INDEX BUSINESS | Page 1 QATAR 2-4, 20 COMMENT 18, 19 QATAR | Page 20 ARAB WORLD 6 BUSINESS 1-12 QIIB posts INTERNATIONAL 7-17 SPORTS 1-8 Municipalities QR512.6mn gearing up half-yearly net DOW JONES QE NYMEX for Eid al-Adha profi t; assets top 27,005.84 9,386.16 41.89 holidays +165.44 -10.24 -0.03 QR59bn +0.62% -0.11% -0.07% Latest Figures

published in QATAR since 1978

THURSDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11618 July 23, 2020 Dhul-Hijjah 2, 1441 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Kuwait Amir to leave for US for treatment Defence minister meets US Air Forces commander Kuwaiti Minister of Amiri Diwan Qatar Airways Aff airs Sheikh Ali Jarrah al-Sabah said yesterday that the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al- Jaber al-Sabah will leave for the USA early today for completing medical seeks $5bn in treatment following his recent successful surgery, as advised by the medical team. The Kuwait Amir underwent a successful surgery on Sunday. compensation MoPH reports 104,641 total Covid-19 recoveries zMulti-billion-dollar arbitrations launched The Ministry of Public Health against the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and (MoPH) reported yesterday 441 new confirmed cases of coronavirus Egypt, citing their unlawful actions (Covid-19) and 450 recoveries in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of people who recovered atar Airways Group has from the disease in Qatar to 104,641. launched four international in- The MoPH also announced three Qvestment arbitrations against new deaths of patients aged 46, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, 59 and 77 who were receiving the Saudi Arabia and Egypt, who have im- necessary medical care. Page 2 posed an illegal air, sea and land block- ade against Qatar since 2017. WHO rejects reported HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah met The arbitrations seek redress for the Pompeo claim yesterday with Commander of the US Air Forces Central Command Lieutenant General Gregory Guillot. The meeting blockading states’ actions to remove dealt with reviewing aspects of bilateral military co-operation. A number of ranking off icers of the Armed Forces Qatar Airways from their markets and HE al-Baker... blockading countries in The World Health Organization attended the meeting. to forbid the airline from fl ying over clear breach of agreements. (WHO) yesterday bristled at reported their airspace. US allegations that its executive, Qatar Airways is seeking a total of at against Qatar Airways, the blockading Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, least $5bn from the blockading states as states have violated their obligations un- was “bought” by the Chinese compensation for their unlawful actions. der the agreements, including by expro- government. According to media For three decades, Qatar Airways priating and failing to adequately protect reports, US Secretary of State Mike Up to 80% of staff allowed made substantial investments in the and secure Qatar Airways’ investments, Pompeo voiced his charge against four blockading countries in order to discriminating against Qatar Airways, the Ethiopian UN health chief when serve hundreds of thousands of pas- and failing to provide fair and equitable he met British parliamentarians this sengers and to transport tens of thou- treatment to the airline and its invest- week. “WHO is not aware of any such in ‘all’ offi ces from July 28 sands of tons of cargo to and from each ments,” the statement said. statement, but we strongly reject any of these countries annually. Commenting on the launch of the ad hominem attacks and unfounded Starting June 5, 2017, without prior investment arbitrations, HE Akbar allegations,” the UN health agency warning, the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia al-Baker, Qatar Airways Group chief said in a statement. zCabinet also lets private affi rmed continued implementation The services will be provided while and Egypt took collective measures tar- executive, said: “The decision by the clinics provide services up of the precautionary measures taken continuing with the previous excep- geting Qatar Airways and its operations. blockading states to prevent Qatar Air- Kanye West has bi-polar to combat the pandemic. As part of tions decided by the Cabinet in this “These measures specifi cally tar- ways from operating in their countries disorder: Kardashian to 80% of their capacity the plan to gradually lift the restric- regard and adhering to health re- geted Qatar Airways, with the objec- and fl ying over their airspace is a clear tions related to Covid-19, the Cabinet quirements, precautionary measures tive of shuttering Qatar Airways’ local breach of civil aviation conventions Kim Kardashian QNA decided the following: and controls determined by the Min- operations, destroying the value of and several binding agreements they yesterday asked Doha 1. Amending its decision regarding istry of Public Health. the airline’s investments and causing are signatories to. for compassion reducing the number of employees Competent authorities - each in its widespread damage to Qatar Airways’ “After more than three years of ef- and empathy in the government sector present at jurisdiction - will take the necessary global network of operations. forts to resolve the crisis amicably for her rapper he Cabinet yesterday amended their place of work, with up to 80% of measures in this regard. “In particular, these measures in- through dialogue yielded no results, husband its earlier decisions and al- employees allowed to work at the of- This decision is eff ective from July cluded, but were not limited to, clos- we have taken the decision to issue Kanye West’s Tlowed up to 80% of the public fi ce depending on the need, with the 28, 2020 until further notice. ing their airspace and airports to Qatar ‘Notices of Arbitration’ and pursue (pictured) and private sector employees to work rest continuing to work from home or Afterwards, the Cabinet consid- Airways’ aircraft and revoking Qatar all legal remedies to protect our rights struggles with from offi ces starting July 28. upon request, depending on condi- ered the topics on the agenda as fol- Airways’ licences and permits to op- and secure full compensation for the bi-polar disorder HE the Prime Minister and Interior tions. lows: erate in the blockading states. These violations. The blockading states must that have led to Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa 2. Amending its decision to reduce First - Approved a draft decision measures persist to date and continue be held accountable for their illegal a series of rambling public remarks bin Abdulaziz al-Thani, chaired the the number of employees present in of the Minister of Commerce and In- to disrupt Qatar Airways’ global oper- actions in the aviation sector, which on subjects ranging from politics to Cabinet regular meeting held yester- the workplace in the private sector, dustry to amend some provisions of ations,” Qatar Airways said in a state- includes a failure to comply with their his marriage. Kardashian’s statement day through video conference. so that no more than 80% of the total Decision No (70) of 2006 regarding ment yesterday. obligations under bilateral agree- on her Instagram stories account After the meeting, HE the Minister number of workers start their work commercial stores located in residen- Qatar Airways is seeking full com- ments, multilateral agreements and was her first public comment of Justice and Acting Minister of State from the offi ce, with the rest working tial areas. pensation for these damages in four international law. on weeks of interviews, public for Cabinet Aff airs, Dr Issa bin Saad remotely. Second - The Cabinet reviewed the investment arbitrations, brought un- “Qatar Airways is one of the world’s appearances and Twitter comments al-Jafali al-Nuaimi, made the follow- 3.Amending its decision regarding following two topics, and took the ap- der three separate treaties, namely: the leading airlines, providing millions of by West that have raised concern ing remarks: stopping medical services in health propriate decision: OIC Investment Agreement; the Arab customers around the world with the about the Grammy-winning singer’s At the beginning of the meet- facilities, so that these services are 1 - The semi-annual report for the Investment Agreement; and the bilat- highest level of passenger and cargo mental health. “As many of you ing, the Cabinet was briefed by HE provided within 80% of the capacity period from 20/10/2019 to 20/4/2020 eral investment treaty between Qatar services. Despite the eff orts of the know, Kanye has bi-polar disorder,” the Minister of Public Health on the of private healthcare facilities, while for the Committee for the Regulation and Egypt. blockading states, we have maintained she wrote, calling him a “brilliant but latest developments to contain the continuing to provide emergency of Ownership and Use of Non-Qatari “The Notices of Arbitration make our global position and will continue to complicated person.” coronavirus (Covid-19). The Cabinet services. Property. To Page 3 clear that by imposing the measures promote air travel as a right for all.”

National Address First prayers to be held at Hagia Sophia tomorrow registration: MoI service centres to ‘Leucistic’ hawksbill turtle work this weekend With only a few more days left for hatchlings found in Qatar registering of the National Address, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) has announced that some of its service he Environmental Science Centre (ESC) These were rare on the beaches of Qatar, the centres will work this weekend in at Qatar University (QU) has observed Arabian Gulf and the world, and members of order to help citizens and residents Tand studied a new phenomenon - called ESC scientifi c team studied this phenomenon complete the process. leucistic - among hawksbill turtles, in co-op- and its causes. After an intense study, the team The service centres at Mesaimeer, eration with the Ministry of Municipality and concluded that it was due to lack of pigment cells Al Wakra, Al Rayyan, Industrial Area, Environment. known as ‘melanin’. These hatchlings found on Onaiza, Al Sheehaniya, Al Daayen, On May 9, 2020, during the monitoring the beaches of Ras Laff an presented an overall- Al Khor, Al Shamal and Umm Salal of hawksbill turtle nests on the beaches of pale yellow colour, compared to the green nor- will function from 8am to 12noon Ras Laff an City, researchers of Qatar Univer- mally displayed. However, they all retained black tomorrow and on Saturday, MoI has sity found that 14 pale yellow hatchlings had eyes, which means they fall under the term of informed through its off icial social emerged from a nest containing 63 eggs, a rate ‘leucistic’, which is partial loss of pigment cells. media accounts. of 22.2%. Also, on July 9, the team found an- ‘Leucistic’ turtles are distinguished from “The deadline for the National other nest in which another four pale yellow others whose body and eyes appear white due Address registration is on Sunday, hatchlings emerged from a total of 85 eggs, at to the total loss of pigment cells, referred to July 26, 2020. Some of the MoI Qatar rate of 6%. as albinism. Albino turtles have genetic dis- service centres will be working this orders, or a genetic mutation that leads to the weekend from 8am to 12noon to make inhibition of melanin production, resulting in it easy for individuals and companies a complete absence of pigment cells. When to complete their National Address these parents mate, the disease is present in registration,” the ministry said. a quarter of their off spring, and the rest carry “Registering your National Address the recessive gene. Scientists do not know the reflects your eagerness to abide by fundamental reason for cessation of pigment the law and simplify your off icial cell production as some scientists attribute transactions,” it stressed. this to an autoimmune disorder while others The MoI had recently reminded cite genetic or environmental reasons. citizens, expatriates, and legal Dr Jassim al-Khayat, project manager, said: persons (in accordance with “The presence of white skin will inhibit sea the National Address Law) of turtle hatchlings’ ability to camoufl age and the importance of registering avoid predation, this is a critical factor deter- A ferry sails through the waters of Marmara sea as Hagia Sophia or Ayasofya-i Kebir Camii is seen in their national addresses through mining their survival, particularly for the fi rst the background in Istanbul, Turkey, yesterday. A Turkish high court has ruled that Hagia Sophia can be Metrash2 or its website. To Page 4 Rare leucistic turtle hatchlings. few years of life”. To Page 4 converted back into a mosque. The first prayers are expected to take place tomorrow. Gulf Times 2 Thursday, July 23, 2020 QATAR

FM receives call Commander of Amiri Guard Qatar’s embassy delivers from Hungarian meets Pakistan’s defence attache medical aid shipment to Mexico trade minister

The embassy of Qatar in HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Mexico provided a shipment Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh of medical aid to Mexico, Mohamed bin Abdulrahman including protective al-Thani received yesterday a call, equipment and supplies via videoconference technology, worth $200,000 sponsored from Minister of Foreign Aff airs by Qatar Charity. The aid and Trade of Hungary Peter shipment was delivered to Szijjarto. During the call, they the Mexican Secretariat of reviewed bilateral relations and Foreign Aff airs in the issues of common concern. presence of Mexican Secretary of Foreign Aff airs Qatar’s ambassador Marcelo Ebrard, Undersecretary for Multi- meets chair of WTO lateral Aff airs and Human General Council Rights Martha Delgado and the ambassador of Qatar to Mexico Mohamed bin HE the Permanent Jassim al-Kuwari. The Representative of the State Mexican Secretary of Foreign of Qatar to the UN Office in Aff airs thanked Qatar for Geneva, ambassador Ali Khalfan standing with Mexico during al-Mansouri met with the Chair the coronavirus (Covid-19) of the World Trade Organisation outbreak and spoke about (WTO) General Council, the depth of bilateral ambassador David Walker, in relations between the two Geneva. countries. Ambassador During the meeting, they al-Kuwari explained that this reviewed ways of enhancing Commander of the Amiri Guard Major General Hazza bin Khalil al-Shahwani yesterday met the initiative aims to enhance the relations between the State of Defence Attache at the embassy of Pakistan to Qatar, Commodore Saqib Ilyas. During the meeting, support of the health sector Qatar and the WTO, and the they reviewed aspects of co-operation in the military field and means of developing and enhancing in Mexico to face the eff ects role of Qatar in the ongoing them. of the coronavirus pandemic. consultations to select the WTO director-general. - QNA

Nurses working tirelessly to Designated health centres continue to provide defeat Covid-19, says PHCC premarital screening service he Primary Health Care isolation centre for Covid-19 Corporation (PHCC) con- cases. ursing staff act as a pro- their current health status.” nurses to help cope with the Tfi rmed that the premarital The premarital screening tective and preventive Another signifi cant role pandemic. screening service remains avail- service is available for Qatari Nshield against the trans- played by nurses is that of cre- “Like all other countries, Qa- able at the designated health citizens as well as the citizens of mission of any infection, includ- ating and spreading awareness tar faced a shortage of medical centres, alongside all the pre- the Gulf Co-operation Council ing Covid-19, Primary Health about Covid-19 among patients. staff and in particular, nurses. cautionary measures to prevent (GCC) countries in the desig- Care Corporation (PHCC) head These include reminders on the Many were unable to return to coronavirus (Covid-19). nated health centres, while resi- nurse at the Leabaib Health importance of practising social work at the end of their annual The PHCC said that premari- dents are are examined at private Centre, Ebtisam Abdullah, has distancing, as well as the need leave due to the temporary sus- tal screenings are ongoing amid health sector institutions. stressed. for regular hand sanitisation and pension of fl ights. Additionally, the Covid-19 pandemic, but Applying for the screening “Our nurses help protect the the benefi ts of wearing a face PHCC’s health centres expe- with precautionary measures requires booking an appoint- medical staff and all health centre mask. rienced a shortage of existing to prevent the infection as well ment via personal attendance or visitors from possible contraction “If a positive Covid-19 case is nurses when 30% of its nursing as the highest possible safety phone call, where the appoint- of the coronavirus on a daily basis. detected, we adopt all the meas- staff was allocated to the MoPH standards, as applicants are in- ment shall be booked within a This is achieved through a set of ures outlined by the MoPH,” said in support of the Covid-19 cri- structed by trained medical staff week, Dr al-Jaber explained, precautionary measures taken by Abdullah. “First, a doctor will sis plan,” the PHCC statement of family doctors and nurses on stressing that both applicants the nursing staff before patients contact the patient and inform noted. methods of prevention, in order (prospective spouses) must be walk into any health centre,” said him or her of the test results. “In an eff ort to overcome to ensure continued provision of present at the same centre for Abdullah. Then, a request for further tests these challenges, the PHCC was this service in health centres. the screening, as the test results These measures include a File picture of the Leabaib Health Centre. are made using the patient’s able to acquire skilled nurses on Director of Airport Health come out within a week and quick desk test, checking of the database. Following this, the a temporary, urgent basis,” said Centre Dr Maryam al-Jaber said medical examination certifi cates body temperature, asking Cov- the isolation room immediately,” portant guidelines that are to be nursing staff will co-ordinate Abdullah. that the service is available at the are issued to both applicants if id-19-relevant questions and she explained. used as a reference during the with the four centres that are “Our nurses also had to put in health centres of Al Khor, West the results are positive. taking note of any respiratory Following admission, nurses quarantine period. allocated as Covid-19 quaran- long hours at the health centres Bay, Al Rayyan, Leabaib, Al Wa- In case of negative results, symptoms or symptoms similar will carry out further precau- Once a suspected case is dis- tine facilities (Muaither, Rawdat in an eff ort to battle this pan- jba and Omar Bin Al Khattab, in the two applicants are referred to Covid-19, such as coughing, tionary measures by checking charged from the isolation room, Al Khail, Al Gharafah and Umm demic. It has not been easy, but addition to the Airport Health to relevant clinics at the Hamad sore throat and fever, the PHCC vital signs and performing the the nursing staff supervises the Slal) in order to carry out the re- our sense of duty and respon- Centre, where visitors can book Medical Corporation in order to said in a statement. Covid-19 swabbing test. After disinfection process as part of quired tests. Based on that, the sibility towards our patients an appointment in any of the be provided with the necessary According to Abdullah, visi- the test, the nursing staff will the PHCC’s eff orts in combating patient will be transferred to a and the nation of Qatar, along centres, regardless of whether treatment and advice, Dr al-Jab- tors at all health centres are explain further steps that the the spread of Covid-19. suitable quarantine facility,” she with the support of many other they were registered at the cho- er added. treated as suspected Covid-19 patient will need to take, includ- According to Abdullah, nurses explained. groups and service providers, sen centre or not, but both pro- She also called on prospec- cases. “In the event any of the ing the quarantine procedure. also make sure to follow up with To cover the global shortage has helped us face these obsta- spective spouses must be exam- tive spouses to do the premari- above symptoms are detected, Nurses will also ensure that pa- home-quarantined patients. of nurses and to meet the needs cles head-on. We managed to ined at the same centre on the tal screening suffi ciently before the patient will be treated as a tients complete the Undertaking She said, “Calls are made daily of health sectors worldwide contribute towards accomplish- same day. planning their marriage, as the suspected Covid-19 case and Form, based on which he or she to off er patients support and to after the Covid-19 outbreak, ing the desired outcomes in con- Gharrafat Al Rayyan Health certifi cate is only valid for six asked to sanitise his or her hands will be given a standard book- monitor their health condition, the World Health Organisation fronting this pandemic, which Centre does not provide the months and only the examina- and to wear a surgical mask. let from the Ministry of Public while answering any queries (WHO) said there was an urgent we hope will soon come to an service at the current time, con- tion of infectious diseases can be They will then be admitted into Health (MoPH), containing im- they might have with regards to need for an estimated 5.9mn end.” sidering that it is a temporary redone. - QNA Health ministry reports 104,641 total Covid-19 recovery cases

QNA rus and see numbers increasing. Doha There are already signs of this happening in other countries around the world.” he Ministry of Public The health ministry urged Health (MoPH) reported people to avoid close contact Tyesterday 441 new con- with others, crowded places and fi rmed cases of coronavirus confi ned closed spaces where (Covid-19) and 450 recoveries other people aggregate. “Now Qatar Charity and Black Cat Engineering & Construction off icials. in the last 24 hours, bringing the more than ever, we must be care- total number of people who re- ful and protect the most vulner- covered from the disease in Qa- able.” tar to 104,641. While the restrictions of Cov- The MoPH also announced id-19 are gradually being lifted Qatar Charity receives donation from three new deaths of patients aged in Qatar, it is important for all to 46, 59 and 77 who were receiving play their role in controlling the the necessary medical care. virus by following precautionary Black Cat for those aff ected by Covid-19 The MoPH said in a statement measures: yesterday that all new Covid-19 Adherence to physical dis- cases have been transferred to tancing, Avoid close contact atar Charity (QC) has re- tion to the company management never been more urgent to sup- isolation and are receiving nec- with others, crowded places and ceived a donation from for the “kind gesture”, expressing port those in need at this critical essary healthcare. confi ned closed spaces where QBlack Cat Engineering & delight at “such a generous initia- juncture. In pursuing its com- Measures to tackle Covid-19 other people congregate, Wear- Construction in support of the tive that supports the humanitarian mitment towards social respon- in Qatar have succeeded in fl at- ing a face mask, Washing hands former’s eff orts aimed at fight- eff orts of Qatar Charity within and sibility, Black Cat is delighted to tening the curve and limiting regularly. Most importantly, it ing the Covid-19 outbreak and outside the country”, the statement join forces with Qatar Charity to the spread of the virus and the is vital that we continue to pro- helping families and workers af- points out. alleviate the impact of Covid-19 number of new daily cases and tect the elderly and those with fected by the pandemic. He also urged other organisa- on the more vulnerable members hospital admissions is continu- provided thorough the public “Even though restrictions are chronic medical conditions. The contribution comes as tions and commercial establish- of our society.” ing to decline each week. healthcare sector for Covid-19 being lifted, and cases are de- Anyone suff ering from Cov- part of the company’s corporate ments to continue supporting During the blessed month of “Qatar’s proactive and extensive patients *Qatar’s young popula- clining, this does not mean that id-19 symptoms should either social responsibility (CSR) poli- QC’s eff orts to contribute to Ramadan this year, Black Cat testing of suspected cases has ena- tion the Covid-19 pandemic is over contact 16000 helpline or go di- cy to give back to the community curbing the spread of the novel has launched the ‘Make a wish. bled us to identify a high number of zProactive testing to identify in Qatar as every day between rectly to one of the designated where it runs the business, es- coronavirus and maximising the Be a star. Inspire us – We will positive cases in the community,” cases early 50 and 100 people are admit- health centres to undergo the pecially in this challenging time number of benefi ciaries. get through this together’ ini- the health ministry said. zExpanding hospital capac- ted to hospital with moderate to necessary checks at Muaither, when the whole world is going Boussaina Kalo Borchetta, tiative, wherein every individual Qatar has one of the low- ity, especially intensive care, to severe symptoms,” the ministry Rawdat Al Khail, Umm Slal, or Al through the pandemic, a press senior corporate social respon- has been able to make a wish est Covid-19 death rates in the ensure all patients receive the cautioned. Gharrafa. This is important as the statement notes. sibility offi cer at Black Cat Engi- via the company’s website. For world. medical care they need “Unless we follow all precau- earlier the disease is detected the Jassim al-Emadi, director of the neering & Construction, added: every wish posted, Black Cat has This is a result of: zProtecting the elderly and tionary measures, we may expe- easier it will be to receive the right Local Development Department at “The pandemic is impacting contributed an amount to Qatar zVery high quality of care those with chronic diseases. rience a second wave of the vi- treatment and recover from it. QC, extended thanks and apprecia- communities worldwide, and it’s Charity. Gulf Times Thursday, July 23, 2020 3 QATAR

QM urges students, teachers to register for new Culture Pass

By Joey Aguilar ming by registering via https:// access to tours, talks, and work- and get invitations for the Teach- fi nite Programme, and apply to Staff Reporter www.qm.org.qa/en/culture- shops”. ers’ Council and the Executive the QM Internship Programme pass. The expanded Culture Pass Teachers’ Council. and volunteering opportunities “Culture Pass is your gateway programme was launched in June QM said teachers, under the with the Public Programme’s atar Museums (QM) to explore culture, art and herit- as an added support to teach- new Culture Pass tier, will also Team. has urged students and age. Membership draws together ers and students in Qatar, giving enjoy a wide range of discounts Students members stand to Qteachers to register for its the wealth of experiences we of- them access to QM’s educational at various restaurants and cafes benefi t from priority registration new Culture Pass tiers, off ering a fer at our museums,” QM said on services, workshop opportu- across the country. to student arts workshops and curated programme and benefi ts its Instagram page. nities and an array of free-of- These include 10% discount artists talks. that suit their passion. The programme, QM noted, charge virtual activities. at QM gift shops, IN-Q Online They are also entitled to a 10% While QM opened a number includes two new tiers, the Cul- Teachers will receive unique and Cass Art Qatar, as well as QM discount at QM gift shops. of its museums and heritage ture Pass Students and Culture educational training opportuni- ticketed exhibitions. QM noted that the original free sites on July 1, the first day of Pass Teachers memberships, ties, as well as expand their cul- For students 16 to 25 years, the Culture Pass Basic membership, the second phase of the gradual “designed to create a com- tural knowledge. tier gives them access to an array which is “hugely popular” with lifting of Covid-19 restrictions munity, be proactive and share They can join tours, exhibi- of QM events. more than 20,000 members, will in the country, students and the love of knowledge to future tion training tours, local artists’ It also allows them to register remain available for Qatari na- teachers can also take part in generations by offering them an workshops and the ‘Teachers for development platforms such tionals, residents and visitors, these creative online program- exclusive and behind the scenes Teaching Teachers’ programme, as the Museum of Islamic Art In- along with core benefi ts. US embassy warns HIA will bring ‘wow’ factor against scam calls to passengers, says al-Baker on scholarships he US embassy in Doha aware of these types of scams By Pratap John has warned against scam and do not respond. No US gov- Business Editor Tcalls promising fake ernment entity, including the scholarships. US embassy in Qatar, will ever In a statement posted on request payment for educa- amad International Air- Twitter yesterday, the embassy tional or legal services.” port (HIA) will bring a said: “The US embassy in Doha EducationUSA Doha (doha@ H‘wow’ factor to passen- has been made aware of a re- educationusa.org) provides gers when it completes its ex- curring fraud scheme in which free US higher education guid- pansion, Qatar Airways Group scammers call or e-mail people, ance to all residents of Qatar, it Chief Executive HE Akbar al- claiming to be working with US stressed. Baker has said. embassies and Qatari embassies “If you receive any calls or e- “HIA is a destination. And worldwide, soliciting payment mails suggesting that you are when you pass through HIA, you for US educational opportunities under investigation by the FBI want to visit it again and again. or legal assistance with problems or other authority and a request The facilities we have in the air- related to ones previous educa- for money is included, please in- port are second to none. And es- tional programmes in the US.” form the Ministry of Interior via pecially, when we complete our “Furthermore, scammers a local police centre or call the expansion, it will bring a wow claim that the US Federal Bu- Cybercrime Combating Centre factor,” al-Baker said in a mes- reau of Investigation (FBI) is hotline - 6681 5757, or e-mail sage yesterday. HIA is a destination. And when you pass through HIA, you want to visit it again and again, says al-Baker. investigating these cases and [email protected] and notify “I operate both the airline requesting payment,” the state- the embassy at DohaSecurity@ and the airport. So, we have ing, we have a lot of use of sani- Al-Baker said the Covid-19 opportunity,” he said. line that refl ects the culture and ment continued. “Please be State.gov,” the statement added. made sure that the total pas- tisers. We were the only airport pandemic has been the “dark- On Tuesday, while speaking hospitality of my country, Qa- senger cycle is controlled by (from the beginning) to start est” period for aviation, but on the need for standardisation tar,” he said. us,” he said. using UV robots to disinfect Qatar Airways has shown its of regulations required for trav- “I am fully confi dent that “We have touchless passenger every part of the airport. We use resilience by helping get thou- elling during this period, al- the airline industry will bounce points…we have social distanc- advanced clean materials – eve- sands of passengers home, de- Baker had said the World Health back. I am also confi dent that Property ownership reviewed rybody has to wear masks and livering free medical supplies Organisation should print a people will get more and more QA resumes fl ights to gloves. So, we have taken every and donating aid to countries health certifi cate that would comfortable and confi dent with Antalya, Bodrum today single precaution.” in need. require passengers to undergo the strides the scientifi c com- From Page 1 ing the period from 1/10/2019 to Qatar Airways and HIA are in- “According to IATA, we were a Covid-19 test 72 hours before munity is making in combating 31/3/2020. Qatar Airways has said it will tegrated and have implemented the largest carrier for the month their fl ight. this terrible disease...and that One of the committee’s powers Among the powers of the com- operate 28 weekly flights to several measures for passenger May and June. We operated He made the observation people will be able to enjoy the is to propose areas in which non- mittee is to co-ordinate work Turkey by August with the safety, including touchless pas- nearly 70 destinations and car- during an interview with ‘Air hospitality we provide at Hamad Qataris are permitted to own and between all operating bodies at resumption of twice-weekly senger points, advanced tem- ried hundreds of thousands of Transport Weekly’, in which he International Airport travelling use real estate, the terms and Hamad International Airport, to flights to Antalya and Bodrum perature screening and provide passengers to their loved ones… provided insights into how the by Qatar Airways.” conditions of their ownership, facilitate the operations and activ- today and services to Istanbul passengers with gloves, face and to their country. We carried airline industry could best sur- On what he thinks it will take and the benefi ts, incentives, and ities of air transportation, aircraft, Sabiha Gökçen on Sunday. “By masks, face shields and hand over 250,000 tonnes of medical vive the pandemic. for aviation numbers to return facilities granted to real estate passengers and cargo and mail to the end of this month, we will sanitisers. supplies. What it shows is that Qatar Airways gave excerpts to the 2019 levels, al-Baker said: owners and users. and from the country, in accord- operate over 450 weekly flights By the end of this month, when you are determined to take of the interview through a series “Not for the next three-fi ve 2 - The fi fth report on the work ance with the laws and regulations to more than 70 destinations,” Qatar Airways will operate over advantage of whatever bleak cir- of tweets. years. It will just be a miracle if of the co-ordination committee in force, and to provide the neces- the airline tweeted yesterday. 450 weekly fl ights to more than cumstances your business will “My biggest priority is to the fi gures go to the 2019 levels between the agencies operating at sary requirements to facilitate the 70 destinations. face, I think there is always an make sure that we have an air- in this period of time.” Hamad International Airport dur- work of the airport activities. CRA participates in summit to discuss cybersecurity

he Communications Regu- ing the impact of information and portance of developing and im- This year, all WSIS Forum-re- latory Authority (CRA), communications technologies plementing policy and regulatory lated activities will be conducted Trepresented by its president (ICTs) for sustainable develop- measures to build trust as a key in virtual format such as work- Mohamed Ali al-Mannai, par- ment. principle of sustainable ICT sector shops, high-level policy sessions, ticipated in a high-level interactive The high-level session, titled and growing digital economy. ministerial round table, as well as policy session at the World Sum- ‘Building Confi dence and Secu- “The CRA ensures to partici- a series of WSIS Action Line facili- mit on the Information Society rity in the use of ICTs’, discussed pate in international conferences tation meetings. (WSIS) Forum 2020 yesterday. the importance of cybersecurity and forums to foster partnerships, These activities, including The virtual event, which started to digital systems, access to con- exchange information and ex- hackathon, exhibition, and WSIS on June 22 and runs until Sep- nectivity, and to the availability, periences with stakeholders and prize ceremony, are aimed at pro- tember 10, features a weekly pro- integrity and confi dentiality of in- experts, and to check the current viding recognition to the projects gramme under the theme ‘Fos- formation transiting on networks, international best practices fol- that succeeded in implementing tering digital transformation and in addition to the operations and lowed in the fi eld. CRA’s participa- development-oriented strategies global partnerships: WSIS Action functioning of critical infrastruc- tion this year in WSIS Forum that that leverage the power of ICTs as Lines for achieving Sustainable ture, digital and physical. is conducted in virtual format is an enabler of the development. Development Goals’. The session also tackled the im- a sign of the key role that the ICT WSIS Forum is marking 15 years WSIS is a multi-stakeholder portance of enhancing cybersecu- plays in terms of business conti- of co-operation between all WSIS platform to discuss, share experi- rity and protecting critical infor- nuity during crises, like the excep- stakeholders to leverage ICTs as ences, showcase innovation and mation infrastructures. tional circumstances related to the critical drivers of global develop- Participants, including CRA president Mohamed Ali al-Mannai, attending the WSIS Forum. foster partnerships in strengthen- Al-Mannai discussed the im- Covid-19 pandemic,” he said. ment. Huawei nova 7 5G wins as ‘trendy fl agship smartphone’

uawei recently launched site, https://bit.ly/2C5WSQ7. It mium camera features of the nova tages of having a fast download Thanks to the world-leading the new nova 7 5G, which is priced at QR1,699. 7 5G. Additional features include speed and low latency. In the 5G SoCs, the HUAWEI nova 7 His powered by Kirin 985 Thanks to the 64MP Hi-res 4K videos, 4K time-lapse and a past, downloading a 2GB game 5G is more energy-effi cient as 5G SoC integrated with a 5G AI Quad Camera packed into the DUAL-VIEW Video Mode, which with a 4G network would take it doesn’t require an external baseband to provide a faster, Huawei nova 7 5G, photography allows users to use two diff erent about 10 minutes. With 5G, it 5G baseband. It also has a slim- more stable 5G experience. The and videography in all scenarios cameras at the same time to cap- only takes about one minute, the mer and lighter design as there addition of a powerful 64MP Hi- is easily taken care of. The setup ture videos from both sides. statement notes. is more space for the CPU in the res AI Quad Camera and 40W comes with a 64MP main cam- The Huawei nova 7 5G is With its advanced 5G network motherboard. Compared to most Huawei SuperCharge “is sure to era, 8MP ultra-wide camera, equipped with the Kirin 985 5G searching technology, the Hua- 5G phones this year, the Hua- deliver the ultimate entertain- 8MP telephoto camera and a 2MP SoC. Manufactured with the wei nova 7 5G quickly searches wei nova 7 is slimmer, lighter, ment experience in the 5G era”, macro camera, which work to- leading 7nm process, the chipset for 5G networks so that one can and provides a more comfort- Huawei has said in a statement. gether to support a wide range of integrates a 5G baseband and get online as soon possible. able grip, so gamers don’t need Available in Space Silver, Mid- shooting scenarios. high-performance processor The nova 7 5G supports 5G Dual to worry about having sore wrists summer Purple and Black, the Paired with Super Night Mode into the chip itself, making it a SIM Dual Standby. When taking a after a long gaming session, the “trendy fl agship smartphone” is 3.0 and zooming capabilities from 5G trendy fl agship like no other. call on one SIM card, users can also statement adds. available for purchase at Huawei 3x Optical zoom, 5x hybrid zoom When users play games on the receive notifi cations for incoming The nova 7 5G is also pre-in- offi cial stores, authorised dis- up to 20x digital zoom photogra- nova 7 5G in a 5G network area, calls from the other SIM to avoid stalled with AppGallery, Hua- tributors and on Huawei’s web- phy, enthusiasts can enjoy the pre- they can enjoy the dual advan- missing any important calls. wei’s offi cial app marketplace. Gulf Times 4 Thursday, July 23, 2020 QATAR

‘Leucistic’ hawksbill turtle hatchlings found in Qatar

From Page 1 leader, said: “The study of ma- regarding marine turtles in Qa- ment these in reports submitted for this species of turtles. rine turtles by ESC does not stop tari waters.” to relevant authorities. This year, the Environmental “Over millions of years of evo- in August despite it being the In addition to monitoring This data will also be used to Science Centre created a new lution, living organisms, includ- end of the annual nesting sea- and tracking turtles through advance global knowledge of hatchery for turtle nests in Ras ing turtles, have developed the son. ESC researchers will analyse satellites throughout the year, marine turtles by publishing sci- Laff an Industrial City. right amount of pigmentation all samples and data collected DNA testing and other various entifi c articles in leading inter- The primary reason for mov- to harmonise with their habitats relating to turtle, egg and hatch- analyses of samples collected national scientifi c journals. ing nests to the hatchery was and surroundings. But sudden ling morphometrics, as well as from mother turtles and their Hawksbill turtles nest annual- that the nesting area is subject pigmentation disorders cause various nesting frequencies and hatchlings will be carried out. ly in Qatar mainly between April to considerable predation from them to stand out very clearly environmental parameters dur- Samples from the nests and and May; however, the nesting foxes digging up nests and eating in the wild, making them easier ing the season. These results will their surrounding environment period extends until mid-June. eggs. The project took place last targets for predators.” be compared to data from previ- will be analysed to elucidate key Northern beaches, including Ras year and this year with the sup- Prof Dr Hamad al-Kuwari, di- ous years to investigate impor- drivers involved in marine turtle Laff an, are one of the most pre- port of Qatar Petroleum (2019- rector of ESC and turtle project tant and emerging phenomena nesting behaviour and to docu- ferred and prime nesting sites 2020). Albino dark eye.

National Address registration

From Page 1 judicial procedures and ena- a simple form that includes Qatar’s young debaters bles a proper communication the address of residence, fixed The address data could also system.” All entities and in- telephone number, mobile be registered through MoI dividuals, including institu- number, e-mail, employer service centres and Hukoomi. tions and companies, should address for government and To simplify the National Ad- register their address and data private sector employees, and dress registration process, with the ministry. This will permanent address abroad, if put skills to test in domestic workers can author- ensure that everyone is prop- available. ise their employers to submit erly communicated by the The guardian of minor chil- the application after filling it State and receives essential dren has to register their data out and getting it signed by official notifications and an- and bears legal responsibility the worker concerned, the nouncements on time. for the validity of this data. MoI reiterated through a post The registration will help The registration will en- online global contest on social media. One has to go the government easily reach hance the performance rates to the link - bit.ly/2X1ePpv - out to people and deliver vari- of some security and rapid- oung debating stars from Qatar have to access the form. ous services, including ambu- response services in case of begun their bid to shine in a global Considered the first of its lance services. emergencies. These include Ycontest with a diff erence – it is being kind in the GCC, the National A citizen or an expatriate or Al Fazaa, the Traffic Depart- held completely online. Address Law “marks a quali- his/her legal representative ment, Civil Defence and am- Team Qatar – trained by Qatar Foundation tative leap in the conduct of has to register his/her data in bulance services. member QatarDebate – is among the debat- ing squads from around the globe who are participating in the Online World Schools Debating Championships, which began this week and will continue until August 2. QRCS commences annual The national English debating team got off to the perfect start on the opening day of competition, winning their fi rst round against Team Sudan in a debate on drug le- meeting of foreign offi ces galisation, as months of intensive prepara- tion begin to be put to the test in the online debating arena. Following the restrictions and preventive atar Red Crescent So- measures put in place around the world amid ciety (QRCS) has com- the Covid-19 pandemic, the decision was Qmenced its third annual taken by the World Schools Debating Cham- Team Qatar taking part in the championship. meeting of foreign offi ces via pionship’s tournament committee to arrange video-conferencing. a 17-day online event, which has 72 teams held online.” The opening six rounds of the on computer algorithms rather than human The meeting brings together from 72 countries taking part. Online World Schools Debating Champion- judgment with Team Estonia. managers and representatives Speaking about how Team Qatar has been ships see teams pitted against each other in The team comprises Turkia al-Thani, of QRCS foreign offi ces, heads equipped to represent the nation in global competitive debates. They are drawn against Alanoud al-Thani, Moza al-Hajri and Reem al- of department at the Relief and tournaments such as this, Abdulrahman al- each other at random, with one team selected Kubaisi, who have been trained by QatarDebate International Development Di- Subaie, head of Programmes, Communica- to speak in favour of the motion and the other coach Mubarrat Wassey. They were originally vision, and offi cials and experts tion and Marketing at QatarDebate, said: to put the argument against it. preparing to participate in the World Schools from organisations concerned Senior off icials of QRCS participated in the opening ceremony of the “We annually seek to attract Qatari students The topics are only announced close to the Debating Championship in Mexico City, which with charitable and humani- meeting, which brings together managers and representatives of QRCS from all schools so we can train and qualify start of each day, and in the fi rst preliminary was due to be held this month but has now been tarian work in Qatar. foreign off ices, heads of department at the Relief and International them to participate in debating champion- round, Team Qatar and Team Sudan debated postponed until January, leading to the alterna- Many senior offi cials of Development Division, and off icials and experts from organisations ships, and representing Qatar in internation- the motion ‘Designate specifi c non-residential tive online tournament being organised. QRCS participated in the concerned with charitable and humanitarian work in Qatar. al forums is the highest accolade for them. areas in which drug users and dealers are legally Their training has included over 120 hours opening ceremony, including “This is the 12th time that the national allowed to buy, use, and sell drugs’. of online preparation, to familiarise them Ali bin Hassan al-Hammadi, Qatar debating team have participated in a Further rounds this week have seen Team with the virtual debate setting and to hone secretary-general; Ibrahim world debating championship, having begun Qatar debate whether families whose children their skills, and in their build-up to the On- Abdullah al-Maliki, chief ex- its successful participation in these competi- perform well in school should receive addition- line World Schools Debating Championship, ecutive director and acting tions in the US in 2008, but it is diff erent for al welfare benefi ts with Team Hong Kong, and they won the Helsinki Online Open Debating general director of the Relief them this year with the championship being whether criminal sentencing should be based Championship. and International Development Division; Dr Mohamed Jas- sem al-Moslimani, director of Compliance and Risk Manage- ment; Saleh al-Kaabi, head of Internal Auditing; and Dr Fawzi Katara theatre continues its activities remotely Oussedik, head of International Relations. “We seek to further improve QNA Mrozek on Friday (July 24). where each actor is fi lmed sepa- which include Faisal Rashid, Ab- our fi eld work by investigating statement yesterday. The par- isations in the light of the latest Doha This is part of Katara’s events rately, before the recordings are dullah al-Asem, Nada Ahmed, the major challenges and fi nd- ticipants also covered the dif- guidelines issued by the Regu- and activities package of Sum- put together along with the dia- Khalid Khamis, Heba Lutfi , Mo- ing feasible solutions, which fi culties facing the organisation latory Authority for Charitable mer 2020, which was launched logue according to the montage. hamed Adel, Ali al-Sharshani, will allow us to better perform in diff erent parts of the world, Activities; sustainable funding atara Drama Theatre con- by Katara – the Cultural Village The fi lming is carried out on a Amina al-Wakili, Asrar and Fa- our role locally and interna- especially with the Covid-19. and resource mobilisation; de- tinues presenting inter- via its social media platforms, stage, to give the play a theatri- tima al-Shorouqi. tionally,” said al-Hammadi. The fi ve-day event will see velopment of media content; Knational and Arabic plays in line with the country’s pre- cal nature, and the overall focus These events have seen a great Day 1 of the meeting dis- online sessions and workshops administrative policies, proce- throughout the summer season, cautionary measures to prevent is on the actor’s vocal perform- turnout by artists and the pub- cussed the main achievements on a wide range of topics, includ- dures and control; programming by presenting a theatrical work the outbreak of coronavirus ance, which means that there is lic within and outside Qatar, and challenges of this year, to ing the Relief and International amid the current challenges; ac- every Friday. (Covid-19). The play will be no actual performance, but only and many artists have expressed come up with strategic plans Development Division Strat- tion plans and quality control; The theatre will be presenting presented after being fi lmed in a a reading of the text. keenness to participate, as for a better and broader fi eld egy 2020-2023; mechanisms of and mechanisms of planning a reading of the play, “At Sea” by working mechanism that follows The 12 theatrical works are be- it is a unique and distinctive performance, QRCS said in a charitable work by Qatari organ- and studies. the Polish dramatist Slawomir the precautionary procedures, ing read by distinguished actors experience. Ashghal announces temporary closures at three locations

he Public Works Author- ity (Ashghal) yesterday Tannounced temporary closures at three diff erent places. These are a two-week closure of the access to the Al Khafj i service road at Duhail Inter- change, closure of the south ac- cess from Al Gharrafa Street to Al Mashabiya Street at Sheikh Faisal Roundabout, and a one- lane closure on Ali Bin Amur Al Attiya Street and Museum Street. The closures will be imple- mented in co-ordination with the General Directorate of Traf- fi c. Ashghal will install road signs advising motorists of the clo- sures, and has requested all road users to abide by the speed limit and follow the road signs to en- sure their safety. The closure has been an- zClosure of south access weeks. The closure will enable z One-lane closure on Ali from Museum Roundabout to cilitating the implementation of zTwo-week closure of ac- nounced to enable the construc- from Al Gharrafa Street to Al the construction of Duhail Inter- Bin Amur Al Attiya Street and Slata Intersection (Al Muthaf), infrastructure development and cess to Al Khafj i service road tion of Duhail Interchange, Ash- Mashabiya Street at Sheikh change, Ashghal has said. Road Museum Street from Saturday for six months. beautifi cation works on Museum at Duhail Interchange ghal has said. Road users coming Faisal Roundabout users coming from Al Gharrafa Ashghal has announced a The closures have been an- Street and Ali Bin Amur Al Attiya Ashghal has announced a from Al Khafj i Street towards Ashghal has announced the Street and heading towards Al one-lane closure on Ali Bin nounced to enable the works of Street. During the closures, two two-week closure of the access Environment Street are advised closure of the south access from Mashabiya Street are advised to Amur Al Attiya Street, from Al the Doha Central Development lanes will remain open to traffi c to the Al Khafj i service road at to use Environment Street and Al Gharrafa Street to Al Mashabi- use Al Samari Street and Al Bel- Rufaa Intersection to Al Meena and Beautifi cation Project - in both directions and access will Duhail Interchange from tomor- then Al Duhail Street to access ya Street at Sheikh Faisal Round- war Street instead of Al Gharrafa Intersection, as well as a one- Package 2, Ashghal has said. be provided to residential areas row. their destination. about from tomorrow for two Street to access their destination. lane closure on Museum Street, The closures are aimed at fa- and commercial facilities. Gulf Times Thursday, July 23, 2020 5 HOL STIC

Fact: Fish is not healthy Wellbeing

cardiovascular disease. Get it right! All the world’s oceans are con- taminated with toxic pollutants that they’re cancelling out any Mental Health support is beneficial eff ects of omega-3 as much as an investment as found in fish, and replacing it Physical Health support with harmful contaminants that A big problem today is the people are consuming danger- ease and quickness with which ously high levels of by eating people are getting certified to their fish diet (all in the name of ‘help’ another individual with good health). their mental and emotional Fish farms provide over half of all needs. When you invest in fish consumed by humans. Much mental health support you’re By Ghanim al-Sulaiti like meat slaughterhouses – these paying for years of experience are overcrowded, unnatural pens and knowledge of the subject that transmit disease and cause By Sanah Thakur of Psychology. What sets apart Many people who stop eating water pollution, choking marine the most effective practition- meat continue eating fish in the life with persistent organic pollut- ers from the rest, is that they belief that it’s good for them ants, antibiotics, chemicals from s the English Language spend incredible amount of and that fishing is less cruel and parasitical treatments, anaesthet- Dictionaries are being con- time working on themselves destructive than farming – but this ics, disinfectants, feed additives, Astantly updated with the and in turn are in a position to is simply not true. metals and anti-foulants. If these new age slang, the professional pass this knowledge and guide Here’s why: fish survive all of these toxins dictionaries aren’t falling any- you with your own life. This The human body need fats called before being killed…they end up where behind. The number of new self-work and development, is essential fatty acids for our cell on the plate of those who are con- jobs that have been created with continued every single day and membranes, brain and nervous vinced eating fish means they’re time are expected with change, is an uncomfortable and tiring system. They help regulate blood consuming a healthy diet. Just let but at the same time, the multi- journey, yet one that empowers pressure, boost our immune and that sink in. tude is shocking. While oppor- and makes them eligible to sup- inflammatory responses and are Plant foods can provide more tunities have expanded, creating port you confidently. called ‘essential’ because we can’t than enough to keep your heart more lines to connect the aimless Just like you pay your doc- make them in our bodies, we must healthy and combat inflamma- dots, the same lines are also blur- tors to physically help you, get them from food. Omega-3 tory conditions. ring in vision. We’re confusing your gym trainers to keep you essential fatty acid are found in Safer, healthier and sustainable professions, creating self-implied in shape and your support staff plant foods such as flaxseeds, sources of omega-3s include boundaries between profession- for maintaining your lifestyle rapeseeds, soya, walnuts and their flaxseeds (linseeds), rapeseeds, alism and hobbies and aff ecting - you pay a mental health pro- oils. soya, walnuts and oils made from more than just ourselves with the fessional to support the main- While large companies and them. Some species of algae consequences. Self-indulgence 4. Post-traumatic stress dis- the dynamic for mental health create conflict within an indi- tenance of your mental and society may lead you to believe (and supplements made from might be the norm of today, order professionals. The illusion of vidual who wants to help out emotional stability. that Omega 3 can only be found them) can provide the longer yet, existing within the realm 4. Eating disorders ‘closeness’ that social media but also needs to maintain their It’s important, that while in fish, several studies show that chain omega-3s found in oily fish of society, if you choose to, still 5. Substance abuse disorders creates, presents a similar mis- ethical and moral code of con- there is an expanse of knowl- oily fish, particularly fish oil sup- without exposing you to harmful imposes social responsibility. conception that blurs the lines duct. edge and information avail- plements, can have the opposite pollutants. By avoiding fish you Today, in my column, I take this Mental well-being is, stress between ‘approachability’ and By sending in extremely per- able at our fingertips, that we eff ect of the good health that’s can protect your health and same responsibility, to educate and anxiety resulting from... ‘professionalism’. While at the sonal, difficult and tough ques- don’t abuse this power and claimed. In fact, a study on men in help stop the destruction of the anyone who stumbles upon the 1. Avoiding making decisions core, we are humans and here tions and demanding an answer choose to selectively confirm Eastern Finland, where mercury oceans caused by over-fishing. fi eld of mental well-being and and taking responsibility to educate, most of us are on in the character limit of a text our own biases or get lazy with levels in fish are high, found that health. Following are some of 2. Lacking self-control social media platforms as pro- box on social media, e-mail or our research. Words and in turn the level of mercury in their hair „ The author is an expert in vegan the important pieces of infor- 3. Managing frustration and fessionals and experts. even over a phone conversation language, have a deep impact and the amount of fish they ate wellbeing and health. Instagram mation, you just can’t aff ord to boredom This means that, while peo- is extremely disrespectful of on our perspective on life and were linked to increased risk of handle: @Ghanim92  NOT get right. 4. Coping poorly with disap- ple may feel like approaching their privacy and profession- therefore the way we interact pointment and sadness professionals with questions alism. However, if somebody with it as well. Educate yourself A mental well-being pro- 5. Struggling to build and about their life, distress or an- chooses to help an individual out of any ignorance, if you’re fessional is not a mental ill- maintain relationships ything related to mental health, or refer them to the appropri- going to choose to engage. ness professional 6. Lacking resilience they are not your ‘friends’ who ate professional, after a proper Mental well-being is not: will answer those same ques- consultation, the commitment 1. Clinical depression Mental health profession- tions as advice. Most often, will be made in time and fi- 2. Schizophrenia als are not your ‘friends’ these questions are extremely nances, in a professional man- „ The author can be contacted on 3. Personality disorders Social media has changed emotionally draining and can ner. Instagram @sincerelysanah

Simple love

or she may not be great in other 5. Financial Security aspects. It feels great when you can pay off your bills and smoothly run your 2. Whether you are a like household. That’s why money is im- Having a few things in com- portant in relationships. However, mon with your partner doesn’t having too much of it doesn’t mean necessarily make you guys make you will have a better relation- a great couple. For example, the ship. So, stop thinking that having fact that both of you like hiking financial security will make the two during the weekend doesn’t mean of you grow closer together. Build you will be great together. your relationship in other ways so Get fi t with 2 So overlook the details. If you that you have non-financial reasons have a few things in common, you to be together. By Hala Bader al-Humaidhi can learn the rest as the relation- By Louise Hazel Slowly lower left heel towards ship picks up. Your relationship 6. Your partner’s occupation The Guardian fl oor while extending right arm will be more interesting if you You don’t have to be with a CEO of over head. Slowly return to start- Whether you are entering into a accept and embrace your differ- a large organisation to be happy. ing position and repeat on the new relationship or you have been ences. Your partner could be a normal im to perform each exer- other side. in one for long, focusing on un- employee and still make you happy cise for 30 seconds, with necessary details won’t help you. 3. Their background more than you could ever imagine. Ano rest between moves. 2. Toe taps As long as your partner and you What’s your partner’s political What matters is that your relation- Then take one minute to recover Keeping your body upright, enjoy the time you spend together, persuasion? What culture do they ship is based on care and trust for before repeating drive your arms in a running mo- nothing else should matter. So, come from? These aren’t things each other. If you still find time to tion, while lifting one leg at a what concerns should matter in to worry about. Of course, having be together after long working 1. Dead bugs time, knee bent. Gently tap each relationships? Here is a quick list a common worldview and beliefs hours, then you were meant for Lie on your back with knees foot on the top of a step. Repeat, of things you shouldn’t obsess may make it easier for you to each other. Don’t let your opinion bent to 90 degrees, arms up. alternating as fast as you can. yourself about. relate with each other. However, about his or her job cloud your it will limit your potential for judgment. Dead bugs 1. Your partner’s appearance growth. That’s why you should If you want your relationship to Have you found a man or woman open up your world by being grow, stop focusing on the details. to love? Why should your friends’ open to people from different Simply love! opinions concerning his/her looks backgrounds. As long as you matter? Dwelling too much on that make them great. So, stop on. Finding someone who fits all respect each other’s background, „ The author is a consultant in Pub- your partner’s looks could mean focusing on physical details like your physical specifications will you should have a fulfilling rela- lic Relations and Personality Types. missing out on other attributes biceps, hair colour, height, and so be a tall order. If you find one, he tionship. Instagram: @Tipsbyhalahill

You are not alone

present great opportunities to meet people and cultivate new friend- ships and social interactions. Al- ways expect the best, lonely people often expect negative outcomes, so instead focus on positive thoughts and attitudes in your social relation- ships. Focus on developing quality relationships rather than quantity. Seek people who share similar Toe taps attitudes, interests, and values with By Shefa Ali you. Loneliness could be a sign that something in your life needs to I was having lunch with my friends change, understand the eff ects yesterday and one of the topics of loneliness on your life, there of conversation that came up was are physical and mental eff ects of loneliness and how it can make one loneliness. do some crazy out of character Feeling lonely can be all consum- things. ing, and it can make you feel like it There is little that is so diff icult for a is going to last forever. The thing person to bear as loneliness, prison- is, it absolutely doesn’t have to, ers held in solitary confinement you just need to be proactive. I have told of rejoicing to see even know it can make it all feel a bit a spider – at least it is something people seem unnecessary. need to do is reach out to him. on your part to make a change. In pointless, but loneliness is only alive. I believe, God created us to be My grandma always tells me “there If you are feeling lonely, the most the long run, making a change can ever going to end if you do some- communal beings, but our modern is a big diff erence in being alone important thing to remember is make you happier, healthier, and thing about it. world is frighteningly devoid of and being lonely.” I believe if we are that you are never alone in feeling enable you to impact others around relationships. In many areas of life, filled with God’s love, we can never lonely, and there are lots of things you in a positive way. technological progress has resulted be lonely or down for long; we will you can do to make yourself to feel You could possibly consider com- „ The author is a consultant and in the deterioration of community. always find someone to reach out better. Loneliness can be overcome. munity service or another activity coach. Instagram handle: @miss_ Increasingly, technology has made to. God is always near us; all we It does require a conscious eff ort that you enjoy. These situations shefa, Website: missshefa.com Gulf Times 6 Thursday, July 23, 2020 REGION/ARAB WORLD PLO criticises UN warns of alarming raids, arrest of cultural leaders rise of hunger in Yemen AFP the individuals by name.It Jerusalem confirmed the searches “at AFP coronavirus pandemic added to two organisations that were Dubai the mix, it could get a lot worse if run in east Jerusalem claim- humanitarian action is delayed,” sraeli police arrested two ing that they were involved in he warned. prominent Palestinian Palestinian culture.” cute food insecurity is The WFP has previously said Icultural leaders yesterday Rosenfeld said the indi- forecast to rise sharply in that despite humanitarian assist- at their home in east Jerusa- viduals were being ques- Awar-ravaged Yemen over ance, over 20mn people all over lem on a suspicion of “fund- tioned and the investigation a combination of factors exacer- Yemen are food insecure, includ- ing” undesirable acts, police was ongoing. His statement bated by the coronavirus, a report ing nearly 10mn who are facing and a defence lawyer said. makes no mention of other by several UN agencies said yes- acute food shortages. Rania Elias, who heads the offences. But documents sent terday. The population of Yemen is Yabous Cultural Centre and to AFP by a conservatory of- The report, which covers only around 27mn. The UN has called her husband Suhail Khoury, ficial, presented by police at the southern parts of Yemen, the situation in Yemen the world’s Director General of the Ed- the time of the search, ref- forecasts that the number of peo- worst humanitarian crisis. ward Said National Conserv- erence “suspicion of money ple “facing high levels of acute Tens of thousands have been atory of Music, were detained laundering (and) funding”. food insecurity” will increase killed and millions displaced at their home in Jerusalem’s The Yabous Cultural Center from 2mn in February-April this since Houthi rebels took over Beit Hanina neighbourhood. in east Jerusalem was estab- year to 3.2mn in July-December. the capital Sanaa and other ter- The Yabous centre and lished in the mid 1990s with That represents 40% of the ritory in 2014. The war escalated the conservatory were also a mandate to celerate Pales- population in 133 districts in in March the following year, when raided by police and Israeli tinian culture and Arab her- southern Yemen covered by the a military coalition intervened tax investigators, with docu- itage in the city. study, up from 25%. Economic against the rebels. ments confiscated. The conservatory, named shocks, confl ict, fl oods, desert The food security situation in The Palestine Liberation after the late Palestinian in- locusts and now the novel coro- Yemen had eased in 2019 thanks Organisation (PLO) con- tellectual Said, has branches navirus were creating a perfect to a massive scale-up of interna- demned the arrests and raids in Jerusalem and across the storm for the expected sharp rise tional aid, the report said, before as part of “Israel’s violent occupied West Bank. in food insecurity, the report said. this year’s setback. and systematic campaign Its mandate is to promote The World Food Programme, The report “is telling us that against Palestinians in oc- music and music education the Food and Agriculture Or- Yemen is again on the brink of a cupied Jerusalem”.According among Palestinian commu- ganisation of the United Nations major food security crisis,” said to Elias’ lawyer Nasir Odeh, nities. (FAO), the United Nations Chil- Lise Grande, the UN’s humani- the couple was “detained on Israel occupied east Jeru- dren’s Fund (Unicef) and other tarian co-ordinator for Yemen. charges of financing organi- salem in the 1967 Six-Day partners who prepared the report Grande said the UN averted sations”. War and later annexed it in a called the increase “alarming”. famine in Yemen last year after Israeli police spokesman move never recognised by the Laurent Bukera, WFP country di- receiving generous aid from the Micky Rosenfeld said in a international community. rector in Yemen, said that “Yem- international community. statement that police, with It considers the entire city en is facing a crisis on multiple “Unless we receive the fund- tax authorities, detained its capital, while the Pales- fronts”. ing we need now, we won’t be “three suspects...in con- tinians see the eastern sec- “We must act now...The warn- able to do the same this time,” she nection with tax evasion and tor as the capital of their ing signs have returned and with warned. A doctor checks a malnourished boy, at a hospital in Aslam district of Hajjah province, Yemen. fraud”, without mentioning future state. Turkey says any Libya ceasefi re Cyclists claim attack by settlers deal requires rebel withdrawal after trail app led them astray

Reuters Reuters by Turkey and Russia on their Ramallah Ankara ceasefi re eff orts included a call for measures to allow humani- tarian access to those in need group of Palestinian cy- urkey and Russia agreed and eff orts to promote politi- clists say they were at- yesterday to keep push- cal dialogue between the rival Atacked by Israelis in the Ting for a ceasefi re in Lib- Libya sides. occupied West Bank after a pop- ya, but Ankara said the leader But Kalin said Haftar had ular trail app landed them on a of the eastern forces was not violated previous ceasefi re remote path dotted with Jewish legitimate and his forces must agreements and was not a reli- settlements. withdraw from key positions able partner, suggesting other Avid cyclist Amer Kurdi set out for any credible deal to emerge. fi gures in the east should play on Saturday with his brother and The two countries are the a role. three others on what was sup- main power brokers in Libya’s “We don’t take (Haftar) as posed to be an 80km ride, using confl ict, where they support a legitimate actor anyway,” he the cycling, hiking, and mountain opposing sides. said.”But there is another par- biking app Komoot to chart a path Russia backs the eastern- liament in Tobruk.There are north from the Palestinian village based forces of Khalifa Haftar, other players in Benghazi. of Birzeit. while Turkey has helped the The negotiations will have to The West Bank, captured by Is- Tripoli-based Government of take place between them.” rael in a 1967 war, is scattered with National Accord (GNA) repel Military engineers of the UN-recognised Libyan Government The LNA has itself sent fi ght- settlements which its 3mn Pal- Palestinian cyclists Amer Kurdi and Jerees Rayan inspect their Haftar’s attempt to storm the of National Accord (GNA) collect mines and explosive devices ers and weapons to bolster its estinians mostly cannot enter, as damaged bicycles in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank capital. uncovered from areas south of the capital Tripoli, yesterday. defence of Sirte, already badly well as checkpoints and military “We’ve just reached an battered from earlier phases bases that Israel says it needs for using T-shirts to hide their faces, investigating. Palestinians com- agreement with Russia to work of the country. “For the cease- LNA, has threatened to send of warfare and chaos since the its security. Kurdi and his brother, Samer, said. plain that navigation apps fail to on a credible and sustainable fi re to be sustainable, Jufra and troops into neighbouring Libya 2011 revolution against long- Over an hour into their ride, “The others managed to run grasp the West Bank’s complex- ceasefi re in Libya,” President Sirte should be evacuated by if the GNA and Turkish forces time leader Muammar Gaddafi . Kurdi said Komoot led them east away, but I tripped and fell,” ity. Asked for comment, Komoot Tayyip Erdogan’s top security Haftar’s forces,” Kalin told Reu- try to seize Sirte. Russia’s Foreign Ministry towards a rocky path near the set- Samer, 28, said. ”When I got up, said it regretted the incident but adviser Ibrahim Kalin told Reu- ters in an interview at the presi- The Egyptian parliament on says it backs a ceasefi re and tlement of Shilo. He said a group a settler was behind me, and he that its service is not specifi cally ters. dential palace in Ankara. Sunday gave a green light for political talks that would cul- of Hebrew-speaking men, whom started beating me with a metal optimised for route planning Kalin said any deal must be The United States has said possible military intervention. minate in united governing au- the cyclists later took to be Israeli rod.” “through areas of political un- based on a return to what he Moscow has sent warplanes to Kalin said any Egyptian de- thorities. settlers, approached and asked Photos the cyclists took af- rest”. Amer Kurdi says the inci- said were the Libyan frontlines Jufra via Syria to support Rus- ployment in Libya would ham- Russia has received senior where they were from. ter the incident, which they re- dent will not keep him from cy- in 2015, requiring Haftar’s forc- sian mercenaries who are fi ght- per eff orts to end the fighting delegations from both sides Kurdi, 30, replied that they were ported to Israel’s police, show cling. “I’ll wear a camera. I’ll be es to pull back from the Medi- ing alongside Haftar’s Libyan and would be risky for Cairo: of the Libyan confl ict in Mos- from the Palestinian city of Ram- Samer’s legs and arms bruised more careful when using apps,” terranean city of Sirte, gateway National Army (LNA).Moscow “I believe it will be a dangerous cow and tried and failed to get allah. Soon after, the men — Kurdi and bloodied. he said. to Libya’s eastern oilfi elds, and and the LNA both deny this. military adventure for Egypt.” Haftar to sign up to ceasefi re estimates there were fi ve or six — Israeli police spokesman “But we won’t stop. We will Jufra, an air base near the centre Egypt, which also backs the Yesterday’s joint agreement agreement. started throwing stones at them, Micky Rosenfeld said they are stand up for our right to bike.”

Kuwait urges UNSC to end Israeli crimes Cut off from world and virus, Gaza prepares for Eid

QNA permanent representative to the mine the international eff orts Reuters the communities, the malls, the Kuwait UN, Ambassador Mansour al- aimed at achieving peace, was Gaza supermarkets, wedding halls, the Otaibi, during the UNSC’s ses- evident in the positions of the mosques, everything is work- sion on the situation in the Mid- majority of the Security Council ing as normal with no precau- he State of Kuwait has re- dle East late Tuesday, saying that member states during the past azans are thronging tionary measures whatsoever,” affi rmed the importance Kuwait and other Arab countries month at the ministerial level, beaches and crowding said Abdelnaser Soboh, director Tof the Security Council have boosted their eff orts to when Israel was warned against Gmarkets fi lled with holi- of the World Health Organiza- assuming its responsibilities ur- stand for the rights of Palestin- implementing the annexation day sweets and clothes as they tion’s Gaza offi ce, calling for gently before it was too late to ians in the face of Israeli esca- plans. prepare to celebrate Eid al-Adha more precautions.“The virus stop Israeli crimes and aggres- lation in the past few months, He pointed out that the failure largely free of the coronavirus will eventually get (in)...you can’t sion against Palestine. as the world was trying to fi ght of the Israeli entity to imple- restrictions aff ecting the festi- isolate Gaza from the world for- Kuwait called on the Unit- the spread of the Covid-19 pan- ment the occupying power’s an- val elsewhere. ever.” ed Nations Security Council demic.Meanwhile, he noted that nexation plans on the fi rst of July The 360 sqkm coastal strip On Saturday, Hamas’s health (UNSC) to immediately end Is- in June, UNSC’s member-states does not in any way imply its re- has had little access to the A boy opens the mouth of a goat to check its age in a farm as and interior ministries staged a raeli crimes and violence against warned Israel against annexa- treat from that plan. outside world for years due to Palestinians prepare for Eid al-Adha sacrifice in Gaza City. Covid-19 drill, cordoning off a Palestinians, especially that the tion and considered it a violation Al-Otaibi underlined the im- an Israeli-led blockade which busy area of Gaza City and halt- world is facing the threat of the of the international law. portance of expanding the work many Palestinians say is like sures and bans on large gather- age; Oman has implemented a ing traffi c between towns. coronavirus pandemic. He said that the international of the UN Relief and Works living in permanent lockdown. ings, have been lifted. nightly curfew and Iraq has said The economic impact of the The remarks came in written community’s condemnation of Agency for Palestine Refugees No cases have been recorded The result is that Gazans its curfew will last through the coronavirus is already being felt. speech, presented by Kuwait’s these Israeli plans that under- (UNRWA). in the towns and refugee camps are preparing much as normal holiday. “God protected us from About 80% of Gazans, who have where its 2mn Palestinian pop- ahead of Eid, which begins at the virus,” said Malkeya Abdal- seen three wars in a dozen years, ulation live, although 75 infec- the end of July, with few peo- lah, 62, as she relaxed on the already rely on humanitarian aid. tions and one death have oc- ple wearing masks in shopping beach near Gaza City. Meat merchants say far fewer Sudan appoints 18 civilian state governors as part of transition curred in quarantine centres. centers that are packed after But medics are alarmed by the Palestinians are buying sheep to Arrivals spend 21 days in the sunset. risks inherent in Gaza’s poten- slaughter during the four-day Sudan’s transition government has appointed 18 yesterday, Reuters reported. He also told a televised centres on orders from Hamas, The scenes contrast with tially disastrous combination of Eid festival. “We would have civilian state governors as a key part of a demo- news conference the civilian government, ruling the group that has controlled restrictions elsewhere: Saudi poverty, densely packed refugee sold 500-700 sheep by this time cratic transition after the ouster of Omar al-Bashir with the military, was working to resolve errors in Gaza for over a decade, but oth- Arabia has capped the number camps and limited hospital ca- last year...so far, we have only last year, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok said the trade balance. er coronavirus measures, such of its own citizens attending pacity. sold 30-35,” said Mahmoud Abu as restaurant and school clo- the upcoming Haj pilgrim- “We see total relaxation within Warda, a livestock breeder. Gulf Times Thursday, July 23, 2020 7 AFRICA

TARGETTED DIPLOMACY MOURNED POLITICS IN THE DOCK 7 Somalia militants Francophone community Anti-apartheid SA icon Former FM joins race for Activist, journalist charged killed in US airstrikes to vet Niger voter list Andrew Mlangeni dies top job in Ivory Coast in Zimbabwe court

A US airstrike targeting the Islamic State group The Organisation Internationale de la South African anti-apartheid figure Andrew Former foreign minister Marcel Amon-Tanoh said A Zimbabwean rights activist and a journalist in Somalia killed seven militants, the American Francophonie (OIF) is to scrutinise Niger’s electoral Mlangeni, who stood trial alongside Nelson yesterday he would contest presidential elections were charged in court yesterday with promoting military said yesterday. The strike came after IS roll ahead of crucial elections this year, President Mandela in the 1963-64 Rivonia Trial, has died in Ivory Coast in October, joining an increasingly public violence ahead of planned anti- gunmen attacked US-allied troops in a remote area Mahamadou Issoufou’s off ice said yesterday. The at the age of 95, the presidency announced crowded field for the top job. “I have decided to government protests next week and will be kept southeast of the port city of Bosaso in the semi- impoverished and politically volatile West African yesterday. Mlangeni, 95, was the last surviving be a candidate in the next presidential elections,” in jail until a bail ruling today. Jacob Ngarivhume, autonomous Puntland region. A statement from state is due to hold presidential, legislative and Rivonia trialist, spending more than quarter of the 68-year-old said in a brief announcement an activist and opposition politician behind the the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said US forces municipal elections by year’s end. Issoufou made a century imprisoned on Cape Town’s notorious to journalists in Abidjan. Pitching himself as a July 31 demonstrations, and freelance journalist were in the area at the time of the bombardment the announcement after meeting a representative Robben island before his release in 1989. stabilising figure in a country, Amon-Tanoh said he and government critic Hopewell Chin’ono were to “advise and assist” Somali troops. The AFRICOM from the OIF — the French-language equivalent “President Cyril Ramaphosa has learnt with deep wanted to be the “bridge between the state and the arrested at their homes on Monday. In court, statement also said “we assess no civilians of the Commonwealth. The president “absolutely sadness of the passing away overnight of the people, between the respect for our traditions and state prosecutors accused the two of using their were injured or killed.” IS has a relatively small insisted that an OIF team come to Niger to audit last remaining Rivonia Trialist,” the presidency our desire for modernity.” The race to become Ivory Twitter accounts to mobilise Zimbabweans to footprint in Somalia, where Al Qaeda-aff iliated the electoral roll because he wants transparent said in a tweet. His death “signifies the end of Coast’s next president has become more uncertain commit public violence by encouraging citizens Shebaab militants regularly carry out attacks and credible elections,” his off ice said in a a generational history and places our future after prime minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly died of to demonstrate. Activists have called for demos against government and international targets. statement, quoting OIF envoy Desire Nyaruhirira. squarely in our hands,” he declared. a heart attack on July 8 at the age of 61. on July 31 against government corruption.

DR Congo govt SA restaurants plead for reopens borders shut by Covid-19

AFP end to ‘job-killing’ curbs Kinshasa

By Nqobile Dludla, Reuters R Congo President Felix Tshisekedi has lifted Cape Town a health emergency over the coronavirus out- Dbreak and ordered a reopening in three stages of business activities, schools and borders. housands of South African The vast country of more than 80mn people has restaurant and bar owners recorded 8,534 infections including 196 deaths since Tyesterday placed tables and March 10. chairs on the streets outside their Tshisekedi said the fi gures place the Democratic premises in a nationwide protest Republic of Congo as ninth worst-hit country in Af- against lockdown restrictions that rica in terms of the number of cases and 12th in terms prevent them from selling food and of deaths, “putting paid to all catastrophic forecasts drinks or trading after 9pm. for our country at the start of the epidemic.” The nation’s hospitality sector is Tshisekedi’s government proclaimed a health one of the hardest-hit by govern- emergency on March 24 in which borders were ment restrictions imposed at the closed, as well as schools, bars and restaurants. end of March to curb the spread of In a televised speech on Tuesday night, the presi- the coronavirus. dent announced an end to the emergency. At the end of June, restaurants He said that from all shops, banks, restaurants were allowed to off er sit-down and bars would be allowed to reopen, public trans- services again, but at limited capac- port could resume and large gatherings would be ity and without serving alcohol. Restaurant workers hold placards during a protest against the coronavirus permitted. But that is not enough for Llewy restrictions in Cape Town yesterday. Schools and universities can reopen on August 3, Mateza, owner of The Local Grill and airports, ports, borders and places of worship on in the Parktown North suburb of Waiter Devin Moyo, who works ciation of South Africa, said about August 15. Johannesburg. “I’d like the govern- at nearby restaurant Rockets, said 400,000 jobs have been lost in the But he warned that “the end of the state of emer- ment to reinstate the sale of alcohol, he had not been able to aff ord the sector since the end of March, with gency does not mean the end of the Covid-19 epi- which would then make my busi- smallest things for his family. more businesses closing their doors demic in our country,” reminding citizens to wear ness sustainable to a certain extent,” “Just to pay the bills has become permanently every day. masks in public and wash their hands frequently. Mateza said outside his 150-seater (UIF), which has been paying out lengthy vetting process and adapt- a problem. The government hasn’t A recent survey by Esus-Group steakhouse that has not re-opened Covid-19 relief payments to em- ing its systems to cope with a ten- done enough in helping us with the found about 67% of restaurants since the end of March. ployees who cannot work as a result fold increase in benefi t payments. UIF so most of the families are going were receiving less than 20% of Another village attacked in He has not laid off staff , but about of the restrictions. Mxolisi Mhlongo, a waiter at The to bed hungry,” Moyo said, holding a their usual monthly turnover com- 70% of them have not received any The Department of Employ- Local Grill, said he was selling fi sh placard reading #JobsSaveLives. pared to July last year, while 90% of northern Nigeria, 11 killed money yet from the government’s ment and Labour has said the de- and vegetables from his garden to Wendy Alberts, chief executive fi ne-dining restaurants had stayed Unemployment Insurance Fund lays in payments have been due to a fend for his wife and three children. offi cer of the Restaurant Asso- shut since the lockdown began. otorcycle-riding gunmen in northern Ni- geria have killed 11 people, local govern- Mment and community leaders said yester- Power cuts return, adding to frustrations in Covid-weary South Africa day, in the latest violence in the area. The attack on Monday came a day after assailants Keitumetse Modise was already ly reliable electricity for those stuck at South Africa, the continent’s most The timing could hardly be worse. threatens to deepen economic gunned down 18 wedding guests in a nearby village. struggling to juggle her appoint- home, as South Africa’s creaking grid advanced economy, suff ered its worst Now a global Covid-19 hot spot, misery in a country already in a The gunmen stormed Gora Gan village in Kaduna ments as a freelance beautician while was given some respite. ever power cuts late last year as debt- South Africa is hurtling towards the recession, with the unemployment state after dark and opened fi re on residents, said home-schooling her daughter during Since last week however, with crippled state utility Eskom imposed peak of its outbreak, topping 380,000 rate topping 30% before the pan- Elias Manza, administrative head of Zangon Kataf South Africa’s nearly four-month-old restrictions easing and businesses cuts to ward off a grid overload. total infections this week. demic hit. district. “The gunmen killed 11 people in the attack Covid-19 lockdown. cautiously reopening, planned black- After nearly four months without Schools reopened for some year Things have only worsened with and left 15 with serious injuries,” he said. The last thing she needed was the outs — known locally as loadshedding nationwide outages, Eskom con- groups but millions of children are still widespread layoff s. The attackers also torched houses, a church, a car lights going out. — are back and with them the frustra- ducted a fresh round in July, with a trying to follow lessons from home. Wellness firm Body20 lost 30% of and seven motorcycles. But after being forced to turn tion of unstable Internet, lost revenue spokesman saying “it would be naive Primary school teacher Ronald its revenue due to the lockdown, so Community leader Jonathan Asake who gave a kitchen tables into classrooms and and disrupted schedules. to think we are done.” Maswanganyi has faced two weeks of began off ering personal trainer ses- similar toll, said hundreds had fl ed their homes for bedrooms into home off ices, pan- Modise, a 33-year-old single Many South Africans now expect power cuts, sometimes in the middle sions online. fear of renewed attacks. demic-weary South Africans now face mother, has had to push back work them to again become a part of daily of his teaching. “Our frustration is that no matter “We have a total of 559 people who are afraid to go an added challenge in the form of a appointments to ensure she can help life, complicating eff orts to work and “There’s nothing I can do except how much you try to adapt and inno- back to their homes and are sheltering in a primary familiar headache: rolling blackouts. with online schoolwork when there learn online. Focused power cuts call my boss, the principal, and tell vate to cope with something as cata- school in the (nearby) town of Zonkwa,” he said. Months of pandemic-induced is power. targeting mainly poor townships with him I can’t continue with the lesson,” strophic as Covid-19, suddenly you Southern Kaduna has been wracked by a long- shutdown and reduced demand had “You do what you have to,” she unpaid electricity bills have mean- he said. don’t have electricity,” said Body20’s standing row between Muslim Fulani herders actually resulted in uncharacteristical- said. while continued. The return of loadshedding also CEO Philip Hughes. and ethnic Christian farmers over grazing and water rights.

Play time! Ethiopia PM praises ‘historic’ start to dam fi lling A child reacts as he plays table football in Abidjan, Ivory AFP read on state television. “The fact planned to begin fi lling the dam’s though it was unclear what con- Coast. Addis Ababa that we reached this milestone by reservoir this month, in the middle crete progress had been made. our own eff orts when no one else of its rainy season, drawing objec- Ethiopian offi cials said the dam believed in our capabilities to ac- tions from Cairo and Khartoum will not harm downstream coun- thiopian Prime Minister Abiy complish such initiatives makes who wanted to fi rst reach a trilat- tries. They have also said this year’s Ahmed yesterday lauded the the moment even more historic,” eral agreement on how the dam fi lling was a natural and inevitable E“historic” early fi lling of a he added. would be operated. part of construction. massive dam on the Blue Nile River The Grand Ethiopian Renais- Ethiopia’s announcement that it By fi lling the reservoir with that has stoked tensions with down- sance Dam (GERD) has been a had hit its fi rst-year target for fi ll- 4.9bn cu m of water, Ethiopia is stream neighbours Egypt and Sudan. source of tension in the Nile River ing the dam came on Tuesday as now in a position to test its fi rst two “The completion of the fi rst basin ever since Ethiopia broke the three countries were participat- turbines — an important step on round of fi lling is a historic mo- ground on it in 2011. ing in talks overseen by the African the way toward actually producing ment that showcases Ethiopians’ “We conducted the fi lling of the Union to try to resolve the dispute. energy. commitment to the renaissance of dam without causing harm to any- After the call, leaders from the three Abiy noted yesterday that Ethio- our country,” Abiy, the 2019 Nobel one,” said Abiy. countries said they had agreed to pia wanted the dam to be fully op- Peace laureate, said in a statement Addis Ababa had long said it continue with the negotiations, erational by early 2023. Benin’s tech innovation hub sees a bright future

By Josue Mehouenou, AFP Masons and painters are dence — as a hub for students, training and backing,” said Bor- With fi nancial support from Habib Meme, an architect, several governments in West Af- Cotonou putting the fi nishing touches to researchers, developers, the na, who is in her 40s. the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has been working with engi- rica and a number of prototypes the 4,250sq m building — an area heads of companies large and “Young people are often full of in Benin, 15 national and interna- neers and computer scien- are in an experimental phase, he roughly equivalent to a hyper- small, and others who can work ideas but lack the framework and tional organisations have created tists to develop a project called said. ith crimson walls and market — that seeks to be fl exible there and attend conferences. the backup.” a task force to fi nd ways of fi ght- COM-Finement, to make mo- Developing new projects and violet, yellow and red in use, low in energy consump- For its director Claude Borna, ing the virus, in line with West Af- bile medical facilities that can launching start-ups require not Wawnings, it’s a building tion and nurturing of ideas, tal- Seme-City is “a unique place that “If this framework had rican resources and needs. be swiftly erected or dismantled just funding, but partnerships that few people in Cotonou, the ent and networking. supports and trains the talent of existed in Benin 10 years Donald Tchaou, 29, and fi ve of in an epidemic. and knowledge of marketing, tranquil economic capital of Be- The site is part of Seme-City, tomorrow, and which promotes ago, we would have many his friends developed X-over, an The facilities are interconnect- laws and regulation. nin, are likely to miss. And that’s a project that President Patrice innovation made in Africa”. young entrepreneurs app that encourages social dis- ed and linked remotely to doctors Armelle Dossa, 25, a special- the point. Talon hopes will help turn his Borna studied in Los Angeles and a lower rate of tancing and makes it possible to who can provide expertise from ist in agri-tech, is working on The bright colours of the Se- small West African country into a and Montreal, and for many years unemployment” trace the chain of contacts made afar. a marketing project for organic me-One centre, designed to be regional tech hotspot like Kenya worked for international com- by an infected person. In Seme-City, “they pointed vegetables. a cradle for researchers and tech or Rwanda, on the other side of panies as a consultant on inno- The spread of the Covid-19 While it is not the only pro- us in the direction of potential fi - “If this framework had existed entrepreneurs, “arouse the sens- the continent. vation and commercial strategy pandemic to Benin makes fresh gram of its kind, developing the nancial donors and gave us highly in Benin 10 years ago, we would es and stimulate innovation”, said The centre has for the last two before returning to Benin in 2016. ideas even more welcome — and app in Benin saves money and relevant technical feedback,” have many young entrepreneurs Abdoul Halim Asouma, in charge years been housed in premises “People come to Seme-City above all, their rapid implemen- strengthens local control over Meme said. and a lower rate of unemploy- of construction work. adjoining the presidential resi- seeking potential colleagues, tation. data. His innovation has won over ment,” she said. Gulf Times 8 Thursday, July 23, 2020 AMERICAS

ABUSE NUMBER CRUNCH POLITICS COMPASSION EXECUTIVE ACTION QAnon conspiracy theorist Biden holds advantage Congress still divided over Kanye West struggles Census to exclude illegals in accounts taken off Twitter with undecided voters new virus relief package with bipolar disorder setting Congress numbers

Twitter has removed more than 7,000 accounts Democratic candidate Joe Biden leads President US Republicans and Democrats remained far Kim Kardashian said yesterday that her rapper President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered linked to the “QAnon” movement over abuse Donald Trump by eight percentage points in support apart on Tuesday on how much to spend on the husband Kanye West suff ers from bipolar the US census to exclude illegal immigrants in its and harassment concerns, saying on Tuesday among registered voters, and the former vice next round of coronavirus relief as they discussed disorder and asked for compassion and empathy population count for determining representation it will limit the spread of conspiracy theories by president appears to have a significant advantage proposals to extend unemployment insurance for as he and his family try to manage his illness. in Congress, a move that could boost long-term its supporters. Members of the informal, pro- among voters who are undecided, according to a Americans thrown out of work and provide more Kardashian’s statement on her Instagram stories Republican strength. The unprecedented order Donald Trump group believe — with no credible Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll. The July 15-21 poll found money for schools. After separate meetings with account was her first public comment on weeks challenges the long-accepted constitutional evidence — that the United States has been ruled that 46% of registered voters said they would back White House and Treasury off icials, Republican of rambling interviews, public appearances and mandate to count every person in the country every for decades by a criminal organisation involving Biden in the November 3 election, while 38% would and Democratic lawmakers said they expect the Twitter comments by West that have raised 10 years, as the basis for determining representation people they describe as the Satan-worshipping vote for Republican Trump. The remaining 16% eventual legislation to include more funding for concern about the Grammy-winning singer’s in the 435-seat House of Representatives. “For the global elite, including Hollywood stars and the are either undecided, plan to support a third-party coronavirus testing, despite earlier resistance mental health. “As many of you know, Kanye purpose of the reapportionment of representatives “deep state”. The FBI has identified QAnon as a candidate or may not vote. The poll found that to the idea from President Donald Trump’s has bi-polar disorder,” she wrote, calling him a following the 2020 census, it is the policy of the potential domestic terrorism threat, according to 61% of undecided or third-party registered voters administration. But there was debate over whether “brilliant but complicated person.” Kardashian United States to exclude from the apportionment US media. URLs associated with QAnon will also said they would support Biden if they had to to accept Trump’s demands for a payroll tax cut, did not mention West’s stated plan to run for the base aliens who are not in a lawful immigration be blocked “from being shared on Twitter.” choose, while 39% would vote for Trump. which even some Senate Republicans questioned. White House in the November 2020 election. status,” Trump’s order said. Lightfoot backs end to violence as federal deployment looms

Reuters Operation Legend to include Al- Police clears New York City Hall protest camp Chicago/Washington buquerque, New Mexico, an ad- ministration offi cial said. Police yesterday cleared an en- de Blasio told a news conference. The rollout of that program has campment set up around a month “We do always respect the hicago Mayor Lori Light- coincided with the deployment ago outside New York’s City Hall right to protest, but we have to foot yesterday called on of agents drawn mainly from the to protest racism and call for the think about health and safety first, Cwitnesses to come for- Department of Homeland Secu- defunding of law enforcement. and the health and safety issues ward with information about an rity to Portland, Oregon, to pro- A line of uniformed off icers with were growing,” he added. overnight gunfi ght at a funeral, tect a courthouse from weeks of riot shields moved in before dawn, The “Occupy City Hall” a day after she said she would protests over racial justice. forcing people out of the Manhat- encampment began in late June welcome help from the FBI and In that action, law enforce- tan camp and taking down tents, amid nationwide protests sparked other federal agencies, but not a ment offi cials without identify- video footage showed. by the death of a black man, “Portland-style deployment” of ing badges have been accused of They were followed by clean- George Floyd, in Minneapolis “unnamed agents” to her city’s pulling protesters into unmarked ing crews who removed graff iti police custody. streets. vans, a possible violation of their from nearby public buildings. Many protesters demanded Lightfoot spoke a day after civil rights. “What we saw change over the that funds from policing be gang members opened fi re at a On Tuesday, Lightfoot said she last few weeks was the gathering redirected to other social projects funeral on Chicago’s South Side would take Trump to court if he there got smaller and smaller, was under the “defund the police” and attendees fi red back, injuring sent unidentifi ed federal agents less and less about protests and movement. 15 people. to her city. more and more became an area De Blasio responded by cutting Two of those shot are in criti- “The Trump administration where homeless folks were gath- the budget of the city’s police cal condition, while the other 13 is not going to foolishly deploy ering,” New York City Mayor Bill force by about $1bn. are expected to recover. unnamed agents to the streets of The mayor, a Democrat, also Chicago,” she said as she outlined detailed a separate shooting on plans for an infl ux of identifi ed superintendent Brown blamed Cuomo said yesterday that he Tuesday of a 3-year old girl by agents from the FBI and other turf battles among the roughly told Trump that his state was two men who fi red into the car agencies to combat crime. 117,000 gang members in the able and prepared to handle she was in with her parents. The A crowd of about a thousand people protest at the Mark O Hatfield US Courthouse on in Portland, Oregon. “We have information that city of 2.7mn people, where one a spike in crime in New York girl was shot in the head but is in Tuesday night marked 55 days of protests in Portland following the death of George Floyd in police custody. allows us to say, at least at this shooting begets another in an City, noting that he had not stable condition, police super- point, that we don’t see a Port- endless cycle of revenge. declared a public safety emer- intendent David Brown told the Critics say the administra- this week to send FBI and other General Bill Barr’s announce- land-style deployment coming “This same cycle repeats it- gency. same news conference. tion is seeking to divert attention federal agents to Chicago, Phila- ment of a program known as Op- to Chicago.” self over and over and over again. “And since the state hasn’t The violent fl are-up could pro- away from its widely criticised delphia, New York, Detroit, Bal- eration Legend to provide fed- Chicago has seen an explosion This cycle is fuelled by street made a declaration, I don’t see vide fodder to President Donald response to the coronavirus pan- timore and Oakland, California, eral help to police in Kansas City, in violence this summer. gangs, guns and drugs,” he said. why there’s any reason why the Trump and his Republican allies, demic, one of the reasons he is to help local authorities crack Missouri, where murders have There were 116 murders over “Too many people in Chicago federal government should take who have sought to promote a law- trailing Democratic challenger down on a surge in violence in re- spiked. the 28 days through July 19, an have been touched by gun vio- action,” Cuomo said in a call with and-order message ahead of the Joe Biden in opinion polls. cent weeks. The Trump administration increase of nearly 200%, police lence.” reporters, adding that Trump November 3 presidential election. Trump had threatened earlier That followed US Attorney was to unveil an expansion of department data shows. Police New York Governor Andrew agreed with his assessment.

Confederate statues face Capitol ouster he Democratic-controlled US The United States in recent months House of Representatives was has seen a wave of nationwide protests EPA proposes fi rst-ever airplane emissions standards Tdue to vote yesterday to remove against racism and the use of violence statues honouring heroes of the pro- by police against Black Americans that slavery Confederacy from the Capitol were sparked by the death of George Reuters “We are implementing the ICAO planes if they do not meet ICAO You can’t really set the standard that building, which houses statues selected Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis po- Washington recommendations, ICAO standards,” standards. can’t be met.” by all 50 states. lice but have evolved into a wide-rang- Wheeler told reporters. EPA is expected to fi nalise the rules Boeing said the EPA proposal “is a The statues include one honour- ing rethinking of measures that honour The proposal would apply to new next spring. The Federal Aviation Ad- major step forward for protecting the ing the former Supreme Court Justice Americans who supported slavery. he Environmental Protection type designs as of January 2020 and to ministration will then issue separate environment and supporting sustain- Roger Taney, who authored a decision President Donald Trump has lashed Agency (EPA) yesterday an- in-production airplanes or those with rules to enforce the standards. able growth of commercial aviation supporting slavery. out at the idea of removing statues, ac- Tnounced it was proposing the amended type certifi cates starting in Some environmentalists argue the and the United States economy.” Democrats also have pointed to a cusing Democrats of wanting to erase fi rst US emissions standards for com- 2028. ICAO rules and EPA did not go far Airlines for America, a trade group, former senator who was expelled from the nation’s history. He has threatened mercial aircraft. They would not apply to airplanes enough. said the rules will help US airlines the body after joining the Confederate to veto a House-passed $740bn bill set- In 2016, the UN International Civil currently in use. Clare Lakewood, climate legal di- “achieve carbon neutral growth in the army in the Civil War. ting policy for the Pentagon because it Aviation Organization (ICAO) agreed Aircraft account for 12% of all US rector at the Center for Biological Di- near term and to cut net carbon emis- Democratic Representative Barbara contains language that would require the on global airplane emissions stand- transportation greenhouse gas emis- versity, said yesterday “this toothless sions in half in 2050 relative to 2005 Lee called the statues “painful symbols military to remove the names of former ards aimed at makers of small and sions and 3% of total such US emis- proposal does nothing to meaning- levels.” of bigotry and racism.” She said they do Confederate leaders from its bases. large planes, including Airbus SE and sions. fully address the serious problem of Under then-president Barack “nothing more than keep white suprem- Taney wrote the majority opinion in the Boeing Co, which both backed the They are the largest source of trans- airplanes’ planet-warming pollution.” Obama, the EPA in 2016 had declared acy front-and-centre in one of the most 1857 “Dred Scott” case, ruling that Black standards. portation-related greenhouse gas She noted EPA was not estimating that aircraft emissions posed a public infl uential buildings in the world.” Americans could not be considered citi- The EPA-proposed regulation seeks emissions not subject to standards. any emissions reductions as a result of health danger. If passed by the House, the measure zens and that Congress could not prohibit to align the United States with the Wheeler said it was critical the US the proposal. In January, environmental groups would also have to be approved by the slavery. It later was overturned by the 14th ICAO standards, EPA Administrator adopt the standards, because coun- Wheeler said the proposal is based fi led a notice of intent to sue EPA for Republican-controlled Senate. Amendment to the Constitution. Andrew Wheeler said. tries could ban US-assembled air- on “where the technology is today... failing to regulate aircraft emissions.

Social distancing Canadians eye new sight Canada court rules as invalid at Niagara Falls: crowds of Americans US ‘Safe Third Country’ pact Reuters “This case highlights the conditions that By Carlos Osorio, Reuters out of lemons,” DiMaurizio said, re- Ottawa people face when Canadian offi cials turn Niagara Falls, Ontario ferring to a new VIP cruise the com- them around at the US border.” pany has created — a near-empty More than 50,000 people have illegally boat, plus a meal and funicular ride Canadian court yesterday ruled crossed the Canada-US border to fi le refu- he tourist hotspot of Niagara included with the ticket. invalid a pact that compels asylum gee claims over the past four years, walking Falls has gained a new photo- Health precautions include tem- Aseekers trying to enter Canada via over ditches and on empty roads along the Top for social distancing Ca- perature checks and mandatory the American border to seek sanctuary fi rst world’s longest undefended border. nadian visitors on board ferries tak- masks. in the United States, saying their detention Canada has sought to stem the human ing them into the mist of the falls: The popularity of the C$69.95 there violates their human rights. tide of asylum seekers that fl owed into crowds of Americans. (US$52.00) per person cruise has Under the so-called Safe Third Country the country starting in 2016, after Trump Although cases of Covid-19 “actually surprised us,” DiMaurizio Agreement between the two neighbours, promised to crack down on illegal immigra- continue to rise across the United said. asylum seekers at a formal border crossing tion. States, neighbouring Canada has Canadian authorities are dealing travelling in either direction are turned back Experts have said suspending the agree- largely managed to contain the with both unwanted tourists slip- and told to apply for asylum in the country ment would have huge implications for the spread of the virus, helped by strict ping though the border and permit- in which they fi rst arrived. Canada-US relationship. social distancing measures and ted travellers — including essential Lawyers for refugees who had been Federal court judge Ann Marie McDonald mandatory masks in several juris- workers, those en route to Alaska, turned away at the Canadian border chal- ruled that the agreement was in violation of dictions. and families reuniting — who break lenged the agreement, saying the United a section of Canada’s Charter of Rights that At the famous waterfalls on the People ride go karts at a tourist attraction in Niagara Falls, Ontario. the strict quarantine laws, causing States does not qualify as a “safe” country says laws or state actions that interfere with US-Canadian border, Canadian fer- concerns about possible outbreaks under US President Donald Trump. life, liberty and security must conform to ries are limited to just six passengers be on a boat like that. It’s much bet- other safety changes, it said. in several provinces. Nedira Jemal Mustefa, one of the refugees the principles of fundamental justice. per boat, out of a 700 person capacity. ter here.” Mory DiMaurizio, general man- Tourists at the falls on Tuesday turned back, described her time in solitary She suspended her decision for six months But on the US side, the ferries are Maid of the Mist could not imme- ager and vice president of Canada’s said they felt much safer with the confi nement in the United States as “a ter- to give Parliament a chance to respond to the operating at 50% capacity, accord- diately be reached for comment but Hornblower Niagara Cruises, said six person per boat limit. rifying, isolating and psychologically trau- ruling, which is not fi nal and can be appealed ing to Maid of the Mist boat tours. its website said it was following the the limits placed on its business by “I’m glad I’m in Canada,” said matic experience,” according to the court to the Federal Court of Appeal and then the “We actually took a picture of the guidance of New York State public the Ontario provincial government Amanda Barnes of Brampton, On- ruling. Supreme Court if necessary. (American) boat,” said Julie Pronov- health offi cials. were “disappointing” and that it tario. “You can see why the pan- “We’re all too familiar with the treatment Canada’s justice ministry and immi- ost, visiting from Quebec with her The boats contain markers to was “frustrating” to see the Ameri- demic is raging in the United States that the US metes out to asylum seekers,” gration ministry had no immediate com- family on Tuesday. keep visitors spaced out, and face can boats relatively full. and not in Canada when you look at said Maureen Silcoff , president of the Ca- ment, nor did officials in the US embassy “I don’t fi nd that it’s very safe to coverings are compulsory, among “However we’ve made lemonade the diff erence between the boats.” nadian Association of Refugee Lawyers. in Ottawa. Gulf Times Thursday, July 23, 2020 9 ASIA

Nepal officially ends Covid-19 lockdown, with exceptions

Nepal yesterday off icially ended its four-month Covid-19 lockdown with plans to return to full normalcy by mid-August. Information Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada said that the lockdown was ended due to Covid-19 cases decreasing and the growing psychological impact the restrictions were having on people. The schedule unveiled by the government states that there will be no restrictions on intra- city transport from Wednesday, and most of the government and private businesses could return to their regular services. Similarly, hotels, restaurants and travel agencies can resume services within the month after taking necessary precautions. However, the existing restrictions on cross- border movement, domestic and international flights, long-haul public transportation, academic institutions, entertainment venues and large public gatherings will continue until August 16. Nepal has reported 17,994 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 40 deaths. A local market, which was reopened after an end to lockdown in Kathmandu yesterday. Vehicles move along a busy road after an end to the coronavirus lockdown in Kathmandu yesterday.

Malaysia court orders former PM Thailand to extend Najib to pay up $400mn tax dues

Reuters Kuala Lumpur

Malaysian court yes- emergency decree terday ordered former Aprime minister Najib Razak to settle 1.69bn ringgit ($397.41mn) in unpaid taxes over seven years while he was still in offi ce, according to a report by national newswire Bernama. until end of August Defeated in the 2018 gen- eral election amid widespread Reuters Extends emergency decree, but will not be used to ban outrage over allegedly rampant Bangkok graft in his government, Najib protests; Will allow foreign filmmakers to enter country; is facing multiple charges of Gradual entry of labour from Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia corruption and abuse of pow- Former Malaysia prime minister Najib Razak hailand will extend a state er linked to billions of dollars of emergency until the end Malaysian prosecutors say was premiers are not exempt from len, according to US and Ma- Tof August, a senior offi cial siphoned off from state fund paying tax and that Najib must laysian authorities. A separate said yesterday, maintaining the 1Malaysia Development Berhad pay his “debt” to the govern- court will deliver its verdict in a security measure put in place to (1MDB). ment, according to the Bernama case against Najib on July 28, the contain its coronavirus outbreak. A separate US Department report. fi rst of several corruption tri- The announcement comes af- of Justice investigation to track Tax authorities fi led the suit als he faces linked to the 1MDB ter nearly two months without down assets bought with funds last June to recover unpaid taxes scandal. local transmission and with many allegedly stolen from 1MDB was accumulated by Najib between Najib’s United Malays Na- people in Thailand questioning the biggest case pursued by the 2011 and 2017, plus penalties and tional Organisation (UMNO) the need for an emergency de- department under its kleptocra- interest. unexpectedly returned to power cree. The decree, fi rst introduced cy programme. Najib has denied Najib had served as prime in a coalition led by Prime Min- in late March, will be subject to all wrongdoing. minister from 2009 to 2018. He ister Muhyiddin Yassin nearly cabinet approval next week. In his ruling, High Court co-founded 1MDB, from which fi ve months ago, though Najib “It is still necessary to have the judge Ahmad Bache said former some $4.5bn in assets were sto- no longer leads the party. decree because we are opening up the country for more business meetings and tourism to stimu- Malaysia judge drops Rohingya caning after outcry: lawyer late the economy,” said Somsak Roongsita, secretary-general of A Malaysian judge yesterday in the northern city of Alor Setar with the punishment. Once they the National Security Council, overturned a decision to cane 27 threw out the caning sentence finish serving their seven-month adding that doctors had request- Rohingya refugees for entering handed down by a lower court jail sentences, the refugees will ed it be maintained. the country illegally and slammed following an appeal, lawyer Collin be allowed to stay in Malaysia The extension comes after the “inhumane” sentence, their Andrew told AFP. as they are registered with the political protests took place last lawyer said, following an outcry His reasons included that “these United Nations. Refugees are week against the government, in from activists. The men arrived persons are Rohingya refugees, not off icially allowed to work in defi ance of a ban on gatherings. in Malaysia by boat in April after who are in need of international Malaysia but many do illegally, in Somsak, however, said the emer- a treacherous voyage but were protection due to the persecu- industries ranging from construc- gency decree would be used only Pro-democracy activists attend a protest demanding the resignation of Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut then jailed and sentenced to tion faced by them”, Andrew said. tion to agriculture. to contain virus outbreaks and Chan-o-cha in front of Royal Thai Army headquarters, in Bangkok, Thailand. three strokes of the cane each. He also ruled it was “inhumane The country has stepped up mar- not rallies. “Political gatherings Muslim-majority Malaysia is a fa- to impose a sentence of whip- itime patrols since the outbreak will be subject to the law, but not government’s Centre for Cov- coronavirus upon arrival. pitals for two weeks before taking voured destination for Rohingya, ping” on the men, who were not of the pandemic in a bid to stop the decree,” he added. id-19 Situation Administration Foreign fi lmmakers and busi- additional trips in the country, who face persecution in their habitual off enders and had not Rohingya boats from landing over Thailand will begin allowing (CCSA), Taweesin Wisanuyothin ness executives will need a vi- Taweesin said. mostly Buddhist homeland of My- committed acts of violence, the fears that migrants could be car- the entry of business executives said. Up to 110,000 migrant la- rus-free certifi cate from within All foreign entries will be anmar, but authorities have in re- lawyer added. rying the virus. Many boats have for trade shows, migrant la- bourers from Laos, Myanmar and three days before travel and have subject to a 14-day quarantine. cent months been trying to stop Amnesty International and been turned back, sparking anger bourers, fi lm makers and medi- Cambodia will gradually be al- medical insurance. Medical tour- Thailand has reported a total of them entering over coronavirus Human Rights Watch had called from rights groups, although cal tourists, spokesman for the lowed entry and be tested for the ists will have to stay in their hos- 3,261 infections and 58 deaths. fears. A judge at the High Court on authorities not to go ahead some have made it ashore.

Indonesia wants to buy Austria’s Nun comes to rescue Giant whale washes up on Indonesian beach entire Eurofighter jet fleet of slaughter-bound AFP Kupang Indonesia is interested in buying Austria’s entire fleet of 15 Eurofighter buff aloes that roamed Typhoon jets, Defence Minister giant 23-m (75-ft) whale Prabowo Subianto told his Austrian briefl y washed up near a counterpart in a letter. Prabowo Bangkok’s roads A beach in Indonesia but it wrote that his proposal to acquire was unclear how the enormous the Typhoons could lead to “a mu- marine mammal died, a conser- tual benefit for our two countries,” according to the letter to Austrian DPA on Thursday. “They sensed that vation offi cial said yesterday. Bangkok they were in danger and that’s Curious onlookers crowded Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner why they escaped,” Phakjira said. the shore of coastal Kupang city obtained by DPA. Austria purchased She said she has been advocat- as offi cials scrambled to fi gure the jets in 2003 in the country’s nun in Thailand has raised ing for the government to make out what to do with the bloated largest post-War arms deal to date. money to save six buf- killing buff aloes illegal for several carcass, which was fi rst spotted Vienna later raised corruption Afaloes that were spotted years but has seen no progress on on Tuesday. allegations, claiming that it paid strolling Bangkok’s busy streets the issue. But the giant creature was too much to manufacturer Airbus yesterday, after breaking free “I want them to have the same washed back to sea yesterday because kick-backs to middlemen from a slaughterhouse. rights as dogs and cats,” she before it could be brought to were priced into the contract. The emergency radio cen- said. Phakjira said she cares for shore for an examination. “We Airbus denies the allegations. Ac- tre JS100 reported that the six around 400 buff aloes, 500 cows, think that it’s a blue whale but cording to the original purchase buff aloes were seen on Bang- and over 50 cats and dogs at the we don’t know what caused its contract, Austria cannot sell the kok’s roads in the early hours of Punissarapab animal shelter in death,” said local conservation jets to another country without Wednesday morning, before they Ratchaburi province, around offi cial Lidya Tesa Saputra. “It approval from Airbus. Vienna’s De- were picked up by the slaughter- 100km west of Bangkok. looks like it didn’t die here and fence Ministry was in the process house they escaped from. “I want people to have some may have been deceased for of verifying the authenticity of the Phakjira Hatthakitchamroen, mercy for buff aloes,” she said. some time,” she added. This picture taken on Tuesday shows local off icials inspecting the bloated carcass of a whale near the letter, a spokesman told Austrian a nun and owner of the Punis- “They are large animals and it Blue whales are the largest shore in Kupang, in East Nusa Tenggara. press agency APA earlier this week. sarapab animal shelter, told DPA takes a long time before they die animals in existence, weighing Discussions surrounding the sale that she has raised 290,000 baht when they’re slaughtered for up to 200 tonnes and growing as of 80 to 90 years, according to danger to whales as they can get and 25 plastic bags in its stom- has stirred controversy in Indonesia. ($9,200) worth of donations people to then eat their meat. long as 32m. National Geographic. Seven pi- caught between reefs close to ach, raising concerns about the Prabowo said he was aware of the to buy the buff aloes from their Sometimes people also cut out The creature, whose tongue lot whales were found dead near shore. In 2018, a sperm whale Southeast Asian archipelago’s strong headwinds to the purchase slaughterhouse and that they the fetus or they just kill both the alone can weigh as much as an Kupang last October. Cross- was found dead in Indonesia massive marine rubbish prob- but said his proposal could off er “a would be delivered to her farm mother and the baby.” elephant, has an average lifespan currents off the beach pose a with more than 100 plastic cups lem. promising change for both sides.” Gulf Times 10 Thursday, July 23, 2020 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

Beijing calls ‘unprecedented escalation’ as US orders China to shut Houston consulate

Reuters der and threatened retaliation, top US diplomat for East Asia, ed. China’s embassy in Washing- courtyard. Chinese Foreign Min- as fronts in many cases to try to insult to injury,” he said. “And Beijing but did not say what measures it David Stilwell, as saying that ton did not immediately respond istry spokesman Wang Wenbin infl uence members of Congress given that President Trump has might take. Speaking on a visit to the Houston consulate had been to a request for comment on Stil- said the consulate was operating and other political leaders at the decided to run for re-election Denmark, US Secretary of State at the “epicenter” of the Chi- well’s remarks. normally, declining to comment state and local level. So it’s long against China, it seems plausi- he United States has told Mike Pompeo repeated accusa- nese army’s eff orts to advance its Ties between the United further on those reports. overdue that it be closed.” ble that this move has more to do China to close its consu- tions about Chinese theft of US warfare advantages by sending States and China have worsened A source with direct knowl- with politics than with intellec- Tlate in Houston in a dra- and European intellectual prop- students to US universities. “We sharply this year over a range of Retaliation threat edge of the matter said China was tual property.” matic worsening of ties between erty, which he said were costing took a practical step to prevent issues, from the coronavirus and “The unilateral closure of considering closing the US con- Wang charged that the US the world’s two biggest econo- “hundreds of thousands of jobs”. them from doing that,” Stilwell telecoms gear maker Huawei to China’s consulate general in sulate in Wuhan, where the State government had been harassing mies, and a source said Beijing While off ering no specifi cs about told the Times. China’s territorial claims in the Houston within a short period of Department withdrew staff and Chinese diplomats and consular was considering shutting the US the Houston consulate, Pompeo South China Sea and its impo- time is an unprecedented escala- their families early this year due staff for some time and “intimi- consulate in Wuhan in retalia- referred to a US Justice Depart- Stilwell’s remarks sition of a new security law on tion of its recent actions against to the coronavirus outbreak that dating and interrogating Chinese tion. ment indictment on Tuesday of Stilwell said China’s con- the former British colony Hong China,” Wang told a regular news fi rst emerged in the city. China’s students and confi scating their Washington “abruptly de- two Chinese nationals over what sul general in Houston and two Kong. briefi ng. “We urge the US to im- foreign ministry did not imme- personal electrical devices, even manded” closure of the Houston it called a decade-long cyber es- other diplomats had been caught The deterioration comes in mediately revoke this erroneous diately respond to a request for detaining them.” consulate on Tuesday, China’s pionage campaign that targeted recently engaging in question- the run-up to the November US decision. Should it insist on go- comment on whether it would He said the United States had foreign ministry said, calling the defence contractors, Covid re- able activity past the security presidential election, in which ing down this wrong path, China shut the consulate. interfered with China’s diplo- move an “unprecedented esca- searchers and hundreds of other check area at Houston airport President Donald Trump and his will react with fi rm counter- Daniel Russel, the chief US matic missions, including inter- lation”. The editor of an offi cial victims worldwide. while awaiting takeoff of a char- Democratic rival, Joe Biden, have measures.” diplomat for East Asia until cepting diplomatic pouches and Chinese media outlet said China “President Trump has said ter fl ight to China that Beijing appeared to compete over who Republican Senator Marco Ru- early in the Trump administra- confi scating Chinese items for had been given 72 hours to do so. enough - we are not going to al- had arranged due to air travel re- can look tougher in response to bio, acting chairman of the Sen- tion, said the US move was both “offi cial use”. The State Department said low this to continue to happen,” strictions during the coronavirus China. Late on Tuesday in Hou- ate Intelligence Committee, told dramatic and unprecedented, He did not specify whether the move was made “to protect Pompeo told a news conference. pandemic. He said the diplomats ston, fi refi ghters went to the Fox News the Houston consulate would bring retaliation by Beijing these actions were related to American intellectual property “That’s the actions that you’re were escorting travellers to the consulate after smoke was seen. was “kind of the central node of and further reduce diplomatic Houston. The State Department and Americans’ private informa- seeing taken by President Trump, gate area and Air China had pa- A source said the US government a massive spy operation - com- channels between the two sides. did not immediately respond to a tion”. we’ll continue to engage in this.” perwork with false birth dates for believed incriminating docu- mercial espionage, defence espi- “The abrupt, 72-hour eviction request for comment on the Chi- Beijing condemned the or- The New York Times quoted the the diplomats, the Times report- ments were being burned in the onage.” “They use businessmen deadline seems calculated to add nese charges.

Tokyo governor tells residents to stay home as virus surges

Coronavirus Tokyo’s governor yesterday urged residents of the Japanese capital to stay at home during an upcoming four-day holiday weekend, as the number of new local coronavirus cases surged. numbers rise The city is on its highest coronavirus alert level, with experts warning infections appear to be spreading rapidly and widely. “The infections are spreading not only among young people by record but also among middle-aged and older people,” Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said during a meeting with infectious disease experts. “I’d like to ask (Tokyo residents) People visit the Opera House in Sydney yesterday. to refrain from going out as in Australia much as possible, especially elderly people and those with Reuters pre-existing conditions,” she Sydney said ahead of the holiday weekend. Tokyo hit a new daily record of esidents of Australia’s 293 cases last week, and the second most populous figure has stayed above 200 in Rcity, Melbourne, must recent days. wear masks when leaving home Koike said the city was seeing from yesterday as the coun- infections at restaurants and try posted a record rise in novel theatres, not just nightlife coronavirus cases while New areas as in previous weeks. South Wales state was on “high Clusters have also been alert”. reported at workplaces and Australia recorded 501 new schools. Japan has had just coronavirus infections in the over 26,300 cases and close past 24 hours, its highest since to 1,000 deaths since the the epidemic took hold in March. disease was first detected in Its death toll also rose by 2 to 128. Two shoppers on scooters make their way down the normally busy the country. Victoria state, of which Mel- shopping precinct of Collins Street in Melbourne yesterday. The figure is low compared bourne is capital, accounted for with countries worst hit by most of the new cases, with 484. did not self-isolate after getting are barred. Melbourne has seen the pandemic, but Japanese Worryingly, more than half the tested. a rapid increase in the number experts said the number of people who tested positive for “And a six-week shutdown of coronavirus cases in recent patients in serious condition the virus in Victoria between will not be for six weeks. It will weeks, with the virus spreading was gradually increasing July 7 and July 21, or more than run for much longer than that.” to many aged and nursing homes and warned medical workers 2,000 people, did not isolate, Cross-border travel between and some prisons. were exhausted by growing Victoria Premier Daniel An- Victoria and New South Wales Victoria has recorded more workloads and demoralised drews said. (NSW) will only be allowed for than 6,700 coronavirus infec- by low pay. Japan will begin “That means people have felt work, education or medical care, tions, more than half of Aus- A man wearing a facemask walks before the Harbour Bridge in Sydney. a four-day holiday from unwell and just gone about their after the border was closed this tralia’s total. Thursday, with Friday the business,” Andrews told report- month for the fi rst time in 100 The re-introduction of meas- tralia has been lower than that the state was on “high alert” be- crowds are a huge concern. We day that the now-postponed ers. “They have gone out shop- years. ures to halt the spread of the vi- of many of its rich-world peers, cause of community transmis- cannot allow that march to con- Tokyo 2020 Olympics would ping. They have gone to work. Staff and students travelling rus in the state will shave 0.75 authorities and policymakers sions and infections appearing tinue unfortunately,” Berejiklian have opened. The Games They have been at the height of from Victoria into NSW to at- percentage points off the coun- are increasingly worried about in new places. said. are now set to begin on July their infectivity and they have tend boarding schools or uni- try’s economic output in the the spread of the virulent dis- She raised concern about “We’re at a critical point in 23, 2021, and organisers will just continued on as usual.” versities are required to self- third quarter, said a government ease in Melbourne. In NSW, of a Black Lives Matter protest New South Wales and we don’t hold a small-scale year-to-go Andrews warned that the isolate for two weeks and test source familiar with offi cial es- which Sydney is capital, 16 new planned for next week. “Irre- want to see the virus spread celebration today, but without number of cases would stay on negative for the virus, while timates. cases were recorded with Pre- spective of the issue, we need to and actions like that are a huge any spectators, in light of the an upward trajectory if people seasonal workers from Victoria Though the death rate in Aus- mier Gladys Berejiklian saying follow the health advice. Large health risk.” rising number of cases.

Taiwan parliament passes proposal to rebrand the island’s largest airline Last Qantas 747 departs Sydney for Mojave retirement Taiwan’s parliament passed a The motion did not set a timeline proposal yesterday to rebrand for when the airline should be the island’s largest airline to avoid eventually renamed, saying it Reuters confusion with carriers on the would require further discussion. Sydney Chinese mainland. China Airlines Some critics warn renaming the (CAL) is frequently mistaken airline might provoke China - for Air China — the mainland’s especially if specific references antas Airways Ltd’s last national carrier — and there have to Taiwan are added. Beijing Boeing 747 jet drew a long been calls to rename it or views Taiwan as its territory and Qkangaroo tail in the sky make it more clearly Taiwanese. has vowed to one day seize it, by off the Australian coast as it be- But the movement received fresh force if necessary. It baulks at gan its fi nal fl ight to retirement impetus during the coronavirus any suggestion the island is not in the Mojave Desert yesterday, pandemic, which Taiwan has part of “one China”. The name ending the model’s almost half a successfully tackled. The self- China Airlines is a throwback century of service at the carrier. ruled island has sent medical to the aftermath of the Chinese Owen Zupp, one of the six aid overseas as a diplomatic Civil War, when the defeated pilots on board the fi nal fl ight, gesture of goodwill, often on Kuomintang (KMT) nationalists brought forward by several The last Qantas Boeing 747 airliner flies over Sydney during its China Airlines aircraft, sparking fled to Taiwan. Their Republic of months because of the coronavi- farewell flight to the US yesterday. some public confusion abroad China — Taiwan’s off icial name rus pandemic, said he would re- over where the shipments had — set itself up as a rival to the fl ect once his team had delivered tance that was and continued to world’s only airline with an all come from. Yesterday, lawmakers People’s Republic of China. During the plane safely to the United be an issue for Australia,” he told 747 fl eet. People watch as the last Qantas Boeing 747 airliner prepares to take approved a proposal asking the the authoritarian KMT era many States. a gathering in a hangar for the The four-engine plane with off from Sydney airport to the US yesterday. transport ministry to come up Taiwanese companies often had “Once that is done I think it send-off . less favourable economics than with both short- and long-term the words “China” or “Chinese” will be a memory that we can Ironically, the reason for the newer-generation 787s and Air- Boeing, which has in recent freighters accounting for 93% of rebranding plans for the carrier, placed in their names. Taiwan has look back on with great pride,” plane’s early departure was also bus SE A350s had fallen out of years been manufacturing the the type still fl ying. which is partly government- since morphed into one of Asia’s Zupp told Reuters. “It is signifi - the reason for the small crowd favour even before the coronavi- latest version of the 747 prima- Joyce said Qantas had sold owned. “The ministry should most progressive democracies cant not just for Qantas’ history of 150. Thousands had been ex- rus pandemic but Qantas, Brit- rily as a freighter, and its suppli- fi ve of its 747s to General Elec- make CAL more identifiable and a distinct Taiwanese identity but aviation.” pected to attend a farewell ini- ish Airways, Virgin Atlantic and ers signalled the end of the plane tric Co. The fi nal jet will deliver internationally with Taiwanese has emerged. Another proposal Qantas Chief Executive Alan tially planned for the end of the KLM have hastened retirement when they set the fi nal number a load of freight to Los Angeles images to protect Taiwan’s passed yesterday called for Joyce, who signed the plane be- year. Qantas 747s carried more plans due to the lack of inter- of parts it would need for the before fl ying on to the Mojave. national interests as overseas it the island “to further enhance fore it took off from Sydney Air- than 250mn people in almost national travel demand. Qantas programme at least a year ago. Vincent Chu, 29, was among a is mistaken for a Chinese airline,” the visibility of ‘Taiwan’ on our port, said the model had helped half a century of service, in- has grounded most international There are only 30 747 passenger crowd gathered near the airport parliament speaker Yu Shyi- passports”. Taiwan’s passports make international travel more cluding Queen Elizabeth II and fl ights until at least July 2021 due jets left in service globally and to watch the plane leave: “I just kun said while reading out the currently say “Republic of China. aff ordable for Australians. “It every Australian Olympic team to Australian government travel 132 in storage, according to avia- wanted to give it a fi nal send-off , proposal. Taiwan.” overcame the tyranny of dis- since 1984. Qantas was once the restrictions. tion data provider Cirium, with so to speak.” Gulf Times Thursday, July 23, 2020 11 BRITAIN Row over ‘misrepresentation’ of slavery in citizenship test

AFP the death of George Floyd, an monstrably false”, they argued. toms, covers everything from The letter objected to impres- right thing to do.” chants and traders who profi ted London unarmed black man, during a US “The aim of the offi cial hand- history and politics, sports, cul- sions left that the end of the co- The call for “an immediate from the slave trade or slave la- police arrest. book is to promote tolerance and ture and culinary habits. lonialism in the middle of the last offi cial review” of the history bour to be renamed. “Until the history chapter has fairness and facilitate integra- The open letter’s signatories century was an “orderly transi- chapter comes as the growing A spokesman for the interior early 200 historians yes- been corrected and rewritten, it tion,” they wrote. argued the handbook painted a tion from empire to common- Black Lives Matter movement ministry said the handbook pro- terday denounced what should be formally withdrawn “In its current version, the his- questionable picture of histori- wealth”. That ignored the numer- has refocussed attention on Brit- vided “a starting point to explore Nthey said was the “mis- from the test,” the historians torical pages do the opposite.” cal slavery in Britain, for example ous violent rebellions to ongoing ain’s colonial past. our past and help those seeking representation of slavery and said an open letter signed by 181 Signatories included 13 fellows by suggesting it had ended in the British rule, it pointed out. That saw protesters topple to live permanently in the UK empire” in the history section of academics, including some from of the British Academy — the 18th century. “People in the colonies and a statue in Bristol, southwest gain a basic understanding of our Britain’s citizenship test, calling major universities across the leading humanities and social The guidance also downplayed people of colour in the UK are England of a slave trader, and society. for it to be corrected. country. sciences institution — and two the country’s role in the interna- nowhere actors in this offi cial a successful campaign for an “We have published several It is the latest volley in an in- Parts of the offi cial handbook past presidents of the Royal His- tional trade in people, failing to history,” said the letter. Oxford University college to re- editions of the handbook since it creasingly bitter battle over the for prospective British citizens and torical Society. note the vast numbers of British “The handbook promotes the move a statue of colonialist Cecil was launched and will continue legacy of Britain’s colonial past residents to prepare for the “Life in The handbook for the test, ships used to transport slaves misleading view that the Empire Rhodes. to keep its contents under review prompted by a recent wave of the UK” exam were “fundamen- which comprises 24 questions and that huge numbers who died, came to an end simply because Elsewhere, there have been and consider any feedback we re- anti-racism protests sparked by tally misleading and in places de- about British traditions and cus- they alleged. the British decided it was the calls for streets named after mer- ceive,” he added.

No proof New role for Camilla of Russia Immunity rule meddling in Brexit used by Sacoolas vote: govt

Reuters London in Dunn death

here is no evidence of Russian meddling in the T2016 Brexit referendum and Britain’s spies did not take plugged: Raab their eyes off the ball on Rus- sia, Transport Secretary Grant Guardian News and Media Croughton arrangements have pre waivers, but as I understand Shapps said yesterday. London been revised and that a family it anybody who commits any se- The parliament’s intelligence in their position would now see rious crime coming off Crouton and security committee said in justice done bring some small now will be arrested, and we have a report published on Tuesday he Foreign Secretary, measure of comfort.” the parents to thank for that.” that Russia had interfered in the Dominic Raab, has an- On Tuesday Raab had prompt- He added: “Now that they’ve 2014 Scottish independence ref- Tnounced the closing of a ed anger from Dunn’s family reached this agreement, how can erendum but it had not seen hard secret legal loophole that allowed by greeting the US Secretary of the Americans with any cred- evidence of Russian meddling in Harry Dunn’s alleged killer Anne State, Mike Pompeo, in Downing ibility refuse now to send Anne the Brexit vote. Sacoolas to claim diplomatic im- Street. Sacoolas back to the UK? The While the lawmakers not- munity. arrangements that apply in July ed allegations of meddling A lawyer for Dunn’s family 2020 are equally as good those in in Brexit, and some studies welcomed the move as a “huge August 2019 when Harry Dunn pointed to Russian attempts to step” in securing the extradition died. influence the campaign, they to the UK of Sacoolas to stand “This is a huge step forward said the government and intel- trial. towards bringing Anne Sacoolas ligence agencies had not sought Sacoolas, the wife of a CIA back.” out evidence of Russian inter- agent who was working at the US In the meeting, Raab told Sei- ference. intelligence base RAF Croughton ger and and the Dunn family that “There needs to be some evi- in Northamptonshire, was al- “No family should have the US was still resisting extra- dence that there’s an issue there lowed to return to the US days to experience what they diting Sacoolas to the UK. — which there isn’t,” Shapps told after allegedly driving her car on have gone through and Seiger said: “I am now going Sky when asked if there should the wrong side of the road on Au- I recognise that these to work with him (Raab) to make be a further investigation of pos- gust 27 and crashing into Dunn changes will not bring sure that he brings further pres- sible Russian meddling in the on his motorcycle. Harry back” sure to bear in terms of suspend- European Union referendum. In a written statement to par- ing the extradition treaty with “I don’t think it’s the case that liament, Raab said he and US Speaking at the gates of Down- the United States or there have to the intelligence services took and UK offi cials had agreed new ing Street on Tuesday, Harry’s be consequences.” their eye off the ball,” Shapps arrangements to prevent fam- mother, Charlotte Charles, said: Raab’s statement confi rmed told Sky. ily members of staff stationed at “Words are not enough any more.” that legal “arrangements” at the The victory of opponents of the base from claiming immunity The family has mounted a judicial Croughton base “contained a EU membership in the 2016 ref- from prosecution in future. review of the Foreign Offi ce’s deci- waiver of immunity from crimi- erendum result sent shockwaves His statement said: “We have sion-making in the case. nal jurisdiction for US staff out- across the world as it signalled secured the agreement of the US Charles and her lawyer Radd side the course of their duties, that one of the pillars of the West so that the Croughton arrange- Seiger met Raab yesterday to dis- but no such waiver for their fam- would split from the post-World II ments could not in future be cuss diplomatic immunity at the ily members.” attempts at European integration. used in the same away as in the base. He added: “The US waiver Russia has repeatedly denied tragic case of Harry Dunn. These Speaking to the Guard- of immunity from criminal ju- meddling in the West, casting changes took eff ect by way of an ian afterwards, Seiger welcomed risdiction is now expressly ex- the US and Britain as gripped by exchange of notes on July 20.” Raab’s statement as a “very tended to the family members of anti-Russian hysteria. He said the US base had agreed signifi cant development”. He US staff at the Croughton annex, The government has repeat- to provide mandatory driving said: “Huge credit to Harry’s thus ending the anomaly in the edly said there is no evidence of training to staff and to improve parents for standing up, bring- previous arrangements and per- successful Russian interference road signage to remind them to ing this campaign and a judicial mitting the criminal prosecution in Brexit. drive on the left. review, because without those of the family members of those The so-called Russia Report Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, becomes the Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles at a ceremony at Raab said: “No family should none of these secret agreements staff , should these tragic circum- by parliament’s intelligence Highgrove House, Gloucestershire, yesterday. Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, have to experience what they at Croughton would have been stances ever arise again.” committee called for British yesterday handed over the ceremonial military role to his daughter-in-law. Philip, 99, also known have gone through and I recog- brought to light. Raab also said the department spies to produce an assessment as the Duke of Edinburgh, has attended few engagements since announcing his retirement from nise that these changes will not “And it is absolutely unprec- of transport had launched a safe- of Russian interference in the EU most public duties in May 2017. bring Harry back. However, I edented from an international ty review of roads around the 10 referendum. hope that the knowledge that the relations perspective to get these US air force bases in England.

Four-year-old lands book Photos released as deal for ‘astonishing’ poetry Prince George turns 7 Reuters a camouflage pattern and his London hair was tousled. Guardian News and Media lease his “astonishing” collection thousands on Twitter, but they He appeared to have lost one London next summer. work even better as a group be- or more of his milk teeth. Walker executive Denise John- cause they create a whole world rince George, third in Prince George Alexander stone-Burt said that she had been full of glitter and hugs. line to the throne after Louis of Cambridge was born eats’s fi rst book of poetry “astonished that anyone so young This will be such a special book Phis grandfather Prince in the private Lindo Wing of was published when he could write such sensitive verse”. to share with a child.” The deal will Charles and father Prince Wil- St Mary’s Hospital in London Kwas 21; Mary Shelley was 18 “The poems talk about such make Nadim one of the youngest- liam, was shown flashing a in July 2013 and made his first when she started writing Franken- important feelings, like love and ever writers to land a book deal. gap-toothed smile in two pho- public appearance a day later, stein. loneliness, and Nadim fi nds the According to Guinness World tos released to mark his seventh when his parents stood on the But both of their youthful perfect words,” she added. “They Records, the youngest commer- birthday. hospital steps in front of a huge achievements are dwarfed by the are simple, inspirational and cially published female author is The photos, taken by his crowd of photographers and newest star in the UK’s poetry have a wisdom all of their own”. Dorothy Straight, who wrote How mother Kate, offi cially known as camera crews. fi rmament: four-year-old Nadim Clanchy said that the nickname the World Began in 1962, aged four. the Duchess of Cambridge, were Prince George was pictured Shamma-Sourgen, who has just she had given Nadim, the “Four It was published in 1964, when issued by Kensington Palace. several times during the coro- landed a book deal. Year Old Poet”, made him sound she was six. William and Kate’s three navirus lockdown with his Nadim was discovered by this “scarily precocious”; in fact, The Guinness record for the children are rarely seen in pub- younger siblings as they ap- year’s Orwell prize winner, the as his mother explained on Sky youngest published male author lic and few photographs of them plauded heath and care work- poet and teacher Kate Clanchy, News, he is still learning to read is held by Sri Lankan Thanuwana are released, but it has become ers during the weekly Clap for who met his mother, Yasmine and write and he dictates his po- Serasinghe, who was four years a tradition for snapshots taken Carers. Shamma, a lecturer in literature at ems to her. and 356 days old when he released by Kate to be published on spe- As Britain takes its first steps the University of Reading through “I wasn’t tweeting the poems his book Junk Food on January 5, cial occasions. out of Covid-19 lockdown, and a shared interest in teaching refu- because they were so much like 2017, after writing it in three days. “The Duke and Duchess of with holiday options limited, gees to write poetry. adult work – it was because they Nadim himself sounded excited, Cambridge are delighted to George is expected to spend his Clanchy began sharing some were so purely childlike,” said although not excessively so, about share two new photographs of birthday at home. of his poems on social media, and Clanchy. “Nadim has the very rare the book deal. “I like writing po- Prince George,” Kensington Last year, he celebrated his Nadim went on to be interviewed ability to articulate in images what ems especially about nature. I feel Palace said in a statement. big day on vacation with his by the Sunday Times and Sky it is to be a four-year-old, to love happy that my poems will be in a It did not say where the pho- family on the Caribbean island News, during which Kay Burley your mum and bugs, to wonder book,” he said.“When my poems tos were taken. of Mustique. exhorted him to remove his fi nger about baddies, baths and love, and are in a book, can I please have a One showed George dressed George is the eldest of the from his nose on live television. to ‘hang up your brave’ when you copy?” Prince George, who celebrated his seventh birthday yesterday, in a dark green polo shirt, his Cambridges’ three children. Now he has landed a book deal come in from nursery. Walker confi rmed that he is seen in this picture taken by his mother, the Duchess of hair neatly brushed, while in Sister Charlotte is five and with Walker Books, which will re- “The individual poems moved would, indeed, be given a copy. Cambridge. the other he wore a t-shirt with brother Louis is two. Gulf Times 12 Thursday, July 23, 2020 EUROPE

MEMORIAL EVACUATED LEGISLATION MAJORITY RULE RESCUE Norway vows ‘never again’ Greece battles forest fire Germany pushing road toll Greenland wants to keep French kids jump from on Oslo attack anniversary outside seaside village across EU: draft document coloniser’s statue burning third-floor flat

Norway yesterday commemorated the ninth Greek firefighters are battling to control a German Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer A Greenland vote yesterday showed a majority in Locals in the French city of Grenoble have anniversary of twin bomb and shooting attacks that large forest fire fanned by strong winds near aims to clear the way for an almost blanket favour of keeping up a statue of Danish-Norwegian been hailed as heroes after saving two children killed 77 people in Oslo on 22 July, 2011. “We repeat the seaside village of Kechries in the eastern motorway toll for cars across Germany and coloniser Hans Egede that was vandalised last who jumped from the window of a third-floor the words ‘never again’ to remind ourselves of the Peloponnese, fire brigade off icials said yesterday. Europe during the country’s presidency of the month as anti-racism protests reached the apartment on Tuesday to escape a fire. A video promise we made: That we will fight every day for Authorities said they had been forced to European Union, a draft document seen by Arctic. The statue had red paint and the word published by local newspaper Le Dauphine the values the terrorist wished to attack,” Prime evacuate a residential settlement as the blaze, Reuters yesterday showed. Within eight years, “decolonise” daubed on it as Black Lives Matter Libere and other media showed the older of the Minister Erna Solberg said at Oslo’s government burning through pine trees, came close to a almost all vehicles on motorways, including protests swept the world. Critics say the statue in two children suspending the younger by his quarter. In August 2012, right-wing extremist Anders military camp where explosives were stored. lorries, vans and cars, would have to pay tolls, Nuuk is a symbol of oppression by former colonial clothes before dropping him, amid screams from Behring Breivik was sentenced to 21 years in prison Thick dark smoke clouded the area, with the according to the draft for the EU toll directive. ruler Denmark and some want it put in a museum. onlookers. Locals waiting below caught the child, for his bomb and shooting attacks in Oslo and front of the blaze moving south in very windy “As regards member states that have already But in the poll, 923 people voted for it to stay reeling under the impact. With thick black smoke at a Labour Party youth camp near the capital. conditions. No damage to property or injuries established a charging system, tolls or user while 600 wanted it gone, according to the local coming out of the window, the older child then Ina Larvik, leader of the Labour Party youth wing, had been reported. Authorities had evacuated charges shall be levied upon all vehicles except municipality. Egede travelled there in 1721 to do jumped and was caught in turn. The children said that “hatred claims lives. But we know the best the ‘Summerfun’ camp, taking children to a safer coaches and buses,” stated the document which missionary work among the Inuit. His stay marked were aged 3 and 10, France Bleu radio reported. antidote to hatred is love, hope and fellowship.” area near the village’s beach. Scheuer wants German ministries to approve. the beginning of Greenland’s colonial era. They were unharmed. Digital festival Russia convicts Gulag historian despite outcry

By Marina Koreneva, AFP Dmitriyev’s guilt,” Memorial said in a Fellow historian Anatoly Razumov Petrozavodsk, Russia statement after the decision. said the fact that Dmitriyev “will soon “Nevertheless, these charges have get back to his work is a victory”. already robbed Yury Dmitriyev of more Dmitriyev is known for helping open Russian court yesterday con- than three years of freedom and ruined the Sandarmokh memorial in a pine victed a respected Gulag histori- his adopted daughter’s life,” it said. forest in Karelia in memory of thou- Aan in a controversial sexual abuse Dmitriyev spent decades locating sands of victims — including many case, but handed down a sentence that and exhuming mass graves of people foreigners — murdered in 1937 and will see him free in the autumn. killed under Soviet dictator Joseph 1938. People look at a video projection of a concert, recorded by the Baltasar Neumann Orchestra, playing pieces of Yury Dmitriyev, the local head of Stalin’s rule, including in the notorious “Thanks to Yury Dmitriyev, I know Mozart and Beethoven repertoire and directed by German director Thomas Hengelbrock, at the Cours Mirabeau prominent rights group Memorial in Gulag network of forced labour camps. where my grandfather was buried,” plaza in Aix-en-Provence on Tuesday night as part of this year’s digital edition of the International Festival of Karelia in northwestern Russia, was The researcher was fi rst arrested in supporter Galina Ivanova said outside Lyric Art of Aix-en-Provence. The 2020 edition of the festival, planned to start on July 2, was cancelled due to the facing up to 15 years in a penal camp late 2016 on child pornography charg- the courthouse. “And this is a huge Covid-19 pandemic and representations postponed until the next edition. The concert was broadcast at the same under the charges. es, and then acquitted in 2018. deal, I will always be grateful to him.” time on five giants screen located in diff erent places and streets of the city. His supporters insisted he is be- He was then arrested again on the Independent newspaper Novaya ing punished for his work digging into sexual assault case, charges he has al- Gazeta reported that Dmitriyev’s cell- Soviet-era abuses. ways denied. mates had tried to pressure him into After a trial held behind closed Memorial argues his prosecution is admitting his guilt or face sexual abuse doors, a judge in the city of Petroza- part of a growing crackdown on dis- in prison. vodsk found Dmitriyev guilty of sexu- senters in Russia, and that he was tar- Speaking in court during his sec- ally abusing his adopted daughter, geted for calling attention to one of the ond trial this month, Dmitriyev, who Study: Renewables now EU’s sentencing him to three-and-a-half darkest chapters in Russia’s history. was himself adopted, said he had done years in prison. Dozens of his supporters gathered everything to raise his daughter to be His lawyer Viktor Anufriyev told outside the courtroom yesterday and happy and healthy. reporters that with time served in pre- some said the verdict was as close as In the speech published by the biggest source of electricity trial detention Dmitriyev, 64, would be Dmitriyev could get to an acquittal. Meduza news portal, he also said it free in three-and-a-half months. Yan Rachinsky, a director at Memo- was important for people to remember Anufriyev said his client was content rial, said the verdict allowed Russian their past. with the verdict because “he knows he authorities to save face after a robust “The strength of the state is not in AFP/Reuters newable generation and a seven-per- industrial revolution, coal cannot is not guilty”. public campaign in Dmitriyev’s de- its tanks and guns, in its nuclear rock- Paris cent fall in electricity demand due to compete with less polluting fuels to “Such a verdict following such seri- fence. ets or an ability to tell everyone to fl ip the coronavirus pandemic. generate electricity, prompting gov- ous charges can mean only one thing: “On the other hand, it won’t see a off ,” he said. “No, the strength of the As a result, the EU-27 power sector’s ernments and companies to close the prosecution has no real proof of man die in prison,” he said. state is in its people.” enewable energy sources such emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) fell mines and plants. as the wind and the sun over- by about 23%, Ember said. In Spain, coal generation fell 58% in Rtook fossil fuels as the European “This marks a symbolic moment in the fi rst six months of the year, even Union’s main generators of electricity the transition of Europe’s electricity before half its remaining plants closed in the fi rst half of this year, according sector,” said Ember’s electricity ana- in June as they no longer complied to a new report published yesterday. lyst, Dave Jones. with EU emissions rules. Europe fl ooding period ‘worst in 500 years’ “In the fi rst half of 2020, renewables “Renewables generated more elec- Ember’s fi ndings were reinforced by — wind, solar, hydro and bioenergy — tricity than fossil fuels, driven by wind Global Energy Monitor researchers, generated 40% of the EU-27’s elec- and solar replacing coal. That’s fast who predicted a record rate of closures By Patrick Galey, AFP Authors of the research said it could frequency and strength of fl ood events. tricity, whereas fossil fuels generated progress from just nine years ago when globally in 2020. Paris help governments save billions on But extreme fl ooding is normally lo- 34%,” the London-based think-tank fossil fuels generated twice as much as The pace of plant closures in Spain, fl ood recovery and reconstruction. calised, making it diffi cult to draw con- Ember found in its study. renewables.” with 69% of the entire fl eet to be shut- “For fl ood forecasts of the next clusions as to how closely the phenome- The amount of electricity generated Nevertheless, the pace of change tered between 2020 and 2021, has no urope has been struck by more decades it is important to understand non is infl uenced by rising temperatures. by renewables in the EU’s 27 member varied from country to country, the precedent, Global Energy Monitor pro- frequent and widespread fl ooding whether we are now in a completely The team identifi ed nine periods states rose by 11% in the period from think-tank said. gram director Christine Shearer said. Ein recent decades than at any oth- new situation or whether this is just across half a millennium where fl ood- January to June, Ember calculated. While the phase-out of coal, for ex- “The fact that such a rapid decline er time in the past 500 years, according a repetition of something that has ing was more common than average. “This was driven by new wind and ample, gathered pace across the whole has taken place indicates the increas- to a sweeping analysis of the continent’s already occurred,” said lead author Whereas previous fl ood-rich peri- solar installations and favourable con- bloc, falling by 32% in the entire EU, ingly uncompetitive economics of coal fl ood history released yesterday. Guenter Bloeschl, from the Vienna ods tended to be colder than the inter- ditions during a mild and windy start Poland became Europe’s biggest coal power,” Shearer said. A pan-European team of research- University of Technology. vening years, the most recent — 1900- to the year.” generator after Germany. The Covid-19 outbreak depressed ers spent more than eight years por- “We found the former is the case, 2016 — was roughly 1.4C warmer. The Wind and solar alone reached a “For the fi rst time ever, Germany power demand, further reducing coal ing over nearly 10,000 records of fl ood thus we need to make sure that the team noted in particular an increase in record of 21% of Europe’s total elec- generated less coal-fi red electric- consumption, the analysts said. events stretching back to 1500. required safety margins are kept that summer fl ooding during these years. tricity generation, and reached even ity than Poland. Coal also fell in other All fi ve EU countries with no clear They found that not only have the may be bigger than what we thought Around 0.03% of the European pop- higher penetration in Denmark (64%), countries faster than Poland, so that closure plan for their plants are in cen- last 30 years witnessed more frequent before,” he told AFP. ulation are thought to have been im- Ireland (49%) and Germany (42%), the Poland now generates as much coal tral and eastern Europe, consultancy and stronger fl ood events than at any Global temperatures have already pacted each year by fl ooding between study said. generation as the remaining 25 EU Energy Aspects said in a separate report other time, but the fl ooding was hap- risen more than one degree Celsius 1870-2016 — representing an annual Fossil fuels, on the other hand, fell countries combined,” Ember said. this month, predicting Poland’s coal pening amid hotter temperatures than since pre-industrial times, speeding average cost of close to 1% of the con- by 18%, squeezed both by rising re- Centuries after powering Europe’s reliance will cause tension in the bloc. the historic average. up the water cycle and increasing the tinent’s GDP. Zelensky defends movie post to end hostage crisis

AFP The SBU security service said lying face-down on the pave- to post anti-establishment mes- Kyiv all the bus passengers were re- ment. sages on social media. leased unharmed. The SBU security service The security service said yes- The hostage-taker had earlier classed the incident as an “act terday that it had detained sev- krainian President Volo- fi red shots and thrown an explo- of terror” and “hostage-taking” eral suspected accomplices. dymyr Zelensky yester- sive package. and Kryvosh faces up to 15 years The head of the Lutsk branch Uday defended his deci- Zelensky said he agreed in a in prison. of the SBU, Pavlo Danyukov, said sion to agree to a hostage-taker’s phone-call with the man, iden- After the crisis ended, Zelen- at a briefi ng that the hostages bizarre demand that he post a tifi ed as 44-year-old Maksym sky deleted the short video he were in satisfactory condition movie recommendation to end a Kryvosh, that “he would release had posted. and had not suff ered any physical 12-hour stand-off . three people, and after that I “Today loved ones can hug violence during the stand-off . Zelensky described how he would record a video.” everybody who languished all The US Embassy in Ukraine personally negotiated on Tues- The armed man complied and day on the bus with a gun pointed tweeted a message of praise, day evening with a gunman who freed three hostages: a man, a at them,” he wrote on Facebook. saying: “We join the people of was holding 13 hostages on a bus pregnant woman and a child. “We did not lose a single per- Ukraine in celebrating the safe in Lutsk, around 400km west of In response, the president son,” added the president, who release of the hostages...and capital Kyiv. posted a video message on Face- was a television comedian before commend Ukrainian authorities’ The tense stand-off ended af- book urging people to watch the his 2019 election win. success in securing their release.” ter the president agreed to post a documentary. The hostage-taker is currently Some Ukrainians criticised video of himself recommending a Kryvosh agreed to release all in a temporary detention centre, Zelensky for his concession to 2005 US documentary narrated his captives half an hour later, police reported. the hostage-taker, however. by actor Joaquin Phoenix called Zelensky said. Kryvosh had previously spent “This is a mistake. We should Earthlings, which condemns hu- Interior Minister Arsen Avak- around 10 years in prison on not negotiate with terrorists,” mans’ mistreatment of animals. ov said Kryvosh, who was armed charges including fraud and ille- Kiev-based lawyer Igor Pashnev “We have a result — everyone with a pistol, a rifl e and a hand gal handling of weapons. wrote on Facebook. is alive. We are not fi ghting for grenade, came out of the bus fol- Interior minister Avakov de- But another Facebook user, (approval) ratings — we are fi ght- lowing the negotiations. scribed him as “unstable.” Eduard Runin, from Kharkiv, ing for life,” Zelensky said in a Footage published by Ukraini- Posts in a Twitter account in praised Zelensky for choosing statement, after some criticised an offi cials showed police escort- Kryvosh’s name, later suspend- the option of “fulfi lling the de- him for giving in to the gunman’s ing hostages away while armed ed, claimed he had bombs and mands of a terrorist and keeping A suspected hostage-taker lies on the ground after being detained by law enforcement off icers in the city demands. special forces detained Kryvosh, asked top Ukrainian celebrities people alive.” of Lutsk on Tuesday night. Gulf Times Thursday, July 23, 2020 13 INDIA Workers worry about virus surge as factories reopen

Reutrers died and district authorities or- the virus, but with their pay de- the current fi scal year that started sized businesses. tens of thousands of migrant Jindal steel plant where Singh Chennai dered a seven-day lockdown that pendent on showing up for shifts, on April 1 due to the pandemic. Labour advocates, however, say workers who wanted to return works have tested positive for Thengde’s plant fi nally closed Thengde said workers had little Manufacturers are implement- the measures put in place do not home when India imposed its coronavirus since June, with at on July 10, weeks after calls for it choice but to go to the factory. ing measures such as temperature go far enough, calling for more fi rst lockdown in March to con- least 10,000 quarantined after hen Bajirao Thengde to shut when the fi rst cases ap- Bajaj Auto could not be reached checks, mandatory wearing of routine inspections, guaranteed tain the pandemic. contact tracing, according to voiced his fears about peared. to comment, but Managing Di- masks, smaller shift groups and living wages, as well as housing Singh, who comes from Punjab, media reports. Wgoing to work after “We were demanding that the rector Rajiv Bajaj said in a recent social distancing, industrial asso- and transportation for workers was talked out of walking home by Frederick Castro, a spokesman dozens of colleagues fell sick with factory be temporarily closed but TV interview that the “factory ciations said. during the pandemic. his family and has since returned for JSW Group, said prompt ac- coronavirus, his boss at a motor- work carried on,” said Thengde, a was the safest place to be”, saying State offi cials have also stepped “Workers are still not central to to his job at a reopened steel plant tion had been taken to control the bike factory in Maharashtra said union leader who has worked for employees were catching the vi- up contact-tracing programmes the unlocking of industries,” said in Ballari in Karnataka. spread of infection among em- he should “learn to live with the more than 30 years for Bajaj Auto rus in the community and bring- around industrial hubs where Hemalata, who goes by one name “Then I heard of workers fall- ployees once their patient zero virus”. Ltd – India’s biggest motorbike ing it to work. cases have been reported, setting and is the president of the Centre ing sick and was worried,” he told – a worker whose mother had As India’s coronavirus cases exporter. India has issued health and up special teams to work with fac- of Indian Trade Unions (CITU). the Thomson Reuters Founda- tested positive – was identifi ed. exceeded 1mn last week, unions “The cases kept increasing safety guidelines for manufactur- tories on compliance and training “While some industries may tion by phone. “We’re taking care of every say similar spikes in infections despite us wearing masks, main- ing facilities as part of a gradual workers on the new mandatory follow protocols, who will ensure “I really wanted to go back employee who is testing positive in reopened factories are putting taining distance, using foot ped- exit from a weeks-long lockdown safeguards. that smaller and medium-sized (home) then, but the company and have also extended outreach workers at risk – accusing com- als to access water taps and eat- that has left millions jobless and “We are very concerned about factories have safety measures in had not cleared my dues. I can- to the community,” he said. panies of skimping on health ing lunch by ourselves. And then short of food. workers falling ill,” said Pankaj place? What is the point of open- not leave without my fi nal pay- But workers remain anxious as and safety as they rush to get there were the deaths.” According to most estimates, Kumar, president of the Indian ing up if workers returning to ment and now because of worker many states reimpose lockdown business back on track. Of the plant’s roughly 8,000 the Indian economy will register a Industries Association, which work are falling ill?” shortage, that is unlikely soon.” measures to stem the upswing in It was only after several workers staff , 250 have tested positive for record contraction of over 4.5% in represents small and medium- Sharanjit Singh was among More than 100 workers at the cases. Telangana under fi re for making returnees pay for quarantine

Reuters for farm labour in my village,” he Mumbai told the Thomson Reuters Foun- dation by phone from Jagtial. “I don’t know when I will be oronavirus quarantine able to repay this loan.” charges levied by Tel- Arvinder Singh, Telangana Cangana state on expats deputy secretary for non-resi- who are being fl own home from dent Indian aff airs, said return- Gulf nations will drive many re- ing workers were charged for turnees further into debt and travel and quarantine “as per the put them at risk of destitution, government of India guidelines”. campaigners and labourers said The offi cial declined to give yesterday. further details, and did not spec- India in May began a drive to ify how many returnees had been repatriate nearly a million citi- charged for quarantine. zens from around the world as An estimated 9mn Indian mi- People gather for shopping from roadside vendors on a street ahead of a two-day lockdown across West Bengal, in Kolkata yesterday. the pandemic left many jobless grants work in the Gulf states, and struggling to survive. the United Nations International Labour Organisation (ILO) says. “We did not consider About 500,000 overseas citi- charging people at any point zens have returned home since even though they are coming May, either fl own or sailed home from abroad, they are poor, by the government or put on char- they have lost their jobs” tered fl ights sponsored by compa- Drug shows promise in nies and community groups. The arrivals are quarantined in Kerala has received the most hotels, college hostels or empty arrivals of all Indian states, yet houses for about a week. the state has not imposed a quar- Most have returned from the antine fee on its returnees. Gulf, government data shows. “We did not consider charging The southern state of Telan- people at any point even though Covid trial: Glenmark gana is charging at least Rs8,000 they are coming from abroad, to put its returning citizens in they are poor, they have lost their Agencies Clinical cure is defi ned as a national capital every month to eral health ministry suggest that Nadu states are the worst af- quarantine at hotels for a week, jobs,” said Amar Fettle, Kerala Bengaluru physician’s assessment of the find out how many people have 4.7mn people have had the virus, fected. raising concern among former state’s nodal offi cer for Covid-19. normalisation of clinical signs of developed antibodies from the almost 40 times the offi cial tally Prime Minister Narendra Mo- Gulf workers who have large Labour unions estimate that Covid-19 such as temperature, coronavirus. of 125,000. di’s government imposed one of debts, little savings and few job about 10,000 Indian migrants lenmark Pharmaceuti- oxygen saturation, respiratory Health Minister Satyendar Jain While praising government the world’s strictest lockdowns prospects at home. have returned from the Gulf to cals Ltd said yesterday its rate and cough. said the next survey will be held restrictions that have limited the in late March, but it has been Mahender Deepkonda, who Telangana since May, and are Gversion of anti-fl u drug FabiFlu was also well tolerated between August 1 and 5. spread of the virus, the ministry steadily eased in recent months lost his security guard job in urging the local government to favipiravir showed promise in a with no serious adverse events Addressing a press conference, said the study “indicates that a to lessen the devastating eco- late-stage study of 150 patients or deaths in the treatment arm, Jain said more samples will be large number of infected persons nomic impact. March, said he had to take out follow Kerala’s example. with mild to moderate coronavi- the company said, adding that it taken this time compared to the remain asymptomatic”. But, independently from the a fresh loan to pay for a fl ight “The government should rus infection. plans to submit the study data for last. The survey was conducted be- federal government, states have think about the poor in these home in May and was falling ever Data showed that patients re- peer review in the coming weeks. During the last survey 21,387 tween June 27 and July 10. been tightening restrictions as deeper into debt. times, but they are asking for ceiving FabiFlu shook off the vi- Glenmark last month received samples were collected. And more than 75% are still case numbers have soared – in- “The cycle (of repayment) is money,” said Guggilla Ravi Goud, rus about 29% faster that those Indian regulatory approval to The blood tests on the ran- vulnerable, including those at cluding in Bengaluru, Bihar, West broken. My outstanding loan convener of the Telangana Gulf receiving standard supportive make and sell FabiFlu for re- domly selected people conducted higher risk, Sujeet Kumar Singh, Bengal and parts of Kerala and amount has gone up by three Workers Joint Action Commit- care. stricted emergency use in pa- by the National Center for Dis- head of the National Centre for Tamil Nadu. times,” said Deepkonda, 38, who tee. About 70% of the patients tients with mild-to-moderate ease Control found that 23.48% Disease Control, told a news con- Daily new cases have been paid Rs15,000 for a two-week “This is milking their misery being treated with the drug Covid-19 symptoms, and last of them had IgG antibodies – ference. steadily falling in recent weeks, hotel quarantine before Telan- for business,” he added. achieved “clinical cure” by the week cut the price of the drug to indicating past exposure to the Yesterday, the federal health with fewer than 1,000 new infec- gana reduced the fee and period Cases of Covid-19 continue to fourth day of the study, com- Rs75 ($1.01) per tablet. virus. ministry reported a total of tions recorded on Tuesday – the in May as per government guide- rise in India with almost 1.2mn pared with about 45% in the In other developments, a With Delhi’s population of 1.19mn coronavirus cases so far fi rst time in 49 days – down from lines. infections, behind only the Unit- standard care group, the com- Delhi minister said a serologic more than 20mn, the fi ndings with almost 29,000 deaths. a peak of almost 4,000 in late “I earn Rs500 as daily wages ed States and Brazil. pany said in a statement. survey will be conducted in the published on Tuesday by the fed- Maharashtra, Delhi and Tamil June. Commuters block trains, Kashmir imposes demand regular services strict lockdown AFP other goods is permitted under Srinagar the order. IANS They demanded that they be were suddenly diverted to state It came a day after the Am- Mumbai allowed to travel regularly on transport buses. Since we strictly arnath Yatra that draws some suburban locals and not just on adhere to physical distancing ammu and Kashmir yesterday 300,000 participants was can- special services. norms and allow only 22 passen- imposed a strict lockdown for celled for the fi rst time in more undreds of angry com- Later, police dispersed the gers per bus, the additional pas- Ja week as authorities warned than a century. muters bound for Mum- crowd peacefully. sengers compounded the prob- of rising coronavirus cases, one The event, held for nearly Hbai, Thane and other Commuters from Mumbai, lem. We hope to resolve it in the day after cancelling a major an- two months, is usually guarded places staged an impromptu rail Thane, Palghar and Raigad have next couple of days,” the spokes- nual temple event. by some 40,000 government blockade at Nala Sopara station been demanding that the local person told IANS. India, which has recorded al- forces as well as health profes- near Mumbai yesterday to de- train services – the lifeline of the Rail Yatri Parishad president most 1.2mn infections and is sionals. mand resumption of regular sub- country’s commercial capital – Subhash Gupta warned that the the world’s third-most infected But authorities said they were urban train services which were be resumed immediately or more incident in Nala Sopara was an nation, had signifi cantly eased a not able to divert such huge re- discontinued due to the spike in categories of workers be permit- “indicator of things to come” months-long shutdown to revive sources to the event with the Covid-19 cases. ted to travel by special services in the coming days if the state its shattered economy. health crisis still raging. The agitated commuters – being operated for a month now. government doesn’t take urgent But numerous states have re- “The health concerns are so mostly working in private com- An MSRTC spokesperson said steps to improve public trans- imposed restrictions in recent serious that the strain on the panies or factories in the Mum- that usually around 150 state port. weeks as case numbers exploded, health system, along with the di- bai Metropolitan Region (MMR) transport buses are operated “People in the MMR are sparking fears of overwhelmed version in resources to the yatra, – said they were left stranded there daily, which are now being spending fi ve-six hours daily healthcare systems. will be immense,” offi cials said as the Maharashtra State Road augmented to 300 to clear the only to commute, which was Authorities said Kashmir val- late Tuesday. Transport Corp (MSRTC), which unexpected rush, and promised normally less than two hours. ley would go into lockdown un- Kashmir has so far reported operates services to Mumbai, another 200 would be added in They are agitated as suburban til July 29, when the restrictions nearly 16,000 virus cases includ- Thane and Raigad, allegedly the next few days, totalling 500 trains are not running and buses would be reviewed. ing 273 deaths in the region of stopped the service yesterday. services daily. are inadequate. We urge the gov- “Complete lockdown in all red 14mn people, local health offi - Left in the lurch, the commut- “For the past two days, many ernment to immediately deploy districts from today evening,” cials said yesterday. ers marched to Nala Sopara sta- commuters who travelled by the more state transport or private the local administration’s infor- The Kashmir lockdown came tion, with many squatting on the special trains were not allowed buses for the commuters before mation department tweeted. just before the major Eid al-Adha tracks and halting special local to board owing to various rea- the situation worsens,” Gupta A man drinks water under a mural of frontline workers of Agriculture, construction, and festival, which begins at the end trains. sons. Consequently, the crowds said. coronavirus, painted on a garbage dump in New Delhi yesterday. the transportation of fuel and of the month. Gulf Times 14 Thursday, July 23, 2020 INDIA Kerala CM trying to destroy proof in gold case: Congress

IANS that he has failed on two counts all CCTVs at the state Secretar- Swapna Suresh, assembly speak- retary to release a list of all ap- in the gold smuggling case. agency to register a case after the Thiruvananthapuram - all the applause that his govern- iat will be changed because of a er P Sreeramakrishnan, Minister pointments made through Mint. “Vijayan will go down as the NIA and the Customs. ment got for tackling Covid-19 lightning strike. No one knows for Higher Education K T Vijayan is now attacking us be- most corrupt chief Minister the On July 10, the NIA registered has disappeared after he ad- when the lightning struck. We Jaleel and his personal assist- cause we are asking him hard state has seen,” said former min- an FIR against four people, in- he Congress in Kerala mitted to community spread in have to caution the NIA (Nation- ant and security offi cer. questions. He knows that he has ister and RSP leader Shibhu Baby cluding prime suspect Swapna yesterday wondered why two coastal hamlets here. Then al Investigation Agency) that Vi- He said more information been a big failure in governing John. Suresh, the woman who rubbed TChief Minister Pinarayi came the gold smuggling case, in jayan is trying his best to destroy has surfaced on numerous ap- the state and that can be seen Meanwhile, almost 12 days shoulders with the high and Vijayan was blaming the oppo- which eight government offi cials all evidence by changing all the pointments made through the from how Covid-19 is spread- after the NIA registered a case mighty in the state and was close sition party for his own political are under the scanner. We fail to CCTVs that have captured lots of back door by Vijayan via state- ing,” the Congress leader said. in the gold smuggling issue, the to Vijayan’s now ousted secre- problems over the coronavirus understand what we have done things, which they don’t want to run agency KINFRA, which had Lok Sabha member and RSP Enforcement Directorate (ED) tary Sivasankar. spread and gold smuggling case in the virus spread and the gold come out,” Chennithala said. entrusted the task to an agency leader N K Premachandran de- said yesterday it had also regis- Sivasankar was removed in and accused him of trying to de- case,” Congress leader Ramesh He said those under the cloud named Mint. manded the removal of Kerala tered a case under the Preven- connection with seizure of 30kg stroy evidence in the gold racket. Chennithala said. in the gold smuggling case in- “None has a clue about Mint police chief Loknath Behra who tion of the Money Laundering gold worth Rs14.82 crore at the “Do not know what has hap- “We now hear the chief sec- clude IAS offi cer M Sivasankar, and its locus standi in the matter. allegedly was doing everything Act (PMLA). Thiruvananthapuram airport on pened to him. It’s understandable retary ordered on July 13 that who has now been suspended), We now demand the chief sec- possible to mar the ongoing probe The ED has become the third July 5 by the Customs. Speaker goes to Supreme Court against Pilot’s petition

IANS Congress chief earlier this subsidised rates. New Delhi month after he was accused of The source further said that trying to topple his own gov- Agrasen Gehlot is facing a Rs7 ernment with the help of the crore Customs penalty in the he Supreme Court will Bharatiya Janata Party. fertilizer case. hear today a petition In a related development, According to the source, Tby Rajasthan Assembly the Congress yesterday termed Agrasen Gehlot was the author- Speaker C P Joshi challenging raids conducted by the Enforce- ised dealer for IPL and between Security personnel install police barricades around a caved-in portion of Ashoka Road after a heavy downpour in New Delhi yesterday. the Rajasthan High Court deci- ment Directorate (ED) at the 2007-09, his company bought sion extending time for sacked residence of Rajasthan Chief MoP at subsidised rates and in- deputy chief minister Sachin Minister Ashok Gehlot’s brother stead of distributing to farmers Pilot and 18 other rebel Con- Agrasen Gehlot and other places sold it to a few other companies, gress legislators to reply to an as ‘a weapon for intimidation’. who in turn exported it to Ma- Heavy rain, gusty winds again anti-defection notice issued on “The BJP is challenging the laysia and Singapore in the guise July 14. stable government which has of industrial salt. Justices Arun Mishra, B R Ga- been elected by the people. On The searches comes in the vai and Krishna Murari will take July 20-21, the CBI questioned backdrop of the political crisis up the matter through video our MLA Krishna Poonia. The in Rajasthan. lash Delhi; many areas fl ooded conferencing. government from Delhi is try- Pilot is the third high-profi le “It is respectfully submitted ing to exert pressure on the state leader after Ashok Tanwar of that the impugned order passed government with these acts,” Haryana and Jyotiraditya Scin- by the high court is in eff ect a Congress spokesman Randeep dia of Madhya Pradesh to rebel IANS The road was damaged near of people have lost their homes ing fl oods with relief aid such as stay on the powers of the speak- Singh Surjewala said. against the party. New Delhi 10, Ashoka Road probably due and livelihoods. dry ration kits, mosquito nets, er under the Tenth Schedule to The ED yesterday conducted However, the Congress cites to the sinking of the storm wa- Since the onset of the fl oods, utensils and other essential adjudicate on a disqualifi cation raids at various locations across all it has done for Pilot. ter drainage system, Delhi Traf- 1,200 volunteers of the Indian commodities. petition,” said the petition fi led the country including the resi- Party spokeswoman Supriya eavy monsoon rain fi c Police said. Red Cross Society (IRCS) have For over a month, the fl ood by lawyer Sunil Fernandes. dence of Agrasen Gehlot in con- Shrinate said: “From an MP at 26 and gusty winds again “The extent of damage is been working tirelessly to pro- situation in Assam has re- The speaker urged the top nection with the fertiliser scam. to deputy chief minister in 40s, Hlashed the national around 10ft long. We have vide support to the aff ected mained grim. Yesterday, over court to stay the July 21 order of Surjewala said that on July 21, the party has given all the op- capital and neighbouring areas barricaded the road at Wind- communities in remote areas. 25 lakh people in 2,409 villages the Rajasthan High Court. one of chief mister’s top aides portunities to the young leader. yesterday, leading to fl ooding sor Place and Andhra Bhawan. Over 2,000 families are be- in 25 of the 33 districts were Joshi said the high court has was called by the CBI. Now But he chose to remain in the and traffi c disruption in several Traffi c is not allowed on the ing supported in temporary marooned. Western Assam has breached the bar imposed by the Agrasen Gehlot has been tar- hospitality of the BJP in Haryana areas. stretch between Windsor Place shelters and relief camps set up been the worst-aff ected. Supreme Court against judicial geted. as the party repeatedly asked The India Meteorological roundabout to Jaswant Singh by the IRCS in the highlands at Offi cials said the fl oods have intervention in matters pending These are people who are be- him to come back into its fold.” Department (IMD) has warned roundabout on Ashoka Road,” several locations. All the ben- killed 120 animals. before the speaker. ing raided despite the fact that No head of the family will al- of major traffi c disruption, in- said a senior police offi cer. efi ciaries are being provided The world famous Kaziranga He said instead of appearing they are neither in politics nor low any member to demolish creased chance of road acci- Several roads and low lying with dry ration, utensils, mos- National Park, home to more before the speaker and giving do they have anything to do the family, she said referring to dents and water accumulation areas of Gurugram were also quito nets, soaps, masks and than 2,200 one-horned Indian their comments on the allega- with it. Pilot, who, despite being ap- in low-lying areas and on roads. water-logged after heavy rain clean drinking water. rhinoceros, remained inundated. tions made in the disqualifi ca- “You might have got the peo- proached by the party, did not Traffi c was disrupted at in the past 48 hours. IRCS Assam has installed 25 Assam is one of fi ve of the tion petition, a direct challenge ple of other states scared by respond to its overtures. scores of places due to water- Streets were fl ooded in sev- family tents in diff erent Cov- eight northeastern states which was made in the high court by such threats, however, the peo- While analysts feel that the logging. eral places including South id-19 quarantine centres as has received excess rain. the rebel MLAs. ple of Rajasthan and the MLAs central leadership is weak and The Minto Bridge underpass, City, MG Road, Atul Kataria well as along highways, railway The other three reported de- “It is respectfully submit- of Gehlot will not be afraid with is not able to keep the fl ock to- where a 56-year-old driver of a Chowk, Iff co Chowk, city bus lines and embankments where fi ciencies. ted that the notice dated July these means,” he added. gether or nobody cares for the mini truck drowned last week, stand, Shivaji Nagar, DLF phase displaced people have taken According to scientists of the 14 was only limited to inviting Agrasen Gehlot’s fi rm An- party anymore, veteran leader was water-logged again yester- 1, sector 4/7, sector 27, 28, 29, shelter. Indian Council of Agricultural comments from the rand there upam Krishi held authorised B K Hariprasad says that there day after the heavy downpour. 42, Galleria market, MCG offi ce One such camp has been set Research (ICAR), the erratic was nothing adverse against dealership of Indian Potash Ltd is lack of ideological commit- Delhiites took to Twitter and Narsinghpur. up at IRCS’ raised platform in monsoon is likely to aff ect both the respondents. It is submitted (IPL). ment which is the driving force to share pictures and videos At several places roads caved. Chorabori in Kamrup district, summer and winter crops in the that such a notice is not the fi nal An ED source claimed the behind such rebellions. of rainwater gushing through Meanwhile, amid the ongo- where 50 fl ood-aff ected fami- region. determination or decision on company was involved in ex- “These so-called young poli- the roads and vehicles wading ing Covid-19 pandemic, savage lies are being sheltered along According to IMD offi cials, disqualifi cation but only a com- porting Muriate of Potash (MoP) ticians are here to make a career through the inundated streets. fl oods have wreaked havoc in with their cattle. the June-September southwest mencement of the proceedings,” fertiliser, which is banned for but they don’t have any incli- A part of Ashoka Road in Assam, disrupting the lives of The society has served more monsoon is in full-swing in Joshi said in his petition. exports. nation towards the party ideol- central Delhi caved in disrupt- nearly 33 lakh people in 28 dis- than 40,000 people reeling un- most parts of the mountainous Pilot was sacked as deputy MoP is imported by IPL and ogy,” Hariprasad said. ing traffi c on the stretch. tricts. Due to the fl oods, lakhs der the impact of the devastat- northeastern region. chief minister and Rajasthan distributed among farmers at TikTok gave rural women fame, fun and more

AFP what used to be the app’s biggest stay-at-home wife I never made form storytelling in text - with “A person who works with a New Delhi international market. eye contact with people or even 140 and then 280 (characters). I Marathi TV show called me a Instagram and YouTube are spoke much,” Verma said. think TikTok did it with 15 sec- star...I can’t tell you how happy for “the big people”, Verma told Speaking a vast number of onds,” he added. I felt,” she told AFP. hen India banned AFP by phone, but TikTok she languages and dialects, around And it reminded the urban “I only studied until Class 9. TikTok, it closed a liked. 70% of India’s 1.3bn people live elite of India’s vast diversity and I’m not a big person.” Wwindow to the wider She started to record and up- in rural areas, a world away from chasmic diff erences in wealth. Bhandole said she wept when world for legions of women out- load videos of her own. big cities such as Mumbai and “What we, people sitting in TikTok was banned. side the big cities that provided “I started with fi ve likes on my New Delhi. Delhi, probably judged and made Archana Arvind Dhormise fun, fame and even fortune. fi rst video. That was a big boost Amitabh Kumar from Social fun of was high-class entertain- hopes the benefi ts she derived The government outlawed the for me,” Verma said. Media Matters, a group encour- ment for a lot of people who nev- from the platform will last. video-sharing platform, and 58 Soon, she had more than a aging “social media for social er got a chance to express them- The 35-year-old from Pim- other Chinese apps, this month million followers and was earn- change”, said that for many peo- selves,” he said. palgaon in Maharashtra seldom citing data security fears. ing about Rs4,000 per video ple in this huge hinterland, Tik- “Here was for the fi rst time a left home for fear of censure TikTok is also reportedly un- with her slick robot dance rou- Tok was a “glass ceiling breaker”. space that rural India was enjoy- from her conservative family and der greater scrutiny elsewhere tines shot inside her small, sim- “Instead of Bollywood and ing.” neighbours. including in the United States ple home. rich people, fi nally there was a Another minor star was Rupali But then the home beautician In this file photo taken on June 30, mobile users browse through and Australia. “It’s not a lot but my earnings chance for common people to Manoj Bhandole, 29, a housewife became the “Rani Mukherji of TikTok app on smartphones in Amritsar. When India banned TikTok Married soon after she com- from TikTok helped in running create something in 15 seconds and mother who left school at 14 TikTok” - a reference to the Bol- in June 2020, it closed a window to the wider world for legions of pleted college, 27-year-old stay- the house and also in manag- which makes you laugh or cry or living in a small town in Mahar- lywood actress - dancing and women outside the big cities that provided fun, fame and even at-home mother Mamta Verma ing fi nances for the new house. think or engage,” he told AFP. ashtra that gets piped water for miming to famous songs, and fortune. lives in a small town in Madhya You know even Rs10 is a huge Its diff erent tools were simple an hour a day and endures fre- gaining 75,000 fans. Pradesh. amount for us,” she said. to use for those who don’t speak quent power cuts. She won a local competition up on stage and spoken or even “But being on TikTok and see- One day, her daughter got her But it wasn’t just the money. or read English or Hindi, and the She would upload videos of for one of her TikTok videos. initiated a conversation with- ing all the love I was getting gave to install TikTok on her phone to “Before TikTok, I didn’t have app worked well on low-speed herself poking fun at her weak Now she has landed a part in a out having a million thoughts me the confi dence to keep that watch the dizzying array of zany the confi dence to talk to people. Internet. economic status - and soon short fi lm. in my head,” Dhormise told going, and also be confi dent in videos uploaded from across I would just do my work, and as a “Twitter cracked the short- amassed 300,000 followers. “I had never in my life gone AFP. the real world.” Gulf Times Thursday, July 23, 2020 15 LATIN AMERICA Nine soldiers killed in Colombia helicopter crash

AFP “Unfortunately, we have The military did not say if the rated by the military high com- arms in the historic 2016 peace for cocaine. that 219 ex-fi ghters have been Bogota found the bodies of nine of our helicopter crashed or was shot mand. deal that ended a half century The banks of the Inirida river murdered since the peace deal personnel,” a military spokes- down. President Ivan Duque lament- of confl ict and turned the guer- are in a strategic zone for the was signed. person said on Twitter. Neither did it say anything ed on Twitter what he described rillas into a communist political drug-traffi cking trade where Despite Farc laying down its he Colombian army said The army said the helicopter about the other two soldiers who as “an accident,” and said the party. one of the most powerful crimi- arms, a multi-faceted confl ict nine soldiers were killed was taking part in an operation had been aboard the helicopter. soldiers aboard the helicopter There are, however, some nal groups to emerge from Farc continues to rage. Tand six wounded after a against dissidents in an area The armed forces’ top com- were supporting “operations 2,300 dissident guerrilla fi ght- dissidents, led by Gentil Duarte, Alongside Farc dissidents, an- military helicopter went down where there are drug planta- mander, General Luis Fernando against illegals.” ers, according to military intel- operates. other left-wing guerrilla group, in the country’s southeast dur- tions. Navarro has travelled to a mili- According to the army, the ligence estimates, who survive Duarte originally took part the National Liberation Army ing an operation against guer- The army’s air assault division tary base nearby to direct the helicopter was supporting a thanks to drug traffi cking, illegal in peace talks but fi nally opted (ELN), right-wing paramili- rillas. said in a statement it was “on “manoeuvres aimed at recover- military sweep against Farc dis- mining and an extensive support to continue the guerrilla strug- taries and drug-traffi ckers con- The Black Hawk helicop- site beginning the correspond- ing the missing.” sidents — leftist guerrillas who network. gle and is trying to unite other tinue to battle each other and ter went down with 17 people ing investigations to determine Defence Minister Carlos Hol- refused to sign the peace deal The area is also known for groups that broke away from the the Colombian army. aboard on a stretch of the Inirida the circumstances regarding the mes Trujillo referred to the inci- their comrades reached with the growing drug crops. Colombia Farc peace movement. The more than half century River, in the country’s south- time, manner and place that the dent as a “plane crash” but that government in 2016. is the world’s top producer of Peace has not been easy with confl ict has left 9mn people eastern Guaviare jungle region. events occurred.” version has not been corrobo- Farc rebels laid down their coca leaves, the source plant the former rebels complaining dead, missing or displaced. Lawsuit in UK Tough times over Brazil dam failure pointless, claims BHP

Reuters repeatedly increased by raising London its height — and disregarded cracks that were early signs of rupture. nglo-Australian miner Many claimants are seeking BHP has dismissed as compensation for physical and Apointless and waste- psychological injury, property ful a £5bn English lawsuit by damage, moving costs, loss of 200,000 Brazilian people and earnings, loss of water supply groups over the 2015 collapse of and lost fishing income. a dam that led to Brazil’s worst BHP said the Renova Founda- environmental disaster. tion, a redress scheme set up in Kicking off an eight-day 2016 by its Brazilian division, hearing in Manchester, north- Samarco and Vale, has spent ern England, BHP yesterday more than £1.3bn on projects, called for the record group ac- such as monthly financial aid tion to be struck out or sus- to about 130 indigenous Krenak pended, alleging it duplicated families, rebuilding three vil- Brazilian proceedings and vic- lages and establishing alterna- tims were already receiving re- tive water supply systems. dress. It also alleged almost People wait to pawn their jewellery at the not-for-profit institution and pawnshop Nacional Monte de Piedad in downtown Mexico City. Unemployed by the pandemic, “These applications are... 100,000 of the claimants have some Mexicans have no choice but to temporarily get rid of some gold jewellery to get some money. brought because the attempt to already received payments from export and duplicate the work Renova and only 58 of the in- being done in Brazil, includ- dividuals, businesses, munici- ing the litigation, to England, palities, churches, utility com- is pointless and wasteful,” BHP panies and indigenous people said in legal documents. bringing the claim in England “It has no proper purpose or are not part of rival class ac- utility and will, if allowed to tions in Brazil. continue, inflict an astonishing Claimants allege it is wrong burden on the court...and these to suggest victims are entitled Argentina’s $65bn debt deal parties — without any tangible to full redress in Brazil because benefit to the claimants.” Renova lacks independence and The hearing will establish its compensation scheme is whether the case can be tried slow, bureaucratic, inadequate in England, although the judge and has not properly involved is expected to reserve judgment victims in decision-making. inches closer despite standoff until around September. They allege BHP is responsible If successful, further trials for the dam’s collapse, liable for Reuters made in early July. lated the creditors’ new proposal make after slipping into default gentina was in intensive care and are expected to determine li- its “catastrophic consequences” Buenos Aires/London/New York The new proposal closed the was valued at around 55.8 points in May. with an automatic respirator. ability and quantify damages. under Brazilian law but that vic- gap between two sides’ propos- at a 10% exit yield, versus 52.4 “I trust that the creditors un- And then the pandemic came The collapse of the Fundao tims have no prospect of proper als to within around 3 cents on points for the government’s of- derstand that we are making and the respirator was gone. So tailings dam, which stored compensation in Brazil within rgentina and its creditors the dollar in terms of valua- fer, and that the two sides were a huge eff ort with the off er we now we face the situation that we mining waste and is owned by any reasonable timeframe. are likely to fi nd a way to tion, which most said should be “inching closer” to an deal even if made and that it is the most we face,” he said. the Samarco joint venture be- Samarco, Vale and BHP Brasil Aseal a $65bn debt restruc- bridged in last-ditch talks. more talks were needed. can do,” Fernandez said during a Citi analysts said that the gov- tween BHP and Brazilian iron face a raft of lawsuits in Brazil turing deal, analysts said, despite The two sides are currently Argentine over-the-counter video conference hosted by the ernment’s position may soften in ore mining giant Vale, killed 19 over the disaster, including a a standoff after bondholders working toward an August 4 deal bonds rose 0.6% on average on Americas Society/Council of the coming weeks and that the new and poured roughly 40mn cu- 155bn reais ($29bn) class action joined forces to reject a govern- deadline. Tuesday after having edged down Americas. counterproposal was a “step in bic metres of mining waste into filed by Brazil’s federal pros- ment proposal and put forward “We expect that negotia- on Monday. He added it was impossible to bringing together the two posi- communities, the Rio Doce riv- ecutors which, it alleges, over- one of their own. tions in coming weeks should Argentina’s President Al- do more with poverty levels at tions.” er and Atlantic Ocean, 650km laps “almost entirely” with the Three major creditor groups on ultimately lead to an agreement, berto Fernandez and Economy 40%, adding his government had “The authorities have stated away. English case. Monday unveiled a joint coun- given the authorities’ appetite to Minister Martin Guzman, who inherited a country already in a that the amended proposal pre- Claimants allege BHP, the The Brazilian class action has teroff er, the fi rst time the trio avoid a chaotic default that would has led the negotiations, have “very complex situation” of re- sented in early July will not be world’s largest miner by mar- been suspended, although the had unifi ed, lowering their de- put the economy in further pain,” maintained that the government cession and unsustainable debt. modifi ed, but we believe this is ket value, ignored safety warn- parties plan to negotiate a set- mands but hardening opposition Morgan Stanley said in a note. off er was the maximum eff ort “When we came into govern- mostly a negotiation tactic,” the ings as the dam’s capacity was tlement by 2022 at the latest. to a “fi nal” off er the government The investment bank calcu- the recession-hit country could ment in December, it’s like Ar- bank added.

Chinese Covid-19 vaccine Bolsonaro again tests starts fi nal tests in Brazil positive for Covid-19 Reuters 2mn doses of the medication in Brasilia response to Brazil’s request for AFP three months under the study. It has a similar deal to produce aid. Brasília Sao Paulo governor Joao Doria that vaccine domestically if it is Arguments over the cost of said on Monday initial results were successful in tests, which are also razilian President Jair Bol- dividing, repackaging and dis- expected within 90 days. being carried out in Britain and sonaro has had another tributing the tablets have left the Chinese-made vaccine Sinovac is partnering with a South Africa. Bpositive result for the nov- medicine sitting in storage at a against the new corona- Brazilian public health research Brazilian health regulators an- el coronavirus in the third test he Sao Paulo airport since it arrived Avirus has entered the fi nal centre, the Butantan Institute, on nounced on Monday they have has taken since falling ill on July in mid-June, the sources said, stage of testing in Brazil, where the trials. also authorised Phase 1, 2 and 3 7, a secretariat of the communi- requesting anonymity to discuss volunteers received the fi rst doses If the vaccine proves safe and trials of two more vaccines, devel- cations ministry said yesterday. sensitive talks. of what offi cials hope will be a eff ective, the institute will have oped by US fi rm Pfi zer and Ger- “The test carried out on the Bolsonaro’s administration game-changer in the global pan- the right to produce 120mn doses many’s BioNTech. president on Tuesday showed a expects state governments to demic. under the deal, according to of- “We are proud to have Brazil- positive result,” a statement said. handle the distribution costs, but The vaccine, developed by pri- fi cials. ian volunteers participating in this “President Bolsonaro is still in many governors have disputed vate Chinese pharmaceutical fi rm Brazil is the second-hardest-hit global eff ort, which could play a good condition, accompanied by his claims about hydroxychlo- Sinovac Biotech, became the third country in the coronavirus pan- critical role in the fi ght against the presidency’s medical team,” roquine and are refusing to pay, in the world to enter phase 3 clini- demic, after the US. Its death toll Covid-19,” said Edson Moreira, it added. according to the sources. cal trials, or large-scale testing surpassed 80,000 Monday, and it who will lead the Pfi zer/BioN- Meanwhile, Brazil’s federal A meeting aimed at resolv- on humans — the last step before has registered 2.1mn infections. Tech trial, according to a company and state governments are in a ing the issue is set for next week regulatory approval. Because the virus is still spread- statement. Researchers worldwide political tug-of-war over the between Brazil’s health ministry, “We’re living in unique and his- ing quickly in the South American are racing to develop and test a Trump administration’s dona- state health secretaries and mu- toric times, and that’s why I want- country, it is seen as an ideal test- vaccine for the virus. tion of the drug hydroxychloro- nicipal representatives, they said. ed to be part of this trial,” said the ing ground for vaccine candidates. Studies published on Monday in quine, an unproven treatment The health ministry said under 27-year-old doctor who received The country is also scrambling British medical journal The Lan- for Covid-19, two people with its guidelines for the use of hy- the fi rst dose at the Clinical Hos- to secure supplies of potential vac- cet found two vaccine candidates knowledge of the matter said. droxychloroquine that the drug, pital of Sao Paulo. cines, in case they are proven suc- were safe and produced an im- Bolsonaro has strongly ad- currently in packages of 100 tab- Her name was withheld for con- cessful. mune response in Phase 2 trials: vocated the use of the hydroxy- lets, should be distributed to pa- fi dentiality. Brazil is also helping carry out the Oxford vaccine and another chloroquine for early treatment tients in packages of 12. Around 9,000 health workers phase 3 testing of another experi- Chinese-made vaccine, developed of the coronavirus, echoing US The ministry said it is consult- across six Brazilian states will re- mental vaccine, developed by Ox- by pharmaceutical fi rm CanSino One of Brazil’s leading indigenous chiefs, Aritana Yawalapiti, President Donald Trump. ing with health regulator Anvisa ceive the vaccine, known as Coro- ford University and pharmaceuti- Biologics and the Beijing Institute suff ering from Covid-19, arrives at Sao Francisco de Assis hospital The US government an- and offi cial laboratories on the naVac, in two doses over the next cal fi rm AstraZeneca. of Biotechnology. after being transferred from Canarana to Goiania, Brazil, yesterday. nounced in May it would send matter. Gulf Times 16 Thursday, July 23, 2020 PAKISTAN

PEOPLE POLITICS CO-OPERATION CRIME PROPOSAL Khan 9th most-followed PPP leaders ‘doubt EU keen to invest in Police register case against Need to lift investments world leader on Twitter PML-N trustworthiness’ Pakistan’s green sector man for assaulting mother in Balochistan stressed

Prime Minister Imran Khan has emerged as the The reluctance of PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif to The European Union has expressed the desire Police yesterday registered a case against Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan ninth most-followed world leader on Twitter, a attend the proposed post-Eid multi-party conference to contribute to Pakistan’s green sector through a man and his wife for thrashing his mother has stressed the need for devising a strong study by Twiplomacy indicated, with the premier (MPC) has not been well received by the host, enhanced investment. The desire was expressed severely after a video of the incident went and integrated strategy to take advantage registering a 22% growth in the number of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). The party leaders claim during a meeting between European Union’s viral. Arsalan’s mother woman said her son of existing investment opportunities in the followers. The study monitored the activity on the PML-N always tricks its allies and is a hurdle in delegation to Pakistan and the adviser to the and daughter-in-law fought with her every province. Chairing a meeting of the board various world leaders’ Twitter accounts, as well the alliance of the opposition. Led by former senator prime minister on climate change, Malik Amin day. Police confirmed that Arsalan had fled of directors of the Balochistan Board of as their followers, content, tweets during the Aitzaz Ahsan, these leaders have urged Bilawal Aslam, in Islamabad. Both sides discussed at length with his wife after assaulting his mother. The Investment and Trade in Quetta, he instructed coronavirus pandemic, and reach, among other Bhutto-Zardari to proceed with caution while dealing various matters of bilateral collaboration in green police said the suspect would be arrested soon the constitution of a sub-committee for factors. It was conducted by communications with the N-League and “do politics independently economic recovery through investment and green and will face charges. A video which went viral promotion of investment in the province. agency Burson Cohn and Wolfe (BCW) Worldwide. instead of entering into alliance in Punjab”, it has job creations. They also discussed environmental on social media showed Arsalan beating his During the meeting, it was decided that The most followed world leader was US President been learnt. A PML-N delegation had called on sustainability, climate change, forest management, mother while his wife stood in the background, investments will be promoted on a joint venture Donald Trump. Separately, the second most- Bhutto a day ago to discuss political co-operation air pollution and water conservation. The EU encouraging him. The woman can be seen basis in coastal areas, minerals, livestock, followed foreign minister from across the world and the MPC the PPP had been delaying for the last delegation lauded the PTI government’s Green and pleading with her son repeatedly to stop but special economic zones, border trade markets is Pakistan’s Shah Mehmood Qureshi. couple of weeks for want of Sharif’s availability. Clean Pakistan Initiatives. he continued to hit her. and real estate sectors of the province.

TikTok Passion for cricket assures Court seeks govt in row over content police report

Internews Islamabad in journalist day after the government issued a stern warning to ATikTok over the upload- ing of “obscene” content, the Chinese mobile app yesterday said “maintaining a safe and positive in-app environment” kidnap case was its topmost priority. In a statement the spokes- Internews rounded Jan’s car had police the case, termed the incident as person said: “We deploy a com- Islamabad headlights as well. “alarming”, adding that such an bination of technologies, and “What impression will the pub- act “cannot be tolerated”. moderation strategies to detect lic get on seeing people roaming “It is our misfortune that such and review problematic content hile hearing a suo around freely in police uniforms,” an event happened in Islama- that violates our terms of use motu contempt case he said, adding the episode was bad,” he lamented, adding the and comprehensive community Wagainst Matiullah Jan, meant to “scare others”. federal government should “en- guidelines, and implement ap- the Supreme Court yesterday The chief justice added that sure the freedom of expression”. propriate penalties including took notice of the journalist’s because the footage showed men DIG (operation) Syed told the removing videos and banning abduction and directed the Is- in police uniforms, Jan’s abduc- court that charges have been accounts.” lamabad inspector general of tion would be a “test case” for lodged, at which the chief jus- In a statement TikTok said it police to submit a report on the the police. tice asked why clauses related to had removed 3,728,162 user vid- incident in two weeks. “If there is no rule of law, there terrorism had not been added. eos from Pakistan between July 1 A three-member bench, head- will be nothing here except cha- “Terror clauses are included in to December 31, 2019, that were ed by the chief justice of Pakistan, os,” justice Minallah observed. (the case) any crime is commit- in violation of regulations. Gulzar Ahmed, and comprising Jan was abducted from outside ted against a journalist,” he said. The platform said the app of- justice Mushir Alam and justice the Government Girls School in The IHC journalists associa- fers users a number of controls, Ijazul Ahsan, is hearing a suo Islamabad’s sector G-6/1-3, by tion thanked the high court for tools and privacy settings to re- motu case pertaining to alleged unidentifi ed persons on Tuesday. hearing the petition. port inappropriate content. contemptuous tweets by Jan. After an outcry by the media, A written verdict is yet to be “Based on our fi rst-half 2019 At the outset of the hearing, rights activists and politicians, issued. data (July 1-December 31, 2019) the bench inquired about Jan’s he returned home 12 hours after Jan was kidnapped by nearly from our Transparency Re- abduction from Islamabad’s being abducted. half a dozen plainclothes and port, our moderation system sector G-6/1-3 on Tuesday. While he was missing, his uniformed men from outside proactively caught and removed The chief justice wondered brother Shahid Akbar Abbasi a government school in broad 98.2% of videos before a user why the police had not yet re- lodged a fi rst information report daylight in the federal capital. reported them; of the total vid- corded the journalist’s state- against unidentifi ed persons The journalist has been in the eos removed, 89.4% were taken ment, stating “what are the under Section 365 of the Paki- limelight due to the contempt down before these videos re- institutions doing?” He then stan Penal Code and also fi led a proceeding against him in the ceived any views.” summoned the Islamabad IGP to habeas corpus petition through Supreme Court for his alleged TikTok also stated it is in- appear at the next hearing. barrister Jahangir Khan Jadoon ‘contemptuous’ tweet regarding creasing dialogue with the au- Meanwhile, the Islamabad before the IHC. the Justice Isa case decision. thorities to ensure its policies High Court (IHC) yesterday The IHC had accepted the peti- CCTV footage of the abduc- regarding user security trickles wrapped up a habeas corpus pe- tion “keeping in view the gravity tion shows that it was around down easily to consumers. tition pertaining to the abduc- of the matter and its implication 11.10am when men in uniform Earlier, the government also tion of journalist Jan and raised in the context of constitutionally and plainclothes forcibly re- blocked live-streaming appli- concern while observing that the guaranteed rights of the citizen” moved Jan from his car and cation Bigo over complaints of act was seemingly carried out by and had directed the interior sec- thrashed him in front of the “immoral, obscene and vulgar people in police uniforms. retary, chief commissioner and Government Girls School, where content” and “extremely nega- IHC chief justice Athar Mi- inspector general of Islamabad his wife works as a teacher. tive eff ects”. nallah noted that CCTV footage, to trace the ‘missing’ journalist In the footage which later In a press release issued on which allegedly captured the kid- within 24 hours or face action. went viral the journalist was Tuesday, the PTA said it had re- napping of the journalist, showed During yesterday’s hear- manhandled by the men before ceived a “number of complaints those who picked ‘kidnapped’ Jan ing, a representative of the in- being dragged towards their from diff erent segments of so- were in police uniforms. terior ministry and the deputy vehicles. Jan threw his mobile ciety against immoral, obscene “Someone has the nerve to do inspector general (operations) phone into the school during the and vulgar content on social People watch a game of cricket in an open space with the Karachi financial district’s such a thing in police uniforms,” Waqaruddin Syed appeared be- incident and a uniformed man media applications particularly buildings in the background. justice Minallah remarked, add- fore the court. immediately collected it from a TikTok and Bigo”. ing that vehicles that had sur- Justice Minallah, who heard woman at the school.

Cabinet defers proposal Balochistan virus to hike TV licence fee deaths ‘could be more’ Internews “probable deaths” from the dis- Quetta ease. Internews He said the cabinet discussed its equipment and cameras are Balochistan is the only prov- Islamabad in detail the reasons behind the outdated with no production ince in Pakistan that also lists proposal to increase TV licence (programmes) taking place,” he onfusion persists in the down “probable” fatalities from fee. added. Pakistani province of the virus separately in its offi cial he cabinet has deferred The meeting was apprised Faraz said when the gov- CBalochistan over the daily situation reports. the proposed increase of the dismal state of Pakistan ernment took up the issues of number of overall deaths from Offi cials told Geo.tv, on condi- Tin television licence Television (PTV), which was sugar scam, fake degrees of PIA coronavirus, as health offi cials tion of anonymity that they most- fee charged from the coun- on the brink of collapse due to pilots and assets of the prime say that the death toll could be ly receive mortality data from only try’s electricity consumers and faulty policies of the previous minister’s advisers and special much higher than that offi cially four hospitals in Quetta. also approved amendments to governments and overstaffi ng assistants, the opposition, in- recorded. Collecting information about money laundering and terror fi - without merit, he added. stead of appreciating the gov- According to government fi g- deaths at home and at hospitals nancing acts as well as the Code “Once PTV, Pakistan Steel ernment, started criticising it. ures, as of July 22, 135 people in areas in the other 32 districts of Criminal Procedure 1898 Mills and Pakistan International Speaking about the oppo- have died in Balochistan after was diffi cult due to lack of com- to meet Financial Action Task Airlines (PIA) were our pride, sition’s plan to call a multi- contracting the deadly virus, munication and distances in Force (FATF) requirements. but due to corruption and faulty party conference of opposition while 11,469 are infected. Pakistan’s poorest and most un- The cabinet, which met with policies of the former rulers, parties after Eid al-Adha, the But this number, 135, is mostly derdeveloped province. Prime Minister Imran Khan in these entities are on the verge of minister said: “They (opposi- gathered from only four hospi- Since July 7, the offi cial death the chair, also lauded the gov- disaster,” Faraz said. tion leaders) are worried about tals in Quetta, the capital of Ba- toll from 32 districts of the prov- ernment’s decision to make pub- “The (previous rulers) de- their corruption cases, which lochistan, health experts in the ince has remained stagnant at lic assets by advisers and special stroyed institutions, earned was why they are holding the province revealed. 94. assistants to the prime minister money and made political in- conference.” The hospitals are Sheikh Zayed This could mean, health ex- and stressed the need to ensure ductions in these institutions The cabinet approved pro- Hospital, the Bolan Medical Com- perts added that the actual uninterrupted supply of wheat/ in violation of merit,” the min- posed amendments to the plex Hospital, Civil Hospital, and number of those killed by the ill- fl our and stability in prices. ister said, adding it was the PTI Anti-Money Laundering Act, the Fatima Jinnah Hospital. ness could be much higher than “Today the proposal to in- government which had held 2010, Anti-Terrorism Act, 1992 “As per our internal tally, 225 the offi cial tally. crease TV fee from Rs35 to them accountable for their and Code of Criminal Proce- people have succumbed to the “There is no way to gather re- Rs100 was placed before the misdeeds. dure, 1898. “The cabinet ap- deadly infection in all 33 districts liable data about how many peo- cabinet which was deferred,” He said PTV’s restructuring proved amendments to these of the province,” Dr Wasim Baig, ple have been infected or how Minister for Information and required ample funds which laws to meet FATF require- Salon workers yesterday demanded the reopening of their business the spokesperson for the direc- many died from the virus across Broadcasting, Shibli Faraz, said was why an increase in TV li- ments regarding money laun- after the provincial government extended the ban on beauty parlors torate of director-general health, Balochistan,” a senior doctor during his press conference af- cence fee was recommended. dering and terror fi nancing,” as a precautionary measures to stem the spread of coronavirus in told Geo.tv. told local media, on the condi- ter the cabinet meeting. “PTV will be restructured as Shibli Faraz said. Karachi His data also includes 90 tion of anonymity. Gulf Times Thursday, July 23, 2020 17 PHILIPPINES

FDA warns against Duterte-critic journalist face masks with valves pleads not guilty in tax case By Red Mendoza Manila Times AFP But the pleas have fallen on Manila deaf ears. Earlier this month Duterte, he Food and Drug Ad- who has a history of clashing ministration (FDA) has mbattled Philippine jour- with media outlets critical of Twarned the public against nalist Maria Ressa plead- his administration, called Ressa the use of face masks with Eed not guilty yesterday to a “fraud”. He recently signed valves, saying the wearer can in- tax evasion, as President Rod- an anti-terrorism law that fect other people with the coro- rigo Duterte’s government faced many fear will be used to si- navirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) growing calls to drop all charges lence dissent and threaten press because of the mask’s design. against the veteran reporter. freedoms. It comes as the coun- FDA Director-General Ro- Ressa, 56, and her news site try’s top broadcaster ABS-CBN lando Enrique Domingo said Rappler, have been the target of prepares to lay off thousands of fac emasks with valves, or valve a series of criminal charges and workers after it was forced off masks, were designed with a probes after publishing stories the air over a stalled renewal of one-way valve that allows ex- critical of Duterte’s policies — its operating licence. haled air to pass through a small including his drug war that has A lower house committee has round or square fi lter disc at- killed thousands. since rejected its application for tached to the front piece. The award-winning former another 25-year franchise. “The presence of valves may CNN journalist is on bail pend- Ressa, who Time magazine cause a potential source of leak- ing an appeal against a cyber named as a Person of the Year in age permitting air to fl ow out of libel conviction last month for 2018, warned the broadcaster’s the respirator face piece,” Do- which she faces up to six years experience was a “cautionary mingo said. in jail. Ex-Rappler journalist tale” for the rest of media. Valve masks were designed for Reynaldo Santos was also found Duterte’s spokesman, Harry one-way protection, that is, the guilty in that case. Roque, accused Ressa of “play- wearer of the mask is the only In a video on Twitter after the ing the victim” and insisted the one protected. If the wearer is hearing, Ressa said she pleaded administration was not involved infected, he or she can spread not guilty to tax evasion — one in the decision on ABS-CBN’s the contagion to other people of fi ve tax-related charges she licence. through the valve in the mask. faces — in the capital Manila. “The press can keep on re- “The presence of valves may Her application to quash the porting as long as there is no cause a potential source of leak- charge was rejected by the judge violation and has the right to age permitting air to fl ow out of and Rappler was added to the continue its operations,” Roque the respirator. Though the valve charge sheet, she said. said. mask allows easier breathing, Ressa, who is also a US citi- Rappler CEO and Executive Editor Maria Ressa leaves a regional trial court after pleading not guilty to tax evasion charges, in Pasig City, The charges against her and this does not provide the needed zen, is accused of providing in- Metro Manila, yesterday. Rappler were “politically mo- barrier protection,” Domingo correct information for a com- tivated”, Ressa told journalists said. pany tax return involving nearly on Twitter selfi es of herself and Fellow alumni, teachers and Ressa, Santos and Rappler. “To do otherwise would at the company’s headquarters The FDA also prohibits the use 300,000 pesos ($6,000) in 2015, her lawyer, both wearing face staff from Princeton University “Presidents throughout the only diminish America’s role after the hearing. of the mask in healthcare set- Rappler reported. masks and shields, at the court. took out a full-page advert in The history of the United States as a leader of the democratic “It is meant to harass and tings such as hospitals, clinics “We’ll fi ght every step of the Rights groups and press ad- Washington Post on Tuesday have used their leverage against world.” intimidate, it is meant to be a and other medical facilities as way because we will hold the vocates say the charges against calling for US President Don- authoritarian governments that An online petition launched war of attrition to try to make well as in enclosed community line,” Ressa said defi antly in the Ressa and Rappler, and a gov- ald Trump’s administration to violate the rights of US citizens by international press groups in us afraid to keep reporting,” she settings under enclosed settings video. ernment move to strip the news “exercise its infl uence” to con- abroad; the current administra- support of Ressa and Philippine said. such as malls, restaurants and “I’m not going to voluntarily site of its licence, amount to vince the Duterte government tion should do the same,” the media has received more than “And the best response to it is hotels. give up my rights.” Ressa posted state harassment. to drop all the charges against letter said. 10,000 signatures so far. to keep reporting.” Govt warns of more arrests for Anti-graft watchdog seeks failing to follow mask rules proof of inmates’ deaths By Catherine S Valente He said only the ashes were has denied conspiracy theories Manila Times given to the inmates’ families. that emerged after the death of DPA The Department of Health Justice Secretary Menardo 21 inmates due to Covid-19. Manila reported yesterday 1,594 addi- Guevarra has ordered the Na- “These public offi cials are tional Covid-19 cases, bringing he Volunteers Against tional Bureau of Investigation making these accusations. the national tally to 72,269. Crime and Corruption (NBI) to look into the reported They should not plant seeds of hilippine authorities yes- The death toll was 1,843, with T(VACC) wants proof of deaths of nine drug lords in doubt. This is not a usual case,” terday warned more peo- six more deaths reported, the the demise and cremation of NBP, including that of Jaybee Bantag said. Pple would be arrested for department said. New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in- Nino Sebastian. “They should trust the peo- failing to wear masks in public Health Undersecretary Maria mates, a number of them con- Sebastian was one of the ple in government,” he added. and could face up to 30 days Rosario Vergeire reminded the victed drug lords. convicts who linked Sena- He challenged those making in prison, as the government public that not all masks are re- VACC founding chairman tor Leila de Lima, detained for accusations to present proof of stepped up enforcement of anti- usable, after Duterte said that Dante Jimenez raised doubts three years now, to the illegal switching or evidence that in- coronavirus restrictions. people can just wash their masks on the reported death of high- drug trade in the national peni- mates were released under the “We will apprehend more peo- with disinfectant. profi le inmates after the Bureau tentiary when she was Justice guise of death. ple now,” Interior Undersecretary Surgical masks and N95 of Corrections (BuCor) de- secretary. “Until they provide proof, Jonathan Malaya said. “Let this masks are for single use only, clined to name those who died Jimenez said he welcomed they should avoid making such be a warning to all, please listen Passengers wearing facemasks for protection against the she said, adding, “You cannot of the coronavirus disease 2019 Guevarra’s move. accusations,” Bantag said. and follow the protocols.” coronavirus disease (Covid-19) maintain social distancing while wash them because if you do, (Covid-19). “I am happy that the Secre- The Department of Justice Violators of quarantine pro- riding on a train in Quezon City, Metro Manila. its filtering mechanism will be “They should not deprive tary of Justice has acted with has refuted Bantag’s claim that tocols will also face a fi ne of up destroyed. us of information about those dispatch to direct the NBI to the identities of inmates who to 5,000 pesos ($100), Interior National police spokesman On Tuesday, Duterte called The fi ltering eff ect will be inmates who died of Covid-19. conduct an impartial investi- died due to Covid-19 could not Secretary Eduardo Ano said after Bernard Banac said that while on police and local government gone and they will no longer be It shouldn’t be like that…be- gation on what happened to the be disclosed on the basis of the meeting with local government most Filipinos already wear face offi cials to be more strict in en- eff ective in filtering viruses.” cause it is really an injustice to deaths of convicted felons at Data Privacy Act. offi cials to discuss standard pen- masks when going outside, some forcing regulations. Vergeire said Duterte must us, unfair to victims of heinous the Bureau of Corrections due Guevarra said convicts like alties. still do not follow the protocol, “Under ordinary times, a have also been joking when he crimes,” Jimenez said in a radio to Covid-19,” Jimenez told The Sebastian could not be covered “There will be a uniform im- while others do not wear them simple violation of not wear- advised Filipinos to use gasoline interview. Manila Times. by the law. plementation of health stand- properly. ing masks seems to be trivi- for disinfection. Jimenez, an anti-crime ad- “The VACC is aware of the “As to the eight others who ards...(and) number of days in People are allowed to briefl y al,” he said in a meeting with “If you don’t have (Lysol), vocate and chairman of the protocols on the proper imple- were already serving sentences prison if you violate and don’t take off their masks to eat or an inter-agency task force on just soak it in gasoline or diesel,” Presidential Anti-Corruption mentation of the fi ght against for drug off ences at the time of wear a mask,” he said. “We sug- drink, “but if they are unable to Covid-19.”But during times of Duterte said at a televised meet- Commission, said the process Covid-19 and that transpar- their death, it may be prudent gest 10 to 30 days, for physical show their masks when inspect- health issues, you can (make ar- ing on Tuesday. 7If you want to of the cremation was not trans- ency is a must for BuCor to fol- to await the results of the NBI distancing also 10 to 30 days im- ed, they will be arrested,” he told rests) because it can be a serious disinfect, look for gasoline. Soak parent because there were no low,” he added. investigation,” he said in a text prisonment.” Manila radio station DZMM. crime.” your hand in there. Just don’t do witnesses. BuCor chief Gerald Bantag message to reporters.

Terrorist linked to bombing killed

Presidential approval for limited ‘offl ine’ classes Security forces shot dead a suspected Filipino terrorist linked to a bombing in General Santos City in 2018 that left at least seven By Catherine S Valente health requirements of the De- studies of the students,” Bri- private and public schools, low- Manila Times partment of Health.” ones said. Duterte admitted that er than the 27.7mn in 2019. people wounded, Manila Times “And if there is face-to-face, the education sector was one of Public and private schools reported. Police said Ben Usman, it will not be for the entire fi ve the sectors the government was groups expressed mixed reac- a brother of terrorist leader Abdul resident Rodrigo Duterte days of the school week. It could most concerned about in light tions to the president’s deci- Basit Usman, was killed after he has approved the pro- only be one day or two days and of the health crisis. sion. exchanged gunfire with police Pposal of the Department the sessions could be limited to Health Secretary Francisco The Alliance of Concerned commandos and soldiers who of Education (DepEd) to allow the most important things that Duque 3rd earlier endorsed Teachers (ACT) Philippines de- were trying to arrest him in South face-to-face classes (offl ine) in a child should learn,” she added. the holding of limited physical manded that the government Cotabato’s Polomolok town. The areas classifi ed as low-risk for Briones said physical classes classes in areas under modifi ed employ “comprehensive health security forces tracked down the coronavirus disease 2019 would be held only if schools general community quarantine, measures” instead of risking Usman’s hideout over the week- (Covid-19). would allow it, if school fa- citing the slow doubling rate, young learners’ safety. end in the village of Lapu after Duterte gave the green light cilities were in a good state; if President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ low number of fresh and active “We’re only about a month intelligence reports led policemen during a meeting with the schools met minimum health Go listen as Education Secretary Leonor Briones (partially seen), Covid-19 cases, and adequate away from class opening, and and soldiers to the area. BGen. members of the Inter-Agency standards; and if the host local explains the guidelines for the conduct of ‘off line’ classes. health systems capacity in these we’re still yet to see substantial Michael John Dubria, the regional Task Force for the Management governments were ready to sup- places. budget and suffi cient meas- police chief, confirmed the killing of of Emerging Infectious Diseases port the schools fi nancially. adults. “Of the total confi rmed with the fi gures last year. The DepEd earlier sched- ures to ensure the safe return Usman. The raiders also recovered on the government’s pandemic She noted that a number of cases, for example, out of 67,456 ”We now have what I de- uled the opening of school year to schools of education workers a fragmentation grenade and a response. local governments had sent confi rmed cases, only 2,832 scribed as the phenomenon of 2020-2021 on Aug 24, 2020 and and learners,” ACT Philippines flag of the Islamic State. Usman’s Education Secretary Leonor requests to allow; the limited most of them also mild or 4% private school students migrat- the end of the school year on Secretary-General Raymond brother was also killed by the rebel Briones said physical classes face-to-face classes such as are children,” Briones said. ing to the public school. The April 30, 2021. Basilio said. group Moro Islamic Liberation would be held in areas “where Siquijor, Dinagat Islands, Siar- The DepEd chief acknowl- latest number is 347,860. And On Friday, Duterte signed Re- Teachers Dignity Coalition Front in 2015 in Maguindanao’s there is low risk assessment and gao and other areas with almost edged that the pandemic af- this is because, Mr President, public Act 11480, which allows (TDC) expressed reservations Guindulungan town, after senior where there is compliance with zero cases of Covid-19. fected families and enrolment the private schools have been the opening of classes beyond on the proposal of the DepEd American off icials sought its assist- the requirements of the Depart- The Education chief said turnout. aff ected by the downturn in the August. to allow limited face-to-face ance to capture him and members ment of Education as well as children were not as badly af- She said enrolment in private economy. Their parents who Data from DepEd showed that classes, saying it would hasten of Jemaah Islamiyah. compliance with the minimum fected by the coronavirus as schools was only 27% compared lose their jobs cannot fund the 20,744,595 learners enrolled in the spread of Covid-19. Gulf Times 18 Thursday, July 23, 2020 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Help is on the way for America’s national parks

In a rare, welcome display of bipartisanship, Congress is poised to approve the most important conservation law passed in the United States in 40 years. The legislation, known as the Great American Outdoors Act, would provide $9.5bn over the next fi ve years to repair America’s national parks. It also would provide $900mn a year in perpetuity from off shore oil drilling royalties to fund maintenance, repairs and expansion of national parks, state parks and city parks Tension, infi ghting roil White House across the nation. The bill passed the Senate 73-25 in June. Senator Mitch McConnell (Republican), and Senator Chuck Schumer (Democrat), both voted in favour. as coronavirus strategy sputters So did Senator Kamala Harris, (D), and Senator Lindsay Graham, (R). The House should approve the legislation when it votes on By Jeff Mason reopening the economy and boosting public health of the nation,” said one in the next legislative stimulus package the issue in the next week. Washington his re-election campaign. administration offi cial on the task force. to provide money for proper cleaning President Donald Trump has said he will sign it into law. Trump ended his regular coronavirus “What happened to Tony (Fauci) I don’t and barriers for teachers. briefi ngs in late April after a series even know how to characterise it other A plan for teachers over the age of 50 Chalk the compromise up to the kind of election year iff erences over how to fight of missteps including a suggestion than it’s shocking.” to give instruction online while younger politics that was once commonplace in Washington, DC. the coronavirus pandemic that injecting disinfectant might cure The coronavirus pandemic has led to teaching assistants are present with Democrats, working in tandem with environmentalists, have sparked infi ghting and Covid-19. more than 141,000 deaths in the United children is also being considered. have tried for years to lock in a guaranteed source of funding Dtension within the White But the president decided to start States, battered the economy and put a A broad strategy was not in place to deal with the national parks’ $12bn maintenance backlog. House, hampering its response as the them again after input from White spotlight on Trump’s uneven handling when Pence spoke at the Department of death toll mounts and President Donald House counsellor Kellyanne Conway, of a national crisis. Education earlier this month. The deal came about because Republicans are trying to Trump’s approval ratings fall. who noted that Trump’s approval Some in the White House, hoping to Instead he had to defend a Trump save the Senate seats held by Senator Cory Gardner, (R), Physicians on the White House ratings were higher when he was turn things around, have been pushing tweet that US Centers for Disease Senator Susan Collins, (R), and Steve Daines, (R). Coronavirus Task Force, particularly briefing the country regularly in for a more robust message on mask- Control and Prevention guidelines for Voters in those states have largely opposed eff orts its co-ordinator, Dr Deborah Birx, are the spring, and support from Jason wearing, a practice health professionals opening schools were too strict. by Trump and Republicans to roll back environmental frustrated that warnings about rising Miller, a senior aide on his re-election say would make a big diff erence in The tweet caught CDC Director protections. cases are being ignored, and dismayed campaign. stopping the spread of the virus, but Robert Redfi eld and Health and Human that Dr Anthony Fauci, the renowned The rest of the senior staff came on has been met with resistance by some Services Secretary Alex Azar off guard, Congress approved the US infectious disease expert, has been board. Americans. according to the offi cial with knowledge “Everybody $900mn annual fund in demeaned and disparaged, offi cials said. “They all agree with it now,” a White Economic adviser Larry Kudlow has of the situation. 1964 as a way to expand the Trump, who is trailing Democrat House offi cial said of the diff erences been a strong proponent of masks to The fact that a news conference was needs beauty parks system as the nation’s Joe Biden in opinion polls ahead of among Trump’s team. help prevent further economic decline held at all irked the Meadows team. population grew. the November 3 election in large Still, the doctors who have been resulting from more outbreaks, offi cials “There is a strategic disagreement places to play part because of voter dissatisfaction crafting guidance for reopening states’ said. over the eff ectiveness of having very But Congress and past with the president’s response to the economies are concerned about the Trump’s daughter Ivanka, who long national press briefi ngs around in and pray in presidents have too often coronavirus, is signalling a possible growing number of cases and some are serves as a senior adviser, and fi rst lady this,” the White House offi cial said last shifted more than half of the shift in strategy. vexed that their advice has not been Melania Trump, have also advocated week, before Trump himself said he where nature funding to other purposes. After months of reluctance to wear heeded, two offi cials said. mask-wearing. would relaunch his own briefi ngs. Trump’s budget this year, for a face covering in public, he tweeted “Birx is getting increasingly Much of the tension within the Another White House offi cial may heal and on Monday a picture of himself with a frustrated,” said an administration White House, however, boiled down described complaints from Meadows’ example, allotted only $15mn mask and said he planned to relaunch offi cial with knowledge of the situation. to diff erences between associates of team as “foolish” and said advisers such cheer and give for parks and public lands. regular briefi ngs about the pandemic. “For her to get to that point, you know Meadows and those working with as Kushner and Press Secretary Kayleigh The legislation would His fi rst is scheduled for later that’s bad.” Pence, who oversees the task force. McEnany had stopped attending task- strength to the guarantee that the money would on Tuesday, and he is expected to Birx declined to comment. Meadows’ team has been frustrated force meetings a long time ago. be used exclusively to maintain encourage mask-wearing. Asked about her concerns, a source by what it sees as a lack of action by Trump has repeatedly praised Pence’s body and soul The decision to restart briefi ngs familiar with her thinking noted she the task force, one White House offi cial leadership of the task force, and Pence’s parks and buy new park land. came after tension between Trump’s had recently travelled to Texas, New said. advisers stress that he would not do alike” The bill allocates 70% of the chief of staff , Mark Meadows, whose Mexico, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, It took outside advisers such as anything without the president’s money to national parks. team took over leadership of the West Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Meadows or Jared Kushner, Trump’s approval. The remainder would be split between the US Forest Wing in March, and others in the White South Carolina — several of which son-in-law and senior adviser, sitting Pence’s chief of staff , Marc Short, Service (15%), US Fish and Wildlife Service (5%), Bureau House, especially Vice-President Mike are coronavirus hot spots — and that in on meetings sometimes to get things said the task force was involved last Pence’s team, about the right strategy many of those states implemented done, the offi cial said. week in policy discussions about cruise of Land Management (5%) and Bureau of Indian Education for talking to the country about the recommendations she provided. The approach to school reopenings ships and additional travel advisories, schools (5%). The funding is urgently needed to improve pandemic. The doctors are also dismayed at the sparked consternation. and Pence is in regular contact with ageing roads, bridges, trails, camping facilities and lodging Meadows sought to curtail task-force treatment of Fauci, who has come under Pence’s team was asked to cancel governors in hot spots who report that in national parks. briefi ngs, which were moved off the sharp criticism from top White House a planned visit to a school while the they are well supplied with personal The National Park Service reported in 2018 that White House grounds and scheduled offi cials, including Trump, Meadows administration coalesced around a plan protective equipment. only infrequently, without participation and trade adviser Peter Navarro. to get students into school buildings, “Perhaps some of those same critics California’s nine beloved national parks need more than $1bn by the president, in an eff ort to change “We’re just trying to help. We’re the offi cial said. inside are unfamiliar with actually what’s in essential repairs, including Yosemite ($645.6mn), Sequoia the subject as Trump tried to focus on just trying to do our best for the That push is likely to include funding happening,” Short said. – Reuters and Kings Canyon ($169.9mn), Death Valley ($128.8mn), Joshua Tree ($65.9mn) Lassen ($33mn), Redwood ($23mn), Channel Islands ($11.2mn) and Pinnacles ($10mn). State and local parks would also benefi t. The Bay Area News Group’s Paul Rogers reported that in the past the money has funded state grants to build 40,000 swimming pools, soccer fi elds, baseball diamonds, playgrounds, fi shing piers, jogging trails and other projects at local parks nationwide. It was John Muir who said, “Everybody needs beauty places to play in and pray in where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul alike.” The Great American Outdoors Act is a great way for us to preserve what Wallace Stegner famously called America’s best idea. – Tribune News Service

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US President Donald Trump gestures as he takes questions during the renewed briefing of the Coronavirus Task Force in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House on © 2020 Gulf Times. All rights reserved July 21, in Washington, DC. Gulf Times Thursday, July 23, 2020 19 COMMENT Global exam grading algorithm under fi re for suspected bias

New York model considers, and how it makes university off ers contingent on certain model out of past educational data, Thomson Reuters Foundation predictions, it has the potential to scores rescinded since the fi nal exam given the inequality already baked into reproduce — or even exacerbate — results were published. the educational system. existing patterns of inequality for Many testing services have been “You have to start with the hen Colorado high school low-income and minority students, forced to change their procedures as a assumption that the algorithm is student Isabel Castaneda they say. result of the coronavirus pandemic. fl awed,” she said. checked her fi nal grades About 160,000 students take IB The College Board, the US non- “By default, it has a problem Wfor the International courses every year, including nearly profi t that runs the Advanced because the data is generated by Baccalaureate programme in July, she 90,000 in the United States — and Placement (AP) exams — which allow the discriminatory outcomes our was shocked. almost 60% of public schools that high-school students to earn credit for educational system already produces.” Despite being one of the top-ranking offer IB in the US are “Title I” some US college courses — moved the More than 20,000 students have students in her public school, she schools, with significant low-income process online. signed a petition to the IB, protesting failed a number of courses — including student populations, according to the The ACT, another exam used in US the algorithm. high-level Spanish, her native programme. college admissions, has postponed its “I think this is discrimination,” said language. “The choice to use a statistical testing. one IB teacher at a US public school, The International Baccalaureate model in place of a traditional Other tests — including a number who asked not to be named because (IB) programme — a global standard of examination warrants several of state bar exams — have also been they were not authorised to speak to educational testing that also allows US concerns,” said Esther Rolf, a PhD moved online. the press. high-school students to obtain candidate at the University of Iris Palmer, a senior advisor with “They are applying what other college credit — cancelled its exams in California-Berkeley, who studies the Education Policy programme at teachers and other groups of students May, due to the coronavirus pandemic. algorithmic fairness. New America, a Washington-based did and projecting it on to these kids.” Instead of sitting fi nal exams, which “Using historical records often think tank, said she had never heard of Grace Abuhamad, a public policy usually account for the majority leads to bias against individuals from a statistical model being used to assign advisor at the Canadian artifi cial of students’ scores, students were historical underprivileged groups.” grades. intelligence fi rm Element AI who has assigned their marks based on a IB spokesman Dan Rene shared with About 160,000 students take IB courses every year, including nearly 90,000 in “The way we use algorithms studied bias in credit score algorithms, mathematical “awarding model”, as the Thomson Reuters Foundation an the United States. in education can be especially said the IB’s decision to try to build described by the IB programme. explanation of the model which relied problematic if there is bias,” she a school’s past performance into the “I come from a low-income family on three main components. In previous years, students’ grades statement noted. said.”The results can determine the model makes some sense. — and my entire last two years were They were coursework, predictions have been generated by combining fi nal Although the IB insists its model is course of the rest of your life.” “School context could help balance driven by the goal of getting as many teachers made about how students exams graded by IB and coursework not an algorithm, experts say it is. She was particularly worried about out fraud,” she said, explaining that college credits as I could to save money would perform on the exam, and the marked by their teachers — which Joe Lumsden, secondary principal how the algorithm may have weighed certain schools could infl ate their on school,” Castaneda said in a phone “school context”, which included the IB spot-checked, according to its at Stonehill International School in the historical performance of a school students’ coursework scores or predict interview. “When I saw those scores, historical data on predicted results, website. Bangalore, India, worried that an when assigning this year’s students’ grades that were unrealistic, and that my heart sank.” and performance on past coursework Teachers also make predictions entire school’s record might not be an grades. the model needed to take that into The Covid-19 pandemic has for each subject. about their students’ fi nal grades, accurate indicator for an individual “In schools with a lot of turnover, or account. disrupted exams all over the world, and “This process was subjected to which students can use to secure student’s performance or potential. without a lot of resources, this could For Castaneda, her fi nal IB results educational institutions have adapted rigorous testing by educational provisional college admissions before “If there are bright students at really not work well,” she said. mean she will not receive the college in a range of ways, from moving tests statistic specialists,” the spokesman taking their fi nal exams. a struggling school that’s never “Students who are black or low- credits she was expecting when she online to asking students to wear said in an e-mailed statement. “School’s own record was built into performed well before, the algorithm income are probably at a disadvantage attends Colorado State University in protective gear during testing. IB also released a statistical May the model” by using “historical data could have pulled their scores down — from the algorithm,” Palmer added. the fall, which would have allowed her Relying on an algorithm to help bulletin showing that average scores in to model predicted grade accuracy, we just don’t know,” said Lumsden. Nicol Turner Lee, director of the to skip some lower-level university determine results comes with its own 2020 were in line with previous years, as well as the record of the school to Several students, as well as parents Center for Technology Innovation at classes and graduate faster. specifi c risks, researchers warn. and said it had a process to “review do better or worse on examinations and teachers, have told the Thomson the Brookings Institution think tank, “It’s going to cost me thousands of Depending on the kinds of data the extraordinary cases”. compared with coursework,” the IB’s Reuters Foundation that they have had agreed it can be hard to build a fair dollars,” she said. Is a China-US ‘rivalry partnership’ possible? Three-day forecast

TODAY from Congress. The blame game over economic headwinds for both the as is already increasingly the case Maximum Temperature : 400c By Mohamed A El-Erian Minimum Temperature : 350c Laguna Beach the pandemic serves to reinforce the US and China, its impact is likely to in technology. These countries will tougher US stance, which is unlikely be asymmetrical. Specifi cally, China have to consider the possibility that FRIDAY to change, regardless of the outcome is more vulnerable, because it still they will be asked to choose between Maximum Temperature : 390c ot a day seems to pass of this November’s presidential and needs the global economy to facilitate the two leading global powers – Minimum Temperature : 330c without further evidence congressional elections. its impressive development process. something that I suspect they would SATURDAY of the mounting economic America’s corporate sector also The issue here is not so much China’s be unwilling and unprepared to do. Maximum Temperature : 390c Ntensions between China will drive decoupling, as more short-term growth performance, Although this is the most important Minimum Temperature : 340c and the United States, the world’s US fi rms look to tilt away from given that a V-shaped recovery is foreign-policy question facing many two largest economies. This growing effi ciency and toward resilience. This already underway. Rather, economic governments, so far it has generated Fisherman's forecast antagonism will have a bigger immedi- entails “near shoring,” “reshoring,” decoupling threatens to complicate relatively little discussion. WARNING ate impact on China than on the US, or “localisation,” which implies the country’s highly challenging All these factors point to an Inshore : Strong wind expected as bilateral decoupling fuels a broader moving Western supply chains out middle-income transition, which has unusually uncertain macroeconomic by midday ongoing process of deglobalisation. of China. Some industries, such as proved to be the trickiest stage of the and microeconomic outlook that Offshore : Expected strong is ever more vulnerable to policy wind and high sea till And the negative spillover eff ects for a pharmaceuticals and technology, development process for many other evening economies. mistakes and market accidents. The subset of other countries – which I call will likely come under pressure from WEATHER the dual-option economies – could be governments in the US and elsewhere Decoupling will also make it costlier preferred destination for all is what Inshore : Haze at places at first particularly signifi cant. to do the same. for China to sustain some of its recent former Google CEO Eric Schmidt becomes hot daytime with some clouds and Even from a purely economic This does not mean that Western international economic ventures, calls a “rivalry partnership” between slight dust to blowing perspective, it is hard to envisage any multinationals will abandon China such as the signature Belt and Road the US and China, whereby healthy dust at places at times durable abatement of Sino-American anytime soon. Most will instead Initiative (a massive transnational competition does not preclude the co- WIND Inshore : Easterly-Southeasterly tensions in the near future. And that is look to move toward an “in China for infrastructure investment programme) operation and shared responsibility 06-16/22 KT before factoring in national-security China” model. But this approach will and its large-scale lending to many that are critical to tackling major Offshore : Southeasterly-North- issues, let alone those relating to lessen these fi rms’ involvement in the developing countries. In particular, global challenges such as climate easterly 08-18 KT Visibility : 4-8/3 KM technology and human rights. country, increase their vulnerability, the Chinese government may fi nd change and pandemics. The challenge Offshore : 2-5 FT The economic and fi nancial and limit their ability to inform and it harder to push back against the will be to avoid a damaging derailment implications of Covid-19 are uniting infl uence outcomes that aff ect them. narrative that too many of these during what is likely to be a long and three segments of the US economy in US households will contribute alliances are transactional and one- bumpy journey toward this goal. - decoupling from China. This dynamic to the decoupling, too. With the sided, and not strategic enough. Project Syndicate is unlikely to abate anytime soon and recovery from the deep coronavirus- Finally, rising Sino-American Around the region Weather Weather will be mutually reinforcing, meaning induced recession likely to be slow, tensions may have major implications z Mohamed A El-Erian, Chief Today Max/min Tomorrow Max/min that one plus one plus one adds up to and the global economy in a highly for dual-option countries such as Economic Adviser at Allianz, was Sunny 48/29 M Sunny 50/31 more than three. desynchronised phase, part of the Australia and Singapore, which have Chairman of US President Barack Baghdad Sunny 41/32 Sunny 41/32 For starters, the US government recent jump in US unemployment is maintained strong national-security Obama’s Global Development Council. Kuwait City Sunny 42/33 Sunny 41/33 recently escalated a long-running tit- likely to prove frustratingly slow to links with the US and equally strong He is the author, most recently, of The Manama Sunny 34/29 Sunny 34/30 for-tat confl ict by imposing bilateral reverse. economic ties with China. While the Only Game in Town: Central Banks, Muscat M Sunny 38/26 M Sunny 37/27 economic and fi nancial sanctions on Although this multifaceted cost of this dual-option strategy has Instability, and Avoiding the Next Tehran China, with explicit bipartisan backing decoupling process will create been low so far, it will now likely rise, Collapse.

Live issues Parents face same problems all over the world

Around the world By John Rosemond time. If they fail to do so, toddlerhood but himself, which is fi tting. Simply Tribune News Service continues. Eventually, it becomes help him to his special place when- Weather Weather known as attention defi cit hyperac- ever he begins to scream, deposit him Today Max/min Tomorrow Max/min tivity disorder, oppositional defi ant (you’ll likely be dragging him at this Athens Sunny 33/24 Sunny 35/23 ne of my books, Making the disorder, and/or bipolar disorder of point), and say, “Here you go! Scream Beirut Sunny 30/25 Sunny 29/26 ‘Terrible’ Twos Terrifi c!, has childhood. Blaming the child’s biol- all you want, my sweet little angel,” Bangkok T Storm 32/26 T Storm 32/26 recently become a best- ogy (even though no one has proven and walk away. Berlin M Sunny 23/11 P Cloudy 22/12 Oseller in China, of all places. that said “disorders” are biologically Third, remember that undomesti- Cairo Sunny 37/23 Sunny 37/23 Seriously! What sorts of problems based) is so much more tidy (and prof- cated barbarians do not sit for time- Cape Town Sunny 18/11 P Cloudy 18/11 are Chinese parents having with their itable) than implying that his parents out. No matter. Select a time-out Colombo M Cloudy 29/26 P Cloudy 30/26 toddlers? The same problems Ameri- failed in their mission. chair anyway. When he decides to play Dhaka T Storm 30/26 T Storm 30/26 can, French, Russian, Australian, So, the question begs, how does one James Dean, just take him to said chair Hong Kong P Cloudy 31/26 S T Storms 31/26 Nigerian, Brazilian, Czech and parents complete the mission by age 3? and put him in it. Then step back and Istanbul Sunny 30/22 Sunny 29/21 of all other nationalities are having First, childproof the home. That en- say, “OK, you can get up now.” Make Jakarta S T Storms 33/24 S T Storms 32/24 with theirs, that’s what. in line, and that they aren’t the best at sures that parents will not spend great sure you say it before he gets up on his Karachi P Cloudy 33/29 S T Storms 33/29 Human nature is human nature, everything or even most things. None energy following the living tornado own. That creates the illusion that he London Cloudy 24/16 M Cloudy 25/16 folks. Children do not come into the of that comes easy for a toddler, which from room to room, slapping his little is obeying you, which is all you’re try- Manila T Storm 33/26 T Storm 32/26 world civilized; rather, they must be is why toddlers scream so much. hands, yelling “stop that!” 50 times a ing to accomplish because it’s all you Moscow S T Storm 21/16 T Storm 21/12 civilized. They must be taught to ac- And by the way, their screams are all day and generally setting disciplinary can accomplish. New Delhi S T Storms 31/26 S Showers 31/26 cept submission to legitimate author- screams of pain. precedents that will come back to Fourth, always remember that “no” New York Sunny 34/24 S T Storms 31/26 ity, for starters. They must be taught The “terrible twos” actually begin haunt them. is the most important word in your Paris Sunny 27/13 P Cloudy 27/14 respect for the property and persons sometime during a child’s second year Second, create a “tantrum place” vocabulary. The sooner he gets used Sao Paulo Sunny 27/14 M Sunny 27/14 of others. They must be taught to con- of life – say, 18 months – and last until where said little beastie, when pos- to it, the sooner you can dispense with Seoul P Cloudy 31/22 S T Storms 29/22 trol their impulses, because most of around his or her third birthday. That sessed by a demon, can fl ail and the second suggestion, above, and the Singapore S T Storms 30/26 T Storm 29/26 their innate impulses are destructive fi nite period assumes that the child’s scream all he wants. An out-of-the- happier he will be. Sydney M Sunny 15/07 P Cloudy 16/07 and self-serving. They must be taught parents accomplish what is described way place, preferably, where his fl ail- Fifth, put him to bed as early as Tokyo Rain 25/21 Cloudy 28/21 to accept “no” for an answer, to wait in the previous paragraph during that ing and screaming will disturb no one possible. Gulf Times 20 Thursday, July 23, 2020 QATAR Municipalities gearing up for Eid holidays „ Parks, beaches ready to receive visitors: Al Khor and Al Thakhira Municipality „Al Wakra Municipality chalks out comprehensive plan of The Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) has been carrying out cleaning and sanitising works in public parks and gardens along action with commercial streets across the country for the upcoming Eid holidays. There will be special focus on the inspection of food establishments „ Al Shamal Municipality, Al Daayen municipalities intensify and slaughterhouses, and the authorities have taken all precautionary measures in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. eff orts „ Focus on inspection of food establishments, cleaning and sanitising public parks, gardens along, streets and readiness of abattoirs unicipalities across the country are gearing up to Moff er the public the best services and ensure their health and safety during the upcoming Eid al-Adha holidays. There is special focus on the inspection of food establishments and cleaning and sanitising pub- lic parks and gardens along with commercial streets, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) has stressed. Slaughter- houses are also being duly pre- pared for the expected demand during the holidays. Al Khor and Al Thakhira Mu- nicipality has announced that parks, beaches and open spaces within its jurisdiction are all set to receive visitors during the Eid holidays. These include Al Khor Park, Al Thakhira Park, Al Khor Corniche, Al Tawasul Traditional Park, the Al Thakhira walkway and Al Kabaan City Park. The authorities have taken all precautionary measures in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. Se- curity personnel along with staff from the garden monitoring sec- tion will be available at the parks and beaches. Other parks, gardens and beaches in the municipality will also receive visitors, includ- ing Ghuwairiyah Park, Al Qarma Beach Garden and Al Shu’aa Re- serve. The necessary precaution- ary measures have been put in place. Visitors have to maintain social distance and wear masks, and se- curity personnel will be present to monitor the situation. The mu- nicipality is also carrying out pest control works and disinfection of public parks in various parts of Al Khor and Al Thakhira. Further, it has intensifi ed inspection cam- and have a valid health certifi cate. receive all kinds of complaints paigns at meat shops and slaugh- The action plan includes surprise round the clock. terhouses to ensure their compli- checks an all food establishments These will be followed up im- ance with Law No 8 of 1990 on the as well as greater monitoring of mediately and the offi cials con- regulation of human food control. meat and fi sh markets. Under the cerned will respond by taking ap- Veterinarians are ensuring the plan, veterinarians will ensure propriate action. Similar eff orts validity of meat products, while that butchered animals and fi sh are also being made at Al Shamal inspection campaigns are be- are fi t for daily human consump- Municipality, with special focus ing carried out at all food outlets. tion and any foodstuff showing on raising public awareness on During the Eid holidays, veteri- signs of rotting will be destroyed. relevant issues and implement- as well as the stores’ compliance resented by the health control narians will supervise work at the There will be special focus ing continuous inspection cam- with health requirements. Daily section, has continued with its slaughterhouses from 5am until on shops selling and preparing paigns. inspection campaigns will also inspection drives at food estab- 5pm daily. sweets, fruits, catering facilities The health control section will cover outlets selling foodstuff s lishments as part of the prepara- The same will be done at the continue across the municipal- readiness for the Eid holidays. and other any other stores that are carry out its work at the abattoir with a focus on sweets, nuts and tions for Eid al-Adha. fi sh market and Al Khor fi shing ity during the holidays. Simi- The plan is aimed at preserving likely to remain active during the from 5am until 5pm in order to vegetables. Accordingly, shops that sell fi sh harbour, which receives around larly, Al Wakra Municipality has the health and safety of all and Eid al-Adha holidays. receive sacrifi ces and run inspec- Besides, inspectors are also do- were checked by veterinarians in 30 boats daily with more than 25 chalked out a comprehensive includes enhanced inspections at The automated slaughterhouse tions by veterinarians through- ing the rounds of roads, squares, order to make sure they are suit- tonnes of fi sh a day. There will be plan of action in preparation for all food-handling stores and es- will be working throughout the out Eid al-Adha. Inspections will neighbourhoods, public parks, ability for sale. The campaign also also a hotline to receive related Eid al-Adha. The municipality, tablishments to ensure their com- holidays under the supervision of also be intensifi ed at shops selling places in front of shops and res- covered shops selling foodstuff s, complaints round the clock. represented by the health control pliance with health requirements. veterinarians who will ensure the meat, poultry and fi sh within the taurants to prevent public hygiene vegetables and fruits, and safety Other general public serv- section in the Municipal Control The plan will also make sure that safety of the sacrifi ced animals. municipality, in the morning and violations. measures at these outlets were ices and cleaning works will also Department, has announced its workers wear gloves and masks The health control section will evening, to ensure their safety Al Daayen Municipality, rep- also monitored. Two HBKU Press children’s books win Purple Dragonfl y Book Awards

amad Bin Khalifa University content and design, and provide chil- encouraged me to artistically express that promotes cultural visibility, inclu- Press (HBKU Press) has an- dren the very best in reading excellence, myself as an artist in my drawings to sion and positive human values in a fun Hnounced that two of its best- a press statement notes. help bring the text to life. I put my heart way for children. We are grateful for this selling children’s books have been “International recognition for our and soul into making the illustrations experience. Working with HBKU felt announced as winners in several cat- authors and illustrators by the judging complement the text and to know that like a true partnership.” egories of the 2020 Purple Dragonfl y committee of the 2020 Purple Dragonfl y it has been rewarded truly means the This is the second time that the il- Book Awards. Book Awards reaffi rms that HBKU Press world to me. It’s a great honour to have lustrator of Spring Bloom, Inna Ogando, Where is My Teacher?, written is producing quality literature that en- this book recognised as the best among has been recognised for her creative by 14-year-old Qatari author Dalal gages, teaches and entertains children,” so many other worthy books.” work by the Purple Dragonfl y Book Ghanim al-Romaihi and illustrated by explains Bachar Chebaro, executive di- For co-authors Mir and Bateiha, Awards team. In 2018, her work was Nico Yanopolous, won second place in rector of HBKU Press. “The entire team the win came as a welcome surprise. recognised when ‘A Recipe for Home’ the category of Best Illustrations, while at HBKU Press sends our sincerest con- Mir, an assistant professor of English, won multiple awards from the organi- Spring Bloom, co-authored by two pro- gratulations to the talented authors and and Bateiha, an associate professor of sation as well. fessors from Virginia Commonwealth illustrators who conceived these works.” Mathematics, were inspired to write “This book is the second winner University School of the Arts in Qatar Where Is My Teacher? was previously the book when they recognised a lack of the Purple Dragonfl y award that I (VCUarts Qatar), Sadia Mir and Sum- named as HBKU Press’s 2020 World of reading material regarding children’s had the honour to illustrate for HBKU mer al-Jarrah Bateiha, won fi rst place in Book Day offi cial selection. The “de- math stories set in the region and based Press,” explained Ogando. “I’ve col- the General category. lightfully inventive tale”, inspired by on local culture and characters. laborated with the publishing house The Purple Dragonfl y Book Awards al-Romaihi’s own love of reading, fol- “We are honoured to be recognised on many projects and winning for this were conceived in 2009 to recognise lows Dalal’s missing teacher on a wildly by the Purple Dragonfl y Book Awards book is especially important because and honour accomplished authors and imaginative journey that takes readers for Spring Bloom,” said authors Mir and not only is it a beautiful story, but it’s illustrators in the fi eld of children’s on a literary adventure where they are Bateiha in a joint statement. “We wrote also an educational one that helps chil- literature. Recognition is awarded to immersed in a new world on every page. Where is My Teacher? and Spring Bloom. this book to teach math in a fun and im- dren learn important concepts in math.” exemplary books that fall under 56 dis- “I’m speechless,” exclaimed al-Ro- aginative way, but also to address a gap “A very big congratulations to all of tinct subject categories ranging from maihi when she was informed about the from the very beginning should be very named a fi nalist in the 2020 Next Gen- in multicultural storytelling. We are our winners who deserve all the recog- the environment to cooking and from win. “I wasn’t expecting my book to win proud.” eration Indie Book Awards. “Dalal wrote pleased that these themes and values nition for their contributions to chil- sports to family issues. an award. But the illustrations perfectly The book’s illustrator, Yanopolous, is a truly amazing story,” said Yanopolous. have been well-received and recognised dren’s literature,” says Linda F Radke, Books that are awarded the prestig- depict the text so it’s no surprise. Nico also the creative talent behind another “Humorous, vivid and full of clever internationally. president of Story Monsters LLC, the ious Purple Dragonfl y Book Award are did a great job and the entire team at one of HBKU Press’s award-winning rhymes. The editorial team at HBKU “HBKU Press has given us unwaver- organisers of the Purple Dragonfl y Book original, innovative and creative in both HBKU Press that supported this book books, The Firefl y, which was recently Press was very supportive in that they ing support to develop a children’s book Awards.