www.thepeninsula.qa Saturday 23 May 2020 Volume 25 | Number 8266 30 Ramadan - 1441 2 Riyals

BUSINESS | 01 SPORT | 08

Oil drops over 4% Osaka becomes on China-US world’s tensions, demand highest-paid doubts female athlete

Enjoy double speed with Ooredoo ONE while you’re at home #Hadaya_Ooredoo *Terms and conditions apply Crescent Sighting Amir condoles Amir exchanges Eid Al Fitr greetings with Pakistan Committee announces with Kuwait Amir, Turkish President President, tomorrow as first day QNA — DOHA Prime Minister Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani exchanged QNA — DOHA greetings, in two telephone conversations yesterday, of Eid Al Fitr with the Amir of the State of Kuwait H H Sheikh Sabah Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah and the Crown Prince of the Al Thani and Deputy Amir H H State of Kuwait H H Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al QNA — DOHA The Ministry of Awqaf Sabah, on the occasion of the blessed Eid Al Fitr. Thani sent yesterday cables of and Islamic Affairs Amir also exchanged greetings, in a telephone con- condolences to the President of the The Crescent Sighting versations with the President of the Republic of Islamic Republic of Pakistan H E Committee at the Ministry of had said earlier Turkey, H E Recep Tayyip Erdogan and H M King Dr. Arif Alvi and the Prime Minister Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has that the decision Mohammed VI of Morocco, on the occasion of the H E Imran Khan, on the victims of announced that today (May 23) blessed Eid Al Fitr. the Pakistan International Airlines will be the last day of Ramadan of temporarily The Amir exchanged greetings, in a telephone conver- passenger plane that crashed in and that the first day of the closing mosques sation yesterday, with the President of the Republic of Indo- Karachi, wishing the injured a blessed Eid Al Fitr will be nesia, H E Joko Widodo, on the occasion of the blessed Eid speedy recovery. tomorrow. and suspending Al Fitr. During the call, they reviewed bilateral relations Prime Minister and Minister of This came in a statement congregational between the two countries as well as ways of supporting Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin released by the committee prayers as part of the and developing them, in addition to the efforts made to Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani also headed by its chairman Sheikh address the novel coronavirus pandemic. In this regard, sent a cable of condolences to the Dr. Thaqil Al Shammari, fol- precautionary and The Indonesian President expressed his thanks and Prime Minister Imran Khan, on the lowing a meeting yesterday at preventive measures appreciation to HH the Amir for the role of Qatar Airways victims of the passenger plane crash the headquarters of Ministry of in returning Indonesian citizens from different parts of in Karachi, wishing the injured a Awqaf and Islamic Affairs. against the spread the world to Indonesia during this crisis. speedy recovery. In its statement, the of COVID-19, also Crescent Sighting Committee said it held its meeting yes- applies to Eid Al Fitr terday to sight the crescent of prayer. QP embarks on huge and ambitious Shawwal month and examine the testimony of who sees it. The Committee said the Islamic Affairs had said earlier crescent sighting was not con- that the decision of temporarily international upstream program firmed last night. As a result, closing mosques and sus- Saturday, May 23, 2020, will be pending congregational prayers QNA — DOHA running out for May.” the last day of Ramadan and as part of the precautionary and He added: “Due to the self-imposed Sunday will be the first day of preventive measures against Minister of State for Energy Affairs and the lockdowns around the world to deal with the blessed Eid Al Fitr. the spread of COVID-19, also President and CEO of Qatar Petroleum (QP), the pandemic most of the world economies The Committee has applies to Eid Al Fitr prayer. H E Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi (pictured), will be in a self-induced recession or extended greetings on the The Ministry said that based has said Qatar Petroleum is planning depression this year.” occasion of advent of the on the previous statement greater international upstream expansion He highlighted that “the energy sector blessed Eid Al Fitr to Amir H issued by the Ministry of Awqaf and will continue farming-in and acquiring is very resilient and has been through many H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad and Islamic Affairs on April 22, promising exploration blocks around the cycles, but this is different.” He expected it Al Thani, Father Amir H H 2020, which was implemented world with major players. would take 1-2 years for demand to go back Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al in order to strengthen the pre- Speaking during a webinar organized to pre-pandemic levels and for the industry Thani, Deputy Amir H H ventive measures and precau- by the US-Qatar Business Council, H E the to return to some kind of normal, as it Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad tionary measures taken by the Minister of State for Energy Affairs said remains in uncharted territory due to the Al Thani, as well as gov- state to curb the spread of coro- recent global developments came right at impact of the self-induced recession. ernment, the people of Qatar navirus pandemic, regarding the heels of a number of other geopolitical H E The Minister of State for Energy and all Muslims. the continued closure of developments including trade war threats Affairs, the President and CEO of Qatar “We ask Almighty Allah to mosques and the suspension of and regional tensions. “As the industry was Petroleum, also discussed Qatar’s efforts return this occasion to eve- congregational prayers, until being affected by the recent global H E The Minister said: “In addition to to serve the market and to meet demand ryone with good and blessing,” the safety and tranquility of the recession, it was dealt a second blow by an falling demand due to lockdowns, we wit- for an efficient source of energy that can said Sheikh Dr. Thaqil Al worshipers is met, we confirm OPEC+ lack of agreement that drove prices nessed negative oil prices in North help solve the global environmental chal- Shammari. that the decision also applies to down,” His Excellency said in his opening America, as buyers were paid to take the lenge, and meet the upcoming economic The Ministry of Awqaf and Eid Al Fitr prayer. remarks. oil over fears that storage capacities were requirements. `P4

Bosnia and Herzegovina Ramadan Timing

adorn Sarajevo Municipality Today's Iftar: building with Qatari flag 6:19pm QNA — SARAJEVO Sashing the historic building with the Qatari flag Bosnia and Herzegovina, on was well received and wel- Thursday, sashed the historic comed by the citizens and the building of Sarajevo Munici- media in Bosnia and pality with the Qatari flag, in Herzegovina. appreciation and recognition A Qatari aircraft, carrying for the urgent medical a shipment of urgent medical assistance provided by the aid, had earlier arrived at Qatar reports 605 State of Qatar, in implemen- Sarajevo International Airport tation of the directives of Amir to help countering the outbreak new COVID-19 H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad of the new coronavirus. recoveries The historic building of Sarajevo Municipality adorned with the Qatari flag. Al Thani. THE PENINSULA — DOHA

The Ministry of Public Health MoPH making all efforts to protect health workers from infection risks yesterday announced 1,830 new confirmed cases of coronavirus QNA — DOHA various state bodies on the isolated health workers until (COVID-19), with 605 people basics and standards for In order to provide the they returns to their work. having recovered from the The Ministry of Public Health infection control, he added. highest occupational Dr. Al Rumaihi emphasized disease in the last 24 hours. This (MoPH) is making all possible Dr. Al Rumaihi pointed out that health personnel have brings the total number of efforts, with other government that the Ministry also provides safety standards, taken it upon themselves to recovery cases in the State of bodies, to ensure the protection all the necessary requirements MoPH has issued face this disease on the front Qatar to 7,893 cases. In addition, of those working in the front for infection control, including guidelines for infection lines, therefore, everyone is two people have sadly died from lines to combat the novel coro- personal protective equipment now required to adhere to the the virus in the last 24 hours. navirus from the risks of (PPE), sanitizers, and disin- control when dealing precautionary measures 13 new cases have also infection with the virus, said the fectants. It also conducts with suspected or issued by the Ministry of been admitted to intensive care Dr. Hamad Al Rumaihi Director intensive and continuous confirmed cases of Public Health. due to complications resulting of the Health Protection and training on how to don and doff He said that the measures from the infection, bringing the Communicable Diseases PPE, stressing that all these and the disease. community members stay at total number of people currently Control Department at MoPH. other measures are aimed at their homes and not to leave in intensive care units to 175. The In remarks to QNA, Dr. Al reducing the risk of disease in in addition to extensive proce- measures may include just a except for the extreme necessity Ministry has stated that the new Rumaihi said that in order to frontline workers. MoPH has dures for the detection of con- routine examination and con- with commitment to social dis- cases are due to expatriate provide the highest occupa- issued guidelines to deal with tacts, he explained. tinuing work, or it may include tancing and the correct use of workers who were infected with tional safety standards, MOPH cases of infection in the event Dr. Al Rumaihi explained isolating and testing the health personal protection, as well as the virus as a result of contact has issued guidelines for of their occurrence, including that to protect front-line personnel, and monitoring the keeping hands clean, pointing with individuals who were pre- infection control when dealing guidelines for assessing the workers and their families, the symptoms of the disease. that all of this helps medical viously infected, in addition to with suspected or confirmed level of exposure and the steps risk of infection is assessed, clas- He pointed out that during teams in accomplishing their recording new cases of infection cases of the disease. The Min- to be followed in the event of sified and action taken according the period of isolation, all mission in controlling this among groups of workers in istry is also training workers in exposure to the risk of infection to this evaluation. These support is provided to the pandemic. different regions. `P4 02 HOME SATURDAY 23 MAY 2020 SATURDAY 23 MAY 2020 HOME 03 04 HOME SATURDAY 23 MAY 2020

PRAYER TIMINGS WEATHER TODAY FAJR03.19 am SUNRISE 04.46 am o o Hot daytime with some clouds, mild by night. ZUHR 11.31 am ASR 02.56 pm 27 C 39 C Minimum Maximum HIGH TIDE 03:38–17:49 LOW TIDE 00:08 – 11:23 MAGHRIB 06.19 pm ISHA 07.49 pm W ALRUWAIS: 25o↗32o W ALKHOR: 27o↗38o W DUKHAN: 23o↗34o W WAKRAH: 25o↗37o W MESAIEED 25o↗37o W ABUSAMRA 24o↗38o QP embarks on huge and ambitious international upstream program FROM PAGE 1 number of important mile- achieving the highest standards of Qatar Petroleum, H E Saad “We are going full steam stones in the development of in our LNG industry to signifi- bin Sherida Al Kaabi thanked ahead with the North Field the North Field have started , cantly reduce emissions by the partners and members of expansion projects to raise including the start of a drilling applying the best available the US-Qatar Business Council Qatar’s LNG production capacity campaign for 80 development technologies and practices. We for their dedicated efforts to from 77 million today to 110 wells, insulation of offshore well are investing in modern tech- enhance the special friendship million tons per annum by 2025 head jackets, and the reser- nologies to reduce NOx and SOx and strong relations between and 126 million tons per annum vation of capacity to build LNG emissions by about 50%. In the United States and the State by 2027,” H E said during the ships that would ensure meeting addition, we are making of Qatar. He also thanked the webinar, adding that the final Qatar’s future LNG fleet sizeable investments to capture members of the board and all onshore commercial bids will be requirements. and re-inject CO2 extracted the staff at the Council for received by September and that Answering questions from from the feed gas in our LNG driving relations forward, and contracts will be awarded by the participants in the webinar rep- facilities, resulting in a 25% for organizing the webinar. end of the year. resenting Council members and reduction in Green House Gas The US-Qatar Business H E Al Kaabi stressed that partners in the United States The Minister of State for Energy Affairs and the President and CEO emissions. Such new Carbon Council webinar was held with Qatar Petroleum is developing and Qatar, H E Al Kaabi stressed of Qatar Petroleum (QP), H E Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi, speaking Capture and Storage projects the participation of high-level its capabilities and international that Qatar will not be hampered during a webinar organised by the US-Qatar Business Council. will enable Qatar’s LNG industry executives from the oil and gas presence with an ultimate goal by the recent developments. to capture and sequester up to industry as well as other indus- of being recognized as an Inter- “We are in it for the long haul. cutting production at the time one of the largest single 7.5 million tonnes per annum tries in the United States and the national Oil Company (IOC) We are the most cost-effective being. “In fact, we are going to investment decisions in US LNG by the time we achieve full State of Qatar, media from rather than just a National Oil producer and can withstand expand and even produce more history. development of the North around the world also Company (NOC). He said, “I am market shocks. We are in very than the planned 126 million “In July of last year, H E the Field.” participated. proud to have great talents good financial shape and we are tons per annum if and when President of the United States Speaking on the role of The US-Qatar Business working with me in leadership still looking for good investment that becomes possible,” he hosted Amir H H Sheikh Tamim women in Qatar petroleum, the Council is the leading organization positions along with profes- opportunities.” added. H E Al Kaabi paid tribute bin Hamad Al Thani at the Minister of State for Energy dedicated exclusively to sional Qataris and expatriates, Answering a question if to the historic and strong rela- White House, where they wit- Affairs, the President and CEO enhancing the bilateral rela- who are doing a great job; and Qatar would be forced to reduce tions between Qatar and the nessed the official signing of the of Qatar Petroleum, said: tionship between the US and we are moving steadily as a production due to the price drop United States, particularly in the Qatar Petroleum agreement “Ambitious Qatari females want Qatar. The Council was founded team with determination in that H E Al Kaabi said “In such a sce- field of energy. with Chevron Phillips Chemical to be part of the Qatari skilled in 1996 with the goal of promoting direction to be recognized as a nario of forced production cur- Discussing US-Qatari rela- Company to develop a the workforce whether in the oil the commercial, economic, and world class organization in all tailment because of Price, many tions, the Minister of State for largest world-scale petro- and gas sector or other branches trade relationship that has since aspects” other producers will be forced Energy Affairs highlighted two chemical ethane cracker in the of the economy. We are very grown exponentially. Asked about Opec mem- to shut down before Qatar due major Qatar Petroleum world the US Gulf Coast region proud of our talented Qatari The Council has played a bership, His Excellency said to their high production cost, landmark investments. He said, with an estimated cost of female employees, who work crucial role in expanding the Qatar made it clear that it was therefore there is absolutely no “Just over a year ago, I was in around $8bn.” as geologists, engineers, bilateral relationship by hosting a small producer with no say in way that we would curtail Washington D.C. for the Answering a question about accountants, lawyers and in senior executives from Fortune what happens in the organi- production. announcement of the final cost reduction His Excellency many other disciplines and who 500 companies, small to zation and that it wanted to The Minister of State for investment decision with Exx- stated, “Qatar Petroleum will be take part in the advancement medium sized enterprises focus on developing its gas Energy Affairs said being a low- onMobil for the Golden Pass reducing its capital and oper- of Qatar Petroleum.” (SMEs), and high-ranking gov- industry, and said, “We are cost producer will help Qatar LNG export project, in Sabine ating expenses by 30% in June.” At the end of the webinar, ernment officials for discussions happy we are out of Opec.” withstand lower gas prices, and Pass, Texas. This investment, On the environment, he the Minister of State for Energy on challenges and opportunities H E Al Kaabi highlighted a that it was not considering worth over 10 billion dollars, is said: “We remain focused on Affairs, the President and CEO in both markets. MoI asks citizens, expatriates to stay at home during Eid holidays SANAULLAH ATAULLAH Patrolling from Traffic Department, Lekhwiya and other security vehicles as the responsibility is col- to stop the people from going out of THE PENINSULA agencies of Al Shamal, Janoub and Al Rayan will be stationed lective so the children should not go the homes except in case of utmost out except in case of utmost need,” said need during Eid Al Fitr holidays. Brigadier Abdullah Khalifa Al Muftah, at different places to educate people about the government Al Muftah. He said that as per the pre- “It is collective responsibility for Director of the Public Relations decisions and enforce it to curb the spread of COVID-19. ventive measures, not going out of all people to adhere strictly to the pre- Department at the Ministry of Interior home is required at present and ventive and precautionary measure to (MoI), has called upon citizens and expa- by suspending family visits and social different places to educate people about throughout the vacations of Eid Al Fitr. curb the spread of COVID-19, the vio- triate to stay at home during the vaca- gatherings during Eid holidays,” said the government decisions and enforce “The preventive and precautionary lation from any individual will affect tions of Eid Al Fitr adhering strictly to Brigadier Abdullah Khalifa Al Muftah it to curb the spread of COVID-19. measures are implemented to protect negatively on the efforts,” said Al preventive and precautionary measures while talking to Qatar TV. He said that He said that people can call on 999 the community from the infection of Muftah. He said that the social dis- to curb the spread of COVID-19. the police patrolling from Traffic to inform about the gathering and COVID-19,” said Al Muftah. He said tancing is required during this Eid Al “We citizens and expatriates should Department, Lekhwiya and other other violations of the state preventive that under the preventive measures, Fitr and suspension of visits and social shoulder the collective responsibility security agencies of Al Shamal, Janoub measures. “The children are con- decisions were issued to suspend some gathering is essential to curb the spread to curb the spread of the coronavirus and Al Rayan will be stationed at sidered among the passengers in least necessary commercial activities of the epidemic.

Qatar reports 605 COVID-19 QATAR UPDATES ON 22 MAY 2020 MME: Preserving biodiversity new COVID-19 NEW recoveries RECOVERIES 605 GLOBALLY helps fight epidemics, diseases FROM PAGE 1 NEW CASES TOTAL POSITIVE The new cases have been ANNOUNCED 1,830 QNA — DOHA theme “Our Solutions In The Ministry of Municipality identified after conducting inves- 5,106,686 Nature”. The ministry added: and Environment also works tigations by the research and ACTIVE The Ministry of Municipality and “Marking this day comes on the to monitor all the areas in the investigation teams of the Min- CASES 32,569 TOTAL DEATHS Environment affirmed that the backdrop of the Covid-19 pan- natural areas in terms of their istry of Public Health that con- TOTAL 333,001 biological diversity that the demic spread in all countries of the biological diversity and spread tributed to early detection of RECOVERIES 7,893 world celebrates on May 22 world. From this standpoint, our in the state, update its database cases.Cases of infection have also TOTAL RECOVERED every year is one of the preservation of biological diversity and build its human and increased among citizens and TOTAL DEATHS 1,951,459 important occasions that aims helps us in facing and combating material capabilities. It said that residents as a result of contact 19 to educate the public on the pandemics and diseases caused Qatar was among the leading with infected family members importance of their role in by different viruses that threaten countries in achieving the motto who had been infected in the preserving the nature of the public health of all.” “Our Solutions In Nature” by workplace or through visits and were receiving treatment in measures to reduce the chances biological diversity, and In a related context, the attaching great importance to the family gatherings. The new con- intensive care. The Ministry of of infection, including protecting it from human Ministry of Municipality and the protection and preservation of firmed cases of infection have Public Health extends its sincere refraining from social visits encroachment. Environment indicated that it biological diversity, , as well as been introduced to complete iso- condolences and great sympathy during the rest of Ramadan as The Ministry stated that had relied, through the second maintaining the ability to adapt lation in the various medical to the families of the two patients. well during Eid Al Fitr. these goals can be achieved national strategy, on developing to environmental disorders such facilities in the country, where The Ministry of Public Health has The Ministry of Health through following the best operational action plans for as climate change. they receive the necessary further stated that Qatar has now stressed that because the coro- sound practices in food, health projects to enhance biodiversity The Ministry stated that it healthcare according to the entered the peak phase of the navirus outbreak is at the peak and ecological systems, which in the country, confirming the has implemented various health status of each case. virus outbreak, which is seeing stage in Qatar, it is important also represent solutions for sus- provision of its human and action plans, initiatives and The Ministry revealed that a rise in the number of infections not to leave the house except tainable development, in material capabilities as well as projects aimed at preserving bio- the number of positive cases recorded daily, and therefore it for when absolutely essential. addition to preserving natural its accumulated experiences for logical diversity, in addition to between citizens and residents wit- is necessary to adhere to, more It also stressed the importance resources for future generations, preserving nature in partnership implementing and drafting nessed a significant rise, with the than ever before, the preventive of adhering to all measures to noting that the protection of bio- with other bodies in the country, national legislation, such Law number of infections relating to measures and social measures protect against virus infection, logical diversity reflects on the in addition to providing water No. (10) of 2019 on regulating the family gatherings, visits and sharing recommended. including maintaining social health of people. This came in and food for all living things in acquisition of dangerous animals meals together with relatives and The Ministry also stressed distancing both in the work- the Ministry’s statement as Qatar nature, in line with the require- in Qatar, which strengthens extended families having doubled. the importance for the elderly place and public places, as well joins the world marking the ments and obligations of the national measures to address the The Ministry stated that the two new or those suffering from chronic as wearing a medical mask and International Day for Biological Convention on Biological environmental impact of the deaths were of a 50 year-old and a diseases and their family avoiding social visits to reduce Diversity, today, under the Diversity, signed on May 22, 1992. COVID-19 pandemic. 43 year year-old, both of whom members to follow strict the risk of contracting the virus. QNTC official elected Deputy Chapter Chairperson of ICCA Middle East QNA — DOHA business development and networking objectives and supporting the business the tourism experience from beginning (DECC), in addition to a large number opportunities. Since its establishment events industry in the region.” till the end, to elevate our status as a of hotel conference halls, giving Qatar National Tourism Council’s (QNTC) in 1963, ICCA has represented the He added, “Qatar has placed the leading business events destination in organizers a wide range of options Director of Exhibitions Ahmed Al Obaidli world’s top destinations and most business events industry among the the region.” to set up as many business events as has been elected to the position of experienced suppliers specialized in key tourism sectors designed to QNTC’s partnership with ICCA possible at the same time and to Deputy Chapter Chairperson for the handling, transporting, and accom- achieve sustainable tourism devel- extends over many years. The council create an active calendar of interna- International Congress and Convention modating international meetings and opment. This is evident from the infra- previously held a workshop in coop- tional and regional events for Qatar. Association (ICCA) Middle East. events. Its members include over structure that has been developed to eration with the association aimed at The country’s business events This vote boosts Qatar’s pivotal 1,100 companies and organizations support this sector as well as the empowering 60 members of the sector has seen a remarkable regional and international role in the in almost 100 countries and terri- expansion of convention and exhibition business events sector to attract inter- expansion in recent years, growing 9 MICE Industry and recognizes QNTC’s tories, including five representing the venues and the technology dedicated national events. percent in 2018 and 44 percent over longstanding efforts to push for the State of Qatar. to the success of these events. Qatar has also more than 70,000 the last five years. development of the business events Commenting on the occasion, Qatar has also elevated the sector square meters of convention and exhi- Qatar is slated to host 10 major industry locally and internationally. Ahmed Al Obaidli of Qatar National by putting in place policies to support bition grounds ready and equipped world events between 2019 and 2023, ICCA is the global association Tourism Council (QNTC), said: “I investment and by encouraging local to handle any event, including the including the Small and Mid-sized leader for the international meetings welcome this opportunity to thank and international companies to benefit state-of-the-art Qatar National Con- Enterprise Forum 2020 and the industry, offering unrivaled data, edu- members of the ICCA Middle East and from the many opportunities offered vention Centre (QNCC) and Doha World Symposium of Choral Music cation, communication channels, and I look forward to achieving ICCA by the industry. Qatar seeks to enhance Exhibition and Convention Centre in 2023. SATURDAY 23 MAY 2020 HOME 05

Thousands attend QF’s Quranic Botanic Garden Ramadan activities THE PENINSULA — DOHA can assist in boosting the immune A member of Qatar Foundation (QF), the Quranic interest in QBG’s work and such wide- system. spread appreciation for the team’s Thousands of community members The webinars brought together Botanic Garden (QBG) houses a botanical garden innovative efforts during this spiritual have taken part in the Quranic Botanic panelists from the Ministry of Munic- that exhibits the plant species mentioned in the period.” Garden (QBG) Ramadan activities this ipality and Environment, Qatar Uni- A member of Qatar Foundation year, which have included webinars, versity, and Qatar Development Bank, Holy Quran and Sunnah (Sayings & Traditions of the (QF), QBG houses a botanical garden informative Instagram sessions, and amongst others, and collectively drew Prophet Muhammad PBUH). that exhibits the plant species men- daily competitions. audiences of over 1,000 participants, tioned in the Holy Quran and in the Among the activities marking who were able to actively engage with Hadith and Sunnah (Sayings & Tradi- Ramadan was a QBG webinar the panelists through questions during and botany. The competition continues Commenting on this year’s activ- tions of the Prophet Muhammad addressing Qatar’s food security the live stream. until yesterday. In addition, QBG held ities, Fatima Al Khulaifi, Director, QBG, PBUH). During Ramadan in 2008, the strategy and the continuity of its agri- Every day, nearly 500 people take informative and interactive Instagram said: “We have been thrilled by the garden was inaugurated by Her cultural production and supply oper- part in QBG’s prize competitions, which Live sessions outlining various topics public’s enthusiastic response to our Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, ations amid the COVID-19 pandemic. encourage members of the community of interest related to the garden and specially organized activities during Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, who A second webinar shed light on the to answer questions on verses in the showcasing its impressive collection the Holy Month of Ramadan. It is truly planted the garden’s very first tree, the numerous ways that medicinal plants Holy Qur’an related to the environment of botanical books and publications. heartwarming to see this level of Sidra tree, which symbolizes QF. Type 2 diabetes can be reversed with intensive lifestyle change: WCM-Q study THE PENINSULA — DOHA The clinical trial (DIADEM-I): an open-label, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial’ was funded A research study spearheaded by clinical demonstrated significant by Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF - researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine – weight loss as well as NPRP 8-912-3-192), a member of Qatar Qatar (WCM-Q) has shown for the first time Foundation. that type-2 diabetes can be reversed in reversal of type 2 diabetes Dr. Abdul Sattar Al-Taie, Executive those originating from the Middle East and in more than 60% of Director of Qatar National Research Fund North Africa region. intervention participants. said: “Funding research which promotes The internationally competitive work the healthcare of the citizens of Qatar is British Council Qatar is the first intensive lifestyle intervention one of the cornerstones of our mission at trial in the Middle East and North Africa participants in the intervention group losing Qatar National Research Fund. Type 2 dia- launches online English region and the first clinical trial in primary about 12kg on average after 12 months, betes and its spread in the Middle East is a care in Qatar. The clinical trial demon- compared with about 4kg in the control matter of high concern which requires courses during lockdown strated significant weight loss as well as group. Most importantly, almost two thirds research that focus on the local popula- reversal of type 2 diabetes in more than (61%) of participants in the intervention tions and conditions.” THE PENINSULA — DOHA The courses — 60% of intervention participants. group saw their diabetes go into remission, “Therefore, I am very glad to learn that Led by Dr. Shahrad Taheri, professor meaning that their blood sugars were no QNRF funding has resulted in such a sig- The British Council Qatar has Primary Plus, of medicine at WCM-Q and a consultant longer in the diabetes range. Finally, over nificant research project with positive launched new online English Secondary Plus and endocrinologist at Hamad Medical Corpo- one third of participants in the intervention implications for the Qatari people and all courses for both adults and English Online – ration and the Qatar Metabolic Institute, group saw their blood sugar levels return affected by type 2 diabetes. Such research children in response to Adults — have been the research team conducted a randomized completely to normal. projects which focus on the local popula- COVID-19. control trial, comparing the effects of the The research is of such importance for tions will be helpful in developing effective The courses—Primary Plus, designed to bring best medical care for diabetes with its impact on health that it has been pub- and specialized treatments to help people Secondary Plus and English British Council classes intensive lifestyle intervention therapy that lished in The Lancet Diabetes and Endo- with type 2 diabetes in Qatar and the Online – Adults — have been into homes through included dietary change, physical activity, crinology medical journal, one of the region.” designed to bring British a tailormade online and behaviour change. world’s leading medical journals. This is Dr. Javaid Sheikh, dean of WCM-Q, also Council classes into homes The study participants were younger the highest impact health publication in praised the research. He said: “Given that through a tailormade online learning platform. adults who had all been diagnosed with which a clinical research study conducted diabetes is so prevalent within Middle learning platform. The platform offers diabetes within the previous three years. in Qatar has been published. Eastern populations, this study has the The platform offers live live classroom lessons They were all aged between 18 and 50 and Dr. Taheri said: “This study was highly potential to help tens of thousands of classroom lessons with dedi- with dedicated British had a body mass index (BMI) of 27kg/m² or significant, proving for the first time the people, improving their quality of life and cated British Council teachers. more. Participants were randomly placed benefits of an intensive lifestyle inter- enhancing their life expectancy. Students will also be provided Council teachers. into the control group or the intensive inter- vention for patients with diabetes origi- “Not only that, but by revolutionizing with support between classes, Students will also vention group. Individuals in the inter- nating from 13 different countries in the the way type 2 diabetes is treated in their own personalised dash- be provided with vention group underwent a total diet Middle East and North Africa region. Qatar, we could see more people reverse board and a wide range of extra support between replacement phase, in which the partici- “It is also the first time that a health diabetes, removing the need for lifelong online resources. pants were given formula low-energy meal study originating and conducted in Qatar medical care and so improving health Children can join the classes, their replacement products followed by the has featured, because of its high clinical budgets. summer programme from own personalised gradual reintroduction of food combined value, in such a prestigious publication as “It is testament to what can be achieved home. Primary Plus, which is dashboard and a with physical activity support. This was in The Lancet. Our study shows that it is pos- when different organizations collaborate, suitable for children aged six wide range of extra conjunction with a weight loss maintenance sible to reverse diabetes in young indi- in this case WCM-Q has worked in part- to 11, is designed to be as child- phase that involved structured lifestyle viduals with type 2 diabetes. We can now nership with QNRF, Qatar Foundation, the friendly and intuitive as pos- online resources. support. take this directly into the clinic in Qatar Primary Health Care Corporation, Hamad sible with high quality, Participants in the control group and make a difference to people’s lives. Medical Corporation and Qatar Diabetes engaging materials - including received the best currently available dia- The study, entitled ‘Effect of intensive Association, Weill Cornell Medicine in New lots of varied activities, with while enabling everyone to stay betes care based on clinical guidelines. lifestyle intervention on bodyweight and York, and Cornell University in the US to songs, videos and quizzes. It safe at home, study at their The results were highly significant with glycaemia in early type 2 diabetes achieve remarkable results.” will focus on critical and cre- convenience and importantly ative thinking, problem solving it allows the children to engage and citizenship alongside in some fun learning with English learning. Secondary friends over the summer.” QU Colleges hold panel discussion on impact of COVID-19 Plus, designed for those aged The British Council also has THE PENINSULA — DOHA 12 to 17, will help develop stu- an extensive range of free online aims to limit the spread of the dents into assertive, independent resources for learners and Qatar University’s College of virus and the indicators that global citizens. It features an teachers of English. They have Business and Economics and indicate its possibility to reduce exciting range of practical and something for kids, teenagers College of Law organized a it, Dr. Hanan Abdel Rahim said, challenging tasks to encourage and adults at all levels of English. panel discussion under the title: “Countries differ from each self-expression and creative TeachingEnglish brings The Financial and Legal Impli- other in the prevalence of thinking in a digital world. together everything busy cations of Corona Pandemic infection, the level of resources, Finally, English Online – teachers need for the classroom and Precautionary Measures. and the readiness of the health Adults aims to deliver an including lesson plans and The panel discussion was system. Therefore there is no engaging, flexible, high quality worksheets, teaching tips, web moderated by Prof. Dr. Hassan magic formula that can be gen- learning experience which builds links, teaching articles and lots Abdul Rahim Al-Sayed, Asso- eralized. However, there are a set learners’ confidence no matter of information about profes- ciate Professor at the Faculty of of instruction’s which should be their skill levels. Students have sional development. Law and Director of Social and followed in countries that con- the choice of adding a specific While Learn English Kids Economic Survey Research sider mitigating precautionary pathway that supports their and Learn English Teens Particpants at the panel discussion. Institute - SESRI at Qatar Uni- measures, the most important of learning needs - English for includes free online learning versity. With the participation of which is that there is a decrease Work, English for Study or resources including videos, Mohammed Al-Jammal, Asso- involved the public, private said, “The impact of the crisis in the number of new cases English for Life. reading texts, listening and ciate Professor of Finance at sector, governments and indi- cannot be determined yet recorded daily and this decrease Speaking about the new worksheets practise to help Qatar University, Dr. Abdullah viduals in its consequences because it has not ended and should continue. The second online platform, Sam Ayton, improve English at home. Abdul Karim Abdullah, Professor resulting from changing the there are still effects that have not consideration is that every indi- Country Director, British Courses are open now for of Private Law at Qatar Uni- shape of the economy in the yet appeared. As the effects are vidual carrying the symptoms of Council Qatar said: “This inno- Primary Plus, Secondary Plus versity and Dr. Faten Hawa, future. The countries themselves not only quantitative but rather illness should be examined.” vative and intuitive platform and English Online – Adults. The Associate Professor of Private are more concerned with food a quality that varies from sector On the main legal implica- has been designed with each classroom schedule will vary Law at Qatar University, staff and medicine supplies, we must to sector and also varies within tions during this pandemic, Dr. age group in mind, and they according to the age group of members and students. focus on developing the form of the same sector.”“The impact of Abdullah Abdul Karim explained, will get the chance to expe- the students and communi- The opening session dis- production which is in demand, the crisis on financial markets “The problem arose when the rience real, face-to-face con- cation skills, with learners ini- cussed the current repercus- people losing their jobs and began to be evident since the end obligations were implemented, nections, using the same cur- tially provided with a free online sions of the Corona pandemic emerging for new jobs which did of February, as we witnessed huge which no one was expecting. We riculum as in the classroom. All English level assessment. in terms of economic, legal not exists before. There are many decline in the history of stock cannot predict when the pandemic students will have lots of time All courses are accessible from aspects and the precautionary future opportunities to invest in exchanges since the creation of will end and this may make the to speak with their teachers a desktop computer, laptop or measures used to limit the the digital domain and the use of global exchanges. We see that there implementation of the com- and fellow classmates, with tablet. Students will need to ensure spread of this crisis. modern technologies with easy is a gradual recovery resulting in mitment by one of the parties to classes kept small with just they have a good wi-fi connection, In this regard, Abdul access to services” an increase in some markets, due the contract or perhaps both, eight to ten students in a class.” a microphone (headset recom- Rahman Al-Ansari, CEO of Speaking about the impact to the way government is handling exhausting or impossible, because “We are really excited to be mended), a speaker and a webcam Qatar Industrial Manufacturing of the crisis on the markets in the pandemic,” he added there were obstacles that arose in able to offer this now. It brings and are in a quiet place in the Company, said: “The private general and the Qatari market Moving to the session of the the implementation of these con- our quality learning pro- home where they will not be sector’s view that this pandemic in particular, Dr. Al Jammal precautionary measures that tracts due to the pandemic.” gramme into people’s homes distracted. 06 MIDDLE EAST SATURDAY 23 MAY 2020

Sons’ forgiveness Block Israel’s in Khashoggi murder ‘parody of annexation of justice’: UN expert

AFP — GENEVA

West Bank: OIC The decision by the sons of murdered Saudi journalist ANATOLIA — JEDDAH The organization Jamal Khashoggi to “forgive” called on the their father’s killers was just The Organization of Islamic international another step in Saudi Arabia’s Cooperation (OIC) has called community, “parody of justice”, a UN on the international expert said yesterday. community to take urgent especially the UN Although “shocking” the measures to prevent Israeli General Assembly announcement “was antici- annexation plans in the and Security Council, pated”, said Agnes Callamard, occupied Palestinian territory. to “take practical the UN special rapporteur on “Any unilateral measures extrajudicial, summary or taken by Israel towards and urgent measures arbitrary executions. annexing Arab lands do not to prevent the The independent rights serve the peace process and are implementation expert, who does not speak inconsistent with international for the United Nations but of the colonial Worshippers participating in the last Friday prayer of Ramadan, amid the coronavirus disease legitimacy resolutions,” OIC said. who reports her findings to it, restrictions, outside Jerusalem’s Old City. The organization called on annexation and maintained that the Saudi the international community, settlement plans”. authorities were “playing out especially the UN General what they hope will be the Assembly and Security Council, Friday prayers resume in Gaza final act in their well- to “take practical and urgent The plan has drawn inter- rehearsed parody of justice”. measures to prevent the imple- national condemnation and AP — GAZA holiday marking the end of the imposed a blockade on Gaza in And they were doing so mentation of the colonial annex- outrage. holy month of Ramadan. 2007. Three wars between “in front of an international ation and settlement plans”. The West Bank, including Gaza’s Hamas rulers allowed Authorities in Gaza have Israel and Hamas, as well as community far too ready to It stressed that a just and East Jerusalem, is seen as mosques to reopen for Friday reported 35 new cases in recent Palestinian infighting, have also be deceived” she said in a lasting solution to the Pales- occupied territory under inter- prayers for the first time since days, bringing the total number taken a heavy toll on the health statement. tinian cause would be through national law, thus making all March, despite a recent spike to 55. All the new cases were care system. Khashoggi was killed and two-state solution and the Jewish settlements there - as in new coronavirus cases detected in quarantine Gazans are only able to dismembered at the king- establishment of a Palestinian well as the planned annexation within quarantine facilities in facilities. enter the territory through the dom’s consulate in Istanbul state with East Jerusalem as its - illegal. the isolated territory. But they have renewed con- Rafah crossing with Egypt and in October 2018. capital. On Tuesday, Palestinian Worshippers were given cerns about a wider outbreak are immediately placed in His family’s pardon is Israel is expected to annex President Mahmoud Abbas said hand sanitizer as they entered that could overwhelm the mandatory quarantine for 21 expected to spare the lives of parts of the West Bank on July Palestine is terminating all mosques. They brought their depleted health care system in days. Hamas said it would bar five unnamed people sen- 1, as agreed between Prime agreements and under- own prayer rugs, wore masks the impoverished territory, the entry of returnees until the tenced to death over the Minister Benjamin Netanyahu standings signed with Israel and kept space between them- which is home to 2 million end of June to allow health murder in a December court and Benny Gantz, the head of and the US, including on selves. The opening came people. workers to deal with the new ruling, which was lambasted the Blue and White party. security. ahead of Eid Al Fitr, a major Israel and Egypt have cases. by human rights groups after two top aides to the crown prince were exonerated. Callamard chastised Saudi Fight to ‘liberate Palestine’ is Islamic duty: Khamenei authorities over the case, which she said played out in several acts. “Act One was TEHRAN AFP — of all Palestinians to their emerged in the country in Feb- their pretence of an investi- country,” Khamenei said in the ruary. This year’s Quds Day gation,” she said, adding that Iran’s supreme leader said it speech broadcast live on state comes after the assassination the team Riyadh sent to help was an Islamic duty to fight for television. in January of Qasem Soleimani, with the probe had in fact the “liberation of Palestine” in “The policy of normalising the powerful commander of the been ordered to “clean up the a landmark speech yesterday the presence of the Zionist Quds Force, the foreign opera- crime scene”. She accused amid rising tensions with regime in the region is one of tions arm of Iran’s Revolu- them of engaging in regional arch-enemy Israel. the major policies of the United tionary Guards. “obstruction of justice”. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei States of America,” he said. Netanyahu on Wednesday “The mockery of an inves- lashed out at Western nations “Some governments in the blasted Khamenei on Twitter tigation laid charges only and their “puppets” for sup- region, which play the role of after the Iranian leader’s own against the hitmen themselves porting the Jewish state, in his US puppets, have provided the account posted quotes from a but none against the master- first ever address marking Quds necessary preconditions for speech he made in November. minds — those who ordered (Jerusalem) Day. this, such as economic ties and In the tweet on Khamenei’s the killing,” Callamard said. The 80-year-old leader also the like; these efforts are com- account, the Iranian leader was Khashoggi, a 59-year-old appeared to confirm for the first pletely fruitless and sterile. Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei speaking to commemorate quoted as saying that “elimi- Washington Post contributor time that Iran has helped to “Everyone must fill the Jerusalem Day during a live braodcast in Tehran, Iran, yesterday. nating the Zionist regime and critic of the crown prince, provide Palestinians with arms. hand of the Palestinian fighter doesn’t mean eliminating Jews”. was strangled and his body The remarks came at the and strengthen his back. has changed: today Gaza can the event for the first time in Netanyahu responded by cut into pieces by a 15-man end of a week that saw Israeli “We will proudly do our best stand up to the Zionist enemy’s more than 30 years as supreme saying: “He should know that Saudi squad inside the con- Prime Minister Benjamin in this way. military aggression and win.” leader, although he has any regime that threatens Israel sulate, according to Turkish Netanyahu launch a Twitter “One day we realised that Every year since the 1979 repeatedly referred to the Pal- with extermination will find officials. His remains have not tirade against Khamenei and the only problem of the Pales- Islamic Revolution, Iran has estinian cause as “the main itself in similar danger”. been found. Callamard also the two sides accuse each other tinian fighter... was the lack of marked Quds Day on the last problem of the Muslim world”. The Iranian leader’s tweets slammed the “pretence of a of cyber attacks. weapons. Friday of Ramadan, the Muslim The Islamic republic has were also condemned by US trial”, and especially that UN “The aim of this struggle is “We planned” to resolve this month of fasting, in solidarity cancelled this year’s Quds Day Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Security Council members the liberation of the entire Pal- issue, and “the result is that the with the Palestinians. rallies to curb the spread of the who called them had agreed to send observers estinian land” and “the return balance of power in Palestine Khamenei was speaking at novel coronavirus, which first “anti-Semitic”. sworn to secrecy. Palestinian security forces pull out of area B in Jerusalem ANATOLIA — RAMALLAH Palestinian security forces to be He said Palestine held the deployed there because of the US administration responsible Palestinian security forces have coronavirus pandemic. for the occupation of the Pal- withdrawn from towns and Palestinian officials are yet estinian people and considered villages in Jerusalem classified to comment on whether the it a key partner in Israel’s as Area B in the Oslo accords. move was related to recent actions and decisions against According to witnesses, Pal- remarks by President Mahmoud the rights of the Palestinians. estinian forces left the north- Abbas on Palestine’s withdrawal Palestinian Prime Minister western towns of Iksa, Qatanna from past agreements with the Mohammad Shtayyeh, for his and Biddu, as well as the northern US and Israel as Tela Aviv is part, ordered the implemen- Abu Dis and Izarriya towns. expected to annex large parts of tation of Abbas’s decisions to Though the Oslo II Accord the occupied West Bank. cut ties with Israel and the US. inked in 1995 between the Pal- On Tuesday, Abbas said the At the extraordinary cabinet estine Liberation Organization country was terminating all meeting, Shtayyeh ordered all People do shopping as they make preparations ahead of Eid Al Fitr at Grand Bazaar after easing of and Israel, designates area B as agreements and understandings ministries to take concrete steps the lockdown imposed by the government in order to curb the spread of coronavirus pandemic, in subject to Israeli security signed with Israel and the US, and urgent measures on Abbas’s Kirkuk, Iraq, yesterday. control, Tel Aviv allowed including those on security. decisions. Iran counts 51 new virus deaths; Kuwait reports 9 Funding gaps threaten

AGENCIES — TEHRAN/KUWAIT agency (KUNA). Kuwait also said visit their family and friends since last month it has gradually that 310 more patients have during Eid, which will be held eased restrictions aimed at virus fight in Yemen: UN Iran said yesterday it had recovered from the disease, tomorrow and Monday in the halting the spread of the virus. AFP — GENEVA detected another 51 deaths from taking to 5,515 the total of such Islamic republic. Coronavirus cases in Oman its novel coronavirus outbreak, recoveries in the country. “Moving in the red zones have almost doubled in the past A range of aid programmes in war-ravaged Yemen, including bringing the country’s overall Iran's health ministry puts us in danger and moving 10 days, reaching close to ones responding to coronavirus, could be cut in the coming weeks fatalities to 7,300. spokesman Kianoush in the white zones puts the 6,800.The country’s Health because of funding shortages, the UN warned yesterday. The Kuwaiti Ministry of Jahanpour said 2,311 new pos- inhabitants of these zones in Ministry said 424 more people The United Nations and Saudi Arabia will host a donor con- Health announced 955 new itive tests for COVID-19 took the danger,” Harirchi was quoted - the week’s highest figure - ference on June 2 in a bid to boost support for Yemen, which was coronavirus infections in the country’s caseload to 131,652. as saying by Mehr news agency. tested positive for COVID-19 already facing the world’s worst humanitarian crisis before the last 24 hours, bringing the total Fourteen provinces reported no Iran reported its first cases over the past 24 hours, bringing pandemic struck. of infections to 19,564, while deaths in the past 24-hour of coronavirus on February 19 the total to 6,794. The number “We are urging the donors to pledge generously, and those nine deaths from the virus were period, while six reported just — two deaths in the Shiite holy marks a rise of more than 3,000 who have given an indication of pledges to actually pay early reported raising the number of one fatality. city of Qom. The government since May 12, when the overall because the operation in Yemen is severely, severely under- fatalities to 138. Iraj Harirchi, deputy min- of President Hassan Rouhani count stood at 3,721. funded,” Jens Laerke, a spokesman with the UN’s humanitarian All the new cases were in ister of health, renewed an was criticised for being slow to The ministry also confirmed agency OCHA, told a virtual press conference. “We are heading touch with previously infected appeal for Iranians to avoid react as the virus spread rapidly two more fatalities, which towards a fiscal cliff,” he warned. people or are being investigated unnecessary travel during the across the Isamic republic. raised Oman’s death toll to 32. “If we do not get the money coming in, the programmes that for sources of infection, the Eid Al Fitr holiday marking the It shut schools and places A total of 1,821 patients have are keeping people alive and that are very much essential to fight Health Ministrys spokesman Dr end of the Muslim fasting month of worship and banned inter- recovered in the country since back against COVID will have to close.” Laerke said the UN esti- Abdullah Al Sanad said, of Ramadan.Iranians usually city travel for the Persian New it confirmed the first COVID-19 mated it needed some $2bn to keep essential programmes running according to Kuwait news travel between provinces to Year holidays in March, but case on February 24. in Yemen for the remainder of the year. SATURDAY 23 MAY 2020 AFRICA 07 Rwanda genocide suspect Bizimana dead: UN tribunal AFP — THE HAGUE headquartered in Arusha, Tan- zania, formally closed in 2015 Former Rwandan defence and its duties were transferred minister Augustin Bizimana, one to an institution called the MICT. of the top suspects wanted over In its statement yesterday, the country’s 1994 genocide, has the MICT said the “confirmation died, the UN tribunal said of death” was the result of an yesterday. exhaustive probe by the prose- He is believed to have died cutor’s office “combining around August 2000, “based on advanced technology with the conclusive identification of extensive field operations, and Bizimana’s remains in a grave involved exceptional cooperation site in Pointe Noire, the Republic with partner authorities in of the Congo,” the Mechanism for Rwanda, the Republic of the People celebrating victory against Khalifa Haftar’s forces, in Tripoli, Libya. International Criminal Tribunals Congo, the Netherlands and the (MICT) said in a statement. United States.” Former Rwandan defence About 800,000 people, The prosecutor’s office, it minister Augustin Bizimana Libya’s Tripoli government mainly members of the Tutsi said, conducted DNA analysis ethnic group but also moderate late last year on previously- Hutus, were slaughtered over Former Rwandan obtained samples of human 100 days of violence committed defence minister remains from a grave site in retakes more areas of capital by Hutu extremists in 1994. Pointe Noire. Bizimana had been indicted Augustin Bizimana “Subsequent investigations REUTERS — BENGHAZI recent weeks, seizing a string Tarhouna, the biggest by the United Nations’ Interna- is believed to have and comparative DNA analysis of towns from the LNA, cap- remaining LNA stronghold in tional Criminal Tribunal for by the Office over the last several Libya’s internationally recog- turing the strategically northwest Libya. Rwanda in 1998. died around August months ruled out that the nised government retook parts important Watiya airbase and The GNA took Asaba, which The 13 counts included gen- 2000, based on remains were those of any other of southern Tripoli yesterday destroying several of its lies on a major supply route to ocide, murder, rape and torture, the conclusive person,” it said. from the eastern-based Libyan Russian-made air defence Tarhouna on Thursday, putting including the murder of former “The Office further verified National Army (LNA) of Khalifa systems. more pressure on LNA forces prime minister Agathe Uwiling- identification of additional evidence concerning Haftar, whose 13-month The LNA, backed by the in the town, which has been iyimana and 10 Belgian UN Bizimana’s remains in the circumstances of Bizimana’s campaign to seize the capital is United Arab Emirates, Russia subjected to bombardment for peacekeepers. death. under ever-greater pressure. and Egypt, has promised to weeks. An LNA military source The announcement by the a grave site in Pointe “Accordingly, the Office con- Fighters for the Gov- respond with a massive air said GNA forces were gathering MICT comes six days after the Noire, the Republic of firms today that Augustin Biz- ernment of National Accord campaign and on Thursday its to attack Tarhouna and said it arrest in Paris of one of the last imana is deceased. It is believed (GNA) said they had advanced spokesman Ahmed Mismari had downed a drone there. alleged fugitives from the gen- the Congo. that he died in August 2000 in into several districts and said four warplanes had The United Nations Libya ocide — Felicien Kabuga. Pointe Noire.” overrun a military camp. The become newly available. mission said it was following He is accused of creating the Kabuga, 84, who spent a In France, the head of an LNA said it had already pulled As diplomats warned of the the mobilisation around notorious Interahamwe militia quarter of the century on the run, association of genocide victims out of those areas in what it said risk of a new round of esca- Tarhouna with “great concern”, that carried out massacres, and was indicted by the UN court in said the news that Bizimana had was a humanitarian gesture for lation with the warring sides’ warning all parties against any the Radio-Television Libre des 1997 on seven counts, including died without being brought to Ramadan. external backers pouring in acts of retribution in a Mille Collines which, in its broad- genocide. book was a “great The GNA has with Turkish new weaponry, the focus of the statement the United States said casts, incited people to murder. The UN tribunal for Rwanda, disappointment.” help made sudden strides in conflict shifted towards it supported. UN demands swift justice over ‘appalling’ South Sudan violence Virus cases in AFP — GENEVA state. The former Chilean presi- added. brutal six-year civil war that left — particularly water and grazing Africa surpass dent’s office said that while polit- “This recurring pattern of 380,000 dead and millions land for cattle -- have become A deadly upsurge in intercom- ically-motivated fighting in South violence, which continues to displaced. increasingly militarised in terms 100,000 as munal violence in South Sudan Sudan had declined, intercom- claim lives in South Sudan, has President Salva Kiir and Riek of tactics and weaponry, Bache- has to stop and those responsible munal violence had surged this to stop,” Bachelet said in a Machar, the rebel leader who is let’s office said. over 3,100 die must be swiftly brought to justice, year. statement. now first vice president, reached “For the peace in South the UN human rights chief During the first three months “I urge the government to a deal to form a unity gov- Sudan to be durable, the state AP — JOHANNESBURG insisted yesterday. of 2020, 658 people were killed ensure measures are in place to ernment in February but remain authorities must act to end these Michelle Bachelet, the United in intercommunal violence in the investigate this violence and to at odds over issues including who cycles of retaliatory violence, Africa’s coronavirus cases have Nations’ high commissioner for country, while 452 were injured, ensure that those responsible are will govern the country’s 10 including by holding those surpassed 100,000, the Africa human rights, slammed the the rights office said. prosecuted, and that victims and internal states. responsible to account and pro- Centers for Disease Control and “appalling” attacks that have Another 592 people were their families have access to The intercommunal conflicts, moting peace-building between Prevention said yesterday, as reportedly left hundreds dead in abducted and 65 reported being justice, truth and reparations.” long driven by tensions over individual communities,” said the continent with many fragile the world’s youngest sovereign subjected to sexual violence, it South Sudan is emerging from a access to natural resources Bachelet. health systems has not yet seen the high numbers of other parts of the world. More than 3,100 people Burundi opposition have died from COVID-19 across the continent of 1.3 billion people. leader rejects ‘fantasy’ The African continent has seen roughly the same number of new cases in the past week early poll results as the week before, Africa CDC director John Nkengasong said AFP — NAIROBI simply the result of pure manip- on Thursday, adding that “we ulation,” he said. hope that trend continues” Burundi’s main opposition leader “We have won — whether in instead of a rapid exponential has rejected early signs the ruling the presidential, legislative or increase. party is heading for victory in this local elections. We have the While early lockdowns in week’s general election, results to prove it.” many of Africa’s 54 countries describing the results from 12 In one case, the ruling party slowed the growth of the pan- percent of municipalities as captured three-quarters of votes demic, Nkengasong said “that “fantasy.” in the opposition stronghold of doesn’t mean Africa has been “Absolutely I reject these Kabezi, one of Burundi’s 119 spared.” results. These results being municipalities. The CNL attracted But he said health officials Voters stand in queue at a polling station during the presidential and legislative council elections, declared are a fantasy. They do just under one quarter. are not seeing a lot of com- not reflect reality,” said Agathon Both sides alleged fraud in in Ngozi, Burundi. munity deaths or “massive Rwasa, leader of the National Wednesday’s election, which was flooding of our hospitals” Council for Liberty (CNL), of the generally calm but proceeded between Rwasa, Ndayishimiye, years in power, a time during times and the voting cards of because of COVID-19. results released by state media with scant attention paid to the and five other candidates for which his party was accused of absent voters being redistributed He said the African con- late on Thursday. coronavirus pandemic. president, as well as elect their serious rights abuses and Burundi to ruling party electors. tinent needs to test about 10 Rwasa said tallies done at The election commission lawmakers and local officials. became increasingly isolated on The election commission has times the number of people it polling stations on Wednesday earlier Thursday had called for Ndayishimiye is the hand- the world stage. yet to respond to the charges. has already tested for the coro- clearly showed the CNL had the calm, saying it would take several picked heir to President Pierre The campaign was marked However Pierre Nkurikiye, the navirus. It should strive to test lead over the ruling CNDD-FDD days to collect and tally all the Nkurunziza, whose 2015 bid for by violence and arbitrary arrests, spokesman for Burundi’s public at least 1% of the population, or party and its frontrunner can- votes at official counting centres, a third term unleashed violence and the CNL said several of its security ministry, in turn accused 13 million people, but so far only didate, Evariste Ndayishimiye. and warned against reading into that left at least 1,200 dead and officials were harassed on voting members of the CNL of attempted 1.3 million to 1.4 million tests “We can easily demonstrate early and incomplete results. saw 400,000 others flee the day. The party also alleged there fraud, confirming some of their have been conducted. Shortages that this is cheating. These More than five million registered country. Nkurunziza announced had been incidents of proxy members were arrested for of testing and medical numbers being put out there are voters were asked to choose he would not run again after 15 voting, people voting multiple minor incidents. equipment remain a problem. Countries with fragile health systems and a recent history of conflict like Somalia and South Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan to resume talks on disputed dam Sudan remain a worry for health officials as cases rise. And in AP — ADDIS ABABA win-win solutions,” Abiy said in asserts that a rapid filling of the tions back home.” agreement on the filling and Tanzania, where the president a Facebook post after speaking dam could reduce its share of The war of words between operation of the Grand Ethiopian claims the virus has been Three African countries have to Sudanese Prime Minister water on which it almost entirely Ethiopia and Egypt has since Renaissance Dam.” defeated by prayer, the gov- signalled their readiness to Abdalla Hamdok. relies. Ethiopia and Egypt, two of escalated. Ethiopia said it will Egypt added it is ready to ernment hasn’t updated its case resume negotiations on a contro- “Through our discussions, we Africa’s regional powers, have start filling the dam in July when reach to an agreement that “pre- numbers in three weeks. versial dam that will be the conti- addressed misunderstood appealed to the United States, the the rain starts, but Egypt has pro- serves Egypt’s water interests and South Africa has been nent’s largest. The move by issues.” United Nations and others to tested the move in a letter it sent equally takes into account the testing assertively and leads the Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan came The $4.6 billion Grand Ethi- support their positions. to the UN Security Council. interests of both Ethiopia and continent with more than after Ethiopian Prime Minister opian Renaissance Dam that Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan Ethiopia also sent a letter to the Sudan.” 19,000 cases. Abiy Ahmed said on Thursday his Ethiopia is building on the Nile concluded technical talks without UN body explaining its position. The Blue Nile flows from Africa’s worst-case scenario, country is ready to return to talks. River is meant to provide needed an agreement in January and Following Ethiopia’s latest Ethiopia into Sudan, where it according to published models, “We have agreed to continue electricity for more than 70 then went to Washington for US- move, Egypt’s foreign ministry joins the White Nile near the would see more than 3 million with technical-level engage- million Ethiopians, but Egypt has brokered talks. said “the return of the three capital, Khartoum, to form the infected and more than ments through our water min- raised urgent concerns over the Ethiopia later withdrew from parties to the negotiation table Nile River. Some 85 percent of 300,000 deaths and “that isters tasked to discuss out- filling of the dam, which is set to the talks citing “pressures” to sign was agreed to complete the the Nile waters originate from would be overwhelming for standing issues and arrive at begin in the coming weeks. Egypt a deal and “unfinished consulta- remaining simple part of the Ethiopia and the Blue Nile. sure,” Nkengasong said. 08 VIEWS SATURDAY 23 MAY 2020

Established in 1996

CHAIRMAN DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI [email protected]

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected]

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI [email protected]

King Felipe VI wearing a face mask elbow-greeting a vendor during a visit to the Mercamadrid wholesale market of fresh products in EDITORIAL Madrid amid a national lockdown to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. Expanding global presence Coronavirus, race and income: DESPITE a number of global challenges created by ongoing pandemic, Qatar Petroleum is continuing its journey to achieve greater goals with the help of com- pany’s vision and timely designed strategies. How the virus discriminates In recent weeks, Qatar Petroleum has expanded its global presence. Recently, Qatar Petroleum entered Devi Sridhar, professor Research printed in — where many migrants live into a farm-in agreement with Total to acquire a 45% and chair of Global Public the Journal of the — have seen up to three times participating interest in blocks CI-705 and CI-706, Health at the University of as many cases per capita as located in the Ivorian-Tano basin, offshore the Republic Edinburgh Medical School, American Medical wealthier areas. of Côte d’Ivoire. said that a lack of prepar- Association this Within Britain’s health The two blocks cover an area of approximately 3,200 edness when the pandemic service, several studies square kilometers, and present multi-target hydrocarbon struck exposed “a two-tiered month found that suggest that BAME doctors prospects in water depths ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 system” in Britain’s response and nurses may be the victims PATRIC GALEY COVID-19 mortality meters, 35 kilometers from shore and about 100 kilom- AFP to the virus. of systemic discrimination. eters from nearby Foxtrot, Espoir and Baobab fields. “If we look back to March was “substantially In a recent BMA survey of Before that Qatar Petroleum (QP) also entered into — which is astounding — if higher” among black 16,000 health workers, BAME three farm-in agreements to acquire about 30 percent After COVID-19 first appeared you were networked enough doctors were three times of Totals participating interest in blocks 15, 33 and 34 in China late last year, doctors and rich enough you could go and Latino patients more likely than their white located in the Campeche basin, offshore Mexico. quickly realised what made and purchase a COVID test, than in white patients. colleagues to report having Last month, Qatar Petroleum had entered into an some patients more just if you were curious if you been under pressure to work agreement to reserve LNG ship construction capacity vulnerable to the virus than had it or not,” she told AFP. on COVID-19 wards without in China to be utilized for Qatar Petroleum’s future LNG others: age, gender and “Yet if you were a health adequate personal protective carrier fleet requirements, including those of its ongoing underlying health problems worker on a COVID ward and equipment (PPE). North Field expansion projects. Pursuant to the all played a part. had symptoms, you would not Previous surveys have agreement, a significant portion of Hudong’s LNG ship Now, as the pandemic kills have had access to a test. also shown, for example, that construction capacity will be reserved for Qatar hundreds across the world That’s a dual system that is perhaps are less multicultural BAME health workers feel less Petroleum through the year 2027. each day, experts say evi- not good for public health than other societies in the able to speak out against their Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the President dence is mounting that other because you need people world,” he said. management, are more likely and CEO of Qatar Petroleum (QP) H E Saad bin Sherida socioeconomic factors — spe- tested on the front line.” - “The risk factors we saw to feel unconfident while at Al Kaabi has now said that Qatar Petroleum is planning cifically connected to race ‘Shocking’ death figures - It is coming out of China were to work, and are subjected to far greater international upstream expansion and will con- and income — influence who among those on the front line, do with age, diabetes, immu- higher levels of bullying and tinue farming-in and acquiring promising exploration become sick and who dies. including doctors, nurses and nosuppression, those kind of harassment than their white blocks around the world with major players. Officials in Europe and the care home workers, that the risk factors. So that’s what we colleagues. Speaking during a webinar organized by the US- US have insisted that link between COVID-19 mor- focused on.” - ‘Constellation’ A recent survey conducted Qatar Business Council, the Minister of State for Energy COVID-19 doesn’t discrim- tality and race becomes par- of factors - But while the data by ITV News collected around Affairs said recent global developments came right at inate. But the figures suggest ticularly stark. shows clearly that BAME 4,000 anonymous responses the heels of a number of other geopolitical developments otherwise. Tim Cook, professor of people are at great risk of from doctors and nurses, including trade war threats and regional tensions. A slew of recent studies anaesthesia at the Royal dying from COVID-19, Cook including numerous indi- The Minister of State for Energy Affairs also dis- have highlighted how people United Hospital of Bath and said it was hard to pinpoint viduals raising concerns that cussed Qatar’s efforts to serve the market and to meet from minority backgrounds in the University of Bristol, precisely why. their BAME status was putting demand for an efficient source of energy that can help Britain and the United States keeps a database of health “BAME individuals are them at higher risk. solve the global environmental challenge, and meet the — two of the hardest hit worker COVID-19 deaths. more likely to have a constel- “We were... threatened upcoming economic requirements. nations — are disproportion- Because official figures lation of other risk factors,” he with being sacked if we spoke “We are going full steam ahead with the North Field ately more likely to die from are tricky to come by, he and said. up about not being allowed to expansion projects to raise Qatar’s LNG production COVID-19 than their white colleagues began by scouring “Compared to white pop- wear PPE,” said one capacity from 77 million today to 110 million tons per counterparts. media reports. The results ulations they are more likely respondent. annum by 2025 and 126 million tons per annum by 2027,” Research printed in the were startling. to have hypertension, dia- For Nagpaul, BAME status H E said during the webinar, adding that the final onshore Journal of the American Of the 63 nurses and mid- betes, to have cardiovascular should be added to the list of commercial bids will be received by September and that Medical Association this wives killed by the virus in disease and those factors are known COVID-19 risk factors. contracts will be awarded by the end of the year. month found that COVID-19 Cook’s database, 76 percent known to put people at “BAME status puts a Al Kaabi stressed that Qatar Petroleum is developing mortality was “substantially were from a BAME (black, increased risk of harm from doctor at higher risk,” he said. its capabilities and international presence with an ultimate higher” among black and Asian, and minority ethnic) COVID.” But that alone “While of course we need goal of being recognized as an International Oil Company Latino patients than in white background. doesn’t explain the dis- to understand the reasons (IOC) rather than just a National Oil Company (NOC). patients. Of the 32 doctors and den- crepancy, and Sridhar said why, both for healthcare In Chicago, the rate of tists who have died from social factors likely played a workers and the community infection was 925 per COVID-19 so far, all but two significant role. at large, what the NHS has a 100,000 black people com- were non-white — 94 “It could be because duty to do is to make sure no pared with 389 among white percent. there’s some underlying one sector of the workforce is D-RING ROAD, POST BOX: 3488, DOHA - QATAR people. Overall, BAME health genetic predisposition but at greater risk. The priority workers made up 63 percent then we’d expect to see many needs to be to prevent further EMAIL: [email protected] Age-adjusted black mor- tality in New York City was of the deaths, despite only more deaths in countries that death.” At least two more than twice as high as making up just over 20 have larger BAME popula- healthcare trusts in Britain EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE: TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 white, a trend backed up by percent of the workforce. tions,” she said. “That’s not have already unilaterally FAX: +974 4455 7758 another study carried out by Chaand Nagpaul, chair of what we’re seeing. declared BAME workers at Britain’s Institute of Fiscal the British Medical Associ- “The one factor that’s high risk of COVID-19 and MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4462 7505 Studies. ation (BMA), told AFP the over-riding has to do with have redeployed them away That found that black figures were “a shock and a their social position, particu- from the front lines. DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4455 7769 Britons were 2.5 times more cause for alarm”. larly with health workers. Cook said that without far likely to die from COVID-19 “None of us could have What we’re seeing with greater monitoring and data LOCAL NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7743 than their white compatriots. foreseen this, it goes beyond doctors with BAME back- reporting -- including the In addition, several studies the margins of statistical vari- grounds is really astounding.” medical histories and ethnic- BUSINESS NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4462 7535 suggest that deprivation is a ation we would allow for,” he Cook added that a greater ities of those patients and key determinant in COVID-19 said. proportion of BAME indi- health workers who succumb SPORT NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7745 cases. “Many of these doctors viduals live in deprived areas to the virus -- it would be A University of Oxford played a very visible role in of Britain than white indi- hard to ever get to the bottom ONLINE SECTION: TEL: 4462 7501 review of 3,600 COVID-19 the care of patients in their viduals, which may limit their of why BAME people appear email: [email protected] test results found that people communities and for them to access to quality healthcare to be more vulnerable. living in the most deprived die from COVID is a very and testing. “We still can’t unpick PUBLIC RELATIONS: TEL: 4455 7613 areas of Britain were four noticeable loss.” Cook said he In Sweden, which has whether being hypertensive is email: [email protected] times more likely to test pos- was taken aback by the dis- gone against the grain of strict more of a risk factor than itive for the virus than those proportionate number of lockdown procedures, the being Asian, or whether ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 living in the richest. BAME COVID-19 health Public Health Agency having asthma is more of a FAX: 4455 7870, email: [email protected] An Imperial College pre- worker deaths, especially reported this month that risk than being black,” he said. paper estimated that people because it was not initially Somali-born residents were “At the moment we just CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7857 in the lowest income bracket understood as a risk factor over-represented among have a list of risk factors and email: [email protected] were 32 percent more likely when the pandemic struck. those hospitalised with those risk factors each have to to die from the virus than “China did really well in COVID-19. be considered.” SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION: TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 those in the highest. giving us information but they Poorer areas of Stockholm FAX: 44557819, email: [email protected]

www.thepeninsula.qa Quote of the day /PeninsulaQatar

/ThePeninsulaQatar The European Union has a strong stake in the continued stability and prosperity of Hong Kong /Peninsula_Qatar under the 'One Country Two Systems' principle.

/ThePeninsulaNewspaper Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union

+974 6698 6188 SATURDAY 23 MAY 2020 ASIA 09 Cyclone Amphan leaves thousands homeless REUTERS — KOLKATA/DHAKA capital of West Bengal, police Cyclone Amphan used drones to assess the damage killed at least 96 Several thousand people have from Amphan, which killed at been left homeless after the most least 19 people in the city. people, officials said powerful cyclone in more than a The total death toll is after it swept in from decade hit India and Bangladesh expected to rise as communica- this week, officials said, as Indian tions are restored and authorities the Bay of Bengal Prime Minister Narendra Modi reach villages cut off by blocked on Wednesday. visited the area yesterday and roads, particularly in India’s low- Eighty fatalities pledged aid. lying Sundarbans delta, home to Cyclone Amphan killed at 4 million people and thick man- were in the eastern least 96 people, officials said after grove forests that are a critical Indian state of West it swept in from the Bay of Bengal tiger habitat. on Wednesday. Eighty fatalities In the Sundarbans’ Gosaba, Bengal and 16 were were in the eastern Indian state an administrative area of the in neighbouring of West Bengal and 16 were in river delta that juts into the sea, neighbouring Bangladesh, after the storm completely destroyed Bangladesh, after winds of up to 185km per hour around 26,000 homes and winds of up to 185km caused flooding, blew away roofs, damaged another 14,000, local uprooted trees and ripped up disaster management official per hour caused power lines. Pradip Kumar Dalui said. flooding, blew away “The federal and state gov- The cyclone also damaged roofs, uprooted trees ernment tried everything we some 19km of embankments could to minimise the damage around Gosaba, causing 13 and ripped up power India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) gestures as he arrives to evaluate the situation after the from the cyclone. Still, we weren’t breaches that led salty water to lines. landfall of cyclone Amphan, in Kolkata, yesterday. able to save the lives of around inundate swathes of land, he said. 80 people,” Prime Minister Modi “The most urgent problem is told reporters yesterday at a the embankments. If they aren’t The crisis could be com- of the state from an air force hel- several hours and brought nationwide lockdown to curb the school in the West Bengal town fixed, we won’t be able to save pounded by the ongoing corona- icopter, looking down on acre extensive flooding, officials said. spread of the virus. Initial esti- of Basirhat during a stop on a tour the Sundarbans,” Dalui told virus outbreak as many returning upon acre of land swamped with “The city is still in a state of mates from the Bangladesh gov- to inspect the damage. Reuters by phone. migrant workers had been quar- flood waters, according to shock,” said Kolkata’s deputy ernment put the damage to infra- He said India stood with the Sankar Halder, who runs a antined at home but are now footage from the ANI. mayor Atin Ghosh, adding that structure, housing, fisheries and people of the affected region and non-profit organisation that sup- forced to mix with the rest of the “Despite this, West Bengal is municipal teams, civil defence livestock, water resources and announced emergency aid of ports issues such as health and population, he said. fighting well. We are all with personnel, police personnel have agriculture at about $130m. $132m to help West Bengal state, education in the Sundarbans, said “We don’t know the scale of West Bengal in these adverse been working overtime to restore “Some 1,100km of road, 200 which is also dealing with the that without temporary shelters the disaster that awaits us,” times,” Modi told reporters at the road connectivity. bridges and 150km of dams in coronavirus epidemic. thousands of homeless would be Halder said. school in Basirhat. “But there is an acute coastal districts have been Modi was flown over the completely exposed to monsoon Modi, along with West Bengal In Kolkata, an estimated shortage of manpower due to damaged,” said Enamur Rahman, area, surveying vast tracts of land rains that will arrive in a few chief minister Mamata Banerjee 10,000 trees were brought down coronavirus-related restrictions,” junior minister for disaster man- under water, while in Kolkata, weeks. and other officials, surveyed parts during the storm that lasted Ghosh said, referring to a agement and relief. Indonesia probes Virus surge in Indonesia raises questions about battle plan breach of data AP — JAKARTA the public not taking proper overwhelmed by thousands of we are adapting and this The government, never- precautions. shoppers and traders who requiring strict health theless, has insisted the country of more than Indonesia has seen a surge in “This illustrates people’s ignored health protocols and protocols.” must be ready to get back to coronavirus infections ahead of discipline in obeying health physical distancing. Widodo’s administration normal by the end of July. 2 million voters this this weekend’s celebrations protocols in fighting the out- “I’m here for my kids. They has taken early steps toward The government has set up REUTERS — JAKARTA marking the end of Ramadan, break,” said Achmad Yurianto, will be ashamed if their friends loosening virus restrictions by a team to gauge which cities raising questions about the the national COVID-19 task wear new clothes during Eid allowing public transportation should ease restrictions amid Indonesia’s election commission commitment to the virus fight force spokesman. while they don’t,” said Ida to resume, including airlines, at growing economic pressures. is investigating the release of 2.3 from both the government and But politicians have also Farida, a mother of three. 50 percent of their capacity. The reopening plan, which million voters’ private infor- the public. resisted the guidelines. So far, “Of course I’m worried,” she Yet on the first day public is still under development, aims mation on a hacker website Indonesia has the most only four of Indonesia’s 34 said when asked about possibly transport resumed, images cir- to have shopping malls resume along with a threat to release of COVID-19 fatalities in Southeast provinces and 26 cities have contracting the virus. culated on social media of limited operations on June 8. the data of about 200 million Asia at more than 1,300 and on applied large-scale social “But I leave it to God.” Pres- Jakarta’s main airport packed That will be followed by reo- people, the agency said Thursday reported its highest restriction, all with low levels ident Joko Widodo has said he with thousands of passengers pening schools with staggered yesterday. one day count of new infections of public compliance. will not yet ease large-scale ignoring physical-distancing schedules. The electoral data from the with 973. Popular markets such as social restrictions and insisted protocols. As widely circulated draft of world’s fourth most-populous The country has reported Tanah Abang in the capital, his government is aiming to keep Health experts have warned the plan said restaurants, bars, nation was posted anonymously nearly 21,000 infections, though Jakarta, were teeming with citizens productive and safe. that the fight against COVID-19 cafes and gyms would be on the hacking forum raid- actual numbers are thought to shoppers buying new children’s “We must coexist with is far from over, emphasizing allowed to start opening on July forums on Wednesday and ana- be far higher. clothes ahead of Eid-al Fitr, COVID-19,” Widodo said in a that the country’s limited testing 6, with tight health protocols in lysts said it could be used for Health officials have blamed which marks the end of the video statement last week. capabilities have made it harder place, followed by lifting restric- identity theft and fraud. the surge in cases in the world’s Islamic holy month of Ramadan. “Living in peace with it does not to get an accurate picture of the tions on travel and public The General Election Com- fourth most populous nation on Security personnel were mean we are giving up, but that true extent of the pandemic. worship. mission (KPU) confirmed the authenticity of the data, such as home addresses and national identification numbers, and said Coronavirus cases in it was working to determine the source. It confirmed some of the data dated back to 2013. Singapore top 30,000 “The KPU has been working since last night to look into that,” REUTERS — SINGAPORE risk like manufacturing and Viryan Aziz, one of its commis- finance will be allowed to sioners, said. Coronavirus cases in Singapore reopen, along with schools. He denied the leak had orig- topped 30,000 yesterday as the Retail shops and restaurants inated from the commission’s city-state reports hundreds of will remain closed. servers, saying the same data new infections in cramped The rapid spread of the had been shared with political migrant worker dormitories disease among the migrant parties and presidential candi- every day. labour population appeared to dates, in line with the law. The lowly paid workers rep- catch Singapore health officials Whoever posted the data on resented the vast majority of the by surprise. the forum did not identify them- 612 new cases reported yes- It took the country about selves, saying only, “I got more terday, a daily infection rate three months from the end of than 200 million Indonesians’ that is one of the highest in Asia, January to report its first 10,000 citizenship data that I will taking Singapore’s total cases cases, according to a tally based share...soon”. to 30,426. The death toll on official data. The next More than 192 million remains 22. 20,000 cases were reported in people were eligible to vote in Singapore closed schools just one month, as testing was national and regional elections and most workplaces in April boosted in the worker last year. as part of measures to curb dormitories. The leak was first reported People wearing face masks amid concern over the spread of the COVID-19 buy coconut leaves to infections. This week, the gov- There are more than by data breach monitoring firm ernment published plans for 300,000 workers from other wrap traditional delicacies at a market, in Singapore, yesterday. Under the Breach. some businesses to resume at Asian countries, including The release followed inves- the beginning of June, given the Bangladesh, India and China, infections has slowed to about Coronavirus cases and million population is infected tigations by e-commerce low rate of infections outside living in tightly packed accom- 600 over the past week, down deaths are still well below the with seasonal flu each year, platform Tokopedia into accu- the worker dormitories. Busi- modation in Singapore. from a high of 1,426 cases on Ministry of Health’s estimates with an annual average of 600 sations that the data of 91 million nesses with less transmission The daily rate of new April 20. that about 20 percent of the 5.7 deaths. users leaked online in early May. HK opposition slams China national security law move Thailand to extend virus AP — HONG KONG The bill, one of the most con- dares to speak out against the has the right to intervene.” troversial items on the agenda Communist Party,” he said, “The Chinese government is Hong Kong pro-democracy of the National People’s Con- describing it as a challenge to determined in safeguarding emergency till June end lawmakers sharply criticised gress in years, drew strong global values such as freedom national sovereignty, security, REUTERS — BANGKOK developments with the global China’s move to take over long- rebukes from the US gov- and liberty. and development interests, fol- pandemic and to allow time to stalled efforts to enact national ernment and rights groups. Wang Chen, vice chairman lowing through the policy of ‘one Thailand will maintain its state prepare for further easing at the security legislation in the semi- Despite that, Beijing appears to of the National People’s Con- country, two systems,’ and of emergency over the corona- start of next month. autonomous territory, saying it have lost patience and is deter- gress, said the protests and vio- opposing any external inter- virus until the end of June, its “The reason for extending goes against the “one country, mined to assert greater control lence in Hong Kong had chal- ference in Hong Kong affairs,” COVID-19 task force said the emergency decree for one two systems” framework in in Hong Kong and limit oppo- lenged the “one country, two ministry spokesperson Zhao yesterday, in an effort to keep more month is health security, which Beijing promised the city sition activity following last systems” principle and the aim Lijian said at a daily briefing. infections under control as the enabling a unified and continued freedoms not found on the year’s protests. of the legislation was to stop any A previous effort to pass government prepares to ease operation by officials in a pan- mainland. “Xi Jinping has torn away the behavior that posed potential such legislation in Hong Kong’s restrictions further. demic situation that has not been The proposed bill, submitted whole pretense of ‘one country, security threats. legislature was shelved after Shopping malls and resolved,” said CCSA spokesman yesterday on the opening day of two systems,’” former pro- Wang said Hong Kong’s legal massive street protests in 2003. department stores reopened at Taweesin Wisanuyothin. China’s national legislative democracy lawmaker Lee system and enforcement must This time, Beijing has decided to the weekend after almost two The extension is subject to session, is aimed at forbidding Cheuk-yan said of China’s be established and improved “at circumvent the territory’s law- months of closure as the number Cabinet approval on Tuesday. secessionist and subversive leader. the state level” to “change the making body using what critics of cases slowed, but bars, night- The government has activity, as well as foreign inter- He said at a news briefing by long-lasting situation of say are dubious legal grounds clubs, cinemas, playgrounds and extended a ban on international ference and terrorism. It comes opposition parties and activists defenselessness in the national under the Basic Law, which has some sports remain off-limits. passenger flights, which has been after months of pro-democracy that the move shows Beijing is security affairs in Hong Kong.” served as a sort of constitution The government’s Centre for in place since April, until the end demonstrations last year that at “directly taking control.” China’s foreign ministry said for Hong Kong since its return COVID-19 Situation Adminis- of June. Schools remain closed times descended into violence “They’re trying to ban every Hong Kong is China’s internal to China from British colonial tration (CCSA) proposed the and are scheduled to reopen in between police and protesters. organization in Hong Kong who affair and “no foreign country rule in 1997. extension in response to July. 10 ASIA SATURDAY 23 MAY 2020 PIA plane crashes into crowded Karachi Uzbekistan to liberalise residential area; 80 bodies recovered electoral, The plane, with 99 on board, was on its second media law attempt to land after cancelling a previous one in a routine manoeuvre known as a go-around, REUTERS — TASHKENT one person familiar with the investigation Uzbekistan plans to liberalise said. The pilot told air traffic controllers he its electoral and media laws, had lost power from both engines, according the government said to a recording posted on liveatc.net, a widely yesterday, in a move that could make its tightly controlled respected aviation monitoring website. political system more open and reduce Western criticism REUTERS — KARACHI of its record on democracy and he had suffered fractures but was human rights. “conscious and responding well”. The resource-rich Central A Pakistan International Airlines Smoke billowed from the Asian nation of 34 million has (PIA) Airbus jet with 99 people scene where flight PK 8303 came been opening up since Pres- on board crashed into a crowded down at about 2.45pm. Twisted ident Shavkat Mirziyoyev took residential district of the city of fuselage lay in the rubble of over in late 2016 following the Karachi yesterday afternoon multi-storey buildings as ambu- death of veteran leader Islam while approaching the airport. lances rushed through chaotic Karimov, who had run A total of 80 bodies have crowds. The crash happened on Uzbekistan with an iron fist for been recovered, provincial the eve of the Muslim festival of 27 years. health officials said with more Eid, when Pakistanis travel to In a draft decree published feared dead. The PIA plane had visit relatives. yesterday for public discussion, made multiple approaches to “The aeroplane first hit a Mirziyoyev proposed constitu- land at the city's airport when mobile tower and crashed over tional amendments that would Security personnel search for victims in the wreckage of a Pakistan International Airlines aircraft it came down among houses, houses,” witness Shakeel Ahmed replace the current majori- after it crashed in a residential area, in Karachi, yesterday. devastating buildings and said near the site, a few kilo- tarian, winner-takes-all system killing several people on the metres short of the airport. used in parliamentary elections ground. The official statement The Airbus A320 was flying The pilot told air traffic con- “The last we heard from the causes, and that it is too early to with a mixed system that confirmed two survivors and from the eastern city of Lahore trollers he had lost power from pilot was that he has some tech- understand them within the first includes some proportional said that 17 of the bodies had to Karachi in the south with 91 both engines, according to a nical problem... It is a very tragic hours or days. Army and rescue representation. been "identified so far". passengers and eight crew, civil recording posted on liveatc.net, incident,” said the state carrier’s services rushed to the area. Uzbekistan is a presi- Airline's chief executive aviation authorities said, just as a widely respected aviation spokesman, Abdullah H Khan. Footage showed cars on fire. dential republic with key Arshad Mahmood Malik said the Pakistan was resuming domestic monitoring website. Another senior civil aviation Prime Minister Imran Khan powers concentrated in the full clearance operation could flights in the wake of the coro- “We are returning back, sir, official told Reuters it appeared tweeted: “Shocked & saddened executive branch, although last two to three days. Efforts on navirus pandemic. we have lost engines,” a man the plane had been unable to by the PIA crash. Am in touch Mirziyoyev said last year he the ground will be ongoing "until A total of 56 dead bodies was heard saying in a recording lower its undercarriage for the with PIA CEO Arshad Malik, who would seek some decentrali- we get all the bodies recovered," were brought to JPMC hospital released by the website. The first approach due to a technical has left for Karachi & with the sation and boost the role of a provincial official said. "So far and the Civil Hospital Karachi, controller freed up both the air- fault, but it was too early to rescue & relief teams on ground parliament in overseeing the 80 bodies have been recovered officials from both institutions port’s runways but moments determine the cause. as this is the priority right now. work of the cabinet. from the debris." said. The plane was on its later the man called “Mayday! A search immediately began “Immediate inquiry will be insti- Under the proposed Two passengers survived, second attempt to land after Mayday! Mayday!”. There was for the two flight recorders or tuted. Prayers & condolences go reforms, Uzbekistan, a former including Zafar Masood, pres- cancelling a previous one in a no further communication from ‘black boxes’, one for cockpit con- to families of the deceased.” Soviet republic, would no ident of the Bank of Punjab, a routine manoeuvre known as a the plane, according to the tape, versations and the other for data. Indian Prime Minister longer imprison people con- Sindh provincial government go-around, one person familiar which could not immediately be Aviation safety experts say air Narendra Modi also offered victed of libel and slander. spokesman said. The bank said with the investigation said. authenticated. crashes typically have multiple condolences. Some journalists and bloggers critical of the authorities have been jailed in the past under these laws. The reforms also China to bolster disease control system in post-virus overhaul involve easing campaign finance regulations by REUTERS — SHANGHAI against the coronavirus, but it The agency also promised to than 332,000. Much blame for in mobilising responses to out- allowing private donations had “also exposed a large upgrade biosafety labs run by the pandemic has been put on the breaks. Even before this out- and moving all elections from China will strengthen its disease number of shortcomings and the CDCs and build labs in more slow response of authorities in break, experts and legislators December — one of the control centres and improve the systemic problems in the pre- cities. It would also provide better Wuhan. One study estimated were urging the central gov- coldest months — to March. deployment of resources to vention and control of major equipped hospitals in rural infections could have been cut ernment to give regions more It was unclear whether resolve shortcomings in its epidemics”. regions. It said it would “adjust” by 95 percent if authorities had power and resources to respond moving elections to March, if health system exposed by the National- and provincial- the deployment of existing locked down the city three weeks more quickly to health crises. implemented, would slightly novel coronavirus outbreak, the level Centres for Disease Control medical resources but did not earlier. Cai Weiping, an HIV spe- shorten or prolong Mirziyoyev’s state planning agency said (CDCs) would focus on building mention additional funding. Senior government adviser cialist from Guangdong current term, which is due to yesterday. up their capacity to detect epi- The novel coronavirus Zhong Nanshan, an expert on province, proposed last year end in December 2021. Under The National Development demics, and would also be emerged in the central Chinese coronaviruses, said in February that local authorities needed the constitution, he may run for and Reform Commission (NDRC) entrusted to draw up rapid city of Wuhan late last year. It has that China’s CDCs needed inde- powers to issue epidemic a second term. Uzbekistan’s said great progress had been response plans to tackle out- infected more than 5 million pendent powers to declare warnings and take action next parliamentary election is made in the “people’s war” breaks, the commission said. people globally and killed more emergencies and take the lead independently. due in 2024. Taxing tech giants Australia’s most populous proposed to fund coronavirus fight state to relax restrictions in the Philippines on hospitality sector REUTERS — MANILA REUTERS — SYDNEY this month. Nationally, nearly A Philippine lawmaker has 600,000 people were in April introduced a bill in parliament Australia’s most populous state forced out of work by the coro- aimed at taxing big tech firms said yesterday restrictions navirus restrictions. such as Facebook, Alphabet’s imposed to slow the spread of Seeking to avoid a pro- Google and Youtube, Netflix and coronavirus will be eased to longed economic depression, Spotify, to raise funds to battle allow cafes and restaurants to Australia said it would spend the coronavirus. have up to 50 seated patrons as A$130bn between March and The bill looks to raise $571m efforts to revive the stalled September to subsidise the by imposing a value added tax economy pick up pace. wages of around 6 million on digital services provided in New South Wales (NSW) people. About half the country’s the Philippines, a key growth said the easing of the restric- workforce is on the JobKeeper area for e-commerce transac- tions which previously limited scheme. tions as its people are among the cafes and restaurants to 10 cus- NSW Treasurer Dominic world’s heaviest users of social tomers at a time, will begin on Perrottet said about 7 percent A policeman is manning a vehicle checkpoint on the Pacific Highway at the Queensland-New South media. June 1. of those on the scheme are from Wales state border, near Coolangatta, in Australia. “We spent to fight COVID-19 “Losing 221,000 jobs in the country’s hospitality sector, and we need more to continue April was a disaster,” state so relaxing restrictions would fighting it and recover,” Con- premier Gladys Berejiklian told allow thousands of people to agreed a three-step plan to The British government is in the successful containment gressman Joey Salceda, the bill’s reporters in Sydney, referring return to work. remove the remaining restric- planning a 14-day quarantine of COVID-19, which clearly principal author, said. to state-wide job losses. “This is about keeping tions by July, though implemen- for most people arriving in the means that travellers coming “It sends a strong signal to “We don’t want to see that people in jobs and businesses tation is down to state and ter- country in the coming weeks to from Australia would pose a the world that the Philippines is continue.”. in business. We want to breathe ritory leaders, who have argued try to prevent a second peak of low risk to the rest of the ready for the digital transfor- Australia’s hospitality life into the New South Wales over the pace of reopening state the pandemic, with details to world,” Trade Minister Simon mation. We are putting our tax- industry has been one of the economy,” said Perrottet. borders. be finalised next month. Birmingham said in a statement. ation in order.” hardest hit by social distancing NSW - which has recorded Australia has also sought Heathrow Airport has pro- Birmingham said Australia Starting next year, Salceda restrictions imposed in March about half of Australia’s near exemption from a requirement posed Britain should set up has no plans to open its borders said, funds raised from new to slow the spread of corona- 7,100 COVID-19 cases — has that travellers arriving in the UK “travel bubbles” with low-risk to non-citizens, while all taxes would also be used to virus, with restaurants and moved quickly to reopen com- quarantine for 14 days to countries exempt from the returning locals will still have finance digital programs such cafes only able to offer pared to other states. prevent the spread of requirement. to quarantine for two weeks as a national broadband project takeaway services until earlier Australia earlier this month COVID-19. “Australia has led the world upon arrival. and digital learning, to fill the education gap caused by school closures. But it may take a while New Zealand opposition leader ousted as PM Ardern’s popularity soars before the proposal is scheduled for debate, as lawmakers are REUTERS — WELLINGTON National Party following a week around 84 percent of New Zea- level, had not been publicly communities that define this busy deliberating on an eco- of disastrous poll results. landers approving of her gov- perceived as a potential country,” Muller said. nomic stimulus package to The leader of New Zealand’s Just 5 percent of New Zea- ernment’s handling of the coro- leader. Speaking to the media “The question sitting in front jumpstart the Philippine main opposition party was landers supported Bridges, 43, navirus pandemic. Another poll after the party ballot, he of all New Zealanders in the economy, ravaged by pan- ousted yesterday after opinion as the country’s leader in a poll showed Ardern had become emphasised his strong ties to next 100 days is who actually demic-induced lockdowns. polls showed he was no match published on Thursday, while New Zealand’s most popular the rural farming community, has the best plan and the team The Philippines has for the soaring popularity of support for the Nationals fell to prime minister in a century and the backbone of New Zea- to deliver it.” Muller said Ardern recorded 13,434 virus infec- Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern the lowest in decades. The same her centre-left Labour Party led land’s economy. was “impressive” in her han- tions, including 846 deaths and as the country heads toward a poll revealed Ardern, 39, coalition would be handed a Muller held roles at both dling of the coronavirus crisis 3,000 recoveries, and has run general election. enjoyed the support of 63 huge victory at the September dairy giant Fonterra and and his focus would be on the nearly 208,000 tests among its Simon Bridges was replaced percent of the electorate. 19 election. kiwifruit growers cooperative country’s economic recovery, population of more than 107 by Todd Muller in an emergency Ardern’s popularity has shot Muller, 51, a largely Zespri. not criticising the current million. caucus meeting of his centre-right higher in recent weeks with unknown figure at the national “I come from New Zealand leader. SATURDAY 23 MAY 2020 EUROPE 11 Putin says virus outbreak in Russia abating

AP — MOSCOW The Russian “May will see a serious President said a increase of mortality, judging President Vladimir Putin said by the operative figures for the yesterday that the coronavirus steady drop in new past three weeks,” Golikova outbreak in Russia has begun cases sets the stage reported to Putin. to abate, creating a positive for further lifting of Sergei Sobyanin, the mayor environment for easing restric- of Moscow, which accounted for tions, as officials defended the restrictions, but he about half of all infections, also country’s data on deaths against also emphasized the predicted a surge in May deaths. claims they were being need to preserve “It’s quite obvious that the under-reported. number of deaths in May will Speaking during a video hospital capacity in be significantly higher than in conference with top officials, case of a new wave April,” he told Putin. “We were Putin pointed at the decreasing at the peak of contagion in April number of new infections in of contagion. and early May.” Moscow and other regions. “The Moscow’s health department positive dynamic is not so fast reported that 639 people died of as we would like it to be, some- thirds occupied. COVID-19 in April, saying times even unstable, but it does The COVID-19 mortality autopsies proved that the deaths exist,” he said. rate in Russia has remained of 60 percent of all those who Russia currently ranks remarkably low at about 1%, died after being infected with the second after the United States drawing suspicions in the West virus were caused by other grave in the number of infections with that the country was under- underlying illnesses. 326,448 cases, including 3,249 reporting its death toll. Russian Some experts have ques- deaths. The Russian leader said officials have rejected the claim, tioned the Russian refusal to Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting on the epidemiological situation in the country, a steady drop in new cases sets saying that the low toll reflected include all deaths of those who via teleconference call at Novo-Ogaryovo state residence, outside Moscow, yesterday. the stage for further lifting of efficient preventative measures tested positive in the corona- restrictions, but he also empha- and broad testing. virus toll, suggesting a politi- sized the need to preserve hos- Deputy Prime Minister cally-driven desire to downplay emerged across Russia. They about shortages of equipment positive for the coronavirus. pital capacity in case of a new Tatyana Golikova said during mortality. Russian officials have included Dagestan, a mostly and protective gear. Mishustin and Culture Minister wave of contagion. the call with Putin that the rejected the claim, saying that Muslim province in the North On Thursday, Russia’s state Olga Lyubimova have Officials have reported to country’s approach to counting the Russian approach is more Caucasus mountains, whose news agencies reported that convalesced. Putin that the influx of COVID-19 deaths is in line with accurate and is in full con- health care system has Kadyrov has been hospitalized On May 11, Putin ordered an COVID-19 patients, particularly the World Health Organization’s formity with the World Health crumbled under the flow of in Moscow after suspectedly end to the nationwide partial those in grave condition, has guidelines and more precise Organization’s guidelines. COVID-19 patients. contracting the disease. economic shutdown he fallen. Putin noted that the than in other countries. While the daily number of In the neighbouring Russian Prime Minister imposed in late March and country’s hospitals are capable She forecast that the death new coronavirus cases in province of Chechnya, Mikhail Mishustin, Putin’s instructed regional governors of accommodating over toll will markedly rise in May, Moscow has dropped from a strongman regional leader spokesman Dmitry Peskov and to reopen industrial enterprises 165,000 coronavirus patients, reflecting high numbers of peak of about 6,700 to under Ramzan Kadyrov has berated three Cabinet ministers have and other businesses wherever and they are currently two- infections in recent weeks. 3,000 now, other hot spots local doctors for complaining been among officials who tested it’s possible. Oxford expands Arrivals to UK face virus vaccine 14-day quarantine trial to older adults, children under govt plan AFP — LONDON Oxford University said yes- AP — LONDON exemptions for some travellers, terday that it is recruiting thou- including truckers and medics. sands of volunteers for the next People arriving in the UK will Britons returning from phase in human trials of a coro- have to quarantine themselves overseas will also have to self- navirus vaccine that it says are for 14 days and could be fined isolate for 14 days under the “progressing very well”. £1,000 ($1,220) if they fail to measures, which will be Up to 10,260 adults and comply under a plan announced reviewed every three weeks. children will be enrolled as it yesterday by the British There has been confusion expands the age range of government. about the UK policy, after the people given the specimen Home Secretary Priti Patel government initially said it vaccine and involves a number will set out details of the would not apply to people of partner institutions across measures, which have already arriving from France. That Britain. sparked confusion and criticism prompted a rebuke from the The university, in south from airlines, airports and European Union, which wants central England, began initial lockdown-weary Britons won- a coordinated policy across the trials in April, administering dering whether they will get to 27-nation bloc. Britain later said more than 1,000 immunisa- Passengers wearing protective clothing are seen at Heathrow Airport, amid the coronavirus disease take a vacation abroad this France would not be exempt. tions, with follow-up currently outbreak, in London, Britain, yesterday. summer. Airlines have warned that the ongoing, it added. “The clinical Britain did not close its British move could hobble their studies are progressing very borders during the worst of the efforts to rebuild a business dev- shut their borders in March as Sardinia’s governor has sug- is circulating", but it has not well,” Andrew Pollard, head country’s coronavirus outbreak, astated by pandemic-related the pandemic took hold, and are gested he might require visitors published a list of targeted of the Oxford Vaccine Group, which has been linked to more travel restrictions. now easing those restrictions. to the island to certify they had areas. said in a statement. than 36,000 deaths in the UK. Karen Dee, Chief Executive But the plans to reopen to tested negative for the virus The French presidency said “We are now initiating It is introducing its quarantine of Britain’s Airport Operators foreign visitors are spurring within the past week, or submit those coming from EU coun- studies to evaluate how well just as many other European Association, said the gov- national and regional tensions to a test on arrival. tries, from Britain and from the the vaccine induces immune countries are starting to open ernment had not told airports as the summer tourist season The Tuscany regional gov- passport-free Schengen area responses in older adults, and up again. how the quarantine would be approaches. ernment says on its website that will be exempted. to test whether it can provide The British government has enforced. “I believe that pas- Italy, the onetime epicenter any visitor from abroad or Some European regions and protection in the wider popu- previously said the quarantine sengers will be asked to give an of Europe’s pandemic, is opening another Italian region must tour operators have called for lation.” However, Pollard told will start in early June and will address in the UK and there will to European travel on June 3, the undergo quarantine for 14 days. “tourism corridors” between BBC radio it was “not possible apply to arrivals from every- be spot checks and fines for same date that it is allowing It’s unknown if Tuscany, which areas with low rates of the coro- to predict” when the potential where except Ireland, which those people, but I don’t know Italians to move outside their fills with British and German navirus. Britain has said it may vaccine might be ready for the has a longstanding free- the detail of how that will be regions for pleasure. tourists in summer, will revise consider the idea, but Italy has wider population. movement agreement with the implemented,” she told Parlia- But some regions are taking that rule as June 3 approaches. condemned it, fearing it will “It is a very difficult UK. Ireland is expected to ment’s Home Affairs precautions to ensure that the France says it may quar- exclude the country, which has question to know exactly when announce similar measures. Committee. sudden reopening doesn’t antine people arriving from an seen more than 32,000 we will have proof that the There are likely to be Many European nations create new infection clusters. area “where the virus COVID-19 deaths. vaccine works,” he said. Much depended on having enough people who had been exposed to COVID-19 in the Hydroxychloroquine shows no virus Portuguese resort to trial’s next phase, he added. The university and pharma test all residents ahead giant AstraZeneca have signed benefit, raises death risk: Study a deal which could see up to 30 million of 100 million doses AFP — PARIS from four groups: Those treated Brigham and Women’s Hospital of summer season for the UK market available by with hydroxychloroquine alone, Center for Advanced Heart September. A study of nearly 100,000 coro- with chloroquine alone, and Disease in Boston. “Instead, our REUTERS — CASCAIS, PORTUGAL several patrons, said Cascais’ Oxford’s effort involves its navirus patients has shown no then two groups given the findings suggest it may be asso- deputy mayor Miguel Pinto Luz. multidisciplinary Vaccine benefit in treating them with respective drugs in combination ciated with an increased risk of A popular beach town near “These kind of initiatives Group, set up in 1994 to study anti-viral drugs hydroxychlo- with antibiotics. There was also serious heart problems and Lisbon plans to be the first in also increase people’s confi- new and improved inocula- roquine and chloroquine and a control group of patients not increased risk of death.” Portugal to test all of its dence, which is needed now we tions, and the Jenner Institute, even increased the likelihood given these treatments. At the Despite Trump’s enthusiasm 200,000 residents for corona- are trying to restart the which works on both human of them dying in hospital. end of the study period around for using hydroxychloroquine for virus antibodies to try and help economy,” said Pinto Luz and livestock diseases. Hydroxychloroquine is nor- nine percent of those in the COVID-19 treatment, his own them enjoy as normal a before himself being tested. It is based on a chim- mally used to treat arthritis but control group had died. government’s Food and Drug summer season as possible Mass antibody testing is panzee adenovirus — a pronouncement from public Of those treated with hydrox- Administration warns against it. despite the crisis. being considered by many common cold virus — which figures including US President ychloroquine or chloroquine Britain has ordered £35m Born and bred in Cascais, countries to speed reopening has been genetically changed Donald Trump — who alone, 18 percent and 16.4 ($42m) worth of hydroxychlo- loved for its beaches and golf of economies. Portugal, which to stop COVID-19 replicating announced this week he is taking percent respectively had died. roquine, despite numerous courses, 57-year-old Marina so far has nearly 30,000 cases in humans. The first phase of the drug — has prompted gov- And those given each drug in studies showing it is ineffective Lima was one of the first to and 1,277 deaths, is slowly trialling involved 160 healthy ernments to bulk buy the med- combination with antibiotics in treating COVID-19 and may enter the tiny testing room easing restrictions from a mid- volunteers between 18 and 55. icine. Chloroquine is an anti- were even more likely to die: 22.8 even be more dangerous than when the initiative began on March lockdown. Although the The next stage of the study malarial. Both drugs can produce percent with chloroquine and doing nothing. Thursday. Results take 24 tests show who has been will include older adults and potentially serious side effects, 23.8 percent with hydroxychlo- Stephen Griffin, associate hours, and Lima hoped hers infected by COVID-19, it is not children between the ages of particularly heart arrhythmia. roquine. The authors estimated professor at the University of may clear her for spending yet clear whether the presence five and 12. A third set of trials And neither drug benefitted that the drugs put patients at up Leeds’ School of Medicine said more time with family, of antibodies confers per- will then assess how the vaccine patients hospitalised with to 45 percent higher risk of dying the Lancet research was “poten- including a two-month-old manent immunity. works “in a large number of COVID-19, according to a study from COVID-19 compared with tially a landmark study for grandson. “Having that infor- To coax people back outside people over the age of 18”. published yesterday in The underlying health issues. COVID-19 therapy”. “The indi- mation is very good,” she said. safely, Cascais has come up with The university’s potential Lancet. Looking at the records of “Treatment with chloro- cations are that these drugs cer- The municipality of Cascais initiatives including a carefully- vaccine is one of only eight 96,000 patients across hundreds quine or hydroxychloroquine tainly ought not to be used hopes to conduct 5,000 tests controlled food fair, free buses, globally to have started trials, of hospitals, they found that does not benefit patients with outside of a trial setting where per week in a deal with phar- vending machines for masks, according to the World Health administering the drugs actually COVID-19,” said Mandeep patients can be monitored for maceutical firm Roche. Each and geometrical figures on grass Organization, which counts 118 increased the risk of dying. Mehra, lead author of the study complications,” said Griffin, who test costs €5 ($5.45) and is paid to help sunbathers and pic- different projects under way They compared outcomes and executive director of the was not involved in the study. for by the municipality and nickers keep apart. in total. 12 EUROPE SATURDAY 23 MAY 2020 Europeans rally around Open Skies treaty AFP — PARIS While Russia said it Russia “to camouflage their would not abandon destructive actions”. Western nations and Russia “The United States seeks to scrambled yesterday to save a the Open Skies create the impression that they, major military surveillance treaty, Nato envoys their allies and their associates treaty after US President were meeting to have unquestionably imple- Donald Trump threatened to mented this treaty. It is not the withdraw over accusations that formulate a response case, we have many questions,” Moscow was failing to comply. and a group of 10 it said. While Russia said it would European nations Grushko warned that the US not abandon the Open Skies pullout would damage treaty, Nato envoys were said in a joint European security and harm meeting to formulate a statement they the interests of US allies. response and a group of 10 China, which is not a party European nations said in a joint regretted Trump’s to the treaty, expressed “deep statement they regretted threat — his latest regret” over the US move, Trump’s threat — his latest withdrawal from calling it a “display of the First Friday prayer in Berlin after pandemic withdrawal from an interna- United States’ entrenched Cold People seen at the Ayasofya Mosque for Friday prayer by wearing masks and observing in social tional agreement. an international War mentality”. The with- distancing in Berlin, Germany. The first Friday prayer after the pandemic, was performed in the mosques The pact allows its nearly agreement. drawal “will have a negative three dozen signatories to carry impact on the international of Germany, which was closed due to COVID-19 measures, as part of the normalisation process. out short-notice flights over arms control and disarmament one another’s territory to The Europeans said they process,” foreign ministry monitor potential military would work to resolve “out- spokesman Zhao Lijian told operations. Members include standing questions” with journalists in Beijing. UK teaching unions challenge countries across Europe and the Moscow, including “unjustified US Secretary of State Mike former Soviet Union, as well as restrictions” imposed on flights Pompeo said the United States the United States and Canada. over Kaliningrad — a Russian could reconsider “should Russia June 1 school reopening plans Trump accused Moscow on exclave bordered by Poland return to full compliance with Thursday of not adhering to the and Lithuania. “We continue to the Treaty.” Open Skies is the agreement designed to bolster urge Russia to lift these restric- third important military pact AFP — LONDON by hundreds each day. children”. “If we cannot be military transparency and tions,” they said. that Trump has withdrawn Newly published docu- certain about the transmission enhance confidence between Ambassadors to Nato, from since coming to office in British teaching unions yes- ments from the government’s of the virus — and it appears world powers. “We regret the whose membership overlaps January 2017. terday urged the government Scientific Advisory Group for SAGE cannot, either — then it announcement by the United with parties to the treaty, are He has also dropped the to reconsider plans to reopen Emergencies (SAGE) say deci- is only right to exercise States of its plan to pull out of meeting to discuss the US with- 2015 JCPOA agreement to schools on June 1, after the gov- sions on how reopening schools caution,” she said. the Open Skies treaty, even drawal, due to take effect in six prevent Iran from advancing its ernment released scientific might impact the COVID-19 Patrick Roach, head of the though we share the concerns months. nuclear weapons program and advice on easing the corona- outbreak would hinge on how NASUWT teachers’ union, said about how the accord is being Moscow said yesterday that the 1988 Intermediate Range virus lockdown. susceptible and infectious the new evidence would “only carried out by the Russian Fed- it would continue observing the Nuclear Forces Treaty with Prime Minister Boris children were. add to teachers’ uncertainty eration,” the European nations treaty even if the US pulls out. Russia. Johnson earlier this month “Evidence remains incon- and anxiety”. A group of experts said in a joint statement. “As long as the treaty is in In both cases, Trump announced plans to begin a clusive on both the suscepti- separate from the government, “This treaty remains func- force, we intend to fully follow accused the other side of vio- phased return of the youngest bility and infectivity of children, led by former chief scientist tional and useful,” said the doc- all the rights and obligations lating treaty requirements. pupils as part of a slow easing but the balance of evidence David King, on Friday said ument signed by France, that apply to us from this The latest move adds to of the nationwide stay-at-home suggests that both may be lower schools should not reopen until Germany and eight other EU treaty,” Deputy Foreign Min- question marks over New orders. than in adults,” it said. an effective local tracing system nations. The US accuses Russia ister Alexander Grushko told START, a pact that limits the But it has sparked concern Mary Bousted, joint head of is in place. of blocking flights over certain the RIA Novosti news agency. number of nuclear missiles the among teachers and parents, the National Education Union, “It is clear from the evi- sites and forbidding surveys of Later, a foreign ministry United States and Russia can as the death rate in Britain, at said June 1 was too soon and dence we have collected that military exercises, normally statement accused the United deploy, which is due for more than 36,000 already the accused Johnson of a “cavalier June 1st is simply too early to allowed under Open Skies. States of pointing the finger at renewal by early 2021. highest in Europe, keeps rising attitude towards the nation’s go back,” King said.

Ireland introduces Disrupted vaccinations mandatory pose deadly threat to quarantine forms 80 million kids: UN for visitors AFP — DUBLIN AFP — GENEVA is a major threat to life.” Mean- while experts said it was vital to Travellers arriving in Ireland The coronavirus pandemic is maintain the structure of routine from next week will be legally putting tens of millions of chil- vaccination programmes in required to inform the gov- dren’s lives at risk by disrupting poorer countries, because those ernment where they will quar- routine immunisation pro- networks would be the same antine for 14 days to prevent grammes, the World Health ones used to distribute an the spread of coronavirus, Organization and Unicef said eventual COVID-19 vaccine. Health Minister Simon Harris yesterday. Unicef, the UN children’s said yesterday. The United Nations agency, said measles vacci- From Thursday until at agencies joined forces with nation campaigns had been least June 18, those arriving in Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to suspended in 27 countries and the Republic will be legally warn that the pandemic has polio campaigns in 38 states. 'Elbow bump' required to complete a form severely disrupted vaccination Unicef Executive Director noting the address where they Ambassador Johann Sattler (left), Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and programmes in dozens of Henrietta Fore said countries will “self-isolate” for two Herzegovina; Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Security minister, Fahrudin Radoncic (centre), and a member countries, paving the way for a have had to suspend campaigns weeks. deadly resurgence of pre- due to the need to maintain of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) pose with a ‘elbow bump’ in front of a EU donation “These are extraordinary ventable diseases. physical distancing, while some of protective kits and medical equipment for Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Sarajevo, yesterday. This measures but they are nec- “COVID-19 threatens to health centres have been over- donation by EU is the first contingent of highly sophisticated medical equipment to arrive into the essary in a time of a public undermine life-saving immu- whelmed by coronavirus country with purpose to strengthen the country’s ability to fight the COVID-19 outbreak, and it includes health crisis,” said Harris in a nisation services around the response efforts. X-ray machines, EKG monitors and respirators, worth 800.000 in total. statement. world,” WHO Director-General Meanwhile health workers He said the document — Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus have been redeployed to treat already in use for ferry and told a virtual joint press con- COVID-19 patients, and some airport arrivals on a non-com- ference. “This risks putting tens parents have been unable to get Greece extends migrant camp lockdown pulsory basis — would “ensure of millions of children — in rich their children to vaccination sites more accurate and quicker and poor countries — at risk of due to movement restrictions. AFP — ATHENS the islands and the mainland. reported in the country, only a contact tracing” following any killer diseases like diphtheria, She said countries needed That was a week after a few dozen have been recorded confirmed cases. measles and pneumonia.” to step up efforts to track Greece has extended until more general lockdown in the in three facilities on the “The form will be used to He said that while the world unvaccinated children, and find June 7 a coronavirus lockdown country, which was eased early mainland, but none in the sordid facilitate a system of follow- was seeking a safe and effective innovative solutions, as Laos imposed on the overcrowded this month after the apparent camps of the Aegean islands. up checks to make sure people vaccine for the new coronavirus, has done by immunising migrant camps since March, success in keeping the outbreak Massive screening tests in the who travel to the country are vaccines that were already children in supermarkets. the government announced in check. On May 10, it extended camps, however, only started in staying where they said that available to prevent other dis- Gavi chief Seth Berkley said yesterday. the measure for the camps until early May. Only two migrants they would,” he added. eases still needed to be delivered. countries had to do everything “Measures against the prop- May 21, and then until June 7 who arrived on the island of All nationalities will be “Initial analysis suggests the they could to keep vaccinating. agation of the COVID-19 virus yesterday. Lesbos in early May and live in a required to provide infor- provision of routine immuni- “If we neglect the supply chains are extended for residents of As in the rest of the country, temporary camp in the north of mation, including those sation services is substantially and immunisation infra- the reception and identification the coronavirus outbreak has the island have tested positive coming from neighbouring hindered in at least 68 countries structure that keep these pro- centres across the country,” the had little impact on the camps. and placed in quarantine. Britain, which has exempted and is likely to affect approxi- grammes running, we also risk migration ministry said. Among the 168 dead in In the Moria camp, one of Irish arrivals from its own mately 80 million children under harming our ability to roll our The ministry did not say Greece, there are no known the most overcrowded in quarantine measures to be the age of one living in these the COVID-19 vaccines that why the lockdown was being deaths so far due to COVID-19 Europe, “no case” of COVID-19 brought in on June 8. countries,” Tedros said. represent our best chance of extended. On March 17, the gov- among the migrants, according has been recorded so far, gov- Failure to complete the “Any suspension of defeating this pandemic, when ernment imposed the lockdown to authorities. And among the ernment spokesman Stelios form will carry a penalty of up childhood vaccination services they are ready,” he said. on the migrant camps both on 2,853 cases of coronavirus Petsas said recently. to €2,500 ($2,700) and/or up to six months imprisonment. “We have the ability for somebody in a position of France sets second round of virus-delayed elections for June 28 authority probably a member of An Garda Siochana [Irish AFP — PARIS Philippe said at a press con- after a clear winner did not summer break, Philippe said the The lockdown prompted Police] to call to that ference with Interior Minister emerge in the first round on government would have to hold many voters to stay home, with address,” Harris said at a France will be called on to vote Christophe Castaner. March 15. He said that political a re-run of the first round. the abstention rate hitting a press conference. on June 28 in a postponed Masks will be obligatory, parties were divided on when “It’s a complex question, and French record of 55 percent. The government is cur- second round of local elections, and voters will again be urged to hold the new vote, with some the answer will cause disagree- On March 16, the day after rently considering whether it unless a new coronavirus flare- to come with their own pens for urging a delay until September ments,” Philippe said. “Unfortu- the first-round vote, President will legally mandate self-iso- up makes it too risky, the gov- signing registries in a bid to or later because of the like- nately, I’ve gotten used to having Emmanuel Macron called off lation itself, he added. ernment said yesterday. minimise contagion risk. lihood of low turnout. to choose between options that the second round, originally set Ireland has suffered 1,592 The poll, originally set for Philippe said the govern- Others argued that candi- are all open to criticism”. for March 22. Although some deaths from coronavirus March 22, was called off amid ment’s scientific advisory panel dates could not effectively cam- The government drew heavy 30,000 communes elected out- according to latest department the lockdown due to the pan- had estimated that sufficient paign behind face masks and criticism after going ahead with right winners in the first round, of health figures. demic. “After weighing the pros safeguards can be taken to mit- without public meetings, hand- the first round of voting just one races were still undecided in Recorded daily deaths and cons, we believe that our igate contagion risks for the 16 icaps that would give incum- day after ordering all restaurants, Paris and other key cities. Cas- peaked at 77 on April 20 but democratic life must resume,” million people in nearly 5,000 bents an edge. But if the vote cinemas and other non-essential taner ruled out voting by mail, yesterday the figure had Prime Minister Edouard cities and towns eligible to vote was pushed back beyond the businesses to close in virus fight. which France outlawed in 1975. fallen to 11. SATURDAY 23 MAY 2020 AMERICAS 13

Nasa gives the South America ‘a go-ahead for first crewed SpaceX new epicentre’ of flight on May 27 pandemic: WHO AFP — WASHINGTON Nasa gave the green light yes- AFP — GENEVA/RIO DE JANEIRO Brazil has now terday to next week’s launch of recorded more than two astronauts aboard a SpaceX South America has become “a vessel — the first crewed space new epicentre” of the deadly 310,000 cases, with flight from US soil in nine years coronavirus pandemic, the experts saying a lack and a crucial step towards World Health Organization of testing means ending American dependence said yesterday, following a on Russian rockets. surge in the number of the real figures Top officials at the US space COVID-19 infections. are probably much agency and Elon Musk’s “In a sense, South America higher. With its curve company had been meeting has become a new epicentre for since Thursday at the Kennedy the disease. We have seen many of infections and Space Center in Florida for final South American countries with deaths rising sharply, checks of the Crew Dragon increasing numbers of cases,” space capsule ahead of its WHO emergencies director the country of 210 maiden May 27 crewed mission. Mike Ryan told a virtual news million ranks third in “At the end we got to a go,” A nurse shows a Hydroxychloroquine pill, amid the coronavirus disease outbreak, at Nossa Senhora conference. “Clearly there is a Nasa administrator Jim Bri- the world in terms of da Conceicao hospital in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in this April 23, 2020 picture. concern across many of those denstine told reporters by countries, but clearly the most total cases, behind video of the meticulous Flight affected is Brazil at this point.” the United States though Brazilians are wearying people". Doria, for his part, began, and the crucial ministry Readiness Review, which pro- The novel coronavirus of the restrictions in place since urged unity. “Brazil needs to be is now in the hands of an vided the go-ahead. death toll in Brazil surpassed and Russia. the end of March. united. If we’re at war, we all interim, army general Eduardo US astronauts Robert 20,000 on Thursday, after a Sao Paulo state, the eco- face defeat. Let’s go together in Pazuello. Behnken and Douglas Hurley record number of fatalities in a to ministry data. “The majority nomic and cultural capital of peace, Mr President, together The last health minister, are scheduled to blast off from 24-hour period, the health min- of the cases are from the Sao Brazil, is by far the most for Brazil,” he said. Nelson Teich, resigned last Kennedy’s historic Launch Pad istry said. The country’s highest Paulo region,” said Ryan. affected, with about a quarter Hospitals in Sao Paulo, Rio week after less than a month on 39A at 4:33pm (2033 GMT) on one-day toll of 1,188 pushed the “But in terms of attack rates, of the country’s deaths and de Janeiro and various states the job, reportedly after Wednesday for the Interna- overall death tally to 20,047. the highest attack rates are infections. Sao Paulo Governor across northern and north- clashing with Bolsonaro over tional Space Station, arriving Brazil has now recorded actually in Amazonas: About Joao Doria, who has clashed eastern Brazil are near collapse. the president’s insistence on the next day. more than 310,000 cases, with 490 persons infected per often with the president over The authorities have been widespread chloroquine and Asked about going ahead experts saying a lack of testing 100,000 population, which is containment measures, has said racing to set up field hospitals hydroxychloroquine use. with the mission in the midst means the real figures are quite high,” he said of Brazil’s the country has to fight both with more beds, but are strug- The drugs have shown of the coronavirus pandemic, probably much higher. With its vast northwestern state. coronavirus and “Bolsonaro- gling to build them fast enough. inconclusive results against Behnken told reporters: curve of infections and deaths Despite the worrying spread virus". But Bolsonaro and the Bolsonaro, who has coronavirus, and scientists say “Where there’s a will, there’s rising sharply, the country of 210 of the disease, far-right Pres- governors sounded a concili- famously compared the virus further studies are needed to a way.” Behnken and Hurley million ranks third in the world ident Jair Bolsonaro continued atory note on Thursday as they to a “little flu", appears to have determine whether they are have been in strict quarantine in terms of total cases, behind the his calls to scrap lockdown held a video conference on pinned his hopes on the anti- safe and effective for COVID-19. since May 13 because of the United States and Russia. measures to revive a flagging coordinating the response to the malaria drugs chloroquine and But like his US counterpart pandemic, but they said their The death toll — the sixth economy. But almost all of the pandemic. hydroxychloroquine to stop it. Donald Trump, to whom he is actual isolation began as far highest in the world — has country’s 27 states are under The President called it “a He has gone through two health often compared, Bolsonaro sees back as mid-March. doubled in just 11 days, according some sort of lockdown order, great victory for the Brazilian ministers since the pandemic them as potential wonder drugs. “We have been in quar- antine probably longer than any other space crew has ever been in the history of the space US prosecutor vows program,” Hurley said. He said he and Behnken have been tested twice so far ‘justice’ in case of for COVID-19 and “rumor has it we might be tested again before we go.” American slain black jogger astronauts have been flying to the ISS, which currently houses two Russians and one AFP — WASHINGTON by the shooting. “We are going American, on Russian rockets to make sure that we find justice since the US space shuttle US authorities yesterday said in this case,” Holmes said. “We program was shelved in 2011 they do not expect any more know that we have a broken after three decades of service. arrests in the fatal shooting of family and a broken community an unarmed black jogger and down in Brunswick.” Son kills father they would soon wrap up their The video of Arbery’s investigation of the case that shooting sent shockwaves across in NY during sparked nationwide outrage. the United States, galvanizing Three white men have been activists who said the death Zoom meeting arrested in connection with the highlighted deeply rooted racism death of Ahmaud Arbery, 25, in parts of the country. AFP — NEW YORK who was killed on February 23 President Donald Trump while running in a residential said he had seen the video and A 32-year-old American in a neighbourhood in the town of called it “very disturbing”. A New York suburb stabbed and Brunswick, Georgia. lawyer for Bryan, the neighbour killed his father who was par- NYPD rescues despondent man “We feel confident the indi- who recorded the video, has ticipating on a Zoom video call viduals who needed to be claimed he was just a bystander on Thursday, police said. Members of the NYPD Emergency Service Unit respond to the top of the Manhattan stanchion of the charged have been charged,” to Arbery’s death and was Suffolk County Police said Brooklyn Bridge to rescue a despondent man in the Dumbo neighbourhood of the Brooklyn borough Vic Reynolds, the director of the unarmed. But the arrest that Dwight Powers, 72, was of New York City, yesterday. Authorities closed both directions of the bridge after a man threatened Georgia Bureau of Investi- warrant against Bryan accuses on a Zoom chat with multiple to jump after scaling to the top of the Brooklyn Bridge and was rescued. gation, said at a press con- him of taking part in the chase people when his son, Thomas ference. “I don’t anticipate us and using his own vehicle with Scully-Powers, attacked him. doing much more.” the “intention of confining and The murder took place in US Navy gets Retired police officer detaining Arbery”. the town of Amityville. Several Canada to ramp up COVID-19 Gregory McMichael, 64, and his “I can tell you that if we participants in the virtual chat fourth new leader 34-year-old son Travis were believed he was a witness, we called emergency authorities, in six months testing and tracing: Trudeau arrested two weeks ago, more would not have arrested him,” police said. Scully-Powers was than two months after the Reynolds said. He also defended quickly apprehended and AFP — WASHINGTON REUTERS — OTTAWA do the same for the other 12 shooting. Their arrest came two the conduct of law enforcement briefly hospitalized for minor provinces and territories. Busi- days after the release of a cell- in what has become a highly injuries sustained when he The US Senate on Thursday Canada will ramp up COVID-19 nesses and citizens “need to phone video shot by a neighbor, publicized case. jumped out a window after the confirmed the Navy’s fourth testing and contact tracing as it know that we have a coordi- William Bryan Jr, which shows “Our agents have made stabbing. new leader in six months — an gradually lifts restrictions and is nated approach to gradually Arbery being pursued by the arrests based on facts of the He was released from hos- avid supporter of President working closely with Apple Inc reopen that is rooted in science, McMichaels in a pickup truck case,” he said. “They haven’t pital yesterday morning and Donald Trump who will lead and Alphabet Inc’s Google on a evidence and the ability to and eventually gunned down. made any arrests based on any will be arraigned for murder the service as it grapples with mobile phone app to help, the rapidly detect and control any Bryan, 50, was arrested on pressure, any type of social charges in the second degree, morale problems amid the Prime Minister said yesterday. future outbreaks,” Trudeau said. Thursday and charged with media, phone calls or anything police said. The murder coronavirus pandemic. In his daily news conference, Canada’s total cases rose to murder and attempted false of that nature.” appeared to be the first carried Kenneth Braithwaite, a Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 81,765 yesterday, and deaths imprisonment in connection Reynolds said he hoped the out on Zoom, which has retired rear admiral who cur- said the federal government was were up less than 2% to 6,180, with Arbery’s death. handling of the case by the GBI boomed in popularity since rently serves as the US ambas- already helping Ontario, the official data showed. With con- Cobb County district “brings an air of credibility to the confinement measures forced sador to Norway, was most populous province, with tagion slowing, provinces have attorney Joyette Holmes said she criminal justice system particu- people to stay at home during approved as the next Secretary contact tracing and was open to been gradually reopening. aware of the emotions stirred up larly here in our state”. the coronavirus pandemic. of the Navy in the upper chamber in a voice vote. He replaces acting Navy Secretary James McPherson. US sanctions top Nicaraguan officials over rights abuses During his confirmation hearing earlier this month, AP — MANAGUA, NICARAGUA disbarment and dismantling of trucks, they led coordinated from Nicaraguan revolutionary director of the opposition group Braithwaite made a point of paramilitary or ‘parapolice’ attacks on street protests and Augusto Sandino who fought US Civic Alliance, praised the emphasizing his smooth rela- The US Treasury announced forces during and after the demonstrators’ roadblocks and intervention: “We won’t sell out move. He said the alliance had tions with the administration. sanctions yesterday against two political uprisings that began on detained government opponents, or surrender, never.” The gov- demanded that Avilés disarm His confirmation follows the high-ranking Nicaraguan offi- April 18, 2018,” the statement delivering them to police stations. ernment has maintained that it the paramilitary groups during tumultuous tenures of several cials for their support of gov- said. “The military provided Due to their weaponry and was responding to a coup talks with the government in recent Navy leaders. ernment crackdowns on weapons to the parapolice who impunity, they were suspected attempt. It has come under 2018 and 2019. “While I recognize the protesters. carried out acts of violence to have the military’s support. more recent criticism for doing He said sanctioning Acosta challenges for all they are, I am The Treasury said in a against the Nicaraguan people.” Acosta was included because nothing to confront the novel was extremely important ready,” the 60-year-old statement that the measures In April 2018, students took he has organized financial coronavirus pandemic. because “he is the principle former pilot said. “It saddens target Gen. Julio César Avilés to the streets after senior cit- support for Ortega’s government. US Secretary of State Mike financial official in Nicaragua” me to say that the Department Castillo, commander of Nica- izens protesting changes to the He was also accused of having Pompeo said in a statement, “This and represents the country of the Navy is in rough waters ragua’s army, and Finance Min- social security system were met “personally threatened banks not new action furthers United States before the World Bank, the due to many factors, but pri- ister Iván Acosta. Their desig- with violence by police and to participate in a strike policy to hold accountable those Inter-American Development marily the failure of lead- nation by Treasury’s Office of government allies. Protests con- organized by opposition leaders individuals and entities who are Bank and other regional bodies. ership,” he said. Foreign Assets Control blocks tinued for months and more in March 2019.” key enablers of Ortega’s misrule “Today a strong blow was The Navy was recently all the property and interests than 300 people were killed. Vice-President Rosario and who perpetrate serious dealt to the regimen of Daniel rocked by a crippling outbreak they might have in the United Much of the violence was Murrillo, Ortega’s wife and the human rights abuse and seek to Ortega,” Félix Maradiaga, leader of coronavirus on a nuclear- States. blamed on masked men armed government’s spokeswoman, silence pro-democracy voices in of the opposition Blue and powered aircraft carrier, the Avilés Castillo was included with rifles, but who wore no responded to a request for Nicaragua.” White National Unity coalition USS Theodore Roosevelt. for his refusal “to order the uniform. Traveling in pickup comment simply with a quote Juan Sebastián Chamorro, said via Twitter. 14 AMERICAS SATURDAY 23 MAY 2020 US plans massive coronavirus vaccine testing effort

REUTERS — CHICAGO Between 100,000 and The project will compress what is typically 10 Veterans Affairs’ 100 healthcare specific announcements on its 150,000 people may be enrolled years of vaccine development and testing into facilities, for potential study vol- vaccine program and declined The United States plans a in the studies, said Dr. Larry unteers, while drugmakers will to comment. massive testing effort involving Corey, a vaccine expert at Fred a matter of months, testimony to the urgency recruit from their clinical Collins would not name more than 100,000 volunteers Hutchinson Cancer Center in to halt a pandemic that has infected more research networks. other candidates on the US and a half dozen or so of the Seattle, who is helping design than 5 million people, killed over 335,000 and A Moderna Inc vaccine, shortlist of 14, but said they will most promising vaccine candi- the trials. developed in partnership with need to finish early safety dates in an effort to deliver a “If you don’t see a safety battered economies worldwide. the NIH, will be the first to the testing by this summer to make safe and effective one by the problem, you just keep going,” enter large-scale testing in July, it into the bigger trials. end of 2020, scientists leading Dr. Francis Collins, director of and may be joined by a vaccine Trials will need to assess if the program said. the National Institutes of Health final stage consists of large-scale effective vaccine, trials could from Britain’s Oxford University the vaccines cause disease The project will compress (NIH), told Reuters. The vaccine testing in thousands of people. take nine to 12 months. and AstraZeneca Plc, Collins enhancement — a potentially what is typically 10 years of effort is part of a public-private Only then would a vaccine The US government has said. The US government said dangerous side effect in which vaccine development and partnership called Accelerating developer commit to manufac- committed billions of dollars to on Thursday that it would spend the vaccine makes the disease testing into a matter of months, COVID-19 Therapeutic Inter- turing millions of doses. help manufacturers produce $1.2bn to secure 300 million worse in some individuals testimony to the urgency to halt ventions and Vaccines (ACTIV) In the era of coronavirus, doses of vaccines that may doses of the Oxford vaccine. instead of preventing it. a pandemic that has infected announced last month. many of those steps will never prove successful. “What we might try to do is Disease enhancement has more than 5 million people, The effort fits into the overlap, particularly the mid- To get the quickest answer, run those two side by side, but been seen in animal studies of killed over 335,000 and bat- research and development arm stage and late-stage trials, vaccines will be tested in with a control arm” that would vaccines developed to fight a tered economies worldwide. of “Operation Warp Speed,” the Collins and Corey said. healthcare workers and commu- also include 10,000 healthy close cousin of the virus that To get there, leading vaccine White House program to accel- The approach has its risks, nities where the virus is still individuals who got a dummy causes COVID-19. makers have agreed to share erate coronavirus vaccine as certain safety issues may only spreading to show whether they vaccine, Collins said. “If there is enhancement, data and lend the use of their development. Vaccines, which appear in large-scale trials. reduced new cases of COVID-19. Moderna’s candidate is that’s a big stop sign for every- clinical trial networks to com- are intended for use in healthy Americans are concerned about Washington, DC which has not already proceeding to mid- thing,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, petitors should their own can- people, are typically tested in the speed of the vaccine effort, reached the peak of its outbreak, stage human trials. Vaccines by director of the National Insti- didate fail, the scientists said. successive steps, starting with a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed. is one likely test site. Trials may Johnson & Johnson, Sanofi and tutes of Allergy and Infectious Candidates that demon- trials in animals. A highly effective vaccine be conducted abroad, including Merck & Co are a month or two Diseases at NIH. strate safety in small early Human testing begins with a could be tested in as little as six in Africa, where the virus has just behind the frontrunners and “If all the cards fall into the studies will be tested in huge small safety trial in healthy vol- months if there is a big dif- started to spread, Collins said. “may get added over the course right place and all the stars are trials of 20,000 to 30,000 sub- unteers, followed by a larger ference in benefit between the The government plans to of the summer” following early- aligned, you definitely could get jects for each vaccine, slated to study to find the right dose and vaccine and placebo groups, tap its own trial networks, stage human trials, Collins said. a vaccine by December or start in July. get an early read on efficacy. The Corey said. For a modestly including the Department of Merck has not made any January,” Fauci said. Trump pledges not to close US over second wave of COVID-19 QNA & AP — WASHINGTON essential places that provide communities and took issue essential services,” Trump said with other businesses and President Donald Trump said during a hastily arranged press services that have been allowed the United States would not conference at the White House, to continue to operate. “These shut down in the case of a where he didn’t take questions. are places that hold our society second coronavirus wave He said if governors don’t abide together and keep our people which expected to come on the by his request, he will “override” united,” he said. coming winter. them, though it’s unclear what Churches have the potential “People say that’s a very dis- authority he has to do so. to infect large groups of people tinct possibility. It’s standard. The Centers for Disease if precautions aren’t taken. A US President Donald Trump speaks to the press, in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in We’re not going to close the Control and Prevention had church in Northern California Washington, DC, yesterday. country. We’re going to put out prepared a draft of reopening that defied the governor’s the fires,” Trump told reporters guidelines for houses of worship orders and held a service on during a tour at a Ford manufac- weeks ago that included Mother’s Day was attended by turing plant in Michigan, when measures like maintaining dis- a person who later tested pos- President orders US flags lowered asked if he was concerned about tance and limiting the size of itive for the coronavirus, a second wave of COVID-19. gatherings. exposing more than 180 The COVID-19 pandemic But that guidance had been churchgoers. to half-staff for virus victims has proven once and for all that delayed for more than a month Dr. Deborah Birx, the coor- to be a strong nation, America by the administration until dinator for the White House’s AFP — WASHINGTON half-staff over the next three Top Democrats said flying must be a manufacturing Trump abruptly reversed coronavirus task force, said days in memory of the Amer- the flags at half-staff upon nation, Trump said, and he course. that faith community leaders President Donald Trump on icans we have lost to the Coro- reaching the 100,000 mark added that he's striving to get It is unclear what the final should be in touch with their Thursday ordered US flags to naVirus,” Trump tweeted. would reflect a “national jobs back from China and many guidelines will say, but public local health departments and be lowered to half-staff for The Republican president expression of grief”. “Our hearts other countries. health agencies have generally can take steps to mitigate three days in honour of Amer- added that flags would remain are broken over this great loss,” Meanwhile, Trump said yes- advised people to avoid gath- risks, including making sure icans who have died from at half-staff on Monday for the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi terday that he has deemed erings of more than 10 people those who are at high risk of coronavirus. country’s Memorial Day, hon- and top Senate Democrat Chuck houses of worship “essential” and encouraged Americans to severe complications remain The announcement came as ouring those who have died Schumer wrote in a letter to the and called on governors across remain 6 feet away from others protected. the US COVID-19 death toll while serving in the US military. President. the country to allow them to when possible. “There’s a way for us to approaches the 100,000 mark, While US daily death tolls are The pair said it would be reopen this weekend despite Trump, who has been work together to have social and follows calls by Democrats no longer on a steady incline, fitting to pay respects to victims the threat of spreading the pushing for the economy to distancing and safety for to lower the flag when it reaches the losses are still mounting, of the crisis while honoring the coronavirus. reopen even as the virus con- people so we decrease the that grim milestone. with the total count in the US nation’s military heroes. The “Today I’m identifying tinues to spread, yesterday amount of exposure that “I will be lowering the flags above 94,500 — by far the United States has averaged houses of worship - churches, stressed the importance of anyone would have to an on all Federal Buildings and nation with the most deaths in nearly 1,300 coronavirus deaths synagogues and mosques - as houses of worship in many asymptomatic,” she said. National Monuments to the world. per day this week. Bill Clinton, Lori Loughlin, husband plead guilty University of Alabama to James Patterson to release second via Zoom in admissions scandal push contact tracing app, crime thriller require online health checks REUTERS & AFP — BOSTON AFP — NEW YORK "Full House" actress Lori REUTERS — OAKLAND The contact tracing mobile Former US president Bill Loughlin and her husband yes- app, which is being built by Bir- Clinton will publish another terdy pleaded guilty to partici- The University of Alabama mingham-based software crime novel, co-author James pating in a vast US college will require students and staff developer MotionMobs, will use Patterson said, this time cen- admissions fraud scheme to returning to its three cam- programming code released on tered on the kidnapping of an secure spots for their daughters puses in the coming months Wednesday by Apple Inc and American first daughter. at the University of Southern to submit online health checks Alphabet Inc’s Google that The two-term Democratic California. regularly and encourage them notifies people who were near leader co-wrote the thriller Loughlin and her husband, to download its contact users reporting as virus-pos- entitled “The President’s fashion designer Mossimo Gian- tracing app, officials said on itive. Users can remain anon- Daughter” with renowned nulli, appeared before a federal Thursday. ymous the entire time. author Patterson, the pair’s judge in Boston through a Zoom Researchers at several Its use will not be required second book following 2018’s videoconference to enter their dozen US universities are because some phones cannot behind-the-scenes White House pleas under agreements calling for developing mobile apps that operate the app, and Apple drama “The President is them to serve two months and five aim to curb new infections of and Google also set rules pre- Actor Lori Loughlin, and her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Missing”. The duo’s debut, cen- months in prison, respectively. the novel coronavirus, but venting institutions and the Giannulli, leaving the federal courthouse after facing charges in tered on cyberattack dangers, They pleaded guilty to con- Alabama is one of the first US state from making it man- a nationwide college admissions cheating scheme, in Boston, sold more than 3 million copies. spiracy to commit wire and mail school systems to move datory, said Sue Feldman, Massachusetts, US, in this April 3, 2019 file picture. According to a summary fraud. But US District Judge forward on deploying such an director of graduate programs of the novel set for publication Nathaniel Gorton said he would app. in health informatics at UAB. in the US June 2021, the plot hold off on deciding whether to wealthy parents conspired with and Giannulli conspired with Students and employees But the app will be open centers on a former president accept or reject their plea deals, a California college admissions Singer to fabricate parts of their will be reminded to sign into a to anyone in Alabama, she who hopes to lay low after which restrict his ability to consultant to use bribery and daughters' university applica- website with their school login said, and some Birmingham- losing a second term, only to impose different sentences. fraud to secure their children's tions so they could be admitted credentials every three days based companies such as have an “imminent threat” to Loughlin, 55, and Giannulli, admission to top schools. as fake rowing team recruits. and report whether they have Altec Inc, Blue Cross and Blue his daughter force him back 56, have also agreed to be sen- Consultant William "Rick" Yesterday's proceedings any symptoms related to Shield of Alabama and into action. tenced to respective fines of Singer pleaded guilty last year were a dramatic shift in the COVID-19, the sometimes Regions Bank are considering The 73-year-old Clinton has $150,000 and $250,000 and 100 to facilitating cheating on college case that saw Loughlin and deadly respiratory illness telling employees to use the written a number of books, and 250 hours of community entrance exams and using Giannulli spend more than a caused by the virus. contact tracing and health including his post-presidential service. Gorton scheduled their bribery to secure the admission year insisting on their inno- Those reluctant to fill it out assessment tools. 2004 best-selling memoir “My sentencings for August 21 despite of parents' children to schools cence. Assistant US Attorney Eric may be asked to stay away “We are encouraged by the Life”, His own daughter Chelsea defense attorney William Trach's as fake athletic recruits. Other Rosen said Giannulli also paid from campus, but an official progress being made and look Clinton is also an author of request for an earlier date so the famous parents include "Des- $500,000 to induce a university enforcement system has not forward to learning more about several childrens books. The couple could have "finality". perate Housewives" star Felicity employee to facilitate the been finalized, said Selwyn the contact tracing system prolific Patterson is the globe’s Loughlin and Giannulli are Huffman, who received a 14-day recruitment of his daughters, Vickers, dean of University of under development,” said top-earning author, with among 53 people charged with prison sentence. Olivia Jade and Isabella Rose Alabama at Birmingham’s Regions Bank spokeswoman Forbes valuing him at $94m. participating in a scheme where Prosecutors allege Loughlin Giannulli. (UAB) school of medicine. Evelyn Mitchell.