INDEX BUSINESS | Page 1 QATAR 2, 3, 16 COMMENT 14, 15 SPORT | Page 1 ARAB WORLD 3 BUSINESS 1-8 INTERNATIONAL 4-12 SPORTS 1-8 ISLAM 13 Qatar to host 2020 AFC DOW JONES QE NYMEX Champions League in the Qatar Airways is committed to 26,734.71 9,310.66 40.70 -135.39 -83.93 -0.05 West region its ‘sustainable operation’ -0.50% -0.89% -1.12% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

FRIDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11612 July 17, 2020 Dhul-Qa’da 26, 1441 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Amir meets US general In brief Students can FM, Pompeo return to school review ties HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al- on September 1 Thani yesterday held a telephone call with US Secretary of State Mike he Ministry of Education and spread of the novel coronavirus in the Pompeo. During the phone call, Higher Education yesterday an- country and has announced a four- they reviewed bilateral relations, Tnounced that students of both phased plan to resume activities that the latest developments in the government and private schools can have been suspended as part of battling region and issues of common return to classrooms when the aca- the virus. concern. demic year 2020-2021 begins on Sep- The fourth phase of the gradual lifting Later in the day, Pompeo tember 1. of restrictions begins on September 1. tweeted: “Good to speak School staff will resume work by Au- The authorities have been strictly with Qatar’s Deputy Prime gust 19 while students will start classes enforcing and encouraging preventive Minister bin Abdulrahman Al on September 1, the Ministry said in an measures like wearing of face masks, Thani. I thanked him for Qatar’s announcement on its website. maintaining social distancing and fre- support in facilitating the intra- “Attendance is mandatory for staff quent washing of hands or using sani- Afghan talks, and we discussed and students,” the notifi cation said. tisers to keep the hands virus-free. the importance of countering Referring to the ongoing coronavirus Meanwhile, in preparation of opening regional threats, Gulf unity, and pandemic (Covid-19), the Ministry af- the nurseries and childcare facilities in advancing regional prosperity fi rmed that it was working closely with Phase 3 of the gradual lifting of Covid-19 and stability.” schools’ administrations to put in place restrictions, which begins on August 1, the necessary plans and procedures to the Ministry of Administrative Develop- ensure the safety of staff and students. ment, Labour and Social Aff airs (MADL- 102,168 recover from “All schools are required to fully SA) has announced a host of guidelines to Covid-19 in Qatar comply with the precautionary meas- ensure the safety of children. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met yesterday morning Commander of the United States Central Qatar yesterday reported 494 new ures to maintain safe environments for Accordingly, the MADLSA has pre- Command in the Middle East, General Kenneth McKenzie, and his accompanying delegation. The meeting held at Al Bahr confirmed cases of the coronavirus all parties involved in the educational pared the guidelines for owners and Palace reviewed the strategic co-operation between the two countries and ways of enhancing them, especially in the military and 531 recoveries in the last 24 process,” the Ministry said. management of nurseries, workers, and defence fields. They also discussed joint eff orts to enhance the security and stability of the region. General McKenzie hours, bringing the total number Qatar has put in place very strong teachers, parents, children and those expressed his thanks to HH the Amir for hosting the American forces at Al Udeid Air Base and for the pivotal role Qatar plays of people who recovered from and eff ective measures to contain the accompanying them. as a major partner in combating terrorism. Covid-19 to 102,168. In a statement the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) also announced one new death. Page 2 PM attends graduation of trainees at Police Training Institute Jordan set to resume commercial fl ights Jordan said yesterday it will partially resume commercial flights from August to a limited number of European and Asian countries on an internationally approved safe list. Government spokesman Amjad Adailah told state-owned Al Mamlaka TV that regular commercial flights from Alia international airport, suspended since March, could begin in the first or second week of August.

France imposes indoor public mask-wearing France will make the wearing of face masks compulsory in indoor public spaces from next week, the government said yesterday, as off icials noted signs of an uptick in the coronavirus outbreak. Already obligatory gear on collective transport, masks will also become mandatory in shops and other HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani yesterday attended the graduation ceremony of the fifth mandatory qualifying course for civil university graduates held indoor places frequented by the at the Police Training Institute. The event was attended by senior off icers of the Ministry of Interior, the Amiri Guard and the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya). During the ceremony, HE the Prime Minister honoured public, Prime Minister Jean Castex distinguished trainees and handed over certificates to the graduates. The course was attended by 103 trainees from various specialisations in several departments of the Ministry of Interior, Lekhwiya, and the Amiri said in the Senate. Guard, who received over six months of military, sports, police and academic training. Page 16

Russia ‘trying to hack and steal vaccine data’ Hackers backed by the Russian state are trying to steal Covid-19 vaccine and treatment research Protecting Qatar’s population US Senate and FBI from academic and pharmaceutical institutions around the world, Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said yesterday. is ‘fi rst priority’, says al-Baker probing Twitter hack A co-ordinated statement from Britain, the United States and Canada attributed the attacks By Pratap John sonal Protective Equipment (PPE) for DPA to group APT29, also known as Business Editor cabin crew, which includes gloves, face Washington ‘Cozy Bear’, which they said was masks, safety glasses and a new protec- almost certainly operating as part tive gown that is fi tted over their uni- of Russian intelligence services. atar Airways Group Chief Ex- forms. he head of the Senate Com- Page 8 ecutive HE Akbar al-Baker has A modifi ed service that reduces merce Committee is demand- Qsaid the airline’s “fi rst priority is interactions between passengers and Ting Twitter staff brief the to protect the population and the citi- the crew infl ight has also been intro- Congressional body by July 23 on the Restaurants, mosques zens of my country.” duced. nature of this week’s hack of promi- close in Turkmenistan “We don’t want to be so desperate Onboard, all Qatar Airways passen- nent accounts, as lawmakers start to Restaurants, bazaars and religious that we take risks, which could be a gers are now provided with a compli- enforce oversight and an FBI probe is buildings were shuttered in health hazard and could have a second mentary protective kit. Inside a ziplock underway. Turkmenistan yesterday as the peak in my country,” al-Baker said in a pouch, they will fi nd a single-use surgi- Influential figures such as former government imposed a de facto message yesterday. cal face mask, large disposable powder- president Barack Obama, Microsoft lockdown in the Central Asian “My country has been progressing free gloves and an alcohol-based hand co-founder Bill Gates, Tesla founder country that has yet to off icially very well. There is a huge reduction (in sanitiser gel. Elon Musk, Democratic presidential declare any coronavirus cases. the number of cases) in the past couple The airline has also introduced dis- contender Joe Biden, rapper Kanye The closures come a day after of weeks,” al-Baker said. posable face shields for adults and chil- West, Amazon chief Jeff Bezos and a World Health Organisation “So what I would prefer to do – is not dren. others saw their accounts briefly This combination of file photos shows delegation ended a 10-day to jump the gun and start bringing peo- HE Akbar al-Baker Passengers travelling from Hamad hacked, posting a message for a Bit- (L-R, top to bottom) Microsoft founder Bill mission to the country where they ple. We need to make sure that whatever International Airport (HIA) will re- coin scam. Gates, Democratic presidential candidate raised concerns over reports of we do (in terms of) opening our country In a separate release yesterday Qatar ceive their face shields at the check-in The FBI confi rmed it is investigat- Joe Biden, SpaceX founder Elon Musk and pneumonia cases and called on the – that we do in a very wise and a very cal- Airways said it has “further enhanced counters, whereas at other destina- ing the incident, saying in a statement Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos. The off icial government to adopt measures culated manner so that all the people who its onboard safety measures” for pas- tions, the face shields will be distribut- that “the accounts appear to have been Twitter accounts of Gates, Biden, Musk, “as if Covid-19 were already live in my country – Qatar, are properly sengers and cabin crew. ed at the boarding gates, Qatar Airways compromised in order to perpetuate Bezos and other high-profile accounts circulating”. protected, before we open up.” The airline has introduced Per- said. Page 16 cryptocurrency fraud.” were hijacked on July 15 by scammers. Gulf Times 2 Friday, July 17, 2020 QATAR

US Air Forces Central Command Chief of Staff meets commander welcomes new commander of US Central Command Amir condoles

The Qatari Armed Forces and the US Air Forces Central with president Command yesterday held a ceremony during which Lt Gen Gregory Guillot took command of US Air Forces Central Command from Lt Gen Joseph Guastella. The of Somalia US Air Forces Central Command is based in Qatar. The ceremony, held at Al Udeid Air Base was attended by HE the Chief of Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces Lieutenant- QNA General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen al-Ghanem, Charge Doha d’Aff aires of the US Embassy to Qatar Greta Holtz, and Commander of the United States Central Command in the Middle East General Kenneth McKenzie, and a number of is Highness the Amir ambassadors and senior military leaders from the Qatari Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- and American sides, and air force leaders representatives Hmad al-Thani and His of friendly countries. Highness the Deputy Amir In his speech during the ceremony, HE Chief of Staff of the Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Qatari Armed Forces Lieutenant-General (Pilot) Ghanem al-Thani yesterday sent cables bin Shaheen al-Ghanem stressed that the military rela- of condolences to Somalia’s tions between Qatar and the US are becoming stronger, President Mohamed Abdullahi noting that the past period witnessed historic achieve- HE Lt Gen Ghanem bin Shaheen Farmajo on the death of former ments showing the depth of partnership and friendship al-Ghanem with Lt Gen Joseph Guastella. prime minister Hassan Abshir between the two countries in various fields and in particu- Farah. lar the joint relations in the field of defence. from the US Armed Forces in their HE the Prime Minister and HE Chief of Staff said that given the importance of this second country, and Qatar is ready to HE the Chief of Staff of Qatari Armed Forces Lieutenant General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen Minister of Interior Sheikh Kha- partnership to Qatar, the country has worked to de- enhance the partnership between the al-Ghanem met General Kenneth McKenzie Jr, Commander of the US Central Command, and the lid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al- velop Al Udeid Air Base in order to increase eff iciency two armed forces, thereby contributing accompanying US delegation at his off ice yesterday. The meeting discussed the military relations Thani sent a cable of condolenc- and the capacity for the operations led by its allies. to enhancing regional and international between the two countries and measures to strengthen and improve them. The meeting was es to Somalia’s Prime Minister He added that Qatar welcomes the presence of friends security and stability. attended by senior off icials of Qatari Armed Forces. Hassan Ali Khayre on the death of Hassan Abshir Farah.

EU counter-terror co-ordinator QF’S Doha Debates to meets head of Qatar’s mission examine role of socialism

s the world grapples with says Doha The affordable The Doha Debates pro- the new challenges of the Debates pro- and ac- gramme’s host and moderator is Acoronavirus pandem- manag- gramme’s cessible Ghida Fakhry, a renowned jour- ic, “emergency socialism” has ing direc- debat- health- nalist with vast experience as a emerged, to varying degrees, vir- tor Amjad ers will care or TV news anchor, correspondent tually everywhere – prompting Atallah. discuss unem- and interviewer. Also joining European Union Counter-terrorism Co-ordinator Gilles de Qatar Foundation’s Doha Debates “So- whether ployment the programme will be digital Kerchove met Head of Mission of Qatar to the EU, to focus its next global programme cialist- welfare benefits, correspondent Nelufar Hedayat Abdulrahman bin Mohamed al-Khulaifi, in Brussels yesterday. on the merits of socialism during like meas- poli- are quick- and confl ict resolution expert Dr During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations, in and after the pandemic. ures such cies such ly crum- Govinda Clayton. addition to topics of common concern. The livestreamed debate on as tem- as UBI bling. “Since health guidelines and July 20, will feature author and porary Fatima Bhutto should Tabata Amaral Young Lord William Hague travel restrictions prevent in- commentator Fatima Bhutto, universal become people person convening on our Doha Institute of Public Administration former UK foreign secretary basic income (UBI) have been permanent as the world prepares seem to have no choice but to Debates stage, this livestreamed and House of Commons Leader introduced in recent months in for the post-coronavirus era. mortgage their future in order to programme will virtually con- resumes training programme remotely Lord William Hague, and Brazil- several cities and nations around The debate comes as coronavi- participate in a capitalist system nect our speakers, a young vot- The Institute of Public Administration of the Ministry of Administrative ian congresswoman and activist the world, with some weighing rus is leaving a massive econom- with bleak prospects. ing audience, and millions of Development, Labour and Social Aff airs will remotely resume the Tabata Amaral. The debate will whether to continue govern- ic downturn in its wake, with its Polls across the world show a viewers around the world,” says leadership training plan for the “development of leadership and include individual arguments, ment-provided incentives as the consequences more dire than large majority of millennials and Atallah. supervisory jobs” programme for 2020, as of next Sunday, in line with a solutions-focused bridge- pandemic subsides. any seen in generations. Gen Z would vote for a socialist Watch the July 20 debate the decision to gradually lift the restrictions imposed in Qatar due to building dialogue, and partici- “Capitalist systems around What used to be a given for politician, as they consider social- live via Twitter, Facebook or the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19) issued by the Supreme Committee pation from Qatar and around the world have employed radi- older generations — job security, ism to be the most compassionate YouTube at 5pm Doha / 10am for Crisis Management on June 8. The number of participants in the world. cal redistribution of aid, raising home ownership and life with- system. Even in the US, where ET, with a special pre-show pro- each training workshop will be limited to ten to increase the benefit “The global shock of Covid-19 the question of whether these out debt — was already beyond capitalism has become entwined gramme hosted by Hedayat. You and deepen the interaction between the attendees and ensure the has prompted an urgent reas- changes should become perma- the reach of most younger peo- with identity, 45% regard capital- can also join the debate and dis- achievement of the targeted results of the training workshops, and to sessment of how governments nent. Now is the ideal time for ple. At the same time, the sem- ism as positive — a 12-point de- cussion at @DohaDebates with enable the trainer to present practical cases and exercises consistently help and support their citizens,” this solutions-focused debate.” blances of social safety nets, like cline over the past two years. the hashtag #DearWorld. with the methodology used to implement this type of workshop. – QNA

Conversion of roundabout to signalised intersection MoPH reports 102,168 total Covid recoveries

QNA MoPH offi cials, Chinese experts review Doha ways to treat and prevent spread of Covid-19 A number of off icials from the to limit its spread, stressing the he Ministry of Public Ministry of Public Health (M0PH) importance of co-operation Health (MoPH) reported held a meeting via video confer- and exchange of experiences Tyesterday 494 new con- ence with health experts from between the Qatari and Chinese fi rmed cases of coronavirus (Cov- the People’s Republic of China sides in this field, while praising id-19), and 531 recoveries from the on the coronavirus (Covid-19) Chinese experience in control- virus in the last 24 hours, bringing pandemic. ling the disease. the total number of recoveries in The meeting addressed the best For his part, Chinese ambassa- Qatar to 102,168 cases. ways to prevent and treat the vi- dor to Qatar Zhou Jian stressed The MoPH also announced rus. It also reviewed experiments the important co-operation the death of a 92-year-old Cov- and presentations made by between the two countries in id-19 patient who was receiving experts on prevention and control all fields, especially in the health the necessary medical care. of the spread of Covid-19 and sector, noting the assistance The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has announced the The MoPH issued a statement techniques to detect the virus. provided by Qatar to China dur- conversion of Wadi Musheireb Roundabout to a signalised saying that all new cases have During the meeting, Assist- ing the Covid-19 crisis. intersection and closure of exits leading to B-Ring Road and been introduced to isolation and ant Minister of Public Health The Chinese experts praised Salwa Road from Wadi Musheireb Street while the bridge is are receiving necessary healthcare for Health Aff airs Dr Saleh Ali the eff orts made by Qatar to open in both directions from tomorrow (Saturday) for two according to their health status. al-Marri spoke about the most detect early and control the months. The closure that will be implemented in co-ordination The ministry said that meas- important developments related spread of the virus, which led to with the General Directorate of Traff ic has been announced in ures to tackle Covid-19 in Qatar to the Covid-19 in Qatar and the a low number of deaths in the order to allow upgrading of the intersection within the B-Ring have succeeded in fl attening the measures taken by the country country. – QNA Road Project. During the closure, road users heading towards curve and limiting the spread of Salwa Road or B-Ring Road from Wadi Musheireb Street can the virus and the number of new use the bridge and then the alternative routes shown in the daily cases and hospital admis- Qatar has one of the low- es early, expanding hospital ca- the Covid-19 pandemic is fi nished experience a second wave of the map. Those heading to Ibn Mahmoud Street will use the bridge, sions is continuing to decline est Covid-19 death rates in the pacity, especially intensive care, in Qatar, as every day between 50 virus and see numbers increas- then make a U-turn at Ibn Seena Intersection and then make each week. world. This is a result of very to ensure all patients receive and 100 people are admitted to ing. There are already signs of another U-turn before reaching Wadi Musheireb Street. Ashghal “Qatar’s proactive and exten- high quality of care provided the medical care they need and hospital with moderate to severe this happening in other coun- will install road signs advising motorists of the closure. Ashghal sive testing of suspected cases thorough the public healthcare protecting the elderly and those Covid-19 symptoms. tries around the world. Now requests all road users to abide by the speed limit, and follow has enabled us to identify a high sector for Covid-19 patients, with chronic diseases. The ministry said unless more than ever, the public must the road signs to ensure their safety. number of positive cases in the Qatar’s young population, Lifting of restrictions and de- people follow all precaution- be careful and protect the most community,” the ministry said. proactive testing to identify cas- clining numbers do not mean that ary measures, the country may vulnerable, the ministry added.

Closure of underpass QU Foundation Programme invites presenters to The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has announced the closure of the underpass leading to Rawdat Al Khail Street from E Ring Road on Mesaimeer Inter- submit proposals for English teaching conference change from yesterday evening (July 16) to July 19 morning. The closure that is implemented in co-ordination with the General Directorate of Traff ic he Qatar University (QU) Foundation Programme, tional learning, critical thinking, creativity in TEFL setting, has been announced in order to enable the remaining Deanship of General Studies, has invited presenters digital literacy, learner autonomy, practical ideas in the on- works at Mesaimeer Interchange. Tto submit proposals for its fi fth Annual International line classroom, project-based learning, managing virtual Road users heading towards Rawdat Alkhail Street Conference on English Language Teaching to be held virtu- classroom, online testing and assessment, online tools to from E Ring Road can turn right onto Mesaimeer ally, in Doha, Qatar on 7-8 November, 2020. enhance learning, professional development or leadership. Street at Nuaija and then use the alternative local Proposals for papers, panel discussions, workshops, English language teachers at all levels of instruction, in roads to reach their destinations. teaching ideas or tips are expected to address the confer- universities and schools will come together to share re- Ashghal will install road signs advising motorists of ence theme “English Language Teaching and 21st Century search fi ndings and current trends in the language teaching. the closure. Ashghal requests all road users to abide Skills – Communicate, Collaborate, Create.” Deadline for New teaching approaches that have proved successful in by the speed limit, and follow the road signs to ensure the proposal submission is 1 September 2020. other teaching contexts will be shared among the delegates. their safety. Proposals should fall into one of the following categories: For tips, guidelines and submission requirements, kindly virtual learning, emotional intelligence, social and emo- visit the conference website page. Gulf Times Friday, July 17, 2020 3 QATAR/ARAB WORLD

Pakistan president receives Qatar reaffi rms credentials of Qatar’s envoy total support for Palestinian cause

QNA neva, ambassador Ali Khalfan ishment on the Gaza Strip, re- the region. The ambassador val- Geneva al-Mansouri, during the interac- stricting the movement of Pal- ued the stances of all those who tive dialogue with the United Na- estinians, and obstructing eff orts rejected these plans and sided tions Special Rapporteur on the to combat the spread of corona- with the logic of truth, justice, atar reaffi rmed its fi rm situation of human rights in the virus (Covid-19). and respect for international le- and unwavering stance in Palestinian territories occupied HE al-Mansouri stressed that gitimacy. Qsupport of the Palestin- since 1967. the unilateral Israeli annexation He stressed that postponing Pakistan’s President Arif Alvi has received the credentials of Qatar’s ambassador Sheikh Saoud ian issue, stressing the impor- HE al-Mansouri said that schemes for the occupied Pales- the annexation does not mean bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, at the presidential palace, in Islamabad. The ambassador conveyed tance of uniting the Palestinian Qatar strongly condemns the tinian lands in the West Bank, the cancelling it, as it is a primary His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani’s greetings and his wishes of health and ranks to face challenges, end the violations committed by Israel, Jordan Valley, and other regions, goal of the Israeli expansionist well-being to Pakistan’s president, and continuous progress and prosperity to the government and Israeli occupation, recognise the the occupying power, against are new aggression against the occupation. people of Pakistan. Pakistan’s president reciprocated the greetings and wishes of His Highness the independent Palestinian state on the brotherly Palestinian peo- Palestinian people and a fl agrant He underlined the importance Amir, and wished the State of Qatar constant progress and prosperity. The president wished the the 1967 borders, and restore the ple, which are mentioned in the violation of international laws of the international community ambassador success in his duties, assuring him of all support to promote the bilateral relations to a Palestinian people to all their le- report, such as the increase in and resolutions that contrib- continuing to press and categori- closer co-operation in various fields. gitimate rights. settlement activities, the demo- ute to the aggravation of human cally reject this scheme, and take This came in the speech de- lition of Palestinian homes, arbi- rights violations against the Pal- all appropriate measures to stop livered by HE the Permanent trary detention and administra- estinians, undermine the two- it, and ensure accountability for Representative of Qatar to the tive detention, the continuation state solution, and increase the any violations against the Pales- United Nations Offi ce in Ge- of the policy of collective pun- state of confl ict and instability in tinian people. Qatar participates in top meeting of War-torn Syria goes to the GCC Post and Telecommunications high-level Qatari del- tween them in these vital sectors egation participated in the and with the European Union. A28th Meeting of the Co- The meeting also discussed operation Council for the Arab the recommendations of the polls amid economic crisis States of the Gulf (GCC) Com- 32nd Meeting of GCC Com- mittee for Under-Secretaries of mittee for Post Heads and Un- Post and Telecommunications, der-Secretaries, in addition to AFP stem the price hikes. Food prices lier this year. Those displaced for the next presidential poll. which was conducted via video recommendations of several spe- Damascus have doubled nationwide over from areas still outside govern- Assad, who fi rst came to power conferencing yesterday. cialised committees and working the past year, in a country where ment control will be able to cast in 2000 after three decades of his The delegation was led by HE groups, such as the Committee more than 80% of people already their ballots in polling stations father’s rule, is expected to name the President of the Commu- for Telecommunications Legis- yria prepared for parlia- live in poverty, the World Food set up specially for them across a new prime minister after Sun- nications Regulatory Authority lation and Regulation, Techni- mentary elections to be Programme says. the country. But Syrians outside day’s vote. Sworn in at the age of (CRA) Mohamed Ali al-Mannai, cal Committee of the Technical Sheld Sunday as President Others candidates are running the country, including millions of 34, the London-trained ophthal- with the participation of high- Offi ce, International Roaming Bashar al-Assad marked a sec- on promises of reconstruction, refugees, cannot take part. mologist briefl y embodied the level representatives from the Working Group, and the Working ond decade in power mired by fi xing war-ravaged infrastruc- “Expatriates are not allowed hope for change and economic Ministry of Transport and Com- HE Mohamed Ali Al-Mannai, Group of OTT Legislation and war, international sanctions and ture and bringing home millions to vote in the parliamentary elec- liberalisation. But 20 years on, munications (MoTC) and Qatar President of CRA Regulation. economic woes. The legislative of refugees. Translator Abeer tions except in the polling centres nearly half of which marked by Postal Services Company (Q- Besides, the meeting discussed polls, to be held across 70% of Deebeh, 32, said voters would inside the country according to war, Assad’s government is crip- Post). technology (ICT) sector and the future directions of the com- territory under government con- likely choose whoever seemed the elections law,” electoral com- pled by Western sanctions. The meeting discussed several postal sector in the GCC mem- mittee’s work based on the les- trol, are the country’s third since best positioned to improve their mission member Riad al-Qawas The war has spiralled into topics related to developing in- ber states and discussed avenues sons learnt from the Covid-19 the start of the war in 2011. living conditions. “People’s de- told Al-Watan online newspaper. a complex battlefi eld involv- formation and communications of enhancing co-operation be- pandemic. As the war-battered economy mands are always the same and The streets in Damascus and its ing foreign armies, militias and wanes, some 2,100 candidates – tied to living standards” and countryside are lined with post- militants. Years of UN-brokered including prominent business- public services, she said. ers of candidates. peace negotiations have yielded men under Western sanctions “During the war, the prior- Among them are businessmen nothing. With 2021 presidential – are competing for 250 seats. ity might have been security but under Western sanctions, in- elections approaching, there is Several lists were allowed to run now it’s gone back to the econ- cluding the US Caesar Act imple- no political solution to the war in across the country but any real omy.” Syrians have been called mented last month. They include sight. opposition is absent from the to cast their votes in 7,313 poll- lawmaker Mohammed Hamsho, Damascus-based analyst poll, no surprises are expected ing stations nationwide, some who is running for re-election, Osama Danura said he thought and the ruling Baath party’s he- of them in areas the government and has been blacklisted since the Syrian government would gemony is guaranteed. The elec- did not control the last time polls 2011 for his support to Assad. be open to a political solution to tions, held every four years and were held. Also running is Khaled Zu- end the war. But “international so far always won by Assad’s “These parliamentary polls are baidi, who has been targeted by consensus is a long-term and Baath party and its allies, were being held at a moment when the US and European Union sanc- complicated issue. It’s clear there due in April but twice postponed Syrian army... has seized back tions over winning a government is no understanding between the due to the Covid-19 pandemic. most regions once held by armed contract to build a luxury tourist countries that have become ac- The global economic carnage groups,” said Heba Fatoum, a resort near Damascus airport. tors in the Syrian war,” he said. wreaked by coronavirus has judge and a member of the elec- Syria’s war has killed 380,000 Foreign Minister Walid al- compounded Syria’s woes, which toral commission. people since it started with the Muallem last month said Assad include stinging infl ation and the Russian-backed government repression of protests in 2011, would remain in power “as long free fall of the national currency forces have retaken control of but also laid waste to much of the as the Syrian want him to stay”. on the black market. several regions, Eastern Ghouta country’s economy. Danura said any presidential With many Syrians choking on the capital’s doorstep in 2018 The new parliament will be ex- candidate next year will need from the soaring cost of living, and the southern part of Idlib pected to sign off on a new con- “written approval from 35 mem- most candidates have pledged to province in the northwest ear- stitution and approve candidates bers of parliament at least”. The Qatari delegation. Jordanian apex court dissolves Fresh catch country’s Muslim Brotherhood French FM urges Iraq to keep

Jordan’s top court has dissolved the country’s branch of the Muslim away from regional tensions Brotherhood, a transnational Islam- ist movement, citing the group’s failure to “rectify its legal status”. AFP “The Court of Cassation (Wednes- Baghdad day) issued a final verdict ruling that the Muslim Brotherhood group is dissolved... for failing to rectify its le- rench Foreign Minister gal status under Jordanian law,” the Jean-Yves Le Drian urged off icial said, requesting anonymity. FBaghdad to “dissociate” The Muslim Brotherhood, founded itself from boiling regional ten- in Egypt in 1928, is a pan-Islamic sions, hinting at dissatisfaction movement with both charitable and with Iranian and American strikes political arms. It has faced years of on Iraqi territory. pressure, especially in the wake of Iraq has been caught for years the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings, and in the power struggle between its has been outlawed in Egypt and two main allies Washington and banned in several other countries. Tehran, but has had to walk an Amman had tolerated the group’s increasingly fi ne line since 2018, political arm for decades, but since A customer buys freshly caught fish at the main fish market in Kuwait City yesterday. when the US began a “maximum 2014 authorities have considered pressure” campaign against Iran. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian (left) and his Iraqi counter- it illegal, arguing its licence was In January, a US drone strike part Fuad give a joint press conference in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, not renewed under a 2014 law on on Baghdad killed top Iranian and yesterday. political parties. It continued to Israel sees record number of daily coronavirus infections Iraqi offi cials, and Tehran retali- operate, but its relations with the ated with strikes against Ameri- and it should for no reason be de- oust all foreign troops. Le Drian is Jordanian state deteriorated further The daily number of coronavirus recoveries. Over 200 patients are payment for all citizens to alleviate can troops based in western Iraq. railed from this central mission,” the fi rst Western diplomat to visit from 2015 when the government infections recorded in Israel has seriously ill, while 377 people have the financial crisis brought on Baghdad “should dissociate itself he added. His comments ap- Baghdad since Prime Minister authorised an off shoot group, the reached a record high, according died. In mid-May, the number of by the pandemic. The payments from regional tensions,” Le Drian peared to hint at widespread frus- Mustafa al-Kadhemi took offi ce Muslim Brotherhood Association. to data released by the Health Min- new infections per day in Israel still need to be approved by the warned after meeting with his tration among Western diplomats in May, although he has travelled In April 2016, security services istry yesterday. There were 1,758 was in the low double-digits. After government and possibly also by Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein. at Washington’s unilateral strikes to Iraq on many occasions. closed the Brotherhood’s Amman new cases between midnight and a rapid easing of restrictions, how- parliament. Critics called Netan- France has been a top member against armed groups in Iraq. He is also expected to meet headquarters and several regional midnight on July 15, the highest ever, the numbers have skyrock- yahu’s move populist aimed at of the US-led coalition fi ghting They fear that these attacks Kadhemi and Iraqi President off ices, transferring their ownership number in the country since the eted since the end of May. Israeli quelling the protests against his the Islamic State group, which would prompt a backlash against Barham Saleh on his one-day vis- to the splinter group in a step the outbreak of the pandemic. If the PM Benjamin Netanyahu, who was handling of the crisis. Almost a Iraq declared defeated in late 2017 the coalition as a whole, not just it. He said France “backed (Kad- movement denounced as political. numbers continue to rise, a lock- praised for his handling of the first week ago, Netanyahu had already after three years of warfare. US soldiers. Following the US hemi’s) fi rst decisions,” including The original Brotherhood took the down is expected to be declared in wave of infections, has faced grow- presented an aid package to allevi- “The world should not drop its killing of Iranian general Qasem eff orts to fi ght government cor- case to court in a bid to retrieve the coming days. There has been ing criticism as he battles the sec- ate the financial pressure from the guard against the Islamic State Soleimani and Iraqi commander ruption and rein in rogue groups the properties, but the court in its a total of 44,563 coronavirus cases ond wave. On Wednesday night, pandemic. The package is worth group,” Le Drian said. “The coali- Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in Janu- fi ring rockets at foreign troops verdict ordered it dissolved. confirmed in Israel, with 20,068 Netanyahu announced a one-time around 20bn euros. tion’s aim at its core is to fi ght IS, ary, Iraq’s parliament voted to and diplomats. Gulf Times 4 Friday, July 17, 2020 AFRICA Malian opposition calls off high-risk protest set for today

AFP Three days of clashes with the test movement that demands his the country, seven farmers were stead take place in places of wor- restraint and “commit to a rejec- cision that handed seats to mem- Bamako security forces left 11 dead and resignation. killed on Tuesday by gunmen, ship. tion of any extra-constitutional bers of Keita’s party. 158 injured, according to an of- The June 5 Movement, an al- the mayor of Sangha in central Opposition leader Mountaga changes of government”. An ECOWAS mission to Mali fi cial tally - Mali’s bloodiest toll liance of political, social and Mali told AFP. Tall told reporters on Tuesday: It called on the security forces last month concluded that the he Malian opposition alli- from political unrest in years. civil-society leaders gathered Many Malians are also in- “We are convinced that Presi- “to avoid the excessive use of court’s decision was “at the root ance that demands Presi- The news was announced as around a powerful imam named censed at perceived government dent IBK has neither the intel- force”, and welcomed the arrival of the tension” and called on the Tdent Ibrahim Boubacar envoys from Mali’s neighbours Mahmoud Dicko, is tapping into corruption and the outcome lectual nor the physical capacity of the ECOWAS delegation. government to review the results Keita step down has called off a led by former Nigerian president deep-seated anger. of long-delayed parliamentary to lead the country,” referring to Keita’s offi ce said the delega- or stage new elections as soon as high-risk protest, a spokesman Goodluck Jonathan arrived in Malians are worried and frus- elections in March and April that Keita by his initials. tion would include constitution- possible. said. Bamako to mediate the escalat- trated by an eight-year-old in- handed victory to Keita’s party. Mali’s international allies re- al experts. It also called for a “consensus Demonstrations had been set ing political crisis. surgency that has claimed thou- Tension was high as the op- main anxious, however, given A potential solution being ex- government of national union”. for today, but the so-called June Representatives from the sands of lives, driven hundreds position had planned a “cer- the country’s poverty, ethnic mix plored is to appoint new judges Keita has made several ges- 5 Movement decided to trans- 15-nation Economic Com- of thousands from their homes emony of sacrifi ce and of prayer” and strategic location at the heart to the Constitutional Court, a tures towards the June 5 Move- form them into memorial serv- munity of West African States and swept into Niger and Burkina for protest victims today, but of the Sahel region. tribunal that is a major target of ment, including the dissolution ices for victims killed in violence (ECOWAS) are trying to bridge Faso. spokesman Ahmadou N’Dounga In a message issued by its protest anger. of the Constitutional Court to last week, the spokesman said on apparently irreconcilable diff er- In the latest violence that Maiga said in a statement that embassy in Bamako, the United The court tossed out about 30 enable a U-turn on the contested Wednesday. ences between Keita and a pro- plagues the north and centre of “commemorations” would in- States urged all sides to show results from the elections in a de- seats.

Reports on fi lling Renaissance dam S Africa paramedics on reservoir wrong, Ethiopia tells Sudan frontline of Covid battle

Agencies “The government has not AFP Khartoum stated explicitly whether the wa- Port Elizabeth, South Africa ter backing up behind the dam is due to the remaining outlets be- thiopia has told Sudan that ing closed, or whether it is sim- loud beep rang through news reports that it had ply water accumulating behind an ambulance dispatch Estarted fi lling the Grand the almost complete structure Aroom in Port Elizabeth, Ethiopian Renaissance Dam res- during the rainy season,” said as yet another caller in one ervoir on the Blue Nile were in- William Davison, an analyst with of South Africa’s coronavirus correct, Sudan’s Foreign Minis- International Crisis Group (ICG). hotspots begged for help for try said in a statement yesterday. An offi cial at the dam site said shortness of breath. Ethiopia’s charge d’aff aires in this week that heavy rains meant “A minimum of 70% of our Khartoum also told a senior Su- the fl ow of the Blue Nile was ex- work in the past two weeks has danese Foreign Ministry offi cial ceeding the capacity of the dam’s in a meeting that his country culverts to push water down- been Covid-related,” said Dave had not closed the dam gates, the stream. Gardner, head of Gardmed, the statement added. “We didn’t close and nothing largest ambulance company in Ethiopian Water Minister Se- is done. It looks like, when you Eastern Cape province. leshi Bekele said on Wednesday see some photos, it looks like the Ambulance services in the in televised comments that “the river is getting higher and higher badly-hit city are facing a ris- construction of the dam and the because of the amount of water ing tsunami of demand. fi lling of the water go hand in coming from upstream, which Each day, they fi nd it more hand”. is above the charging capacity diffi cult to dispatch suspected “The fi lling of the dam doesn’t of the culverts,” said the offi cial, coronavirus patients to hospi- need to wait until the completion who spoke on condition of ano- tals crippled by staff shortages of the dam,” he added. nymity. and lack of beds. However, the Sudanese state- A separate offi cial, an adviser “They can’t take them, so ment quoted the Ethiopian en- at the water ministry who also we are sitting with them in our voy as saying that the minister insisted on anonymity, stressed ambulances,” Gardner told AFP “did not make the comments at- that water continued to fl ow tributed to him yesterday about downstream. last week. starting the process of fi lling the “As the construction “The longest we have waited dam”. progresses, the water level be- is four hours,” he complained. Addis Ababa is committed hind the dam also will rise, so “A couple of times in that to continuing African Union- that’s what’s happening, nothing situation the patient has said: sponsored talks with Sudan and more,” said the adviser. ‘No, take me home’.” Egypt over the dam, its envoy Ethiopia has long insisted it The Eastern Cape has re- was quoted as saying. must start fi lling the dam’s res- corded around 18% of South “The GERD water fi lling is be- ervoir this year as part of the Africa’s 311,049 coronavirus ing done in line with the dam’s construction process, though cases, making it the country’s natural construction process,” fi lling will occur in stages. third-worst-affected prov- Bekele was quoted by state media Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ince. as saying. reiterated the point in an address “The hospitals don’t even He did not, however, say to parliament earlier this month. have space to take serious pa- whether Ethiopia had taken steps “If Ethiopia doesn’t fi ll the tients,” said Gardmed road Medical staff collect data at the Respiratory & Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit (RMPRU) at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto to store the water in the reservoir, dam, it means Ethiopia has operations manager Eugene in South Africa. Six senior clinicians in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Wits University have volunteered to participate in the country’s first agreed to demolish the dam,” he which has a capacity of 74bn cu- Muller. Covid-19 vaccine trial. bic metres. said. “They are understaff ed,” he Health workers in Port Eliza- it is there for a purpose.” Muller described bodies tients onto beds.” added. beth say the city’s hospitals are Provincial Premier Oscar “piling up” on the fl oor in the Government authorities Doctors to join nurses on strike “So they would rather keep swamped - the pandemic has Mabuyane has vowed to build a city’s two main Covid-desig- have consistently denied media the patient with us. At least in overwhelmed facilities that 500-bed fi eld hospital in every nated hospitals, as mortuaries access to coronavirus wards, our ambulances they are get- were already under-equipped district and municipal area. struggled to deal with the surge citing patient confi dentiality Senior doctors in Zimbabwe’s public health service have threatened to ting care.” and under-resourced. But doctors say there are not in deaths. and safety reasons. walk out over low pay and lack of coronavirus protective gear, in the Bleary-eyed at the end of a Acting mayor Thsonono enough medical personnel to Over 16% of South Africa’s “We don’t want a situation latest dispute to plague the country’s battered health system. Some night shift, paramedic Jeanine Buyeye acknowledged hospitals staff existing facilities. 4,453 coronavirus fatalities where people get infected in 15,000 nurses have been on strike for two weeks over wages that have Jackson said she had declared are “running out of beds”. For Muller, 40, who has been have been reported in the prov- hospital,” Eastern Cape health been hit by galloping inflation. Coronavirus infections are rising rapidly, three patients dead at the scene “We are trying to fi nd as to working as a paramedic for ince. department spokesman Siya- reaching 1,089 cases including 20 fatalities, according to off icial figures. two days prior. how best we can deal with such many years, the situation in “The public are not getting nda Manana explained. “We are finding it diff icult to continue off ering services in our work All had called for help with an issue,” he told AFP, noting public hospitals has never been informed and seeing the stuff Manana confi rmed some stations because of a number of challenges for which no solution has shortness of breath. been proff ered,” the Zimbabwe Senior Hospital Doctors’ Association that a 1,500-bed fi eld hospital “this bad”. that’s happening in there,” mortuaries had been “full” last “Usually by the time you get sponsored by Volkswagen still “It’s horrible inside,” he con- Muller said. week but said most of the back- said. Its notice to strike takes eff ect in two weeks. Price rises in there you can at least assist Zimbabwe are running at more than 700%, eroding salaries and savings contained “very low numbers fi ded. “They are struggling to pump log had been sorted. with ventilation,” she sighed. of patients”. “My guys are emotionally the bodies out quick enough to The state has so far only pro- and reigniting memories of hyperinflation a decade ago. President “But now, no, you get there Emmerson Mnangagwa last week axed the health minister, Obadiah “Maybe they (hospitals) wrecked, they are literally tak- diff erent funeral homes.” vided two ambulances and two and the person has already should look into how best they ing bodies off beds to clear “Never in my career have I buses for Covid-19 patients in Moyo, over corruption allegations involving medical procurement passed.” worth US$60mn. can use such facilities, because space for new patients.” moved bodies around to get pa- and around Port Elizabeth.

Togo issues arrest warrant Gabon gets its fi rst woman premier for senior opposition leader AFP in the price of crude as well as Libreville the impact of the new coronavi- rus on trade. AFP comply with a judicial summons 70% of the vote while Kodjo, Oussouka Raponda is an econ- Lome last Friday had triggered the ar- head of the Patriotic Movement he President of Gabon, Ali omist by training who graduated rest warrant. for Democracy and Development Bongo Ondimba, yester- from the Gabonese Institute of Kodjo, in a message to AFP, re- (MPDD), won just under 20%. Tday appointed the coun- Economy and Finance, specialis- ogo has issued an interna- iterated the fear that his life was Kodjo, who served as premier try’s fi rst woman prime minister, ing in public fi nance. tional arrest warrant for in danger and said he was in hid- under Gnassingbe’s father, also Rose Christiane Ossouka Rap- She became budget minister TAgbeyome Kodjo, the run- ing in Togo. called on the armed forces to rise onda. in 2012 and then the fi rst female ner-up in February’s presidential The 65-year-old has been up against the government, ac- The 56-year-old has been mayor of the capital Libreville in elections, his lawyer said yester- barred from leaving the country cording to the prosecutor, who promoted from the defence 2014, as a candidate for Bongo’s day, adding that he had gone into since alleging widespread irreg- said this threatened public order ministry and takes over from Gabonese Democratic Party hiding in the poor West African ularities in the February 22 vote and state security. Julien Nkoghe Bekale, who was (PDG). nation fearing for his life. and declaring himself legitimate The MPDD late last month appointed premier in January Her new appointment comes “It is one more act of perse- head of state. demanded the release of 16 of 2019. at a time when opposition and cution of Mr Kodjo, which does He was jailed for four days in its activists who were jailed on In a statement, the president’s civil society leaders are once nothing to shake our determi- April after a police raid for failing April 21 for “rebellion” and other offi ce said her mission will in- more openly questioning Bon- nation to shine the truth on to comply with a series of sum- charges. clude “ensuring (Gabon’s) eco- go’s fitness to govern after he this affair,” the lawyer, Darius monses, for which he invoked Gnassingbe has led the coun- In this file photo taken on October 06, 2018 Mayor of Libreville nomic relaunch and necessary suffered a stroke in October Kokou Atsoo, said on commer- health reasons, his lawyers said try of 8mn people since taking and Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) candidate for the local social support in the light of the 2018. cial radio. at the time. over in 2005 after the death of elections, Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda, casts her vote at a world crisis linked to Covid-19”. He spent months abroad for State prosecutor Essolissam According to offi cial results, his father Gnassingbe Eyadema, polling station in Libreville, during the first round of the country’s Heavily dependent on income treatment, and during this time Poyodi, speaking to AFP, con- the incumbent Faure Gnassingbe who ruled with an iron fi st for 38 legislative and municipal elections. Ossouka Raponda was from oil, the central African state the country was rocked by an at- fi rmed that Kodjo’s failure to won a fourth term with nearly years. yesterday appointed Gabon’s first woman prime minister. has been badly hit by the slump tempted coup, in January 2019. Gulf Times Friday, July 17, 2020 5 AMERICAS Georgia’s Kemp Passing visitor blocks mayors on mandatory face coverings

Reuters As lockdowns ease, health experts Trump’s coronavirus response in a Atlanta say people should wear masks and ad- Washington Post opinion piece subti- here to social distancing. tled, “I’m a GOP (Republican) gover- Ethan Padgett, 37, a furloughed arts nor. Why didn’t Trump help my state Comet NEOWISE or C/2020 F3 is pictured above the “Seven Magic Mountains” art installation by artist Ugo ffi cials in the US state of Geor- museum worker from Atlanta, said he with coronavirus testing?” Rondinone, in Jean, Nevada. The comet was discovered on March 27, 2020, by NEOWISE (the Near Earth Object gia yesterday appeared headed believed the governor’s order was a Hogan described how states scram- Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer), a space telescope launched by Nasa in 2009. The “Seven Magic Mountains” Ofor a clash over face masks to “bad idea.” bled to get help on testing, only to public art installation is located in the desert south of Las Vegas and is made up of seven pillars of coloured fi ght the spread of the coronavirus after “We need to wear masks to stop the have Trump declare in early April boulders stacked more than 30ft high. the Republican governor barred mayors spread. The mayor knows that,” he it was not the federal government’s from requiring residents to wear them. said, talking through his mask outside problem. Governor Brian Kemp issued an ex- Joe’s Coff ee in the East Atlanta Village “It was hopeless, waiting around for ecutive order late on Wednesday sus- neighbourhood. him. Governors were being told that we pending local regulations requiring “So many people aren’t following were on our own. It was sink or swim,” “face coverings, masks, face shields or this day-to-day, but are taking their Hogan wrote. any other personal protective equip- cues from our leaders. If the governor New US cases are now averaging Trump cannot be allowed to kill criminal ment” in public. takes it more seriously, people will. around 60,000 a day, with 30 of the The order said residents were Things are worse here than they were 50 states reporting record increases in “strongly encouraged” to wear face three months ago.” new cases this month. probe with delays, NY prosecutor warns coverings in public. Trump himself has been at odds with The total number has surpassed Kemp, a member of President Don- the advice of his own health offi cials, 3.5mn, by far the highest in the world, Reuters immunity” the US Supreme Court has have a right to see presidential candi- ald Trump’s Republican Party, suggest- wearing a mask in public only once. and more than 137,000 Americans have Washington rejected. “Let’s not let delay kill this dates’ returns before the November 3 ed any order mandating masks would Many of his party’s governors and died. case,” Dunne said. “Justice delayed election. be too restrictive. local offi cials have followed his lead, Many states have had to roll back becomes justice denied.” Vance’s investigation began after Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, who but not all. reopenings aimed at pumping up local New York prosecutor yesterday Marrero approved a jointly negoti- news reports that Trump’s former issued a mask mandate in his Georgia In Texas, where infections have economies crushed by the coronavirus warned against allowing Presi- ated schedule giving Trump until July lawyer Michael Cohen paid porno- city on July 1, reacted swiftly. surged, Republican Governor Greg Ab- shutdowns. A dent Donald Trump to run out 27 to fi le papers formally opposing the graphic fi lm actress Stormy Daniels “It is offi cially offi cial. Governor bott two weeks ago ordered residents Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf the clock on the Manhattan district subpoena and its scope. Vance won’t $130,000 to buy her silence before the Kemp does not give a damn about us. in most counties to wear face masks in late on Wednesday reimposed limits on attorney’s criminal probe into Trump. enforce the subpoena through then. 2016 election about claimed sexual Every man and woman for himself/ public. restaurants, bars and social gatherings, Carey Dunne, general counsel for The hearing was held via teleconfer- encounters with Trump, which he has herself. Ignore the science and survive The University of Washington’s In- noting “an unsettling climb” in new in- District Attorney Cyrus Vance, spoke ence. William Consovoy, a lawyer for denied. the best you can,” Johnson, a Democrat, stitute for Health Metrics and Evalu- fections over the past week. at a hearing in federal court in Man- Trump, said the president could argue On July 9, the Supreme Court in a wrote on Twitter. ation projected this week that the na- New York City, once the country’s hattan to discuss Trump’s renewed that the subpoena was “wildly over- 7-2 vote rejected Trump’s earlier ar- The Democratic mayor of Atlanta, tional death toll would exceed 224,000 epicentre, has been slower than others legal challenge to block or narrow broad” as to refl ect Vance’s bad faith, gument he was immune from state Keisha Lance Bottoms, required masks by November 1, but that 40,000 lives to reopen — by not lifting its ban on in- Vance’s ability to see his tax returns. which the prosecutor has denied. criminal probes while in the White in Georgia’s largest city on July 8. could be saved if nearly all Americans door service at bars and restaurants, for The case concerns an August 2019 Consovoy said the subpoena was House. Covid-19 cases spiked across the wore masks in public. example — and continues to see results, subpoena to Trump’s accounting fi rm similar to congressional subpoenas Even if Vance prevails, grand jury American South and West after local Trump is seeking re-election in No- Mayor Bill de Blasio told a briefi ng yes- Mazars USA for eight years of person- that the Supreme Court refused to secrecy rules make it unlikely Trump’s offi cials started loosening economic vember but faces mounting criticism terday. al and corporate tax returns, related enforce, and that Vance, a Democrat, fi nancial records will become public and social restrictions aimed at slow- — and falling opinion poll numbers — Only 2% of more than 40,000 city to Vance’s criminal probe into Trump might have gone after the Republican soon. ing the spread of the virus. over his handling of the pandemic. residents tested reported positive on and his Trump Organization. president to harass him or because of That could change if criminal Florida yesterday reported its third Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, the Wednesday, he said, against a national Dunne told US District Judge Victor political diff erences. charges were brought against anyone, record increase in deaths this month, up Republican chair of the National Gov- average of 8.8%, rising to over 20% in Marrero there are looming deadlines In a Reuters/Ipsos poll this week, including other defendants. 156. The previous record was 133 on July 9. ernors Association, yesterday slammed some states. to prosecute cases because of statutes 66% of adults agreed that Trump The litigation has made it unlikely of limitations, and more delays could should release his tax returns from this would happen, at least until after give Trump the “absolute temporary earlier years, and 68% said Americans the election. President demotes campaign manager Democrats see donations surging Reuters rally last month that drew a much volvement in his 2016 victory in the US Washington smaller crowd than he predicted. presidential election and predicted that A subsequent coronavirus outbreak he would glide to a second term in of- Reuters The fi ling deadline was due to expire With Democrats controlling the forced Parscale and other campaign of- fi ce. Washington shortly before midnight on Wednesday House of Representatives, Republican resident Donald Trump on fi cials who attended to self-quarantine “This one should be a lot easier as and several prominent Republican in- control of the Senate has been crucial Wednesday demoted his long- for two weeks. our poll numbers are rising fast, the cumbents had not yet reported their to- in buttressing Trump’s presidency in- Ptime campaign manager, a move A source close to the campaign said economy is getting better, vaccines and ampaign donations are fl ood- tals for the three months ended June 30. cluding keeping him in power after a aimed at shoring up his re-election bid Trump has been anxious about the therapeutics will soon be on the way, ing into the coff ers of Demo- While the November 3 election is February impeachment trial. as he trails Democratic candidate Joe polls “and struck at the most visible and Americans want safe streets and Ccrats running for the US Sen- still 3-1/2 months away, the fl ood of But superior fundraising does not Biden in opinion polls less than four target he could,” adding that Parscale communities,” Trump wrote. ate, but some Republican incumbents campaign contributions shows Demo- guarantee Democratic challengers suc- months before the November 3 vote. has been “a straight-shooter about the The Republican president publicly looking to protect their Senate major- crats benefi ting from voter discontent cess on Election Day against Republi- In a Facebook post, Trump said cam- president’s challenges.” has scoff ed at the numerous opinion ity hold a powerful cash advantage over Trump’s responses to the coro- can incumbents who have had longer to paign manager Brad Parscale would be Stepien, a longtime Republican polls showing him behind Biden. over their challengers as the election navirus pandemic and race relations, build up their fi nancial fi repower. replaced by Bill Stepien, who has been strategist, is well known to both Trump Trump trailed Biden by 10 percent- battle enters its fi nal months. among other issues, analysts say. Democrats would need a net gain the deputy campaign manager. and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who age points among registered voters in Early second-quarter campaign fi lings “The intensity of the opposition to of four Republican-held seats to take Parscale will shift to a role focused has been playing a more active role in the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll. with the Federal Election Commission Donald Trump has motivated a lot of control of the chamber if Trump wins on digital and data strategy, the presi- the campaign. Stepien was political di- The president’s standing among vot- showed a surge in donations for Demo- people to donate to Democrats for the fi rst re-election — or three, if presump- dent said. rector at the White House before mov- ers has sagged this year as the corona- cratic challengers trying to fl ip Republi- time, or more than they have before,” said tive Democratic candidate Joe Biden A leadership shakeup had long been ing to the campaign. virus has killed tens of thousands of can-held Senate seats in at least 10 states Republican strategist Alex Conant. defeats him. Democrats are widely rumoured. Parscale was blamed inter- In his statement, Trump credited Americans and threw millions more seen as potentially in play as President Republicans currently hold a four- expected to lose one seat — Senator nally for a botched Tulsa, Oklahoma, both Parscale and Stepien for their in- out of work. Donald Trump’s poll numbers decline. seat majority in the 100-seat Senate. Doug Jones of Alabama.

US Army wants to remove ‘divisive symbols’ from military bases

Reuters criticising “left-wing mobs” Washington who have attacked statues across the United States. Under his bill, introduced with he US Army wants to re- fellow Republican Representa- move any sort of divisive tives Jim Jordan and Sam Graves, Tsymbols from military some federal funds would be bases, potentially including Con- withheld if local governments do federate fl ags, the Army secretary not “restore order or arrest riot- said yesterday, suggesting that the ers.” Pentagon was close to a broader During national — and inter- policy barring such symbols from national — protests against racial all military installations. injustice sparked by the killing of A number of military services, George Floyd in Minneapolis in including the Marine Corps, have May some demonstrators have already banned the display of taken down or vandalised statues Confederate fl ags even as Presi- of historical fi gures such as Rob- dent Donald Trump has said that ert E Lee, who led Confederate fl ying the fl ag is “freedom of troops against the United States, speech.” and Christopher Columbus. “Anything that is a divisive Trump has threatened decades- symbol, we do want to take those A bird’s eye view shows a new 100m long Black Lives Matter mural, written for the first time in French, ‘La vie des noir.e.s compte’, in Ste Catherine Street in central Montreal, long prison terms for those who of our installations and that sort Canada. The letters were painted in with colours earlier this week by about 20 local artists. The mural will be on display all summer in support of the anti-racism movement that deface monuments or statues. of thing out of our formation,” followed the killing by police of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, in Minneapolis in May. McCarthy introduced his bill Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy as Democrats pushed legislation told reporters. uniform policy for the diff erent Last month, Trump rejected re- statues honouring Confeder- Last week the top US general cut federal aid to state and lo- to remove monuments to slave Asked if that would include services on divisive symbols. naming military bases named af- ate leaders during the 1861-1865 said the military had to take a cal governments if they do not owners and those who supported specifi cally identifying Confed- Trump, who has stoked ra- ter Confederate generals, slapping US Civil War should be removed “hard look” at symbols of the protect statues, after protesters slavery from the US Capitol in erate fl ags as divisive symbols, cial divisions as part of his re- down Pentagon offi cials who are from prominent places. Confederacy, including base attacked monuments to people Washington. McCarthy said: “We would have election campaign, has criticised open to discussing the issue. Asked on Tuesday if the fl ag names. who owned slaves or fought for Democratic House Speaker any divisive symbols on a no-fl y the desecration and removal of Recent social unrest has raised should be “taken down,” Trump Separately, the Republican the Confederacy. Nancy Pelosi said yesterday she list, if you will.” statues of Confederate and other new questions about the fl ying responded: “I know people that like leader in the US House of Rep- “It is wrong to erase our histo- expected the House would pass He added that the Penta- former US leaders to energise his of the Confederate battle fl ag in the Confederate fl ag and they’re resentatives yesterday intro- ry,” House Minority Leader Kevin such legislation next week or the gon was close to a decision on a political base. areas of the country and whether not thinking about slavery.” duced legislation that would McCarthy said in a statement, week after. Gulf Times 6 Friday, July 17, 2020 ASIA Philippines considers re-imposing tight coronavirus restrictions

DPA Manila

hilippine President Rodrigo Duterte might re-impose tight quarantine restrictions in the capital of Manila amid a spike in Pcoronavirus infections and deaths, his spokesman said yester- day. In a late-night meeting with an inter-agency task force on Cov- id-19 on Wednesday, health experts had recommended that public transportation, private offi ces, restaurants and commercial shops be shut down again in Manila, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said. “The president agreed at fi rst, but offi cials appealed to him because the mayors of Metro Manila promised they will step up localised lock- down (to contain the spread of the virus),” he said.”They promised to intensify testing, tracing and treatment.” Roque said Duterte agreed not to place Metro Manila under the stricter protocol, called modifi ed enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), in the next two weeks. But he added, “It was clear in the discussion that if the spread of the Covid-19 does not slow down in Metro Manila, it is possible that MECQ will be re-imposed after two weeks.” On Wednesday, the Department of Health said the country’s total number of Covid-19 cases was at 58,850, with 1,614 deaths. Nearly 50% of the infections and 57% of deaths were from Metro Manila. Since June 1, the Philippine government has been easing the lockdown that was imposed in the country’s most populous island of Luzon, which encompasses Manila, and in other high-risk areas in mid-March. Limited public transportation has resumed, while shop- A member of the police manning a checkpoint asks to see the quarantine pass of a resident in Navotas in suburban Manila yesterday after the local government reimposed a ping malls, salons, barber shops, restaurants, private offi ces and even lockdown in the city due to increased Covid-19 infections. Philippine police were being deployed to ensure people who test positive for the coronavirus and cannot self-isolate at some churches have also opened in a reduced capacity. home are taken to state-run quarantine centres, sparking warnings of potential rights violations. 160 turtles caught in plastic waste Bangladesh rescued from Bangladesh beach

AFP died and were buried in the sand. from local conservation group The government is investigat- Cox’s Bazar “This is the fi rst time we have Darianagar Green Boys. “We res- ing why the turtles came ashore arrests hospital seen such a large-scale death and cued a 40-kg turtle alive. It was and sent two carcasses to a state- washing up of injured turtles on entangled in plastic nets and it run university to be examined. bout 160 sea turtles, many the beach. It is unprecedented,” did not have legs.” But Rahman said he believed of them injured after get- said Nazmul Huda, deputy direc- Leading Bangladesh turtle and the turtles may have become Ating entangled in plastic tor of the local environment de- tortoise expert Shahriar Caesar stuck in a massive plastic garbage waste, have been rescued after partment. Rahman of the NGO Creative patch fl oating in the sea. owner over fake washing up on one of the world’s “Around 160 turtles have been Conservation Alliance said the “In the long term if we don’t longest beaches in Bangladesh, rescued alive ... but after their creatures were “heavily stressed” manage pollution in the Bay of an offi cial and conservationists release in the sea, some of these and may not survive even after Bengal, many of these marine said. turtles have come back to the being freed from the waste. “Lo- species will face similar fate,” he The Olive Ridley turtles began beach. I think they are too weak cal volunteers are trying their said. fl oating to shore at Cox’s Bazar to stay in the sea.” best to release them in the sea. Olive Ridleys are the most virus results with a huge mass of plastic bot- Many of the turtles sustained But considering the injuries of abundant of all sea turtles around tles, fi shing nets, buoys and other injuries from being caught in these turtles it is unlikely they the world, according to conser- AFP fl ee to India. He was wearing a cases within the community. debris at the weekend. the estimated 50 tonnes of will survive,” he told AFP. vationists. Dhaka burqa,” Rapid Action Battalion Several passengers arriving from Survivors were released back waste fl oating in a 10-kilometre “So the best long-term solu- But their numbers have been spokesman Colonel Ashique Bil- Dhaka had tested positive for into the Bay of Bengal, but some stretch along the coast. “Some tion will be to establish a rescue declining and the species is rec- lah told AFP. Covid-19. were returning to the beach that of the turtles did not have legs or and rehabilitation facility for ognised as vulnerable by the Bangladesh hospital “His hospitals carried out “Some of the Bangladeshis stretches 120km. About 30 had heads,” said Asaduzzaman Sayem these turtles in Cox’s Bazar.” IUCN Red list. owner accused of issuing 10,500 coronavirus tests, out of who were tested positive in Italy Athousands of fake nega- which 4,200 were genuine and were allegedly carrying negative tive coronavirus test results to the rest, 6,300 test reports, were Covid certifi cates from Bangla- patients at his two clinics was ar- given without conducting tests.” desh,” Islam claimed. rested while trying to fl ee to India Shahed is also accused of charg- “The government must ensure in a burqa, police said. ing for the certifi cates and virus quality of Covid-19 tests in lo- The arrest marked the end of a treatments even though he had cal laboratories for the sake of its Australian woman freed from nine-day manhunt for Mohamed agreed with the government that overseas job market.” Shahed over allegations of giving his hospitals in the capital Dhaka Nearly $19bn was sent back fake certifi cates to patients say- would provide free care. to Bangladesh by an estimated ing they were virus-free without A well-known doctor and her 12mn migrant workers last year, even testing them. husband were also arrested by according to the central bank. jail for killing of Bali policeman Shahed, 42, was one of more police and accused of issuing Bangladesh has reported just than a dozen people detained by thousands of fake virus certifi - over 193,000 infections and 2,457 authorities over the past few days cates at their Dhaka laboratory. deaths so far. But medical experts AFP a beer bottle. However, Tay- in connection with the scam. The alleged scams could badly say the real fi gures are likely much Denpasar, Indonesia lor claimed at trial that he had Experts warn the false docu- hurt migrant workers seeking to higher because so little testing has feared for his life and acted in ments has worsened the already go abroad and whose remittances been carried out. self-defence during the late- dire virus situation in the coun- are key to Bangladesh’s economy, The impoverished country has n Australian woman night brawl. try of 168mn people by casting said Shakirul Islam of migrant restarted economic activities af- jailed with her British Mother-of-two Connor had doubt about the veracity of cer- rights group OKUP. ter lifting a months-long virus ADJ boyfriend for beating maintained her innocence, in- tifi cates issued by clinics. “He Italy last week suspended lockdown at the end of May, even a Bali policeman to death was sisting she only intervened to was arrested from the bank of a fl ights to Rome from Bangladesh as the number of cases continues freed yesterday after nearly four try to break up the fight. This border river as he was trying to to stem the spate of coronavirus to rise. years in prison on the Indone- claim was rejected by a Bali sian holiday island. court that said she held down Sara Connor, 49, left Ker- the victim as Taylor beat him. Rare twin red-ruff ed lemurs born at Singapore zoo obokan prison and was placed The pair fled the scene but in the hands of immigration au- Connor’s driving licence and Twin red-ruff ed lemurs have only once a year, it said. The attraction as the zoo was closed thorities to await deportation, ATM card were found next to been born at Singapore zoo, fluff y lemurs are a distinctive rust for months as a result of a Bali officials said. the body. off icials said yesterday, a rare colour, with black faces, hands, coronavirus lockdown. Red-ruff ed Connor and David Taylor After police launched a mas- double delivery that is a boost feet and tails, and a distinctive lemurs are classified as critically were convicted in 2017 of fa- A file photo shows British national David Taylor with Australian sive manhunt for the couple, for the endangered saucer-eyed white patch on their heads. endangered by the International tally assaulting officer Wayan national Sara Connor as they are transferred from Kerobokan prison they took refuge in the Austral- primates. It was the first birth The last of the species to be born Union for Conservation of Nature Sudarsa, whose battered body ahead of their court appearance in Denpasar on Indonesia’s resort ian consulate in Bali but later at the zoo of the endangered at the zoo was the twins’ father, due to logging and hunting. Of was found in the popular tourist island of Bali. handed themselves over to local creatures, which are native to Bosco, 11 years ago. The mother is the 107 surviving lemur species area of Kuta the previous year. authorities. Madagascar, in over a decade, eight-year-old Minnie, who arrived on Madagascar, some 103 are Sudarsa’s blood-soaked body for good behaviour, while Tay- into a fight with Sudarsa on the At trial, prosecutors said Wildlife Reserves Singapore said. in Singapore from a Japanese threatened, including 33 that are was covered with dozens of lor is serving a six-year jail sen- beach after accusing the officer the pair, who were tried sepa- The arrival of the yet-to-be-named zoo in 2016. Although the twins critically endangered -- the last wounds on his neck, chest and tence for his role in the attack. of stealing Connor’s handbag, rately, should not be convicted twins was “particularly special” were born earlier this year, they stop before “extinct in the wild”, head. Connor was given early Taylor, whose stage name was and admitted hitting him with of murder because they did not because the creatures breed have only recently become an the group said earlier this month. release from her five-year term DJ Nutzo, had admitted getting items including binoculars and intend to kill the officer.

Death toll in Indonesian Asia’s garment workers say virus used as cover to smash unions flash floods rises to 29 AFP sure since early June. She was among the did not reply to requests for comment but “an opening for this tactic on a wide which produces clothes for the likes of Bangkok entire 1,200-strong workforce let go – H&M confi rmed the closure of the plant. scale”, said Jamie Davis of the Solidarity Spanish fast-fashion brand Zara. Desper- 900 of whom were with a union. “We are in close dialogue with both lo- Center, a workers’ advocacy organisation ate to be reinstated, unionised workers The death toll from flash “I have sweated here for the past 10 cal and global trade unions as well as the affi liated with American unions federa- wrote an impassioned letter to Amancio floods that hit Indonesia’s rom factory fl oors in India to the years for 348 rupees ($4.60) a day,” said supplier to help them resolve the con- tion AFL-CIO. Ortega, founder of the Inditex fashion South Sulawesi province has warehouses of Cambodia, garment the 49-year-old, who was responsible for fl ict peacefully,” H&M told AFP. The high Major brands are now being urged to group that owns Zara. “Surely a man of risen to 29, an official said Fworkers for global brands say the checking trousers, jackets and T-shirts street clothing giant also buys garments use their fi nancial muscle to protect the such riches would not need to profi t from yesterday. collapse in demand triggered by the coro- bound for Swedish clothing giant H&M. from four other Gokaldas factories, ac- most vulnerable in their supply chains. the global pandemic by smashing our un- Search teams were looking navirus is being used as a cover to break The workshop’s parent company is cording to the New Trade Union Initia- The big names “must make it clear that ions,” it said. for 15 people still missing their unions. The crippling eff ect of the Gokaldas, Karnataka’s oldest manufac- tive. they will end the business relationship Ortega is the sixth-richest man in the three days after heavy rain pandemic has seen orders worth billions turer, a fi rm that runs more than 20 fac- Asia’s textile factories have provided (with a factory) if the violations contin- world with a $62.8bn fortune, according triggered the deluge in the of dollars cancelled across manufacturing tories. But Padma’s workplace was the jobs for millions of people as well as vi- ue”, said Scott Nova of labour watchdog to Forbes. Inditex said it was aware of the North Luwu district, said hubs in China, Bangladesh, India, Cam- only Gokaldas plant with a union, she tal foreign currency for many poorer na- the Worker Rights Consortium. labour disputes and cited its code of con- Endro Yudo Waryono, head bodia and Myanmar. That has left hun- said. “They wanted to get rid of the un- tions, but the pandemic has gutted the “It is illegal to dismiss workers be- duct, which “expressly forbids discrimi- of emergency preparedness dreds of thousands out of work in some of ion for a long time, and now they’re using sector. In Bangladesh alone, more than cause of their union affi liation or to close nation against workers’ representatives”. at the local civil protection Asia’s poorest countries. Covid-19 as an excuse,” Padma told AFP, 100,000 workers have been left jobless. a factory because it is unionised,” he said. It is a position shared in public by agency. But workers allege the fi nancial tur- alleging the workers were “illegally laid About half are involved with unions, ac- “Such anti-retaliation laws exist in most other multibillion-dollar clothing giants “Aid supplies have gradually moil has also provided an opportunity for off ” without notice. cording to Rafi qul Islam Sujon, president countries, including Cambodia, Myan- aware of the PR damage that allegations arrived as roads are becoming bosses to target troublesome shop fl oors Gautam Mody, general-secretary of of the Bangladesh Garments and Shilpo mar and India – though they are, unfor- of worker exploitation can infl ict. In the accessible to cars,” he told where unions have pressed for higher the New Trade Union Initiative, which Sramik Federation, a rights group. tunately, often not enforced.” worst cases, workers voicing opposition DPA. Officials said more than wages and better conditions. In southern represents hundreds of workers’ groups Many factories have long resented to lay-off s are facing jail. 15,000 people were displaced India’s Karnataka state – home to 20% of across India, said the fi rm was “union- the work of unions and have discouraged Impassioned letter Cambodian union representative Soy after Monday’s floods and India’s massive garment manufacturing busting under the pretext of Covid.” workers from collectivising while harass- In Myanmar, where the nascent gar- Sros took to Facebook in April to protest sought refuge in temporary sector – union leader Padma has sat every Mody told AFP the shuttered facility was ing or fi ring the most vocal leaders, cam- ment sector was seen before the pandem- the dismissal of dozens of workers from a shelters. Floods and landslides day cross-legged outside her factory Euro “the sole factory where the majority of paigners say. ic as a beacon of prosperity, 298 workers Superl factory on the outskirts of Phnom often occur in Indonesia Clothing Company II to protest its clo- workers are union members”. Gokaldas But the economic crunch has off ered were fi red in May at the Rui Ning factory, Penh. during the rainy season. Gulf Times Friday, July 17, 2020 7 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA South Korean prosecutors open probe into North’s Kim Yo-jong

AFP personal insults at President Before the demolition, it had fice was South Korean property explosives was punishable by week after a Seoul court ordered Seoul Moon Jae-in. Seoul Central issued a series of vitriolic con- as it was renovated using South death, or a prison sentence of at Pyongyang’s leader to com- District prosecutors received a demnations of South Korea over Korean government funds, de- least seven years. pensate prisoners of war who criminal complaint against Kim anti-North leaflets that defec- spite its being located in the Capital punishment remains spent decades in North Korea, eoul prosecutors have Yo-jong from a Seoul-based tors send back across the heav- North. Kim “used explosives to on the statute books in South in a move that could set a far- opened an unprecedented lawyer and had started an in- ily-militarised border – usually destroy” the South’s “quasi- Korea, although it has not ex- reaching legal precedent on the Sprobe into North Korean vestigation, a spokeswoman attached to balloons or floated diplomatic mission building ecuted anyone since 1997. divided peninsula. leader Kim Jong-un’s sister told AFP. in bottles. that served the public interest”, In practice, it would be vir- Inter-Korean relations have over Pyongyang’s blowing up of Last month, Pyongyang blew It raised pressure further by he said in the complaint. tually impossible for Seoul of- been strained following the a liaison office last month, offi- up an inter-Korean liaison of- threatening military measures Lee also filed a complaint ficials to punish Kim Yo-jong collapse of a summit in Hanoi cials said yesterday. fice on its side of the border, against Seoul, but later said it against Pak Jong-chon, chief or Pak, but Lee told the South’s between Kim Jong-un and US The move is likely to infuri- days after Kim Yo-jong – one of had suspended those plans in an of the general staff of the Yonhap News Agency that he President Donald Trump early ate the nuclear-armed North, her brother’s closest advisers – apparent sudden dialling-down North Korean military. Under wanted to “inform the North last year over what the nuclear- which has repeatedly con- had said the “useless” property of tensions. In his complaint, South Korea’s criminal code, Korean people of their leader’s armed North would be will- demned South Korea in recent would soon be seen “completely lawyer Lee Kyung-jae claimed he stressed, damaging property hypocrisy”. ing to give up in exchange for a months, including directing collapsed”. the now-demolished liaison of- or disturbing the peace using The announcement came a loosening of sanctions. Kim Yo-jong HK competitive edge blunted by US-China storm

AFP Hong Kong A view of commercial buildings in Hong Kong. Beijing’s tough new security law and President Donald Trump’s order to rescind special trading privileges have blunted Hong Kong’s competitive edge and risk turning the eijing’s tough new security finance hub into just another Chinese city, analysts warn. law and President Donald BTrump’s order to rescind ington’s move on Wednesday, special trading privileges have vowing some sort of reciprocal blunted Hong Kong’s competitive response. edge and risk turning the fi nance That sets the stage for Ameri- hub into just another Chinese city, can businesses in either China or analysts warn. Hong Kong to face counter-meas- Once lauded as an oasis of ures. “(US) acts are hypocritical predictability in Asia, semi-au- and will certainly cause very seri- tonomous Hong Kong has been ous damage to American compa- plunged into crisis over the past nies and citizens,” Hong Kong’s year, threatening its status as a re- government said. liable world-class business cen- While the precise impact of the tre. new restrictions will take time to As 2019 came to a close, the manifest, Julia Friedlander from city was already deep in recession the Atlantic Council said the lat- because of spiralling US-China est measures “erect trade barriers trade tensions and months of and sever deeply integrated fi nan- huge, often violent pro-democra- cial ties for Hong Kong with the cy protests. And the jolts to busi- United States”. A man walks past a reflection of the Chinese flag on a footbridge in the ness sentiment have not let up. “This will have a devastat- Central district of Hong Kong. Late last month Beijing blanketed ing impact on Hong Kong as the the city in a game-changing anti- Members of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), the largest fi nancial gateway to Western perity and stability,” Regina Ip, investments in Hong Kong, few subversion law aimed at ending Pro-Beijing party in the city, hold a banner and placards outside the US Consulate in Hong Kong yesterday, markets and will also, by neces- a leading pro-Beijing lawmaker, are predicting a sudden capital protests against its increasingly two days after US President Donald Trump signed into law the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, which passed sity, raise the profi le of mainland told Bloomberg. fl ight. “It will take time and proc- authoritarian rule. overwhelmingly in Congress as Beijing pushed through a tough national security law in Hong Kong. Chinese markets for international Last week, city leader Carrie esses will be run before decisions Then on Tuesday – in response fi rms and governments looking to Lam pointed to the city’s stock will be made and implemented by to that law – Trump announced more wide-ranging and less tar- minates the Fulbright scholar ex- Trump said. Banks have a year- fi nance global supply chains out market as proof the business multi-nationals with Hong Kong that Hong Kong would no longer geted than I hoped it would be – change programme. long grace period to stop doing of Asia,” she added. community was not worried. operations,” Tsang said. have preferential trade treatment. and it looks like Hong Kong will The sanctions against Chinese business with Chinese offi cials The Trump administration has Since Beijing’s national security But the double-whammy He also signed a law that will suff er as much as mainland Chi- offi cials came from a bill passed deemed to be “primary off enders” so far avoided the “nuclear op- law was fi rst publicly mooted in of Beijing’s security law and sanction Chinese and Hong Kong na,” Steve Tsang, director of the with bipartisan support – an il- in undermining Hong Kong’s au- tion” that US media report had late May the Hang Seng index Trump’s increasingly hardline offi cials responsible for cracking SOAS China Institute in London, lustration of how Beijing’s re- tonomy. “We can see that banks been discussed within the admin- has risen more than 10%, aided stance towards Beijing will make down on dissent. told AFP. sponse to Hong Kong’s protests are going through their client lists istration – undermining the Hong by an infl ux of mainland invest- Hong Kong less attractive com- While analysts and multi-na- The order ends preferential has united Washington’s bitterly and those who are sanctioned are Kong dollar’s peg to the green- ment. But it remains one of the pared with cities such as Shanghai tionals knew the move to strip the treatment for Hong Kong pass- divided politics. also expected to close accounts on back. Pro-Beijing fi gures in Hong world’s worst performers, down and Shenzhen, he predicted. “It city of its trading privileges was ports, revokes licence exceptions “Hong Kong will now be treat- their own,” Andy Kwan, director Kong shrugged off the ending 11% over the past year, compared must raise questions in the minds coming, some were taken aback for certain exports, suspends ed the same as mainland China of the ACE Centre for Business of trade privileges. “It will only with a 2.8% gain in MSCI’s in- of international business people by the breadth of the executive Washington’s extradition agree- – no special privileges, no spe- and Economic Research, told AFP. drive more Hong Kong people to dex of world stocks, according to as to whether Hong Kong still of- order that followed. ment with the city and stops any cial economic treatment and no Both China and Hong Kong’s rely more and more on mainland Bloomberg News. fers an edge over a competitive “This turned out to be much joint police training. It also ter- export of sensitive technologies,” government denounced Wash- China for support for our pros- Given the huge international mainland city.”

China to let most Australia launches $1.4bn Japan’s domestic cinemas re-open pandemic retraining plan tourism campaign hit by Covid-19 AFP as pandemic ebbs Sydney Reuters of explosive spread of the coro- Tokyo navirus that has killed tens of Reuters “This industry is in a desperate ustralia announced yes- thousands in other countries. Beijing situation because of high opera- terday A$2bn ($1.4bn) to But Tokyo has raised its coro- tional cost: the rent.” Aretrain workers impacted multi-billion dollar Jap- navirus alert to the highest Cinemas that re-open will by the coronavirus fallout, as anese campaign to boost level after a series of new cases. hina will allow most cin- have to limit audiences to 30% of unemployment rose to its high- Adomestic tourism faced Tokyo yesterday reported a emas to re-open from July normal and keep vacant seats be- est level in more than two dec- uncertainty yesterday as coro- record 286 new cases, the gov- C20, the fi lm administration tween patrons, who are required ades. navirus cases grew in Tokyo, ernment said. said yesterday, six months after to book in advance and not carry Prime Minister Scott Morri- with government ministers and The government’s top they were forced to close as part in food and drinks, the fi lm au- son said the new funding would experts looking at ways to stop spokesman, Chief Cabinet of draconian measures to contain thority said. create more than 300,000 plac- the virus being spread from the Secretary Yoshihide Suga, said the novel coronavirus. The theatres were forced to es in training programmes that capital. Japan had 19,000 hospital beds The relaxation has been long shut in late January as China bat- aimed to funnel graduates and Minister of Transport Ka- and plenty of medical supplies awaited in the world’s second- tled the virus that emerged in its the newly jobless into “growth” A woman queues outside a coronavirus testing venue at The Royal zuyoshi Akaba told reporters to cope with the outbreak. largest fi lm market, where lock- central city of Wuhan late last sectors. Melbourne Hospital in Melbourne yesterday. he was proposing implement- He also noted the devastating downs have eased gradually as year, before spreading worldwide “It is upsetting for many ing the “Go To” campaign but economic impact of the coro- infections have dropped sharply to cause 14mn infections and Australians that the industries The conservative government a fresh lockdown imposed on without travel to and from the navirus on Japan’s regions with since March, with many restau- 583,000 deaths. and places where they’d been has spent billions on propping Australia’s second-biggest city capital, where new cases of the most foreign tourists banned rants and malls open for months. Shares in China’s largest cin- working, they will fi nd it very up the economy since a nation- last week expected to cost the coronavirus are causing alarm. from entering the country. “We Cinemas in low-risk areas will ema owner, Wanda Film jumped diffi cult to fi nd new employ- wide shutdown that began in economy A$6bn. “I would like to hear what our hope the Go To campaign sup- resume operations but curbs, on the news, to end up 1.1%%, ment in those sectors,” he said. March, including wage subsi- Morrison acknowledged a experts think about starting it ports tourism and the food and from limited fi lm showings to outperforming a drop of 5% in the “And so we want to ensure they dies for worst-hit businesses record 317 cases detected in on July 22 with Tokyo residents, beverage industry and brings mandatory masks, will still apply, benchmark Shenzhen Composite have the opportunity... to fi nd and boosting support for wel- Victoria state over the previous or the city as a destination, not about a social and economic although those in medium- and Index. employment in other sectors, fare recipients. 24 hours was “a big setback”, included,” Akaba told reporters. recovery so that the regions can high-risk areas will stay shut, the “Wanda Film’s preparations are potentially, so they can actually With those subsidies due to saying he expected July’s unem- The concerns in Japan highlight escape this severe situation,” China Film Administration said in progressing in an orderly fash- move forward with their own expire in September, yesterday’s ployment fi gures to be impacted a conundrum facing countries Suga told a news conference. a statement. ion,” the company, which runs lives.” announcement was an early in- as a result. around the world over how to The campaign will see trav- No area in China is now cate- more than 600 cinemas nation- The unemployment rate rose dication of how Morrison plans Yesterday’s new cases pushed balance reviving economies bat- ellers get subsidies of as much gorised as high-risk, the govern- wide, said in a statement, adding from 7.1% to 7.4% in June, ac- to follow them up. the national daily total to its tered by the coronavirus while as 50% to boost tourism-reli- ment said, however, and just four that it planned to announce re- cording to the Australian Bureau Morrison said the Australian highest level since late March, safeguarding public health. ant economies outside major neighborhoods in Beijing, the openings. Last week, it forecast a of Statistics, bringing the job- economy was “fi ghting back”, as the outbreak continues to Economy Minister Yasutoshi population areas. Nishimura capital, are graded medium-risk. swing to a fi rst-half net loss of up less total to almost one million with most of the country eas- frustrate Australia’s early suc- Nishimura was also due to meet said earlier he wanted to hear “This is breaking news for the to 1.6bn yuan ($230mn), from a in a country of 25mn. ing restrictions in recent weeks cess in suppressing Covid-19. the experts to discuss the tour- the opinions of the experts on industry and people are thrilled,” gain of 524mn yuan in the corre- It is the country’s highest un- since curbing the virus spread. Seven coronavirus patients have ism campaign a day after Tokyo containment measures, such as said Gao Jun, former general sponding period last year. Social employment rate since 1998 and But a growing outbreak in Mel- died since Friday, bringing Aus- Governor Yuriko Koike ques- preventing big gatherings and manager of Beijing-headquar- media users welcomed the news, comes as Australia heads into its bourne is casting a pall over tralia’s total fatalities to 113, out tioned its timing and methods. ensuring ventilation on trans- tered Xinyinglian Cinema Chain. despite the restrictions. fi rst recession in nearly 30 years. economic recovery hopes, with of nearly 11,000 infections. Japan has not seen the kind port. Gulf Times 8 Friday, July 17, 2020 BRITAIN Govt accuses Russia of vaccine research hacking, vote meddling

AFP said “Russian actors” sought to grade nerve agent in 2018. said labs were among those tar- Services” and “highly likely (80- haviour, the UK and its allies are Prime Minister Boris Johnson London disrupt last year’s UK general The attack in Salisbury, south- geted “to steal valuable intellec- 90%)” its targeting of research- getting on with the hard work of would “sell-out” the state-run election by circulating leaked west England, came 12 years after tual property”. ers was “to collect information fi nding a vaccine and protecting health sector to US President trade documents between Britain the radiation poisoning of former NCSC director of operations on Covid-19 vaccine research” or global health,” he added. Donald Trump. he government yesterday and the US. spy Alexander Litvinenko in Paul Chichester said known the virus itself. Earlier, the government said Health funding was a key cam- risked worsening fraught Both accusations came even London. targets included UK, US and The authorities in the US and there were strong suspicions of a paign issue, and Johnson was Tdiplomatic ties with Rus- before the publication in the Again, Russia denied involve- Canadian vaccine research and Canada backed their assessment, Russian link to the leak of classi- repeatedly forced to deny the sia by accusing Moscow-linked coming days of a long-awaited ment. development organisations us- he added. fi ed documents about a possible claim. hackers of targeting labs con- parliamentary report into alleged Britain is one of a number of ing techniques including mal- Nearly 600,000 people have post-Brexit trade deal with the Labour’s then leader Jeremy ducting coronavirus vaccine re- Russian interference in the 2016 countries conducting human ware. died and more than 13.5mn in- US. Corbyn dismissed claims the search. Brexit vote. vaccine trials for Covid-19. APT29 — also known as “The fected in the coronavirus out- An investigation was launched leak was put online by Russia The government pointed the Russia quickly rejected the One, at the University of Ox- Dukes” or “Cozy Bear” — had break this year. after fi les were published on the as a “conspiracy theory”.Raab fi nger at the Kremlin after the accusations as “groundless”. ford, showed potential positive also tried to hack government, Foreign Secretary Dominic social media site Reddit and were stopped short of accusing Mos- country’s cyber-security agen- The two countries have been results, media reports said yes- diplomatic, think-tank and en- Raab said that targeting those later picked up by the main op- cow of direct involvement. cy said a hacking group called at loggerheads since Moscow terday. ergy groups, it added. working to fi nd a vaccine was position Labour party. But he said it was “almost cer- APT29 was “almost certainly” was accused of trying to kill But the National Cyber Securi- The agency said it was “almost “completely unacceptable”. The party used them in its tain... that Russian actors” were linked to Russian intelligence. double agent Sergei Skripal ty Centre, part of Britain’s GCHQ certain (95%+) that APT29 are “While others pursue their campaign for the December 12 involved by putting the leaked In a separate claim, London with a powerful military- electronic eavesdropping agency, part of the Russian Intelligence selfi sh interests with reckless be- election, claiming they proved documents online. Train fi rms Prince attends graduation ceremony plan campaign to woo back passengers

Guardian News and Media port “very soon”. London Johnson’s call for more people to return to work came along- side mixed messages over mask- rain companies are hoping wearing, which were resolved on to encourage commuters Wednesday when the Health Sec- Tback on to public transport retary, Matt Hancock, announced with a “travel safe this summer” it will become mandatory in campaign, as Boris Johnson urges shops from July 24. a bigger return to work. Although a majority of UK The government is reviewing workers travel to work by car or its guidance, in place since lock- van, restrictions on public trans- down started, to work from home port are seen as one of the main where possible. obstacles for many workers re- The prime minister said last turning to offi ces in cities, and week the public should “go back London in particular. Prince Charles socially distances in the middle of a circle of graduates after the graduation ceremony of The Queen’s Squadron and Sovereign’s review at RAF College to work if you can”. Increasing car travel is not Cranwell, in Cranwell, Britain, yesterday Johnson is expected to set out thought to be viable in cities be- the next steps in easing the lock- cause of congestion, as well as the down in a press conference today, likelihood of increased carbon di- where he may also hail the results oxide emissions. of the latest stage of the Oxford Andy Bagnall, chief strategy vaccine trial, which has been test- offi cer at the Rail Delivery Group, ed on rhesus macaque monkeys. representing UK train companies, Asked about the trial’s progress said: “Rail companies want to on Wednesday, his spokesman support the government in strik- said: “While any possible step ing the diffi cult balance between Woman wins right to return forwards to fi nd a safe and eff ec- reopening the economy, which of tive vaccine would be encourag- course means more rail travel, and ing, you wouldn’t expect me to guarding against a further wide- speculate on results that have not spread outbreak of the virus. been published yet.” “As the economy reopens this It is understood that train op- summer that means reassuring to UK to fi ght for citizenship erating companies are moving to people so they have confi dence a “travel safe this summer” mes- to travel safely while adhering to AFP she was living in a Syrian refugee refugee camp in February last sider granting her citizenship. “The government’s priority sage, with increased emphasis government advice. London camp. year. Her lawyer, Daniel Furner, is maintaining our national se- on handwashing and face masks, Train operators are maximis- Three senior judges at the Her newborn baby died soon said his client had “never had a curity, and decisions to deprive which have been compulsory on ing capacity, boosting cleaning Court of Appeal yesterday up- after she gave birth. fair opportunity to give her side individuals of their citizenship public transport since June15. and helping with hygiene while woman who had her UK held that SIAC ruling. Two of her other children also of the story”, which made the are not taken lightly,” he told re- The shift would be a fi rst step in also asking passengers to travel at citizenship revoked after “Begum should be allowed to died under IS rule. government’s decision unjust. porters. boosting use of public transport. quieter times where they can and Atravelling to Syria to join come to the United Kingdom to The then-home secretary, Human rights group Liberty “We will always ensure the Transport for London is run- to protect others by wearing a face the Islamic State group should pursue her appeal albeit subject Sajid Javid, annulled Begum’s also welcomed the decision, safety and security of the UK and ning 94% of its services, but with covering.” be allowed to return home to to such controls as the (home British citizenship on national saying: “The right to a fair trial is will not allow anything to jeop- passenger numbers at only about Rail companies across the UK challenge the decision, a court secretary) deems appropriate,” security grounds after an outcry not something the government ardise this.” 20% of the levels at the same have been subsidised by the gov- ruled yesterday. they said. led by right-wing media. can take away on a whim. It is a Javid, who is no longer a point in 2019. ernment with billions of pounds Shamima Begum, 20, lost Begum was 15 when she and That prompted her to take le- fundamental part of our justice minister, issued a personal The government will likely of emergency funding to keep the fi rst stage of her case about two other schoolgirls from gal action, arguing the decision system and equal access to jus- statement warning that allow- need to change its guidance, empty services running. the legality of the government’s Bethnal Green in east London was unlawful, made her stateless tice must apply to everyone.” ing Begum to return “would which states that travellers The government is concerned decision at the Special Immi- left home to join the militant and exposed her to the risk of Prime Minister Boris John- create a national security risk should “consider all other forms about the impact on city centre gration Appeals Commission group on February 17, 2015. death or inhuman and degrading son’s spokesman said the gov- that cannot be fully mitigated”. of transport before using public economies of the vast majority (SIAC) in February. She claims she married soon treatment. ernment was “bitterly dis- He said her situation was a “di- transport”. of workers continuing to stay at But the tribunal also ruled she after arriving in IS-held terri- The British-born Begum is of appointed” and would seek rect consequence of the actions A transport industry source home, after the latest UK GDP could not have a “fair and eff ec- tory. Bangladeshi heritage. permission to appeal — and to she had taken” and said she said they expected a change fi gures for May suggested growth tive appeal” or play “any mean- She was discovered, nine But Bangladesh’s foreign min- ensure Begum could not return could appeal from abroad using from the department for trans- was weaker than expected. ingful part” in the process, as months pregnant, in a Syrian ister has said he would not con- before it was heard. “modern technology”.

Depp’s bodyguard admits Black Lives Matter giving wrong photo to court sculpture removed AFP Reid had attended the unveil- London ing and said: “I can’t see it com- AFP the theory that Heard staged and on his behalf. ing down in a hurry”. London recorded the fi ghts to advance “You are lying,” defence attor- But local authority offi cials in- her career at her husband’s ex- ney Sasha Wass told Bett. statue of an anti-racism sisted it was for the whole city to pense. “You can call me a liar 100 protester in Britain which decide what should replace the ohnny Depp’s head of secu- Heard “had sought to argue times. I am not lying,” Bett Ahad replaced one of a slave Colston statue, which had stood rity yesterday admitted he with (Depp) and had punched replied.”I am telling the truth.” trader was removed yesterday, on the plinth since 1895. Jsubmitted the wrong photo him, causing him to sustain vis- The defence said Heard pub- local authorities said, in an on- “The sculpture that has been to court to show how the Hol- ible injury,” Bett said in his wit- licly admitted to hitting Depp going battle over the symbolic installed today was the work lywood star’s ex-wife Amber ness statement. during her 30th birthday party empty plinth. and decision of a London- Heard had abused her husband The accompanying photo — to protect her sister Whitney. The authorities in the south- based artist,” Bristol mayor and not the other way around. showed the 57-year-old actor Depp’s case has been support- western city of Bristol said they Marvin Rees said on Wednes- The “Pirates of the Carib- sporting a red bruise under his ed by his former partner Vanessa had taken down the sculpture day. “It was not requested and bean” star is suing the publisher left eye. Paradis — a French singer with — entitled “A Surge of Power” permission was not given for it and executive editor of The Sun The alleged incident happened whom Depp had two children showing Black Lives Matter to be installed. newspaper over a 2018 story call- during Heard’s 30th birthday — and his American ex-fi ance demonstrator Jen Reid with her “The future of the plinth and ing him a “wife-beater” who had party in April 2016. Winona Ryder. fi st raised — almost exactly 24 what is installed on it must be repeatedly attacked the 34-year- But Bett admitted under Both submitted witness state- hours after it was placed on the decided by the people of Bristol.” old model and actress. cross-examination that the pic- ments but Depp’s team yesterday plinth without permission. Protests in Bristol took place Both sides are trying to cast ture attached to his statement decided to call on neither be- “Yesterday morning we re- following the killing of African the other as the villain in a rocky was actually sent to him by one cause the three-week hearing is moved the sculpture,” Bristol city American George Floyd by police two-year marriage that ended in of Depp’s lawyers. taking even longer than planned. council said in a statement.”It in the US state of Minnesota. an ugly 2017 divorce and several Bett said he took a “very simi- Ryder said in a statement re- will be held at our museum for His death helped fuel global expensive lawsuits. lar” photo of Depp with a bruise a leased at a preliminary hearing the artist to collect or donate to protests, including in the UK, But eight days of hearings in year earlier. that she “cannot wrap my head our collection.” where much of the focus of dem- London’s High Court have so far Bett added that he could not around (Heard’s) accusation. “He The sculpture was secretly put onstrations has been on Britain’s shown the couple fi ghting al- fi nd the photo from the night in was never, never violent toward in place on Wednesday, and was colonial past. most ceaselessly after extrava- question because he has since me. He was never, never abusive inspired by events in Bristol last Colston was a 17th century gant parties fi lled with copious lost his phone. toward me.” month which saw anti-racism slave trader and Conservative amounts of drugs. The defence seized on this as Paradis also called Heard’s protesters remove the statue of MP whose company forcibly Depp’s chief bodyguard Sean proof that Depp’s witnesses were version of Depp “nothing like the Actor Amber Heard gestures as she leaves the high court in slave trader Edward Colston and moved large numbers of West Bett yesterday tried to support knowingly giving false evidence true Johnny I have known”. London, Britain,yesterday. dump it in the local harbour. Africans. Gulf Times Friday, July 17, 2020 9 EUROPE

Greta Thunberg: World must ‘tear up’ old contracts, build new systems to save climate

Reuters people in power had practically fundamental change to the exist- “So, yes, then obviously we 1.5C, a goal enshrined in the 2015 “In the beginning, I was very https://climateemergencyeu. London “given up” on searching for a real ing system would bring climate need to think diff erently. And, Paris climate accord. worried,” Thunberg said, de- org/ solution. change under control. yes, we need to think outside the It urged European governments scribing the fears over climate “The longer we keep pretend- “We need to see it as, above all, She cited a UN study published box.” to back calls for the Hague-based change that motivated her to em- ing that we are on a reliable path wedish activist Greta an existential crisis. And as long in November that suggested Demands in the letter, released International Criminal Court to brace activism. to lower emissions and that the Thunberg said yesterday as it’s not being treated as a cri- planned investments to boost before today’s European Council adopt a new crime of “ecocide” “But when I started doing actions required to avoid a cli- Sthe world needed an eco- sis, we can have as many of these fossil fuel production are likely summit, included an immediate to prosecute people responsible something, then there came hope mate disaster are available with- nomic overhaul to have a chance climate change negotiations and to push temperature goals en- halt to all investments in fossil for large-scale destruction of the from that. Because hope comes in today’s system...the more of beating climate change and talks, conferences as possible. It shrined in the 2015 Paris Agree- fuel exploration and extraction, natural world. from action.” precious time we will lose,” the that countries should be pre- won’t change a thing,” Thunberg ment out of reach. in parallel with a rapid ending of Thunberg emerged as the face With climate protests largely letter read. pared to tear up old deals and said, speaking via video from her “So that means that if we are fossil fuel subsidies. of a growing, youth-led climate driven online by the coronavi- It called for climate policies contracts to meet green targets. home in Stockholm. to stay below these targets, we The letter also called for bind- movement after a solitary vigil rus pandemic, Thunberg joined to be designed to protect work- The 17-year-old spoke to Reu- Thunberg, who lambasted have to make it possible to tear up ing annual “carbon budgets” to she began holding outside the climate scientists, activists ers and the most vulnerable and ters TV after she and other activ- world leaders at a UN climate and abandon valid contracts and limit how much greenhouse gas Swedish parliament in 2018 in- and celebrities including actor reduce economic, racial and ists sent an open letter to Euro- summit last year for believing deals. countries can emit to maximise spired children and teenagers Leonardo DiCaprio and author gender inequalities, as well as pean leaders urging them to take in “fairytales” of eternal eco- And that is not possible within the chances of capping the rise around the world to stage school Margaret Atwood in signing moves to “safeguard and pro- emergency action and saying nomic growth, said that only today’s system,” Thunberg said. in average global temperatures at strikes today afternoons. the letter that was posted on tect” democracy.

Fresh border Spain honours virus victims clashes rattle Armenia and at solemn state memorial Azerbaijan AFP AFP Among those attending were EU Yerevan Madrid Council head Charles Michel, Euro- pean Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, European Parliament ew clashes erupted yesterday on adly hit by the pandemic and leader David Sassoli and top EU diplo- the border between Azerbaijan carefully watching the lat- mat Josep Borrell. Nand Armenia following a day- Best outbreaks, Spain yesterday Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg and long lull, dashing hopes of a rapid end to paused to honour its tens of thousands WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghe- a fl are-up in fi ghting. of victims at a state ceremony joined breyesus were also present. Azerbaijan said another of its sol- by top EU and World Health Organiza- The government, which has been diers had been killed, bringing to 17 the tion fi gures. severely criticised for its management number of dead on both sides since fresh The memorial took place barely of the crisis, held a 10-day mourn- fi ghting broke out between the arch-ri- three weeks after Spain ended its ing period for the victims in late May vals on Sunday. months-long state of emergency, but — the longest since Spain returned to The two ex-Soviet republics have been since then there has been a growing democracy after the fall of Franco’s locked for decades in a confl ict over Az- number of new coronavirus infec- dictatorship in 1975. erbaijan’s southwestern separatist re- tions, with health chiefs monitoring With the population back on the gion of Nagorny Karabakh, which was more 120 active outbreaks. So far, the streets and the borders with Europe seized by ethnic Armenian separatists in virus has offi cially claimed 28,413 lives and a dozen other countries now a 1990s war that claimed 30,000 lives. in Spain, making it the seventh worst- open, Spain has seen the number of The recent fi ghting has been unusual hit country in the world. new infections rising. as it broke out hundreds of kilometres “Today, we are symbolically saying The most worrying recent outbreak from Karabakh, in the northern regions goodbye to mothers, fathers, children, is in the northeastern city of Lerida of Tovuz in Azerbaijan and Tavush in Ar- siblings, friends: we take their hands, and the surrounding area, where the menia. caress their cheek, kiss their forehead Catalan regional government has is- Local villagers on both sides of the and remember their glance in our sued a stay-home order aff ecting border told AFP their homes had come hearts,” Hernando Calleja, who lost 160,000 people. under fi re and they feared for their lives. his brother in April, said in an address Authorities there and in several “An artillery shell hit our yard, 10m at the ceremony. other regions have stepped up precau- from the house,” resident Shain Abiyev Presided over by Spain’s King tions, with mask-wearing compulsory said in the Azerbaijani village of Dondar Felipe VI, the memorial took place in in public at all times, even if the safety Quscu near the border. a square outside the Royal Palace in distance can be respected. “Fortunately my family was not at the presence of bereaved families and King Felipe VI of Spain and his daughter Crown Princess Leonor of Spain leave roses next to a cauldron, flanked by the When the epidemic fi rst hit, the home, but if they had been in the house a host of top EU and WHO offi cials, brother of Spanish journalist Jose Maria Calleja, who died of Covid-19, Hernando Calleja (right) and the Catalan nurse government of Prime Minister Pedro there would have been a tragedy.” with an orchestra playing Samuel Bar- Aroa Lopez (left) during a state ceremony to honour the 28,400 victims of the coronavirus crisis as well as those public Sanchez declared a state of emergency In Aygepar on the Armenian side, ber’s Adagio for Strings. servants who have been fighting on the front line against the pandemic in Spain, at the Royal Palace in Madrid. on March 14, allowing it to impose one 70-year-old Evelina Hovhannisyan said “This act cannot heal the pain felt by of the world’s tightest lockdowns. she had spent eight hours in her bath- so many families at not being at the side ety, to their memories,” the king said. at its peak, pushed Spain’s healthcare of uncertainty...we’ve given every- But it has ruled out any renewal room while the village was under fi re. of their loved ones in their fi nal hours... For months, tens of thousands of doc- system to the brink of collapse. thing and worked to the limit of our of the measure, saying the regional “I could not go out because they were but what it can do is pay tribute to their tors and nurses have been engaged in the “It’s been very hard, we have felt strength,” Aroa Lopez, a nurse from health authorities will be able to con- fi ring. No matter what happens, this is lives, to their contribution to our soci- frontline battle against the virus, which powerless in the face of a cruel sense Barcelona, told the ceremony. trol outbreaks. our land, we will not leave our land, our home,” she said. The clashes broke out on Sunday, with the two sides exchanging artillery and mortar fi re for three days until a pause on Wednesday after international calls for France makes masks mandatory at indoor gatherings too restraint. The two countries’ defence minis- tries said shelling had resumed yester- AFP “The wearing of a mask, along with “We are witnessing in certain hospi- hospitalised in one day in April, and caused what Castex described yester- day morning, with both sides blaming Pari barrier measures (such as social dis- tals in Paris weak signs of an epidemic more than 7,100 people in intensive day as “the most severe recession since each other. Armenian defence ministry tancing and regular handwashing) is resurgence, which is why I urge the care at the height of the epidemic. the creation of the national accounts”. spokeswoman Sushan Stepanyan said an eff ective method of prevention and French to remain particularly vigilant, Veran said an uptick in hospital ad- France has embarked on a mask Azerbaijani forces were “shelling Arme- rance will make the wearing of protection,” he said. active, against the virus.” missions and telephone calls to emer- production campaign, and on Tues- nian villages with mortars and howit- face masks compulsory in in- The announcement came as Health An outbreak hotspot has been re- gency services were among the indi- day, President Emmanuel Macron had zers” in Tavush. Fdoor public places from next Minister Olivier Veran noted signs of a ported in Mayenne, northern France, cators of a possible epidemic upturn said face coverings should become The defence ministry in Baku blamed week, the government said yesterday “resurgence” in the coronavirus epi- where indoor mask-wearing became that required “special attention”. compulsory in public places with ef- Armenian forces for the renewed fi ght- as it noted “signs” of an uptick in the demic that has claimed 30,120 lives in compulsory with immediate eff ect One of the hardest-hit countries fect from August 1, as he noted “indi- ing, saying in a statement that clashes coronavirus outbreak. France to date. yesterday. in Europe, France has all but emerged cations that (the outbreak) is acceler- started in the north after “Armenians Already obligatory gear on trains, Constant “vigilance” was required According to the latest offi cial data, from a weeks-long countrywide ating a bit.” shelled Azerbaijani villages with large- metros and buses, masks will now also by all, he told MPs, “at a time when a released Wednesday, France had 133 lockdown to contain the Covid-19 Castex said yesterday that an Au- calibre weapons.” become mandatory in shops, super- certain number of indicators seem to new coronavirus patients hospital- epidemic, which had placed immense gust 1 start date appeared “late” to Eleven Azerbaijani troops and one ci- markets and other enclosed spaces show that there are signs of a resur- ised in 24 hours, and 17 more people in pressure on its hospital system. many, and announced a decree on vilian were killed in the fi rst three days frequented by the public, Prime Min- gence” of the virus. intensive care, for a total of 482. This While the stay-at-home orders indoor mask-wearing “will enter into of clashes, as well as four Armenian sol- ister Jean Castex said in the Senate. Veran earlier told public radio that: was down from a high of 4,281 people helped fl atten the infection curve, it force next week.” diers, according to the two countries. Russian wildfi re smoke chokes Siberian cities

AFP ages shot by local cameraman mentalists also point the fi nger Moscow Ivan Semyonov, who posted them at poor forest management and on Instagram on Wednesday. lack of funding for fi re preven- “Every year this problem gets tion. moke from raging for- worse,” he wrote on his account. Russia’s Prime Minister est fi res in Siberia yester- “Will this issue be resolved in the Mikhail Mishustin said yesterday Sday fi lled cities as offi cials coming years?” during a government meeting scrambled to prevent the fl ames The Yakutia region’s envi- that it will allocate 2.6bn rubles reaching homes. ronment ministry said that the ($36.5mn) to the regions for sup- More than 100 fi refi ghters and smoke was from large wildfi res pressing forest fi res. volunteers were trying to douse raging in remote areas, while the Russia’s aerial forest protec- the fl ames of a fi re outside the health watchdog told residents tion service, the agency that spe- city of Yugorsk in the Khanty- to stay indoors and refrain from cialises in forest fi res, has said Mansi Autonomous District, just physical exercise. that more than 5,000 people are one of several areas aff ected. “Every year the same situation working on 197 fi res across Rus- “A fi re line has been ploughed repeats itself,” a lawmaker in the sia in an area of over 40,000 hec- around it, so the fi re is not a Russian parliament representing tares, including eight in nature threat, but when the wind turns, Yakutia, Fedot Tumusov, wrote reserves. the smoke goes into the city,” the on Facebook, saying the region However the biggest wildfi res, chief of Yugorsk administration’s needs more money from national over an area of 382,436 hec- emergencies department, Alexei coff ers to deal with the fi res. tares, are not attended to under Maksimenyuk, told AFP. “I guess once again I’ll have to the policy in Russia that allows Photos of Yugorsk and other write letters and ask for attention remote wilderness to be only cities showed residential build- to be paid to the problem, since “monitored” from space. ings under a blanket of white the smoke is not reaching Mos- The policy was subject to ma- smog. cow,” he added. jor criticism last summer, when Yakutsk, the main city in the A heatwave caused by chang- smoke enveloped some of Sibe- region of Yakutia with more than ing climate in northern Siberia ria’s largest cities, and over 1.2mn 300,000 residents, has been has contributed to the severity people signed a petition demand- badly aff ected, according to im- of fi res this year, but environ- ing the crisis be dealt with. A handout photo of the wildfire in a forest in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District. Gulf Times 10 Friday, July 17, 2020 INDIA

EVENT PEOPLE CONTROVERSY ACCIDENT DISASTER PM to address high-level Indian off icials meet Mamata slams governor Two rescued as Mumbai Haryana gears up for segment of UNESC today Jadhav in Pakistan for remarks on MLA’s death buildings crash due to rains intense locust attack

For the first time after getting elected as The government yesterday said its off icials West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Two buildings came crashing down amid heavy The Haryana government has stepped up non-permanent member of the UN Security in Islamabad have met Kulbushan Jadhav yesterday said governor Jagdeep Dhankhar downpour in Mumbai yesterday. Two people eff orts to control locust swarms and crop Council (UNSC), Prime Minister Narendra Modi after they were assured “unimpeded and will have to prove that the Hemtabad Bharatiya were pulled out of the rubble of the three- damage in view of warning about potential will address a broader UN membership today unconditional consular access” to the former Janata Party (BJP) legislator’s death is a storyed building which crashed at Malvani intense attacks in several districts after July in an annual high-level segment of the United naval off icer, who has been sentenced to death “political murder”. “The governor is acting like a in Malad west. A few others were still feared 22. Additional chief secretary Sanjeev Kaushal Nations Economic and Social Council (UNESC) by a Pakistan military court for his alleged BJP spokesperson. He said that it was a murder trapped. Mumbai Fire Brigade and disaster said, in Chandigarh yesterday, arrangements session. The prime minister will deliver the involvement in espionage activities in 2016. though prima facie the investigation suggests teams were engaged in rescuing them. Later, had been made to stock additional quantities keynote address virtually at this year’s high-level Ministry of External Aff airs spokesperson Anurag it is a case of suicide. Now he should prove a portion of the four-storyed Bhanushali of pesticides. The locust swarms in the region segment from 9.30am to 11.30am (local time) Srivastava said: “India has been requesting for that BJP legislator Debendra Nath Ray was Building collapsed at Fort in south Mumbai had become resistant to the commonly at the UN in New York. He will be speaking at an unimpeded, unhindered and unconditional murdered due to political rivalry,” Banerjee said. following incessant rain. Fire department and used pesticide Chorpyriphos, he added. To the valedictory session along with the prime consular access to Kulbushan Jadhav. On the Mamata pointed out that the state government other rescue agencies rushed to the spot prevent homogeneity in use of pesticides minister of Norway and UN secretary-general basis of assurances provided, our off icials have has already ordered a criminal investigation and evacuated residents of the building even during repeated spraying, arrangements are Antonio Guterres. The annual high-level proceeded for the meeting.” Earlier, Pakistan’s department (CID) probe into the matter. Ray as eyewitnesses said some others may be being made to stock 20,000 litres of Lamda segment convenes a diverse group of high- foreign ministry in a statement said that it was found hanging near his home on Monday trapped under the rubble. Rains, which have Cyhalothrin in addition to existing stocks of level representatives from the government, the provided second consular access to Kulbhushan morning. The next day police nabbed a person been lashing the city for the past four days, pesticide. Three drones are being purchased for private sector, civil society and academia. Jadhav at India’s request. in connection with the probe. continued to hamper the operations. aerial spray of pesticide, he said.

Court to hear Pilot Coronavirus plea today

IANS Jaipur cases near 1mn,

he Rajasthan High Court yesterday permitted Tformer deputy chief min- ister Sachin Pilot, along with 18 driven by spike other rebel Congress MLAs, to fi le an amended plea against the Speaker’s notice on their disqual- ifi cation, and referred the matter to a division bench. Pilot and his 18 MLAs chal- lenged the constitutional validity in rural areas of the Assembly Speaker’s notice sent to them. Reuters better than any other country,” tackle the coronavirus pandemic, Hearing the matter, via video Mumbai Health Minister Harsh Vardhan with cases surging daily since July conferencing, justice Satish Ku- said yesterday citing a fatality 1. mar Sharma, of the court’s Jaipur rate of 2.57% and recovery rate of “It’s time the BJP government Bench, in his order, said: “In view he number of coronavirus 63.25%. resigns and allows President’s of proposed amendment, the cases in the country neared Bihar went into a 15-day lock- rule in the state, as it is has failed matter will have to be heard by T1mn yesterday as infection down at midnight yesterday, a day miserably to control the Covid the division bench of the court. numbers rose in the countryside, after IT hub Bangalore – home to cases, which have been surging Therefore, on fi lling of amended pushing authorities to reinstate 13mn people – shut down for a daily,” party’s state unit president writ petition, the same be placed lockdowns across several states. week. D K Shivakumar told reporters before honourable chief justice The country reported a record All schools, clubs and non- here. for formation of appropriate 32,696 new cases of the Cov- essential businesses were ordered “The BJP came to power nearly bench.” id-19 disease caused by the novel to close in Bihar, but construction a year ago after engineering de- A two-judge bench of the Ra- coronavirus, bringing the total to and agricultural activity are al- fections from the Congress and jasthan High Court will now hear 968,876 with 24,915 deaths, ac- lowed to continue. Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) and Pilot’s amended petition against cording to data from the federal And while public transport defeating our 14-month-old coa- his disqualifi cation as MLA, at health ministry. was shut down, private vehicles lition government in the assem- 1pm today. While major cities such as are still permitted to operate, and bly on July 23, 2019. As it came The order came in after senior Delhi and Mumbai were among the streets of the capital Patna to power by foul means, its Chief advocate Harish Salve, appear- the initial hotspots of the virus, thronged with cars, lorries, bikes Minister B S Yediyurappa should ing for the petitioner, sought the newer cases are emerging in ru- and auto-rickshaws. resign and let governor Vajubhai court’s permission to fi le an ap- ral areas where healthcare infra- “The lockdown is not being Vala run the state to contain the plication for amendment. structure is much weaker. fully enforced,” businessman virus spread,” asserted Shivaku- Senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi A fresh lockdown was imposed Ranjeet Singh said. Many people mar. also appeared for Pilot, while Ab- yesterday in Bihar, where cases were still shopping for food with Refuting the opposition Con- hishek Manu Singhvi represented have been rising after thousands little regard for social distancing gress charge that the cases were the Ashok Gehlot government. of migrant workers returned from advice. rising in the state due to neg- Rebel Congress leader Pi- cities following a strict lockdown A lack of coronavirus discipline ligence by ministers, offi cials lot and his 18 loyalist MLAs had to contain the virus spread. forced Goa to announced a three- and legislators, Health Minister moved the high court against “While the world’s attention day shutdown from yesterday Sriramulu said Karnataka had Speaker C P Joshi’s disqualifi - has been focused on the unfold- evening and a night curfew until been performing better than cation notice, alleging that he ing crisis in the United States and August 10. other states till the cases began to “was acting under Chief Minister South America, a concurrent hu- Chief Minister Pramod Sawant steadily rise since the unlock be- Ashok Gehlot’s infl uence”. man tragedy is fast emerging in said too many people were “step- gan and the people were moving However, the court had ear- South Asia,” John Fleming, the ping out to meet people at par- in violation of the guidelines. lier deferred the hearing as Pilot’s Asia Pacifi c head of health at the ties” and that there was a low level Several private hospitals in the side sought permission to amend International Federation of Red of “awareness and sensitivity”. city are facing acute shortage of their plea. Cross and Red Crescent Societies, “We have more than 40,000 doctors, nurses, ward boys and The petition, fi led by MLA P said in a statement. people fi ned for not wearing helpers amid the raging Covid-19 R Meena on behalf of 18 other “We now need to urgently masks, plus there are many who pandemic, an offi cial said yester- MLAs who were slapped notice turn our attention to this region,” are detained for fl outing rules, but day. for not attending two meetings Fleming said, citing dire fore- they continue to loiter,” Sawant “There is actually acute short- of the Congress Legislature Party casts that predict thousands of told local media. age of manpower in Bengaluru called in a Jaipur hotel and at the more cases in India in the coming “This only establishes that hospitals, especially nurses, ward chief minister’s residence, said months. people only understand the lan- boys and helpers. Even before that “they fear the Speaker would Authorities, however, have guage of the law.” Covid, we had a little shortage but act as per Gehlot’s instruction touted their eff orts to contain Meanwhile, the Congress party after Covid they all left in droves,” without giving us a fair hearing”. the virus. “Despite being such a yesterday sought President’s rule Karnataka chapter Indian Medical It also questioned the validity of Police personnel stop motorists on a street after a new lockdown was imposed as a preventive largely populated nation, we can in Karnataka, as it said the rul- Association (IMA) offi cial Ravin- notice issued by the Speaker. measure against the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus, in Siliguri, West Bengal yesterday. perhaps claim to have performed ing BJP government had failed to dra said.

Top Kerala offi cial suspended China disengagement over links to gold smuggling needs verifi cation: army Reuters viewed the progress on imple- New Delhi mentation of the fi rst phase of IANS The gold smuggling case ruled that a suspension is not disengagement and discussed Thiruvananthapuram which has large scale ramifica- a punishment and despite that further steps to ensure com- tions across sectors first sur- Vijayan was shielding him be- ndia and China are mak- plete disengagement,” said faced when Sarith, a former cause all know how close they ing progress on ending a army spokesman Colonel Aman Sivasankar, the princi- employee of the UAE consulate were for the past two decades. Imonths-long military faceoff Anand. pal secretary to Kerala here was arrested by the cus- This gold smuggling case is not at their disputed Himalayan bor- “The two sides remain com- MChief Minister Pinarayi toms on July 5 when he was fa- the fi rst, when the Sprinklr issue der but it is a complicated proc- mitted to the objective of com- Vijayan, was yesterday sus- cilitating the smuggling of 30kg surfaced, all saw how staunchly ess and needs verifi cation on the plete disengagement. This pended from service over his role of gold in diplomatic baggage Sivasankar was defended. This is ground, the Indian army said process is intricate and requires in the gold smuggling case that to Thiruvananthapuram from because Sivasankar holds the key yesterday. constant verifi cation,” he said. rocked the state. Dubai. to numerous secrets of Vijayan,” India says Chinese troops have China’s foreign ministry said A two-member committee It turned murkier when the said Ramachandran adding that breached the Line of Actual Con- on Wednesday there had been headed by the chief secretary name of Swapna, a former em- suspending Sivasankar does not trol, the poorly defi ned border in progress in defusing the border was asked to look into allegations ployee of the UAE consulate here amount to much and Vijayan the western Himalayas, and set crisis and urged the Indian side against Sivasankar and it had and employed with the Kerala IT cannot wash his hands off the up defence structures. to maintain peace. earlier in the day submitted its department, surfaced and her scandal. China says it is operating on its China has previously blamed report to Vijayan. links with Sivasankar was re- State BJP president K Suren- side of the de facto border. frontline Indian troops for pro- “The report has been received vealed. dran said two key offi cials close Last month, a clash erupted voking the June 15 clash, the and it has been found that there Since July 5, the Congress and to Vijayan has been booted out in the high altitude Galwan Val- most serious in 53 years. were violations of the All India BJP were up in arms demanding — Sivasankar and Arun Balach- ley in the Ladakh region in which India and China have not been Service rules by Sivasankar and the sacking of Sivasankar, but andran. 20 Indian soldiers were killed able to agree on their 3,488-km hence he has been suspended Vijayan paid scant heed and went “This clearly shows the nee- and China took an unspecifi ed -long border that runs from the from service and a departmental on to say that time has not come dle of suspicion is fully on Vi- number of casualties, prompting snow deserts of Ladakh in the probe will also take place,” Vi- for such action. jayan and he should quit and top level diplomatic and military western sector to thick forest and jayan said. State Congress chief Mulla- face a probe. The IT depart- talks to defuse the crisis. mountains in the east, despite Sivasankar early this week was pally Ramachandran alleged that ment comes under Vijayan and China has since thinned out several rounds of talks over the fi rst removed as secretary and despite Vijayan’s offi ce being at in that department numerous from the Galwan Valley and on years. also from the post of IT secre- the epicentre of corruption and people were given plush jobs, Tuesday top military command- The two sides are trying to re- tary after news trickled in of his Sivasankar’s involvement with violating all norms and the now ers on both sides discussed the solve the standoff in other parts closeness to the now arrested the accused, Vijayan was still de- booted out duo were holding next steps in the pullback, the of Ladakh, including Pangong duo of Swapna Suresh and P S fending him. sway engaging in a free for all,” Indian army said. Tso lake and Hot Springs, offi - Sarith. “Even the apex court has said Surendran. Pinarayi Vijayan: targeted by opposition “The senior commanders re- cials say. Gulf Times Friday, July 17, 2020 11 LATIN AMERICA Bolsonaro Enforcing a lockdown again tests positive for coronavirus

AFP interview with CNN that he “can’t stand this Brasilia routine of staying at home” and said he was waiting “anxiously” to be given the all-clear to leave the house. razil President Jair Bolsonaro announced He told the television channel he hasn’t had on Wednesday that he still has the coro- any symptoms such as a fever or respiratory Bnavirus, after undergoing a new test the diffi culties since July 6. day before. And he added that he continues to take the “I’m fi ne, thank God. Yesterday morning, I anti-malarial medication hydroxychloroquine. took the test, and in the evening the result was The drug has been pushed as a treatment that I am still positive for the coronavirus,” the for Covid-19 in many countries — but its ef- far-right leader said in a Facebook Live broad- fectiveness has not been formally proven and cast from the gardens of his offi cial residence the issue is deeply dividing the global scientifi c in Brasilia. community. Bolsonaro said he is not experiencing symp- He is due to take a new test “in the coming Colombian soldiers patrol the streets in Usme neighbourhood, south Bogota. Bogota is enforcing a strict zonal lockdown, aff ecting 2.5mn toms and that his use of the anti-malarial drug days.” people, to restrict movement for the next two weeks to contain new outbreaks of Covid-19. hydroxychloroquine, which he said he has been Since his diagnosis on July 7, Bolsonaro has taking since he was diagnosed last week, is been confi ned to the presidential palace along- working. side other people who have already contracted “I am not recommending anything. I recom- the virus. mend that you talk to your doctor. In my case, a It’s a far cry from his regular daily routine military doctor recommended hydroxychloro- that includes leaving the residence to greet his quine, and it worked,” he said. supporters, often while ignoring social dis- The presidential press offi ce said in a brief tancing measures and without wearing a face UN urges Venezuela to break statement that Bolsonaro, who at 65 is in a mask. high-risk group, will remain in quarantine at As well as taking part in video calls, Bol- the offi cial Alvorada Palace residence, where sonaro has been seen feeding rheas — a bird he will continue to work by video conference. species native to South America that is related The far-right president, who has caused to the ostrich and emu — in the gardens of the criminal gangs running mines huge controversy in Brazil for repeatedly fl out- offi cial residence. One even pecked him. ing lockdown measures in place to curb the Brazil is the second worst-hit country in spread of the virus, fi rst tested positive a week the world by the coronavirus after the United Reuters mantle criminal groups controlling cated in half of the incidents, it equivalent to 12% of national ter- ago. States, with more than 74,000 dead and 1.9mn Geneva mining activities,” Michelle Bache- said, adding that the government ritory. He had admitted on Monday by telephone cases. let, UN High Commissioner for had not replied to its request for Gold, diamonds, coltan, iron Human Rights, said in a statement. information. and bauxite are mined. ome gold, diamond and Her deputy Nada Al-Nashif has “According to accounts re- Venezuela’s central bank has not bauxite mines in the Ven- presented the report to the Human ceived...bodies of miners are often published data since 2018 on gold Pink-caped Chilean deputy celebrates coronavirus bill Sezuelan Amazon are largely Rights Council. thrown into old mining pits used and other mineral supplies ex- controlled by criminal gangs who There was no immediate re- as clandestine graves,” it said. ports, their destination or foreign A Chilean lawmaker launched hundreds of exploit, beat and even kill workers, sponse from Venezuela, one of the The miners, who include young currency earnings, the report said. Internet memes on Wednesday when she ran a United Nations investigation has UN body’s 47 members, to a Reu- children, lack employment con- The Maduro government has through congress wearing a pink cape and found. ters request for comment. tracts and are exposed to mercury supported small-scale mining waving matching fans to celebrate passage in Venezuelan security and mili- The UN report, referring to an contamination and malaria, the since 2016 to bring in revenue the lower house of a coronavirus emergency tary forces fail to prevent crimes area known as the Orinoco Min- report said. amid an economic crisis. aid measure. and have participated in some vio- ing Arc, said: “Much of the mining It called for the government of Operations have expanded as Wearing a face mask and a pink shawl lence against miners, the UN hu- activity within and beyond AMO President Nicolas Maduro to regu- the United States has increased streaming behind her, Pamela Jiles sprinted man rights offi ce said in a report is controlled by organised criminal larise mining activities and ensure sanctions meant to force him from repeatedly past bemused senior ministers in late on Wednesday. groups or armed elements.” that they meet international legal power. President Sebastian Pinera’s administration “Authorities should take imme- Nearly 150 men and women are and environmental standards. Criminal groups have become who sat on the front bench and had opposed diate steps to end labour and sexual reported to have died in or around Created by a government decree more active since concessions for the bill. exploitation, child labour and hu- the mines from March 2016 to in 2016, the area of some 111,000sq foreign mining companies were Other lawmakers whipped out cellphone man traffi cking, and should dis- 2020, with security forces impli- km in the Venezuelan Amazon is terminated in 2011, the report said. cameras, stood, clapped and waved their hands. Twitter users celebrated Jiles, who turned in an energetic performance despite a cast on one leg, as a “great grandma,” compared her to Japanese cartoon ninja Naruto and called Peru cabinet reshuffl ed in the middle of a pandemic for Chile to be renamed “Jile.” The former journalist turned lawmaker, a Chile’s opposition congresswoman DPA renovated cabinet, succeeding The new cabinet has 11 new rus infection forced her to go into member of the far-left Broad Front coalition Pamela Jiles celebrates the vote during Bogota Vicente Zeballos. Cateriano said ministers. Diplomat Mario Lopez isolation. who represents a poor area of Santiago, has a congressional session to reject a on Twitter that he off ered “sweat, was appointed foreign minis- Six ministers retained their pre- been a supporter of the populist plan to allow constitutional reform on pensions proposed honesty and democratic behav- ter. Pilar Mazzetti, who had been vious portfolios, including econo- citizens hit hard by coronavirus lockdown by opposition lawmakers in Valparaiso on eruvian President Martin iour for a fairer and freer Peru.” health minister from 2004 to my minister Maria Antonieta Alva. measures to withdraw up to 10% of privately Wednesday. Vizcarra on Wednesday re- The Andean country has con- 2006, was again given the port- The economy contracted by held pension funds. Pshuffl ed most of his cabinet, fi rmed more than 330,000 novel folio. Economist Rafael Belaunde 32.75% in May year-on-year, The bill will be voted on by senators next favour of a reform “that will save people from including the prime minister, after coronavirus infections, the fi fth- was appointed energy and mining the statistics body INEI said on week. hunger.” the country’s high coronavirus largest number worldwide. But minister of the major copper-pro- Wednesday. Jiles had said on Tuesday on Twitter that An opinion poll showed Chileans strongly infection fi gures dented his popu- Vizcarra has also faced criticism ducing country. The government has accelerated she had strenuously lobbied, to the point of in favour of the idea, but the centre-right larity. over the long lockdown, which Foreign trade and tourism min- the relaunch of the economy in “off ering my body,” for lawmakers to vote in government sought to defeat it. Former prime and defence min- the government started relaxing ister Rocio Barrios was sworn in sectors including restaurants and ister Pedro Cateriano heads the in May. over the Internet after a coronavi- domestic fl ights.

Inexorable spread of coronavirus snuff s out Mexico’s ‘municipalities of hope’

By Madeleine Wattenbarger start lifting restrictions, in an at- tential carriers back to rural areas. Gatell expressed concerns about tor in the town of roughly 2,000. Guardian News and Media tempt to mitigate the shutdown’s Even in remote towns where the virus’s resurgence in areas “Very few people use face masks.” devastating economic impact. residents installed their own that had reopened too quickly No Juchitán residents have yet But less than two months later, health checkpoints, “they block – only to be contradicted by the been diagnosed with Covid-19 – s the coronavirus pan- Mexico has become one of the entrances to block visitors with president, who insisted that “go- not least because patients would demic advances across worst-aff ected countries in the the virus – but not to residents ing out to the street is neces- have to go to a hospital either AMexico, leaving thou- world, with at least 311,000 cases who returned from Mexico City,” sary, if we earn our living on the in Acapulco, about three hours sands dead in its wake, Tepango and 36,000 deaths. said Magis Rodríguez. street”. away, or Ometepec, a 40-minute de Rodríguez has – so far – re- And the list of Municipalities Across Latin America, poor Mexico has one of the lowest drive away, for testing. mained untouched. of Hope has dwindled to a few families have faced an impossible testing rates in the world, at ap- Nonetheless, there are ru- The town of about 4,000 peo- dozen. choice – between obeying quar- proximately 2.5 tests per con- mours of Covid deaths. ple sits high in the mountains of One town – Ometepec, Guer- antine measures and starving, or fi rmed case, compared with the Elizabeth Liborio Magaña, the Sierra Norte in Puebla state, rero, lasted less than 14 days on venturing out to work despite the US rate of 12.52, the UK’s 22.57 – a Juchitán resident, said that a and was quick to apply strict the list. danger of infection. and New Zealand’s rate of 359.2. relative of her husband was one preventive measures, closing its “In just a few weeks, we went But unlike other leaders, Mex- Offi cials have admitted that of the suspected cases. food market and installing health from zero to 47 confi rmed cases ico’s President Andrés Manuel lack of testing contributes to an “He had asthma problems and checkpoints. and six dead,” said Ulíses Moreno López Obrador has not intro- undercounting of Covid cases Mexico’s Covid-19 tsar, Hugo López-Gatell, has clashed with the they were acting up,” she said. “The local health councillor Tavárez, who lives in the town. duced stimulus measures to help and deaths, even in the country’s president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, over reopening the “He got a fever and died of res- put in a lot of eff ort to remind According to Dr Carlos Magis the most vulnerable population, capital. economy. piratory failure, but they haven’t people to stay home and use face Rodríguez, a professor of medi- instead pushing through a string But even as they were allowed said if it was because of Covid.” masks,” said Ismael Domínguez cine and a public health re- of severe austerity measures – to reopen, most of the Munici- have quite intense symptoms,” On 30 June he fi nally received a To ward off their own outbreak, Ruiz, a historian who runs a Fa- searcher at the National Autono- even as he emphasized the need palities of Hope had not applied said Moreno Tavárez, who in positive result. Juchitan’s authorities continue cebook page in the town. mous University of Mexico, a lack for the economy to stay open. Covid tests. May was tested at the local health The town of Juchitán was the to take preventive measures. “She was practically going of serious lockdown measures The president, popularly Nearly all of them were small, centre in Ometepec after experi- last in the Pacifi c coast state of They cancelled the town’s pa- door-to-door to remind people doomed the strategy from the known as Amlo, has also down- rural towns with limited trans- encing Covid symptoms. Guerrero to maintain its status as tron saint festivals, usually held what to do.” beginning. played the pandemic – claim- portation and health infrastruc- “They take the tests from here a Municipality of Hope. in July and August, which tend to In May, Tepango de Rodrígu- “If there were strict control of ing in April that Mexico had ture, but the same factors that all the way to Acapulco, and they In late June, cases were diag- attract visitors from all over the ez was included on a list of 324 entrances and exits, a quaran- “tamed” the virus – and repeat- slowed the virus’s arrival also only send you results if you are nosed in neighbouring towns – region. towns that the Mexican govern- tine upon arrival, it could have edly emphasised the need for the make it diffi cult to identify and positive, leaving everyone else but by then life in the town had Meanwhile, the struggle be- ment decided were eligible to worked,” Magis Rodríguez said. economy to stay open, striking a treat Covid-19. who is tested in suspense.” returned to normal, with open tween health and solvency con- reopen early, as part of a program “The places this has worked are notably more relaxed tone than Even in towns with hospitals, After several weeks of self- stores, schools and restaurants. tinues. “We have to go back called “Municipalities of Hope”. practically islands.” warnings from the country’s local health infrastructures do treatment, Moreno Tavárez re- “People are already care- slowly to normal,” said Liborio The plan allowed places with The shutdown of the country’s Covid-19 tsar, Hugo López- not guarantee a speedy testing covered fully. less about it,” said Edgar Liborio Huerta. “It’s not because the no Covid-19 cases – and with no capital has further complicated Gatell. response. He assumed he hadn’t had Huerta, who works as a con- pandemic is over, but because of cases in surrounding areas – to matters, sending thousands of po- Earlier this month, López- “Here, they only test you if you Covid. struction company administra- the economy.” Gulf Times 12 Friday, July 17, 2020 PAKISTAN

ACHIEVEMENT CRACKDOWN PLEDGE CONTROVERSY ENTERTAINMENT Pakistan becomes SCO Balochistan CM warns Businesses assured of Singer’s song on Kashmir Rawalpindi’s Arts Council Youth Council member against shoddy projects government support taken down by YouTube starts online musical show

Pakistan has become a permanent member The Chief Minister of Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan The governor of the southern province of Sindh, Singer Hadiqa Kiani’s ode to Kashmir, a song The Punjab Arts Council Rawalpindi began an of Shanghai Co-operation Organization (SCO) has said no compromise will be made on the qual- Imran Ismail, has said the incumbent government released in collaboration with Turkish artiste online musical show called Sur Sangeet after Youth Council. This was announced by special ity of developmental and public interest projects. is taking all measures to address the issues of Ali Tolga has been taken off by YouTube. The a three month hiatus. Naeem Akhtar Jafferi, a assistant on youth affairs Usman Dar in a video Presiding over a meeting held in Quetta to review all industries so that the sector may flourish in singer took to Instagram to share the news, re- new talent in the musical world, performed on message yesterday. The special assistant said measures taken for elimination of flaws in the ongo- national interest. Speaking to a delegation of the vealing that “they will stand determined against the show, which was anchored by Nigar Shah. this could be possible due to Prime Minister ing projects of Nawa Killi Bypass and beautification Pakistan Cotton Ginner Association at the gover- the forced silencing.” “Our tribute to Kashmir Jafferi performed folk music and recited famous Imran Khan’s initiatives for the youth, including of Airport Road, he said that stern action will be nor house in Karachi, he said all steps are being was removed from YouTube a few hours ago,” ghazals. Punjab Arts Council Rawalpindi direc- the establishment of the Youth Council and taken against the off icials and contractors who taken to ensure uninterrupted power supply to she posted. “There seems to be a systematic si- tor Waqar Ahmed said that their objective is for Kamyab Jawan and Hunarmand Pakistan pro- do not work properly on public welfare projects. industries. During the meeting various problems lencing taking place but we will not be silenced Sur Sangeet to serve as a platform for aspiring grammes for welfare of the youth. He said Paki- Expressing dissatisfaction over a report submitted faced by PCGA, provision of electricity to the because our message is of love and peace.” musicians to unearth new talent. He said that stani youth will now be able to represent their by the authorities with regard to flaws in the Nawa industries, installation of separate transformers She also informed her followers that Kashmir artistes had been restricted to their homes due country at SCO Youth Council meetings and its Killi Bypass project, he said “the shortcomings in and other matters related to the textile were Civitas, an international advocacy organisation to the coronavirus pandemic, because of which exchange programmes. He said they will also the construction work which I personally reviewed discussed. The governor said a meeting will be devoted to the rights of the Kashmiris, was the council began the online programme to take part in the skill development programmes are not included in the report.” He directed the held with federal minister for water and power in “actively working to re-upload the video.” provide them a platform on which they could of the SCO Youth Council. concerned authorities to ensure quality work. this regard soon. showcase their talent. SBP orders banks to raise housing loan disbursals

Internews The SBP believes that several Karachi measures on the part of govern- ment will support bank fi nanc- ing for housing and construc- he State Bank of Pakistan tion-related sectors. (SBP) has mandated that “These include passage of an Tbanks lend 5% of their effi cient foreclosure law and its loan portfolio for housing and eff ective implementation, au- construction fi nancing by De- tomation and computerisation cember 2021. of land and property records In a circular sent to bank pres- for facilitation of clean title for idents, the central bank also said bank lending and reduction in the government needs to play its time taken in registration of role to make this happen through title and creation and perfec- passage of a foreclosure law and tion of mortgages, creation of a the computerisation of land real estate regulatory authority records “for facilitation of clean (RERA) to address bank concerns title for bank lending.” of ensuring adequate standards The circular to the banks was for developers and builders, and issued in the wake of govern- reduction in transaction cost re- ment’s announcement under the lated to property transfers,” the Naya Pakistan Housing scheme bank said. to build 100,000 houses in the The law for foreclosure is country for low-income people. currently being reviewed in the The central bank has been en- Supreme Court and the govern- gaged with commercial banks for ment expects a decision in favour Opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif (centre) arrives at the high court in Lahore yesterday. almost two months now on this of the draft law. matter. A senior banker said a consti- The circular did not say what tutional amendment would be sort of penalties will apply required to implement the fore- should the banks fail to meet the closure law since it bypasses the stipulated target. judicial process allowing evacu- Bankers were not willing to ation of houses without involv- say anything for attribution, ing judicial process; which the but in off -record conversations Supreme Court might see as a Court extends Shehbaz’s they said the foreclosure law has fundamental right. yet to pass and clean title is not Bankers said the number of something the state can realis- pre-conditions renders the tar- tically provide since “the vast get of December 2021 unrealistic. majority of property in Pakistan The central bank said the does not have clear title.” banks have remained reluctant They also said making the tar- over the years to extend mort- interim bail till July 23 get a percentage of a banks loan gage fi nancing for various rea- portfolio made little sense. sons. So far banks have provided Internews ing well due to his illness.”I came complained of the same. He added that the bureau lev- ing allegations, claiming the One senior banker said that Rs82bn for housing loans to pub- Lahore because I respect the court. Tarar had requested the court elled charges against him with- whole story was fabricated and “this penalises those banks that lic compared to Rs111bn to their Politics is being played at my to extend the bail granted to out any shred of evidence and concocted. have large loan portfolios, since own staff as housing loans. expense,” he said regarding the Shehbaz for three more weeks he had been declaring his assets He added that during an in- their target under this scheme The banks said the main rea- he Lahore High Court case. as the lawyers wanted their cli- regularly. quiry or investigation, NAB will be higher than those who son for the extremely low hous- (LHC) yesterday extended During the last hearing on ent to appear before the court The PML-N leader added that could not invoke the provisions have simply been placing their ing loan disbursals was the ab- Tthe interim bail granted to July 7, Shehbaz’s counsel Amjad himself. he was also arrested in the same of anti-money laundering law, funds in government securities sence of eff ective foreclosure the leader of the opposition in Pervez had told the court that The court had adjourned the case in 2018 and he had fully co- adding that allegations against and running a small loan port- law. the National Assembly, Shehbaz the PML-N leader had tested hearing and given the lawyers operated with NAB investigators. him were of a documentary folio.” Banks also argue that they Sharif, till July 23. negative for the virus. time to consult with their client However, the anti-graft body did nature and all necessary docu- When contacted, the SBP said don’t have long-term deposits as The court accepted the PML- “Shehbaz Sharif is 69 years and take instructions from him. not present any proof against him ments had already been provid- the mortgage loans were made most of the funds in the accounts N leader’s plea to have his bail old and his antibodies test is Shehbaz had last month said relating to the misuse of powers ed to the Bureau. mandatory under the Section are kept for less than one year extended and agreed to post- necessary,” said Tarar, the other in his bail petition that the cor- or money-laundering, etc. Shehbaz had further stated 25 of Banking Companies Or- while maximum time duration pone the hearing of the case on counsel for the PML-N presi- ruption watchdog’s assets be- Shehbaz’s lawyer stated that that he feared that NAB might dinance, 1962, but did not pro- for deposits is fi ve years. Shehbaz’s request as his lawyer dent. yond means inquiry against him his client had been declaring arrest him in connection with its vide specifi cs as to what sort of Banks are unable to fund long- was not present. He added that people after was based on mala fi de inten- his assets since he stepped into pending inquiries, which would penalties will apply in the event term housing which requires de- Speaking to the media after recovering from the virus wit- tions as it had been initiated at politics in 1988 and nothing had hinder him from performing his banks fail to show due progress posits for a time period of 15-25 his court appearance, the PML- nessed pain for fi ve more days, the behest of the incumbent ever been concealed. duties as the opposition leader towards their target. years. N president said he was not feel- adding that his client has also government. He refuted money-launder- in the National Assembly.

Heavy rains in Lahore Citizens deserve credit for Court reprieve for journalist win against virus: president Internews same journalist over his alleged Islamabad defamatory tweet. Internews reports into corruption scams Mirza pointed out that under Although the court termed Islamabad were made public which would the ‘We Care’ initiative, more the tweet “inappropriate and create a deterrent for the corrupt than 60,000 health workers hile the Supreme unwanted content”, it expressed people. belonging to all the four prov- Court took suo motu displeasure that the matter had resident Dr Arif Alvi yester- About the civil-military ties, inces, the Federal Capital, Gilg- Wnotice of the alleged been highlighted through litiga- day said the entire nation in- the president said all four pillars it-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu contemptuous tweet by a jour- tion. Pcluding the government and of the state are on same page and Kashmir have already completed nalist, the Islamabad High Court “It was indeed not appropri- religious scholars deserve credit same direction when it comes to their training. (IHC) in an identical matter ob- ate for the petitioner, who is an for the country’s win against Cov- the interest of the state. The special assistant appealed served that the dignity of judges enrolled advocate, to have further id-19 as the coronavirus curve was Meanwhile, the special assistant to people to follow the guidelines is not “so frail and vulnerable so propagated an inappropriate and fl attening. to the prime minister on health, Dr announced on the occasion of as to be harmed by a tweet on so- unwanted content by fi ling the In an interview with a private Zafar Mirza, disclosed that health Eid al-Adha. cial media”. instant petition. Only a few (per- TV channel, he pointed out that workers were rendering exem- Earlier Planning Minister Asad The Supreme Court bench sons) would have read it on the the country’s testing capacity has plary services and reduction in the Umar too urged the provincial comprising chief justice Gulzar social media platform, but by en- been enhanced to 70,000 per day. number of new coronavirus cases governments to ensure public ad- Ahmed, justice Mushir Alam and tertaining this petition this court The president said the incum- in the country was due to their herence to precautionary meas- justice Ijazul Ahsan at the outset would be facilitating its propaga- bent government did not panic commitment to the cause. ures during Eid al-Adha to contain of the proceedings issued notices tion,” justice Minallah noted. and took care of the poor to save In a statement, he said protec- the spread of coronavirus. to the attorney general, journal- “The judgments of a judge and them from the adverse economic tion of healthcare workers is the Chairing a meeting at National ist Mateeullah Jan and president the latter’s conduct is the meas- impact of the pandemic. top priority of the government Command and Operation Center of the Supreme Court of Bar As- ure of his or her integrity and He said the ongoing debate on as they deal with the coronavirus (NCOC) in Islamabad yesterday, sociation. independence. If contempt pro- NFC Award, 18th Amendment situation on the front line. he said necessary steps should be The bench put off the hearing ceedings were to be initiated on and other subjects is a healthy He said despite limited re- taken for holding cattle markets. till next week. the basis of a message uploaded sign which will bring improve- sources, the government had ac- The minister warned that any For his part, IHC chief justice on one of the social media plat- ment. corded top priority to the protec- carelessness in observance of Athar Minallah upheld the ob- forms then it would open fl ood- About the government’s anti- tion of healthcare workers and its precautionary measures during People wade through a flooded street after heavy jections of the court offi ce and gates of petitions because of the corruption eff orts, Dr Arif Alvi initiatives in this regard were be- Eid al-Adha may lead to a fresh monsoon rains in Lahore yesterday. dismissed a petition for con- number of allegedly contemptu- said for the fi rst time the probe ing lauded across the globe. spike in coronavirus cases. tempt proceedings against the ous content,” he added. Gulf Times Friday, July 17, 2020 13 THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH Virtues of Dhul Hijjah’s fi rst 10 days

By Shaykh Abdullah Ibn nothing other than Jannah. There are Abdur-Rahman al-Jibreen also many authentic traditions to that eff ect. Second: Observing fasting on all ll praise is due to Allah, and or some of these days, particularly on may He exalt our Prophet the Day of Arafah. There is no doubt Muhammad’s mention, and that fasting is the best of observances; Athe mention of his household for it is one of the observances which and Companions. Allah relates to Himself, according Ibn Abbaas, may Allah be pleased to the holy tradition (hadith Qudsi): with him, reported that the Prophet Fasting is for Me, and I shall requite it. (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: My slave relinquishes his desires, food, There are no days during which good and drink for My sake. deeds are more beloved to Allah than Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (radiallahu these days; meaning the fi rst 10 days ‘anhu) reported that the Messenger of Dhul-Hijjah. They inquired: ‘Not of Allah (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) even Jihad in the cause of Allah?’ He said: Any slave of Allah who observes said: “Not even Jihad in the cause of fast of a day in the cause of Allah, Allah Allah, unless one goes out for Jihad would separate between him and the sacrifi cing both his life and property Fire a distance of 70 years on account and returning with neither.(Al- of observing that day. (Agreed upon). Bukhari) Abu Qataadah (radiallahu ‘anhu) In another version, Ibn Umar narrated that the Prophet (sallallaahu (radiallahu ‘anhumaa) reported that ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: Observing the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa fasting on the Day of Arafat; I expect sallam), said: There are no days during Allah to expiate the sins that were which good deeds are greater or more committed during the preceding year, beloved to Allah than these 10 days. and the sins that will be committed in So recite more often the Tahleel (Laa the year after. (Imam Muslim) Ilaaha Illallah) , Takbeer (Allahu Third: Reciting takbeer, and Dhikr Akbar), Tahmeed (Alhamdulillah). in these days according to the words (Imam Ahmad) of Allah, the Exalted: And mention Jaabir (radiallahu ‘anhu) reported the name of Allah in certain days. that the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa [Al-Baqarah 2:203] These certain days sallam) said: The best day is the Day of are said to be the fi rst ten days of Dhul Arafah. Hijjah. Therefore, scholars recommend Dhikr more often during these days, Ten Kinds of Observances In according to a tradition which is These Days reported by Ibn Umar (radiallahu First: Performing Haj and Umrah, ‘anhumaa): Therefore, recite more that the jurists (rahimahumullah) exalt Allah for having guided you, and the Sunnah, is that everyone recites own hand, and invoked the name of which are the best of all observances. often, tahleel, takbeer, and tahmeed. used to recite during the fi rst 10 that you may be grateful to Him. [Al- the takbeer individually. This applies Allah upon them, recited the takbeer, Its excellence is signifi ed by many Ibn Umar and Abu Hurairah days of Dhul Hijjah: “Allahu Akbar, Baqarah 2:185] to all supplications and dhikr; unless and placed his foot on their sides, Prophetic traditions. The Prophet (radiallaahu ‘anhum) used to go out to Allahu Akbar, Laa Ilaaha illallah, It is not permissible to recite the one is ignorant, then someone may when he killed them. (Agreed upon.) (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: the marketplaces during the fi rst 10 wallahu Akbar, wa lillaahil-hamd.” takbeer in unison. That is, when a teach him and he recites after him. It is Eighth: Umm Salamah, may Allah Performing Umrah and following days of Dhul-Hijjah and recite out loud It is commended to recite them out group of people recite the takbeer permissible to recite whatever forms of be pleased with her, said: When you it with another expiates sins that the takbeer and people would repeat it loud in marketplaces, at homes, roads, in one voice, for it has never been takbeer, tahmeed, and the rest of the see the new moon of Dhul-Hijjah, are committed in between. And the after them. mosques and elsewhere. According to reported that the Pious Predecessors legitimate supplications. and one of you wants to sacrifi ce an perfect Haj would be requited with Ishaaq (rahimahullah) reported the commands of Allah: That you may did so. The proper way, according to Fourth: Repentance and animal let him refrain from cutting relinquishing acts of disobedience and or shaving his hair or clipping his all sins, in order to acquire forgiveness fi nger nails, or toenails. In another and mercy. Acts of disobedience are version: Let him not cut his hair or his means of banishing, while acts of fi ngernails until he has slaughtered obedience are means of gaining favour his sacrifi cial animal. This perhaps with Allah. Abu Hurairah (radiallahu is enjoined on non-pilgrims to have ‘anhu) reported that the Prophet something in common with the (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: pilgrims who bring along with them The meaning of Haj Verily Allah feels jealous, and the their sacrifi cial animals. Allah, the jealousy of Allah is aroused when man Exalted, says: And do not shave off aj is a journey massive you in fulfi lling your noble intention authentic report: Haj is once and and moral goals in a person such as violates what Allah prohibits. (Agreed your heads until the sacrifi cial animal in scope that millions of Haj in the best manner possible whoever performs it more it is an sincerity, piety, humility, obedience, upon) is slaughtered. [Al-Baqarah 197] This upon millions of people according to the most authentic and additional good. Allah has also said: sacrifi ce, and submission to the will of Fifth: Accomplishing more good prohibition seems to apply only to a Hundertake year after reliable manner as proven in the life And complete Haj and Umrah as a Allah. deeds of voluntary observances, such person who is making the off ering, not year from each and every corner of of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa duty owed to Allah. (2:196) The self-control, humility, and as: salaat, charity, Jihad, Qur’anic his dependents, unless one of them has the world. It is also a tremendous sallam) and his noble companions The practice of delaying the Haj obedience produced by prayer and recitation, enjoining the good and his own sacrifi cial animal. There is no display of true devotion to Allah (radiallahu anhum ajma’een). to the latter part of one’s life is fasting are all present in the Hajj forbidding the wrong, and the like; harm in washing the head even if some that is unmatched anywhere else unfortunate and an error. It is a clear as well as is the cleansing of greed for the rewards of such observances hairs fall off . in the world. There quite simply is Haj: Its Meaning and Merits lack of understanding for a person from the heart as is done by giving are multiplied during these days. Ninth: The Muslim must make sure no other journey like it because it Verily, the fi rst House appointed to live their youth in an irreligious Zakaat. The pilgrim spends in the Observances during these days are to observe Eid prayer in its designated leads to the most unique place in the for mankind was that at Bakka, full manner or as they believe “enjoying way of Allah and enjoys the privilege unsurpassed in excellence and they are place, and attend the khutbah of the world, Baitullahi Al-Haraam, The of blessing, and a guidance for Al- life” only to leave religion for their of off ering many prayers in the better and more beloved to Allah than Eid. He should also know the purpose Holy House of Allah in Makkah. It ’Aalameen. In it are manifest signs, old age. This strips the meaning of great Masjid wherein prayers are other excellent observances including of the Eid, and that it’s a day of giving is an answer to a most ancient call the Maqaam of Ibrahim; whosoever this major rite away as it does the far superior to that of those given Jihad, which is the best of deeds, thanks and a chance for accomplishing and invitation from Ar-Rahmaan, enters it he attains security. And Haj other rites of Islam. The Prophet anywhere else in the world. The unless one sacrifi ces both, his life and good deeds. He should not turn it into the Most Merciful Himself. You as to the House is a duty that mankind Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) his steed. a day of mischief, disobedience, or a visitor will be His guest and the owes to Allah, those who can aff ord sallam) said, Hasten to perform the has stated that a single prayer in Al- Sixth: It is legal during these an excuse for violating the prohibited reward you may reap for your trek the expenses. [Ale-Imran 96 -97] duty of Haj for verily none of you Masjid Al-Haraam is worth 100,000 days the recitation of the takbeer in things; such as singing, music, will be like that which none can And proclaim to mankind the Haj. knows what will happen to him. prayers performed elsewhere. general at all times, day or night until illegitimate amusements, consuming provide except Him, Most High is They will come to you on foot and on The greatest merits of Haj however Eid prayer. The restricted takbeer is liquor, or the like. All of these things He above all imperfection! Your every lean camel; they will come from The Merits Of Haj are the purifi cation of sins and a that which is to be recited after the are detestable and nullify the good journey to Makkah is to perform the every deep and distant mountain Haj is a journey not made for any guaranteed place in Al-Jannah. The obligatory prayers. As for the non- deeds that one may have accomplished rites as shown to us by the last of the highway. That they may witness purely personal end or to fulfi l any base Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) pilgrims, the takbeer begins from during the fi rst ten days of Dhul- Messengers of Allah, Muhammad things that are of benefi t to them, desire. It is intended solely for Allah has said: The person who makes the Day of Arafah, and for pilgrims Hijjah. Ibn Abdullah (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa and mention the Name of Allah on and a fulfi lment of a duty prescribed by pilgrimage to Allah’s House without it begins from the noon prayer of the Tenth: After knowing all the sallam). These rites began from the appointed days. [Haj 27 -28] Him. No one can prepare himself for committing any acts of indecency Day of Sacrifi ce and continues until above observances, every Muslim, time of the father of all prophets Haj is the fi fth pillar of Islam. Allah it unless he has a true love of Allah in or disobedience to Allah will return Asr prayer of the last of the days of male or female, must utilise and messengers to come after him, has made it compulsory on those who his heart as well as a fear of Him and he home as he was on the day his mother Tashreeq. these days in obedience to Allah, Ibrahim (‘alaihi salaam). It was he are able from among His worshippers. feels strongly that Haj is a religious rite bore him and the reward for a Haj Seventh: Off ering the sacrifi cial remembering Him, expressing who made the call to us in fulfi lment He said: And Hajj (pilgrimage to ordained by Allah and an obligation. Mabroor (accepted Haj) is nothing animal during the day of sacrifi ce and gratefulness to him, fulfi lling all the of the command of Allah to him, Makkah) to the House (Ka’aba) is a Leaving everything behind is a less than Paradise (Al-Jannah). the Days of Tashreeq. It is the sunnah obligatory observances, avoiding namely to establish the Haj to the duty that mankind owes to Allah, demonstration of the love for Allah that Haj is not always easy, but the of our father Ibraheem, may Allah the reprehensible things and taking Holy House for all human beings. those who can aff ord the expenses a servant has. He will have a willingness rewards for outweigh the sacrifi ces exalt his mention, in commemoration advantage of this season to acquire His It is however, only the true (for one’s conveyance, provision and to sacrifi ce and face hardships and and the eff ort. A pilgrim’s pure belief of the occasion when Allah ransomed mercy and the pleasure. It Allah alone believers who answer the call and residence). Haj is not obligatory more forego the comforts of home for and sincere seeking the reward of Ibraheem’s son with a large ram. It has who grants success and guides to the perform the rites correctly in letter than once in a lifetime according the sake of Allah. Haj combines the Allah is the only way he can avoid been authentically confi rmed that the right path. May He exalt the mention and in spirit and truly benefi t from to the statement of the Prophet physical and the monetary aspects of negative actions and reaction that Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) of Muhammad, and his household, and this journey. It is our hope to assist (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) in an worship so it develops both spiritual may spoil their Haj. sacrifi ced two black and white rams Companions, and may He render them with horns. He killed them with his safe from every derogatory thing. The dearest of all lands to Allah and His Messenger

he value of glorifying the made glorifying this city one of the Words and actions that refl ects you made Makkah dear to our hearts, without due right or kills a soul as leader for the people of Makkah and Sacred City: The importance most honourable acts of worship by its love: and even more so. O Allah! Bless our revenge from the era of pre-Islamic said to him: “Do you know where I of values lies in the fact that which a person draws close to Allah; Imaam Al-Bukhari, may Allah have Saa’ and our Mudd [4] and make it a ignorance.” Then Allah revealed am sending you? I am sending you to Tthey are the criterion by He says (what means): “That [is so]. mercy upon him, reported on the healthy place for us, and move its fever the following verse (which means): the people (dear to) Allah. There is no which people, ideologies, actions, And whoever honours the symbols [i.e. authority of ‘Aai’shah, may Allah be to the area of Al-Juhfah.” “And how many a city was stronger city dearer to Allah - the Almighty, positions and subjects can be judged rites] of Allah — indeed, it is from the pleased with her, that she said: “When Bilaal, may Allah be pleased with than your city [i.e. Makkah] which the Glorified - and to myself than and measured; moreover, values piety of hearts.” [Qur’an 22: 32] the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa him, also said: “We arrived at Al- drove you out? We destroyed them; this city, and had it not been that its decide the identity of the community; Glorifying what Allah and His sallam, came to Al-Madinah, both Abu Madinah and it was a land full of and there was no helper for them.” people forced me out of it, I would the values in a given community Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa Bakr and Bilaal became sick. Whenever diseases as the valley of Bathaan would [Qur’an 47:13]” [Ibn Jareer At-Tabari] never have left it.” have a direct eff ect and infl uence on sallam, have glorifi ed results in fever attacked Abu Bakr, he would have putrid water running through it.’” Imaam al-Qurtubi, may Allah have This is Makkah and this is its virtue. the manners and conduct which the establishing great social values that recite the following verses of poetry: Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased mercy upon him, said: “This is an Will we win the honour of glorifying members of that community adopt. will yield countless benefi ts to the A person wakes up among his with him, narrated: “The Prophet, authentic narration.” it and loving it with its due love and Whenever the values of a Muslims, and will refl ect the unity household - active he is sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said, Imaam At-Tirmithi, Ahmad glorifi cation? community originate from the of the Muslims - a nation that direct While death is in fact closer to him addressing Makkah: “How good and ‘Abd bin Humayd, may Allah Article source: http://www. teachings of its faith, the behaviour themselves to one Qiblah (direction than his shoelaces you are as a land and how dear you have mercy upon them, reported islamweb.net/emainpage/ and conduct of its people will refl ect during prayer towards Ka’aba), believe Whenever fever eased from Bilaal, are to my heart! Had your people that ‘Abdullaah bin ‘Adiyy Ibn such a faith and they will certainly in one religion and harbour the same he would recite the following verses of not forced me out of you, I would Al-Hamraa’, may Allah be pleased Footnotes: enjoy fi ne and fulfi lling lives within objectives and hopes, as if their hearts poetry: have never come out and left you with him, narrated: “I saw the [1] Jaleel: a weak plant that the their respective communities. are that of a single person. Will I ever again go back to spend a and would have never resided in any Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa residents of Makkah would use in their Strengthening the social values The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa night - only once other city but you.” [At-Tirmithi sallam, standing on a hillock [5] and homes. that Islam instructs and emphasises sallam, taught us how to build this In the valley with Ith-khir and Jaleel and Ibn Hibbaan] addressing Makkah, saying: “I swear [2] Mijannah: a place that was a few upon is the safety valve that protects value of glorifying Makkah - since his (plants) in abundance?[1] Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased by Allah! You are the best of the lands kilometres from Makkah which had a and guards the community, and one prophethood started in Makkah itself And will I one day again drink from with him, narrated: “When the of Allah and you are the most beloved market. of the greatest and most important of - in a practical manner that is away the water of Mijannah? [2] Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, land to Allah, and had it not been [3] Shaamah and Tafeel: Two such values is to glorify the symbols from fantasy and in a realistic manner And will again see (the mountains was forced to leave Makkah he that I was forced to leave you, I would mountains about 50km from Makkah. of Allah. Indeed, such glorifi cation that is easy to comprehend, and made of) Tafeel and Shaamah? [3] headed out to a cave, turned around, have never left you.” [4] Saa’ and Mudd: measures of results in lofty social customs and it deeply rooted in the hearts in a way Then he would say: ‘O Allah! Curse and said, addressing Makkah: “You Imaam al-Faakihi, may Allah weight for food etiquette that guarantee the stability that guaranteed the continuity of such Shaybah Ibn Rabee’ah and ‘Utbah Ibn are the most beloved land to Allah, have mercy upon him, reported on [5] This small hill was at the lower of the Muslim community and assures glorifi cation by those who reside in Rabee’ah and Umayyah Ibn Khalaf as and you are the most beloved land to the authority of ‘Amrbin Shu’ayb, end of the market overlooking Makkah. happiness in this life and the Life to the Sacred City and those who come they forced us from our land to a land me. Had the polytheists not forced who reported from his father who come. to visit it. He did so with great wisdom full of diseases’. me out of you, I would never have reported from his father that he Allah Almighty has made this city and with tender care which caused Then the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi come out and left you. The worst (‘Amr’s grandfather) said: “The a Sacred and Secure one and has people to long to see and glorify this wa sallam, said: “O Allah! Make Al- enemy is the one who transgresses Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa honoured His House (the Ka’aba); He Sacred City. Madinah dear to our hearts just like the sanctities of Allah, or kills a soul sallam, sent ‘Itaab bin Usayd as a Gulf Times 14 Friday, July 17, 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 American Indians see change coming

A football team fi nally discards a despised and derogatory name, and the US Supreme Court unexpectedly holds Congress to account for promises more than a century old. These two decisions, one symbolic, one legal, should provide some genuine hope that despite so many challenges, society is capable of positive change. The fi rst reform may seem inconsequential to some. The Washington Redskins, after decades of pressure, have renounced a nickname that has long been a pejorative for American Indians. The team did so not out of altruism, but because corporate sponsors applied the ultimate pressure – potential loss of revenue. In Nigeria, African researchers Corporations are far more sensitive to public opinion than politicians, it would seem, and have wound up helping to lead change on climate, Black Lives Matter and now this. FedEx threatened to pull its name from the team’s stadium because it considered the name at odds with its values. Nike pulled blaze a trail in virus fi ght team gear from its online stores. These fi rms recognised that public sentiment has changed on AFP requires an expensive, well-equipped Airport — “a little African with a big much faster and with less trepidation. these issues and will no Ede, Nigeria lab. suitcase, and feeling a little lost”. But he The disease, which is endemic to “Wishes don’t longer tolerate off ensive “I’m not interested in the big PCR made a big impact in the conference at Nigeria, claims between 100 and 200 denigration of some machines used in Europe or the United Oxford, where as one of the few African lives each year. Strong people don’t put others States, which no public hospital here can attendees he put forward “a bunch of Bolstered by this experience, Happi make for laws, and groups. down — they lift them up.” aff ord,” said Happi, striding between wacky ideas” for using gene technology founded ACEGID, which became a saving the political The other decision, that So says the discreet sign at laboratories. in vaccines. crucible of learning about African of the Supreme Court in the entrance to one of the most “I want tests that a grandmother in a Such methods are at the heart of microbes — he recently discovered the McGirt v. Oklahoma, is “ branches the remarkable research facilities in Africa. village can get done in her rural clinic.” several Covid vaccines being researched Ekpoma 1 and Ekpoma 2 viruses, among nothing short of historic. Run by a Cameroon-raised, Harvard- Happi’s quest for simplicity is being today, but at the time such thinking hundreds of viral strains that inhabit embarrassment Justice Neil Gorsuch, trained molecular biologist, the African conducted with state-of-the-art was out of the mainstream, and Happi tropical forests in West Africa. writing for the court, Centre of Excellence for Genomics of equipment. was snapped up by Harvard to carry out Despite these successes, the obstacles of disestablishing opened his opinion with Infectious Diseases (ACEGID) has been It was the fi rst lab to sequence the research there. to setting down a solid foundation for stirring words: “At the end at the forefront in the fi ght of killer genetic profi le of the new coronavirus in He studied and then taught there for African research are many. a reservation is of the Trail of Tears was a diseases such as Ebola, Lassa fever — and Africa — a feat that took just a few days a dozen years, specialising in malaria, a Many scientists, doctors and health promise.” What followed now Covid-19. after the fi rst case of the disease showed disease that claims nearly 400,000 lives workers are lured abroad by the off er up in Lagos in early March. each year, almost 100,000 of them in not one of our was a decision that at The force behind the lab is Professor of higher pay and better working Christian Happi, who has a steely belief The speed was “incredible”, said Nigeria alone. conditions. constitutionally long last holds the US to in catapulting young African scientists to Chikwe Ihekweazu, head of the Nigeria “As long as research is not carried “Young African students may be treaties long forgotten by the top of scientifi c research. Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). out on the continent, there will be no educated in the best universities of the assigned many. Gorsuch said the “As long as Africa fails to make “Previously we would have done it in vaccine,” said Happi. “You have to be world, but if there is no structure to eastern half of Oklahoma, intellectual contributions, it will always Europe or in the States.” here.” welcome them in Africa once they have prerogatives” given to the Creek tribe be told what to do,” he said. There are many advantages to having O Lassa fever graduated, it’s no good,” Happi said. in return for its ceding ACEGID’S 52-year-old director research excellence on one’s doorstep. It wasn’t his interest in malaria that O ‘Make an impact’ other land in an 1833 treaty, was in fact theirs. “Today we are has already set down a marker in the “The virus can evolve rapidly and in brought him home, but Lassa fever — a Idowu Olawoye, 27, studied molecular asked whether the land these treaties promised remains an Indian battle against coronavirus by devising a many ways. With genomic sequencing deadly haemorrhagic cousin of Ebola. biology and computer science in England reservation for purposes of federal criminal law. Because Congress low-cost test for the highly contagious you have the ability to study that in real In 2007, learning about the disease before returning home in 2016. has not said otherwise, we hold the government to its word.” disease. time,” said Ihekweazu. that killed around 700 Nigerians each He insisted that it was no problem for An avowed textualist, Gorsuch said that while such a decision “I want to develop simple, inexpensive “People might have thought that this year, Happi was stupefi ed to fi nd that him to work in Ede, a small town that lies solutions that are aligned to Africa and work was impossible in Africa,” Happi tests for Lassa were sent to Germany. more than six hours by road from Lagos, might be uncomfortable for some, “wishes don’t make for laws, and our environment,” he said, speaking said last month in the prestigious science In the time it took to get the results Nigeria’s vibrant economic hub. saving the political branches the embarrassment of disestablishing a in his offi ce, its walls decorated with journal Nature. back, 90% of patients had already died. “I really want to make an impact in my reservation is not one of our constitutionally assigned prerogatives.” diplomas, awards and photos of his “But we are demonstrating that the “It is completely unacceptable that a country,” he said. Only Congress, he said, can divest a reservation of its land. family. continent’s scientists can generate disease discovered in 1969 still does not His role is to sift through genetic Tim Johnson, a professor at the University of Minnesota and Happi founded his laboratory in 2016 crucial data in the global fi ght against have diagnostics in 2007,” he said at the changes in a coronavirus sample that, national expert on Supreme Court decisions, said the decision is a in an ageing building at Redeemer’s Covid-19 — as well as contributing to the time. when compared with other samples, strong affi rmation of the power of treaties and a major victory for University in Ede, an unassuming town fi eld of genomics.” He spent the next year raising funds show how the pathogen has spread. Indian tribes in Oklahoma and across the country. The case itself in southwest Nigeria, with the help “Professor Happi is a tough character and headed to Irrua, in southern Nigeria, “Look, here you can see on this graph. deals with the issue of whether the state or federal government of funding from the World Bank and — we have a lot of debates, but both of where he built a lab. It’s like you are reading its passport,” he should have tried a Jimcy McGirt, a Seminole man, for crimes on Nigerian and foreign philanthropists. us know that we are committed to Africa There he trained two young people said. Muscogee Creek treaty lands. Gorsuch’s decision, Johnson said, Since then, nearly 1,000 scientists, and to the country,” said Ihekweazu. who were fresh out of high school in the His colleague, Jessica Uwamibe, 29, O ’Little African, big suitcase’ — a doctorate in molecular biology, has looks at the criminal jurisdiction issue, deciding in favour of federal most of them Nigerians and the others basics of microbiology, and conducted from West Africa, have passed through In Cameroon, where he caught malaria Africa’s fi rst-ever home-grown tests for been working on the fi nal touches to the jurisdiction, but then goes broader, to an acknowledgement of US its doors to gain top-level experience in as a child, Happi trained in biochemistry Lassa fever. Covid-19 test, and is now researching a treaty responsibilities that he said lawyers will be studying for years. biochemistry and genomics. before going to Britain in 1998 at the age “There was nothing, no manpower or vaccine based on the genetic profi le of There could, he said, be implications for Minnesota, where A gleaming new building — “the of 30 to attend a conference on malaria. equipment,” he recalled. the virus found among Nigerian patients. tribes have clashed with government offi cials and communities biggest genomic research centre in At the time, Africa was almost “There wasn’t even electricity. We “Here we have the diseases — and over a variety of issues, including fi shing rights and, most recently, Africa” — is scheduled to open by the literally the country cousin in terms of had to use a car battery to power the PCR now we have the knowledge and the whether the Line 3 oil pipeline could run through historic treaty end of the year in the tropical forests its status in world research, and Happi machine!” facilities,” Uwamibe said. “Where else land. around Ede. recalled arriving at London’s Heathrow Today, Lassa tests are carried out would I go?” “It remains to be seen how broadly this will be interpreted,” *Fast Covid test Johnson said, but “this would seem to give pretty broad rights to “It makes sense to be here in Nigeria. tribes across the US.” This country is the giant of Africa — if it Taken together, the recent developments are “two harbingers that fails, the entire continent will fail with it,” said Happi. show we are in an era of real change,” Johnson said in an interview Nigeria is not only home to around with an editorial writer. 200mn people — its vast territory, Minnesota Lt Gov Peggy Flanagan, an Ojibwe, said she never stretching from the edge of the Sahara thought she would see the Redskins name dropped in her lifetime. to the tropical coastline of the Gulf of Then, she told an editorial writer, she read the opening line of the Guinea, also hosts epidemics ranging Gorsuch decision, which she found so powerful that as she read it, “I from malaria and typhoid to meningitis, held my breath.” cholera and yellow fever. In a sentiment that should fi nd broad support, Flanagan said that This year, every mind at ACEGID is “I hope and pray these two decisions will continue to lead to more focussed on Covid-19. change,” and result in a society where “people are seen, heard and Nigeria has offi cially recorded around valued.” – Tribune News Service 800 deaths and more than 30,000 cases, but the true extent of infection is likely to be much wider, given huge, dense populations in Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja and To Advertise Kano, where social distancing is almost impossible. [email protected] The country carries out on average Display only 3,000 tests per day — a drop in the ocean for what is needed. 44466621 44418811 Happi’s team in Ede has developed a fast-track test that has already been Classified certifi ed by the US Food and Drug 44466609 44418811 Administration (FDA) and is currently being vetted for use in Nigeria and across Subscription Africa. The test — which resembles the kind [email protected] of simple dip stick used for pregnancies African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID) molecular biologists analyse Covid-19 samples in the — costs around $3 (2.60 euros) each, laboratory located at the Redeemer’s University in Ede, southwestern Nigeria, on June 2. The African Centre of Excellence for against around $100 for polymerase Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), a World Bank funded collaborative research centre, is one of the molecular l © 2020 Gulf Times. All rights reserved chain reaction (PCR) tests, a method that aboratory testing centres engaged to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 coronavirus in Africa’s most populous country. Gulf Times Friday, July 17, 2020 15 COMMENT The fastest way out of the pandemic

By Seth Berkley, Richard As it stands, over 160 vaccine WHO is working with a range Hatchett, and Soumya candidates are in preclinical or of stakeholders, including Swaminathan clinical development. There is member states and civil-society Geneva no way to know which will pass organisations, to develop and clinical trials and be licensed implement a mechanism for (failure rates of vaccines in equitable and fair allocation of very day, the Covid-19 early development are high). vaccine doses, once they become pandemic costs the But we can ensure that, by the available. world thousands more time one does, an eff ective COVAX will support only Elives and billions more framework for manufacture and vaccine candidates that are dollars. The most effi cient way deployment is in place. To that developed in accordance with to bring this crisis to an end – end, governments must invest in the highest possible safety possibly as early as next year – is COVAX as soon as possible. standards. By working with with a safe and eff ective vaccine, The problem is that experts around the world to manufactured in large quanti- governments may feel compelled develop target product profi les, ties and distributed globally. To to eschew co-operation, in share best-practice testing avoid any unnecessary delays, favour of negotiating directly models, facilitate multi-country governments should take this with vaccine manufacturers to clinical trials, and promote moment, while researchers work claim the doses they need. Yes, regulatory harmonisation, to develop the right formula, governments are duty-bound to COVAX will establish a new to prepare the ground for rapid protect their own citizens above benchmark for rapid, safe, and production and broad, equitable all. But this national approach effi cacious vaccine development deployment. carries serious risks, beginning and delivery. This is the principle on which with the possibility that a We cannot aff ord to leave the Covid-19 Vaccine Global government may back the wrong our economies on their current Access (COVAX) Facility is vaccines. path for much longer. As global based. Created by Gavi, the Even if a government GDP shrinks – the International Vaccine Alliance, the World secures enough doses of Monetary Fund and the World Health Organisation, and an eff ective vaccine for its Bank forecast about a 5% the Coalition for Epidemic own population, some of its contraction in 2020 – poverty Preparedness Innovations, this people – such as those who are and hunger are rising sharply. innovative platform aims to immunocompromised and may With the world economy losing distribute at least two billion not be able to be vaccinated – Vinicius Molla, a haematologist and volunteer of the clinical trial of Oxford Covid-19 vaccine, examines a patient at a consulting room in Sao more than $10 billion each day, doses of Covid-19 vaccine by the would be left exposed if other Paulo, Brazil. shortening the pandemic by end of 2021. countries are unable to obtain even a few days would more That many doses – which enough vaccine. And this leaves mortality rate. being pushed to the back of the of the fi nancial risks, they will “pull” fi nancing, in the form of than off set the costs of COVAX. will be divided equitably aside the moral imperative of By collaborating with global line. invest in scaling up production advance purchase commitments Global collaboration – where among participating countries, ensuring that people are not cut health agencies through COVAX ensures that the only after their vaccine has for large numbers of doses risks and benefi ts are shared regardless of their ability to off from lifesaving drugs. COVAX, governments can benefi ts and risks of vaccine completed clinical trials and upon licensure. This provides equally – has never been a better pay – would cover some 20% During the 2009 swine fl u ensure that everyone has development are broadly shared. been approved. This approach powerful incentives for the value proposition. – Project of populations in participating pandemic, a few countries equal access to Covid-19 With the largest portfolio of may make business sense, but private sector to support urgent Syndicate countries. It would thus be cornered the vaccine market, vaccines. For countries that vaccine candidates anywhere in it does not make sense in the vaccine development. suffi cient to protect high-risk leaving the vast majority of have secured bilateral deals the world, it gives participating context of a rapidly moving Moreover, COVAX pools O Seth Berkley is CEO of Gavi, and vulnerable people and the global population with no with manufacturers, COVAX governments the best odds of global pandemic. government resources to fund the Vaccine Alliance. frontline healthcare workers vaccine at all until the outbreak amounts to an insurance policy, receiving a safe and eff ective COVAX employs a radically scaling up the most promising O Richard Hatchett is CEO worldwide. (Additional doses was eff ectively over. This in case they bet on the wrong vaccine as soon as it becomes diff erent approach. In candidates even before clinical of the Coalition for Epidemic would also be stockpiled, so scenario must be avoided at all candidates. For countries that available – and ensures that this addition to using “push” trials are completed. That way, Preparedness Innovations. that any future outbreak could costs during the current crisis, haven’t secured any deals – the moment comes much sooner. fi nancing – direct investment when approval comes, large O Soumya Swaminathan is be tackled before it spun out of not least because Covid-19 has vast majority of the world – When pharmaceutical in research, development, quantities of vaccine doses Chief Scientist of the World control.) a much higher infection and COVAX is the only way to avoid companies are shouldering all and manufacturing – it uses will be ready to go. Already, Health Organisation.

Three-day forecast The politics of a TODAY Maximum Temperature : 420c Minimum Temperature : 310c

SATURDAY Maximum Temperature : 410c Covid-19 vaccine Minimum Temperature : 330c SUNDAY Maximum Temperature : 410c Minimum Temperature : 340c By Richard N Haass These are all matters of science, consider what priority to give those in China and quickly became a New York manufacturing, and logistics. They at higher risk of developing serious worldwide problem. Responses, Fisherman's forecast are sure to be diffi cult. But the politics complications from Covid-19, such as though, have been mostly along will be at least as challenging. the elderly and those with preexisting national lines. Some countries have WARNING he global toll of the Covid-19 For starters, who will pay for any conditions. Should a vaccine be free fared relatively well, thanks to their Inshore : Nil pandemic is enormous: more vaccine? Companies will expect to to some or all? existing public health systems and Offshore : Nil than a half-million lives lost, recoup their investment in research At the international level, the political leadership; with others, it WEATHER Thundreds of millions out of and development, along with the questions are even more complex. We has been just the opposite. Inshore : Misty at places at first, work, and trillions of dollars of wealth costs of production and distribution. need to make sure that production Continuing this national-level hot daytime with slight destroyed. And the disease has by no That is already tens of billions of can be scaled rapidly, that rules are approach to a vaccine is a recipe for dust at times and some clouds, relatively humid means run its course; hundreds of dollars (and possibly much more) in place for availability, and that disaster. Only a handful of countries by night thousands more could well die from – before the question of profi t is suffi cient funds are pledged so will be able to produce viable it. even introduced. There is also the that poorer countries are covered. vaccines. The approach must be WIND Inshore : Northwesterly-North- Not surprisingly, there is related question of how companies Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the global. The reasons are not just ethical easterly 07-17 KT tremendous interest in the that develop a vaccine will be World Health Organisation, several and humanitarian, but also economic Offshore : Northwesterly 03-12 KT development of a vaccine, with compensated if they are required to governments, and the Bill & Melinda and strategic, as global recovery Visibility : 4-8/3 KM more than a hundred eff orts under license the patents and know-how to Gates Foundation have formed the requires collective improvement. Offshore : 1-3 FT way around the world. Several look producers elsewhere. Covid-19 Vaccine Global Access In Iraq, when military progress promising, and one or more may bear The toughest political question of (COVAX) Facility. Its creators propose outpaced planning for the US-led fruit – possibly faster than the several all, though, is likely to concern access. that any eff ective vaccine that war’s aftermath, the result was years or longer it normally takes to Who should receive the initial doses emerges be treated as a global public chaos, or “catastrophic success.” We bring a vaccine on line. of any vaccine? Who determines good, to be distributed equally around cannot aff ord an analogous outcome Around the region But even if one or more vaccines who is allowed into the queue and in the world, regardless of where it was here, with success in the laboratory Weather Weather emerge that promise to make people what order? What special advantages invented or of a country’s ability outpacing planning for what comes Today Max/min Tomorrow Max/min less susceptible to Covid-19, the accrue to the country where a vaccine to pay. The WHO has put forward next. Governments, companies, and Baghdad Sunny 46/28 Sunny 46/29 public-health problem will not be is developed? To what extent will a global allocation framework that nongovernmental organisations need Kuwait City Sunny 46/33 Sunny 45/33 eliminated. As any medical expert will wealthier countries crowd out poorer seeks to ensure priority for the most to come together quickly, be it in the Manama Sunny 42/33 M Sunny 42/33 attest, vaccines are not panaceas. They ones? Will countries let geopolitics vulnerable populations and healthcare COVAX initiative, under the auspices Muscat P Cloudy 36/32 P Cloudy 36/31 are but one tool in the medical arsenal. intrude, sharing the vaccine with workers. of the United Nations or the G20, or Tehran Sunny 34/24 Sunny 37/26 No vaccine can be expected to friends and allies while forcing But such approaches may be somewhere else. Global governance produce complete or lasting immunity vulnerable populations in adversary unrealistic. It is not just that the comes in all shapes and sizes. What in all who take it. Millions will refuse countries to the back of the line? COVAX eff ort lacks adequate funding, is essential is that it comes. The lives to get vaccinated. And there is the At the national level, every the participation of the United States of millions, the economic welfare brute fact that there are nearly eight government should start to think and China, and clear authority. It is of billions, and social stability billion men, women, and children through how it will distribute those that all governments are sure to come everywhere hang in the balance. – on the planet. Manufacturing eight vaccines it produces or receives. under enormous pressure to take care Project Syndicate billion doses (or multiples of that if One idea would be to administer it of their own citizens fi rst. Vaccine more than one dose is needed) of one fi rst to healthcare workers, followed nationalism is almost certain to win O Richard N Haass is President or more vaccines and distributing by police, fi refi ghters, the military, out over vaccine multilateralism. of the Council on Foreign Relations them around the globe could require teachers, and other essential Recent history reinforces this and author of The World: A Brief years, not months. workers. Governments must also scepticism. Covid-19 emerged Introduction.

Around the world Weather Weather Today Max/min Tomorrow Max/min Live issues Athens Sunny 32/21 Sunny 32/22 Beirut Sunny 29/24 Sunny 28/24 Bangkok S T Storms 33/26 P Cloudy 34/27 Berlin P Cloudy 21/12 S Showers 24/13 Stress hormone linked to higher blood sugar in diabetics Cairo Sunny 36/22 Sunny 36/22 Cape Town Sunny 19/08 Sunny 21/12 Colombo T Storm 28/26 I T Storms 29/26 QNA Joshua J Joseph from the Ohio State diabetes,” said Joseph. Some people can manage their Dhaka S T Storms 33/27 S T Storms 33/27 Washington University. “But this isn’t the only eff ective form blood sugar levels with healthy eating Hong Kong S T Storms 30/27 S T Storms 30/27 “But in participants with type of stress relief. It’s important to fi nd and exercise, while others may need Istanbul P Cloudy 27/19 M Sunny 27/21 2 diabetes, cortisol profi les that something you enjoy and make it a part medication or insulin to help manage it. Jakarta P Cloudy 32/24 T Storm 33/24 esearchers have showcased a were fl atter throughout the day had of your everyday routine,” he added. “Most people with Type 2 diabetes Karachi P Cloudy 35/30 M Cloudy 36/30 clear link between the stress higher glucose levels,” Joseph said The relationship of cortisol with know the importance of exercising London Cloudy 24/15 P Cloudy 27/14 hormone cortisol and higher in a paper published in the journal glucose levels was only observed in regularly, eating a healthy diet, and Manila S T Storms 35/27 T Storm 34/26 blood sugar levels in people Psychoneuroendocrinology. those with diabetes. getting plenty of rest. But stress Moscow Showers 17/13 Cloudy 19/13 R New Delhi 34/27 P Cloudy 34/28 with type 2 diabetes. These sustained levels of cortisol However, the research team believe relief is a crucial and often forgotten P Cloudy Previous research has shown that make it much more diffi cult to control the stress hormone likely plays an component of diabetes management,” New York P Cloudy 26/21 S T Storms 28/23 stress and depression are two of the blood sugar and manage the disease, important role in diabetes prevention Joseph said. Paris Cloudy 24/16 M Cloudy 26/16 major causes of a fl atter cortisol which is why it is so important for and they continue to research the “Whether it’s a yoga class, taking a Sao Paulo P Cloudy 22/14 M Sunny 26/14 profi le. those with type 2 diabetes to fi nd ways connection between cortisol and walk or reading a book, fi nding ways Seoul P Cloudy 29/20 I T Storms 31/21 “In healthy people, cortisol to reduce stress. the development of diabetes and to lower your stress levels is important Singapore T Storm 30/26 S T Storms 30/26 fl uctuates naturally throughout “We have begun a new trial to cardiovascular disease. to everyone’s overall health, especially Sydney Cloudy 15/11 Showers 14/11 the day, spiking in the morning and examine if mindfulness practices can With type 2 diabetes, your body for those with type 2 diabetes,” the Tokyo Rain 24/20 Cloudy 26/21 falling at night,” said study researcher lower blood sugar in those with type 2 doesn’t use insulin properly. authors wrote. Gulf Times 16 Friday, July 17, 2020 QATAR

PM attends Police Training Institute graduation ceremony

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani attending the graduation ceremony of the fifth mandatory qualifying course for civil university graduates held at the Police Training Institute yesterday. The event was attended by senior off icers of the Ministry of Interior, the Amiri Guard and the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya). During the ceremony, the Prime Minister honoured meritorious trainees and handed over certificates to the graduates. Qatar Airways Holidays unveils ‘staycation’ off ers

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Encroachment eviction campaign in Doha An Argentinian treat for football fans in Qatar

By Joey Aguilar about his illustrious career, dis- talk about his motivations and Instagram Live.” Qatar and globally who are Staff Reporter cipline and drive in the GA talk journey to football,” the embassy This was followed by a GA confined at home during the on Instagram live, which forms said. Star Chat with women’s football pandemic. part of a weekly collabora- The virtual event between GA star, former Dutch centre back The live sessions, which also ootball fans and enthu- tion between GA and the Qatar and QCM also provides young and WorldCoaches ambassador, featured GA fi gures such as mas- siasts in Qatar will have Children’s Museum (QCM). He audiences with sports-themed Anouk Hoogendijk, who shared ter coaches Michael Richardson Fthe opportunity to watch is scheduled to speak on @GA- arts and crafts sessions and some inspiring stories about life and Hamad Mohamed, and BeIN former Argentina, Barcelona 4Good from 9pm (Doha time challenges throughout the sum- as female footballer. Sports anchor Mohamed Saa- and Liverpool star, current Es- GMT +3) while all other GA ses- mer holidays. “Follow your dream and don al-Kuwari, also highlighted tudiantes de La Plata player, sions are to be broadcast at the Previous sessions saw dream big. The sky is the limit,” ways on how to stay fi t and active Javier Mascherano on Genera- regular time of 4pm. young participants making a said Hoodgendijk who spoke while staying home. tion Amazing (GA) Instagram “The week will be wrapped up paper plate tennis racket via about building aspirations and According to GA, these virtual live session in the upcoming with another GA Star Chat with the @Childrensmuseum.qa her experience in football. events attracted a large number week, the embassy of Argentina former NAC Breda, Nottingham channel “which was later used GA has been going live now of viewers across the world who in Doha has said. Forest and Netherlands striker, in a live activity with GA mas- for 14 weeks, extending its enjoyed the football for develop- Mascherano will be talking Pierre von Hooijdonk who will ter coach Mike on @GA4Good programme to audiences in ment sessions.

Encroachment removed in Umm Slal Truck seized for dumping debris

The Technical Supervision Department of the Municipal Control Department of Doha, in co-operation with the Department of Mechanical Equipment, continued the campaign to evict encroachments on state property in Doha. The Umm Salal Municipality, represented by the Technical Control Department During the campaign, encroachment of buildings and stores of the Municipal Control Department, in co-ordination with the Department of The Doha Municipality, represented by the General Control Department, seized a is checked in accordance with the provisions of Law No 10 of Mechanical Equipment, removed an encroachment on state property in one of truck while it was dumping debris on vacant land in one of the municipality’s areas. 1987 regarding public and private state properties. the municipal areas. An arrest warrant has been issued following the violation.