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DELHI THE HINDU 14 WORLD THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2020 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE China lifts Wuhan lockdown after 76 days Bernie Sanders opts out of About 55,000 people are expected to leave the city, where the pandemic began, on the first day Democratic presidential race Associated Press Reuters LONDON Former Vice­President Biden to face Trump in Nov. 3 election After 76 days in lockdown, the Chinese city at the heart Associated Press of the global pandemic reo­ Washington pened on Wednesday, and Senator Bernie Sanders, tens of thousands imme­ who saw his once strong diately hopped on trains and lead in the Democratic prim­ planes to leave. Elsewhere, ary evaporate as the party’s the economic, political and establishment lined swiftly psychological toll of fighting up behind rival Joe Biden, the virus grew increasingly ended his presidential bid clear and more difficult to on Wednesday, an acknow­ bear. ledgement that the former In the Chinese city of 11 Vice­President is too far million where the pandemic ahead for him to have any began, residents waved flags reasonable hope of catching and the city staged a light up. show with skyscrapers and The Vermont Senator’s End to a solid start: Senator Bernie Sanders waving to the bridges radiating images of announcement makes Mr. crowd at a campaign rally in Phoenix on March 5. * AP health workers helping pa­ Biden the presumptive De­ tients. mocratic nominee to chal­ dest candidate. shire but found new life as More than 50,000 people lenge President Donald Mr. Sanders, though, used the rest of the party’s more in Wuhan were infected, and Trump in November. strong polling and solid fun­ moderate establishment over 3,300 deaths were re­ “The path toward victory draising — collected almost coalesced around him as an ported, about 80% of all Ready to go: A worker from China’s Jilin Province, in red, with a colleague as she prepares to return home from Wuhan.* AP is virtually impossible,” Mr. entirely from small dona­ alternative to Mr. Sanders. deaths in China, according to Sanders told supporters as tions made online — to more official figures. he congratulated Mr. Biden. than quiet early doubters. Loss in Michigan “I haven’t been outside for Virus cases Johnson is WHO Europe EU science The former Vice­President is Like the first time, he attract­ Things only got worse the more than 70 days,” said “a very decent man whom I ed support from young vo­ following week when Mr. Tong Zhengkun. “Being in­ in Pakistan ‘responding warns against chief resigns will work with to move our ters and was able to make Sanders lost Michigan, doors for so long drove me progressive ideas forward.” new inroads within the His­ where he had campaigned crazy.” rise to 4,072 to treatment’ relaxing curbs over response Mr. Sanders initially ex­ panic community, even as hard and upset Ms. Clinton Some 55,000 people were ceeded sky­high expecta­ his appeal with African in 2016. He was also beaten expected to leave Wuhan by Press Trust of India Agence France-Presse Agence France-presse Agence France-Presse tions about his ability to re­ Americans remained small. in Missouri, Mississippi and train on Wednesday. By early Islamabad LONDON Copenhagen Brussels create the magic of his 2016 Mr. Sanders amassed the Idaho the same night and morning, more than 10,000 Pakistan’s COVID­19 cases Britain’s Prime Minister The World Health The head of the European presidential bid, and even most votes in Iowa and New the results were so decisive had left by plane, an airport increased to 4,072 on Boris Johnson was Organization’s European Research Council has overcame a heart attack last Hampshire, which opened that Sanders headed to Ver­ official said. Flights to Beijing Wednesday, as Army chief “responding to office said on Wednesday resigned, the EU October. But he found him­ primary voting, and cruised mont without speaking to and international locations General Qamar Javed treatment”, his that despite seeing confirmed on Wednesday, self unable to convert unwa­ to an easy victory in Nevada the media. have not resumed. Bajwa directed his top spokesman said on “positive signs” from some reportedly in protest at the vering support from pro­ — seemingly leaving him well The coronavirus outbreak People from Wuhan arriv­ commanders to provide Wednesday, as the 55­year­ countries, it was too early bloc’s handling of its gressives into a viable path positioned to sprint to the essentially froze the cam­ ing in Beijing must undergo full support to the federal old leader spent a third to scale back measures pandemic response. to the nomination amid Democratic nomination paign, preventing Mr. San­ two rounds of testing for the and provincial day in intensive care aimed at containing the Mauro Ferrari, who only “electability” fears fuelled while a deeply crowded and ders from holding the large virus. governments in combating battling COVID­19. Britain coronavirus. “Now is not took over as president of by questions about whether divided field of alternatives rallies that had become his the pandemic, which has on Wednesday reported a the time to relax the ERC in January, told his democratic socialist ide­ sunk around him. trademark and shifting the Need for caution killed 58 people in the record 938 new COVID­19 measures. It is the time to the Financial Times he ology would be palatable to But a crucial endorse­ primary calendar. It became “We are acutely aware that country. The Ministry of deaths in its daily update, double and triple our was “extremely general election voters. ment of Mr. Biden by in­ increasingly unclear where we must not relax as we have National Health Services 152 more than its previous collective efforts,” WHO disappointed” by the EU’s fluential South Carolina Re­ he could notch a victory that not claimed final victory,” said that 208 new cases highest toll, as the total regional director for response to the pandemic, Oldest contender presentative Jim Clyburn, would help him regain Hubei Vice­Governor Cao were added to the list in number of deaths passed Europe, Hans Kluge, told a which has hit Italy and The 78­year­old Senator be­ and a subsequent, larger­ ground against Mr. Biden. Guangjin said at a news con­ the last 24 hours. 7,000. press conference. Spain particularly hard. gan his latest White House than­expected victory in Though he will not be the ference on Wednesday. DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD bid facing questions about South Carolina, propelled nominee, Mr. Sanders was a “We need to remain calm, whether he could win back the former vice president in­ key architect of many of the and be just as cautious at the Tuesday, its biggest one­day the virus. “We’re talking felt. Japan, the world’s third­ Europe has been scram­ the supporters who chose to Super Tuesday, when he social policies that dominat­ end as at the beginning.” jump yet, for a statewide to­ about something like 100, largest economy, could con­ bling to put together billions him four years ago as an in­ won 10 of 14 States. ed the Democratic primary, Across the Atlantic, New tal of nearly 5,500. 200 people per day,” Bill de tract by a record 25% this of euros to save lives and pre­ surgent alternative to the In a matter of days, his top including a “Medicare for York City endured one of its New York’s Mayor ack­ Blasio said. quarter, the highest since vent bankruptcies. The party establishment’s former Democratic rivals All” universal, government­ darkest days yet, with the nowledged on Wednesday Across the U.S., the death gross domestic product be­ countries worst hit by the vi­ choice, Hillary Clinton. Des­ lined up and announced funded health care plan, tui­ death toll surging past that the true death toll is toll reached about 13,000, gan to be tracked in 1955. rus are among those that can pite winning 22 states in their endorsement of Mr. Bi­ tion­free public college, a $15 4,000, hundreds more than even higher because the ci­ with approximately The dismal prediction by least afford the costs, like Ita­ 2016, there were no guaran­ den. The former Vice ­Presi­ minimum wage and sweep­ the number killed on 9/11. ty’s count does not include 4,00,000 confirmed infec­ two economists said exports ly and Spain. But they dis­ tees he’d be a major presi­ dent’s campaign had ap­ ing efforts to fight climate New York state recorded 731 people who died at home tions. are expected to dive 60% in agree over how to tackle the dential contender this cycle, peared on the brink of change under the “Green new COVID­19 deaths on without ever being tested for More economic pain was the April­June period. challenge. especially as the race’s ol­ collapse after New Hamp­ New Deal.” Afghan govt. releases Mujibur Rahman’s killer to Chinese tycoon and Xi ELSEWHERE 100 Taliban prisoners face the gallows after 45 years critic faces investigation No freedom for 15 top ‘commanders’ Ren questioned response to COVID­19 Agence France-Presse Security Council (NSC) said Majed returned to Dhaka last month after being on the run Agence France-Presse Kabul the 100 prisoners freed on BEIJING Germany to accept 500 The Afghan government re­ Wednesday were “tho­ An outspoken Chinese Com­ Agence France-Presse children from camps leased 100 low­risk Taliban roughly vetted” and had all Johurul Haque. munist Party critic and mil­ Dhaka “The formalities to exe­ BERLIN prisoners Wednesday, offi­ taken an oath never to re­ lionaire property tycoon, Germany will welcome up to A Bangladesh military cap­ cute him have already be­ cials said, a day after the in­ turn to the battlefield. Ren Zhiqiang, has been 500 unaccompanied minors tain arrested after nearly 25 gun,” Justice Minister Anisul surgents announced they The government “has re­ placed under investigation from Greek migrant camps in were walking out of talks ceived the same assurance years on the run over the as­ Huq told AFP, adding that for “serious violations of dis­ the coming weeks, Foreign with Kabul. from the (Taliban’s) leader­ sassination of the country’s the former officer will not be cipline and law”, an anti­ Minister Heiko Maas said on The two foes have been ship in Doha,” the statement founding leader will be exe­ able to appeal his sentence. graft watchdog said. Wednesday. The Minister said negotiating in Kabul since read. cuted, officials said Wednes­ Mr. Huq said Majed’s only The Beijing Commission he hoped other countries last week to try to finalise a An NSC spokesman ear­ day. option to avoid the gallows for Discipline Inspection an­ Ren Zhiqiang would also take in young prisoner swap that was ori­ lier said the 15 commanders Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was to appeal to the Presi­ nounced late on Tuesday migrants. “We want to set an ginally supposed to take were not among those being father of current Prime Mi­ dent for clemency. that the 69­year­old former since Mr. Xi took power in example here.” AFP place by March 10 and pave released. The Taliban has nister Sheikh Hasina, was Sheikh Mujibur Rahman However, since President chairman of the State­ 2012, tightening restrictions the way for “intra­Afghan” not yet respondend. killed along with most of his Abdul Hamid is a close confi­ owned real estate developer on freedom of speech and family in a military coup on were executed several dante of Ms. Hasina, any U.K. driver pleads guilty peace talks between Kabul Officials said the freed Beijing Huayuan Group was detaining activists. to 39 deaths in container August 15, 1975, nearly four months later. mercy appeal is expected to and the Taliban. prisoners were chosen under investigation. Mr. Ren disappeared LONDON years after he led Bangla­ Majed is believed to have be turned down, paving the But the swap has been be­ based on their health, age Rights campaigners ac­ from the public eye in Northern Irish truck driver set with problems, with Ka­ and length of remaining desh to independence from fled to India in 1996. He re­ way for his execution within cuse President Xi Jinping March, shortly after pen­ Maurice Robinson has bul claiming the Taliban sentence “as part of our ef­ Pakistan. turned to Bangladesh last weeks. Ms. Hasina, whose and the Communist Party of ning an essay that was fier­ pleaded guilty to 39 counts want 15 “top commanders” forts for peace and contain­ In 1998, Abdul Majed was month, a prosecutor told re­ public celebrations this year using charges such as “disci­ cely critical of Mr. Xi’s res­ of manslaughter related to to be released, while the in­ ment of COVID­19.” sentenced to death along porters. for the centenary of her fath­ plinary violations” — often ponse to the coronavirus the deaths of Vietnamese surgents have accused Af­ Afghan officials have said with a dozen other Army of­ Acting on a tip­off, coun­ er’s birth have been ham­ considered to refer to cor­ outbreak. The retired entre­ people found in a shipping ghan authorities of need­ they want to release up to ficers over the murders. ter­terrorism police arrested pered by the pandemic, sur­ ruption ­­ as a way to silence preneur has emerged in re­ container in southeast lessly wasting time. 10,000 non­Taliban prison­ Bangladesh’s Supreme Majed on Tuesday as he rode vived the 1975 attack dissent. cent years as one of the Par­ England last year, British In a statement, Afghanis­ ers to slow the spread of co­ Court upheld the verdict in in a rickshaw in the capital because she was in Europe Beijing has stepped up its ty’s most prominent critics media reported on tan's Office of the National ronavirus in jails. 2009 and five of the killers Dhaka, said police inspector with her sister. crackdown on civil society in the business world. Wednesday. REUTERS TikTok sees appeal growing during lockdowns Singer John Prine dies at 73

The app, owned by Chinese tech company ByteDance, saw 65 million worldwide downloads in March The cause was complications from COVID­19, said his family William Grimes Agence France-Presse year­old children, was in­ shots — long the markers of ble refrain “There’s a hole in New York trigued when a friend sent the Instagram aesthetic — are John Prine, the raspy­voiced Daddy’s arm where all the This is TikTok’s time. The so­ her a video. Soon, she had currently out of reach for country­folk singer whose money goes”); Hello in cial video platform which downloaded the app and most. ingenious lyrics to songs by There, a heart­rending evo­ was already a favourite of was posting clips herself. But the typical TikTok turns poignant, angry and cation of old age and loneli­ teens is increasingly being “I said to myself: ‘Well, post does not require a beau­ comic made him a favourite ness; and Angel From Mont- used by adults looking for this is something funny I tiful background, explained of Bob Dylan, Kris Kristoffer­ gomery, the hard­luck ways to pass the time during could do with the boys to Thibault Le Ouay, founder of son and others, died on lament of a middle­aged wo­ coronavirus lockdowns. pass the time, if only for fif­ Pentos, a company that Tuesday at Vanderbilt Un­ man dreaming about a bet­ Users post short videos — teen minutes’,” she said. helps brands with their mar­ iversity Medical Center in ter life, later made famous no longer than 60 seconds Celebrities have joined keting strategy on the plat­ Nashville, Tennessee. He by Bonnie Raitt. but often as short as 15 — to the fun too, from Jennifer Lo­ form. was 73. John Prine “He’s a true folk singer in showcase their bite­size In sync: A file photo of two youths making a TikTok video on pez to Mariah Carey —even “On TikTok, you do a The cause was complica­ the best folk tradition ,” Ms. tions from COVID­19, his fa­ His debut album, called Raitt told Rolling Stone in dance skills or share relata­ the terrace of their residence in Hyderabad. * AFP 82­year­old Jane Fonda. dance in your own house,” ble experiences with a hu­ Social media use is up he said. mily said. simply John Prine and re­ 1992. morous twist. 800 million reported in Janu­ with more free time — as across the board as move­ Many videos on the plat­ Mr. Prine underwent can­ leased in 1971, included Dylan, listing his favourite The application, owned ary by DataReportal, the app much of the world is encour­ ment is restricted around the form — a descendant of the cer surgery in 1998 to re­ songs that became his signa­ songwriters in a 2009 inter­ by Chinese tech company is nearing a billion users aged to stay at home to stop world, but TikTok — already website Musical.ly — are move a tumour in his neck tures. Some gained wider view, put Mr. Prine front and ByteDance, saw 65 million —though TikTok itself does the spread of the novel coro­ having a moment before the amateur performances of identified as squamous cell fame after being recorded by centre. “Prine’s stuff is pure worldwide downloads in not publish such data. navirus —are finally catching pandemic — is doing better short choreographed dances cancer, which had damaged other artists. Proustian existentialism... March, according to analyt­ And though teens have on. than others. and lip syncs to song clips, his vocal cords. In 2013, he They included Sam Stone, Midwestern mind trips to ics site SensorTower. been posting on the platform Cecile, stuck at home in Idyllic vacation views and repeated and riffed on over had part of one lung re­ about a drug­addicted war the nth degree. He writes In addition to the existing for months, it seems adults Paris with her six­ and three­ perfectly framed artistic and over. moved to treat lung cancer. veteran (with the unforgetta­ beautiful songs.” NY TIMES CM A ND-NDE YK