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TUESDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11609 July 14, 2020 Dhul-Qa’da 23, 1441 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Total Covid-19 recoveries cross 100,000-mark QF, TED launch TEDinArabic The total number of Covid-19 recoveries in Qatar crossed the 100,000 mark yesterday as the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) reported 884 new z Two-year partnership seeks to bring solutions, inventions and stories from Arabic speakers to the attention of a worldwide audience healings in the last 24 hours. In a statement, the MoPH said a total of 100,627 people have recovered atar Foundation (QF) and TED one can make a diff erence to the world speakers being selected to give TED from the virus in the country so far. yesterday launched TEDinAra- through the power of ideas, the state- Talks at a fl agship event in Doha in 2022, The ministry also reported 418 new Qbic – a two-year initiative that ment notes. which will mark the culmination of the confirmed cases of Covid-19 yesterday will provide a platform for thinkers, re- HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al- partnership and bring the TED confer- along with the deaths of two more searchers, artists and change-makers Thani, Vice-Chairperson and CEO of ence experience to the heart of the Mid- persons - aged 70 and 79 years. The around the world to share ideas with Qatar Foundation, said: “Language is dle East, “showcasing the boldest and MoPH reiterated that while the Covid-19 a global audience, in the Arabic lan- more than just a means of communi- most inspiring ideas to emerge from the restrictions are gradually being lifted guage. cation; it infl uences the way we think Arabic-speaking world”. in Qatar, it is important for everyone to The partnership has created TED’s and how we frame our perceptions on a Through its partnership with QF, play their role in controlling the virus by fi rst initiative to focus on sharing solu- subconscious level. TED will also build a custom digital following precautionary measures such tions, inventions and stories in Arabic, “With TEDinArabic, I hope we can destination to serve as a vault for TE- as adherence to physical distancing, with its aim being to place ideas that continue the process of amplifying DinArabic’s content library. This li- wearing a face mask and washing can change perceptions, benefi t socie- ideas from our region to a global audi- brary will house content focusing on hands regularly, among others. Page 2 ties and inspire others into the inter- ence in a language that is synonymous topics of the greatest relevance to the national spotlight. with innovation and new thinking. HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, Arabic-speaking world, including blog US virus surge blamed The creation of TEDinArabic “re- “We are proud to be partnering with Vice-Chairperson and CEO of Qatar articles, TED-Ed video lessons, and fl ects Qatar Foundation’s commitment TED, with whom we share the belief Chris Anderson, head of TED. Foundation. custom video content. on lax safety measures to preserving and celebrating the rich- that everyone’s mind and voice can The impact of TEDinArabic will en- Top infectious disease expert ness of the Arabic language and pro- make a diff erence, as together we aim tive language, and the nuance and Arabic speakers throughout the world dure after the partnership between QF Anthony Fauci yesterday ascribed moting its enduring relevance to the to build a new culture of idea-gener- richness that comes with doing so — to new and diverse audiences, mag- and TED concludes in 2022, with its the surge in US coronavirus cases world, and to providing platforms for ation that stretches across the Arab the TEDinArabic initiative is an im- nifying their reach and impact. High- website and content remaining live and to the country’s failure to shut down people to share their knowledge, per- world and beyond.” portant step in that journey. As we quality content produced in Arabic will accessible in order to continue spark- completely, then a rush to reopen spectives and ideas”, QF has said in a Chris Anderson, head of TED, said: bring this programme to life, together be amplifi ed by the initiative, which ing the imagination of Arabic speakers too soon, and urged a commitment statement. “We are thrilled to partner with Qatar with Qatar Foundation, we are grateful will include an idea search stretching everywhere and empowering them to to guidelines to snuff out the disease. TED is a non-profi t organisation Foundation to bring ideas from Arabic- for the support of an organisation that across the Middle East with selected keep sharing their ideas. He stressed basic protections devoted to ‘Ideas Worth Spreading’, speaking regions to the world. shares our passion and dedication to ideas being celebrated at events across To fi nd out more about TEDinAra- including physical distancing, and the partnership with QF is built “We at TED have always valued the education and ideas.” the region in 2021, the statement adds. bic, one can visit https://tedinarabic. wearing masks, avoiding crowds on a collective recognition that every- power of delivering talks in one’s na- TEDinArabic will spread the ideas of The idea search will see 16 Arabic ted.com/ar Page 16 and washing hands. “Those things, as simple as they are, can turn it around. I think we can do that and that’s what we’ve got to do,” he said. AlKhater briefs envoys on lifting of curbs Lebanese man freed by Barwa plans to develop 2 US as part of secret talks A Lebanese man accused of financing housing projects in Wakra Hezbollah was freed from jail in the United States last month as a result of arwa Real Estate Group is un- port the fi nancial position of the group indirect contacts between Tehran and dertaking two new projects in Al and contribute to the development of Washington that are expected to yield BWakra as part of its initiatives to sustainable returns for the company, more releases, three senior off icials achieve Qatar National Vision 2030 in it had said while disclosing the fi rst said. Kassim Tajideen was released terms of improved living conditions for quarter results of this year. on June 11, and arrived in Lebanon all groups in the society. last week. Two of the sources said his In a regulatory fi ling with the Qatar One of the two projects will release was part of the same track that Stock Exchange, Barwa said the neces- be allocated as an integrated last year yielded the release of Nizar sary procedures are being completed housing complex for Zakka, a Lebanese businessman with for contracting to start the implemen- workers and the other as an US permanent residency, from Iran, and tation of two new projects in Al Wakra. integrated residential city for Sam Goodwin, a US citizen, from Syria. It is planned that one of the two low-income families projects will be allocated as an inte- Narrow re-election win grated housing complex for workers Barwa is keen on promoting part- and the other as an integrated residen- nership with the government to de- for Poland’s president tial city for low-income families. velop realty development projects that Polish President Andrzej Duda HE the Assistant Foreign Minister and Spokesperson of the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management Lolwah bint However, the fi ling was devoid of fur- contribute to meeting the needs of squeezed past a europhile rival to win Rashid AlKhater held two remote separate meetings with ambassadors of Arab and African countries, to brief them on ther details regarding the cost of con- citizens and residents and contribute re-election, off icial results showed the plan to gradually lift restrictions imposed in Qatar as a result of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and answer struction, the expanse of the project and to achieving the Qatar National Vision yesterday, but the narrow victory their questions and inquiries about the four phases of lifting restrictions. The ambassadors praised the measures taken expected to time of completion. 2030 and also meets the needs of or- put allies in the populist right-wing by Qatar to preserve the health of all, especially the provision of free high-quality healthcare services to all who live in Barwa will continue to study the ganising the 2022 World Cup in fulfi l- Law and Justice (PiS) party on the Qatar. HE the Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Aff airs for International Development Dr Khalid bin Rashid al-Mansouri available land stock space to deter- ment of the group’s role as one of the back foot. Seeking close ties with US took part in the two meetings. (QNA) mine its optimal use in order to sup- largest real estate developers in Qatar. President Donald Trump, Duda has vowed to tighten already restrictive laws. The incumbent won a new Ooredoo launches environment protection campaign five-year term with 51.03% of Sunday’s vote against 48.97% for Warsaw’s liberal mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, who Many countries taking ‘wrong had vowed to mend ties with the European Union. Page 9 Beijing claims in South direction’ on virus, says WHO China Sea unlawful: US zNo return to the demic was only going to get “Let me blunt: too many Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said ‘old normal’ for the worse unless people stuck to countries are headed in the yesterday that the United States would the basics of physical distanc- wrong direction. The virus re- treat Beijing’s pursuit of resources foreseeable future: ing, handwashing, wearing mains public enemy number in the dispute-rife South China Sea Tedros masks and staying home if sick. one, but the actions of many as illegal, ramping up pressure on WHO chief Tedros Adh- governments and people do another front. “We are making clear: he World Health Or- anom Ghebreyesus warned not refl ect this.” Beijing’s claims to off shore resources ganisation warned yes- that some countries easing He said mixed messages from across most of the South China Sea are Tterday that too many their way out of lockdowns leaders were undermining trust. completely unlawful, as is its campaign countries were bungling their were now witnessing a re- If governments do not roll of bullying to control them,” Pompeo response to the coronavi- surgence of the virus because out a comprehensive strategy said in a statement. The United States rus pandemic, meaning there they were not following proven to suppress transmission of has long rejected Beijing’s sweeping could be no return to normal- methods to reduce risks. the virus, and if the public do claims in the South China Sea, aligning ity any time soon. “I want to be straight with not follow the basics, “there is itself with Vietnam, the Philippines and After a daily record of you: there will be no return to only one way this pandemic is other US partners in the region. 230,000 new Covid-19 cases the ‘old normal’ for the fore- going to go,” Tedros said. “It’s reported on Sunday, the UN seeable future,” Tedros told a going to get worse and worse YouTube star Nicole health agency said the pan- virtual news briefi ng. and worse.” The novel coronavirus has Thea dies aged 24 killed nearly 570,000 people British YouTube star Nicole Thea and infected more than 12.9 (24), whose videos have gathered million since the outbreak more than five million views, has emerged in Wuhan in China died along with her unborn son, her last December, according to a family announced on Instagram. “To tally from offi cial sources. all Nicole’s friends and supporters it Tedros said four scenarios is with great sadness that I have to were now playing out around inform you that Nicole and her son the world. she and (partner) Boga named Reign They were: Countries that Ooredoo has announced the launch of a new campaign promoting protection of the environment. sadly passed away on Saturday were alert and avoided large The Beach Clean-up initiative, which focuses on keeping Qatar’s beaches clean for both the marine morning,” the message said. “As outbreaks, those that got a major environment and those visiting, kicked off on Sunday with the first clean-up at Sumaysimah Beach. a family we ask that you give us outbreak under control, those In a joint eff ort between Ooredoo, Al Daayen Municipality and Friends of the Environment Centre, privacy because our hearts are truly Women wearing personal protective equipment look at mounted that eased restrictions but are dozens of volunteers participated in the clean-up of the beach, with the social media hashtag of broken and we are struggling to police patrolling a street in Medellin, Colombia, yesterday, amid now backsliding, and those in an #LeaveOnlySandCastles designed to encourage beach-goers to clean up after themselves and take cope with what has happened.” the Covid-19 pandemic. intense transmission phase. responsibility for picking up any rubbish left behind. Page 3 Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, July 14, 2020 QATAR

MME rescues stray gazelles In Brief MoPH reports Amir condoles with president of Ivory Coast

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani 100,627 total held yesterday via telephone a conversation with the President of Ivory Coast Alassane Ouattara. During the phone call, the Amir off ered condolences on the death of prime minister Amadou Covid recoveries Gon Coulibaly. zPublic urged to continue to follow precautionary measures Amir sends cable of

QNA congratulations to Doha Montenegro leader His Highness the Amir Sheikh he Ministry of Public Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Health (MoPH) yester- His Highness the Deputy Amir Tday reported 418 new Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad confirmed cases of coronavi- al-Thani yesterday sent cables rus (Covid-19), and 884 re- of congratulations to President coveries in the last 24 hours, Milo Dukanovic of Montenegro bringing the total number of on the occasion of his country’s recoveries from the disease in Statehood Day. HE the Prime Qatar to 100,627. The MoPH Minister and Minister of Interior also announced the deaths of Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin two Covid-19 patients, aged 70 Abdulaziz al-Thani sent a cable and 79, who were receiving the The Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) tweeted a picture of a pair of Reem gazelles of congratulations to the Prime necessary medical care, in the that were seen walking around in the Maizilah area west of Sailiya. After finding the animals, the Minister of the Republic of last 24 hours. MME’s Natural Reserves Department - in co-ordination with the Environmental Operations Montenegro Dusko Markovic The MoPH issued a statement Department - got them examined by veterinarians and took them to a protected area, the ministry on the occasion of his country’s on Covid-19 developments in said. Statehood Day. Qatar, which said the following: All new cases have been in- troduced to isolation and are receiving necessary healthcare according to their health status. The ministry said that the measures to tackle Covid-19 in Qatar have succeeded in fl at- Ministry of Awqaf launches 3rd tening the curve and limiting the spread of the virus and the number of new daily cases and hospital admissions is continu- said and added that every day herence to physical distanc- phase of food baskets initiative ing to decline each week. between 50 and 100 people are ing, wearing a face mask and “Qatar’s proactive and exten- admitted to hospital with mod- washing hands regularly. sive testing of suspected cases erate to severe Covid-19 symp- Most importantly, it is vital QNA is co-operating with Widam has enabled us to identify a high toms. that people continue to pro- Doha company to distribute meat to number of positive cases in the “Unless we follow all precau- tect the elderly and those with them. community,” the ministry said. tionary measures we may ex- chronic medical conditions. On Eid al-Fitr, the ministry The MoPH said Qatar has one perience a second wave of the Anyone suff ering from Cov- he Ministry of Awqaf (En- distributed clothing to these of the lowest Covid-19 death virus and see numbers increas- id-19 symptoms should either dowments) and Islamic families as well as about 2,600 rates in the world. This is a re- ing there are already signs of this contact 16000 helpline or go TAff airs, represented by workers through Zakat Fund. sult of happening in other countries directly to one of the follow- the General Department of En- HE the Director-General of 1) Qatar’s young population around the world,” the ministry ing designated health centres to dowments, has launched the the General Directorate of En- 2) Proactive testing to identify said. undergo the necessary checks: third phase of distributing food dowments Sheikh Dr Khalid bin cases early “Now more than ever, we Muaither, Rawdat Al Khail, baskets to needy families in Qa- Mohamed al-Thani stressed the 3) Expanding hospital capac- must be careful and protect the Umm Slal, or Al Gharrafa health tar aff ected by the coronavirus ministry’s keenness to develop ity, especially intensive care, to most vulnerable. centres. (Covid-19). food baskets and encourage Hifz ensure all patients receive the The ministry said that This is important as the earlier The ministry has been sup- AlNaema Center to reach out to medical care they need, and while the restrictions of the disease is detected the easier porting about 1,500 families all families aff ected by the epi- 4) Protecting the elderly and Covid-19 are gradually be- it will be to receive the right with more than 6,000 indi- demic. those with chronic diseases. ing lifted in Qatar, it is im- treatment and recover from it. viduals registered with Hifz He said that they are trying to Lifting of restrictions and portant for everyone to play The MoPH has advised the AlNaema Center, providing help Hifz AlNaema Center reach declining numbers do not mean their role in controlling the public to visit its website for them with integrated food the largest number of benefi ci- that the Covid-19 pandemic is virus by following precau- regular updates and new infor- baskets in the first and second ary families, calling on everyone The Ministry of Awqaf (Endowments) and Islamic Aff airs has been fi nished in Qatar, the ministry tionary measures such as ad- mation. phases. Besides, the ministry to support the third phase. supporting about 1,500 families.

Qatar-US panel holds talks on Qatar stresses importance of QSRSN, Al Shafallah combating human traffi cking protecting women during crises Centre organise QNA Department of Labour Martha Doha Newton. A lineup of offi cials from both sides attended the QNA He gave an example citing He called on protecting meeting. Geneva natural disasters, saying the suf- women by enhancing ac- Filografi workshop he Qatari-US working During the meeting, the two fering of women compounds countability and better moni- group held a meeting via sides reviewed the steps taken during those times due to their toring of the violations, while Tvideo conferencing tech- by authorities concerned in both atar stressed yesterday limited access to basic services also developing programmes QNA Seddik, a specialist at the asso- nology to discuss aspects of co- countries regarding precaution- the importance of pro- such as education and health- that cater to the needs of Doha ciation’s educational and quali- operation between the two sides, ary measures to counter Covid-19. Qtecting women and girls care, among others. women. fi cation centre, explained how within the framework of the pre- The meeting also discussed and guaranteeing their rights He added that women also pay He stressed the importance atar Society for Rehabili- to use strings and nails to draw viously signed memorandum of ways to raise community’s during crises resulting from the heaviest prices during times of involving women in the proc- tation of Special Needs a specifi c shape or plate and understanding (MoU) in the fi eld awareness of laws and legis- confl icts and disasters. of armed confl icts due to the ess of forming these policies and Q(QSRSN) organised a how to choose colours to create of work and combating human lation in labour aff airs and to This came in the statement same reason, as well as the dis- programmes. remote workshop on Filografi , tools and panels that are easy to traffi cking. combat human traffi cking. The of Qatar read out by Third Sec- crimination and violence they Al-Naama concluded by which is the art of wires and be implemented by people with The meeting was co-chaired two sides emphasised the need retary in Qatar’s Missions to the are subjected to. saying they look forward to nails. various types of disabilities. by Assistant Undersecretary to continue holding meetings United Nations in Geneva Talal He highlighted the lack of se- engaging in a dialogue on the The workshop was held in On this occasion, HE Chairman for Labour Aff airs at the Minis- to discuss developments in the al-Naama, during the annual curity, restriction of movement, role that accountability could co-operation with Al Shafallah of QSRSN Sheikh Thani bin Ab- try of Administrative Develop- implementation of the signed discussion on women’s human and other burdens related to tak- play in protecting women and Center for Persons with Dis- dullah al-Thani praised the spirit ment, Labour and Social Aff airs, memorandum of understanding rights as part of the 44th regu- ing care of the family as a result girls from violations they suf- ability, which operates under the of co-operation between Al Sha- Mohamed Hassan al-Obaidli, and agreements between the two lar session of the Human Rights of losing their breadwinner as fer from during times of armed umbrella of Qatar Foundation fallah Center and the QSRSN for and Deputy Undersecretary, US sides. Council. other reasons. conflict. for Social Work. the service of persons with dis- The workshop aimed at pro- abilities in the state, saying that viding persons with disabilities such distinguished and fruitful with a set of skills, develop- partnerships between the associ- ing their mental and muscular ation and other bodies working in abilities, linking them with the the disability fi eld unite the eff orts national heritage and teaching aiming to achieve a decent and Qatar affi rms role of Doha Declaration them how to make distinctive safe life for persons with disabili- paintings through nails, wires ties, guarantee the improvement and colours, in addition to in- of the performance and services vesting their free time. provided to them and benefi t the During the interactive work- exchange of experiences among Global Programme in achieving SDGs shop, fi ne artist Nada Othman various institutions.

QNA representative of Qatar to the offi cials from diff erent countries, Vienna United Nations and internation- comprising the Deputy Minister al organisations in Vienna Sul- of Justice and Public Security of tan bin Salmeen al-Mansouri, El Salvador, the Deputy Minister atar has confi rmed that via video conference, during the of Education, Science and Tech- the global programme meeting of the United Nations nology of El Salvador, the Deputy Qto implement the Doha Offi ce On Drugs and Crime (UN- Minister of Public Security of the Declaration issued by the Thir- ODC) in Vienna on the activities Ministry of Interior of Peru and teenth United Nations Congress of the global programme under the judge of the Court of Appeal in on Crime Prevention and Crimi- the slogan “Transforming Poli- Porto and the President of the Eu- nal Justice in 2015, has proven cies into Actions”. ropean Association of judges, that its eff ectiveness and achieved Al-Manosuri said that the the Doha Declaration was built the highest possible outcome in member states of the United on the close interdependence and support of the 2030 Agenda for Nations unanimously adopt- mutual impact of sustainable de- Sustainable Development of the ed the Doha Declaration a velopment and the rule of law. United Nations, as the outbreak few months before the adop- Ambassador Sultan bin Salmeen al-Mansouri taking part in the Its motto was to integrate of the coronavirus (Covid-19) tion of the 2030 Agenda for video conference. crime prevention and criminal did not prevent the programme Sustainable Development, justice into the broader United from continuing its work. and the Doha Declaration Nations agenda in order to ad- This came in a speech of Qa- had its forward-looking vi- policies and programmes that in their endeavors to this end. dress social and economic chal- tar, delivered by the ambassador sion in support of this plan promote socio-economic de- He pointed out, during the lenges, strengthen the rule of of Qatar to the Federal Republic and its emphasis on seeking velopment and provide sup- meeting that was attended by a law at the national and interna- of Austria and the permanent to implement comprehensive port to other member states number of deputy ministers and tional levels. Demonstration of Filografi during the workshop. Gulf Times Tuesday, July 14, 2020 3 QATAR

NU-Q scholarships off ered for masters in sports administration

cholarships for Qatari na- ticularly prevalent in Qatar,” he tionals and long-term noted, “and this industry already Sresidents are being off ered off ers a wide range of challeng- by Northwestern University in ing career options and oppor- Qatar (NU-Q) after receiving full tunities. This programme will accreditation from the Ministry enhance the career prospects for of Education and Higher Educa- anyone interested in pursuing a tion, it has been announced. career in the sports industry.” The scholarships will provide Classes in the programme are all funding for a Northwestern taught by faculty members who Masters in Sports Administra- share their insights and practi- tion, a press statement notes. cal knowledge based on extensive The programme is being of- professional experience in sports. fered in partnership with North- The programme off ers access to western’s home campus through team executives and profession- the School of Professional Stud- als in areas such as operations, ies. It off ers courses that range marketing and sponsorship in a from sports marketing to law and wide range of sports and sports- management, with the option to related environments. specialise in Global Sports Com- “Northwestern’s master’s munication programme in sports admin- “We are thrilled to receive this istration is curated to meet the accreditation and support from realities and demands of this na- Some of the participants of the initiative. Qatar Foundation and the Min- tion as it prepares to host world- istry of Education and Higher class sporting tournaments and Education, as we work jointly to- develop a knowledge-based wards developing the knowledge economy,” Lugo-Ocando said. and mastery that Qatar needs to The degree requirements are achieve its future vision,” said off ered in a blended modality, Ooredoo launches environment Jairo Lugo-Ocando, director of allowing students to enrol in a executive and graduate education. combination of online and in- Lugo-Ocando pointed out person classes. Sessions are also that sports is one of the larg- scheduled in the evenings to al- est economic enterprises in the low fl exibility for working pro- protection drive with beach clean-up world, and employs profession- fessionals. als with a variety of business To learn more and apply for skills and specialisations who the master’s programme, visit have one common interest – the https://sps.northwestern.edu/ z Volunteer teams attend inaugural beach clean-up event to kick-start campaign business of sports. “The interest masters/international-sports- in the business of sports is par- administration/.

oredoo has announced pality and Friends of the En- lic fi gure Shams al-Qassabi. and we are proud to be working life and ensure we are all able to the launch of a new vironment Centre, dozens of The Beach Clean-Up initia- with Al Daayen Municipality enjoy everything our beaches Ocampaign promoting volunteers met at Sumaysimah tive was established in conjunc- to ensure that we keep Qatar’s have to off er. We are delighted environment protection. Beach to begin the campaign tion with Al Daayen Municipal- beaches clean and encourage to work with Ooredoo on this Ooredoo’s Beach Clean-up with a clean-up of the beach, ity, with both the telco operator everyone using the beaches to initiative, which we hope will campaign focuses on keeping with the social media hashtag and the municipality pledging share the responsibility. encourage everyone to think of Qatar’s beaches clean for both of #LeaveOnlySandCastles de- to ensure Qatar’s beaches re- “We were incredibly pleased the environment when they visit the marine environment and signed to encourage beachgoers main clean for the benefi t of to see so many Ooredoo vol- the beach and play their part to those visiting, ensuring that to clean up after themselves and both marine life and those vis- unteers out in force on Sunday, maintain cleanliness and pro- “anyone paying a visit to one take responsibility for picking iting to enjoy the best of nature. despite the heat, and we look mote protection of our environ- of the country’s many stunning up any rubbish left behind. Yousuf Abdulla al-Kubaisi, forward to many more such ment.” beaches leaves only sandcastles Among those taking part were chief operating offi cer at Oore- events in the coming months.” At the end of the fi rst Beach when they depart”, the compa- Ooredoo brand ambassador Ali doo Qatar, said: “Supporting Rashed al-Kharayein, director Clean-Up event, Al Daayen ny said in a statement. bin Tawar and infl uencers in- initiatives that promote pro- of Al Daayen Municipality, add- Municipality honoured Oore- The campaign kicked off on cluding Ola al-Fares, Hanan El tection of our environment is a ed: “We are blessed with many doo for its prominent role in Sunday with the fi rst clean-up Amadi, Saleh Elayan, Amina El key focus of our corporate social beautiful beaches in Qatar, and supporting communities and at Sumaysimah Beach. Musa, Abdulla al-Mana, Ha- responsibility strategy, in line all citizens and residents share stakeholders in their eff orts to In collaboration between mad bin Nasser and Khaled al- with the United Nations Sus- a responsibility to take care of protect and preserve the envi- NU-Q’s Jairo Lugo-Ocando, director of executive and graduate Ooredoo, Al Daayen Munici- Rayyes, alongside popular pub- tainable Development Goals, them in order to preserve marine ronment for future generations. education, with student Inaara Gangji.

GU-Q’s New Student Orientation begins Key handover for LuLu-Kia Seltos promotion

eorgetown University Politics major Malak Elmoh, one in Qatar (GU-Q) has of the two students helping or- Glaunched a comprehen- ganise the programme as NSO sive New Student Orientation co-ordinators, said: “We are (NSO) that will run virtually looking at accommodating and until August 20 for the largest sustaining diversity to encourage incoming cohort of fi rst-year healthy dialogue and discourse students in the school’s history. regardless of diff erences.” This is the “latest signal Culture and Politics major that QF-partner institutions Heba Mohamednor, the other are gearing up for a successful NSO co-ordinator this year, pre- fall semester despite the pub- dicts that future NSO’s will con- lic health crisis”, according to a tinue to include virtual elements. press statement. The virtual NSO runs from July 12 through August 20. “The transition to college life can Through a combination of be very stressful, even without the pre-recorded modules and on- In his welcome address to the Student Programmes Uday Ro- challenges of a pandemic, because line engagement with staff , fac- new students, GU-Q dean Dr Ah- sario, who said: “This year, 30 there is so much new informa- ulty and current students, this mad Dallal stressed the need for GU-Q students will be mentor- tion to take in. Off ering aspects year’s six-week-long virtual NSO future leaders who would take on ing incoming students as orien- of the programme online means programme aims to provide 141 the task of building a better future tation advisers, which is twice as students can go at their own pace, new students with the resources, for humanity in light of ongo- many as last year, to make sure and still have time to engage with guidance and strategies needed to ing global turbulence. “You were we provide our largest incom- their advisers and with other thrive at GU-Q. Members of the chosen to join GU-Q because you ing class with the best possible members of their incoming class A key handover ceremony for the LuLu-Kia Seltos Car Promotion, organised by LuLu Hypermarket Class of 2024 will be bonding with demonstrated a number of excel- introduction to our programme for a smoother transition that Qatar in association with Kia Motors Qatar, was held on July 12. The event took place at the their classmates, learning about lent qualities. But the one that and our community, and to make doesn’t overwhelm them.” regional off ice of LuLu Hypermarket Qatar located on D-Ring Road. The winner of the promotion, clubs, activities and co-curric- makes you truly a ‘Hoya’ is your sure they have access to all the The NSO programme will Mohamedfawzyeid Mohamedhamato, holder of Coupon No 33164744, collected the key to his ular and research opportunities, willingness to work for positive resources they need to succeed.” culminate in the annual New Kia Seltos, model 2020, from Shanavas P M, regional manager of LuLu Hypermarket Qatar, and putting together their course change in the world,” he said. Refl ecting on this year’s NSO Student Convocation ceremony, Hossam Abu Shadi, brand director of Kia Motors Qatar, in the presence of other off icials from LuLu schedules and preparing for the The NSO programme is or- theme, ‘Multiculturalism in a a formal initiation into Georget- and Kia Motors. exciting four years to come. ganised by assistant director for Digital World’, International own’s academic community.

Sidra Medicine performs endoscopic surgery on baby with misshaped skull

eurosurgeons at Sidra Dr Khalid al-Kharazi, senior Ahmed’s care was led by a Ahmed was safer as it meant that initial assessments, we were Medicine, a member of paediatric neurosurgeon at Sidra multidisciplinary team of physi- there would be decreased blood then referred to Sidra Medicine. NQatar Foundation, have Medicine who led the endoscop- cians, surgeons and nurses from loss and a shorter operative time. “To have such world-class performed minimally invasive ic procedure on Ahmed, said: neurosurgery; craniofacial and “Most importantly, it would care at our doorstep is life- surgery on an infant born with “It was critical that Ahmed was plastic surgery; ophthalmology; allow Ahmed to be discharged changing. It saved us the time, a congenital condition called transferred to Sidra Medicine genetics; ENT and orthotics. earlier and back home with his resources and the challenges of scaphocephaly. during the fi rst few weeks of his The MDT surgery clinic at family in a matter of days.” taking him abroad for treatment. Scaphocephaly is a disor- life. Early detection of his con- Sidra Medicine is led by Dr Mitch Following the endoscopy, “We are extremely grateful for der which occurs when the two dition allowed us to use a mini- Stotland and Dr Graeme Glass. Ahmed was discharged after the care that was provided at the parietal bones of the skull are mally invasive approach when he The team also consulted Dr only two nights, with the small hospital – which has been a very prematurely fused together. It was only two months old. Owase Jeelani, a visiting surgeon incisions healed in a few days. positive experience particularly is characterised by a misshaped “The earlier an endoscopic from Great Ormond Street Hos- He also underwent helmet ther- under the care of Dr Khalid al- long and narrow head. approach is performed on chil- pital in London. apy by the MDT clinic’s craniofa- Kharazi and Dr Ian Pople.” Baby Ahmed was referred to dren with scaphocephaly, the Ahmed’s endoscopy took two cial/plastic team to manipulate the Sidra Medicine off ers “pio- Sidra Medicine when doctors better the result as it would pro- hours and involved opening of correct shape of his skull. neering paediatric surger- noticed that his skull was grow- vide the best aesthetic outcomes the early suture as well as two Within three months from the ies, including neurosurgery; ing in an elongated shape and and lowest reoperation rate as small incisions to his scalp. day of his endoscopy and with craniofacial and plastic surgery; would require specialist atten- well as minimal blood loss when Surgeons Dr al-Kharazi and the help of his helmet, Ahmed otolaryngology; ophthalmol- tion. compared to traditional surgery. Dr Ian Pople then used a small now has a normal-shaped head. ogy; orthopaedic and urology Following a thorough review “The procedure is harder to lighted endoscope to reconstruct Commenting on the care surgery; paediatric general and of the options – traditional open implement once the children are Ahmed’s misshaped skull. Ahmed received at Sidra Medi- thoracic surgery; perioperative surgery versus the use of an en- older than six months, as then Dr Pople, division chief of Ahmed with Dr Ian Pople and Dr Khalid al-Kharazi in February 2020. cine, his parents said: “Our fi rst surgery; renal transplants; and doscope — the multidisciplinary we would have to consider us- neurosurgery at Sidra Medi- moments with Ahmed were reconstructive surgery for short (MDT) surgery team at Sidra ing an open-surgery approach, cine, said: “We take great pride more truly keyhole techniques our young patients experience fraught with concern, as the bowel syndrome”, it has stressed Medicine went with the mini- which in some cases doesn’t al- in the varied cutting-edge sur- with our specialised endoscopic the least amount of pain and doctors in the delivery room no- in a statement. mally invasive endoscopic ap- low for suffi cient correction of gical techniques available at equipment. discomfort. Taking a minimally ticed his misshapen head right For more details, one can visit proach. the skull.” Sidra Medicine, moving towards “Our priority is to ensure that invasive approach to treat baby away. After going through the www.sidra.org Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, July 14, 2020 QATAR/REGION/ARAB WORLD/AFRICA ‘Good organisation and govt support key to Mekaines quarantine facility success’

hmed Ismail al-Zyarah, head of Qatar Red Cres- Acent Society’s (QRCS) ninth Disaster Management Camp (DMC-9) and former head of general services at the Mekai- nes workers’ quarantine facility, has said the worst is over in the fi ght against Covid-19. “Work in Mekaines is going on perfectly thanks to the ap- plied mechanism, the spirit of dedication among the medical and services personnel, and the nonstop support from the gov- ernment and the private sector,” he said. Ahmed Ismail al-Zyarah Since late March, QRCS has been operating the Mekaines “We began by creating teams quarantine and isolation facil- to cover all the aspects related to ity in close co-operation with the stay of the patients at Mekai- the Ministry of Public Health nes. The food team was divided (MoPH), Ministry of Interior into groups, each responsible for Snapshots from the Mekaines workers’ quarantine facility. (MoI) and Hamad Medical Cor- specifi c blocks. Over time, the poration (HMC). technique of food distribution vehicles to the accommodation groups and allocation to the The recovered patients are given Under the supervision of the improved. areas (Red Zone). blocks. all the necessary documents and Supreme Committee for Crisis “As for cleaning, there had “We pursued the setting and “The same applied to catering. transported to their homes by Management, the facility re- been a shortage in the number implementation of our action It started with 70,000 meals per buses. ceives expatriate workers infect- of garbage trucks available com- plans. Issues were identifi ed day, going down to 50,000, and “Co-ordination was crucial ed with Covid-19. They are given pared to the big number of in- and resolved, with active par- currently 30,000. In Ramadan, among the teams in the fi eld. medical services, accommoda- mates — around 11,000 people at ticipation from everyone. With there were four meals: break- The team leaders hold meetings tion and psychological support that time. We took the decisive the help of the Medical Aff airs, fast, lunch, dinner and Suhoor. on a regular basis or when need- until they have recovered and move of contracting cleaning we secured new contracts as an After Ramadan, there were three ed to co-ordinate the workfl ow. can resume their normal lives. services companies and securing immediate solution to increase meals, with a total of 32,000- In particular, the cleaning and In a statement, al-Zyarah said: more trucks and individuals. the number of garbage trucks. 40,000 per day. We adopted a catering teams have interrelated “At fi rst, I was assigned to work “Back then, the main opera- We made sure that all the clean- smooth and facilitated technique day-to-day activities. Apart with the Medical Aff airs Division tional strategy at Mekaines was ing workers were using personal of distribution. from constant follow-up and on the operation of the Mekaines to identify and address the gaps, protective equipment (PPE) “As regards discharge, each guidance, we made regular tours quarantine facility. Me and my providing all the needed vehicles when accessing the Red Zone. patient had to complete three of the blocks to make sure every- team undertook the provision and staff in a timely manner. The “The holy month of Ramadan weeks in isolation, being subject thing was going on well. of general services, including biggest challenge was the trans- saw a hugely extra workload. to several regular swabs. Then, “I would like to thank the security, catering, cleaning and formation from quarantine for Every day, we removed 600-700 the protocol was changed by the sports federations that donated discharge. It was the Medical Af- suspected cases and close con- tonnes of waste. After Ramadan, MoPH and competent commit- sports equipment for the guests, fairs that prepared lists of those tacts into isolation for positive the average volume was 300- tees. After 10 days of having the like table tennis and basket- golf carts to facilitate movement garbage trucks, as well as all the recovered, while we made all cases. This required a restruc- 500 tonnes per day. It was a big disease, the patients are no long- ball. The Qatar Cyclists Centre among the blocks. I also thank organisations that contributed arrangements to discharge and ture of the whole work, particu- challenge that we could handle er infectious - and they can be donated bikes for the supervi- the Ministry of Municipality to this national mission,” he transport (them) to their homes. larly in the access of staff and by virtue of the well-organised allowed to go home after 14 days. sors, and Aspire Zone gave us and Environment for providing concluded.

CONFLICT Seven children, two women killed in Ceasefi re in Libya now ‘would not benefi t GNA’ Explosion as fi re Yemen strike: UN Seven children and two women Reuters (LNA) has been on the back is already a military prepara- Fatih Donmez said in May that breaks out at Iranian were killed in an air raid in Istanbul foot after Turkish support tion, they (GNA) will show all Turkish Petroleum (TPAO), northwest Yemen, a UN agency helped the GNA turn back his determination here,” he said. which had applied for an ex- said yesterday, as Riyadh said it in- 14-month assault on the capi- Turkey’s presidency said ploration permit in the east- industrial complex tercepted missiles fired by Yemeni urkey dismissed pros- tal Tripoli. President Tayyip Erdogan ern Mediterranean, may begin Houthi rebels. pects of any imminent spoke by phone yesterday with oil exploration in the region The UN Off ice for the Co-ordi- Tceasefi re in Libya yes- Turkey’s presidency Russia’s President Vladimir in three or four months. Ca- Reuters Mashhad, was quoted as saying nation of Humanitarian Aff airs terday, saying any deal incor- said President Tayyip Putin. vusoglu said yesterday that Tehran six storage tanks had caught fi re, (OCHA) also said another two porating the confl ict’s existing Erdogan spoke by The two men discussed Turkey would start seismic re- including the one that exploded. women and two children were frontlines would not benefi t phone with Russia’s the war in Libya and in Syria, search and drilling operations He said the fi re was under con- wounded in Sunday’s raid in the Ankara-backed Govern- President Vladimir Putin where they back rival sides, it for natural resources in the ranian police are investigat- trol and there were no casualties, Hajjah governorate. The province ment of National Accord. said, without giving details. part of the eastern Mediter- ing after a fi re broke out at an but police were investigating the near Sanaa is a battlefront In an interview with state Asked about a possible op- Turkey and the GNA signed ranean covered by the agree- Iindustrial complex in north- cause. There have been several ex- between Houthi rebels and pro- broadcaster TRT Haber, For- eration against LNA-held a maritime delimitation deal ment. east Iran where gas condensate plosions and fi res around Iranian government forces backed by a eign Minister Mevlut Cavu- Sirte, Cavusoglu said there last year, which Ankara says He did not provide a time- storage tanks are sited, one of military, nuclear and industrial coalition that provides air support. soglu said that the coastal city was a diplomatic eff ort to solve creates an exclusive economic frame. He added that Tur- which exploded, the Mehr news facilities since late June. “Initial reports...indicate that on of Sirte and Jufra air base need the issue. zone from its southern coast key was open to sharing with agency reported yesterday. On Sunday, the offi cial July 12 an air strike killed seven to be turned over to the GNA ”There are preparations for to Libya’s northeast coast, and companies from third coun- Javad Jahandoust, the fi re IRNA news agency reported a children and two women in Wash- before it agrees to a ceasefi re. an operation but we are try- protects rights to resources tries such as Italy, the United chief at the Kavian Fariman fi re at a petrochemical facil- hah district of Hajjah governo- Khalifa Haftar’s eastern- ing the (negotiation) table. If in the eastern Mediterrane- Kingdom, the United States industrial complex, some 32 ity in southwest Iran, which was rate,” OCHA said. based Libyan National Army there is no withdrawal, there an. Turkish Energy Minister and Russia. kilometres south of the city of blamed on an oil leak.

UNREST Somalia’s army Mandela’s daughter Zindzi dies at 59 chief survives suicide bombing Somalia’s army chief, General AFP beria after — in front of a huge crowd of ANC Johannesburg her stint in supporters at a Soweto stadium — a Odowa Yusuf Rage, yesterday sur- Copenha- letter in which her father rejected an vived a suicide bomb attack that gen, which off er of release from the then apart- was claimed by the Al Shebaab indzi Mandela, the young- started in heid president, PW Botha. militant group, military sources est daughter of South Africa’s 2015. At the time Botha had off ered to said. A civilian died and half a doz- Zfi rst black president and anti- The free Mandela from prison on condi- en other people were wounded in apartheid icon Nelson Mandela died Mandela tion he renounced the anti-apart- the attack on his motorcade in the yesterday at the age of 59, her family family re- heid violence and protests. capital Mogadishu, one said. and President Cyril Ramaphosa an- leased a That letter, which she read dressed “The terrorist, driving a Toyota nounced. Zindzi Mandela brief state- in yellow and black — the trademark Surf Land Cruiser, tried to strike Daughter to Mandela and Winnie ment an- colours her father had adopted as a a convoy escorting the army Madikizela-Mandela, she was South nouncing her death, which said she statesman — “reinvigorated the val- chief when the security forces Africa’s ambassador to Denmark at was survived by her children and ues and principles of the struggle”, fired several warning shots to the time of her death, which coin- grandchildren. according to another anti-apartheid stop him,” said Captain Mohamed cided with the anniversary of a car Zindzi was born and raised in icon, retired archbishop Desmond Ismail, a military off icial. “But he crash that claimed the life of his fi rst Soweto and grew up while her father Tutu. ignored (the shots), and the forces son, 51 years earlier. was incarcerated by the apartheid “For the 27 years that Nelson directly fired on him, detonating “Ambassador Mandela passed regime for 27 years. Mandela was imprisoned, his fam- the vehicle. A civilian died and six away in the early hours of today, July Like her parents, she was involved ily — wife...and daughters Zindzi others were wounded, including 13, 2020, in a Johannesburg hospi- in the liberation struggle and was an and Zenani — played a critical role two soldiers,” he said.Suleyman Ali, tal,” Ramaphosa said in a statement. active member of the African Na- symbolising the humanity and another military off icer, said, “The The cause of her death was not tional Congress (ANC) youth move- steadfastness of the anti-apartheid security forces shot a suicide car immediately revealed. ment. struggle,” the Tutu Foundation said bomber who tried to sneak into She had been designated to be- One of her most prominent mo- in a statement. Her fi ery anti-apart- the convoy escorting the military come South Africa’s envoy to Li- ments was in 1985 when she read out heid stance did not wane with age. chief Odowa Yusuf Rage. The army chief survived the attack and he is safe.”

Protesters injured in Mali demonstrations as UN calls for calm CASUALTIES Police in Mali’s capital Bamako fired into the air yester- society leaders leading the protests, said yesterday that Two Madagascar day to disperse protesters calling for President Ibrahim 20 people had been killed since Friday. The government Boubacar Keita to resign, witnesses said, hours after has acknowledged four deaths. The M5-RFP has rejected lawmakers die the United Nations condemned the use of lethal force concessions off ered by Keita as insuff icient, including his from Covid-19 against demonstrators, Reuters reported. off er to dissolve the Constitutional Court. A Reuters wit- Several people were injured by falling bullets and tear ness heard gunfire in Badalabougou yesterday and said Two lawmakers in Madagascar gas canisters in the Badalabougou neighbourhood, three groups of young men were manning improvised barri- have died of Covid-19 and at least witnesses said. The area is a hotbed of a month-long cades. “It all started around 7:30am, the police came and 25 members of parliament and of protest movement denouncing Keita’s failure to quash dismantled some of our barricades. The clashes started, the senate have been infected with militia violence or address the disputed results of recent they fired incessantly, gas of all kinds and firearms,” said the virus since the first case was legislative elections. The government declined requests 33-year-old trader Mohamed Doumbia. confirmed on the island in March, for comment. The clashes came after a chaotic few days Yesterday’s clashes came after the UN mission in Mali, President Andry Rajoelina said late in Bamako beginning on Friday, when demonstrators the African Union, West African regional bloc Ecowas and on Sunday. Madagascar has had occupied state buildings and police opened fire. the European Union jointly criticised Malian authorities 5,080 confirmed novel coronavirus The M5-RFP, a coalition of religious, political and civil for their response to the protests. cases since then, and 37 deaths, ac- cording to the government data. Gulf Times Tuesday, July 14, 2020 5 QATAR Qatar Charity to deliver food baskets to 4000 coronavirus-hit families n an effort to address societal food needs, Qatar Charity volunteers, and others across the country. (QC), in cooperation with the Qatar Meat Production and It is worth mentioning that 671,243 persons have benefited ISeara, has delivered the foodstuff to 186 families affected by from the meals and food baskets distributed by Qatar the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic within Qatar. Charity during the period from March 18 to May 23, while The distribution of the assistance comes as part of Qatar all beneficiaries of all aid are 732,952 persons. Some 560,000 Charity’s food initiative targeting 4,000 beneficiary families ready-to-eat meals were provided during the crisis. within the country, and falls within its keenness to ease the Qatar Charity has already delivered 111,000 food baskets sorrow of those facing a challenging living condition due to the to families with low income affected by the coronavirus, in pandemic. addition to families from expatriate communities in cooperation

Jassem Al-Emadi, director of the Local Development with 20 embassies. Qatar Charity’s ‘Philanthropic Kitchen’ Department at Qatar Charity, said, “In a continuous effort to provided more than 11,000 ready-to-eat meals to workers. fight the coronavirus, Qatar Charity has started to distribute Qatar Charity also supported the initiative that loosely basic food items to the affected families, which are sufficient translates to ‘You deserve the reward’ launched by some Qatar

for such a family for two weeks, noting that Qatar Charity youths, in cooperation with Qatar Charity. The initiative started still receives requests for assistance through its website and distributing nearly 300 meals daily and the number increased customer service center.” until it reached 800 meals per day. He added that Qatar Charity has prominently contributed Some 13,262 food parcels from Qatar Charity have benefited to curbing the outbreak of COVID-19 within the framework nearly 53,048 people from various Asian, Arab and African of the awareness and preventive campaign, by distributing communities residing in Qatar. health bags, awareness materials, and food parcels to workers, Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, July 14, 2020 AMERICAS

NO CASUALTIES DIPLOMACY RACIAL DIVIDE APOLOGY Major fire breaks out on Ottawa, Washington mull Non-white diplomats face Canada’s Trudeau ‘sorry’ Navy ship in California future of border closure ‘bias’ on entering the US over charity contract

An explosion on a United States Navy ship Canada and the United States are still in talks on An organisation of retired US diplomats yesterday Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau moored at a base in California set off a major the future of a ban on non-essential travel between accused the US Customs and Border Patrol of a yesterday apologised for not recusing himself fire on Sunday injuring 21 people, off icials and the two nations and will have more to say later this “deeply troubling pattern” of discrimination and from discussions about a government contract local media said. The USS Bonhomme Richard, week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said yesterday. harassment against black, Hispanic and other to a charity that had paid his family large sums an amphibious assault vessel, was in port in The ban, introduced in March to help fight the minority US diplomats at US border entry points. of money. “I made a mistake not recusing San Diego for maintenance when the explosion coronavirus outbreak, has been extended several The American Academy of Diplomacy made the myself immediately from the discussions. And erupted. Scenes broadcast by CNN showed times and is due to expire on July 21. Premiers of allegation in a letter to Secretary of State Mike I’m sincerely sorry,” he told a news conference. fireboats using water cannon to try to control some major Canadian provinces say the frontier Pompeo. It urged him to order a review of incidents, His apology came amid opposition demands the blaze. The off icial Twitter account of Naval must remain shut. “Every month we have been take steps to “ensure equal treatment” of minority for an investigation into a $900mn contract A US Navy photo released yesterday shows Surface Forces, US Pacific Fleet, said 17 sailors able to extend the border closures... and those US Foreign Service off icers and make clear that their awarded by the government to development sailors and federal firefighters combating a and four civilians were taken to the hospital for discussions are ongoing with the United States mistreatment is “unacceptable.” The academy said and youth advocacy organisation WE Charity. fire onboard the amphibious assault ship USS minor injuries. The cause of the explosion was right now,” Trudeau told a briefing, describing the many minority Foreign Service off icers describe The NGO has admitted paying nearly C$300,000 Bonhomme Richard at Naval Base San Diego not immediately clear. About 160 sailors were on situation south of the border as complex. “We will enduring “regular and persistent discrimination and (US$220,000) to Trudeau’s mother, brother and on Sunday. board at the time. have more to say later this week, I’m sure.” harassment” at border crossings. wife for speaking engagements. Soaring Florida Protesting police violence infections cast shadow over tourism, Disney

Reuters tors, not all but most, that we are told 24 hours raising to 8,000 the number in Miami to trust,” Chuck Woolery wrote Sunday hospitals, according to a state agency. night, without providing evidence. Across Florida, 47 hospitals reported On Sunday, Florida reported a record their intensive care units (ICUs) were lorida yesterday recorded more increase of more than 15,000 new cases completely full, including eight hos- A member of the Kalpulli Yaocenoxyli Aztec community chants during a demonstration in St Paul, Minnesota than 12,600 new coronavirus of Covid-19 in 24 hours. pitals in the Miami-Dade County hot on Sunday. Mothers, spouses and relatives of loved ones lost to police violence join supporters protesting racial Fcases, its second-highest daily If Florida were a country, that would spot. inequality in the National Mothers March Against Police Violence in St Paul. total since the outbreak began, coincid- rank it fourth in the world for the most Democratic leaders are calling on ing with the US state’s attempt to re- new cases in a day, behind the United the Republican Trump to invoke the vive tourism and attract visitors to the States, Brazil and India, according to a Defense Production Act to expand the recently-reopened Disney World. Reuters analysis. capacity of labs to process tests for the Florida along with Arizona, Califor- In Florida’s Orange County, where novel coronavirus, citing processing de- nia and Texas have emerged as the new Disney World is located, cases rose by lays and shortages of chemical reagents US epicentres of the pandemic. 623 to a total of 18,624, the fi fth highest and other supplies. Infections have risen rapidly in about outbreak in the state’s counties. In some hard-hit states, residents are Judge delays fi rst federal 40 of the 50 states over the last two Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has waiting up to 10 days to get their test re- weeks, according to a Reuters analysis. called the state’s rise in cases “a blip” sults, according to numerous posts on The latest numbers emerged hours and told residents not to be alarmed. social media. after President Donald Trump took Florida recorded more than 500 House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Dem- swipes at health experts in his govern- deaths this past week, compared with ocrat, said yesterday more testing and executions in 17 years ment leading the US response to the over 300 the prior week. equipment will be necessary to handle pandemic and his relationship further It is one of about two dozen states coronavirus infections in the autumn. frayed with top infectious diseases ex- where deaths have risen in the last sev- “That requires the president to im- Reuters Clarity sought on the scope of Stone clemency order pert Dr Anthony Fauci. en days compared with the prior seven plement the Defense Production Act,” Terre Haute, Indiana Yesterday morning, Trump retweeted days, according to a Reuters analysis. Pelosi said in an interview with MSNBC. A US judge yesterday asked the Jus- Stone, his longtime friend and adviser. accusations by a former game show host Florida’s Disney World welcomed “It’s no use taking a test if you’re not tice Department to explain whether US District Judge Amy Berman Jack- that “everyone is lying,” including the the public on Saturday for the fi rst going to get your results for a week lat- US federal judge yesterday is- President Donald Trump’s order son, who presided over Stone’s trial, set federal Centers for Disease Control and time since March with guests required er.” sued an injunction, delaying commuting Roger Stone’s prison term a deadline today to receive a copy of Prevention (CDC), the lead agency in to wear masks, undergo temperature The law, which dates to the Korean Awhat would have been the fi rst means the veteran Republican opera- Trump’s clemency order along with an the pandemic response. checks and keep physically apart. War of the 1950s, grants the president federal execution in 17 years, sched- tive does not need to be supervised explanation about whether it also com- “The most outrageous lies are the The number of Covid-19 patients broad authority to “expedite and ex- uled for later in the day, thwarting at by probation off icers as many con- mutes the period that Stone was meant ones about Covid 19. Everyone is lying. hospitalised in Florida is quickly rising, pand the supply of resources from the least for now the Trump administra- victed felons are after being freed. to be supervised after leaving prison. The CDC, Media, Democrats, our Doc- with over 500 new patients in the past US industrial base” in emergencies. tion’s goal of reviving capital punish- Congressional Democrats and Stone’s attorney Grant Smith did ment at the federal level. other critics accused Trump of abuse not immediately respond to a request Judge Tanya Chutkan of the US of power and an assault on the rule for comment. Stone was due to have district court in Washington ordered of law after the Republican president reported to a federal prison in Georgia the US Department of Justice to delay on Friday gave executive clemency to today. ‘Tax us’: Super-rich call for wealth tax to fund relief four executions the department had scheduled for July and August to allow By Matthew Lavietes, Reuters “So please. Tax us. Tax us. Tax us.” largest economy, the steepest plunge continuation of the condemned men’s Lee was sentenced to death for his two more executions for later in the New York The letter was released before fi - since the Great Depression. legal challenges against a new lethal role in the murders of three members week and a fourth in August, of Wes- nance ministers and central bank gov- The world’s wealthiest owe a “huge injection protocol announced in 2019. of an Arkansas family, including an ley Purkey, Dustin Honken and Keith ernors from the Group of 20 leading debt” to the world’s essential workers, “The scientifi c evidence before 8-year-old child, in 1996. Nelson, all convicted of murdering group of the world’s super- economies are set to meet online on who confront the deadly virus every the court overwhelmingly indicates “The government has been try- children. rich, including heiress Abigail July 18 to tackle the global economic day and are “grossly underpaid,” the that the 2019 Protocol is very likely ing to plow forward with these ex- The coronavirus pandemic has A Disney and the co-founder of disorder from the pandemic. group said. to cause Plaintiff s extreme pain and ecutions despite many unanswered prevented some of the lawyers of Ben & Jerry’s, yesterday urged gov- Due to global shutdowns, the world “We must rebalance our world be- needless suff ering during their exe- questions about the legality of its inmates on death row from visiting ernments to raise their taxes to help economy is forecast to shrink 3.2% fore it is too late. There will not be an- cutions,” Chutkan wrote in her order. new execution protocol,” Shawn No- their clients. impoverished populations survive this year, according to a Reuters poll of other chance to get this right,” the let- She said the inmates were likely to lan, one of the public defenders rep- At least one employee involved the coronavirus and its economic more than 250 economists. ter said. “Humanity is more important succeed in their challenge to the pro- resenting the death row inmates in in the executions tested positive for fallout. Forecasts for global economic than our money.” tocol on the grounds that it breached their lawsuits, said in a statement. Covid-19, the Justice Department In an open letter, the 83 individuals growth had tended to range from 2.3% The letter was organised by Oxfam, a constitutional ban on “cruel and Eff orts to resume capital punish- said over the weekend. with net worths of tens or hundreds of to 3.6% before the pandemic struck. Patriotic Millionaires, Human Act, unusual” punishments. ment at the federal level were under- While Texas, Missouri and other millions of US dollars called for a per- The fallout could increase global Tax Justice UK, Club of Rome, Re- The Justice Department told the way within a few months of Presi- states execute multiple condemned manent wealth tax to fuel economic poverty by as much as half a bn peo- source Justice, and Bridging Ventures. court it would appeal the injunction. dent Donald Trump’s inauguration inmates each year, federal execu- relief. ple, or 8% of the world population, Most of the signatories were from Her order came down less than in 2017, ending a de facto moratorium tions are rare: only three have oc- “Unlike tens of millions of peo- according to research released in April the United States. seven hours before Daniel Lewis Lee that began under his predecessor, curred since 1963, all from 2001 to ple around the world, we do not have by the United Nations University. The number of reported coronavi- was due to be put to death at 4pm, us- Barack Obama, due to problems get- 2003, including the 2001 execution to worry about losing our jobs, our In April the impact of the pandemic rus cases worldwide has crossed 13mn ing lethal injections of pentobarbital, ting execution drugs and while long- of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy homes, or our ability to support our led to the loss of more than 20.5mn with more than 568,000 people killed, a powerful barbiturate, at the Justice running legal challenges to lethal in- McVeigh. families,” the group said. jobs in the United States, the world’s according to a Reuters tally. Department’s execution chamber in jections played out in federal courts. There are currently 62 people on Terre Haute, Indiana. The department had scheduled federal death row in Terre Haute.

New health crisis looms as patients without Covid-19 delay other medical procedures

By Sharon Bernstein, Reuters layed for fi ve days coming in with dropped by 23% and stroke care either out of fear, confusion or six days before bringing him in that are occurring right now ulti- room visits dropped in half. Sacramento abdominal pain that was getting by 20%. because of diffi culty in obtaining with a severe ear infection. mately will lead to more cancers Emergency medical techni- worse and worse,” said Dr Diana As the initial outbreak leveled the care they need — are again Patt said screening mam- and more deaths,” he said. cians also reported a 45% rise in Fite, who practices emergency off in the weeks that followed, staying home. mograms are down by 90% in Patt’s patient Helen Knost had the number of heart patients who Texas man who waited medicine in Houston. healthcare experts planned to The result is a healthcare crisis Austin, where she specializes in to put off surgery for breast can- died before they could be brought until his brain tumour “When she fi nally came in, she handle primary care diff erently in the making, said Austin oncol- breast cancer and serves as ex- cer in early spring because it was to the hospital. Awas softball-sized; a baby had a ruptured appendix.” should infections rise again, ogist Dr Debra Patt, who said she ecutive vice president of Texas considered non-emergency in Hospital CEO Daniel Wol- who suff ered an ear infection After the pandemic was declared making sure minor procedures expects mortality rates from can- Oncology. Texas and barred at the time, and cott led a campaign to inform for six days; a heart patient who a national emergency in March, like cancer screenings were still cer to skyrocket in the years after That means some tumors will she was treated instead with the the community that the medical died: The resurgence of Covid-19 many states banned non-essen- allowed and assuring patients the pandemic because patients be missed, and women who de- medication Tamoxifen. center was open and safe, even is creating another health cri- tial medical procedures, and the that hospitals and clinics were have delayed their care. velop aggressive cancers might “It’s very strange to know speaking to people about it in the sis as hospitals fi ll and patients number of patients seeking care for safe. “They’re scared to go in the not know about it until the dis- you have cancer and you’re just grocery store. are fearful or unable to get non- other ailments took a nosedive. But the recent surge in cases hospital unless they absolutely ease is more advanced and more hanging out with it, just in a But with new Covid-19 cases emergency care. Hospitals and medical practic- has swamped hospitals in many have to,” said Patt. “And even likely to be deadly. holding pattern,” said Knost, who swamping the hospital, sickening With US coronavirus infec- es were hit hard fi nancially. states, including Texas, Arizona, when the patients are willing, it’s “It’s an impact we will see did ultimately undergo success- nearly 30 staff members and forc- tions reaching new heights, doc- Emergency department use Florida and parts of California. hard to get things done.” on cancer survival for years to ful surgery. ing it to divert non-coronavirus tors and hospitals say they are dropped by 42% during the fi rst Texas has again banned many Patt in recent days treated a come,” she said. In California, doctors at the cases to other facilities for several also seeing sharp declines in pa- 10 weeks of the pandemic despite non-emergency procedures, man who waited to come in for Dr David Fleeger, a colorec- 150-bed Adventist Lodi Memo- days, Wolcott fears that again pa- tients seeking routine medical a rise in patients presenting with though cancer surgeries are still headaches and dizziness until he tal surgeon in Austin and a past rial Hospital in the San Joaquin tients with heart conditions and care and screenings — and a rise symptoms of the coronavirus, data allowed, and a hospital in Cali- had lost almost 16kg and had a president of the Texas Medical Valley breadbasket were de- other illnesses will stay away. in those who have delayed care from the US Centers for Disease fornia’s San Joaquin Valley for softball-sized tumor in his head. Association, said he has had nu- termined that a second surge “We won’t know for years how for so long they are far sicker than Control and Prevention show. several days admitted only Cov- Fite, who is president of the merous patients cancel colono- in coronavirus cases would not many people lost their lives or they otherwise would be. In the same period, patients id-19 patients. Texas Medical Association, cared scopies in recent days. bring a repeat of the pandemic’s lost good years of their lives for “I had one lady who had de- seeking care for heart attacks Patients without Covid-19 — for a baby whose parents waited “The delays in colonoscopies early days, when emergency fear of coronavirus,” he said. Gulf Times Tuesday, July 14, 2020 7 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

China hits top US Malaysia PM wins test of lawmakers, envoy support in parliament with sanctions over Xinjiang AFP the speaker won the support of hurriedly sworn in without one. Kuala Lumpur 111 MPs against 109 for the op- A shouting match erupted be- AFP position. tween rival MPs, with opposition Beijing It was the fi rst time that a lawmakers chanting “vote, vote, alaysia’s prime minister speaker had been removed vote” and one branding Azhar a narrowly won a vote to in such a fashion in Malay- “back-door speaker” - and sub- hina yesterday slapped Mremove the parliament sia, and sparked fury from the sequently being ordered to leave retaliatory sanctions speaker during a rowdy session opposition. the chamber. Con three senior Re- of the legislature yesterday, a key “What happened today is a James Chin, a Malaysia expert publican lawmakers and a US test of support for the embattled travesty of justice, death of par- from the University of Tasmania, envoy in a deepening row over leader. liamentary democracy and sti- said the victory was important Beijing’s treatment of Uighurs The southeast Asian nation fl ing of (the) people’s mandate,” for Muhyiddin as the speaker in the western Xinjiang region. has been gripped by turmoil tweeted opposition lawmaker decides whether a vote of confi - Some of the most outspo- since a reformist government Charles Santiago. dence should go ahead. ken critics of China - Sena- collapsed in February and Muhy- “Challenging days ahead for Mahathir Mohamed, who was tors Marco Rubio and Ted iddin Yassin became premier, at the country.” premier until resigning in Feb- Cruz along with Congressman Senator Marco Rubio the head of a coalition backed by After the removal of Mohamed ruary amid political turmoil, had Chris Smith - were targeted by a scandal-plagued party. Ariff Mohamed Yusof - who had been pushing for such a vote. the action, as well as the US He took power without an been appointed by the previous “Going forward, Muhyid- ambassador-at-large for in- election, and there had been administration - the premier din is in a stronger position Malaysia’s Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin smiles during a session ternational religious freedom, speculation he did not have suf- tabled a motion for him to be politically,” Chin said. of the lower house of parliament, in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Sam Brownback. fi cient support from MPs to hang replaced by Azhar Azizan Harun. “Now that the speaker is ob- The unspecifi ed “corre- on to power. The opposition demanded viously more partial towards his Mahathir quit and his multi-racial ment headed by Muhyiddin and sponding sanctions” were But in a closely watched vote a vote and sought to pro- group, he will fi nd it a lot easier coalition, which had swept to dominated by the United Malays announced days after the US as parliament resumed following pose an alternative candi- to control parliament.” power at landmark 2018 elections, National Organisation, a scan- imposed visa bans and asset a break due to the coronavirus date, but former election Malaysia’s political crisis be- collapsed amid bitter infi ghting. dal-mired party which had been freezes on several Chinese of- pandemic, his motion to remove commission chief Azhar was gan in February when 95-year-old It was replaced by a govern- ejected at the polls. fi cials, including the Commu- nist Party chief in Xinjiang, Chen Quanguo, over rights abuses in the region. Senator Ted Cruz The move was “in response to the US’s wrong actions”, aimed at forcibly homog- Frenchman foreign ministry spokeswom- enising minorities into the Concern over new Sydney cluster an Hua Chunying said at a country’s Han majority. regular briefi ng. Secretary of State Mike Pom- arrested for “We urge the US to immedi- peo said last week the United ately withdraw its wrong deci- States was acting against “hor- sion, and stop any words and rifi c and systematic abuses” in the alleged child as Australia virus cases surge actions that interfere in Chi- western region including forced na’s internal aff airs and harm labour, mass detention and invol- China’s interests,” she said. untary population control. molesting AFP sealed off from the rest of the at Sydney’s Crossroads Hotel - a Police have stepped up pen- “China will make a further China rejects the accusa- Sydney country in an eff ort to contain popular drinking spot on a major alties for breaching coronavi- response depending on the tions, but it has acknowledged the virus. traffi c route - raising concern rus restrictions in recent days, development of the situation.” sending Uighurs to “vocation- kills himself Authorities reported 177 new the virus could be spreading in with almost Aus$220,000 Sanctions will also be applied al education centres” to learn ydney residents were infections in and around Mel- the state. ($153,000) in fi nes handed out on the US Congressional-Ex- Mandarin and job skills in a warned yesterday to put bourne yesterday, marking a A dozen military personnel across Melbourne in the past ecutive Commission on China, bid to steer them away from AFP Sthe brakes on partying week of triple-digit increases. who visited the pub while poised 24 hours. an agency that monitors human terrorism and separatism fol- Jakarta as a new coronavirus cluster New South Wales police as- to deploy on an anti-virus mis- On Friday, a group whose rights in the Asian country. lowing a spate of deadly vio- emerged at a city pub on the sistant commissioner Tony sion were yesterday in isolation house party was exposed by The two countries have lence in the fractious region. heels of a major outbreak in Cooke yesterday slammed the at an army base in rural New their large KFC order was fi ned traded barbs and sanctions on “I have to point out that French national detained Melbourne. “moronic behaviour of peo- South Wales. Aus$26,000 while six people a slew of issues since Presi- Xinjiang aff airs are purely in Indonesia on suspi- Three pubs in Sydney and ple at dance parties”, after lo- The state’s police minister from Victoria who tried to cross dent Donald Trump took of- China’s internal aff airs. The Acion of molesting over its surrounds were closed af- cal media published footage David Elliott warned that if the Queensland’s border illegally fi ce, from trade to more recent US has no right or basis to in- hundreds of children has died ter being linked to outbreaks of large private get-togethers situation was not brought un- were each fi ned Aus$4,000 the spats over the coronavirus terfere,” Hua said yesterday. by apparent suicide, police said or failing to comply with so- in Sydney’s wealthy eastern der control, pubs could be closed following night. pandemic, a security law in China is “unwavering in its yesterday. cial distancing requirements, suburbs. again. Australia has recorded just Hong Kong, and Chinese poli- determination to fi ght against Francois Camille Abello, 65, while other events were under City residents are allowed a “If we have to close hotels and under 10,000 coronavirus cases cies in the far west regions of forces of violence and terrorism, was found last Thursday unre- investigation with Australia maximum of 20 visitors to their clubs again, the patrons will have and 108 fatalities. Tibet and Xinjiang. forces of separatism, and that of sponsive inside his cell at a de- on edge over a resurgence of homes under restrictions which to take some of the ownership of Most states and regions have Witnesses and human religious extremism,” Hua said. tention centre in Jakarta, said the virus. have been gradually eased in that,” he told a press conference reported few or no new daily rights groups say that China “Its determination to op- police spokesman Yusri Yunus. The new cluster emerged after recent weeks as the number of yesterday. cases of the disease in recent has rounded up more than pose any external forces’ in- “After three days of treatment, Melbourne entered a six-week infections dwindled. “I will, however, work to my weeks, allowing much of the one million Uighurs and other terference in Xinjiang aff airs he was pronounced dead,” Yunus lockdown on Thursday, and At least 21 infections have now dying breath to make sure that country to ease restrictions on Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang in and China’s internal aff airs is told reporters yesterday. surrounding Victoria state was been linked to a growing cluster that doesn’t happen.” movement and gatherings. a vast brainwashing campaign unwavering as well.” Umar Shahab, an offi cial at National Police Hospital in Ja- karta, said doctors reported the French retiree had a neck frac- ture, and the injury blocked the supply of oxygen. Thailand tightens borders over fears The pensioner was arrested last month in a hotel in Jakarta with two underage girls in his of second wave of coronavirus room. He was paraded on Thursday Reuters eign arrivals by air, after two such foreign diplomats are among the in handcuff s wearing an orange Bangkok visitors tested positive, with one few groups of foreigners allowed prison shirt and black facemask breaking quarantine rules. into the country since March, on at a police press conference. The government identifi ed condition of spending 14 days in Police said they found vid- a 43-year-old crewman of an quarantine. eos on Abello’s computer that hailand ordered secu- Egyptian military plane and a The Egyptian arrived on showed him engaging in illegal rity stepped up at its land nine-year-old girl in the family Wednesday and spent time in acts with over 300 children aged Tborders yesterday after of a Sudanese diplomat as the the eastern province of Rayong between 10 and 17. concerns surged over a possible new cases that could potentially before leaving on Saturday. After They said he would approach second wave of coronavirus in- trigger a second wave. a virus test came back positive children and lure them with of- fections, following the arrests of “This exposes a weakness, but on Sunday, authorities found he fers of work as models. Those thousands of illegal migrants in there is no damage yet if we can had left the hotel where he was who refused were beaten. the past month. control and correct this weak- supposed to stay in isolation. Abello faced life in prison, Since the start of June, author- ness and issue more thorough The Sudanese girl was hos- chemical castration, or even exe- ities have arrested 3,000 migrant regulation,” said Taweesin. pitalised on arrival in Thailand, cution by fi ring squad if convict- workers for overland entry at- With no locally transmit- but her family was allowed to ed on a raft of charges under In- tempts, said Taweesin Wisanuyo- ted case reported for more than self-quarantine in its Bangkok Passengers wear surgical masks in an MTR train, following the outbreak of the coronavirus (Covid-19) in donesia’s child protection laws. thin, a spokesman for Thailand’s six weeks, Thailand’s virus tally condominium with no offi cial Hong Kong yesterday. The French embassy in Jakar- task force on the disease. since January stands at 3,220 in- supervision. There were no re- ta, contacted by AFP, declined to Taweesin also raised concern fections and 58 deaths. ports that the family had left the comment on the case. about weak regulation for for- Air crew and the families of residence. Hong Kong reimposes social Xianning, Jiujiang and Nanchang. A red alert has also been de- clared at the Poyang lake, where 33 China water levels are more than 3m distancing as virus cases spike higher than normal, another record high. AFP However, in the last two weeks Those who refuse to wear rivers hit In some fl ood-stricken regions, Hong Kong a cluster of 180 local infections masks face a HK$5,000 ($650) soldiers fi lled sandbags to shore up has emerged and offi cials believe fi ne. riverbanks and stave off more dam- the disease is spreading unde- “This is a time for tighten- record age. Town streets were inundated, ong Kong reimposed tected in the densely populated ing,” Lam told reporters, adding and rescue workers waded through social distancing meas- city of 7.5mn. the measures would be reviewed hip-deep water with infl atable Hures yesterday to combat Yesterday, city leader Carrie every seven days. levels boats to reach people trapped in a sudden spike in coronavirus Lam announced fresh anti-virus The announcement is a new homes turned into islands. infections, banning more than measures. body blow to the city’s economy, Reuters According to water minis- four people from gathering in Alongside a ban on more than which was already mired in re- Shanghai try data, warning levels were public and requiring passengers four people gathering in public, cession before the pandemic hit. The inundated Tianxingzhou island, which is set to be a flood flowing breached at more than 70 fl ood- to wear face masks on public restaurants will only be able to Last year Hong Kong was bat- zone to relieve pressure from the high level of water in Yangtze River, monitoring stations yesterday. transport or risk a $650 fi ne. serve takeaway food from 6pm tered by both the increasingly s many as 33 rivers in Chi- in Wuhan in China’s central Hubei province yesterday. Water levels at the Three Gorges Some businesses will also be to 5am, however they can still aggressive US-China trade war na have risen to their high- reservoir, which cut its discharge closed and restaurants restricted serve those eating in for break- and seven straight months of Aest levels in history dur- risen beyond their warning lev- Average rainfall has been at its volumes for a fi fth time on Sat- over when they can serve diners. fast and lunch. huge and often violent pro-de- ing the current wave of fl oods, a els since the fl ood season began highest since records began in 1961. urday to ease downstream water The fi nance hub was one of Twelve types of businesses mocracy protests. senior water ministry offi cial said in June. The emergency ministry said last levels, have now hit 153.2m, 6.7m the fi rst places to be struck by including bars, pubs, gyms, Health secretary Sophia yesterday, as regions across the “Going into the key fl ood- Friday that 141 people were dead or higher than the warning level. the coronavirus when it emerged beauty salons, nightclubs and Chan said offi cials were trying country brace for another “grim” prevention period of late July to missing, with economic losses at China’s weather bureau said from central China. karaoke venues must close. to “strike a balance” between week of torrential rain. early August, the current trends around 60bn yuan ($8.57bn). that although some regions in The city has had impressive Hong Kongers have widely social distancing and keeping Ye Jianchun, vice minister of remain grim on the Yangtze and Flood-control authori- the southwest would see a tem- success in tackling the disease adopted face masks to deal with businesses open. water resources, told a briefi ng the Lake Tai basins,” he said, ties throughout the Yangtze porary respite from the heavy with just over 1,400 infections the pandemic but on Monday Earlier in the day offi cials an- that 433 rivers - as well as ma- adding that the belts of heavy basin have already declared rain yesterday, central and east- and eight deaths. In the last two authorities made wearing face nounced a 95-year-old woman jor lakes like the Dongting, the rain that have lashed central Chi- “red alerts” that cover ma- ern China would continue to months, local transmissions had coverings on public transport had died of coronavirus, the Poyang and the Tai - have all na would eventually head north. jor population centres such as bear the brunt of the storms. all but ended. mandatory for the fi rst time. city’s eighth victim. Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, July 14, 2020 BRITAIN

New fast-track immigration system to exclude care workers

Guardian News and Media work in the UK. coronavirus crisis focused atten- applying and their families. funding for social care in 2021- much such people will need to great things for this country, of London It additionally describes a ro- tion on the work of NHS and care But despite the name, the list 22, as well as launching a new re- pay in fees. course we’re going to have a hu- bust-sounding expulsion regime staff , many of whom are from of professions who can use the cruitment campaign.” Speaking to reporters yester- mane and sensible system.” in which EU nationals could be overseas. visa, in an appendix of the docu- All applicants must also meet day, Johnson said he did not think The new system has prompted are home staff will be expelled if they are jailed even The new document says the ment, does not cover care staff . minimum salary requirements. the changes would overly aff ect warnings not just about a lack of excluded from the gov- for less than a year, and details a government “welcomes the vi- Downing Street confi rmed this The general minimum thresh- the care sector. NHS and care staff , but also sea- Cernment’s post-Brexit “global talent” route for entrants, tal contributions which doctors, was the case. “We want employ- old for a skilled workers is “Although of course we are sonal farm workers. fast-track visa system for health by which arrivals can be offi cially nurses and other health profes- ers to invest more in training and £25,600, although this falls to going to be taking back control Arrangements have been made workers, the government has endorsed by scientifi c or arts or- sionals from overseas make to the development for care workers £20,480 both for people near and we are controlling our im- for seasonal harvest workers, but confi rmed. ganisations. NHS and wider health and care in this country,” Boris Johnson’s the start of their careers, and for migration system we’re not going below levels the National Farm- The 130-page paper, which The basis of the new points- sector”, and outlines a special spokesman said. some people in the health and to be simply slamming the gates ers’ Union has said is needed. was published by the Home based system, which will close visa for skilled workers. “On care workers specifi cally, education sectors. and stopping anybody anywhere The updated immigration Office yesterday, also sets out UK borders to lower-paid work- This will include fast-track our independent migration ad- This would represent an addi- coming into this country,” he document gives no new de- the stringent English-language ers or those who cannot speak entry under what is called a visers have said that immigration tional barrier to many care work- said. tails on this, saying the sector conditions for overseas nation- English after the country leaves “health and care visa” with “re- is not the sole answer here, which ers, given average salaries in the “Where people can contrib- will be reassessed at the end of als from both EU and non-EU the EU, was initially set out in duced” application fees and is why we have provided coun- sector are about £16,500 a year. ute to this country, where people this year after the end of a pilot countries seeking to come and February, before the peak of the dedicated support to assist those cils with an additional £1.5bn of It also remains to be seen how want to make their lives and do scheme. NHS data reveals ‘huge variation’ in coronavirus mortality rates

Guardian News and Media 100,000 people hospitalised in London England with Covid-19. Dr Nick Scriven, a former president of the Society for Acute wide disparity in corona- Medicine (SAM), said: “The range virus mortality rates has does look larger than you would Aemerged in English hospi- expect and should prompt further tals, with data seen by the Guard- analysis and thought as to why ian showing that one hospital this may appear as it does, which trust in south-west England had for the general population will be a death rate from the disease of concerning.” 80% while in one London trust it |However, both Pittard and was just 12.5%. Scriven cautioned that the data The fi gures, which NHS Eng- did not give a full picture of dif- land has compiled but never pub- ferential death rates between lished, show the age-standarised hospitals because it did not take mortality rates that all of the account of four other key factors country’s 135 acute hospital trusts for risk of death from Covid-19, Prime Minister Boris Johnson gives an elbow bump greeting as he visits headquarters of the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust, amid the spread of the coronavirus disease, in have recorded during the pan- namely gender, ethnicity, dep- London yesterday. demic. rivation and underlying health Doctors regard age as the single problems. biggest predictor or risk factor for All four have been found to dying from Covid-19. signifi cantly increase a patient’s They cover the period from the chances of dying. start of the coronavirus crisis in NHS England has plotted each March, through its peak in late trust’s death rate, and the number Face masks should be March and April, up until May 15, of patients with Covid-19 each of by which time 42,850 – or 85% – them admitted, on a graph which of the 50,219 deaths so far in all it has shared with some senior settings had occurred in England doctors. and Wales. Crucially, though, it has not It is the fi rst such data to identifi ed the trusts on it. emerge about how many people The fi ve trusts with the highest worn in shops, says PM have lived or died in each trust death rates are in the south-west after being treated there because (80%), north-west (68%), south- they had been left critically ill by west (62%), east of England the disease. (60%) and London (54%). Guardian News and Media pressure to make the wearing of Johnson was photographed “I don’t think mandatory, no, but the ventilation may not be as good They are based on patients who Doctors pointed out that some London face coverings mandatory in Eng- wearing a face covering for the fi rst I would encourage people to wear as it might,” Gove said. “It is basic were treated in an intensive care trusts’ apparently high mortal- land in line with the more strin- time on Friday, coinciding with an a face mask, where they are inside, good manners, courtesy and con- or high-dependency unit or on a ity rates could be skewed because gent guidance in Scotland. information campaign from the in an environment where they are sideration to wear a face mask if, ward. they were based on them having oris Johnson has urged the “The scientifi c evidence of face government to nudge people to likely to be mixing with others and for example, you’re in a shop.” Senior doctors said the dra- treated fewer than 100 patients by public in England to wear coverings, and the importance of wear masks in shops. matic gap in death rates of 67.5 May 15, which makes their rates Bmasks in shops as “extra in- stopping aerosol droplets; that’s No 10 denied the government percentage points between the less reliable. surance” against the coronavirus, been growing,” Johnson said. “So was lagging behind other coun- Have a staycation in ‘superlative’ UK: Johnson trusts with the highest and lowest But other trusts with notably and hinted the government could I do think that in shops it is very tries in responding swiftly to new rates was notable and may mean high or low mortality had treated be poised to make them manda- important to wear a face covering.” evidence on mask wearing. “We’ve Prime Minister Boris Johnson certainly going to be doing that some hospitals needed to up to 2,350 patients over the same tory. He added: “Face coverings are always said we’ll keep it under re- advised people to stay at that.” learn lessons from others. period, so their rates are more Downing Street has also hinted an extra insurance we can all use view and so have the experts who home this summer for a “Obviously if people feel the “That is a huge variation, a likely to be reliable. that guidance encouraging em- to stop it coming back, and stop it advise the government,” Johnson’s staycation in the “superlative” need for a foreign holiday then huge range. I’m surprised at the Research published by the In- ployees to work from home where getting out of control again.” spokesman said, pointing to new United Kingdom rather than that is completely a matter for degree of variation. A spread be- tensive Care National Audit and possible is under review, after Asked specifi cally whether face evidence on aerosol transmission. travelling abroad to foreign them and I totally understand tween 12.5% and 80% is quite Research Centre shows that of Johnson suggested workers could coverings would be made manda- The government had come un- shores. “I think this is a great it, but there are fantastic, stark,” said Dr Alison Pittard, 9,995 patients treated in intensive return if eff ective protective meas- tory in shops in England, as they der pressure to clarify the rules. great year for people to have fantastic places — peerless, the dean of the Faculty of Inten- care units with known outcomes, ures were in place. already are on public transport, he The prime minister had hinted a staycation — this country wonderful, superlative places sive Care Medicine. It represents 5,985 (59.9%) have been dis- The prime minister said evi- said the government was consid- on Friday of a stricter regime, but is uniquely blessed with in the UK to go on holiday. the intensive care specialists charged and 4,010 (40.1%) have dence “has been growing” on the ering what “tools of enforcement” the cabinet offi ce minister, Michael fantastic places for holidays,” That is certainly what I will be who have played the lead role in died, while 426 others are still re- eff ectiveness of wearing masks in would be used to increase compli- Gove, said on Sunday he thought Johnson told reporters. “I am doing.” treating what is now more than ceiving critical care. public spaces, after coming under ance. masks should not be mandatory.

Man guilty of killing Actor Depp concludes ex-girlfriend and baby

Guardian News and Media Fauvrelle’s relationship with London McKenzie, with whom she evidence in libel trial shared an interest in motorbikes, had ended early last year, the Reuters own account, “the monster”, the years,” Heard said, according to man has been found court heard. London Sun’s lawyer Sasha Wass has told Sherborne. “No one is going to guilty of stabbing his In February, McKenzie mes- the court. believe that.” A pregnant ex-girlfriend saged that he was feeling “not Depp rejects all the allegations Depp said he believed what in a jealous rage, killing her and needed, not wanted, unimpor- ovie star Johnny Depp that he attacked his wife and says Heard was saying was a “reverse their baby. tant and lost” as he appealed to yesterday concluded Heard was lying, making up a confession”. “It seemed eve- Aaron McKenzie, 26, broke her. Mgiving evidence in choreographed hoax as part of an rything she accused me of was into Kelly Fauvrelle’s bedroom Fauvrelle told him he needed his libel action against the Sun “insurance policy” dossier, and something she had done to me,” as she slept and stabbed her 21 professional help, saying: “Un- newspaper after fi ve days in the that she had attacked him. he said. times, causing catastrophic inju- til u get the fact I don’t want to witness box, again rejecting ac- The court was told yesterday Heard and Depp met in 2011 ries, the Old Bailey was told. be with you anymore...I will no cusations he had hit his ex-wife that one incident occurred after while co-starring in the film Their son, Riley, was delivered longer speak or see you unless is Amber Heard and accusing her of Heard’s 30th birthday party in The Rum Diary and married in by caesarean section but died in about the baby” (sic). using violence against him. 2016 which Depp had been late 2015. hospital four days later. Last March, Fauvrelle told The 57-year-old Pirates of the to following a meeting with his Heard fi led for divorce 15 McKenzie killed Fauvrelle, a McKenzie’s mother that the re- Caribbean star is suing the Sun’s business advisers. At that meet- months later when she fi rst said 26-year-old Royal Mail worker, lationship was “toxic” but she publisher, News Group News- ing, he was told his previous publicly Depp had abused her in a “vicious and cowardly” at- would not deny him access to papers, at London’s High Court managers had lost $650mn he and the divorce was fi nalised the tack after their “toxic” relation- their child. after the tabloid labelled him a had made from fi lms and he owed following year. ship ended, the court heard. At about 3.15am on June 29 last “wife beater” in a 2018 article. $100mn because he had not paid The court has been shown a He denied responsibility, year, an intruder broke into Fau- The court has heard evi- any tax for 17 years. number of pictures Heard took claiming a man named Mike, to vrelle’s family home in Thornton dence from the paper’s lawyer Appearing in the witness box of herself with injuries she says whom she owed money, carried Heath, south London, through that Depp violently attacked his for a fi fth day, Depp was asked Depp infl icted. out the attack. patio doors. former wife on at least 14 occa- by his lawyer David Sherborne Wass, the Sun’s lawyer, said But a jury found McKenzie, After the attack, McKenzie sions over three years from 2013, about the transcript of a con- the photos were taken to show a crane driver from Peckham pretended to have nothing to do when enraged by jealously and versation the couple had in 2016 the Hollywood star when he had in south London, guilty of the with it, the court heard. having consumed large amounts after Heard had gone public with sobered up and in her witness Actress Amber Heard waves as she leaves on the fifth day of the murder of Fauvrelle, who was 33 He went to the hospital where of alcohol or drugs. her accusations. “Either I’m in statement Heard had said she libel trial by her former husband, actor Johnny Depp, against weeks pregnant, the manslaugh- medical staff were trying to save The actor would become, ac- a secret fi ght club...(or) I have “never imagined” they would the News Group Newspapers (NGN), at the high court in London ter of Riley and possession of a the life of his child, “posing as a cording to Heard, 34, and by his been plotting to do this for three form part of a court case. yesterday. knife. victim”, the court heard. Gulf Times Tuesday, July 14, 2020 9 EUROPE

RAMBO MOMENT RUBBISH MEDICINE AIRBORNE AGAIN THEATRE Police hunt homeless man Coronavirus masks, gloves Russian Covid-19 vaccine European air traff ic on the From chariot racing to opera: who threatened off icers polluting Europe’s rivers trials in mid-August: RIA rise again after lockdowns Verdi at Circus Maximus

German police yesterday deployed helicopters, Europe’s major rivers are littered with surgical A Russian institute developing one of the More aeroplanes are flying in the skies above Rome’s Circus Maximus, once home to ancient tracker dogs, special forces and hundreds of masks and medical gloves discarded by people country’s potential coronavirus vaccines hopes Europe as the air travel industry recovers from chariot races, is preparing for a new season as an off icers to track down a 31-year-old described as a protecting themselves against coronavirus. to start its final stage testing in a small section of the coronavirus lockdown that almost brought opera house as the coronavirus pandemic has “loner” who disarmed four police off icers before The rubbish adds to plastic pollution already the general public in mid-August, the RIA news it to its knees earlier in the year. Over the course forced organisers to seek venues that allow for disappearing into the Black Forest. Police could clogging the continent’s major waterways, agency cited the institute’s director as saying of the week ending on Sunday, the Eurocontrol social distancing. The 2,800-year-old arena, one of off er no motive for the behaviour of the man, research organisation Tara Ocean Foundation yesterday. Early results from the first small- organisation for European aviation counted 90,549 the ancient world’s biggest public entertainment who threatened the off icers in the small town of told France Inter radio. During the month of scale human trial of the vaccine developed by flights, up to 36.6% of the levels seen during the venues, has needed weeks of preparation but its Oppenau west of Stuttgart and some 25km from June, researchers “systematically found gloves the Gamaleya Institute in Moscow has shown it same period last year. Eurocontrol director general generous dimensions and natural structure, akin the French border. He is reported to be armed with and masks” along the banks and beaches of to be safe for use, according to a separate RIA Eamonn Brennan spoke of “sustained traff ic growth” to ancient Greek theatres, makes it an ideal site. a bow and arrows, a knife and a pistol. The man rivers across Europe said Romy Hentinger, report on Sunday. “Around 14-15 August, I hope, in a tweet yesterday, noting that there was a rolling “The Circus Maximus is transformed from a circus being sought was described as homeless and a head of international co-operation at the the small amount of vaccine that we should be daily average of just under 13,000 flights. Irish to an opera house,” said Rome’s Opera House loner who was known to people in Oppenau. He foundation. “We can only assume that others able to produce will enter public circulation,” budget airline Ryanair contributed significantly to technical director Francesco Arena. On July 16, has had previous encounters with the police, for (masks and gloves) have already made it to the Alexander Ginsburg, the institute’s director, was the rise in traff ic, off ering on average 1,045 flights 19th-century Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi’s illegal possession of weapons among other things. ocean,” she said. quoted as saying. per day over the course of last week. Rigoletto will kick off the season. Catalan chief Health check defi es judge who rejected a lockdown

Reuters “It’s a luxury to lose time with The dispute comes as the Barcelona legal resolutions. We cannot al- number of coronavirus cases is low this,” Torra said. on the rise in Spain, in particu- In Lleida, which lies about lar in Catalonia, and refl ects the he leader of the Spanish 180km west of Barcelona, the broader debate in Europe and be- region of Catalonia yes- streets were half empty and some yond over what measures to take Tterday urged the 160,000 shops and bars closed. to tackle localised clusters. people living in an area where People were angry about the More than 28,400 people have coronavirus cases have increased uncertainty. died in the Spain from Covid-19. to stay home, defying a court “They don’t know what Since dropping to an aver- ruling that rejected a mandatory they’re doing,” said Anna, a bar age of 132 in June, the number A veterinarian handles one of two Ural owls, born in the park in 2020, during a health check at the Sainte-Croix Animal Park in Rhodes, lockdown. manager. “It’s one step forward of coronavirus cases diagnosed eastern France. The two Ural owls that hatched this year in the Sainte-Croix Animal Park will be reintroduced into the wild in northern With Quim Torra saying he and one step back, and it’s hurt- every day has accelerated in July, Bavaria, Germany. would prepare a new decree to ing our businesses, 100%.” reaching 333 on Friday. lockdown the city of Lleida and City mayor Miquel Pueyo told There are more than 100 active its vicinity, the contradicting or- Reuters he was “perplexed” by clusters, many of them in Cata- ders sowed confusion and anger the judge’s ruling, but also felt lonia. in the area. Businesses feared for unable to tell people whether to Also reacting to new clusters, their survival and the mayor said stay at home or follow the legal La Rioja, Navarra, Aragon, Anda- he was at a loss about what to tell decision. lusia and Asturias regions plan to people. He himself supported home make it compulsory to wear face Kosovo’s Thaci questioned Spain, which has been one of confi nement if it came with more masks indoors and outdoors, fol- the European countries worst af- doctors, virus tracking measures lowing a similar move in Catalo- fected by the coronavirus, lifted a and fi nancial aid for the most-hit nia, the Balearic Islands and Ex- strict nationwide lockdown last sectors. tremadura. month as the pandemic seemed Another Lleida resident, store In the rest of the country, by war crimes prosecutors to have come under control. manager Lidia, said she did not masks are compulsory when it But with dozens of new clus- agree with calls to stay home. is impossible to be at least 1.5m ters, local authorities across “It isn’t fair to close shops away from other people. By Danny Kemp, AFP Around two dozen Thaci supporters He had said on Sunday before his depar- Spain are scrambling to take new again and to be full of uncertain- Senior health ministry sourc- The Hague gathered outside the court for his arrival, ture for The Hague that “our war was clean measures, locking down small ty,” she said. es said the government had no chanting his name, holding up Kosovo fl ags and just” and that “Kosovo was a victim”. areas or making it mandatory to People in Lleida have been plans to make them mandatory and waving banners with slogans including “It’s true that we violated the laws of Slo- wear a mask in public. banned from leaving the area since everywhere nationwide. resident Hashim Thaci arrived yes- “Hashim is not simply a name — it is a sym- bodan Milosevic,” he said referring to Ser- “We don’t agree with this July 4 because of a surge in cases “If you walk the dog at 7am terday for questioning by war crimes bol of an honourable epoch.” bia’s former leader. But that was something court ruling. We don’t accept there, except for specifi c reasons and there is no one around, it Pprosecutors in The Hague, saying that A spokesman for the prosecutors at the he was proud of, he added. it,” Torra, who leads Catalonia’s such as going to or from work. doesn’t make much sense to “nobody can rewrite history” over his role court declined to comment when asked by The Kosovo confl ict, which claimed about pro-independence regional gov- That travel ban will not be lift- wear a mask,” one of the sources in the 1990s war. AFP for details of the questioning. 13,000 lives — most of them Kosovo Alba- ernment, told a news conference ed, but the judge said home con- told reporters, adding that most Thaci, 52, was indicted by a special tri- A number of Thaci’s former KLA col- nians — was only ended when Nato forces yesterday after Judge Elena Gar- fi nement was a step too far and outbreaks started in families and bunal in late June for war crimes and crimes leagues have previously been interviewed launched a bombing campaign against Ser- cia-Munoz Alarcos threw out the had not gone through the right homes, weddings and celebra- against humanity in the 1998-99 confl ict by the court. bia that forced them to quit the territory. planned mandatory lockdown. channels. tions, rather than on the street. with Serbia that won the province its inde- President since 2016 and prime minister After the 1990s war, several Serbian mili- pendence. before that, in recent years Thaci has taken tary and police offi cials were convicted of Thaci and others are charged with being part in talks aimed at normalising ties with war crimes. Kremlin envoy in Far East as more protest governor’s arrest “criminally responsible for nearly 100 mur- Serbia, which still rejects the independence Milosevic died in custody in The Hague in ders” in addition to other crimes against of its former province. 2006 while awaiting trial by a UN-backed rotesters in Russia’s Far cal activists said between 500 and Several thousand more rallied Serb, Roma and Kosovo Albanian victims “Kosovo is a success story, I am very tribunal. East rallied again yesterday 700 people took part, after week- again on Sunday. while he was leader of the rebel Kosovo Lib- proud,” Thaci said before entering the heav- But KLA rebels have also been accused of Pin support of a popular re- end protests that saw thousands President Vladimir Putin’s en- eration Army (KLA). ily secured court building. coordinating a campaign of revenge attacks gional governor arrested on mur- on the streets of Khabarovsk, a city voy to the Far East, Deputy Prime “Today I am here to respect what I dreamt “I believe in peace through reconciliation on Serbs, Roma and ethnic Albanian rivals der charges, as a Kremlin envoy of nearly 600,000 near the border Minister Yury Trutnev, fl ew in to and fought for, a free independent Kosovo and justice. I believe in dialogue and rela- during and after the war. Among the oth- looked to ease tensions. with China. the city at the weekend. based on equal rights, multi-ethnic society tions with all nations.” ers indicted last month were Thaci’s closest Several hundred supporters of A massive rally on Saturday “People have the right to ex- and rule of law,” Thaci told reporters outside A judge will decide later this year whether political ally Kadri Veseli. governor Sergei Furgal demon- saw tens of thousands pour onto press their opinion....(Furgal) the Kosovo Specialist Chambers. to formally charge Thaci, Kosovo’s most The charges were announced as Thaci strated in the centre of the city of the streets of Khabarovsk to pro- was and is supported by a large “I am ready to face the new challenge and powerful politician. was preparing to fl y to the United States for Khabarovsk, chanting “Furgal!” test his arrest, with estimates number of people,” state news succeed for my son, my family, my people He has previously said he would resign if a meeting with Serbian representatives, a and “Freedom!” as passing cars ranging from 10,000 to 40,000 agency RIA Novosti quoted Trut- and my country. Nobody can rewrite his- the charges were confi rmed, insisting he is meeting which had to be postponed until honked their horns in support. Lo- demonstrators. nev as saying yesterday. tory. This is a price of freedom.” innocent. Sunday in Brussels. Polish conservative president’s second term likely to deepen EU rifts

Reuters “To a large extent, the policy of funding to be made conditional Trzaskowski had said that, if Warsaw Brussels, or rather Berlin, had fo- on respect for the rule of law. elected, he would seek a more cused on supporting the opposi- “EU institutions and the tolerant Poland and abolish state tion,” Arkadiusz Mularczyk, a PiS broader international commu- news channel TVP Info, which olish President Andrzej Duda lawmaker, told Reuters. “Polish nity must now be vigilant to en- critics say gave overt support to has won fi ve more years in society is not accepting this.” sure...minority rights in Poland Duda in its programming. Ppower on a socially con- Duda ran an acrimonious are upheld in the coming years,” “The public broadcaster was servative, religious platform in a campaign in an election that said Dacian Ciolos, former prime used as a campaign tool for the closely fought election that makes was held despite the pandemic minister of Romania and presi- incumbent,” said Thomas Bose- renewed confrontation with the and was laced with homophobic dent of the Renew Europe Group rup, Head of the Offi ce for Dem- European Commission likely. language, attacks on private me- in the European Parliament. ocratic Institutions and Human Nearly fi nal results from Sun- dia and accusations that Trza- Brussels did not immediately Rights (ODIHR) special election day’s presidential election runoff skowski serve foreign interests comment on the election out- assessment mission. “This is showed Duda, 48, on over 51%, instead of Poland’s. come. the clearest misuse of public re- giving him an unassailable lead Trzaskowski, who had said One EU country swiftly wel- sources we have seen in this elec- over liberal Warsaw mayor Rafal he would repair Poland’s rela- comed Duda’s re-election — tion.” Trzaskowski, who won almost tions with Europe and use the Hungary, which is also among Duda painted himself as a 49% of the votes, the National presidential veto to block any anti-liberal voices in central Eu- guardian of generous PiS welfare Election Commission said. legislation that would subvert rope. programmes that have trans- Duda is allied with the ruling democratic norms, dismissed the “The international liberal formed life for many poorer nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) accusations. mainstream once again tried eve- Poles. party, and his victory reinforces PiS and the EU have been di- rything but the central European Justice Minister Zbigniew the government’s mandate to vided on climate change and right-wing is up 3:0,” Hungarian Ziobro had suggested on Sun- pursue reforms of the judici- migration, in addition to demo- Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto day night that PiS could push ary and media which the Euro- cratic norms. said on Facebook, referring to on quickly with its conservative pean Commission, the European Rifts are likely to be evident this recent conservative triumphs in agenda, and with its ambition Union executive, says subvert week when EU leaders discuss the Croatia, which is an EU member to spur change in private media Polish President and presidential candidate of the Law and Justice (PiS) party Andrzej Duda speaks to democratic standards. Duda has bloc’s long-term budget, with state, and Serbia, which is not in ownership towards outlets more supporters in Pultusk on Sunday night. largely backed the PiS policies. Brussels facing growing calls for the EU. favourable to its ambitions. Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, July 14, 2020 INDIA

INVESTIGATION VIOLENCE JUDICIARY CRIME ALLEGATION ED seizes assets of Maoists blow up road, HC extends stay on Delhi court rejects bail CBI probe demanded into Gujarat-based firm set vehicles on fire secretariat demolition plea of Tahir Hussain woman off icer’s suicide

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized Maoist guerrillas blew up a road and a forest The Telangana High Court yesterday extended A Delhi court yesterday dismissed the bail The Supreme Court yesterday sought a response assets worth Rs204.27 crore of Gujarat’s guest house and set on fire 13 vehicles in till tomorrow a stay on the demolition of the application of suspended Aam Aadmi Party from the Telangana government and others on Ardor Group of Companies for allegedly Jharkhand in the last two days, police said secretariat building for the construction of a new (AAP) leader Tahir Hussain, allegedly involved in a petition seeking transferring investigation into cheating and causing loss to a consortium of yesterday. According to the police, the rebels complex. The court extended the stay as the state the murder of Intelligence Bureau (IB) employee the suicide of a woman off icer of Bharat Heavy banks led by the Bank of India of Rs488 crore. blew up the road at Khutipani block of West government had not submitted a copy of the Ankit Sharma. “There is enough material on Electricals Ltd (BHEL) to the Central Bureau of The assets include the commercial office of Singhbhum district early yesterday. They used resolution passed in the cabinet for demolition. record to presume that the applicant was Investigation. The appeal was filed by the mother the company in Ahmedabad, a residential plot a cylinder bomb to blow up the road. The rebels The court on July 10 had temporarily stayed the present at the spot of crime and was exhorting of the 33-year-old woman. Her lawyer Alakh at Satellite, five residential plots at Ambali, 17 buried the cylinder bomb inside the road, demolition work till yesterday. It passed the orders the rioters of a particular community and as Alok Srivastava said that the victim was a bright, residential plots at Gokul Dham, four shops connected it through a wire and set it off . A on the petition filed by P L Vishweshwar Rao, such, he did not use his hands and fists, but young and intelligent finance professional. at Bodakdev and offices at Ellisbridge and crater has formed on the road. On Sunday, the convener of the Telangana Democratic Forum and rioters as ‘human weapons’,” Additional Sessions “She was sexually harassed, molested, stalked, Ashram Road. A non-agricultural land in Maoists blew up a forest range guest house at vice president of the Telangana Jana Samithi. Rao Judge Vinod Yadav said. Sharma was killed mentally tortured and attempted to be raped Surat was also seized. The Central Bureau Barakela and set 13 vehicles on fire in the same alleged secretariat building was being demolished in Chand Bagh area during riots in Delhi on by her own supervisor and by her own off ice of Investigation (CBI) and Anti-Corruption district. More than 100 Maoist guerrillas had without following the procedure laid down under February 25. His body was recovered from a colleagues at BHEL which forced her to Branch (ACB) in Gandhinagar have alleged surrounded the guest house. They also attacked the Demolition and Construction Rules. He said drain. The court said that there is a possibility ultimately commit suicide,” the petition said. Her that the company in connivance with bank the forest staff there and held over 20 people in the existing Covid-19 situation the demolition that Hussain, who is in judicial custody since mother claimed police have not yet arrested the officials cheated and caused loss to the including families of the forest staff captive for would impact and aggravate the respiratory March, if released on bail, may tamper with suspects, and also no charge-sheet has been consortium of banks. five hours, the police said. problems of the people living nearby. evidence or threaten witnesses. filed for more than eight months. ED and IT raid people close to Gehlot amid Rajasthan crisis

IANS Sharma was summoned by the Jaipur/New Delhi ED four days ago. The agency suspects that large-scale overseas transac- s the political crisis in tions have taken place. Rajasthan was playing Rajasthan is facing a deep po- Aout in the open for the litical crisis after Deputy Chief Congress, the Income Tax and Minister Sachin Pilot ‘revolted’ Enforcement Directorate yes- against the leadership of Gehlot. terday raided multiple premis- Meanwhile, soon after the es connected with people Congress legislative party meet- linked to Chief Minister Ashok ing ended at the chief minister’s Gehlot. residence in Jaipur, party MLAs According to the IT Depart- were sent to the Fairmont Hotel ment, a team of over 200 offi - after the party passed a resolu- cials carried out searches at over tion raising a demand to punish 22 locations in Delhi, Rajasthan “anti-party elements”. and Mumbai. They were taken to the hotel as A IT Department offi cial said part of resort politics to keep the searches were conducted in the Gehlot camp’s fl ock safe amid Artists create paintings depicting Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan, his son Abhishek Bachchan, his daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and his granddaughter offi ces of veteran state Congress the rising crisis posed by Pilot Aaradhya, after they tested positive for the coronavirus disease, in Mumbai yesterday. leaders, including Rajeev Arora who declared on Sunday that the and Dharmendra Rathod, con- Gehlot government was in a mi- sidered close to the chief min- nority. ister. However, brushing aside Pi- He claimed the offi cials seized lot’s claims, Gehlot showed ma- unaccounted cash, jewellery, jority numbers and fl ashed a vic- property papers, and lockers. tory symbol as over 100 MLAs Fans pray for Bachchans The team also carried out raids stood with him. in Bhilwara and Jhalawad, the of- The party also passed a reso- fi cial said. lution against the BJP and said it Following the raids the Con- strongly condemns “attempts to gress postponed its legislature kill democracy”. party meeting by a few hours. It said that people behind an- Party leaders Mahesh Joshi ti-party acts should be punished to recover from Covid-19 and Randeep Singh Surjewala as it criticised any kind of “un- hit out at the Bharatiya Janata democratic act” which maligns Party for “misusing investiga- the party’ image. tive agencies for its self-fulfi lling Earlier, a whip was issued for Agencies contracted the virus, which is Bachchan is a prolifi c Twit- other people in the country. We India, along with the United goals”. all MLAs to attend the meeting. Mumbai spreading faster after a months- ter user and had announced his want the country to be rid of States and Brazil, tops the glo- According to IT Department However, Pilot and his fl ock of long lockdown was eased at the illness on Saturday after he was Covid-19 at the earliest,” said bal caseload of infections. sources, searches were also car- 18 MLAs were missing from the end of May to revive a battered admitted to hospital. their spokesman. It declared an early lockdown ried out at four locations in Del- meeting. ans across India prayed economy. “Hope he, @juniorbach- The dabbawalas collect and of its 1.3bn people in March but hi, including three residential Surjewala said there was “no yesterday for Bollywood Special rituals were per- chan & his family recover from deliver lunchboxes carrying hot it has not been able to fl atten the premises located in the Sainik scope for personal ambition in Flegend Amitabh Bach- formed in temples all over In- #Covid_19 very soon & re- food from homes and restau- curve yet. Farm area. the Congress party”. chan and others members of dia by fans praying for the re- leased from hospital,” @jaikukki rants to people at their work- Cases of Covid-19 shot past Meanwhile, the ED team also However, he added that the his movie star family who have covery of an actor adored and tweeted from the United States, place in Mumbai. 878,000 with a record 28,701 carried out searches at Hotel party has its doors open for Pilot fallen sick with the coronavirus respected for a career spanning along with a video of Bachchan Some people, however, said new infections reported yes- Fairmont in Jaipur. and his MLAs. as the one-day rise in infections decades. singing a popular hymn. the Bachchans were privileged terday, even as parts of the According to ED sources, in- “If anyone gets annoyed in hit a new record without any “It feels like not only Amita- There was no update from to have got top-class treatment country went into fresh lock- vestor Ratan Kant Sharma, a the family, the family head tries sign of a peak. bh Bachchan has fallen sick, but the family or hospital yesterday, immediately while many oth- downs. close aide of Gehlot’s son Vaib- to resolve the issue. So am I here Bachchan, 77, and his son, an entire generation has become but health offi cials had said on ers struggled with a shortage of India appears to have fared hav Gehlot, is under the fi nancial on behalf of our leader Sonia Abhishek, remained in hospi- sick,” Vijay Patodia, a member Sunday the father and son were hospital beds, medics and med- far better than many places in probe agency’s scanner. Gandhi to ensure our party is tal in Mumbai while daughter- of the All Bengal Amitabh Bach- stable. icines in major cities. terms of the ratio of deaths to An ED source claimed that united”. in-law and former Miss World chan Fans’ Association, said in a Mumbai’s iconic lunchbox “Without any malice for cases, with the offi cial toll put Sharma had received around BJP’s Rajasthan unit presi- Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and his temple in Kolkata. delivery men, the dabbawalas, them, and hoping that they get at 23,174, but some independ- Rs96.7 crore from Mauritius and dent Satish Poonia said his party eight-year-old granddaughter A spokeswoman for Nanavati performed a special ritual and well soon, this only makes many ent observers believe the fi gures has stakes in Fairmont. would follow central leadership Aaradhya, who also tested posi- hospital where the father and prayed for the Bachchans’ early wonder how easily they got are unreliable as people who die The ED source claimed that directions and wait for their or- tive were at home, quarantined. son are admitted declined any recovery. beds while regular common ppl with symptoms are not counted Sharma and Vaibhav Gehlot are ders looking at the evolving po- The Bachchans are the high- comment, saying the family will “We have prayed for the early are struggling,” tweeted @raj- as victims unless they have been business partners. litical situation in the state. est-profi le Indians to have provide updates. recovery of Bachchan and all neilkamath, a factchecker. tested.

Former royal family keeps Assam fl ood toll rises control of Kerala temple to 50, situation grim IANS trict administrations have set Agencies But yesterday, the Supreme conducted by a fi rm of reputed Guwahati up 480 relief camps and distri- New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram Court reversed that decision. Chartered Accountants. The bution centres in 20 districts, “We allow the appeal of the committee shall also consider where around 61,000 people royal family of Travancore. what further steps need to be ix more people died in have taken shelter. he Supreme Court yes- Death does not eff ect Shebait- taken for the preservation of the fl oods in Assam yesterday, The mighty Brahmaputra river terday upheld the right of ship (management and main- temple properties, both movable Staking the toll to 50, offi - is fl owing above the danger mark Ta former royal dynasty to tenance of the temple) of the and immovable. cials said. in several districts, an ASDMA run the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Travancore family,” justices U U The judges said the the district The situation was deteriorat- bulletin said. Temple, one of the world’s richest Lalit and Indu Malhotra said in judge of Thiruvananthapuram ing in 27 of the state’s 33 districts Embankments, roads, bridges, places of worship, after the Kerala their order. will be the chairperson of the aff ecting around 2.4mn people, culverts and other infrastructure government tried to take it over Several Hindu temples in India committee. they said. have been damaged at various when the family patriarch died. have wealth running into billions “Needless to say that the Officials of the Assam State places in 18 districts, the AS- When one of the vaults of the of dollars as devotees donate present chairperson of the in- Disaster Management Author- DMA offi cials said adding that towering centuries-old temple gold and other precious objects terim administrative commit- ity (ASDMA) said deaths have hundreds of houses were fully or in Thiruvananthanpuram was as gifts to spiritual or religious tee shall continue to be the been reported from Lakhimpur, partially damaged. opened in 2011, it was found to institutions that run hospitals, chairperson so long as he holds Bongaigaon, Kamrup, Gola- In the famous Kaziranga na- hold diamonds by the sackful schools and colleges. the post of the district judge, ghat, Sivasagar, Morigaon, tional park, 47 animals have died along with tonnes of gold coins The Supreme Court said a new Thiruvananthapuram. The com- Tinsukia, Dhubri, Nagaon, due to the fl ood while 70 animals and jewellery - a hoard estimat- committee that the royal fam- position of the committee will Nalbari, Barpeta, Dhemaji, were rescued as 95% areas are ed at over $20bn. ily will set up to run the temple, ensure that the administration Udalguri, Goalpara and Dibru- submerged. The Kerala High Court had some seven stories high and re- of the temple is conducted in a garh districts. The National Disaster Re- ruled that year, after public in- plete with ornate carvings, will fair and transparent manner,” it Also 26 people have died in sponse Force, and State Disaster terest petitions, that the Tra- have the right to decide what to added. landslides since May 22. Response Force personnel, along vancore family must give up do with the temple’s wealth, in- “A large number of devotees Flood waters have inundated with the local administration, its custodianship of the temple cluding the contents of another had prayed for us. The judgment 2,763 villages affecting around are working to rescue the af- following the death of its head, ancient vault yet to be opened. is their victory,” Gauri Lakshmi 2.4mn people and 103,806 fected people and render relief Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama The court said the new com- Bai, a member of the family, hectares of crop area in 27 dis- services, including distribution Varma, the last ruling Maharaja mittees “shall order audit for the told reporters in Thiruvanan- A policeman rides a motorbike through a waterlogged road after tricts. of relief material to marooned of Travancore, in 1991. last 25 years. The audit shall be thanpuram. heavy rains in Kolkata yesterday. The ASDMA offi cials said dis- villagers. Gulf Times Tuesday, July 14, 2020 11 LATIN AMERICA

Woman held as slave for years at mansion shocks Brazil

Thomson Reuters Foundation since 1998, and was found living house, Mariah Corazza Bar- Avon said that they will provide in slavery like conditions. domestic work.” In Brazil, slavery paid to the Brazilian state. Rio de Janeiro in a storage shed outside the man- reto Ustundag and her husband assistance to the victim. In the past 25 years, more than is defi ned as forced labour but this The family may also face crimi- sion. Dora Ustandag, and Sonia Re- “The Avon Institute...decided 54,000 people were victims of also covers debt bondage, degrad- nal charges of slavery that carry up Labour authorities asked for the gina Corazza, Mariah’s mother to provide support to the victim, slave labour. ing work conditions, long hours to eight years in prison. he discovery of a domestic name of the Brazilian woman to and owner of the property, were with psychological assistance, “What is astonishing is that that pose a health risk, and work According to prosecutors, the worker kept as a slave in a not be shared. charged with keeping a worker in payment of one year’s rent in a even after more than 20 years of that violates human dignity. woman had received no pay since Tmansion in a wealthy part Court documents said for slave like conditions. location chosen by her and the work, the defendants developed In their opening statement, De- February. of Sao Paulo for years has shocked months on end the woman was not They could not be reached for purchase of household items,” the no empathy (towards the victim),” lena and Dorini made a case for Before that, she was paid about Brazil, with labour prosecutors allowed into the mansion, slept on comment. company said in a statement to the labour prosecutor Alline Pedrosa R$1mn in damages — described as R$300 ($56) a month, less than seeking a large R$1mn ($190,000) a couch, and had to use a bucket for The rescue shocked Brazilians Thomson Reuters Foundation. Oishi Delena and federal public an unusually large amount for a Brazil’s minimum wage of R$1,045 in damages as the case moved to a toilet. with many taking to social media In an opening statement to defender Joao Paulo Dorini said in single rescued worker — citing the ($200). After years of mistreat- court. She depended on a neighbour where Mariah Ustundag was iden- court, authorities echoed the a statement. degrading conditions the woman ment, the employers abandoned The 61-year-old woman res- for food and other basics and did tifi ed as an executive for Avon. shock the case had on Brazilian “They had the courage to put was subjected to. the victim in the mansion without cued by labour authorities last not have a vacation day in 22 years. She was fi red by the beauty society. Last year Brazilian labour her in that abject room, without Authorities also asked for telling her they were moving out, month worked for the same family The couple who live in the company on June 26, Avon said. inspectors found 1,054 workers any conditions, after 22 years of R$300,000 in damages to be said Delena and Dorini.

Colombia to restart aerial Coronavirus fumigation of coca crops cases continue Reuters Bogota

olombia is advancing to- wards meeting a court’s to soar across Crequirements that will al- low it to renew aerial herbicide spraying of coca crops, the chief ingredient of cocaine, the minis- ter of defence said yesterday. The Andean country, consid- ered one of the world’s foremost Latin America cocaine producers, fi nished 2019 with 154,000 hectares of coca crops and a potential cocaine output of 1,137 tonnes a year, ac- AFP tamed the virus, the pandemic criteria for doing so. cording to the United Nations Of- Paris is showing few signs of easing in He added that Mexico might fi ce on Drugs and Crime. Mexico, where the government need to impose a new lockdown. Though coca crop size fell 9% has faced criticism for reopening “There are three fundamental in 2019 to the lowest level in six atin America surged past its economy too soon. variables: a reduction in the last years, the capacity to produce co- the US and Canada to be- Lopez Obrador said he was 14 days in the numbers of conta- caine rose 1.5% due to increased Lcome the second-worst briefed on the pandemic this past gions, reduction in recent days in productivity. aff ected region in the world for week and was optimistic. the number of deaths, and reduc- Colombia faces permanent coronavirus deaths, according to “The report is positive, good. tion in the number of hospitalised pressure from the US, the main an AFP tally yesterday. The conclusion is that the pan- people,” Chertorivski told Mexi- destination for cocaine, to reduce With 144,758 deaths offi cially demic is going down, that it is can newspaper Reforma. crops. The government of Presi- declared by 0800GMT, the re- losing intensity,” he said in a video “None of those three param- dent Ivan Duque is looking to gion surpassed the US and Can- message. eters were achieved.” meet various health and environ- ada’s total of 144,023 and is now Lopez Obrador also backed Meanwhile Argentina has reg- mental requirements demanded behind only Europe with 202,505 Hugo Lopez-Gatell, Mexico’s istered more than 100,000 Cov- by Colombia’s Constitutional deaths. deputy health minister and coro- id-19 cases, its ministry of health Court to re-start aerial spraying Brazil accounts for almost half navirus czar, after criticism of his said , despite the Buenos Aires with the herbicide glyphosate. of Latin America’s recorded fa- handling of the crisis. area — the country’s coronavirus Colombia suspended spray- talities. Latin America now has Lopez-Gatell has kept revising hot spot — being under extended ing campaigns in 2015 following several of the world’s hardest-hit his projections for total fatalities shutdown. a recommendation by the World nations. and as recently as June forecast The country now has recorded Health Organisation, which Brazil is the second most af- up to 35,000 deaths through Oc- 1,845 deaths from the pandemic warned glyphosate could poten- fected country with 72,100 tober. with 100,153 positive cases and tially be cancerous and harmful deaths and Mexico, which has In early May, the estimate was almost 43,000 people recovered. for health and the environment. recorded 35,006 fatalities, has 6,000. The shutdown in the Buenos “We are advancing, we have overtaken Italy and lies in fourth The coronavirus death toll Aires area, the most populated re- taken all the steps demanded by place. per million residents in Mexico, gion of the country, is due to end the Constitutional Court and we Peru (11,870) and Chile (6,979) whose population numbers about on Friday. are meeting the requirements of are also battling severe outbreaks. 120mn, is the 16th highest in the Authorities are still debating the authorities,” Defence Minis- Deaths in Mexico from the world, according to data by re- what restrictions will remain in ter Carlos Holmes Trujillo said in coronavirus pandemic rose above search fi rm Statista. place, though the reopening of a virtual press conference. 35,000 on Sunday. But Mexican offi cials say the some shops and permits to run in “Restarting the spraying pro- Mexico President Andres true toll is likely much higher due parks are expected. gramme is fundamental. Manuel Lopez Obrador, however, to limited testing. Crisis-wracked Argentina has “It is in the best interest of said the pandemic was “losing A Reuters analysis of funeral- been in recession since 2018 and the country and it will allow us intensity” in Mexico, and blamed home data in May indicated a toll has been further rocked by the to continue making progress what he called “conservative more than double the reported coronavirus outbreak. much more eff ectively in the ghtfi media” for causing alarm. fi gures. The International Monetary against the world drug problem,” Mexico on Sunday recorded Several former offi cials have Fund predicts its economy will he added, without giving an exact 276 additional fatalities and criticised Lopez Obrador’s ad- shrink by almost 10% this year. date to restart aerial spraying. 4,482 new infections to bring its ministration for its management Carla Vizzotti, deputy health Colombia hopes to destroy coronavirus death toll to 35,006, of the epidemic. minister, said the lockdowns 130,000 hectares of coca by hand with 299,750 confi rmed cases. Former health minister Salo- would be maintained while hos- in 2020, up 30% on last year, Italy has recorded 34,954 mon Chertorivski, who held the pitals continued to fi ll up. though using aerial fumigation deaths and 243,061 cases. post from 2011 to 2012, said on “What we want to do is...de- will allow for this target to be sig- Mexico trails the US, Brazil and Thursday the government had crease virus transmission and buy nifi cantly exceeded, according to Shopkeepers clean a street in Tepito neighbourhood in Mexico City, amid the new coronavirus the UK in total deaths. reopened the economy before more time for the health service to security sources. pandemic. While Italy appears to have meeting globally established be able to respond,” she said.

Gasoline shortage Mexico asks Canada to Ex-US envoy to meet extradite ex-investigator

AFP the so-called “historical truth”, Maduro over prisoners Mexico City the offi cial version of the case presented in January 2015 by the government of then-president AFP the unease of hawks in President embassy. The state department exico is to seek the ar- Enrique Pena Nieto, which was Washington Donald Trump’s administration. has voiced growing concern over rest and extradition rejected by the victims’ families. the safety of six former executives Mfrom Canada of the “The historical truth is over from the oil company Citgo — fi ve former chief investigator in the and I want to emphasise, the case ormer US ambassador Bill of them dual US-Venezuelan na- murky disappearance of 43 stu- is still open,” Omar Gomez, the Richardson will meet Ven- tionals and one a US resident. dents in 2014, Foreign Minister prosecutor assigned to the case Fezuelan President Nico- They were fi rst arrested in Marcelo Ebrard said. by the Lopez Obrador govern- las Maduro to seek the release of November 2017 and accused of Tomas Zeron, who was head ment, said. prisoners, his offi ce said yester- crimes including money launder- of the criminal investigation The disappearance of the day, a sharp contrast to the ad- ing. agency, is in Canada and work is teaching students in 2014 sent ministration’s shunning of the Their families scoff at the underway to extradite him, the shockwaves around the country. leftist leader. Richardson, “at the request charges, saying that Maduro con- minister said. The students had comman- Richardson, “at the request of of several American trols the judiciary and is notori- “There is going to be no impu- deered fi ve buses to travel to a several American prisoners’ fami- prisoners’ families, is ous for corruption. nity, part of our function at the protest on the night of Septem- lies, is travelling to Caracas on a travelling to Caracas on Roger Carstens, the US envoy ministry of foreign aff airs is to ber 26, 2014, but were stopped private humanitarian mission,” a private humanitarian for hostage aff airs, said last month guarantee that, when there are by municipal police in the city of the former Democratic politi- mission” that all six men were “in mortal cases of this nature, extradition Iguala, Guerrero. cian’s offi ce said. danger,” with several displaying occurs,” Ebrard said. Prosecutors initially said the He will “meet with Venezuelan The US no longer recognises symptoms in line with Covid-19. Zeron fl ed Mexico earlier this offi cers delivered the 43 teacher President Nicolas Maduro to dis- Maduro as Venezuela’s president Venezuela’s Foreign Minister, year and is wanted on an Inter- trainees to drug cartel hitmen, cuss the status of the American and has been trying unsuccess- Jorge Arreaza, countered that the pol notice over allegations that who killed them, incinerated prisoners and other Covid-19 hu- fully since early 2019 to oust the authorities had respected their torture was used to extract sup- their bodies and dumped the re- manitarian issues,” the Richard- leftist leader, who presides over rights and accused the state de- posed confessions from sus- mains in a river. son Center said on Twitter. a crumbling economy that has partment of lying. pects. However, independent ex- Richardson, a former US am- caused millions to fl ee. Richardson said last month Mexican media reported that perts from the Inter-American bassador to the United Nations The administration has previ- that he had met Iranian Foreign People off er gasoline for sale on the streets of Maracaibo, the former offi cial had been in Commission on Human Rights and governor of New Mexico who ously said that it will only speak to Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif to Zulia state, Venezuela. The shortage of gasoline keeps being a Canada since last October, ac- have rejected the government’s speaks Spanish fl uently, has fre- Maduro and his entourage about seek the release of an American headache for Venezuelans, weeks after new fuel prices were cording to his immigration conclusion, and the unsolved quently embarked on missions leaving power or about logistical who was later freed to a state de- enforced in a country where it used to be almost free. record. case remains a stain on Mexico’s to help US prisoners, often to issues, such as the status of the US partment offi cial. Zeron is one of the architects of reputation. Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, July 14, 2020 PAKISTAN Sharp rise in infection 4 terrorists killed in army among healthcare staff operation in Internews hospitals and lack of protective Islamabad gear to shield against the virus. Medical workers are also at risk of contracting the infection N Waziristan akistan has seen a sharp due to being exposed to more rise in coronavirus infec- viral particles. Internews Security forces Ption amongst healthcare The majority of medics who Islamabad workers, growing to over 6,000 tested positive to date are from had reportedly nationwide from 5,000, accord- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 1,986, encircled several ing to the Ministry of National followed by Sindh, 1,752, Pun- our terrorists have been Health Services. jab, 1,100, Islamabad, 483, Ba- killed during an intel- suspected As per the ministry’s July 10 lochistan, 451, Azad Jammu Fligence-based opera- compounds in the data, 6,025 healthcare providers and Kashmir, 139 and Gilgit- tion in the Miramshah area of have been infected by the coro- Baltistan, 114. North Waziristan tribal dis- area, which led to navirus. Of those infected, up- It is, however, unclear how ac- trict, sources said yesterday. a heavy exchange wards to 61% are doctors. curate the tally is of the current Four soldiers embraced The number has shot up by a situation in hospitals as in Pun- martyrdom while three per- of fire with the thousand in just two weeks, ris- jab, healthcare providers have sonnel suff ered injuries during terrorists ing from 5,000 to 6,000 infected not been tested since July 4, ac- the operation. health professionals. cording to offi cial documents The Inter-Services Public Healthcare workers are on the from the province. Relations (ISPR), the media search operation was con- front lines of the coronavirus To date, 69 healthcare provid- aff airs wing of the military, ducted in the area. outbreak in the country and have ers have also died from the dis- confi rmed the incident. In a The ISPR stated: “In ex- in the recent past complained ease, of which majority, 26, have A paramedic wearing protective gear takes a nasal swab from a man, to be tested for the coronavirus brief statement, the ISPR said change of fi re, four soldiers of an infl ux of patients at public died in Sindh alone. disease (Covid-19), in Karachi yesterday. that four terrorists were killed embraced shahadat (mar- during an intelligence-based tyrdom). Later the area (was) operation (IOB) in Vezhda Sar, cleared by sanitisation force.” some 8km southwest of the According to the ISPR, the Boya area in Miramshah. names of the martyrs are Sepoy It said that the sanitisation Mohamed Ismail Khan, Sepoy Balochistan force conducted the operation Mohamed Shahbaz Yasin, Se- Covid-19 SOPs formulated against the terrorists’ hideout poy Raja Waheed Ahmed and in Vezhda Sar in the morning. Sepoy Mohamed Rizwan Khan. approves “As soon as the troops cor- Offi cials said Subedar Kha- doned off the area, terrorists lid, Havildar Javed and Sepoy opened fi re. All dug out ter- Sami suff ered injuries and Quetta to for nearly 700 cattle markets rorists were shot down by se- were shifted to hospital. curity forces,” it added. Attacks on security forces have Internews management of cattle markets People will be asked to ensure with virus-infected people. An offi cial said terrorists witnessed a surge during the last Karachi Lahore is quite important in order to they are wearing facemasks and The offi cials informed that opened fi re on security forces three months in North Waziristan. contain the spread of the coro- practising social distancing. the Covid-19 positive patients when they were conducting More than one dozen personnel, navirus as people move back “The offi cials will be asked to were put under home isolation the search operation in the including offi cers, embraced mar- highway he National Command and forth during this time. ensure that only a designated or quarantine across the coun- area. As a result, four soldiers tyrdom in blasts and in exchanges and Operations Centre He said that the cattle mar- number of people will be al- try to potentially save ‘about embraced martyrdom. of fi re with militants. T(NCOC) of Pakistan has kets will be set up outside the lowed inside at one time to 300,000 individuals from Security forces had reportedly The last such clash occurred Internews formulated the standard op- cities and a layout of these will avoid over-crowding.” getting infected’. encircled several suspected com- in the Razmak area on June Quetta erating procedures (SOPs) for be shared with everyone so The NCOC identifi ed 30 cities “Contact tracing is being ac- pounds in the area, which led to 20 in which a captain and a cattle markets and smart lock- health protocols and guidelines as Covid-19 hotspots, with max- celerated through a combina- a heavy exchange of fi re with the soldier were martyred. In the down in several places of the can be followed. imum infected people using auto tion of RRTs (Rapid Response terrorists. Four terrorists were tribal district, targeted kill- akistani province of Balo- country ahead of Eid al-Adha. The NCOC chairman said trace and National Information Teams) and call centres,” said killed in the exchange of fi re. ings and kidnapping of gov- chistan’s government has NCOC chairman Asad Umar that the local administrations Technology Board maps. the statement. An offi cial dealing with se- ernment offi cials and civilians Papproved construction of said yesterday that around 700 should ensure that the cattle At the moment, 321 smart lock- It said that local communi- curity matters said that three were also on the rise. Quetta to Karachi and Chaman cattle markets will be set up markets should operate from downs are enforced across Paki- ties play a vital role in the fi ght of the four terrorists had been Five civilians, including two highways. across Pakistan on the eve of Eid 6am to 7pm. stan, said the NCOC statement. against Covid-19, where rural identifi ed as Masaad, Johar teenagers, have been killed in This was stated by Balochistan al-Adha, for which necessary Among other guidelines, it Under the smart lockdown support network organisations, and Zia Ullah, while the name North Waziristan since Friday, Home Minister Mir Ziaullah guidelines have been forwarded. was decided that the screening strategy, the forum was told other groups participate in dif- of the fourth deceased could while a man, who had been Langu in a statement in Quetta. Addressing a meeting via of those entering the markets is that 750,000 people were ferent activities, supporting the not be ascertained immedi- kidnapped fi ve days ago, was He said the government is en- videolink, Umar said that the mandatory. traced who came into contact local administration. ately. Following the encounter, found dead on Saturday. deavouring with co-operation of Federal Government to provide modern transport facilities to masses across the province. He said work on several de- velopment projects would be soon started in diff erent areas Virus-hit Haj cuts deep for pilgrims, businesses of Balochistan to improve living standard of people. Reuters stan’s 160bn rupee ($1bn) Haj the fi rst in modern times that cheaper, government- keep their businesses going for Airlines has lost 12bn ru- Karachi industry. pilgrims from abroad will not be supported packages. the rest of the year. pees ($72.37mn) in revenue Indonesia and Pakistan, the allowed into Makkah. Pilgrims buying private pack- Low-end tours involve ba- because of the cancella- largest Muslim-majority coun- “The biggest eff ect right now ages spend $4,000 to $6,000 sic accommodation in tents, tion of the Haj after losing ur’an tutor Mohamed tries by population, send the is on our business,” Zaeen Sid- on the journey, Siddiqui said. while high-end packages nearly as much because of Trade Asim should have been most pilgrims. diqui, senior vice-chairman of Those using government pack- come complete with personal the Umrah ban, a company Qpacking to leave his Ka- “I prayed for the chance to go the Haj Organisers’ Association ages deposit around $3,000 into guidance and sermons from offi cial said. rachi home for Makkah next on Haj and Allah answered my of Pakistan, said. state accounts, money which scholars and televangelists Faraz Masood, 34, was plan- with week to perform one of the most prayers,” Asim, selected from “Our money is stuck in air- authorities began returning last to small groups of pilgrims ning to fl y to Makkah from Ka- sacred, once-in-a-lifetime ob- tens of thousands of applicants lines. Our offi ces are closing be- month. who stay at luxury hotels in rachi with his wife. They put ligations for Muslims, the Haj for a government-supported cause we cannot keep workers.” Around 60% of the cost of Makkah. down a 20% deposit on the Afghan pilgrimage. But that was before package, said. “But then he sent According to Pakistan’s Haj is spent on accommoda- Before the Haj setback, Pa- $12,000 package. the coronavirus hit. this coronavirus.” Ministry of Religious Af- tion, food and transporta- kistan’s tour operators were “When this coronavirus was Asim, 30, is one of 2.5mn Asim borrowed money to fairs and Interfaith Har- tion in Saudi Arabia, 20% already reeling from the sus- just getting started, we were in set to Muslims globally, almost come up with the nearly $3,000 mony, which oversees Haj on airlines and 20% on ar- pension of year-round pil- touch with the company, and 180,000 from Pakistan, whose cost. arrangements, 179,210 Paki- rangements inside Pakistan, grimages to Makkah and Me- they kept saying ‘don’t worry, plans were upended when More than 900 Pakistan tour stanis had already registered Siddiqui said. dina from abroad known as things will be back to normal in begin Saudi Arabia restricted this operators and travel agencies to attend this year – 71,684 But local operators are able to the Umrah, also because of the time for Haj’,” he said. year’s event to only 1,000 lo- are licensed to arrange travel through private tour op- charge premiums thanks to the coronavirus. Masood is still trying to get through cal residents, savaging Paki- over the Haj. This year will be erators and 107,526 through high demand – premiums that Pakistan International his money back. Wagah Final exams border Punjab to launch 20 mobile Arazi Centres Internews Quetta Internews trol of the Board of Revenue, Lahore Government of the Punjab. The government has started akistan has decided to work on establishing 13 special resume Afghan exports he chief minister of Pa- economic zones and industrial Pthrough Wagah border kistan’s eastern prov- estates on more than 10,000 crossing from tomorrow, after Tince of Punjab, Sardar acres of land. implementing Covid-19 related Usman Buzdar, said yester- Chief Minister Usman protocols. day that the government is all Buzdar said that the govern- In a statement, Foreign Offi ce set to launch 20 mobile Arazi ment started these projects in spokesperson Aisha Farooqui Centres for the far-fl ung ar- just two years, while only three said the decision has been taken eas of the province in the fi rst special economic zones (SEZs) at the special request of the gov- phase. were established during the ernment of Afghanistan and with In a statement, he said these last 73 years. a view to facilitating Afghani- centres will facilitate citizens He said the Allama Iqbal stan’s transit trade. to avail of various services at Industrial City to be estab- The spokesperson said with their doorsteps. lished in Faisalabad would be this step, Pakistan has fulfi lled The chief minister said these stretched on more than 3,000 its commitments under Paki- services include the issuance acres of land and generate em- stan-Afghanistan Transit Trade of fard (ownership document) ployment opportunities for Agreement. She said Pakistan and the mutation of property. 300,000 youths. has restored bilateral trade and He said the mobile Arazi He said the government Afghan transit trade at all border Centres have been linked with was bringing international crossing terminals to pre-Cov- other Arazi centres in Punjab. companies to Pakistan and a id-19 status. Sardar Usman said govern- one-window system was being The spokesperson said Paki- ment is giving back the rights introduced in the industrial stan remains fully committed to to people by bringing unique estates to facilitate the fi rms in further strengthening its bilat- reforms in the system of making investments. eral relations with Afghanistan governance. He said there would be ca- in all areas including trade, and Islamic religious students wearing facemasks as a preventive measure against the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus, attend their Punjab Land Records Au- pacity for setting up more to facilitate Afghanistan’s transit final examination at an Islamic Jamia Binoria seminary in Karachi yesterday. thority (PLRA) has been set up than 550 industrial units in the trade under APTTA. under the administrative con- industrial city. Gulf Times Tuesday, July 14, 2020 13 PHILIPPINES

Health Philippines sees region’s biggest dept urges caution on daily rise in coronavirus deaths unapproved z Govt reports 162 new test kits deaths related to virus z Intensive care units hit capacity “danger zone” and plasma z Manila hospital occupancy jumps from 48% to 70% in a week By Red Mendoza Manila Times Reuters Manila

he Department of Health (DoH) warned the public he Philippines reported Tagainst buying rapid test Southeast Asia’s biggest kits for the coronavirus disease Tdaily jump in Covid-19 2019 (Covid-19) and convales- deaths yesterday and warned cent blood plasma online and of more fatalities ahead, as au- from drugstores without the ap- thorities scrambled to verify proval of the Food and Drug Ad- thousands of suspected cases ministration (FDA). and pressure grows on hospitals Health Undersecretary Maria after the easing of a lockdown. Rosario Vergeire also said that The government and several “only facilities with the guid- large hospitals in the capital ance of a doctor can provide Manila said critical care capac- the tests.” The FDA had issued ity had been reached, adding guidelines on the sale and pur- to fears of its over-stretched chase of rapid antibody test kits, health sector being deluged by which specifi ed that the kits the contagion. should only be used by a licensed The health ministry reported physician or health professional, 162 new deaths that were con- who would administer the test fi rmed on Sunday plus another and interpret the result 65 yesterday, with 2,960 addi- Vergeire, DoH concurrent tional infections. spokesman, warned that the The Philippines over the FDA was “monitoring” and past week has reported higher would sanction individuals, daily infections than Indone- pharmaceutical companies or sia, which has Southeast Asia’s online shops found to be selling highest number of deaths and the unregistered Covid kits. cases. Mannequins wearing masks and makeshift face shields are displayed in a retail store amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak, in Quezon City, Metro Manila, yesterday. She also warned the public of Philippine Covid-19 infec- the risks of buying convalescent tions have more than tripled harmonisation, we cannot “Right now, the critical bed blood plasma online after DoH to 57,006 since June 1 when avoid seeing cases not yet in- capacity especially for the in- Region 7 or the Central Visayas restrictions started to ease to cluded in our official death tensive care units is already in received reports that survivors allow some public transport, count,” Health Undersecretary the danger zone,” Health Un- of Covid-19 in Cebu City were restaurants and malls to reo- Maria Rosario Vergeire told a dersecretary Leopoldo Vega selling their plasma for as high pen, in a bid to restart an econ- news conference, adding that told reporters. as 80,000 pesos. omy decimated by some of the efforts to speed up data col- Manila remains the centre of Convalescent blood plasma world’s strictest and longest lection would mean greater the outbreak, but Cebu city is is currently being tried as an curbs on movement and com- numbers being reported in the becoming a new hotspot with adjunct or supportive therapy merce. coming days. a 10th of the country’s infec- for Covid-19, which was under Although the Philippines Presidential spokesman tions. review by the Department of has ramped up testing lately, Harry Roque described the It has since June 16 been Science and Technology (DoST) the 926,252 recorded rep- outbreak as an “intensifying under the highest level of re- and the Philippine General Hos- resents less than 1% of the challenge” and said hospi- striction. A resurgence in in- pital (PGH). Vergeire said buying 107mn population. tal occupancy in Manila had fections was to be expected blood and blood-related materi- The health ministry said jumped to 70% from 48% a with lockdown easing, former als such as plasma can be risky as there were nearly 12,000 sus- week ago due to a spike in cas- health minister Esperanza Ca- the patient’s blood can have oth- pected positive cases yet to be es. bral, told Reuters, but “the de- er diseases aside from Covid-19 verified and the death toll of Two of Manila’s biggest pri- gree of increase” will depend that could lead to further 1,599 would almost certainly vate hospitals declared yester- on people’s compliance with Stickers of health reminders to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) are displayed in complications. rise. “As part of ongoing data day they were at full capacity. social distancing rules. a retail store, in Quezon City, Metro Manila, yesterday. Fresh lockdown for 250,000 Senator seeks passage in Navotas as infections surge of disaster resilience bill

AFP fections has spiked in the past beginning of June with limited the figure has been over 1,000 By Bernadette Tamayo ened in times of crises such as a tion centres, should not get Manila two weeks. public transport and offi ces most days this month. Manila Times pandemic. sick there, and have comfort “We have no choice but to do permitted to have skeleton Yesterday, the health de- He added that “fostering a rooms and proper sanitation it because people are so stub- staff . partment reported more than culture of proactivity and re- facilities,” he said. bout 250,000 people in born,” said Tiangco, referring Since then lockdowns have 2,000 fresh infections for the enator Christopher Law- siliency is necessary to ensure He added that evacuation Manila will go back into to people fl outing social dis- been re-imposed on sev- previous day and a record 162 rence “Bong” Go has the preparedness and safety of shelters must have enough Alockdown, an offi cial tancing rules. eral neighbourhoods as cases new fatalities, but it includ- Spushed for the passage Filipinos during these times of emergency packs such as said yesterday, as the number The order is expected to take jumped, but the stay-at-home ed deaths that had not been of disaster resiliency and fi re crises.” blankets, water, medicines, of new coronavirus infections eff ect tomorrow or Thursday, order for Navotas will be the counted in recent months. modernisation bills as he con- The senator fi led in July 2019 flashlights and relief goods. in the Philippines surges. Tiangco said, adding the full biggest. Researchers from the Uni- tinues to aid fi re and fl ood vic- Senate Bill (SB) 204, or the “Fire The senator pledged to Residents in Navotas, one set of guidelines was still being The tough measures have versity of the Philippines tims. Protection Modernisation Act,” continue to assist disaster- of 16 cities that make up the fi nalised. hurt millions of workers project the total number of Go has said it was high time which aims to enhance the ca- stricken Filipinos around the sprawling capital of 12mn peo- Residents will be allowed to in Manila, which accounts cases could top 80,000 by the that the country “scales up its pability of the Bureau of Fire country. ple, will have to stay home for go to work, but outdoor exer- for more than a third of the end of July. preparedness and resilience Protection to protect people Since the start of his term a fortnight, just six weeks af- cise will be banned. Shops and country’s economic output. Private hospitals Makati against natural or man-made and properties. as senator in July 2019, Go has ter emerging from one of the businesses can remain open But the relaxation of rules Medical Center and St Luke’s disasters” on top of its eff orts SB 204 mandates monthly helped over 31,000 families world’s longest lockdowns. but restaurants will only be al- and the return of thousands Medical Center said yester- in addressing the coronavirus fi re and disaster awareness in- whose houses were razed by “I am not sure if this is a so- lowed to do take-aways. of overseas workers have seen day they had reached full ca- disease 2019 (Covid-19) pan- formation drives, particularly fire. lution, but I am certain that if Tiangco said he has asked a surge in the number of new pacity for treating Covid-19 demic. in informal settlements and On July 6, Go aided fi re vic- I do this the number of cases the capital’s police chief to de- cases across the country. patients. “It’s saddening that while economically depressed areas. tims in Barangay Pulang Lupa will not increase,” Navotas city ploy troops to enforce the or- The Philippines has the Secretary Carlito Galvez, we are in a health crisis due to Go also filed early this year Uno in Las Pinas City. The fam- mayor Toby Tiangco told a ra- ders and arrest violators. second highest number of who heads the inter-agency Covid-19, we have fellowmen SB 1228, or the “Manda- ilies received food packs, face dio station. Quarantine measures to infections in Southeast Asia, task force spearheading the who suff er twice because of tory Evacuation Centre Bill,” masks, medicines and other Navotas, one of the poorest contain the virus vary across with more than 57,000 cases government’s response to unexpected disasters such as which mandates the estab- forms of assistance. areas of Manila and home to the Philippines, but the strict- and 1,599 deaths. Covid-19, said restrictions fi re and fl oods,” he added. lishment of safe, permanent, On July 8, fi re victims in its main fi shing port, has 931 est and longest lockdown was Indonesia tops the region- would be tightened in some “Let us not abandon them fully equipped and dedicated Zone 5, Barangay Bautista confi rmed cases and 59 deaths, in Manila, the centre of the al rankings with more than areas. in their time of need,” said the evacuation centres in every Sampaloc 4 in Dasmarinas according to local government country’s outbreak. 75,000 cases. President Rodrigo Duterte chairman of the Senate Com- city, province and municipal- City, composed of 144 families fi gures. It shut down in mid-March A record 2,539 new cases is expected to announce de- mittee on Health. ity in the country. and 624 individuals, received But the number of new in- and only began to reopen at the were reported on July 8 and tails tomorrow. Go said the hardships caused “Children must have com- the same relief assistance from by these disasters were height- fortable beds in evacua- Go’s offi ce. Robredo warns against moves aff ecting public

Manila Times Cayetano to “respect the deci- but history repeats itself — the cause the closure of the network CBN will never bring healing. press freedom by ensuring the Manila sion of the committee and its lessons will be repeated. The had a greater impact on thou- Our hope is extinguished. Help partisan rejection of ABS-CBN’s members and begin to move for- abuses, the repression — people sands of workers. The Catholic is not extended. It is a loss for all bid for a franchise renewal, ward in rebuilding the relation- are made to believe some of the Church was also saddened by the of us.” Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano ice President Maria Le- ships that have been strained by time, but not all the time. People decision of the House Commit- Archbishop Socrates Villegas cannot escape culpability by onor Robredo believes this issue.” know the truth and the truth, in tee on Legislative Franchises not of Lingayen-Dagupan agreed merely intoning that the pro- Vthat the ABS-CBN Corp Robredo stressed that the the end, will come out,” she said. to renew the franchise of ABS- that the ruling was disappoint- tagonists and the nation must issue has yet to come to a head public could decide if the hear- The vice president clarifi ed CBN Corp. ing. “move forward,” he said in a as public clamour persists after a ings had been impartial and if that she, too, experienced “un- In a statement, Catholic bish- “Once more, Congress has statement. committee in the House of Rep- other networks that had similar fair” treatment from ABS-CBN ops criticised the ruling of some disappointed us. Another chan- “It would be extremely diffi - resentatives denied the network violations had been subjected to during the 2016 elections. members of the House of Repre- nel of free expression is killed as cult for the country to instantly a fresh franchise grant. the same scrutiny. “Even I had a lot of ads that sentatives. if we have not killed enough of ‘move forward’ in the grave af- “This is not over because the “I could not imagine that this were not aired. There had been Bishop Ruperto Santos of Ba- our countrymen,” he said. termath of a premeditated at- people are pushing back,” Ro- would happen again because this a lot of times, especially us Vice President Maria Robredo. langa said “no one wins” in the Albay First District Rep. Edcel tack on the freedom of the press bredo said in her weekly radio also happened during the Mar- who serve the people; there had shutdown of ABS-CBN. Lagmam slammed Cayetano’s and free expression without show. cos dictatorship. I thought when been times when we felt that it been fair with me,” she said. “It’s just an added suff ering call to “move forward,” calling it demanding full accountability She was reacting to the call we fought against the dictator had not been fair to us. There But Robredo said personal to all of us. No one can rejoice,” “a pathetic pretence.” from the perpetrators of the as- of House Speaker Alan Peter we have learned our lessons, were a lot of people who had not grievances must be set aside be- he added. “Shutting down ABS- “After leading the assault on sault,” he added. Gulf Times 14 Tuesday, July 14, 2020 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES After Poland’s Duda re-elected, hardline policy turn not inevitable

Poland’s governing conservative Law and Justice (PiS) may enjoy a sympathetic president for another three years, but that does not necessarily mean the party will pursue hardline policies and further erode democratic institutions, as many fear. Incumbent President Andrzej Duda, who is supported by the PiS, secured a second fi ve-year term in offi ce, after winning 51.1% of the vote in the run-off election, according to results from nearly 100% of constituencies. For the fi rst time since 1990, a candidate in the presidential elec- tion gained more than 10mn votes. Duda’s rival, liberal Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski from the centrist opposition party Civic Platform (PO), won 48.9% of the vote, according to the tally. This win “is not spectacular,” especially considering the invest- We need a vaccine for ment made in Duda’s re-election “by all institutions of the state,” political scientist Ewa Marciniak from the University of Warsaw said. The win might lead to a settling of political scores within the governing party, she said. neoliberal globalisation, too Beneath PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski’s iron rule, rivalries be- tween those next in line may intensify. this virus due to a lack of suffi cient second place where Covid-19 pandemic fi ght against the Covid-19 pandemic. Such infighting between PiS factions could be one factor By Hasan Mahmud Doha doctors and health professionals, hit hardest is Northern Italy, which has As scholars recognise, neoliberalism determining whether the party, having secured a second term hospital beds, supporting technical dense networks with Wuhan through promotes private entrepreneur’s free under a supportive president, will double down on hardline poli- equipment, and an absence of a the supply of cheaper raw materials and initiative as the best way of ensuring cies and further undermine the country’s democratic institu- he coronavirus pandemic has vaccine. Thus, social distancing – or manufacturing as well as visitors from collective welfare, which is to be tions. been tearing apart what the maintaining a physical distance so that Wuhan. acquired and distributed through free “The fundamental world has developed over the those already contaminated do not The next centre of this epidemic trade and commerce in an institutional question is how Duda will last four decades. spread the virus to others – is the only is the Iranian city of Qom, where the context characterised by a free market T and a strong private property right. “I do not expect behave towards PiS plans Yes, I am talking about globalisation, currently available option to combat contamination is said to have started for changes aff ecting the or the connections across the this virus. As a consequence, schools, from a merchant returning from While the goal of augmenting total [Duda to be more media and local govern- globe through transportation and colleges, businesses, and shops are Wuhan. welfare is achieved under neoliberalism, There had been sporadic viral the distribution of benefi ts is ments,” political scientist communication, trade and commerce, closed down, public transportation independent], tourism, education and ideas, and the and air travel are postponed, public outbreaks in diff erent countries in highly unequal and inequitable. and historian Antoni necessary supplies like food, cloth, and gatherings are prohibited. No one the past. But the world has never seen Consequently, we live in a world with as in the fi ve Dudek said. medicine. knows when life will return to normalcy. anything like the Covid-19 outbreak an unprecedented level of inequality. According to Dudek, the This crisis has ended our generalised A recent epidemiological study at in the last 100 years. While some viral As David Harvey argues, neoliberalism years that he’s president may be more admiration of and aspiration for Harvard University projected that such outbreaks – such as the Sars, the Mers, destroys old institutional frameworks, independent now that he globalisation and instituted a squarely social distancing would be required Ebola – were deadly and spread over a the international and national divisions been president, does not need PiS’ support opposite realisation of the urgency intermittently at least until 2022. few countries and regions, none reached of labour, social relations, and social for re-election. of keeping social distance. No one Social distancing has become a part a global scale like this outbreak. The safety nets. For instance, privatisation he showed no Political scientist talks about keeping connections any of our commonsensical knowledge global networks between China and the and deregulation of the market lead Jarosalw Flis agrees that more. Everybody maintains that social thanks to the relentless eff orts of the rest of the world have played a role in to – among many policy responses – indication that hardline policies are not contacts must be cut off to stop the medical experts in explaining causal the quick and expansive spread of the tax cut and tax-refund for individual entrepreneurs and corporations that inevitable. deadly virus from spreading. connections between the virus and Covid-19 virus. From the news reports, Amid the apparent failure of physical proximity, governments in we see that the countries – and regions could be used by the government to would allow us to “After two-and-a-half governments in protecting citizens implementing necessary regulatory within particular countries – with a fi nance public expenses. To put this into think that way” years of electoral mobilisa- from this coronavirus, the Microsoft measures to keep people from a social higher density of global connections are perspective, Amazon earned $232.9mn tion, the party leadership billionaire and renowned philanthropist gathering, opinion leaders on social the ones more vulnerable to this public in 2018. Not only did it pay $0 in may simply want to benefi t from the power they have,” Flis said. Bill Gates declared billion-dollar media motivating ordinary people to health crisis than relatively less globally federal tax, but it also received $129mn Also, PiS did not achieve the result it aimed for with its contro- funding for medical research to invent comply with formal directives about connected countries. in a federal tax refund. This amount versial judicial reforms and made numerous enemies along the way. a vaccine for the Covid-19 virus. avoiding social gatherings as well z Virus of Globalisation is higher than the assessed annual This may make the party think twice before embarking on simi- He believed that his philanthropic as to take personal responsibility in Although the Covid-19 virus is contributions from the US to the World larly controversial attempts, Flis said. foundation could mobilise this eff ort maintaining social distance in everyday contaminating everybody regardless Health Organisation. He did not think the party was more likely to take a hardline turn faster and more effi ciently. Considering life. Interestingly, this follows a similar of age, sex, race, class, and nationality, The neoliberal globalisation does than not. how the governments have been pattern of collective encouragement, it is not equally fatal for all. Similarly, not benefi t everyone equally, as Josef Political scientist Anna Materska-Sosnowska from the University struggling with the outbreak, his claim adoption, and implementation of while almost all countries have Stiglitz demonstrates in his book creating and maintaining connections reported positive cases, some are more Making Globalisation Work. Global of Warsaw, however, had a more sobering forecast. seems plausible. The governments do not only lack enough workforce on a global scale whereby the experts devastated than others. Autopsy data Justice leader and activist Nick She expects PiS to clamp down on the freedom of courts, the and resources but also suff er from including the economists, government of the deceased patients show that the Dearden also makes a similar argument media and non-governmental organisations, with the support of mismanagement. Moreover, the Gates planners, international organisations, virus is fatal among the old individuals supported with empirical cases in the president. Foundation has proved its effi ciency business, and opinion leaders. with pre-existing respiratory problems Lesotho and Sierra Leone. He shows “I do not expect [Duda to be more independent], as in the fi ve in generating necessary funds as Wuhan – the epicentre of the and compromised immune systems. But how the neoliberal solution to public years that he’s been president, he showed no indication that would well as co-ordinating support from Covid-19 pandemic – is one of the what explains the relative strength and health problems through a public- allow us to think that way,” she said. governments and other international largest industrial hubs in China, with weakness of countries in responding to private partnership not only fails but Duda’s win may also trigger changes of political loyalties. organisations in combating public about 11mn population. It is the centre this pandemic? also exacerbates the problem and the PiS may try to win over lawmakers in parliament to regain power health crises like the Ebola outbreak in of the Chinese steel industry. Besides I argue that the ideology of governments’ ability to address public in the opposition-controlled Senate and increase its advantage in West Africa. But is a vaccine suffi cient Chinese businesses, Wuhan hosts the neoliberalism – an individual’s right health challenges. The root cause is the lower house, analysts point out. to tackle this pandemic? business operations for international to profi t maximisation, free trade, and the neoliberal ideology of prioritising private interest (of profi t maximisation) The election result is likely to aff ect the opposition, too, in posi- Recognising the Covid-19 pandemic corporations like Nissan, Honda, and freedom from the state intervention – as the greatest since WW-II, the United General Motors, Renault SA, PSA has systematically eroded the strength over public interest (of welfare). We tive ways for the PO party. Nations Development Programme Group’s Peugeot, IBM, HSBC, Siemens, of many countries so much so that they must fi ght this ideology just as much “It’s a triumph of PO over the rest of the opposition,” analyst (UNDP) warns that this will cause Walmart, Ericsson, and more. The are now unable to face the challenges as we fi ght the Covid-19 virus. And we Dudek said. “PO maintained its status as the strongest opposition devastating social, economic, and beverage company Anheuser-Busch of the Covid-19 pandemic. Once inside see how all countries in the world have group. Any attempts to create a new entity in the political centre political crises. A vaccine, while InBev SA is also located in Wuhan. someone’s body, the virus hijacks healthy already started doing so – although as have no chance of succeeding.” eff ectively protecting the public from Major fast-food chains like McDonald’s, cells and causes acute respiratory distress exceptional, but not a usual response At the same time, analysts agree that if opposition parties pre- getting contaminated, would hardly be Pizza Hut, and KFC are also parts of the syndrome (ARDS) that makes it harder – by off ering direct cash as well as sented a more united front, this could have given a further boost to able to protect us from similar threats city’s industrial infrastructure. Wuhan’s – or even impossible – to breathe. While other forms of fi nancial support for Trzaskowski. without understanding the social context global connections demonstrate an a healthy body can eff ectively battle individuals and businesses, universal In terms of Europe, Duda’s re-election will mean a policy of con- that allows this pandemic to happen. important aspect of the pandemic. against the virus and defeat it, an old and free medical care, and so forth. These tinuity and what analyst Marciniak calls “cool pragmatism.” z Globalisation of the Virus Much like an individual with the weak body fails to recuperate from the government initiatives are aimed at This, she said, would mean embracing the EU’s economic po- Experts recognise the Covid-19 Covid-19 virus contaminating others viral attack and eventually succumbs to public benefi t and against the neoliberal through close contact, Wuhan has also death. A similar observation can be made conviction of non-intervention of the tential while creating an artifi cial dichotomy between “Polish” and virus contamination as a respiratory disease like its predecessors Sars and caused the virus’s global spread through by assuming states as individuals with government. “European” values. Mers. The most common symptoms of global networks. For instance, the comparable consequences regarding the The Covid-19 pandemic has so contamination include fever, fatigue, vividly demonstrated the real cost and a dry cough. However, medical of the neoliberal approach to private screenings reportedly found some profi t maximisation, and also how the To Advertise individuals testing positive without government – not private enterprise – showing any signs. According to the is capable of and inherently interested [email protected] WHO estimate, the fatality rate of in protecting public interests and Display this virus contamination is 5.9% of welfare. While we must fi ght against confi rmed cases globally, which is far this coronavirus from contaminating 44466621 44418811 above the fatality rate for the seasonal our body, we must also fi ght against fl u. While the overwhelming majority neoliberalism from aff ecting our social Classified among the dead are elderly with pre- body so that the public is not left to 44466609 44418811 existing health issues, many younger rely on small but weak unprepared patients reportedly died, too. The government in times of public struggles. Subscription doctor who fi rst talked about this deadly virus in the Chinese city of Wuhan – z Hasan Mahmud is Assistant [email protected] who died of this virus – was only 34 Picture uploaded to social media on January 25, 2020, by the Central Hospital of Professor of Sociology, Northwestern years old. Wuhan show medical staff attending to patients, in Wuhan, China. Wuhan – the University in Qatar. The governments in almost all epicentre of the Covid-19 pandemic – is one of the largest industrial hubs in China, (Teaches courses on globalisation, © 2020 Gulf Times. All rights reserved countries are struggling to tackle with about 11mn population. development, migration) Gulf Times Tuesday, July 14, 2020 15 COMMENT A space odyssey: Britain rockets into unknown with OneWeb

By Sam Nussey — would be needed to complete a developing a space Internet business — SoftBank was facing its own hard Tokyo constellation that can off er continuous Project Kuiper. reckoning: a disastrous investment in service worldwide, the sources said. OneWeb’s parade of infl uential offi ce-sharing startup WeWork was The satellites, which have a lifespan backers included Qualcomm, Airbus, cooling investor attitudes to money- ritain is betting that satellite of about fi ve years and are assembled Virgin Group and eventually Japanese losing ventures. operator OneWeb will help it in a highly automated factory run with investor SoftBank, which pumped The coronavirus outbreak further boldly go into a post-Brexit Airbus, cost in the region of $1mn each, roughly $2bn into the eff ort. undermined the business model of Bera. the sources said. Wyler formed a tight bond with many of its biggest investments and But it faces formidable challenges to The rocket launches have run to SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son who hammered OneWeb’s biggest potential complete a working constellation and around $70mn apiece, the sources said, feted him on-stage in Tokyo in 2017 customers. rebuild a collapsed venture that has carrying 34 satellites into orbit each as part of his broader vision, with With SoftBank’s share price proved a money pit for investors. time. OneWeb aligning with SoftBank’s tumbling, the conglomerate pulled The British government and With a smaller number of launches corporate philosophy of “information out of funding talks, collapsing the Indian telecoms conglomerate Bharti pushing the number of satellites revolution — happiness for everyone”. venture. Enterprises said last week they would towards 200, OneWeb could begin However the economics of universal SoftBank declined to comment. together put up $1bn to buy OneWeb, providing coverage at the poles, with internet service were daunting: it The acquisition of OneWeb, which fi led for bankruptcy after its the military and oil and gas industry would be hard to charge consumers which is British and US-based, is biggest backer, SoftBank Group, seen as potential customers in the enough to defray the cost of launching subject to approval from regulators declined to provide fresh funding. Arctic, according to the sources. and operating the satellites. including the Committee on Foreign The deal off ers a new lease of life The British government declined to OneWeb was forced to step back Investment in the United States for the venture, which was founded comment beyond its July 3 statement from this grand idea and instead focus (CFIUS). by US entrepreneur Greg Wyler with announcing the deal. on a commercial customer base for Its new owners will need to rebuild the vision of providing “internet Bharti also declined to comment such services, like airlines and cruise the company’s workforce after 90% everywhere for everyone” via 648 low beyond its statement then. lines, willing to pay a premium. of its staff were let go following the Earth orbit satellites. OneWeb declined to comment. The venture was hampered by costly Chapter 11 fi ling. OneWeb, which began as WorldVu in “Getting the future contracts involving its own investors, Former OneWeb engineers that 2012, has 74 satellites already in orbit, commercialisation right for OneWeb four sources said. helped build and run the system have as it ramped up launches immediately will be absolutely key,” said Campbell In 2015 it signed a long launch been hired by rival companies as before collapsing in late March. Macfarlane, former president of contract with Arianespace, majority- competition for talent in the space Britain is looking at adding OneWeb’s enterprise division who left owned by a joint venture of Airbus industry heats up. positioning technology to new following the bankruptcy. and Safran, locking in prices even as A commercial team — vital if the satellites to complement and add He said it could prove “a very SpaceX was shaking up market pricing company is to eff ectively sell its resilience to the American GPS system, shrewd investment for the UK in the industry. capacity and achieve profi tability — two sources with knowledge of the government”. FILE PHOTO: A scale model of an Airbus OneWeb satellite and its solar panel are Arianespace declined to comment. will also need to be reconstituted. matter said, after the country exited OneWeb has secured radio spectrum pictured as Airbus announces annual results in Blagnac, near Toulouse, France. Airbus declined to comment beyond It was unclear if Chief Executive the EU’s Galileo network as a result of and regulatory approvals needed its July 3 statement welcoming the Adrian Steckel, who the bankruptcy Brexit. to operate its satellites and ground enormously painful, but in the long run what would become OneWeb to Google British government’s backing for the fi lings show was paid a $2.25mn That secondary payload could be infrastructure and off er services it can be very valuable.” in 2013. project as positive for the country’s retention payment on March 25, two built in Britain, the sources said. around the world, documents fi led Providing universal internet service Only a year later, he left Google to space industry. days before OneWeb fi led for Chapter The idea of providing Internet with a bankruptcy court in New York via satellite has been a dream of team up with Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Wyler himself was sidelined from 11, and Chief Financial Offi cer Thomas services for remote regions is also show. numerous tech tycoons and companies That partnership ended too and day-to-day management as business Whayne, who was paid $1mn on the attractive to the government. “This is the best beachfront over the years, including a failed Bill OneWeb went it alone. pressures mounted, and the company same day, will continue to run the Additional investment, potentially property there ever was in space,” one Gates-backed venture called Teledesic Musk and SpaceX are now building cycled through three CEOs. company after a takeover. running to more than $1bn — on top of of the sources said of the spectrum. in the 1990s. a rival constellation, Starlink, while Wyler did not respond to a request Steckel and Whayne did not respond the $1bn British/Bharti commitment “OneWeb’s birthing is going to be Wyler originally brought his idea for Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is also for comment. to requests for comment. - Reuters

Three-day forecast

TODAY In India-China crisis, an Maximum Temperature : 440c Minimum Temperature : 310c

WEDNESDAY Maximum Temperature : 450c Minimum Temperature : 330c

THURSDAY India-US bonanza in view Maximum Temperature : 430c Minimum Temperature : 320c

AFP asked the United States to be publicly radical Islam, and the pair have held ever been. But are the two ready to Fisherman's forecast Washington circumspect — in part to show the two joint mega-rallies. take that extra step?” domestic audience that New Delhi But Trump, his eyes at home In another recent shift, US WARNING does not need help. ahead of elections, has also taken lawmakers, mostly Democrats, have Inshore : Nil border clash has plunged ties India also does not want “to feed action detrimental to India, openly criticised India on human between India and China to Chinese propaganda narratives that including last year kicking it out rights, including Modi’s revocation of Offshore : Nil of a preferential trade status under autonomy and controls on the Internet their lowest point in decades. this is all a component of the China- WEATHER But one benefi ciary looks US rivalry and that India is working at which it had exported billions of in Muslim-majority Kashmir. Inshore : Very hot daytime with A some clouds and clear — the US-India relationship. America’s behest,” Smith said. dollars in goods. Anthony Blinken, a close aide to relatively hot by night. Experts say India could finally Michael Kugelman, a South Asia Trump, citing the coronavirus presidential candidate Joe Biden, WIND end equivocation about openly expert at the Woodrow Wilson pandemic, more recently has said that the Democrat, if he defeats Inshore : Southeasterly-North- aligning itself with the long-eager International Center for Scholars, suspended high-tech visas and Trump, would seek to “strengthen and easterly 06-16 KT United States, although there will cautioned that neither India nor China threatened to expel international deepen” the relationship with India. Offshore : Northeasterly-South- still be disagreements — which, wanted a complete rupture and said that students, moves with signifi cant But Blinken shared concerns on easterly 05-15 KT paradoxically, are now mostly due to both still saw some common interests, impacts on Indians. freedoms. Visibility : 4-8 KM Washington. especially in international organisations. India is happy to see Trump’s “You’re always better engaging with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told “But make no mistake: This current tougher stances on China but also feels a partner, and a vitally important one Offshore : 2-4/5 FT reporters that China “took incredibly India-China crisis is a watershed for demands, especially on trade, said like India, when you can speak frankly aggressive action” in a hand-to-hand the geopolitics of Asia, and the US- Aparna Pande, director of the Hudson and directly about areas where you battle in the remote Himalayas on June India relationship will be one of the Institute’s Initiative on the Future of have diff erences,” Blinken said at the 15 that killed 20 Indian soldiers. main benefi ciaries,” he said. India and South Asia. Hudson Institute. Around the region The hawkish Pompeo characterised “Previous Indian concern about “It is a semi-transactional Trump has stayed mum on rights Weather Weather the violence as part of a broader antagonising China if it moves closer relationship. It is not a strategic and has off ered, with little detail, to Today Max/min Tomorrow Max/min to the US is starting to melt away.” relationship, as it was in earlier years,” mediate between India and China. strategy by Beijing to challenge all of Baghdad Sunny 46/27 Sunny 46/29 The United States has been seeking she said. But John Bolton, Trump’s former its neighbours. Kuwait City P Cloudy 46/32 Sunny 47/33 warmer ties since the 1990s with Trump, who has frequently sparred national security advisor who recently Jeff M Smith, a research fellow at the Manama Sunny 42/34 M Sunny 42/35 India, which insisted during the Cold with Western allies, may not even published an explosive memoir, conservative Heritage Foundation who Muscat Sunny 34/31 Sunny 36/31 War on being “non-aligned” on the want a more committed relationship doubted Trump understood the border has written a book on the India-China Tehran M Sunny 35/24 M Sunny 35/23 rivalry, said the United States is known global stage. with India, she said. situation. to off er border intelligence to India, President Donald Trump has “I wouldn’t say there is as much “He may have been briefed on it, which is now likely to pick up the pace appeared to form a bond with Prime reluctance on the Indian side. That has but history doesn’t really stick with on defence acquisitions. Minister Narendra Modi, a fellow calmed down,” Pande said. him,” Bolton told Indian news channel But Smith said that India has nationalist who warns of the threat of “The two are closer than they have WION.

‘This is real’: Covid-19 long-hauler’s months of agony

their experiences online in forums That’s when he wound up an Glatter, his doctor, said Krakower’s AFP Around the world Washington like the Long Covid Support Group emergency room, where physician ongoing fatigue is similar to what has on Facebook with more than 5,000 Robert Glatter treated his laryngitis with been documented in other illnesses that Weather Weather members. the steroid dexamethasone to reduce the cause chronic fatigue syndrome. Today Max/min Tomorrow Max/min hild psychiatrist Scott “Just when I think I’m on a roll and swelling. Scientists aren’t quite sure why this Athens Sunny 31/20 Sunny 32/21 Krakower tested positive for have like three or four good days, I’ll “The swelling that he was happens, but, said Glatter, it might Beirut Sunny 29/24 Sunny 29/24 Covid-19 back in mid-April, have about three or four hours where experiencing was from post viral relate to an injury to a part of our Bangkok M Cloudy 33/26 I T Storms 35/26 but three months on there are again I can’t speak or my lymph node infl ammation that happened weeks cells called mitochondria, which are Berlin M Cloudy 27/16 Showers 19/13 C Cairo Sunny 37/24 Sunny 37/24 still days he feels overwhelmingly tired, starts swelling on the right side of after the virus and it’s the immunologic responsible for generating energy. short of breath, and unable to speak my neck,” Krakower said in a video phase weeks after that we get concerned Krakower says that he was initially Cape Town S Showers 13/07 Sunny 16/07 because of a hoarse throat. interview from his home in Long about,” said Glatter. anxious to get back to work and to his Colombo Cloudy 30/26 I T Storms 29/26 The 40-year-old New Yorker is Island. Out of caution, Krakower quarantined life, but now “I’m really happy I took Dhaka S T Storms 30/26 T Storm 32/27 among a wave of patients being referred Krakower was working as the unit himself from his wife and two small the time, and I continue to because each Hong Kong M Sunny 31/27 P Cloudy 31/27 to as “long-haulers,” whose recovery chief of the psychiatry department of children for a total of fi ve weeks, which week that has gone by has been such a Istanbul P Cloudy 26/19 P Cloudy 26/18 period extends far beyond the two or so Zucker Hillside Hospital during New was especially hard on the family. big diff erence.” Jakarta S T Storms 32/25 S T Storms 32/25 weeks that are the average length of the York’s coronavirus epidemic, which is His daughter Hazel is two while his Glatter emphasised it was important Karachi P Cloudy 34/29 P Cloudy 34/29 illness. where he suspects he became infected. son Evan was only four-months-old for people experiencing these ongoing London Cloudy 21/13 Cloudy 19/14 He told AFP there are days he First came the loss of smell and taste, at the time, and their only means of symptoms not to succumb to “medical Manila S T Storms 33/26 S T Storms 34/27 encounters “self-scepticism,” where “everything tasted like rubber,” communication was FaceTime, which gaslighting” where other people or the Moscow Rain 19/16 Showers 19/13 wondering if the symptoms he’s going then a troubling cough that prevented Krawkower used to “join” the family for patients’ themselves attribute the illness New Delhi M Sunny 39/29 P Cloudy 37/27 through are real and he should be back him from teleworking, before he started dinner or try to read his toddler bedtime to anxiety. New York M Sunny 31/21 P Cloudy 28/21 at work — until, for example, he takes a losing his voice entirely. stories. “This is real,” he said. “This is not in Paris Showers 23/16 Cloudy 22/15 walk and his parents or wife who are on Around three-and-a-half weeks “I didn’t really want anybody to go people’s heads. This is what people live Sao Paulo S Showers 18/13 Cloudy 16/14 the phone with him notice he’s gasping. in, alongside a high fever and chills, he through what I went through,” he said, every day, what they post online. Seoul S Showers 22/17 M Sunny 29/19 This phenomenon is attributed to a began coughing so violently blood came adding that he still gets emotional now “People are having therapy sessions Singapore S T Storms 29/26 S T Storms 30/26 mysterious post-viral illness that is still out. thinking about it. because it’s aff ecting their lives in such Sydney Showers 15/11 Showers 14/10 poorly understood — but increasingly He lost the ability to swallow and his His isolation period ended after two a way that they can’t function as they Tokyo Rain 26/21 Cloudy 28/20 reported by patients, who are sharing voice became high-pitched. negative tests. normally would.” Gulf Times 16 Tuesday, July 14, 2020 QATAR TEDinArabic ‘will open up new horizons for exchanging ideas’

he partnership between worldwide, so that the Arabic Qatar Foundation (QF) and language remains active and TTED to launch TEDinAra- alive.” bic “illustrates the meaning of Aysha al-Ansari, head of strengthening bridges of com- Heritage Collections at Qatar munication with cultural ini- National Library, stressed that tiatives, and opening up horizons the partnership between QF and for exchanging ideas and experi- TED reflects the leading role ences in the context of cultural that Qatar is playing in promot- diversity”. ing and preserving the Arabic This was stressed by HE Dr language. Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kuwari, “Our Arabic language is one Minister of State and president of the most expressive and pro- of Qatar National Library, while found languages in the world, speaking on the launch of TEDi- characterised by the beauty of nArabic. its words and pronunciation. But As announced yesterday, TE- what distinguishes it further is DinArabic is a two-year initiative that it has not changed through- that will provide a platform for out the ages, which is testament thinkers, researchers, artists and to the strength of our heritage change-makers around the world and the progress of our nations, to share ideas with a global audi- our civilization, and our ancient ence, in the Arabic language. culture,” she said. “TED has been considered to “Many of the eff orts being be among the most distinguished HE Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kuwari TEDinArabic has been launched through a two-year partnership between Qatar Foundation and TED. made by Qatar National Library, initiatives of its kind since its and its Heritage Library, aim to establishment in 1985. It has preserve our Arabic language and strengthened the belief that ide- its proud heritage, which is rep- as have the ability to change our resented in manuscripts, docu- thinking patterns, our behav- ments and books across various iour, and even our world. It has fi elds of knowledge. become an intellectual, cultural “The partnership between and scientifi c phenomenon that Qatar Foundation and TED re- resonates throughout the world,” fl ects the leading role that Qatar said HE Dr al-Kuwari. is playing in promoting and pre- He noted that “although its serving the Arabic language. Col- talks have been fi rstly in English laborating with global partners for many years, it has neverthe- in creating a platform in Arabic less managed to successfully to spread ideas across various overcome language and disci- aspects of knowledge contrib- pline barriers, and ensure these utes greatly to the prosperity of talks have been translated into Arabic language, one of the six dozens of languages”. primary languages of the United HE Dr al-Kuwari continued, Nations.” “Qatar National Library is de- She continued, “Despite the lighted that Qatar Foundation huge strides that Arabic content and TED have partnered to cre- has achieved, thanks to informa- ate a platform for the Arabic Aysha al-Ansari tion and communications tech- language. It is a partnership nology and audio/visual media, that illustrates the meaning of van Goethe’s statement: ‘It is throughout cyberspace, as inter- edge in the fi elds of thought, language, as it is a constant com- new platform, TEDinArabic, will there are still many challenges strengthening bridges of com- possible that there is no lan- national newspapers, news agen- belief, literature, philosophy, ponent of our identity. This part- mark an important stage in ex- facing our language, and Arabic munication with cultural ini- guage in which thought, word cies, websites and magazines science, astronomy, medicine, nership between Qatar Founda- panding the circulation of the content still needs to be pro- tiatives, and opening up horizons and character can be harmonised are launching Arabic-language pharmacy and engineering. “It tion and TED supports eff orts to Arabic language and communi- moted through more initiatives for exchanging ideas and experi- with ancient originality as is the platforms in order to reach out was, and still is, the incubator of preserve identity and the Arabic cating its translation of human and partnerships. Through Qa- ences in the context of cultural case in the Arabic language’.” to Arabic-speaking audiences, he our heritage, and it remains, for language, as well as to confi rm its experience in various disciplines. tar Foundation’s partnership diversity. And it reinforces the This partnership will add a stressed. us, a homeland of knowledge.” capacity to absorb ideas in vari- It will achieve wide resonance, with TED, focused on the Arabic importance of the Arabic lan- new dimension to the prosper- For more than 1,000 years, the HE Dr al-Kuwari said, “We ous disciplines of literature, sci- response, and interest from all language, we will move closer to guage in our world, echoes the ity of the Arabic language, which Arabic language has been the pri- must make every eff ort to revive ences and the arts. Arabic speakers, not only in Qa- achieving that continued pros- German poet Johann Wolfgang is being currently witnessed mary language of human knowl- the historical role of the Arabic “We are confi dent that this tar and the Arab world, but also perity of this language.” Al Tarfa Intersection opened after main upgrade works

he Public Works Author- section provides a direct link to pletion of the upgrade works at luminaires. The Qatari compo- ity (Ashghal) yesterday Al Tarfa Street, Jeryan Nejaima Al Tarfa Intersection has sig- nent in the project was 80%. Tannounced the comple- Street as well as the street lead- nificantly enhanced traffic flow Besides upgrading the intersec- tion of main upgrade works at ing to Wadi Al Banat area known and reduced congestion in the tion, a total 2.3km of road works Al Tarfa Intersection and its in- as Leawaina Street, which ac- area, especially that the project and the construction of new serv- Encouraging a healthy lifestyle frastructure service utilities, in commodate a significant vol- had aimed to improve traffic ice roads, the project’s scope of addition to the construction of ume of traffic. flow and increase vehicular ca- work also included the installation The Al Tarfa Intersection the existing shared path on new service roads. He noted that the intersec- pacity. of a new lighting system and the upgrade works project will en- Al Tarfa Street. The recently completed in- tion directly serves important Al-Hillabi said that in line upgrade of infrastructure utility able people to get engaged in Ashghal is also working on tersection and roads are now educational institutions such as with Ashghal’s support for local services. Infrastructure services’ physical activities by off ering a finishing remaining interlock open to traffic as part of the Qatar University (QU), College manufacturers and the Ta’heel enhancement works comprised pedestrian and cycle path is in and landscaping works along- Road Improvement Works in of Arts and Sciences and Doha initiative, which was launched the upgrade of the surface and the pipeline. side the road which, once Various Areas of Greater Doha Institute for Graduate Studies by the authority in 2017, local storm water drainage and treated In a statement yesterday, complete, will cover 12,700sq Project - Phase 5, Ashghal has Al-Hillabi said that Al Tarfa materials and manufacturers sewage effl uent lines in addition Ashghal said “to encourage a m of green areas and include said in a statement. Intersection provides a link to were relied on for most of the to protecting electricity and tel- healthy lifestyle”, the project the planting of 103 trees. Essa Sultan al-Hillabi, the Jeryan Nejaima and Wadi project’s work. ecommunications services lines will provide a shared 2km The Al Tarfa Intersection project engineer in the Roads Al Banat areas while also fa- Materials and elements sup- and upgrading water lines, Ash- pedestrian and cycle shared upgrade is part of a series Projects Department at Ash- cilitating access to Abdullah Bin plied by local manufacturers ghal said. path alongside Jeryan of projects implemented by ghal, highlighted the impor- Khalifa Stadium and Doha Golf included sewage, surface water Directional signs and mark- Nejaima Street and Leawaina Ashghal to improve the road tance of Al Tarfa Intersection. Club. and rain water drainage pipes, ings were also provided on the Street, which will be linked to network across the country. The recently opened inter- He explained that the com- in addition to lighting poles and road. Essa Sultan al-Hillabi

Al Tarfa Intersection after being opened to traff ic on completion of the main upgrade works.