SHAABAN 8, 1441 AH WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2020

20 Pages Max 28º Min 15º 150 Fils Established 1961

ISSUE NO: 18095 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net

Co-op delivery services available India reeling from migrant Great Pyramid lights up From winners to worriers: Isolated 2 during curfew hours in Kuwait 7 worker exodus over virus 15 in solidarity against virus 20 athletes face mental health risks

23 new coronavirus cases in Kuwait; 82-year-old recovers

Mahboula building cordoned off • Global lockdown tightens as deaths mount

By B Izzak and Agencies some 500 Asian workers after reports said at least three of them tested pos- KUWAIT: The ministry of health itive for the coronavirus. Images post- announced yesterday that 23 people ed on social media showed police offi- were infected by the novel coron- cers guarding the building with a avirus in the past 24 hours. This brings large group of medical staff, who the country’s tally of confirmed virus began testing the workers one by one. cases up to 289, the ministry’s A police officer described the situa- spokesperson Dr Abdullah Al-Sanad tion as serious and advised the labor- said in the daily briefing. Of the new ers not to venture out of their homes, cases, 11 are Kuwaitis, 10 Indians and saying between 12 and 14 workers two Bangladeshis. were living in a single room in the Earlier in the day, Health Minister building. Sheikh Dr Basel Al-Sabah announced The problem of expat workers the recovery of an 82-year-old contracting the coronavirus has woman from COVID-19, raising the caused serious alarm among health country’s total recoveries to 73. In and security authorities and prompted addition, 216 virus patients are still lawmakers to demand a complete receiving treatment, while 13 others lockdown on some expat-dominated are in intensive care units, including areas like Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh and three in critical condition. The minister Shuwaikh Industrial Area. Health told KUNA that necessary lab tests authorities were alarmed when the and analyses had shown the recovery source of the disease could not be of the senior citizen, who will be established in a number of expat cas- admitted to a rehabilitation ward es, which raises the possibility that before being discharged from hospital there are undetected coronavirus cas- KUWAIT: A building in Mahboula is under lockdown in a couple of days. es among expat workers living under after the discovery of three cases of coronavirus Meanwhile, authorities cordoned inhuman conditions. among Asian workers residing there. — Photo by off a building in Mahboula housing Continued on Page 16 Fouad Al-Shaikh

processing venues in Farwaniya on specific dates ports along with two pieces of luggage (20 kg each News in brief Amnesty begins depending on their nationality. plus 7 kg hand carry bags). Those who have no Illegal Filipino residents are the first on the list of valid passports should bring three passport-size Moody’s maintains Kuwait rating expats to be given a chance to leave. The Philippine photos with blue background,” according to the today with Filipino Embassy in Kuwait has published an advisory with advisory. Embassy officials at the venue will process KUWAIT: Moody’s credit rating maintained regards to the procedures to be followed. the travel documents of Filipinos who need them. Kuwait sovereign rating at Aa2, but said it would residency violators “Undocumented Filipinos and those with abscond- “There is no need to visit the embassy, as an assess the country’s ability to change the way it is ing cases are encouraged to go to the following embassy booth will be there to assist our nationals,” addressing budget deficits amidst a failure to issue By Ben Garcia & Meshaal Al-Enezi processing centers of the ministry of interior from Charge d’Affaires Charleson Hermosura told Kuwait April 1-5 from 8 am to 2 pm,” the advisory reads. Times yesterday. “Once the applications are a new public debt law and the continuation of KUWAIT: Residency violators in Kuwait have been Males should proceed to Al-Muthanna Primary approved, amnesty grantees will not be allowed to withdrawal from the General Reserve Fund (GRF). granted a 30-day period starting today to leave School for Boys (Block 1, Street 122) and females to leave the processing centers. They will be sent to the Moody’s said it would also evaluate Kuwait gov- without paying fines or airfare, with the possibility Farwaniya Primary School for Girls (Block 1, Street interior ministry’s designated holding areas until their ernment’s attempts this year to prevent expansion of returning to the country later. Violators have 76) in Farwaniya. flight back to the Philippines,” the advisory added. of deficit to be 30 percent of GDP. Moody’s said been instructed to come directly to the designated “Amnesty applicants must bring their valid pass- Continued on Page 16 credit strength was supported by the huge assets of the Future Generations Fund, which make up almost all assets of the GRF. — KUNA which is part of the United Arab Emirates, had Expo 2020 Dubai hoped to attract some 25 million visits to the six- Hard times shape month event and many of its economic forecasts are US deploys Patriots to Iraq pinned to the mammoth gathering. supports 1-year “Many countries have been significantly impact- Saudi, Kuwaiti BAGHDAD: The US has deployed Patriot air ed by COVID-19 and they have therefore expressed defense batteries to Iraqi bases to protect postponement a need to postpone the opening of Expo 2020 virus response American troops recently targeted by Iranian Dubai by one year,” Expo 2020 Dubai director gen- eral Reem Al-Hashimi said. “The UAE and Expo missiles, US and Iraqi military sources told AFP DUBAI/RIYADH: Organizers of Expo 2020, a RIYADH/KUWAIT: The world’s last major coron- multi-billion-dollar world trade fair originally 2020 Dubai have listened. And in the spirit of soli- Monday. Washington and Baghdad had been avirus outbreak, in 2012, began in Saudi Arabia, scheduled to open in Dubai in October, on Monday darity and unity, we supported the proposal to negotiating the placement of the defense system where a faltering response allowed the Middle East recommended a one-year postponement due to the explore a one year postponement.” Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) to kill several hun- since January, when Tehran fired ballistic mis- coronavirus pandemic. Dubai, the glitzy city-state Continued on Page 16 dred people and spread across the region. This time siles at the Ain al-Asad base. One of the Patriot around, the kingdom was better prepared, public batteries was deployed to Ain al-Asad last week health officials say. Their experience of MERS and was being assembled. Another battery was meant hospitals had already established separate deployed to a base in Arbil, the capital of Iraq’s triage units for respiratory illnesses, with special- autonomous Kurdish region. Two further batter- ized ventilation to protect medics from infection. ies destined for Iraq are still in Kuwait. — AFP At least two hospitals also had drive-thru testing in place, which the United States is scrambling to implement, and seven weeks before the first domes- UAE loosens VoIP restrictions tic case, authorities developed guidelines to deal with the new virus. “Their experience with MERS DUBAI: The UAE on Monday loosened restric- uniquely positioned them because they learned a lot tions on a number of messaging applications as from that,” said Joanna Gaines from the US Centers residents work and study from home during a for Disease Control and Prevention, which for years coronavirus lockdown, but it maintained the bar has supplied the Saudi health ministry with its only on WhatsApp and FaceTime. Google Hangouts full-time foreign disease expert. “They know it’s Meet, Cisco Webex, Avaya Spaces, BlueJeans MERS season and they’re already cued up for that. and Slack are all available “on an exceptional The preparation and processes ... really cuts down basis and until further notice”, the on your exposure right away.” Telecommunications Regulatory Authority said Saudi Arabia and neighboring Kuwait took dras- in a statement. Several other applications - tic measures early on to contain the new pandemic, halting air travel, imposing curfews, and quarantin- Microsoft Teams, Skype for Business, Zoom and ing and testing thousands of people. Saudi Arabia Blackboard were made accessible earlier in SHARJAH: An elderly man wearing a protective mask lifts his hands in prayer outside a mosque which has has reported 1,453 infections and eight deaths while March when the crisis hit. —AFP been closed to worshipers amid the coronavirus pandemic on Monday. — AFP Continued on Page 16 2 Local Wednesday, April 1, 2020 Co-op delivery services available during curfew hours in Kuwait Payment on delivery by cash, K-Net or credit card

By Nawara Fattahova Curfew Diaries KUWAIT: As part of the government’s directives to people to stay at home and relieve the pressure on co-ops, the union of cooperatives under the ministry of social affairs announced launching delivery serv- Fake news virus ices at most co-ops. As mentioned in Kuwait Times previously, this service is available for both citizens and expats living in the area of each co-operative store. This service is available during the curfew hours. Different co-ops have different rules in terms of By Jamie Etheridge payment methods and so on. Although the head of the cooperative societies’ union announced that the min- imum purchase limit for deliveries is KD 10, some co- ops have lower limits. For instance, Khaitan Co-op is delivering for purchases above KD 3. The customer [email protected] can send a list of the items they want to buy on the WhatsApp number 67779745, and the co-op will re- ince we started seeing the first coronavirus spond with the numbers of deliverymen. The cus- cases in late February, a parallel phenomenon tomer can choose any item available at the co-op, even nonfood items. This service is available from KUWAIT: Shoppers waiting in line outside the Abdullah Al-Salem Co-operative Society yesterday. of fake news has been thriving alongside. As — Photo by Fouad Al-Shaikh S 5:00 pm to 12:00 am, and buyers can pay by cash, K- the government battled to organize a response and communicate the necessary news and information Net or credit card. to the public, fake news rose in tandem, spreading At Shamiya and Shuwaikh Co-op, the purchase mobile numbers for ordering depending on the block, ad- 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, as it doesn’t have the permits fear and panic faster than the virus itself. Fake news order has to be for at least KD 10. Shuwaikh Indus- vising consumers to only order important items and in rea- for delivery in Hawally during the curfew yet. may seem harmless, but in some instances it can be trial Area is not included. Buyers should order by call- sonable quantities. The order can either be accepted The co-op also provides the option of ordering fatal. For example, in India, people have been ing 1877788 or Whatsapp (96699500). A link for completely or rejected completely. Certain items cannot on its website, which has almost all items, deliv- beaten and killed as a result of fake news spread via online payment will be sent to them, and they will re- be returned. The consumer should send a WhatsApp mes- ered by a different team. Furthermore, it provides messaging apps. ceive their order on their doorsteps. The service is sage including the items, name and address on the follow- a service for Hawally of ordering online and pick- At the newspaper, we see dozens of fake news available between 5:00 pm and 12:00 am. ing numbers: 50881977/50881990/50881991/50881993. ing it up from the co-op. For information, cus- stories, fake announcements and other fake infor- Adailiya Co-op delivers in the same hours. Also, Al-Rawda and Hawally Co-op have various op- tomers should call 50881334 or 96622883. Most mation on a daily basis. Sometimes it’s a video sent the order has to be not less than KD 10, with payment tions for ordering. According to their call center, co-ops have accounts on social media, especially via WhatsApp that is days, weeks or months old. on delivery. People can order on mobile number they are ready even for a total curfew. It is the only Instagram, with their phone numbers and more in- Sometimes it’s based on a rumor or a government 65523400 or through the Milesfood app. Salwa Co- co-op that has no minimum limit on orders. Pay- formation. Kuwait enforced a country-wide cur- announcement that hasn’t happened yet (and may op provides this service from 6:00 pm to midnight. ment is on delivery with either K-Net or credit few from 5:00 pm to 4:00 am until further notice not happen or may change in content or timing), The minimum order should be KD 10, and payment card. The delivery service is available for Rawda as part of efforts to curb the spread of the novel and sometimes it’s simply people sharing voice can only be done by K-Net. The co-op has published from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, and for Hawally from coronavirus (COVID-19). notes from a ‘doctor within the ministry of health’ but never named, or a friend, cousin or classmate (also never named) who saw this with their own eyes and now this person is sharing it. Yesterday, several people sent the newspaper notices they had received via WhatsApp suppos- edly from the government. The notice claimed to be from the ministry of health and offered guidance on what to do if you suspect that you have the coron- avirus. It then exhorted people to republish this no- tice and said that if you “did not publish it, I know that you are a partner in killing your own people...greetings from the Ministry of Health.” Aside from the terrible grammar, the message highlights the vast amounts of fake news pretending to be official notices that people are bombarded with daily. Social media and messaging apps like WhatsApp have helped in myriad ways to keep us all connected. They provide a wide range of social benefits and have made the isolation of ‘staying at home’ more bearable. But they also serve as a conduit for the worst of human impulses. Rather like a virus themselves, fake news items spread among the population, and the more sensational, the more outrageous, the more racist or hate mongering, the more likely they are to spread. It’s almost impossible to resist the urge to pass these videos, texts and messages on to oth- ers - even if you can’t confirm their legitimacy. KUWAIT: Authorities have quarantined an entire complex of buildings in Mahboula after three residents tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and Just like social distancing, there are measures we were moved to hospital for further observation. — Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh can take to stop fake news in its track. Instead of forwarding or sharing immediately when you re- ceive something shocking or sensational, pause. Then ask yourself a few questions: Is this true? What is the source? What is the information saying Coronavirus in Kuwait: What we know so far or requesting that you do? Can I confirm this infor- mation with official channels or publications? KUWAIT: Kuwait has so far recorded 289 cases in- 9- Administrative offices. - 51575591 (Capital Educational Zone) Each person that pauses reduces the spread of fected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). With 10- Cooking gas branches. - 51576117 (Hawally Educational Zone) the infection, and together we can conquer this the exception of thirteen cases in intensive care, all 11- Co-ops’ family needs branches. - 51576576 (Farwaniya Educational Zone) harmful virus. cases are in stable condition and are recovering in 12- Feed shops. - 51577055 (Jahra Educational Zone) quarantined locations designated by the govern- Meanwhile, the following industrial and craft ac- - 51577655 (Ahmadi Educational Zone) ment for this purpose, while 911 have been dis- tivities, which are licensed by the Public Authority - 51577951 (Mubarak Al-Kabeer Educational Zone) charged from quarantine after exhibiting no for Industry (PAI), are allowed to open: - 51578171 (Religious Studies Department) symptoms during their 14-day quarantine period, 1- Food. - 51588599 (Private Education Department) MoI details amnesty the Ministry of Health confirmed. Meanwhile, 73 2- Petrochemicals. - 51592515 (Services Department) people have recovered completely after previously 3- Gases. - 51594544 (Public Relations Department) being infected with the virus, the ministry said. 4- Plastic. procedures There are 216 people receiving treatment and 2,464 5- Cardboard and paper. Medicine delivery quarantined as of yesterday. Kuwait is taking meas- Kuwait’s Ministry of Health (MOH) launched a KUWAIT: The interior ministry’s relations and security ures to test Kuwaitis coming from infected areas for Precautions new medicine delivery service for people in Kuwait, media department announced that Deputy Prime Minister potential infection, as it has already tested thou- All arrivals to Kuwait from all countries are to be which they can use to order medications to be de- and Interior Minister Anas Al-Saleh has issued an amnesty sands of people. Meanwhile, Kuwait requires all ex- placed under compulsory institutional quarantine livered during curfew hours. The medications will decision allowing residency violators to leave the country patriates who arrived from travel on March 1 and for 14 days, during which the person is monitored, be delivered within 72 hours after the order is sub- without paying any fines or airfare with a chance to return beyond to visit Kuwait International Fairground and prescribed health procedures are applied, the mitted. To place an order, patients should send a to Kuwait later. The ministry added that this amnesty was where the Ministry of Health has set up a center at health ministry said. Kuwait halted all commercial WhatsApp to the numbers for the hospitals and issued in view of the circumstances the country is currently Hall 6 to test people for possible infection. flights until further notice. Authorities also an- medical centers as listed below. The patient should going through and as part of the precautionary measures nounced a public holiday in the country from March include their name, Civil ID number, hospital or taken to fight COVID-19, especially since fines had been Curfew 12 to April 9, with work resuming on April 12, while clinic file number, mobile phone number and the accumulating against violators. Kuwait enforced a country-wide curfew from entities providing vital services will remain open. medicine needed to the following numbers: The decision explained that individuals desiring to pro- 5:00 pm to 4:00 am until further notice. Earlier, the State departments have been on high alert to - Amiri Hospital: 50880699 cure valid residencies in Kuwait and are willing to pay the government decided to close all shopping malls, take precautions against the potential spread of the - Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital: 50880755 fines without being subjected to investigations will be al- beauty salons and barber shops as part of its meas- virus. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has - Farwaniya Hospital: 50880852 lowed to pay the fines and legalize their status if they meet ures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The the required conditions. The decision explained that this taken measures to make sure that facial masks, hand - Adan Hospital: 50880908 exemption includes Kuwaiti citizens’ spouses, parents and government also allowed restaurants to host a max- sanitizers and other goods remain accessible to the - Jahra Hospital: 50881066 children, widowed or divorced women who were married imum of five people at a time and in case there are public. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has - Sabah Hospital: 97632660 to Kuwaiti citizens with custody of children and domestic lines, the distance must be at least one meter be- suspended classes for March at all public and pri- - Jaber Hospital: 96992079 helpers who have been in Kuwait since March 1, 2020. tween people. vate schools (for both students and teaching staffs); - Ibn Sina Hospital: 99613948 In addition, the decision explained that special sites first from March 1 to March 12, and later extended - Chest Hospital: 99258749 have been allocated to accommodate violators who final- Operating businesses it until March 29, before eventually suspending - Razi Hospital: 97633487 ize their papers pending departure, and these sites will be The following activities are allowed to operate schools until August for grade 12 and October for - Kuwait Cancer Control Center: 96735242 provided with all living comforts and free means of suste- outside of the curfew period between 5:00 am and other stages. Kuwait suspended issuing entry per- - Psychiatric Hospital: 97350113 nance. The decision notes that violators desiring to leave 4:00 pm: mits and visas unless those issued through diplo- - Physiotherapy Hospital: 99824037 during the amnesty will be received in special centers in 1- Various types of foodstuff and supplies stores matic missions. - Maternity Hospital: 98559531 Farwaniya to file and register their applications in the pe- an markets. - As’ad Al-Hamad Dermatology Center: riod of April 1 to 30 as follows: 2- Laundromats. Hotlines 98514508 Male violators will be received at Al-Muthanna primary 3- Various type of repair shops. - The Ministry of Health has set the following - Zain Hospital: 97552031 school for boys, Farwaniya, block 1, street 122; female vio- 4- Automobile repair, maintenance and spare hotlines to receive inquiries about the coronavirus - NBK Hospital: 96931761 lators will be received at Farwaniya primary school for girls parts. 24/7: 24970967 - 96049698 - 99048619. - Al-Rashed Allergy Hospital: 94162470 in Farwaniya, block 1, street 76. Violators will be received 5- Money exchangers. - The Education Ministry set the following hot- - Infectious Diseases Hospital: 96989164 from 8 am till 2 pm according to the following dates and 6- Pharmacies. lines to receive inquiries on school closures related - Palliative Care Hospital: 94024786 nationalities: Philippines (April 1-5, 2020), Egypt (April 6- 7- Various types of restaurants. to the anti-coronavirus measures: - Sabah Al-Ahmad Urology Center: 90952469 10), India (April 11-15), Bangladesh (April 16-20), Sri Lanka 8- Optical shops. - 24970967 (24/7 hotline) - KFH Addiction Treatment Center: 94169363 (April 21-25), other nationalities (April 26-30, 2020). 3 Local Wednesday, April 1, 2020 Global economy may bounce back in six months: Kuwaiti experts Concrete decisions needed to restore market equilibrium

KUWAIT: The world economy is likely ing Bukhdour’s views, Karam said that to recover within six months’ time, with the ongoing slump in oil prices was oil prices bouncing back to $40 a bar- mainly attributed to world govern- Kuwait able to rel by the end of the second quarter of ments’ strict measures and precautions this year, two Kuwaiti experts suggest. in a bid to mitigate the ramifications of The fact that oil prices still stand at $25 the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). He defeat COVID-19: a barrel in spite of the novel coron- hoped that coronavirus treatments or avirus (COVID-19) pandemic gives vaccines could be developed in the China envoy some hope that near future in the global econ- order to rebalance omy could recover the world oil mar- KUWAIT: Chinese Am- within six months’ Historic ket. bassador to Kuwait Li time, opined Hajaj Global oil Minggang said on Mon- Bukhdour. He un- drop in oil prices slumped to day that Kuwait is able derlined that the fresh 18-year lows to conquer the novel 18-year low of oil demand Monday, pulling coronavirus (COVID-19) prices on Monday US crude under in the near future. Li ap- is unquestionably $20 a barrel in preciated Kuwait’s back- due to the fallout early European ing to, and cooperation of the globally spreading virus and rel- trading amid growing production rates with, his country since evant global measures to curb it. How- and a coronavirus-led collapse in world the outbreak of the virus Chinese Ambassa- ever, he pointed out growing concerns demand. The pandemic has halted eco- YORK: An electronic display board shows the price in pence per litre for in China’s central city of dor to Kuwait Li that the anti-virus measures could last nomic activity and global travel, result- petrol and diesel fuels, in York, northern England on March 30, 2020, as life Wuhan, adding that Minggang several months and, thence, the low oil ing in a historic drop in oil demand. The in Britain continues during the nationwide lockdown to combat the novel Kuwait had provided demand would continue unabated. The International Energy Agency (IEA) said coronavirus pandemic. — AFP China with $3 million world oil markets have been particu- in a recent report that the global de- worth of medical supplies. He noted that his coun- larly hit hard by massive movement re- mand for oil was set to decline signifi- try had shared its expertise with Kuwait in order strictions and closure of plants cantly in the current year due to the mbpd this year. It is the first time in 11 quickly, demand could resume and to help it contain the epidemics by sending it di- worldwide, thus lowering both price impact of COVID-19 on the travel and years; including the financial crisis in reach 480,000 bpd, but still down on agnosis and treatment devices. The Chinese am- and demand, Bukhdour lamented. world economic activity. 2008 that such a demand drop is oc- 2019 overall levels. In a more pes- bassador added that Chinese companies, which curring. But, the IEA report warned that simistic scenario, the Agency said that have building and equipping capabilities, were ex- Concrete decisions 90,000 bpd drop the situation is still evolving and the full failure to contain the virus rapidly could erting efforts to back Kuwait’s fight against the Ahmad Karam, also a Kuwaiti oil ex- The IEA evaluated the drop in de- impact on markets will not be known for lead to a decline in demand of 730,000 COVID-19. Li pointed out China’s willingness to pert, said OPEC and non-OPEC pro- mand at 90,000 barrels per day (bpd) some time. The IEA said it had devel- bpd. OPEC and non-OPEC had failed aid Kuwait if the latter wants to build field hospi- ducers need to come up with concrete compared with 2019 levels and this oped two scenarios to try to forecast to extend a previously agreed produc- tals, echoing confidence that Kuwait would defeat decisions that could put things straight would put global demand just below the impact of coronavirus on oil de- tion cut, causing oversupply at the the virus at an early stage. — KUNA and restore market equilibrium. Echo- 100 mbpd, reaching an average of 99.9 mand. In the case the virus is contained global oil market. — KUNA

Kuwait’s crude oil exports to Japan down

TOKYO: Kuwait’s crude oil exports to bpd, down 13.4 percent. Qatar ranked Japan in February fell 8.0 percent from third with 292,000 bpd and Russia fifth a year earlier to 7.50 million barrels, or with 87,000 bpd, respectively. Re- 259,000 barrels per day (bpd), for the source-poor Japan is the world’s-third first decline in three months, govern- biggest oil consumer after China and ment data showed yesterday. As the US, relying on imports for virtually Japan’s fourth-biggest oil provider, all of its oil, gas and coal. Kuwait supplied 9.0 percent of the Asian nation’s total crude imports, the Oil price down Japanese Natural Resources and En- Kuwaiti oil price went down $1.93 ergy Agency said in a preliminary re- to settle at $24.33 a barrel on Mon- port. Japan’s overall imports of crude day, compared with $26.26 last Friday, oil slid 3.8 percent year-on-year to Kuwait Petroleum Corporation said 2.87 million bpd, shrinking for the sec- yesterday. In global markets, crude oil ond straight month. Shipments from the prices plunged at least 20 percent Middle East accounted for 89.3 per- after major drop in demand due to the cent of the total, down 0.8 percentage novel coronavirus pandemic. The points from the year before. The United West Texas Intermediate was down Arab Emirates came back to Japan’s $1.42, settling at $22.09 pb; the lowest No.1 oil supplier, with imports from the since February 2002, while the Brent country surging 33.3 percent from a contracts were down $2.17 to settle at year earlier to 1.02 million bpd, fol- $33.76 pb; the lowest since Novem- lowed by Saudi Arabia with 962,000 ber 2002. — KUNA Kuwait fast-tracks med students’ finals

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Minister of Edu- posal, tabled by Kuwait University’s cation and Minister of Higher Educa- vice-president for Medical Sciences tion Dr Saud Al-Harbi approved a Dr Adel Al-Hunayyan, enables the proposal to allow fast-tracking of final-year medical students do their exams of final-year medical students, final exams, KU said in a statement enabling them to register as doctors to Monday. Approving the proposal, it join medical staff fighting the novel added, will enable the students imme- coronavirus (COVID-19). The pro- diately join the workforce. —KUNA Amir offers condolences over statesman’s demise

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah and His Highness the Prime Min- Sabah sent on Monday a cable to the ister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled family of late statesman Youssef Al- Al-Hamad Al-Sabah sent similar cables Hijji, expressing utmost sorrow over his and expressed similar sentiments on demise. His Highness the Crown Prince the occasion. — KUNA 4 Established 1961 Wednesday, April 1, 2020 Local

KUWAIT: Kuwait enforced a country-wide curfew from 5:00 pm to 4:00 am until further notice, and this period presents a perfect opportunity for authorities to carry out much needed road maintenance works around the country. These pictures show workers contracted by the Ministry of Public Works conducting maintenance at the Fifth Ring Road on Sunday night. —Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh

statement. They also discussed coordination Kuwait’s Foreign among relevant state bodies for the repatria- tion of Kuwaiti citizens. The meeting Minister meets team grouped representatives of the foreign, finance, interior, health and defense min- istries, as well as Directorate General of tasked with Civil Aviation, KRCS, information technology agency and Kuwait Airways. repatriation of citizens In other news, Sheikh Dr Ahmad Al-Sabah reaffirmed solidarity with Tunisia in efforts to KUWAIT: Kuwait Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Mohammad Al-Sabah met curb spread of coronavirus. Sheikh Dr Ahmad, Monday with a team tasked with arranging in a phone call he received from his Tunisian repatriation of Kuwaiti citizens back home, counterpart Nouruddine Erray, commended to discuss means of guaranteeing safety of efforts and measures carried out by Tunis to nationals until their return, a foreign ministry containing the virus, a foreign ministry state- statement said. The meeting, attended by ment said. Sheikh Dr Ahmad called on impor- President of Kuwait Red Crescent Society tance of international cooperation to confront (KRCS) Dr Helal Al-Sayer and Chairman of this cross-border pandemic which was posing Kuwait Airways, touched upon completion of a common threat to mankind. Erray, said the urgent measures to deal with latest develop- statement, thanked the State of Kuwait for its ments related to the coronavirus, added the support for the Tunisian efforts. —KUNA

KUWAIT: Kuwait Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Mohammad Al-Sabah chairs a meeting with a team tasked with arranging repatriation of Kuwaiti citizens back home. —KUNA

spokesman Mohammad Al-Mutairi, in a state- Kuwait Municipality ment to the press Monday, said the body acted upon instructions of Government and Ministry measures to guarantee of Health and closed cinema theaters, wedding halls, hotel ballrooms, gyms, arcades and exhi- bitions. The Municipality also closed shopping public wellbeing malls and barber shops, he said. “All this aim at preventing gathering of people in one place” in KUWAIT: Kuwait Municipality adopted meas- order to reduce risks of contracting the virus, ures since outset of coronavirus crisis to mini- he said. Mutairi said Municipality teams were mize impacts on public wellbeing calling for making sure streets were clean and garbage provision of sanitizers, masks and gloves, and cans were sanitized, while workers who lift the closing restaurants, coffee shops and any place garbage cans were isolated to guarantee their that see gathering of people. Municipality safety. —KUNA 5 Local Wednesday, April 1, 2020 ‘Helping hands’ spirit among Filipinos very much alive Groups help most vulnerable families in Kuwait and abroad

By Ben Garcia need. We share whatever blessings we the region. Help is underway, but while the have,” she said, adding Filipino mothers assistance is yet to come, I call upon Fil- KUWAIT: In the time of the coronavirus collect whatever extra they have in their ipinos in Kuwait and other areas and those pandemic, the spirit of ‘bayanihan’ (help- kitchens to share with less-fortunate fel- who have extra means to share something ing hands) is alive among Filipinos all over low Filipinos. with their fellow Filipinos who are in need the world, not to mention in Kuwait, where “We have Filipinos in dire need of food, of food. We will be coming up with clear some groups are exerting extra efforts to so we are supporting them. If we wait until guidelines on how and who are allowed to help Filipinos in dire need of assistance. our government’s support comes, they’ll receive assistance from the Philippine Because of the be in a worse situa- government, but while we are still pro- lockdown, some Fil- tion. So at least be- cessing the fund, we urge individuals to ipinos have not re- fore help arrives, we support each other for now,” OWWA ceived their salaries, Our battle do our part,” said board member Dr Chie Umandap told while others have Malana. The Philip- Kuwait Times from his Manila-based of- run out of money is just pine government fice by phone. and need support through its agencies malcy soon,” said Mira, a salon worker. resources, but the spirit of helping hands for their daily sur- beginning - the Philippine No salaries Another group of Filipinos helping fel- among us Filipinos cannot be discounted. vival needs. Overseas Labor Of- Since March 1, 2020, some Filipinos low kabayans is the Ilocana Women’s Or- This makes us all proud, because whatever Kuwait Filipino fice (POLO) and the have stopped working upon the directive ganization in Kuwait (IWOK), headed by calamities we face, we always rise up from Mother’s Organiza- Overseas Workers of the Cabinet, thereby receiving no president and coordinator Mariam Al- where we stumbled and try again - that’s tion Chairperson Violeta Sarah Yousef Welfare Administration (OWWA) - prom- salaries for the month of March and prob- Zankawi. “Just like other groups, we get what we call the Filipino spirit. We will Malana said the group is helping the most ised to provide at least $200 to those who ably the coming months too. “Our battle is donations from our members, gather and overcome and we pray for Kuwait for con- vulnerable Filipino families, both in the have no salaries overseas to spend in just beginning - we don’t know what will repackage them to be distributed to the tinuously sheltering us and keeping us safe. Philippines and Kuwait. They provide bas- times of crisis, but for some bureaucratic happen in the month of April and May. As needy. We deliver to Filipinos from Jahra We pray for the safety of citizens and ex- kets of groceries that can last for days. reasons, the aid isn’t ready yet. much as we want to work or get extra in- to Fahaheel but there are still many who patriates alike. Let’s help each other in this “The very reason our group was formed “We heard about the situation of some come, these options are not possible at all. need our help,” Zankawi said. time of crisis, follow government instruc- was because we want to help Filipinos in Filipinos not just in Kuwait but throughout We pray we can all return back to nor- “We may be poor and lack money and tions and be safe all the time,” she said.

KRCS distributes thousands of meals to people in need local spotlight Another day of COVID-19

By Abdellatif Sharaa

very evening I go to my private cor- ner in my apartment to go through Ethe news and review certain topics KUWAIT: Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) is on social media, and of course to follow the exerting huge efforts in delivering aid to people in latest on the coronavirus epidemic around need inside Kuwait in light of the exceptional situa- the world. Unfortunately, the issue has be- tion which forced many people out of job following a come a matter of numbers, as numbers lockdown, and to encourage people to stay indoors have become the gauge of whether the sit- after the government imposed to prevent the spread uation is getting under control or not (x of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). number of cases discovered, x number of As part of these efforts, KRCS has distributed over cases died, x number of cases recovered, x 1,900 food baskets to school janitors, as well as 3,000 number of persons quarantined...), and to Kuwait University and Public Authority for Applied these numbers are alarming all over the Education and Training workers after the government globe without exception. shut down schools until the fall. KRCS also distrib- The latest information is that more than uted 22,000 meals to laborers in Sabhan, Amghara, 190 countries are hit with COVID-19, so why Sharq, Bnaid Al-Gar and Mahboula, the non-profit don’t we take the example of - although in organization said in a statement. its infancy - and follow suit, of China? It may Furthermore, more than 1,500 volunteers have sound very strange to mention the country registered with KRCS to provide aid to citizens and where the virus started. Thousands of peo- expatriates, KRCS said, adding that they are working ple there were infected and thousands died, hand-in-hand with Ministry of Health workers at the and there were horrifying images shown on four government-designated quarantine sites: TV of some affected people, yet within a rel- Khairan Resort, Khalifa Resort, Wataniya Resort and atively short period of nearly three months, Aquamarine Resort. — KUNA the country has begun returning to nor- malcy, although gradually. Officials there slapped a total lockdown on Wuhan, which was hit hard, then decisions followed, and soon enough the place became relatively clean and already residents are being al- lowed out! We can do the same; we must listen to in- structions word by word. We were told to maintain social distancing, we were told to keep a distance between each other in line, we were told to frequently wash our hands with water and soap, we were told to use sanitizers and we were told to stay home and not leave unless absolutely necessary, which is the most important factor to stop the spread of the virus. But we did not listen until the government took strict measures related to activities during the day and a curfew from sunset to sunrise. Though the curfew proved effective, there is something that takes place just before the curfew goes into effect - laborers rushing out of their workplaces at around 4:00 pm to get to their transport vehicles and return home before 5:00 pm. The crowds are very close to each other without any caution. So please, let there be more awareness campaigns about what should be done in these vulnerable areas, because it seems that efforts by many government departments in various languages did not reach the target audience. Many voluntary teams can take over this duty, as we see them doing organi- zational work in co-ops and other places, so we can have more control over the situation and minimize the chance of contracting the highly contagious virus. Authorities in Kuwait took and are taking admirable action to keep the virus in check locally, so let us help each other by following instructions and heed warnings. “Look for something positive in each day, even if some days you have to look a little harder.” (Anon) InternationalEstablished 1961 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2020 Australian govt enacts sweeping Portugal grants migrants residency during pandemic lockdown powers Page 8 Page 8

LONDON: In this file photo, Britain’s Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrive to attend the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in London. President Donald Trump said that the United States would not pay security costs for Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, appearing to confirm that the royal couple have moved to live in California. —AFP ‘Megxit’: Harry, Meghan quit royal life Harry and Meghan sign off royal Instagram account

LONDON: Prince Harry and his wife Meghan for- Dream soured they would continue to base themselves in Canada. must pay!” he wrote on Twitter on Sunday. The pres- mally step down as senior members of the British Harry and Meghan’s departure-dubbed “Megxit” But the pair are said to have relocated to California by ident’s warning prompted a rare public response from royal family yesterday, as they start a controversial by the British press-is a far cry from 2018, when they private jet earlier this month before the United States the couple’s spokeswoman, who said they had “no new life in the United States. The couple has already married in a fairytale wedding at Windsor Castle closed its northern border because of the coronavirus plans to ask the US government for security re- relocated to California, according to reports, after an- watched around the world. Meghan, 38, a former TV outbreak. Meghan grew up in Los Angeles and her sources”. “Privately-funded security arrangements nouncing in January that they intended to quit royal actress who is of mixed race, was seen as a breath of mother, Doria Ragland, still lives there. She also has a have been made.” life and “work to become financially independent”. fresh air for the royal family, which is often character- network of friends and work contacts in the city. The decision means they will no longer carry out Royal Instagram account duties on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II and are giving Security bill Meanwhile, Prince Harry and wife are to take a up their office within the monarchy in Britain. It fol- The couple’s initial announcement to quit Britain break from their royal Instagram account, they an- lows reports Meghan was deeply unhappy with life Prince Harry divided opinion and their move to California comes nounced Monday as they prepare for life outside the inside the centuries-old institution and increasing after Harry’s father was last week diagnosed as hav- royal inner circle. “While you may not see us here, the complaints from the couple about media intrusion. and his wife ing COVID-19. He has now left self-isolation, work continues... We look forward to reconnecting Their shock announcement rocked the royal family, Clarence House said on Monday. British royals have with you soon. You’ve been great!” the couple wrote appearing to blindside the queen and other senior relocate to been showing solidarity with health workers fighting on their “sussexroyal” Instagram account, signing off family members. It led the 93-year-old monarch to the outbreak, while the queen released a message informally as Harry and Meghan. The couple are due call an emergency summit with her eldest son and heir California saying her family stood ready to play its part in the to leave the royal frontline on Tuesday, having told Prince Charles, and his two sons Princes William and national effort. Queen Elizabeth II they wanted to pursue more in- Harry, to thrash out the terms of their departure. “Harry and Meghan have chosen celebrity over dependent lives. The family eventually agreed the couple, who have duty,” The Times said in an opinion piece on Monday. “What’s most important right now is the health and an 11-month-old son Archie, will relinquish their His ized as overly stuffy. But relations with the media “Making the move to California, and making it now, wellbeing of everyone,” they wrote, referring to the or Her Royal Highness titles, and no longer use the soon soured, with some newspapers accused of ped- only inflames the irritation many feel over the couple’s COVID-19 pandemic. “As we can all feel, the world at “Sussex Royal” label. They currently use the name for dling offensive racial stereotypes and dishing out un- actions in recent months,” it added. Meanwhile, the this moment seems extraordinarily fragile.” Harry and their popular Instagram account and website, and had fair criticism. couple failed to get a warm welcome from US Presi- Meghan rocked the royal family when they an- also made dozens of trademark applications with it There were also reports of splits within the family, dent Donald Trump, whom Harry recently criticized nounced in January they will no longer represent the for various products. However, they will continue to and a growing rift between Harry and William. Since for his stance on climate change in a hoax phone call. monarchy. They will no longer use the titles His and be known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, their revealing their plans, the couple had been living in a Trump said he was “a great friend and admirer of Her Royal Highness, while the queen and senior offi- official titles, and Harry remains sixth in line to the luxury mansion on Canada’s Pacific west coast, visiting the Queen and the United Kingdom” but insisted US cials were said to have ordered them to stop using throne, with no change in the line of succession. Britain only briefly this month. It had been thought taxpayers would not pick up their security bill. “They the word “royal” in their branding. — Agencies Thai elephants face virus crisis Albania flies 30 BANGKOK: Underfed and chained up for endless doctors to Italy hours, many elephants working in Thailand’s tourism sector may starve, be sold to zoos or be shifted into the illegal logging trade, campaigners warn, as the amid virus crisis coronavirus decimates visitor numbers. Before the virus, life for the kingdom’s estimated 2,000 ele- phants working in tourism was already stressful, TIRANA: Albania, one of the poorest countries in with abusive methods often used to ‘break them’ Europe, flew a team of doctors and nurses to neigh- into giving rides and performing tricks at money- boring Italy on Saturday to help it deal with the spinning animal shows. coronavirus pandemic as its own cases have yet to With global travel paralyzed the animals are un- strain the health sector. Prime Minister Edi Rama’s able to pay their way, including the 300 kilograms government assigned 11 million leke ($95,000) to (660 pounds) of food a day a captive elephant pay the team of 30 medical staff, who volunteered, needs to survive. Elephant camps and conserva- to work for a month in the area of Bergamo, the of- tionists warn hunger and the threat of renewed ex- ficial gazette said. ploitation lie ahead, without an urgent bailout. “My The Italian Embassy in Tirana confirmed the plane boss is doing what he can but we have no money,” had left in mid-afternoon carrying the medical team, CHIANG MAI, Thailand: This handout photo taken on March 28, 2020 shows an elephant foraging for Kosin, a mahout - or elephant handler - says of the adding in a Twitter message; “Thanks to the Albanian food next to the Patara Elephant Farm in an area affected by drought. — AFP Chiang Mai camp where his elephant Ekkasit is liv- government for this act of solidarity and affection! #forever united”. Albania has 197 cases of the illness, ing on a restricted diet. with 10 deaths. Italy has more than 86,000 cases, and Chiang Mai is Thailand’s northern tourist hub, fears the creatures could soon be used in illegal log- February as China locked down cities hard-hit by its death toll of more than 9,000 is the highest in the an area of rolling hills dotted by elephant camps ging activities along the Thai-Myanmar border - in the virus and banned external travel. By March, the world. Bergamo is the worst hit area. and sanctuaries ranging from the exploitative to breach of a 30-year-old law banning the use of ele- travel restrictions into Thailand - which has 1,388 Italy has helped Albania since it faced a number the humane. Footage sent to AFP from another phants to transport wood. Others “could be forced confirmed cases of the virus - had extended to of crisis after toppling communism in the late 1980s, camp in the area shows lines of elephants tethered (to beg) on the streets,” he said. It is yet another twist Western countries. With elephants increasingly including risk of famine in the early 1990s and anar- by a foot to wooden poles, some visibly distressed, in the saga of the exploitation of elephants, which an- malnourished due to the loss of income, the situation chy in 1997. Tirana sees the medical aid as a chance rocking their heads back and forth. Around 2,000 imal rights campaigners have long been fighting to is “at a crisis point,” says Saengduean Chailert, to repay the favors, however small its contribution. elephants are currently “unemployed” as the virus protect from the abusive tourism industry. owner of Elephant Nature Park. Her sanctuary for Some 400,000 Albanians live and work in Italy, eviscerates Thailand’s tourist industry, says Theer- around 80 rescued pachyderms only allows visitors sending money home to their families as well as in- Crisis point’ apat Trungprakan, president of the Thai Elephant to observe the creatures, a philosophy at odds with vesting savings and expertise gained there to build For those hawking a once-in-a-lifetime experi- Alliance Association. venues that have them performing tricks and offer- businesses back home. Albania has seen the strain ence with the giant creatures - whether from afar or The lack of cash is limiting the fibrous food avail- ing rides. She has organized a fund to feed elephants on Italy’s more advanced health system as a stark up close - the slump began in late January. Chinese able to the elephants “which will have a physical ef- and help mahouts in almost 50 camps nationwide, warning, and has imposed increasingly strict restric- visitors, who make up the majority of Thailand’s 40 fect”, he added. Wages for the mahouts who look fearing the only options will soon be limited to zoos, tions on social contact on its citizens. — Reuters after them have dropped by 70 percent. Theerapat million tourists, plunged by more than 80 percent in starvation or logging work. — AFP Established 1961 7 Wednesday, April 1, 2020 International India reels from migrant worker exodus amid coronavirus crisis Exodus raises worries on spreading the virus into rural areas

NEW DELHI: Indian authorities struggled Monday the chief minister tweeted. Authorities ordered a to help millions left jobless by a crippling coronavirus racetrack outside Delhi that hosted a Formula One lockdown, potentially undermining efforts to stop the race in 2011 be used to house 5,000 migrant work- virus ravaging the world’s second most-populous ers, the Times of India reported. nation. Since the lockdown began on Wednesday, Uttar Pradesh has announced aid and set up 600 hundreds of thousands of laborers have been head- shelter homes that will act as quarantine centers, ing back from cities where they worked to their home local official Alok Kumar told AFP. He was unable to villages, some walking hundreds of miles and with lit- say how many people were still on the road. Former tle money or food. national health secretary Sujatha Rao said it was not The exodus has raised worries that those return- known if the virus had spread from the urban travel- ing may spread coronavirus into rural areas, particu- ling middle class to rural migrants, but if it had, such larly with authorities resorting to cramming people large congregations of people would be a worry. “If onto buses and into relief camps and homeless shel- any one of them has indeed got the infection, it cer- ters. At the weekend in Delhi, migrant workers and tainly can spread very rapidly as the poor in urban their families fought and metros live in very crowd- shoved their way onto ed accommodation. Social buses organized by India’s distancing is not an option most populous state, Uttar for them,” Rao said. Pradesh. Thousands of “I couldn’t afford the Clashes in Gujarat room we had so there was laborers head Late on Sunday several no choice, we had to hundred laborers clashed leave,” said Ranjit Kumar, back to villages with police in Surat, in who walked with his wife Prime Minister Narendra and two-year-old son for Modi’s home state of two days to get from Gujarat, after they were HYDERABAD: Migrant workers and their family members walk along a deserted road as they leave Haryana state to the bus prevented from leaving, the city for their village during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure terminal. Around 90,000 people were transported in authorities said. “Around 30 teargas shells were fired against the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus in Hyderabad. —AFP buses on Sunday from Ghaziabad outside Delhi, the to disperse the crowd that had damaged several Times of India reported. Late on Sunday the federal police vehicles. Over 90 people have been arrested,” government ordered all district and state borders said deputy police commissioner Vidhi Chaudhary. A video posted on Twitter by a Times of India testing far too few people. closed in a bid to stop the exodus, and directed local State authorities laid on buses to take people journalist and by The Hindu daily appeared to show “This migration has taken it (the virus) to small authorities to organize temporary shelters. home, but also asked them to stay put, saying they migrants being hosed down with disinfectant by towns and villages,” virologist Shahid Jameel at the On Monday the crowds had disappeared on the would be provided with food and shelter. But on men in protective suits. The local district magistrate Wellcome Trust DBT India Alliance said. Former outskirts of Delhi. The city government said it was Monday thousands of men, women and children still tweeted that the fire brigade had been instructed to health secretary Rao said the government needs to now feeding 400,000 people, with more than 550 thronged Gujarat’s roads. “The contractors who sanitize buses but sprayed the passengers because test more widely. Testing has mostly concentrated on schools providing shelter. The central state of brought us here for work refused to help us,” said of “over-enthusiasm”. On Sunday the official num- people with a history of overseas travel and those Maharashtra, home to Mumbai, and another big Ramprasad Kevat, who walked almost 30 kilometers ber of coronavirus cases in the nation of 1.3 billion who had contact with them. “I think we could have magnet for migrant laborers, has set up 262 relief from Ahmedabad and wanted to get back to Jhansi in people passed 1,000 with 29 deaths, but many scaled up testing quantitatively. It continues to be a camps and was providing shelter to 70,399 people, Madhya Pradesh. experts doubt the numbers and say that India is concern and a high priority,” she said. —AFP

Israel’s leader under demiological investigation” was ongoing. Video surveillance COVID-19 quarantine The Knesset statement said that lawmakers and parliamentary employees have already been Young diplomat rises JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin instructed to follow the health ministry’s orders and Netanyahu went into precautionary quarantine on self-quarantine if they were in Paluch’s vicinity. The as aggressive policy Monday after one of his staff tested positive for Knesset said it was offering footage from its sur- coronavirus, as the veteran premier seeks a unity veillance cameras to the health ministry for them to government to combat the pandemic. Netanyahu’s establish where and when Paluch had been in the takes root in China office stressed the quarantine was strictly a pre- building, so that health professionals could decide SINGAPORE: Diplomats returning from overseas caution as the veteran right-winger had not been in on appropriate measures. postings don’t usually receive special attention at recent proximity to the unwell member of staff. Israel, which has nearly 4,700 confirmed China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a vast government Late Monday, Netanyahu’s office announced that COVID-19 cases, has imposed severe restrictions bureaucracy with thousands of staff. But when Zhao the premier, his family and staff had tested negative to contain the spread of the virus, including a total Lijian, a diplomat known for his pugnacious social for the virus, noting however that the premier ban on non-essential movements. Netanyahu’s Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu media presence, finished a posting in Pakistan in would “remain in quarantine until receiving instruc- office stressed that he has had limited inter-per- August, he received an enthusiastic welcome in tions from the health ministry.” sonal contact in recent weeks, conducting “most ceed where he had previously failed, especially giv- Beijing. A group of young admirers at the ministry A statement by the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, of his meetings via video conferencing from his en rifts within the anti-Netanyahu bloc. Gantz, a gathered at his office to cheer his return, according to identified the staffer as Rivka Paluch, Netanyahu’s residence.” centrist, was elected speaker of Israel’s parliament last two people familiar with the matter. parliamentary aide, noting three dates she had The news comes as Netanyahu, 70, is widely week and has committed to backing an emergency That admiration was fuelled in part by a Twitter been in the building. Netanyahu’s office had said expected to agree on an emergency unity govern- unity government with Netanyahu, citing the need to spat he had engaged in a month earlier with Susan that according to “a preliminary assessment...there ment with his election rival Benny Gantz to tackle combat COVID-19. Negotiations on Sunday between Rice, the national security adviser to former US is no need for the prime minister to be quaran- the coronavirus pandemic. The two fought three Gantz and Netanyahu failed to yield a final agree- President Barack Obama. Each accused the other of tined, as he did not come into close contact with bitter but inconclusive elections over the past year, ment, with no fresh talks between the sides officially being “ignorant” and a “disgrace”. Now a foreign min- the individual and did not personally meet with with neither securing enough support to form a reported since. Netanyahu, in office since 2009, was istry spokesman, Zhao has come to represent a new that person.” “Over the past two weeks the two viable coalition government. Gantz was given the in January charged with bribery, fraud and breach of generation of diplomatic hawks in China, challenging the restraint that long characterised the country’s were never in the same room at the same time,” it task of forming a government following March 2 trust, but the start of his trial has been delayed by the elections but there was no guarantee he would suc- engagement with the world, according to a dozen cur- added. The statement further noted that the “epi- pandemic. He denies the charges. —AFP rent and former ministry officials and government researchers who spoke with Reuters. hope we don’t have to see.” Their emergence has caused a rift with the old for- New York hospital For Patel, the worst would be a situation similar to eign policy establishment, amid worries that increas- that in certain regions of Italy, where the health sys- ingly assertive rhetoric could put the country on a dangerous collision course with powers like the United tem is so overwhelmed that it can no longer take care doctor prepares for States, they said. The shift followed instructions that of all patients. “You’re gonna have to be a little President Xi Jinping issued diplomats in a memo last quicker in seeing and assessing and getting the year, calling on them to show more “fighting spirit”, the worst treatment plan for each patient,” Patel predicted, said two people with direct knowledge of the matter. noting they “may have to double or triple the number “This is the first time since 1949 that the ‘new NEW YORK: With the rapid rise of hospitalizations of patients you’re seeing.” But, he added worriedly, hawks’ have the power to reshape China’s diplomatic and a health system nearly at capacity, New York “you can’t really go more than triple the number of policy,” said Qin Xiaoying, who was a director of the doctor Shamit Patel is preparing for the worst over the patients you’re seeing in a day and provide effective ruling Communist Party’s international propaganda next few days, all while hoping he won’t have to start treatment.” department and is now a researcher with the China choosing which coronavirus patients to treat. Just 10 Foundation for International and Strategic Studies in days ago, only half of the 46-year-old internist’s ‘Picking and choosing’ Beijing. patients at Beth Israel - one of the Mount Sinai hospi- In addition to the limitations of healthcare person- NEW YORK: Medical supplies and beds are seen inside Driving the shift is the widespread feeling among tals in Manhattan - were suffering from COVID-19. nel, Patel is worried about a potential shortage of a tent as volunteers from the International Christian many Chinese that the United States wants to contain relief organization Samaritan’s Purse set up an “We’re not over capacity yet, but we’re planning equipment, particularly of ventilators. New York gov- China’s rise. Aggressive pushback by diplomats on ernor Andrew Cuomo and New York City mayor Bill Emergency Field Hospital for patients suffering from issues that provoke nationalistic sentiment, like the for it to go over capacity,” he said, adding he thinks the coronavirus in Central Park.—AFP the hospital has “planned well.” The wave of virus de Blasio talk daily about the need for the machines. protests in Hong Kong or the coronavirus outbreak, patients at Beth Israel corresponds to the one inun- “If you get a surge of patients coming in, and you only has proven popular domestically. Most people who dating New York City, which shot from 463 confirmed have a limited number of ventilators, you can’t neces- his aunt, who has cancer. “I don’t want to come back spoke with Reuters for this article declined to be named given the sensitivity of the matter. cases two weeks ago to 36,000 on Monday. “At the sarily ventilate patients,” Patel said. “And then you here and actually give it to them because I don’t think have to start picking and choosing.” In response to a request for comment by Reuters, rate that I’m seeing, the peak could be anywhere from they would do well at all,” he said. He maintains the the ministry said Chinese diplomats from all age Outside of the hospital, Patel is also worried about end of this week to sometime next week,” said Patel. minimum two meter (six-foot) distance and uses anti- groups are determined to “resolutely safeguard” Under extreme pressure for the past two weeks, he is transmitting the virus to his family. He lives with his bacterial wipes generously, while ensuring his rela- national sovereignty and security. “We will not attack preparing for the worst, even if “it’s something that we 80-year-old father, who suffers from Parkinson’s, and tives have enough food. —AFP unless we are attacked,” the ministry said, citing a slo- gan from founding leader Mao Zedong. “But if we are attacked, we will certainly counterattack.” Zhao, 47, One app that has stood out so far is Hamagen, Hebrew phone, and is not sent to any third party”. did not respond to requests for comment. A spokes- Sound of coronavirus: for “the shield”, launched earlier this month by the health woman for Rice, the former US national security ministry. Using geolocation technology, the app informs ‘Sound’ of corona adviser, said she would not be available for comment. users about any points of contact with known COVID-19 The defence ministry has meanwhile offered support The US State Department did not respond to a Israeli apps helping cases. Available in five languages, Hamagen has been to an Israeli start-up called Vocalis Health, which is request for comment from Reuters. downloaded by more than a million users. The fortunate developing an app capable of diagnosing COVID-19 Xi gave his instructions about adopting a tougher ones receive messages saying “no points of intersection based on the sound of someone’s voice. “We are work- stance in the face of international challenges, like dete- to contain pandemic riorating relations with the United States, in a hand- have been found with coronavirus patients”. “We’ll let ing around the clock,” Tal Wenderow, the start-up’s co- JERUSALEM: One app tells you if you’ve been in the written message to diplomats last year, two people you know if there is anything new,” it adds. founder, told AFP. Voice samples from virus carriers in with direct knowledge of the matter said. State vicinity of a coronavirus carrier and another aims to Hamagen was launched amid a controversy over various stages of illness and samples from non-infected assess whether you have COVID-19 based on the sound Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi gave the plans to involve Israel’s Shin Bet internal security people are currently being collected, with the goal of same message to officials attending the celebration of of your voice. In Israel, sometimes dubbed the “start-up agency in the fight against the virus. Critics warned that developing an AI-based algorithm to detect COVID- the 70th anniversary of the ministry’s founding, nation” with nearly 10 percent of workers employed in allowing a powerful investigative body access to per- 19’s vocal “fingerprint”. Health professionals will then be Reuters reported in December. Over the past year, high-tech, the coronavirus pandemic has seen a flurry of sonal devices without a court order could mark an able to alert users in the early stages of the disease and more than 60 Chinese diplomats and diplomatic mis- new technologies designed to contain transmission. irrevocable setback in the effort to safeguard data pro- use the app to monitor its spread across the population. sions set up Twitter or Facebook accounts, by Reuters’ Start-Up Nation Central, an NGO, has compiled a tection. Israel’s highest court ruled that any Shin Bet The response from people willing to give voice samples count, even though both platforms are banned in directory of some 70 Israeli technology companies involvement required parliamentary oversight. has been “overwhelming”, Wenderow said. In addition China, often using them to attack Beijing’s critics developing responses to the new virus, which has Hamagen requires user consent and the health ministry to helping curb new infections, the app could also allow around the world. —Reuters infected more than 4,000 people in the country. has assured that “GPS data does not leave your mobile patients to be monitored at home, he added. —AFP 8 Established 1961 International Wednesday, April 1, 2020 China delays college entrance exam; fears grow over risk of second wave China reports 48 new coronavirus cases, one death for Monday

SHANGHAI: China will delay its national college acknowledged the pandemic’s impact on entrance exam by a month as it grapples with a exporters, saying they were studying policies to coronavirus pandemic as travelers returning from reduce pressure on businesses, from tax cuts to an abroad are fuelling new cases and boosting con- extension of preferential policies for foreign firms. cern over the threat of a second wave of infec- New data from a survey of manufacturers tions. The two-day “gaokao” annual test will be showed that factory activity expanded in March pushed back to July 7 and 8, China Central from February’s collapse as businesses returned to Television said yesterday, with Hubei province, work, but analysts warned that slumping external where the virus emerged late last year, and demand could prevent a durable recovery. “The Beijing, the capital, being given more leeway in situation could be very fluid as the virus outbreak scheduling it. remains unpredictable,” analysts at ANZ bank said The delay to the test, in a note. “Chinese poli- seen as opening the way cymakers will likely step to a life of opportunity up and expand the stimu- and taken by more than lus program if needed.” 10 million students last year, is the latest sign of China delays Rise in cases China’s struggle to ‘gaokao’ exam Yesterday, mainland resume normal life after China reported an widespread lockdowns by 1 month increase in new infections, aimed at reining in the reversing four days of virus. “China has slowed declines, as cases rose transmission of the virus among arrivals from over- and in so doing, has seas. Monday’s 48 new passed one peak in the outbreak,” said Tarik cases were up from 31 the previous day, the Jasarevic, a representative of the World Health National Health Commission said in a statement, Organization. “The challenge now is to prevent a with one death. All were imported, taking China’s SHANGHAI: People wearing face masks as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 novel coro- resurgence of new cases.” tally of such cases to 771, with no new local infec- navirus walk to a train, one of the stops being Wuhan, at a station in Shanghai. —AFP The epidemic in the Asia-Pacific region was “far tion reported. Locally transmitted infections have from over”, another WHO official added. Last mostly declined, but authorities concerned about week, a study in British medical journal the Lancet travelers who caught the virus abroad are stepping travelers whose flights were diverted to the reported three. Wuhan, the capital of the central Public Health recommended that China extend up screening and quarantine measures, while slash- regional capital of Hohhot from Beijing, state Hubei province, reported no new infections for a school and workplace closures, since an earlier ing international flights and barring most foreigners. media said. The commercial hub of Shanghai seventh straight day. By Monday, total infections relaxation of curbs could bring a second peak in Of Monday’s new imported cases, 10 were in reported 11 new imported cases, comprising stood at 81,518 in mainland China, with 3,305 the outbreak by August. China’s tax authorities the northern region of Inner Mongolia, involving mainly returning Chinese nationals, while Beijing deaths. —Reuters

News in brief was also prolonged, until the end of June, and the their votes electronically to the UN Secretariat, which In first, the Security mission in Darfur until the end of May-two short will release the results. Several countries wanted to periods decided due to uncertainty over the spread move sessions entirely to videoconferencing, but Mexico journalist shot dead of the pandemic. Russia-one of five nations wielding veto power-object- Council approves UN The Council also endorsed a fourth resolution ed on both legal and political grounds, diplomats said. COATZACOALCOS: A journalist was ambushed and aimed at improving the protection for peacekeepers. Russia instead accepted only that the Security Council shot dead in Mexico’s eastern Veracruz state, local offi- resolutions remotely The resolutions are the first approved by the Security hold “informal” talks by video. cials said Monday, the latest murder of a media worker Council since it began teleworking on March 12 and in a country notoriously dangerous for reporters. Maria UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council on comes as COVID-19 rapidly spreads in New York, Still active, but encumbered Elena Ferral, a correspondent for the Diario de Xalapa Monday for the first time approved resolutions which has become the epicenter of the disease in the The virtual votes temporarily end the famous daily newspaper, was getting into her car in Papantla remotely after painstaking negotiations among diplo- United States. Seeking to abide by quarantine and spectacle of the Security Council, where diplomats when two men on motorbikes opened fire and mortally mats who are teleworking due to the coronavirus wounded her before fleeing the scene, a police source teleworking recommendations, the Security Council theatrically raise their hands to vote or veto and can pandemic. The Security Council unanimously voted was obliged to create completely new rules after 75 take advantage of the cameras to passionately attack said. “Despite the efforts of doctors to save her life, we for four resolutions, including one that extended are terribly sorry to learn that a few minutes ago the years as the global guarantor of peace and security. other countries. Several diplomats said that the new through April 2021 the expiring mandate of UN journalist Maria Elena Ferral died,” Veracruz governor Following about a dozen days of talks, Council mem- procedure made sense for technical votes on the Cuitlahuac Garcia wrote on Twitter. Mexico is one of experts who are monitoring sanctions on North bers agreed that they would have 24 hours following renewal of missions but were not ideal for more con- the world’s most dangerous countries for reporters, Korea, diplomats said. The UN mission in Somalia closed-door negotiations on draft resolutions to send troversial matters.—AFP with more than 100 murdered since 2000. “The authorities should immediately investigate these events force on Friday to allow migrants to access public and provide protection to her family and colleagues,” Portugal grants services and social aid provided by the state. Balbina Flores of media rights group Reporters Portugal’s decision was welcomed on Monday by Without Borders said. —AFP the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human migrants residency Rights, Dunja Mijatovic. “(It is) a good practice to US military servicemember dies protect vulnerable people and society in response during pandemic to the pandemic,” Mijatovic wrote on her Twitter WASHINGTON: The first US military service mem- account. ber has died from the coronavirus, the Pentagon said LISBON: Undocumented immigrants and asylum “In times of crisis, it is a duty for a secure society on Monday, as it reported another sharp hike in the seekers in Portugal have been granted the same to ensure that migrants have access to health, stable number of infected troops. The Pentagon said the rights as residents, including access to medical care, employment and housing,” Portuguese Interior servicemember was a New Jersey Army National during a state of emergency to curb the spread of Minister Eduardo Cabrita told local newspaper Guardsman who had tested positive for COVID-19 - coronavirus. “This is not an automatic regulariza- Publico. The state of emergency, declared on 18 the disease caused by the coronavirus - and had tion,” the border control agency SEF told AFP on March, is expected to be extended on Wednesday been hospitalized since March 21. He died on Monday, indicating that immigration processing for two more weeks. According to an official figures LISBON: Beds are set-up at a Hospital Support Unit for Saturday, it said. “Today is a sad day for the should resume at the beginning of July. on Monday, Portugal has suffered 140 deaths coronavirus patients in Lisbon. Portugal declared a Department of Defense as we have lost our first The border police did not say how many people caused by the new coronavirus out of 6,400 offi- nationwide 15-day state of emergency to fight the American service member - active, reserve or Guard were affected by the measure, which came into cially reported cases.—AFP spread of coronavirus. —AFP - to coronavirus,” Defense Secretary Mark Esper said in a statement. No further information was pro- vided about the victim. “This is a stinging loss for our befitting his rank as a former leader, according to military community, and our condolences go out to Algeria’s Bouteflika Mohamed Hennad, a former political science professor at his family, friends, civilian co-workers and the entire the University of Algiers. But virtually nothing is known National Guard community.” —Reuters about his daily life. “He receives few visits. He is confined languishes at home to his wheelchair and remains virtually speechless,” said China forest fire kills 19 Algerian journalist Farid Alilat in an interview last month a year after his fall with Le Point newspaper. “However he is aware of every- thing that is happening in Algeria,” Alilat added. BEIJING: Eighteen firefighters and one forestry guide died while fighting a huge forest fire in southwestern ALGIERS: A year after the unexpected downfall of Bouteflika’s isolation has not stopped some public figures China, the local government said yesterday. State tele- Algeria’s longtime president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the ail- demanding he face justice for the corruption that infected vision footage showed large flames shooting into the ing octogenarian remains holed up in his plush and med- the country during his 20 years in power. Algerians can sky from the mountains above the city of Xichang in ically adapted home, with his detractors still demanding never turn the page on the Bouteflika years unless he is Sichuan province, turning the sky orange. Heavy justice. Bouteflika assumed the presidency in 1999, reign- tried for the painful damage inflicted by his rule, said clouds of smoke billowed above the buildings and ing omnipresent over Algeria’s political life until a stroke Hennad, who is now an analyst close to the “Hirak” protest In this file photo taken on April 3, 2019, Algerians walk roads of the city, which has a population of some rendered him largely invisible in 2013. Since he resigned movement that forced Bouteflika from power. past a newspaper at a coffee shop in the capital 700,000 people. The blaze started near Xichang in under pressure from protesters and the military in April Algiers, reading "Bouteflika abdicates" the day after the southwestern province’s mountainous Liangshan 2019, the public has heard nothing from him. ‘Godfather of corruption’ the country's veteran President Abdelaziz Bouteflika prefecture at 3:00 pm on Monday, “directly threaten- Algeria’s judiciary has since Bouteflika’s fall prose- His last appearance was on April 2 last year, when he informed the Constitutional Council that he was ing the safety of Xichang city”, the city government spoke on television to announce the end of his rule. His cuted and in some cases imprisoned a slew of former resigning. —AFP said in a Weibo statement yesterday morning. More downfall had become inevitable after weeks of massive politicians and influential businessmen for abusing their than 140 fire engines, four helicopters and nearly 900 protests that followed his declaration early last year that privileges and links to the ex-president’s clan. Nacer firefighters have been sent to tackle the blaze, accord- he would run for a fifth term. Eventually the army, then led Djabi, a prominent sociologist, argues the former head family,” Djabi said. Abdelaziz Rahabi, a former diplomat ing to local officials. —AFP by Ahmed Gaid Salah, cut him loose. Since then the for- of state should appear in court - “even symbolically” - and one-time minister in the first Bouteflika government mer leader, who turned 83 in March, has only rarely left as recent cases have portrayed him as “the godfather of who went on to become an opponent, also called for his Florida pastor arrested his coastal home in the capital. “He lives surrounded by his corruption”. “He shouldn’t escape punishment. That’s a prosecution. The former president “has a responsibility sister and a medical team,” a source close to his entourage demand of Algerians who have discovered with horror for the corruption. He covered it up,” Rahabi said in a the extent of the damage caused by this man and his television interview. —AFP MIAMI: An evangelical pastor in Florida was arrested said. Bouteflika continues to “enjoy all the privileges” Monday for “repeatedly” ignoring confinement orders intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus by rates across the country in recent days meant the parks will be shut. People will still be able to leave their holding services with hundreds of people, police said. Australian govt outbreak was being brought under control. homes for valid reasons such as to visit a doctor, buy Pastor Ronald Howard-Browne, 58, was arrested for “What we need to consider is the community-to- food and exercise while adhering to social distancing unlawful assembly and violating quarantine orders community transmission that we might not even know rules. Authorities said yesterday they wanted to while holding two services on Sunday in the eastern enacts sweeping about,” New South Wales (NSW) Premier Gladys increase testing, especially in areas of COVID-19 clus- Florida city of Tampa, prison records show. The pas- Berejiklian said in Sydney yesterday. “It is really impor- ters such as Sydney’s Bondi area, which drew attention tor “intentionally and repeatedly disregarded state tant for us, at this stage of the virus, for us to maintain earlier this month after people ignored social distanc- and local public health orders, which put his congre- lockdown powers gation and our community in danger,” tweeted that level of control and contain it as much as possible.” ing rules and flocked to the beach. Hillsborough County sheriff Chad Chronister. Howard- SYDNEY: People in Australia’s most populous state NSW has 2,032 confirmed cases of the virus, almost Kerry Chant, NSW Chief Health Officer, said that Browne, a staunch supporter of US President Donald of New South Wales, the epicenter of the coron- half the country’s total, authorities said yesterday. The the virus may have been transmitted in the Bondi com- Trump, does not believe the COVID-19 disease is avirus outbreak in Australia, could be heavily fined national death toll stands at 19. The state is among sev- munity via an infected backpacker who was not aware serious and accused the press of “stirring up religious or jailed for leaving their home without a good rea- eral bringing in penalties, including fines of up to they were carrying the disease. Chant said yesterday bigotry and hate.” He considers his church, The River son under sweeping new powers designed to slow A$11,000 ($6,779) in NSW and the potential of a six- that an apparent slowing infection rate in recent days at Tampa Bay Church, to be an essential service that infection rates. The public health order, enacted late month prison term for anybody found breaching the may have more to do with fluctuations with testing must remain open during the pandemic. —AFP on Monday, comes amid warnings that it is too early new rules. New orders restrict public gatherings to just numbers, given there is less access to doctors over the to tell whether an apparent slowdown in infection two people, or a family unit, while outside gyms and weekend. —Reuters Established 1961

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2020

China’s factory activity expands, but Zain Kuwait offers meals to support In Cambodian town, Chinese 10economy unable to shake off shock 11 nation’s efforts to fight coronavirus 11 plan future beyond virus

WASHINGTON, DC: An empty downtown street is seen near the World Bank in Washington, DC. The coronavirus pandemic is expected to sharply slow growth in developing economies in East Asia and the Pacific as well as China, the World Bank said in an update on Monday. — AFP Pandemic to hit growth in Asia, China: WB G20 urged to refrain from export restrictions for supplies to virus-hit countries WASHINGTON: The coronavirus pandemic is ex- providing subsidies for sick pay and healthcare, to people would escape poverty in the region in 2020, The World Bank also urged the Group of 20 major pected to sharply slow growth in developing mitigate some of the immediate impacts of the pan- including over 25 million in China alone, the bank said. economies (G20) to refrain from imposing new export economies in East Asia and the Pacific as well as demic, the World Bank said. In addition to targeted fiscal measures, countries restrictions on critical medical supplies, food or other China, the World Bank said in an economic update on “Containment of the pandemic would allow for a should look to deeper international cooperation and key products as the world battles the devastating Monday. sustained recovery in the region, although risks to the new cross-border public-private partnerships to ramp coronavirus pandemic. In a statement to a video con- The bank said precise growth forecasts were dif- outlook from financial mar- up the production and sup- ference of G20 trade ministers, a senior World Bank ficult, given the rapidly changing situation, but its ket stress would remain ply of key medical supplies official said the pandemic was projected to plunge the baseline now called for growth in developing high,” it said. The financial and services, and ensure fi- global economy into a deep recession, disrupting sup- economies in the region to slow to 2.1 percent in 2020, shock of the pandemic was nancial stability in the after- ply chains and hitting critical trade nodes. and to -0.5 percent in a lower-case scenario, com- also expected to have a se- China growth math of the crisis, it said. To mitigate the impact on poor countries at risk pared to estimated growth of 5.8 percent in 2019. rious impact on poverty, Countries should also due to the limited supply of medical goods, the global In China, where the coronavirus outbreak origi- defined as income of $5.50 projected to ease credit to help house- lender urged G20 countries to eliminate or reduce nated in late December, growth was projected to slow a day, the bank said. The holds smooth their con- tariffs on imports of key products needed to fight the to 2.3 percent in the baseline scenario, or as low as 0.1 baseline scenario called for slow to 2.3% sumption and help firms pandemic, and lower or temporarily suspend tariffs percent in the lower-case scenario, compared to nearly 24 million fewer peo- survive the immediate shock and export taxes on food and other basic goods. growth of 6.1 percent in 2019. The region faced an un- ple to escape poverty of the outbreak. “The good “Continued international cooperation to maintain usual combination of “disruptive and mutually rein- across the region in 2020 news is that the region has an open and rules-based trading system will be es- forcing events,” the report said. “Significant economic due to the pandemic. If the strengths it can tap, but sential for recovery and sustainable and inclusive de- pain seems unavoidable in all countries.” economic situation deteriorated even further, poverty countries will have to act fast and at a scale not previ- velopment,” Mari Pangestu, the World Bank’s Countries in the region should invest in healthcare could increase by about 11 million people. ously imagined,” said Victoria Kwakwa, vice president managing director for development policy and part- capacity and take targeted fiscal measures, such as Prior projections estimated that nearly 35 million for East Asia and the Pacific at the World Bank. nerships, told the ministers. — Reuters Despair and pride in China’s Wuhan American Airlines as lockdown eases to ask for $12bn in govt relief WUHAN, China: Residents of China’s Wuhan city, ground zero for the coronavirus pandemic, have WASHINGTON: American Airlines will seek $12 mixed emotions as containment measures are lifted billion in government assistance to steer the carrier and the community infection rate slows to a trickle, through the global aviation downturn sparked by the with some praising the government and others ruing coronavirus pandemic, the Wall Street Journal has re- the economic costs. ported. The airline industry is one of the sectors The strictest curbs on movement and business hardest hit by the COVID-19 outbreak, with US air- were in the Hubei provincial capital of Wuhan, lines suspending most transatlantic flights and many where the virus is believed to have emerged from a domestic routes. The US Congress has designated $50 billion in seafood market last year. The city of 11 million peo- WUHAN: Bicycles are seen used as a makeshift barrier along a street in Wuhan in China’s central Hubei spending for the industry in its $2 trillion coronavirus ple accounts for about 60 percent of China’s total province yesterday. — AFP economic rescue package. American Airlines chief infections, which stood at 81,518 as of yesterday. executive Doug Parker and president Robert Isom That market is now boarded up, and an adjacent lockdown. Some firms have resumed work and the housing estate in Wuhan, had a different take. The said in a Monday memo to staff that it would seek wholesale fruit centre is also closed with more than city will start allowing people to leave on April 8. lockdown on residential compounds like hers was nearly a quarter of the relief funds on offer. 100,000 yuan ($14,108) worth of mangos, melons China has unveiled numerous measures to ease the recently eased and she feels optimistic that the gov- “We intend to apply for these funds and are con- and other fruit rotting outside. devastating economic impact of the outbreak, and ernment has the crisis in hand. fident that... they will allow us to fly through even the A fruit trader surnamed Fang said the lockdown has pledged to help Wuhan get back on its feet. “It’s much better now,” said Hu, who heads the worst of potential future scenarios,” the pair wrote, of the city had ruined her livelihood. “Of course I’m Fang tore up as she described how she had compound’s residents committee. according to the Wall Street Journal. scared,” she told Reuters, gesturing to the two planned to see her children who are back in her Her voice cracked with emotion as she recounted Trump administration officials have said they are masks she wore, one on top of the other, as she hometown after the Lunar New Year in January. She how she had worked through the past two months examining the possibility of taking equity shares in packed apples which she sells to residential com- will be unable to return after the lockdown ends be- to support her neighbors and sanitize the com- airlines as part of the bailout plan for the industry. “I pounds at wholesale prices. “But I’ve not made any cause she has to stay and sell her fruit. “At the ear- pound. She thanked the government for sending think in return for direct cash grants, which is what money for the last three months.” liest the stock might only clear by June,” she said, ample supplies of protective gear like masks. “It the airlines have asked for, I see no reason why the Wuhan residents’ attitudes towards the curbs are declining to give her full name due to the sensitivity makes me feel like our country is strong - just look American taxpayer shouldn’t get a piece,” White far from aligned, with some expressing immense of the situation. at countries like Europe,” she said, referring to the House economics adviser Larry Kudlow told Fox pride in their government while others say the help Hu Yanfang, who was supervising the unpacking surging infection and death numbers in countries News on Sunday. — AFP they have received has not offset the costs from the of boxes of protective equipment and food at her like Italy and Spain. — Reuters 10 Established 1961 Wednesday, April 1, 2020 Business China’s factory activity expands, but economy unable to shake off shock Businesses facing grim outlook on global spread of virus

BEIJING: Factory activity in China unexpectedly authorities. The survey’s sub-index of manufacturing expanded in March from a collapse the month before, production picked up to 54.1 in March from but analysts caution that a durable near-term recov- February’s 27.8, but new export orders received by ery is far from assured as the global coronavirus cri- Chinese manufacturers were still mired in contraction, sis knocks foreign demand and threatens a steep eco- after ticking up to 46.4 from 28.7 in February. nomic slump. Manufacturers are still facing big operational pres- China’s official Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) sures, the survey showed, with over half of the rose to 52 in March from a plunge to a record low of respondents reporting a lack of market demand and 35.7 in February, the National Bureau of Statistics 42 percent reporting financing issues, both up from (NBS) said yesterday, above the 50-point mark that the previous month. separates monthly growth from contraction. “The biggest problem facing China’s economy in Analysts polled by Reuters had expected the the second quarter is the slumping foreign March PMI to come in at 45.0. demand,” said Nie, adding that authorities may roll The NBS attributed the surprise rebound in PMI out more policies on top of the billions of dollars to its record low base in February and cautioned that pumped into the financial system since February to the readings do not signal a stabilization in economic boost domestic consumption and tide over the activity. That view was echoed by many analysts, who shrinking overseas demand. Markets reacted posi- warn of a further period of struggle for China’s busi- tively to the PMI survey, with Asian stock rising as nesses and the broader investors seemed relieved economy due to the rapid by the rare good news as spread of the virus across the pandemic showed few the world, the unprece- Durable signs of abating. dented lockdowns in sev- China’s yuan, however, eral countries and the near-term didn’t budge, reflecting almost near certainty of a recovery analysts’ broad views that a global recession. “This sustainable bounce in man- HUABEI: Employees working on a battery production line at a factory in Huabei in China’s eastern does not mean that output still far off ufacturing activity looked Anhui province. Factory activity in China rebounded in March from a record low, according to offi- is now back to its pre-virus some way off despite a cial data released yesterday. —AFP trend. Instead, it simply slowdown in China’s coron- suggests that economic avirus infections from its activity improved modestly peak in February. Beijing, at and severely hurt foreign demand amid tight lock- adviser said. China’s service sector activity also relative to February’s dismal showing, but remains great costs to the economy, had imposed draconian downs in Europe, the United States and a number of expanded, with official non-manufacturing PMI com- well below pre-virus levels,” said Julian Evans- quarantine rules and travel restrictions to curb the other key economies where daily life has ground to a ing in at 52.3, from 29.6 in February, a separate NBS Pritchard, senior China economist at Capital pandemic that has killed more than 3,000 in the halt. Already, Chinese exporters are seeing overseas survey showed. Economics, in a note to clients. Economists are country. But as locally transmitted infections dwindle, orders being scrapped as the worldwide spike in The service sector now makes up a larger share of already forecasting a steep contraction in China’s first most businesses have reopened and life for millions of coronavirus infections and deaths has forced many of China’s economy than at the time of the 2002/03 quarter gross domestic product, with some expecting people has started to slowly return to normal. the nation’s trading partners to slow or suspend pro- SARS coronavirus epidemic, accounting for about 60 a year-year slump of 9 percent or more - the first duction. Globally the outbreak has claimed the lives percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product such contraction in three decades. Grim outlook of over 37,000 people with more than 770,000 (GDP). Analysts warn the outbreak could have a lin- Nie Wen, economist at Shanghai-based Hwabao Yet, the pace of business resumptions has been infections. gering impact despite the government loosening Trust, said given weak export orders, rising stockpile constrained by China’s efforts to guard against a sec- China should not set an economic growth target restrictions in recent weeks, as many people remain and soft prices, the underlying issue facing Chinese ond wave of infections from abroad. this year given the high level of uncertainty from the worried about the possibility of new infections or manufacturers has shifted to a lack of market demand, The coronavirus, which originated late last year in coronavirus pandemic and avoid having to resort to fretting about job security and potential cuts to from production shutdowns forced by Chinese China, has wreaked havoc along global supply chains “flood-like stimulus” to meet the goal, a central bank wages as the economy struggles. —Reuters

we are working hard to keep employ- Amazon workers ees safe while serving communities and the most vulnerable,” Amazon protest over said in a statement. “We have taken extreme measures Will coronavirus to keep people safe.” virus safety After the protest, Smalls was offi- make the gender cially fired by Amazon. When con- NEW YORK: Amazon warehouse tacted by AFP for comment, Amazon employees and Instacart delivery confirmed the decision, which it said pay gap worse? workers joined protests Monday to was due to Smalls’s failure to comply MEXICO CITY: Advances in closing the worldwide press safety demands, highlighting with the company’s request that he gender pay gap are at risk of being reversed by the the risks for workers on the front self-isolate after he came in contact coronavirus, experts and advocates warn, as women lines of supplying Americans largely with another employee who tested take time off work to care for others and the low-paid sheltering at home due to the positive for COVID-19. sectors they dominate cut back hours and staff. COVID-19 pandemic. By taking part in Monday’s Women earn about a fifth less money than men An estimated 50 to 60 employees demonstration, he put “the teams at around the world, reflecting factors from motherhood joined a walkout at an Amazon worker risk. This is unacceptable,” Amazon and employment in lower-wage jobs to stereotypes in warehouse in the New York borough said in a statement, noting that only of Staten Island, demanding that the 15 of the more than 5,000 employees promotion decisions, according to the International NEW YORK: Amazon employees hold a protest and walkout over condi- Labor Organization (ILO). facility be shut down and cleaned at the site had taken part in the after a worker tested positive for the protest. New York state attorney tions at the company’s Staten Island distribution facility on Sunday in The wage gap has been narrowing, but at the cur- New York City. —AFP rent rate it could still take 70 years to reach gender coronavirus. general Letitia James called Smalls’s parity, according to UN Women. The gap could “There are positive cases working dismissal “disgraceful” and pointed increase this year as women are likely to be dispro- in these buildings infecting thou- out that the law protects employee’s asked the National Labor Relations “Workers aren’t filling orders until portionately affected by home responsibilities in sands,” warehouse worker Christian right to protest. Board to investigate the incident. our full demands are met,” a quarantine and see their lower-wage jobs disappear, Smalls wrote on Twitter. Amazon, “At a time when so many New Meanwhile a group calling itself spokesperson told AFP. “This isn’t just said Anita Bhatia, assistant Secretary General and responding to an AFP query, said Yorkers are struggling and are deeply the Gig Workers Collective said it about us, we want to also protect our deputy executive director of the United Nations’ Smalls made “misleading” statements concerned about their safety, this was maintaining its call for customers.” It was not immediately women’s agency. “Women will end up bearing a big about conditions and that he was action was also immoral and inhu- Instacart’s independent contractors clear how many of Instacart “shop- brunt,” she said. “We have a lot of very supportive supposed to be in quarantine. mane,” she said in a statement. to strike despite new safety meas- pers” who are independent “gig” men in society but not enough, and we really need to “Like all businesses grappling with James said she was exploring ures announced late Sunday by the workers, were participating in the work on the gender biases or the stereotypes that the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, options for legal recourse and had company. stoppage. —AFP prevent equal sharing of care.” In Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) nations, which are mostly developed countries in Europe, the gender pay gap fell to almost 13 percent Airbnb to pay US probes child in 2017 from nearly 18 percent in 2000. PayScale, a Seattle-based maker of compensation labor in Ivory Coast software, said the US gap has narrowed in recent out $250m to years, but coronavirus could have the opposite effect as women are forced to take time off. “This has the offset losses cocoa supply chains possibility ... that we could easily reverse that trend,” ABIDJAN: US customs authorities have asked cocoa said Sudarshan Sampath, the company’s research NEW YORK: US home rental firm Airbnb said on traders to report where and when they encounter director. PayScale said it has found when women Monday it was allocating $250 million to help off- child labor in their supply chains in top grower Ivory return to work after taking time off, they receive set losses by hosts around the world whose guests Coast, three industry sources said, following calls compensation offers that are on average 7 percent have canceled bookings in the face of the coron- from American lawmakers to ban some imports. lower than other candidates for the same position. In avirus pandemic. The aid, which will pay hosts 25 Cocoa traders and chocolate companies including the United States, Tuesday is Equal Pay Day, symbol- percent of their normal cancellation fees, is being Mars, Hershey, Cargill and Barry Callebaut, have izing how far into the year the average woman must offered globally except for China, the company repeatedly missed internationally agreed targets for work to earn what the average man earned in the said in a letter sent to hosts by Chief Executive reducing the worst forms of child labour from supply previous year. The economic crisis caused by the Brian Chesky. PARIS: This file photo shows the logo of the online lodging service Airbnb displayed on a smartphone in lines in West Africa, all sides have acknowledged. coronavirus pandemic could result in more than 25 The payments apply to the cancellation of reser- Paris. —AFP Pressure in the United States is now increasing million job losses, according to the ILO. Catalyst, a vations with check-in dates between March 14 and US nonprofit, said research shows when companies May 31. Because hosts can choose different cancel- after two senators asked the US Customs and Border downsize, diversity becomes secondary, with women lation policies - some requiring a penalty payment, Patrol (CBP) last July to use its authority to block the and people of color suffering the most. The group’s with others allowing free cancellation up to a cer- certain requirements including good ratings - who import of Ivorian cocoa produced with forced labor. Canada director Tanya van Biesen said she feared tain date before check-in - not all canceled reser- rent out their own home and need help paying their The CBP inquiry comes in the form of a 25-part progress made in recent decades could be lost vations will qualify. rent or mortgage, and some Experience hosts who questionnaire seen by Reuters and a request for vari- because hard-hit sectors like hospitality and travel Airbnb had earlier announced that guests would charge for sharing an experience like food tours. ous documents. It was sent this month to companies have large female workforces. receive a full refund for the cancellation of reserva- Hosts can apply for grants for up to $5,000. including Cargill, Barry Callebaut, Olam , Sucden and “I am so afraid that this health crisis and ultimately tions made on or before March 14 for check-in That fund started with Airbnb employee donations Ecom, according to the sources, who are from com- economic crisis will cause us to lose the many gains between March 14 and April 14, which angered of $1 million and the company’s three founders are panies that received it. CBP has “engaged with the that women at work have made,” van Biesen told the many hosts. Airbnb also said that hosts could can- personally contributing the rest, it said. cocoa industry to trace cocoa supply chains and Thomson Reuters Foundation. In a bid to ease paper- cel reservations without a charge. Airbnb also said it worked to secure support understand industry internal controls and compliance work for businesses at a time of economic pressure, Airbnb said it is funding the program for hosts for hosts in the recent US stimulus bill that will regimes,” a CBP spokesperson told Reuters. The text Britain’s government said they will not have to make itself and will begin to issue the payments in April. allow some hosts to benefit from small-busi- of the questionnaire seen by Reuters did not specify their annual reports on their gender pay gaps this Airbnb’s revenue in 2019 exceeded $4.8 billion, ness grants, loans and unemployment assis- a deadline for a response. year. But Sam Smethers, head of the British nonprofit up 35 percent on the year, and it has $3 billion in tance. In a video message to hosts on Monday, Reuters was unable to determine what CBP Fawcett Society, said the one positive outcome for cash, a source told Reuters last week. The company Chesky said he was confident Airbnb would plans to do with the information it gathers, but women with family responsibilities might be the nor- said in September that it planned to list its shares in come back strong after the coronavirus pan- the spokesperson said the agency has the author- malization of remote and flexible working. “We need 2020, and so far has not changed that position. demic was over. He added that about half of ity to block imports when information indicates to redesign the way we work,” she said. —Reuters Airbnb also said it is creating a $10 million relief the stays booked on Airbnb were for periods they have been made with forced or indentured fund for its Superhosts - so-named for meeting longer than a month. —Reuters labor. —Reuters Established 1961 11

Wednesday, April 1, 2020 Business Zain Kuwait offers meals to support nation’s efforts to fight coronavirus Initiative as part of its commitment and in collaboration with Kuwait Food Bank

KUWAIT: Zain, the leading digital service provider in Zain has also installed many smartphone charging Kuwait, announced offering of meals that will be con- stations at Kuwait International Airport to serve tinuously distributed in collaboration with the Kuwait Kuwaiti citizens who are returning home as part of the Food Bank to support the efforts of the authorities Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ evacuation plan to bring during this extraordinary time of crisis. Kuwaitis back home from all over the world during The company also offered smartphone charging this crisis. This contribution aimed at facilitating com- stations at Kuwait International Airport to facilitate munication between returning Kuwaitis and their fam- communication of Kuwaitis returning home with their ilies as soon as they arrive in Kuwait. Zain is also con- families. The initiative has been taken to support the tinuously distributing a large number of meals to them country’s tremendous efforts in these exceptional cir- in collaboration with the Kuwait Food Bank and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). As part of its national commitment during this cri- sis, Zain recently announced offering free Internet caps and local voice calls for a period of one month in Company also collaboration with the Communication and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CIT- offers smartphone RA). The initiative came as part of the company’s charging stations commitment towards its customers during these exceptional circumstances. Zain also changed its net- at airport work’s name to STAY HOME in line with the direc- tives of the Council of Ministers to remind its valued customers to commit to staying at home as much as possible and collectively contribute to ending this pandemic at the earliest. cumstances to fight the spread of coronavirus disease The company also launched a social media cam- (COVID-19) in Kuwait. paign entitled “This is Your Time” to send positive This initiative came as part of Zain’s commitment messages to the public about the importance of being the company sent a number of awareness messages in Zain also launched an internal awareness cam- towards the nation and in line with its comprehensive a responsible citizen in this time of crisis, not listen to collaboration with MOH’s team through its official paign for the safety of its employees, through which corporate sustainability and social responsibility rumors nor spread them, take part in volunteer efforts, social media channels. Zain also broadcast official the company distributed precautionary items and strategy. This also reflects the Kuwaiti private sector’s commit to staying at home, as well as abiding by the MOH awareness videos on coronavirus disease sanitizers to all the staff and sent periodic awareness role in supporting the public sector for the nation’s directives of the authorities. (COVID-19) in seven languages: Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, content. wellbeing. This is especially true in such times of cri- Since the beginning of the crisis, Zain collaborated Farsi, Filipino, Bengali, and Santhali. Zain spares no efforts to achieve its compre- sis, where the Kuwaiti society’s strength and unity are with the Ministry of Health to offer its customers Zain affirmed its utmost commitment in all the hensive Corporate Sustainability and Social at their highest. FREE calls to any of MOH’s three hotlines; 24970967, instructions and precautionary measures outlined by Responsibly Strategy that closely focuses on sup- Zain offers nearly 30,000 meals in collaboration 96049698, and 99048619 in order to enable them to the Ministry of Health to contribute to fighting the porting the public sector and shouldering public with the Kuwait Food Bank, where a large number of inquire about any health or medical information relat- spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Kuwait. health initiatives. The company strongly believes the meals was distributed during the week dedicated ed to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) directly from Zain supplied all its branches that are operational dur- that launching and supporting such initiatives by the Ministry of Health at Kuwait International the ministry’s specialized team and ensure taking the ing the official break, as well as all its kiosks and self- helps infuse a sense of responsibility into mem- Fairgrounds in Mishref to conduct tests for residents correct information from the official and certified service machines in all of Kuwait’s areas with sanitiz- bers of the society, and help support those who who recently entered the country. The meals were pro- sources. ers, and the company’s team continuously and period- are in need of help. vided as a contribution by the company to ease the As part of its continuous collaboration with the ically sanitizes all operational branches and all Zain is proud of its long list of programs and con- hardship of long waiting in line. Many meals are also various ministries, Zain also provided the Ministry of machines and products to ensure the safety of cus- tributions that serve noble causes through strategical- being continuously distributed at Kuwait International Health and the Ministry of Interior with FREE bulk tomers and staff. Zain also notified all sales staff to ly partnering with all entities, including non-profit Airport’s gates dedicated for residents who are return- SMS messages to send medical and awareness con- wear medical gloves, stop the use of biometric organizations, governmental institutions, and interna- ing to their countries because of this crisis. tent to the community during this period. In addition, devices, and more. tional bodies.

tional branches - Shuwaikh, Shaab, Sharq, IMF Board Cosultation Report ABK offers loan, Farwaniya, Fahaheel , Salmiya and Jahra 2. ABK’s first priority is the safety and wellbeing of its customers and employees. The bank will contin- adjustment would cut current expenditure, by tack- financial relief ue to monitor the situation and implement practical Kuwait’s non-oil ling spending rigidities, boost nonoil revenue, and precautions in line with guidance from Central Bank create space for growth-enhancing investment. The of Kuwait. large public wage bill should be reformed, and gener- to customers growth spikes to alized subsidies and transfers phased out in favor of KUWAIT: As part of the dedicated effort to targeted compensation schemes. As for revenue, the relieve the stress on customers due to the current 3% in 2019: IMF government should initiate broad consultations, circumstances in Kuwait and globally, Al-Ahli Bank redouble efforts to engage parliament, and continue of Kuwait (ABK) has announced a six-month WASHINGTON, DC: The Executive Board of the the technical work on the GCC-wide excises and repayment grace period for all Kuwaiti and non- International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the VAT. Taxes on corporate income, luxury items, and Kuwaiti customers on their credit cards, consumer Article IV consultation with Kuwait and considered personal income of the wealthy could be also consid- and supported the staff appraisal without a meeting. and instalment loans from April until September CBK bonds and ered for a more socially-balanced adjustment mix. Nonoil growth strengthened to estimated 3 percent inclusive. Embedding fiscal measures in a comprehensive in 2019, propelled by government and consumer There will also be no interest charged during this related Tawarruq reform package that promotes private sector growth, spending. With oil output contracting by 1 percent, payment grace period and customers will recom- strengthens governance and accountability, and broadly in line with the OPEC+ agreement, overall mence repayment from October 2020 onwards. KUWAIT: The Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) improves public services would help build broad sup- growth slowed to estimated 0.7 percent in 2019 from The announcement is in line with Kuwait’s national announced the most recent issues of CBK port for reforms. A rules-based fiscal framework 1.2 percent in 2018. Fiscal and current account surplus- strategy, to ease financial impact, following a num- Bonds and related Tawarruq at a total value of would improve management of oil revenues. A rules- es narrowed on account of lower oil prices and output. ber of fiscal and monetary support schemes KD 240 million for 6 months with a rate of based framework would help anchor fiscal policy on a Inflation rebounded to 1.1 percent as food and trans- launched to support individuals and businesses return at 1.375 percent. long-term objective of intergenerational equity. It port prices recovered. Credit growth accelerated to 4.4 experiencing hardship stemming from the impact of should include a well-calibrated operational rule that percent in 2019, spurred by relaxation of macropru- helps reconcile long-term savings and near-term COVID-19. dential ceilings on personal loans and supportive mon- As part of its dedication to supporting its cus- economic stabilization objectives. Such a rule would etary conditions. The underlying fiscal stance loosened help establish policy predictability, prevent procycli- tomers and partners; the Bank’s financial relief ini- in FY2018/19. The nonoil balance excluding investment tiative is the latest in a series of strategic and critical CBK offers loan cality, and ensure durable gains from adjustment. To income in percent of nonoil GDP deteriorated as gov- be effective, a fiscal rule would need to be enshrined actions to safeguard the customer’s financial inter- ernment spending continued to rise. Fiscal financing ests during the COVID-19 outbreak. The bank con- repayment relief in a sound institutional framework. Until a properly needs-the overall balance after compulsory transfers to calibrated fiscal rule is in place, the current arrange- tributed KD 680,000 to the Central Bank of the Future Generations Fund (FGF) and excluding KUWAIT: The Commercial Bank of Kuwait has ment with respect to the FGF should be maintained. Kuwait’s fund to mitigate the impact of the novel investment income-remained large at 7.7 percent of decided to offer a relief in payments of consumer Fiscal governance reforms should be an integral Coronavirus crisis on individuals, businesses and GDP. Lacking borrowing authorization since October the economy. Furthermore, ABK customers can loans and credit card payments for all its customers. part of the overall fiscal strategy. Reforms should aim 2017, the government had to continue drawing solely to enhance fiscal transparency, modernize public pro- contribute to the ‘National Fund for Combating the The decision has been taken as it is the wish of His on General Reserve Fund (GRF) assets for financing, Spread of the Coronavirus’ using the bank’s online Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- curement, and boost spending efficiency. These steps which brought its total and liquid balances down to 56 would reduce vulnerabilities to corruption and banking and mobile banking application. Jaber Al-Sabah under the extraordinary circum- and 24 percent of GDP by June 2019. Combined FGF strengthen support for fiscal adjustment. In addition, ABK continues to implement a series stances in the country in the wake of the coron- and GRF assets continued to grow however, as the FGF The exchange rate regime remains appropriate. The of precautionary measures to protect its stakehold- avirus situation. The bank has taken the decision generated strong returns and received mandatory peg has provided an effective nominal anchor. The ers, including issuing advice encouraging customers also in response to the measures being taken by the transfers from the government. proposed fiscal adjustment would close the current to use online or mobile banking services instead of authorities to tackle the spread of coronavirus The banking system remains sound. The systemwide account gap over the medium term. As the economy visiting their operational branches. ABK is support- which affected all CBK customers. The bank also capital adequacy ratio reached 17.6 percent in becomes diversified, the arrangement should be peri- ing customer efforts in practicing social distancing deferred loan payments for small and medium sized September 2019, and banks have plentiful short-term odically reviewed to ensure that it continues to serve and bank safely via its digital banking platforms. companies while waiving all interests and fees that liquidity. Nonperforming loans net of specific provi- Kuwait well. Customers can connect with ABK employees for may occur due to this postponement. sions remain low, while loan-loss provisioning is high. Financial sector reforms should focus on bolstering enquiries and can access banking services using The bank’s decision comes as a support to its Net interest income declined due to a narrowing ATMs, the online chat via the website and the 24x7 customers both citizens and expats as well as small spread between bank lending rates and cost of funds. resilience and deepening inclusion. To reduce moral Call Centre. They can have updated information and medium sized companies under the current The real estate market has stabilized, and equity hazard, the authorities should enhance the corrective through social platforms: Twitter, Instagram and extraordinary circumstances, and the negative fall- markets outperformed in 2019, in part thanks to the action framework, establish a special resolution regime Facebook and WhatsApp. out resulting from the spread of coronavirus. The inclusion in emerging market indices. for banks, and unwind the blanket deposit guarantee. The bank has undertaken preventative measures bank takes this opportunity to thank all state insti- CBK’s continued efforts to recalibrate macroprudential across their branch network, ATM and cash deposit tutions and the Kuwait wise government for the Oil dependence tools to balance stability and growth considerations machine locations, including additional deep clean- continued efforts and precautionary measures to The challenge to reduce dependence on oil and are welcome. Gradually relaxing the interest rate ceil- ing and sterilization protocols in their seven opera- halt the spread of this epidemic. boost savings has become more urgent. The subdued ing on commercial loans would expand lending to new forecast for oil revenues is weighing on near-term market segments, including SMEs. Market forces growth and fiscal and external balances. This has should be allowed to play a greater role in the alloca- finish transforming the scrappy frontier town into a heightened the need for reforms to create a vibrant tion and pricing of liquidity to promote interbank mar- In Cambodian gleaming metropolis. private sector and ensure adequate savings of the ket development. In a sign of his confidence, Kang’s casino has exhaustible oil wealth for future generations. Kuwait Sustaining reforms to foster private sector-led and town, Chinese installed gold urinals. “This city is just starting, there is has large financial buffers and low debt, but the win- diversified growth will be critical. With limited scope a lot of potential,” says Kang, 60. “I love it. dow of opportunity to tackle its challenges from the for public employment going forward, a vibrant pri- Sihanoukville gives you a feeling of freedom and no position of strength is narrowing. Without a course vate sector must emerge to absorb the large number plan beyond virus control.” correction, fiscal and financing challenges will intensi- of Kuwaitis entering the labor market in coming For Kang and others, the city is like the China of years. Enabling the private sector to thrive requires SIHANOUKVILLE, Cambodia: When casino owner fy. The recent runup in hard-to-reverse spending several decades ago - with all of the promise and none reducing the economic footprint of the state, promot- Kang Qiang looks out the window of his 20th floor weakened the underlying fiscal position. At current of the competition. The current idle is only a blip. ing market competition, and improving the business office in this city on the remote Cambodian coast, he policies, the overall fiscal balance would turn into a “China is huge, there will always be people inter- environment. To that end, further efforts are needed sees construction cranes sitting idle. growing deficit, which, after mandatory savings in the ested in Sihanoukville,” says Yin Hongsi, a 30-year-old to revamp insolvency framework, reduce excessive The Chinese-funded gambling enclave of FGF, would give rise to large financing needs over the from Chengdu who hires workers for one of the casi- regulations, and ease trading across borders. To Sihanoukville has suffered a double blow. Travel medium term. Borrowing should be viewed as a tem- nos. “You don’t need to worry if the Chinese will come incentivize Kuwaitis to seek private sector opportu- restrictions imposed in recent weeks to slow the global porary solution-while slowing the depletion of liquid back.” The boom town on the Cambodian coast has a nities, public sector wages should be aligned with coronavirus pandemic have deepened the effects of a financial assets, it would lead to a rapid debt buildup. deep water port and is part of China’s Belt and Road those in the private sector, accompanied with ban last year on lucrative online gambling. initiative. In the next three years, Sihanoukville will improvements in education and training programs to But Kang is betting on a future beyond the pan- Fiscal adjustment also host both the Southeast Asian Games and a meet- nurture entrepreneurship and equip graduates with demic, banking on the return of money from China to Kuwait needs ambitious, growth-friendly, and ing of regional leaders.—Reuters socially equitable fiscal adjustment. Staff’s proposed skills for in-demand jobs. 12 Established 1961 Health & Science Wednesday, April 1, 2020 ‘When I wake I cry’: Hell of nurses on France’s COVID-19 front line

PARIS: Every evening at the stroke of eight, “They are afraid for themselves and their millions of people across France take to their loved ones, afraid of not making it, of being balconies to bang pots, beat drums, blow overwhelmed,” Azoulay said, knowing that trumpets and to whistle and clap as loudly as nurses and doctors have lost their lives else- they can. The wave of sound from the nightly where. “But they are stoical too, dignified and ritual in support of the country’s health work- frankly they inspire respect,” he added. “The ers has become a morale-boosting moment nurses have amazed me.” of communion for a population confined to Not only do staff have to contend with their homes for nearly three weeks. the death and suffering of patients gasping But with the for air as COVID- hundreds dying 19 weakens their every day, the sto- Everybody lungs, but also the icism of the every- fear that they day heroes it cele- knows this and themselves will brates is being fall ill and infect sorely tested. has started their families at “Waking up this talking about it home. “They talk morning I cried. I of a wave, of a cried eating break- tsunami, which by fast. I cried getting definition means ready,” nurse Elise Cordier confessed on that we will be submerged,” said Benjamin Facebook, in a post which revealed the fear Davido, medical crisis director at the and anguish of those on the front line. Raymond-Poincare hospital west of Paris. But, she said, once at “the hospital locker “The fear is that we are going to have say to room, I dried my tears. I breathed in. I sick people on stretchers: ‘Sorry, we have no PARIS: A nurse washes her hands at a COVID-19 screening station outside the district hall of the 17th arrondissement in Paris on the four- breathed out. The people in the hospital beds more beds,’” he said. teenth day of a lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) in France. — AFP are crying too, and it is I who am there to dry The other great worry, Davido said, was their tears.” With the peak of the new coron- having to tend to their own colleagues. the first major outbreak. fear of infecting them.” “This is something seen calls rocket to 200 a day to the Pro- avirus still to hit France, medical staff are Emotions aside, “it is not exactly what you Hospital psychologists who in the past new, that our generation has never known at consult service he works for that supports girding themselves for a situation they never would want ethically. Everybody knows this were there to look after patients are now this level,” she added. “We were not prepared medical staff. Carers are often caught in a imagined they would face. “Our teams are and has started talking about it,” he said. turning their attention to their colleagues. At for this,” said Etienne, a young doctor in the double bind, he said, between their loyalty afraid of the uncertainty awaiting us this Anxiety has not been helped by the chronic Clermont-Ferrand in the centre of France, Paris region, who has been shaken by seeing to their family and to their patients. Dupuis week and the whole month of April,” said shortage of masks and protective gear in psychiatrist Dr Julie Geneste said that one of his patients turned away from intensive said one nurse was being nagged by her Professor Elie Azoulay, who leads the inten- French hospitals, with anger peaking after beyond the fear of “not being able to cope”, care. “We are all in agony... Some of my col- partner to undress as soon as she arrived sive care unit of a Paris hospital which has the death of the first French doctor 10 days most of the calls they have received to their leagues are in a state of shock, people are home and “bugged her all weekend when tripled its capacity with 50 new beds. All are ago, a man who had returned from holiday in support unit have been about “dealing with going off sick fearing for their families.” she touched her face-even when she had now full. his birthplace of Madagascar to help with the anxiety of relatives and friends and the Psychologist Nicolas Dupuis said he has clean hands.” — AFP 13

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

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Dr. Hamoud Abdullah Alarouj ENT Consultant, Laryngologist Kuwait Board of Otolaryngology. Experienced In: Laryngology Fellowship, McGill Management of benign and malignant vocal cord lesions. University- Canada. Vocal cord augmentation. Fellow of the European Board of Diagnosis and treatment of spasmodic dysphonia. Otolaryngology – Head & Neck surgery. Adenotonsillectomy using latest techniques. Member of the American Academy of Myringotomy and ventilation tube insertion. Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery. Surgery for the deviated nasal septum. Member of the British Laryngological Endoscopic sinus surgery. Association. Diagnosis and treatment of allergic rhinitis. Member of the European Laryngological Tympanoplasty. Society. Diagnosis and treatment of vertigo. Member of the Canadian Society of Thyroid surgery Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery. Diagnosis and treatment of snoring. 14 Established 1961

Wednesday, April 1, 2020 Lifestyle Gossip

ylie Jenner has donated $1 million to coro- donated $1,000,000 to help us buy hundreds of she is doing in fighting the virus. She wrote in the K navirus relief efforts. The ‘Keeping Up with thousands of masks, face shields, and other protective comments: “I love you! And thank YOU for all the love the Kardashians’ star has made a sizeable gear which we will have delivered directly to our first and care you put into everything that you do! You’re donation to help hospitals pay for protec- responders, as too many masks at hospitals are dis- an angel on Earth. (sic)” The charitable deed comes tive gear that will allow doctors and nurses to prop- appearing before making their way onto the faces of after Kylie’s father Caitlyn Jenner - who was formerly erly treat patients infected with the respiratory illness our front line heroes. I have never felt more blessed known as Bruce Jenner - said the Kylie Cosmetics - which is also known as COVID-19 - without putting to be a doctor, as helping our brave ER and ICU founder “loves” being at home amid the coronavirus themselves at risk of catching the virus. Physician and workers feels just as gratifying as helping my own pandemic, because it means she can dote on her two- OB-GYN Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi confirmed the news in an patients. “From the bottom of our hearts, THANK year-old daughter Stormi. Caitlyn said: “I think Kylie’s Instagram post, when she wrote: “I am speechless, my YOU @kyliejenner. You are my hero. This generous happy because she’s at home and spending a lot of eyes are filled with tears of joy and my heart is over- donation will help save many precious lives. Our time with Stormi and she loves that.” whelmed with gratitude. I made a wish to the world is a better place with you in it. I love you so Universe to gather protective masks for our brave much. Thank you X a million…. (sic)” Kylie, 22, then healthcare workers and today my dream came true. confirmed the news herself when she saw the mes- “One of my patients, a beautiful Living Angel just sage and responded by thanking Thaïs for the work

ark Wahlberg’s life got “10 ferent thing. You see the gentleman M times more difficult” when who just came in here? “He just did 16 errie Edwards is missing her mother amid he left gang life. The 48- years in prison. OK? He got out and I P the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The year-old actor got into a lot put him in [‘Spenser Confidential’]. That 26-year-old singer has been self-isolating of trouble as a teenager, including could have easily been my life. “Being away from her mother Debbie during the being jailed for felony assault after in a situation like that and having noth- ongoing spread of the respiratory illness - which is attacking a man while high on drugs in ing else - certainly I made a lot of terri- also known as COVID-19 - because she suffers from ble mistakes and I paid for those mis- “slow pneumonia” and Perrie could put her at risk if takes dearly.” Mark explained people she goes to visit. During an appearance on Capital often think of time behind bars as a Breakfast with Roman Kemp, show host Roman asked badge of honor but insisted “having Perrie what she misses most about being away from been in that situation, it’s not”. The her family and friends, to which the Little Mix singer ‘Departed’ star recalled how he could said: “Oh I miss my mam a lot, I’m a mummy’s girl. only get out of the situation was to Like whenever I’m away or if I’m tired or if I don’t feel “actually change” his circumstances. He well, I’m like ‘I just want my mum’. “I’m 26 but I’m like added: “I did the work. I took it upon a six year old so it’s really hard not being able to see iley Cyrus is missing “human “But when it comes to communication myself to own up to my mistakes and her because she’s high risk, because she’s got slow M connection” as she self-iso- and connection, I’ve been more con- go against the grain and not be a part Pneumonia, so she’s got water on the lungs so she has lates herself amid the ongo- nected from the social distancing per- of the gang any more - to say that I to be extra careful so I’m trying to stay away from ing coronavirus pandemic. spective in isolation quarantine than I was going to go and do my own thing. her. I do miss like seeing everyone, it feels a bit The ‘Malibu’ hitmaker is joining millions have actually outside in the world, and Which made it 10 times more difficult bizarre.” Perrie does have company whilst she stays of people around the world in staying I want to take all of these philosophies to walk from my home to the train sta- indoors though, as she is self-isolating with her at home and practicing social distanc- that I’m learning inside my house out- tion, to go to school, to go to work.” boyfriend Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, as well as her ing as a way of trying to limit the side of my house when it’s safe to do And Mark hopes others in his position cousin Ellie who also works as her assistant and is her spread of the respiratory illness - so.” Instead of going out to meet her can get a “second chance” if they want “best friend”. She added: “But luckily I’m isolating which is also known as COVID-19 - friends, Miley has been speaking to to change. He told Observer magazine: with Alex and with Ellie, Ellie is my best friend, but has said she’s finding it difficult people through FaceTime, and is “I prided myself on doing the right cousin, PA, everything wrapped into one so we’ve got being locked away from the world. She encouraging people to write down the thing and turning my life around. each other so that’s good. I just keep FaceTiming said: “We get so numb to people open- things they want to say to those who Whether I found myself venturing off everyone, ‘What are you up to?’ and they’re like ‘It’s ing the door for us and saying, ‘Good can’t use FaceTime, such as elderly rel- into Hollywood and a music career, or been 5 minutes, not a lot!’ ” morning. How are you?’ What would atives. Speaking to Zane Lowe on working a 9-to-5 job as a construction we give right now for it to be safe to Apple Music, she said: “We’ve been worker, whatever path I was going to open the door for somebody, but right doing a lot of FaceTimes, and for peo- take, I was going to do the right thing. now when we open the door, we think, ple that can’t do FaceTime, I think “So I think no, judging a person on oh, where’s my glove, let me get my maybe take this time to write what you what he’s doing and where he’s coming hoodie. I’m not allowed to look at you. would want to say if you get on from and all those things, no, I would Get six feet away from me. And so I FaceTime, and then when it’s safe for us hope that people would be able to get miss that human connection. I miss all to be together again, telling our a second chance in life. But the ‘Fighter’ opening the door for somewhere and grandparents things that we haven’t, star - who has four children with wife having the door open for me. “There’s because I can’t really remember the Rhea Durham - thinks his experiences two girls that work at the cafe near my last time I felt the way that I feel about have made his work more “authentic”. house that I get cappuccino from them my grandparents now and to protect 1988 and though he’s not proud of his He said: “I do think the one thing I have every day, and I love them. They make them. But also now that we’re getting actions, he’s happy he worked hard to to my advantage is that I have all this my day. They always draw little smiling more information that it’s also time for turn his life around, though it wasn’t real life experience that I can apply to faces or put my initials in my cappucci- me to protect my 20, 30 year old easy. Asked if he thought he’d be “can- my work.”I think audiences can defi- no. I miss that. I miss that connection brothers and sisters, because appar- celled” if he was an up-and-coming nitely sense authenticity. But that came with my daily routine.” But the 26- ently this isn’t something that just actor now and details of his past with a real price.” year-old singer says she’s actually attacks the elderly or the immune com- emerged, he said: “Well... I don’t know. become “more connected” through promised. This is something that’s jeop- I think it would be easy to look at it self-isolation, as she never realized how ardizing young people’s health also.” and say that, but having been through important “communication” was until it and experienced it, I think it’s a dif- she had to stay at home. She added:

ennifer Aniston is her Screen Actors Guild (SAG) anuary Jones has taken #facemaskfrday! ... We all need to handie Newton was J “cleaning out her clos- Awards dress earlier this year. The J to wearing a light ther- find ways to enjoy staying at home T ready to quit acting et” whilst she is in self- ‘Morning Show’ actress walked apy mask amidst the right now ... a face mask and a before landing her role isolation. The ‘Friends’ the red carpet at Los Angeles’ coronavirus pandemic. dance sounds pretty good. “Boost in ‘Westworld’. The 47- star is thinning out the clothes she Shrine Auditorium in a white The ‘Mad Men’ star took to social your collagen, and your mood. year-old actress - who has children has at her home to pass the time form-fitting Christian Dior gown media to reveal how she is keeping January Jones picked up her mask Ripley, 19, Nico, 15, and Booker, as she stays in the house due to and she revealed she’d opted for her skin fresh during the virus out- from @shanidarden and you can five, with husband Ol Parker - had coronavirus. During a phone call one of the “oldies but goodies” break. Sharing a video of her in get yours online today! Click the grown tired of “fighting” for her with Ellen DeGeneres, and broad- she’d collected over the years, the mask, as she sipped on a link in our bio to purchase, and characters to be made more inter- casted as part of her Instagram rather than relying on a stylist to Coors Light through a straw, she have your own solo dance party!’ esting and was frustrated by the show, she said: “I’m actually still find her a new outfit. She said at captioned it: “Skin: 5 Marbles: - they concluded. (sic)” sexist and racist attitudes she’d cleaning out my closet. That’s still the time: “This is a vintage John 167 (sic)” January was asked by faced until she was offered the part happening ... Well, I do suggest a Galliano for Christian Dior, that is fans what mask it was, and she of Maeve Millay in the dystopian good spring clean right now while mine. I have a little collection of revealed it was made by Deesse drama. She said: “I’d gotten to a we’re at it. That can’t hurt. Books you know, the oldies but goodies.” Pro. The Déesse Pro LED Mask point where I’d go to work on proj- are great, obviously.” Meanwhile, The 50-year-old actress - who retails for £1680 and is described ects and would spend the whole Jennifer raided her own closet for won Outstanding Performance by as an “LED phototherapy mask”. A time fighting to make the women a Female Actor in a Drama Series post on their website reads: more multidimensional. I was so award for her work on ‘The “Déesse, the market leaders in exhausted with it. “I’d just come off Morning Show’ at the ceremony - LED technology have pioneered a a show that was sexist and racist. Joy], they’re both powerful femi- accessorized her outfit with vin- new enhanced LED phototherapy When I said I don’t think I should nists and they explained that the mask for the professional market. take my top off for a scene as it tage jewelry from Fred Leighton, nudity was there to show how Designed to provide superior per- didn’t make any sense, the produc- which seemingly included the Maeve is dehumanised by her situ- formance, flexibility and prolonged er literally said to me, ‘Listen, kid, same ring she wore to the Golden ation. She’s basically treated like a usage within the professional spa, Thandie Newton, top off, ratings.’ “ Globe Awards earlier that month. piece of meat.” The ‘Crash’ actress A spokesperson for the jewelers medispa or clinical environment Thandie thinks android Maeve is the best role she’s ever had. She thinks the film and TV industry has told E! News: “Jennifer Aniston’s the Déesse PRO uses low-level changed and grown more diverse jewelry includes Edwardian dia- light therapy (LLLT) to expose the told the Sunday Times magazine: “Playing Maeve meant I wasn’t since she began her career. She mond pendant earrings in plat- skin to four wavelengths of light, said: “When I started out there inum, an Art Deco pear-shaped delivered at a safe therapeutic separating myself into actress and activist. I was both on set every were very few movies that were ring, in platinum by Cartier, a dose, to stimulate a natural cellular day. That’s what it felt like.” And interesting. Because the industry 1920’s Marquise diamond ring, in response across six Treatment even though nudity was a big part was run by wealthy white people. platinum. All pieces are Fred modes.” It features 770 Bulbs, of the initial pitch for the role, the But it’s changing. Supply and Leighton.”—BangShowbiz which help with anti-ageing, puri- actress understood why it was demand. People want to turn on the fying, brightening and calming. TV and see people who look like Déesse also shared her post to appropriate for the character. She said: “It was a madam in a Wild them.” their social media, writing: “On a West saloon, and 75% nudity.”I day where we could all do with love the showrunners [husband- something to make us smile, @jan- and-wife Jonathan Nolan and Lisa uaryjones shows us how she does Established 1961 15 Lifestyle Features Wednesday, April 1, 2020

hieves stole a painting by Dutch mas- such as “Sunflowers” and his vivid self- Singer Laren was targeted in 2007 when Tter Vincent van Gogh early Monday portraits. thieves stole a number of castings from in a daring heist from a museum that The painting was on loan from its own- its gardens including “The Thinker,” was closed to the public because of the ers, the Groninger Museum in the north of Dutch media reports said. The castings coronavirus pandemic. The 1884 painting, the Netherlands, as part of an exhibition. were recovered two days later. Two Van titled the “Parsonage Garden at Neunen in The Singer Laren museum closed two Gogh masterpieces went back on display Spring”, was taken during a pre-dawn weeks ago in compliance with Dutch gov- at Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum last break-in at the Singer Laren Museum near ernment measures aimed at tackling the year after they were stolen from the Amsterdam. The criminals smashed spread of COVID-19. Dutch police said the museum in 2002. through a glass door and then took the criminals had broken in at around 3:15 am The paintings — the 1882 “ View of painting, which is valued at up to six mil- (0115 GMT). “Police officers immediately the Sea at Scheveningen” and the 1884/5 lion euros ($6.6 million). rushed to the scene but the perpetrators “Congregation Leaving the Reformed “I am shocked and unbelievably had escaped,” Dutch police said in a state- Church at Nuenen” — were recovered annoyed this theft has happened,” Jan ment, appealing for witnesses. by Italian investigators in September Rudolph de Lorm, one of the museum’s 2016 when they raided a home belonging directors, told a press conference. “Art is ‘Hunt is on’ This handout picture released on March 30, 2020 by the Groningen Museum shows Vincent van to an infamous mafia drug baron near there to be seen, to be enjoyed, to inspire The painting has an estimated value of Gogh’s 1884 painting “Parsonage Garden at Neunen in Spring” which was stolen from the Singer Naples. Previously three Van Goghs that and to bring solace, particularly in these between one million and six million euros, Laren Museum in Laren.—AFP were stolen from the Noordbrabants troubled times in which we find ourselves,” Dutch art detective Arthur Brand said. “The Museum in 1990 later resurfaced when a De Lorm said. The theft happened on what hunt is on,” said Brand, who is known for adding the modus operandi was similar to is very difficult. It is something that has to notorious Dutch criminal made a deal would have been the 167th birthday of the recovering stolen Nazi art including the other two cases. “The thieves only went be displayed for people to see,” he said. with prosecutors. —AFP brilliant yet troubled artist. “Parsonage “Hitler’s Horses”. It was the third time the for a Van Gogh, while there are other The museum’s 3,000 pieces also Garden at Neunen in Spring” comes from famous Dutch master’s works have been works too in the museum,” he said. Asked include works by Dutch abstract master relatively early on in Van Gogh’s career, targeted in the Netherlands since the whether he thought there was enough Piet Mondrian and Dutch-Indonesian before the prolific artist embarked on his 1990s, Brand said. “To me this looks like security at the museum Brand said “it is painter Jan Toorop, as well as a casting trademark post-impressionist paintings the work of a copycat,” Brand told AFP, very difficult to say.” “Securing a painting of “The Thinker” by Auguste Rodin.

panish tenor Placido Domingo The Spanish icon, who won world- Ssaid Monday he is recovering wide acclaim in the 1990s as one of from COVID-19 at home after the Three Tenors alongside Jose being released from hospital in Mexico. Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti, has The 79-year-old opera star said on since August been engulfed in a sexual March 22 he had tested positive for the harassment scandal. He is accused of coronavirus. He was later admitted to forcibly kissing, grabbing and fondling hospital. On Sunday he wrote on his women over a period of more than 30 Facebook page that he was back at his years. “At this time, my thoughts are Apaculpo home and credited the early with those who suffer and with all treatment he had received with easing those who are fighting generously to People take pictures in front of the Great pyramid of Kheops where a laser projection writes “Stay at home, stay safe.—AFP photos his recovery. “I am at home and I feel save lives. I thank everyone for your good. Fortunately from the first symp- love and once again I recommend tom I was, as always, under medical everyone stays at home.”—AFP supervision, given my age and my comorbidities, so COVID-19 was immediately suspected and this helped me a lot,” he wrote.

gypt’s famed Great Pyramid was Mostafa Al-Waziri thanked “all the medical Organization has commended Egypt’s Eemblazoned Monday evening with staff who help to keep us safe.” Egypt has response to the pandemic as “strong and messages of unity and solidarity with carried out sweeping disinfection opera- adapted to the situation”. But it called on those battling the novel coronavirus the tions at archaeological sites, museums and the Arab world’s most populous country to world over. “Stay safe”, “Stay at home” other sites across the country. In tandem, boost hospital resources to better prepare and “Thank you to those keeping us safe,” strict social distancing measures were for potential wider transmission. The novel flashed in blue and green lights across the imposed to reduce the risk of contagion coronavirus was declared a pandemic on towering structure at the Giza plateau, among the country’s 100 million inhabitants. March 11. It originated in the Chinese city southwest of the capital Cairo. Egypt has Tourist and religious sites are shuttered, of Wuhan and has so far spread in 183 so far registered 656 COVID-19 cases, schools are closed and air traffic halted. countries. Over 727,000 people have been including 41 deaths. Of the total infected, Authorities have also declared a night-time infected and more than 34,000 have died 150 reportedly recovered. “The tourism curfew and threatened penalties including worldwide, according to a tally compiled sector is one of the most affected industry fines and even prison. by AFP.—AFP but our priority is health,” said tourism and On Monday, the interior ministry said antiquities minister Khaled al-Anani, hundreds were arrested for violating cur- speaking at the site. few orders. It was not immediately clear if In this file photo Spanish tenor Placido Domingo performs during his concert in the newly Senior antiquities ministry official they were later released. The World Health inaugurated sports and culture centre ‘St Gellert Forum’ in Szeged, southern Hungary.—AFP

Jodie Turner-Smith

anga Productions, a subsidiary of the MMohammed bin Salman “Misk” Foundation, announced today its partnership with Sumitomo Group to air the Saudi-anime series Future’s Folktales in Japan starting Saturday April 4th, 2020. The partnership was signed by Dr Essam Bukhary CEO of Manga Productions and Ishihara Junya, General Manager of Sumitomo Group via video conference. Under the agreement, the series will be aired across “J-com” channels, while, Asmik Essam Bukhary and Ishihara Junya signing via video he ‘Queen & Slim’ star is expecting her first child, a Ace, a subsidiary under Sumitomo Group will distrib- conference. Tbaby girl, with her husband Joshua Jackson, and ute the series from Japan to the world. the 41-year-old actor has revealed they won’t have Commenting on the partnership, Dr Essam to wait much longer until their tot’s arrival, as she’s Bukhary, CEO of Manga Productions, said: “We are show that has been produced in partnership with expected in early April. Speaking during an appearance excited to be joining forces with Sumitomo Group to TOEI Animation, the leading and most prevalent on ‘Live with Kelly and Ryan’ on Wednesday, Joshua introduce the rich heritage of Saudi and the Arabian Japanese animation studio. The 13-episode series tells said: “We are in the very, very home stretch. Everybody Peninsula to Japan and the world. Through this part- the fascinating tales of heritage in the Arabian tells us that the first baby’s late so we’re probably 10ish nership, we are able to showcase Saudi talents and Peninsula that has been passed down from generation days away. “[Jodie is] physically fine and the baby is creativity behind this production while leveraging to generation. Narrated by Asmaa, the grandmother, physically fine so the important things are all good. Japan’s team of experts in the animation industry.” and a robotic car named Anis, Asmaa’s grandchildren We’re just figuring out how to deal with interacting with Ishihara Junya, General Manager of Sumitomo Group are told stories with morals and lessons inspired by doctors and hospitals right now.” said, “Sumitomo Corporation Saudi Arabia is delight- events from the past. The series celebrates Arab val- The ‘Little Fires Everywhere’ actor appeared on the ed to venture and collaborate expertise in realizing ues and customs as well as teaching children about show via video link as he is currently self-isolating at and achieving Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and re- their history and future technologies. Future’s home amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and recreate an iconic hallmark of Japanese culture Folktales first aired this January across MBC Group explained he and Jodie, 33, are keeping themselves occu- in the Middle East as well as the USA. pied by playing board games. He added: “We’re just try- together with local minds. The distance between ing to figure out on a moment to moment basis how to get Saudi Arabia and Japan shall be shortened with through this with our sanity. We’re in the board game Manga Productions.” stage now. We did a lot, a lot, a lot of binge watching last Future’s Folktales is the very first Saudi anime week, so now … we’ve moved our way through Monopoly. Now it’s actually Jenga. Jenga’s the thing! Jenga’s great. It really brings out some ugliness in people.” Meanwhile, Jodie recently gushed over her romance with ‘Dawson’s Creek’ alum Joshua, as she said she felt “ready” for a baby after realizing she’d found “the right person” for her to spend the rest of her life with. Responding to a fan on Twitter who asked her how she knew she was ready for a child, the pregnant actress wrote: “i don’t think you’re ever ‘ready’... but there were definitely certain boxes i wanted to tick before commit- ting to it. the most important for me: being w/ sum1 i knew would be a great life partner. life has many vari- ables, but once i knew i’d met the right person, i felt unafraid (sic)”.—BangShowbiz 16 Established 1961 News Wednesday, April 1, 2020 Extreme isolation: World’s last virus-free corners holding tight KOROR, Palau: A coronavirus-free Antarctic seclusion tropical island nestled in the northern Inside Australia’s four remote Pacific may seem the perfect place to Antarctic research bases, around 90 ride out a pandemic - but residents on people have found themselves Palau say life right now is far from idyllic. ensconced on the only virus-free conti- The microstate of 18,000 people is nent as they watch their old home trans- among a dwindling number of places on form beyond recognition. There is no Earth that still report zero cases of need for social distancing in the tundra. COVID-19 as figures mount daily else- “They’re probably the only Australians at where. The disparate group also includes the moment that can have a large dinner Samoa, Turkmenistan, North Korea and together or have the bar still open or the bases on the frozen continent of gym still open,” Antarctic Division Antarctica. Operations manager Robb Clifton told A dot in the ocean hundreds of kilo- AFP. The bases are now isolated until meters from its nearest neighbors, Palau November, so the group is safe, but is surrounded by the vast Pacific, which Clifton admits “the main thing that’s on has acted as a buffer against the virus. the mind of expeditioners is how their Along with strict travel restrictions, this loved ones are going back home”. seems to have kept infections at bay for In some places, reporting no cases a number of nations including Tonga, the does not always mean there are no cases Solomons Islands, the Marshall Islands to report. North Korea has portrayed and Micronesia. But remoteness is not emergency measures as an unqualified certain to stop the relentless march of success in keeping COVID-19 out, the new disease. The Northern Mariana despite sustained epidemics in neighbor- Islands confirmed its first cases over the ing China and South Korea. But state weekend, followed by a suspected death media also appears to have doctored on Monday. images to give ordinary North Koreans Klamiokl Tulop, a 28-year-old artist face masks -handing sceptics reason to and single mum, is hopeful Palau can believe the world’s most secretive govern- MAWSON STATION, Antarctica: This handout photo taken on Feb 6, 2020 and released yesterday by the Australian Antarctic Division avoid the fate of Wuhan, New York or ment may not be telling the whole truth. (AAD) shows expeditioners cruising past icebergs in an inflatable boat near the ADD’s station. — AFP Madrid - where better-resourced health services were overrun. But she describes ‘Waiting for the inevitable?’ run low. ernment is building five isolation rooms admits to being “very anxious”. “I have a growing sense of dread, a fear that the While Palau has no confirmed cases, it United Airlines used to fly six times a that will be able to hold up to 14 loans and bills and payments due,” he virus is coming or could already be on has still been gripped by the society- week from nearby Guam - which has patients. said. “This will definitely put me back, I the island undetected. “You can feel a altering fears and economic paralysis seen more than 50 cases - but now there It all feels like waiting for the hope the government will do something rising tension and anxiety just shop- that have affected the rest of the world. is just one flight a week. “Look at how inevitable. “I would like to be optimistic about our economy too, to help it recov- ping,” she told AFP. “Stores are crowded Supermarket aisles in the country’s bad we coped when shipments were late we won’t get the virus,” Tulop said. “But er.” Palau’s biggest test may yet come even more during non-payday weeks.” largest town Koror have seen panic buy- before this pandemic happened,” Tulop Palau would most definitely get it. We with the first positive case. But even in There have been several scares on Palau, ing and there are shortages of hand sani- said. “Everyone was practically in rely heavily on tourism and most of us the most remote corners of the world, including a potential case that saw one tizers, masks and alcohol. The islands uproar.” Residents have been practising even need to travel for work.” Rondy the impact of this truly global pandemic person placed into quarantine this week depend heavily on goods being shipped social distancing. Doctors are waiting for Ronny’s job is to host big tourist events, is already being felt. Nowhere, it seems, as authorities await test results. or flown in, meaning supplies can quickly test kits to arrive from Taiwan. The gov- but work has already dried up, and he is truly virus-free. — AFP

“It is a coordination oversight center...that gave Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia will finance treatment Hard times shape more maturity to public health services in the coun- Expo 2020 Dubai for anyone infected with the coronavirus in the try,” senior Saudi epidemiologist Sami Almudarra country, the health minister said on Monday, while told Reuters. the agriculture ministry took steps to boost wheat Saudi, Kuwaiti... Kuwait also has experience with national health supports 1-year... and livestock supplies amid global fears of a food emergencies, from the oil well fires after the 1990 shortage. The kingdom has registered eight deaths Continued from Page 1 Iraqi invasion to fears of biological and chemical Continued from Page 1 among 1,453 infections, the highest among the six warfare during the 2003 US invasion of Iraq. It took Gulf Arab states. Kuwait recorded no fatalities among 266 cases. precautionary measures soon after reporting its Dubai has little of the oil riches of neighboring Health Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah said King Initial outbreaks in both countries were linked to first case on Feb 24, a week before Saudi Arabia. emirates like Abu Dhabi, and its vital property, Salman would cover treatment for citizens and resi- foreign travel. It’s still too early to tell whether those The luxury Khiran resort and five-star Al-Kout tourism and trade sectors had already been badly dents diagnosed with the virus, urging people with efforts have contained the disease, but the health Beach Hotel have become quarantine centers and weakened in recent years. Expo organizers, partici- symptoms to get tested. “We are all in the same officials said authorities are doing the best they can the international fairgrounds are being used for pating countries and the Paris-based Bureau boat,” he told a news conference, adding that by severing the transmission chain. testing and as a field hospital. International des Expositions (BIE) - the governing Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was oversee- The World Health Organization said Saudi Kuwait’s parliament, the most outspoken in a body which awards the event - had agreed to inves- ing containment efforts “night and day”. Arabia’s “whole of government” approach had ben- region dominated by autocratic rulers, was initially tigate shifting the mega-event. King Salman last week chaired an extraordinary efited from the MERS experience and “unique critical of the government response but has since “We look forward to welcoming the world, which virtual summit of G20 leaders to advance a global expertise” in emergency preparedness from manag- praised the health minister and by extension HH the we are certain will only come out of this pressing response to the coronavirus pandemic. G20 trade ing the haj pilgrimage, the world’s largest annual Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, challenge stronger, and more resilient than it ever ministers are holding an emergency video confer- gathering of Muslims. Riyadh is trying to replicate facing his first crisis as premier. “Continuous parlia- was,” Hashimi added. A final decision on postpone- ence on Monday to discuss cooperation on supply the kingdom’s haj inter-ministerial coordination in mentary pressure made government institutions feel ment will be made by the BIE, but its Secretary chains. At a separate news conference, the agricul- its fight against the coronavirus through the Saudi they must perform,” said Nada Al-Mutawa, man- General Dimitri Kerkentzes welcomed the recom- ture ministry spokesman said Saudi Arabia would Center for Disease Prevention and Control, con- agement professor at the Australian College of mendations. “The UAE’s decision to support a one start importing at least 1.2 million tons more wheat ceived in 2013 but not fully operational until 2018. Kuwait. —Reuters year postponement demonstrates pragmatism, next month, adding to strategic reserves of over 1 openness, and commitment to delivering an Expo million tons. Abdullah Abalkhail said the kingdom The shutdown has already put millions out of that lives up to our shared ambition,” he said. had also expanded the list of countries from which it work and forced governments to rush through Dubai, known for hosting hundreds of conferences can import livestock. 23 new coronavirus Public health officials say Saudi Arabia’s past huge stimulus plans. Experts in Germany, Europe’s annually, has already scrapped a string of cultural and experience combating the Middle East Respiratory economic powerhouse, said the virus would shrink entertainment events in recent weeks over the spread Syndrome (MERS) helped prepare it for the new cases in Kuwait... output there this year by up to 5.4 percent. The of the deadly disease. “The decision to postpone (Expo 2020) comes at a crucial juncture when the coronavirus outbreak. The kingdom has taken dras- World Bank warned Monday the economic fallout economy is tipped to fall into a recession,” said M R tic steps to contain the disease, halting international Continued from Page 1 from the pandemic could cause Chinese growth to Raghu, head of research at Kuwait Financial Centre flights, closing most public places and imposing a shudder to a halt and thrust millions of East Asians partial curfew. Restrictions on movement have Lockdowns aimed at halting the march of the (Markaz). “SMEs (small and medium-sized enterpris- into poverty. es), hospitality, tourism and retail sectors that are tightened, with entry and exit to Riyadh, Makkah, coronavirus pandemic have extended worldwide as After weeks of a national lockdown in Italy, already reeling under the twin impact of low oil prices Madinah and Jeddah heavily restricted. The interior the global death toll mounts and the US outbreak signs were emerging that drastic action could be and (the) coronavirus outbreak hoped to recoup and ministry said on Monday it was curbing access to continues to accelerate. Despite slivers of hope in slowing the spread of the disease. Even though the recover lost business during the Expo period.” six districts in Makkah, as it did over the weekend stricken Italy, tough measures that have confined two- country’s death toll grew by 812 in 24 hours to The United Arab Emirates has announced 611 with several neighborhoods in Madinah. fifths of the globe’s population to their homes are 11,591, the number of infections climbed just 4.1 cases of coronavirus, and five deaths. It has enforced The health ministry in Bahrain, which has being broadened. Moscow and Lagos joined the roll percent. “The data are better but our work contin- extensive lockdown measures to curb the spread of recorded four deaths and 500 cases, said another call of cities around the world with empty streets, ues,” said Giulio Gallera, the chief medical officer of the disease including an ongoing nighttime curfew. plane of evacuated citizens from Iran landed in while Virginia and Maryland became the latest US Lombardy, Italy’s worst-hit region. Italy was due to The UAE recorded two deaths on Monday in Arab Manama, without providing details. Kuwait has states to announce stay-at-home orders, followed observe a minute’s silence later Tuesday for victims and Asian nationals, both in their 40s with pre-exist- repatriated hundreds of citizens from Britain, quickly by Washington DC, leaving three-quarters of of the disease. ing heart conditions. The country extended distance France and Iran since Saturday, the civil aviation Americans under some form of lockdown. Spain announced another 812 virus deaths in 24 learning until the end of the academic year. authority said. — Agencies A US military medical ship steamed into New hours, taking it past China, where the disease first York, where it will relieve pressure on the city’s emerged in December. Even with the US health badly stretched health system. A field hospital set system stretched, Trump said he was ordering designated in Kuwait to brief them on the latest developments concerning the amnesty granted to up in Central Park was due to go online later yester- some excess medical equipment be sent to Italy, Amnesty begins residents in violation of the residency law and day. The scale and speed of the US pandemic con- France and Spain. Trump and Russian President accommodating them pending deportation to their tinued to expand, with the death toll topping 3,000 Vladimir Putin discussed “closer cooperation” and out of 163,000 known infections - the highest case today with Filipino... home countries. addressed plunging oil prices in a Monday call, the count for any country. The ministry’s assistant undersecretary for resi- Kremlin said. US President Donald Trump sought to reassure Continued frpm Page 1 dency affairs Maj Gen Talal Maarafi explained how Putin’s government was getting to grips with its Americans that authorities were ramping up distri- violators from over 11 expat labor centers desiring own outbreak, with the Russian strongman urging bution of desperately needed equipment such as Hermosura call upon all undocumented Filipinos to benefit from the amnesty can apply to the tem- residents of Moscow to respect a lockdown that ventilators and personal protective gear. But he also to take advantage of the amnesty granted by the porary accommodation centers where they would has closed all non-essential shops, and left Red offered a stark warning, saying “challenging times Kuwaiti government. “This is free for all illegals and be offered free meals pending deportation. Square deserted. Anna, a 36-year-old web design- the air tickets will be shouldered by the Kuwaiti are ahead for the next 30 days” as he acknowl- Manpower authority director Abdullah Al- government, so please take advantage of this edged a potential nationwide stay-at-home order. er, said the lockdown would be hard for her and her Motoutah stressed that the authority works side by amnesty,” he said. “We’re sort of putting it all on the line,” Trump said, five-year-old daughter. “But I don’t want Arina to side with various state bodies, namely the interior The ministry of interior has offered a one-month likening the efforts against coronavirus to a “war.” get sick,” she told AFP on her way to buy bread. ministry, to facilitate the procedures related to this amnesty from April 1 to 30 to tens of thousands of decision. He urged embassy representatives to urge The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases “So of course we will observe the quarantine.” expats living illegally in the country to leave without their nationals to seize the opportunity and benefit around the world is now above three-quarters of a The lockdowns are causing hardship across the paying any fines and with the promise they will be from the advantage of getting free tickets during the million, with around 37,000 deaths. The toll on world but particularly in impoverished cities in Africa and Asia. Africa’s biggest city, Lagos, joined allowed to return when the situation normalizes. The amnesty period without paying any fines, especially health systems is staggering, with medical profes- interior ministry has prepared 12 schools in the six since the labor market is currently going through a sionals under enormous strain. “Waking up this the global stay-at-home from Monday, with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari ordering a governorates, six each for males and females, for recession due to the health situation. morning I cried. I cried eating breakfast. I cried get- such expats who prefer to go home. The ministry two-week lockdown for its 20 million people. The “The law will be enforced and needed measures ting ready,” French nurse Elise Cordier confessed said that those who refuse to go will be penalized measures also apply to the capital Abuja. “Two will be taken against violators remaining in the on Facebook in a post that revealed the fear and and denied reentry into the country. country after the amnesty concludes,” Motoutah weeks is too long. I don’t know how we will cope,” anguish of those on the front line. Violators will be received from 8 am till 2 pm explained. The meeting was attended by diplomats said student Abdul Rahim, 25, as he helped his sis- But, she said, once in “the hospital locker room, I according to the following dates and nationalities: from the embassies of Asian countries and of Egypt, dried my tears. I breathed in. I breathed out. The ter sell food from a market stall. Philippines (April 1-5, 2020), Egypt (April 6-10), Jordan, Lebanon, Iran and Ethiopia, who were all people in the hospital beds are crying too, and it is I Impoverished Zimbabwe also began enforcing India (April 11-15), Bangladesh (April 16-20), Sri taken on a tour of the accommodation centers. who am there to dry their tears.” World leaders - a three-week lockdown. “They need to be fed, Lanka (April 21-25), other nationalities (April 26- According to several MPs, between 150,000 and several of whom have been stricken or forced into but there is nothing to eat,” vegetable vendor 30, 2020). 200,000 expatriates are living illegally in the coun- isolation - are still grappling for ways to deal with a Irene Ruwisi said in the township of Mbare, The manpower authority took part in a meeting try. Authorities have been trying to facilitate the crisis that is generating economic and social shock- pointing at her four grandchildren. “How do they the interior ministry held recently with representa- departure of as many expatriates as possible in waves unseen since World War II. expect us to survive?” tives of various embassies and diplomatic missions order to reduce the pressure on the health system. Established 1961 17 Stars Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution STAR TRACK

Aries (March 21-April 19) Libra (September 23-October 22) It could be difficult for you to think straight Today could be filled with unexpected twists, today, Aries. Your brain is probably working in short, erratic turns, and bends in the road that you may not be prepared bursts that keep you guessing about which way to proceed. for, Libra. Apparently someone forgot to install the sign that Avoid confusion during the day by periodically centering and warns of sharp curves ahead. Be on the lookout for unex- separating yourself and your feelings from the drama around pected forks in the road. When you get to them, take them, you. Don't pretend you understand something if you don't. If a to coin a phrase. Your brain could receive a jolt from an out- situation doesn't make sense, go ahead and question it. side source that reminds you to keep things real.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Scorpio (October 23-November 21)

Freedom is a key aspect of life today, Taurus. You You could be thinking some bizarre thoughts might find that your brain wants to break free and pursue today, Scorpio. They might lead you in a direction that more independent ways of thinking. Don't worry if such ways doesn't quite pertain to your current situation. Don't be of thinking lead you into unknown territory. This is a sign that afraid to explore these strange realms, because they could this is probably where you need to be. Your witty banter could give you some important insight that you wouldn't have take a sudden twist that surprises both you and the people realized otherwise. Wisdom can be found in the unlikeliest you're talking to. of places, so don't discount something because it seems a bit off the wall at first. Find the way

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) People are apt to be as stubborn as you in their Your thinking is solid and clear today, thinking today, Gemini. This could be a recipe for Sagittarius, but other people could challenge disaster if you aren't careful. Open the floodgates a bit wider your mental power. Don't let others put seeds of doubt in and take in more of the opinions of others. Don't automatical- your head about the way you approach a problem. Keep your ly assume that other people have to conform to your view- mind open to alternative solutions, but don't beat yourself up point to resolve an issue. More than likely, there needs to be for your current mental track. You might need to modify your some give and take from all involved. strategy, but don't sacrifice your principles or values.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

You could find yourself staring at a stranger for You could get the feeling that something is just one extra second as you pass on the street today, Cancer. wrong today when it isn't, Capricorn. It's probably just your Your tendency toward the new and bizarre is stronger than perspective that needs some adjusting. Pull out your binoc- usual, and you're being pulled into different mental directions. ulars and focus a bit more so you can stand back yet have Go ahead and introduce yourself to that stranger. Perhaps he or the power to examine the details closely. Don't automati- she will become a business partner or new best friend. You nev- cally assume there's a clear distinction between right and er know until you ask. wrong. There are likely a great many shades of gray, too.

Leo (July 23-August 22) Aquarius (January 20- February 18) As you work slowly and steadily toward your Your sensitive nature is likely to pick up a dis- goals, realize that there are apt to be unexpected obstacles turbance in your thinking today, Aquarius. Suddenly, a along the way, Leo. You can't possibly plan for everything, so blast of unexpected information could come your way don't get discouraged today when some crazy variable pops and throw a monkey wrench in your mental process. Try out of nowhere. Your mental process may be thrown for a not to get thrown off balance by the sudden jolt. You'll loop, and you might find that you go into a frenzy. There's a find that you can incorporate some of this new knowl- valuable lesson to be learned here - patience. edge in a way that gives you a greater advantage.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) Pisces (February 19-March 20)

It's generally quite clear that you aren't afraid to You might experience some mental distractions tell people what you think, Virgo. Maybe it's time to be more that pull you in different directions today, Pisces. There could expressive about how you feel. It could be that your mental be a stubborn internal/external battle brewing. Realize that process is a bit off today, jolted by an unexpected situation or being in the middle is to your advantage. Look at the situation person. Make sure you incorporate some of your instincts as a way to learn something about yourself and others. and emotions into your reaction to the situation. Don't rely Understanding your opposition's viewpoint will help you. on your brain alone to have all the answers. Incorporate the old and the new into your way of thinking.

Color It 18 Established 1961 Wednesday, April 1, 2020 Sports

Photo of the Day Formula One simulator keeps Ocon in shape

PARIS: Hunkered down with his parents in Nor- mandy, Renault driver Esteban Ocon is racking up the hours on a Formula One virtual simulator to be ready when the season finally gets underway. The 23-year-old is preparing for his first campaign with Renault after spending last year as a Mercedes reserve driver following a successful two-season stint racing for Force India. “My days are full and I behave as if I was going to race next week,” the Frenchman told AFP. “I do a lot of racing on the simulator, and a great deal of sport. “Nobody knows when the season will start, and as we have all the time we need now it’s easy to keep in top shape.” The 2020 Formula One season has been thrown into disarray by the coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed over 33,000 lives worldwide ac- cording to an AFP tally. So far, Grand Prix races scheduled for Bahrain, Vietnam, China, the Netherlands, Spain and Azerbai- jan have been postponed while the iconic Riviera showpiece in Monaco and the season-opening Aus- tralian race were cancelled. “It will restart when it restarts, once things are safe,” Ocon said. “The winter break should have been over a long time ago, and with everything that’s going on, we’re glued to the news every evening, we see the figures rising and the tough times the world is going through. “We just hope this will soon be over.” France has been under lockdown since March 17, with Ocon spending his time on a simulator also being used by fellow F1 drivers Lando Norris and Max Verstappen. “It keeps you up to speed facing off with good drivers. It keeps your reflexes primed,” he said. “I’m LEBANONAT: Matthias Appenzeller dives from the 27-meter platform in Lebanonat the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. hoping it will give me an edge, that when we get back — Photo taken from www.redbullcontentpool.com I’ll be more ready. A real car, and real sport is always better than a simulator, but they are getting closer to the real thing these days. — AFP Japan businessman paid $8.2m for Tokyo 2020 Olympics bid Takahashi acknowledged receiving payments but declined to give full accounting

TOKYO/PARIS: A businessman who received mil- tions allowed for the giving of gifts of nominal value lions of dollars for his work on Tokyo’s successful at the time of the 2020 bid, but didn’t stipulate a spe- campaign to host the 2020 Olympics, which was cific amount. postponed last week due to the coronavirus, said he A day before the 2013 vote on the host city, Diack played a key role in securing the support of a former informed a meeting of African Olympic representa- Olympics powerbroker suspected by French prose- tives that he planned to support Tokyo on merit, a cutors of taking bribes to help Japan’s bid. lawyer for the influential Senegalese sports figure told Haruyuki Takahashi, a former executive at the ad- Reuters. But he didn’t instruct anyone how to vote, vertising agency Dentsu Inc, was paid $8.2 million by the lawyer said. the committee that spearheaded Tokyo’s bid for the The Tokyo bid committee also paid $1.3 million to 2020 Games, according to financial records reviewed a little-known non-profit institute run by former by Reuters. Takahashi told Reuters his work included Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, a powerful lobbying International Olympic Committee members figure in Japanese sports and the head of the Tokyo like Lamine Diack, the ex-Olympics powerbroker, and Olympics organizing committee. that he gave Diack gifts, The payments to including digital cameras Takahashi’s company and and a Seiko watch. Mori’s non-profit are “They’re cheap,” he enumerated in banking said. The payments made records from the Tokyo Takahashi the single 2020 bid committee ex- largest recipient of You don’t go amined by Reuters. The money from the Tokyo payments were first re- bid committee, which empty-handed ported by Japanese mag- was mostly funded by azine Facta. French TOKYO: Haruyuki Takahashi, executive board member for the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Japanese companies. investigators have not Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020), wears a face mask during a Tokyo 2020 executive board After his involvement in questioned anyone about meeting on the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak in Tokyo yesterday. — AFP Tokyo’s successful cam- the payments to the paign, Takahashi was Japanese recipients. named to the board of the Tokyo 2020 organizing The banking records were provided to French on the corporate sponsorships he collected for the tigating Diack, formerly the head of the international committee, a group tasked with running the summer prosecutors by Japan’s government as part of bid. “Takahashi has connections,” Higuchi said. body governing track and field. Diack has also been Games after it was awarded to Japan. France’s investigation into whether Tokyo’s bid com- “We needed someone who understands the busi- accused of taking a separate $2 million bribe to corral Takahashi acknowledged receiving the payments mittee paid $2.3 million through a Singaporean con- ness world.” votes for Rio de Janeiro in that city’s successful bid but declined to give a full accounting of how he used sultant to win Diack’s support for Japan to host the The International Olympic Committee said it to hold the Olympics in 2016. He has been under the money. He said he urged Diack to support the Tokyo 2020 Games. would not have been made aware of payments be- house arrest in France since charges of corruption bid and denied any impropriety in those dealings. He Diack, 86, has consistently denied any wrongdo- tween private parties or gifts given to IOC members. linked to sports doping - when he headed the Inter- said it was normal to provide gifts as a way of currying ing. His lawyer said Diack “denies all allegations of national Association of Athletics Federations - were good relations with important officials like Diack. He bribery.” The French are also investigating Diack’s FRENCH INVESTIGATION brought against him in 2015. said there was nothing improper with the payments he son, Papa Massata Diack, on suspicion that he re- Olympic preparations have cost Japanese taxpay- Diack’s lawyer said his client “did not receive any received or with the way he used the money. ceived the bulk of the money paid to the Singaporean ers some $13 billion, and the delay of the Games has money from anyone relating to the Olympic Games in “You don’t go empty-handed. That’s common consultant, and passed money on to his father to se- rattled corporate sponsors, who had paid a record $3 Tokyo or Rio de Janeiro.” Tsunekazu Takeda, who sense,” Takahashi told Reuters, referring to the gifts cure votes for Tokyo. Diack’s son has also denied any billion to be affiliated with the Olympics as of June headed Tokyo’s bid committee, is also under investi- he gave Diack. Banking records from the Tokyo 2020 wrongdoing and said via email that he would “deliver last year. gation by the French on suspicion of authorizing the bid committee, which were examined by Reuters, my version in courts!!!” Mori and Takahashi were central to Tokyo’s bid to payments from the bid committee to the Singaporean show it paid around $46,500 to Seiko Watch. A sen- Mori did not respond to questions from Reuters. win the Olympics, a campaign that began in 2011 and consultant that investigators suspect acted as an in- ior official at the bid told Reuters “good” watches A representative of Mori’s non-profit said the entity became a national priority under Prime Minister termediary to get money to Diack. Takeda resigned were handed out at parties organized as part of was paid by the bid committee to “mainly analyze in- Shinzo Abe. Mori has publicly recounted how he lob- from both the Japanese Olympic Committee and the Tokyo’s campaign to win the Olympics, although he ternational information.” bied a key International Olympic Committee official International Olympic Committee last year and has did not specify the brand. Nobumoto Higuchi, the secretary general of the ahead of the vote. denied wrongdoing, saying he believed the payments International Olympic Committee (IOC) regula- bid committee, said Takahashi earned commissions Since 2015, French prosecutors have been inves- were for legitimate lobbying efforts. — Reuters

sponse fund to relief efforts to the area’s most vul- “They are truly leading this important charge and “The decision to postpone the Dubai Duty Free Masters hosts nerable people. we hope these contributions will inspire others to Irish Open follows consultation with all stakeholders “It is our hope these gifts will help address the support their efforts.” Irish Open becomes latest Eu- and was made with public health and well-being as many challenges brought about by the coronavirus ropean Tour event postponed our absolute priority,” said European Tour chief ex- donate $2m to throughout the city of Augusta and the greater re- Meanwhile, the Irish Open has become the latest ecutive Keith Pelley. gion,” Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley said. European Tour competition to be postponed due to “We will continue to evaluate all aspects of our coronavirus tests “We believe Augusta National has an important the coronavirus pandemic. The event was scheduled 2020 European Tour schedule, and discussions on the responsibility to support and protect the community to take place at Mount Juliet from May 28-31, with rescheduling of postponed events will remain ongo- WASHINGTON: Augusta National Golf Club, which who has so generously and consistently supported us former US Open champion Graeme McDowell acting ing until we have clarity on the global situation.” in most years would be preparing to host the Masters, for many years.” The only prior years the Masters has as tournament host. “Everyone’s health is our only The US Open is due to take place at Winged Foot announced on Monday it will give $2 million to help not been contested in April at Augusta National since concern,” McDowell said. “My thoughts are with from June 18-21, but the course is just five milesaway fight the coronavirus pandemic in its region. its 1934 debut were 1943-1945 due to World War II. everyone affected by the crisis and I hope everyone from the coronavirus containment zone set up in New This year’s Masters, which was to have lured Ridley praised the medical workers who have been keeps safe and well during these difficult times.” Rochelle, New York and non-essential businesses golfers and fans from around the world to the famed treating an ever-growing number of patients. Including majors and World Golf Championship have been closed, putting a stop to preparations. Georgia layout next week, was postponed indefinitely “We are grateful to the Community Foundation for events, a total of 12 European Tour tournaments have The R&A is still proceeding as planned to stage due to the global outbreak of the deadly virus. their continued partnership during this unprece- now been postponed or cancelled, while the Tokyo The Open at Royal St George’s from July 16-19 and The donation to the Community Foundation for the dented time and especially appreciative to the dedi- Olympics have been postponed by a year. the Women’s British Open at Royal Troon from Au- Central Savannah River Area features $1 million to cated healthcare providers, first responders and many The Trophee Hassan II, which is scheduled to be gust 20-23, but is undertaking a “comprehensive Augusta University for immediate expansion of coro- others working tirelessly to fight the effects of this held in Rabat, Morocco from June 4-7, is now the evaluation” of its plans and considering contingency navirus testing and $1 million to the emergency re- pandemic,” Ridley said. next possible event on the calendar. options. —AFP Established 1961 19 Sports Wednesday, April 1, 2020 French football stares at financial black hole, broadcasters to hold back payments

Several French clubs place their squads on partial unemployment

PARIS: The financial crisis facing football as a result Clubs will now have to absorb the shock of not of the coronavirus pandemic has been laid bare in receiving money for which they have budgeted, and France, where a decision to withhold payments due income from broadcasters is a huge portion of their as part of a broadcast deal for Ligue 1 matches is set revenue. Indeed, payments from television compa- to leave clubs reeling. nies amounted to 36 percent of total revenue for Canal Plus, the pay TV giant and long-time broad- Ligue 1 teams last season, by far their biggest caster of France’s top flight, stated its intention to source of income, according to the DNCG, French hold back a scheduled 110 million-euro ($121 million) football’s financial watchdog. A further 25 percent payment in a letter to the French league revealed by came from player sales, which are likely to be af- the country’s leading sports daily, L’Equipe. fected this year too. The money is in theory due this weekend and is “They have their problems and we have ours. the equivalent of 15 per- There needs to be a dia- cent of the total broadcast logue so we can find solu- money for the season in tions,” said a member of the Ligue 1. “In case of force board of the French league, majeure, when matches are the LFP. “I don’t think the no longer played, then pay- There are no decision by Canal Plus is ir- ments are suspended,” a reversible.” senior management figure more matches at Canal Plus told AFP. UNCERTAINTY “This is the perfect ex- L’Equipe has claimed ample of force majeure. that Paris Saint-Germain, There are no more the Qatar-owned giants matches, so there are no who dominate the French more payments. We are strictly applying the terms of game, stand to lose as much as 215 million euros be- the contract and we don’t see why we would do it any tween now and the end of June, assuming the worst- PARIS: File photo taken on June 05, 2019 shows French Football Federation President Noel Le Graet addresses other way. Canal Plus is not a bank.” case scenario in which no more games are played and delegates at the 69th FIFA Congress at Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles in Paris. In view of the coronavirus pan- The French top flight is the fifth-richest league all projected gate receipts and Champions League demic, the president of the French Football Federation Noel Le Graet considers it is “not reasonable” to predict in Europe although its income lags some way be- revenues are also lost. a date for when the competitions will resume, he said in an interview with AFP on March 27, 2020. — AFP hind those of Italy’s Serie A, the German Bundesliga, Several French clubs, including Lyon and Marseille, Spain’s La Liga and, in particular, the English Pre- have placed their squads on partial unemployment to mier League. save money, a move that means they only pay 70 per- scheduled payment of 42 million euros. crisis, further payments due to clubs in June could also French clubs, like their counterparts across the cent of salaries with the state paying the rest, albeit French Football Federation president Noel Le be in doubt. It also remains to be seen how the current continent, have been hit hard by the health crisis which limited to 4,850 euros per employee. Graet called on all parties “to respect their commit- situation impacts on next season with the French had already forced matches to be postponed or The problems may deepen if beIN Sports, the ments, football first of all but the broadcasters too”, league having agreed their first broadcast deal worth played behind closed doors before UEFA suspended Qatari group which also holds domestic rights to in an interview with RTL radio. over one billion euros a year starting in 2020/21 with all club competitions in Europe a fortnight ago. broadcast Ligue 1, chooses to hold back its own However, with broadcasters also impacted by the Chinese-owned group Mediapro. — AFP

Sharma has been leading a team Sharma trying to keep people off the streets during a 21-day lockdown ordered by the government to halt the Documentary polices spread of the virus. India has now reported 29 deaths from more than ‘motivates’ England virus curfew 1,000 cases, but experts believe there are many more. Thousands of people have been ar- Root for Ashes NEW DELHI: Joginder Sharma rested across the country for flouting bowled the key final over when India the curfew. The ICC said Sharma had beat arch-rivals Pakistan in the first gone from World Cup hero to “real LONDON: England Test captain Joe Root has Twenty20 World Cup cricket final in world hero” as it released a picture of said watching the first few episodes of a doc- 2007, but says he faces more pres- the all-rounder in India cricket colours umentary about the Australian cricket team has sure as a police officer making sure and his khaki police uniform. been a “motivator” ahead of the 2021/22 Ashes people stay home during the coron- Sharma, who played just four one- Down Under. avirus crisis. day internationals and four T20 ‘The Test’ charts Australia’s progress from The International Cricket Council matches, said he is using cricket’s the low of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal in (ICC) and others have hailed the ef- spirit of teamwork to tackle the crisis. South Africa through to the high of retaining forts of the 36-year-old as he hits the “It was the nature of my sport, which the Ashes in a drawn series in England last year streets of India in his role as an officer is a team game and players work to- after the hosts and eventual champions beat of the law. gether to make things happen. So now DURBAN: File photo taken on September 23, 2007, the then Indian cricket them in the World Cup semi-finals. “Obviously this contribution is we have to help each other and the team bowler Joginder Sharma (R) celebrates with teammates during semi- The largely well-received documentary has much bigger because people are los- biggest help will be to stay inside our final of the ICC World Twenty20 in Durban, 22 September 2007. Sharma, says also been accused of being a public relations ing their lives,” Sharma told AFP from homes,” said Sharma. he faces more pressure as a police officer making sure people stay home exercise given Cricket Australia had editorial Hisar in Haryana where he is now a su- “This is the only way to fight coro- during the curfew — AFP control. But with cricket suspended worldwide perintendent. “It was also a big thing, navirus. Feed the hungry, help the because of the coronavirus pandemic, Root winning the World Cup for India, but poor. Say no to social gatherings, go decided to take a look. here we have to save the nation. And out just for getting essentials, but and fame also come in handy as an of- me and that helps putting my point “Whilst we were away (on tour) I exhausted even if I am playing a small part in this, maintain social distance.” Sharma ficer on the beat. across. But now I am a police officer a lot of the shows that I wanted to watch, it’s then it is huge.” added that his “extreme fitness levels” “People know me and recognise and this is my duty.” —AFP come round to watching that now,” he told re- porters in a conference call on Monday. “It’s been a good motivator to get back and train, get back on the bike, use it as a way of member of the public before leaving on foot. “I just tirely unnecessary. It breached the government incentivising myself. “I’ve only got to the start want to do a quick video message to say how deeply guidelines which are clear and should be adhered Grealish apologizes, of the World Cup, so we’ll see how the rest of embarrassed I am about what has happened this to by everybody. it unfolds.” weekend,” Grealish said in a video posted on Twitter. “The player will be disciplined and fined with the for breaking Root, while acknowledging the importance “I obviously just got a call off a friend asking to go proceeds donated to The University Hospitals Charity of the World Test Championship, made clear an round to his and stupidly agreed to do so. I don’t want in Birmingham.” Less than 24 hours before the inci- Ashes series in Australia remains the acid test isolation rules anyone to make the same mistake that I did, so I urge dent, Grealish was part of a video appeal for people for an England cricketer. Under his leadership, everyone to stay home and follow the rules and to stay at home during the lockdown. England were beaten 4-0 in the 2017/18 Ashes. LONDON: Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish posted guidelines of what we are being asked to do.” “I hope everyone can accept my apology and we But Root said the threat posed by the likes a public apology on Monday for breaking UK gov- The British government has introduced restric- can move on from this,” added Grealish. “Hopefully in of fast bowler Mark Wood, man-of-the match ernment guidelines on social distancing as police tions on citizens leaving their homes only to shop for the near future we can all be out enjoying ourselves in the fourth Test victory against South Africa, opened an investigation into an incident in which a food and medicine, essential travel for work and one again.” In a statement about the incident, West Mid- added an “X-factor” to England’s attack. Range Rover crashed into parked cars. form of exercise a day to help halt the spread of lands Police added: “Officers are investigating the cir- “We’ve seen in South Africa that has played a Villa expressed their disappointment with Grealish coronavirus. cumstances and anyone with information has been part, it has found us a way to take 20 wickets and said the 24-year-old will be fined with the pro- “Aston Villa is deeply disappointed that one of asked to get in touch.” in foreign conditions.” ceeds going to a children’s hospital in Birmingham. our players ignored the government’s guidance on Grealish has been Villa’s star performer on their West Midlands Police said they were called on Sun- staying at home during the Coronavirus crisis,” Villa return to the Premier League this season and was ex- ‘HARDENED’ day to an address in Solihull, near Birmingham, where said in a statement. pected to earn a first call-up by England for friendlies Turning to top-order rising stars Dom the two parked cars suffered minor damage. “Club captain Jack Grealish has accepted that against Denmark and Italy this month prior to foot- Sibley and Ollie Pope, Root added: “If we The force said the driver had left his details with a his decision to leave his house was wrong and en- ball’s shutdown due to COVID-19. — AFP can keep putting experience into a number of the young batters as well, give them game time, then we’re starting to build a team that the game. He refused to lay out a back the conclusion of the inaugural has confidence, experience, is ready and Smith faces timetable for his departure, particu- Paine sees edition of the test championship. hardened for the challenges Australia will larly with the uncertainty created by Paine hoped it would not be pushed throw at us.” the COVID-19 shutdown, saying only back too far and said he thought play- England followed the drawn Ashes cam- competition that coach Justin Langer and selectors crowded ers would favour playing catch-up to paign with a 3-1 series win in South Africa knew of his plans. finish it as planned with a final be- only to see their tour of Sri Lanka abandoned for captaincy “I know what I’m thinking, in terms Test calendar tween the top two teams at Lord’s on before the first Test due to the coronavirus. of how far I can play on and we’re on June 10, 2021. “There are more important things to con- the same page,” he told reporters via “Maybe the players are going to cern ourselves with,” said Root, now a patron SYDNEY: A rising crop of young tal- video conference. Paine said he had SYDNEY: Australia captain Tim Paine have to go through a period where we of his local Sheffield Children’s Hospital. “But ent will compete with Steve Smith to not spoken with Smith about the cap- believes Test cricketers would be pre- play quite a bit of cricket if we want to from a cricketing point of view we were be Australia’s next captain, current taincy but the 30-year-old batsman pared to play a lot of matches in a short complete the test championship as it is,” preparing ourselves well for the two Test skipper Tim Paine said yesterday. would not be the only candidate for space of time once the coronavirus cri- the 35-year-old wicketkeeper said in a matches in Sri Lanka and we made big strides Smith captained the side before Paine the role. sis is over to ensure the World Test teleconference yesterday. in South Africa.” but was slapped with a two-year “We’ve got a number of guys to Championship can be completed as “I think the players are certainly en- Root, while acknowledging there would be leadership ban over his part in the ball choose from who can put their hand scheduled next year. joying that points system and the fact talks regarding leading players taking pay tampering scandal during a Test in up,” he said. “There’s Steve Smith, International cricket, like most other that every test match counts for some- cuts to help English cricket balance its books Cape Town in 2018. who’s done it before, or the people sports, has been shut down while the thing ... I think all players would be in at a time without fixtures, said “it’s not my The ban expired this week, who are developing underneath like a world battles the pandemic and Paine favour of trying to finish that any way area of expertise”. But he added the prospect prompting renewed speculation that Travis Head or an Alex Carey — said it did not take “Einstein” to con- we can.” Paine reiterated that winning of the 2020 season being abandoned com- Smith could soon resume the leader- Marnus Labuschagne and Pat Cum- clude that Australia’s tour of Bangladesh the championship was a big goal for his pletely had “definitely crossed my mind”. “It ship duties. While 35-year-old Paine mins are other ones. “We’re starting would probably not go ahead in June. team, who are currently second in the might be that my wife has to start giving me has acknowledged he is in the twilight to build some real depth so that when With other tours also on hold, it has standings behind India. The Indians are some throw-downs in the back garden but of his career, the wicketkeeper said he my time’s up we’ve got a number of been suggested that the International scheduled to play four tests in Australia until things become that drastic it will be sim- was not yet ready to walk away from options.” — AFP Cricket Council might need to push at the end of the year. — Reuters ply sit tight and wait,” said Root. —AFP Established 1961 Sport

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2020

Japan businessman paid $8.2m French football stares at financial black hole Smith faces competition 18for Tokyo 2020 Olympics bid 19 with broadcasters set to hold back payments 19 for captaincy: Paine

Isolated athletes face mental health risks

Athletes are facing extra mental health risks as they go from highly active lifestyles to isolation and boredom.

HONG KONG: Fear, stress and money worries: Coro- Slam title to equal the all-time record of 24, admitted Olympics-bound American weightlifter Kate Nye, control,” she said. “They don’t know what the next navirus lockdown is hard for anyone, but athletes are that social distancing because of coronavirus had left who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, told stage is going to be or how long they’re going to have facing extra mental health risks as they go from highly her feeling “a ton of stress”. America’s WOODTV.com. to quarantine or isolate for.” active lifestyles to isolation and boredom, experts “Every little thing makes me crazy. And by anxiety Concerns have also been raised about Australia’s Many sports bodies have reacted by offering sup- warn. While some housebound athletes have posted I mean I’m just on edge. Any time anyone sneezes swimmers and cricketers, after athletes in both sports port to athletes. However, some sports are making upbeat videos of themselves training or attempting around me or coughs I get crazy,” she said on TikTok. suffered well-documented psychological problems in cuts to avoid going bust, reducing their ability to help. internet challenges such as juggling toilet rolls, the Even before the virus, a steady the past. “The mental health Substance abuse, such as drinking or using drugs, stress caused by the extreme adjustment and uncer- stream of people involved in thing, we talked about it in a is one tell-tale sign of problems, Broderick said. tain future looks likely to take its toll. sports — often an insecure and conference call this week,” said “Stress and anxiety can manifest in substance Long-term effects on athletes after the SARS and high-stress profession — have Australian men’s cricket coach abuse. That’s what I’d look out for, if they’re using al- swine flu outbreaks included anxiety, obsessive hand- wrestled with depression, from From winners Justin Langer. cohol as a support,” she said. washing and fear of getting too close to people, Car- Williams to Olympic swimming “Particularly for any of our “There has certainly been some anxiety,” added olyn Broderick, Tennis Australia’s chief medical great Michael Phelps, MMA to worriers staff or players who are home Broderick, who said Australia’s tennis players receive officer, told AFP. fighter Ronda Rousey, boxer alone basically. We have to regular communications and can call on medical sup- But the impact of the current pandemic is un- Mike Tyson and All Blacks keep an eye on those guys and port. “The high-level, high-profile professional ath- precedented, with athletes sidelined worldwide after rugby player John Kirwan. girls to make sure they’re OK.” letes can handle this loss of income but there are a lot COVID-19 forced most sports into hibernation and The athletes currently out of Broderick, who was deputy of athletes on the fringe,” she said. put billions of people in lockdown. action include thousands of would-be Olympians, medical director for Australia’s 2016 Olympics team, “If you have a few months of loss of activity there’s Those affected range from well-paid superstars many of whom have put careers on hold to chase and sits on an advisory panel for the National Rugby a significant loss of income as well.” such as tennis’s Serena Williams, who has suffered medal dreams but now face extra disruption after the League, said the effects of isolation can be felt more She recommended athletes stick to routines, focus from depression in the past, to journeyman pros and Tokyo 2020 Games were postponed for a year. acutely by athletes. “They have all the same psycho- on what can be controlled and use their extra time for Olympic hopefuls whose lives have been thrown into “I would be lying if I said I was all right. Just like logical issues that everyone does but also the stress a hobby or online training to maintain their mental turmoil. Williams, 38, who only needs one more Grand most people I’m struggling in my own ways,” and anxiety about their futures that they cannot easily health.—AFP

fected while Espanyol have also confirmed pay cuts, Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Messi confirms although for sporting staff only. The relationship between Barca’s players and “For our part, the time has come to announce that, board has been tense for several months, with Messi’s as well as the reduction of 70 per cent of our salary public criticism of technical secretary Eric Abidal in pay cut for during the State of Alarm, we will also make contri- February just one of a number of off-field controver- butions so the club’s employees can collect 100 per sies. Bartomeu said later on Monday the senior play- Barca players cent of their salary while this situation lasts,” Messi ers were on board with taking pay cuts right from the wrote. start. “From the first moment I wanted it be something He added: “We want to clarify that our desire has agreed and not imposed even if I could do it by law, MADRID: Lionel Messi confirmed on Monday that always been to apply a drop in salary because we but we wanted to reach an agreement because it’s Barcelona’s players will take a 70 per cent pay cut fully understand that this is an exceptional situation best for Barca and shows their commitment,” Bar- and make financial contributions to ensure the club’s and we are the first ones who have ALWAYS helped tomeu told Catalan sports daily Mundo Deportivo. other employees are paid in full during the state of the club when asked. “From the first moment, Messi said that this must alarm in Spain. “Many times we have even done it on our own ini- be done,” he added in an interview with Sport. In a lengthy message posted on his Instagram ac- tiative when we thought it necessary or important. Barcelona also released their own statement on Mon- count, Messi also took another swipe at the Barca “Therefore, it never ceases to amaze us that from day, which said members of “all professional sports board, led by president Josep Maria Bartomeu, whom within the club there were those who tried to put us teams and most of the basketball team” had agreed he accused of undermining the players during recent under the magnifying glass and tried to add pressure to reduce their salaries. negotiations. to do something that we always knew we would do.” It added: “In the case of the football first team the Other Spanish clubs are expected to follow suit in reduction will be more than 70 per cent as agreed applying temporary pay cuts, as football’s hiatus due ‘MUST BE DONE’ with the club. This additional contribution by the to the coronavirus pandemic leaves a number of them Messi’s message was soon posted on the pages of team, plus the contribution from the club itself, will fighting for financial survival. nearly all of his Barcelona teammates, including Ger- guarantee 100 per cent of the salaries of all non- Atletico Madrid have said the club will impose ard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, sporting staff, who will be subjected to temporary re- salary reductions on staff whose hours have been af- Antoine Griezmann, Frenkie de Jong, Arturo Vidal and dundancy this week.” — AFP Lionel Messi