INDEX BUSINESS | Page 1 QATAR 2-5, 20 COMMENT 18, 19 QATAR | Page 3 ARAB WORLD 6 BUSINESS 1-12 Qatar seen INTERNATIONAL 7-17 SPORTS 1-6 Qatar Charity transforming begins setting into a world DOW JONES QE NYMEX up Covid-19 leader in solar 25,763.16 9,134.02 37.22 isolation units technology +157.62 -50.84 +0.10 +0.62% -0.55% +0.27% in Syria Latest Figures

published in QATAR since 1978

TUESDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11581 June 16, 2020 Shawwal 24, 1441 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Amir congratulates Moroccan king on successful surgery Qatar marks completion of Amir lauds role of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Education City Stadium Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani sent healthcare workers yesterday cables of congratulations to King Mohamed VI of Morocco on the successful surgery he underwent, praying to Almighty in fi ght against Covid Allah to grant him good health and well-being. Transfer of Qatari funds to Gaza continues HE the Chairman of Qatar’s Gaza Reconstruction Committee ambassador Mohamed al-Emadi has stressed that Qatar will transfer its grant to Gaza within this week or next. He said that the delay was due to the procedures to combat the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19), The Education City Stadium – the third tournament-ready venue for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, seen yesterday evening. dismissing reports that the state PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil purposely delayed the transfer of funds, or that they were blocked by By Sports Reporter zThird stadium to be completed for Qatar 2022 the Israeli side. He also dismissed Doha reports in the media that the value of zThe 40,000-capacity venue is nicknamed the money transferred was $50mn, ‘Diamond in the Desert’ stressing that Qatar will continue arking yet another signifi cant its eff orts to support the Palestinian milestone in the build-up to- zThe first World Cup stadium to achieve a people generally, and people in Gaza Mwards the 2022 FIFA World in particular. Cup, Qatar yesterday announced the five-star sustainability rating under the Global completion of Education City Stadium Sustainability Assessment System Outdoor working – the third tournament-ready venue hours during summer for the prestigious global sporting gala. The stadium’s completion was The rule limiting outdoor working marked during special programmes on hours during the summer came into the Supreme Committee for Delivery & eff ect yesterday, with the Ministry Legacy’s (SC) social media platforms. of Administrative Development, The highlight of the programmes Labour and Social Aff airs (MADLSA) was a speech by His Highness the Amir stressing that legal steps will be Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. taken in case of violations. From Launching Education City Stadium now until August 31, outdoor work digitally, and in compliance with the is prohibited between 11.30am and protective measures implemented by 3pm. Also, work should not exceed Qatar, affi rms the SC’s commitment to five hours in the morning. Page 3 deliver its projects on schedule – de- spite the current circumstances. The is Highness the Amir Sheikh the medical staff and all the staff of the Qatar reports 58,681 stadium’s successful completion was Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani teams working on the frontline against Covid-19 recoveries dedicated to frontline workers who have Hyesterday lauded the services the Covid-19 pandemic, who have worked tirelessly during the ongoing of the frontline healthcare workers saved the lives of many people and The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) Covid-19 pandemic. To Page 5 An interior view of the Education City Stadium. who have been fi ghting the corona- brought back hope to them. announced yesterday 1,274 new virus (Covid-19) pandemic. “We thank you and we support you.” confirmed cases of Covid-19, a total In a speech on the occasion of the Further appreciating the role of of 1,783 new recoveries and three celebration of the completion of the healthcare workers, His Highness deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing Education City Stadium, the third the Amir said: “As the world begins the total number of recoveries in venue to be completed for the 2022 to open up, it is through your cour- Qatar to 58,681. The MoPH said in FIFA World Cup, His Highness the age, dedication and sincerity that we a statement that during the last Amir said the medical staff and other truly believe in better days to come, 24 hours, 18 new cases have been affi liated teams who have saved the the days when we will enjoy together admitted to intensive care due to lives of many people infected with watching the stars of the game in our health complications resulting from the virus are the “champions of these stadiums.” Covid-19, bringing the total number times”. The Amir said: “Qatar is look- of cases currently in intensive care to The Amir said: “Dear friends across ing forward, and more excited and 238. Page 2 the world, as we celebrate the comple- enthusiastic than ever, to welcome tion of Education City Stadium, the guests from all over the world for an QSC makes special The Education City Stadium – the third tournament-ready venue for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, seen yesterday evening. third venue for the World Cup 2022, exceptional World Cup. suit for medical staff PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil See also Sport Pages 1,2 and 3 we greet the champions of these times: “Thank you very much.” Mosques, malls and parks reopen in fi rst phase

By Joey Aguilar Staff Reporter

alls and shopping centres, as well as pub- lic parks, started welcoming visitors yes- Mterday with all precautionary measures in place to help prevent the spread of Covid-19. A number of mosques also opened as the fi rst phase of the gradual lifting of restrictions began Qatar Scientific Club (QSC) has yesterday. The authorities concerned have put in devised a protective suit equipped place a number of precautionary and preventive with a battery operated respirator measures in all these places to ensure everyone’s for healthcare workers, as part of safety. These include wearing a face mask, install- its contributions to support the ing and activating the Ehteraz application on the country’s eff orts to combat the smartphone, and maintaining social distancing, The faithful praying at a mosque in Al Hilal yesterday. spread of Covid-19. Page 3 among others. To Page 20 PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil A view of Doha Festival City yesterday. PICTURE: Anas al-Samaraee

Europe reopens borders but China battles new virus outbreak

AFP punishing lockdowns that have saved “I’m happy to be able to shop again implement extreme restrictions on Brussels lives but devastated economies and after all this time,” said Precious, an movement early this year, driving local wearied confi ned populations. 18-year-old student on London’s transmission down to near-zero as the Belgium, France, Germany and crowded Oxford Street. crisis hammered the rest of the world. raft of EU nations reopened Greece were among those lifting bor- The pandemic is gathering pace in The World Health Organisation their borders to fellow Europe- der restrictions yesterday, while Spain Latin America, and Iran, India and (WHO) said there were more than 100 Aans yesterday after months of experimented with a pilot project that Saudi Arabia have reported worrying new confi rmed cases in Beijing where coronavirus curbs, but China was bat- saw a planeload of German tourists fl y increases in deaths and infections - the fresh cluster has been linked to a tling a new outbreak that has stoked into the Balearic islands. adding to concern over challenges the wholesale food market. fears of a second wave. In England, shops and outdoor at- world will face in the long fi ght against “The origin and extent of the out- As caseloads have declined in recent tractions welcomed their fi rst custom- Covid-19. break are being investigated,” WHO Passengers wearing protective face masks wait for a flight to Nantes at Lisbon’s weeks across many parts of Europe, ers since March, while in Paris, cafes and China, where the virus emerged chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus airport in Lisbon, Portugal, yesterday. governments have been keen to ease restaurants were allowed to fully reopen. late last year, was the fi rst country to told a virtual press conference. Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, June 16, 2020 QATAR

‘Human behaviour Shura Council praises Amir’s directives to key to containing provide medical aid to over 20 countries QNA virus as curbs ease’ Doha he Shura Council held its regular weekly meet- Ting yesterday under the zTop HMC specialist warns against complacency chairmanship of HE the Speaker Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al- zAll must continue to follow protective measures Mahmoud, while respecting the HE the Speaker Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud chairing yesterday’s session of the Shura social distancing practice. Council. zParents of young children urged to be vigilant At the beginning of the ses- sion, HE the Speaker praised the ministries and state agencies, ing some provisions of law with its recommendations to the s Covid-19 restrictions the importance of regular hand- supreme directives of His High- particularly the Ministry of number 1 of 1986 on registering government. The council also in Qatar begin to be lift- washing and proper respira- ness the Amir Sheikh Tamim Public Health. pharmaceutical companies and discussed the report of the joint Aed, health offi cials will tory etiquette, such as covering bin Hamad al-Thani to provide These eff orts resulted, thanks their products. committee comprised of the Le- be relying on the public to help coughs and sneezes. It is also medical assistance to more than to the grace of Allah Almighty, Based on the draft law, the gal and Legislative Aff airs and contain the spread of the virus important for parents to rein- 20 countries around the world as and to the awareness and co-op- Ministry of Public Health could Cultural and Information Aff airs by continuing to adhere to infec- force ‘no sharing’ policies and part of the of human solidarity to eration of all members of society, allow governmental health insti- Committees on a draft law regu- tion prevention measures, says to help children understand the confront the coronavirus (Cov- in overcoming the peak phase of tutions to import medicine that lating journalism, publishing, Dr Jameela al-Ajmi, executive need for social distancing and to id-19) pandemic, in addition to the virus and limiting its spread, is not registered in the state. media activities, and arts. director - Corporate Infection avoid kissing or hugging, espe- the fi nancial assistance provid- which led to gradually lifting the A decision from the Minister The draft law includes 74 ar- Prevention at Hamad Medical cially when spending time with ed by Qatar to the multilateral restrictions imposed to address of Public Health would deter- ticles and has provisions regu- Corporation (HMC). Dr Jameela al-Ajmi more vulnerable persons, such healthcare institutions working it and reduce its health, eco- mine these institutions and the lating journalism and media, “This virus will be in our world as grandparents or a sick family in developing vaccines, and to nomic and social eff ects. conditions for importation. publishing houses, and the dis- for some time to come and we added Dr al-Ajmi. member,” she explained. the Global Alliance for Vaccines The council then discussed its The council also discussed the tribution of publications, movie know that as public health meas- She said restrictions will be Dr al-Ajmi said the govern- and Immunisation (GAVI ). agenda which included a draft report of the Legal and Legislative theaters, private broadcast sta- ures and restrictions are lifted, lifted slowly, and with control, ment is working on a range of HE al-Mahmoud lauded the law amending some provisions Aff airs Committee on a draft law tions, advertising, public rela- some degree of Covid-19 trans- because the risk of severe illness guidance documents that will eff orts of the government and of law number 12 of 2006 on that would amend some provi- tions, and media services offi ces. mission will be unavoidable; remains high for some people, provide the public with specifi c its measures to confront the Mesaieed municipality which sions of law no. 12 of 1998 regulat- The council decided after de- therefore, we must all continue to such as the elderly and those with advice around the lifting of ex- coronavirus pandemic, the pro- was cancelled. ing the central municipal council. tailed deliberations to return the follow protective measures to help compromised immune systems. isting restrictions, but “until we cedures taken by the Supreme The council discussed the After deliberations, the coun- draft law to the joint committee prevent the spread of the virus. We Dr al-Ajmi said following infec- have a vaccine, human behav- Committee for Crisis Manage- Services and Public Utilities cil approved the three draft laws to examine further and present a must continue to maintain physi- tion prevention measures is the iour will continue to be the most ment as well as the eff orts of all Committee’s report on amend- and decided to refer it along supplemental report. cal distancing practices, good responsibility of everyone, but she important tactic in mitigating hand hygiene, and to not leave encourages parents of young chil- the risk of transmission”. home if feeling sick. If you have dren to be especially vigilant in “A gradual and phased ap- Covid-19 symptoms, get tested,” ensuring they adhere to infection proach will help people get used In brief said Dr al-Ajmi. prevention practices. to changes in the way we gather “The public needs to remem- “The data seems to indicate and move, but the public must ber that we do not yet have a vac- that children are less aff ected continue to be thoughtful about Greta Holtz appointed cine or cure, so we must all work by Covid-19 but they may still their actions and act within the together to carefully balance the fall ill and they can be powerful rules. Be respectful of each oth- risks. We must not become com- carriers of the virus. Children er’s space and be prepared for placent in following infection are generally less compliant things to be diff erent. Remem- prevention measures. These life- with eff ective hand hygiene, and ber that each decision you take Chargé d’Aff aires at saving practices will be essential the concept of social distancing aff ects the well-being of others. FM receives phone to protecting the members of our can be challenging for younger We all have a role to play in pro- community who are most likely children to understand. As we tecting each other, especially our call from Russian to experience serious illness begin to see a lifting of restric- vulnerable and high-risk popu- counterpart should they contract Covid-19,” tions, parents should reinforce lations,” said Dr al-Ajmi. US embassy in Qatar HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign he US State Department rector of the Middle East Part- Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin has named ambassador nership Initiative, the State Abdulrahman al-Thani received TGreta C Holtz as Chargé Department’s Co-ordinator a telephone call yesterday from d’Aff aires of the US embassy in for the Organisation for Secu- the Russian Minister of Foreign SJC announces gradual Doha, Qatar, the embassy an- rity and Cooperation in Europe Aff airs Sergey Lavrov. nounced in a statement yester- (OSCE), and a Senior Watch During the call, they reviewed day. Officer in the State Depart- bilateral relations between Qatar In this capacity, ambassador ment’s Executive Secretariat’s and Russia, in addition to issues Holtz will represent the US gov- Operations Center. of common concern. resumption of sessions ernment and lead the embassy in Ambassador Holtz received its diplomatic engagement with a BS in political science from Qatar condemns Qatar. Vanderbilt University, a MA in he Supreme Judiciary Attendance of these sessions is The Supreme Judiciary Coun- Ambassador Holtz is a sen- International Relations from attacks in Nigeria Council (SJC) announced limited to lawyers and litigants. cil will provide new services ior, career US diplomat with the University of Kentucky’s Tthe gradual resumption In this regard, everyone attend- through the electronic court extensive experience in the re- Patterson School of Diplomacy Qatar has expressed its strong of litigation sessions while con- ing the sessions will be obligated programme (Al Mahakem), in gion. She assumed her duties as and International Commerce, condemnation and denunciation tinuing to implement all preven- to show the green healthy status addition to activating electronic Chargé d’Aff aires of the US em- Ambassador Greta C Holtz is the and a MS in National Security of a series of attacks that took tive measures and provide a safe on Ehteraz app installed on mobile technologies and a remote video bassy in Doha on June 14, 2020. new Chargé d’Aff aires of the US Studies from the National War place in eastern Nigeria, killing environment for litigants in ac- phones. Medical masks are a must communication system in cases Ambassador Holtz previ- embassy in Doha. College. dozens of people and injuring cordance with established health and everyone inside should keep legally established. ously served as senior advi- Ambassador Holtz joined several others. regulations and requirements. a safe distance. The maximum Meanwhile, the proportions sor in the Bureau of South and sistant Secretary of State for the Foreign Service in 1985 and In a statement yesterday, the This step is in line with the number of people in the meeting of employees in the workplaces Central Asian Affairs, in May Public Diplomacy and Strategic studied Arabic at the Foreign Ministry of Foreign Aff airs decisions of the Supreme Com- and waiting rooms will also be de- will be taken into account in ac- 2019. Prior to this, she has Communication in the Bureau Service Institute’s Field School reiterated the firm position of mittee for Crisis Management termined. cordance with the state’s plan to served in senior positions in- of Near Eastern Affairs from in Tunisia, and Turkish at the Qatar rejecting violence and to gradually lift the restrictions It added that priority will be gradually lift the restrictions, and cluding the US ambassador to 2010-2012. Foreign Service Institute in terrorism regardless of their imposed to contain the Covid-19 given to issuing verdicts and ur- the necessary logistical services Oman from September 2012 to Additional overseas as- Arlington, Virginia. She is the motives and reasons. pandemic. gent cases, and sessions will be will be provided to the courts and December 2015 and the Min- signments include postings in recipient of numerous State The statement expressed Qatar’s On Sunday, judicial an- held alternately and at diff erent litigants to facilitate procedures, ister-Counselor for Provincial Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Tunisia, Department awards, as well as condolences to the families of nouncements were sent to the times between one session and while continuing daily sterilisa- Affairs at the US embassy in Syria, and Turkey. awards from the Department the victims, the government and those concerned to attend the another, in addition to holding tion of court headquarters, court- Baghdad from 2009-2010. She At the State Department, of Defence, the embassy state- people of Nigeria, wishing the sessions in the specifi ed dates. evening sessions. rooms and waiting rooms. - QNA also served as the Deputy As- ambassador Holtz was the di- ment added. injured a speedy recovery. - QNA Qatar reports 58,681 total Covid-19 recoveries

QNA through track and trace team at The MoPH confi rmed that ef- mask and cleansing the hands came after a thorough study of Doha the ministry. forts to tackle the Covid-19 vi- when near them. the situation in Qatar and from Cases of infection have also rus in Qatar have succeeded in The ministry said that, based similar experiences in many increased signifi cantly among fl attening the curve and reduc- on the extensive data and stud- countries that have succeeded he Ministry of Pub- citizens and residents as a result ing the impact of the virus by a ies conducted by the authori- in limiting the spread of the vi- lic Health (MoPH) an- of contact with infected family large percentage thanks to the ties concerned in the country, rus after gradually lifting the re- Tnounced yesterday 1,274 members who had been infected decisions of the ban, the pre- Qatar began yesterday to lift the strictions. new confi rmed cases of Cov- in the workplace or through vis- ventive measures taken, and the restrictions imposed to combat The ministry warned that lift- id-19, a total of 1,783 new re- its and family gatherings. awareness and co-operation of the epidemic gradually in four ing the restrictions gradually coveries and three deaths in the The new confi rmed cases of all members of society, and that stages that will last until Sep- does not mean the disappear- last 24 hours, bringing the total infection have been introduced there are relatively low aver- tember 1. ance of Covid-19, pointing out number of recoveries in Qatar to to complete isolation in the age numbers in relation to the In this context, it is stressed that during the planning of the 58,681. various medical facilities in the recorded cases of new hospital that the application of preven- relaxation of restrictions, at- The MoPH said in a statement country, where they receive the admissions. tive measures and measures tention was given to priorities that during the last 24 hours, 18 necessary healthcare according The ministry also stated that must continue to be implement- to ensure avoiding the risks that new cases have been admitted to the health status of each case. Qatar has now started to over- ed in the stages of gradually lift- may arise as a result of lifting to intensive care due to health The MoPH said that the three come the peak phase of the ing the imposed restrictions that them. Each stage will be subject complications resulting from deaths recorded yesterday were Covid-19 outbreak, with the were applied in the country as a to evaluation and review based Covid-19, bringing the total of people aged 60, 62 and 87 beginning of its decline, thanks result of the spread of the Cov- on the extent of the virus spread number of cases currently in in- years, respectively, and re- to the measures and measures id-19, as failure to adhere to pre- as the success of each stage de- tensive care to 238. ceived medical care in intensive taken by the state to address cautionary measures during the pends on the commitment of The ministry also said there care units. The ministry off ered it, along with the commitment next stage will lead to the return everyone to implement the re- has been a small decrease in sincere condolences and great of the community members of the virus to the country. quired precautions. the number of acute Covid-19 sympathy to the families of the to recommendations and pre- The MoPH also pointed out The MoPH also stressed that positive patients being admit- deceased. ventive instructions, the most that the measures applied by the Covid-19 pandemic that ted to intensive care thanks to According to a tweet from important of which are social the state in the early stages, in swept the world posed a great the measures it took along with the MoPH, with a total of 4,624 distancing, maintaining physi- February, contributed greatly challenge to all countries and af- the other authorities concerned people tested for Covid-19 in the cal distancing, staying at home and eff ectively to controlling the fected each country in a diff erent to limit the spread of the virus, last 24 hours, as many as 295,338 and not going out except for extent of its spread. This also way. Therefore, it is important to the most important of which is have been tested so far in Qatar. necessity as well as using med- helped in expanding the capac- realise that all the precautionary early detection that can contrib- The total number of infected ical masks. ity of the health system to deal measures are aimed at prima- ute signifi cantly to reducing the people in Qatar since the start of Anyone with symptoms of with all cases contrary to what rily to protecting public health severity of infection. the Covid-19 outbreak is 80,876. Covid-19 should either quickly happened in some countries and individuals from this virus, The MoPH added that the new The total number of current contact the 16000 helpline or go that failed to implement precau- taking into account all other as- cases are expatriate workers in- active cases is 22,119. The total directly to one of the designated include Muaither Health Centre, ic diseases and their fam- tionary measures early enough, pects of life, whether social or fected as a result of contact with number of people currently un- health centres for testing, the Rawdat Al Khail Health Centre, ily members to follow strict which led to the collapse of their economic. individuals who were previously der acute hospital care is 1,173, ministry said emphasising that Umm Slal Health Centre and Al methods and precautions to health system and an inability The MoPH also recommend- infected, in addition to new cas- including 128 acute hospital the earlier the disease is detected Gharafa Health Centre. reduce the risk of infection to handle the large numbers of ed visiting its website regularly es of infection among groups of admissions in the last 24 hours. the easier it will be to receive the The MoPH reaffirmed the and work to protect them cases. to view the latest information workers in diff erent regions. The The total number of Covid-19 right treatment and recover. necessity for the elderly or from infection by refraining The MoPH stressed that the and instructions related to new cases have been identifi ed deaths so far in Qatar is 76. The main screening centres those suffering from chron- from social visits, wearing the gradual lifting of restrictions Covid-19. Gulf Times Tuesday, June 16, 2020 3 QATAR

Curbs on outdoor Qatar Charity begins setting up working hours Covid-19 isolation units in Syria take eff ect z The community-based isolation centres, expected to be completely built at the he rule limiting outdoor beginning of next September, will provide working hours during the an appropriate place to isolate Covid-19 Tsummer came into ef- fect yesterday, with the Minis- suspects and confirmed mild cases, to pre- try of Administrative Develop- vent the spread of the pandemic in poor, ment, Labour and Social Aff airs (MADLSA) stressing that legal especially densely crowded communities steps will be taken in case of vio- lations. atar Charity (QC) has The community-based iso- From now until August 31, started to establish 14 lation centres, expected to be outdoor work is prohibited be- Qcommunity-based iso- completely built at the begin- tween 11.30am and 3pm. Also, lation units in northern Syr- ning of next September, will work should not exceed fi ve ia, in co-operation with the provide an appropriate place hours in the morning. This United Nations Office for the to isolate Covid-19 suspects comes in implementation of Co-ordination of Humanitar- and confirmed mild cases, Ministerial Resolution No 16 of ian Affairs (OCHA) to benefit to prevent the spread of the 2007, specifying working hours 2,800 people in camps at a to- pandemic in poor, especially in open places during the sum- tal cost of $1.6mn. densely crowded communities mer. It will remain in place until The initiative came as part living in camps and displace- August 31. of the urgent response to the ment areas. In a notifi cation on social me- outbreak of Covid-19, aiming The project aims to provide dia yesterday, the MADLSA said at protecting the internally life-saving and sustainable it “requests the owners of insti- displaced Syrians living in health services for all male tutions and companies that are camps from the virus. and female members of all age subject to provisions of the La- OCHA contributed to groups, focusing on people bour Law promulgated by Law the project with a value of with special needs from the Qatar Charity has started to establish 14 community-based isolation units in northern Syria. No 14 of 2004 to comply with $830,000, while QC will con- internally displaced and host Ministerial Resolution No 16 of tribute a value of $770,000 to communities in 14 sub-dis- ing community-based isola- handover these isolation units OCHA and the World Health purposes, and serves as pre- 2007”, specifying working hours these medical and non-medi- tricts of the Idlib Governorate, tion units that will provide a to the responsible local health Organisation (WHO). designed for influx of patients in exposed/outdoor workplaces cal units. by establishing and support- place for collecting samples, authorities of the region to op- He also noted that this to ensure the isolation of sus- during the summer period. detecting suspect cases, and erate them directly or through project reflects the advanced pect and confirmed mild cas- The ministry’s labour inspec- quarantining and monitoring other partners. QC will also position of QC in the humani- es and to provide them with tors will conduct fi eld visits to confirmed mild cases. follow up the workflow of the tarian system that frames ef- treatment. the companies’ sites to ensure This project works in co- isolation units after their es- forts to respond to the human- QC is one of the fi rst organi- that they comply with the provi- ordination with other health tablishment to ensure an ef- itarian crisis in northern Syria. sations that will provide this sions of the resolution. They will NGOs responsible for activi- ficient and effective workflow QC was one of the first or- distinguished service, which report a violation against any ties (such as training health process. ganisations invited by WHO comes to complement the ef- company that makes its workers workers, health screening, Mohamed Wahi, director of to be an active member of the forts made previously to pro- carry out their work during the observing, and following up) QC’s office in Turkey, said this Covid-19 taskforce in north- vide 72 isolation tents for vari- prohibition period, the notifi ca- to form a coherent system that project came in response to the ern Syria. ous health facilities in northern tion stated. will efficiently contain the Covid-19 pandemic in north- The isolation unit consists Syrian, in addition to providing The MADLSA had been im- coronavirus from spreading ern Syria, in co-ordination and of six large tents. Each large personal protective equipment plementing awareness cam- and intensifying. co-operation with the relevant tent represents a wing for re- (PPE) for all areas of Aleppo, paigns in this regard. QC will construct and UN agencies represented by ceiving patients for different Afrin and Idlib countryside. QSC produces protective suit for healthcare workers

By Ayman Adly infection while providing clear as the face shield distributed at entities willing to take part in Staff Reporter vision. entities such as Hamad Medical helping to produce the new de- The new suit, which can be Corporation (HMC), Qatar Red vice as it has various uses in the easily sanitised and disinfected, Crescent Society, Aspire Acade- medical and security fi elds, es- atar Scientifi c Club has been tested intensively to my, and some secondary schools pecially during emergencies and (QSC) has devised a pro- ensure that it is practical and across the country, in addition to disasters. Qtective suit equipped free from any defects, QSC ex- a medical face mask, and a safe In the meantime, a special- with battery operated respirator plained in a statement. assistant robot,” he pointed out. ised team of doctors from HMC, for healthcare workers, as part of Maintenance also is easy and Regarding the new suit, al- who visited QSC yesterday, were its contributions to support the very low cost, in addition to the Rehimi stressed the importance introduced to the new device country’s eff orts to combat the long life of its battery, which can of developing and supplying and their remarks and technical spread of Covid-19. be easily replaced when needed. such a device locally, at this reviews discussed accordingly. The new suit’s portable res- QSC executive manager engi- juncture as it has become diffi - They also expressed their appre- pirator purifi es and fi lters the neer Rashid al-Rehimi, recalled cult to import such machines in ciation for such an innovation. air that the user breathes. There that since the beginning of the a timely manner. Dr Nasser Ali al-Ansari, Head is an indicator that shows when Covid-19 outbreak in Qatar, the Accordingly, the new suit was of Infection Control at HMC, the battery is low or the incom- Club has been actively trying to developed and built by local ex- described the new device as ex- ing air is not suffi cient for any use all its available resources and pertise and potential in co-op- cellent with better technology reason. capabilities to help in the eff orts eration with a number of entities than what is already available in The headpiece of the suit seals of the country in this regard. concerned in the country. the market. It is also a comfort- the user from the surroundings “QSC has designed and made The QSC offi cial also wel- able suit for the user with more to protect from any potential various protective devices such comed any support from the durable battery, he added. The specialist delegation from HMC is briefed about the new protective suit developed by QSC.

Qatar Red Crescent, UNHCR supply Sidra Medicine receives 11 QNRF grants virus testing equipment to Yemen

atar Red Crescent Socie- at a total cost of $26,760. the new equipment would be of ty (QRCS) and the United During the meeting, the del- great help for the hospital, par- QNations High Commis- egation vowed to continue to ticularly in relation to the blood sioner for Refugees (UNHCR) are provide vital healthcare services bank, renal disease, haematol- working together on a healthcare for the Somali refugees and lo- ogy, total protein tests, and, project for refugees in Sana’a, cal community of Amanat Al- most importantly, Covid-19 Yemen, with a total budget of Asimah. tests. $739,162, it was announced yes- They stressed the importance Dr Abdul-Ilah al-Harazi, terday in Doha. of co-operation to reassure the general manager of the Na- A joint delegation has visited public, who are facing the pres- tional Center of Public Health, the Al-Thawra Modern General sure of disease and lack of re- welcomed the timely medi- Hospital, Al-Jumhoori Hospi- sources to fi ght the pandemic. cal supplies. “The results are tal, and National Center of Pub- Dr Abdul-Lateef Abo Talib, promising,” said Dr al-Harazi. lic Health to hand over medical general manager of the Al- “All the swabs taken to date equipment for Covid-19 testing, Thawra General Hospital, said have been negative. The quick results help to make many swabs in a short time”. Under the same project, QRCS is providing medications on a monthly basis for two health centres, where integrat- Dr Khalid Fakhro Sidra Medicine’s QNRF grant recipients 2019-2020. ed health services are provid- ed, including free-of-charge idra Medicine, a member research offi cer, Sidra Medi- The grants are under four diseases; how stem cells can be medicines and referrals for ad- of Qatar Foundation, has cine said: “Over the past four QNRF streams: the National used as a therapeutic tool for type vanced treatment and surgical Sbeen awarded 11 grants years, Sidra Medicine’s research Priorities Research Programme 1 diabetes as well as a precision services at hospitals. valued at about QR10.4mn from department has been awarded Cycle 12; Path Towards Preci- medicine approach to prevent QRCS’ health education teams the Qatar National Research over 35 grants from the Qatar sion Medicine Cycle 3; Confer- diabetic complications in af- are deployed to raise awareness Fund (QNRF). National Research Fund. ence and Workshop Sponsor- fected Qatari individuals. Grants among the public regarding how The grants will support both “This is testament to the foun- ship Programme Cycle 17 and were also awarded to projects to protect themselves against the Sidra Medicine as well as Qa- dational role Sidra Medicine is the Researchers Exchange and that will map the genetic causes coronavirus infection. tar’s national precision medi- playing in expanding Qatar’s re- Mobility Programme. of infertility and genome editing More hospitals and health cine programme; enabling search capacity and knowledge Key projects awarded in- for cell-based cancer immuno- centres are planned to receive personalised clinical care for base. Many of our grants are tied clude biomedical and health therapy. More information about medical equipment and solu- patients in Qatar and beyond. to addressing a real clinical or re- programmes that will allow cli- Sidra Medicine’s research agenda QRCS and the UNHCR handed over medical equipment for tions under the UNHCR-funded Commenting on the grants, search challenges that can posi- nicians to select suitable treat- can be accessed at www.sidra. Covid-19 testing. project. Dr Khalid Fakhro, acting chief tively impact patient outcomes.” ments for specifi c infectious org/research Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, June 16, 2020 QATAR

Extraordinary heritage of Italian cinema goes on display

By Joey Aguilar dro Prunas told Gulf Times that Sperimentale di Cinematografi a Staff Reporter the event highlights special and in Rome; three episodes of the original contents dedicated to series A scuola di cinema con the renowned Italian fi lm direc- RaiMovie (“At cinema school ilmmakers and movie lov- tor Federico Fellini and Italian with RaiMovie”), dedicated to the ers in Qatar and around actor Alberto Sordi on the 100th career of screenwriting and made Fthe world will have the op- anniversary of their birth. by the Associazione 100Autori; portunity to explore what was “Career professionals of the and 18 episodes of the series Fel- described as “the extraordinary fi lm industry, especially young lini in Frames, a journey through heritage of Italian cinema” at the professionals, will be off ered a the great director’s fi lms through third edition of “Fare Cinema chance to learn from the knowl- material from the archives of the – Making Cinema” festival, the edge, experience and talent of Istituto Luce Cinecittà. Italian embassy in Doha has an- Italian industry experts, refl ect- Prunas stressed that the Italian nounced. ing on the connections between embassy in Doha is always ready The week-long initiative by the past, present and future of and eager to exchange knowledge the Italian Ministry of Foreign the cinema,” he said. and develop projects for sharing Aff airs and International Co-op- All contents of Fare Cinema Italian tradition and expertise in eration, in collaboration with the can be accessed online for free All contents of Fare Cinema can be accessed online for free. Fare Cinema off ers virtual masterclasses for free. fi lmmaking. Ministry of Culture and Tour- and without any geographi- “We plan to organise more mas- ism, the Italian Trade Agency, cal restrictions until June 21 on dedicated to the Italian cinema and Fare Cinema will display Fellini’s fi lms; two masterclasses and a short fi lm on Federico Fel- terclasses and initiatives of this the National Association of Film, Raiplay platform (www.raiplay. fi lm industry, subtitled in English, original contents by the Italian by journalist and critic Gianni lini; La voce di Fellini (“The voice kind in the future as they are great Audiovisual and Multimedia In- it), thanks to the partnership French and Spanish, including Ministry of Foreign Aff airs and Canova, dedicated to Alberto of Fellini”). opportunities for students and dustries and the Istituto Luce Ci- with the Italian National broad- masterclasses with fi lm critics and International Co-operation: a Sordi and contemporary Italian Other contents include: three young professionals to meet high- necittà, kicked off yesterday and casting RAI. journalists, lectures on careers in masterclass by screenwriter, di- fi lm; 14 online lessons on careers episodes of the series Off Stage, profi le representatives of the Ital- will run until June 21. “The billboard off ers an un- fi lm, short fi lms, and other original rector and journalist Gianfranco in the world of fi lm, with the big- dedicated to the career of act- ian cinema industry and learn from Italian ambassador Alessan- precedented array of content material,” he said. Angelucci, dedicated to Federico gest Italian trade associations; ing and made by the Centro their expertise,” Prunas added. Ministry, IAEA hold training course WCM-Q research links on emergencies

QNA tinguished interaction of the Doha participants with its activities. proteins to diabetes The Ministry of Municipality and Environment launched on esearchers at Weill Cornell cal Research in Cambridge, Mas- one, furthering our understand- he Ministry of Municipal- Sunday the fi rst implementation Medicine – Qatar (WCM- sachusetts. ing of how type 2 diabetes de- ity and Environment rep- phase of 2020 of the fi eld radio- RQ) and the University of The study - titled “Circulat- velops and providing targets for Tresented by the Depart- logical survey of the radioactive Iceland have identifi ed a group of ing protein signatures and causal future research into new medica- ment of Radiation and Chemicals environment monitoring pro- proteins involved in causing type candidates for type 2 diabetes” – tions.” Protection held a training course gramme in Qatar. 2 diabetes in humans. is being published in Diabetes, the Dr Khaled Machaca, senior as- for fi rst responders to radiologi- Meanwhile, Qatar has Using advanced analysis tech- journal of the American Diabetes sociate dean for research, innova- cal emergencies, in co-operation launched the fi rst executive tour niques, the researchers measured Association. tions, and commercialisation at with the International Atomic for 2020 of the fi eld survey pro- over 4,000 diff erent proteins in WCM-Q has very signifi cant WCM-Q said: “For Qatar and the Energy Agency (IAEA). gramme to monitor environmen- blood samples from more than capabilities in protein analysis, wider region, type 2 diabetes is The course, which took place tal radiation in the country. 5,000 Icelandic individuals and having established a core facil- perhaps the most pressing health via video conference technology, The programme is being im- identifi ed 536 proteins that were ity dedicated to proteomics (the concern that we face, with more covered a number of topics and plemented by the Central Ra- associated with type 2 diabetes. study of proteins and their inter- people being diagnosed and at seminars on containment op- diation Laboratory as part of the They confi rmed their fi ndings actions) equipped with some of much earlier ages than previously. erations, control of radioactive continuous radiation monitoring with the results of the Qatar Me- the world’s most advanced pro- It is therefore great news that this sources and radioactive disinfec- of water, air and soil in the coun- tabolomics Study of Diabetes, a tein biomarker discovery tools, international collaboration has tion. Some 50 trainees from vari- try. 2012 study of 374 human subjects WCM-Q’s Dr Shaza Zaghlool and Dr Karsten Suhre. which can measure thousands found common protein markers ous stakeholders in the country The fi rst target is to monitor conducted in Qatar by Hamad of human proteins in a single between cohorts in Iceland and participated in the three-day the radiation levels in the soil Medical Corporation and WCM- proteins that are changed by the Type 2 diabetes is a complex blood sample. The researchers Qatar to help better understand course. across the eastern coast of the Q. disease open the potential for the disorder that typically develops believe the primary data used in the progression of this complex It also dealt with interven- country to establish a basic da- Following further analysis, the development of new diagnostic over a sustained period of time, the study to be the largest pro- disease, especially in the context tions, and the use of the equip- tabase on radiation levels in air researchers determined that 15 tests to determine whether an in- with many normal metabolic tein dataset to be described to of the local Qatari population.” ment needed to make a radio- and land at selected areas as a proteins appear to have a causal dividual is likely to develop type 2 processes becoming disrupted date in any diabetes research in The research was supported logical survey, in addition to how precautionary measure for any role in the development of type 2 diabetes or already has the condi- well before more conspicuous terms of the number of proteins by the Biomedical Research Pro- to communicate with the public radiation and nuclear emergen- diabetes, while a further 23 pro- tion. symptoms like excessive thirst measured and human samples gramme at WCM-Q, a Qatar and learn from the lessons of cies. More than 20 samples were teins are markedly more prevalent WCM-Q research associate Dr and hunger, fatigue, frequent screened. Foundation partner university. previous incidents in the world. taken accordingly. in blood after the development of Shaza Zaghlool, a joint fi rst au- urination and blurred vision be- WCM-Q’s Dr Karsten Suhre, Dr Suhre’s work is also The IAEA commended the re- Badr al-Saadi, in charge of the the condition. To support these thor on the study, said: “This re- come apparent. As such, any test one of the senior authors in the supported by Qatar Na- sults of the course and the dis- Central Radiation Laboratory, fi ndings, the study investigated search has allowed us to identify a that can identify the disease in its study, said: “The highly sophis- tional Research Fund grant said that the fi rst phase includes how genetic predisposition for number of proteins that have very early stages when interventions ticated protein analysis platforms NPRP11C-0115-180010 to the measuring radiation levels at a type 2 diabetes aff ects blood se- strong associations with type 2 will have the most benefi t are ex- WCM-Q has established here in Qatar Diabetes Prevention Pro- height of 1m, followed by col- rum protein levels in the study diabetes, which is exciting be- tremely important. Qatar gives it a huge capacity for gramme (QDPP), a cluster of re- lection of samples from varied participants. cause it helps us understand with The research, based on samples analysing proteins in large popu- search projects aiming to under- depths from the ground from Proteins shown to be causal greater clarity how the disease of elderly Icelandic individuals, lation and clinical studies to dis- stand the disease in greater detail diff erent areas across the eastern for the disease provide targets develops. It also means we have was conducted in collaboration cover protein associations, not and pave the way for new treat- coast, starting from the Sealine for future research to develop identifi ed targets for further re- with scientists at the University of only with diabetes, but also many ments. and passing through Mesaieed, new therapeutic drugs to treat search that could eventually lead Iceland in Reykjavik, the Icelandic other diseases relevant to the The paper can be read in Khor Al Udaid, Al Wakrah and up or possibly prevent the onset of to new drug therapies for type 2 Heart Association, GNF Novartis country. This gives us the ability full at https://diabetes.diabe- to Al Shamal. type 2 diabetes in at-risk groups. diabetes, which is highly preva- in San Diego, California, and the to take part in ground-breaking tesjournals.org/content/ear- The environmental radiation The project will cover more Furthermore, the discoveries of lent in the Gulf region.” Novartis Institutes for Biomedi- international studies such as this ly/2020/05/07/db19-1070. survey in progress at a location. than 100 sites across the country.

Over 10,000 Indians repatriated from Qatar

he Indian embassy said yesterday that it has so far managed to facilitate a total of 61 fl ights from Qatar to TIndia, repatriating 10,645 passengers. These are 33 fl ights under the Indian government’s Vande Bharat Mission, 26 company-hired charters, and two com- munity-hired charters, the embassy tweeted. Two fl ights took off from Doha’s Hamad International Air- port yesterday as part of the ongoing Vande Bharat Mission. Flight IX 1576 took off for Mumbai with 180 passengers and an infant, while IX 1374 left for Kozhikode with 175 pas- sengers and 10 infants. These marked the 32nd and 33rd fl ights from Doha, re- spectively, under the Vande Bharat mission, “bringing the total number of repatriated passengers to 5,617 plus 162 in- fants” as part of this initiative. Online training course on psychological flexibility The Qatari Forum for Authors, egivers, as it is also important in co-operation with the for all members of the society Department of Family Aff airs during crises. of the Ministry of Administra- Dr Abdulgabbar said the tive Development, Labour mental health of the indi- and Social Aff airs, organised vidual and society during an online a training course on crises is as important as psychological flexibility. physical health, and spoke Delivered by consultant about its role in improving psychiatrist and cognitive the quality of life, reducing behavioural therapist, Dr the dangers of psychologi- Khalid Ahmed Abdulgabbar, cal and professional burn- the training tackled the topic out and improving the pro- of psychological flexibility of ductivity of the individual health practitioners and car- and the quality of work. Jeep Wrangler model recalled The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in co-operation with United Cars Almana (After Sales), announced the recall of Jeep Wrangler model of 2018, due to the possibility of missing in- structions in the owner’s manual for installing the rear window. The ministry confirmed the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing eff orts to protect consumers and ensure that vehicle dealers follow up on defects and repairs. Gulf Times Tuesday, June 16, 2020 5 QATAR HBKU Press marks Qatar-France Year of Culture 2020 with new book releases Off icials with Vietnamese nationals at the Hamad International Airport yesterday. Vietnam govt repatriates 66 citizens from Qatar n honour of the Qatar-France Year of Culture 2020, Hamad Bin Kha- The embassy of Vietnam in Doha repatriated a total of 66 overseas Vietnamese, including students, labourers and Ilifa University Press (HBKU Press) tourists, by a chartered Vietnamese airline – Bamboo Airways — flight yesterday. “In the context of Qatar’s current has released several newly translated inbound travel restrictions, the successful preparation for the above flight resulted from the enthusiastic assistance, books in Arabic from the original support and co-ordination from the relevant authorities in Qatar,” the embassy said in a statement. Speaking at the French and acquired from prominent airport just before the flight, Vietnam’s ambassador Nguyen Dinh Thao expressed sincere appreciation and thanks French publishers. to the relevant bodies in Qatar, especially the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs, Ministry of Interior, Qatar Civil Aviation The books, which vary in genres and Authority and the Hamad International Airport, “who provided valuable support and assistance” to the embassy target audience, are a part of HBKU in organising the flight.” Before arriving in Qatar, the above-mentioned Bamboo Airways plane landed in Kuwait to Press’s overarching initiative to build help repatriate 200 Vietnamese in the country to Vietnam, the statement added. bridges between nations through cross-cultural communications and to participate in the knowledge economy. “Every year, HBKU Press plans its publishing schedule to align with Qa- tar’s chosen partner country for the annual Year of Culture,” explained Amani al-Banna, in charge of copy- right exchange at HBKU Press. “This includes participating in copy- right exchange whereby we purchase translation rights for important works from the chosen country, and we also promote the sale of translations rights for of a Lemon (Al Liymoon/La science est culture to other nations while getting original work that we publish to foreign dans le citron). A wonderful collection to know other nations’ cultures at the publishers from that country as well.” in Arabic for budding scientists every- same time,” al-Banna said. Vietnamese nationals aboard the flight. At Hamad International Airport yesterday. The newly published books include where, these books include 10 fun and The Year of Culture programme was an in-depth look at a French football easy experiments that explore basic sci- established by Qatar Museums and legend and various French learning entifi c principles using everyday items aims to convey Qatar to an interna- Qatar marks completion of Education City Stadium materials for children, now available found in our daily environment. tional audience. for the fi rst time in Arabic. Football The fi nal two books in this series, Through a variety of exhibitions, From Page 1 milestone as we inch ever closer to the stadium and others – using the unifying enthusiasts will be enthralled with the The Science of Water (Al Maa’/ La Sci- festivals, competitions and events, first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East power of football in 2022.” exclusive biography of Paris Saint- ence est dans l’eau) and The Science of their programmes promote mutual Nicknamed the ‘Diamond in the and Arab world. FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, said: Germain FC superstar, Kylian Mbappé. Paper (Al Wara’/La Science est dans le understanding, recognition, and ap- Desert’, the 40,000-capacity venue, “Launching the stadium now – while the “Tonight, we pay a very special tribute to The self-titled book follows this papier) will be released in late 2020. preciation between countries. located within Qatar Foundation’s world is overcoming the coronavirus those who suff ered, fought and are still iconic young player’s meteoric rise to Also from Nathan, HBKU Press pre- They invite people to explore their Education City, is the first World pandemic – shows everyone that there fighting against the Covid-19 pandemic fame including rare images and exclu- viously launched the fi nal two books in cultural similarities, as well as their Cup stadium to achieve a five-star is light at the end of the tunnel and and giving us a remarkable example sive interviews collected by the jour- a series of three parenting books trans- diff erences. sustainability rating under the Global brighter days ahead. We are proud to of resilience during such a diff icult nalists of France Football. lated from French to Arabic. These are: The Year of Culture Qatar France Sustainability Assessment System. pay tribute to the frontline workers who moment.” The Khalifa International Additionally, several non-fi ction ti- How to Manage Your Child’s Emotions 2020 contains a series of events cele- Hassan al-Thawadi, Secretary-General remain at the forefront in the battle Stadium and the Al Janoub Stadium are tles have been released for children of Calmly (Fard Saytara Al-Walidin Bi- brating the relations between Qatar and of the SC, said: “The completion of against Covid-19 and look forward to the other two tournament-ready venues all ages. Leen), Daddy for the First Time (Ab France through cultural partnerships Education City Stadium is yet another bringing the world together – at this already completed for the World Cup. The Book of Trees (Kitab Al-Ash- Li-Mara Al-Owla), and How to Con- between French and Qatari organisa- ghar/Le Livre Aux Arbres) and The trol Anger (Fawrat Al-Ghadab; 2019). tions, institutions, and individuals also Book of Birds (Kitab Al Toyour/Le HBKU Press also launched François in collaboration with the embassy of Livre des Oiseaux) from French pub- Charles Mauriac’s critically acclaimed Qatar in Paris, the Embassy of France in lisher Belin Education, are two great novel, The Kiss for the Leper (Qubla Doha and The French Institute. resources for aspiring naturalists. Lal-Abrous) at the 2020 Doha Inter- HBKU Press’s catalog of works is Filled with fun facts and detailed ana- national Book Fair. available in bookstores across Qatar tomic illustrations, each book has over “Translated works allow readers to and on Amazon Kindle as eBooks. 200 facts about various trees and birds. cross cultural thresholds to discover Hard copies can also be purchased From the French publisher Nathan, new perspectives and ways of think- and delivered in Qatar through the Ra- HBKU Press has translated two books ing, while highlighting key fi gures feeq and Snoonu applications. from the Discover and Learn series: The from other countries. In that way, we For sales regarding these books, Science of an Egg (Al Beydaa/La sci- see ourselves as cultural ambassadors please contact HBKU Press at hbkup- ence est dans l’oeuf) and The Science showcasing our literary creativity and [email protected] Apple Watch Series 5 with built-in cellular arrives at Vodafone Qatar

odafone Qatar has started to of- in compass to current elevation, help fer Apple Watch Series 5 (GPS + users better navigate their day. VCellular), featuring an Always- Apple Watch Series 5 with cellular On display, breakthrough communi- allows customers to stay connected, cation, fi tness and health capabilities make calls and receive texts, while in- along with built-in cellular to make ternational emergency calling1 allows and receive calls even when away from customers to call emergency services di- the user’s iPhone. rectly from Apple Watch when travelling To help Apple Watch Series 5 (GPS abroad, even without iPhone nearby. + Cellular) customers get started, Vo- And with watchOS 6, Apple Watch dafone Qatar will off er a special intro- users are empowered to take charge of ductory cellular trial to customers. their health and fi tness with new fea- As part of a launch promotion they tures like cycle tracking, the noise app will get a free six month subscription and activity trends. – a service that usually costs QR30 per Apple Watch Series 5 will be avail- month. All Vodafone Postpaid cus- able on Vodafone Qatar’s online store tomers can enjoy the cellular trial on their wrist including some of the best and at their retail stores located in their Apple Watch Series 5 by pairing it Arabic selections. Villaggio Mall, Landmark Mall, City to their iPhone and enabling the eSIM Apple Watch Series 5 debuts an Center Mall, Mall of Qatar, and Al to access their in-plan benefi ts. Always-On Retina display that never Kharaitiyat. In addition, every Apple Watch Se- sleeps, so it’s easy to see the time and For more details on pricing and data ries 5 comes with a free six month sub- other important information, without plans, visit www.vodafone.qa/ap- scription to Apple Music, giving cus- raising or tapping the display. plewatch. For more details on Apple tomers access to over 60mn songs on New location features, from a built- Watch, visit www.apple.com

HEC Paris professors publish book on doing business in Qatar

HEC Paris, ranked #2 worldwide for practising holistic problem solving; Executive Education by the Financial and discussing what gained insights Times in 2020, has announced the mean for individuals, their teams, and publication of ‘Doing business in Qatar organisations. - case studies for executive education’ Dr Kerbache is the former dean and by Dr Laoucine Kerbache and Dr CEO of HEC Paris in Qatar after serving Wolfgang Amann. for 20 years as full professor at the The book is the second such project main campus in France including carried out by the duo, following on as director of the HEC Paris PhD their previous volume ‘Doing business Dr Laoucine Dr Wolfgang Programme. With over 30 years of in the MENA region’, which featured Kerbache Amann academic and research activities in award-winning cases from the global his areas of expertise, operations case writing competition, organised With their latest publication, Dr and supply chain management, Dr by the European Foundation for Kerbache and Dr Amann, along with Kerbache has published over 100 Management Development. their colleagues, aim to balance papers in international journals. The two professors have now drawn international best and next practice Dr Amann has been designing and on their long tenure and experience case studies with local ones in the delivering executive education in Qatar to publish their next volume. school’s short, custom, certificate and seminars for more than 20 years. ‘Doing business in Qatar - case studies degree programmes. He currently serves as Professor of for executive education’ consisting Case studies have a long tradition at HEC Strategy as well as Academic Director of case studies authored by the HEC Paris in Qatar. These are an essential of Degree and Custom Programmes Paris faculty, with a focus on Qatar. pillar in their high-impact learning at HEC Paris in Qatar. Dr Amann has The book covers diff erent industries, framework, which takes the learner published 45 books for executives and organisations, ownership structures, through four key stages: clarifying why compiled more than 100 case studies and degrees of diversification. a topic matters; illustrating how it works; for his executive education seminars. Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, June 16, 2020 QATAR/REGION/ARAB WORLD Turkey says Libya talks

This handout picture released yesterday shows Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif attend a signing ceremony and press conference after their meeting at the Dolmabahce Palace Presidential Work Off ice in Istanbul. with Russia Turkey to resume fl ights to Iran in August

QNA ginning of August. to improve bilateral relations to hold a meeting of the high- Ankara This came during a press based on mutual trust and level strategic council between will continue conference held by Turkish benefi t, calling for continued the two countries at the earli- Foreign Minister Mevlut Ca- solidarity between Ankara and est. For his part, the Iranian AFP/Reuters use of two military bases in the Mediterranean and give it lever- urkey announced vusoglu with his Iranian coun- Tehran to raise the level of trade foreign minister expressed his Istanbul North African country, a Turk- age over Arab and European ad- yesterday its plan to terpart, Mohamed Javad Zarif, exchange. country’s readiness to co-oper- ish source said yesterday, with a versaries, said Galip Dalay, Fel- Tresume flights with its in Istanbul. Cavusoglu stressed The Turkish foreign minister ate with Turkey in the medical view to a lasting Turkish pres- low at Robert Bosch Academy. neighbour, Iran, from the be- that the two sides would work expressed his country’s desire and scientifi c fi eld. urkey and Russia will ence in the south Mediterranean, Russia’s foreign ministry continue to hold talks on a Reuters reported. said on Sunday it was pursuing Tceasefi re in Libya despite No fi nal decisions have been a “prompt ceasefi re” and that a high-level meeting being can- made over possible Turkish Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov celled on the weekend, Turkish military use of the Misrata naval would reschedule the meeting offi cials said yesterday. base and the Al-Watiya air base, that was set for Sunday with Russian ministers were due which was recently recaptured his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Qatar slams Israeli plan to annex to visit Istanbul on Sunday but by the Turkish-backed Govern- Cavusoglu. both countries said the visit ment of National Accord (GNA). “A result was supposed to would not take place, and nei- A more permanent air and naval come out (of the meetings), but ther gave a reason. presence in Libya could reinforce that stage could not be reached. parts of West Bank, Jordan Valley “We decided it would be more Turkey’s growing infl uence in There are issues where the two helpful to continue talks at a the region, including in Syria, countries are on opposing sides,” technical level,” Turkish Foreign and boost its claims to off shore the second Turkish offi cial told QNA Session of the Human Rights expressed Qatar’s condemna- ing international legitimacy Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told oil and gas resources. Reuters. Geneva Council Item (7) on the situation tion of the insistence of the decisions, and is in line with the reporters in Istanbul yesterday. Turkey has also fl agged pos- “One of the main issues for of human rights in Palestine and Israeli authorities (the occu- international positions con- Turkey supports the UN-rec- sible energy and construction the postponement of the Lavrov other occupied Arab territories. pying force) to continue the demning these settlements. ognised Government of National deals with Tripoli once the fi ght- visit is the (GNA’s) plan for an atar has expressed its HE al-Mansouri called on attacks and establish settle- Ambassador al-Mansouri Accord (GNA) based in Tripoli, ing ends. operation into Sirte...which has condemnation and fi rm the international community ment outposts and create the called on the Offi ce of the High which is fi ghting against Russia- The GNA has in recent months emerged as a target.” Qrejection of the Israeli to stand fi rmly against these environment for this through Commissioner to make an an- backed military strongman Kha- driven back Khalifa Haftar’s Lib- The Kremlin did not comment government’s plan to annex fl agrant Israeli violations and demolitions, destruction and nual update of the database and lifa Haftar. yan National Army (LNA). on the postponement. parts of the occupied West its continuous challenge to in- confi scation, and the contin- refer it to the Human Rights Reports in Turkish media sug- While all sides say they want The United Nations said last Bank and the Jordan Valley in ternational legitimacy, and to ued arbitrary detention of de- Council. gested the two sides disagreed a truce, heavy clashes have week the warring sides had be- July, and warned that such an take all necessary measures to tainees, including children, Concluding his speech, am- over the details of a ceasefi re and emerged near the LNA-held gun new ceasefi re talks in Libya illegal step that violates the prevent these violations and to torture and other forms of bassador al-Mansouri reiter- agreed to downgrade the level of coastal city of Sirte, which is after GNA forces, helped by Tur- relevant international laws and respond to them eff ectively and ill-treatment, and attempts ated Qatar’s fi rm position in talks to try to resolve the issues. close to major energy export key, repelled a protracted LNA agreements would lead to com- quickly if they occurred. to change the legal status and support of the Palestinian peo- However, Cavusoglu in- terminals on the Mediterranean assault on the capital Tripoli. mitting more human rights vi- He affi rmed the necessity of identity of the city of Jerusa- ple and their just cause, stress- sisted there were no diff erences seaboard. Sirte, about halfway between olations against the Palestinian keeping the 7th item as a main lem, and the continued impo- ing that a just and comprehen- in opinion over “fundamental “Turkey using Al-Watiya... GNA-held Tripoli and LNA-held people, as well as undermin- item on the agenda of the Hu- sition of an unjust blockade of sive peace in the Middle East principles” regarding Libya, but is on the agenda,” said the fi rst Benghazi, is the closest city to ing the two-state solution and man Rights Council, because it the Gaza Strip, which has exac- would not be achieved until the that it was important to prevent source, speaking on condition Libya’s main energy export ter- fi nishing off the peace process, is important in monitoring and erbated the humanitarian and end of the Israeli occupation of another failed ceasefi re. of anonymity. “It could also be minals. and its security, economic and following up on human rights economic crises of its residents. the occupied Palestinian and A previous truce attempt possible for the Misrata naval Haftar’s forces seized the city social consequences will be violations and crimes commit- He welcomed the release of Arab lands, and enabling the collapsed earlier this year and base to be used by Turkey.” in January and the confl ict’s new disastrous for the entire region. ted by the Israeli authorities the database by the Offi ce of the Palestinian people to restore shortly afterwards the GNA be- Turkey has a military base in front line has emerged just to the This came in the statement (the occupying force) against High Commissioner for Hu- and exercise all their inalien- gan to register battlefi eld victo- Qatar. west. “Russia wants Turkey and of Qatar, delivered by HE the the Palestinians, and strength- man Rights on companies that able rights, including the right ries — with the help of Turkish Ankara threw its support be- the GNA to halt military opera- ambassador Ali Khalfan al- ening eff orts to ensure that engage in illegal commercial to self-determination, and the military advisers and drones. hind the government in Tripoli tions, particularly not attacking Mansouri, Permanent Repre- all Israeli offi cials are held ac- activities related to Israeli set- establishment of a fully sover- Cavusoglu said it would be last year after the GNA signed Sirte, Jufra and the oil crescent sentative of Qatar to the United countable for these violations tlements in the occupied Pales- eign independent state on the “unrealistic” for Turkey and a maritime demarcation accord — and Ankara has rebuff ed this Nations Offi ce in Geneva, at and crimes. tinian territories, noting that it 1967 borders with Al-Quds Al- Russia to make decisions with- that it says gives Turkish drilling demand,” said Dalay. the public debate of the 43rd Ambassador al-Mansouri is a correct step in implement- Sharif as its capital. out consulting the Libyans, “es- rights near Crete, but that is op- “If Turkish-Russian talks pecially the legitimate govern- posed by Greece, Cyprus, Israel don’t bear fruit, we might then ment”. and the European Union. see escalation both in Libya and UN nuclear watchdog Turkey and Libya’s interna- A Libyan naval base in par- in Syria’s Idlib region”, where tionally recognised government ticular would “institutionalise” Ankara and Moscow also back chief asks Tehran are discussing possible Turkish Turkey’s infl uence in the Eastern opposing sides, he said. Hamas calls for united ‘resistance’ for access to disputed sites

against West Bank annexation The head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog yesterday called on Iran to allow “prompt access” Oman reports 1,043 new virus cases to two sites where past nuclear AFP project to be confronted with ing between Hamas and the Gaza City resistance in all forms,” said Palestine Liberation Organi- activity may have occurred. senior Hamas offi cial Salah sation, which includes various “I hope we can do better,” Rafael Grossi, director general of the QNA KUWAIT REVEALS 511 NEW CASES al-Bardawil. other Palestinian groups. Muscat The Kuwait Ministry of Health announced 511 aza rulers Hamas yes- “We call on our people to Both the PA and Hamas Vienna-based International new Covid-19 infections in the last 24 hours, terday called for unity transform this hardship into stand opposed to annexation Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), bringing the total infections to 36,431, QNA add- Gamong Palestinians an opportunity to get the in the West Bank, which forms told reporters when asked about he Oman Ministry of Health announced yes- ed. and “resistance” against Is- Palestinian project back on part of a peace plan unveiled the agency’s current relationship terday 1,043 new confi rmed cases of corona- Kuwaiti Health Ministry’s spokesman Dr Ab- raeli plans to annex parts of track,” he told a press confer- in January by US President with Iran. Tvirus (Covid-19), 614 of which were Omanis, dullah al-Sanad told a press briefing that two the occupied West Bank. ence. Donald Trump. Grossi was speaking at the start while 429 were non-Omanis, bringing the total to deaths were reported raising the number of fa- Israeli Prime Minister Ben- Bardawil called for a “union The initiative paves the of a meeting of the agency’s 24,524 confi rmed cases, 108 deaths and 9,533 re- talities to 298. All the new cases were in con- jamin Netanyahu aims to be- of the political class”. way for the eventual creation Board of Governors which is ex- coveries. tact with those previously infected or are being gin a process of annexing West “It is the duty of each free of Palestinian state, but on pected to discuss a report earlier The total number of tests that were conducted investigated for sources of infection, al-Sanad Bank settlements and the Jor- Palestinian citizen to rise up reduced territory and with- this month in which the IAEA in the last 24 hours were 3,283, while patients in said. Earlier, the Health Ministry announced the dan Valley from July 1, as part against this fl agrant aggres- out key Palestinian demands expressed “serious concern” that the intensive care units have reached 104, the recovery of 772 people from Covid-19, bringing of a US peace initiative. sion on our land,” he said. such as a capital in east Jeru- Iran has been blocking inspec- ministry stated in its daily briefing. the tally to 27,531. “We call for the annexation Bardawil called for a meet- salem. tions at two sites. “There are areas where our co- operation is ongoing and there is this issue where quite clearly we are in disagreement,” he said. Grossi repeated an appeal to Iran Sudan fi nds mass grave of Lebanon offi cials vow arrests over violence to “co-operate immediately and fully” with the agency. If the Board of Governors pass a conscripts killed in 1998 resolution critical of Iran, it would AFP condemned acts of “sabotage” Beirut committed by “thugs” in Bei- be the first of its kind since 2012. rut and Tripoli. Even though the two sites in question are not thought to be AFP “The grave was exhumed and “Thugs have no other mo- Khartoum now the committee will continue ebanese authorities tive than vandalism, and they directly relevant to Iran’s current to work with forensic authorities toughened their tone should be thrown in jail, pe- activities, the agency says it and examine the evidence,” said Lon protests yesterday, riod,” said a statement released needs to know if activities going udan’s public prosecutor Wael Ali Saeed, a member of the promising arrests for “vandal- by his offi ce. back almost two decades have announced yesterday the investigation committee. ism” after several days of angry The offi cial National News been properly declared and all Sdiscovery of a mass grave Ailafoon military camp, locat- demonstrations sparked by the Agency later reported that the materials accounted for. containing conscripts allegedly ed southeast of the capital Khar- country’s deepening economic Lebanese army had launched a The report detailed eff orts by the killed after trying to fl ee a mili- toum, was used for training new crisis. series of raids in Tripoli to ar- agency’s off icials to get access to tary camp in 1998 under ousted conscripts under Bashir’s rule. Hundreds of protesters A handout picture provided by the Lebanese photo agency Dalati rest perpetrators of vandalism the locations. president Omar al-Bashir’s re- In 1998, a group of conscripts clashed with security forces at and Nohra yesterday shows President Michel Aoun chairing a and violence. Iran told the agency the gime. died as they attempted to escape the weekend across the Medi- meeting of the Supreme Council of Defence, at the presidential The latest wave of demon- report was a source of “deep The grim discovery came as the base for the Eid al-Adha hol- terranean nation whose cur- palace in Baabda, east of the capital Beirut. strations come almost eight regret and disappointment” and part of investigations into mis- idays. The Sudanese government rency has collapsed amid the months after the start of a hinted the queries were based deeds committed under Bashir, said at the time that around 55 worst fi nancial crisis since its blocked highways and scuffl ed not be allowed after today,” he mass protest movement over on “fabricated information” from who ruled the country before the young conscripts who fl ed the 1975-1990 civil war. with security forces in the cap- said after the meeting of the Lebanon’s crumbling economy “intelligence services”. Israel has army deposed him amid huge base drowned when their over- Relative calm returned on ital and the country’s north. Higher Defence Council. and perceived offi cial corrup- previously claimed its intelligence street protests in April 2019. loaded boat capsized in the Blue Sunday evening, with protest- In Tripoli, young men at- Aoun called for “a wave of tion. services unearthed information An investigating committee Nile. ers holding a peaceful rally tacked banks and shops and arrests, including of those who The Lebanese pound on an alleged previous nuclear “found the mass grave in the Opposition groups accused in the capital Beirut, while threw rocks at security forces planned and carried out” such plumbed new lows on Thurs- weapons programme in Iran. past four days after hearing wit- the regime of deliberately kill- dozens marched to a central who responded with rubber acts, according to a statement day, hitting 5,000 to the dollar Grossi said that there were “no ness accounts,” about killings at ing the conscripts and reported a square in the northern city of bullets and tear gas. read on television after the for the fi rst time. legal ambiguities” around the Ailafoon military camp, public death toll of more than 100. Tripoli, AFP reporters said. Medical services reported meeting. The next day, authorities requests for access. prosecutor Tagelsir al-Hebr told Many Sudanese families re- That came after three nights dozens of injured. He ordered authorities to vowed to pump greenbacks “The agency works on the basis reporters in Khartoum. ported that their sons went of violence in which dem- President Michel Aoun yes- beef up “preemptive” opera- into the market to limit the of a very rigorous, dogged, me- Some of those suspected of missing and their remains were onstrators, angered by sky- terday afternoon discussed the tions to prevent similar vio- rout. ticulous technical and scientific involvement in the incident have never found. Bashir used con- rocketing prices and the gov- protests with the country’s top lence from reoccurring. A Beirut money-changer analysis of information,” he said, fl ed the country, said Hebr, who scripts in the civil war against ernment’s apparent inability security body including minis- In a separate statement re- said yesterday that the dol- insisting: “Nothing is taken at did not disclose how many bod- rebels in the oil-rich south, to tackle a dizzying devalua- ters and military offi cials. leased before the meeting, lar was selling for up to 4,400 face value.” ies were found. which seceded in 2011. tion of the Lebanese pound, “Such acts of vandalism will Prime Minister Hassan Diab pounds. Gulf Times Tuesday, June 16, 2020 7 AFRICA

DISEASE DEMAND JUSTICE CIVIL STRIFE FASHION 11 die in fresh Ebola Nigerian doctors strike Zimbabwe opposition Six killed, homes torched Designer goes virtual as outbreak in DR Congo for better benefits members denied bail in DR Congo attack virus hits runaway shows

The latest Ebola outbreak in north-western Congo Resident doctors in Nigerian public hospitals went A Zimbabwean court yesterday denied bail Six civilians were killed and dozens of homes were US-based Congolese fashion designer Anifa has claimed 11 lives since the beginning of the on strike yesterday to demand better benefits as to an opposition lawmaker and two activists torched in an attack in the east of the Democratic Mvuemba was excited about debuting her month, health authorities said yesterday. Since the they battle the coronavirus pandemic in Africa’s accused of lying to police about being abducted Republic of Congo blamed on the notorious ADF fashion line, Hanifa, at this year’s New York outbreak in Mbandaka, in the Equateur Province, most populous country, the union said. Those and tortured last month, a lawyers’ group said. militia, a local off icial said yesterday. The attack Fashion Week. But when her show was was announced in early June there have been 14 treating Covid-19 patients will stay on the job but Movement for Democratic Change Alliance MP took place on Sunday near the Eringeti-Kainama cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, confirmed cases and 11 deaths, the committee their union, the National Association of Resident Joana Mamombe and party youth assembly road, leaving four women and two men dead, said Mvuemba got creative. The 29-year-old in charge of the response said in a statement. Doctors (NARD), gave the government two activists Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova were Sabiti Njiamoja, an off icial at the governor’s off ice designer held a virtual show on May 22 for The WHO said last week that the outbreak in weeks to meet the demands or else they would arrested at their lawyer’s off ices last Thursday. in Eringeti, in North Kivu province. “Six (other) her latest collection called ‘Pink Label Congo’, Mbandaka is a diff erent strain of the virus than also walk out. “If the government fails to meet “They have been denied bail,” said a spokesman civilians are reported to be missing and more and the 3D animated event was watched by that found in the east of the country. The genetic our minimum demands within two weeks, the for Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights. than 60 homes were torched, “ he told AFP. Locals tens of thousands of people who streamed it sequencing analysis by the National Institute of resident doctors working in (Covid-19) isolation “The magistrate agreed with the prosecution’s are burying the dead after the six civilians “were on her Hanifa Instagram Live page. “We didn’t Biomedical Research (NIBR) also found that the centres will automatically join the strike,” the submission that there were compelling reasons gratuitously murdered,” added Njiamoja, whose know that it was going blow up the way it did. virus is “distinct from the previous one that hit the union said. Ten doctors have died so far from the for not releasing them on bail, saying they are town along with Oicha and Mbau have become a We were not prepared for this at all,” she told same region in 2018,” the WHO said. highly infectious respiratory disease. likely to abscond coming to court for trial.” triangle of death in North Kivu’s Beni region. Reuters via a video call interview.

Colour conscious Mali soldiers dead, missing after militants attack convoy

AFP baly, who also spoke on condition bacar Keita, who is facing a rising Bamako of anonymity, confi rmed his ac- clamour of protest and demands count. for political renewal. The Islamist insurgency, mainly Tens of thousands of people round 40 Malian troops led by groups linked to Al Qaeda or rallied in the capital Bamako on were dead or listed as miss- the so-called Islamic State group, June 5 on the heels of demonstra- Aing after their convoy was has claimed thousands of mili- tions in May over the outcome of A member of the Radikal Bomb Shot, a collective of Senegalese artists, paints a mural depicting key American and African ambushed in central Mali, military tary and civilian lives and forced parliamentary elections, which anti-racism activists, in a show of support for the Black Lives Matter movement in Dakar. sources said yesterday, blaming hundreds of thousands from their the president won, as well as over the assault on militants. homes. coronavirus restrictions. About a dozen vehicles came Violence in recent months has More protests have been sched- under attack on Sunday at Bouka engulfed central Mali, an eth- uled for this Friday. Were, some 100km from the Mau- nic mosaic where the state exer- Keita, who has been in power ritanian border, a senior military cises little control and militant since 2013 in the former French offi cial said, speaking on condi- atrocities feed tit-for-tat assaults colony, on Sunday reached out to tion of anonymity. among rival communities. the coalition behind the protests, New Burundi’s president to It was the latest in a string of The Al Qaeda-linked group saying, “My door is open and my assaults by extremists who un- Katiba Macina, led by an ethnic hand always extended.” leashed a revolt in northern Mali Fulani (Peul) called Amadou Kou- After extremist attacks surged in 2012 that has spread to Burkina fa, is recruiting among the Fulani in February, Keita broke with Faso and Niger despite the pres- herding community, which has precedent to say that he was seek- be sworn in on Thursday ence of thousands of French and long been at odds with the Bam- ing to forge a dialogue with certain UN troops. bara and Dogon farming groups. rebel leaders. AFP and Hutu rebel like his predecessor, had some 400,000 fl ed the country. Some of the vehicles were able These groups, in turn, have cre- “The number of deaths in the Bujumbura been handpicked by the powerful ruling United Nations human rights investi- to extricate themselves from the ated their own “self-defence” or- Sahel is becoming exponential CNDD-FDD to run in a May 20 presiden- gators have said the period since 2015 has ambush, but of the 64 troops who ganisations. and it’s time that certain paths be tial election. been marked by likely crimes against hu- had been in the convoy, only about On Saturday, two soldiers with explored,” he said in an interview urundi’s newly-elected president He won the vote with 68.7%, and an op- manity committed by state forces, citing 20 were present at a roll call, the the UN peacekeeping force MI- with French media. Evariste Ndayishimiye will be sworn position bid to have the results overturned extrajudicial executions, arbitrary arrests, source said. NUSMA were killed when their However, Keita said at the time Bin on Thursday, the foreign ministry due to alleged fraud was overturned just disappearances, torture and sexual vio- “A search is under way to deter- convoy came under attack in of his announcement that he had announced, in a ceremony fast-tracked by days before Nkurunziza’s death. lence. mine the fate of soldiers who have northwestern Mali, the United not received a response from mili- the sudden death of the incumbent, Pierre Normally, following the death of a presi- Nkurunziza’s decision not to run in the been listed missing,” he said. Nations said. tant leaders, and indications have Nkurunziza. dent, the speaker of Burundi’s parliament May 20 election stunned many, as it came Another military offi cer and an The violence has weakened the yet to emerge that any such dia- Nkurunziza died on June 8 aged 55, of would step in as head of state. after the constitution was changed to allow offi cial in the nearby town of Dia- hand of President Ibrahim Bou- logue has developed. what authorities said was heart failure. His But as the country already had a presi- him to do so. death came less than two weeks after his dent-elect, the constitutional court ruled The government has yet to announce a wife had been fl own to a Nairobi hospital last week he should be sworn in immedi- date for Nkurunziza’s funeral. for treatment for coronavirus, according to ately, instead of in August as planned. Suspicions are high that the president Mum’s the word! a medical document seen by AFP. Nkurunziza leaves behind a deeply iso- had contracted the new coronavirus, after The foreign ministry invited diplomats lated country in political and economic months of assuring Burundi it was being and foreign organisations to “take part in turmoil after his divisive 15-year rule. protected by God from the pandemic, and the inauguration ceremony” in the capital His 2015 run for a third term in offi ce taking few measures to combat it. Gitega, in a letter sent out yesterday. sparked protests and a failed coup, with Offi cially the country has recorded only Ndayishimiye, 52, a former army general violence leaving at least 1,200 dead while 104 cases and one death. Botswana investigates 154 elephant deaths

By Brian Benza, Reuters Africa’s overall elephant population is undertaken an operation to relocate and Gabrone declining due to poaching, but Botswa- dehorn all rhinos to tackle poaching in Bot- na, home to almost a third of the conti- swana — mirroring eff orts elsewhere in the nent’s elephants, has seen numbers grow region. otswana is investigating the mysteri- to 130,000 from 80,000 in the late 1990s, The Okavango Delta rhino population ous deaths of at least 154 elephants owing to well managed reserves. has been the hardest hit, with 25 reported Bover two months in the northwest of However, they are seen as a growing nui- poached between December and the be- the country, a wildlife offi cial said yester- sance by farmers, whose crops have been ginning of May, government fi gures show, day, although poaching or poisoning have destroyed by elephants roaming the south- as poachers take advantage of the absence been ruled out. ern African country. of safari tourists during the pandemic. “We are still awaiting results on the ex- President Mokgweetsi Masisi last year That compares with a total of 31 rhinos act cause of death,” Regional Wildlife Co- lifted a fi ve-year ban on big game hunting, poached from October 2018 to December ordinator Dimakatso Ntshebe told Reuters. imposed by previous president Ian Khama, last year. The carcasses were found intact, sug- but the hunting season failed to take off in “Both white rhino and black rhinos have gesting they were not poached. Further in- April as global travel restrictions meant been severely aff ected, necessitating the... vestigations have also ruled out poisoning hunters from many coronavirus-hit coun- relocation of highly endangered black rhi- by humans and anthrax, which sometimes tries could not enter Botswana. nos (and) intensifi cation of surveillance,” A southern white rhino and her calf walk inside Nairobi National Park in Kenya. hits wildlife in this part of Botswana. Meanwhile, the Wildlife Department has the Department said. South Africa’s Ramaphosa fl ays surge in femicides

AFP “I have been deeply disturbed Nigeria reports surge in rapes during virus lockdown Police have reported several the pandemic, violent men are Johannesburg by a surge over the last few days in other cases of femicide across the taking advantage of the eased re- the murder of young women at the Nigeria’s police chief said yester- have recorded about 717 rape in- high-profile killings and rapes of country in recent days. strictions on movement to attack hands of men,” Ramaphosa said in day the country had seen a sharp cidents that were reported across women in recent weeks. The reasons for the sudden in- women and children,” he said in a resident Cyril Ramaphosa his weekly newsletter. “These are increase in cases of rape and the country”, he said, adding that The attacks have sparked an out- crease are being investigated. statement. yesterday condemned as shocking acts of inhumanity that domestic abuse of women during 799 suspects have been arrested. cry online and street protests that Police Minister Bheki Cele has South Africa is ranked among P“acts of inhumanity” a have no place in our society.” coronavirus lockdowns. Last week Women Aff airs forced off icials to pledge renewed said that an overall rise in crime countries with one of the high- surge of femicides since South One of the most gruesome “It has come to the public minister Pauline Tallen said that eff orts to tackle widespread sexual was caused by the lifting of a ban est levels of intimate partner vio- Africa eased anti-coronavirus attacks was that of an eight- knowledge now that because of the number of abuse cases against violence in the country. on the sale of alcohol. lence in the world. stay-at-home measures. months pregnant woman whose the Covid-19 restrictions, we have a women and children had “esca- Governors from across the On Saturday, Ramaphosa had A woman is killed every three Murders of women have spi- stabbed body was found hang- surge in cases of rape and gender- lated three times” as victims were country announced a “state of referred to the previous week as hours in South Africa, according ralled since the start of June, ing from a tree in Roodepoort, a based violence,” Inspector General trapped at home. emergency” over the issue and “a dark and shameful week for us to police statistics — a rate fi ve when lockdown restrictions western suburb of Johannesburg. of Police Mohamed Adamu told Nigeria, Africa’s most popu- said they were “committed to as a nation”. times the world average. were loosened allowing for more Five days later, the body of anoth- reporters in the capital Abuja. lous nation with 200mn people, ensuring that off enders face the “We note with disgust that at Around one in two are mur- movement of people, according er young woman was found on Fri- “From January-May 2020, we has been rocked by a string of maximum weight of the law”. a time when the country is fac- dered by men with whom they to the police. day dumped under a tree in Soweto. ing the gravest of threats from had a close relationship. Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, June 16, 2020 AMERICAS

JUSTICE MEDICINE DIPLOMACY FINANCE SECRET TRIAL Pipeline get court okay to FDA revokes status of HCQ Govts ponder extending Mnuchin gives way on PPP Russian court convicts cross Appalachian Trail for coronavirus patients Canada-US border closure oversight for Congress American of spying

Ruling against environmentalists, the US Supreme The US Food and Drug Administration yesterday Ottawa and Washington are in talks to extend US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said The United States yesterday expressed outrage Court yesterday decided that the federal revoked its emergency use authorisation for the closure of the Canada-US border, as concerns yesterday he would talk to Congress about over a Russian court’s conviction of American government has the authority to allow a proposed hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid-19, the drug persist over the spread of the new coronavirus, proper oversight of $660bn in small business Paul Whelan on espionage charges, saying he was $7.5bn natural gas pipeline to cross under the championed by US President Donald Trump to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said yesterday. economic relief, after previously resisting calls to deprived of a fair trial. Whelan, a former Marine popular Appalachian Trail in rural Virginia. The 7-2 stave off the coronavirus. Based on new evidence, “It is clear that there is broad consensus across reveal who received the funds. Mnuchin tweeted arrested in December 2018, was sentenced ruling was a victory for Dominion Energy Inc and the FDA said it was no longer reasonable to believe the provinces that we need to continue to keep he would discuss oversight of the Paycheck Monday to 16 years of hard labour after being President Donald Trump’s administration, both of that oral formulations of hydroxychloroquine our current border measures in place,” Trudeau Protection Program (PPP) with lawmakers in found guilty of receiving classified information. which appealed a lower court ruling that halted and the related drug chloroquine may be said after consulting with provincial leaders. attempt to balance disclosure with “appropriate “The United States is outraged by the decision of construction of the 965km Atlantic Coast Pipeline, eff ective in treating the illness caused by the “We will keep discussing with the United States protection of small business information.” a Russian court today to convict US citizen Paul which would run from West Virginia to North novel coronavirus. The move comes after several administration on ways forward,” he told a daily Mnuchin had earlier declined to reveal details Whelan after a secret trial, with secret evidence, Carolina. Two liberal justices, Sonia Sotomayor and studies suggested it was not eff ective, including briefing. “Our priority on this is to ensure that on the programme. But both Republicans and and without appropriate allowances for defence Elena Kagan, dissented. The proposed pipeline a widely anticipated trial earlier this month that we’re keeping Canadians safe while continuing Democrats said it is diff icult to appropriately witnesses,” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo would be 180m below a section of the 3,500km showed it failed to prevent infection in people who to ensure the flow of essential goods and guide government aid during the pandemic said in a statement. “We demand Paul Whelan’s trail, which stretches from Maine to Georgia. had been exposed to the virus. services.” without knowing where the money is going. immediate release,” he said. NY governor wants better enforcement Brooks’ family demands of reopening rules

Reuters justice over shooting New York

Reuters Atlanta cenes of crowds gathering outside bars prompted yes- terday New York’s governor, his state hardest hit along Swith New Jersey by the coronavirus pandemic, to urge he family of Rayshard local offi cials and businesses to strictly honour reopening Brooks, a black man whose guidelines. Tdeath reignited protests in “To the local governments I say, ‘Do your job,’” Cuomo Atlanta over the weekend, yester- told a news conference. day called for “drastic change” in Over the weekend he criticised New York City street policing and justice for their rela- crowds outside bars and demanded people adhere to social tive who died after a police offi cer distancing rules of six feet. shot him twice in the back. Both Cuomo and neighbouring New Jersey Governor Phil The death of 27-year-old Murphy said they were keeping open the option of reimpos- Brooks, which the Fulton County ing restrictions if local offi cials fail to stop large public gath- Medical Examiner’s offi ce ruled erings that risk spreading infection. a homicide, was the latest police “I hope to God we don’t have to,” Murphy said during a killing of a black man to fuel na- visit to the Atlantic City boardwalk when asked about the tionwide outrage against police possibility of shutting down businesses again. brutality and racial injustice. New York and New Jersey between them account for more “We’re tired and we are frus- than a third of the nearly 116,000 US deaths. trated. Most importantly we’re Both have followed health guidelines for reopening busi- heartbroken, so we need justice nesses while all measures of infection drop — new cases, for Rayshard Brooks,” his cousin, deaths, hospitalizations and positive rates among those get- Tiara Brooks, said at a news con- ting tested. ference. Cuomo had said on Sunday his state received 25,000 “The trust that we have in the complaints of violations of social distancing and other police force is broken. The only emergency requirements, mostly in Manhattan and in the way to heal some of these wounds Hamptons, affl uent beach communities on the east end of is through a conviction and a dras- Long Island. tic change in the police depart- Cuomo said the state, which issues liquor licenses, would ment,” she added. enforce the rules by sending inspectors to restaurants and bars Brooks’ fatal encounter with the fl outing the guidelines, adding: “You can lose your license.” police came after police respond- New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio yesterday cancelled ed to a call that he had fallen asleep A Rayshard Brooks family lawyer holds printouts of evidence images showing a bullet hole in a car from a stray bullet at the scene of Brooks killing public appearances due to illness, but he too has voiced con- in his car in a Wendy’s restaurant while speaking to media in Atlanta yesterday. cern about crowds gathering in parks and outside bars. drive-through lane. Fears of a new wave of the coronavirus in hard-hit US Caught on video, the encounter Taser at the pursuing offi cers, both Atlanta’s police chief, Erika Several members of Rayshard demonstrations against racism states — or a failure to get a grip on the fi rst wave in some seemed friendly at fi rst but when white, before one of them fi res his Shields, resigned over the shoot- Brooks’ family attended yester- and police brutality prompted by others — have led health experts such as top infectious dis- an offi cer moved to arrest him, gun and Brooks falls. ing. day’s news conference in tears the death of George Floyd, an Af- ease offi cial Anthony Fauci to urge caution. Brooks struggled with him and An attorney for Brooks’ fam- The offi cer suspected of killing and spoke of him as a warm family rican American, when a Minne- Oregon has put county applications to reopen on hold af- another offi cer at the scene before ily, Chris Stewart, said the police Brooks was fi red, and the other of- man who loved to take his daugh- apolis policeman knelt on his neck ter the state reported a record daily rise last week, and Utah breaking away across the parking should have let Brooks walk home fi cer involved in the incident was ter skating. for nearly nine minutes on May 25. on Friday ordered most of the state to halt reopening while it lot with what appears to be a po- rather than pursuing and shooting put on administrative leave. One man left the room during Brooks’ widow, Tomika Miller, investigated a jump in cases. lice Taser in his hand. him. Prosecutors will decide by mid- the briefi ng in hysterics, shouting, implored the public to protest But most states are not considering a second shutdown A video from the restaurant’s “It didn’t have to go to that lev- week whether to bring charges, “Somebody took my cousin!” peacefully in her husband’s name. as they face budget shortfalls and double-digit unemploy- cameras shows Brooks turning as el,” he said. “Where is the empathy Fulton County District Attorney Brooks’ death reignited protests “We want to keep his name pos- ment. he runs and possibly aiming the in just letting him walk home?” Paul Howard said on Sunday. in Atlanta after days of worldwide itive,” she said. Many went ahead with reopenings before meeting the government infection rate guidelines for doing so. The Jersey Shore tourist town of Asbury Park yesterday backed down from its threat to open restaurants to indoor dining in defi ance of state mandates after Murphy fi led a lawsuit. Oklahoma city asks Trump rally to keep out over virus fears Alabama and South Carolina reported a record number of new cases for a fourth straight day on Sunday. AFP for Saturday, having already been In a tweet yesterday, Trump campaigners call systemic rac- a large, indoor event, and I’m also Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, North Washington moved from Friday. claimed that applications to at- ism against African Americans, concerned about our ability to Carolina and Oklahoma all had record numbers of new cases “We don’t know why he chose tend the rally in the city, which Trump’s campaign decided to put ensure the president stays safe as in recent days, according to a Reuters tally. Tulsa, but we can’t see any way has a population of less than half a the rally off by a day. well,” he told the Tulsa World. Many state health offi cials partly attribute the increase to resident Donald Trump’s that his visit will be good for the million, were fl ooding in. “Almost Adding to the sense that the Dart said it was “an honour for gatherings over the Memorial Day holiday weekend in late campaign rally in Tulsa, city.” One Million people request tick- campaign was being insensitive in Tulsa to have a sitting president May. POklahoma this week faced The newspaper pointed out that ets for the Saturday Night Rally in its choice of city and timing, Tulsa want to come and visit our commu- Scott Gottlieb, the former Food and Drug Administration new headwinds yesterday after Covid-19 continues to spread and Tulsa, Oklahoma!” he tweeted. is the site of a notorious massa- nity, but not during a pandemic.” director who has advised the White House on the corona- the local newspaper and a top there is no vaccine. An initial plan to reopen the ral- cre of black Oklahomans by white “I wish we could postpone this virus, said yesterday that fl are-ups needed to be addressed public health offi cial said the event “It will be our healthcare system lies in Tulsa this Friday, June 19, was mobs in 1921. to a time when the virus isn’t as with aggressive contact tracing and targeted responses. should be delayed due to risk of that will have to deal with whatev- criticised because this would coin- On Sunday, Tulsa’s health de- large a concern as it is today.” “We’re not going to be able to shut down the country spreading the coronavirus. er eff ects follow,” it said. cide with the annual “Juneteenth” partment director Bruce Dart also Trump supporters attending again this summer. We’re probably not going to be able to “This is the wrong time,” the The arena that the Trump cam- commemorations for the end of called for a delay to the Saturday the Tulsa rally must agree to a shut down the country again this fall,” he said on CNBC. Tulsa World newspaper said in paign has booked holds about slavery in the United States. event, citing the coronavirus risk. disclaimer protecting the organis- “And so we’re going to need to try to isolate the sources of a bluntly worded editorial about 20,000 people, who would be With protests unfolding “I’m concerned about our abil- ers from liability over people who these outbreaks and take targeted steps. If we can’t do that, the rally, which is now scheduled packed closely together. across the country against what ity to protect anyone who attends might contract the virus. these will get out of control.” Cops torn between shame and pride for their badge

By Laura Bonilla, Laurent are restrained,” Michael O’Meara, a problem of systemic racism in police offi cers’ lives or anybody in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Banguet and Javier Tovar, AFP head of New York state’s Police the country. else’s,” he said. said as a black man he has often New York Benevolent Association, angrily “Law enforcement all over the African Americans represent fallen victim to racism and was said last week at a press confer- country gets left holding the bag the majority of those killed with in favour of tougher sanctions ence. for the actions of a criminal in studies showing that one in every against bad offi cers. S police offi cers at the Chauvin is the offi cer who Minneapolis,” he added. 1,000 black men in the US will “I can’t tell you how many times centre of demonstra- pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck Experts however say that die at the hands of police. I’m pulled over,” he said. “And I Utions that have roiled the for nearly nine minutes. Floyd’s death was not an isolated “It’s happening far too of- identify myself...and it never es- country are caught between their “Everybody’s trying to shame incident but added to long-run- ten, scenes where black people calates. But I’m always in fear that commitment to the job and rec- us into being embarrassed about ning anger and distrust of police and people of colour in general it could because I carry a gun and ognition that reforms are needed our profession,” O’Meara added. offi cers among America’s black are dying at the hands of law black skin at the same time.” to address institutional racism “Stop treating us like animals communities. enforcement, usually for really But some in law enforcement within their ranks. and dogs and start treating us “There is a long American his- minor off ences,” said Ben Kelso, say they are being used as scape- From California to Massachu- with some respect.” tory of harm and violence im- president of the San Diego chap- goats for larger problems in so- setts, several offi cers interviewed Shaun Willoughby, president posed on black Americans under ter of the National Black Police ciety and reject growing calls to by AFP said they were horrifi ed of the Albuquerque Police Offi c- colour of law that policing as an Association. defund the police. by the killing of George Floyd ers’ Association in New Mexico, institution has to acknowledge,” “We spend a lot of hours on “It’s ironic and it’s hurtful be- while in police custody — a trag- said Chauvin had clearly com- said Louisa Aviles, director of what they call ‘perishable skills,’ A man confronts an off icer during a demonstration against police cause we’re out every day trying edy that sparked nationwide pro- mitted a criminal act that all po- group violence intervention at which is driving and shooting brutality in Huntington Beach, California. to serve and protect the public tests against police brutality and lice offi cers were ashamed of and the National Network for Safe and arresting people and things and there are millions of interac- racism. it was unfair to paint everyone in Communities. like that,” he added. have already imposed a ban on ers, said it was essential that law tions every day with police and But those interviewed also hit uniform with the same brush. Franklin Zimring, a law profes- “But we don’t spend as much neck restraints similar to the one enforcement be included in the the public that are positive,” said back at accusations that the ac- “I feel discriminated against, sor at the University of Califor- time on just learning to talk to that killed Floyd and reinforced conversation as stakeholders. a 34-year-old New York offi cer, tions of the offi cers involved in so do my offi cers,” he told AFP. nia, Berkeley and author of When people. Because when it’s all said disciplinary measures. “This perception that we are who spoke on condition of ano- Floyd’s death refl ected the val- “We’re just out here trying Police Kill, noted that offi cers in and done, the biggest weapon Steps are also being taken at racist dogs, that’s not what we nymity since he was not author- ues of law enforcement offi cers to do the best job that we can the US on average kill three peo- police offi cers have every day is the federal level to carry out re- are,” he told AFP. “That’s not ised to make public comments. across the country. to protect our community and ple a day. their mouth.” forms. what the overwhelming vast ma- “We try to be everything to every- “I am not Derek Chauvin...He provide for our families, and “At least half of those killings A growing list of police depart- O’Meara, whose union repre- jority of police offi cers are.” one and we’re stretched too thin and killed someone. We didn’t. We now because I wear a badge I’m are not necessary to preserve the ments across the United States sents some 40,000 police offi c- Branville Bard Jr, chief of police that’s when mistakes are made.” Gulf Times Tuesday, June 16, 2020 9 ASIA

Indonesian military jet Traffi ckers demand ransoms crashes into residential for Rohingya stranded at sea district Thomson Reuters Foundation trated with life in the camps, viewed by the Thomson Reu- “We interviewed at least 30 smuggling by sea had tripled whether paying the fee had any Dhaka smugglers and traffi ckers have ters Foundation said they had family members... from 14 Ro- from March to April, but did not impact. n Indonesian military capitalised by charging for plac- been able to meet the ransom hingya camps who were asked to provide any specifi c fi gures. The Bangladesh government fi ghter jet ploughed into a es on boats to Malaysia - a fa- demands. pay by traffi ckers if they wanted “The sudden increase was said it was working to prevent Aresidential area in Sumat- ohingya refugees at- voured destination for Rohingya Hundreds of Rohingya are to see their relatives alive,” said likely due to the fear of Cov- traffi cking in the camps, and its ra yesterday, but the pilot ejected tempting to reach Malay- seeking better lives. estimated by aid agencies to be Jishu Barua, anti-traffi cking id-19 contagion in refugee coastguard had reported rescu- safely and there were no injuries Rsia by boat from Bang- Long viewed as a smuggling stranded at sea, with Malay- lead for the charity Young Power camps fostered by migrant ing about 750 Rohingya from on the ground, the air force said. ladesh are being held hostage issue, where people willingly pay sia refusing to accept them af- in Social Action. smugglers to boost demand for traffi ckers since 2019. The one-seater Hawk 209 was by human traffi ckers who have to cross borders illegally, activ- ter tightening its borders due “There could be more (ex- their services,” the global po- “We have to fi nd the syndi- returning from training manoeu- demanded large ransoms from ists said examples of extortion of to coronavirus and Bangladesh amples of ransom demands),” lice body said. cates, this (traffi cking) has to be vres when the pilot reported en- their relatives with threats of the Rohingya were instead a sign saying last week it was not in he said. John Quinley III, senior hu- addressed,” said Mahbub Alam gine problems and ejected from violence, according to several of human traffi cking which in- a “position to take any more Police superintendent Iqbal man rights specialist at Asia-fo- Talukder, the country’s refugee the British-built plane, which families and aid organisations. volves individuals being exploit- Rohingya”. Hossain said he was not aware of cused charity Fortify Rights, said commissioner who oversees the then crashed into a group of emp- About a dozen Rohingya refu- ed through force or deception. Last week, Malaysian au- such extortion but urged the Ro- traffi ckers had treated Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar. ty houses, according to offi cials. gees living in camps in Bangla- “I don’t know if she is alive or thorities detained 269 Rohingya hingya to report any incidences. as property through exploitation Mobina, whose 17-year-old No one on the ground in Kam- desh told the Thomson Reuters dead,” said Abdul Hakim, a Ro- when they tried to enter the “We will defi nitely take steps “similar to slavery”. son headed for Malaysia more par regency was hurt, said In- Foundation they had received hingya refugee, who last saw his country on a damaged boat. In to prevent this,” he said by phone The group said it had docu- than two months ago, said the donesian Air Force chief of staff phone calls from traffi ckers de- 17-year-old sister in March be- April, a trawler that was at sea from Cox’s Bazar, the region that mented several cases since April teenager wanted to study abroad Fadjar Prasetyo. manding money to stop relatives fore she left their camp to take a for weeks after it failed to reach hosts the refugee camps. where Rohingya families were and was desperate to leave their “There were three jets return- from being abandoned at sea and, boat destined for Malaysia. Malaysia returned to Bangladesh Aid agencies said a growing pressured to pay ransoms, often camp to make something of ing from exercises this morn- in some cases, raped or killed. “A broker called me from the with 396 starving Rohingya. number of Rohingya in Bang- more than double the original his life. ing and they were about to land More than a million most- ship a month after she left and Survivors of recent failed boat ladesh had taken boats headed fee agreed upon for the journey. “I told him not to go. I told him when one of them crashed about ly Muslim Rohingya reside in asked me to pay 100,000 taka crossings have recalled over- for Malaysia in recent months The United Nations’ migra- it would be dangerous,” said Mo- 2km from the runway,” he added. camps in Bangladesh, with the ($1,180) if I wanted her to stay crowding, beatings, and peo- due to calm seas and fears over tion agency (IOM) said it had bina, who did not give her sur- An investigation would be car- majority having fl ed a 2017 alive and enter Malaysia. We al- ple dying of hunger and thirst, Covid-19 in the camps at Cox’s also received reports from Ro- name for fear of reprisals after ried out to determine the cause army-led crackdown in largely ready paid 45,000 taka for the and charities fear violence and Bazar, which have recorded at hingya in the camps about be- traffi ckers demanded 300,000 of the accident, Prasetyo said. Buddhist Myanmar. journey through loans. Where deaths will increase as traffi ckers least 35 cases and three deaths ing charged “a fee” to prevent taka to keep her son alive. The incident comes in the With the refugees fearful of will I get so much money?” take advantage of the impasse to since mid-May. their relatives being stranded at “Now I don’t know if I will same month that an army heli- returning to Myanmar and frus- None of the 12 families inter- demand ransoms. A recent Interpol report said sea. The IOM said it was unclear ever see him alive again.” copter crashed during a train- ing exercise on Java Island, kill- ing four soldiers and leaving fi ve others injured. (AFP) Thais warned against criticising monarchy Thailand ends curfew, marks 21 Two pilots

Reuters But recent months have suspended Bangkok seen an unprecedented surge days with no local virus cases of online questioning of the institution. after plane hailand’s prime minister In March, a Thai-language Reuters yesterday warned politi- hashtag that translates as #why- Bangkok Tcal activists not to criti- doweneedaking? was one of the cise the monarchy, saying doing top trending topics on Twitter skids off so could damage their job pros- in Thailand after an overseas ac- hailand yesterday lifted a pects even though the king had tivist commented online about nationwide curfew after runway asked him not to make prosecu- King Maha Vajiralongkorn trav- Tmore than two months tions under a law protecting the elling in Germany during the and allowed restaurants to royal family. coronavirus crisis. resume selling alcohol as the ietnamese aviation authori- Insulting the monarchy is a King Vajiralongkorn, 67, who coronavirus crisis eased, with ties have grounded two for- crime under Article 112 of Thai- was crowned last year, has a 21 days since a recorded case of Veign pilots after a VietJet Air land’s criminal code, punishable second home in Germany. He local transmission. passenger plane they were con- by up to 15 years in prison. spends much of his time outside The southeast Asian nation trolling skidded off a runway as it The suspected kidnapping of a Thailand. of about 70mn people was the landed in Ho Chi Minh City, state Thai democracy activist in Cam- Prayuth said the king has in- fi rst country outside China media reported yesterday. bodia this month ignited small structed him personally not to to report a case of coronavi- The aircraft, which was ar- protests by university students, use Article 112 for prosecutions rus, on Jan. 13, and has been riving from the tourism island with some questioning in online but people who questioned the a relative success story in of Phu Quoc, skidded off the comments the “lese majeste” law. monarchy could face diffi culties containing it, with just 3,135 runway at Tan Son Nhat Air- “Before, we have Article 112 of in the job market. confi rmed cases and 58 fatali- port on Sunday due to heavy rain the criminal code and we don’t “Those who have this kind ties. Some 2,987 patients have and a tailwind, VietJet said in a have a lot of problems, but now of behaviour may fi nd it hard recovered. statement. Article 112 has not been used be- to fi nd work, businesses do not Offi cials have credited The Civil Aviation Authority cause the king has kindly asked want this sort of people to work Thais’ early adoption of wear- of Vietnam have also seized the not to use it,” Prime Minister for them, so how can they make ing masks - ubiquitous in licences of the two pilots, pend- Prayut Chan-o-cha said. a living? I am worried for them,” public since January - as well ing the investigation into the in- “Now people are violating Prayut said. as its border closure, shutter- cident, the offi cial Vietnam News this. So what does this mean, Charges under the lese ing of many business and the Agency reported. what do you all want? I have to majeste law have been decreas- curfew for the retreat of the A street food vendor pushes her cart past graff iti on a store’s shutters in downtown Bangkok yesterday. “The airplane, passengers and say this today to create peace in ing since 2018, according to the new virus that has infected crew are all safe,” VietJet said in the country,” he said. Thai Lawyers for Human Rights 7.9mn worldwide and killed the statement, without saying The king is traditionally re- group. more than 430,000. playgrounds, amusement parks ago with social distancing will weeks have been found in quar- how many were onboard. vered in Thai culture as the pro- But some rights groups say Other establishments al- and sports competitions without now be able to serve alcohol. antine among Thais return- Local media reports said the tector of the nation and the Bud- authorities use other laws, in- lowed to reopen yesterday were spectators. Yesterday was the second ing from abroad, said Taweesin airport was briefl y closed on dhist religion. Thailand has been cluding a Computer Crime Act schools with less than 120 stu- Pubs, bars and karaoke outlets time in fi ve days that Thailand Wisanuyothin, a spokesman Sunday due to the incident, add- a constitutional monarchy since and a law against sedition law, dents, exhibition halls, mu- will remain closed, but restau- reported no new cases. for the government’s Covid-19 ing that the plane involved is an 1932. more often. sic concerts, fi lm productions, rants that reopened two weeks All new cases in the past three task force. Airbus A321neo.(Reuters)

Nepal to deport tourists for joining Morning workouts at quarantine house virus protest Bangladesh marks dozens Nepal will deport five foreign tourists and ban them from of coronavirus red zones entering the Himalayan nation for two years after they joined protests against the government’s IANS But the preparations are not hunger-free as dreamt by the response to the coronavirus Dhaka complete in Dhaka,” he said. nation’s founder Sheikh Mujibur outbreak, off icials said yesterday. Brig General Mominur Rah- Rahman, overcoming all hurdles, Police arrested three Chinese man Mamun, the chief health including Covid-19. nationals and one each from angladesh’s national com- offi cer of Dhaka North City Cor- A tearful Hasina said, “It is so the United States, Australia and mittee for tackling the poration, said that they got the painful to tell about a great loss Norway during a street protest on Bcoronavirus pandemic has list of the red zones, but needed of any family member. Nasim Saturday in the capital Kathmandu. spotted dozens of areas as red to work more on it. Bhai was very effi cient as a po- The demonstrators demanded zones due to high infection and “It’s a draft list, not fi nal. We litical leader. He always stood better quarantine facilities, and death rates, majority of them in are studying it. The red zones beside me since I was trying to more testing and transparency in capital Dhaka. will have to be much more speci- reorganise the Awami League the purchasing of medical supplies They include 45 areas in fi ed,” he said. with members of the families of to fight Covid-19. Dhaka, 11 in Charttogram and The government ended the martyrs after my return to the The director general of Nepal’s several Upazilas in Narayan- coronavirus shutdown of offi ces country in 1986.” Department of Immigration, ganj, Gazipur, and Narsingdi, and the public transportation Sheikh Hasina, also president Ramesh Kumar K C, said the bdnews24 said in a report. system on May 31 after over two of the ruling Awami League said, Chinese and US tourists were fined The committee is marking an months amid a rapid rise in Cov- “This is a war (for us). In such a 10,000 Nepali rupees ($82.75) area that has recorded minimum id-19 cases and deaths. time, we have lost two veterans each. The Australian was fined 60 Covid-19 cases among 100,000 It has decided to categorise (Mohamed Nasim and Sheikh double that because he was also people in last 14 days as a red zone the areas red, green and yellow Mohamed Abdullah) of the par- taking pictures of the protests. in Dhaka and Chattogram cities. based on the rate of coronavirus ty, who played signifi cant roles “All five will be banned for two The ratio for red zone outside infections and deaths from the in each of the democratic move- years from entering Nepal and the two main cities is 10 cases to disease. ments and struggles. It is a mat- deported to their respective 100,000 people. Bangladesh has so far reported ter of sorrow to loss them. We countries after international The administrators, super- 87,520 Covid-19 cases, with 1,171 have lost them in a day.” flights resume,” he told Reuters. intendents of police and civil deaths. The prime minister said Nepal has suspended all surgeons of the districts will On Sunday, Bangladesh Prime Nasim and Abdullah continued flights until July 5 as part of its pinpoint the red zones now, the Minister Sheikh Hasina said the to work till their death for the coronavirus lockdown. committee decided on Saturday. worst coronavirus-hit areas will be betterment of the country and He said the Norwegian woman, The authorities are yet to de- brought under lockdown aimed at the people by upholding the ide- who is married to a Nepali, will Indonesian doctors, nurses and volunteers conduct morning workouts along with patients of the cide on the time to impose lock- checking its further spread. ology of Mujibur Rahman. have to pay a 5,000-rupee fine but Covid-19 with light symptoms (at balconies) at the quarantine house of the Covid-19 in Tangerang downs on the areas. While paying glowing tributes Mentioning that the fear arising can remain in the country. Nepal yesterday. Indonesia reported yesterday 1,017 new coronavirus infections and 64 more deaths, the The timing will depend on prepa- to lawmaker Mohamed Nasim out of the Covid-19 pandemic has imposed a lockdown in March highest Covid-19 death toll in a single day in the South East Asian nation to date. Health ministry rations of the authorities related to and State Minister for Religious reached terrible extent, she said, after detecting its second case of off icial Achmad Yurianto said the total number of cases in Indonesia had now reached 39,294, enforcing lockdowns, Health Min- Aff airs Sheikh Md Abdullah, who “We couldn’t allow death of people coronavirus infection. The numbers while fatalities had increased to 2,198. The total number of people who have recovered from the ister Zahid Malik told bdnews24. both died recently, she hoped in starvation due to the panic. We have since increased to 6,211 coronavirus is 15,123. “It can happen tomorrow if that her government would have to take measures as their lives infections and 19 fatalities. (Reuters) the relevant agencies are ready. make Bangladesh poverty- and and livelihoods can continue.” Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, June 16, 2020 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA/ Australia seeks Beijing imposes Covid-19 to engage China over actor’s curbs amid new outbreak death sentence Reuters outbreak was fi rst identifi ed. Beijing The new cases have led to many parts of Beijing to reim- Reuters Gilespie, a former actor, pose tough measures to stifl e Sydney was arrested in 2013 with everal districts of the Chi- the spread of the virus, includ- more than 7.5kg (17 pounds) nese capital put up secu- ing round-the-clock security of methamphetamine in his Srity checkpoints, closed checkpoints, closing schools ustralia is seeking to check-in luggage while at- schools and ordered people to be and sports venues and reinstat- engage China over the tempting to board an interna- tested for the coronavirus yes- ing temperature checks at malls, Acase of Karm Gilespie, tional fl ight from Baiyun Air- terday after an unexpected spike supermarkets and offi ces. an Australian man sentenced port in the southern Chinese of cases linked to the biggest Residents were also advised to death for drug traffi cking, city of Guangzhou, according wholesale food market in Asia. to avoid crowds and gathering in Prime Minister Scott Morri- to media reports. After nearly two months with groups for meals. son said yesterday, amid es- China’s judicial institu- no new infections, Beijing offi - Some districts even sent of- calating tensions between the tions have proceeded accord- cials have reported 79 cases over fi cials to residential compounds countries. ing to Chinese law and in an the past four days, the city’s big- in what they described as a Diplomatic tensions be- independent manner, a Chi- gest cluster of infections since “knock, knock” operation to tween Beijing and Canberra nese foreign ministry spokes- February. identify people who had visited became frayed after Australia man said yesterday, denying The return of the coronavi- Xinfadi. called for an international that the case had any political rus has shrouded Beijing, home None of Beijing’s 16 districts has inquiry into the source and overtones. to the headquarters of many big been hit by a blanket lockdown. spread of the new coronavirus, “The above case has no rela- corporations, in uncertainty at But access to the neighbour- which emerged in China. tion to the two countries’ dip- a time when China is trying to hoods of the people who were Gilespie’s was sentenced a lomatic ties,” spokesman Zhao shake off the economic torpor infected has been blocked as court in the southern city of Lijian said at a daily briefi ng. caused by the disease. tests are being administered to Guangzhou on Wednesday, China has in recent “The containment eff orts residents. but it was only reported on weeks banned Australian have rapidly entered into a war- The 11 neighbourhoods Saturday. The death sentence beef imports and imposed time mode,” senior city govern- around Xinfadi and 10 others A security man wearing a protective suit stands guard at a residential area under lockdown near Yuquan for drug smuggling is not un- tariff s on Australian bar- ment offi cial Xu Ying told a news near another market have also East Market in Beijing yesterday. common in China, where exe- ley. It has also urged Chi- conference. been sealed as 90,000 residents cutions are usually carried out nese students to consider Xu said 7,200 neighbourhoods undergo tests. state media reported yesterday, non-essential travel to the capital Wang Xiaoyang, who works by fi ring squad. avoiding Australia. and nearly 100,000 epidemic- The World Health Organisa- citing Gao Fu, director of the and imposed quarantine require- in public relations in the south- Reading a statement in par- In a statement, Gilespie’s control workers had entered the tion (WHO) said on Sunday it was Chinese Center for Disease Con- ments on visitors from Beijing. ern boomtown of Shenzhen in liament, Morrison said he was family asked for privacy and “battlefi eld”. informed of the outbreak and an trol and Prevention. Gao did not Some provinces asked people Guangdong, said she got a text sad and concerned and Aus- called on friends and ac- The outbreak has been traced investigation by Chinese offi cials. elaborate, however. arriving from Beijing’s designat- message from authorities telling tralia remained irrevocably quaintances to refrain from to the sprawling Xinfadi mar- “WHO understands that ge- Eff orts to trace the origins of ed high and medium-risk areas her to stay at home for 14 days opposed to the death penalty. speculating on his case “which ket where thousands of tonnes netic sequences will be released the virus are still underway, Gao to be quarantined for seven days. after returning from Beijing on “We advocate consistently we do not believe assists his of vegetables, fruits and meat as soon as possible once further added. One city in Heilongjiang prov- Friday. for the abolition of the death case”. change hands each day. laboratory analyses are com- An epidemiologist with the ince is demanding three weeks. Baoding, an industrialised penalty worldwide by every “Our family is very sad- A complex of warehouses and pleted,” it said in a statement. Beijing government said on Sun- The municipality of Shanghai city near Beijing, was closely diplomatic avenue available to dened by the situation,” the trading halls spanning an area the China has completed genome day a DNA sequencing of the vi- and nine other provinces includ- monitoring arrivals. us,” Morrison said. statement said. “We will not size of nearly 160 soccer pitches, sequencing for the coronavirus rus showed the Xinfadi outbreak ing Hubei, Guangdong and Hainan “Every gate to Baoding should “We will continue to pro- be making any public com- Xinfadi is more than 20 times found in the samples collected in could have come from Europe. have yet to impose quarantine rules be strictly guarded to prevent the vide Mr Gilespie with consular ment and ask that the media larger than the seafood market the latest outbreak and arrived Governments in many parts of on Beijing visitors and returnees, contagion from spreading,” state assistance and engage China respects our privacy at this in the city of Wuhan where the at a preliminary conclusion, China warned residents against though local conditions vary. media quoted offi cials as saying. on his case.” diffi cult time.” Malaysian Japan halts deployment of carrier to US missile defence system resume Reuters Aegis that Japan already oper- and maintenance for the next Tokyo ates, the planned stations were 30 years, according to defence meant to help counter recent ministry documents. domestic missile advances by North Ko- That price tag comes as Japan apanese Defence Minis- rea and relieve pressure on Ja- faces an economy weakened routes ter Taro Kono said yester- pan’s stretched navy. by the coronavirus pandemic Jday that he had suspended “I made a decision on Friday and unprecedented stimulus plans to deploy two US-made to suspend the process... For spending that is putting pres- Aegis Ashore air defence radar the time being, Japan will con- sure on government fi nances. from July stations designed to detect and tinue to counter (the threat) According to the plans, the counter North Korean ballistic with Aegis-equipped ships” sites were to be initially armed missiles. said Kono. with SM-3 Block IIA intercep- Reuters Kono told reporters that Ja- North Korea, which is tor missiles designed to shoot Kuala Lumpur pan was halting the deploy- threatening military action down warheads in space. Ja- ment due to technical issues as against South Korea unless it pan, however, will have to pay well as cost. The two proposed stops defectors from sending to test those interceptors at a alaysian budget Lockheed Martin Co radar leafl ets and other material to US military test site in Hawaii carrier AirAsia sites, one in the northern pre- the North, last year tested a before deployment, further Pro-democracy demonstrators attend a vigil for a protester Marco Leung Ling-kit who fell to his MGroup will re- fecture of Akita and the other series of new ballistic missiles adding to the cost of the Aegis death during a demonstration outside the Pacific Place mall a year ago, in Hong Kong yesterday. start all domestic routes in Yamaguchi prefecture in with irregular trajectories that Ashore system. from July, Chief Execu- southern Japan, had also faced Japan said appeared designed Tests for the SM-3 Block tive Offi cer Tony Fern- opposition from local resi- to penetrate Aegis defences. IIA missiles alone could cost andes said yesterday, af- dents. The two planned Aegis at least $500mn, sources with ter the government eased With radars more powerful Ashore systems would cost knowledge of the programme Hundreds gather in HK to remember movement curbs for con- than the ship-based version of about $4.1bn for operation told Reuters last year. taining the coronavirus. protester who fell to his death Malaysia allowed interstate travel to resume last week as part of the government’s Reuters cial hub to a standstill. One masked man wearing a plan to revive an economy Black Lives Matter banner Hong Kong The outbreak of coronavirus yellow raincoat held a sign that hit hard by the pandemic had seen a lull in protests until re- read: “Immortal.” after declaring that the cent weeks, when proposed new “I’m here to remember what coronavirus was success- undreds of Hong Kong national security laws reignited happened one year ago... he fully brought under control. removed at US embassy in people dressed in black fears over Beijing’s tightening lost his life for the anti-extra- Fernandes said the airline Hand wearing white rib- squeeze on the city and brought dition movement and brought will run flights over its entire bons gathered yesterday to re- people back on to the streets. everyone together to come domestic network and at member the day last year when a Protesters stood atop the Pa- stand out and so I think it’s fair full seat capacity, according Seoul after Trump anger 35-year-old man fell to his death cifi c Place luxury shopping mall, to say that he (Leung) has given to government guidelines, from a shopping mall after un- near the heart of the fi nancial dis- this movement momentum to though frequency would furling banners against a now- trict, to remember Marco Leung keep going,” the 18-year-old depend on demand. Reuters withdrawn extradition bill. - who was wearing a yellow rain- masked man said. “We’re seeing very strong Seoul/Washington The bill, which would have coat when he fell - with a banner Hundreds also protested demand. Very, very strong. allowed people to be sent to reading: “No extradition to China, inside Pacifi c Place, chanting People want to fly, people mainland China for trial in fully retract the bill.” Squads of “Hong Kong Independence, want to go home, they large “Black Lives Matter” banner draped courts, sparked a broad anti- riot police stood guard next to a the only way out” and singing want to resume business,” on the outside of the US embassy in Seoul government protest movement makeshift memorial as people laid the unoffi cial protest anthem Fernandes told reporters at Awas removed yesterday after President that brought parts of the fi nan- white fl owers on the ground. “Glory to Hong Kong”. a company event to launch Donald Trump expressed his displeasure about it, the airline’s new agriculture two people familiar with the matter said. e-commerce platform. The banner was hung on the front of the mis- Hong Kong Disneyland to reopen after 5-month virus closure Fernandes said the plat- sion building on Saturday as the embassy tweeted form, called OurFarm, aims a message in support of the anti-racism cam- Hong Kong’s Disneyland will places to record coronavirus amusement parks announced to connect local farmers paign across the United States and worldwide reopen its doors on Thursday infections after the disease guidelines on how to operate directly to businesses, in response to the killing last month of George following nearly five months of first emerged in central China, safely under the threat of the besides serving as the main Floyd, an African American, in Minneapolis closure, the park said Monday, in morphing into a global pandemic virus, including asking guests to source of fresh produce for police custody. A huge Black Lives Matter banner is seen at the a fresh boost for a city that has and enveloping much of the “refrain from vocalising loudly” AirAsia’s in-flight food outfit, Trump, who has responded to street protests US embassy in Seoul. largely managed to defeat the world in a recession. on rollercoasters and other rides. Santan. by declaring himself a “law and order” president coronavirus. But the finance hub has since Park staff , including those The airline group also and urging US local authorities to crack down, concerned with racism.” But he added: “The Am- Visitors will need to sign health managed to largely halt local dressed up as stuff ed animal intends to expand its was unhappy about the banner when he learned bassador’s intent was not to support or encourage declarations, submit to regular transmission with just over 1,100 mascots and superheroes, were cargo business transporting about it, the two sources said on condition of donations to any specifi c organisation.” temperature checks and wear infections and four deaths. also advised to not shake hands produce from the farmers anonymity. “To avoid the misperception that American masks at all times unless eating, the All overseas passengers are or high-five with young fans. on the platform in the next The White House and State Department did not taxpayer dollars were spent to benefi t such or- park said in a statement yesterday. screened at the airport and Hong Kong authorities currently three to four months. immediately respond to a request for comment. ganisations, he directed that the banner be re- It is just the second Disneyland quarantined by authorities if ban gatherings of more than eight Fernandes said the group The banner was seen as a rare show of open moved,” Coleman said, adding “this in no way around the world to resume found to be infected - on top people because of the virus. That will “use our planes to get support for the Black Lives Matter movement by lessens the principles and ideals expressed by services during the pandemic of a mandatory 14-day home ban is up for renewal on Thursday, farmers to extend their a Trump appointee. US ambassador to South Ko- raising the banner.” after Shanghai turned its lights quarantine for arrivals. the day Disneyland reopens. market beyond the local rea Harry Harris had ordered that it be draped on Bloomberg News reported earlier that both and rides back on last month. Across the globe, tourism David Hui, a leading infectious area that they operate in” the embassy. Trump and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo were Tokyo and Paris remain closed operators are desperate to disease expert in the city, told such as flying fish directly After the banner was taken down, embassy displeased about the banner. while the company’s flagship restart business, trialling diff erent RTHK radio on Monday that the to North Asian markets or spokesman William Coleman reiterated that Harris, a 40-year Navy veteran who started in park in California is eyeing a July forms of social distancing as anti-virus ban could be further Singapore. Harris’s reason for putting it up was “to com- Seoul in 2018, has privately said he is planning to reopening. lockdowns ease. relaxed as most activities in the municate a message of solidarity with Americans exit his position before the end of the year. Hong Kong was one of the first Last month, a group of Japanese city have resumed. (AFP) Gulf Times Tuesday, June 16, 2020 11 BRITAIN/IRELAND

Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, Greens to form coalition govt

Guardian News and Media Gael and Fianna Fail and inject Varadkar and Martin are ex- unfolded in slow-motion despite riah in the south during the IRA’s blocked Sinn Fein from power. In anticipation of stormy times Dublin urgency into Ireland’s response pected to take turns being taoi- a dramatic backdrop of Covid-19 bloody campaign in Northern It failed to muster enough – possibly worsened by Brexit – to the climate crisis. seach. infections, lockdown and eco- Ireland – confounded expecta- small leftwing parties and in- the putative coalition has tried to It will also need to steer new Members of all three parties nomic disruption. tions to win almost a quarter of dependents for a majority in the nail down agreement on ministe- he leaders of Fine Gael, laws, including for a €6.5bn must support the plan – a proc- Varadkar’s handling of the cri- fi rst-preference votes, more than 160-seat Dail Éireann, the Irish rial posts and policies on taxa- Fianna Fail and the Green (£5.8bn) coronavirus support ess that could take up to two sis has boosted his poll ratings. any other party. parliament’s lower chamber. tion, social welfare, pensions, Tparty have struck a deal to package, through a fragmented weeks – before the proposed alli- The centrist Fine Gael and Fi- It rode a wave of anger over Varadkar and Martin ruled out farming and the environment. form a coalition government in parliament. ance can replace Varadkar’s care- anna Fail have dominated Irish homelessness, soaring rents and entering government with Sinn The lengthy draft plan envis- Ireland four months after a gen- Leo Varadkar, the taoiseach taker administration. politics and alternated in power hospital waiting lists as well as Fein, citing ethical and policy ages a jobs stimulus package, eral election scrambled the po- and Fine Gael leader, Micheal Approval is not guaranteed. since their founders took oppo- disillusionment with the tradi- reasons. extra funding for public trans- litical landscape. Martin, the leader of Fianna Fail, If just over a third of Green site sides in the 1922-23 civil war. tional political duopoly. Some analysts say the result port and cycling infrastructure, The proposed coalition, which and Eamonn Ryan, leader of the party members say no, the deal The proposed coalition would Its leader, Mary Lou McDon- suits Sinn Fein: it can consolidate increasing carbon tax and speed- still needs to be ratifi ed by grass- Greens, signed off on the ve-fi will collapse and a fresh election also be only the second time the ald, declared a “revolution”. as the offi cial, mainstream op- ing up Ireland’s carbon emissions roots members, would bridge a year plan for government after may ensue. Greens have taken offi ce. However, parliamentary arith- position and avoid blame in the reduction to an average of 7% a century of rivalry between Fine weeks of marathon talks. Government formation talks The nationalist party – a pa- metic and political obstacles looming economic reckoning. year.

Johnson Crowds flock to stores eyes Brexit trade deal Labour pours by July scorn on AFP London

rime Minister Boris John- son said he believed stut- PM’s racism Ptering post-Brexit trade talks could conclude by as early as next month, after a meeting with EU chiefs that saw both sides commit to ramping up ne- gotiations. An upbeat Johnson emerged inquiry plan from an hour-long video confer- ence call with European Com- Guardian News and Media man said: “It will look at wider And then the Black Lives Matter mission president Ursula von der London inequalities, including issues protests can stop and we can get Leyen and other leaders to reveal faced by working-class white on with dealing with coronavi- he had told them to “put a tiger boys in schools, for example.” rus.” in the tank” and add “a bit of he shadow justice secre- Lammy, who led a 2017 re- Lammy said he was baffl ed oomph” to three months of talks. tary, David Lammy, has port on racial disparities in the by the reference to Churchill’s “I don’t think we are actu- Tcondemned Boris John- criminal justice system, com- statue, which was defaced by a ally that far apart,” he said. “The son’s plan for a government missioned by David Cameron, handful of Black Lives Matters faster we can do this, the better, commission to examine racial in- said the announcement left him protesters. “The Labour party and we see no reason why you equalities as “written on the back feeling “slightly weary”. isn’t talking about statues. The shouldn’t get that done in July...I of a fag packet” and intended as “Black people aren’t playing LibDems aren’t calling for Win- don’t want to see (the talks) go- a distraction from the govern- victim, as Boris indicates, they’re ston Churchill’s statue to be re- ing on until the autumn, winter.” ment’s lack of action over the is- protesting precisely because the moved, neither are the Greens. The two sides earlier said in a sue. time for review is over and the “The only person that wants joint statement that “new mo- Lammy accused the prime time for action is now,” Lammy to focus on Winston Churchill’s mentum” was required, after minister of primarily seeking a told BBC Radio 4’s Today pro- statue is the Conservative party, four rounds of negotiations and culture war by announcing the gramme. and frankly it’s bizarre. They little to show for it. plan in a comment piece for the “I don’t know why he’s an- want a culture war because they The leaders also agreed to Daily Telegraph, which was de- nounced a commission behind want to distract from the central pursue a possible “early under- voted mainly to reiterating his a paywall in the Telegraph, bur- issue.” standing” on the broad princi- opposition to removing statues ied in yet another article about The Equality and Human ples of the deal, in an acknowl- of historical fi gures. Churchill. If he was serious, why Rights Commission (EHRC) said edgement that negotiations Johnson said he was “extremely are there no details about how it it hoped the initiative would could run out of time. dubious about the growing cam- will be staff ed, its remit, its terms deliver change, but said it was It was Johnson’s fi rst personal paign to edit or Photoshop the of reference, its timetable? sceptical at the need for yet an- involvement in the talks, which entire cultural landscape”, writing “That’s the question. It’s be- other inquiry. began just weeks after Britain that he would “resist with every cause this was written on the David Isaac, the EHRC chair, left the European Union on Janu- breath in my body” any moves to back of a fag packet on Sunday, said: “We know the scale of the ary 31 after 47 years in the Euro- remove Churchill’s statue from to assuage the Black Lives Matter problems we face to tackle the en- pean project. Parliament Square, an idea that protests. trenched racial inequality in our He won election victory in De- has not been proposed. “Get on with the action. Leg- country. It is not new. There have cember last year on a promise to In separate comments to islate. Move. You’re in govern- been countless reports and the “get Brexit done” but is under broadcasters, Johnson said the ment – do something.” data exists exposing all the issues. pressure because of the econom- “cross-governmental commis- Lammy added: “I made 35 Now is the time for urgent action.” ic fall-out from the coronavirus sion” would look into discrimi- specifi c limit recommendations Johnson’s spokesman rejected outbreak. nation against black, Asian and in the Lammy review. Implement the charge that nothing had been Businesses are also demanding minority ethnic people in educa- them. There are 110 recommen- done about previous reports, more certainty about new cross- tion, health and the criminal jus- dations in the Angiolini review saying the ministry of justice Channel trading rules once Brit- tice system. into deaths into police custody. had recently released an update ain leaves the single market and No 10 said later that com- Implement them. There are 30 on the Lammy review, detailing stops adhering to Brussels’ rules mission members would be an- recommendations in the Home areas where its recommenda- on December 31. nounced “in due course”, as Offi ce review into the Windrush tions were being implemented, Both sides hoped the inter- would its remit. scandal. Implement them. There including a deferred prosecution vention of Johnson and von der Customers, some wearing face masks or coverings as a precautionary measure against Covid-19, The report and recommenda- are 26 in Baroness McGregor- system. Leyen could revive proceedings, queue to enter a Nike store in London yesterday as some non-essential retailers reopened from tions will be submitted to John- Smith’s review into workplace Johnson’s article for the Tel- which have mostly taken place their coronavirus shutdown. Various stores and outdoor attractions in England opened for the son by end of the year. discrimination. Implement egraph mentions the idea for the online because of the global pan- first time in nearly three months yesterday. Its scope will also cover issues them. commission only in passing, in demic. beyond race, Johnson’s spokes- “That’s what Boris has to do. two paragraphs. Charity drive Pilot’s body found Man sent to jail for after US jet crashes

Guardian News and Media which has been used by the US outraging public decency London air force since 1979. The coastguard said it had re- ceived reports of a plane going Guardian News and Media magistrate, Emma Arbuthnot, He pleaded guilty to outraging he pilot of the US air force down into the sea 74 nautical London said: “I accept that you are re- public decency by relieving him- F-15C fi ghter plane that miles off Flamborough Head on morseful. You have explained self next to the memorial to PC Tcrashed off the north-east the Yorkshire coast. you were so drunk you did not Keith Palmer. coast of England has been found A coastguard helicopter was 28-year-old man has been know where you were urinating. Michael Mallon, prosecuting, dead. sent along with Bridlington and sentenced to 14 days in You explained that you were with said Banks was not spotted by The aircraft, based in the UK, Scarborough RNLI lifeboats. Aprison for outraging pub- a group of football supporters police during the demonstration plunged into the North Sea off The 48th Fighter Wing, which lic decency after urinating beside who came up to Westminster to when he slipped through a bar- the Yorkshire coast while on a has operated from Lakenheath the memorial to a murdered po- protect monuments. rier and urinated on the perim- training mission at about 9.40am since 1960, has more than 4,500 lice offi cer outside parliament. “The irony is that rather than eter wall of parliament beside the yesterday. “active-duty military mem- Andrew Banks, of Stansted, protecting the monuments, you plaque at 10.59am on Saturday The pilot and plane were part bers”. Its mission statement is to Essex, was photographed on Sat- very nearly ended up urinating morning. of the 48th Fighter Wing sta- “provide worldwide responsive urday morning relieving himself on one. “Several rightwing and as- tioned at RAF Lakenheath in combat air power and support”. near a plaque erected in memory “The harm caused is the upset sociated groups were in Parlia- Suff olk, home to the largest US In October 2014, an F-15D fi ghter of PC Keith Palmer during dem- and shock felt by members of the ment Square that day,” Mallon air force base in England. jet based at Lakenheath crashed onstrations in Parliament Square public who saw the images that said.“Someone took a picture The name of the pilot would in fi elds near Spalding in Lin- by football supporters and right- generated a strong sense of re- and that picture circulated on not be released until his family colnshire. wing activists who claimed they vulsion.” social media. The MP Tobias Ell- had been informed, RAF Laken- The pilot ejected safely, suf- were defending statues from Black Arbuthnot said a community wood (who attempted to save PC heath said. fering only minor injuries, and Lives Matters demonstrators. sentence would not be commen- Palmer’s life in 2017 also tweeted “This is a tragic loss for the no one on the ground was hurt. He handed himself in to police surate with the harm caused. it) saying this was abhorrent.” 48th Fighter Wing community, A US air force investigation on Sunday and apologised for his She sentenced Banks to 14 days After returning home, Banks and our deepest condolences found that the crash was caused behaviour. in jail, of which he will serve half was confronted by his father. go out to the pilot’s family and by the “angle of attack” of the Westminster magistrates if he shows good behaviour. Banks admitted he was the the 493rd Fighter Squadron,” a aircraft and imperfections in court was told he was not aware She also fi ned him £128 and man in the picture and said that A family in a Volkswagen camper van watch the musical film spokesman said. the assembly of the jet’s nose of the memorial’s presence or its ordered him to pay £85 in costs. he did not know what the memo- Grease at a temporary drive in cinema situated by the iconic The cause of the accident is cap. signifi cance. Banks appeared behind the rial was for until his father ex- Harland and Wolff cranes at Belfast shipyard. The event was not yet known. In October 2015, the US pilot He said he had consumed too glass security dock in court plained it. organised to raise funds for coronavirus research at Queen’s The F-15C is a single-seater Maj Taj Sareen died when his much to drink. wearing a white T-shirt and grey The family then called the po- University Belfast. version of a long-established F/A-18 Hornet jet crashed on Sentencing him, the chief tracksuit bottoms. lice. Boeing twin-engine fi ghter, farmland near Lakenheath. Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, June 16, 2020 EUROPE

North Macedonia Racial data plan sparks to hold July election after virus controversy in France delay AFP son’s race, ethnicity, or political ist’,” the spokeswoman insisted. Paris or religious opinions for the na- Her proposal was shot down tional census or other surveys. by cabinet members, includ- This means there is no offi cial ing Finance Minister Bruno Le AFP s France reels from al- data on the racial make-up of Maire and Budget Minister Ger- Skopje legations of racism in the population of France, long a ald Darmanin. Athe ranks of its police, a country of immigration, includ- “I remain unfavourable to debate has resurfaced on lifting ing from its former colonies in ethnic statistics which do not orth Macedonia’s main a long-standing ban on racial North and West Africa. correspond with French univer- political parties agreed population data, which some say Race is a sensitive topic in salism,” Le Maire told francein- Nyesterday to reschedule could help paint a clearer picture France, a country deeply scarred fo, emphasising that a French coronavirus-delayed elections of inequality in the country. by the memory of the Vichy citizen was French irrespective for July 15 after weeks of wran- Government spokeswoman government under German oc- of origin or race. gling over the new date as the Sibeth Ndiaye raised the ire even cupation during World War II Darmanin told BFMTV that he country battles a second wave of of cabinet colleagues by propos- rounding up and deporting Jews Ndiaye: has complained of would rather support statistics infections. ing that including people’s race to Nazi concentration camps. casual racism in her adoptive based on where people live. The Balkan state has been in the national database could Ndiaye’s boss, French Presi- country. “When you come from a dis- weathering the pandemic in the allow policymakers to “measure dent Emmanuel Macron, said advantaged neighbourhood ... hands of a limited caretaker cab- and look at reality as it is”. yesterday that he did not wish Members of a family watch Macron during a televised address to chances in life. whatever the colour of your inet whose mandate was sup- Ndiaye, who is Senegalese- to revisit “at this time” an issue the nation on Sunday evening. The president promised an Ndiaye pressed on with her skin, it is more diffi cult to fi nd posed to expire in April when a born and has complained of that divides even the almost ex- ‘uncompromising’ fight against racism after recent demonstrations campaign yesterday, telling an internship than when you are snap poll was initially scheduled casual racism in her adoptive clusively white members of his against alleged prejudice in the police. broadcaster France Inter that ra- someone of a skin colour dif- to take place. country, argued in a letter in Le government. cial data could help fi ght “subtle ferent than whites, as they say Since that election was put Monde newspaper at the week- Macron “supports concrete on Sunday night, the president that are “abusive and discrimi- racism”. today, living in the seventh ar- on hold due to the pandemic, end that France should have an actions to fi ght discrimination promised an “uncompromising” natory” towards black and Arab And it could help “reconcile rondissement of Paris”, a rich the country’s major parties have honest look at the “representa- rather than a new debate on a fi ght against racism after recent males. two strands of our society that neighbourhood. been locked in a battle over how tivity of people of colour in the subject unlikely to yield rapid demonstrations against alleged Macron in his address ac- are forever at odds: those who France’s National Consulta- to proceed. public, political, economic and and visible results”, a presiden- prejudice in the police. knowledged France must ad- tell you: ‘the blacks and the Ar- tive Commission on Human The former ruling Social cultural life of our country”. tial adviser, who asked not to be On the same day, Human dress the fact that “the name, abs, people of colour have access Rights, a government body, says Democrats (SDSM) have been A 1978 French law prohibits named, told AFP. Rights Watch said France should the address, the colour of the to nothing’ and those who tell collecting race data risked “ster- demanding a new vote as soon as the collection of data on a per- In an address to the nation halt identity checks by the police skin” can aff ect a person’s you: ‘The problem does not ex- eotyping” people. possible while their right-wing rivals, VMRO-DPMNE, have been raising concerns about the Kyrgyz premier health situation. After reining in a small out- resigns amid break in late April, the country corruption probe Relief for Paris restaurants as lockdown ends is now facing a steeper surge of Covid-19 infections, logging Kyrgyzstan’s prime minister more than 4,000 cases and near- resigned yesterday after he By Joseph Schmid, AFP ant Axa, to pay some €70,000 ly 200 deaths among the popu- came under parliamentary Paris ($79,000) in compensation for lation of less than 2mn. fire during a probe targeting lost business. The Covid-19 respiratory dis- alleged corruption in the Didier Chenet, head of the ease is caused by the coronavi- communications sector. aris cafe and restaurant GNI association of independent rus. Last month Muhammedkalyi owners cheered yester- hotel and restaurant owners, “We will not be able to endure Abylgaziyev took a holiday from Pday as the government al- estimates that social distancing a bigger crisis than this with a work as investigators probed a lowed them to reopen their din- rules which saw restaurants re- caretaker government and with- suspect sale of national radio ing rooms after three months of move tables to ensure a distance out a parliament,” former prime frequencies involving a leading lost revenue during the corona- of 1m between diners, have cut minister and SDSM leader Zoran cable television company and a virus lockdown. capacity by half at least. Zaev said yesterday after agree- major telecoms company. The sooner-than-expected Unless the government lifts ing to the July 15 date proposed While stressing his innocence reopening for the Paris region the 1m rule, he said, “recovery by his rivals. and noting that he has not been was announced by President will be very slow, with econom- “I know that the citizens are questioned, Abylgaziyev said in Emmanuel Macron on Sun- ic conditions that are not viable fed up with the party games,” he a statement that he had decided day as news came of France’s for our businesses”, he said. added. to resign due to “uncertainty lowest daily coronavirus toll Foreign tourists, the key in- His opponent Hristijan (which) disturbs the full since March – nine deaths in 24 gredient for success at Paris Mickoski also confi rmed that functioning of the government”. hours. restaurants in particular, are VMRO-DPMNE would “par- Prior to his resignation, While restaurants across not expected to arrive in pre- ticipate in the elections” and lawmakers had raised suspicions most of France were allowed pandemic numbers anytime “defeat the source of the crises: over his involvement in the to open earlier this month, soon, even as the EU begins to Zoran Zaev and SDSM”. sale, even though he has not those in and around the capital, tentatively open up its internal The announcement was been named as a suspect by where circulation of the coro- borders. “warmly” welcomed by the Eu- investigators. navirus remained high, could The fi rst train from Paris to ropean Union, whose enlarge- Investigators arrested a former serve clients only on outdoor Germany since mid-March left ment commission Oliver Varhe- head of the government’s terraces until now. the Gare du Nord station early lyi hailed it an “important signal communications agency and “The question now is wheth- yesterday, heading for Dort- for the country, its people & its a director at a cable television er clients will come back,” Al- mund. #EU path”. company last month. bert Aidan, the manager at “We’re taking the children A reflection on a mirror shows customers having lunch at a restaurant in Paris yesterday. Zaev stepped down in January Despite lasting just over two L’Ami Georges, a few blocks to see their grandmother and to pave way for the early elec- years in his post, Abylgaziyev, from the Opera Garnier, told spend some holiday time to- gold. “One day maybe politi- world’s highest reported death keep their masks on until seat- tions after the European Union 52, is the longest-serving Kyrgyz AFP. “Most companies are still gether as a family. It feels good cians will understand that you tolls. ed, he said. initially failed to open the door premier in the decade since a having their employees work after so long!” said one passen- can’t just open a restaurant in Health Minister Olivier Ve- “We’ll have to try to alleviate for North Macedonia to start its popular uprising unseated the from home.” ger, Alexis. a day. They could have avoided ran proclaimed yesterday that the nervousness,” Fontaine told membership talks. authoritarian leader Kurmanbek Several nearby restaurants Not all borders are open, the abruptness.” “the bulk of the epidemic is be- AFP. That had been the key goal of Bakiyev in 2010. remained closed. though. Francisco Ferrandez of La hind us” but warned the virus And in Lyon in the east, the Zaev’s administration and the He was parachuted into the role Many shared Macron’s op- Hard-hit Spain, for example, Bocca in central Paris said he was “not completely defeated”. brasserie Georges – one of Eu- reason his government pushed having previously served as timism that France has marked will allow free travel with the started calling his employees This meant things will not be rope’s largest – welcomed some ahead with the politically-cost- incumbent president Sooronbay a “fi rst victory” against the rest of the EU only from June 21. after Macron’s address. returning quite to normal for a 50 clients yesterday for lunch ly move to add “North” to the Jeenbekov’s chief of staff . coronavirus thanks to strict Many Paris restaurants said “It’s like with the closure, while. with a reduced staff and only country’s name, a concession stay-at-home orders imposed they will need time to restock everything at the last minute. Alain Fontaine, owner of Le half its tables available. to end a long-running dispute in March. and get their employees back, When they announced the Mesturet, and his staff worked Awaiting her order after with neighbouring EU member Russian scientist “It’s going to be a party,” and some complained about closure, we had to throw away between spaced-out tables having her temperature taken Greece. Stephane Manigold, owner of the short notice that came fresh produce, and for the reo- amid arrows on the fl oor to and disinfecting her hands, Months later in March, the EU accused of spying four Paris restaurants, includ- from Macron only on Sunday pening they tell us from one day show clients where to walk 71-year-old Genevieve Beaujo- fi nally gave the green light for ing the two-starred Maison evening. to the next.” ahead of reopening his dining lin said she could not imagine North Macedonia to start its ac- Russian investigators have Rostang, told AFP. “At best we’ll open two res- The coronavirus epidemic room today. returning home to Italy “with- cession negotiations, a success charged a scientist specialising in Manigold has successfully taurants on Wednesday, and the has claimed more than 29,000 Clients will be asked to use out eating a sauerkraut at the Zaev’s party is hoping to ride to the Arctic region with treason, his sued his insurer, French gi- others next week,” said Mani- lives in France, one of the sanitising hand gel on entry and Brasserie George’s!” election victory. lawyer said yesterday, accusing him of handing state secrets to China. Valery Mitko, the 78-year-old president of the Saint Petersburg- Top Russia newspaper editors quit, denouncing censorship based Arctic Academy of Sciences, has been under house arrest since his indictment in February, his lawyer Ivan Pavlov AFP Criminal case opened against Kremlin critic Navalny for slander months and managed over that several Russian news outlets, said, although news of his Moscow period to repeatedly violate including Vedomosti, concluded detention only recently emerged. Russian authorities said yesterday that they had The reforms, among other things, would allow editorial norms and guidelines that Rosneft leveraged control Mitko is accused by the FSB opened a criminal investigation for suspected slander Vladimir Putin to run for another two terms in the adopted at Vedomosti,” they over the paper through debts security service of passing enior editors at Russia’s against Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny for comments he Kremlin and potentially serve until 2036 instead of said. “We have no other choice owed by Kudryavtsev to the oil classified information to Beijing leading business newspa- made on social media. stepping down in 2024. but to leave.” giant’s bank. during frequent trips to China Sper quit yesterday in pro- The Investigative Committee accused Navalny of slan- Critics say the reforms amount to a coup. The new owner has said he Kremlin critics praised Vedo- where he gives lectures, Pavlov test against what they say is cen- dering a Russian World War II veteran who featured in In a social media post on June 2, Navalny, 44, an is certain the newspaper would mosti staff yesterday for fi ghting said. sorship under new ownership, as a video clip with other prominent Russians to express outspoken opponent of Putin, described the people retain “high professional stand- for editorial independence until The lawyer said Mitko was a months-long dispute between support for constitutional reforms set to be put to a in the video backing the reforms as traitors with no ards”. the end. ordered to remain under house journalists and management national vote on July 1. conscience and corrupt lackeys. While the daily newspaper fo- “Vedomosti RIP,” Yulia arrest until October. came to a head. cuses on business and industry Galyamina, a local deputy in The scientist faces up to 20 years Vedomosti is one of the last news, its editorial section has Moscow, said on Twitter. in prison if he is found guilty. major independent newspapers tors who resigned, told AFP that ership of Russian media. Shmarov, saying that his ap- become a vital space for dissent- Anna Kachkaeva, a media He insists that he is innocent. in Russia, where journalists are he believed “the old Vedomosti In March, its reporters and pointment was political. ing voices and debate on politi- expert at the Higher School of A spokesperson for the increasingly squeezed by curbs will soon be no more”. editors were shaken by an an- They complain that they cal life in Russia. Economics, said that the depar- Dzerzhinsky court in Saint on press freedoms and pressure Launched in 1999, Vedomosti nouncement from then-owner have been barred from covering Its journalists repeatedly ture of the top editors marked Petersburg confirmed to AFP from the Kremlin. was co-founded and co-owned Demyan Kudryavtsev that he negative opinion polls of Presi- complained to owners about the end of the newspaper in its that Mitko was being held under Kremlin critics said that the by Dutch entrepreneur Derk planned to sell the newspaper. dent Vladimir Putin and that Shmarov and recently put for- current form. house arrest, but declined to give exodus of top editors likely Sauer’s Independent Media, the Shmarov, 65, was appointed Shmarov interfered in coverage ward an alternative candidate to “Vedomosti will be published, details of the case, saying it was sounded the death knell for London-based Financial Times acting editor-in-chief the same of oil giant Rosneft, which is run lead the paper. but it will be a diff erent newspa- classified. Vedomosti in its current incar- and US business daily, the Wall month, before the sale was fi - by Putin’s top ally Igor Sechin. Although nearly 70 staff per,” she told AFP. “I very much Investigators have not specified nation. Street Journal. nalised. In an open letter published by members backed a long-serving hope that such a team will have what information they believe “All fi ve deputy editors at Like the Financial Times, it is The newspaper was eventu- The Bell, an independent Rus- colleague to be editor-in-chief, the opportunity to pursue their Mitko passed to China, his lawyer Vedomosti are leaving the news- published on salmon-coloured ally sold to the head of a little- sian-language news site, all fi ve the owners went ahead with the own project.” said. paper in protest over the ap- paper. known regional news agency editors said they were leaving appointment of Shmarov. In May, 2019 the entire poli- Sources told Russian news pointment of Andrei Shmarov as The paper has changed hands called FederalPress, Ivan Yeryo- after Shmarov was confi rmed as The outgoing editors have tics desk of Russian business agencies Tass and Interfax that editor-in-chief,” the newspaper several times since its fi rst print min. editor-in-chief. worked at the newspaper for daily Kommersant, a Vedomosti the scientist passed information said. run, as lawmakers introduced Vedomosti journalists have “As acting chief editor, he ran around 15 years or more. rival, quit in protest over cen- on the detection of submarines. Boris Safronov, one of the edi- legislation limiting foreign own- denounced censorship under the newsroom for almost three An investigation in May by sorship. Gulf Times Tuesday, June 16, 2020 13 INDIA

Shah visits Delhi hospital as he takes charge of virus battle

IANS run facility - and reviewing the Shah’s instructions were minute taken strong note of media reports, tiative like the ones taken by the ings. First it was with Kejriwal, is run by the AAP, the municipal New Delhi situation and interacting with the and forward looking. lashing out at the Kejriwal govern- L-G and the union home minis- Baijal, and Health Minister Harsh corporations are governed by the medical staff is impossible to not He also asked the chief secretary ment. ter.” Vardhan. Sources say that the Bharatiya Janata Party. being compared with Chief Min- that back-ups for canteens should Just before that visit, Shah an- Coming out of the all party meeting was to identify what is the Shah’s twin meetings on Sunday rom holding meetings ister Arvind Kejriwal, who seems also be established so that if there nounced that coronavirus testing meeting, AAP MP Sanjay Singh current situation of the pandemic were a clear signal - get over with with Delhi mayors to for- to have willingly taken a backseat, is an infection in one canteen, pa- will be made available to all in Del- merely told reporters: “During in the national capital. politics, time to join hands. Fmulating strategy down to faced with the unprecedented sit- tients can continue to get food hi, after he met an all-party del- the all-party meeting, it has been He deputed six Indian Admin- Yesterday, that signal was ar- the municipal level to directing uation that the Supreme Court has without disruption. egation at his North Block offi ce. decided that the number of 1,900 istrative Service (IAS) offi cers to ticulated more comprehensively Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Dev described as “horrendous, hor- Shah’s choice to visit LNJP was This comes despite an all-party beds in state government hospi- the Delhi government to assist in when Shah tweeted: “The Modi to ensure installation of CCTV rifi c, pathetic.” also signifi cant. meeting that was convened by tals, 2,000 beds in central govern- Covid-19 management. government is determined to pre- cameras in all Covid-19 wards in However, installing CCTVs was The hospital recently invited Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, ment hospitals and 1,078 beds in Shah held another meeting on vent the coronavirus infection in hospitals in the national capital, not the only directive Shah gave to negative publicity after several technically the head of Delhi. private hospitals will be increased Sunday evening with all Delhi Delhi. To stop the spread of the federal Home Minister Amit Sha Delhi chief secretary who who re- videos shot in its premises pur- Already feeling the political for Covid-19 patients.” mayors to devise a strategy that virus, testing will be doubled in the has emerged as the boss of Del- ports to the Delhi government. portedly showed patients’ bodies heat, the Congress made it worse On Sunday also, it was not a goes down to the municipality next two days and after six days hi, someone who has taken the The home minister also said lying on the fl oor in wards. for Delhi’s ruling Aam Aadmi time of leisure for the man who level. the testing will be increased three- charge to salvage the situation doctors and nurses engaged in The videos also showed some Party when Delhi Congress chief is increasingly appearing to have All India Institute of Medical fold. Subsequently, after a few amid a rising pandemic tally. treatment of patients infected with elderly patients left unattended Anil Kumar asked: “The question taken Delhi’s charge in his hand. Sciences chief Dr Randeep Guleria days, every polling station in the The optics of Shah visiting LNJP the virus must be given psycho- even as they cried for help. that needs to be asked is why did Shah’s Sunday was action was also present at the meeting. containment zones will be covered Hospital - a Delhi government- social counselling. Even the Supreme Court has Arvind Kejriwal not take the ini- packed with back-to-back meet- While the Delhi government for testing.” Maharashtra reports a new high of 178 Covid deaths

IANS - continued to show improve- Mumbai ments with 25 new cases, taking the total to 2,068 and and the number of fatalities stable at 77. aharashtra recorded a Besides Mumbai’s 68 deaths, new high of 178 Cov- there were a stunning 46 fatali- Mid-19 deaths yesterday, ties in Thane (Thane, Mira-Bha- sending the state’s toll zooming yander, Kalyan-Dombivali, Navi past the 4,000 mark, while the Mumbai), 21 in Palghar, 14 in Pune, second-highest number of cured 13 in Dhule, eight in Raigad, three patients were discharged. in Jalgaon, two each in Solapur and The state also recorded 2,786 Jalna, and one in Ratnagiri. new patients, taking the total to The victims comprised 122 110,744, but a stupendous recov- men - the highest ever, and 56 ery rate of 50.61%. women, and 69% of them suf- A civil defence volunteer prepares a bed at a banquet hall temporarily converted into isolation ward for Covid-19 coronavirus patients in New Delhi yesterday. This means over half of the fered from other serious ailments patients who are infected are such as diabetes, hypertension, recovering fully and returning heart problems and asthma. home, an offi cial said. On the positive side, a total Yesterday’s death toll was 24 of 5,071 fully cured patients re- more that the previous high of turned home yesterday, taking 152 on June 11. the number of those discharged For most of June, the state has to 56,049. been recording three-digit highs This is the second time such -103 deaths on June 2, 122 on a huge number of patients have Chennai to reimpose June 3, 123 on June 4, 139 on June recovered and discharged after 5, 120 on June 6, 109 on June 8, 8,381 were sent home on May 29. 120 on June 9, 149 on June 10, 152 Meanwhile, Mumbai suburban on June 11, 127 on June 12, 113 on train services resumed limited June 13, and 120 on June 14. operations yesterday for govern- Yesterday’s fi gures work out ment staff engaged in essential to roughly one death every eight services. minutes, and a whopping 116 From today, the number of do- lockdown on June 19 new cases every hour. mestic fl ights at Mumbai Inter- With the latest fatalities, the national Airport will be doubled Agencies ment tweeted yesterday. the official toll of 435. should not lower their guard, around 10,000 new cases a day state death toll crossed the 4,000 from the existing 50 to 100. Chennai It will be in place until the end Meanwhile, an expert com- but continue to be cautious by recently. In major cities such as mark to touch 4,128 while the to- Marking a revolution of sorts, of June. mittee said the coronavirus in- following safety measures like New Delhi and Mumbai, reports tal number of patients stood at most schools “reopened” yester- The southern state has record- fection in the state is at its peak wearing masks and maintaining of patients struggling to fi nd hos- 110,744 - both the highest in the day with students donning their lockdown will be reim- ed just over 44,000 cases out of and will come down in the com- social distancing. pital beds have triggered specula- country. full uniforms to attend online posed on Friday on some a nationwide total of 332,424, ac- ing days. In other developments, the tion about fresh lockdowns being The Health Department said classes. A15mn people in Chennai cording to offi cial fi gures. The members of the commit- opposition Dravida Munnetra re-introduced there. 50,554 were active cases. Maharashtra is followed by and several neighbouring dis- A majority of the cases are in tee met Chief Minister K Palan- Kazhagam (DMK) threatened to In Delhi, mortuaries are over- Despite the gloomy data on the Tamil Nadu with 44,661 cases tricts in Tamil Nadu, state of- Chennai, according to media re- iswami to discuss the increas- go to court if the government did fl owing with bodies, and cem- perpetually growing number of and Delhi with 41,182. fi cials said, as coronavirus cases ports. ing coronavirus infection in the not focus on the issue of corona- etery and crematorium staff say Covid-19 deaths and cases, the States with more than 10,000 surge in the region. Only shops selling essential state. virus spread in the state. they cannot keep up with the state continues to record an im- cases include Gujarat (23,544 Home to 1.3bn people, India items and restaurants will be al- The committee was set up DMK president M K Stalin backlog of corpses. pressive recovery rate, which was cases and 1,477 deaths), Ut- has been gradually lifting a na- lowed to remain open from early by the state government a few also sought answers from Palan- Delhi Chief Minister Arvind 50.61% yesterday and a mortality tar Pradesh (13,615), Rajas- tionwide lockdown in a bid to get morning until 2 pm during the months back to advise it on the iswami for the rising cases in the Kejriwal, however, insisted yes- rate of 3.70%. than (12,694), Madhya Pradesh the economy back on track. lockdown. spread of the infection. state. terday there were no plans for a Of the latest fatalities, Mum- (10,802) and West Bengal But new infections have still The lockdown will be tight- Speaking to the reporters after India now has the world’s new lockdown. bai recorded 68 deaths - taking (11,087). been rising across the country - ened further on Sundays. meeting the chief minister, the fourth-highest number of in- The Supreme Court said last the city toll to 2,250 , while the In other developments, one particularly in Chennai. The state government also committee members also said fections after the United States, week that conditions in the na- number of Covid-19 positive pa- more Telangana legislator tested “Full Lockdown from 19th for ordered an audit of the number there are possibilities of the in- Brazil and Russia, according to a tional capital were “horrendous, tients went up by 1,067 cases to positive for Covid-19 yesterday, Chennai, Thiruvallur, Chengal- of coronavirus deaths after fection rate going up again after tally by Johns Hopkins Univer- horrifi c and pathetic”. touch 59,293. taking the number of aff ected pet & Kanchipuram districts,” media reports said at least 200 three months. sity. India’s economy has been bad- Dharavi - Asia’s biggest slum lawmakers in the state to three. the Tamil Nadu state govern- fatalities were not reflected in The experts said the public The nation has been reporting ly hit by the lockdown. Railways set to provide 250 Face masks acquire isolation coaches by today political hue in UP IANS national president Akhilesh Ya- IANS ty government’s requisition. While Uttar Pradesh had Lucknow dav and his wife Dimple have also New Delhi On Sunday, the railways de- asked for 240 coaches for 24 been reaching out to migrants,” cided to shift all fi ve pairs of train stations, Telangana had sought Gope said. services that started on June 1 60 for three places and Delhi 10 he coronavirus pandemic He emphasised that the idea he Indian Railways is all from Anand Vihar to the Old Del- coaches. has made it clear that of printing the SP symbol on the geared to provide 250 hi station to place isolation ward On May 7, the federal Health Telection campaigns in face masks was not driven by Tcoaches as Covid-19 care coaches. Ministry had said train coaches the coming months will have to politics. ward in Delhi by today evening. On the same day, the railways would be converted into corona- adapt to the changing circum- “We just wanted the people to Home Minister Amit Shah on also said it had deployed 204 such virus care centres and parked at stances. know that it is the SP which is Sunday announced 500 isolation coaches in four states. 215 stations. While the Bharatiya Janata providing them with necessary ward coaches for 8,000 Covid-19 According to Railway Ministry According to the Railway Min- Party has already started the safety equipment,” he said. patients in Delhi. offi cials, states like Uttar Pradesh, istry, these coaches can be used trend by holding virtual rallies, Gope said the ruling BJP had The railways, which suspended Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and in areas where the state govern- the Samajwadi Party (SP) in Ut- been blaming the opposition for passenger train services from Delhi had requisitioned these ments have exhausted the facili- tar Pradesh is distributing face not playing a constructive role in March 25 to combat the Covid-19 coaches two months after 5,231 ties and needs to augment capac- masks with its election symbol, the crisis. spread, has prepared 5,231 isola- non-air conditioned coaches ities for isolation of both suspect the bicycle, printed on them. “Now when they see people tion ward coaches equipped with were converted into Covid-19 and confi rmed Covid-19 cases. Former minister and general wearing our masks, they will all medical facilities for coronavi- care centres. Of these 215 stations, the rail- secretary of the Samajwadi Par- know how the SP has worked rus cases. While 70 such coaches have ways will provide healthcare fa- ty, Arvind Singh Gope, has dis- for the people without shout- “We have stationed 54 isolation been deployed in Uttar Pradesh cilities at 85 stations. tributed over 5,000 face masks ing about it from rooftops,” he ward coaches at Shakur Basti rail- - 10 each in Pandit Deen Dayal “At the other 130 stations, with the party’s symbol printed added. way station,” railways spokesman Upadhyay Junction, Varanasi, states could requisition Covid-19 on them in his constituency The Congress is also planning Deepak Kumar said. Bhadohi, Faizabad, Saharanpur, care coaches only if they are able Barabanki. to use the hand symbol on face Twenty isolation ward coaches Mirzapur and Jhansi, 60 coaches to provide staff and essential He said that in two months, la- masks. will be placed at stations decided have been deployed in Telangana medicines,” he said. khs of SP workers had fanned out A senior party leader said the by the Delhi government, he add- - 20 each in Secunderabad, Kach- The railways has kept 158 sta- in various districts of the state to initial consignment sent by Con- ed. guda and Adilabad. tions ready with watering and distribute food grains, masks and gress general secretary Priyanka The remaining 250 isolation Twenty coaches have been sta- charging facility, and 57 stations Workers sit on a platform next to parked passenger trains that will be sanitisers among migrants who Gandhi Vadra for distribution in ward coaches will be stationed tioned at Vijayawada in Andhra with watering facility for the equipped for the care of coronavirus disease patients in New Delhi returned from other states. Uttar Pradesh contained one lakh according to the Aam Aadmi Par- Pradesh. Covid-19 care centres. yesterday. “Not only SP workers, but our plain masks. Gulf Times 14 Tuesday, June 16, 2020 INDIA

HORROR INVESTIGATION DEMAND ARGUMENT DETONATION Man throws 2 children ED accuses firm of W Bengal BJP protests Landlord attacked over Two WWII mortar shells from 4th floor, 1 dies forging documents hike in school fees unpaid rent, fires in air disposed of in Manipur

A man allegedly threw two children from the The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed Hundreds of activists of the Bharatiya Janata Two men were arrested after an argument Two mortar shells of World War II period were fourth floor of a building in Kolkata, police a charge-sheet against Seabird International Party (BJP) unit of West Bengal, led by the party’s over unpaid rent turned nasty, during which disposed of through controlled detonation in said yesterday. One of the children died on Pvt Ltd and its two directors on the charge of Lok Sabha MP Locket Chatterjee, staged a sit-in the house owner fired in the air after a tenant Manipur’s Churachandpur district, police said the spot while the other is in hospital in a possession of counterfeit seals and stamps of demonstration against a hike in school fees in allegedly attacked him with a sharp weapon yesterday. Superintendent of Police Amrita Sinha serious condition. Police said Shiv Kumar the government of Punjab. The agency had many private English medium schools. The protest in Chikodi of Belagavi district, an off icial said said the shells were disposed of on Sunday at Gupta, 55, man, has been arrested. According seized movable and immovable properties took place outside Vikash Bhawan in Kolkata’s yesterday. “Shrimant Dixit had not paid rent to an isolated location. Villagers found one of the to local sources, Gupta reportedly had some belonging to the firm and its directors Pirtpal satellite township Salt Lake that houses the off ice his landlord for four months. On Sunday evening, 50mm shells while digging a grave and another dispute with the father of the two-year-old Singh and Gurinder Singh, worth Rs6.93 crore, of the West Bengal Education Department. Armed an argument ensued between the families of while cleaning a nearby riverbank around three child who died. They had an argument a on June 12, 2018. ED investigation revealed that with banners and placards, the BJP activists Dixit and his landlord Noor Mohamed Shah, 68, months ago. The villagers did not inform police few days ago over children playing in the the two had allegedly forged educational and demanded the withdrawal of school fees for the leading to a fight,” a police off icial said. Dixit or other authorities and instead kept the shells common space in the building. On Sunday, financial documents of diff erent visa aspirants last four months as all schools remained closed first hit Shah on his left hand, injuring him. An in a residential compound, the police off icer when Gupta saw the children playing in the to enhance their profiles and to meet the owing to the Covid-19 lockdown. They also enraged Shah then fired a round in the air with said. After a social activist tipped off police, common area once again, he flew into a rage required standard set by overseas institutions. submitted a memorandum to the state education his licensed gun. “The landlord needs dialysis. they brought a bomb disposal unit and seized and flung two of them away. The police said “These documents were then submitted to minister on the matter. “We want the state He was recently discharged from hospital. After the shells. WWII-period explosives and other Gupta would be interrogated in front of a diff erent foreign embassies for securing visas government to deal with the issue with a humane the fight, his blood pressure shot up and was war material have been found in Manipur and psychiatrist. for students,” the ED said. face. People are in dire crisis,” the BJP MP said. readmitted in a hospital,” said the off icial. Nagaland in the past many years.

Karnataka CM lays foundation Bollywood for airport at Shivamogga star’s death

IANS Shivamogga, Karnataka

he much-awaited project work of the Shivamogga sparks mental Tgreenfi eld airport in the picturesque Malnad region of Karnataka started yesterday, with state Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa laying its founda- tion digitally from Bengaluru, an offi cial said. health debate “As the chief minister could not come here due to extended Agencies to be questioned, sources said. gether. And most importantly, lockdown, he laid the foundation Mumbai “As we are all deeply pained there is hope.” stone for the airport project at and shocked, so is Mahesh Shetty. Sharma, the actress wife of na- Sogane, 10km from Shivamogga He has lost a brother, a very dear tional cricket team captain Virat city, digitally from Bengaluru,” ollywood stars joined fam- friend and is still coming to terms Kohli, also tweeted condolences. district Public Works Depart- ily members for the funeral with the shock and reality and is She too had previously opened ment chief engineer Santosh Byesterday of actor Sushant completely heartbroken. We, his up about struggling with anxiety. Kumar told IANS. Singh Rajput, whose death aged team, request the media and all of “Sushant, you were too young Shivamogga, about 300km 34 has sent shock waves through you, on his behalf, to please give and brilliant to have gone so northwest of Bengaluru, is the the Indian fi lm industry and re- him some privacy and let him soon. I’m so sad and upset home district of Yediyurappa, kindled a national debate about grieve for his loss,” Shetty’s team knowing that we lived in an en- and his son B Y Raghavendr, a mental health. said in a social media post. vironment that could not help third-time Lok Sabha member. Rajput was found dead on As part of the probe, separate you through any troubles you “The state Department of In- Sunday in his apartment in Ban- teams from the Bandra police may have had.” frastructure and Public Works dra, Mumbai with police saying station, the crime branch and While mental health issues is executing the project at an he took his own life. the forensic department visited are estimated to aff ect 150mn upfront cost of Rs221 crore in A star of hits on the big and Rajput’s apartment. Indians, less than a fi fth – 30mn 668 acres of land, some of which small screen, Rajput died just Earlier in the morning, Ra- – are seeking care of one form was acquired by the government days after the shock death of his jput’s family arrived from Patna, or another, experts said, adding from farmers at market price,” former manager, Disha Salian. visited his home and later suicide is the leading cause of Kumar said. Those attending the funeral claimed his body. death for Indians in the 15 to 39 The ambitious project is ex- included Shraddha Kapoor, The young actor’s death has age group. pected to be completed in 18 who starred with Rajput in his sparked emotional discussion Born in Bihar, Rajput quit en- months. last movie release, Chhichhore, on social media about men- gineering studies to pursue a ca- “We hope to launch fl ight op- which dealt with societal pres- tal health, with stars including reer in acting and dance. erations from the airport from sure and mental health. Deepika Padukone and Anushka He got his big break in 2013 2021-end or early 2022. Initially, Others, including actress Kriti Sharma posting messages about with Kai Po Che, a fi lm about turbo-prop ATR-72 aircraft will Sanon and producer Ekta Kapoor, the importance of seeking help. cricket, love, and politics that operate for regional connectivity joined Rajput’s family in heavy Padukone, who has previously won acclaim at the Berlin fi lm with feeder service,” Kumar said. monsoon rain to pay their last re- shared her struggle with depres- festival. The airport runway will be ex- spects as his body was cremated. sion, tweeted with the hashtag He was lauded for his por- tended to 2.1km from 1.2km for Owing to social distancing #YouAreNotAlone. trayal of cricket hero Mahendra enabling full-fl edged operations regulations amid the ongoing “As a person who has had lived Singh Dhoni in the 2016 hit M S and landing of passenger and Covid-19 pandemic, police al- experience with mental illness, I Dhoni: The Untold Story. cargo jets. lowed only 20 people to gather cannot stress enough about the He had spoken about the The Malnad region is well con- near the pyre. importance of reaching out,” emotional rollercoaster he expe- nected with rail and road network For the same reason, all those tweeted Padukone. rienced while fi lming the movie, across the southern state. who attended the funeral arrived “Talk. Communicate. Ex- which also showed the heart- “State-run and low-cost car- wearing masks. press. Seek help. Remember, you break suff ered by the ex-skipper riers can operate feeder services Police yesterday launched an are not alone. We are in this to- when his former girlfriend died. under the Udan regional con- investigation into the actor’s nectivity scheme between Shiv- death. Sushant’s brother-in-law suspects foul play amogga and Bengaluru, Mysuru, The autopsy report was re- Mangaluru, Belagavi, Kalaburagi ceived yesterday. Actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s Sources said Singh left for and Bidar across the state,” Ku- “The postmortem report has brother-in-law O P Singh Mumbai immediately after mar added. cited asphyxia as the cause of yesterday said he suspected he came to know about As Malnad region is a hot death,” Deputy Commissioner of foul play in his death. Singh, Rajput’s death. Expressing tourist spot and pilgrim destina- Police Abhishek Trimukhe said, who is the Additional Director condolences, Haryana Chief tion, air connectivity will boost as police have tentatively ruled General of Police and posted Minister Manohar Lal Khattar tourism and pilgrimage. out a foul play. as Special Officer in the said the actor death was an People from other states can The police have also ques- Haryana chief minister’s “irreparable loss” not only to also fl y into the region from the tioned Rajput’s friends Rhea office, has demanded a the film industry but also for nearest airport in the state or Mumbai police forensic team arrives for investigations at the residence of Bollywood actor Sushant Chakravarty and Mahesh Shetty, thorough investigation. the entire society. neighbouring states. Singh Rajput after he took his own life, yesterday. and some more people are likely

Congress threat Highway security to sue MP minister

Extreme weather events on The Congress has hit back at Madhya Pradesh Agriculture Minister Kamal Patel who the rise in India: govt report has accused former chief minister Kamal Nath of using derogatory words against IANS Centre for Climate Change Re- by approximately 4.7 degrees and Scheduled Caste people in New Delhi search, under the ministry’s In- 5.5 degrees, respectively. Chhindwara. The party has dian Institute of Tropical Mete- Alarmingly, sea surface tem- said Patel should stop lying or orology, Pune, the report further perature of the tropical Indian else the Congress will lodge a verage temperatures in stated that there is compelling Ocean has also risen by 1 degree complaint against him in the India experienced a rise of scientifi c evidence that human on average during 1951-2015. appropriate forum. Narendra A0.7 degree Celsius, along activities have infl uenced these “The frequency of very severe Saluja, media co-ordinator with a decline in rainfall, sig- changes in regional climate. cyclonic storms during the post- of the Congress, said that nifi cant increase in frequency of India’s average temperature monsoon season has increased Patel should first correct his very severe cyclonic storms and has risen by around 0.7 degrees signifi cantly (+1 event per dec- information and should also droughts in over a decade due Celsius during 1901-2018, it said. ade) during the last two decades listen to the May 27 video of to human activities, the central It states that the average tem- (2000-2018),” it added. Kamal Nath carefully. “The government said yesterday. perature over India is projected This came in the backdrop of BJP is without any issue and The observations were made to rise by 4.4 degrees Celsius, cyclones Amphan and Nisarga so it should stop misleading in a report issued by the Ministry while the intensity of heat waves which made landfalls on May the people on false issues,” of Earth Sciences on the impact is likely to increase by three-four 20 and June 3 and killed several Saluja said. He also said a of climate change. times by the end of the century. people, fl attened villages, and case was registered against It will be published by Health In the 30-year period between destroyed farms. the minister’s son for abusing Minister Harsh Vardhan on June 1986 and 2015, temperatures of the “This is the fi rst-ever cli- Dalit youth. He said that a 19. warmest day and the coldest night mate change assessment report phone recording of the alleged “Since the middle of the 20th of the year have risen by about 0.63 for India. This report will be incident is with the Congress. century, India witnessed rise in degrees and 0.4 degrees. very useful for policy makers, On Sunday, Patel wrote to temperatures, decrease in mon- According to the report, by the researchers, social scientists, the Madhya Pradesh director soon, and increase in intensity of end of the century, the tempera- economists, and students,” said An army convoy moves along Srinagar-Leh national highway, at Gagangeer, in east general of police, alleging that severe cyclones,” the report said. tures of the warmest day and the M Rajeevan, secretary in the Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, yesterday. Kamal Nath has insulted the Prepared by researchers of the coldest night are projected to rise Ministry of Earth Sciences. Scheduled Caste community. Gulf Times Tuesday, June 16, 2020 15 LATIN AMERICA

Mexico’s oil hedge to be pricier, but govt ‘likely to go ahead’

Reuters It has been a pillar of the budg- ance policy is expected to deliver a available to fi nance the hedge are of the country’s exports in 2021; more secretive about its strat- tapped to execute the hedge last New York/Mexico City et for more than two decades $6bn payout this year — its largest dwindling. buying cheaper options; or using egy so other traders cannot easily year, sources familiar with the for Mexico, which pumps about ever. Despite the bumper hedge pay- a less costly strategy. profi t from speculating on its gi- deal said. 1.7mn barrels per day of crude. Bankers and offi cials on both out, lower revenues have forced Negotiations with banks on the ant options purchases with bets Investors and credit rating exico will have to pay The policy ensures Mexico can sides of the secretive deal expect Mexico’s government to plug the hedge have yet to start, ministry that can in turn make the hedge agencies consider the hedge a more for less coverage sell oil at a predetermined price, a smaller hedge this year since gap by spending more of the sta- and Wall Street sources said. more expensive. measure of fi scal prudence that Munder its giant oil rev- guaranteeing a portion of rev- market volatility and lower crude bilisation fund that also pays for The hedge is designed to pro- Finance Minister Arturo Her- off sets oil market volatility. enue insurance policy for 2021, enues crucial for the state budget prices have sharply hiked the cost the hedge. tect about one-fi fth of Mexico’s rera is a strong proponent of the Scrapping it might prompt but will likely go ahead anyway to — no matter what happens in the of options Mexico typically uses “There are lots of challenges, budget revenues, current and hedge and likely to keep it, said some bond investors to demand avoid further damaging its fi nan- global oil market. to hedge oil sales. and everything points to it being former Mexican fi nance and en- several Mexican sources familiar higher yields. cial standing with international Many countries dependent on Those oil derivatives for 2021 more diffi cult,” said a Mexican ergy ministry offi cials said. with his thinking. If Mexico’s borrowing costs investors, sources said. oil revenues face massive budget are 40% more expensive than source who worked on last year’s The fi nance ministry, energy JPMorgan Chase & Co, Citi- rise, it could also mean even high- The fi nance ministry’s billion- shortfalls due to collapsing prices normal, several market sources hedge. Finance ministry sources ministry and the president’s offi ce group, Goldman Sachs Group er fi nancing costs for ailing state dollar oil hedge is the world’s and demand during the coronavi- said. said internal discussions centre did not reply to requests for com- Inc, BNP Paribas SA and Shell are oil company Petroleos Mexicanos, largest. rus pandemic, yet Mexico’s insur- At the same time, resources on either hedging a smaller part ment. The government has grown among those the fi nance ministry already a junk-rated company. Brazil’s Brazilians protest treasury Brazilian state secretary to resign awards contract

Reuters Rio de Janeiro to fi rm on slave razilian Treasury Secretary Mansueto Almeida con- Bfi rmed in an interview with fi nancial blog Brazil Journal that he plans to resign from the gov- ernment in July or August. labour ‘dirty list’ Almeida said he expected Pres- ident Jair Bolsonaro’s adminis- Thomson Reuters Foundation when hiring,” said labour inspec- Data obtained via Brazil’s Ac- tration to keep supporting the Rio de Janeiro tor Liane Durao. cess of Information Law also re- same fi scal policy, with the gov- “This is...encouraging (slave la- vealed that about 130 companies ernment aiming to reduce defi - bour),” added Durao, one of the in- including Soebe had used court cits after the Covid-19 pandemic Brazilian construction spectors who found Soebe’s work- injunctions since 2004 to either subsides. company won a govern- ers going without pay and living in halt their inclusion on the dirty Expense have risen to deal with Ament contract despite be- substandard conditions with no list pending an appeal or have their the coronavirus crisis. ing blacklisted on the country’s beds or running water. name removed. Earlier, Reuters, citing a gov- slave labour “dirty list”, the Thom- Emae, the state-owned fi rm Businesses found by the gov- ernment source, reported Alme- son Reuters Foundation revealed, that manages hydroelectric plants ernment to have used slave labour ida was expected to resign soon. fuelling calls for laws to ensure and dams, said it would start re- are placed on the list for two years, Almeida, who has served a businesses could not bypass the quiring potential subcontractors after which time they are removed year-and-a-half in Bolsonaro’s register. to show they were not blacklisted if no further cases of modern slav- administration, had initially been Considered one of Brazil’s most before bidding for contracts. ery are discovered. expected to stay in the govern- powerful anti-slavery tools, the Yet it said Soebe’s bid was not il- Many fi rms that have taken out ment for six months, the source dirty list features about 180 com- legal, and a spokeswoman for Sao injunctions in recent years said said. panies that were found by labour Paulo said the fi rm was still con- they did so because they had not “I’m tired and soon there will inspectors to have engaged in slave tracted by the state. been able to challenge the initial be new discussions of fi scal ad- labour. Soebe, which won the R$13mn decision, and were concerned justment after the Covid pan- Blacklisted businesses can- ($2.4mn) bid in partnership with about the fi nancial fallout of be- demic,” Almeida told the blog, not receive state loans and have another company to clean up the ing added to the list without due adding it was ideal that a new restrictions placed on their sales, Pinheiros river, denied using slave process. Treasury secretary be involved in while the list — established in labour and said the rescued work- Some said the working condi- those talks. 2004 — is also used by private ers had been employed by one of tions did not amount to slavery; Brazil has the world’s second- banks to gauge credit risk and by its subcontractors. others that they should not have largest death toll from the coro- international buyers concerned “The inclusion of Soebe...was been held responsible as labour- navirus, at 43,332, behind only about their supply chains. unfair, mistaken and the constitu- ers were not directly hired by them the US. Yet an analysis based on ex- tional guarantees of due legal and but by subcontractors. clusively obtained records found contradictory process were not In Brazil, slavery is defi ned as Emae, a company owned by Sao observed,” the company said in e- forced labour — but this also cov- Mexico extradites Paulo state, awarded a contract to mailed comments. ers debt bondage, degrading work drug dealer to US Soebe Construcao e Pavimentacao The fi rm was removed from conditions, long hours that pose a in July 2019, about nine months the list in February when it won a health risk, and work that violates Mexico has extradited an after the fi rm was added to the list court injunction overturning its human dignity. alleged senior aide to Mexican for enslaving 10 workers. inclusion by labour inspectors. While there is no suggestion of drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” While it is not illegal for state It could be re-added to the reg- wrongdoing regarding the use of Guzman to the US, local governments to hire blacklisted ister if it loses an upcoming court injunctions, prosecutors and judg- media reported. The off ice fi rms, labour inspectors and pros- appeal against the inspectors’ es said the practice weakens the of Mexico’s attorney general ecutors said it was another ex- fi ndings of slave labour. list as some fi rms avoid exposure (FGR) said it extradited a ample of the list’s limitations and “It is no use for us to do all this over slave labour fi ndings. Mexican man, named only need for states to pass laws to make work and see an injunction go and Brazil’s top anti-slavery pros- as Felipe “C,” to the US upon the register more than a “transpar- remove it,” said labour inspector ecutor, Lys Sobral Cardoso, said request by the Northern ency tool”. Durao. “The work almost loses its judges were often “very quick” to District of Illinois. The FGR said “State governments must put meaning.” grant such injunctions. the man would be prosecuted into law that fi rms on (the dirty Last year, 1,054 workers in Brazil “We are surprised by the na- for his probable responsibility list) cannot be hired,” said Brazil’s were found in slavery-like condi- ture of some decisions,” she said. in crimes of criminal top anti-slavery prosecutor, Lys tions, down from 2,775 in 2012, “Of those that I followed, I did not association and against health, Sobral Cardoso. government data found. agree with any.” adding that the Mexican man The ministry of economy, Since 1995 about 54,000 have Of the 130-odd fi rms granted is likely responsible for import which publishes the list, declined been uncovered by labour inspec- injunctions, at least 23 were later activities of illicit substances to respond to questions from the tors. The 2018 Global Slavery In- found by the courts to have not into the US within a criminal Thomson Reuters Foundation. dex estimated that 369,000 peo- used slave labour — overturning group. People demonstrate against Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and racism, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. “(The government is) saying ple were living in slavery among the initial fi ndings of labour in- that it will not look at the dirty list Brazil’s population of 205mn. spectors.

Chile adds ‘probable’ virus Brazilian care home deaths to offi cial toll Chile’s new health minister controversy over Chile’s off icial announced that the country’s coronavirus death toll. off icial death toll will include The government has said off ers ‘hugging curtain’ suspected cases, which could publicly that the crisis has double the current figure. claimed more than 3,000 lives Enrique Paris also said that since the first case emerged in AFP long, emotional hug with his sis- For visitors, the feeling of be- quarantine measures in the Chile on March 3. Sao Paulo ter, Luiza Yassuko, who is 76, at a ing able to take a loved one in Santiago metropolitan region However, a report published retirement home in the affl uent their arms is deeply moving, would be extended “at least Saturday by an investigative Morumbi neighbourhood. especially as the pandemic con- through June” after Chile journalism organisation called retirement home in Bra- “Because of the pandemic, I tinues to rule out normal human recorded nearly 7,000 new CIPER revealed that Chile had zil has come up with a wasn’t able to visit her, especially contact. cases in the last 24 hours. informed the World Health Acreative solution to al- because at my age I’m also part of “It’s good for them, but for The Chilean government will Organisation (WHO) that the low friends and families to en- a high-risk group,” Nagata said. us too; it’s been a while since add “the probable deaths” death toll was actually more joy personal contact with ageing “It’s an excellent system — it’s we could hug anyone,” said from the coronavirus to the than 5,000. residents particularly vulnerable great to be able to take her in my Murilo Meira, 51, during a visit epidemiological report that is Sunday’s off icial report added to the coronavirus: a “hugging arms,” said Nagata, a retired civil to 90-year-old Nair da Costa published twice a week, Paris, a 6,938 new infections and 222 curtain.” servant. Marques, who needed a nurse’s paediatrician and toxicologist, deaths, bringing the total to The large plastic curtain, in- “There were 12 of us brothers help to stand for the much- told a press conference. 174,293 infected and 3,323 stalled in a retirement home in and sisters, and she was practi- awaited hug. Later, in an interview with the dead. the city of Sao Paulo, allows resi- cally a mother to me,” he went Sao Paulo state is Brazil’s rich- newspaper La Tercera, Paris Infections have risen steadily dents on one side and visitors on on.”She didn’t get married so she est and most populous state, said that “in June comes the in Chile even though it began the other to engage in the sort of could take care of us.” with 46mn inhabitants, but it is worst, I think. Or very bad.” taking emergency measures comforting hugs that Covid-19 Nurses carefully disinfect the also the hardest-hit by the coro- “The first two weeks of July, I in February — including has made impossible for months. plastic curtain after each use. navirus. think we’re going to keep the widespread testing and the The curtain has pockets “When we saw that this pan- There have been 172,875 con- numbers up,” he said. “I think closure of borders and schools through which resident and visi- demic was going to last a long fi rmed cases of Covid-19 and that only in August, will we see — making it one of the first tor can insert their arms, and time, we had to find a safe way 10,581 deaths, according to the the eff orts of the quarantine Latin American countries to they are outfi tted with shoulder- to let families see the residents latest offi cial tally. rewarded, if people comply do so. length black gloves for added and let the ageing residents Brazil has registered the sec- with them.” The capital Santiago and its protection. know that their loved ones are ond-largest number of coro- Bolivian President Jeanine Anez attends a blood donation drive Paris took off ice on Saturday 7mn people were placed under “It really feels good; I missed thinking of them,” said Mairo navirus deaths in the world, at at the presidential palace in La Paz amid the Covid-19 pandemic. after his predecessor Jaime lockdown more than a month her so much!” 68-year-old Sil- Martins, an physical therapist 42,720, and of people infected Anez exhorted the population to donate blood, especially those Manalich resigned amid ago. vio Nagata said after enjoying a at the facility. (850,514), after the US. who have recovered from Covid-19. Gulf Times 16 Tuesday, June 16, 2020 PAKISTAN

PIA to operate 10,557 breaches of virus special fl ights to health rules in 24 hours Kyrgyzstan „ Government following Covid-19 policy based on ground Zafar Mirza, the special adviser Minister for Information and facilities to almost three times Rashid said that despite the Internews realities, says information minister to the prime minister on health, Broadcasting Shibli Faraz has the capacity. government’s instructions, peo- Rawalpindi „ Smart lockdown necessary for running wheel of national has emphasised that the “smart meanwhile stated that the gov- Faraz said that these include ple are not following SOPs. economy, says health minister lockdown” is necessary for run- ernment is following a clear increasing the number of venti- She advised people to strictly „ Punjab to impose complete lockdown in some Lahore areas ning the wheel of national econ- Covid-19 policy based on ground lators from 2,800 to 4,800, with follow the guidelines as de- he Pakistan International omy. realities. an additional 1,400 in the pipe- scribed by the government. Airlines (PIA) will operate Internews while two sectors of Islamabad Speaking to a private TV chan- Talking to a private news chan- line, enhancing the number of Rashid announced that the Ttwo special fl ights tomor- Islamabad was locked down, aff ecting some nel, he said that the govern- nel, he said that the National beds to 800 in the national capi- government has devised a special row (June 17) to bring back Pa- 50,000 people, amid more than ment disagrees with the WHO Command and Operation Centre tal alone, with thousands in Khy- and diff erent strategy in those kistanis stranded in Kyrgyzstan 1,200 other lockdowns in diff er- proposal of imposing 15 days of (NCOC) is taking decisions on ber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, areas of Lahore where more coro- because of the restrictions due uring the last 24 hours, ent parts of the country. lockdown, followed by 15 days of the basis of daily analysis of the besides provision of oxygenated navirus cases are reported. to the coronavirus pandemic. 10,557 violations of health To ensure the implementation gradual easing of the coronavirus situation. beds. Pharmacies and shops sell- PIA spokesman Abdullah Ha- Dguidelines and instruc- of the health guidelines/instruc- restrictions. About the government’s prep- Meanwhile, Punjab Health ing edible items will be allowed feez said that fl ight operations tions were observed across Pa- tions and preventative measures, The adviser said that the gov- aration for the expected peak Minister Yasmin Rashid has said to stay open for business in the between Kyrgyzstan and Paki- kistan. including the wearing of face ernment is providing all health of coronavirus infections next that that coronavirus-aff ected sealed areas. stan had been suspended for the A total of 1,252 markets/shops, masks in public as per World facilities and equipment, as well month, Faraz said that while no areas in Lahore will be sealed off The Punjab health minister past fi ve years, but the national 12 factories, and 1,148 transport Health Organisation (WHO) as enhancing the capacity of hos- health infrastructure in the world for two weeks. said that up to 50% of corona- fl ag carrier would operate two operators were cautioned/fi ned/ guidelines, special teams are pitals. would be able to fully handle She revealed that those areas virus infections could have been special relief fl ights – PK-9251 sensitised/sealed. working throughout the country Mirza urged the public to fol- such a big crisis, the government to be sealed from today are Shad- prevented simply by wearing and PK-9252 – on the directive Following a track, trace, and to ensure that the standard oper- low the SOPs issued by the gov- would try its best. bagh, Allama Iqbal Town, Muz- masks. of Prime Minister Imran Khan to quarantine (TTQ) strategy, a ating procedures (SOPs) are be- ernment to curb the spread of the The minister said that despite ang, Harbanspura, Wallad City, Rashid stressed that the whole bring back Pakistanis stranded lockdown was imposed on Muz- ing implemented. coronavirus, which causes the meagre fi nancial resources, the Cantt, Shahdhara, and Nishter world has been badly aff ected by in Bishkek, the capital of Kyr- aff arabad, a city of some 200,000, De facto health minister Dr Covid-19 respiratory disease. government has enhanced health Town. the pandemic. gyzstan. National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser has discussed with Hands-on the ministers concerned on the repatriation of Pakistanis stranded in Kuwait due to the Training course for pandemic. The speaker took up the mat- ter with Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Interior Minister Brigadier (retired) Ejaz private hospital staff Shah and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Internews paramedics and nurses would CHEF International is usually Development Syed Zulfi Bukhari Peshawar be trained in the observance of involved in the prevention and on starting special fl ight opera- coronavirus-related SOPs in fi ve control of eye blindness across tions to and from Kuwait. designated districts: Mardan, Pakistan and abroad. The coronavirus pandemic he Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Buner, Charsadda, Dera Ismail It will now support the HCC has left a signifi cant number of (KP) Healthcare Commis- Khan, and Lower Kurram. to strengthen the capacity of the Pakistanis stranded in Kuwait, Tsion is launching a training Ali said that they held detailed private sector to stem tide of the who intend to return and are programme to ensure adherence discussion with both the organi- infection. constantly asking for a regular to social distancing, infection sations and separate agreements Ali said that other organisa- operation of special fl ights to control measures, the wearing would be signed with them early tions have expressed willingness and from Kuwait. face masks, and regular hand next week. to work with the HCC and be- Qaiser informed the cabinet sanitising among healthcare pro- He said that CHEF Interna- gin projects in other districts to members that there are many viders in the private sector. tional would provide full support strengthen measures against the Pakistanis in Kuwait who wanted “The initiative, the fi rst of its in terms of training, advocacy coronavirus in the private sector. to return to the country. kind in the country, is meant to campaign, SOPs and education “In our country, 75% of pa- He said that in the absence of educate healthcare providers in of the private healthcare provid- tients visit private health facili- regional passport offi ces in their private health facilities to ob- ers to combat the current coro- ties for investigation and treat- zones, they had to travel far to serve standard operating pro- navirus pandemic 19 in three ment, and these facilities could renew their travel documents. cedures (SOPs) during the pan- districts – Mardan, Buner and become potential source of the The speaker took up the mat- demic and safeguard the people Charsadda – whereas PHA KP spread of the coronavirus if we ter of regional passport offi ces and themselves from Covid-19 would train health professionals don’t train people about pre- Sindh Governor Imran Ismail speaks with a resident as he delivers protective face masks at a stall along with Interior Minister Shah for infection,” said Dr Maqsood in Mardan, Dera Ismail Khan, and ventative steps,” he said. a road in Karachi. expanding the network of re- Ali, chief executive offi cer of KP Lower Kurram districts. Ali said that the HCC devel- gional passport offi ces so that Healthcare Commission (HCC). Ali said that those are the fi rst oped the concept that was ap- the grievances of the expatri- The Covid-19 respiratory dis- such partnerships by the HCC proved by Health Secretary Syed regulate both public and private He said that healthcare pro- ics would act as master trainers ates could be appropriately ad- ease is caused by the coronavirus. to train more than 1,000 private Imtiaz Hussain. sectors and enable patients to viders working in intensive care in their respective areas. dressed. The project will be started health staff ers and update their “It will be extended to the get quality diagnostic as well as units and high-dependency units “The World Health Organisa- Likewise, the matter of special next week in collaboration with capacity on safety measures whole province as many national treatment services. have adopted precautionary tion will also support the HCC fl ights to and from Kuwait was the Comprehensive Health and while providing treatment to the and international organisations “The government wants the measures, but those deployed in to put in place infection control taken up with the ministries of Education Forum (CHEF) Inter- patients. want to join our eff orts,” he add- HCC to focus on enhancing the OPDs (outpatient departments) measures, as more than 1,000 aviation and overseas Pakistanis national and the Public Health He said that both the organi- ed. capacity of the private sector to and others areas like laboratories of our staff ers have contracted and human resource develop- Association (PHA) Khyber Pa- sations would also enhance the Ali said that research and de- respond to challenges posed by are not following precautions to a Covid-19 despite having had ment so that the smooth repa- khtunkhwa. capacity of HCC staff at the pro- velopment are fundamental the rapid spread of Covid-19,” he desired level. PPEs (personal protection equip- triation of the expatriates could Under the project, doctors, vincial and district level. components of the strategy to said. Ali said that the trained med- ment),” he said. be ensured.

Bureaucracy blamed for petrol shortage Hands-off Legendary fighter pilot group captain Oil companies and refineries have blamed the bureaucracy for the Saiful Azam passes away at 80 current petrol shortage in Pakistan, saying that indecision regarding the import of the product and enhancing local petrol production, led to the Legendary fighter pilot Saiful Azam, who was awarded Sitara-e- current situation. Jura’at for his heroics in the 1965 war against India, has died in the The Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC) said that a “disinformation Bangladesh capital Dhaka, according to off icials and media reports. campaign and maligning of refineries and oil marketing companies The 80-year-old retired group captain died at his residence, local (OMCs)” are matters of serious concern. newspaper Jugantor said. “It is regretful that a lot of misinformation and blame game directed He had been suff ering from various old-age complications for a towards the Downstream Petroleum Sector has been observed, long time. particularly in the past two weeks, which is unnecessary and The Bangladesh army’s Inter Service Public Relation Directorate counterproductive,” it said. has confirmed the death to Anadolu Agency over the phone. The OCAC said that there is an urgent need to review and analyse the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Mujahid inherent reasons for present shortages of petrol in the country, which Anwar Khan expressed heartfelt grief on the demise of the war include the import embargo in March, directives by the energy ministry veteran, according to a press release by PAF’s media wing. to lift the same embargo in April, and delayed approvals for imports. He paid tribute to Azam, saying that the former fighter pilot will It claimed that the ministry failed to anticipate the rise in demand always be remembered for his professionalism and his part in the as coronavirus lockdowns were being eased from May, as there 1965 Indo-Pak and 1967 Arab-Israel wars. is a tendency among consumers to move and drive around with During the 1965 war, Azam served in No. 17 Squadron at the PAF’s exceptionally low oil prices. Sargodha base. “We would like to highlight that a typical supply chain of petroleum According to available records, Azam is a unique air force figure in products ranges 45-60 days, whereas an increase of 82% in June the history of Bangladesh, who took part in wars as a fighter pilot sales compared to April sales is significant, especially when there is for three diff erent countries: Jordan, Iraq, and Pakistan. heavy reliance on petrol imports which is associated with its various The US government has awarded him as one of the world’s 22 supply complexities such as securing appropriate quantities through Government employees and members of the All Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA) shout slogans “Living Eagles” for his outstanding war skills and courage. International Suppliers/Traders, availability of bulk product carriers during a protest in Lahore against government’s fiscal budget for 2020-21. After Bangladesh’s cessation in 1971, Azam joined the Bangladesh (ships) in marine freight market, port constraints, etc,” the OCAC said. Air Force. Islamabad High Court slams govt over failure to control sugar prices

Internews court’s orders last week. court orders are followed.” The 10-day stay order was is- “We will send a notice to the did if it did not recommend de- High Court (IHC) order. Islamabad “The correspondence between “Is the restraining order over?” sued by Chief Justice Minallah, government and ask them [about creasing the sugar price. A ministry offi cial said that the government and PMSA is asked Khokhar, to which the chief who was hearing a petition fi led it] but for now, sell sugar for “The inquiry commission’s the PSMA should provide sugar underway regarding the matter, justice responded by saying that against the sugar inquiry com- Rs70/kg,” the judge had told the aim was not to provide relief to at Rs63 per kilogramme to utility slamabad High Court (IHC) but sugar is not available in the there is no use for a restraining mission report. sugar mill owners. the common man but to hold a stores, so it could sell the com- Chief Justice Athar Minallah market at Rs70/kg,” Khokhar re- order if PMSA does not comply The sugar mills’ owners had He added that if they agreed to media trial against us,” the sugar modity at Rs70 per kg to the con- Ihas reprimanded the govern- sponded. under the given conditions. moved the court after the gov- the new price, the court will stop mills owners’ attorney had said in sumer, as directed by the IHC. ment after the Pakistan Sugar To this, Minallah said that the The court then approved the ernment said it would go after all the government from taking ac- response to the judge’s question. In a letter written in response Mill Association (PMSA) refused stay order issued had been con- government’s request to become those who were responsible for tion till the next hearing. The Pakistan Sugar Mills As- to the ministry, the PSMA said to supply sugar at the reduced ditional with sugar being provid- a party in the sugarcane farmer’s the hike in sugar prices. “This court does not usually sociation (PSMA) refused to sup- it has agreed to supply sugar at rates of Rs70/kg in markets ed to the masses at the reduced sugar mills case and fi xed the The sugar mills owners’ attor- intervene in the matters of the ply sugar to utility stores at the Rs70 per kg under the interim countrywide despite the court’s rates. hearing for June 19. ney had alleged that a media trial executive,” remarked the judge, reduced rate of Rs63, as was rec- court order. orders. “The interim stay was condi- Last week, the IHC had barred was being carried out against but asked why the masses was ommended by the government, “We are ready to give sugar During yesterday’s hearing, tional on this matter. The hearing the government from taking ac- them through the government’s not being provided their basic saying that the recommendation at a rate of Rs70 per kg to non- Minallah sought the implemen- of the case can be held sooner,” tion on the sugar inquiry com- special assistants and ministers. rights. “has no legal standing”. commercial establishments for tation report from Additional he remarked. “The court cannot mission report, issuing directives Minallah added that the com- “In two years, the price of sug- Previously, the ministry of domestic use,” the association Attorney-General Tariq Khokhar fi x the prices if the prices are not for the product to be sold at the mission had violated the terms ar went from Rs53/kg to Rs85/ industries and production had said, adding that about 60,000 and inquired whether sugar was regulated by the authorities, it is rate of Rs70/kg for the next 10 of references (TOR) that were kg,” Minallah remarked, and written a letter to the PSMA in tonnes of sugar will be delivered being sold for Rs70/kg, as per the the job of the executive to ensure days. framed. questioned what the commission the pursuance of an Islamabad to markets. Gulf Times Tuesday, June 16, 2020 17 PHILIPPINES A scribe Duterte-critic journalist undeterred by threats convicted in libel case AFP and arrests Manila hilippine journalist Maria Ressa was convicted yes- AFP barring foreign ownership of Pterday of cyber libel and Manila media. Due to the string of faces up to six years behind bars libel and tax cases against her in a case that watchdogs say and Rappler, Ressa says she marks a dangerous erosion of hilippine journalist had to post bail eight times press freedom under President Maria Ressa, convicted in the span of about three Rodrigo Duterte. Pyesterday in a contro- months. Ressa, 56, and her news site versial libel case, has become She had already been named Rappler have been the target of a symbol of the fi ght for press a Time Person of the Year in a series of criminal charges and freedom in an era of strong- 2018 for her work, but the ar- probes after publishing stories men leaders. rests further grew her interna- critical of Duterte’s policies, Media advocates say the tional profi le and drew more including his drug war that has critical reporting from her attention to her case. killed thousands. news site Rappler has un- It was an entirely new set of The award-winning former leashed a grinding series of threats for Ressa, who was a CNN journalist was sentenced criminal charges, two arrests veteran of confl ict zones be- to up to six years’ jail in the and a deluge of online threats fore co-founding Rappler. culmination of a case that has against her. Yesterday saw As CNN’s former bureau drawn international concern. likely the most serious trouble chief in Manila and Jakarta, It was not immediately clear to date, a conviction on a cyber Ressa specialised in terror- how long she would actually libel case that could send her ism where she tracked the have to serve if the convic- to prison if her appeals of the links between global networks tion becomes final, and Judge judgement are rejected. like Al Qaeda and militants in Rainelda Estacio-Montesa al- Yet through this Ressa, 56, Southeast Asia. lowed Ressa to remain free on has remained based in the The Princeton graduate, bail pending an appeal. Philippines and continued to who holds both American and “We are going to stand up speak out against the govern- Filipino citizenship, later re- against any kind of attacks ment of Rodrigo Duterte de- turned to the Philippines to against press freedom,” a defi- spite the risks. serve as news chief at the na- ant Ressa told journalists after “I’m not a sole reporter,” tion’s top broadcaster ABS- the conviction in Manila. Ressa said in an interview last CBN. In 2012 Rappler was “I began as a reporter in 1986 week. “My job is to hold up launched, which brought to- and I have worked in so many the ceiling, it has been for a gether multimedia reporting countries around the world, I while...so that our folks can and social media to off er an have been shot at and threat- continue working.” edgy take on Philippine cur- ened but never this kind of Maria Ressa, executive editor and CEO of Philippine news website Rappler, speaks to the media after being found guilty of cyber libel, in Ressa’s position at the head rent events. death by a thousand cuts,” she Manila, yesterday. of the site meant getting, by However that website has said. her own estimate, up to 90 had to fi ght for survival as Du- Yesterday’s verdict decided a offences such as stalking and a libel case against a journalist independent media, the human the network. Both Rappler and abusive messages per hour terte’s government has accused trial that stemmed from a busi- child pornography. while in government. rights record of the Philippines ABS-CBN have reported exten- online at one point toward it of violating a constitutional nessman’s 2017 complaint over Santos was also found guilty “The president supports continues its free fall.” sively on Duterte’s anti-drugs the end of 2016. The threats ban on foreign ownership in a Rappler story five years ear- yesterday and allowed to re- freedom of expression and Human Rights Watch said the campaign in which police have came in the months after Du- securing funding, as well as li- lier about his alleged ties to a main free on bail. freedom of the press. I hope case “will reverberate not just gunned down alleged dealers terte took power and launched bel and tax evasion. Though the then-judge on the nation’s top The law they are accused of that’s clear,” Roque said. in the Philippines, but in many and users in operations con- his narcotics crackdown that government has said that it has court. violating took effect in Sep- But rights groups and press countries that long considered demned by rights groups. has killed thousands. Rappler nothing to do with any of the Ressa, who Time magazine tember 2012, months after the advocates say the libel charge the country a robust environ- Some of the crackdown’s was among the domestic and cases against her, press freedom named as a Person of the Year article was published. along with a series of tax cases ment for media freedom”. highest-profi le critics have foreign outlets that published advocates disagree. in 2018, did not write the ar- But prosecutors say Rap- against Rappler, and a govern- The Philippines has fallen in wound up behind bars, includ- shocking images of the killing “This sentence (in the li- ticle and government investi- pler’s typographical correction ment move to strip the news the Reporters Without Borders ing Senator Leila de Lima, who is and questioned its legal basis. bel case) bears the malevolent gators initially dismissed the to the story in 2014 to change site of its licence, amount to press freedom index to 136 out of serving three years in jail on drug But Ressa’s arrests wouldn’t mark of President Duterte and businessman’s allegation. “evation” to “evasion” was a state harassment. 180 nations and territories. charges she insists were fabri- come until early 2019. his desire, by targeting Rap- But state prosecutors later substantial modification and “Ressa...and the Rappler Ressa’s verdict comes just cated to silence her. The fi rst was in February pler and the fi gure of Maria filed charges against her and the article was thus covered by team are being singled out for over a month after govern- In 2018, Duterte denounced and was over the libel case, Ressa, to eliminate all criti- Reynaldo Santos, the former the law. their critical reporting of the ment regulators forced off the Rappler as a “fake news outlet” then a second one less than cism whatever the cost,” said Rappler journalist who wrote Duterte’s spokesman Harry Duterte administration,” Am- air the nation’s top broadcaster and subsequently banned Ressa two months later on allega- Reporters Without Borders it, under a controversial cyber Roque said the president backs nesty International said. ABS-CBN, following years of and her colleagues from his pub- tions Rappler violated laws (RSF). crime statute aimed at online free speech and has never filed “With this latest assault on threats by Duterte to shut down lic engagements.

Two killed in San Jose Occidental road accident Govt lawyer says media giant’s Senator renews call for Two people died and two others were injured during a vehicular overseas workers’ dept accident along the highway of Bagong Sikat, San Jose Occidental Mindoro on Friday, job loss disclosure ‘blown up’ By Javier J Ismael OFWs for their full-cycle migra- Manila Times reported. Police Manila Times tion — from departure from the Chief William Sagmayao of the By Jomar Canlas (CDO).Calida said documents not even mention in its peti- Inc. had 79. The informa- Philippines until their eventual San Jose Police Office identified Manila Times from the Bureau of Internal tion the actual number of em- tion clearly showed that less reintegration in the country. the fatalities as Marlon Herardo, Revenue (BIR) would show ployees, but just made a gen- than half of the workers of enator Christopher Law- “Now that they’re forced to 39, resident of Barangay Pagasa that ABS-CBN had only 4,501 eral claim. ABS-CBN were regular em- rence “Bong” Go has called return home, it is necessary to and Ailyn Butolan, 21, midwife he government’s chief employees and not 11,000 as it BIR Commissioner Caesar ployees and the 7,000 other Sanew for the timely pas- provide suffi cient attention to in San Jose District Hospital. lawyer has slammed had been claiming. Dulay provided Calida the fi g- employees were “talents” or sage of his proposed Department their needs and help our new he- The two were declared dead TABS-CBN Corp for He added that the BIR based ure in a letter to the solicitor “project-based” and con- of Overseas Filipino Workers roes to rise back,” he added. on arrival. spreading what he said was its fi gure on the number of general dated February 21. tractual workers. (DoFW) bill as the coronavirus According to the Department The Injured were Joel Sino- fake news that the closure of employees of ABS-CBN Corp Calida had made an inquiry Sources close to ABS-CBN pandemic continues to adversely of the Interior and Local Gov- hin,48, a worker at the Depart- the network would leave more and ABS-CBN Convergence with BIR about the number said the project-based work- aff ect the welfare of Filipino mi- ernment, the government is ex- ment of Public Works and than 11,000 employees jobless. who were paying taxes. of employees of ABS-CBN to ers or talents were mostly grant workers, some of whom pecting around 300,000 OFWs Highways (DPWH) and Biboy In a phone interview, So- In the petition for certio- check against the network’s from the entertainment in- lost their jobs and were forced to to return to the Philippines as a Recalde,16. licitor General Jose Calida said rari and prohibition fi led by claim. dustry and their earnings return home. result of lockdowns in diff erent According to Sagmayao, Rom- ABS-CBN exaggerated the ABS-CBN before the Supreme The bureau then sent him were only deducted if they Go said there was an urgent parts of the world. mel Cenizal, was driving a red number of employees to win Court, the network noted that the Annual Information Re- make a personal report to the need for the creation of this new One of his fi rst legislative Adventure and was under the public sympathy. “the injury extends beyond turn of Income Taxes With- BIR. One source said many department because of the pan- measures, Senate Bill 202, or the influence of alcohol when he hit The media giant closed its ABS-CBN, as the CDO area held on Compensation and ABS-CBN workers who ren- demic. “Department of Overseas Filipi- the two motorcyles driven by radio and TV operations a day greatly aff ects the public.” Final Withholding Taxes. dered eight hours of work or He said the Department of nos Act of 2019,” seeks to address the victims both coming from after its franchise expired on Calida warned that if ABS- In the document, the BIR more daily were not consid- Labour and Employment (DoLE) concerns of overseas Filipinos, the opposite direction as seen May 4 and the National Tele- CBN could not prove its claim noted that ABS-CBN Corp. ered regular workers but tal- needed to concentrate on do- such as the need to improve co- on closed-circuit television. communications Commission it could be cited for perjury. had 4,322 employees, while ents, which is in violation of mestic labour concerns while ordination among concerned of- issued a cease and desist order He said the media entity did ABS-CBN Convergence the Labour Code. the DOFW would concentrate on fi ces in responding to their needs. Nation’s virus death rate ‘higher than Asean average’

By John E Mendoza it is higher than the Associa- month, according to Vergeire. an actual death is reported,” he Manila Times tion of Southeast Asian Nations The DoH made the clarifi ca- added. (Asean) average of around 3%. tion following the spike in death The Health department, how- She added that although the toll — 16 and 22 on June 12 and 13. ever, said the speed of reporting he Philippines’ death toll CFR remained high compared Dr John Wong of the Intera- of deaths had improved. from the coronavirus dis- to other countries in Asia — save gency Task Force on Emerging “There is a big improvement Tease might have dropped, for Indonesia, whose CFR was Infectious Diseases’ data analyt- in reporting of cases,” Vergeire but the country’s case fatality almost double the Asean average ics expert group said the appar- said. “The past reporting delays rate (CFR) was higher than the — it was still an improvement ent increase was because of the for deaths have reached for over fatality average in the southeast from the death ratio last month. late reporting of deaths, some of 20 days, now it is only around Asian region, the Department of “People may be wondering if which happened months ago but seven to eight days.” Health (DoH) said. our situation is getting worse. was only reported recently. She added that the doubling Health Undersecretary Maria Based on our data concern- “After the actual date of death time of deaths also improved Rosario Vergeire said the coun- ing deaths, the answer is no,” the occurs, it should still be reported from 6.7 days to 10-15 days. try’s CFR — the ratio of deaths Health offi cial said. to the LGU (local government Vergeire earlier said the coun- from total number of infection The death toll in mid-June unit), later on to the regional of- try was aiming for a doubling Workers wearing protective equipment disinfect an off ice as a preventative measure against the Covid-19 — is around 4%, lower than the dropped to around 4%, less than fi ce and DoH has to validate it, so time of “over 30 days” to be in a coronavirus at the city hall in Manila, yesterday. global average of 5.6%. However, the average of around 5.5% last it would take some time before “comfortable position.” Gulf Times 18 Tuesday, June 16, 2020 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Coronavirus outcast Sweden’s reputation takes a beating Sweden has long enjoyed a strong reputation as a world leader on issues like gender equality and human rights, but its reputation is taking a beating over its softer approach to the new coronavirus, with Swedes now unwelcome across much of Europe. As many European nations reopened their borders yesterday, at least seven countries have barred Swedes from entering — including closest neighbours Denmark, Norway and Finland — and fi ve others require them to quarantine if they do enter. As of yesterday, the Scandinavian country had 4,891 Covid-19 deaths — and one of the highest death rates in the world at 484 deaths per million. The illusion of a rapid US recovery Finding itself in the position of outcast is uncharted territory for Sweden, named by the Reputation Institute as the world’s America moving again, what is mainly House values are now stagnant at well as interest on education and car most reputable country in 2016, 2018 and 2019 lauded for its By James K Galbraith Austin needed is confi dence, perhaps aided by best, and will likely fall in the months loans – have continued to mount. True, transparency, safety and universal healthcare and for being stimulus. If consumers channel their ahead. stimulus checks have helped: defaults ethical and progressive. pent-up demand into new spending, Mainstream economics pays little have so far been modest, and many But for now, Sweden’s approach to corona has left the country s protests roil the United this “shock-stimulus” model dictates, attention to such structural questions. landlords have been accommodating. in the cold and many Swedes have had to cancel their summer States, the country’s centre- then businesses will revive investment, Instead, it assumes that business But as people face long periods with travel plans. left economists gaze brightly and soon enough, all will be well once investment responds mostly to the lower incomes, they will continue to hoard funds to ensure that they can Sven Hultin, a 54-year-old human resources executive, was, Ainto their crystal balls. Har- again. consumer, whose spending is dictated vard’s Jason Furman, formerly chair of This is how mainstream centre- equally by income and desire. The repay their fi xed debts. As if all this like many Swedes, taking the criticism in his stride. US President Barack Obama’s Council left economists and policymakers distinction between “essential” and were not enough, falling sales- and “I talk with people across the world all the time and they of Economic Advisers, has warned have thought about recessions and “superfl uous” does not exist. Debt income-tax revenues are prompting really do not share the same hostile view as communicated by Democrats – eager to defeat President recoveries since at least the 1960s, burdens are largely ignored. US state and local governments to cut media and politicians,” Hultin said. Donald Trump in the November elec- when President John F Kennedy and But demand for many US-made spending, compounding the loss of jobs But if people “are scared of us for any reason, that is their tion – that “the best economic data his successor, Lyndon B. Johnson, capital goods now depends on global and incomes. coping strategy and I respect it,” he said, adding his family had ... in the history of this country” will pushed through tax cuts. But it conditions. Orders for new aircraft will America’s economic plight is to cancel trips in Europe this summer. emerge just before voters head to the ignores three major changes in the US not recover while half of all existing structural. It is not simply the polls. Paul Krugman is likewise predict- economy since then: globalisation, planes are grounded. At current prices, consequence of Trump’s incompetence Unlike most nations, Sweden never locked down to curb the ing a “fast recovery.” The non-partisan the rise of services in consumption the global oil industry is not drilling or House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s poor virus’ spread, instead allowing schools for under-16s to remain Congressional Budget Offi ce agrees. The and employment, and the impact of new wells. Even at home, though political strategy. It refl ects systemic open, as well as restaurants, cafes, bars and most businesses. stock market seems equally optimistic. personal and corporate debts. existing construction projects may be changes over 50 years that have created Swedes were, however, urged The arithmetic behind this thinking In the 1960s, the US had a balanced completed, plans for new offi ce towers an economy based on global demand for to work from home if possible, is simple. The CBO expects real GDP to economy that produced goods for both or retail outlets won’t be launched soon. advanced goods, consumer demand for “I’m worried and respect hygiene and social shrink by 12% in the second quarter, and businesses and households, at all levels And as people commute less, cars will frills, and ever-growing household and distancing guidelines. by 40% in annual terms. But it forecasts of technology, with a fairly small (and last longer, so demand for them (and business debts. This economy was in that the Nordic a third-quarter rebound of 5.4% – tightly regulated) fi nancial sector. It gasoline) will suff er. many ways prosperous, and it provided Those over the age of 70 and resulting in spectacular annual growth produced largely for itself, importing Faced with radical uncertainty, US jobs and incomes to many millions. Yet co-operation in groups at risk were urged to of 23.5%. mainly commodities. consumers will save more and spend it was a house of cards, and Covid-19 stay home. That is certainly possible: already Today, the US produces for the world, less. Even if the government replaces has blown it down. will be Visits to homes for the in May, unemployment fi gures took a mainly advanced investment goods and their lost incomes for a time, people “Reopen America” is therefore elderly were also banned and favourable turn, and it is looking like services, in sectors such as aerospace, know that stimulus is short term. an economic and political fantasy. negatively gatherings limited to 50 people. the second-quarter slump may not be information technology, arms, oilfi eld What they do not know is when the Incumbent politicians crave a cheery Nikola, a 39-year-old who as bad as projected. But, even if the services, and fi nance. And it imports far next job offer – or layoff – will come growth rebound, and the depth of the aff ected” CBO is right on both counts, GDP at more consumer goods, such as clothing, along. collapse makes possible some attractive works in customer service for election time would be seven percentage electronics, cars, and car parts, than it Moreover, people do distinguish short-term numbers. But taking them an insurance company, said European countries were right to points below its fi rst-quarter level, did a half-century ago. between needs and wants. Americans seriously will merely set the stage for a lock Swedes out. and unemployment would be above – And whereas cars, televisions, need to eat, but they mostly don’t new round of disillusion. As nationwide “They’re right. We haven’t taken corona seriously compared possibly far above – 10%. and household appliances drove US need to eat out. They don’t need to protests against systemic racism and to other countries. We have almost 5,000 dead in Sweden, Let’s assume that the optimists are consumer demand in the 1960s, a much travel. Restaurant owners and airlines police brutality show, disillusion is there are not even 5,000 dead in all the other Nordic countries right about the third quarter. What larger share of domestic spending today therefore have two problems: they America’s one big growth sector right combined,” he said. happens next? Will the economy goes (or went) to restaurants, bars, can’t cover costs while their capacity now. – Project Syndicate continue merrily along, with incomes hotels, resorts, gyms, salons, coff ee is limited for public-health reasons, Ewa Lagerqvist, the head of national tourism organisation and jobs bouncing back? Or will it shops, and tattoo parlours, as well as and demand would be down even if the z James K. Galbraith, a former Visit Sweden, said the negative press “has of course aff ected stay in depression, requiring a new college tuition and doctor’s visits. Tens coronavirus disappeared. This explains executive director of the Joint Economic Sweden’s image” abroad and there would be fewer tourists than revolution – or, more precisely, a new of millions of Americans work in these why many businesses are not reopening Committee, is professor of Government usual this summer. New Deal – to save it? sectors. even though they legally can. Others are and Chair in Government/Business But she was confi dent things would eventually return to To assess this question, Furman, Finally, American household reopening, but fear they cannot hold Relations at the Lyndon B Johnson normal, with Visit Sweden already seeing more interest in the Krugman, and the CBO share a mental spending in the 1960s was powered by out for long. And the many millions School of Public Aff airs at the University country now than a few months ago. model. They regard the pandemic as rising wages and growing home equity. of workers in America’s vast services of Texas at Austin. He is the author of an economic shock, like an earthquake But wages have been largely stagnant sector are realising that their jobs are Inequality: What Everyone Needs to “Many (tourists) come to Sweden because they’re interested or the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It is a since at least 2000, and spending simply not essential. Know and Welcome to the Poisoned in our lifestyle, nature and culture,” she told AFP. disruption to a solid structure, a increases since 2010 were powered by Meanwhile, US household debts – Chalice: The Destruction of Greece and Sweden’s Foreign Minister Ann Linde said she was worried deviation from normal growth. To get rising personal and corporate debts. rent, mortgage, and utility arrears, as the Future of Europe. about the negative view of Sweden abroad, especially in the Nordic region where strong cross-border ties have existed since the 1950s, including passport-free travel. “I’m worried that the Nordic co-operation will be negatively aff ected,” Linde told daily Dagens Nyheter on Sunday. “Suddenly there’s rivalry and hard feelings between people where there haven’t even really been borders before.” “I’m worried about how long these wounds will last,” she said. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven insisted that the situation was improving in Sweden. “During a period where we have a high number of people being tested, it looks like we have a sudden increase in cases. But the number of people hospitalised for Covid-19 is going down and the number of deaths is going down. So authorities have to start comparing apples with apples, instead of apples and oranges,” he told Swedish Television on Sunday.

To Advertise [email protected] Display 44466621 44418811 Classified 44466609 44418811 Subscription [email protected]

People walk along Broadway as the coronavirus keeps financial markets and businesses mostly closed on May 08, 2020 in New York City. The Bureau of Labour Statistics © 2020 Gulf Times. All rights reserved announced that the US economy lost 20.5mn jobs in April. This is the largest decline in jobs since the government began tracking the data in 1939. Gulf Times Tuesday, June 16, 2020 19 COMMENT Playwrights are calling out racism in theatre

By Charles McNulty Fairview yet in our city? Why is there we’ve come undone. comedy that eventually turns the Los Angeles still such reluctance to present other Here are a few takeaways from the tables on the audience, asking white groundbreaking plays by women, writers seminar I highlighted before ending our theatergoers to come up on stage so that of color and LGBTQ authors at our large regular Zoom meeting for the last time. they can know how it feels to exist in an or the last 10 weeks, while nonprofi t theatres? Our identities are inextricably bound exhibition that nullifi es their subjectivity. teaching a spring quarter seminar It is the art of these playwrights, after with the cultural representations that are Communication occurs not simply at UCLA, I’ve been living in a all, that has the potential to rescue an available to us. through language but through all aspects Fmore enlightened America. angry, divided, sputtering nation. Identity is a function of identifi cation, of culture, including those schisms that An America in which the politics of The UCLA course, a version of the and a narrower range limits the separate people. race and representation is rigorously one I’ve been teaching at the California imaginative possibilities. As Cho movingly illustrates in interrogated. Institute of the Arts, was inspired by the It’s one of the reasons so many of Aubergine, food can be an eloquent An America in which ideology renaissance in American drama that has the playwrights are deconstructing repository of family memory, a shared isn’t allowed to triumph over human been underway in the last decade. stultifying dramatic forms, whether it’s patois of love and loss. complexity and messiness. Straight white men, long the dominant Lee in Straight White Men testing the This awareness of the limits An America in which history is force in the theatrical repertoire, played a limits of the domestic drama or Jacobs- of straightforward dialogue have understood as an act of collective decidedly lesser role. Jenkins in An Octoroon poking for life in propelled writers like Hudes to storytelling, subject to revision as the The reason has nothing to do with hoary melodrama. search for new structures in music collective opens up to include voices reverse discrimination. New dramaturgies are called for, but for communal stories that speak in a previously negated. It’s a mathematical problem: The to fi nd them we must sift through the variety of tongues. I took refuge in this America as talent pool of dramatists is so rich, and old ones to see how we have unwittingly If there were one point I hoped to leave a pandemic, which has exposed with only so many weeks, decisions have Protesters gather on Hollywood Boulevard near the famous TCL Chinese Theatre been imprisoned in stereotypes. my students with it is my belief that the longstanding racial disparities and to be made. (top left) during the All Black Lives Matter solidarity march, as protests continue Who is deemed eligible for the diversity of contemporary American injustices, upended our reality. Young Jean Lee started us off with in the wake of George Floyds death, on June 14, in Los Angeles, California. protagonist role reveals a good deal about playwrights has helped to expand the This world that I was sojourning in was Straight White Men and The Shipment. a society. range of theatrical forms through which ruled by a diverse group of contemporary From there we moved to work by Annie economic caste, but the plays refused to Our experiences, sensitivities, blind In Baker’s The Flick, she focuses we can gain a fuller understanding of our American playwrights who were the Baker (Circle Mirror Transformation settle into schematic categories. spots and passions are inevitably brought attention on the menial workers of a social selves. subject of my graduate theater course. and The Flick), Branden Jacobs-Jenkins A larger question consumed our to bear in that mediation between text crumbling New England movie house, Even when the plays seem to have I’m sorry to leave this exalted realm, (Appropriate and An Octoroon), Quiara discussions: What does it mean to be and social world we call interpretation. the kind of lives normally relegated to the little interest in identity politics, the but as Black Lives Matter uprisings are Alegria Hudes (Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue American at this fractious moment in our I thanked the students at the end of role of extra on stage and screen. politics of identity — or what the Yale challenging the old prejudicial order, I and Water by the Spoonful), Julia Cho history? the quarter for journeying with me in Majok has made it her mission to social psychologist Jennifer A Richeson feel better equipped for the struggle that (Aubergine and Offi ce Hour), Drury The mode of the class was exploratory. this study of contemporary American shine a spotlight on those immigrant calls an “honest accounting and lies ahead. (Fairview) and Jeremy O One of the reasons I like teaching playwriting during what has certainly employees who are treated as nameless acknowledgement of what it has meant Prominent playwrights of colour have Harris (Slave Play). Amy Herzog’s this seminar, which has a shifting cast been the most tumultuous period in peons in America’s cruel economy. to be American” — is inescapable. joined a letter of protest titled “We See Mary Jane and Martyna Majok’s Cost of writers, is that it allows me to spend American life I’ve lived through. Our assumptions about characters in These writers have an intuitive You, White American Theater,” written to of Living were discussed together in time with plays that remunerate repeat At a time of social upheaval, I hoped drama aren’t left behind in the theater. understanding of an insight gaining call out systemic racism in the profession. the context of disability, caregiving and encounters. the work we shared would be a resource The social scripts we follow carry ground among political scientists that, in The complaints are hard-hitting. America’s class system. In my role as a newspaper critic, I’m to them, as it has been for me. many of the same prejudices. Richeson’s words, “the more identities The brutal death of George Floyd, Lucas Hnath’s A Doll’s House, Part called upon to pronounce instantaneous Although the assigned plays were Who is permitted to speak often people maintain — and the more complex coming after so many other agonising 2 shared the bill with Ayad Akhtar’s verdicts. written before the pandemic and the determines who controls the narrative. and overlapping those identities are — the police killings, has revealed silence, Disgraced in a class examining new But dramatic literature at its best is an uprisings over racial injustice and Harris’ Slave Play, a metatheatrical less confl ict they will have with people appeasement and making nice to be a directions in debate drama. invitation to collectively engage, to pose police brutality, they provide invaluable comedy, builds to a cathartic explosion who maintain diff erent sets of identities.” losing strategy. The course concluded with Heidi questions not only of the work but of the navigational tools for moving into the in which Kaneisha demands that her In fostering greater identity Much in the letter is necessary and Schreck’s What the Constitution Means minds examining it. future. confi dently articulate white partner listen complexity, the American theatre today overdue, and I hope institutions will to Me, a play in which the trauma and the Our footing wasn’t primarily political. Rather than off er the empty promise of to her story, her body, her fury, her grief. is realising more of its mimetic potential commit to programmatic change instead resilience of the American democratic We analysed the composition answers, these works extend the wisdom That it takes such radical drama to get — a potential long curtailed because of of just paying the usual lip service. experiment — recurring themes in our of dramatic works, probing those of carefully considered questions about to this point is a sign of just how radical the restricted access of artists on the Los Angeles artistic directors could seminar — emerge in shattering personal points where style and content are the fabric of our society and our tricky the drama of American history has been. margins. begin by producing more of the work of a testimony. indistinguishable, for it’s here where a relationship to history. The white gaze is alive and well — and As the theatre belatedly opens up, the talented generation of dramatists that has Our critical focus throughout the playwright’s distinctiveness can best be They shed light on a fractured union, still largely unaware of its warping vision. repertoire of representations expands, been fearlessly rewriting the rules. course was on the contested subject of glimpsed. and for those not put off by the glare, In Fairview, Drury anatomises the creating a more extensive vocabulary and Why haven’t we seen Jackie Sibblies identity. The act of close reading, however, there is the hope of reconciliation racial dynamics between the watcher grammar for self-understanding for us Drury’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Attention was paid to race, gender, and doesn’t take place in a vacuum. through an honest reckoning of how and the watched in a brilliant conceptual all. – Los Angeles Times/DPA/tca Ensuring cybersecurity for critical Three-day forecast

TODAY Maximum Temperature : 470c civilian infrastructure Minimum Temperature : 320c WEDNESDAY more responsible behaviour online. contribute to this broader eff ort. those who perpetrate cyberattacks Maximum Temperature : 440c By Marietje Schaake and Minimum Temperature : 340c Stephane Duguin If criminals or hostile states were Individual behaviour – such as accountable. Governments must invest Stanford threatening healthcare workers with exercising greater caution when opening the time, energy, money, diplomacy, and THURSDAY physical weapons, the outcry would be attachments or forwarding emails other resources needed to protect the Maximum Temperature : 420c immediate and deafening. So why have (which may contain disinformation infrastructure and systems upon which Minimum Temperature : 310c he Covid-19 pandemic has re- we not seen a similar reaction to these or malicious code) – can make a modern economic, political, and civilian Fisherman's forecast minded us that nurses, doctors, cyberattacks? signifi cant diff erence. At the same time, life depends. and other healthcare workers Part of the problem is that we are cybersecurity experts can have a major To aid in the eff ort, the CyberPeace WARNING not only play an essential role still playing catch-up. Earlier incidents impact by pledging time and resources Institute and other organisations have Inshore : Strong wind expected T at some places daytime in keeping us safe and healthy, but also such as the WannaCry and NotPetya to help healthcare professionals combat launched Cyber 4 Healthcare, a targeted service to connect health workers sometimes must risk their own lives and ransomware attacks in 2017 did not the latest wave of attacks. Civil-society Offshore : Strong wind and high health to do so. Throughout the crisis, prompt the serious collective response groups, academics, and the news and organisations with qualifi ed and sea they have rightly been applauded for that they should have. In addition, media can raise awareness about the reputable companies off ering volunteer WEATHER their sacrifi ces. But to ensure that they the fl ood of disinformation – an victims of attacks and the methods cybersecurity assistance. Inshore : Very Hot daytime with slight dust to blowing are fully supported in doing their jobs, “infodemic” – during the pandemic has used. And businesses can do more to But that is only the beginning. In dust at some places we also must recognise the importance compounded the threat. According to take responsibility as global players, addition to protecting health workers, and relatively hot by of the technologies that underpin the the World Health Organisation, during including by ensuring that their supply we need to fi nd ways to assist other night. WIND modern healthcare system. We don’t a pandemic, an infodemic can be just as chains are secure. critical civilian infrastructure sectors. Inshore : Northwesterly 12-22/25 have to applaud software, but we do dangerous as the virus itself. Governments are in a unique That means extending support to KT need to ensure that it is resilient against But, beyond sector-specifi c position to protect healthcare vulnerable groups when they need Offshore : Northwesterly 15-25/35 external threats. threats, cyberspace also suff ers from and other critical sectors from it, holding governments and other KT Cybersecurity is crucial for protecting broader, longstanding problems of cyberattacks. Through diplomatic, stakeholders accountable to their vulnerable communities, and healthcare accountability. There is a persistent lack intelligence, and law-enforcement commitments, and sharing information Visibility : 4-8/3 KM workers are no exception. In addition of consistency in how international law channels, governments have powerful widely in order to inform law- Offshore : 4-8/13 FT to the challenges they face working is applied and enforced. Many countries and sophisticated tools to determine enforcement agencies and policymakers. overtime to help Covid-19 patients, have a deep digital divide in technical the sources and methods of attacks. The Covid-19 pandemic is the Around the region they also must confront ruthless capacity, and have failed to put human Perhaps most importantly, under latest global crisis to highlight the Weather Weather cyberattacks, just when they have the rights at the center of cybersecurity existing laws and norms, governments need for a more stable and secure today Max/min tomorrow Max/min discussions. have obligations not only to refrain cyberspace for all. It certainly won’t be least bandwidth to defend themselves. Baghdad Sunny 46/27 Sunny 42/28 It is time to patch these holes, from carrying out or supporting such the last. Fortunately, when it comes to Using both large-scale ransomware Kuwait City Sunny 47/34 Cloudy 46/32 so that we can replace scattershot attacks, but also to ensure that critical cyberattacks, we already have a cure. campaigns and highly sophisticated Manama Sunny 41/33 Cloudy 39/33 responses with a systematic and sectors are adequately prepared and It is time to start administering it. – targeting techniques, hackers are Muscat P Cloudy 40/32 Sunny 38/32 collective approach. The pandemic protected. Project Syndicate singling out hospitals, medical facilities, Tehran Sunny 37/23 Sunny 37/24 and vaccine laboratories. Over the past has underscored how much all of us – Last month, the CyberPeace Institute two months, such attacks have occurred governments, businesses, and ordinary joined others around the world in z Marietje Schaake, a former every three days. citizens – depend on cyberspace. As a calling on governments to embrace member of the European Parliament, We must do more to protect public good, cyberspace should be safe these commitments fully. Now more is Policy Director of the Cyber Policy vulnerable communities wherever and reliable; and because it is a shared than ever, policymakers and state Center at Stanford University and they are under attack, understand resource, we have a shared responsibility institutions must use their singular President of the CyberPeace Institute. attackers’ motives and methods, and to protect it. capabilities to protect vulnerable Stéphane Duguin is CEO of the push for better legal protections and As digital citizens, we can all communities and sectors, and to hold CyberPeace Institute. Live issues Around the world Weather Weather Study fi nds mask-wearing prevented Today Max/min Tomorrow Max/min Athens Sunny 31/19 M Sunny 30/19 Beirut Sunny 26/22 Sunny 27/23 Bangkok S T Storms 31/26 T Storms 31/26 tens of thousands of Covid-19 infections Berlin P Cloudy 26/16 P Cloudy 27/17 Cairo Sunny 38/25 Sunny 40/21 Cape Town Sunny 19/09 Sunny 21/11 T Storms 30/26 S T Storms 30/27 DPA Chinese city of Wuhan, where the The scientists found that in Colombo New York outbreak originated. Italy, telling people to wear face Dhaka T Storms 31/26 T Storms 29/26 They shaped the study around masks prevented more than 78,000 Hong Kong M Sunny 31/27 P Cloudy 31/28 when offi cials called on the public to infections between April 6 and May 9. Istanbul P Cloudy 28/19 M Sunny 28/19 ecommending that people wear masks, and compared this with In New York, the measure stopped Jakarta S T Storms 33/24 S T Storms 33/24 wear protective face masks infection levels before and after the more than 66,000 cases from April 17 Karachi M Sunny 35/29 P Cloudy 34/29 has prevented tens of guidance was issued. to May 9, the scientists wrote. London S T Storms 22/13 Showers 22/14 thousands of coronavirus In China, people were told to “Our analysis reveals that Manila P Cloudy 34/26 P Cloudy 34/26 R Moscow P Cloudy 28/17 P Cloudy 30/18 infections, according to researchers wear masks at the same time as the diff erence with and without who assessed the eff ects of the they were instructed to follow other mandated face covering represents the New Delhi Sunny 41/30 Sunny 42/31 measure in New York, Italy and recommendations including hand- determinant in shaping the trends of New York P Cloudy 25/16 P Cloudy 26/18 Wuhan. washing and keeping a distance from the pandemic worldwide,” wrote the Paris S Showers 23/14 S Showers 21/14 Mask-wearing matters because other people. scientists, led by Renyi Zhang of Texas Sao Paulo M Sunny 23/15 M Sunny 25/13 airborne transmission is the dominant In New York and Italy, these A&M University. Seoul P Cloudy 31/18 Cloudy 29/19 route for the spread of Covid-19, the National Academy of Sciences. recommendations were staggered, Mitigation measures such as social Singapore T Storms 31/26 T Storms 30/27 researchers from the universities of The researchers analysed the timing with the recommendation that distancing, quarantine and isolation Sydney Sunny 19/09 Showers 16/12 Texas and California wrote in the of mitigation measures in three people wear masks coming after other are insuffi cient alone to protect the Tokyo Clear 31/22 Clear 29/20 article published in the Proceedings of epicentres: Italy, New York, and the guidelines. public, the scientists said. Gulf Times 20 Tuesday, June 16, 2020 QATAR Mosques, malls, parks reopen From Page 1

In line with the directives of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) and other rel- evant Qatar authorities, security personnel and mall staff were seen conducting routine checks and taking other necessary steps to ensure the health and safety of shoppers as well as the people working there. These include checking the body temperature of visitors as well as their Ehteraz mobile ap- plication for the “green” status before allowing them entry into the premises, and other safety guidelines such as wearing of face masks. Apart from conducting regu- lar cleaning and sanitation, malls have also placed signage and marks on the fl oor to remind and encourage people to practise social distancing at all times. “It is good to see that mall- goers are keeping a reasonable distance from other people while they go to diff erent stores,” said an employee of a tech shop at a major mall in Doha, adding that few shoppers came in the morn- ing but the number started to increase by late yesterday after- noon. Hypermarkets, pharmacies, money exchange outlets and banks, among others, were also open while many outlets contin- Snapshots from Day 1 of the first ued off ering online shopping and phase of the easing of home delivery services. coronavirus restrictions in Qatar The businesses allowed to yesterday. Mosques, malls and resume operations and the con- shopping centres, as well as ditions applicable to them are public parks and open spaces, as follows: partial opening of reopened yesterday with all some shops in commercial cen- precautionary measures in tres, provided the outlet’s fl oor place. Pictured here are scenes space is not less than 300sq m; from mosques; malls and public restaurants that deliver to home parks/open spaces. addresses or hand over orders PICTURES: Shaji Kayamkulam, while prohibiting customers Jayaram, Jayan Orma, from dining in; and shops selling Thajudheen, Noushad Thekkayil sweets, ice cream, cakes, pas- and Ram Chand tries, honey and dates. It is learnt that several shops remain closed, but the employ- ees of a few boutiques were seen doing general clean-up and san- itation. “We want to make sure that our place is clean and ready in the coming days,” said an em- ployee who wore a face mask as well as a face shield. Malls and shopping centres are allowed to operate from 8am-8pm on weekdays in Phase 1, but these businesses will re- main closed on Fridays and Sat- urdays, according to a recent no- tifi cation from the MoCI. The second phase of the gradual lifting of restrictions will start on July 1, the third on August 1, and the fi nal stage on September 1. Meanwhile, public parks and open areas, such as the Souq Waqif Park, Hotel Park and the Doha Corniche, also reopened yesterday, welcoming a number of visitors who spent their af- ternoon walking and engaging in other physical activities. Some stationary fi tness Park, Al Khor Park, Al Qutaifi yah Park coming visitors on the walking tracks of rafat Al Rayyan, Umm Qarn, Umm Le- MME announces reopening of Al Bidda Park equipment at the Souq Waqif 66, Al Shamal City Park, Al Sailiya Park Aspire Park yesterday, while the North khba, Al Luqta, Bane Hajer, Bu Sidra, Al Park were put to use as they are (Abu Nakhla), Al Dafna Park, Museum and South Katara Hills promenade were Khor, Al Kheesa, Al Ruwais, Al Rayyan Al The Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) has announced the reopening of Al placed at a good distance from Park, and Al Rayyan Park – would reopen also open for walks. Jadeed, Al Sadd, Al Sudan, Al Shahani- Bidda Park along the Doha each other. on June 15. Mosques across Qatar reopened yes- yya, Al Azeeziya, Onaiza, Ain Khaled, Al Corniche for exercise and sporting activities only, from 4am-10pm, as part of the gradual The Ministry of Municipal- They will be open from 4am-9am and terday with the Fajr prayer. Gharrafa, Madinat Khalifa South, Lega- lifting of restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus. ity and Environment (MME) also from 4pm-10pm daily. These included mosques in Abal taifi ya, Al Mirqab, Al Meshaf, Muaither In a post on social media yesterday, the MME called upon the public to strictly comply with reopened a number of parks yes- The MME also announced the open- Heeran, Bin Omran, Bu Sidra, Bu South, Al Wajba, Al Hilal, Al Wakra, and the preventative and precautionary measures in place, such as to maintain social distanc- terday. ing of Al Bidda Park along the Doha Cor- Hamour, Ezgava, Al Salata Al Jadeeda, Al Wukair. ing, not to sit in the park and avoid gatherings, and to maintain hygiene for the health and It had earlier announced that niche yesterday. Umm Saneem, Umm Al Amad, Umm Phase 1 will see the restricted opening safety of all. eight parks – Al Wakra Public Aspire Zone Foundation started wel- Salal Ali, Umm Salal Mohamed, Ghar- of mosques, excluding Friday prayers. Doha Festival City welcomes back shoppers

ore than 76 brands at Doha Daiso, Hema, Home Centre, Laura the mall and outlets, Doha Festival Festival City reopened their Ashley, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn City general manager Robert Hall Mdoors to shoppers yester- Kids, Muji, The One, West Elm, and said: “We are thrilled to welcome day, including renowned fashion, Zara Home. back shoppers to some of their fa- home decor, electronics, and sports- Off ering the latest in luxury and vourite brands and stores. wear brands, as part of phase 1 of the urban collections with modern fash- “Our customers will experience gradual lifting of coronavirus re- ion designs and accessories, Harvey several safety measures on entry, strictions in Qatar. Nichols, Debenhams, and Marks & including displaying a valid Ehteraz The coronavirus causes the Cov- Spencer are also open. ‘green’ health symbol, and we ap- id-19 respiratory disease. For video gamers and tech lov- preciate all for paying attention to Abercrombie & Fitch, Aldo, ers, the latest digital accessories government advice and recognising American Eagle Outfi tters, Armani and devices are available through proper distancing. Hall: We are thrilled to welcome Exchange, Aura, Banana Republic, FNAC and Virgin Megastore – avail- “We hope that Doha Festival City back shoppers. Bershka, BHS, Boggi, Centrepoint, able both instore and through online will continue being the destination Collection of Style, Gap, Guess, shopping. of choice for our entire community, 9am-10pm on weekdays, and from H&M, H&M Men’s, Hollister, LC Items for children are available at while being fully committed to en- 9am-11pm on weekends, while Ku- Waikiki, Mango, Massimo Dutti, Mama’s & Papa’s, Mothercare, The sure the highest standards of safety lud Pharmacy will be open daily from Max Fashion, Nautica, New Yorker, Children’s Place, Salam Kido, LC and well-being for both our shop- 8am to midnight. Next, Pull & Bear, R&B, Reserved, Waikiki Kids, Toys R Us, and Borders. pers and tenants.” Banking and telecommunications Riva, River Island, Sfera, Stradivar- For high-end collections of In line with the Ministry of Com- branches will be open Sunday to Fri- ius, Ted Baker, Tommy Hilfi ger, Top- watches and jewellery, visit Al Majed merce and Industry’s (MoCI) direc- day. shop, and Zara are among the fashion Jewellery. tives, opening hours will be Sunday Shoppers must show their green brands. Fabulous collections of fragrances, to Thursday, from 8am-8pm. Ehteraz QR code at the entrance of The latest sports gear and exercis- cosmetics, eyewear and fi ne accesso- Monoprix will be open on Sunday the mall and should wear a medical ing kits are available at outlets in- ries are also another to reason to visit to Thursday from 8am-11pm, and mask throughout their time at the cluding Adidas, Footlocker, Adidas Doha Festival City, with the reopen- Friday and Saturday from 8am to mall. Originals, Go Sport, Nike, Stadium, ing of Pari Gallery, Sephora, Areej, midnight. Visitors aged 12 or less and those and Under Armour. Magrabi Optical, Victoria’s Secret, Meanwhile, M&S Food Hall will be aged 60 and above will not be al- The home decor brands include and Victoria’s Secret Pink. open daily from 9am-10pm. lowed in the mall as in accordance More than 76 brands at Doha Festival City reopened their doors to shoppers yesterday. Ikea, ACE, Butterfl y Design Studios, Commenting on the reopening of Boots Pharmacy will be open from with the MoCI directives.