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SATURDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11606 July 11, 2020 Dhul-Qa’da 20, 1441 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Amir sends greetings Stunner of a stadium to governor-general of the Bahamas Qatar calls for His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani sent more support yesterday cables of congratulations to Governor-General of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas Cornelius Alvin Smith on his country’s Independence Day. HE to victims the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani also sent a similar cable to Prime Minister Hubert Alexander Minnis. of terrorism MoPH reports 98,232 total Covid recoveries QNA aff ected by terrorism, such as the as- The Ministry of Public Health New York sistance it provided to Mosul in Iraq. (MoPH) yesterday reported 520 Qatar is a key supporter of the work of new confirmed cases of Covid-19 as the United Nations Investigative Team well as 961 recoveries in the last 24 to Promote Accountability for Crimes hours, bringing the total number of atar said that, in light of the Committed by ISIS (UNITAD), and people to have recovered from the exceptional circumstances re- Qatar is one of the strongest support- disease in Qatar to 98,232. The MoPH A new image of Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, as released by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) on social Qsulting from the coronavirus ers of General Assembly resolutions on also announced four new deaths media. A giant tent structure will cover the whole stadium, which will host matches right through to the 2022 FIFA World (Covid-19) pandemic, there is a need victims of terrorism, and has been one yesterday. In a statement on Covid-19 Cup semi-finals. Being delivered by Aspire Zone Foundation, the stadium takes its name from ‘bayt al sha’ar’ – tents to increase the level of support for of the founding countries of the Group developments in Qatar, the ministry historically used by nomadic peoples in Qatar and the Gulf region. The design of the 60,000-capacity stadium “honours victims of terrorism because they are of Friends of Victims of Terrorism, said the people who died were Qatar’s past and present, while keeping one eye on the future of the community”, according to the SC. Sport Page 1 part of society and they are aff ected Sheikha Alya said, praising the eff orts aged 30, 57, 70 and 91, and all were by the diffi culties arising from the of Spain and Afghanistan in leading the receiving the necessary medical pandemic. work of this group. care. Page 2 This came in a statement delivered She pointed out that “when we ad- by HE the Permanent Representative dress the plight of the victims of ter- Kuwait advises against of Qatar to the United Nations ambas- rorism in a challenging environment, travelling abroad Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia declared a sador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif we must remember that the war on ter- al-Thani in Webinar III: Addressing rorism aims to eradicate this scourge Kuwait advised its citizens and the Plight of Victims of Terrorism in a and address its root causes, prevent residents against travelling abroad at Challenging Environment”, during the damage and suff ering to the victims, the moment due to the instability of the mosque after Turkish court ruling UN’s 2020 virtual counter-terrorism and prevent any violation of their hu- coronavirus pandemic, and the spread week theme of “Strategic and Practi- manity and their dignity, because the of the virus despite strict measures cal Challenges of Countering Terror- victims are the human dimension of applied worldwide, the health QNA/Reuters ism in a Global Pandemic Environ- the impact of terrorism and they have ministry announced in a statement Ankara ment”. an important role in the war on terror- on Twitter yesterday. Page 3 She said that Qatar attaches great ism and violent extremism by making importance to the issue of the rights their voices heard and exposing the Singapore ruling top Turkish court yesterday of victims of terrorism and providing delusion of terrorist rhetoric and ter- party retains power struck down the 1934 cabinet support to them. rorist agendas and their actual eff ects Adecree that turned Istanbul’s This is in line with Qatar’s eff ective on ordinary people in areas aff ected by Singapore’s long-ruling party has Hagia Sophia into a museum, paving role in combating terrorism, protect- terrorism.” retained power but its support the way for its use again as a mosque ing human rights, humanitarian work, She stressed that everyone should fell sharply, while the opposition after an 85-year hiatus. and accountability for the most serious have a moral duty to support the vic- made historic gains, in a general An NGO in Istanbul, the Perma- crimes. tims of terrorism and ensure that they election held under the shadow nent Foundations Service to His- Accordingly, Qatar directed part are treated with sympathy and respect of a coronavirus outbreak. The torical Artifacts and Environment of its humanitarian aid to the regions for their dignity. When it comes to People’s Action Party won 83 of 93 Association, had fi led a petition at children, their rights must be respect- parliamentary seats up for grabs, the Council of State seeking annul- ed and their best interests must be a and 61.2% of the popular vote. But ment of the decision to convert Hagia priority by all means, and their liveli- that was pointedly down on the Sophia into a museum after being a hood should not be neglected for rea- nearly 70% of the vote it won at the mosque for nearly 500 years. sons of national security. country’s last election in 2015, while The court heard the parties’ argu- She noted that when victims of ter- the opposition Workers’ Party picked ments at a July 2 hearing before issu- rorism face additional challenges as a up 10 seats. Page 7 ing its ruling, according to Turkish Muslims perform evening prayers in front of the Hagia Sophia, after a court result of factors such as a global pan- news agency (Anadolu). decision that paves the way for it to be converted from a museum back into a demic, “we must identify these chal- UK won’t join EU’s According to the court’s full rul- mosque in Istanbul yesterday. lenges in order to be taken into account ing, Hagia Sophia was owned by a in the context of providing support virus vaccine scheme foundation established by Ottoman defined as such in the deed. have called for its use as a mosque to victims of terrorism, and perhaps Britain has turned down the Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror and Under the Byzantine Empire, Hagia again and allowed Qur’an readings the fi rst of these challenges is that the chance to join a 2.4bn euro ($2.7bn) was presented to the community as a Sophia had been used as a church for there on special occasions. Covid-19 pandemic which has become European Union plan to secure mosque. 916 years. President Tayyip Erdogan declared HE Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif a top priority and it became the main advance purchases of promising The decision said that in its title In 1453, after the Ottoman Empire Hagia Sophia open to Muslim prayer al-Thani concern of all.” To Page 2 Covid-19 vaccines, saying the deed, Hagia Sophia was defi ned as a conquered Istanbul, it was converted as a mosque yesterday after the court EU would not allow it any role “mosque” and this cannot be legally into a mosque by Sultan Mehmet II, ruling. in decision-making. “The UK changed. also known as the Conqueror. Erdogan made his announcement government has decided on this The society the mosque was be- An unparalleled treasure of world just an hour after the court ruling was occasion not to join this internal stowed to cannot be prevented architecture, Hagia Sophia under- revealed, brushing aside internation- EU initiative, but given our shared from exercising its rights and ben- went restoration work during the al warnings not to change the status WHO sees hope despite interest in ensuring that vaccines are efi ts through the age-old immovable Ottoman era, including the addition of the monument. available to all, we are committed property the foundation left to it, said of minarets for the call to prayer by “The decision was taken to hand to strengthening our collaboration the ruling. famed architect Mimar Sinan. over the management of the Ayasofya surging Covid-19 cases with the EU outside the framework,” It concluded that it is not legally Under the Turkish Republic, in Mosque...to the Religious Aff airs Di- Britain’s ambassador to the EU, Tim possible to use the building as any- 1935 it became a museum. rectorate and open it for worship,” the Barrow, said. Page 8 thing other than a mosque, as it is In recent years Turkish leaders decision signed by Erdogan said. Agencies The novel coronavirus has killed at Geneva least 555,000 people worldwide since the outbreak emerged in China last December, according to a tally from he World Health Organisation offi cial sources compiled by AFP yes- said yesterday that it is still pos- terday. ‘Check the weather condition before heading to the beach’ Tsible to bring coronavirus out- Nearly 12.3mn cases have been reg- breaks under control, even though case istered in 196 countries and territories. numbers have more than doubled in “Across all walks of life, we are all HMC swimming advisory Sea trips the past six weeks. being tested to the limit,” Tedros said, for parents and children WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghe- “from countries where there is expo- breyesus said the examples of Italy, nential growth, to places that are loos- ith Covid-19 restrictions The Ministry of Interior (MoI) Spain, South Korea and India’s big- ening restrictions and now starting to being gradually lifted and has reiterated that “adherence to gest slum showed that however bad a see cases rise. Wpeople heading to beaches safety requirements during sea trips outbreak was, the virus could still be “Only aggressive action com- for a dip to beat the summer heat, protects one from risks and ensures reined in through aggressive action. bined with national unity and global Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) an enjoyable time for sea goers”. “In the last six weeks cases have solidarity can turn this pandemic has issued an advisory on how to stay “We recommend that you check the more than doubled,” Tedros told a vir- around.” safe while going for a swim. Besides weather condition before heading tual press conference in Geneva. Meanwhile, Maria Van Kerkhove, visits to beaches, HMC’s ‘Safety tips to the sea,” says the MoI advisory on However, “there are many exam- technical lead on the Covid-19 pan- and advice for parents and kids’ also social media. According to a recent ples from around the world that have demic at the WHO, said yesterday that apply to swimming in pools. that children must be taught how to While announcing the reopen- decision of the Supreme Committee shown that even if the outbreak is very airborne transmission of the new coro- In its advisory, which is available swim in swimming training centres. ing of public beaches, the Ministry of for Crisis Management, families are intense, it can still be brought back un- navirus had always been a concern but on social media, HMC says people HMC also reminds people to wear Municipality and Environment had allowed to rent boats and yachts in der control,” said Tedros. that droplets appeared to be the most should check the weather before go- a life jacket while swimming or other stressed the importance of comply- groups not exceeding 10 people in this “And some of these examples are It- common infection route. ing to beaches to avoid strong winds safety equipment. Further, the advi- ing with precautionary and preventive phase of the lifting of restrictions. aly, Spain and South Korea, and even in “Aerosol transmission is one of the and high waves that may pose a dan- sory stresses the need for people to measures to ensure the safety of all. Accordingly, the MoI had reminded Dharavi — a densely packed area in the modes of transmission that we have ger. Safety instructions should be fol- learn how to perform the cardiop- Among other measures, the public was people of the importance of adhering megacity of Mumbai — a strong focus been concerned about since the begin- lowed while swimming at beaches or ulmonary resuscitation (CPR) tech- advised to maintain social distancing, to safety guidelines for marine on community engagement and the ning, particularly in healthcare set- in a pool, the advisory states. “Always nique in order to save others. Beaches use life jackets while swimming and activities as well as the preventive and basics of testing, tracing, isolating and tings where we know these droplets watch children closely while swim- around the country were reopened on not to allow children to use equip- precautionary measures in place to treating all those that are sick is key to can be aerosolised — which means can ming and make sure they swim only in July 1 as part of Phase 2 of the gradual ment in play areas, besides keeping the curb the spread of Covid-19. breaking the chains of transmission stay in the air longer,” she told an on- designated areas,” it continues, adding lifting of Covid-19 restrictions. beaches clean during their visits. and suppressing the virus.” line briefi ng from Geneva. Gulf Times 2 Saturday, July 11, 2020 QATAR Education Above All Foundation hosts high-level event at UN HLPF he Education Above All gathered virtually to discuss the demic, compounding the already for their commitment. “We must the classroom level and integrated (EAA) Foundation hosted impact of Covid-19 on the edu- challenging work of the interna- rebuild an education system that with the curriculum,” Dr Chan- Ta high-level virtual side- cation for the most marginalised, tional education community in allows for great innovation, sus- duvi highlighted. event titled ‘Education and the and refl ected on how they can ensuring all children have access tainability, equity and inclusion to At the closing, EAA stated: “We Trying Times of Covid-19’ during further collaborate and exchange to a quality primary education. leave no one behind,” al-Kuwari have been working to develop dif- the High-Level Political Forum critical information to mitigate Whilst the world has reeled at said. ferent fi nancing solutions to meet 2020 (HLPF 2020). the impact of the pandemic, and the number of children who have Giannini opened the discus- the education needs of the world’s The HLPF annual meeting is help address the fi nancial defi - had their education interrupted sion on the need to build back hardest-to-reach children. Our the core United Nations platform ciency to build back better educa- as a result of school closures and better, saying, “We must not work has focused on innovative, for follow-up and review of the tion systems. the need to increase physical only do things diff erently, but do sustainable fi nancial partnerships 2030 Agenda for Sustainable De- The high-level virtual side- distance between people to pro- things better. 70mn children and to support education access for of velopment Goals (SDGs) at the event included participation from tect the health of populations, youth are at risk of not returning out-of-school children. global level. the Permanent Mission of Qatar to eff orts on ensuring immediate to school.” Providing access to education The event was co-organised the UN, HE ambassador Sheikha and longer-term, resilient and Simonson noted, “Covid-19 for children around the world with the Permanent Mission of Alya Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani; Dr sustainable solutions have con- has exposed global health fragility is not an easy task at the best of the State of Qatar to the UN, the Mamadou Tangara, Minister of The panellists at the event. tinued. and exacerbated existing inequal- times; the Covid-19 pandemic Qatar Fund For Development Foreign Aff airs, International Co- HE Sheikha Alya welcomed the ities leaving many vulnerable. The increases pressure on already (QFFD), the Islamic Solidar- operation & Gambians Abroad; Simonson, assistant director- Brajesh Panth, chief of education panellists at the high-level virtual numbers we see are troubling.” stretched systems, and threatens ity Fund for Development and the Khalifa Jassim al-Kuwari, direc- general, WHO’s offi ce at the Unit- sector group, Asian Development side-event. Dr Tangara shared “We must act aggressively to to leave more children exposed to Asian Development Bank. tor-general of QFFD; Stefania Gi- ed Nations in New York; Dr Jaime Bank. The education of more than his experience and appreciation expand connectivity and make the direct and adverse impacts of Ministries, partners and ex- annini, assistant director-general Saavedra Chanduvi, education 1.7bn learners has been negatively of the eff orts EAA is leading on, sure teachers have the ability to a life without access to a quality perts from around the world, for education, Unesco; Stewart director, The World Bank; and impacted by the Covid-19 pan- and thanked EAA and the QFFD use digital resources, available at education.” E-commerce to ‘play Increase in court sessions will speed key role in F&B sector’ up the litigation process, say lawyers he recently issued deci- ing the number of sessions at Mohsin Dawud al-Hadad de- procedures that ease litigation sion of HE the Head of the court will help speed up scribed the decision as an ex- processes for the involved par- By Joey Aguilar Tthe Court of First In- the litigation process. This is cellent one, which lawyers had ties, such as submitting cases Staff Reporter stance to increase the number because the decision envisages been awaiting anxiously so that and requests on the e-portal of court sessions, when imple- increasing the frequency of they could make up for the lost for courts in addition to having mented from August 16, will sessions of the civilian court to time and expedite the litigation a dedicated email and phone -commerce will play a sig- almost double these from 84 at thrice a week from once a week process. number to receive enquiries and nifi cant role in the food present to 171 sessions a week, at present. He said increasing the requests. Eand beverage (F&B) sector covering civilian, family, mis- As for urgent cases, they will number of court sessions cer- Lawyer Hamad al-Yafei says as the demand for online orders demeanour and criminal cases. continue to be heard over three tainly meant that more cases as this period is usually con- and delivery services continue A number of Qatari lawyers sessions a week as is the case would be heard by the courts, sidered the summer break for to rise in the country, Mondrian told local Arabic daily Arrayah now, while the family court will which in turn would be good for courts, the increased number Doha executive assistant man- that they had anticipated such also be in session three times a litigators and help resolve their of sessions will help make up ager Mikel Ibrahim has said. a decision in order to go ahead week and the criminal courts issues that had been kept on for the delay caused in some He was highlighting the posi- with pending cases that had twice a week. hold due to the Covid-19 situ- cases due to the restrictions tive impact of adapting to digital been delayed due to the preven- The lawyers stressed that ation. since mid-March. This will re- platforms on their business to tive and precautionary meas- all the involved parties should Nihar Rashid al-Nuaimi, an- fl ect positively on balancing the serve more customers amid the ures taken to curb the spread of continue to strictly abide by other lawyer, points out that number of cases to be heard in Covid-19 pandemic. Covid-19 since mid-March. the preventive and precaution- the Supreme Judiciary Coun- the new judicial season that is “We have seen a steep in- They point out that increas- ary measure in place. Lawyer cil has adopted a number of set to start in October. crease in online orders and de- livery services prior to lifting the restrictions in Qatar as well Mikel Ibrahim as in Phase 1 of the lift,” Ibrahim told Gulf Times. Morimoto, Ella shops) in malls, shopping centres raised a key concern among all Mia and Smoke & Mirrors began and other non-designated tour- sectors and industries operating MoPH reports 98,232 total Covid-19 recoveries welcoming guests (pre-booking ist areas. “With those surges in locally, and the need for a resil- required) on July 1 while Walima orders and customer behaviour ient Internet connection with will reopen on July 15. Strict sani- changes, and as the Covid-19 suffi cient bandwidth to meet an QNA proactive testing to identify cases tary and hygiene measures are in outbreak continues to evolve, it explosion of data needs was a Doha early; expanding hospital capac- place, complying with govern- will undoubtedly have a signifi - must,” he pointed out. ity, especially intensive care, to ment directives. cant eff ect on our business,” Ib- Ibrahim noted that Qatar is ensure that all patients receive the The Qatar government is now rahim said. among the countries whose he Ministry of Public medical care they need; and pro- implementing Phase 2 of the “We foresee the shift of cus- wireless and fi xed networks are Health (MoPH) yesterday tecting the elderly and those with gradual lifting of Covid-19 re- tomer behaviour to e-commerce holding up well against massive Treported 520 new con- chronic diseases, it explained. strictions in the country. Restau- to continue as a trend through- spikes in demand and allowing fi rmed cases of Covid-19 as well The MoPH also pointed out rants in tourist areas such as Souq out this year and we are very well the use of emerging technologies as 961 recoveries in the last 24 that even though restrictions are Waqif, Souq Al Wakra, The Pearl- geared to respond to it.” for remote work and study. hours, bringing the total number being lifted and numbers are de- Qatar and Katara – the Cultural Ibrahim lauded Qatar’s ad- “Being a digitally advanced of people to have recovered from clining, this does not mean that Village are allowed to operate vanced and effi cient Information nation, data usage and the pro- the disease in Qatar to 98,232. The the Covid-19 pandemic is fi nished apart from those in sports clubs/ and Communication Technol- portion of ‘high bandwidth’ be- MoPH also announced four new in Qatar — every day between 50 tourist places, Qatar Museums, ogy infrastructure, particularly ing used have been rising long deaths yesterday. and 100 people are admitted to AlHazm and Msheireb. during this current situation in before the outbreak, and Qatar In a statement on Covid-19 hospital with moderate to severe Phase 2 also allows takeaways which are people are relying on has had the insight to make full- developments in Qatar, the min- Covid-19 symptoms. and home deliveries for restau- fast and uninterrupted connec- fi bre broadband a major priority istry said the people who died “Unless we follow all precau- rants, cafeterias and cafes (coff ee tivity. “The Covid-19 pandemic well ahead of time,” he stressed. were aged 30, 57, 70 and 91, and tionary measures, we may expe- all were receiving the necessary rience a second wave of the virus medical care. All new cases have and see numbers increasing — been isolated and are receiving the there are already signs of this hap- necessary medical care according pening in other countries around to their health status. the world,” it said. “Now, more Mercury hits 49C in some places The MoPH stressed that meas- than ever, we must be careful and ures to tackle Covid-19 in Qatar protect the most vulnerable.” have succeeded in fl attening the While the Covid-19 restric- esaimeer and Sheehani- ly humid in some places by night. The Met department has ad- curve and limiting the spread of tions are gradually being lifted in ya recorded a maximum Relatively humid weather was vised people to follow precautions the virus, and the number of new Qatar, it is important for everyone Mtemperature of 49C yes- experienced last night, according in the prevailing hot conditions, daily cases and hospital admis- to play their role in controlling the terday as hot conditions contin- to the weather offi ce. The humid- such as avoiding direct exposure sions is continuing to decline each virus by following precaution- ued around the country, accord- ity level exceeded 60% in some to sunlight, drinking plenty of week. ary measures such as adherence ing to weather charts. Following areas with light easterly winds, it fl uids and wearing lightweight “Qatar’s proactive and exten- to physical distancing, wearing a closely behind were Mukaynis, tweeted. and light-coloured clothing. Also, sive testing of suspected cases face mask and washing the hands Karana, Turayna, Jumayliyah and A maximum temperature of outdoor workers should take rest has enabled us to identify a high regularly, the ministry stressed. Ghuwairiyah at 48C, and Doha 47C is expected today in Al Khor, breaks in a shaded area. number of positive cases in the “Most importantly, it is vital that 16000 helpline or go directly to ease is detected, the easier it will (airport area) and the Qatar Uni- followed by 43C in Doha and Hamad Medical Corporation, community,” the statement not- we continue to protect the elderly one of the designated health cen- be to receive the right treatment versity area at 47C. 42C in Wakra, Mesaieed and Abu too, has issued tips on how to stay ed. The ministry said Qatar has and those with chronic medical tres — Muaither, Rawdat Al Khail, and recover from it. In its forecast for today, the Samra. safe and healthy in hot condi- one of the lowest Covid-19 death conditions,” it added. Anyone Umm Slal or Al Gharrafa — to un- One can visit the MoPH web- Qatar Met department says hot The forecast for off shore areas tions. It said people should “wear rates in the world. This is a re- suff ering from Covid-19 symp- dergo the necessary checks. This site for regular updates and new daytime conditions are expected says misty conditions are likely light-coloured and cotton cloth- sult of Qatar’s young population; toms should either contact the is important as the earlier the dis- information. along with slight dust and some in some places at fi rst today along ing, eat plenty of fruits and drink clouds at times. It will be relative- with clouds. plenty of water and other fl uids”. Qatar calls for more support to victims of terrorism Stay informed, stay safe, advises GCO From Page 1 in supporting the victims of of terrorism, keeping abreast terrorism through their pro- of emergency changes, and up- he Government Commu- GCO reminds people to visit ‘In Focus’ aspx) and social media accounts,” On August 21, 2020, the Inter- grammes. dating the website of the “UN nications Offi ce (GCO) has it continues. national Day of Remembrance It is a pleasure that one of Victims of Terrorism Support Treminded people to visit page on its website to get Covid-19 A dedicated, round-the-clock and Tribute to the Victims of the areas on which the distin- Portal” so that victims and oth- the Covid-19 ‘In Focus’ page on information call centre has been set up to an- Terrorism will be marked, pro- guished partnership between ers can benefi t from them in its website to fi nd the most up- swer all questions and enquiries viding an opportunity to renew Qatar and the United Nations obtaining useful information to-date information one needs the page states. Launched in the safety of all its residents. related to Covid-19. The toll-free this momentum and undertake Offi ce of Counter-Terrorism and resources in this fi eld, ex- on the preventative measures March this year, the page pro- These precautionary measures hotline number is 16000, the activities at various levels to focuses is the area of providing pressing aspiration to work with Qatar is taking to keep people vides details such as the daily may change based on the latest page reminds. “The Ministry of renew the fi rm commitment to support to victims of terrorism, the United Nations Offi ce of safe. Covid-19 data issued by the Min- guidance by the national health Foreign Aff airs calls on all citi- strengthening international co- as this is considered a strategic Counter-Terrorism to support “Stay informed, stay safe,” istry of Public Health, relevant authorities and international or- zens, children of Qatari women operation to prevent and combat priority to the Offi ce of Coun- its future plans in this important the GCO says in a post on social charts and FAQs pertaining to ganisations regarding the spread and spouses of Qatari citizens to terrorism, honour and support ter-Terrorism that benefi ts from area. media, urging people to visit the self-suffi ciency, education, pre- of Covid-19,” the page says. register their details through the its victims and survivors, and the fi nancial support provided Concluding, HE Sheikha Alya page at https://www.gco.gov.qa/ ventative measures and travel. “The Ministry of Public Health Ministry of Foreign Aff airs appli- promote and protect their full by Qatar to support the offi ce’s expressed solidarity with the en/focus/covid-19/. It also contains links to MoPH urges all citizens and residents cation or on its website (https:// enjoyment of human rights and programmes. victims of terrorism, adding “The Covid-19 section of the Covid-19 resources. to apply preventive measures to mofa.gov.qa/en/e-services/ fundamental freedoms. She praised the eff orts of the they need all forms of solidar- GCO website is dedicated to pro- “The State of Qatar has been protect against infection as rec- citizens-registration/citizens- Sheikha Alya stressed that offi ce’s “Victims of Terrorism ity on a sustainable basis dur- viding up-to-date information taking all the precautionary ommended by the ministry on registration) so they may be con- countries and the United Na- Unit” in providing continuous ing and after the Covid-19 pan- and answers to the public’s fre- measures to prevent the spread its website (https://www.moph. tacted in case of emergencies,” it tions have an important role and eff ective support to victims demic. quently asked questions (FAQs),” of Covid-19 in order to ensure gov.qa/english/Pages/default. adds. Gulf Times Saturday, July 11, 2020 3 REGION/ARAB WORLD France asks Israel to drop West Bank annexation plans

AFP call between the two leaders, the in a statement after the call on Trump in January. But Netanya- duct negotiations based on this ritory seizures would eventually with those of Egypt and Jordan Paris French president’s offi ce said Thursday. It was the latest move hu’s offi ce said yesterday that in plan and on the plans of the past allow the creation of a Palestin- warned this week that any an- yesterday. by European leaders pressing the talks with Macron he “clari- that is preventing progress”. ian state on the remaining West nexation could have “conse- Macron “emphasised that Netanyahu to drop plans to an- fi ed that Israel is acting accord- Israel’s government had set Bank territory and in the Gaza quences” for relations. mmanuel Macron asked such a move would contravene nex Jewish settlements in the ing to international law”. July 1 as the date when it could Strip. But the plan falls far short But Macron told Netanyahu Israel’s Prime Minister international law and jeopard- West Bank and the strategic Jor- “Israel is prepared to hold begin taking over the Palestinian of Palestinian aspirations, with that France remained committed EBenjamin Netanyahu to ise the possibility of a two-state dan Valley. peace negotiations on the basis areas, where the population of a state on reduced territory and to Israel’s security and “expressed refrain from annexing Palestini- solution as the basis of a fair and The controversial move was of President Trump’s plan,” it Israeli settlers has grown since without east Jerusalem as its his attachment to the friendship an territory in the West Bank and lasting peace between Israelis endorsed in a Middle East plan said, reiterating a claim that “it the 1967 Six-Day War. capital. The foreign ministries and confi dence that links France elsewhere during a telephone and Palestinians”, his offi ce said unveiled by US President Donald is the Palestinian refusal to con- Under Trump’s plan, the ter- of France and Germany, along and Israel”, his offi ce said. Russia, China veto extension of cross-border aid to Syria

AFP It would have allowed for the UN Kelly Craft, keeping only one United Nations maintenance of two crossing border crossing open would cut points on the Turkish border — off 1.3mn people living north of at Bab al-Salam, which leads Aleppo from humanitarian aid. ussia and China vetoed a to the Aleppo region, and Bab One diplomat, who spoke on UN Security Council res- al-Hawa, which serves the Idlib condition of anonymity, has de- Rolution to prolong cross- region. scribed the episode as a “show- border humanitarian aid to war- The UN authorisation allows down” that could drag on. torn Syria, the authorisation for the body to distribute aid to dis- Another noted that “if the au- The mother of 29-year-old Palestinian Ibrahim Yacoub, who was killed by security forces, mourns during his funeral in the village of Kifl which expires later in the day, placed Syrians without needing thorisation is renewed a few days Hares, south of the West Bank city of Nablus, yesterday. diplomats said yesterday. permission from Damascus. late, it is not the absolute end of Thirteen countries voted in Russia and China argue that the world. favour of the German-Belgian the UN authorisation violates It suspends the convoys for a draft, but Moscow and Beijing Syria’s sovereignty, and that aid few days, it does not put them in opposed the extension for a sec- can increasingly be channeled danger.” ond time this week because they through Syrian authorities. For the UN, keeping as many Palestinian shot dead in West Bank favour a more limited proposal. In January, Moscow, Syria’s entry points open as possible is Russia has proposed a coun- closest ally, succeeded in hav- crucial, particularly given the ter-resolution that limits au- ing the crossing points reduced risk of the coronavirus pan- AFP statement yesterday that troops thorisation for humanitarian aid from four to two and in limiting demic, which is spreading in the Ramallah opened fi re on “two masked and could now be put to a vote. the authorisation to six months region. fi ghters” in the act of throwing Germany and Belgium, two instead of a year. In a report in June, UN Secre- a lighted petrol bomb at an army non-permanent council mem- Russia, which claims to want tary-General Antonio Guterres sraeli troops killed a Pales- guard post outside the nearby Is- bers that are responsible for the continued aid for the insurgent called for a one-year extension tinian in the occupied West raeli settlement of Ariel. humanitarian aspect of the UN’s Idlib region, submitted a coun- of the aid to include the two cur- IBank on Thursday, the Pales- “One was hit, the other fl ed Syria dossier, presented the draft ter-proposal to the UN Security rent access points. tinian health ministry said. the area,” it said. It added that that was put to vote Thursday. Council Wednesday to keep only When asked Thursday if the The ministry did not give any the wounded man was given fi rst “We categorically reject the Bab al-Hawa access point UN would be satisfi ed with a details as to the circumstances aid at the scene and then taken claims that Russia wants to stop open, and for six months. single entry point into Syria, of the killing, stating only that away in a Palestinian ambulance. humanitarian deliveries to the Moscow claims that more body spokesman Stephane Du- “a civilian was killed by Israeli The statement said that a re- Syrian population in need,” Rus- than 85% of current aid goes jarric said: “We need more aid to forces” after being shot in the port of a “Palestinian fatality sian Deputy UN Ambassador through Bab al-Hawa and that go through the border. We do not neck at Kifl Hares, a village south from gunfi re in an adjacent vil- Dmitry Polyanskiy wrote in a the Bab al-Salam entry point can need less to go through.” of Nablus. lage was received” and being tweet. therefore be closed. David Miliband, president of Provincial governor Abdul- looked into. The West Bank is a Palestinian protesters flee clashes with security forces during Stopping cross-border aid But the bid failed when put to the International Rescue Com- lah Kamil named the victim as Palestinian territory which has a protest against Jewish settlements and Israel’s planned would be “a devastating blow to vote. mittee, described the veto as a Ibrahim Mustapha Abu Yacoub, been under Israeli occupation annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank, in the town of the millions of Syrian families In the only concession to “dark day” for Syrian civilians 29. The Israeli military said in a since 1967. Asira Shamaliya near the city of Nablus, yesterday. who rely on this aid for clean wa- Moscow, the new draft asked for and the UN. ter, food, health care and shel- just a six-month extension of He added it “defi es logic or ter,” warned the NGO Oxfam. cross-border aid authorisation, humanity to dismantle a system Russia and China on Tues- instead of one year. designed to bring life-saving aid day vetoed a draft resolution by But Germany and Belgium to Syrians in the form of food, Germany and Belgium providing still wanted both border cross- health supplies, vaccines, and Kuwait advises against overseas travel for a one-year extension of the ings kept open. According to now critical Covid-19 provi- cross-border authorisation. Washington’s ambassador to the sions.”

Reuters/QNA commercial fl ights at Kuwait that among the new Covid-19 ported the ministry as saying Cairo International Airport will cases were 487 Kuwaitis and 253 that eight new Covid-19 deaths resume from Aug 1, after being non-Kuwaitis. During the past were also recorded, taking the Lebanese PM sues American University of Beirut over exit package suspended in March because of 24 hours, 527 cases have recov- total number of deaths to 244. uwait advised its citizens the coronavirus pandemic. ered from the disease to bring It added that 1,268 of the new Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab is suing presented his-long planned resignation in January — and residents against Meanwhile, the Kuwait the tally of recoveries to 43,214, cases were Omanis whereas the the American University of Beirut (AUB), where he the month he became prime minister.“...He asked for Ktravelling abroad at the health ministry yesterday re- the health ministry said. remaining were non-Omanis. worked for 35 years as an academic, a spokesman an exit package in line with common practices and moment due to the instability ported 740 new coronavirus OMAN SEES 1,889 The Ministry stated the total for Diab said, in a dispute over his exit package precedents at AUB. This request was denied...,” the of the coronavirus pandemic, (Covid-19) infections in the NEW INFECTIONS number of recoveries reached from the financially struggling institution. spokesman said. Diab had “never made any special and the spread of the virus de- past 24 hours, raising the total Oman’s Ministry of Health 34,255 cases. The Health Min- AUB, which has been hit hard by Lebanon’s request for any payments to be made either in foreign spite strict measures applied number of infections to 53,580, announced that 1,889 new cas- istry also pointed out that 4,574 economic meltdown, declined to comment on the currency or into foreign bank accounts. All AUB pro- worldwide, the health ministry with one person succumbing es of Covid-19 were registered, tests of Covid-19 were con- case. Lebanon is grappling with a crisis caused by fessors have their pensions paid in US dollars, from a announced in a statement on to the disease as the death toll bringing the total number of ducted over the past 24 hours, decades of state corruption and bad governance. AUB foreign account”, the spokesman said. “What the Twitter yesterday. reached 383, QNA reported. positive Covid-19 cases to adding that the total number of A hard currency liquidity crunch has led to an 80% PM expressed was only what was already stated in Last month, Kuwait’s com- Health ministry spokesper- 53,614 in the country, QNA patients in intensive care units weakening of the local currency since October. Diab the AUB retirement plan regulations and policies.” munications offi ce said that son Dr Abdullah al-Sanad said added. Oman News Agency re- (ICU) is 130.

CRISIS 10mn ‘face food shortages in Yemen’ Govt warns Nearly 10mn people are facing acute food shortages in Yemen and urgent action is needed to avert a famine, the UN’s World Lebanon’s Hezbollah and its Food Programme said yesterday. The WFP said it needed $737mn to the end of the year to keep its aid programme against running in the war-torn country, which is gripped by what the United Nations calls the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. travel “The humanitarian situation is deteriorating at an alarming rate, allies protest near US embassy pushing people to the edge,” WFP spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs told a virtual briefing in Geneva. “We must act now. If we wait for famine to be declared, it will already be too late as people will al- AFP DPA wires and used water cannon as Tehran ready be dying.” She said the famine warning signs were already Beirut the protesters tried to approach present. “Yemen is facing a crisis on multiple fronts. Imports the site. No casualties were have declined, food prices are soaring, the riyal is in freefall, and reported.“Death to America!” ehran yesterday urged foreign currency reserves are nearing total depletion,” said Byrs. ozens of followers of Leb- chanted some protesters. Oth- Iranians to avoid travel- The spokeswoman said more than 20mn people were food anon’s Hezbollah move- ers raised their fi sts into the air Tling to two key tourist insecure in Yemen, of which 13mn receive humanitarian food Dment and its allies yester- shouting: “God bless Nasrallah,” areas as it announced a drop in assistance. day staged a protest near the US in support of Hezbollah chief daily coronavirus deaths after a embassy in Beirut against what Hassan Nasrallah. record toll a day earlier. they call Washington’s meddling “Despite your political and REBUTTAL With the start of the summer in Lebanese aff airs. economic siege on Lebanon, holidays, the health ministry Iran officials deny blast in Tehran Last month, US ambassador our resistance against Israel will “strongly advised everyone to to Lebanon Dorothy Shea was remain and we will not starve,” avoid travelling to the prov- An explosion was heard in western Tehran yesterday, state broad- summoned by Foreign Minister read one placard raised in the inces of Khorasan Razavi and caster IRIB said, citing online reports that off icials in that part of the Nassif Hitti after she made re- Protesters pull barbed-wire closing off a street during an anti-US protest. Mazandaran”, two top tour- city denied. IRIB said power was cut in the area of the city suburbs marks against Hezbollah in a TV demonstration near the United States’ embassy headquarters in In her remarks to Al-Hadath ist regions in the north of where the blast occurred. It provided no further information about interview. Awkar, northeast of Lebanon’s capital Beirut, yesterday. television last month, the US the country, health ministry the cause of the blast or possible casualties. The governor of Yesterday’s demonstration ambassador said Washington spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari Qods city, Leila Vaseghi, was quoted by the semi-off icial Fars news followed Shea’s meeting with denounced,” shouted a group of munist Party took part in the had “great concerns” over Hez- said. agency as saying no explosion had occurred, but that there was Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Hezbollah followers clad in black protest held on a road leading bollah role in the Lebanese gov- She told state television that a power outage that lasted about five minutes. The head of the Diab in Beirut earlier in the day. shirts and carrying the yellow to the US embassy compound ernment. 142 people had died of the Cov- fire department in Qods city denied receiving any reports of an Protesters chanted slogans fl ags of Hezbollah. in the area of Awkar in northern She added that the group had id-19 illness, down from 221 incident or explosion in the past 24 hours, IRIB reported. It was not against the diplomat and the Members of the Syrian Social- Beirut. obstructed some reforms that on Thursday — a single-day immediately clear if the reported incident had taken place in Qods United States. “Your blatant in- ist National Party, Palestinians Lebanese security forces the ailing Lebanese economy record for the Islamic republic. or in a diff erent area of western Tehran. terference in Lebanese aff airs are groups and the Lebanese Com- blocked the road with barbed desperately needs. Gulf Times 4 Saturday, July 11, 2020 AFRICA Thousands take part in Mali rally after rejecting president’s off er

Reuters Bamako

Nigerian President Muhamadu Buhari signs the revised 2020 budget in Abuja, yesterday. rotesters staged another large demonstration in PMali’s capital Bamako yesterday after a coalition op- posed to President Ibrahim Bou- bacar Keita rejected concessions Nigerian leader signs aimed at resolving a months- long political stand-off . Thousands of protesters fi lled the city’s Independence Square, chanting and waving banners revised budget into law that said: “Enough is Enough” and “IBK, clear off ”, referring to the president. AFP In a ceremony in the capital budget is based on assumptions to safeguard the economy, It was the third mass protest in Abuja Abuja, Buhari said the increase of $28 per barrel as against $57 thanks to the revised budget recent weeks. The impasse since of 216bn naira was a “response previously. Nigeria has also re- and a N2.3tn stimulus pro- a disputed legislative election in to recent developments, in duced its crude output in line gramme. March is a growing concern for igerian President Mu- particular the Covid-19 pan- with Organisation of Petroleum In February, credit rating Mali’s neighbours and outside hamadu Buhari yes- demic.” Exporting Countries (Opec) ef- agency Moody’s listed Nigeria powers, who worry it could fur- Nterday signed into law Nigeria, Africa’s biggest forts to strengthen the oil mar- “among countries (in West Af- ther destabilise the country and a budget with record spending crude producer, relies on oil ket. rica) whose situation causes the jeopardise a joint military cam- despite the risk of a slump in oil sales for 90% of foreign ex- “Global trade has gener- most concern in terms of debt paign against insurgents in the revenue. change earnings. ally been disrupted as almost all sustainability.” West African Sahel region. The 2020 budget of 10.81tn Buhari noted that global economies were locked down On April 28, the Interna- On Wednesday Keita, or IBK naira ($28.38bn) was approved crude prices had tumbled from for protracted periods in the tional Monetary Fund (IMF) as he is known, said he was open by parliament in June after a high of $72.20 per barrel in wake of the Covid-19 pandem- approved $3.4bn in emergency to form a government of national File photo shows Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. Buhari called for a raise to the January to below $20 per barrel ic,” Buhari said. fi nancing for Nigeria to help unity and renew members of original request of 10.59tn in April. They have since hov- But he added that the gov- deal with the economic fallout Mali’s highest court, and if he for the president to resign but try,” said 48-year-old store- naira. ered around $40. The revised ernment was well-positioned of the pandemic. could, dissolve the national as- want further gestures from him. keeper Alassane Cisse, who sembly if it would not create a “This is because we think it joined the protest despite once fresh crisis. (the resignation) will cause more voting for Keita. The protest But his opponents said the problems than it will resolve,” follows two in June, when thou- proposals were not enough. Pro- Dicko said. “Mali’s problem is sands gathered to demand that testers also gathered yesterday not about a government of na- Keita resign for failing to off er Anti-corruption chief faces investigation for graft in Paris, which has a large Malian tional unity. It is a problem of solutions to the country’s secu- community. governance.” rity and economic crisis. Keita Infl uential cleric Imam Mah- However, some protesters at was re-elected in 2018 for a sec- DPA proved the immediate suspension of Eco- having sold “seized assets to cronies, as- moud Dicko, one of the leaders the Bamako rally were still call- ond fi ve-year term, but his lead- Lagos nomic and Financial Crimes Commission sociates and friends” while chairing the of the opposition protest in Mali, ing for the president to step ership has faced mounting op- (EFCC) chairman Ibrahim Magu pending EFCC, according to the statement. told France24 television that down. position amid a surge in militant a thorough investigation, Justice Ministry The Nigerian government set up the they had dropped the demand “I see he can’t lead this coun- violence and economic crisis. he head of Nigeria’s anti-corruption spokesman Umar Jibrilu Gwandu said in a EFCC in 2003 to combat fi nancial crimes in agency has been suspended due to statement. response to widespread corruption in Af- Tgraft allegations, the Justice Ministry The allegations were levelled by Justice rica’s most populous nation. said yesterday. Minister Abubakar Malami, who accused Magu has chaired the commission since President Muhamadu Buhari ap- Magu of “gross misconduct,” including November 2015. Ethiopia arrests suspects in SA province Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau to the killing of popular singer

Reuters those who collaborated in the killing,” Adanech premier reopen places of worship Addis Ababa said in the statement. “We will continue to ensure the rule of law.” The suspects have not yet been charged. Haacaaluu sang in Oromo, the language of tests AFP nerals will also be permitted, international airport will thiopian authorities said yesterday they had Ethiopia’s biggest ethnic group. His killing tapped Freetown he said in a decree, cautioning open to commercial fl ights arrested two suspects over the killing of a into grievances fuelled by decades of government that people should nonethe- again on July 22. The nation Epopular political singer, whose death last repression and what the Oromo describe as their positive for less continue wearing face of some 7.5mn people fi rst en- week sparked protests in which 166 people were long exclusion from political power. Abiy, himself he West African states masks and keep a distance acted anti-coronavirus meas- killed. an Oromo, came to power in 2018 as the fi rst mod- of Sierra Leone and from one another. ures in March, which included The shooting of Haacaaluu Hundeessaa, a musi- ern Ethiopian leader from that ethnic group, after Covid-19 TGuinea-Bissau have Health offi cials in the shutting schools and places of cian widely revered among his Oromo ethnic group, months of violent demonstrations led to his pred- announced they will reo- former Portuguese colony worship and restricting trav- ignited protests in Addis Ababa and the surround- ecessor’s resignation. pen places of worship after have registered 1,790 coro- el. The former British colony ing Oromiya region. The unrest last week was the deadliest since Abiy Reuters months-long closures over navirus cases to date, with 26 has registered 1,598 corona- Prime Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed described took offi ce. The prime minister has initiated a broad Johannesburg coronavirus fears. fatalities. Sierra Leone’s pres- virus cases to date, with 63 his killing as “an evil act”. In a televised statement, package of political and economic reforms in what Guinea-Bissau’s prime ident, Julius Maada Bio, made fatalities. Attorney-General Adanech Abebe said that the has long been one of the most tightly controlled minister, Nuno Gomes Na- a similar announcement in a As with other poor coun- shooter was acting on the orders of an anti-gov- countries in Africa, and won last year’s Nobel Peace he premier of Gauteng, biam, announced yesterday televised address on Thurs- tries in the region, coronavi- ernment group, the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF- Prize for making peace with neighbouring Eritrea. South Africa’s most that mosques and churches day evening. rus restrictions have taken an Shene). The two men who were arrested included But the increased freedoms under his leadership Tpopulous province, said closed in March would reo- In addition to opening economic toll, which spurred the suspected shooter and an accomplice. have also been accompanied by a rise in ethnic vio- yesterday he had tested positive pen today. Gatherings such as places of worship again, Bio sporadic protests in Sierra A third suspect was still at large, Adenech said. lence, and some Oromo fi gures say he has not done for Covid-19, as new confi rmed weddings, baptisms and fu- also said that the country’s Leone in May. “We have arrested those who killed him, and enough to address their longstanding grievances. infections in the country hit a record high. Provincial leader David Ma- khura revealed his infection a day after his health department said six members of its “Cov- id-19 War Room” had contracted Mystery beheadings stir fear in remote town the virus. Makhura and the six offi cials will self-isolate for two weeks. AFP a pattern has been diffi cult to overcome their fear of reprisals “Given the fact that I only have Fana, Mali establish. and talk to the police. An offi cial mild symptoms, I will continue Victims have included a close to the investigation, who to ensure that the Provincial Ex- housewife, a phone-mast as- declined to be named, said that ecutive Council and Provincial oubou Sangare, his face sistant, a fi ve-year-old albino many “are afraid of being killed Coronavirus Command Council blank, points at a patch of child and a two-year-old girl. if they denounce someone”. respond adequately to weather Bground beneath the en- Investigators have ruled out Facing a deepening mystery, the storm of the pandemic,” Ma- trance to an adobe house. revenge as a motive, as well as investigators are pursuing all khura said in a statement. It was here that he discovered money disputes. possible leads. But Traore, the South Africa’s confi rmed his brother Bakary’s severed Boubacar Diarra, the lead in- traditional chief, is pessimistic coronavirus infections have been head, on the morning of June vestigator, said that although about their chances of success. accelerating in recent weeks as 10, lying next to his body. The there is no solid proof that the He was among the towns- lockdown restrictions are eased. 40-year-old former soldier had Boubou Sangare (right) shows a Malian gendarmerie the site in Fana, where his brother was brutally murders are ritual killings, the people that demanded a police Cases rose by 13,000 to become the latest victim in a murdered a few weeks earlier. Right: Boubacar Diarra (front), an attorney in Fana, poses with his motive is a “working hypothe- station in Fana after the fi rst few 238,339 on Thursday, the biggest spate of unsolved grisly murders security escort in his off ice. sis”. Police have detained 11 men murders, which triggered pro- single-day rise since the out- that have plagued the remote since 2018 — on charges which tests and looting. break began. town of Fana, in southern Mali, town of some 36,000 people, is an unremarkable market town Traore, sitting in his home sur- Diarra would not divulge — yet A police station was duly Gauteng, which includes Jo- since 2018. all the more unusual for occur- in a sleepy cotton-growing re- rounded by elders, was at a the beheadings have continued. opened in Fana last year, adding hannesburg and the capital Pre- Police arrived on the scene 40 ring in an area far from the vio- gion, whose outer districts melt loss.”Only God knows, we can’t Fana inhabitants are losing to the national guardsmen and toria, is now the epicentre with minutes after Boubou Sangare lent hotspots in the vast West into lush green bush. The mur- point to anyone,” he said of the patience. gendarmes already present. nearly 82,000 cases. found his brother’s mutilated African country. ders appear to follow the same perpetrators. Diarra added that investiga- “Nothing worked and it con- Two other provincial pre- remains and cordoned off the Mali, a poor Sahel nation of script. Locals wonder whether Fana tors do not have access to mod- tinues,” the elderly man said, miers, of Western Cape and the area. Offi cers found an iron bar some 19mn people, has been Victims are likely decapitated is under a curse. According to ern equipment such as video referring to the murders. North West province, have test- at the scene, and drops of blood struggling to contain a militant with a knife or axe, investiga- police investigators, the be- surveillance cameras. One of the elders sitting be- ed positive for the virus. leading behind the house and uprising that fi rst emerged in tors say. Then dead bodies are heading victims often live in “We can’t be expected to in- side him, teacher Bakary Bagay- Johannesburg, considered the to motorcycle tyre tracks in the the north in 2012, before spread- usually found in the morning, isolated areas and have few so- vestigate at the same pace as oko, suggested that poor street continent’s centre for fi nance dirt. ing to the centre of the country, without a pool of blood around cial ties. Six out of eight victims elsewhere in the world,” he said, lighting and a closed checkpoint and commerce, attracts hun- But police investigators re- claiming thousands of lives. them — suggesting that the kill- were from one neighbourhood while adding that he was confi - at the town’s limits were also dreds of thousands of job seekers main bewildered by the killings. But Mali’s south has been ers collected the blood. in Fana, called Badialan, which dent investigators would crack insecurity-inducing problems and migrants yearly. The murder spree in Fana, a relatively spared. And Fana is Traditional chief Adama skirts the bush.But otherwise, the case. But fi rst, residents must to be solved. Gulf Times Saturday, July 11, 2020 5 AMERICAS

LAW AND ORDER VERDICT TECHNOLOGY PEOPLE DATA Ghislaine Maxwell Black man’s hanging Facebook repairs bug Ex-Trump lawyer Canada jobless says she deserves bail death ruled as suicide that sparked app outages Cohen back in custody rate drops in June

Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend and The death of a black man found hanging Popular smartphone apps including Spotify President Donald Trump’s former personal Nearly 1mn jobs were created in Canada in June longtime associate of late financier Jeff rey Epstein, from a tree in California that prompted fears and Pinterest yesterday suff ered outages attorney Michael Cohen was taken back as coronavirus-linked restrictions were loosened, yesterday forcefully denied charges that she of a lynching during last month’s anti-racism for a few hours due to a bug in Facebook’s into custody for rejecting the terms of a sending the unemployment rate down to 12.3%, helped him in his criminal deeds and said she protests has been ruled a suicide. Robert systems. Facebook has resolved the problem, release granted because of the coronavirus government data showed yesterday. The economic deserves bail. Maxwell’s request was filed in the Fuller, a 24-year-old found with a rope a spokesperson said. “Earlier yesterday, a pandemic, officials said. Cohen was sentenced reboot generated 953,000 jobs last month, nearly US District Court in Manhattan eight days after around his neck near Palmdale city hall, code change triggered crashes for some iOS to three years in jail in December 2018 after double the estimates by analysts, who had expected her arrest in New Hampshire, where authorities took his life after battling mental illness and apps using the Facebook SDK,” or software admitting paying hush money to two women, on average about 550,000 new jobs. With the said she had been hiding at a sprawling property suicidal thoughts since 2017, officials said. development kit, the spokesperson said. “We for tax fraud and for lying to Congress. The 290,000 jobs generated in May, the Canadian she bought while shielding her identity. Maxwell, “The medical examiner issued their final identified the issue quickly and resolved it. We 53-year-old lawyer was released on prison labour market has now recovered about 40% of the 58, was moved on Monday to the Metropolitan autopsy report and delivered it to the sheriff’s apologise for any inconvenience.” App users furlough on May 21 as part of a push to stem roughly 3mn jobs lost since the start of the global Detention Center, a jail in Brooklyn, New York. department, and deemed this case to be a began reporting on Twitter early yesterday that the spread of Covid-19 among inmates and pandemic. The unemployment rate thus dropped Prosecutors have said she poses an “extreme suicide,” Los Angeles County detective Chris they were unable to open Spotify and other was due to agree to house confinement rules. 1.4 percentage points in June, from a record 13.7% risk of flight” and should remain detained until Marks told a news conference. There was no sites. Downdetector, which monitors for Internet “Michael Cohen refused the conditions of his seen in May – the highest rate since 1976, when trial. Maxwell faces up to 35 years in prison if evidence of trauma that could suggest others problems in real time, showed a rise in problems home confinement and as a result, has been such data was first made public. The June job gains convicted. Her arraignment before district judge were involved, according to the coroner’s for a number of applications, including Spotify, returned to a BOP facility,” a spokesperson for were nearly evenly split between new full-time work Alison Nathan is scheduled for July 14. report. Pinterest, Waze and The New York Times. the Bureau of Prisons said. (488,000) and new part-time gigs (465,000). Police unions approved for millions in pandemic aid

Reuters ployees during the pandemic, Washington so their unions’ dues collections should not have suff ered any signifi cant hits. t least six police unions It is clear the loan programme, qualifi ed for a combined overseen by the Small Business Atotal of $2mn to $4.4mn Administration (SBA), gave out in emergency US government funds with few limits on who loans intended to help small would benefi t, said Liz Hempo- businesses stay afl oat during the wicz, director of public policy at coronavirus lockdown, accord- the watchdog group Project on ing to data released by the US Government Oversight. Small Business Administration. “The onus was on the SBA to The unions represent about ensure we’re not just throw- 110,000 law enforcement offi c- ing public funds at entities that ers in Philadelphia, Houston, don’t need them,” she said.”It is President Donald Trump speaks as he is briefed on enhanced narcotics operations at the US Southern Command in Doral, Florida, yesterday. New York state, Michigan and 11 common sense we’d prioritise southern states. the industries that need it most, All told, the six approved loans and I don’t know that’s police make up a small fraction of the unions right now.” programme’s $521bn in lending James Miller, spokesman for across 4.9mn loans as of June 30. the New York State Correctional The data does not specify Offi cers and Police Benevo- whether the loans were dis- lent Association, said the union bursed or if the unions will qual- sought a loan in anticipation of Trump threatens to review ify for loan forgiveness. potential revenue losses and pos- Intended to help small compa- sible layoff s amid prison closures. nies and non-profi t organisations The union, which represents keep their workforces employed about 26,000 employees and during the coronavirus crisis, the retirees, qualifi ed to borrow be- federal Paycheck Protection Pro- tween $150,000 and $350,000. schools’ tax-exempt status gramme allows employers with “Based on current revenue 500 or fewer workers hurt by the projections for the remainder of Reuters He accuses Democrats of ex- School administrators are Tropical Storm Fay was ex- Hampshire has been postponed economic fallout of the pandemic the year, we anticipate return- Washington ploiting the pandemic for po- weighing the risk to opening up pected to sweep across the for safety reasons because of to apply for a forgivable govern- ing the loan, as it is the prudent litical purposes by refusing to their buildings to primary and heavily populated northeastern Tropical Storm Fay. It will be ment-backed loan. thing to do,” he said. reopen schools and businesses, secondary students and staff as US, bringing moderate to heavy rescheduled and a new date The six police unions typically The other police unions ap- resident Donald Trump, even as health experts caution US cases have topped 3mn this rains and the potential for some will be announced soon,” said receive 90% of their revenue proved for loans did not return seeking to force school against the perils of easing re- week. fl ooding, the National Weather Tim Murtaugh, the trump cam- from membership dues, accord- repeated e-mails and calls seek- Pdistricts and universities strictions too quickly. Some universities have an- Service said. paign’s communications direc- ing to tax records reviewed by ing comment. to reopen despite the corona- “Therefore, I am telling the nounced online-only instruc- The storm is expected to tor. Reuters, and thus, barring layoff s, Qualifying for a loan of be- virus, yesterday said the US Treasury Department to re-ex- tion plans, while others weigh bring rain and gusty winds Trump has held a series would not be hurting for cash. tween $1mn and $2mn was the treasury department would re- amine their tax-exempt status options such as school calendar to southern New Hampshire of events recently with large All six unions have work forces Southern States Police Benevo- examine their tax-exempt sta- and/or funding, which will be changes. early today, but will have crowds despite warnings from of their own, providing support lent Association, which rep- tus and funding. taken away if this propaganda Trump this week threat- moved out of the area by the public health professionals to members. resents about 58,000 federal, Trump already has threat- or act against public policy con- ened to cut off federal funds for afternoon, National Weather about the dangers of big gath- Their combined loan applica- state, county and municipal law ened to cut their federal funding tinues. Our children must be schools that do not open their Service meteorologist Dan Pe- erings during the coronavirus tions said they sought to retain enforcement offi cers in eleven and sought to eject university educated, not indoctrinated!” doors. terson said. pandemic. 331 jobs. states. students from abroad. Trump’s administration is Meanwhile, a campaign rally A forecast posted on weather. New Hampshire gover- Four forces with unions that The Philadelphia Fraternal “Too many universities and pushing schools to relaunch for Trump set for today in New com predicted an 8% to 15% nor Chris Sununu, a fellow received loans — the New York Order of Police, which repre- school systems are about radical in-person classes even as cases Hampshire has been postponed chance of rain in Portsmouth Republican, said earlier this State Police, Philadelphia Police sents 14,000 active and retired left indoctrination, not educa- of the novel coronavirus surge by a “week or two” because of today between 7pm and 10 pm week he planned to greet Department, Philadelphia Sher- Philadelphia police offi cers and tion,” the Republican Trump in some of the country’s most a tropical storm off the East ET; tomorrow was slated to be Trump at the airport but iff ’s Offi ce and Houston Police sheriff deputies, qualifi ed to wrote in a tweet yesterday likely populous areas, prompting Coast, White House spokes- mostly sunny. would not attend the rally be- Department — said they had not borrow between $350,000 and to sit well with his conservative some to roll back their plans to woman Kayleigh McEnany told “The rally scheduled for cause of the number of people laid off or furloughed any em- $1mn. base. relax restrictions. reporters yesterday. today in Portsmouth, New expected.

Anger at mayor Five people arrested in Trudeau family ‘paid by rapper murder probe charity facing probe’ AFP deau took over the leadership of Montreal the Liberal Party. Guardian News and Media Bowl stadium in September lates, a song that holds many Canada’s ethics watchdog said London 2019. feelings at once: the frustra- on July 3 that he has launched Pop Smoke’s posthumous tion of seeing a friend jailed, he charity at the heart of an investigation into the prime debut album, Shoot For The the fun of fl irting and acquir- an ethics investigation minister, after a controversial ive people have been ar- Stars, Aim For The Moon, was ing the latest designer clothes Ttargeting Prime Minister contract to manage a major gov- rested in connection with released last week. (so you can fl irt some more), Justin Trudeau paid members of ernment programme was award- Fthe death of Brooklyn The Brooklyn drill pioneer the sobering reality of know- his family for speaking engage- ed to WE Charity in June. rapper Pop Smoke. was known for his collabora- ing that it all could end with a ments, Canadian media report- That same day the charity The 20-year-old artist, born tions with UK drill artistes in- snap.” ed. said it was withdrawing from the Bashar Jackson, was shot dead cluding 808 Melo, Yoz, Swirv “He was defi nitely destined WE Charity paid Margaret $900mn federal programme, in a suspected robbery that and AXL, whose music he for great things,” fan Malluchi Trudeau, the prime minister’s which provides grants of up to took place in a rented apart- found on YouTube. Boateng said on the day Shoot mother, C$250,000 ($184,000) $5,000 to eligible students for ment in Hollywood, California, In his fi nal interview, Pop For The Stars, Aim For The for speeches at 28 events be- volunteer work with non-profi t on February 19. predicted the longevity of their Moon was released. tween 2016 and 2020, according organisations during the coro- Los Angeles Police Depart- sound: “This is what New York “If you look at what he did in to the Canadian Broadcasting navirus pandemic. ment said it had arrested three sounds like now. We bridged about 14 months of his career, Corporation (CBC). “The prime minister’s rela- adult males and two minors. that gap between London and most artistes do that in fi ve or The revelation seemed “to tives engage with a variety of Corey Walker, 19, and Ke- New York. We at least got a six years.” contradict WE Charity’s earli- organisations and support many andre Rodgers, 18, have been decade with this.” The New York rapper found er claim that it had ‘never paid personal causes on their own ac- charged with murder. Pop Smoke’s 2019 breakout fans in the UK, in part, be- an honorarium’ to Margaret cord,” Trudeau’s offi ce said in a Twenty-one-year-old hit, Welcome to the Party, was cause he used drill beats pro- Trudeau,” the public broad- press release. “What is impor- Jaquan Murphy has been produced by 808 Melo. duced from this side of the caster said in a report on its tant to remember here is that charged with attempted mur- This year, his single Dior – Atlantic. website. this is about a charity supporting der. also produced by 808 Melo – “The UK has a thing where WE Charity paid Justin students,” it continued. The LAPD said that mem- became a frequent soundtrack we can see who the up-and- Trudeau’s brother Alexandre The Conservative opposition bers of an LA street gang to New York’s Black Lives Mat- coming US rap stars are, it’s a $32,000 for his participation in blasted Trudeau for the “scan- were involved with the deaths ter protests. weird one. Pop Smoke was the Tents are erected by protesters outside St. Louis City Hall eight events, the CBC reported. dalous” revelations, accusing of Pop Smoke and 18-year- Pitchfork critic Alphonse front runner in that,” music in St Louis, Missouri. Many protesters are demanding the It also said the prime min- him of handing “almost a bil- old Kamryn Stone, who was Pierre described it as a “radical journalist Abubakar Finiin told resignation of St Louis City mayor Lyda Krewson after she ister’s offi ce had confi rmed lion-dollar contract to a charity killed while working in a addition to the protest canon”. Newsbeat. revealed names and addresses of protesters calling for that his wife Sophie “received that not only had close ties to the clean-up crew after a football Pierre wrote: “Dior is ca- “It’s a shame we didn’t see it police reform. $1,500” for participating in a Liberal Party, but which paid his game at the Pasadena Rose thartic in all that it encapsu- come into fruition.” WE event in 2012, before Tru- family almost $300,000.” Gulf Times 6 Saturday, July 11, 2020 ASIA

Bangladesh’s US Army chief signs ‘strategic shortest-ever budget session vision’ treaty with Thailand prorogued Reuters Thailand is Washington’s land, and Bangkok responded by Bangkok oldest ally in Asia, but forging a closer ties with China. relations were strained by But ties improved after last IANS a 2014 military coup led year’s general election that offi - Dhaka S Army Chief of Staff by then-army chief Prayut cially restored civilian rule while General James McCo- that ousted an elected keeping Prayut on as a civilian Unville met with Thai- civilian government leader, resulting in arms deal he budget and eighth land’s prime minister and its for US-made armoured per- session of Bangladesh’s army chief yesterday, in the fi rst teroperability, joint training, and sonnel carriers and light attack Tincumbent 11th parlia- high-level visit by a foreign del- doctrine”. helicopters last year. ment was prorogued after only egation to Thailand since the The US has sought to counter Prayut yesterday also ac- nine working days, becoming Covid-19 pandemic disrupted China’s infl uence in southeast knowledged $2mn in US aid to the shortest in the country’s re- international travel. Asia, most recently by sending help Thailand to cope with the cent history, due to the Covid-19 McConville met with Prime two aircraft carriers to the South coronavirus, according to a news pandemic. Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha China Sea while the Chinese release from his offi ce. The session was prorogued at and also Thai army chief Api- military conducted drills near The US delegation visited around 1.30pm on Thursday while rat Kongsompong and signed a islands that are also claimed by under a special arrangement Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaud- Strategic Vision Statement, a Vietnam. to follow strict coronavirus hury, who was presiding over the US embassy statement said, as Thailand is Washington’s old- safety measures that required sitting, read out the prorogation Washington looks to reassure al- est ally in Asia, but relations members to wear face masks. order of the President, reports lies about its commitment to the were strained by a 2014 military Thailand has gone six weeks The Daily Star newspaper. region. coup led by then-army chief without confi rmed community Among the total nine sit- The text of the statement was Prayut that ousted an elected transmission of coronavirus, tings, only two days were allotted not released, but the embassy civilian government. while the US marked a new daily for holding discussions on the said McConville and Apirat The US scaled back some record of more than 60,000 new US Army Chief of Staff General James C McConville and Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, budget for 2020-21 fi scal. “discussed modernisation, in- military exchanges with Thai- cases on Thursday. wearing face masks, speak during their meeting at Government House in Bangkok yesterday. On the other hand, discussions on the supplementary budget for 2019-20 fi scal were held only for a day. Finance Minister AHM Mus- tafa Kamal placed the 5,680bn About 31mn taka national budget on June 11, Indonesian politician’s anti-virus while the budget session began on June 10. workers A total of 5.18 hours discussion was held on the national budget for 2020-21. impacted veil policy draws criticism In recent years, a total of 50- 55 hours of discussions were typically held on the budget in by Covid-19 AFP regency, next to the holiday is- The policy was announced “But I don’t mind as it’s a way offi cially topped 70,000. parliament. Labuhan Lombok land of Bali, said he made the or- last month. Male civil servants to learn about wearing appropri- This week police in Aceh Due to the pandemic, only a der after government employees have to wear medical masks ate clothes taught in Islam,” she province censured a group of handful MPs were allowed to pandemic complained about wearing face during the group exercises. added. female cyclists over what au- attend the session, while sen- n Indonesian politician masks during offi ce calisthenics While the rule may only be The policy has raised eye- thorities deemed inappropriate ior lawmakers and MPs from is under fi re for order- held outside every Friday. mandatory on Fridays, many brows among rights groups. clothing: tight, long-sleeved outside the capital were dis- in Vietnam Aing female civil servants But Thohir denied any reli- female employees wear veils in “A mask needs to meet certain pink tops and dark trousers. couraged from being present, to wear face veils once a week gious motivation for requiring the local government offi ce on standards to prevent” infection, Human Rights Watch re- according to The Daily Star in what he defended as a bid to the face veil, which is not worn other days, according to an AFP said Andy Yentriyani, a com- searcher Andreas Harsono said report. Reuters guard against the coronavirus. by most women in Indonesia. reporter. missioner at the National Com- the veil order was “obviously A limited number of staff and of- Hanoi But critics said the loose “It is purely for Covid-19 pre- About 90% of the nearly mission on Violence Against an extension” of a mandatory fi cials of the parliament secretariat covering known as the niqab vention. This is not based on 4,000 women working for Cen- Women. hijab regulation for Muslim were asked to come to the Jatiya did not off er suffi cient pro- radical teachings or fanaticism,” tral Lombok’s government are “The policy should be re- girls in almost 300,000 pub- Sangsad Bhaban for their duties. he economic fallout tection and it was another Thohir said, adding that there Muslim. viewed because it could threaten lic schools across the sprawling Members of the media were from the Covid-19 pan- attempt to impose conserva- were no sanctions for ignoring Civil servant Yayuh, who like women’s health rights.” archipelago. also requested not to cover the Tdemic has negatively tive dress codes on women in his rule. many Indonesians goes by one Central Lombok has got “Everyone should wear session in-person. impacted about 31mn workers the world’s biggest Muslim- “To make sure civil servants name, said she expected Cen- off relatively lightly with the masks to protect themselves The development comes as in Vietnam, with 900,000 out majority nation. cover their nose and mouth dur- tral Lombok’s policy would be- virus, with 117 confi rmed from the coronavirus, including Bangladesh has so far far regis- of work and nearly 18mn peo- Mohamed Suhaili Fadhil Tho- ing the weekly exercise we asked come mandatory during all work cases and four deaths. Na- civil servants, but a veil is not a tered a total of 175,494 Covid-19 ple receiving less income than hir, the head of Central Lombok them to wear veils.” hours. tionwide infections have mask,” he said. cases, with 2,238 deaths. before, a government agency said yesterday. If solutions to drive busi- ness activity were not imme- Farmer’s field day diately implemented, there could be 5mn more people out of work by the end the year, Landslides the General Statistics Offi ce (GSO) said. Vietnam has reported just 369 coronavirus cases, with no deaths. It has been 81 days with- kill at least 9 out domestic transmission, ow- ing to successful programmes to contain the virus. Its economy has suff ered, however, with second quar- in Nepal ter growth at its slowest pace in at least 30 years due to the impact of the pandemic, DPA rescued and taken to hospital. putting the government’s Kathmandu It is not known how many 2020 economic targets well people are still buried after the out of reach. landslides in several areas. Vietnam’s services sector has ine people were The state-owned National been the most heavily impacted, killed and many oth- News Agency said at least the GSO said, with 72% of work- Ners are missing af- 29 people were missing af- ers aff ected. Labour in the in- ter a series of landslides in ter landslides swept over dustrial and agricultural sectors Nepal on Thursday night, a dozen houses in Myagdi, were the second and third most- offi cials said. another district in Gandaki aff ected. Janardan Gautam, a province. “Workers are being nega- spokesperson for Nepal’s NDRRMA urged people to be tively impacted by being laid National Disaster Risk Re- careful as heavy rainfall contin- off or having had their working duction and Management ues to wreak havoc across the hours reduced. The number Authority (NDRRMA), said country. of aff ected workers will con- that seven of the deceased Earlier on Thursday, two peo- tinue to climb in the upcom- belonged to two families in ple died due to fl oods near the ing quarters,” the GSO said in a Kaski and Lamjung districts Chinese border in central Nepal, statement. of Gandaki province. while at least 16 others are still “Urban unemployment rate in “The fi gure could go up as missing. the second quarter hit the high- rescue operations are still under Monsoon-induced natural est in 10 years, at 4.46% mostly way in some areas,” Gautam said disasters are common in Nepal, because of the social distancing A farmer stands in a corn field in Ciamis, West Java Province of Indonesia, yesterday. yesterday, adding that around a country mostly covered by measure in April.” a dozen of people had been mountains and rivers.

Judge detained after Thailand to invite diplomats to check farms for monkey labour killing thief with car DPA report last week by the animal in southern Thailand, said on Bangkok rights group People for the Ethi- Thursday that around 80% of all cal Treatment of Animals (PETA) coconuts in southern Thailand are A Cambodian judge has been The judge, Kong Khemara, who that said more than 15,000 picked using monkeys. charged with manslaughter after sits on a provincial court, told hailand will invite Europe- shops, many based in Europe, He said only monkeys are able hitting an alleged thief with his car. police he gave chase to 30-year- an diplomats to inspect its had agreed to stop buying coco- to take down coconuts from The alleged thief, identified old woman in his car. Tcoconut farms to disprove nut products from Thailand af- trees higher than 15m. as Say Kimny, was reportedly He said he hit her as he swerved claims by animal rights activists ter the group found the industry “We have to rely on monkeys attempting to escape on a to avoid another car, according that the industry uses abusive abuses monkeys and forces them quite a bit because the local co- motorbike after snatching the to the report. monkey labour, offi cials said. to pick coconuts. conut trees here are very tall,” judge’s bag, a moment captured A police off icial told the Deputy Minister of Agricul- Mananya said yesterday that Somchai said. on CCTV footage released early newspaper that Khemara had ture and Cooperatives Mananya all exported Thai coconut prod- He said images of monkeys yesterday on social media. been charged by police with Thaiset said yesterday that the ucts are produced using coco- being chained and abused do not The bag contained $10,000, the Phnom manslaughter and his case had government is planning to invite nuts picked by humans from accurately refl ect how the ani- Penh Post reported late Thursday. been sent to court. foreign diplomats to coconut farms shorter coconut trees, and none mals are treated. The incident took place on A court off icial said the matter in the southern province of Surat are produced using coconuts “Monkeys have been with us Wednesday afternoon in Phnom was now being investigated by a Thani where people use tools, not picked by monkeys. since our ancestors for people in Penh. prosecutor. (DPA) monkeys, to pick coconuts. However, Somchai Duangmun- the south. We live together like A monkey is being trained at a monkey school for coconut harvest in Her comments followed a ta, a 64-year old monkey trainer family,” he said. Surat Thani province. Gulf Times Saturday, July 11, 2020 7 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

China, US in new spat over Uighur crackdown, engage in tit-for-tat measures

AFP visa bans and an assets freeze on rifi c and systematic abuses” in the situation “the stain of the in the region. The Treasury De- impact and said it was especial- Mnuchin took Thursday’s ac- Beijing three offi cials, including Chen Xinjiang including forced labour, century” and has previously partment sanctions also make ly noteworthy that the United tions under separate authorities. Quanquo, the Communist Party mass detention and involuntary drawn parallels with the Holo- it a crime in the United States to States targeted Chen, who before In a fresh eff ort, 78 members chief in Xinjiang and architect of population control. caust. conduct fi nancial transactions Xinjiang made his name through of Congress across party lines hina said yesterday it Beijing’s hardline policies against The back-and-forth over China counters that it is pro- with the three people as well as strong-armed tactics in Tibet. released a letter that urged the will impose tit-for-tat restive minorities. Xinjiang comes just days after viding education and vocational a fourth person, former security “My guess is that this will have Trump administration to consid- Cmeasures after the United “The US actions seriously the two countries imposed visa training in a bid to reduce the offi cial Huo Liujun, who was not a ripple eff ect throughout the er formally designating China’s States slapped sanctions on Chi- interfere in China’s internal af- restrictions on each other over allure of radicalism following a subjected to the separate visa re- Chinese Communist Party. Other policies as genocide. nese offi cials for their involve- fairs, seriously violate the basic their disagreement on Tibet. spate of deadly violence. The Ui- strictions. would-be bad actors may think Despite wide concern in ment in a crackdown on Muslim norms of international relations, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang ghur Human Rights Project, an The Treasury Department also twice before engaging in behav- Washington over treatment of minorities, raising tensions be- and seriously damage China- Yi on Thursday blamed the ris- advocacy group, hailed the sanc- imposed sanctions on the se- iours like you see Chen Quanguo the Uighurs, former national se- tween the superpowers. US relations,” foreign ministry ing tensions on “McCarthy-style tions and urged other countries curity bureau as an institution, carrying out,” she said. curity adviser John Bolton in an The two countries have traded spokesman Zhao Lijian said in paranoia” in the United States. to follow suit. pointing to its sweeping digital The visa ban impacts offi cials’ explosive new book said he was barbs and sanctions on a slew of a briefi ng. “China has decided Witnesses and human rights “At last, real consequences surveillance of Uighurs and other immediate families, depriving shocked at Trump’s attitude on issues since President Donald to impose reciprocal measures groups say that China has round- have begun. This comes at the minorities. their children of the prestige of the issue. Trump took offi ce, from trade to against the relevant US institu- ed up more than 1mn Uighurs and 11th hour for Uighurs,” said the Olivia Enos, a senior policy an- jetsetting across the Pacifi c for Bolton wrote that Chinese more recent spats over the coro- tions and individuals who behave other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang US-based group’s executive di- alyst at the conservative Herit- education or pleasure. President Xi Jinping explained navirus pandemic, a security law badly on Xinjiang-related is- in a vast brainwashing campaign rector, Omer Kanat. The other age Foundation who studies hu- Congress has led the push for his policies to Trump in a meet- in Hong Kong, and Chinese poli- sues,” Zhao said, without provid- aimed at forcibly homogenising two offi cials hit with sanctions man rights, doubted that Beijing a tougher response on Xinjiang ing and that the US leader, eager cies in the far west regions of Ti- ing details about the sanctions. minorities into the country’s Han were Wang Mingshan, the direc- would suddenly reverse course in and in May passed an act that for a trade deal with Beijing, re- bet and Xinjiang. Secretary of State Mike Pom- majority. tor of the Xinjiang Public Secu- Xinjiang. authorised sanctions, listing plied that the detention camps The latest Chinese response peo said on Thursday the United Pompeo in a conference call rity Bureau, and Zhu Hailun, a But she voiced hope that the Chen by name, although Pompeo were “exactly the right thing to followed a US announcement of States was acting against “hor- with reporters Thursday called former senior Communist leader sanctions would have a broader and Treasury Secretary Steven do.” Singaporeans vote in shadow of pandemic About 2.65mn citizens to cast votes A voter carrying his poll card and mobile phone waits to cast his Authorities implement strict safety ballot during the general election in Singapore. rules for voting Long lines at some polling centres Comfortable win expected for ruling party: analysts

Reuters At polling stations round the Singapore city, election offi cials clad in face shields enforced distancing rules and took voters’ temperatures as ingaporean voters fretted they entered polling booths. over the risks of Covid-19 “This is a very dangerous time Sas they queued in masks to hold an election even though to cast their ballots yesterday, many precautions were taken,” amid an uptick in new infections said Mayank Goel, 21, a biomedi- and prospects of the city-state’s cal engineering student after economy entering its worst-ever voting. recession. Some Singaporeans had voiced In power since independence doubt whether it was worth risk- in 1965, the ruling People’s Ac- ing going to polling stations, tion Party (PAP) is widely ex- though voting is mandatory in pected by analysts to carry Prime on the small southeast Asian is- Minister Lee Hsien Loong to an- land that has become wealthy by other comfortable, and probably being a banking, trade and trans- fi nal victory. port hub for the region. Voters wearing face masks wait to enter a school, temporarily used as a polling station, to cast their Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong waving as he cast his vote at Lee, the son of Singapore’s Since easing its lockdown last ballots during the general election in Singapore yesterday. Alexandra Primary School during the general election in Singapore. founding leader Lee Kuan Yew, month, the number of new dai- has held the premiership since ly cases in Singapore has crept were no party rallies allowed. sponse to the coronavirus crisis again as the country emerges slot to vote. Inside the polling tion authority to drop a require- 2004. Aged 68, Lee has already back into double fi gures, exclud- Singapore has one of the low- and the next generation of lead- from lockdown to face its deep- stations, they had to self-scan ment for voters to wear gloves, fl agged his intention to step aside ing the migrant workers living est Covid-19 fatality rates in the ers, the poll results will be close- est recession. identity cards and sanitised their and by around mid-morning in coming years, but he wanted a in dormitories where infection world and initially earned wide- ly watched as even small shifts in Singapore is not the fi rst hands before receiving a ballot the lines had receded. Sample fresh mandate to steer the coun- rates have been far higher. spread praise for its eff orts. But the PAP’s popularity can lead to country in Asia to hold elections paper. counts are expected soon after try out of the coronavirus crisis. And opposition parties had subsequent mass outbreaks in major policy changes. during the pandemic -- South While offi cials had hoped it polling closes at 8pm with final As the prime minister queued up criticised Lee for calling the cramped migrant worker dormi- When concerns around im- Korea held parliamentary elec- would take voters no more than results due in the early hours of to cast his vote, a video widely election, warning that it could tories stained that early success, migration and jobs fl ared in 2011, tions in April. fi ve minutes to cast their ballot, Saturday. A record 11 parties are shared on social media showed hit public health and distract and persuaded the government the PAP polled a record-low But with just 2.65mn voters some people said they waited for contesting. his wife tapping him on the from government eff orts to tack- to keep schools and businesses 60% of the vote and tightened in Singapore, election organis- up to an hour as lines formed ini- “Economy is not doing well shoulder to remind him to social- le the virus. closed for longer. international hiring rules to ad- ers counted on a fast, hygienic tially outside some polling sta- so we need more voices and ex- ly distance when he strayed too Social distancing rules con- Seen as a measure of approval dress voters’ sensitivities. Those vote to minimise risks. Voters tions. change of ideas (in parliament),” close to the person in front. strained campaigning, and there for both the government’s re- concerns have come to the fore were given a recommended time Delays persuaded the elec- said entrepreneur Jay Phang, 60. Australia puts cap on number of Mayor’s case shows scale of citizens returning as virus surges South Korea’s gender issues AFP Reuters again and holiday spots hit by Seoul Melbourne cancellations, the state govern- ment also said it would provide a further A$534mn ($371mn), on he magnitude of South Ko- ustralia will halve the top of A$6bn already provided. rea’s sexism problem has number of citizens al- “This is us saying: ‘We’re here Tbeen illustrated by the case Alowed to return home with you all the way through of a top politician and women’s from overseas each week, Prime what will be a very traumatic, a rights advocate who was accused Minister Scott Morrison said very distressing and a very dif- of sexual harassment then took yesterday, as authorities strug- fi cult time for all Victorians,’” his own life, activists say. gle to contain a Covid-19 out- state Treasurer Tim Pallas said Seoul mayor Park Won-soon, break in the country’s second in a televised media conference. a former human rights lawyer, most populous city. The state, which makes up was instrumental in advocating The state of Victoria report- about a quarter of Australia’s against gender discrimination ed 288 new cases yesterday, a economy, expects unemploy- and in the 1990s won what is record daily increase for any ment to peak at 11%, up from widely considered the fi rst sexual part of the country and spark- 6.9% now. Victoria’s economy harassment case in the conserva- Mourners visiting a memorial for the late Seoul mayor Park ing fears of a wave of commu- is expected to shrink by 14% and tive society. Won-soon at the Seoul National University hospital in Seoul. nity transmission in a country take two to three years to recov- But following his suicide, where most cases have involved Police tape blocks an entrance at a public housing estate which is er, Pallas said. feminist campaigners said he had months ago Oh Keo-don, the cal career, but would not think returned travellers. “The news undergoing a forced lockdown in Melbourne yesterday as the city The outbreak has also slowed avoided shame and punishment Democratic mayor of South Ko- how they treat women in real life from Victoria remains very con- records another 288 new cases in a fresh outbreak of the coronavirus. the planned opening of a quar- for allegedly harassing his female rea’s second biggest city Busan, — such as at home or at work — cerning,” Morrison told report- antine-free “travel bubble” secretary, who fi led a police com- resigned after admitting he had also matters.” Activists have pre- ers in Canberra. sources diverted to other tasks,” essential business, the fl are-up with New Zealand, which Mor- plaint against him the day before “unnecessary physical contact” viously accused President Moon Since March, Australia has Morrison said. has led the rest of the country’s rison discussed with New Zea- his death. The circumstances with a female staff er. Jae-in — who once called himself allowed only citizens and per- Neighbouring New Zealand states to ban Victorians from land Prime Minister Jacinda Ar- of Park’s case — despite his lib- “Almost all South Korean men, a feminist — of failing women. manent residents to enter the also introduced measures this entering and dealt a blow to dern yesterday. eral background and after a high- whether they are politically con- “This is both the failure of the in- country with some 357,000 week to limit the number of citi- hopes for a speedy recovery for Despite surging case num- profi le #MeToo campaign in the servative or liberal, are very tra- dividual and the political party,” having returned to date. Aus- zens returning home, seeking to the nation’s economy. bers, Victoria has relaxed re- country — highlight the scale of ditional and patriarchal when it said Harvard researcher Keung tralia will now impose a cap of reduce the burden on its over- The state’s chief health of- strictions on most of the 3,000 gender inequality in South Ko- comes to gender issues,” Lee Soo- Yoon-bae. 4,175 people allowed to return fl owing quarantine facilities. fi cer warned there would be a people who were locked down rean politics, they said yesterday. yeon, a researcher at the Korean “The chauvinism and misog- each week and those returning The announcement of the new sharp rise in hospitalisations, in nine public-housing towers Park was the latest in a series Women’s Development Institute yny — as well as the blindness to will also have to pay for a man- restrictions comes days after intensive care cases and deaths in Melbourne. One of the nine of senior fi gures in the ruling in Seoul, told AFP. these issues — within the Korean datory 14-day quarantine in a Victoria reimposed a lockdown in the coming days as a result towers will remain in a hard centre-left Democratic party to “Politicians — who constantly Left has a long history, going back hotel, which until now had been in Melbourne for six weeks fol- of the spike in infections. Vic- lockdown for another eight face accusations of sexual mis- seek power and acknowledge- to student activism,” she added. paid for by state governments. lowing a surge in cases linked toria yesterday also became the days. conduct. Ahn Hee-jung, a former ment — are no exception.” “It can’t go unaddressed.” “The decision that we took ... to social distancing breaches in fi rst state in the country to urge Even with the latest outbreak, provincial governor who was Male Korean politicians also Park was one of the most was to ensure that we could hotels where returned travellers people to wear masks when they Australia has done relatively runner-up in the 2017 race for the “generally don’t understand prominent male advocates for put our focus on the resources were held in quarantine. leave home. well in controlling the novel party’s presidential nomination, what’s private is also political”, women’s rights in South Korea needed to do the testing and In addition to forcing 5mn To ease the pain for business- coronavirus so far, with around was convicted of “sexual abuse she said. “They would endorse and a pioneering fi gure in the tracing and not have to have re- people to stay home for all but es in Melbourne forced to shut 9,000 cases and 106 deaths. of authority” last year. And three feminism if it helps their politi- fi eld. Gulf Times 8 Saturday, July 11, 2020 BRITAIN

Johnson ‘planning’ radical NHS recast to gain more control

Guardian News and Media shake-up masterminded by An- detailed options to achieve that powers are and wants to get some in NHS working, such as diff er- irritated that NHS treatment The taskforce’s creation last London drew Lansley, the then coalition goal, and that will be followed by of that back.” ent NHS bodies working closely waiting times continue to wors- month follows tension between government health secretary. a parliamentary bill to enact the The proposed NHS overhaul together, and the huge increase en, and many hospitals remain NHS England and the health de- The prime minister’s Health proposals, it is understood. comes amid plans for other sig- in patients seeing their GP or unable to balance their budg- partment over issues that have oris Johnson is planning a and Social Care Taskforce – made “The options put forward to nifi cant reforms, including to the hospital specialist by video or ets, despite the service receiving caused Johnson’s administration radical and politically risky up of senior civil servants and the prime minister will be about universities system and the mili- telephone. record funding. persistent problems, including Breorganisation of the NHS advisers from Downing Street, how the government can curb tary. Ministers are also keen to “clip Dominic Cummings, John- testing of patients and NHS staff , amid government frustration at the Treasury and the department the powers of NHS England and The coronavirus crisis and Simon Stevens’ wings”, sources son’s chief adviser, is not a mem- and shortages of personal pro- the health service’s chief execu- of health and social care (DHSC) increase the health secretary’s an 80-seat majority have made said. There is a widely held view ber of the taskforce but Will tective equipment. tive, Simon Stevens, the Guard- – is drawing up proposals that ‘powers of direction’ over it, so Johnson determined to act. in the government that he enjoys Warr, his health adviser, is. It is Sources close to the health ian has learned. would restrict NHS England’s that he doesn’t have to try to There is ministerial frustration too much independence, and chaired by a senior mandarin secretary say he believes that The prime minister has set up a operational independence and persuade Simon Stevens to do at the role some health agencies frustration that his arms-length from the DHSC. Stevens has been “invisible” and taskforce to devise plans for how the freedom Stevens has to run something,” said a source with have played during the pandem- relationship with the DHSC Its remit also includes delivery unhelpful during the pandemic ministers can regain much of the the service. knowledge of the plans. “(The ic, notably Public Health Eng- means that Hancock has to ask of the array of NHS promises the and is not accountable enough direct control over the NHS they In the summer, the taskforce Health Secretary) Matt Hancock land (PHE), and a desire to make rather than order him to act. prime minister made during last for problems such as patients’ lost in 2012 under a controversial will present Johnson with a set of is frustrated (by) how limited his permanent some recent changes The Treasury in particular is year’s election campaign. long waits for care. Govt advises against cruise travel in blow to industry

Daily Mail There are also fears that Covid London fl are-ups on board could lead to costly repatriation missions paid for by taxpayers. ritish tourists have been Insiders say there are further warned against all travel on worries an outbreak could lead to Bcruise ships. diplomatic tensions with foreign The dramatic intervention from nations if they are forced to deal the Foreign Offi ce is a huge blow to with virus-stricken vessels. the tourist industry – and to the A Whitehall source told the Daily holiday plans of thousands. Mail: “There are huge health con- The offi cial advice came as cerns over how the virus spreads gyms, beauty salons and swim- on cruise ships. There need to be ming pools were told they can start major changes to how they oper- reopening from next week. ate before they can resume sailings The announcement on cruises because we’ve seen how easily the was made hours before the open- virus can spread on board. Anoth- ing of travel corridors to 59 coun- er issue is repatriation.” tries, with holidaymakers now “During the crisis, the Foreign able to fl y all around the world. Offi ce had to bring back 19,000 Cruise bosses branded the rules British nationals from cruise lin- nonsensical and accused ministers ers. There is concern in govern- Passengers wearing face masks or covering due to the Covid-19 pandemic, queue at a British Airways check-in desk at Heathrow airport, west London, yesterday. The government of dealing a fresh blow to their be- ment that we will have to do this yesterday revealed the first exemptions from its coronavirus quarantine, with arrivals from Germany, France, Spain and Italy no longer required to self-isolate leaguered industry. again if we allow sailings to restart.’ “I’m fl abbergasted,” said Paul The latest Foreign Offi ce edict, Green of Riviera Travel cruises. which eff ectively bans cruises, is a “How can hotels and travel within hardening of earlier advice warn- say France or Germany be con- ing that over-70s should avoid sidered safe by the Foreign Offi ce, cruise ship holidays. yet river cruises, with their limited It comes as thousands of Brit- passenger numbers and scrupu- ons prepare to jet off for a holiday Government not to join EU lous cleaning regime, have a prob- under the department for trans- lem?” port’s travel corridor scheme, A source said industry leaders which came into force yesterday. were “privately fuming”. A cruise industry source said: Future bookings are likely to be “On the face of it we are being devastated because the guidance co-operative, but most of us are comes with no time limit. privately fuming. Confi dence in Covid-19 vaccine scheme The announcement states: cruise holidays is high and we have “The Foreign and Commonwealth gone to great lengths to make our Reuters ing our collaboration with the EU Earlier this year, Britain failed tiate with, or the price, volume nofi over a supply deal. Offi ce advises against cruise ship services safe, with social distanc- London outside the framework,” Britain’s to join an EU procurement pro- and delivery schedule negoti- The talks with the EU had rep- travel at this time. This is due ing in communal airports, pre- ambassador to the EU, Tim Bar- gramme for ventilators due to ated”. With a global death toll of resented a test of whether the to the ongoing pandemic and is boarding Covid tests and temper- row, said. what offi cials described as a more than 550,000 and a virus two parties could work together based on medical advice from ature checks at entrances to dining he government has turned Before making its decision, it communications issue. that is still on the march, lead- to tackle international emergen- Public Health England. The gov- halls.” down the chance to join a had assessed whether the ad- ing governments are locked in cies after Brexit. ernment will continue to review Debbie Marshall of Silver Trav- T2.4bn euro ($2.7bn) Eu- vantages of the European bloc’s Barrow said joining an race to secure supplies of The EU said prior to the an- its cruise ship advice based on the el, which organises trips for older ropean Union plan to secure ad- bargaining power to strike deals the EU scheme would vaccines in a desperate attempt nouncement that a decision latest medical advice.” travellers, added: “We don’t un- vance purchases of promising with international drug compa- have required Britain to to get their economies working by Britain to reject the scheme The cruise industry had gone to derstand why the FCO has hard- Covid-19 vaccines, saying the nies would outweigh the fact that end its own talks with again. would not aff ect talks it was hav- great lengths to make ships as safe ened the existing advice for the EU would not allow it any role in Britain would have little control manufacturers Britain has already struck a ing with drugmakers. as possible in the hope of opening over-70s and people with health decision-making. over strategy. deal to secure 100mn doses of Under the EU plan, the bloc up again. issues with regard to cruising. “The government has decided With the highest coronavirus Barrow said joining the EU an experimental vaccine that has wants to buy or commit to buy But health offi cials are terrifi ed There is no logic in now making on this occasion not to join this death toll in Europe, Britain is scheme would have required been developed by the University promising vaccines before they the liners could become “fl oating this a blanket extension and we internal EU initiative, but given struggling to reopen its economy Britain to end its own talks with of Oxford and licensed to British are ready, taking the risk of po- petri dishes” after a boom in out- hope that it will be revised before our shared interest in ensuring and will end a status quo transi- manufacturers, and it would drugmaker AstraZeneca. tential clinical failures. breaks of Covid-19 on ships at the the cruise lines look to resume op- that vaccines are available to all, tion period with the EU at the have been given no voice over Media reports suggest it has In exchange, it would get pri- beginning of the pandemic. erations. we are committed to strengthen- end of this year. “which manufacturers to nego- also held talks with GSK and Sa- ority access to the shots.

Final farewell Man jailed for bid to Depp denies hurling steal Magna Carta

AFP case, he turned a security camera phone at ex-wife Heard London away to avoid being recorded, and set off a fi re alarm as a distraction. Salisbury Crown Court was told Guardian News and Media Depp returned to the complex Wass said Depp was particu- man was jailed yesterday Royden had 23 previous convictions London of fi ve penthouses he owned in larly stressed at the time because for attempting to steal covering 51 off ences, including theft the Eastern Columbia building his mother had recently died Aa priceless 1215 original and criminal damage against items in downtown LA in May 2016 to and, separately, he had lost a lot version of Magna Carta, which “of the establishment”.His lawyer ohnny Depp has denied hurl- pick up some personal eff ects. of money. has defi ned rights and liberties said his client had a serious car acci- ing a phone at Amber Heard The couple had last met in Wass suggested Depp had tak- around the world. dent in 1991 that left him with brain Jin the fi nal confrontation of April when they had rowed af- en drink and drugs to cope with Mark Royden attacked the damage, and was a “caring, kind and their turbulent marriage. ter Depp had been detained at a the stress. protective glass surrounding the helpful man” but was “blighted by Details of the alleged incident business meeting and arrived late Depp disputed that.“There manuscript at Salisbury Cathedral demons”. in their LA home as the couple for Heard’s 30th birthday party. was too much to deal with on but was chased off by two Ameri- “He has become a pest and a were breaking up emerged on Sasha Wass QC, representing such painful and important lev- can tourists and cornered by a pain, mired in drink and drugs, the fourth day of Depp’s cross- the Sun, accused Depp of having els that I could not escape into group of stonemasons. heroin has been the drug of choice examination at the Royal Courts lost his temper on that occasion any drug-induced, pain-free The 47-year-old was found and alcohol has blighted him,” said of Justice in London. when Heard criticised his late ar- setting or numbness. I did not guilty in January of attempted Nicolas Cotter. Depp, 57, is suing the Sun’s rival. inebriate myself,” he said. theft and criminal damage to the The lawyer said Royden told publisher, News Group Newspa- Depp replied: “I don’t mind Anticipating trouble, Depp ar- security case costing £14,466. him he could not plead guilty to pers (NGN), and its executive ed- being criticised at all, but that rived with two security guards Sentencing him to four years in the off ence as it could “implicate itor, Dan Wootton, over an article was beyond criticism. She was who waited outside the pent- jail yesterday, judge Richard Parkes him as a Russian spy”. Four origi- that called him a “wife beater” lighting me up.” house, the court heard. said he had made a “determined nal copies of Magna Carta from and referred to “overwhelming Wass suggested that at one He went in and a dispute began attempt” to steal a document of 1215 remain in existence: two in the evidence” that he had attacked stage he had “picked up bottle with Heard. The court went into “huge historical importance” to British Library in London; one in Heard. and you threw it at (Heard) and private session for a few minutes the world. Salisbury; and another in Lincoln Depp denies ever hitting it missed … and glass smashed.” yesterday. Prosecutors said Royden be- Cathedral, eastern England. Heard, 34, who has submit- Depp denied that he had done The judge, Justice Nicol, has lieved the Salisbury Magna Car- In June 1215, the despotic king ted details of 14 occasions dur- so. He eventually said he had previously agreed that claims of People attend the funeral procession of Vera Lynn, who ta was a fake and that he came John accepted the demands of re- ing their relationship when she texted his security team, who sexual violence in the libel case became a symbol of hope in Britain during World War II and equipped to carry out the theft on bellious barons to curb his powers claims he assaulted her. were outside the penthouse, and would be heard behind closed more recently during the coronavirus outbreak, in Ditchling, October 25, 2018 with a hammer, and agreed the charter at Run- The court heard that after al- said: “Gotta go, got to get out of doors. Britain, yesterday. gloves and safety goggles. nymede, a meadow by the River most a month apart from Heard, here.” The hearing continues. Before smashing the protective Thames west of London. Gulf Times Saturday, July 11, 2020 9 EUROPE

French Netherlands takes Russia to virus death toll rises above top court over MH17 downing 30,000 AFP formed Russian Foreign Minister opened just outside Schiphol The Hague Sergei Lavrov of the move. airport from where the ill-fated Reuters There was no immediate fl ight took off . Paris reaction from Moscow. Rutte however denied the he Netherlands said The lawsuit is a rare example timing of the move was designed yesterday it would take of one state taking another to to pressurise Russia, saying “we rance yesterday became the TRussia to the European the European Court of Human simply decided it now was the sixth country to report a total Court of Human Rights for its Rights, with just 24 such cases best moment to get involved and Fcoronavirus death toll of more role in bringing down Malay- since 1953. to give the next-of-kin the max- than 30,000, with the number of sia Airlines fl ight MH17 over Ten of those so-called “inter- imum support.” new confi rmed cases above 600 for Ukraine, killing nearly 300 state” cases involve Russia. “This is not aimed at Rus- the third day in a row. people. Most cases are brought by in- sia and stands entirely separate The health ministry said in The Dutch government’s move dividuals or groups, such as the from the criminal case,” Rutte a statement that 25 people had is designed to support cases one lodged by the relatives of said at his weekly post-cabinet died from coronavirus infection brought by the relatives of doz- at least 65 Dutch MH17 victims news conference. in the past 24 hours, boosting ens of victims to the Strasbourg- in 2018. Prosecutors have charged the cumulative total since early based court, Foreign Minister Their complaint demanded four people - Russians Igor March to 30,004. Stef Blok said. that Russia take responsibility Girkin, Sergei Dubinskiy and Yesterday’s increase compares The Boeing 777 travelling from for the incident. Oleg Pulatov, and Ukrain- to an average increase of 15 in Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur Both the Netherlands and ian Leonid Kharchenko - with the previous seven days. In June, was blown out of the sky by a Australia have previously said murder. France counted on average 34 surface-to-air missile fi red from they hold Russia responsible for They said the men were re- new deaths per day, in May 143 rebel-held eastern Ukraine on shooting down the plane. sponsible for bringing a BUK and in April 695. July 17, 2014. The Netherlands would share surface-to-air missile into an The number of people in hos- “Achieving justice for the 298 all “available and relevant in- area in eastern Ukraine con- pital with Covid-19 fell by 115 to victims of the downing of fl ight formation about the down- trolled by pro-Moscow rebels, 7,062, continuing a weeks-long MH17 is and will remain the gov- ing of fl ight MH17” with the from where it was fi red at the downtrend, and the number of ernment’s highest priority,” Blok court, Blok said, adding the passenger jet. In this file photo, a part of the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 at the crash site in the village of Hrabove people in intensive care units fell said in a statement. complaint would represent Russia has denied involve- (Grabovo), some 80km east of Donetsk. by 16 to 496, the fi rst time the “By taking this step today, “all 298 victims, of 17 diff erent ment and has before proposed ICU count had fallen below 500 bringing a case before the ECHR nationalities”. alternative theories includ- year in which it again denied President Vladimir Putin to ex- rulings. If there is a contradic- since mid-March. and thus supporting the ap- The Dutch will also inform the ing that MH17 may have been responsibility for the disaster, tend his rule until 2036, also in- tion, they will not be applied. The number of confi rmed plications by the next of kin as UN Security Council about the downed by a Ukrainian fi ght- saying there was no proof of its cluded an amendment that could Russia could use this to justify coronavirus infections rose by much as we can, we are moving move, he said. er plane or a Ukrainian BUK involvement. aff ect its ties to the European ending its obligation to carry out 658 to 170,752, the third day in a closer to this goal.” Yesterday’s announcement missile. A package of controversial rights court. rulings by international courts row with more than 600 new in- Dutch Prime Minister Mark adds to legal pressure on Mos- Moscow meanwhile re- constitutional reforms approved The amendment says that such as the ECHR, which is cur- fections, compared to an average Rutte said at his weekly press cow after the Dutch criminal sponded to the relatives’ claims by Russian voters earlier this Russia’s constitution takes prec- rently the last resort for many of 495 over the past 30 days and conference that Blok had in- trial in absentia of four suspects before the ECHR earlier this month, which allow Russian edence over any international Russians. 527 over the past seven days. Sweden ex-envoy cleared in China dissident case

AFP the meeting as “threatening”. nied the charges and described Stockholm A day after the blog post, the the experience as “Kafkaesque.” Swedish intelligence service “As a Swedish diplomat you confi rmed it had opened an in- have to be able to turn every Stockholm court yes- vestigation into the meeting. stone when trying to get a de- terday cleared Sweden’s Lindstedt faced a charge of tained person released,” she told Aformer ambassador to “arbitrariness during nego- news agency TT following the Newly elected Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti and (right) Beijing of charges of overstep- tiations with a foreign power” verdict. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. ping her mandate by trying which carries a maximum jail “I have always acted in Swe- to negotiate the release of a term of two years, although the den’s best interest,” she said, Chinese dissident. prosecutor had only asked for a adding that the verdict was not Anna Lindstedt, who was en- suspended sentence. only important for her but also voy to Beijing between 2016 and It was the fi rst time since the for “diplomacy”. 2019, was accused of brokering 18th century that an ambassador Gui Minhai, known for pub- Serbia, Kosovo and attending an unauthorised has faced trial in Sweden. lishing gossipy titles about Chi- meeting in January last year to The court said for someone to nese political leaders in Hong Former Swedish ambassador to China Anna Lindstedt arrives at the get a Chinese-Swedish publisher be convicted of the crime they Kong, disappeared while on district court where she is accused of of overstepping her mandate freed from custody in China. would have had to falsely pose as holiday in 2015 and resurfaced by trying to negotiate the release of a Chinese-Swedish dissident held The case of dissident Gui Min- a representative of Sweden and in China, where he served two in China, in Stockholm. renew ‘very hai - a fi ve-year-saga beginning engage in actual negotiations years in prison. when he vanished while on holi- with a representative of a foreign A few months after his Oc- but she has stayed on at the min- meeting, according to public day in Thailand - has strained power. tober 2017 release he was again istry without an assignment. broadcaster SVT. ties between Sweden and China. Judge Anna Flodin said the arrested, this time while on a The ministry has maintained Fellow diplomats had rallied to The meeting was between court did not believe it had been train to Beijing with Swedish it had no prior knowledge of the Lindstedt’s defence, arguing that diffi cult’ talks the publisher’s daughter Angela proven that Lindstedt entered diplomats. meeting, saying Lindstedt acted she had acted well within her remit. Gui and two businessmen with into any negotiation with some- He was hit with a 10-year jail on her own initiative. “I don’t think that the ambas- AFP “The normalisation of re- alleged ties to Beijing. one representing the Chinese term earlier this year on charges Ministry representatives told sador has committed a crime, ab- Paris lations between Kosovo and Angela Gui wrote on her blog state. of illegally providing intelligence the court that Lindstedt had been solutely not,” former envoy Sven Serbia is essential for the se- a few weeks after the meeting “The court also found that if abroad. instructed to handle Gui Min- Hirdman told AFP on the fi rst day he leaders of Serbia curity and stability of the re- that the businessmen claimed she had, she would have been China insists the matter is hai’s case through Stockholm. of the trial. and Kosovo yesterday gion and of great importance they could help to get her father within her right as Sweden’s am- an internal aff air and has been In turn, Lindstedt main- “She tried to do what she should Theld their fi rst talks in if the two countries are to join released if she stopped talking to bassador to China,” Flodin told a stung by criticism from Sweden. tained she had not received do as a Swedish ambassador - to 18 months on resolving one of the EU,” the statement by the the media. press conference. The Swedish foreign ministry those instructions and that she solve a complicated consular case Europe’s most intractable ter- French and German leaders She later described the tone of During the trial, Lindstedt de- removed Lindstedt from her post had told her superiors of the between Sweden and China.” ritorial disputes, agreeing to said. a face-to-face meeting next A senior EU offi cial in Brus- week on the “very diffi cult” sels who followed the talks process. echoed the sentiment that Serbia has refused to recog- signifi cant challenges re- nise Kosovo’s unilateral decla- mained, saying “This is the ration of independence after beginning of the story.” Italy may extend virus state of emergency the province broke away in the Hoti told the online summit bloody 1998-99 war that was that the normalisation of re- AFP has been used in the past after ter July 31,” Conte told reporters died from coronavirus in Italy, although the crisis has subsided, ended only by a Nato bombing lations “can be achieved only Rome fl oods and earthquakes - helps in Venice. the fi rst country hit by the glo- the virus is still circulating. campaign against Serb troops. if Kosovo and Serbia respect to cut red tape and hands region- “The state of emergency bal health crisis after China, and On Thursday, Italy banned Kosovo’s Prime Minister each other’s statehood,” his al authorities special powers. serves to keep the virus under more than 242,000 people have travellers from 13 countries, in- Avdullah Hoti and Serbian offi ce said. talian Prime Minister Conte fi rst called the state of control. We have not yet decid- been infected. cluding Bangladesh and Brazil, President Aleksandar Vucic More than 13,000 people Giuseppe Conte said yes- emergency on January 31, after two ed, but we are reasonably mov- In May, as rates of infection that it deems risky for Covid-19 held a video summit that was died in the war, mostly Kosovo Iterday it was possible a state cases of coronavirus were con- ing in that direction,” he added. began to decline, Italy started transmission. also joined by French Presi- Albanians, who form a major- of emergency triggered by the fi rmed in Rome, but before Italy’s “A possible extension means easing a strict two-month lock- It took the measure after dis- dent Emmanuel Macron and ity in the former province. coronavirus crisis could be ex- fi rst Covid-19-related deaths. that we will be able to continue down that shuttered most shops covering an alarming rate of German Chancellor Angela Vucic, who is facing a major tended beyond the end of the “Reasonably, the conditions to take the necessary measures, and businesses and restricted coronavirus infections among Merkel. crisis at home after protests month. exist to extend the state of emer- even if they are of limited scope.” the movement of people. Bangladeshis arriving in Rome These discussions will be over a new coronavirus lock- In Italy, the procedure - which gency due to the coronavirus af- Nearly 35,000 people have Health offi cials caution that from fl ights originated in Dhaka. followed by more online talks down in Serbia, had warned on Sunday between Hoti and ahead of the talks that he did Vucic as well as EU offi cials, not expect a smooth ride and and then their meeting in that “no one is going to cuddle Brussels on Thursday, Ma- us or give us a present.” cron and Merkel said in a joint The new push comes after Venice completes fi rst statement after the talks. Kosovo’s President Hash- They encouraged Hoti and im Thaci was charged last Vucic to “achieve substantial month with war crimes by test of all fl ood barriers progress in the negotiations prosecutors in The Hague. in the coming months,” the Thaci’s indictment led to AFP underway since 2003, but has statement said. the postponement of a White Rome been plagued by cost overruns, “There are very diffi cult House summit between Serbia corruption scandals and delays. perspectives for the outcome and Kosovo due to be held at The complex engineering sys- Yellow mobile barriers are seen above the surface of the water during tests of flood barrier project of this dialogue, but there is a the end of June. enice’s long awaited fl ood tem uses a network of water-fi lled Experimental Electromechanical Module (Mose) in Venice yesterday. commitment by everyone to European offi cials had bris- defence system designed caissons, designed to be raised proceed step by step,” added tled at the US initiative to Vto protect the lagoon city within 30 minutes to create a bar- The project has thus far cost not seen since 1966, causing ex- in the test, said the project had a French presidential offi cial, deal with Thaci on its own – a from damaging waters during rier capable of resisting a water about 7bn euros ($8bn), versus tensive damage to the tourist city. arrived at its “last mile”. who asked not to be named. strategy now torpedoed by the high tides yesterday survived a rise of 3m (10ft) above normal. an original estimate of 2bn. The project’s head, Elisa- “We must ensure this safe- Both Kosovo and Serbia indictment – and the EU now fi rst test of its 78 barriers. “This is the fi rst test of movement Venice regularly experiences betta Spitz, said MOSE will be guard will be available for next have been facing mounting appears newly determined to The massive infrastructure of all four barriers at the same time,” “acqua alta”, abnormally high tides operational from autumn 2021, autumn-winter,” Conte said. pressure from the West to re- resolve the issue. project known as MOSE, which a statement said announcing the that fl ood shops and hotels as well although there remains a lot of A test in October on part of the solve the impasse which is as The French offi cial acknowl- relies on sluice gates that can be successful completion of the test. as the famous St Mark’s Square. work and forthcoming tests. barrier caused worrying vibra- seen as crucial to either side edged that this issue was a “test raised to protect the city’s la- Each barrier is made up of In November, the high waters Prime Minister Giuseppe Con- tions and engineers discovered joining the EU. of European leadership.” goon during high tides, has been around 20 individual gates. peaked at 1.87m (6ft), a record te, who came to Venice to assist parts had rusted. Gulf Times 10 Saturday, July 11, 2020 INDIA

DISASTER POLITICS CONTROVERSY AVIATION CRIME Four children among eight Sonia calls virtual meet Vice President intervenes Karnataka to build airport Man held for threatening dead in Arunachal landslides of Congress MPs today in Delhi Uni quota row at Vijayapura soon to blow up CM’s house

At least eight people, including four children, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi has “Review the decision relating to quota for extra- For providing regional air connectivity, Karnataka The Rajasthan Police yesterday arrested a from two families were buried alive and three called a meeting of Lok Sabha MPs to discuss curricular activities and continue the present plans to build a greenfield airport at Vijayapura in man, Lokesh Meena, for allegedly calling a injured in two separate landslides in Arunachal issues facing the nation. Congress sources quota procedure by earmarking seats for talented the state’s northwest backward region, an off icial police control room and threatening to blow Pradesh yesterday. Off icials said that the two say the issues which will be deliberated are artistes,” Vice President Venkaiah Naidu advised said yesterday. “The new airport will be built at up the chief minister’s residence (CMR). The landslides triggered by incessant rain during mainly the Chinese border row and economic the Delhi University yesterday after many objected a cost of Rs2.2bn and boost economic activity security agencies went on high alert soon after the past few days, occurred in Papum Pare situation arising due to Covid-19. The meeting to the changes brought in by the varsity. A in the region,” the off icial said a day after the the call was received at 9.30am. After a probe, district and at Modirijo in between Itanagar comes in the wake of government tightening government statement said Naidu intervened after cabinet gave its nod. Vijayapura, formerly known the police arrested Meena from Jaipur Rural and Naharlagun. Off icials said the first landslide its noose around foundations linked to the receiving numerous requests on this issue from as Bijapur, is 540km northwest of Bengaluru. at 11.30am and seized his mobile phone. The occurred at Tigdo village in Papum Pare district Congress. The government has constituted members of parliament and prominent artistes. “The state public works department (PWD) will accused is a resident of Jamvaramgarh who was around 2.30am yesterday when the victims an inter-ministerial committee to investigate Naidu is also the DU chancellor. In the wake of construct the airport between Buranpur and arrested from his residence and was brought were asleep, killing four people, including an the funding of the RGF and other trusts. Rahul coronavirus outbreak, the varsity decided against Madhubhavi villages on 727 acres of land, the to the Vidhayakpuri police station in Jaipur. In eight-month-old baby and a 17-year-old boy, Gandhi in a tweet said, “Modi believes the world having sports and extra-curricular activities (ECA) state government acquired in 2010 but the project the morning, he had called the PCR from his on the spot. In the second landslide four more is like him. He thinks everyone has a price or trials, this year, leaving many upset. Naidu also work did not take-off due to delays, leading to cellphone, threatening to blow up the CMR people including two children were killed when can be intimidated. He will never understand urged the university to take prompt action on cancellation of the contract with Marg Ltd, a before cutting the line. Meanwhile, security at their house was buried by a huge mudslide at that those who fight for the truth have no price finalising the examination calendar as well as on Chennai-based construction and infrastructure the CM’s residence has been enhanced to avert Modirijo in between Itanagar and Naharlagun. and cannot be intimidated.” filling up vacant positions in the university. development firm,” the off icial recalled. any untoward incident, confirmed off icials. NIA opposes key suspect’s Furore after bail plea in gold police shoot smuggling case gangster dead IANS found camouflaged in a diplo- Thiruvananthapuram matic baggage from the UAE AFP Dubey, aged about 50, was nephew — were killed. Po- that is exempted from inspec- Lucknow accused of more than 60 lice said he was tipped off tion as per the Vienna Conven- murders, attempted murders about the deadly raid by lo- he Kerala gold smuggling tion. and other crimes. He was said cal offi cers, some of whom case, which has rocked The said consignment was to olice shot dead one to have shot dead an Uttar have been arrested for leak- Tthe Pinarayi Vijayan be received by Sarith, who had of the country’s most Pradesh state minister inside a ing information to the gang- government, took a new turn worked in the UAE consulate Pwanted gangsters yes- police station in 2001. ster. yesterday with the National earlier as a public relations of- terday, just a day after his Despite those cases and He fi nally gave himself Investigation Agency (NIA) fi cer. dramatic arrest, sparking his reputation for ruthless- up in a temple in Madhya registering charges against four Initial investigation by the accusations of a staged ex- ness, Dubey had built con- Pradesh on Thursday. persons, including prime sus- customs department revealed trajudicial killing. siderable local political links According to the police pect Swapna Suresh, the high- that Sarith had received multiple Offi cials said Vikas Dubey, over the past two decades. account, the car transport- profile woman who rubbed such consignments earlier too. detained for the killing of On July 3, eight offi cers ing him early yesterday shoulders with the high and “As the case pertains to smug- eight police offi cers, was were gunned down when his overturned on a wet road in mighty in the state and was gling of large quantity of gold shot as he tried to escape gang staged an ambush on a Uttar Pradesh and he tried close to Vijayan’s now ousted into India from off shore loca- from a police vehicle while police team aiming to arrest to escape. “Dubey has been secretary and senior IAS officer tions, threatening the economic being driven to his home city him. killed in an exchange of fi re M Sivasankar. stability and national security of in Uttar Pradesh. A nationwide manhunt after he snatched the pistol The NIA yesterday submitted the country, it amounts to a ter- Within hours of TV sta- was launched, during which from one of our men and its chargesheet against the ac- rorist act as stated in Section 15 tions carrying images of his fi ve of Dubey’s associates tried to fl ee after fi ring at cused in the Kerala High Court, of the Unlawful Activities (Pre- bloodstained body lying in a — including his bodyguard them”. following the anticipatory bail vention) Act, 1967. hospital, rights lawyers and plea fi led by Swapna. “Further, as the case has na- activists alleged that police Video clips punch holes in police claims After the NIA strongly op- tional and international link- had killed Dubey to prevent posed her bail application, the ages and as initial enquiries him revealing his connections Videos of events that killed. However, a video court didn’t accept her plea and have revealed that the proceeds with powerful people. led to the encounter of of the three cars crossing posted the matter for Tuesday of smuggled gold could be used “This is the most blatant gangster Vikas Dubey a toll booth at around and directed that a copy of the for fi nancing of terrorism in case of extra-judicial kill- are contradicting the 4am shows Dubey was in chargesheet be given to her. India, the NIA has taken up the ing. Dubey was a gangster claims made by the a different car — not the A statement issued by the investigation of the case,” the terrorist who may have de- Special Task Force (STF) one that flipped over after agency said charges have been NIA said. served to die. But (Uttar that he was shot dead the accident. There is no registered in the Kerala gold Sarith and Swapna were Pradesh) police have killed yesterday morning when comment yet from the smuggling case under Sections former colleagues at the UAE him to shut his mouth,” he tried to escape. The police on the mysterious 16, 17 and 18 of the Unlawful Ac- consulate offi ce and later, Swap- Supreme Court lawyer Uttar Pradesh Police car switch. Another video tivities (Prevention) Act, 1967, na joined a high-profi le job at- Prashant Bhushan wrote on claimed the car in which clip that casts a shadow against four accused persons – P tached to the IT department, Twitter. Dubey was travelling on the police account of S Sarith, Swapna Prabha Suresh, where Sivasankar was the sec- “Will we allow police to overturned and he and the encounter is one in Fazil Fareed and Sandeep Nair – retary. kill anyone without a court other policemen were which Dubey is brought in connection with the seizure The NIA is also expected to trial?” Utsav Bains, anoth- injured. Dubey is said to the hospital with blood of 30kg of 24 carat gold worth probe if any secret fi les have also er Supreme Court lawyer, to have snatched a gun smeared over his chest. Rs14.82 crore at the Thiru- been lost. added. from an injured cop and The police said he had vananthapuram International Meanwhile, reports have Senior opposition Con- tried to escape. He was fallen before being shot. Airport on July 5 by the customs surfaced that Swapna’s gradu- gress party leader Priyanka surrounded and asked to However, there was no (preventive) commissionerate, ation certificate was fake and Gandhi said the people “pro- surrender but he opened mud on his clothes and his Cochin. her own brother is not aware if People stand next to an overturned vehicle which was carrying Vikas Dubey, tecting” Dubey were still free fire, forcing retaliatory trousers were absolutely It further pointed out that she has even cleared her class X accused of ordering the killing of eight policemen, near Kanpur, Uttar and called for a judicial probe shooting in which he was clean. the aforesaid consignment was exams. Pradesh, yesterday. into the killing. CONDOLENCES Modi ‘likely to expand cabinet in August’

The Editor-in-Chief, Management IANS that this time too, if the prime min- states from where people will be Sources say that on the lines of S New Delhi ister goes by the last time fi gure, inducted into the organisation. The Jaishankar, some experts may also at least 13 new ministers can get a blueprint has been set.” be inducted into the council of min- and Staff of place in the government. Sources say national general sec- isters. GULF TIMES he second term of the Naren- Party sources say that RSS co- retaries Bhupendra Yadav, Anil Jain, The JD-U may also be given a extend their heartfelt condolences to dra Modi government is likely head Krishnagopal, BJP national Anil Baluni could become ministers. stake in the government due to the Tto see its fi rst cabinet expan- president J P Nadda and the party’s A minister associated with Rajas- impending Bihar elections in No- sion. Party sources claim the coun- organisation general secretary B L than can be dropped. Eight Cabinet vember. Joseph Varghese cil of ministers will be expanded in Santosh met Prime Minister Modi ministers hold two to three min- Party sources say there is a high the second week of August on this issue in June. istries. Some ministers with inde- probability of changes in the middle Prime Minister Narendra Modi It is Krishnagopal who oversees pendent charge also have more than order in the Modi government. (Staff Reporter) was sworn in with 57 ministers on the co-ordination between the RSS one ministry. In such a situation, Sources claim the groundwork for May 30, 2019. and the BJP. the workload of these ministers can the expansion of the council of min- According to the rules, a maxi- A BJP leader said, “The list of na- be reduced, the sources added. isters was initiated by Prime Minis- on the sad demise of his beloved mother mum of 81 ministers can be ap- tional president J P Nadda’s team Jyotiraditya Scindia, who became ter Modi, when he held a marathon pointed — 15% of the total strength is ready, it clearly reveals who will a Rajya Sabha member from Mad- review meeting of the council of of the Lok Sabha. The previous come from the organisation to the hya Pradesh, is also in the running ministers on December 21, after the Modi government had 70 ministers. government and from the govern- for a potential cabinet berth in the performance report of the ministers In such a situation, it is believed ment to the organisation and the Modi government. was prepared.

Covid-19 victims’ bodies dumped in pit In yet another incident of inhuman sub-divisional magistrate, I have been disposal of bodies of Covid-19 victims in appointed as the investigation off icer. Andhra Pradesh, municipal authorities I am conducting an inquiry and after in Nellore dumped the bodies in a completion of the same will submit my pit using an earthmover. A video, report to the collector,” Hussain Saheb which went viral over social media, said. shows municipal workers taking out Leader of opposition and former chief dead bodies from an ambulance and minister N Chandrababu Naidu tweeted throwing them on the front portion of yesterday that he was pained to see ELYAMMA VARGHESE (79) a JCB. bodies of Covid-19 victims in Nellore The bodies were then dumped into a pit in being disrespectfully thrown into a FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

Bolsonaro says he feels ‘very well’, praises hydroxychloroquine

Coronavirus Brazilian President Jair has dismissed the seriousness took (hydroxychloroquine) and “persecution,” adding that no Bolsonaro said “what is Bolsonaro, who has tested of the epidemic and criticised it worked, and I’m fine. And let hate postings were to be found happening is regrettable” and a positive for Covid-19, said on containment measures ordered those who criticise it at least on his account. risk to “freedom of the press.” Facebook he was “very well” by governors in Brazilian states. off er an alternative.” Facebook on Wednesday Facebook’s allegations add to poses cultural and again advocated the use Bolsonaro said that after feeling He did, however, deny suspended a network of social a burgeoning political crisis of the controversial drug unwell at the end of last week, making “propaganda for media accounts it said were in Brazil, where Bolsonaro’s hydroxychloroquine. Bolsonaro, he had started taking one hydroxychloroquine”. used to spread divisive political sons and supporters have 65, appeared in his weekly hydroxychloroquine tablet every Brazil is currently the second messages online by aides of been accused of running a threat to Brazil’s Facebook Live post at his off icial day. country hardest-hit country Bolsonaro and two of his sons. co-ordinated online campaign residence. The drug, originally tested to in the world by the pandemic, Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook’s to smear the president’s He coughed several times but fight malaria, has been pushed behind the US. The death toll on head of cybersecurity policy, opponents. appeared to be in good shape as a treatment for Covid-19 Thursday was 69,184, with an said the accounts were removed The accusations have led to Amazon people and was not accompanied, as in many countries — but its increase of 1,224 in the previous for using fake personas and a congressional inquiry and a is often the case, by ministers eff ectiveness has not been 24 hours. other types of “co-ordinated Supreme Court investigation or senior off icials, and the usual formally proven and the issue Meanwhile, Bolsonaro criticised inauthentic behaviour” which into so-called “fake news AFP “The government just wants sign language interpreter was is deeply dividing the global Facebook for suspending violated the company’s rules. attacks” on the country’s Amajari, Brasil to impose its view of things on not present. scientific community. accounts of his supporters but He said there was no evidence judiciary, which led to police the indigenous people and force Since the beginning of the “I’m saying this very clearly,” not of his leftist opponents in the politicians themselves had raids in May on the homes and them to listen to what it wants crisis, the far-right president Bolsonaro said in his video. “I what he called unwarranted operated the accounts. off ices of Bolsonaro allies. n the heart of the Brazil- to do,” he said. “It uses them for ian Amazon, the advance of propaganda.” ICovid-19 presents indig- An online appeal for dona- enous people with a cruel cul- tions has been started by the tural dilemma — remain in their Uniao Amazonia Viva collec- villages with little medical help, tive to buy medical equipment, or seek safety in the city and risk including respirators, to avoid being deprived of their ancestral sick people having to travel to funeral rites. the city. Lucita Sanoma lost her two- In the meantime, the villag- month-old baby to suspected ers are trying as best they can to coronavirus on May 25. The boy respect social distancing meas- was buried, without her knowl- ures and wear protective masks. edge, 300kms from her village. But their task has been made The infant died in hospital in even more diffi cult by far-right Boa Vista, capital of the north- President Jair Bolsonaro. western state of Roraima. On Wednesday, he watered The burial followed govern- down a law that would force ment health guidelines that run the government to provide in- counter to Yanomami culture, digenous people with access to which dictates that the dead healthcare and clean drinking must be cremated. water. The authorities “have to Of the nearly 8,000 cases of understand and respect the Covid-19 the government has cultural issue,” indigenous registered in indigenous com- leader Mauricio Yekuana said, munities, 186 are from the outraged at the suff ering of the Yanomami, four of whom died. young mother and three other Most were infected in the city. women with similar experi- Although there are no con- ences. fi rmed cases in Auaris, home As part of the Yanomami’s to some 4,000 Yanomami and funerary rites, the remains are Yekuana people, the concern is displayed in the forest before palpable. they are cremated. Many locals wear masks and The ashes are collected in an gloves, and the word “coronavi- urn to be buried in a new cer- rus” has entered the vocabulary. emony much later. “We are afraid,” said Paulo, a “I want to bring my son’s community leader who wears a body back to the village, we mask, a T-shirt and shorts and uses an arrow as a cane. must mourn him together,” Lu- People take part in a protest against Argentina’s President Alberto Fernandez over lockdown measures imposed to fight the spread of coronavirus, at Republica square in Buenos cita Sanoma told AFP through He says that many went into Aires, Argentina. an interpreter. the jungle to escape the virus. Her long black hair falling Last week, the army distrib- over her shoulders, the young uted medicines and protective woman wiped away tears as she equipment to the indigenous described her distress in her people in the Auaris region. own language. “Nobody dares threaten our “I went straight to the hospi- Amazon,” reads a sign at the en- tal with my son...The last word I trance to the military base where received is that he died. I never rapid Covid-19 tests are being Bolivia’s interim President saw him again,” she said in a carried out. soft, rhythmic voice. Nearby, youngsters play foot- Not being able to mourn in ball in a fi eld, oblivious to a sud- her community, according to den, soaking downpour. her ancestral rites, “is a lack of The government minister for Anez tests positive for virus respect, which has a strong psy- indigenous health, Robson da chological eff ect on the mother,” Silva, says the main reason in- said Junios Yanomami, presi- digenous people contracted the AFP coronavirus, after Brazil’s Jair the test and I was also positive,” weeks of unrest over his contro- dent Carlos Mesa. dent of the Yanomami Indig- virus was due to their constant La Paz Bolsonaro announced his posi- said Anez. versial re-election. “My solidarity and I hope for Morales had stood for a po- a speedy and complete recovery enous Health Council. movement. tive result on Tuesday. The interim leader’s illness Another high-ranking Latin comes as Bolivia is gearing up tential fourth consecutive term to the President @JeanineAnez,” After her ordeal, Lucita Sa- But the Yanomami, who olivia’s interim president American government offi cial to for a general election in less than despite the constitution limit- Mesa, who was president from noma returned to her village in measure distances in terms of Jeanine Anez announced contract the virus is Venezuela’s two months, despite being in the ing a president to two successive 2003-05, wrote on Twitter. the region of Auaris, in Brazil’s the time it takes to walk some- that she has tested positive Constitutional Assembly presi- middle of the coronavirus pan- mandates. Bolivia, a country of 11mn, has where, say the danger to them B northwest. for coronavirus. dent Diosdado Cabello, widely demic. Although he initially tried recorded almost 43,000 corona- But her son’s body remains has come from outside, espe- “I’ve tested positive for Cov- considered the second-most Anez initially opposed the to hold onto power, he lost the virus infections and more than in an unmarked grave in a Boa cially from illegal gold miners id-19, I’m fi ne, I will work from powerful person in the country September election, saying it backing of the armed forces after 1,500 deaths. Vista cemetery, until the au- who make regular incursions isolation,” she tweeted. after President Nicolas Maduro. should be postponed “one or two a report by the Organiaation of The government expects there thorities decide if she can bring into their 96,000 square kilo- The 53-year-old said in a video Four members of Anez’s cabi- months” due to the pandemic, American States found evidence to be 130,000 cases by the time him home to grieve with her metre territory. on Twitter that she would remain net had tested positive in recent but eventually relented. of election fraud in his victory. the election comes around. relatives. “Without that, we’d be safe,” in quarantine for 14 days before days, while senate president Eva The conservative politician as- Anez was third in the last More than 12mn people world- Mauricio Yekuana said such says Mauricio Yekuana, whose taking another test. Copa went into self-isolation on sumed the interim presidency in opinion poll behind Luis Arce wide have contracted the virus, situations are the result of white mask contrasts sharply Anez becomes the second Wednesday as a precaution. November after socialist former — the candidate for Morales’s and almost half of those have health policies that disregard with the black genipap-based South American president in a “Given many of them tested leader Evo Morales resigned and Movement for Socialism party been in Latin America and the the indigenous perspective. paint that lines his face. matter of days to contract the positive over the last week, I took fl ed the country following three — and centrist former presi- US.

Feeding the hungry Curbs at Mexico plants New Haiti justice not sustainable: Ford minister named AFP No law enforcement units in- Port-au-Prince tervened to stop the march, which Reuters Ford’s Americas and Interna- coronavirus pandemic rages on. was streamed live on social media Mexico City tional Markets Group, said the Landau said a senior Ford ex- by some of the gang members. company had “several suppliers” ecutive told him about the com- aiti’s president has ap- On Monday, outside the jus- operating under restrictions im- pany’s concern over parts pro- pointed a new justice tice ministry, police had fi red ord Motor Co said new posed by Chihuahua state. duced in Chihuahua state. Hminister, dismissing the tear gas to disperse a protest staffing restrictions im- “With our US plants running “They’re saying that they’re previous one just hours after he over an uptick in violent crime Fposed on plants produc- at 100%, that is not sustainable,” going to start shutting down fac- took a hard stance on gang impu- in the capital. ing car parts in the Mexican Galhotra said in an e-mailed tories in the US as of next week nity. A week prior, an attempted sit- state of Chihuahua were “not statement. if they don’t get that rolling,” Appointed by presidential de- in had been stopped by the police, sustainable,” the latest sign Landau said, in a talk organised cree, Rockfeller Vincent — who who chased the demonstrators US automakers are still reeling “While we do not expect any by the Atlantic Council. since January has led the fi ght and tore their placards out of their from coronavirus lockdowns in impact to production next Alejandra de la Vega, Chihua- against corruption — is the fourth hands. Mexico. week, we are continuing hua’s minister of innovation and minister of justice the island na- When asked about this police Mexico is a key part of a wider to work with government economic development, said she tion has had since President Jov- crackdown, Delille said he was international supply chain cru- offi cials on ways to safely was in “constant contact” with enel Moise took offi ce in February not aware of it. “We will try to cial to US carmakers, many of and constructively resume Ford and spoke with a company 2017. fi nd out how things happened in which operate factories across remaining production” executive, but did not specify The previous minister, Luc- order to correct this,” he said. the border in Mexico due to lower what was discussed. manne Delille, was appointed in The UN integrated offi ce in labour costs. “While we do not expect De la Vega said Chihuahua had March. Haiti expressed its “concern over Chihuahua, where the state any impact to production next created a traffi c light system to Just hours before his sacking, the use of lethal weapons, includ- government has limited employ- week, we are continuing to allow diff erent sectors to gradu- Delille said during a press con- ing tear gas, on peaceful demon- ee attendance to 50% in plants, is work with government officials ally reopen from lockdowns, but ference that gang members who strators who do not present any home to a Ford engine plant and on ways to safely and construc- added it was a “balancing act” had marched without obstacle clear or present danger.” many auto parts producers. tively resume remaining pro- to protect both public health and through the Haitian capital on Recalling the importance of US ambassador to Mexico duction,” he said. the economy. Tuesday would be tracked down the right to protest and freedom Christopher Landau said the Mexico’s federal government In May, when Mexico signalled by police. of expression, the European Un- Dearborn, Michigan-based au- has given automakers, mining it would delay the reopening of its Accompanied by dozens of ion’s ambassador to Haiti, Sylvie tomaker may have to shut some fi rms and builders, with activi- factories, Mexican offi cials said people, the gang members had Tabesse, said it was “certainly US car plants as early as next ties deemed essential, the green their US counterparts pushed proceeded on Tuesday through not normal that a population week if they fail to receive Mex- light to restart work, though for a speedy return, arguing that People queue to receive free food from a motorcycle the streets of downtown Port-au- demanding better life prospects ico-produced engines. some states have implemented US plants on American soil could organisation in Mexico City. Prince, waving their weapons and should be the target of violence, Kumar Galhotra, president of their own restrictions as the not operate without them. regularly fi ring into the air. no matter where it comes from.” Gulf Times 12 Saturday, July 11, 2020 PAKISTAN

PM Khan visits Covid-19 positive cases NLCC to fi nalise action plan for jump to over 243,500 locust control Internews ter 2,751 cases were reported. taking China - the epicentre ported 1,619, Islamabad 13,829 channel, he said the gov- Islamabad On the other hand, Italy’s posi- of the virus - in the number cases, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ernment has taken solid tive cases stand at 242,363 as of deaths. Pakistan has also 29,406 cases, Punjab 85,261 steps and also instructed Internews PM Imran Khan highly ap- per data from the university’s become the 18th worst-hit cases and Sindh is the worst af- the masses to strictly follow Islamabad preciated timely and coor- akistan has overtaken resource centre. country by the coronavirus in fected province with 100,900 SOPs to contain the spread dinated response of federal Italy when it comes to Pakistan reported 75 deaths terms of fatality. cases of the virus. of Covid-19. and provincial governments, Pthe number of Covid-19 over the past 24 hours, taking The NCOC’s report shared Meanwhile, Minister for The minister said all the akistan Prime Minister including Pakistan Army, for cases reported in the country, the nation’s Covid-19 death toll that the total number of active Planning Asad Umar says stakeholders are eff ectively Imran Khan yesterday eff ectively controlling locust becoming the 11th worst-af- past the 5,000 mark. According Covid-19 cases in Pakistan stand people adopted standard op- working and devising strategies Pvisited the National Lo- attack and use of indigenously fected country by the pandem- to the NCOC, currently, the to- at 89,449, with 149,092 people erating procedures (SOPs) to combat the pandemic. cust Control Center (NLCC) to developed equipment. ic, data from the John Hopkins tal number of people who have recovering so far. and precautionary measures He hoped that people would fi nalise the country’s National The prime minister stated University revealed yesterday. succumbed to the virus stand The breakdown, as per the re- due to which the number of follow the SOPs set by the gov- Action Plan for Locust Con- that locust attack combined According to the NCOC, the at 5,058. ports, stated that AJK currently coronavirus cases decreased ernment in connection with Eid trol, a statement said. with Covid-19 was a huge number of positive cases in the The rising death toll has has 1,485 cases, Balochistan to great extent. al-Adha to contain the spreading Pakistan Army engineer- challenge for the Pakistan. country jumped to 243,599 af- also resulted in Pakistan over- 11,099 cases, Gilgit Baltistan re- Talking to private news of outbreak. in-chief and NLCC national The PM said that the gov- co-ordinator Lt Gen Moazzam ernment would undertake Ijaz gave a detailed briefi ng on every possible eff ort for lo- locust control measures in af- cust control since it involved fected areas of the country. food security of the country. The prime minister was also The prime minister empha- 15-day smart briefed about the coordinated sised that a co-ordinated na- eff orts being made for moni- tional response of federal and toring, survey and control, provincial governments and lockdown inter-organisational co-or- organisations is required to dination, resource allocation cope with the expected locust and mobilisation and aware- swarm so that crop production in 7 cities ness campaign for locust con- is not aff ected. trol at national, provincial and Minister for National Food districts’ levels. Syed Fakhar Imam says Rs- of Punjab The meeting was informed 26bn are required for purchas- that due to the trans-boundary ing planes, vehicles, spray and Internews nature of locust swarm move- other necessary material to Lahore ment, close liaison with the wipe out locusts. United Nations Food and Agri- Talking to private news culture Organisation (FAO) and channel, he said federal gov- even cities of Punjab will aff ected countries in the region ernment would provide an undergo a 15-day smart was being maintained to take amount of Rs14bn while pro- Slockdown that commenced timely pre-emptive measures. vincial governments should yesterday and last till July 15. The PM appreciated the gov- release Rs12bn for protection The Primary and Secondary ernments of China, Japan and UK of crops from locusts. Healthcare Department (P and for providing technical and other He said the discussion was SHD) has issued a notifi cation un- assistance for locust control. being made with World Bank der the Punjab Infectious Diseases It was informed that a lo- and Asian Development Bank Ordinance 2020 about enforcement cust swarm movement is ex- to invite support for Pakistan of lockdown in Lahore, Multan, pected from Horn of Africa via regarding provision of funds Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Iran and another from India, for controlling locusts. Gujrat and Rawalpindi, till July 24. for which necessary control The minister said discussion In Lahore, the lockdown will measures are in place. for soft loan with foreign banks be enforced in A2 Block Town- The PM accorded in-prin- is underway and the banks ship, EME Society, Main Ba- ciple approval for phase two would extend help to Pakistan zaar Chungi Amr Sadhu, Punjab of the National Action Plan for in order to remove locusts from Government Servants Housing Locust Control. It was also de- diff erent districts. Scheme, Wapda Town, C-Block cided that the aff ected farmers Imam said spray has been Jauhar Town and Green City. would also be compensated imported from the UK to pro- “All markets, shopping malls, A man sprays disinfectant as a preventive measure against the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus, during Friday prayer in Karachi yesterday. through this package. tect crops from locusts attack. restaurants, offi ces (public and private) shall remain closed in these areas,” read the notifi cation from the P and SHD about Lahore. “There shall be a complete ban on movement of people to and from these areas by public and private US bans PIA over pilot licence scandal transport except for limited move- ment of one person per vehicle to and from the exempted facilities.” AFP lators to bar the state-run carrier The US Department of Transportation accident blamed on pilot error. fi nancial losses on the route. The notifi cation added that Karachi for six months. The airline confi rmed in a But in April the US Depart- there shall also be a complete ban The US Department of Trans- announces the ban after it was made statement that its approval had ment of Transport granted it on gatherings of all kinds for so- portation announced the ban aware that “nearly one-third of Pakistani been revoked due to “recent special permission to oper- cial, religious, or any other pur- he United States has after it was made aware that events identifi ed by the Pakistan ate chartered fl ights for one pose at any place, public or pri- banned Pakistan Interna- “nearly one-third of Pakistani pilots are not properly certificated in Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) year, largely to bring back vate throughout these areas. Ttional Airlines (PIA) from pilots are not properly certifi - accordance with international that are of serious concern to stranded Pakistanis during the The basic necessities of life will operating chartered fl ights to cated in accordance with inter- aviation safety”. coronavirus lockdown. remain available in smart lockdown the country after the carrier said national standards,” it said in a standards” So far 17 pilots have been fi red Until the 1970s, Pakistan’s larg- areas. “The purpose of the smart nearly 150 of its pilots would be statement dated July 1 and re- in the fi rst phase of its investiga- est airline was considered a top lockdown is to minimise movement grounded over fake or dubious leased to AFP yesterday. 260 of the country’s 860 ac- immediately ground about a tion, a PIA spokesman said. regional carrier but its reputation of people in hotspots of positive licences. Pakistan’s aviation minister tive pilots hold fake licences or third of its 434 pilots, just weeks The airline had suspended plummeted amid chronic misman- coronavirus cases,” said Mohamed It follows a similar move by revealed in June that a govern- cheated on exams. after one of its planes crashed in its commercial operations to agement, frequent cancellations Usman, secretary, P and SHD. European Union aviation regu- ment review had found around PIA at the time said it would Karachi killing 98 people - an the US in 2017 after booking and fi nancial struggles. Gilgit-Baltistan polls likely to be postponed ‘ML-1 track Internews The GB Assembly elections called by the GB chief election dent of Pakistan Peoples Party’s the voters list and make other When contacted, the GB chief will help Islamabad were scheduled for August 18. commissioner yesterday to dis- GB chapter Amjad Hussain and arrangements, they added. election commissioner said no The election schedule was an- cuss the matter with the leaders leaders of Jamiat Ulema-e-Is- The election commission pro- decision had so far been taken in nounced after the assembly of political parties in the region. lam, Jamaat-e-Islami and Majlis posed to postpone the election the matter. control rail he Gilgit-Baltistan Elec- completed its fi ve-year tenure The conference was attended Wahdat-e-Muslimeen. till October. Participants of the multipar- tion Commission has de- on June 24, after which a care- by all political leaders, including At the conference participants Sources said that except the ty conference said that the GB Tcided to postpone elec- taker government was formed. president of Pakistan Tehreek- were informed by offi cials of the GB PTI, all political parties opposed Election Commission had de- accidents’ tions for the GB Assembly till However, the sources said, the i-Insaf’s GB chapter Syed Jaf- Election Commission that prepa- the decision to postpone the cided to postpone the elections October this year, according to GB Election Commission was not far Shah, president of Pakistan rations for holding the elections in elections and termed it pre-poll till October. inister for Railways sources. in a position to make arrange- Muslim League-Nawaz’s GB August were still incomplete. rigging by the ruling party. The sources said the new elec- Sheikh Rashid Ahmed The new schedule of the elections ments for elections in August. chapter and former chief min- The commission needed However, no offi cial statement tion schedule would be announced Msays Main Line-1 (ML- will be issued in a couple of days. A multiparty conference was ister Hafeezur Rehman, presi- two more months to prepare was issued after the conference. in next two or three days. 1) track will help control railways accidents and generate jobs for hundreds and thousands of youth. Addressing a news confer- Coronavirus awareness class ence yesterday, he said executive committee of National Economic Court directs ministry to decide Council will likely to approve ML-1 project this month. He said it will be a crossing on US blogger deportation plea free track, which will reduce travel time from Karachi to La- Internews not appeared before the Interior The US blogger, along with hore to seven hours, while it will Islamabad Ministry about his plea. her lawyer, also appeared before take two hours from Rawalpindi To which, Justice Minullah the court. In an earlier hearing, to Lahore. remarked: “This is a sovereign the court was told that Ritchie’s Minister Rashid said ML-1 will he Islamabad High Court state, we are watching the con- visa had expired earlier in Feb- enable trains to run at a speed (IHC) asked the Interior duct of the ministry”. ruary and since then she has of 160km per hour, which can TMinistry to take a deci- He further said that there was been staying in Pakistan with an be further extended to 200km sion, according to law, on a PPP no reason for proceedings as “the invalid visa. per hour. petition seeking to deport US law should take its own path”. Separately, Ritchie had moved The minister said ML-1 is a blogger Cynthia D Ritchie. Justice Minullah asked the In- the High Court last month, in a revolutionary project to be com- IHC Chief Justice Athar Minul- terior Ministry to decide upon bid to stop the Federal Investiga- pleted by the PTI government lah was conducting the proceed- the plea according to law. tion Agency (FIA) from register- and will revamp the entire struc- ings of a petition fi led by a PPP The court directed the parties ing a case against her. ture of Pakistan Railways. supporter Iftikhar Ahmed who is in the case to appear before the The move came Additional He said 10% of technical staff seeking Ritchie’s deportation on ministry on Wednesday at 1pm District and Sessions Judge (ASJ) like engineers will come from grounds that her visa has expired. and record their statements. Jahangir Awan had directed the China, while rest of the work Deputy Attorney General Syed The IHC also urged the minis- FIA to register a case against force will be from Pakistan to Mohamed Tayyab Shah submit- try to decide upon Ritchie’s stay Ritchie, who has levelled harass- accomplish this project. He said ted an interim report on behalf of in Pakistan and the extension of ment allegations against the PPP Gypsy children wearing facemasks as a preventive measure against the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus the multibillion-project will the federal government, telling her visa until July 15 and then in- leadership after a public spat attend a tuition class at a slum area in Lahore yesterday. be completed from fi ve to eight the court that the petitioner has form the court. with the party. years with Chinese help. Gulf Times Saturday, July 11, 2020 13 PHILIPPINES

Task force approves Lawmakers block licence virus vaccine bid for top broadcaster trials in zHuman Rights Watch says ‘black day for media freedom’ z ABS-CBN upset president by not airing campaign advertisements nation

Reuters By Red Mendoza Manila Manila Times

hilippine lawmakers re- he Inter-Agency Task jected the renewal of a Force for the Management P25-year licence for coun- Tof Emerging Infectious try’s top broadcaster yesterday, Diseases has approved the col- outraging activists who saw the laboration with fi ve coronavirus move to keep ABS-CBN Corp disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine off the air as part of a political manufacturers from China and vendetta on behalf of President Taiwan to be used in clinical tri- Rodrigo Duterte. als in the country. A legislative committee The manufacturers are overwhelmingly agreed with Chinese Academy of Sci- a working group’s assessment ence-Guangzhou Institute of that ABS-CBN, which employs Biomedicine and Health, Sinop- 11,000 people and has an audi- harm-Wuhan Institute and Bei- ence of tens of millions of Fili- jing Biologicals Institute and Si- pinos, was “undeserving of the novac Biotech Ltd of China, and grant of legislative franchise”. Adimmune Corp and Academia Aides to Duterte, 75, sought to Sinica of Taiwan. distance the president from the Dr Jaime Montoya of the De- decision, as activists have ac- partment of Science and Tech- cused him of using courts, Con- nology-Philippine Council for gress and regulatory bodies to Health Research and Develop- systematically stamp out oppo- ment said the country’s partici- sition to his popular autocracy. pation in the clinical trials would Phil Robertson, Human enable the availability of the Rights Watch deputy Asia di- vaccines in the Philippines, as rector, called it “a black day for well as a faster and shorter route media freedom” and “an as- in registration of the vaccine tounding display of obsequious with the Food and Drug Admin- behaviour” by lawmakers kow- istration. towing to Duterte. Montoya added the country “This move solidifi es the tyr- would also join the World Health anny of President Rodrigo Du- Organisation’s (WHO) solidar- terte,” he said. ity trial for the Covid-19 vaccine It comes a week after the aside from the country’s own passing of a controversial anti- ABS-CBN employees raise their fists during a gathering outside the broadcast network headquarters, following the Philippine congress’ vote against its franchise renewal, clinical trials “We would know terror law that Duterte fast- in Quezon City, Metro Manila, yesterday. instantly which of those vaccines tracked through the legislature, will be eff ective for use in the granting his security chiefs His spokesman, Harry Roque, audiences drawn to its talent country,” Montoya told reporters. powers to arrest and detain said the president had always shows, dramas and glamorous Dr Nina Gloriani, professor of without charge or judicial ap- had “a neutral stance” on the celebrities. the College of Public Health at proval anyone they consider a franchise issue. A caravan of cars carrying the University of the Philippines “terrorist”. Critics fear it will It was not immediately clear ABS-CBN employees and stars Manila, said that aside from the be used as a weapon to target what the next steps would be holding placards defending the fi ve manufacturers mentioned, dissent, including journalists, for ABS-CBN, which continues network and media freedom they were talking with other pro- bloggers, lawyers and civil soci- to operate online, on cable and circled the house. spective vaccine manufacturers ety groups seeking his interna- on social media, which are not Its franchise loss was a top- around the world. tional indictment for thousands impacted. trending issue on social media, Gloriani added that the pre- of killings in his war on drugs. “This is a painful and sad with models and actors weigh- clinical studies for vaccines must ABS-CBN has been on ten- day,” said Regina Reyes, head ing in with support. pass the safety, immunogenicity terhooks since Duterte took of- of its news and current aff airs. The decision follows a high- or the capability of the vaccine to fi ce in 2016 and started threat- “You feel your entire life’s work profi le guilty verdict in a recent produce antibodies, and effi cacy, ening to block its renewal bid, in was disregarded,” she said, libel case against Maria Ressa, or the capability of the vaccine to furious public outbursts stem- fi ghting back tears. chief of news website Rappler, protect against Sars-CoV-2 — se- ming from the network’s failure ABS-CBN’s 21 radio and 38 whose investigative reporting vere acute respiratory syndrome to air some of his paid election television stations are a sta- has frustrated the inner circle coronavirus disease 2 — the virus campaign commercials. ple of news and entertainment of Duterte, a maverick former that causes Covid-19. It has since apologised. Un- across the Philippines and to mayor. She added that more than der Duterte, the market value of the Filipino Diaspora, generat- Rappler is fi ghting several 5,000 people could participate in ABS-CBN has slumped 69% to ing big advertising revenues other legal cases fi led by the Employees and supporters of local television network ABS-CBN hold placards as they protest in front of the vaccine trial subject to the al- $257mn. from brands keen to tap mass state. the House of Representatives in Manila, yesterday. location made by the WHO.

Mayor accused of drugs link shot dead Health dept reports 42 more deaths from Covid-19

DPA metres, they returned and again before congressional and local DPA continue observing minimum Manila shot at the mayor and a 42-year- elections. Manila public health standards, such old woman who was a bystander, Matinong denied the allega- as wearing of masks, washing police said. tions and alleged that his inclu- of hands, and practising social he mayor of southern Matinong and the woman sion in Duterte’s list was politi- he Philippines yesterday distancing,” presidential spokes- Philippine town Santo were rushed to a nearby hospital, cally motivated. reported 42 deaths from man Harry Roque said. TNino, who was once ac- but the mayor was declared dead He won by a landslide against TCovid-19, the highest Health Undersecretary Maria cused by President Rodrigo Du- on arrival. an independent candidate. fi gure in a day, but noted that Rosario Vergeire said that wear- terte of being involved in illegal Police have set up random Duterte’s war on illegal drugs some of the deaths occurred in ing masks lowers the chance of drug operations, was shot dead checkpoints in the town and has been widely criticised for al- June and earlier this month. transmission by up to 85%, while yesterday, police said. nearby communities in a bid to leged human rights abuses and They were only reported or physical distancing reduces the Pablo Matinong, 55, was in- arrest the suspects. the high death toll of suspects confi rmed and added into the The San Lazaro Hospital’s new tent outside the building after the risk of infection by 80%. “Let specting a road project in the Investigators were looking killed in police operations or by tally now, the Department of Covid-19 ward in Manila became “almost full”. us not be complacent,” she said. town, in South Cotabato prov- into a personal grudge being a alleged vigilante killers. Health said. The latest fi gures “Let us all be responsible.” ince about 995 kilometres south possible motive of the killing, Last month, a United Nations bring the total death toll in the not to relax their guard espe- missed the possibility that the Since June 1, the Philippine of Manila, when suspects riding police said. report said that while offi cial fi g- country to 1,360. The depart- cially after the World Health coronavirus is airborne except in government has been easing the a motorcycle opened fi re at him, In 2019, Duterte named Mati- ures indicate that at least 8,663 ment also reported 1,233 addi- Organisation (WHO) did not medical situations, but it noted lockdown that was imposed in a police report said. nong as among more than 40 people have been killed in the tional coronavirus infections, rule out that indoor airborne this week that the virus may be the country’s most populous The victim was shot in the politicians “connected with crackdown since 2016, the real pushing the national caseload spread of the virus was possi- able to spread in the air in other island of Luzon, which encom- head twice, the report said. Af- narco-politics in their respec- toll could be more than triple to 52,914 as of yesterday. ble. closed settings. passes Manila, and in other high- ter the suspects rode off several tive areas,” just two months that number. Authorities urged Filipinos The WHO had previously dis- “We call on our citizens to risk areas in mid-March. Govt allows pillion riding on motorcycles for couples

By Catherine S Valente shield between the rider and the the passenger while a handle is torcycles since the start of the Manila Times passenger. placed on the side of the barrier. community quarantine in March “Back riding for couples is The barrier should reach be- due to health and safety reasons. now allowed. But they should yond the head of the passenger President Rodrigo Duterte illion riding (back riding) have a protective shield similar to assure his health and safety. earlier said he could not allow in motorcycles for cou- to Bohol Gov. Arthur Yap’s pro- “Again, this back riding is only motorcycle back riding because Pples, has been allowed by totype design,” Roque said. for couples and private individu- strict physical distancing could the government since yesterday, “The couple should also ob- als,” Roque said. not be observed. Malacanang said. serve minimum public health The Metropolitan Manila De- Duterte said he understood In a virtual press briefi ng, Pal- standards such as wearing of velopment Authority said cou- the predicament of those who ace spokesman Harry Roque Jr face masks and helmets, and ples should bring a document or needed to use motorcycles in said the Inter-Agency Task they should also observe the other proof to show that the mo- bringing their loved ones to their Force for the Management of minimum speed limits to avoid torcycle driver and the rider live workplaces. Emerging Infectious Disease al- accidents,” he added. in the same house. “The law is hard but it is the lowed pillion riding for couples In Yap’s model, a barrier is The government has imposed law. I could not do anything as long as there is a protective placed between the rider and a “No back ride” policy in mo- about it,” he said. A couple on a motorcycle at the intersection of Abad Santos Avenue corner Tayuman Street in Manila. Gulf Times 14 Saturday, July 11, 2020 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Why US can’t end the Saudi, Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko UAE-led blockade on Qatar Production Editor Amjad Khan The blockade of Qatar began on June partners in the Gulf “to unite to protect ing blockade-related issues bilaterally 5, 2017 when Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, American interests in the Middle East.” with Saudi Arabia, they would have P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar Egypt, and the UAE cut political and The obstacle to resolving the Gulf rift split the quartet of blockading states by economic ties with Qatar, closed has been — and remains — a misalign- engaging one-on-one rather than with [email protected] Qatar’s only land border with Saudi ment between the interests of all the the group as a whole. 44350478 (News), Arabia, and restricted Qatar Airways parties involved as well as an ongoing With Bahrain and Egypt seen as overfl ight rights over their airspace. inability to agree on the way forward. playing secondary roles in the anti- 44466404 (Sport), The consequent rerouting of Qatar Whereas President Trump in 2018 Qatar quartet, peeling Saudi Arabia 44466636 (Home delivery) Airways fl ights into and out of Doha hoped to end the blockade by meeting away could have isolated the UAE and not only added considerably to the separately with individual leaders and identifi ed Abu Dhabi as the holdout 44350474 airline’s fuel bill but also required the sealing a deal at a Camp David “recon- to attempts to resolve the deepest facebook.com/gulftimes airline to use Iranian airspace for most ciliation summit,” such an approach crisis in Gulf politics for decades. This travel to Europe and North American was never likely to succeed, in part would also be consistent with the broad twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar destinations. because doing so probably would have consensus that much of the animos- From a US perspective, the airspace entailed a loss of face by one or more of ity that generated the blockade in 2017 issue has become problematic for two the protagonists. However, by shift- originated in Abu Dhabi more than in reasons. First, it results in overfl ight ing to specifi c issues, the US has — in Riyadh, and that the rift can only fully payments to Iran, which the Fox report the eyes of the “quartet” — adopted end when the leadership in the UAE is GULF TIMES suggested amounted to $133mn a year. the approach taken by Qatari offi cials ready to move on. Whatever was said This does not sit easily with the Trump from the beginning, which was to divide behind closed doors, it appears it was By Kristian Coates Ulrichsen administration’s eff ort to squeeze the the issues and focus on each bundle suffi cient to derail the Saudi-Qatari Iranian regime through a combination separately. dialogue which came to an end in Janu- of direct sanctions and pressure on US In late-2019, a dialogue between ary without agreement. If Trump would just July 9 report on Fox News partners to reduce their own dealings Saudi and Qatari offi cials which initially The challenge therefore for US of- which claimed that the United with Tehran. Second, the fact that US looked promising but ultimately broke fi cials and other potential mediators is Arab Emirates has held up a diplomats and members of the military up without result illustrated another that there is no single or straightfor- wear a mask, fewer Adeal crafted by US offi cials regularly travel on commercial fl ights diffi culty in attempting to end or at ward way to resolving the rift in a way to end a key aspect of the three-year operated by Qatar Airways is deemed to least ease the rift. acceptable to all parties to the dispute. blockade of Qatar by the UAE, Saudi expose them to potential risk while in Bilateral talks began in the after- The lack of consensus has persistently Americans might die Arabia, Bahrain, and Egypt has refo- Iranian airspace. math of the September 2019 missile undermined eff orts to resolve the issues cused attention on the diffi culties of On January 8, the accidental shooting and drone attacks on Saudi oil instal- raised by the blockade on a case-by- ending an increasingly entrenched down of a passenger jet as it departed lations at Abqaiq and Khurais and case basis or through bilateral talks and The novel coronavirus pandemic poses a severe challenge dispute. Imam Khomeini Airport in Tehran the two sides appeared to be making shows no imminent signs of ending. to elected leaders that far exceeds any headaches posed Fox News cited anonymous offi cials tragically illustrated the risks of en- progress, raising hopes of a thaw in With Mohamed bin Salman balancing by budget crises or corruption scandals. With projections who stated that the UAE had requested tanglement in an escalation of tension Saudi-Qatari ties ahead of the an- US pressure to lift the airspace restric- Saudi Arabia withhold support for a between Iran and the US, when, inci- nual summit of Gulf States in Riyadh tions with Emirati pressure to maintain now showing 208,000 Americans dead by Election Day of US-backed proposal to reopen Saudi dentally, a Qatar Airways fl ight to Doha in December. In the event, no such blockade unity, the Saudi leadership Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus, every pandemic and Emirati airspace to Qatar Airways. had taken off just minutes before the breakthrough occurred, which, for may prevaricate on the issue to avoid decision is fraught with dire public health implications. While the blockade of Qatar encom- doomed Ukraine International Airlines Qatar, would have meant, at the very having to take a diffi cult decision either This is why San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer deserves passes far broader sets of issues, from a plane that was mistakenly targeted. least, a reopening of the land border way. credit for his executive order on Tuesday waiving permits US perspective the airspace component After a previous attempt by US of- with Saudi Arabia and the ending of has become a priority as it intersects fi cials to craft a deal that would reopen the airspace restrictions. O Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, PhD, is a that cost up to $1,000 and other fees for restaurants serving with the Trump administration’s at- “quartet” airspace to Qatar Airways Observers in Doha of the Saudi- Baker Institute fellow for the Middle East people outdoors. tempt to isolate and pressure Iran. faltered in early 2020, the Trump Qatari talks sensed a shift in tone after The recent decisions by the county and the state to In recent months, US offi cials have administration launched a fresh initia- Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin (This article was fi rst published in close indoor dining after a sharp increase in cases of made several attempts to broker an tive in June as the blockade entered its Salman spent time in Abu Dhabi with Responsible Statecraft, a publication airspace deal as part of a push to make fourth year. It appears that the break- Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed for of the Quincy Institute for Responsible the coronavirus – and outbreaks at restaurants – made tangible progress on ending the rift down of this latest attempt was what the biannual meeting of the Saudi-Emi- Statecraft https://responsiblestatecraft. complete sense. among close US partners by focusing prompted unnamed offi cials to brief rati Co-ordination Council and the For- org/2020/07/10/why-the-us-cant- Evidence is strong that outdoor dining is safer than on specifi c issues rather than a general Fox News, which began its report with a mula One Grand Prix in late-November. end-the-saudi-uae-led-blockade-on- indoor dining. Having that option won’t just help keep reconciliation or a grand bargain. blunt statement that it was time for US Had the Qataris succeeded in address- qatar/) many struggling restaurants in business. It’s good for the mental health of people who have stayed mostly at home for nearly four months. Could Faulconer have acted earlier? Of course. On Monday, The San Diego Union-Tribune published a commentary by a board member of the La Jolla Shores US pandemic forces cruel Association complaining about the city’s sluggish response to requests to allow al fresco dining along one block of Avenida de la Playa. With dangerous Fortunately, Faulconer choice on asylum seekers made the right call after frequency, the county’s closures. His By Laura Gottesdiener care in ICE facilities. liquid soap for detainees. measured leadership stands Monterrey, Mexico The ICE spokeswoman said the More than a third reported not having Trump has in sharp contrast to the agency weighs a person’s criminal enough hand sanitiser for detainees. failed to set a scattershot, chaotic and record, potential threat to public safety Some 12% of facilities said they reckless approach of a much n early June, asylum seeker Jose and fl ight risk, as well as any national did not have the capacity to isolate Munoz decided it was time to fl ee security concerns, when evaluating or quarantine a detainee who tested good example more powerful elected for his life — by getting deported whether to grant discretionary release. positive for Covid-19. during the Republican – President Ifrom a Texas immigration detention One migrant interviewed for this A number of facilities said social Donald Trump. centre where coronavirus was sweeping story tested positive for Covid-19 distancing was a challenge given space pandemic With dangerous through the population and going home while in detention at the Otero County restrictions. frequency, Trump has failed to El Salvador. Processing Centre in New Mexico, Patricia Jimenez, a Mexican asylum As the number of Covid-19 cases according to ICE. seeker who said she fl ed to the United to set a good example during the pandemic. rose in the Houston Contract Detention A second migrant tested positive on States after being kidnapped by Last week, he fi nally acknowledged the importance of Facility — it has had at least 105, May 14, according to El Rio Health in unknown gunmen, decided to drop wearing masks after months of refusing to wear one, then according to US Immigration and Arizona, the same day US documents her case and seek deportation as the held a mask-optional event at Mount Rushmore. Customs Enforcement (ICE) data — show he was released from ICE custody. coronavirus swept through the Eloy On Wednesday, he warned states that don’t reopen their Munoz said he had few ways to protect Many of the 14 current and former Federal Contract Facility in Arizona, himself from exposure except for a cloth detainees interviewed by Reuters said which has reported 222 Covid-19 cases, K-12 schools in regular fashion next month that he will seek face mask. they did not have access to hygiene the second-largest outbreak in an ICE to cut off their federal funding. On June 1, there were 375 detainees products such as hand soap and detention centre. Her account was And on Twitter, he blasted the US Centers for Disease housed in the facility, according ICE disinfectants. confi rmed by her lawyer and her aunt. Sandra Videla, whose Guatemalan Control and Prevention’s “very tough & expensive data. Six detainees said they were exposed “I’m really scared that I might get Although at 19 he would not normally husband Timoteo Vicente-Chun to other detainees who had fevers, sick and never see my son again,” guidelines for opening schools” by ensuring social be at risk from complications from the is detained at the Northwest ICE persistent coughs, or body aches, which she told Reuters in a call in late June distancing as, somehow, “very impractical.” respiratory illness caused by the novel Processing Centre, poses outside the can be symptoms of the virus. from the centre, where she’s awaiting With cases of the coronavirus exploding in America’s coronavirus, Munoz worried his high facility in Tacoma, Washington, US, on One current detainee said those deportation. three most populous states – California, Texas and Florida cholesterol, a comorbidity found in some June 29. who voiced health concerns were Jimenez said she fears returning to – and with the average age of those infected becoming patients who died, made him vulnerable. punished with solitary confi nement, a Mexico. Months earlier, the Salvadoran forego their cases. claim echoed by lawyers and advocates “But at this moment, I’m more afraid much younger, Trump’s comments are irrational. Yes, student had sought asylum in the United Reuters couldn’t determine if the total working in detention centres in four of being here,” she said, citing the death of course, regular education is far superior to distance States after he says he was attacked number of people voluntarily seeking diff erent states. of a guard who she says she had contact learning for young students. And Trump is right when he for refusing to transport drugs for a deportation is on the rise. “ICE fully respects the rights of with in the facility’s kitchen, where she notes Germany has reopened schools with relatively few gang, which he declined to name, citing Samuel Cole, a US immigration detainees to voice their concerns had worked. problems. But German leaders, unlike Trump, have made concerns for his safety. judge who spoke to Reuters as without interference and does CoreCivic, the company that operates His lawyer and an affi davit signed by communications director for the not retaliate in any way,” the ICE the centre, said the death was from virus testing vastly more available, done a much better Munoz and reviewed by Reuters were National Association of Immigration spokeswoman told Reuters. “potential Covid-19-related issues.” job in contract tracing and have used eff ective campaigns consistent with his account. Judges, said he saw an increase in A second ICE spokeswoman said the In a statement, a representative to tout social distancing and mask wearing. Germany’s But by June, he feared his life was migrants seeking to leave detention in agency provided soap in washing areas of CoreCivic said the company is experience doesn’t make the case for Trump. It makes the hanging in the balance, knowing that the the early months of the pandemic — and sanitiser throughout the centres committed to the safety of its detainees case against him. next ruling in his asylum case would be even if it meant abandoning their cases. “whenever possible,” adding that ICE and employees, adding that Jimenez’s months away if he chose to keep fi ghting. “There were defi nitely respondents had taken steps to mitigate the spread of claims “do not refl ect the affi rmative, Researchers at the University of Washington’s Institute “I felt like it was more dangerous who expressed fear of getting sick in Covid-19 and to “safeguard the health proactive measures to combat the spread for Health Metrics and Evaluation say the nation’s than back in my country,” he said in a detention and wanted to get out as fear and well-being of detainees, staff , and of Covid-19 our facility has been taking estimated Covid-19 death toll would be below 163,000 by telephone interview last month from El of Covid was sweeping the country,” others at our detention facilities.” for months.” November 1 if at least 95% of people wore masks in public. Salvador. Cole said. Several lawyers told Reuters they see Lucas Castro, a Mexican asylum That’s 45,000 fewer deaths, just by doing something a Reuters spoke to more than 30 US Immigration and Customs the agency’s handling of the pandemic seeker with diabetes, which makes lawyers, immigration advocates, Enforcement has dialled back arrests inside its detention centres as part of the people vulnerable to complications better leader would advocate for. – Tribune News Service detainees and their family members who and released some immigrants on parole, US government’s broader eff ort to limit from the virus, said he also requested said the risks of contracting Covid-19 but has come under fi re for shifting immigration. deportation after fearing for his life more inside detention facilities have driven detainees between facilities during the “I’ve come to think it’s a strategy to in detention than back home, where he people to seek deportation. pandemic, which ICE has said is part of get people to say: ‘I’m scared to death, I said he was brutally beaten by a drug To Advertise Fifteen immigration lawyers and its eff ort to stem the spread of the virus can’t stand it anymore, just deport me,’” gang last year. advocates, who together say they have and to promote social distancing. said Margo Cowan, supervisor at the His account was supported by his wife [email protected] received hundreds of requests from The agency has also been criticised for Pima County Public Defender’s Offi ce in and the transcript of his “credible-fear” detainees seeking to leave facilities deporting more than a hundred infected Arizona, who has practised immigration interview, which is part of the asylum Display in eight US states for health reasons, people to their home countries. law for more than three decades. process and was reviewed by Reuters. 44466621 44418811 told Reuters they are seeing increases ICE data shows 2,742 people in The fi rst ICE spokeswoman told Eight migrants, including Castro, in the number of people considering ICE detention centres, and 45 ICE Reuters the agency fully respects told Reuters that offi cials tried to use Classified abandoning their cases. employees, have tested positive for immigrants’ rights to due process. detainees’ health concerns to push them 44466609 44418811 Reuters found 12 cases of detainees Covid-19. “Any alien who has a claim to relief, into agreeing to their deportation. who stopped fi ghting their cases Two migrants with the disease have protection under the law, or basis to At Arizona’s La Palma Correctional Subscription and instead agreed to deportation died. remain in the United States is allowed to Facility, where Castro was held, he or voluntary departure due to the Thousands of others who could be remain in the US legally,” she said. said detainees frequently requested [email protected] pandemic. more vulnerable if they get infected A DHS internal watchdog report based information about the pandemic An ICE spokeswoman told Reuters the remain in custody, according to ICE data on a survey of 188 ICE detention centres and whether they could be granted agency respects migrants’ rights to make included in a June 24 court fi ling as part shows that about 90% of ICE detention humanitarian parole or other forms of © 2020 Gulf Times. All rights reserved decisions regarding whether to pursue or of a class-action lawsuit over medical centres said they had enough masks and release. – Reuters Gulf Times Saturday, July 11, 2020 15 COMMENT Money talks: US town prints own currency to boost coronavirus relief

By Gregory Scruggs these donations go to big box stores,” she said in all,” Fournier said. “If we do it from the ground $25 notes sitting in his cash register. Tenino, United States e-mailed comments. up, there’s no stealing. It’s a direct ballast to In a case of history repeating, he said coin “So, it created a local currency so that these Main Street.” collectors have off ered to buy the bills from ‘discretionary’ funds in its budget would circle From the outset, the unprecedented fi rst- him for double their value in US dollars. Back in ucked away under lock and key back to support locally-owned businesses.” come-fi rst-served programme struggled with the 1930s, coin collectors fueled a speculative in a former railroad depot turned technology and paperwork problems that rise in the value of the town’s wooden small-town museum in the US state ‘WOVEN INTO OUR DNA’ led some businesses to miss out while some scrip, according to Washington state online Tof Washington, a wooden printing Mayor Fournier noted that, for long- affl uent fi rms got funds they did not necessarily encyclopedia HistoryLink. press cranked back to life to mint currency after time Tenino residents, the wooden notes need. nearly 90 dormant years. The end product: $25 are nothing new. The tiny town founded “From mom-and-pop shops on Main Street LOCAL CONTROL wooden bills bearing the town’s name — Tenino around a sandstone quarry achieved national to local employers who are anchors in our The Schumacher Center for a New — with the words “Covid Relief” superimposed prominence in 1931 when civic leaders printed community, we have seen the PPP save millions Economics has documented more than 50 local on the image of a bat and the Latin phrase a wooden local currency to restore consumer of jobs and keep small fi rms moving forward,” alternative currencies globally that were active “Habemus autem sub potestate” (We have it confi dence after the town’s bank failed during said Jeremy Field, the regional administrator as of summer 2019. under control) printed in cursive. the Great Depression. for the Small Business Administration, which They range from the artfully designed With the coronavirus pandemic plunging the “This is woven into the DNA of the oversees the programme. Brixton Pound in London, England, to the United States into a recession, decimating small community,” Fournier said.”My great aunt He noted in e-mailed comments that 86.5% Mumbuca, which bankrolls the basic income businesses and causing job losses across the Erlene has the family collection all stashed of loans granted nationally were for less than scheme in Marica, Brazil. country, some local governments are looking away.” $150,000 and that the programme covered The centre also sponsors BerkShares, a for innovative ways to help residents weather The mayor brought the idea of resurrecting almost three-quarters of the small business local currency that has been circulating in the the storm. the town’s legacy project to the city council as payroll in Washington state. Berkshire region of western Massachusetts for For Tenino, the answer was the revival of the a way to provide economic relief to businesses 14 years. local currency that had bolstered the town’s and residents suff ering as a result of lockdown ‘HACKING THE SYSTEM’ Witt cautions that notes backed by US economy in 1931 in the wake of the Great measures to slow the spread of Covid-19. Fournier said he has already fi elded queries dollars are only a halfway measure, because the Depression. In April councillors approved the proposal from towns across the country looking to amount of local currency available is limited by “It was kind of an epiphany: Why don’t we to issue up to $10,000 in local scrip. So far, emulate Tenino’s eff ort. “What if 5,000 other the amount of federal dollars the town has on do that again?” Mayor Wayne Fournier told the 13 residents have successfully applied for the small cities did that same thing and took it hand to exchange it with. Thomson Reuters Foundation. “It only made funds and some $2,500 worth of wooden bills upon themselves to put $10,000 into Main “A truly independent currency would allow sense.” have been issued, Fournier said, with donations Street?” he asked. for issuing currency as needed,” she said. Tenino, a town of less than 2,000 people upping the total funds available to $16,000. “That’s $50mn directly into small businesses. That “new” money would circulate through located about 60 miles (95km) southwest of Anyone with a documented loss of income as a It totally hacks the system.” the local economy and then eventually go Seattle, started printing the local banknotes result of the pandemic is eligible for up to $300 FROM THE GROUND UP So far, however, Tenino’s currency does not toward paying property taxes over the course of in April, fi ve weeks into Washington state’s a month of the local currency. Businesses up Fournier views the project as the kind of appear to be circulating much among local several years, she added. lockdown. and down Tenino’s quaint Main Street accept initiative towns and small cities must take upon businesses. But, for now, Witt said, Tenino’s project Anyone with a documented loss of income the wooden note. themselves to survive the coronavirus outbreak At the grocery and hardware store that is an eff ective way to empower a community as a result of the pandemic is eligible for up to amid what he views as an inadequate federal anchors Main Street, manager Chris Hamilton being brought to its knees by factors beyond $300 a month of the local currency. Businesses Schumacher Center for a New Economics, response. He pointed out that the federal said that by mid-June customers had spent its control. “I don’t believe the good people of up and down the town’s quaint Main Street a Massachusetts-based think tank, said Paycheck Protection Programme (PPP), a fund $150 in the local bills to buy necessities like Tenino meant for their wooden (banknotes) to accept the wooden note for everything except alternative currencies like Tenino’s banknote of forgivable loans designed to keep businesses groceries and a new faucet to replace a broken serve as a robust local currency,” she said. alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and lottery tickets. are better than direct cash payments at afl oat through the pandemic, is not scaled tap. “They are instead making an important Tenino’s city government backs the local boosting local economies. for the businesses in Tenino that have just a “I’ll redeem it for cash at city hall,” he said. “I point. Covid and the lack of federal response currency, which merchants can exchange for US “The City of Barcelona gave donations (in handful of employees. hadn’t thought about recirculating it.” to the crisis has motivated municipalities to dollars at city hall at a 1:1 rate. 2017/18) to sports teams and cultural groups “A federal programme dumps money from Next door at Don Juan’s Mexican Kitchen, explore what could be done with their own Susan Witt, executive director of the as well as social programmes (then) watched the top and these blue-chip companies steal it owner Juan Martinez Jr has four of the wooden currencies.” (Thomson Reuters Foundation)

No recovery without debt relief Three-day forecast TODAY Maximum Temperature : 430c By Mo Ibrahim Ethiopia, Ghana, Guyana, Honduras, cumulative external shocks and to central banks, would not only expand Minimum Temperature : 330c Abuja Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, fi nance an adequate public-health access to cheap liquidity; if designed Mozambique, Nicaragua, Niger, response. Yet, unlike the eurozone well, it could also support the shift SUNDAY Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, or the United States, most African toward a more sustainable growth Maximum Temperature : 420c Minimum Temperature : 330c he Covid-19 pandemic is a and Zambia – of debt totalling more countries cannot print money to get model. The International Monetary shared global challenge, and than $40bn. them through the crisis. Fund also has an important role to MONDAY it demands a shared global No longer saddled with massive Moreover, their fi scal space remains play. The creative use of its reserve Maximum Temperature : 420c Tresponse that addresses both debt-service costs, countries were limited, not least because they must asset, Special Drawing Rights, could Minimum Temperature : 330c the health and economic dimensions able to invest more in their own continue to make large debt payments. go a long way toward supporting Fisherman's forecast of the crisis. More extensive debt relief economies and people. Many of the This leaves their leaders with an fragile economies. for Africa is an essential feature of any countries that had received debt impossible choice: cut spending on The world’s wealthiest economies WARNING such response. relief, such as Ethiopia and Rwanda, crucial services, as Nigeria has done, have responded to the Covid-19 crisis Inshore : Nil Last month, the African Union subsequently experienced signifi cant or default. with unprecedented fi scal measures. launched the Africa Medical Supplies upticks in economic growth. Debt relief would save countries African countries must do the same. Offshore : Nil Platform to facilitate the production Standards of health care, access from this bleak scenario, freeing up the Ensuring that they can is not charity; WEATHER and provision of vital medical to education, and employment capital needed to fi ght the pandemic it is a matter of shared interest. Inshore : Hot daytime with slight equipment – the latest achievement opportunities improved markedly. and stabilise the economy. World If African governments lack the dust and some clouds at times, relatively hu- in an already impressive response to And countries improved their leaders already recognise this. In resources to respond eff ectively to the mid at places by night. the Covid-19 crisis. Yet, in the same governance and benefi ted from greater April, G20 leaders agreed to suspend crisis, the hard-won gains of recent WIND week, it was revealed that most of stability – crucial to sustaining long- some debt repayments for the world’s decades will be wiped out; poverty Inshore : Southeasterly-North- easterly 05-15/18 KT Nigeria’s federal government revenue term growth. poorest countries for the rest of 2020. will skyrocket; the virus will become was going to debt-service payments, This progress is now at risk of But it is nowhere near enough. Pledges increasingly diffi cult to contain; and Offshore : Southeasterly-North- and the country would be cutting unravelling. Though Africa has so far must now be swiftly implemented and social unrest will grow, particularly in easterly 03-12/15 KT public-health spending by 40% – recorded a relatively low number of signifi cantly expanded. Specifi cally, countries like Sudan that are already Visibility : 4-8 KM even as Covid-19 infections continue Covid-19 infections, it faces a severe all creditors – bilateral, multilateral, struggling to end decades-long to climb. economic crisis, with potentially and private – must implement an confl icts. This would exact a massive Offshore : 1-3/4 FT The contrast is as tragic as it is far-reaching social and political immediate debt-service standstill for human and economic toll, and leave all stark. The world’s youngest continent implications. External demand, oil all African countries until the end of of us living in an increasingly insecure is itching not only to stand on its own prices, tourism and travel revenues, 2021. world. Around the region two feet, but also to provide global and remittances have all collapsed. As Vera Songwe, the Executive The Covid-19 pandemic is a shared Weather Weather leadership. And it remains hamstrung Investors have pulled $100bn from Secretary of the United Nations global challenge, and it demands a Today Max/min Tomorrow Max/min by an old foe: debt. If Africa is to emerging markets since the beginning Economic Commission for Africa, has shared global response that addresses Baghdad Sunny 47/30 Sunny 46/28 achieve its potential, its creditors must of the pandemic – the largest-ever proposed, a special purpose vehicle both the health and economic Kuwait City Sunny 47/34 Sunny 46/33 set it free. capital outfl ow in such a short period. (SPV) could also be created, modelled dimensions of the crisis. Debt relief Manama Sunny 41/33 Sunny 42/33 Debt relief works. Fifteen years This is contributing to a deepening on the repurchase (“repo”) facilities for Africa is an essential feature of any Muscat M Sunny 37/32 M Sunny 37/31 ago this week, the G8 issued the – and highly dangerous – liquidity that American and European central such response. – Project Syndicate Tehran P Cloudy 36/24 P Cloudy 34/24 Gleneagles declaration, relieving 18 crisis. banks often use to support the smooth “highly indebted poor countries” African governments urgently need functioning of markets. This new O Mo Ibrahim is Chair and Founder – Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, capital to stabilise economies hit by lending vehicle, backed by the G20 of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation. Live issues Evaluating proteins

including eggs, milk, fi sh and meat, By Barbara Quinn Around the world The Monterey County Herald supply all the essential amino acids. Most plant-based sources (with the Weather Weather exception of soy and quinoa) lack Today Max/min Tomorrow Max/min ’m seeing more and more plant- one or more vital protein building Athens Sunny 33/22 Sunny 35/23 based protein ingredients added to blocks. That is usually not a problem, Beirut Sunny 29/25 Sunny 30/25 food products these days. A prod- however, if a person eats a blend of Bangkok M Cloudy 35/27 I T Storms 34/26 uct called Harvest Snaps, for ex- various plant-based proteins. Beans Berlin P Cloudy 20/09 P Cloudy 21/10 I Sunny 38/23 Sunny 37/23 ample, uses green peas, red lentils and and rice, for example, fi ll in each Cairo black beans in their chip-like snacks. other’s amino acid “gaps.” Cape Town P Cloudy 15/08 P Cloudy 18/12 These pea, lentil and bean-based crisps Plant and animal-based proteins Colombo Cloudy 29/26 Cloudy 29/26 have more protein and dietary fi bre and also diff er somewhat in their Dhaka T Storm 31/27 T Storm 30/27 less fat and sodium than regular potato digestibility, or how well they are Hong Kong P Cloudy 30/27 P Cloudy 30/26 chips. Not bad. absorbed and utilised in our bodies. Istanbul Sunny 29/22 Sunny 29/21 Nuts and nut butters can also boost ingredient of human and animal contain 10,000 diff erent proteins that Researchers tell us that a lower Jakarta P Cloudy 33/25 P Cloudy 33/24 protein in our diets. And peanut butter tissues. And while many people, make us what we are and keep us that proportion of the amino acids in plants Karachi P Cloudy 34/30 Cloudy 34/29 now has several friends on the shelf, especially Americans, consume too way. Proteins form skin, body organs, get digested, absorbed and used for London M Sunny 21/11 P Cloudy 24/13 including cashew, almond and hazelnut much of this vital nutrient, the Food muscles, DNA and other genetic projects like muscle building. In fact, Manila T Storm 33/27 S T Storm 33/27 butters. and Agriculture Organisation of material, sex hormones, our immune recent studies have found that animal- Moscow P Cloudy 28/18 S T Storms 27/17 I recently sampled a couple of Once the United Nations estimates that a system and enzymes that digest our based proteins have a greater ability to New Delhi P Cloudy 36/28 P Cloudy 34/28 Again nut butter spreads - one with billion people worldwide consume an food. Pretty important. sustain muscle mass, especially as we New York T Storms 30/23 Sunny 33/24 hazelnuts and cocoa and the other with inadequate amount of protein. Our bodies make all of these proteins age, than plant-based sources. Paris M Sunny 24/12 P Cloudy 26/14 almonds and cocoa. My grandchildren Is there a diff erence between plant from just 20 amino acids - the building That said, plant foods can supply all Sao Paulo M Sunny 27/17 Sunny 28/18 would love this stuff but I’m not a huge proteins and those from animal sources blocks of protein. Of these, nine are of the essential amino acids required Seoul Cloudy 30/21 Cloudy 29/21 fan. Rather than nuts, the primary such as eggs, milk, fi sh and meat? First, “essential” because the only way we for health. And protein from a variety of Singapore S T Storms 30/27 T Storm 29/26 ingredient in these products is added a short nutrition lesson: get them is by eating foods that supply sources - plant and animal - is probably Sydney S Showers 18/09 S T Storms 16/09 sugar. According to the Harvard School them. the best advice for optimal health. - Tokyo Cloudy 30/25 Cloudy 30/24 Protein. It’s the most fundamental of Public Health, our human bodies Animal sources of protein, Tribune News Service Gulf Times 16 Saturday, July 11, 2020 QATAR QU-ESC monitors hawksbill turtle conservation in Qatar he Environmental Science Centre (ESC) at Qatar Uni- Tversity (QU) is focused on monitoring and protecting the hawksbill turtles that come to Qatar to nest each year. Staff at New hatchlings. the ESC have been able to keep the monitoring eff ort similar to previous years during the height of Covid-19 lockdown precau- tions taken by the government, QU has stressed. “We have noticed a change in nesting behaviour this year among nesting turtles, possi- bly due to the Covid-19 restric- tions on beach closures. The total number of turtles coming to Qatar to nest is roughly the same as previous years. But the Installation of a tracker. Morphological measurement. big diff erence we have noticed is the beaches they are using to nest erected in Ras Laff an Industrial Previously, Ras Laff an, Ras Rakkan said, “The centre has benefi ted appears to have changed slight- City. In recent years, nests on the from its accumulated experienc- ly,” QU said in a statement. site have been subject to consid- and Umm Tais have had the majority of es, research and scientifi c reports Previously, Ras Laff an, Ras erable pressure from fox preda- nests. However, this year, beaches like in an attempt to assess and know Rakkan and Umm Tais have had tion. the numbers of hawksbill tur- Nesting turtle the majority of nests. However, As such, project partners that Al Maroona, Al Ghariyah and Fuwairit tles annually and their places of this year, beaches like Al Ma- work on the site (Qatar Petro- have seen huge increases in nesting spread around the Qatari penin- roona, Al Ghariyah and Fuwairit leum and the ESC) have taken the sula and the waters of the Ara- have seen huge increases in nest- step to relocate and protect nests activity bian Gulf through tracking them ing activity, it notes. in a protected hatchery on site. with satellite tracking devices.” Al Maroona and Al Ghariyah in “So far, this has been extreme- Many important areas have has been accomplished and will Dr Jassim al-Khayyat, the particular have seen big gains in ly successful by eliminating fox been identifi ed off shore from provide valuable information on project’s executive director, nesting activity. These increases predation. This measure can also the tracking data. There appears the post-nesting movements of stressed the need to preserve the could be due to the fact that these show to other projects around the to be three main home ranges hawksbills. environment and reduce negative sites normally receive many visi- world that development and ef- for hawksbills that nest in Qa- So far, this turtle has been seen practices, stating: “To protect tors from April to June, which fective conservation can exist to- tar. Many of them either migrate travelling northwest, which is eggs, prevent vehicles from trav- could have deterred nesting gether,” the statement points out. back towards the waters off Du- not commonly seen from nest- elling on sandy beaches and raise activity. However, this year, as A crucial part of marine tur- bai, south off Mesaieed or west ing turtles in Qatar. This may awareness through media outlets public access has been restricted, tle protection in Qatar is under- near the Hawar Islands. identify to researchers new for- of the importance of protect- turtles may have preferred nest- standing where they go when This year, for the fi rst time aging grounds or areas important ing turtles, their eggs and their ing on these sites. they’re not on the beach nesting. in the project history, ESC staff to turtles in Qatar and the wider young in nesting and hatching For the fi rst time since the To achieve this, the ESC deploys deployed a satellite tracker on a Arabian Gulf. seasons, and by involving com- project’s inception, a protected satellite trackers on post-nesting nesting turtle from Ras Rakkan Dr Hamad al-Kuwari, director munity members in activities re- turtle nest hatchery has been turtles each year. Island. This is the fi rst time this of ESC and head of the project lated to protection.” Tracker on the back of the turtle.

Release of hamours part of eff orts to boost fi sh strategic stock

he recent release of thou- baby hamours in the Qatari waters The locations should be near sands of baby hamours into in co-operation with the General coastal areas or coral reefs where Tthe Qatari waters is part of Directorate of Coasts and Border hamour fi sh are usually found in an initiative that aims to increase Security. abundance. It also has to be an the strategic stock of diff erent This said programme is part area where fi shing is banned or types of fi sh and further enhance of the second national develop- limited to allow small fi sh to grow, the local production levels. ment strategy (2018-2022) for the statement explains. The hamours are considered natural resources. The baby fi sh The MME noted that the proc- among the fi rst produce of the are released in environmentally ess of releasing the baby hamours Aquatic Research Centre in Ras suitable habitats, which are de- was duly prepared by special- Matbakh as part of a programme cided on the basis of scientifi c and ists in the fi eld to guarantee its to enhance marine life in the ecological standards that will help success. All necessary techni- country. provide them with surroundings cal equipment was used for the This entails the production of conducive to growth, the state- transport and release of the fi sh local fi sh of high economic value, ment notes. at the predetermined marine to be multiplied and released in The process of releasing the sites. the Qatari waters, the Ministry young fi sh was determined based The transportation and release of Municipality and Environment on conditions that are consid- of the fi sh was carried out under (MME) has stressed in a state- ered suitable for the growth of the supervision of an assigned ment. As reported in ‘Gulf Times’ baby hamours when they reach a team from the Aquatic Research The MME’s Fisheries Department had recently released 20,000 Hamours are considered among the first produce of the Aquatic recently, the MME’s Fisheries weight of more than 3gm and can Centre in co-operation with other baby hamours in the Qatari waters in co-operation with the General Research Centre in Ras Matbakh as part of a programme to enhance Department had released 20,000 live in deep water. experts and technicians. Directorate of Coasts and Border Security. marine life in the country. Disinfection drive in Al Sheehaniya Citizens’ subdivisions infrastructure projects key part of Ashghal’s development initiatives

By Shafeeq Alingal Ashghal also completed four Staff Reporter projects in the vicinity of Doha while seven projects were im- plemented to serve more than he citizens’ subdivisions 4,000 plots in Muaither West projects continue to play (Al Manaseer). Ta major role in the Pub- These were in addition to five lic Works Authority’s (Ash- projects in the west of Doha ghal) plans for comprehensive city and four projects to de- infrastructure development in velop sewage networks serving Qatar. According to the latest around 3,000 plots, as well as figures available with Ashghal, 17 projects to develop roads and 33 infrastructure projects are integrated infrastructure serv- being implemented at a total ing 10,000 plots and two land- cost of QR13.7bn under this grading projects serving almost initiative. 2,000 plots. These projects will serve With a total value of around 30,000 residential plots in 17 QR4bn, 10 contracts were Al Sheehaniya Municipality, represented by the services aff airs department, is continuing areas, including Al Kharaitiyat, signed as part of the initiative with its sanitisation and disinfection operations in the municipality’s vital areas and parks, the Rawdat Egdaim, Izghawa, Al are in existing citizens’ subdi- in January this year. The pro- Ministry of Municipality and Environment said. Fumigation has been done in some places to Wukair South, Al Shamal, Al These projects visions. posed projects will serve more combat pests such as mosquitoes and flying insects, including at Al Sheehaniya Park and the Mearad, southwest of Muaith- will serve 30,000 The projects, being imple- than 8,400 plots across 10 ar- Desert Garden. er, Al Ebb & Leabaib, Al Duhail mented by Ashghal, provide eas in the north, south and west South, Umm Lekhba, Jeryan residential plots roads as well as pedestrian and of the country. All the contracts Nejaima, Ain Khaled North and in 17 areas cycling paths along with infra- were given to Qatari compa- others. structure development works nies. While addressing a remotely Last week, Ashghal had such as sewage, surface and In May 2019, seven new con- held event recently where nine signed nine new contracts groundwater and treated sew- struction contracts with a total new construction contracts worth QR3.6bn with Qatari age effluent networks. value of QR3.2bn were inked by were signed with Qatari com- companies for projects that will More than 22,000 land plots Ashghal to serve a total of 3,090 panies for projects under the serve 5,111 residential plots in in 18 areas saw the implemen- land plots. Earlier, in May 2018, initiative, Ashghal president Dr six areas: Semaisma South, Al tation of development works four new contracts totalling Saad bin Ahmad al-Muhannadi Ebb & Leabaib, Umm Slal Mo- as part of the projects between QR1.5bn were signed to de- noted that there are direc- hamed, Al Wajba East, Mebai- 2014 and 2017. Of the devel- velop infrastructure on plots tives from HE the Prime Min- reek and Al Meshaf South. oped plots, 20,637 were in ex- under the citizens’ residential ister and Minister of Interior Work on the new projects is isting areas while 1,829 were in projects in Al Wukair South in Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin scheduled to start in the third new citizens’ land plot areas. Al Wakra Municipality. Abdulaziz al-Thani to continue quarter of 2020. During this phase, Ashghal In October 2018, Ashghal working at the same pace and Launched in 2014, the project completed 23 projects to de- signed five contracts worth with the same commitment to has witnessed the implementa- velop infrastructure in various QR2.7bn with Qatari compa- implement all infrastructure tion of development plans for areas serving 15,108 citizens’ nies for developing infrastruc- works under the said projects around 34,918 land plots, ac- land plots while seven projects ture facilities for 5,192 plots in accordance with Ashghal’s cording to Ashghal. Of these, were completed in Doha North, of land in different areas un- plans despite the current 5,045 plots are in new citizens’ serving more than 7,000 citi- der the citizens’ residential worldwide economic crisis. subdivisions and 29,873 plots zens’ plots. scheme.