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QatarTribune Qatar_Tribune QatarTribuneChannel qatar_tribune Monday MAY 25, 2020 shawwal 2, 1441 Vol.13 no. 4955 qR 2

Fajr: 3:18 am Dhuhr: 11:31 am fine Asr: 2:56 pm Maghrib: 6:17 pm High : 38°C LOW : 28°C Isha: 7:47 pm

World 5 Business 7 Sports 9 Thousands protest in Hong China exporters look Sweet-toothed Werner Kong over China security inwards as virus hits bags hat-trick as Leipzig law proposal overseas markets triumph Eid Mubarak Eidi in the t mes of coronavirus pandemic We urge all parties to work for durable Afghan peace: FM Qatar welcomes Afghan-Taliban Eid ceasefire Tribune News Network Doha

Qatar has welcomed the three-day Eid ceasefire the Taliban has announced with the Afghan government. “We welcome the announcements by the Afghan government and the Taliban Muslim worshippers stand spaced from each other — a safety measure against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic — as they gather to attend the of a ceasefire during Eid Al Fitr. We en- prayers of Eid Al Fitr in Tehran on Sunday. (Right) Palestinian worshippers gather to attend the Eid prayers outside the closed Al Aqsa mosque complex. courage the parties to take further steps Muslims around the world began celebrating Eid Al Fitr on Sunday, many under coronavirus lockdown. The three-day festival, which marks the end of the to promote intra-Afghan negotiations Holy Month of Ramadan, is traditionally celebrated with mosque prayers, family feasts and shopping for new clothes, gifts and sweet treats. But this year, and secure a durable peace settlement the celebration is overshadowed by the coronavirus pandemic, with many countries tightening lockdown restrictions. (AFP) that ends the conflict in Afghanistan,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister We welcome the announce- of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Moham- med bin Abdulrahman al Thani said in ments by the Afghan a tweet. government and the Taliban The Taliban announced a three-day of a ceasefire during Eid Al Fitr.” COVID-19 not an ceasefire for Eid Al Fitr starting on Sun- ‘People must follow instructions to day in a surprise move following months — HE Sheikh Mohammed bin ordinary disease, of bloody fighting with Afghan forces. Abdulrahman al Thani says survivor Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani help curtail COVID-19 peak phase’ swiftly welcomed the offer and ordered jahid said Taliban fighters had been in- “COVID-19 is not an ordi- his forces to also comply, while the US structed to refrain from entering govern- nary disease and it should Maryam Maged Abouzaid envoy to Afghanistan hailed the deal as a ment areas and that Kabul forces were be taken seriously.” These Doha “momentous opportunity”. not allowed to enter territories under are the words of a 55-year- Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mu- their control. old COVID-19 survivor. Ali al The commitment of people to Ahbabi, a diabetic, beat the the preventive and precautionary coronavirus after a battle of measures will help reduce the peak about two months. Ahbabi period of the coronavirus (COV- tested positive for the virus ID-19) pandemic in Qatar, a top when a high fever drove health official has said. All parks, beaches to remain him to a health centre. In “The commitment of people to four days, he was moved the instructions is essential in re- to a hospital. “I stayed in ducing the peak period in Qatar. shut until further notice: MME the ICU for two consecu- If people don’t follow the instruc- tive weeks,” he told Qatar tions during Eid Al Fitr, the peak Tribune News Network TV in an interview. “It was phase may increase for more than Doha a difficult experience. I three weeks,” Dr Yousef al Ma- If people violate the instructions during Eid Al Fitr, the negative effect will appear infected nine of my family slamani, Medical Director of Ham- within two weeks and the peak phase will continue for about a month or more. All parks and beaches will remain members,” he added. ad General Hospital (HGH), told closed until further notice as part of ef- Ahbabi said he wit- Qatar TV in an interview. the symptoms will mostly appear the Eid holidays and maintain social forts to limit the spread of the coronavi- nessed the frontline He said if people do not step in 10 to 14 days.” distancing and wear face masks. rus (COVID-19), the Ministry of Munici- efforts of the healthcare out unnecessarily and take all the “If people are careful, the peak “If people violate the in- pality and Environment (MME) has said. professionals in Qatar in precautions, the COVID-19 trans- stage may last for two or three structions and precautionary “In line with the implementation of fighting the coronavirus mission curve might begin to pla- weeks, and then will begin to de- measures during Eid Al Fitr, the precautionary measures in the coun- and extending the best teau in two or three weeks. cline gradually. The public is the negative effect will appear within try, all Parks and beaches will remain possible care to citizens Dr Maslamani said the incu- one who determines this period. If two weeks. The peak phase will closed until further notice. Celebrate and residents. bation period of the coronavirus they commit themselves, the peak continue for about a month or the festival at home with your loved — Maryam Maged Abouzaid ranges from 10 to 14 days. period will end sooner,” he said. more,” he said. ones and stay safe,” the MME said in page 2 “If someone disregards the The official called on the people a tweet. safety precautions and is infected, not to go out unnecessarily during Continued on page 2 

HGH, Al Wakrah Hospital see 651 gastro cases on first day of Eid COVID-19 recoveries jump by 657 to reach 9,170 Tribune News Network whom were receiving treatment The ministry said the new The Emergency Depart- were admissions in both the Doha in intensive care. The ministry cases have been put in complete ments at Hamad Medical places. HMC Consultant of offered condolences and sympa- isolation in various medical facili- Corporation’s Hamad Gen- Emergency Medicine, Medical Qatar on Sunday recorded thy to the families of the two de- ties, where they are receiving the eral Hospital (HGH) and Al Toxicologist and Vice Chair- 1,501 new confirmed cases of ceased. necessary healthcare. Wakrah Hospital received a man for Corporate Affairs of coronavirus (COVID-19), with The ministry said the new The ministry urged anyone total of 651 cases on the HMC Department of Emer- 657 patients recovering from the cases are expatriate workers who with symptoms of COVID-19 in- first day of EidA l Fitr. Most gency Medicine Dr Galal Ales- virus, bringing the total recover- were infected with the virus as a fection to quickly contact the uni- of the cases were related to sai said that all the cases ies in the country to 9,170. result of contact with individuals fied helpline (16000), or goto one gastrointestinal tract as a re- were simple to moderate and Sadly, two people succumbed who were previously infected, in of the virus testing centres. The sult of change in food habits, there were no critical ones. to the virus, bringing the death addition to recording new cases earlier the disease is detected, following the Holy Month of He reiterated that there toll in the country to 23. among groups of workers in dif- the easier and faster the chances Ramadan. were less cases this year. In a statement, the Ministry ferent regions. of recovery from it, the ministry Of the cases HGH at- Most of the people nowa- of Public Health (MoPH) said 24 Cases of infection have also said. tended to there were 291 days are at home following people were admitted to intensive increased among citizens and The ministry stated that Qa- males and 140 females. Al the directives of the MoPH care in the last 24 hours, bringing residents as a result of contact tar is still in the peak phase of the Wakrah ED received a total to be safe and to limit the the total number of cases to 188. with infected family members virus outbreak, and therefore it is of 220 cases, including 186 spread of the COVID-19. The ministry stated that the who had been infected in the necessary to adhere to, more than males and 34 females. —CATHERINE W GICHUKI two new deaths were a 66-year- workplace or through visits and ever before, the recommended There were a total of 39 page 2 old and a 53-year-old, both of family gatherings. preventive measures. 02 Monday, May 25, 2020

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HGH, Al Wakrah Hospital receive 651 emergency cases on first day of Eid Residents celebrate Eid with CATHERINE W GICHUKI DOHA

Emergency Departments at gusto, but with a difference Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Hamad General Hospi- tal (HGH) and Al Wakrah Hos- Many found online alternatives to celebrate the first day of Eid and connect with their families pital received 651 cases related to gastrointestinal tract as a re- Meriam Jelliti first time. sult of change in food habits on doha “I came across an arti- the first day ofE id Al-Fitr. cle of virtual iftars. Humans Of the cases HGH attended Dr Galal Alessai MARKING the end of the need to communicate even to, 291 were of males and 140 Holy Month of Ramadan, from afar. We need to cel- females, while the Al Wakrah the cases were related to gastro- countries around the world ebrate Eid online with the Emergency Department re- intestinal system because of the are celebrating Eid Al-Fitr. same enthusiasm. I would do ceived a total of 220 cases, 186 changes in the food habits. The Eid this year, however, is anything to keep that spirit of males and 34 females. The cases included abdomi- different, with people obliged Eid alive, even if I had to do Among the cases, a total of nal distension, abdominal pain, to stay, pray and celebrate it on the Zoom app,” he said. 39 were put on admission in gastroenteritis, joint pains, from home amid the corona- Social media influencers both places. According to offi- headache, chronic issues, fol- virus (COVID-19) pandemic. are taking advantage of the cials, these cases are not related low-up for medication and mi- “I hope I get to celebrate online platforms to to coronavirus (COVID-19). nor injuries, he said. Eid next year here in Qatar, spread positivity and Eid Speaking to Qatar Tribune, “Headache cases were as a but under different circum- energy as well. Fares Dehbi, HMC Consultant of Emergency result of change in food habits. stances,” said Rawan, a visi- Morrocan influencer, video Medicine, Medical Toxicologist There were only a few admis- tor who is celebrating Eid for creator and singer residing and Vice-Chairman for Corpo- sions and none of them were the first time in Doha. in Qatar, has shared a spon- rate Affairs of HMC Department critical. Most of them were dis- “It has been really tough taneous photo of his Eid cel- of Emergency Medicine, Dr charged after a few hours of not seeing anyone for this The Eid this year is different, with people obliged to stay, pray and celebrate at home. ebration from the roof of his Galal Alessai said all the cases staying in the hospital. Around long. This year, because of house as a gesture to encour- were simple to moderate and three cases were cardiac-related the COVID-19, I must stay able to see a glimpse of this healthy and safe. Many Muslims found on- age young followers to stay none were critical. while six were for surgery,” Dr home. I wish I had a chance blessed day. We celebrated “I have never missed Eid line alternatives to celebrate home and safe. He said there were lesser Alessai said. to see Doha celebrations as the night of Eid. We stayed prayer. I am deeply saddened the first day ofE id and con- Many Qatari influencers cases this year compared to the HGH saw 16 admissions this is my first Eid here. But, up until after sunrise and cel- by the fact that mosques re- nect with their families and are participating in online previous year as many people while Al Wakrah had 23. we must follow the regula- ebrated within our own small main shut, but I also sup- friends. celebrations organised by nowadays stay at home to fol- He said a number of health tions for the sake of our own circle,” she added. port the restrictions imposed “Technology has served Katara during Eid days, en- low the directives of the MoPH centres and workers’ hospitals safety,” noted Rawan. The father of two-year- by the authorities. Nothing us well during these hard couraging people to join the to limit the spread of the COV- were open, which reduced the “Luckily, I have my father old Sally, expressed his grati- is more important than the times,” said Mahdy, a resi- celebrations from a distance ID-19. number of people at the Emer- with me. We stayed home all tude for being able to spend safety of our loved ones,” he dent who is spending this Eid in Eid yet Katara, virtual fire- According to him, most of gency Department on Sunday. day, but fortunately, I was it with his small family all said away from his family for the works and online raffle.

‘Health workers make Don’t underestimate COVID-19 virus, sacrifices to protect recovered patients urge residents community members’ Maryam Maged Abouzaid He said after he was suspecting Continued from page 1  Doha himself of having the COVID-19 in- during the coronavirus fection, he decided to partially iso- “In this case, the number pandemic in addition to In an effort to further emphasise late himself for five days. of patients will increase, increasing the working the reality around the coronavirus After finishing his medications, and most hospital beds hours of healthcare pro- (COVID-19) and to help curb its Kaabi went back to the health cen- will be filled, and there viders. spread, the Social Distancing pro- tre where he was advised to call will be an intense pres- He said healthcare pro- gramme aired on Qatar TV continues COVID-19 hotline 1600, and he im- sure on the intensive care fessionals are facing tre- to feature people who have recov- mediately got tested and was asked beds.” mendous pressure during ered from the epidemic. They share to isolate himself until an ambulance Dr Maslamani took this pandemic. “They leave their stories and encourage others to came to his house. great pride in being part of their families heading to a take the precautionary and preven- “When the symptoms got worse, the white army – health- place where they might get tive procedures seriously. I called them back and an ambulance care professionals – dur- infected with the virus,” he The survivors, meanwhile, have was sent to me as fast as they could” ing the times of the coro- said. warned people against underesti- he said. It took Kaabi 25 days to re- navirus pandemic. Dr Maslamani said, mating the coronavirus disease and cover, two weeks of which was spent “Our white army has “The healthcare workers its impacts on the community. in the ICU. “I was not aware that my made great sacrifices to are doing everything to Ali al Ahbabi, a 55-year old dia- centre where he tested positive for lines, he said, “This epidemic is not mother, sister and our maid were preserve and protect the protect people from the vi- betic man, has recovered from COV- COVID-19, and within four days he an ordinary disease and it must be also infected as I was completely community members dur- rus. They are the first line ID-19 after a battle that lasted for was moved to the hospital to get the taken seriously.” anaesthetised at the ICU,” he said. ing the past months. I feel of defence. They are work- two months. Sharing his experience, needed health care. On his part, Mohammed al Kaabi, After Kaabi and his family mem- proud being a part of this ing eight to 12 hours a day. Ahbabi said something that “started “It was a difficult experience as 34, who suffered from COVID-19 for bers recovered, they decided to fol- team that provided their “People get annoyed with high fever” made him stay in I transmitted the infection to nine 25 days, said, “The period of having low the health instructions inside fullest services during the for wearing face masks for the intensive care unit (ICU) for two of my family members,” he said, the infection was one of the most their house, wearing face masks and pandemic,” Dr Maslamani a few hours, but medical weeks. adding that from his experience, he difficult things I experienced. I pray keeping a distance between each said. teams must wear special “I stayed in the ICU for two con- witnessed the massive efforts of the to God that no one suffers from this other. The Hamad Medi- clothes that cause more secutive weeks,” he said. medical teams in Qatar and saw that epidemic. He urged people not to underes- cal Corporation provided pressure on them for half Ahbabi said that after he noticed citizens and residents were given “At first, I had cough. So, I went timate coronavirus epidemic, say- tens of thousands of beds of their day.” the symptoms of high fever, he de- the best healthcare services. Urging to a health centre where they gave ing, “Do not be the reason for harm- cided to visit the nearest health people to follow laid down guide- me cough medications,” he said. ing your family members”. British Council launches online English courses during lockdown Tribune News Network Plus, suitable for children aged six to offer this now. It brings our qual- online learning resources including Doha to 11 years, is designed to be as child- ity learning programme into people’s videos, reading texts, listening and friendly and intuitive as possible with homes while enabling everyone to worksheets practise to help improve The British Council Qatar has high quality and engaging materials, stay safe at home, study at their con- English at home. launched new online English courses including lots of varied activities, venience and importantly it allows Courses are open now for Prima- for both adults and children in re- with songs, videos and quizzes. It will the children to engage in some fun ry Plus, Secondary Plus and English sponse to Covid-19. focus on critical and creative think- learning with friends over the sum- Online – Adults. The courses - Primary Plus, Sec- ing, problem solving and citizenship mer.” The classroom schedule will vary ondary Plus and English Online – alongside English learning. The British Council also has an according to the age group of the stu- Adults – have been designed to bring Secondary Plus, designed for extensive range of free online re- dents and communication skills, with British Council classes into homes those aged 12 to 17 years, will help sources for learners and teachers of learners initially provided with a free through a tailor-made online learn- develop students into assertive, in- English. They have something for online English level assessment. ing platform. dependent global citizens. It features kids, teenagers and adults at all levels All courses are accessible from a The platform offers live class- an exciting range of practical and choice of adding a specific pathway age group in mind, and they will get of English. desktop computer, laptop or tablet. room lessons with dedicated British challenging tasks to encourage self- that supports their learning needs - the chance to experience real, face-to- Teaching English brings together Students will need to ensure they Council teachers. Students will also expression and creative thinking in a English for Work, English for Study face connections, using the same cur- everything busy teachers need for the have a good wi-fi connection, a mi- be provided with support between digital world. or English for Life. riculum as in the classroom. All stu- classroom including lesson plans and crophone (headset recommended), classes, their own personalised dash- English Online – Adults aims to Speaking about the new online dents will have lots of time to speak worksheets, teaching tips, web links, a speaker and a webcam and are in board and a wide range of extra on- deliver an engaging, flexible, high platform, Sam Ayton, country direc- with their teachers and fellow class- teaching articles and lots of informa- a quiet place in the home where they line resources. quality learning experience which tor of British Council Qatar, said: mates, with classes kept small with tion about professional development. will not be distracted. Children can join the summer builds learners’ confidence, no mat- “This innovative and intuitive plat- just eight to ten students in a class.” While Learn English Kids and More information can be found at programme from home. Primary ter their skill levels. Students have the form has been designed with each “We are really excited to be able Learn English Teens includes free https://www.britishcouncil.qa/en Middle East / Africa Monday, May 25, 2020 03

S Africa’s AngloGold Ashanti suspends Mponeng mine ops after virus detected Nine killed AFP cated 164 positive cases with lockdown on March 27. A labour union won a court Before AngloGold Ashan- in eastern Johannesburg only a handful of tests left to Mining is a critical ele- AngloGold Ashanti said it case earlier this month forc- ti’s announcement, there were process,” the company said in ment in South Africa’s already had tested 650 workers at ing the government to impose just 85 confirmedcoronavirus DR Congo South Africa’s AngloGold a statement, adding that the struggling economy, contrib- the gold mining site in strict protective measures for cases in the whole of South Af- Ashanti said Sunday it had “vast majority” of cases were uting eight percent to overall Merafong, Gauteng prov- miners. rica’s mining industry, includ- attack suspended operations at its asymptomatic. gross domestic product and ince, after a first case was Employers have since ing one death. AFP Mponeng mine after at least Operations at Mponeng raking in 45 percent of foreign rolled out extra health con- Another mine owned by Beni 164 employees tested positive mine have been “temporar- exchange earnings. detected last week. trols, including regular screen- Impala Platinum was tempo- for coronavirus. ily halted” to complete contact Mines are also one of the ing and testing, social distanc- rarily shut earlier this month Nine civilians were killed AngloGold Ashanti said it tracing and “sanitize the work- largest employers, with nearly But workers and unions ing and cleaning. after 19 of its employees tested on Sunday in the eastern had tested 650 workers at the place”. The world’s deepest half a million workers. expressed concern about re- Miners with underlying positive. South Africa has the DR Congo region of Beni in gold mining site in Merafong, gold mine resumed operations Limited mining activities turning to work in under- chronic illnesses such as dia- highest number of coronavirus another attack blamed on Gauteng province, after a first at 50 percent late last month were allowed to resume about ground tunnels that could eas- betes, cancer and AIDS are not cases on the continent, with the Allied Democratic Forc- case was detected last week. after it was shuttered by a a month ago under “strict ily become breeding grounds allowed back to work until the 21,343 infections detected so es (ADF) militia, according “This process has indi- nationwide anti-coronavirus health conditions”. for the novel virus. virus has abated. far and 407 fatalities. to local sources. The attackers fled af- ter a gunfight with army troops, according to Antho- Eight jihadists ny Mualushayi, a regional army spokesman. killed in Ivorian- The fighters “burned down some houses” and Burkinabe Virus lockdowns stifle Eid people have fled, said Do- nat Kibwana, the region’s operation: ICoast administrator, adding that there were “some wounded AFP on the military side”. Abidjan celebrations as infections rise Local official Bozi Sindiwako told AFP that Eight suspected jihadists AFP the restive Himalayan valley two women and seven men were killed and another 38 Riyadh where no prayers were offered were killed. captured in a joint operation in the bigger mosques. Kashmir The ADF is accused of by Burkinabe and Ivorian Muslims around the world -- contested between nuclear killing more than 400 civil- forces near the two countries’ began marking a sombre Eid neighbours India and Pakistan ians in six months in retali- shared border, the Ivory Coast al-Fitr Sunday, many under -- was under curfew during Eid ation for a military offen- army said Sunday. coronavirus lockdown, but lax Al-Adha last August after New sive launched in October The captured men -- 24 in restrictions offered respite to Delhi stripped the region of its against their bases. Burkina Faso and 14 in Ivory worshippers in some countries semi-autonomous status. More than 1,000 civil- Coast -- were handed over to despite fears of skyrocketing Ahead of the holiday, Mus- ians have died in attacks intelligence services, the Ivo- infections. lims across Asia -- from Indo- blamed on the ADF in the rian army said in a statement, The three-day festival, nesia to Pakistan, Malaysia and Beni region since October adding that a “terrorist base” which marks the end of the Afghanistan -- had thronged 2014. They often target was destroyed at Alidougou in holy month of Ramadan, is markets to shop, flouting coro- farmers returning from Burkina Faso. traditionally celebrated with navirus guidelines and some- the fields or at home in The joint operation also mosque prayers, family feasts times even police attempts to their villages at night. The seized arms, ammunition, and shopping for new clothes, disperse large crowds. mainly Muslim movement USB keys and cell phones, it gifts and sweet treats. “For over two months my originated in neighbour- said. But this year, the celebra- children were home bound,” ing Uganda, opposed to Operation “Comoe”, tion is overshadowed by the said mother of four Ishrat Ja- the rule of President Yow- named after a river that flows fast-spreading coronavirus, han at a bustling market in the eri Museveni. In 1995 they through the two countries, was with many countries tightening Pakistani city of Rawalpindi. crossed the border into DR launched in early May, it said, lockdown restrictions after a “This feast is for the kids, Congo, which became its praising the “perfect coordina- partial easing during Ramadan and if they can’t celebrate it base of operations. tion between the two armies”. led to a sharp spike in infec- with new garments, there is “Barbaric acts” are be- The fighting took place tions. no point in us working so hard ing committed by militia- near the northeastern Ivorian Further dampening the Muslim worshippers sit spaced from each other, as a measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus pandem- throughout the year.” men in Beni and elsewhere city of Ferkessedougou and festive spirit, many countries ic, as they gather to attend the prayers of Eid Al-Fitr in Tehran on Sunday. (AFP) In Indonesia -- the world’s in eastern DR Congo, the Banfora in southwestern Bur- -- from Saudi Arabia to Egypt, most populous Muslim nation government said at a cabi- kina Faso -- although a Burki- Turkey and Syria -- have banned cube-shaped structure towards but worshippers mostly wore -- people turned to smugglers net meeting on Friday. nabe security source had said mass prayer gatherings to limit which Muslims around the Saudi Arabia, home to masks and placed their prayer and fake travel documents to The government ac- Saturday that the entire oper- the spread of the disease. world pray. Islam’s holiest sites, began mats far apart. get around bans on the annual cuses the ADF as well as ation was carried out in Ivory Saudi Arabia, home to Is- But on Sunday, an imam a five-day round-the-clock “Eid is not Eid with the end-of-Ramadan travel that another armed group, Coast. lam’s holiest sites, began a five- stood on a podium while Saudi curfew from Saturday after atmosphere of coronavirus could send infections soaring. CODECO, of massacring Sunday’s statement said day round-the-clock curfew security forces, some wearing infections more than quad- -- people feel a sense of fear,” Iran, which has experienced hundreds of civilians in the “no terrorist base exists on from Saturday after infections masks, positioned themselves worshipper Akram Taher said. the Middle East’s deadliest out- neighbouring Ituri prov- Ivorian territory which may more than quadrupled since between rows of worshippers rupled since the start of In Indian-administered break, called on its citizens to ince further north. have served as a zone of refuge the start of Ramadan to over who gathered before the Kaaba Ramadan to over 72,000 -- Kashmir, another South Asian avoid travel during Eid as it bat- The army reported Sun- during previous offensives” by 72,000 -- the highest in the for Eid prayers. the highest in the Gulf. trouble spot, Eid celebrations tles to control infection rates. day the “neutralisation” of the Burkinabe army. Gulf. At Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa were muted under the coro- Health Minister Saeed 17 fightersfrom CODECO, A Burkina Faso military Mecca’s Grand Mosque has mosque, Islam’s third-holiest holiday. navirus restrictions and as au- Namaki said the country was a political-religious sect source told AFP that a Burki- been almost devoid of worship- site after Mecca and Medina, In Gaza, Hamas authorities thorities tightened the screws focusing hard on avoiding “new that claims to defend the nabe soldier was wounded and pers since March, with a stun- prayers were not permitted allowed prayers in mosques after a spate of clashes between peaks of the disease” caused by interests of the Lendu eth- hospitalised in Korhogo, in ning emptiness enveloping inside, although the site is ex- despite the enclave’s first coro- government forces and rebels. people “not respecting health nic group. northern Ivory Coast. the sacred Kaaba -- the large pected to reopen after the Eid navirus death on Saturday, It was the second Eid in regulations”.

Reporters in Zimbabwe arrested Five dead in blast during Somalia First Iranian oil tanker for contravening virus regulations Eid festivities, police say DPA “The Zimbabwe authorities reaches Venezuela Harare should immediately set free the AFP Mogadishu. also speaking by phone. two journalists and drop the Mogadishu The cause of the explosion Another witness, Abdi Has- DPA with the US, but that the coun- Two journalists have been spurious charges of violating was unclear. san, said people had gathered at Tehran/Caracas try would reserve the right to arrested in Zimbabwe on sus- COVID-19 regulations that they At least five people were killed “The number of wounded the spot on both Saturday and defend its interests. picion of contravening coro- are facing,” said Dewa Mavh- and more than 20 injured Sun- people is over 20 including Sunday to enjoy the Eid festivi- The first of five Iranian oil “We therefore hope that navirus regulations, a police inga, who heads Human Rights day in Somalia in a blast during women and children, so that ties, especially dancing. tankers headed to Venezuela the Americans will not make spokesman said on Sunday. Watch in South Africa. festivities to mark the Eid al- death toll could increase be- “How can someone shed has arrived, Iranian officials a mistake in this regard,” said The two journalists also re- “The two were arrested in Fitr festival. cause some of these people are the blood of innocent civilians confirmed early onS unday, the president, according to fused to obey a police officer’s the course of doing their duties “The initial information seriously wounded,” Muktar when they have been enjoying amid tension over the possibil- comments published on his of- order, spokesman Paul Nyathi which are classified as essential we have received indicates the added. Witness Mohamud Ibra- their Eid festival. ity the United States could at- fice’s web portal. said. Both were charged in services under the COVID-19 dead bodies of five people were him said the crowd had been “These perpetrators who- tempt to halt the deliveries. The warning comes in the court on Saturday and now are regulations, this amounts to collected from the scene of the dancing and singing when the ever they are have turned their “The first Iranian tanker midst of a spat about Iranian being held in custody until their muzzling of the media and se- blast and more than twenty blast occurred. happiness into sadness,” Has- has reached Venezuela’s coasts. fuel shipments to Venezuela. bail hearing on Tuesday. verely undermines attempts by others have been wounded,” “I’m not an expert but I san said. Thanks to the (Venezuelan) Five Iranian oil tankers are Human rights organiza- Zimbabwe to present itself as a police officer Mohamed Muk- think there was a roadside bomb The Muslim world is cel- Bolivarian armed forces for currently on course to Vene- tions strongly condemned the country respectful of the rule of tar told AFP by phone from involved, the blast was huge and ebrating the Eid al-Fitr festival escorting them,” the Iranian zuela and are due arrive in late arrests and called for the jour- law and human rights,” Mavh- Baidoa, about 250 kilometres it caused casualties more than a which marks the end of the holy embassy in Venezuela tweeted. May or early June. nalists’ release. inga said. (150 miles) west of the capital grenade may cause,” he said, month of Ramadan. Iranian President Has- The US has imposed tough san Rowhani had on Satur- economic sanctions on both day warned the United States Iran and Venezuela and could against launching attacks on decide to send its navy to pre- the country’s oil tankers as vent the tankers reaching their they pass through the Carib- destination. Netanyahu attacks ‘fabricated’ graft charges as trial begins bean Sea on their way to Ven- In a letter to UN Secretary AFP Netanyahu said, labelling the Wearing a facemask, like ezuela. General Antonio Guterres ear- Jerusalem charges “fabricated and ludi- the judges and lawyers, to limit “If the Americans cause lier this week, Iranian Foreign crous”. the spread of the new corona- problems for our oil tankers Minister Mohammed Javad A combative Israeli Prime The longest-serving prime virus, Netanyahu sat silently in the Caribbean Sea, we will Zarif warned that any US at- Minister Benjamin Netanyahu minister in Israeli history has through much of the court ses- also cause problems for them,” tack would be “illegal and a faced court Sunday for the start claimed to be the victim of a sion, occasionally exchanging Rowhani said.. form of piracy.” Iran has had of his long-anticipated corrup- witch-hunt and again suggest- whispers with his legal team. Rowhani stressed that Iran close ties to Venezuela for tion trial after lashing out at the ed the charges were trumped His lawyers immediately does not want a new conflict many years. “fabricated” charges against up to drive him from office. argued they had not received him. “When you need to take me timely access to all the relevant The veteran leader, who down, a strong prime minister documents and requested a has just forged a new unity gov- from the right, everything is delay of several months to the ernment after more than a year possible,” he said. next hearing. of political turmoil, became the The trial, officially called Other defendants, includ- country’s first premier to face the State of Israel vs Benjamin ing media moguls Shaul Elo- criminal charges while in of- Netanyahu, is expected to last vitch and Arnon Mozes, both fice. for months, if not years. accused of seeking illegal deals Flanked by ministers from During Sunday’s session with Netanyahu, were also in his right-wing Likud party, Ne- Netanyahu spoke only to iden- Israeli protesters rally against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu court. tanyahu addressed reporters tify himself, before the court outside his residence in Jerusalem on Sunday. (AFP) The court did not immedi- before entering the Jerusalem adjourned after one hour. ately set a date for the next ses- District Court to face charges He was not asked to enter a years of police investigations. He is also accused of ac- sion. of bribery, fraud and breach of plea, which will occur in a later Among the charges he faces cepting cigars, champagne and Outside on the streets of trust. session. is seeking to illegally trade fa- jewellery worth 180,000 euros Jerusalem, Netanyahu sup- “I’m here with a straight The 70-year-old was in- vours in exchange for positive from wealthy personalities in porters and opponents gath- back and my head held high,” dicted in January after several media coverage. exchange for favours. ered to raise their voices. Iranian tanker on its way to Venezuela. 04 Monday, May 25, 2020

Established September 3, 2006 hamad bin suhaim al thani chairman Opinion adel ali bin ali managing director dr hassan mohammed al ansari editor-in-chief

‘Stand Your Ground’ Laws Are Lethal Trump Is Right To Close US The idea was to empower victims of crime. Skies To Russian Spies Instead, the laws create more victims NFORMATION is still emerging about that the laws resulted in an additional 600 the case of Ahmaud Arbery — the un- slayings a year. “By lowering the expected Russia has been violating the Open Skies treaty, leaving no options for the US Iarmed 25-year-old slain in a quiet Geor- costs associated with using lethal force,” but to walk away from the failed arms-control agreement gia street — but what is known is disturb- the authors noted, stand your ground laws ing. Two men eventually arrested in the “induce more of it.” Other research, us- Eli Lake killing told police that Arbery was running ing different methods and data, arrived Tribune News Service down the road, and that they thought he at similar conclusions. Florida, accord- was a burglar and shot him in self-defence. ing to another study, saw an “abrupt and S President Donald Trump is pre- Before state officials intervened, following sustained” increase in gun homicides after paring to exit his second arms- months of delay, a prosecutor cited Geor- enacting its stand your ground law. control treaty with Russia since gia’s “stand your ground” law as an exon- It’s bad enough that stand your ground taking the oath of office, and the erating factor. laws increase gun homicides, but they also opposition is already in high Since 2005, more than 20 states have appear to have racially discriminatory ef- dudgeon.U “This is insane,” tweeted for- passed some form of a stand your ground fects. There’s evidence that, after fatal mer CIA director Michael Hayden. “An- law. These let people use deadly force to confrontations, the race of the victim is “a other shortsighted Trump move to aban- defend themselves even if they can safe- significantpredictor” of whether a stand don a treaty that includes many close ly retreat. It’s worth remembering that your ground defence will be effective, with allies,” tweeted Samantha Power, former people already have the right to defend defendants twice as likely to walk free af- ambassador to the United Nations. themselves with deadly force if there is no ter slaying non-whites. Another analysis But Trump’s decision is the right one safe alternative. Stand your ground laws found that in stand your ground states, in- — both in the details and on principle. change this traditional last resort — po- cidents in which white people shot some- The deal in question is the Open Skies tentially lethal violence — into a permis- one who was black were deemed justifiable treaty, signed in 1992, which allows US sible first resort. The idea was to empower more than 11 times as often as the reverse. and Russian spy planes to fly over mili- victims of crime. Instead, the laws create Some Georgia politicians are pushing tary installations and weapons facilities. more victims. to repeal the state’s stand your ground law. The aim is to give the 35 nations that are Stand your ground laws increase gun That would be wise. Other states should do now members confidence that their ad- homicides by encouraging armed civil- the same — or at the very least study their versaries are keeping their arms-control ians to escalate confrontations, according existing laws with all due scepticism, to commitments. to a recent review of research from the see if they’re actually serving the cause of In theory, it’s a good idea. Overhead nonpartisan Rand Corp. One study found public safety and justice for all. surveillance is one way to verify more substantive arms control agreements (Tribune News Service) with Russia. It also gives a baseline for military planners, providing a data set that shows what peacetime deployment looks like. The big flaw in the arrange- ment is that the one party that all the oth- ers must worry about — Russia — is a se- rial violator of international agreements. Consider Moscow’s recent record. during former President Barack Obama’s our counterparties refuse to comply with Why Anyone Should Care About When Russian special operations units administration, the US found its flights their obligations — we have made very invaded Crimea and later Eastern were restricted over suspected facilities clear that we are willing to walk away Lori Loughlin Pleading Guilty Ukraine in 2014, President Vladimir Pu- in Russia — even as the US gathered evi- from failed agreements,” said Christopher tin was violating a 1994 pledge to protect dence that Russian surveillance planes Ford, assistant secretary of state for inter- E’LL give Lori Loughlin and her hus- Loughlin and Giannulli’s delay may have and respect the territorial integrity of were mapping critical infrastructure in national security and nonproliferation, in band, Mossimo Giannulli, this much, cost them more time in confinement. Ukraine. The Ukrainians got these com- the US As Republican Senator Tom Cot- a little-noticed speech in February. Wthey do have good timing. Pleading Other than the normal rubbernecking mitments in exchange for relinquishing ton said Thursday: “The Open Skies Trea- That may sound obvious, and almost guilty to fraud charges Friday may put an involved in watching high-profile peo- the Soviet-era nuclear arsenal stationed ty started life as a good-faith agreement all treaties have a procedure by which a end to this sad chapter for them at a time ple crash their seemingly successful lives, on their territory. between major powers and died an asset party can justifiably leave the agreement. when much of the public is more focused on there is a reason why all of us should care The same pattern was repeated by of Russian intelligence.” But until the Trump administration, no COVID-19 than celebrities involved with the about this scandal and how it plays out. Russia with regard to the Intermediate US diplomats have raised these issues senior US official had stated this princi- notorious college admissions scandal. The two celebrities were steadfast in deny- Range Nuclear Forces, or INF, treaty. with their Russian counterparts to bring ple as clearly as Ford did: When the other But before the book is closed on the ac- ing their charges until much of the world Russia largely complied with the part them back into compliance with the trea- party refuses to honour an agreement, tress Loughlin’s role in this (and the role of moved on to deal with COVID-19. But in of the treaty that eliminated a class of ty. But Moscow has not budged. Because walk away. If Trump and his successors her designer husband), it’s worth review- the end this scandal struck a central pillar short- and medium-range nuclear weap- the US has spy satellites and other tech- stick to this simple approach, the arms- ing exactly why anyone should have cared of our society. ons from Europe from its signing in 1987 nological means of gathering the same control arrangements of the future will about this from the beginning. In a free society, people who work hard to about 2008. But in that year, Russia data its surveillance planes collect, it provide the security that the flawed trea- While the news is turned toward every- to develop their talents should be rewarded began testing a ground-launched cruise loses very little by withdrawing from the ties of today do not. thing coronavirus-related, the public might for their achievements. One of the paths to missile that violated the ranges set by the Open Skies treaty. So it shouldn’t be surprising that as not be as attuned to Loughlin and Giannul- such success is supposed to be earning your INF treaty. For 10 years, the US tried to There is a more important principle at Trump withdraws from the Open Skies li’s decision to plead guilty. What does seem admission to a college. To the extent that we bring Russia back into compliance, but stake as well. If Putin believes that he can treaty, his administration has agreed to clear is that if the couple had pleaded guilty strip merit away from college admissions, Putin kept escalating, eventually deploy- get away with cheating on treaties that begin talks with Russia to negotiate an ex- last year, they might have secured shorter we are undermining a merit-based society. ing banned missiles with ranges that his most important adversary respects, tension to another strategic nuclear army sentences and smaller fines. So in this the colleges themselves should could hit Europe. So in October 2018, what incentive does he have to come into control treaty known as New START. The Loughlin and Giannulli’s spent be outraged and society at large should be after NATO allies publicly acknowledged compliance? What good are arms-control Trump administration is not opposed to $500,000 in hopes of helping two daugh- thankful that the authorities drove us to- that Russia was in material breach of agreements if they do not enhance inter- arms control. What it opposes is the vio- ters get into the University of Southern Cali- ward a just outcome that exposes cheating its commitments, the US announced it national security? lation of arms-control agreements. fornia, but typically defendants can secure and creates an incentive for each person to would be withdrawing. That is the question that drives the shorter sentences if they plead out quickly. rise on their merits. A similar story can be told about the Trump administration’s approach to (Eli Lake is a Bloomberg Opin- Open Skies treaty. When it took effect, arms control. “Where arms control does ion columnist covering national (Tribune News Service) in 2002, Russia largely abided by it. But not contribute to security — such as where security and foreign policy)

Cybersecurity Risks Posed By Remote Work And How To Fix Them Installing a simple virus protection software and calling it a day won’t suffice. Here’s how to keep your company safe

Adam Levin the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.” Rodney Joffe, chairman of NISC and SVP ● Download and install all software and Tribune News Service Worse than that is the widespread nature and Fellow at Neustar warned in that ar- firmware updates. of the threat. One in five of the respond- ticle, “without contextualising potential ● Backup important data regularly. HERE’S a recent security trend that ents in the Alliant report said their compa- threats, are contributing to data overload, ● Store mission critical data on an air- could have serious repercussions in the ny, “transitioned to remote work without alert fatigue and burnout.” gapped device. Tdays, weeks and months to come. The having a clear policy to mitigate or prevent So in addition to the exponential in- ● Triple check that configurations on caution employers and employees alike cybersecurity threats.” crease in an organisation’s attackable sur- cloud servers are set correctly. had talked about in making work from So, you may know this territory, but face due to the very hard to manage issues ● Limit employees using their own per- home (WFH) a workable, secure answer to just in case you need a refresher (or you associated with WFH, the drastic increase sonal device unless it has been thor- widespread social distancing measures has don’t really know the territory), we’re talk- in cyber attacks and the false alarms set oughly checked and approved by your given way to overconfidence. ing about a plan and not a service. Many off by a workforce online outside the con- IT department. (A safer path is to sup- The problem is that far too many ex- companies work under the very wrong as- trolled environment of the traditional ply secure, work-only digital devices). ecutives--89 percent according to one sumption that having antivirus software workplace mean we truly are in a new wild ● Limit credentialed access to servers, study--believe that the devices used by in place and updated is sufficient. Others west--as if the old one was getting any and tier access to need-to-know or employees reporting to work from home may think that a VPN can protect them up--in a perfect world--by IT professionals calmer. need-to-use. are secure from the most advanced attacks from network attacks. using CISA-provided guidelines and not If social distancing and work from ● Drill your employees on the prevalence and methods of compromise in use today. Cloud access security tools, web filter- devices that multiple family members use home have done nothing else, they’ve and danger of phishing emails. Meanwhile, as Sue Poremba of Secu- ing, password managers--none of these on a daily basis. pushed us into unfamiliar territory. It’s ● Create a company-wide protocol for cy- rity Boulevard writes, “Google reported 18 alone can offer sufficient protection, and At the same time, IT professionals are crucial not to fall prey to the idea that bersecurity. million phishing and malware scams re- some can actually make matters worse- experiencing security fatigue. According to we’ve comfortably settled into a new nor- In the coming months, there could well lated to COVID-19 every single day. Not 18 -namely a poorly deployed password man- Help Net Security, “More than two-fifths mal and it’s “business as unusual” from be breaches, data compromises and other million for the entire week, but 18 million ager. (43 percent) of organisations experience here on out. If anything, it’s time to be hacks the likes of which we never imagined per day for a week.” We are still in the one wrong move and false positive alerts in more than 20 per- hyper-vigilant. possible. We may see vast enterprises criti- The problem is complex. According it’s “game over” part of the cybersecurity cent of cases, while 15 percent reported The best practices are no secret: cally damaged, and still others experience to a new report from Alliant Cybersecu- quagmire. We were there before the pan- more than half of their security alerts are ● Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) extinction-level cyber incidents. While rity, “Nearly one in seven senior decision demic began, and WFH became a wide- false positives.” whenever possible. there’s no such thing as failsafe, there’s makers said their organisation has already spread practice. We were there when em- “Security tools that simply produce ● Procure software--such as your VPN still a lot of work we need to do to make experienced at least one cyberattack since ployees were using equipment that was set large quantities of data to be analysed,” service--that includes MFA. our new reality workable.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THE OPINION AND ANALYSIS PAGES ARE THE AUTHORS’ OWN. QATAR TRIBUNE BEARS NO RESPONSIBILITY. Asia / World Monday, May 25, 2020 05 Army called in to help cyclone-ravaged Indian city Philippine public warned of claims AFP told AFP. Kolkata One of Asia’s oldest botanic of anti-viral drug for COVID-19 gardens was not spared by the The Indian Army has been mo- cyclone, with more than 1,000 DPA “The department will con- Since the COVID-19 out- bilised to help with the clean-up trees uprooted and hundreds Manila tinue to update our people of break, some social media posts after a devastating cyclone hit more damaged, officials said. any scientifically proven de- have claimed that the anti- the eastern city of Kolkata, as “It ravaged the more than The Philippine health depart- velopments in our fight against viral drug was “the COVID-19 thousands on Sunday protested two-centuries-old Great Ban- ment on Sunday warned the COVID-19,” it added. buster” and it has already been again over power and water yan Tree, one of the main attrac- public against social media approved by President Rodrigo shortages. tions,” said Kanak Das, director posts claiming that an anti- Since the COVID-19 out- Duterte. At least 112 people were of Kolkata’s Indian Botanical viral drug developed by a Fili- break, some social media The Fabunan Medical Clin- killed in eastern India and Garden, founded in 1786 by an pino doctor can cure or protect posts have claimed that the ic has issued a notice on its Fa- Bangladesh after Cyclone Am- East India Company officer. people against the coronavirus. cebook page that the anti-viral phan -- the strongest storm Army personnel deploy to clean roads from fallen tree, electric lines “The pride of the garden is The Food and Drug Admin- anti-viral drug was “the drug was “not commercially to hit the region since 1999 -- and others following the damaged done by cyclone Amphan, in lost.” istration (FDA) has issued a COVID-19 buster” and it has sold” and is “used exclusively” struck on Wednesday. Kolkata. (AFP) The popular century-old Ba- cease-and-desist order against already been approved by at the facility by its doctors. Streets were flooded in Kol- obab Tree and the “Mad Tree” -- the use of the Fabunan anti- President Rodrigo Duterte. Vergeire said the FDA was kata, home to 15 million people, Police used batons to dis- shortage of manpower stem- which locals say has leaves that viral injection, amid reports already building a case against while power lines were brought perse the protesters as Mamata ming from the COVID-19 pan- appear to take different shapes that more people were getting Ruben Fabunan, a physi- the unregistered drug. down and fallen trees blocked Banerjee, the chief minister of demic is hobbling relief and -- were also uprooted during the the medication, said Health cian now based in the United The Department of Health roads. West Bengal -- of which Kolkata restoration efforts.” storm, Das added. Undersecretary Maria Rosario States, developed the anti-viral on Sunday reported 258 new Authorities already grap- is the capital -- called for calm. Around 200 soldiers from The cyclone also smashed Vergeire. drug together with three broth- confirmed cases ofCO VID-19 pling with the coronavirus “This is a huge disaster. We the Indian Army’s Eastern into the Sundarbans, a UNESCO “To date, there has not been ers, who are all doctors. They in the Philippines, bringing the struggled to clear roads -- some need to have patience, because Command joined more than world heritage site straddling any record of the (Fabunan an- have a family clinic in a prov- national tally to 14,035. It also which remained flooded -- as nobody has seen such a disaster 4,000 disaster relief personnel India and Bangladesh famed for ti-viral injection) applying with ince north of Manila, where the recorded five additional fatali- well as restore electricity and before,” Banerjee said Sunday. and local volunteers working its mangrove forest, destroying the FDA,” the Department of injection is available to their ties, bringing the death toll to water to homes. “We are not sitting idle... A on the streets, a military officer farms and livelihoods. Health said in a statement. patients. 868.

Afghan president to free up to 2,000 Taliban prisoners Thousands protest in Hong Kong after ceasefire offer AFP Before Sunday’s an- Kabul nouncement, Kabul has al- over China security law proposal ready released about 1,000 Afghan President Ashraf Taliban inmates while the AFP the most intense in months. Ghani began a process Sun- insurgents have freed about Hong Kong The Hong Kong pro-de- day to release up to 2,000 300 Afghan security force mocracy movement had fizzled Taliban prisoners as a good- personnel. Police fired tear gas and at the beginning of 2020 as ar- will gesture after the insur- Ghani also said a govern- water cannon at thousands of rests mounted and, later, large gents proposed a surprise ment delegation was “ready Hong Kong pro-democracy gatherings were banned to stop ceasefire during the Eid holi- to immediately start the protesters who gathered Sun- the coronavirus. day. peace talks” with the insur- day against a controversial se- More than 8,300 people Ghani also said the gov- gents. curity law proposed by China, have been arrested since the ernment was ready to hold Government negotiators in the most intense clashes for protests erupted last year. peace talks with the Taliban would be headed by Ghani’s months. Around 200 were detained after accepting their offer of former bitter rival Abdul- As the demonstrators and during small rallies at malls a three-day truce over the lah Abdullah after the two police were facing off in the on Mother’s Day earlier this Eid al-Fitr holiday starting signed a power-sharing semi-autonomous financial month. Sunday that marks the end deal last week that ended a hub, Chinese Foreign Minis- Hong Kong residents enjoy of the Muslim holy fasting months-long political crisis. ter Wang Yi insisted in Beijing rights -- including freedom of month of Ramadan. The Taliban have repeat- that the proposed law must be speech -- unseen on the Chinese The decision to release edly mocked members of imposed “without the slightest mainland, as well as its own le- the prisoners was a “good will Ghani’s administration, re- delay”. gal system and trade status. gesture” and was taken “to ferring to them as “puppets” The planned legislation -- Fears had been growing for ensure success of the peace controlled by foreign powers. expected to ban treason, sub- years that Beijing was chipping process”, Ghani’s spokesman The militants’ offer of a version and sedition -- comes away at those freedoms and Sediq Sediqqi said on Twitter. truce comes just days after after Hong Kong was shaken tightening its control on the Ghani said earlier Sun- leader Haibatullah Akhun- last year by months of massive, TOPSHOT - Pro-democracy protesters are arrested by police in the Causeway Bay district of Hong Kong on city, and campaigners have de- day he would expedite the dzada urged Washington often-violent protests, and re- Sunday. (AFP) scribed the new proposal as the process of freeing Taliban “not to waste” the opportu- peated warnings from Beijing most brazen move yet. inmates. nity offered by the deal with that it would not tolerate dis- ment,” 25-year-old protester and violated the city’s current districts. Other protesters were Of particular concern is A US-Taliban deal signed the US that set the stage for sent. Vincent told AFP. coronavirus-linked law ban- detained at a smaller demon- a provision allowing Chinese in February stipulated that the withdrawal of foreign With campaigners warn- “I think Hong Kongers ning public gatherings of more stration in Tsim Sha Tsui. security agents to operate in the Afghan government troops from the country. ing the proposal could spell the are very frustrated because than eight people. The Hong Kong govern- Hong Kong, and that they could would release up to 5,000 US Special Representa- end of the city’s treasured free- we didn’t expect this to come As the number of protest- ment condemned the “ex- launch a crackdown against Taliban prisoners while the tive to Afghanistan Zalmay doms, thousands gathered and so fast and so rough. But... we ers swelled, police fired tear tremely violent and illegal acts” those dissenting the mainland’s insurgents would free about Khalilzad, who brokered the chanted slogans in the busy won’t be as naive as to believe gas and pepper spray to try and of the protesters and said they communist rulers. 1,000 Afghan security force deal, said on Twitter Satur- Causeway Bay and Wan Chai that Beijing will simply sit back disperse the crowd, and later reinforced “the need and ur- “I’m very scared, but I still personnel. day that the ceasefire was districts, while some masked and do nothing. Things will deployed water cannon and ar- gency of the legislation on na- have to come out,” said protest- The prisoner swap is seen “a momentous opportunity protesters set up makeshift bar- only get worse here.” moured vehicles against pock- tional security”. er Christy Chan, 23. as a confidence-building that should not be missed” ricades to stop police vehicles. Riot police were deployed ets of protesters. It also accused protesters of “Aside from being peace- move ahead of long-awaited while pledging that the Unit- “People may be criminal- after protesters ignored ear- At least 180 people were ar- injuring at least four police of- ful, rational and non-violent, peace talks between the gov- ed States would “do its part ised only for words they say or lier warnings from authorities rested, police said, the majority ficers. I don’t see many ways to send ernment and Taliban. to help”. publish opposing the govern- against unauthorised assembly in Causeway Bay and Wan Chai The scenes on Sunday were out our messages.”

Korea discusses new policies Mortar shelling for increasing ‘nuclear war Wuhan lab had three live bat leaves four civilians dead deterrence’: KCNA coronaviruses: Chinese state media in eastern AFP ing further details. AFP state broadcaster CGTN that tion to such viruses which are Seoul “Crucial measures” were Beijing claims made by US President less similar to the SARS virus.” Afghanistan taken “for considerably in- Donald Trump and others the The lab has said it received DPA North Korea discussed new creasing the firepower strike The Chinese virology institute virus could have leaked from the samples of the then-unknown vi- Kabul policies for increasing its “nu- ability of the artillery pieces of in the city where COVID-19 first facility were “pure fabrication”. rus on December 30, determined clear war deterrence” during a the Korean People’s Army”, it emerged has three live strains In the interview filmed on the viral genome sequence on Mortar shelling in Afghani- military meeting presided over added. of bat coronavirus on-site, but May 13 but broadcast Saturday January 2 and submitted infor- stan’s eastern Laghman prov- by leader Kim Jong Un, state Discussions also centred none match the new conta- night, Wang Yanyi said the cen- mation on the pathogen to the ince has left four civilians dead, media reported Sunday. on “putting the strategic armed gion wreaking chaos across the tre has “isolated and obtained WHO on January 11. an official said on Sunday. The meeting was Kim’s forces on a high alert opera- world, its director has said. some coronaviruses from bats.” Wang said in the interview A further seven were also first reported public appear- tion”, in line with the “building Scientists think COVID-19 “Now we have three strains A medical worker takes a swab that before it received samples wounded in the incident that ance in more than three weeks. and development of the armed -- which first emerged in of live viruses... But their highest sample from a man to test for in December, their team had took place in the Ali Shang dis- Set forth at the meeting of forces of the country”. Wuhan and has killed some similarity to SARS-CoV-2 only the COVID-19 coronavirus in never “encountered, researched trict of the province, the pro- the Central Military Commis- The date of the meeting 340,000 people worldwide reaches 79.8 percent,” she said, Wuhan. (AFP) or kept the virus.” vincial governor’s spokesman, sion were “new policies for was not given, but a separate -- originated in bats and could referring to the coronavirus “In fact, like everyone else, Asadullah Dawlatzai, told dpa. further increasing the nuclear KCNA dispatch from the same have been transmitted to peo- strain that causes COVID-19. SARS. It’s an obvious differ- we didn’t even know the virus An investigation has al- war deterrence of the coun- meeting reported a military ple via another mammal. “We know that the whole ence,” she said. existed,” she said. “How could it ready been launched to find out try,” the North’s official CK NA order signed by Kim was is- But the director of the Wu- genome of SARS-CoV-2 is only “So, in Professor Shi’s past have leaked from our lab when who carried out the shelling, news agency said, without giv- sued on May 23. han Institute of Virology told 80 percent similar to that of research, they didn’t pay atten- we never had it?” Dawlatzai said. The Taliban have a strong presence in many parts of the district, and they have staged a number of deadly attacks on China warns US pushing relations to ‘brink of new Cold War’ the Afghan security forces there in recent weeks. The fresh inci- AFP by a “political virus” compelling Washington’s criticism has novel coronavirus, but stressed dent comes as the Taliban and Beijing figures there to continually at- been widely seen in the United that any investigation must be the Afghan government both tack China. States as an attempt by Trump “free of political interference”, announced a three-day cease- The United States is push- “It has come to our atten- to divert attention from the based on science and led by the fire on Saturday as the month of ing relations with China to tion that some political forces White House’s own COVID-19 World Health Organization. Ramadan came to an end and “the brink of a new Cold War”, in the US are taking China-US failures. The WHO has called on the Eid al-Fitr holiday began. China’s foreign minister said relations hostage and pushing Wang took an apparent Beijing to invite the UN body The United Nations Assis- Sunday, rejecting Washington’s our two countries to the brink swipe at the US struggles to in to investigate the source, but tance Mission in Afghanistan “lies” over the coronavirus while of a new Cold War,” Wang told contain the virus, which has Wang did not indicate if foreign (UNAMA) said the Taliban saying Beijing was open to an reporters during a press confer- now infected more people in the scientists would be invited to were responsible for 208 civil- international effort to find its ence at China’s week-long an- United States than anywhere come to China. ian casualties in April and gov- source. nual parliamentary session. else. “Some political figures in ernment forces for 172. Keeping up the worsening Longstanding friction be- “I call on the US to stop the US rush to label the virus The United Nations called war of words with Washington tween the two powers over wasting time and stop wasting and politicise its origins, stig- for a halt to the fighting and over the pandemic and a Beijing trade, human rights and a precious lives,” Wang said. matising China,” Wang said, the start of intra-Afghan peace China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks during his online video link move to tighten control over range of other issues have been He said China was “open” to adding that an investigation talks as part of a deal signed be- press conference during the National People’s Congress (NPC) at the Hong Kong, Wang Yi said the pushed to new heights since the international scientific coopera- must “oppose any presumption tween the United States and the media centre in Beijing on Sunday. (AFP) United States had been infected virus outbreak. tion to identify the source of the of guilt”. Taliban in February. 06 Monday, May 25, 2020 Europe / United States French churches reopen as coronavirus restrictions loosened Beaches to reopen in parts of Spain as lockdown lifts further PARIS: French churches were preparing to hold their first Sunday masses in more than two MADRID: Beaches across Spain will reopen on Monday as parts of the country enter the next phase months after the government bowed to a ruling that they should be reopened -- provided proper of the staggered lifting on restrictions on public life to stem the spread of the coronavirus. News precautions were taken. Nearly two weeks into the relaxation of its shutdown, the government Beaches in many of Spain’s coastal regions, along with the Canaries, Balearic Islands and Mal- finally allowed churches, mosques and synagogues to reopen. lorca, are to reopen for sunbathing and swimming from Monday. in brief Last Monday, the France’s Council of State, which instructs the government on legal issues, Only residents of provinces deemed ready to enter phase two of Spain’s lockdown lifting plan will ordered it to lift its sweeping ban on all religious services, in place since the lockdown. be allowed to sunbathe on their beaches - a group consisting of around 14 million people. Not all The ruling said that such a ban on freedom of worship caused “damage that is serious and beaches are to reopen to sunbathers. Barcelona, among other regions, will only enter phase one of manifestly illegal”, ordering the government to lift the ban within eight days. (AFP) the country’s plan on Monday, under which residents can go onto beaches only to exercise. (DPA)

New York’s daily COVID-19 Britain’s Tories join calls for death toll falls below 100 AFP tolls repeatedly surpassed Washington 1,000 when probable cases were included. The number of deaths in New Parts of the state that saw York state caused by the novel fewer virus cases have already sacking of PM’s top aide coronavirus in the last 24 hours begun to ease lockdown restric- was 84, the lowest one-day total tions, but they have yet to be died in a care home, con- since late March, Governor An- lifted in New York City, the for- Boris Johnson demned Cummings behav- drew Cuomo said on Saturday. mer virus epicenter in the US. iour in remarks to the same “The news is good news,” The city’s beaches will re- backs Cummings programme. “What was the Cuomo said in his daily tel- main closed for this long Me- point of the sacrifice that evised briefing. morial Day weekend, which over lockdown we all made? What was the HospitaliSations, intuba- traditionally marks the begin- breach claims point of the miserable, lonely tions and new infections were ning of the US summer season. death that my father had?” she all in decline, he added. Beaches are being reo- DPA said. “In my head, I was always pened elsewhere in the state London Led by Donkeys, a politi- looking to get under 100,” Cuo- and in other coastal areas, of- cal campaign group, protested mo said, speaking from the gov- ten with bathers required to Pressure was growing on outside Cummings’ home in ernor’s mansion in Albany. observe social distancing. Sunday for British Prime Min- London, with a van displaying “It doesn’t do good for any Cuomo issued an unex- ister Boris Johnson to dismiss a video of Johnson telling the of those 84 families that are pected order late Friday to al- chief adviser Dominic Cum- country to stay at home, PA feeling the pain,” he added. low public assemblies of up mings for allegedly breaching reported. Cummings has in- “But for me it’s just a sign we to 10 people “for any lawful coronavirus lockdown regula- sisted that he acted “reasona- are making real progress.” The purpose.” He was easing an tions several times. bly and legally,” saying he had toll is the lowest since March earlier order that applied only Members of Johnson’s to ensure his son was cared for 24. At the pandemic’s peak in to religious services and Me- Conservatives joined the calls as his wife had coronavirus New York in early April, state morial Day celebrations, after for Cummings to go after re- symptoms. He said he first fell officials were reporting up to a civil liberties group filed suit ports in Sunday newspapers ill after reaching Durham. 800 deaths per day, and daily to object. suggested he had broken trav- Some 52 per cent of Brit- el restrictions more than once. ons think Cummings should Johnson defended his adviser resign, while 28 per cent think on Saturday, promising Cum- he should not, a poll by You- Police catch Austria’s president mings his “full support” de- A big screen organised by British political campaign group Led By Donkeys mounted on a vehicle plays Gov published late Saturday spite media reports that he a clip from Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s address to the nation where he explained the stay-at- showed. The survey showed out in Vienna after virus curfew had travelled 430 kilometres home coronavirus lockdown rules outside the home of Number 10 Downing Street special advisor Dominic 68 per cent of respondents from London to his parents’ Cummings in London on Sunday. (AFP) thought Cummings’ alleged DPA home in County Durham at actions broke lockdown rules. Vienna the end of March while he had An eyewitness said he saw Party and Labour tweeted that Britain has seen other coronavirus symptoms. Dominic Cummings at a they had sent letters to Cabi- high-ranking officials resign in Austrian President Alexan- An eyewitness cited by The well-known tourist spot net Secretary Mark Sedwill similar scenarios recently. der Van der Bellen apologised Sunday Mirror and The Ob- calling for an investigation Top medical adviser to the on Sunday after he and his server also said he saw Cum- near Durham on April 12, into the alleged rule-breaking. Scottish government Cath- wife, Doris Schmidauer, were mings at a well-known tourist and was reportedly seen in The Liberal Democrats also erine Calderwood stood down caught by police in an open-air spot some 50 kilometres from Durham again on April 19 contacted Sedwill to call for a earlier after ignoring her own restaurant in downtown Vi- Durham on April 12. probe, PA reported. advice and travelling to a sec- enna outside of the curfew that The adviser was reportedly Shadow health secretary ond home in a rural area of is in place to contain the novel seen in Durham again on April At the time, only essential Jonathan Ashworth has also Scotland’s east coast. coronavirus. President Alexander Van der Bellen 19, after he had already recov- travel was allowed to curb the demanded an explanation. Neil Ferguson, an epide- Van der Bellen confirmed ered and returned to work in spread of the novel coronavi- “This is a deadly, deadly vi- miologist at Imperial College what had happened in remarks rants are currently permitted London, the Guardian and the rus. rus which spreads with speed, London, also resigned from to the Kronen Zeitung newspa- to stay open only until 11 pm; Mirror reported in their Sun- “Dominic Cummings must which is why we went into his government advisory per and apologised, saying that otherwise, owners face steep day editions. go before he does any more a lockdown and it’s why the role after admitting he had he had been talking and had fines. Penalties can reach up Cummings disputed that harm to the UK, the govern- Government told us and put breached the lockdown rules. not noticed the time. Police to 30,000 euros (32,710 dol- police contacted his family, ment, the prime minister, our that the rules don’t apply to into law a rule that we should The British government also confirmed that Van der lars) under laws relating to but local police confirmed that institutions or the Conserva- him and treating the scrutiny stay at home, a rule that Dom- has been the target of criticism Bellen had been seen in the res- Covid-19. The restaurant was they had visited the County tive Party,” Tory lawmaker that should come to anyone inic Cummings helped de- for weeks. taurant. Van der Bellen and officially closed at the time the Durham property after allega- Steve Baker wrote on Sunday in a position of authority with sign with Boris Johnson,” he The country’s death toll his wife still had drinks on their police entered. Van der Bellen tions that Cummings had trav- in remarks featured on The contempt,” Conservative par- told BBC Radio 4, in remarks has surpassed 36,000, mak- table just after midnight when was apologetic. “I am very sor- elled there amid the lockdown, Critic, a website. liamentarian Damian Collins reported by PA. ing Britain the nation with the police entered the restaurant ry indeed. That was a mistake,” according to Britain’s Press “Dominic Cummings has tweeted. Helen Goodman, a for- highest number of fatalities in for a spot check. he told the Kronen Zeitung Association (PA) news agency. a track record of believing The Scottish National mer Labour MP whose father Europe. In Austria, bars and restau- newspaper. Russia reports highest daily Italy to test 150,000 people across the rise in coronavirus deaths country for virus antibodies from today DPA are considered to have recov- Friday. She pointed out that Moscow ered. Russia was only later hit hard DPA who may have been infected and evidence suggests the virus The number of people by the pandemic than many R ome with the virus but without ● Italy is among the had reached the country weeks In Russia, the number of confirmed to have died from European countries. showing any symptoms, or only countries worst affected by before it was detected. Filippo coronavirus deaths reached the virus is comparatively The virus first broke out Italy is due to start testing minor ones. The study was an- the pandemic, with Ansaldi, an expert from the a new daily high, with 153 low in Russia. in China. Russia had sealed 150,000 for antibodies to the nounced in April and participa- 230,000 having tested posi- Liguria region’s health authori- infected people having died Recently there were re- itself off relatively quickly be- novel coronavirus in order to tion is voluntary. tive for the virus since the ties, said studies indicated the since Saturday, the authori- ports in several media that cause of its long border with ascertain how many people may Those selected as repre- first cases erew detected in first cases may have occurred in ties in Moscow said on Sun- many deaths were not ap- neighbouring China. have been infected and whether sentative are to be contacted Lombardy in February. Genoa as early as December 8. day. pearing in the statistics, but Meanwhile, Moscow an- this number tallies with official by telephone and asked to take Officially, 33,000 people As the weather warms up There have now been the government vehemently nounces Russians will be figures. The testing, run by the part. Their data is to be an- have died of the virus. and restrictions to contain the 3,541 deaths related to the denies this. able to vote electronically or Health Ministry and the statis- onymised. novel coronavirus are lifted, coronavirus. “The number of deaths by mail in the future accord- tics authorities together with Italy is among the countries Italy’s politicians advised citi- Nationwide, more than is likely to rise seriously in ing to changes to election the Red Cross, is to be rolled worst affected by the pandemic, Lombardy in February. Of- zens to take care and maintain 344,400 people have been May,” Deputy Prime Minis- law approved by President out across 2,000 locations, the with 230,000 having tested ficially, 33,000 people have health precautions, warning infected, of whom 113,300 ter Tatyana Golikova said on Vladimir Putin on Saturday. ministry said in Rome. positive for the virus since the died of the virus, but experts that otherwise they could risk It aims to identify those first cases were detected in believe the number is higher, another wave of infections.

Trump at golf club for New York Times fills front page second day in a row, with names of COVID-19 victims amid push to reopen DPA DPA Washington New York US President Donald The New York Times has Trump was at his golf club filled the front page of its Sun- in Virginia on Sunday, for a day edition with the names of second day in a row, as the those who have died from the country marks the Memo- novel coronavirus. rial Day holiday weekend and All of the usual articles, amid a push by the White photographs and graphics House to get the economy reo- were replaced by the list of pened as much as possible. names and excerpts from their The president has received obituaries to memorialise the criticism from his opponents dead as the United States ap- for golfing as the death toll proaches the “grim milestone” The US has logged over 97,000 fatalities -- the world’s highest num- continues to rise. The US is of 100,000 coronavirus fatali- ber of deaths related to the disease. about the cross the 100,000 ties, the news outlet wrote. fatalities mark. The assistant editor of the in the general public, there’s es for obituaries and death “Cases, numbers and TRUMP’S ‘MISHANDLING’ OF COVID-19: Members of the protest group Rise and Resist place paper’s graphics desk Simone a litle bit of fatigue with the notices and compiled a list of deaths are going down all mock body bags in front of the Trump International Hotel in New York City on Sunday. Rise and Resist is Landon said she and her col- data.” The page was put to- nearly 1,000 names, the news- over the Country!” President protesting against President Donald Trump’s handling of the pandemic while the United States passes a leagues realised that “both gether by a researcher who paper said in an announce- Trump tweeted, just ahead of grim milestone of nearly 100,000 dead from the coronavirus. (AFP) among ourselves and perhaps combed through online sourc- ment on Saturday. his Sunday outing. After Ghosn and COVID-19, Renault and Nissan weigh future page 8

Monday, may 25, 2020

24,465.16 8,873.16 30,672.59 1,734.68 −8.96 pts +17.01 pts −260.31 pts Gold +0.44% Hard times for Boeing, long a Dow QE sensex symbol of American might page 8 Price percentage Price percentage 17.69 Brent 35.13 -2.58% WTI 33.25 -1.98% Silver +1.89% China exporters look 60% of Mena residents inwards as virus hits plan air travel in next 3 overseas markets AFP Beijing months: Wego survey Cancelled shipments, re- turned goods and a dearth of new orders have left China ex- 40% eager to book a relaxing getaway as soon as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted porters in crisis as the corona- virus hits its trading partners Tribune News Network worldwide -- accelerating a Doha long-standing push towards domestic consumption. As countries start to come out of The world’s second-largest lockdown and slowly lift their re- economy is stirring back to strictions, people in the Middle life after virus cases dwindled East and North Africa (Mena) from a peak in February, when region are planning future trips activity came to a near-halt. and gearing up for travel. But recovery is now ham- Around 60 percent of peo- pered by lockdowns and re- ple in the Mena region plan to strictions overseas as the coro- A worker packs toy cars at the Mendiss toy factory in Shantou, south- travel once domestic and in- navirus continues its deadly ern China’s Guangdong province recently. ternational flights resume, ac- march across the planet, with cording to a survey by online exporters forced to look to do- “There is also a rising num- -- to fall further, and is prepar- travel marketplace Wego. mestic markets after years of ber of unemployed overseas, ing to take part in a trade fair Among the respondents, selling overseas. and their purchasing power in China to boost sales within 40 percent are eager to book Chinese online market- has fallen.” the country. a relaxing getaway as soon place Taobao said the number Faced with few new orders What previously was just as the COVID-19 restrictions of foreign trading companies and cancellations of existing five percent of his sales could are lifted while the majority opening stores on its domes- ones, Chen said the company increase to half the business, of respondents are planning tic-focused platform spiked is attempting more domestic he hopes. to travel within the next three 160 percent from February to sales by changing the packag- Ng said he had already months. May. ing of products and working considered expanding domes- “The coronavirus has And policymakers -- who with platforms such as JD.com tic sales in China when the US reshaped the travel indus- have sought for years to wean to sell online. imposed tariffs on Chinese try scene in the world. Most the country off cheap exports Still, gearing towards the goods at the start of their still- countries in the Mena region and government spending in China market may not yield simmering trade war which are introducing precautionary favour of domestic consump- immediate results as weak began two years ago. measures to curb the outspread tion -- are welcoming the domestic demand was a key “The pandemic has accel- of the virus and revive the in- change. factor behind the country’s erated our plans,” he said. dustry. As a result, we will see “When there is no light in poorest economic growth in “It is a problem we have an increase in the demand for the west, there is light in the around 30 years in 2019. to solve eventually... the US is intra-regional travel in the re- east,” the commerce minister, The push inwards comes now saying it might introduce gion,” said Mamoun Hmedan, Zhong Shan, told reporters at from China’s top echelons, more tariffs.” managing director for Mena a briefing this week. with Industry and Information Not all exporters in China and India at Wego. He said domestic sales Technology Minister Miao can readily tap the domestic Air travel remains largely travel plans in the next couple enjoy thinking about travel 34 years of age are more cau- from export businesses rose Wei saying Wednesday that market, however. suspended in the wider region of months. Family trips and during this period while 56 tious and would wait longer 17 percent in April, and the China aims to “rapidly activate Jason Lee, CEO of metal due to COVID-19. However, flights to visit the family back percent of the respondents ad- than the older age group of government was supporting domestic demand” to make up parts manufacturer Shanghai some carriers have started home ranked the second pre- mitted that they were negative- 35 – 64 years, to travel again. trading enterprises that spe- for the external shortfall. EverSkill M&E, is at a loss as operating regular flights with ferred journey for travellers ly affected by COVID-19 news. However, respondents across cialised in foreign sales to tap Yang Shaohui of JD.com he simply doesn’t see equiva- strict social distance and safe- once measures are relaxed, The respondents expect all age groups enjoy thinking the home market instead. told AFP: “Before the epidem- lent demand for his products ty measures in place. These with 26 percent and 31 percent, to have some health security and reading about travel dur- Foreign sales used to make ic, some exporters were already at home. flights are in addition to special respectively,” added Mamoun. guarantees in place to travel ing the pandemic. up nearly half of toymaker trying to expand their domestic “Europe has started lifting flights being operated by the lo- Wego, the largest online again and will then travel as “The sentiment across the Shantou Beilisi’s turnover, but market share as part of their (lockdown) restrictions re- cal carriers. travel marketplace in the Mid- soon as two to four weeks af- region is very much a resound- this plummeted to just five business strategy to diversify, cently, and we’ll only know if Technological innovation dle East and North Africa ter the travel restrictions have ing ‘Yes!’ to travel as soon as it percent after the virus struck. in order to protect themselves this is a good or bad thing in a and significant precautionary (MENA), keeps on releasing been lifted; for both leisure and is safe to do so. The period of General manager Chen better against risks.” few weeks,” he said. measures being undertaken by its survey on travellers’ behav- business purposes. lockdown has made us all re- Zhuoyue told AFP that orders Kim Ng, managing direc- For now, Lam Cheong the GCC national carriers will iours and MENA travel trends. The survey revealed that 72 alise that we were taking our from his largest export mar- tor of kitchen gadgets produc- Leung, creative director of give reassurance to travellers to Another recent travel sen- percent of GCC travellers will freedom to travel and experi- kets, the United States and er Ko Fung whose factories are household products manufac- resume travel both at domestic timent survey conducted by travel for leisure, with a change ence new places and cultures Europe, are now “basically in China, said he is producing turer Green & Associates, has and international levels. AllDetails revealed that GCC in scenery being their first pri- for granted. We have been negligible”. 30 percent to 50 percent less full warehouse space to con- “Even in times of pro- residents intend to travel again ority and 80 percent will travel dreaming about travel over “Many countries there im- than pre-virus levels, with al- tend with. longed uncertainty, we main- soon, preferring international for a duration of one week or the last few weeks and are all posed lockdowns and the glob- most no new orders between Shipments to the US -- tain an optimistic mindset and destinations. more. longing to start exploring again al flow of logistics is another mid-March and April. which account for nearly half this survey is a true testament Almost 83 percent of re- The survey shows that soon,” a senior official of AllDe- issue... these have affected our He expects orders from the his production -- have slowed, that 60 percent of people have spondents have said that they young travellers between 21 – tails said. order volume,” he said. US -- a major export market he said. ‘US unemployment rate to remain high The trader who called the 2020 oil crisis AFP ventories and pipelines are back of his remarkable pre- detail of his market analysis. London full. Negative prices are possi- diction, winning a three-digit “When I feel that there has throughout 2020’ ble,” tweeted Andurand, who percentage since the start of been a significant change in French oil trader Pierre is based in Malta. the year. demand and supply, I analyse QNA Andurand was catapulted “I am not saying it will Yet it has not all been it in detail and try to assess its Washington into the spotlight this year happen. If it does it would be plain sailing. His funds have overall impact on oil prices,” after correctly betting that very short lived. But just be lost money in recent years in the Frenchman explained in In the latest warning that the deadly novel coronavirus careful out there.” choppy trade -- and had also an interview. jobs recovery from coronavi- would spark a sub-zero oil Andurand, who was born initially faltered at the start of The trader said he had rus (COVID-19) will remain market collapse. in the southern French city of this year. realised “at an early stage” slow, a senior adviser to US Andurand, the 43-year- Aix-en-Provence and studied The Financial Times de- that the COVID-19 pandem- President Donald Trump has old founder of London-based applied mathematics before scribed him this month as a ic would be “hard to stop” warned that the unemploy- Andurand Capital who runs attending the French busi- “comeback kid” who “per- for governments across the ment rate in the United States two multi-million-dollar ness school HEC Paris, had forms best when markets are world. Andurand added that is not likely to drop below 10 funds, bet in February that just predicted the oil market’s at their most volatile”. he then realised there was a percent before the country the deadly COVID-19 out- biggest-ever shock. The business newspaper “strong probability of con- heads to the presidential elec- More than 2.4 million people break could represent a rare Just a few hours after- Pierre Andurand also noted his luxury London tainment measures” that tion in November. applied for US unemployment “black swan” event that would wards, New York light sweet townhouse in plush Knights- would likely slam the brakes Kevin Hassett, a senior benefits last week in the latest send prices into reverse. crude nosedived into negative tract amid scarce storage ca- bridge and his flash Bugatti on global oil demand -- and economic adviser to Trump, wave of layoffs. Two months later, in an- territory for the first time in pacity. supercar. Andurand had spark a chain reaction that said in an interview with CNN, other remarkable call, the history, plagued by demand- That compared with previously correctly forecast would tank the market. that the unemployment rate then after that it should start hedge-fund trader tweeted on destroying coronavirus, a vast around $60 a barrel at the that oil prices would strike a Fast-forward one month, could move above 20 percent to trend down,” Hassett said. the morning of April 20 that supply glut and a Saudi-Rus- start of this year. record peak of $147 per bar- however, and oil prices have in May. “Of course you could still oil could turn negative in a sian price war. London’s Brent North rel in 2008. He also correctly recovered somewhat to trade “My expectation is that not be back to full employ- perfect storm of evaporating West Texas Intermedi- Sea oil dived to a record-low predicted they would crash at around $35 per barrel, on since there are still initial ment by September or Octo- demand, chronic oversupply ate crude hit a historic low of $15.98 on April 22 but did not during the notorious global the back of an easing sup- claims for unemployment in- ber,” Hassett added. and scarce storage. minus $40.32 per barrel on turn negative. financial crisis. ply glut and output cutbacks surance in May, that the un- “If there were a vaccine in “There is no limit to the April 20 as sellers were forced Andurand’s funds have Speaking to AFP, An- from OPEC and fellow crude employment rate will be high- July, then I’d be way more op- downside to prices when in- to pay to offload the May con- sky-rocketed in value on the durand indicated the forensic producers. er in June than in May, but timistic about it,” he said. 08 Monday, May 25, 2020 Economy & Business Hard times for Boeing, long a symbol of American might The company, a longtime symbol of American industrial power, was unable to raise the funds to finance its business AFP New York

Faced with the calamitous fall- out from the coronavirus on air- line customers and the broader economy, Boeing found itself in an unfamiliar and uncomfortable position in March. Boeing, which The company, a longtime sym- bol of American industrial power, alone accounts for about was unable to raise the funds to one percent of US gross finance its business. Since that low point as the domestic product, has suffered coronavirus health crisis was numerous canceled orders for the mushrooming into an economic crisis, private bond markets have 737 MAX, the jet that has been improved considerably, enabling grounded for more than a year Boeing to fill its liquidity gap with $25 billion in bonds issued last following two crashes that month. killed 346 people But that bitter reality at the outset of the COVID-19 pandem- ic underscores how deeply the 103-year-old company has fallen, in no small part due to its own missteps. Boeing, which alone accounts for about one percent of US gross domestic product, has suffered numerous canceled orders for the 737 MAX, the jet that has been grounded for more than a year fol- lowing two crashes that killed 346 people. Demand has also diminished the 787 “Dreamliner” amid the downturn in commercial air trav- el, adding to its woes. “Boeing has serious financial challenges,” said Stan Sorscher, a former Boeing engineer. “Air trav- el is down, aircraft are grounded, airline customers don’t need new airplanes, and capacity in the sup- plier network is questionable.” Boeing chief executive Da- vid Calhoun has insisted Boeing will weather the crisis though he acknowledged the company lost ground through its own actions. “There is no question that the MAX problems, the accidents, set File photo of a Boeing 737 MAX 9 airliner at the Boeing Renton Factory in Renton, Washginton. (AFP) us back and set us back for rough- ly two years,” Calhoun said earlier bankruptcy, even during the cur- stake in the company. take time.” line, in total, is inferior to Airbus. Boeing plans to cut 10 per- this month on Fox Business Net- rent slump. Instead, Boeing benefited But Calhoun has cautioned it The 787 is strong, but demand is cent of its staff, or about 16,000 work. The company’s supply chain from a series of emergency steps could take up to five years for the weak,” said Scott Hamilton, man- jobs, to save money. It also Even throughout this rocky pe- consists of some 17,000 compa- by the Federal Reserve that boost- aviation industry to recover to its aging editor of Leeham News, could cut one of the 787 assembly riod, Boeing has continued to en- nies in the United States employ- ed liquidity in the corporate debt pre-coronavirus growth levels. which covers aviation. plants, or move other engineering joy success in its defense business. ing 2.5 million workers. market and opened the door to Boeing plans to trim its pro- “The Boeing 777X is a good air- staff to cut costs, aviation sources But the company will need to Early in the crisis, Boeing its $25 billion bond offering, the duction of the widebody 787 to plane but the market has passed said. show evidence of a genuine turna- had sought $60 billion in federal sixth largest in history. 10 per month this year from 14 at it by,” he said adding that “The Boeing is “cutting new pro- round in its civil aviation division support and won strong backing But issuing debt means Boeing the start of 2020, and cut down to MAX family line is inferior to the gram development spending and following the MAX crisis, which from key players in Washington, will have to pay higher interest seven a month in 2022. A320neo family. Boeing doesn’t retreating from any signs of a new revealed problems with corporate including US President Donald if its credit rating is downgraded Meanwhile, archrival Airbus have a viable competitor to the product launch,” said Richard culture that critics say showed the Trump, who said in April, “We further. stands as well positioned for the A220.” Aboulafia, aviation expert at Teal Boeing cut corners on safety to can’t let anything happen to Boe- With the latest infusion of post-pandemic period because of The timeframe for the MAX’ Group, a research firm specializ- meet profit goals. ing.” funds, Boeing is “pretty sound fi- its advantage in the narrow-body return to service remains hazy. ing in aviation and defense. Credit ratings agencies have But Calhoun expressed misgiv- nancially,” according to a banking planes. Airlines canceled 258 orders for “They just went an entire dec- punished the company, down- ings about how support from the source who has advised Boeing. As the airline market recovers, the plane in March and April. ade without launching a single all- grading its debt to just above junk US Treasury would be structured “Investors believe in this sto- there likely will be stronger de- Boeing has said it aims to win new product, only the second dec- status. and the conditions imposed. In ry longer term and are willing to mand for smaller jets like the Air- government approval for the MAX ade that’s happened in company But Boeing’s clout in Wash- addition to barring the company lend to this company in the short bus A320neo, which require less to return in mid-2020, but regu- history. And there are no signs of ington has cushioned it from be- from paying dividends, the gov- term,” the source said. “There is fuel and have fewer seats to fill. latory sources told AFP that there anything happening in the decade ing seen as a likely candidate for ernment could have demanded a some expectation that it might “Long-term, Boeing’s product will be no test flight before June. ahead.”

After Ghosn and coronavirus, Renault and Nissan weigh future Nissan too, in which Renault money” in Europe. the game is “cut fixed costs eve- from the virus on jobs. The alliance is looking to cut back pro- holds a 43-percent stake, is set to That could spell danger for the rywhere,” which means trimming With Paris voicing fears that Re- reveal heavy losses when it pub- Nissan factory at Barcelona, judged production capacity from seven nault could disappear without state duction capacity in view of the economic lishes its 2019/2020 results on as being over-capacity, million units a year -- two million support -- France retains a 15-per- fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic Thursday. although the source more than current annual sales. cent stake in the carmaker -- the Ghosn had been targeting sales indicated the fu- Japanese media reports say the government is set to approve a five- AFP rus pandemic was a task of a com- of 14 million by 2022, including ture of the Sun- group could slash its worldwide billion-euro ($5.4 billion) loan pack- Paris pletely different dimension. five million for Renault. But that derland plant workforce by 15 percent by early age, although environmental strings Ghosn’s expansion strategy of now looks ambitious. in northeast 2023. will be attached. Paris will also want For automakers Renault and Ni- the past now appears to hail from a During the course of this England looks At least the coronavirus shock- guarantees on keeping maximum ssan, the world is currently a very galaxy millions of light years away. week, the alliance will lift the veil assured despite waves have pushed the Ghosn con- production within France -- several different place to what it had been Today, the alliance is looking on its strategic plans for the future. Brexit. troversy off centre stage. models are currently produced in just a few short months ago. to cut back production capacity in Another member of the alli- The name of For Nissan, any negative feel- lower-cost countries abroad, such In 2017 and 2018, the Franco- view of the economic fallout from ance, Mitsubishi Motors, one- ings towards Renault and the as the Clio in Turkey. Japanese industrial alliance had the COVID-19 pandemic as the two third owned by Nissan, has French state in the wake of the Responding to media reports of ranked the world’s biggest au- carmakers -- which had previously similarly hit hard times Ghosn saga have been put aside possible closures in France, Prime tomaker with sales of 10.6 million accounted for some 10 percent of and is is preparing to “because the coronavirus is a much Minister Edouard Philippe warned passenger cars and light commer- the global auto market -- realign reveal its own plans more important problem”, last week that the government cial vehicles. themselves to the new reality. in late July or early notes Tatsuo Yoshida, auto sec- would be “intransigent” on the is- But by the end of 2019, if the The outlook already looked August. tor analyst for Bloomberg Intel- sue of keeping production on home wheels have not quite come off, the bleak enough last year, after Re- Nissan sees its ligence. soil. But the challenge is a sizeable two have nevertheless had a bumpy nault recorded its first loss in a dec- priorities as cen- “Nissan, Mitsubishi and Re- one. ride, after the man who oversaw ade on sagging sales. Then along tred firmly on nault don’t have any time to Renault said in February, be- that achievement, Carlos Ghosn, came the novel coronavirus that all its core markets lose if they want to survive this fore the pandemic really took hold, fled a trial in Japan over allegations but paralysed the production line -- Japan, Chi- crisis,” he told AFP. that it was targeting two billion eu- of financial misconduct, and sur- and sales points, particularly in Eu- na and North Renault needs to plot a ros in savings over three years and faced in Lebanon. rope. America, an in- route back into the black if it would not rule out site closures. Digesting that scandal was one In the words of the French fi- formed source is to keep the French govern- Or, as interim CEO and former thing. Coping with the economic nance ministry, Renault is now told AFP. It is ment onside amid concern over the financial officerC lotilde Delbos put Carlos Ghosn mayhem wrought by the coronavi- “fighting for survival”. losing “a lot of potential direct or indirect fallout it: “No taboos.” Kim Clijsters determined on comeback despite pandemic Page 10 Monday, May 25, 2020 La Liga faces heated debate

Results as it prepares Schalke 0 Augsburg 3 (Loewen 5, Bazee 76, Cordova 90+1) to resume AFP scorching heat. Mainz 0 RB Leipzig 5 Madrid At a meeting with La Liga (Werner 11, 48, 75, over the weekend, the Spanish Spanish media rejoiced on Football Players’ Association Poulsen 23, Sabitzer 36) Sunday after the government (AFE), called for cooling breaks Cologne 2 (Modeste 88, said La Liga could resume, but during games when tempera- restarting in June presents tures are between 28 and 32 de- Cordoba 90) Fortuna many challenges including grees Celsius (82 to 90 degrees Duesseldorf 2 (Karaman summer heat, empty stadiums Fahrenheit), and for training and health rules. and matches to be postponed 41, Thommy 61). Prime Minister Pedro when temperatures rise above Sanchez announced on Satur- 32 degrees, which is common in day that football could return the height of summer in much from its coronavirus lockdown of Spain. in the week of June 8. Temperatures during train- After closely observing as ing in Valencia on Saturday Bundesliga players acted as lab reached 28 degrees. rats when their league became La Liga has eagerly an- the first of the major European nounced there would be “foot- competitions to return last ball every day” of the week, but weekend, Spain, hard hit by the AFE has demanded that the pandemic, will now take its clubs be allowed a compulsory Leipzig’s German forward Timo Werner (centre) celebrates scoring the team’s fourth goal during the German first division Bundesliga match against Mainz 05 on Sunday.( AFP) turn. gap of at least 72 hours between La Liga has not yet speci- matches and the Spanish Foot- fied when it will kick off or de- ball Federation (RFEF) had al- tailed the health protocols it will ready started a legal action to adopt, but is expected to do so prevent that. within the next week, according RFEF went to court at the Sweet-toothed Werner bags to the Spanish press. start of the season and blocked “La Liga is back,” exclaimed La Liga, which wanted to max- the front page of Spain’s best- imise broadcast revenues, selling daily Marca, which scheduling games on Monday. adorned its front page with a A final judgement is yet to be heart formed by the badges of handed down. hat-trick as Leipzig triumph the 20 Liga clubs. Madrid ri- ‘Weird times’ val AS and Catalan newspaper Tebas estimated at the be- Sport used the same headline. ginning of April that if La Liga Thrash Mainz 5-0 to bounce back from their draw with Freiburg last weekend in their first match since lockdown Liga president Javier Tebas did not resume broadcasting has been pushing for the league the losses would amount to a AFP charts. Werner grabbed his sec- Sarenren Bazee and Sergio the lead after just five min- to resume on June 12, with the billion euros ($1.09 billion), Berlin Werner, who has been ond goal three minutes into Cordova scored as Augsburg utes with a superb free-kick Seville derby between Real Be- compared with 300 million eu- linked with several of Eu- the second half when Kevin moved seven points clear of which flew into the top cor- tis and Sevilla as the curtain- ros if it played without specta- Sweet-toothed striker rope’s biggest clubs, has Kampl played him into the the relegation play-off place. ner from 30 metres out at the raiser. Tebas said on Saturday tors. Timo Werner bagged a hat- scored 24 Bundesliga goals area. “I’m totally happy,” said Veltins Arena. that he was “very happy” with Between now and the re- trick as RB Leipzig thrashed this season including two The visitors were attack- Herrlich, whose side host Augsburg doubled their the announcement, but added start, the players, who switched Mainz 5-0 on Sunday to trebles. ing at will when Kampl had bottom club Paderborn on lead 14 minutes from time “We can’t let our guard down”. from individual training to climb back to third in the Lewandowski scored his a goal ruled out for offside Wednesday, after ending a when Schalke defender Sa- The last 11 rounds of the small group sessions on 18 May Bundesliga and keep their 27th league goal this term in soon after. run of four straight defeats. lif Sane was wrong-footed season will be played behind while continuing to observe dwindling title hopes just Bayern’s 5-2 win over Eintra- With 15 minutes left, “We’ll be celebrating by a long ball and substitute closed doors at a time when strict health measures, will have about alive. cht Frankfurt on Saturday. Poulsen’s floated free-kick quietly, because we don’t winger Bazee rifled home. most of the country can expect almost three weeks to prepare. When asked how he Leipzig’s victory was the was met by Werner who vol- have much time. But we Cordova came off the would celebrate, Werner, 10th win for a visiting team leyed past Mainz goalkeeper have managed to turn things bench to score in injury time, 24, told reporters “there will in 18 matches since the Bun- Florian Mueller to wrap up around.” latching onto a loose pass definitely be some sweets in- desliga restarted in near- his hat-trick. The 48-year-old Herrlich from Sane, rounding goal- volved”. empty stadiums. Earlier, Augsburg also apologised to his squad after keeper Markus Schubert and Julian Nagelsmann’s side “We could have scored a eased to a comfortable away breaking a week-long coro- firing into an empty net. sit seven points behind lead- few more, but no complaints win with a 3-0 romp at navirus quarantine by leav- Later, mid-table Cologne ers Bayern Munich ahead of -- we’re very happy,” Leip- Schalke. ing the team hotel -- to buy scored late goals through the reigning champions’ top- zig sporting director Markus Heiko Herrlich enjoyed a toothpaste and skin cream -- strikers Anthony Modeste of-the-table clash against Kroesche told Sky. perfect first Bundesliga game before the Wolfsburg match and Jhon Cordoba, who second-placed Borussia Werner opened the scor- on the touchline as Augsburg last weekend. equalised in added time, Dortmund on Tuesday. ing in only the 11th min- coach, a week after he missed Having been as high as to fight back for a 2-2 draw Leipzig bounced back ute, before Yussuf Poulsen their loss to Wolfsburg be- third last December, Schalke against strugglers Fortuna from their draw with marked his 250th appear- cause he broke quarantine are winless in their last nine Duesseldorf. Freiburg last weekend in ance for Leipzig by heading rules to buy toothpaste. league games, including last Visitors Fortuna, who are their first match since the home a Marcel Sabitzer cross David Wagner’s Schalke Saturday’s 4-0 drubbing at 16th which carries a two-leg- coronavirus lockdown in on 23 minutes. continued their slide down Dortmund. ged relegation play-off at the style, with Werner moving The pair reversed roles the table, falling to eighth “We were extremely stu- end of the season, had led to within three goals of Bay- for the third when Poulsen following another poor de- pid at the start,” said Wag- with an hour gone through ern’s Robert Lewandowski at laid the ball off for Sabitzer fensive display. ner. goals by Kenan Karaman and Barcelona coach Quique Setien and his squad resumed training the top of the league scoring to make it 3-0 at the break. Eduard Loewen, Noah Loewen gave the visitors Erik Thommy. recently. (AFP)

Dortmund and Munich sweat on fitness of Hummels, Boateng for topper Forward Thomas Muel- Hummels was substituted with Achilles tendon, while Boateng ler said “we want the title in was forced to quit with muscular problems Munich, where it belongs,” while Flick was a little more cautious. DPA but added “we hope he’ll be German national team high- “We hope Tuesday’s match Berlin able to play again on lighted by the 2014 World will be attractive. Nothing will Tuesday,” a statement Cup title. They were be decided after that, no mat- Borussia Dortmund and echoed by coach Lu- also paired together in ter what the result. The league Bayern Munich are sweating cien Favre. Munich before Hum- is very balanced, especially at on the fitness of their centre In Munich, they mels returned to Dort- the top, with attractive foot- backs Mats Hummels and Je- also hope that mund last year and is ball,” he said. rome Boateng ahead of their Boateng will recov- a team leader there. Both sides have won their Bundesliga table-topper on er quickly, with an Bayern enter two matches after the corona- Tuesday. upbeat coach Hansi Tuesday’s match with virus-related break and have Hummels was substituted Flick saying: “He had a four-point lead shown fine form since the with Achilles tendon prob- a few problems over Dortmund winter break, with Munich lems at half-time of Dort- but I believe it is and with victo- picking up 28 of 30 possible mund’s 2-0 victory at Wolfs- not so bad that ry could take points in the period and Dort- burg, while Boateng had to he can’t play. I a big step mund 27. quit with muscular problems believe it should towards “We obviously have a lot late in Munich’s 5-2 over Ein- be OK by Tues- a record- of respect for Bayern. But I’m tracht Frankfurt. day.” Boateng extending personally really looking for- Dortmund’s sports direc- and Hummels Bayern Munich’s eighth ward to this match. And we’re tor Michael Zorc said Hum- once formed Jerome Boateng. straight in really good form,” Dort- mels has been nursing Achil- central defence Bundesliga mund midfielder Thomas De- Dortmund’s German defender Mats Hummels (centre) during a training session on Saturday. (AFP) les problems for some time together in the title. laney said. 10 Monday, May 25, 2020 Sports Former FA chief exec Bayern’s Mueller expects sparks warns clubs face virus to fly in Dortmund showdown ‘insolvency’ AFP Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park would usually be sold out with 82,000 fans creating an electric atmosphere for the showdown London

AFP Former English Football As- Berlin sociation chief executive Mark Palios has warned the cost Bayern Munich striker of the coronavirus to lower- Thomas Mueller expects league clubs could be even sparks to fly in Tuesday’s be- larger than the forecast £200 hind closed doors, top-of-the- million ($244 million, €223 table clash at Borussia Dort- million). mund which could help settle Rick Parry, the chair- this season’s title race. man of the English Football Mueller scored in Bayern’s League, which governs the 5-2 home win over Eintracht three divisions below the Pre- Frankfurt on Saturday while mier League, estimated the second-placed Dortmund cost of lockdown earlier this stayed four points behind after month. their a 2-0 win at Wolfsburg. But Palios, the chairman of Dortmund’s Signal Iduna third-tier Tranmere, believes Park would usually be sold the financial damage could be out with 82,000 fans creating worse. an electric atmosphere for the “Whilst you may look at showdown. the ‘hole’ which has been ar- However, the terraces will ticulated as £200 million to remain empty for the visit of September -- I think it’s big- Bayern due to the strict hy- ger than that,” Palios told Sky giene measures the German News. league insists on during the “There is a real financial coronavirus pandemic. maelstrom coming towards “We don’t really know how the league at this point in time. to get into these games with- “I personally believe we out spectators, but I expect us, haven’t seen the worst of it yet, and myself, to go to our limits and during the course of the anyway,” Mueller told Sky af- ter the thumping of Frankfurt. “Of course, we’d like to Rick Parry, the chairman have the fans there. of the English Football “There’s nothing more League, which governs the beautiful than playing these three divisions below the matches against Dortmund at Premier League, estimated the Allianz Arena or in Dort- the cost of lockdown earli- mund,” he added. Bayern Munich’s German forward Thomas Mueller during the Bundesliga match against Eintracht Frankfurt in Munich on Saturday. (AFP) er this month. “But that’s our job, and we’re going to show that even eighth straight German league Bayern crushed Dortmund goal-ace Erling Braut Haal- will be looking to add to his against the second one, well without spectators we’re ca- title. 4-0 when the teams met at the and, who has scored ten goals phenomenal tally of 27 goals if it’s not a top-match then summer you’ll see a lot more pable of playing football with A win in Dortmund could Allianz Arena in November. in as many league games. in 23 league games against his I don’t know what is,” said financial stress on the clubs passion”. leave them seven points clear However, since then Dort- Likewise, Bayern’s star former club. Bayern head coach Hansi as we move onwards and con- Bayern are chasing an with six games left. mund have signed Norwegian striker Robert Lewandowski “When the top team plays Flick. tinue to pay wages. “I think what you’ll see is a lot of clubs will stumble down the road to insolvency.” Teams in third-division Bournemouth player League One have still to agree Georgian tennis star Basilashvili on how to end their season, with Palios -- whose club sit in tests positive the relegation zone -- calling for relegation to be scrapped. AFP day. The other positive was at charged with assaulting ex-wife “We don’t want to have a London a different club which has not decision foisted upon us that is been named. AFP going to affect us financially,” An unnamed Bournemouth That followed a first round Tbilisi said Palios. “Why would you.. player has tested positive of testing that produced six in terms of certain clubs, foist for coronavirus, the Premier positive findings announced Georgian tennis star Nikoloz Basi- on them an even worse posi- League club announced Sun- on May 19 at three Premier lashvili, ranked 27th in the world, was tion?” day, becoming the eighth case League clubs from a total of charged on Sunday with physically as- Palios said the impact of involving an English top-flight 748 players and staff. saulting his ex-wife, prosecutors said. the coronavirus meant EFL side. Those positives included A court in the Georgian capital Tbi- rules that hit insolvent clubs Bournemouth added the Watford’s Adrian Mariappa lisi charged Basilashvili with perpetrat- with points penalties should player’s identity would not be and Burnley assistant man- ing “violence against a family member be relaxed. disclosed due to “medical con- ager Ian Woan. For the second committed in the presence of a minor” Although points deduc- fidentiality” and that he would round, the number of tests before releasing him on bail amounting tions can be appealed on the self-isolate for seven days. available to each club was in- to $30,000 (27,500 euros), prosecutor grounds of ‘Force Majeure’ “Following strict adher- creased from 40 to 50. Natia Guruli said. events, Palios also called for a ence to the Premier League’s On Tuesday, squads start- He faces up to three years behind clarification of rules regarding return to training regulations, ed non-contact training for the bars if found guilty. clubs which entered adminis- the club’s training ground first time since the Premier Basilashvili’s ex-wife Neka Dorokash- tration. remains a safe working envi- League was suspended on vili told the Mtavari TV station on Sun- “This is a consequence of a ronment for players and back- March 13. day that he “physically assaulted” her pandemic, so I think they need room staff, who will continue That an increased number Friday in the presence of their five-year- to be considering that clubs to be tested for COVID-19 of tests has produced fewer old son. may need to go to the protec- twice per week,” said Bourne- positive findings may be a Basilashvili denied the charges, his tion of administration,” he mouth in a statement. boost to the Premier League’s lawyer Irma Chkadua told journalists. Nikoloz Basilashvili said. The Premier League an- ‘Project Restart’ plan to re- The 28-year-old won his second ATP Meanwhile the chairman nounced Saturday that there sume fixtures in June. Clubs title at the China Open in 2018 by de- of Scottish Premiership side were positive tests at two clubs are expected to discuss mov- feating world number four Juan Martin Ross County warned of an out of 996 tests conducted on ing to contact training on del Potro in the final, three months after He went on to defend the Hamburg In May 2019, Basilashvili reached a economic “tsunami” for clubs Tuesday, Thursday and Fri- Tuesday. winning the German Open in Hamburg. title last year. career high of 16 in the world. north of the border.

Clijsters determined to press on with comeback

AFP one before and after her first retire- “I’m away a little bit, which shut. Brussels ment, from 2007-2009. She had turned out to be not so much in the “We made a court with kitchen her daughter in 2008. She won the last few months,” she said. chairs,” she said. Kim Clijsters is looking forward US Open before that break and the She began her second come- Clijsters and her husband Brian to returning to the US Open even Australian Open and two more US back in February in Dubai, where Lynch, a basketball coach, complet- though the coronavirus pandem- titles when she came back. She re- she lost to Garbine Muguruza in ed Andy Murray’s 100 volleys cou- ic means that since her second tired for a second time after the US the first round. She then lost to Jo- ples challenge. comeback from retirement she Open in 2012. She has since had two hanna Konta in her opening match “In the first few weeks when has spent more time with her fam- sons. in Monterrey, the last tournament you’re in quarantine and all these ily. “I always felt I was fulfilled,” before the women’s tour shut down challenges pop up...you’re trying “I’m still motivated,” the four- Clijsters said in an earlier interview at the start of March. everything,” she said. “After a few time Grand Slam winner told a Bel- with the Tennis Hall of Fame. “After She was in the United States weeks it’s ‘another challenge? I’m gium newspaper on Sunday. I had our third baby, Blake, I started when the tournament in Indian done!’” “I hope we can still play this sea- travelling to tournaments. I did Wells, where she planned to play The family returned to Belgium son. But even if we don’t, I intend commentary. singles and partner Venus Williams and quarantined for two weeks. to keep going,” the Belgian tennis “But I still felt more like a player. in the doubles, was cancelled. The Clijsters told HLN that the star, who turns 37 in June, told Het A little itch started.” family stayed at their home in New break had allowed her to rest her Laatse Nieuws (HLN). Returning to the tour poses a Jersey, where they don’t have a ten- body and allow injuries in her knees Four-time Grand Slam winner Kim Clijsters. Clijsters had spells at number challenge for a mother of three. nis court and the public courts soon to improve. Sports Monday, May 25, 2020 11 T20 World Cup unlikely in Saliva ban interim measure Australia in October: Taylor

Agencies Taylor, who is also a Cricket ey-spinning Indian Premier but wax not allowed: Kumble Melbourne Australia director, told the League (IPL) for later this Nine Network on Sunday. year after it was indefinitely Former Australia cricket “Because then everyone can postponed in April. “If things get captain Mark Taylor urged start planning and we can The Board of Control for the International Cricket stop sitting here and saying Cricket in India (BCCI) has back to normal Council (ICC) to make a deci- ‘well ifs, buts or maybes’. said it would not look to re- within three-four sion this week on whether the “My feeling is the World schedule the tournament men’s Twenty20 World Cup T20 won’t go ahead in Aus- until after the dates of the months, then will go ahead in October. tralia in October as planned. T20 World Cup have been de- The ICC board is due to “Is it going to be viable to cided. these rules meet on May 28 to discuss a have a world tournament in Taylor, however, felt the won’t apply” number of issues related to October or November? The financial clout of the BCCI and the novel coronavirus out- answer to that is probably no.” the scale of salaries that play- break and Taylor said he The ICC had previously ers can earn for their stints in Agencies thought they should also ad- said a decision on the World the tournament could sway DUBAI dress the World Cup, which Cup would probably not be decision makers. is due to be held in Australia made until at least August. The IPL is worth about International Cricket from October 18 to November The decision has been $530 million to the BCCI and Council’s Cricket Committee 15. complicated by suggestions players can potentially earn Chairman Anil Kumble says “It would probably be that administrators are also hundreds of thousands of dol- the recommendation to ban good (if a decision is made)” keen to reschedule the mon- lars for about six weeks work. saliva for shining the ball is only an interim measure and “things will go back to nor- mal” once the coronavirus pandemic is brought under ICC’s Cricket Committee Chairman Anil Kumble control. ‘Should I continue racing?’: The Kumble-led panel spinner, however, acknowl- it,” he explained. we have been very critical recommended a ban on sali- edged the bowler’s depend- Mixed reactions and we have been very fo- va to minimise the risk of in- ence on saliva. The ban on saliva has cused on eliminating any Hamilton reveals lockdown low fection. On Friday, the ICC, “Of course we all know elicited mixed response external substances com- in its guidelines for resump- saliva has been a part and from the bowlers, who said it ing into the game,” Kumble AFP kicking his heels as the spread tion of the game, also sug- parcel of cricket for so many would definitely come in the added addressing the specu- London of the coronavirus has seen 10 gested a bar on the practice. way of generating swing. lation. races either cancelled or post- “...this is only an interim “...this is only an interim There have also been dis- He cited the 2018 ball- Six-time world champion poned. The season won’t start measure and as long as we cussions on whether the ICC tampering scandal, which Lewis Hamilton admitted on until July 5 in Austria at the have hopefully control over measure and as long as we would allow usage of external led to bans on Australian Sunday that he questioned his earliest. COVID in a few months or have hopefully control over substances like wax to shine cricketers Steve Smith, Da- future in Formula One dur- “Mentally it’s really about a year’s time then I think COVID in a few months or a the ball. Kumble said there vid Warner and Cameron ing the coronavirus lockdown ultimately feeling good about things will go back to as nor- year’s time then I think were discussions on usage of Bancroft. which left him struggling for yourself. It’s about finding mal as it can be,” Kumble things will go back to as external substances but the “Whether you are literally motivation. a way to make sure you love told Star Sports show Cricket normal as it can be,” suggestion was turned down. legalising, if you are looking “I have days when I wake yourself,” added Hamilton, Connected. Kumble told Star Sports “Using wax is not al- to do that now which obvi- up and feel groggy, I don’t feel speaking ahead of Mental “If things get back to lowed, we have never used ously has had a great impact motivated to work out. I feel, Lewis Hamilton Health Awareness Week. normal within three-four show Cricket Connected. external substances. We can over the last couple of years,” ‘Jeez, where are we going? “You have to really be able months and we are able to use sweat. Everyone is talk- he said. What’s next? Should I contin- like ‘Damn! I love what I do! to love yourself and be com- stage matches like we used years. ing about (how) it will af- “ICC took a decision but ue racing?’,” the 35-year-old Why would I ever consider not fortable on your own.” to do in February and March, “As bowlers, we used to fect the pacers, grass should then cricket Australia took, said in a video released by his continuing?’” He added: “If we are not then these rules won’t apply. apply saliva on ball, some- be left. Why not leave it dry even a more tougher stance Mercedes team. Hamilton is hoping to improving and growing during “As long as the medical times for grip also, we applied and play two spinners?” he on what happened during “I think all these differ- equal Michael Schumacher’s these days then what are we advisory doesn’t change, the saliva. But with this disease, quipped. that series between South Af- ent things, and then I’m like record of seven world titles doing? You’re obviously just rule will stay,” he added. it can also be asymptomatic, “...if you look back at the rica and Australia, so we did ‘Damn it!’, and the next hour, this season. wasting your time sitting on The legendary former that is why we decided to ban history of the game, I mean consider that,” he said. or whatever, it passes, and I’m However, he has been left your backside.”

News in brief Besseling wins BMW Indoor Invitational Vettel may Former Pakistan opener Umar tests Tribune News Network on the 17th hole, it was enough join Aston positive for coronavirus DOHA to secure a two-shot win over last week’s winner Syme and Martin, says KARACHI: Taufeeq Umar, the Pakistan opener of the mid- Wil Besseling shot a four under Frenchman Alexander Levy, 2000s, has tested positive for Covid-19 but he said his symp- par round of 69 to secure a two- following their two under par toms are mild and urged his fans to pray for his swift recover. shot victory as the action in the rounds of 71. Coulthard He is the second cricketer from Pakistan to have contracted BMW Indoor Invitational pow- “It’s a great initiative from DPA the virus. After complaining of symptoms associated with the ered by TrackMan moved to the European Tour, BMW and Berlin coronavirus, the results came out positive and Umar has since Golfclub München Eichenried Trackman to get together and kept himself isolated. Former First-Class cricketer Zafar Sar- The Dutchman finished top organise something totally dif- Former Formula One driver faraz tested positive for Covid-19 but unfortunately he could of a leaderboard featuring 31 ferent compared to what we are David Coulthard has sug- not recover from the virus and died last month. Umar said the European Tour players in the used to with normal golf tourna- gested that four-time world symptoms are mild and he is self-isolating at home. “I got third of five events in the new ments,” said Besseling. champion Sebastian Vettel myself tested last night after feeling a little sick last night, and series of virtual golf tourna- “Virtual golf has been here could join the newly-formed the result came positive. ments using the latest simulator Wil Besseling of the Netherlands won the third BMW Indoor Invita- for a while but not the way in Aston Martin works team next technology. tional virtual golf title. which we have been using it at season. Saliva ban can enhance bowlers’ skills, Following his victory at the the moment. The last couple of Coulthard said in the F1 says Root Bavarian venue, Besseling joins protective masks to frontline shown on the European Tour’s months have been so different Nation podcast on the F1 web- his countryman Joost Luiten workers in the Netherlands, and social media channels and to any other period in my career site over the weekend that LONDON: England captain Joe Root believes the likely ban on in the virtual winner’s circle Bake for Life, a charity close to https://bmw.trackmaninvita- and it has been really exciting to Vettel could help Aston Mar- using saliva to shine the ball in the post COVID-19 world can after his impressive win at St his heart which creates jobs and tional.com, with fans able to see what it is capable of because tin - funded by a consortium actually improve the skills of the bowlers, who will have to put Andrews two weeks ago, and sustainable incomes for peo- follow using #BMWTrackMan- it is so realistic, the courses are around Canadian billionaire more effort to get something out of the pitch. The Anil Kumble-led has claimed the first prize of ple in Africa. Besseling and the Invitational. Besseling opened incredible. Lawrence Stroll - with his vast ICC committee has recommended banning the use of saliva to $10,000 towards a charity of his rest of the field, including for- his round with a bogey, however “To have the ability to host experience and could even be- shine the ball when play resumes due to the risk of COVID-19. choice. mer world umber one Martin picked up two shots on the sixth tournaments indoors, I was come a shareholder. However, Root said the ban could ‘work in our favour and up skill The 35-year-old opted to Kaymer and last week’s BMW and seventh before a second happy to see it as we could not “Does [Vettel] go to Aston levels’. “Not having the assistance that you might normally have split the cheque between two Indoor Invitational powered bogey of the day came on the leave our homes, so I entered Martin?” Coulthard asked. means your accuracy has to improve,” “Guys will have to find charities that will benefit from by TrackMan winner Connor eighth hole. He bounced back to straight away for all five weeks. I “Take a shareholding and another way to get something out of the surface, whether that’s a the donation during the COV- Syme, competed virtually from birdied the ninth and the round finished third and second in the [start] another phase of his bit more effort, changing angles on the crease, using the wobble ID-19 pandemic - Doneereen- their own homes in the one picked up pace with an eagle on first two weeks of competition, career, which could be an op- seam they might not have in their locker. mondkapje.nl (Donate a Pro- round, 18 hole stroke play event. the 11th, plus birdies to follow on so really cool to get the win now, tion, could be something a bit tective Mask), which supplies Tournament footage was 12 and 14. Despite a third bogey my first virtual win! leftfield. “There’s so many interest- ing things that could come into play, and one of them could well be: Lawrence Stroll’s got big designs of future success No fans, no saliva, hand sanitisers on Alonso sweeps Legends for Aston Martin, and at this stage of his career [Vettel] boundary: Welcome to a new-look T10 could well be a brilliant asset Trophy virtual double-header in a team like that, in terms AFP with just 18 recorded cases. Shallow. Agencies other than that I thoroughly en- of knowledge and experience Kingstown (Saint Vincent and “The St Vincent and Gren- Safety prime concern Speedway (Indiana) joyed it. of Red Bull, knowledge and the Grenadines) adines Cricket Association “At the end of the day, our “It was not natural,” he said experience of Ferrari.” Vettel (SVGCA) would have pre- safety and wellbeing are of Fernando Alonso clinched of simulated racing around The won four world titles at Red No fans allowed, no saliva on ferred an option of a limited paramount importance.” the Legends Trophy at Indi- Brickyard. “It’s so different... Bull before joining Ferrari the ball and hand sanitisers on number of spectators, maybe Ambris must be thinking anapolis, in the virtual world you drive it differently, obvious- in 2015 where has so far not the boundary ropes. Welcome 300 or 500 max in the stadi- he is cursed in his career. at least, on Saturday in a field ly. The lines are a little different. won a trophy and his contract to cricket during coronavirus um,” admitted SVGCA presi- When he made his Test featuring 80-year-old U.S. great “You have to understand won’t be renewed at the end of as it’s being played out in the dent Kishore Shallow. debut for the West Indies in a Mario Andretti and a cast of just what that rig wants, what the year. Caribbean this week. “However, the experts ex- series in New Zealand in 2017, Indy 500 winners and Formula the sim likes, how aggressive you His future is unclear and Six teams are taking part in pressed some initial concerns he became the first player in One champions. Fernando Alonso can get and all of that. There’s a quitting the sport can’t be the Vincy T10 Premier League and advised that we attempt the long history of the game to The Spaniard, who will re- definite learning curve, no ques- ruled out either. at the picturesque Arnos Vale to regularise the management be dismissed ‘hit wicket’ in two turn to the Indianapolis oval tweeted to 2009 Formula One tion about it.” The Indianapolis The only possible op- venue near Kingstown, the of players before we consider consecutive innings. for real in August to try to win champion Button. Andretti, 500, crown jewel of American tion to join a top team may main city on St Vincent. having spectators.” On Friday, playing for the the 500 and become only the making his esports debut in the open-wheel racing, was sched- be at world champions Although very low key Local fans had hoped to Salt Pond Breakers, at least second driver to seal the ‘Triple Legends Trophy organised by uled for Sunday but was post- Mercedes where champion in the global affairs of inter- see home star Sunil Ambris, the 27-year-old had the satis- Crown of Motorsport’, beat Jen- Torque Esports and www.the- poned to August 23 because of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri national cricket, it’s the first one of six so-called “marquee faction of claiming two wickets son Button by 0.037 seconds in race.com, fell a lap behind in an the COVID-19 pandemic. Bottas are the current driv- tournament to be staged in a players” in the tournament in a three-wicket win against the first race. The two times Le early incident after qualifying Andretti was one of seven ers and have so far not seen Test-playing region since the which runs until May 31. Grenadines Divers. Mans 24 Hours winner, who has 19th of 26 in the first race. Indy 500 winners in the field their contracts renewed be- advent of the coronavirus pan- “Yes, I could understand The performance of the a Monaco Grand Prix victory “I had a blast,” said Andretti, with 73-year-old Brazilian Em- yond 2020. demic. At first it was hoped the frustration, but similarly, day, however, was by Desron and two F1 titles on his resume, the 1978 Formula One champi- erson Fittipaldi, Juan Pablo The Aston Martin team that spectators would be al- I appreciate the preference Maloney whose 19-ball 41 also took the later reverse grid on and 1969 Indy 500 winner. Montoya, Helio Castroneves, will be formed out of the Rac- lowed to attend as the risk of of (the health authority) that helped La Soufriere Hikers to race from 21st on the grid. “Obviously it seemed like I Gil de Ferran, Dario Franchitti ing Point outfit where Sergio infection was considered to they do not want to encour- a nine-wicket win over Botani- “Mega fun JB!!! Now you was part of every situation that and Tony Kanaan on the start- Perez and Stroll’s son, Lance be extremely low in a country age social gatherings,” added cal Garden Rangers. come to the real 500,” Alonso was happening out there but ing grid in Dallara DW12s. Stroll, are the drivers. 12 Monday, May 25, 2020 The Last Word Aspire Zone virtually celebrates Eid Al-Fitr amid COVID-19 restrictions

dar marking the end of the AZF management exchanges Eid Holy Month of Ramadan, is traditionally celebrated with wishes with staff at E-Majlis event mosque prayers, family feasts and shopping for new clothes, Tribune News Network “It is very important to re- gifts and sweet treats. But this Doha affirm that we stand together year’s celebration is overshad- as one this Eid, to celebrate owed by a rapidly spreading Qatar is experiencing a synergy and togetherness. respiratory disease, and al- unique celebration of Eid Eid is an opportunity to ex- though there will be no com- Al-Fitr this year, as the au- change greetings with family munity events and gatherings thorities have urged citizens and friends, this year at a time this year, those celebrating and residents to stay home to when physical distances are can make the most of a unique protect themselves and the being enforced for our well- time with their loved ones at wider community from the being and health,” said Mo- home. COVID-19 pandemic. To cel- hammed Khalifa al Suwaidi, It is worth mentioning that ebrate this special occasion, CEO of the Aspire Zone Foun- Aspire Zone Foundation was Aspire Zone Foundation’s dation, who was part of the one of the first government management invited its staff virtual meeting as well Aspire Participants at an E-Majlis organised by Aspire Zone Foundation to exchange Eid Al-Fitr grretings. entities in the country to apply to join them for an E-Majlis on Academy Director General the quarantine policy imposed Sunday to connect online and Ivan Bravo, Aspetar CEO Dr. General Abdulla Nasser al Nu- portunity to talk to manage- greetings and Eid wishes in Eid Al-Fitr, one of the by the state in the early days of exchange Eid wishes in these Abdulaziz Jeham al Kuwari aimi. ment members, videos show- many different languages were most important religious oc- the pandemic outbreak towards challenging times. and Aspire Logistics Director Participants used the op- ing the diversity of Aspire’s shown. casions in the Muslim calen- mid-March of this year. Qatar e-Nature Schools Contest Indian expat forum organises virtual sees 13,000 entries, 12 winners iftar for members The online contest accommodated students from all schools and all grades starting from1 to 12 Tribune News Network Doha The meeting started with Tribune News Network record participation in this Rezin Abdul Salam recit- Doha year’s contest and the inno- QATAR Vanimal Pravasi ing a verse from the vative and accomplished ap- Forum (QVPF), a socio- Sasol, the international proach implemented by Sasol cultural organisation of In- Holy Qur’an. The forum’s integrated chemicals and to ensure that the Qatar e- dian expatriate community General Secretary energy company, in coop- Nature Schools Contest con- members hailing from the Shammas Kalathil wel- eration with the Ministry of tinues as scheduled despite southern state of Kerala, comed the members, Education and Higher Edu- the challenges posed by the hosted its virtual iftar meet while President Sadique cation and the Friends of the COVID-19 situation. This ed- on Friday. Chennadan delivered a Environment Centre (FEC), ucational and environmental The meeting started speech on ‘How to sur- announced that over 13,000 initiative is not only a model with Rezin Abdul Salam students from across Qatar of an effective partnership reciting a verse from the vive socio-economic had participated in the sev- between the Ministry of Edu- Holy Qur’an. The forum’s impact of the COVID-19’ enth edition of the Qatar e- cation and Higher Education, General Secretary Sham- Nature Schools Contest. Sasol and FEC, but also a tes- mas Kalathil welcomed the A virtual awards cere- tament to the fruitful results members, while President about coronavirus circu- mony sponsored by Regency of fusing education, technol- Sadique Chennadan deliv- lating on social media in a Sealine Camp and A Flower ogy and a passion for our en- ered a speech on ‘How to live session. Each Spring was organised vironment.” survive socio-economic im- Pravasi Forum Tha- recently, where 12 winners Jack Saba, general man- pact of the COVID-19 pan- nal Chairman MK Abdul from grades 1 to 12 were se- ager of Public Affairs at Sasol, demic’. Salam talked about the lected through an electronic said: “Sasol is incredibly He stressed the impor- activities and future pros- draw system. pleased with the response to tance of strengthening the pects of the forum. The The exponential growth More than 3,000 students and teachers attended the virtual awards ceremony online and cheered the 12 this year’s edition of Qatar bond among communities unique e-iftar meeting saw in the number of participants winners from different schools and nationalities. e-Nature Schools Contest. and supporting each other participation of around compared with previous Since the competition launch by extending financial aid 100 new and long-time years is attributed to the new for Girls) from grades 1 to 12, in 2014, we have continued as well as sharing impor- members. It concluded online format of the contest respectively. The winners re- to grow in size and stature, tant information, resourc- with a vote of thanks by which accommodates stu- ceived a one night full board enriching the initiative and es and tools to cope with Treasurer VP Faisal. dents from all schools and all stay for four people at Regen- opening the contest to a larg- the situation. Since its inception 18 grades from1 to 12. cy Sealine Camp. er number of students. We Dr Arif NP, a long-time years ago, the QVPF has The live contest ran from The Qatar e-Nature Tro- aim to instil an appreciation member of QVPF, deliv- been holding iftar meet February 1 to April 30, and phies for the top five partici- of Qatar’s distinct nature in ered his keynote address every year for the new and included ten multiple-choice pating schools were awarded the students.” on ‘COVID-19 and preven- existing members. This questions based on informa- to The Scholars’ Internation- Launched in December tive measures to take’. Dr year, the members con- tion in the Qatar e-Nature al School, Safiyya BintA bdul 2013, Qatar e-Nature is a Arif also answered mem- nected through Zoom app app and website. Questions Muttalib Primary School for first-of-its-kind smartphone bers’ queries with regard to maintain social distanc- covered a range of topics such Girls, Al-louloua Internation- application seeking to inspire to conflicting information ing amid the pandemic. as flora, birds, insects, rep- al School-Al Dafna, Shantini- a love for Qatar’s natural tiles, mammals, marine life, ketan Indian School and Oth- beauty among the country’s nature reserves and Qatar’s man Bin Affan Model School residents. The application ecosystems. for Boys. and website highlight flora, Previous years have seen The contest, organised by birds, insects, mammals, the contest opening to prima- Sasol under its corporate so- reptiles, marine life, ecosys- ry school teams from grades cial responsibility umbrella tems and nature reserves in 4 to 6. Al Hamam), Muhammad hammad al Thani (Al Anda- encourages students to ex- Qatar. Sasol created the app Over 3,000 students and bin Rizwan Yasin (Al Qods lus Primary Preparatory and plore Qatar’s rich nature, as part of its corporate social teachers attended the virtual Model School for Boys), Secondary School for Girls), learn more about the envi- responsibility programme awards ceremony online and Selman Mubarak Houmaydi Louloua Said Touwaym al ronmental diversity in the in partnership with Friends cheered the 12 winners from (Al Khor Model School for Kashouti (Maither Prepara- country and gain knowledge of the Environment Centre. different schools and nation- Boys), Mohammed Junaid tory School for Girl), Sally in a fun way while staying at The app features content in alities. Iqbal (DPS Monarch Inter- al Kurdi (Blyth Academy), home during this Covid-19 Arabic and English, aiming at national School), Mariam Ali Khaled al Moatasem Abdul- pandemic. supporting the objectives of The winners are: Ehan Muhammad al Marri (Zainab lah Mohammad (Al Shamal Fatima al Obaidli, head Qatar National Vision 2030 Shabeer Ali (DPS Monarch Bint Jahsh Primary School Secondary School for Boys) of Programs and Activities to promote sustainable de- International School), Ayaan for Girls), Najla Barhoumi and Nof Mohammad al Azba at the Ministry of Education velopment by contributing Ahmed Dalloul (Edison In- (Global Academy Interna- (Al Karaana Primary Pre- and Higher Education, said: towards an environmentally ternational Academy–Dahl tional), Aisha Khaled Mo- paratory Secondary School “We are pleased to witness a aware population. ACS Int’l School Doha adopts tech-driven curriculum to support distance learning

Tribune News Network tained an advantage during the “We are confident that Doha transition to distance learning these resources will serve as that came with school closures comprehensive materials for THE recent outbreak of COV- in Qatar. Its recent adoption of parents and families to sup- ID-19 has allowed academic new digital resources in science port distance learning. Plus, institutions worldwide to re- and mathematics subjects have we continue to collaborate think their use of technology. empowered both students and with more educational part- ACS International School Doha teachers to continue to foster ners, who share our values has intuitively been part of this innovative learning and knowl- of a holistic and future-ready shift, backed by a technology edge sharing. education. As we live in a con- driven curriculum, to help its “Our students, staff and stantly changing world – and community transition from alumni, work cohesively to these current times are a clear traditional to distance learning share experiences and help reflection of that- it is impera- in science related fields. communities grow and expand tive that we adapt and evolve in ACS Doha has always in- in knowledge. This unexpected ACS Doha focuses on integrating a technology-driven approach in its teaching strategies to enrich the learning experience for students in all subjects. our offerings as institutions, as tegrated a technology-driven global situation has posed a curators of young minds”, said approach in its teaching strat- challenge in the daily opera- which provides real time sup- tively engage, explore, explain, dents navigate the world of By utilising a problem based Dr Robert Harrison, Education egies to enrich the learning tions of our community, but port for teachers and access elaborate and evaluate as they numbers through two innova- learning curricula, students are Strategy director. experience for students in all it has definitely not curtailed to an updated digital science progress through the curricu- tive platforms such as Illus- able to learn about the subject ACS Doha takes pride in its subjects. At the beginning of our passion to learn and grow curriculum. The powerful lum. STEMscopes also features trative Mathematics and the through the role of solving an modern learning and teaching this year, ACS Doha began in- together”, said Kimberly Elms, STEMScopes science platform mathematics and literacy con- Great Minds. Both offer edu- open ended problem in the that secures the future of ACS tegrating new digital anchor Education Strategy Services is currently implemented in nections, offering unique in- cators a supportive platform subject. This allows the stu- Doha students now, and well resources for mathematics and Team Curriculum and As- ACS Doha’s lower and upper terdisciplinary approach that with a wealth of expert knowl- dents to become autonomous into the future when they’ll re- science. With teachers and stu- sessment, ACS International schools. Lessons are built us- supports the school’s IB pro- edge and professional learn- in their own learning. As a turn to the ‘new normal’ world dents already using technology Schools. ing a research-based model to grammes. ing resources that give context result students learn not only of education. The school will oriented approaches to learn- Some of its latest platforms deliver the five ‘E’s of learning. On the mathematics front, to how mathematical theories how to do math, but also why open its new state of the art ing and teaching, they main- include STEMscopes Science, ACS Doha students can effec- ACS Doha is helping its stu- apply to real world situations. math works. campus in August, 2020.