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MONDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11545 May 11, 2020 Ramadan 18, 1441 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Enjoy double speed with Ooredoo ONE while you’re at home #Hadaya_Ooredoo *Terms and conditions apply Amir gets message from Kuwaiti leader Private sector backs govt eff orts; support needed to face ‘virus’ challenges

atar’s private sector, which is a key driver of national economy, Qis fi rmly behind the govern- ment in facing the consequences of Covid-19, two of its leaders have said. The country’s private sector has con- tinued to function as an instrument for economic development despite the chal- lenges it is facing during the novel coro- navirus (Covid-19) pandemic, said Qa- tari Businessmen Association chairman HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani. Hussain Alfardan HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani Full Report on Business Page 1 Covid-19, and continued payment of need to support the businesses that Hussain Ibrahim Alfardan, First the salaries of workers and employ- have been sustaining harmful conse- Deputy Chairman of Qatari Business- ees without making any profits. quences due to such circumstances. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has received a verbal message from Kuwait’s Amir, Sheikh men Association said, “The private He said the private sector companies Sheikh Faisal said, “Qatar’s business Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, pertaining to the fraternal ties between the two countries and the prospects for sector in Qatar is also keen to support are currently under pressure, as they community has proven to be highly- enhancing them, in addition to a number of issues of mutual interest. The message was conveyed by Kuwaiti Minister the eff orts of the state to face the con- have distinguished staff and it is not responsible throughout the various of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser al-Mohamed al-Sabah during a meeting with the Amir, yesterday evening sequences of Covid-19 pandemic.” easy to lay them off , while the continu- exceptional circumstances that came at his off ice at Al Bahr Palace. At the beginning of the meeting the Kuwaiti minister conveyed greetings of Sheikh However, Alfardan pointed out ation of such situation for a long period over the Qatari economy, in particular, Sabah to His Highness the Amir, wishing him good health and happiness and the Qatari people further progress and that the private sector is currently will negatively impact the economy. and the international economy, in gen- prosperity. His Highness the Amir entrusted the Kuwaiti minister to convey his greetings to Sheikh Sabah, wishing him suffering due to the consequences of Accordingly, Alfardan stressed the eral.” To Page 20 good health and well-being, and the brotherly Kuwaiti people further development. Page 2

MoPH reports 2,753 Covid-19 recoveries The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) Europe braces for reopening despite fears of virus 2nd wave yesterday announced 1,189 new confirmed cases of Covid-19, as many as 254 new recovered ones, and one AFP lined an easing of Britain’s stay-at-home in over a month yesterday in Wuhan, forced to reimpose restrictions after an strictions and let over-65s out for the death in the last 24 hours. The total Paris orders in a televised address yesterday where the outbreak fi rst started late outbreak at a meat processing plant. fi rst time yesterday. number of recovered cases in Qatar night, in what he called “the fi rst sketch last year before it went on to infect Belgium, Germany and Greece are The Middle East’s most-aff ected now stands at 2,753. Most of the of a road map for reopening society.” more than four mn worldwide. among other European nations set to country, Iran, has also relaxed its lock- new cases are expatriate workers illions of people in France and Johnson said the aim of loosening And in Germany there was uncer- ease lockdowns today. down measures and bazaars and shop- infected with the virus as a result of Spain counted down to the of the nearly two-month lockdown tainty too with at least one district Turkey had already eased some re- ping centres in the capital Tehran were contact with individuals who have Mrelaxation of strict coronavi- was to cautiously awaken the economy bustling again after being nearly de- been previously infected, in addition rus lockdowns today, hopes of release while bearing in mind “the science, the serted for weeks. to recording new cases from within from their homes laced with fears of data and public health.” And the resumption of league foot- groups of workers from various a second wave of a pandemic that has Schools and shops could begin a ball in Europe was dealt a blow after regions. Page 2 killed over 280,000 worldwide and phased reopening starting in June, he confi rmation of clusters of infections wrought economic disaster. said, while the businesses in the hos- among players in Spain, Germany and S&P affirms ‘stable’ In France, people will be able to pitality industry, like hotels and res- Portugal. rating on Qatar walk outside for the fi rst time in nearly taurants, would probably not be able to Football bosses in all three coun- eight weeks without fi lling in a permit, reopen until July at the earliest. tries, however, insisted that season Global credit rating agency Standard teachers will start to return to schools, He said that from Wednesday people restarts planned for the coming weeks & Poor’s (S&P) has aff irmed “stable” and some shops will reopen. could start spending more time outside were still on track. As some of the rating on Qatar as the country’s Restaurants, theatres and cinemas their homes, including sunbathing in hardest-hit countries prepare to relax sovereign and external balance sheet will however remain closed. local parks, car travel to other destina- their restrictions, Britain’s recovery off er suff icient buff er to withstand Spaniards outside of urban hotspots tions, and playing outdoor sports with remained slightly behind its European the twin stocks of Covid-19 and low such as Madrid and Barcelona — which people of the same household. counterparts. energy prices. Aff irming “AA-/A-1+” remain under lockdown — eagerly European offi cials have been em- Even further behind are Russia and foreign and local currency ratings made plans to meet friends and fam- boldened by declining death rates — Brazil, which both passed grim mile- on Qatar; S&P said it does not expect ily in restaurants that have outdoor France’s toll of 70 yesterday was its stones yesterday. the government’s fiscal and external spaces. lowest since early April and Spain’s Russia’s caseload surpassed stock positions to “materially” But the anticipation of regained daily fatalities have dropped below 200,000 and is expected to become the deteriorate beyond its expectations. freedom was tinged by concern. 200. highest fi gure in Europe within days, Business Page 1 With millions out of work and econ- But the risk of a second wave was even as the number of deaths remains omies fl atlining — including in the underscored by a resurgence in South CEO of Paris region public transport operator RATP Catherine Guillouard, relatively low at fewer than 2,000. 2nd repatriation flight United States, where 20mn lost their Korea, widely praised for its handling French Junior Minister for Transports Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, Ile-de-France While offi cials say the fi gures reveal to India delayed jobs in April — governments are des- of an initial outbreak but now forced to region president Valerie Pecresse and French Minister for the Ecological and the eff ectiveness of Russia’s testing perate to reopen, but most are choos- shut all clubs in the capital Seoul after Inclusive Transition Elisabeth Borne stand on a platform at the Gare de l’Est train regime, an opposition-allied doctors The second repatriation flight from ing a gradual approach. a cluster of infections was confi rmed station in Paris during a visit on the eve of a gradual lifting of Covid-19 lockdown union said the authorities were under- Qatar carrying stranded Indians was Prime Minister Boris Johnson out- China reported the fi rst infection restrictions in France yesterday. reporting deaths of medics. cancelled yesterday due to “technical reasons”, the Indian embassy said. The Doha-Thiruvananthapuram flight is now “being scheduled” for Tributes paid to victims of slave trade tomorrow, the embassy has informed through a tweet. Page 3 Strict measures in place to Iran ready for prisoner exchange with US keep Industrial Area safe Iran said yesterday it had expressed readiness for a full prisoner exchange ompanies with employees liv- Industrial Area while working on vari- with the United States “with no ing in the Industrial Area need ous projects”, and should “continue to preconditions” but said that Washington Cto sign a pledge not to let such educate their workers about the need was yet to respond. “We said some time workers mingle with others outside the to leave a safe distance (2m) and take ago that we are ready to exchange all area while working on diff erent projects. other preventive measures”. Iranian and American prisoners,” ISNA This is one of the conditions to be The health requirements stipulate news agency quoted government fulfi lled by companies to ensure their that no one is allowed to enter the area spokesman Ali Rabiei as saying. workers’ entry to and exit from the without wearing a mask and sterilisers Industrial Area on a daily basis, as laid must be provided at the workplace. down by the Permanent Committee for “Compliance with occupational RAMADAN THOUGHT Industrial Area in the ‘Industrial Area safety and health requirements at the Be conscious of Allah wherever Exit and Entry Guide’. workplace is a must,” the guide states, you are, and follow up a bad This comes as part of the precau- noting that the stakeholders should deed with a good deed, and it tionary measures in place and the re- send text messages periodically to urge will eradicate it, and treat people organised entry and exit procedures everyone concerned to abide by all reg- in a kind manner. (At-Tirmithi) that came into eff ect on May 5. ulations and measures. Companies have to adhere to the Awareness brochures are also to be dis- Prayer times policies of the Ministry of Public tributed among workers about safe dis- Health and the requirements of the tancing and other preventive measures. Fajr....3.27 Zuhr....11.30 Asr....2.58 Ministry of Administrative Develop- The entry and exit procedures in- Maghrib.....6.12 Isha.....7.42 ment, Labour and Social Aff airs to clude a screening and verifi cation limit the spread of the pandemic at the process as well as random thermal in- Fasting times workplace and in housing facilities, ac- spection in collaboration with various Iftar today ...... 6.12pm cording to the document. entities to ensure the safety of workers Suhoor tomorrow ...... 3.27am French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe attends a ceremony at the Luxembourg Gardens to mark the anniversary of the They have to sign a “pledge not to let while entering and exiting the area, the abolition of slavery and to pay tribute to the victims of the slave trade, in Paris, yesterday. workers mingle with others outside the guide says. To Page 20 Gulf Times 2 Monday, May 11, 2020 QATAR

Qatar stresses need for involving FM meets Kuwaiti counterpart women in Afghan peace process

QNA the Taliban and stakeholders in where Qatar welcomed the Se- New York Afghanistan. curity Council Resolution 2250 She noted that the Afghan on youth, peace and security, peace conference that Doha host- noting the State of Qatar’s par- atar has reiterated its ed in July 2019, held under the ticipation in March 2019 along deep commitment to auspices of Qatar and Germany, with Colombia, Finland and the Qachieving peace in Af- aimed at pushing forward the Af- Offi ce of the United Nations ghanistan, continuing its posi- ghan negotiations for peace. secretary-general’s envoy for tive role and making eff orts to HE Sheikha Alya stressed the youth in the fi rst international facilitate peace talks between the need for involving women in Af- conference on youth participa- parties in Afghanistan. ghan peace talks, pointing to the tion in mediation processes held This came during the par- commitment of Qatar to guaran- in Helsinki. ticipation of HE ambassador tee the right of women to peace She highlighted Qatar’s de- Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif HE Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif operations, and made it clear termination to hold the second al-Thani, Permanent Repre- al-Thani that the lack of participation of international conference in co- sentative of Qatar to the United women would reduce the possi- ordination with the envoy of the Nations, as a speaker at a virtual shared by all Afghan parties. bility of a peaceful settlement on Secretary-General for Youth, event organised by “Women For- HE Sheikha Alya stressed a large scale. with a special focus on the role ward International” and George- that preventing conflict, medi- She praised the participation of young women in peace and town University, in co-operation ation and maintaining peace is of 11 prominent women from security. with the embassy of Qatar to the a priority of the foreign policy the government and civil soci- She expressed Qatar’s hope United States, under the title “ of Qatar. ety sectors in the Doha Afghan that the conference that will be Launching Peace in Afghanistan. She expressed the satisfaction Peace Conference, as well as hosted by Doha provides a con- HE Sheikha Alya highlighted and pleasure of Qatar that its ef- the participation of civil society crete opportunity to enhance the role played by Qatar in Af- forts resulted in a historic agree- representatives, political and re- the integration of young wom- ghanistan’s peace talks, and ment signed in Doha to bring ligious leaders and youth in the en in eff ective and sustainable touched on Qatar’s broad par- peace to Afghanistan between the peace conference. peace processes, emphasising HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman ticipation in the mediation ef- United States and the Taliban. HE Sheikha Alya stressed the the paramount importance of al-Thani met the Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser al-Mohamed al-Sabah, forts, facilitating and hosting the She also expressed the hope of importance and necessity of the the comprehensive integration in Doha yesterday. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations and issues of common peace talks and sponsoring the Qatar that the agreement would participation of young women of young women and men into interest. reconciliation process led and lead to talks between Afghans, and men in the peace process, peace processes. NHRC calls for more measures to 2,753 Covid-19 protect workers from Covid-19 recoveries

QNA the response of stakeholders. zRights committee monitoring team holds meetings with labour ministry and health ministry Doha This study is expected to con- tinue during the coming period, off icials to assess procedures adopted to protect workers’ rights and provide healthcare to them and the ministry encouraged he Ministry of Public people who receive an invitation QNA taken by it regarding workers’ of Administrative Development, suffi cient amount of beds for Health (MoPH) yester- to respond and participate in this Doha rights and payment of wages Recommendations Labour and Social Aff airs, espe- the new cases, pointing out in Tday announced 1,189 new initiative in order to contribute during the coronavirus crisis, as cially in light of the current cir- this context that fi ve hospitals confi rmed cases of Covid-19, to the national eff orts to com- well as the awareness campaign zEveryone’s right to treatment cumstances. have been designated to treat as many as 254 new recovered bat the virus and to understand he fi eld visits and moni- launched by the ministry, in- and medicine stressed On the other hand, during the people who have the virus. cases, and one death in the last more about the epidemiology toring team of the Na- cluding the nearly 2,400 fi eld zSpecial focus on the elderly, their meeting with the Ministry According to the instructions 24 hours. The total number of of transmission of infection be- Ttional Human Rights visits targeting approximately those with disabilities, chronic dis- of Public Health (MoPH), the of the Ministry of Administra- recovered cases in Qatar now tween members of society. Committee (NHRC) stressed the 160,000 workers. eases, pregnant women, workers fi eld visits and monitoring team tive Development, Labour and stands at 2,753. The MoPH noted that the cur- need for taking further aware- He added that the ministry’s and low-income groups of the National Human Rights Social Aff airs (MADLSA), the In a statement, the ministry rent period is considered to be the ness-raising measures and cam- offi cials indicated that it had in- z Refer cases of labour Committee reviewed the pre- total number of beds would be explained that most of the new peak stage in the virus outbreak paigns to protect workers and structed a number of measures complaints that are difficult to cautionary measures and health 14,000, they added. cases are expatriate workers in- when numbers may continue to vulnerable groups, noting that to be taken by companies, which settle amicably to the Labour services provided by the health They stressed that hospitals fected with the virus as a result rise before they begin to stabilise the committee continues to pro- include exchanging information Dispute Resolution Committee institutions to combat the out- provide the highest standards of contact with individuals who and then gradually decline. vide the Ministry of Administra- to increase workers ‘awareness and to settle them via electron- break of Covid-19), and moni- of care and attention for the pa- have been previously infected, in It added that the high num- tive Development, Labour and and taking into account personal ic means tor the conditions and rights of tients and that the MoPH has addition to recording new cases bers of new cases are due to the Social Aff airs (MADLSA) with hygiene, restricting assembly to zIntensify awareness campaigns citizens and residents, especially taken proactive measures in co- from within groups of work- ministry’s redoubling of its ef- cases and complaints received a minimum and reducing densi- in the Industrial Area. those who are vulnerable, such operation with the Ministry of ers from various regions. These forts in tracking the transitional by it under the current circum- ty, whether in accommodations zFollow-up complaints submitted as elderly, people with disabili- Municipality and Environment cases have been identifi ed as a chains of the virus and expand- stances in order to resolve them. or at work sites. and agreements between the em- ties or chronic diseases, work- and the Public Works Authority result of investigations carried ing the circle of searching for in- During their meeting with of- Other measures to be taken in- ployer and workers, so that there ers and those with low-income, (Ashghal), regarding the clean- out by the ministry. fected people through intensive fi cials from the Ministry of Pub- cludes the role of the Occupation- is no abuse by the employer in accordance with the inter- ing and sanitising of the Indus- The MoPH noted that there and proactive investigations of lic Health (MoPH), the team un- al Safety and Health Supervisor national laws, agreements and trial Area, from Street No 1 to 32, was also an increase in the large numbers of contacts with derlined the need to make more defi ned by the policy on the pro- covenants of human rights. to reduce the spread of the virus. number of infections among people who have been confi rmed eff orts to provide the necessary cedures applied by companies to payment of wages for workers, Dr Mohamed Saif al-Kuwari, In accordance with the stand- citizens and residents who had with the virus recently. health services and the right to take advantage of clinics and con- whether they are in quarantine said that the meeting was held ards of ministry, fi eld hospitals contact with Covid-19-positive The MoPH noted that the treatment and medicine for all duct health check-ups for work- or who have been isolated, will to determine the extent of provi- have been provided and quaran- family members, who had in turn number of daily tests it con- citizens and residents in Qatar, ers to ensure their safety and to continue based on instructions sion of healthcare and improving tine and medical isolation units been infected at the workplace ducts on people depends prima- especially the vulnerable groups, reduce their bus capacity to 50%, issued by the Ministry of Ad- the people’s health, especially were equipped in record time, or other locations. rily on the number of contacts such as the elderly, people with as well as reiterating that the min- ministrative Development, La- those who are vulnerable, in im- besides activating a number of All the new infected cases have with individuals confi rmed to disabilities, people with chronic istry’s Labour Inspection Depart- bour and Social Aff airs. plementation of Article 3/10 of distance health services; to fa- been quarantined where they are be infected with the virus, as it disease, and low-income work- ment will monitor the companies’ They referred to the hotline Decree Law No 17 of 2010. cilitate reaching medical care, receiving the necessary medical conducts random checks in dif- ers, in light of the coronavirus compliance with this policy. number 40280660 to report any He explained that the offi cials in the Primary Health Care Cor- care, MoPH has stressed. ferent places of the country as a (Covid-19) spread. Concerning the facilities of- violations related to the work from the ministry confi rmed that poration and Hamad Medical The ministry said that the proactive measure. The number This came as a continuation of fered to workers and the regula- sector. The worker can submit the precautionary measures were Corporation, in co-operation new death was a 54-year-old of tests performed daily is not the series of meetings and fi eld tions used to facilitate the trans- any labour complaints through taken in implementation of the with “Tasmu Smart Qatar” pro- resident receiving medical care linked to the number of cases visits that the NHRC has under- fer of their salaries and money the labour complaints service preventive measures taken by gramme, as well as the Ministry in the Intensive Care Unit and detected in terms of any rise or taken to penal institutions, de- in light of the precautionary via text messages, which are the offi cial authorities in order to of Transport and Communica- suff ering from chronic diseases. fall, the MoPH added. tention centres, police stations, measures taken by Qatar, offi - available throughout the day in avoid the transmission of Cov- tion, Qatar e-Governmental The MoPH off ered sincere con- According to the MoPH, with the Industrial Area, workers’ ac- cials indicated that the Ministry several languages, and is decided id-19 inside community, and as a Portal (Hukoomi) and Qatar dolences and great sympathy to a total of 3,215 people tested for commodations and hotel guests of Administrative Development, upon immediately, by sending a part of the comprehensive strat- Post, besides co-operating with the family of the deceased. Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, as who are under quarantine. Labour and Social Aff airs co- text message to 92727. egy that cares about the health of a number of prominent digital The statement also pointed many as 127,769 have been tested Vice-Chairman of the NHRC ordinated with the Qatar Central At the end of the meeting, the citizens and residents, equally. solution providers. out that the MoPH has launched so far in Qatar. Dr Mohamed bin Saif al-Kuwari Bank (QCB) in this regard due to NHRC fi eld visits and monitor- The ministry offi cials ex- At the end of the meeting, a community study to learn more There are 22,520 positive confi rmed in a press statement the precautionary measures and ing team called to refer cases plained that based on Qatar’s the fi eld visits and monitoring about how the virus is transmit- cases to date in Qatar and 19,753 that the NHRC’s fi eld visits and the closure of exchange shops, that are diffi cult to settle amica- interest in the health of all its team of the National Human ted within the community and currently undergoing treatment. monitoring team have met with by facilitating the procedures bly to the Labour Dispute Reso- residents, a plan was developed Rights Committee have well re- gain more understanding of cas- The total number of Covid-19 offi cials of the Labour Relations and providing applications for lution Committee and to settle to prepare and be ready to fi ght ceived the strict precautionary es of infection that do not show deaths so far in Qatar is 14. Department at the Ministry of fi nancial transfers and to the ap- them via electronic means, while Covid-19 and to take all meas- measures taken by the health symptoms of the disease. The MoPH renewed its call for Administrative Development, plications currently in the coun- intensifying instructions and ures and precautions that need ministry, and made a number of Through the use of drive all members of the community to Labour and Social Aff airs with try. awareness in the Industrial Area. to be taken in such framework. recommendations that included through testing centres, invited stay at home and not go out ex- the aim of familiarising them- In addition, the ministry con- There should also be follow-up They also noted that the min- the emphasis that health servic- participants complete a question- cept in cases of necessity and to selves with the ministry’s meas- ducted awareness campaigns di- to complaints submitted and istry’s strategy is based on sev- es are to be provided for all who naire. Last week, tests were con- implement preventive measures ures and procedures regarding rectly and through the ministry’s follow-up agreements between eral pillars that include sharing live in Qatar, whether citizens or ducted for 2,500 people who re- and maintain physical distancing, protecting workers’ rights in social media, on the mechanism the employer and workers, so awareness with the community, residents, especially the elderly, ceived an invitation to participate including in the workplace and light of the current health crisis. of using those applications, that there is no abuse by the em- as well as doing tests and search- and those with disabilities, as in the community questionnaire, public places. The ministry re- Dr al-Kuwari noted that of- whether for workers or the em- ployer. The NHRC stressed the ing for the individuals that could well as those with chronic dis- which aims to better understand minded people to use a face mask fi cials of the ministry provided ployer. need for continuous co-opera- possibly be transmitting in the eases, pregnant women, workers the transmission of the virus in and avoid social visits to reduce an overview of the measures They also reaffi rmed that the tion between it and the Ministry community, and providing a and those with low-income. the community and thus adapt their risk of contracting the virus.

MoI warning about cybercrime

he Ministry of Inte- in which criminals place The Department also rior (MoI) has reiter- a device deep inside the holds regular meetings Tated its warning to ATM to record card’s chip with offi cials of banks, ex- the public to stay safe from information and take cash changes and other fi nancial cybercrime and urged them out using stolen debit card institutions and conduct to protect online accounts. numbers. for them special training “Change the passwords Card users become vic- sessions by experts. periodically, choose a tims of the crime due to The meetings discuss password more diffi cult to less awareness in dealing emerging challenges and guess and do not respond with electronic transac- fi nancial crimes while to messages or open the at- tions and handling ATM training programmes help tached links before check- and credit cards. offi cials eff ectively fi ght ing their source,” a tweet by MoI has exclusive cam- crimes. MoI said. paigns in order to make Leafl ets are also distrib- The Criminal Investi- fi nancial institutions and uted among general public gation Department has banks aware of the fraud while campaigns are car- recorded various kinds of and help them keep a vigil ried out through all media frauds including skimming against the criminals. platforms. Gulf Times Monday, May 11, 2020 3 QATAR

Sidra Medicine establishes Type 1 Ambulance Service follows safety norms to diabetes treatment protocol ferry Covid-19 patients By Ayman Adly inside one sack for each member, idra Medicine, a member being cared for at the hospital’s Given the current circum- Staff Reporter and they are very familiar with the of Qatar Foundation, has diabetes clinic. stances and safety measures protocols and methods to follow. Ssuccessfully established its The fi rst step of the protocol about social distancing, the “The paramedics vital pa- Type 1 diabetes (T1D) treatment involves the children and teen- protocol is eff ective as we can amad Medical Corpo- rameters are checked more protocol, based on the eff ective agers being assessed for eligi- provide remote follow up care ration’s (HMC) Ambu- frequently to protect them use of an insulin pump, for chil- bility and compatibility with without expecting families to Hlance Service follows and others against any poten- dren and young people as a best the closed-loop system. They come in to the clinic.” comprehensive protective tial infection. In case any one practice model. then undergo training for fi ve “We recently published the measures when transporting displays any symptoms, the The pump, which is a hybrid consecutive days, where both results of our protocol in Acta Covid-19 patients, assistant medic is taken to a designated closed-loop system, acts as an patient and family are provided Diabetologica and presented it executive director Ali Darwish clinic for HMC staff . artifi cial pancreas to help chil- consistent information and sup- at several international confer- told Qatar TV yesterday night. Regarding the possibil- dren and young people with port. The patient fi rst trials the ences a few months ago. We “The patients are given all ity of transferring infection T1D control their insulin dos- system on manual mode – be- have many children’s hospitals the assistance while the health- to the paramedics’ families, age, without the need for mul- fore it is switched to automatic from neighbouring countries care personnel and any others the Ambulance Service offi - tiple daily injections. Based on mode. The whole transfer from and as far as Europe and Aus- involved provide the highest cial said they are well trained an initiation schedule developed “injection to pump” process can tralia, reaching out to us to fi nd level of protection,” he said. to sanitise and disinfect their in-house at Sidra Medicine, the be achieved in ten days. out how they can implement the The process starts even belongings, clothes and body protocol also allows for remote Prof Petrovski said, “Hospi- protocol. In fact, Qatar is the fi rst before the ambulance moves before being in contact with follow-up care. tals worldwide follow diff erent Middle Eastern country to suc- upon receiving a call for help. any family member at home The protocol was launched protocols in diabetes manage- cessfully show the best results There is a designated team while maintaining the recom- two years ago as a pilot pro- ment depending on the treat- in using the closed-loop system that receives all the necessary mended physical distancing. gramme by Prof Goran Petro- ment, technologies and the with our treatment protocol information about the case Darwish said that the de- vski, an attending physician of ease and access to insulin. As programme,” added Prof and report them to make the partment has adequate paediatric endocrinology and a result of the work that was Petrovski. due arrangements until the number of ambulances, in- his team at the Diabetes Clinic at achieved in Qatar at Sidra Med- Previously, patients in Qatar Prof Goran Petrovski patient is safely taken to the cluding some dedicated to Sidra Medicine. It follows a step icine, we are now in a position had to travel abroad to the US to designated medical facility. handle Covid-19 cases. by step process and initiation to be considered as a best prac- be implanted with the closed- “Prior to Sidra Medicine es- they can receive accurate feed- Darwish pointed out that “All vehicles are constantly schedule for the hybrid closed- tice centre that showcased the loop system, often having to wait tablishing the protocol, there back and get help immediately – the Ambulance Service para- disinfected and sanitised to loop, provided by a multidis- most eff ective use of the hybrid a long time before gaining access were no support services and whether in the clinic or remotely. medics are highly trained and be always ready for a quick ciplinary team of endocrinolo- closed-loop. Our protocol was to the device. Other drawbacks education materials available Families now have access to a experienced professionals response to any health emer- gists, nurse educators, dietitians able to prove that we are truly included slower international especially in Arabic to closely, 24/7 hotline available in English able to handle such situations gency or accidents. Besides, and nurses. Since its implemen- empowering the children to administrative processes, de- regularly and safely monitor the and thanks to our eff orts in Qa- even before the Covid-19 pan- there are enough quantities of tation, it has fast-tracked the have better glycemic control lays in educating parents and children using a closed-loop tar, also in Arabic, set up by the demic had started. protective gear and equipment treatment process of nearly 100 and improving their quality of complex international insurance system. This is a critical part vendor of the system,” said Prof “They are supplied with ad- that would cover all the possi- children and teenagers with T1D life, all within a matter of days. policies. of the protocol process so that Petrovski. equate protective gear, all put ble operations,” he added. Diabetes hotline receives over 1,800 calls in April

n March, Hamad Medi- together to establish Covid-19 cal Corporation’s (HMC) guidance documents for Type Idiabetes care team extended 1 and Type 2 diabetics,” said the hours of operation for its Professor Abou-Samra. diabetes hotline in response to Professor Abou-Samra the Covid-19 pandemic, and says social distancing is criti- demand for the service is “con- cal in managing the spread of tinuing to grow” with 1,810 Covid-19, particularly for dia- calls received during April. betic patients who are at high The hotline, a medication risk for serious complications home delivery service, virtual if they contract the virus, un- consultations and an outreach derscoring the importance of programme targeting patients new measures that are allowing who have poorly controlled patients to access routine and diabetes, are all part of a strat- specialist diabetes care from LuLu Hypermarket Qatar’s contributions to EAA has supported access to quality education for the most egy that has been put in place home. marginalised children and youth. to help protect diabetics, HMC “The whole health sector is has said in a statement. Professor Abdul-Badi Abou-Samra and Dr Mahmoud Zirie. working together to provide Professor Abdul-Badi Abou- interventions to improve self- Samra, director, HMC’s Qatar medicine appointments and we Health (MoPH), HMC and Pri- management for people living Metabolic Institute and co- have implemented a number mary Health Care Corporation with diabetes. I encourage dia- chair of the National Diabetes of new services, including a (PHCC) launched an outreach betic patients to continue being Committee, said people with medication and medical equip- programme to ensure individu- proactive with their care and to LuLu Hypermarket als living with diabetes are not diabetes have decreased immu- ment and supplies home de- strictly follow infection preven- nity and must take extra pre- livery service,” said Dr Mah- only continuing to receive the tion measures. Continue talking cautions to protect themselves moud Zirie, senior consultant care needed to manage their to your healthcare team and call from Covid-19. He says his and head of the Endocrinol- condition but are also being the diabetes hotline if you have team has worked hard to ensure ogy, Diabetes and Metabolism proactively treated. any questions or concerns,” said supporting EAA “The Covid-19 and Diabetes patients who do not need to be Department at HMC. Professor Abou-Samra. in the hospital are kept out of “And for patients who must programme was implemented The diabetes hotline can clinics as part of eff orts to limit come to the hospital, we have as part of a prevention strategy be accessed by calling 16099 their exposure to Covid-19. taken steps to help limit their to minimise the risk of severe (select option 4). This phone- “During April, the National exposure by directing them to Covid-19 illness among our based emergency service is education projects diabetic population. The health Diabetes Center at Hamad clinics that are not located in available seven days a week General Hospital cared for pa- our fi ve designated Covid-19 sector has worked together to from 7am-10pm to provide in- LuLu Hypermarket Qatar “We are delighted to support cation specialist at EAA, said: tients during more than 8,200 treatment facilities. While we identify those patients who are dividuals with all types of dia- has contributed $4mn Education Above All as a part- “Education Above All founda- consultations, and over 90% of don’t want patients who are not most at risk for diabetic com- betes, as well as their relatives to Education Above All ner – and to reaffi rm our pledge tion thanks the LuLu Group In- that care was provided virtual- acutely ill to come to the hospi- plications and treatment teams or caregivers, with medical Foundation since 2017 to good causes around the world. ternational for its support. This ly. We have put in place several tal, we also don’t want diabetics consisting of physicians and di- advice related to diabetes and Like our company, EAA’s reach donation will contribute to our measures that keep patients who require specialist care to go abetes educators have contact- Covid-19. uLu Hypermarket Qa- transcends geographic bounda- mission of breaking down the out of clinical spaces while without that care because they ed them to pre-empt potential For more information about tar has contributed $4mn ries. Its work enhances the lives barriers that prevent children still providing them access to are afraid of being exposed to health issues as part of eff orts diabetes and to access the Cov- Lsince 2017 to Educa- of children in the most margin- accessing a quality primary ed- specialist care. We have moved Covid-19,” added Dr Zirie. to keeping these patients safe id-19 and Diabetes Guidelines tion Above All Foundation’s alised communities around the ucation. Such barriers include the majority of our regular out- Professor Abou-Samra says and out of clinics and hospitals. (Type 1 and Type 2), one can (EAA) mission to support ac- world. We are proud to support poverty, lack of infrastructure, patient appointments to tele- in April the Ministry of Public Our teams have also worked visit http://diabetes.hamad.qa. cess to quality education for them in their mission to trans- cultural issues, confl ict and the most marginalised children form lives through education.” challenging geographies”. and youth, it was announced EAA’s Educate A Child and “Through Educate A Child yesterday. partners Unicef USA, Mercy and EAA’s other programmes, LuLu’s contribution of $1mn Corps and Unesco are working millions of children in more than a year to EAA projects are sup- to ensure the enrolment of more 50 countries have been receiving Indian expat forum porting the commitment to en- than 350,000 out-of-school chil- an education where it was once sure that millions of the most dren in Syria, Somalia and Iraq, impossible due to the often mul- marginalised and hardest to respectively. Children in these tiple and compounding barri- steps in to help needy reach out of schoolchildren can countries face barriers to educa- ers. Lulu’s generous support has enrol in quality primary educa- tion such as poverty, insecurity helped us reach thousands more tion, according to a statement. and confl ict, shortage of teachers children who may not otherwise with fl ight tickets Dr Mohamed Althaf, director, and gender discrimination. have been able to enrol in quality LuLu Hypermarket Qatar, said: Leena al-derham, senior edu- primary education,” she added. By Shafeeq Alingal parted Doha on May 9 for Kochi, Staff Reporter carrying 178 passengers. More fl ights are expected in the com- ing days as the Indian govern- ith repatriation ment carries out its Vande Bharat Repatriation fl ight to Kerala fl ights starting to mission around the world, help- The forum’s volunteers are engaged in various activities to help WIndia, a community ing Indians stranded in diff erent those in need. organisation has stepped in to countries reach home. help people who have an urgent “In the fi rst phase, tickets will eration with “generous persons Dr Aluva said the forum is capital rescheduled to May 12 need to travel but do not have be given to 50 people who need and business establishments in duly prepared to provide assist- the means to do so. such fi nancial assistance,” said Qatar”. ance at quarantine centres as he second repatriation thapuram was cancelled for to take Indians stranded around Accordingly, the Cultural Fo- forum president Dr Taj Aluva. “More people will be given required. Besides, the forum’s fl ight from Qatar car- technical reasons. “Being re- the world due to Covid-19 re- rum has decided to arrange for Only those who are se- aid in the following phases as volunteers are actively engaged Trying stranded Indians scheduled for May 12, 2020,” the strictions back home. The 178 the tickets of 50 eligible expa- lected by the Indian embassy per the need,” he said, add- in distributing food kits among was cancelled yesterday due to embassy tweeted yesterday. passengers were shortlisted triates from the southern Indian for a repatriation fl ight will ing that similar facilities are persons in need. “technical reasons”, the Indian It added, “Passengers already from about 44,000 community state of Kerala in the fi rst phase. be given tickets and the ben- being provided in other GCC These are in addition to oper- embassy said. booked for the fl ight to recon- members who had registered Those who can avail of the efi ciaries will be decided by countries as well. ating a special health desk that The Doha-Thiruvanan- fi rm tomorrow (May 11). Those with the Indian embassy to avail facility include ailing persons, the forum after checking their The forum has set up a help functions under the supervision thapuram fl ight is now “being with exit permit issues will not of the facility. people with low income, those requirements. desk to support people in need, of physicians and fi eld experts. scheduled” for tomorrow, the be cleared for boarding.” Indian ambassador P Kuma- who have lost jobs, housemaids Those wishing to benefi t and those requiring assistance Also, a team of legal volunteers embassy has informed through On Saturday, the fi rst re- ran had said they were hoping and those who are stuck in Qa- from the ticket assistance can can call 50263835. It has also is working to provide services a tweet. patriation fl ight carrying 178 to have “4-5 fl ights” in the next tar after arriving on a business approach the forum through its deputed volunteers at various related to immigration, the In- “Unfortunately, IX-374 passengers left for Kochi. stage of the repatriation mission or on-arrival visa, the forum functionaries. quarantine centres across Qa- dian embassy and the Depart- scheduled for today (May 10) This is part of the Indian gov- from Qatar, travelling to more has said. Dr Aluva said the scheme is tar, where are engaged in activi- ment of Non-Resident Keralites from Doha to Thiruvanan- ernment’s Vande Bharat mission Indian destinations. The fi rst repatriation fl ight de- being implemented in co-op- ties such as distributing food. Aff airs. Gulf Times 4 Monday, May 11, 2020 QATAR

8 violations of Infected in London, recovered coronavirus Qatari lauds patient care at home

By Ayman Adly id-19 cases in the UK was limited turn to Doha instead of continuing giene and physical distancing from Staff Reporter to around 500-700 but suddenly with the treatment in London due to others while avoiding unnecessary safety norms jumped to thousands within a few the high risk situation there. worries and anxiety that undermine days. If I had known that this would “Before I boarded the aircraft to the immunity system. asser al-Malki, a 44 year old happen I would have avoided travel- Doha, I did not experience any high “Everybody should show personal he Ministry of Administrative De- site in the Industrial Area, QNA added. Qatari school manager, who ling out of Qatar,” he said. temperature but when I arrived at responsibility in this regard and be- velopment, Labour and Social Aff airs The MADLSA referred the companies’ of- Ncontracted Covid-19 in Lon- During al-Malki’s pre-surgery Doha I started to feel high tem- cause I was honest from the fi rst mo- T(MADLSA) has recorded eight viola- fi cials to the security authorities for neces- don and subsequently returned to checkups he started to feel a run- perature, and informed the medical ment, none in my family contracted tions of precautionary measures and occu- sary measures and recorded violations of oc- Qatar, has talked about the excellent ning nose without sneezing or high teams at the airport. So they in- the disease and I received due care,” pational safety and health requirements by cupational safety and health requirements. care he was given by the departments temperature. After the surgery, he stantly conducted all the necessary he said urging people to take extra diff erent companies during its inspection The ministry stressed the need to adhere concerned until he recovered fully started to feel a recurring high tem- tests and took me to the designated care and avoid unnecessary outings campaigns. to the Labour Law and the ministerial deci- after 40 days of intense medical care. perature that used to drop and go place for quarantine and then the and family visits especially during The ministry conducted the campaigns sions implementing it, as well as the proce- Narrating his experience to Qatar higher from time to time. hospital for treatment,” he said. the upcoming Eid holidays. to ensure that companies adhere to the pre- dures laid down by the Cabinet and MADL- TV yesterday, al-Malki recalled that Eventually the doctors gave him Al-Malki has advised all to abide Al-Malki’s brother, who had ac- cautionary measures put in place to curb the SA that companies must follow to curb the he was in London during mid Febru- some drugs to get the temperature by the recommended preventive and companied him to London, also re- spread of Covid-19 as well as their compli- spread of Covid-19. ary to undergo a heart surgery. down and his condition started to protective measures to avoid infec- covered from the disease in the same ance with occupational safety and health In the event of non-compliance, penal- “At that time the number of Cov- improve but al-Malki opted to re- tion, most importantly personal hy- way, he added. requirements at housing facilities and work- ties stipulated in Decree Law No 17 of 1990 places, the offi cial Qatar News Agency (QNA) regarding the prevention of infectious dis- reported yesterday. eases are imposed on the off ending offi cial(s) According to the MADLSA, violations were by imprisonment for a period not exceed- recorded against two companies in the Lusail ing three years and a fi ne of no more than and Al Wakra areas for not committing to the QR200,000, or one of these two penalties, Mall of Qatar distributes Iftar meals to labourers decision on wearing of masks by all work- as well as penalties stipulated in Labour Law ers while on duty, one company in Al Wakra No 14 of 2004 and the ministerial decisions for not adhering to the rule on reducing the implementing it. n line with its corporate social Khaled Sam Hosn said in a state- number of workers transported by bus to 50% The MADLSA has designated a hotline, responsibility (CSR) programme ment. of the vehicle’s capacity, and fi ve companies 40280660, to report violations related to the Iand community outreach during The Iftar meals were packed with for not complying with occupational safety safety of workers in housing facilities and at the holy month of Ramadan, Mall of the highest standards of safety, and health requirements at their residential workplaces. Qatar (MoQ), in collaboration with wrapped in biodegradable packs, in a Wa’hab, has been spearheading an step that refl ects the MoQ’s respon- initiative aimed at providing Iftar sibility to protect the environment meals to labourers across Qatar, en- and reduce plastic waste. abling them to overcome the current The CSR programme is at the core Woqod opens fuel station in challenges. of MoQ’s business model. Hundreds of sumptuous Iftar The nation’s mall is a stakeholder meals were prepared, packed and of achieving sustainable development Umm Slal neighbourhood delivered to the labourers. that has a positive impact on social, “Ramadan is the month of giv- economic and environmental factors. atar Fuel (Woqod) yesterday opened the rising demand for petroleum products ing, we pride ourselves contributing Wa’hab, an award-winning SME, its Umm Slal fuel station along Al and achieve the goal of providing customers in the eff ort to provide appropriate works to reduce food wastage and QMajd Road as part of its ongoing ex- with access to best-in-class products and support to those that are in need and provide support to the communities pansion plans to serve every area in Qatar, services at their convenience and comfort. make a diff erence in their lives. It is in Qatar. raising its network of fuel stations to 105. “Members of the Woqod team would like a small gesture that refl ects the val- By connecting surplus food to Woqod managing director and CEO Saad to extend their gratitude to all governmental ues of solidarity and demonstrates those in need, Wa’hab aims to pro- Rashid al-Muhannadi said, “We are pleased and private entities concerned that contrib- our commitment to the wider well- mote social solidarity and protect to open a new petrol station in Umm Slal, Al uted to the completion of this project.” MoQ staff distribute Iftar meals to labourers. being of the community,” MoQ CEO the environment. Majd Road. Woqod aspires to expand its pet- The new Umm Slal petrol station is spread rol station network in the country to meet over a 28,000sq m area and has four lanes with eight dispensers for light vehicles, and two lanes with four dispensers for heavy ve- hicles, which will serve Umm Slal area, Al Majd Road and its neighbourhood. QRCS food The Umm Al Slal station off ers round- the-clock services to residents, and in- cludes a Sidra convenience store, car wash, baskets for oil change and tyre repair facilities for light vehicles, and sale of Shafaf LPG cylinders, in The Umm Slal petrol station opened addition to sale of gasoline and diesel prod- families in yesterday by Woqod along Al Majd Road. ucts for light vehicles and heavy vehicles. Palestine QC provides equipment for medical staff in Syria

Qatar Charity, through its regional off ice in working on preparing the second consignment atar Red Crescent Turkey, has delivered the first consignment of the PPE for health personnel in Idlib, which Society (QRCS), in of personal protective equipment (PPE) for are to be distributed next week. Medical teams Qco-operation with medical personnel in Syria, as part of its eff orts of Qatar Charity are preparing to set up and the Palestine Red Crescent to fight the coronavirus (Covid-19) epidemic equip 14 community isolation centres planned Society (PRCS), is set to around the world. The PPEs have been to be used to treat the coronavirus-infected distribute food baskets to a delivered in Jarablus, Al-Rae, Azaz, Marea and patients. total of 3,780 Covid-19 af- Afrin. The first batch of the PPE includes 3,500 Qatar Charity, with the support from fected families at West Bank N95 protective masks, 80,000 medical masks benefactors in Qatar, aims to deliver health, and Al-Quds in Palestine. for health personnel, 175 (remote) electronic preventive and food assistance to 380,000 The project, which thermometers, and 85,000 pairs of medical people aff ected by the coronavirus inside and forms part of QRCS’ mis- gloves. Besides, 72 triage tents were installed outside Qatar during Ramadan, at a cost of sion to help poor families in 36 health facilities across northern Syria to up to QR60mn, with 250,000 beneficiaries in many Palestinian vil- determine and screen patients before entering outside Qatar, at an estimated cost of lages and towns, will ben- the health facilities. Qatar Charity is currently QR40mn. efit some 18,900 persons. Food baskets being distributed to a total of 3,780 Covid-19 aff ected families at West Bank and Al-Quds in Palestine. All precautions will be un- dertaken to ensure the safety of staff and beneficiaries. Daily wage labourers at workshops and small enter- prises, families of quarantined persons in isolated cities and those registered with PRCS’ social assistance pro- gramme, will be the fi rst to benefi t from the relief. As markets and businesses are locked down, many vulnerable families have lost their income. The overall value of the food aid given by QRCS is $272,700 (nearly Invites Prospective bidders to quote for the following: QR1mn). Each basket contains 30kg of food staples like rice, sugar, tahina, dates, tomato paste, vegetable oil, pasta, freekeh, lentils, noodles, chickpeas, beans, tea, and halawa. PRCS personnel are currently deployed in many villag- es and towns to deliver the food baskets to target groups, in co-ordination with village and town municipalities and local communities. This mission is part of QRCS’s Ramadan campaign for 1441 A H, which involves humanitarian and development projects for 1mn benefi ciaries in 23 countries, at a total • Interested bidders shall communicate their willingness to bid and send cost of QR60mn. contact details to QAPCO Procurement ([email protected]) indicating company name, address, telephone, official email...etc. latest by 13th May 2020. • Reference numbers and description of the tender must be mentioned in the email. • Non-refundable tender fee is payable to QAPCO QNB account # Mercedes-Benz 0013-001688-060 at any QNB branch maximum by 14th May 2020. • Tender link will be sent via an email notification from ARIBA system to the G-Class model of confirmed participants. Tender Document be will accessible only after attaching the evidence of the tender fee payment in ARIBA by the bidder followed by Qapco approval. 2018 recalled • QAPCO shall reply with the access to “ARIBA eSourcing RFP event” along with necessary instructions and guidelines for the bid submission. he Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in co-op- eration with Nasser Bin Khaled (NBK) Automobiles, • Original Tender Bond (Bank Guarantee) must be submitted by hand to the Tannounces the recall of Mercedes-Benz G-Class following address: model of 2018 as the wiring harnesses of the front doors QATAR PETROCHEMICAL COMPANY (QAPCO) Q.P.J.S.C. may not correspond to manufacturer specifi cation. QAPCO Doha Office, C Ring Road, East Al-Hilal, Zone No. 42, Street No. 928, The ministry confi rmed the recall campaign comes Al-Aszhat Road., Doha, Qatar within the framework of its ongoing eff orts to protect con- Tel.: 4033 8104 / 4033 8064 / 4033 8435 sumers and ensure that vehicle dealers follow up on de- Attention: Procurement Group Manager fects and repairs. • Copy of tender bond has to be attached to the offer in ARIBA. Offer The ministry has said that it will co-ordinate with the without Tender Bond will not be considered. dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the • For any clarifications, please send your queries addressed with the necessary repairs are carried out. reference and description to email [email protected]. The ministry urges all customers to report any viola- Note: tions to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Bidders who are not registered in QAPCO are requested to complete the Fraud Department, which processes complaints, in- supplier registration process during the tendering period (Detailed steps quiries and suggestions through the following channels: about ARIBA registration can be accessed via QAPCO website Call Centre: 16001, e-mail: [email protected], Twitter: www.qapco.com) @ MOCIQATAR, Instagram: MOCIQATAR, mobile app For more information about QAPCO please visit our website: www.qapco.com for Android and IOS: MOCIQATAR. Gulf Times Monday, May 11, 2020 5 QATAR

Incorporate remote learning QatarDebate trains in curriculum, schools told

The Educational Aff airs Section The circular recommended for the challenges to develop the at the Ministry of Education and that communications process for the next school year. students remotely Higher Education has asked public between teachers and Besides, schools would also report schools to start preparing the annual students of the final year the best practices of distinguished school plan for the academic year of the secondary schools teachers and the related staff to 2020/2021 and to include remote should go on until the final benefit from their experiences. learning as an integral part. exams The circular recommended that Local Arabic daily Arrayah reported communications between teachers for competitions that the Educational Aff airs Section when preparing the detailed plan for and students of the final year of the said remote education should be the new academic year. secondary schools should go on until QNA mainly incorporated into homework The circular regarding the necessary the final exams in order to answer the Doha assignments, learning projects, preparation for the upcoming school latter’s questions and respond to their activities and other practical year, called upon schools to prepare queries and educational needs. Thus lessons, stressing that the successful a detailed report on the experiences they will be able to make good use atarDebate Center (QD), a experiences of some private and of remote learning, including the of the available e-learning platforms member of Qatar Foundation international schools in this field advantages and disadvantages and prepare well for the upcoming Q(QF), through its training of should be taken into consideration alongside suggested solutions examinations, the circular stressed. Team Qatar aims to equip debate stu- dents to represent the country at inter- national championships and forums. The coronavirus pandemic has changed methods of education, re- search and various activities. It has thus become necessary for QatarDe- bate Center to keep pace with devel- opments in the country and globally without disrupting precautionary measures in Qatar. The centre has started to conduct its activities remotely and continues to train the Qatar National English De- bate Team, Qatar National Arabic De- bate Team, as well as the junior team, all eager to represent Qatar at interna- tional forums. The QD administration has taken the responsibility of preparing young talents to keep up with developments Team Qatar’s remote training session in progress and changes. Team Qatar training is designed to Qatar National Arabic debate team has with debaters from diff erent countries prepare the nation’s top school de- continued its training through dis- in the coming period.” baters to compete with the best from tance learning tools, even while the Mubarrat Wassey, English debate around the world at the World Schools basic plan for Team Qatar training this instructor, QatarDebate, said: “Due to Debating Championship (WSDC). season was limited to the end of March, the Covid-19 pandemic, the in-person Once intensive selections are com- with the end of the championship that WSDC has been offi cially postponed plete, the team goes through rigor- they were preparing to participate in to early 2021. ous training sessions. Not only must stopped due to the current situation. “While this has been heartbreaking they learn to speak well by perfecting The main team members and a group for everyone in the team preparing to every aspect of their speaking skills, of students insisted on continuing the compete, the Qatar National English they must also become knowledge- weekly exercises remotely, where the debate team has rallied together tre- able critical thinkers on a wide range team meets within a plan based on mendously well. Online trainings were of issues, be it social, political, moral three hubs: debating skills workshops conducted even before the fi nal deci- or otherwise. (advanced level), knowledge content sion on the competition was taken, and In the end, the training programme development workshops, and practis- even while in limbo, the children did creates batches of intellectual Qatari ing debate. not let their spirits falter. They were re- youth who can think quickly and speak “Team Qatar also participated in a silient and learned to cope with online with substance. remote public debate with the School trainings. Whatever is the outcome, it is Mohamed Khider, Arabic debate Debate Team from Kuwait. The team a great source of pride and joy for me to instructor, QatarDebate, said: “The will have many forthcoming debates train these bright children.”

Environmental violations FREE VEHICLE RECALL

The Ministry of Municipality and The industrial inspection and pollution control department Environment’s Department of Industrial at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) has Inspection and Pollution Control has spotted spotted an environmental violation of burning refuse materials a number of violations regarding the storage in undesignated areas causing harmful emissions. The MME has of used oils and lubricants at undesignated taken all the necessary legal procedures against the violators areas and in unregulated way. Accordingly, and referred them to the security department concerned. The all the legal procedures were taken against MME has also urged the public to report any such violations the violators and referred to the security using the unified call centre number 184. department concerned.

QU study shows high prevalence of insomnia among students Mercedes-Benz G Class study by a student at Qatar Ali also interacted with healthcare She also explained that for the University College of Pharmacy professionals at Primary Health Care second phase of the study, phar- A(QU-CPH) has revealed that in- Corporation (PHCC) who informed macists and physicians from PH- Manufacturing somnia aff ects more than two third of that insomnia is an important health CCs were interviewed and were Year 2018 QU students. concern and a major challenge. Several asked questions regarding the According to the study by MSc stu- reasons for these challenges included commonly followed approaches dent in Clinical Pharmacy and Prac- the complexity of insomnia symptoms for the identification and treat- The wiring harnesses of the front doors may not correspond to tice, Raja Mahamade Ali, poor sleep and its link to mental illness, the lim- ment of insomnia. manufacturer specification hygiene practices are highly prevalent ited availability of pharmacological “We are working closely with QU DEFECT among QU students and appear to and non-pharmacological treatments, Student Counselling Centre to spread contribute substantially to the poor patient attitudes towards insomnia awareness among university students quality of sleep identifi ed in this pop- and its treatments, and the lack of lo- about sleep hygiene and optimal life- Contact the dealer for the free required repair ulation. cal guidelines to guide insomnia man- style habits to help them in improving PROCESS Ali recently defended her MSc the- agement. their sleep quality Further research is sis entitled: “Sleep patterns among Ali said, “University students were also needed to quantify the barriers university students and insomnia selected because they are known to that aff ect the provision of optimal Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles management in primary care in Qatar: be a population at risk for having care for insomnia patients at PHCCs A two phase investigation.” sleep disturbances, and PHCC centres and to design interventions to close CONTACT Phone: 44587777 The study aimed to explore the were chosen for being the fi rst point these care gaps. Future projects in this prevalence of insomnia among univer- of contact with the healthcare system area are needed, and they are certainly sity students as well as to assess how for people who may be experiencing in my research agenda for MSc student insomnia is being addressed and man- sleeping problems. candidates at CPH” Dr Zolezzi high- aged within Qatar’s main public health “For the purpose of this study, two lighted. For any consumer protection issues please contact us on the hotline 16001 services. This study was conducted questionnaires were used: one inves- The results of this study have been under the supervision of CPH assist- tigated the students’ quality of sleep shared with the research community ant professor Dr Monica Zolezzi and and another explored behavioural and through several podium and poster was co-supervised by CPH associate environmental factors which could af- presentations in local and interna- professor Dr Ahmed Awaisu. fect sleep, also known as sleep hygiene”. tional conferences. Gulf Times 6 Monday, May 11, 2020 QATAR COVID-19: Qatar Charity provides Qatar Charity’s digital equipment for medical staff in Syria initiatives ease doing good atar Charity (QC) seized the opportunity of Ramadan, the month of atar Charity, through its re- personnel, 175 (remote) electronic compassion and blessings, to bring 20 digital initiatives, which help gional office in Turkey, has thermometers, and 85,000 pairs Qpeople do good easily and make a contribution electronically wherever Qdelivered the first consign- of medical gloves. they are. ment of personal protective equip- Besides, 72 triage tents were in- ment (PPE) for medical personnel stalled in 36 health facilities across Some of these initiatives are the following: in Syria, as part of its efforts to fight northern Syria to determine and the coronavirus (COVID-19) epi- screen patients before entering the Dal Ala Al- Khair demic around the world. health facilities. The ‘Dal Ala Al- Khair’ service allows you to contribute to Qatar Charity’s projects via social media platforms, and collect points for every donation that comes through the link that you post. Track your impact through your profile page. When you collect enough points, you will be included in the list of honor and awarded. Please do not forget that “Whoever guides someone to virtue will be rewarded equivalent to him who practices that good action.” Dal Ala Al- Khair Link: https://www.qcharity.org/en/qa/socialshare/about

Athar The ‘Athar’ initiative is based on the idea of the impact that the influenc- ers of society can make to help those in need. The initiative includes a group of figures and social media influencers. Each of them has a page bearing his name, through which he selects and shows the projects he wishes to support, and encourages his followers to donate to them. Athar Link: https://www.qcharity.org/en/qa/programs/athar

Gift This is an innovative initiative to encourage people to dedicate charity work and ongoing charity projects to those they hold dear on many occasions, such as Eid, wedding, and graduation. The donor chooses the desired project or any The PPE has been delivered in Qatar Charity is currently of the projects to contribute a small amount and then enters the gift recipient Jarablus, Al-Rae, Azaz, Marea and working on preparing the second details to send it, as a gift, in a text message. Show your love to your beloved Afrin. consignment of the PPE for health ones by sending them philanthropic gifts through Qatar Charity’s website or The first batch of the PPE in- personnel in Idlib, which are to be cludes 3,500 N95 protective masks, distributed next week. official mobile app. 80,000 medical masks for health Medical teams of Qatar Char- Gift Link: https://www.qcharity.org/en/qa/gift Daily Charity This ‘Daily Charity’ allows enrolled donors to automatically donate an agreed amount every day. You can stop the automatic deduction anytime from your page or you can call our customer care service to stop the service. Make a ity are preparing to set up and It is worth mentioning that daily charity through Qatar Charity’s website or official mobile app. equip 14 community isolation cen- Qatar Charity, with the support Daily Charity Link: https://www.qcharity.org/en/qa/ramadan/ramadansadaqa/3 ters planned to be used to treat the from benefactors in Qatar, aims coronavirus-infected patients. to deliver health, preventive and Meter & Award Qatar Charity was one of the food assistance to 380,000 people ‘Meter & Award’ an initiative available through Qatar Charity’s website and first organizations that were invit- affected by the coronavirus inside official mobile app, provides an opportunity to contribute to projects that -ac ed by the World Health Organiza- and outside Qatar during Rama- cept ongoing charity. A donor can contribute the value of one meter or more to tion (WHO) to be an active member dan, at a cost of up to 60 million charitable projects such as mosques, Quran learning centers, hospitals, health of the working group in the fight riyals, with 250,000 beneficiaries centers, and houses for poor families. against coronavirus within Syria. outside Qatar, at an estimated cost Meter & Award Link: https://www.qcharity.org/en/qa/meter of 40 million riyals.

Give water.. Give life find peace in giving

Senegal Nepal Drilling a shallow well Drilling a shallow well with a depth of 35m with a depth of 60m

To Know More QR QR 13,150 3,340 about the 500 Beneficiaries 6 Beneficiaries Project, Please Scan QR Code Model number 113005 License 177/2020 Model number 113785 License 689/ 2020 qch.qa/W RACA License No. 1039/2020

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qch.qa/App 44667711 Donation Points qch.qa/W Gulf Times Monday, May 11, 2020 7 REGION/ARAB WORLD/AFRICA WHO suspends staff activity in Houthi-held areas

Reuters War-ravaged Yemen, one of urban centres, have recorded ern areas due to “credible threats try’s ‘priority status’ in terms the WHO had taken the meas- to disease compared with other Dubai the countries most vulnerable to just two cases with one death. and perceived risks which could of who receives what for Cov- ure to press Houthi authorities countries. Minimal testing ca- disease, is divided between the The WHO directive issued have an impact on staff security”, id-19 is directly linked to how to report results of tests for pacity has added to concerns. internationally recognised gov- late on Saturday notifi ed staff in it said in response to a Reuters’ many cases are in country and Covid-19, the respiratory dis- The five-year war between a he World Health Organi- ernment temporarily based in Sanaa, the Red Sea port of Ho- query, adding that operations the need — it is the numbers,” ease caused by coronavirus. coalition and the Houthi move- sation (WHO) has sus- the south and the Houthi group deidah, the northern province have not been suspended. it said. The government has accused ment has shattered Yemen’s Tpended staff activity at that ousted it from power in the of Saada and central province of The United Nations is op- The UN has “systematically Houthi authorities of cover- health system and left its popu- its hubs in Houthi-held areas of capital, Sanaa, in late 2014. Ibb that “all movements, meet- erating under the assumption for weeks now” advised on case ing up an outbreak in Sanaa, a lation weakened by hunger and Yemen, a directive seen by Reu- The government has so far ings or any other activity” for that there is now full-blown declaration and reporting, but charge the group denies. disease. ters showed, in a move sources reported 34 cases of the novel staff in those areas were paused transmission in Yemen, it said. the decision to do so rests with The WHO says it fears Cov- Around 80% of the popula- said aimed to pressure the group coronavirus with seven deaths until further notice. “We are competing for re- local authorities, the WHO id19 could rip through Yemen tion, or 24mn people, rely on to be more transparent about in territory it controls, while the The WHO has temporarily sources and supplies in the added. as the population has some of humanitarian aid and 10mn are suspected coronavirus cases. Houthis, who hold most large paused its movements in north- global market — and a coun- Three sources told Reuters the lowest levels of immunity at risk of starvation. Govt says four killed in Tripoli rocket attacks

AFP planes sustained serious dam- Tripoli age. Images of an aircraft with its fuselage ripped open and of a badly damaged runway and air- ibya’s Government of Na- port buildings were posted on tional Accord said yester- social media. Lday at least four civilians, Libya’s National Oil Corpo- including a child, were killed ration (NOC) said on Saturday as rockets rained down on the that rockets and missiles hit a capital Tripoli and damaged its fuel depot at the airport, de- only working airport. stroying four tanks and damag- People queue in front of a shop to refill their gas cylinders in Kuwait The UN-recognised GNA ing the facility’s other six. City yesterday, a day after Kuwaiti authorities announced a 20-day blamed Saturday’s attacks on The United Nations Support total lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. eastern strongman Khalifa Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Haftar, who has been waging a called the bombardment “an campaign to take control of the all too familiar but frightening capital since April last year. spectacle”. GNA supporter Turkey, for “These horrifying attacks Kuwait reports 1,065 its part, warned that it would occur on a regular basis in close target Haftar’s forces if attacks proximity to civilian neigh- continued on Ankara’s missions bourhoods,” UNSMIL said on new Covid-19 cases and “interests”, citing the air- Twitter. port. It called the shelling “one in a Haftar’s forces “fi red more series of indiscriminate attacks, QNA ministry confi rmed that 1,117 than a hundred rockets and most of which are attributable Kuwait cases have recovered. missiles at residential areas in to pro-LNA (Haftar) forces, ARAB HUMAN RIGHTS the centre of the capital”, the killing more than 15 and injur- PANEL’S PRAISE GNA said in a statement on Fa- ing 50 civilians since 1 May”. he Kuwaiti Ministry of The Arab Human Rights Com- cebook. Since Wednesday, 17 civil- Health announced 1,065 mittee, affi liated with the Arab At least four civilians, in- ians and two police offi cers Tnew coronavirus (Cov- League, praised the measures cluding a fi ve-year-old girl, have been killed and more than id-19) infections in the last taken by the Arab countries to were killed and 16 others A policeman inspects a passenger plane damaged by shelling at Tripoli’s Mitiga airport in Libya yesterday. 66 other civilians wounded in 24 hours, bringing the total to prevent the spread of Covid-19 wounded in the working-class rocket fi re targeting several ar- 8,688. and to address its economic and districts of Abu Slim and Ben Turkey warned that Haftar’s one civilian were killed, Hashe- ian planes preparing to take off eas of the capital, according to The Ministry said that nine social repercussions, QNA re- Gashir, south of the city, the forces would become “legiti- mi said at the time. and other civilian infrastruc- the GNA. deaths were reported as well, ported. GNA’s health ministry spokes- mate targets” if such attacks “We stress that if our mis- ture, and those which kill civil- UNSMIL slammed the at- bringing the fatalities’ toll up to The committee said in a state- man Amin al-Hashemi said. continued. sions and interests are targeted ians or injure them, constitute a tacks hitting civilians and civil- 58. ment yesterday that the Cov- Dozens of rockets also tar- Overnight Thursday to Fri- in Libya, Haftar’s forces will be war crime,” it added. ian infrastructure and called for In its daily press briefi ng, id-19 pandemic has forced an geted Mitiga airport, hitting a day, rockets fell on Tripoli’s considered legitimate targets,” Mitiga airport was badly “those responsible for crimes Health Ministry spokesper- unprecedented health emergen- civilian aircraft lined up to re- Zawiyat al-Dahmani neigh- the Turkish foreign ministry damaged on Saturday and came under international law to be son Dr Abdullah al-Sanad an- cy in all countries of the world, patriate Libyans stuck abroad bourhood, which is home to the said. under renewed rocket fi re yes- brought to justice”. nounced the recovery of 107 pa- including the Arab countries, due to the coronavirus pan- GNA foreign ministry and the “The attacks on diplomatic terday morning. But the GNA said interna- tients, bringing the total to 2,729 which in turn imposed new chal- demic, the GNA statement Italian and Turkish embassies. missions including our Tripoli An airport source said the tional condemnation was not recoveries. lenges on them, in both health added. At least two policemen and embassy, Mitiga airport, civil- passenger halls and two civilian enough. Earlier yesterday, the minis- measures and economic capa- try said in press statement that bilities. analyses and medical examina- The statement added that the tions and tests proved that these Arab Human Rights Committee NW Syria clashes leave 48 dead: monitor cases were cured of the coro- is following the measures taken navirus, pointing out that the by Arab countries in the context Iran locks down southwest county Clashes in northwest Syria lion to flee. But before dawn recovered will be transferred to of responding to the pandemic killed 48 regime fighters and yesterday, rebels attacked the hospital recuperation ward, and containing its economic and militants yesterday in the the positions of pro-regime pending their discharge within social repercussions. Reuters new cases across the province. by 60%,” Shariati said. highest such death toll since fighters on the western flank the next few days. It pointed out that the Com- Tehran Tasnim quoted Gholamreza Banks and offi ces in Abadan the start of a two-month-old of the militant-dominated OMAN REVEALS mittee was ready to provide Shariati, governor of Khuz- will be closed until the end of ceasefire there, a monitor region, the Syrian Observa- 175 NEW CASES technical assistance to all Arab estan province, which borders the week and entry corridors to said, AFP reported from tory for Human Rights. The The Omani Ministry of Health countries in co-operation with county in southwestern Iraq and includes the county of the county from the north and Beirut. A truce since March clashes in the Sahl al-Ghab reported yesterday 175 new regional and international part- Iran has been placed Abadan, as saying people had east have been closed, accord- 6 had largely stemmed area killed 35 regime fight- cases of Covid-19, including 52 ners, national institutions and Aunder lockdown to pre- not been observing social dis- ing to Tasnim. fighting in Syria’s last major ers as well as 13 militants cases in Omanis, and 123 among NGOs in order to formulate, im- vent the spread of coronavirus, tancing rules. Offi ces will be closed and rebel bastion of Idlib after a including from the Al Qaeda- non-Omanis, bringing the total plement and evaluate policies Tasnim news agency reported “Because of this the number travel restrictions will also ap- months-long regime assault aff iliated Hurras al-Deen number of cases recorded in the and strategies designed to com- yesterday, also quoting the of corona patients in the prov- ply to nine other counties in that killed hundreds of civil- group, the Britain-based Sultanate to 3,399. bat the pandemic in the Arab provincial governor as saying ince has tripled and the hospi- oil-rich Khuzestan, Tasnim ians and forced almost a mil- monitor said. In a statement, quoted by world, from the human rights there had been a sharp rise in talisation of patients has risen cited Shariati as saying. Oman’s News Agency ONA, the perspective.

UNREST Congo army kills 23, retakes rebel fiefdom The DR Congo army said yesterday it had killed 23 militiamen and re- taken one of their few remaining fiefdoms in the northeastern Ituri region Modest anti-govt rallies resume in Iraq in a Friday skirmish. “Following these clashes the army neutralised 23 mi- litiamen from the Codeco armed group and recovered a bastion at Bese” some 100 kilometres from the provincial capital Bunia, Lieutenant Jules AFP home of an MP affiliated with Ngongo said. The Co-operative for the Development of Congo (Codeco) Baghdad another faction, according to are one of dozens of armed groups spread across the conflict-wracked an AFP correspondent. country. Its members are mainly drawn from the Lendu ethnic group, Hundreds more hit the who are predominantly farmers, and clash repeatedly with the Hema odest anti-govern- streets yesterday morning. community of traders and herders in Ituri - a region rich in gold and oil. ment rallies resumed The rallies came just hours Ngongo said 17 militiamen were killed at Bese and the remainder at Min some Iraqi cities after Kadhemi appeared to nearby Kabakaba, to the north of Bunia. He added that Bese is one of yesterday, clashing with secu- extend a hand to the anti- Codeco’s last strongholds after a string of recent defeats saw them pull rity forces and ending months government movement by back to their base there. of relative calm just days after promising to release arrested Prime Minister Mustafa Kad- demonstrators and compen- hemi’s government came to sate the families of those killed PANDEMIC power. while protesting. Djibouti delays plan to ease lockdown The protests fi rst erupted in He also reinstated and pro- Baghdad and southern cities moted General Abdulwahab Djibouti, the tiny Horn of Africa nation with the highest number of in October, demanding an end al-Saadi, a popular military coronavirus cases on the continent per capita, yesterday reversed to corruption and unemploy- figure whose abrupt dismissal course on a plan to begin lifting lockdown measures this week, saying ment and an overhaul of the by previous premier Adel Ab- it was premature. “The government, through the voice of the prime ruling class. But internal splits, A woman shouts slogans as she takes part with Iraqi protesters in an an anti-government del Mahdi in September had minister, has decided to extend the confinement for another week a rise in US-Iran tensions and demonstration on Al-Jumhuriyah bridge in the capital Baghdad, yesterday. been a main catalyst of the until May 17,” Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said in a Twitter a lockdown imposed by coro- first protests. post. “Noting that the prerequisite conditions are not yet in place, the navirus eff ectively snuff ed out ered at the epicentre of the mostly teenage boys, managed rocks at security forces, who And Kadhemi called on par- government made this decision just now,” he said. the movement earlier this year, protest movement in Tahrir to clamber over a fi rst barrier responded with tear gas. liament to adopt the new elec- leaving a few desolate protesters (Liberation) Square, an AFP on the bridge as security forces Their demands echoed the toral law needed for early polls camped out in squares across correspondent said. responded with water cannons previous rallies: early elec- as demanded by the protesters. STRIFE the country. “The people want the fall of and tear gas. tions under a new voting law Still, demonstrators re- Three UN troops killed in Mali mine blast This week, after Iraq’s par- the regime!” they shouted, pelt- A medical source said that and accountability for the mained sceptical. liament approved a new cabinet ing rocks and Molotov cocktails 20 protesters had suffered more than 550 people killed in “We will give him 10 days to Three UN troops were killed early yesterday and three wounded when headed by Kadhemi, activists at security forces blocking off breathing difficulties from the protest-related violence since prove himself, and if our de- their convoy hit a roadside bomb, an off icial said, in the latest violence promptly issued calls on social the adjacent Al-Jumhuriyah gas but no shots were fired. October. mands aren’t met, then we will to hit the war-torn West African state. “There are three dead and three media for fresh protests, saying bridge, which leads into the In Nasiriyah, a protest Protesters turned out over- escalate,” said Mohamed, a seriously wounded,” said the off icial, who declined to be named. Olivier the new premier was part of the high-security Green Zone host- hotspot further south, dozens night in the city of Kut, setting student protester returning to Salgado, the spokesman for the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, con- same reviled political class. ing government offi ces and for- of protesters shut off streets fire to the headquarters of the Tahrir yesterday. firmed the account to AFP. By noon, dozens had gath- eign embassies. The protesters, with burning tyres and threw Badr Organisation and to the “Today is a message.” Gulf Times 8 Monday, May 11, 2020 RAMADAN/AMERICAS Tips that can help you connect with the Qur’an Top US offi cials t is recommended for every when communicating with Him. will overcome.” [Qur’an 41:26] believing man and woman to 3. Start with reading only fi ve 5. Remember that the Noble Qur’an recite the Book of Allah, the minutes everyday is far more interactive than a CD INoble Qur’an, often, with due Too often, we think that we should In an age of “interactive” CD-ROMs contemplation and understanding. read the Noble Qur’an for at least one and computer programs, a number self-quarantine This may be done by using a copy of whole hour. If you are not in the habit of people think books are passive and the Qur’an or from one’s memory. of reading regularly, this is too much. boring. But the Qur’an is not like that. Guardian News and Media Allah - the Most High – Says (what Start off with just fi ve minutes daily. If Remember that when you read the Washington means): “[This is] a blessed Book you took care of step one, Insha Allah Glorious Qur’an, you are interacting (the Qur’an) which We have revealed (Allah willing), you will notice that with Almighty Allah. He Almighty is to you, (O Muhammad, sallallaahu those fi ve minutes will become 10, talking to you, so pay attention. he White House is stepping up ‘alaihi wa sallam), that they might then half an hour, then an hour, and 6. Do not just read, you have to precautions to try to stem the refl ect upon its verses and that those maybe even more! listen too Tspread of Covid-19 in the West of understanding would be reminded.” 4. Make sure that you understand There are now many audio cassettes Wing after Dr Anthony Fauci, the US [Qur’an 38:29] what you have read and CDs of the Qur’an, a number of government’s top infectious diseases Are you one of those people who Five minutes of reading the Qur’an them with translations as well. This offi cial, and two other senior leaders rarely touch the Qur’an? Or do you in Arabic is good, but you need to is great to put on your Walkman or in the fi ght against Covid-19 began read it daily, but don’t fi nd it is having understand what you are reading. your car’s CD or stereo as you drive to self-quarantining yesterday, following the impact on you that it should? If you are not Arabic, or you don’t and from work. Use this in addition positive tests for the virus among staff . Whatever the case may be, these are understand the Arabic language, then to your daily Qur’an reading, not as a News that three core members of the some simple tips that can help you make sure you have a good translation replacement for it. US pandemic task force were having to connect with the Qur’an. of the Qur’an in the language you 7. Make Du’aa’ (supplication) go into some degree of self-isolation 1. Before you touch it, check your understand best. Always try to read Ask Allah, the Most Exalted, to could not come at a worse time for heart the translation of what you have read guide you when you read the Qur’an. Donald Trump. The key to really benefi ting from that day. Your aim is to sincerely, for the love of The president is trying to project an the Qur’an is to check your heart Regarding those who neglect the Allah, interact with Him by reading, image of confi dence and resolution as fi rst, before you even touch Allah’s Glorious Qur’an by not reading or not understanding and applying His he encourages states to reopen their book. Ask yourself, honestly, why you understanding it, Allah Almighty Says blessed words. Making Du’aa’ to economies, while his administration is People wait in line to pick up bundles of food and goods during the weekly are reading it. Is it to just get some (what means):”And the Messenger has Allah for help and guidance will be proving unable to keep the virus at bay food pantry service run by Grace Ministries of the North Shore in Everett, information and to let it drift away said, “O my Lord, indeed my people your best tool for doing this. even within the White House. Massachusetts. Everett, a city bordering Boston, has some of the highest from you later? Remember that the have taken this Qur’an as [a thing] When you are making du’aa’, Fauci, 79, a calming face of the Trump Covid-19 infections in Massachusetts, with 1212 positive cases. Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu abandoned.” [Qur’an: 25: 30] you have a direct connection with administration’s otherwise chaotic pan- ‘alaihi wa sallam, was described by his Alaah Almighty informs us Allah Almighty. So when you are demic response, has begun what is be- Canada posts one of its smallest daily increases in deaths noble wife, ‘Aa’ishah as a “walking about His Prophet and Messenger, saying your du’aa’, you shouldn’t be ing described as “modifi ed quarantine”, Qur’an”: in other words, he didn’t just Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa distracted, but instead you should involving some work from home, after The total number of people killed by the “back into confinement this summer”. read and recite the Qur’an, he lived it. sallam, that he said: “My Lord my be fully concentrated. The Prophet, he had “low risk” contact with a White coronavirus in Canada rose by 2.2% to AFP adds from Montreal: Women in 2. Before you touch it, do your people have abandoned - acting or sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: House staff er who tested positive. 4,728 yesterday, one of the lowest daily Quebec have been harder hit by the Wudhoo’ (ablution) listening - to the Qur’an” and that is “Make Du’aa’ and be assured of it He is joined by Dr Stephen Hahn, increases since the outbreak started, of- coronavirus than men, according to the Doing your Wudhoo’ is good because the idol-worshippers did not being answered, and know that Allah, commissioner of the US Food and Drug ficial public health agency data showed. province’s health services. physical and mental preparation to pay attention nor listen to the Qur’an, the Exalted, does not answer a Du’aa’ Administration, and Dr Robert Red- “We have come a long way in a short Contrary to trends in other countries remind you that you are not reading as Allah Says (what means): “And those from a careless heart which is not fi eld, director of the Centers for Disease time since the Covid-19 pandemic was where men have been most aff ected, just another book. You are about to who disbelieve say, “Do not listen to concentrating.” [At-Tirmithi] Control and Prevention, who have both declared and our eff orts have undoubt- women account for 59.7% of the people interact with Allah, the Most Exalted, this Quran and speak noisily during Article source: http://www. gone into two weeks of isolation. edly prevented wider spread of the virus infected by the virus in Quebec, and so being clean should be a priority [the recitation of] it that perhaps you islamweb.net/emainpage/ Fauci is still due to testify before across the country,” chief public health 54% of the deaths, the Quebec National a Senate committee next week, CBS off icer Theresa Tam said in a statement, Institute of Public Health reported over News reported, while practising social Reuters reports from Ottawa. the weekend. distancing and wearing a mask. The figure for those diagnosed with The institute off ered no explanation Webinar on ‘Innovation in Zakat: The scramble to protect Trump from the coronavirus rose to 67,996. for why women were more aff ected than potential infection was prompted after On Saturday there were 4,628 deaths men, but a large majority of nurses and two White House staff ers tested positive. and 66,780 positive diagnoses. caregivers of the elderly are women. They included a US Navy offi cer who Separately, Ontario — the most popu- The age group most aff ected by the an obligation and an economy’ served as valet for the president and the lous of the 10 provinces — reported just virus was 30- to 49-year-olds, who ac- press spokeswoman for vice-president 294 new cases on Sunday, the lowest counted for 28% of those infected. he Qatar Finance and Busi- ital building and on refi ning the skills line training’ experience where it an- Mike Pence, Katie Miller, who is married day-on-day advance since March 31. People between the ages of 80 and ness Academy has conducted of professionals, as well as those inter- nounced the launch of this mechanism to senior policy aide Stephen Miller. Several provinces are moving to 89 accounted for 40 % of the deaths, Ta webinar titled ‘Innovation in ested in this topic, especially in light of through its various online platforms. The positive tests are reported to gradually reopen businesses that were followed by 33.4% among people 90 Zakat: an obligation and an economy’, the current health crisis. “It is our responsibility to do our have caused alarm within the White shut down to fight the outbreak, throw- and older. which is part of its Ramadan initiative To provide a high calibre of experts best to enable and help the commu- House, given the cramped conditions ing millions out of work. According to the institute, Quebec to maintain and continue the acad- and specialists in the Zakat fi eld, the nity to continue building upon their in which offi cials work. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had has a death rate of 326 per million in- emy’s mission in learning and training webinar was delivered by Dr Osama professional skills and learning despite The New York Times cited a senior said on Saturday that if provinces habitants, placing it behind Spain (566), during the holy month. Abu Bakr and Dr Riyad Mansour al- the nature and challenges of the cur- offi cial as saying Trump himself was acted too quickly, a second wave of Italy (500) and Britain (465), but ahead These learning and cultural activi- Khulaifi who off ered an extensive dis- rent situation. In line with Qatar Na- “spooked” to learn that the valet, who the pandemic could send Canada of Canada as a whole (124). ties come after the ‘Azm’ initiative to cussion on topics, such as Shariah and tional Vision 2030, our aim is to rise on occasion serves him food, had not enable businesses in times of crisis accounting principles of contempo- above challenges that have become a been wearing a mask. launched by the academy, in conjunc- rary Zakat. reality today and continue building Senior offi cials took to the talk shows things that have to happen in that West deaths in the US, although the real fi g- tion with the current novel coronavi- The webinar coincided with the upon the human development pillar.” yesterday to try to counter the impres- Wing even though the building is a lit- ure is likely to be considerably higher. rus (Covid-19) pandemic. academy’s latest Zakat Accounting He added: “In the giving spirit and sion of internal shambles around the tle old and poorly ventilated.” Trump is having to deal with fur- The hour-long webinar was held Certifi cate Programme, aimed at pro- persistence that we learn from the president. Larry Kudlow, the White The crop of infections in the White ther bad optics about his pandemic to enable professionals and the acad- viding professionals with a framework holy month of Ramadan, the academy House national economic council di- House poses the administration a response, thanks to his predecessor, emy’s public audience to continue of knowledge in the foundations of chose to invest in remote training op- rector, told ABC’s This Week the two problem not only in terms of keeping Barack Obama. distance learning during Ramadan and modern Zakat combining both theo- portunities to give working profes- positive tests were insignifi cant. the president safe. It also provides an In a leaked call fi rst reported by Yahoo to raise community awareness on the retical and practical case studies. sionals and the community a chance to “In terms of the White House com- inconvenient framing to Trump’s ef- News, Obama told former offi cials from importance of Zakat obligation and Abdallah al-Jumaily, head of Pro- continue their development journey. plex, which is an enormous place, at forts to come across as upbeat in the his administration the Trump adminis- its objectives of keeping up with latest fessional Development, said: “During During this time, we extend our sin- least 500 people, probably much more face of the contagion. tration’s handling of the crisis had been standards and practices. these unprecedented and challenging cerest wishes of health to those aff ect- than that … those who have tested pos- He has been encouraging states to “an absolute chaotic disaster when that In addition, this seeks to support times with the Covid-19 outbreak, ed by the pandemic, hoping for safety itive is still a small fraction,” he said. reopen their economies, even though in mindset of ‘what’s in it for me’ and ‘to QFBA’s eff orts centred on human cap- QFBA sought to embrace ‘distance on- of our beloved nation and the world.” Kevin Hassett, a special adviser to many cases the states are ill-prepared heck with everybody else’ …is opera- Trump on the pandemic, told CNN’s for the health challenges of doing so at tionalized in our government.” State of the Union extra precautions a time when the virus is still on the rise. Trump lashed back in a tweet yes-        were being taken. Trump has tried to appear in control terday morning, claiming to be getting Nobody was being allowed to have an by pointedly refusing to wear a mask in “great marks” for the handling of coro-           audience with Trump, he emphasized, White House meetings, and even tour- navirus.            unless they had tested negative. ing a mask-making factory in Arizona He went on: “Compare that to the But Hassett said there was a degree last week without carrying any pro- Obama/Sleepy Joe disaster known as   of risk involved in working in the West tective gear. The Associated Press re- H1N1 Swine Flu. Poor marks, bad polls  Wing, given the age of the building and ported that Trump chose not to wear a — didn’t have a clue!”      the working conditions. mask because it would “send the wrong Kudlow also hit back. He told ABC  Speaking to CBS’s Face the Nation, message” and impact his re-election that “with all due respect to the former    he said it was “scary” going to work and chances. president … I really don’t want to get that it would have been safer staying at The latest data from Johns Hopkins into a political back-and-forth here … I   home. “The West Wing, even with all University shows that the US now has don’t know what he’s talking about”. He the testing in the world and the best more than 1.3mn confi rmed cases of added: “I don’t understand what Presi-      medical team on Earth, is a relatively Covid-19, almost a third of the global dent Obama is saying. It just sounds so cramped place,” he said. “There are tally. There have been 78,855 recorded darn political to me.” (89) (88)

(92) (91) (90)      (93) Court to take on Trump taxes, immunity       By Charlotte Plantive, AFP Since retaking control of the House committee to torment the president  . Washington of Representatives in midterm elec- with legislative subpoena after legisla- tions in 2018, the Democratic opposi- tive subpoena is a recipe for constitu-     . tion has been eager to fi nd out just what tional crisis,” the president’s lawyers an Donald Trump refuse to turn that “something” might be. said in a brief to the court.                               )  over his tax returns and fi nan- Several congressional committees Yet such requests are nothing new, Ccial records to Congress and have issued subpoenas to Trump’s House lawyers responded in their own  (72)                                                  New York prosecutors? The Supreme longtime accounting fi rm, Mazars, as brief, citing examples involving presi-      Court takes up this politically charged well as to Deutsche Bank and Capital dents Richard Nixon, a Republican, and    question today and it may use the oc- One bank, demanding Trump’s fi nan- Jimmy Carter, a Democrat.  casion to better defi ne the limits of cial records for the 2011-2018 period. “What is unprecedented,” they add-  presidential immunity. Manhattan prosecutor Cyrus Vance, ed, “is the extraordinary breadth of  The high court’s nine justices, con- a Democrat, meantime made a similar the arguments that President Trump fi ned at home by the novel coronavirus demand to Mazars as part of an inves- and the solicitor general make about  pandemic, will question lawyers for tigation into payments to the porn ac- the supposed power of a president to  both sides by telephone in a highly an- tress known as Stormy Daniels to buy thwart investigations.”     ticipated session to be broadcast live. her silence about an alleged liaison The high court may be tempted to   The hearing, initially set for late with the billionaire. sidestep the central issue.    March, is being held now to allow time Trump immediately sued to block In late April, it asked both sides to for the justices to render a decision the documents’ release. “What they are respond in writing to the question of  )   before the presidential election in No- doing is not legal,” he said on Twitter, whether the matter was political and vember, as Trump seeks a second term. adding, “the Witch Hunt continues.” not legal in nature. If the former is true, The former real estate magnate, who Having lost his argument in the low- justices can close the fi le without tak- used his fortune as an argument in his er courts, Trump turned to the nation’s ing a position. “No,” both sides had said (116) 2016 election campaign, is the fi rst highest legal body. With two conserva- on Friday, clearly hoping for resolution  president since Richard Nixon in the tive Trump appointees on the nine- by the high court.    1970s to refuse to release his tax re- justice panel, the high court has taken In a second phase of today’s ses-  turns — prompting speculation about a clear turn to the right. sion, the justices will take up the case    his true worth and his possible fi nan- The justices will devote the fi rst hour involving the Manhattan prosecutor,  cial entanglements. of today’s oral arguments to the con- which raises the critical question of the    “There is clearly something in these gressional subpoenas, highlighting a extent of presidential immunity before documents that the president does not fi erce battle over the legislature’s in- the law. Trump’s attorneys argue that    want us to see,” Steven Mazie, an author vestigative powers. a president enjoys total immunity so and educator, said during a webinar. “Unleashing each and every House long as he is in the White House. Gulf Times Monday, May 11, 2020 9 ASIA

Indonesia condemns Lanka aims to ease all abuse of its fi shermen on Chinese vessels

DPA “Based on the Jakarta information from Covid-19 curbs by June the crew members, we condemn the IANS Basic guidelines were ndonesia’s government inhumane treatment Colombo now being worked out yesterday blasted the al- that our crewmen for people to follow when Ilegedly slave-like condi- suff ered while working carrying out their routine tions that its seamen were onboard Chinese- he Sri Lankan govern- activities, despite the forced to endure while work- owned vessels” ment aims at total relaxa- pandemic, once such the ing on four Chinese-fl agged Ttion of the curfew restric- restrictions were lift ed fi shing vessels. The incident came to light tions imposed in the wake of the partially on May 11 “We condemn the inhu- after one of the crewmen told Covid-19 pandemic by June, a mane treatment that our a South Korean broadcaster minister has said. ident’s Media Division (PMD) crewmen suff ered while work- of the exploitation that Indo- The minister said that the has said. ing onboard Chinese-owned nesian fi shermen suff ered on- government was targeting the The Presidential Task Force vessels. Based on the informa- board the Chinese vessels. total lifting of all restrictions in charge of the Economic Re- tion from the crew members, The unidentifi ed crew by early June depending on the vival and Poverty Eradication the treatment has violated hu- member provided the broad- progress after May 11 when it will has been entrusted with the man rights,” Foreign Minister caster with a clip showing a partially relax few curbs, reports responsibility of formulating a Retno Marsudi said in a press bag containing the body of an the Daily Mirror newspaper. new economic model to achieve briefi ng. Indonesian crew member be- Basic guidelines were now be- this objective, the Daily Mirror Marsudi said she has met ing thrown overboard for a ing worked out for people to follow newspaper reported citing the with 14 crew members who ar- burial at sea. when carrying out their routine PMD as saying. rived in Jakarta over the week- Two other deceased In- activities, despite the pandemic, The president expressed these end from Busan, South Korea, donesian crew members had once such the restrictions were views during a meeting with the where 46 crew members had reportedly been buried at lifted partially on May 11. members of the newly-appointed disembarked in late April. sea in the Pacifi c Ocean in The government imposed Task Force held at the Presiden- One crew member died of December 2019. curfew restrictions in March af- tial Secretariat to discuss modali- pneumonia in a hospital in The ministry said their con- ter the corona cases escalated. ties relating to the resumption of Busan. Others have gone back tract stated that should the The fi rst Sri Lankan national civilian life and work from May 11. to work as the vessels have crew members die at sea, their infected with the disease was “Apparel and tourism sectors resumed operations. bodies would be cremated and reported on March 11. which make a huge contribu- A firefighter wearing protective gear sprays disinfectant to sanitise a road as a preventive measure She said the 14 crew mem- the company would send the As of Saturday, there were 835 tion to the national economy against the coronavirus a day before the government-imposed nationwide lockdown being eased, in bers told her of abusive work- ashes to the crew members’ Covid-19 cases in the country, should be revitalised to suit the Colombo yesterday. ing conditions on the vessels families in Indonesia. with nine deaths. changing situations,” he said. and some of them had not Marsudi said Indonesia has President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Rajapaksa was also of the While members of the Task also pointed out the possibility of Task Force, said that it will sup- received at all their salaries. demanded the Chinese au- has express optimism that the view that new opportunities Force were told to pay attention to attracting more foreign investors port new businesses and extend “I also found out from them thorities to fully co-operate economy adversely aff ected by were now open to attract tour- promote domestic tourism so that to invest in the Port City and the the fullest cooperation to already that their working hours were in- with their Indonesian coun- the Covid–19 pandemic could be ists from countries where the the local hotel industry could be Industrial Zone in Hambantota. existing large, medium and small humane, more than 18 hours per terparts for an investigation of rebuilt on a solid basis, the Pres- pandemic had subdued. saved from collapse, the president Basil Rajapaksa, head of the scale enterprises. day,” the foreign minister said. the case.

Khaleda receiving treatment at home amid lockdown Killing of rare Indonesia extends partial Former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia, who was freed from prison in March dolphins sparks after serving 25 months in two corruption cases, was receiving lockdown in Surabaya city treatment at her residence here amid the coronavirus pandemic, poaching fears DPA her family has said. Jakarta Following her release on March 25, Khaleda was taken to her home Feroza despite demands in Bangladesh ndonesia extended the par- from the her Bangladesh tial lockdown of its second- Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders AFP A local offi cial, who asked Ilargest city Surabaya and the to transfer her to the United Dhaka to remain anonymous, said lo- two neighbouring administra- Hospital for better treatment, cals were starting to trawl the tive regencies of Sidoarjo and bdnews24 reported. Halda river, as understaff ed Gresik, in East Java province, “It (transfer to United) is not he gutted carcass of a police who usually patrol the as new infections and deaths possible right now due to the freshwater dolphin has region were busy enforcing the spiked at the weekend. current state of the country. She Tbeen found in a river lockdown in Raojan. East Java Governor Kofi fah is undergoing treatment at home. sanctuary in Bangladesh, of- “They are trying to make a Indar Parawansa said yesterday All the members of the medical fi cials said yesterday, sparking living by catching fi sh illegal- that the decision was taken fol- board that was formed for her fears fi shermen are taking ad- ly,” local forestry department lowing a review of the Covid-19 treatment are expert physicians,” vantage of the virus lockdown to head Yasin Nawaz said, adding growth rate and consultations Khaleda’s sister Selima Islam told poach the endangered creatures. that the same nets also often with epidemiologists. bdnews24. Locals in the southeastern caught dolphins. “After evaluation on the fi rst Kheleda was still in “home town of Raojan found the re- Once the creatures are phase of enforcing the large- quarantine” and gradually mains of the 62-inch (157cm) trapped, they prove easy pick- scale social restriction, we improving, Selima said, adding long Ganges river dolphin on ings for poachers who sell agreed to extend the restric- that her sister has not recovered the banks of the Halda River, their fat and oil, Kibria said. tions in Surabaya, Gresik and Indonesian soldiers wade through floodwaters with an inflatable raft as they provide assistance to residents from illness. fi shery department offi cial “Many local villagers be- Sidoarjo,” Parawansa said in a following three days of heavy rain in Banda Aceh yesterday. “She is suff ering from arm and Abdullah al Mamun said. lieve dolphin fat can cure dis- statement. leg pain. Her fingers are still It had suff ered a sharp and eases. It fetches a good price.” The fi rst phase of partial lock- Achmad Yurianto, the spokes- people have been discharged from cases were recorded, surpass- bent while she is suff ering from deep incision from its neck to Kibria added he feared the down in the three regions had man for the national Covid-19 hospitals after their recoveries, ing West Java as the second- diabetes as well,” Selima said. tail and layers of its body fat – latest death could be the start been set to end on May 11. It is Task Force, said yesterday that taking the total number of recov- most infected province after One of Khaleda’s doctors told from which oil is extracted for of a “killing spree” of the rare now due to expire on May 25. the national caseload in Indone- ered patients to 2,698. Jakarta, where more than 5,000 bdnews24: “She needs long-term use in traditional medicines – creature. The governor said authorities sia rose to 14,032 with 387 new According to him, the latest infections were found. treatment. She has to undergo were missing, he said. The Ganges river dolphin is would more strictly enforce the confi rmed infections. total number of suspected Cov- East Java found new clusters physiotherapy, follow-up and The dolphin is the second found in the river systems of anti-virus restrictions - includ- There were also 14 new deaths, id-19 cases across the country of Covid-19 cases in the past two monitoring for a long time.” to be found dead in the same Nepal, Bangladesh and India ing stringent social distancing taking the total number of fatali- is 30,317. weeks, including in a Surabaya Khaleda had been in prison sanctuary since Bangladesh and has a population of between measures and bans on events ties to 973, Yurianto told reporters. Out of the total national tally, plant, where two workers died since February 2018 after she imposed its lockdown to tack- 1,200 and 1,800, according to and other social gatherings - in Health Ministry offi cial Yurian- 1,502 are in East Java where the of infection and dozens of others was sentenced to a total of 17 le the coronavirus, said Man- the World Wildlife Fund. place during this second phase. to also said as many as 91 more death toll rose to 143 and 83 new tested positive. years in two graft cases involving zoorul Kibria, coordinator They can weigh up to 100kg Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia of the Halda River Research (220 pounds) and grow to Charitable Trust. Laboratory (HRRL). 2.6m (8ft) long, are known for She was initially kept at Old Bangladesh prohibits the kill- their long beaks which have 28 Dhaka’s abandoned central ing of Ganges dolphins, which sharp teeth on both sides of prison, but on April 1, 2019 she are categorised as endangered their jaws. Bangkok’s biggest weekend market Over 160,000 was moved to Bangabandhu under the International Union The Halda river is home Sheikh Mujib Medical University for Conservation of Nature’s to around 170 dolphins, for treatment. (IANS) “Red List” of threatened species. according to HRRL. reopens under strict measures court cases

IANS id-19 spread over the last two seats, toilets and ATMs were to Bangkok months, reports Xinhua news be cleaned up at a two-hours postponed in agency. interval, the offi cial said. All shoppers and vendors were However, the weekend mar- angkok’s Chatuchak required to wear face masks, ket, which used to open until late Thailand Myanmar military Weekend Market, the big- wash their hands with sanitiser in the evening, is currently only Bgest in Thailand, has reo- gel and observe social distanc- allowed to operate from 5am un- t least 163,620 court cases pened with strict measures amid ing to protect themselves from til 6pm for all shoppers and ven- have been postponed in the Covid-19 pandemic. possible infection, according to a dors to call it a day and leave well AThailand due to the Cov- Offi cials of the Bangkok Met- BMA offi cial. before curfew hours, starting at id-19 pandemic, the Ministry of starts ceasefi re ropolitan Administration (BMA) All food shops and bever- 10pm. Justice said in a report. on Saturday checked the tem- age stalls in the premises of the Thailand yesterday reported Sarawut Benjakul, secre- IANS madaw, was announced on aim to achieve greater autono- perature of each incoming shop- BMA-run market were required fi ve new coronavirus cases but tary general of the Ministry’s Yangon Saturday night and will remain my for its territory, resumed in per and vendor at all gates of the to keep one seat for a customer no deaths, bringing the total Offi ce of the Judiciary, said in eff ect until August 31. November 2018, leading to the market, which had been tempo- about 1.5m apart from another to 3,009 cases and 56 deaths yesterday that the Judicial According to the military displacement of 150,000 and rarily closed to contain the Cov- while public utilities such as since the outbreak started in the Administration Commission yanmars military yes- command, the ceasefi re is en- hundreds of deaths. country in January. had ordered all courts of fi rst terday began a cease- forced with an objective to “It’s really hard to collabo- However, there are four more instance to postpone all trials Mfi re for more than focus on the fi ght against the rate with the government as the infected people from the resort scheduled between March 24 three months, however it will Covid-19 pandemic. Myanmar Army is escalating its island of Phuket, who will be in- and May 31. not cover areas where ethnic The military, which has been confrontation in northern Ra- cluded in fi gures to be reported The commission also advised rebels the government consid- accused of having committed khine state,” AA spokesperson today, said Taweesin Wisanuyo- all courts to work out negotia- ers rebel groups are based. multiple crimes against hu- Khine Thukha told Efe news. thin, spokesman for the gov- tions and compromises of online, Among the exceptions are manity, did not explain in its The AA and its allies an- ernment’s Centre for Covid-19 instead of appearing in court. Arakan Army (AA) rebels, who statement the reasons why it nounced their own ceasefi re in Situation Administration. The order however spared mainly operate in the states will continue fi ghting in certain March through to the end of May, Of the new cases reported yes- some cases that may deem of Rakhine (west) and Chin areas and threatened to break although clashes have continued. terday, two were linked to previ- harmful to parties in dispute. (northwest), the confl ict with the truce in others if attacked. A UN offi cial based in the ous cases and three had travelled Sarawut said that in order to which has intensifi ed since On March 23, the govern- confl ict zone told Efe news last abroad, he said. avoid crowding, the commission January, reports Efe news. ment designated the AA as a month that the military was re- Slowing numbers of new cases advised courts to schedule trials The unilateral ceasefi re de- terrorist organisation. sorting to “more brutal means” Visitors eat their meals in a restaurant during the reopening of Chatuchak have prompted Thailand to allow starting from June outside offi - clared by the Myanmar mili- The confl ict with the AA, out of the frustration of losing Weekend Market, as the Thai government relaxed measures to combat some businesses to reopen after cial work hours or on holidays to tary, also known as the Tat- which began in 2009 with the ground to the AA. the spread of the novel coronavirus, in Bangkok yesterday. weeks of semi-lockdown. clear the backlog. (IANS) Gulf Times 10 Monday, May 11, 2020 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

Riot police clamp down on Hong Kong Mother’s Day protesters

AFP straight months of often-violent ternoon prompting riot police American Mother’s Day and pro- a Mother’s Day march so small backed by Beijing, has record low constitutional row last month by Hong Kong pro-democracy protests last year to rush in and disperse heckling tester chat groups had pushed groups of masked protesters in- approval ratings. She has resisted announcing a greater say in how with millions hitting the streets. crowds of activists and shoppers. the occasion to focus on chief stead played cat and mouse with calls for universal suff rage or an Hong Kong is run. Mass arrests and the coronavirus At least three arrests were made executive Carrie Lam, a Beijing police in diff erent shopping cen- independent inquiry into the po- Plans to pass a law banning in- iot police chased protest- pandemic ushered in a period of while groups of offi cers conduct- loyalist appointee. tres, a tactic used frequently last lice’s handling of the protests. In sulting China’s national anthem ers through Hong Kong enforced calm. But with the fi - ed multiple stop and searches. At the start of last year’s pro- year. “This is just a warm-up, our the New Year she vowed to heal sparked scuffl es in the city’s leg- Rshopping malls yesterday nance hub successfully tackling Live broadcasts also showed tests, Lam likened herself to an protest movement needs to start the divisions coursing through islature on Friday. Top Beijing as democracy activists launched its outbreak small protests have police issuing $2,000 ($260) on exasperated mother - and pro- again,” a university student who Hong Kong but her administra- offi cials have suggested opposi- Mother’s Day fl ash mob rallies bubbled up once more in the last the spot fi nes to those allegedly testing Hong Kongers to de- gave his name as “B” told AFP. tion has off ered little in the way tion lawmakers who blocked the calling for independence and the fortnight. breaching emergency anti-virus manding children - in comments “It’s a sign that the movement is of reconciliation or a political so- bill with fi libustering could be city’s unpopular leader to resign. Small fl ashmob demonstra- measures banning more than that only poured oil on the fi re of coming back to life, we all need to lution. Arrests and prosecutions prosecuted and have also called The semi-autonomous Chi- tions broke out in at least eight eight people gathering in public. public anger at the time. Author- wake up now.” have continued apace while Bei- for a new anti-sedition law to be nese city was convulsed by seven malls throughout Sunday af- Hong Kong celebrates the ities banned an application for Lam, who has been staunchly jing’s offi ces in the city sparked a passed.

Australia’s biggest state to ease virus lockdown

Reuters pools will also be allowed to of Covid-19 cases and deaths in Melbourne reopen with strict limits. The the country, have maintained moves are in line with a three- their tight restrictions longer step plan to relax lockdown than other states in the country. ustralia’s biggest state, measures outlined by the Aus- Victoria’s premier said he would home to Sydney, will al- tralian government on Friday, announce plans for easing lock- Alow cafes and restau- which would see nearly 1mn down measures in the state on rants, playgrounds and outdoor people return to work by July. Monday. pools to reopen on Friday as Places of worship in New South Western Australia, which extensive testing has shown Wales (NSW) will be permitted shut its borders to combat the the spread of the coronavirus to open to up to 10 people from spread of the virus and has had has slowed sharply, New South Friday. only 1 new Covid-19 case in the Wales state’s premier said yes- Weddings, which had been past 11 days, has moved faster terday. restricted to two guests, will be than other states in easing re- The state has been worst hit able to host up to 10 guests, and strictions. by the coronavirus in Australia, indoor funerals will be allowed It has allowed indoor and with about 45% of the country’s to have 20 mourners. outdoor gatherings of up to 10 confi rmed cases and deaths. The state earlier announced people at homes, weddings and However it recorded just two schools would reopen from to- funerals, since late April. new cases on Saturday out of day, but only allowing students Yesterday, Premier Mark nearly 10,000 people tested, to attend one day a week on a McGowan said from May 18 the clearing the way for a cautious staggered basis. state would allow indoor and A man wearing a face mask walks in the popular nightlife district of Itaewon in Seoul. South Korea’s capital has ordered the closure of all clubs loosening of lockdown meas- Berejiklian gave no time outdoor gatherings of up to 20 and bars after a burst of new cases sparked fears of a second coronavirus wave as President Moon Jae-in urged the public to remain vigilant. ures. frame for any further reopen- people, including at cafes and “Just because we’re easing ing of the economy, saying that restaurants. restrictions doesn’t mean the would depend on further data In South Australia, shops virus is less deadly or less of a on infection rates, including reopened on Saturday, drawing threat. All it means is we have closely watching the impact of huge crowds to malls. From to- done well to date,” Premier Gla- school reopenings. day, the state will allow holiday dys Berejiklian told reporters “We continue to take a cau- travel within in its borders, in a yesterday. tious approach in New South push to revive tourism that has From May 15, New South Wales, but also one which has a been devastated this year by Moon warns of Wales will allow cafes and res- focus on jobs and the economy, bush fi res and the coronavirus. taurants to seat 10 patrons at because we can’t continue to In Queensland state, up to a time, permit outdoor gath- live like this for the next year or fi ve people were allowed to visit erings of up to 10 people, and until there is a vaccine,” Bere- households for Mother’s Day visits of up to fi ve people to a jiklian said. yesterday, and the state earlier household. NSW and Victoria, which has allowed people to travel up to virus second wave Playgrounds and outdoor had the second-highest number 50km to visit national parks. Arrests, conspiracy theories at as cases rebound Australia anti-lockdown protest Reuters in stages starting from May 13 as term fi ght and be renamed the Seoul planned after examining the im- Disease Control and Prevention pact of the nightclub cases for Administration to refl ect its en- AFP two to three days. hanced position, while the au- Melbourne outh Korea warned of a Battling the fi rst major coro- thorities beef up local expertise. second wave of the new navirus outbreak outside China, The resurgence is driven by an Scoronavirus yesterday as South Korea brought infections outbreak centred around a hand- en people were arrested infections rebounded to a one- of the virus, and the disease Cov- ful of Seoul nightclubs, which and a police offi cer in- month high, just as the authori- id-19 that it causes, down drasti- a man in his late 20s had visited Tjured yesterday at an ties were starting to ease some cally through widespread test- before testing positive last week. anti-lockdown protest in Mel- pandemic restrictions. ing, aggressive contact tracing At least 24 out of the 26 new bourne, where demonstra- “It’s not over until it’s over,” and tracking apps. The response domestically transmitted infec- tors claimed coronavirus was a President Moon Jae-in told the has helped Asia’s fourth-largest tions were traced to that man, government-engineered con- nation, saying a new cluster economy come to grips with the bringing the infections related spiracy designed to control the shows the virus can spread wide- pandemic without extensive the to the case to 54, the KCDC population. ly at any time, and warning of a lockdowns seen elsewhere. The said. The KCDC said offi cials About 150 protesters rallied second wave late this year. daily tally of new infections had are tracking down about 1,900 outside Victoria’s state parlia- The Korea Centers for Disease hovered around 10 or less in re- people who have gone to the ment to protest against a shut- Control and Prevention (KCDC) cent weeks, with no or very few President Moon Jae-in clubs, which could be increased down aimed at stemming the A police off icer approaches a protester opposing lockdown reported 34 new infections, the domestic cases over the past 10 to 7,000, asking anyone who was spread of Covid-19, while also measures outside Parliament House in Melbourne, Australia. highest since April 9, after a days. vention,” Moon said in a televised there last week to self-isolate for peddling conspiracy theories small outbreak emerged around The fresh outbreak comes just speech marking the third anni- 14 days and be tested. about the virus. ment declaring the coronavirus ria police said 10 people were a slew of nightclubs, prompt- as the government was easing versary of his inauguration. “We “This case is once again show- Most Australian states and outbreak a pandemic, saying he arrested at Sunday’s rally, ing the authorities to temporary some social distancing restric- are in a prolonged war. I ask eve- ing a rapid spread of the virus territories have begun easing believed it was a cover for au- mostly for breaching social close all nightly entertainment tions and moving to fully reo- ryone to comply with safety pre- as well as high infectiousness,” restrictions, but Victoria has thorities to gain greater control distancing and stay-at-home facilities around the capital. pen schools and businesses, in a cautions and rules until the situ- KCDC director Jeong Eun- delayed relaxing its measures over the population. orders. The death toll remained at 256. transition from intensive social ation is over even after resuming kyeong told a briefi ng. “We’re in amid an outbreak at a Mel- “If this thing was half as “Three of the off enders will Health Minister Park Neung-hoo distancing to “distancing in daily daily lives.” a battle against time to head off bourne slaughterhouse that deadly as they said it was, with also be charged with assault- said the government will decide life.” “We must never lower our He said the KCDC will get additional transmissions in the caused a spike in new cases. half the population out there ing a police offi cer, and another on whether it will reopen schools guard regarding epidemic pre- greater power as part of the long- local communities.” In scenes reminiscent of still working — even with the off ender will be charged with anti-lockdown protests in the lockdown orders — this thing discharging a missile after al- United States, demonstrators would’ve spread like wildfi re legedly throwing a bottle at po- PNG police call carried placards reading “fi ght through Australia. There’d be lice,” she said. for your freedom and rights”, no stopping it,” he told AFP. The spokeswoman added for calm after and directed their ire at the Health experts credit Aus- that police were working to off icer killed French surfer punches shark, founder of Microsoft, chanting tralia’s success in curbing the track down other protest at- “arrest Bill Gates”. spread of Covid-19 to an eff ec- tendees, who could face Papua New Guinea’s assistant Fano Panayides, 37, said he tive nationwide shutdown. A$1,600 fi nes for breaching police commissioner yesterday was sceptical of the govern- A spokeswoman for Victo- coronavirus shutdown rules. called for his forces to show survives attack in Australia restraint after a group of soldiers allegedly killed a senior police off icer in Port Moresby. Anthony AFP stays in my legs. Two times, “I actually saw it pop up Wagambie said Senior Inspector Sydney after, he go,” he said. Local man behind him and knew it was Andrew Tovere died after a Matt Sedunary rushed to the real,” Blade told Nine. Nacass “brutal attack” in the country’s Frenchman’s aid after realising walked away with only punc- capital following a confrontation French surfer has sur- he was in distress. ture wounds to his right leg that with off -duty military personnel vived a shark attack in “He started screaming - I required stitches. Saturday who were “under the A Australia with only mi- honestly thought he was jok- Australia has one of the influence of alcohol”. Tovere nor leg injuries by punching ing around with his friends,” he world’s highest incidences of underwent surgery and a blood it twice, local media reported. told Nine, adding he “wasn’t shark attacks, but fatalities are transfusion but succumbed Dylan Nacass, 23, was surfi ng going to ditch him”. “Most peo- rare. to his injuries in Port Moresby at Bells Beach, about 1.5 hours ple would do the same thing.” There were 27 maulings but General Hospital on Saturday from Melbourne, when the no fatalities off Australia last night. Wagambie said the death shark attacked on Friday, Nine Nacass told Nine the shark year, according to data from “brought about a lot of anger” News said. latched onto his leg until he Sydney’s Taronga Zoo. among police who gathered Video footage shows a shark punched it twice and he was Despite his ordeal, Nacass outside a PNG defence force base swimming up behind two men released from its jaws said he was eager to return to demand the surrender of those as they paddle desperately to to the water once his injuries responsible for his death. They get away. Nacass told Nine The incident was captured have healed. were later persuaded to disperse, the shark latched onto his leg by Australian man Graham “I really want to go back he said in a statement, pleading until he punched it twice and Blade, who was fi lming from a soon,” he said. “Just when my Anti-lockdown protesters hold placards on the steps of Victoria’s state parliament in Melbourne with both police and the military he was released from its jaws. nearby lookout at the world- leg, it’s OK. I’m going to go yesterday before police arrested 10 protesters. Hundreds of people gathered to protest the state’s to remain calm. “I punched him one time, he famous surf break. back to surf soon.” tough lockdown laws as well as 5G, vaccinations and coronavirus being a hoax. Gulf Times Monday, May 11, 2020 11 BRITAIN

Hospitals ‘sent patients with Covid-19 back to care homes’

Daily Mail claiming the lives of other vulner- said: ‘We have heard of a few in- Breaching some of these rules is after Boris Johnson admitted he timate as GPs do not always record Terroni said the CQC was look- London able residents. cidents where this has happened a criminal off ence and the watch- ‘deeply’ regretted the situation coronavirus on death certifi cates, ing into several such incidents, Staff at the care homes would and it has resulted in infections dog can bring prosecutions. in care homes, which experts say especially if residents have not adding: “We will do an investi- have not realised that they had the spreading to other residents in the The CQC is also investigating have become the new epicentre of been tested. gation into what happened. It’s ospitals may have broken virus so may not have been wear- care home. whether care home residents have the virus. The CQC would not disclose the really important for other resi- the law by sending pa- ing adequate protective clothing or “In cases where it looks like died from non-coronavirus con- Latest ONS fi gures show care names nor the locations of those dents of the care home, it’s really Htients with Covid-19 back taken other infection control pre- the information wasn’t disclosed ditions due to a lack of visits from home deaths increased by 36% in hospitals accused of failing to in- important for social care staff that to care homes without telling their cautions. by the hospital, we are looking at GPs. a week – as hospital deaths started form care home staff that patients they have the information to keep managers they had the virus. The CQC is investigating several whether the hospital breached The latest fi gures from the Of- to fall. had coronavirus. people safe and knowing whether The Care Quality Commission cases after being informed by care their regulations and whether we fi ce for National Statistics (ONS) There have been 5,890 coro- But last month whistleblowers someone has Covid or not is a key (CQC) has been told that several home managers that hospitals dis- can take action. It’s an issue we show that the current death rate navirus deaths registered in care in Manchester said they knew of bit of information. hospitals returned people despite charged patients into their premis- take really seriously.” in care homes is four times higher homes in England and Wales so patients being discharged from “We know that it led to the suspecting – or even knowing – es without telling them they had The CQC enforces a series of than the fi ve-year average, and far, including 2,794 in the week to hospitals into homes after test- spread of infection within the they were infected. the disease. regulations, enshrined in law, that only a third are directly linked to April 24, the most recent fi gures ing positive without doctors or (particular) home. We’re working Tragically, these patients trig- Kate Terroni, the watchdog’s health and adult social care serv- the virus. available. nurses disclosing their condi- to understand what the impact gered outbreaks in the homes, chief inspector of adult social care, ices in England must comply with. The watchdog’s warnings come They are likely to be an underes- tion. was.” Doctors sound warning over second wave of virus infections

Guardian News and Media Dr Mark Forrest, an intensive London care doctor in the north-west of England, said he was “seriously worried” that ignoring the lock- enior doctors fear that grow- down would increase the pressure ing non-compliance with on units like his. Sthe lockdown risks trigger- He tweeted: “Our ICU already ing a second wave of Covid-19 in- has more Covid cases than two fections. weeks ago as more people go out. They also believe that Boris Ignoring lockdown has us serious- Johnson’s decision to “stay alert” ly worried for the next few weeks.” rather than “stay home” will con- Their concern follows media fuse the public and make it even coverage of people gathering in harder to enforce the restrictions large groups on Friday, and in one on movement designed to save case doing a mass conga, to cel- lives and protect the NHS. ebrate the 75th anniversary of VE Intensive care doctors are Day and also of large numbers of warning that “irresponsible” be- people sunbathing and picnicking haviour, such as people ignoring on Saturday in London Fields in Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during the filming of his address to the nation from No 10 Downing Street, London, yesterday. the rules to stay two metres apart Hackney, east London. during Friday’s VE Day anniver- Police offi cers are also voicing sary celebrations, could lead to the intense frustration at public be- numbers of people needing to be haviour. taken to hospital with the disease The scenes in London Fields led going up again. police to tweet: “We’re fi ghting a Dr David Hepburn, an intensive losing battle on patrol today. Lit- consultant in Wales, tweeted: “Just erally hundreds of people sitting watched the conga lines/street together.” No end to lockdown yet but parties on the news. The nation has The Metropolitan Police Fed- lost its mind. We’re strapping in for eration, which represents rank- the second wave. I’m so, so tired. and-fi le offi cers in the capital, has We’ve had a few days of respite and also criticised the government’s I was starting to feel hopeful. “wishy-washy” response to the Can’t believe I was so naïve.” pandemic. ‘careful’ easing begins: PM Dr Ami Jones, another ICU Tougher measures were needed specialist, tweeted a link to a ta- from the start, it said. Reuters she was sticking with the existing in the world, behind only the US. should be “actively encouraged ranging from level 1, where virus ble showing that the UK has the A senior police offi cer who sur- London “stay at home” message. The bulk of the cases and deaths to go to work”. is no longer present, to level 5, highest death rate in the world vived a spell in intensive care with Johnson announced a limited have been in England. From Wednesday, people will the most critical, that will allow from Covid-19, even higher than Covid-19 has criticised the pub- easing of restrictions, including The government’s decision to be allowed to take unlimited the government to fl ag risks in the US. She said: “Showing our lic’s “increasingly blasé” attitude rime Minister Boris John- allowing people to exercise out- replace its “stay at home” slo- amounts of outdoor exercise, diff erent parts of England and to supremacy in the world stats as towards observing the lockdown. son yesterday said the side more often and encourag- gan, drummed into the public for he said, and can sit in the sun in decrease or increase restrictions we irresponsibly fl out lockdown Chief superintendent Phil Dolby Pcoronavirus lockdown will ing those who cannot work from weeks, was criticised by opposi- their local park, drive to other where necessary. to celebrate VE Day in the worst of West Midlands police tweeted: not end yet, urging people to home to return to their jobs. tion parties who called the new destinations, and play sports Scotland’s Sturgeon said the fashion. “A month ago today, on a ventila- “stay alert” to the risks as he out- “This is not the time simply to “stay alert” message too ambig- with members of their own only modifi cation she was mak- “Glad I’ve had a couple of weeks tor & in a coma, I started to breath lined plans to begin slowly easing end the lockdown this week,” he uous. household. ing to lockdown measures was away from ICU to recuperate as for myself! I am very disturbed by measures that have closed down said in a televised address. “In- Johnson earlier tweeted a new Until now, people have been to allow people to exercise more the next wave is going to make the increasingly blasé way people much of the economy for nearly stead we are taking the fi rst care- government poster with rules expected to exercise outdoors than once a day. this horrifi c statistic even worse. are treating the lockdown. With seven weeks. ful steps to modify our meas- including “stay at home as much once a day, do so locally, and - “(That) is the only change that Things are about to get busy.” lack of answers around immunity, While his government was ures.” as possible”, “limit contact with despite recent spells of warm the Scottish government judges Challenged about the accu- my family & I are going to remain giving directions for England, Johnson’s government has other people” and “keep your weather - told not to go to parks that it is safe to make right now racy of the graph, Jones replied: shielding. I can’t go through that it wants the United Kingdom’s faced criticism from opposition distance if you go out”. to sit in the sun. without risking a rapid resur- “I think it’s useful to show that we again.#Covid19”. other constituent nations - parties and others over its han- In his address, Johnson said Social distancing rules must gence of the virus,” she told a are nowhere near beating this, yet Police in some areas reported Wales, Scotland and Northern dling of the pandemic and the people should continue to work still be obeyed, Johnson said, news conference. people are behaving like all of the the lockdown was already this Ireland - to take the same ap- prime minister is wary of taking from home if they could, but adding that fi nes would be in- Sturgeon also said she had risk is gone and life can go back to weekend weakening and blamed proach. But there were immedi- the brakes off too soon. from today those who cannot, creased for those who break asked the UK government not to normal. Couldn’t be further from mixed messaging from govern- ate divisions, with Scottish First Britain’s coronavirus death toll such people working in con- them. use its “stay alert” advertising normal.” ment. MinIster Nicola Sturgeon saying - 31,855 - is the second highest struction and manufacturing, He detailed an alert system campaign in Scotland. Bid to discredit scientifi c Virus app ‘could be basis for lockdown fl ayed ditched after trial’ Guardian News and Media That’s the point of piloting it London before we roll it out nationally,” Guardian News and Media a senior lecturer at Imperial rivals to the UK was taken into he told the BBC’s Andrew Marr London College.“(But) I think he is one consideration when the lock- Show. of the top epidemiologists in the down was implemented, Jom- he UK could either He denied the idea that there world. We need all the assets we bart said: “That would be a drop “adapt” its coronavirus was already a second app being group of leading UK sci- can use. So I think he should (not in the ocean … By the time we Tcontact-tracing app or designed but indicated the gov- entists have insisted that have resigned).” went into lockdown there were ditch it and “move to a diff erent ernment could change tack in A the scientifi c basis for He added: “He’s a very expe- clearly thousands of cases in model”, after piloting it in the future. the coronavirus lockdown is the rienced modeller, so I’d rather the country and it was no longer Isle of Wight and learning les- “As far as I’m aware we’re not work of a large group of experts, have him on Sage (the Scientifi c possible to contain it.” sons from other countries. developing a second app but we and that epidemiologist Prof Advisory Group for Emergen- Jombart said there was sci- About 40,000 people in the are paying attention to the other Neil Ferguson is just one voice cies), as part of informing the entifi c consensus that the lock- Isle of Wight have been trial- apps that exist elsewhere in the among many. decision-making process.” down had had a strong impact in ling the app, designed by an arm world,” he told Marr. In a letter co-ordinated by Jombart said he and a large reducing the rate of coronavirus of the NHS, which alerts users MPs and privacy campaign- Dr Thibaut Jombart, an asso- number of colleagues had ad- transmission. if they have been near to a sus- ers have repeatedly warned the ciate professor at the London vised the government from the Modelling by Imperial College pected case of coronavirus. UK will be an outlier if it insists School of Hygiene and Tropical beginning and had recommend- forecast that in a worst-case However, there has been in- on using its own centralised app Medicine, more than 25 promi- ed a lockdown from early March. scenario without the implemen- tense speculation the UK could rather than relying on Google nent scientists said debates At fi rst the government tation of wide-ranging measures have to change its app to a “de- and Apple’s technology, claim- after Ferguson’s “individual adopted a less stringent set of to reduce transmission, 510,000 centralised” model favoured by ing the lack of privacy and data error” – in which he flouted measures like those in Sweden, people in the UK could die. Apple and Google, which stores protections could mean that the lockdown rules – had ampli- only implementing a full lock- This unpublished study led data about movements on a us- app would be illegal. fied a misconception that he down on March 23. to the government’s volte-face, er’s phone rather than centrally With growing questions over alone persuaded the govern- “We wanted to dispel the view but has since come under grow- in an anonymised form with the that approach, it emerged last ment to change policy. that the architect of the lock- ing scrutiny. government. week that the Swiss-based Jombart told BBC Radio 4’s down, as he has been named, In the letter, the scientists Amid reports of teething consultancy Zühlke Engineer- Today programme that he did singlehandedly made this infor- said that although Ferguson problems with the app, Robert ing has been hired to undertake not believe Ferguson should mation,” Jombart said, adding was undoubtedly an infl uential Jenrick, the communities secre- a two-week “technical spike” have resigned. that he should not have resigned scientist, the collaborative sci- tary, suggested changes could be to investigate implementing “In a time of crisis like this after the Daily Telegraph broke entifi c eff ort to inform the gov- on the way. Apple and Google’s system I think (his actions) confuse the news of his fl outing of the ernment’s decision-making was “We are learning lessons “within the existing proximity the message of the govern- lockdown rules. quite diff erent to that being sug- People visit Primrose Hill following the outbreak of coronavirus in from other apps and if we need mobile application and plat- ment,” said Jombart, who is also Asked if quarantining all ar- gested. London yesterday. to change our app we will do. form”. Gulf Times 12 Monday, May 11, 2020 EUROPE

Russia accuses Spike seen in number of US of ignoring German Covid-19 cases Soviet role AFP under control and slowing have reopened, children are Many of them are foreign There were also fresh fears for Freedom” and some threw bot- in WWII Berlin down, R0 has to stay below one. gradually returning to class- workers from eastern Europe the planned restart of the Bun- tles at police. As recently as Wednesday, rooms and states are to varying who lived in shared housing. desliga football season on May Several dozen people were Germany’s number stood at degrees reopening restaurants, The regional government has 16 after second-tier Dynamo taken into custody. AFP ermany’s coronavirus 0.65. gyms and places of worship. ordered workers at all of the Dresden were ordered to go into In Munich on Saturday, police Moscow spread appears to be However, since then the German local authorities state’s slaughterhouses to un- quarantine over two coronavirus criticised protest participants Gpicking up speed again, country has reported clusters have however agreed to pull an dergo testing. cases. for not sticking to social dis- offi cial data showed yesterday, of new cases at slaughterhouses “emergency brake” and reim- It has also delayed the loosen- Despite the rising concerns, tancing rules. ussia has accused the just days after Chancellor Ange- and at care homes for the elderly. pose social curbs if the infec- ing of some confi nement meas- some Germans believe that The demos, which have grown United States of down- la Merkel said the country could The RKI cautioned that it is tion rate rises above 50 cases per ures in the district. the country is not moving fast larger in recent weeks, have Rplaying the Soviet Union’s gradually return to normal. too soon to draw conclusions but 100,000 residents over a week. An outbreak of Covid-19 at enough in easing the confi ne- mostly attracted a mix of far- role in defeating Nazi Germany The Robert Koch Institute said the number of new infec- That has already happened in a slaughterhouse in the north- ment measures. right and far-left sympathisers. in World War II, with Moscow (RKI) for public health said Ger- tions “would need to be watched at least three districts in recent ern state of Schleswig-Holstein Thousands of people took to But they are increasingly be- seeking “a serious conversation” many’s closely-watched repro- very closely in the coming days”. days, according to the RKI. has likewise pushed the district streets in cities nationwide at coming more mainstream. on the matter with US counter- duction rate (R0) had climbed The latest data raised alarm In Germany’s most populous of Steinburg over the infection the weekend to protest against A well-known politician from parts. to 1.1, meaning 10 people with after Merkel only on Wednesday state of North Rhine-West- threshold. the remaining restrictions, such the liberal Free Democrats party “We are extremely indignant Covid-19 infect on average 11 declared that Germany had left phalia, there has been a spike In the eastern state of Thur- as wearing a mask on public (FDP), Thomas Kemmerich, at the attempt to distort the ef- others. the “fi rst phase” of the pandem- in cases at a slaughterhouse in ingia, Greiz district has reported transport and limiting social came under fi re for joining a fect ... of our country’s decisive The Covid-19 disease is ic behind it and federal states the district of Coesfeld, where a jump in infections among resi- contacts. protest in Thuringia state that contribution,” Russia’s foreign caused by the coronavirus. announced relaxations of social around 200 of the 1,200 em- dents and employees of several Tensions rose at a rally in Ber- was also attended by members aff airs ministry said in a state- The RKI has warned that for restrictions. ployees have tested positive for care homes and a geriatrics hos- lin on Saturday, where hundreds of the far-right Alternative for ment. the infection rate to be deemed Most shops and playgrounds the virus. pital. of protesters chanted “Freedom, Germany (AfD) party. A White House statement on Facebook this week, to mark the Italy tightens rules 75th anniversary of VE Day, only mentioned the United States and on mafia virus Britain as victors over the Nazis prison releases Daily virus death toll continues to drop in Spain, Italy “American offi cials have nei- ther the courage nor the will to The Italian government has pay homage to the undeniable tightened up conditions for the Reuters time in nearly two months. role and the huge death toll suf- release of mafia mobsters from Madrid/Rome But Spain’s two biggest cit- fered by the Red Army and the prison due to coronavirus fears ies – Madrid and Barcelona – do Soviet people in the name of all after an outcry over the scheme not currently meet the criteria humanity,” the Russian state- meant to protect them against pain registered yesterday for easing and will remain on ment continued. infection. its lowest daily number of Phase 0. Calling the US statement A decree adopted overnight Scoronavirus deaths since Regional governments in “particularly petty”, Moscow yesterday now requires that any mid-March, as half the popula- some areas that have not been urged Washington not to make release be reviewed every two tion prepared for an easing of allowed to pass completely to the memory of 1945 “a new weeks to ensure that it was fully one of Europe’s strictest lock- Phase 1, including Andalusia problem for bilateral relations, justified and remains so. downs. and Madrid, have been vocal in which are already going through Some 376 mafiosi and drug Emergency Health Chief criticising the decision. a diffi cult time”. dealers have been moved from Fernando Simon said in a press “It’s a blow for the economy,” The history of World War II jails to house arrest since March conference that the daily death Madrid regional President Isabel is a very sensitive one in post- and judges were examining toll of 143 down from 179 on Diaz Ayuso said in an interview Soviet Russia which is seeking release requests from 456 others, Saturday was the lowest since with newspaper El Mundo yes- to rebuild its prestige and power the Repubblica daily reported on March 18. terday. “If everything continues under President Vladimir Putin. Thursday. “We continue with the down- as the experts indicate, this virus There were some 27mn deaths Those freed include notorious ward trend reported in recent is going to be here for between on the Soviet side during the Cosa Nostra boss Francesco days,” he said. one and two years, so since it is war. Bonura, 78, and Franco Cataldo, Overall deaths rose to 26,621 a long race for the health service Moscow also accuses Western 85, who was part of a gang which from 26,478 on Saturday and we have to go to the next phase.” Europe, Poland and Ukraine of murdered the teenage son of a the number of diagnosed coro- Cyclists, joggers and walk- minimising its role in the con- turncoat in 1996 and dissolved navirus cases rose to 224,390 ers, many wearing face masks, fl ict. his body in acid. from 223,578 the day before, the packed the bridges and streets Russia marked the 75th anni- The releases followed widespread health ministry said. around Madrid Rio park yester- versary of the end of the war in riots in prisons in March by Some 51% of the population day morning, as the park itself People exercise in Madrid yesterday during the hours allowed by the government to exercise, amid the Europe in more modest fashion inmates fearful of catching the will progress to Phase 1 of a four- remained closed. national lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease. than normal on Saturday, due virus, which has killed some step easing plan today after the “Madrid is still in Phase 0, we to the coronavirus pandemic, 30,000 people in Italy but government decided the regions can’t move onto Phase 1 tomor- Protection Agency said as the For the fi rst time since early Of those originally infected, scrapping the normal large-scale there was much public unease in which they lived met the nec- row and I think that’s the right daily tally of new cases fell to March new cases were under 105,186 were declared recovered military parade which attracts given the seriousness of some essary criteria. decision. I don’t think Madrid is 802 from 1,083 on Saturday. 1,000 with the total number of against 103,031 a day earlier. thousands of people onto the of their crimes, prompting the It will include a considerable ready yet to move onto the next The total death toll since the confi rmed cases amounting to The agency said 1.676mn streets. government to backtrack. easing of measures that will al- phase,” said David Starton, 53, outbreak came to light on Feb- 219,070, the third highest global people had been tested for the “No one can think they can low gatherings of up to 10 peo- from Scotland, who has lived in ruary 21 now stands at 30,560 tally behind those of the United virus against 1.645mn on Sat- take advantage of the health ple and let people move around Madrid for 20 years. “It’s unfor- the agency said, the third high- States and Spain. urday, out of a population of First child for heir emergency caused by the their province. tunate, it’s quite sad and we’ll est in the world after those of the People registered as currently around 60mn. coronavirus to get out of prison,” In regions that made the cut, just have to put up with another United States and Britain. carrying the illness fell to 83,324 Last Monday Italy started to of Luxembourg’s Justice Minister Alfonso Bonafede such as the Canary and Balearic week of restrictions and lock- It was the lowest daily death from 84,842 the day before. gradually lift draconian restric- Grand Duke was quoted as saying by the AGI Islands, bars, restaurants and down.” toll since March 9, although in There were 1,027 people in tions the government had im- news agency yesterday. shops will open at reduced ca- Meanwhile, deaths from the recent weeks of the epidemic intensive care yesterday, edging posed in early March to contain The Luxembourg royal family has “There is a new rule now which pacity. coronavirus epidemic in Italy the daily death count has tended down from 1,034 on Saturday, the outbreak, allowing people announced the birth of the first is going to put things straight,” Museums, gyms and hotels rose by 165 yesterday, against to fall on Sundays, only to rise maintaining a long-running de- to leave their homes more freely child of heir to the throne Prince he said. will open their doors for the fi rst 194 the day before, the Civil again the following day. cline. and companies to reopen. Guillaume and his wife Stephanie. The baby boy, the fifth grandchild of head of state Grand Duke Henri, was born at 5am and weighed 3.9kg, the palace said. Over-65s in Turkey enjoy outdoors He was named Charles Jean Philippe Joseph Marie Guillaume. “The princess and the baby are AFP ing Ankara and Istanbul, are Istanbul resident Umit Avci, 81, citizens, while police in one park doing well” and the royal couple Istanbul subject to a weekend lockdown, said yesterday. walked around and used loud- “look forward to presenting President Recep Tayyip Er- “It’s the fi rst time I’ve come speakers urging people to follow him to the people”, the royal dogan said last week that senior outside since March and I’m so social distancing rules. household said. urkish people aged 65 citizens could leave their homes happy, I’m fi lled with joy,” An- Some senior citizens called on The royal birth will be marked by and over described their between 0800 GMT and 1200 kara resident Ayse said. the government to allow them to a 21-gun salute by the military on Tjoy yesterday after the GMT yesterday. Minutes before the offi cial go out on weekdays. the battlements of Luxembourg’s government allowed them to They had not been permitted start, people in masks, and some “What can we do now? Eve- historic Fort Thungen. go outside for the fi rst time in to go outside since March 21. in gloves, were walking on the rywhere is closed, we cannot do While formally head of state, the nearly two months in an easing “Finally it is like we are on streets in Ankara. anything. They should take this role of the Grand Duke in Grand Elderly people enjoy time out at Besiktas, Istanbul, after more than a of the coronavirus restrictions. holiday as of 11 o’clock (0800 Small parks in the capital into consideration,” Saim Ilker Duchy of Luxembourg is largely month of lockdown restrictions. While 24 provinces, includ- GMT) today. We are very happy,” were later packed with senior said in Istanbul. ceremonial. Zero turnout as Poland holds bizarre ghost election

AFP from the Left coalition showed up roundtable on “how to carry out a were it to declare a natural disas- nomic eff ects of the pandemic are Warsaw with homemade ballots at a school fair and honest election”. ter, multinational corporations felt. that is normally used as a polling Most of the opposition parties present in Poland would claim Last month, the PiS-controlled station and asked why they were have already agreed to meet on huge sums in compensation that parliament passed a law stating the oland’s election day yester- unable to vote. Wednesday, while far-right party the state would be hard-pressed election would be held by postal day was one for the history “The polling station is closed, Confederation is mulling its re- to pay. vote only in a bid to quiet health Pbooks, as polling stations re- which means someone cancelled sponse. However, the liberal opposition concerns while maintaining the main closed and turnout will clock the election. But it’s unclear who The governing right-wing Law and many observers also see an- date. in at zero due to a political crisis set did or on what basis,” he told re- and Justice (PiS) party does not other rationale for why the govern- But the opposition-controlled off by the coronavirus pandemic. porters. plan to take part, the Polish news ment was set on the May 10 date, senate sat on the legislation for The EU member of 38mn people The anti-government protest agency PAP reported. despite opinion surveys showing weeks before rejecting it, leaving found itself in this bizarre “Twi- movement Citizens of Poland or- “We’re in a fog of legal absurd- that three out of four Poles wanted the government no time to organ- light Zone” predicament in which ganised an event in the capital ity,” Warsaw-based political sci- a deferral. ise the election. the presidential ballot was for- Warsaw, saying that Poland needs entist Stanislaw Mocek told AFP, The opposition, which has long Last week, the PiS and its allied mally neither postponed nor can- to be rebuilt from the ground up. echoing the widespread head- called for a delay over concerns Agreement party announced that celled, because the government “The state is unable to carry out scratching and concern. that a free, fair and safe election the poll would be declared null and and opposition were unable to the election scheduled for today. The government “should have is impossible under lockdown, void after the fact. agree on a constitutional and safe Or the voting or whatever you want declared a natural disaster to law- believes the PiS wants the ballot “After the May 10, 2020 date solution. to call it, this cabaret that they’ve fully postpone the election” under held as soon as possible so that its passes and the Supreme Court “Today’s the day, election day arranged for us,” movement co- the constitution, he added. ally and incumbent Andrzej Duda annuls the election as expected in without the election,” leftist law- leader Pawel Kasprzak told report- The PiS has explained away wins. light of the fact that the vote will maker Tomasz Trela wrote on Fa- ers. its refusal to do so by saying that The president is the current not have taken place, the speaker Anti-government demonstrators hold a huge piece of white cebook, after organising a media Also yesterday, Left lawmaker Poland’s coronavirus situation is frontrunner and could secure a of parliament will announce a new fabric during a demonstration yesterday in one of the central event in the central city of Lodz to Krzysztof Gawkowski extended a not severe enough to warrant the second term in the fi rst round with presidential election for the fi rst squares of Warsaw. On the day when presidential elections express his dismay at the situation. public invitation to every politi- move. 50% of the vote, but his support available date,” they said in a state- were supposed to take place yesterday, a few dozen activists Trela and a fellow politician cal grouping in parliament to join a The party has also implied that would likely drop once the eco- ment. spread a white fabric as a symbol of dysfunctional country. Gulf Times Monday, May 11, 2020 13 INDIA

Ayurveda corona warriors on the warpath in Rajasthan

IANS ayurvedic doctors. But the state Barala said in the last seven The ayurveda doctors were come to help us,” Barala said. The National Institute of Vi- Besides, it has the advantage Jaipur government has not said any- years, not a single ayurveda doc- doing the same task as allopathi He said an ayurveda doctor rology in Pune has successfully of testing 90 samples together in thing to motivate these warriors,” tor had been recruited despite doctors, but they were paid only died of heart attack in Bharatpur developed the fi rst indigenous a single run of 2.5 hours, so that Babulal Barala, state secretary of vacancies. Rs22,000 while the other doctors while serving Covid-19 patients, anti-Sars-CoV-2A (Covid-19) healthcare professionals can pro- yurveda doctors in Rajas- the Aayush Medical Association Hit by the neglect, the ayurve- were paid Rs50,000 a month, but his family was yet to receive human IgG ELISA test kit for an- ceed quickly with necessary next than are piqued over the and World Ayurveda Council, da doctors, working on contract said Barala. any help from the government. tibody detection of the deadly vi- steps on their patients’ triage Aneglect shown to them Rajasthan, told IANS. and as frontline corona warriors, The lives of ayurveda doctors Sharma said the biased attitude rus, Health Minister Harsh Vard- paths. This is crucial since time by the state government despite Alleging bias, he said recently have threatened to quit. is at risk as they are making regu- had left ayurvedic doctors demo- han announced yesterday. is of essence during a pandemic. working as frontline coronavirus over 2,000 regular doctors were Ayush Chikitsak Sangharsh lar fi eld visits,” he said. tivated and around 1,300 of them “This robust test will play a “ELISA based testing is eas- warriors. recruited, creating new positions Samiti convener Dr Ashish Dik- Overall, 5,000 regular and had signed a joint resignation. critical role in surveillance of ily possible even at district level. As they are being denied the overnight. shit said: “Ayurvedic contractual 2,000 contractual doctors were More would join if the demand proportion of population ex- The ICMR technology has been due credit and pay compared Though ayurvedic contractual doctors have been waiting for leading the fi ght against Cov- for regularisation and gequal pay posed to Sars CoV2 infection,” he transferred to Zydus Cadila for with regular doctors, they have workers had been sweating day regularisation for the last seven id-19 in the state, he said. was not met, Sharma said. tweeted. mass-scale production. The threatened to quit en masse. and night for the last seven years, years. They were shocked when “We are saving ourselves from zThis is one ‘Make in India’ This kit was validated at two Drug Controller General has “Around 90% of doctors in the they had been ignored despite the state government appointed infection by having our ‘kadha’ project that will not only make sites in Mumbai and has high granted commercial production fi eld, visiting hotspots for sam- 1,300 positions lying vacant, he 2,000 allopathi doctors over- and other home remedies. We you proud but save countless sensitivity and accuracy, the & marketing permission to Zy- pling, surveying and testing, are added. night”. know none of the offi cials will lives too. minister claimed. dus,” Harsh Vardhan tweeted. Maharashtra police battle infections amid ranks

Agencies evoked a massive response from Mumbai commoners to leaders and celeb- rities yesterday. Honouring the khaki-clad olice are at the forefront frontline warriors, Deshmukh of the battle to contain the put up the Maharashtra Police Pspread of Covid-19 in India logo as his DP on all social media and are hit by rising infections accounts like WhatsApp, Face- within its ranks in coronavirus book, Twitter and Instagram, hotspots. and urged citizens to follow suit. In Maharashtra alone, at least A fl ood of leaders and celebri- 786 policemen have been found ties followed suit including Na- positive and seven have died, a tionalist Congress Party’s Water police spokesman said yesterday. Resources Minister Jayant Patil, The western state has report- NCP MP Supriya Sule, and other Stranded migrant labourers walk carrying their belongings to board a special train from MGR Central railway station in Chennai yesterday. ed over 30% of the near 63,000 leaders from the ruling Maha Vi- Covid-19 cases in India with a kas Aghadi coalition. bulk of them concentrated in Industrialists like Anand Ma- Mumbai and Pune. hindra and cricketers including More than 70 policemen in Virat Kohli also responded. Delhi have also tested positive There were also a host of Bol- and one has died. lywood personalities includ- Police forces across the coun- ing Shah Rukh Khan, Salman try have been manning streets, Khan, Katrina Kaif, Dia Mirza, Train services to restart maintaining vigil on movement Akshay Kumar, Madhuri Dixit- of migrant workers and residents Nene, Riteish and Genelia Desh- at containment zones, helping mukh, Ajay Devgan, Tisca Cho- food and essential commodities pra, Arjun Kapoor, Hina Khan, reach those most impacted by Varun Dhawan, Bhagyashree, the nationwide lockdown and Siddharth Malhotra, Mrunal gradually from tomorrow accompanying health workers on Thakur, Suniel Shetty, Pooja He- their checks. gde, Gulshan Grover, Rohit Roy, Agencies undergo screening at departure and fare will be equivalent to Rajd- confi rmed tickets will be allowed ers were crushed to death as they All personnel aged above 55 and Arjun Bawal. New Delhi only asymptomatic passengers will hani Express train. to enter the railway stations. were sleeping on railway tracks, had been asked to stay at home, Deshmukh off ered his condo- be allowed to board the train.” Bajpai said that in AC three- Further details including train the Congress has alleged that the the Maharashtra police spokes- lences yesterday on the death of The ministry’s spokesman tier coaches, 52 passengers will schedule will be issued separately railways has proved to be inept in man said. Assistant Sub-Inspector Dattat- ndia will “gradually” restart rail Rajesh Dutt Bajpai said in a state- be allowed while in AC two-tier in due course,” he said. handling the migrant crisis and Maharashtra Home Minis- raya Kalgutkar of Vinoba Bhave operations from tomorrow as ment: “The national transporter coaches, 48 passengers will be The vast train network, which demanded multi-nodal agency to ter Anil Deshmukh’s appeal for Nagar Police Station who suc- Ithe country eases its coronavi- is planning to gradually restart allowed keeping in mind the pro- normally carries more than tackle it. solidarity with the police force cumbed to Covid-19. rus lockdown, despite the number special AC passenger train op- tocol of social distancing amid 20mn passengers daily, was halt- Amid a political slugfest be- of cases going past 60,000 with erations from Tuesday with 15 the Covid-19 pandemic. ed in late March as India imposed tween the Bharatiya Janata Party more than 2,000 deaths. trains, including their return “The Indian Railways shall a strict lockdown to stem the and the opposition on the issue Some 30 train journeys -15 journey, with limited stops.” start more special services on spread of the virus. of migrant workers, the Congress pairs of return trips - will run He said online bookings for the new routes, based on the available A limited number of services has seized the opportunity to at- from the capital New Delhi to trains will start at 4pm today. coaches after reserving 20,000 have been operating in recent tack the government. other cities including Mumbai, Bajpai said in the initial phase, coaches for Covid-19 care cen- days to help stranded poor, rural “I request the government to Bengaluru and Chennai, Indian the 15 pairs of trains will run as tres and adequate number of migrant workers who lost their constitute a multi-nodal agency Railways said late yesterday. special AC trains from New Del- coaches being reserved to en- jobs in the lockdown to return to under a senior cabinet minis- “Indian Railways plans to hi Station to Dibrugarh, Agar- able operation of up to 300 trains their villages. ter to oversee relief and rescue gradually restart passenger train tala, Howrah, Patna, Bilaspur, everyday as ‘Shramik Special’ for India has started to ease its of migrants,” Congress leader operations from 12th May, 2020. Ranchi, Bhubaneswar, Secun- stranded migrants,” he said. lockdown, which is due to lift Ahmed Patel said. Thereafter, Indian Railways shall derabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, The spokesman said book- on May 17, but interstate public “If need be even the support of Karnataka Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Suresh Kumar start more special services on Thiruvananthapuram, Madgaon, ing counters at railway stations transport and domestic and in- the armed forces must be sought (left, in orange) along with other representatives stands on a van as new routes,” the Railways Minis- Mumbai Central, Ahmedabad would remain closed and no ternational fl ights had so far re- to solve this humanitarian crisis. they shower flower petals on frontline workers during a felicitation try added in a statement. and Jammu Tawi. counter tickets, including plat- main grounded. Clearly the Railways Ministry is programme organised to pay tribute to people fighting against the “It will be mandatory for the He said, all the coaches will form tickets would be issued. z After a tragic train accident unable to handle the problem,” spread of the Covid-19, in Bengaluru yesterday. passengers to wear face cover and be AC with limited stops and the “Only passengers with valid in Aurangabad where 16 labour- he added. Naval ship from Male with UP plasma recipient evacuees arrives in Kochi dies of renal failure IANS being treated for coronavirus, re- AFP Magar, departed Male late yes- expected to be expanded in the Lucknow covered and was discharged after Kochi terday carrying 202 more evacu- next few weeks to include more her two consecutive tests came ees to Kochi. stranded citizens in other Eu- negative. Around 4,000 of the 27,000 ropean and Southeast Asian na- Covid-19 patient who was She was in the isolation ward navy ship carrying evacu- Indians living in the Maldives tions, local media reported. given plasma therapy died adjacent to the ICU where hus- ees from the Maldives ar- have registered to be taken home. On Thursday, the fi rst two re- Aon Saturday night due to band was being treated. Arived in Kochi yesterday as Satish Kumar, who lost his job patriation fl ights brought back kidney infection in Uttar Pradesh. Their son is a medical year stu- part of a massive eff ort to bring in the Maldives in February, said 354 Indians from Abu Dhabi and Dr Sunil Agarwal, a 58-year-old dent in KGMU. home hundreds of thousands of he was worried about the jour- Dubai in the United Arab Emir- government doctor, was infected Asked about the success of nationals stranded overseas due ney back home aboard the INS ates. in the line of duty. His corona test plasma therapy, Himanshu said to the coronavirus lockdown. Jalashwa and the lack of social And early yesterday an Air In- report came negative for the sec- though patients showed positive Workers and students were distancing onboard despite the dia Express fl ight with 180 pas- ond consecutive time on Saturday, signs after the treatment, nothing unable to return home after In- eff orts of the navy. sengers arrived from Doha. hours before he passed away. conclusive could be said as of now. dia banned all incoming inter- “For food, there was only one They then went into quaran- Dr D Himanshu of King George’s He said that clinical trials of the national fl ights in late March as counter. So all people on board tine centres. Medical University (KGMU) in therapy will continue on other pa- part of the world’s biggest lock- would line up at the counter to- Two returnees have since test- Lucknow, said, “he was diabetic tients to reach a conclusion. down to combat the spread of the gether,” Kumar told AFP after he ed positive for coronavirus, Ker- and suff ering from acute respira- Agarwal was an anaesthetist, deadly infectious disease. disembarked from the vessel. ala state Chief Minister Pinarayi tory syndrome. He was on ventila- posted in Orai in Jalaun district. The INS Jalashwa carrying 698 “And then in the dormitories, Vijayan said late Saturday. tor throughout the treatment and He was a part of the Covid-19 Indians from the Maldives capi- people would be sleeping sepa- He added that it was “a warn- given antiviral and symptomatic team deployed in the Jalaun Medi- tal of Male arrived at Kochi port rately but you’d also see many ing to those coming back from treatment. Since he was critical, cal College. yesterday morning. of them sitting on each other’s abroad and for other states to be we tried plasma therapy on him, Chief Medical Offi cer of Jalaun It followed the arrival of 326 beds and talking, putting hands on the alert”. after which the condition of his Dr Alpana Bartariya said, “He was Indians from London early yes- on shoulders. It was like a joy ride India has started to ease its lungs improved and heart func- the fi rst corona case in the district terday at Mumbai’s international for them. I’m slightly worried - lockdown, but domestic and tioning was better. and we still do not know how he airport. why won’t I be?” international fl ights remain “However, fi ve days ago, he de- got infected.” Flights from Singapore and The naval eff orts are part of grounded. veloped UTI that was not related Family members said Agarwal Uzbekistan carrying stranded an initial operation to repatriate Authorities yesterday reported to corona. Dialysis was done twice, had fever for eight days and dif- Indians also landed in in the almost 15,000 Indians from 12 62,939 cases with 2,109 deaths, but infection aggravated and he fi culty in breathing since April 16. country yesterday. countries. with recent days having seen Navy and police personnel watch and take photos as the INS Jalashwa died due to kidney failure.” He came to Lucknow along with Another warship, the INS The repatriation process is record jumps. ship enters the Kochi port yesterday. The doctor’s wife, who was also his wife in an ambulance on April 24. Gulf Times 14 Monday, May 11, 2020 INDIA

NATURE CRIME CONTROVERSY PEOPLE TRAGEDY Mild quake in Delhi; Woman uses WhatsApp Chandy slams Vijayan Ex-CM Jogi slips into Jail inmate’s death third in a month to sell intoxicants over chopper rent coma, condition critical causes concern

Mild tremors were felt in parts of the National Police have arrested a woman in New Delhi Former Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Ajit Jogi A prisoner’s death due to Covid-19 in Agra’s Capital Region yesterday, measuring 3.5 on who sold intoxicants to under-age children of who launched ‘Mrithasanjeevini’ in 2015 slipped into coma yesterday, according to a Central Jail on Saturday has alarmed the Richter scale. It was the third earthquake rich families through WhatsApp and collected where helicopters could be used to transport bulletin from doctors. His condition was critical, other inmates and the jail administration, in the last one month having its epicentre payments via Paytm. The 45-year-old high- organs from one place to another at a cost of they said in a statement. Jogi was admitted which has taken a series of steps to halt in the region, the National Centre for profile drug supplier is a resident of Rajouri Rs1 lakh, yesterday slammed Chief Minister to a private hospital in Raipur on Saturday the spread of the infection. Jail authorities Seismology (NCS) said. The NCS said the Garden. The woman was caught when she had Pinarayi Vijayan for spending Rs2 crore to hire after he suff ered a heart attack. According have quarantined 14 other inmates and 16 earthquake was reported at 1.45pm having its arrived to deliver an intoxicant to a teenager. a helicopter for a similar operation. “When to Dr Sunil Khemka, oxygen supply to the wardens. Other prisoners are said to be epicentre at 20km north of New Delhi at 5km She was remanded in 14-day custody by a court. we launched that scheme in 2015, we hired a brain has stopped, causing brain damage. panic-stricken and have demanded testing. depth. There were no immediate reports of The woman had reportedly created a WhatsApp naval helicopter and transported a heart from a Jogi’s neurological activities are almost nil. Against a capacity of around 1,500, the any causality or loss of property. Delhi Chief group for the purpose. Most members of donor from Thiruvananthapuram to Kochi. We His heartbeat is normal and blood pressure jail is overcrowded with 1943 inmates. The Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted that he was the group were minors from rich families. spent just Rs1 lakh. Here, what has happened is controlled by drugs. Jogi, who quit the Indian deceased Virendra, serving life sentence, was “praying for everyone’s safety”. While the The woman sold them e-cigarettes and other the government did not go forward with that Administrative Service (IAS) to join politics, is shifted to Agra from Jhansi in December 2019. national capital is vulnerable to earthquakes, intoxicants at a premium. “It’s the first of its scheme. Instead they hired a helicopter at an an MLA from the Marwahi region. He became He was admitted to the SN Medical College on the region being the epicentre of a quake is kind of case during the lockdown,” the police exorbitant monthly rent of Rs2 crore and used the first chief minister of Chhattisgarh when it May 3, after a brain stroke due to high blood rare. However, in the last 30 days, the city said. According to the police, her husband is in it for the first time on Saturday to transport the was carved out of Madhya Pradesh in 2000. pressure. His report on May 6 confirmed he has witnessed three earthquakes having import-export business. Other WhatsApp group heart from Thiruvananthapuram to Kochi and is The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) defeated the was Covid-19 positive. Many are questioning epicentre in the region. members are being questioned. celebrating it,” said Chandy. Congress in the first assembly elections in 2003. the jail authorities.

Militant group names new commander Indian, Chinese in Kashmir

IANS New Delhi soldiers hurt in

he banned Hizbul Mu- jahideen has appointed TGazi Haider as the new operation chief of the militant high-altitude group in Kashmir, sources said yesterday. He succeeds Riyaz Naikoo who was killed by Indian secu- rity forces last week. Haider was appointed at a meeting under the chairmanship border clash of United Jihad Council and Hizb supremo Syed Salahuddin. Agencies Ever since the coronavirus is not settled,” Ranade said. The meeting had been called Kolkata pandemic, which originated in China, he said, has been beef- to mourn the death of Naikoo Wuhan city of China’s Hubei ing up its forces and defence and his aides, Mohamed bin province, the relationship be- infrastructure in Tibet Autono- Qasim and Mohamed Adil who everal Indian and Chinese tween the two countries has mous Region (TAR). were killed Beighpora in Pul- soldiers were injured in a been under strain. “Around April 2, there were wama district of south Kash- Shigh-altitude cross-bor- Though unlike the US admin- 300-500 People’s Liberation mir. der clash involving fi stfi ghts and istration, the Indian government Army (PLA) vehicles around Besides announcing the ap- stone-throwing at a remote but did not blame China for the Tashigong opposite Demchok- pointment of Haider, the group strategically important moun- spread of Covid-19 infection, Koyul, relaying the runway at also announced Zaff ar-ul-Islam tain pass near Tibet, the Indian mainstream media and social Gargunsa airport,” he said. as “deputy of Haider, and Abu Army said yesterday. media users in India have been Srikanth Kondapalli, a profes- Tariq as his “chief military ad- There have been long-running critical of President Xi Jinping’s sor of Chinese studies at Jawa- viser”. border tensions between the nu- government. haral Nehru University in New The UJC chief called Naikoo clear-armed neighbours, with Overlooking the public outrage Delhi, argued that the face-off in and his associates ‘martyrs’ and a bitter war fought over India’s in India, the government went Sikkim, is in accordance with the hoped that their “blood will northeastern-most state of Aru- ahead with ordering Covid-19 direction received from the PLA. surely benefi t their separatist nachal Pradesh in 1962. rapid testing kits from China. “China’s apex foreign aff airs movement in Kashmir.” “Aggressive behaviour by the However, after several com- work conferences of November One of the most wanted ter- two sides resulted in minor in- plaints of fault in the kits, the 2014 and June 2018 ordered the rorists, Salahuddin during the juries to troops. It was stone- government cancelled orders for foreign ministry and the embas- meeting praised the “deter- throwing and arguments that about half a million kits, causing sies abroad to pursue the goals mination” of the mujahideen ended in a fi stfi ght,” Indian Army exasperation in Beijing. related to border with India, as towards the separatist move- Eastern Command spokesman The negative view against New listed in the PLA white papers of ment. Mandeep Hooda said. Delhi worsened when the gov- 2015 and 2019”. The participants at the meet- The “stand-off ” on Satur- ernment last month changed the The Naku incident, he said, is a ing avowed that the separatist day at Naku La sector near the rules of Foreign Direct Invest- follow-up to the directives which movement “will continue till its 15,000ft Nathu La crossing in ment (FDI). To check predatory were also refl ected in Doklam logical conclusion and nobody the northeastern state of Sikkim business practices during the incident in 2017 or Pangong Tso will be allowed to exploit the sa- - which borders Bhutan, Nepal coronavirus-related lockdown in incident in 2019 or Asaphila inci- cred blood of martyrs.” and China - was later resolved the country, the government put dent in Arunachal Pradesh. On Saturday, a video of Sala- after “dialogue and interaction” all FDI proposals from countries “As the directives are from the huddin surfaced on the Internet at a local level, Hooda said. sharing border with India under top, we should expect more of where he appeared distraught “Temporary and short duration the government approval route. such incidents in future and take by the killing of Naikoo and his face-off s between border-guard- Ever since China has been remedial measures,” he warned. aides. ing troops do occur as boundaries outspoken about its displeasure Through aggressive actions Speaking in Urdu with a are not resolved,” he added. with India. amid a pandemic, China may be Kashmiri accent, he was heard The violent clash is the fi rst be- Jayadev Ranade, a leading ex- seeking to remind its neighbours saying, “It’s a shock for all of tween the two countries since 2017, pert on China, said though the that they could face further trou- us but these ‘shahadats’ (sac- when there was a brawl between face-off between the two sides ble by siding with the West in sup- rifi ces) are going on in Kash- Chinese and Indian soldiers near have occurred in the past, the porting an inquiry into the origins mir since long. Since January the northwest region of Ladakh. latest skirmish is a result of de- and spread of the coronavirus, this year, 80 mujahideens have In the same year, there was a terioration in relations. security expert Brahma Chellany given their ‘shahadat’ and all of high-altitude standoff in Bhutan’s The face-off at Naku La sector wrote in a series of tweets. them were highly educated and Doklam region after the Indian is where China has been claim- The forthcoming World trained.” army sent troops to stop China ing that a dispute exists. Health Organisation assembly However he acknowledged from constructing a road there. “Within a year of having meeting will see a push for such that it was a lost cause for Hiz- China still claims about agreed with the then prime an inquiry, he said. bul Mujahideen, saying, “Mu- 90,000sq km of territory under minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee The skirmish, Chellany said, jahideen also broke the back New Delhi’s control. The latest that Sikkim belongs to India comes after Chinese coast guard of enemy (security forces) in skirmish is yet another indica- and China will have no claim ships, for a second day in a row, Handwara, Rajwar recently but A handout photograph taken on May 8, and released by the Indian Army yesterday shows military tor of a bilateral relationship that on it, a Chinese vice foreign intruded into the waters of Jap- the enemy (India) has the upper helicopters landing to evacuate stranded IAF and Air Dispatch personnel from a high-altitude has been in a tailspin for some minister told our then external anese-controlled Senkaku Is- edge.” emergency landing site in Sikkim. time now. affairs minister that the issue lands.

Youth Congress accuses BJP Lockdown boon for birds Maharashtra Council leader of defaming ex-PMs polls to see no contest IANS But none of the parties were IANS former prime ministers in or- “intentionally” targeted to de- Mumbai keen on a contest and eff orts New Delhi der to defame the party and its fame them before the public. started late Saturday to convince leaders. He said these posts are the Congress to take back the Srinivas also said that none of made without any scruple and he stage is set for all can- name of Modi, a highly respected ndian Youth Congress (IYC) the defamatory content posted thought as to the consequences didates in the Legisla- leader from Beed. president Srinivas B V has by Patra’s account is based on of such derogatory remarks for Ttive Council elections Late yesterday evening, after Ifi led a complaint with the facts so as to qualify as a fair the reputation and respect of - including Maharashtra Chief a long meeting among the MVA Delhi police against Bharatiya comment in the eyes of law. the leaders. Minister Uddhav Thackeray - to partners, state Congress presi- Janata Party leader Sambit Pat- Srinivas said that the post is be elected unopposed on May 21 dent and Revenue Minister Bala- ra for “defaming the party and “The accused has chosen meant to humiliate the Con- after the Congress withdrew its saheb Thorat announced that two former prime ministers”. to tweet the picture with gress and its leaders and to second candidate late yesterday, the party has decided to with- In the complaint to Delhi the sole intention of render them an object of con- offi cial sources said in Mumbai. draw the candidature of Modi. Police Commissioner S N Shri- defaming the party and its tempt, ridicule and hostility by The ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi Now, the nine candidates are vatsava, the Youth Congress leaders and painting a bad the society. alliance of the Shiv Sena, the Sena’s Thackeray and Deputy leader accused Patra of spread- picture of them before the Similarly, knowingly, delib- Nationalist Congress Party and Chairperson of Legislative Coun- ing false and fake information public at large” erately and intentionally fab- the Congress will get fi ve seats, cil Dr Neelam Gorhe, NCP’s about two former prime min- ricating stories, spreading lies while the opposition Bharatiya Shashikant Shinde and Amol isters - Jawaharlal Nehru and “The accused has chosen to are acts of falsehood that can- Janata Party will get four, with- Mitkari and Congress’ Rathod. Rajiv Gandhi. tweet the picture with the sole not, by any stretch of imagi- out a contest. From the BJP, the four nomi- Srinivas said Patra in his intention of defaming the party nation, be considered to be in On Saturday evening, the nees are: Ranjitsinh Mohite- tweet specifi cally uses picture and its leaders and painting a public good and “thus I request Congress unexpectedly fi elded Patil, Praveen Datke, Gopichand with defamatory statements in bad picture of them before the your good self to take prompt a second nominee - Rajkishor Padalkar and Ajit Gopchhede. Hindi. public at large,” he said. and necessary action by lodg- Pigeons are seen on a empty road during a government- Modi alias Papa Modi - as the With the MLC elections, He also alleged that Patra The Congress Working ing an FIR against the accused imposed nationwide lockdown in Ahmedabad yesterday. 10th candidate, besides sen- Thackeray - who was unani- has not only used the name of Committee member said the under relevant section of the Animals and birds are taking advantage of deserted streets ior Jalna leader, Rajesh Rathod, mously elected the MVA chief the Congress or its leaders but alarming and wide-scale attack Indian Penal Code,” the letter in many parts of the country. which would have caused an un- minister on November 28 - will has used the photograph of two on the party and its leaders is stated. wanted election. make his debut as a legislator. Gulf Times Monday, May 11, 2020 15 LATIN AMERICA Argentina extends offer to restructure debt

AFP “The possibility of extending The Economy Minister, Mar- The country is also request- from the world of finance.” have already rejected it. announced the lockdown Buenos Aires the offer continues until May 11. tin Guzman has taken an ag- ing a three-year moratorium, “This time we have a kind “Now, we have a void, which would be extended until May When this term expires, we will gressive stance on debt, partly which would imply no pay- of endorsement from the main was the worst possible out- 24, though restrictions would define the steps to be followed,” driven by a need to free up re- ments until 2023. auditor of world finance, the come. Guzman is in a difficult be loosened outside the capital rgentina remains open Fernandez tweeted. sources to tackle the coronavi- Fernandez told a local radio (International Monetary) position,” Gabriel Zelpo, direc- Buenos Aires. to negotiation with its “We continue our dialogue rus pandemic in the recession- station there could be counter- Fund.” tor of Buenos Aires economic The president has said re- Ainternational creditors with creditors in good faith, hit South American nation. offers from creditors issued in Failure to pay would mean a consultancy Seido, told Reu- peatedly that he is mindful of and has extended its offer to with the aim of reaching a sus- On Saturday he reiterated the coming days. default, a near calamitous sce- ters. “He has lost the game of the economic toll the shutdown restructure its debt, President tainable agreement,” he said. Friday’s message that Argen- He indicated, however, that nario for the cash-strapped chicken. So, he will have to im- is taking, but that preserving Alberto Fernandez said. “As always, our goal is to tina was still negotiating, and he was unlikely to shift his po- country that would prevent the prove his proposal.” life was more important. Buenos Aires has been dead- make commitments that we can thanked creditors who support- sition much. government from seeking credit Argentina — in recession for Fernandez added in his radio locked with creditors over its meet,” he added. ed the proposal. “I am very firm in what we from financial markets. two years — has also been in interview that “nobody wants $65bn debt, with the three main A 30-day grace period for a Buenos Aires’ offer to its have proposed,” he told radio Few are confident about lockdown since March 20, fur- to default,” but that given the bondholder groups rejecting a $500mn bond payment that Ar- creditors includes a 62% dis- station Futurock, adding that widespread support for the ther damaging its already bat- tough global situation, it was government restructuring pro- gentina already missed expires count on interest ($ 37.9bn) and on the other side of the table government offer, since three tered economy. not only Argentina that faced posal that expired on Friday. on May 22. 5.4% on capital ($3.6bn). were “very unique personalities of the principal creditor groups Fernandez on Friday night the risk of missed payments.

Mexico asks US for answers over historic gun-running row

Reuters traffi cking off ences. Mexico City As security minister, Garcia Luna had spearheaded a crack- down on drug gangs, launched exico’s president has under former president Felipe urged the United States Calderon. Mto shed light on a gun- Roberta Jacobson, a former running sting that caused bilateral American ambassador to Mexico friction under the Obama presi- appointed under US president dency, questioning the behaviour Barack Obama, had suggested of past US administrations for the both governments knew about third time this week. possible corruption by Garcia Mexican President Andres Luna in an interview with Mexican Manuel Lopez Obrador said his gov- magazine Proceso published at the ernment would send a diplomatic weekend. note to Washington for information Lopez Obrador has used the ar- on the 2009-2011 operation known rest of Garcia Luna to argue that as ‘Fast and Furious,’ a topic that corruption was rampant in past has resurfaced in recent days amid a Mexican governments. Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a televised message announcing new arrests related to an alleged failed bid to topple him, at Miraflores Presidential Palace debate over historic US-Mexico co- But this week he has also asked in Caracas. operation on security and possible whether previous US administra- corruption under previous admin- tions were complicit by working istrations. with Garcia Luna, whose period as Setting out to stop cross-border minister coincided with Obama’s gun smuggling, the US scheme al- fi rst term in offi ce and the nal fi lowed people to illegally buy arms years of George W Bush. in the US and take them to Mexi- Critics of Lopez Obrador con- co so that the weapons could be tend that he has done Trump a tracked and lead law enforcement favour by raising questions about Three more arrested in offi cials to drug cartel bosses. Garcia Luna as the US president Some weapons were later prepares to fi ght a November elec- blamed for gangland slayings in tion against Joe Biden, who was Mexico. vice president from 2009-2017 “How could this be? A govern- under Obama. ment that invades in this way, that Fernando Belaunzaran, co- fl agrantly violates sovereignty, in- leader of the opposition Party of ‘invasion’ probe: Maduro ternational laws,” Lopez Obrador the Democratic Revolution, on said at his daily news conference. Twitter called it a “badly-dis- AFP Denman, 34, and Airan Berry, leader Juan Guiado — recognised called an army,” he said.”It would dragged away by strong river To avoid a repeat, the mat- guised” stunt by Lopez Obrador to Caracas 41, have been imprisoned and as the interim president by the be called an invasion.” currents, Colombia’s navy said ter needed to be cleared up, said curry favour with Trump ahead of charged with “terrorism, con- US and a number of other na- And despite Maduro’s accusa- in a statement. Lopez Obrador, who noted that a joint meeting the Mexican presi- spiracy, illicit traffi cking of tions — to take control. tions against Guaido, he has not Colombia’s navy said it is President Donald Trump had last dent has proposed. hree alleged mercenar- weapons of war and (criminal) Maduro reiterated that he been charged with anything. talking with its counterparts in year been “respectful” to Mexico Allies of Lopez Obrador reject ies have been arrested in association.” They could face believes US President Donald Venezuela’s military earlier Venezuela to recover the boats. in discussions over joint co-oper- this, saying instead that he is seek- Tconnection with the at- between 25 to 30 years in prison. Trump was involved in the op- said it had seized three aban- Maduro said the military ation following two major security ing to put pressure on Calderon, tempted invasion of Venezuela, The others implicated in the eration, with Guiado as his ac- doned Colombian light combat would return the boats if the Co- incidents. a critic of the president who is President Nicolas Maduro said, case are Venezuelans. complice. vessels that soldiers found while lombian government made an Mexican politicians are still ar- building a new political party. bringing the total captured to 34. The US army has confi rmed Trump has strongly denied patrolling the Orinoco river. offi cial request for them. guing over how much its govern- On Monday, Lopez Obrador said “We have captured three more that Denman and Berry were the accusations. In a statement, the defence Venezuela will make an offi cial ment knew about ‘Fast and Furi- US offi cials at the Drug Enforce- mercenaries. We have been me- former members of the Green Be- Trump has roundly rejected ministry said the boats were complaint to the United Nations ous’ at the time. ment Administration (DEA), the ticulously looking for all those rets who were deployed to Iraq. the accusation, telling Fox News equipped with machine guns accusing Colombia and the US Lopez Obrador brought up the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) involved and we are going to cap- Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday: “If I wanted to go into and ammunition, but had no of violating international law for gun-running scheme on Mon- and the Federal Bureau of Inves- ture them all,” Maduro announced said the US government would Venezuela I wouldn’t make a se- crew, adding they were discov- the failed invasion attempt, Ma- day when discussing the case of tigation (FBI) who co-operated during a television address. “use every tool that we have avail- cret about it.” ered as part of a nationwide op- duro added. Genaro Garcia Luna, Mexico’s with Garcia Luna should be inves- The failed invasion saw men able to try to get them back.” “I’d go in and they would do eration to guarantee Venezuela’s Maduro on Wednesday ac- security minister from 2006-12, tigated. landing in early May at Macuto, Maduro’s government claims nothing about it. They would roll “freedom and sovereignty.” cused Colombian President Ivan who was arrested in the US in De- The DEA and the CIA declined less than an hour from Caracas. the plan was to remove him over. I wouldn’t send a small lit- According to a preliminary Duque of enabling the operation, cember and charged with drug- to comment. Two former US soldiers, Luke from power, allowing opposition tle group. No, no, no. It would be investigation the boats were which Duque denied. Brazil’s coronavirus Cuba’s artists make music on rooftops death toll tops 10,000 Reuters has also been inspired to choreo- Havana graph. “I think that the dissatisfac- AFP make a statement on the country and 16,929 infections. tion of being locked up in all Rio de Janeiro reaching 10,000 deaths. Less populated states such as uba’s artists are rising to this will motivate creating,” she Resisting pressure from Bol- Ceara, Pernambuco and Amazo- the occasion during the said.”And surely the choreogra- sonaro, the governors of Sao Paulo nas already have around a thou- Ccoronavirus lockdown, phers are going to take advantage razil, the hardest-hit Latin and Rio de Janeiro states have said sand dead each. taking to rooftops and balconies of those feelings that we have ac- American country in the they will extend the partial quar- Amazonas, home to a number to create music or dance. cumulated during all this time of Bcoronavirus pandemic, has antine measures in force since of indigenous tribes that are ex- A pair of twins in the Acosta confi nement.” surpassed 10,000 deaths, ac- March until the end of May. tremely vulnerable to the virus, Dance Company are stuck at Cuba reported its fi rst cases of cording to fi gures released by the The pandemic has given rise has recorded 232 deaths per mil- home after the troupe’s world the coronavirus in March and has ministry of health. to ongoing governmental clash- lion inhabitants, almost three tour was suddenly cancelled in suspended school, transport and While Brazil’s numbers are es, pitting the president against times the rate in Sao Paulo state. Britain. group activities. high — 10,627 deaths and 155,939 governors and mayors who have While Brazil’s coronavirus Now, Alejandro and Leticia The live audiences for Michel confi rmed cases — scientists implemented social distancing peak is not expected for several Silva rehearse ballet on the ter- Herrera, 36, a saxophonist known think the real fi gures could be 15 and confi nement measures to more weeks, seven states have race of their seaside apartment, all over Cuba, are smaller now or even 20 times worse, given the contain the virus’ spread — ef- already seen their intensive care to the sound of the ocean. that he performs on his rooftop country’s inability to carry out forts supported by the country’s units fi ll to 90% capacity. The siblings, who rarely dance for elderly neighbours, with Old widespread testing. Supreme Court. Bolsonaro tweeted Saturday together, have found an unex- Havana as the backdrop. Congress and the Supreme In announcing that his state’s that the country’s “army of un- pected bonus under quarantine. But he sees this as an oppor- Court decreed an offi cial mourning lockdown would be prolonged, employed continues to grow” in “Now it has been easier for tunity to grow as an artist. “I period of three days and lawmak- Sao Paulo Governor Joao Doria reference to a factory closure in me to collaborate with my sister think that somehow the times ers asked Brazilians to follow health said on Friday: “We are at the the northeast, before asking “is when it comes to doing choreog- changed, or this time made us all authorities’ recommendations to height of this pandemic. The sit- chaos coming?” raphy,” Alejandro said. change,” he said. reduce infection rates while the uation is dire.” On Thursday the country’s It has also brought them closer “I am used to working with country prepares for “a safe and His southeastern state of al- economy minister, Paulo Guedes, together as a family — “to know different musicians, with big defi nitive return back to normal.” most 46mn inhabitants has seen said Brazil could face “economic what we are thinking when it bands, making arrangements President Jair Bolsonaro op- more than 3,600 deaths and over collapse” in a month’s time due Repatriated Chilean passengers fill a health declaration form upon comes to dancing, when it comes and productions where many poses stay-at-home measures 44,400 cases. to stay-at-home measures. their arrival at the international airport in Santiago. The Chilean to training...as we do it together, people get together, and cur- due to their impact on the coun- Neighbouring Rio de Janeiro According to the IMF, Brazil government is carrying out an operation to repatriate some 248 more united,” he added. rently I am taking advantage of try’s economy. state, home to more than 16mn risks a 5.3% contraction in GDP Chileans who were stranded in India, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, From her rooftop, fellow my time from home, working Offi cials said he did not plan to people, follows with 1,653 deaths this year. Vietnam and New Zealand due to the novel Covid-19 pandemic. Acosta artist Arelys Hernandez alone.” Gulf Times 16 Monday, May 11, 2020 PAKISTAN

33 police offi cials Umar: Pakistan to tackle infected with Covid-19 using technology Covid-19 Pakistan to launch Urban “This could be a big area, or utilisation of resources. fear that they would be taken to Urban Slum Covid-19 Response in Punjab Slum Covid-19 Response as small as one street,” he said. “Through this app, we will be quarantine centres. Programme today, in collabora- Programme Umar added that the govern- able to avoid a scenario where Umar clarifi ed that this is not tion with UN Habitat. ment has completed work on a hospitals do have facilities, but necessarily the case and that Chairing the meeting in Is- Internews Internews Web portal where data will be the patient is unable to reach the government had issued a lamabad, Aslam said that the Islamabad Islamabad collected from all 424 hospitals them because he does not know notifi cation in this regard, say- overall objective of the pro- dealing with coronavirus pa- where to go,” he said, adding ing that people who have the fa- gramme is to prevent spread of tients in the country. that both the Web portal and cility to isolate at home should the coronavirus in urban slums hirty-three police offi - inister for Planning, “Hospitals have already app would go live in the next be allowed to do so. areas and to empower local cials, including an assist- Development and started entering their data. few days. He urged people to continue communities to mitigate eco- Tant commissioner and a MSpecial Initiatives Through this portal, we will be Umar added that the gov- taking preventative measures as nomic impact of the virus. teaching hospital principal, have Asad Umar has said that the able to know the exact number ernment had engaged with the it is “more important now than Briefi ng the meeting, UN tested positive for the coronavi- government will use technol- of beds, ventilators and patients Rural Support Programme Net- ever”. Habitat country manager Jawed rus in diff erent districts in Pun- ogy to trace coronavirus cases in each hospital,” he said. work, which he said had access The minister hailed the serv- Ali Khan said that project would jab. and identify virus hotspots The minister added that the to more than 25% of the popu- ices of healthcare professionals, be launched in collaboration In Bahawalapur, the coronavi- throughout the country in order government is also working lation. rescue workers, cleaners and with federal and provincial gov- rus has started spreading rapidly to enforce a “smart lockdown”. on a mobile application which “Not only will we commu- other frontline workers, and ernments and other stakehold- as 28 people tested positive in Speaking to reporters at the people could download for in- nicate awareness messages said that it is the responsibil- ers. one day. The 28 included 24 po- National Command and Op- formation about hospitals and through them, they will also ity of every citizen to follow He said that public awareness lice offi cials. eration Centre (NCOC) in Is- coronavirus facilities. identify places where we need precautions so that the virus and advocacy, provision of in- Earlier, three police offi cers lamabad, the minister said that “If someone tests positive to send food, aid, etc,” he said. spread would not get out of come generation opportunities tested positive and were shifted according to available data, [for the virus], they can consult The minister noted that some control. and capacity building, and rap- to the government civil hospital Punjab is enforcing smart lock- the app to fi nd the nearest hos- people have stopped revealing Meanwhile, Adviser to the id assessment of key challenges Umar: Hospitals have already started for treatment. down in 169 areas, while Khy- pital that has facilities,” he said. that they are exhibiting coro- Prime Minister on Climate and issues of urban slums, entering their data ... we will be able to In Muzaff argarh, six police of- ber Pakhtunkhwa is enforcing The minister said that this is navirus symptoms, or that they Change, Malik Amin Aslam, would the key components of know the exact number of beds, fi cials were shifted to the DHQ smart lockdown in 177 areas. being accomplished for optimal have tested positive, over the will inaugurate Pakistan’s fi rst the initiative. ventilators and patients in each hospital. Hospital after they tested posi- tive for coronavirus. The sample of 119 offi cials Necessary steps have been sent for testing. In Sialkot, the total number Pakistan is the 19th of confi rmed coronavirus cases increased to 368 yesterday, from 350 on Saturday. most aff ected country Sialkot Deputy Commissioner Dr Nasir Mehmood Bashir said that 9,952 people were still in by virus pandemic quarantine in 2,081 houses. In Rahim Yar Khan, nine peo- ple, including a teaching hospital Internews In Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, principal and an assistant com- Islamabad 4,509 cases have been recorded, missioner, are among the fresh while 1,935 cases have been re- Covid-19 cases. ported in Baluchistan. The Shaikh Zayed Medical akistan has climbed to the Gilgit-Baltistan has reported College Hospital (SZMCH) prin- 19th spot on the global 430 cases, Islamabad has 641 cipal, the Sadiqabad assistant Pcoronavirus ranking, after cases, and Azad Jammu Kashmir commissioner, his stenographer, the nationwide tally of Covid-19 (AJK) has reported 86 cases so and the son of the market com- patients crossed 30,000 with far. mittee of Liaqatpur tested posi- Sindh reporting 709 new cases. In the last 24 hours, 13,341 tive for Covid-19. The coronavirus causes the tests have been conducted, out of The other fi ve cases were de- Covid-19 respiratory disease. which 1,991 came back as posi- tected at a testing facility at the According to the coronavirus tive. SZMCH. tracker by John Hopkins Univer- In total, 283,517 tests have In Toba Tek Singh, fi ve people, sity, there were 30,334 cases. been conducted in the country. including three police offi cials, In terms of Covid-19 deaths, Meanwhile, 267 patients have tested positive for Covid-19. the country is now ranked 27th, recovered from the virus, taking A textile worker, of Chak 151- with 659 deaths. the total number of recoveries in GB, and three police offi cers Earlier, the national dashboard the country to 8,023. who were deployed outside DHQ in its daily update had stated that Globally, there are now at least Hospital’s isolation ward, are 1,991 cases were detected in the 4,001,437 cases of coronavirus, among the cases. country in the last 24 hours, tak- with 277,127 deaths. A 50-year-old woman who ing the national tally to 29,465. The United States has been died a week ago in the DHQ Hos- This was the biggest single- the hardest-hit country, with pital was also declared a positive day jump since February 26, 1,305,544 cases and 78,618 case for the coronavirus, while when the fi rst case was reported. deaths. her four children tested negative. Sindh leads the tally with Europe is the hardest-hit con- In Sahiwal, three family mem- 11,480 cases, followed by Punjab tinent, with 1,708,648 cases and bers of a trader of the vegetable with 11,093. 155,074 deaths. market, who is under treatment This picture taken earlier this month shows a worker spraying disinfectant while porters wait for free essential food items at the Lahore for the virus related complica- railway station. tion, have tested positive for 3,000 Afghans leave coronavirus. via Chaman crossing Sindh accused of exaggerating coronavirus fi gures

Internews into their respective countries,” a Staff members of Sindh Chief virus cases] are increased on the off the people,” he said, accusing translated as nothing more than He said that 246 positive cases Islamabad senior offi cial of the Chaman ad- Minister House test positive basis of lies. the police and the authorities of enmity towards Sindh.” were reported from Khairpur’s ministration, Zakaullah Durrani, for Covid-19 “When we go to hospitals, we making life diffi cult for people. The PTI lawmaker’s media Pir Jo Goth, following which said by phone. fi nd out there are no coronavirus Zaman criticised the Sindh conference followed Chief Min- strict lockdown measures have akistan has opened its bor- He said that so far 488 Paki- Internews cases of deaths from Covid-19 chief minister for not taking ister Shah’s video message in been ordered in the area. der with Afghanistan at stanis who were stranded in Af- Karachi there.” timely steps in providing relief which he announced that more Meanwhile, fi ve members of PChaman to allow the re- ghanistan – the majority of these The coronavirus causes the to the traders and the business than 1,000 coronavirus cases had the Sindh Chief Minister House’s turn of Afghans to their country. Pakistani hailed from Khyber Pa- Covid-19 respiratory disease. community. been reported in the province staff , including Shah’s assistant, Last month, Pakistan sent khtunkhwa (KP), with some hail- ensions between the po- The Pakistan Tekreek-e-Insaf He lashed out at Chief Minister over the past 24 hours. have tested positive for Covid-19. back more than 37,000 Afghan ing from Baluchistan and Punjab litical rivals continue to (PTI) lawmaker said that people’s Murad Ali Shah for not preparing Shah said that 5,498 tests were The personnel were tested families after it opened the Pak- – had been sent to their respec- Trise after Sindh Assembly lives were being made diffi cult by standard operating procedures conducted, out of which the re- for the coronavirus after Shah’s Afghan friendship gate at Cha- tive provinces after undergoing member Khurram Sher Zaman the government in such times of (SOPs) and failing to announce sults of 20% came back positive. special assistant Rashid Rabbani man at the request of the Afghan medical check-up by health offi - accused the provincial govern- crisis. which small markets will be al- The chief minister also said contracted the infection. government. cials at the border and complet- ment of exaggerating coronavi- Zaman said that whenever lowed to open. that the tally of confi rmed cas- A clerk, a driver, and a techni- Offi cial sources said that the ing 14 days of quarantine. rus fi gures and death toll. people wanted to collect a body “The province’s chief minister es across the province stood at cian employed at the Chief Min- friendship gate opened from 8am Durrani explained that Paki- “No other place in the world from the morgue, they are asked only talks in (terms of) the fu- 10,771, with four deaths record- ister House are among those di- to 5pm, and 2,977 Afghan citi- stanis who arrived from Afghan- has been damaged by the corona- to provide a coronavirus certifi - ture,” Zaman said. “The damage ed. agnosed with the disease. zens stranded in diff erent areas istan are quarantined in the tent virus like Sindh, due to the Sindh cate to the authorities. that the (ruling) Pakistan Peoples Shah stated that the number of Sources said that the employ- of Baluchistan crossed into Af- village quarantine centre estab- government,” he told the media. “If you go to graveyards, they Party (PPP) has done to Sindh, deceased due to the coronavirus ees who tested positive for Cov- ghanistan. lished at Killi Faizo, close to the “Each day, these fi gures [corona- are also trying to make money despite having full powers, can be was 180. id-19 have been isolated. The majority of these Afghan Pak-Afghan border. citizens had entered Pakistan “Those Pakistanis who are not without travelling documents. willing to spend 14 days in quar- They crossed into Pakistan antine will be sent back to Af- through the Chaman border and ghanistan,” an offi cial of health 5mn babies to be born in Pakistan since outbreak: Unicef other entering points between department said, adding that Pakistan and Afghanistan on the quarantine is mandatory for all basis of their Afghan national those Pakistanis coming from Internews region, during this period, the workers are redeployed to treat „ Helping women receive reg- equipping health workers with identity cards. Afghanistan, according to stand- Islamabad report said, followed by Pakistan, Covid-19 patients. ular checkups during their preg- kits to attend to home births, and “The border had opened for ard operating procedures (SOPs) Bangladesh (2.4mn), and Af- “Unicef cautions that although nancy, skilled delivery care and „ Allocating resources to life- crossing Afghans and Pakistanis issued by the government. ghanistan (1mn). evidence suggests that pregnant post-delivery care saving services and supplies for n estimated 29mn babies The report also warned that mothers are not more aff ected by „ Ensuring health workers maternal and child health. will be born in South Asia lockdown measures imposed to Covid-19 than others, countries are provided with the necessary The report also urged preg- Pakistan complies with ICJ ruling in spy case Ain the nine months fol- curb the spread of the coronavi- need to ensure they still have ac- personal protective equipment nant women to take precau- lowing the coronavirus pandem- rus may cause disruptions in life- cess to antenatal, delivery and (PPE) and priority testing and tionary measures by practicing The Foreign Off ice has said the country has fully complied with the ic, while 5mn births will be re- saving health services “putting post-natal services. vaccination for Covid-19, when social distancing, avoiding phys- International Court of Justice (ICJ)’s judgment in the Kulbhushan ported in Pakistan, according to a millions of pregnant mothers and “Likewise, sick newborns need it becomes available ical gatherings and using online Jadhav case. report released by the United Na- their babies at great risk”. emergency services as they are at „ Ensuring that all infection health services. Responding to queries of media persons, Foreign Off ice spokes- tions Children’s Fund (Unicef). “The continuing rapid spread high risk of death. New families prevention and control measures It also advised them to contin- person Aisha Farooqui said that Pakistan remains committed to The coronavirus causes the of Covid-19 across South Asia require care to ensure the health are being followed at health fa- ue breastfeeding their children continue doing so as the case proceeds further. Covid-19 respiratory disease. means new mothers and new- and well-being of mothers, sup- cilities even if they are infected, as “the She firmly rejected as inaccurate and contrary to facts Indian legal The report – released on May 6 borns will be greeted by harsh port to start breastfeeding, and „ Allowing healthcare work- virus has not been found in sam- counsel Harish Salve’s statements that Pakistan has not complied – predicts that 116mn babies will realities, including global con- to get medicines, vaccines and ers to reach pregnant women ples of breast milk”. with the ICJ’s judgment in the case. be born across the world in the tainment measures such as lock- nutrition to keep their babies through home visits, encourag- “Mothers with Covid-19 Farooqui said that Pakistan has granted India consular access to 40-week period between March downs and curfews, health cen- healthy,” the report said. ing women living in rural areas should wear a mask when feed- Jadhav and is processing measures for eff ective review and recon- 11 and December 16, with almost tres overwhelmed with response The UN body urged govern- to visit maternal waiting homes, ing their baby, wash hands before sideration as per the guidelines provided by the ICJ. a quarter of them in South Asia. eff orts, supply and equipment ments and healthcare providers and using mobile health strate- and after touching the baby, and She said that Pakistan abides by all its international obligations. India is expected to report shortages, and a lack of suffi cient to take a few steps to save lives in gies for tele-consultations routinely clean and disinfect sur- 20mn births, the highest in the skilled birth attendants as health the coming months, by: „ Training, protecting and faces,” it cautioned. Gulf Times Monday, May 11, 2020 17 PHILIPPINES

Village Quezon, Valenzuela mayors hope chief indicted for gradual easing of lockdown for graft

By Catherine S Valente Also Mayor Rex Gatchalian of Manila Times Ministry reports Valenzuela told Manila Times By Darwin Pesco 184 new virus cases, that his city was also ready for Manila Times 15 more deaths a downgrading to a GCQ, but he mayors of Quezon added that he would respect the City and Valenzuela City The Philippines’ health ministry recommendation of the mayors’ he Philippine National Tsaid they were ready for yesterday confirmed 184 new coro- council to again extend the en- Police (PNP) reported the a gradual reopening even as the navirus cases, taking the Southeast hanced quarantine. Tindictment of a barangay public awaits a Palace decision Asian nation’s total reported infec- He welcomed the statement (village) chief of Isabela, Negros to relax or extend the lockdown tions to 10,794, Reuters reported of Interior and Local Govern- Occidental over anomalies in the beyond the May 15 deadline. from Manila. Fifteen more deaths ment Secretary Eduardo Ano, distribution of the government’s Metro Manila, along with the related to Covid-19, the disease who said that Valenzuela City cash aid under the Social Amel- rest of Luzon, has been under caused by the new virus, were and San Juan City could shift ioration Programme (SAP). enhanced community quaran- recorded, bringing the toll to 719, to a GCQ because they had the PBGen. Rene Pamuspusan, tine (ECQ) since March 15, 2020. while 82 patients have recovered fewest Covid-19 cases in the Western Visayas police chief, The deadline was extended be- to bring total recoveries to 1,924, it metropolitan area. identifi ed the barangay chief as fore, supposedly ending next said in a bulletin. Now that the government has Maria Luz Leal Ferrer of Baran- Friday, but a new online survey the capability to conduct mass gay 8. reported that 73% of respond- testing, some areas with fewer Together with Ferrer, a Munic- ents said they favoured another Assistant City Administrator cases could be downgraded to a ipal Social Welfare Development extension. for Operations Alberto Kimpo general quarantine. Offi cer named Mae Fajardo was Palace spokesman Harry said in the same statement. “Let’s do it, Valenzuelanos. also indicted. Roque Jr dismissed reports say- Kimpo encouraged big busi- Stay home; there is discipline in Pamuspusan ordered the fi ling ing the ECQ has been extended nesses to have their staff tested Valenzuela. We are in the news of charges against the said offi - as “fake news.” for Covid-19 and to prepare for the right reasons,” Gatchal- cials after fi nding evidence of ir- He explained that the Inter- quarantine facilities for them. ian said reacting to Ano’s state- regularities in the distribution of Agency Task Force for the Man- “Businesses must also imple- ment. But Gatchalian admitted the cash aid in the area. agement of Emerging Infectious ment mandatory temperature that it would be harder to con- The probe stemmed from a Diseases (IATF-EID) had yet to check at all entry points while tain the pandemic if the cities in text message of a concerned citi- make a fi nal recommendation dividers must be installed be- Metro Manila were under diff er- zen citing that Ferrer and Fajardo to President Rodrigo Duterte tween work stations to prevent ent levels of quarantine. committed various irregularities about the quarantine. physical contact,” he said. “We know that the cities in in the distribution. He also raised the possibility Motorcyclists are checked by police off icers in the Cavite-NCR Border national capital region at the Kimpo added that no 24-hour Metro Manila are all intercon- The complainant accused the that the enhanced quarantine Marcos-Alvarez Road in Las Pinas City. operation would be allowed to nected while Valenzuela is the village executive of bias in select- could cover all areas or be “sur- give way to regular disinfection, gateway to the north, which ing the benefi ciaries in his locality, gical,” meaning only the areas Roque said the task force would implement a “transition “new normal” setting. except for medical related es- could be challenging if we are Pamuspusan added. that still have a high number of would consider the mayors’ rec- period” to general community “Necessary preventive meas- tablishments. made to shift to GCQ because Ferrer was charged for violation coronavirus disease 2019 (Cov- ommendation, as they would be quarantine (GCQ) after May 15. ures should be in place and the The guidelines also require of the movement of the peo- of the Republic Act (RA) 3019 or id-19) would be kept under implementing the programme Mayor Josefi na “Joy” Bel- health and safety of workers and businesses a one-day closure ple that will come and go to the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices lockdown. against Covid-19. monte said in a statement, customers must be guaranteed for disinfection and sanitation, provinces and other cities and Act and violation of Article 171 of Earlier, the Metro Manila He added that the IATF-EID “While the health of our resi- before we allow them to operate including an option to re-im- vice versa,” he said. the Revised Penal Code for “Fal- Council announced it would would reconvene on May 11 and dents remains our primary pri- again,” she said. plement ECQ in villages or por- “But Valenzuela is ready to sifi cation of document by a pub- recommend another 15-day ex- submit its recommendation to ority, we also need to look after Quezon City has the most tions that are found to continue accept the challenge,” he added. lic offi cer.” While Fajardo was also tension of the enhanced quar- President Duterte then. the local economy, which has cases of Covid-19, based on having high infection rates, In a related development, charged for violation of Article 171 antine in Metro Manila. The spokesman said he ex- been aff ected severely by the the Department of Health data. subject to the approval of the PUBLiCUS Asia Inc. announced after allegedly falsifying the offi - The council, composed of 17 pected President Duterte to an- dreaded virus.” Even if Quezon City gets its way, task force unit in Metro Manila. that it had conducted an online cial list of SAP recipients. mayors in the National Capital nounce a decision today. She explained that the tran- businesses would be required to “Checkpoints will be retained panel survey in Metro Manila, After a thorough investiga- Region or Metro Manila, wants QUEZON CITY FOR GCQ sitioning to a general quaran- report their production capaci- and may be made stricter in pri- where 73% of the 1,000 re- tion conducted on the list of ben- to extend the enhanced quaran- A day after Metro Manila tine would jump-start the local ties and commensurate work- ority areas, community testing spondents said they favoured efi ciaries with the testimonies of tine until May 30 to allow their mayors proposed an exten- economy, adding that business- force requirements. will continue and contact trac- extending the enhanced quar- credible witnesses, local police respective health departments sion of the enhanced quaran- es would be required to adapt “Penalties will be imposed ing will be beefed up to help antine, while 27% were not in established probable cause against to conduct mass testing. tine, Quezon City announced it “strict health protocols” as a on those who will fail to report,” control the virus,” he said. favour of that. the two.

50 Covid-19 positive ‘Back to province’ scheme will aid equitable opportunities

overseas workers By Javier J Ismael programme and ordered the tance of institutionalisation of Manila Times creation of the Balik Probinsya, Balik Probinsya in addressing Bagong Pagasa Council that various social concerns not just under treatment would oversee its implementa- in Metro Manila, but in other enator Christopher Law- tion, as well as tackle balanced regions. He added that the pro- rence “Bong” Go clarifi ed regional development. gramme would give birth to op- By Jerry Hernandez operation of the BCDA, Clark Sthat the “Balik Probinsya, The body would also provide portunities towards equal dis- Manila Times Development Corp.(CDC), Bagong Pag-Asa” (Back to the an over-all direction for all the tribution of wealth and growth. Department of Transporta- Province, a New Hope) Pro- policies and implementation for Ano has urged local gov- tion, Overseas Workers Wel- gramme is voluntary for Filipi- the Balik Probinsya Programme, ernment units to participate he 50 overseas Filipino fare Administration, Depart- nos who were willing to consider especially in developing re- in the formulation of poli- workers (OFWs) infect- ment of Health, Bureau of relocating to their respective gions. Go said local government cies and implementation of Ted with the coronavirus Quarantine, Philippine Coast home provinces. units are now preparing to ac- the programme components disease (Covid-19) have taken Guard and National Task “We cannot force people to cept those who want to go back that would allow for resource- refuge at the We Heal As One Force Against Covid-19. relocate to the provinces. This to their provinces, where they sharing arrangements. “What Center-National Government “The government’s top programme is for people who would be given assistance, hous- we learn from the Covid-19 Administrative Center here in priority is to save more lives. want to leave urban centres. The ing and livelihood. pandemic is over population in New Clark City, Tarlac. These We Heal As One cen- government will give them the He also emphasised that as highly urbanised cities will not The OFWs, who returned tres will provide our OFWs opportunity to start life anew a legislator, he would help for- play to our advantage but on from different parts of the with the care and treatment after the Covid-19 crisis is over,” mulate long-term plans and the contrary, may lead to more world, are given 24/7 medi- they need so they can recover he said. push for key legislative meas- cases of coronavirus transmis- cal care, free meals and free from the disease, while also Go added that while the ures necessary to encourage sion,” he said in a statement. Internet connection at the keeping their families safe by long-term goal of the Balik more Filipinos to go home to The Philippine National Po- quarantine centre, Bases staying in these isolation fa- Probinsya Programme aims to the provinces and start their lice (PNP) has also expressed Conversion and Development cilities,” Dizon added. encourage urban dwellers and lives anew. support in the implementation Authority (BCDA) President Dizon is also the deputy businesses to relocate to the Christopher Go: support for regional growth Meanwhile, Interior Sec- of Balik Probinsya Programme. and Chief Executive Officer chief implementer of the Na- provinces to promote equitable retary Eduardo Ano said the According to PNP chief Gen. Vivencio Dizon said in an in- tional Action Plan Against distribution of opportunities “We will respect the deci- the provinces,” Go reiterated. programme was a “timely and Archie Francisco Gamboa said terview. Covid-19 and the chief co- and economic development sion of those who want to stay President Rodrigo Duterte ear- necessary” programme to fos- such a programme would help They arrived at the New ordinator of the Task Force throughout the country. It in Manila. We will prioritise lier signed Executive Order 114, ter regional growth. in decongesting in populous Clark City through the co- T3 (Test, Trace, Treat). should still be “voluntary.” those who want to go back to which institutionalised the He recognised the impor- urban cities.

Call to resume media giant’s operations to ensure employees’ welfare

By William Depasupil “I sincerely hope and pray that information,” he said. airwaves. Its national news pro- porary restraining order from Manila Times our government, especially our The Association of Major Re- gramme, “TV Patrol,” resumed the Supreme Court, and Roque Congress, will work together to ligious in the Philippines said, airing on Thursday on ANC, as said the public should wait for resolve the issue.” “These are dangerous times for well as on its social media pages, its reply. he Catholic Bishops’ Con- During this health crisis, peo- democracy which call for cour- reaching a total of 8.3mn views The spokesman was reacting ference of the Philippines ple need information more than age and vigilance. We wait for on Facebook and 870,737 views to the statement by House Mi- T(CBCP) weighed in on the ever, Valles said. the resurrection of the ABS- on YouTube, the statement said. nority Leader and Manila Rep. ABS-CBN Corp. issue, saying it The network went off -air after CBN.” The network also announced Bienvenido Abante Jr, who had should be allowed to resume reg- the National Telecommunica- In a statement, ABS-CBN that “TV Patrol” would also air fi led a bill to abolish the NTC. ular operations for the sake of its tions Commission (NTC) issued said it had leased airtime from on Teleradyo and Cinemo chan- Abante cited the NTC’s “fail- employees and the public. a cease and desist order on May 4 unnamed broadcasters in Met- nels on TVplus, in addition to the ure all these years to involve Davao Archbishop Romulo when ABS-CBN’s 25-year fran- ro Manila, Laguna, Iloilo, Ba- platforms mentioned earlier. sanctions against the companies Valles, CBCP president, said chise expired. colod and some parts of Baguio The network has appealed to poorly serving the people’s tel- the suspension of the network’s Despite the NTC’s order, ABS- through a block-time arrange- the public for understanding as ecommunications needs.” operations aff ected more than CBN has been using the fre- ment. it continues to resolve its issues “Our National Telecommu- 11,000 employees and their quency of another broadcaster The lease allows the network in order for them to resume op- nications Commission, suppos- families, and it might lead to that allows it to air four of its to air its movie channel Cinemo, erations while urging congress to edly in charge of regulating and the workers’ permanent job dis- digital-television channels. kids’ channel Yey, news chan- resolve its franchise renewal. promoting the telecommunica- placement. Meanwhile, the franchise re- nel DZMM “Teleradyo,” and Malacanang reiterated that it tions industry has turned out He added that the government newal remains pending in the pay-per-view movie service Ka- was neutral in the franchise is- to be one of the most inept and should consider the welfare of House of Representatives. pamilya Box Offi ce (KBO). sue, addressing calls to abolish useless agencies whose only common people, saying also The CBCP Episcopal Com- “The TVplus box, which is a the NTC saying that only Con- relevance lies in being another that his thoughts were with the mission on Social Communica- digital receiver, allows viewers to gress had the power to do that. model for sheer wastage of tax- employees displaced amid these tions (ESCS) also urged the leg- watch other free to air channels In a virtual press briefi ng, Pal- payer money,” congressman “extremely diffi cult and trying islators “to act expeditiously and A general view of the ABS-CBN network headquarters in Quezon City. as long as they broadcast on dig- ace spokesman Harry Roque Jr wrote in his explanatory note. times.” judiciously” on the renewal. ital signal,” the announcement said the Constitution was clear “But the latest act of the NTC Valles also said he hoped “And we hope that the law- renewal,” said ECSC Chairman the delay of renewal and the said. in saying that only Congress in issuing a cease and desist or- “that the media giant may be makers do the same on all the Bishop Marcelino Antonio Mar- closure of any recognised me- Its cable news channel, ANC, could give a franchise, and that der against broadcast company allowed to resume its broadcast other franchise applications of alit of Boac. dia channel jeopardise this same continues to air despite the shut- no other government body has ABS-CBN is a slap in the face of the soonest to the benefi t of our other media networks already “We value and uphold press freedom and deprive our people down, as it is not covered by the that power. Congress and an outright act of people.” on their desk for passing and freedom, and thus believe that of their right to access news and order that only regulates public ABS-CBN has fi led for a tem- defi ance,” he added. Gulf Times 18 Monday, May 11, 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 Serious challenge posed by extreme heat and humidity

The need to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming as much and as soon as possible has yet again been brought to the fore by a new study, published last Friday in the journal Science Advances. According to the paper, a wet-bulb temperature (TW) of 35C marks the upper physiological limit for human beings, and much lower values have serious health and productivity impacts. TW relates to both heat and humidity and how much people can cool off from extreme heat by sweating. Wet bulb temperatures are lower than air temperatures, but present a more accurate picture of the eff ects of heat and ‘The govt is failing us’: humidity combined on the human body. Humans will not survive if exposed to 35C TW for more than a few hours. Climate models project the fi rst 35C TW occurrences by the mid-21st century. However, a comprehensive evaluation of weather station data shows that some coastal Laid-off Americans subtropical locations have already reported a TW of 35C and that extreme humid heat overall has more than doubled By Andy Sullivan and Brad Brooks says she wrestled for more than a month The state has also contracted with a in frequency since 1979. Recent breaches of 35C in global Reuters with a website for processing claims that private-sector call centre to help keep up repeatedly failed and couldn’t get through with high call volumes. maximum sea surface temperature provide further support by phone. Offi cials in Arizona and the three other for the validity of these dangerously high TW values. Nearly or Claudia Alejandra, Her claim wasn’t accepted until April 18. states declined to discuss the specifi cs of 40 years’ worth of data collected from 7,877 weather stations unemployment has become a full- Under federal guidelines, she should the cases of the people Reuters interviewed. around the world constituted the input for the study. time job. have received funds by early April. “It’s sort of another brick in F Since losing her position at the Hedrick, who has no kids and grew up zPRIORITIES: MORTGAGE, FOOD the wall of our understanding makeup counter at the Macy’s department poor in Detroit, earned about $3,200 a AND DIAPERS The number of store in Orlando, Florida, on March 28, month at Starter’s Bar and Grill. The picture appears brighter in of just how rapidly extreme Alejandra spends her days trying to secure By mid-April, she exhausted her $1,700 Minnesota, which says a worker who fi les people exposed heat is expanding and now the unemployment benefi ts that should in savings. a claim can expect to receive their fi rst we can add extreme heat have arrived weeks ago, sometimes placing Now she’s surviving on noodles and payment that same week. to heatwaves and humidity together,” more than 100 calls a day. canned soup donated by friends and faces The state provides a maximum weekly Colin Raymond, lead author The online application, a 10-hour ordeal a $4,000 backlog of bills --- from utilities payment of $740, one of the highest fi gures worldwide of error messages, ended with a notice that and insurance to her monthly rent of $825. in the United States. of the study who did the her identity could not be verifi ed. Michigan’s Department of Labour and As of April 18, the state had registered increased by research as a doctoral student If she’s lucky, she’ll reach a Economic Opportunity spokeswoman 13.8% of its covered workforce, slightly at Columbia University’s representative who will say there’s nothing Erica Quealy acknowledged there have been better than the national average. around 125mn Lamont-Doherty Earth they can do to help. delays but said that it has extended call As elsewhere, Minnesota initially faced a Observatory, told weather. Otherwise, it’s a busy signal, or an centre hours due to the surge in demand deluge of applications. between 2000 hours-long wait on hold, followed by a Claudia Alejandra, 37, furloughed from and delays, and has quadrupled the number Residents interviewed by Reuters say com in a phone interview. The sudden hang-up. her job at the makeup counter at Macy’s of staff ers helping customers. they struggled to reach someone by phone, and 2016 researchers found particularly Alejandra, 37, cashed out her retirement amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), Unemployment brought a diff erent set of especially in the fi rst half of April. dangerous combinations of fund — $800, a year’s worth of savings — to poses for a portrait near a lake in Or- concerns for Phoenix resident Jamell Verse, Car salesman Preston Jorgensen heat and humidity in the Middle East and parts of Southeast make the monthly payments on her 2010 lando, Florida, US, on March 6. who suff ers from a chronic infl ammatory estimates he placed 200 calls a day using Asia, China, Africa, the Caribbean, and some parts in the US. Mazda, but doesn’t know how she’ll pay disease called ankylosing spondylitis that an automatic redialer for two weeks after the rent for her studio apartment or her Minnesota — revealed a wide disparity in causes severe pain in his joints, eyes and his application was rejected on April 5, The new research uncovered a handful of the cases of wet- phone bill. whether or when people received payments stomach. encountering busy signals each time. bulb temperatures that could have been deadly to humans. Longer-term goals — a promotion, a depending on where they live. His employer-based health insurance After weeks of sleuthing — contacting It also found thousands of brief outbreaks of locally rare or family, a house of her own — seem even In Minnesota, where state employees ended after he lost his job as an account elected representatives, trading tips on social unprecedented heat and humidity around the world between more elusive. fi eld queries on social media platforms as executive on April 9. media, and calling other state offi ces — he the years 1979 and 2017. Previous studies have predicted such Alejandra’s experience is similar to well as by phone, six out of seven jobless Now, Verse doesn’t know how he’ll pay thought he caught a break when he was that of more than two dozen Americans people said they were getting benefi ts — for medication that costs $2,000 per month transferred to a line that appeared to work. conditions would happen, but not for several more decades. thrown out of work during the coronavirus sometimes more than they were earning — or a visit to the hospital. It rang and he got through. A few wet-bulb temperatures measured over and near the pandemic who Reuters interviewed over the before. “When the disease fl ares up it’s quick But after fi ve hours on hold, he was Arabian Gulf were at or above what is considered survivable if past week. In Florida, where a buggy computer and it’s violent and it’s with no notice,” he disconnected. humans were exposed to them for even just a few hours. The While US government guidelines say system has spurred widespread outrage, said. Two weeks ago, a state employee called study found reliable observational evidence that at least 14 such jobless workers who qualify for assistance only three out of eight people said they Arizona Republican Governor Doug to tell him that his claim had been resolved. should get payments within three weeks were getting payments, while all six people Ducey eased some restrictions in March, Jorgensen, 36, says his weekly payment readings have occurred since 1979 in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, of applying, many — like Alejandra — are interviewed in Arizona and all eight in allowing recipients to get payments sooner of $1,340 falls short of the $8,000 or so he and the UAE. Six of those 14 readings occurred since 2010. waiting twice that long. Michigan said they had not yet received a and no longer requiring proof they are used to earn each month, but covers his The number of people exposed to heatwaves worldwide Increasingly desperate, some are lining payment. looking for work. mortgage payments and food and diapers increased by around 125mn between 2000 and 2016, according up at food banks or bargaining with The interviews, to be sure, do not But as of April 25, just 5.9% of eligible for his three young children. to the World Health Organisation. Extreme heat can also have landlords to postpone bills. represent a scientifi c sample of Americans’ workers received those benefi ts, the fourth- His wife, a stay-at-home mother, is Most fi ll their days seeking answers from experiences with jobless benefi t systems. lowest rate in the nation, according to a expecting another child. psychological eff ects on humans, and it impacts everything overwhelmed state bureaucracies. But the people interviewed described Reuters analysis of Labor Department data. The weeks spent trying to resolve his from transmission of diseases to availability of water to air Alejandra has not heard anything similar situations in each state. Verse, 41, says he applied for claim were frustrating, he says, but he quality. The most sweltering conditions come about when from the state — though she has gotten Some who had begun to be paid benefi ts unemployment on April 10, the day after he expressed sympathy for overwhelmed state periods of intense heat and high humidity overlap. The new a fundraising e-mail from Republican said they believed public servants were lost his job but has yet to receive a payment workers. paper also found that parts of the world will regularly see higher Senator Rick Scott, who set up the current doing their best to respond to a fast- — or a response of any sort. “It’s a new time for us as a country and unemployment system during his tenure as moving crisis, but even those described Like applications in most other states, they’re trying to do what they can,” he said. than the 35C TW if global average temperatures rise just 2.5C governor. diffi culties in getting the system to work. Verse’s claim has been held up by anti- The Minnesota Department of above those of the preindustrial climate. The world has already “I feel like the government is failing us,” All four states face high levels of jobless fraud measures designed to weed out those Employment and Economic Development warmed about 1C above that level. she said in a telephone interview. claims and will be important in the who don’t qualify. said it was working to process the high The study also raises several questions, including what Florida has overhauled and expanded November 3 presidential election. A letter asking him to confi rm his volume of applicants and enrol eligible policies governments will need to develop. Industries whose the computer system and brought in The governors of Florida and Arizona application arrived on the day it was due, people as fast as possible. 2,000 agents to fi eld calls, and plans an are Republicans, those of Michigan and prompting a scramble to fi nd a fax machine In Florida, Governor DeSantis has faced workers toil outdoors — such as agriculture and construction investigation of the system’s failings, Minnesota Democrats. to get it back on time. an angry backlash as his state has failed to — may need to shift their schedules to cooler times of day. Governor Ron DeSantis said at a Monday The state requires him to speak with deliver for hundreds of thousands of jobless The fi ndings underscore the serious challenge posed by news conference. z ‘I JUST NEED WHAT I’M OWED’ a representative before he can get his residents. humid heat that is more intense than previously reported People who applied in March and Before the pandemic, Detroit restaurant payments, but the phone lines have been As of April 25, the state was providing and increasingly severe. haven’t gotten payments yet likely have not server Deshan Hedrick used to worry about jammed. benefi ts to just 4.1% of its covered provided all of the required information or saving for a new home. He says he calls 100 times a day, workforce, the lowest in the nation. might not be eligible, he said. Now she has a new problem: where to fi nd sometimes starting two hours before the In response to a request for comment, “You’ve started to see a really signifi cant food to last her through the next few days. phone lines open at 7am. state offi cials cited state gures fi showing To Advertise volume of payments going out, and it’s Hedrick, who lives in a small house with local time on weekdays in hopes of that as of Tuesday 43% of the 1.1mn people really taken a major overhaul behind the a roommate and had never been laid off in snagging a spot at the front of the virtual who applied for unemployment benefi ts [email protected] scenes,” he said. 25 years of waitressing, hasn’t received an line. received payments. Display His offi ce did not respond to an e-mail unemployment payment since she lost her Last week Verse went to the state’s “I’m willing to take anything at this with detailed questions on the situation. job on March 16. unemployment agency offi ce. point,” said Jessica Da Silva, 40, who was 44466621 44418811 In the past six weeks, states have “I don’t know who to blame. I just need Staff ers told him to call the same number laid off from her restaurant job in the struggled to process over 33mn jobless what I’m owed,” she said. he has been trying for weeks. “All they were coastal city of Port St Lucie and was told Classified claims, more than they typically see in a By one measure, Michigan is a relative doing was telling people to call the phone she qualifi ed for state and federal benefi ts 44466609 44418811 year. success story. numbers that are listed online,” Verse said. that totalled about half the $1,200 or so she That fi gure does not capture those who As of April 25, the state had enrolled “That upset me even more, because their typically earned in a week. Subscription have been unable to even fi le a claim due to 21.1% of eligible working-age adults phone lines are all backed up.” As she and her husband juggle bills and bureaucratic hurdles — up to 14mn more, into unemployment programmes, the The Arizona Department of Economic defer payments, she’s riding a bicycle to [email protected] according to an Economic Policy Institute third-highest rate in the country and Security, which administers unemployment reduce stress. study released last week. above the national rate of 13.3%, US Labor benefi ts, said it has added 310 staff ers since “It does a number on you — it causes loss The Reuters interviews across four Department fi gures show. the pandemic began and was hiring 200 of sleep, it causes you to either overeat, or © 2020 Gulf Times. All rights reserved states — Florida, Michigan, Arizona and That’s little comfort to Hedrick, 40, who more. not eat at all,” said Da Silva. Gulf Times Monday, May 11, 2020 19 COMMENT HBKU alumni are going the extra mile to help their communities get through Covid-19 lockdown

Doha Our role is to be calm and mindful of something productive. My job as a advice of health professionals, As a media researcher, I have embassy in Doha to help them in any what is happening on the other side of the teacher is to show students that they the government directive which access to accurate information from area of social work and journalism for screen. We had the opportunities to be are not alone during this distressing prohibited large crowds, and the authentic sources in Qatar, and I am community welfare. n the current lockdown due to trained; these parents did not. It is not only time and that we are all going precedence in Islamic countries contributing to spreading awareness I post all kinds of news and Covid-19, the whole country is academics that we should be concerned through this together. which closed mosques. among my Bangladeshi community information on social media and having to adapt to an unprec- with; most important is the well-being I have been forwarding messages here. on some popular community Iedented situation and many are of the children and their families. We and videos about the diseases on There is very little work done pages after translating it into finding it difficult to cope. understand that the students are missing social media. I also wrote an article by the authorities that are in the Bengali. I am proud to be able to We spoke to three alumni from their classmates, the school environment, on time management and maximising Bengali language, so I am making provide important support for Hamad Bin Khalifa University and their teachers. benefit from the lockdown where every effort to fill the gap between our community and to keep them (HBKU) to find out how they are Teachers have to make sure the people have more free time. the Qatar authorities’ work and the updated with the latest correct helping and supporting the needs students are not missing much of My other role is to answer Bangladeshi community. information and inform them about of their respective communities to their academic subjects this year. questions regarding Islamic issues I translate important updates what is going on. better cope during this situation. Through assigning activities, we arising from the lockdown such as related to Covid-19 from Arabic One of my aims is to contact have to make distance teaching whether people can offer the Friday or English, steps taken by Qatar’s all the government authorities to and learning as engaging and fun congregational prayer. government, health tips issued by inform them that the Hindi and Urdu as possible. Meeting with students My eff orts have had a positive eff ect the Ministry of Public Health, any languages are not the same as the online keeps the social and emotional and people have heeded the call to notices issued by the Ministry of Bengali language, because although bonds tight, which is a much-needed close mosques and limit gatherings. On Labour and Ministry of Interior, and we can understand spoken Hindi we aspect at this moment. a social level, this has been a positive so on. cannot read their notices posted in However, teachers are also affected development that goes a long way in I am working as an official in the Hindi or Urdu. by the quarantine, therefore checking limiting infections. Human Rights Department at the I am ready to translate all kinds of on colleagues’ emotional state is also In the future, I will continue to Ministry of Interior as well as with updates from any department which very important. Many teachers are play my advisory role together with the Ministry of Sports and Culture as is important for the Bangladeshi expatriates so they are also worried my colleagues and to spread the a volunteer for QFM Bengali Radio. community. There are now more than about their families abroad. We are Shaibu Asali message of hope, supplication, and My role is translating special and 430,000 Bangladeshi people living one team; if one falls, we all fall. College of Islamic Studies patience. important announcements and I do in Qatar. As soon as there was concern voice recordings to be broadcast to I want to reach all of them by about the outbreak of Covid-19, Bangladeshi people living in Qatar. I using social media to raise legal and Qatar Foundation was proactive in As a graduate of the College of Islamic am also connected to the Bangladeshi cultural awareness. preparing for a potential lockdown of Studies, my eff orts have been limited schools and universities. Educators to my area of specialisation. I have were trained to use multiple been advising the Muslim community About Hamad Bin Khalifa University programmes and platforms in order in Zimbabwe about the dangers of the to communicate and teach online in Covid-19 pandemic and the Islamic Innovating Today, Shaping Tomorrow the case of an emergency lockdown. stance on diseases and plagues. Najla Hamoud Several meetings and discussions This began in mid-March when Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), ity through an enriching academic College of Humanities and Social took place regarding different Covid-19 was taking centre stage in a member of Qatar Foundation for experience, innovative ecosystem, Sciences scenarios that might occur. world news. I work with a group of Education, Science, and Community and unique partnerships. HBKU deliv- We want our students to feel that Muslim scholars in the country under Development (QF), was founded in ers multidisciplinary undergraduate school still excites; it is simply a an organisation known as the League 2010 as a research-intensive university and graduate programs through its As teachers, we work online not only different version. It is an excellent of Muslim Graduates. that acts as a catalyst for transforma- colleges, and provides opportunities with our students with whom we are way to stay connected and to raise To this end, we produced a tive change in Qatar and the region for research and scholarship through familiar, but also with families who are hope. By keeping the learning process statement which warned about while having global impact. Located in its institutes and centers. For more dealing with quarantine as well as the going, students and families are the dangers of the virus, and the Education City, HBKU is committed to information about HBKU, visit www. stress of learning new technologies to busy and engaged, so it consumes necessity of stopping congregational Tamim Raihan building and cultivating human capac- hbku.edu.qa. support their children. their time and shifts their energy to prayers in mosques based on the College of Islamic Studies At WISH, we recognise that nurses Three-day forecast

TODAY Maximum Temperature : 380c are our healthcare heroes Minimum Temperature : 270c TUESDAY enormous toll that the virus has taken We are already witnessing some while in the US, 27.9 million people have Maximum Temperature : 360c across all sectors of society, these fi gures remarkable changes. Qatar’s nurses are no health insurance – particularly dire Minimum Temperature : 270c are particularly sobering. The fortitude growing in confi dence as they realise statistics in light of the current situation. WEDNESDAY and selfl essness of nurses the world over their true potential and look to become To coincide with the Year of the Nurse Maximum Temperature : 340c must be recognised and applauded. researchers, leaders, and educators. The and the Midwife, WISH is leading the Minimum Temperature : 260c There is currently a global shortfall of aim is to inspire more Qataris to take up development of special reports, one of nurses and midwives, and recent events the profession, build on the skills that which will focus on men in nursing, in Fisherman's forecast demonstrate the urgent need to raise their nurses of today already possess, leverage partnership with the British Medical numbers and place them at the heart of technology, and applaud the work they Journal. The reports are expected to be WARNING resilient healthcare systems all around are doing. published in time for the WISH 2020 Inshore : Strong wind expected at most places daytime the world. Recently, I was honoured to be part summit, set to take place from November Offshore : Strong wind and high By Sultana Afdhal My own journey to understanding of the Steering Committee of the State 16–18. sea CEO, World Innovation Summit for Health the critical role that nurses play began of the World’s Nursing Report 2020, Additionally, WISH is working on a - an initiative of Qatar Foundation WEATHER with the commissioning of the 2018 launched by the WHO on April 7. Based policy recommendations paper, Nursing Inshore : Hot daytime with some WISH report on Nursing and Universal on data from 191 countries, the fi rst- and Midwifery Workforce Development, clouds and slight dust he year 2020 has been named Healthcare Coverage, led by our research of-its-kind report details the latest off ering a global perspective as well as a to blowing dust at group chair, Lord Nigel Crisp, co-chair of evidence and policy options for the specifi c focus on Qatar. This policy paper some places, mild by as the Year of the Nurse and night the Midwife by the World Nursing Now, a global initiative launched global nursing workforce. It maps out will also be ready for WISH 2020, and we Health Organisation (WHO). by the International Council for Nurses key recommendations for the nursing look forward to sharing the fi ndings with WIND T and the WHO in 2018. sector, to help deliver the 2030 global global healthcare leaders. Inshore : Northwesterly-Norther- With the world presently engulfed by ly 15-25/30 KT an unprecedented healthcare challenge, The report showed strong public backing Sustainable Development Goals and Alongside our other eff orts, WISH has Offshore : Nothwesterly 18-25/35 this designation could not be more for nurses to play a greater role in health universal healthcare coverage (UHC). partnered with the Nursing Now campaign KT timely. services, and demonstrated that they are These include the need for governments to give young nurses a voice at the World well-positioned to manage the defi ning to invest in a massive acceleration of Health Assembly meeting in Geneva, Visibility : 4-8/3 KM Covid-19 has brought into sharp focus Offshore : 5-8/12 FT the selfl ess contributions of nurses on the health challenges of modern times. nursing education, the need for six an annual gathering of health ministers frontline of the global pandemic. They Through nursing leadership courses, million new nursing jobs to be created organised by the WHO. In May last year, account for almost 60 percent of health symposiums, and workshops, we are by 2030 (primarily in low and middle- nurses from 18 countries participated in Around the region professionals worldwide, and are in the empowering nurses to expand their income countries), and investments to be fi ve days of meetings, talks, workshops and Weather Weather highest risk category for contracting the horizons in meaningful ways, learn new made in nurse leadership – new models networking opportunities, off ering a chance today Max/min tomorrow Max/min skills, and make their voices heard in of care, advanced practice roles, and to positively infl uence global healthcare virus. In Italy, healthcare workers make up Baghdad Sunny 33/18 Sunny 34/18 healthcare policymaking. policy decision-making – to maximise policy. 9% of all Covid-19 cases, while in Spain Kuwait City P Cloudy 35/25 Cloudy 36/25 In Qatar, our work is a collaborative the effi ciency and eff ectiveness of health As the world fi ghts the Covid-19 this fi gure is as high as 14%. To date, over Manama Cloudy 32/27 Cloudy 32/27 100 National Health Service workers in eff ort, supported by the Nursing Now and social care systems. It is an agenda we pandemic, it is time to applaud the Sunny 38/32 Sunny 38/29 committee which is co-chaired by the must commit to. amazing contributions of our nurses, Muscat the UK have died after contracting the Tehran Sunny 26/13 Sunny 23/12 coronavirus. Meanwhile, offi cial data Chief Nursing Offi cer at Hamad Medical At WISH, we recognise that nurses are and that of all healthcare professionals from the Centres for Disease Control Corporation and myself, and brings the backbone of our healthcare systems, working tirelessly to keep us safe from and Prevention suggests these frontline together senior representatives of WISH, yet millions of people are unable to access harm. But applause is not enough – workers account for 11% of all infections Primary Health Care Corporation, the crucial primary care services that they nurses are our healthcare heroes, and in the United States. Al-Ahli Hospital, and the University of provide. For instance, across Africa, there investment in nursing represents an Even as we struggle to comprehend the Calgary in Qatar. are only 8.7 nurses per 10,000 population, investment in our future.

Live issues

‘Medicare for All’ more critical than ever in the US Around the world Weather Weather By Dan Brook healthcare is the most shocking and PLOS Medicine, reviewed 22 studies wouldn’t have to worry about whether or today Max/min tomorrow Max/min inhumane.” on Medicare for All. It found that each not they can aff ord a trip to the hospital. Athens P Cloudy 27/17 P Cloudy 31/17 Bernie Sanders popularised “Medicare of these studies – regardless of the This would reduce the pandemic’s death Beirut Sunny 23/19 Sunny 26/21 S Senator Bernie Sanders is no for All”, a policy he has been advocating ideological orientation of its researchers toll, and allow the country to recover more Bangkok P Cloudy 36/29 P Cloudy 36/29 longer running for president, for decades. Sanders’ version of universal – had reached the same conclusion: quickly. Berlin Rain 09/02 M Cloudy 12/04 but one of his ideas, “Medicare healthcare – let’s call it Berniecare – passage of Medicare for All would result in A comprehensive single-payer, Cairo Sunny 34/18 M Sunny 37/20 for All,” is more critical than includes dental, mental health treatment, substantial savings in money and in lives. universal healthcare system would Cape Town M Sunny 21/15 P Cloudy 18/13 U S T Storms 31/26 T Storm 31/26 ever. With more than 33mn Americans optometry, long-term care, prescriptions Dozens of countries have already signifi cantly reduce anxiety and debt, Colombo losing their jobs during the ongoing Cov- and even hearing aids. implemented some version of universal increase health and happiness and help the Dhaka M Sunny 36/26 P Cloudy 34/25 id-19 pandemic, many are also losing their Berniecare would mean that everyone healthcare, and none of them has sought lower and middle classes the most. Hong Kong T Storm 28/23 T Storm 26/23 healthcare. That is, if they were fortunate has healthcare and no one would incur to repeal it. So if Americans want a society that’s Istanbul P Cloudy 26/17 Sunny 28/16 enough to have it in the fi rst place. the medical debt that pushes more than Take Canada, for example. Although better equipped to handle a pandemic, Jakarta S T Storms 33/26 S T Storms 32/26 Even with Obamacare – certainly half a million uninsured individuals into its system is not perfect, Canada has while also being able to provide healthcare Karachi M Sunny 33/28 Sunny 33/28 an improvement over free market bankruptcy each year. With Medicare universal health coverage, an absence for people during normal conditions, they London Cloudy 12/03 M Cloudy 15/06 fundamentalism – tens of millions of for All in place, Americans could have a of medical bills or billing offi ces, lower should follow Senator Bernie Sanders’ Manila S T Storms 36/27 S T Stroms 36/27 Americans are still uninsured, while most system that’s healthier, more effi cient and taxes, less anxiety and a longer average life lead and make Medicare for All a reality. – Moscow M Sunny 19/13 S Showers 25/05 Americans with health insurance are above all, more humane. expectancy than the United States. When Tribune News Agency New Delhi M Sunny 38/27 M Sunny 37/27 underinsured. Replacing the current healthcare Canadians have to go to a health clinic or New York S Showers 18/06 M Sunny 14/06 The United States, with the world’s system would also be easier on our wallets. hospital, the only fee they may need to pay z Dan Brook teaches in the Department Paris Rain 14/05 P Cloudy 16/07 largest economy, needs to civilise itself As a Yale University study published in the is for parking. of Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sao Paulo Sunny 26/12 M Sunny 27/14 by extending this right to all, instead of prestigious Lancet in February concluded, As Covid-19 continues to spread, some Sciences at San Jose State University. This Seoul M Cloudy 22/10 P Cloudy 21/09 prioritising the fi nancial health of Big Medicare for All would save 68,000 lives Americans can get tested for free, but column was produced for the Progressive Singapore T Storm 31/27 T Storm 31/27 Pharma and Wall Street. and $450bn annually, compared to the treatment for the disease can cost tens of Media Project, which is run by The Sydney Sunny 18/08 P Cloudy 20/09 As Martin Luther King Jr put it, “Of present mess. thousands of dollars. With Berniecare, Progressive magazine, and distributed by Tokyo Clear 29/20 Cloudy 27/18 all the forms of inequality, injustice in Another recent report, published in those infected with the coronavirus Tribune News Service. Gulf Times 20 Monday, May 11, 2020 QATAR Covid-19 won’t change path of climate change: Doha Debates he Covid-19 crisis may largest on record. But Dr Haus- global warming and it’s hard to movement that addresses the have led to clearer skies, father told the #DearWorld see how behavioural changes multiple crises we face. We Tbut the “trajectory” of Live episode, How Coronavirus alone will accomplish that, could face extinction if we con- climate change will not alter Helps – And Hurts – The Cli- even if they are part of the so- tinue to do business as usual, even if behavioural changes mate Crisis: “Even if we reduce lution.” and business as usual includes forced by the pandemic con- emissions by 6-8% this year, it The event also heard from putting profi t and miracle so- tinue after it ends, a leading will not make much of a dent in scientist and environmental lutions fi rst, and continuing climate scientist has warned at atmospheric CO2. activist Dr Vandana Shiva, who to neglect nature’s ecological Qatar Foundation’s Doha De- “We need to be cognisant has championed the rights of processes and people’s capac- bates event. that a single event will not fun- women and small farmers. She ity to be resilient and innova- Speaking during the latest damentally change the world’s said: “We face three pandem- tive.” edition of #DearWorld Live – trajectory. That needs us to ics – the virus, the shutdown South African youth leader Doha Debates’ weekly online change the way we generate which has created a huge crisis and activist Obakeng Leseyane show that tackles key issues energy by not releasing green- of livelihood destruction, and a told the show: “If it took peo- surrounding the coronavirus house gases, and this is a long- hunger pandemic. ple being under lockdown for situation – Dr Zeke Hausfather, term investment, not a brief “If we continue to see a there to even be minimal cli- director of Climate and Energy shock. poverty crisis and livelihood mate benefi ts, post-lockdown at California’s Breakthrough “I would like to see clear destruction, and continue to we have to ask about the role Institute, claimed perceptions skies over the Himalayas or distribute chemically-inten- our economies play in climate that the pandemic has had a San Francisco, but doing this sive, heavily-processed food, change, and how we construct silver lining by reducing air in a way that lasts will require we will add to the greenhouse climate-friendly economies. pollution are wide of the mark. changes in the way we con- gases already contributed by an “A key part of this will come The international energy sume energy, not keeping eve- industrial globalised farming down to how strong our politi- agency has reported that global ryone locked in their homes. system. These crises have been cal will and human urgency is energy use fell by 3.8% in the “Dramatic changes in be- created by a drive of industrial to reimagine our economies, fi rst three months of 2020, may haviour through locking down technology and money-mak- because without some level of drop by 6% by the end of the entire countries have only re- ing, and those drivers cannot economic reform, we will go year, and that this could lead to sulted in a predicted 8% reduc- be the solution. back to normal and changes in the world’s CO2 levels seeing tion in emissions. We need to “We should take the op- the level of climate benefi ts will an 8% annual decrease – the get to 90% even 100%, to stop portunity to create a broader probably not happen.” Panellists at the Doha Debates’ #DearWorld Live on climate change.

MME, Qeeri participate in key global Vegetable yards doing brisk business

he Ministry of Munici- cabbage, diff erent types of pep- lowing a limited number of cus- meeting on food and energy security pality and Environment’s per, onion, eggplant, mushroom tomers inside as far as possible, T(MME) yards for selling and various types of leafy veg- checking the body temperature local agricultural produce con- etables alongside other fresh of customers, workers and sell- he Ministry of Munici- new scenario due to global out- tinue to draw customers, selling products. ers before being admitted inside pality and Environment break of Covid-19 and assess around 1,500 tonnes of vegeta- Prices at the yards have re- the yards, and making sure that T(MME) and Qatar Energy its implications on GDP. This bles in the fi rst two weeks since mained stable for most vegeta- everyone wears facemasks and and Environment Research in- scenario shows some positive the start of Ramadan. bles since the start of Ramadan, gloves while shopping, the report stitute (Qeeri) participated in indicators to achieve sustain- The yards at Al Mazrouah, Al with some types - such as to- states. a video conference in the fi fth able FWE during Covid-19 pan- Wakra, Al Sheehaniya, Al Khor- matoes - being sold for particu- In spite of the rising tem- meeting of the joint Qatari- demic. Al Thakhira and Al Shamal have larly low rates. A box of tomatoes perature, the participating local European-American global Dr al-Kuwari and Dr Am- been off ering consumers a qual- was being sold for QR8 recently, farms have continued to supply research team for food-water- hamed stated that, in the near ity and safe experience of shop- while a box of cucumber cost their fresh produce to yards on a energy (FWE) nexus project future, the team will have a food ping for fresh vegetables, cater- QR10, cabbage QR10, zucchini daily basis due to the advanced (Sunex). database that will benefi t deci- ing to the needs of consumers QR15 and onion QR8. The price farming technology they use and This meeting was attended sion makers to strengthen food on a daily basis during the holy of capsicum of diff erent types the eff orts exerted by the enti- by Dr Mohamed bin Saif al-Ku- security system and address any month. ranged from QR25-30 depending ties concerned, especially the wari, director of the Centre for emergency situation such as According to local Arabic daily on the type. MME, to support them and help Environmental and Municipal Covid-19 pandemic. Arrayah, the yards off er over 60 In view of the current situa- them enhance their productivity Studies, representing the MME, The food security strategy in types of vegetables produced by tion, the yards are strictly follow- in terms of quantity, quality and and Dr Abdulkarem Amhamed, Qatar is based on expanding the a good number of local farms. ing preventive and precautionary extending the farming season as energy effi ciency programme local production of agricultural These items are sold to consum- measures to prevent any chances much as possible. director, representing Qeeri at and food commodities such as ers at low prices compared to of Covid-19 infection. These in- The yards are open daily dur- Hamad Bin Khalifa University. fresh vegetables, dairy, dates, other outlets and retailers. These clude regular disinfection and ing Ramadan from 7.30pm until Sunex off ers an integrated The meeting in progress. red meat, eggs, fi sh, etc; storage include caulifl ower, cucumber, sanitisation of the premises, al- midnight. systems approach to support of agricultural and other basic decision-making processes The Sunex project is jointly and energy) were designed to food commodities that cannot used in formulating inclusive funded by the Belmont Forum include strategies and scenarios be cultivated locally such as urban Food Water Energy (FEW and the Qatar National Re- to predict food, water and ener- wheat, sugar, rice, etc. – strategies). The applied nex- search Fund QNRF. This meet- gy consumption until 2050 for The National Strategy for us-approach relies on impor- ing was held to discuss the the four cities mentioned above. Food Security 2019-2023 came tant urban data, stakeholder’s project progress activities, and The systems will take into ac- up with objectives to unify the dialogue and consistent devel- to reprioritise the research el- count the type of energy con- eff orts of the authorities in the opment scenarios to address ements within the project to sumption, the population and country for optimal use of natu- and understand the complex support Qatar and other coun- its rate of growth, urban plan- ral resources to fortify the food interlinkages between the three tries to face the global Covid-19 ning and the living patterns of security system against emer- systems to maximise their syn- pandemic. Scientists shared the population. gencies. ergies. the results obtained from three The business as usual and In addition, the policymakers Sunex will be applied for Ber- analytical models developed, projected scenarios for food, in Qatar will be strengthened lin, Bristol, Doha and Vienna to which showed promising data water and energy consumptions to address crisis like Covid-19 learn from diff erent consump- with useful outcomes. were applied. and other unforeseen crises or tion patterns and resource use. These models (food, water The scientifi c team added a emergencies in the future.

Snapshots of Al Wakra yard selling local vegetables. PICTURES: Ram Chand Pandemic has not aff ected Qatar’s food security

By Shafeeq Alingal ri, director of the Food Security offi cial, while describing the food for more than six months Staff Reporter Department at the MME said in strategic storage plans of Qatar, and can be easily relied upon an interview with Al Araby TV. said that the silos at Hamad In- during a crisis. We are not af- “The strategy was drafted after ternational Port are adequate to fected like other countries he Covid-19 crisis has the unjust blockade and vari- store food for the population of which are forced to accept any not aff ected Qatar’s food ous plans were developed to the country. cost including shipping charg- Tsecurity, a senior offi cial meet diff erent crises. Perhaps, “Their storage capacity is es. We take the decision com- of the Ministry of Municipality Covid-19 is one of the most dif- suffi cient to meet the demands fortably,” he said. and Environment (MME) has fi cult,” al-Marri said. of 3mn people which exceeds Regarding the impact of dis- said. Plans that were developed the entire population of Qatar. ruption of the air traffi c on the “The plans chalked out as as part of the strategy helped The food is stored in the exist- supply of goods, he said action part of the Qatar National Se- the country respond to 90% of ing facilities and distributed in is being taken to address the curity Strategy 2018-2023 have the needs during the current the country by the merchants,” food storage and delay in the helped the country stay se- crisis and work is progressing he explained. delivery. Strict measures in cure,” Masoud Jarallah al-Mar- on meeting the rest. The MME “Strategic storage helps store place to keep Private sector backs govt Industrial Area safe

Qatar is a bird ‘stopover’ site for about 300 species eff orts; support needed to From Page 1

QNA and pelicans. The lake also pro- face ‘virus’ challenges The document stresses that Doha vides a green resting station and people who want to exit and clean water for migratory birds From Page 1 According to Sheikh Faisal, the enter the Industrial Area must that pass over the country. meeting affi rms that major players download the Ehteraz app on he World Migratory Bird The World Migratory Bird During a recently-held video and stakeholders in the country’s their mobile phones. Day was celebrated on Day, which was celebrated for conference with HE the Prime industries all agree on the need Companies who want their TSaturday under the slo- the fi rst time in 2006, is a new Minister and Interior Minister for the private and public sec- workers to exit the area must gan ‘Birds Connect Our World’. global platform aimed at unit- Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin tors to cooperate and to rise above ensure that the app is downloaded According to the Ministry of ing conservation eff orts, en- Abdulaziz al-Thani, he said, the “exceptional circumstances” on the workers’ phones with Municipality and Environment hancing knowledge and raising “We have fully undertaken our happening in the country. their screening results. In case (MME), Qatar is an important public awareness of the urgent role and used all our potentials to Sheikh Faisal also said the a worker’s phone does not have ‘stopover’ site for migratory need to protect migratory birds support the national economy.” pandemic is a practical test on the feature that allows him to birds, and a permanent resi- and their habitats, as well as “Besides, the private sector is the readiness of offi cial estab- download the app or doesn’t own dency for about 300 species, addressing threats to their mi- not only seeking support and fi - lishments of the country, and a mobile phone, he will not be including a number of endan- gratory pathways around the nances but it is simultaneously measures the ability of the gov- allowed to exit the area. gered species. world. working to assume an eff ective role ernment system to face chal- “A company’s commitment to The state also attaches great In addition to countries, in- in the economic and commercial lenges and give a fl exible re- health, housing and workplace importance to the protection of natural reserves to protect and new habitat for wild and wa- ternational organisations, and activities in the country as part of sponse to the demands of the requirements will be evaluated. wildlife and its natural habitats maintain environmental sys- ter life, providing a natural and associations, including those of its sense of responsibility towards current situation to mitigate In case of any violation of these and has endeavoured in this re- tems and its components. healthy environment that in- the United Nations, are partici- the nation and for the good of the the economic and social conse- conditions, the company will be gard to establish many areas and Al Karaana lake has become a cludes diff erent types of birds pating in this global event. two parties,” he stressed. quences of the epidemic. penalised,” the document adds.