www.thepeninsula.qa Tuesday 21 April 2020 Volume 25 | Number 8234 28 Sha'aban - 1441 2 Riyals

BUSINESS | 01 PENMAG | 06 SPORT | 12

Oil futures Classifieds Djokovic opposes plunge below and Services compulsory zero for the section coronavirus first time included vaccination

Partial reopening Amir reviews 2022 plans at SC meeting of Industrial Area to begin tomorrow

Qatar has conducted more number of tests which will have this year with another angle,” said H E Al compared to those countries which are Khater. leading in the world in fighting coronavirus. “This month is also known for generosity for the relatives and friends but not necessary Qatar is capable to cover the existing to visit them putting their family positive cases of coronavirus in the country members which include elderly people and children at risk of and more; which is an important sign. the epidemic,” said H E Al Khater. THE PENINSULA — DOHA workers shifted from April 14 About the recent rise in and 17 in preparations to open coronavirus infected cases, H Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during the first meeting of the Board of Directors of the The Assistant Foreign Minister the closed part partially. “They E Lolwah Al Khater said that Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy of2020 via video conference, yesterday. and Spokesperson of the were shifted to precautionary there were a number of reasons Supreme Committee for Crisis quarantine to screen for early to understand the causes. Management, H E Lolwah bint detection for their safety and “Among these reasons is the QNA — DOHA Deputy Amir H H Sheikh Minister and Minister of Interior Rashid bin Mohammed Al others in the area despite no increase in the medical tests Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani; and Board member, and the other Khater (pictured), has said symptom of infection appeared and also proactive medical Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin and H H Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Board members, also attended Qatar has conducted more in them.” tests, and the discovery of a set Hamad Al Thani chaired the first Al Thani, Personal Representative the meeting. The meeting number of tests compared to She said that the authorities of transitional chains. meeting of the Board of Directors of H H the Amir and Vice- reviewed the operational plans those countries which are of the Supreme Committee for Chairman of the Board of for the 2022 FIFA World Cup leading in the world in fighting Delivery and Legacy (SC) of 2020 Directors, participated. H E Qatar as well as the latest updates coronavirus. We have entered via video conference yesterday Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin related to the stadiums and “For example, Hong Kong the peak time of the morning. Abdulaziz Al Thani, Prime projects in the country. conducted 17,500 screenings outbreak of coronavirus per million people and Sin- and most of the people gapore 16,000 screenings per million people, however, Qatar have been following HMC launches region’s first drive-through made 20,200 screenings per the preventive and million people,” said H E Al precautionary measures anticoagulation service at Al Wakrah Hospital Khater. in the past which is “I would like to assure you THE PENINSULA — DOHA Implementing a drive-up testing Anticoagulation Clinic at Al that the supply of food items laudable. service, which allows patients Wakrah Hospital, said patients and medical services will con- As part of ongoing efforts to stop to have their blood drawn who take blot clot prevention tinue to the residents of the the spread of COVID-19 and to without leaving their vehicle, is medications, such as warfarin, Industrial Area,” said H E Al better serve the community, part of our ongoing efforts to require ongoing monitoring and Khater in a press conference concerned will intensify Therefore, it is normal for us to Hamad Medical Corporation keep vulnerable populations management. He says these telecast on Qatar TV patrolling and inspection cam- find this rise.” (HMC) has launched what is safe,” said Dr. Al Qadhi. patients must have blood yesterday. paigns to catch the violators of She also said that the first thought to be the region’s first Dr. Ezzideen Hamza Sawali, samples taken regularly to H E Al Khater said that the the laws including law for rise in March was due to the drive-through anticoagulation Chair of Cardiology and Medical determine their international health system in Qatar is banning gatherings, conditions return of a number of Qataris service at Al Wakrah Hospital. Supervisor for the normalised ratio. `P2 capable to cover the existing for food safety and social dis- to the country, then followed The service, which started positive cases of coronavirus in tancing at commercial outlets. by stability and then another earlier this month, is designed the country and more; which is “We have entered the peak rise, linked to the discovery of to protect the country’s most an important sign. time of the outbreak of coro- a set of transitional chains vulnerable residents from H E Lolwah bint Rashid bin navirus and most of the people resulting in the closure of part exposure to COVID-19. Mohammed Al Khater said that have been following the pre- of the industrial area. “We have Dr. Sabah Adnan Al Qadhi, the partial opening of closed ventive and precautionary intensified medical tests in the Medical Director of Al Wakrah part of the Industrial Area will measures in the past which is area and some other areas.” Hospital, said elderly and people begin tomorrow. The gradual laudable,” said H E Al Khater. She said that many infected with pre-existing medical con- opening will start with Streets She said that it is necessary cases are from families due to ditions, such as heart disease, No 1 and 2 and Al Wakalat to continue these measures in visits between them, especially are most at the risk of severe Street. place, the most important is not among Qataris. COVID-19 illness. He noted that “The work is under way to going out of the house except H E Al Khater pointed out most patients with blood- open the remaining parts of the in case of extreme need, that the number of infected clotting disorders require anti- area according to the medical wearing face masks, gloves and cases in the community is 26 coagulation services and fall information for the interests of using sanitizers and keeping percent and three weeks ago it under both these categories. people,” H E Lolwah Al Khater social distance. was only 16 percent. “The cases “People using blot clot pre- added. “We are going to welcome among quarantined people is vention medications require A healthcare professional offering a resident a drive-through She said that only 6,500 the holy month of Ramadan about 74 percent.” `P2 ongoing medical care. anticoagulation service as part of the efforts to prevent COVID-19. Visitors allowed to stay until COVID-19: 567 new cases, 37 recoveries & a death THE PENINSULA — DOHA Most of the new cases recorded are contact with positive COVID-19 cases spread of the virus has begun to enter flights resume for expatriate workers who have been within their families. the peak stage (i.e. the highest wave The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) subject to quarantine after it was found All new infected cases have been that affects the country), which may THE PENINSULA — DOHA has announced the registration of 567 that they were in contact with confirmed put under isolation and are receiving continue to increase for a period of time new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and cases, while some new cases of infection the necessary medical care, said the before it begins to decline. The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has death of one person, yesterday. are for citizens and residents who had Ministry in a statement. It is also due to the steady increase said that visitors in the country Also, with 37 new cases recovering, in the efforts of the Ministry and its on tourist visas (on-arrival and COVID-19 QATAR UPDATES ON APRIL 20, 2020 the total number of recovered cases of medical teams to track the transmission priorly issued visas) can stay in coronavirus in Qatar is 555, till chains of coronavirus and expand the the country without extending yesterday. surveillance process, including of their visas or paying any fee, NEW CASES NEW TOTAL The Ministry has stated that the groups of contacts with people who taking into account their inability ANNOUNCED RECOVERIES CASES new death was a 56-year-old resident were previously diagnosed with the to return to their home countries who was suffering from a chronic disease. due to the closure of airports. 567 37 6015 disease, and died as a result of compli- All of this has contributed to the The Ministry said on its cations due to being infected with early detection of many cases of official Twitter account, “They COVID-19. The Ministry has extended infection and reduced the spread of the can stay in the country without condolences and sympathy to the virus. The Ministry has also requested TOTAL TOTAL extending visa or paying any fee. RECOVERIES family of the deceased. all members of society to stay at home Once the country declares that DEATHS The total number of positive and cooperate fully with all health the conditions have returned to COVID-19 cases recorded is 6,015 and guidelines and adopt preventive 9 555 TOTAL POSITIVE normal and flights start operation 2,468,733 there are 5,451 active cases under measures to reduce the risk of infection, to their countries, they will be treatment, until yesterday. The Min- including sticking to social and physical granted a grace period to leave istry has conducted 2,082 tests yes- distancing guidelines. The Ministry has the country,” terday taking the total tests done so far also recommended that you regularly “It was in accordance with TOTAL DEATHS TOTAL RECOVERED to 64,620. visit the MoPH website for the most up- the Law No. 21 of 2015 regulating COVID-19 GLOBALLY 169,794 645,099 The MoPH has also stated that the to-date guidance on how to stay safe, entry and exit of expatriates and marked increase in the number of con- including the guidelines related to the their residence, the decision was firmed new cases of coronavirus is due use of facemasks which was recently taekn." to several reasons, including that the added on the site. 02 HOME TUESDAY 21 APRIL 2020 80 Qataris return from Criminal complaints can now Region’s first drive-through anticoagulation service Morocco under State's be filed through Metrash2 FROM PAGE 1 THE PENINSULA — DOHA Dr. Ezzideen Hamza Sawali explains that repatriation efforts the drive-up service has both reduced these The Ministry of Interior patients’ actual risk of exposure to the COVID-19 THE PENINSULA — DOHA of Qatar to bring back its cit- has said that people can virus and the stress many were feeling about izens who want to return to the now file a criminal the need to come into the hospital for testing. Eighty Qatari citizens have been country. complaint to security “Many of our patients expressed concern repatriated from Morocco This is the second evacu- departments through about exposure to COVID-19, particularly through a chartered flight, as the ation operation, after arrivals Metrash2. when they were required to go to hospital for country continues efforts to of two flights from Jordon car- “This new service blood tests. Most of our patients are elderly bring back citizens from abroad rying over 400 Qatari citizens launched by the Min- and have comorbid conditions and are at a during the ongoing coronavirus and children of Qatari women. istry of Interior comes higher risk of severe illness if they do contract (COVID-19) pandemic. A total of 80 citizens arrived within the framework COVID-19, so limiting their potential exposure The Assistant Foreign Min- at Hamad International Airport of its desire to reduce to this virus is extremely important. Patients ister and Spokesperson of the from Morocco which is the the time of communi- who require routine lab monitoring and med- Supreme Committee for Crisis second country after Jordon cation and simplify the ication dose adjustments can now get those Management, H E Lolwah bint from where the citizens were procedures for the services from their vehicle, rather than going Rashid bin Mohammed Al evacuated, said Turki Al public in the light of the into the hospital,” said Dr. Sawali. Khater, has said the repatriated Ghanam from the Ministry of precautionary pro- Dr. Sawali explained that patients are con- citizens have been transferred Foreign Affairs while talking to tective measures against the corona pan- There are 625,000 tacted a day in advance to confirm their to the designated facilities. Qatar TV. Al Ghanam said that demic,” the Ministry said in a tweet subscribers on Metrash2. appointment time. He said on the day of their The Ministry of Foreign citizens in other countries like yesterday. appointment, a nurse wearing personal pro- Affairs has urged citizens, Algeria and Tunisia will be To explain the new feature in the app, Around 9 million enquires tective equipment (PPE) will complete the children of Qatari women, hus- evacuated in coming days. the Ministry published a step by step guide were made through the necessary identification and medical bands and wives of Qataris and After arrival at the airport, to file the complaint. After logging in to screening processes before taking a sample holders of permanent residency the citizens underwent Metrash2, select ‘Communicate with us' service last year, compared to of the patient’s blood, all from the window of to approach the relevant screening and temperature option, then select Criminal Complaint 3 million enquiries in 2013. their vehicle. Dr. Osama Abdelsamad, Clinical embassies of the country (for tests, following the preventive (Security Department), then select the Pharmacy Specialist and Supervisor of the evacuation), said Al Khater on measures of social distancing Security Department and the compliant Anticoagulation Service for the Pharmacy Twitter yesterday, along with and before exiting the airport type. instead of visiting Ministry’ service centers. Department at Al Wakra Hospital, says in most a Qatar TV footage of the they signed acknowledgement After that, the complainant has to More than 40 e-services have been cases follow-up care is completed over the arrival of Qatari citizens at the letter to stay in quarantine at specify the location and write a brief com- added to Metrash2 application last year telephone, with the pharmacist communi- Hamad International Airport hotels for 14 days adhering to plaint, and attach a signed written copy and work is underway to develop existing cating directly with the patient. (HIA). the health instructions. of the complaint. (compulsory), and then services and add more. “Once the test results are returned, the Earlier Qatar TV reported The citizens were trans- submit the complaint. There are 625,000 subscribers on pharmacist calls the patient to gather all nec- that a charter flight carrying 80 ported from the airport to the To limit the spread of the coronavirus, Metrash2. Around 9 million enquires were essary information and to confirm there are Qataris arrived from Morocco hotels in buses ensuring all the Ministry has urged people to use made through the service last year, com- no changes to the patient’s condition and yesterday, as part of the efforts safety guidelines. Metrash2 and the Ministry’s website pared to 3 million enquiries in 2013. medications. Partial reopening of closed parts of Industrial Area from tomorrow FROM PAGE 1 infected cases are between the the world,” said Al Khater. number of active cases which in an unsystematic way,” said as their screening is limited to She also said that 90 ages of 25 to 34 years, which She said that if the are under treatment excluding Al Khater. those with the symptom of percent of cases are with mild makes the risk of danger lesser, measures were not in place, the cases of recovered (and She said that people used coronavirus heading to hos- symptoms and only 1 percent adding that the infected cases number of positive cases would death).” She said that so far, to ask that this much of pitals.” She said that 74 percent patients have serious of over 64 age is only 2 percent. have been much higher than only nine people died due to screening were made and positive cases of coronavirus symptoms. “Cases of recovery Regarding the recovery cases, the number at present. coronavirus which is the least found high number of positive were detected from quarantine are on the rise and not all she said that 80 percent of “So everyone should in the world and the region cases. “The figure is correct but which means that these cases deaths are linked to the virus them are males, and 20 percent adhere to the preventive and compared to the number of the screening was conducted were contained in a place and but there are other diseases are females. precautionary measures taking confirmed cases. by specialist team of the Min- not spreading virus in the also (behind the deaths).” Cur- She said that people were the matter seriously,” said Al “The next indicator is istry of Public Health on community. rently, she said, there are 72 asking that despite all pre- Khater. severity of the cases as 90 grounds of highly suspected “This is also a good sign people in intensive care, while ventive and precautionary “I noticed that most of the percent cases are mild so it is cases not at random,” said Al which should be considered. 52 people have left intensive measures in place, why the people focus on total number matter of time, these cases will Khater. We are screening properly in care units. “Also 89 percent of number of positive cases is of confirmed cases of corona- be recovered.” “So we cannot compare the the scientific way to get the infected cases are male, while growing. “Positive cases of virus since the reporting of first “Another point is screening figures of Qatar with number accurate results not just meas- the percentage of females is 11 coronavirus are growing in case on February 28 till now,” system, if we see the growing of positive cases of other coun- uring temperatures which percent,” said Al Khater. Qatar because they are also she said, adding,” But the number of positive cases which tries because they do not could be detected in tens of She further said that most growing in other countries of important indicator is the is calculated by some people conduct early detection tests thousands,” said Al Khater. TUESDAY 21 APRIL 2020 HOME 03 Qatar Airways helps AS Roma raise funds for COVID-19 efforts

SACHIN KUMAR Qatar Airways is playing important role in THE PENINSULA helping people in the fight against COVID-19. Qatar Airways has helped Qatar Airways Cargo has increased services Italian football club AS Roma around the world, operating freighters and to raise €100,000 in an initi- ative launched to help people freight-only passenger aircraft to ensure the affected by COVID-19 in Italy. continuity of global trade and transportation The Italian football club of essential supplies to where they are needed had recently launched ‘Assieme’ (means together) ini- during this critical time. tiative, under which special edition shirts were sold to the fans. Recognising the important is one of the biggest and most “Qatar Airways worked role of Qatar Airways in the well-known football clubs in AS Roma’s special edition shirts launched under 'Assieme' initiative. with AS Roma to replace our fight against COVID-19, the the world. In April 2018, Qatar branding on their shirts with football club thanked the Airways had signed a multi- Assieme, meaning ‘Together’, airline. “Thank you @qatarai- year partnership agreement Qatar Airways is playing time. In March, the airline has Shanghai and Guangzhou. It in an initiative which has rways for supporting this with Italian football club AS important role in helping transported over 50,000 also flew six tonnes of medical raised almost €100,000,” said important initiative,” said the Roma, further strengthening people in the fight against tonnes of medical and aid sup- supplies free of charge to the Qatar Airways in a tweet football club on its official the award-winning airline’s COVID-19. Qatar Airways plies to impacted regions Islamic Republic of Iran, which yesterday. twitter account, yesterday. commitment to Italy. The Cargo has increased services around the globe. This equates were donated by the State of “A total of 500 special The proceeds from the ini- agreement, the largest ever around the world, operating to roughly 500 fully loaded Qatar, in March. Qatar Airways edition shirts were sold by the tiative will support the projects signed by the club, saw Qatar freighters and freight-only Boeing 777 freighters. Cargo has offered to fly any Serie A Club. The funds will be of Roma Cares, dedicated to Airways becoming AS Roma’s passenger aircraft to ensure In February the airline medical supplies to China and donated to the Roma Cares the needy people in the Italian Main Global Partner, with the the continuity of global trade supported China by donating Iran free of charge, to continue Foundation for the fight capital, hit by the COVID-19 airline’s logo to adorn the and transportation of essential and flying 300 tonnes of to support the coronavirus against COVID-19,” said the outbreak. team’s shirts through the supplies to where they are medical supplies to in five relief efforts of these airline. Founded in 1927, AS Roma 2020-21 season. needed during this critical cargo aircraft to Beijing, countries. Sale of local Up to 900GB of free data, 600 minutes for MADLSA hotline receives farm products new Ooredoo 5G subscriptions via eShop 11,419 calls in a month to continue in QNA — DOHA Ramadan: MME THE PENINSULA — DOHA This promotion is only STARZ PLAY and ErosNow, and The Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor valid for new customers thousands of buy-one-get-one and Social Affairs (MADLSA) said that it had received QNA — DOHA In line with its #StayHomeWith- free offers at a wide range of 11,419 calls via the hotline service during the period Ooredoo campaign to promote subscribing to a new dining options offering home from March 15 to April 18, including 1,893 calls from The Ministry of Municipality public safety amid the ongoing Shahry 5G or Qatarna 5G delivery with the Urban Point employers and 9,526 calls from workers. and Environment (MME) COVID-19 situation, Qatar’s app. The Ministry also received worker complaints announced yesterday that leading telecommunications pack, via the Ooredoo Sabah Rabia Al Kuwari, through SMS, the Amerni application and e-mail, of work will continue in yards operator has announced an eShop. Director PR at Ooredoo, said: which 481 e-mails were settled, 367 complaints and 114 selling local agricultural exciting promotion for new “We’re pleased to offer new cus- were still in progress. The number of SMSs reached products in Al Mazroua, Al Shahry 5G and Qatarna 5G tomers this exciting promotion 2269; 2,143 text message were settled and 126 were in Khor, Al Dhakhira, Al Wakrah, customers subscribing via the while we all #StayHomeWithOo- progress. Al Shamal and Al Shehaniya Ooredoo eShop, helping them to 900GB free data and up to 600 redoo. We’re proud to be helping The Ministry reported the completion of online every day during the holy still access great deals while international minutes absolutely our customers in this challenging transactions through the application of the 644 trans- month of Ramadan. staying safe at home. free, depending on the plan they time, and this offer means they actions, of which 409 were settled, and 245 are still in In that context, the Min- New Shahry 5G and Qatarna choose, when they sign up for a will get excellent value for money progress. istry also announced that work 5G customers subscribing via the new subscription via the eShop. and still access our products and The Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor will continue for selling fish in eShop will get twice the data and The new plans come loaded services without having to leave and Social Affairs (MADLSA) is keen on completing the sub-ports markets in Al twice the international minutes with fantastic entertainment the house.” various transactions as quickly as possible, especially Wakrah, Al Ruwais, Al Khor for six months, so they can access including historical matches and This promotion is only valid online transactions through the Ministry’s communi- and Al Dhakhira for con- all the benefits of the new plans sports documentaries with the for new customers subscribing to cation platforms and the Amerni application. It also tractors and individuals daily without having to leave home. beIN CONNECT app, Hollywood a new Shahry 5G or Qatarna 5G receives reports of violations of workers housing during the holy month. New customers will get up to and Bollywood movies with pack, via the Ooredoo eShop. requirements on the hotline 40280660. The ministry said work would take place from 7:30pm to midnight. The ministry stressed that all precautions MADLSA, QC launch were taken in light of the pre- cautionary measures against the spread of coronavirus in terms ‘Ramadan Gift’ initiative of sterilization, spraying, general hygiene and use of masks by farm owners and workers. for elderly and families

QNA — DOHA 11 firms found Qatar Charity has The Ministry of Administrative contributed an violating safety Development, Labor and Social Affairs (MADLSA), in cooper- amount of QR10m guidelines ation with Qatar Charity, has (QR2,000 for each announced the launch of the QNA — DOHA ‘Ramadan Gift’ initiative, beneficiary). targeting 5,000 elderly people The Ministry of Administrative and families who benefit from on taking several measures that Development, Labor and social security in accordance would help the citizens bene- Social Affairs (MADLSA) has with the Law No. 38 of 1995 fiting from social security, as the recorded violations by 11 regarding social security. validity of the social security companies operating in Under the initiative, Qatar cards has been renewed and various sectors, such as trade, Charity has contributed an extended including more than contracting, agricultural, irri- amount of QR10m (QR2,000 for 5,000 cards that were automat- gation, electrical and each beneficiary). ically renewed and extended mechanical services, technical Assistant Undersecretary for until further notice without the services, transportation, Social Affairs at the MADLSA, need to consult the Ministry and supplies, and facilities Ghanem Mubarak Al Kuwari, its affiliated branches. management at a residential said that this initiative is imple- The Assistant Undersec- location in the Al Kharra area. mented annually in cooperation retary for Social Affairs added The Ministry said that the with Qatar Charity for the that the procedures for companies were not adhering benefit of the elderly persons renewing rent allowance for cit- to the precautionary measures, and families receiving social izens in the department of which is to reduce the popu- security on the occasion of the housing were extended until lation density of workers' blessed month of Ramadan, further notice without the need housing and provide safe dis- adding that it comes within the to visit the department, adding tances between workers when framework of permanent coop- that the MADLSA has intensified boarding or getting off the eration between the Ministry its media awareness campaigns buses, and accordingly they and Qatar Charity to contribute on the importance of using elec- were referred to the security to providing the necessary tronic applications, including authorities to take the nec- needs for these families. ‘Amerni’ app to take advantage essary action. Al Kuwari stressed that, in of its available services, while This came in the context of light of the precautionary efforts stressing that the MADLSA’s the inspection campaigns taken by the country to curb the social affairs sector receives all carried out by labor inspectors spread of the coronavirus communications via the hotline of the Ministry to ensure com- (COVID-19) epidemic, the to respond to all inquiries and panies adhere to the necessary MADLSA represented by the requests and address them precautions. social affairs sector is working quickly. New restrictions for walk-in patients to NCCCR THE PENINSULA — DOHA Medical Corporation (HMC)’s systems — these service Emergency Departments, has changes have been made to The Urgent Care Unit at the said on its social media handles ensure their risk of infection is National Center for Cancer Care yesterday. According to HMC, kept to a minimum,” HMC has and Research (NCCCR) is no this has been announced as part said. longer accepting walk-in of changes made to the delivery Cancer patients with urgent patients for anything other than of healthcare services across needs can discuss their care cancer-related conditions. HMC to protect patients, vis- with a physician, enquire about Cancer patients with non- itors and the wider public from medication dispensing, and cancer related urgent condi- the spread of COVID-19. enquire about specific oncology tions should visit a Primary “Patients within the NCCCR and hematology care by calling Health Care Corporation Urgent Urgent Care Unit are vulnerable HMC’s Urgent Consultation Care Clinic or one of Hamad and have suppressed immune Service on 16000. 04 HOME TUESDAY 21 APRIL 2020 QRCS to provide Qatar chairs extraordinary meeting QR34m medical aid of ARABOSAI Executive Council The meeting was repercussions. for 10 countries He pointed out that the call convened to discuss for the organization’s executive THE PENINSULA — DOHA in several countries. the repercussions board to convene in an extraor- In Ethiopia, integrated of the spread of dinary session comes within the Qatar Red Crescent Society health education programs to framework of seeking to sur- (QRCS) has launched a QR34m promote knowledge of the the coronavirus round the effects of the crisis on fundraising campaign to support nature and prevention of coro- on the work of the the organization’s activity and the global coronavirus control navirus disease will be organization and to develop perceptions that efforts. It will target over 5 launched. Other measures such would ensure the organization’s million beneficiaries in 10 poor as training for volunteers, and ways to ensure continuation of its activities in countries. distribution of health protection the continuity of order to enhance the capabil- The new drive comes in kits, each containing a full ities of the Arab institutions and response to the appeal issued by garment (gloves, head covers, its activity and to improve their performance. the International Federation of goggles, face shields, and propose an action The council also discussed a the Red Cross and Red Crescent rubber boots) for the benefit of plan to enhance the number of proposals related to Societies (IFRC) to raise funds to 42,000 persons in Addis Ababa enhancing the contribution of combat the coronavirus pan- and Oromia will be taken. capabilities of the the supreme audit agencies in demic, especially in poor coun- In Afghanistan, PPE (masks, member institutions H E Sheikh Bandar bin Mohammed bin Saoud Al Thani, President dealing with the repercussions tries which lack resources to gloves, coveralls, sanitizers and of the current crisis and the role of the State Audit Bureau and Chairman of the Executive Council withstand its consequences. disinfectants, and digital ther- in dealing with the of the Arab organization in sup- of ARABOSAI, chairing the meeting via video conference. Qatar is a major humanitarian mometers) to serve 140 health crisis. porting it through adopted plans donor for all friendly countries facilities and 1,000 families of and programs. around the world. coronavirus patients will be H E Sheikh Bandar bin Mohammed bin Saoud Al Thani The meeting concluded with Ali bin Hassan Al Hammadi, provided. Training and edu- QNA — DOHA Mohammed bin Saoud Al Thani. stressed in the meeting, which an invitation to the organiza- Secretary-General of QRCS, said, cation for 280 health profes- The meeting was convened was attended by heads of the tion’s structures from com- “Humanitarian action is partic- sionals and 500 volunteers The extraordinary meeting of to discuss the repercussions of audit institutions that are mittees and the general secre- ularly important in disaster and education for 100,000 the Executive Council of the the spread of the coronavirus on members of the Executive tariat to study the implications zones. In the face of an emer- society members, and Arab Organization of Supreme the work of the organization and Council, that the crisis of the of the current situation on the gency that affects almost every enhancement of quarantine Audit Institutions (ARABOSAI) ways to ensure the continuity of coronavirus outbreak is unprec- organization’s performance and country in the world, QRCS is services for positive and sus- was held yesterday via video its activity and to propose an edented in the history of prepare an exceptional plan in one of the first responders. With picious cases in several prov- conference, chaired by President action plan to enhance the capa- mankind in terms of its extent the activities that are proposed its preparedness strategy, it is inces will be provided. of the State Audit Bureau and bilities of the member institu- and impact, and that ARABOSAI to support the member institu- well in place to deal with any Similar steps will be taken in Chairman of the Executive tions in dealing with the crisis. and other organizations are not tions in their response to this crisis immediately”. Sudan, Somalia, Mali, Iraq, Council of the Organization, H E Sheikh Bandar bin immune to the crisis epidemic. He emphasised that this ini- Yemen, Bangladesh, Syria and tiative to stand by humanity is Palestine. Individuals can donate not something new. It is a deep- via QRCS website (www.qrcs. Woqod opens Umm Al Juwashen petrol station Doha Municipality intensifies rooted tradition of QRCS since org.qa); donor service number its establishment in 1978, (66666364); home donation col- THE PENINSULA — DOHA inspection ahead of Ramadan inspired by the Qatari culture lection number (66644822); and values. “Our representation bank transfer with QIIB Qatar Fuel (Woqod) opened THE PENINSULA — DOHA missions in 22 countries are (IBAN:QA66QIIB0000000 Umm Al Juwashen petrol coordinating with the host 01111126666003); QRCS head- station on Al Majd Road The Health Monitoring Unit at Doha National Societies on capacity- quarters in Corniche; Training yesterday, raising its Municipality has intensified food outlets building and preventive and Development Center in network of petrol stations inspection efforts to ensure they are measures,” he stated. Umm Al-Seneem; or QRCS’s to 104. complying with health rules ahead of the Under the campaign, a slew donation collection agents at Al- Woqod’s Managing holy month of Ramadan. of projects will be implemented Meera, LuLu, and Carrefour. Director and CEO, Saad During the campaign, the municipal Rashid Al Muhannadi, said: inspectors recorded six violations of the “We are pleased to open a provisions of the Law No. 8 of 1990 for new petrol station in Umm regulating foods, said the Ministry of Al Juwashen, Al Majd Road. Municipality and Environment in a Woqod aspires to expand its release. A view of the newly-opened Umm Al Juwashen petrol station. petrol station network in the As much as 437 inspection visits were country to meet the rising made. All meat and fish shops were demand for petroleum New Umm Al Juwashen petrol station offers round- inspected to ensure the compliance health products and achieve the petrol station is spread over the-clock services to resi- rules and preventive and precautionary goal of providing customers an area of 40,000 square dents, and includes Sidra measures are in place. with access to best-in-class meters and has four lanes convenience store, manual Meanwhile, the inspector of general products and services at with eight dispensers for car wash, oil change and monitoring section at Doha Municipality their convenience and light vehicles, and three tire repair, for light and put violation stickers on 63 abandoned comfort. Woqod team would lanes with six dispensers for heavy vehicles and sale of vehicles from April 5 to 9. As much as 32 like to extend their gratitude heavy vehicles, which will LPG cylinders “Shafaf”, in abandoned vehicles were removed in to all concerned govern- serve Umm Al Juwashen addition to sale of gasoline coordination with the authorities mental and private entities area, Al Majd Road and its and diesel products for light concerned. that contributed to the com- neighbourhood. vehicles and Heavy The section received 16 complaints QRCS officials during a COVID-19 prevention campaign in northern Syria. pletion of this project.” Umm Al Juwashen Vehicles. against which were responded on time. UREP success for WCM-Q student researchers and faculty mentors THE PENINSULA — DOHA microbiota in Qatar, which their outstanding commitment made its results unique and to research. We are very Researchers at Weill Cornell new to Qatar. Of course, this grateful to QNRF for their con- Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) won project would have not tinued support of the UREP first place in the 12th annual reached its full potential program and for running this Undergraduate Research without the support of QNRF, inspiring contest, which does Experience Program (UREP), our mentors, especially Dr. so much to fuel the enthusiasm run by Qatar National Ghizlane, and my fellow team and ambition of young Research Fund (QNRF). members, who worked tire- researchers at institutions all The project, titled “Role of lessly on this project.” over Qatar.” the Human Gut Microbiota in Dr. Khaled Machaca, senior The UREP contest is Autism Spectrum Disorders associate dean for research, designed to promote research- and Inflammatory Bowel Dis- innovation & commerciali- based education and hands- eases” was led by Dr. Ghizlane zation at WCM-Q, said: “I offer on learning, helping students Bendriss, lecturer in biology. my warmest congratulations gain experience of team-based Her research team, comprised to the winners for this extraor- research and collaboration of two other faculty mentors dinary achievement. This with faculty, postdoctoral and six students, was awarded achievement highlights the fellows, graduate students, and first prize in recognition of the superb caliber of our students other undergraduates or Dr. Ghizlane Bendriss, lecturer in important achievements and and faculty, and it is especially research staff in Qatar. WCM-Q students who were part of the winning research team in biology, led the research team that outcomes of this project. gratifying QNRF’s UREP competition. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Dana Al won QNRF’s UREP contest. WCM-Q is a member of Qatar Ali, Zain Burney, Nada Mhaimeed, Ameena Shafiq, Mohammed during these Foundation. Salameh and Krishnadev Pillai. extraordinary Working alongside Dr. project was one of the first times as it Bendriss on the project were studies to look into gut demonstrates fellow faculty members Dr. original pool of 46 projects because of the physical dis- Dalia Zakaria, also a lecturer produced by research teams tancing rules in place to limit in biology in the WCM-Q pre- at universities across Qatar. the spread of the coronavirus. medical curriculum, and Dr. Students from each of the Second place in this year’s Noha Yousri, assistant pro- 14 shortlisted teams then pre- contest was won by Texas fessor of research in genetic sented their projects and the A&M University at Qatar, and medicine, plus students Dana judging panel awarded prizes third place by Qatar Al-Ali, Ameena Shafiq, Nada to the top three. University. Mhaimeed, Mohammed Students Dana Al Ali and Dana Al Ali, a third-year Salameh, Zain Burney, and Ameena Shafiq were tasked medical student, said: “We Krishnadev Pillai. with presenting the WCM-Q have been working on this In this year’s UREP contest, project to the panel of judges, project for about three years 14 projects were selected for a process which this year took now and for it to compete and the final round out of an place via videoconference win was very surreal. Our MoCI recalls Mercedes-Benz AMG GT model of 2018 THE PENINSULA — DOHA not be attached in accordance and repair works and will com- to manufacturer specification. municate with customers to The Ministry of Commerce and The recall campaign comes ensure that they carried out the Industry (MoCI), in cooperation within the framework of the necessary repairs. with Nasser Bin Khaled Auto- Ministry’s continuous efforts to The Ministry urged all cus- mobiles, dealer of Mercedes- protect consumers and ensure tomers to report any violations Benz in Qatar, announced the that dealers follow up on to its Consumer Protection and recall of Mercedes-Benz AMG vehicle defects and repairs. Anti-Commercial Fraud GT model of 2018 over the clip The Ministry said that it will Department, which processes on the wiring harness for the coordinate with the dealer to complaints, inquires and automatic transmission may follow up on the maintenance suggestions. TUESDAY 21 APRIL 2020 HOME 05 Sustainable system for remote working needed amid COVID-19 RAYNALD C RIVERA term,” Maryam Al Sumait, co- As experts foresee but that’s physically impossible replaced, though it can be THE PENINSULA founder of design service right now so we try our best to complemented.” agency Makery, has said. the pandemic won’t do this through meetings with “Digital experience does have As companies in both private Al Sumait was speaking at end anytime soon, our clients on different plat- an emotional impact but the expe- and public sectors in Qatar have an online coaching session on working remotely forms and trying different rience of going to the movies or turned to remote working as a Saturday evening which was things. The attitude of being watching a live musical is some- means of social distancing to hosted by Qatari fashion has become the flexible really helps us during thing that cannot be replaced by prevent the spread of COVID-19 designer Fahad Al Obaidly and new norm around this crisis,” she said. technology,” she added. pandemic, there is a need to was part of a series organised Asked on how to emo- “I think we are in an era design a sustainable system for by M7, a creative startups hub the world including tionally engage with the viewer where we are trying to strike remote working. dedicated to innovation and Qatar and thus a in a digital platform that might the right balance between As experts foresee the pan- entrepreneurship established long-term, efficient need a physical experience as human and digital interaction,” demic won’t end anytime soon, by Qatar Museums for the in live versus digital fashion she said. working remotely has become nation’s growing fashion and system is needed. shows, she said: “Some people The biweekly online coaching the new norm around the world design industry. say that we are living in a digital sessions which M7 started last including Qatar and thus a long- The pandemic has com- world, and we need to under- week are aimed to guide and Maryam Al Sumait, co-founder term, efficient system is needed. pelled organisations to shift to human interaction is vital, stand how we work digitally. encourage aspiring designers. of design service agency Makery. “Many organisations in the digital platform as means of however that doesn’t mean that The digital tools that we have They are held every Thursday Doha are currently working conducting business and we cannot completely operate increase efficiency but do not and Saturday at 6pm on the M7 remotely. Some of them are reaching out to consumers. remotely. The crisis has forced replace human interaction. Instagram account, @M7.qatar. adapting better than others “I think it’s teaching us a lot us to work in this type of style but thinking and service design There are many things that can This coming Thursday, Oleg based on their previous expe- on how to work with different this has to be more sustainable workshops, branding service, be done to help engage people Fazulyanow, CEO of Fashion rience. Working remotely has circumstances because some- on the long term,” she said. and service design consultancy emotionally like virtual reality Consulting Group Milan, will a lot of components and it needs times you’re limited with a Combining business and which are human-centric. and many other different tools. talk about the business of to be studied and properly certain time or to a certain design, Makery, a service design “One of our core values is to Experience can be digital but fashion and how designers can translated into a sustainable location that it’s more convenient agency which Al Sumait had co- emphasize on the human being in a place and experi- test if their products will work system that can go into the long to do it remotely, but I think founded, provides design element and human interaction encing something cannot be in a target market. Katara to launch Ramadan competitions and exhibitions via social media

THE PENINSULA — DOHA Ramadan are characterized by QR8,000 respectively. children, in addition to connect the diversity of subjects and the Another competition is the the current generation with the The Cultural Village Foundation richness of content. Qatari Heritage contest in which inherited Qatari culture and Katara has announced it is They include the Quran Katara will post a daily question heritage. The animated series preparing to launch online competition of “Juz’u Amma” on Katara’s social media plat- is also the first artwork of competitions and virtual exhi- for Children from 6 to 13 years forms related to old Qatari Katara Publishing House, bitions via social media during old which includes memorizing words, in addition to the short supervised by Khalid Abdul the holy month of Ramadan. and reciting, as well as the story competition inspired by Rahim Sayed. The online competitions will “Katara Prophetic Hadiths” the life of the Prophet Mohamed Katara is also preparing to cover religious, cultural and competition for girls and boys (peace be upon him). launch virtual exhibitions of heritage aspects while the from 10 and 18, in which the The story should be for fine-art artists such as “Al virtual exhibitions will feature participants are required to children, and the number of Tayebeen” by Qatari artist Ali a group of fine-art artists, memorize the book of Al- the words must be between Dasmal Al-Kuwari, “Patches” Katara said yesterday. Nawawi’s Forty Hadith. 100 and 120 words. The Katara by Syrian artist Hadi Qasous, “A These online events come Katara will also launch Galleries competition includes Mirage You Cannot Reach” by within the activities of Katara competitions in culture, her- a daily question about one of Masoud Al Balushi, and “The during the holy month of itage, and media, such as The the previous Katara Result” by Qatari artist Fatima Ramadan and in the framework Katara Fluent Media Anchor on exhibitions. Al-Naimi. of the precautionary and pre- TV and radio for girls and boys Qatar TV will broadcast Registration for the The ventive measures taken by from the age of 12 to 22 years. during Ramadan the second Quran competition for kids Katara in the fight against the Participants are required to part of the animated series “Juz’u Amma”, the “Katara coronavirus. read a text provided by Katara, “Tamor & Tamora” produced Prophetic Hadith” Compe- Catered to various social and send the audio or video by Katara, and which won the tition, the Short Story Com- and age groups, the competi- recording on WhatsApp, with award at the 20th session of the petition and The Katara tions include memorizing the the information of the partic- Arab Radio and Television Fes- Fluent Media Anchor compe- Holy Qur’an and prophetic ipant and a copy of his ID. Top tival held in the Tunisian capital tition will be from 1 Ramadan sayings, in addition to compe- three winners will be sele in June last year in the children’s to 10 Ramadan, and commu- The online events come within the activities of Katara during the holy titions related to culture, her- cted from each of these programs category. nication with the participants month of Ramadan and in the framework of the precautionary and itage, short story and media. competitions to receive This animation series aims will be by phone or Zoom preventive measures taken by Katara in the fight against the coronavirus. Katara competitions during QR13000; QR10,000 and to spread awareness among program. 06 HOME TUESDAY 21 APRIL 2020 People with diabetes advised to be QRCS expands COVID-19 fundraising campaign extra vigilant against COVID-19 THE PENINSULA — DOHA Inspired by its national respon- — DOHA THE PENINSULA People living with diabetes (60%) or sanitizer,” say the guidelines. sibility, Qatar Red Crescent “People with diabetes are prone to skin Society (QRCS) has launched the People with diabetes, as all those with chronic must take extra precautions dehydration, so a hand cream prescribed 2nd phase of its fundraising diseases, have less immunity than healthy and preventive measures by your physician can be used at night to campaign to combat corona- people. When blood sugar is high, the cells prevent dryness caused by consistent use virus. that get infection do not function to clear the to protect themselves from of sanitizer; prepare a list of your medica- As the risks persist, QRCS infection allowing the infection to progress COVID-19 infection and to tions and the dosages in case of an emer- decided to expand its campaign, more quickly and severely. stay safe, according to the gency; get adequate amount of medications, with a new target of QR30m. People living with diabetes must take sufficient for at least two weeks and sup- With these funds, QRCS will be extra precautions and preventive measures Ministry of Public Health. plies for monitoring blood glucose at home; able to step up the response to protect themselves from COVID-19 The Ministry has issued have a supply to test your blood sugar and efforts, by securing the supplies infection and to stay safe, according to the ketones and have the contact information needed for medical and vol- guidance for people living Ali bin Hassan Al Hammadi, Ministry of Public Health (MoPH). of your health care provider at hand so that untary personnel, as well as Secretary-General of QRCS. With more than 17 percent of adults in with type 1 diabetes and you do not need to leave the house if you helping the vulnerable groups Qatar, MoPH has issued guidance for people also asked them to remain become ill,” it added. affected by the markets closure. living with type 1 diabetes. The guidance has well hydrated If people living with type 1 diabetes do Ali bin Hassan Al Hammadi, companies; healthcare and been issued for the people of Qatar living with get the virus and show symptoms such as Secretary-General of QRCS, personal supplies for inmates type 1 diabetes and their families. coughing, fever or shortness of breath they stated, “Recently, there has been and workers at quarantine For people living with diabetes to boost people living with type 1 diabetes take, the may need assessment by a healthcare pro- a dramatic increase in demand facilities (mattresses, blankets, their immune system, the Ministry advises to Ministry says to firstly, look after health and fessional. Start self-quarantine, avoid any for protective supplies in order clothes, hygiene kits, etc.), psy- maintain blood sugar readings at the target diabetes. contact with others and call the national to enable the crisis management chological support for the quar- range agreed with your healthcare profes- “Follow the instructions of MoPH by COVID-19 hotline on 16000; personnel to do their job. The antined persons, health pro- sionals (generally fasting blood sugar of practicing social distancing, staying at home, The Ministry has also advised people with physicians and nurses working tective supplies (such as masks 80-130mg/dl and post prandial sugar 180mg/ avoiding crowds, parks and refraining from diabetes to not stop diabetes medications. at quarantine facilities are and sanitizers), personal pro- dl). The sugar targets depend on several factors touching one another or surfaces; Always “In fact, you are likely to need more facing a deadly challenge for the tective equipment (PPE) for the including age and duration of diabetes. use a face mask and protective gloves when insulin than usual when you are sick. Speak sake of their medical ethics. For volunteers and staff working The Ministry has also asked people with visiting public areas (ie grocery shopping to your diabetes team through the Diabetes us the nationals and residents at facilities or districts at risk of diabetes to remain well hydrated by drinking or attending an appointment), at work and Hotline 16099 (select option 4). The service of Qatar, we have to gratefully infection, and food meals for plenty of water, have a balanced diet, con- even at home when there is a family gath- is available seven days a week from 7am to give them protection against the workers and other vul- sisting of 3 meals and snacks as indicated by ering. Personal hygiene is extremely 10pm),” it has said. infection. Actually, they are an nerable groups affected by stop the healthcare professionals, ensure to have important for people with diabetes at this The Ministry also emphasised the impor- inherent part of the human of work and home taken all required annual vaccinations such time of the virus outbreak. Wash your hands tance of following healthcare professional resources that the country relies quarantine. as pneumococcus and maintain regular with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. team recommendations for patients with dia- on at such difficult times”. Al Hammadi thanked the physical activity even if staying at home. If soap and water are not available, clean betes. For more information on COVID-19 He added, “There are many Regulatory Authority for Char- In advice to protective measures should your hands with an alcohol-based solution Call: 16000, or visit: www.moph.gov.qa professions where people earn itable Activities (RACA) for pro- their wages on a daily basis. As viding facilitations and workshops and small enter- approvals to make the cam- prises are closed to prevent the paign a reality. He appreciated 160 students join Turkish language courses remotely spread of the virus, those the support given by many workers find themselves with organisations and companies THE PENINSULA — DOHA virtual education and education Doha, and it aims to promote no money. They do not have to QRCS’s work at the Mekaines platforms remotely and the live Turkish culture and language. enough savings to live on during quarantine facility, a four- With the participation of 160 interactive lessons system is Since its inauguration in the closure. To meet their basic complex location with a students, the Turkish Cultural implemented according to the late 2015, the Centre has needs, QRCS seeks to provide capacity of 7,000 workers. Centre, Yunus Emre, recently Zoom application, he noted. launched a number of events food for them. At the same time, These contributors include: organised many courses in He also said that about 5 that reflect the richness and its Humanitarian Services Fund Qatar Charity, Afif Charity, Turkish language using virtual teachers are providing these diversity of Turkish culture, continues to offer seasonal and Jassim and Hamad Bin Jassim and distance education plat- lessons to 160 students enrolled and it also plays a prominent emergency assistance to the Charitable Foundation, Nasser forms. in distance education courses, role in spreading Turkish needy families." Bin Khaled Charitable Foun- The Director of the Turkish explaining that there will be an culture, arts and language In partnership with the dation, ExxonMobil Qatar, Cultural Centre Yunus Emre in online exam at the end of these through its participation in cul- Ministry of Public Health Ooredoo, Alfardan Group, ALFA Doha, Dr. Seljuk Kuja courses. tural activities, as well as is (MoPH) and its organs, QRCS is Telecom, Al-Adekhar Real (pictured), said that the initi- The courses for teaching the able to open windows in the providing health and psycho- Estate, and Qatar Football ative comes in response to the Turkish language are at the definition of the Turkish lan- logical services for those at risk Association. current health conditions and forefront of activities and guage, arts, heritage and of infection at quarantine facil- Al-Hammadi invited all the in line with preventive of infection with coronavirus. events launched by Turkish culture and contributes to their ities, health education for rich in Qatar to donate for this measures to avoid the causes The Centre uses Cultural Centre Yunus Emre in publication. workers at health centers and noble campaign. VCUarts Qatar to offer free 'Virtual Studios' THE PENINSULA — DOHA Titled, ‘Virtual Studios’, the programme has Ul Hosna’s class will focus on realistic, fun and quick ideas Virginia Commonwealth been launched to support the VCUarts Qatar to set up a home office, while University School of the Arts in community, and one of the courses, “Art in “Design Thinking in Design Qatar (VCUarts Qatar), a Qatar and Entrepreneurship” by Foundation partner university, Support of our Heroes”, will cater to all those interdisciplinary designer, will begin offering a range of who are bravely and selflessly working for entrepreneur and VCUarts free and exciting art and design the safety of all of Qatar’s citizens, such as Qatar Fashion Design pro- classes from April 22 to May 20. fessor Yang Soon Ju will show Titled, “Virtual Studios’, the medical and hospital staff. how design thinking can programme has been launched support self-expression and to support the VCUarts Qatar creativity more innovatively community, and one of the art materials are required. Other classes being offered in the area of design and "Art & Collective Conversations in Crisis” will provide an avenue of courses, “Art in Support of our Powell will also be teaching by the “Virtual Studios” entrepreneurship. opportunity for participants to interact, ask questions, and collectively Heroes”, will cater to all those “Art & Collective Conversations program will include “2D Ani- In the class titled, “Encour- support each other. BELOW: A 2D animation for kids who are bravely and selflessly in Crisis.” Participants will be mation for Kids”, which will be aging your Child’s Creativity at working for the safety of all of invited to join a creative space taught by VCUarts Qatar Home” participants will explore Qatar’s citizens, such as medical where they will engage in art- Graphic Design alumna art ideas, exercises, and the and hospital staff. The “Heroes” making, consider their emo- Ebtesam M. Al-Hothi. Children benefits of providing creative class, which will last one hour, tional wellbeing, and how they will learn creative techniques and exploratory opportunities will be taught by Sara Powell, are managing and mitigating of shading using dotting, for children of all ages at home. a VCUarts Qatar alumna and Art the impact of the pandemic collage, and push and pull ink. Using only basic stationery, Psychotherapist who has vast while reflecting on transitioning The art pieces created by the kitchen resources and things experience of supporting with a lack of connectivity and students will be combined and from around the home, the trauma. Though the class is uncertainty, and while used to produce 2D stop motion instructor, Bridget Dunn will designed for frontline addressing issues such as fear animation clips. These artworks guide the students in how to responders, it is open to anyone and anxiety. “Art & Collective will be created using basic sta- make an exciting drawing, who would benefit from it. No Conversations in Crisis” will tionery, and everyday collage, sculpture, and painting previous art-making expe- provide an avenue and oppor- household resources. and printing. rience is needed, and only tunity for the participants to In “Set up your Creative Can register for the classes simple materials, such as a interact, ask questions, and col- Home Office”, VCUarts Qatar via https://qatar.vcu.edu./com- pencil or paper, or other basic lectively support each other. Interior Design alumna Asma munity/online-education. Nehmeh launches e-commerce platform SIS conducts online teachers THE PENINSULA — DOHA discussion forum Nehmeh, a leading provider of quality industrial solutions, is once THE PENINSULA — DOHA again setting the standards. The company announced yesterday the Shantiniketan Indian School launch of its first innovative (SIS) organised an online E-Commerce website enabling teachers discussion on Industrial customers to order online “effective methodology for in Qatar with delivery and payment reliable industrial solutions. trade & industry customers to inquire remote teaching” with the options. “In these uncertain times, we and order online from thousands of panellists demonstrating Online shoppers will now find have looked to invest in the present products, accessories & spare parts. various digital tools and tech- award-winning brands, many of and future so as to make our solu- Delivery and payment options will niques that can ensure an Shantiniketan Indian School teachers attend an online discussion who are market leaders in their cat- tions available to our customers include collection in store, cash on- engaging, interactive and on 'effective methodology for remote teaching'. egories, such as Makita, Koshin, that can have a choice to deliver to delivery, payments in credit & debit effective teaching learning Norton, Kohler-SDMO, Stampa, them in a convenient, accessible cards or through special coupons process in this critical time Solomon (Junior); Sheeja teaching to students of all Portacool, U-Pol and more available and safe way.” said Alexander A exclusively for members of the where nations are adopting Thamby (Middle); Aneesha classes from KG – XII. Prin- on the Nehmeh Online Store. Nehme, Director of Strategic Indic- “Rewards by Nehmeh” program, as social distancing and students Majeed (Secondary); and cipal, Dr. Subhash Nair, Nehmeh has a wide presence in atives. “As we look at a post- well as PayPal. confined to their homes. Tono Fernandez (Senior expressed happiness at the the Automotive, Construction, Heat COVID-19 era, It is important for The second generation of the The discussion was Secondary) took part in the progress of remote teaching Transfer, Rental, Service and Wood- businesses adapt and change their Nehmeh App, the most popular moderated by Nazia forum with tools like that is benefitting the stu- working Industrial Performance business models and embrace industrial mobile application in Saleem, witnessed demon- Edpuzzle, Quizlet, Prezi, dents and has urged the Solutions. In addition to Nehmeh’ digital transformation as we are Qatar, will follow suit in line with stration by teachers from all whiteboards, mid mapping teachers to make use of all large retail network in Qatar and doing throughout our value chain” the e-commerce platform enabling sections on ways to flip tools, and a lot more in the tools available and dis- B2C, B2B channel networks, the added Alexander. purchases through its existing their lessons. Varalakshmi addition to Google Suite cussed to make the process transition online will now enable Being rolled out in phases, the mobile apps already available on Ganesan (KG); Mahek Platforms that are currently effective, engaging and tens of thousands of people access Nehmeh Online Shop will allow both Google and Apple stores. Latheef (Primary); Austin being used for remote interactive. TUESDAY 21 APRIL 2020 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA 07

Oman announces Iran, Syria call for continued closure of mosques lifting sanctions during Ramadan QNA & ANATOLIA — MUSCAT during pandemic Omani authorities yesterday announced the continuation AP — DAMASCUS Syria and Iran are of closure of all mosques, except for the call for prayer, Iran’s foreign minister used both under American and emphasized the non- a meeting with Syrian Pres- sanctions that they performance of any type of ident Bashar Al Assad congregational prayers, yesterday to call on the US to both say are affecting including Taraweeh. They also lift sanctions imposed on both their fight against extended the lockdown of countries, during his first visit Muscat Governorate till May 8. to the war-ravaged country the virus by limiting That was announced after in a year. the Supreme Committee some humanitarian Iranians shop at the Grand Bazaar market in the capital Tehran, yesterday. Iran has been a close ally of tasked with studying scopes Assad in Syria’s long and bloody imports. The Iranian for a mechanism to deal with nine-year-long civil war, foreign minister said developments resulting from lending his government in America had shown Iran opens major shopping centres; coronavirus pandemic held a Damascus vital military and meeting chaired by Minister economic support. its inhumane face to of Interior. The remarks made by the world by refusing deaths from virus rise to 5,209 The Committee, according Mohammad Javad Zarif during to Oman News Agency, pro- the meeting with Assad were to lift sanctions during AGENCIES — TEHRAN coronavirus outbreak - one of in touch with people,” cab hibited all members of society reported by Syria’s state-run the pandemic. the worst in the world - even driver Nemat Hassanzadeh said. from organizing any Ramadan news agency SANA. Iran reported 91 new fatalities as some fear it could lead to a “Despite that, we have no choice gatherings, like iftar meals and Zarif said America had from coronavirus, raising the second wave of infections but to work because we cannot barbeques, at mosques or any shown its inhumane face to the the pandemic was being used death toll to 5,209, state media Stores from high-end malls afford to sleep at home and not other public places like tents world by refusing to lift sanc- for “political exploitation” by the said yesterday. to the meandering alleyways of to work with these high prices.... and community councils. It also tions during the pandemic. US and its allies. The Iranian state television Tehran’s historic Grand Bazaar I am a tenant and need the banned social, sports, cultural A photo of the meeting Syria and Iran are both reported Kianoush Jahanpour, opened their doors, though the money to pay the monthly rent and recreational activities. The released by SANA showed Assad under American sanctions that a spokesman for the Health government limited their and also pay off my car loan.” number of coronavirus cases in wearing a face mask while Zarif they both say are affecting their Ministry, as saying that 1,294 working hours until 6 p.m. Res- Iran’s outbreak has killed Oman rose to 1,410 after 144 had also put on a mask and blue fight against the virus by lim- more people tested positive for taurants, gyms and other loca- over 5,000 people in over 80,000 more cases were reported. The gloves. iting some humanitarian COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, tions remain closed, however. reported cases, though even Iran’s infections included four deaths Iran is facing one the worst imports. bringing the total number of There are still lingering parliament suggests the death toll and 238 recoveries. outbreaks in the Middle East Iran’s Foreign Ministry said infections to 83,505. questions over Iran’s outbreak is nearly double that and overall Kuwait, Morocco, and with 83,500 confirmed cases of on Sunday that Zarif will Jahanpour added that and the safety of those cases remain vastly underre- Lebanon yesterday updated the coronavirus, and more than discuss with Assad and other 59,273 people have recovered returning to work. Taxi drivers ported. Deaths and new cases con- data on the novel coronavirus 5,200 deaths from the Covid-19 Syrian officials bilateral rela- and been discharged from hos- partitioned their seats from the tinue to be reported. Iran down- pandemic.In Kuwait, the death illness it causes. Syria has tions and developments in the pitals, whereas 3,389 patients customers with plastic shields played the crisis for weeks, even toll is now nine, after two more reported only 39 cases of the region. were in critical condition. and wore masks, having seen as top officials found themselves patients died yesterday, while virus and two deaths. Russia, Iran and Turkey, Iran yesterday began colleagues sickened and killed sick with the virus. The country’s 367 people have recovered in Assad expressed his condo- who back rival groups in Syria’s opening intercity highways and by the virus and the COVID-19 civilian government, led by Pres- the country so far. The Health lences to Iran over the deaths conflict, have been sponsoring major shopping centers to stim- illness it causes. ident Hassan Rouhani, has Ministry added that 80 people caused by coronavirus during talks in Kazakhstan to try to end ulate its sanctions-choked “We, the taxi drivers, are at declined to implement the had tested positive, bringing the the meeting. the conflict that has killed nearly economy, gambling that it has the highest risk than anybody 24-hour lockdowns seen in other total number of cases to 1,995. The Syrian leader said that half a million people. brought under control its else because we are constantly Mideast nations. In Morocco, the death toll rose to 143 after two patients died.Health Ministry said that 135 confirmed new cases COVID-19 puts missile showdown between Turkey and US on hold brought the infections to 2,990, including 340 recov- REUTERS — ISTANBUL same airspace as US planes eries. In Lebanon, four more would be a “massive problem” people tested positive for Turkey’s plans to switch on its which would create a new crisis COVID-19, pushing the total new Russian missile defence between the two countries, to 677, including 21 fatalities. systems have been delayed by Richard Outzen, a senior the coronavirus outbreak but it adviser at the State Department, Palestinian President does not intend to reverse a told an online discussion last decision which has raised the week. directs lockdown threat of US sanctions, a senior Turkey’s air force includes ease for Ramadan Turkish official said. U.S. F16 jets and it had been due Tensions between Nato to take delivery of the new F35s QNA — RAMALLAH allies Turkey and the United before Washington cut it from States over the S-400 air the F35 programme in response Palestinian President defence systems had looked set to the S-400s contract. Mahmoud Abbas directed the to reach a showdown in April, The issue “is muffled right government to ease the when President Recep Tayyip now because of COVID, but the lockdown measure, especially Erdogan and the government thinking in Washington prior to with the approach of the holy had said they would be COVID dominating the dis- fasting month of Ramadan. activated. course was that the Turks were Abbas headed the minis- But the coronavirus out- probably going to activate the terial meeting via video con- break has focused Turkish Pigeons are seen at the nearly empty Taksim Square and its surroundings after measures taken system in April and Congress ference where he spoke about efforts on combatting the pan- against the spread of coronavirus pandemic, in Istanbul yesterday. was going to move to impose several issues, including the demic and ring-fencing an sanctions,” Outzen said. “I don’t coronavirus outbreak, economy which only just pulled senior official said, speaking on delivered to Turkey last July, are from Russia. Turkey’s presi- think any of that has gone COVID-19, in Palestine and out of recession last year. In condition of anonymity. It incompatible with Nato dency made no mention of the away”. measures to ease the lockdown recent weeks Erdogan and his could be several months before defences and would jeopardise S-400s in a statement following The delay in deploying the imposed in early March. government have not raised the the Russian system is activated, US F35 stealth jets which a call between Erdogan and US S-400s gives Ankara more time President Abbas praised S-400 issue publicly. the official said, adding some Turkey planned to buy. President Donald Trump on to consider its next move, ana- the government efforts to “There is no going back on technical issues remained to be Their acquisition by Turkey Sunday, which it said focused lysts say. A recent alignment of contain the impact of the virus, the decision to activate the overcome. The Turkish defence means Ankara could face US on cooperation to protect health US-Turkish interests in Syria which had positive results on S-400s (but) due to COVID-19... ministry declined to comment. sanctions under legislation and the economy from and the economic impact of the the Palestinians, including pro- the plan for them to be ready in The United States says the designed to punish countries coronavirus. coronavirus crisis could also vision of the necessary April will be delayed,” the S-400s, which Moscow which buy defence equipment Deploying the S-400s in the have a bearing. equipment to combat the virus. Houthis release Yemen’s former Unicef appeals for minister $92.4m in funds as ANATOLIA — SANA'A virus deepens poverty Yemen’s Houthi rebel group yesterday released the former culture minister after day-long AFP — AMMAN The majority were uprooted detention, a government due to armed conflicts in Iraq, source said. The UN children’s agency Libya, the Palestinian terri- On Sunday, Khaled Al yesterday appealed for $92.4m tories, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, Ruwaishan was picked up from in new funds for the Middle it said. his home in the capital Sanaa, East and North Africa to help The devastating effects of which has been under the combat the effects of corona- population lockdowns -- intro- control of Houthi rebels since virus on already poverty- duced to forestall the spread of September 2014. stricken areas. coronavirus — on employment Al Ruwaishan, was set free “The region has the biggest and business will drag around after great pressure, a gov- number of children in need in eight million more people into ernment source told Anadolu the world due to ongoing con- poverty regionally, an esti- Agency on condition of ano- flicts and wars,” said Ted mated half of them children, nymity without elaborating Chaiban, Unicef director for the Unicef added. what it meant.Local media Middle East and North Africa, Around 110 million outlets, meanwhile, said that in a statement. children are now stuck at al-Ruwaishan’s Bani Jabr tribe The combination of a home rather than in school, it played a role in his release. lack of “or inadequate basic said. The former minister is services, years of conflict, The agency was therefore known for his critical writings poverty, deprivation and working with education min- on the Houthis since the out- now COVID-19 are hitting istries across the region on break of the conflict in Yemen vulnerable children the “distant learning programmes in March 2015. most, making their hard lives and... making material Al Ruwaishan’s arrest came simply unbearable,” he available on radio, TV and a week after a Houthi court added. online platforms” for continuity issued a non-final death sen- Nearly 25 million children of learning. tence against four journalists across the region are in need, It also said it was focusing among 10 captured by the including many who are ref- on distributing printed copies Iran-backed militias since ugees and internally displaced, of learning materials for “vul- March 2015. the statement said. nerable communities”. 08 VIEWS TUESDAY 21 APRIL 2020

Established in 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI [email protected]

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected]

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI [email protected]

Mexican journalists work during a protest of administrative workers of the General Balbuena Hospital demanding personal protective EDITORIAL equipment to prevent being infected by the novel coronavirus, in Mexico City.

Ensuring better connectivity Journalists need to be protected WORKING from home is changing the way we all work and it is a crucial time for all sectors to discover the challenges and problems that may need short-term or during the pandemic long-term solutions. Taking note of this, the Communications Regulatory equipment in hospitals are news of its spread with devas- staff healthy. Individual Authority (CRA), with the support of Ministry of Transport horrifying. tating consequences for reporters, whether staff or and Communications (MoTC), took the initiative in coop- In some instances, doctors public health. freelancers, must re-learn eration with local network providers Ooredoo Qatar and and nurses have uploaded Governments from how to stay safe even when Vodafone Qatar and with international giants Microsoft, their own photographs and Thailand, through Hungary reporting in their own neigh- Cisco and Google Cloud to provide offers and packages commentary to social media and Egypt to Honduras are bourhoods, let alone further for telecom services to help people of Qatar to work to show the world the condi- using the cloud cover of the afield. Reporting should be remotely from home easily and safely during the pre- ROBERT MAHONEY tions inside emergency disease to introduce emer- risk assessed, with hygiene cautionary measures taken to limit the spread of AL JAZEERA rooms. One group nurses in gency measures that could and safe practice protocols COVID-19. New York resorted to roll back basic freedoms, emphasised continually. Mohammed Ali Al Mannai, President of CRA, said. wrapping themselves in clamp down on the press or Stress levels are high both “I would like to sincerely thank MoTC for its support to Pictures of a CTV journalist plastic garbage bags for restrict foreign among reporting staff, but these initiatives. The presence of a highly efficient infra- trying to observe “social protection. correspondents. also their families. Virtual structure has helped to continue providing reliable distancing” by strapping his User-generated reports Even in regions where peer support networks and services that ensure work continuity of various entities microphone to a hockey stick and photographs like these authorities are not actively mental health resources need without interruption, and that all citizens and residents may have prompted smiles at break news. Yet we still want suppressing news, many to be considered - if jour- of Qatar are able to stay up to date with the latest a very Canadian answer to professional journalists to fact leaders whether through nalists are going to be able to updates related to the COVID-19 and stay in touch with coronavirus reporting. But check, contextualise and incompetence or indifference stay the course. their families and friends.” journalists’ safety in this time amplify many of them. We do not appear up to the public Journalists like those in Both Ooredoo Qatar and Vodafone Qatar have intro- of unprecedented pestilence also expect original reporting health challenge. Italy or Spain are covering a duced many promotional packages, doubled the speed and economic turmoil is no and that means writers and That is where credible, deadly story on their own of Internet for existing residential customers and also laughing matter. broadcasters taking risks. As independent media that focus doorstep yet they cannot doubled the mobile data for residential and business The spotlight now is in a war or natural disaster, on the truth of this disease really go home or into their customers, free of additional charges. The measures rightly on medical and emer- they have to go to the front come in. And to carry out this offices for fear of infecting also included facilitating the remote operation of small gency response staff and car- lines even if in this pandemic vital function, journalists and family or colleagues. They are and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by enabling them egivers. Their chances of those lines are anywhere and media support workers must under intense psychological to access collaboration tools for free through cloud com- getting sick or even dying everywhere. avoid infection. strain as well as suffering puting platform of Microsoft, which has launched an ini- from COVID-19 while helping Just as important, they have Even in the United States from physical exhaustion. tiative to provide a number of free services nationwide, the rest of us are real and to return from those newsgath- well-resourced and safety- We have already seen the such as the customized package of “Office 365”. growing. Reports of the lack ering forays unharmed. If you conscious news organisations newsrooms of big media Cisco will support businesses in Qatar by offering of personal protective think our need for sober, eye- are finding it difficult to keep organisations hit by the virus them free licenses up to 90 days for collaboration tools witness testimony and hard on-the-ground reporting in New York. They scrambled and several security solutions. The tools include the Even in the United facts is pressing now, just wait flowing and their staff safe. to anchor broadcasts from cloud collaboration platform “WebEx” which allows until authoritarian govern- It appears only a matter of other studios and cities and them to make voice and video conference calls. In terms States well- ments, online hucksters, misin- time before the virus spreads deploy regional teams. They of the security solutions, Cisco will support businesses resourced and formation peddlers and con- in sub-Saharan Africa, the have resources. Media houses by offering Remote Access VPN (Virtual Private Network) safety-conscious spiracy trolls have further Middle East and South Asia in much of the rest of the with Cisco AnyConnect + virtual Firewall, and Cyber restricted, distorted or poi- where many governments are world do not have such deep Security anywhere through Cisco Umbrella. For its part, news organisations soned the well of public health ill equipped to cope. Their pockets. Google Cloud will support businesses in Qatar by are finding it difficult information in a few months’ populations will need timely These are unprecedented offering them free access until September 30, 2020 to time. and accurate information times. No working journalist Google Meet’s advanced video conferencing abilities to keep on-the- Those countries that stifle which sometimes may con- alive has ever covered any- for G Suite customers. G Suite is an integrated solution ground reporting independent news and jail tradict the official stance. thing like this story. Even vet- that includes Gmail, Calendar, and Chat. journalists in “normal” times Already underfunded and erans of war-reporting or The spread of COVID-19 is having a significant flowing and their have already been hard at under threat, the independent Ebola coverage need to impact on our day-to-day lives. The CRA, in cooper- staff safe. work. China at first tried to media in these regions face reevaluate risk and learn new ation with key players in the Information and Commu- quarantine the truth along even more testing times ahead. skills. nications Technology sector, is helping people and busi- with the population at the That is why owners, pub- Robert Mahoney is the nesses work remotely from home easily and safely. epicentre of the outbreak. As lishers, and editors need to Deputy Executive Director of the virus rampaged through provide the knowledge and the Committee to Protect Iran, the leadership censored the resources to keep their Journalists.

D-RING ROAD, POST BOX: 3488, DOHA - QATAR EMAIL: [email protected] Britain’s Brexit divisions are never far away

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE: TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 MATT SINGH — BLOOMBERG and 57% among Remainers, year and that negotiations position in the polls, and he’s FAX: +974 4455 7758 and the same pattern was in over future trade arrange- fundamentally trusted by Since the coronavirus outbreak evidence for other questions ments will be concluded or Brexiters in his own party in a MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4462 7505 began, the UK has seemed too. else Britain will trade with the way that his predecessor more united than at any point This isn’t the extreme European Union on World Theresa May was not. DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4455 7769 in the last few years. The polarization seen in the US, but Trade Organisation terms. Public opinion, as always, political logjam over Brexit has the Brexit effect is still there. The UK can request an has multiple moving parts. LOCAL NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7743 given way to solidarity against Just because the public overall extension of up to two years, Leave voters are divided on a common, invisible enemy. leans heavily one way, it but it must do so by July. an extension to the transition BUSINESS NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4462 7535 But beneath the surface, the doesn’t stop there being a While the complexities of period. There have also been divisions that defined the past 30-point gap between the two those negotiations - from questions asked about the SPORT NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7745 four years persist and may blocs, even if majorities of both fishing quotas to customs UK’s non-participation in EU grow as Britain’s transition approve of the prime minister’s arrangements to questions of procurement schemes for ONLINE SECTION: TEL: 4462 7501 period runs out. performance. Within political governance - receive limited personal protective email: [email protected] Even amid the “rally round circles the culture wars under- public attention on their own, equipment, where shortages the flag,” there are still big dif- lying the Brexit divide have the prospect of additional for medical staff remain a PUBLIC RELATIONS: TEL: 4455 7613 ferences between Remainers played out too, particularly economic stress, which might major problem. email: [email protected] and Leavers, making questions among coronavirus subplots, be avoided through extension, Europe’s own struggles to over whether to extend the with battlegrounds including is likely to draw divisions to find a joint response that ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 current Brexit transition university bailouts, acceptable the surface as we move closer doesn’t widen the economic FAX: 4455 7870, email: [email protected] period beyond this year par- terminology and gender to the deadline. divide - and stoke political ten- ticularly fraught. For example, balance at the government’s Despite his campaign sions - between southern and CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7857 while Boris Johnson’s satis- press briefings. pledges, Johnson probably northern countries may also email: [email protected] faction ratings were 72% in our The official government has the political capital to influence the UK debate over recent Number Cruncher poll, position is that the current extend if he wants to. He finds extension and its future rela- SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION: TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 this was 87% among Leavers transition period will end this himself in a historically strong tionship with its neighbours. FAX: 44557819, email: [email protected]

www.thepeninsula.qa Quote of the day /PeninsulaQatar

/ThePeninsulaQatar We must not lose sight of the fact that we stand at the beginning of the pandemic and are still a /Peninsula_Qatar long way from being out of the woods. We must /ThePeninsulaNewspaper remain vigilant and disciplined.

+974 6698 6188 Angela Merkel, German Chancellor TUESDAY 21 APRIL 2020 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA 09 Netanyahu, Gantz Libyan government forces strike Haftar militias REUTERS — TRIPOLI sign unity govt deal Libya’s UN-recognized government of National Accord REUTERS — OCCUPIED Official details of the (GNA) said yesterday it had JERUSALEM power-sharing deal targeted three airstrikes at militia of warlord Khalifa Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin were not immediately Haftar southeast of the capital Netanyahu and his centrist disclosed, but a source Tripoli. election rival Benny Gantz in Blue and White said Following the airstrikes on signed an agreement yesterday the two had agreed militia in Tarhuna, a city 80km to form an emergency coalition southeast of Tripoli, Mustafa al- government that would end a Netanyahu would Majei, spokesman for the year of political deadlock. remain prime minister GNA-led Operation Volcano of Netanyahu’s right-wing for a set period until Rage, told Anadolu Agency that Likud and Gantz’s Blue and Gantz takes over in there is a cautious calm in areas White party issued a joint south of Tripoli. Al Majei con- statement saying they had October 2021. firmed that government forces clinched a unity deal, which are keeping their positions in follows elections in April and the areas around Tarhuna. September 2019 and on March ination process for judges. On Saturday, GNA forces 2 in which neither won a gov- Palestinian officials did not launched an operation to erning majority in immediately comment. recapture Tarhuna, a town of parliament. Netanyahu, in power con- strategic value for Haftar and Official details of the secutively for the past 11 years, his last major stronghold in the power-sharing deal were not is under criminal indictment on area surrounding Tripoli. immediately disclosed, but a corruption charges which he Tarhuna is a major focal Libya’s UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) forces make preparations as they source in Blue and White said denies. They include bribery, point for Haftar’s militias in launch an operation against the militias of warlord Khalifa Haftar in the town of Tarhunah near the two had agreed Netanyahu fraud and breach of trust. their onslaught against Tripoli Tripoli, yesterday. would remain prime minister Gantz on the campaign trail as well as for their supply lines for a set period until Gantz promised not to sit in a gov- from Al Jufra airbase. takes over in October 2021. ernment led by a prime min- The GNA has been under launched Operation Peace ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Egypt and the United Arab Until then, Gantz, a former ister facing criminal charges, attack by Haftar’s forces since Storm on March 26 to counter two seats of power have Emirates, and the GNA in armed forces chief, will serve but he recently backtracked, last April, with more than 1,000 attacks on the capital. emerged in Libya: Haftar in Tripoli, which enjoys UN and as defence minister and several saying the enormity of the killed in the violence. It Since the ouster of longtime eastern Libya, supported by international recognition. of his political allies, including coronavirus crisis necessitated two members of Israel’s Labour an emergency unity Party, will receive ministerial government. Syria Kurds set up portfolios as well. “We have prevented a Zimbabwe court orders police to stop During the negotiations the fourth election. We will protect first coronavirus parties cited a number of democracy. We will fight coro- harassing journalists covering lockdown hospital sticking points, including the navirus and care for all Israel’s planned annexation of Israeli citizens,” Gantz said on Twitter AFP — HASAKEH, SYRIA settlements in the occupied after signing the deal. AFP — HARARE who are working with the But the police argued that West Bank where Palestinians Netanyahu tweeted a picture police in enforcing the rules of “journalists are not exempted Syria’s Kurds have set up a seek a state, and setting a nom- of Israel’s blue and white flag. A Zimbabwean high court the lockdown have been inter- from the lockdown,” claiming specialised hospital for corona- yesterday ordered police to dicted from carrying out those that only journalists “from virus cases, the Kurdish Red desist from arresting, detaining actions that amount to har- broadcasting and internet” Crescent said yesterday, after the or interfering with the work of assment of journalists,” Mhike were exempt. first COVID-19 death was journalists providing coverage said. The debate was laid to rest reported in the northeastern during the COVID-19 lockdown. Announcing the ruling in this weekend when the gov- region. The Media Institute of court, Judge Jacob Manzunzu ernment exempted “the activ- The United Nations on Southern Africa (MISA) and gave the police hierarchy 12 ities of persons as journalists, Friday said a man aged in his journalist Panashe Makufa hours to inform its members newspaper vendors or fifties had on April 2 become had petitioned the court to and other law enforcement employees of such services” in the first fatality from COVID-19 issue the order following a agencies involved in enforcing its announcement extending in northeast Syria. In a region string of incidents in which the lockdown that the 2019 the 21-day lockdown by 14 days suffering from a lack of police and other law press card is valid. to May 3. medical supplies, the news enforcement agencies har- Some police officers have MISA Zimbabwe’s exec- further raised fears of a assed or arrested journalists raised concerns over the expiry utive director Tabani Moyo breakout, including in its while carrying out their duties. dates of official press cards, praised the court’s ruling, thronging camps for the “The High Court has demanding that journalists adding: “We hope the police displaced. directed that... arrests or produce letters of exemption in will ensure that no journalist Kurdish Red Crescent co- Ducks' day out detention or other forms of har- addition to the cards. will be harmed going forward. director Sherwan Bery said a assment must stop,” a lawyer The government had cate- We don’t want to keep on new 120-bed facility was now Ducks cross a road, during a countrywide lockdown to combat for the applicants, Chris Mhike, gorised journalism as an recording cases of law ready to welcome any mod- the spread of the coronavirus disease, in Marjayoun, southern told AFP after the ruling. essential service during the enforcement agencies targeting erate cases of the virus around Lebanon, yesterday. “The police and all others lockdown. the journalists of this country.” 10km outside the city of Hasakeh. The hospital “is to just focus on the COVID-19 infection cases” and keep them all in the Lesotho govt agrees 'dignified retirement' for PM Thabane same place instead of across dif- ferent hospitals, he said. REUTERS — MASERU, LESOTHO murder case in which he and his Thabane had pledged to embedded in a South African political upheavals often draw The idea is “to not spread current wife are suspected of step down at the end of July, but mountain range. in its bigger neighbour, South contamination to other areas,” Lesotho’s government has being involved in the assassi- South African mediator Jeff South African diplomats Africa, for whom the kingdom’s Bery said.Journalists saw a agreed with South African nation of his previous wife, Radebe told journalists in stepped in to try to calm ten- mountains are an essential large ward containing dozens mediators and political parties charges which both of them deny. Lesotho’s capital Maseru that sions on Sunday, a day after source of running water. of beds spaced out several to implement a “dignified “The coalition government “the timeline is immediate,” for Thabane sent soldiers and Lesotho has experienced metres apart, with tall oxygen retirement” for Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho his leaving office. armoured vehicles onto the several coups since gaining inde- tanks by their side. Thomas Thabane, a joint commits to effecting the imple- Neither Thabane nor his streets of Maseru to restore pendence from Britain in 1966, “We are preparing for the statement said yesterday, mentation process or modal- spokespeople were immedi- order against what he said were and in 1998 at least 58 people and moderate cases,” Bery said, but signalling stepped up efforts to ities for the dignified, graceful ately available for comment on “rogue national elements”. eight South African soldiers died efforts were also ongoing to set end a political crisis. and secure retirement of the whether or when he plans to Though small and with a and parts of Maseru were up an intensive care unit for Thabane has been under right honourable prime min- quit as prime minister of population of not much more damaged in a political stand-off severe cases, there or in pressure to resign owing to a ister,” a joint statement said. Lesotho, a tiny kingdom than 2 million, Lesotho’s and subsequent fighting. another location. Cartoon monster helps explain coronavirus to Nigerian kids Burkina Faso security REUTERS — LAGOS forces accused of killing It is hard enough for adults to get their heads around the 31 unarmed civilians coronavirus, but for children it can be even more difficult to REUTERS — OUAGADOUGOU closely associating themselves understand why they can’t see with Fulani herders. As a result, their friends or play outside. International advocacy group Fulani civilians have borne the That is where Niyi Akin- Human Rights Watch (HRW) brunt of reprisals by soldiers and molayan’s cartoon monster said yesterday that it believed vigilantes, rights groups say. comes in. The Nigerian film- security forces in Burkina Faso Since 2017, armed Islamist maker has created a had summarily executed 31 groups, some with ties to al 90-second animation to help unarmed detainees earlier this Qaeda and Islamic State, have youngsters understand why month during operations killed more than 300 civilians they have to stay at home after against Islamist militants. in Burkina Faso, while the gov- schools in Lagos were shut The bullet-riddled bodies ernment has killed several from March 23 and public of the men from the Fulani hundred men for their alleged gatherings were banned to ethnic group were discovered support of these groups, stem the spread of the disease. in the northern town of Djibo according to HRW. It tells the story of two sib- on April 9, shortly after they Burkinabe officials have lings, Habeeb and Funke. Habeeb had been arrested by security promised to investigate such gets tired of staying at home and forces and taken away in a allegations in the past but rights decides to sneak out to play convoy, 17 witnesses and group say the government has soccer. His older sister Funke people with knowledge of the not done enough to hold per- warns him not go out, but he situation told HRW. petrators accountable. Nigerian filmmaker Niyi Akinmolayan who created an animated video to educate kids on coronavirus, insists, only to be confronted by A government spokesman “The Burkinabe security works on his laptop in his home, amid the spread of the coronavirus disease, in Lagos, Nigeria. a monster. did not respond to repeated forces apparently executed 31 Akinmolayan, best known requests from Reuters for men in a brutal mockery of a for directing “The Wedding Party comment about the incident, counter-terrorism operation 2”, Nigeria’s highest grossing catch you,” he said. this is not the right time to go free and can be downloaded including questions on Monday that may amount to a war movie, said he was inspired after The message seems to anywhere or outside,” said in English, Igbo, Yoruba, about HRW’s report. The day crime and could fuel further several attempts to explain the have sunk in with some Ezichi Nwaogu, 9, watching with Hausa, French and Swahili. It after the incident, a researcher atrocities,” said Corinne Dufka, lockdown to his 5-year-old son. children who have seen the her sister at their Lagos home. is showing on some terrestrial from Amnesty International HRW’s director for the conflict- “But he still didn’t get it video. “My favourite part was Akinmolayan made the ani- television stations. tweeted that, according to mul- hit Sahel region in West Africa. until I kind of changed the nar- when the boy opened the door mation through his production As of Sunday, Nigeria had tiple witnesses, security forces “The government should rative and said the coronavirus and saw the coronavirus, the company, Anthill Studios, using recorded 627 cases of the virus had executed 29 men in Djibo. stop the abuse, fully investigate actually looks like a big monster, outside, and he a 10-strong crew all working and 21 people have died, The government is strug- this terrible incident, and monster and it is out there in slammed the door and had to separately from their homes. including the president’s chief gling to contain jihadist groups commit to a rights-respecting the street and if you go it will go inside, and now I know that It is being distributed for of staff. in northern Burkina Faso who counterterrorism strategy,” have stoked ethnic conflict by Dufka said in the report. 10 ASIA TUESDAY 21 APRIL 2020 Virus cases in Japan surge over 10,000; hospitals stretched AFP — TOKYO There have been Speaking at a press briefing yesterday, Iwata said Japan’s Japanese medics are warning 171 deaths recorded strategy of limited testing and more must be done to prevent so far in Japan and intensive contact-tracing worked the coronavirus from over- well in the initial phase of the whelming the country’s 10,751 cases, with local outbreak, when numbers healthcare system as confirmed the country under a were small. But he charged that cases passed 10,000, despite a month-long state of Japan failed to adapt as the out- nationwide state of emergency. break grew. Experts have been alarmed emergency, initially “We needed to prepare for by a recent spike in COVID-19 once the situation changes, once covering seven People commute to work despite a state of emergency in Japan at Shinagawa station, in Tokyo. infections, with hundreds the cluster-chasing became not detected daily. regions but now in effective and we needed to Japan’s outbreak remains less place nationwide. change strategy immediately,” he spread. But medical experts have “Japan hasn’t built a system in place until at least May 6 was severe than in hard-hit European said. called the measures in which ordinary hospitals can not sufficient. countries, but its caseload is one “But traditionally speaking, insufficient. take infectious disease patients “While they talk about border of Asia’s highest after China and dropped significantly. and historically speaking, Japan “Beds for novel coronavirus in an emergency, when desig- controls and decreasing person- India, and is roughly on par with But the measures do not is not very good at changing patients continue to be almost nated hospitals can’t cope,” Ozaki to-person contacts, they let stores South Korea. There have been 171 prevent people from going out, strategy,” he added. full,” Haruo Ozaki, president of said on Friday. stay open,” Ozaki complained. deaths recorded so far in Japan and many shops and even res- “We are very poor at even the Tokyo Medical Association, “We are doing our best... but Iwata said he was “half- and 10,751 cases, with the country taurants remain open, even as thinking of plan B because warned last week. infections are spreading faster encouraged and half-dis- under a month-long state of medical associations warn the thinking of plan B is a sign of The association has been than expected,” he added. couraged” by the infection emergency, initially covering country’s healthcare system is admitting failure of plan A.” increasing beds but with a large And hospitals are also strug- numbers in Tokyo, which he seven regions but now in place struggling to cope. Japan’s government argues number of new cases coming in gling with equipment shortages, called “relatively stable.” nationwide. “The system is on the verge it has adjusted its strategy, every day, “beds are being with the mayor of Osaka calling “My biggest fear was the Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of collapse in many places in boosting testing capacity, occupied instantly,” he said. for donations of unused raincoats explosion of diagnoses... like in has urged residents to reduce Japan,” said Kentaro Iwata, an changing rules that required all The health minister has for health workers currently New York City, which didn’t contact with other people by 70 infectious diseases specialist from positive cases to remain in hos- acknowledged that hospitals forced to use garbage bags for happen,” he said. to 80 percent, and the number of Kobe University who has pitals where wards quickly have in some cases turned away protective equipment. “These numbers are much people on Tokyo’s normally repeatedly criticised the govern- became full, and imposing the suspected coronavirus patients Both Iwata and Ozaki warned better than the worst-case packed transport system has ment’s response to the crisis. state of emergency to reduce the in ambulances. that the state of emergency now scenario.” Indian tycoon India partially eases lockdown in rural areas Mallya loses REUTERS — NEW DELHI villages, unable to pay for food medium and big firms in sectors and rent, after Modi announced such as chemicals, engineering, appeal against Some shops and businesses a 21-day lockdown last month textiles, plastics, packaging and opened in rural India yesterday which he extended by another automobiles, said Ashwani extradition as part of a staggered exit from 19 days. Kumar, Secretary to the Gujarat a weeks-long lockdown that “The focus is on select chief minister Vijay Rupani. REUTERS — LONDON has left millions out of work and industries and farming, and Modi’s critics have said he short of food, while coronavirus rural employment guarantee should have better planned the Indian businessman Vijay infections rose by more than programme,” said Punya Salila lockdown to lessen the impact Mallya lost an appeal in Britain’s 1,500 over the previous day. Srivastava, a joint secretary at on the economy and that India High Court yesterday against a India’s 1.3 billion population the home ministry which is had no choice but to ramp up 2018 decision to extradite him has been under one of the managing the re-start of the its testing for the coronavirus. to India to face fraud charges world’s toughest lockdowns economy. “The one-size-fit-all resulting from the collapse of his with people forbidden from India had 17,264 cases of lockdown has brought untold defunct company Kingfisher stepping out of their homes coronavirus infections as yes- misery & suffering to millions of Airlines. except for food and medicines terday and more than 60 farmers, migrant labourers, daily India wants to bring back until May 3. percent of these were from five wagers & business owners,” said Mallya, 64, over $1.4bn in loans But Prime Minister of India’s 28 states. Such an Rahul Gandhi, leader of the main Kingfisher took out from Indian Narendra Modi’s government uneven spread allows health opposition Congress, said in a banks which the authorities People working in Parliament line up for a thermal screening as a said some activities, including officials to focus their efforts on tweet last week. argue he had no intention of preventive measure against the COVID-19, outside the Parliament factories and farming, would be the top affected areas, or red “It needs a ‘smart’ upgrade, repaying. allowed from yesterday in the House, in New Delhi, yesterday. zones, such as Delhi and using mass testing to isolate “The SDJ (senior district hinterland which has been less- Mumbai, while allowing other virus hotspots & allowing busi- judge) was entitled to find that hard hit by COVID-19. Ramkumar Sharma, a car- A small group of con- states to re-start activities, nesses in other areas to grad- there was a prima facie case of Small businesses reopened penter on the outskirts of struction workers showed up a another official said. ually reopen. “ fraud by false representation,” in the rural parts of most pop- Lucknow, the state capital, said labour centre nearby hoping to Around 4,000 factories On Sunday, India tested the judge said in their more than ulous Uttar Pradesh after the he had opened up for business get hired for day jobs, only to resumed operations in western 27,824 samples, the highest so 23,000-word ruling. lockdown in late March but again and that he would take be dispersed by police. Gujarat, one of the country’s far, but still some way off the His extradition would be a police were deployed to ensure precautions going forward. Hundreds of thousands of most industrialised regions, the target of 40,000 a day which huge win for Indian Prime Min- people maintained social “This is a great relief to be migrant workers fled the big chief minister’s office said. officials want to eventually raise ister Narendra Modi, who has distancing. able to work,” he said. cities for their homes in the These included small, to 100,000. faced pressure from political opponents to bring to justice several people who have fled India in recent years to escape South Koreans return to work, prosecution, many for loan defaults. crowd parks and malls as Mallya’s lawyer, Clare Mont- gomery, had argued that the social distancing rules ease 2018 extradition ruling by Judge Emma Arbuthnot had “multiple REUTERS — SEOUL China paints a stark contrast to errors” because she did not take many other countries where into account all the evidence South Koreans are returning to metropolises remain sealed off about the financial status of work and crowding shopping and sweeping stay-at-home Kingfisher Airlines. malls, parks, golf courses and orders are in place. In her judgement, Arbuthnot some restaurants as South “I’m a member of a com- said that Indian banking officials Korea relaxes social distancing munity football club and we might have been in “the thrall rules amid a continued went out to play on Saturday for of this glamorous, flashy, downward trend in coronavirus the first time in two months,” famous, bejewelled, body- cases. said Kim Tae-hyung, a 31-year- guarded, ostensibly billionaire A growing list of companies, old power plant engineer living playboy who charmed and including SK Innovation and in Seoul. cajoled” them into ignoring their Naver, has ended or eased their “We were wearing a mask own rules and regulations. work from home policy in while we played, still worried recent weeks, though many about the coronavirus, but the continue to apply flexible weather was nice and I felt so Myanmar ships working hours and limit travel refreshed.” People wearing face masks walk on a zebra crossing amid the spread of the coronavirus disease, in and face-to-face meetings. South Korea extended its Central Seoul, South Korea, yesterday. freed Rohingya Parks, mountains and golf social distancing policy for courses brimmed with visitors another 16 days on Sunday but around or less than 20, most The Korea Centers for Health authorities urged prisoners back over the weekend, while offered some relief for religious arriving from overseas. Disease Control and Prevention vigilance, warning new clusters shopping malls and restaurants and sports facilities previously Seoul’s defence ministry (KCDC) reported 13 new cases could still emerge at any time, to Rakhine were slowly returning to subjected to strict restrictions. also said yesterday that the mil- yesterday, a day after posting especially after South Korea AFP — SITTWE normal. The decision is aimed at itary is resuming medical just eight — the first single digit held the first national election South Korea’s ongoing cautiously reopening Asia’s screening for candidates while daily rise since the February 28 last week since the epidemic Myanmar shipped hundreds of recovery from the first major fourth-largest economy as daily considering easing restrictions peak of 909. The death toll began, and ahead of long hol- recently released Rohingya coronavirus outbreak outside infections continue to hover on travel and guest visits. stands at 236. idays starting next week. inmates back to the country’s restive western borderlands yesterday, after fears that its overcrowded prisons could Deaths from coronavirus exceed 100 in Bangladesh become hotbeds for runaway coronavirus outbreaks. ANATOLIA — DHAKA were recorded after 2,779 Meanwhile, the virus doctors got infected with could not find quality protection Men, women and children samples were tested across the infection among doctors and COVID-19 in just three days. equipment anywhere although belonging to the stateless and The death toll in Bangladesh country. healthcare personnel has been “We don’t have proper pro- talking to local hospitals and long-persecuted Muslim from the new coronavirus So far, the virus has killed 101 spreading rapidly raising deep tective equipment as assured by hospitals dedicated to COVID-19 minority were among nearly passed 100 yesterday with 10 people and infected 2,948 in the concern. At least 57 nurses have the government. And, we have treatment. 25,000 prisoners freed last fresh fatalities in the last 24 country, she said. been infected while 270 others yet to receive standard face He urged the government to week by a presidential pardon hours, said a health official The Institute of Epidemi- are in quarantine across the mask and personal protection take prompt action to ensure the to mark the country’s April New yesterday. ology Disease Control and country. One physician has died equipment (PPE) in line with the safety of healthcare workers. Year celebrations. Prof. Nasima Sultana, a Research, an authority under the and at least 170 doctors have guidance of the World Health The chairman also ruled out A Navy vessel transported senior official at the Directorate Health Ministry, tested 26,604 been infected as of Monday, as Organisation. The quality of the the statement by the Health Min- the group from Yangon to General of Health Services, con- samples out of a population of well. Dr Md Shahed Rafi Pavel, face mask and PPE are sub- istry during the briefing of pro- western Rakhine state, where firmed during a regular online 160 million people until chairman of Bangladesh Doctors’ standard in quality condition.” viding quality face mask and PPE most Rohingya live under tight briefing that 492 new infections yesterday. Foundation, said that at least 80 Pavel complained that they to health workers. movement restrictions. TUESDAY 21 APRIL 2020 ASIA 11 China calls for stronger testing regime to detect virus The new local cases have been driven by China rejects Australia’s call an influx of Chinese for probe into virus response nationals coming home from abroad, AFP — BEIJING particularly in Heilongjiang, which China yesterday rejected Australia’s call for a probe examining the global response to the coronavirus pandemic — including has seen a surge in Beijing’s early handling of the outbreak. citizens returning Washington and several allies have accused China of failing to adequately respond to the viral disease threat in the weeks from Russia. after it was first detected in the central city of Wuhan late last year. REUTERS — BEIJING/SHANGHAI Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said the accusations disrespected “the Chinese people’s tremendous China’s health authority called for efforts and sacrifices” in fighting the contagion. a stronger and more rigorous “Any question about China’s transparency in the prevention testing regime to ensure that the and control of epidemic situation is not in line with facts,” Geng new coronavirus does not escape told a regular press briefing. detection, whether in travellers arriving from abroad or from other parts of the country. officials remain concerned about southern Guangdong province People wearing face masks as they leave work during an evening rush hour amid the spread of the All localities must improve the re-emergence of local trans- for 30. The new local cases have novel coronavirus, in Beijing yesterday. their testing capabilities, missions in parts of the country, been driven by an influx of including those at border including Beijing, where a central Chinese nationals coming home in China, as well as infected China has approved at least to take two nucleic acid tests and crossings, and report any epi- district has been re-classified as from abroad, particularly in Hei- people who until recently had three experimental coronavirus one antibody test, according to a demic information in a timely high-risk following three recent longjiang, which has seen a surge shown no symptoms, such as a vaccines to be tested in human statement posted on the Guangxi manner, the National Health local infections. in citizens returning from Russia. fever or a cough. trials since the virus outbreak. health commission’s social media Commission cited its director Ma Ma singled out the provinces International flights to China China might use experi- The southwestern Guangxi account. Xiaowei as saying. Ma made the of Heilongjiang and Guangdong, have been slashed. In particular, mental vaccines on some classes region yesterday further Before entering Guangxi, comments on Saturday, but they saying they should identify the flights to the Chinese capital have of people, such as medical tightened already tough quar- people who have lived or trav- were released by the ministry “weak links” in their ability to been diverted to other cities, workers, as early as by the end antine rules to isolate potential elled to areas classified as high- yesterday. China, where the new prevent and control the some hundreds of kilometres of this year, the state-controlled virus carriers. All people entering risk or medium-risk in China in virus emerged late last year, epidemic. away. Beijing Daily newspaper cited Guangxi from overseas will be the past 14 days must show neg- reported 12 new confirmed cases Of the 82 new local infections New local cases have also Gao Fu, director at the Chinese subject to 14 days of quarantine ative nucleic acid test results, and on Sunday, the lowest since in China in the past 14 days, been due to people arriving from Center for Disease Control and at a centralised location and a the tests must have been con- March 13. northeastern Heilongjiang central Hubei province, ground Prevention, as saying at a news subsequent 14 days of self-quar- ducted within the past seven Despite the downtrend, province accounted for 42 and zero of the coronavirus outbreak conference. antine at home. They also need days. Pakistan issues New Zealand to ease lockdown next week new health policy AFP — WELLINGTON would move its maximum Level loosened slightly, social dis- services. The draconian losses mount, with forecasts Four COVID-19 alert to Level tancing rules will remain. measures made the country that unemployment could sky- for air travel New Zealand will ease a Three from late evening yes- “I couldn’t feel prouder of one of the most successful in rocket to almost 26 percent. nationwide coronavirus terday, April 27, and remain the start we have made containing the virus, with The initial lockdown INTERNEWS — ISLAMABAD lockdown next week after there for two weeks to assess together but I also feel a huge around 1,100 known cases period was due to end on claiming success in stopping “an the situation. responsibility to ensure that we among the five-million popu- Wednesday night but Ardern The Pakistan Civil Aviation uncontrolled explosion” of the The announcement means do not lose any of the gains we lation, including 12 deaths and said it was extended slightly Authority (PCAA) announced a disease, Prime Minister Jacinda businesses deemed safe can have made either,” she said. 974 recovered patients. to help ensure New Zealand new health policy for Ardern said yesterday. reopen, along with some New Zealand entered a It had seven confirmed would not need to return to passengers travelling until April “We have done what very schools, while limits on local four-week lockdown in late new infections yesterday. Level Four again. 30, amid the worsening coro- few countries have been able to travel are also relaxed and March, which included closing Ardern said easing the “The worst thing we can do navirus crisis in the country. do,” Ardern said. gatherings of up to 10 people the island nation’s borders, lockdown would help the for our country is to yo-yo According to the PCAA, all “We have stopped a wave allowed for events such as countrywide stay-at-home economy, which has been par- between levels, with all of the standard operating procedures of devastation.” weddings or funerals. orders and shuttering all non- alysed by the virus response uncertainty that this would (SOPs) mentioned in the health She said New Zealand While restrictions will be essential businesses and as companies close and job bring,” she said. forms are to be strictly imple- mented. All passengers trav- elling by air are obligated to submit their health forms, Australian economists which include information on flu, cold, cough, and sore throat. warn govt against easing The form also states that pas- sengers should enter quarantine if the relevant health officer social distancing rules deemed it necessary. REUTERS — SYDNEY “We cannot have a func- Passengers are also bound tioning economy unless we first to oblige if the quarantine More than 150 Australian econ- comprehensively address the period is extended and pay for omists yesterday warned the public health crisis,” the group food that officials advised. They government against easing of 157 economists from Aus- are liable to penalties for pro- social distancing rules aimed at tralian universities wrote. viding wrong or false infor- halting the spread of the new Prime Minister Scott Mor- mation. The government, on the coronavirus even as the rate of rison last week said there would other hand, is required to infections slowed to a multi- no easing of Australia’s restric- provide accommodation week low. tions for at least four weeks, and according to the passengers’ Australia has so far avoided several state premiers yesterday preferences. Last week, Special the high numbers of coronavirus urged the public to keep to the Assistant to the Prime Minister casualties reported around the social distancing rules. on National Security Moeed world after closing its borders “We’ve all made massive Yusuf said that beginning April and imposing restrictions on sacrifices, given a lot. We can’t 20, the government will be able public movement. give back all the gains made to bring back 6,000-7,000 pas- While the measures have because of sense of frustration sengers every week with oper- slowed the growth in new infec- gets the better of us,” Victoria ations running across six tions to fewer than 40 new cases state Premier Daniel Andrews airports. a day, the restrictions are told reporters in Melbourne. A police officer moves a stop sign at a vehicle checkpoint on the Pacific Highway on the Queensland- “And this will gradually be expected to push unemployment Any significant easing of the New South Wales border, in Brisbane, Australia. expanded to accommodate to a 16-year high of about 10 current limitations would not more passengers,” said Yusuf. prcent. occur until Australia had The government said it will efforts, experts say eradication equipment would mean some He said that according to Australia has now recorded increased testing capacity, need at least 40 percent of the is unlikely. The government may procedures could restart. information received by the 6,617 cases of coronavirus and strengthened contact tracing and country’s population to be ease some minor restrictions “We’ve been so successful so government, there are around 71 deaths since the first case in readied local responses for signed up to make it effective. when the national Cabinet meets far that that’s given us the 35,000 Pakistanis looking to late January. further outbreaks, Andrews said. Australia’s three most pop- today. opportunity now to plan a sen- return to the country. With growing calls to ease Central to the government’s ulated states yesterday recorded Morrison said last week the sible, safe, graduated return into “We will bring them back as the restrictions, leading Aus- strategy is a controversial new just seven new coronavirus Cabinet would consider ending the low-risk procedures which soon as we can.” tralian economists issued an mobile phone app that will track infections in the last 24 hours, a ban on elective surgeries, and provide clinical benefit to The COVID-19 pandemic open letter to call on the gov- users’ movements to allow stoking hopes that Canberra the Australia’s main medical patients,” Tony Bartone, the has so far infected more than ernment to prioritise containing contact tracing in the event of could even eradicate the virus. association yesterday said recent head of Australian Medical Asso- 8,200 people across Pakistan the spread of coronavirus. an outbreak of coronavirus. While praising Australia’s deliveries of protection ciation told Channel 7. and left over 160 dead. Kazakh political activist detained for Singapore reports record 1,426 new cases spreading false information freed AP — SINGAPORE poorer Asian countries live in tightly packed dormitories. REUTERS — ALMATY Singapore reported a record The government expects 1,426 new coronavirus cases cases to rise further as testing at A nationalist politician in Kazakhstan who has criticised the yesterday, mostly among foreign the dorms continues, but hopes government was released yesterday after two days in detention workers, pushing its total that the country’s partial on accusations of spreading false information during the coro- number of confirmed infections lockdown until May 4, man- navirus emergency, his sister said. to 7,984. datory wearing of masks and Police detained political activist Arman Shorayev on Saturday The tiny city-state now has strict social distancing will help and said the investigation involving him was ongoing. Officials the highest number of cases in curb the spread of the virus. have not said publicly whether he has been charged or what false Southeast Asia, a massive National Development Min- information he was accused of spreading. increase from just 200 infections ister Lawrence Wong said on Shorayev’s sister Zhannar Shurayeva, who announced his on March 15, when its outbreak Sunday that many of the release on Facebook, wrote on his behalf that the activist regretted appeared to be nearly under workers in the affected dormi- publishing information that had not been fact-checked. control. About 3,000 cases have tories work in construction. The former television executive turned nationalist politician been reported in just the past He said in a Facebook post has often criticised members of President Kassym-Jomart three days. that there was evidence that Tokayev’s cabinet. In recent Facebook posts and interviews, Sho- Low-wage migrant workers, transmission across multiple rayev accused senior officials of corruption and criticised the gov- a vital part of Singapore’s work- dormitories could have ernment’s borrowing plans and the cost of building a specialised force, now account for at least occurred at work sites or at hospital for coronavirus patients. Last year, he became a member 60 percent of its infections. More places where the workers con- of the council of national trust, an advisery body set up by Tokayev, Medical personnel sort out medical supplies at a dormitory in than 200,000 workers from gregate on their days off to shop but was removed by the president this year along with several Singapore, yesterday. Bangladesh, India and other and socialise. other members in what officials said was a planned rotation. 12 EUROPE TUESDAY 21 APRIL 2020

Prince Philip ‘Encouraging signs’ as virus death thanks people fighting the toll in UK falls to two-week low pandemic REUTERS — LONDON AFP — LONDON Some 16,509 people hospitalised with Prince Philip, the 98-year-old The British government husband of Britain’s Queen yesterday said there were COVID-19 in Britain Elizabeth, made a rare “encouraging signs” that the have now died, new statement yesterday to thank coronavirus outbreak was easing those involved in the fight but warned it was too early to lift health ministry figures against the COVID-19 the lockdown despite new showed, up by 449 pandemic. evidence of the economic toll. — the lowest daily Philip, the Duke of Edin- Some 16,509 people hospi- burgh, has made few public talised with COVID-19 in Britain toll for a fortnight. appearances since he stepped have now died, new health min- Health officials say the down from official engagements istry figures showed, up by 449 in August 2017 and is currently — the lowest daily toll for a number of new cases staying with his wife at her fortnight. is flat and figures for Windsor Castle home during the Health officials say the outbreak of the virus. number of new cases is flat and people in hospital in “As we approach World figures for people in hospital in London, the epicentre Immunisation Week, I wanted London, the epicentre of the out- to recognise the vital and break in Britain, continue to fall. of the outbreak in urgent work being done by so “There are encouraging signs Britain, continue to many to tackle the pandemic; that we are making progress,” fall. by those in the medical and sci- Finance Minister Rishi Sunak told entific professions, at univer- the government’s daily media sities and research institutions, briefing. support firms hit by the all united in working to protect Medical staff wearing personal protective equipment at the back of an ambulance outside a hospital But “we are not there yet and lockdown, the government has us from COVID-19,” he said. amid the spread of the coronavirus, in London yesterday. it is very clear that, for now, what offered to pay 80 percent of “On behalf of those of us we should focus on is following wages of staff who might oth- who remain safe and at home, the guidance, staying home”. erwise face the sack. community, including care died, rather than when deaths ernment’s initial response. I also wanted to thank all key Britain went into lockdown Applications for the scheme homes, has been lower on were reported, “clearly shows we Sunak admitted there were workers who ensure the infra- at the end of March, with people opened yesterday, and more than Mondays due to weekend are in a steadily, but rather “things that we will learn from structure of our life continues; told to stay indoors except for 140,000 firms applied for help reporting delays. slowly, improving position since this” but insisted the government the staff and volunteers daily exercise and buying for more than one million people But David Spiegelhalter, the peak of deaths 12 days ago”. made the right decisions at the working in food production and essentials. in just one day. chairman of the Winton Centre “But, judging from the expe- right time, guided by scientific distribution, those keeping Last week the measures were Sunak said: “The most for Risk and Evidence Commu- rience in Italy, this could be a evidence. Prime Minister Boris postal and delivery services renewed for another three important thing we can do for the nication at the University of Cam- lengthy process,” he said. Johnson is still recovering after going, and those ensuring the weeks, but there are concerns health of our economy is to bridge, said separate new data Britain is currently one of the spending a week in hospital with rubbish continues to be about the toll they are having on protect the health of our people.” just for England showed a clear hardest hit countries in the the disease. The foreign minister, collected.” the economy. The daily death toll, which improvement. COVID-19 pandemic, and there Dominic Raab, is deputising in Philip is the latest member Among several initiatives to does not include deaths in the Data showing the day people is growing criticism of the gov- his absence. of the royal family to issue a message to the nation since the country was put into a virtual lockdown in a bid to curb the Coronavirus infects more than 200,000 in Spain spread of the virus. Earlier this month, the REUTERS — MADRID/AMOREBIETA 20,852 after 399 fatalities were region, an early hub of the out- ensure health workers receive agreed to set up a cross-party queen made only the fifth tel- recorded in the previous 24 break, ambulance worker Marisa adequate protective equipment. parliamentary commission to evised address of her record- The new coronavirus has infected hours. Arguello de Paula said she had Medical professionals, who address the social and economic breaking 68-year reign to tell more than 200,000 people in But Health Emergency Chief noticed that her patients account for around 15.5 percent damage wrought by the Britons they would overcome Spain, although the spread of the Fernando Simon told a news appeared generally calmer as the of the country’s coronavirus outbreak. the coronavirus outbreak if disease is slowing, officials said conference that the rate of new situation improved. cases, had said that they were Dubbed the reconstruction they stayed resolute, a message yesterday, as the Supreme Court infections continues to fall “You tell them things are unable to access vital supplies committee, it will feature she repeated in an audio ordered the government to guar- despite an increase in testing, going better, that hospitals aren’t like masks, gloves and surgical members of the main political message at Easter. antee that medical workers suggesting the overall prevalence so overloaded, and even though scrubs. Prime Minister Pedro parties as well as union leaders The couple’s eldest son, receive adequate protective of the disease could be lower they’re on their own, they come Sanchez said on Saturday he will and public health experts. 71-year-old heir Prince Charles equipment. than expected in the more quietly,” she said. seek parliamentary approval to The government is consid- who himself has recovered With 200,210 recorded infec- population. In response to a complaint extend the lockdown by two ering allowing limited outings for after suffering mild symptoms tions, Spain is second only to the “Fortunately occurrence is brought by medical unions, weeks to May 9, but will ease children and for people to of COVID-19, has also thanked United States in terms of con- falling a lot, even more than we Spain’s Supreme Court ordered some of the restrictions. practise non-contact sports like health staff for their work, firmed cases. The cumulative had thought,” he said. the Health Ministry to take all After meeting with oppo- jogging or cycling, health chief saying it was a strange and dis- death toll from the virus rose to In the northern Basque measures within its power to sition leader Pablo Casado, he Simon said yesterday. tressing time for the nation. Merkel issues stark warning as France registers Germany begins opening up over 20,000 AFP — BERLIN deaths from virus Chancellor Angela Merkel AFP — PARIS Its death toll includes 12,513 urged discipline in the fight people who died in hospital and against the coronavirus France yesterday announced it 7,752 people who lost their lives pandemic, warning that had become the fourth country in old people’s homes and other Germany is not “out of the worldwide to register over nursing homes. woods” even as the country 20,000 deaths from the novel But Salomon also welcomed took small steps in easing coronavirus, after recording 547 data indicating that a person with curbs imposed to slow new fatalities in the epidemic. COVID-19 in France was now contagion. “Tonight, our country has infecting on average fewer than With small shops opening passed a barrier that is symbolic one other person, as opposed to yesterday for the first time in and particularly painful,” top three before the country went a month, Merkel said the health official Jerome Salomon into lockdown more than a Medical staff wearing protective suits and face masks work in an intensive care unit for coronavirus authorities can only allow such told reporters. month ago. disease patients at a hospital in Stains, near Paris, yesterday. small cautious steps each time He announced that the coun- “This is how we will manage to avoid a devastating relapse. try’s total death toll was 20,265, to put the brakes on the epi- “We must not lose sight of while welcoming new falls in the demic,” he said. announced last week that the out died from COVID-19 over the infected with the virus, noting the fact that we stand at the numbers in hospital and The number of people in lockdown could begin to be last two weeks, its director said. this meant there was going to be beginning of the pandemic and intensive care. intensive care infected with eased from May 11. In a press conference on no herd immunity in the country are still a long way from being Salomon noted that the coro- COVID-19 fell for the 12th day in Schools could gradually Sunday, Prime Minister Edouard on May 11. out of the woods,” she told navirus death toll was now was a row, by 61 patients to 5,863. reopen then but cafes, cinemas Philippe warned it would take a “The levels of immunity are journalists after chairing a well above the 14,000 people “The fall... is being confirmed and cultural venues would long time to defeat the epidemic, probably higher in the areas that cabinet session on the coro- who died in France’s worst recent but it remains very slight,” said remain closed, and there could emphasising the initial easing have been worst affected,” he navirus battle. flu epidemic and even topped the Salomon. Meanwhile the number be no summer festivals until mid- would only be partial. said. It would be a “crying 19,000 killed by the 2003 of patients in hospital fell by 26 July at the earliest. “Our life from May 11 will not “The collective immunity in shame if we were to stumble heatwave. — the sixth successive daily Unlike some European coun- be like our life before, not imme- France is low, as many other into a relapse with our eyes France is the fourth country decrease — to 30,584. tries, France has been giving daily diately, and probably not for a countries are indicating as well.” wide open,” she added. to record more than 20,000 France has been in lockdown tolls of deaths in nursing homes. long time,” he said. France has 114,657 confirmed Merkel and regional state deaths, following the United since March 17 in a bid to slow In one old people’s home in Salomon said data indicated cases, but officials say the real premiers announced the States — by far the worst affected the spread of the epidemic. But Mars-la-Tour in the northeastern less than 10 percent of the pop- figure is much higher due to a decision to reopen last week worldwide — Italy and Spain. President Emmanuel Macron Moselle region, 22 of 51 residents ulation in France had been lack of testing. — but were careful to cast it as a cautious first step. From florists to fashion stores, the majority of shops Novel coronavirus cases fall for first time in Italy smaller than 800 square metres were allowed to AFP — ROME said 108,237 people were either 24,114 — second only to the the pandemic will be revealed in lockdown expires on May 4. welcome customers again in being treated in hospital or were United States. the number of excess deaths reg- The economic and psycho- much of Germany, in a first Italy reported its first drop recovering at home after testing However, the figures are istered in the past few months. logical toll of Italy’s six-week wave of scaling back lockdown yesterday in the number of positive -- 20 fewer than the total widely regarded as benchmarks In northern Italy, where the lockdown has also been hard to measures introduced last people currently suffering from reported on Sunday. rather than actual tallies — most outbreak first exploded, some quantify. month. the novel coronavirus since it “For the first time, we have Italian doctors believe the provinces have seen their usual Scientists are reportedly But the government is recorded its first infection in seen a new positive development: numbers of deaths and infections number of deaths over a single pushing the government to facing increasing pressure February. the number of currently positive are far higher than those officially month increase by a factor of four conduct psychological tests on a from other sectors still facing Those receiving intensive has declined,” civil protection reported. or five even when the official sample of the population to curbs to move faster and let care treatment also fell to the service chief Angelo Borrelli told Those who died at home or virus tolls were relatively small. determine how long people can them get business back on lowest level in a month as reporters. in care facilities are not included But the decline in the number stay confined to their homes. track. Merkel said loosening Europe’s hardest-hit country “The number in intensive and some of the hardest-hit of current official cases still The Corriere della Sera restrictions too hastily could began to see the first direct health care is the lowest it has been in a regions have only been testing marks an important data point newspaper said Prime Minister be counterproductive as the benefits of its economically dev- month,” he added. the most sick patients. in Italy’s calculation of what Giuseppe Conte will announce a effects of the first steps would astating lockdown. The Mediterranean country’s Some experts believe the true restrictions to lift and which to new set of social guidelines this only be seen in two weeks. The civil protection service death toll still rose by 454 to extent of the damage caused by extend when the current week that could include the tests. TUESDAY 21 APRIL 2020 EUROPE 13 WHO insists it sounded virus alarm from start; hid nothing AFP — GENEVA countries to prepare well and to WHO chief Tedros Adhanom prepare quickly.” The World Health Organization (WHO) Ghebreyesus said there The US State Department has said insisted yesterday that it sounded the the WHO was too late in sounding the alarm on the novel coronavirus right were no secrets at the UN alarm over COVID-19 and is overly def- from the very start and had hidden agency after being blasted erential to China. nothing from Washington about the by the United States for It questioned why it did not pursue deadly pandemic. a lead from Taiwan flagged up on WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghe- allegedly downplaying the December 31 about reports of atypical breyesus said there were no secrets at initial COVID-19 outbreak pneumonia in Wuhan the UN agency after being blasted by Debate has raged over the signif- the United States for allegedly down- in China. icance of Taiwan’s email, which playing the initial COVID-19 outbreak informed the WHO of the reports from in China. embedded US government secondees Wuhan, and of at least seven patients “We have been warning from day working at the WHO headquarters in being isolated -- something that would one that this is a devil that everyone Geneva meant there was nothing being not be necessary for a non-infectious should fight,” Tedros told a virtual concealed from Washington. disease. A man sits on the road during a demonstration to protest against the government briefing in Geneva. The WHO said there were 15 staff The United States said Thursday and its measures to respond to the novel coronavirus pandemic on a roundabout The virus, which emerged late last from the Centers for Disease Control it was “deeply disturbed that Tai- at Adam Clark Square near the Prime Minister office, in Budapest yesterday. year in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has and Prevention (CDC), the US health wan’s information was withheld from so far infected more than 2.4 million protection agency, detailed specifically the global health community, as people globally and killed more than to work with the organisation on its reflected in the WHO’s January 14, came from Wuhan,” said Tedros. the existence of the event in Wuhan on 165,000. COVID-19 response. 2020 statement that there was no “Taiwan didn’t report any human- January 4, and on January 5 provided The United States has by far the “Having CDC staff means there is indication of human-to-human to-human transmission,” he stressed. “detailed information on the epidemic” highest death toll of any country, at nothing hidden from the US, from day transmission”. WHO emergencies director which all countries could access. more than 40,000 fatalities, and Pres- one. Because these are Americans But Tedros insisted that the WHO Michael Ryan said the email made no Tedros also urged leaders not to ident Donald Trump has faced criticsm working with us. It just comes natu- was already aware of reports ema- reference to anything beyond what had exploit the pandemic for their own over his handling of the pandemic. rally and they tell what they are doing,” nating from Wuhan -- and said Tai- already been reported in news media. political capital. Washington is the biggest con- said Tedros. wan’s email was only seeking further “Clusters of atypical pneumonia “Don’t use this virus as an oppor- tributor to the WHO but Trump is “WHO is open. We don’t hide any- information. are not uncommon. There are millions tunity to fight against each other or freezing funding, alleging that the thing. Not only for CDC, them sending “One thing that has to be clear is of cases of atypical pneumonia around score political points,” he said. organisation mismanaged and covered messages, or others -- we want all the first email was not from Taiwan. the world in any given year,” he “It’s like playing with fire. It’s the up the spread the virus. countries to get the same message Many other countries were already explained. political problem that may fuel further Tedros said the presence of immediately because that helps asking for clarification. The first report Ryan said that the WHO tweeted this pandemic.” Hungary hopes Luxury Moscow clinic for ‘calm plan’ by becomes coronavirus May 3 on return to normal from ‘battleground’ lockdown

AFP — MOSCOW deteriorate in the next two or REUTERS — BUDAPEST three weeks, he warns, pre- A small elderly woman lies dicting “mid-May will be the Hungarian Prime Minister curled up in bedsheets with an absolute top of the peak.” Viktor Orban expects to oxygen tube in her nose, “I think we are talking present a plan early next coughing as doctors cocooned about new cases multiplying month for a gradual return to in white suits care for her. day by day, five or 10-fold.” normal from the coronavirus In a nearby bed, an elderly The burly middle-aged man lockdown, national news man is on a ventilator. In with curly ginger hair from agency MTI quoted him as another a woman in her 50s lies Georgia came to Russia to study saying yesterday. on her belly to improve her medicine and specialised in MTI cited Orban as saying oxygen saturation. critical care. in an interview with Catholic This is the intensive care The virus is a “major test for Maria radio that by May 3, ward at a branch of Moscow’s the health system, for Moscow’s Hungary would be prepared K+31 private hospital. Until a medicine,” he says, vowing: “We to handle any rise in infections week ago, it was a luxurious will overcome it.” and that from that point private clinic where you could Tens of thousands of beds Workers finishing construction of a new hospital for coronavirus patients outside the village of onwards it could afford to seek get a nose job. have been made available in Golokhvastovo, some 60km southwest from the center of Moscow, yesterday. ways to get back to normal, Yet as the capital shoulders Moscow and the recent opening step by step. the weight of Russia’s virus of large new virus hospitals patients. The entire hospital, Churadze says. “It’s a global hardest parts of treating virus “I will be able to talk about onslaught, with more than “will allow us to better including administrative floors, problem.” “A black market for patients, he says. that on May 3 or 4 at the ear- 26,000 cases,the facility has overcome this difficult situ- has been divided into “green” personal protective equipment “After a shift you feel like liest, but I hope that by then, switched entirely to treating ation,” Churadze said. or clean and infectious “red” has even appeared and a lot of ripping it off.” building on the experience of coronavirus patients. Yet virus treatment at this areas, including lifts. people are making money from Another doctor, Kamila several other countries, I can “There’s not a single empty facility is not accessible to most To enter the “red zone”, this.” Tuichiyeva, works to categorise present a calm... serious plan bed,” says chief doctor Boris Muscovites. medics put on full personal pro- In the intensive care unit, new virus patients according to to the country,” Orban said. Churadze. In the state-run hos- It takes cash-paying tection, including goggles, hooded doctor Sergei Sevalkin is the seriousness of their con- Orban, who has been in pital next door, where 500 patients or those with private white suits, one or more masks, helping treat a patient in her dition. “The whole team has got power since 2010, said he patients are being treated, the health insurance and a course shoe coverings, and two pairs of late 60s. “We’ve held out a week used to things now and I think expects the recession to be situation is the same, he says. of treatment costs tens of thou- gloves, helped by special staff. “It’s and now it’s a bit easier,” he we’ve got into an even rhythm,” smaller than most observers He calls the virus fight a sands of dollars, Churadze says. an absolutely new reality” for says. “We have one patient in she says. Like many staff, she have forecast, but that the “battlefield,” where medics The private hospital group medics, Churadze said. a serious condition who was has moved into a hotel to avoid rebound could be slower than combat an invisible enemy with that owns it, Medinvest, also Doctors are kitted out with transferred from another hos- infecting family members, and the most optimistic homicidal intentions. runs a much bigger coronavirus protective gear but getting hold pital.” Working for hours in a plans to live there for the projections. The situation is set to hospital for public health of this equipment is a challenge, protective suit is one of the duration. There is little clarity about the impact of the crisis on Portugal gears up for Hungary’s economy. Poland detains antibody tests, health Lebanese man suspected of authorities urge caution ‘planning attacks’ REUTERS — LISBON AFP — WARSAW As Portugal prepares to ease its coronavirus lockdown, a number of cities and research organisations are rolling out antibody tests Poland’s special services said even though national authorities warn it may be too early to draw yesterday they had detained a conclusions on immunity among the population as a whole. Lebanese citizen with Some countries see antibody tests as a way to determine if suspected ties to the Islamic people have developed immunity through exposure to the coro- State (IS) group who allegedly navirus, potentially allowing them to return to work. But virology planned to launch attacks in experts are not yet certain what immunity such antibodies might the country. provide. The man, whose identity “We can have antibodies after 15 days but they may not protect was not made public, was us. When we know more about these tests, they will be very useful,” detained on April 16 after being says Graça Freitas, head of Portugal’s health directorate DGS. deemed “a real threat to Polish Experts say Portugal was the last country in Western Europe internal security and to our to report a confirmed case of the coronavirus — on March 2 - country’s citizens,” according Time for nature tours meaning the virus is not yet widespread enough for mass testing to Stanislaw Zaryn, spokesman to be worthwhile. The country has reported 20,863 confirmed for Poland’s special services. Skakavac Waterfall, located in Nature Preserve Skakavac, during Spring season in Sarajevo, Bosnia cases and 735 deaths, much less than Spain. The suspect “was planning and Herzegovina. People prefer nature tours instead of crowded places within the coronavirus Portugal hopes to gradually relax restrictions on schools, to set up a network in Poland pandemic measures. stores and cultural spaces from next month. and elsewhere in the EU that would carry out terror attacks in Western European coun- tries,” Zaryn said in a Albania allows some businesses to resume amid virus clampdown statement. He had “family ties to terrorists belonging to the AFP — TIRANA health ministry, according to a list pub- employees, who must wear protective staved off a major outbreak, with almost so-called Islamic State who lished on the government’s website. gear, the government said. 600 known infections and 26 deaths died in battle against the coa- Albania will allow some businesses to Hotels that meet all required hygiene Albania was quick to shut down from the virus in the country of 2.8 lition forces in Syria and Iraq”, reopen to ease to the economic pain of conditions will also be allowed to open public and economic life after its first million. But the economic costs have the statement added. a coronavirus clampdown that has wiped their doors, though venues like restau- cases of the virus emerged on March 9. piled up, as some 50,000 Albanians — The man had apparently out tens of thousands of jobs in the rants and beauty salons remain Since then nearly all businesses around four percent of the official work- been in frequent touch via the Balkan state. shuttered. except for food shops and pharmacies force — have lost their jobs, according internet with the Islamic State Firms in the agriculture, fishing, Under the new relaxed rules, busi- have gone dark while residents are only to Ministry Economy. and other individuals linked to mineral, oil and textile sectors are among nesses must also respect a nightly 5:30 allowed outsided with authorisation. A series of relief efforts are also the group in EU member coun- those permitted to reboot activity once pm (1530GMT) curfew and “strictly” According to government figures, costing the government some 540 mil- tries while he was staying in they have received a certificate from the enforce social distancing measures for the tight lockdown appears to have lions euros. Poland. 14 AMERICAS TUESDAY 21 APRIL 2020 US Supreme Court says criminal convictions require unanimous juries

AP — WASHINGTON The outcome will the federal government. Last year, the court held that the The Supreme Court ruled affect defendants who Constitution’s ban on excessive yesterday that juries in state are still appealing fines applies to the states and criminal trials must be unan- the federal government alike. imous to convict a defendant, their convictions. But “There can be no question settling a quirk of constitutional for defendants whose either that the Sixth Amend- law that had allowed divided ment’s unanimity requirement votes to result in convictions in cases are final, it will applies to state and federal Louisiana and Oregon. take another round criminal trials equally,” Gorsuch Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote wrote yesterday. for the court that the practice is of lawsuits to figure The decision produced an inconsistent with the Constitu- out whether the high unusual lineup of justices, with lib- tion’s right to a jury trial and that court ruling applies to erals Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader it should be discarded as a Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor Healthcare workers eat lunch outside of Elmhurst Hospital amid the outbreak of the coronavirus vestige of Jim Crow laws in Lou- them. and conservatives Brett disease in the Queens borough of New York, US, yesterday. isiana and racial, ethnic and reli- Kavanaugh, Clarence Thomas and gious bigotry that led to its Gorsuch supporting Ramos. adoption in Oregon in the 1930s. Cohen, said in a statement. Chief Justice John Roberts New York Mayor says lack of virus “In fact, no one before us “In light of the COVID-19 and Justice Samuel Alito, two contests any of this; courts in crisis, it is essential that pris- conservatives, were in dissent both Louisiana and Oregon oners who are wrongfully along with liberal Justice Elena testing may delay reopening of city have frankly acknowledged incarcerated be given the Kagan. that race was a motivating chance for release as soon as That’s because a key part of REUTERS — NEW YORK CITY “The federal government, president appeared to encourage factor in the adoption of their possible.” the case was whether to jettison especially, needs to get the protesters who want to reopen States’ respective nonunanimity The outcome will affect the 1972 decision, and over- Mayor Bill de Blasio said memo that this thing ain’t over sooner with a series of Twitter rules,” Gorsuch wrote. defendants who are still turning precedent is a fraught yesterday that it could take and if you pretend it’s over it is posts on Friday calling for them The justices’ 6-3 vote over- appealing their convictions. But issue on the current court, prin- weeks if not months before the only going to boomerang back to “LIBERATE” Michigan, Min- turned the conviction of Evan- for defendants whose cases are cipally because the additions of country’s most populous city and make it worse.” De Blasio’s nesota and Virginia, all run by gelisto Ramos. He is serving a life final, it will take another round Gorsuch and Kavanaugh have reopens due to a lack of wide- warning on testing echoed Democratic governors. sentence in Louisiana for killing of lawsuits to figure out made the court more conserv- spread testing, even as officials comments by several governors An estimated 2,500 people a woman after a jury voted 10-2 whether the high court ruling ative and, perhaps, more likely elsewhere began rolling back over the weekend disputing rallied at the Washington state to convict him in 2016. Oregon applies to them. to undermine landmark restrictions on daily life. President Donald Trump’s capitol in Olympia to protest is the only other state that allows The Supreme Court last took abortion rights rulings. De Blasio, whose city is at claims that they have enough Democratic Governor Jay for non-unanimous convictions up the issue in 1972, when it ruled Gorsuch, Sotomayor, the epicenter of the coronavirus tests for COVID-19, the respi- Inslee’s stay-at-home order, for some crimes. that nothing in the Constitution Kavanaugh, Thomas and Alito crisis in the United States, said ratory disease caused by the one of several protests. Louisiana voters changed bars states from allowing some addressed the issue of prec- New York needed to be con- novel coronavirus. Residents in Florida were the law for crimes committed convictions by non-unanimous edent in majority, dissenting ducting hundreds of thousands The United States has by far allowed to return to some beginning in 2019. verdicts, even as it said that the and concurring opinions. of tests a day and to see hospi- the world’s largest number of beaches after Governor Ron Now the same rules will Sixth Amendment requires Kavanaugh has said that prior talizations decline further confirmed coronavirus cases, DeSantis approved the relaxing apply in all 50 states and in the unanimous verdicts in federal decisions must be not just before reopening the economy. with more than 750,000 infec- of some restrictions. federal system: Juries must vote criminal cases. The case turned wrong but egregiously so. The “We could get there but we tions and over 40,500 deaths, Charlie Latham, mayor of unanimously for conviction. on the vote of Justice Lewis 1972 decision, he wrote yes- can’t do it without widespread nearly half of them in the state Jacksonville Beach, said the first “We are heartened that the Powell. terday, “is egregiously wrong.” testing and so far the federal of New York, according to a weekend the beach there was Court has held, once and for all, The 1972 decision left the Sotomayor said the old case government still can’t get their tally. reopened with limited hours that the promise of the Sixth jury trial right as one of the few was wrong both on the Sixth handle on that,” de Blasio said Trump’s guidelines to reopen went well, with no arrests for Amendment fully applies in rights guaranteed by the first Amendment and in its igno- on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” the economy recommend a state people violating social dis- Louisiana, rejecting any 10 amendments to the Consti- rance of the bigoted roots of adding that ending social dis- record 14 days of declining case tancing rules, which included concept of second-class tution that does not apply uni- allowing non-unanimous tancing too soon could rekindle numbers before gradually lifting a prohibition of chairs or justice,” Ramos’ lawyer, Ben formly to the states as well as verdicts. the virus. restrictions. Yet the Republican blankets. Residents of NYC Protests highlight growing county sue WHO over pandemic US unease over response coronavirus lockdowns

REUTERS — NEW YORK REUTERS — WASHINGTON Walters’ group is not associated with another protest planned Residents of a suburban New The US debate intensified in Annapolis yesterday. York City county that was one yesterday over when to lift In Pennsylvania, where of the earliest US hot spots for restrictions to control the coro- Democratic Governor Tom the coronavirus sued the World navirus outbreak, with Wolf has promised to veto a Health Organisation yesterday, protesters gathering in state Republican-backed bill that accusing it of gross negligence capitals to demand an end to would force him to reopen in covering up and responding lockdowns and officials urging some businesses, a large protest to the COVID-19 pandemic. caution until more testing was expected in the state In a proposed class action, becomes available. capital Harrisburg. three residents of Westchester Stay-at-home measures, “Anyone who has been County accused the WHO of which experts say are essential impacted by this shutdown in failing to timely declare a pan- to slow the spread of the virus, a negative way is welcome and demic, monitor China’s have ground the economy to a we want them to be heard response to the original out- virtual standstill and forced regardless of their party affili- break, provide treatment more than 22 million people to ation,” said Stephen LaSpina, guidelines, advise members on apply for unemployment ben- an organizer of the protest. He how to respond including efits in the past month. added that protesters would be through travel restrictions, and Demonstrations have flared encouraged to stay in their cars coordinate a global response. Preventing people from crowding parks in recent days across the and maintain social They also accused the WHO country to demand an end to the distancing. of conspiring with China’s gov- A woman walks past a sign at a park telling people not to overcrowd after Seattle Mayor Jenny lockdowns, with more planned President Donald Trump, a ernment, which was not named Durkan reopened parks that were closed for weekend as efforts continue to help slow the spread yesterday. Thousands gathered Republican seeking re-election as a defendant, to cover up of coronavirus in Seattle, Washington, US, yesterday. outside the capitol building in in November, has said state COVID-19’s severity. The WHO Lansing, Michigan, last week to governors should have the final did not immediately respond protest against Democratic Gov- say but has favored an early to a request for comment. ernor Gretchen Whitmer. end to the lockdowns, and The lawsuit by Richard Poisonings linked to disinfectants rise Tim Walters, who was part many protesters in the past Kling and Steve Rotker, both of a “Reopen Maryland” protest week have sported pro-Trump of New Rochelle, and Gennaro AP — NEW YORK related to the coronavirus number of stay-at-home orders over the weekend in which hun- signs and campaign gear. Purchia, of Scarsdale, was filed epidemic. and guidance to clean hands dreds of people drove through Republican lawmakers in in the federal court in White One toddler became dizzy, fell Such poisonings were up and dirty surfaces. the state capital Annapolis, said several states have also backed Plains, New York. and hit her head after drinking about 20 percent in the first They warned against using concerns about the virus must the protests. Joe Buchert, 48, a It seeks unspecified from a large bottle of hand sani- three months of this year, com- more cleaner than directed, be kept in perspective and retired police officer who lives damages for what they called tizer. A woman had a scary pared with the same period in mixing multiple products weighed against the economic in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, WHO’s “incalculable” harm to coughing and wheezing fit 2018 and 2019, according to a together or using them in toll of lockdowns. attended the Harrisburg protest the roughly 756,000 adult res- while soaking her produce in a report yesterday from the poorly ventilated areas. “There is a lot of frustration because he thinks the governor idents in Westchester County sink containing bleach, vinegar Centers for Disease Control and The report was based on about who decides what is has overreached. who would make up the class. and hot water. Prevention. more than 45,000 recent calls essential. And people are “The Democratic governors Westchester is north of Reports of accidental poi- The authors said they can’t to 55 poison control centers hurting,” said Walters, a man- are just trying to kill the New York City, and last year sonings from cleaners and prove coronavirus drove the across the country involving agement consultant for a group economy to hurt Trump,” said had about 967,506 people, of disinfectants are up this year, increase, but said it seems likely exposures to cleaning chem- he estimated had 20,000 Buchert, who was wearing a whom roughly 78 percent and researchers believe it’s the two are linked, given the icals or disinfectants. members on Facebook. red Trump 2020 hat. were adults, according to the US Census Bureau. Lawyers for the plaintiffs did not immediately respond Congressional Black Caucus backs Biden’s White House bid to requests for comment. New Rochelle became a AP — DETROIT leadership and members, his understanding on how to get most African American significant black populations, hot spot after a lawyer who including civil rights icon Rep things done and his ability to members of Congress. like Georgia, to postpone their attended the Young Israel of The Congressional Black Caucus John Lewis of Georgia and work and pull people together Black voters have long primaries. African Americans New Rochelle synagogue was PAC endorsed Joe Biden’s pres- caucus Chairwoman Karen is needed now more than ever. anchored the former vice pres- have been disproportionately diagnosed with COVID-19 on idential bid yesterday, further Bass of California. The PAC is We need someone that is a ident’s White House bid with impacted by COVID-19, the March 2, the first person in the cementing his support among the caucus’ separate campaign healer and not a divider, and overwhelming support in South disease caused by the virus. community to test positive. the nation’s influential black arm. that’s Joe Biden.” Carolina, on Super Tuesday and Earlier this month, Biden Through April 18, a total of political leadership. “There’s no question that Biden, who is on the cusp of in Midwestern states like joined a growing call for the 242,786 people in New York The political action com- Joe Biden is badly needed by clinching the Democratic pres- Michigan. release of comprehensive racial had tested positive for the mittee’s unanimous this country,” CBC PAC idential nomination, had already But that was before the data on the coronavirus pan- coronavirus, including 23,803 endorsement came on the Chairman Gregory Meeks of scored key endorsements from coronavirus pandemic dis- demic, which he said has put a in Westchester, according to heels of several key nods of New York said in an interview. 38 of the 54 members of the rupted the presidential race, spotlight on inequity and the the state’s health department. support among caucus “His leadership, his experience, group, which is composed of forcing several states with impact of “structural racism.” TUESDAY 21 APRIL 2020 AMERICAS 15

‘Mexico cannot At least 18 dead in Nova Scotia shooting rampage stop drug cartels Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau from handing out said the gunman killed at least 18. “The vast coronavirus aid’ majority of Nova Scotians will have a direct link with one more of victims. The entire AP — MEXICO CITY province and country is grieving right now." Mexico’s President acknowl- edged yesterday that drug cartels have been handing out AP — TORONTO residents overnight on Saturday aid packages during the coro- in the rural town of Portapique, navirus pandemic, and called A gunman disguised as a police about 60 miles north of Halifax, on them to stop. officer went on a 12-hour to lock their doors and stay in President Andrés Manuel rampage in the Canadian their basements. López Obrador said such province of Nova Scotia, Several bodies were later handouts have occurred “in shooting people in their homes, found inside and outside one several places,” but said the setting fires and killing at least home on Portapique Beach government can’t stop the 18 people, including a police- Road, the street where the practice. woman, in the deadliest mass suspect lived, authorities said. “It is something that shooting in the country’s history. Bodies were also found at happens, it cannot be Officials said the suspect, several other locations within avoided,” López Obrador said. identified as 51-year-old about a 30-mile area from the “I don’t want to hear them Gabriel Wortman, was also neighbourhood where the saying, ‘we are handing out aid among the dead in the weekend shootings began late on Saturday, packages,’” he said. “No, better attack. Police did not provide a and authorities believe the shooter that they lay off, and think of motive for the killings. may have targeted his first victims their families, and themselves, A Wentworth volunteer firefighter douses hotspots near destroyed vehicles linked to Sunday’s deadly Canadian Prime Minister but then began attacking ran- those that are involved in these shooting rampage in Wentworth Centre, Nova Scotia, Canada, yesterday. Justin Trudeau said the gunman domly. Several homes in the area activities and who are listening killed at least 18 “The vast were set on fire. to me now or watching me.” majority of Nova Scotians will At least four white forensic certainly speaks to it not being identified as Constable Heidi local nursing homes were also Videos posted on social have a direct link with one more vans were seen yesterday a random act,” Mounted Police Stevenson, a mother of two and among those killed, according media have shown one of the of victims. The entire province morning entering the neigh- Chief Superintendent Chris a 23-year veteran of the force. to Von Canada, a long term daughters of imprisoned drug and country is grieving right bourhood where the shootings Leather said. He said many of Another officer was wounded. health care company, which lord Joaquin “El Chapo” now as we come to grips with began. the victims did not know the Also among the dead was identified them as Heather Guzman handing out boxes of something that is unimagi- Authorities said the sus- shooter and authorities believe school teacher Lisa McCully, O’Brien, a licensed practical rice, pasta, cooking oil and nable,” Trudeau said. pected gunman wore a police he acted alone. who worked at a local ele- nurse, and Kristen Beaton, a toilet paper with Guzman’s Trudeau asked the media to uniform at one point and made According to his high school mentary school. Nova Scotia continuing care assistant. image printed on them. avoid mentioning the name of his car look like a Royal yearbook, Wortman long had a Teachers Union President Paul Wortman, who owned a In the past, drug cartels the assailant or showing his Canadian Mounted Police fascination with the Wozney said. “Our hearts are denture practice in the city of have tried to gain the sym- picture. cruiser. Mounties.”Gabe’s future may broken along with those of her Dartmouth, near Halifax, lived pathy of local populations with “Do not give this person the “That fact that this indi- including being an RCMP officer,” colleagues and students at part time in Portatipique, handouts. For example, López gift of infamy,” he said. vidual had a uniform and a the yearbook profile said. Debert Elementary,” he said. according to residents of the Obrador noted, fuel theft gangs Police began advising police car at his disposal The dead officer was Two health care workers at town. that drilled taps into pipelines would often leave small amounts of gasoline and diesel Virus cases in for local farmers, to gain their Haitians say 3 deportees from US test virus positive support. Ecuador top And in northern Mexico, REUTERS — PORT-AU-PRINCE 47 but that number could rise source said. It was unable to With limited resources, the Gulf cartel and the 10,000, doubling swiftly. independently verify the Haiti faces a recession this year Northeast cartel have Three migrants the United A major outbreak of the information. and has also been grappling reportedly handed out aid. about once a week States deported two weeks ago novel coronavirus could be The Trump administration with political instability and López Obrador has sought to Haiti, on a flight that raised devastating for Haiti, which has has pressured impoverished gang violence. to avoid open confrontation AGENCIES — QUITO objections from human rights around 100 ventilators for 11 countries like Haiti and Gua- Authorities have so far with drug cartels, opting advocates, have tested positive million residents and where the temala to keep receiving carried out only 508 tests, instead for long-term solutions Ecuador reported over for the novel coronavirus while healthcare system was already deported migrants despite according to the health min- like job creation, scholarships 10,000 cases of coronavirus in quarantine in the Caribbean collapsing. growing concerns returnees are istry, although it hopes to ramp and job training to reduce the yesterday, the fourth- country, a Haitian health Haiti’s water and sanitation bringing the virus with them. up testing next month with the number of recruits available highest tally in Latin ministry source said. system are also in a shambles. Forty-six Guatemalan arrival of rapid tests. to the cartels. America, as the disease Several US lawmakers had While the government has migrants on two deportation The government this Yesterday, he adopted a ravages the economy of the also opposed the deportation closed borders and declared a flights from the United States weekend extended the state of similar tone. “I don’t rule out oil-producing country. flight to Haiti given the risk of state of emergency, many Hai- last week also tested positive emergency for another month that there are people in the The pandemic in recent spreading the virus further in tians have continued to go for the coronavirus, according under which borders are closed, gangs who are becoming con- weeks has overwhelmed san- the poorest country in the about their daily lives as usual to the Central American nation’s as are schools, universities and scious, because I don’t think itary authorities in the largest Americas, which is especially given they live hand to mouth government. places of worship. you can spend your life always city of Guayaquil, the center vulnerable to an outbreak. and cannot afford to stay home. The US Immigration and However it allowed textile watching your back, worrying of the Andean nation’s out- At the point of the flight, the Around two thirds live under Customs Enforcement and industrial parks, which are one about another gang, going break, where corpses Caribbean nation had just 25 the poverty line. State Department did not of its top sources of foreign cur- from one place to another, remained in homes or for confirmed cases compared to “These people who were in immediately reply to a request rency revenue, to restart today because you could get elimi- hours on streets. more than 380,000 in its quarantine were tested and for comment on the Haitian albeit only at 30 percent nated, that is no life at all,” said Ecuador recorded its first northern neighbour. It now has three.... came back positive,” the cases. capacity. López Obrador. coronavirus case on February 29 and took 24 days to reach 1,000 cases. It took seven days for cases to double to 2,000, Bolsonaro wants end to quarantine measures this week eight days to double to 4,000 and eight days to double again REUTERS — SAO PAULO measures to try to slow the Brasilia, he also opposed the view Bolsonaro is one of the few potentially lethal respiratory to 8,000, according to a spread of the coronavirus, of one who called for the coun- global leaders who has openly disease caused by the corona- Reuters tally. Brazilian President Jair wishing for an end to a policy try’s supreme court to be shut, railed against lockdown virus, said the curve in Rio was The Andean nation has Bolsonaro said yesterday that he has branded an ill-founded with Bolsonaro saying Brazil was measures to combat the corona- not yet flattening, despite reported a total of 507 deaths, he hoped this would be the last jobs killer. a democratic country and the top virus. He has doggedly asserted measures imposed by Governor the health ministry said. week of stay-at-home Speaking with supporters in court would remain open. that the economic risks of Wilson Witzel, who is also ill In Latin America, only shutting down Brazil’s economy with the disease. Brazil, Peru and Chile have outweigh the dangers posed by “At the beginning of May the more cases. a disease he calls a “little cold.” red light will come on for the President Lenin Moreno Despite Bolsonaro’s pro- health system,” he said. has proposed creating a tests, many of Brazil’s governors On Sunday, Bolsonaro irked humanitarian assistance fund have more or less shut down many in Brazil when he once that would collect five percent their states, leading to an angry again attended a public rally and of the profits with reported response from the president. attacked lockdown measures revenue exceeding $1m in Bolsonaro has also clashed with meant to fight the coronavirus, 2018, and would tax workers his own health officials, firing as supporters of the right-wing with monthly salaries of more his popular health minister last leader joined political motor- than $500. week after they clashed over cades around the country. Those measures have been social distancing measures. Brazil has more cases of the questioned by indigenous With Brazil’s coronavirus new coronavirus than any other people, unions and business outbreak appearing to be a few country in Latin America. On leaders.According to author- weeks behind those in Europe Sunday, confirmed cases rose ities, there are still 1,000 and the United States, it is to 38,654 with 2,462 deaths. tourists in the Galapagos, most unlikely Brazil’s governors will Bolsonaro, who was not of whom are Ecuadorians end stay-at-home measures this wearing a face mask, addressed About 1,500 other tourists week as the president wants. a crowd of a few hundred in were evacuated from the Gala- In an interview last week, Brasilia. During his brief pagos islands earlier. Rio de Janeiro’s state Health address, which was punctuated Tourism makes up 75 Secretary Edmar Santos said the by the president coughing, he percent of the revenue for the peak of the outbreak will hit Rio called those in attendance archipelago — whose flora and in May, which would be a “very, “patriots” and said they were fauna are unique throughout very complicated” time. helping defend individual Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro gestures as he leaves Alvorada Palace, amid COVID-19 outbreak, in the world — bringing in about Santos, who has been diag- freedoms that he said are under Brasilia yesterday. $110m per year. nosed with COVID-19, the threat by lockdowns. Virus crisis ravages Brazilian Amazon city’s health system AP — RIO DE JANEIRO Noronha, a 32-year-old relative, help of oxygen through a tube. than 2,000 confirmed showed body bags on gurneys of compliance with measures who waited outside for hours She has been tested for COVID-19 cases as of Sunday, in the hallway as well as on beds for social distancing is pushing After more than a week along with other patients’ COVID-19 and is awaiting the the vast majority in Manaus - alongside patients undergoing the health care system to its suffering a cough and fever — anxious loved ones milling results. the only city in the state with treatment. breaking point. potential signs of COVID-19 — about in the darkness. Manaus’ health care system, intensive care units. The city of The concern is that Manaus Bolsonaro has repeatedly Maria do Espírito Santo went to By then, the 67-year-old already strained before the 2.2 million has one of the could provide a grim glimpse of referred to COVID-19 as just a a hospital in Manaus, Brazil’s woman was in serious condition coronavirus crisis, is buckling highest rates of infection in what lies ahead for Brazil, par- “little flu” and called for con- biggest city in the Amazon rain and waiting for an intensive- under the current onslaught of Brazil, where more than 38,600 ticularly as President Jair Bol- fining only “high-risk” Bra- forest. There were no beds care unit bed to free up. After 11 coronavirus patients. Venti- cases have been confirmed, sonaro flouts health experts’ zilians because broader restric- available, just a plastic chair, so hours, an ambulance trans- lators are in critically short though experts say the total recommendations for people to tions would cause too much her family took her home. ferred her late Friday to a hos- supply, doctors bemoan a lack greatly under-represents the stay home to contain the virus’ economic damage. On Friday, The next day they brought pital, but she was put in its of protective gear, and true number of infections. spread, and instead tells citizens he replaced his health minister her to an emergency care unit, infirmary rather than its ICU. On gravediggers increasingly have A video shot inside the city’s to get back to work. In cities like with an oncologist who has where she was admitted and Sunday, she remained in serious their hands full. João Lúcio Hospital and circu- Manaus that have a dearth of made a career on the business put on a gurney, said Isabelle condition, breathing with the Amazonas state had more lated on social media this week equipment and ICU beds, lack side of health care. 16 MORNING BREAK TUESDAY 21 APRIL 2020

PRAYER TIMINGS WEATHER TODAY Partly cloudy to cloudy with a chance of scattered rain FAJR03.46 am SUNRISE 05.06 am o o maybe thundery at places and slight dust at times. ZUHR 11.33 am ASR 03.02 pm 24 C 29 C Minimum Maximum HIGH TIDE 03:24– 16:33 LOW TIDE 11:10 – 22:49 MAGHRIB 06.01 pm ISHA 07.31 pm W ALRUWAIS: 24o↗26o W ALKHOR: 23o↗28o W DUKHAN: 22o↗28o W WAKRAH: 24o↗30o W MESAIEED 24o↗30o W ABUSAMRA 22o↗28o

Actor Idris Elba & Interstellar 2I/Borisov wife recovering from coronavirus, is no ordinary comet to help others

REUTERS — WASHINGTON “We like to refer to 2I/Borisov as a AP — LONDON snowman from a dark and cold place,” Scientists have discovered that a comet said planetary scientist Dennis Bodewits Even though they only had called 2I/Borisov — only the second of Auburn University in Alabama, lead mild symptoms, Idris Elba said interstellar object ever detected passing author of one of two 2I/Borisov studies he and his wife had their lives through the solar system — is surpris- published in the journal Nature “turned around” after ingly different in its composition from Astronomy. contracting the coronavirus, comets hailing from our celestial neigh- “Comets are left-over building blocks calling the experience “defi- borhood. from the time of planet formation. For nitely scary and unsettling and Gas coming off 2I/Borisov contained the first time, we have been able to nervous.” high amounts of carbon monoxide — far measure the chemical composition of “You know, everyone’s more than comets formed in our solar such a building block from another plan- sort of feeling the way we have system — indicating the object had large etary system while it flew through our been feeling, but it has defi- concentrations of carbon monoxide ice, own solar system,” Bodewits added. nitely been sort of just a com- researchers said on Monday. The comet, detected in August 2019 An artist’s impression of the interstellar comet 2I/Borisov travelling through our plete upheaval,” he said. Carbon monoxide, poisonous to by amateur astronomer Gennady Borisov solar system, yesterday. But the British actor feels humans, is common as a gas in space and estimated to be about six-tenths of that there are life lessons to be and forms as ice only in the most frigid a mile (1km) wide, has zoomed through Scientists initially concluded last year comets, so the processes that shaped learned, and the pandemic locations. The presence of so much interstellar space after being ejected that 2I/Borisov was similar to comets it are comparable to the way our own serves as a reminder that “the carbon monoxide, the researchers said, from its original star system. from our solar system, but data from the comets formed,” said Martin Cordiner, world doesn’t tick on your suggests 2I/Borisov formed in a different It was born long ago in a rotating disc Hubble Space Telescope and an observ- an astrobiologist working at Nasa’s time.” manner than comets in our solar system of gas and dust surrounding a newly atory in Chile revealed its differences. Goddard Space Flight Center in Mar- “I think the world should - in a very cold outer region of its home formed star in a place that must have The researchers also found an abun- yland and lead author of the other take a week of quarantine star system or around a star cooler than been rich in carbon monoxide, Bodewits dance of hydrogen cyanide at levels study. every year just to remember the sun. said. That star may have been what is similar to comets from our solar system. The only other interstellar visitor dis- this time. Remember each Comets essentially are dirty snow- called an M-dwarf, far smaller and cooler “This shows that 2I/Borisov is not covered in our solar system was a cigar- other. I really do,” he said. balls composed of frozen gases, rock and than the sun and the smallest type of star a completely alien object, and confirms shaped rocky object called ‘Oumuamua The British actor and his dust that orbit stars. that is known, Bodewits said. some similarity with our ‘normal’ spotted in 2017. model wife, Sabrina Dhowre Elba began a push with the UN to lessen the impact of COVID-19 on farmers and food Facebook-powered coronavirus ‘heat map’ unveiled producers in rural areas. “People forget that 80 percent of the poor population AFP — WASHINGTON surveys of Facebook and Google on his Facebook page and in the unique data sources, the CMU “The survey asked people if live in these rural areas.” users as part of an effort to Washington Post. researchers will monitor they have symptoms such as Dhowre Elba said. “What we Researchers yesterday unveiled monitor the spread of the virus. “With a community of bil- changes over time, enabling fevers, coughing, shortness of are really worried about at the a coronavirus “heat map” Facebook chief executive lions of people globally, Facebook them to forecast COVID-19 breath or loss of smell that are moment, and why we are powered by Facebook data Mark Zuckerberg said the heat can uniquely help researchers activity several weeks into the associated with COVID-19,” launching this fund is that those which is aimed at helping track map, currently available for the and health authorities get the future,” the research team said. Zuckerberg said. people are being forgotten.” the spread of the disease and United States, was being information they need to respond The research uses responses “Since experiencing In their new roles as UN plan for reopening society. expanded globally with help to the outbreak and start to Facebook surveys about symptoms is a precursor to Goodwill Ambassadors, Elba The Carnegie Mellon Uni- from University of Maryland planning for the recovery.” symptoms people are experi- becoming more seriously ill, this and his wife, have joined versity project offers “real-time research teams. Carnegie Mellon researchers ences, with data controlled by survey can help forecast how forces with the United Nations indications of COVID-19 activity “As the world fights said they are receiving about university team and not shared many cases hospitals will see in International Fund for Agri- not previously available from COVID-19 and countries develop one million responses per week with the social network. the days ahead and provide an cultural Development (IFAD) any other source,” according to plans to reopen their societies, from Facebook users, and have The scientists also rely on early indicator of where the to launch the new $40m fund. a university statement. it’s critical to have a clear under- also gotten some 600,000 from anonymized data from Google outbreak is growing and where IFAD hopes to raise up to $200 The map was developed standing of how the disease is Google users. and other partners on the curve is being successfully million more from govern- with millions of responses to spreading,” Zuckerberg wrote “Using these and other symptoms and search queries. flattened.” ments worldwide. Farm rents out Finland opera-singing cop spreads miniature donkey message of love under lockdown to crash video calls AFP — HELSINKI the video last Friday, Schro- derus was “flabbergasted” to AP — INDIAN TRAIL A police officer in the northern receive a thousand messages of Finland has hit on a novel way appreciation, from around A miniature donkey named to help the public weather the Europe, Russia, Australia and Mambo is getting some online coronavirus (COVID-19) the US, “even if they don’t love in North Carolina, where lockdown, using his singing understand the lyrics.” a farm is getting in on the idea talent to lift spirits and going “There’s just something of having animals spice up viral in the process. about that song,” he reflected. tedious virtual meetings A video of senior constable “One young girl wrote that she during the pandemic. Petrus Schroderus singing a was hospitalised, that she Peace N Peas Farm will Finnish version of the Soviet watched my video and cried,” rent Mambo, the 8-year-old classic song “I love you, life” Schroderus said, adding that he miniature donkey, and his as he walks the deserted has tried to reply to every friends to crash company con- streets of Oulu, a town just contact. ference calls, The Charlotte 200km (125 miles) south of the Since late March, schools in Observer reported. This Arctic Circle, has quickly Finland have been closed to camera crowding donkey is amassed more than a million older children and gatherings “like a pesky little brother” that views on YouTube. of more than 10 people banned “doesn’t let anyone relax too “I wanted to sing something as authorities try to stem the long,” Francie Dunlap, that I really feel helps my own spread of the new coronavirus, A person watching on a laptop the Youtube video by Oulu Police Department, in which senior constable Mambo’s owner, said. Com- heart,” the classically trained which has led to 94 deaths in Petrus Schroderus sings a Finnish version of the Soviet classic song “I love you, life” in a deep operatic panies can choose other farm tenor said, adding that he the country so far. tenor as he walks in Oulu. animals they want to invite as wanted to offer “some kind of Schroderus says that apart guests on their video calls. comfort” to people who are from the occasional group of took a break from policing 22 force in 2012, but has kept up he sang a theme from Jean Sibe- “I think it would get some incapacitated and alone during youngsters who need to be dis- years ago to study under one his singing on the side, per- lius’s symphonic poem, “Fin- laughs,” Dunlap said. Cus- the coronavirus crisis. persed, the residents of Oulu of the country’s most forming up to 40 concerts a landia”, in uniform in a 2017 tomers can reserve 10 minutes The song promises that “The have followed the rules well, renowned opera teachers, year. video to mark the centenary of with the animals for $50, and night will end, the morning will and the bigger problem is the Esko Jurvelin, before singing His police colleagues are Finnish independence. co-workers can also choose a come, when the bright new day lockdown’s impact on people’s for the Finnish National Opera nothing but supportive, Schro- A recording deal is now in virtual meeting name for the arrives.” mental state. for seven years. derus said, and although he the works, “but I can’t say any farm animal. Within 24 hours of posting The long-serving officer Schroderus returned to the keeps his police work separate, more about that,” he said. With bees on decline, mechanical pollination may be the solution

REUTERS – TEL ARAD there has been a drastic fall in bee linator can augment the labours of – numbers around the world, largely due and eventually replace — bees. A mechanical hum replaced the to intensive agriculture, the use of pes- Its system mirrors the work of the buzzing of the bees in one Israeli ticides and climate change. honey bee, beginning with a community this season as farmers, Most crops rely on pollination, so mechanical harvest of pollen from concerned over the global drop in bee the trend has worried groups like the flowers and ending with a targeted dis- populations, tried out a new method UN Food and Agriculture Organization tribution using LIDAR sensors, the of pollinating their crops. as it looks to fight hunger in the same technology used in some self- Through an almond orchard in the growing human population. driving cars. area of Tel Arad in a desert plain in “We see a crisis in 15 years where Edete has been working on a southern Israel, a tractor pulled a mast we don’t have enough insects in the small-scale trial in several orchards in equipped with about a dozen small world to actually do pollination and Israel and Australia, and has agree- cannon that fired precise shots of most of our vitamins and fruits are ments to do the same in the United pollen at the trees, enabling them to gone,” said Eylam Ran, CEO of Edete States. fertilize. Precision Technologies for The company hopes to scale up and A tractor pulls a mast equipped with small cannons that shoot pollen at almond trees, The job is usually done by natural Agriculture. be ready to sell its products on the allowing them to fertilise without bees in an Almonds grove in Tel Arad, southern Israel. pollinators — most often bees — but His company says its artificial pol- market in the yearr 2023.