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published in QATAR since 1978

WEDNESDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11589 June 24, 2020 Dhul-Qa’da 3, 1441 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Amir greets Grand Duke of Luxembourg His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His ‘Qatar past the peak but rise in Covid cases Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani sent yesterday cables of congratulations to Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg on his country’s National Day. HE among nationals, expatriate professionals’ Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani also sent a similar he country is past the peak of z Non-compliance with preventive cable to Prime Minister Xavier Bettel. Covid-19 transmission but Tthere has been an increase in measures results in one or multiple positive Amir holds phone talk positive cases among Qatari nation- cases within families and contacts with Cote d’Ivoire leader als as well as expatriate professionals. Also, non-compliance with the pre- zMoving on to Phase 2 of lifting of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim ventive measures has resulted in one bin Hamad al-Thani held yesterday or even multiple positive cases within restrictions is possible only if data showed a telephone conversation with Cote families and contacts. continued improvement d’Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara, These observations were made by during which they reviewed bilateral senior offi cials at a press conference z Number of new infections and cases of relations and ways to enhance them organised by the Ministry of Public in various fields, especially in the Health (MoPH) yesterday. people being admitted to hospital each day investment and health fields. During Dr Abdullatif al-Khal, chair of the Dr Hamad al-Romaihi and Dr Abdullatif al-Khal at the press conference yesterday. with Covid-19 falling the call, they discussed the latest National Strategic Group on Covid-19 developments related to the novel and head of the Infectious Diseases Di- At the same time, he noted that “we lation group is the one with the highest Dr al-Khal said the country is mid- should remain more careful to avoid a coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and vision at Hamad Medical Corporation, are seeing an increase in the number of proportion of elderly people and people way through Phase 1 of the lifting of second wave. areas of co-operation in this regard. and Dr Hamad al-Romaihi, director of deaths in recent weeks and this is due with chronic conditions,” he said. “Now, restrictions. “But we can only move to Addressing the press conference, Health Protection and Communicable to people who were infected at the peak more than ever, is the time to be cautious Phase 2 if the data showed continued Dr al-Romaihi said: “We continue to GTA extends deadline Disease Control at the Public Health of the virus several weeks ago”. and protect those most at risk. improvement,” he stressed. see examples of people ignoring the Department and co-chair of the Na- A total of 99 deaths have been re- “It is vital that we continue to pro- It is essential that people follow all preventive measures, resulting in one for filing tax returns tional Pandemic Preparation Commit- ported so far and this can further in- tect the elderly and those with chronic preventive advice and measures as the or even multiple positive cases within The General Tax Authority (GTA) has tee, addressed the press conference. crease in the coming days, he added. medical conditions.” restrictions are lifted, he reiterated. “We families and contacts.” announced extending the period for “We are now past the peak of the vi- “There has been an increase in posi- The offi cial said the number of cases all have a part to play in the successful “Our tracing system has shown on tax returns by another two months. rus in Qatar and are seeing the number tive cases among Qatari nationals and that require intensive care has been de- lifting of restrictions and I cannot em- many occasions how young and healthy The new deadline to file returns will of new infections come down each expatriate professionals,” Dr al-Khal creasing. The most vulnerable catego- phasise enough how important it is that people have ignored social and physi- be August 30. This decision comes week,” Dr al-Khal said. “The number continued. They include engineers, ries are those above 50 years and people we all take responsibility for our role.” cal distancing and this has led to them in line with the directives of His of people being admitted to hospital doctors, teachers and others. with chronic conditions such as heart Dr al-Khal said they expect the pan- contracting the virus and passing it on Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim each day with Covid-19 is also falling.” “This is of great concern as this popu- disease, hypertension and diabetes. demic to continue receding but people to family members,” he noted. To Page 2 bin Hamad al-Thani to provide the necessary services to citizens and residents, foremost of which is to provide safety and protection Intersection on Al Wakra Main Road partly opened from Covid-19 and to ensure the continuation of their healthy life. Every child deserves Business Page 1 Qatar reports 71,501 education: Brown Covid-19 recoveries The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) yesterday announced 1,176 zFormer UK premier new confirmed cases of Covid-19 addresses online forum and 1,545 recoveries in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of organised by WISE people who recovered in Qatar to 71,501. The MoPH said that, in the By Joseph Varghese last 24 hours, 17 new cases were Staff Reporter admitted to intensive care due to health complications resulting from Covid-19, bringing the total number ormer British prime minister of critical cases currently in critical Gordon Brown has highlighted care to 225. Page 2 Fthe road ahead for equal oppor- The Education Commission, the UK. tunities in global education scenario The second part of ‘Education Dis- World No 1 Djokovic with the motto ‘Every child goes to rupted, Education Reimagined’ series school’, while speaking at an online was organised yesterday in collabora- tests Covid positive forum organised by World Innovation tion with Salzburg Global Seminar and World number one Summit for Education (WISE). HolonIQ. Novak Djokovic’s “I still harbour the aspiration that “Just like the health emergency hopes of hosting instead of developing some of the po- due to Covid-19, we also have an a successful tentials of some of our young people, education emergency that will have exhibition we will soon be in a world where we a long lasting impact unless we do tournament will be developing all the potentials something about it urgently. The The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) yesterday partly opened Al Jabal Intersection on Al Wakra Main Road after turning during a pandemic of all of our young people,” stated life chances of millions and millions the old roundabout into a signalised intersection. The new intersection connects Al Wakra Road and Mesaieed Road, Ras spectacularly Brown, UN special envoy for Global of young people are down the road,” Al Jabal Street and Wadi Al Afja Street, as part of Al Wakra Main Road Upgrade Project. The opening was carried out in backfired yesterday Education, and commission chair, Brown cautioned. To Page 3 co-ordination with the General Directorate of Traff ic. Page 20 when he became the fourth player to test positive for coronavirus, raising serious questions about the sport’s planned return Quake hits Mexico, triggers local tsunami in August. Djokovic, who was not showing any symptoms, joined fellow Hamad Port container terminal 2 players Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki in testing positive for Covid-19 during the second leg of to be operational by year-end his Adria Tournament where social distancing was minimal. Djokovic said his wife Jelena also tested positive By Santhosh V Perumal ing that the port’s throughput is estimated to be while the results of their children Business Reporter roughly 1.5 times gross domestic product or GDP. were negative. Sport Page 1 Amidst disruptions caused by pandemic Covid-19, Qatar will be the only economy in the Huge Saharan dust cloud he 403,500sq m container terminal 2 Middle East and North Africa including Pakistan heading toward the US (CT2) at the Hamad Port is slated to be op- (MENAP) region to show fi scal surplus this year Terationalised by the end of fourth quarter and in 2021, according to the International Mon- A massive plume of Saharan dust has (Q4) of this year. etary Fund (IMF). Qatar’s expected 5% growth in shrouded swathes of the Caribbean, “On track for start of operations in late Q4 2020,” 2021 is in contrast to an estimated 4.3% decline turning blue skies into a milky-brown said a tweet from the QTerminals, a terminal oper- this year on account of pandemic Covid-19. haze and sparking health warnings ating company jointly established by Mwani Qatar across the region as air quality fell to (51%) and Milaha (49%). The works on CT-2 had The CT2, with berth length of 1,200m unhealthy levels. Strong warm winds begun in December last year as part of Qatar’s ex- and a 17m draft alongside, will have over the Sahara desert typically pansion strategy in its maritime sector. annual capacity of 2mn TEUs (twenty- whip up sand at this time of year and The CT2, with berth length of 1,200m and a 17m foot equivalent units). The CT-2 carry it thousands of miles across draft alongside, will have annual capacity of 2mn development at Hamad Port is located the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas. TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units). The CT-2 immediately to the north of the existing This year, the dust is the most dense development at Hamad Port is located immediately Container Terminal – 1 in half a century. The thick smog has to the north of the existing Container Terminal – 1. sharply reduced visibility. QTerminals provides container, general cargo, The IMF’s forecasted real economic growth in RORO, livestock and off shore supply services in 2021 is better than the 4.7% averaged for the MENAP India may allow some Phase 1 of Hamad Port. region. Modelled as a transshipment hub, Hamad The Phase I of Hamad Port consists of CT1, the Port has already transshipped containers to other foreign flights soon general cargo terminal, the multi-user terminal, locations as Iraq, Kuwait, and the sub-continent. India’s ministry of civil aviation said which handles Ro-Ro for vehicles, machinery, and Hamad Port has signifi cant scope for growth yesterday it was considering allowing live animals, and the off shore supply services ter- and innovation and QTerminals, as the operator some international carrier flights to A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.4 struck the coast of southern Mexico yesterday, killing at minal Considering the sustained growth outlook of Phase 1 and the developer of Phase 2, has po- resume after Washington accused least two people, buckling paved roads, and setting off a tsunami in nearby Pacific coastal areas. of Qatar, both CT2 and CT1 are expected to give a tential to establish and maintain stronger mari- India of “unfair and discriminatory Buildings shook in Mexico City, hundreds of miles away. Patients and medical staff are seen outside big push to the domestic economy in the medium time trade to stimulate economic growth locally, practices.” Page 13 a hospital after the earthquake in Mexico City yesterday. Page 15 to long term, industry insiders said, highlight- regionally, and internationally. To Page 2 Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, June 24, 2020 QATAR Qatar takes part in UNRWA Ministry publishes virtual pledging conference 2020-21 calendar

QNA Doha for public schools atar has participated in the extraordinary virtual he Ministry of Education Results of secondary certifi cate Qconference to announce and Higher Education has exams to be announced tomorrow the pledges of the United Na- Tpublished the 2020-2021 tions Relief and Works Agency academic calendar for public The Ministry of Education and tees for the conduct of tests. for Palestine Refugees in the schools. Higher Education will announce According to the ministe- Near East (UNRWA). The calendar can be viewed on tomorrow the results of the gen- rial decision issued by HE HE the Minister of State for the ministry’s website. eral secondary certificate exams the Minister of Education Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad The 2019-2020 second round for the 2019/2020 academic and Higher Education Dr al-Muraikhi represented Qatar exams for grades 1-12 (morn- year. Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali during the conference held yes- ing/adult education) will be held The exams of the second al-Hammad recently regard- terday via video conferencing. from August 23-31. semester of the general second- ing amending some provi- In a speech before the confer- On August 19, staff will return ary certificate for the 2019/2020 sions of the annual calendar ence, HE al-Muraikhi stressed to schools for the 2020-2021 ac- academic year were held from of schools for the 2019/2020 that Qatar will continue to pro- HE the Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi participating in the virtual conference ademic year. The fi rst day of the June 1-13, where 11,500 students academic year, the dates of vide support to UNRWA so as to yesterday. new academic year is September performed the tests in 149 the second round exams for enable it to carry out its man- 1. headquarters. all grades from (first to 12th / date, adding that Qatar has been HE al-Muraikhi underscored the eff orts of the new Commission- support for the agency. Midterm 1 examinations for The ministry has also allocated day and adult education) will and remains at the forefront that Qatar will remain at the er-General of UNRWA and thanked He also thanked Jordan and grades 1-11 (morning) will be some 6,100 employees to serve start on August 23 and con- of the countries supporting it. forefront of the countries to en- UN Secretary-General Antonio Sweden for organising the con- held from October 20-29. as observers and on commit- tinue until August 31. - QNA Qatar has provided UNRWA, hance UNRWA’s ability to con- Guterres for his eff orts to mobilise ference. Term 1 fi nal exams for grades through the Qatar Fund For De- tinue to perform its mandate and 10, 11 and 12 (morning/adult velopment, more than $100mn carry out its activities eff ectively Qatar cash aid to Gaza families early next week education) will take place from 10 and 11 (morning) will take exams for grades 1-9 (morning/ since 2015. in line with its principles and December 2-13, while Term 1 fi - place from March 2-11, while adult education) will take place He explained that the sup- fi rm commitment in supporting The Qatar Committee for the for 100,000 families. Each family nal exams for grades 1-9 (morn- midterm 2 exams for grades from May 31 to June 8. port provided by Qatar to UN- the brotherly Palestinian people. Reconstruction of Gaza, in co- will receive $100. ing/adult education) will be held 1-9 (morning) will be held from The school staff holiday is RWA this year amounts to a to- He said that Qatar is today the operation with the Qatar Fund He noted that the disburse- from December 2-10. March 3-11. from June 20 to August 19. tal of $11.2mn, according to the fi rst in the Arab world in provid- for Development (QFFD), will ment will be carried out in co- The midterm break is from The midterm 2 break is from Second round exams for grades agreement signed in December ing support to UNRWA’s core re- begin disbursing cash assist- operation with the competent December 20-31, with Term 2 March 14-18. Classes will 1-12 (morning/adult education) 2019 on the sidelines of the Doha sources for 2019-2020. ance to needy families in the government departments, beginning on January 3, 2021. resume after the midterm 2 break will be held from July 6 to 14. Forum between Qatar and UN- The minister stated that this Gaza Strip early next week. observing safety procedures Term 1 second round exams on March 21. School staff will return to RWA, along with $1.5mn provid- conference is taking place in HE the Chairman of the com- for the beneficiaries and keep- for grades 1-11 (morning/adult Term 2 fi nal exams for grades schools for the 2021-2022 aca- ed by Qatar’s Education Above light of the increasing fi nancial mittee, ambassador Mohamed ing sufficient distance between education) will be held from Jan- 10, 11 and 12 (morning/adult ed- demic year on August 22. The fi rst All Foundation to support of the crisis facing the UNRWA and the al-Emadi, said that the distribu- them, as part of the preven- uary 19-28, 2021. ucation) will be held from May day of the 2021-2022 academic Palestinian government repre- additional burden imposed by tion process will take place tive measures to confront the Midterm 2 exams for grades 30 to June 9, and the Term 2 fi nal year will be on August 24, 2021. sented by the Ministry of Educa- the coronavirus (Covid-19) pan- through the post off ices in the outbreak of the coronavirus tion to ensure the right to educa- demic on its work. governorates of the Gaza Strip (Covid-19). tion for Palestinian children. He reiterated Qatar’s support for First 10,000 words collected for Qatar Shura Council’s Hamad Port container Cultural Dictionary Joint Committee Jassim and Hamad Bin Jassim Charitable The Cultural Village Foundation – holds meeting terminal 2 to be Katara has completed collecting the first 10,000 words of the The Joint Committee, which Qatar Cultural Dictionary, for is composed of the Shura Foundation supports cancer society operational by year-end which the work on the first phase Council’s Legal and Legislative began earlier. Affairs Committee and the The Qatar Cultural Dictionary Cultural and Information QNA nism and framework for co-op- of supporting the treatment of From Page 1 Covid-19, as more vessels called project aims to protect the Qatari Affairs Committee, held a Doha eration with the Qatar Cancer cancer patients. The therapeu- on Hamad Port. dialect with its old vocabulary for meeting yesterday chaired by Society, which deals with com- tic cost of the disease remained Hamad Port, Qatar’ gateway According to the Planning subsequent generations and to its rapporteur HE Nasser bin munity awareness to prevent high, which aff ected the health to world trade, handles general and Statistics Authority’s latest preserve the valuable inventory Rashid bin Saree al-Kaabi. he Jassim and Hamad Bin cancer and works to support and psychological well-being of cargo, livestock, automobiles, monthly statement, Hamad Port of the Qatari dialect, which During the meeting, the Jassim Charitable Foun- people with this disease. those living with it, he added. and bulk grain. had seen 140 vessels berthed and carries all prevailing values and committee continued to examine Tdation has signed a co- The support provided is the He affi rmed that Qatar Cancer Its strategic geographical net tonnage was 2.52mn tonnes customs of society, based on the a draft law regulating the operation agreement with the fi rst in light of the existing co- Society has sought not to have location offers opportunities in March 2020. promotion of vernacular dialect press, publication, publishing, Qatar Cancer Society (QCS), operation between the two par- one patient on the waiting list of to create cargo movement to- The number of vessels calling that is not inconsistent with the media activities, and arts, in under which the Foundation ties, as the Foundation was keen support since its establishment wards the upper Gulf, support- on Hamad Port witnessed a 6.1% preservation of classical native the presence of HE Minister of provides the QCS QR500 000 to enhance its eff orts in applying in 1997, as it bore the treatment ing countries such as Kuwait and 7.7% increase year-on-year Arabic language, the mother of Culture and Sports Salah bin as a contribution to support the the principles of social responsi- of 1,200 patients at a cost of ap- and Iraq, and south towards and month-on-month respec- this dialect. Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali. treatment of cancer patients bility, he added. proximately QR16.5mn during Oman, according to Neville tively this March. The Qatar Cultural Dictionary The committee decided to who cannot aff ord the costs of Al-Hajri noted that the agree- 2019. Bissett, QTerminals chief ex- The net tonnage had seen a includes linguistic information resume studying the draft law at treatment. ment between the two parties The fi rst quarter of this year ecutive. 3.1% year-on-year decline but that explains the origin and its next meeting. The agreement was signed by provided an opportunity to build witnessed treating 900 patients, Qatar’s maritime sector con- grew 7.2% on a monthly basis in development in the local dialect Member of the Board of Direc- close partnerships within the at a total cost of approximately tinued to be busy, amidst the March this year. of this origin. - QNA Qatar condemns tors and CEO of Jassim and Ha- framework of joint work to pro- QR4.9mn. mad bin Jassim Charitable Foun- vide health and humanitarian He noted that the agreement bombing near dation, Saeed Mathkar al-Hajri, services for cancer patients, and is part of the role played by the Somalia capital and the Qatar Cancer Society’s look forward to more joint coop- two parties in community serv- Board Chairman HE Sheikh Dr eration in the future in order to ice and eff ective partnership The State of Qatar has strongly Khalid bin Jabor al-Thani. activate the Foundation’s vision that contributes to achieving Qatar past the peak of Covid-19 transmission condemned the bombing, Saeed al-Hajri stressed that of “health and education for a the goals that are in the interest which occurred west of the the Foundation always seeks to better life”, and to translate these of society members and raising Somali capital, Mogadishu, serve the local community with eff orts within the framework of awareness and all that would From Page 1 people with chronic condi- spread of the disease. killing two people and its own capabilities and resourc- social responsibility and achiev- serve their target groups, espe- tions,” he said. No member of the society wounding others. es. ing goals humanity and patriot- cially since the issue of cancer The surveillance team at the “We are at a critical time should be complacent - though In a statement yesterday, the The support provided to the ism. control needs to unite eff orts and MoPH continues to track and for these people and unless the risk of serious symptoms Ministry of Foreign Aff airs Qatar Cancer Society, which For his part, HE Sheikh Dr continue them in order to face trace all cases to identify poten- we adhere to strict preven- is low for young and healthy reiterated the State of Qatar’s amounts to QR500,000 comes Khalid bin Jabor al-Thani, Chair- the disease. tial new cases and gain an un- tive measures, we could see people, they can easily be car- firm position rejecting violence within the framework of the ex- man of the Board of Directors of He added that the two sides derstanding of how the virus is cases, and ultimately deaths, riers of the virus and pass it and terrorism, whatever their isting co-operation between the Qatar Cancer Society praised the are linked by permanent co- transmitted. increasing in our most vulner- on to contacts who are elderly motives and reasons. Foundation and the Society to eff orts of the Jassim and Hamad operation before the agreement, “Despite the overall num- able people,” Dr al-Romaihi or have chronic conditions, he The statement expressed the fi nance the treatment of cancer bin Jassim Foundation in chari- and each of them will strive to bers being encouraging, we stressed. said. State of Qatar’s condolences to patients in Qatar and provide table and humanitarian work, consolidate and strengthen this are seeing an increase in the Early detection of infec- “Everyone has a role to play the families of the two victims, them with the necessary health especially in the health sector, relationship by benefi ting from number of cases within the tion transmission chain in the lifting of restrictions and the government and people of services. and supporting the awareness- their experiences and unifying Qatari and expat professional through Ehteraz and the oth- protecting the elderly and people Somalia, wishing the wounded a Al-Hajri added that the agree- raising eff orts carried out by the eff orts in the interest and benefi t community, where we have er usual means has consid- with chronic conditions,” Dr al- speedy recovery. ment aims to provide a mecha- Society , especially in the fi eld of all members of society. high numbers of elderly and erably reduced any further Romaihi added. Qatar reports 71,501 total Covid-19 recoveries

QNA necessary healthcare according The ministry stated that Qa- follow strict methods and pre- during the development of the Doha to the health status of each case. tar has now started to overcome cautions to reduce the risk of gradual lifting plan, priorities According to a tweet from the the peak stage of the Covid-19 infection with them and work were taken into consideration, MoPH, with a total of 4,371 peo- outbreak, thanks to the measures to protect them from infection while taking full care to avoid he Ministry of Public ple tested for Covid-19 in the taken by the state to address it, in by refraining from social visits, the risks that may arise from the Health (MoPH) yester- last 24 hours, as many as 328,941 addition to the commitment of wearing the mask and cleansing process of lifting. Tday announced 1,176 new have been tested so far in Qatar. the community members to the the hands when near them. The ministry stressed that confi rmed cases of Covid-19 and The total number of infected recommendations and preventive The ministry said that since each stage will be subject to 1,545 recoveries in the last 24 people in Qatar since the start of instructions, the most important June 15, Qatar has started gradu- evaluation and review based hours, bringing the total number the Covid-19 outbreak is 89,579. of which are social distancing, ally lifting restrictions, imple- on the curve of the spread of of people who recovered in Qatar The total number of current staying at home, and not going out mented due to the Covid-19 Covid-19, as the success of each to 71,501. active cases is 17,979. The total except for necessity. pandemic, in four stages that stage that depends on everyone’s The MoPH said that, in the number of people currently un- The MoPH urged anyone with will last until September 1, based commitment to implementing last 24 hours, 17 new cases were der acute hospital care is 1,087, symptoms of Covid-19 should on the extensive data and stud- the required precautions. admitted to intensive care due to including 131 acute hospital ad- either quickly contact the 16000 ies conducted by the authori- The MoPH also stressed that health complications resulting missions in the last 24 hours. helpline or go directly to one of ties concerned in the country as the Covid-19 pandemic that from Covid-19, bringing the to- The total number of Covid-19 the designated health centres for well as international experiences swept the whole world posed a tal number of critical cases cur- deaths so far in Qatar is 99. testing. The ministry said this is where other countries have suc- great challenge to all countries rently in critical care to 225. The MoPH confi rmed that ef- important as the earlier the dis- ceeded in limiting the spread of and its impact aff ected all socie- The ministry explained that forts to tackle Covid-19 in Qatar ease is detected the easier it will the virus while gradually lifting ties in a diff erent way. Therefore, the new cases got infected from have succeeded in fl attening the be to receive the right treatment the restrictions imposed by it. it is important to realise that all people who had been previously curve and reduced the impact and recover. Preventive measures should the precautionary measures that infected, and that it continues of the virus by a large percent- The main screening centres continue to be observed are taken aim primarily to pro- to conduct investigative and age thanks to the decisions of include Muaither Health Centre, throughout the gradual lifting of tect public health and protect in- proactive testing, which con- the ban, the preventive measures Rawdat Al Khail Health Centre, restrictions as the failure to do so dividuals from this virus, taking tributes to early detection. taken, and the awareness and Umm Slal Health Centre and Al may lead to the return of the vi- into account all other aspects of The new confi rmed cases of co-operation of all members of Gharrafa Health Centre. rus outbreak in the country. life, whether social or economic. infection have been introduced society, and that there are rela- The MoPH reaffi rmed the ne- The MoPH warned that lifting The MoPH recommended to complete isolation in the tively low average numbers in cessity for the elderly or those the restrictions gradually does visiting its website regularly to various medical facilities in the relation to the recorded cases of suff ering from chronic diseases not mean the disappearance of view the latest information and country, where they receive the new hospital admissions. and their family members to the Covid-19 pandemic, but that instructions related to Covid-19. Gulf Times Wednesday, June 24, 2020 3 QATAR WISE report will assess impact of Covid-19 crisis on education

By Joseph Varghese Education Disrupted, Education this way. We also need to develop Staff Reporter Reimagined series organised by education leaders and must un- WISE. The event saw several lu- derstand the intrinsic motivation minaries in education as well as on the part of teachers, parents orld Innovation Sum- thought leaders present their ex- and learners to teach and learn. mit for Education periences during Covid-19 as well This is what drives the education W(WISE) a global think as share their thoughts for the fu- ahead,” he highlighted. tank and an initiative of Qatar ture of education during the pan- Yiannouka maintained that Foundation, will launch next demic and ahead. there was an unprecedented month a publication on the im- “The present crisis has re- learning loss during the months pact of the Covid-19 pandemic on vealed several things for us. It has of the pandemic. “The data for global education scenario. made us think about the central the last three months are coming “The fi rst part of the e-pub- importance of well-being; so- and we are seeing unprecedented lication ‘Education Disrupted; cial and emotional learning - the learning loss an equivalents of Education Reimagined’ will be hidden curriculum in education. years of productivity and future thoughts and responses from the School is more than just an aca- earnings of the students, espe- education frontline during the demic curriculum and this crisis cially those in the disadvantaged Covid-19 pandemic and beyond. is a great revealer of all these,” Stavros Yiannouka Asmaa al-Fadala communities. With the grow- More updates on the publication explained al-Fadala. The offi cial ing pandemic, it is also feared will be on the website in the com- also noted that the pandemic has fi nally bridge the gap of inequal- buzz word during the fi rst part of continued. WISE CEO, Stavros made in education too. “World that there could be more cuts on ing days,” said, Asmaa al-Fadala, again shown that global education ity in the education system,” she the forum in April as necessity is Yiannouka, said in his opening governments have been spend- the budgets for education. This director of Research and Content systems are inherently unequal. noted. the mother of all inventions. This remarks that governments are ing billions to guard against Cov- will be particularly devastating Development, WISE. “This crisis has highlighted that According to al-Fadala, educa- is the time to bring new ideas and investing huge sums of money id-19. We must do the same for for the education of students in She was addressing the open- access to quality education is not tion can and must be reimagined. innovate. It is imperative that we to fi ght against the pandemic education. Aspirations of quality most vulnerable communities,” ing session of the second part of equal. We need to use this crisis to “Never waste a good crisis was the carry forward the lessons,” she and similar investments must be education can be achieved only he added. UN offi cial highlights importance of education in the time of pandemic

By Joseph Varghese The three-day virtual gath- needs of children, and whether Staff Reporter ering by WISE, a think tank of there’s something at home or Qatar Foundation, addresses the in the community environment impact of Covid-19 and the fu- that may be preventing children ublic health and public ture of education systems around from engaging in learning.” education are the major the world. Dr Hassan al-Derham, presi- Pfoundations of the society, “The crisis has revealed the dent, Qatar University, high- observed an offi cial of Unesco importance of digital connectiv- lighted how moving education on the opening day of an inter- ity and online platforms. Gov- systems forward will require the national online conference or- ernments are already planning involvement of many diff erent ganised by World Innovation for the future along the lines of stakeholders. “Communication Summit for Education (WISE) in hybrid learning solutions and is vital during this uncertainty,” collaboration with Salzburg Glo- models that can combine tradi- he said. “It is very important to bal Seminar and HolonIQ . tional face-to-face learning and Stefania Giannini keep faculty, staff , students, and “The global pandemic of teaching with new technologies. parents connected, as long as it Covid-19 will not be defeated These require not only the ap- resilience, and peace. to education, partly due to lack is clear and transparent. We also by health measures alone. Pub- propriate infrastructure, but ac- The crisis caused by the pan- of connectivity. According to a Participants at a panel discussion. have to be realistic and show lic health and public education cess to digitalised curricula, dig- demic, she said, has exposed recent survey, 60% of teachers why we are taking this direction. are interconnected; they are two italised training, and measure to the consequences “of digital in- in 60 countries lack the digital them more freedom and auton- Wait, stressed the importance of Leaders cannot do it alone and main pillars for a better society. protect privacies. This is why equality that deprived millions skills to facilitate online platform omy, and giving them the condi- teachers. In a session titled ‘The without the engagement of fac- We cannot allow them to be set education needs more resources, from learning, of gender inequal- learning. tions to work collaboratively. Ed- Impact of Covid-19 on Education ulty, teachers, parents.” in opposition,” observed Stefania not less than before,” explained, ity that exposed girls – more than “The centre of an educational ucation can save the future, and Systems Now and in the Future’, Staneala Beckley, chair Sierra Giannini, assistant director-gen- Giannini. The UN offi cial noted boys – to violence, of social ine- process is the human relation- empower every child for a more he said: “Teachers can’t be re- Leone, Teaching Service Com- eral for education, Unesco while that the present times are a real qualities that left the poorest be- ship, between a student and a resilient, inclusive, and sustain- placed.” mission also participated in the delivering the keynote address at game changer and the global so- hind, and geographical inequity.” teacher. The education systems able world,” she highlighted. “They play an important role discussion that was moderated the Education Disrupted, Edu- ciety has the right opportunity According to Unesco, ap- best prepared to respond to crises At a panel discussion, Eddie in not just delivering education, by Clare Shine, vice president cation Reimagined series Part II to decide what kind of education proximately 500mn children will be those that are capable of Dutton, emergency manager for but also in understanding the and chief programme offi cer yesterday. will strengthen global inclusion, and learners do not have access valuing their teachers, granting education at Education Cannot learning needs and psychosocial Salzburg Global Seminar. AAB holds virtual launch of Toyota C-HR 2020 Hybrid Every child deserves education: Brown bdullah Abdulghani & “The Toyota C-HR’s unique Bros Co (AAB) held a vir- character demonstrates the Atual launch of the new Toyota New Global Architecture Toyota C-HR in Qatar, a new (TNGA) platform’s fl exibility in From Page 1 changed. Technology is available member to the Toyota Hybrid three key areas: design, power- only to some. We have seen the Vehicle (HEV) family. The event train, and dynamics. This adapt- According to the UN envoy, power of technology and it can was in line with the eff orts of the ability provided us with the free- there are about 50mn children be incorporated into teaching Qatar government to limit the dom to deliver a fresh take on displaced and many of them due which can enhance the power, spread of Covid-19 and as part the increasingly commoditised to the pandemic. “From experi- stature and the capacity of the of the commitment from AAB crossover segment,” Koba said. ence we know that in such sce- teacher.” to protect and ensure the health Kei Fujita, chief representative narios, child labour becomes Brown noted that education and safety of its customers. of Middle East and Central Asia more common because children generates better employment for In a statement, AAB acting Representative Offi ce, Toyota don’t go back to school. In 2005, the youth, education provides CEO R K Murugan said that ‘the Motor Corporation, described an earth quake in Pakistan made better health as an educated daringly innovative crossover the all-new Toyota C-HR as ‘a many of the aff ected children lose mother is able to take care of her combines adventurous design completely new breed of car that a year and a half in education al- children better and improve the with a responsive drive and will change people’s perceptions though schools were closed only quality of life. class-leading eco-friendly tech- of what a crossover should be for 14 weeks,” he pointed out. He also said that the time has nology.’ Senior marketing man- like to drive and to look at.’ Brown, highlighting World come to act quickly. “We have got ager Firas Mufti noted that the The all-new C-HR is built on Bank fi gures said that education to bear in mind that a human trag- introduction of C-HR HEV fur- the TNGA platform, which guar- will lose about $150bn a year in edy is unfolding, if we do nothing ther demonstrates Toyota Mo- antees a more rewarding driving low and middle income coun- and leave education underfunded tor Corporation’s commitment experience. A low centre of grav- tries. He suggested three ma- without the resources that are to introduce more class-leading ity and double-wishbone rear jor steps that the international necessary for children to fl our- eco-friendly technology models, suspension contribute to out- R K Murugan (right) and Firas Mufti with the new Toyota C-HR. community can do to help sus- ish in the future. We have to do it in addition to the existing three standing stability and handling tain education in several of the by cooperation. We can all come HEV models. with exceptional ride comfort. ing visual appeal, including Su- poor countries. together for the power of educa- Toyota National Sales sen- The vehicle comes with a 1.8-lit- per White 2, White Pearl CS, Cel- “The international communi- tion that can unlock not only the ior manager Awwad Mo- er VVT-i full-hybrid powertrain estite Gray ME, Gray ME, Metal ty and organisations such as IMF individual potential but gain the hamed said: “AAB off ers eight and automatic E-CVT transmis- Stream ME, Black MC, Emotion and World Bank need to make ef- sustainable development goals. years/160,000km warranty for sion. Red 2, Orange ME, Oxide Bronze forts to deliver more money for We can make a diff erence through Hybrid battery in Qatar thereby The sleek control panel fea- ME, and Nebula Blue ME. education to the poorest coun- the eff orts of organisations such giving peace of mind to the HEV tures a 4.2-inch colour LCD Further personalisation is tries and make sure that they are as WISE and others in this regard,” vehicle owners in addition to the Multi-Information Display with made possible with the addi- used for education alone. he pointed out. fabulous performance in accel- an onboard multimedia system tion of two bi-tone variants; “ Establish a support net- “You can survive 40 days eration and quietness.” and full smartphone integration where customers can combine work in the poor and low income without food, eight days without Designed to stand out both through both Apple CarPlay and Gloss Black and the iconic Metal countries for students espe- water and eight minutes with- within the Toyota line-up and Android Auto. Stream with all the available col- cially for girls so that they are out air but you can’t survive a the crossover segment, the all- The C-HR has a combined hp The all-new C-HR features a host of advanced technologies. ours. not forced into child marriage or second without hope. Hope dies new C-HR – or Coupe High- of 122. The hybrid-electric pow- With the launch of the new child labour. The network also when people feel that they don’t Rider – embodies company ertrain is equipped with a small, model, Toyota’s hybrid electric can provide emotional support have the chance to plan and pre- President Akio Toyoda’s com- light, and powerful lithium-ion model line-up in Qatar includes for the students and help the pare for the future; can’t dream mitment to promoting stylistic battery pack that can effi ciently Corolla, Camry, RAV4 and the families make their children go of something in the future. And freedom and engineering crea- absorb and deliver current, en- all-new C-HR. to school. this hope can die unless we take tivity. hancing the electric motive force Customers who wants to pur- “Incorporate more and more the action necessary. We can fi nd The pioneering crossover re- delivery. chase the new model can visit technology into classrooms. better ways to cooperate and we mains remarkably true to the Toyota has more than two any of the two showrooms lo- The school classroom has been can build the education future spirit of the concept cars that decades of technical leadership cated at Al Abdulghani Tower unchanged for the last two that all of us dream about. And drew global attention in Paris in in electrifi ed vehicles and has (C-Ring Road) and City Center centuries while all other fa- every child in the world deserves 2014 and Frankfurt in 2015. The amassed over 15mn environ- (basement) at their convenient cilities around the schools have it,” Brown added. all-new C-HR off ers the low- ment-friendly vehicle sales glo- time or can speak to their Sales est fuel consumption value in its bally since 1997. Its hybrid-elec- Team directly at 50099188. category at 23.9 km/l. tric batteries are continuously Toyota main showroom is Yards closure for this season Inspired by what he learned charged by the petrol engine and open from Sunday to Thursday from meeting with potential when decelerating and braking, from 8am-8pm. City Center The Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME), represented by customers, C-HR chief engineer meaning there is no need to plug The new Toyota C-HR features high-quality interior. showroom is open from Sunday the Agricultural Aff airs Department, has announced the end of work Hiroyuki Koba focused persist- in a power cord. to Thursday, 9am to 8pm. AAB at all yards selling local farm produce for this season with eff ect from ently on their requirements The TNGA-based chassis has array of active and passive safety Warning System, Hill-start As- also off ers excellent after-sales July 1. Two of the five yards, Al Sheehaniya and Al Shamal, were closed throughout the development been optimised for outstand- features including Vehicle Sta- sist Control and many others. support with a network of 10 recently while the three others - Al Mazrouah, Al Wakra and Al Khor-Al process, setting the highest de- ing impact performance and is bility Control, Electronic Brake- A choice of 10 exterior hues service centres located across Thakhira - continued to operate. The announcement was made on the mands for design and quality. complemented by an impressive force Distribution, Tyre Pressure add to the all-new C-HR’s strik- the country. MME’s Twitter account yesterday. Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, June 24, 2020 QATAR GU-Q alumnus leads Qatar’s successful WTO piracy claim The Zoomlion crawler crane’s hydraulic system has the advantages of high eff iciency, energy-saving, smooth and safe simultaneous movements. n a message to Georgetown caster and is now requested to University in Qatar (GU-Q) conform with its obligations as Istudents, Saleh Abdullah al- a signatory of WTO’s Agreement Mana, the director of the Offi ce on Trade-Related Aspects of In- NBK Heavy Equipment of the State of Qatar to the World tellectual Property Rights. Trade Organisation (WTO) and The ruling will be legally bind- a 2013 GU-Q graduate, encour- ing once it is formally adopted, aged young people impacted by which is signifi cant in two ways, supplies Qatar market the pandemic to embrace uncer- according to Saleh. “This is one tainty and remain optimistic in of the fi rst rulings by an interna- the face of adversity. tional dispute settlement mech- As the head of Qatar’s WTO anism that has found one of the with new generation offi ce in Geneva, al-Mana led the blockading countries in clear vio- team that successfully pursued lation of international rules when an international trade dispute in it comes to the illegal measures Qatar’s beIN Media Group’s in- imposed on the State of Qatar Zoomlion crawler crane tellectual property rights claim since 5th June 2017,” he said. “And against Saudi Arabia. The land- secondly, this landmark ruling mark case resulted in a recent sends a message to the world that WTO ruling that has been hailed members states cannot violate asser Bin Khaled Heavy globally as a victory for Qatar. Saleh Abdullah al-Mana making an intervention in one of the WTO international trade agreements Equipment, a subsidi- The International Politics meetings. by masking them to be unfound- Nary of NBK Group, will graduate of GU-Q, one of Qatar ed and baseless national secu- supply the Qatari market with a Foundation’s partner institu- spite the challenges.” took place throughout tense oral rity concerns, as the blockading new generation of brand new 75 tions, explained that the guiding Qatar fi led the offi cial request hearings and written submissions countries are attempting to do.” tonne Zoomlion Crawler Crane, wisdom he received from pro- to establish a Panel to adjudicate by both parties. Third party mem- The DSB is responsible for over- model ZCC750 H, according to fessors while a student remains the dispute through the WTO’s ber states, who were concerned seeing the entire dispute settle- a statement. meaningful to him today. Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) about the wide scale unchecked ment process and has the author- Specifi cally delivered to Has- “I will never forget hearing in December of 2018, only two piracy perpetuated by the broad- ity to enforce measures to resolve sanesco Trading and Contract- the phrase ‘uncertainty is always months after al-Mana was ap- cast pirate “beoutQ,” also partici- violations committed by member ing for the Barwa Bank Head- certain’. That’s why my advice to pointed in his new role as head pated in this landmark case. states. Noting that the stakes go quarters Commercial & Offi ce my fellow GU-Q graduates and of Qatar’s WTO offi ce in Geneva. The WTO Panel last week de- beyond Qatar’s trade rights, Saleh Towers project, the new crane current and incoming students He was part of the team that termined that Saudi Arabia had said: “The WTO made it clear that is characterised by improved With its hoisting winch, boom winch, swing and rear counterweight is to think about a career path presented evidence of commer- breached global rules on intel- every country is bound by the technology that perfectly fi ts the Zoomlion ZCC750 H Crawler Crane will meet the requirements and future that inspires you, and cial-scale piracy of Qatar’s intel- lectual property rights by failing same rules. This was a win for the the heavy construction needs. of construction companies to best deliver their projects. inspires your commitment de- lectual property. The proceedings to prosecute the pirate broad- international rule of law.” The supply of the brand new crawler crane is part of the NBK movements. With its hoisting parts for all Zoomlion range at heavy equipment strategy to winch, boom winch, swing and reasonable prices. continue providing the con- rear counterweight the Zoom- NBK Heavy Equipment, struction companies in Qatar lion ZCC750 H Crawler Crane founded in 1975, played an in- with the latest equipment that will meet the requirements of tegral role in supporting the QC completes migrant shelter project in Sarajevo assists them to execute their construction companies to best construction sector by pro- large-scale projects. deliver their projects. Zoomlion viding the most reliable ma- Eyad Rashid, general manager is a trusted Chinese brand that chines and equipment across he establishment of a mi- shelter centre in Sarajevo as well of NBK Heavy Equipment, said: promotes safety, reliability and its four divisions: Construc- grant shelter centre has as the implementation of other “The new Zoomlion crawler effi ciency and one of the major tion, Concrete, Earth-moving, Tbeen completed in Sara- projects. crane is characterised by im- heavy equipment manufactur- and Compaction Department; jevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, According to the co-operation proved technology, safety meas- ers that serve various sectors of Power Generation Department; under agreements signed be- agreement signed by QC with ures, excellent interchange- industries, the statement said. Agriculture and Landscap- tween Qatar Charity (QC) and the IOM in Kuwait, work has begun ability of the components giving With more than 20 years of ing Department; and Material United Nations International Or- to implement urgent-response reduced operating cost to the innovation and development, Handling Equipment. The di- ganisation for Migration (IOM) projects in Iraq, Yemen and Syria. user. Optimisation of trans- Zoomlion is a global enterprise vision also has a well-equipped in 2020 and last year, while other Some 107,000 people will benefi t portation, assembly, and dis- mainly engaged in develop- Parts and Services Department. urgent-response projects are from response projects worth mantling make its easy to move ing and manufacturing major Holding key partnerships under implementation in Iraq, $600,000 in Iraq. The projects from one project to another.” high-tech equipment. with many leading global man- Yemen and Syria. include supporting health and The Zoomlion crawler crane NBK Heavy Equipment are ufacturers of heavy equipment, The existing co-operation be- protection services in Nineveh, adopts a series-connected hy- exclusive dealers for Zoom- and operating a well-staff ed tween QC and IOM “affi rms the rebuilding 120 destroyed homes draulic system with hydraulic lion All Terrain Crane, Truck fi eld force and service centres, strength of the relationship that in Mosul and responding to the One of the projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina. pilot proportional control. The Crane, Crawler Crane, Forklifts NBK Heavy Equipment is ac- has been formed by Qatar Char- water crisis in Al Qurnah. system has the advantages of and Aerial Working Platform tively collaborating with en- ity obtaining the status of ob- The agreement also stipu- relationship through the imple- The amount was allocated to high effi ciency, energy-saving, in Qatar. The company is also terprises and building Qatar’s server member of IOM in 2006”, lated support for a project to mentation of more joint projects support response to the situation smooth and safe simultaneous committed to supply the spare future, the statement added. a press statement notes. enhance maternal and child care at the country level. Both parties faced by Asian and African refu- The two parties have already in Yemen, at an estimated cost also agreed to work together to gees and migrants in Bosnia and signed many co-operation of $200,000. The project ben- reach a strategic agreement. Ac- Herzegovina. The accommoda- 1998-2000 models of BMW 3 series recalled agreements, including what was efi ts 4,000 people, the majority cording to the agreement signed tion centre has been equipped inked recently in Kuwait to im- of whom are children. Around between Qatar Charity and IOM with the basic supplies necessary The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in sumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud plement urgent response projects 4,000 people aff ected by the in the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, to provide safe and healthy shel- co-operation with Alfardan Automobiles, an- Department, which processes complaints, and in Iraq, Yemen and Syria with a Syrian crisis benefi t from multi- a migrant accommodation cen- ter for the families and protect nounced the recall of BMW 3 series, models of suggestions through the following channels: Call funding of $1mn, in addition to sectoral assistance in Syria, at an tre has been completed in Bos- them from the cold of winter, 1998-2000, due to a failure in the gas genera- Centre: 16001, e-mail: [email protected], Twitter: another agreement under which estimated cost of $200,000. nia and Herzegovina with joint while IOM manages and super- tor of the driver’s airbag. The ministry urged @ MOCIQATAR, Instagram: MOCIQATAR, mobile Qatar Charity has contributed to The two sides agreed to con- funding of QR3mn by both par- vises the centre within its com- customers to report any violations to its Con- app for Android and IOS: MOCIQATAR. the establishment of a migrant tinue to develop their common ties in equal shares. petence.

One-month closure for access to Ibn Mahmoud Street Communication scholar The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has announced the closure of the access to Ibn Mahmoud Street from Al Rayyan Road from today (Wednesday) for a month. The closure in co-ordination with the to join NU-Q as new dean General Directorate of Traff ic is to enable completion of infrastructure works as part of the B-Ring Road Development Project. During the closure, road users coming arwan M Kraidy, an authority on noted how “the talk of borders suddenly from the White Palace Intersection and Arab media and a global commu- emerged in full force.” He went on to say heading towards Ibn Mahmoud Street, Mnication scholar, will be joining that the resurgence of border paranoia in will be required to turn right towards Al Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) the US is what happens when a pandemic Reem Street, then left to Aseer Street to as its new dean and CEO on July 1, it was like Covid-19 adds fuel to an administra- reach Ibn Mahmoud Street. Likewise, road announced yesterday. tion that has already exhibited behaviour of users can continue straight, then turn Earlier this month, Kraidy spoke at a “national retrenchment.” right at Al Khaleej Interchange to get to Al webinar hosted by Northwestern’s Buff ett The resurgence of transnational issues, Khaleej Street, then turn right towards Al Institute for Global Aff airs on the eff ect of Kraidy said was another eff ect of the pan- Ikha Street to reach Ibn Mahmoud Street. Covid-19 on global media and geopolitics. demic. “US activists for social justice and Ashghal will install road signs advising Kraidy’s research centres around the re- equality are leading the world,” he said, “in motorists of the temporary closure and lationship between culture and geopolitics, the places where the US government has has requested all to follow them and abide theories of identity and modernity, and glo- failed.” by the speed limit to ensure safety. bal media systems and industries, accord- Commenting on the protests that have ing to a statement. occurred in the wake of the death of George He is also an expert on the Middle East. Floyd, he said that they not only ignited “a He has published 13 books and edited vol- full awakening of injustice and inequality in umes, authored 130 essays and chapters, Northwestern University in Qatar the US,” but also “triggered global actions and was the recipient of more than 50 all over the world.” These actions, he said, Temporary closure on part of G-Ring Road awards for teaching and scholarship. In the discussion of democratic versus are “reviving the embers into fl ames of all His latest project, which received a grant autocratic systems of government, Kraidy the…struggles…whether they are against The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) from the prestigious Andrew Carnegie Fel- said that the question that dominated these local dictators or the memory and history of has announced a temporary closure lows Programme, is a book that will explore discussions was whether “the political sys- imperialism and colonialism.” on a part of G-Ring Road between the rise of the Islamic State through the im- tem is a factor in how well a country handles Kraidy is joining NU-Q from the Annen- Jerry Musabbeh Interchange and Al plementation of “war machine” communi- the epidemic.” berg School for Communication, University Hefain Interchange from 9pm today cation and digital media tactics that spread These debates, Kraidy observed, soon of Pennsylvania where he has served as as- (Wednesday) to 4am tomorrow fear, hostility, and global insecurity. “evolved into a more direct narrative con- sociate dean for administration and profes- (Thursday), for those heading to Al During his webinar with the Buff et Insti- frontation” as people noticed that coun- sor of global communication. Majd Road. The closure in co-ordination tute, Kraidy synthesised the media disrup- tries with leaders who exhibit “authoritar- Kraidy earned his bachelor’s degree in with the General Directorate of Traff ic is tions and changes resulting from Covid-19 ian tendencies,” and have shown “disdain communication arts from Notre-Dame to complete installation of ITS gantries. into three main themes: “the tug of war” for science,” seem to be doing worse, while University in Louaize, Lebanon, and his Ashghal will install road signs advising between the capabilities of democratic and those with female leadership, such as New Lebanese baccalaureate in humanities at motorists of the temporary closure and autocratic systems, the tension between Zealand and Germany, are doing much bet- Saint Joseph College in Antoura, Lebanon. requested all to follow them and abide global solidarity and “national retrench- ter. He holds a PhD in mass communication by the speed limit to ensure safety. ment,” and the resurgence of traditional Regarding the tension between global from Ohio University, where he also earned transnational issues. solidarity and “national retrenchment he his master’s degree. Gulf Times Wednesday, June 24, 2020 5 QATAR/REGION/ARAB WORLD Qatar participates in Arab League chief says Libya confl ict ministerial meeting on Libya needs non-military solution

QNA integrity and the security and preserve Libya’s sovereignty Doha safety of its citizens. and territorial integrity and DPA the country, Abul Gheit said. He commended the inter- achieve the aspirations of the Cairo France accused of stoking chaos However, he stressed that nationally recognised Govern- Libyan people. HE al-Muraikhi any arrangements for a cease- atar participated in an ment of National Accord for its said Qatar affi rms its support Turkey yesterday slammed the Tripoli government against fire will not succeed unless: extraordinary meeting eff orts to uncover the perpe- for all eff orts aimed at ending ibya’s confl ict needs a French President Emmanuel rival eastern Libyan military mercenaries and foreign fight- Qof Arab League’s coun- trators of the torture incident the confl ict in Libya and mov- non-military solution, Macron’s comments criticising leader Khalifa Haftar. ers are expelled from the coun- cil at the ministerial level to against a number of Egyptian ing forward towards building a Lsaid Arab League Secre- Ankara’s role in Libya, charging Tripoli has accused France of try; the armed militias are dis- discuss developments in Libya citizens in the city of Tarhuna state of institutions and pro- tary-General Ahmed Abul Gheit that Paris was adding fuel to the backing Haftar, but Paris says it mantled; and the continuation and the fi le of the Renaissance as well as its eff orts to secure tecting and promoting human yesterday as he condemned all conflict and “playing a danger- targets only militants in Libya. of foreign military interven- Dam. their safe return to their home- rights. It stressed its steadfast forms of foreign military inter- ous game.” Tensions flared between France tions is prevented. Qatar was represented dur- land and take legal measures to position to reject all forms of vention in the war-torn country. “France bears a significant and Turkey last week when Paris The head of the pan-Arab ing the meeting, which was punish the perpetrators of this external interference in the “The military option will not responsibility for plunging Libya said Turkish frigates harassed a body warned against any at- held today via video conferenc- crime. Libyan internal aff airs in all its achieve victory for any side... into chaos due to the support it French vessel checking on the tempts to divide Libya. ing system, by HE the Minister He added: “The unity, sta- kinds and sources. and the military action will not provided for illegitimate parties arms embargo. In recent weeks, fighters al- of State for Foreign Aff airs Sul- bility and sovereignty of Libya He added: “We are all sure bring peace or establish stability for years,” Turkey’s Foreign Min- Turkey denied the allegations. lied with the GNA, which is tan bin Saad al-Muraikhi. along with the integrity of its that the continuation of the on the Libyan soil,” Abul Gheit istry said in a statement. Macron is “distorting” the inci- backed by Turkey, have re- In a speech to the meeting, lands and independence as well confl ict in Libya is being paid told an online emergency meet- On Monday, Macron accused dent, Ankara said. gained control of several areas HE al-Muraikhi said that Qa- as stopping the bloodshed and for by the brotherly Libyan ing of the Arab foreign ministers. Turkey of “playing a dangerous Macron also said that Egypt, close to Tripoli, foiling Haftar’s tar stresses the need to respect preserving its capabilities and people and is draining the re- The meeting was called by game” in Libya, where Ankara which on Saturday said it was 14-month campaign. the sovereignty of states and wealth are a goal we all aspire to sources of their country, in- Egypt to discuss the latest devel- is backing the UN-recognised entitled to intervene in Libya to On Saturday, Egyptian Presi- non-interference in their in- and we strive to achieve it.” stead of using them to rebuild opments in its neighbour. “The government based in the capi- protect its western border, had a dent Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi said ternal aff airs, and the need to In this context, he renewed and achieve sustainable devel- political solution is the only way tal, Tripoli. “legitimate concern.” any direct intervention by his avoid taking sides for personal Qatar’s support to the Gov- opment.” to settle the Libyan crisis,” he The Turkish statement rejected Such remarks come as Haftar country in Libya has now be- goals and interests and to seek ernment of National Accord in In this regard, he stressed said. Macron’s comment, calling it a suff ered territorial losses in come legitimate amid tensions serious collective work to make Libya, and its call on all Liby- Qatar’s call on all parties to The Arab League has sought to “false charge.” Ankara supports recent weeks. over Turkey’s role in Libya and the political process in Libya ans to implement the Skhirat assume their legal and moral stop the fi ghting and de-escalate would be aimed at protect its successful, in a way that leads Agreement and its outputs responsibility and respect and since April 2019, when eastern- western border. to a comprehensive settlement along with return to nego- implement international laws based forces led by Commander Government of National Accord re-engage in the UN-brokered Oil-wealthy Libya has been to enable Libya to achieve the tiations and national dialogue and agreements to ensure the Khalif Haftar started a military (GNA). A ceasefi re on all battle- negotiations to reach an agree- in turmoil since a 2011 revolt desired stability and ensure and the completion of the protection of civilians and ci- off ensive to capture the capital, fronts, especially around Sirte, ment for a comprehensive and toppled long-time dictator its sovereignty and territorial transitional phase in order to vilian facilities. Tripoli, from the UN-backed will enable the Libyan parties to permanent ceasefire all over Muammar Gaddafi. Sudan nears deal Palestinian shot dead with US over

Reuters Jerusalem embassy blasts

sraeli police yesterday shot dead a Palestinian who they AFP be removed from the US black- Isaid had tried to run over an Khartoum list. “We expect the US admin- offi cer with his car in the occu- istration to complete the legisla- pied West Bank. tive measures and complete the The offi cer was lightly injured udan’s foreign minister removal of Sudan from the list... in the incident, a police spokes- said yesterday that her as soon as possible,” she said in man said. It took place at an Scountry is nearing a deal an interview. Israeli military checkpoint near with Washington to compensate Sudan had dire relations with the town of Abu Dis, east of Je- the families of victims of deadly the US under ex-president Omar rusalem. 1998 embassy bombings, paving al-Bashir, who came to power Palestinian offi cials ques- the way to Khartoum’s removal on the back of a military coup in tioned the police’s account of from a US terror blacklist. 1989. the man’s death. They identi- Massive, nearly simultaneous Bashir was ousted by the mili- fi ed him as 27-year-old Ahmad blasts at the American embas- tary in April last year following Erekat. “This young man was sies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam months-long protests against killed in cold blood. Tonight in August 1998 together killed his rule. was his sister’s wedding,” said 224 people and injured around Transitional authorities who Saeb Erekat, secretary general 5,000, almost all of them Afri- came to power in August last of the Palestine Liberation Or- cans. year have been seeking to boost ganisation. Erekat said the man Al Qaeda claimed the attacks, the country’s international killed was his relative and that but the US accused Khartoum standing and rebuild ties with his wedding was set for next of aiding militants linked to the the US. week. bombers and retaliated by de- Under Bashir, Sudan hosted Al “What the occupation army stroying a Sudanese pharma- Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden (Israeli military) claims, that he ceutical factory in Sudan which and sent militant volunteers to was trying to run someone over, it claimed was producing a nerve fi ght in the country’s civil war is a lie,” he said. Palestinian protesters take part in a demonstration against Israel’s plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, in Khan Yunis in the agent. with South Sudanese separa- Video showed Israeli troops southern Gaza Strip, yesterday. Washington has since de- tists.After being blacklisted in placing a plastic sheet over the manded compensation for the 1993, Sudan expelled Bin Laden man, who lay shirtless on the Tensions have risen in recent ter Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabi- cussing annexation of the West in a 1967 war and that Palestin- American victims’ families, — but the US designation and ground next to his vehicle. weeks with Israeli Prime Minis- net due on July 1 to begin dis- Bank, territory Israel captured ians seek for a state. placed Sudan on a blacklist of sanctions remained in place. state sponsors of terrorism and Sudan hopes bolstering rela- imposed crippling sanctions. tions with the US will rescue its But Sudan’s Foreign Minis- ailing economy, decimated by ter Asma Abdalla said yester- sanctions and the 2011 secession day that “the fi nal touches of a of oil-rich South Sudan. UN chief calls on Israel to abandon annexation plans settlement with victims of (the Khartoum recently fi nalised bombings) are being fi nalised.” a deal compensating families of “We now have a delegation victims of the 2000 USS Cole AFP comes ahead of its twice-yearly meeting report, adding that such a move would The government of Israeli Prime Minis- in Washington negotiating with bombing in Yemen’s Aden har- United Nations on the Israeli-Palestinian confl ict, set for “threaten eff orts to advance regional ter Benjamin Netanyahu has said it could the victims’ lawyers and offi cials bour, for which Al Qaeda also today. peace.” begin the annexation process from July at the US Department of State,” claimed responsibility. Several ministers are set to take part at “If implemented, this would consti- 1. Plans are to annex Jewish settlements she said, adding that such a deal Sudan always denied any in- N Secretary-General Antonio the request of the Arab League. tute a most serious violation of interna- in the West Bank as well as the strategic would mean Sudan “will have volvement but agreed to the set- Guterres has urged Israel to drop In the document, Guterres says an Is- tional law, including the Charter of the Jordan Valley. fulfi lled all the requirements” to tlement to fulfi l US conditions. Uplans to annex parts of the oc- raeli annexation would be “devastating” United Nations.” The plan — endorsed by Washington cupied West Bank, saying it would be a for hopes of fresh negotiations and an Guterres noted the opposition to an- — would see the creation of a Palestin- “most serious violation of international eventual two-state solution. nexation, including within Israeli soci- ian state, but on reduced territory, and POLICY law,” in a report made public yesterday. “I call upon Israel to abandon its an- ety. “This would be calamitous for Pales- without Palestinians’ core demand of a Oman to reopen malls, some businesses The report to the Security Council nexation plans,” the UN chief says in the tinians, Israelis and the region,” he says. capital in east Jerusalem. Oman will reopen malls and some businesses and industrial activities today, the state news agency said yesterday. The businesses covered by the deci- sion include real estate off ices, travel agencies, maintenance businesses and dry cleaners. Social distancing of at least two metres must be maintained by Innovation customers, the agency said. UN’s Palestinian refugee The Oman Ministry of Health announced yesterday 1,318 new cases of coronavirus (Covid-19), including 853 for Omanis, and 465 for non-Omanis, bringing the total number of cases registered in the Sultanate of Oman to 32,394 and 17,279 recovered cases, QNA reported. The Kuwait Ministry of Health yesterday reported 742 more cases of the agency raises $130mn novel coronavirus (Covid-19), raising the count of confirmed cases to 41,033, QNA reported. Four additional fatalities due to the viral illness were also reported in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 334, the Kuwaiti Ministry of Health spokesman Dr Abdullah al-Sanad told a press conference. Al-Sanad DPA litical support,” but that “much live in some of the highest- New York more is needed” to plug the density conditions on earth.” added that all the 742 cases that have been diagnosed with the disease were agency’s $400mn budget gap “We must continue to make in contact with other persons that have been confirmed previously. for this year. every eff ort to guarantee strong onors pledged around and predictable UNRWA fi - $130mn to fund the UNRWA supports more nancing at a time of instability, STRIFE DUnited Nations agency than 5.6mn Palestinian volatility and great vulnerabili- Houthis fire missiles at Saudi capital that supports Palestinian refu- refugees in Jordan, the ty for Palestine refugees and for gees yesterday, allowing it to West Bank, Gaza, the Middle East,” he said. Yemen’s Houthi movement fired missiles that reached the Saudi capital continue its work in the West Lebanon and Syria The money was raised at a yesterday, the first such attack since a ceasefire put in place during the Bank and elsewhere for the remote meeting with repre- coronavirus epidemic expired last month. meantime. Lazzarini pointed to multi- sentatives from 75 countries Two large explosions could be heard in Riyadh near dawn and smoke The United Nations Relief ple challenges, including the and non-governmental organi- billowed into the sky. The Houthis said they had hit the Saudi defence and Works Agency for Pales- threat of annexation by Israel sations, hosted by Sweden and ministry and a military base, while a military coalition said it had shot tine refugees in the Near East of parts of the West Bank; the Jordan. UNRWA supports more a missile down, making no reference to targets. There was no sign of (UNRWA) has faced fi nancial economic downturn in refu- than 5.6mn Palestinian refu- damage to the side of the defence ministry building that is visible from diffi culties since the United gee host country Lebanon; the gees in Jordan, the West Bank, the main road or to any surrounding buildings. The area was quiet States discontinued its funding confl ict in Syria; and the coro- Gaza, Lebanon and Syria. yesterday evening, with normal traffic flows and no additional security in 2018. navirus. Its operations include run- measures. The Houthis have repeatedly fired on Saudi Arabia during UNRWA’s commissioner UN chief Antonio Guterres ning schools for half a million Omar Sartawi, a Jordanian chef, presents eggplant peels the conflict, but had not targeted Riyadh since late March, when Saudi general Philippe Lazzarini told praised UNRWA’s eff orts to children, health centres that after processing them to produce a type of leather to Arabia said it shot down a missile and two residents were injured a press conference after the prevent the spread of the vi- receive more than 8mn vis- make sustainable face masks, during the outbreak of the by falling debris in the capital. Violence between the two sides has pledging conference that it was rus among Palestinian refugee its every year, and social and coronavirus disease (Covid-19), at his kitchen in Amman. surged after the expiry last month of the six-week ceasefire prompted “reassuring to get strong po- communities, “many of whom emergency work. by the Covid-19 pandemic. Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, June 24, 2020 AFRICA

CLAMPDOWN CORRUPTION POWERPLAY INDICTED UN peacekeeper killed in Niger prosecutor probes Zimbabwe’s Centragrid to Zuma in court for graft eastern DR Congo ambush missing defence funds scale up solar output case pre-trial hearing

An Indonesian soldier with the United Nations’ Niger’s state prosecutor yesterday reported Zimbabwean solar power company Centragrid South Africa’s embattled ex-president Jacob Zuma peacekeeping mission in DR Congo was killed, evidence of fraud and other crimes in a military plans to increase generation capacity to 25 yesterday returned to court for the latest round in and a second was injured, in a militia attack on procurement scandal that had cost the poor megawatts (MW) by October 2021, helping the a corruption case that saw lawyers clash angrily Monday in the country’s troubled east. Their West African state nearly $55mn, although country chip away at a huge electricity deficit that over the much-delayed proceedings. Zuma, in patrol was attacked around 20km from the city the sum was less than half the amount initially has hurt mines and kept households in the dark power from 2009-2018, faces 16 charges of fraud, of Beni in North Kivu province, Sy Koumbo, a feared. The “accumulated shortfall for the state” for hours. The nation currently produces about graft and racketeering relating to the purchase of communications off icer with the MONUSCO from overbilling and non-delivery of military 1,000MW of electricity, half of peak demand, fighter jets, patrol boats and military equipment. peacekeeping force, told AFP. “A Blue Helmet died gear totalled more than 32.6bn CFA francs, state resulting in rolling power cuts after a devastating He allegedly took bribes of 4mn rand ($220,000) and another is wounded but not seriously. He is in a prosecutor Maman Sayabou Issa said, citing a drought reduced dam levels at its hydropower over a $3.4bn arms deal with French aerospace and stable condition.” MONUSCO chief Leila Zerrougui “final audit” by the defence ministry. The aff air plant while ageing thermal stations break down defence giant Thales in 1999, when he was deputy condemned the attack, which she said was carried sparked an outcry when excerpts of a preliminary regularly. Centragrid’s Nyabira solar plant was built president. After heated exchanges between out by “suspected members of the ADF” — the audit began appearing on social media, showing by China’s Sinohydro and generates 2.5MW but it prosecution and defence attorneys, Judge Kate Former South African president Jacob Zuma Allied Democratic Forces, a notorious armed group misappropriations totalling more than 76bn CFA plans to build nine more units of 2.5MW each, with Pillay adjourned until September 8 when, she appears at the Pietermaritzburg High Court in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. francs between 2017 and 2019. work due to start in the next three months. hoped, a date would be set for the trial’s start. yesterday. Voracious pest threatens food security Two killed in Somali military academy blast

AFP A civilian and one of the prospective Somalia plunged into chaos af- Mogadishu students were killed, he said. ter the 1991 overthrow of president Al Qaeda-linked Islamist group Siad Barre’s military regime, leading Shebaab claimed responsibility for the to years of clan warfare followed by wo people were killed yesterday attack in a statement carried by the the rise of Shebaab which once con- by a Shebaab suicide bomb out- SITE intelligence agency, saying they trolled large parts of the country and Tside Turkey’s military training had targeted “Somali militia offi cers”. capital. base in Somalia, according to the army Turkey’s defence ministry con- After being pushed out of their main chief. fi rmed the attack in a statement on bastions by AMISOM in 2011, Shebaab Army chief Brigadier General Twitter, saying the blast had taken has continued to wage war against the This handout picture released by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations shows hopper bands of Odowaa Yusuf Rageh told state media place 200m from the military facility. government, with regular attacks in desert locust infest a farm in Nakukulas, Turkana County, Kenya. An increasing number of second-generation immature that the attacker had tried to conceal “We condemn in the fi rmest manner Mogadishu and against neighbouring swarms of desert locust continue to form in northwest Kenya. The desert locust upsurge could have devastating himself among young recruits who the terrorist group which carried out countries which have contributed to consequences in already vulnerable regions, potentially causing large-scale crop damage and threatening food security had gathered to enlist in the academy, this attack...we will not leave our So- the force. in countries aff ected by recurrent drought, conflict, high food prices, as well as the Copvid-19 pandemic. The Horn of which trains Somali troops in Mogad- mali brothers alone in their fi ght against Turkey is one of Somalia’s closest Africa is facing the worst desert locust crisis in over 25 years, and the most serious in 70 years for Kenya. ishu. terrorist groups,” read the statement. foreign partners, off ering humanitar- “Someone wearing an explosive Turkey’s military academy was ian assistance and scholarships, and device tried to sneak into a crowd of opened in 2017. It is the largest foreign- recently sending planeloads of medi- university students who wanted to join run military centre in Somalia, where cal equipment to help the country deal the armed forces, but he was shot by several nations are training soldiers to with the coronavirus pandemic. the security forces and detonated be- take over from African peacekeeping During some of the worst attacks in fore he got to the area of the students,” force AMISOM, whose troops are set to Mogadishu, Turkey has often fl own the More than 200 coronavirus said Rageh. leave the country next year after 14 years. wounded to its country for treatment. cases found at SA school DR Congo vows to tackle child labour

AFP/Reuters to return to the school because they are to A nationwide anti-virus curfew Johannesburg write their fi nal exams this year. will also be shortened, eff ective im- By Malaicka Adihe, Reuters sees the economy and industry in the duction. They apply both to artisanal All others have been required to stay mediately, lasting from 11 pm to 6 am, Kinshasa southeastern Lualaba province. mines and operations run by large home since March when South Africa and commercial fl ights will resume “But this must not be used as justi- mining companies. ore than 200 pupils and staff shuttered schools as part of measures to “in the very short run”, the president fi cation for the presence of children in “We will also spearhead two major who returned to a boarding limit the spread of coronavirus. Doctors said yesterday. uthorities in Democratic Re- mines,” he told the Thomson Reuters activities with elected representatives Mschool in South Africa’s im- are tracing and testing contacts in a bid The former British colony of some public of Congo’s southeastern Foundation. and traditional and local authorities so poverished Eastern Cape province this to prevent further infections. 7.5mn people fi rst enacted anti-coro- Amining heartland are boosting Tens of thousands of children as they get involved...in the fi ght against month tested positive for coronavirus, The South African Democratic navirus measures in March, which in- eff orts to tackle child labour amid con- young as six work without protective the worst forms of child labour, par- offi cials said yesterday. Teachers’ Union (SADTU), the coun- cluded shutting schools and places of cerns that the coronavirus pandemic gear in artisanal mines in the country’s ticularly in the context of Covid-19,” Eastern Cape accounts for around try’s largest for teachers, this week worship and restricting travel, among could drive more families to put their southeast, according to rights groups Ngandu added. 15% of South Africa’s 101,590 cases, called for schools in Eastern Cape other steps. children to work in mines, offi cials including Amnesty International. Together, Lualaba and neighbouring making it the country’s third worst af- province to close again, citing lack of Authorities have recorded 1,340 said. About 15% of children aged fi ve to Haut-Katanga account for nearly all of fected province. protective equipment and unreliable cases in the country to date, with some Congo is Africa’s main producer of 17 across Congo are engaged in child Congo’s output of cobalt. The province’s health department water supplies. 55 fatalities. copper and the top global source of labour — with most doing dangerous Exports fell by 15.2% in the fi rst announced the outbreak at Makaula But Education Minister Angie Mot- Zambia okays stimulus cobalt, accounting for two-thirds of work — a 2019 report by the National quarter of 2020 compared to the same Senior Secondary School in the rural shekga said cases in schools simply global supplies of the metal used in Institute of Statistics found. period last year. town of KwaBhaca, where 204 stu- showed that “many people already had Separately, Zambia’s cabinet has smartphones and electric car batter- Children in Congo are permitted by Roger-Claude Liwanga — a re- dents and staff members were found the virus but didn’t know it”. approved a 8bn kwacha ($439mn) ies. law to work from the age of 16 if they searcher at Harvard University who infected with the virus. “We will continue to work hard...to economic stimulus package fi nanced Mining accounts for 32% of Congo’s are deemed fi t to do so by labour in- has studied child labour in Congo- “Initially 24 learners tested posi- make sure that we protect our learners, through a Covid-19 bond in an eff ort national output and the economy has spectors. lese mines — said authorities were tive last week with 180 others, which teachers and employees,” Motshekga to alleviate the pandemic’s impact, the been hard hit by the pandemic, which Nathalie Lunda Ngandu, the offi - “often in denial” about child min- include hostel assistants, testing posi- said in a statement. presidency said on Tuesday. has slowed demand for metals and cial in charge of social aff airs, gender ers, and urged them to distribute tive this week,” the department said in Sierra Leone eases curbs Zambia, Africa’s second largest other raw materials. and family issues in Lualaba, said she free food to prevent the practice a statement, adding that all had been copper producer, has been wrestling The slump means mining work- shared the concerns of activists about worsening. placed under isolation. Meanwhile, Sierra Leone’s President with growing public debt even before ers are earning a fraction of what they a rise in child labour at mines. Civil society groups this month said National education department Julius Maada Bio yesterday pledged to the coronavirus outbreak forced lock- did before the outbreak, and are more Authorities will address the soaring many mines were forcing workers to spokesman Elijah Mhlanga said they ease anti-coronavirus measures af- downs across the globe, crimping in- likely to take their children to work, cost of basic necessities, raise aware- stay on site — to avoid coronavirus were among 283 pupils — fi nal-year ter months of restrictions in the poor ternational demand for raw materials. according to activists and academics. ness in communities and at mining outbreaks — and providing insuffi cient students — as well as 47 teachers and West African nation. “Cabinet resolved that it is neces- “Economic activity has been para- sites, and improve monitoring systems food and water and inadequate hous- 42 support staff at the school. Speaking at a press conference in the sary to provide an economic stimulus lysed during this health crisis and this for child labour, Ngandu said. ing, while protective equipment and The 12th-grade students, as well as capital Freetown, Bio said that travel through the issuance of the Covid-19 will have a negative impact on par- Congo launched new monitoring hygiene measures were lacking. their middle school counterparts in the would be permitted between regions bond in order to improve liquidity lev- ents’ income,” said Mathieu Kazembe and tracing mechanisms in 2018 to Congo has so far confi rmed about seventh grade, were the only ones allowed from today. els in the economy,” it said. Sawana Ilunga, the offi cial who over- tackle child labour in mineral pro- 5,925 cases and 135 deaths. Malawi votes in closely-watched historic presidential re-run

By Jack McBrams, AFP thousands of supporters across that are engaging in these bar- wins,” said Peter Chadza, 26, a The UN called on Malawi’s Lilongwe the country. baric acts. I condemn it com- businessman who voted in the “political actors and stakehold- The landmark verdict rever- pletely.” capital. ers to renew their commitment to berated across African politics, Yesterday’s election was prac- Chakwera, 65, enjoys the sup- credible and peaceful elections, alawian voters yester- for it made Malawi just the sec- tically a two-horse race between port of nine political parties in while observing all preventive day defi ed the coronavi- ond country south of the Sahara the president and Lazarus Chak- his bid to unseat the president. measures against the spread of Mrus pandemic to return to have presidential poll results wera, who lost the election by “I believe that Malawians’ Covid-19”. to the polls for the second time set aside, after Kenya in 2017. 159,000 votes. quest for justice is being an- The coronavirus pandemic has in just over a year after President But that decision sent Mutha- Mutharika, who turns 80 next swered today (and)...that rights killed 11 people and infected at Peter Mutharika’s re-election rika into a frenzy, accusing judges month, won with 38.5% of the will be respected,” said Chakwera least 730 in the poor country of was annulled in a dramatic court of working with the opposition ballots against Chakwera’s 35%, after casting his ballot at a pri- 18mn. ruling. to steal the election through according to the now-discredited mary school in Lilongwe. The electoral commission has The hotly-anticipated re-run what he dubbed a “judicial coup results. “This is our date with destiny provided hand-washing points was ordered by the Constitu- d’etat”. Victory in the rerun will be and this is (the) time for the be- at each of the 5,000 polling sta- tional Court, which declared Yesterday, he accused the op- determined by whoever garners ginning of a new Malawi,” he tions to guard against the spread that the May 2019 vote, narrowly position of inciting violence fol- more than 50% of the votes — a said, expressing “confi dence” of Covid-19. won by Mutharika, was fraught lowing unconfi rmed reports of new threshold welcomed by the the electoral commission will do At Malembo Primary School in with “grave and widespread ir- isolated incidents in the central Public Aff airs Committee, an what is right. the capital, voters washed their regularities” including the use of towns of Salima and Nkhotakota. infl uential quasi-religious civic A new electoral commission hands with soap and water before Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera casts correction fl uid on results sheets. “It’s obvious that the opposi- group. was appointed on June 8, with lining up to vote, but none wore his ballot during the presidential elections at the Malembo polling It ordered new elections be held tion is doing this. This is totally “This election is unique. First, Chifundo Kachale replacing face masks or kept their distance station in his home village in Lilongwe. within 150 days of its February unnecessary,” he told reporters this election is born out of a court the controversial Jane Ansah as in the long queue. ruling. after voting in Blantyre. ruling and second, they will fol- chairman. “People really want to vote, ease than run the risk of having a registered for voting. The elec- The new polling deadline coin- He claimed some of his party low the 50-percent-plus-one Last week Kachale vowed “the whether we have coronavirus or president that people don’t want. toral commission has until July cided with the coronavirus pan- monitors were “chased away, system,” the group said. highest commitment...to deliver not,” said Innocent Maguya, a We cannot stop this crucial vote 3 to unveil the results, although demic raging across world, but some were beaten”. “I am happy because this re- a credible election whose results 34-year-old driver, queueing up because there are no face masks,” the announcement is widely that did not deter candidates who “It’s obviously people that are run is the will of the people. I will be acceptable by all stake- to cast his ballot. he said. thought likely to come today or staged rallies attracting tens of afraid of the will of the people just hope that the best person holders”. “We would rather risk the dis- Some 6.8mn people were tomorrow. Gulf Times Wednesday, June 24, 2020 7 AMERICAS

CAMPAIGN SPYING LEGISLATION APPEAL NOTICE PERIOD SEEKING A DEAL Without evidence, Trump US Congress hits partisan Wife seeks intervention for US withdrawal from Open Ex-marine jailed by Russia accuses Obama of treason gridlock over police reform Canadian held in China Skies Treaty likely ‘illegal’ hopes for prisoner swap

President Donald Trump yesterday lashed out at Democrats and Republicans in the US Congress The wife of a Canadian arrested in Beijing, after Senior US Senate Democrats on Monday accused Former US marine Paul Whelan, who was the administration of Barack Obama, the country’s yesterday found themselves in a partisan Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou was detained in President Donald Trump’s administration of sentenced to 16 years in a Russian prison last first black president, with a baseless accusation of deadlock over police reform legislation to Vancouver, yesterday asked that the Canadian violating the law when it declared his intention week on spying charges, hopes to be freed as part treason. The accusation, off ered without evidence address public outrage over law enforcement’s justice minister consider intervening in the last month to withdraw the United States from of a prisoner swap with the United States. Whelan in an interview on Monday, was the president’s use of excessive force blamed for the deaths of Chinese executive’s extradition case and releasing the Open Skies Treaty. In a letter to Secretary of will therefore not appeal his espionage conviction latest eff ort to tarnish Obama. He has previously George Floyd and other black people. Democrats her. Michael Kovrig, 48, who was arrested by State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense but will instead hold consultations with Western accused Obama of spying on his campaign, but urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Chinese authorities in December 2018, was Mike Esper, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck diplomats about the merits of asking President not treason. Asked what crime might have been not to hold a key procedural vote today on formally charged last week with espionage. Schumer and Senators Bob Menendez, Mark Vladimir Putin to pardon him, the lawyer, Vladimir committed by spying, Trump told the Christian a Republican bill that critics say does not go Kovrig’s wife, Vina Nadjibulla, who lives in Toronto, Warner and Jack Reed, the top Democrats on Zherebenkov, was quoted by Interfax news Broadcasting Network: “It’s treason. Look, when I far enough to address racial disparities and has been fighting for his release since his arrest the Foreign Relations, Intelligence and Armed agency. Russia says Whelan was caught with came out a long time ago, I said they’ve been spying misconduct in American policing practices. But but went public this week for the first time. “The Services committees, said the administration a flash drive containing classified information. on our campaign...Let’s see what happens to them McConnell warned of “partisan stalemate” if situation keeps getting more and more dire for had not given the legally required 120 days’ Whelan said he was set up in a sting operation now. (William) Barr is doing a great job as attorney- Democrats refuse to move to a debate on the Michael,” she said. “He is completely cut off and advance notice to Congress before beginning and had thought the drive, given to him by a general, let’s see what they come up with.” Republican bill. isolated. We are running out of time.” the withdrawal process. Russian acquaintance, contained holiday photos. Covid-19 cases surge as Texas, Arizona, Nevada hit new records

Reuters Washington ‘Trump hasn’t asked us to slow testing’

Four top US public health off icials cases across the country, and at a or a second consecutive week, and members of Donald Trump’s political rally on Saturday he said Texas, Arizona and Nevada set coronavirus task force said he had asked for a slowdown in Graff iti is daubed on the statue of Andrew Jackson near the White House in Washington, DC. Frecords in their coronavirus yesterday that he has not asked testing. The White House made outbreaks, and 10 other states from them to slow down testing for the clear on Monday that no such Florida to California were grappling virus after the president suggested request was made. with a surge in infections. at a rally that it was a “double- The top infectious disease expert in Texas reported over 5,000 new edged sword.” the US also pleaded with the public Trump takes a hard line on monuments, infections on Monday, a single-day Testifying before the House Energy to avoid crowds and to wear masks record for the state. & Commerce Committee, National when around others. It has also seen Covid-19 hospitali- Institute of Allergy and Infectious “You should not congregate in threatens to use force on protesters zations hit record highs for 11 days in Diseases Director Anthony Fauci, crowds, you should keep distance. a row. FDA Commissioner Stephen And even though many people, Reuters Floyd, a black man killed in police cus- National Guard and federal law en- The Texas Children’s Hospital is Hahn, Centers for Disease Control for a variety of reasons, do not Washington tody. forcement to crack down on demon- admitting adult coronavirus patients and Prevention Director Robert listen to the — not suggestion but Trump has been out of step with strations near the White House, in- due to a spike in serious Covid-19 Redfield, and the Department plea — to not congregate in crowds, most of the country, blasting the pro- cluding using pepper spray and “fl ash cases in the Houston area. of Health and Human Services some people are going to do that resident Donald Trump yester- tests even though a majority of Ameri- bang” stun grenades to disperse peace- “We know Covid-19 has not gone Assistant Secretary Brett Giroir anyway,” Fauci told Congress. day pledged to take a hard line on cans sympathize with them. ful protesters in front of St John’s Epis- away. We implore you to take respon- all said that the president had “If you do, please, wear a mask,” Panyone destroying or vandalising At his Saturday rally in Oklahoma copal Church. sible actions — practice appropri- not asked them to slow down the Fauci said, adding that this US historical monuments and threat- he said an “unhinged left-wing mob” Protesters on Monday had declared ate social distancing, wear a mask or testing. applied to both political rallies and ened to use force on some protesters, as wants to “desecrate” what he described a “Black House Autonomous Zone” — face covering anytime you leave your Trump has repeatedly said that demonstrations, in remarks that political activism against racial injus- as “beautiful monuments.” referencing a Seattle area known as the home,” the Texas Children’s Hospital better US testing has led to a higher seemed tailored to bridge partisan tice sweeps the country and threatens Mixed with his rocky response to Capitol Hill Organized Protest zone or said in a statement, without specify- number of identified coronavirus divides. his re-election chances. the coronavirus that has killed more the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone — ing how many coronavirus patients “They’re not taking down our mon- than 120,000 Americans and shaken near the church, taking over Black Lives they admitted. uments,” Trump told reporters at the the economy, the disconnect has put Matter Plaza. Arizona and Nevada yesterday re- At least four states are averaging tious disease offi cial, said he was White House. “I will have an execu- Trump behind former vice president “There will never be an ‘Autono- ported record increases in new cases double-digit rates in the percent- seeing a disturbing surge in several tive order very shortly and all it’s going Joe Biden, his presumptive challenger mous Zone’ in Washington, DC, as long after recording all-time highs last age of tests that are positive for states, pointing to community spread to really do is reinforce what’s already in the November 3 election, in opinion as I’m your President,” Trump tweeted week, according to a Reuters tally. the virus: Arizona at 20%, Florida as one reason infections were on the there, but in a more uniform way.” polls. yesterday. Louisiana, which was a hot spot and Utah both at 11%, and Texas at rise. Trump also yesterday announced via Late on Monday, protesters tried to “If they try they will be met with se- early in the US outbreak, yesterday 10%. Many of these states are also seeing Twitter an authorisation “eff ective im- topple a statue of former President An- rious force!” reported over 1,300 new cases — its By contrast, New York, formerly record hospitalisations — a metric not mediately” to arrest anyone caught hurt- drew Jackson facing the White House, Later in the day yesterday, Twitter highest level since April 7. the epicentre of the US outbreak, has aff ected by increased testing. ing a commemoration to an armed serv- scrawling “killer” on the base and pull- enforced a rule against “abusive” con- The United States recorded a 25% been reporting positive test rates of In Arizona, hospitalised Covid-19 ices member on federal land, even though ing at ropes around the fi gure of Jack- tent by labelling and hiding the tweet increase in new cases of Covid-19 around 1%. patients hit a record of over 2,100 the government already had that power son on a horse. Police in riot gear drove threatening to use force against protes- in the week ended June 21, com- The World Health Organization yesterday. That was up 70% from two under the 2003 Veterans Memorial Act. the crowd back and formed a protective tors in the US capital. pared to the previous seven days, considers positivity rates above 5% to weeks ago. “There will be no exceptions!” he ring around the statue. The move appeared to be the fi rst us- with Florida also joining the list of be especially concerning. Days after his fi rst rally since early wrote yesterday. Trump told reporters “numerous ing that standard by Twitter against the states reporting record surges in President Donald Trump yesterday March drew a smaller-than-expected Many statues and monuments tar- people” were in jail for the attempt and president. new infections, a Reuters analysis held fast to his claim that the spike in crowd in Oklahoma, where Covid-19 geted by crowds in recent weeks pay the government is “looking at long- The platform has previously labelled found. US cases in multiple states was due to cases also are climbing fast, Trump homage to the rebel Confederacy from term sentences.” Trump’s comments misleading and Ten states, including Texas, report- testing, not increased spread of the travelled yesterday to Arizona for an- the nation’s Civil War and are seen Jackson, a onetime Army general, violating its standards on promoting ed weekly new infection increases disease. other rally and to tout the construc- as tributes to those who perpetuated enslaved black people and is remem- violence. of more than 50%, according to the “Cases are going up in the US tion of a border wall. slavery. bered for the Trail of Tears, a forced The action by Twitter requires us- analysis of data from The COVID because we are testing far more Former vice president Joe Biden, The calls for their removal, along removal of Native Americans from the ers to click through to read the Trump Tracking Project, a volunteer-run ef- than any other country, and ever who is expected to challenge Trump with massive Black Lives Matter pro- South that killed thousands. tweet, with a tag on the message that fort to track the outbreak. expanding. With smaller testing in the November 3 election, called the tests earlier this month and local gov- Trump also wrote on Twitter he was it “violated the Twitter rules about While most states are increasing we would show fewer cases!” he president’s plans to speak to thou- ernments reforming police forces, were ready to use force on protesters. abusive behaviour” but that it would testing, the number of tests coming tweeted. sands of supporters in Phoenix “reck- sparked by the May 25 death of George Earlier in the month he called in the remain visible “in the public’s interest.” back positive is also rising. Anthony Fauci, the top US infec- less and irresponsible.” Mourners at historic church remember Rayshard Brooks, black man shot by cops

By Rich McKay, Reuters young girls took up just one tenth justifi ed, citing video appearing threat even as he ran away with a Atlanta of the capacity of the cavernous to show him fi ring a Taser at the Taser stun gun he had taken from church, allowing some measure offi cer before being shot. one of the offi cers during an at- of social distancing. But his death nevertheless set tempted arrest. round 200 mourners fi lled Dressed in white, Brooks’ wid- off a wave of protests in Atlanta, The Atlanta police offi cer who the pews of an historic At- ow, Tomika Miller, sat in the front breathing new life into historic, shot Brooks, Garrett Rolfe, 27, Alanta church yesterday for with her daughter on her lap. nationwide demonstrations fol- was fi red and charged with mur- the funeral of Rayshard Brooks, While a time for mourning, the lowing Floyd’s death. der. a black man who was shot and church also billed the service as a The site of the funeral is a tes- A second offi cer at the scene, killed by police outside a fast- celebration of Brooks’ life. tament to the gravity of the mo- Devin Brosnan, 26, was placed on food restaurant nearly two weeks The Martin Luther King Sr ment. administrative duty and charged ago. Choir performed the gospel Ebenezer Baptist was where with aggravated assault. Brooks’ death after being anthem Perfect Peace before the Rev Martin Luther King The city’s police chief re- shot twice in the back, with one preachers and family called for Jr, the leader of the black civil signed. round piercing his heart, height- healing and change. rights movement until his as- There were more than 100 ened tensions over racism in the “God, we pray that there will sassination in 1968, once members of the media outside United States and police brutality be systemic change in our world preached and where his body is the church, fenced in by metal that have raged since the killing today,” Bishop Dale C Bronner, laid to rest. barriers usually used by police for of George Floyd in police custody senior pastor at Word of Faith King’s daughter, Bernice King, crowd control. in Minneapolis on May 25. Family Worship Cathedral, im- a reverend who serves as chief On the far side of the church, Following a procession with ploring for changes in laws and executive of the King Center for under a big tent, about 50 people a white hearse carrying Brooks’ society so that Brooks’ death not Nonviolent Social Change in At- sitting in folding chairs watched body, 200 family and friends fi led be in vain. lanta, was to speak later. the service on a jumbotron. into the Ebenezer Baptist Church Ambrea Mikolajczyk, a col- Reverend Raphael Warnock, a Donald Bennett, 60, a main- for the invitation-only service. league and friend, described pastor at Ebenezer Baptist and tenance worker from Atlanta, Some bystanders stopped and Brooks as a loving family man a Democratic candidate for the brought his two grandchildren faced the procession, raising who was always looking out for US Senate, was giving the eu- to watch the service even though clenched fi sts in the air. others in the community, and People hold US flags and signs outside the Ebenezer Baptist Church during the funeral for Rayshard logy. they don’t know Brooks or his All wearing masks because that she believed his death on Brooks in Atlanta. Paul Howard, the Fulton family. of the novel coronavirus pan- June 12 would help pave the way County District Attorney, has “My grandkids need to see demic, those who were closest for police reforms. in the atmosphere. For this will “You can never dim his light. It Some police supporters have pursued the case aggressively, this,” he said. “This is history to the 27-year old father of three “There is a movement, a shift be his legacy,” Mikolajczyk said. will forever shine so very bright.” called the shooting of Brooks arguing that Brooks was not a right here happening.” Gulf Times 8 Wednesday, June 24, 2020 ASIA

9 missing after boat PM: None will remain poor accident in Indonesia

or homeless in Bangladesh AFP Medan IANS man, that we would always work The AL government turned fi lling the aspiration of the Fa- Dhaka for the welfare of the people,” food-defi cit Bangladesh into a ther of the Nation,” she vowed. she said while joining an un- food-surplus country, Febru- Recalling the contribution and ine fi shermen are miss- scheduled discussion to mark ary 21 was recognised as Inter- sacrifi ces of the AL and its lead- ing in Indonesia after reeting countrymen, the 71st founding anniversary of national Mother Language Day ers for the nation, Hasina said Ntheir boat capsized off party leaders, activ- the Awami League. and the treaties of Ganges water that the day was very important Sumatra island, an offi cial said Gists and well-wishers on Hasina said, “On this day, we sharing with India and the Chit- for them as the sun of independ- yesterday, as poor conditions the occasion of Awami Leagues are taking pledge that we would tagong Hill Tracts (CHT) peace ence, which set with the defeat hamper the search for them. (AL) 71st founding anniversary, materialise the dream of the Fa- were signed, she said, adding of Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah in Their vessel sank on Monday Bangladesh Prime Minister and ther of the Nation by making the that the fi ve-year term of the AL Palashi, once again rose with the after it was hit by bad weather AL president Sheikh Hasina said country ‘Sonar Bangla’, free from government will be remembered formation of the Awami League and high waves off the island’s that none will remain poor or poverty and hunger.” as the glorious period in national on June 23, 1949 at the Rose northwestern coast. homeless in the country. She recalled with respect history. Garden in Dhaka. The country “The search has not been Hasina, who’s also the Leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mu- Hasina said once there were achieved independence under fruitful,” local search and res- of the House, said in the parlia- jibur Rahman, Awami League’s hectic eff orts to erase the name the leadership of the party. cue agency offi cial Benteng ment on Monday that Awami founding president Mawlana of Bangabandhu from history. In this context, she said the Telambuana said. League would always work for Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, “But, it was not possible. The fi rst independent government “We haven’t found any trace the welfare of the people. General Secretary Shamsul truth cannot be erased. The Fa- was formed on April 10, 1971 Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina: “It is our commitment to of the fi shermen’s whereabouts The eighth session of the 11th Haque and Huseyn Shaheed ther of the Nation is not with with Mujibur Rahman as presi- the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, that so far.” parliament of Bangladesh re- Suhrawardy in a message us physically, but his existence dent, Syed Nazrul Islam as vice- we would always work for the welfare of the people.” The accident happened sev- sumed at 11am with Speaker marking the occasion. remains in the hearts of Ban- president and Tajuddin Ahmed as eral days after a boat carrying of the House, Shirin Sharmin Hasina said that after a long galees... we have to fulfi l his prime minister. The government had spearheaded the Liberation ever it comes to power, adding, 16 fi shermen capsized near the Chaudhury, in the chair. struggle of 21 years to establish desire, we will build hunger, took oath on April 17 the same War of 1971 and achieved victory.” “The AL government stands Anak Krakatau volcano in Sunda “It is our commitment to the democracy, the AL returned to poverty-free ‘Golden Bengal,’” year at Mujibnagar in Meherpur. The premier said that it was by the people during the hard- Strait, which separates Sumatra Father of the Nation, Banga- power in 1996 and ran the coun- she said. She added: “The (country’s the Awami League which gives ships caused by the Covid-19 and Java islands. bandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rah- try successfully from till 2001. “We will have to work for ful- fi rst independent) government something to the people when- outbreak.” Nine of the fi shermen have since been found alive while seven more are still missing. Maritime accidents are com- mon in Indonesia, a southeast Asian archipelago of around Virus pushing millions of South 17,000 islands, due to lax safety standards. In January, 10 people went Asia children into poverty: UN missing after a boat carrying 20 migrant workers to neighbouring AFP the report by the UN children’s In Bangladesh, Unicef said it Malaysia capsized off the coast of Kathmandu agency Unicef said. found that some of the poorest Sumatra island. South Asia - which includes families could not aff ord three India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, meals a day, while in Sri Lanka ore than 100mn chil- Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, its survey showed that 30% dren in South Asia the Maldives and Bhutan - is of families had cut their food Mcould slip into pov- home to some 600mn chil- intake. erty as a result of the corona- dren, with around 240mn al- With schools shut, poorer Strong virus pandemic, a UN report ready living in poverty, the children have struggled to keep said yesterday of the long-term agency said. up with their education, par- impact of the crisis. In a worst-case scenario, ticularly those in rural house- quake jolts Cases across the densely the virus could push another holds without internet access populated region - home to 120mn into poverty and food - or even electricity. almost a quarter of the world’s insecurity within six months, “There are concerns that Sulawesi population - have risen in re- it warned. some disadvantaged students cent weeks even as the region “Without urgent action now, may join the nearly 32mn chil- lifts its lockdown to revive Covid-19 could destroy the dren who were already out island economies badly shattered by hopes and futures of an entire of school before Covid-19 the virus. generation,” Unicef’s South struck,” the report added. AFP “While they may be less sus- Asia regional director Jean Other major concerns in- Jakarta ceptible to the virus itself, chil- Gough said in a statement. clude the risks of domestic dren are being profoundly af- Progress in healthcare - such violence, depression and oth- fected by the fallout, including as immunisation, nutrition and er mental health issues with 5.9-magnitude earth- Kindergarten students from the Wichuthit School eat their lunch during a rehearsal social distancing the economic and social con- other services - were being youths spending more time at quake jolted Indonesia’s and measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (Cocid-19) ahead of nationwide schools sequences of the lockdown,” “severely disrupted”. home. ASulawesi island yester- reopening in Bangkok yesterday. day, the United States Geo- logical Survey (USGS) said, but there was no tsunami warning or No new Covid-19 case in Lanka since three days immediate reports of damage. Sri Lanka has not reported that 938 of the total cases are states that 96, 268 PCR tests The strong off shore quake Thai kids rehearse school any new Covid-19 case in the Navy personnel and their close have been carried out so far, struck at a relatively deep last three days since June 20, contacts and 313 are other local including 1,181 on Sunday. 102km (63 miles). The epicentre which were all imported, it was cases. On Monday, Health Services was some 97.5km east south- reported yesterday. In addition to this, 413 patients, director general Anil Jasinghe east of Gorontalo city in North The total count of confirmed including five foreigners, are issued recommendations on the Sulawesi, according to USGS. return with sanitisers, Covid-19 cases currently stands currently under medical care at reopening of cinemas, the Daily Shallow quakes tend to cause at 1,951, with 11 deaths, reports various hospitals. Financial Times newspaper more damage than deeper ones. the Daily Financial Times The Epidemiology Unit also reported. The South East Asian ar- newspaper. states that the number of According to the statement by chipelago is one of the most A total of 691 local returnees Covid-19 recoveries in the the Department of Government disaster-prone nations on Earth. screens and face shields from abroad have tested country has risen to 1,526, Information, cinemas will be In 2018, a 7.5-magnitude positive so far and the including 785 Navy personnel. permitted to reopen on June 27 if quake and a subsequent tsunami remaining eight imported cases A total of 28 persons recovered they adhere to health guidelines in Palu on Sulawesi island left are foreigners. on Monday. issued by the Health Services more than 4,300 people dead or Reuters in hand-washing, playground now, and they won’t feel weird The Epidemiology Unit said The Health Promotion Bureau Director General. (IANS) missing. Bangkok etiquette and forming orderly about it.” lines 1m apart. Thailand’s return to school is Yesterday, the school of more sooner than much of South East hai schools are holding than 1,600 students invited Asia, owing to its low infection rehearsals to prepare stu- children age 3 and 4 to put on numbers. Of its 3,156 cases, only Sumatran tiger killed in suspected poisoning Tdents for classes in the masks and face shields for mock 58 have died and 3,023 patients coronavirus era, giving lessons lessons in classrooms with bar- have recovered. in hygiene and social distanc- riers installed on desks. That compares to nearly AFP al park following a tip off , ac- where the clearing of rainforest arrested four suspected traf- ing to children as young as three They queued for temperature 48,000 cases in Indonesia and Jakarta cording to park authorities, who to make way for palm oil plan- fi ckers for killing a Sumatran ahead of next week’s return. checks and wash basins and close to 32,000 in the Philip- said some of the creature’s pelt tations is destroying natural tiger and attempting to sell its Schools across Thailand were introduced to hand-clean- pines, whose president has as well as organs were missing. habitats. body parts. have been modifying class- ing techniques and a new lunch- vowed to keep schools shut until Sumatran tiger has been “Our preliminary conclusion is In the past year Sumatra has Sumatran tigers are con- rooms, dining halls and play time routine of eating behinds a Covid-19 vaccine is available. found dead in a suspect- that the tiger was poisoned,” park seen a spate of fatal tiger attacks sidered critically endangered areas to prepare for a phased screens. Pareeyaporn Deesuer, whose A ed poisoning, an Indo- spokesman Bobby Nopandry said. on humans. by the International Union for return of students, in an- “This is going to be something son attends the Wichutit school, nesian offi cial said yesterday, a Locals, including a village Indonesia is also battling Conservation of Nature, with other step towards normal- new for the kids and they’re ex- said she was reassured by its day after alleged poachers were head, said the poisoning was rampant poaching, which ac- fewer than 400 believed to re- cy as the country nears one cited. They’ve been cooperative preparations. charged with killing another of orchestrated by farmers who counts for almost all Sumat- main in the wild. month without a domestic because parents also practise the “I was kind of really worried, the critically endangered big were angry the tiger had killed ran tiger deaths, according to Tiger parts are widely used in transmission. same new normal at home,” said but once they are back at school cats in a separate case. their livestock, he added. TRAFFIC, a global wildlife traditional medicine - particu- Bangkok’s Wichutit School the school’s director, Pornnicha there’s a sense of relief be- The buried carcass of a male Human-animal confl icts are trade monitoring network. larly in China - despite over- has since last week been putting Chatapun. cause of the school’s preventive tiger was uncovered in North common in the southeast Asian On Monday police in Sumat- whelming scientifi c evidence students through a day of drills “It’s normal life for them measures,” she said. Sumatra’s Batang Gadis nation- archipelago - especially in areas ra’s Aceh province said they had they have no benefi cial value. Dedicated Indonesian teacher rethinks Rice fields remote learning for offl ine pupils

Reuters elementary school teacher de- In the rural district where he nowadays,” said Martinus Karti- Magelang cided to go to them - spending works, many of the households jo, the father of one of the pupils. about six hours a day travel- are not setup to use technology, Meanwhile, Arnasih, a mother ling by motorbike and on foot to as is the case in large parts of the of another pupil, appreciates hen the coronavirus reach a handful of remote com- sprawling archipelago of more the infl uence Suroto has on the pandemic forced his munities in the hilly Magelang than 260mn people. children. Wschool on Indonesia’s area of Central Java. Indonesia has around 60mn “The children listen and obey Java island to shut, teacher Hen- “I’m a teacher, it is my re- households, but only about one orders from their teachers, com- rikus Suroto knew he could not sponsibility to do this. I must in six had an internet connection pared to their parents,” she said. rely on hosting online lessons accompany and teach my stu- in mid-2019, according to the For their part, students say for pupils living in remote areas dents,” said Suroto, whose only Association of Internet Service they welcome the face-to-face lacking internet access or even a complaint is that it becomes Providers Indonesia (APJII). meetings with Suroto, who takes phone signal. particularly diffi cult trudging “Well, I do not know what the precautions such as wearing a Farmers plant rice samplings on the fields as monsoon season arrives in Bhaktapur, near Instead, to ensure they could up and down steep valleys in the internet is and other sophisti- mask and maintaining social Kathmandu, yesterday. keep studying, the 57-year-old rain. cated devices that are often used distancing for lessons. Gulf Times Wednesday, June 24, 2020 9 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

Japan expresses frustration over Chinese ships near disputed islets Japan observes 75th anniversary of Okinawa battle’s end Japan has lodged repeated protests with Beijing over Chinese vessels spotted daily in recent months near a group of uninhabited islets in the East China Sea, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said yesterday. The minister’s words come hours after the Japan Coast Guard urged four DPA on the island, Okinawa Governor cities devastated by the 1945 US On Monday, about 45 people the streets to protest against the Tokyo Denny Tamaki said in his speech nuclear attacks. were aff ected by smoke and chlo- US military presence. In a bid to Chinese ships not to approach what Tokyo considers to be its territorial at the ceremony. Okinawa, which The Battle of Okinawa be- rine gas after a fi re broke out at a quell their fury, Japan and the waters near the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands, a source of dip- accounts for a mere 0.6% of Ja- gan on March 26, 1945, when US hazardous materials facility at a United States decided in the fol- lomatic tensions. The incident was “extremely regrettable,” Motegi told a he southern Japanese is- pan’s total land mass, still has to forces landed on the Kerama is- major US base on the island. lowing year to close US Marine news conference. “We have made a serious protest (to China) repeatedly land of Okinawa paid trib- shoulder 70.3% of US military lands, west of Okinawa’s main The blaze at US Kadena Air Corps Air Station Futenma lo- through diplomatic channels.” “We cannot restore a genuine diplomatic Tute yesterday to more than installations in the country, the island. Base, which began in the morn- cated in a densely-populated relationship (with China) without stability in the East China Sea,” he said. 200,000 war dead, marking the governor said. The gruelling ground confl ict ing and was contained about fi ve area of Okinawa. But Washing- China and Taiwan also claim the islets, where they are known as Diaoyu 75th anniversary of the end of a Crimes and accidents com- lasted for about three months – hours later, prompted medical ton demanded alternate facilities and Tiaoyutai, respectively. bloody battle during World War mitted by US service personnel, far longer than both the US and authorities to urge anyone who that would take over Futenma’s On Monday, Ishigaki city council in Japan’s Okinawa prefecture approved II. aircraft noise and environmental Japan had expected. Among the experiences eye, nose and throat functions. legislation to change the name of an administrative area covering the The local Okinawa govern- problems such as water pollu- dead were some 94,000 civilians issues to seek treatment. In 2017, Prime Minister Shinzo islets from Tonoshiro to Tonoshiro Senkaku, immediately drawing harsh ment held a memorial service tion “have continued to cause an and 12,500 Americans. Governor Tamaki said on Abe’s government allowed the criticism from Beijing. The city’s “adoption of the so-called name-chang- with limited attendance due to enormous impact on the liveli- Okinawa reverted to Japanese Monday that the incident was start of the construction of a ing bill is serious provocation against China’s territorial sovereignty, which the coronavirus pandemic at the hoods of Okinawans,” he said. sovereignty in 1972, 20 years af- “very regrettable as it caused tre- new US base in an environmen- is illegal, null and void. It cannot change the fact whatsoever that Diaoyu Peace Memorial Park in the city The pandemic forced Okinawa ter US military occupation ended mendous anxiety to Okinawans, tally sensitive area of northern belongs to China,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said of Itoman, the site of the fi nal to cancel its plan to invite guests in most parts of Japan. Even af- especially nearby residents.” Okinawa despite strong local op- Monday. Taiwan presidential off ice spokesman Xavier Chang said in a stage of the Battle of Okinawa. to the ceremony, including a ter the reversion, issues related In 1995, the rape of a 12-year- position. statement yesterday that the Tiaoyutai island cluster belongs to Taiwan Even 75 years after the war, representative from the United to the US military presence have old schoolgirl by three US serv- Activists and environmental and any unilateral action would not change the fact. Chang said that, to Okinawans have struggled with Nations and the mayors of Hi- continued to win headlines of lo- icemen prompted tens of thou- groups said the project “is bound maintain stability in the region, all related parties should put aside diff er- the heavy US military presence roshima and Nagasaki, the two cal media. sands of Okinawans to take to to face a setback.” ences and jointly develop resources there. Virus-hit Singapore heads for election ‘like no other’

AFP to focus on making diffi cult deci- Singapore sions. “This general election will be like no other that we have ex- ingapore’s leader called a perienced,” he said. “Not just general election “like no because of the special arrange- Sother” yesterday as the ments to deal with Covid-19, but prosperous city-state struggles because of the gravity of the situ- to recover from a major coro- ation, and the issues at stake.” navirus outbreak that swept The virus has battered the Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is seen during a live- through crowded migrant worker city’s economy – which depends broadcast national address, in Singapore, yesterday. dormitories and raised questions on trade and is sensitive to exter- about the treatment of the for- nal shocks – and authorities say ship during tough times in the cuse it of gerrymandering and eign labour force. it may contract at its fastest rate past, coronavirus was diff erent to targeting opponents to ensure A raft of safety measures will this year since independence in previous, more short-lived cri- they cannot mount a strong chal- be in place to prevent infections 1965. ses, he said. “This will be a keenly lenge. at next month’s election, with The People’s Action Party contested general election,” he The polls are also part of a voters wearing masks and gloves (PAP) has ruled affl uent Sin- said. carefully orchestrated handover at polling stations and campaign gapore since it gained self-rule While the government in- of power to a new generation of rallies likely to be banned. from Britain in 1959, and the par- sists it has successfully brought leaders, which looks set to see the Opposition groups have at- ty – which holds 82 of 88 elected the outbreak under control, it founding Lee family give up the tacked the timing of the poll, seats in parliament – is assured has been accused of not doing premiership. with the Singapore Democratic of victory. enough to protect migrant work- Prime Minister Lee, the son Party saying that calling an elec- But holding a poll as the city- ers. More than 42,000 virus cas- of late founding ruler Lee Kuan tion next month would “need- state emerges from the outbreak es have been reported, the vast Yew, has said he will step down lessly jeopardise the safety and is risky, and it is not clear wheth- majority among foreigners who at some point after the elections health of Singaporeans”. er it will boost the government’s work in jobs ranging from con- and hand over to a successor, The fi nancial hub initially support or damage it. struction to maintenance. The tipped to be current fi nance min- won praise for keeping the virus The virus outbreak “could cut death toll stands at 26. ister Heng Swee Keat. in check with a rigorous system With the outbreak finally slowing, authorities are gradually loosening virus curbs. both ways” for the PAP, Eugene The PAP won 70% of the pop- As well as the virus, the PAP’s of testing and contact tracing, Tan, political analyst from Sin- ular vote at the previous election showing at the polls could be only for a wave of infections in But with the outbreak fi nally nounced parliament was being In a televised address an- gapore Management University, in 2015, and a weak and divided dented by a public row about the dormitory complexes housing slowing, and authorities gradu- dissolved, and offi cials said the nouncing the polls, Lee said they told AFP. opposition stands little chance. legacy of Lee Kuan Yew, which thousands of low-paid foreign ally loosening virus curbs, Prime election would take place on July would “clear the decks” and give While voters may have turned The ruling party maintains has pitted current Prime Minister workers. Minister Lee Hsien Loong an- 10. the government a fresh mandate to the PAP due to sound leader- solid support and critics also ac- Lee against his siblings.

Beijing virus testing to enter China launches fi nal satellite ‘fast track’ as New Zealand seizes $90mn in to complete rival to GPS cases mount Beijing’s mass testing for the new assets of cybercrime suspect coronavirus will soon enter a “fast track”, a senior municipal health off icial said yesterday, suggesting AFP Reuters restraint of funds in New Zealand charges. New Zealand Police Beijing that Covid-19 screening in China’s Wellington Police history, the department Commissioner Andrew Coster capital is about to gather pace in said in a statement late on Mon- said the funds are likely to re- eff orts to curb the latest outbreak. day. US authorities accuse Vinnik flect profits gained from the hina yesterday launched The city of more than 20mn ew Zealand police has of running BTC-e – a digital cur- victimisation of thousands of the fi nal satellite in its residents reported its first case in seized assets worth rency exchange used to trade bit- people globally. Chomegrown geolocation the latest outbreak on June 11. The NNZ$140mn ($90.68mn) coin – to facilitate crimes ranging “However, this restraint dem- system, completing a network infections were linked to Beijing’s linked to a Russian man suspect- from computer hacking to drug onstrates that New Zealand is designed to rival American GPS sprawling Xinfadi wholesale food ed of laundering billions of dol- traffi cking since 2011.Vinnik has not, and will not be, a safe haven as it jostles for market share in centre. Since then, 249 people lars in digital currency. denied the charges, saying he was for the illicit proceeds generated the lucrative sector. have been infected in Beijing’s The police said it seized the a technical consultant to BTC-e from crime in other parts of the Footage broadcast live on tel- worst outbreak since the novel assets because they were being and not its operator. world,” he said. evision showed a rocket blast- coronavirus was identified at a sea- held in a New Zealand company He was arrested on mon- New Zealand Police said it ing off with the satellite from a food market in the central Chinese owned by Alexander Vinnik, ey laundering allegations in worked closely with the US In- mountainous region of south- city of Wuhan late last year. Beijing who is accused of mastermind- Greece in 2017 and has since ternal Revenue Service on the west China, which state media can now administer more than ing a bitcoin laundering ring and been extradited to France where case and has applied to the High hailed as another milestone in 300,000 nucleic acid tests per day is wanted by both France and the he remains in custody. He is Court seeking forfeiture of these the country’s space programme. compared with 40,000 in March, United States. This is the largest also wanted in Russia on lesser funds. The Beidou system – named Zhang Hua, deputy director at the after the Chinese term for the Beijing Municipal Health Commis- Big Dipper constellation – works sion, told reporters. on a network of about 30 satel- A Long March-3B carrier rocket carrying the Beidou-3 satellite, the last Beijing took samples from 2.95mn lites and competes with the US’s satellite of China’s Beidou Navigation Satellite System, takes off from people between June 12 and All quiet at Sydney Harbour Global Positioning System (GPS), Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province, China yesterday. June 22, Zhang said. Residents in Russia’s GLONASS and the Eu- so-called high and medium-risk ropean Union’s Galileo. “I think ing post-disaster rescue opera- plant GPS in the next 10 or even neighbourhoods have been told the Beidou-3 system being op- tions and other uses, according 20 years.” Carter Palmer, a space to take tests. Beijing has desig- erational is a big event,” Jonathan to Chinese state media. Beijing systems analyst at US-based nated five neighbourhoods as McDowell, an astronomer at the is counting on its trillion-dollar consultancy Forecast Interna- high-risk and 39 as medium-risk, Harvard-Smithsonian Center Belt and Road global infrastruc- tional, said there were still ques- as of Tuesday. People can leave for Astrophysics, said. “This is a ture project to convince other tions over Beidou’s reliability and enter medium-risk neighbour- big investment from China and countries to use its technology as but its accuracy was a big selling hoods, but apartment blocks with makes China independent of US it attempts to grab market share point. “What I do see is (users) two confirmed cases or more will and European systems.” from GPS. using multiple systems, includ- be locked down. In high-risk neigh- The fi nal satellite, the Bei- China’s geolocation services ing Beidou, to have more accu- bourhoods, an entire residential dou-3GEO3, will help improve market is expected to be worth rate satellite navigation,” he said. compound is locked down if there the network’s accuracy. China 400bn yuan ($56.4bn) in this The completion of the Bei- is even one infection. “The strategy started building the system in the year, a senior offi cial told state dou network will also be of ben- of Beijing’s nucleic acid screening early 1990s to help cars, fi shing media. efi t to China’s military. China is mainly based on the level of risk boats and military tankers navi- The global geolocation servic- has poured about $10bn into and on severity,” Zhang said, when gate using mapping data from the es market will be worth $146.4bn the Beidou system, to keep the asked if everyone in Beijing would country’s own satellites. Now the by 2025, according to San Fran- communication networks of be tested. Testing will be done in service can be used on millions cisco-based Grand View Re- the country’s military secure batches and according to the pro- of mobile phones to fi nd nearby search. and avoid the risk of disruption. file of individuals, he said. Beijing restaurants, petrol stations or Analysts said Beidou was al- “Technically, Beidou is capable has also been expanding its testing cinemas, and to guide taxis. ready outperforming GPS in of replacing GPS, for example in regime to other parts of the city, In 2012, Beidou’s coverage en- terms of accuracy, but it still had wartime if the United States cuts amid concern the virus may have tered commercial use in the Asia- a long way to go before over- off access to GPS in China,” said spread. A few people who were not Pacifi c region, becoming avail- taking its American rival as the Chen Lan, an analyst specialising among the close contacts of the able worldwide in 2018. Around world’s dominant geolocation in the Chinese space programme. confirmed cases have tested posi- People are seen walking in front of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge following 120 countries, including Pakistan system. China’s military also uses it to tive for Covid-19 even though they the easing of restrictions implemented to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease in Sydney, and Thailand, use the services McDowell said he did not think guide missiles and fl y drones. had not visited Xinfadi, according Australia. for port traffi c monitoring, guid- Beidou would be able to “sup- to off icial reports. Gulf Times 10 Wednesday, June 24, 2020 BRITAIN/IRELAND

Covid-19 vaccine may not work for at-risk older people, say scientists

Guardian News and Media committee it was this week con- grandparents, he said. “We need to understand where oid drug dexamethasone, which older group very much, and they’re als are under way in humans, and London sidering a paper on targeting dif- Immunising health and care that infl ammation is coming can block the infl ammation caused the people that are having the most if the effi cacy result is lower than ferent groups in the population workers – who are likely to be the from,” he said.“And this baseline by the virus and has been shown to severe disease right now.” hoped for after a single dose, it is with vaccines. fi rst to get the vaccine – would also infl ammation in older people is save lives in Covid-19. The committee took evidence important to know if giving two vaccine against Covid-19 “Sometimes it is possible to help protect older people who have linked to frailty and many nega- “So for older people, you might as Oxford University announced doses could result in a greater im- may not work well in older protect a vulnerable group by tar- the most contact with them. tive outcomes as we get older. And have something like an anti- successful trials of two doses of its mune response, which could then Apeople who are most at risk geting another group and this, for Arne Akbar, professor of im- this seems to be exacerbated when infl ammatory drug, like maybe candidate vaccine in animals. be more protective,” said a state- of becoming seriously ill and dy- example, is being done with infl u- munology at UCL and president of you get a severe infection like Cov- dexamethasone, together with The Pirbright Institute, working ment. ing from the disease, say scientists, enza,” he said. the British Society of Immunology, id-19. vaccine responses to give you the with the vaccine scientists, estab- Sarah Gilbert, professor of vac- which may mean immunising oth- “In the past few years, the UK said scientists needed to work out “But what is the source of the maximum benefi t. lished that two doses resulted in a cinology at Oxford University, who ers around them, such as children. has been at the forefront of rolling what goes wrong with the immune infl ammation in the fi rst place? “Just the vaccine alone will help signifi cantly increased antibody is heading its Covid-19 vaccine Prof Peter Openshaw, from Im- out the live attenuated vaccine for system as people get older. That’s something that we really the younger people and that will be response over one dose. research, told the Lords commit- perial, one of the members of the children.” “One thing that’s apparent, need to get to grips with.” good, because then if the younger “It is not yet known what level tee that none of the 140 vaccines in UK’s Sage scientifi c advisory sub- Giving the nasal spray fl u vac- even in healthy older people, is Akbar said something else might people are not infected they won’t of immune response will be re- development was likely to be per- group Nervtag, told the House cine to children who do not of- that there’s more infl ammation all be needed alongside the vaccine spread it to the older people. quired to protect humans against fect, but said a useful vaccine did of Lords science and technology ten get severe fl u protects their around the body. for older people, such as the ster- “But it won’t directly help the Sars-CoV-2. Vaccine effi cacy tri- not have to be 100% eff ective. Covid-19 death Government toll tops 54,000 reduces social

Reuters London

he UK’s suspected Cov- distancing rule id-19 death toll has hit T54,139, according to a Reu- ters tally of offi cial data sources that underline the country’s sta- tus as one of the worst hit in the world. The Reuters tally comprises to ‘1-metre plus’ fatalities where Covid-19 was mentioned on death certifi cates in Guardian News and Media be also be able to reopen – but vigilant we will need to be.” England, Wales and Northern Ire- London they cannot host live perform- Johnson said the Scottish land up to June 12, and up to June ances, because of concerns in- and Welsh governments, and 14 in Scotland. cluding the risk that singing the Northern Ireland executive, Unlike the lower death toll pub- embers of two diff er- transmits the virus. would relax their own lockdown lished daily by the government, ent households will be Announcing the measures measures “at their own pace, the death certifi cate fi gures in- Mable to eat, drink or dine in the House of Commons, the based on their own judgment” clude suspected cases. together from July 4 in England prime minister heralded the be- but he believed all countries were The Offi ce for National Sta- as long as they stick to physical- ginning of the end of “our long moving in the same direction. tistics (ONS), which updates the distancing guidelines, the prime national hibernation” and praised Concluding, Johnson said: fi gures on a weekly basis, said yes- minister has announced, as he the public’s “common sense and “Today we can say that our long terday the number of deaths in- confi rmed the two-metre rule perseverance,” in abiding by the national hibernation is beginning volving Covid-19 in England and will be dropped in favour of a government’s guidance in recent to come to an end, and life is re- Wales up to June 12 rose to 48,866. “one-metre-plus” approach. weeks. turning to our streets and to our Prime Minister Boris Johnson Households will be able to host He said the latest steps to- shops. The bustle is starting to announced yesterday that pubs, visitors in their home, includ- wards ending the lockdown come back, and a new but cau- restaurants, hotels and hairdress- ing overnight, and to meet with were “entirely conditional on tious optimism is palpable. ers in England can reopen on July 4 members of diff erent households, our continued defeat of the vi- “But I must say to the house it in a bid to revitalise the lockdown- on diff erent occasions – including rus”.Johnson said the number would be all too easy for that frost hit economy. in a restaurant or hotel, for exam- of new infections was declining to return. But the large death toll means ple. by 2% every day, and “while we “And that is why we will con- criticism over his handling of the The two-metre rule has been remain vigilant, we do not be- tinue to trust in the common pandemic — that Britain was too central to the government’s bat- lieve there is currently a risk of sense and the community spirit slow to impose a lockdown or pro- tle against the spread of Covid-19 a second peak of infections that of the British people to follow this tect the elderly in care homes — is but with infections declining, the might overwhelm the NHS”. guidance, to carry us through, likely to persist. cabinet has rubber-stamped new, “Given the fall in the prevalence and to see us to victory over this Johnson has said the govern- less stringent guidance. of the virus, we can change the virus.” ment has followed the best scien- A “one-metre-plus” approach two-metre rule from July 4,” the Downing Street has made clear tifi c advice and in April described will mean members of the public prime minister said, adding that it is prepared to reverse these its response to the pandemic as an can be one metre away from each it “eff ectively makes life impossi- “easements”, if the virus picks up “apparent success”. other as long as other measures ble for large parts of the economy, again. Britain has the second-highest are put in place to limit the trans- even without other restrictions”. The decision on the two-metre death toll in the world on a per mission of the virus. “Where it is possible to keep rule was taken after a review car- capita basis, according to Reuters These include wearing a face two metres apart, people should,” ried out by the No 10 permanent calculations based on deaths fol- covering, installing screens, mak- he added.“But where it is not, we secretary, Simon Case. lowing confi rmed coronavirus ing sure people face away from will advise people to keep a so- Johnson has been under in- tests. However, testing and meth- each other, and providing extra cial distance of one metre-plus, tense pressure to relax the rule ods of recording deaths diff er handwashing facilities. meaning they should remain one from Conservative backbenchers between countries and ministers The changes to how many peo- metre apart, while taking mitiga- and businesses who warned they say it will take some time before ple or households can meet come tions to reduce the risk of trans- would be uneconomic with the proper comparisons can be made. as a swath of venues in England mission.” two-metre rule in place. The death toll issued daily by will be allowed to reopen from With mitigations in place, he Government offi cials stress it the government, which measures July 4, including hotels, camp- said the protection from the virus remains safer to stay two metres deaths where patients had tested sites, hairdressers and churches. would be “broadly equivalent” to apart. positive for coronavirus, stood at All of these venues will be ex- remaining two metres apart. The Labour leader, Keir Starm- 42,927 yesterday, after 171 new pected to collect and keep the “Our principle is to trust the er, responding to Johnson, said: deaths were reported on Monday contact details of visitors, so they public to use their common “Overall, I welcome this state- and a further 109 deaths since can be traced in the event of a sense in the full knowledge of ment. I believe the government is April were reclassifi ed as caused Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a daily briefing to update on the coronavirus outbreak, at 10 fresh local outbreak of the virus. the risks – remembering that trying to do the right thing, and in by Covid-19. Downing Street in London, Britain, yesterday. Theatres and concert halls will the more we open up, the more that we support them.” Govt not sharing data on Healthcare workers local outbreaks: councils hit hardest: Ireland DPA tracted the disease or died from it,” Dublin it added that data from national Guardian News and Media their public health directors to upper tier local authority. associations suggested a global London take the lead. This could hinder the ability total of 230,000 healthcare infec- They will be responsible for to spot outbreaks at the earli- reland’s front line medics have tions and 600 nurse deaths. monitoring the spread of Cov- est opportunity, according to been hit harder than counter- Ni Sheaghdha yesterday said ocal outbreaks of Covid-19 id-19 in local areas and deciding Chris Jewell, an epidemiologist Iparts elsewhere by the novel “our fi gures were the highest” — could grow undetected when to close schools, offi ces, at Lancaster University and a coronavirus pandemic, the head of going by numbers she said were Lbecause the government care homes and if necessary im- member of the government’s the country’s main nurses’ union discussed during a call with the is failing to share crucial testing pose lockdowns on whole towns. Scientifi c Advisory Group for said during a parliamentary hear- ICN last week. data, council leaders and scien- As they race to produce out- Emergencies (Sage) subgroup on ing yesterday. Though comparisons are dif- tists have warned. break management plans by the modelling. Addressing the Dail (parlia- fi cult due to disparities in how More than a month after be- end of June, public health direc- “We have to wait for (outbreaks) ment) Special Committee on Cov- countries report coronavirus ing promised full details of who tors warn they lack crucial data to emerge through the noise at a id-19 Response, Irish Nurses and cases and fatalities, Ireland’s has caught the disease in their fl owing from Whitehall. much larger spatial scale,” he said. Midwives Organisation (INMO) 1,717 coronavirus-related deaths areas, local health chiefs are still “It can’t be stressed enough In practical terms, that means general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghd- represent the 11th-highest level desperately lobbying the govern- how important this data is to us,” waiting for more people to be- ha said the country has the world’s worldwide — measured by deaths- ment’s testing chief, Lady Hard- said Ian Hudspeth, the Conserva- come infected and, he said, “de- highest rate of infection among per-100,000 people — according ing, to break the deadlock and tive leader of Oxfordshire county lays are everything in dealing with health care workers. to data collated by Johns Hopkins share the data. council, who speaks on health outbreaks”. Ireland’s department of health University. The situation was described by matters for the Local Government Hudspeth said he had been has confi rmed 25,383 coronavirus Around half of Ireland’s pan- one director of public health as a Association. “We’ve been press- “lobbying hard” for the informa- cases since February 29, with 8,161 demic deaths were in nursing or “shambles”, while a scientist on ing for this since the test-and- tion since the beginning of April of those diagnosed among health- care homes for the elderly. the government’s own advisory trace system was announced.” when the Health Secretary, Matt care workers. Speaking to the Special Com- committee said it was “astonish- Councils are asking for real- Hancock, launched the national Ni Sheaghdha described the mittee on Covid-19 Response on ing” that public health teams are time information about who coronavirus testing programme. numbers as an “absolute scandal” June 11, the World Health Organi- unable to access the information. has tested positive, down to the “If someone has gone into a and warned that hospitals are fac- sation’s David Nabarro said Ireland The prime minister said on names and contact details of indi- care home we need to contact ing staffi ng shortages. was at “upper end of the spectrum” Friday the country was moving viduals, and failing that by street, them as soon as possible be- Though the Geneva-based In- for nursing home deaths. from “a huge one-size-fi ts-all postcode, or catchment area of fore they go into other areas and ternational Council of Nurses But Ireland’s daily new coro- national lockdown programme 1,500 people. spread the virus,” he said. “We (ICN) said on June 6 that “there navirus and related deaths counts to one in which we’re able to do However, most are only receiv- need to know on the day so that A man wearing a protective face mask and gloves works in a is no systematic and standardised have plummeted in recent weeks, more localised responses”, and ing a daily feed of aggregate com- we can clamp down and prevent temporary hygiene station, as the spread of the coronavirus disease record of the number of nurses and with four and two respectively an- ministers have told councils and munity test results for the entire the spread.” continues, in London, Britain. healthcare workers who have con- nounced yesterday. Gulf Times Wednesday, June 24, 2020 11 BRITAIN Brexit talks hit by row over EU subsidies for farmers

Guardian News and Media from defending British farmers ing next week, joining a long list For the duration of the current not distort trade, or at most In 2018, the US department ti-dumping investigations”. London from cut-price European im- of thorny areas where common parliament, farmers will be paid cause minimal distortion”. Such of commerce imposed a 17.13% The UK negotiating team led ports. ground is yet to be found. subsidies at the same rate as the unrestricted subsidies, known anti-dumping duty on Spanish by David Frost has in response The row centres on the EU’s The 27 EU governments will EU – around £3bn a year. as “green box payments”, in- olives claiming that they were argued that such a clause would ritish and EU negotiators demand for what it is claimed issue a statement welcoming the The British government is clude direct income supports for being sold at unfairly low prices limit the government’s ability to have hit a new obstacle to would be an unprecedented new talks, scheduled to run into concerned at the potential for farmers that are not related to as a consequence of green box protect the British farming in- Bsecuring a trade and se- commitment not to retaliate September, but call for business- heavily subsidised EU farmers to production levels or prices. payments. dustry. curity deal after clashing over through tariff s on European es to be ready “for all outcomes”, exploit the period of uncertainty, They also include environ- Two clauses in the EU’s pro- The EU has previously sought €70bn of subsidies handed to goods even where it could be according to a leaked paper. an anxiety brought to a head by mental protection and regional posed free trade deal with the to have similar provisions, European farmers by Brussels, potentially shown that British The UK’s farming industry is clauses contained in the Europe- development programmes. UK would have both sides agree known as a “peace clause” by the Guardian revealed. farmers are being unfairly un- facing the biggest shake-up in an commission’s draft legal text The EU has over time hugely in- that such funds are not in eff ect trade experts, inserted into The EU’s negotiating team led dercut. over 40 years with the country’s for a future trade deal. creased the proportion of its subsi- price distorting and cannot be prospective trade deals with by Michel Barnier was accused The negotiators are set to re- exit from the single market and Under World Trade Organi- dies that it regards as being green countered with “anti-subsidy Australia and New Zealand but in the latest round of talks of turn to the issue over the “in- the customs union at the end of sation rules there is no cap on box payments, often in the face of proceedings nor be subjected to they do not exist in any current seeking to block the government tensifi ed” summer talks start- the year. payments to farmers that “do opposition from rival producers. price or cost adjustments in an- agreements. Rebekah sues Coleen Rooney over ‘Wagatha Christie’ claims

Guardian News and Media fi led defamation proceedings London at the high court earlier this month, where she will be rep- resented by the leading law fi rm ebekah Vardy has Kingsley Napley. launched defamation pro- The leading media lawyer Mark Rceedings against Coleen Stephens said Rebekah’s lawyers Rooney at the high court in Lon- were likely to focus on the jour- don, in what could be an extraor- nalistic approach used by Coleen dinary legal case detailing the to obtain the information. feud between the two women He said: “The Coleen sleuthing and their relationships with the methods are going to be put on British tabloid media. trial and forensically examined in Coleen made the headlines last court. I suspect what we will fi nd year when she publicly claimed is they are wanting. She will have Rebekah had been leaking sto- to show that nobody else in the Police off icers guard the block where the suspect of multiple stabbings allegedly lived, in Reading, Britain, yesterday. ries from her private Instagram world knew what was being put account to the Sun newspaper, on that Instagram account. after setting an elaborate trap on “There are a number of fl aws social media. with that, because those in her Coleen, who is married to intimate circle will have been the former England footballer told what’s going on. And the Wayne Rooney, claimed she technological way she did it isn’t spent fi ve months slowly reduc- entirely foolproof. Terror suspect ‘was stopped ing the number of people who “It may well have been that could see her updates on Insta- Rebekah told people within her gram stories until only Vardy’s social circle and they leaked it, account remained. entirely without her knowledge Coleen then posted a fabricat- or approval.” by police day before attack’ ed announcement on Instagram Coleen is being represented in that the basement of her new the case by Brabners – the same house had been fl ooded. company representing the Eng- Daily Mail Several police and psychiat- said she was unable to comment police in November 2018, offi c- If any individual – includ- When it ended up as a news land cricketer Ben Stokes in his London ric nurses, known as a ‘street given the police investigation, ers found Saadallah on a bridge ing anyone with leave to remain story in the Sun, she decided to privacy case against the Sun. triage’ team run jointly by but it will raise further concerns where he threatened to throw in this country – commits a go public with the accusation Earlier this month, it was re- Thames Valley Police and the that the authorities missed op- himself off , the offi cial docu- crime which is punished with 12 that Rebekah was responsible for ported by the Sun that Coleen olice intercepted the NHS, encountered the 25-year- portunities to prevent Satur- ments show. months or more in prison, they leaking personal information to had sacked her previous legal Reading terror suspect on old Libyan after an alert was day’s knife attacks. On a later date he was taken are liable for automatic depor- the press – earning Coleen the team amid concerns she could Pthe street just hours before raised as part of his psychiatric Offi cial documents seen by into police custody after being tation. nickname “Wagatha Christie”. lose the case over “a failure to dis- he allegedly went on the ram- care, sources said. the Mail show Saadallah was found “very drunk”. Exceptions apply, including Rebekah, a reality TV star who is close a crucial detail of her eff orts page, the Daily Mail revealed. It came as a former Labour under the care of psychiatric On that occasion he was giv- a range of claims under human married to the Leicester City strik- to catch Becky red-handed”. A specialist mental health team justice minister revealed in the specialists. en a piece of paper in the cus- rights laws such as the ‘right er Jamie Vardy, denied any wrong- The newspaper quoted an was asked to search for Khairi Commons that Saadallah had One said: “He has various tody suite to explain his rights, to private and family life’. Con- doing and later said the stress of unnamed “insider” as saying: Saadallah after offi cials failed to been released from prison just mental health issues and a his- which he used as toilet paper. servative MP Lee Anderson their public dispute had caused her “Along the way, something has fi nd him during a routine check 16 days before being arrested tory of debt and homelessness, The Home Offi ce is also likely said in the Commons: “There to have severe anxiety attacks amid been hidden from everyone else at his home last Friday. over the terror attack. as well as alcohol and substance to face renewed scrutiny over its is something wrong if an indi- widespread public mockery. involved and it could end up Later that evening, just be- Maria Eagle said: “The per- misuse, and is aggressive and handling of Saadallah’s asylum vidual has come into this coun- She claimed at the time that costing them the whole case”.If fore midnight, he was found on son who has been arrested sus- unpredictable. application. try illegally and been granted other individuals may have had the two parties fail to reach an a street in Reading, sources dis- pected of these off ences has “A psychiatric report dated He was granted fi ve years’ leave asylum and then goes on to be a access to her Instagram account agreement the defamation case closed. been reported as being of inter- May 21, 2019, from Dr Hasanen to remain in this country on hu- security risk.” and announced a forensic audit would go to trial, although pro- Saadallah is believed to have est to the security services as a Al Taiar, a consultant forensic manitarian grounds in 2018. One criminal justice source of her social media profi les. ceedings would be unlikely to then been taken home to his potential terrorist sympathiser psychiatrist, concluded that Critics called on the Home said: “There are some pretty Since then the two women take place until 2021. council fl at in the south of the and was released well before the he showed features of post- Offi ce and the ministry of justice serious questions for the Home have been running up legal bills, No paperwork has been fi led town – and just hours later is end of his sentence from a pris- traumatic stress disorder and of to reveal exactly how Saadallah’s Offi ce and the ministry of jus- while attempts to mediate the other than to note Rebekah’s alleged to have stabbed three on – a mere 16 days before this emotionally unstable personal- case was handled – and whether tice here. We desperately need case have failed. intention to sue and confi rming men to death as they sat in a lo- murderous rampage took place.” ity disorder.” tougher enforcement could have clarity about what happened in Court fi lings show Rebekah the lawyers involved in the case. cal park, Forbury Gardens. Home Secretary Priti Patel In one encounter with the helped save three lives. this case.’ Hancock ‘tried to block Eton apologises to plan to build 400 homes’ ex-pupil for racism Reuters there was still further to go. London “We have to have the insti- Guardian News and Media consistently donated money negative economic impact on tutional and personal humility London for Hancock’s offi ce, including the local economy”. to acknowledge that we still £15,000 in May 2010 when he Sajid Javid, then Conservative he headmaster of Eton have more to do,” he said in a was fi rst elected as MP for the secretary of state for communities said he wants to apolo- statement sent to Reuters yes- he Health Secretary Matt West Suff olk constituency, and and local government, blocked the Tgise in person to Nige- terday. Hancock repeatedly urged £10,000 in May last year. project in August 2016. rian author Dillibe Onyeama, “I will be inviting Onyeama to Tfellow Conservative min- The development, proposed However, Javid’s decision was one of the fi rst black students meet so as to apologise to him in isters to block a plan in his con- by the landowner Lord Derby at overturned by the High Court to complete his studies at Brit- person, on behalf of the school, stituency to build 400 homes Hatchfi eld Farm in Newmarket, in 2017, in a judgment that de- ain’s most elite school, for the and to make clear that he will al- and a primary school, claiming includes building 400 homes, scribed it as “a complete and racism he experienced there ways be welcome at Eton.” it would damage the horse racing 30% of them aff ordable, a new unexplained volte face” from a which he detailed in a book. The death of Floyd has industry. primary school and offi ce or previous favourable government Eton’s current headmaster prompted a number of British His opposition to the devel- other employment space. assessment of the plans, noting Simon Henderson said he was institutions to re-examine their opment came as senior fi gures in Commitments were given to the inspector’s fi nding that there appalled by the racism Onyea- pasts and issue apologies, main- horse racing leading the opposi- manage any increase in traffi c was a clear need for more hous- ma, who left in 1969, encoun- ly in connection with slavery. tion made fi nancial donations to that might aff ect the movement ing in Newmarket. tered at the school, which was The Lloyd’s of London insur- him. of thoroughbred racehorses Hancock nevertheless wrote founded in 1440 and has edu- ance market and the Bank of Rachel Hood, then the Con- to their training gallops in the to Javid after that judgment, cated 20 British prime minis- England have both apologised. servative mayor of Newmarket, town, which is described as “the again urging that the develop- ters, including Boris Johnson. Onyeama told the BBC that and her husband John Gosden, HQ” of fl at racing. ment be halted. The school is the latest Brit- Eton’s apology was not neces- a prominent horseracing trainer In July 2015 the scheme was He also wrote to the then ish institution to apologise sary. He was reported on the who gave evidence opposing the recommended for approval by a housing minister James Broken- for historical racism, after the BBC website as saying that scheme at the public inquiry, planning inspector who decided shire in July 2018, stressing his death of George Floyd in the people at school asked him each gave Hancock £10,000 in after a public inquiry that “the opposition to the scheme. US prompted protests world- when he passed his exams, December 2018 and May last risk to the horse racing industry Following another public in- wide and a sweeping global re- “how did you do it?” year respectively. is very small”. quiry last year whose inspector assessment of racism. Reuters could not imme- Tattersalls, the racehorse Two months later, Hancock again approved the development, Henderson said racism had diately contact Onyeama for valuers and auctioneers based wrote to the then housing min- Hancock wrote to the current no place in civilised soci- comment. in Newmarket, who were also ister, Brandon Lewis, maintain- secretary of state, Robert Jenrick, ety, then or now, adding that Henderson said the current prominent opponents of the ing that the development would in September, attaching the legal Eton, where fees are £42,000 moment of protests should be housing development on be- damage the industry and should case made by the horse racing in- per year, had made strides seized as “a catalyst for real and half of the racing industry, have be rejected for its “exceptional dustry to oppose the scheme. Hancock: project to have ‘negative impact on local economy’ since Onyeama attended but sustained change for the better”. Gulf Times 12 Wednesday, June 24, 2020 EUROPE

CRIME ‘SPAIN FOR SURE’ RESTRICTIONS LITTLE IMPACT CORRUPTION Five held over alleged Spanish royals in new push Finland opens borders to French virus tracing app 13 detained over suspect antique traff icking to save tourism industry low-infection EU countries flops with only 14 alerts Milan metro tenders

Five people suspected of participating in an Spain’s king and queen yesterday visited the Holidaymakers from 12 European countries France’s much-heralded new phone app for Italian police yesterday arrested 13 people, antiques smuggling ring exploiting conflict and Canary Islands to begin a tour intended to help with low virus infection rates will be allowed tracking coronavirus cases has only alerted 14 including a senior figure at Milan’s public transport unrest in Middle Eastern countries to spirit out rescue a tourism-dependent economy battered into Finland as of next month but tourists people that they were at risk of infection since company, over bribes allegedly paid for city metro works for sale in France have been detained by the coronavirus crisis and a months-long from Sweden will remain barred, ministers its launch three weeks ago, the digital aff airs contracts worth 150mn euros, city prosecutors for questioning in Paris, a judicial source said lockdown. Locals applauded King Felipe VI and said yesterday. Border restrictions will be minister said yesterday. The StopCovid app said. Senior figures at Alstom Ferroviaria and yesterday. A preliminary inquiry was opened Queen Letizia in the regional capital Gran Canaria. lifted on July 13 for countries with fewer than keeps track of users who have been in close Siemens Mobility were among those detained by French anti-traff icking and fraud agents in Some shouted “Viva!” as the king bumped elbows eight new infections per 100,000 people over proximity of one another over a two-week as part of the investigation into eight suspect July 2018 into an alleged network involving art with people to avoid shaking hands. He and the preceding 14 days, Interior Minister Maria period. If any become infected, they inform contracts in the northern city. Those detained dealers, antique experts and museum curators, Queen Letizia met tourism sector representatives Ohisalo told a press conference. The Schengen the platform, which alerts the others. Since are being investigated for off ences including the source said, confirming a report by RTL radio. on the popular Spanish archipelago off the countries meeting the criteria are Germany, Italy, its launch, 68 people informed the platform criminal conspiracy, corruption, fixing auctions and Antiques worth millions are thought to have northwest coast of Africa. Their ‘Spain for Sure’ Austria, Greece, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia, they had been infected and only 14 users were misappropriation of public funds. Paolo Bellini, an been taken from countries including Libya, Syria, tour will take them to every region of the country Hungary and Liechtenstein, she said. Checks on alerted that they were now at risk because of executive at the Milan public transport company Egypt and Yemen, often through the renowned in coming days. Spain had reopened borders to travellers from Denmark, Norway, Iceland and their contacts with these people, digital aff airs ATM, is suspected of having received 125,000 Pierre Berge auction house based in Paris. European tourists on Sunday. the Baltic countries were already lifted last week. minister Cedric O said at a press conference. euros ($140,000) in bribes between 2018 and 2019. Heavy rain, fl ooding French cops face scrutiny in Serbia, and Bosnia

Reuters Belgrade

orrential rain and fl ooding in Serbia and Bosnia yester- after chokehold death day forced authorities to declare a state of emergency, as Tswollen rivers damaged bridges, roads and power lines. By Eleonore Hughes and Serbia, which is also battling a rising number of coronavirus Joseph Schmid, AFP cases, declared an emergency situation in 12 municipalities in Paris the country’s west and southwest. In the city of Kraljevo, the Ibar river tore two fl oating restau- rants from their moorings, smashing them against a bridge. rance’s police yesterday Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said the authorities had moved faced new pressure yes- quickly to limit the damage. “All necessary machinery is de- Fterday after the family of a ployed in the fi eld...machines are clearing debris from water- delivery man who died after being ways to prevent fl ash fl ooding,” Brnabic told a news conference. arrested last January demanded a In other places, smaller rivers burst their banks, cutting off ban on chokeholds. roads and power lines. Cedric Chouviat got into a “Members of the Department for Emergency Situations...are heated exchange with police after providing assistance to the population and evacuating,” the In- being stopped for a routine check terior Ministry said in a statement. near the Eiff el Tower in Paris be- The rain is expected to subside overnight and the skies to fore he was pinned down by sev- clear by morning. “Summer is arriving at last,” Brnabic said. eral offi cers. In Bosnia’s northeast, heavy rains caused fl ooding and land- Chouviat, who has North Af- slides, prompting authorities in towns in the Tuzla region to rican origins, said “I’m suff ocat- declare a state of natural disaster. Traffi c was blocked on the ing” seven times before his body main road connecting Tuzla and the capital Sarajevo, hundreds went limp, according to a review of buildings and homes were badly damaged and several fami- of videos by investigators seen by lies were evacuated. Rivers also fl ooded large areas of agricul- AFP this week. tural land and washed away bridges. Many roads and houses He was not breathing and had were fl ooded in eastern Bosnian towns bordering Serbia. no pulse when emergency serv- ices arrived and brought him to hospital, where he was pro- nounced dead two days later. Four offi cers were taken in for Heatwave in Spain questioning last week in an in- quiry into “involuntary homi- cide” but so far they have not AFP faced disciplinary action. Madrid “We still don’t understand why they haven’t been suspended, and we don’t understand why this ust days after the lockdown ended and European travel re- chokehold technique still hasn’t Fatima Chouviat (centre), the mother of Cedric Chouviat, speaks at a press conference in Paris yesterday. strictions were lifted, many were staying home in the cool been banned,” Chouviat’s daugh- Jyesterday as a heatwave hit the continent with temperatures ter Sofi a said at a press conference like the United States,” said Wil- Lawyers for the four offi cers Another court in France yes- Several journalists were in the touching 40 degrees Celcius. alongside her family and lawyers. liam Bourdon, a lawyer for Chou- said their clients did not hear the terday handed a suspended restaurant as well and fi lmed of- In some areas, the mercury was even seen topping 41 degrees “We want a fi rm response from viat’s family. words “I’m suff ocating”, which 18-month sentence to a police fi cers striking people even as they Celcius, such as Seville in southern Spain where people were President Emmanuel Macron,” Interior Minister Christophe they learnt about only while be- offi cer who struck a 62-year-old lay immobile on the ground. cooling off in fountains or taking a dip in the Guadalquivir River she said. Castaner announced offi cers would ing questioned last week. woman during a “yellow vest” After the hearing, the inves- in the morning, an AFPTV correspondent said. France has seen a series of pro- be banned from using chokeholds “The offi cers were shocked and anti-government protest last tigating magistrate charged the Elsewhere in southern and western areas, temperatures have tests in recent weeks against al- earlier this month but backtracked devastated, because obviously year. four with committing violence hovered around 40 degrees since Sunday, and by yesterday, nine leged brutality and racism by po- after police unions held demon- if they had heard these words In a scene captured by surveil- while in a position of public au- regions were on high alert for the heat which was expected to last lice, a long-simmering issue that strations across France. they would have stopped strug- lance video, the offi cer hits the thority. Their lawyer declined until tomorrow, Spain’s AEMET national weather agency said. has gained momentum with the Castaner later said chokeholds gling immediately,” police lawyer woman with his baton twice on comment. France was also experiencing its fi rst heatwave with temperatures killing of George Floyd in police would continue to be used at Thibault de Montbrial told jour- the back of her head, causing in- Critics accused police of in the mid-30s expected to last until tomorrow, Meteo-France said. custody in the US. least through the summer while nalists yesterday. juries that required 12 stitches. heavy-handed tactics during Even the Nordic countries were expecting temperatures The protests have focused in offi cials sought alternative tech- The offi cers will be brought be- Four riot police were brought many of the yellow vest protests above 30 degrees this week, with Sweden’s SMHI forecaster particular on the case of a young niques. fore a judge in July. yesterday before a judge after be- including the use of rubber bul- saying the hottest days would be today and tomorrow and black man, Adama Traore, who “It’s too late for Cedric, but this France’s police watchdog said ing detained for questioning over lets that caused severe eye inju- warning of the increased risk of forest fi res. died in police custody in 2016 in is a good opportunity for the gov- this month it received almost alleged violence against protest- ries for around two dozen people, Despite the soaring temperatures, Sweden’s public health agen- a Paris suburb. An investigation is ernment to stop giving in to police 1,500 complaints against offi cers ers in a fast food restaurant during and explosive stun grenades to cy advised against using fans in communal areas of elderly care still going on. unions’ blackmail and question last year, of which roughly half a yellow vest demo near the Arc disperse protesters. homes out of concern they could spread the virus. They advised “France is not the United things,” said Chouviat’s widow, were for alleged violence against de Triomphe in Paris, a judicial Only a handful of offi cers have installing air conditioning or organising other means of shade to States, but France is becoming Doria. civilians. source told AFP. faced trial over the claims. protect the elderly who would also be at risk from the heat. Facebook ordered to Cautious approach rein in data collection

By Carsten Hauptmeier, AFP The FCO criticised Facebook ing there was no viable alternative Berlin in February 2019 for making the service for most people. “practically unrestricted” data har- Rival services like Snapchat, vesting part of the website’s terms YouTube or Twitter “only off er top German court yester- of use. parts of the services of a social net- day ordered Facebook to That meant people had to tick the work” and are not directly compa- Astop merging data collected box or opt out of being on Facebook rable, the authority said. through its Whatsapp and Insta- altogether. Facebook lodged an appeal gram subsidiaries or other websites The personal data picked up against the FCO ruling with the unless users explicitly agree, in a through Facebook’s own platform, higher regional court in Duessel- legal victory for competition au- Whatsapp, Instagram and third- dorf, which is still pending. thorities. party websites serve to build up a But yesterday’s fast-tracked de- Germany’s Federal Cartel Offi ce user’s profi le for the purposes of cision at the BGH settles the row, (FCO) had told Facebook to rein in targeted advertising, a key income for now, about whether Facebook the data collecting in a landmark source for the group. can keep combining data in the decision in 2019, but the social me- The Federal Cartel Offi ce ordered meantime. dia giant appealed the order. the tech giant to stop combining in- FCO chief Andreas Mundt wel- In a fast-track proceeding yes- formation from Facebook and non- comed yesterday’s ruling. terday, Germany’s Federal Court of Facebook sources unless users gave “When data is collected and used Justice (BGH) sided with the FCO “voluntary consent”. illegally, an anti-trust interven- watchdog in fi nding that Facebook It also said Facebook was not al- tion must be possible to prevent an was abusing its dominant position lowed to exclude people from its abuse of market power,” he said in a to force users to consent to all their services if they chose to refuse per- statement. data being collected. mission. There was no immediate com- “Facebook does not allow for Facebook said at the time it disa- ment from Facebook. any choice,” presiding judge Peter greed with the decision, arguing The US fi rm led by Mark Zucker- Meier-Beck said in the Karlsruhe the German anti-trust body was berg has repeatedly come under fi re courtroom. setting rules that applied “to only in recent years over data protection The Silicon Valley company will one company” and that it under- and privacy. have to comply with the order while estimated the competition it faced In one major scandal in 2018, it its appeal is ongoing in a lower from rivals. emerged that data belonging to tens court. The FCO however found that of millions of Facebook users had A statue displays a face mask in downtown Lisbon. Portugal’s Prime Minister Antonio Costa has said that some coronavirus It is a major setback for the social Facebook was by far the biggest been harvested by consulting fi rm restrictions would be reimposed in the capital Lisbon to help control outbreaks from the pandemic. According to off icial media giant, which has long been social network in Germany, with Cambridge Analytica, and used in data compiled by local media, between May 21 and June 21, Portugal recorded 9,221 new cases of Covid-19 with most cases under scrutiny in privacy-con- over 23mn daily active users repre- part to support Donald Trump’s detected in the Lisbon and Tagus Valley regions. scious Germany. senting 95% of the market — mean- 2016 election campaign. Gulf Times Wednesday, June 24, 2020 13 INDIA Delhi housing societies set up Covid centre for residents

IANS “The residents of the soci- hefty fees at private hospi- Delhi has overtaken Tamil and most come from other parts ality clinics in the fi rst phase of also asked government police of- New Delhi ety came forward with the idea tals, Akash Khatri, president of Nadu to become the second of the country. OPD reopening,” said an offi cial. fi cials to take preventive steps to of establishing isolation centres Neelachal Apartments Society, worst-hit state with 62,655 cas- According to hospital sources, The hospital authorities said ensure that there was no viola- for Covid-19 patients with mild said. es. AIIMS director Randeep Guleria that it will be the prerogative of tion of the court orders. mid a surge in coronavirus or moderate symptoms,” said an The four-bed isolation centre In other developments, the All has approved the resumption of the departments to call patients Taking a serious view of the infections in Delhi, hous- offi cial. is equipped with medical sup- India Institute of Medical Sci- physical appointments for old directly or screen them through issue, the high court said if nay Aing societies in the na- “To meet any medical emer- plies, such as oxygen cylinders, ences (AIIMS) has decided to and follow-up patients. tele-consultation before giving a member of the union went on tional capital have started setting gency, we will provide doctors separate toilets, oximeters, ther- restart physical out-patient de- These, however, will not ex- physical appointment. strike or staged a hunger strike, up their own isolation centres for and take necessary actions. If mal scanners, masks, gloves and partment services from tomor- ceed 15 a day for any department Also yesterday, the Punjab and they could be arrested and jailed. patients. the health of a person in an isola- personal protective equipment row. initially, and the number will be Haryana High Court restrained The order comes after the Several residential complexes tion centre worsens and he or she kits, Khatri said. The OPD clinics were shut on enhanced in a few days. the Post Graduate Institute of PGIMER fi led a contempt peti- have converted their offi ce halls needs to be admitted to a hos- The society had requested the March 24, when Prime Minis- “In addition, requisite ap- Medical Education and Research tion against Tarandeep Singh into isolation centres. pital, then arrangements will be administration to provide doc- ter Narendra Modi announced a pointments for a limited number (PGIMER) Employees Union Grewal and Harbhajan Singh The four-bed isolation centre made,” he said. tors and nurses to monitor the nationwide lockdown to contain of new patients will also be given from going on strike or disrupt- Bhatti, general secretary and at Neelachal Apartments in Sec- The idea to set up isolation health of patients, he said. the outbreak of the coronavirus for those departments who wish ing the functioning of the in- president of the Ministerial and tor 4 of Dwarka was inaugurated centres came after reports of “Some local doctors have also pandemic. to start physical OPD consulta- stitute or hospital owing to the Secretarial Employees Union re- by Southwest District Magistrate shortage of beds shortage in volunteered to help us,” Khatri Usually, thousands of patients tion. However, no appointments pandemic. spectively, for causing disruption Rahul Singh. government hospitals and the said. visit the OPD clinics every day, will be given for evening speci- Justice Arvind Singh Sangwan amid a rise in Covid-19 cases. UP shelter home sealed after 57 girls test positive for coronavirus

Reuters for women have also demanded Lucknow detailed reports on the case and proper treatment for the girls. The case comes as India grap- ozens of girls at a care ples with a steep rise in new coro- home for runaways and navirus infections. Dsexual abuse victims have The country now has more tested positive for coronavirus, than 440,000 confi rmed cases, raising renewed scrutiny over the behind only the United States, management of state-run shel- Brazil and Russia, according to ters as the country faces a surge of Johns Hopkins University data. new infections. More than 14,000 Indians The shelter in the northern have died from Covid-19, with state of Uttar Pradesh has since stretched hospitals scrambling to been sealed, and the 57 girls who accommodate patients. tested positive - fi ve of whom Ajit Kumar, a probation offi cer Medical health workers put on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as they get ready to work at a school that was turned into a centre for conducting tests for the coronavirus were pregnant - were moved to at Kanpur’s women and child de- disease in New Delhi yesterday. hospitals, with staff put in quar- velopment department, said the antine, local offi cials said. outbreak at the shelter may have The outbreak sparked anger come from one of the pregnant on social media, and opposition girls, who went for regular check- politicians said it refl ected neg- ups at a nearby hospital. ligence by state authorities and a “The district administration is lack of care for the girls - all aged looking into the matter,” he told under 18, demanding a probe into the Thomson Reuters Founda- Govt tells Ramdev: stop how the virus reached the shelter. tion. “We demand the Uttar India’s care homes for children Pradesh government take this came into the spotlight in 2018 seriously and conduct a high- after nearly 30 girls were found to level, impartial investigation so have been raped and tortured in the culprits can be punished in eastern Bihar state. the strictest way,” Bahujan Sa- Weeks later, police rescued 24 making virus ‘cure’ claims majwadi Party chief Mayawati girls and shut down an illegal care and former state chief minister home in Uttar Pradesh after one Agencies cure coronavirus in a week. Unani, Siddha and Homoeopa- ernment’s licensing authority tweeted yesterday. former resident fl ed and com- New Delhi “Some 280 patients were in- thy (AYUSH) said yesterday it to provide copies of licence and She also urged reform in the plained about sexual exploitation. cluded in the clinical trials and had asked the fi rm for more de- product approval details of the management of all state shel- The home’s owners were ar- 100% recovered,” he claimed. tails and told it not to advertise its ayurvedic medicines which the ters amid expressions of concern rested on suspicion of traffi cking he government yesterday Sixty-nine percent recovered claims until they were examined. yoga guru claimed cures Cov- about possible sexual abuse at the the girls. told yoga guru Baba Ram- in three days and rest within It said that “facts of the claim id-19 patients. home due to the fi ve girls’ preg- Sexual and physical abuse Tdev touting herbal rem- seven, he told reporters. and details of the stated scien- Ayurvedic medicines have nancies. are common in the institutions, edies as a $7 cure for coronavi- He said the trials were con- tifi c study are not known to the been used for centuries in India The Uttar Pradesh government where many children are not or- rus that he needed to prove his ducted in association the gov- ministry.” but Ramdev - who has a yoga TV yesterday ordered thermal scan- phans but are placed in care by claims before further marketing. ernment-run National Institute The ministry also said that channel despite saying he lives ning of all staff and inmates of parents who are too poor to look Ramdev, a supporter of Prime of Medical Sciences but did not the government has informed an ascetic life - has tapped into women shelter homes, orphanag- after them, campaigners say. Minister Narendra Modi, said the specify whether they received the company that such adver- booming demand since creating es and juvenile homes in the state. Congress general secretary remedy would be available from approval from India’s drug au- tisements of drugs including ay- his fi rm in 2006. Cases of rape were reported at Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said such next week through his lucra- thority. urvedic medicines are regulated The company - India’s 13th other such shelters several years cases showed “many inhuman tive Patanjali Ayurved company, Ramdev claimed those given under the provisions of Drugs most trusted brand according to ago. incidents” were happening at claiming it was 100% successful the medicines were fully cured Ramdev: fresh controversy and Magic Remedies (Objec- rankings published earlier this The district magistrate of Kan- state-run shelters for children. on nearly 300 test patients. and none died. tionable Advertisements) Act, year - has previously claimed pur district, where the home is Others voiced their outrage on The ubiquitous company is “We appointed a team of sci- An entire kit is being made 1954 and the directives issued by it had cancer remedies, while located, said the girls were al- social media. worth several hundred million entists after the Covid-19 out- consisting of other ayurvedic the central Government follow- Ramdev has also said he can ready pregnant when they were “Shelter home feels like more dollars, selling everything from break,” said Balkrishna, Ram- medicines as well which helps in ing the Covid-19 outbreak. “cure” Aids. admitted last year. of horrifi c place nowadays. toothpaste to jeans. dev’s close aide and managing immunity. The Ayush ministry also re- Modi, who is currently bat- He said investigations were Hearing those crimes and hap- It is a major player in a vast director of Patanjali Ayurved. The entire kit comes at Rs600. minded Patanjali of a gazette no- tling a surge in coronavirus with under way into their sexual as- penings there. Feel sick,” said Indian consumer goods market. He said ayurvedic elements However, he claimed that it will tifi cation, issued on April 21, of almost 450,000 cases and al- saults. one Twitter user, while many Speaking at his company’s are used in the medicines. be given free to those living be- the requirements and the manner most 15,000 deaths, last week The National Human Rights others asked who was going headquarters in Haridwar, saf- “There are more than 100 low the poverty line. of research studies on Covid-19. suggested that yoga could help Commission, child protection to take responsibility and de- fron-robed Ramdev said that compounds used in the Coronil,” However, the Ministry of Ay- Meanwhile, the ministry has create a “protective shield” panel and the state commission manded justice. “Coronil” and “Swasari” could he added. urveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, also asked the Uttarakhand gov- against the coronavirus. India says ‘may allow’ some UN honours Kerala foreign fl ights to resume for Covid-19 fi ght

IANS been able to keep the contact Reuters The Indian government, cit- ment said, declining to comment Thiruvananthapuram spread rate to below 12.5% and the New Delhi ing the coronavirus, has banned yesterday on the statement from mortality rate to 0.6%,” she said. all scheduled services and failed the Indian government. Meanwhile, Chief Minister to approve US carriers for charter The department previously ac- erala was among those Pinarayi Vijayan said one more he Ministry of Civil Avia- operations, it added. cused China of unfairly denying honoured yesterday for Covid-19 patient died yesterday, tion said yesterday it was The aviation ministry added it is US air carriers the ability to con- Ktackling the Covid-19 pan- taking the death toll in the state to Tconsidering allowing some considering the “prospect of estab- duct fl ights and also demanded demic when the United Nations 22 as 141 more positive cases were international carrier fl ights to lishing individual bilateral bubbles, China seek pre-approval for some celebrated the Public Service Day. detected. resume after the US accused In- India-US, India-France, India-Ger- charter fl ights. The function, held on a virtual “These 141 new cases include dia of “unfair and discriminatory many, India-UK.” It added that “fi - The Indian ministry said US, platform, saw the participation 79 who came from abroad, and 52 practices.” nal decisions pursuant to negotia- French and German authorities and of UN Secretary-General Antonio returnees from within the country. The ministry said in a statement tions are expected to be taken soon.” others had sought permission for their Guterres and other top offi cials Nine are local people and one posted on Twitter that as “we move The US government said Air In- carriers to participate “in the trans- who applauded all leaders which health professional. The total pos- from controlled and managed avia- dia has been operating what it calls portation of passengers along the lines included state Health Minister K itive cases now are 1,620,” Vijayan tion evacuation of our citizens in “repatriation” charter fl ights be- being conducted by Air India.” K Shailaja for eff ectively tackling said. diff erent parts of the world and tween India and the United States The ministry noted the Air India the disease. He said 150,196 people were foreign nationals from India, we are in both directions since May 7. fl ights are “increasingly carry- Speaking on the occasion, under observation at home, co- now looking at the possibility of es- Air India is advertising fl ights ing Indians and citizens of other Shailaja noted that the experienc- rona care centres and in hospitals tablishing bilateral arrangements.” “that would constitute a rate of countries outbound to countries es of tackling Nipah virus and two in Kerala. The US Transportation De- 53% of the scheduled services it where they are normally resident.” fl oods in 2018 and 2019, where the “By now, 1.92 lakh corona sam- partment issued an order on operated before the onset of the Airlines for America, a group rep- health sector played a crucial role, ples have been tested by various Monday requiring Indian air current public health emergency,” resenting major US carriers includ- all helped in tackling Covid-19 methods and more testing will carriers to apply for authorisa- the department said. ing Delta Air Lines, United Airlines timely. be done. Till date, 3,451 positive tion prior to conducting charter “The charters go beyond true and American Airlines, said in a “Right from the time when cases are registered in the state,” fl ights beginning in 30 days. repatriations, and it appears that statement it supported “the Depart- Covid cases got reported in Wu- he added. The department sought “to re- Air India may be using repatriation ment of Transportation’s actions to han, Kerala got into the track of the The chief minister said if peo- store a level playing fi eld for US charters as a way of circumventing ensure US airlines have a fair and WHO and followed every standard ple failed to adhere to Covid-19 airlines” under the US-India Air the GoI-imposed prohibition of equal opportunity to compete in the A dentist and his assistant wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) operating protocols and interna- norms, strict lockdown measures Transport Agreement. scheduled services,” the depart- US-Indian market.” attend to a patient at a private dental care clinic in Bengaluru yesterday. tional norms and hence, we have will have to be made. Gulf Times 14 Wednesday, June 24, 2020 INDIA

INVESTIGATION MISAPPROPRIATION POLITICS BREAKTHROUGH ALLEGATION Congress demands CBI CBI issues summons Congress: No talks on Criminal held after ED raids 6 locations probe into actor’s death to Manipur’s ex-CM making Rahul party chief brief exchange of fire of Delhi riots accused

Various political parties and organisations in The Central Bureau of Investigation has issued The Congress has denied that there was any The New Delhi police yesterday claimed to have Almost 20 days after police named suspended Bihar have demanded an investigation into the a summons to Congress leader and former discussion on elevating Rahul Gandhi as party arrested a 36-year-old criminal, booked under Aam Aadmi Party leader Tahir Hussain in the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Manipur chief minister O Ibobi Singh to question president again in the working committee the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act Delhi riots case, the Enforcement Directorate The Congress yesterday wrote to Home Minister him today in connection with a Rs332 crore meeting held yesterday. “This is a sentiment of (MCOCA), after a brief exchange of fire. He was yesterday carried out searches at six locations Amit Shah and Maharashtra Chief Minister alleged misappropriation case. A CBI team each Congress worker but today the discussion identified as Rashid, a resident of Khajuri Khas in in connection with its probe in a money Uddhav Thackeray, demanding a Central Bureau has reached Imphal to question Singh who is was on issues before the nation like the Chinese the national capital. He was involved in over 25 laundering case against him. “Multiple teams of Investigation (CBI) probe. Lalan Kumar, former accused of amassing wealth between 2009 and transgression, fuel price hike and extreme cases of snatching, robbery, attempt to murder of the agency are carrying out searches at six Bihar Youth Congress chairman and member 2017 when he was the chairman of the Manipur conditions due to the pandemic,” party spokesman and under the Arms Act. According to the police, locations in the National Capital Region (NCR) of the Film Censor Board Advisory Committee, Development Society, an off icial said. The CBI Randeep Surjewala said. Congress general secretary Rashid was to visit Loni in Ghaziabad via Pusta related to Hussain,” an ED source said. The said in the letters that Rajput made his mark in will also examine another accused linked to the K C Venugopal said, “No such discussion took place.” road in Gandhi Nagar. A police team reached ED action comes almost three weeks after it Bollywood in a very short span but coming from case, they said. The agency took over the case However, sources say Rajasthan Chief Minister Pusta road and started checking suspicious registered a case of money laundering against a small town, he made a section of the film world on November 20 last year on the request of the Ashok Gehlot said in the meeting that Gandhi vehicles and people near the Geeta Colony Hussain, who is in judicial custody. The agency unhappy. Quoting media reports, he said Rajput state’s Bharatiya Janata Party government and must become the party chief. Gandhi quit the post flyover. When Rashid was asked to stop he had registered the case against Hussain for was abetted in committing suicide. He warned after the permission of the central government. after the party was decimated in the 2019 general opened fire at the police team which retaliated. money laundering and funding of riots in Delhi. that till Rajput gets justice, the films of actor It is alleged that Singh conspired with others election and last August Sonia Gandhi was made In the exchange of fire he sustained a bullet The ED is probing the funding and source of Salman Khan and producer-director Karan Johar and misappropriated government funds worth interim president. At that time he had blamed senior injury on his right leg below knee, said Amit income which Hussain allegedly received for will also not be allowed to be screened in Bihar. approximately Rs332 crore out of Rs518 crore. leaders for not working in tandem with him. Sharma, deputy commissioner of police. ‘inciting’ violence in Delhi.

India, Pakistan to expel half of embassy staff India and China in tit-for-tat spying row agree to reduce Reuters and AFP New Delhi

ndia said yesterday it would expel half the staff in Paki- tensions after Istan’s embassy in New Delhi over alleged spying by offi cials there, prompting Islamabad to say it would respond in kind. Relations between the nucle- ar-armed rivals are strained and border standoff tit-for-tat expulsions of diplo- mats, often on charges of espio- Agencies trol (LAC) or the de facto border, a long-held protocol to avoid nage, are common. New Delhi high in the western Himalayas. using fi rearms on the sensitive, Neither country has a perma- An Indian army source said high altitude frontier. nent ambassador in place and in that after the meeting, there was In India there have been grow- the last month each country has hina and India have a “mutual consensus to disen- ing calls for a boycott of Chinese accused the other of illegally de- agreed to reduce tensions gage”. goods. taining and torturing its diplomats. Ca week after their deadli- He added that ways to reduce The clashes followed an earlier “They (Pakistan) have been est clashes in over 50 years on frictions in the Ladakh region agreement to disengage struck in engaged in acts of espionage and the disputed Himalayan border opposite Tibet “were discussed early June after weeks of rising maintained dealings with terrorist left 20 Indian troops dead in and will be taken forward by tensions on the border, known as organisations,” the Indian foreign brutal hand-to-hand fi ghting. both the sides”. the Line of Actual Control, that ministry said in a statement. The June 15 battle, report- The meeting came ahead of included several brawls. In response, Pakistan’s foreign edly fought with fi sts, clubs and virtual talks between the foreign The June 15 violence took ministry said its staff had acted rocks, was the fi rst time troops ministers of India, China and place around 4,500m above sea lawfully, and that it would expel have been killed on their frontier Russia, ostensibly to discuss the level in the Galwan Valley, where half of India’s embassy in Islam- since 1975 and marked a major coronavirus and commemorate both sides accuse each other of abad “as a reciprocal measure”. deterioration in ties between the the end of World War II. encroaching on their respective India earlier said it intended to two Asian giants. While Indian Foreign Minis- territory. voluntarily cut staff at its embassy Chinese foreign ministry ter S Jaishankar made no direct China is claiming all of the valley in Islamabad by the same amount. spokesman Zhao Lijian said that mention of the clashes in his as its own, which Indian analysts Both countries said the af- after talks between the top re- opening remarks, Russia’s Sergei and offi cials say is a new demand. fected offi cials had been asked to gional military commanders on Lavrov said that Moscow saw no Indian government offi cials leave within a week. Monday, both sides “agreed to need to mediate between the two say Chinese troops had intruded The latest round of hostility take necessary measures to pro- countries. into India’s side of the poorly began when India expelled two mote a cooling of the situation”. “I don’t think China or India defi ned LAC at three or four lo- Pakistani diplomats on May 31, The Press Trust of India said need any help whatsoever,” La- cations in India’s Ladakh region, after they were held for alleged the meeting was between Lieu- vrov said. which leads on to the Aksai Chin spying, claims Islamabad said tenant General Harinder Singh, Russia is a major supplier of plateau controlled by China but were “baseless”. commander of the 14 Corps, and arms to both countries. claimed by India. After that happened, New Major General Liu Lin, com- The Times of India reported Aside from the Galwan Valley, Delhi accused Islamabad of tor- mander of the Tibet Military that Indian Defence Minister parts of which overlooks a stra- turing two Indian diplomats ar- District. Rajnath Singh, in Moscow this tegically important road, Indian rested following an alleged hit- “The holding of this meet- week, would press Russia to and Chinese troops have also and-run in the Pakistani capital. ing shows that both sides want fast-track delivery of its S-400 been facing off across the Pan- The men returned to India on to deal with their disagreement, missile defence system as well as gong Lake – a fi nger of water ex- Monday, where they “provided manage the situation and de-es- spares for fi ghter planes, tanks tending from China’s Tibet Au- graphic details of the treatment calate the situation through dia- and submarines. tonomous Region into Ladakh. that they experienced”, the for- logue and consultations,” Zhao China has said it suff ered cas- “Modalities for disengage- eign ministry claimed. told a regular news conference. ualties but has not given more ment from all friction areas in “The behaviour of Pakistan The two sides “exchanged details. Eastern Ladakh were discussed and its offi cials is not in con- frank and in-depth views” and Indian media reports suggest- and will be taken forward by formity with the Vienna Con- “agreed to maintain dialogue ed more than 40 Chinese soldiers both the sides,” the Indian gov- vention and bilateral agreements and jointly committed to pro- were killed or seriously injured. ernment source said. on the treatment of diplomatic moting peace and tranquillity in India has since sent huge rein- In previous rounds of talks, and consular offi cials,” the min- the border areas”, Zhao added. forcements of soldiers, military China had asked India to stop istry said in a statement. “There was a mutual consen- equipment and fi ghter jets into all construction work in what it “Therefore, the government sus to disengage,” an Indian gov- the already highly militarised says is Chinese territory. of India has taken the decision to ernment source said, comment- region. For its part, India has been reduce the staff strength in the Indian soldiers walk at the foothills of a mountain range near Leh, the capital of Ladakh yesterday. Indian ing on the outcome of a parley China is reportedly following pushing China to withdraw its Pakistan High Commission in and Chinese military commanders during their meeting discussed ways to reduce frictions in the Ladakh on Monday that lasted almost 11 suit. troops back to where they were New Delhi by 50%.” region opposite Tibet. hours at the Line of Actual Con- But both sides have observed in April. 72% trust PM on matters of Puri holds chariot festival national security: survey amid coronavirus outbreak Agencies numbers of temple workers and Bhubaneswar offi cials around the huge colour- IANS education levels as well as caste Modi’s ability to handle the fully decorated chariots. New Delhi and ethnic identities. situation include people with Most of them, including the The survey comes amid bor- higher education, Muslims, ndia’s largest chariot festival musicians, wore masks but so- der tensions between India Sikhs and young population began in the coastal town of cial distancing was not evident. mid border tensions be- and China which took a violent between the ages of 25 and 45 IPuri in Odisha without the Barricades around the chari- tween India and China, turn last week when troops years. usual throng of tens of thou- ots and along the route were be- Aa survey revealed that of the two nations clashed Gandhi derives most trust sands of devotees amid corona- ing manned by police. more than 70% of people across in Galwan Valley in Ladakh, from the Muslim community virus concerns. The Rath Yatra The Odisha state government’s the country trust Prime Minis- leading to the death of 20 In- as 43.9% of them trust him to a (chariot trip) festival sees huge, public relations department lives- ter Narendra Modi on matters of dian soldiers, including a com- great extent while 39.3% trust colourful chariots wheeled to a treamed the event for devotees. national security. manding officer. him to some extent. temple about 2.5km away. Meanwhile, Gujarat Chief According to the latest IANS Following the clashed, the Only 16% from the commu- The Supreme Court fi rst an- Minister Vijay Rupani said the CVoter Snap Poll, 72.6% have prime minister asserted that the nity do not trust Gandhi at all. nounced a ban on the festival state government has requested faith in handling of the situation issue of India’s sovereignty was Almost 90% Christians and citing coronavirus concerns but the advocate general (AG) to by the prime minister to a “great supreme. 71% Sikhs do not trust Gandhi, later modifi ed its ruling saying the seek permission from the Gu- extent”, 16.2% have confi dence Modi also said that the sol- said the survey. festival could be held with restric- jarat High Court to allow the to “some extent”, while 11.2% diers “taught a lesson” to those Meanwhile, Gandhi yesterday tions including a curfew in Puri Ahmedabad RathYatra to pass. people have no trust at all. eyeing Indian territory. accused Modi of destroying In- during the two-week festival. “The Yatra has over a century However, only about 39% The survey revealed that peo- dia’s position and betraying the “All movement in the town old tradition and looking at the people trust Congress leader ple above the age of 60, those Indian army by admitting that is restricted from 6am to 9pm. traditional procession, we have Rahul Gandhi on national se- with lower education, higher in- China did not occupy Indian The entire area around the tem- asked the Advocate General, curity. come and male population have land. ple and the route has been sani- Kamal Trivedi, to seek permis- Only 14.4% people said that massive trust on the prime min- The former Congress presi- tised,” Puri district magistrate sion from the Gujarat High Court they trust Gandhi to a great ex- ister on the matter of the coun- dent once again launched a Balwant Singh said. to allow the Ahmedabad Rath tent, while 24.3% said they trust try’s security. scathing attack on the govern- “Only those authorised are Yatra on the lines similar to the him to some extent. It further brought to the fore ment over the India-China bor- participating in the rituals and Supreme Court’s modifi ed order As many as 61.3% said they do that 82.6% of National Demo- der faceoff . chariot-pulling. They will all on Odisha Jagannath Puri Yatra. not trust him at all on the issue cratic Alliance (NDA) vot- He said that China cannot be wear masks and practise social The state government will abide of national security. ers have faith in their elected permitted to get away with this distancing. No devotees will be by all the restrictions the Gujarat Trust in Modi was visible leader. “unacceptable usurpation” of Women dance as they arrive to attend the annual Rath Yatra in allowed along the route.” High Court will impose, to allow across geographies, income and Those who have no faith in India’s land. Ahmedabad yesterday. Video footage showed large the procession to be carried out.” Gulf Times Wednesday, June 24, 2020 15 LATIN AMERICA Peru indigenous leaders seek quick Amazon protection vote

Reuters devastate remote communities, in these territories,” Jorge Perez, as critical to the wider Amazon that Congress could vote as early try emerges from the most acute contracts into doubt. Lima Congress is considering whether president of the Regional Or- ecosystem, which scientists warn as tomorrow. phase of the pandemic. “We are asking Congress to to fast track a bill which would ganisation of Indigenous Peoples is approaching catastrophic tip- But Lesly Lazo, president of Peru’s oil industry — includ- please debate the issue and un- restrict access to a string of in- of the Amazon, told Reuters in a ping points due to climate change the Congressional justice com- ing state-owned fi rm Petroperu derstand that this is not solved by eru’s indigenous leaders digenous territories near the bor- statement. and accelerating deforestation in mission, cast doubt on whether — has warned lawmakers against withdrawing private investment, have been lobbying law- der with Ecuador and Brazil. “This reform will guarantee Brazil. the bill would pass this week passing the amendment, which because then we all lose: the Pmakers to pass a bill to de- Advocates say the legislation, the lives and human rights of the While President Martin Viz- since her commission may de- would close loopholes in a frame- country loses, the regions lose,” clare swathes of virgin Amazon designed to protect these areas uncontacted peoples,” Perez said, carra’s centrist government op- cide to subject it to further re- work adopted in 2006 to protect Cantuarias told Reuters. rainforest off limits to outsiders, from exploitation by oil and gas, referring to an estimated 7,000 poses the proposed law, politi- view. indigenous peoples from com- Supporters of the bill, includ- but they fear opposition by the mining and logging companies, people in some 20 groups in the cal analysts and legislators say “I do not think there is a rush,” mercial interest encroachment. ing Congressman Lenin Bazan, oil industry may scupper a rare would also help protect indig- Peruvian Amazon who have very Peru’s fragmented Congress has said Lazo, who belongs to the Felipe Cantuarias, president who belongs to the left-leaning opportunity to secure a vote this enous communities from the vi- little or no interaction with the a populist hue after January elec- centrist Popular Action party. of the Peruvian Hydrocarbon Frente Amplio party, have pushed week. rus. outside world. tions and could pass the bill. Indigenous leaders fear the Society industry lobby group, back, saying the current draft bill With concerns growing that “Until now, high risk extrac- Preserving indigenous territo- Indigenous leaders met with momentum to pass the bill said the bill would disrupt pro- would not threaten existing oil the coronavirus pandemic could tive activities have been allowed ries in Peru and Ecuador is seen Vizcarra on Friday in anticipation quickly may fade as the coun- duction and throw exploration and gas agreements. Maduro ‘prepared’ Brazil losing a to talk to Trump generation of

AFP/Reuters Caracas

enezuela President Nico- indigenous las Maduro said he is V“prepared” to talk to US counterpart Donald Trump, who earlier claimed he was open to meeting the socialist leader to discuss his exit from power. leaders to virus “When the time comes I’m prepared to speak respectfully Guardian News and Media co-ordinator, Dinamam Afer. neglect in protecting indigenous with President Donald Trump,” Brasilia Indigenous leaders such as people from the pandemic. Maduro told the state news Afer say the government of Celebrated indigenous leader agency AVN. the far-right President, Jair Raoni said Bolsonaro was “taking Trump said he “would maybe hen Bep Karoti Xikrin Bolsonaro,is failing to protect the advantage” of the coronavirus to think about” meeting Maduro fell ill with Covid-19, country’s 900,000 indigenous eliminate indigenous people. in an interview with Axios pub- Whe refused to go to a people – many of whom live in The government’s indigenous lished on Sunday, but he changed hospital. small communities, where doz- health service, Sesai, said it had track in a tweet on Monday. The 64-year-old chief of a ens often share the same house. sent 600,000 items of personal “My administration has al- Xikrin indigenous village in Bra- Afer said Brazil’s Funai indig- protection equipment and spent ways stood on the side of FREE- zil’s Amazon was plagued by enous agency has taken too long £11mn fi ghting Covid-19. DOM and LIBERTY and against headaches and fatigue and strug- to send emergency food kits to On Tuesday the Brazilian con- the oppressive Maduro regime! I gled for breath. people isolating in their villages, gress approved a law aiming to would only meet with Maduro to But according to his daughter forcing them to risk infection by guarantee emergency help for discuss one thing: a peaceful exit Bekuoi Raquel, he was afraid that travelling to nearby towns for indigenous people that needs from power!” said Trump. if he were admitted to hospital he emergency government pay- presidential approval. Maduro made no specifi c might never return. ments. A fi fth of Brazil’s indigenous mention of Trump’s quotes but Instead, he died in his village – Funai said it had delivered people live in the enormous said that “in the same way I and with him, was lost decades of 82,000 basic food kits and state of Amazonas, whose capi- spoke with (Joe) Biden, I could knowledge and leadership. 43,000 hygiene kits. tal, Manaus, was recently over- speak with Trump.” “He knew so much about Some leaders even blame whelmed by the virus – but has Democratic nominee Biden is things we haven’t even experi- government health workers for the only intensive care beds in running against Trump for pres- enced,” said Bekuoi, 21. “Every- bringing the virus. the state. ident in November’s US elec- one admired him. He was very Katia Silene Akratikateje, 51, Edney Samias, 38, a chief of tions. loved.” a chief from the Gaviao tribe in the Kokama people in the Ama- Maduro met Biden in 2015 As Brazil’s confi rmed overall Para state, believes she caught zon region of Alto Solimoes, when the latter was vice-presi- death toll from Covid-19 passes Covid-19 after a government 1,000km from Manaus, said that dent to Barack Obama. 50,000, the virus is scything health team visited their village Covid-19 has killed 57 people in Washington has been one of through the country’s indige- to give fl u vaccines. his tribe – including his own fa- the chief allies to Venezuela’s nous communities, killing chiefs, “Everyone got sick from there ther. opposition leader Juan Guaido elders and traditional healers on,” she said. Guilherme Samaias, 64, is but that support has waned as – and raising fears that along- In Brazil’s biggest reserve – the thought to have contracted the the National Assembly presi- side the toll of human lives, the Yanomami – four people have disease when he travelled to a dent’s challenge to Maduro’s au- pandemic may infl ict irrepara- died from Covid-19, and 98 cases nearby town to collect an emer- thority has lost impetus. ble damage on tribal knowledge of coronavirus have been de- gency aid payment. When he Guaido caused a stir 18 of history, culture and natural tected. became ill, he was promised a months ago declaring himself medicine. The tribe has previously been medical airlift to Manaus, but acting president after the op- The Munduruku people alone decimated by epidemics of mea- it never materialised, Samias position-controlled parliament have lost 10 sábios, or wise ones. sles and fl u, and many now fear said. decreed Maduro a usurper over “We always say they are living the coronavirus is being spread Kokama people who fall sick his 2018 re-election in a poll libraries,” said Alessandra Mun- by 20,000 wildcat miners – or now stay in their villages, self- widely viewed as rigged. duruku, a tribal leader. “It’s been garimpeiros – who are overrun- medicating with a tea made of The US was one of the fi rst of very painful.” ning the reserve. Amazon plants, lime, ginger, more than 50 countries to rec- The victims include promi- “The garimpeiros are like mea- garlic – and aspirin. “Mixing our ognise his claims and the Trump nent fi gures such as Paulinho sles, they don’t want to leave,” medicine with the white man’s administration ramped up sanc- Paiakan, a Kayapo leader who Dario Kopenawa, vice-president medicine,” Samias said. tions on Maduro and his inner fought alongside rock star Sting of its Hutukara Yanomami Asso- Funai has delivered some food circle in an eff ort to starve him against the Belo Monte dam. ciation, told the UOL site. supplies, but Samias said that the of revenue and force his resigna- The indigenous organisa- His father, indigenous leader aid kits are only available to in- tion. tion Apib has logged at least Davi Kopenawa, is with one of digenous people who live on offi - After initially drawing huge 294 Covid-19 deaths, and 5,613 several Yanomami groups self- cially demarcated reserves – and crowds in anti-Maduro rallies, coronavirus cases across 103 isolating deep in the forest. are too small for large families. Guaido’s star has dimmed over Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro wears a protective face mask during a meeting in Caracas, communities. “We are facing ex- On June 5, federal prosecutors “The whole tribe is hungry,” he the last year. Venezuela. termination,” said its executive warned of federal government said. Quake rattles Mexico Brazil president told 15 killed in attack to wear mask by court

Reuters federal district,” said judge Bore- on Mexican village Brasilia lli. The decision also applies to Bolsonaro’s cabinet and staff . federal judge in Brazil The case was brought by a Reuters people with the support of a sus- without giving more details. ordered President Jair lawyer who said the president Mexico City pected local crime boss. The attackers tortured and ABolsonaro to wear a face should be held to account for his In a separate statement, Oax- burned alive a number of their mask in public, after the far- “irresponsible behaviour.” aca state prosecutors said in- victims, the municipal govern- right leader repeatedly fl outed Masks have been mandatory ssailants killed 15 inhabit- vestigations are underway into ment said. the coronavirus containment in public in Brasilia since April to ants of an indigenous vil- what sparked the violence in Photos of some of the victims’ measures in place in Brasilia. curb the spread of the virus. Alage in southern Mexico Huazantlan del Rio, a local vil- partly burned corpses were pub- Judge Renato Borelli ordered Bolsonaro regularly breaks the that has been plagued by local lage of Ikoots indigenous ori- lished on social media. Bolsonaro, who has famously social distancing measures in disputes, authorities said, in gin. One of the dead men appeared compared the new coronavirus place in the capital, giving hand- one of the most brutal attacks to Offi cials are still investigating to have been beaten with bricks. to a “little fl u,” to stop ignoring shakes and hugs at rallies by his shake the countryside in recent whether the attackers had guns. A state offi cial said the photos the capital city’s mask decree, or supporters, hosting barbecues, years. The two women killed had were genuine. face a fi ne of 2,000 reals ($390). hitting the shooting range and State prosecutors in the been protesting against abuses No arrests have yet been made, “The president has a con- going out for hotdogs, generally state of Oaxaca said the bod- by one of the suspected attack- the offi cial added. stitutional obligation to follow without a mask. ies of 13 men and two women ers, who described himself as a San Mateo del Mar lies on a the laws in force in the country, His former education minister were identified as victims of representative of Huazantlan del coastal spit, and the area has suf- as well as to promote the gen- Abraham Weintraub was fi ned the attacks over Sunday night Rio, the municipal government fered from territorial disputes eral welfare of the people, which 2,000 reals last week for attend- and Monday morning in the said. and confl ict over rights of way means taking the necessary ing a pro-Bolsonaro rally in Bra- municipality of San Mateo del The confl ict stemmed from for many years, according to the measures to protect citizens’ silia without a mask. Mar, east of the Pacific port of roadblocks organised in recent state offi cial. right to health,” the judge wrote Brazil has the second-highest Salina Cruz. weeks by people claiming to The area around the isthmus People gather on the streets in Mexico City following a quake in his ruling. Covid-19 death toll in the world, The San Mateo del Mar mu- represent Huazantlan del Rio of Tehuantepec has also become yesterday amid the Covid-19 pandemic. A 7.1 magnitude The refusal of the president after the United States, at more nicipal government said in a authorities who wanted to stir known in recent years for land quake was registered in the south of Mexico, according to the to wear a mask “shows a clear than 51,000. More than 1mn statement that the attack was or- up trouble for their own ends, disputes over infrastructure Mexican National Seismological Service. intention to break the rules im- people have been infected with chestrated by at least six armed the municipal government said, projects. posed by the government of the the virus. Gulf Times 16 Wednesday, June 24, 2020 PAKISTAN 549 lockdowns PM: Complete lockdown imposed across country: minister still not the solution Internews sprawling over vast area. Islamabad The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Internews (KP) chief secretary informed Islamabad the forum that there was no ad- he Minister for Planning, ministrative challenge faced yet Development and Special in imposing smart lockdown. s the death toll of Cov- TInitiatives, Asad Umar, The Sindh chief secretary told id-19 patients crossed the has said that as many as 549 the forum that the notifi cation A3,600 mark in Pakistan, lockdowns were imposed across issued for barring the corpo- Prime Minister Imran Khan reit- the country. rate sector to take any punitive erated that lockdown was not the While the aim of targeted action against the employees solution to the pandemic, saying lockdowns was to isolate maxi- residing in smart lockdown re- that if provinces had consulted mum Covid-infected cases in- stricted areas for not attending him earlier there would have stead of merely restricting huge to offi ces. been no “strict” lockdown in the number of population, he said. He added that the compli- fi rst place. The meeting of the Nation- ance of the notifi cation was also The prime minister said this al Command and Operation ensured. while addressing a launching Center (NCOC), held under the The chief secretary also high- ceremony of three initiatives chairmanship of Asad Umar, lighted the suggestion under - all aimed at facilitating and discussed the situational brief. consideration to expand smart empowering welfare organisa- Forum under took compre- lockdown to further hotspot tions and enabling them to play hensive stock was on targeted areas. a more coordinated role with the lockdown by provincial chief The Balochistan chief sec- government in responding to the secretaries, need assessment retary informed the forum that Covid-19 situation. of oxygen, Epi Curve data and the strategy and deployment “The lockdown has created update on Resource Manage- plan for smart lockdown was an unprecedented situation. If ment System (RMS) and Pak prepared. provinces had consulted me, I Nigheban App. Under the strategy, he noted would have not allowed a lock- Speaking on the occasion, that only one individual would down. Panic was created that Umar said the aim of targeted be allowed to visit outdoors the virus will spread the way it lockdown was to isolate maxi- for necessary administrative had in Europe and Wuhan. Our mum Covid-infected cases in- arrangements. circumstances are diff erent, but stead of merely restricting huge The Azad Jammu and Kashmir a strict lockdown was imposed number of population. (AJK) chief secretary informed regardless,” he regretted. He also observed that there the forum that four districts He said the Covid-19 situa- was a positive diff erence seen in were under complete lockdown. tion in Pakistan was still bet- the urban areas with maximum Chief Secretary Gilgit- ter than neighbouring India, US compliance of wearing masks in Baltistan mentioned that the and European countries because public places. decentralisation strategy was the government had timely People cross a shuttered market which was closed by authorities in Rawalpindi yesterday, after the Covid-19 coronavirus cases continue to rise. Additional chief secretary successful as the deputy com- launched Ehsaas cash distribu- Punjab briefed the forum that missioners in their relevant dis- tion programme for poor fami- en cash under the PM’s Fund,” qan Ahmed Sayed from Pepsi Co, donate cumulatively 12mn meals In a separate meeting, the Lahore city had the largest tricts had effi ciently contained lies aff ected by the coronavirus he added. Mohamed Ali Tabba from Lucky to deserving benefi ciaries by prime minister directed offi cials number of positive corona cases the risk of coronavirus outbreak. (under which Rs12,000 stipend Talking about the govern- Cement, Atif Bajwa from Alfalah signing MoUs with Ehsaas. concerned to devise a Stand- for the past many days. He added that the recovery was given to 12mn families). ment’s future strategy in the Bank, Arif Usmani from NBP, The beta version of the Eh- ard Operating Procedure (SOP) He added the provincial cabi- rate was almost 70% as 865 af- “Next month is diffi cult in backdrop of Covid-19, the prime Bashir Farooqui from Saylani saas Langar and Panahgah apps, in consultation with provinces net committee was going to de- fected people were tested and which smart lockdowns will be minister said: “The govern- Welfare Trust and Quraish Me- which was unveiled during the to deal with Covid-19 situation vise the future course of action reported as recovered out of imposed and SOPs will be strict- ment’s next year challenge is how hmood from Urban Properties meeting, enables geographic lo- during forthcoming Eid al-Adha. keeping in view the new hotspots total 1,288 cases. ly followed to save our aged and to continue businesses and en- were also present. cations of welfare organisations The prime minister said this those vulnerable people who are force SOPs (Standard Operating The prime minister assured to be mapped when they are pho- year Eid al-Adha was being ob- already suff ering from ailments Procedures).” donors of fair utilisation of do- tographed through the app. served under diffi cult circum- Highest Covid-19 deaths in Punjab like heart diseases, diabetes and “For this we are going to nations and said: “Transparency During the briefi ng, the prime stances. “The present situation high blood pressure,” the prime launch a media campaign and is most critical in the use of do- minister also offi cially an- requires that SOPs should be de- With 1,495 deaths reported so and Gujrat 1,776. The province minister said. will mobilise Tiger Force to pro- nor funds; we are ensuing that nounced the launch of “PM’s vised immediately and they must far, Punjab has recorded the also reported 60 deaths. The “If we are able to save these vide awareness about SOPs spe- there is visibility of every penny Covid-19 Pandemic Relief Fund be implemented strictly in the highest number of deaths due to death toll has climbed to 1,495. vulnerable people, there will be cially in hotspots,” he added. donated through the PM’s Covid -2020 Web-Portal” to solicit country,” he added. coronavirus. So far, the province has tested less eff ect of coronavirus in the Earlier, Special Assistant to Fund Portal.” philanthropic donations. According to an offi cial press On Monday, the province 433,000 people. country,” he added. the PM on Poverty Alleviation Dr He said new Langar and Pan- Through this portal, all do- release, the prime minister ex- reported 1,365 new cases taking Provincial spokesperson The prime minister revealed Sania Nishtar briefed the prime ahgah Apps would help ensure nors, international as well as do- pressed satisfaction over avail- total cases tally to 68,308. Musarrat Cheema took to Twitter that under PM’s Covid-19 Fund, minister about three initiatives. much needed critical coordina- mestic, can now remit or deposit ability of beds and oxygen in the Lahore reported 33,946 cases, and said that Punjab’s testing more than 16mn families would Federal Minister for Information, tion of welfare activities in the their donations through their re- hospitals. Nankana Sahib 261, Kasur 504, capacity stands at 12,000 now. be provided monetary assist- Shibli Faraz and SAPM Asim Ba- country. spective banks through this por- He said keeping in view of in- Shiekhupura 894, Rawalpindi Pakistan’s cases soar to 181,088, ance. “Those who had not been jwa were preset during the brief- Several donors, including tal. Till today, as many as pledges ternational experience, it had 5,554 and Jhelum reported 307 death toll reaches 3,590. covered under Ehsaas cash pro- ing. Pepsi Co, Lucky Cement, Bank worth Rs4.5bn have been made been witnessed that positive re- cases. While, Attock recorded “Some 19,580 patients have also gramme, like workers and daily Federal secretaries and heads Alfalah and Saylani Welfare In- by several domestic and foreign sults were coming due to strategy 272, Chakwal 79, Gujranwala recovered from the virus,” she wage earners, they will be giv- of organisations, including Fur- ternational Trust committed to donors in either kind or cash. adopted by the government. 2,447, Sialkot 1,827, Narowal 168, said. Emergency Over 323 Covid patients die in self-isolation

Internews them were either asymptomatic try, including Punjab, KP, Ba- hours [between June 21 and 22], tween 50 and 70 years with co- Islamabad or with mild symptoms. When lochistan, Islamabad, Gilgit- 83 died at hospitals, of whom morbidities were three times meeting to the authorities checked about Baltistan and Azad Kashmir. 64 were on ventilators. Of them, more likely to die due to Cov- their well-being on phone, their According to the authorities, 67% or 60 were men. Those id-19 in Pakistan as compared to ore than 300 Covid-19 families reported them dead,” of the 3,590 deaths in Pakistan who died in this period were be- women, adding that around 75% patients have passed said an offi cial of the National due to the novel coronavirus, tween 30 and 92 years old and of the deaths occurred in the age Maway in their homes Health Services, Regulations and 2,589 were men who constituted 66 per cent of them had comor- group of 51 years and above in the discuss Haj during self-isolation over the Coordination (NHSR and C). 72% of the total deaths, which bidities or underlying health country. past three months, said federal The health authorities ex- suggests that men are more conditions,” the offi cial added. “Around 76% of the total con- health authorities. plained that of the 3,590 Cov- prone to contract the disease So far, 53 healthcare provid- fi rmed cases are in the age group According to the authorities, id-19 victims in Pakistan, 3,267 compared to women as the mor- ers have lost their lives in the of up to 50 years but fortunately of the 89 Covid-19 patients who died at various hospitals. They tality among the male Covid-19 country, including 37 doctors, but only 25% of the 3,590 Cov- decision died during 24 hours between added that despite all the prob- patients is around three times one medical student, two nurses id-19 deaths occurred in this age June 21 and 22, at least six pa- lems, the case fatality rate (CFR) higher compared to the female and 10 paramedics while the de- group. We have 1,051 deaths in tients lost their lives at their of Covid-19 in Pakistan has patients. tails of the remaining three have the age group of 51-60 years fol- Internews registered to perform Haj this homes, including four in Sindh been 1.98% compared to 5.20% “At the same time, 72% of all been sought from Punjab, an lowed by 992 deaths in the age Islamabad year, including 107,526 un- and one each in Punjab and globally. the deceased had chronic co- offi cial said. group of 61-70 years,” the offi cial der the government scheme Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Among those patients who morbidities such as diabetes, “We have lost two doctors added. and 71,684 under the private “So far, 3,590 people have lost fell prey to viral disease at their hypertension, cardiovascular during the last 24 hours, in- Sharing the gender-wise data n emergency meet- scheme. their lives due to Covid-19 in Pa- homes, 182 belonged to Sindh, diseases, renal issues, asth- cluding one from District Suja- of deaths, the offi cial said that a ing of the Ministry of The Saudi government said kistan, of whom 323 or 9% died which is the highest number of ma and other chronic medical wal in Sindh and the other from total of 2,589 men, 1,000 women AReligious Aff airs has it will bar arrivals from abroad at homes. These were the people deaths in home isolation. illnesses,” an offi cial said. District Sahiwal in Punjab,” the and one transgender person had been convened to review the to attend the Haj this year due who were staying at homes after A total of 141 people died at “Of the 89 people who died offi cial added. so far lost their lives due to the latest situation arising after to the coronavirus, allowing testing positive. A majority of home in the rest of the coun- [of Covid-19] during the last 24 Offi cials said that men be- viral illness in Pakistan. Saudi Arabia’s announcement only a limited number of Saudi to hold the Haj 2020 with “a citizens and residents to make very limited number” of pil- the pilgrimage with social dis- grims residing in the coun- tancing measures enforced. try, a spokesperson for the The announcement means ministry said yesterday. this will be the fi rst year in Migratory birds fl ock to The Ministry of Religious modern times that Muslims Aff airs and Interfaith Har- from around the world have mony’s spokesperson, Imran not been allowed to make the wetlands as lockdown Siddiqui, issued a statement, annual pilgrimage to Makkah, saying Saudi Arabia’s Minis- which all Muslims aim to per- ter for Haj and Umrah Dr Mo- form at least once in a lifetime. keeps poachers at bay hamed Saleh bin Taher Benten “This decision is taken to telephoned his Pakistani ensure Haj is performed in counterpart Pir Noor-ul-Haq a safe manner from a pub- Reuters observed 741,042 migratory Qadri to inform him about the lic health perspective while Karachi birds in Sindh province - a big decision. observing all preventative jump from the 248,105 birds “An emergency meet- measures and the necessary counted in 2019, said Sindh ing has been called to review social distancing protocols to igratory birds have Wildlife Department’s provin- the latest development dur- protect human beings from fl ocked to the wetlands cial conservator, Javed Ahmed ing which the mechanism the risks associated with this Mof Pakistan’s south- Mahar. for the return of payments pandemic and in accordance ern province of Sindh in greater Each year, approximately 40% to those who had registered with the teachings of Islam numbers this year, and offi cials of Sindh’s wetlands are surveyed themselves for the govern- in preserving the lives of hu- and observers link the increase to to gain insight into the migratory A flock of migratory birds is seen during sunset along Clifton Beach, as the spread of the coronavirus ment’s Haj scheme would be man beings,” the ministry that coronavirus lockdown measures patterns and numbers of birds. disease (Covid-19) continues, in Karachi. discussed,” he said. oversees pilgrimages said in a that have kept hunters and bird Migratory birds, among them Pakistani envoy, diplomatic statement. catchers away. pelicans, mallards, cranes and “The birds have stayed longer ping, hunting or illegal trading in “The illegal trade in the do- offi cials and the Pakistan Haj Earlier this month, Malay- Pakistan, which has recorded waders, stop in Pakistan on their this year, maybe due to meagre the province since the lockdown mestic markets is no more,” he Directorate in the kingdom sia and Indonesia both barred over 185,000 cases and 3,696 way to and from Siberia. disturbances by humans due to the was imposed. said. would represent the country their citizens from travelling deaths related to the virus, lifted Veteran Pakistani wildlife lockdown everywhere,” he said. Hunting has been a problem in There are more than 33 wild- this year, he added. to Saudi Arabia for the pil- a month-long country-wide photographer Ahmer Ali Rizvi Mahar said that Sindh author- the area, threatening several rare life sanctuaries and one national According to a report, a grimage, citing fears of the lockdown last month. said coronavirus measures had ities had not recorded any wild- species, including the houbara park in Sindh, which is home to total 179,210 Pakistanis had coronavirus. A survey conducted this year helped the birds to settle in. life-related crimes such as trap- bustard. more than 300 bird species. Gulf Times Wednesday, June 24, 2020 17 PHILIPPINES

Physical distancing norms as modernised jeepneys hit the road

A modernised mini-bus, locally known as a “jeepney”, speeds past old jeepneys parked along a road in Manila, yesterday. The Philippine government has eased restrictions on the passenger jeepneys to help people commute to work after easing quarantine rules in the capital. Right: A conductor of the modernised mini-bus and wearing a face mask collects fares from passengers in Manila. Task force eyes easing Highest daily rise in restrictions on fl ights

By Ma RL Tolentino virus cases reported Manila Times

DPA Manila he Inter-Agency Task Force for the Manage- Tment of Emerging Infec- he Philippines yester- tious Diseases (IATF-EID) was day reported more than studying relaxing fl ight restric- T1,100 new coronavirus tions, Malacanang said. infections, the highest number In a briefi ng, Palace spokes- of cases reported within a day, man Harry Roque Jr said there bringing the national tally to were requests from embas- nearly 32,000. sies to fl y in foreign workers The death toll from Covid-19 involved in the government’s also rose to 1,186, with nine ad- fl agship projects. ditional deaths reported, ac- He added that the Bureau of cording to the Department of Customs and the Department Health. of Justice would determine is- The spike in reported infec- suing of visas not only to for- tions comes 100 days after the eigners working in fl agship government imposed a lock- projects, but to permanent res- File photo taken on March 26, 2020 shows a deserted Paranaque down on the country’s most idents like retirees and special Manila Terminal 2, after many international flights were halted due populous island of Luzon and investors as well. to the rising cases of Covid-19. in other high-risk areas in mid- “This afternoon, the IATF- March. EID meeting will continue; low provincial buses, there will The chairman of the Senate The department said that of they will present data in order really be cross-border move- Committee on Public Services the 1,150 new cases, 789 were re- that they can come up with a ments. said transportation offi cials cently confi rmed, while 361 were decision on whether we will I could see that maybe if that must ensure a safe travel amid considered “late cases,” meaning open our country to foreign- will be allowed, it would fi rst be the Covid-19 pandemic. they had been confi rmed previ- ers,” Roque said. in areas where [Covid-19] cases Poe earlier asked the gov- ously and only now added to the He refused to identify the are low,” he added. ernment to meet the demand tally. Commuters returning to work are stranded along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City in Metro Manila, embassies that made the re- He also explained why mod- for public transport without The additional cases brought due to lack of suff icient buses to head to various locations. quests, but acknowledged that ernised jeepneys were allowed compromising safety as Metro the country’s total to 31,825, it there was a sizeable number of to operate again in Metro Ma- Manila shifted to general com- added. where the number of reported foreigners contracted for big- nila ahead of traditional jeep- munity quarantine and more Health Undersecretary Maria coronavirus cases has been in- Palace admits flattening virus curve a challenge ticket construction projects. neys. workers returned to their jobs. Rosario Vergeire said the past creasing in recent weeks, Presi- Roque added that if a policy “Let me emphasise that the She said the government 100 days of restrictions have dent Rodrigo Duterte lamented Population density is making Filipinos will do everything were to be made, it must apply commuter remains the priority “must show it is on top of the given the country “enough time that people were slow to comply flattening the coronavirus they can in facing a challenge to all foreigners in the country of the government. situation” amid the pandemic. to prepare and capacitate its with the restrictions. curve a challenge, Malacanang especially if their lives and and not just to one nationality. If there are not enough buses “Clearly, the mass transpor- health system” to deal with Cov- “When everyone else stayed at said. those of their loved ones are Air travel to and from the and modernised jeepneys, we tation we have now does not id-19 cases. home under quarantine, in Cebu, Palace spokesman Harry at stake,” he added. Roque Philippines continues to be will allow jeepneys and UV meet the surge of people who “The best example that we can people still roamed around on Roque Jr said in a briefing acknowledged that the country limited because of strict quar- Express and even tricycles,” have come out of quarantine provide you (with) would be our their motorcycles,” he said in a there were many places in the was still far from achieving zero antine rules amid the corona- Roque said. to begin working again to feed testing laboratories,” she said. late-night televised address on country where physical dis- transmission. “It is heartening virus disease 2019 (Covid-19) Meanwhile, Sen. their families,” Poe continued. “We started off with just one, Monday. “In a report to me by tancing was diff icult to enforce to note that the death toll from pandemic. Mary Grace Poe called on Interior and Local Govern- but now we have 64 licensed the military, people kept roam- because of space limitations, the coronavirus disease 2019 Roque has said the IATF- concerned offi cials to continu- ment Secretary Eduardo Ano laboratories.” ing around. Manila Times reported. “If you (Covid-19) was falling, but the EID was also studying allowing ally assess the demand for pub- gave assurances that the gov- The government has gradu- And every day, the crowds re- look at countries that have zero number of cases is still on the backriding on private motor- lic transportation as businesses ernment would address the ally eased lockdowns imposed semble that of a wet market.” transmission, New Zealand — rise every day,” he said. Be- cycles “subject to health and slowly reopen. transport needs of the general in Luzon, including the capi- Duterte said he was send- their population is low, their cause a coronavirus vaccine is safety protocols.” “Public transportation public, Sen. Christopher Law- tal, Manila, and other parts of ing Environment Secretary Roy land is big. The Philippines’ still a long way off , he asked the Allowing the return of pro- should complement the in- rence ‘Bong” Go said. the country, but authorities are Cimatu to check on the situation case is not like that,” he said. public to stay healthy, practice vincial buses “depends on the creasing number of economic “Our aim is to provide safe still urging people to leave their in Cebu City, which serves as a “Just the same, we will face physical distancing and wear state of the quarantine in the activities so as not to leave the transportation options in ac- homes only for essential trips. gateway from the main northern the challenge and I know that face masks. areas. burden on commuting work- cordance with protocols,” he In the central city of Cebu, island of Luzon to the Visayas. Because, of course, if you al- ers,” she said. added.

Officer and nine soldiers die in Duterte defends Governor seeks mining halt by foreign fi rm clash with rebels A military off icer and nine soldiers minister amid probe were killed in a clash with the Abu By Leander C Domingo dustry. The OGPI management Manila Times said that in April, 60% of its Sayyaf Group (ASG) on Monday in 714 employees in the Didipio Patikul, Sulu, the military’s Western Mindanao Command (WestMin- DPA has everything.” The allegations Mine were laid off , adding Manila are not specifi c to Duque steal- ueva Vizcaya Gover- that out of the 300 remaining Com) reported. ing money, though he has been nor Carlos Padilla has workers, only a skeleton work- Maj. Arvin Encinas, the WestMin- linked indirectly. The Offi ce of Nrenewed calls to end force of about 100 will be left Com’s spokesman, said members hilippine President Rodrigo the Ombudsman announced last mining in Barangay Didipio, by July in case there will be no of the 32nd Infantry Battalion Duterte has defended the week that it has formed two in- particularly the operation of FTAA renewal taking place. under the Joint Task Force Sulu, Pcountry’s health minister vestigating teams to look into Australian-Canadian miner Based on the Mining Act of said the firefight happened at amid an investigation into allega- the alleged “anomalies” com- OceanaGold Corp (OGC), 1995, the Didipio Mine would Sitio Tubig Bukayon of Barangay tions of irregularities and lapses mitted by offi cials and employ- which stopped operations af- The Didipio mine of OceanaGold Philippines Inc that straddles be placed under the govern- Pansul, Manila Times reported. in the government’s response to ees of the Department of Health ter its mining contract with the Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya. ment’s care and maintenance A first lieutenant and nine other the coronavirus outbreak. amid the coronavirus pandemic. government expired a year ago. once the OGPI eventually gives soldiers who were identified as en- In a late-night televised address The investigation, which could On June 20, 2019, the Fi- FTAA. Let us stand against country and the plea to stop up in case it fails to secure an- listed personnel died in the battle on Monday, Duterte said he was result in criminal or administra- nancial and/or Technical As- mining,” Padilla said in a news mining in the province contra- other 25-year FTAA. although their identities have been confi dent that Health Secretary tive charges, will look into alleged sistance Agreement (FTAA) statement and over Catholic- dict the national government After a year since its FTAA ex- withheld as their families have yet Francisco Duque was “clean” and purchase of overpriced test kits, of the national government- operated radio DWRV in Bayo- in its desperate rush looking pired, the OGPI has not received to be notified. not involved in the allegations of delayed procurement of personal sanctioned OceanaGold Phil- mbong town. for possible revenues when the any response from the Offi ce of The Abu Sayyaf rebels fled, leaving overpriced test kits that were pur- protective equipment for health ippines Inc (OGPI), an OGC With a life span of 25 years, an economy was left devastated the President regarding its ap- “several blood stains on their chased by the department. workers, and confusing and de- subsidiary, for its expired con- FTAA, a mining contract gov- by the coronavirus disease plication for the renewal despite tracks.” Encinas said that there “I am very sure and I place my layed reporting of deaths and tract resulting in temporary erned by the Mining Act of 1995 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic and a recommendation from the was an “undetermined” number of reputation on Secretary Duque confi rmed cases. cessation of OGPI’s operations between the Philippines and the many people lost their jobs. Mines and Geo-Sciences Bu- casualties on the side of the Abu that he hasn’t stolen anything,” Duque and the department pending renewal of its license mining contractor like OGPI, is They said they believed the reau (MGB) in Region 2. Sayyaf. Lt Gen Cirilito Sobejana, he said. “He cannot do that be- have said they were prepared to by President Rodrigo Duterte. renewable for another 25 years. national government was still Padilla said the MGB was WestMinCom chief, mourned the cause Duque is already rich. He co-operate with the investiga- “Let us vigorously oppose But mineworkers claimed considering the huge potential highly supportive of the re- death of the soldiers. has a hospital, he has a school, he tion. the renewal of OceanaGold’s the current situation of the of the country’s mineral in- newal of the OGPI’s FTAA. Gulf Times 18 Wednesday, June 24, 2020 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES EM growth story now becoming less convincing

Beset by weakening local currencies, dwindling foreign reserves, capital fl ight and slower global growth, emerging markets (EMs) have for long been at pains to contain the fi nancial turmoil that struck them even before the virus hit them hard. As of now, the Covid-19 recession starts with a pandemic most EMs ill-equipped to deal with. They still carry the baggage of the 2008 global demand shock, the 2014 collapse in commodity prices, and the 2018 capital fl ight episode. The long march of In a base case, EMs are expected contract 3.1% on aggregate this year, down from a forecast for 4.7% expansion at the start of the year, according to Bloomberg Economics (BI). For sure, China stands out among EMs for its eff ective containment of the virus, relatively abundant space for fi scal stimulus, and immunity from risks related to weak ‘General’ William Barr commodity prices and capital outfl ows. Even then, China’s growth for the year to is seen to limp in at 2.1%, the lowest of the reform era, according to BI. By Nina L. Khrushcheva autocratic aspirations. Though the peaceful protests – who wore black and chipped away at executive BI expects India to shrink 10.6% in the fi scal year ending New York demonstrations have been mostly clothes without badges or other accountability and transparency merely peaceful, Trump claims that using force insignia. out of personal loyalty to Trump. March 31, 2021, compared with the previous projection of against protesters is actually an “act There is, however, a key diff erence His motivations are ideological. As a -4.5%; Russia will probably shrink around 6% this year; he death of George Floyd, of compassion,” because it supposedly between Trump and Barr. The former is staunch proponent of the theory of a Brazil will shrink 6.4%, a deeper contraction than the an unarmed and handcuff ed “saves lives.” Antonio Gramsci, meet a reality-TV autocrat content to think unitary executive, he wholeheartedly previous expectation of 3.2%. black man, at the hands – or, George Orwell. that pretending to be strong makes him subscribes to the view that a president’s In South Africa, the BI’s Tmore accurately, the knee Former senior US military leaders see strong, even as he hides in a bunker power is all-encompassing. By this and behind an impossibly high security logic, Trump has the right to gut 2020 growth projection is – of a police offi cer in Minneapolis through the Trump administration’s EMs owe ignited massive protests across the deceit and have condemned the fence. (Having been born in Russia, any investigation into his actions, -9% from -5.6% previously United States against systemic racism Lafayette Square stunt. General James I am all too familiar with a president and congressional oversight of the over $8.4tn as the economy is weaker and police brutality. It also spurred a Mattis, Trump’s own former secretary who hides behind high walls that are presidency should be severely curtailed. amid a stringent lockdown. growing number of people outside the of defence, said this “abuse of executive supposed to symbolise power, but Barr’s “chilling vision of unchecked in foreign- As governments stare US to confront the legacies of racism authority” made “a mockery” of the US actually betray the state’s fear of civil presidential power,” as the journalist Damon Linker calls it, is akin to that of down the humanitarian and inequality in their own countries. Constitution. Over 1,000 former justice society.) currency debt; Donald Trump’s administration, department offi cials published a letter Barr, by contrast, is a determined Carl Schmitt, the Nazis’ favourite legal and economic shocks of the however, is doing no such thing. requesting an internal review of Barr’s apparatchik. While Trump asserts philosopher. at least $730bn pandemic, some EMs with Instead, the Trump administration handling of the protests. that his authority is “absolute,” Barr General Barr is thus a true Gauleiter. weak fi nancial positions are has continued – even accelerated But both Barr and Trump are as is dedicated to carrying out the “long And, under Trump, he has been is coming due at greater risk of defaulting – its eff ort to hollow out America’s committed as ever to their pursuit of march through the institutions” – in given the ultimate opportunity to on their debts. institutions in favour of a nihilistic illiberal cultural hegemony. Trump has the words of Rudi Dutschke, the 1960s implement his ideology, whatever through the rest populism. Its ultimate goal remains demonised protesters, including by German radical leader who studied the consequences for America’s At least 102 nations unchanged: to create a full-fl edged touting the absurd conspiracy theory Gramsci’s work – required to make that constitutional order. I suspect that of this year have already asked the illiberal regime in the US. that a 75-year-old protester whom claim true. This has meant, for example, even Gramsci would be stunned by International Monetary Fund No one is more committed to this police were caught on camera shoving to undermining Special Counsel Robert how openly Barr has deployed the for help, and the Institute of International Finance is co- dream than William Barr, Trump’s the ground was an “Antifa provocateur.” Mueller’s investigation into Russia’s “apparatus of state coercive power” ordinating an eff ort to off er some relief to the poorest countries. attorney general. Barr may not have the He also attempted to deploy 10,000 interference in the 2016 presidential to enforce “discipline on those groups foggiest idea who Antonio Gramsci was; active-duty troops in the streets of election, and forcing federal prosecutors who do not ‘consent’” to Trump’s – EMs owe more than $8.4tn in foreign-currency debt, or Trump almost certainly doesn’t. But Washington, DC, to “dominate” the to drop their case against Trump’s and Barr’s own – hegemony. – Project about 30% of the developing world’s gross domestic product. Barr’s lust for power and Trump’s feral demonstrators, whom he calls “thugs.” fi rst national security adviser, General Syndicate At least $730bn is coming due through the rest of this year. cunning seem to have led the two men to Likewise, Barr has played up the Michael Flynn. His latest assault intuit the Italian Marxist philosopher’s violence, claiming – without any on democracy is the dismissal of z Nina L Khrushcheva is Professor of The fear is that weaker currencies and falling foreign International Aff airs at The New School. reserves – compounded by lower oil prices – will make it theory of cultural hegemony: the idea evidence – that “far-left extremist US Attorney Geoff rey Berman, a that the ruling class gains society’s groups” are stoking it. And he actually Manhattan-based federal prosecutor Her latest book (with Jeff rey Tayler) is In harder for some developing countries to keep up on their consent to the status quo by ensuring did deploy his own “army”: federal who has investigated several of Trump’s Putin’s Footsteps: Searching for the Soul external debt payments. that a country’s institutions embody correctional offi cers – trained in associates. of an Empire Across Russia’s Eleven The decline in commodity prices has reduced the income of and promote a legitimating ideology. quelling prison riots, not managing Barr has not corrupted his offi ce Time Zones. exporters. Russia, Brazil, Mexico and Colombia have seen their Schools, courts, religious institutions, economies contract in nominal terms compared with 2014. and the media, for example, can play a powerful role in the internalisation of China’s continued slowdown and the escalation of trade norms, values, and beliefs. Trump, Barr, wars have contributed to the contraction in commodity and US Republicans more generally demand and hurt export-dependent economies, such as have used all of these institutions. But, those in South East Asia. The virus outbreak is compounding in response to the ongoing protests, the these forces, and the post-pandemic world promises to be an Trump administration has gone a step further, deploying law enforcement even more hostile place. and even the military to advance their Isolationism, protectionism, localised supply chains, ideological ends. reduced tourism and lower remittances mean the route to On June 1, Barr – who, it is said, prosperity will be a lot more rugged. relishes the “general” in his job title – The deeper problems in the EMs stem from the excessive ordered the expansion of the protective perimeter that had been set up around fi nancialisation of the global economy that has occurred the White House. Offi cers fulfi lled since the 1990s. The resultant policy dilemmas – rising that mission – which involved clearing inequality, greater volatility, reduced room to manage peaceful protesters from Lafayette Park, the real economy – are seen continuing to preoccupy the site of many important protests policymakers in the decades ahead. in America’s history – using tear gas, smoke bombs, pepper spray, police In a wider sense, the EM growth story is now becoming batons, horses, and riot shields. less convincing with the virus re-enforcing the stagnation Trump then waddled across that was already in place. Instead of risky returns, EMs are the emptied park in order to be merely off ering return-free risks, says BI. photographed awkwardly holding a Bible in front of St. John’s Church. Barr stood proudly nearby, alongside a real general, Mark Milley, the To Advertise chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , who, after a tidal wave of criticism, [email protected] subsequently expressed regret for Display having participated. “My presence in that moment and in that environment,” 44466621 44418811 Milley acknowledged, “created a perception of the military involved in Classified domestic politics.” In fact, it was worse 44466609 44418811 than that: the stunt called into question the US military’s 240-year-old tradition Subscription of remaining strictly apolitical. Trump insists that his politicisation [email protected] of the military is a matter of upholding “law and order” – a phrase that harks back to Richard Nixon, another © 2020 Gulf Times. All rights reserved tough-talking US president with William Barr, Trump’s attorney general. Gulf Times Wednesday, June 24, 2020 19 COMMENT How to win the West? Democratic women aim again at GOP seats

District, and Hiral Tipirneni, who is run- While these Democrats are running Galvin also learned through visits to TCA/DPA ning in Arizona’s 6th after unsuccessful on health care, like others in their party, community service organisations during Washington runs in a neighbouring seat. public lands and climate change issues are her fi rst campaign that if she wanted All are in the Democratic Congressional also prominent for those in the Western potential voters to open up to her, she had Campaign Committee’s Red to Blue pro- states such as Montana, Washington and to show them more of herself. fter winning a six-candidate gramme, which provides organisational Alaska. She launched her 2020 campaign with primary with less than 34% of and fundraising support. With protests nationwide, Democratic a video fi lmed in front of her childhood the vote in 2018, Kathleen Wil- These candidates could ultimately help challengers are also talking about racial home, where the fl owers blooming in the liams lost the general election for A House Democrats expand their majority in justice and economic inequality. front garden belie the scenes she says she Montana’s at-large House seat. the next US Congress, or they could off set Candidates such as Long also are run- witnessed inside. This year, the Democrat hopes the possible losses from some of the party’s ning on expanding access to broadband, “Honestly, behind that door, things second time’s the charm. most vulnerable members in other GOP- as schools and companies have moved to got pretty tough,” she tells the camera, Williams, a former state lawmaker who leaning districts. cyberspace during the pandemic. explaining how she rebounded from a breezed through her primary earlier this All have diffi cult races ahead. “Because of my personal experience childhood destabilised by her parents’ ad- month, is one of a handful of women in The candidates may be the same, but with a family running a small struggling diction, an experience, she said, that has Western states who missed the House the dynamics of their races have changed family business, I know how important prepared her to fi ght for others in Alaska Democratic wave of 2018 but are trying this cycle. economic opportunity is in our rural com- dealing with similar problems. again this year to put Republican seats in “A lot of Montanans know me, and they munities, how important it is to focus on Like Long and Williams, Galvin has reach. Williams, a former state lawmaker who breezed through her primary earlier this month, is didn’t last time around,” Williams said in those family wage jobs, and really make built on her 2018 connections to develop a Though none has the benefi t of incum- one of a handful of women in Western states who missed the House Democratic wave of a recent interview. “We travelled the state, sure you’ve got diff erent pathways for fundraising advantage over her opponent. bency, each got extra time to meet voters 2018 but are trying again this year to put Republican seats in reach. put 75,000 miles on the car between last economic success,” Long said. Young has occupied the state’s sole in person before the coronavirus crisis cycle and this cycle before the pandemic Democratic Gov Steve Bullock against ings are now conducted online due to the Aside from Ortiz Jones, these Demo- congressional seat since 1973 — making stopped such retail politicking. hit.” Republican incumbent Steve Daines. pandemic. cratic women in the West are also running him the longest serving GOP member of In addition to Williams, Carolyn Long is She says she became known for her Williams says she and Bullock are plan- “We got to meet with a whole lot of in districts that backed President Donald Congress ever. taking on GOP Rep Jaime Herrera Beutler “truck camper and the dog,” whose name ning a “co-ordinated campaign.” people within that district and hear what Trump in 2016. Galvin has raised more money than any again in Washington’s 3rd District, while is Danni, crisscrossing the Treasure State. And experience running for offi ce can was important to them,” said Long, a Trump carried Washington’s 3rd Democrat who has run against him over Alyse Galvin, an independent who would “So that foundation that we built last be a plus, even if previous attempts failed. political science professor. “And we just District by 7 points, but Long said she can that time, outraising him at least 2-to-1 caucus with Democrats, has a rematch time that we can now build on this time is “The truth is that running for offi ce is decided that with that foundation laid, appeal to voters who have an independent in every quarter, her spokeswoman (and against Republican Don Young, who’s one thing that’s diff erent,” she said. a skill,” said Ben Ray, senior director of it was important to have just a little bit streak and shirk partisanship. daughter) Bridget Galvin said. seeking a 24th term to Alaska’s at-large Williams is vying for an open seat, so campaign communications for EMILY’s more time to get out there to meet with She supported Trump’s impeachment, The candidate had $961,000 in the seat. her opponent, Republican state Auditor List, which backs Democratic women who the voters.” but believes she can win over his support- bank as of March 31, compared to Young’s Though not a phenomenon exclu- Matt Rosendale, does not benefi t from support abortion rights and has endorsed Long, like the other do-over candidates, ers by explaining that she would hold any $803,000. sive to Western states — Betsy Dirksen incumbency, though he too got to know Williams and Long.”I think there’s reasons launched her campaign earlier this time executive accountable. In Montana, Williams is evaluating Londrigan, for example, is back at it after voters in 2018 during his unsuccessful to be optimistic for all of them.” around, which also gave her more time to “Rather than leading with ‘I’m a Demo- when she can hit the road again in her coming close in 2018 to ousting Republi- Senate bid against incumbent Democrat Herrera Beutler, who is one of 13 GOP raise money. crat,’ it’s ‘I’m a problem solver, and I’m camper. can Rodney Davis in Illinois’ 13th District Jon Tester. women in the House, beat Long by 5 And she’s outraised Herrera Beutler in here for you,’ “ Long said. She has an uphill climb ahead of her in a — the female candidates in what was once Williams won her primary in early points in 2018 in a district that’s a mix of the last three fundraising quarters. Galvin has also built her campaign on state that voted for Trump by 20 points. the frontier off er an interesting brand June with just shy of 90% of the vote, a suburbs and rural enclaves. “We started quite late last time,” she personal contact with voters, a strategy But if she prevails in November, she of independence and focus on public contrast to 2018. It was Long’s fi rst attempt at elected said. “So starting early and not starting that presents unique challenges while would be the second woman Montanans lands matters combined with the familiar She had $1.2mn on hand as of last offi ce. from scratch made this run a lot easier.... running to represent the entire state of have sent to Washington; the fi rst was Democratic talking points on health care. month, while Rosendale held just shy of Long made a point of travelling the We knew if we had a longer runway, we Alaska, which is twice the size of Texas. Jeannette Rankin, who was also the fi rst Their campaign strategies often ring $900,000, according to federal campaign sprawling 3rd District and holding dozens would have just that much more time to She started six months earlier than she woman to serve in Congress. similar, such as packing up the camper fi nance reports. of town hall meetings during her 2018 communicate our message and to speak did in 2018 and has been driving around Rankin set a model for public service, and hitting the road. Democrats and their outside groups campaign. with the people.” in her campaign RV so people can see her Williams said, adding, “It would be an Other Democratic women making also plan to invest heavily in Montana’s And she’s tried to continue that in her Long had $1.1mn in the bank as of even if she can’t get out to talk to as many honour to be Montana’s second congress- second runs in the West include Gina competitive Senate race, which pits the 2020 race, although the town hall meet- March 31 to $1.3mn for Herrera Beutler. people during the pandemic. woman.” Ortiz Jones, who narrowly lost Texas’ 23rd Fighting the elements, not the Three-day forecast

TODAY Maximum Temperature : 400c enemy, on India’s China border Minimum Temperature : 310c THURSDAY Maximum Temperature : 400c Minimum Temperature : 320c AFP are fed a special high-protein diet — Normally soldiers do a two-year post- they keep their distance and unfurl ban- New Delhi must slog through the thin air them- ing there, broken up by periods of leave. ners warning each other they have left FRIDAY selves, carrying their own equipment as Those who smoke quickly kick the their territory and should turn back. Maximum Temperature : 420c they navigate treacherous terrain. habit. Apart from occasional fl are-ups, Minimum Temperature : 310c eath is a real and constant dan- For those who get injured or fall sick “With such low oxygen plus the when they meet, the troops conduct Fisherman's forecast ger for the soldiers serving on “evacuation becomes an enormous weather plus the smoking, the chances themselves like “professional soldiers India’s Himalayan border with challenge,” Hooda said. of getting a heart attack shoot up,” serving their respective countries, they WARNING China, but until a deadly brawl Getting them to a helipad “can take Dinny added. treat each other with that courtesy,” Inshore : Nil D Offshore : Nil on June 15 the only killers since 1975 have hours”, and as soon as night falls, it’s too The cold and the high altitude aff ects Dinny said. been the topography and the elements. dangerous for helicopters to fl y. eyesight, adding to troops’ disorienta- But in recent months confrontations WEATHER “We get more than 100 casualties This may be why the initial death toll tion. have increased with both sides building Inshore : Misty at some places every year just due to terrain, weather of three shot up to 20 late on Tuesday. Weather, which can change quickly up troops and infrastructure. at first becomes hot conditions, avalanches. There is con- Seventeen other troops critically with little warning, and the hilly terrain China appears to have been particu- daytime with slight dust at times, relatively hot stant danger,” said retired Lt General D injured in the clashes, which lasted until can impair radio communication. larly irked by India building a new road. by night S Hooda, who until 2016 headed India’s after midnight, were “exposed to sub- Adding to the confusion is the fact China, according to New Delhi, is WIND Northern Command. zero temperatures in the high altitude that the “Line of Actual Control” (LAC) encroaching further into new areas, Inshore : Northwesterly-North- easterly 05-15 KT “You’re talking about 14-15,000 feet. terrain” and succumbed to their injuries, isn’t properly demarcated, meaning that including some of the northern shore Offshore : Northwesterly-North- It takes a huge toll on your physical and the army said. Indian and Chinese troops can bump of the Pangong Tso lake and the Galwan easterly 03-12 KT mental condition,” Hooda told AFP after The terrain is so high that soldiers into each other and believe the other valley which China now lays claim to in Visibility : 4-8/3 KM Monday’s brutal hand-to-hand battle need time to acclimatise to their new side has trespassed. its entirety. Offshore : 1-3 FT with fi sts, rocks and clubs which saw the posting or they run the risk of serious “The maps have not even been ex- In May there were two punch-ups fi rst Indian combat deaths with China in altitude sickness that can kill even a changed so that the other person knows before the deadly clash in June which over four decades. healthy young person in hours. what someone is claiming. There are no reportedly saw Chinese troops attack In the “cold desert” of the Galwan “For an average human being who is boundary markers,” said Dinny. the Indians with nail-studded batons, river valley in the Ladakh region where not a resident of that place, survival in To avoid escalations, both sides have rocks and fi sts. Around the region the fi ghting took place, winter tem- itself is a huge challenge,” said Colonel over the years developed detailed proto- “It is time we revisit our protocol and Weather Weather peratures can plunge below minus 30C S Dinny, who until 2017 commanded an cols on the procedures to follow — while our rules of engagement so that any Today Max/min Tomorrow Max/min Indian battalion in the region, told AFP. also agreeing that neither side shall open disagreements can be handled in a more (minus 22 Fahrenheit), cracking gun Baghdad Cloudy 42/26 Sunny 41/25 “It is one of the toughest places to fi re. military fashion rather than fi ghting it barrels and seizing up machinery. Kuwait City Sunny 44/32 Sunny 44/31 serve as a soldier,” he said. If rival patrols bump into each other, out like goons on the street,” Hooda said. There are few roads so troops — who Manama Sunny 38/29 Sunny 38/32 Muscat Sunny 37/31 Sunny 37/32 Tehran Sunny 36/25 Sunny 38/24 Live issues Alaskan volcano eruption linked to fall of Roman Republic: study

eff ectively contributed to the demise of performed on the ash samples found probably reduced crop yields and AFP Around the world Washington the Romans and the Egyptians and the in ice from the second eruption, and it compounded supply problems during rise of the Roman Empire is fascinating,” perfectly matched the Okmok event — the ongoing political upheavals of the Weather Weather said lead author Joe McConnell of the one of the largest eruptions of the past period,” said classical archaeologist Today Max/min Tomorrow Max/min he assassination of Julius Desert Research Institute (DRI) in Reno, 2,500 years. Andrew Wilson of the University of Athens M Sunny 29/20 M Sunny 31/22 Caesar in 44 BCE triggered Nevada. “The tephra match doesn’t get any Oxford. Beirut Sunny 26/22 Sunny 26/22 a nearly two-decade power The advent of the Roman Empire better,” said volcanologist Gill Plunkett They also coincided with failure of Bangkok S T Storms 34/27 P Cloudy 34/27 struggle that led to the fall of also brought an end to the dynasty of from Queen’s University Belfast. the Nile to fl ood the plains and the Berlin Sunny 24/13 P Cloudy 27/17 T Cairo Sunny 38/23 Sunny 36/22 the Roman Republic and the rise of the Ptolemies, the last of the pharaohs. The team gathered more supporting disease and famine that ensued, added Roman Empire. “It certainly shows how evidence from across the world, from Yale University historian Joe Manning. Cape Town M Sunny 17/09 Sunny 18/12 Historic records say the period was interconnected the world was even tree-ring based climate records in The eruption may also explain Colombo S T Storms 29/27 S T Storms 29/27 marked with strange sightings in the sky, 2,000 years ago,” added McConnell. Scandinavia to cave formations in unusual atmospheric phenomena noted Dhaka S T Storm 31/27 T Storm 32/27 unusually cold weather and widespread He and Swiss researcher Michael Sigl northeast China. in the records, like solar halos, the sun Hong Kong M Cloudy 30/27 I T Storms 30/27 famine — and a new study suggests a began investigating the matter when This data was fed into a climate darkening in the sky, or three suns Istanbul S T Storms 27/19 I T Storms 26/20 volcanic eruption in Alaska may have they found an unusually well preserved model, which suggested that the two appearing in the sky — a phenomenon Jakarta T Storm 32/25 S T Storms 32/24 been the cause. layer of ash in an ice core sample last years following the eruption were known as a sun dog. Karachi M Sunny 36/29 Sunny 36/30 The paper was published in the year. some of the coldest in the Northern But the authors added that many London P Cloudy 23/12 M Sunny 27/16 Proceedings of the National Academy of New measurements were then made Hemisphere for 2,500 years. of these observations took place prior Manila S T Storms 34/27 S T Storms 33/27 Sciences on Monday. on ice cores from Greenland and Russia, Seasonally averaged temperatures to the Alaskan eruption and could be Moscow Sunny 23/13 Showers 17/12 An international team of scientists some of which were drilled in the 1990s may have been as much as 7C (13F) related to the smaller eruption of Mount New Delhi M Sunny 39/29 P Cloudy 37/29 and historians used an analysis of and stored in archives. below normal for the summer and Etna in 44 BCE. New York Sunny 30/22 P Cloudy 30/23 volcanic ash (tephra) found in Arctic ice They were able to make out two distinct autumn following the eruption, with McConnell said that while many Paris Sunny 25/14 M Sunny 29/17 cores to link the period of unexplained eruptions: a powerful but localized and autumn precipitation reaching as high factors contributed to the fall of Sao Paulo Sunny 28/14 P Cloudy 27/13 extreme climate in the Mediterranean short-lived event in early 45 BCE, followed as 400% of normal in southern Europe. the Roman Republic and Ptolemaic Seoul M Sunny 36/21 Cloudy 32/22 with the crater-forming eruption of by a much larger, more widespread event “In the Mediterranean region, these Kingdom, the eruption of Okmok Singapore T Storm 30/26 T Storm 29/26 Alaska’s Okmok volcano in 43 BCE. in 43 BCE, with fallout lasting more than wet and extremely cold conditions played an important role, and helps Sydney P Cloudy 16/07 M Sunny 16/07 “To fi nd evidence that a volcano on two years. during the agriculturally important fi ll a knowledge gap that had puzzled Tokyo Cloudy 26/21 Cloudy 27/20 the other side of the Earth erupted and A geochemical analysis was spring through autumn seasons historians. Gulf Times 20 Wednesday, June 24, 2020 QATAR

QBG webinar highlights wildlife conservation eff orts amid Covid-19

„ Specialists from Qur’anic Botanic Garden (QBG), the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and Royal Botanic Garden of Jordan, among others, discuss eff orts to protect wildlife during the pandemic ur’anic Botanic Garden exchange expertise in the fi eld of both the positive and negative and nature conservation to take sion on Ecosystem Management (QBG), in collaboration nature conservation. impacts of the coronavirus on better care of our environment.” to host a forum titled Islamic Qwith the International Among the topics discussed the environment. With relation Commenting on the webi- Perspectives on Ecosystem Man- Union for Conservation of Na- were: the potential impact of to this, the IUCN’s programmes nar, Fatima al-Khulaifi , director, agement, which brought together ture Regional Offi ce for West Asia Covid-19 on protected areas and reported that as a result of social QBG, said: “Earlier this month, local and international ecologists, (IUCN ROWA), hosted a webinar nature conservation eff orts both distancing, air, beach, and noise we marked World Environment ecosystem managers, scholars titled Wildlife Conservation Ef- in the Arab and greater West Asia pollution levels have signifi cantly Day by highlighting the neces- from botanic gardens, religious forts after Corona; Challenges regions, the sustainable manage- fallen in many countries.” sity of protecting our ecosystems, experts, and other relevant stake- and opportunities in the Arabian ment of natural resources in light Sheikh Dr Soud al-Thani, sus- which, in light of the many en- holders to share their expertise Peninsula. of climate change and other en- tainability director, Astad Project vironmental challenges that the and experiences in preserving the The session shed light on the vironmental challenges, nature Management, and also a speaker world is facing, has become a ma- environment, as well as explor- eff orts, opportunities, challenges, restoration programmes in Qatar, in the webinar, said: “Around jor priority. ing Islamic principles, values, and and projects implemented in the as well as plant species studies the world, and during this period QBG is pleased to have brought ethics that promote plant conser- region with regards to protecting and methods of plant and seed in particular, consideration for together experts from across the vation. plant and animal wildlife. Moder- propagation for ecosystem pres- the environment is becoming an Arab region to exchange their QBG is a member of Qatar ated by QBG assistant researcher ervation. increasingly important and rel- expertise and explore sustain- Foundation. More information Ahmed ElGharib, the interactive Dr Hany El Shaer, regional di- evant topic, which QBG has taken able solutions that will provide a on QBG’s upcoming events and webinar brought together experts rector, IUCN ROWA, a speaker, a proactive stance on with this better tomorrow for our planet. activities can be found on its so- from the Ministry of Municipality said: “The webinar was an ex- webinar. Considering the rapid We look forward to engaging the cial media channels on Instagram: and Environment, Astad Project cellent opportunity to exchange rate of development in Qatar and public further on such important Quranic_Botanic_Garden; Face- Management, the IUCN, Royal knowledge and plan together for around the world, it is imperative topics in the future.” book: Qur’anic Botanic Garden, The webinar looked at both the positive and negative impacts of the Botanic Garden of Jordan, and better conservation strategies in that we begin implementing sus- QBG has previously collabo- and on Twitter at @QuranicGar- coronavirus on the environment. QBG to discuss various topics and the region. It also shed light on tainable methods of development rated with the IUCN’s Commis- den. Ashghal partly opens Al Jabal Intersection on Al Wakra Road he Public Works Authority 3.5km from Ras Bu Fontas sta- (Ashghal) yesterday partly tion to Barwa village. Ashghal is Topened Al Jabal Intersec- working on completing the works tion on Al Wakra Main Road after of Al Wakra road development turning the old roundabout into a project. signalised intersection, accord- The construction works in- ing to a statement. clude extension of 5.5km road The new intersection con- from the Pearl Intersection up to nects Al Wakra Road and Me- the petrol station towards Me- saieed Road, Ras Al Jabal Street saieed Road, including transfer- and Wadi Al Afj a Street, as part ring Pearl, Ooredoo and Al Ajfah of Al Wakra Main Road Upgrade Roundabouts to signalised inter- Project. The opening was carried sections. out in co-ordination with the These are in addition to con- General Directorate of Traffi c. struction of two new intersec- Opened yesterday are lanes in tions near Al Razi Street and Al each direction on Al Wakra Road, Wukair Road. Mesaieed Road, and two lanes Improving traffi c fl ow in each direction between Wadi The new intersection facilitates access to many vital facilities Al Afj a Street and Ras Al Jabal such as Al Wakra Family Beach, Al Wakra Old Souq, Government Al Wakra Road, which serves Street, where Al Wakra Road was Service Complex and a large number of residential and commercial several residential neighbour- expanded from two lanes in each complexes on each side of Al Wakra Main Road. hoods and commercial points in direction to three. Al Wakra and Al Wukair areas, is Al Jabal junction, a major link, Express Highway leading to the that 66% of Al Wakra Main Road one of the important projects in is located at the southern en- World Cup Stadium. Upgrade Project has been com- the southern region to ease di- trance of Al Wakra to connect Al Jabal Intersection is also an pleted. Once fully completed, towards Al Wukair and Al Janoub tion and Al Wakra Tunnel has tersection transforming it from rect traffi c fl ow from Al Wakra the traffi c coming from Mesaieed extension to Al Wakra Main Road this will improve traffi c between Stadium,” al-Joof said. improved traffi c between Doha a roundabout to signalised inter- towards Doha in the north and Road and the southern part of the connected to Al Wakra station Doha, Al Wakra and the southern Al Wakra Road and Al Wakra and has provided section. to Mesaieed towards south. Al Doha Expressway in the direction where Al Wakra Road integrates areas. achievements a free traffi c fl ow for road users The Pearl Monument, which Wakra main road development of Al Wakra Road to facilitate ac- with the Redline of Qatar Rail The Ashghal offi cial explained from Ras Bu Fontas station to- has a great symbolism for the is a continuation of the highway cess to west Al Wakra via Wadi on its median, to tie Al Wakra that the old roundabout has been Ashghal has completed many wards the Pearl Roundabout. residents of Al Wakra area, network projects in Qatar. Al Afj a Street or to the east of Al and Doha through the two major converted into a signalised in- parts of Al Wakra Main Road Up- Relocating the Pearl known for fi shing and pearls, was It will have a signifi cant impact Wakra via Ras Al Jabal Street. stations of Al Wakra and Ras Bu tersection to connect Al Wakra grade Project, where the inter- Monument originally installed on Al Wakra on traffi c in the southern region The new intersection facili- Fontas. and Mesaieed so as to smoothly section between Al Wakra Road Road in the late 1980s, inspired as travel time will be reduced by tates access to many vital fa- By the end of 2020, Ashghal distribute traffi c movement in all and Ras Bu Fontas Street was Ashghal had relocated the from the history of this calm 60% on Al Wakra Road. It will cilities such as Al Wakra Family will complete the conversion of directions, from and to Al Wakra, recently opened partially to traf- iconic Pearl structure to Al Wakra coastal town. also be integrated with the re- Beach, Al Wakra Old Souq, Gov- the Pearl and Ooredoo rounda- Mesaieed and Al Wukair. fi c. The intersection is located on Souq and reinstalled it near Al Al Wakra Main Road cently opened highway network ernment Service Complex and a bouts to signalised intersections. “The intersection will fa- Al Wakra Tunnel, opened in the Farda Roundabout in line with its Works such G-Ring Road, Mesaieed large number of residential and Additionally, two new signalised cilitate traffi c between the cities fourth quarter of 2018. strategy to develop infrastruc- Road and the southern part of commercial complexes on each intersections will be constructed of Al Wakra and Mesaieed and The openings are integrated ture while preserving the coun- Ashghal has started work on Doha Expressway (Al Wakra By- side of Al Wakra Main Road. It on Al Wakra Road, Al Razi Street provide diff erent routes for road with Al Wakra Metro Station, try’s cultural heritage within the converting the Pearl Roundabout pass Road), which is connected enhances traffi c to Al Janoub and Al Wukair Road. users coming from Mesaieed to- which is one of Qatar Rail’s main purview of Qatar National Vi- to a signalised intersection after with Al Janoub Stadium, one of Stadium through its proximity While announcing the open- wards Al Wakra and Doha, and stations. sion 2030. This was also to ease the opening of Al Wakra Tunnel the venues hosting the 2022 FIFA to the southern part of the Doha ing, engineer Nouh al-Joof said for those coming from Al Wakra The opening of the intersec- completion of work at Pearl In- and parts of the project along the World Cup in Qatar.

More than 16,000 Indians repatriated from Qatar

QM extends Artist in Residence submission he Indian embassy has facilitated over T90 repatriation By Joey Aguilar USA, giving local artists more fl ights from Qatar to In- Staff Reporter exposure and helped them to dia so far, including 45 further enhance their artistic fl ights under the Vande talent and creativity. Bharat Mission as well as he deadline for the ‘Art- The renowned Cité interna- several company-hired ist in Residence’ pro- tionale des Arts is one of the and community-hired Tgramme for the Septem- biggest and most important art charters. ber 2021-June 2022 period has residencies in the world with These fl ights have been extended until December 325 residency studios and with travelled to various des- 1 this year, allowing more local artists in residence from more tinations in India, help- artists to submit their applica- than 55 countries. ing repatriate more than tion, Qatar Museums (QM) has The three-month programme 16,000 Indians. announced. in the two cities provides tal- Meanwhile, one more The nine-month residency at ented individuals in Qatar with fl ight took off from Do- the Doha Fire Station provides studio accommodation space ha’s Hamad International an opportunity for Qatari and and the chance to be fully im- Airport (HIA) yesterday Qatar-based artists (with valid mersed in Paris’ and New York as part of the Indian gov- QID) to develop their creative City’s art and culture scenes. ernment’s Vande Bharat practice and “take their passion An artist in residence at the Mission. to the next level”. Doha Fire Station in 2018-2019, Flight IX 1374 left for The programme is open to Mohamed Faraj al-Suwaidi, Coimbatore with 180 all artistic practices, which in- also an architect, animator and passengers and three in- clude but not limited to visual designer, opened his exhibition fants. Coimbatore-bound passengers at HIA yesterday. arts (painting, drawing, sculp- titled ‘Digital Transactions’ at This was the 45th fl ight ture, media art, installation, the Doha Fire Station in January from Doha under Vande graphic arts, illustration, etc.), this year. Bharat, “bringing the to- photography, film, sound art, The show, QM said, “intro- tal number of repatriated design, and literature. duces al-Suwaidi’s exploration passengers to 7,821 plus Successful applicants (who during his residency at Interna- 215 infants” as part of the will be notified by March 2021) tional Studio & Curatorial Pro- initiative, the Indian em- will work in a dedicated stu- gramme in New York in 2019.” bassy tweeted yesterday. dio and take part in a series of “The exhibited works in- The embassy had on workshops and activities which Doha Fire Station provides opportunity for Qatari and Qatar-based clude a series of digital prints, Monday published a list involve sharing of knowledge artists to develop their creative possibilities. composed of scenes captured of revised standard op- with other artists. around New York and altered erating procedures for Previous editions of the pro- world. It also gave them access residency, according to QM. using 3D software in a repeti- chartered fl ights to dif- gramme saw participants tak- to all exhibitions. Artists are QM established two exten- tive manner. ferent destinations in ing part in lectures, weekly given the chance to showcase sions of the Residency pro- These scenes are digitised India. mentoring sessions, working their works in a public exhibi- gramme: one in Paris (Cité in- into virtual immersive spaces The list is available on with curators, and meeting arts tion at Doha Fire Station’s Ga- ternationale des Arts), France that the viewer can be part of,” the embassy’s Twitter professionals from around the rage Gallery by the end of their and in New York (Studio 209), QM said. page.