Global travel Al Arabi blank and tourism Al Markhiya to industry may reach Amir Cup shed 174 million final after jobs: Official 26 years

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SATURDAY 31 OCTOBER 2020 14 RABIA I - 1442 VOLUME 25 NUMBER 8427 www.thepeninsula.qa 2 RIYALS Get a smart Wi-Fi device as a gift and enjoy the best entertainment With Ooredoo ONE Terms and Conditions Apply Amir wishes Amir condoles with Turkish President over Algerian President speedy recovery earthquake, offers Qatar's assistance QNA — DOHA

QNA — DOHA Republic of Turkey, H E Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Suleyman Soylu, in which Hamad Al Thani sent yesterday Amir H H Sheikh Tamim he expressed his sincere a message to President of the bin Hamad Al Thani held condolences on the People’s Democratic Republic yesterday via telephone a victims of an earthquake of Algeria H E Abdelmadjid conversation with Pres- that hit Izmir province in Tebboune, wishing him a speedy ident of the Republic of western Turkey, wishing I expressed to my brother HE the Turkish recovery and good health. Turkey H E Recep Tayyip the injured a speedy President in my call today my sincere AFP reported that the Erdogan to express condo- recovery. condolences and the Qatari people's Algerian President underwent lences on the victims of an Reuters reported that condolence to the brotherly Turkish people medical tests in a German hos- earthquake that hit Izmir 14 people were killed in pital and is in a stable con- province in western Turkey and Greece after a for the victims of Izmir earthquake, and dition, officials said, days after Turkey, wishing the strong earthquake struck our standing with them in this painful suspected coronavirus cases injured a speedy recovery. the Aegean Sea yesterday, disaster. Our sincere wishes for a speedy were reported among his aides. H H the Amir expressed bringing buildings crashing recovery of the injured. Tebboune, 74, was trans- to H E the Turkish Pres- down and setting off tidal ferred on Wednesday to ident, during the phone call, waves which slammed into Germany for treatment from the State of Qatar’s read- coastal areas and islands. an Algerian hospital. His office iness to help alleviate the People ran onto streets stranded as it receded. Greek island of Samos two said he “underwent thorough impacts of the disaster. in panic in the Turkish city Turkey’s Disaster and teenagers, a boy and a girl, medical tests in one of Ger- Prime Minister and of Izmir, witnesses said, Emergency Management were found dead in an area many’s largest specialised hos- Minister of Interior H E after the quake struck with Presidency (AFAD) said 12 where a wall had col- pitals” and is in “a stable” Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa a magnitude of up to 7.0. people died, one due to lapsed. Search and rescue condition. bin Abdulaziz Al Thani Neighbourhoods were drowning, while Urbani- operations continued at 17 “The medical team says also held a phone call yes- deluged with surging sea- sation Minister Murat collapsed or damaged that the results of the tests are terday evening with Min- water which swept debris Kurum said 522 people buildings in Izmir, AFAD reassuring,” his office added in ister of Interior of the inland and left fish were injured. On the said. SEE ALSO PAGE 4 a statement. UN rights expert to assess impact

We regret the unacceptable treatment of the female passengers at HIA. I assure you that we will hold those of unilateral sanctions on Qatar responsible for these acts to account. What took place does not represent Qatar’s laws or values. We will undertake all THE PENINSULA — DOHA measures to prevent a recurrence. The UN Special Rapporteur on unilateral The UN Special Rapporteur on unilateral coercive measures coercive measures and human rights, and human rights, Alena Alena Douhan, will be in Qatar from GCO: Preliminary probe Douhan (pictured), plans to visit Qatar to assess the impact November 1 to 12 at the invitation of the into attempted murder of of unilateral sanctions on the enjoyment of human rights. government. newborn revealed violations She will be in Qatar from November 1 to 12 at the invi- She will focus in particular on any negative QNA — DOHA reviewing and identifying any tation of the government, Office potential gaps in the procedures of the United Nations High impact that sanctions may have on the The preliminary investigation and protocols followed at Commissioner for Human enjoyment of all human rights in Qatar. into the attempted murder of a Hamad International Airport, in Rights (OHCHR) yesterday newborn baby found in a very order to address them and announced on its website. serious condition at Hamad ensure that any violations are “I want to examine, in the International Airport (HIA), and avoided in the future, the GCO spirit of co-operation and dia- of the judiciary, representa- during the COVID-19 Professor at the the Institute for the subsequent procedures added. The Prime Minister and logue, whether and to what tives of international organi- pandemic. International Law of Peace and taken by the authorities at the Minister of Interior expressed the extent the adoption, mainte- zations, diplomatic com- The Special Rapporteur will Armed conflict, (Bochum, airport, including examining a Government of the State of nance or implementation of munity, civil society and present her final report to the Germany) and the Director of number of female passengers, Qatar’s sincerest apology for sanctions hinders the full real- national human rights mech- UN Human Rights Council in the Peace Research Centre revealed that standard proce- what some female travellers isation of the human rights of anisms, lawyers, academics, September 2021. (Minsk). dures were violated. went through as a result of the individuals,” said Douhan. activists, and victims and their Alena Douhan was Special Rapporteurs are In a statement issued yes- measures. “I will focus in particular families. appointed as Special Rap- part of what is known as the terday, the Government Com- This incident is the first of on any negative impact that The UN Human Rights porteur on the negative impact Special Procedures of the munication Office (GCO) said, its kind at HIA, which has sanctions may have on the Council established the Special of the unilateral coercive Human Rights Council. Special “Those responsible for these served tens of millions of pas- enjoyment of all human rights Rapporteur’s mandate in Sep- measures on the enjoyment of Procedures, the largest body of violations and illegal actions sengers without any issues like in Qatar,” she said, “and I will tember 2014, following concern human rights by the Human independent experts in the UN have been referred to the this before. What took place is also make recommendations by the UN human rights system Rights Council in March 2020. Human Rights system, is the Public Prosecution Office.” wholly inconsistent with on how any negative effects and the international com- Douhan has extensive expe- general name of the Council’s Following the directives of Qatar’s culture and values. can be mitigated or munity about the negative rience in the fields of interna- independent fact-finding and Prime Minister and Minister of Qatar is fully committed to the eliminated.” impact of unilateral sanctions tional law and human rights as, monitoring mechanisms that Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin safety and security of all Douhan plans to meet on the human rights of the a Professor of international law address either specific country Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, travelers arriving to or trans- senior government officials, civilian population. This has at the Belarusian State Uni- situations or thematic issues in specialized task forces are iting through HIA. members of parliament and become even more relevant versity (Minsk), a visiting all parts of the world. Stunning Katara Swiss court acquits Hills attracts visitors as Nasser Al Khelaifi QNA — ZURICH vindication. It mercury dips restores my faith A court in Swit- in the rule of law RAYNALD C RIVERA zerland acquitted and in due THE PENINSULA yesterday Chair- process, after four man of the beIN years of baseless With its dramatic topography Media Group allegations, ficti- and panoramic views, Katara Nasser Al Khelaifi tious charges and Hills continues to attract from corruption constant smears visitors looking to start their charges related to of my reputation day with their morning walks, World Cup 2026 all of which have spend a refreshing and quiet With its unique features and scenic views, Katara Hills is a must-visit destination in the Cultural and 2030 TV been proven to be PIC: RAYNALD C RIVERA/THE PENINSULA time in a green space or simply Village. rights. completely and snap some Instagrammable Al Khelaifi wholly unsub- shots. Katara Hills provides a Katara as a tourist destination, colourful gardens and lawns are commented on the stantiated,” Al Divided into the Southern natural dimension to Katara as Katara Hills uniquely offer 360- some of Katara Hills’ many ruling and said that “after a Khelaifi added. and Northern Hills spanning a cultural destination well- degree scenic views of the attractions. Hundreds of trees relentless four-year campaign He stressed that he can around 361,500 sq metres, known for its theatres, concert Katara waterfront, the amphi- from different parts of the against me that ignored the now devote his entire energy Katara Hills is considered one halls, and art galleries which theatre, and its distinct buildings, world have been grown in the basic facts and the law at every on building a positive future of the largest public parks in play host to innumerable cul- as well as of the city including hills, and each of the trees has turn I have finally, fully and for world sport “at a time Doha featuring manmade tural events and activities hotels and a number of its been properly labeled with its completely cleared my name.” when the industry needs rolling hills, valleys, peaks, cool throughout the year. breathtaking structures nearby. name for the knowledge of the “Todays verdict is a total strong leadership the most.” meadows and trees. An important element of The beautifully manicured visitors. `P3 02 HOME SATURDAY 31 OCTOBER 2020

PRAYER TIMINGS PRAYERPRAYRRAAAY TIMINGSMING

FAJR 04.22 am SUNRISE 05.41 am DHUHR 11.17 am ASR 02.30 pm MAGHRIB 04.56 pm ISHA 06.26 pm National Service Academy concludes Suhail 1 tactical exercise

The National Service Academy concluded on Thursday Suhail 1 tactical exercise for National Service Academy recruits from the 14 batch. The exercise was held under the patronage of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs H E Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, who attendedthe closing activities. The exercise included several individual and group exercises with the aim of providing the trainees with military skills and reaching the highest levels of military readiness for recruits.

WEATHER TODAY 193 new virus Faculty-student research at NU-Q highlights cases; total impact of COVID-19 pandemic on migrants recoveries rise to o o THE PENINSULA — DOHA Mahmud’s work deals primarily with migrants quality of living for Qatar’s 129,349: MoPH 26 C 34 C migrant residents.” Minimum Maximum in Qatar while his teaching and research A new research project Ther objectives include THE PENINSULA — DOHA Hazy to misty at places at first addresses broader topics in sociological becomes relatively hot daytime with exploring the consequences of investigating “the strategies scattered clouds at places, mild the COVID-19 pandemic on the theory, identity politics, global ethnography, migrants take to cope with the The Ministry of Public Health by night. lives and livelihoods of migrants added health risks and public (MoPH) yesterday announced W ALRUWAIS : 29o → 32o in Qatar is being led by assistant and international migration and development. wellness measures” as well as the the registration of 193 new W ALKHOR : 20o → 34o professor at Northwestern “social and cultural challenges” confirmed cases of COVID-19. Qatar, Hasan Mahmud, with the they encounter in their line of As many as 161 of these are from W DUKHAN : 21o → 31o help of three students from the aim of the project, which is healthcare, food, enter- work. Knowledge about these community cases and 32 from WAKRAH 18o → 33o W : University. titled, “Surviving the COVID-19 tainment, and transportation factors, Mahmud said, will allow travellers returning from W MESAIEED : 18o → 33o Mahmud’s work deals pri- Pandemic: Socio-Cultural industries, not just in Qatar but the team to “offer ideas about abroad. W ABUSAMRA : 18o → 31o marily with migrants in Qatar Impacts of Coronavirus Out- in most cities of the world, is a potential measures to improve Also 225 people recovered while his teaching and research break on Migrants in Qatar”, is well-known fact. their services as well their safety from the virus bringing the total addresses broader topics in to highlight the need to rec- “This country owes a great so that they can, in turn, enhance number of cases recovered in HIGH TIDE sociological theory, identity ognise migrants “as both the deal to the migrant population,” the safety and health of everyone Qatar to 129,349. Besides, the 04:55 – 15:43 politics, global ethnography, victims and integral part of any said Princess Collado, one of the else in Qatar.” Ministry also announced one LOW TIDE 11:27 – 23:26 and international migration and effective public health three student researchers in the Given the nature of the new death, aged 54, who was development. This latest response.” project. “Most of the progress labor market, however, “access receiving the necessary medical project, funded by the Under- While everybody is vul- we see now would not have to migrants is a major chal- care. All new cases have been graduate Research Experience nerable to the pandemic, been met if it weren’t for them, lenge.” To navigate these introduced to isolation and are Program of the Qatar National “migrants are the most affected and it is only right to be able to hurdles, Mahmud explained, receiving necessary healthcare Research Fund, contributes to segment of the population due repay them what is due,” she “we will a pproach migrants according to their health status. 3 arrested for this literature by adding to their involvement in the added. Like the other partici- from three countries with The Ministry said that measures empirical emphasis to the study essential sectors of the pating students, Collado hopes researchers from co-ethnic/ to tackle COVID-19 in Qatar violating home of migrant workers in the economy,” Mahmud said, that the project will represent national backgrounds, who have succeeded in flattening the country. explaining that their over- “the first few steps toward share their culture and curve and limiting the spread of quarantine rules According to Mahmud, the whelming participation in the taking action to improve the language.” the virus.

QNA — DOHA

The competent authorities US Presidential debates ‘a normative exercise in democracy’ arrested yesterday three people who violated the requirements THE PENINSULA — DOHA partnership with former FCC service,” LaMay said, Anderson. Still, LaMay said, the of the home quarantine they Chairman and the Commis- explaining that the Commis- debates “have become an insti- committed to follow, which they This year’s presidential sion’s founder, Newton Minow, sion’s first duty is to the voting tution, and there are many are legally accountable for. debates in the United States who LaMay says is “the only and viewing public, “and so if reasons for this, but we (the US) It is in implementation of the were not without controversy person who’s been involved in a muting button for the first have had uninterrupted precautionary measures in force and Craig LaMay (pictured), every presidential debate two minutes of a section debates since 1976. The public in the country, approved by professor and acting director since the very first one in allowed at least an intro- expects them.” health authorities represented of the Journalism and Strategic 1960.” duction of a topic, then that He also observed that in the Ministry of Public Health. Communication Program, is LaMay and Minow’s 2008 served the voter.” while “nobody in the world The three people being referred in a unique position to discuss book about the debates, from Through his work on the admires the way the Amer- to the competent prosecution are them as the co-author of a the University of Chicago US presidential debates with icans do their presidential Hassan Ali Ibrahim Ahmed Al book about the debates’ Press, chronicles the devel- Minow and with broadcast elections,” in part because Buainain, Yannis Jarquri and history and legal controversies opment of the debates under journalists and policymakers they carry on for too long, cost Khalifa Muhammad Bir surrounding them. US communications, First in other countries, LaMay too much, and are too heavy Muhammad. LaMay, who has been Amendment and election law, made a number of observa- on advertising, the presidential The concerned authorities involved with television and but also as a story about the interrupted the moderator, tions about the US presidential debates, by contrast, are the in the State called on citizens elections around the world for twists of modern electoral pol- Chris Wallace, and Biden too debates, the first being that most genuine moment in the and residents who are subject almost 30 years, is quick to itics. After all, LaMay, says, frequently and news outlets they have become “de facto modern presidential to quarantine to fully adhere to dispute accusations of parti- “the candidates don’t have to editorialised “that the debates mandatory.” campaign. the requirements set by the sanship that have been lev- debate and have sometimes should just be ended for all While candidates are not “It’s the only place in the Ministry of Public Health, to elled against the US Com- chosen not to.” times” — LaMay said that the obligated to participate in entire process where you get ensure their safety and the mission on Presidential While the bulk of his work mute button was introduced these debates, LaMay said, to see the two candidates safety of others. Debates, pointing out that the on leader debates has been for the third debate (after the they “can’t back out any longer speaking at length, and extem- They warned that anyone organisation is required by law working with other countries second was canceled). without demeaning them- poraneously, to each other and who violates these conditions to be both non-profit and non- on technical questions about According to LaMay, this selves in front of their own to the public, without notes, will be subject to the penalties partisan. The Commission, “who gets to participate and decision received mixed supporters.” without benefit of their stipulated in accordance with which succeeded the League on what terms,” LaMay was reviews but ultimately sat- President Trump’s refusal minders standing there, and the provisions of Article 253 of of Women Voters, has spon- also privy to in this year’s isfied the more critical goal of to do a second virtual debate the American people can the Penal Code No. 11 of 2004, sored the debates since 1988 debates between Donald serving voters. this year was the first time a watch the candidates and and the provisions of Law No. and sought to put them on a Trump and Joe Biden through “It wasn’t done because candidate had missed a debate judge them for themselves as 17 of 1990 regarding the pre- better footing. his collaboration with Minow. there was a view that one can- since 1980 when President to their character, their ability vention of infectious diseases, LaMay’s association with Following the criticism the didate or the other needed to Carter skipped that year’s first to handle themselves and to and Law No. 17 of 2002 on the the Commission began Commission received after the be controlled; it was done debate with Ronald Reagan think on their feet,” LaMay protection of society. through his writing first debate — that Trump had because this is a public and third-party candidate John said. VCUarts Qatar launches new initiative called Eco Luxury Laboratory

THE PENINSULA — DOHA will do this by focusing on the fusion In the first online workshop, of luxury and environmental sen- which will take place live today at With sustainability being the new sitivity in this new initiative,” said 4pm Doha time, participants can step focus and responsibility of the luxury Christopher Fink, Chair of Fashion inside the workshop of an Italian sector, both locally and globally, the Design at VCUarts Qatar. artisan and discover the secrets of Fashion Design department at The Fashion Design department artisanal handbag making. Virginia Commonwealth University at VCUarts Qatar sees Eco Lux Lab The region of Emilia Romagna is School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts as an opportunity to ensure that the a productive hub where manufac- Qatar), a Qatar Foundation partner new generation are mindful of their turing excellence in tailoring and university, has launched a new initi- environmental responsibilities, and accessories create the magic of “Made ative called Eco Luxury Laboratory aware that luxury can be sustainable in Italy”. The workshop will unveil (Eco Lux Lab). and beautiful, without having to how a design becomes reality in the “We are recognising and sacrifice the former to ensure the expert hands of a master artisan. responding to the reality that success of the latter. Participants can meet the fashion has been ignored as a major The aim of the initiative is to craftsman, Rino Magnani, known for polluter for too many years. bring students and Qatar’s com- his eagle eye for proportions and his Therefore, we are going to infuse munity together with world class passion for perfection, and join him our Fashion Design program with luxury innovators to educate and on his journey through the art of the knowledge and skills that we address the new codes and bench- Craftsman Rino Magnani at work. luxury leather work. VCUarts Qatar want our students to absorb. It is marks of sustainability in the luxury faculty member Federica Visani will about instilling this generation of market today. along with our students. We will fashion is out, and sustainability is be streaming the process step-by- fashion professionals with a per- “In the Eco Lux Lab we will show how environmentally-aware here to stay, particularly in the step from the workshop in Italy. Par- spective on sustainability and its conduct workshops and invite the and collectible luxury products can high-end luxury goods sector,” says ticipants will have the possibility to importance in their profession. We local community to participate be designed and created. Fast Fink. ask questions to Magnani. SATURDAY 31 OCTOBER 2020 HOME 03 Qatar National Library to teach valuable life skills in November On November 3, parents are invited to teach their Kuwait University. The lecture will children valuable life skills from the comfort of their identify the concept of readiness and the importance of being prepared for homes. This free interactive and engaging online session all eventualities. has been developed specifically for children ages 8 to On November 26 also, join the Library for “Enrichment Reading” to 11 with special needs. Every session is packed with help support and enhance children’s engaging content and calming tools to help children build Arabic language learning skills, in coop- eration with Little Thinking Minds. confidence and resilience and develop a growth mindset Parents and educators will get a clearer in an interactive, serious and fun way. understanding of the concept of enrichment reading and how to THE PENINSULA — DOHA implement it in the classroom or at with engaging content and calming home. The online lecture will be con- tools to help children build confidence ducted by educator and academic con- Qatar National Library is offering a and resilience and develop a growth sultant Ghadeer Hatabeh. series of intriguing events for inquis- mindset in an interactive, serious and On November 28, join the Library itive, ingenious minds in November. fun way. for the seventh in a series of readings On November 2, the Library will run The session will be run by UK-based from rare historical manuscripts pre- a special workshop, “Fear and Its Role Models online life skills courses served in the Heritage Library. A view of Qatar National Library. Impact on Mental Health,” in collabo- for children. On November 17, the Mahmoud Zaki, the Library’s manu- ration with Dr. Hanan Hassan Eissa Abd Library will run another session with partnership with HBKU and the Min- Planetarium. The phenomenon of script specialist, will examine several Al Thaher. The effects of fear and Role Models, “Brilliant Me and My istry of Transport and Communications. Mars’ closest approach to Earth took texts by Arab and Muslim scholars stressful emotions on mental and Feelings,” which will further help The event will discuss the concept of place in October, and will not be about plagues and pandemics. Each physical health will be outlined in detail parents teach children valuable life digital addiction, the role of digital repeated until 2035. This special will focus on the human commonal- as well as effective techniques to skills. media design in facilitating it, and futur- lecture will explain the astrophysics ities between the past and the present, maintain mental health in a world full Also on November 5, the Library will istic tools and policies to combat behind this amazing event and shed and preventive measures that were of stress and uncertainty. run the latest edition of the Young addiction. Digital addiction is defined light on why it occurred. used at the time. On November 3, parents are invited Adults Film Club for those who wonder as problematic use of digital media On November 26, join the Library Finally, on November 30, patrons to teach their children valuable life how movies look from the other side of characterised by obsessive, excessive on Instagram Live for a workshop on can have a cup of virtual coffee with skills from the comfort of their homes. the camera. Attendees will learn how and hasty behaviour, leading to harm the power of readiness, presented by Aisha Al Kuwari, owner and CEO of This free interactive and engaging to watch movies from a filmmaker’s for individuals and their social circles. Dr. Amal Al Otaibi, member of the Roza Publishing. She will discuss online session has been developed spe- perspective. On November 10, discover more Training Authority of the College of reading in the age of technology and cifically for children ages 8 to 11 with On November 9, the Library will run about the Red Planet with the Library Basic Education, the Public Authority the role of Roza in fostering a culture special needs. Every session is packed a special session on digital addiction in in cooperation with Al Thuraya for Applied Education and Training at of reading. Healthcare professionals need to learn more about precision medicine: QF scientists Ministry of THE PENINSULA — DOHA in health and life sciences. “Between the research sector and Justice keen to Applying precision medicine the clinical sector, there’s a lot of Precision medicine or person- to clinical practice requires deep work to be done in the field. qualify real alised medicine is arguably understanding of genomic and Countries will ultimately also where the future of medicine lies. environmental factors and since start to recruit students in the bio- estate brokers With a tailored approach to diag- these differ between populations, medical and pharmaceutical nosis, treatment, and medication, precision medicine approaches industries; so the future there is it points to a time where developed based on western excellent,” he said. THE PENINSULA — DOHA healthcare may primarily mean populations may not work well Genomic data is also perme- prevention rather than treatment. when applied to the population ating other sectors of health and Director of the Real Estate Therefore, developing rel- in Qatar. lifestyle, with offerings in exercise Brokerage Department at the evant expertise within the Therefore in the master’s and science. Dr. Albagha said, “Recent Ministry of Justice, Khalid healthcare workforce as well as PhD programs at HBKU, students research shows that your Hassan Al Mehshadi, has said investing in research and edu- learn how our genome, our envi- Dr. Omar Al Bagha Dr. Edward Stuenkel genomic background can affect that the Ministry is keen to cation is crucial to the implemen- ronment, and their interactions how you exercise — stamina, diet, qualify real estate brokers in tation of precision medicine in can affect disease outcome. This metabolism, etc. That’s another a manner that is appropriate Qatar. This means training spe- could help them understand why treatments with less adverse understanding of genomic data, field that is emerging and could with the real estate boom cialists in precision medicine to certain people react differently side-effects. Genomic research so that when they graduate, they present opportunities for our currently taking place in the understand genomic data, and to the same treatment and why in osteoporosis, for example, has are aware of the ethical, social, graduates.” country. having geneticists and genetic some present more seriously led to the development of a more and sociological implications of Exercise science is an He also called on citizens counselors available to help than others. Genomic data can effective drug with less adverse their study. They can then com- excellent demonstration of the to deal with offices approved translate that data to patients. also help identify diseases that side effects compared to current municate this information to use of genomic data in prevent- by the Ministry only, adding To that end, the College of people are predisposed to suffer drugs ”. genetic counsellors who translate ative medicine. While sports that any person wishing to Health and Life Sciences (CHLS) from at some point in their lives, Additionally, the Precision it into everyday terms and medicine is primarily focused on practise the profession of at Qatar Foundation’s Hamad while it also helps determine Medicine programs at HBKU provide a comprehensive under- rehabilitation and recovery from real estate brokerage need Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) treatment plans for them. offer the students training in standing of what it means to injuries, the use of genomic data to apply the Real Estate Bro- offers master’s and PhD pro- For instance, Dr. Omar state-of-the-art technologies in patients,” said Dr. Edward Stu- can help understand who is more kerage Department at the grams in Genomics and Pre- Albagha, a professor at CHLS says genomics, bioinformatics and big enkel, Dean of CHLS. likely to experience certain Ministry of Justice, and the cision Medicine. The programs “Genomic research can identify data analysis. According to Dr. Stuenkel, the severe injuries and predict a Ministry will assist him in are open to those with under- new targets for developing more “Our program ensures that job market is rich for those treatment and recovery obtaining a licence. graduate and graduate degrees effective treatments or students have a comprehensive studying precision medicine. trajectory. Al Mehshadi noted that the specialised training course for the fourth batch of Qatari real estate brokers, Eva Longoria to be a which was held by the Center for Legal and Judicial keynote speaker at WISH Studies at the Ministry, aims to provide the participants with the information and 2020 Global Health Summit skills necessary to apply the provisions regulating real THE PENINSULA — DOHA estate brokerage work in the law. The World Innovation Summit The Ministry of Justice, for Health (WISH) has he said, is keen to develop announced that American the real estate brokers sector actress Eva Longoria will be a through a set of important keynote speaker at its upcoming and supportive decisions. global gathering of healthcare Speaking to Qatar TV, he leaders, practitioners, advocates, added: “The training course researchers, and idea generators, will qualify brokers and raise taking place virtually from their professional level that November 15-19, under the qualifies them to take the banner of ‘One World, Our legal oath and legally Health’. accredit them to practise the As well as carving out a suc- Eva Longoria profession.” Sunset at Corniche cessful career as an award- “The training course winning Hollywood actress, inequalities experienced by focused on clarifying to the A silhouetted image of Arabian dhow during sunset at Doha Corniche, yesterday. PIC: SALIM MATRAMKOT/THE PENINSULA director, and producer, Longoria women and girls of colour. brokers their legal rights and is known for her extensive phil- “I’m honoured to be speaking duties when practicing their anthropic work and activism. In at WISH this year alongside work,” Al Mehshadi said, 2012, she founded the Eva expert researchers, policymakers, noting that the participants Stunning Katara Hills attracts visitors as mercury dips Longoria Foundation, which and our frontline healthcare in the course confirmed their works to empower Latina heroes,” said Longoria. benefit from it and expressed FROM PAGE 1 women through a focus on edu- “WISH enables the kind of their happiness to partic- Open from 5am till 12 mid- cation and entrepreneurship, global cooperation on pressing ipate in it. night, the Southern Hills makes helping them achieve their full health issues that we desperately On the Ministry’s plans a perfect venue for overall fitness potential. In 2006, the star of need right now, as we confront a regarding such courses, the with its 2.8km rubberized Desperate Housewives co- pandemic and a changing climate Director stressed that there exercise and jogging track which founded Eva’s Heroes, a charity that have disproportionately will be many future courses meanders around the hills. There that supports and acts as an impacted women and people of aimed at developing the per- are also a number of wooden advocate for children with colour.” formance of brokers and benches where visitors can take developmental needs, so that Sultana Afdhal, Chief Exec- providing them with greater a rest under the natural shade of their voices can be heard. utive Officer of WISH, said: “We skills, explaining that the last trees. During her career, she has are delighted that Eva Longoria course was aimed only at In February this year, the devoted extensive time and will be a keynote speaker at teaching them their rights Southern Hills successfully energy to prioritising mental WISH 2020. Her focus on the and duties in accordance hosted its first major event — the health among young Latina empowerment and inclusion of with the law. inaugural Al Wasmi Garden women, speaking out on such underrepresented communities “The course was attended Festival. issues as self harm, anxiety, and through education is at the core by experts in the real estate Around 150,000 people depression. Recently, Longoria of building a healthier society. field and experts in money With its unique features and scenic views, Katara Hills is a must- visited the five-day festival which highlighted the importance of Our virtual summit will hope- laundering law,” he noted, visit destination in the Cultural Village. featured international gardens, PIC: RAYNALD C RIVERA/THE PENINSULA nurturing women’s mental fully blur the lines between adding that it considered a and outstanding entrances and health in the current climate and global leaders, policymakers, foundational one, and in the designs inspired by five countries has voiced her concern that the academics, our frontline future there will be media including Qatar, France, Great which captivates diners for the Katara Hills is sure to be a major coronavirus pandemic has been healthcare workers, and inno- sessions and campaigns to Britain, India, and Japan. combination of scrumptious destination for those in search of harder for women, who tend to vators, and powerful change- introduce the real estate The Northern Hills, on the food, chic interior and an outdoor alternative parks to visit to relax, have multiple responsibilities. makers, like Eva Longoria, with market and the legal proce- other hand, highlights several dining experience which offers be fit and get close to nature At WISH 2020, she will add their diverse perspectives that dures that the citizen and the distinct features, facilities and a spectacular view overlooking apart from highly popular venues her voice to the discussions support WISH’s vision to create brokers must follow to attractions such as the Bayt El Katara and its surrounding areas. such as the Doha Corniche and around the impact of the pan- a healthier world through global protect themselves while Talleh restaurant As winter season nears, Aspire Park among others. demic and global health collaboration.” dealing in real estate activity. 04 GULF / MIDDLE EAST SATURDAY 31 OCTOBER 2020 14 dead as major quake hits Turkey, Greece

Turkey’s disaster agency reported the death world’s most active earthquake of 12 people, and said more than 400 were zones. The two uneasy neigh- bours also suffer from histori- injured, while in Greece two teenagers died on cally poor relations despite both their way home from school on Samos when a being members of the Nato mil- itary alliance. wall collapsed. Izmir’s mayor Tunc Soyer told But the quake saw a spurt CNN Turk that 20 buildings had collapsed, with of what pundits immediately officials saying they were focusing their rescue termed “earthquake diplomacy”, after Greek Prime efforts on 17 of them. Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis placed a rare call to Turkish AFP — ISTANBUL President Recep Tayyip shouted near a collapsed Erdogan to offer his condo- Rescuers dug through heavy building in one image that went lences and support. blocks of concrete with their viral in Turkey. “Whatever our differences, bare hands yesterday in a In another, a crowd let out these are times when our desperate search for survivors a relieved cheer and broke out people need to stand together,” from a powerful earthquake in applause as one woman was Mitsotakis said on Twitter. that levelled buildings across pulled out alive in tears. Erdogan aide Fahrettin Greece and Turkey, killing at Izmir’s mayor Tunc Soyer Altun tweeted that the disaster least 14 people. told CNN Turk that 20 buildings “reminds us once again how The quake caused a mini- had collapsed, with officials close we are despite our differ- tsunami on the Aegean island saying they were focusing their ences over policy”. France, of Samos and a sea surge that rescue efforts on 17 of them. which has feuded with Turkey turned streets into rushing Turkey’s disaster agency over a range of regional disputes rivers in one town on Turkey’s reported the death of 12 people, and has come under attack from west coast. and said more than 400 were Erdogan for its campaign against The US Geological Survey injured, while in Greece two Islam, also offered its support, as said the 7.0 magnitude quake teenagers died on their way Locals and officials search for survivors at a collapsed building after a strong earthquake struck the did the EU and Nato. was registered 14km off the home from school on Samos Aegean Sea yesterday and was felt in both Greece and Turkey, where some buildings collapsed in Some of the world’s Greek town of Karlovasi on when a wall collapsed. the coastal province of Izmir, Turkey, yesterday. strongest earthquakes have Samos. The scenes of devastation been registered along a fault Much of the damage in suggested the toll could rise. the streets of one of the towns a seven-floor building that had On the Greek island of line that runs across Turkey to Turkey occurred in and around One Izmir hospital rolled near Izmir from an apparent sea collapsed. At one site, Agri- Samos, near the quake’s epi- Greece. In 1999, a 7.4 mag- the Aegean resort city of Izmir, out some of its patients -- still surge. Thick white plumes culture Minister Bekir centre, people rushed out into the nitude earthquake struck Tur- which has three million resi- strapped into their beds and smoke rose from various parts Pakdemirl managed to establish streets in panic. “It was chaos,” key’s northwest, killing more dents and is filled with high-rise hooked up to drips -- out on the of the city itself, where buildings mobile phone contact with a girl said deputy mayor Giorgos than 17,000 people, including apartment blocks. street as a precaution. had collapsed. buried under the debris. Dionysiou. “We have never expe- 1,000 in Istanbul. Another Images from the popular Ali Erbas, who heads the Aerial footage on Turkey’s “We ask you to remain rienced anything like this.” quake in 2011 in the south- vacation destination showed religious affairs directorate, said NTV television showed entire calm,” he told her in televised The Greek civil protection eastern province of Van resulted collapsed buildings and dazed mosques would open their city blocks turned to rubble. footage. “We will try to lift the agency told Samos residents in in more than 600 deaths. survivors trying to make their doors to host those left Rescuers, helped by resi- concrete bloc and reach you.” a text message to “stay out in In Greece, the last deadly way through rubbled piled high homeless by the disaster. dents and sniffer dogs, used NTV television said up to the open and away from quake killed two people on the on the streets. Images on social media chainsaws as they tried to force six people were trapped at the buildings”. Greece and Turkey island of Kos, near Samos, in “Oh my God!” one passerby showed water rushing through their way through the rubble of site, including the girl’s cousin. are both situated in one of the July 2017. Macron should be held accountable: Al Aqsa Imam AFP — OCCUPIED JERUSALEM suspected to be linked to extremism, including the latest Thousands of Palestinians at a church in Nice on rallied in Jerusalem’s Old City Thursday when a knifeman yesterday against French Pres- killed three people. ident Emmanuel Macron’s Clashes erupted in the defence of the right to publish streets of the Old City shortly cartoons seen as offensive to after the rally between pro- Turkey’s former Islam. testers and Israeli security Demonstrators chanted forces, who arrested three dem- premier Yilmaz “There is no god but God, onstrators, police spokesman Macron is the enemy of God” Micky Rosenfeld said. dies at 73 and “Muhammad (Peace Be Hundreds of Palestinians Upon Him), your nation will not also demonstrated yesterday AFP — ISTANBUL give in,” following Friday across the Israeli-occupied prayers at the Al Aqsa mosque West Bank and the Gaza Strip, Turkey’s former prime compound, Islam’s third holiest where portraits of the French minister Mesut Yilmaz, who site. president were burned and oversaw three governments in During his sermon, Sheikh trampled, journalists the 1990s as the country Ekrima Sabri said the French reported. lurched between political president should be held Macron’s comment came crises, died yesterday of accountable “for the acts of vio- after a suspected Islamist cancer at the age of 73, his lence and chaos in France extremist on October 16 family said. because of his provocative state- beheaded a schoolteacher in a A conservative with a pug- Palestinians gather to protest against the French President, in the Al Aqsa mosque compound, in the ments against Islam”. Paris suburb for showing pupils nacious style and trademark Old City of Jerusalem, yesterday. Calls to boycott French goods are growing in the Arab world and France has been rocked by cartoons of the Prophet square glasses, Yilmaz also beyond, after President Emmanuel Macron criticised Islamists and vowed not to “give up cartoons” multiple deadly attacks in Muhammad (PBUH) in a class served as foreign minister in depicting the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). recent weeks that are on free speech. the 1980s. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s office called Yilmaz “one of the pre- First American gets US passport eminent figures of Turkey’s Saudi reports 20 virus deaths; political life”. Yilmaz’s terms in office that lists ‘Israel’ as birthplace covered years of unstable coa- litions, political scandals and OCCUPIED JERUSALEM Cases in Iran above 600,000 REUTERS — recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s a growing conflict with the capital and in 2018 year moved outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ The United States yesterday the US Embassy to the city for AGENCIES — RIYADH/TEHRAN cases crossed the 600,000 Iran, which served as the initial Party (PKK). His last pre- issued for the first time a passport Tel Aviv, to reactions of anger threshold yesterday with 8,011 epicenter of the virus in the miership in 1997-99 was to a Jerusalem-born American and dismay including from Saudi Arabia announced 20 infections identified in the past region. punctuated by a growing rift with ‘Israel’ listed as the place of European allies. deaths from the coronavirus 24 hours, a Health Ministry In some war-torn nations, with neighbouring Syria. birth instead of the city. On Thursday, reflecting disease (COVID-19) and 398 spokeswoman told state TV, as it remains difficult to know the In 1998, Yilmaz sparked an The US Ambassador to those changes, US Secretary of new infections yesterday. the country’s death toll rose to scope of the pandemic as well. outcry across the Arab world Israel presented the document State Mike Pompeo announced The new cases bring the 34,478. In Yemen for instance, it’s by threatening to “poke out the to 18-year-old Menachem Ziv- the passport change. Americans number of total infections in the Sima Sadat Lari said 365 believed that the vast majority eyes” of Syrian President Hafez otofsky after a change of policy born in Jerusalem can now list Kingdom to 346,880. people had died in the past 24 of the country’s cases have gone Al Assad for his support of the by President Donald Trump either ‘Jerusalem’ or ‘Israel’ as Of the new cases, 53 were hours and the total number of undiagnosed and untreated, PKK. Yilmaz led the Anap that is likely to please pro- their birthplace, an embassy recorded in Riyadh, 48 in infection cases reached and health workers have said (Motherland) party before suf- Israel supporters ahead of next official confirmed. Madinah, 38 in Yanbu, 37 in 604,952. only those who are near death fering a crushing election defeat week’s election, but that Pal- Zivotofsky’s parents had Jeddah and 32 in Makkah. The number of reported are usually brought to in 2002, when Erdogan’s AKP estinians condemned as a vio- long campaigned for such a The total number of recov- coronavirus cases has gone hospitals. stormed to power. lation of international law. change having filed a lawsuit eries in the Kingdom increased over 3 million in the Middle The Kuwaiti Ministry of Suspected of embezzlement “You have a nation of birth in 2003 in a federal court. to 333,409 after 404 more East, an Associated Press count Health announced yesterday during the privatisation of a - the state of Israel,” Ambas- But in 2015 the US Supreme patients recovered from the showed Friday, with the true that it reported 671 new cases bank in the 1990s, he became sador David Friedman told the Court struck down a law that virus. A total of 5,383 people number likely even higher. of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the first former government teenager, thanking Trump for would have allowed Jerusalem- have succumbed to the virus in Across the Mideast, there the past twenty-four hours, leader to be tried by the supreme having “set this course in born Americans to list Israel as the Kingdom so far. have been over 75,000 deaths brining the total of confirmed court for corruption. The court motion.” their country of birth, saying it Meanwhile, 56,255 new attributed to the virus by health cases in the country to 125,337. suspended the hearings for five The status of Jerusalem, unlawfully encroached on tests were conducted across authorities. There have been 2.5 During the same period, six years in 2006 and eventually which contains sites holy to presidential powers to set Saudi Arabia over the past 24 million recoveries from the deaths have been recorded, dropped the case. Yilmaz tried to Muslims, Jews and Christians, foreign policy. hours, according to the Ministry virus causing the COVID-19 bringing the total number of resurrect his political career by is among the most contentious The administration of of Health. illness. In the Mideast, the deaths in Kuwait to 773 cases winning a seat in parliament in issues in the conflict between Trump’s predecessor, President Iran’s confirmed COVID-19 hardest-hit nation remains so far. 2007, but his influence waned. Israelis and Palestinians, both Barack Obama, argued that if of whom claim the city as their the law were enforced it would capital. Since Israel was founded have caused “irreversible in 1948, successive American damage” to America’s ability to Occupation forces wound 3 Palestinian boys in West Bank governments declined to rec- influence the Middle East peace ognise any country as having process. Negotiations between QNA — RAMALLAH occupied West Bank. described as critical, as he was raided the industrial zone, and sovereignty over Jerusalem, and Israelis and Palestinians broke The occupation forces sta- transferred to the city of Nablus, launched a combing campaign State Department policy was to down in 2014. Nabil Abu The Israeli occupation forces tioned at the checkpoint opened while the other two were trans- on Jenin Nazareth street, list only the city as a birthplace, Rudeineh, a spokesman for wounded yesterday three fire at the car randomly, ferred to a government hospital without knowing the results of leaving resolution of such a sen- Abbas, said the passport policy Palestinian boys after they wounding the three boys, aged in Jenin, Palestinian sources said. this operation so far. On sitive issue to the parties in the change was a violation of inter- opened fire at their car near the 15 and 16, confirming that one of The sources added that in Thursday, the occupation forces dispute. national laws and international Jalameh checkpoint in the Jenin them was hit by a bullet in the the aftermath, the Israeli occu- arrested three Palestinian men But in 2017 Trump resolutions. governorate in the northern head and his condition was pation forces stormed Jenin, during their storming of Jenin. SATURDAY 31 OCTOBER 2020 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA 05 As anger rises, thousands protest French cartoons

REUTERS & AFP — BEIRUT Security forces and young men clashed in Lebanon’s capital yesterday after around 200 Tens of thousands of Muslims protested in the Middle East people protested against the French President’s yesterday after killings in a defence of the right to publish cartoons French church prompted a vow from President Emmanuel seen as offensive to Islam. Demonstrators Macron to stand firm against marched towards the residence of the French attacks on French values and ambassador waving black and white Islamist freedom of belief. French Interior Minister flags after Friday prayers, but dozens of riot Gerald Damarnin said France - police on the street outside blocked their path. home to Europe’s largest Muslim community and hit by a string of militant attacks in Macron’s defence earlier this France has been on high recent years — was engaged in month of the right to publish alert since a January 2015 mas- a war against Islamist ideology cartoons of the Prophet sacre at Charlie Hebdo in the and more attacks were likely. Muhammad (Peace Be Upon wake of its initial publication of Security forces and young Him). caricatures of the Prophet men clashed in Lebanon’s capital Macron made the comment (PBUH). That massacre marked yesterday after around two after an extremist on October the beginning of a wave of Demonstrators chanting slogans during a protest against the cartoon publications of Prophet hundred people protested against 16 beheaded history teacher attacks that have killed more Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) in France and comments by the French President Emmanuel the French president’s defence Samuel Paty in a Paris suburb than 250 people. Macron, in Beirut, Lebanon, yesterday. of the right to publish cartoons for showing pupils cartoons of A knife-wielding man killed seen as offensive to Islam. the Prophet (PBUH) — earlier three people at a church in the to leave Lebanon. broadcasted live rallies from FOR SALE”. “I will never sell Demonstrators marched published repeatedly by French French city of Nice on Thursday. In Ramallah, in the Israeli- across the North African those products...as long as towards the residence of the satirical magazine Charlie Charlie Hebdo republished occupied West Bank, Pales- country and talk shows with France does not apologise. French ambassador waving Hebdo — in a class on free the cartoons last month, as the tinians trampled on a large Muslim clerics condemned France insulted our Prophet black and white Islamist flags speech. trial opened for 14 suspected French flag and burned other “attacks against the Prophet (PBUH),” he said. after Friday prayers, but dozens One protester at the dem- accomplices in the 2015 attack French flags. (PBUH). Thousands in Somalia Some women shoppers of riot police on the street onstration, called by an Islamist against the magazine. In Gaza, ruled by Palestinian turned up for Friday prayers in agreed. “I used to be one of the outside blocked their path. group, held a cartoon por- Similar cartoons published Islamist movement Hamas, mosques where sermons were consumers of French cosmetics. At the end of the demon- traying Macron as a snake. in Denmark in 2005 triggered a hundreds of Palestinians took dominated by condemnation of Now I will no longer buy,” said stration, a few protesters lobbed “France is in crisis because global backlash from Muslims, part in anti-France rallies, Macron and his government. Anisa Ahmed, 22. “I will look for stones and bottles at the of Macron,” read his sign in including in Lebanon. The Danish chanting: “With our souls and Abdirahman Hussein products of other countries.” security forces, who responded Arabic and French. “Islam is consulate building in Beirut was blood we will redeem the Mohamed, a shopkeeper in the The violence coincided with with tear gas. dear” to us. set ablaze in February 2006 in Prophet (PBUH).” capital Mogadishu, set aside all growing Muslim anger over The protest comes amid Macron earlier this month clashes in which at least 28 In the Libyan capital Tripoli, French products including face France’s defence of the right to anger in the Islamic world over described Islam as a religion “in people were wounded and protesters trampled the French wash, perfumes and other cos- publish cartoons depicting the French President Emmanuel crisis” worldwide. Denmark called on its nationals flag as Libyan television stations metics with a large sign, “NOT Prophet (PBUH). Family of alleged Nice knifeman in disbelief over attack

AFP — SFAX, TUNISIA deemed offensive to Muslims, was wasting money?’ He would reply in order to be able to work,” said murdered earlier this month in a if God wills it, he will guide me to his mother, who did not want to The family of a man detained for Paris suburb. Issaoui, 21, is in the right path, it’s my business’,” give her name. “He told me he killing three church-goers in serious condition after being shot she added. One of 11 siblings, wanted to set up a stall to sell France weeks after leaving his multiple times by police in the Issaoui lived with his parents in a petrol.” Issaoui joined a wave of home in Tunisia has said they are aftermath of Thursday’s brutal knife modest house on a potholed road Tunisians departing for Italy that struggling to believe he carried attack in the southern city of Nice. in a working class neighbourhood has grown in recent months due out the attack. Born to a family of modest near an industrial zone on the out- to the combined pressures of the “It’s not normal,” said Brahim means in the central Tunisian city skirts of Sfax. His mother said her COVID-19 crisis, which has exac- Issaoui’s brother Yassine, incred- of Sfax, Issaoui had turned to son had dropped out of high erbated already soaring unem- ulous that his sibling was respon- religion and isolated himself in the school and had worked as a ployment, and a political crisis. sible for the attack, which came past two years, his relatives said. motorcycle mechanic. After successfully reaching Italy amid widespread anger among “He prayed... (and) went from Having put some money aside, and finding work harvesting Muslims over comments by French home to work and back, not he opened an unlicensed petrol olives he made his way to France. President Emmanuel Macron. mixing with others or leaving the station, similar to those found He went to France because it Macron had strongly defended house,” said his mother, crying as across Tunisia, where most eco- was better for work and there were secular values and the right to she clutched a passport photo of nomic activity takes place on the too many people in Italy. The The parents of the Nice assailant Brahim Aouissaoui, who a mock religion after a French the young man in a white hoodie. margins of the official system. family said he called the evening of day earlier killed three people and wounded several others schoolteacher, who had shown his But before that “he drank “I told him to rent a small shop October 28, the day before the in the southern French city of Nice, speaking at the family class cartoons of the Prophet alcohol and used drugs. I used to with the 1,100 to 1,200 dinars attack, telling them he had just home in the Tunisian city of Sfax, yesterday. Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) tell him, ‘we are poor and you’re (around $400 which he had saved) arrived in the country. Germany asks South Africa to reopen borders as lockdown eases Libya’s Sarraj to

AFP — JOHANNESBURG gradually eased since June, but become our new normal for as still be required in public. continent. The lockdown, one delay resignation borders stayed sealed to avoid long as the coronavirus is with Travel may also be of the strictest in the world, South Africa will reopen its importing the virus from us.” restricted to and from countries dealt a severe blow to an AFP — BERLIN borders to most countries next abroad. Under the new measures, with “high infection rates”, already ailing economy and month, the president said, part President Cyril Ramaphosa most gatherings will be per- Ramaphosa added, explaining many livelihoods have been lost Germany’s Foreign Minister of a wider easing of anti-coro- on Wednesday said most mitted at 50 percent of a that a list would be determined as a result. Heiko Maas yesterday urged navirus measures announced remaining rules will be rolled venue’s capacity, with a cap of based on “latest scientific data... Gross Domestic Product the head of Libya’s UN-recog- as figures continue to improve. back from September 20, and 250 people for indoor events. from those countries”. contracted 16.4 percent in the nised government to delay his The continent’s most indus- that international travel would A 10:00 pm curfew will be South Africa has been par- second quarter of 2020 due to resignation to ensure “conti- trialised economy shuttered its “gradually and cautiously” scaled back to midnight and a ticularly hard-hit by the coro- the pandemic, and by more nuity” in the political talks that borders at the start of a strict resume on October 1st. 50-person limit at recreational navirus pandemic, with more than half compared to the same have started following a nationwide lockdown on March “We have withstood the facilities will be lifted. than 651,000 infections and period last year. ceasefire deal. 27 to limit the spread of the coronavirus storm,” Ramaphosa Restrictions on sporting over 15,600 deaths recorded to Tourism, one of the coun- Fayez Al Sarraj, who heads virus. Restrictions on movement said in an address to the nation. events remain in place, date -- around half the total try’s main economic drivers, has the Tripoli-based Government and business have been “It is time to move to what will however, and face-masks will number of cases detected on the been particularly affected. of National Accord (GNA), plans to step down today as part of the landmark deal to end years of Gunmen kill conflict with a rival adminis- Tanzania ruling party heads for landslide win tration dominated by military commander Khalifa Haftar. 21 in Nigeria AFP — STONE TOWN, TANZANIA In a statement released after a phone call with Sarraj, AFP — KANO, NIGERIA Tanzanian President John Maas welcomed last week’s Magufuli and his party barrelled signing of the permanent At least 21 people, including towards victory yesterday in ceasefire and the launch of a one policeman and four mili- presidential and parliamentary political dialogue as “a real tiamen, were killed by gunmen elections that the opposition chance” for peace in the north in two attacks in northwestern condemned as stained by fraud. African country. Nigeria, police said Friday. Magufuli had the majority “In light of the start of the A surge in criminal activity of votes with 85 percent of the political talks, however, we has affected the region, where votes from 219 out of 264 con- would like to see Mr al-Sarraj clashes over land and stituencies in the presidential postpone his resignation and resources between ethnic election, while his ruling Chama remain in office for the Fulani herders and local Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) had won duration of the dialogue farmers erupted more than a all but two of around 200 par- forum,” Maas said, adding that decade ago. liamentary seats announced. Chancellor Angela Merkel Around 200 motorcycle- The all but certain victory backed his plea. riding gunmen known as in Wednesday’s vote will further “From our point of view, “bandits” by locals rode into cement the power of a party this would be important in Diskiru village, Katsina state, on that has been in power since order to guarantee institutional Thursday, shooting at residents. independence in 1961 but stands and executive continuity” in “Seventeen people were accused of a worrying slide into the “crucial weeks” ahead, he killed in the attack including a autocracy under Magufuli. added. policeman and four vigi- By law only the election The GNA said Sarraj has lantes,” Gambo Isah, local commission can declare the received several requests to police spokesman said. winner. Supporters of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (Revolutionary Party) celebrate the victory of their stay in his post longer to avoid Communities have Magufuli’s main challenger, candidate in the Zanzibar Presidential election on the outskirts of Stone Town, yesterday. a “political vacuum”, including resorted to armed vigilantes the Chadema party candidate from “leaders in friendly coun- or militias, who work Tundu Lissu, on Thursday ognise the outcome. saying opposition election mon- It is not an election.” tries”, UN officials and civil alongside the army, as self- declared the results coming in “Whatever happened yes- itors had been barred from The result of presidential society groups. defence. Police said the attack “illegitimate” and urged his sup- terday was not an election, and entering polling stations and elections cannot be contested Sarraj however insists that was in reprisal for the killing porters to demonstrate peace- thus we do not recognise it. We faced other interference. in Tanzania, though the parlia- “the exit of the current political of three bandits in a shootout fully, while asking the interna- do not accept the result,” Lissu “What is being presented to mentary outcome can be actors will help to find a way with vigilantes last week. tional community not to rec- told reporters in Dar es Salaam, the world is a complete fraud. challenged. out” of Libya’s crisis, it added. 06 ASIA SATURDAY 31 OCTOBER 2020 Protesting Thai students boycott royal graduation day

REUTERS — BANGKOK Protests initially called for a new constitution and the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Some students sympathetic to Thai protesters boycotted grad- Chan-o-cha, a former junta leader, but then uation ceremonies led by King demands evolved to include reducing the Maha Vajiralongkorn yesterday in a show of anger at the monarchy’s power. monarchy amid growing calls to reform it. protesters by royalist state students joined the boycott. Pic- The ceremonies, at which forces in 1976. tures from the hall showed only the monarch personally hands “Whatever it takes so that alternate seats occupied out degrees, are a rite of passage the hall is left with the smallest because of social-distancing for graduates and their families number of people,” Suppanat measures to prevent the spread with photographs of the said. “This is to send an indirect of coronavirus. moment displayed with pride message that some of us are The king told students to use in many Thai homes. unhappy with the monarchy their knowledge and ability to But protests since mid-July and we want change.” The uni- honour and serve the country. have brought open criticism of versity did not respond to a Papangkorn Asavapan- the monarchy and calls to curb request for comment. ichakul, 24, was among those its power, defying a long- The Palace did not who did attend. Pro-democracy protesters give the three-finger salute while holding up their mobile phones with standing taboo and lese majeste comment, as it has not done “I want the photograph. It’s lights outside the Prachachuen police station in Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. laws that set a jail term of up to since protests began in a once-in-a-lifetime event,” he 15 years for criticism of the king mid-July. said. importance under the king’s late changes that gave him personal to attend the ceremonies, some or his family. Protests initially called for Degree ceremonies pre- father, King Bhumibol control of some army units and said family pressure had out- Suppanat Kingkaew, 23, a new constitution and the res- sided over by the king began Adulyadej, who spent decades the palace fortune should be weighed politics. said he was boycotting the cer- ignation of Prime Minister before the end of absolute mon- working to strengthen the reversed. They also want the “My mother asked me to emonies being held on Friday Prayuth Chan-o-cha, a former archy in 1932 at a time the prestige of the monarchy - prime minister removed, come,” said one 24-year-old and Saturday at Thammasat junta leader, but then demands palace sought to strengthen its which according to the consti- accusing him of foul play in student who gave his name only University, long viewed as a evolved to include reducing the relationship with a growing tution must be revered. 2019 elections — an accusation as Japan. hotbed of radicalism and scene monarchy’s power. middle class. Protesters say the king’s he denies. “I didn’t really want to join of a massacre of pro-democracy It was unclear how many They gained greater powers should be reduced and Of those students planning it, honestly.” Malaysia PM’s key ally demands early polls Malabar Group funds AP — KUALA LUMPUR Organisation, the biggest party next month to have the 2021 party from Anwar’s governing in Muhyiddin’s government, reit- budget approved in Parliament, alliance that won 2018 polls. He Iqraa Kidney Care The key ally in Malaysian Prime erated support for his adminis- but its open call for early election tied up with the corruption- Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s tration amid a spike in corona- could mean that his leadership tainted UMNO and other oppo- THE PENINSULA — KOZHIKODE initiative and ‘Thanal ‘ coalition has called for general virus cases but demanded polls may be shortlived. Polls are not sition parties to form a Malay- Vadakara. The center will elections to be held to establish to be held once the crisis abates. due until 2023. centric government but his Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi enable kidney patients from a stable government once the “UMNO decided that a UMNO, which had ruled administration has been fraught Vijayan will inaugurate the marginalised communities to coronavirus pandemic subsides, general election should be held Malaysia since independence with infighting. Iqraa Kidney Care and avail advanced kidney care and in a new snag to his fragile hold to get a fresh mandate from the from Britain in 1957 but was Malaysia’s king on Sunday Research Center through a diagnosis facilities at affordable on power. people to establish a stable gov- ousted in 2018 elections, has rejected Muhyiddin’s proposal virtual platform tomorrow, the rates. Muhyiddin, who took office ernment once the COVID-19 been unhappy at being sidelined for a coronavirus emergency that Kerala Day. Once fully operational, Iqraa in March, has only a two-seat pandemic is brought under in the government amid rivalry would have suspended Par- The Iqraa Kidney Care and Kidney Care and Research majority in Parliament and is control with a minimum number with Muhyiddin’s own Malay liament and given the premier Research Center has been set Center will become the largest being challenged by opposition of cases,” it said in a statement party. Some UMNO lawmakers uncontested powers, saying up by Iqraa Hospital, a dialysis treatment center in leader Anwar Ibrahim, who hours after a Thursday night were reportedly among those current laws were enough to healthcare venture of the JDT Kerala and help facilitate recently alleged he has majority meeting of its highest decision- who support Anwar’s bid to curb the pandemic. Many Malay- Islam Orphanage Committee research in chronic kidney support of lawmakers to form a making body. topple the government. sians were angered by Muhyid- with financial assistance pro- disease, treatments, and patient new government. UMNO’s support may help Muhyiddin took power in din’s move, seen as a desperate vided by the Malabar Group. outcomes. The United Malays National Muhyiddin pass a key challenge March after withdrawing his bid to cling to power. The inauguration ceremony The Center will enable 180 will be attended by dignitaries patients to avail of dialysis on a comprising Union Minister of daily basis. It is also equipped State for External Affairs V with a 30-bed ICU and will Vietnam tackles Muraleedharan, Leader of facilitate kidney transplant sur- Opposition Ramesh Chen- geries at the lowest costs in the Typhoon Molave's nithala, MPs PK Kunhalikutty country. In the wake of the and MK Raghavan, MLAs A COVID-19 outbreak, the Center tragic aftermath Pradeep Kumar, Dr. MK will temporarily set aside beds Muneer and Mayor Thottathil for kidney patients affected by Raveendran. the pandemic. REUTERS — HANOI The Iqraa Kidney Care and “Statistics from the health Research Center reiterates sector indicate that the number Rescue teams in central Vietnam searched Malabar Group’s avowed com- of kidney patients in Kerala is for bodies yesterday following a series of mitment to build a robust increasing daily. Having access deadly landslides triggered by Typhoon healthcare delivery system for to advanced care and treatment Molave, as yet another powerful storm poor people with an onus on at affordable rates for poor edged slowly towards a country battered access to world-class treatment kidney patients assumes para- by its most intense weather in years. facilities. mount importance in such Helicopters, soldiers and search dogs Malabar Group leads crucial times. have been deployed to look for dozens of business ventures such as “Malabar Group has teamed people feared dead in at least seven mud- Malabar Gold and diamonds, with Iqraa Hospital to create slides in central provinces deluged the largest jewellery chain in world-class kidney care and throughout October and suffering the worst the country and Malabar diagnosis facility for kidney spell of flooding in two decades. developers, a real estate patients from economically mar- In Quang Nam province, a district called company already spent Rs12 ginalised sections of the society Nam Tra My was struck by three landslides core to set up a ten storey and conduct research in the field which killed 16 and injured dozens. Rescuers and residents search for people who were missing after the landslide in Nam building for Iqraa Kidney Care of kidney disease. I have no Fifteen people were still missing. Tra My district, Quang Nam province, Vietnam, yesterday. and Research Center. doubt that Iqraa Kidney Care and “All I can do is stand here and wait,” As the total set up at a cost Research Center will emerge as said Ho Van Tung, watching with his neigh- pulled from a tiny village in Nam Tra My. Philippines. of Rs35 crore, the Center has one of the best kidney diagnosis bours in silent despair as rescue workers Central Vietnam has had a tough year, Goni is on course to reach central also received support from and treatment centers in India,” clawed through the thick, umber mud with its tourism industry crippled by the Vietnam later next week and would be the NGOs and Individuals such as stated MP Ahammed, Chairman, searching for bodies. coronavirus pandemic long before the country’s 10th typhoon this year. Azim Premji Philanthropic Malabar Group. “I’m waiting to see if they find any of arrival of typhoons that have killed at least “My house is covered in deep mud and the bodies,” said Tung, whose brother-in- 160 people, left dozens missing, wiped out debris but I have no plan to clean it up as I law was still buried somewhere below. crops and forced hundreds of thousands heard more storms are coming,” Nguyen “If they do, I’ll rush over there to see if into shelters. Thi Sinh, a resident of Quang Tri province, Politician who led Australia it’s a loved one”. Meanwhile, a another storm, Goni said by phone. Molave has killed close to 40 people gathered strength as it moved towards the “No one had foreseen such severe virus lockdown takes day off since it arrived in Vietnam two days ago, Philippines, where it could make landfall flooding. Crops and livestock are all gone although many people were rescued on on Sunday packing winds as strong as with the flood water. We have to encourage AFP — MELBOURNE home for more than three Thursday, including three fishermen found 195km per hour, its weather agency PSGASA ourselves with the fact we are at least still months in one of the world’s in the sea by a cargo vessel and 33 people said. Molave killed 22 people in the alive,” Sinh added. For 120 days straight, Victoria strictest lockdowns to defeat state Premier Daniel Andrews the virus. has faced the cameras to tell He used the daily briefings anxious residents how his to announce the latest figures Indian capital sees highest single-day virus spike government was battling for new cases and deaths, Australia’s worst coronavirus which passed 800, to IANS — NEW DELHI outbreak. encourage Melbournians to According to a health department bulletin, the The Health Ministry had The marathon press con- respect the lockdown rules and national capital recorded 5,891 new COVID-19 expressed its concern about ferences were carried live on to answer questions from an India's capital New Delhi the spike in Delhi’s cases and national television and increasingly wary press corps continued to witness an cases, the highest single-day spike till date, is expected to hold a meeting numerous social media and as public patience with the unprecedented rise in the taking the total case-load to over 3,81,000 with top officials of the UT news websites as hundreds and restrictions wore thin. number of daily infections with 47 new fatalities pushing the death count government to chalk out a then thousands of COVID-19 This week, with daily new yesterday as well. strategy for prevention of the cases spread in Melbourne, Vic- infections in the state down to According to a health in the national capital to 6,470. COVID-19 spread, the officials toria’s capital and Australia’s single digits and few deaths department bulletin, the had informed on Tuesday. second-biggest city. over the past two weeks, national capital recorded The unwanted record The outbreak in late June Andrews lifted the stay-at- 5,891 fresh COVID-19 cases, wave of infections, has been ducted the previous day. spike comes coincides with rattled the country, which had home order and allowed res- the highest single-day spike logging over 5,000 cases The tally of active cases an extended festive season largely contained the corona- taurants and pubs to reopen. till date, taking the total case- daily for the past three days. rose to 32,363 from 30,952 the and the onset of winter. virus and was beginning to ease And at the end of yester- load to over 3,81,000 with 47 The figures in the national previous day. The infection Medical experts have sug- travel and social distancing day’s briefing, he surprised his new fatalities pushing the capital have been increasing rate remained at 9.88 percent gested that the COVID-19 virus restrictions, raising fears a audience by wavering from his death count in the national rapidly. A day ago, Delhi and the Case Fatality Rate at could become even more second wave could spread normal closing line of “I’ll see capital to 6,470. reported 5,739 new infections 1.70 percent. With the onset of potent and fatal as the temper- nationwide as it had in other you all tomorrow.” “Any other This is the highest single- and 27 deaths. On Tuesday, the festive season, the unprec- ature drops. Beside this, with parts of the globe. issues?” he asked journalists. day figure Delhi reported Delhi reported 5,673 new edented spike has raised con- a fresh spike of 48,648 coro- Andrews’ centre-left state “If not, I will not see you since the pandemic struck the infections and 40 deaths. cerns, especially when the navirus infections and 563 government closed businesses, tomorrow, the minister for country. The national capital, The cases yesterday came national COVID-19 tally has deaths in 24 hours, India’s tally imposed a night-time curfew health will conduct the daily which is battling the third out of the 59,641 tests con- shown a steady decline. yesterday rose to 80,88,851. and ordered Melbourne’s five briefing and I’m sure you’re all million residents to stay at very pleased to hear that news.” SATURDAY 31 OCTOBER 2020 ASIA 07 Thousands stage anti-France protests in South Asia

AFP — DHAKA French President Emmanuel Macron defended freedom of expression and condemned violence Tens of thousands of protesters across South Asia vented their earlier this month after the beheading of a fury at France yesterday, with teacher in Paris who showed pupils a cartoon a crowd in Bangladesh burning an effigy of President of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), prompting a Emmanuel Macron as anger backlash across the Muslim world. flared over his tough stance on extremism. Macron defended freedom and organisers claimed more Muslim I am ready to sacrifice of expression and condemned than 40,000 marched in the my head for the honour of our violence earlier this month after city. Smaller crowds gathered Prophet (PBUH). A Muslim can the beheading of a teacher in outside hundreds of mosques sacrifice his head and can also Paris who showed pupils a elsewhere in the capital and cut the head of the blas- cartoon of the Prophet around the country. phemous,” said Rasheed Akbar, Muhammad (Peace Be Upon “France is insulting the a 34 year-old trader who joined Him), prompting a backlash world’s two billion Muslims. the crowd. across the Muslim world. President Macron must apol- Another 10,000 people France remains on edge ogise for his crimes,” said Gazi marched through Karachi, after a knife-wielding man Ataur Rahman, a senior leader Pakistan’s biggest city, after killed three people at a church of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Friday prayers in what was in the southern city of Nice on one of the political parties organised as a procession to Thursday. which called the protests. mark the birthday of the Huge crowds took to the Another rally in Pakistan’s Prophet (PBUH) but which was streets of Dhaka to condemn the capital grew rowdy, with stones charged with anti-France Muslims take part in a protest after calling for the boycott of French products and denouncing French French leader after Friday thrown at police and tear gas anger. President Emmanuel Macron for his comments over the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) caricatures, in prayers — the Bangladeshi cap- fired to control the crowds. Prime Minister Imran Khan ital’s second anti-France protest Around 2,000 protesters in has accused Macron of Dhaka, Bangladesh, yesterday. in five days. Islamabad marched towards the attacking the Muslim faith and “We are all soldiers of French embassy, pushing aside called on Islamic countries to Macron’s comments have French embassy. week, and the country’s Prophet Muhammad (PBUH),” shipping containers that had work together to counter what prompted denunciations from Iran’s supreme leader Aya- embassy there has been given chanted the crowd at the city’s been placed to block their path. he called growing Islamo- several Muslim countries. tollah Ali Khamenei called extra security. main protest site, where dem- The crowed shouted phobia in European Turkish President Recep Macron’s defence of the pub- Even in India, where the onstrators called for a boycott “behead the blasphemous” but countries. Tayyip Erdogan’s office vowed lications a “stupid act” and an Hindu nationalist government of French goods and some were prevented from reaching Small protests were also to take “legal and diplomatic “insult” to those who voted for has strongly backed Macron, burned an effigy of the leader. the embassy by further guarded held in neighbouring Afghan- action” over the cartoon, while him. leaders of the country’s Police said 12,000 people barricades. istan, with thousands in the the country’s NTV broadcaster More than 40,000 took minority Muslim community took part in the Dhaka rally, “How dare they disrespect western city of Herat shouting said Ankara had summoned a part in an anti-France demon- have called for a boycott of though independent observers our Prophet (PBUH)? As a “Death to France!”. senior diplomat from the stration in Dhaka earlier this French goods. 11 courts sealed after staff, judges test positive for COVID-19 in Pakistan Virus cases in Japan above INTERNEWS — ISLAMABAD Court of which 11 have been warned that the second wave measures are not taken, the sit- wearing masks compulsory in sealed after 12 judges and staff of COVID-19 has hit the country uation would go out of control. confined spaces especially in 100,000 At least 11 courts working under were infected with the disease. as new cases were reported In wake of the second public transport, markets and the District and Sessions Court The sealed courts include from all provinces. COVID-19 wave, the gov- railways stations. AP — TOKYO have been closed after judges three courts of additional and The number of cases ernment imposed micro The authorities also decided and staff tested positive for sessions judge, the court of a increased after people thought lockdown in several areas in to close all commercial activ- Japan’s coronavirus cases coronavirus, local media senior civil judge and seven situation had normalised,” the Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi etc ities including shopping malls, have topped 100,000, nine reported. courts of civil judges, he said. officials said. They stated that besides sealing shops, restau- marriage halls, restaurants by months after the first case was Islamabad Bar Association “A few lawyers have also tested people ignored coronas SOPs rants, and markets to contain 10pm local time with essential found in mid-January, the Secretary Nabil Tahir Mirza said positive for COVID-19,” he and started shaking hands and the spread of virus. services namely hospitals and health ministry said yesterday. that there are 70 courts working stated. meeting without masks. The government laid down medical stores allowed to The country confirmed under the District and Sessions Earlier, health authorities They said that if strict strict COVID-19 rules making remain open. 808 new cases on Thursday, bringing the cumulative COVID-19 cases to 100,334, including 712 people who were Shooting death of South on a cruise ship that was docked off a Japanese port earlier this year. Korean man was a About one-third of the cases come from Tokyo, where 221 cases were con- ‘self-defence measure’ firmed Thursday, bringing the prefectural total to 30,677, REUTERS — SEOUL the south Korean citizen including 453 deaths. who had made an illegal Nationwide, Japan has more North Korea said the shooting intrusion into the waters... than 1,700 deaths. death of a South Korean man under the control of our side Experts say Japan has so in its waters last month was was about to flee, not far managed to avoid a self-defensive measure responding to interception,” “explosive” infections as in amid concerns about the KCNA said. Europe and the US without spread of the novel corona- The incident was “the enforcing lockdowns, most virus, state media reported on result of improper control likely thanks to the common Friday. of the citizen by the south use of face masks and disin- North Korean troops side in the sensitive hotspot fectant, as well as other shot dead a South Korean at a time when there are common preventive measures fisheries official who went tension and danger due to including social distancing. missing in late September, the vicious virus sweeping Japan had a nationwide before dousing his body in the whole of South Korea,” state of emergency in April oil and setting it on fire, it added. and May, and experienced a South Korea’s military have “Therefore, the blame less serious second wave in said. for the incident first rests August, but has since been Maintaining safe distance Seoul has called for a with the south side.” South seeing a slight uptrend in new joint investigation after the Korea’s military has said the cases in northern prefectures, People wearing protective masks and following social distancing measures ride a Mass Rapid Transit North said it burned a float- man was attempting to setting off concerns of a surge train amid the coronavirus disease outbreak in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday. ation device he was using, defect to the North when he in the winter. Experts have not his body, amid public was reported missing from urged extra caution at dining and political outrage. a fisheries boat just south and drinking parties and The North’s official of the Northern Limit Line workplaces. According to Australia wildfires investigation KCNA news agency accused (NLL), a disputed demar- health ministry data, nearly South Korean opposition cation of military control half of the new patients were lawmakers of stoking con- that acts as the de facto in their 20s and 30s. recommends climate risk forecasts troversy over the issue, maritime boundary Japan’s northernmost pre- blaming Seoul for failing to between the two Koreas. fecture of Hokkaido this week AP — ANBERRA Australia, including major cities, University’s Climate Change stop him from crossing the North Korean leader raised its warning level after had contributed to hundreds of Institute, said the fire risk in spe- maritime border into the Kim Jong-un made a rare finding major clusters in urban An investigation into Australia’s deaths. The commission’s 578- cific locations was due to fuel North. apology for the killing days entertainment districts. catastrophic wildfire season page report, with 387 pages of loads — the amount of combus- “Our soldier could not after the incident, saying it Experts on Thursday also yesterday recommended appendices, made 80 recom- tible material — as well as but take self-defensive was to prevent any corona- urged caution in Tokyo, where greater efforts to forecast the mendations, including for a climate. The fuel load was not measure as he judged that virus outbreak. the daily count has fluctuated impacts of climate change on greater harmonisation of data easily gauged “at a fine scale.” between the 100s and 200s. specific parts of the country, across Australia on climate and Climate models were “a guide warning fire behaviour was disaster risks. to future change and risk, but becoming more extreme. The report said federal and it’s very clear across Australia Protest outside Mitsubishi over wartime forced labour The Royal Commission into state governments should that that change in risk is National Natural Disaster produce “downscaled” climate upward,” Howden said. “So it’s AP — TOKYO Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, were settled by a 1965 treaty and Arrangements began in Feb- projections, and agree on a question of the degree of how deepening tensions between the that the South Korean rulings ruary while wildfires were rav- climate trajectories and time- quickly and how much that fire About a dozen people protested two countries. South Korea’s violate international law. Jap- aging vast swathes of the lines. Discrepancies between danger increases.” outside the headquarters of bitter memories of Japanese anese courts have also rejected nation’s southeast in a fire states’ fire hazard mapping The role of climate change Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in actions during its 1910-1945 compensation demands by South season that is now known as methods “make it difficult to in the fire emergency was Tokyo yesterday, demanding colonial rule of the Korean Korean plaintiffs. Black Summer. measure risk at a national scale argued by lawmakers in the Japanese companies pay Peninsula and compensation Mitsubishi and Nippon Steel The fires killed at least 33 or to undertake comparative conservative government. Some compensation for their wartime issues have been a recurring have said they were cooperating people including 10 firefighters, risk between regions.” blamed the scale of the disaster abuse of Korean labourers. strain on bilateral ties. with the Japanese government. destroyed more than 3,000 “Improving weather fore- on arsonists. The protesters called on the Yesterday’s protest was Historians say Japan used homes, razed 19 million hectares casting and climate projection The report found further companies to accept South organised by three Japanese civic about 220,000 wartime Korean and displaced thousands of res- capability is important to global warming over the next Korean Supreme Court rulings groups supporting the Korean forced labourers. Japan says not idents. One firefighter was killed improve the ability to predict or 20 years “is inevitable.” “Floods that severely strained relations plaintiffs and seeking settlements all were forced labourers. when an extraordinary weather estimate the likelihood of and bushfires are expected to between the two neighbours. The of other wartime abuses. Japan acknowledged its event described by authorities extreme” wildfires, the report become more frequent and court on October 30, 2018, Standing outside the Mit- wartime aggression and apolo- as a “fire tornado” flipped a said, citing the Commonwealth intense,” the report said. ordered Nippon Steel & Sum- subishi headquarters, the pro- gised to Asian victims in 1995, but 10-ton fire truck upside down. Scientific and Industrial Former New South Wales itomo Metal Corp. to compensate testers held up a sign saying later significantly backpedaled The Royal Commission, Research Organisation, an Aus- state Fire and Rescue Commis- four plaintiffs for their wartime “Nippon Steel and Mitsubishi under former Prime Minister which is the country’s highest tralian government agency. sioner Greg Mullins welcomed forced labour at the company. comply with the Supreme Court Shinzo Abe’s nationalistic gov- form of investigation, said that Mark Howden, a professor the report’s focus on climate The court a month later rulings.” Japan maintains that all ernment that lasted nearly eight smoke that blanketed much of at the Australian National change. made a similar ruling on wartime compensation issues years. 08 VIEWS SATURDAY 31 OCTOBER 2020 Don’t ignore the good news Established in 1996

CHAIRMAN DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI on COVID-19 from Asia EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI [email protected]

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected] LIONEL LAURENT BLOOMBERG DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI It’s easy to feel that there’s no [email protected] light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel. Europe’s intensive care wards are filling up again, pushing EDITORIAL France and Germany into a fresh round of stay-at-home restrictions and lock- downs - albeit ones designed Promoting local farmers to be softer than the first. Even countries hit hard by the THE Qatar government through different initiatives first wave, such as Italy and launched in recent years is not only assisting and pro- Sweden, are seeing rising moting local vegetable farms and farmers but also cases, suggesting herd people in France, the U.K., These aren’t questions of phi- home doesn’t seem that much ensuring Qatar’s successful journey towards achieving immunity is a long way off. Spain and the U.S., in China losophy, but about implemen- more liberal, especially when self-sufficiency in food. The U.S. looks to have given and South Korea it is below 10 tation of policy. Angela people are tempted outside by With the drop in mercury, winter vegetable markets up on controlling the per million. Cases are a less Merkel, Germany’s chan- the need to earn a living. It’s are back to serve the people who want to buy locally- pandemic until a vaccine perfect measure, but there’s a cellor, admitted as much on also far less effective, with grown fresh vegetables and that too at economical arrives. similar observable gap. Thursday when she said one study estimating that iso- price. The winter vegetable market, at the one hand, Yet we shouldn’t ignore Wuhan, once the epicenter of European Union leaders lation in institutions could is a great relief for customers and on the other pro- the better news from Asia. COVID-19, is welcoming should have acted sooner. avert almost three times as vides an ideal platform for farmers to sell their fresh The strategies pursued by tourists again. Even the famously organized many cases as home-based produce to make their business sustainable. South Korea, Vietnam, China The perception of an Asian Germans failed to halt the isolation throughout an The winter vegetable markets sold over 70 tonnes and others do still seem to be advantage in this pandemic second wave. epidemic. of different varieties of locally-grown vegetables on paying off. While the total often falls prey to essentialist Compare that with Asia, The differences between the first day of their reopening on Thursday. “This is COVID-19 death toll is thinking: That somehow the where public-health systems Asia and Europe look more the ninth season of the winter vegetable markets. The between 500-700 per million East is doing things the West have proven more robust. rooted in recent, not ancient, markets attracted a lot of customers on the first day. could never do, and that it’s South Korea tested early, and history. Over the past 20 The farmers offered a good quantity of vegetables As Europeans largely down to profound dif- often, using walk-in centers years, Asia has been hit with since we are at the start of the season,” said Adil Al ferences in values, politics and drive-throughs. In several epidemics, such as Kaldi Al Yafai, Assistant Head of Agricultural Affairs start their winter and culture. If China is able to Wuhan, the authorities tested SARS in 2003 and MERS in Department at the Ministry of Municipality and Envi- lockdown, they contain COVID-19, it must be 11 million people over 2 2015, which forced countries ronment (MME). because of draconian gov- weeks. The share of tests to adapt and improve their With 150 local farms offering fresh vegetables at should remember ernment policy and the social coming back positive in South institutions. This also spurred competitive prices, all five winter vegetable markets that improvements bonds of Confucianism. If Sin- Korea and Vietnam is below countries to invest in public have reopened for the 2020-21 season. The winter gapore has 28 deaths, credit 1%; in France and Spain it has health: Between 2000 and vegetable markets are operating in Al Sheehaniya, Al are achievable. And must lie with Lee Kuan Yew’s risen to 10%. 2016, Vietnam’s per-capita Mazrouha, Al Wakrah, Al Khor Al Zakhira and Al the good news is founding legacy of authori- While contact-tracing health spending increased by Shamal. that countries are tarian pragmatism. strategies such as Vietnam’s an average of 9% per year. By The Ministry also ensures the quality of the produce There are likely far less “third-degree” sweep of per- contrast, European countries at the markets which has helped in attracting a large collaborating more intangible forces at work. If sonal data - or Hong Kong’s have been shutting hospitals number of customers. The Agricultural Affairs at the EU level, the key to avoiding more geofencing wristbands - and beds, with financial crises Department of the Ministry had readied the markets lockdowns is finding a way to would spook the average more front of mind than enabling local farmers to offer their produce while on efforts such as “live with the virus” - through Londoner, Europeans failed to disease. adhering to the prescribed preventive and precau- rolling out quicker widespread testing, tracing of implement their own alterna- As Europeans start their tionary measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. contacts and isolating positive tives properly. Between July winter lockdown, they should Owing to timely-taken decisions by the government antigen tests and cases to slow transmission and August, for example, the remember that improvements of Qatar regarding achieving self-sufficiency in food, sharing resources. - Western countries have number of contacts traced per are achievable. And the good Qatar is set to be among top 10 countries in Global made structural, not cultural, positive case in France fell to news is that countries are col- Food Security Index by 2021, driven by the Strategic If Asia managed errors. 2.4 from 4.5. If test-and-trace laborating more at the EU Food Security Project 2019-2023, as recently stated to learn from past Extensive testing was slackens off like this, no level, on efforts such as rolling by a senior official of the Ministry of Municipality and pandemics, the West rolled out in Europe after the wonder we can’t control the out quicker antigen tests and Environment. first wave, but too slowly and virus’s spread. sharing resources. If Asia Qatar had ranked 29th in the index in 2017 when should be able to as too late to avoid delays and As for the quarantining of managed to learn from past the blockade was imposed. With the help of food well. bottlenecks. Contact tracers positive cases, the decision by pandemics, the West should security programme, Qatar jumped to 22nd position were too few; digital apps China and South Korea to be able to as well. in 2018 and in 2019 it made another major achievement were left to wither on the monitor - or imprison, some Lionel Laurent is a securing 13th position. vine. Positive cases didn’t take might grumble - patients with Bloomberg Opinion columnist Qatar had exceeded the target in achieving self- isolation seriously, because of milder cases in special-care covering the European Union sufficiency in various fresh food products, including a lack of enforcement and centers is worth considering. and France. He worked pre- vegetables, meat and fish in 2019. Qatar’s National patchy financial support. Keeping people cooped up at viously at Reuters and Forbes. Strategy for Food Security has also played important role in boosting self sufficiency in food products. Women will get the last word in this election and rectitude we associate that we should ignore what description has shriveled, if with that era. Trump says, tens of millions of polling is to be believed. And D-RING ROAD, POST BOX: 3488, DOHA - QATAR The good news is that no women roll their eyes or invol- millions of women who may group of voters is more likely untarily gag. have voted for Trump thinking EMAIL: [email protected] to shift dramatically from Biden is doing better than he could “shake things up” or their voting pattern in 2016 Hillary Clinton did in 2016 bring business skills to gov- EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE: TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 than women. That’s a big among all women (whom ernment now are repulsed by FAX: +974 4455 7758 JENNIFER RUBIN deal, given that women make Clinton won by “only” 13 his conduct and are hurting THE WASHINGTON POST up more than half of the elec- points, compared to Biden’s from his policies. MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4462 7505 torate. The president - a advantage of 20 or more per- To say that the GOP has a US House Speaker Nancy serial insulter, child sepa- centage points in many polls); “woman problem” is like DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4455 7769 Pelosi, Democrat from Cali- rator, COVID-19 denier, among White women (whom saying the Titanic has a leak. fornia, at her weekly news health-insurance grabber, Trump won in 2016); among Women have seen Repub- LOCAL NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7743 conference on Thursday, loud-mouthed bully and suburban women; among licans defend the monstrous brought up President Donald accused rapist - has never college-educated women and child-separation policy, ask a BUSINESS NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4462 7535 Trump’s remark that he was grasped just how offensive a even among women without female Supreme Court going to help women by large proportion of women four-year degrees. CNN found nominee who does the SPORT NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7745 getting their husbands’ jobs find him. in its latest national poll that laundry in her house, suggest back. She noted that in The New York Times White women without college mothers to send their kids to ONLINE SECTION: TEL: 4462 7501 September alone, nearly 1 reports, “No nominee for degrees, a group that Trump in schools in COVID-19 hot spots email: [email protected] million women left the work- either party has ever garnered 2016 won 61 percent to 34 and refuse even to vote on a force. “And what’s the presi- as much female support as the percent, break evenly). stimulus bill that would PUBLIC RELATIONS: TEL: 4455 7613 dent’s message to women? Democratic nominee, Joseph Surely, there are still plenty address massive food inse- email: [email protected] ‘We’re getting your husbands R. Biden Jr., according to exit of women soaked in the toxic curity and stave off evictions. back to work.’ “ Pelosi said. polls and data tracked by the brew of right-wing media, The party that embraced a ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 “Well, factually, it isn’t even Center for American Women indifferent to the more than racist president also embraced FAX: 4455 7870, email: [email protected] true, but in addition to that, and Politics at Rutgers Uni- 228,000 Americans killed by an accused predator and a what decade is he living in? versity.” We can explain much COVID-19 and gullible enough cruel man devoid of empathy CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7857 What century is he living in?” of that due to female voters’ to buy Trump’s race-baiting, and decency. And women email: [email protected] Most likely the 1950s, to distaste for Trump’s behavior “law and order” message. But voters are now going to bring answer Pelosi’s question - and conduct. When right-wing the percentage of the elec- down the hammer on Trump SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION: TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 minus the manners, decorum White men blithely declare torate that meets that and his GOP enablers. FAX: 44557819, email: [email protected]

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/ThePeninsulaQatar The current pandemic challenges us very acutely ... but it is very important that the (WHO) /Peninsula_Qatar reform debate is held in parallel.

/ThePeninsulaNewspaper Jens Spahn, Health Minister of Germany

+974 6698 6188 SATURDAY 31 OCTOBER 2020 EUROPE 09 Man linked to Nice attacker detained AFP — PARIS Foreign Minister Day tomorrow. Jean-Yves Le Foreign Minister Jean-Yves French police were questioning Le Drian warned after the yesterday a man believed to Drian warned that meeting that French citizens have been in contact with the French citizens face a security risk “wherever suspected Islamist who brutally face a security risk they are” in the wake of the killed three people at a church attack, saying alerts had been in Nice, an attack that left the “wherever they are” sent to all French nationals country on high alert for further in the wake of the abroad. attacks ahead of a key holiday. attack, saying alerts The Nice attack came as The 47-year-old was taken fears of Islamist violence were into custody late on Thursday had been sent to already running high, just two after the killings at Nice’s Notre- all French nationals weeks after a French teacher Dame basilica by a 21-year-old was beheaded in a street near French CRS riot policemen patrol in Montmartre in Paris. France raised the security alert for French Tunisian who arrived in France abroad. his school in a Paris suburb. territory yesterday to the highest level after the knife attack in the city of Nice. this month before carrying out The teacher, Samuel Paty, what the government described had infuriated some parents by as an act of terror. you’re at war, you have to showing cartoons mocking the 60-year-old woman and a moment”, Ricard said at a press people demonstrate across The suspected knifeman, understand that unfortunately, Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be 55-year-old man who worked conference late on Thursday. He France last weekend. identified as Brahim Issaou, there have been and there will Upon Him) to students as part at the church, and stabbed a said Issaoui was in a “life-threat- Macron’s stance against remained in serious condition be other incidents like this,” he of a lesson on free speech, with 44-year-old Brazilian woman ening” condition. extremist violence, and his after being shot multiple times told RTL radio. some denouncing him in a residing in France, who Macron, who travelled to defence of the cartoons, has by police in the aftermath of the It was not immediately clear social media campaign. managed to flee but later died the scene, denounced the attack outraged many Muslims around Thursday morning attack. what relationship the man The attacker in Nice had a of her wounds. and said France would not cave the world who accuse him of “He wasn’t on any of our arrested late on Thursday is sus- copy of the Holy Quran, two Officials said Issaoui to terror over his vow to combat unfairly targeting an entire security watchlists, either pected of having with the killer. phones and three knives when shouted “Allahu Akbar” (God is extremist violence. Authorities religion. French or European,” Interior President Emmanuel he entered the church in the greatest) as he was taken to the have closed some mosques and Le Drian, the foreign min- Minister Gerald Darmanin said, Macron, who held a crisis centre of the Mediterranean city hospital after being shot and shut down two groups accused ister, insisted on Thursday that reiterating that France was “at meeting with top ministers yes- at around 8:30am, according to wounded by police. of fomenting hate and violence France had only “a message of war with Islamist extremism... terday, has already stepped up France’s anti-terror prosecutor The victims were “targeted in the wake of Paty’s killing, peace for the Muslim world", an enemy that is both internal military patrols at churches and Jean-Francois Ricard. for the sole reason that they were which prompted an outpouring and several French imams have and external”. “And when other sites ahead of All Saints’ He slit the throats of a present in this church at that of anger that saw thousands of also appealed for calm. EU calls for Moscow preparing for quick WHO mass vaccinations reform REUTERS — MOSCOW public is not yet possible, as the necessary number of doses of REUTERS — BRUSSELS/BERLIN Authorities in Moscow were the vaccine have not yet been preparing for mass vaccina- delivered, Rakova said, speaking The World Health Organi- tions against COVID-19 and on the Russia 24 TV channel, zation (WHO) should be Russia’s daily tally of infections adding she thought that this quickly overhauled, get more rose past 18,000 to a record could happen next month. powers to handle pandemics high amid a shortage of doctors Russia is facing challenges and expose its member states’ across the country, the Kremlin in scaling up production of its shortfalls in health emer- said yesterday. vaccine with President gencies, European Union offi- Moscow residents who Vladimir Putin on Thursday cials said yesterday. want to be vaccinated against citing issues with the availa- The comments were made COVID-19 may be able to do so bility of equipment. at a video conference of EU as early as next month if large Kremlin spokesman Dmitry health ministers that endorsed volumes of doses are supplied Peskov praised the heroism of an EU document on the reform by then, Deputy Mayor Anas- medical professionals but of the UN agency which for the tasia Rakova said. acknowledged the shortage of first time outlines a series of The capital is creating a doctors everywhere. sweeping changes needed to large network of specialised Authorities were under fire boost WHO’s powers and vaccination rooms with 2,500 across Russia. Shoppers walk past a NHS sign displaying the Local Covid Alert Level as ‘high’ in the centre of Leeds, resources. The moves fol- high-risk people — primarily Taxi drivers in the Urals city West Yorkshire, northern England, yesterday as the area prepares to be placed in the strictest ‘very lowed criticisms that China doctors and teachers — having of Ekaterinburg staged a and other countries did not high’ tier of restrictions from November 2 to combat the coronavirus pandemic. already been vaccinated, protest and threatened to strike share information on the Russian news agencies cited over being forced to install COVID-19 pandemic in a her as saying. acrylic safety screens in their timely fashion at its onset. Millions more face virus curbs in Around 9,000 Moscow res- vehicles, local news website “The current pandemic idents have received both shots 66.ru said. challenges us very acutely... of the Sputnik V vaccine as part In Siberia, the Transbaikal but it is very important that the northern England as cases spiral of a continuing large-scale trial, regional health ministry said it (WHO) reform debate is held its developer was quoted by the was investigating after a in parallel,” German Health AFP — LONDON In its weekly study of COVIDd-19 Most of the areas in the RIA news agency as saying on 64-year-old woman died Minister Jens Spahn said. prevalence, the Office for “very high” category of the gov- Thursday. The vaccine is taken shortly after she had com- He did not say when the Millions more people in northern National Statistics (ONS) said the ernment’s three-tier COVID-19 in two doses, with a 21-day gap. plained about a lack of medical reform process should begin, England face stricter coronavirus number of people with the virus alert system are in northern and Mass vaccination of the attention. but stressed that as a result of rules next week, the government had increased to around one in central parts of the country. the overhaul the WHO should said yesterday, as new statistics 100 nationwide. Nottingham became the become faster in its reaction to showed a sustained surge in “There has been growth in latest city to enter the highest Poll finds majority of Europeans health crises, while its member cases across the nation. all age groups over the past two tier yesterday. states should share more infor- From Monday, nearly 2.4 weeks; older teenagers and Britain has already been the would vote for Joe Biden mation in emergencies. million residents in five districts young adults continue to have worst-hit in Europe by the pan- “We greatly appreciate the of West Yorkshire, including in the highest current rates while demic, as more than 45,000 AFP — PARIS EU’s strong leadership in the city of Leeds, will be barred rates appear to be steeply people have died within 28 global health and its steadfast from socialising with other increasing among secondary days after testing positive. Case Joe Biden would hammer Donald Trump in the upcoming US support for WHO, including households indoors. Clubs not school children,” it said. rates are spiralling again after presidential election if it were Europeans heading to the ballot support for strengthening the serving “substantial meals” West Yorkshire’s imminent a lull, tracking the situation box, a poll showed yesterday, underscoring the incumbent’s organization,” the WHO said. must close, alongside betting restrictions are the latest step elsewhere on the continent. unpopularity across the Atlantic. “It is extremely important shops, soft play facilities and in the UK government’s England is seeing nearly Among five countries surveyed by pollsters BVA — Britain, we move ahead with this gaming centres. The public has localised response to the 52,000 new cases daily, a 47 France, Germany, Italy and Spain — the Germans were the most reform,” EU Health Commis- also been told to avoid unnec- surging transmission, which has percent weekly rise, according enthusiastic Biden supporters, with 66 percent saying they would sioner Stella Kyriakides said. essary travel. come under increasing scrutiny to the ONS, which conducts its back the Democrat if allowed to vote. After months of international The Department of Health in recent weeks. More than 11 analysis of households with the Just eight percent of Germans said they would vote Trump, pressure, an independent said the measures were needed million people — about a fifth help of several universities and while 27 percent were undecided or said they would abstain. panel was set up in September as infection rates in West York- of England’s population — will health bodies, and excludes Trump’s best score was in Italy, where 15 percent would make to review the global handling shire were “among the highest be under the tightest measures people in hospitals and care their mark for the Republican candidate. But Biden’s score was of the pandemic. in the country” and rising rapidly. from next week. homes. close to three times as high there, at 42 percent. Italians snap up baby-milk supplements after virus claim

AFP — ROME country with one of Europe’s coronavirus) were negative.” Meanwhile, a large highest death tolls. The report went viral on social pharmacy in central Rome said Italian pharmacists are facing “We don’t know anything media, with banners added by they were now shifting up to a huge upsurge in demand for about this product — we’re blind a user proclaiming “food sup- 100 boxes of the supplement a niche product usually mar- too,” a pharmacist said, con- plements block COVID-19: each week compared with just keted as an immune system firming that demand was spiking. Italian research discovers” and two or three in a month in booster for babies — weeks “When people are scared, they “how will they convince us we normal times. Another phar- after a viral video suggested it will believe anything.” all need to be vaccinated now?” macist, standing in front of could protect against The demand for lactoferrin The video died away after boxes of “CovAlt” and other coronavirus. followed a local news report in its initial popularity but resur- pills, said her small family outlet Lactoferrin, a protein found July in which Elena Campione, faced as virus cases began to had seen an upsurge in demand. in high concentrations in breast a dermatology professor from rise, surpassing 25,000 a day “They used to come and ask milk, has undergone a small the Tor Vergata university in by the end of October. for advice on what they could clinical trial in Rome and the Rome and one of the organisers Although the substance is take to maybe boost their organisers reported positive of the trial, made striking claims sold most often as a supplement immune system against Covid,” results but said more research about her research. “We for babies, it is also branded by she said. “Now they come and was needed. decided to treat patients with one firm as “CovAlt” and sold A pharmacist shows a lactoferrin alimentar integrator in Rome. ask for these lactoferrin There has been no confir- COVID-19, in the early stage of in a product range that includes products by name.” She said she mation that the drug is effective the disease,” she said. hand gels and other items asso- not impressed. “I am getting runs a website called Medical had seen the product flying off against coronavirus, but phar- “It was incredible but 10 ciated with the virus. many requests about this, so I Facts, wrote on Twitter. “There the shelves in bigger phar- macies in central Rome said days after the beginning of the The social-media hullaballoo respond collectively to eve- is no clinical evidence to indicate macies, describing demand for they were dealing with dra- therapy, the symptoms disap- helps sales of these types of ryone,” Roberto Burioni, a the usefulness of lactoferrin in pre- such unproven products as “like matic surges in demand in a peared and the PCR test (for products, but some experts are virology professor in Milan who venting or treating COVID-19.” a psychosis”. 10 EUROPE SATURDAY 31 OCTOBER 2020 Corbyn's suspension: Labour warns against ‘civil war’

AFP — LONDON Corbyn ally Len compromise Labour’s chances McCluskey, the head of a general election victory”. Britain’s main opposition However, voters turned Labour party yesterday urged of the Unite union, against Corbyn in droves at the shocked members to stand one of Labour’s last election in December, with united against anti-Semitism, biggest financial Johnson profiting from Labour appealing against a renewal of infighting over Brexit. internecine “civil war” fol- backers, said the Snap polls meanwhile sug- lowing the suspension of its suspension would gested strong public backing for left-wing former leader. “create chaos within the moderate Starmer’s con- Jeremy Corbyn was exiled frontation with his more radical pending investigation after he the party and in predecessor and attempts to refused to accept all the doing so compromise bury the recent past. “I don’t findings of a report by the want a split in the Labour party. Equality and Human Rights Labour’s chances of I stood as leader of the Labour Commission (EHRC), which said a general election party on the basis that I would his office had broken the law in victory”. unite the party, but also that I its handling of complaints by would tackle anti-Semitism,” Jewish members. Starmer told Sky News. New leader Keir Starmer, and move on”, even as he “Both of those can be done. Putin chairs Security Council meeting calling the report a “day of wages increasingly effective There’s no reason for a civil war Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting via a teleconference call at the shame” for Labour, said he was attacks on the Conservative in our party.” Corbyn was pro- Novo-Ogaryovo state residence, outside Moscow, yesterday. “deeply disappointed” in Corbyn government’s handling of the pelled from the backbenches to for blaming party critics as well coronavirus pandemic. become Labour leader in 2015 as the media for exaggerating the Prime Minister Boris John- after decades of socialist scale of anti-Semitism. son’s Conservatives are trying activism, including for Pales- Starmer has won strong to exploit Labour’s divisions, tinian causes. Among his sup- Lukashenko warns Belarus protesters backing from Jewish groups noting Starmer had continued porters, criticism of Israel which, in evidence to the EHRC, to serve in Corbyn’s shadow veered often into anti-Jewish AFP — MINSK Lukashenko — emboldened nowhere to retreat, and we are detailed a deluge of anti-Semitic cabinet when anti-Semitic inci- tropes and conspiracies. by Russia’s backing — has not going to retreat.” abuse online and in party dents were on the rise. The EHRC found damning Belarus strongman Alexander refused to step down despite The protest movement has meetings during Corbyn’s lead- Veteran socialist Corbyn instances where Corbyn’s lead- Lukashenko ordered his persistent mass gatherings of kept up large-scale demonstra- ership, including death threats at vowed to fight the suspension ership team underplayed, security chiefs yesterday to Belarusians demanding his res- tions since August, with tens of the hands of left-wingers. and his supporters are mobi- belittled or ignored complaints crack down on protesters and ignation and new elections. thousands taking to the streets Jewish Labour Movement lising, with the radical group by Jewish members, and some- “take no prisoners” in his At a meeting with new police every weekend. Another dem- chair Mike Katz said the Momentum planning an online times actively interfered to grimmest warning yet after chiefs following a reshuffle, onstration is scheduled for decision to suspend Corbyn was rally against Starmer’s “attack support favoured allies. The months of demonstrations. Lukashenko said it was time to Sunday. “brave and correct”, vowing to on the left”. charge of political interference The ex-Soviet nation has get tough on opposition pro- After an initial police work with Starmer “and put this Corbyn ally Len McCluskey, means Starmer must tread a witnessed mass protests since testers. “We will take no pris- crackdown on protests that shameful period behind us”. the head of the Unite union, one fine line between condemning the 66-year-old authoritarian oners. If someone touches a serv- resulted in thousands of deten- But Starmer acknowledged of Labour’s biggest financial his predecessor’s actions and leader claimed a landslide iceman — I’ve already spoken to tions and claims of torture in on BBC TV that the suspension backers, said the suspension allowing internal party proce- victory in August presidential generals — he should leave prisons, the authorities this month had overwhelmed his efforts to would “create chaos within the dures to play out, now that elections that critics and without his hands at the very threatened to use live ammunition “recognise the hurt, draw a line party and in doing so Corbyn is under investigation. Western leaders say was rigged. least,” he said. “That’s it. We have to disperse protesters. COVID-19 cases EU to fund transfer of virus patients across borders soar across AFP — BRUSSELS greater coordination in their leaders that “a coordinated called on EU states to adopt their own healthcare system, we responses to the epidemic, European approach is of great joint standards for rapid antigen must work together where we Western Balkans Brussels has set aside €220m which is once again sweeping importance in combating the testing. can.” The informal videocon- to transfer COVID-19 patients over Europe in a second-wave pandemic. “This will then enable us to ference, hosted by European REUTERS — ZAGREB/BELGRADE from hard-hit member states rapidly outpacing the original “Especially for Germany, as describe the optimal setting for Council president Charles Michel, to neighbours with spare hos- disaster in March and April. a country in the middle of the different forms of tests,” she is supposed to become a semi- COVID-19 infections are rock- pital beds, EU chief Ursula von They were urged not to Europe, it is important that the said. “And it will enable us for regular forum for EU leaders to eting across the Western der Leyen said on Thursday. close their borders to each borders remain open, that there a mutual recognition of test coordinate their response over Balkans with hospitals close to Speaking after a videocon- other, but to work together to is a functioning economic cycle results across the European the coming months. being overwhelming by ference with the 27 EU leaders, share the best techniques for and that we fight the pandemic Union. And that of course is Face-to-face EU summits incoming patients, prompting a Von der Leyen called for controlling the virus and together,” she said. important mainly when have been scaled back or post- race to build additional clinics European capitals to pool coro- prepare the distribution of an Von der Leyen, herself an essential travel is taking place.” poned amid fears that senior with case numbers likely to navirus data as “the good use eventual vaccine. academic epidemiologist before In a tweet, the Netherlands’ officials will be exposed or peak in coming weeks. of the money requires good According to her going into German politics, said premier Mark Rutte said there spread the virus further, with Croatians queued up in information in exchange”. spokesman, Germany’s Chan- “massive testing” would be key had been “good discussion” and Belgium, and Brussels in par- hundreds of cars before the The leaders heard calls for cellor Angela Merkel told the to getting through the crisis and “though each country organises ticular, badly hit. Zagreb Fair gate in the capital yesterday waiting to get a COVID-19 test, with new daily Ukraine President cases approaching 3,000. Police fan out in Madrid Authorities reported 2,776 calls for court infections and 20 deaths in Croatia, a nation of 4 million reshuffle in to avert weekend exodus people, over the past 24 hours, graft crisis AFP — MADRID Extremadura as the only but epidemiologists warned mainland area yet to do so, numbers could rise to up to AFP — KIEV Spanish police deployed yes- along with the Canary Islands. 4,000 a day in the coming terday at Madrid’s airport and Although most areas will weeks. “We expect to see a Ukrainian President Volo- train stations to ensure that keep the measure in place for peak in infections in two to dymyr Zelensky called on par- people respected an inter- two weeks, authorities in Madrid three weeks,” said Kresimir liament to dissolve the consti- regional lockdown to reduce have only imposed the closure Lujetic, head of Croatia’s tutional court, as hundreds of holiday weekend travel and slow for the next two weekends, both Medical Chamber. people gathered yesterday to the spread of the coronavirus. three-day holidays. He added that Zagreb hos- protest a ruling to block a Most of Spain’s 17 regions Ahead of the closure, there pital wards treating corona- number of anti-corruption laws. have announced some form of was “an increased number of virus patients had reached full Zelensky late on Thursday border closures this week after departures” from the capital, capacity and that a sports hall submitted the bill called the government declared a state Interior Minister Fernando will be turned into a makeshift “renewing public confidence of emergency on Sunday, giving Grande-Marlaska said, insisting hospital to take in more. in constitutional justice”, them the legal tools to close the police had contingency Slovenia, a country of 2 which would void the court’s their borders to anyone moving plans in place to ensure no-one million which earlier this month ruling to block much of the without just cause. would flout the ban. reimposed a lockdown against anti-corruption legislation and Across Europe, governments At Madrid’s Barajas airport, the second wave of the global begin the process of selecting have been enforcing increasingly police controlled terminal pandemic, reported 1,798 new new judges. strict measures to limit mobility, entrances and asked travellers cases yesterday and a new The constitutional court’s with France imposing a new to explain the reason for their record of 23 deaths in a day. move, prompted by a request lockdown and many nations trips, images from La Sexta tel- To the south, Bosnia from around 50 pro-Russian closing clubs and restaurants as evision showed. reported 1,449 new cases and lawmakers, has sparked an cases spiral higher. In Catalonia, where resi- 30 deaths yesterday with outcry in Ukraine, with hun- The northwestern Galicia dents will be unable to leave officials warning hospital Passengers wait for their train at the Atocha station in Madrid dreds of people demonstrating region became the latest to towns and cities over the capacities especially in the yesterday as Spain’s regions announced regional border closures outside the court in the capital impose geographic restrictions weekend, police images showed capital Sarajevo were almost Kiev yesterday. in the hope of avoiding a new lockdown to fight the spread of the on its seven largest cities, officers checking drivers on the full and the system could face Iryna Shyba, a 28-year- coronavirus. leaving sparsely-populated main roads out of Barcelona. collapse. old anti-corruption activist said that without proper legal oversight, “most officials will steal with impunity, plunder Half of aid workers report racism at work, finds poll the Ukrainian budget and Ukraine”. REUTERS — LONDON with abuse scandals tarnishing Of those respondents who identified as belonging to a being discouraged from voicing Riot police on the scene did a $30bn sector that employs chose to share their workplace, racial or ethnic minority said opinions freely. not intervene even after pro- Half of aid workers have expe- more than half a million people, the largest number said they they experienced racial dis- But only 66 workers — testers threw smoke grenades rienced racism at work in the and protests over racism worked for the UN and its crimination in the previous 12 fewer than 50% of those who into the court building. past year, with staff and sparking wider debate on agencies. months, compared to about a experienced racism — reported The head of the presi- activists saying agencies are entrenched discrimination. “Racism and discrimination quarter of non-ethnic minority it, with many saying they feared dential administration Andriy failing to combat discrimination “What aid agencies need to have no place in the humani- workers. professional repercussions or Yermak claimed in a meeting in their ranks, a global survey take from this is that they have tarian system and we are com- The most common form of that the complaint would not with G7 ambassadors that the by the Thomson Reuters Foun- been complicit for a very long mitted to eliminating all forms of racism reported was microag- be handled well. court had been moved to drop dation and aid consultancy Aid time,” said Angela Bruce- racism and racial discrimination gressions — an umbrella term Of those who did go on to the corruption measures as a Works found. Raeburn, a campaigner against in humanitarian work environ- for small, everyday demeaning make formal complaints, about result of “external influence”, An online survey of 286 aid racism in aid and the regional ments and operations,” she said. incidents - which were reported three-quarters were unhappy without further explaining. workers in 63 countries found advocacy director for Africa at “We are making progress by a third of all respondents, with how it was handled. Only “The president will not 143 people had experienced the Global Health Advocacy but there is more to do and we with many saying racism per- one person was happy with the stop on the path of reform and racism at work in the past year, Incubator. will never be complacent.” vaded their work culture. response. About 20% said they fight against corruption,” he ranging from having contribu- “When you say ‘What are The survey was carried out About half of those who were partially satisfied, and the added. Constitutional court tions overlooked, to pay dispar- you doing to combat it?’, you online in August and Sep- experienced racism said it remainder were unsure. chairman Oleksandr Tupytsky ities and overt racist comments, are asking people to change tember, and was open to all involved pay or benefits discrim- More than half of those who responded to Zelensky’s bill by but fewer than half reported it. decades and decades of implicit current and recent aid workers. ination, while a similar number reported racism said they had saying it bore signs of a “con- The findings come as aid bias, of exclusivity, of the good It found that three quarters reported being overlooked for experienced three or more inci- stitutional coup”. agencies face closer scrutiny, old boys network.” of all respondents who promotion, racist comments, and dents in the last year. SATURDAY 31 OCTOBER 2020 AMERICAS 11 US faces record surge in coronavirus cases

REUTERS — NEW YORK The United States up with Utah’s infection rate. recorded its 9 You deserve to understand the A record surge of coronavirus dire situation we face,” Utah cases in the United States is millionth case Governor Gary Herbert said on pushing hospitals to the brink yesterday, nearly Twitter. of capacity and killing up to 3 percent of the “We are having some of the 1,000 people a day, the latest largest outbreaks that we’ve figures show, with much of the population, with had during the entire pandemic. country’s attention focused on almost 229,000 dead And nine, 10 months into this Tuesday’s presidential election. since the outbreak of pandemic, we are still largely The United States recorded not quite prepared,” said Ashish its 9 millionth case yesterday, the pandemic early Jha, dean of the Brown Uni- nearly 3 percent of the popu- this year, according versity School of Public Health lation, with almost 229,000 in Providence, Rhode Island. dead since the outbreak of the to a Reuters tally. Meanwhile, in the US House pandemic early this year, of Representatives, Democrats according to a Reuters tally of released a report yesterday publicly reported data. 46,000, the highest since condemning the Trump admin- The country broke its mid-August. istration’s pandemic response single-day record for new Among the hardest hit states as being “among the worst coronavirus infections on are those most hotly contested failures of leadership in Thursday, reporting at least in the campaign between American history”. 91,248 new cases, as 17 states Republican President Donald The failures had forced at reported their highest daily Trump and Democratic chal- least 6 million Americans into number of hospitalized lenger Joe Biden, such as poverty and left millions more COVID-19 patients since the Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, jobless, it said. “The virus is a An employee for the MTA, is administered a COVID-19 test yesterday in New York City. The MTA has pandemic started, according Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. global scourge, but it has been deployed COVID-19 screening sites for its employees at their bus depots and train yards, as coronavirus the tally. The surge has revived some an American fiasco, killing infections have eclipsed the 9 million threshold. More than 1,000 people of the worst images of the dev- more people in the US than in died of the virus on Thursday, astating first wave of the virus any other country,” said the more than 60 instances in of potential fraud in pro- lacked experience, often marking the third time in in March, April and May, with 71-page interim report by which Trump administration grams to help struggling without competition. October that milestone has been people on ventilators dying Democratic staff of the House officials overruled or side- small businesses and accused The report studied counties passed in a single day. alone in hospital isolation and Select Subcommittee on the lined top scientists to the administration of in 13 states including election The number of hospitalized medical staff physically and Coronavirus Crisis, which was advance the president’s directing funding for critical battlegrounds of Minnesota, COVID-19 patients has risen mentally exhausted. created in April. The report political interests. The sub- supplies to companies that Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and over 50 percent in October to “Our hospitals cannot keep said investigators identified committee found over $4bn had political connections or Florida. At least 7 dead Former defence chief’s arrest hits US-Mexican ties in landslide in AFP — MEXICO CITY said on Thursday that it had Cartel, an extremely violent “In Mexico there’s chose current Defense Minister complained to the United States Mexican drug trafficking organ- resentment, and many in the US Luis Sandoval. El Salvador, over The United States’s shock arrest that it was being kept in the ization,” according to documents agencies no longer want to “Corruption moves through 30 missing earlier this month of a former dark about Cienfuegos’s case. released by prosecutors. The share information with people networks, not individuals. There Mexican defence minister on “We have made our deep indictment was filed in August in the military whom they con- may be others involved,” said REUTERS — SAN SALVADOR drug trafficking charges has dissatisfaction known to the 2019, but made public only after sider corrupt,” Vigil said. Francisco Rivas, head of the triggered a diplomatic row that United States that this infor- his arrest, apparently due to sus- The case is being handled National Citizen Observatory, At least seven people have experts say could jeopardize the mation has not been shared picion of corruption among high- by the same court that sen- a civil society group. been killed in a landslide countries’ cooperation in with our country,” Foreign Min- ranking Mexican officials. tenced drug lord Joaquin “El US prosecutors say the evi- sparked by heavy rains in El fighting powerful cartels. ister Marcelo Ebrard said. Mexico President Andres Chapo” Guzman to life in prison dence against Cienfuegos Salvador and more than 30 The indictment of General Cienfuegos was detained at Manuel Lopez Obrador, who in 2019 and where Mexico’s includes thousands of Black- more are suspected missing Salvador Cienfuegos, a key Los Angeles International has good relations with his US former public security minister berry messages between the under a deluge of mud, the figure in former president Airport on October 15 while on counterpart Donald Trump, Genaro Garcia Luna is being general and cartel members government said yesterday. Enrique Pena Nieto’s 2012 to a trip with his family, and complained that the US Drug prosecuted. Garcia Luna was intercepted by the authorities. The mudslide hit the 2018 government, caught charged with drug trafficking Enforcement Agency (DEA) had detained in Texas in December But some experts are skep- village of Los Angelitos in the Mexico by surprise. and money laundering. acted behind his back. 2019 on charges of taking huge tical. “How is a general with a municipality of Nejapa, around “Trust and cooperation have The 72-year-old retired Mike Vigil, former head of bribes to allow the notorious brilliant career going to give 17km north of the capital, San been damaged. All protocols general is accused of conspiring international operations for the Sinaloa cartel to ship drugs into instructions on an open phone Salvador, after heavy rains between the two countries have to produce and distribute DEA, said that since Cienfuegos the US, which he denies. to a low-profile criminal?” overnight loosened the earth been broken,” Javier Oliva, a cocaine, heroin, methamphet- no longer holds any official At least four people who Oliva said. The claim of the on the flanks of the San Sal- specialist in military affairs at amine and marijuana in the US, position, there was no reason worked with Cienfuegos are still intercepted messages also vador Volcano. the National Autonomous Uni- according to federal prosecutors to inform Mexico of his on active duty, although Lopez fueled longstanding suspicions “At about 11 o’clock at versity of Mexico, said. in New York. He allegedly abused indictment. But the arrest would Obrador has sought to reassure that US agents spy on Mexican night there was thunder and The Mexican government his position “to help the H-2 have consequences, he said. the country that he personally officials. suddenly, we felt like there was a quake, it was when (the landslide) was coming,” said Ricarda Sibrian, 43, Philadelphia lifts curfew after who she had lost her daughter, granddaughter unrest over police killing and son-in-law. “But (it) had already AFP — NEW YORK damaged or looted. Police reached my daughter’s house. shot Wallace, who was car- We managed to get out, but we Philadelphia’s mayor said late rying a knife, after he refused couldn’t get to her,” she said. on Thursday that a curfew he to drop the weapon as his El Salvador’s Civil Pro- had put in effect the previous mother tried to restrain him. tection Agency said the land- evening over unrest that fol- A lawyer for Wallace’s slide had carved a route lowed the police killing of a family, Shaka Johnson, said he approximately 4km in length Black man would not be main- was bipolar and the call to through Los Angelitos, tained for a second night. emergency services was for an sweeping mud, rocks and tree Mayor Jim Kenney none- ambulance. Johnson also said trunks in its path. Authorities theless called on residents to police had fired 14 times when said there were two children stay home except in case of only once could have diffused among the seven dead. emergency. “There will not be the danger. Wallace’s father has Defence Minister Rene a citywide curfew this evening,” asked why officers did not use Francis Merino Monroy Kenney wrote on Twitter. stun guns instead. tweeted photographs from the “However, we encourage The two officers, whose site showing soldiers with a residents to remain home, names have not been released, sniffer dog working alongside unless travel is necessary.” The have been suspended. Police fire crews and civilians to try curfew had been in effect over- and prosecutors are investi- to unearth survivors in the night in Pennsylvania’s largest gating the killing, and Phila- early hours of the morning. city after unrest triggered by delphia Police Commissioner Interior Minister Mario Monday’s fatal police shooting Danielle Outlaw has pledged Military exercise Duran called the situation of 27-year-old Walter Wallace, transparency. “difficult” and said around 35 Amphibious vehicles move during a military exercise, called “Agata” operation, on the multipurpose which was captured on video Kenney said he hoped to people were buried in the amphibious ship Bahia, near the coast of Belem, in the State of Para, Brazil, yesterday. posted to social media. soon make public footage from slide. Thousands of people had cameras worn by the police taken to the streets, with officers that could help clarify looting and violence breaking the circumstances of the out. Fifty-seven officers have shooting. Johnson was quoted Push for police reform in US stutters been injured, one seriously, a by local media saying that the police spokesman said. The footage, viewed by the family two days of unrest have also on Thursday, showed Wallace AFP – MINNEAPOLIS from the city itself. mind, but as African Amer- At least 175 out of about seen 210 arrests. The city was “in obvious mental health In June, the Minneapolis icans, we feel it every day,” he 850 officers have resigned or calmer on Wednesday, but a crisis” and family members Thomas Waltower, a computer City Council announced its said, referring to racial preju- gone on sick leave, according number of stores were still yelling “he’s mental”. coding trainer in Minneapolis, intention to “dismantle” its dices he’s seen from police, to a lawyer who represents had hoped that outrage over the police force and “reimagine a including often being stopped many of them. killing of African American new model of public safety”. in his car. “The Floyd incident, the Bolivians remember COVID-19 departed George Floyd in the city in May Several council members The focus has instead riots, the unrest, the total lack would force an overhaul of the wanted the proposal to be on shifted to a spike in crime. Since of support... has resulted in by baking bread in their likeness police. the ballot on November 3, the beginning of the year, the them just simply saying, ‘I can’t But “it started off with a big when local referendums can city has already recorded 65 continue’,” explained attorney REUTERS — LA PAZ push; and now it’s quiet,” he also be voted on. But the plan homicides, up from 49 in all of Ron Meuser. said, as political parties fight shy was vetoed by an unelected 2019, and an upsurge in But Stuart Schrader, a soci- As the Day of the Dead approaches in Bolivia, bakers are helping of the issue ahead of Tuesday’s commission. shootings. ology researcher at Johns those remembering loved ones lost this year to the COVID-19 presidential election. Elsewhere in the United We had a “horrific Hopkins University, cautioned pandemic by creating loaves in the likeness of the departed. Floyd suffocated under the States, calls for ambitious summer,” Waltower said. Stu- against simple explanations. The bakers knead the dough and shape it into breads in the knee of a white policeman. His police reforms to tackle racism dents from the high school For him, the pandemic and form of people, adding plaster faces. Known as “T’anta wawa”, death, captured on phone video, and misconduct have also where he works were caught its economic impact may have Bolivians believe they ease the journey of the visiting dead. triggered huge protests been toned down as the up in exchanges of gunfire. played a bigger role in the All Saints’ Day is marked tomorrow in many parts of Latin throughout the country and put election nears. For him, the reason is increase in crime, also seen in America, a time when families remember their deceased. With police reform high on the “We don’t hear anything simple: There are fewer officers New York or Chicago. the region hit hard by the coronavirus, this year will be poignant national agenda. about what they want to change,” on the ground, which sends a Like many of the pro- for many, and restrictions on social gatherings mean it will be There were calls for compre- said Waltower, who trains girls “green light” to criminals. testers, he believes that part harder for the usual festivities to take place. Bakers said some hensive change - ranging from in coding in Minneapolis’ poor Since Floyd’s death and the of the law enforcement budget locals are also requesting bread in the likeness of health workers, better training to a controversial and predominantly Black violent riots and looting that could be usefully redirected to remember those who died fighting the coronavirus pandemic. campaign to “defund the police,” northern neighbourhoods. followed, the city’s police force to social programs to combat Bolivia has reported over 8,700 deaths from COVID-19. with the strongest move coming “It’s out of sight, out of has shrunk sharply. inequality. 12 AMERICAS SATURDAY 31 OCTOBER 2020 Trump and Biden in final quest for votes “I don’t take anything for granted. We’re going to work for every single vote until the last minute,” Biden told reporters in his home state of Delaware before boarding a plane for the Midwest.

REUTERS — WILMINGTON

President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden will barnstorm across battleground states in the American Midwest where the coronavirus pandemic has exploded again, as they head into the final weekend before Election Day on Tuesday. Trump will hold rallies in Supporters listen as US President Donald Trump speaks at a “Make America Great Again” rally at Michigan, Wisconsin and Min- Oakland County International Airport, in Waterford Township, Michigan, yesterday. RIGHT: Democratic nesota, while Biden has planned US presidential nominee and former Vice-President Joe Biden waves during a drive-in campaign stops in Wisconsin and Min- stop, in Des Moines, Iowa. nesota as well as Iowa on his busiest day of campaigning yet. “I don’t take anything for widespread disapproval of his expect vote-tallying to take days. Election Day could show Trump rallies where supporters remain Michigan and Wisconsin granted. We’re going to work for handling of the coronavirus. Trump has repeatedly in the lead before flipping as in their cars for safety. were two of the three histori- every single vote until the last Opinion polls in the most com- claimed without evidence that more Democratic-heavy ballots Trump has for months played cally Democratic industrial minute,” he told reporters in his petitive states that will decide mail-in ballots are susceptible are added, a phenomenon some down the pandemic, telling sup- states, along with Pennsylvania, home state of Delaware before the election have shown a to fraud, and has more recently have called the “red mirage” porters in recent weeks that the that narrowly voted for the boarding a plane for the Midwest. closer race. argued that only the results and the “blue shift”. country is “turning the corner” Republican Trump in 2016, Biden, running mate Kamala The pandemic and an available on election night The pandemic has domi- even as cases surge. delivering him an upset victory. Harris and their spouses will extraordinary level of enthu- should count. nated the final days of the cam- The President’s oldest son Minnesota, which has not spend their last day of cam- siasm have prompted Amer- Early voting data show that paign. Since overcoming his also tried to minimize the crisis, voted for a Republican presi- paigning on Monday in Pennsyl- icans to vote early in unprece- far more Democrats have voted own COVID-19 infection, Trump telling Fox News on Thursday the dential candidate since 1972, is vania, enabling them to hit all dented numbers. The deluge of by mail, while Republicans are has maintained a frenetic pace, pandemic has “gone to almost one of the few Democratic states four corners of that closely mail-in ballots makes it likely expected to turn out in greater holding up to three rallies a day nothing”. He spoke on the same that Trump is trying to flip this divided state in the race’s final that the winner of several states, numbers on Tuesday. with thousands of attendees day that more than 1,000 people year. Biden has held a steady lead hours, the campaign said. including major battlegrounds This means preliminary despite concerns the events died of COVID-19 in the United in opinion polls in Minnesota and Trump has trailed Biden in such as Pennsylvania and Wis- results from states like Penn- could spread the virus. States and the country reported said his visit was not a sign he national opinion polls for consin, will not be clear on sylvania that do not begin Biden has held smaller a single-day record of more than was worried about the state. months, partly because of Tuesday night. Election officials counting mail-in ballots until events, including “drive-in” 91,000 cases. COVID-19 patients infect Biden pledges task force to half of household: Study reunite children separated at AFP — WASHINGTON compared to 82, which makes it harder to generalize the US-Mexico border People who develop COVID-19 results for under-18s. infect around half of their In terms of household char- REUTERS — DELAWARE household members, with acteristics, the median number adults only slightly more likely of members per bedroom was Democratic presidential than children to spread the one, 69 percent of index patients nominee Joe Biden vowed to virus, a US government study reported spending four or more create a task force to reunite said yesterday. hours in the same room with one more than 500 children who The paper by the Centers of or more household member the were separated from their Disease Control and Prevention day before, and 40 percent the families at the US-Mexico (CDC) is the latest to attempt to day after illness onset. border by the Trump admin- quantify the household trans- Forty percent of index istration and whose parents mission rate of the disease, with patients reported sleeping in have not been located. previous research varying the same room with one or Under Republican Pres- widely but generally suggesting more household members ident Donald Trump thou- that adults are bigger drivers before illness onset and 30 sands of children were sepa- than children. percent after illness onset. rated from their parents at the Voters cast their early ballots for the 2020 Presidential election at Madison Square Garden, in New The new research by the Another important finding border, mostly in 2017 and York City, yesterday. Reportedly, the school is the busiest polling station in the city where voters, in CDC involved finding cases of of the study was that fewer 2018, because their parents some cases, wait up to six hours to cast their ballots. “index” or initial patients with than half of household were being prosecuted for lab-confirmed coronavirus members with confirmed illegal entry or over concerns infection in Nashville, Ten- infections reported symptoms about their identities or Early US vote surpasses 85 million; nessee, and Marshfield, Wis- at the time infection was first criminal histories. consin, starting in April 2020. detected, and many reported Separations happened Both the index patients and no symptoms throughout seven both before and after Trump Texas exceeds 2016 turnout their household members were days of follow-up. This under- unveiled a “zero tolerance” trained remotely to complete scores the potential for trans- policy to prosecute all illegal REUTERS — WASHINGTON states across the country, yesterday, where he addressed symptom diaries and obtain mission for asymptomatic sec- border crossers in May 2018, including Georgia and Arizona. reporters before leaving on a self-collected specimens, ondary contacts. only to quickly reverse it after With four days remaining in the Texas hasn’t voted for a campaign trip. “Texas - we’re which were either nasal swabs Other studies carried out an international outcry. US presidential campaign, more Democrat for president since doing very well,” Trump said. only or nasal swabs and saliva abroad have at times found The American Civil Lib- than 85 million Americans have 1976, but polls suggest Demo- The Trump campaign has samples, for 14 days. lower household infection rates. erties Union sued over the cast ballots, including 9 million cratic nominee Joe Biden is cited its own internal analysis A total of 191 enrolled The CDC said this might be matter in 2018 and US District in Texas, where the secretary leading among the voters who that it said showed the Pres- household contacts of 101 index because those studies didn’t have Judge Dana Sabraw in San of state’s office yesterday said have helped set the unprece- ident is ahead by hundreds of patients reported having no enough follow-up, or because Diego, California, ordered the early voting had eclipsed total dented early vote levels. Polls thousands of votes among early symptoms on the day of their those patients isolated in facil- families be reunited. turnout from 2016. also show Biden effectively tied ballots. Trump won Texas by a index patient’s illness onset. In ities outside their houses or There are around 4,000 Early voting has been with Republican President 9-percentage-point margin in the follow-up period, 102 of the applied more stringent mask use. children who could fall under setting records across the Donald Trump in Texas. 2016, when total turnout 191 contacts had SARS-CoV-2 It recommended that the reunification order, but as United States, with nationwide Harris County, the state’s reached 8,969,226, according positive tests, for a “secondary people who think they might of October 20 parents of 545 turnout passing 60% of the 2016 biggest, which includes Houston to the secretary of state. infection rate” of 53 percent. have COVID-19 should isolate children could not be reached total, according to the U.S. Elec- and has become a Democratic Biden’s running mate, US The secondary infection themselves from others in by attorneys and non-profits tions Project at the University stronghold in recent years, Senator Kamala Harris of Cal- rate when index patients were their household, including searching for them, according of Florida. But Texas is just the opened eight 24-hour voting ifornia, is scheduled to visit over 18 was 57 percent, which sleeping separately and using to a court filing in the San second state, after Hawaii, to locations on Thursday, helping Texas. Billionaire Michael fell to 43 percent when the a separate bathroom if pos- Diego case. break the full-year record boost the turnout numbers to Bloomberg plans to spend $15m index patient was under 18. sible, and wear a mask. People “On his first day as Pres- before Tuesday’s Election Day. their record level on Friday. in the state and Ohio in a last- Overall there were far exposed should not delay iso- ident, Joe Biden will issue an Yesterday was is the final Trump struck an optimistic minute bid to flip both Repub- fewer children index patients lating until their infection is Executive Order creating a day of early voting in several note at the White House lican-leaning states. than there were adults: 20 confirmed by a test. federal task force to reunite these children with their parents,” the Biden campaign said. Trump and Biden clashed US cities seen ill-prepared for boom in elderly population over the issue during their final debate on October 22, ahead REUTERS — WASHINGTON never leave their homes,” said index created by AARP, a non- of - healthcare. interventions far more effec- of the November 3 election. Jennifer Molinsky, a report co- profit focused on older Amer- Besides the forecasts for a tively, experts said. On Thursday, Trump cam- As the United States braces for author with the Harvard center. icans. It rates cities on the basis sharp increase in the elderly pop- “Overwhelmingly older paign spokeswoman Courtney a surge in the number of elderly “So it’s important we create of key issues such as housing, ulation, Molinsky said the nation people express a desire to stay Parella said the president’s people in the years ahead, most the kind of environment where ease of transportation, faced an “unprecedented” in their own home, but there is administration was trying to cities are ill-equipped to meet people are supported and able healthcare amenities and increase in the amount of time a mismatch between what strengthen border security and the needs of older residents, to be in public spaces.” whether they include multigen- that people will stay living in their people have and what they need “is actively working to undo researchers said yesterday. The US “baby boomer” gen- erational communities. houses, as opposed to nursing to do that successfully,” said the mistakes of the previous People of colour, those with eration is aging in such a way Researchers then compared homes or other options. Cindy Cox-Roman, interim administrations, identify these disabilities and low-income that the proportion of the pop- the index results with national That will strain existing chief executive at HelpAge USA,. separated families, and reunite groups are at higher risk of being ulation aged over 80 will double survey data, allowing them to infrastructure and services, she The coronavirus pandemic children with their parents.” unable to access the services they by 2035, according to 2017 see which social and economic said, pointing to Joint Center has heightened such disparities, According to the ACLU, need in old age, found a report findings by the Joint Center. groups generally live in which estimates that less than 4% of she said, noting that “essential approximately 1,400 addi- by the Harvard Joint Center for But most Americans do not kind of communities, Molinsky US housing is considered acces- information about COVID-19 tional children were sepa- Housing Studies and the AARP live in communities considered said. For instance, renters and sible for older residents - built has been shared online by local rated by the Trump admin- Public Policy Institute. “liveable” for the elderly, low-income homeowners tend on a single story, for instance. governments, but many lower- istration but are not currently “The last thing we want is according to the new report, not to live in places with top The report’s findings could income older households lack covered by Sabraw’s reuni- for people to age in place but which draws on a liveability scores on access to - and quality help city officials target their online access.” fication order.