SHAABAN 20, 1441 AH MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2020

20 Pages Max 31º Min 21º 150 Fils Established 1961

ISSUE NO: 18105 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net

15-member Indian medical Traditional Japan seal system Amid pandemic, turning Football sponsors worry that 3 team, supplies in Kuwait 7 hampers telework for some 12 point for telemedicine 20 they are paying for nothing

Govt says it’s ready for total curfew, but no decision yet

80 new virus cases • Crackdown on visa traders • Saudi extends curfew indefinitely

By B Izzak few decision is taken. He added that what is tion to happen before the start of the holy being circulated about a total curfew in month of Ramadan on April 24. Reports said KUWAIT: The government said yesterday untrue and baseless. Local and social media the government will operate within days an it is ready and prepared for imposing a total have been rife with expectations that the air bridge to bring back more than 10,000 curfew in the country, but reiterated that no government is on the brink of imposing a citizens from several countries, and most of decision has been taken yet. Interior Minister total curfew in the face of a steep rise in the them will pledge to stay in home quarantine Anas Al-Saleh said that total curfew remains number of coronavirus cases, which on as there is no space to keep them in health an option for the health authorities based on Saturday jumped to 161 cases, the largest ministry quarantines. public interest and the protection of the single-day toll so far. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman health system in the country. The minister As the government placed Jleeb Al- extended a nationwide curfew until further however said security agencies are ready Shuyoukh and Mahboula under lockdown, notice due to the spread of the new coron- and prepared to impose the curfew as soon where more than half a million expat work- avirus, the interior ministry said yesterday, as the decision is issued. Saleh made the ers live, authorities have stepped up their after the kingdom reported more than 300 remarks as he inspected Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, fight against visa traders. The public prose- new infections on each of the last four which is under a lockdown, and a number of cutor has ordered the detention of a Kuwaiti days. Last week Saudi Arabia placed its shelters and quarantines for expat workers. officer along with his six Egyptian partners capital Riyadh and other big cities under a The ministry of health yesterday report- and charged them of trafficking in persons 24-hour curfew, locking down much of the ed 80 new coronavirus cases, raising the and selling residence permits for money. population to stem the spread of the virus. total number to 1,234, of whom 142 cases The main suspect is a colonel in the Elsewhere, the curfew which began on have recovered and one died. Of the new interior ministry, who was sacked last week March 23 runs from 3 pm to 6 am. cases, 45 are Indians, raising their number by the interior minister. He is accused of The country of some 30 million has close to 700, in addition to nine bringing some 1,300 Egyptian workers for recorded 4,033 infections with 52 deaths, Bangladeshis, six Kuwaitis, six Egyptians and amounts reaching up to KD 2,000 per per- the highest among the six Gulf Arab states six Iranians, while the remaining are of vari- son and leaving them without jobs. His where the total count has surpassed 13,200 ous other nationalities. company also used to charge several hun- with 88 deaths despite strict measures to Government spokesman Tareq Al- dred dinars for annual renewal of residen- curb transmissions. The kingdom has halted Mazrem said no decision has been taken to cies. international flights, suspended the year- impose a total curfew, and all government MPs have also pressed the government round umrah pilgrimage, and closed most agencies have been making preparations, to repatriate thousands of Kuwaitis stranded public places. Other Gulf states have taken arrangements and plans in case the total cur- overseas. The lawmakers want the repatria- similar precautions.

of popular protests, political turmoil and agree on cuts at a virtual summit Friday. Easter celebrations muted as Oil prices, virus, now, coronavirus. The North African coun- Even if a deal is reached, Algeria will not try is an example of how hydrocarbon be out of the woods, oil expert Nazim economies are likely to face unrest if oil Zouioueche told official news agency APS, US virus deaths top 20,000 instability put prices remain at near two-decade lows as any impact would be “temporary” due due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a to the worldwide pandemic. Algeria on edge price war between key players Saudi In Algeria, the price collapse has Arabia and Russia. destroyed revenue projections, with ALGIERS: Algeria faces economic and Oil cartel OPEC announced that major President Abdelmadjid Tebboune social turmoil if crude prices continue to producers had proposed to cut output acknowledging the “vulnerability” of the collapse, experts have warned, with the between May and June by 10 million bar- country’s oil-dependent economy. oil-dependent country reeling from a year rels per day. But G20 countries failed to Continued on Page 16

JERUSALEM: Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, walks past garbage collectors yesterday as he makes his way to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre before the start of the Easter Sunday service amid the coronavirus disease outbreak. — AFP

ROME: Christians celebrated Easter But hopes began to rise in Western Sunday under coronavirus lockdown Europe and heavily infected parts of in many countries with church pews America that the pandemic was empty and the pope on live stream, as peaking. Many were looking to the US death toll from the disease China’s Wuhan, where the disease passed 20,000. At the climax of Holy first emerged late last year, as life Week for the planet’s two billion-plus began to return to normal while offi- Christians, congregations were shut- cials lifted stay-inside restrictions. tered at home to avoid spreading the However for much of the world, from pathogen that has infected at least 1.7 India to France, strict lockdowns million worldwide. Pope Francis was were still in force. set to break with centuries of tradition A handful of US priests and pas- by taking his Easter mass online, with tors risked arrest by announcing they Saint Peter’s Square - packed every would hold public services in their year with worshippers - left deserted. churches yesterday, snubbing rules The United States, with around a and medical advice. But most were fifth of the more than 100,000 total putting services online, and some COVID-19 deaths, topped the list for were innovating with “drive-in” bless- both fatalities and numbers of ings. President Donald Trump will be declared cases, according to a tally among those following Easter services maintained by Baltimore-based Johns online, tweeting he would log on Hopkins University. Italy, the hardest- Sunday morning to watch Robert hit country in Europe, has recorded Jeffress, the leader of a Southern more than 19,000 confirmed virus Baptist megachurch in Texas and an deaths - second only to the US, which ardent supporter of the US leader. has a population five times its size. Continued on Page 16 2 Established 1961 Monday, April 13, 2020 Local Kuwait Audit Bureau approves contracts for 12 quarantine sites Various airliners to operate expatriates’ outbound flights KUWAIT: The State Audit Bureau (SAB) ordinate with airway companies to sched- approved Saturday 12 contracts for sites to ule the flights for expatriates eager to travel be used as quarantine for Kuwaitis return- back to their respective home countries. ing from abroad. Speaking to the press, SAB’s undersecretary and head of the bu- Stores closed reau’s emergency team Suleiman Al-Busairi Separately, the Ministry of Commerce said that they were in contact with officials and Industry announced yesterday the clo- from several locally based and interna- sure of 17 commercial stores that did not tional-brand hotels to discuss using their abide by preventive measures laws as part facilities for quarantine. The contracts var- of combating the spread of the novel coro- ied in daily expenses and services from KD navirus (COVID-19). In a statement to the 4,000 ($12,000) to KD 45 ($144), he indi- press, the ministry said that two stores were cated. The approval are within the state’s reopened as well, adding that ministry in- laws, Busairi affirmed, indicating that a spectors monitored 279 cooperative soci- number of hotels agreed to the deals, while eties, markets, commercial stores, and others declined. vegetable stand-alone shops to determine the extent of their commitment to new reg- Expat flights ulations and to maintain the stability of In other news, the Directorate General of prices to products. The ministry noted that Civil Aviation (DGCA) said Saturday that their teams also monitored 80 ration house airliners could operate outbound flights for branches to ensure their abiding by the members of the expatriate community in measures and the selling of food rations to Kuwait wishing to travel back to their home people. The ministry added that it received countries. All airliners will schedule flights 184 compliant calls on its emergency hot- for several destinations in accordance with line, through their number 135, and 12 of the cabinet decision made on April 9, af- those calls were received through their firmed the directorate. The DGCA will co- monitoring centers. — KUNA

KUWAIT: A vehicle collided with a dump truck near Al-Zoor fuel station. Firemen cut the vehicle open to free two persons who were trapped inside, then handed them to KUWAIT: Volunteers help Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh residents change their cooking gas cylinders during a total lockdown imposed paramedics. — By Hanan Al-Saadoun there as part of efforts to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). — Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh

Pandemic Diaries • 51575591 (Capital Educational Zone) In My View Coronavirus in • 51576117 (Hawally Educational Zone) • 51576576 (Farwaniya Educational Zone) • 51577055 (Jahra Educational Zone) The power Kuwait: What we • 51577655 (Ahmadi Educational Zone) Together in • 51577951 (Mubarak Al-Kabeer Educational Zone) know so far • 51578171 (Religious Studies Department) of memory • 51588599 (Private Education Department) times of crises KUWAIT: Kuwait has so far recorded 1,234 cases infected • 51592515 (Services Department) with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), in addition to one • 51594544 (Public Relations Department) death. With the exception of 29 cases in intensive care, all infected cases are in stable condition and are recovering in Medicine delivery By Abdellatif Sharaa quarantined locations designated by the government for Kuwait’s Ministry of Health (MOH) launched a new By Jamie Etheridge this purpose, while 911 have been discharged from quaran- medicine delivery service for people in Kuwait, which they tine after exhibiting no symptoms during their 14-day quar- can use to order medications to be delivered during curfew antine period, the Ministry of Health confirmed. Meanwhile, hours. The medications will be delivered within 72 hours [email protected] 142 people have recovered completely after previously after the order is submitted. To place an order, patients being infected with the virus, the ministry said. There are should send a WhatsApp to the numbers for the hospitals [email protected] 1,091 people receiving treatment and 2,552 quarantined as and medical centers as listed below. The patient should in- t is amazing how people of all backgrounds, of yesterday. Kuwait is taking measures to test Kuwaitis clude their name, Civil ID number, hospital or clinic file num- ethnicities, cultures and creeds come to- coming from infected areas for potential infection, as it has ber, mobile phone number and the medicine needed to the gether during times of crises and hardships, ’m standing beneath a massive Scots pine in already tested thousands of people. Meanwhile, Kuwait re- following numbers: I even if a few may not follow suit. Even within the the middle of Lake Abant Park, a nature re- quires all expatriates who arrived from travel on March 1 • Amiri Hospital: 50880699 same society, classes disappear as all unite to serve in Bolu province, Turkey. The view is and beyond to visit Kuwait International Fairground where • Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital: 50880755 I help each other and keep the wheels rolling. magnificent: The sun glimmers off the gentle the Ministry of Health has set up a center at Hall 6 to test • Farwaniya Hospital: 50880852 waves of the lake, which serves as the focal point people for possible infection. • Adan Hospital: 50880908 Under our current circumstances, we see the for the park. A two-lane blacktop road encircles • Jahra Hospital: 50881066 government, NGOs and the well-to-do come to- the lake but is shrouded on nearly all sides by the Curfew • Sabah Hospital: 97632660 gether and start offering help - material or even canopy of trees, pines, beeches, tamarisks, ju- Kuwait enforced a country-wide curfew from 5:00 pm to • Jaber Hospital: 96992079 meals without any other consideration or niper, willows and hornbeams that cover the slow, 6:00 am until further notice. The government also locked down • Ibn Sina Hospital: 99613948 thought than just to help. rolling hills up to a clear and cloudless blue sky. Mahboula and Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh in a bid to contain the • Chest Hospital: 99258749 Back in 1990, when the invasion took place, I’ve gone for an early morning walk, before the spread of the virus and enable health workers to test inhabi- • Razi Hospital: 97633487 my wife was pregnant and due any time. I was children are awake and it is time for breakfast, tants. Earlier, the government decided to close all shopping • Kuwait Cancer Control Center: 96735242 very worried, because of my citizenship, as the swimming and all the fun we’ve planned for the day. malls, beauty salons and barber shops as part of its measures • Psychiatric Hospital: 97350113 occupation authorities were giving one warning The air is fresh and clean, the scent of pine and tree to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The government also • Physiotherapy Hospital: 99824037 after the other. Anyhow, when it was time for her allowed supermarkets, restaurants and shops to host a maxi- bark combines with the smell of fresh grass and the • Maternity Hospital: 98559531 to deliver, we went to Mubarak Hospital, where mum of five people at a time and in case there are lines, the • As’ad Al-Hamad Dermatology Center: 98514508 sound of my feet crunch on the bed of pine needles we were received warmly. We told the doctor, distance must be at least one meter between people. • Zain Hospital: 97552031 may God bless her, about the situation, and she and leaves that carpet the forest floor. • NBK Hospital: 96931761 I am determined to savor as much of the out- decided to deliver the baby at the hospital, which Precautions • Al-Rashed Allergy Hospital: 94162470 was not equipped for maternity issues. My son doors as possible, to walk each morning around Kuwait halted all commercial flights until further notice, • Infectious Diseases Hospital: 96989164 the lake, to enjoy the coolness beneath the trees, was born and I could not believe how helpful the and has sent special flights to repatriate Kuwaitis back • Palliative Care Hospital: 94024786 doctors and nurses were, despite the presence to stop and notice the sedge grass shooting up home from countries affected with the virus’ spread. All ar- • Sabah Al-Ahmad Urology Center: 90952469 of agents of the occupier. We went home very from the edges of the lake, the daisies and sun- rivals to Kuwait from all countries are to be placed under • KFH Addiction Treatment Center: 94169363 safely because of those amazing people. flowers blooming in clumps along the path. I compulsory institutional quarantine for 14 days, during Meanwhile, all licensed pharmacies in Kuwait delivering Volunteers here in Kuwait are doing all types note the details, thanking God for the opportu- which the person is monitored, and prescribed health pro- medicine are allowed to continue their services 24 hours a day. nity to visit this beautiful landscape and the qui- cedures are applied, the health ministry said. Authorities of things when needed, supporting government etude of nature. also announced a public holiday in the country from March Mental health assistance efforts to help people get through day-to-day It’s 2018 - the global pandemic is still nearly 12 to April 23, with work resuming on April 26, while entities The Kuwait Psychological Association (KPA) is provid- work until the crisis is over. Cooperation with two years into the future. providing vital services will remain open. Meanwhile, the ing consultation through the phone for people suffering from each other helps to exchange ideas and informa- I’ve read that actively savoring a moment not Ministry of Education has suspended classes for March at the psychological impacts of coronavirus. Different doctors tion among people, resulting in more creativity only helps stretch your experience of that mo- all public and private schools (for both students and teach- are working on the hotline in different timings as follows: and getting to know new dimensions and various ment, but it also embeds it more deeply in your ing staffs); first from March 1 to March 12, and later ex- • Dr Rashed Al-Sahl: on Monday and Wednesday views over many issues, and this helps in achiev- experience and can serve as a calming memory tended it until March 29, before eventually suspending 10:00 am - 1:00 pm. Call 9797-6168. ing the most in life. It also helps to overcome var- available for recall during times of stress or crisis. schools until August for grade 12 and October for other • Dr Fahad Al-Tasha: daily from 8:00 pm - 12:00 am. ious issues and crises in life, because no one can In the days, weeks and months to come there stages. Kuwait suspended issuing entry permits and visas Call 9904-8258. resolve problems by themselves, and this is why unless those issued through diplomatic missions. State de- will be many more moments when the fallout • Dr Othman Al-Asfour: daily 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Call people should cooperate to be successful. partments have been on high alert to take precautions 9938-5350. from this pandemic feels overwhelming, when the Cooperation contributes to the development against the potential spread of the virus. The Ministry of • Dr Mohammed Al-Khaldi (head of this team): daily stress gets too much. There will be heart attacks of the economy, as the rich help the poor, and Commerce and Industry has taken measures to make sure 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. Call 9903-6470. when the crisis is over the recovery of the econ- and suicides, violence and despair. Not all of us that facial masks, hand sanitizers and other goods remain • Dr Ahmad Al-Khaldi: daily 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm. Call have the resources to readily avoid what may be omy to its full potential can be easier. It also help accessible to the public. 9910-7965. keep the place tidy, as when each person is keen a lengthy economic recession. We will need to • Dr Muneera Al-Qattan: Monday and Wednesday draw on our resilience, our creativity and stead- to keep the place clean, they will help in main- Hotlines 9:00 am - 1:00 pm. Call 9953-3108. taining a healthy environment around them- fastness - and for that, any method or means of • The Ministry of Health has set the following hotlines to • Dr Zainab Al-Saffar: Sunday and Thursday 7:00 pm selves. People get closer to each other and keep restoring calm and equilibrium can help. receive inquiries about the coronavirus 24/7: 24970967 - - 9:00 pm. Call 9954-9908. grudges and hatred out, so people can live in In my apartment in Kuwait this morning, I 96049698 - 99048619. • Dr Sameera Al-Kandari: Tuesday 9:00 pm - 12:00 close my eyes and recall that morning. I pause for • The Education Ministry set the following hotlines to am. Call 6770-9434. peace and stability. a minute, remembering the clean fresh smell of receive inquiries on school closures related to the anti- • Dr Kawthar Al-Yaqout: Monday and Wednesday Final word: “And cooperate in righteousness unpolluted air and the sound of birds twittering coronavirus measures: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm. Call 5521-0088. and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and ag- in the branches of the sweet scented trees. • 24970967 (24/7 hotline) • For information and other concerns, call 9401-4283. gression.” Holy Quran Al-Maidah (verse 2) Established 1961 3 Local Monday, April 13, 2020 15-member Indian medical team arrives in Kuwait More than 600 Indians tested positive

KUWAIT: Members of the Indian team seen on arrival at the airport. Kuwait defense ministry personnel with members of the Indian team following their arrival.

By Sajeev K Peter which both leaders reportedly agreed for joint and coordinated efforts to combat the global KUWAIT: A 15-member Indian medical team pandemic. consisting of doctors and healthcare profession- The Indian medical team arrives in Kuwait at als arrived in Kuwait on Saturday. The rapid a critical time, when the community is witnessing response team from India arrived here on a spe- an alarming upsurge in the number of positive cial Indian air force flight to offer support to cases among Indians. As of Saturday, more than Kuwait government’s efforts in combating the 600 Indians have tested positive for COVID-19 spread of coronavirus in the country. in Kuwait and the number is feared to rise in the During its stay in Kuwait for a period of two coming days. Indians form the largest expat weeks, the medical team will offer medical assis- community in Kuwait, numbering more than tance to Kuwaiti healthcare professionals in test- 900,000. ing suspected cases and treating novel coron- The head of medical services at Kuwait’s avirus (COVID-19) patients, in addition to train- Defense Ministry Sheikh Dr Abdullah Meshaal Al- ing them in managing the emerging situation. Sabah, the deputy Indian ambassador Raj Gopal The medical team has been dispatched by the Singh, officers of the Kuwaiti Air Force and other Indian government following a recent telephone Indian diplomats were present upon the Indian Air call between His Highness the Prime Minister Force aircraft’s touchdown at Abdullah Al- Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah Mubarak Air Base, Kuwait’s Defense Ministry’s and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Moral Guidance Department said in a statement. Equipment are being sterilized before being taken down from the plane. 107 Kuwaitis leave quarantine

KUWAIT: The Ministry of Defense (COVID-19). The citizens have com- announced Saturday that 107 pleted their mandated 14-day quaran- Kuwaitis have left a quarantine site tine period after being evacuated on a supervised by the ministry’s medical special flight from Rome, Italy, the services department, after they tested Defense Ministry’s Moral Guidance negative to the novel coronavirus Department said in a statement. 4 Established 1961 Local Monday, April 13, 2020 Photo of the Day

KUWAIT: Car repair shops shut down in Sharq as Kuwait City skyscrapers are seen in the background. —Photo by Fouad Al-Shaikh Farm owners fined for housing company workers

KUWAIT: Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources inspectors toured Abdali on Saturday and took action against agricultural landholders who failed to use their lands for agricultural purposes.

By A Saleh lockdown likely to be imposed on some areas. Moussa added that on detecting the violation, KUWAIT: Minister of Information and Minister of the committee notified the Municipality and had State for Youth Affairs Mohammad Al-Jabri fined a Ministry of Electricity and Water disconnect power number of agricultural landholders for housing supplies at the residence involved in the violation. company workers in farms used to provide food Moussa explained that the company violation security, adding all violators will be held legally involves transferring workers without notifying the accountable. manpower authority, accommodating bachelors in Meanwhile, manpower authority director non-designated areas and not getting the authori- Ahmad Al-Moussa said inspectors have detected ty’s permission, which is usually granted after mak- the transfer of some laborers from their accom- ing sure the residence matches labor accommoda- modation to another site in Jahra to avoid the tion conditions. 5 Local Monday, April 13, 2020 Interior Minister examines center for residency violators

Deputy premier tours Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

KUWAIT: Deputy Prime Minister, Interior Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh Deputy Prime Minister, Interior Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh tours tours the center for harboring violators of residency law in Kabd. — Interior Ministry photos Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh.

KUWAIT: Deputy Prime Minister, Interior Minister and law in Kabd. He examined precautionary and security pre- Al-Shuyoukh that has been placed under lockdown where total lockdown throughout the country remained a possi- Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh toured cautions at the facility and conditions of the center occu- he inspected security precautions in and around the re- ble option affirming readiness of the security personnel to on Saturday the center for harboring violators of residency pants. The minister also visited the district of Jleeb gion, a ministry statement said. It quoted him as saying that ensure implementation of such measure. —KUNA Bangladeshi nationals avail amnesty

KUWAIT: Bangladeshi nationals line up outside a school in Farwaniya which was turned into a center to receive applications wishing to avail the amnesty. — Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh

KUWAIT: Bangladeshi nationals headed yesterday to return to Kuwait later. Bangladeshi applicants are Violators are received from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm from all nationalities are also received in two differ- to centers set up by the Ministry of Interior to re- received on April 11 - 15, followed by Indians on at the following locations: Male violators are re- ence locations in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh as follows: Fe- ceive expatriates without valid residencies who are April 16 - 20, Sri Lankans on April 21 - 25, and other ceived at Al-Muthanna primary school for boys, Far- male violators are received at Roufayda wishing to avail an amnesty allowing residency vio- nationalities on April 26 - 30. Egyptian nationals waniya, block 1, street 122, while female violators are Al-Aslameya School - Block 4 - Street 200, while lators to leave the country between April 1 and April were received on April 6 - 10, following a five-day received at Farwaniya primary school for girls in male violators are received at Naeem bin Masod 30 without paying any fines or airfare with a chance period to receive applicants form the Philippines. Farwaniya, block 1, street 76. Residency violators School - Block 4 - Street 250. InternationalEstablished 1961 MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2020 US records highest COVID-19 death toll Germany condemns anti-French insults in the border zone Page 8 Page 8

BOURTON ON THE WATER: A sign reads ‘Village Closed’ on the side of the road leading into the Cotswolds village of Bourton-on-the-Water, central England as life in Britain continues over the Easter break, during the nationwide lockdown to combat the novel coronavirus pandemic. — AFP UK death toll nears 10,000 Boris Johnson making ‘good progress’ in virus recovery

LONDON: Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson the actual number of people infected because not “I’m afraid this year it has to be for all of us a The Conservative leader left the unit Thursday was making “very good progress” in his recovery in everyone has been tested for the virus. “The prime stay-at-home Easter.” Queen Elizabeth II echoed evening in “extremely good spirits” and waving at staff hospital from coronavirus, officials said, as the coun- minister continues to make good progress, but these that in what is believed to be her first pre-recorded “in gratitude”, his spokesman has said. The Mail on try’s deaths toll from the disease approached the grim stark figures highlight the gravity of this national Easter address, released by Buckingham Palace on Sunday newspaper reported Johnson’s friends had re- milestone of 10,000. The 55-year-old leader was emergency,” interior minister Priti Patel told re- Saturday evening. “By keeping apart we keep others vealed he came close to death while in intensive care spending his second full day out of intensive care at porters at a daily briefing. safe,” the 93-year-old monarch said. “We know that and said he owed his life to the hospital’s medical team. London’s St Thomas’ Hospital, where he has been able coronavirus will not over- It remains unclear when he might be discharged to take short walks between periods of rest, accord- ‘Keep others safe’ come us.” Her resolute from hospital and how quickly he would return to ing to Downing Street. “The Prime Minister contin- Despite the sobering comments came a week work once out. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has ues to make very good progress,” a No 10 statistics, Stephen Powis, after a rare televised ad- been deputizing for Johnson. The prime minister’s spokeswoman said. NHS England’s medical di- dress to the nation in spokesman stressed Friday that his recovery was “at News of his improvement contrasted with the lat- rector, said there was a 917 die in the which she told people to an early stage” and he would act only “on the advice est official statistics showing Britain recorded nearly “leveling off” in the number unite to beat COVID-19. of his medical team”. The Sun tabloid reported that 1,000 daily COVID-19 deaths for the second con- of new cases and “the first last 24 hours Johnson’s spirits had been lifted this week by his secutive day - one of the worst rates globally. The signs of a plateauing of Spirits lifted pregnant fiancee Carrie Symonds, who sent him “love health ministry announced another 917 coronavirus people who unfortunately Johnson is the most letters” and scans of their unborn child. hospital patients had died in the latest 24-hour pe- need hospitalization”. He high-profile leader to suf- Symonds, who has also suffered from coronavirus riod, down from the toll on Friday but still the coun- credited a nationwide fer from the coronavirus, symptoms in recent weeks, and the British leader try’s second highest yet. An 11-year-old was among lockdown introduced on and his hospitalization is have reportedly not seen each other for nearly a the victims, according to England’s National Health March 23 for halting the virus’ spread, but added the unprecedented for a British prime minister during a month. Their baby is due this summer. Meanwhile, it Service (NHS). mortality rate would be “the very final thing” to de- national emergency in modern times. He was admit- is also uncertain when Britain might be able to lift the It brings the total number of COVID-19 fatalities crease. “We are confident that if everybody follows ted Sunday for a persistent cough and high temper- stringent social distancing regime. Implemented for in British hospitals to 9,875, while the number of the instructions... then that will begin to translate in ature 10 days after self-isolating with the virus. A an initial three weeks, the measures are set for a for- confirmed cases in the country climbed by 5,234 to the next weeks into a reduction in the daily deaths,” day later he was transferred to the intensive care mal review next week and likely to remain in place 78,991. That is thought to reflect only a fraction of Powis said. unit as his condition deteriorated. until at least the end of the month. — AFP

Saturday that all those who die due to Africans Coronavirus: the coronavirus must be afforded their full religious burial rites and “honored Burial of doctor in death.” targeted in China The bodies of those killed by sparks protest COVID-19 are washed carefully and virus crackdown placed in a sealed body bag so as not to spread infection, a health ministry CAIRO: Egyptian police fired tear gas spokesman, Khaled Megahed, told the BEIJING: Africans in southern China’s on Saturday to disperse a crowd of Saudi-owned Egyptian broadcaster largest city say they have become targets of people who gathered in a village near MBC Masr. Egypt on Saturday regis- suspicion and subjected to forced evictions, the Nile Delta to prevent the burial of tered 145 new cases of the coronavirus, arbitrary quarantines and mass coronavirus a doctor who died of coronavirus, ac- bringing the total to 1939 cases includ- testing as Beijing steps up its fight against cording to local newspapers and ing 146 deaths. imported infections, drawing US accusa- footage on social media. The interior Its doctor’s syndicate said earlier tions of xenophobia. China says it has ministry said 23 people were arrested, that to date 43 doctors had contracted largely curbed its COVID-19 outbreak but and the public prosecutor said his of- the disease and three had died. The a recent cluster of cases linked to the fice will investigate the incident. Arab world’s most populous country Nigerian community in Guangzhou sparked Footage posted online showed has enforced a nightly curfew, banned the alleged discrimination by locals and dozens of people gathered in front of large public gatherings, and closed virus prevention officials. Local authorities an ambulance to stop it from entering schools and universities in a bid to curb in the industrial centre of 15 million said at GUANGZHOU: People gather on a street in the ‘Little Africa’ district in Guangzhou, the the village’s burial grounds over fears the spread of the virus. While the gov- least eight people diagnosed with the illness capital of southern China’s Guangdong province. — AFP that the body could spread the virus. ernment has placed several villages on had spent time in the city’s Yuexiu district, They scattered as police fired canisters lockdown after cases of the coron- known as “Little Africa”. of tear gas. Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta, the cen- avirus were detected, it has said it Five were Nigerian nationals who faced student from Uganda who was forced from being sent into 14-day quarantines either in tral authority in charge of issuing reli- would not be possible to do so for large widespread anger after reports surfaced his apartment on Monday. their own accommodation or at centralized gious edicts or fatwas, said on metropolitan areas. — Reuters that they had broken a mandatory quaran- “We’re like beggars on the street,” the facilities. Thiam, an exchange student from tine and been to eight restaurants and other 24-year-old said. Mathias added that police Guinea, said police ordered him to stay public places instead of staying home. As a had given him no information about testing home on Tuesday even after he tested neg- result, nearly 2,000 people they came into or quarantine but instead told him “to go to ative for COVID-19 and told officers he had contact with had to be tested for COVID- another city”. Police in Guangzhou declined not left China in almost four years. 19 or undergo quarantine, state media said. to comment when contacted by AFP. A He believes the measures are specifi- Guangzhou had confirmed 114 imported Nigerian businessman said he was evicted cally and unfairly targeting Africans. “All coronavirus cases as of Thursday — 16 of from his apartment this week. “Everywhere the people I’ve seen tested are Africans. which were Africans. The rest were return- the police see us, they will come and pursue Chinese are walking around freely but if ing Chinese nationals. us and tell us to go home. But where can we you’re black you can’t go out,” he said. The The tense situation has made Africans go?” he said. US State Department has issued an alert targets of suspicion, distrust and racism in advising African Americans, or those with China - and brought a stinging rebuke Sat- Growing tensions potential contact with African nationals, to urday from Washington. Several Africans Other Africans said the community had avoid Guangzhou. Then on Saturday the told AFP they had been forcibly evicted been subject to mass COVID-19 testing department issued a sharp criticism of from their homes and turned away by hotels. even though many had not left China re- China over how it treats Africans. “It’s un- “I’ve been sleeping under the bridge for cently, and people had been placed under fortunate but not surprising to see this kind CAIRO: Egyptian men wearing masks wait outside a centre of non-governmental or- four days with no food to eat... I cannot buy arbitrary quarantine at home or in hotels. of xenophobia towards Africans by Chi- food anywhere, no shops or restaurants will China has banned foreign nationals from en- nese authorities,” a State Department ganization Egyptian Food Bank to receive cartons with foodstuffs as the charity dis- serve me,” said Tony Mathias, an exchange tering the country, and many travelers are spokesperson said. — AFP tributes aid to people who lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic crisis. —AFP Established 1961 7 International Monday, April 13, 2020 Pandemic spells death sentence for India’s non-COVID-19 patients Cancer patients take shelter in a grimy pedestrian subway

NEW DELHI: Liver patient Shahjahan’s family Waste littered the subway floor that is now home feared the worst when a New Delhi public hospital to more than 10 families unable to get back to their told her to leave because her bed was needed in a hometowns, with the mattresses so close that coronavirus unit. The 40-year-old mother had been social distancing was impossible. The AIIMS did on a ventilator with an acute infection for almost not immediately respond to requests for comment two weeks when she left Lok Nayak hospital on on the death and the patients outside. But hospi- Tuesday night. She died at her family home in Delhi tals across the vast country of 1.3 billion people the next morning. Other hospitals had turned her have been put on alert and its virus death toll is away because of the pandemic. “The authorities just now above 280. left her to die. Even when they referred us to anoth- When Prime Minister Narendra Modi er hospital, they refused to give us an ambulance,” announced the lockdown, he gave millions of said Mohammad Khalid, a relative of Shahjahan. Indians taking life-saving drugs only four hours’ The capacity of medical facilities around the notice. Amulya Nidhi, a health activist based in world has been stretched by the surge of COVID-19 Madhya Pradesh state, told AFP the government patients as outbreaks worsen in many countries. It knew that vulnerable patients - including those can cause people with other life-threatening dis- with silicosis and tuberculosis, which kills tens of eases to miss out on vital thousands each year in care - especially in places India, as well as pregnant like India, where health- women - were at risk. “I’m care systems are shakier. getting distress calls from Dozens of people with Hospitals across India over access serious medical condi- to basic medicines and tions are camped outside turning sick treatment,” said Nidhi. India’s national medical people away institute in tents set up by Shut out the Delhi government. “It is important to NEW DELHI: A rickshaw driver carries a load along a deserted road during a government-imposed Many of them had expand healthcare facili- nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in New Delhi travelled from other cities ties to fight COVID-19. At yesterday. —AFP for now-cancelled the same time, hospitals appointments and can’t go back due to transport and ambulances have to be available for patients restrictions under the nationwide lockdown that with other problems,” he said. In February, 39- said. Vinay Shetty, from the Mumbai-based Think infection the same way COVID-19 patients could began on March 25. Outpatient departments at the year-old Maitri Lakra was found to be in the initial Foundation that works with people with the blood spread infection,” Bhan said. All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) stages of tongue cancer. Being HIV-positive only disease thalassaemia and organizes blood donation “Deaths because of COVID-19 and not directly closed, forcing cancer patients and others with added to her woes. Doctors at AIIMS referred her camps, said those needing transfusions are among of it is something that we need to worry about. deadly ailments to take shelter in a grimy pedestri- to their campus in Haryana state for pre-surgery the most vulnerable. We need to ensure those who need essential an subway and under canvas. Though aid groups tests, which started mid-March. But 10 days later, “Those needing drugs may not have a problem, services have it,” he said. And time is already run- have provided some food and medicines, it had she was told that all radiology appointments were but anybody needing blood will,” Shetty said, ning out for Shahjahan’s fellow patients in the been 12 hours since Saryu Das had eaten when postponed. adding the government had to encourage blood subway and tents outside AIIMS. “The doctors AFP met him. As her condition deteriorated - bleeding from donors. Public health expert Anant Bhan said told me they could not do my chemotherapy ses- the tongue and in unbearable pain - she filed a India’s focus on COVID-19 could lead to other dis- sion now and that they’ll call me when the lock- Subway death petition with the Delhi High Court and has finally eases such as tuberculosis spreading. “Family down is lifted. That call may take weeks,” said 25- His son, who had mouth cancer, lay on a thin been admitted to AIIMS. “Her cancer is at stage members in lockdown with tuberculosis patients year old Rampur resident Mohammed Shan-e- mattress with his face covered by a scarf. Flies three now. Had she received treatment on time, this are at risk. After the lockdown is removed and Alam. “Now I can’t go home and I can’t go to the hovered around him. Four days later, he died. would not have happened,” her son Debashish Dag people start social interactions, it could spread the hospital.”—AFP

the “very serious incidents” and teachers have sus- Teachers drop Zoom pended use of the app while security issues are ironed out, said Aaron Loh, from the ministry’s edu- after online class cational technology division. “We are already Kim Jong Un’s sister working with Zoom to enhance its security settings and make these security measures clear and easy gatecrashed to follow,” he said in a statement. Home-based rises in North Korea learning will continue despite the app’s suspension, SINGAPORE: Singapore’s teachers have stopped he added. hierarchy using controversial video-conferencing app Zoom Zoom said in a statement that it “strongly con- for remote education during the coronavirus lock- demns” such behavior, adding it was “committed to down, officials said Friday, after intruders reported- providing educators with the tools and resources SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s powerful ly made lewd comments in a virtual class. The city- they need on a safe and secure platform”. The app younger sister has been reinstated to a key decision- state’s schools were closed this week as part of has become a go-to service for everything from making body, state media reported yesterday, marking tough curbs to tackle a worsening virus outbreak, remote education, to exercise classes and happy her rise in the isolated nation. Long one of her broth- but students are still being taught via so-called hour celebrations as more and more people are ARLINGTON: A woman enjoys a virtual happy hour dur- er’s closest advisers, Kim Yo Jong was reappointed an “home-based learning”. stuck at home. But it has been scrambling to make ing the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis in Arlington, alternate member of the Political Bureau of the Central During a geography lesson involving teenage improvements as security concerns mount, and ear- Virginia. With bars closing across the United States, Committee in a reshuffle of top officials Saturday, girls conducted on Zoom, two men intruded into lier this week announced an update to its features. people have started meeting online via Houseparty- according to the official Korean Central News Agency. the livestream, showed obscene images and made This included adding an icon called “Security” one of several group video apps doing a roaring trade The meeting to decide on the appointment was lewd remarks, Singapore’s Straits Times newspaper to its meeting controls. This provides easy during the pandemic. —AFP presided over by Kim Jong Un, it added. Analysts say reported. Zoom has exploded in popularity as gov- access for hosts to features allowing them to lock Kim Yo Jong is believed to have been removed from the ernments worldwide order people to stay home to a meeting; remove participants; and restrict par- has seen a surge in cases this month. On position last year after the collapse of a second summit fight the spread of the virus, but it faces growing ticipants’ ability to do things including share their Thursday, it reported its biggest daily increase in between her brother and US President Donald Trump security and privacy concerns. screens and chat in a meeting. After initially infections, 287, and now has a total of 1,910 cases in Hanoi. “The restoration is part of Kim Yo Jong’s Singapore’s education ministry is investigating keeping its virus outbreak in check, Singapore and six deaths.—AFP recent rise within the North’s hierarchy,” Ahn Chan-il, a North Korean defector and researcher in Seoul, told AFP. Kim Yo Jong acted as her brother’s envoy to the virus. “I feel unspoken pressure to be in the office,” South at the time of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics Traditional Japanese she added. in 2018, which ushered in a rapid diplomatic rapproche- ment on the divided peninsula. She has frequently been seal system hampers ‘Conservative culture’ pictured alongside him at summits with Trump or the Most Japanese adults have a personal seal, carved South’s President Moon Jae-in. with their name in Chinese characters, and used in But she only began issuing statements of direct telework for some place of a signature to authenticate documents in political significance under her own name last month, every aspect of life - from opening a bank account, or which analysts said highlights her central role in the TOKYO: Some Japanese office workers are facing a acknowledging receipt of registered mail. Some major North’s political ranking. It followed her appointment small, but insurmountable hurdle to staying home companies, including big banks, have begun phasing as first vice-department director of the Central under the state of emergency declared in parts of the out their use. But they remain popular, along with oth- Committee of the ruling Workers’ Party - her main role country over the virus: personal signature stamps. A er practices seen as outdated in other major in the totalitarian state. Ri Son Gwon, who was named reliance on paper filing systems in parts of Japan’s economies, including the use of fax machines and a the North’s top diplomat in January, was also elected business world is forcing employees to go into work to focus on paper rather than digital documents. as an alternate member of the Political Bureau along- put their unique seal on documents. To do this they A recent survey by the Japan Association for Chief side Kim’s sister. use tiny traditional stamps known as hanko or inkan - Financial Officers (JACFO) showed 40 percent of tools that date back centuries, but are still popular companies that introduced telework said workers end- TOKYO: In this file photo taken on March 13, 2004, a Stronger virus measures nationwide. ed up going to the office, primarily because they had consumer chooses a “hanko” or personal seal. —AFP In another development, North Korea has called for Usually cylindrical with a surface no larger than a to handle paper documents and stamp things with stronger measures against the rapidly spreading coro- fingernail, the tiny stamps are used with red ink to sign hanko. “There is a conservative culture where compa- tions in the country, which has recorded over 6,000 navirus pandemic at a meeting presided by leader Kim contracts, approve proposals and verify who has nies don’t want to change how they work,” said Hiroshi cases and 94 deaths. Jong Un, state media reported yesterday, without viewed what. “I need to physically be in the office Yaguchi of JACFO. acknowledging whether the country had reported any because I need to submit paper documents and stamp Although the number of companies that digitize Digital seals infections. The already isolated, nuclear-armed North them,” Mizuho, who works at an IT firm in Tokyo said. documents is increasing, more of them should follow The number of commuters on Tokyo’s notorious- quickly shut down its borders after the virus was first Even though her company is tech-savvy in other ways, suit and introduce web conferences to allow telework, ly crowded transport system has dropped signifi- detected in neighboring China in January, and imposed hanko are still the norm there, said Mizuho, who asked he said. Japanese authorities this week declared a cantly, but people like Yumi, an employee at a Tokyo strict containment measures. to be identified by her first name only. state of emergency in seven regions, including the insurance company, said telework simply isn’t possi- Officials in Pyongyang and its state media have “We use Microsoft software as a communication capital, with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe saying people ble for her and her colleagues. “At my company, repeatedly insisted that the North remains totally free tool... but I cannot work from home as long as the should reduce their social contact by 70-80 percent everyone comes in... our customers fill in paper of the virus, but yesterday’s report did not make that paper and hanko culture exists,” she said. She worries to curb the spread of the virus. applications for insurance so it’s difficult for us to assertion. The coronavirus epidemic - which has infect- that her firm isn’t taking the pandemic seriously - The measure falls short of a lockdown, but comes do business at home,” she said, declining to give her ed more than 1.7 million worldwide - had become “a despite an employee in their building contracting the as medical experts warn of explosive growth in infec- family name. —AFP great disaster threatening the whole mankind, regard- less of borders and continents”, the Korean Central Quebec,” said a visibly moved Legault during a press Legault said there was “no co-operation” from News Agency (KCNA) reported. “Such environment Quebec authorities conference, saying he feared “gross negligence” at the the facility’s management, and it was only on Friday can become a condition creating some obstacles to our private residence. The care home, called the Herron night that health services were able to access the struggle and progress,” it said, adding Pyongyang investigate seniors’ and located in the Montreal suburb of Dorval, has 150 residents’ files and find out how many deaths had maintained “very stable anti-epidemic situation”. residents. occurred. “I want to tell Quebecers that what hap- The meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Of the 31 deaths, at least five are due to coronavirus pened at the Herron residence was appalling,” he Committee of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea on home after 31 deaths but the cause for the 26 others is still unknown, Legault said. “We will start by managing the crisis, but Saturday discussed changing policy tasks in the wake said. The first resident was taken to hospital on March 26. when it is under control I want us to review all our of the epidemic, KCNA reported, as officials called for strict and thorough check of the infiltration of the virus. MONTREAL: Quebec authorities are investigating a There he tested positive for coronavirus and died. Three practices in seniors’ residences. We owe it to our A joint resolution was adopted “on more thoroughly seniors’ home where 31 people have died since March days later health officials went to the residence. There seniors to treat them with dignity.” On Saturday, taking national measures for protecting the life and 13, Quebec Premier Francois Legault announced they found “serious problems” and that “a good number there were 12,292 cases of coronavirus in the safety of our people to cope with the worldwide epi- Saturday, calling the situation “appalling”. “I find it of the staff had left the center,” Legault said, noting that province of Quebec and 289 deaths, 48 more than demic disease”, it added. —Agencies unacceptable the way we treat our seniors in authorities had sent staff to care for the residents. the day before. —AFP 8 Established 1961 Monday, April 13, 2020 International In grim milestone, US records highest COVID-19 death toll US’ coronavirus death toll passes over 20,000

NEW YORK: The United States surpassed Italy on loss of life was to shut down the economy and socie- Saturday as the country with the highest reported ty until the virus was “vanquished” were “half right.” coronavirus death toll, recording more than 20,000 He said, “That will minimize the deaths from the deaths since the outbreak began, according to a virus directly,” but added that economic shocks also Reuters tally. The grim milestone was reached as killed people, through higher depression and suicide President Donald Trump mulled over when the coun- rates and drug abuse. “So that very tough decision try, which has registered more than half a million this president is going to be making is to have to infections, might begin to see a return to normality. weigh the balance and figure out which path does The United States has seen its highest death tolls more damage.” to date in the epidemic with roughly 2,000 deaths a In New York, the state’s governor and New York day reported for the last four days in a row, the City’s mayor engaged in a fresh squabble over their largest number in and around New York City. Even efforts to combat the virus in what is now the global that is viewed as understated, as New York is still epicenter, in this instance over how long schools figuring out how best to include a surge in deaths at might stay closed. The state was sometimes slower home in its official statistics. Public health experts to impose social-distancing curbs than elsewhere, have warned the US death toll could reach 200,000 notably California, while New York’s two most pow- over the summer if unprecedented stay-at-home erful officials, both Democrats, sometimes disagreed orders that have closed over matters of jurisdiction businesses and kept most and the best terminology Americans indoors are lift- for certain measures. They ed when they expire at the have not appeared in pub- end of the month. lic together since March 2. Most of the curbs, how- More than On Saturday morning, ever, including school clo- half a million Mayor Bill de Blasio sures and emergency declared that New York orders keeping non-essen- infected City’s public schools would NEW YORK: Hart Island in Long Island Sound is viewed in New York. Unclaimed victims of the tial workers largely con- no longer reopen on April new coronavirus are being buried in unmarked mass graves by contract laborers on an island fined to home, flow from 20 but stay closed for the in New York. —AFP powers vested in state rest of the academic year, governors, not the presi- saying it was “the right dent. Nonetheless, Trump has said he wants life to thing to do.” seeking unemployment benefits in the last three pressure on their finances. A handful of holdout US return to normal as soon as possible and that the New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, however, weeks surpassed 16 million, as weekly new claims churches planned to hold in-person services on measures aimed at curbing the spread of the later used his widely watched daily news conference topped 6 million for a second straight time last week. Easter Sunday, saying their right to worship out- COVID-19 disease caused by the novel coronavirus to dismiss the mayor’s edict as merely an “opinion,” The government has said the economy shed weighed public health warnings. carry their own economic and public-health cost. and say he would make his own decision on school 701,000 jobs in March. That was the most job losses But there have been glimmers of hope. Dr Speaking by telephone with Fox News on closures. The current federal guidelines advocating since the Great Recession and ended the longest Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious Saturday evening, Trump said he would make a deci- widespread social-distancing measures run until employment boom in US history from late 2010. disease expert, and other health officials have sion “reasonably soon,” based on the advice of “a lot April 30. Trump, who is seeking re-election in pointed to falling rates of virus hospitalizations of very smart people, a lot of professionals, doctors November, will then have to decide whether to Empty churches and admissions to intensive care units, particularly and business leaders.” He said “instinct” would also extend them or start encouraging people to go back With more than 90% of the country under stay- in New York state, as signs that social distancing play a role. “People want to get back, they want to to work and a more normal way of life. at-home orders, the Christian calendar’s holiest measures are paying off. The stay-at-home orders get back to work. We have to bring our country Trump has said he will unveil a new advisory weekend has mostly featured services livestreamed imposed in recent weeks across 42 states have back,” he said. Trump’s trade adviser, Peter Navarro, council, possibly on Tuesday, that will include some or broadcast to worshippers at home. With many taken a huge toll on commerce and raised ques- told Fox News that “purist medical professionals” state governors and will focus on the process of churches already short of funds, untouched collec- tions over how long business closures and travel who took the position that the only way to minimize reopening the economy. The number of Americans tion plates at a usually busy time of the year add curbs can be sustained. —Reuters

gates, Alaska Democrats tweeted Joe Biden from the party’s official account. Sanders took 44.7 percent of the votes and eight delegates, according Anne Frank’s diary wins Alaska to the tweet. He has stressed he will remain on the ballot and seek to gain more relevant than primary as many delegates as possible in order to “exert significant influence” WASHINGTON: Joe Biden, the pre- over the direction of the party. ever, 75 years on sumptive Democratic presidential Biden, like most Americans, is nominee, was declared winner of the under stay-at-home orders due to the AMSTERDAM: A lifetime ago, a Jewish girl confided Alaska primary late Saturday after global coronavirus pandemic, and has in her diary as she spent two years in isolation from the state shifted to postal voting due marked becoming the de facto 2020 the outside world in a doomed attempt to escape to the coronavirus pandemic. The nominee with press releases and com- mortal danger. Anne Frank, a teenager from state’s ballots were sent out before ments broadcast online from his base- Amsterdam, wrote of her hopes, fears and dreams as Biden’s rival Bernie Sanders pulled ment. He has urged Sanders support- she and her family hid from the Nazis in a secret out of the race last week, meaning ers to join his campaign, which annexe behind a canal-side house. Seventy-five years the Vermont senator also took a pro- already has the backing of nearly all ago this year, after their hiding place was discovered, portion of the vote. other ex-rivals in the race including Anne died of typhus in the Bergen-Belsen concentra- However Biden emerged as the senators Kamala Harris and Amy CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA: Supporters check their phones as they tion camp in Germany, aged 15. clear winner with 55.3 percent of the Klobuchar, and former Indiana mayor wait for Democratic presidential hopeful former Vice President Joe Biden But the diary that her father published after World vote and nine of the state’s 15 dele- Pete Buttigieg. —AFP to arrive at a town hall event in Charleston, South Carolina. —AFP War II won a worldwide audience as a reminder of the horrors of the Holocaust, and remains more relevant than ever. “The most important part of the diary is that Cohen’s attorney, Roger Adler, said Cohen avirus pandemic, which has hammered New it offers some insight into what it means to be human,” Trump’s former lawyer had been moved out of solitary confinement on York state and surfaced in prisons around the Ronald Leopold, executive director of the Anne Frank Friday, but did not provide the reason. The US country. The Bureau of Prisons said that as of House museum in Amsterdam said. “That is exactly Bureau of Prisons (BOP) said it does not com- Friday, 318 federal inmates and 163 staffers had why it has remained relevant during the 75 years after Michael Cohen out of the Second World War and why it will remain relevant, ment on the confinement conditions of individ- tested positive for COVID-19, the respiratory I am absolutely convinced, for generations to come.” solitary confinement ual inmates. Prior to the transfer, Cohen had illness caused by the new coronavirus. The “Diary of a Young Girl” has become one of the been housed in a minimum-security camp at the Five inmates and four staffers at Otisville world’s most-read books, selling 30 million copies and WASHINGTON: Michael Cohen, the former facility, which is about 70 miles (110 km) north- have tested positive, according to the bureau. being translated into more than 70 languages. But it personal attorney to US President Donald west of New York City. Adler said he is concerned that inmates and had humble beginnings, as a birthday present for the Trump, has been removed from solitary confine- Cohen, who once said he would “take a bul- corrections officers are not routinely tested for 13-year-old Anne. Born in Frankfurt, she moved to the ment in a federal prison where he is serving time let” for Trump, was sentenced to three years in the virus and said the bureau “may well be Netherlands aged three with her parents Otto and for violating campaign finance laws, his attorney prison in 2018 for directing hush payments to underreporting the incidence of the pandemic.” Edith and her older sister Margot to escape rising anti- told Reuters on Saturday. Cohen was trans- pornographic film star Stormy Daniels and for- Cohen was placed in solitary after another Semitism in Hitler’s Germany. But in 1940, the Nazis ferred on Wednesday to a Special Housing Unit mer Playboy model Karen McDougal, who inmate complained about his internet use, a invaded the Netherlands, and then stepped up their at the Otisville Federal Correctional Institution claimed they had affairs with Trump. Trump has source familiar with the matter told Reuters persecution of the Jews there too. in New York state, a disciplinary section of the denied having the encounters. In March, Cohen this week. He is eligible for release in prison, Reuters reported this week. pressed to be released early due to the coron- November 2021. —Reuters ‘She’s their peer’ Anne began writing shortly before the family went into hiding in 1942 in the secret annexe that Otto Frank French friends” in his district. had built behind his business premises on Germany condemns “Some have been insulted or stopped on the Prinsengracht, one of Amsterdam’s most beautiful street” while others “no longer dare come here,” canals. Addressing her diary as “Dear Kitty”, over the Gersheim mayor Michael Clivot told news site t- next two years she described her thoughts and feelings anti-French insults online. The situation in Gersheim became so bad about life in isolation with her family and the four other that Clivot posted a video directly addressing the Jewish people they lived in hiding there with. Life in in the border zone townspeople on Facebook. Some French people the annexe was hard. Anne wrote with searing honesty had reported being spat on while out walking or about her feelings towards its other occupants, in par- BERLIN: German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on queueing at the supermarket, he said. One had ticular her difficult relationship with her mother. Saturday condemned aggression towards French been told to “go back to your corona-ridden She also harbored serious ambitions of being a people travelling into border areas, which has flared country,” Clivot added. writer, penning stories and starting her own book amid the coronavirus pandemic. “Coronavirus about her experiences. Through it all, there remains knows nothing of nationality. It’s the same for ‘Joint action needed’ the voice of a schoolgirl examining her place in the human dignity. It hurts to see how some of our The French consul in Saarland, Catherine world - just like today’s young people, says Leopold. French friends have been insulted and attacked Robinet, confirmed that ‘isolated’ incidents targeting BERLIN: People sit on the banks of the Landwehr canal “She’s their peer. They recognise her voice, what she because of COVID-19,” Mass posted on Twitter. French nationals had taken place in the region. But was thinking of, what she was doing when she was in Berlin’s Kreuzberg district as the sun shines amid “Such behavior is completely unacceptable. And Robinet urged against “generalizing” the anti- the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. —AFP struggling with her relationship with her mother,” he besides: we are in the same boat,” he added. Maas’ French sentiment, adding that she had also received said. The last entry was on August 1, 1944. Three days tweet came in response to a similarly apologetic numerous messages of support. Some people in later, German agents raided the house. post from Anke Rehlinger, economy minister in France also have reacted poorly to Germans in the ers. Grand Est on the German border has suffered There are several theories about why, including Saarland state which borders France’s Grand Est country, she added. For the Gersheim mayor Clivot, France’s most deadly COVID-19 outbreak with that the Franks were betrayed by neighbours or region. “Our heart bleeds for the closed borders to the incidents showed that a decision by Berlin to more than 2,000 confirmed deaths. Across the bor- because of black market activities in the warehouse France and Luxembourg,” Rehlinger said on April 8. close the frontier in mid-March in a bid to slow the der in Saarland, only 41 fatal cases have been regis- below, but as Leopold says “it’s all unsubstantiated, so “We have heard that French people have been pandemic’s spread had been mistaken. “What we tered by the Robert Koch Institute, responsible for we don’t know.” The Franks were transported by train insulted and had eggs thrown at them. People doing needed (at the time) was joint action with France,” disease control. to the Auschwitz concentration camp - but were split such things are sinning against the friendship he said. On March 16, Germany introduced tough Germany’s nationwide death rate from the dis- up and Anne and Margot were sent to Belsen. Both between our nations,” she added. “I apologize to border controls with neighboring nations including ease is also well below that in France, with 2,544 of sisters contracted typhus and Anne is believed to have our French friends for these isolated incidents.” France. Since then, only goods deliveries and cross- 118,000 infected people succumbing while in died some time in February 1945, two months before Some days before, the mayor of a small town on the border commuters have been waved through by France over 13,800 have died out of some 125,000 Allied troops liberated Belsen on April 15. —AFP border complained of “a certain hostility to our police, while officers have turned back other travel- cases. —AFP Established 1961

MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2020

Rising joblessness from virus fight NBK mobile banking, the first African economies 10threatens China’s poverty targets 11 destination for customers 11 hard hit by pandemic

SINGAPORE: A floating accommodation facilities, which will be used as temporary housing for healthy foreign workers as a preventive measure against the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, is docked at Tanjong Pagar terminal port in Singapore yesterday. Thousands of migrant workers are being moved out of crowded dormitories in Singapore after a surge in new coronavirus cases linked to the sites, authorities said. — AFP Pandemic a ‘perfect storm’ for South Asia

Region to record worst economic performance in 40 years: World Bank

NEW DELHI: South Asia is on course for its worst percent from its pre-pandemic projection of 6.3 per- Inequality Bank said. In the short term this means preparing economic performance in 40 years, with decades of cent, with at least half the countries falling into “deep The report also warned that the pandemic will weak healthcare systems, providing safety nets and progress in the battle against poverty at risk, because recession”. reinforce inequality in the region, with the pan- securing access to food, medical supplies and ne- of coronavirus, the World Bank said yesterday. India, Worst hit will be the demic hitting informal cessities for the most vulnerable, it advised. Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan and other smaller Maldives where the col- workers with limited or It recommended temporary work programs for nations, which have 1.8 billion people and some of the lapse of tourism will result no access to healthcare migrant workers, debt relief for business and indi- planet’s most densely populated cities, have so far re- in gross domestic output or social safety the hard- viduals and cutting red tape on imports and exports ported relatively few coronavirus cases but experts contracting by as much as Factory orders est. In India for instance, of essential goods. fear they could be the next hotspots. 13 percent, while the world’s biggest lock- And once the crisis is over, governments need The dire economic effects are already much in ev- Afghanistan could shrink cancelled, poor down has prompted hun- urgently to pursue “innovative policies” and jump- idence, with widespread lockdowns freezing most by as much as 5.9 percent workers lose jobs dreds of thousands of start economies. “Failure to do so can lead to long- normal activity, Western factory orders cancelled and and Pakistan by up to 2.2 migrant workers to return term growth disruptions and reverse hard-won vast numbers of poor workers suddenly jobless. percent. Regional heavy- to their home villages, progress in reducing poverty,” the bank’s Hartwig “South Asia finds itself in a perfect storm of ad- weight India, where the fis- many on foot. Schafer said. verse effects. Tourism has dried up, supply chains cal year began on April 1, Governments need to The World Bank is taking “broad, fast action”, have been disrupted, demand for garments has col- will see growth of just 1.5- “ramp up action to curb deploying up to $160 billion in financial support lapsed and consumer and investor sentiments have 2.8 percent in its current financial year, down from an the health emergency, protect their people, espe- over the next 15 months to help countries protect deteriorated,” said a World Bank report. It slashed its expected 4.8-5.0 percent for the year just ended, the cially the poorest and most vulnerable, and set the the poor and vulnerable, support businesses, and growth forecast for the region this year to 1.8-2.8 bank predicted. stage now for fast economic recovery,” the World bolster economic recovery. — AFP

No shortages Overtime for French Founded in 1910, the factory in the town of Jussey originally produced wood charcoal and flooring. At the outset of World War II it began to specialize in coffin industry as making coffins. It is now part of the OGF Group, which has two factories including the one at Jussey, virus deaths surge and makes one in four coffins used in France. The 10 hectare (25 acre) site is responsible for the entire process of producing coffins. It strips the logs, JUSSEY, France: It’s a grim truth that times are cuts then dries the wood, which is eventually crafted good for the coffin business when they’re bad for and assembled into coffins. The wood, mostly oak, people, and the coronavirus pandemic is no excep- comes from local forests. While temporarily cutting tion. At a factory belonging to Europe’s largest cof- back on the number of models, the factory has made fin maker, OGF, in eastern France, workers are doing another adjustment: it has been making more larger overtime to meet demand from families parting with coffins. “Orders for larger sizes are up a bit,” said their loved ones. Garret, although he declined to draw a link to reports “Due to the epidemic, we decided to manufacture that COVID-19 mortality rates are higher for over- just four models of coffins that are top sellers with weight people. While many manufacturers have en- families” compared to the 15 types usually on offer, countered problems as lockdown restrictions said factory director Emmanuel Garret. complicate deliveries, the Jussey factory is well JUSSEY, France: At a factory belonging to Europe’s largest coffin maker, OGF, in eastern France, workers The change “allowed us to optimize production”, stocked. “We’re OK, we have three months of stocks are doing overtime to meet demand from families parting with their loved ones. —AFP he added. Output has risen to 410 coffins per day, of wood, glue, nails and varnish,” said Garret. compared to 370 normally. Workers are putting in nearly an extra hour per day. ‘Play our part’ “But today, it’s a bit different, you have to protect Like many other French companies, the factory has “People have been forewarned and are ready to Some of the factory’s workers are no strangers to yourself as well with masks and gloves,” said Theurez. had difficulty obtaining protective gear for all of its come in and work on Saturdays,” said Didier Pid- previous surges in deaths. “During the 2003 heat- “It’s a collective crisis, we all have to make an effort employees. It had a local seamstress make masks for ancet, who heads up the team that selects the wood wave we increased production to 500 caskets a day,” and play our part,” he added. employees and work stations are disinfected regu- for the coffins. France has been one of the country’s said David Theurez, a 30-year veteran at the site. The The factory’s workers themselves haven’t gone un- larly. The factory’s director thinks that the rapid worst hit by the coronavirus. “We’re proud to be par- heatwave, which claimed nearly 15,000 lives in scathed: three have come down with COVID-19. Fif- adoption of social distancing measures and protec- ticipating in this national effort, we’re doing our best France, was in some ways more difficult for the fac- teen others are at home, forced into isolation by tive gear has helped them avoid more cases as east- to ensure that victims can have their final overcoat, tory as they had no warning and had to call workers existing serious health issues, or because they have ern France has been hard hit with coronavirus as we say,” added Pidancet. back from vacation. to mind their children as school has been cancelled. infections. “Fingers crossed,” said Garret. — AFP 10 Established 1961 Monday, April 13, 2020 Business Rising joblessness from virus fight threatens China’s poverty targets Millions lose jobs in economic fallout

BEIJING: Although China is claiming success in its Data firm Caixin said its services purchasing man- battle against the coronavirus, millions have lost their agers’ index, a key indicator of activity in the services jobs in the economic fallout, throwing into jeopardy sector, showed companies cut staff at the quickest an ambitious target to eradicate poverty this year. Bei- pace on record in March. Hu Fangdi, 23, lost her job jing has been working to fire up the economy again as a saleswoman at an airport retail store two weeks after bringing it to a near standstill to curb the spread ago and has had no luck finding a new role. of COVID-19, but many firms have had a bumpy “No one was buying things during the outbreak restart and workers are bearing the brunt of the pain. and the company laid us off,” she said. Lily Han, who Despite being a country of skyscrapers and high- lost her sales job at a tech firm last month, said she tech innovations, China still has millions of people on needs a new job within two months just to make ends meager incomes. About 5.5 million rural Chinese live meet. The 24-year-old has applied for over 300 posi- in poverty, defined by the government as surviving on tions but has come up empty handed. less than 2,300 yuan ($326) a year. ‘Constant anxiety’ A slowing economy With much of the rest puts pressure on a key of the world still locked in Communist Party goal to Many firms all-consuming battles become a “moderately against the virus, the pan- prosperous society” by experience a demic is expected to the end of 2020, an am- bumpy restart heavily weigh on demand bition in place long be- for Chinese goods. Ana- fore the virus emerged. It lysts at financial services also threatens a long- firm Nomura said the na- SHENYANG: A customer (right) buys fruits at a market in Shenyang in China’s northeastern Liaoning province. held tacit agreement be- tion could lose around 18 Inflation in China slowed in March after a record increase the earlier month, driven by a fall in food prices tween people and party million jobs in the export as the country gradually lifts travel lockdowns due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. — AFP that freedoms can be sacrificed in return for economic sector-nearly a third of the industry’s workforce. This progress, an understanding that largely forms the growing unemployment will be a major blow to con- basis of the authoritarian government’s legitimacy in sumption-a key driver of China’s growth, said Louis to cover my daily expenses,” he said. sales are barely 10 percent of pre-virus levels and Liu the absence of elections. Kuijs of Oxford Economics. has cut salaries. Some firms have taken dramatic China has little in the way of social security benefits Workers and businesses are beginning to feel the ‘I feel constant anxiety’ measures to stay solvent, including paying just a min- and workers who lose their jobs have an inadequate squeeze as cash flow dries up. One worker in con- Some businesses still can’t reopen amid lingering imal living allowance. And Beijing authorities have al- safety net, meaning mass unemployment often brings struction management surnamed Zhao, 28, told AFP lockdowns. Eric Liu, owner of Maomaochong Bar and lowed companies to waive some social security a fear of unrest. Official statistics show jobless num- his employer stopped paying salaries in February. “I Pizza in one of Beijing’s ageing hutong neighborhoods, payments, including contributions to pension, unem- bers have soared, with roughly five million more peo- have housing and credit loans to pay... My family is says business is paltry as the narrow alleyways remain ployment and work injury funds-measures that could ple out of work between December and February. now covering my housing loan and I work part-time sealed off. Relying on his home delivery customers, further hit vulnerable workers. — AFP

avirus crisis. Brazil has already an- Wet markets in Brazil deficit nounced a measure to support compa- nies with annual sales of 360,000 reais to 10 million reais. Now, the government Wuhan struggle jumps to 7% is looking at proposals to target smaller companies to survive blow of GDP “In all of them there is ... the Treas- ury will be behind it because the risk is very high,” said Mansueto. “Soon we WUHAN: Fish and vegetable merchants BRASILIA: Brazil’s 2020 deficit is ap- will define which scheme will be chosen are reopening stalls at wet markets in proaching 500 billion reais ($96 billion), from the three or four that are under China’s central city of Wuhan as it lifts a or 7% of gross domestic product, even discussion.” He did not give further de- months-long lockdown against the coron- before a state aid proposal of up to 222 tails. For the second consecutive day, avirus pandemic, but their future looks un- billion reais to tackle the coronavirus is Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro took to certain with few customers as the virus factored in, the economy ministry said the streets on Saturday. A far-right for- stigma persists. on Saturday. In 2019, the deficit was 61 mer army captain, Bolsonaro has The virus, which has infected 1.6 million billion reais, or 0.9 percent of GDP, the chafed at social distancing measures people and killed 106,000 in 214 countries, ministry said. imposed by state governors and even is believed to have originated late last year “It is important that any new fiscal his own health officials. WUHAN: Fish and vegetable merchants are reopening stalls at wet markets in China’s among wild animals on sale in a seafood impact be discussed carefully to avoid an He wants to see the economy central city of Wuhan as it lifts a months-long lockdown against the coronavirus pan- market in Wuhan that has been closed and excessive growth of the primary deficit restarted, arguing that extended shut- demic, but their future looks uncertain with few customers as the virus stigma persists. boarded up since January. That has and public debt of the public sector be- downs pose a greater risk than a disease prompted heavy scrutiny for wet markets, a yond what is strictly necessary to reduce he calls a “little cold.” On Saturday, Bol- key facet of China’s daily life, even though animals, such as fish, in the open air. They yuan ($28 million) to upgrade its 425 farm- the economic and social impacts of the sonaro visited a field hospital being built only a few sell wildlife. Some US officials tend to be popular with shoppers who be- ers’ markets, in a campaign to improve hy- coronavirus crisis,” the ministry said in a near the capital Brasilia, and greeted have called for them, and others across Asia, lieve the items on sale are cheaper and giene, city officials said on Friday. Still, statement. supporters who flocked to see him. to be closed. fresher than in supermarkets. some worry they may not stay around long Separately, Brazilian Treasury Secre- Brazil is the worst-hit country in “This is a person-to-person virus, no Stall owners in Wuhan said they were not enough to see it. tary Mansueto Almeida said that the Latin America by the coronavirus out- matter where you are,” said Jin Qinzhi, a optimistic after their business was badly “We don’t have any income and busi- government is studying a Treasury- break. On Saturday, Brazil’s health min- vegetable and meat vendor at a wet market, hurt by the strict shutdowns in China, which ness,” said Jin. “If it goes on like this, it will backed scheme to help smaller compa- istry said 1,124 people had died as a when asked what she thought about de- ordered a temporary ban on trade and con- be very difficult for us to survive.” Many nies as many banks are not lending due result of the outbreak, with 20,727 con- mands for their closure. sumption of wildlife in January. stores remain shut and some curbs continue, to the risk of default during the coron- firmed cases. — Reuters “Even the supermarket is full of people. “There is no business and no one is even though a sharp drop in new local cases Here people are more scattered. As long as coming,” said a worker chopping fish who prompted lifting of the lockdown. we take precautionary measures, and we only gave her surname, Zhang. “Everywhere China reported 99 new virus infections said Anna Barker, Fairtrade Foundation’s pay attention to disinfecting, it should be is blocked and people cannot come in. on Saturday, taking its tally to 82,052, with East Africa’s senior supply chain manager for flowers. fine.” A common sight across Asia, wet mar- Everyone is scared to go out and contract a death toll of 3,339. Globally, the virus has “Flower workers don’t always earn a lot kets traditionally sell fresh produce and live the virus.” Wuhan will spend 200 million reached 214 countries. — Reuters female flower of money to have savings. We’re really concerned that they won’t have enough workers lose jobs food on their table.” Kenyan farmers Exports wither, workers laid off Floriculture is a key economic pillar NAIROBI/ADDIS ABABA: Emma for Africa’s top flower exporters, Kenya battle fruit-fly Wanjiru had been packing roses at the and Ethiopia. The sector - which culti- flower farm in Kenya’s Rift Valley town of vates flowers for largely European mar- menace Naivasha for six months when she was kets such as the Netherlands, Italy, told not to come back two weeks ago. Germany and Britain - generates over $1 The mother-of-two was devastated billion annually and employs hundreds KIRWIRE VILLAGE, Kenya: Gideon Gi- to lose the monthly wage of 7,200 of thousands of people across the two tonga inspected his avocado orchard in Kenyan shillings ($72) in a nation where east African nations. In Kenya, flower central Kenya with military precision, re- unemployment is high and her husband’s exports are among the top foreign ex- vealing that some of the fruit were tinged wage as a mason too meagre to support change earners, along with tourism and with a worryingly familiar yellow colour. their family of four. “I didn’t understand remittances. While in Ethiopia, the sec- Yet again, it was the same culprits at- when my supervisor first told me I was tor earned $280 million in the last fiscal tacking his crop on the farm in Kirwire vil- losing my job because of the coron- year, according to the Ethiopian Horti- lage in Meru County: fruit flies. “Most of the avirus,” Wanjiru, 37, told the Thomson culture Producers Exports Association. fruits you see with a ripening colour are not Reuters Foundation by phone from But lockdowns across many Euro- ripe,” he said. “(They) have been punctured Naivasha, 100 km (60 miles) north of the pean countries, coupled with the can- capital, Nairobi. by fruit flies and are in the process of rotting Gideon Gitonga holds a container of trapped fruit flies at his farm in the†Kenyan village cellation of international flights, has led and eventually falling off.” of Kirwire, in Meru County. — Reuters “She said the flower orders were not to flower exports in both nations plung- As the planet’s climate heats up, rising coming anymore and there was not ing by up to 80 percent, forcing farm temperatures have driven a massive in- enough work for us all. I hope to go owners to trash tons of their high-qual- crease in Kenya’s fruit fly population, say damage by the fruit flies is quite devastat- ure for the whole area. back to work when this coronavirus is ity blooms. “Because of the lockdowns agricultural experts. Farmers in fruit fly-in- ing,” Gitonga told the Thomson Reuters Mwaura said warmer weather speeds up over ... but I don’t know when that it is in our main markets, flowers are not fested areas are losing on average up to half Foundation. a fruit fly’s development, giving it more time and how my family will survive until seen as a necessity, but more of a luxury. their crops each year to the tiny pests, said as an adult to lay eggs and produce more then.” With overseas demand for fresh- The concentration has been on health Onesmus Mwaura, a research assistant at Heat-loving pests offspring. “The body activity increases with cut flowers plummeting due to the and safety products, and food,” said the Nairobi-based International Centre of Paul Thiuki, an agricultural extension offi- the rise in temperature, hence feeding and COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of Clement Tulezi, chief executive of the Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE). cer who has been working in Meru for 20 reproduction is highly increased, leading to women in flower farms in Kenya and Kenya Flower Council. Fruit-fly damage costs farmers an esti- years, said the region’s warming climate has population build-up,” Mwaura explained in Ethiopia have lost their jobs and are at “Cash flows have become an issue mated 50 billion Kenyan shillings ($472 mil- turned it into a perfect breeding ground for an email interview. risk of being pushed into poverty, and we had to look at how to remain lion) every year, according to the fruit flies. Average temperatures in Kenya have Higher temperatures also cause fruit to warned labor rights campaigners. The afloat. The first thing to look at was the government’s Horticultural Crops Direc- risen by 0.3 degrees Celsius (0.54 degrees ripen faster and release more of the com- coronavirus crisis, they add, has spot- workers because wages take up 45 per- torate. The fruit fly population in Gitonga’s Fahrenheit) per decade since 1985, according pound that attracts fruit flies, encouraging lighted long-standing problems in cent of any flower farm operation.” two-acre (0.8-hectare) orchard was “mini- to the U.S. development agency USAID. their feeding and egg-laying, he added. global supply chains, such as East Around 10,000 casual workers have mal” when he first started commercial avo- In 2011, when farmers in Meru first Adult flies burrow into the fruit’s flesh to lay Africa’s flower industry which employs been laid off, and about 50 percent of cado farming eight years ago. It has since started noticing more fruit flies, the county’s their eggs, introducing bacteria that causes mostly female workers growing bou- permanent workers given compulsory turned into an infestation, destroying up to central ward had about 10,000 of the in- the fruit to rot. When the eggs hatch, the lar- quets of roses and carnations for west- annual leave, said Tulezi, adding this three-quarters of his crop each year since sects - a manageable number at the time, vae eat the fruit from the inside out. An adult ern supermarkets. was done in agreement with workers’ 2017, he said. Thiuki said. ICIPE researchers calculate the fly can lay between 100 and 500 eggs in its “We’re already hearing reports of unions. In neighboring Ethiopia, indus- Even when the affected avocados sur- number of fruit flies by laying monitoring lifetime, Mwaura explained. “Fruit flies (are) tens of thousands of workers who’ve try officials estimate about 50,000 vive, their quality is so degraded it is diffi- traps, counting how many are caught after denying farmers a chance to generate any been sent home on compulsory leave or workers could lose their jobs in the cult to find anyone willing to buy them. “The two months, and then extrapolating the fig- substantial income,” he said. — Reuters that temporary contracts ended earlier,” coming weeks. — Reuters Established 1961 11 Business Monday, April 13, 2020 NBK mobile banking, the first destination for its customers Providing ease in completing transactions around the clock especially under current circumstances

KUWAIT: Under the present circum- ing experience from home. NBK has order to encourage customers to avoid sis has imposed significant changes on the stances that are facing Kuwait and the therefore continued to introduce new using cash during this period, NBK global banking industry, leading it to move world following the novel Coronavirus services, including 17 new features and increased the limit of paying without to digital channels, limiting the exchange of outbreak and the precautionary and pre- updates last year alone to enable cus- entering a PIN code up to KD 25 when cash money, and encouraging our cus- ventive measures that were imposed sub- tomers to complete transactions without paying with NBK Tap and Pay. For that tomers to rely on NBK Mobile Banking to sequently, National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) the need to visit their nearest branch. purpose, the bank is currently updating all complete their banking transactions for its has ensured that it remains at the service These services have proven their signifi- POS machines that are NFC-enabled and ease, safety and security. We promise our of its customers by providing them with cance to customers under the current cir- which cover 86 percent of the POS net- customers to continue investing in new digi- uninterrupted banking services and cumstances as the number of new sub- work, the largest in Kuwait. tal features and services.” enabling them to complete their transac- scribers for NBK Mobile Banking has Commenting on the services available Al-Othman concluded that NBK is tions quickly and easily around the clock increased by 14 percent. The number of to customers, Mohammed Al-Othman, always ready to support customers and and from the comfort of their homes transfers through the app has also General Manager of Consumer Banking, provide them with services that enable them through NBK Mobile Banking App. increased by 12 percent, while the amount National Bank of Kuwait, said: “We have to complete their transactions from the made sure to take every precautionary comfort of their home so they can stay safe and preventive measure since the begin- in light of the current circumstances. He Mohammed Al-Othman • The current situation imposed significant changes in global banking ning of the health crisis, following strictly said: “We hope everyone remains safe and services, including a move to digital channels as well as reducing the guidelines provided by the Government of that the crisis ends soon and may God pro- exchange of cash money Kuwait and Central Bank of Kuwait. The tect Kuwait and its people from all harm.” protection and safety of our customers He continued: “Since the beginning of NBK customers can enjoy many bank- • Since the beginning of the crisis, we’ve taken the necessary precau- and employees is our priority and NBK the crisis, we have formed a specialized ing services with ease and convenience tions to protect customers as well as preventive measures in compli- has therefore reduced its operating team to follow the developments of the sit- through NBK Mobile Banking. The servic- ance with the decisions of the Council of Ministers and Central Bank branches to nine while encouraging cus- uation and ensure we provide the best es include: of Kuwait tomers to use NBK Mobile Banking to service to customers while complying to • Transfers funds locally and interna- • We are committed to advancing NBK Mobile Banking to offer cus- complete their banking transactions. We the decisions of the Government and regu- tionally have indeed seen a great response from latory authorities. We are also providing tomers with uninterrupted banking services our customers with a surge in the number our customers with guidelines about the • NBK Quick Pay • We have developed explanatory videos to guide customers on how to of subscribers to the service, as well as an current situation on our social media plat- • e-Payments use NBK Mobile Banking and complete transactions with ease increase in the number of transactions forms and have seen a remarkable • Adding beneficiaries completed with NBK Quick Pay or e- increase of up to 50 percent in the num- • Increase the monthly transfer limit Payments.” ber of interactions on both NBK Social • Access banking transactions history NBK has since before the current crisis transferred for NBK Quick Pay increased Al-Othman added: “We are constantly Media Channels and WhatsApp, while we • Make credit card payments committed to providing its customers with by 29 percent and e-Payments increased developing our NBK Mobile Banking App continue to respond to our customers’ NBK has been fully prepared and ready top-notch digital solutions through NBK by 24 percent. NBK has also ensured to provide customers with an uninterrupt- questions 24/7”. to provide services to customers through Mobile Banking and NBK Online Banking, increasing the amount limit on transfers for ed, easy and convenient banking service He continued: “I take this opportunity its various channels, starting with nine in addition to many other services avail- the NBK Quick Pay to KD 5,000 per day 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, without to extend our deepest gratitude and sin- operating branches to serve customers, able around the clock like NBK Contact and a total of 10 transactions, and up to having to visit a branch in light of limited cerest appreciation to every NBK employ- ATMs and CDMs located throughout Center. The bank’s contact center officers KD 10,000 per month. The step comes in branch operations that aim to safeguard ee, especially those working in the front Kuwait, direct communication with the are available around the clock to support an aim to facilitate sending and receiving our customers and employees. To ensure rows. They are the soldiers who work con- bank through its NBK Contact Center at customers and respond to their queries, money. our customers are able to use the services tinuously to provide the best service to 1801801, NBK WhatsApp and even on the while the NBK WhatsApp and social There is no doubt that today’s difficult and features they need during the current our customers, whether at our operating bank’s social media platforms where all media channels are also available to circumstances have imposed a change in period, we have provided them with tuto- branches or through our call center, and queries are answered. The bank is also respond to customers’ queries at record banking transactions, making them less rial videos on how to use the services and social media platforms, as well as different committed to providing information and speed. dependent on cash exchange and more complete their transactions safely. These departments who are committed to ensur- instructions on matters affected by the NBK Mobile Banking comes at the dependent on payments by debit or credit videos are available on our social media ing the comfort and safety of our cus- current health situation on its social media forefront of these services by enabling cards, and especially cards supporting the channels as well as on the bank’s website tomers in these circumstances.” platforms at nbkgroup where interaction customers to enjoy a fast and easy bank- contactless technology. Therefore, and in nbk.com.” Al-Othman said: “The current health cri- with customers has been remarkable. African economies hard hit by pandemic

NBK donates ABIDJAN: Sub-Saharan Africa has are in danger of folding without finan- not been as badly hit by the coron- cial aid. KD 1 million avirus pandemic as some other parts of the world, but the economy is Coffee and cocoa markets threatened being pummeled. Here’s a look at the In Ethiopia, Africa’s largest coffee to KRCS main issues. producer, exporters are already experi- For the first time in 25 years sub- encing a “devastating shock”, according KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait Saharan Africa is about to go into reces- to Gizat Worku, head of the country’s (NBK) announced that it is donating KD 1 million to Kuwait Red Crescent Society sion, according to World Bank estimates. Coffee Exporters Association. Business (KRCS) as part of its humanitarian and Following 2.4 percent growth last year, from the main importers in Europe and social role to support in Coronavirus the estimate for 2020 is between -2.1 the US is at a standstill. Coffee brings in (COVID-19) pandemic response. and -5.1 percent as the economy con- five percent of the country’s GDP and NBK’s donation will be directed to tracts. This is in part a knock-on effect directly employs 25 million people, out support Kuwait Red Crescent Society’s from the economic hits being taken by of a population of 110 million. efforts to purchase ventilators and the Africa’s main trading partners: China, the In the short term the crisis is unlikely deployment of fully equipped mobile EU and the United States. to have a major impact on the cocoa clinics to quarantined areas. This initia- Add to that the slump in the key mar- market, according to the Michel Arrion, tive highlights NBK’s commitment kets of raw materials and tourism as well head of the International Cocoa towards cementing its Corporate Social as the effect of measures to confine Organization, because the main Responsibility (CSR) vision in support- populations at home and you have the importers have around 1.8 million tonnes perfect economic storm for the conti- ABIDJAN: Sub-Saharan Africa has not been as badly hit by the coron- of stock, equal to four or five months ing the efforts geared towards combat- avirus pandemic as some other parts of the world, but the economy is nent. The African Development Bank production. But “there is a real fear ing the novel Coronavirus, as it maintains being pummeled. its continued collaboration with various remains less pessimistic but still sees a among planters of a long-term drop in volunteer programs and relief efforts. fall into recession of between -0.7 and - prices,” said Moussa Kone, president of Meanwhile, NBK commended 2.8 percent. Price of raw materials plummets Tourism and air traffic down the growers union in Ivory Coast which Kuwait Red Crescent Society’s relief and Sub-Saharan Africa’s two biggest Sub-Saharan Africa’s important produces 40 percent of the world mar- humanitarian efforts provided to the Tens of millions of jobs in danger economies, South Africa and Nigeria are tourism sector is practically non-existent ket in “brown gold” and employs up to internally displaced persons in Kuwait, The African Union estimates that heading for deep recessions, according under the current bans on travel. South six million people. as well as its outstanding initiatives to around 20 million jobs, in formal and to the World Bank, as demand drops Africa, the biggest draw on the continent providing humanitarian relief overseas, informal sectors, are under threat. The from developed nations for raw materials for holiday-makers, has already been Stemming the crisis especially in certain countries where United Nations puts the figure much such as oil and precious metals. The negatively impacted and that is set to Several African nations have refugees have been impacted by wars higher, at up to 50 million. same goes for Angola, Africa’s second continue, warned tourism minister announced economic and social support and conflicts. NBK also expressed its biggest oil exporter. Hlengiwe Nhlabathi. A total of 1.5 million plans. But with less than 20 percent of appreciation for the tireless efforts Money transfers from diaspora drop Oil prices have fallen to between $20 jobs are at stake. the population formally employed, with undertaken by KRCS as one of the most High unemployment and economic and $30 a barrel, nearing the cost of The crisis in the sector will have social security systems non-existent in prestigious and deep-rooted societies slowdown are also hitting African work- production in Nigeria. Even gold, a tra- wider repercussions, affecting “agri- the informal sector and with national working in the humanitarian and charita- ers abroad, and therefore their money ditional safe haven for investors, is not culture, fisheries, banks, insurance, coffers in a poor state before even ble field, as well as its vital role in pro- transfers back home, which are often a immune. The reduction in air transport transport, culture and entertainment”, before the current crisis, “the situation is viding relief efforts to many countries vital part of the economy. The transfers and the closure of some refineries is lim- she added. “We’ve stopped everything particularly critical for Africa”, according across the world, further highlighting to Mali in 2018 represented 5.5 percent, iting gold exports, according to because there are no clients. We have to the Finactu accountancy firm which Kuwait’s prominent international role according to Bloomfield Investment ana- Bloomfield Investment. And the cotton had to let two thirds of our employees operates in 30 African countries. It will and reflecting the spirit of human soli- lysts. The figure for Senegal was 10 per- market is down sharply, a matter high- go, that’s 20 people,’ said Sidiki take some kind of African “Marshall Plan” darity exhibited by all Kuwaitis. cent. These cash transfers are expected lighted on Friday by President Ibrahim Dramane Konate who runs Le Bambou from the international community and a NBK has long been engaging in a to fall significantly with more than half Boubacar KeÔta of Mali, where around a hotel in Burkina Faso. The African significant debt write-off to get Africa strategic partnership with Kuwait Red the world’s population in some kind of quarter of the workforce is linked to the Airlines Association warns that with back on its feet, says Niger’s President Crescent Society, as they both join lockdown. sector. 95 percent of flights grounded carriers Mahamadou Issoufou. — AFP hands in launching and managing numerous charitable campaigns and social development initiatives, including noon, following in the evening by the Senate. the “Winter Supplies Campaign” and Canada approves Trudeau, referring to Canada’s sacrifices in both world Honeywell renews “Donate to their Education Campaign” wars, stressed that the fight against the virus “is not a war,” to assist children of low-income families, but “that doesn’t make this fight any less destructive.” in addition to participating in various vast pandemic “The front line is everywhere, in our homes, in our hos- $1.5bn revolving social welfare programs supporting chil- pitals and care centers, in our grocery stores and pharma- dren. NBK has an unwavering commit- financial program cies, at our truck stops and gas stations. credit agreement ment to contribute to humanitarian “And the people who work in these places are our mod- organizations and social initiatives that MONTREAL: Canadian lawmakers passed a wage subsidy ern day heroes,” he said. WASHINGTON: Honeywell International Inc said it support children welfare, in addition to program Saturday heralded as the largest economic meas- This was the second financial assistance bill proposed had renewed a revolving credit agreement for $1.5 bil- its participation in various social welfare ure in the country since World War II, to help businesses by Trudeau’s government since the beginning of the crisis. lion, to be used for general corporate purposes when programs in cooperation with numerous and their employees get through the coronavirus crisis. Its purpose is to “enable Canadians to keep their jobs and needed. The 364-day Credit Agreement was signed institutions, as part of the bank’s leading Parliament is suspended but held an exceptional session in get a paycheck,” the prime minister said, adding it is “the with Citibank and JPMorgan Chase, Honeywell said in CSR role. NBK has become the biggest the middle of Easter weekend to adopt the Can$73 billion largest Canadian economic policy since World War II.” a filing, adding that the loan does not does not restrict contributor to CSR and is at the fore- (US$52 billion) program, which aims to pay companies 75 The 75 percent wage subsidy, which is for three its ability to pay dividend. front of all private institutions that have percent of their employees’ salaries to avoid massive layoffs. months and retroactive to March 15, is for businesses Money that Honeywell draws against the revolving introduced various initiatives across a Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attended the session. He that have suffered or will suffer a 15 per cent drop in credit agreement should be repaid no later than April wide range of sectors including health had been in isolation in his home for a month after his wife revenues in March or 30 percent in April and May, 9, 2021, the company said. The agreement comes after care and child welfare, in addition to contracted the virus. finance minister Bill Morneau said. The Canadian econo- the industrial conglomerate entered into a $6 billion social, environmental, sports and educa- Apart from leaders of the main parties, only about 30 my lost more than one million jobs last month. Canada loan agreement last month to bolster liquidity as the tional development. MPs out of 338 sat in order to comply with social distancing had 23,197 cases of coronavirus and 678 deaths due to fast-spreading coronavirus pandemic wreaks havoc on orders. The House of Commons passed the bill in the after- the disease as of Saturday. — AFP the global economy.— Reuters 12 Established 1961 Health & Science Monday, April 13, 2020 Amid pandemic, a turning point for telemedicine WASHINGTON: For a follow-up visit after her ry moves) which would have taken five to 10 recent cancer surgery, Gail Rae-Garwood opted years,” said Courtney Joslin, a researcher follow- for a video consultation with her specialist, ing regulatory issues with the R Street Institute, a avoiding a long journey-and potential exposure public policy think tank. “We’re going to come out to COVID-19 in medical offices. “I am so thank- of this with a lot of evidence on how well tele- ful not to have to go out that I’ve enrolled my health works.” grumpy husband into tele-visits, too,” said the 73-year-old Arizona woman who was able to Insurance on board upload data from a blood pressure cuff and glu- Gary Berman, a New Jersey cardiologist, began cose monitor to her physician. remote consultations as part of an effort to protect The coronavirus outbreak has severely strained his practice and his patients during the outbreak. the health system, but telemedicine is being seen as Berman would have offered telehealth consultations a vital way of coping including for those impacted before, but until last month the visits were not cov- by the outbreak. ered by private or government insurance, or by his “COVID-19 is very conducive to telemedicine,” own malpractice coverage. said Omar Khan, a family physician and head of “I’ve been interested in telemedicine for a long Delaware Health Sciences Alliance in Wilmington, time, but I didn’t want to expose myself to legal Delaware. Khan said doctors can make a prelimi- risks and not get reimbursed,” he said. The physi- nary diagnosis by evaluating symptoms such as cian said he may continue offering remote consul- fever and cough, and the patient’s travel and contact tations if insurance coverage is extended. “There with others. A lab order to confirm an infection can are some things you can’t do-you can’t reliably take be transmitted electronically to minimize contact. someone’s blood pressure, you can’t hear a heart “Eighty percent of people with coronavirus murmur,” he said. “But I would continue for some don’t need to go to the hospital,” Khan said. If people. I have 90-year-old patients who can’t get an infection is detected, “they move from quar- to the office.” antine to isolation” and many still don’t need to leave home. MOSCOW: The chief of a telemedicine center Andrei Tyazhelnikov talks to the media in Moscow. The city of Shaping the future Khan said he has been handling all his consulta- Moscow opened a telemedicine center to treat and support coronavirus patients who are well enough to Joe Kvedar, president-elect of the American tions remotely for the past two weeks, and that stay home. — AFP Telemedicine Association, said the pandemic is patients are handling the shift well. “They know the likely to help shed light on the kinds of services danger,” he said. “They don’t want to put them- of medicine who led a 2019 survey of telemedicine authorities last month waived restrictions that had that need to be in person versus those handled selves or health care workers at risk, and don’t for older adults. prevented telemedicine for government-spon- remotely. Many urgent care needs, mental health, want to come to the hospital unnecessarily. At a A year ago, Malani said, the survey showed sored Medicare and Medicaid and a rescue pack- post-operative follow-ups and diabetes manage- time like this a hospital is a scary place.” many older adults had little knowledge or interest age passed by Congress included some $200 mil- ment are among the areas that are handled easily in telemedicine, but the situation has now changed lion to help providers establish remote care. Many by telemedicine, he said. Highlighting value dramatically. “In a matter of days we’ve completely US states have lifted restrictions and insurance Telemedicine is becoming easier with devices The crisis has highlighted the value of telemedi- switched and particularly older adults who may be companies have waived co-payments for these such as internet-connected thermometers, pulse cine, long touted as a way to deliver medical care vulnerable to complications are being told not to consultations. oximeters and other technology to monitor vital to people in underserved areas and to deal more come to clinic,” said Malani. Privacy regulations which limited the kinds of signs. “Up until this crisis the only service delivery efficiently with issues ranging from minor emergen- technology for video consultations have also been option was to come to the office,” Kvedar said. “I cies to mental health. “A crisis sometimes ends up Easing of regulations eased, making it possible to use consumer-friendly don’t think we’ll go back to that system. After this is giving you an incentive to change things,” said With the virus raging, regulatory barriers to services like Skype or FaceTime. over, there will be tapestry of options that are high Preeti Malani, a University of Michigan professor telehealth services have quickly come down. US “I’ve been pleasantly shocked to see (regulato- quality and convenient.” — AFP 13

Monday, April 13, 2020

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Monday, April 13, 2020 Lifestyle Features

orld-renowned British primatologist Jane es to jump from animals across the species barrier start thinking about ways they can live their lives WGoodall says the coronavirus pandemic was to humans. differently. Everyone can make an impact every sin- caused by humanity’s disregard for nature gle day. and disrespect for animals. Goodall, who is best What can we do about these animal markets? If you think about the consequences of the little known for trail-blazing research in Africa that It’s really good that China closed down the live wild choices you make: what you eat, where it came from, revealed the true nature of chimpanzees, pleaded for animal markets, in a temporary ban which we hope did it cause cruelty to animals, is it made from inten- the world to learn from past mistakes to prevent will be made permanent, and other Asian countries sive farming — which mostly it is — is it cheap future disasters. During a conference call ahead of will follow suit. But in Africa it will be very difficult to because of child slave labour, did it harm the environ- the release of the new National Geographic docu- stop the selling of bush meat because so many people ment in its production, where did it come from, how mentary “Jane Goodall: The Hope”, the 86-year-old rely on that for their livelihoods. It will need a lot of many miles did it travel, did you think that perhaps also said everyone can make a difference. careful thought on how it should be done, you can’t you could walk and not take your car. (Also consider) just stop somebody doing something when they have ways that you could perhaps help alleviate poverty How do you view this pandemic? absolutely no money to support themselves or their because when people are poor they can’t make these Goodall: It is our disregard for nature and our dis- In this file photo Jane Goodall UN Messenger of Peace, families, but at least this pandemic should have taught ethical choices. They just have to do whatever they respect of the animals we should share the planet speaks at the Securing a Sustainable Future for the us the kind of things to do to prevent another one. can to survive — they can’t question what they buy, with that has caused this pandemic, that was predict- Amazon, during the World Economic Forum in Davos, they must buy the cheapest, and they are going to cut What can we hope for? ed long ago. Because as we destroy, let’s say the for- Switzerland.—AFP down the last tree because they are desperate to find est, the different species of animals in the forest are We have to realize we are part of the natural land on which they can grow more food. So what we forced into a proximity and therefore diseases are sold in markets in Africa or in the meat market for world, we depend on it, and as we destroy it we are can do in our individual lives does depend a little bit being passed from one animal to another, and that wild animals in Asia, especially China, and our actually stealing the future from our children. on who we are, but we all can make a difference, second animal is then most likely to infect humans as intensive farms where we cruelly crowd together Hopefully, because of this unprecedented response, everybody can.—AFP it is forced into closer contact with humans. billions of animals around the world. These are the the lockdowns that are going on around the world, It’s also the animals who are hunted for food, conditions that create an opportunity for the virus- more people will wake up and eventually they can

arseille has the flow. Rap resonates Mat the Velodrome and references to OM infiltrate the airwaves, but why are the links with urban music and the club stronger here than anywhere else in Ligue 1? “The marriage between OM and rap was obvious,” Sat l’Artificier, a former member of Fonky Family, one of the region’s most prominent rap groups in the 1990s and 2000s, tells AFP. “A working-class city, Kosovo hairdresser Driton Kameri (right) wears a facemask as he cuts the hair of a Kosovo hairdresser Driton Kameri prepares for a hair cut in the garden of a client. with a working-class sport and working- client in his garden in Pristina during the time of COVID-19 pandemic.—AFP photos class music like rap.” To illustrate the point, other than the timeless classic “Jump” by Van Halen, hip hop accounts for the rest of the soundtrack pumping out at the Velodrome, the club’s 67,000-capacity stadium in the Mediterranean port city. The evening begins with Bouga’s “Belsunce Breakdown” as the players shuffle out for warm-ups, then just before the teams are announced quipped with a mask, gloves and tank of disin- “Just send the location”. The cuts cost his standard images of the city and its fans are projected Efectant spray, a popular Pristina barber has taken five-euro ($5.50) price, though retirees and others against a backdrop of “Bad boys de his show on the road to clip and coif clients who struggling financially get them for free, he said.mThat Marseille” by Akhenaton, a singer with IAM, are stuck at home under coronavirus lockdown. type of solidarity with the poor has become common Marseille’s biggest rap group. After home “People are in need,” Driton Kameri, a 33-year-old in Pristina during the virus turmoil, with one bakery wins, the sound system blasts out “A la with a scruffy beard and fedora told AFP, after gearing also announcing that “customers who cannot afford to bien” by Soprano, another Marseille native up for one of his home visits. “You can shut down pay for bread would be given it for free”. “We will not and supporter. “Rap and football, we’re in hairdressers but you cannot order hair not to grow. It leave you without bread,” reads a sign posted on the two very similar universes,” says Herve needs to be cut regularly,” he added. Like most other window. Philippe, the club’s chief marketing and businesses in Pristina, Kameri’s hair salon was closed One local health official said he couldn’t condone media officer as he reflects on the electric under measures to halt the spread of the virus in Kameri’s new business model given that “a stay-at- atmosphere, currently on hold during the Kosovo, where six people have died and more than home order is in force.” But the barber insists his visits coronavirus pandemic. 200 infections have been recorded. are also a way to lighten up an otherwise gloomy time “The virus has no legs. Please, do not give it any,” and fans online have welcomed the effort. “I do it for City ambassador the Institute for Public Health has begged, with warn- Kosovo hairdresser Driton Kameri stands inside his salon people who do not dare to leave home, but also for “Marseille is a rap city,” adds Kheops, the ings the country’s health system could buckle under a in Pristina ahead of a curfew during the time of the fun,” Kameri said. “We have to relax a bit in this “musical architect of the group IAM, the first major outbreak. In the name of keeping up appear- COVID-19 pandemic. depressing situation.” Samir, 27, recently got an open- on the Marseille rap scene at the start of the ances, however, Kameri has decided to save his cus- air haircut on his lawn. “I like the idea,” he said. “As 1990s. Listing the likes of Soprano and Jul, tomers from attempts to buzz their own hair at home. long as this situation with the virus in our country and Kheops says all these artists have “OM in Now he is making house calls — though he does the Solidarity in the world goes on, why not?”—AFP their blood”. “All the youngsters in the north trimming outdoors to minimize the risks. “I’m not going With more than 40,000 followers on Instagram, and south stands listen to rap,” he adds. anywhere without disinfectants, my facemask and Kameri, known to clients as Toni, is something of a Marseille is without question “a rap strong- gloves. Before I take scissors and comb in my hand, I social media star in Kosovo and regularly posts pic- hold”, but Sat is keen to highlight the club’s disinfect my clients completely from head to toe,” he tures of his work on the platform. His new hashtag is role in it all, with OM long upholding the link told AFP. through various collaborations. The emblem- atic Akhenaton designed the club’s European shirt for the 2012-13 campaign and Soprano, in 2007, filmed the clip for his “Hallah hallah” hit at the Velodrome. The end of the video shows the musician returning the stadium keys to the late former president Pape Diouf. Soprano was even named a club ambassador. “It’s no small hen America’s oldest bike shop opened, the ‘Lifeline’ achievement,” says Sat. “Imagine, a little Spanish flu was ravaging New York. More than It opened the year a flu pandemic killed about 30,000 Marseille boy with Comoros roots and from W a century later, it’s helping residents work and New Yorkers, operated during the Great Depression, Plan d’Aou, one of the poorest neighbor- stay sane as cycling takes on a vital role during the coron- World War Two, the 9/11 attacks and Hurricane Sandy, hoods, on the outskirts of the city, an ambas- avirus pandemic. While almost all stores were ordered to which caused devastation in 2012. “We’ve seen it all. The sador of the biggest French club. It sends a close for the Big Apple’s COVID-19 shutdown, bike shops coronavirus pandemic is like coming full circle,” Bellitte, strong message!” More recently, Alonzo, like Bellitte Bicycles were deemed essential businesses 56, told AFP, adding that he thinks this is the worst crisis alongside Soprano formerly part of the Psy 4 and allowed to stay open. They have proven a godsend for yet “because of the uncertainty.” For many workers, New de la rime group, another pillar of Marseille New Yorkers needing to commute to hospitals, migrant York’s shutdown, which Governor Andrew Cuomo rap, has worked with sportswear giant Puma, workers delivering takeouts and cooped-up residents extended until April 29, has made them rely on a bicycle edicated staff at a South African animal shelter shooting a commercial alongside Diego desperate to escape their cramped apartments for some for the first time. Oliver Bucknor — 50 years old and have gone into lockdown with dozens of dogs, Maradona to promote the club’s home kit. solitary exercise. originally from the Caribbean island of Jamaica — lost his D cats and horses to make sure its four-legged “Business has been good but it’s also about serving the job as a van driver when the deadly outbreak started Social media presence residents are not left to fend for themselves during the community,” said co-owner Sal Bellitte, whose grandfa- spreading across the city early last month. coronavirus crisis. Despite the outbreak, it’s business Sat himself has recently been sharing the ther opened the shop, situated in the Jamaica area of He bought an old bike from his landlord for $250 and as usual for the team at the WetNose Animal shelter microphone with longtime stadium announc- Queens, in 1918. As inhabitants skip buses and subway brought it into Bellitte’s for a tune-up before embarking outside the capital Pretoria where they continue to er Dede Fournel. Soprano concerts have trains due to social distancing and enjoy streets devoid of on a new job delivering food. “A bike is a lifeline for a lot of walk, exercise, feed and care for its unwanted pets and filled up the Velodrome three times, and Jul usual traffic, bike shops are one of the few businesses people,” he told AFP. “It allows me to keep making a liv- farm animals. South Africa’s President Cyril was expected to do the same in June. doing a decent trade. “Business is booming,” said 29- ing.” Other residents are making use of Citi Bikes, New Ramaphosa imposed a nationwide lockdown late last Marseille’s newest rap sensation has featured year-old Paris Correa, who recently started working at York’s popular bicycle share scheme, which the govern- month in a bid to halt the spread of coronavirus. players in his music videos, including ex- Bike Stop, another outlet in Queens. “I was hired because ment has temporarily made free to overwhelmed health But under the new measures workers feared they France international Remy Cabella. The club the owner knew it was going to be crazy.” Residents are care staff. Emily Rogers, a 27-year-old social worker, would not be permitted to travel to the site. So five of itself also organizes ‘OM Sessions’ — work- getting old bikes spruced up or buying new ones to com- started cycling the half-hour to and from the public hospi- them decided to move into the shelter to prevent the ing with budding artists to produce a series pensate for canceled Pilates classes and closed gyms tal where she works on a Citi Bike after she became con- animals being abandoned. “It’s been hard for the staff of freestyle videos. “We offer our platform, while delivery men stop by to get brakes or gears fixed. cerned about using the subway.—AFP because they have been on lockdown on this proper- which is international, to local artists who are Bellitte Bicycles is the oldest continuously owned bike ty,” said shelter manager Veronica van Greunen, not yet very well known, for an OM shop in the United States, according to Bellitte, who is the stroking a ginger cat. “Not visiting their families, not freestyle,” explains Philippe. third generation of his family to own the store. The clips are shot at the Velodrome or La allowed to go see them, not allowed to go out of this Commanderie, the training centre, inter- property. So they’ve basically been in quarantine... spersed with shout-outs to players and spe- with all the animals.” South Africa is the worst-affected cific catchphrases. They generate hundreds country on the continent by the virus, with more than of thousands of views on the club’s YouTube 2,000 confirmed cases of the disease and 24 recorded channel, such as “A la Boli” by Ilies. “For deaths so far. People are only allowed to leave their more than 10 years OM have maintained very homes to shop for groceries or seek medical attention. strong links with the rappers in the city,” Van Greunen said having workers on site was key, says Sat. The connection remains strong as animals were still being taken in by the shelter with the younger generation too, with despite being closed for adoptions until the end of the Drime’s “Bouba Kamara” song a tribute to lockdown — which was extended to April 30 this the rise of Boubacar Kamara from the work- week. Worker Josef Mashaba said he was undeterred ing-class area of La Soude to the Marseille by the prospect of not seeing his family for weeks, first team.—AFP adding that he was driven by his “love for animals”. “That’s why we are here and dedicated our time to do A woman with her bike stands in front of the NBKC, North Rental bikes and bikes for purchase stand in front of the this,” he said, dogs wagging their tails excitedly in the Brooklyn Cycles bikes shop in Brooklyn, New York. NBKC, North Brooklyn Cycles bikes shop.—AFP photos background.—AFP Established 1961 15 Lifestyle Features Monday, April 13, 2020

US doctor’s dance videos posted on posting the videos to encourage teens, positivity into his daily work, helping to lift Asocial media have proven just the especially African-American youths, to the spirits of patients and co-workers right medicine for hundreds of thou- pursue their dreams and know that they alike.” The videos have been hailed by the sands of people, including health care too could become physicians. state’s governor and even caught the workers, who are cheering him on for lift- The clips, however, quickly went viral, attention of popular recording artist Janet ing their spirits during the coronavirus resonating with a much wider audience Jackson, who retweeted one of the doctor’s pandemic. Dubbed “Tik Tok Doc” after the clearly in need of cheering up during these TikToks. popular short-form video app, Dr. Jason dark times. His “corona foot shake” video Campbell, who has posted about a Campbell has taken the Internet by storm alone has been watched four million times. dozen videos since the beginning of with clips featuring him and colleagues “I got a message today (Friday) from March, said his next dance routine, cur- doing the “corona foot shake,” “the cha- someone who said his wife was a cardiolo- rently being rehearsed, was in response to cha slide” and other dance moves. gist working with COVID-19 response a special request from his co-workers’ The 31-year-old anesthesia resident teams and found the videos so refreshing,” kids. “It’s going to be a slow-motion chal- physician at Oregon Health & Science Campbell said. Another message came lenge with one of my colleague’s daugh- University Hospital told AFP he has been from a lung cancer patient who thanked This handout selfie courtesy of Dr. Jason ter,” he said. “It’s multiple moves where overwhelmed by the positive response, him for making his quarantine more bear- Campbell shows him at the Oregon Health you go slow at first then speed it up back including from health care workers in New able. “The overwhelming response has & Science University Hospital in Portland. to real time.” As for his plans once the pan- York, the country’s epicenter of the been, ‘Hey, I work in New York City and I demic is over, Campbell said he has no COVID-19 pandemic. “When you’re in love seeing your video after my long day,’” seeing the positive reactions have joined in intention of stopping his dancing. “The medicine, you see a lot of serious, sad Campbell said. “Others say, ‘Hey, my family the fun. Hospital officials have applauded focus will remain on connecting with the things all the time,” Campbell said. “And so member has the virus and we watch these black youth,” he said. “And working to the initiative. “Dr. Campbell’s energy and This handout selfie courtesy of Dr Jason we too need a way to remain human, stay videos together while they recover.’” enhance diversity in medicine long- charisma is infectious,” said Dr. Renee Campbell shows him posing with program sane and a chance to just smile or laugh, Campbell said fellow doctors and nurs- term.”—AFP Edwards, the hospital’s chief medical offi- nurse Grace Choi on March 18, 2020 at the even if it’s just five minutes out of a 12-hour es at the hospital in Portland were initially cer. “A skilled physician, he’s found a Oregon Health & Science University day.” Campbell said he initially began reluctant to appear in the videos, but after unique way to incorporate the power of Hospital in Portland.—AFP photos

ith New York’s nightlife spots closed digital have so much fun — I ended up dancing in a costume ue whose social media content already often was cen- Wdance parties are all the rave, as DJs stream for three hours straight,” said Burke. “It completely sored for participant self-expression that skewed sets while revelers don their nipple pasties blew my mind... it felt like I was with my friends.” mature. “We’re just too sexy for everyone,” Rabkin and disco-ball facemasks for clubs online. The city laughed. that proudly never sleeps has seen more than 90,000 ‘Silver linings’ of its residents test positive for the potentially fatal At first House of Yes kept its requirements for entry Contagious vibes coronavirus, whose rapid spread has severely as tight as those of its physical space, demanding New Yorker Nickodemus is among the many DJs restricted public life. But clubgoers are finding new partiers wear costumes, the more intricate the better. spinning vinyl for the digital sphere, an antidote to ways to stay up all night long. The velvet rope is tight But in the quarantine age they decided to relax the stressful times that he hopes can offer respite to oth- In this file photo taken on April 24, 2009, Iraqi at Club Quarantine, one of the internet’s hottest rules to ensure inclusivity, especially for the regulars ers. “I just felt weird when like I hear every three to architect Rifat Chadirji is pictured at his home spaces that requires a $10-cover charge — $80 will stuck at their parents’ house without glittering get-ups. five minutes an ambulance screaming by my building, office in the coastal Lebanese town of Halat.—AFP get you a private video room with more exclusive Jacqui Rabkin, a brain behind the club’s digital con- and I see people getting pulled out of the building, it’s performances — and has seen pop celebrities includ- cept, said that on the whole participants are still bring- hard to put on a fun face and just turn on the music,” ing Charli XCX drop by. ing their A-game. “We’ve had people in like massive he told AFP. “But we can also check out every once in a And celebrity DJ D-Nice has drawn massive virtu- unicorn costumes, we’ve had people with pole dancing while to keep like, our souls clean and keep positive al crowds to his marathon Instagram Live sets includ- equipment, with aerial equipment,” she said, saying and hopeful,” Nickodemus said. “New York has always ing everyone from Rihanna and John Legend to one crew brought a smoke machine with elaborate been a party for me... If I’m in the city, I’m DJing.” Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden. The Brooklyn venue lights and puppetry. The coronavirus pandemic has dealt the entertain- House of Yes — known for its drag shows, burlesque, Rabkin said taking the dancefloor digital also allows ment industry a serious blow, with major festivals aerial performers and elaborate costumes — also has the New York club to expand its audience as far as canceled, tours pushed back and many artists, crews gone digital, hosting parties via platforms like Zoom, Europe or Asia. “I do see a lot of silver linings where and club workers unemployed. House of Yes is oper- ifat Chadirji, known as the father of modern Twitch and Instagram. The club’s co-founder Kae it’s actually expanding what people can do with each ating online with a “skeleton crew,” Burke said, and RIraqi architecture, died late Friday in the Burke said New York’s social life shutdown felt “like other,” she said. The oft-risque club even had its held a fundraiser to be able to distribute tide-over United Kingdom after contracting the novel watching a 20-car pile-up in slow motion.” “We Twitch account suspended for 24 hours “because some payouts to the dozens of employees they were forced coronavirus, friends and Iraqi officials have said. didn’t see the impending doom,” she told AFP. But the of our people were dancing in their underwear,” to lay off.—AFP The 93-year-old architect and photographer is first online session closed a hit: “I did not expect to Rabkin said. It brought a sense of normalcy to the ven- credited with designing some of Iraq’s most well- known structures, including the iconic “Freedom Monument” in the now protest hub of Baghdad’s Tahrir Square its name. “He was a giant of 20th century Iraq,” said Caecilia Pieri, a scholar focus- ing on Baghdad’s modern architecture who knew Chadirji well. Top Iraqi officials including President Barham Saleh and caretaker premier he much-anticipated “Friends” for billions around the globe to break Adel Abdel Mahdi mourned him on Saturday. reunion has been delayed and will transmission of the virus which has “With the death of Rifat Chadirji, architecture in T not be available at the launch of killed more than 100,000 people world- Iraq and the world has lost its modern lung,” Saleh HBO Max, the new streaming platform wide. A remote or virtual reunion was wrote. said Friday, as the global coronavirus not considered due to the significance Born in Baghdad in 1926, Chadirji studied in pandemic shuts down productions of the original soundstage, according to London and returned to Iraq in the 1950s to across Hollywood. News of the Variety. Each actor is expected to design his magnum opus — an elegant arch enti- unscripted special had delighted fans of receive $2.5 million for taking part in the tled “The Unknown Soldier” — as well as the cap- the beloved US sitcom, which remains special, it reported. WarnerMedia’s ital’s post office and other public buildings. But wildly popular even among viewers too Sean Kisker this week confirmed the when the Baathist regime came to power, it tore young to remember its original run, May launch of HBO Max itself, which down “The Unknown Soldier,” replaced it with a which ended in 2004. Stars Jennifer will cost $14.99 a month, remains “still statue of Saddam Hussein and tossed Chadirji into Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, very much on” schedule. the infamous Abu Ghraib prison, where he Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David The “Friends” back catalog is a key remained for 20 months. He wrote about the The designer Clare Waight Keller at her Givenchy couture show in January. Schwimmer have signed up to return to selling point for the new streaming plat- experience in “The Wall Between Two — Valerio Mezzanotti for The New York Times the comedy’s original soundstage on the form as it enters a fiercely competitive Darknesses,” relating how Saddam had him released from prison to design a conference cen- Warner Bros. Studio lot outside Los marketplace alongside Netflix, Disney+, tre. Chadirji moved to Beirut a few years later and Angeles. Amazon Prime and Apple TV+. lived abroad during most of the devastating 1980- But a spokesman told AFP Friday the Unveiling the special in February, Kevin 1988 Iran-Iraq war, the 1990 Gulf War, a decade special will not be available for HBO Reilly, chief content officer at HBO Max, of international sanctions and the 2003 US-led Max’s May launch as planned, adding said the show about a close-knit group that it will be coming to the streaming of friends living in New York City had invasion that toppled Saddam. ritish fashion designer Clare tion to “Givenchy’s latest chapter.” When he returned to Iraq in 2009, he was platform “soon.” Production has not yet captivated “viewers generation after BWaight Keller, who created the “Under her creative leadership, and in taken place due to the coronavirus generation.” —AFP scarred by what he found. “I cannot believe what wedding dress for Meghan great collaboration with its ateliers and lockdown, part of measures put in place has happened to the buildings in Baghdad, every- Markle when she married Prince Harry, teams, the Maison reconnected with the thing has been almost completely destroyed,” is stepping down from her role as artis- founding values of Hubert de Givenchy Chadirji said at the time. In 2019, another one of tic director of French fashion house and his innate sense of elegance,” his famed buildings was torn down: the National Givenchy, the company said in a state- Toledano said. Givenchy said it new Insurance Company in Mosul, a seven-storey ment Friday. Clare Waight Keller, 49, “creative organization” will be commu- building from where the Islamic State group thew became Givenchy’s artistic director in nicated at a later date. Waight Keller men accused of being gay to their deaths. The 2017, the first woman to hold the role in created the boat-necked, sculpted dress structure was ravaged by the months-long fight to the history of the fashion house, which that Markle wore for her 2018 wedding oust IS from Mosul and a municipal committee is owned by French luxury giant LVMH. to Prince Harry, featuring a five-metre later decided to demolish what was left of it saying “As the first woman to be the artistic (16-foot) train embroidered with flowers it could not be restored. The NIC building was director of this legendary Maison, I feel from all 53 Commonwealth countries. seen as a prime example of modern Iraqi design, honored to have been given the oppor- Waight Keller made her name by turn- with rows of slim archways and projected win- tunity to cherish its legacy and bring it ing Pringle of Scotland from a rather dows reminiscent of Iraq’s beloved “shanasheel”. new life,” she said in a statement staid knitwear maker into a fashion Chadirji had been a longtime advocate of preser- released by Givenchy. “Focusing on a brand. She has also worked for Calvin vation, working even under Saddam to halt the world based on Haute Couture has been Klein, Ralph Lauren and for Tom Ford at demolition of traditional Iraqi architecture in one of the highlights of my professional Gucci. She joined Givenchy after six Baghdad. “A people that cannot take care of its journey,” she added. years at the helm at Chloe.—AFP creations is a people without a memory,” he said Sidney Toledano, chairman and chief in 2009.—AFP executive of LVMH Fashion Group, In this file photo taken on September 21, 2002 cast members from “Friends,” which thanked Waight Keller for her contribu- won Outstanding Comedy, series pose for photogarpher at the 54th Annual Emmy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles .—AFP

sheet of paper bearing Paul Friday marks exactly half a century since Jules.” The handwritten document sold AMcCartney’s handwritten lyrics to an interview given by McCartney sealed the Friday contains partial lyrics along with “Hey Jude” sold for $910,000 in an acrimonious end of the “Fab Four,” widely annotations including the word “break” online auction held Friday to mark the 50th considered one of the most influential bands used to aid the song’s recording. anniversary of the Beatles’ historic split. The in history. Asked if he foresaw a time when Other items included a drumhead with document penned by McCartney and used his prolific songwriting partnership with fel- the Beatles’ logo used during their first US during the 1968 London recording of the low Beatle John Lennon would restart, his tour gig in 1964, sold for $200,000, and a classic song at Trident Studios was sold for blunt reply — “no” — spoke for itself. handwritten shooting script page for the more than five times its pre-sale estimate. McCartney wrote “Hey Jude” after an earli- “Hello, Goodbye” music video in 1967, California-based Julien’s Auctions shifted its er split — Lennon’s divorce from first wife fetching $83,200. A brass ashtray used by sale of some 250 Beatles memorabilia online Cynthia following his affair with Japanese Ringo Starr at the Abbey Road recordings due to the coronavirus pandemic, with fans artist Yoko Ono. The song was composed to in the 1960s earned $32,500.—AFP Paul McCartney’s scribbled note for a recording session in London in 1968 of Hey around the world bidding for guitars, rare comfort Lennon’s son Julian during his par- Jude that sold for $910,000.— Reuters vinyl and autographed items. ents’ break-up, and was initially titled “Hey 16 Established 1961 News Monday, April 13, 2020

Brazilian fashion photographer Marcio Rodrigues wears a mask made with recyclable bottles, cans and boxes after over 20 days in which these garbage items were not collected because of the quarantine imposed to con- trol the spread of the new coronavirus in Belo Horizonte on April 11, 2020. Rodrigues will make a suit with recyclable garbage if the quarantine continues. — AFP Morocco NGO delivers supplies to single mums

CASABLANCA: A small van zips being noticed, ashamed of their social through the streets of Casablanca to status and afraid of the envy of others. deliver food to single mothers, as eco- “Thank you,” murmurs Habiba before dis- nomic paralysis caused by the coron- appearing down an alley with two big avirus crisis puts pressure on Morocco’s bags of supplies. “Many get by doing odd poor. “We have to be quick,” says jobs in hairdressing, cleaning, or in the Bouchra, a coordinator from NGO INSAF textiles industry or hospitality,” INSAF’s who is supervising the day’s rounds. The Latifa Ouazahrou says of the single moth- lockdown to curb the spread of the ers who have now found themselves with- COVID-19 disease, and a lack of work out work or a safety net. and money, are creating tensions in the More than three million people out of working-class neighborhoods of the Morocco’s population of 35 million inhab- country’s economic capital. itants are poor, according to official sta- Each year, INSAF helps over 500 tistics. The monthly minimum wage is young women who have fallen pregnant around $260 while three-quarters of out of wedlock - viewed as a “sin” by a workers have no social security cover. society marked by religious conservatism. The World Bank says around 10 million in The organization usually supports the Morocco could find themselves in diffi- mothers with medical and psychological culty as the pandemic hits and further assistance, tries to mediate between them pressure mounts due to a drought. and their families and helps find jobs for In a large room normally used as a the pregnant women. kitchen, INSAF teams fill bags with cous- But that all changed when the coron- cous semolina, lentils, potatoes, rice, oil, avirus pandemic struck, with the first dis- tea, flour, soap and sanitary products. A tress calls arriving some 15 days after the leaflet detailing virus protection measures government declared a health emergency is also included. Emergency deliveries around mid-March. “The epidemic touch- also go to families in isolated hamlets in es everyone, but single mothers are the the central Atlas region, where a drought most vulnerable”, INSAF head Meriem in the agricultural sector is exerting fur- Othmani says. “Their families reject them ther pressure. and they have to manage alone with their State aid of up to 1,200 dirhams baby, without any support.” (around $120) is being allocated to needy The organization phones a few minutes families to weather the crisis, part of an CASABLANCA: Moroccan volunteers of local organization INSAF prepare food donations to be distributed during the coronavirus pan- before the van’s arrival to arrange a pick- emergency package also funded by cor- demic. — AFP up point on the street near the women’s porate and private donations. In recent homes. It stops quickly, and the supplies days, the first beneficiaries were able to with help from local banks. “Some (single mothers) can’t even buy coronavirus had claimed 111 lives in the are swiftly offloaded. At each stop, withdraw money from ATMs after receiv- But helping the poorest is a challenge, milk for their baby any more,” Ouazahrou North African country from a declared passersby ask if they can receive assis- ing a text message from the authorities, and the country lacks a social register to says. “It’s very important to bring them total of 1,545 cases. Only around 7,000 tance too. The single mothers try to avoid thanks to a new payment system set up identify the needs of the population. basic necessities.” As of Sunday, the tests have been conducted. — AFP

very active,” said French health official Jerome Some economists are concerned those could Easter celebrations Salomon, urging people to remain vigilant. Oil prices, virus, quickly run out. Economist Ahmed Dahmani warns Italy meanwhile said the number of daily deaths of multiple dangers: a rapid draining of foreign there was starting to level off - though the govern- exchange reserves, a worsening budget deficit and muted as US virus... ment resisted pressure to lift its lockdown, extend- instability put... balance of payments, a sharp devaluation of the dinar and an inflationary surge, leading to economic Continued from Page 1 ing confinement measures until May 3. New York Continued from Page 1 recession and mass unemployment. “The govern- and New Orleans saw a slowdown in the number of ment has no choice but to broaden the tax base, to On Saturday, Pope Francis live-streamed his new infections, deaths and hospitalizations. It is “imperative to put an end to bad practices resort to public debt and negotiate loans,” Martinez Easter Vigil to the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics from But Britain on Saturday recorded its second instilled over a period of financial well-being, such said. “With the remaining foreign reserves, that an almost empty St Peter’s Basilica. “Darkness and highest daily toll, as virus-stricken Prime Minister as waste and a spirit of laziness and overconsump- should allow it to hold on until 2021. But after that?” death do not have the last word,” he said. “As the Boris Johnson made “very good progress” after tion”, Tebboune has said. His words might be too lit- Others worry that Algeria will struggle to diver- days go by and fears grow, even the boldest hope being released from intensive care, a spokeswoman tle, too late, as the drop in prices, the coronavirus sify its economy away from oil and attract investors. can dissipate. Let us not give in to resignation... We said. Although global infections stand at 1.75 mil- and ongoing political uncertainty create a perfect Economics expert Aderrahmane Mebtoul expressed lion, according to an AFP tally of official counts, the financial and social storm. can and must hope,” said the pontiff. Francis was doubt the country could recover capital that has Algeria “is on the edge of a financial abyss”, praised by Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte real number is thought to be much higher, with already left, and said Algeria’s “bureaucracy, fos- according to Luis Martinez, North Africa specialist for his “gesture of responsibility” to observe Easter many countries only testing the most serious cases. silised financial system and corruption” would keep at France’s Sciences Po University. The government in private. Many experts and the World Health Organization foreign direct investment away. With the coron- decided to slash public spending in March, after oil In Jerusalem, Christians were prevented from are cautioning countries against lifting lockdown avirus disrupting economies worldwide, the pan- prices dipped to $22.50. The country’s 2020 budget gathering for the Easter service and all cultural measures too quickly. demic could provide a scapegoat for the govern- had been based on an oil price of $50 per barrel, sites were shuttered, regardless of their reli- WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus ment. “The Algerian authorities could in fact argue with growth of around 1.8 percent. Algiers gious affiliation. And at one church in the warned Friday that jumping the gun could lead to a that the economic and financial situation is no bet- announced a 30 percent cut to the state budget, Philippines, photos of parishioners were taped “deadly resurgence” of the novel coronavirus, ter” elsewhere, Martinez said. without touching civil servants’ wages, and a reduc- known as SARS-CoV-2. From the crowded slums of But in Algeria, the pandemic follows a protracted onto the empty pews. tion in its enormous imports bill. political crisis. The “Hirak” citizens movement that The hardest-hit countries of Europe, and the Mexico City, Nairobi and Mumbai to conflict State oil giant Sonatrach is to halve operating began in February 2019 brought down longtime centres of infection in the United States - New hotspots in the Middle East, there are fears that the and capital expenditure, from $14 billion to $7 bil- autocrat Abdelaziz Bouteflika a year ago. Only the York and New Orleans-were seeing signs of worst is yet to come for the world’s poorest. Trump lion, in order to preserve foreign currency reserves. pandemic was able to halt - perhaps temporarily - infection rates levelling off. Numbers from Spain said this past week that the disease was near its But former Sonatrach CEO Abdelmadjid Attar said massive weekly anti-government protests. And a offered a shred of hope Saturday: 510 new peak in the United States and he was considering in principle, the company “shouldn’t have to reduce continued collapse in oil prices could prove to be deaths, a dip in fatalities for the third day in a ways to re-open the world’s biggest economy as hydrocarbon production” as the cuts would affect the final straw for a country on the edge. “It’s not row. Newly reported coronavirus deaths in soon as possible. “We look like we’ll be coming in other operations. Meanwhile, Algeria’s foreign the year 2020 that’s on trial, but the 20 years of on the very, very low side, below the lowest side of reserves dropped to under $60 billion at the end of France also fell by one-third from Friday to 635. patronage, nepotism and corruption” of Bouteflika’s March, compared to almost $80 billion at the end of “A very high plateau for the epidemic appears to the curve of death,” Trump said in an interview reign, Martinez said. — AFP have been reached, but the epidemic remains with Fox News. —AFP 2018 and over $97 billion at the end of 2017. Established 1961 17 Stars Monday, April 13, 2020

Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution STAR TRACK

Aries (March 21-April 19) Libra (September 23-October 22) A warm, loving phone call or letter could come An intense study of philosophy, religion, or some your way today from a lover or close friend who’s presently other exalted school of thought could find you involved with out of town. You’ll wish with all your heart that he or she could a group that shares your interest in the subject. You could be home! In the meantime, you’re likely to keep yourself quite make a new friend today, or if you aren’t currently romantical- busy, Aries. Creative projects, activities in your community, or ly involved, meet a potential romantic partner. This should be both could keep you too busy to miss anyone too much. a very satisfying day on both mental and emotional levels. Tonight, spend some time alone. Remember how it all came about, and enjoy yourself!

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Scorpio (October 23-November 21)

Today you could discover a talent for invest- Sex and romance should be at the top of your ment, real estate, or other form of money management that priority list today, Scorpio. You should be feeling especially you never thought you had, Taurus. The opportunity to make warm, loving, and passionate. Romantic novels and movies an investment or cash in on one could enable you to take could be especially appealing, as could an intimate evening strides toward making your money grow. This might be a with a lover! Career and money matters look fairly strong good time to buy or sell any type of property. You might also and stable at this time, although it might take a little effort want to do some reading on future investment opportunities. to keep them that way. Go for the gold! Find the way

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) You might wake up today feeling a little grumpy A lack of communication on the part of your mate and out of sorts, Gemini. You could aspire to noth- or perhaps a business partner can cause you to ing more strenuous than spending the day without any distrac- feel uncertainty about the relationship. Don’t fall into this trap, tions other than a good book. However, by the middle of the day Sagittarius. Use your warmth and understanding to open up the a warm and loving letter or phone call is likely to snap you out of communication between you. You’ll probably find that all is basi- your reclusive mood. You could spend the evening strolling cally well. Your partner just needs some space. Take some space through your community, visiting shops or restaurants. Enjoy! for yourself, too! A little solitude might do you some good.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

Some pretty heavy soul searching could reveal The right moment to ask for a raise or apply for a that the time has come to make use of a talent you may have promotion or new job could come your way today, but you’d always had but never developed. This could involve nothing better make use of it or the opportunity could pass you by. A more than a little practice, or you could decide to get some for- chance for a romantic encounter or fun evening with friends mal training in the skill. This is a positive sign, Cancer, but your could also come up. Whatever pleasant things arise today determination could waver over the next few days. Don’t hesi- aren’t sure things, Capricorn, so don’t let them escape. They tate - stay with it! could be significant milestones for you.

Leo (July 23-August 22) Aquarius (January 20- February 18) You’re looking good and your social skills are at Love and romance are definitely on the agenda their peak, Leo. Therefore, social events and group activities for today, Aquarius, and you should be feeling warm, pas- that you might attend today could well be the most satisfying sionate, and particularly sexy. You’re likely to be looking and beneficial you’ve known in a long time. People you meet quite attractive, too, and romantic partners or potential should be impressed with you, and you could make a lot of partners could seem especially attractive to you. This is a new friends. If you aren’t romantically involved now, a new wonderful day to shop for new clothes, have your hair love could come your way. styled, or prepare a candlelit dinner for someone very spe- cial. Go for it!

Virgo (August 23-September 22) Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Today you could find yourself brainstorming a A friend or family member could be feeling rather way to put your inventiveness and ingenuity to work so that grim, taciturn, and not open to communication. He or she could you can advance your career by leaps and bounds and have you wondering if you’ve done something wrong, or they’re increase your income. You could also become involved in angry with you. If you use your warmth and generosity of spirit artistic projects of some kind. Don’t be surprised if great to induce this person to open up, Pisces, you’ll probably find that ideas come to you with little effort. You’re very intuitive the issues have nothing to do with you. You might even help today, Virgo, so enjoy it. relieve them! Tonight, prepare everyone’s favorite meal.

Join the dots and color It Crossword 18 Sports Monday, April 13, 2020 Booker sweeps Photo of the Day Ayton in NBA 2K final

MILWAUKEE: Devin Booker swept fellow Phoenix Suns teammate Deandre Ayton on Saturday night to claim the title at the first-ever NBA 2K Players Tournament. Booker won the first two games of a best-of-three final series, beating Ayton without playing as the Los Angeles Lakers, who are generally regarded as the best team in the game. Playing as the Houston Rockets, Booker took the first game 72-62 from Ayton, who used the Lakers. He won the second 74-62 while playing as the Denver Nuggets against Ayton’s Milwaukee Bucks. “Feels good, bro,” Booker said afterward. “It was a talented field. I said from the beginning, it was going to be me and De- andre in the championship. “... We’ve played in the past, and he’s definitely a gamer.” Booker, the fifth seed in the 16-player tournament, won $100,000 to donate to the coronavirus-relief charity of his choice. Ayton, the 10th seed, trailed by only four at halftime of the first game after hitting a buzzer beater with JaVale McGee. But Booker was red-hot from 3-point range throughout the game, hitting 13 of 23 attempts, and also got 30 points from his bench to close it out. In the second game, Booker pulled away after halftime, putting the exclamation point on the victory with a three-point play on a dunk by Paul Millsap with less than 90 seconds to go. Both finalists swept a member of the Los Angeles Clippers earlier Saturday in the semifinals, with Booker beating Mon- trezl Harrell and Ayton dispatching Patrick Beverley. Booker played as the Clippers in the first game and cruised past Har- rell, who played as the Rockets, capping the win with a dunk by Harrell’s virtual character. In the second game, Booker (playing as the Toronto Raptors) came up with a steal off Har- rell (Milwaukee Bucks) with a two-point lead in the final minute. Ayton took the first game from Beverley playing as the Brooklyn Nets against Beverley’s Boston Celtics, hitting a 3- pointer in the final minute to put the game out of reach. In the second game, Ayton played as his own team, the Suns, and CALIFORNIA: Brighton Zeuner skates for the Red Bulletin in Huntington Beach, California.— Photo taken from www.redbullcontentpool.com used a few big plays from his virtual character to handle Bev- erley’s Nuggets. —Reuters Sports events around the world hit by coronavirus pandemic CONCACAF suspends all competitions

NEW YORK: Major sports events around the world that 2020 matches scheduled for March and April. •Pre-Olympic canoe slalom training camps in Tokyo in May, have been hit by the coronavirus pandemic: •The Brazilian football Confederation suspended all na- June and July have all been cancelled. tional competitions until further notice. •The opening two ICF canoe slalom World Cups, set for OLYMPICS •The CAF postponed the African Nations Championship, June in Italy and France, have been postponed. • The postponed Olympic Games will now begin on July a national team tournament for home-based players only 23, 2021 and run until Aug. 8. (Cameroon; April 4-25). CRICKET •World Athletics has suspended Olympic qualification until •Semi-finals of the CAF Champions league (May 1-3) and •The last two games of Australia’s three-match one-day in- December. CAF Confederation Cup (May 8-10) were postponed. ternational series against New Zealand in Sydney and Ho- •The Mauritius FA have cancelled the remainder of the bart were cancelled while the limited-overs tours were PARALYMPICS football season. postponed. The postponed Paralympic Games will run from Aug. 24- •This year’s International Champions Cup, a pre-season •The start of the Indian Premier League T20 tournament Sep. 5, 2021. tournament featuring Europe’s leading clubs, has been (March 29) was postponed until April 15. cancelled. •The boards of India and South Africa agreed to resched- OLYMPIC TRIALS ule a three-match ODI series to a later date. • U.S. trials for wrestling (April 4-5) were postponed. OTHER SPORTS •England’s two-match test series in Sri Lanka scheduled to • U.S. Rowing postponed its team trials. ATHLETICS start on March 19 was postponed. • U.S. diving trials (April 3-5) were postponed. All USA •The World Athletics Championships scheduled for 2021 in •Australia’s proposed test tour of Bangladesh in June has Diving events postponed for next 30 days. Eugene, Oregon have been postponed to the summer of been postponed and both boards will work together to find 2022 because of the Olympic Games rescheduling. new dates to reschedule the series. WORLD GAMES •The Diamond League postponed its first five meetings of • The 2021 World Games have the 2020 season due to be held in CYCLING been pushed back by a year to April and May in Qatar, China, •The final two stages of the UAE Tour were cancelled after avoid clashing with the Tokyo Games pushed Stockholm, Naples and Rabat. two Italian participants tested positive. PARIS: Alexandra Recchia of France, five-time karate Olympics. •The World Athletics Indoor •The Paris-Nice cycling race ended a day early after the world champion, trains in the garden of her house, in back by Championships (Nanjing, March eighth stage into Nice was cancelled. L’Hay-les-Roses, near Paris, on the 18th day of a lock- COURT OF ARBITRATION 13-15) were postponed. They will •The Giro d’Italia, the Paris-Roubaix, Liege-Bastogne- down in France aimed at curbing the spread of the FOR SPORT be held in the same city from Liege and the Tour de Yorkshire Race were postponed. COVID-19 (novel coronavirus). — AFP • The Court of Arbitration for a year March 19-21, 2021. •All cycling races up to the end of April have already been Sport said all cases were being put •The London, Paris and Barcelona cancelled and riders in France and Spain, where many are on hold until May. No in-person marathons were postponed. based, were explicitly told they cannot train outside. hearings will be held before May 1. body confirmed the end of the 2019-20 season for all AUSTRALIAN RULES GOLF league, cup and county rugby, but the English Premiership NORTH AMERICA •The Australian Football League’s attempt to forge on with •The Masters, PGA Championships and U.S. Open were has been excluded. •The NBA suspended its season. the season despite the virus outbreak lasted one round be- postponed while the Open Championships was cancelled. •The English Rugby Football League and Super League •The NHL suspended its season. fore it was shut down on March 22. •The European Tour has either postponed or cancelled suspended all fixtures until April 3. •The MLB further delayed its 2020 season’s opening day events scheduled between March and May. •Super Rugby suspended its season. of March 26 after CDC calls for gatherings of 50 or more BADMINTON •Japan’s Top League is cancelling the remaining 42 matches people to be cancelled or postponed for eight weeks. •The Badminton World Federation (BWF) cancelled the last HORSE RACING of the season. •Boston Marathon organisers postpone the race from April five tournaments in the qualification period for the •The Grand National festival (April 2-4) was cancelled 20 to Sept. 14. Olympics, making the All England Open played from March while the Kentucky Derby, the first jewel in North American SHOOTING •The National Hockey League told players, including those 11-15 the final event to count towards qualification. horse racing’s Triple Crown (May 2) was postponed to •The 2020 ISSF World Cups in New Delhi (May) and Baku from outside North America, that they can return home and •The Indonesia Open (June 16-21) was among a host of Sept. 5. (June-July) have been cancelled. should self-quarantine through March 27, lengthening the badminton events that have been cancelled while tourna- •The Dubai World Cup, one of the world’s richest horse period the NHL had said it was pausing its season. ments over the next three months were also suspended in races and a premier annual sporting event in the United SNOOKER Australia, Thailand and Russia. Arab Emirates, will not go ahead this year. •The World Snooker Championship in Sheffield (April 18- SOCCER •The BWF is seeking clarification from Danish authorities •The Guineas Festival at Newmarket in May and June’s May 4) at the Crucible Theatre, will be re-arranged for July •Aleksander Ceferin, the head of European soccer’s gov- on how the ban on large gatherings will affect their ability Epsom Derby have been postponed while June’s Royal or August. erning body UEFA, said that the current season could be to stage the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals in August. Ascot may be held without spectators. “lost” if it is unable to re-start by the end of June. SWIMMING •Euro 2020 and Copa America were postponed. The two BASEBALL MOTORSPORT •The 2020 European Aquatics Championships that was tournaments will now be staged from June 11 to July 11, •The final qualification tournament in Taiwan for the •Formula One cancelled the opening race in Australia on scheduled to take place from May 11-24 in Budapest, Hun- 2021. Olympics was put back from April to June 17-21, while the March 15 and the showcase Monaco Grand Prix in May gary, has been postponed to August. •FIFA has agreed to delay the first edition of its revamped March 22-26 qualification event in Arizona was postponed. has also been scrapped. A number of races were post- Club World Cup due to be held in 2021. •Japan’s professional league postponed the start of the poned, the latest being the June 14 Canadian Grand Prix. TENNIS •UEFA put all club and national team competitions for men season. •Formula One expects to run a shortened season of 15-18 •The Wimbledon championships were cancelled for the and women on hold until further notice. grands prix once racing resumes, down from its original first time since World War Two while professional tennis •The men’s and women’s Champions League finals and Eu- BASKETBALL calendar of a record 22 races. has been suspended until July 13. ropa League final originally scheduled for May have been •The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) •Seven races of the MotoGP season have now been post- •The French Open was postponed until Sept. 20-Oct. 4. postponed. has postponed the start of its 2020 regular season, origi- poned after the first round in Qatar was cancelled. •The Fed Cup finals (Budapest; April 14-19) were post- •Europe’s top leagues remain suspended but German Bun- nally scheduled to run from May 15-Sept. 20. •NASCAR postponed all race events through May 3, in- poned. desliga clubs have returned to training with tight restric- •The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has post- cluding races at the Atlanta Motor Speedway (March 15) •The WTA leg of the Rogers Cup scheduled to take place tions. poned the men’s Olympic qualifiers, European Champi- and Homestead-Miami Speedway (March 22), but intends from Aug. 7-16 in Montreal has been postponed to 2021. •The Scottish FA have extended the suspension of all levels onship and the Americas Championship by a year. to run all 36 races this season. of the game to at least June 10. •The Le Mans 24 hours race was postponed from June 13- WINTER SPORTS •South America’s two biggest club competitions, the Copa BOXING 14 to Sept. 19-20. •The International Ski Federation cancelled the final races Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana, were suspended •The European, American and final world qualifying boxing •The Indianapolis 500 has been postponed until Aug. 23. of the men’s Alpine skiing World Cup. until at least May 5. tournaments for the Tokyo Olympics were suspended on •The World Cup finals in Cortina were cancelled along with •CONCACAF suspended all competitions, including the March 16. The European qualifier in London that was un- RUGBY the last three women’s races in Are. Champions League and men’s Olympic qualifiers. derway and due to run to March 24, ended after the •Four Six Nations matches were postponed. •The women’s world ice hockey championships in Canada •U.S. Major League Soccer suspended its season. evening session on March 17. •Rugby Europe announced a suspension of all its matches were cancelled. •Asian and South American qualifying matches for 2022 •Anthony Joshua’s world heavyweight title defence against and tournaments from March 13-April 15. •The Ice Hockey World Championship scheduled for World Cup postponed. Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev at Tottenham Hotspur’s stadium on •France’s rugby federation suspended all its competitions. Switzerland in May was cancelled. •New seasons in the Chinese, Japanese and South Korean June 20 has been postponed. •The European rugby season was suspended after Euro- •The speed skating world championships in Seoul were leagues were postponed. pean Professional Club Rugby postponed Champions Cup postponed until at least October. •Asian Champions League: Matches involving Chinese CANOEING and Challenge Cup quarter-final matches (April 3-5). •The March 16-22 world figure skating championships in clubs Guangzhou Evergrande, Shanghai Shenhua and •All events originally scheduled for May, including the Para- •The semi-final and final of this season’s Champions Cup Montreal were cancelled. Shanghai SIPG were postponed. The start of the knockout canoe World Championships, canoe sprint Olympic quali- and Challenge Cup tournaments, which were due to take •The Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) has cancelled the rounds was moved back to September. fiers, and the ICF canoe sprint World Cup have been place in Marseille in May, have been postponed. remainder of its season after temporarily suspending its •The Asian Football Confederation postponed all AFC Cup cancelled. •England’s Rugby Football Union and Wales’ governing playoffs.—Reuters 19 Sports Monday, April 13, 2020 Uncertainty spreads due to coronavirus pandemic in Europe’s lower leagues

Zaragoza president says he will ‘defend the club’s interests’

PARIS: The suspension to the current football season promotion will exacerbate an already brutal finan- due to the coronavirus pandemic has left the game’s cial situation for lower-league clubs. Real Zaragoza biggest clubs arguing with star players over cuts to have been out of Spain’s top flight since 2013, but their multi-million euro salaries as top sides brace for are currently second in the Segunda Division, five huge drops in revenues. points ahead of the play-off positions with 11 However the potential damage is even more seri- matches remaining. ous at the lower reaches, where clubs are losing out Zaragoza president Christian Lapetra said he will on gate receipts vital to keep- “defend the club’s interests” if ing them afloat and potentially the season is cancelled and being denied planned-for fi- they don’t reach La Liga. nancial windfalls from reaching Current state “There is an economic sig- the top table. nificance for all clubs if we of limbo is ‘a don’t restart. We would have to ITALIAN COURTROOM adopt extraordinary measures CARNAGE disaster’ to be able to come out of it and Italy could be the scene of continue to compete,” he said legal chaos this summer as in a videoconference with clubs desperately try to defend Spanish reporters. potential promotions which boost their coffers. “If we end up being left in Segunda we will be On Tuesday, Frosinone president Maurizio Stirpe squeezed even more and we will have to keep looking threatened “legal action” if his club were not pro- for ways of getting by. Promotion is the best way of moted to Serie A this season, despite his team only financing ourselves.” being third and not in Serie B’s two automatic pro- GELSENKIRTCHEN: Players of German Bundesliga football club FC Schalke 04 take part in a training session at motion places. ENGLAND: ‘EXPECT SOME CASUALTIES’ the club’s training ground in Gelsenkirtchen on April 7, 2020. — AFP The season finishing as it stands would give Frosi- The situation is similar even in England, the richest none no chance of breaking into the top two, while football nation of all. Last month League One and the removal of the play-offs would open up a poten- League Two clubs — the third and fourth tiers — said closed doors doesn’t cut it for Stevenage either, due rather than the clubs. tial deluge of legal challenges with millions in Serie A they face losses of around £50 million ($63m) if the to the loss of income from bars, restaurants and spon- Those employees have been largely overlooked by TV revenue up for grabs. season doesn’t restart. sorship. “All that income is gone,” he says. solidarity measures extended by German clubs. Stirpe had already suggested last month that this Phil Wallace, chairman of League Two’s bottom Lawyer Verena Speckin told Deutsche Welle that season be extended until the end of June next year, team Stevenage, is reluctant to pull the plug on a club JOB FEARS football clubs only have a legal responsiblity towards extending contracts until that date but “only paying he has owned for 20 years but told AFP the current Across Europe clubs have put measures in place those who are directly employed by them, and the for this season”. state of limbo is “a disaster”. to protect the income of non-playing staff, either channel reports that the vast majority of Bundesliga However that would be disastrous for players in “I would expect some casualties this year,” he through topped-up partial unemployment schemes clubs have no plans in place to help third-party em- the lower leagues, in particular those in third-tier says. “We get average crowds of 3,000 so we are los- or player donations, but many workers at the sharp ployees. Serie C, which according to Monza CEO Adriano ing £45-£50,000 per home match. We have been end of the industry are in limbo because of the sus- Speckin said “the challenge many employees Galliani (formerly of AC Milan) has “basically no rev- given an advance of money by the EFL (English Foot- pension of the season. face is the fear and pressure of losing their liveli- enues” and “loses 120 million euros a year”. ball League) which is what we would normally receive German TV station Deutsche Welle reported this hood”, meaning that they are scared to challenge in August. However, when we get to July we have got week that in Germany nearly two thirds of some their employers. “Many decide to keep silent and ‘EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES’ IN SPAIN to be thinking what on earth do we do then.” 56,000 Bundesliga matchday jobs, such as security choose not to do anything so that they’ll be able to The economic fall-out from teams being denied The prospect of matches being played behind and catering, are staffed by third-party employees keep their job.” — AFP

navirus. “As a result of the measures imposed by the tournament a great celebration during which we will Montreal WTA Quebec government prohibiting holding events until be able to celebrate the sport and enjoy each other’s August 31, the Rogers Cup in Montreal will postpone company.” tournament put their event to 2021,” said a WTA statement. This is the latest blow to the tennis season which “The WTA reiterates that health and safety will al- has been on ice for the last month. The French Open Don’t write off ways be the top priority. We understand this was a was postponed from its traditional May-June slot and off until 2021 difficult decision and we look forward to being back rescheduled for September-October, just a week Dhoni: Hussain in Montreal in 2021.” after the conclusion of the US Open. Tournament director Eugene Lapierre said the de- Wimbledon was cancelled for the first time since MONTREAL: The Montreal WTA tournament, one cision was made for them. “At the beginning of the World War II, meaning that the earliest tennis can re- NEW DELHI: Former England captain COVID-19 crisis we were hoping that the situation sume this year is July 13. “As it currently stands, the of the key build-up events ahead of the US Open, was Nasser Hussain has backed veteran Mahen- axed on Saturday and will not be played until 2021, would be resolved in time to be able to host our tour- WTA Tour is suspended through July 12,” added Sat- dra Singh Dhoni to make an international officials said. nament as initially planned on the calendar. urday’s statement. comeback despite growing uncertainty over The event, scheduled for August 7-16, had been in “It is thus with a heavy heart that we received this “We will continue to work with our tournament the start of the Indian Premier League. jeopardy after Quebec Province requested that all news, but we understand that this decision was nec- partners in evaluating when we will be able to get The 38-year-old Dhoni has not appeared sporting and cultural events be cancelled through Au- essary,” Lapierre said. “We will be working tirelessly back on the court. “We do not foresee any further de- gust 31 as a means of slowing the spread of the coro- in the coming months in order to make next year’s cisions until next month.” — AFP for club or country since playing for India in last year’s 50-over World Cup and the na- tionwide coronavirus lockdown is limiting his chances of getting back in the side with the IPL likely to be truncated or cancelled. Dalglish hails There has been speculation that Dhoni might retire from international cricket. ‘brilliant staff’ “What I have seen of Dhoni, I still think he has a huge amount to offer to Indian cricket,” Hussain told Indian broadcaster after positive Star Sports on Saturday. “Yes, there have been one or two occa- coronavirus test sions where he has got it wrong in run chases, like that World Cup game against England. But in general, Dhoni is still a really LONDON: Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish was good talent.” discharged from hospital on Saturday after testing Hussain warned that Dhoni was a once- positive for coronavirus and hailed medical staff as in-a-generation cricketer that India would “absolutely brilliant.” Dalglish, 69, found he had the struggle to replace. virus after being admitted to hospital on Wednes- “Don’t push Dhoni into retirement too day for treatment for a separate infection which re- early. In the end only Dhoni knows his men- quired intravenous antibiotics. tal state, in the end selectors select and “They (the hospital staff) were absolutely bril- players turn up when asked to,” he added. liant,” Dalglish told the Sunday Post. “As a nation, “I do believe that certain individuals we are all very fortunate to have them and I wish should not just retire into the sunset without them all well as they work tirelessly to help the some kind of farewell.” Garry Kasparov country through this pandemic.” Dhoni, who gave up Test cricket in 2014, He added: “People may think my name got me has been busy gardening at home during the the best of care but every patient in the National “The computer is an alien opponent and the charac- lockdown, according to an Instagram post Health Service gets the best of care.” On Friday, Profile of Russian teristics of this opponent are very, very different from by his wife. Dalglish’s family said that he had tested positive for any human opponent,” Kasparov, then 34, had told re- The opening match of the Twenty20 COVID-19 despite having previously displayed no porters. The swashbuckling Russian won the first game tournament between the Dhoni-led Chen- symptoms of the illness. chess champion but cracked under pressure on May 11, 1997, the com- nai Super Kings and holders Mumbai Indi- Earlier Saturday, Dalglish’s son thanked the puter clinching the match with two wins, three draws and ans was pushed back to April 15 as world of football for the “truly humbling” messages Garry Kasparov one loss. sporting events around the world were de- of support. Paul Dalglish, also a former player, “In brisk and brutal fashion, the IBM computer Deep tweeted: “It’s not my place to comment on my old layed or postponed because of the Blue unseated humanity, at least temporarily, as the finest man, he can do that for himself in due course. COVID-19 pandemic. LONDON: Garry Kasparov hated losing but in defeat, “Truly humbling messages from supporters of all chess playing entity on the planet,” reported the New Former India captain Krishnamachari to an “alien opponent” incapable of fear or the faintest teams. “I’m sure we can all agree this is more im- York Times. “One small step for a computer, one giant Srikkanth said Dhoni’s comeback prospects flicker of emotion, the youngest of chess champions and portant than football and that we are all united to leap backward for mankind?,” asked the Wall Street looked “very, very bleak” if the IPL was greatest of grandmasters made history. support the NHS. Stay safe everyone.” Journal. cancelled. The Russian’s 1996 and 1997 man vs machine Dalglish’s daughter, Sky Sports presenter Kelly Kasparov later said he had treated the $1.1 million “Because straightaway, in my opinion, KL Cates, also shared a message of thanks to fans for matches against Deep Blue, an IBM RS/6000 super- event as a great scientific and social experiment but Rahul will be the wicket keeper-batsman,” their kind words and well wishes. “Thank you so computer capable of crunching 200 million positions in Deep Blue, whose two towers soon became museum Srikkanth, former chairman of the national much for your lovely messages and I’m really sorry the space of a second, wrote headlines around the world. pieces, proved “anything but intelligent”. selection committee, said. “Rishabh Pant, I I can’t reply to them all,” she tweeted. Although Kasparov won the February 1996 match in “The way Deep Blue played offered no input in the still think he might be a bit of a doubt, but I Philadelphia, his faceless foe took the opening game in Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker said on mysteries of human intelligence,” he told the DefCon believe that Rishabh Pant is highly talented. a watershed moment for artificial intelligence and 20th Twitter: “Love from Becker family to Sir Kenny hackers’ conference in a 2017 keynote address. “It was “He is absolutely fit, he is a legend, he is century technology. The computer, playing with the ad- Dalglish!!” Former Liverpool defender Jamie Car- as intelligent as your alarm clock. brilliant. I am a great fan of Dhoni myself. vantage of the white pieces, forced the Russian to resign “Although losing to a $10 million alarm clock didn’t ragher tweeted: “Hopeful Kenny will be rid of the But the question is for the (T20) World Cup on the 37th move after surrounding his king. make me feel any better.” Born Garik Kimovich Wein- virus ASAP.” team. So you’ll have to put the Indian team It was the first time a computer programme had ever stein in Baku, now the capital of Azerbaijan, Kasparov Ian Rush formed a prolific partnership with first and then the individuals.” beaten a reigning chess world champion under classic adopted his mother’s surname at a young age after his Dalglish during their playing days at Liverpool and Dhoni led India to win the inaugural tournament rules, where players have hours to plan their father’s death. the Welshman took to Twitter to give his old team- Twenty20 World Cup in 2007. He hit a six mate his best wishes. strategies. Kasparov sat on a raised platform opposite a He became a grandmaster at 17 and world champion to seal the 2011 World Cup final victory and “Wishing a speedy recovery to the best...Sir video display terminal as a programmer received the at 22 in 1985 when the charismatic youngster beat Soviet Kenny Dalglish. Get well soon,” he wrote. Dalglish moves over the internet from New York. establishment hero Anatoly Karpov. The first match in his status as a national hero. won the Scottish league title with Celtic as a player The second encounter held over nine days in a New Moscow between the two in 1984-85 lasted more than He has amassed 10,773 runs from 350 on four occasions before signing for Liverpool in York skyscraper, with Deep Blue’s software upgraded, five months and was abandoned on health grounds after ODIs, but his form dipped noticeably at last 1977.—AFP was declared “The Brain’s Last Stand” by Newsweek a record 40 drawn games, with Kasparov coming back year’s 50-over showpiece. — AFP magazine. from 5-0 down to 5-3.—Reuters Established 1961 Sport

MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2020

Sports events around the world Uncertainty spreads due to coronavirus Profile of Russian chess 18hit by coronavirus pandemic 19 pandemic in Europe’s lower leagues 19 champion Garry Kasparov

Sponsors worry they are paying for nothing

European clubs struggling to offer ‘partners’ a return on their investments

STOCKHOLM: AC Milan’s Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (C) talks with fans as he leaves the Arsta IP training ground in Stockholm, on Apil 9, 2020 after participating in a training session of the Swedish football league club Hammarby. — AFP

PARIS: With stadiums dark, match shirts folded in “It’s quite obvious that having no more events, everything because we’re in an emergency situation placed 16 to 20 (Roma, Lyon, West Ham, Everton and closets and most players confined at home, football’s everything has to be suspended, it seems so logi- where we have to eliminate all the superfluous expen- Napoli), 65 percent of revenue comes from broad- sponsors have lost all visibility and are growing rest- cal to me. It’s a case of force majeure,” Marc Van- diture”, sports economist Jean-Pascal Gayant told casting. One market expert, who did not wish to be less. European clubs are struggling to offer their hove, the boss of the Bistro AFP. “In the event of a crisis, named, said that the risks of deserting can outweigh ‘partners’ a return on their investments as sport grap- Regent restaurant chain, the first budget item they cut is the financial costs, especially for companies “who are ples with the coronavirus pandemic. which sponsors the Bordeaux often the communications.” doing well” in sectors that are seen to be less af- “We’re trying to do activities with our players for shirt, told AFP. With matches cancelled and fected, such as technology or the food industry. “You our sponsors, who are even more demanding since The Bordeaux-based chain Shirts folded some broadcasters, notably in can go to them and say: ‘You can play the white the lockdown. But it’s very complicated because of suspended its contract, which France, beginning to withhold knight by investing in sport in these difficult times’,” the health crisis,” one club marketing manager told runs until 2023, he said, “until in closets payments, club finances are al- the market expert said. AFP. The stars, the surest way for sponsors to attract we have the dates for the re- ready strained. The value of being seen to remain loyal is reflected an audience, are at home, many back in their native sumption”. “Sponsorship is particularly in the attitude of the Iberdrola Group, the main spon- countries. French hotel group Accor, important for Europe’s biggest sor of the Spanish women’s first division. Worse, there are no games for them to play. PSG’s main sponsor, left open clubs,” said Deloitte, the ac- “It is now, in this dramatic situation, that the sup- Matches on TV display the brands on the team jer- the question of whether it would pay the full amount countancy and services firm, in the 2020 edition of its port of sponsors is needed more than ever. You don’t seys or around the pitch to millions of viewers. provided for in its contract (about 50 million euros, ‘Football Money League’ which ranks clubs by in- pull out at times like these,” a spokesman for the At West Ham, one of the sponsors, high-risk fi- $54.7 million, a year), before saying two days later come. It said the primary source of revenue for its top Spanish electricity supply group told AFP. nance company Basset & Gold, which the club that it had honoured its commitments. five clubs (Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester Even so, players in the sector estimate a 60 to 70 stresses is not connected with owner David Gold, has “When you’re a sponsor, you want visibility,” United, Bayern Munich and PSG) is commercial and percent drop in investment and the prospect of sev- just gone bankrupt, blaming the coronavirus crisis. Accor CEO Sebastien Bazin told French radio. averages 49 percent of total revenue — although that eral lean years. “There is of course a risk that some Many sponsors are in sectors hit especially hard, “But at the same time, it’s in bad times that you number is inflated by PSG, which reports 57 percent companies that wanted to invest will no longer do so, such as airlines and hotel and restaurant chains. Some recognise your friends and those who are there for of revenue from sponsorship. Lower down the De- but will do so later,” said Bruno Bianzina, director of sponsors are beginning to cancel payments. you.” Sponsors can say overnight “we’re stopping loitte table, the proportions change. For the clubs the Sport Market agency, a French company. —AFP

hoped to provide comfort and encouragement to the to go, said Kendall Coyne Schofield, a forward for said her World Cup-winning squad’s ongoing lawsuit Women athletes should thousands who tuned in to view it. the United States women’s national team. against their federation over allegations of gender “But I also want them to think about the future as “Right now the professional landscape of women’s discrimination and lower wages is already having a stay focused on fight well,” said King, the 12-time Grand Slam champion hockey is a disaster,” said Coyne Schofield, an positive ripple effect. who famously waged a decades-long battle for equal Olympic gold medalist who played for NWHL’s Min- “Obviously we’ve been very successful over the for equality: King pay in professional tennis. nesota Whitecaps. years on the field but more importantly what we’re King said her early goals for women’s tennis were “Until we can show young girls the dream of doing off the field has been so powerful,” she said. to make sure all girls would have a place to compete, growing up to be a professional athlete who can “We are empowering so many other women across LOS ANGELES: Tennis great Billie Jean King on that women would be valued more for their accom- make a living doing it, our goal has not been met,” the globe to fight to make things better. Saturday said that despite the myriad of setbacks plishments than their looks, and to ensure female ath- she said. She said some international players are pushing facing female athletes due to the coronavirus pan- letes earned enough to make a living. The formation last year of the Professional to get better collective bargaining agreements and demic, they should not lose sight of the need to con- “Many of these athletes still do not have the Women’s Hockey Players Association is a good step are starting to see more investment in the women’s tinue their push for equality. dreams and the opportunities that they deserve,” she that will help the players speak with one voice as game. “When you hear about that investment, you Speaking on an online panel event titled #We- said. they fight for a sustainable professional women’s are seeing the product on the field,” she said. KeepPlaying hosted by King’s Women’s Sports While strides have been made toward pay equal- league that pays living wages, she said. “So we need to continue to do that for women’s Foundation and Yahoo Sports, the American said she ity in tennis, women’s ice hockey still has a long way U.S. national team soccer midfielder Carli Lloyd soccer.” — Reuters