of had said, adding that some stani pilot licences. the virus during the last 24 hours pilots did not have the proper Of these, 166 have been val- taking the death toll to 5,568. fl ying experience either. idated as genuine and certifi ed About 22,559 corona tests were “Pilots are also appointed by the CAA Pakistan as having carried out during this period. on a political basis, unfortu- no anomaly, the CAA recently nately,” he said, adding that said in a statement. whilst appointing pilots, merit The process for the remain- Off icials agree is ignored. He disclosed that ing 10 shall be concluded by degrees of four PIA pilots were next week, it added. for increase in found to be fake. The 10 airlines asking for Pakistan-Iran Soon after the statement, proof of valid Pakistani pilots’ the national fl ag carrier was licences were from Turkey, the trade activities barred from entering the air- United Arab Emirates, Oman, Increase in trade activities space of several countries and Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Tur- between Pakistan and Iran is the Pakistani pilots who had re- key, Malaysia, Vietnam and need of the hour and the two Relatives display pictures of people who have gone missing in the Baluchistan province as they walk towards Islamabad, in Rawalpindi yesterday. ceived their credentials from Hong Kong, according to countries should co-operate with the CAA were grounded. the CAA. each other for giving a boost to their economies so that they both could face economic challenges they are facing currently. These views were expressed during a meeting between Collector Customs Appeasement Oil tanker Communities get bigger role and Facilitation Abdul Waheed Marwat and the in-charge of the Economic Aff airs of the Consulate General of Iran, Hussain Jaff ari, at Customs House. contractors in running national parks Marwat briefed the Iranian envoy on the ongoing ITTMS project Thomson Reuters Foundation July 2, will focus on 15 national them for grazing, hunting and Khan, who is now retired. launched by the Asian Development Islamabad parks that make up a total of fi rewood, he explained. Community members were Bank in Chaman through which 7,300sq km (2,800sq miles), “In many cases, the govern- employed as guards and game import and export would be call off strike spanning from Khunjerab in the ment changed the status of inspectors, with 80% of em- streamlined on modern lines. or 20 years, Khunjerab Na- north to the area around Astola these old community-managed ployment opportunities in the “The Pakistan government is tional Park was a point of Island in the south. forest areas or grazing areas park going to locals. It was also interested in launching this Internews Board of Revenue chairman, Ftension between Pakistan’s The project aims to create into national parks where (sud- agreed that local communities project at the Taftan border with Islamabad chairmen of the Provincial Rev- government - which established up to 5,000 new jobs, mainly denly) everything is prohib- would receive 75% of the rev- Iran so trade activities could enue authorities, Pakistan State the park in 1975 as a sanctuary for young people who will ited by law,” said Rahman, who enue generated by visitor fees. be expanded between the two Oil managing director and of- for rare species - and locals who work as park guards and cus- heads the management board “It really was the fi rst nation- countries on modern lines,” il Tankers Contractors fi cials of Oil and Gas Regulatory had grazed their livestock on the todians, and boost eco-tour- for Margalla Hills National al park in the country whose Marwat said. Association has called Authority attended the meeting. land for generations. ism in the country, authorities Park, one of those included in management plan was actually He informed the Iranian envoy Ooff their declared strike It was decided that a joint As disputes over the land said when the initiative was the new project. implemented,” Khan said. about reservations of the after extensive talks with the team of the Oil Tankers Contrac- raged, poachers decimated announced. “But there is weak enforce- “Today there are 100 Marco Pakistan government over export government. tors and FBR would meet today Khunjerab’s wildlife, villag- Malik Amin Aslam, climate ment. The government does not Polo sheep in the park, much of white spirit and requested the The decision was taken in a to sort out the issue of increase ers say - until 1995, when local change adviser to Prime Min- have the resources to pay for ad- more than the eight or nine I Iranian government for taking meeting between Minister for En- in the income-tax. people and the authorities de- ister Imran Khan, said the parks equate protection,” he said. saw (in the 1990s) and there are extra checking to ensure security ergy Omar Ayub Khan and a dele- It was also decided that Sindh cided to work together to better plan fi ts into Pakistan’s post- Many of the country’s envi- more than 5,000 ibex.” standards of white spirit. gation of Oil Tankers Contractors Revenue Board would convene protect the park. coronavirus “green stimulus” ronmental experts see Khun- So far, Pakistan’s authorities He said that the Pakistan Association in Islamabad. a meeting with other provincial “Our communities knew vision, which also includes hir- jerab, the country’s oldest and have revealed few details about the government was providing Representatives from pro- revenue authorities tomorrow about natural resource man- ing thousands of unemployed largest national park, as a mod- new Protected Areas Initiative. maximum facilities to Iranian vincial and federal government to resolve the input adjustment agement (and) we were well or- day labourers to plant trees as el of successful community-led Aslam, the climate change traders. departments including Federal against Services Sales Tax. ganised,” said Muzaff aruddin, a part of the country’s 10 Billion management. advisor, told the Thomson Reu- founding member of the local Tree Tsunami programme. The park was established 45 ters Foundation that the project Shimshal Nature Trust, which “The dual objective is to pro- years ago as a way to protect the will be overseen by Pakistan’s contributed members to a com- tect nature while also generat- area’s glaciers, alpine pastures, new National Parks Service, munity-led management group ing jobs for unemployed youth,” streams and ravines. due to launch in September. set up to run the park. he told the Thomson Reuters Parts of it were closed off to He said the country had ear- 25 women under-25 will be awarded “Now I would say Khunjerab Foundation. create undisturbed habitat for marked 4bn rupees ($24mn) for is better managed than many “All this green activity will animals from the rare Marco the initiative’s fi rst phase over other parks in the country. The aid in addressing the unexpect- Polo sheep to snow leopards the next three years, of which for extraordinary achievements local people look after it. The ed spike in Covid-linked unem- and Siberian ibex. at least 80% would be spent on wildlife population has in- ployment across the country.” But that move pitted the govern- creating green jobs and increas- Internews could be shared with schoolchil- 25-Under 25 book while fi ve creased manifold,” he said. Pakistan currently has about ment against local livestock farm- ing community engagement. Karachi dren as role models. best stories will have short fi lms In its latest move to generate 30 national parks that are sup- ers, who had long used the area. Through the project, the “We were astonished by the re- made on them as well. These jobs amid the Covid-19 pan- posed to be protected and Ashiq Ahmed Khan, a wild- amount of protected land in Pa- sponse to our call from across Paki- women will be given awards in demic while boosting conser- preserved by law. life specialist working at the kistan will increase from 13% to he Little Art has an- stan as young women from all over an event in September 2020. vation and curbing the impacts But most are “paper parks” - government’s Pakistan Forest 15% by 2023, Aslam added. nounced the names of 25 the country applied for the award.” The selected women include of climate change, Pakistan areas classifi ed as national parks Institute in the 1990s, helped But environmental lawyer Ra- Twomen who were selected Iqbal added the fi nal 25 were Yumna Majeed, a space educa- has announced the creation of but with little or no manage- draft the fi rst management plan fay Ahmad Alam said that while for its 25-Under 25 Award. shortlisted on the basis of their tor and founder of Exploration; Pakistan’s fi rst National Parks ment, said Aslam, who helped for the park that brought to- the initiative is a positive step, The 25-Under 25 Award is an work, drive and leadership qualities. Aradhiya Khan, a 21-year old Service, modelled on the US design the new initiative. gether locals and the provincial it will do little to help preserve initiative to recognise 25 excep- “These 25 young women rep- Pakistani transwoman activ- agency. Conservation expert Anis-ur wildlife department. Pakistan’s green spaces without tional young women under the resent the geographic and cul- ist; Anjili Jewraj from Jacoba- Under it, the country aims Rahman estimates only about Under the plan, eight vil- legislation to back it up. age of 25 who have stories of tural diversity of Pakistan.” bad; Saira Zahid, a cyclist from to get more local communi- 5% of the country’s parks are lages inside the park agreed not The initiative “won’t make passion and resilience to inspire Iqbal hoped that through this Skardu; Iqra, an architect from ties involved in running na- properly managed. to graze livestock in its 12sq km up for the fact that (most of) the young girls, says a statement. programme, exposure and sup- BUITEMS, Quetta; Raheen Fa- tional parks and earning an The others suff er from clash- core zone. provincial national park laws Little Art director and found- port, the young women would be tima, the youngest professional income as they protect nearby ing priorities and a lack of co- In exchange, other grazing are weak and don’t provide ad- er Shoaib Iqbal said the objec- able to excel more in their lives. female stand-up comedian and conservation areas. operation between the govern- areas were designated on a ro- equate specifi cs for conserva- tive for the initiative was to fi nd The stories of these wom- Hani Baloch, a social activist The fi rst phase of the Protect- ment and the communities that tation that gave each time to tion, protection or enforcement young women whose stories en would be published in the from Karachi. ed Areas Initiative, launched on live around them and rely on recover after being used, noted measures,” he said. Gulf Times Monday, July 20, 2020 17 PHILIPPINES

Banks warn clients over online scams

The country’s biggest banks have alerted their clients against Franchise denial ‘not a prelude various online scams that take advantage of the surge in digital transactions during this Corona- virus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pan- demic, Manila Times reported. BDO Unibank Inc. (BDO) advised to martial law declaration’ its clients to be cautious of account-renting scams where scammers are off ering to bor- By Catherine S Valente tremely proud” in “dismantling Camarines Sur that seeks tem- equipment for use in distance Manila Times the oligarchy” in the country porary use of ABS-CBN’s facili- education and use the TV and row or rent bank accounts in without declaring martial law ties for planned distance learn- radio frequencies formerly as- exchange for a fee or commis- during his visit to a military ing modalities. signed to ABS-CBN. sion. Account holders are being he denial of a franchise camp in Jolo, Sulu. Instead, Villafuerte said on The Palace welcomed Vil- recruited to be a “money mule.” for broadcasting giant He claimed that ABS-CBN Saturday, he has proposed an lafuerte’s proposal but its “Scammers use false reasons to TABS-CBN Corp is not “defi led” him and committed “exceptional partnership” be- spokesman Harry Roque Jr said receive ‘dirty’ money from illegal a prelude to the declaration abuses, but denied he was be- tween Malacanang and the such a move would have to be activities, claiming these are char- of martial law in the country, hind the shutdown. media giant that would enable decided upon by the Depart- itable donations, OFW (overseas President Rodrigo Duterte’s top Panelo said Duterte was a the government to harness the ment of Education and the Filipino workers) remittances, or legal counsel has assured the victim of “estafa” when the broadcast network’s facilities Commission on Higher Educa- payments to their online shop. public. network did not broadcast his for a blended education system tion. Unfortunately for victims this In his Counterpoint pro- paid campaign advertisement amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian is illegal under the Anti-Money gramme aired over state-run during the 2016 polls. If the network would agree agreed, saying the use of the Laundering Act,” it said. PTV-4, Salvador Panelo said He added that ABS-CBN to his proposal, Villafuerte said “silenced” ABS-CBN frequen- BDO added that its clients legislators just followed the law owners have “raked in millions,” ABS-CBN could continue op- cies for distance learning in- should not accept off ers to make when they decided to reject the avoided tax payments and ne- erating for the duration of the volved considerable issues. money from using their account network’s bid to get a new fran- glected their workers. blended learning approach and “One is the technical facil- to receive or send money. It chise. The network announced that allow it to keep a good number ity. A frequency is very specifi c also informed its clients against “This does not mean it is a it would cease operating some of its employees on the payroll. to a broadcast equipment. And scammers who use SIM cards to prelude to the declaration of of its businesses and lay off In case the network opts to it goes without saying that you deceive and steal their victims’ martial law. This is in fact a fur- workers by August 31. stay out of the proposed part- also need qualifi ed technical money. One modus is called SIM ther step toward the faithful ob- Panelo said granting a legis- nership, Villafuerte said, the people to operate those equip- Swapping, where scammers dis- servance of due process of law,” lative franchise to a broadcast Salvador Panelo: assurance government should work out an ment,” he said. “Two, is the guise themselves as telco agents he added. fi rm was a “privilege, not a arrangement with other private quality of the equipment and off ering upgraded network con- Panelo made the statement right.” off the air since May 5, will not tion fi led by Deputy Speaker companies that have facilities broadcast facilities,” the sena- nection in exchange for SIM cards. after Duterte said he was “ex- The network, which has been be sequestered under a resolu- Luis Raymund Villafuerte of or are willing to invest in such tor said. Labour dept assures help for 19mn peso worth study on overseas workers to regain jobs rapid antibody tests approved By William Depasupil Manila Times By Jan Arcilla Manila Times he Department of La- bour and Employment T(DoLE) has assured the he Department of Science estimated 150,000 displaced and Technology (DoST) overseas Filipino workers Thas approved a P19.1mn (OFWs) that the government study that would look into the would exhaust all eff orts to help accuracy of rapid antibody tests them regain the jobs they lost in diagnosing the coronavirus abroad because of the corona- disease 2019 (Covid-19). virus disease 2019 (Covid-19) This comes as a party-list pandemic. Labour Secretary Silvestre Bello. lawmaker took the Department According to Labour Secre- of Health (DoH) to task over its tary Silvestre Bello 3rd, things is committed to assist OFWs, ty that OFWs could be rehired confusing and alarming data on were now turning better de- particularly with the health en masse by countries with the country’s growing Covid-19 spite the pandemic with the protocol requirements that recovering economies. infections. reopening of many economies foreign governments might “That would require trans- Science Secretary Fortunato around the world, which meant impose to curb the spread of portation, and if our OFWs de la Peña said his department’s job opportunities for Filipino the highly contagious respira- need chartered flights, we will Philippine Council for Health workers. tory disease. do our best to come up with Research and Development “Many governments went “They might ask more re- enough logistics for that,” (PCHRD) Governing Council ahead of us in easing restric- quirements from our OFWs, he added. Earlier, Asian De- approved the study on July 14, tions. Their industries are al- like government certifica- velopment Bank experts said adding it would be conducted by most fully operational again tions, to prove they are not a the pandemic could trigger a team led by Dr Leonila Dans of by now. They could recall our threat to the health and safety stricter health and safety rules University of the Philippines- OFWs anytime,” he said. of their people. We can do in these economies against Manila. If that happens, the Labour that,” Bello said. workers from countries with The study “will generate in- chief added, his department He also raised the possibili- weak anti-Covid 19 systems. formation on the diagnostic ac- Healthcare workers take blood samples from a bike rider at a coronavirus disease (Covid-19) testing centre curacy of rapid antibody tests in in Manila. diagnosing Covid-19 in a rep- resentative sample of Filipinos (FDA) warned the public against Covid-19 crisis in the country she asked. Amid technological suspected to have the disease,” using rapid antibody tests that to the public. “Just last week, it advances, Taduran wondered the Science chief said. show inaccurate results. was not able to release updated why the DoH could not keep up Fake cigarettes worth millions seized “The analysis will inform on Under DoH protocols, if such data on Covid-19 cases. The fol- in presenting accurate and time- how well rapid antibody tests tests were used, patients would lowing day, we were surprised ly information. perform during acute (less than need to take a confi rmatory with a big jump in the…number It has also stopped releas- By Vince JA Visaya Mabini village in Santiago Mabini village were P2.58mn or equal to 14 days) and con- polymerase chain reaction test of positive cases, which reached ing details on the patients and Manila Times City, police said. worth of 81 boxes of Marvel valescent (more than 14 days) afterward. Rapid tests are also 2,124,” Taduran said. the hospitals where they are BGen. Filter King and five boxes of phase of the disease,” he added. not recommended for mass test- “Suddenly, there was a change confi ned in the NCOV (novel Crizaldo Nieves, Cagayan Mighty Green fake cigarettes. Although the study would last ing and self-testing. in reporting. Fresh and late cases coronavirus) tracker online, the 25-year-old Chinese Valley regional police direc- The arrested men and the for nine months, de la Pena said In a phone call with Manila were gone, just additional posi- lawmaker said. “How can we and a 23-year-old tor, identified the arrested items were temporarily placed its proponents promised signifi - Times, ACT-CIS party-list Rep. tive cases. Did they suddenly recheck their data if they keep A Filipino trader were men as Fubin Huang and Ton- under police custody while cant results in three months. Nina “Weng” Taduran called realise that it’s a waste of time to out the important details? Until nabbed, after they yielded ron Ferrer Quejada. charges for breaching cus- The announcement comes af- on DoH offi cials to get their act separate the fresh and late cases now, the DoH can’t get full re- P2.58mn worth of fake ciga- Seized inside the warehouse toms and revenue laws were ter medical experts, DoH and the together by presenting trans- or do the new numbers this week sults from all the operating labo- rettes inside a warehouse in located at Hawkson Street in readied. Food and Drug Administration parent and accurate data on the represent only the fresh cases?” ratories,” she added.

Stranded on ships, 200,000 seafarers struggle in virus limbo

AFP seven-month contract a few owned by a Hong Kong com- Manila months before the pandemic pany. struck. “The government is not even “The last time I stepped off doing anything,” said Basanth, ndian ship worker Tejasvi from this 200-metre ship was in from the southern Indian port of Duseja is desperate to go February,” he said. Kochi. Ihome after months stranded Seafarers typically work for “I just want him to come off shore by coronavirus border six to eight months at a stretch home.” closures and lockdowns that before disembarking and fl ying Lala Tolentino, who runs have left more than 200,000 back to their home countries, the Philippine offi ce for a UK- seafarers in limbo. with new crews taking their based seafarers support group, From engineers on cargo ships place. said they had been swamped to waiters on luxury cruise liners, But as the deadly virus by “hundreds” of pleas for help ocean-based workers around the whipped around the world and from stranded workers since world have been caught up in paralysed international travel, March. what the United Nations warns that was suddenly impossible. File photo shows a general view of cruise ships anchored at Manila Bay waiting for disembarkation clearance from authorities for their Filipino “They want to know what will is a growing humanitarian crisis Underscoring the growing crews who have undergone swab tests for the Covid-19 coronavirus. Right: Brothers Rocky (left), Mike (centre) and Lorenzo pose for photos happen to them, where they are that has been blamed for several urgency of the situation, more while holding a portrait of their brother Cherokee Capajo at home in Dingle, Iloilo province, central Philippines. going. Will they be able to get off suicides. than a dozen countries at a their ships,” she said. Many have been trapped on UK-hosted International Mari- ing the Diamond Princess in Ja- nearly two weeks later after fi n- quarter of the world’s seafarers. workers in a joint letter to UN Many of those stuck onboard vessels for months after their time Summit this month vowed pan. ishing quarantine. About 80,000 of them are Secretary-General Antonio Gu- completed their tours more than tours were supposed to end as to recognise seafarers as “key After the Ecstasy passengers “This could probably be the stranded because of the pan- terres, who said last month some four months ago and were ex- travel restrictions disrupted workers” to help them get home. disembarked in Jacksonville on hardest part of my experience demic, according to Philippine seafarers have been “marooned hausted, the ILO said last month. normal crew rotations. Philippine luxury cruise ship March 14, Capajo and his col- as a seaman because you are authorities. The ordeal has taken at sea for 15 months”. An Inter- For Duseja, who comes from “Mentally, I am just done with technician Cherokee Capajo leagues were forced to stay on not sure what will happen every a toll on the mental health of national Labour Organisation the northern Indian city of De- it... but I’m still holding up be- spent nearly four months on board for the next seven weeks. day,” Capajo said via Facebook many seafarers, with reports of (ILO) convention widely known hradun at the foothills of the cause I have no other option,” ships without setting foot on Finally, on May 2, the ship Messenger last week, as he en- some taking their own lives. as the Seafarers’ Bill of Rights Himalayas, the end of his ordeal Duseja, 27, said via WhatsApp land due to virus shutdowns. sailed to the Bahamas where dured a second quarantine near In one case, a Filipino worker limits a worker’s single tour of is in sight. and Facebook Messenger in late The 31-year-old had barely Capajo says he and 1,200 crew his hometown in the central died of “apparent self-harm” on duty to less than 12 months. “I’m still on the ship,” he said June as the Indian-owned cargo heard of Covid-19 when he members were transferred to Philippines. the cruise ship Scarlet Lady as it The strain is also being felt by in a WhatsApp message last vessel he works on fl oated near boarded the Carnival Ecstasy in another boat that took them to “You worry if you’ll ever come anchored off Florida in May, ac- families waiting at home. week. Malaysia. Florida in late January. Jakarta before arriving in Manila back home, how long will you be cording to the US Coast Guard. Priyamvada Basanth said she “But mentally, I am feeling Duseja, one of roughly 30,000 Soon, a number of Carnival- Bay on June 29. stuck on the ship. It’s diffi cult. Shipping industry groups have did not know when she would slightly better because I’ve been Indian workers unable to leave owned cruise ships were stricken He wanted to “kiss the It’s really sad.” expressed their concerns about see her husband who has been told that I’m fi nally getting off their ships, had extended his with severe outbreaks — includ- ground” when he came ashore Filipinos account for around a “suicide and self-harm” among at sea for eight months on a ship the ship mid-August.” Gulf Times 18 Monday, July 20, 2020 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Every prison cell in California is now a Covid-19 death row

San Quentin is California’s most famous, most picturesque, most aged, most poorly designed and most lethal state prison. Inside cellblocks surround an open atrium-like space designed to give guards a view of each inmate. With the windows to the outside closed off and with prisoners and guards all breathing the same poorly circulated air, it’s the perfect place to transmit a virus, quickly and mercilessly. In such an environment, social distancing is irrelevant. In other words, it’s not a good place to send inmates to shield them from Covid-19. About 400 miles to the south, at the California Institute US immigration offi cials spread for Men in Chino (built in the 1940s), the coronavirus spread swiftly among more than 600 inmates, causing multiple deaths and putting other inmates directly in harm’s way. So hundreds of medically vulnerable inmates were moved to coronavirus with detainee transfers other prisons, including San Quentin. Some few brought the virus with them, and San Quentin now has more than 1,400 Of 359 detainees tested, 268 As of July 16, ICE had reported 3,567 Detention Center in Eloy, Arizona had cases, each of them potentially fatal. The prison’s notorious By Mica Rosenberg, Kristina Cooke and Reade Levinson were positive, according to an ICE confi rmed cases of Covid-19 in its one. execution chamber has been quiet for 14 years, but now New York/ Los Angeles statement in response to questions detention centres. The Reuters review of immigration every San Quentin inmate is eff ectively on death row. from Reuters. The actual number of infected court records identifi ed 195 transfers This was going to happen, one way or another. Prisons, like While the majority are asymptomatic, detainees is almost certainly higher, to or from detention centres where ICE ublic health specialists have it said, three detainees are hospitalised. Franco-Paredes said, since not all had reported confi rmed cases. cruise ships and nursing homes, are virus breeding grounds and for months warned the US The ICE statement said the agency centres are doing widespread testing. These include: human death traps. Two-thirds of inmates at the federal prison government that shuffl ing was committed to the welfare of all About 22,000 detainees are in ICE z A May 6 transfer from New at Terminal Island, across the shipping channel from San Pedro, Pdetainees among immigration detainees and continued some transfers custody now, and about 13,500 tests Mexico’s Otero County Processing were infected by May. Nearly 70% of inmates at the federal detention centres will expose people to to reduce crowding. have been done, but that likely includes Center, which at the time had 10 prison in Lompoc tested positive. Covid-19 infections ripped Covid-19 and help spread the disease. ICE did not respond to a request for some immigrants who have since been confi rmed cases, to the Northwest through prisons in New York, Chicago, Ohio. California’s 35 US Immigration and Customs comment on Reuters’ analysis. released. Detention Centre in Tacoma, Enforcement (ICE) has continued the Former ICE offi cials and immigration To be sure, detainee transfers are not Washington, which had no known cases state prisons suff ered just a few infections, but were living and practice, saying it is taking all necessary attorneys say the agency regularly the only means of introducing the virus until two weeks later on May 19. breathing on borrowed time. precautions. transfers people in custody for myriad to a detention centre. z A transfer on May 7 from the The only way to decrease the risk is to decrease the inmate It turns out the health specialists reasons, including: bed space, preparing Employees with the disease are Bluebonnet Detention Centre in Anson, population, and the state made only the most modest eff ort were right, according to a Reuters migrants for deportation, and security another main source of transmission, Texas, which at the time had 41 confi rmed at that earlier this year, halting new admissions for a few review of court records and ICE data. reasons. public health specialists said. cases, to the Johnson County Jail in Dallas, weeks and moving up the departure dates slightly for about The analysis of immigration court With the pandemic still raging in the Nearly 1,000 detention center which had no known cases until May 19. data identifi ed 268 transfers of United States, lawmakers have called on employees have tested positive for the z Four transfers in late May from 3,500 home-bound prisoners. detainees between detention centres in ICE to halt the practice. virus. a detention centre in Glades County, Now California Governor Gavin April, May and June, after hundreds in Carlos Franco-Paredes, an Before it transfers detainees, ICE Florida, which at the time had no known Not every Newsom’s administration is fi nally ICE custody had already tested positive infectious disease doctor studying policy is to screen them for fevers and cases, to the Broward Transitional getting more serious about reducing for Covid-19, the disease caused by the Covid-19 outbreaks in correctional other symptoms, but not to test for the Centre in Pompano Beach, Florida, convicted the infection risk by reducing the novel coronavirus. settings, said it is not possible to disease. which at the time had 19 known cases. inmate population. Departure dates Half of the transfers Reuters transfer detainees safely in the current Those with positive or suspected Immigration court data notes when criminal identifi ed involved detainees who environment. cases of Covid-19 are isolated from the government notifi es the court that will be moved up for thousands were either moved from centres with “If you’re moving people, particularly other detainees, ICE says. it has moved a detainee in its custody to deserves to of additional prisoners, including Covid-19 cases to centres with no from an area where there is an ongoing But the case of Farmville shows another location. some elderly and medically frail known cases, or from centres with outbreak, even though you sequester that eff orts to keep sick and healthy Reuters only counted transfers if the be put on the inmates who have been locked up no cases to those where the virus had them for two weeks or so, there is detainees separate don’t always prevent data showed a detainee having a hearing for years and who now pose little spread. contact with people,” said Franco- the spread. in a new, known detention facility, coronavirus The Reuters tally is likely just a small Paredes. “You’re basically spreading the A week after the out-of-state prison or jail. risk to their home communities. fraction of all transfers, former ICE problems.” transferees arrived at the Farmville The news agency then compared death row Ironically, and tragically, California offi cials said. In an eff ort to limit the spread of centre, three of them tested positive for those records to ICE counts of still has people locked up who, on ICE does not release data on detainee Covid-19, ICE halted detention center the virus while still quarantined from infections at detention centres. release, would be good candidates for nursing homes, were they moves, and court records capture only a visits in mid-March and has slowed the general population. Saragoza, the Mexican detainee in also not hot spots for Covid-19. smattering of them. arrests. In response, centre offi cials decided Farmville, lived in the United States for San Quentin has the best inmate education, training and At least one transfer resulted in a US-Mexico border crossings have to test the entire group of new arrivals, 21 years before his arrest. super-spreading event, according also fallen, leading to smaller detained according to an e-mail from ICE deputy He has diabetes and high blood rehabilitation programmes because its unlikely location to emails from ICE and offi cials at a populations overall. fi eld offi ce director Matthew Munroe to pressure - two conditions that the CDC allows it to draw experts from nearby UC Berkeley and detention centre in Farmville, Virginia, Prisons and detention centres have immigration attorneys. Fifty-one tested says puts coronavirus patients at higher mission-driven teachers from Oakland and Silicon Valley. court documents and interviews with been disproportionately aff ected by positive. risk of falling seriously ill. But that means that those areas, too, are more vulnerable to more than a dozen detainees at the coronavirus outbreaks. ICE data shows that the day before He said he started feeling ill in late infections spreading across the prison. facility. Large numbers of people confi ned in the transfers, two of the three centres June but was not as sick as some others Why does one consider it a good idea to use long years of Until that transfer, only two detainees close quarters with insuffi cient access where the detainees came from had in his dormitory. had tested positive at the Farmville to medical care and poor ventilation and reported cases. On July 9, he got bad news. confi nement in unhealthy, densely-packed prisons as the centre — both immigrants transferred sanitation all create a breeding ground ICE’s Krome North Service He and almost all the men in his dorm best response to people who have hurt others or otherwise there in late April. for viral infections, infectious disease Processing Center in Florida had had tested positive for coronavirus. - violated community standards? In some countries, prisons They were immediately isolated and doctors say. 15 confi rmed Covid cases, and Eloy Reuters more closely resemble schools or health facilities, because monitored and were the only known that’s essentially what they are. None of this is to say the US cases at the facility for more than a should scrap punishment and confi nement for murderers or month, court records state. Then on June 2, ICE relocated 74 rapists. But not every convicted criminal deserves to be put detainees from Florida and Arizona, on the coronavirus death row. more than half of whom later tested Newsom’s release plan is a good start, but it’s only that. positive for Covid-19. Inmates who must stay locked up should get more space By July 16, Farmville was the between them, and frequent testing with rapid reporting of detention centre hardest-hit by the virus with 315 total cases, according to results. The medical and elderly parole programmes should ICE data. be stepped up, and quickly. Dorm-style inmate quarters Serafi n Saragoza, a Mexican detainee should be shut down, as should San Quentin’s most disease- at Farmville, said he and another prone quarters, and perhaps the entire prison. - Tribune detainee - who confi rmed Saragoza’s News Service account to Reuters - had contact with the transferees when they fi rst arrived. His job was to distribute shoes and clothing to the new arrivals. To Advertise The new group was kept in a separate dormitory, but about two weeks after [email protected] their arrival, dozens of other detainees Display began falling ill, 15 detainees said in interviews. 44466621 44418811 The Centers for Disease Control says Covid symptoms may appear 2-14 days Classified after exposure to the virus. 44466609 44418811 “There are people with fevers, two guys collapsed on the fl oor because they Subscription fainted,” Saragoza said. “There is one guy who has a really high fever. He looks [email protected] like the walking dead.” Faced with an outbreak, Farmville tested all detainees in the fi rst few days A sign for the town of Farmville is posted near the entrance to the road that leads to the US Immigration and Customs © 2020 Gulf Times. All rights reserved of July. Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Farmville, Virginia, US, on July 10. Gulf Times Monday, July 20, 2020 19 COMMENT America’s compromised state

By Angus Deaton because legislation must pass both to the 24 states with Democratic Princeton chambers, coalitions of small states governors) had risen to 29%, from 22% can easily block measures that are in in late March. Republican governors the interest of the vast majority of the arguably have been more infl uenced malevolent, incompetent population. The Senate frequently than their Democratic counterparts Trump administration does precisely this. by the pernicious disinformation bears much of the blame for The geographical distribution of issuing from the White House and AAmerica’s failure to control Covid-19 cases and deaths is even its media allies. Demonstrating open Covid-19. But there is an additional, less equal than the distribution of contempt for scientifi c advice, a recent less noticed cause: the Connecticut voting power in the Senate. As of Wall Street Journal editorial mocked Compromise of 1787, which July 8, 45% of the 125,000 recorded Harvard University as “one of the last handicapped American democracy at Covid-19 deaths were in just four institutions in America that haven’t its inception, and has since undercut states – New Jersey, New York, learned to be wary of making radical Congress’s response to the pandemic. Massachusetts, and Illinois – and changes based on models from public At the Constitutional Convention of 70% were in ten states. There have health experts.” 1787 small and large states disagreed been deaths in all states; but the That said, I suspect matters about the basis of representation, combined death toll for Alaska, would not have been very diff erent if with the former arguing for equality Hawaii, Wyoming, and Montana is Democrats had replaced Republican of states, and the latter for equality only around 80. The 25 least affected state legislators and governors. The of people. The compromise was to states have lost a total of 8,000 problem is the lack of a central, establish a bicameral legislature, people – 6.4% of the national total. enforceable national strategy in a with one chamber for the people When US President Donald Trump country with a federal system that and one for the states. In the House proclaimed a national emergency is ultimately controlled by local of Representatives, people are on March 13, the country went into authorities responding to their own represented in proportion to their lockdown more or less uniformly. needs and perceived risks. It was numbers; in the Senate, each state The emergency was national, and always going to be diffi cult to ask has two senators, regardless of its Congress responded by passing four people to sacrifi ce for faraway others, population. separate measures on a non-partisan in order to mitigate a risk they do not As a result, the four largest states basis. But over time, the state-by- see in their own communities. today – California, Texas, Florida, state lockdowns gradually eased The power of the states was a and New York – hold only eight of – both offi cially and unoffi cially – problem in Philadelphia in 1787, and it 100 seats in the Senate, even though with much less uniformity than the The Kash & Karry Supermarket gift shop located near the Walt Disney World theme park is selling masks and hand sanitisers remains a problem today. Inequality they account for one-third of the US original freeze. In places with low for customers on July 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The theme park reopened despite a surge in new Covid-19 is often cited as the cause of many population. Eight votes also go to rates of infections and few deaths, infections throughout Florida, including the central part of the state where Orlando is located. social ills. As if America’s economic the four smallest states – Wyoming, people started moving around more inequality weren’t bad enough, its Alaska, Vermont, and North Dakota freely compared to residents of disproportionate share of seats to Lacking a national plan, let alone that unemployment benefi ts will run institutionalised representational – which together contain 1% of the states like New York, New Jersey, and rural, less-populated states that lean a constitution that would allow for out at the end of this month, and the inequality has now severely population. Massachusetts, where people were Republican. central control, each state follows its most aff ected states will soon run undermined the eff ectiveness of its Now consider income inequality, dying or had died in large numbers. Hence, the stage has long been own instincts and perceived interests, out of money. But it would have been democracy. - Project Syndicate which is often measured by the Gini The Senate’s appetite for more set for a tragedy. Soon enough, the usually myopically. With free travel needed less if the Senate had shown coeffi cient, with zero signifying emergency spending rapidly dwindled. virus began to spread in the south and between states, the virus now will leadership earlier on. A coordinated z Angus Deaton, the 2015 Nobel perfect equality, and one indicating On May 15, the Democratic- southwest, where low death rates had bounce back and forth across the national strategy for the lockdown laureate in economics, is Professor perfect inequality (a single person controlled House passed the Health encouraged widespread nonchalance. country until a vaccine becomes might have resulted in a slower return Emeritus of Economics and receives all income). The US Gini and Economic Recovery Omnibus Once policymakers realised that available or herd immunity has been to work, but it would have been more International Aff airs at the Princeton coeffi cient is 0.42 – the highest among Emergency Solutions (HEROES) infections and deaths were spiralling attained (assuming that lasting sustainable than the chaos now School of Public and International rich countries. Yet if one were to Act on a mostly party-line vote. But upward, they tried to reverse the immunity is even possible). underway. Aff airs and Presidential Professor of apply the same metric of inequality the legislation has since made no reopening process. But it appears they As the deaths continue to rise in In any case, the contagion is shifting Economics at the University of Southern to representation in the Senate, it progress in the Senate. The Republican were too late, and now infections are states that previously had fewer cases, from “blue” (Democratic) to “red” California. He is the co-author of would be an even larger 0.50. Voters majority in that chamber is a direct once again threatening eastern states the Senate will likely take up some (Republican) states. As of July 8, the Deaths of Despair and the Future of in Wyoming have ten times as much consequence of the Compromise by way of travellers from southern and version of the HEROES Act. This relief ratio of deaths in the 26 states with Capitalism (Princeton University Press, voting power as voters in Texas do. And of 1787, which awards a wildly western states. will be urgently needed, considering Republican governors (compared 2020).

Three-day forecast

TODAY How hot could US-China Maximum Temperature : 400c Minimum Temperature : 330c

TUESDAY Maximum Temperature : 410c ‘Cold War’ get? Minimum Temperature : 340c WEDNESDAY Maximum Temperature : 400c AFP and error-prone leader” and extensive engagement. On the responded to “demonstrable and Minimum Temperature : 340c Washington likely believes the “disastrous” negative, there is a real possibility of tangible action.” US response to the coronavirus a hot war between the two sides to “Personally I was of that school Fisherman's forecast pandemic presented opportunities to a degree that never existed with the that you could work with these folks. WARNING ensions are mounting by press its advantage, he said. Soviet Union.” But my epiphany came 10 years Inshore : Nil the day between the United “It resembles the US-Soviet ‘Cold She said that using a Cold War ago when I went to Beijing,” he told a Offshore : Nil States and China, leading to War’ in certain respects, but it is lens leads to ineffective responses, recent think tank event. talk of a new Cold War. not yet as dangerous as that earlier including Washington incorrectly The United States has also WEATHER T Inshore : Hot daytime with some Experts see important historical rivalry,” Walt said. seeing Beijing as an ideological pressed China over its clampdown clouds and sligt dust at differences — but believe the two “One key difference is that threat. in Hong Kong and mass places, relatively humid powers are entering dangerous the two states are still closely Mastro said that China had plenty incarceration of Uighur Muslims, by night territory. connected economically, although of options to alleviate US concerns, each time triggering retaliatory WIND US President Donald Trump’s that relationship is now under such as pulling back weapons measures by Beijing. Inshore : Northeasterly-South- administration has increasingly gone considerable strain.” systems in the South China Sea. Trump has still voiced hope easterly 05-15 KT global against China, pushing other US Secretary of State Mike “But Beijing won’t do this because of preserving a trade deal with Offshore : Easterly-Southeasterly nations to reject its strings-attached Pompeo, who is taking stern it fundamentally misunderstands the China, which promised before the 03-12 KT aid and telecom titan Huawei, and warnings about Beijing around drivers of US policy. coronavirus pandemic to ramp up Visibility : 4-8 KM siding unreservedly with Beijing’s the world, did not reject the Cold It thinks the US is responding to purchases of US goods. Offshore : 1-3 FT rivals in the dispute-rife South War comparison in a recent radio its own decline in power - that no Shi Yinhong, a professor of China Sea. interview. matter how Beijing acts, the US will international relations at Renmin Trump has made China a major He also noted that the United lash out,” she said. University in Beijing, said both sides campaign issue as he heads into States was never as economically “So there is no impetus to try to knew China would no longer be able Around the region the November election, but the intertwined with the Soviet Union - moderate its ambitions and how it to carry out the agreement in full. Weather Weather relationship looks unlikely to and said the West therefore needed attempts to achieve them. Shi said he expects relations will Today Max/min Tomorrow Max/min change in more than tone if he loses to separate from China, especially its This is a mistake. And China’s keep deteriorating. Sunny 48/30 Sunny 47/27 to Joe Biden, who has accused the technology, which Washington fears failure to do so, to try to assure the “The old Cold War was a very Baghdad Sunny 48/35 Sunny 47/33 president of not being tough enough. will be used for espionage. US, could lead us into a war.” fierce confrontation and competition Kuwait City Sunny 42/33 Sunny 41/33 Stephen Walt, a professor of Oriana Skylar Mastro, an assistant In a shift from a few years ago, between two great powers, driven by Manama P Cloudy 33/31 Sunny 36/30 international affairs at Harvard professor at Georgetown University US businesses, stung by what they ideology and strategy,” Shi said. Muscat Sunny 38/26 Sunny 37/26 University, said the world’s two and resident scholar at the American see as rampant theft of intellectual In the case of the United States Tehran largest economic powers were Enterprise Institute, said it was property, are rarely asking for de- and China, the two powers are engaged in a long-term competition dangerous to speak of a Cold War escalation. selectively but rapidly “decoupling” over “incompatible strategic with China. David Stilwell, the top State from each other, he said. visions,” including China’s desire to “The situation with China is Department official for East Asia, “Using this definition, it can be dominate Asia. nothing like the Cold War,” she said. said he learned as US defence said that China and the United States China sees Trump as a “weak “On the positive side, we have attache in Beijing that China have begun to enter a new Cold War.”

Around the world Live issues Weather Weather Today Max/min Tomorrow Max/min Athens Sunny 33/22 Sunny 34/23 Beirut Sunny 30/26 Sunny 29/25 Bangkok P Cloudy 34/27 M Cloudy 34/28 Berlin M Sunny 27/16 P Cloudy 28/17 Climate change helped drive Siberia’s heatwave Cairo Sunny 36/23 Sunny 38/24 Cape Town Sunny 17/11 Sunny 18/10 Colombo P Cloudy 29/26 M Cloudy 29/26 Reuters The heat would have occurred the town of Verkhoyansk on June 20, thousands of hectares might also Dhaka T Storm 32/27 T Storm 32/27 London only once every 80,000 years if while Siberia’s overall temperatures affect the climate as the flames Hong Kong M Cloudy 31/27 M Cloudy 31/27 greenhouse gas emissions had not were more than 5C above average pump smoke and ash into the Istanbul Sunny 29/22 P Cloudy 28/21 ecord-breaking heat in made the Earth’s climate 1 degree from January-June. atmosphere,” said study co-author Jakarta M Sunny 33/25 S T Storms 32/25 Siberia during the first half Celsius warmer since preindustrial In May, an oil tank built on frozen Olga Zolina of the P P Shirshov Karachi M Sunny 37/29 P Cloudy 34/29 of this year would have been times, according to modelling by an soil collapsed, leading to one of the Institute of Oceanology at the London P Cloudy 26/16 Showers 19/12 Ralmost impossible without international team of scientists. worst oil spills in the region. Russian Academy of Science in Manila P Cloudy 35/27 T Storm 33/27 the influence of human-induced “The findings of this rapid The heat has triggered Moscow. Moscow M Cloudy 21/13 S T Storms 22/14 climate change, according to a new research — that climate change widespread fires, with 1.15mn Even in the current climate, the New Delhi M Cloudy 35/28 M Cloudy 35/28 study. increased the chances of the hectares burning in late June, heat seen in Siberia would only be New York Sunny 34/23 M Sunny 34/26 The high temperatures over prolonged heat in Siberia by at least releasing about 56mn tonnes of expected to occur less than once Paris M Sunny 29/16 M Sunny 30/16 northern Russia have fuelled massive 600 times — are truly staggering,” carbon dioxide — more than the every 130 years, the researchers Sao Paulo Sunny 26/13 Sunny 26/13 wildfires, set normally moist peat said Andrew Ciavarella, the lead annual emissions of countries such said. Seoul M Cloudy 30/22 Rain 26/23 bogs ablaze and thawed permafrost, author of the research and senior as Switzerland and Norway, the But they warned such events Singapore S T Storms 29/26 S T Storms 30/26 adding to worry over the potential scientist at Britain’s Met Office. researchers said. could become commonplace in Sydney P Cloudy 16/07 P Cloudy 18/08 impact on the global climate of rapid A new record temperature for the “We are continuing to study how Siberia by 2100 without rapid cuts in Tokyo Clear 29/22 Cloudy 29/21 shifts in the Arctic. Arctic, 38C (100.4F), was recorded in the wildfires that have burned over emissions. Gulf Times 20 Monday, July 20, 2020 QATAR MoI calls for compliance with safety steps at sea and in swimming pools

he Ministry of Interior keen to provide the highest lev- mends a set of requirements for vessel owners to review the fore- “Respecting these require- (MoI) has urged citizens els of security for sea-goers by swimming lovers. These include cast and know the weather be- ments is suffi cient to achieve Tand residents to follow all conducting marine and coastal swimming in the places speci- fore proceeding to sail, as well as safety and security,” he stressed. safety procedures and measures patrols hourly. These are in ad- fi ed for such purpose as well as to ensure the presence of marine These include providing a guide when going to the sea or swim- dition to conducting additional swimming near the shore, with safety tools such as a life jacket board for swimming pools in Ar- ming pools in order to avoid any patrols during weekends, offi - an emphasis on not swimming for each passenger and fi rst-aid abic and English, providing signs accidents. cial holidays, Eid and events, and alone in addition to avoiding it tools, and registration of mari- indicating the depth of the pool Stressing its eagerness to distributing search and rescue in case of weather fl uctuations time vessels at General Directo- and ensuring it is suitable for make every eff ort to provide team patrols at all seashores to or when feeling tired or having rate of Coasts and Borders Se- diff erent age groups, as well as protection for sea and beach immediately deal with any cases a high body temperature, as well curity centres. They should also providing signs to prevent div- visitors in the country, the MoI or reports by applying the re- as staying away from areas of keep away from prohibited and ing in non-allocated places. The said its competent departments quirements and emphasising the water currents. private areas in accordance with requirement also include pro- are making great eff orts to pro- safety methods. Maj al-Mohannadi advised the law, stick to the specifi ed ca- viding a suffi cient number of life vide protection and prevention He also drew attention to a water bike enthusiasts to register pacity of the vessels, operate the jackets and fi rst-aid equipment for sea-goers. number of errors committed by their maritime vessels with the automatic tracking device and and ensuring that the fl oor at the At the same time, the “self- sea-goers that may lead to ac- competent authorities, adhere all navigation devices and lights edges of the pool have a non-slip commitment and level of aware- cidents, including the failure to to the legal age requirement (18 when sailing, and be aware of the surface. ness and responsiveness to these adhere to swimming in desig- years and above) when driving a regional borders of the State. He also highlighted the need eff orts remain the most impor- nated areas as well as swimming water bike and wear a life jacket Regarding safety measures in for all transformers and elec- tant factor to avoid any unfor- near places of water currents, when driving. swimming pools, Captain Ab- trical switches to be in safe and The MoI has also provided advice for water sports enthusiasts. tunate incidents”, a press state- not complying with swimming He also urged them not to dis- dullah Abdulrahman al-Ham- waterproof areas with the provi- ment by the ministry said. instructions and ignoring the turb seafarers, wear a bike key madi, offi cer from the Inspec- sion of swimming pools with ap- cal equipment at a distance of the proceedings and for drown- Maj Ali Mubarak al-Mohan- rules and requirements for safe on the wrist, not to drive near tion and Licensing Section at the propriate lighting and providing not less than 5ft. ing rescue, while calling on par- nadi, director of the External Re- swimming. swimming areas, refrain from Prevention Department - Gen- back-up fl ashlights working in With regard to hotels and ents to follow their children in gions Department at General Di- The MoI offi cial added that causing accidents and to avoid eral Directorate of Civil Defence, the event of a power outage, as sports establishments, Captain private pools, master fi rst-aid rectorate of Coasts and Borders the General Directorate of Coasts overloading of the water bike. said there are some general re- well as the presence of a barrier al-Hammadi stressed the need techniques and adhere to all Security, said the department is and Borders Security recom- Further, he advised marine quirements. separating the pool from electri- to have supervisors to monitor necessary requirements. Municipalities make detailed preparations for Eid al-Adha

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Meanwhile, all food outlets have been instructed to strict- ly follow the health measures. Complaints will be received daily round the clock. Any violation will be met with appropriate legal meas- ures in public interest. During Eid al-Adha holi- days, requests for insect and rodent control will be imple- mented during the morning period, while the removal of sewage will be done in the evening hours. Public inspectors will also check streets, squares, neigh- bourhoods, parks, as well as shops and restaurants for cleanliness, the statement said. All public parks as well as the Corniche are also being cleaned, sterilised and disin- fected on a regular basis. During June, the Urban Planning Sector of the Min- istry of Municipality and En- vironment completed 6,667 transactions, which included: 2,048 transactions in the Land and Survey Department, 1,849 in the Urban Planning Department, 1,620 in the State Properties Department, 624 in the Infrastructure Planning Department, and 526 transactions in the Ex- propriation Department. New fi rm Falcon to off er ‘sustainable, tech-enabled micromobility solutions’

alcon, a new company “pi- and use to get to their destina- oneering safe, sustainable, tion. Ftech-enabled micromobil- Eventually, Falcon’s battery- ity solutions”, has been launched powered micromobility vehicles in Qatar with the aim of chang- will dot Doha’s streets, “pro- ing the face of national public viding last-mile connectivity to transport in a post-Covid-19 people who want a convenient world. mode to travel to their destina- The company has been estab- tions”, the statement explains. Sidra Medicine to lished by three leading Qatari Falcon, which has also opened entrepreneurs with backgrounds a research & development centre accept only card in corporate and investment fi - in India, stressed that it “is in- nance who plan to roll out their vesting heavily in renewable en- fi rst app-enabled solutions at ergy”. Its vehicle-charging op- payments from Aug 1 four Doha Metro stations in Q4 tions will include those powered this year, according to a press by solar technology while its Sidra Medicine has an- Both local and international statement from Falcon. Doha Falcon Hospital repair and nounced that it will accept credit/debit cards will be The founders – Sheikh Abdul The company’s aim is to provide last-mile connectivity to, or from, another transport mode such as a bus, storage facility, which will also only debit or credit cards as accepted and serve as the Rahman bin Fahad al-Thani, train or car. This will be done through its fleet of electric-powered scooters, bikes and mopeds. house an AI-driven operations payment for services from primary payment method Nasser al-Mahmoud and Hus- control centre, will run entirely August 1. for all services at Sidra Medi- sain Abdulla – have secured an ment notes. and environmental priorities up of a Falcon Feeder mainte- on renewable energy. “Cashless transactions are cine. These include retail international management team “Our aim is to provide last- and Falcon addresses these con- nance van and crew on ground if “Falcon is looking to partner quicker and will significantly pharmacy locations, food with entrepreneurial expertise in mile connectivity, what we call cerns. Ride sharing enables so- needed.” with transport operators, regu- reduce your waiting time and nutrition services from ride-sharing schemes and artifi - micromobility, often to, or from, cial distancing when travelling In its first operational phase, lators, developers and educa- at registration. On account the cafeteria and cafes, and cial intelligence (AI). “They will another transport mode such and is much kinder to the envi- the company will open four tional institutions to help design of Covid-19, a cashless the gift store. steer Falcon into a global brand as a bus, train or car,” explained ronment, helping reduce carbon charging docking stations, new-age transportation policies, transaction will also ensure in For more information, one can that solves major transport is- Abdulla, Falcon’s managing di- emissions and congestion. Users known as ‘Nests’, for its fleet review safety measures, jointly keeping you safe,” according contact the Financial Services sues with sustainable solutions, rector. will also ride in confi dence with of electric-powered scooters, promote micromobility and tru- to a statement on the Sidra team on financialcounseling@ which meet post-pandemic “Covid-19 has led consum- all equipment being sanitised bikes and mopeds that people ly progress environmental sus- Medicine website. sidra.org. consumer priorities,” the state- ers to reprioritise their health and knowing they have the back- can book via the Falcon app tainability,” the statement adds.