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QatarTribune Qatar_Tribune QatarTribuneChannel qatar_tribune TueSDay aprIl 7, 2020 Sha`Baan 14, 1441 VOL.13 NO. 4914 QR 2

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Qatar wins UN MoI deploys all resources to praise for efforts to beat COVID-19 combat COVID-19 epidemic Fazaa Police have fully activated their All depts working to ensure capabilities, and officers and individu- TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK strict implementation of als have been trained to deal with the Doha situations of coronavirus affected cases health & safety guidelines and with the public,” he said. The United Nation (UN) has In order to ensure the safety of peo- praised the efforts of Qatar QNA ple, the number of patrols has increased, in combating the coronavirus Doha he said, adding that patrols are deployed (CoVID-19) epidemic at the na- in all areas of the country to monitor tional level and safeguarding THE Ministry of Interior (MoI) has mo- compliance with the instructions issued all who live in Qatar without bilised all its resources and capabilities to by the competent authorities. discrimination by providing protect society from coronavirus (COV- He said the Al-Fazaa police are free medical care and high ID-19) by following-up on the implemen- protecting all quarantine sites identi- quality services. tation of precautionary measures and fied by the Ministry of Public Health This came as assistant participating in community awareness to receive positive or suspected cases. Foreign Minister and official campaigns. eral Directorate of Traffic are playing a and human capabilities and strength- These sites are fully secured to reduce Spokesperson of the Supreme HE Lolwah bint Rashid al Khater The concerned departments have key role in this regard. ened its training activities and security the spread of the virus, he said, adding Committee for Crisis Manage- briefed UN representatives about been working to ensure that the people Lt Col Nayef bin Faleh al Thani, patrols to cover various regions. that they also have the task of securing ment he Lolwah bint Rashid al Qatar’s steps to combat coronavi- adhere to the safety guidelines. Director of Al-Fazaa, said the Al-Najda “We are facing an exceptional situ- the closed parts of the Industrial Area Khater held a remote meeting rus epidemic on Monday. The Al-Najda Police Department Police Department plays a pivotal secu- ation that does not brook any kind of over 24 hours. with a number of United Na- (Al-Fazaa) and the Patrol and Traffic rity role in tackling the spread of coro- negligence. We have to stand firm to tions representatives in Qatar the Coronavirus he Khalid bin Investigation Department of the Gen- navirus. It has mobilised all its financial prevent the spread of the virus. Al- Continued on page 2  and the region to inform them Rashid al Mansouri. about the efforts of Qatar From the United Nations, (both locally and internation- Director of UNeSCo’s office ally) in combating the corona- in the arab States of the Gulf virus (CoVID-19) epidemic. and Yemen Dr anna Paolini, The UN representatives Director of the International GCO launches coronavirus also commended the interna- Labor organization office in tional efforts of Qatar by send- Qatar houtan homayounpour, info service on WhatsApp ing medical shipments and aid Director of the UN human to friendly countries, and the Rights Training and Docu- TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK To use the free Coronavirus Information evacuation of people stranded mentation Centre in Qatar Doha Service on WhatsApp, simply save the number in the epidemic areas, includ- Dr abdel Salam Sidahmed, +974 6006 0601 in your phone contacts, then ing United Nations personnel. UNICeF head of office in THE Government Communications Office send a WhatsApp message in any language to The remote meeting was Qatar anthony MacDonald, (GCO) on Monday launched Coronavirus Infor- get started. attended by adviser to the acting head of office at mation Service on WhatsApp. The conversation can also be started via: Minister of Foreign affairs for UNhCR ayat el Dewary, and The new service, which is free-to-use, pro- https://wa.me/97460060601?text=Hi International Development, Who representative in the vides a central source of accurate, trustworthy Sheikh Thamer bin Hamad al Thani, Deputy representative of the Ministry region Dr Rayana Bou-haka and up-to-date informa- Director of the Govern- 228 more test positive of Foreign affairs in the Na- participated in the remote tion about coronavirus ment Communications Of- tional Committee to Combat meeting. (COVID-19). fice for Media Affairs, said, for virus, eight recover The Coronavirus In- “Maintaining the safety of formation Service is an citizens and residents in TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK came to Qatar and others automated “chatbot” ser- Qatar is our top priority. Doha related to contacts. The vice that allows citizens To ensure that the public new cases have been put in and residents in Qatar to is kept informed during the Qatar registered 228 new cas- quarantine and are receiving HMC changes get answers to the most crisis, we have developed es of coronavirus (CoVID-19) the necessary medical care, common questions about The service will provide information a user-friendly service to on Monday, taking the total it added. visitor policy (PG 2) coronavirus from the give people instant access number of confirmed cases to The MoPh urged everyone Ministry of Public Health on topics such as coronavirus preven- to the latest information on 1,832, the Ministry of Public to cooperate fully and adhere and the GCO 24 hours tion and symptoms, the latest num- the virus. This includes the health (MoPh) has announced. to all health guidelines and a day in six languages: ber of cases, advice on staying at latest statistics from the In a statement, the MoPh preventive measures to re- Arabic, English, Urdu, home, travel advice and mythbusting Ministry of Public Health said eight more people also duce the risk of infection with Hindi, Nepali, and Ma- and vital information recovered from the virus in the virus. It also stressed the Over 151,000 benefit layalam. about how people can pro- the last 24 hours, bringing importance of adhering to the from QC’s COVID-19 The service will provide information on top- tect themselves and others. Our aim is to raise the total number of recover- decision to prevent all forms ics such as coronavirus prevention and symp- public awareness in our community.” ies to 131. of assembly and adhere to campaign (PG 14 ) toms, the latest number of cases, advice on stay- It said some new cases the procedures of domestic ing at home, travel advice and mythbusting. Continued on page 2  are related to travellers who quarantine.

Ashghal opens upgraded road, intersection Qatar Pharma to produce 6 mn QNA nal to Al-Majd Road to provide Doha commuters access to the mar- ket via the exit located at Al- masks a month by April-end THE Public Works Authority Sailiya Road. (Ashghal) has completed the This opening also coincides TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK development works on a road with the opening of Al Sailiyya Doha and an intersection within the Central Market, as the new Road Improvement Works road and junction will serve the Qatar Pharma will set up a production line for in Al Rayyan Area — Phase 5 market visitors and more than face masks with a capacity to produce 6 million Project, and both are now ful- 200 commercial outlets. pieces a month by the end of april, its Chair- ly open to traffic. The recent As part of the Road Im- man Dr ahmed Mohamed al Sulaiti has said. upgrade will help facilitate ac- provement Works in Rayyan “The masks will be of surgical type and will the Ministry of Public health,” Dr ahmed said, cess to the Al-Sailiya Central Area — Phase 5 Project, Ash- significantly meet the local demand,” said Dr expressing hope that the product will be ready Market. ghal finished the construction ahmed. The production line was being readied for mass production in a short time. Head of Western Areas Sec- The upgrade of road and intersection will help facilitate access to the of 2.2 km of roads to serve by specialised technicians, he added. “The product uses six types of herbs known tion in the Roads Projects De- Al-Sailiya Central Market. and connect the local sewer- he said Qatar Pharma recently developed a for their ability to raise the efficiency of the im- partment Eng Fahd Mohamed age plant with Al-Sailiya main herbal medicine that would increase the effi- mune system,” he told Al Rayaan TV. al Otaibi said the recently com- Road that connects it to the In addition, the improve- road, where the traffic density ciency of the human immune system. Dr ahmed said the product has been pleted works under this project 2.1 km-long newly constructed ment works involved a 2.3 for tankers is estimated to be “We have conducted clinical tests of this tried on many people and proven efficient in include construction of a new street leading to Al-Sailiya Cen- km section of Al-Sailiya Road around 2,500-3,000 tankers product and are awaiting the approval from strengthening the immune system. signalised junction at Al-Sailiya tral Markets truck parking. which links the new traffic sig- per day. 02 Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Contact US: Qatar Tribune ı EDıTORıAL ı Phone: 40002222 ı ADMıNıSTRATıON & MARKETıNG ı Phone: 40002155, 40002122, Fax: 40002235 P.O. Box: 23493, Doha.

FM, counterparts discuss pregnant women not at higher risk efforts to fight COVID-19 DEPUTY Prime Minister and Netherlands Stef Blok. Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed also of severe COVID-19 infection: hMC Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul- conferred on phone with rahman al Thani on Monday Minister of Foreign Affairs QNA with COVID-19 updates from received a phone call from Min- and Defence of Belgium Doha reputable sources and don’t ister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Philippe Goffin. HMC restricts visits to hospitals forget the basics, like getting Toshimitsu Motegi. During the telephone PREGNANT women are not enough sleep and eating a The Deputy Prime Min- conversations, they reviewed at risk of severe coronavi- aS part of the efforts to limit the spread of all areas classified as CoVID-19 facilities. healthy diet. Remember that ister and Minister of For- the countries’ cooperation rus (COVID-19) infection, coronavirus (CoVID-19), hamad Medical Corpo- The corporation has also fixed visitation time your doctor or midwife is eign Affairs also received efforts to curb the spread of Hamad Medical Corporation ration (hMC) has issued new restrictions to all to other hospitals and facilities from 12 mid- there for you. Their top prior- yesterday a telephone call the novel coronavirus (COV- (HMC) has confirmed, while its hospitals and facilities. The corporation has day to 8pm for one visitor at a time for only 15 ity is to protect you and your from Minister of Foreign Af- ID-19), in addition to matters noting that they must, how- completely banned people from visiting hazm minutes. according to hMC, the visitors must growing baby, so you should fairs of the Kingdom of the of mutual interest. (QNa) ever, take infection preven- Mebaireek General hospital, Mesaieed hospi- comply with hospital guidelines for personal never hesitate to reach out tion seriously. tal, The Cuban hospital, all enaya facilities and protective equipment and hand hygiene. (TNN) with questions,” added Dr Medical Director of HMC Rifai. Women’s Wellness and Re- women may feel concern and He also cautions that water are not available, use a The Ministry of Public search Center (WWRC) Dr confusion. However, from pregnant women who have hand sanitiser that contains Health (MoPH) has estab- Service will provide timely Hilal al Rifai said the COV- the information we current- a severe chronic illness, such at least 60 percent alcohol,” lished a dedicated website information on COVID-19 ID-19 pandemic has under- ly have, it does not appear as heart, lung or kidney dis- said Dr Rifai. (www.moph.gov.qa) to pro- standably created stress and healthy pregnant women ease, are more at risk of Dr Rifai says the bot- vide the public with updates Continued from page 1  rus with reliable and timely anxiety among pregnant who contract COVID-19 will severe COVID-19 illness -- tom line is that there is still on the current situation as health advice, in order to women in the country. While be more severely unwell than similar to other patients with a lot that is unknown about well as information on how to Matt Idema, chief oper- keep people safe.” pregnant women are not the general population,” said chronic illness -- and COVID-19, particularly its protect themselves and oth- ating officer of WhatsApp, The Coronavirus Infor- thought to be more suscepti- Dr Rifai. should speak to their doc- effects on pregnant women, ers from COVID-19. A hotline said: “During difficult times mation Service has been built ble to serious illness from the Dr Rifai noted that while tor or midwife to ensure they but it is known that practis- (16000) is available 24-hours like this, people use What- on the WhatsApp Business virus, they should take pre- healthy pregnant women are taking all necessary pre- ing smart hygiene and safety to answer COVID-19-related sApp more than ever to con- API over Infobip’s global vention very seriously. do not appear to be more at cautions. procedures, including social queries and an educational nect with and support their communication platform to “In general, pregnant risk of serious complications, “Frequently wash your distancing, can help prevent social media campaign have friends, family and commu- provide timely and critical in- women are more susceptible should they contract COV- hands using soap and water COVID-19 infection. also been launched, with the nities. We are pleased to be formation to the population to illness than non-pregnant ID-19, it is nonetheless im- for at least 20 seconds, es- “I would advise all preg- MoPH, HMC and Primary able to provide Qatar with about the virus. For more ad- women, as pregnancy de- portant that they take every pecially after you have been nant women to be vigilant Health Care Corporation the communications tools to vanced queries, the chatbot creases the immune system’s precaution to prevent infec- in a public place or after about hygiene and safety, (PHCC) sharing infographics help them respond to citi- can also direct users to online response. Therefore, it is un- tion from COVID-19 and all blowing your nose, cough- but they should not let fear and videos through their so- zens’ questions about the vi- resources. derstandable that pregnant other viruses. ing or sneezing. If soap and overwhelm them. Keep up cial media channels. Residents adopt novel means Al-Fazaa increases patrols, to deal with staying at home sets up more checkpoints MERIAM JELLITI to meet my deadlines and engage in also emphasising the importance of Continued from page 1  the state’s efforts in confronting this Doha online courses. They are definitely additional indoor activities to keep global pandemic. keeping me busy. Today, I had a test the mind sharp and the body healthy. Lt Col Nayef bin Faleh al Thani Accompanying buses and ve- AS the coronavirus pandemic contin- early in the morning, but I have been Rawan has been staying home clarified that officers and police at hicles related to the crisis, such as ues to ravage the world, many coun- struggling to balance the feeling of for almost a month now and she has the Al-Fazaa are aware of the dan- buses from the airport to quaran- tries, including Qatar, have been en- ‘home vacation’ and the fact that I been committed to staying in shape gers they face in the field. tine or from quarantine to hospitals, couraging people to stay at home to am a college student.” and good health by practising physi- The patrols are not confined to was another important duty of the help limit the spread of the virus. She added, “I miss the discipline cal activities. following up the procedures and Patrols. This is in addition to par- The spread of the new virus has that came with college. Now, it’s all “Not going to the gym didn’t stop decisions issued by the authorities ticipating in the patrols of Al-Fazaa forced many people to self-quaran- mixed up. I still have two more tests me from working out. I downloaded concerned to limit the spread of the and the Establishments Security, tine, including citizens and residents and it hasn’t been easy, especially for working out apps and I have been virus; it also contributes to public and securing roads and intersec- of Qatar. IT students but I’m still very grateful reading a lot about healthy food and awareness by providing advice and tions going to and coming from the While isolation can be unbear- for the online courses as they save I love it. I cannot deny it has been guidance to the public and deals Industrial Area 1 to 32 as part of able for many, people are adopting the semester.” hard staying home this long but I am firmly with anyone who violates precaution against breaches of the different novel means to cope with Workers’ experiences are not gradually adapting and hoping this decisions that require quarantine of citizens and residents to all the relevant decisions. the situation and are trying to adapt very different from those of students doesn’t last longer,” she said. whether in state-defined health fa- guidelines and advice to ensure pro- He said the duty of monitoring by working and studying at home to as most employees are now working She also explained how impor- cilities or in home quarantine. tection from the virus. the hotels allocated for quarantine remain focused and active every day. from home. tant it is for her to stay home. The Al-Fazaa Police has de- Assistant Director of Patrol and is distributed among the depart- Studying online has helped stu- Hady, an employee of a private “Staying home helps reducing the ployed checkpoints throughout the Traffic Investigation Department of ments including Traffic Patrols, Es- dents to stay on track. construction company, said, “Al- risk to others and it is currently our country with the aim of providing the General Directorate of Traffic tablishments Security Department Mahdy, a college student, has though it has been more inconven- only responsibility towards each oth- more protection to the community Lt Col Jabr Ali al Kubaisi said that and Al-Fazaa. Cars and trucks are spent the past three weeks at home, ient, we are trying to adapt to this er and ourselves. We must consider against the virus and to avoid the since the beginning of the crisis, the prevented from entering the sur- doing his best to keep his brain new life of isolation. We still don’t everyone, especially the most vulner- risk of infection by members of the Patrol Department has provided rounding area, except for those au- stimulated. know how long this will continue. So able. By staying home, we will help community. round-the-clock support to all de- thorised by the security department “I have been quarantined for we have to take this burden in our defeat this virus soon,” Rawan said. He said there is a complete co- partments of the Ministry of Interi- such as food cars or logistics and over three weeks now and it hasn’t stride.” Some people didn’t allow the operation between the department or such as the Al-Fazaa, the Capital ambulance support. been easy. I mostly spend my time “Working is definitely helping. quarantine to stop them from cele- and Hamad Medical Corporation Security Department and security Kubaisi said the decline in traf- cooking or just watching movies I have been doing my job the same brating important days in their lives. and all the field organisations, as departments in external areas and fic in the streets and significant de- and YouTube videos. As for stud- way but only from home. I think Two days ago it was the second the patrols are the first to respond the Establishments and Authorities cline in the number of accidents is ies, I have earmarked two hours working is one way to fill your time birthday of Salma. Both her parents to all reports. Security Department. an indication of the commitment daily to work on my deadlines and and I believe that under these unusu- were excited to celebrate their baby’s The operation of patrols in the Efforts to secure street and road of citizens and residents to the revise lessons to keep my memory al circumstances, one must consider birthday at home. current crisis did not affect its main traffic, and providing advice and precautionary measures and pre- refreshed,” he said. to keep busy and healthy and not to “We baked and prepared every- duties in keeping the security and guidance to vehicle drivers were ventive decisions issued by the Su- Amina, an IT college student, give in to negativity and boredom. thing together and we video called stability of society. It has become consolidated through the official- preme Committee for Crisis Man- also shared her home quarantine Work is definitely one way to do all our families and close friends to fully operational and has increased specified follow-up and inspection agement, and the effectiveness of routine. that,” he added. be part of the birthday party. We the number of its field patrols, he points, with the purpose of educat- awareness brochures, which were She said, “Ever since I started the While health experts are encour- wanted to make this day as special as added. ing road users to stay in their homes distributed to motorists at the con- self-quarantine, I have been striving aging people to stay home, they are it should be,” the parent said. He praised the strong response to maintain their safety and support trol points.

QATAR FOOTbALL ASSOcıATıON DıSTRıbuTES MEDıcAL SuppLıES MoI unveils Strategic Security Studies magazine’s website QNA istry without papers,’ where search in the security field. Doha the magazine will be available The website also includes online to researchers and inter- books and recent publications THE Ministry of Interior ested parties inside and outside in the field of strategic security, (MoI), represented by the the country. in addition to the publication of General Directorate of Infor- He pointed out that the press reports on the most im- mation Systems, has launched website includes an archive of portant scientific conferences the website of the Strategic Se- the previous issues of the maga- and events concerned in this curity Studies magazine, a sci- zine, a special link for reference regard that took place in the entific journal published by the studies and scientific research in country or abroad, in addition ministry’s Centre for Strategic the strategic security field, and to links to a number of websites Security Studies. a separate link for scientific ar- or research centres in the In a statement, Director of ticles specialising in this field at country. the centre Colonel Mohamed local, regional and international The magazine can be ac- Rabia al Kuwari said the maga- level, as well as a section on the cessedvia the website of the zine’s new website is part of Ministry of Interior Security Ministry of the Interior: https:/ The Qatar Football Association (QFA) has distributed bags containing medical supplies, cleaning tools and sanitisers to the club staff and the ministry’s plan for digital Research Prize that the minis- portal.moi.gov.qa, or via a direct organisers of community tournaments as part of its social responsibility to help limit the spread of CoVID-19. (TNN) transformation, a plan imple- try conducts annually with the link: https:/ portal.moi.gov.qa/ mented under the slogan ‘Min- aim of encouraging scientific re- securitystudies nation Tuesday, April 7, 2020 03 Qatar’s blockade strategy provides a framework for combating climate change, says QF professor

aster. “Successful measures to directed towards pressuring in the UK and Oxford Univer- ‘Only nation states can drive successful “Qatar’s experience made change societies and econo- state governments into tak- sity Press in the US. An up- measures to change societies and economies’ me think about how coun- mies have always been driven ing action”. dated paperback edition will tries with a very strong state- by national states, not inter- Lieven calls for states be published in 2021. TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK and infrastructure develop- led effort can respond to national organisations,” he to adopt different national Professor AnatolLieven Doha ment, said Dr Lieven, con- crises,” he said. The success said, pointing to the exam- versions of a ‘Green New was previously a correspond- tributed to his thinking on of that effort and its contri- ple of national responses to Deal’, dedicated to building ent in South Asia and the for- THE speed and scale of Qa- climate change, which he lays bution to a surge in national the global pandemic – a cri- alternative energy, public mer USSR, and an expert at tar’s state-led response to out in his new book ‘Climate patriotism, he says, provides sis from which international transport networks, techno- think tanks in Washington the blockade is a lesson in Change and the Nation State: a study on how understand- bodies have been almost logical innovation, economic DC. He teaches on National- national resilience and adap- The Realist Case’. ing climate change as a threat wholly absent. “When com- growth, new jobs and social ism, International Relations, tation needed to change the In the book, the professor to the vital interests of nation bating the pandemic, what solidarity. The huge amounts US Foreign Policy and Com- devastating course of climate of government at Qatar Foun- states could generate the Dr Anatol Lieven really counts is the ability to of money now being poured parative Political Systems at change around the world, dation (QF) partner univer- needed national responses. close borders, forbid gather- into economies to combat the GU-Q. He is a member of the said Dr Anatol Lieven, au- sity, Georgetown University In his book, Dr Lieven cial reforms. In particular, he ings and close transportation economic effects of the pan- South Asia Advisory Board of thor of a new book on climate in Qatar (GU-Q), draws on draws on history to dem- explores the ‘New Deal’, the routes. Only individual states demic should be targeted at the British Foreign and Com- change that challenges con- lessons from history to argue onstrate how appealing to expansive relief and reform can do this.” And for climate these goals, not spent indis- monwealth Office, and has temporary wisdom on that only nation states have patriotism was a successful measures enacted by US change, he says, while in- criminately. taken part in numerous pan- THE issue. the power to enact the kind response not only to war but President Franklin Roosevelt ternational agreements and “Climate Change and the els to discuss climate change The observation of Qa- of dramatic change needed to to challenges like the need during the Great Depression grassroots efforts are needed, Nation State: The Realist and its impact on world tar’s rapid economic shifts prevent environmental dis- for painful economic and so- in the 1930s. “all of these are ultimately Case” is published by Penguin politics.

NHRC supports Qatar’s precautionary Ansar Gallery opens supermarket in Al-Rayyan branch Ministry recalls Honda steps to counter coronavirus spread Odyssey 2018 models THE Ministry of Commerce and Industry THE National Human Rights Commit- spread of this epidemic. (MoCI), in cooperation with DOMASCO - Doha tee (NHRC) has expressed its satisfaction The NHRC also urged the competent Marketing Services Company, dealer of Honda with the precautionary measures taken by authorities to pursue their procedures in in Qatar, has announced the recall of Honda the State of Qatar in the face of the out- the context of expanding the response to Odyssey models of 2018-2020. break of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pan- this epidemic and to ensure that these The models were recalled because the third demic and stressed the need for concerted measures are consistent with human row seat wire harness might be exposed and efforts by the government and society in rights standards and are commensurate damaged, which may lead to an electric spark all its groups to give priority to the right to with the size of the risks to community and cause a fire outbreak. The recall campaign health for all and respect for human rights health. comes within the framework of the ministry’s without discrimination. The National Human Rights Com- continuous efforts to protect consumers and In a statement on Monday, the NHRC mittee warned that such measures and ensure that dealers follow up on vehicle defects stated that it is following the govern- restrictions are exceptional measures and repairs. ment’s extensive precautionary measures that can only be taken if they are justi- The ministry said that it will coordinate with to strengthen prevention and protect soci- fied and necessary. It also stressed the the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and ety from possible consequences, since the importance of ensuring access to food, repair works and will communicate with cus- first cases have been recorded, stressing water and basic goods and providing tomers to ensure that they carried out the nec- in this regard the importance of aware- health care and services to everyone essary repairs. ness-raising campaigns by the Ministry without discrimination, provided this The ministry urges all customers to report any of Public Health and the Ministry of the includes strengthening steps to protect violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti- Interior and other relevant authorities to the most vulnerable in this exceptional Commercial Fraud Department, which process- educate the public on the importance of circumstance; especially for people suf- es complaints, inquiries and suggestions through Call staying in their homes, preventing pub- fering from chronic diseases, the elderly Ansar Gallery recently opened a supermarket in its branch in Al-Rayyan. This step comes as part center: 16001, email: [email protected], lic gatherings and other measures aimed and people with disabilities, as well as of the efforts of Ansar Gallery to provide a distinct shopping experience, food and basic needs with Twitter: @MOCIQATAR and Instagram: MO- at providing adequate means to limit the migrant workers. (QNA) high quality and competitive prices for its customers. (TNN) CIQATAR. (TNN) 04 Tuesday, April 7, 2020 Middle east / Gulf / africa rockets land near uS oil company Syrian refugee in lebanon sets himself Security forces teargas Sudanese halliburton in Iraq’s Basra alight amid economic crisis ignoring COVID-19 mass assembly ban BaSRa: Rockets landed on Monday near the US oil field service BeIRUT: a Syrian man set himself on fire in eastern Lebanon KhaRToUM: hundreds of Sudanese celebrating the country’s newS company halliburton in Iraq’s southern city of Basra, causing no over the weekend, apparently in protest at the lack of work first anniversary of the ouster of long-term ruler omar al-Bashir in casualties or damage, the Iraqi military said. The military said available as a consequence of measures introduced to quell the the streets of the capital Khartoum were Monday teargassed by In BrIef security forces were chasing “outlawed elements” who fired three spread of the new coronavirus. Lebanon’s lockdown had caused security forces as part of Covid-19 protection measures. The cel- Katyusha rockets near the company’s headquarters in Burjesia a lack of work and that, coupled with an already difficult economic ebrators had assembled on a main street near Khartoum’s palace district. a rocket launcher with 11 unused rockets was found on a situation in the country, had prevented the man from meeting his despite government banning mass gatherings to curb the spread nearby road, and were defused by security forces, it added. (DPA) family expenses. (DPA) of the Covid-19 pandemic, several witnesses told dpa. (DPA) Northern Erdogan says two Mali attack leaves 20 pandemic hospitals soldiers dead to be built in Istanbul AFP AFP BaMaKo ISTaNBUL

AROUND 20 Malian soldiers TURKEY’S President Recep were killed on Monday in an ap- Tayyip Erdogan said on Mon- parent jihadist attack, officials day two hospitals each with said, in the latest bout of vio- a 1,000 bed capacity, will be lence to hit the war-torn West built in Istanbul -- the epicen- African state. tre of coronavirus cases in the Early Monday morning, country -- to treat infected pa- militants attacked a military tients. base in the northern town of Turkey has recorded 649 Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Bamba, according to a local gov- coronavirus-related deaths Erdogan ernment official, who called the and 30,217 cases according assailants “terrorists” and said to official figures published to be built in the area where at least 20 soldiers had died. on Monday. Health Minister the city’s former internation- Another local official gave a A handout photo shows Iranian president Hassan Rouhani during a cabinet session in Tehran on Monday. (aFP) Fahrettin Koca said last week al airport was located on the similar account, explaining that that more than half of the cas- European side, and the other the assailants arrived on motor- es were registered in the coun- one-floor hospital at Sancak- bikes and in cars. try’s economic capital, and tepe on the Asian side of Is- “Investigations are still on- largest city, Istanbul. tanbul. going on the ground because ıran says virus infections Erdogan said Turkey had As part of tougher meas- the death toll must be higher mobilised all its means to fight ures to contain the spread than the 20 deaths announced,” the threat, assuring there was of the virus, Turkey has sus- the official said. no problem in Turkish hospi- pended international flights, Mali has been struggling tals in diagnosing and treating banned mass prayers and to contain a jihadist revolt that show ‘gradual’ decline the disease. gatherings and shut schools. first broke out in the north in “We will complete them “With the measures we 2012, and has since spread to (the two hospitals) within 45 have taken, and the additional the centre of the country and hani repeated calls for people days and will open them to ones, we will overcome this neighbouring Burkina Faso and The COVID-19 outbreak Mosque converted into mask to stay at home as he warned public service,” Erdogan said pandemic together with Eu- Niger. claimed 136 lives in factory in virus-hit Iran Iran could be “put back in a in a televised speech. rope and the world,” the Turk- Thousands of Malian sol- difficult situation” unless peo- One of the hospitals is due ish leader said. diers and civilians have died, the past 24 hours, aT a Tehran mosque converted education. ple follow guidelines. despite the presence of thou- bringing Iran’s overall into a factory, women volun- “our group used to go to Jahanpour reiterated this, sands of French and UN troops. teers who would normally the battlefields of the Iran-Iraq saying: “I hope that the strong- It was not immediately clear death toll to 3,739 attend to visitors to the old war every year to serve visi- est possible adherence to these who carried out Monday’s at- AFP battlefields of the Iran-Iraq war tors,” Fatemeh Saidi, a 27-year- instructions... will allow us to Zimbabwe police accused of tack. TehRaN have joined the fight against old woman involved in the Basij enter a phase of disease con- media assault amid lockdown A resident of Bamba, who coronavirus. Lined up like fac- with her husband, told aFP. trol and containment.” spoke to AFP on condition of THE trajectory of coronavi- tory workers, around 15 women “This year, because of the In an attempt to limit the AFP pictures Sunday of police as anonymity, said armed men rus infections in Iran appears have taken up positions in front spread of coronavirus, travel spread of the disease, authori- haRaRe they dispersed people to en- had been riding motorbikes to have started a “gradual” of table-top sewing machines to between cities was banned and ties have not confined the pop- force a stay-at-home order. around nearby villages since downward trend, the gov- produce face masks. The group we were not able to go there,” ulation but have adopted other AN African media watchdog “Four police officers or- Sunday, before gathering for ernment said Monday, but it of about 40 women travels said Saidi. restrictions such as closing charged Monday that Zimba- dered Makufa to get into their the dawn attack. warned the disease is far from annually to the battlefields of “So we came here to serve most businesses deemed non- bwean police had assaulted a truck where he was assaulted “We saw 23 bodies on the being under control. the 1980-1988 war that youths our compatriots. We’ve been essential. Rouhani announced journalist and forced him to by two officers and forced to spot,” the Bamba resident said, The COVID-19 outbreak visit during the Persian New working on this for more than a on Sunday that the authorities delete pictures of them enforc- delete his pictures before he describing the aftermath of the claimed 136 lives in the past Year holidays as part of their month,” she added. (AFP) had given the go-ahead for the ing a COVID-19 lockdown. was dropped off,” MISA said raid, adding that militants had 24 hours, bringing Iran’s over- resumption of certain econom- Freelance journalist Pa- in a statement. Police spokes- destroyed the camp and stolen all death toll to 3,739, health officially reported new cases in the Middle East, accord- ic activities “step by step” from nashe Makufa “was beaten up man Paul Nyathi said they equipment. ministry spokesman Kianoush of the novel coronavirus for ing to official tolls released by April 11. by members of the Zimbabwe had received no formal report “No civilian was hurt, this Jahanpour told a televised the sixth consecutive day af- each state. Since the end of the Per- Republic Police” in Harare’s about the incident. was an operation against the news conference. ter a peak of 3,111 reached on “Due to the intensification sian New Year holidays on Kuwadzana township “while “We don’t condone the as- camp,” the resident added. Iran registered 2,274 new March 31. Tehran announced of the social distancing policy, Saturday, the authorities and undertaking his professional sault of people going about the A Malian army official sta- cases of infection over the its first COVID-19 cases on we have seen a gradual and many Iranians have expressed duties,” the Media Institute of legitimate work but we have had tioned in northern Mali con- same period, he said, putting February 19, when it said two slow decline in the number of concern about the negative Southern Africa (MISA) Zim- incidents of people who commit firmed an attack had taken the total number at 60,500 people died from the illness. new cases in recent days,” Ja- impact of the disease spread- babwe office said. offences and then say they were place in Bamba but said there across the country. Iran is by far the country hanpour said. ing further, especially in Makufa told the media arrested while performing their had been losses on both sides. The figure shows a drop in most affected by the pandemic President Hassan Rou- Tehran. rights watchdog he was taking duties,” he told AFP.

Syria, allies likely targeted civilian sites in rebel stronghold: UN Rights groups condemn DPA tacks on facilities “on the Unit- al-Assad’s key ally, and Tur- deadly attack on Yemen jail NeW YoRK ed Nations’ deconfliction list key, which supports some and United Nations-supported rebel groups, have reached AFP received the casualties. THE Syrian government and facilities.” According to a sum- ceasefire agreements on Idlib DUBaI “MSF-supported Al- its allies are likely behind at- mary of the board’s report, several times in recent years. Thawra Hospital in Taez city tacks targeting civilian and investigators “found it highly However, these deals col- TWO international rights received the bodies of six medical facilities in north- probable” that the Syrian gov- lapsed shortly after as govern- groups on Monday con- women and one child who western Syria, causing deaths, ernment and its allies hit three ment forces continue their of- demned an attack on a prison were killed in an attack on the injuries and material damage, health facilities, a school and a fensive on the area supported in Yemen’s besieged city of central prison in Taez,” it said UN investigators said, accord- children’s centre in 2019. by Russian air power. Taez that left six women and a on Twitter. The government ing to a report released on A Palestinian refugee The area is dominated by child dead. said 28 other female prisoners Monday. camp in Aleppo was likely at- the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. The internationally-recog- were wounded. “Taez citizens In August, UN Secretary tacked “either by armed op- More moderate groups are also nised government has accused continue to suffer from the General Antonio Guterres or- position groups or by Hayat fighting there. Iran-aligned Huthi rebels of ongoing violence in the sixth dered an investigation into Tahrir al-Sham,” a militia The violence in Idlib has carrying out Sunday’s attack. year of the protracted conflict the destruction of hospitals, group close to al-Qaeda, the displaced nearly 1 million peo- The rebels targeted the fe- in Yemen,” MSF said. schools and other facilities in report said. ple, who have set up refugee male section of the prison with “These attacks on civil- Idlib, the last major rebel-held In all cases, the board said, camps in areas near the Syri- mortar shells, according to the ians, whether indiscriminate area in Syria. the evidence was not enough to an-Turkish border. A Russian military vehicle drives in the vicinity of Qamishli airport, government’s Saba news agen- or targeted, are unjustifiable A board of inquiry was reach a conclusive finding. A fragile ceasefire has been which has been turned into their military base, in Syria’s northeastern cy. Doctors Without Borders breaches of international hu- tasked with investigating at- Russia, President Bashar in place since last month. Hasakeh province. (aFP) (MSF) said its hospital in Taez manitarian law.”

DR Congo confines, disinfects business district to fight virus AFP Gombe that the virus is spread- of Kinshasa’s 10 million people, KINShaSa ing little by little to other dis- WHO slams ‘racist’ calls for Africa has been dubbed “the Repub- tricts,” the health authorities to be vaccine testing ground lic of Gombe” for its perceived KINSHASA on Monday closed said in a daily statement. status as an island of prosper- off its upmarket business district “Massive disinfection of the GeNeVa: The World health organization chief angrily slammed ity, a place set side from a city for two weeks and began large- offices and main buildings in recent comments made by scientists suggesting a vaccine for where poverty and dysfunction scale disinfection in a bid to root Gombe district has been sched- the new coronavirus should be tested in africa as “racist” and a are rife. People waited patiently out DR Congo’s main suspected uled during this period. Once hangover from the “colonial mentality”. to get through the barricades, source of coronavirus. everything has been cleaned “africa cannot and will not be a testing ground for any vac- clutching passes issued by city Access to Gombe, which in Gombe, other areas will be cine,” Who director-general Tedros adhanom Ghebreyesus told a hall. houses the country’s main in- targeted,” it said. On Thurs- virtual news conference, insisting “we will follow all the rules to “I waited more than two stitutions, banks and foreign day, Kinshasa Governor Gen- test any vaccine or therapeutics all over the world... whether it hours, but I’m not complain- embassies as well as upscale tiny Ngobila announced that is in europe, africa or wherever.” (AFP) ing, because this disease is very homes, was barricaded off to Gombe, one of the capital’s 26 deadly,” said Jerome Lumosi, everyone except local residents districts, would be “placed in According to the Democrat- Almost all have occurred 35, who works at the National and key workers, an AFP jour- quarantine” from April 6 to 20. ic Republic of Congo’s official in the capital, with a handful of Institute of Biomedical Re- A soldier guards the entrance of the residential commune of La nalist saw. The district “is considered figures, the sprawling country other cases in the volatile east. search -- the DRC’s scientific Gombe in Kinshasa on Monday. Congo closed off its upmarket “The choice of this district is to be the epicentre of the epi- has recorded 161 cases of coro- The central business district, vanguard in the fight against business district for two weeks. (aFP) linked to the fact that it’s from demic in the city,” he said. navirus, 18 of them fatal. home to 100,000 to 200,000 coronavirus. asia / world Tuesday, April 7, 2020 05

Doctors Russia’s coronavirus caseload jumps by about 1,000 over 24 hours demanding virus DPA stay home for the rest of the last week. pov told dpa on Monday. MoSCow month and only go outside A top doctor at that hospital, Medical staff are being safety equipment when absolutely necessary. Denis Protsenko, with whom given drugs to strengthen their RUSSIA reported nearly 1,000 “We have not yet passed Putin had shaken hands dur- immune system as a prophy- arrested in new cases of the novel coro- the peak of the epidemic in the ing the visit, has tested positive lactic measure, he said. Pakistan navirus on Monday, its larg- world and in our country,” Pu- for the virus. Last week another Staff members are to be est jump since the pandemic tin said in a nationally televised facility specializing in treating tested for the virus several AFP began, as regions throughout speech last week. the coronavirus opened at Mos- times a week and provided Quetta, PakiStan the country maintain lockdown Most of the country’s re- cow’s Pirogov hospital as the living quarters at the facility quarantine measures. gions have imposed lockdown case count in Russia’s largest to minimize the potential for MORE than 50 doctors protest- The reported cases rose by quarantine measures, follow- city continues to rise. spreading the disease. ing the lack of safety equipment 11 per cent, or 954, to 6,343, ing the lead of Moscow, which The Pirogov Centre has an The staff have undergone as they battle the coronavirus according to official figures. has the most recorded cases. initial capacity for 250 corona- an intense training programme were arrested Monday in the There have been at least 47 Putin until recently had virus patients, general director to prepare for working within southwestern Pakistani city of deaths linked with the virus in been cultivating an image of police officers patrol deserted Red Square in Moscow on Monday. (aFP) Oleg Karpov said. the necessary protective gear, Quetta, police and physicians the country. being at the forefront of efforts “We understand that in Karpov said, as such gear can said. Russian President Vladimir to combat the crisis, including sonally visit patients at Mos- Putin is now working re- fulfilling the main task our em- “complicate and limit” the The arrests occurred after Putin has advised the public to donning a hazmat suit to per- cow’s Kommunarka hospital. motely, his spokesman said ployees are at great risk,” Kar- work that can be performed. more than 100 doctors and par- amedics rallied near the city’s main hospital and then moved to protest in front of the chief newS minister’s residence, according to an AFP reporter. In BrIef Police later used batons to India virus deaths disperse the group after they Thailand extends international tried to enter the chief minis- passenger flight ban until april 18 ter’s home, resulting in scuffles between the sides. BaNGKoK Thailand’s aviation body has extended a ban on “We have taken 53 doctors all incoming international passenger flights until april 18 due top 100, with highest into custody for violating the to the coronavirus pandemic. law,” Abdul Razzaq Cheema, a the ban on international passenger flights to thailand is senior police official told AFP extended from april 6 to april 18, the Civil aviation authority of after the incident. thailand said in a Monday announcement. Cheema said police held it said all flight permits granted for that period are to be single-day toll at 32 the doctors for several hours cancelled. before the provincial govern- the ban does not apply to state or military aircraft, emer- DPA ment ordered them to release gency landings, technical landings without passengers, humani- NeW DeLhI the group. tarian, medical or relief flights, repatriation flights and cargo Liaqat Shehwani, a spokes- flights, the announcement said. A total of 109 people have died man for the provincial Balo- Domestic flights inthailand are still permitted but many air- of COVID-19 in India, with 32 chistan government, told AFP lines have suspended operations. (DPA) fatalities and 693 fresh cases that the doctors were protest- in the past 24 hours alone, ing over the unavailability of government data released on personal protective equipment South Korea reports lowest coronavirus Monday showed. (PPE) like masks and goggles. increase since february The figures released by the “We had assured them that Federal Health Ministry take the PPE would be provided Seoul the number of daily new coronavirus infections in South the number of positive cases soon but they started the pro- korea dropped below 50 for the first time since late February, in India past the 4,000-mark test,” Shehwani said, adding health authorities said on Monday, with 47 new cases recorded to 4,067. India has registered that authorities were planning on the previous day. an increase of 500-plus cases to distribute protective equip- that number was down from 81 new cases a day earlier in the four days since Friday. ment after receiving supplies and brings the nation’s total infections to 10,284, according to Health Ministry officials from the federal government the korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Seoul. said more than 1,000 cases earlier Monday. three more people died as a result of complications from were connected to a religious Medical staff across Paki- Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus, bringing the nation’s gathering organized by Tab- stan have complained for weeks death toll to 186. lighi Jamaat, an Islamic mis- over the severe shortages of the reporting shows the number of newly reported infec- sionary movement in New safety equipment in hospitals tions has “stabilized” at around 100 for the past three weeks. Delhi, last month. Medical staff collect samples from people at a Walk-In Sample Kiosk (WISK) to test for the CoVID 19 as they treat patients suffering a clear downward trend began in March, after peaking at the Senior health ministry of- coronavirus at Ernakulam Medical College in Kerala on Monday. (aFP) from the novel coronavirus. end of February with over 900 cases recorded in a day. (DPA) ficial Lav Agarwal said the number of COVID-19 cases opposition leaders including in India was doubling every Mumbai hospital shut after surge Sonia Gandhi, who leads the 4.1 days and that rate could in cases among staff Indian National Congress, on have been slower at 7.1 days the crisis and the nationwide NZ coronavirus had the Delhi mosque event MuMBai a major private spokesman Vijay khabale-Patil lockdown. cases rise by 67 Virus-stricken cruise ship - attended by thousands from hospital in Mumbai was shut told aFP that the wockhardt Meanwhile, India is re- India and abroad - not taken to new patients and declared a hospital has been declared a thinking a recent ban on the DPA docks near Sydney place. coronavirus containment zone “containment zone” after the export of hydroxychloro- WeLLINGToN Addressing his party work- on Monday after 26 nurses cases were confirmed. quine, an inexpensive ma- AFP most 6,000 confirmed cases of ers, Prime Minister Narendra and three doctors tested posi- “three hundred staffers laria drug that US President NEW Zealand on Monday Port keMBla, auStralia COVID-19. New South Wales Modi said India has been pro- tive, an official said. have been quarantined and Donald Trump has touted as a reported 67 new cases of the police said the ship could re- active in combating the pan- Since the virus hit india the hospital is shut,” he told possible game changer in the novel coronavirus, bringing A cruise ship that has account- main at the port for up to 10 demic including declaring a -- which has been under lock- aFP. fight against the coronavirus the total number to 1106. ed for a quarter of all COVID-19 days to restock and refuel be- nationwide lockdown, but the down since March 25 with 111 the united nurses as- pandemic, officials said on At a news conference, deaths in Australia was allowed fore departing Australian wa- battle against the virus would deaths so far -- medical work- sociation (una) in Mumbai Monday. New Zealand’s Director Gen- to dock near Sydney on Mon- ters, but the crew would not be be a long one. ers have complained about not accused hospital management The move - announced by eral of Health Ashley Bloom- day after 200 crew members allowed to disembark unless it “It is going to be a long being given adequate protec- of failing to protect staff by India’s Directorate General field said 176 patients have began exhibiting coronavirus was an emergency. haul, we do not have to tire, tive gear. refusing to let them wear ap- of Foreign Trade (DGFT) on recovered. symptoms. “The berthing will be con- our resolve and mission are to Mumbai city authority propriate safety gear. (AFP) Saturday - came on the same Only one person in New The Ruby Princess berthed ducted under strict health and merge victorious in the fight day as Trump made a request Zealand has died so far as a at Port Kembla, some 80 kilo- biosecurity guidelines and will against the pandemic,” Modi to facilitate the supplies of the result of complications from metres (50 miles) south of Syd- not pose a risk to employees at said on the foundation day of He urged BJP workers to that no poor person goes hun- drug during a telephone call Covid-19, the disease caused ney, after weeks stranded at sea the port or the broader com- his party, the Bharatiya Jana- help out in the national effort, gry. to Prime Minister Narendra by the virus. The largest clus- to allow doctors to assess sick munity,” police said in a state- ta Party (BJP). including working to ensure Modi also spoke with top Modi. ter of cases, 72, is connected crew members and take the ment. Several crew members to a secondary school in Auck- most serious cases ashore for have already been taken to land, Bloomfield said. medical treatment. hospital in recent days. Meanwhile, Prime Minis- The government last month Police have launched a ter Jacinda Ardern announced allowed 2,700 passengers to criminal investigation into Car- that some 876,000 people had walk off the Carnival Austral- nival Australia over the circum- Japan’s Abe to declare state of emergency over virus surge accessed a government wage ia-owned vessel and return to stances that led to thousands DPA The declaration will em- spread of the fast-moving virus daily surpassed 100 for the subsidy scheme, developed to their homes around the country of passengers disembarking in tokyo power authorities to close as the country’s caseload rises. first time on Saturday. help businesses and affected -- despite a ban on cruise ships mid-March despite some ex- schools and order the public On Sunday, Tokyo record- The nationwide figure for workers in the short-term, as docking in Australia being an- hibiting flu-like symptoms. JAPAN’S Prime Minister to stay home, and will particu- ed 143 new cases, taking the infections stood at more than they adjust to the initial im- nounced just days earlier. Police commissioner Mick Shinzo Abe plans to declare larly target major cities like number of people who have 4,500 as of Monday. pact of Covid-19. Hundreds of passengers Fuller said there were “un- a state of emergency over the Tokyo and Osaka, according to tested positive in the Japanese Japan has already been The scheme had so far paid were later diagnosed with cor- answered questions” over spread of the new coronavi- Kyodo. capital for Covid-19, the res- forced to postpone this sum- out 5.3 billion New Zealand onavirus and at least 10 have whether Carnival had been rus, Japanese news agency Abe has come under in- piratory disease caused by the mer’s Olympic Games in To- dollars (3.1 US dollars). died, accounting for a quarter transparent about passenger Kyodo reported on Monday creasing pressure to take virus, to over 1,000. The num- kyo by one year due to the The government expects of Australia’s death toll of 40. health and possibly breached citing a government official. emergency action to slow the ber of new infections recorded global crisis. the scheme to cost between The country has recorded al- biosecurity laws. $4.7 and $7 billion in total. Philippines halts deployment of health-care workers abroad ANNOUNCEMENT DPA making a final decision. they have been exposed unnec- Based on the decision issued by the owner of MaNILa The Philippine Overseas At least 25 Indonesian doctors die essarily,” she said. Employment Administration of COVID-19, association says “This is going to decimate Mandy Takeaway THE Philippines has temporar- said it approved last week a our ranks and if there are not A limited liability company ily suspended the deployment of resolution to impose the tem- Jakarta at least 25 indonesian no figures are available for enough of us, there will be more health-care workers abroad as porary ban “until the national doctors have died after contract- casualties among other health people who will get sick and die.” Commercial Registration number: 76034 the country struggles to handle state of emergency is lifted and ing the new coronavirus, the workers, including nurses, he The Department of Health re- (Optional Clearance) a growing number of infections until Covid-19-related travel re- country’s medical association said. ported 414 new confirmed cases with the novel coronavirus, a strictions are lifted at the desti- said Monday, raising alarm about he urged the government to of Covid-19 in the Philippines, Issued on 5-4-2020 to clear government agency said on nation countries.” the toll the disease is taking on be transparent about the number bringing the country’s total to Monday. The resolution covers doc- health workers. of health workers affected by the 3,660. Eleven additional deaths The ban was announced as tors, nurses, microbiologists, “at least 19 doctors and virus. were also recorded, pushing the Mandy Takeaway Restaurant the main island of Luzon, home medical biologists, medical six dentists have succumbed “we need data that every- death toll to 163, while 73 pa- All creditors or debtors must submit their demands to more than half of the coun- technologists, clinical analysts, to Covid-19,” said halik Malik, one can refer to and can be the tients have recovered. try’s population, entered the respiratory therapists, pharma- spokesman for the indonesian basis for preventive strategies The department noted that accompanied by the supporting documents to the liquidator fourth week of a month-long cists, laboratory technicians, Medical association, referring to for health workers so we can the current numbers do not re- during the legal period, at the restaurant located in lockdown that was supposed to radiologists and nursing assis- the respiratory disease caused by focus on tackling Covid-19,” he flect the real status of the out- end on April 14. tants, among others. the coronavirus. said. (DPA) break because laboratories were In a late-night televised pub- The agency said the tem- still clearing backlogs in testing. 71 Izghawa area – Alalameen street number lic address, President Rodrigo porary ban aims to support the man resource allocation for the according Esperanza Cabral, a This has prompted a grow- 595, building number 69607, from 11:00 am Duterte said the government government’s efforts to halt the national health-care system.” health expert and former health ing call from government of- was “inclined to extend the lock- spread of Covid-19, the poten- More than 20 doctors have secretary. ficials and health experts to ex- to 6:00 pm for a period of 75 days from the down up to April 30” but still tially deadly disease caused by died after being infected with “Many are hospitalized, tend the quarantine for at least date of publication of this announcement. needs further discussions before the virus by prioritizing “hu- the virus in the Philippines, many are sidelined because two weeks. 06 Tuesday, April 7, 2020

ESTABLISHED SEPTEMBER 3, 2006 Opinion HAMAD BIN SUHAIM AL THANI CHAIRMAN ADEL ALI BIN ALI MANAGING DIRECTOR DR HASSAN MOHAMMED AL ANSARI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Enjoying The Clean Air? Trump Weakens Car Emissions Standards The Moral Consequences Trump administration has relaxed Obama-era fuel efficiency standards for passenger cars and light trucks, jeopardising the efforts to reduce pollution Of COVID-19 ALK outside, look at the sky and were expected to meet the target by devel- M EVREN TOK AND BAYAN KHALED Wtake a deep breath. The air right oping more hybrid and electric models, Doha now across much of Southern Cali- gradually cutting smoggy tailpipe pollu- fornia, the country and even the world tion and greenhouse gas emissions in the VER the past 50 years, we have been is sparklingly clear and clean compared process. witnessing a commodification of with just a few weeks ago. The change The new Trump rule, however, would almost every aspect of life. The pri- is especially noticeable in cities that are require automakers to increase fuel econ- Ovatisation of education, health care, normally choked by vehicle exhaust, like omy by only 1.5 percent a year, reach- security, water, electricity, and near- Los Angeles. What’s more, it’s not just the ing an average of 40 miles per gallon by ly everything else became our daily reality. smog, but also the greenhouse gas emis- 2026. That’s so low that the auto industry Moreover, each global crisis in the past 50 sions fuelling global climate change that is likely to exceed it voluntarily. years was politically used to legitimise fur- have decreased with the temporary slow- The Trump administration argues ther ascendancy of markets and depict a down in burning fossil fuels. that the new rule is simply a response to situation of decreasing state capacity. Yet, The reason, of course, is that driving, consumer demand for SUVs and pickup paradoxically, governments continue to be flying, travel of almost all sorts and the trucks, which guzzle gas at a higher rate portrayed as saviors in such instances. economy in general have ground to a near than many other vehicles. But that’s Today, we are facing yet another global halt in an attempt to slow the spread of no justification. The role of the federal crisis with COVID-19, and we need to be- the novel coronavirus. But it shouldn’t government is not to blindly follow the gin working towards recovery. Full-fledged take a pandemic to show people what a market off a cliff; in the era of climate recovery necessities a departure from the Bayan Khaled M Evren Tok future with clean air, blue skies and a change, the government must set poli- physical and social effects of the disease, healthy planet could look like. This could cies and adopt regulations that push in- one example of which is the global moral 150 million people in the world are home- ers”, and our senses have been severely im- be a sustainable reality if countries com- dustries to develop products that are bet- panic it has caused. To do so, we should less while 1.6 billion others lack adequate paired due to us defining value with refer- mitted to clean industries, clean energy ter, safer and healthier for the planet. In refer to Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint housing . Moreover, as cities continue to ence to how much we “can” consume. We and, especially, clean vehicles. fact, existing laws approved by Congress Nasser’s recent post on Instagram, which grow, so does the trajectory for the home- started to define academic success based So, it’s especially galling that the have directed the federal government calls on everyone to realise the depth and less. Based on research made available on the way we make commercial value out Trump administration chose this very mo- to set transportation and environmen- longevity of the crisis we are in. by the Food Aid Foundation, 795 million of it. “Development” has has become syn- ment to roll back the United States’ most tal rules that conserve energy, maximise Since the 1970s, states around the people in the world do not have enough onymous with “financial wealth”. Excessive important programme to cut automobile fuel economy, clean the air and reduce world have been pursuing neoliberal poli- food to lead a healthy and active life . Ad- reliance on material gain resulted in anom- pollution and fight climate change. The greenhouse gas emissions. The clean-car cies that see competition as central to the ditionally, the World Bank and the World alies such as market fetishism. US Environmental Protection Agency standard rollback moves us in the oppo- organisation of social and economic rela- Health Organization predict that about What humanity needs is for the and the Department of Transportation re- site direction. tions. It was assumed that free and un- half the world lacks access to essential people of the world to become “citi- leased new rules relaxing Obama-era fuel Fortunately, environmental groups, regulated markets would deliver the most health services. The lesson here is that zen pilgrims”, which is a term that Dr. efficiency standards for passenger cars public health advocates and states, in- optimal allocation of resources – alloca- the losses of the victims of neoliberalism Richard Falk, a professor at Princeton and light trucks. cluding California, are expected to sue to tion that can never be achieved with state outweigh others because of the declining University, referred to in one of his re- The rule significantly weakens the block and, hopefully, overturn the Trump planning. This new wave of capitalism state capacities since the 1970s. cent speeches at Hamad Bin Khalifa standards adopted in 2012 as part of the administration’s rollback. It’s just a radically changed state-society relations. COVID-19 is a reminder for us to think University about bringing communities federal government’s bailout of the finan- shame that the US will lose precious time Today, we are witnessing a call for about those who do not have the privilege together to work for a better future for cially troubled auto industry. The origi- fighting in court rather than using Ameri- global moral responsibility to mitigate to “stay at home” and remain safe under all. A ‘citizen pilgrim’, as he defined, “is nal standards called for automakers to can ingenuity and talent to build the next the needs of those who fell victim to COV- lockdown. To support this reminder, sev- a person with a trusting faith in the un- increase fuel economy across their fleets generation of clean cars. We could get to ID-19. Yet, we are seeking strong and “car- eral social media posts appear to tackle seen yet desired end of human endeav- by about 5 percent per year, reaching an permanently blue skies and a healthier ing” governments to cure the masses, pro- these exact issues. For example, several ors. Such a person engages in strug- average of 54 mpg by 2025. Automakers planet sooner. vide resources, and rectify losses. posts have read: “Dear world, how is the gle and conceives of his or her life as a The “#StayHome” hashtag has grown lockdown? - Kashmir”, “Dear world, how spiritual journey or pilgrimage toward in popularity as it encourages (or rather are the travel bans? - Palestine”, “Dear a better future.” Only with this mindset puts pressure on) the global community to World, how is the fear? - Uyghur, China” would we be able to establish a path that reduce the chances of virus transmission. and “Dear world, how is separation from is genuinely devoted to working towards This hashtag aims to remind members of loved ones? - Syria” These few examples human and global interests. the community to look after one another highlight that those of us who live fear- COVID-19 made it clear that we have and refrain from self-centered activi- lessly and comfortably under normal, day- been looking for quick fixes to inherent ties. No matter how desperately someone to-day circumstances should never take human needs and problems. We have “wants” to go out and visit friends, or go our lives for granted. Other social media been prioritising materialistic concerns shopping, they need to realise that they reminders have read: “To those who now over moral ones. We have been resorting would be putting everyone else at risk. Al- have 28 bags of pasta. To those search- to Band-Aids to mitigate global problems. though the hashtag was founded on moral ing the black market for hand sanitizer. Today, we are facing one harsh reality – principles and as a vehicle for ethical re- To those fighting over toilet rolls. And to we have reached an impasse. We need sponsibility, it doesn’t take into account those planning to flee out of a coronavirus a new beginning, and humanity needs that it is only applicable to those who ac- infected area: Never again look down on an epiphany; in Her Highness’ words, a tually have a “home”. What about those people who flee war and famine.” “breakthrough”, a paradigm shift that will who have nowhere to go? Or those with no Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint help us “come back to our senses”. resources to sustain for a couple of weeks? Nasser’s message encourages us to ques- If you are reading this, you are likely tion the assumptions we have been taking (M Evren Tok, is an assistant lucky enough to have a place where you for granted for a long time. The existing dean of innovation and commu- can self-isolate, and most likely with discrepancies, asymmetries, and inequali- nity engagement at the College of loved ones. Whether you are alone or ties humanity caused in the past 50 years in Islamic Studies and Bayan Khaled, with family, you may also have the luxu- terms of access to basic human needs, edu- is a research fellow at the College ry of watching Netflix or reading a book cation, health, and work have led to many of Islamic Studies at Hamad Bin in the comfort of your own home as you of us being subjected to judgement, or ac- Khalifa University. The view s ex- wait this period out. tion being taken based on one’s material pressed are the author’s ow n and According to research conducted by worth rather than moral and ethical worth. do not necessarily reflect the Uni- (Tribune News Service) Yale University, it is believed that at least Citizens have inevitably become “consum- versity’s official stance)

COVID-19 Shows That What We’re Doing To Animals Is Killing Us, Too To prevent future outbreaks like COVID-19 or worse, we have to treat planetary, animal and human health as inseparable

VIVECA MORRIS farming, the burning of fossil fuels and mals carry hitchhiking pathogens or dis- est. More ticks then feed on those infected we lace their feed with the world’s most TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE more — propel the emergence and trans- turb their new environments in ways that mice, and more “edge habitat” exists where medically important antibiotics, creating mission of novel and known human infec- amplify disease risk. those ticks can infect people. perfect conditions for antibiotic-resistant BOUT two-thirds of emerging infec- tious diseases. Monkeypox — a virus that causes a The human health effects of deforesta- pathogens to develop. The public pays the Atious diseases in humans — including Scientists suspect that COVID-19, like disease similar to smallpox — arrived in tion are even more devastating in global price in the form of drug-resistant UTI and COVID-19, SARS, MERS, Ebola, HIV, SARS, is caused by a coronavirus that the US in 2003 with a shipment of pet disease “hot spots,” which are tropical ar- MRSA infections, feces in the air and wa- Zika, H1N1, cholera and almost all recent jumped from bats to humans (perhaps via rodents from Ghana, causing a multi- eas with high wildlife biodiversity. When ter, and increased risk of deadly viral epi- epidemics — came from animals. And 70 pangolins or another kind of animal) at a state epidemic that sickened at least 37 these forests are felled — be it in the Ama- demics like the 2009 H1N1 outbreak that percent of those originated in wildlife. live animal market in Wuhan, China. In people. Floridians now face increased zon, East Africa, Thailand or Indonesia sickened an estimated 59 million people. Pathogens have leaped from animals these markets, an ark’s worth of animals risk of contracting Eastern equine en- — the mosquitoes that transmit malaria To prevent future outbreaks like COV- to humans for eons, but the pace of this that rarely encounter one another in the cephalitis due to the cascading ecological become more abundant and infect people ID-19 or worse, we have to treat planetary, spillover has increased rapidly over the wild are crammed together in stacked cag- effects of invasive pet Burmese pythons at higher rates. animal and human health as inseparable. last century. As 7.8 billion people on this es as they await sale and slaughter. in the Everglades. It’s not just insect-borne diseases. The This will require radical changes to busi- planet radically alter ecosystems and raise, “You have a bird pooping on a turtle But the wildlife trade is just the tip of emergence in 1998 of the deadly Nipah vi- ness as usual. capture and trade animals at an unprec- that poops on a civet,” Dr Christian Walzer the iceberg. Humans have altered three- rus in Malaysia has been linked to the in- To date, we’ve operated under the edented scale, “the road from animal mi- of the Wildlife Conservation Society told quarters of terrestrial environments and crease in size and density of pig farms in fallacies that medicine and ecology can crobe to human pathogen” has turned into the New York Times. “For getting new vi- two-thirds of marine environments. Our bat-rich areas. The virus caused fatal en- be understood independently and that a “highway,” as the journalist Sonia Shah ruses to emerge, you couldn’t do it much ecological domination, aside from risking cephalitis among pig farmers, nearly took the conditions that impact the animal has written. better even if you tried.” mass extinctions, makes humans more down the country’s pork industry and led kingdom are separate from those that The growing body of scientific research China is not alone in creating ideal vulnerable to disease. to the culling of about 1 million pigs, many impact humans. is clear: Diseases like COVID-19 are an ex- conditions for diseases to spill over spe- Biodiversity can act as a powerful of which were buried alive. COVID-19 exposes these fallacies. Sci- pected consequence of how we’re choosing cies barriers. Every year, Americans pay disease “dilutant.” In New England, peo- And then we have the bio-catastrophes entists estimate that animals carry more to treat animals and their habitats. to capture, box up and import hundreds ple are more likely to become infected that are modern factory farms. We pack than 600,000 unknown viruses with the By changing the nature and frequency of millions of live animals for agricul- with Lyme disease in or near fragmented most of the world’s livestock animals, for potential to jump to humans. How often of human-animal interactions, our actions ture, the pet and aquarium industries forests. Unlike many of their predators, all or part of their lives, into crammed these diseases have the opportunity to — through the wildlife trade, deforesta- and other uses. white-footed mice — the primary carriers living conditions that are hotbeds for vi- make the jump, and how prepared we are tion, land conversion, industrial animal Inevitably, some of these traded ani- of Lyme — thrive in smaller patches of for- ral and bacterial pathogens, and then for them, is up to us.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THE OPINION AND ANALYSIS PAGES ARE THE AUTHORS’ OWN. QATAR TRIBUNE BEARS NO RESPONSIBILITY. europe / americas Tuesday, April 7, 2020 07 Swedish government seeks extra powers to curb virus norway says it has brought coronavirus outbreak under control SToCKhoLM: Sweden’s government said Monday it will seek temporary extra powers to combat oSLo: The Norwegian government has brought its coronavirus outbreak under control, health the coronavirus outbreak, drawing criticism from the opposition. Minister Bent hoie said on Monday, while noting that it was too early to end restrictions aimed newS Sweden has not imposed extraordinary lockdown orders seen elsewhere in europe to stem at curbing the pandemic. the spread of the virus, instead calling for citizens to take responsibility to follow social dis- The latest data indicated that each person infected with the virus was probably only passing In BrIef tancing guidelines. The government has also banned gatherings of more than 50 people and it on to 0.7 others, on average. Before the introduction of lockdown measures, that figure was barred visits to nursing homes. 2.5. “That means that the coronavirus epidemic has been brought under control,” hoie said. But on Monday it proposed a bill to give it additional powers -- that could see it limit public BY Monday, Norway had registered 5,755 coronavirus infections and 59 deaths from CoVID-19, gatherings or close businesses -- without the approval of parliament. (AFP) the respiratory disease caused by the virus. (DPA) Thousands sign French call for Italy’s virus deaths jump to 636 after big drop AFP could potentially lead to an chloroquine in coronavirus fight RoMe easing of the country’s strict month-long lockdown. AFP outbreak from overwhelming minister. ITALY’S coronavirus death But civil protection service PaRIS hospitals, with some saying On Monday, three of toll shot up on Monday from chief Angelo Borrelli said on early use of chloroquine and France’s most respected doc- its lowest level in more than Monday that the data were MORE than 215,000 people similar treatments could keep tors penned an open let- two weeks and officials sound- still being carefully assessed have signed a petition urging symptoms from worsening to ter backing chloroquine use ed a more cautious note than and that any definitive ruling French officials to let more the point that intensive care is despite the absence of ran- earlier about a possibly easing was premature. doctors prescribe the anti- needed. France has reported domised and peer-reviewed of restrictions. “The technical-scientific malaria drug chloroquine for 8,078 deaths and 92,839 in- studies on its efficiency. The civil protection service committee is currently carry- coronavirus patients, a con- fections. In the absence of anti- said the daily number of offi- ing out its evaluations. Then, troversial proposal that has The French petition on virals for the new coronavi- cial COVID-19 deaths rose to A ‘solidarity table’ (‘Tavolo solidare’) with a note reading “For you who it will be up to the political divided health experts world- the Change.org website was rus, “we think it is legitimate, 636 on Monday from 525 the cannot buy... take it” in one of the deserted streets in the historic decision makers,” Borrelli told wide. launched on Friday by a group given preliminary results, to day before. Sunday’s toll was centre of Naples recently. (AFp) reporters. Support for the treatment of doctors including Philippe implement a new strategy,” the lowest since March 19. It He said the scientists will has gained ground as doc- Douste-Blazy, a cardiologist the doctors wrote in Le Figaro also represented a drop of 23 reported on Saturday. cials had called Sunday’s drop draw their conclusions about tors try to keep the COVID-19 and former French health newspaper. percent from the 681 deaths Italy’s leading health offi- an important data point that how to proceed “in due time”.

US state of Wisconsin MONDAY’S DEATH TOLL OF 637 IS SPAIN’S LOWEST SINCE MARCH 24 Brazil minister forges ahead with vote offends China with ‘racist’ despite health concerns virus tweet AFP because of COVID-19, the WaShINGToN midwestern state -- barring AFP a last-minute postponement BRaSíLIa NATIONAL Guard mem- -- is going ahead with its bers will man some polling election on Tuesday despite CHINA demanded an expla- stations and voters in more health concerns and a short- nation from Brazil on Mon- than 100 municipalities will age of poll workers. day after the far-right gov- have nowhere to cast their Former vice president ernment’s education minister ballots as the US state of Joe Biden is favored over linked the coronavirus pan- Wisconsin holds elections Vermont Senator Bernie demic to the Asian country’s today, Tuesday, despite the Sanders in the state’s Demo- “plan for world domination,” coronavirus epidemic. cratic presidential primary to in a tweet imitating a Chinese Wisconsin, like dozens decide an opponent to face accent. of other US states, is under Republican Donald Trump In the latest incident to a stay-at-home order to pre- in November. strain ties between Brasilia vent the spread of the virus, Sanders, 78, called for and Beijing, Education Min- which has caused more than the Wisconsin primary to be ister Abraham Weintraub 10,000 deaths across the delayed while Biden, 77, the insinuated China was behind country. And while 15 US frontrunner in the Demo- the global health crisis. states and one territory de- cratic contest, said it was up “Geopolitically, who will layed presidential primaries to local officials to decide. come out stronger from this global crisis?” he wrote on Twitter on Saturday. “Who in Brazil is allied US embassy denies ‘Wild West’ with this infallible plan for A healthcare worker attends to a CoVID-19 patient at the Intensive Care Unit of the Vall d’Hebron Hospital in Barcelona, Spain, on Monday. (aFP) world domination?” In the swoop on Berlin-bound masks original Portuguese, his tweet AFP “We remain concerned substituted the letter “r” with BeRLIN about pervasive attempts capital “L” -- “BLazil” instead to divide international ef- of “Brazil,” for example -- in a THE US embassy in Ger- forts through unsourced, Spain tops ıtaly as country style commonly used to mock many on Monday denied a unattributed disinformation a Chinese accent. claim that a Berlin-bound campaigns,” he added. It was also a reference to shipment of protective Berlin’s regional min- a character from a popular masks had been “confis- ister of the interior An- Brazilian comic strip, “Mon- cated” by the United States, dreas Geisel on Friday said with most cOVıD-19 cases ica’s Gang.” The embassy calling it disinformation de- 200,000 highly sought-af- condemned Weintraub’s “ab- signed to stoke division. ter FFP2 masks, made by an surd and despicable” tweet, “The United States Gov- American firm in China and calling it “highly racist.” “The ernment did not take any destined for use by Berlin but deaths down for 4th day Chinese government expects action to divert any... sup- police, were “confiscated” in an official explanation from plies that were destined to Bangkok. Brazil,” tweeted Ambassador Germany nor did we have He accused the US of us- DPA / AFP infections in Europe, Germany figures showed on Monday. Yang Wanming. any knowledge of such a ing “methods from the Wild MaDRID has a relatively low death toll Within the last day, more The death toll of 637 is the low- The row comes as Brazil, shipment,” an embassy West” and of carrying out an of 1,434. US-based university than 2,300 people were est since March 24. like many countries, is hop- spokesman told AFP. “act of modern-day piracy”. SPAIN overtook Italy on Mon- Johns Hopkins puts Germany’s released from hospital Within the last day, more ing to source more medical day as the country with most infection number at more than after recovering from the than 2,300 people were re- equipment from China to deal confirmed infections of the 100,000. disease, according to offi- leased from hospital after re- with COVID-19. new coronavirus, according to But Spain is experiencing cial figures. More than covering from the disease, ac- Weintraub said in an in- US brands white supremacists the European Centre for Dis- a further slowdown in new in- cording to official figures. More terview he stood by his tweet ease Prevention and Control fections, the country’s Health 40,000 people have now than 40,000 people have now and called on China to do as foreign terrorist group (ECDC). Ministry reported on Monday. recovered in Spain recovered. more to help fight the pan- AFP two paramilitary training With 130,759 infections, Within the last 24 hours, just On Saturday, Prime Min- demic. WaShINGToN camps in Saint Petersburg Spain now has around 1,800 under 4,300 infections were 5 percent the previous day, Si- ister Pedro Sanchez decided to “If they (China) sell us and has pulled in neo-Nazis more than Italy, ECDC figures registered. This brings the erra said. This is the lowest rate extend emergency measures, 1,000 ventilators, I’ll get THE United States on Mon- from across the Western showed. Spain superceded Italy number of confirmed cases to since the start of the crisis in including a strict lockdown, un- down on my knees in front of day branded a Russian far- world. over the weekend, according to around 135,000. Spain, when daily increases of til April 26. Parliament is due to the embassy, apologise and right group as a foreign ter- “This is the first time the data, which was published This consolidation of recent up to 22 percent occurred. approve the move on Thursday. say I was an idiot,” he told rorist organisation, the first the United States has ever on Twitter. positive developments is being As a result, the pressure on The first cases of the new Radio Bandeirantes. time it has targeted white designated white suprema- But Italy retains the highest seen in “practically all regions” hospitals and intensive care coronavirus in Europe were Health Minister Luiz supremacists with tools cist terrorists, illustrating coronavirus death toll world- of Spain, according to Maria units is decreasing, the CCAES recognised in France and Ger- Henrique Mandetta said last regularly used against mili- how seriously this admin- wide, with 15,889 having died Jose Sierra, spokeswoman spokeswoman said. many at the end of January. week Brazil was struggling to tant groups. istration takes the threat,” of the coronavirus. Next in Eu- for the Department of Health Spain saw a fourth consecu- Since the end of February the source ventilators and other The State Department said Nathan Sales, the State rope are Spain (13,055), France Emergencies (CCAES). tive daily drop in the number number of infections has risen vital health supplies from said that the Russian Im- Department counterterror- (8,078) and Britain (4,934). The growth rate of new in- of coronavirus-related deaths massively in Italy, while Spain China, saying some of its or- perial Movement runs ism coordinator. Despite having the third- fections now stands at around with 637 fatalities recorded has seen a huge increase since ders were canceled without highest number of confirmed 3 percent, down from roughly over the past 24 hours, official mid-March. explanation. British PM in intensive care after COVID-19 symptoms worsen AGENCIES the care of doctors at St Thom- UK companies team up to tackle coronavirus evening, still suffering a high LoNDoN as’ Hospital, in London, after temperature and a cough, he being admitted with persistent LoNDoN: British pharmaceuti- that has seen more than 5,000 lion (228 million euros) into Vir was driven to a nearby state- BRITISH Prime Minister Bo- symptoms of coronavirus,” it cal group GlaxoSmithKline has deaths from coronavirus. to help “identify new anti-viral run hospital on the advice of ris Johnson has been moved said. teamed up with US peer Vir “GlaxoSmithKline plc and antibodies that could be used his doctor. to intensive care after his “Over the course of this af- Biotechnology to find antibod- Vir Biotechnology, Inc. today as therapeutic or preventative Officials said it was a “pre- condition worsened while be- ternoon, the condition of the ies to help fight CoVID-19 and announced they have signed a options to help address the cautionary step” but it has ing treated in hospital for his prime minister has worsened “likely” future outbreaks, the binding agreement to enter into current CoVID-19 pandemic and raised questions about how ill infection with novel coronavi- and, on the advice of his medi- pair announced on Monday. a collaboration to research and future outbreaks”, it added. the Conservative leader really rus, Downing Street said late cal team, he has been moved It comes as UK defence develop solutions for coronavi- Vir Biotechnology chief is -- and if he can still run the on Monday. to the intensive care unit at engineering group Babcock said ruses, including SaRS-CoV-2, executive George Scangos said country. Foreign Secretary Domi- the hospital.” Asked earlier if it was collaborating to make the virus that causes CoV- “it is likely that the current Early on Monday, John- nic Raab will “deputise where Johnson had received oxygen 10,000 ventilators, which are in ID-19,” said a statement. coronavirus outbreak will not be son still received updates on necessary” while Johnson or had contracted pneumonia, Britain’s prime Minister short supply across the country GSK will invest $250 mil- the last”. (AFP) government business in hos- remains in intensive care, Downing Street declined to Boris Johnson pital and official documents, Downing Street said. comment. and “remains in charge of the “Since Sunday evening, the Johnson announced on positive for COVID-19, becom- leader to be infected with the across the globe. self-isolating in his Down- government,” his spokesman prime minister has been under March 27 that he had tested ing the most high-profile world disease that has spread rapidly The 55-year-old had been ing Street flat but on Sunday said. Singapore ups fiscal spend to soften virus impact paGe 10

TueSDay, aprIl 7, 2020

DOW22,241.37 QE 8,707.16 SENSEX 27,590.95 GOLD 1,653.44 COVID-19 threatens nearly 20 mn +1,188.84 pTS +221.90 pTS −674.36 PTS +2.01% African jobs: Study paGe 9 PRICE PERCENTAGE PRICE PERCENTAGE 15.08 BRENT 32.71 -4.10% WTI 26.49 -6.53% SILVER +4.01% Qatar’s real estate trade volume reaches QR1.4 billion in March 287 real estate transactions recorded in March

QNA Doha

THE trading volume of regis- tered real estates at the Minis- try of Justice’s real estate regis- tration department stood at QR 1.471 billion in March 2020. The data of the analytical real estate bulletin issued by the Ministry of Justice showed that 287 real estate transac- tions were recorded during the month. The municipalities of Doha, All the seven sector indices closed in the green zone on Monday that saw 38 of 45 traded stocks close in the positive territory. Al Rayyan and Al Daayen saw The value of the real estate transactions in Doha municipality the most active trading in amounted to QR637.56 million. terms of financial value, fol- lowed by the municipalities of pality by 1 percent. actions, with a total value of Qatari stocks up for Umm Salal, Al Wakra, Al Khor, Regarding the number of QR5.3 billion. Al Thakhira, Al Shamal, and Al transactions index (sold real Al Rayyan municipality re- Shahaniya. estate), trading indicators corded the highest number of The value of the transac- showed that the most active mortgage transactions with 35 tions of Doha municipality municipalities during March transactions, equivalent to 35.4 third session in row as amounted to QR637.56 mil- 2020 are Doha municipality percent of the total number of lion, while that of Al Rayyan with 27 percent, followed by mortgages, followed by Doha municipality was QR389.737 Al Rayyan municipality by 22 municipality with 26 transac- million. percent, Al Daayen munici- tions, equivalent to 26.3 per- QSe jumps 222 points The value of Al Daayen pality by 16 percent, Al Wakra cent. municipality transactions municipality with 13 percent, Doha was followed by the amounted to QR136.048 mil- Umm Salal municipality by 12 municipalities of Al Daayen lion, while that of the mu- percent, Al Khor and Al Thakh- and Al Wakra with 16 transac- Market capitalisation rise by QR28 bn to QR489 bn in the last three trading sessions nicipality of Umm Salal was ira municipality by 8 percent, tions, equivalent to 16.2 per- QR133.119 million and that of and the Al Shamal municipality cent then Umm Salal munici- SATYENDRA PATHAK on the last trading session of which gained 3.7 percent, was supporting the index. All other Al Wakra municipality stood at by 1 percent. pality with five transactions, Doha the previous week, the QSE the best performing sector in- sectors gained on the day. QR122.976 million. The average price per equivalent to 5.1 percent, then has gained over 500 points in dex during the day. The gain in The QSE has been per- The municipality of Al Khor square foot for March 2020 the Al Khor and Al Thakhira QATARI stocks gained for the the last three trading sessions the real estate index was trig- forming better than most of its and Al Thakhira recorded trad- ranged between 425-993 in municipality with one transac- third trading session in a row to make up for most of losses gered mainly by over 4 percent Gulf peers after The Supreme ing amounting to QR45.499 Doha, 213-344 in Al Wakra, tion, equivalent to 1 percent of on Monday, reflecting posi- witnessed earlier. increase in two of its main Committee for Crisis Manage- million, while that of Al Shamal 299-530 in Al Rayyan, 252- the total number of mortgages. tive global market sentiment The Qatari bourse also constituents Barwa Real Es- ment on COVID-19 announced municipality reached QR4.815 386 in Umm Salal, 231-466 in The real estate trading data cheered by a slowdown in coro- witnessed its capitalisation tate and the United Develop- a massive QR75bn to support million and that of the munici- Al Daayen, 235-378 in Al Khor shows that the real estate sec- navirus-related cases and a pos- rise by almost QR28 billion ment Company. The other two the private sector and an ad- pality of Al Shahaniya reached and Al Thakhira, 128-234 in tor continues its steady growth sible deal between Russia and to QR489.6 billion in the last constituents Ezdan Holding ditional QR10 billion to boost QR2 million. Al Shamal, and 167 in Al Sha- in various fields of invest- other oil exporting countries to three trading sessions. and Mazaya Qatar also made the country’s stock market. In terms of the traded area haniya. ment and trade. It confirms help stabilise the energy market. The volume of shares trad- good gains. “As the regional markets index, indicators showed that The trading volume re- the growth of strong and ac- The Qatar Stock Exchange ed increased to 141.43 million The telecom sector, which were hit by a double wham- the municipalities of Doha vealed the registration of the tive trading activity during the main index gained 221.90 on Monday from 111.81 mil- gained 3.32 percent on the my of crash in oil prices and and Al Rayyan were the most highest value of ten properties current year, especially with points, or 2.62 percent, when lion in the previous session back of almost 8 percent rise spread of coronavirus, the active municipalities in the ar- sold for March 2020, includ- the issuance of new laws and the bourse closed trading at and the value of shares in- in Vodafone Qatar and 2 per- news of a slowdown in coro- eas of real estate traded during ing five properties in the Doha decisions related to real estate 8,707.16 points on Monday. creased to QR290.892 million cent rise in Ooredoo, was in- navirus-related cases and a March 2020, at about 38 per- municipality, three in the Al sector, real estate registration, After witnessing losses in from QR145.17 on Sunday. strumental in lifting the main possible deal between Russia cent each, followed by Al Daay- Rayyan municipality and one as well as attractive laws for do- most trading sessions of the All the seven sector indices index higher. and other oil exporting coun- en municipality at 16 percent, property in each of the munici- mestic and foreign capital. previous week, Qatari stocks closed in the green zone on the The banking sector, which tries to reduce a global glut Al Wakra municipality at 15 palities of Al Wakra and Umm These data confirm the are on a gaining spree since day that saw 38 of 45 stocks gained 2.26 percent after over has come as a major relief for percent, Umm Salal municipal- Salal. strength of Qatar’s economy the start of this trading week. traded stocks close in the posi- more than 5 percent increase stock markets in the GCC re- ity by 12 percent, Al Khor and The volume of mortgage and the continued growth of When combined with the tive territory. in Qatar International Islamic gion,” a Doha-based financial Al Thakhira municipality by 4 transactions that took place in the real estate sector as one of gains of 263 points recorded The real estate sector, Bank, also played a vital role in market analyst said. percent and Al Shamal munici- March 2020 reached 99 trans- its key components.

Qatargas utilises Strong capitalisation to support GCC banks in 2020: S&P boil-off gas to SATYENDRA PATHAK short-term event,” it said. The report, however, Doha Measures implemented said, “We note risks related power LNG vessels by Qatar include announce- to deposits outflows once the THE strong capitalisation by ment of a QR 75 billion COVID-19 pandemic is con- TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK international standards will package targeting SMEs and tained and the full effect on Doha continue to support the cred- affected sectors six-month employment is known. Some itworthiness of GCC banks exemptions on utilities pay- expatriates might increase QATARGAS Operating Com- in 2020, S&P Global Ratings ments (water and electricity) remittances to their home pany Limited (Qatargas) has has said in a report released and rent payments for lo- countries.” successfully initiated a pro- on Monday. gistics areas and SMEs, and Despite this pressure, it gramme to utilise LNG boil- “GCC Islamic and con- the exemption of food and said, “We continue to take off gas to power its chartered ventional banks continue to medical goods from customs comfort from GCC banks’ conventional LNG vessels display strong capitalisation duties for six months. The good liquidity indicators. during unloading operations by international standards Qatar Central Bank (QCB) Banks’ funding profiles re- at Japanese LNG terminals. with an unweighted average lowered its policy rates by main a strength in most GCC The programme is being Tier 1 ratio of 17.9 percent 100 bps-175 bps, depending countries.” implemented with the coop- for Islamic banks and 16.6 Qatar Central Bank has lowered its policy rates to support banks on the rate, and said that it “When the dust settles eration of Qatargas’ Japa- percent for conventional operating in the country. will provide additional li- and the full effect of cur- nese buyers. banks at year-end 2019. After quidity to banks operating in rent conditions on banks’ LNG vessel ‘Al Jasra’ had LNG vessel ‘Al Jasra’ dropping in 2018, this ratio of their banking systems, the ID-19 pandemic, it said, the country. financials is visible, we think successfully conducted the increased slightly in 2019 as report said. GCC governments have an- The QCB has put in place there could be a second wave first such operation while Using the boil-off natural some banks raised new capi- “We take comfort from nounced several measures to mechanisms to encourage of mergers and acquisitions discharging at the Niigata gas instead of conventional tal in the form of Tier 1 in- the GCC government’s help corporates and retailers banks to postpone loan in- (M&A). The first wave was LNG Terminal in October fuel oil significantly reduces struments before the market strong capacity and willing- navigate the challenging en- stalments and obligations of spurred by shareholders’ 2019. greenhouse gas and other turmoil. Under our base-case ness to provide the sector vironment. the private sector with a grace desire to reorganise their LNG tankers are de- harmful emissions over the scenario, we expect capitali- with support in case of need. “Some governments have period of six months. The Qa- assets. The second wave signed to carry natural gas in course of the discharge op- sation to continue to support For example, the govern- opted for reduced taxes and tar Development Bank will will be more opportunistic liquid form at a temperature eration. the creditworthiness of GCC ment of Qatar and its related levies. Other have asked postpone instalments of all and driven by economic ra- of – 163°C, close to the va- Qatargas is committed banks in 2020,” S&P said in entities injected up to $42.5 banks to extend additional borrowers for six months. tionale. The current envi- porisation temperature. This to minimising emissions of the report. billion in 2017 to help the subsidised loans to affected Furthermore, the report ronment might push some natural evaporation, known greenhouse gas and other GCC governments have banking system deal with clients to maintain employ- said, government funds have banks to find a stronger as boil-off, is unavoidable pollutants by use of natural not hesitated to rescue banks, boycott-related outflows,” ment and avoid production been directed to increase in- shareholder or join forces and has to be removed from gas, the cleanest fossil fuel, as shareholders, or to safe- the report said. capacity destruction dur- vestments in the stock mar- with peers to enhance resil- the tanks in order to main- in one of its critical opera- guard the financial stability In response to the COV- ing what is expected to be a ket by QAR10 billion. ience,” the report said. tain the cargo tank pressure. tions. economy & Business Tuesday, April 7, 2020 09 panDeMIC CrISIS BMW sales collapse, production stop extended China sales caved in by 31%, while they fell by 18% in Europe and 17% in US

DPA adapting” its production vol- MUNICh umes to demand, BMW board of management member Pi- BMW sold 20.6 per cent fewer eter Nota said. cars in the first quarter of this “In China, we are seeing year than last year, with the the first signs of recovery with coronavirus pandemic leading a strong order intake,” he not- sales to tumble across much ed. of the world, the German car- It will, however, take time maker said on Monday. for the markets to recover In China, its sales caved in by 31 per cent, while they fell The carmaker had shut by 18 per cent in Europe and 17 per cent in the US, BMW down its factories in said in a statement. The car- Europe, South Africa and maker only sold 477,111 cars Mexico in mid-March, with of the BMW, Mini and Rolls- its Spartanburg plant in Royce brands between Janu- the United States follow- ary and the end of March. ing suit at the end of Safeguarding the health March. of employees, the company’s liquidity and its long-term orthodox Christians pray on the street in Addis Ababa on Sunday. (aFP) success is now key, BMW said. globally because car dealer- The carmaker had shut ships are still shuttered, BMW down its factories in Europe, predicted. South Africa and Mexico in “Around 80 per cent of all mid-March, with its Spartan- retail outlets in Europe and burg plant in the United States 70 per cent of those in the US following suit at the end of are currently closed due to the cOVıD-19 threatens nearly March. coronavirus,” the company BMW announced on Mon- said. day that the production stop The business expectations will be extended until the end of the entire German automo- of April because global de- tive industry for the coming mand is expected to decline months have nosedived be- 20 mn African jobs: Study further because of the corona- cause of the coronavirus epi- virus pandemic. demic, with an index compiled In Germany, around by the ifo research institute 20,000 BMW employees have dropping by 14 points to mi- The continent stands to see a 35 percent drop in imports and exports, valued at $270 billion also had their working hours nus 33.7 points. reduced. Export expectations also AFP lines two scenarios for the has been less affected than option than to rely on in- But the assembly lines plummeted to minus 42.7 aDDIS aBaBa trajectory of the pandemic China, southern Europe and ternational markets”, which have been running again at the points, the lowest point since -- a “realistic” scenario in the US, it is already feeling could drive up debt levels, it largest BMW site - Shenyang March 2009, ifo economist MILLIONS of lost jobs, which the pandemic lasts the economic consequences said. in China - since mid-February. Klaus Wohlrabe said on Mon- mounting debt woes and until July but Africa “is not because of trade links with African leaders are al- The company is “flexibly day. plunging remittances are very affected”, and a “pessi- Virus hit those regions. ready trying to mitigate the among the economic hard- mistic” scenario in which it The continent stands coming economic blows. ships African countries can lasts until August and Africa ‘Nearly 20 million jobs, both to see a 35-percent drop in Ethiopian Prime Minis- expect because of the COV- suffers more. in the formal and informal imports and exports, valued ter Abiy Ahmed last month ID-19 pandemic, the African The first would cause the sectors, are threatened with at $270 billion (259 million urged G20 leaders to help Union said in a study pub- African economy to shrink by destruction on the continent euros). Africa cope with the coro- lished on Monday. 0.8 percent and the second if the situation continues,’ As the pandemic pro- navirus crisis by facilitating “Nearly 20 million jobs, would cause it to shrink by said the study, which noted gresses, sharp drops in oil debt relief and providing both in the formal and infor- 1.1 percent -- both far cries that countries relying prices will hammer produc- $150 billion in emergency mal sectors, are threatened from the 3.4 percent growth heavily on tourism and oil ers like Nigeria and Angola, funding. with destruction on the con- the African Development while travel restrictions The AU study published tinent if the situation contin- Bank projected for the conti- production stand to be hit could cost the African tour- on Monday said the African ues,” said the study, which nent before the pandemic hit. especially hard ism sector “at least $50 bil- Union Commission “should noted that countries relying As of Monday there were lion” and “at least 2 million lead negotiations of an am- heavily on tourism and oil 9,198 positive COVID-19 direct and indirect jobs”, the bitious plan for the can- production stand to be hit cases across 51 African coun- tres for Disease Control and study said. cellation of total African BMW announced on Monday that the production stop will be ex- especially hard. tries resulting in 414 deaths, Prevention. With revenue drying up, external debt”, valued at tended until the end of April because global demand is expected to The 35-page study out- according to the Africa Cen- But while the continent governments “will have no $236 billion. decline further because of the coronavirus pandemic.

EU commissioners prod Germany over ‘coronabonds’ Vodafone Qatar to announce AFP (FAZ) daily. footing the bill for supposed crisis “Marshall Plan” for the 2020 Q1 results on April 22 FRaNKFURT aM MaIN That could take the shape southern profligacy. bloc funded through its exist- of “a European fund whose Finance ministers from the ing joint budget, whose next TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK TWO European Commission- explicit function would make 19 euro single currency mem- seven-year period runs from Doha ers urged Germany on Mon- possible issuing long-term ber states will meet Tuesday 2021-27. day to agree to the European bonds,” Breton and Gentiloni to again seek a solution to the Responding to Scholz’s VODAFONE Qatar Board Union issuing joint debt to suggested. deadlock. plans, Breton and Gentiloni of Directors will meet on fight the coronavirus crisis, “Strictly limited to collec- Germany’s Olaf Scholz argued Monday that a “fourth April 22, 2020 to approve as wealthy northern nations tive investments for industrial on Friday proposed a three- pillar” of financial aid would the company’s financial remain reluctant to back so- revitalisation in the context of passengers bound for Frankfurt pronged scheme including be needed to master the crisis, results for the first quar- called coronabonds. the current crisis,” the instru- wait at a terminal of Dubai cheap loans from the financial “given the size of the sums in- ter ending March 31, “Like the European Cen- ment would be proof of “un- International Airport in Dubai on crisis-era European Stabil- volved”. 2020, the company an- tral Bank in the monetary and shakeable solidarity” among Monday. (aFP) ity Mechanism (ESM), cash Also in the FAZ and nounced in a statement financial sphere, the member EU nations, they argued. from the European Invest- France’s Le Figaro Monday, on Monday. states must now prove their A group of states includ- cushion the economic impact ment Bank and an EU-wide Bundestag (German parlia- The board will also consider other items included on joint decisive and innovative ing southern European heav- of the virus. unemployment reinsurance ment) president Wolfgang the agenda for the meeting, the statement said. spirit,” internal market com- yweights Italy, France and But conservative politi- scheme, skirting the issue of Schaeuble and his French The company’s financial results will be made pub- missioner Thierry Breton and Spain have been imploring cians in the north fear the joint debt. counterpart Richard Ferrand licly available on Vodafone Qatar’s website at www.voda- economy commissioner Paolo northerners like Germany, plans would mean the even- And EU Commission Pres- called for “more solidar- fone.qa and on the Qatar Stock Exchange website www. Gentiloni wrote in the Frank- Austria and the Netherlands tual mutualisation of all sover- ident Ursula von der Leyen ity and fiscal integration” in qe.com.qa. furter Allgemeine Zeitung for common debt facilities to eign debts and their taxpayers on Friday promised a post- Europe. Boeing extends factory shutdown in Washington state commercial airplanes division death fight. The company had also shut its other major state factory president Stan Deal said in a The company is seeking statement. more than $60 billion in fed- at Moses Lake because of the 737 MAX grounding Boeing was already facing eral support for the US aero- significant headwinds prior to space industry in the wake of AFP Puget Sound facility near Seat- that the shutdown would con- the coronavirus pandemic be- the two crises. WaShINGToN tle, where the company builds tinue indefinitely in an effort to cause of the crisis surrounding It announced a voluntary the long-range 777 jet and oth- protect staff from COVID-19, the 737 MAX, which has been worker layoff plan on Thurs- BOEING has said it will indefi- er models, after announcing a which has already claimed grounded for more than a year day and said it expected “sev- nitely extend a shutdown at its two-week stoppage last month. the life of one employee at the following two fatal crashes. eral thousand employees” to factories in Washington state It had also shut its other company’s Everett facility. But the pandemic has fur- take a severance package or because of the coronavirus major state factory at Moses “The health and safety of ther hit the company’s outlook retire. pandemic. Lake because of the 737 MAX our employees, their fami- with most commercial airline Boeing currently employs (File photo) Employees work on Boeing 737 MAX airplanes at the The aerospace giant had al- grounding. lies and our communities is travel suspended and major around 70,000 people in Boeing Renton Factory in Renton, Washington. (aFP) ready halted production at its Boeing announced Sunday our shared priority,” Boeing’s carriers thrust into a life-or- Washington state. 10 Tuesday, April 7, 2020 economy & Business

S’pore ups MarKeTS reBOunD STrOnGly VW loses fiscal spend ‘damning’ to soften dieselgate virus impact class lawsuit in Britain DPA KUaLa LUMPUR AFP LoNDoN IN a televised speech to parliament on Mon- VOLKSWAGEN faces the day afternoon, Singapore threat of a hefty “dieselgate” Finance Minister Heng payout in Britain after a court Swee Keat announced a on Monday ruled in favour “solidarity budget” that of more than 90,000 drivers will take government whose vehicles cheated emis- spending aimed at curb- sions tests. ing the impact of coro- Following adverse rulings navirus to over 40 billion and compensation payouts else- dollars. where, the High Court in Lon- Heng said the outlay don ruled that the German auto aims “to save jobs and giant was liable in Britain, too. protect livelihoods of peo- The ruling adds pressure ple” during an effective on Volkswagen just after the lockdown due to start to- carmaker said last month it morrow. was preparing to shutter most All Singaporean of its European plants, joining adults are to receive a a slew of other carmakers as one-off handout worth the coronavirus pandemic dis- 421 dollars (600 Singa- rupts supply chains and sends pore dollars) while some demand plummeting. business levies will be The British judgement waived or reduced. concerned “defeat devices” Monday marks the installed in about 1.2 million third time in six weeks Volkswagen, Audi, Seat and that Heng has intro- Skoda diesel vehicles in Brit- duced extra fiscal meas- ain, which artificially lowered ures to counter the A man looks at a quotation board displaying stock prices of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo recently. (aFP) emissions. economic devastation The court found the devices wrought by Covid-19, the were a “fundamental subver- potentially fatal respira- sion” of European Union tests tory disease caused by the designed to limit noxious pol- new coronavirus. lutants, and will rule later on Heng said that the new Stocks surge on hopes for compensation to the owners. VW admitted in 2015 to fit- ting 11 million vehicles world- wide with software to make engines appear less polluting in regulatory tests than in real easing virus crisis; oil falls driving conditions. So far the legal fallout has cost VW more than 30 billion per barrel. lution, and doubts only grew euros ($32.3 billion) globally Brent crude was down 4.3 % to Oil prices have tumbled when the meeting between KEY FIGURES AROUND 1335 GMT in costs, fines and compensa- to levels not seen for years OPEC and its allies, includ- LONDON - FTSE 100: UP 2.5 PERCENT tion, most of it in the United trade at $32.64 per barrel due to the coronavirus pan- ing Russia, was delayed. AT 5,547.78 POINTS States and Germany. demic and a price war be- They had been expected FRANKFURT - DAX 30: UP 5.1 PERCENT Gareth Pope, head of group AFP capped by a stronger pound, tween Russia and Saudi Ara- to meet via video conference AT 10,006.96 litigation at Slater and Gor- LoNDoN apparently little affected by bia, the kingpin of exporting to discuss oil production cuts PARIS - CAC 40: UP 3.9 PERCENT AT don, which represents around news that British Prime Min- group OPEC. on Monday but the meet- 4,316.03 70,000 of the British claim- people walk through a shop- GLOBAL equity markets ister Boris Johnson was hos- ing has been postponed to EURO STOXX 50: UP 4.5 PERCENT AT ants, welcomed the “damn- ping district in Singapore on strongly rebounded Monday pitalised for precautionary Thursday, the government of 2,782.12 ing judgement”. He said it Sunday. (aFP) as some of the world’s worst- tests after suffering “persis- ‘European markets are trad- energy-rich Azerbaijan said NEW YORK - DOW: UP 4.1 PERCENT AT “exposes VW’s disregard for hit countries reported fall- tent” coronavirus symptoms ing higher because investors at the weekend. 21,916.70 EU emissions regulations and measures will cost 3.6 bil- ing coronavirus death rates, for ten days. are shrugging off the pessi- Trump surprised inves- TOKYO - NIKKEI 225: UP 4.2 PERCENT public health in pursuit of prof- lion dollars (5.1 Singapore while oil prices sank after Meanwhile, oil prices fell mism,’ said AvaTrade analyst tors last week by tweeting: “I AT 18,576.30 (CLOSE) it and market dominance”. dollars), taking total pro- a meeting of top producers sharply on Monday after a Naeem Aslam expect & hope” Riyadh and HONG KONG - HANG SENG: UP 2.2 Pope demanded VW end jected outlay to almost 42 was delayed. meeting to discuss output Moscow will be cutting back PERCENT AT 23,749.12 (CLOSE) the “shameful episode” and billion dollars, roughly 12 News out of Europe that cuts between OPEC and its “approximately 10 Million SHANGHAI - COMPOSITE: CLOSED FOR settle with the plaintiffs. The per cent of gross domestic the rise of fatalities was eas- allies was delayed, dimming Business shutdowns, Barrels, and maybe substan- A HOLIDAY company, however, said it product. ing lifted spirits on trading hopes of swift action to sup- travel restrictions and other tially more”. BRENT NORTH SEA CRUDE: DOWN 2.5 would consider grounds for Six people have died floors. “European markets port coronavirus-ravaged measures put in place to con- On Friday, Moscow said PERCENT AT $33.27 PER BARREL appeal. “While Volkswagen in Singapore after con- are trading higher because energy markets. tain the virus outbreak have it was prepared to discuss a WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE: DOWN 4.3 is disappointed that the out- tracting Covid-19. Sunday investors are shrugging off US benchmark West battered demand. reduction in the volume of PERCENT AT $27.11 PER BARREL come was not in our favour, saw Singapore’s caseload the pessimism,” said AvaT- Texas Intermediate plunged Prices had bounced back about 10 million barrels a day. EURO/DOLLAR: DOWN AT $1.0778 the judgement relates only to jump by 120, the most in rade analyst Naeem Aslam. eight percent at the open in from 18-year lows last week But Stephen Innes, chief FROM $1.0801 AT 2100 GMT ON preliminary issues,” it said in one day, to reach 1,309. “They are focused on Asia but clawed back some after US President Don- global markets strategist at FRIDAY a statement. While Singapore’s in- more optimistic things: the ground and was trading 5.7 ald Trump said that Riyadh AxiCorp, said that “traders DOLLAR/YEN: UP AT 109.09 YEN FROM It was still to be deter- fection tally is low relative slowing death rate caused percent lower, at $26.72 a and Moscow would draw a remain extremely sceptical a 108.55 mined if the vehicle owners to European countries by coronavirus. Italy, Spain, barrel. line under their dispute and deal will be forthcoming, and POUND/DOLLAR: UP AT $1.2275 had suffered actual losses, with a similar-sized pop- France, and Germany have International benchmark agree to major output cuts. if one does occur, it will be FROM $1.2269 the company insisted, adding: ulation, a recent jump in all seen declining numbers.” Brent crude was down 4.3 But analysts had been woefully insufficient to stem EURO/POUND: DOWN AT 87.82 PENCE “We will continue to defend cases of unknown origin London gains were percent to trade at $32.64 sceptical about a quick reso- the oil supply gushers.” FROM 88.03 PENCE our position robustly.” prompted the govern- ment to announce on Friday that a month-long effective lockdown will be imposed, starting on Tuesday. UK car sales dive 44 percent in March amid virus outbreak “It will disrupt busi- nesses severely,” Heng AFP billion ($2.9 billion, 2.7 billion said in a statement. “The manufacturing sector provide relief for businesses said. The government LoNDoN euros) per day in lost output “The performance repre- The Society of Motor is set to see the highest fall in are focused towards the ser- acknowledged in March across all main sectors. sented a steeper fall than dur- Manufacturers and Traders output in absolute terms, as vice sector”, it added. that Singapore’s small NEW car sales in Britain dived The Society of Motor Man- ing the 2009 financial crisis,” meanwhile said that UK car workers producing goods and British Prime Minister and open economy faces 44 percent last month as the ufacturers and Traders mean- it added. Sales are normally sales suffered the worst services that are not deemed Boris Johnson, in hospital on recession due to the pan- country’s lockdown triggered while said that UK car sales boosted by the twice-a-year March since the late 1990s to be essential cannot do so Monday undergoing tests after demic, which has killed by the coronavirus outbreak suffered the worst March since number plate change that oc- remotely -- and because ex- suffering “persistent” symp- around 70,000 people shut show rooms, industry the late 1990s. curs in March and September. port demand and sometimes toms of coronavirus, ordered worldwide and caused data showed on Monday. “In the important plate SMMT chief executive to a reduction in economic domestic demand have fallen a nationwide lockdown in late trade and travel to plum- It comes as UK-based re- change month, 203,370 fewer Mike Hawes said the data rep- output of 31 percent”. Total sharply,” the CEBR said in a March. met. search group, the Centre for cars were registered than in resented “a stark realisation output stands at around £5.35 report. And Britain is now in the “We must expect our Economics and Business Re- March 2019, as showrooms of what happens when econo- billion per day, down from al- With manufacturing down grip of a serious outbreak, GDP to take a further hit,” search (CEBR), estimated that closed in line with government mies grind to a halt”. most £7.8 billion before im- 69 percent, “the scale of the with almost 50,000 confirmed Heng said on Monday. Britain’s lockdown was costing advice to contain the spread of It comes as the CEBR said plementation of the tougher fall is important since most hospital cases and nearly its economy more that £2.4 the coronavirus,” the SMMT Britain’s “lockdown is leading restrictions two weeks ago. of the government schemes to 5,000 deaths. Germany to guarantee 100% of loans to smaller firms in virus aid package AFP its guarantee level from a state investment bank KfW. lights on over a period of three To cover the costs, the fed- BeRLIN previous 80 percent for large Meanwhile the amount of months. Meanwhile freelanc- eral labour agency (BA) will firms or 90 percent for smaller company borrowing KfW can ers applying for unemploy- start eating into its massive BERLIN will guarantee 100 ones. guarantee has been boosted by ment benefit will not be forced cash reserves of 26 billion eu- percent of loans made by Berlin’s economic aid so 357 billion euros, for a total of to seek new work. ros. With 156 billion euros in banks to small- and medium- far totals over 1.1 trillion eu- 822 billion. Germany has also eased new borrowing to fund the lar- sized firms, German govern- ros, the finance ministry said To keep their liquidity access to a programme that gesse and extra health spend- ment sources told AFP on in an answer to an opposition flowing, companies will also tops up workers’ pay with ing, Berlin has been forced to Monday, in an extension to parliamentary question seen be able to delay tax payments. government cash when their suspend a “debt brake” add- the 1.1-trillion-euro coronavi- by AFP on Monday. Berlin says it will offer hours are slashed. The scheme ed to the constitution at the rus crisis package in Europe’s Ministers have agreed a 50 billion euros of support is widely credited with saving height of the financial crisis in top economy. 600-billion-euro “economic for small and one-man-band large numbers of jobs during 2009. The federal govern- stabilisation fund” offering companies, like photogra- the financial crisis of 2008-9. A further 82.2 billion eu- ment will stand fully behind 400 billion euros of guaran- phers, musicians or carers. Berlin expects more than ros of measures have been an- 500,000 euros ($540,000) of tees for companies’ debts, 100 Depending on the num- two million people to work nounced by Germany’s federal lending to companies with up billion to lend directly to or ber of employees, individual shorter hours in the coronavi- states and municipal govern- to 50 employees and 800,000 buy stakes in troubled firms, companies will receive up to rus crisis, far outstripping the ments, as well as 63.2 billion German Economy Minister peter Altmaier (left) and German Finance euros for larger ones, upping and 100 billion euros to fund 15,000 euros each to keep the peak seen over a decade ago. in guarantees. Minister and Vice-Chancellor olaf Scholz in Berlin on Monday. (aFP) British Open golf called off; new dates for PGA, US Open paGe 13 TueSDay, aprIl 7, 2020

Guardiola’s mother dies FIFA urges clubs and players to reach after contracting virus

AFP agreement over wages: Sources LoNDoN

AFP Therefore FIFA “strongly encourag- most countries, it is now obvious that Positive impact PEP Guardiola’s 82-year-old LaUSaNNe es clubs and players to work together” the current season will not end when Individual agreements must still mother has died after con- to find agreements on a range of issues, people thought it would. Therefore, it be signed between the clubs and tracting coronavirus, Man- FIFA on Monday urged clubs and play- including salaries. is proposed that contracts be extended players, who will waive between two chester City announced on ers to reach agreement on wage reduc- It is common practice for European until such time that the season does and four months’ salary. Monday. tions to protect clubs suffering financial player contracts to run until June 30. actually end.” The decision was reached unani- “The Manchester City damage due to the coronavirus crisis, Players whose contracts expire “A similar principle applies for mously by Serie A clubs, with the family are devastated to re- sources said. this summer include Manchester contracts scheduled to begin when exception of Juventus, which had port the death today of Pep’s The call from world football’s gov- City’s David Silva, Willian at Chelsea, the new season starts,” it said. already reached an agreement with mother Dolors Sala Carrio erning body comes as Premier League or Paris Saint-Germain’s Thiago Silva “Meaning the entry into force of such its own players, said Lega Serie A. in Manresa, Barcelona, after pep Guardiola. clubs are locked in talks with players and Edinson Cavani. At the moment, contracts is delayed until the season Juventus said the salary cuts ac- contracting coronavirus,” and their representatives about taking they will be free to leave on July 1 even actually does start.” cepted by its players and coach Maur- the Premier League club said part of the club’s Cityzens At pay cuts after government ministers if the season has not been completed. In Italy, where all football has been izio Sarri over the period from March in a statement. Home initiative urging fans called on players to “play their part”. Given that the European suspended since March 9, clubs in Se- to June would have “a positive impact “Everyone associated to stay at home. Italian top-flight football clubs on seasons are suspended and rie A agreed on Monday that player of 90 million euros on the 2019/ 2020 with the club sends their Spain declared Monday Monday agreed to cut the salaries of there is no fixed date to re- salaries will be reduced by a third of financial year”. most heartfelt sympathy at a fourth consecutive drop in players, coaches and staff. Clubs in oth- sume at the current time, their gross annual earnings if the sea- In Spain, where Barcelona play- this most distressing time to the number of coronavirus- er countries, including Barcelona, have the source said FIFA pro- son should be cancelled, and a sixth if ers, like their English counterparts, Pep, his family and all their related deaths, with 637 over also cut player wages. poses that contracts should it resumes. had been criticised for not agreeing friends.” the past 24 hours, the lowest FIFA is also recommending that be extended “until such time a pay cut, six-time Ballon d’Or win- Guardiola, 49, last month number in nearly two weeks. players’ contracts be extended until the that the season does ac- ner Lionel Messi from Argentina donated €1 million to buy Fatalities, which were end of the interrupted football seasons tually end”. announced last week that the squad medical supplies for the fight sharply down on the record and that the transfer window does not A statement had agreed to a 70 percent pay re- against the coronavirus pan- 950 on Thursday, brought the open until that time. FIFA has prepared duction as the club faces a loss of demic in his native Spain. total deaths in the country to The source said the health crisis and which has revenue. He also issued a video as 13,055, second only to Italy. had had “a major impact” on clubs’ rev- been seen by AFP “We clearly won’t manage to enues and that, like other sectors of the said: “With the earn what we had been expect- economy, football had to find “fair and current suspen- FIFA president ing to,” Barcelona president Josep equitable solutions” to protect jobs. sion of play in Gianni Infantino. Maria Bartomeu said. British boxing great Nigel Benn reveals COVID-19 heartbreak AFP Bayern Munich resume LoNDoN

BRITISH boxing great Nigel Benn revealed on Instagram one of his brothers Mark has training but hugs and died of coronavirus. The 56-year-old -- for- mer world champion at two weights -- said Mark had been the “Joker” of the family. It came as the number challenges are banned of UK coronavirus-related deaths climbed by 621 to 4,934 and infections rose by British boxing great Nigel Benn AFP/DPA 5,903 to 47,806. (left) has revealed one of his BeRLIN “My brother Mark passed brothers Mark has died of the Away 2day (Covid 19), as we coronavirus. (aFP) BUNDESLIGA leaders Bayern all were growing up Mark was Munich resumed training on the Joker of the Benn house wrest the WBO super-mid- Monday for the first time since hold,” he wrote. dleweight title from Irishman the German league was sus- “May he Rest In Peace Stephen Collins. pended due to coronavirus but love u Mark.’” Benn is not the first from the players were put through Benn -- whose 23-year- the sport in Britain to lose a their paces in small groups and old son Conor is a promis- relative due to the coronavi- maintained social distancing ing pugilist with an unblem- rus. measures. ished record -- was one of The grandmother and Keeping at least 1.5 metres seven boys but lost his older father of British light-heav- from each other, players includ- brother Andy when he fell out yweight Anthony Yarde died ing captain Manuel Neuer, Rob- of a window aged just eight. within a few days of each ert Lewandowski and Thomas Benn was dubbed the ‘Dark other. Mueller trained together for the Destroyer’ for his aggressive The 28-year-old made first time since the Bundesliga style and enjoyed a fierce ri- an emotional appeal to the was halted on March 13. valry with compatriots Chris public to “just stay home” to “It was a very unusual feel- Eubank and Michael Watson. avoid the risk of spreading ing to hold a training session Benn was WBO middle- the virus. in small groups, but it was also weight title in 1990 and then “It’s serious!” Yarde wrote nice to see the boys in person went on to become WBC on social media. again,” said Neuer after Bayern super-middleweight cham- “People are still going out had previously held training pion holding the belt between when they don’t need to. I sessions online. (L-R) Bayern Munich’s Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee, Bayern Munich’s Canadian midfielder Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich’s polish striker 1992 and 1996 -- losing his know there’s a lot of opinions After arriving at staggered Robert Lewandowski and Bayern Munich’s French defender Kingsley Coman attend a training session at the team’s training area in Munich, crown to South African Thu- about Covid-19 and I have times to limit contact -- with no southern Germany, on Monday. (aFP) lani Malinga. mine but I just know opinions greeting hugs or handshakes -- He retired from the ring ain’t worth risking your life the 21-man squad was split into not shower or eat on site after a still prevents training in groups. trated by their local authority’s Regular training is still pro- in 1996 after twice failing to and others. Just stay home.” five groups, each containing a session that focused on running So far, more than 1,434 peo- delay in approving their ap- hibited as authorities limit con- maximum of five players. and shooting. ple have died in Germany from plication but they too can now tact between players in accord- When they changed, the The only clubs in Germany’s coronavirus. train small groups. ance with general restrictions in players were kept four metres top flight not planning group The Bayern squad returned the country. apart in the changing rooms at training this week are Freiburg, Bremen finally given to the Saebener Strasse complex “It was a very unusual feel- Footballer Recber out of the club’s state-of-the-art train- whose players continue to permission to work in small groups, spread ing to have training today in ing complex in southern Ger- work individually, and Werder Relegation-threatened across several pitches, doing fit- small groups,” said goalkeeper many. Bremen, where the city’s senate Werder Bremen were left frus- ness and shooting exercises. captain Manuel Neuer. “But it hospital after coronavirus On the pitch, Bayern’s stars was also nice to see the boys in AFP keep praying for those fight- were careful to keep their dis- real life again. ISTaNBUL ing for survival under inten- tance from each other and there ‘Keep CalM anD STay hOMe’, SayS Kane “I also want to thank the sive care,” she commented. were no challenges or tackles. club and all helpers that we FORMER Turkish national The 46-year-old goal- Once training was over, the LoNDoN: england captain harry Kane has urged panic but I think it’s important we do everything we had the chance, in these diffi- team and ex-Barcelona goal- keeper enjoyed a brief spell at players left to shower at home, people to keep calm and stay home during can to help. Stay at home, be calm, spend cult times, to again do football- keeper Rustu Recber was Barcelona in 2003 after star- where they ate food provided by the coronavirus. some time with whoever you’re living with specific training on the pitch.” dischaged from hospital on ring in the World Cup a year the club in lunch boxes. Like many parts of the world, Brit- and enjoy these moments.” Coach Hansi Flick also spoke Monday after recovering from earlier when Turkey beat co- Bayern asked fans to stay ain has been locked down because of The Premier League have said individually to players while coronavirus, his wife said. hosts South Korea 3-2 in the away from the Saebener Strasse the pandemic and Tottenham striker there is no date for football to resume maintaining distance from Recber took on hero sta- third-place play-off. complex, where hundreds of Kane has reminded people of their at present, so Kane, who is recovering them. After training it was in- tus in Turkey as he kept goal Recber, who also played supporters usually turn up to responsibility to remain indoors as from a torn hamstring suffered on New tended that the players would at the 2002 World Cup, car- for Istanbul giants Fener- see their heroes. much as possible. In a video posted on Year’s Day at Southampton, is keeping travel directly home to change. rying his team to the semi- bahce and Besiktas teams, Other clubs also cautiously social media by the Football association, fit at home. Striker Robert Lewandows- finals and ultimately third currently works at the Turk- resumed training Monday, af- Kane said the only option was to enjoy the “I think this time away from football is ki took part after suffering a place, their greatest ever per- ish Football Federation. ter the league’s ban on doing so extra time at home with loved ones. a time to relax, to reflect. We have pretty hectic knee injury in February while formance in the tournament. Galatasaray’s manager until April 5 passed, amid hopes “During this time I think it’s important to just schedules, especially at this time of year when defender Niklas Suele, after a “What a beautiful day, Fatih Terim, who had tested the league will resume in early stay calm,” Kane said. we’re playing non-stop football,” he said. cruciate ligament tear, did lim- thank God ... My husband was positive, was discharged from May. “on a match day that’s how I like to be so I’m “I can keep fit with the gym, I’m fortunate ited ball work. dischaged following a tough 11- hospital on March 30. Bayern are four points clear using that same energy whilst I’m at home. We can enough to have these things in the house, Werder applied to the days,” she posted on Instagram. Turkey has officially re- in the Bundesliga table. only look after ourselves, we can only stay at home but in general the most important thing is to Bremen council to have training “I am not fully happy be- corded some 27,000 cases At the training ground of and help the healthcare services and everyone rest up and be ready for when we start playing restrictions lifted from Monday cause there are so many pa- while 574 people have died, their closest rivals Borussia saving lives at the moment. There’s no need to football again.” (AFP) but a decision in their favour tients waiting in hospitals according to the official fig- Dortmund, the players also did was made only late in the day. right now for recovery ... I will ures published on Sunday. 12 Tuesday, April 7, 2020 Sports Barcelona slashes staggering wage bill to survive corona lockdown

AFP this week reported Barcelona out last week after it was re- BaRCeLoNa coud lose 48 million euros in vealed the players had initially gate receipts and a further 84 baulked at the idea. SPANISH superclub Barce- million in television rights. “We hadn’t come to an lona’s colossal cash turnover “There has been a huge agreement because we were is under the spotlight after the drop in income and we are try- waiting to find the best solution soccer lockdown slashed the ing to compensate this with the for the club, and to our benefit earnings that enabled them reduction of player salaries and and trying to help the employ- to pay over 600 million euros all other employees including ees,” Suarez told a radio station ($647M) per year to staff. all our executives,” Bartomeu in his native Uruguay. Barcelona’s motto is ‘More told Catalan sports daily El Bartomeu says the cuts than a club’, and fans around Mundo Deportivo. look drastic on paper but that the globe tune in to thrill at the A project to refurbish the once observed closely are less hugely succesful side spear- club’s spectacular Nou Camp severe. headed by Argentine genius home has also been put on ice. “From the word go, we Lionel Messi. wanted an agreement, not But as broadcasting rights Rumblings of discontent something that was imposed,” for the lucrative Spanish do- Six-time Ballon d’Or win- Bartomeu says. mestic La Liga and the Euro- ner Messi announced a week “We came to a flexible pean Champions League have ago that Barca’s players had agreement conditioned to the become compromised, the club agreed to a 70 percent pay cut. number of days the crisis lasts. has had some delicate econom- The players also proposed “In total the wage cuts will ic manoeuvering to do. to make contributions to en- make 16 million euros savings Not least of these was per- sure the club’s non-playing per month. If the lockdown suading sensitive star players staff could be paid in full dur- lasts one month, it will be a re- on huge contracts to take vol- ing the state emergency in duction of 5.75 per cent of the untary wage cuts. Spain caused by the coronavi- annual salary bill. If it lasts 45 European football adminis- rus pandemic. days, it will be 8.6 per cent and trators do not allow for wages Announcing the agree- if it lasts two months, which we above 70 per cent of a club’s ment, the usually silent Messi believe not, 11.5 per cent.” earnings, with the Catalan out- directed a thinly veiled swipe at The rest of Barcelona’s staff fit sitting was officially around the Barca board, whom he ac- have been put on partial unem- 68 percent. cused of undermining the play- ployment. The wage budget for the Lionel Messi and the Barcelona football team have taken a short term pay cut. (aFP) ers during recent negotiations. “Because we are a huge current season was 642 million His lengthy Instagram post earner we look like we have euros with expected earnings presented by the club last July. pecting to,” Barcelona presi- The club are not ony de- all the merchandising that goes was shared by a slew of team- been hit harder, but once this is estimated at just over 1 billion “We clearly won’t manage dent Josep María Bartomeu prived of match-day revenue with it. mates, including Uruguayan over we will be up and running euros in the pre-season budget to earn what we had been ex- admitted this week. from 11 domestic games, but The Spanish sports press striker Luis Suarez who lashed faster too,” Bartomeu says.

TennIS TaKeS Cycling ace Cavendish opens Virus scrapped your nick Kyrgios pledges food delivery for up about battle with depression marathon? In Japan, virus victims AFP STUTTGaRT: australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios on Monday LoNDoN pledged to help those in need during the coronavirus crisis by there’s an app for that delivering free food to their doorstep. BRITISH cycling superstar “If aNYoNe is not working/not getting an income and runs out Mark Cavendish says he has AFP over several days. of food, or times are just tough ... please don’t go to sleep with successfully come through a ToKYo Runners can complete an empty stomach,” the 24-year-old Kyrgios said on Instagram. two-year battle with clinical the marathons between “Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to send me a private mes- depression revealing on Mon- WHEN the coronavirus out- March 8 and May 31, the of- sage. I will be more than happy to share whatever I have. even day he was “dark” but is now break forced organisers to ficial race website says. just for a box of noodles, a loaf of bread or milk. I will drop it off on the “other side”. cancel marathons in the The organisers said on at your doorstep, no questions asked!” It is the second time The 34-year-old is just four Japanese city of Nagoya, they their website that they want- this year that Kyrgios has shed his on-court bad-boy image and stage wins shy of equalling Bel- turned to tech to ease the dis- ed to respond to the spirit showed plenty of compassion of it. gian legend Eddie Mercx’s re- appointment, offering run- shown by those who trained In January, his pledge to donate for each ace he served kick- cord of 34 stage victories in the ners the chance to race alone. for the now-cancelled races. started a massive fund-raising effort from the tennis community Tour de France. The Nagoya Women’s But they “don’t rec- for victims of the bushfires in australia. However, with the corona- Marathon and Nagoya City ommend running in a big Tennis is tennis is suspended until at least mid-July virus pandemic playing havoc British cycling superstar Mark Cavendish. marathon were scheduled group,” the official warned. because of the coronavirus outbreak, and Kyrgios is in his with the sporting calendar -- for March 8 and expected to Those who are registered hometown of Canberra. (DPA) both Euro 2020 and the Olym- place -- we’ll do a thing on it stepson. attract some 20,000 runners for the women’s event and pics have been postponed for at some point -- but I received “So to be able to absorb -- a potential health hazard complete the marathon via a year -- there is no guarantee help. this... to be able to do what during a global pandemic. the app will receive a T-shirt Top stars to do battle online in virtual the Isle of Man-born rider will “I was dark. And I’m on the mums and dads do, it keeps So instead of having rac- and a necklace as originally Madrid Open get a chance to have a go at the other side, thank you. me happy, it keeps me super ers run together, organisers promised for finishers. record this year. “Well, as much as I can be. motivated, and it keeps me have offered up two apps to The coronavirus has MaDRID: The likes of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal could be The Tour is due to start on I think I’ve come out of that. sane I guess.” allow participants to com- wreaked havoc on the inter- set to face each other online after the cancelled Madrid open June 27. And it’s nice to have come out His old mentor Rod Elling- plete the marathons alone, national sporting calendar, tennis tournament announced it will run a virtual competition later Cavendish, though, is just of that. worth believes Cavendish was tracked online. with the Tokyo marathon this month. happy that should the Tour go “And to look for the posi- not far off the form of his peak “It’s the first time the an- among the early fixtures to Professional players will compete on the Tennis World Tour ahead he will be in a healthy tives.” year in 2016 when he won four nual marathon events were be affected. videogame to raise money for those struggling in the sport and state of mind for the challenge Not many positives can be stages on the Tour de France. cancelled, and it’s the first Organisers cancelled the people affected by coronavirus. facing him. taken from the coronavirus Ellingworth should know time we launched apps to re- amateur portion of the race La Liga also organised a FIFa football tournament online last “It’s not just been my physi- pandemic but Cavendish has as the two have been reunited place the real ones,” one of scheduled for March 1, af- month, which raised more than a million euros and was won by cal health which has been dealt found one. with Cavendish at the Bahrain the organisers of the Nagoya fecting around 38,000 run- Real Madrid’s Marco asensio, after every club picked a player to a blow over the last couple of He is presently back at McLaren team. city marathon told AFP. ners, who were not offered a represent them. years,” he told The Times. home in the Isle of Man having “His form is not like 2016 Instead of running the refund. The Madrid open said on Monday it would run an online com- “I’ve battled quite hard agreed like his Bahrain McLar- but he’s getting there,” said original route, registered They will, however, be petition over four days, from april 27 to 30, and the “organisation with depression during this en team-mates to take a wage Ellingworth, who is the team participants can run wher- eligible for a spot in 2021’s will soon announce the list of participants”. time. I was diagnosed with deferral for three months the general manager. ever they like -- keeping an marathon. each male and female winner will decide how much of a clinical depression in August size of which is dependent on “If that was 10 out of 10, appropriate social distance The pandemic has also 150,000-euro purse to donate to “tennis players currently suffer- 2018.” income and individual circum- he’s somewhere like seven at -- and the apps measure and forced the postponement of ing economically”. an additional 50,000 euros “will all go towards Cavendish said he refused stances. the minute. verify their performance. the Tokyo 2020 Olympics reducing the social impact of the Covid-19 pandemic”. to take anti-depressants but “It could have been easy for “He came to us one or two There are two apps -- one and Paralympics to next There will be 16 singles players in both the men and women’s did seek expert counselling. me to go through my whole ca- out of 10, that’s physical, men- for those who want to finish year. draws, divided into four groups. a series of ‘exhibition matches’ “I didn’t take any medica- reer and only see the kids once tal and the passion for it. the marathon in one go and Japan has so far recorded will also be arranged between players and “content creators”, to tion,” he said. they’re teenagers,” said the “So he’s progressing really another for those who want over 3,600 coronavirus in- raise additional funds. (AFP) “Like, this isn’t the time or father of three and who has a well.” to complete it by running fections and 73 deaths.

Spit, sweat and shaking on it: Three sports habits that could change AFP “If it’s at that stage and we’re that a trial basis, but not everyone was urged players to opt for the fist bump PaRIS worried about the spread, I’m not overjoyed. rather than the long-standing high- sure we’d be playing sport.” “I think having the towel when- five. AS the coronavirus brings the inter- ever you need it, it’s very helpful. It’s “I ain’t high-fiving nobody for the national sports calendar to a grinding Towels in tennis - no touching one thing less that you have to think rest of my life after this,” NBA super- halt, AFP Sport looks at three long- Tennis players throwing towels, about,” said Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsi- star LeBron James told the “Road standing habits which could change dripping with sweat and blood and pas when he was playing at the Next- Trippin’ Podcast”. forever once competition resumes. probably a tear or two, at ball boys Gen Finals in Milan. “No more high-fiving. After this and girls, has often left fans sympa- “I think it’s the job of the ball kids corona? Wait ‘til you see me and my Saliva to take shine off swing thising for the youngsters. to provide towels and balls for the teammates’ handshakes.” bowling Moves by officials to tackle the is- players.” Basketball stars were also told not It’s been a tried and trusted friend sue took on greater urgency in March to take items such as balls or teams to fast bowlers throughout the history when the coronavirus was taking a Let’s not shake on it shirts to autograph. of cricket. global grip. Behind closed doors in Pre-match handshakes were US women’s football star Megan But the days of applying saliva Miki, ball boys and girls on duty at abandoned in top football leagues Rapinoe says edicts to ban hand- to one side of the ball to encourage the Davis Cup tie between Japan and just before the sports shutdown. shakes or even high-fives may be swing could be over in the aftermath Ecuador wore gloves. Premier League leaders Liver- counter-productive anyway. of COVID-19. Baskets, meanwhile, were made pool also banned the used of mascots “We’re going to be sweating all “As a bowler I think it would be available for players to deposit while Southampton warned against over each other all game, so it sort pretty tough going if we couldn’t their towels. players signing autographs and of defeats the purpose of not doing a shine the ball in a Test match,” said Back in 2018, the ATP intro- stopped them posing for selfies. handshake,” she told the New York Rafael Nadal throws a towel to a ballboy at this year’s Australian open. Australia quick Pat Cummins. duced towel racks at some events on Away from football, the NBA Times in March. Sports Tuesday, April 7, 2020 13 british Open golf cancelled Revised dates announced for Masters, PGA and US Open

DPA BeRLIN

THREE of the four golf majors announced new dates for 2020 amid the coronavirus crisis on Monday while the oldest of the lot, the Open Championship, said it would instead cancel its Al Duhail players event for the year. Tiger Woods will defend his green jacket at the Masters raise awareness Tournament in November at the conclusion of a radically altered schedule in light of the against coronavirus global pandemic. The PGA Championship, TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Mehdi Benatia, Moez Ali, Ali postponed from May, will kick- Doha Afif, Mohamed Moussa, Is- off the new-look major season mail Mohamed and Mohamed August 6-9 at Harding Park, A number of players from Montari. San Francisco, filling a date the first football team of Al Meanwhile, Al Duhail made available by the post- Duhail Sports Club par- players continued their ponement of the Tokyo Olym- ticipated in an daily training pic Games. awareness cam- maintaining And the US Open, the last paign against social distance. major to announce a change coronavirus by The players are amid the coronavirus crisis, highlighting its either doing solo moves from June to September dangers and the excercises at 17-20 at Winged Foot Golf Club ways to prevent home or in open in New York. its spread. As a space according That will also act as the part of the club’s to their choice tune-up event for the biennial social responsi- and contributing Ryder Cup where team Europe bility, the players to the efforts to will defend the trophy against In this file photo taken on July 20, 2019, winner Shane Lowry of Ireland tees off from the 1st hole during the third round of the British open urged the Qatari limit the outbreak the US at Whistling Straits, golf Championships at Royal portrush golf club in Northern Ireland. The British open has been cancelled for the first time since World War II residents to implement of the COVID-19. Wisconsin, on unchanged dates due to the coronavirus, tournament organisers announced on Monday. (AFP) the measures the ministry Six-time Qatar Stars September 25-28. has laid out to contain the League champions Al Duhail The Masters will then be fall brings a moment of joy to July next year, the governing safety,” title-holder Shane historic Championship and global pandemic. are leading the standings in the last, rather than first, major the Augusta community and all R&A said. Lowry tweeted. have made this decision with Among the most promi- the current season, which had of the year November 12-15 at those who love the sport. The decision was made on There has been an immedi- a heavy heart. We appreciate nent participants in the cam- to be stopped with five rounds Augusta National Golf Club. “We want to emphasise that guidance from the UK Govern- ate knock-on effect to the Open that this will be disappointing paign are Moroccan star to go due to the coronavirus. “While more details will our future plans are incumbent ment, the health authorities, rota with the 150th Champion- for a great many people around be shared in the weeks and upon favourable counsel and public services and advisors. It ship now being held at the St the world but we have to act re- months to come, we, like all of direction from health officials.” is the first time since World War Andrews Old Course in 2022 sponsibly during this pandemic you, will continue to focus on The revised dates for the three II that the Open, first played in rather than 2021. and it is the right thing to do. all mandated precautions and US-based majors were an- 1860, has been cancelled. “Our absolute priority is to “I can assure everyone that Lanka curfew forces cricket guidelines to fight against the nounced shortly after the 2020 “Obviously I’m disap- protect the health and safety of we have explored every option Coronavirus,” Fred Ridley, Au- Open Championship was can- pointed that I won’t get to de- the fans, players, officials, vol- for playing The Open this year gusta National Chairman said. celled completely. fend the Open Championship unteers and staff involved in but it is not going to be possi- team to improve fitness “Along the way, we hope Instead the 149th edition this year but I feel the R and A The Open,” said R&A Chief Ex- ble.” Tickets purchased for the the anticipation of staging the of golf’s oldest major will be have made the right decisions ecutive Martin Slumbers. 2020 event can be transferred AFP Arthur said he was speaking Masters Tournament in the held at Royal St George’s in based on people’s health and “We care deeply about this or refunded. CoLoMBo with each player to monitor progress before international SRI Lanka’s cricket team have competition resumes. been ordered onto customised “We are using this time to home training regimes during reflect on the first three months the coronavirus lockdown by of our tenure and recalibrate #BeActive campaign marks UN International coach Mickey Arthur following our individual and team plans frequent accusations of poor fit- going forward to the very im- Day of Sport for Development and Peace ness. portant series that we have Arthur said the players coming up later in the year,” he TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK ing this difficult time,” said António football lovers worldwide to promote have been given tailor-made said in remarks published by Doha Guterres, Secretary-General of the the importance of being active for programmes while they wait to the country’s cricket board. United Nations. “FIFA has asked the both physical and mental health,” said see if key tournaments such as “The players all have in- FIFA has joined forces with the United football community, from member as- Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Indian Premier League and dividual fitness plans to keep Nations (UN) and the World Health sociations and clubs, to players and Director-General of the World Health Twenty20 World Cup will go them up to speed with their lev- Organisation (WHO) in supporting fans, to show their support, to put Organisation. “The #BeActive cam- ahead this year. els of fitness. the #BeActive campaign launched on their rivalries aside and to show a new paign supports WHO’s drive to help “I have been sending out “These plans are tailored to the UN International Day of Sport for solidarity so we can overcome the cor- people be healthy at home.” exercises to each player,” the the facilities that each player Development and Peace to encour- onavirus. This is an important lesson The campaign kicks off with Real South African coach said, add- has at his disposal at home to age people to be #HealthyAtHome as not only for today, but for every day.” Madrid CF, FC Barcelona, Liverpool ing that the strengths and weak- maintain the expected fitness the world comes together in the fight “More than ever, especially now, FC and Manchester United FC asking to stick together. We have to keep our nesses of each man were being levels.” against COVID-19, on Monday and one thing must be clear to everyone, football fans to set aside their rivalries distance, but we do not lose our focus. discussed. Sri Lanka’s nationwide every day. health comes first,” said FIFA Presi- and to come together to #BeActive in We can show solidarity by being ac- A Sri Lankan sports minis- lockdown, which has now been WHO recommends all healthy dent Gianni Infantino. “FIFA is delight- order to defeat the coronavirus. Other tive, and active means following the ter slammed the team’s fitness extended to four weeks, started adults do at least 30 minutes a day of ed to support both the United Nations clubs, including Club América, CD guidelines from the WHO.” after they suffered a humiliating just as the national team were physical activity and children at least and the World Health Organization in Guadalajara, Beijing Guoan FC, Shang- The video campaign will be pub- one-day series defeat against due to begin a two-match Test 60 minutes per day. As part of this, amplifying the #BeActive campaign hai Shenhua FC, Mohun Bagan AC, lished on various FIFA digital chan- bottom-ranked Zimbabwe in series against England at home. #BeActive and remain #HealthyAtH- today, and we are encouraged that the East Bengal FC, Melbourne City FC, nels, with regular subsequent up- 2017 and early exit from the But the tourists pulled out ome include the following suggestions football community is also playing an Sydney FC, Auckland City FC, Team dates from clubs and players across Champions Trophy. on the second day of a four-day along with any other form of recrea- active role in ensuring the message Wellington FC, CA River Plate, Olym- the world during subsequent days. Dayasiri Jayasekara said Sri practice match in Colombo as tion to stay healthy at home: understood globally. For the first time pique de Marseille, TP Mazembe, CR #BeActive is also being supported Lankan players were “too fat the coronavirus pandemic in- “We are delighted that football is ever, we are all on the same team and Flamengo and SE Palmeiras will also with graphics toolkits for the 211 and unfit to field five-day Test tensified. strongly supporting the International together, with team spirit and positive join the initiative in the coming days. FIFA member associations and vari- matches”. The virus has claimed five Day of Sport for Development and energy, we will win.” As part of the campaign, world-fa- ous media agencies to facilitate ad- Sri Lanka has since over- lives and infected at least 176 Peace by asking everyone to #BeActive “WHO is proud to collaborate as mous players share the following mes- ditional localisation and to further hauled the coaching team and people in Sri Lanka. and to remain healthy at home dur- part of the UN family with FIFA and sage: “At this time, even rivals need amplify the message. Aspetar launches unique COVID-19 Evidence for Athletes Service

TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK with the advice of the World is irrelevant. And, sadly, much Doha Health Organisation and re- is also fake news, causing fear liable international medical and anxiety.” ASPETAR, Qatar’s Orthope- organisations.” He added “We are privi- dic and sports medicine hos- The online Aspetar COV- leged to have Professor Mike pital, is proud to announce ID-19 Evidence for Athletes Clarke involved. He is the Re- the launch of its COVID-19 Service provides a wealth of search Director for Evidence Evidence for Athletes Ser- information about exercise Aid and one of its founders. vice — a unique platform and fitness, as well as on Evidence Aid is dedicated to under its official website dealing with the psychologi- making evidence available to www.aspetar.com available cal stress of staying at home, people dealing with disasters in full in English and soon and maintaining the physical and emergencies. We hope in Arabic that provides ath- Aspetar Director General Aspetar Medical Education Director distancing required to curb to extend this collaboration letes and those involved in Mohammed Khalifa al Suwaidi Dr paul Dijkstra the spread of the coronavi- to other national and inter- athlete healthcare with evi- rus. Messages stress the im- national organisations and dence-based information on functionality. This easy ac- Aspetar is working close- letes and sports medicine and and with our partners in the portant role of healthy sleep sports medicine federations.” the novel coronavirus 2019 cess to essential and up-to- ly with many international science experts from all over sports and health sector. We and nutrition to protect the In responding to the (COVID-19) pandemic. date information will help sports medicine associa- the world together in a unique are addressing the issues of immune system. pandemic, Aspetar has pro- The Aspetar COVID-19 athletes and their healthcare tions to share the translated and innovative way to help interest to athletes around Dr. Paul Dijkstra, Direc- duced a variety of education Evidence for Athletes Service practitioners to make wiser answers with their athletes. tackle the COVID-19 pandem- the world, as well as shar- tor of Medical Education at materials through its official is the first of its kind aimed and more informed deci- The other sections include ic and its consequences. ing their stories and experi- Aspetar: “Athletes — like all of online channels and social specifically at athletes, their sions. A key feature is an educational material, rel- Mohammed Khalifa al Su- ences during the coronavirus us — are dealing with a unique media platforms, playing a healthcare teams, coaches athletes’ questions section evant scientific papers, other waidi, Aspetar Director Gen- outbreak. At Aspetar, we are situation, their training and pivotal role in educating ath- and the broader sports com- with short answers provided relevant resources, as well as eral, said: “We are thrilled doing all we can to ensure competition schedules are letes on how to deal with this munity It provides them with by the evidence team, which an interactive section that al- to launch our new web plat- that precautionary measures disrupted, and it is unclear pandemic. A consistent mes- easy access to relevant and will be soon available in lows athletes to share their form to our partners: ath- are taken to limit the spread how long this might last. An- sage to athletes is the im- reliable information based more than 15 different lan- questions and stories with letes and experts. This shows of the new coronavirus. other challenge is the huge portance of taking adequate on the latest scientific evi- guages. Each question and the multidisciplinary evi- Aspetar’s commitment to These measures are being amount of information that is preventive measures to pro- dence. This is done through answer are supported by an dence team. provide reliable informa- introduced by the Supreme available. Although much of tect and maintain their own a new streamlined and mod- infographic featuring the This new and comprehen- tion to athletes through our Committee for Crisis Man- this information is reliable, it health and that of the broad- ern webpage with improved ‘bottom-line’ answer. sive Aspetar service bring ath- channels of communication, agement in Qatar, in line can be hard to understand or er society. 14 Tuesday, April 7, 2020 The last word ‘Remote education helps children understand learning as a lifelong process’

is synchronous, with all the Since e-learning was On the positive side, chil- cumstances that the flexibility, Qatar Foundation schools, teachers were class present online with the introduced, how do you dren develop greater self-reli- goodwill and sheer inventive- well-prepared to launch e-learning system teacher, interacting in real- feel both students and par- ance and begin to understand ness of people comes to the time; some is asynchronous, ents are responding to and that learning is a lifelong activ- fore. We are a technologically TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK been developing online learn- allowing learning anytime, engaging with it? ity that doesn’t have to be con- mature school system, so all Doha ing platforms and processes for anywhere. Some sessions are For their part, pupils have fined to school buildings and our teachers are skilled in the some time. live, others are recorded. Live engaged enthusiastically and the school day. The opportu- concepts of 21st century learn- STUART V Leeming, execu- We are a school system that sessions are often recorded and we have recorded strong at- nity for the future is to deliver ing, much of which is predi- tive director of Qatar Foun- uses virtual learning environ- then posted to allow students tendance numbers and high more learning on demand with cated on the underpinning dation (QF) Schools, speaks ments heavily as part of the who miss a session to catch-up. quality work. Parents have the availability of attractive, technology that is supporting about how these schools are normal routine, rather than pa- been both supportive and online courses. our current delivery of virtual delivering e-learning, and per textbooks and notebooks, And how does e-learn- grateful. schools. how students, parents and so very little change was need- ing work within special- Stuart V Leeming How did PUE prepare teachers have responded to it. ed at the older grades for con- ised QF schools such as What do you believe and support teachers to Does e-learning differ tent delivery and submission Awsaj Academy, Renad In the case of Awsaj Acad- are the challenges that e- deliver, and engage with, for students of different How prepared were of assignments. Technology Academy, Qatar Academy emy and Renad Academy, one learning poses, and what e-learning and how have ages and grade levels? QF schools to immedi- is integrated into our primary for Science and Technol- has to begin with the needs of are its opportunities? they responded to the need E-learning has to be tai- ately start implementing school curriculum too and all ogy, and Academyati? Are individual students – the sys- Lack of social contact with to deliver it at this time? lored to the age and the needs e-learning when it was the necessary technical infra- there particular elements tem has to adapt to them, not peers and teachers presents The sudden transition of the individual student. ‘One- necessary to close build- structure was in place. that need to be tailored to the other way round. And in potential emotional health is- to e-learning has been very size-fits-all’ doesn’t work in the ings due to the COVID-19 these schools? some cases, the primary rela- sues, and there are potential demanding on teachers, es- classroom, and it doesn’t work situation? How does e-learning We have a wide variety of tionship is between the school Safeguarding and Child Pro- pecially since they have been online. The richness of what we There are many scenarios work across mainstream schools and students, and, just and the parent, with the school tection issues with the greater required to work from home are offering through our virtual that may require a school to QF schools? as in the regular world, the e- making it possible for the par- reliance on children’s access to rather than from their class- schools reflects the richness of have to deliver learning re- We use a variety of tech- learning experience has to be ent to provide the learning ex- the internet through home ac- rooms. And they have re- the skills and expertise of our motely, so, in our contingency niques that reflect the diversity tailored to suit the children’s perience under close guidance. cess points rather than our own sponded magnificently. well-qualified and dedicated planning, QF schools have of our schools. Some e-learning needs. controlled and filtered network. It is often under such cir- faculty.

151,000 people benefit from Qc’s Qatar University launches Emergency Response Grant drive to control cOVıD-19 spread TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK situation and deepened its rela- Doha tionship with the issues of the na- tion and its community. I am very Qatar Charity is now working on helping 30 countries to limit the spread of the virus QATAR University (QU) has confident that this grant will help launched an Emergency Response us attract distinguished special- TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Grant (ERG) in response to the ised research talent.” Doha potential exceptional impact of the Professor Mohammed al Sa- current emergency situation. This lem, Director of Research Support QATAR Charity’s intervention, specific grant is dedicated to emer- at QU, said, “It has also shown us and awareness and prevention gency situations and will provide the importance of attracting and campaign against the coronavirus bridge support for new and early- (COVID-19) has benefited some stage investigations that provide a The launch of this grant comes 151,373 people across the country. basis for more extensive research. from the university’s concern Qatar Charity (QC), in coop- The 2020 ERG theme is Coronavi- eration with the authorities con- rus Disease (COVID-19), which is for the nation’s health and cerned in the country, has distrib- part of the international research safety. QU is committed to uted health and awareness bags, effort to respond to COVID-19 and working with its faculty and food baskets and other materials to promotes the rapid initiation of researchers to contribute to the beneficiaries, including work- scientific research. ongoing research ers and volunteers participating The launch of this grant comes in raising health awareness from from the university’s concern for sponsoring additional research March 18 to April 5. the nation’s health and safety. QU talent. The University has ac- The health bags and foodstuffs is committed to working with its quired a great deal of experience, were distributed in many areas, faculty and researchers to contrib- developed its educational and re- including Industrial Areas and the ute to ongoing research. ERG has search skills in this global situa- Quarantine Center in Mukaynis. a short life cycle to accelerate the tion and deepened its relationship Approximately 79,780 ready- start of the projects awarded, due with the issues of the nation and to-eat meals were distributed, in Approximately 79,780 ready-to-eat meals were distributed, in addition to 38,326 food baskets, 34,926 of which were to the critical nature of the situa- its community. I am very confident addition to 38,326 food baskets, provided in the Industrial Area only. tion. that this grant will help us attract 34,926 of which were provided in Professor Mariam al Maadeed, distinguished specialised research the Industrial Area only. cluded instructions on washing Vice President for Research and talent.” Some 33,267 health and aware- hands with soap and water, cov- Graduate Studies at QU, said, The objective of the grant in- ness bags were distributed within ering the nose and mouth with a “This grant is in line with the uni- clude establishing dedicated re- the Industrial Areas, other places, clean tissue when coughing and versity’s ongoing efforts to provide search projects and teams to tackle farm compounds, construction sneezing and throwing the used local and regional challenge-relat- Coronavirus Disease; researching sites and labour camps. tissue in the trash immediately, ed research projects, particularly the virus from different perspec- On Sunday, 890 health bags and avoiding touching nose, eyes in the current situation the world tives, such as length of incubation, were distributed to the workers and mouth. is living through. The latest Coro- phases, shapes and strains; contrib- of the Doha Municipality, in the The instructions also included navirus pandemic (COVID-19) has uting to improving effective safety presence of representatives from avoiding contact with persons who shown the importance of support- plans and awareness; and highlight- the Ministry of Administrative cal materials, including sterilisers, Filipino. have symptoms of respiratory ill- ing work at all human, technologi- ing the role of QU in addressing Development, Labour and Social masks and gloves were also dis- Besides, Qatar Charity contin- ness like coughing or sneezing, and cal, and financial levels. It has also emerging concerns. Affairs and volunteers of Qatar turbed to health awareness work- ues to produce awareness videos in avoiding non-essential travel. shown us the importance of at- The grant is currently available Charity, while 6,000 meals were ers. various languages to post on social Qatar Charity is now working tracting and sponsoring additional for submission until 12 April 2020 distributed at the Quarantine Regarding awareness drive, media platforms. on helping 30 countries to limit the research talent. The University for proposal intention and 28 April Center in Mukaynis and 600 food 90,000 copies of awareness leaflets Qatar Charity also benefited spread of the pandemic by launch- has acquired a great deal of expe- 2020 for final proposals. Submis- baskets at many embassies and were distributed and 28 awareness from the efforts of 8,700 volunteers ing awareness campaigns and dis- rience, developed its educational sion is done via iGrants: https:/ / communities. videos were released in four lan- from nine different nationalities. tributing medical equipment and and research skills in this global www.conftool.org/ igrants/ Some 12,350 health and medi- guages - Arabic, English, Hindi and The awareness campaign in- hygiene item. QNL offers online resources to keep children, young adults busy at home

AILYN AGONIA music and videos, and brows- The library also provides means that, although schools and the AudioBookCloud data- Doha ing digital copies of the latest online interactive storytelling are closed, young adults can base. magazines on various topics, platforms, such as I Read in access thousands of ebooks, “Young adults are usually WHILE Qatar National Library including cooking, fitness, eco- Arabic, the iJana programme audiobooks, interactive digital independent and self-reliant in (QNL) has temporarily closed nomics, art, sports, physics and for reading and the Nahla and magazines and other learning their search for information and its doors to the public as a pre- philosophy. We have a digital Nahel website. Parents can en- resources. This is a great time learning material. Even when cautionary measure for the out- repository (http:/ / ediscovery. courage their kids to read more for young adults to register for they’re stuck at home, young break of coronavirus disease, qnl.qa) that contains millions of for fun using RBDigital Comics, their own library membership if people can accomplish a lot. For the library ensures that book digitised pages of historical Ara- which has more than 600 Mar- they have not done that before.” instance, they can take advan- lovers and avid readers are still bic and English books, newspa- vel and IDW graphic novels and Given the distance learning tage of our resources to improve able to access its wealth of re- pers and magazines,” Shahwani comics. There is also BookFlix, and teaching currently adopt- their language skills by explor- sources. added. which offers online video story- ed by schools and universities ing English language tests such With the library’s thousands The library has more than books for pre-schoolers through across Qatar, Maki said young as IELTS and TOEFL, complete of electronic resources available 215 databases, beyond 611,000 grade 3, as well as related games adults can communicate re- their research articles for school for free to all its members, resi- ebooks, 16,780 periodicals, and activities. motely with the library’s writing and continue their educational dents across ages and varying 465,000 research papers, nu- The library has more than 215 databases, beyond 611,000 e-books, Mahmoud added, “There and communication specialist journey in various disciplines interests can include browsing merous theses and disserta- 16,780 periodicals, 465,000 research papers, numerous theses and is no doubt that the changes to get support on writing essays, such as science, the humanities through digital copies of the lat- tions, digital magazines, and dissertations, digital magazines, and audiobooks. caused by this unfortunate situ- conducting research and filling and social sciences,” said Malki. est magazines on different top- audiobooks. ation affect all aspects of learn- out college applications, along Library visitors can email ics and accessing e-books and Shahwani stressed that the She also mentioned QNL’s She said, “We provide chil- ing. The biggest challenge facing with writing emails, letters and the library’s writing and com- audiobooks as among the activi- QNL is always exploring ways Qatar Digital Library (www. dren and their parents with free parents now is how to familiar- creative projects. He mentioned munication specialist at writ- ties that would keep them busy to add new resources to benefit qdl.qa), which provides access access to an impressive collec- ise themselves with distance the availability of the Ask Our Li- [email protected] to seek and productive while at home. their users, particularly given to more than 1.9 million digi- tion of electronic resources, au- learning so they can support brarians service where students advice and support on their “The library’s services aren’t the current situation. tal pages, including more than diobooks and other interactive their children to adapt accord- can send requests for assistance written and creative projects, limited to the print books and “For example, OverDrive 450,000 digital pages of manu- learning applications. These ingly. We encourage parents to with their school research. articles, emails, letters, applica- materials contained in our allows members to read more scripts from the golden age of develop children’s love for read- use the various online resources He also said the library’s tions and more. building; we have thousands than 10,000 ebooks and listen Islamic civilisation in the fields ing and enable them to explore provided by the library to help OverDrive platform allows The library’s online resourc- of electronic resources avail- to more than 1,000 audiobooks. of science, astronomy, medi- a variety of learning opportu- their children continue to learn members to borrow a range es are available to all members, able for free to all our members. They can also browse local and cine, engineering and math- nities while schools are closed. at home.” of popular ebooks and audio- wherever they are, for free. Any- Members can browse electronic international magazines and ematics. Parents can help their children Ahmed al Malki, head of books. one with a Qatar ID can become resources in many different newspapers using the Press- Maram al Mahmoud, head engage with the educational re- the Young Adults’ Library, said, Other useful databases in- a library member. fields and disciplines,” said Na- Reader and RBdigital applica- of the Children’s Library, said sources provided electronically “The secret is using the right clude Encyclopedia Britannica Registration for the mem- jla al Shahwani, head of Social tions. Library members can also the temporary closure of the by the library. They can, for in- communication and informa- Academic Edition, RBDigital bership takes just a few minutes Sciences. learn languages through Mango library doesn’t prevent them stance, read interactive stories tion technology. The technology Comics, the Bookshare e-library and can be done through QNL “They can download eb- Languages, an online applica- from fulfilling their mission of and perform several activities we have now makes it possible for audiobooks for young adults website. ooks, audiobooks, academic re- tion that offers practical lessons spreading knowledge and pro- related to the text, as well as use to work, learn and communi- with disabilities, the Frontiers Residents who don’t have a search journals and newspaper for more than 70 different lan- viding learning opportunities different electronic games, cre- cate remotely, even as we’re all Science Portal, the RBdigital library membership are encour- articles, in addition to streaming guages,” she added. for children. ating an enriching experience.” trying to fight COVID-19. This database for digital magazines aged to register online.