INDEX BUSINESS | Page 1 QATAR 2-4, 20 COMMENT 18, 19 QATAR | Page 2 ARAB WORLD 5 BUSINESS 1-8 QNB Group’s INTERNATIONAL 6-17 SPORTS 1-6 Msheireb 1st successful Properties, international DOW JONES QE NYMEX Siemens in deal Mastercard 25,605.54 9,184.86 36.26 to provide Smart transaction +477.37 -48.49 -0.08 +1.90% -0.53% -0.22% City solutions in Sudan Latest Figures

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MONDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11580 June 15, 2020 Shawwal 23, 1441 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Medical Specialties Ashghal’s projects streets ahead certifi cation launched The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has announced the launch of the Phase 1 of lifting Qatar Medical Specialties Certificate (Qatari Board). The new certification programme is an important step in improving the eff iciency of practising medical professionals Covid-19 curbs in Qatar and its establishment represents the culmination of a major joint eff ort from the country’s health sector. The certification will help improve the quality of begins today medical services in Qatar by setting standards to ensure that physicians who earn the credential demonstrate zMosques, malls, parks allowed to exceptional expertise in a particular speciality and/or subspeciality of open subject to restrictions medical practice. Page 2

Worshippers urged to number of activities are set to lowed at the workplace in this phase adhere to safety steps resume in the country today as subject to strict health precautions. Athe fi rst phase of the gradual It was also announced that starting The Ministry of Awqaf (Endowments) lifting of Covid-19 restrictions gets from the fi rst stage, trips out of Doha and Islamic Aff airs has called on Artist’s impression of Abdullah Bin Thani Street, to be fully paved with granite slabs and designed to be transformed underway. will be allowed in cases of absolute ne- all worshippers to adhere to all into a pedestrian-only area during celebratory events. The development is part of the first package of the Doha The authorities concerned have put cessity. Everyone who returns to Doha precautionary measures against Central Development and Beautification Projects, being implemented by Ashghal’s Supervisory Committee of the in place a number of precautionary and will be subjected to hotel quarantine at coronavirus and to co-operate with Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar. It was announced yesterday that 20% works of the first package preventive measures that the public, his/her own expense for two weeks, or the organisers as mosques reopen were complete. Page 20 commercial entities, healthcare facili- in one of the quarantine buildings allo- today. The call to prayer from all ties and other service providers need to cated by the Ministry of Public Health mosques will be in its original form, follow to ensure everyone’s safety. These at his/her own expense. without mentioning the phrase “pray include wearing a face mask, installing Malls and shopping centres will be in your homes”. Starting at dawn Special events to and activating the Ehteraz application on allowed to operate from 8am-8pm on today a limited number of mosques mark completion the smartphone, and maintaining social weekdays from today, but these busi- will reopen for prayers (except Friday Entry, exit permits for distancing, among others. nesses will remain closed on Fridays prayers). The Ministry of Awqaf of Education City As per an announcement by the and Saturdays, according to a notifi ca- has advised the elderly and the Supreme Committee for Crisis Man- tion from the Ministry of Commerce chronically ill to pray in their homes Industrial Area removed Stadium today agement recently, Phase 1 will see the and Industry. for the sake of their health, and called The Supreme Committee for Delivery restricted opening of mosques, exclud- The businesses allowed to resume upon those having coronavirus & Legacy (SC) and Qatar Foundation ing Friday prayers. The use of personal operations and the conditions applica- symptoms to avoid praying in n line with the fi rst stage of the tially closed after the discovery of a (QF) have announced the completion boats will also be allowed in this phase. ble to them are as follows: partial open- mosque, in order to preserve their gradual lifting of restrictions number of coronavirus cases among of the third tournament venue for There will be also restricted park ing of some shops in commercial cen- health and that of other worshippers. Iimposed as a result of the out- its residents. During the partial clo- the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. opening for outdoor activities. Profes- tres, provided the outlet’s fl oor space is break of the coronavirus (Covid-19) sure period, thousands of people Located in the heart of Education sional training will be allowed in out- not less than 300sq m; restaurants that Qatar reports 56,898 pandemic, a decision has been made were tested for the virus, and more City, Qatar’s education, research and door areas/large open spaces only for deliver to home addresses or hand over Covid-19 recoveries to remove the requirement for entry than 6,500 individuals were trans- innovation hub, the 40,000-capacity no more than fi ve people. orders at the restaurant, while prohib- and exit permits to and from the In- ferred to quarantine. Those who were Education City Stadium is slated to Private healthcare facilities can oper- iting customers from dining in; and The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) dustrial Area eff ective today. suspected or confi rmed to be infected host matches up to the quarter-finals ate at 40% capacity during this phase. shops selling sweets, ice cream, cakes, announced yesterday 1,186 new A Government Communications with the virus were provided with stage during the tournament. Emergency services will continue. pastries, honey and dates. confirmed cases of Covid-19, a total Offi ce (GCO) statement yesterday said free, high-quality healthcare. The stadium’s completion will be Phase 1 will also see the partial Gaming centres, amusement parks, of 1,646 new recoveries and three entry and exit checkpoints will “In light of achieving the desired marked digitally on the SC’s social opening of shops in malls. Shops with skateboard arenas, prayer rooms and deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing remain to ensure compliance with objectives of the partial closure, the media platforms, in light of the a minimum area of 300sq m will open, cinemas will remain closed. This deci- the total number of recoveries in precautionary measures, including Permanent Committee for Industri- current Covid-19 pandemic, and via but visitors will be allowed only up to sion also prohibits any artistic, cultural Qatar to 56,898. The MoPH said checking: bus capacity is reduced al Area Aff airs eased restrictions by special 60-minute programmes in 30% of the capacity. or recreational activities at malls and in a statement that during the last by half, masks are being worn, gradually opening and developing a both Arabic and English on beIN Also, 20% of employees will be al- commercial centres. To Page 4 24 hours, 13 new cases have been and only individuals with a green system of entry and exit permits for SPORTS on tonight. The ‘Road admitted to intensive care due to health status in the Ehteraz appli- a period of time, and has now an- to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022’ Aspire Park, Katara Hills open for walking health complications resulting from cation can enter the area. nounced the cancellation of permits Arabic show will commemorate the Covid-19, bringing the total number The Industrial Area was par- from Monday. The continued use of stadium’s completion and official Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) has gatherings or mixing as it’s forbidden”. of cases currently in intensive care to entry and exit checkpoints will en- unveiling, while the English show informed that they will start welcoming The Ministry of Municipality and 231. Page 2 4 key steps to remember sure the health and safety of Indus- will feature special guests who visitors on the walking tracks of Aspire Environment (MME) had on Saturday trial Area residents and all members debate the future of sport in a post- Park from today. announced the procedures and Quake strikes east The Government Communications of society,” the GCO said. pandemic world. Visitors are required to adhere to conditions for entering the limited Turkey, 1 dead Off ice (GCO) has stressed the “It must be emphasised that Notable guests will include FIFA the precautionary and preventive number of public gardens and parks four key preventive measures the easing of restrictions does not Technical Director and former measures put in place, AZF tweeted that will be opened to the public today A 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck to follow when one leaves mean the virus has disappeared. All Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, yesterday. to exercise and practise sports and Bingol province in eastern Turkey the house: wear a face mask; members of society should contin- Bundesliga CEO, Christian Siefert, Similarly, Katara - the Cultural Village specific times. yesterday, killing one person, off icials install and activate the Ehteraz ue to take precautions and follow and Belgium national team manager, Foundation said the North and In Phase 1, the MME will open eight said. A security guard was trapped application on the smartphone; recommended guidelines to ensure Roberto Martinez, among others. South Katara Hills promenade will be parks from 4am until 9am and from after an observation tower collapsed maintain a 2m distance from the successful implementation of Al Kass TV, Al Rayyan TV and Qatar reopened for walking purposes from 4pm until 10pm daily. These are Al in the Karliova/Kaynarpinar village those around you; and wash the gradual lifting of the restric- TV will also provide intensive cover- today. Wakra Public Park, Al Khor Park, Al - the epicentre of the quake, the your hands before leaving tions imposed in the State of Qatar, age to mark the stadium’s comple- Katara, too, stressed the need for visitors Qutaifiyah Park 66, Al Shamal City Park, governor’s off ice said in a statement. house and upon your return. with the aim of returning to normal tion. Sport Page 1 to comply with “precautionary and Al Sailiya Park (Abu Nakhla), Al Dafna “Unfortunately our security guard life,” the statement added. preventive measures and to avoid any Park, Museum Park and Al Rayyan Park. stuck under the rubble could not be saved,” it added. Rescue teams pulled out another guard alive. Floyd death protest in Hollywood France won’t take Record spikes in coronavirus cases, down statues President Emmanuel Macron vowed hospitalisation in several US states yesterday that France would not try to erase elements of its history or take down statues of controversial public figures, despite growing ew coronavirus cases and hos- cases, deaths, hospitalisations and global scrutiny of former colonial pitalisations in record num- positive rates among those getting powers in the wake of worldwide Nbers swept through more US tested. protests. In an address to the nation, states, including Florida and Texas, as However, Governor Andrew Cuo- Macron said France would be most push ahead with reopening and mo warned New York City and Long “uncompromising” in its fight against President Donald Trump plans an in- Island offi cials that their reopenings racism after days of demonstrations door rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma. were at risk if they do not stop further over alleged prejudice among police Alabama reported a record number large public gatherings that he said forces. Angry crowds have toppled of new cases for the fourth day in a are threatening progress on curbing statues of colonial figures in Britain row yesterday. the spread of the coronavirus. and the United States, and there has Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Cali- New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo said the state has received been an intensified scrutiny of the fornia, Florida, North Carolina, 25,000 complaints recently of viola- records of key leaders of the colonial Oklahoma and South Carolina all had ric not aff ected by increased testing. tions of social distancing and other era in Europe. record numbers of new cases in the Arkansas, North Carolina, Texas and emergency requirements, mostly in past three days, according to a Reu- Utah all had a record number of pa- Manhattan and the Hamptons, affl u- Britain records lowest ters tally. tients enter the hospital on Saturday. ent beach communities on the east virus toll since March Many state health offi cials partly In South Carolina, 69-77% of hos- end of Long Island. attribute the increase to gatherings pital beds are occupied, depending on “Yes, there is a very real possibility Britain recorded 36 new deaths of over the Memorial Day holiday week- the region. that we would roll back the reopening people testing positive for the new end in late May. While Utah’s governor announced in those areas,” he said at a briefi ng. coronavirus, the lowest daily toll since In Louisiana, which had been one last week that most counties there Fears that a second wave of infec- March 21, two days before the country of the earlier virus hot spots, new would pause their reopenings, most tions is happening — or that states went into lockdown, the government cases were again on the rise with over states are not considering a second failed to curb their fi rst wave — announced. “Yesterday, across the UK, 1,200 — the most there since May 21. shutdown as they face budget short- prompted health offi cials to plead only 36 deaths were recorded with Nationally, there were over 25,000 falls and double-digit unemployment. with the public to wear masks and coronavirus - the lowest since March new cases reported on Saturday, the Many went ahead with reopenings avoid large gatherings. 21,” Health Secretary Matt Hancock highest tally for a Saturday since May before meeting government infection Trump still plans to hold his fi rst tweeted.. “We are winning the battle 2, in part due to a signifi cant increase rate guidelines for doing so. campaign rally since early March on against this horrible disease.” The in testing over the past six weeks. New York, the hardest hit state, has Saturday in Tulsa, although those number of deaths in Britain since the Perhaps more troubling for health utilised health guidelines to instruct attending will have to agree not to People take part in an All Black Lives Matter march in Hollywood, Los Angeles, start of the pandemic now stands at offi cials, many of these states are also its reopening and continued to see hold the campaign responsible if they California, US, yesterday, in the aftermath of the death in Minneapolis police 41,698. Page 10 seeing record hospitalisations — a met- all measures of infection drop — new contract Covid-19. custody of unarmed African-American George Floyd. Page 7 Gulf Times 2 Monday, June 15, 2020 QATAR

Ministry launches new Msheireb Properties certifi cation programme and Siemens sign pact By Joey Aguilar Staff Reporter

sheireb Properties and Siemens signed a for medical professionals Mmemorandum of un- derstanding (MoU) yesterday aimed at providing the latest z Qatar Medical Specialties certificate will help improve quality of healthcare smart city solutions within its fl agship city district, Msheireb he Ministry of Public “Most of HMC’s residency Downtown Doha. Health (MoPH) has an- programmes and some of its The event was led by Tnounced the launch of the fellowship programmes have Msheireb Properties acting Qatar Medical Specialties Cer- received international ac- CEO Ali al-Kuwari and Sie- tifi cate (Qatari Board). creditation from the American mens CEO Adrian Wood at a The new certifi cation pro- Council for Accreditation of virtual signing ceremony and gramme is an important step Medical Specialties and ac- press conference – adopted as in improving the effi ciency of creditation by the Arab Board,” part of Msheireb Properties’ practising medical professionals he explained. commitment to social distanc- in Qatar and its establishment Dr al-Khal pointed out that ing and taking precautionary represents the culmination of a Qatar’s medical sector is com- measures to prevent the spread major joint eff ort from the coun- prised of a large number of dis- of Covid-19. try’s health sector. tinguished Qatari and expatri- “Today, with this agreement The certifi cation will help ate doctors and professors who with Siemens, we continue our improve the quality of medi- Dr Abdullatif al-Khal Dr Saad al-Kaabi are experienced and competent strategy to off er our customers cal services in Qatar by setting in developing medical educa- the most up to date facilities, Ali al-Kuwari and Adrian Wood during the virtual MoU signing standards to ensure that physi- Qatari Board and its organisa- Qatar-based academic and tion curriculum, administering powered by the latest innova- yesterday. cians who earn the credential tional structure and registration clinical institutions would also examinations, and evaluating tive technologies that meet the demonstrate exceptional ex- mechanism will be announced in play an important part in ad- the skills and knowledge of highest international stand- “Through an integrated suite on this exciting project and pertise in a particular speciality the coming weeks. ministrating the Board’s certi- doctors. ards,” al-Kuwari told reporters of data platforms, IoT sys- supporting Qatar National and/or subspeciality of medical Dr al-Kaabi added that the fication. “Many of these profession- during the occasion. tems and digital applications, Vision 2030 by driving sus- practice. MoPH will work to attract Dr Abdullatif al-Khal, direc- als will play a role in ensuring Under this MoU, he said Msheireb Downtown Doha will tainable economic develop- Dr Saad al-Kaabi, director of international partners from tor of the Department of Medi- the success of Qatari Board by Msheireb Properties will “col- advance resident experience, ment through technology and the Healthcare Professions De- around the globe as well as col- cal Education at Hamad Medi- providing a comprehensive, in- laborate with Siemens to avail social interaction, and quality knowledge transfer.” partment, MoPH, confi rmed laborate with regional medical cal Corporation (HMC), said dependent evaluation of phy- the latest and most advanced of life with greater care for the From design and plan- that registration for the Qatari councils to ensure the Qatari the specialised medical training sicians’ specialist experience, smart services and solutions in urban environment,” said al- ning to the delivery of infra- Board is scheduled to open in Board meets the highest in- programmes off ered in Qatar knowledge, and skills,” Dr al- building digitalisation, which Kuwari. structure and transportation, July. He said details about the ternational standards. He said rank among the world’s best. Khal added. is very important for the Inter- Msheireb Downtown Doha through to improving overall net of Things (IoT) in our city.” is a complete smart city that lifestyle, Msheireb Downtown Other services will include uses technology to provide an Doha delivers smart solutions car e-charging stations, low extraordinary and seamless to improve the lives of its consumption traffi c lights, experience for residents, busi- residents. It aims to provide and outdoor air quality meas- nesses, professionals, and visi- a place where it is enjoyable urements, which will help in tors. It is the fi rst downtown to live, work, shop, visit, and QRI speech therapy dept starts measuring the quality of air in regeneration project to embed spend time with family and the city, according to al-Ku- smart city technology and con- friends. wari. nectivity. Through an integrated suite Siemens services, he added, “This MoU is an important of data platforms, IoT sys- will focus on energy optimi- step forward for intelligent, tems and digital applications, virtual consultation clinics sation and performance, site- data-driven infrastructure Msheireb Downtown Doha wide fi re alarm, secure smart in Qatar and will pave the will advance resident experi- spaces, and offi ces. Siemens is way for a truly smart city in ence, social interaction, and QNA ensure that we are adhering to services are provided. She said time slots throughout the day one of the leading companies Downtown Doha,” Wood said. quality of life with greater Doha the precautionary measures put if the patient and their family allows providing patients and in providing cutting edge tech- “I look forward to collaborat- care for the urban environ- in place by the Ministry of Public or caregiver is comfortable with their families with greater fl ex- nology solutions. ing with Msheireb Properties ment. Health and HMC.” participating in a video consul- ibility. he Speech Therapy De- The speech therapy team has de- tation, an appointment is con- The speech therapy team has partment at Hamad Med- veloped a number of evaluations, fi rmed by the reception team also launched a number of coun- Tical Corporation’s (HMC) diagnostic, and therapeutic meth- and a link with the appointment selling and awareness programmes Qatar Rehabilitation Institute ods that can be delivered remotely details is texted to the patient. aimed at helping to support par- (QRI) has introduced virtual and at the same time ensure eff ec- For patients who are not com- ents of pre-school children and Katara names Istighfar Award winners consultation clinics to ensure its tive communication with patients. fortable with video consultations, children with communication outpatient department patients Al-Mulla says using the lat- therapists off er to provide tips, disorders. The programmes serve continue to have access to the est telemedicine technologies is guidance, and a treatment plan, children between the ages of 2 he Cultural Village went to Asma Ali Zaytoun from ed after conducting, counting best possible diagnostic and re- helping to ensure that patients according to the patient’s indi- and 6 and have been specially de- Foundation – Katara an- Jordan for her play “The Shoe- and matching posts with the habilitative services. and their families continue to vidual needs, via a telephone call. signed for children with Autism Tnounced yesterday the maker and the Old Man” and conditions of the award. The initiative, which uses the have timely access to safe care. Currently, the virtual clinic Spectrum Disorder and social names of the Katara Istighfar the USD10,000 award for po- The number of posts from VSee telemedicine solution to “Virtual consultation clinics is providing services to address communication disorders. The Award winners that launched etry went to Mohamed Ahmed the Arab Maghreb countries provide medical consultations enable us to care for new patients language and communications programme provides parents with in April, which consisted of Hassan from Egypt. was 1,019, while that from via video conferencing, was in- who need our service while at the delays, speech disorders, stut- advice on using stimulation strat- four categories: short story, The Arabic calligraphy Egypt, Sudan and Somalia troduced following the cancel- same time continuing to care for tering, voice disorders, and egies to help increase their child’s short play, poetry, Arabic cal- award of USD5,000 went to Bi- was 730, the Levant and Iraq lation of all routine outpatient our existing patients by off ering swallowing disorders. ability to interact with others and ligraphy. lal Mukhtar Salah from Egypt. accounted for 613, and those appointments as part of the pre- consultations and conducting The clinic’s services are pro- to develop their child’s communi- Mohammed Zaki from Syria The Katara Prize had 2,847 from the Gulf states and Yemen cautionary measures taken by rehabilitative sessions virtually vided to patients of all ages cation and language skills. won the short story award participants who quali- amounted to 349, in addition the health sector to respond to to maintain the improvements and the speech therapy team is The team has also developed a of USD20,000 for his story fied out of 6,000 entries for to 136 participants from non- the Covid-19 pandemic. these patients made before our currently treating between 50 number of tools that aim to pro- “Medicine for Anguish”, while the award from 45 different Arab countries, with 46 entries Head of the Speech Therapy in-person clinics were closed and 60 patients each day. This vide patients and caregivers with short play award of USD15,000 countries, which were select- from Qatar. - QNA Department at QRI Eman al- as part of eff orts to contain the number is expected to increase evidence-based resources that Mulla, said: “Our teams at QRI Covid-19 outbreak. We have also as the clinic introduces more can help in their child’s develop- are committed to ensuring that made provisions to ensure that programs in the coming weeks. ment, including pictures, sto- Qatar condemns attack in Iraq our patients continue to receive patients who required in-person The speech and language vir- ries, and educational websites. safe rehabilitative care. We are appointments are able to receive tual clinics at QRI have been Eman al-Mulla said this initiative Qatar has expressed its strong condemnation violence and terrorism regardless of their motives using the latest technologies in that care safely,” said al-Mulla. activated to provide eff ective has been well received by parents and denunciation of the attack that took place in and causes. our virtual consultation clinics She said that patients referred services to the patients. The QRI and caregivers, with many com- Diyala Governorate in northeastern Iraq, which The statement expressed Qatar’s condolences to to diagnose and treat speech, to the speech therapy clinic are clinics are available in two shifts, menting that the resources have resulted in deaths and injuries. the families of victims as well as the government language, and swallowing dif- contacted by one of the thera- between 8am to 1pm and from been a great assistance to them dur- In a statement yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign and people of Iraq, wishing the wounded speedy fi culties and at the same time pists who explains how virtual 1pm to 6pm. Providing multiple ing the Covid-19 pandemic. Aff airs reiterated Qatar’s firm stance rejecting recovery. - QNA Qatar reports 56,898 total Covid-19 recoveries

QNA es of infection among groups of The total number of current Umm Slal Health Centre and Al ary, contributed greatly and eff ec- Doha workers in diff erent regions. The active cases is 22,631. The total Gharafa Health Centre. tively to controlling the extent of new cases have been identifi ed number of people currently un- The MoPH reaffi rmed the ne- its spread. This also helped in ex- through track and trace team at der acute hospital care is 1,229, cessity for the elderly or those panding the capacity of the health he Ministry of Public the ministry. including 143 acute hospital suff ering from chronic diseases system to deal with all cases con- Health (MoPH) announced Cases of infection have also admissions in the last 24 hours. and their family members to fol- trary to what happened in some Tyesterday 1,186 new con- increased signifi cantly among The total number of Covid-19 low strict methods and precau- countries that failed to implement fi rmed cases of Covid-19, a total citizens and residents as a result deaths so far in Qatar is 73. tions to reduce the risk of infec- precautionary measures early of 1,646 new recoveries and three of contact with infected family The MoPH confi rmed that ef- tion and work to protect them enough, which led to the collapse deaths in the last 24 hours, bring- members who had been infected forts to tackle the Covid-19 vi- from infection by refraining of their health system and an in- ing the total number of recoveries in the workplace or through vis- rus in Qatar have succeeded in from social visits, wearing the ability to handle the large numbers in Qatar to 56,898. its and family gatherings. fl attening the curve and reduc- mask and cleansing the hands of cases. The MoPH said in a statement The new confi rmed cases of ing the impact of the virus by a when near them. The MoPH stressed that the that during the last 24 hours, 13 infection have been introduced large percentage thanks to the The ministry said that, based gradual lifting of restrictions new cases have been admitted to complete isolation in the decisions of the ban, the pre- on the extensive data and stud- came after a thorough study of to intensive care due to health various medical facilities in the ventive measures taken, and the ies conducted by the authorities the situation in Qatar and from complications resulting from country, where they receive the awareness and co-operation of concerned in the country, Qatar similar experiences in many Covid-19, bringing the total necessary healthcare according all members of society, and that will begin, from today to lift the countries that have succeeded number of cases currently in in- to the health status of each case. there are relatively low aver- restrictions imposed to combat in limiting the spread of the vi- tensive care to 231. The MoPH said that the three age numbers in relation to the the epidemic gradually in four rus after gradually lifting the re- The ministry also said there deaths recorded yesterday were recorded cases of new hospital stages that will last until Sep- strictions. has been a small decrease in of people aged 42, 84 and 57, re- admissions. tember 1. The ministry warned that lift- the number of acute Covid-19 spectively, suff ering from several The ministry also stated that In this context, it is stressed ing the restrictions gradually positive patients being admit- chronic diseases and who re- Qatar has now started to over- that the application of preven- does not mean the disappear- ted to intensive care thanks to ceived medical care in intensive come the peak phase of the tive measures and measures ance of Covid-19, pointing out the measures it took along with care units. The ministry off ered Covid-19 outbreak, with the must continue to be implement- that during the planning of the the other authorities concerned sincere condolences and great beginning of its decline, thanks ed in the stages of gradually lift- relaxation of restrictions, at- to limit the spread of the virus, sympathy to the families of the to the measures and measures ing the imposed restrictions that tention was given to priorities the most important of which is deceased. taken by the state to address were applied in the country as a to ensure avoiding the risks that early detection that can contrib- According to a tweet from it, along with the commitment result of the spread of the Cov- may arise as a result of lifting ute signifi cantly to reducing the the MoPH, with a total of 3,884 of the community members necessity as well as using med- ministry said emphasising that id-19, as failure to adhere to pre- them. Each stage will be subject severity of infection. people tested for Covid-19 in the to recommendations and pre- ical masks. the earlier the disease is detected cautionary measures during the to evaluation and review based The MoPH added that the new last 24 hours, as many as 290,714 ventive instructions, the most Anyone with symptoms of the easier it will be to receive the next stage will lead to the return on the extent of the virus spread cases are expatriate workers in- have been tested so far in Qatar. important of which are social Covid-19 should either quickly right treatment and recover. of the virus to the country. as the success of each stage de- fected as a result of contact with The total number of infected distancing, maintaining physi- contact the 16000 helpline or go The main screening centres The MoPH also pointed out pends on the commitment of individuals who were previously people in Qatar since the start of cal distancing, staying at home directly to one of the designated include Muaither Health Centre, that the measures applied by the everyone to implement the re- infected, in addition to new cas- the Covid-19 outbreak is 79,602. and not going out except for health centres for testing, the Rawdat Al Khail Health Centre, state in the early stages, in Febru- quired precautions. Gulf Times Monday, June 15, 2020 3 QATAR

Alfardan Jewellery leverages latest technology to launch Qatar’s fi rst virtual jewellery showroom z ‘Al-Maisan’ off ers customers convenience of continuing to shop for high jewellery and unique timepieces virtually, with products delivered at customers’ preferred location using Alfardan Jewellery’s Delivery Concierge Service

lfardan Jewellery has lery sector to respond to the re- ment will be shared with the launched its latest dig- “We are proud to be the leaders quirements of the fi rst phase of customer, alongside a website Aital innovation, off ering the gradual lifting of Covid-19 link to the virtual shopping ex- customers exclusive and per- within the jewellery sector to restrictions. With the aim of perience. By simply clicking on sonalised virtual shopping ses- reaching our customers in an the link, customers will get to sions through ‘Al-Maisan’. respond to the requirements innovative way, that guaran- explore the products they de- This comes as part of its tees quality in presentation and sire in a video call with a spe- commitment to provide cus- of the first phase of the gradual safety in dealings.” cialised consultant. tomers with the best shopping He added: “At Alfardan Jew- The tour will bring to life the experience, the leading jeweller ellery, the safety of our cus- fi ne jewellery and watches col- has said in a statement. lifting of Covid-19 restrictions. tomers and employees is our lection in a customised virtual The high-defi nition, interac- most pressing priority. The showroom setting, from the tive virtual showroom enables With the aim of reaching our ‘Al-Maisan’ service will enable comfort of their homes. Alfardan Jewellery customers to us to provide our clients with a During the virtual shopping see a selection of fi ne jewellery customers in an innovative high-quality display, powered session, which is powered by and unique watches, closely and by technology, while enhancing the latest technology, custom- in detail, from several angles, way, that guarantees quality the principles of social distanc- ers will have the opportunity to using the latest technologies, ing and providing a shopping examine the pieces they wish the statement notes. in presentation, and safety in experience that is safe and con- to obtain, inspect them from A fi rst-of-its-kind initiative venient.” diff erent angles in high-qual- in Qatar, ‘Al-Maisan’ is a distin- Ali Alfardan, vice-chairman of Alfardan Group and president of dealings.” - Ali Alfardan Upon contacting the Al- ity viewing, and speak to the guished and contemporary con- Alfardan Jewellery Company. fardan Jewellery hotline, which consultant directly to enquire cept that considers the need for is linked on their website, al- about pieces of interest. social distancing during these the convenience of continuing The pioneering initiative customers”, the statement adds. sectors and industries – and fardanluxury.com, customers To complement the unique unprecedented times. With to shop for high jewellery and “falls perfectly in line with Al- Ali Alfardan, vice-chairman empowered us to look at things will receive a call from a spe- experience, Alfardan Jewellery the customers’ best interests in unique timepieces virtually, fardan Jewellery’s strategy to of Alfardan Group and presi- diff erently, as well as introduce cialised operator who will en- provides an exclusive delivery mind, and in response to trend- with the products delivered at expand its network of luxurious dent of Alfardan Jewellery new mechanisms that help im- quire about pieces of interest service that will see the prod- ing digital behaviours as well the customers’ preferred loca- and modern showrooms, as well Company, said: “The recent prove communications with to best personalise the virtual ucts delivered to clients, at the as home delivery preferences, tion using Alfardan Jewellery’s as its commitment to provide the developments facing the world our customers. We are proud to shopping session. Following comfort of their homes, using ‘Al-Maisan’ off ers customers Delivery Concierge Service. fi nest shopping experience to its have challenged us all – across be the leaders within the jewel- the call, a confi rmed appoint- the most luxurious means. Now, Talabat becomes the Indian embassy reveals new fi rst app in Qatar to repatriation fl ights schedule he Indian embassy yes- terday published a re- Tvised list of repatriation fl ights from Doha under the deliver Starbucks coff ee Vande Bharat Mission. The fl ights are for the rest of June. alabat, the region’s lead- Following is the schedule: ing delivery platform, an- June 15 (two fl ights) - Mumbai Tnounced yesterday that it and Kozhikode; June 16 (one is the fi rst and only app in Qatar fl ight) - Thiruvananthapuram; to deliver Starbucks coff ee. June 18 (three fl ights) - The delivery area covers the Kozhikode, Kochi and Bhu- majority of Doha, including Al baneswar (with a technical halt Wakra and Al Gharrafa, accord- in Delhi); June 19 (three fl ights) ing to a statement. - Amritsar/Srinagar (hop- “Starbucks off ers a wide va- ping), Thiruvananthapuram Kochi-bound passengers at HIA yesterday. riety of blends including lattes, and Mangalore; June 20 (three macchiatos and frappuccinos. fl ights) - Kochi, Ahmedabad Through Talabat Go’s effi cient and Kolkata/Bhubaneswar system, customers can enjoy (hopping); June 21 (one fl ight) their favourite cup of freshly- - Madurai; June 23 (one fl ight) brewed coff ee,” it was explained. - Coimbatore; June 24 (one Each drink is carefully sealed fl ight) - Kochi; June 26 (one and placed in suitable bags, fl ight) - Thiruvananthapuram; in addition to adhering to the June 27 (one fl ight) - Thiru- safety standards and preventive vananthapuram; June 29 (one measures issued by the govern- fl ight) - Kannur; and June 30 ment of Qatar. (one fl ight) - Kozhikode. Talabat Qatar’s managing di- Fifteen of these fl ights will be rector, Francisco De Sousa, said, coff eehouse has always been a ease the “new normal” by deliv- ers,” he added. The talabat app operated by Air India Express, “We’re excited to off er Starbucks part of many lives here in Qatar.” ering food, groceries, pharma- can be downloaded via AppStore three by IndiGo and one by Air delivery through Talabat as the “We are working hard to help ceuticals, fl owers, among oth- and Google Play. India. Lucknow-bound passengers at HIA yesterday. The embassy also said that in addition to the Vande Bharat Mission fl ights, there are a sig- nifi cant number of company- chartered and community- Qatar to witness partial solar eclipse on June 21 chartered fl ights lined up to help repatriate Indian nationals Qatar residents will have a good chance to 48 minutes. from the Earth. There are four types of solar in the coming days. observe a partial solar eclipse on the morning On December 26, 2019, Qatar eclipse: total, partial, annular, and hybrid. “Please keep a watch and get of June 21, Qatar Calendar House (QCH) residents watched an annular “The Sun should not be looked at with naked in touch with your community announced. solar eclipse, while on October eyes during an eclipse,” cautioned Dr Marzouk associations to know about The annular solar eclipse will start over 25, 2022, they will be seeing while advising the use of solar eclipse glasses or these,” the embassy tweeted. Qatar sky at 7.13am local time and reach its a next partial solar eclipse, Dr filters. “Solar and lunar eclipses are important Meanwhile, three more maximum phase at 8.30am when the Moon Marzouk said. Generally, solar phenomena because they are validated fl ights took off from Hamad will cover 80% of the solar disc, astronomer eclipses occur when the moon astronomical calculations,” the expert pointed International Airport (HIA) expert at QCH, Dr Beshir Marzouk said. passes between the Sun and the Earth so that out. “If solar eclipses happen before the first yesterday as part of the Indian The partial solar eclipse will end over Qatar the Sun is fully or partially covered. This can of Hijric months (before new crescent), lunar government’s ongoing repa- A young Kannur-bound passenger at HIA yesterday. sky at 10.01am. The duration of all solar eclipse only happen before a new Moon phase; when eclipse happens at the middle of Hijric months triation initiative. phases over Qatar sky will be two hours and the Sun and Moon are in conjunction as seen (at full moon phase),” he added. IX 1476 left Doha for Kochi gers and three infants, while IX spectively, under Vande Bharat with 175 passengers and eight 1774 left Doha for Kannur with Mission, “bringing the total infants, the Indian embassy said. 178 passengers and six infants. number of repatriated passen- Then, IX 1128 took off from HIA These marked the 29th, 30th gers to 5,262 plus 151 infants”, Inspection campaign on street vendors for Lucknow with 180 passen- and 31st fl ights from Qatar, re- the embassy added. Nissan and GMC models recalled he General Cleanness and Lekhwiya force. guarantee that such violations Department at the Min- Muqbil Mansur al-Shemri, would not be repeated or recur- The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in been heat-treated and could break. Tistry of Municipality and director of the General Clean- ring ,especially during the week- co-operation with Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Co, The recalls come within the framework of the Environment (MME) carried ness Department, pointed out ends. announced the recall of Nissan Maxima models ministry’s ongoing eff orts to protect consumers out an inspection campaign on that this campaign targeted Meanwhile, Doha Municipal- of 2016-2018, Pathfinder Models of 2018-2019, and ensure that vehicle dealers follow up on street vendors at Msheireb and spotting the violators and ity’s General Control Depart- and Infiniti QX60 models of 2017-2018, due to a defects and repairs. Al Mansoura areas in co-op- curbing any encroachment on ment, in co-operation with the possible defect in the ABS Actuator. The ministry has said that it will co-ordinate with eration with the inspectors of state property across various General Cleanness Department The ministry has also announced, in co-operation the dealers to follow up on the maintenance the Ministry of Commerce and areas in the country. carried out a similar campaign Vegetables displayed for sale by with Mannai Trading Company, the recall of GMC and repair works and will communicate with Industry, Doha Municipality He said that these campaigns on street vendors at a number of a street vendor being removed Sierra Model of 2020, as the bolts used to attach customers to ensure that the necessary repairs Municipal Control Department are going on a regular basis to areas. during the inspection campaign. the front and rear brake calipers may not have are carried out. Gulf Times 4 Monday, June 15, 2020 QATAR Third edition of Italian ‘Making Cinema’ festival kicks off today

he third edition of “Fare of the extraordinary heritage of Cinema” – Making Cin- Italian cinema and of all the dif- Tema, an initiative by the ferent professions contributing Italian Ministry of Foreign Af- to make Made in Italy cinema fairs and International Co-oper- famous internationally. This ation aimed at promoting Italian year the festival will pay special QU-CPH holds virtual cinema and fi lm industry in the tribute to two of the greatest world will kick off today, the Ital- representatives of Italian cin- ian embassy in Doha announced. ema, Italian director Federico The festival, in collaboration Fellini and Italian actor Alberto with the Ministry of Culture Sordi, on the 100th anniversary end-of-year gathering and Tourism, the Italian Trade of their birth,” Italian ambassa- Agency, the National Associa- dor Alessandro Prunas said in a tion of Film, Audiovisual and statement. atar University College hats off for 2020 graduates, pro- have executed the event virtu- in advancing the pharmacy pro- Multimedia Industries and the Talking about the cultural ac- of Pharmacy (QU-CPH) fessor acknowledgment by the ally, great work, and special fession,” Dr Awaisi noted. Istituto Luce Cinecittà, will run tivities of the embassy of Italy at Qconcluded the Academic graduating batch and interactive thanks to all those who have Qatar Pharmacy Undergradu- until June 21. the time of Covid-19, the envoy Year 2019/2020 with its annual games. The event concluded with joined our family gathering.” ate Society president and CPH Thanks to the collaboration Italian ambassador Alessandro noted: “The pandemic has not end-of-year gathering through a group photo and closing re- “The theme of this year’s event Third professional year student, with Italian national broadcast- Prunas. stopped our calendar of cultural the WebEx platform in col- marks. summed up this semester ‘when Hend al-Naimi said: “Every year ing RAI, for the very fi rst time the initiatives; on the contrary, it has laboration with QU Information Dr Diab said, “We are very the impossible became possible’. we look forward to the CPH end- festival will be entirely in digital critics and journalists, lectures encouraged us to fi nd new crea- Technology Services Depart- glad that we were able to con- The way everyone - students, of-the-year gathering, it is a room format all over the world on the on careers in fi lm, short fi lms, tive ways to share Italian culture ment. duct our annual end-of-year staff and faculty- has adapted to for us students, faculty and ad- RaiPlay platform (www.raiplay. and other original material, through social media and digital The event saw more than 150 gathering virtually. This has online learning/ teaching/ work- ministrators to gather and share it). Viewers, especially those in available for free and without means.” attendees from the College of defi nitely been a challenging ing is remarkable and all have all all what we have done during the Qatar, can also stay tuned on the geographical restrictions. “We are about to launch a Pharmacy faculty, staff and stu- year and to end it up by this demonstrated brilliant resilience academic year. Due to Covid-19, embassy’s Twitter (@ItalyinQa- On June 20, during the “Fare campaign on co-operation be- dents from the diff erent profes- gathering is very rewarding. The and responsibility. Not a surprise we couldn’t gather as usual; the tar) and Facebook page (embassy Cinema”, Italy will also celebrate tween Italy and Qatar in the sional years. Opening remarks amount of eff orts put by faculty, by our amazing CPH family. We gathering was virtual. However, of Italy in Doha). the fi rst World Day of Italian cin- fi eld of science and research and were delivered by the CPH as- staff and students this semes- at the College of Pharmacy are it was a successful and a unique The billboard off ers an un- ema, deliberated by parliament more projects are planned for sistant dean for Students Aff airs ter is indescribable, the eff orts really proud of you all and wish event, in terms of the interaction, precedented array of content last December, and the fi ve “Best the upcoming months. Cultural Dr Alla El Awaisi followed by that have been exerted to ensure you continued success and we are activities and attendance. A great dedicated to the Italian cinema short fi lms” of the David di Don- exchange remains a pillar in the welcoming remarks by the CPH all that work has been done ef- certain you will successful lead- initiative from the college to end and fi lm industry, subtitled in atello 2020 Awards will be avail- embassy’s work and in a key sec- dean Dr Mohamed Diab and the fi ciently is fantastic. Thank you ers and overcome the many chal- the year and celebrate our success English, French and Spanish. It able on RaiPlay. tor of co-operation between Italy head of departments. to all CPH family for their hard lenges you will face as you are well even though we couldn’t meet as includes masterclasses with fi lm “Fare Cinema is a celebration and Qatar,” Prunas added. The programme also included work, many thanks to those who equipped to be agent for change usual.”

Works by new gen artists, designers on display at VCUarts online show

rt and design connoisseurs ing, bridal dresses, third culture visual languages, product, print fashion design, graphic design, from across the globe can kids, designer babies, Palestine, and website design, typogra- interior design and painting & Aconnect with Qatar’s lat- mental health, fake news, social phy, light and colour in interior printmaking, a Bachelor of Arts est generation of artists and de- hierarchies, and handbags are environments, home fashion degree in art history, and a Mas- signers at an online show that some of the themes that have merchandising, building code ter of Fine Arts degree in design. will highlight the works of some been examined by this year’s co- requirements, interior graphics, “Though the need to present of the most exciting and innova- hort of Fashion Design, Graphic printmaking, digital painting, the fi nal show of the class of 2020 tive artists and designers in the Design, Interior Design, MFA in screen-printing, lithography, in a digital format was driven by country. Design, and Painting and Print- computer programming, and the pandemic situation, we hope it From today, Virginia Common- making graduates. Altogether photographic stencil techniques, will result in even greater reach and wealth University School of the over 70 art and design projects by to name but a few. impact of the talent and creative Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar), a this year’s Bachelor of Fine Arts The Class of 2020 follow in the work that emerged from our inno- long-established centre of art and and Master of Fine Arts students footsteps of alumni whose works vative graduating students,” said design education in the Gulf re- – curated as the BFA+MFA 2020 have been shown at exhibitions VCUarts Qatar dean Amir Berbi”. gion, will provide the public with Online Show – will be on display and events everywhere from Doha, “We were thrilled with the ex- the opportunity to view the work at http://vcuqbfamfa.com Dubai, and London, to Berlin, pansive areas of interest and con- of the university’s Class of 2020 The online show highlights the Moscow, Paris, and Hong Kong. templation that were explored in students, through a website dedi- repertoire of skills and talents of VCUarts Qatar, a Qatar Foun- this collection, some on issues cated to their creativity. VCUarts Qatar’s Class of 2020. dation partner university, off ers that profoundly aff ect society Escaping chaos, cultural pro- These include animation, textile students the opportunity to earn and others from a more playful, Dance Studio, digital rendering, 2020, by VCUarts Qatar Interior Design Class of 2020 graduate Dina AlKha- duction in Qatar, edible packag- design, fabrication technology, a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in light perspective.” teeb from her thesis project titled, Designing with Nature.

Design by VCUarts Qatar MFA in Design Class of 2020 graduate Asma Derouiche from her thesis project titled, Cultural Production in Qatar. Design, Designs by VCUarts Qatar’s Class of 2020 Fashion Design graduates. Dialog and the New Authentic.

Phase 1 of lifting Covid-19 curbs ANNOUNCEMENT I, FATIMAH ALRAYES From Page 1 ronment has announced that it will open holder of eight parks today with restricted timings Work can resume in all specialities at pri- - from 4am until 9am and from 4pm un- vate healthcare facilities in Qatar, but serv- til 10pm daily. These are Al Wakra Public BELIZE Passport No. HP995303 ices provided should not exceed 40% of their Park, Al Khor Park, Al Qutaifi yah Park 66, QID No. 28308400002 maximum capacity, according to a circular is- Al Shamal City Park, Al Sailiya Park (Abu sued by the Ministry of Public Health. Nakhla), Al Dafna Park, Museum Park and Five hundred mosques across Qatar will Al Rayyan Park. hereby change my name be reopened in the fi rst phase today, the Aspire Zone Foundation will start wel- Ministry of Awqaf (Endowments) and Is- coming visitors on the walking tracks of from lamic Aff airs had announced recently. Aspire Park from today, while Katara - the According to the ministry’s announce- Cultural Village Foundation said the North FATIMAH ALRAYES ment, the mosques will be reopened in and South Katara Hills promenade will be various areas, including Abal Heeran, Bin reopened for walking purposes from today. to Omran, Bu Sidra, Bu Hamour, Ezgava, Al According to the Ministry of Interior, per- Salata Al Jadeeda, Umm Saneem, Umm Al sonal boats allowed in this phase include pri- FATIMA K EL RAYES Amad, Umm Salal Ali, Umm Salal Moham- vate cruisers not licensed for fi shing and des- ed, Gharrafat Al Rayyan, Umm Qarn, Umm ignated for ‘picnics’, as well as jet boats. These Lekhba, Al Luqta, Bane Hajer, Bu Sidra, Al vessels are to be used at half their capacity. Khor, Al Kheesa, Al Ruwais, Al Rayyan Al Also permitted are sambuks and personal Any objection, please contact Jadeed, Al Sadd, Al Sudan, Al Shahaniyya, yachts, where a maximum of 10 people are THE PERMANENT COMMITTEE FOR Al Azeeziya, Onaiza, Ain Khaled, Al Ghar- allowed. rafa, Madinat Khalifa South, Legataifi ya, Al The boats that are permitted should be NATIONALITY AFFAIRS Mirqab, Al Meshaf, Muaither South, Al Wa- used individually or for members of the within 15 days from the publication of this notice. jba, Al Hilal, Al Wakra and Al Wukair. same family from the same house, in addi- The Ministry of Municipality and Envi- tion to the driver. Gulf Times Monday, June 15, 2020 5 REGION/ARAB WORLD Iraq, Kuwait foreign ministers hold talks Russian ministers’ Turkey visit to discuss Libya, Syria postponed

AFP Istanbul Fuad Hussein, Iraq’s Foreign Minister, meets with his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Ahmad al- Pope appeals for end to Libyan civil war Nasser al-Sabah at the ministry of foreign aff airs in the capital Baghdad, yesterday. ussia’s foreign and de- Pope Francis appealed yesterday for both sides day. Meanwhile Russia and Turkey, who support fence ministers have post- in the Libyan civil war to seek peace, urging the opposing sides in Libya, have postponed ministerial- Rponed a planned visit to international community to facilitate talks and level talks on the conflict. Libya is divided between Turkey yesterday to discuss the protect refugees and migrants he said were victims the Libyan National Army (LNA) and the rival Gov- Libya and Syria confl icts where of cruelty, Reuters reported. ernment of National Accord (GNA) with nations split Moscow and Ankara back rival In an impassioned plea during his noon address in over their support of the LNA or the GNA. Iran daily virus deaths exceed forces. St Peter’s Square, Francis said he was pained by the In an apparent reference to the coronavirus pan- Sergei Lavrov and Sergei situation in Libya, which has had no stable central demic, Francis said the already precarious health Shoigu had intended to visit Is- authority since dictator Muammar Gaddafi was conditions of migrants, refugees and asylum seek- 100 for fi rst time in two months tanbul yesterday following an overthrown by Nato-backed rebels in 2011. ers had been aggravated, making them even more agreement between Turkish For more than five years Libya has had rival parlia- vulnerable to exploitation and violence. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ments and governments in the east and the west, “There is cruelty. I call on the international commu- with streets often controlled by armed groups and nity — Please! — to take their plight to heart...Broth- AFP Sadat Lari announced 107 According to Lari, seven of and his Russian counterpart Tehran deaths from Covid-19 in the Iran’s 31 provinces are currently Vladimir Putin, foreign minis- sporadic fighting. ers and sisters, we all have responsibility in this. past 24 hours, raising the over- classifi ed as “red” — the high- tries in both countries said on “Please! I urge international bodies and those who No-one can consider themselves dispensed from all toll to 8,837. est level on Iran’s colour-coded Saturday. But, without giving a have political and military responsibilities to restart, this,” he said. ran yesterday reported over “It was very painful for us to risk scale. reason, both said the visit was with conviction and resolve, the search for a path Human rights groups such as Doctors Without Bor- 100 deaths in a single day announce the triple digit fi g- But Rouhani has said the in- postponed and work was con- towards an end to violence, leading to peace, stabil- ders have said people in migrant detention centres Ifrom the novel coronavirus ure,” Lari said. crease in reported infections tinuing to reschedule a minis- ity and unity in the country,” he said. in Libya are being held in harmful conditions and for the fi rst time in two months, “This is an unpredictable and should not be taken as a sign of terial meeting. Turkish Foreign Egypt announced a new initiative for Libya on Satur- exposed to abuses. with authorities saying a recent wild virus and may surprise us a worsening health situation. Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and surge in confi rmed cases is due at any time,” she added, urging “When more tests are done, Lavrov agreed in a phone call to increased testing. Iranians to observe health pro- then naturally more cases are yesterday that contacts would and Russia — whose leaders the support of the Wagner alists, who then tried to march The Islamic republic has tocols. identifi ed,” he told a cabinet continue in the meantime, An- have forged a strong partner- mercenary group allegedly run on the capital. In Syria, Turkey struggled to contain what Iran last recorded over 100 meeting on Wednesday. kara said. ship in recent years — support by an ally of Putin. and Russia say they are work- has become the Middle East’s fatalities on April 13, with 111 The high number of recent Turkey’s defence minister is opposing sides in Libya, which Turkey supports the UN- ing to bring a political solution deadliest outbreak of the Cov- dead. cases “does not have a negative Hulusi Akar. has been riven by unrest since recognised Government of to the conflict. Iranian Foreign id-19 illness since it reported Lari also announced 2,472 aspect to it and people should In a statement on its Face- the fall of dictator Muammar National Accord (GNA) in Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif its fi rst cases in the holy city of new cases confi rmed in the past not worry”, he added. book page, the Russian min- Gaddafi in 2011. Tripoli. Turkish-backed GNA was expected to visit Istanbul Qom in February. day, bringing the total infection Iran has carried out more istry added the ministers “are Russia has backed eastern forces have in recent weeks re- ahead of talks with Turkish of- But since April, the country caseload to 187,427, with over than 1.2mn Covid-19 tests actively working to support a strongman Khalifa Haftar. captured outposts in western ficials today, a Turkish diplo- has progressively lifted restric- 148,000 recoveries. since its fi rst cases were report- settlement in Libya”. Turkey Haftar has reportedly enjoyed Libya seized by pro-Haftar loy- matic source said. tions aimed at containing the Iranian President Has- ed, according to Lari. outbreak to ease the intense san Rouhani on Saturday re- The health ministry’s head pressure on its sanctions-hit proached citizens for failing to epidemiologist, Mohamed- CONFLICT economy. observe measures designed to Mehdi Gouya, said last week Separatists in south Yemen seize convoy Offi cial fi gures have shown rein in the virus. that the primary cause of the a rising trajectory in new con- It was “disturbing” to see surge in reported infections Oman reports 1,404 with billions of riyals for central bank fi rmed cases since early May, that only “18 to 20% of people” was due to testing those “with when Iran hit a near two- observe health protocols and no or light symptoms”. Southern separatists in Yemen seized a consignment of billions of riyals month low in daily recorded social distancing, down from The gradual easing of lock- new Covid-19 cases intended for the central bank in Aden yesterday, in a further attempt infections. “80% or more” between April down measures has also partly to wrench control from the government since declaring self rule in the In televised remarks, health 20 and May 20, he said, citing contributed to higher infec- south in April. Forces loyal to the Southern Transitional Council (STC), which declared self rule in Aden in April, commandeered the convoy ministry spokeswoman Sima a report. tions, he added. QNA/Agencies headed by the interior minister, Muscat will study the speedy return of bearing the cash as it left the port, the central bank said in a statement economic activities, it said. on Saturday, warning of “dangerous consequences”. The convoy was carrying 64bn riyals in banknotes printed for the Yemeni central bank in man’s Ministry of The Kuwait Ministry of Russia, a government source said. Another government source said the Health registered 1,404 Health announced 454 cash was taken to a military base in what he said was “piracy”. “The action League’s virtual seminar to discuss is part of several measures to end sources of corruption and to prevent Onew coronavirus cases new infections of Covid-19, yesterday, which include 1,004 raising the total to 35,920 the use of public money in supporting terrorism,” the STC said in a state- expatriates and 400 Omanis. ment. This bold move could threaten a fragile peace between the STC eff ects of virus on labour market The total number of cases in Meanwhile, the Kuwait and the Saudi-backed government, nominal allies in a war against the the country has now touched Ministry of Health announced Houthi movement. The government and the STC signed an agreement 23,481, including 8,454 recov- yesterday, 454 new infections last year to end the their power struggle in the south, but the parties failed to implement the deal on the ground. QNA sult, its potential eff ects on the economies of the eries and 104 deaths, according of the coronavirus (Covid-19), Cairo countries will be severe and its repercussions are to the ministry. Oman has con- raising the total to 35,920, QNA signifi cant when it comes to the rates of unem- ducted 3,596 coronavirus tests reported. Deaths reached 296 ployment and poverty in the Arab region, espe- over the past 24 hours. Mean- with the addition of seven fa- UNREST he Secretariat General of the Arab League cially on the most aff ected groups like women, while, 100 patients are receiv- talities. Offi cial spokesperson Four Palestinians arrested in West Bank (Economic Sector) is organising a virtual the elderly and workers in unregulated sectors. ing intensive care treatment, of the Ministry of Health, Dr Tseminar on “The Eff ects and Repercus- Thus, it is necessary to study these repercus- the ministry said. Abdullah al-Sanad said in a The Israeli occupation forces arrested four Palestinian youths from Jenin sions of the Coronavirus Crisis on the Labour sions and determine the priorities, solutions, The sultan of Oman yes- press conference that the all and Bethlehem governorates in the occupied West Bank, QNA reported Market and the High Rates of Unemployment and plans and programmes appropriate to deal with terday ordered the formation the new cases were in contact from Ramallah. The Israeli occupation arrested three young men from Poverty in the Arab Region,” on June 24, with the the crisis. of committee to deal with the with those previously infected Harmala village in Bethlehem after raiding and searching the homes of participation of a number of Arab, regional and He added that the seminar will discuss a economic impact of the coro- or are being investigated for their families, according to the Palestinian News Agency (Wafa). Further, international organisations. number of topics, including the repercussions of navirus pandemic, a govern- sources of infection. the occupation forces arrested last night a young man from Kafr Dan Director of the Arab organisations and unions this crisis on the labour market, activating social ment media offi ce statement Earlier, the Kuwait Health village, west of Jenin, while he was passing through a military checkpoint administration at the Arab League Mohamed security programmes to fi ght poverty, reducing said, Reuters reported. Ministry announced the re- near Barta’a town. The Israeli occupation forces also raided and searched Khair Abdel Kader said in a statement yester- unemployment in the Arab region and the role of Oman has been hit hard by covery of 877 people from the several houses in Hebron, south of the West Bank. Security sources also day that the spread of the Covid-19 virus has hit development projects and entrepreneurships as the coronavirus pandemic and coronavirus (Covid-19), bring- said that the Israeli occupation searched a number of houses in Wadi the markets and public sectors strongly. As a re- an eff ective model for employing Arab youth. low oil prices. The committee, ing the tally to 26,759. Al-Hariya, south of Hebron. No arrests have been reported. Ancient Petra deserted as pandemic hits Jordan tourism

AFP birds singing.” One of the seven Petra, an immense ers, may be reluctant to return. Petra wonders of the world, and clas- 264,000-square metre (2.8mn With a population of around sifi ed as a Unesco world heritage sq feet) site south of Amman, 10mn, Jordan has officially site in 1985, Petra was once the saw a record “1.13mn visitors recorded just over 800 cases or over two millennia the capital of the nomadic Nabatae- last year, including a mn from of Covid-19 cases and nine ancient city of Petra has an Arab peoples and dates back abroad”, said Suleiman al-Fara- deaths. Ftowered majestically over to at least 200 years BC. jat, responsible for tourism and Tourism earned Jordan the Jordanian desert. With the passage of time, it development in Petra. $5.3bn last year, according to Today its famed rose-red tem- has become a beacon for tourism About 80% of the region’s Abed al-Razzaq Arabiyat, head ples hewn into the rockface lie in the country and the region. roughly 38,000 people who are of the Jordan Tourism Board. empty and silent. Its spectacular Al-Khazneh, mainly nomadic Bedouins, de- But revenues have almost As the novel coronavirus or Treasury, with its stunning pend on tourism directly or indi- completely dried up, he said, spread around the world, Jor- sandstone facade, is one of Pet- rectly, he said. promising measures to help danian authorities imposed a ra’s most famous attractions, Like Nael Nawas, 41, a father salvage the season, including a lockdown, and the last tourists and was a location for Steven of eight, who earned between focus on domestic tourism. left on March 16, a day before the Spielberg’s 1989 movie Indiana Jordan’s ancient city of Petra is pictured empty of tourists, amid the Suleiman al-Farajat, chief $40 to $55 a day, transporting Meanwhile, for Petra’s 45 Hashemite kingdom closed its Jones and the Last Crusade. But Covid-19 pandemic crisis. commissioner of the Petra tourists to and from the site on hotels, the situation is grim. borders. now, the steep winding Siq path development and tourism the back of his donkey. At the three-star La Mai- “It’s the fi rst time I’ve seen — a gorge over a kilometre long souvenir shops fade in the desert about 30 years. Jordan welcomes authority, during the interview. “We’ll be in a real pickle” if the son, a lonely receptionist eyed this place so empty.Usually that leads into Al-Khazneh — is sun. some 5mn visitors a year, and tourist industry doesn’t pick up, the entrance, with no guests in there are thousands of tourists,” deserted. The vast site, lying in a deep tourism accounts for 14% of the said. Jordan was already in a he said, adding that since mid- sight. “The pandemic came at said Nayef Hilalat, 42, who has Gone are the tourists normally valley between the Red Sea, in country’s GDP, employing about precarious situation before the March he has been working for a the peak of our tourist season,” worked as a guardian at the an- thronging the pathway on foot, the south, and the Dead Sea, to 100,000 people. pandemic, with unemployment livestock seller. said owner Tarek Twissi, who is cient archaeological site for a or riding on donkeys or in horse- the north, is a deserted town. A father of six, Nawafl eh used at 19.3% in the fi rst quarter of Farajat said he hoped visitors also the head of the Petra hotels decade. drawn carriages. Around 200 tour guides, along to earn some $70 a day. 2020. would return quickly to “coun- association. “Every year at this time the Life is in limbo. with 1,500 horse and donkey “In the past, the number of Bordering confl ict-torn Syria tries less affected by the pan- “Reservations were at over place would be buzzing with Tables at the site’s cafes for- owners, are out of work. visitors varied according to the and Iraq, and lacking the oil demic” like the kingdom. 90% and in less than a week they people,” he lamented, wearing a lornly gather dust or are littered It’s “a catastrophe”, said upheavals in the region.But to- wealth of some of its neighbours, But tour guide Nawafleh was were all cancelled”, he said. “The khaki cap bearing the Jordanian with forgotten plastic cups, 55-year-old Naim Nawafl eh, day, there are no tourists at all. the kingdom has worked to re- worried some tourists, particu- occupancy rate at my hotel is fl ag. “Today all we can hear is the while items like T-shirts in the who has been a guide here for It’s never happened before,” he vive its tourism industry. larly the elderly and pension- now at zero.” Gulf Times 6 Monday, June 15, 2020 AFRICA

Coronavirus crisis puts Nigeria’s corrupt fuel subsidy system in spotlight

By Celia Lebur and has limited refi nery capacity and tional Petroleum Corp (NNPC). go above it, you will be exploiting World Bank and the International tration, even if it is less rampant not aff ord to return to the old ways. Joel Olatunde Agoi, AFP actually imports the bulk of its re- From now on, offi cials pledged, people, that’s it.” Monetary Fund have long decried a than under Goodluck Jonathan After turning to the IMF for fi - Lagos fi ned products, including fuel. the market would determine the For Tunji Oyebanji, chairman scheme that swallows up vast sums when traders became billionaires nancial aid to weather the storm That fuel is then sold at a sub- cost at the pump. of the Major Oil Marketers Asso- that should otherwise be spent on in fi ve years,” said Benjamin Auge, it is also going to fi nd it harder to sidised rate in an opaque system As so often in Nigeria’s murky ciation of Nigeria, offi cial action sectors such as health or education. a researcher at the French Insti- shrug off pressure to make genu- lunging oil prices and collaps- aimed at keeping average Ni- world of big money and vested has fallen well short of the pro- President Muhammadu Buhari tute for International Relations. ine reforms. ing state revenues have seen gerians happy — but it also left interests, not everything has nouncements. shook things up after his election Given the vast fortunes being And on the horizon there is PNigerian authorities vow an plenty of scope for corruption by turned out quite so straightfor- “We don’t really understand in 2015 on a platform to tackle made from the scheme many in anyway a major game-changer end to a controversial fuel subsidy offi cials and traders. ward. what the government is up to,” he Nigeria’s endemic graft. the industry are sceptical that it coming that could radically over- scheme long criticised as a graft- Over the past few months the Despite the insistence of the told AFP. “Where are (the) market He took over the oil minis- can ever change. haul the market. ridden drain on public fi nances. coronavirus crisis and turmoil authorities that the subsidy sys- forces determining price in this?” try and ordered state behemoth “With the crisis, the price of a Africa’s richest man Aliko But there are major doubts that worldwide has upended all this. tem is over, many in the industry His organisation — which rep- NNPC to become the sole fuel barrel fell so low that there was Dangote is building a gigantic Africa’s most populous country The fall in global oil prices complain the government refuses resents large fi lling station owners importer into the country. nothing left to benefi t anymore refi nery on the edge of econom- is fi nally ready to wean itself off means that fuel coming in from to relinquish control. — has long pushed for the govern- The move may have cut out from the subsidy system,” said ic hub Lagos which is expected a system that has helped some in outside no longer needs to be So far the authorities have con- ment to let pump prices go free. some of the more egregious one operator on condition of eventually to handle 650,000 high places siphon billions from subsidised, just as Nigeria’s state tinued to set a pricing band that “We maintain that a full de- abuses under the previous ad- anonymity. “But when prices go barrels a day. government coff ers. revenues have taken a major hit. they say retailers must stick to. regulation and liberalisation of ministration of president Good- up again, won’t they back off and While construction has been The fuel subsidy scheme has Taking advantage of the slump “Nigerians shouldn’t be over- the downstream sector is the so- luck Jonathan. restore the lucrative subsidies?” hit by repeated delays, includ- been described as a sprawling to save its much-needed re- charged, that’s what we are saying,” lution,” Oyebanji said. But critics say putting the no- Some are more hopeful that ing the current crisis, the facility web of patronage and misman- serves, the Nigerian authorities said Apollo Kimchi, spokesman for The current scrap over the fuel toriously unaccountable NNPC in the current global turmoil will should end up slashing the need agement that encapsulates the announced an end to the old sys- the state Petroleum Products Pric- subsidy is just the latest tussle charge only made funds harder to hasten an end to the subsidies for imports — and so for subsi- dysfunction plaguing the conti- tem in April. ing Regulatory Agency. about change to a system that has trace and immense sums have con- once and for all. dies. nental powerhouse. “There is no subsidy and it is “We advise marketers — this helped some at the top grow seri- tinued to vanish into the system. Researcher Auge said that the “This time the state doesn’t Despite being Africa’s largest oil zero forever,” said Mele Kyari, the is how you sell, you shouldn’t go ously wealthy over the years. “Corruption has not disap- collapse in state revenues means have a choice,” said Auge. “It is producer, Opec member Nigeria head of state-run Nigeria Na- above (this) price because if you International lenders like the peared under Buhari’s adminis- that the government simply can- the end of the system.”

Distance education Dozens killed in Nigeria as militants raid remote village

AFP said government-backed militia member Bukar Kano Ari. He said several residents wounded by “stray bullets and shrapnel” were being treated at a xtremists linked to the Islamic State group clinic run by an international charity. killed dozens of people in the latest of a Monguno — home to a key army base and over Efl urry of bloody attacks in northeast Ni- 150,000 people displaced by the region’s decade- Teachers wait for parents to drive-through as they fetch school work and Term 1 reports for their children, amid the coronavirus pandemic, geria, local sources said yesterday. long insurgency — has been repeatedly targeted at Mondeor High School, south of Johannesburg. Inhabitants of remote Goni Usmanti village by the militants. told AFP that fi ghters gunned down 38 people in Residents said the assailants torched a police a raid on Saturday and set a truck ablaze, killing station and government buildings before military an unknown number of passengers. jets launched air strikes against them. Somalia ‘recognises’ Security sources and residents said at least 15 The United Nations said in a statement it was people, including nine soldiers, died hours later “appalled” by the two attacks in which “many ci- leader in restive state in a second attack by the militants on the town of vilians were killed, including a four-year old girl” Congo’s gold being smuggled out Monguno, 60km away. and at least 37 wounded. he Somali government yesterday The killings are the latest in a spike of assaults It said a major humanitarian facility in Mon- by the tonne, UN report fi nds offi cially recognised the con- by fi ghters believed to be from the Islamic State guno holding 50 aid workers sustained only light Ttested leader of the semi-auton- West Africa Province (ISWAP) faction after they damage but appeared to have been “directly tar- omous Jubaland state after months of massacred 81 people at a village in the area last geted and an unexploded projectile was found at rising tensions and armed violence. Tuesday. the gate”. Reuters to $1.88mn in taxes had it been legally exported. Ahmed Madobe, a former warlord, Militants in pickup trucks on Saturday shot Vehicles and buildings belonging the UN and Kinshasa Across all gold-producing provinces the loss was re-elected as president of the dead fl eeing residents in Goni Usmanti after brief international aid groups outside the compound is likely much greater. Artisanal miners in Con- state in August 2019 in an election clashes with members of a local government- were set on fi re, it said. go produce 15 to 22 tonnes of gold a year, Ger- boycotted by the federal government backed militia, sources said. “I am relieved all staff are safe and secure, but old production in Democratic Republic many’s Federal Institute for Geosciences and who backed a loyalist candidate in a “The insurgents killed 38 people, including six I am shocked by the intensity of this attack,” Ed- of Congo continues to be systematical- Natural Resources has estimated. parallel election. vigilantes who put up a fi ght before they were ward Kallon, UN humanitarian coordinator in Gly under-reported while tonnes of the “The country remained one of the Great Lakes The Jubaland crisis strained ties be- overpowered,” local self-defence group leader Nigeria, said. precious metal is smuggled into global supply region’s largest artisanal gold producers, and yet tween Kenya — who backed Madobe — Babakura Kolo said. “It is the latest of too many clashes aff ecting chains through its eastern neighbours, a United one of its smallest offi cial exporters,” the Group of and Somalia, which has long accused Resident Grema Nuwaisu gave the same toll civilians, humanitarian actors and the assistance Nations report has found. Experts wrote. Asked by Reuters about the report, its larger neighbour of meddling in its and said the fi ghters had also opened fi re on a we provide.” The countries along Congo’s eastern border Congo’s mines minister, Willy Kitobo Samsoni, aff airs. lorry loaded with traders, burning the vehicle The Nigerian military wrote on Twitter yester- have long been conduits for gold worth billions said he could not immediately share his fi gures on Those tensions escalated in March, and those inside. day that the army and air force had “successfully of dollars mined using rudimentary means by mineral smuggling from the east of the country. when heavy fi ghting broke out near “We don’t know how many people were on the repelled” the attack on Monguno and killed 20 so-called “artisanal” miners. The UN experts also found that Uganda and the Kenyan border between Somali lorry which was full,” Nuwaisu said. militants. Diffi cult to trace, trade in the precious metal other neighbouring countries export far more gold troops and Jubaland forces, with Ken- “It was completely burnt, making it diffi cult to It made no mention of any casualties among has fuelled regional wars, funded rebel fi ghters than they produce, suggesting they might still be ya accusing Somali troops of violating identify bodies. Only two passengers jumped off soldiers and civilians or of the attack on Goni Us- and led to UN sanctions on traders involved in a staging posts for smuggled Congolese gold. its territorial integrity. the truck and escaped.” manti. bid to staunch the fl ow. More than 95% of gold exports from Uganda The rival leaders in Jubaland signed The same group of militants was then believed The 10-year confl ict in northeast Nigeria has North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri provinces in 2019, which totalled just over 25 tonnes, were a peace pact in April. to have carried out an attack on the strategic gar- killed at least 36,000 people and forced 2mn reported offi cial production of just over 60kg not of Ugandan origin, the group estimated, “In considering the need to have an rison town of Monguno several hours later. from their homes. of artisanal gold in 2019, yet exported a total of based on 2018 production and 2019 export data. administration that is mutually ac- Security sources and residents yesterday The Nigerian authorities have repeatedly just over 73kg, the UN Group of Experts on the Uganda’s gold exports more than doubled in cepted by all the local people, and in raised the death toll from that assault from six to claimed the insurgency has been largely defeated. Congo found in its annual report. 2019 compared with the previous year, central order to end the protracted confl icts” 15 as more bodies were discovered. ISWAP split from the Boko Haram extremist The group estimated that at least 1.1 tonnes of bank data showed in March. Uganda’s energy the government recognises Madobe as “The number of those killed is now 15, includ- group in 2016 and pledged allegiance to the Is- gold were smuggled out of Ituri province alone in minister did not immediately respond to a re- Jubaland leader, said a statement from ing nine soldiers, a vigilante and fi ve civilians,” lamic State group. 2019. That would have earned the government up quest for comment on the report. the offi ce of the president. Find better ways to depict history, says South African #RhodesMustFall activist

By Nita Bhalla, Reuters generation, we have diff erent attitudes picture properly of the university with play for public education purposes. I Nairobi and the continued presence of these the backdrop of the Table Mountain be- think placing them in museums with monuments is problematic.” cause of the statue,” said Mahapa. appropriate contextual background A mining magnate, Rhodes was “When I looked at it, I felt a sense of would be appropriate,” said Mahapa. ountries must fi nd more crea- a central fi gure in Britain’s colonial loss. I felt a sense of displacement. The “Or even relocating them to less tive ways to depict their history project in southern Africa, giving his statue was telling me that I didn’t be- prominent places within a city or Cthan statues that glorify racists name to Rhodesia, present-day Zim- long there.” university may also be appropri- and colonialists, a founder of South babwe, and founding the De Beers dia- After over a month of protests, uni- ate depending on the context and the Africa’s successful Rhodes Must Fall mond empire. versity authorities relented and the outcome of the public participation movement has said. He made his fortune from the ex- statue was removed — but not before process.” A wave of anti-racism protests ploitation of African miners, secured inspiring a similar movement by Ox- Mahapa, now a researcher with the sweeping across the United States and power through bloody imperial wars ford University students, which has Land and Accountability Research Europe has reignited debate about and paved the way to apartheid with his been reinvigorated by the current glo- Centre in the Department of Public monuments that glorify countries’ im- beliefs and measures on racial segrega- bal protests against racism. Law at the University of Cape Town, perialist pasts, which many people see tion. In recent days, monuments of British says the statue’s removal has led to as off ensive in today’s multi-ethnic so- In March 2015, Mahapa led hundreds slave traders Robert Milligan and Ed- more conversation among students ciety. of students at the University of Cape ward Colston, Belgian’s King Leopold about racial injustice. Statues linked to colonialism and Town in the #RhodesMustFall protests II, explorer Christopher Columbus and But, he added, much more needs to slavery have been defaced or pulled to remove the statue from the entrance confederate leaders such as Jeff erson be done. “If you go around Cape Town down in the United States, Britain and steps to the university. Davis have been torn down by protes- university today, it is still full of colo- Belgium amid protests sparked by the A monument to Cecil Rhodes in Cape Town. (Picture taken with a fish-eye lens.) Students said it glorifi ed a man seen tors or authorities. nial iconography. There are plaques and death of George Floyd, a black man, by many as an architect of apartheid, Mahapa said changing the wording pictures of old white men who are ben- after a policeman knelt on his neck for a statue of imperialist tycoon Cecil way to go about it — especially given that and that the university campus should on plaques of monuments to provide efactors or ministers of education from almost nine minutes. Rhodes, said he was encouraged by the many of them are about glorifying op- be more representative of South Af- historical context and background, as the apartheid era everywhere. Ramabani Mahapa, who served as movements across the world. pression and racism,” said Mahapa, 28. rica’s diverse history and culture. some supporters of the monuments “There is nothing really African here president of the University of Cape “We’ve got to fi nd diff erent ways of “The goal when they were erected “The statue had a very prominent have suggested, was not the solution. that we can identify with. There is Town Students Representative Coun- educating the public about our history. was a testament to the attitudes to- position right at the entrance to the “There may be other creative ways nothing that says ‘Black child, you be- cil and led a 2015 campaign to remove I don’t think these statues are the right wards race at the time. As the current university. You couldn’t even take a that these statues could be put on dis- long here’”. Gulf Times Monday, June 15, 2020 7 AMERICAS

Black Republican senator says open Atlanta police chief resigns to ‘decertifi cation’ of bad police

Reuters after offi cer kills black man Washington im Scott, the only black AFP Republican member of the Washington TUS Senate, said yesterday he is open to exploring whether to enact a new law that would he police chief in the US city of decertify bad police offi cers as Atlanta resigned after an offi cer part of a larger law enforcement Tfatally shot a black man during reform package. an arrest, the mayor said late on Satur- Speaking on CBS, Scott said day, with the new killing injecting fresh a new policy to decertify police anger into protests against racism and who engage in misconduct could police brutality. be a compromise as he negoti- Images on local media showed hun- ates with Democrats, who have dreds of protesters in the streets on Sat- called for more drastic measures, urday and fl ames engulfi ng a Wendy’s such as ending the “qualifi ed im- restaurant where 27-year-old Rayshard munity” legal doctrine that helps Brooks was killed. shield offi cers from liability. The offi cer who shot Brooks was dis- The idea of decertifying offi c- missed on Saturday and identifi ed by ers who engage in misconduct Atlanta police as Garrett Rolfe. The sec- has been promoted by civil rights ond offi cer was placed on administra- groups such as the NAACP Legal tive duty, according to ABC News. Defense Fund, and would entail In televised comments made earlier creating a national database to in the day, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms help ensure problematic offi cers said that Shields, with more than two are not allowed to transfer from decades of experience in the force, “has department to department. off ered to immediately step aside as po- Scott acknowledged that lice chief.” implementing decertifi cation Demonstrators were out on the standards could be an uphill bat- streets before night fell on Saturday, tle due to opposition by police with one group blocking a highway near unions, but he said the proposal the Wendy’s restaurant and facing off is nevertheless up for discussion. with police. Dozens of protesters were In response to public outrage arrested, CNN quoted the Atlanta po- over high profi le police killings lice as saying. of African Americans including The unrest comes as the US faces George Floyd, who died after a a historic reckoning on systemic rac- white police offi cer knelt on his ism, with mass civil unrest ignited by neck, Democrats and Republi- the May 25 killing of another African- cans in Washington have been American man, George Floyd, while in pulling together their own ver- police custody. Floyd died after a white sions of police reform legislation. Minneapolis police offi cer knelt on his “I think there’s a way for us to neck for nearly nine minutes. deal with it,” Scott. Protests which spread fi rst around “Decertifi cation would be a the country then the globe, have forced path that I would be interested in a conversation on the legacies of slav- looking at.” ery, colonialism and white violence Senate Majority Leader Mitch against people of colour, as well as the McConnell last week tapped militarization of police in America. Scott to oversee the Republican Georgia has been hit hard by these eff ort, which is due to be an- protests. nounced this week. A black man, Ahmaud Arbery, was Floyd’s May 25 death has led killed in the state’s southwest by one of to nationwide protests, as well three white men who chased him down Protesters take over a large portion of a major intersection at the ‘DEFUND THE POLICE BLOCK PARTY’ in Charlottesville, Virginia. as rallies in countries around in pickup trucks while he was out jog- the world, with demonstrators ging in February. Surveillance video showed “that after surgery, it said, adding that one of- trapped. Why did you have to kill him? Constitution. Fifteen of those incidents demanding legislative change to Wendy’s employees called police on during a physical struggle with offi c- fi cer was injured. “(The offi cer) had other options than were fatal. combat racial injustice and hold Friday night to complain that Brooks ers, Brooks obtained one of the offi cer’s An attorney acting for the dead man’s shooting a man in the back.” “I watched this on the internet, from police more accountable. was asleep in his car and blocking other Tasers and began to fl ee from the scene,” family said disproportionate force was Brooks has four children, Stewart the whole George Floyd situation to Democrats who control the customers on the premises, an offi cial the report continued. used in the confrontation. added, and had celebrated the birthday coming together like we’re doing,” said US House of Representatives report said. “Offi cers pursued Brooks on foot and “In Georgia a Taser is not a deadly of his eight-year-old girl earlier on Fri- Brooks’ cousin, Decatur Redd, clearly unveiled their own draft legisla- He failed a sobriety test and resisted during the chase, Brooks turned and weapon — that’s the law,” L Chris Stew- day. His death is the 48th shooting in- shaken. “The most hurtful thing for tion last week that would allow when police tried to arrest him, the pointed the Taser at the offi cer. The offi cer art told reporters. volving an offi cer that the GBI has been me is to watch the video, wake up and victims of police misconduct Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) fi red his weapon, striking Brooks,” it said. “Support came, in I think two min- asked to investigate this year, according watch the video,” he added. “And I got to sue offi cers for damages, ban said. Brooks was taken to hospital but died utes. He would have been boxed in and to local newspaper the Atlanta Journal- two little boys, they see the same video.” chokeholds, require the use of body cameras by federal law en- forcement offi cers, and restrict the use of lethal force. Scott said yesterday the Re- publican Party viewed elimi- Trump’s unsteady ramp walk raises new questions about his health nating qualifi ed immunity as a “poison pill,” but he still felt op- timistic that a compromise could AFP the health and acuity of his presumptive But Trump also appeared to have when Trump said he had been tak- cal weakness, it could undercut his fre- be reached in many other areas. Washington election opponent, Democrat Joe Biden trouble on Saturday lifting a glass of ing a course of hydroxychloroquine, a quent attacks on Biden, his presumptive He said his proposal will have — who is three years his senior — the water to his lips — beginning the gesture drug he believed could help fend off the opponent in November. several pillars of reform, includ- question of physical fi tness could weigh with his right hand but then raising his coronavirus, despite a lack of medical In March, Trump tweeted that Biden ing requiring police departments s President Donald Trump heavily in the campaign ahead. left hand apparently to help. evidence. was “weak, both mentally and physi- to provide the Justice Department turned 74 yesterday, an incident After a widely circulated video on And, not for the fi rst time, he seemed Side eff ects of the drug include dizzi- cally.” with more data on excessive use Aa day earlier in which he ap- Saturday showed Trump walking ten- to mispronounce a number of names ness and nausea. And on June 11, he said on Twitter of force, mandated de-escalation peared unsteady on his feet has revived tatively and unsteadily down a long of well-known Americans, including Trump has repeatedly tested negative that Biden “acts diff erent than he used training and provisions to deal questions about his health as he heads ramp after delivering a commencement those of army generals Ulysses S Grant for Covid-19. to, he’s even slower than he used to be.” with police misconduct. into a gruelling re-election campaign. speech at West Point, he took to Twitter and Douglas MacArthur. Speculation had been fuelled last During his 2016 campaign, Trump Despite disagreements over Scrutiny of a president’s health is al- to issue an explanation. His West Point performance was not November, when Trump made an un- had attacked then-opponent Hillary qualifi ed immunity, there ap- ways intense, and Trump has generally “The ramp that I descended after my the fi rst time Trump’s health has been scheduled and secretive visit to the Clinton after she fell ill at a campaign pears to be growing bipartisan appeared vigorous for his age. West Point Commencement speech was questioned, particularly by his avowed Walter Reed National Military Medical event, saying she was not physically up consensus about limiting the use Results of a routine physical released very long & steep, had no handrail and, political critics, whose speculation has Center in Bethesda, Maryland. to the task of being president. of chokeholds, a manoeuvre that early this month showed he was over- most importantly, was very slippery,” run the gamut from early dementia to a The White House called the visit an During that campaign, Trump’s also led to the high-profi le death weight — 110kg — but with otherwise Trump said. minor stroke. “interim checkup” — though it was un- longtime doctor, Harold Bornstein, of Eric Garner by a white police normal test results. “The last thing I was going to do is Late last month, Trump seemed to usual, coming just nine months after his wrote in a letter that his patient’s health offi cer in New York City. But his appearance on Saturday at the ‘fall’ for the Fake News to have fun with. have trouble standing still during a sol- previous exam — and rejected specula- was “astonishingly excellent” and that “I do believe chokeholds US military academy in West Point, New Final ten feet I ran down to level ground. emn wreath-laying ceremony at Ar- tion about any “urgent or acute issues.” his strength and stamina were “extraor- should be banned,” Republican York raised new questions about apparent Momentum!” lington National Cemetery, near Wash- A spokeswoman insisted that Trump dinary.” Senator James Lankford of Okla- signs of unsteadiness, balance problems Reporters at the scene said the ington, though some commentators had more energy “than anyone in the But in 2018, Bornstein told CNN that homa said on CNN, adding the and trouble enunciating certain words. weather was dry and the ramp not par- said he might simply have been weary. White House.” Trump himself “dictated that whole Republican reform bill will be on Since Trump has regularly mocked ticularly steep. That appearance also came at a time Should Trump show signs of physi- letter. I didn’t write that letter.” presented on Wednesday. Canada urged to open its eyes to systemic racism in wake of police violence

By Leyland Cecco the head of the RCMP – have cast and indigenous peoples in Can- “It’s important to “Even today, the police will al- bodies in this country,” said mation hidden, because then it Guardian News and Media doubt on the idea that racism is ada are disproportionately over- incorporate anti-black ways look at indigenous people Arcand-Paul. makes them less responsible for entrenched in the country’s in- represented in prisons and jails racism into curricula, but and black folks in our territories Some police forces, including actually acknowledging this is a stitutions. across the country. also black history. Not just as potentially requiring some in Canada’s largest city, have ac- problem.” fter a string of violent “Thank God we’re diff erent As students, they face harsh- civil rights heroes, but also kind of suppression.” knowledged systemic racism ex- Mohamed points to the prac- incidents involving po- than the United States and we er discipline in schools and are black artists” Protesters have highlighted the ists and pledged to make change. tice of ‘carding’ – Canada’s Alice offi cers, activists and don’t have the systemic, deep suspended at a higher rate than case of Chantel Moore, 26, who Last week, Toronto police chief version of stop-and-frisk – in ordinary people across Canada roots they’ve had for years,” said white students. position, saying: “I did acknowl- was fatally shot last month by Mark Saunders knelt with pro- which police conduct street have joined the global chorus Ontario premier Doug Ford, In Toronto, the country’s larg- edge that we, like others, have offi cers during a mental health testers. checks of residents with little or calling for a reckoning with rac- a view echoed by neighbour- est city, black residents are 20 racism in our organization, but I “wellness check”. But such actions have also no cause. ism, policing, inequality and the ing Quebec premier François times more likely to be shot by did not say defi nitively that sys- But Arcand-Paul said her raised scepticism among activ- While agencies have defended long reach of history. Legault. police. temic racism exists in the RCMP. death was only the latest in a ists. the practice in the past, the lim- In recent weeks, a black wom- RCMP commissioner Brenda Last week, Justin Trudeau I should have.” litany of cases where Indigenous “Police in Canada are trying to ited available data shows the pol- an fell to her death after police Lucki told the Globe and Mail: contradicted the RCMP chief’s Some argue that Canada’s na- lives are lost and families denied escape this moment of criticism icy disproportionately impacts were called to her fl at in Toronto; “I think that if systemic rac- comments, saying it was clear tional police force is itself em- justice. by casting themselves compas- racialised communities. an Indigenous woman suff ering ism is meaning that racism is systemic racism was present in blematic of racism. He points to the case of Gerald sionate forces that care about “It’s important to incorporate a mental health crisis was shot entrenched in our policies and the country’s federal police force. “The RCMP was not created to Stanley, a white farmer who shot these issues. However, once anti-black racism into curricula, dead by an offi cer in New Bruns- procedures, I would say that we “As much as we admire and protect indigenous people. It was Colten Boushie, an indigenous you actually dig into the data, it but also black history. Not just wick and footage emerged show- don’t have systemic racism.” support the RCMP, we know we created to protect white settlers man, in the head – but was ac- shows this is not necessarily the civil rights heroes, but also black ing Royal Canadian Mounted Po- Activists and historians argue need to do better. It is not just from indigenous folks – while quitted by an all-white jury. case,” said Bashir Mohamed, a artists,” said Mohamed. lice offi cers in Alberta forcing a that before change can come, the individual examples we have suppressing our ceremonies and “When we talk about system- researcher and amateur historian “This shows that my people First Nations chief to the ground Canadians must fi rst accept a seen, it’s the issues faced by Ca- implementing laws that sought ic racism, we’re not just trying whose work has highlighted the existed in Canada. It shows that and punching him in the head. tarnished history and the per- nadians of diverse backgrounds to decimate us,” said Brooks to lay the blame on the RCMP. often-forgotten racist history of we have a long history of slav- But amid the growing anger, a sistent structural inequities that over years, decades and genera- Arcand-Paul, a Cree lawyer and It’s the entire structure that western Canada. ery over 200 years, but also have number of prominent Canadi- it has bequeathed the nation. tions,” the prime minister said. executive on the Indigenous Bar is causing continued violence “I think it’s by design that a long history of black arts and ans – premiers, columnists and The numbers are clear: black On Friday, Lucki clarifi ed her Association. against black and indigenous police forces want this infor- black culture.” Gulf Times 8 Monday, June 15, 2020 ASIA Lecturer Bangladesh minister charged over dies of coronavirus Facebook IANS Government spokesperson Dhaka Chowdhury said Nasim, who virus post had held the health portfolio be- tween 2014 and 2019, was hos- AFP Munira, a lecturer Bangladesh government pitalised on June 1 after having Dhaka at northern Begum minister died due to the tested positive for the corona- Rokeya University, Anovel coronavirus, as virus. He also suff ered a stroke later apologised and tests conducted after his death after being admitted. Bangladesh university deleted her comments at a hospital in Dhaka revealed he At least two other ministers lecturer has been charged aft er posting them on was suff ering from Covid-19, of- have also tested positive for A under controversial dig- Facebook fi cials said yesterday. the coronavirus and are cur- ital security laws for allegedly Junior Minister for Religious rently undergoing treatment at a mocking an ex-health minister ative reactions and undermined Aff airs, Sheikh Abdullah, died on hospital. who died of coronavirus, the the image of the country.” Saturday night at the Combined According to the health au- latest in a string of arrests over Munira, a lecturer at north- Military Hospital, reports Efe thorities, there were 2,856 fresh social media posts about the ern Begum Rokeya University, news. cases of Covid-19 detected on epidemic. later apologised and deleted her “He was feeling chest pain Saturday, taking total to 84,379 The detention late Saturday of comments after posting them on and (had) breathing problems, confi rmed cases, including 1,139 Sirajum Munira, 28, came after Facebook. doctors declared him dead deaths. former health minister Moham- At least 44 people have been once he reached the hospital. Moreover, 1,003 doctors and ed Nasim died of the virus. arrested and charged since He died possibly on his way,” 1,010 nurses have been found There is growing concern March under internet laws for his colleague, Khalid Mahmud to have been infected with the about the spread of the virus allegedly spreading rumour and Chowdhury, revealed to Efe. highly infectious coronavirus in across the impoverished coun- propaganda. “His sample was taken for the country. try, which has been re-opening The virus has claimed the lives coronavirus test after his death Bangladesh on Saturday over- after a lockdown despite rising of a swathe of prominent Bang- and today (Sunday) it came posi- took China in the total number of new cases. ladeshis, including business ty- tive,” said Chowdhury, who is coronavirus cases and is now 18th Activists say internet laws are coons, bureaucrats and senior the state minister for shipping. on the list of most-aff ected na- being used to suppress criticism doctors. This makes Abdullah, 75, the tions, according to data released of the government’s handling the Frontline workers including senior-most Bangladesh offi cial by John Hopkins University. epidemic. police offi cers have also been hit to die from Covid-19. Bangladesh imposed a lock- “She posted a derogatory by the pandemic. Earlier on Saturday, former down in the country on March comment on the death of Mo- Two ministers in Prime Min- Health Minister Mohamed 26 to check the spread of the hamed Nasim. She mocked a ister Sheikh Hasina’s cabinet, as Nasim passed away at a Dhaka coronavirus. A guard of honour (foreground) pays tribute to late Awami League leader and former health minister dead person,” local police chief well as fi ve members of parlia- hospital, where he was undergo- The lockdown measures were Mohamed Nasim as AL off icials and activists (background) attend his burial at the Banani raveyardg in Rabiul Islam said. ment, have also been infected, a ing treatment for Covid-19. partially lifted on May 31. Dhaka yesterday. “It went viral and created neg- minister said. Indonesia Lanka holds mock poll reports 857 to test virus measures new virus AFP said Wednesday the vote would “Offi cials and polling agents cases, 43 Colombo be held on August 5. will be behind clear plastic The island nation of 21mn screens or wear face shields. people has steadily lifted its We have also ensured that vot- ri Lanka staged a mock lockdown restrictions, al- ers will stand a metre apart more deaths election yesterday to test though a night curfew remains. when they queue up.” Smeasures aimed at pre- The new health measures - Voters will also be required venting the spread of the coro- to be implemented at polling to bring their own pen or pencil Reuters navirus during a parliamentary booths and counting centres to mark ballot papers. Jakarta vote in August. - were trialled in four of the 22 President Gotabaya Ra- The poll was due to be held electoral districts, commission japaksa, who won a landslide on April 25 but was put off and chairman Mahinda Deshapriya at November’s presidential ndonesia reported 857 new then postponed indefi nitely due told reporters. polls, has been hoping the par- coronavirus infections and to the epidemic, which offi cial “We were very pleased to see liamentary vote would secure I43 more deaths yesterday, fi gures show has infected nearly that all those who volunteered his party a two-thirds majority taking the total number of cases 2,000 people and killed 11. to take part in this exercise to- and give him sweeping powers to 38,277 and fatalities to 2,134, The election commission day wore face masks,” he said. to govern the nation. health ministry offi cial Achmad Yurianto said. Yurianto said 755 more pa- tients had recovered from the vi- rus, bringing the total number of recovered cases to 14,531. Indonesia has tested 322,933 An employee (left) wearing a face mask and shield takes the temperature of a customer waiting for a people for the virus as of table outside a cafe as the capital city continues its partial lockdown restrictions due to the coronavirus yesterday. outbreak in Jakarta yesterday. Pandemic no match for door-to-door teachers in Indonesia’s remote village

A Sri Lankan election off icial behind a plastic sheet marks the finger of a voter (second left) with ink AFP lous nation, home to a quarter of many rural Indonesians lacked even go to school,” she said. during a mock election to test the guidelines implemented against the coronavirus in Ingiriya of Magelang billion people. Internet service. “Just being able to send their Kalutara District in Western Province yesterday. Nearly 70mn children and “We have to rely on the feet children to school is an extraor- young people have been aff ect- on the street - the actual teach- dinary achievement.” eacher Henrikus Suro- ed by school shutdowns which ers that mobilise themselves to Fina, who like many Indone- to vowed his students started in mid-March. teach door to door,” he said last sians goes by one name, opted Twouldn’t be cheated out While the pandemic has month. not to visit students as she has of their education when the glo- sparked a boom in online learn- The pandemic has under- a baby and lives in an area with a Vietnam schoolgirl creates art bal pandemic forced schools to ing, about one-third of Indone- scored huge challenges in updat- high infection rate. be closed in Indonesia’s remote sia’s nearly 270mn people don’t ing creaky infrastructure across “But this pandemic has taught Kenalan village. have access to the Internet or the nearly 5,000km (3,100 mile) us that, while technology is good from the chaos of coronavirus So he braves windy moun- even, in some cases, electricity. southeast Asian archipelago - a and very helpful, it so far cannot tain roads and sheer cliff drops Suroto and other Indone- key priority for president Joko replace the presence of teach- tuck at home with school suspended, to visit the poor farming com- sian teachers say they wear face Widodo. ers,” she said. Nguyen Doi Chung Anh made the most munity in Central Java, where masks, but the threats of becom- “Infrastructure-wise, Indo- As Indonesian authorities Sof a lockdown in Vietnam by using art to online classes are out of the ing sick or infecting students are nesia is not fully ready for online consider reopening schools, demonstrate tragedy, resilience and chaos in question due to a lack of Internet ever-present. learning,” said Christina Kris- critics warn it is too early as the the world’s battle against the coronavirus. service. Avan Fathurrahman, an el- tiyani, an education expert at nation’s virus curve has yet to The work of 10-year-old Chung Anh shows Not only is Suroto risking ementary school instructor on Sanata Dharma University. fl atten. how events unfolded globally, depicting the death or serious illness from East Java’s Madura island, visits “Even if it was possible to do And the country’s paediatric devastation with drawings of the coronavirus Covid-19, he is violating govern- up to 11 students a day, an expe- real-time video conferencing, it association has warned that mal- attacking landmarks like the Eiff el Tower, the ment orders not to hold in-per- rience he wrote about in now- costs too much in rural areas,” nutrition and mosquito-borne Statue of Liberty, Big Ben and the Leaning son classes to prevent the spread viral Facebook posts. she added. dengue fever may be putting Tower of Pisa as it spread through Europe, the of the disease. He admits to being scared of Meanwhile, many rural par- children at a greater risk of dying United States and beyond. “No one’s forcing me to do getting ill. ents struggle to fi ll the gap as from the respiratory illness. Her pictures also aim to highlight Vietnam’s Nguyen Doi Chung Anh stands next to her painting this - it’s something inside tell- “But my fears were over- they juggle often low-paid jobs Nearly 18% of Indonesian success in containing the virus after a wave of about the coronavirus disease at home in Hanoi. ing me to do it,” the 57-year-old come by the call to teach,” and child care. children under fi ve years old suf- imported infections, one with a virus-hit passenger said. Fathurrahman said. “I can only remind (the fer from nutritional defi ciencies, plane in the arms of two soldiers and another “This girl is me, here I am drawing and these “I feel a bit guilty about break- “I would not be comfortable kids) to study because I can’t while kids aged fi ve to 14 make showing the same flight intercepted by medical things are my imagination.” ing (orders) to hold online class- staying at home knowing that help them like a teacher can,” up nearly 42 of dengue fever pa- workers who spray disinfectant from fighter jets. Several pictures feature the Diamond Princess, es, but the reality is that it isn’t my students couldn’t study said Orlin Giri, a mother from tients, according to health min- They refer to the fated flight VN54 which brought the cruise ship aboard which hundreds of easy here. properly.” East Nusa Tenggara, one of istry data. in a fresh batch of infected people after Vietnam passengers were infected, and Li Wenliang, the “The only solution is to be Aside from government calls Indonesia’s poorest regions. The risk was highlighted in had declared itself virus-free for three weeks. The late Chinese doctor and one of the most visible close to students with door-to- for online learning, educational “And we don’t have enough April when an 11-year-old girl country has reported 332 cases and no deaths. figures of the pandemic, who was reprimanded door teaching,” he added. programmes are being aired on a money for an Internet plan,” she with dengue fever, which itself Chung Anh drew herself in one picture about her when he issued early warning about the virus. Suroto is one of a small state-owned TV channel. added. can be fatal, died after contract- safety to show appreciation for frontliners, who Chung Anh’s mother, Doi Xuan Hieu, chose that as number of teachers taking on Education Minister Nadiem That is a common story na- ing Covid-19. appear in most of her 11 drawings fighting the her favourite. dangerous terrain, bad weather Makarim - a co-founder of lo- tionwide, said Fina, a teacher on Health authorities said the virus with shields or blasting it with disinfectant. “I was touched seeing that she can sympathise and the chance of contracting cal ride-hailing app GoJek - has Borneo island. pre-existing illness could have “I drew this with hope that they can keep their and acknowledge the sacrifice of the doctors who the novel coronavirus, to reach acknowledged the challenges in “Many parents only graduated exacerbated the eff ect of the vi- spirits high to prevent an outbreak,” she said. risked and lost their lives,” she said. (Reuters) home-bound students across remote learning, however, and from elementary school or jun- rus on her weakened immune the world’s fourth-most popu- even expressed shock at how ior high school - or they didn’t system. Gulf Times Monday, June 15, 2020 9 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

Death toll Mass virus testing in Beijing after rises to 19 in China new cluster triggers lockdowns tanker blast AFP Beijing AFP residential estates near the mar- Beijing ket which supplies most of the city’s fresh produce. he number of people killed Offi cials said they planned to in a tanker truck explosion eijing carried out mass carry out virus tests on 46,000 Ton a highway in eastern testing for the coronavirus residents in the area surround- China has climbed to 19, with Byesterday after a new out- ing the market and had set up 24 more than 170 injured, local break in the city that prompted testing stations. authorities said yesterday. travel warnings across the coun- Everyone who works at Xin- The force of the blast on Sat- try amid fears of a resurgence of fadi also has to undergo testing. urday afternoon caused nearby the disease. So far 10,881 people have been homes and factories to collapse, The deadly contagion had been tested in the area with another and sent huge clouds of black brought largely under control in eight cases diagnosed yester- smoke billowing into the air as China through strict lockdowns day. They were not included in fl ames engulfed several cars. that were imposed early this year the NHC’s tally earlier in the Local government authorities but have since been lifted. day that covered the previous 24 said yesterday afternoon there But a fresh cluster linked to hours. were 172 people injured in the a wholesale food market in the “I went to Xinfadi market so accident near Wenling city in the capital has sparked widespread I want to confi rm that I am not eastern province of Zhejiang. alarm and raised the spectre of a infected,” a 32-year-old wom- China’s emergency manage- return to painful restrictions. an surnamed Guo said as she ment department had earlier said The National Health Com- queued in scorching heat at a there were 189 injured people mission (NHC) reported 57 new stadium waiting for a virus test. being treated in hospital. infections yesterday, of which “We were told that after the Dramatic video footage of 36 were local transmissions in tests... if it is positive, we will be the accident published by state Beijing, all linked to the Xinfadi taken directly to the hospital.” media showed a huge ball of fi re market. One of yesterday’s new cases shooting into the air as people Another two domestic infec- was a 56-year-old man who screamed. tions were in northeastern Li- works as an airport bus driver In one clip, a large piece of aoning province and were close and had visited the Xinfadi mar- debris is seen fl ying into the air contacts of the Beijing cases. ket in early June before later fall- before crashing on some nearby The 19 other infections ing ill, state-run People’s Daily buildings. were among Chinese nationals reported. People who visited or live near Xinfadi Market queue for a swab test at Guang’an Sport Center in Beijing yesterday. Another video showed the re- returning from abroad. The meat section of the huge, mains of the tanker and several Liaoning was among several sprawling market was closed to Xinfadi was open yester- gated entrance to one community ters was from a market in the tion focusing on fresh and fro- truck tyres smashed into a build- provinces to advise residents yesterday and AFP reporters saw day and trucks were arriving to to pass supplies to loved ones. central city of Wuhan that sold zen meat, poultry and fi sh in ing, which had been reduced to against travelling to Beijing due hundreds of police offi cers and deliver or collect stock. A resident surnamed Chen wild animals for meat. supermarkets, warehouses and rubble. to the new outbreak – along with security personnel plus dozens “Afraid? Not really” a delivery said he had made several trips The latest outbreak in Beijing has catering services. Local authorities said the truck cities such as nearby Tianjin and of paramilitary police blocking driver surnamed Zhang said. with his car to the front gate of turned the spotlight on the hygiene One trader surnamed Sun, sell- was loaded with liquefi ed gas. several in Hebei province, which access. “But anyway I have no choice his compound to deliver food. of the city’s food supply chain. ing tomatoes and cherries at a cen- State news agency Xinhua surrounds Beijing. Eff orts to trace those who had – I am part of the lowest class of “As soon as I fi nish delivering State-run media reported that tral food market, told AFP there reported yesterday that there Some local authorities said visited the market have begun, society. So I have to keep working the supplies to my family mem- the virus was detected on chop- were fewer customers than normal. was a second blast when the people entering from Beijing with companies and neighbour- in order to make a living.” bers, I will go upstairs to join ping boards used to handle im- “People are scared,” he said. truck fell onto a workshop near would have to quarantine, state hood communities messaging In nearby streets, residents them,” he said. ported salmon, and that major City authorities have closed the expressway after the fi rst media reported. staff and residents across the were under lockdown and “After that I won’t be able to supermarkets had removed the nine schools and kindergartens explosion. In the capital, lockdowns have city to ask about their recent restaurants closed. get out.” fi sh from their stocks. near Xinfadi, while sporting Emergency responders were been imposed on a very small movements. Some people used a wooden Covid-19 fi rst emerged late Beijing authorities ordered a events and cross-provincial tour still conducting search and part of the city that includes 11 A vegetable market adjacent stepladder propped against the last year and one of the fi rst clus- city-wide food safety inspec- groups have been stopped. rescue operations, it added. S Korea says North Australia’s states further ease virus curbs Reuters indoor venues such as restaurants In neighbouring Victoria, national borders have allowed that. Because if we did we would benefi t, whether it’s in business Sydney and churches would be scrapped, where pubs and other venues Australia to curb the spread of be almost making it certain that or other areas,” Hunt told the should so long as the venues observed a are currently limited to 20 peo- the coronavirus, with many we would have a second wave,” Australian Broadcasting Corp. one person per 4sqm rule. ple, indoor businesses will be parts of the country claiming to Andrews told reporters in The second option under ustralia’s two largest Nightclubs and music fes- allowed to have up to 50 seated have eliminated the disease. Melbourne. consideration was to allow bi- honour states will further ease tivals would also be allowed patrons from June 22, said state With only 102 deaths, much Australia’s international bor- lateral travel between “Covid- Apublic coronavirus re- to operate from August if new premier Daniel Andrews. lower than most other de- ders will remain closed until at safe” countries, such as New strictions at libraries, com- cases remain low, NSW Premier All sports for children would veloped nations, the federal least Sept. 17, but Health Minis- Zealand, without the mandato- pacts munity centres and nightclubs, Gladys Berejiklian said. The resume, he said. Indoor sports government has stepped up ter Greg Hunt said yesterday of- ry two-week quarantine period, offi cials said yesterday, despite state on Saturday reported the centres and physical recreation pressure on state and territory fi cials were exploring two possi- he added. Reuters/DPA recording increases in new fi rst locally transmitted Cov- spaces like gyms will be allowed leaders to reopen internal bor- ble ways to reopen borders. Australia’s education sector Seoul infections. id-19 case in weeks, and state to host 20 people, with caps of up ders, a step viewed as key to re- “One is to use our quarantine is highly reliant on fee-paying New South Wales (NSW), the offi cials yesterday said there to 10 adults per group, he added. viving the country’s economy. system with international stu- international students for fund- most populous state, said that had been nine new infections Strict lockdown restrictions “We would love to open eve- dents and appropriately with peo- ing and has been badly hit by the outh Korea’s Unifi cation from July 1, a 50 person limit on since late Friday. and the closure of state and rything tomorrow. We can’t do ple who are delivering national border closures. Ministry yesterday said SNorth Korea should honour past agreements signed between New Zealand the two countries, a day after Pyongyang warned of retaliatory protesters take measures against the south that knee outside US could involve the military. Two held after consulate “The South and the North should try to honour all inter- Thousands of people took the Korean agreements reached,” the knee outside the US consulate ministry said in a statement. in Auckland yesterday as New “The government is taking the Captain Cook Zealanders demonstrated for current situation seriously.” a second week to support the South Korean security offi - Black Lives Matter movement and cials held an emergency meet- highlight local discrimination issues. ing yesterday to discuss a series As Michael Jackson’s They of threats from North Korea in statue defaced Don’t Care About Us played in recent days, as tensions escalate the background, the protesters between the two states, Yonhap chanted “No justice, no peace” news agency reported. Reuters From Cecil Rhodes in Eng- and “Ain’t no power like the The country’s director of na- Sydney land to Christopher Columbus power of the people, because the tional security and ministers in the United States and King power of the people don’t stop”. from the foreign, unifi cation Leopold II in Belgium, statues In Wellington, more than 2,000 and defence departments were ustralian police said of empire builders have been people marched on parliament reportedly present to review they arrested two under attack in recent weeks after gathering in the city centre the security situation on the Awomen after a stat- around the world, sometimes to hear speeches on racial bias peninsula. ute of British explorer James from the descendants of those People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest march in central Tokyo yesterday. within the police, New Zealand’s Further information on the Cook, captain of the fi rst they once colonised. high Maori imprisonment rates discussions was not available. Western ship to reach the Cook’s statute was prompt- and the push to remove statues In the past week the North had east coast of Australia, was ly cleaned by Sydney council of colonisers. threatened to cut off all commu- defaced early yesterday in workers yesterday morning, a Black Lives Matter protesters The city of Hamilton has already nication lines with South Korea, Sydney. police spokeswoman said. torn down a statue of the colonial to close a liasion offi ce along the New South Wales police Police in the neighbour- military commander it was mutual border and to pull out of were alerted to graffi ti on ing state of Victoria are also named after following threats a military agreement with the Cook’s statue in Hyde Park investigating the weekend march through Japan capital from anti-racism protesters to South. in the central district of Aus- defacing of the statues of topple the bronze sculpture “The defence ministry is tak- tralia’s largest city just after two former Australian prime of Captain John Fane Charles ing the current situation gravely, 4am (2000 GMT on Saturday) ministers at a Ballarat park. housands of protest- Floyd, but also for those who restaurant where he was killed. Hamilton, who they accused of and closely watching moves by before the two women in their In New Zealand, thousands ers in Tokyo took part died in the past.” Some protesters at the To- murder. the North Korean military,” the late 20s were arrested. marched the streets of Auck- Tin a Black Lives Matter Organisers said about 3,500 kyo march said Japan needed The protests are part of a ministry said in a statement cited The women were found land and Wellington chanting, march yesterday, calling for an people took part in the pro- to own up to its own problems worldwide movement following by Yonhap, adding that it was with a bag containing a “I can’t breathe” – a phrase end to racial discrimination and test. Police did not disclose an with race. the killing in the United States of ready “in preparation against all number of spray-paint cans, the handcuff ed Floyd repeated police abuse after the killing of estimate. “In Japan, there are far- African-American man George situations.” the police said in a state- before dying as a white Min- African American George Floyd Protests have gripped major right people who discriminate Floyd who died after a white Pyongyang is demanding that ment. They were refused bail neapolis police offi cer knelt in Minneapolis last month. US cities and spread around the against other races. And Ko- policeman knelt on his neck for Seoul take action against activ- and will be charged with the on his neck for nearly nine Demonstrators marched world since footage from May reans and Chinese in Japan are several minutes. ists who allegedly sent some destroying and damaging minutes. through the streets of the capi- 25 showing a white police of- exposed to a lot of hate speech,” “George Floyd doesn’t have any 50,000 leafl ets into the reclusive property, it said. Protesters in Auckland tal’s Shibuya and Harajuku dis- fi cer kneeling on Floyd’s neck said Naho Ida, 44. “These more breaths left, it’s our job to neighbouring nation criticising Anti-racism protesters, carried Black Lives Matter tricts chanting and holding up to pin him to the ground for a things must not be allowed and ensure that wasn’t in vain,” social the North Korean leader. who have taken to the streets signs and marched through signs spelling out slogans such whole nine minutes went viral. we need to oppose this.” justice activist Julia Whaipooti Such campaigns have generally following the death of Afri- the city’s central district as “Racism Is A Pandemic” and In Atlanta on Saturday Public broadcaster NHK last told the crowd in Auckland. sought to encourage North Koreans can American George Floyd in towards the US consulate, “No Justice No Peace”. more protests erupted after a week apologised and deleted Auckland University social to topple the government. police custody, are demanding chanting “Shame”, while “It is not enough to just black man was shot dead by from its Twitter feed an ani- sciences professor Camille North Korea has threatened that the legacies of some of the Maori community members send our prayers,” Shu Fukui, a police as he tried to escape mated video about the US pro- Nakhid said there was a “knee on military action and accuses architects of Europe’s empire danced outside the build- 22-year-old university gradu- arrest. Demonstrators shut tests that sparked online out- the neck” of indigenous people Seoul of having done nothing to building be revisited and their ing, the news website Stuff ate, said. “We need to change down a major highway and rage for its depiction of African and people of colour throughout address the campaign. statues be torn down. reported. society, not only for George burned down the Wendy’s Americans. (Reuters) New Zealand. (AFP) Gulf Times 10 Monday, June 15, 2020 BRITAIN

Doctors warn thousands could die of bowel cancer

Guardian News and Media Last year it caused the deaths screening has become a very se- Test kits are posted to men and endoscopy turn out to have bowel earliest stage, although survival cancer is not identifi ed early London of more than 16,000 people, a rious problem and bowel cancer women over the age of 60 – indi- cancer,” added Turnbull. “Usually, rates drop the later the disease is on, their tumour will continue rate of more than 45 individuals screening is a particular con- viduals who have the highest risk less serious sources are are found to tackled, states Bowel Cancer UK. to grow. It will develop until it a day. cern,” said Professor Clare Turn- of getting bowel cancer, along be the cause.” However, test kits for identify- reaches an advanced stage when dramatic rise in bowel Tumours spread aggressively bull, of the Institute of Cancer with those who are obese or have Those who are not diagnosed ing individuals who have blood in it will be much, much more dif- cancer cases is set to if left untreated but can be pin- Research. family histories of the disease. until the disease is in its latest their stools are no longer being fi cult to tackle. Asweep Britain in the wake pointed – using special screening “Bowel cancer is common Stool samples are then sent to stage have only a 10% chance of sent out while endoscopy exami- “And that is what is now oc- of the Covid-19 outbreak, doc- techniques – in their early stages. but treatable if you detect it test centres. survival Nevertheless, several nations have been stopped ex- curring across the UK,” added tors and scientists have warned. As a result, doctors can cut out promptly. And unlike many other Those found to have blood in their thousand cases of bowel cancer cept for a handful of emergency Lawler. “People who could have They said they feared that the tumours before they spread and cancers, it is possible to pin- samples are asked to attend clinics are detected this way every year. cases, eff ectively halting all UK been successfully treated – by halting of screening for the condi- patients often make complete re- point cases in their early stages. where they are examined using an Patients can have their tu- bowel cancer screening. having their tumour detected tion will lead to thousands of peo- coveries. The trouble is, since March that endoscope, a long tube fi tted with a mours removed through surgery. And that cessation of a life- early and removed surgically – ple dying early from the disease. However, since March, bowel screening has been halted.” camera that will show if a tumour is In many cases, these patients can saving service is now a major are not being screened and will Bowel cancer is the UK’s sec- cancer screening has been ef- The early detection of bowel growing on their intestine wall. “In return to normal life. concern, said Professor Mark therefore die far earlier than ond biggest cancer killer after fectively halted because of the cancer is carried by spotting fact, only a small fraction of peo- Nearly everyone survives bow- Lawler, of Queens University, would have been the case a few lung cancer. Covid-19 pandemic. “Cancer blood in stool samples. ple called in for examination with el cancer if it is diagnosed at the Belfast. “If a person with bowel months ago.” Support for govt’s Coronavirus Covid-19 response social distancing falls: poll

Guardian News and Media rule could soon London

ess than a third of the pub- lic now approve of the gov- Lernment’s handling of the be eased: Sunak coronavirus pandemic, accord- ing to the latest Opinium poll for Guardian News and Media accountable for making those tries recently – I think Norway the Observer. London decisions. and Denmark, from memory – The poll found that approval “I think that people are com- have moved from two metres to of the government’s handling of forted and have confidence in something less as well. the coronavirus crisis is down ishi Sunak has indicated those decisions if they know “But it’s important that we four points to a new low. Only the government could that we are taking advice from look at it comprehensively in three in 10 people approve, giv- R soon reduce the two- our scientists.” the round and that’s what we ing the government an overall metre physical distancing rule In an earlier interview on will do urgently.” approval rating of -18 for its han- as way to help businesses, Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday The bulk of shops, those sell- dling of the pandemic. with the chancellor saying show, Sunak was asked if he ing non-essential goods, are Even Tories increasingly fear ministers would “actively re- wanted the two-metre distance able to reopen from today, and they have infl icted the worst of view” the measure in the com- reduced. Sunak said he hoped people all worlds on Britain ing weeks. “I can very much understand would return to them, boosting However, the pollsters found “It will be a comprehensive the positive impact it will have the economy. that disapproval of the way Boris review. It will be conducted on business’s ability to open “We have always been an Johnson is acting as prime min- very soon,” Sunak told BBC and thereby maintain the jobs economy that is driven by con- ister appears to have levelled off , One’s The Andrew Marr Show, that they have, and make sure sumption, driven by services with no signifi cant increases in while stressing that the benefits all the people that work for and the numbers of people em- either approval or disapproval of a reduced distance on shops, them can come back to those ployed in these sectors are huge over the past three weeks. He has restaurants and others would jobs and remain employed, and whether it’s in retail or in hos- a net approval score of -6 points. need to be gauged against the that’s really important to me,” pitality, there are millions and Meanwhile, Keir Starmer’s health impact. he said. “But at the same time, millions of people who work in approval ratings remain very Pressure has been building on we must make sure that it’s safe these sectors,” he said. high on +24, but have dropped the government to reconsider to do so.” Addressing the GDP figures four points since last week. the rule given the impact it has But Sunak indicated a change on the Marr show, Sunak said Johnson still only has a one- on the hospitality sector, and on was possible: “Now that we the figures meant the economic point lead when voters are asked shops, many of which are reo- have made good progress in damage caused by Covid-19 who makes the best prime min- pening today, particularly after suppressing the virus, we’re at a was “starting to become more ister – a historic low for him. figures showing the economy different stage of this epidemic real”, stressing that there was After seeing their poll lead shrank by 20.4% in April. than we were at the beginning only so much any government shrink 23 points in the previous However, there are fears that and that enables us to take a could do. eight weeks, the Conservatives reducing the limit to one me- fresh look at this. “There’s no way I can protect saw a slight increase over Labour tre could cause a resurgence “Obviously, many other every single job and every single this week. Their share of the vote in coronavirus infection rates, countries around the world use business through this. There is went up 43% to 44%, while La- given the so-called R rate of in- a different rule and indeed, going to be hardship ahead,” he bour suff ered its fi rst dip since fection is perilously close to one we’ve seen a couple of coun- warned. the second week of April, down in several regions. one point to 39%. Sunak told Marr that a pos- There are also signs that sible health trade-off involving Covid-19 death toll rises by 36 Brexit is re-emerging as an is- a smaller distance but greater sue occupying the minds of use of masks in public places The United Kingdom’s death required people to stay at voters. While dropping from would be part of the review, and toll from confirmed cases of home except to travel for work the most important issue be- stressed it would be up to poli- Covid-19 rose by 36 to 41,698 if necessary and for essential cause of the coronavirus crisis, ticians to decide, based on sci- as of 1600GMT on Saturday, shopping, exercise, and Opinium found it is “slowly entific advice. government data showed medical and care needs. The but surely making a comeback” “Ultimately it is for minis- yesterday. The rise is the lowest daily tally of Covid-19 deaths and is now just five points away ters,” he said. “We are the peo- since March 22, the day before usually dips at the weekend from being level with the econ- ple who are elected to make de- Prime Minister Boris Johnson due to delays in reporting omy in terms of importance to Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits Westfield shopping centre in east London yesterday to see the cisions in this country. People announced a lockdown that fatalities. voters. coronavirus measures in place in advance of the reopening today. should hold us responsible and Chief nurse dropped ‘for Demand for scooters, not backing Cummings’

Guardian News and Media spot, which he said was to test mopeds sees huge rise London his eyesight ahead of a longer journey back to London. Guardian News and Media able using public transport even easier to park in tight spots. On May 28, Boris Johnson London if the lockdown is eased further. “They can also be a much more ngland’s chief nurse was tried to prevent the chief medi- Face masks will be compulsory viable option than walking or cy- dropped from a daily cal offi cer for England, Chris on all forms of public transport cling for the majority of people EDowning Street briefi ng Whitty, and the chief scientifi c emand for motorbikes, from today, to try to limit the whose commute is longer than on the coronavirus for refusing adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, scooters and mopeds has spread of the disease as shops fi ve miles.” to back Dominic Cummings, the from answering questions on the Dshot up as commuters reopen in the next step of easing However, car dealers have al- Guardian understands. subject, before Whitty said that look for alternatives to public the coronavirus lockdown. ready reported that some cus- In a trial run for the June 1 neither he nor Vallance wished to transport to get to work. The government and cam- tomers are looking to buy ve- briefi ng, Ruth May was asked comment on politics. Enquiries sent to sellers of paigners have urged people to con- hicles because of a continued about Cummings driving his However, on May 30, Eng- mopeds and scooters were triple sider active travel modes such as aversion to public transport for family from London to Durham land’s deputy chief medical of- last year’s levels in the fi rst week cycling or walking to get to work, commutes that are too long. while his wife had suspected fi cer, Jonathan Van-Tam, caused of June, after doubling in the last pointing to the health benefi ts. More people are also consider- Covid-19. embarrassment for the govern- week of May, according to online Sales of push bikes have also ing buying caravans and motor When she failed to back the ment by saying, in response to a marketplace Auto Trader. soared during the lockdown, ac- homes as Britons prepare for a prime minister’s chief adviser, question about the alleged lock- Views on adverts for mopeds cording to retailers, in one of the summer of staycations. she is understood to have been down breach: “In my opinion the increased by 32% year-on-year few areas of the economy to have Advert views for caravans and dropped from the press confer- rules are clear and they have al- in the last week of May and 48% benefi ted strongly. motor homes on Auto Trader ence taking place later that day – ways been clear,” he said.“In my in the fi rst week of June, the However, for longer journeys were up by 46% and 51% year- though this has been denied by a opinion they are for the benefi t company said. scooters and lower-powered on-year respectively. government minister. of all. In my opinion they apply Advert views for motorbikes, mopeds can be more attractive, Some in the UK tourism in- May’s removal was fi rst re- to all.” which tend to be more expen- given lower costs and the very dustry hope a staycation boom ported by the Independent, cit- She added: “I thought his ex- sive, were also up by a third at limited space for a large increase will make up for some of the lost ing senior NHS sources, and has posure of what he felt was exactly the start of the month. The gov- in car traffi c in major UK cities. revenues from foreign tourists. been confi rmed separately by the right,” she said.“We usually say ernment still advises anyone Rory Reid, a former BBC Data from the Offi ce for Na- Guardian. exactly the same things because who can to work from home, Top Gear presenter who joined tional Statistics published on The scientifi c and medical ex- we think in public health terms, and it has also advised people Auto Trader last year to run its Thursday suggested the aver- perts who appear at the briefi ng and I think that’s right. From my to avoid public transport if pos- YouTube channel, said: “They age Briton spent £312 per year alongside a politician were ini- own perspective, I can assure you sible to reduce the risk of Cov- (mopeds) are relatively cheaper on holidays in the UK in the year tially reluctant to get involved in that on a matter of personal and id-19 infection. options for commuting, they can to March 2019, compared with A keeper of the Woburn Safari Park in Woburn, takes care of an Asian the row surrounding Cummings, professional integrity, I will al- About 61% of British people help you get around easily in con- £1,456 per year on package holi- elephant, as the park prepares to reopen today for the first time since who, while in Durham, also made ways try to follow the rules, as I said they would feel uncomfort- gested urban areas, and they’re days abroad. the lockdown. a 60-mile round-trip to a beauty know he does.” Gulf Times Monday, June 15, 2020 11 BRITAIN

6,000 attend two illegal raves in Greater Manchester

Guardian News and Media Chris Sykes, an assistant chief 18-year-old who was left with rave” banner in Daisy Nook park. Skyes said specialist offi cers six people from diff erent house- bility and do the right thing.” London constable at Greater Manchester life-threatening injuries. It came as police forces across were providing support to the holds. Angela Rayner, the deputy La- police, said: “These raves were A 25-year-old man was ar- Britain faced one of their busiest family of the man who died and Sykes added: “Our top prior- bour leader, who was volunteer- illegal and I condemn them tak- rested on suspicion of possess- weekends since the lockdown the victim of the suspected rape. ity will always be the safety of ing for a local charity that was ix thousand people at- ing place – they were clearly a ing an off ensive weapon and en- began in March. He said Greater Manchester the public, who we are here to called to the rave in Oldham, de- tended two illegal raves in breach of coronavirus legislation quiries are continuing to locate Police were called to similar police had recorded a 60% in- serve and protect. We hope the scribed the partygoers as “com- SGreater Manchester where and guidelines, and have had the suspects involved in these mass gatherings in Leeds and crease in 999 calls on Saturday public can recognise the chal- pletely irresponsible” and said an 18-year-old woman was al- tragic consequences.” incidents, police said. Staff ordshire on Saturday night, night – to more than 1,500 calls lenges we are facing at the mo- they were putting themselves legedly raped, a man died of a The force said it was inves- At a separate rave in Ashton- while many forces dealt with – while the number of people ment and our communities join and their loved ones at risk. suspected drugs overdose and tigating the alleged rape of an under-Lyne in Tameside, police confrontations between anti- calling 101 nearly doubled. together in doing the right thing She tweeted: “A lot of ef- three people were stabbed. 18-year-old woman at one ille- said a 20-year-old man died racism protesters and the far People had been drawn to by following the government fort went into online events this Police said they were met with gal rave in Carrington, Traff ord, from a suspected drugs overdose right during the day. outdoor spaces as the weather guidelines. weekend across GM to stop this violence and pelted with objects where 2,000 people had gath- at an event attended by about A demonstration by the right- improved at the weekend al- “Coronavirus is still a threat sort of stupidity. Those who at- when they tried to shut down ered. 4,000 people at its peak. wing group Democratic Football though many appeared to fl out and we will continue to engage tended should be ashamed of one of the mass gatherings on It said three men were stabbed Footage showed a huge crowd Lads Alliance turned violent in lockdown restrictions, which with people to encourage them themselves. My local area now Saturday night. at the event, including an dancing around a “Quarantine London. prohibit meetings of more than to take some personal responsi- has to deal with the aftermath. Thames tunnel opponents in last-ditch bid to halt scheme

Guardian News and Media A spokesperson for Sadiq London Khan, the mayor of London, said: “A new tunnel at Silver- town is important as the existing pponents of a new four- infrastructure is both antiquated lane tunnel under the and worn out. ORiver Thames are making “The combination of intro- a last-ditch attempt to halt the ducing tolls on both the Blackwall £1.2bn scheme, which they say tunnel and at Silvertown – and will be environmentally destruc- the extension of the Ultra Low tive and cripplingly expensive. Emission Zone from 2021 so that Campaigners are to write to Silvertown will be within the area the oversight committee at the covered – will play a crucial role Greater London Authority asking in tackling congestion, improving it to urgently review the proposal. air quality and providing much- Victoria Rance, from the Stop needed additional bus services Silvertown Tunnel Coalition, across the river.” called on the London mayor, Campaigners dispute the Sadiq Khan, to invest in river claims. A man reacts as he pays his respects in front of Grenfell tower in west London yesterday on the third anniversary of the high-rise fire that killed 71 people. crossings for pedestrians, bicy- Rance said: “(The mayor) cles and cargo bikes instead of could achieve almost the same “locking in car use” for decades. outcomes – six years earlier She said the project was a and without spending £1.2bn “(Boris) Johnson era monstros- on a new tunnel – by tolling the ity” that undermined eff orts to Blackwall tunnel, now, to fully clean up the capital’s air as well remove congestion.” as the mayor’s wider environ- The scheme comes as the PM pays tributes as Grenfell mental targets – with dire con- mayor has unveiled a raft of new sequences for some of the Lon- environmental measures, from don’s most vulnerable citizens. declaring a climate emergency “It is economically worthless to setting a 2030 carbon neutral and environmentally destruc- target. tive,” she said. “It undermines In response to the coronavi- fi re anniversary marked his 2030 carbon neutrality target, rus, London has unveiled plans and his goal of increasing cycling for one of the biggest walking DPA and national authorities of al- 100% of the truth, and we “While those aff ected by sition Labour lawmaker David and walking – instead giving in- and cycling zones of any capital London lowing the installation of dan- know...it’s going to be a long Grenfell are not able to gather Lammy tweeted. centives to keep traffi c levels high city in the world to encourage gerous external cladding that haul.” in person, I want you to know Another Labour lawmak- to pay off the scheme.” people out of their cars. became a major contributor to that all of us in this country are er, Kim Johnson, accused the The tunnel will be funded The spokesperson for the ocal residents, campaign- the rapid spread of the fi re. “While those aff ected by with you in spirit,” Conservative government of failing to pro- with a loan that is due to be re- mayor said he remained com- ers and politicians yes- Ambrose Mendy of Human- Grenfell are not able to Prime Minister Boris Johnson vide suffi cient funds to back paid by introducing tolls on both mitted to his environmental pro- Lterday marked the third ity for Grenfell, who lost a rela- gather in person, I want said in a recorded message. its pledge to remove all unsafe the Blackwall tunnel and the Sil- gramme. anniversary of the devastating tive in the fi re, said it still needs you to know that all of us in “I remain absolutely com- cladding following the fi re. vertown scheme once it opens. “(Khan) has been clear that fi re that killed 72 people at Lon- “enormous eff ort” to under- this country are with you in mitted to uncovering the causes “People died as a result Preliminary preparation work he doesn’t want to replace one don’s Grenfell Tower. stand what happened three spirit” of this tragedy and ensuring it is of unsafe cladding and sys- is due to start any day. health crisis with another, and The Humanity for Grenfell years ago. never repeated,” Johnson said. temic failure of the housing Supporters say the tunnel, he is determined that our city’s group held an online, multi- “We refuse, come what may, The ongoing Grenfell Tower Housing Secretary Robert company,” she said in a video which would connect the Green- recovery from coronavirus will faith service and a 72-second to relent in our opposition to Inquiry published its fi rst re- Jenrick promised changes to message.”Two hundred fi re- wich peninsula to west Silver- be clean, green and sustainable. silence to remember the vic- the general consensus of opin- port in October, highlighting building regulations to “ensure fi ghters put their lives on the town, will ease congestion at “His bold London Streetspace tims. ion about the Grenfell fi re, how “signifi cant systemic failings” that nothing like this ever hap- line to rescue people and to put Blackwall tunnel, provide bet- plans will create one of the larg- Many speakers called for jus- it occurred, why it occurred, by the London Fire Brigade, in- pens again.” out the fi re.” ter access to jobs and services, est car-free zones in any capital tice for those who died as the and what could have been done cluding poor evacuation, com- “Three years later. Still The Grenfell Action Group, and improve the resilience of city in the world, and are mak- overnight fi re swept through to prevent events unfolding in mand and communication pro- heartbreaking. Still 56,000 formed before the fi re, said it the road network in response to ing it safer and more convenient the 24-storey, 120-home social the way that they did,” Mendy cedures. people living in buildings with had warned repeatedly of the developments in Greenwich and for millions more journeys to be housing block in west London. said. Fire chiefs rejected the criti- Grenfell-style cladding. Still risks of a “catastrophic event” the Royal Docks. made on foot or by bike.” Campaigners accused local “All of this requires truth, cism. no #JusticeForGrenfell,” oppo- at the building.

Racism still mars BAME Suspect arrested for Brits’ job prospects: study The employment prospects of exposing the ethnic penalty people from black and other which continues to aff ect the vandalism at memorial ethnic minority groups have access of minority groups to lagged behind white people in employment and the ways England and Wales since the in which persistent racism Guardian News and Media rent image circulating on social Video footage shows some of 1970s because of “persistent limits access to positive London media of a man appearing to uri- the self-proclaimed “statue de- racism”, according to a major socioeconomic outcomes, nate on a memorial to PC Palm- fenders” apparently making Nazi new study. including social mobility,” er. I feel for PC Palmer’s family, salutes, and the protest quickly Researchers compared Karlsen said. man has been arrested on friends and colleagues. turned violent as the group took occupations between the last “There is suff icient consistency suspicion of urinating on “We have immediately over areas near the Houses of two censuses and found that to suggest that this is a problem Athe Westminster memo- launched an investigation, and Parliament and Trafalgar Square despite some progress, people produced and perpetuated at rial dedicated to PC Keith Palm- will gather all the evidence avail- and hurled missiles, smoke gre- in most ethnic minority groups the societal level.” er, amid violent protests by far- able to us and take appropriate nades, glass bottles and fl ares at were still significantly more The study, which will be right activists in central London. action.” police offi cers. likely to be in manual work or featured in a forthcoming The 28-year-old was arrested Outbursts of violence con- unemployed than their white article in the British Sociological on suspicion of outraging public “We have immediately tinued around the city after counterparts. Association journal Sociology, decency and is in custody in Es- launched an investigation, a 5pm curfew set by the po- Dr Saff ron Karlsen, of the reveals that Bangladeshi men sex after presenting himself at a and will gather all the lice had passed, with the last University of Bristol, Professor were over three times as likely police station. evidence available to few protesters removed from James Nazroo, of the University as white British men to work The incident is believed to us and take appropriate parliament Square at about of Manchester, and Dr Neil in manual employment in the have taken place on Saturday. action” 6.45pm. Smith, of the National Centre 1980s, and remained almost The photograph of a man ap- By 9pm, more than 100 people for Social Research, looked at twice as likely in the 2000s. parently urinating on the me- More than 100 people were had been arrested for off ences census data drawn from more Black Caribbean men were morial outside the Houses of arrested at the far-right protest including assault on offi cers, than 70,000 people. more likely to move into Parliament sparked an outcry in London on Saturday, which breach of the peace, violent dis- They found that between manual occupations in both the from politicians and the general was condemned by the Prime order, possession of an off ensive the start of the 1970s and 1980s and 2000s, compared public. Minister, Boris Johnson, as “rac- weapon, possession of class A the beginning of the last with white British men. Palmer died after being ist thuggery”. Six police offi cers drugs, and drunk and disorderly decade, people from the The study also calculates that, stabbed in the grounds of parlia- suff ered minor injuries in violent behaviour. Caribbean, Bangladesh, Indian at the time of the last census in ment during a terrorist attack by clashes as several hundred dem- London ambulance service and Pakistani communities 2011, women from Bangladesh, Khalid Masood in 2017. onstrators, mostly white men, said it had treated 15 people for experienced considerably far Caribbean and Pakistani ethnicity Speaking on Saturday in re- attended the protest organ- injuries, including two police of- less social mobility than white were between 1.6 and 5.3 times sponse to an image circulating ised by far-right groups which fi cers. Police off icers move in to position in entralc Glasgow yesterday to people born in Britain. more likely to be unemployed or on social media, Bas Javid, a Met claimed they wanted to protect Six of these patients, all mem- form a barrier between opposing groups as people gather to ‘defend’ “These findings would not working because of illness police commander, said: “We are statues such as that of Winston bers of the public, had to be tak- a statue of former Conservative prime minister and Metropolitan appear in keeping with work than white women. aware of a disgusting and abhor- Churchill from vandalism. en to hospital. Police founder Robert Peel from those calling for it’s removal Gulf Times 12 Monday, June 15, 2020 EUROPE

Drunk driver ploughs into group, killing one A drunk man drove his vehicle into a group of people in a town in southwestern Germany Berliners form human near the French border early yesterday, killing one person and injuring six others. The 51-year-old was driving shortly after midnight in the wrong direction on a one-way street in Pirmasens in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate when he chain to protest racism struck a group waiting in front of a restaurant, the police said. AFP all, including migrants, aff ord- According to initial findings, Berlin able housing, upholding asylum the driver had a blood alcohol rights, relaunching the economy level four times the legal limit in along green lines, and allowing Germany. housands demonstrated workers more say in how com- A 39-year-old suff ered fatal in Berlin against racism panies are run. injuries and six people between Tand for broader fairness, “Who bears the costs of the the ages of 30 and 47 were including sharing the coronavi- global crisis, who will be strong- seriously injured, according to rus burden, as they stretched a er afterwards and who weaker police. human chain through the Ger- – that’s being decided now,” Un- The drunk driver was taken to man capital yesterday while teilbar organisers wrote. hospital for a check-up, a police keeping safe distances. Diff erent groups ran individu- spokesman said. Hundreds also turned out al stretches of the human chain, Among other things, the driver’s in other cities like Leipzig and ranging from political parties mental state was also to be Hamburg, although some faced like the Greens and Left party to determined. rainstorms in the tail-end of a civil society organisations like An expert is expected to weekend of harsh weather across “Grannies against the far-right” reconstruct the course of the Germany. and the “Fridays for Future” accident. A spokesman for progressive youth climate movement. movement “#unteilbar” (In- And appearances by musi- divisible) told AFP that “more cians and campaigners along Ten injured after than 20,000 people” had par- the demonstration route were ticipated in the event in Berlin, broadcast by organisers in a live train rams bus while police estimated around stream of the event. 8,000. Messages from the “Ende Ge- Ten people were injured when a The route of the human chain laende” group that has staged regional train collided with a bus – stretching from the world- sit-ins at open-cast coal mines in the Czech Republic, the CTK famous Brandenburg Gate past and fossil power plants ap- news agency reported yesterday. the landmark Communist-era peared alongside an appeal from A woman travelling on the bus TV tower at Alexanderplatz and an Afghan fi lmmaker who lived had to be flown to hospital by down into the ethnically diverse in Greece’s overcrowded Moria helicopter and her condition was Neukoelln district – had to be refugee camp for six months. “very serious”, a spokeswoman extended to accommodate the “Everything is getting worse from the rescue service said. numbers. on the island” of Lesbos, where The bus driver had apparently “The coronavirus is worsen- many people fl eeing the Middle missed the stop signal at an ing existing inequalities. Many East via Turkey fi rst reach Euro- unrestricted level crossing in people are threatened with be- pean soil, Ahmad Ebrahimi told Struharov, southeast of Prague, ing left behind. We will not allow viewers. Protesters form a human chain the police said. that,” said Unteilbar spokesman “Please do anything you can” as they take part in a Do all that you can to combat anti-Semitism and racism: Merkel The traff ic light system was Georg Wissmeier in a statement. to help, he urged. demonstration organised by the working correctly, the police “Human rights, social justice Ahead of yesterday’s demon- ‘#unteilbar’ (indivisible) German Chancellor Angela Merkel emphasised her crowded synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in spokeswoman said, confirming and climate justice belong to- stration, some had warned that movement in Berlin. government’s commitment to combatting extremism the Jewish calendar. previous statements from the gether indivisibly.” the gatherings could provoke in her speech at the opening of the American Jewish On failing to enter, he shot two people nearby and state railway company CD. More than 10,000 people new transmission of the coro- times of pandemic and crisis”, Committee’s first virtual conference yesterday. injured others while fleeing before he was arrested. The railcar derailed during the gathered in Berlin under the navirus. telling participants to remain “Our state system and our peaceful coexistence are “Jews should feel safe and free in Germany. They collision. banner of “Black Lives Mat- “People not maintaining dis- 3m apart to minimise the risk of founded on fundamental values,” Merkel told the ad- should be able to live their faith and culture openly,” CTK photos of the badly ter” last weekend in response to tance, shouting and chanting coronavirus transmission. vocacy group. “Anti-Semitism and racism, hatred and Merkel said. damaged bus showed that the the May 25 killing of African- when packed close together – As the human chain got under persecution, whether in social media or on the streets, “Our responsibility also means standing up in support railcar must have rammed the American George Floyd in Min- those are ideal conditions” for way, stewards handed out strips are incompatible with these values. of Israel’s security,” she said, underlining that this is bus with full force from the side. neapolis, and the slogan was also infection, Social Democratic of brightly coloured tape cut to “We, the government and society as a whole, must non-negotiable. The train route was blocked for in evidence on banners and T- Party (SPD) member of parlia- the right length as a guide. counter these with all our might and strength.” However, she said that lasting peace in the Middle an indefinite period after the shirts yesterday. ment and epidemiologist Karl Participants’ infection con- There had been repeated “bitter setbacks”, Merkel East could only be achieved through “understand- accident. But the organisers of the latest Lauterbach told the Tagesspiegel trol precautions had been “ex- acknowledged, speaking of last year’s attack on a ing between peoples and negotiating a two-state demonstration posted a broader newspaper. emplary”, a police spokesman synagogue in the eastern city of Halle. “Such sicken- solution”. set of aims on their website. On their website, Unteilbar told AFP, adding that people ing attacks are aimed at the heart of our democracy.” The American Jewish Committee is an NGO that pro- Quake strikes east Their demands include better organisers urged sticking to “a had kept their distance and worn A heavily-armed German man tried to break into the motes Israel’s interests, among other concerns. working conditions and pay for responsible form of protest in facemasks. Turkey, three hurt

A 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck Bingol province in eastern End ‘abusive’ ID checks, Human Rights Watch tells France Turkey yesterday, injuring three people after two observation towers collapsed, off icials said. The towers’ collapse left three AFP France has seen a number of that ended with clashes against the heart of concerns around in- HRW said next week that it It called on Macron to endorse security guards with injuries, the Paris demonstrations over the last police. stitutional racism and discrimi- will publish a report document- reforms to require reasonable local governor’s off ice said in a days protesting the actions HRW said that French Presi- nation”. ing the “overly broad powers” suspicion based on individual statement. of police and highlighting the dent Emmanuel Macron should Benedicte Jeannerod, HRW’s of French police authorities to behaviour as the grounds for all The epicentre of the quake which rance should halt identity death of young black man Ad- identify concrete reforms to put France director, said: “Presi- conduct “discriminatory” stop- stops and to explicitly prohibit hit at 1424 GMT was the village of checks by the police that ama Traore in police custody in an end to racism within the po- dent Macron should not just and-search checks on black and discrimination. Kaynarpinar, it added. Fare “abusive and discrimi- 2016. lice force. condemn racism, but announce Arab males. France’s police forces vehe- “Thank God, we have not natory”, Human Rights Watch The protests have been given “These reforms should in- specifi c reforms to end ethnic The rights group said that it mently reject allegations of in- received so far any news of (HRW) said yesterday, follow- additional impetus by the death clude an end to abusive and dis- profi ling and abusive identity had documented “repetitive, stitutionalised racism, saying deaths,” governor Kadir Ekinci ing angry demonstrations over in the US of George Floyd, with criminatory identity checks,” checks that all too often cause baseless” police checks target- that while there have been prob- was quoted as saying by the alleged racism in the security thousands turning out in Paris it said, describing them as a real harm ... particularly for mi- ing ethnic minorities, including lems, they are down to individu- off icial Anadolu news agency. forces. on Saturday for a new protest “longstanding problem” and “at norities in France.” children as young as 10. als. Turkey is prone to earthquakes. Italy faces two new virus outbreaks Russia handling pandemic

AFP transience could help spread the better than the US: Putin Rome coronavirus. “Let’s say we are being very careful, we are disin- fecting non-stop.” ellow police tape – a fa- Meanwhile, two army vehi- Putin condemns ‘mayhem cause authorities at federal and The Russian president also miliar sight across Italy cles were stationed outside the and rioting’ at US protests regional level had worked as one criticised anti-racism protests Ysince the coronavirus San Raff aele Pisana hospital team without disagreements, in the United States for sparking began sweeping the country yesterday, but the situation ap- Reuters/AFP unlike those in the United States. crowd violence, in his fi rst com- in March – reappeared at the peared under control. Moscow “I can’t imagine someone in ments on the issue. weekend outside a Rome squat Health offi cials said rigorous the (Russian) government or re- “If this fi ght for natural rights, where around 15 new cases have contact tracing was under way, gions saying ‘we are not going legal rights, turns into mayhem emerged. with some 200 recent patients resident Vladimir Putin to do what the government or and rioting, I see nothing good Health workers insist the out- being tested. said yesterday that Rus- president says’,” said Putin. “It for the country,” Putin said in an break among squatters, includ- The two new outbreaks of Psia was emerging from the seems to me that the problem (in interview with Rossiya-1 televi- ing a Peruvian family, is under Covid-19 came as Italy was re- novel coronavirus epidemic with the United States) is that group, sion. “We have never supported control, at a time when Italy is emerging from lockdown in a minimal losses, having handled in this case party interests, are this.” cautiously relaxing measures phased process that began in it better than the United States put above those of society’s as a The Russian leader stressed to contain the disease that has early May. where he said party political in- whole, above the interests of the he supported black Americans’ claimed more than 34,000 lives. The coronavirus epidemic terests got in the way. people.” struggle for equality, calling this A second outbreak was far appeared under control even The coronavirus causes the The virus had exposed what he “a long-standing problem of the bigger and occurred at a hospi- in its epicentre in the northern Covid-19 respiratory disease. called deep internal crises that United States”. tal on the western edge of Rome, Lombardy region. With 528,964 confi rmed cas- dated back to President Donald “We always in the USSR and with 109 cases and fi ve deaths. A cordoned-off building on Piazza Pecile in the Garbatella district of “No one had any illusions es, Russia has the third-highest Trump’s election victory and ef- in modern Russia had a lot of Rome’s regional Covid-19 Rome is seen amid an outbreak of the coronavirus there. that the problems were over,” number of infections after Brazil forts by rivals to undermine its sympathy for the struggle of crisis centre said all those who World Health Organisation and the United States. legitimacy. Afro-Americans for their natural tested positive for the virus at Mask-wearing shoppers An employee at a nearby gro- (WHO) deputy director Ranieri Its offi cial death toll stands at Putin used the same interview rights,” he insisted. the illegally occupied building could be seen buying groceries, cery store who gave his name Guerra told Italian journalists. 6,948, much lower than in many to deny allegations that consti- But Putin added that “when – had been transferred. a man walking his dog, another only as Ion said that the inhabit- “It means the virus hasn’t lost other countries, including the tutional reforms that could allow even after crimes are committed All their contacts were iden- throwing garbage into an over- ants were both South American its infectiousness, it isn’t weak- United States which has had over him to extend his rule were aimed – this takes on elements of radi- tifi ed and 108 tests were carried fl owing bin. and Italian, “working people, ening ... we shouldn’t let down 115,000 deaths. at “strengthening a presidential cal nationalism and extremism, out. “Occupants who are still in mainly families”. our guard.” The veracity of Russian statis- dictatorship”, saying parliament nothing good will come of this”. The Covid-19 respiratory dis- the building are confi ned there,” He added that some of the However, the Italian immu- tics has sometimes been the fo- would have a bigger role after the He also described the protests ease is caused by the coronavi- a police offi cer told AFP, adding fl ats share toilets. nologist added: “Such micro- cus of fi erce debate however. changes. as a sign of “deep-seated inter- rus. that the Red Cross was deliver- “This doesn’t worry us very outbreaks were inevitable, but “...We are working rather A nationwide vote on amend- nal crises” in the United States, After the uproar of blaring ing food to them. much,” he said. “We’re wearing they are limited in time and smoothly and emerging from ing the constitution will run from linking the unrest to the coro- ambulances to handle the new Many of the windows were masks and being careful.” space. And today we have the this situation with the coronavi- June 25-July 1. navirus pandemic, which he said cluster of cases, the southern shuttered in the orange brick But Raff aele, a 77-year-old tools to intercept them and con- rus confi dently and, with mini- If approved, the reforms would “has shone a spotlight on general working-class district of Gar- block of fl ats, typical of the who lives nearby, complained fi ne them.” mal losses ... but in the (United) allow 67-year-old Putin, in pow- problems”. batella returned to normal yes- buildings that sprang up in the that “there is absolutely no Italy, which went under na- States, that is not happening,” er since 1999, to serve two more He said he nevertheless ex- terday, apart from the police outskirts of Rome during the check (on) constant comings tionwide quarantine on March Putin told state TV. six-year terms in the Kremlin pected that the “fundamental tape and a squad car outside the 1970s. and goings of people from all 10, has been one of the hardest- Russia’s political system had after 2024, when he would under basis of American democracy building, as well as a posse of The squatters also receive aid over the world”. hit countries in the world by handled the crisis better than its current laws be obliged to step will allow the country to escape journalists. from an NGO. He said he feared that such Covid-19, mostly in the north. US counterpart, said Putin, be- down. this series of crisis events”. Gulf Times Monday, June 15, 2020 13 INDIA

Virus spreads to rural areas in MP, all 52 districts hit Rural areas are now fast com- “We will not be able to say district free of corona patients, patients in 440 villages of the fected patients and any further In Alirajpur, Harda and IANS ing in the grip of the infection. anything about when the has also been aff ected now. state. The government has ear- relaxation in restrictions may Hoshangabad, no positive cases Bhopal The government is now con- schools will open in the state, Niwani district magistrate marked Rs275 crore, which is worsen the situation further. have been reported in the last 21 cerned about the spread of the but seeing the present situ- Akshay Kumar Singh said 15% of the 14th Finance Com- “Therefore, absolute caution days. infection from urban to rural ation it is unlikely that they three Covid-19-positive peo- mission allocation to the lo- and vigilance are required,” he No positive cases were re- ith the steady increase areas in the state. will open in July. There will be ple have been found in the cal councils for prevention of said. ported in Seoni in the last 19 in the spread of the As a result, after opening a review again in lat e June and district and strict measures Covid-19. According to offi cial details, days, Jhabua in the last 15 days Wcoronavirus across offi ces and markets, the gov- a decision will be taken only will be enforced to check the It will be spent on masks, hy- 22 labs are functional in the and Sehore in the last 10 days. Madhya Pradesh, all 52 districts ernment is reluctant to restart after that.” spread. giene, sanitation, soaps, sani- state for testing. The recovery rate in the state of the state are now aff ected by schools. The number of corona-in- Markets will open only from tisers and protective equipment Citizens have been receiving has now increased to 70%. Covid-19. Madhya Pradesh Chief Min- fected patients has increased 8am to 6pm. among other things. medical services from 1,109 ‘fe- Offi cials from the health, Niwari district which was the ister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has in 51 of the 52 districts of the Tracing the spread from ur- Chouhan said due to unlock- ver clinics’. revenue and the police depart- only exception so far has also expressed his inability to com- state. ban to rural areas, offi cial fi g- ing the state there has been an Testing and treatment capac- ments are involved in preven- been aff ected. mit on the opening of schools. Niwari, which was the only ures show there are 904 corona increase in new corona-in- ity has steadily increased. tion of corona infection. 500 railway coaches to be converted into hospitals

Agencies medical facilities to treat Cov- navirus patients. In the next few New Delhi id-19 patients. days, our offi cials will talk to the These would provide an addi- owners of every nursing home tional 8,000 beds, Shah said. and also solve their problems.” A policeman checks the travel pass of a commuter after strict lockdown norms for weekends and public holidays were imposed, in Amritsar, ive hundred railway coach- Testing would be ramped up The situation is also grim in Punjab yesterday. es refi tted to serve as hos- to three times the current rate Mumbai, where 1,383 new infec- Fpitals, a rapid ramping-up within a week. tions were reported yesterday, of testing, and house-to-house A comprehensive house-to- taking the city’s total to 56,740. surveys in the worst-aff ected house health survey checking More than 20 members of the areas were among measures an- every person in the containment city’s police force have died of nounced yesterday to tackle a zones would also be carried out the virus. growing spike in Covid-19 cases within a week, Shah tweeted. The city’s authorities plan to Coronavirus fears mount in the Indian capital. Containment zones are areas provide 500 more intensive care New Delhi has reported 2,000 where large numbers of Covid-19 units to hospitals, where 99% of new cases for the past two days cases have been reported. available beds are currently oc- and has emerged as one of the Delhi has more than 240. cupied, the Hindustan Times major centres of the pandemic The Delhi government plans newspaper reported, citing a as hospital beds run out in India along with the cities of to turn banquet halls and ho- Greater Mumbai Municipal Cor- Mumbai and Ahmedabad. tels into temporary hospitals, in poration offi cial. AFP the Indian healthcare system, the nationwide tribute to health “What if I fall sick next, what A total of 38,958 cases have order to add 20,000 beds over In Gurugram, Haryana, the New Delhi death of Jain and others like him workers, banging pots and pans will I do? Should I sell my prop- been reported in the city and the next few weeks, NDTV news administration has decided to have heightened anxiety in Delhi from rooftops and balconies after erty, my jewellery?” 1,271 deaths. channel reported, citing health build temporary quarantine cen- over the growing threat. a nationwide lockdown started in A sting operation by the Mir- This could rise to at least half department offi cials. tres in residential societies and shwani Jain succumbed More than 1,200 have died March. ror Now TV channel showed fi ve a million cases by mid-July given Shah said a committee was upscale condominiums. to the coronavirus in an from the virus in the Indian capi- Now they feel abandoned. Delhi hospitals asking coronavi- the steady spread of the virus, examining providing 60% of pri- “We have asked Resident Wel- Aambulance as his family tal and more than 1,000 new cas- “The government is doing rus patients to pay up to $5,250 in Delhi Deputy Chief Minister vate hospital beds in Delhi at low fare Associations to submit lists pleaded with several hospitals to es are being reported each day. nothing. They are just playing order to be admitted. Manish Sisodia said. cost for coronavirus patients, of common places like commu- take him in, the latest victim of Mortuaries are overfl owing with our feelings,” Kashish said. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Federal Home Minister Amit and fi xing the cost of testing and nity centres, gyms, spa centres the pandemic sweeping through with bodies and cemeteries and Jain’s devastated relatives are Kejriwal has accused private Shah held a meeting with Delhi treatment. or clubs to develop as makeshift the Indian capital and exposing a crematorium staff say they can- now waiting to get tested them- hospitals of lying about available Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal He added that a report would quarantine centres,” an offi cial deadly shortage of hospital beds. not keep up with the backlog of selves but the Delhi government beds and promised tough ac- and other top federal and state be submitted today. said. “They don’t care whether we victims. allows that for only high-risk tion if they were found extorting offi cials to address the growing That comes after a public out- Authorities in Gurugram be- live or die,” said his 20-year-old Some local Delhi councils say and symptomatic family mem- money. crisis. cry over the high cost of beds and lieve that next one month is very daughter Kashish, whose uncle, the real death toll is twice the bers. Experts are questioning the The meeting comes days af- coronavirus treatment at private crucial as chances of spreading Abhishek, sat with Ashwani in number given by the regional Currently government hospi- city’s handling of the pandemic ter the Supreme Court pulled up hospitals. Covid-19 are very high. the back of the vehicle on its des- government. tals have 8,505 designated pan- however. authorities after media reports of Meanwhile Kejriwal said all Efforts are underway to en- perate journey across Delhi. Media has been full of tragic demic beds while private hospi- Virologist Shahid Jameel said people being turned away from small and medium multi-spe- sure all preventive measures “It won’t matter to them but stories of people dying after be- tals have 1,441. Delhi, like other major cities, has hospitals and crematoriums and ciality nursing homes in the na- are followed to avoid a Delhi or I have lost my father, he was the ing turned away by hospitals. But families say they are being not tested enough people. improper treatment of patients tional capital have been convert- Mumbai like situation, the of- world to me,” she said, tears well- One pregnant woman died as forced to spend a small fortune So far, it has covered just 1% of and bodies. ed into corona-special hospitals. ficial added. ing up as she showed a photo of she was being shuttled between for the few beds that are avail- its population. “The federal government will Under this scheme, 10 to India imposed a national lock- him. hospitals. able. “At the moment Delhi govern- try to provide all essential equip- 49-bed nursing homes are be- down from March 25 but, faced All of the hospitals the A 78-year-old man petitioned Suman Gulati, whose father is ment is doing everything to make ment required by the Delhi gov- ing made as ‘Covid-19 Nursing with an economic crisis, gradu- 45-year-old businessman’s the Delhi High Court for a ven- a coronavirus patient, said she people panic,” he told AFP. ernment to fi ght this pandemic Homes’. ally started to open up industry family tried refused to admit tilator bed but died before the was asked for Rs1mn ($13,200) by “It should be testing aggres- like oxygen cylinders, ventilators, Kejriwal said the bed capac- and transport in mid-May. Ashwani, even though an app set matter could be taken up. a private hospital for a bed. sively. I don’t understand the pulse oximeters,” Shah tweeted ity for treating coronavirus pa- Offi ces, malls, hotels and res- up by the city government indi- Several families have used so- “Once I paid the money get- logic of testing only people who after the meeting. tients in Delhi will be increased taurants started re-opening on cated Covid-19 beds were free, cial media to recount their har- ting a bed was not a problem. But are symptomatic. How will you To meet the shortage of beds, by 5,000. June 8 along with temples and Abhishek told AFP. rowing experiences after being arranging such a huge amount fi nd how much the infection has the Railway Ministry will imme- “With this decision of the Del- other places of worship, despite With surging infections high- refused hospital beds. of money at such a critical time spread in the community if you diately provide 500 train coaches hi government, more than 5,000 the recent steep rise in infec- lighting the precarious state of Jain’s family had joined a noisy, was,” she told AFP. don’t test them?” which are to be equipped with beds will be available for coro- tions. Karnataka rules out Shah leads Delhi’s charge re-imposing lockdown against Covid-19 crisis “We have shut four Bengaluru IANS Bengaluru clinics for not reporting ILI and IANS Senior offi cials of the Delhi from Delhi residents that he will Sari cases,” a health offi cial told New Delhi and the central governments will present at today’s meeeting. IANS. also be present. Meanwhile, the central gov- here is no question of re- The clinics are Namma Clinic Politically, it sends out a signal ernment has decided to double imposing a lockdown, a at Sahakaranagar, Panchamukhi ederal Home Minister Amit that Shah has taken charge of the the number of tests in the na- TKarnataka minister said Specialty Clinic at Peenya 2nd Shah has called an all-par- situation in the national capital tional capital in the next two yesterday, seeking to dispel Stage, Mathru Chaya Clinic at Fty meeting today morn- that has come under severe criti- days. speculation over the issue. Sudhama Nagar in Bommana- ing to “review management of cism. The exercise will soon start at “The question of re-imposing halli and Nayak Hospital in Gay- Covid-19 situation” in Delhi, and Interestingly, today’s meet- polling stations in containment lockdown does not arise,” Medi- athri Nagar. analysts say the political signal- ing comes within 24 hours of zones. cal Education Minister K Sud- “We gave notice to 17 clin- ling is unmistakable. the central government deputed “To prevent corona infec- hakar told reporters as he toured ics for not reporting ILI and Sari While Shah as the home six Indian Administrative Serv- tions in Delhi, testing will be Kalaburagi and Bidar districts to medical conditions in patients. minister stepped in only after ice (IAS) offi cials to the Delhi doubled in the next two days. visit medical colleges, meet peo- Out of the 17 clinics, 13 said that the Supreme Court slammed government to help in Covid-19 The testing will be increased to ple and offi cials to discuss the they did not do and will start re- the Aam Admi Party which management. three times after six days. Also, Covid-19 situation. porting,” said the offi cial. runs the Delhi administration, Politically, it’s a signal to show after a few days, testing will Amid rising infections, However, the four clinics did and the central government, who is in charge to undo the start at every polling station in there was speculation that not report leading to their clo- calling the handing of the situ- “horrendous, horrifi c, pathetic” the containment zones,” Shah the lockdown may be clamped sure. ation “horrendous, horrific, situation that was allowed to tweeted. down again as Prime Minister According to the official, the pathetic”, today’s all-party happen under the Aam Aadmi Delhi BJP chief Adesh Kumar Narendra Modi plans to talk to clinics failed to adhere to the meeting comes after the one Party government. Gupta “thanked” Shah for step- chief ministers on June 16 and Epidemic Diseases Act, 1987 convened by Lieutenant Gov- To further muddy it for the ping in to halt the “deteriorating 17. and Disaster Management Act, ernor Anil Baijal. AAP, Delhi Congress chief Anil situation in Delhi”. Meanwhile, the Karnataka’s 2005. According to sources, the Kumar said, “The question that As the Covid-19 tally crossed Health Department has shut All medical facilities and Delhi unit of the Congress, the needs to be asked is why did 38,000 in the city, going strictly down four clinics in Bengaluru hospitals should report all Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), (Chief Minister) Arvind Kejri- by the optics, the Delhi chief for not reporting Infl uenza Like patients with ILI and Sari the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) wal not take the initiative like the minister seems to have taken a Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute symptoms as many Covid-19 and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party ones taken by the L-G and the back seat while the central home Respiratory Infection (Sari) cas- positive cases have them as (AAP) will be represented at the union home minister.” minister has taken it upon him- Healthcare workers check the temperature of a resident at a slum in es, which show Covid-19 symp- underlying conditions, the of- meeting. Kumar has sought suggestions self to salvage the situation. Mumbai yesterday. toms, an offi cial said yesterday. ficial added. Gulf Times 14 Monday, June 15, 2020 INDIA

INVESTIGATION JUDICIARY SCANDAL POLITICS CRIME Murder suspect says he SC refuses to stay One more woman ‘Y security’ cover for Police look for suspect ‘liked’ killing people probe against Dua ‘teacher’ held in UP Mulayam relative over ventilator theft

A 30-year-old man, known to be a psycho The Supreme Court yesterday declined to stay The case of a woman in Uttar Pradesh who In what could be an indicator of changing political The Varanasi police are searching for a man who killer, has been arrested while trying to an investigation into a sedition case registered impersonated a teacher and drew salaries equations in Uttar Pradesh, the state government allegedly stole a portable ventilator from Banaras hack his elder brother with an axe, police against journalist Vinod Dua in Himachal Pradesh totalling over Rs1 crore is taking interesting has now provided Y-category security to Aparna Hindu University’s Trauma Centre by posing as a said in Etah, Uttar Pradesh. Radhey Shyam over his YouTube show. However, the court said turns with each passing day, with the police Yadav, the younger daughter-in-law of Samajwadi service engineer. “The ventilator was not working. had allegedly murdered two boys, both his Dua should not be arrested till July 6. His lawyer identifying two more women suspects and Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav. Aparna On June 8, a man met the nursing off icer of the nephews, and was planning to kill three more, Vikas Singh argued that it will send a wrong arresting one of them. In a positive twist to Yadav, who contested the assembly elections in area claiming that he was a service engineer the police said. An off icer said late in the night signal, and freedom of expression, a fundamental the whole scam, the real teacher, Anamika 2017 on an SP ticket in Lucknow, has been known and had come to repair the ventilator. However, of June 11, Shyam attempted to kill his elder right, will be aff ected. The court asked the Shukla, who has been jobless so far, has got to embarrass her brother-in-law and party chief without reporting anything further, he left the brother Vishwanath Singh who was sleeping. Himachal Pradesh police to question Dua at his a job off er from a private school in Gonda Akhilesh Yadav on a number of occasions when campus with the machine.” Police said they Fortunately, relatives caught him before the residence only after giving a prior notice of 24 district after its management came to know she publicly praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi are trying to identify the fraudster with the attack and took him to the police. During hours. The case was filed by Bharatiya Janata about her. Authorities have identified two and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Aparna had help of CCTV footage of the Trauma Centre. questioning, Shyam claimed he ‘liked’ killing Party leader Naveen Kumar who accused the more women in the Kasturba Gandhi Balika initially thrown her weight behind uncle Shivpal As the theft took place in a high security zone, people. “The accused has confessed to have journalist of ‘spreading fake news’ through ‘The Vidyalaya (KGBV) masquerading as Anamika Yadav when the latter floated his own outfit, the the security personnel deployed there are also killed two of his nephews, and disclosed that Vinod Dua Show’ on YouTube. Singh said that if Shukla and drawing salaries in her name. Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party Lohia, but with being interrogated, they added. The university he was about to kill three more people,” the this kind of content can attract sedition, then half While one was arrested in Mainpuri district, Akhilesh and Shivpal mending fences, Aparna, off icials came to know about the theft on Saturday off icer said. the country will be committing sedition. the other woman is being traced. sources said, is not too inclined to follow her uncle. morning when the news went viral on social media. US, Canada experts join eff orts to ghtfi oil well fi re

IANS student organisations in two dis- Guwahati tricts of Assam. A senior OIL offi cial said as the fi refi ghters, the National xperts from the US and Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) Canada joined hands with and engineers intensifi ed their Ea Singapore-based com- eff orts to douse the fi re on June pany to put out an oil well fi re 9, various student organisations in Assam’s Tinsukia district as and other associations forced the fl ames continued to erupt on the company to stop its opera- the sixth day yesterday, offi cials tions in many drilling locations said. and nine work-over locations Petroleum and Natural Gas in Tinsukia and Dibrugarh dis- Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, tricts. An ambulance carrying the body of Sushant Singh Rajput is seen leaving his residence in Mumbai yesterday. accompanied by Assam Chief Security forces have been de- Minister Sarbananda Sonowal ployed at the agitation sites by and other senior ministers and the district administrations. offi cials, visited the state-owned The state-owned OIL has giv- Oil India Ltd’s (OIL) well, which en a fi nancial aid of Rs30,000 to has been spewing huge gas and oil each of the aff ected families. condensate for the past 19 days. “If the protests of the local or- The fi re fi rst broke out from ganisations continued, the loss the oil well on June 9. of crude oil, which is 638 MT Bollywood mourns the According to OIL offi cials, the from 66 producing wells and US and Canadian experts are 0.46 MMSCMD of natural gas drawing up a roadmap with the till Friday would further increase Singapore-based Alert company and hamper the eff orts to control to control both the gas leak and the oil well fi re,” the OIL offi cial the huge fi re. said. An OIL statement said Prad- He said a detailed draft plan death of Sushant Singh han told the people and offi cials for the operation to control and that the aff ected residents would douse the fi re has been submit- zActor committed suicide, say Mumbai police be adequately compensated for ted to the Petroleum and Natural their losses and action would be Gas Ministry. taken against those responsible Equipment is being brought Agencies suicide,” Mumbai Deputy Com- Fellow star Akshay Kumar He got his big break in Bol- “It was very diffi cult because, for the incident. from diff erent parts of the coun- Mumbai missioner of Police Abhishek wrote on Twitter that he was lywood in 2013 with Kai Po Che, after we did the preparation, in According to the statement, try to meet the challenge. Trimukhe said. “shocked and speechless”. a fi lm about cricket, love and my head I was him and every- the OIL lost 638 metric tonnes of At least two OIL fi re fi ght- Rajput, renowned for his nu- “Such a talented actor...may politics that won acclaim at the thing that was happening was crude oil production from 66 pro- ers were killed on June 10 and oung Bollywood heart- merous hits on the big and small God give strength to his family.” Berlin fi lm festival. actually aff ecting me,” he ducing wells and 0.46 MMSCMD four others, including one from throb Sushant Singh Ra- screens, reportedly battled de- “This is just so shocking. A His most recent fi lms said. (million metric standard cubic ONGC, were injured near the oil Yjput, lauded for his por- pression. wonderful talent. RIP Sushant,” were comedy-drama He had acted in 10 fi lms metre per day) of natural gas from well blowout site. trayal of cricket star M S Dhoni He passed away just a few actor Abhishek Bachchan said on Chhichhore and action and his 11th, an offi cial re- three gas wells due to blockades The fi re can be seen from as far on the silver screen, was found days after the shock death of his Twitter. Bollywood is still strug- movie Drive, both re- make of the Hollywood hit by the local people and various as 5km. dead yesterday, Mumbai police former manager Disha Salian. gling to come to terms with the leased last year. The Fault in Our Stars, is said. “It pains us to share that Su- loss of two luminaries, Irrfan Khan Rajput in 2016 spoke scheduled for release later “Police found Rajput’s body shant Singh Rajput is no longer and Rishi Kapoor, in April. of the emotional this year. Prime Minis- Toxic gas in well kills 3 villagers at his residence today after- with us,” Rajput’s management In early June, Wajid Khan, one rollercoaster he ter Narendra also ex- noon,” police spokesman Pra- team said in a statement. of the top composers of Bolly- went through pressed shock over Three young villagers of Saura village in Agra district died early naya Ashok said, confi rming “We request his fans to keep wood dance songs, died at the age fi lming the bi- the actor’s death. yesterday of toxic gases while cleaning a well. Bholi, 22, Pappu, 22 and that the 34-year-old had com- him in their thoughts and cel- of 42 after contracting coronavi- opic of cricket “A bright young Lakhan, 17, entered the unused village well to clean it before rains. But mitted suicide. ebrate his life, and his work like rus, according to media reports. hero Dhoni, actor gone too the trapped poisonous gas inside the well didn’t give them time to flee Local media reported that the they have done so far.” Celebrated fi lmmaker Basu M S Dhoni: soon... His rise in for safety, police said. When the villagers got to know of the tragedy, actor had been found hanging “I will miss him so much,” Chatterjee passed away just a The Untold the world of en- they informed the police and the fire brigade which pulled out the from the ceiling of his home. tweeted Bollywood superstar week ago. He was 90. Story, which tertainment in- dead bodies. For almost four hours the villagers blocked the Agra- “He was found hanging at Shah Rukh Khan alongside a Born in Patna in Bihar, Rajput included retell- spired many and he Gwalior national highway to protest against the deaths. The police had his home and a domestic help selfi e with Rajput. quit his studies in engineering ing the death of leaves behind several to use mild force to clear the road. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi called us. We are investigating “His energy, enthusiasm and to pursue a career in acting and the ex-skipper’s memorable performanc- Adityanath has announced Rs2 lakh compensation to each family. all angles including possible his full happy smile.” dance. former girlfriend. es,” Modi said on Twitter. Andhra politics heats up as Southwest monsoon Jagan goes after TDP leaders covers entire Karnataka

IANS “As far as north Karnataka IANS His family alleged that 200 edly forging documents to regis- Bengaluru, is concerned, we are expect- Hyderabad to 300 policemen scaled the ter and sell vehicles purchased as ing fairly widespread rain, fol- house’s compound wall to barge scrap from a leading automobile lowed by scattered rain over in and arrest him. company. he southwest monsoon the next four days,” said the t a time when Andhra No prior notice was given to the They were shifted to Anan- covered the entire Kar- offi cial. Pradesh, like other states, TDP leader about his arrest for al- tapur district and presented in Tnataka by Friday, lead- Similar is the forecast for Ais in the grip of a coronavi- leged irregularities in the purchase a court. Atchannaidu is the fi rst ing to widespread rain in sev- south Karnataka. No heavy rus panddemic, the Jagan Mohan of medicines and equipment for key TDP leader to be arrested eral areas, an offi cial said in rain is expected in the interior Reddy government’s move to go Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) since YSRCP came to power in Bengaluru yesterday. districts. after opposition Telugu Desam hospitals during the TDP rule, May last year. “Coastal Karnataka has Meanwhile, not much rain is Party leaders for their alleged when he was the minister for la- After becoming the chief minis- been receiving heavy-to-very expected in Bengaluru as it lies involvement in scams during the bour and employment. ter, Jagan Mohan Reddy decided to heavy rain,” a Met department towards the eastern periphery previous government’s term is Only two days before the ar- not only have a re-look at all ma- offi cial told IANS. of the monsoon. heating up the state politics. rest, Atchannaidu had under- jor decisions taken by the previous One of the department’s “It will be only light-to- The manner in which two TDP gone a surgery. Chandrababu Naidu government stations in Udupi recorded moderate rain in the next two- leaders were arrested in two days Since he was made to travel by but also order a probe wherever 20cm rain and fi ve stations in three days,” she said. and the warnings issued by rul- road for 12 hours to Vijayawada irregularities were found. coastal Karnataka yesterday Bengaluru will experience ing YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and only after 24 hours did he The timing of the arrests also received heavy rain. cloudy sky with light rain to- leaders while defending the ar- get some medical aid, his surgi- raised many doubts. “Expecting widespread rain in day and tomorrow, followed by rests has kicked up a row. cal wound is said to have opened. Opposition leaders believe the next fi ve days. On Monday, cloudy sky on Wednesday and The main opposition is accus- Political observers say while that it was done to divert public there is a possibility of heavy-to- partly cloudy sky on Thursday, ing the ruling party of indulging no one can have any objection attention from the state’s prob- very heavy rain,” she said. Friday and Saturday. in “political vendetta”. to Atchannaidu’s arrest in the lems due to the spread of Cov- Very heavy rain ranges be- zRajasthan has so far re- The arrest of former minister ESI scam, the manner in which id-19 and a series of setbacks the tween 7cm and 20cm, and ceived 130% of pre-monsoon and TDP deputy leader in the he was picked up and brought to government faced in courts. heavy rain between 7cm and rains, the Met department assembly K Atchannaidu by the Vijayawada raises suspicion. The latest and biggest setback 11cm. said. Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) The very next day, former TDP was the high court setting aside However, the Met depart- The state registers 21mm of from his house in Srikakulam legislator J C Prabhakar Reddy an ordinance brought in to re- ment is expecting a decrease in pre-monsoon rains on average district early Friday raised many and his son Asmith Reddy were move N Ramesh Kumar as the A man crosses a road during heavy rains in Siliguri, West Bengal rain tomorrow, and heavy rain but this year, it has touched questions. arrested in Hyderabad for alleg- State Election Commissioner. yesterday. on the next three days. 48.2mm. Gulf Times Monday, June 15, 2020 15 LATIN AMERICA

Market shudders as Colombia govt eyes pension funds er than 10 years before retire- kept market worries high. buyers, and in the stock mar- ally one of the region’s heartiest, a positive impact.” Finance Minister Alberto Car- Reuters ment to move funds to the public The law would also allow ket, where funds invest a large looks set to contract 5.5% this The policy has echoes of Ar- rasquilla said. Bogota pension fund, Colpensiones. those with private pensions to part of the $71.6bn they con- year because of a months-long gentina in 2008, analysts said, A day later, President Ivan It immediately sparked spec- voluntarily move to the public trol. coronavirus quarantine and when private pensions were na- Duque rejected the idea. ulation the money would be fund. “We ended up in the same lower oil prices. tionalised to make $24bn avail- “This shows the defi cien- olombia’s fi nancial mar- used for some of the $11.7bn in The provision is meant to cor- place by a diff erent route,” “These proposals don’t help able to the government. cies of the system and makes ket cringed when it pension costs the government rect legal complaints that savers said Munir Jalil, BTG Pactual’s at all because we’d have to cal- Bogota’s “fortunate reversal” the need for a structural pen- Clearned the government faces this year, allowing it to re- were not given suffi cient advice chief economist for t he An- culate how much money would kept Colombia off Argentina’s sion reform even more urgent,” was planning to order pension direct other funds toward coro- when they joined private funds dean region.”What it shows is leave private funds,” said Daniel “disastrous path,” former fi - said Mauricio Olivera, director funds to transfer some $7.34bn navirus needs. two decades ago. the level of cash fl ow need...for Velandia, Credicorp Capital’s nance minister Juan Camilo Re- at the Econometria consultancy. worth of contributions to the Although the measure was A significant movement out the national government, which chief Colombian economist. strepo said on Twitter. “If everyone moves to Colpen- public retirement fund. later ruled out by the govern- of private pensions would have makes them consider these ways “They would have to sell their The government was con- siones, it could create a pension The measure would have al- ment, a proposed law working ripple effects in public bonds, of getting funds.” positions or transfer debt titles sidering allowing partial with- time bomb because the subsi- lowed 350,000 people with few- its way through congress has as pension funds are major The country’s economy, usu- to the government; it isn’t at all drawals from pension funds, dies are really high.” Tourists trickle in Sugar shipping as Mexico beaches reopen rush in Brazil

Reuters Cancun causes huge

oreign visitors have begun to trickle back to the white Fsands and warm waters of Mexico’s Caribbean coast as its popular beaches gradually reo- vessel logjam pen to tourism with new sanitary measures in place to prevent the Reuters to Williams shipping agency. deliverers and will have to pay spread of the coronavirus. “I’ve Sao Paulo The typical wait time is 29 that demurrage. been stuck in New York City in days, up from four or fi ve days COFCO and Wilmar did not my apartment for three months, last year. return requests for comment. so I decided that on the beach ore than 70 ships are Two sugar traders told Reu- “Many countries, particular- somewhere open was probably lined up at Brazil’s ters that buyers were unlikely ly in Asia, fearing supply chain a good call,” said web designer Mport of Santos to load to cancel contracts, because it problems due to coronavirus Sam Leon, 31, after arriving at sugar for export in a queue that would be a high risk for them to decided to guarantee supplies the airport of famed resort town may take a month to clear after fi nd alternative supplies. to form strategic stockpiles,” Cancun. buyers worldwide scrambled to “India would be an alterna- said the head of one of the larg- He said he planned to head get ahead of possible disrup- tive, but they are having prob- est sugar groups in Brazil, who to the trendy beach of Tu- tion caused by the ravages of lems as well at ports due to asked not to be named. lum with a friend, and said he the coronavirus pandemic. coronavirus,” said Cheng Gonk Some mills opted to send had no qualms about possi- bly picking up the virus while A large share of the global Vin, head sugar trader at Bra- sugar to other ports to avoid travelling because he was in sugar trade turned to Brazil, zil’s SCA Trading. delays. good health. which posted record output, Alta Mogiana SA, a producer Others were similarly unde- and after poor harvests in India “Many countries, based in Brazil’s main sugar terred, even as Mexico reported and Thailand. particularly in Asia, fearing belt, said for the fi rst time ever record infection levels in recent The South American nation supply chain problems due it decided to send sugar to two days and in certain areas is at the now has, however, the second- to coronavirus decided to ports other than Santos. peak of the pandemic. most Covid-19 cases world- guarantee supplies to form Sugar market dealers say that Mexico has registered 16,448 wide at more than 610,000. strategic stockpiles” despite a smaller crop this sea- overall deaths. Three bulk carriers had load- son, India could benefi t from “We travel all the time...we’re ing operations suspended in Vin said there will be ad- logistical problems in Brazil. really not super concerned,” said recent weeks and faced a 14- ditional costs for traders with “Indian mills will cash in on Canadian national Brad Kendell, day quarantine in Santos, Latin ‘demurrage,’ a fee charged by any drop in sugar supplies from 32, who lives in Panama. America’s largest port, after vessel owners when ships stay Brazil due to the long line-up He had been in Mexico City crew members tested positive longer than expected at ports. there,” said Rahil Shaikh, man- with his wife last March when aging director at MEIR Com- Panama put the country on lock- for Covid-19. That charge is seen at around down. A vessel at the nearby Paran- $20,000 per waiting day. modities India. They chose to decamp to Can- agua port had the same prob- “It is mayhem in Santos,” There are still 1.5mn tonnes cun for a “change of pace” while lem. said a second trader, describing of sugar to be exported with waiting for travel restrictions to “The situation has been traders’ struggle to fi nd space. help from government-ap- ease. complicated by the virus. Eve- He said some traders were proved subsidies, Shaikh said, About 20 tourists splashed in ryone is nervous about what negotiating with mills to post- which could make Indian out- the water and relaxed on the sand happens if vessels are un- pone shipments. put competitive. on a recent day at Hard Rock Ho- able to berth or load quickly,” Buyers of May raw sugar fu- Thailand is less likely to tel, which re-opened on June 8 said Stephen Geldart, head of tures purchased 2.26mn tonnes benefi t after a poor crop hit by along with 16 other beachside re- analysis at food supply chain for delivery in that contract, a drought, said Virit Viseshsinth, sorts in Cancun. services company Czarnikow monthly record. deputy secretary-general of Hard Rock said it installed Group Ltd. That sugar needs to be deliv- Thailand’s Offi ce of Cane and hand sanitiser stations, ramped In Santos, the fl otilla is wait- ered to New York by the end of Sugar Board. up cleaning and is enforcing ing to take more than 3mn July and has increased the con- The country has less than distancing rules at the pool and gestion in Santos. 6mn tonnes of sugar for ex- beach areas. tonnes of sugar to refi ners Although hotels can allow worldwide, compared with just Asian commodities trad- ports for the crop year, signifi - guests into the water, public 15 ships to load 700,000 tonnes ers COFCO International and cantly less than earlier years, beaches remain closed. Bulk carriers line up as they wait to dock and be loaded with cargo near Santos Port in Santos, Brazil. at this time last year, according Wilmar International were the most of it already committed. Racism protest Businessman close Argentina extends debt to Maduro arrested

Reuters the coast of western Africa, but recast talks to June 19 Caracas also declined to provide further details. AFP objectives,” it said. on capital — or $3.6bn. In a statement, Venezuela’s for- Buenos Aires Earlier, Mexico’s President That was rejected the follow- uthorities in Cape Verde eign ministry said Saab had been Manuel Andres Lopez Obrador ing month, while Argentina then have arrested a business- acting as an “agent” of the state at said he had personally lobbied failed to pay $500mn of interest Aman close to Venezuela’s the time of his detention, on busi- rgentina has extended Larry Fink, chief executive of on its bond debt, thus defaulting. socialist President Nicolas Ma- ness to obtain food, medicine and a deadline for debt re- major Argentina creditor Black- Last week, the IMF gave its duro, the US department of jus- other humanitarian goods to help Astructuring talks to June rock, to accept the Argentine of- backing to a revised proposal by tice said, a move Venezuelan the South American country fi ght 19 as the economy ministry an- fer. the Argentine government, but authorities called a violation of the coronavirus pandemic. nounced it was preparing to He said he had contacted Fink Fernandez insists any deal must international law. “Venezuela calls on the state of present a new off er to creditors. at the request of Argentine Pres- be sustainable. Alex Saab, a Colombian who Cabo Verde to set the citizen Alex The announcement, the third ident Alberto Fernandez. The new off er could include a also has a Venezuelan passport, Saab free,” the ministry said in a extension in months of nego- “He knew I had a good rela- coupon tied to agricultural ex- had won contracts to obtain sup- statement, calling the arrest an tiations to restructure $66bn in tionship with Larry Fink,” the ports, the country’s main source plies for Maduro’s government- “arbitrary detention” in violation debt, had been expected amid Mexican president told his daily of income, according to sources run food subsidy programme. of international law and adding reports that the government and press conference. close to negotiations, which The US charged him last year Saab should have had diplomatic bondholders were still some way “Sometimes these things af- involve three separate creditor with money laundering, and immunity. apart. fect the economic and fi nancial groups. Washington has also sanctioned US offi cials said the food pro- “Argentina and its advisors stability of the world, of other The export warrants “would him for the food deals, which US gramme lined the pockets of Ma- intend to take advantage of this countries,” said the Mexican be less open to manipulation by offi cials described as a scam de- duro, who has overseen a six-year extension to continue discus- president, who did not disclose governments (present and fu- signed to enrich Saab and Ma- economic collapse of the once- sions and allow investors to the date of his discussions. ture) than the traditional GDP duro. prosperous Opec nation and continue contributing to a suc- Fernandez on Wednesday said warrants, which have been is- Department of justice spokes- stands accused of corruption and cessful debt restructuring,” a that “obviously Argentina will sued in the past,” Capital Eco- woman Nicole Navas Oxman said human rights violations. statement from the economy improve its off er,” after being nomics said in a note. in a statement that Saab was ar- Last Tuesday, the Colombian ministry said. knocked back several times by “Cutting through the ebb and rested pursuant to an Interpol red attorney general’s offi ce said it Buenos Aires is analysing bondholders. fl ow of the negotiations, though, African descendants, migrants and human rights activists notice issued with respect to his had frozen assets belonging to suggestions “on the differ- In April, Argentina asked even if a deal is done in the com- raise their fists as they protest against police brutality and US indictment. Saab in the country worth some ent possible ways to improve bondholders for a three-year ing weeks, we are sceptical that racism at El Chaparral port of entry in Tijuana, Baja California She provided no further details. 35bn Colombian pesos ($9.28mn), collections... and maximise grace period on debt repayment, it will deliver enough debt relief state, Mexico, as part of the ‘Black Lives Matter’ worldwide Maria Dominguez, Saab’s US- adding Saab was under investiga- investor support, while pre- a 62% reduction on interest to prevent another restructuring protests. based attorney, confi rmed his ar- tion for crimes including money serving its debt sustainability amounting to $37.9bn, and 5.4% further down the line.” rest in the archipelago nation off laundering. Gulf Times 16 Monday, June 15, 2020 PAKISTAN

Approval granted for testing Pandemic could peak at kits made locally over 1mn cases: minister Internews Tracing of coronavirus June if we keep on fl outing SOPs Healthcare staff began trac- area were found not to be wearing Islamabad patients’ contacts begins in (standard operating procedures) ing the contacts of previously masks or taking other precau- Islamabad and taking the problem lightly,” reported patients living in G-9 tions. said Umar, who is helping co- sector of Islamabad. The deputy commissioner said n a major breakthrough on AFP/Internews ordinate the government’s coro- Two sub-sectors of G-9, that masks and other protective Friday, the Drug Regula- Islamabad navirus response. G-9/2 and G-9/3, and the sec- equipment had been arranged Itory Authority of Pakistan “We fear the number of con- tor’s markaz known as Karachi and provided to them. (DRAP) approved indigenous fi rmed cases could go up further Company, were sealed at mid- They were also provided food diagnostic kits for the detection akistan has warned that to 1.2mn by end of next month,” night because of the spread of the to limit contact with residents, of Covid-19 that have been de- the number of coronavirus he told reporters in Islamabad. coronavirus among local resi- Shafqaat said. veloped by scientists at the Na- Pcases in the country could After initially lagging infec- dents. Daily-wage workers who live tional University of Science and double by the end of June and tion rates in Western nations, Deputy Commissioner Mo- in the area are also being moni- Technology (NUST). peak at more than 1mn infections Pakistan and other South Asian hamed Hamza Shafqaat said that tored, he said, and so far there The DRAP approved the N- just a month later. countries are experiencing a a team of healthcare and capital has not been an issue regarding CovKit after scientists at the The warning from Planning surge in cases. administration offi cials have be- essential items for them. NUST successfully completed Minister Asad Umar comes as Pakistan’s increase comes after gun tracing the contacts of con- However, trucks carrying es- its lab trial. many in the country continue people violated government re- fi rmed patients who live in the sentials from utility stores have The Covid-19 respiratory dis- to ignore guidance on social strictions and thronged mosques sealed sub-sectors. been arranged for residents. ease is caused by the coronavi- distancing, hygiene and other and markets – mostly without Once traced, they will be quar- Shops selling essentials such rus. measures to tackle the disease. masks and gloves – during Ram- antined and tested for Covid-19. as groceries and green grocer- In his tweet on June 12, Federal Pakistan currently has con- adan and ahead of the Eid festival He said the areas were sealed ies, baked goods, meat and dairy Minister for Science and Tech- fi rmed nearly 140,000 cases of last month. to prevent patients there from products are also allowed to nology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain Covid-19, with the death toll ap- Since the start of Pakistan’s Umar: The number of confirmed cases could go up to 300,000 by the transmitting the disease to oth- open. confi rmed the news: “This will proaching 2,700. outbreak in March, Prime Min- end of June ... if we keep taking the problem lightly. ers and spreading the virus in These shops are also under bring signifi cant cost reduction The Covid-19 respiratory dis- ister Imran Khan has opposed a other areas. surveillance to prevent the spread of Covid tests that run in thou- ease is caused by the coronavirus. nationwide lockdown of the sort Umar said hotspot areas such tracking hotspots and then seal- Residents of both sub-sectors of the coronavirus, Shafqaat said. sands of rupees in the country The authorities have ramped seen elsewhere, arguing that the as Lahore are now subject to ing them. This will start from will be screened for symptoms, Mosques are closed and ulema and will save huge import bills.” up testing, but this nonetheless impoverished country could not “smart” lockdowns, in which au- Punjab province,” he said. and those with symptoms will be are co-operating with the ad- He also extended his felicita- remains limited, so real numbers aff ord it. thorities attempt to track coro- The authorities in Islamabad quarantined and tested. ministration. tions to both the leadership of are thought to be higher. Instead, Pakistan’s four prov- navirus patients and limit who have already locked down at least Shafqaat said that during a Hospitals across Pakistan say the NUST and the scientists, “Expert estimates say the inces ordered a patchwork of clo- they come into contact with. one neighbourhood after track- visit to G-9 to check on the im- they are at or near capacity, and saying that they had made the number of confi rmed cases could sures, but even those restrictions “The government has decided ing 200 confi rmed coronavirus plementation of lockdown SOPs, some are turning Covid-19 pa- country proud by their out- go up to 300,000 by the end of have now been lifted. to go for smart lockdowns by cases in just one day on Friday. police offi cers stationed in the tients away. standing contribution to fi ght the pandemic. The NUST successfully per- formed lab trials of N-CovKit on 330 blind samples. These indigenously-estab- Khan rejects proposal for a lished assays are robust, sen- sitive to the target, and would soon be available in the market at a lower price compared to im- ported ones. complete Lahore lockdown The team of experts who de- veloped the kits included Asso- ciate Professor Dr Aneela Javed Internews is prevailing in the US city, “then He said that Pakistan will focus Minister Buzdar and praised his and Assistant Professor Dr Ali Islamaabd/Lahore what could happen in Pakistan?” on hotspots to curb the spread of performance for the develop- Zohaib from NUST Attaur Rah- Khan said that if we do not take the coronavirus instead of en- ment of the province. man School of Applied Bio- care and adopt precautionary forcing a lockdown. The prime minister said that sciences (ASAB). rime Minister Imran Khan measures, the coronavirus will The prime minister also said the government is expecting July They have been working on has said that Pakistan can- spread rapidly. that the Corona Relief Tiger to be a diffi cult month. Prime Minister Khan: I am sorry to say that people ... think there is no the establishment of these as- Pnot sustain a complete He lamented that many people Force will recruit more volun- “I will also visit the other such thing as coronavirus. People think nothing will happen to them. says for diagnosis of the virus. lockdown as 25% of its popula- are not taking this disease seri- teers and assist the government provinces. From now onward, The kits will soon be mass- tion is living below the poverty ously and behaving irresponsi- in ensuring the rules are being I will be personally monitoring ventilators had been set aside for the drug Actemra, for which tri- produced by a certain pharma- line. bly, allowing the coronavirus is followed. the situation and checking for Covid-19 patients. als will be carried out. ceutical company as soon as the He was addressing a news con- spreading rapidly. Khan has ordered the authori- compliance on the SOPs from the “We should be okay for the She said that previously the company is granted approval by ference fl anked by Punjab Chief “I am sorry to say that people ties concerned to take appro- Prime Minister Offi ce,” he said. next week or 10 days, if people drug could only be imported the DRAP for commercial pro- Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar are just not following SOPs. They priate measures to ensure the Presenting an overview of the exercise caution,” she said. from Japan, but now the drug duction. and Punjab Minister for Health think that there is no such thing implementation of the SOPs in situation in Punjab, provincial The minister said that the Na- regulatory authority has allowed Minister Chaudhry said that Dr Yasmin Rashid in Lahore. as coronavirus and they don’t Punjab. health minister Rashid said that tional Disaster Management Au- for it to be imported from the US Pakistan is the only country in The prime minister said that know anyone who contracted Presiding over a high-level about 40% capacity is available thority (NDMA) will arrange an as well. the world which cut funding while it is easy for rich countries the disease. People think nothing meeting in Lahore, he said that across the province. extra 1,000 beds equipped with Rashid said that Prime Minis- after 2007 for research and de- to impose a lockdown, Pakistan will happen to them,” he said. although the government is fac- About 10,000 beds are avail- oxygen supply. ter Khan had approved an initial velopment, from 0.67% of the cannot close down business ac- The prime minister warned ing a lot of problems, the situa- able which have been set aside for On ventilator availability in trial of 1,000 doses. gross domestic product (GDP) to tivities because of the country’s that if the SOPs continue to be tion remains under control. coronavirus patients, she said. Lahore, she said that a total of She also warned against the 0.24%. poor, including daily-wage la- fl outed, stern action will be taken The prime minister also She also said 502 high-de- 197 ventilators were allotted for black market sale of the drug – Nonetheless, it is refreshing bourers. against the violators. stressed upon the masses to pendency bed units are available. Covid-19 patients in public hos- mentioning that reports of such to see actual Pakistani scientists “The mayor of New York, the Khan said that if Pakistan en- adopt all precautionary measures Around 3,055 people are cur- pitals and 104 in private facilities. sales had been received – and being tapped for their expertise wealthiest city in the world, is forces a strict lockdown, the including wearing masks while rently under treatment for Cov- Currently, 63 are available in cautioned against self-prescrib- rather than political alignment saying that it is going bankrupt,” country would face a situation going outside and adopting social id-19, of which 215 are critical public hospitals and 72 in private ing it, as the drug may prove le- to get through this challenge, he said the prime minister, adding like that in India, where 34% of distancing. and 193 are on ventilators. hospitals, she said. thal for patients, especially who commented. that if such a disastrous situation its population are starving. He lauded the eff orts of Chief Rashid said that a total of 540 The minister also spoke about have septicaemia or tuberculosis. Defence budget maintained in order Tribute to provide relief to masses: Qureshi

Internews by the previous governments, Islamabad the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government had to spend a major chunk of the budget on oreign Minister Shah debt servicing. Mahmood Qureshi has Giving credit to Prime Minis- Fsaid that no increase was ter Imran Khan for champion- made in Pakistan’s defence ex- ing the cause of underdeveloped penditures in the budget so that countries by seeking debt relief, the masses would not be over- Qureshi said: “It is a matter of burdened. pleasure for me that the G20 In a video statement issued and Paris Club granted some re- in connection with the federal laxations to us, while we are still budget 2020-21, the minister want more concessions so that said that the revenue target had we could use the resources to been brought down to Rs800bn provide employment and eradi- because of disruption of the cate poverty.” economy by coronavirus out- He said eff orts are being made break. to reform the Federal Board of Truck artist Haider Ali gives the final touches to a mural at his house in Karachi as a tribute to George “Despite all odds, the budget Qureshi: Despite all odds, the budget is balanced, reasonable, Revenue (FBR), adding that Floyd, the African-American man who died in Minneapolis after a police off icer knelt on his neck for is balanced, reasonable, positive positive and optimistic. automation of the tax system almost nine minutes.’I painted these candles and I made these flowers as garland around his neck to and optimistic. Although we are would result in improvement pay him tribute,’ said Ali, who is raring to paint on trucks again to spread the message of Floyd’s death. aware of the designs of India, 178bn to Rs208bn. been presented in unusual cir- in tax collection, while it would but did not increase the [alloca- “Although the health and cumstances as the coronavirus also help reduce corruption as tion for] defence expenditures. education sectors are related to has jolted the world economy. well. “Keeping in view the [coun- provinces, we also allocated a There is a revenue defi cit of Rs- Qureshi said that a huge Teaching of Holy Qur’an mandatory in Punjab universities try’s] fi nancial condition, Pak huge amount for these both sec- 800bn. amount had also been allocated Army co-operated a lot with us. tors as well,” he said. “Our exports were increas- for the betterment of the agri- The Punjab government has made it mandatory In April, the governor formed a seven-member We focused more on the com- Regarding the opposition’s ing from July to March but they culture sector and improving for universities to teach students the Holy Qur’an, committee of vice-chancellors to submit munities and areas which are protest during the budget rapidly declined from March to water resources. according to a notification issued yesterday. recommendations on how to make the teaching living below the poverty line. speech, he said its attitude was June because of the coronavirus “Rs10bn have been allocated The notification states that no degree would be of the Qur’an with translation compulsory in all “For this purpose, we have “non-serious”. pandemic,” Qureshi said. for locust control, as well as an awarded if they do not study the Qur’an. provincial universities. increased the amount allocated “The GDP defi cit is The minister regretted that additional Rs50bn for the agri- “Lecturers in all universities of Punjab will teach the Addressing a press conference after a meeting for Ehsaas Programme from Rs- Rs3,000bn. The budget has because of the huge loans taken culture sector,” he said. Holy Qur’an, with translation to all students,” said the with vice-chancellors at Governor House, he had notification. stated that it will be compulsory for students to It added that the Qur’an will be taught separately attend lectures in which the Qur’an is taught with Pakistan working to continue long-term partnership with Russia from the Islamiat subject, which is already being translation. taught at universities. The governor said that all universities should make Pakistan has expressed its desire to maintain said in a tweet on the occasion of “Russia partnership with Russia in all spheres. Punjab Governor Mohamed Sarwar said that success the teaching of the Qur’an with translation part of long-term relationship with Russia and Day” on Friday that being an important She said that Pakistan extends warm in the world and the hereafter can only be achieved their syllabus, adding that it is the responsibility of continue partnership in diverse spheres. partner, Pakistan continues to work for felicitations to the government and people of through proper implementation of the guidelines of universities to disseminate knowledge of the Qur’an Foreign Off ice spokesperson Aisha Farooqui forging a long-term and multi-dimensional the Russian Federation on Russia Day. the Qur’an. to the younger generation. Gulf Times Monday, June 15, 2020 17 PHILIPPINES Duterte to reveal new decision on curbs in capital

By Red Mendoza our indicators such as the case face masks every time they go IATF are right. We have seen Manila Times doubling time and the critical outside. “We allow cloth masks the reopening of the economy,” care utilisation rate where we so that we can preserve the Roque said. will base if the curve is rising, stocks and supplies of these He noted that although the he Department of Health falling or has been flattened, ” medical masks and N-95 masks daily death toll from the virus (DoH) has not made any Vergeire said. to our healthcare workers continued to rise, it has re- Trecommendation to the The inclusion of subgroups who are really in need of these mained in single digits. Roque Inter-Agency Task Force for such as frontliners working in masks,” Vergeire said. said that most of the patients the Management of Emerging swabbing centres and quaran- She warned the public about were either asymptomatic or Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) tine facilities, barangay (vil- uncertified Covid-19 antibody mild cases and only few were in on whether Metro Manila and lage) health emergency work- rapid testing kits being sold critical condition. other places that are in general ers, and individuals such as online, saying that they should “We also have sufficient ca- community quarantine (GCQ) pregnant women, persons de- only use Food and Drug Ad- pacity to provide critical care File photo taken on January 19, 2018 shows Maria Ressa (centre), the CEO and editor of online portal will shift to a modified GCQ prived of liberty and immuno- ministration (FDA)–registered So, I would say the data is cor- Rappler, speaking during a protest for press freedom along with fellow journalists in Manila. or revert to the modified en- compromised patients in the testing kits that had been vali- rect, the decision is correct,” he hanced community quarantine expanded testing protocol is dated by the Research Institute added. (MECQ) on June 15. proof that the risk in contract- for Tropical Medicine (RITM). President Rodrigo Duterte Speculation on the kind of ing the disease remains high, “It does not mean that if it is expected to meet today with quarantine that will be im- she said. is FDA registered then its sen- the IATF to decide on whether Editor could face prison if posed surfaced after posts on “‘The other frontliners can sitivity and specificity would to lift, extend or revert the social media and text messag- be exposed to possible prob- be right. The results that you quarantine status in some ar- ing circulated that Metro Ma- able, suspected, and confirmed should get eas. convicted under ‘cyber libel’ law nila, Cebu and Laguna may be cases that is why they were in- on these test kits should be Earlier, the Palace said the reverted back to ECQ or MECQ. cluded,” Vergeire said. accurate, that is why it should return to modified enhanced “We have not released the She also noted that studies be validated by the RITM.” Ver- community quarantine was By Rebecca Ratcliff e Ressa has described the ap- 2017, and initially dismissed by IATF-EID recommendation for on the airborne transmission geire said. possible in areas where the Guardian News & Media proaching verdict as “an exis- the National Bureau of Inves- our June 15 decision,” Health of Covid-19 should be exam- On Saturday, Palace spokes- number of Covid cases contin- tential moment” for democracy tigation because it was outside Undersecretary and spokesman ined further, adding that drop- man Harry Roque Jr said the ues to rise. in the country, where there are the statute of limitations. Maria Rosario Vergeire said let transmission through close government made the right Metro Manila, Pangasinan, verdict will be issued major concerns about shrink- But in 2018 the Department on the “Laging Handa” public contact is still the main way of decision in gradually easing Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, today following the ing democratic rights. of Justice allowed the case to briefing aired on PTV-4. transmitting the virus. lockdown measures despite the Calabarzon, Central Visayas, Acontroversial trial of Just last month, the coun- proceed to trial, using an ob- Vergeire said there were Vergeire also called on spike in new Covid cases in the Zamboanga City, Davao City, one of the Philippines’ most try’s biggest broadcaster, ABS- scure law, Republic Act 3326, many factors to be considered asymptomatic patients to in- country. Albay, Cebu City, and Mandaue prominent journalists, in a case CBN, was forced off air by a to extend the liability period for by the Health department in form their local officials about Roque said the IATF based City are under general commu- widely condemned as an attack cease-and-desist order that such cases from one to 12 years. submitting its recommenda- their condition, consult via its decision on the country’s nity quarantine until June 15. on press freedom under Rod- was condemned as a brazen at- Ressa and her legal counsel tions to President Rodrigo telemedicine and isolate. quarantine classification on The rest of the country is in rigo Duterte. tempt to muzzle the media. point out that the controver- Duterte, the biggest being if She also reminded the public factors related to protecting modified general community A court in Manila will issue Meanwhile a new anti-ter- sial cyber libel law did not ex- the pandemic curve had “flat- to remain vigilant and continue public health and jumpstarting quarantine, the lowest quaran- a verdict on Rappler, one of rorism act has been recently ist at the time of publication, tened.” doing preventive measures, the economy. tine level implemented by the the country’s most infl uential passed by lawmakers, allowing and was in fact only enacted “Here, we will explain all such as the wearing of cloth “For me, the decisions of the government. news websites, its editor, Maria warrantless arrests, weeks of four months after the story was Ressa, and former researcher detention without charge and written. and writer Reynaldo Santos Jr other powers that rights groups However, the Department of today. fear could be used against gov- Justice allowed the case to go Two police officers Ressa, who was arrested last ernment critics. ahead because the online arti- killed in southern year on charges of “cyber libel” Media freedom in the Phil- cle had been updated in Febru- Philippines attack for a story published by Rappler ippines has deteriorated under ary 2014 to correct a spelling Refuse patients and face in 2012, has described the alle- Duterte, and the country now error. Two police off icers were killed and gations as baseless. ranks 136th out of 180 coun- In total, Rappler and its of- two wounded when unidentified Both Ressa and Rappler — tries on the Reporters With- fi cers and staff have faced at gunmen attacked their station in a which has exposed corruption, out Borders (RSF) World Press least 11 government investiga- town in the southern Philippines, a sanctions, hospitals told extrajudicial killings and on- Freedom Index. tions and court cases. police report said yesterday, DPA line troll armies — have faced a On top of the use of trumped- Ressa has won international reported from Manila. The gun- series of charges over the past up legal charges against jour- plaudits for her journalism and men opened fire at the municipal By Red Mendoza tals that would continue to re- now investigating diff erent year. Most of the claims relate nalists, its analysis cited threats refusal to be cowed by what police station in Parang town on Manila Times ject patients whether Covid-19 hospitals that have declined to allegations over the news of violence against reporters rights groups have described as Jolo Island, 1,000 kilometres south positive or not. patients amid complaints the site’s fi nances. and online harassment cam- judicial harassment. of Manila, triggering a gunfight DoH has received. The arrest of Ressa prompted paigns waged by pro-Duterte She was among those named between them and police on he Department of Health “If they would refer the “All of these are under in- the United Nations high com- troll armies. Time person of the year in 2018, Saturday evening, the report said. (DoH) warned anew patient outside of their vestigation and once we fi nd missioner for human rights If found guilty today, Ressa and won the 2018 Knight Inter- Soldiers and other police off icers Tlocal private and pub- hospital to another if there are such violations, we to warn in February 2019 that and Santos could face up to 12 national Journalism award as were dispatched to help the sta- lic hospitals that it would fi le hospital, they should be the will be providing the appropri- there appeared to be “a pattern years in prison. well as a press freedom award tion under attack, but the suspects sanctions against those that ones to co-ordinate that” ate sanctions for these hospi- of intimidation” of independ- Another one of the most given by the Committee to Pro- reportedly fled when the reinforce- would continue to refuse ad- tals” she noted. ent media in the Philippines. prominent critics of Duterte’s tect Journalists. ments arrived. The two slain missions to patients amid the If the hospital does not have In April, President Rodrigo Duterte has dismissed Rap- narco war, Senator Leila de Today’s verdict will be is- police off icers were declared dead coronavirus disease 2019 (Cov- the facility or lacks the space Duterte had ordered the DoH to pler as fake news. The site has Lima, has been in jail for three sued at a court in Manila where on arrival in hospital, police said. id-19) pandemic. for the specifi ed condition, investigate nine hospitals that closely scrutinised his admin- years over drug allegations that a limited number of people will Authorities have yet to identify “Any hospital, whether pri- they should stabilise the pa- refused to accept patients. istration, including the brutal she says are politically moti- be present as part of ongoing the suspects. Jolo is a stronghold vate or public, have no author- tient fi rst before they can re- “As hospitals, you are the anti-drugs campaign that the vated. measures to reduce coronavi- of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group ity to refuse any patient,” DoH fer it to another hospital, she sanctuary of the sick, you do UN recently warned had led to The cyber libel charge rus transmission. which has regularly attacked Undersecretary and spokes- added. not choose the ailment of the “widespread and systematic” against Rappler relates to a Judge Rainelda Estacio- government troops in the area. person Maria Rosario Ver- “If they would refer the pa- patient you are accepting. It’s extrajudicial killings. story published on the website Montesa fi nished the trial in The Abu Sayyaf, the most violent geire said during the “Laging tient outside of their hospital to simply not within your power Government fi gures indicate in May 2012 that alleged ties just eight months, far more militant group in the Philippines, Handa” Public Briefi ng aired another hospital, they should morally. That’s why you need at least 8,663 people have been between a Philippine business- quickly than other recent libel has been blamed for some of the on state-run PTV-4. be the ones to co-ordinate to fi nd a way how to deal with killed in the crackdown; other man, Wilfredo D Keng, and a cases. worst terrorist attacks. She stressed that there was a that,” Vergeire pointed out. the problem because you are a estimates put the toll at triple high court judge. The verdict can be appealed law that would penalise hospi- Vergeire revealed they were hospital,” Duterte said. that number. The case was fi rst brought in against in the supreme court. Business sluggish for reopened salons, barbershops

By Christina Alpad protective equipment (PPE). Similarly, Ray Santiago, an again. I guess they’d rather stay “They then gave me a plastic Manila Times “It’s too soon to say, but hope- overseas Filipino worker who safe again,” said a staff of an- bag where I placed all my things. fully things will improve over now lives in Cebu, is determined other salon-barbershop who re- Only four customers were al- time,” he sighed. not to go to a barbershop out of quested anonymity.“Maybe they lowed inside, and at the time, I xactly a week since the Asprec admitted to the news- fear of the virus. could not withstand their long was the third. government allowed sa- paper he was hesitant to reopen “My last haircut was way back hair, but now that it’s groomed, But within minutes, the other Elons and barbershops to with the threat of the coronavi- on March 2, and I badly need to they’re keeping safe anew.” customers were done and had reopen under general commu- rus disease 2019 (Covid-19) still see a barber. But when I checked The same hairstylist added, left already, so I was the only cli- nity quarantine (GCQ), many lingering but was forced to do the shop near us and saw many “Since only haircuts are allowed, ent on the fl oor,” she added. establishments have not seen the so after employees pleaded with people there the day they were they also have no reason to come She also approved of the eager welcome they were hoping him, as they needed to earn a liv- allowed to open, I backed out,” back for other services.” complete PPE the staff is re- from their customers following ing again. he said in a phone interview. Kami Studio Salon in quired to wear. Everyone wore a the three-month lockdown. Equally hesitant as Asprec is Santiago prefers to have a Katipunan, Quezon City, is tak- face shield, goggles, face mask, A barbershop owner Austin about the whole situation are relative give him a haircut, sav- ing the slow stride and has man- gloves and a hooded suit. Asprec, whom the Manila Times many Filipinos who are scared ing him from paying only P50, if aged to assure customers it is The combs, scissors and pins previously interviewed regard- of contracting Covid-19, given he goes to the barbershop just to safe to get their hair cut, not just came from a glass container ing the health and safety meas- the kind of physical interaction ensure he remains Covid-free. once, but as often as they need. fi lled with sanitiser, and they ures his business undertook to haircuts require. Originally from Surigao but One of their loyal patrons, Ge- wrapped her in a disposable reopen, is disappointed.“We “I usually get my hair trimmed stranded in the Visayas when line Sta Maria, said she was very plastic cape rather than the usu- only opened last Thursday and and coloured on a regular basis, lockdowns were imposed, he satisfi ed with the salon’s health al reusable kind. business is pretty slow unlike and I regularly go to waxing sa- said, “When I can fi nally get and safety protocols. Moreover, the various parts pre-Covid days,” Asprec said. lons too, which remain close un- home to Surigao, hopefully She said the salon required an of the salon were protected by The barbershop has not seen der GCQ,” Katarina dos Santos, this month, I’ll just ask my lola appointment unlike before, and plastic partitions, and the pay- many of its longtime custom- a young professional living solo (grandmother), an expert hair- she needed to wait for confi rma- ment system lessened contact ers come in despite investments in Metro Manila, told Manila cutter, to do it for me.” tion. by using a tray between client Asprec had made to bring the Times. Barbers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) tend to For salons and barbershops “When they got me a slot, and cashier and ready envelopes possibility of both workers and A regular customer at a mod- customers as barbershops and salons were allowed to reopen that fortunately saw an infl ux of they called and told me I needed available for tips. customers getting sick down to est salon where she gets a haircut after over two months of lockdown amid the coronavirus disease customers in their fi rst few days to bring my own towel and that “Yes, I was iff y to get a haircut the absolute minimum. for less than P500, dos Santos (Covid-19) outbreak, in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila. of reopening, they soon realised no companions are allowed in- at fi rst. But from what I’ve seen, He installed partitions to en- said she was not willing to go to the busyness would be short side the salon,” Sta. Maria said. I feel confi dent every visit will be sure physical distancing is ob- her suki salon, believing it would all be allowed to open, until the home so I don’t get exposed to lived. When she came on her sched- safe. Hopefully other customers served, purchased thermom- be teeming with customers. end of the year. too many people who’ll be going “At the start many came uled day, she appreciated going will be convinced too so we can eters for use at the entrance and “I think I’ll be skipping all of I’ll make do with DIY hair col- to the salons and eventually the for a haircut but after that, we through a foot bath, thermal all help revive our favourite sa- geared his staff in full personal these services, even if they will ouring kits and waxing sets at spas,” she said. haven’t had many customers scanner and disinfection. lon,” Sta. Maria said. Gulf Times 18 Monday, June 15, 2020 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Making a meal of locusts menace to feed the chicken With huge swarms of locusts causing devastation across swathes of Africa, Asia and the Middle East for several weeks, raising fears of a hunger crisis, a pilot project in Pakistan off ers a way to cull the crop-destroying pests without using chemical pesticides harmful for both humans and the environment. This ray of hope has to be explored further and adapted Covid-19: The need for strengthening widely at a time when locust swarms threaten to endanger harvests and food security across parts of Africa and Asia for the rest of the year, as experts have warned. The locust our fi ght against obesity menace could not have come at a more inopportune time, considering the problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Desert locusts, which live in areas between west Africa and and lower lung volumes. Such factors of adults are obese, almost double the only with the sustained commitment India, cause the most devastation and like to breed in moist increase the risk of lung infections global average rate. Worryingly, about of government authorities and private conditions. Eggs hatch two weeks after they have been laid, (pneumonia) with bacteria, viruses, and 40% of Qatari students aged 5-19 are stakeholders, including families, and hoppers become adults after about six weeks. These fungi. overweight suggesting that urgent schools, workplaces, food industries, Recent studies also indicate there measures are necessary to prevent sport organisations, and communities insects live for three months. The alarming fact is that adult is a higher risk of severe Covid-19 childhood obesity from persisting into among others. locusts can eat their body weight every day, and fl y up to disease and death in people with adulthood. Research and development are crucial 150km a day in search of new supplies. Each swarm could diabetes and high blood pressure, two Obesity is a complex condition for understanding the causes of obesity conditions that are linked to obesity. involving genes and environmental and ultimately identifying potential have millions of locusts, capable of stripping bare vast tracts Uncontrolled blood sugar levels in factors. However, the abundance of medications or other strategies against of vegetation and farmland. An initial infestation of locusts diabetes weaken the immune system foods and drinks rich in calories, along it. in December was expected to die out during the current defenses and therefore increase the with physical inactivity, are considered At Qatar Biomedical Research the primary cause of the obesity Institute, part of Hamad Bin Khalifa dry season. But unseasonal rains have allowed several severity of infections and maybe the By Dr Abdelilah Arredouani risk of death. epidemic in the Middle East in general. University, researchers are involved in generations of locust to breed, resulting in new swarms Doha As for hypertension, the reason why It is interesting, however, to note projects to understand the genetics of forming. patients with high blood pressure are at that, despite the high prevalence of obesity and to identify clues to predict Given that the risk of severe Covid-19, and even death, obesity and diabetes in the Middle East, and ultimately prevent the occurrence he world has been subjected to is not well understood. A combination the mortality among Covid-19 patients of obesity in the fi rst place. Chicken feed breadbasket regions of an unprecedented lockdown of hypertension with ageing in many is much lower than in some Western both India and Pakistan due to the coronavirus Covid-19 patients is a suggested countries with lower obesity rates. zDr Abdelilah Arredouani is a made from the (Covid-19) pandemic caused explanation. This combination makes Further research is needed to scientist working in the Diabetes are being threatened by T Research Center at Qatar Biomedical by Sars-CoV-2. the immune system less able to fi ght off better understand the observed low high-protein the biggest locust swarms Covid-19 has killed more people than the virus. Covid-19 mortality in the Middle East. Research Institute, part of Hamad Bin for more than 25 years, the its predecessors, Sars-CoV and Mers- One unconfi rmed theory suggests Nevertheless, beyond the Covid-19 Khalifa University. insects have silver lining has emerged CoV - the respective causes of severe that certain medications used to treat pandemic, and given the many life- (This article is submitted on acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and hypertension increase the risk of severe threatening conditions linked to obesity, behalf of the author by the HBKU earned plaudits from Pakistan’s Okara the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Covid-19. These drugs increase the including more severe infections, there Communications Directorate. The district where farmers (Mers) - combined, despite Sars-CoV-2 levels of a protein called ACE2 in the is an urgency to develop strategies to views expressed are the author’s own from poultry earn money by trapping having a lower fatality rate. body. The Sars-CoV-2 virus must curb this rampant epidemic. and do not necessarily refl ect the locusts that are turned This is because it spreads much attach to the ACE2 molecule in order to The fi ght against obesity will succeed University’s offi cial stance.) breeders faster among individuals, resulting in infect cells. into high-protein chicken a high number of people infected in a Even before Covid-19, the severity feed by animal feed mills. The concept is the brainchild of short time. A person can easily become and incidence of infections are generally About Hamad Bin Khalifa University Mohamed Khurshid, a civil servant in the Ministry of National infected through respiratory droplets higher in obese individuals. containing the virus, or by touching *Obesity epidemic: time for Innovating Today, Shaping Tomorrow Food Security and Research, and Johar Ali, a biotechnologist contaminated objects and surfaces. prevention from the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, according Initially, Sars-CoV-2 infects the cell According to 2016 data from the Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), ity through an enriching academic to an article by Rina Saeed Khan, a freelance environmental of the respiratory system and causes World Health Organisation, the a member of Qatar Foundation for experience, innovative ecosystem, severe infl ammation and cell death. The number of people with obesity has Education, Science, and Community and unique partnerships. HBKU deliv- journalist. The enterprising Pakistani duo were inspired by virus subsequently infects and damages reached 650 million individuals Development (QF), was founded in ers multidisciplinary undergraduate an example from Yemen. Under the slogan, “Catch locusts. other vital organs and tissues, causing worldwide, and was linked to 4.7mn 2010 as a research-intensive university and graduate programs through its Earn money. Save crops”, the project off ered to pay farmers several complications that might aff ect deaths globally in 2017. that acts as a catalyst for transforma- colleges, and provides opportunities the heart, the kidney, and the brain. In several countries, approximately tive change in Qatar and the region for research and scholarship through 20 Pakistani rupees ($0.12) per kg of locusts. Since locusts *Obesity: a risk of severe Covid-19 60-80% of adults and 20-30% of while having global impact. Located in its institutes and centres. For more cluster on vegetation and ground from sunset to sunrise, the illness children are now overweight or obese, Education City, HBKU is committed to information about HBKU, visit www. community members were able to haul in about seven tonnes of Obesity is the excess of total body the Middle East is one of the worst- building and cultivating human capac- hbku.edu.qa. the pests a night. By selling bag loads of locusts to chicken feed fat, defi ned by a body mass index (BMI) hit areas. In Qatar, for example, 43% of 30 or higher. BMI is calculated by manufacturers in the area, each farmer was able to make up to dividing the body weight in kilograms $125 per night. by the height in square metres (kg/m2). Chicken feed made from the high-protein insects have A person with a healthy weight has a BMI between 18 and 25 kg/m2, while a earned plaudits from poultry breeders. The only point to BMI between 25 and 30 indicates the be careful about was to ensure the locusts were harvested person is overweight. from areas not sprayed with chemical pesticides. Locusts Obesity poses a signifi cant health threat, dramatically raising the risk of could also be used to make fi sh and dairy feed as well. Given other diseases, including diabetes, heart that both India and Pakistan have billions of chicken being disease, high blood pressure, fatty liver raised, in addition to several fi sh and dairy farms, catching disease, dementia, stroke, and many cancers. locusts has immense potential as an environment-friendly Recent studies from around the way of controlling the pests menace while ensuring good world have shown that, among income for the community members involved. While this patients admitted to intensive care concept is ideal for populated areas, chemical spraying may with Covid-19, 40-45% were obese, requiring invasive mechanical be inevitable in large desert areas. ventilation. A new study conducted in the UK also concluded that obesity increases the risk of dying of coronavirus by 37%. To Advertise Obesity is now considered a risk factor for a more severe form of [email protected] Covid-19, and possibly a risk of death, Display regardless of other illnesses. To date, the precise reason why obesity is 44466621 44418811 associated with a more dangerous form of Covid-19 remains unclear. Classified However, it is well established that 44466609 44418811 obesity weakens the overall immune defence. Subscription Furthermore, experts believe that severe Covid-19 in obese patients [email protected] might be attributable to impaired lung function. Obese patients are more likely to have higher resistance in their CHILDHOOD OBESITY: Childhood obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile for youngsters © 2020 Gulf Times. All rights reserved airways, lower respiratory muscles, of the same age and gender – which means their BMI is higher than that of 95% of their peers. Gulf Times Monday, June 15, 2020 19 COMMENT America’s calamity

By Elizabeth Drew lockdowns and social-distancing idea of using the troops to put down the Washington, DC rules, people had considerable pent-up demonstrations, said Americans were energy, which the recordings of Floyd’s “witnessing the consequences of three death unleashed. Protests began in years without mature leadership.” t has been a calamity for the Minneapolis the next day and quickly But those who saw in such United States that, when two spread across the country. Tens of statements the unravelling of national tragedies – the Covid-19 thousands of people of all races and Trump’s presidency didn’t factor in Icrisis and the country’s legacy ages participated. Republicans’ continued fealty. Faced of racism – collided this spring, the Demonstrators who engaged in with the choice between Mattis and occupant of the White House was an violence, looting, and property Trump, nearly all elected Republicans unstable person, totally unfi t to govern. destruction (including setting police stuck with the president. They had President Donald Trump’s inability cars on fi re) were catnip for Trump, defended him for so long, shared so to cope with the pandemic has so whose brand of politics depends on many of his views, and become so far led to more than 116,000 deaths, stoking his supporters’ outrage. His dependent on him and his donors one of the world’s highest per capita Nixon-like “law and order” rhetoric that they weren’t ready to break with mortality rates for Covid-19, with the aimed to erase the distinction between him, despite knowing that current coronavirus still spreading to areas not the violent protesters and the far larger polls suggest he might go down in previously hit. The public-health crisis number of peaceful ones. November’s election – and take them has also triggered the worst economic US Attorney General William Barr down with him. downturn in the US since the Great was, as always, ready to help Trump While the national uprising against Depression of the 1930s. exploit the situation and accrue more racist policing will lead to some As subsequent events have unfolded, power. Because Washington, DC, is reforms, such as improved training it is no exaggeration to say that the not a state, Trump and Barr had leeway and the prohibition of choke holds American experiment – 244 years old to impose their own solution. They and neck restraints like the one that next month – is in serious danger, even used various state national guards, the killed Floyd, rethinking the role of the more so than during the constitutional military-like arms of federal agencies, police alone, no matter how radical the crisis caused by the Watergate scandal and, unnervingly, some unidentifi able results are, cannot eliminate racism, of the 1970s. The pandemic coincided forces. Washington became an the great stain left on America by the with the latest in a long series of race- occupied city. founders’ compromise with slavery. related outrages, and it has caused the Trump pretends to be a tough guy Governments can do nothing about country to explode. and is authoritarian to the bone. the quotidian offences of living as Millions of cooped-up Americans Yet, as the protests swelled outside a black person in America – the watched, over and over, the cold- the White House, he decided, or empty taxis that refuse to stop, blooded killing of an unarmed, so he claimed, that it was time to being mistaken for employees in handcuffed black man, George “inspect” the president’s mammoth supermarkets, the myriad intentional Floyd, by four Minneapolis police underground bunker. The White Democratic lawmakers take a knee to observe a moment of silence on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, for George Floyd and and unintentional insults. Many officers. One, Derek Chauvin, House itself had already become other victims of police brutality. Democrats kneeled in silence in the US Congress on Monday as they observed an eight now in the streets won’t be satisfied casually kneeled on Floyd’s neck a bunker: during the chaos after minute, 46 second tribute to George Floyd and other black Americans “who have unjustly lost their lives.” House Speaker unless the result of this national for nearly nine minutes until he lost Floyd’s murder, the height of the Nancy Pelosi and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer were joined by two dozen lawmakers in Congress’ Emancipation spasm is improved schools, health consciousness; two others sat on fence surrounding its grounds Hall — named in honour of the slaves who helped erect the US Capitol in the 18th century. care, and job opportunities for Floyd’s back, further depriving him was nearly doubled. True to his minorities – a fair shake for black of oxygen; the fourth looked on, inclination to stir things up, Trump White House – a violation of their boarded-up St John’s church, the fl ooding America’s cities with active- people. What will happen when keeping appalled bystanders at bay tweeted that, had demonstrators rights for which Barr initially took basement of which had been set on duty US troops was met with widespread America once again falls short of as Floyd, struggling to live, cried out, breached that fence, “they would credit – also shocked the national fire. But they failed to think through antipathy and scorn. A cascade of former honouring its professed values? “Please, I can’t breathe.” have been greeted with the most conscience. Trump’s less-than- what he would do when he got there. high-ranking military offi cials, including Floyd’s killing shocked the country’s vicious dogs, and most ominous brilliant advisers – most prominent, Trump awkwardly waved a Bible, James Mattis, the retired Marine general z Elizabeth Drew is a Washington- conscience. It provided Americans weapons, I have ever seen.” his daughter Ivanka and son-in-law sometimes holding it upside down, who was Trump’s defence secretary based journalist and the author, most with an unambiguous picture of the The deeply disturbing use of force Jared Kushner – had concocted a for photos that only made him look until last year, openly denounced the recently, of Washington Journal: true meaning of “police brutality.” to clear peaceful demonstrators from political stunt that involved Trump foolish. president. Mattis, who described Reporting Watergate and Richard After being shut in for weeks by Lafayette Square across from the walking across the square to the Moreover, Trump’s advocacy of himself as “angry and appalled” at the Nixon’s Downfall. Protecting midwives and mothers Three-day forecast

TODAY Maximum Temperature : 450c during the pandemic Minimum Temperature : 310c

TUESDAY Maximum Temperature : 460c Minimum Temperature : 340c By Sally Pairman and Roopa Dhatt face painful and traumatic decisions. its own challenges. In particular, we risk of infection, especially in lower- The Hauge/Washington, DC Should they risk their own families’ must provide adequate resources to middle-income countries. There, WEDNESDAY health in order to care for women in support it, and respect and recognise traditional birth attendants are trained Maximum Temperature : 450c childbirth? How should they provide the work carried out in homes to and have basic equipment, but are Minimum Temperature : 330c s the world struggles to assistance without PPE, given that ensure the safety of pregnant women. not considered part of the paid health control Covid-19, the global they are unable to maintain a safe Increased pandemic-related concerns workforce. As a result, they neither Fisherman's forecast health workforce is under distance from the women in their regarding pregnancy have made the receive adequate PPE nor can aff ord to midwife’s role in providing antenatal stop working during the pandemic. WARNING Aincreasing strain – and care? Is it better to provide normal Inshore : Strong wind expected woman-centred, midwife-led care is care anyway, even at the risk of care even more important. In many To keep midwives safe and enable most areas daytime more at risk than ever. infecting their patients? cases, however, home services are them to provide women-centred Offshore : Strong wind and high The current crisis is stretching There also is mounting evidence unrecognised and unpaid, and care, governments, international sea continue even during PPE shortages, donor agencies, and philanthropic healthcare facilities to the limit, as that the over-medicalisation of WEATHER shortages of both staff and resources childbirth has increased during putting both midwives and patients organisations must make funding Inshore : Hot daytime with slight the pandemic. The World Health at risk. for maternal health services a high dust to blowing dust place intense pressure on services. at some places and Harrowing accounts from midwives on Organisation recommends that Many have been shocked by our priority. That includes supporting relatively hot by night. the front line highlight human-rights caesarean sections be performed only healthcare systems’ lack of basic community-based care, which is WIND concerns, the over-medicalisation when medically justifi ed, but there resources and inadequate capacity crucial at a time when facility-based Inshore : Northwesterly-Norther- ly 10-20/30 KT of birth, and growing distress among is growing concern from healthcare in the face of a global pandemic. But services are declining. Without such them and pregnant women alike. In professionals and the wider global such shortcomings should come assistance, midwives will struggle to Offshore : Northwesterly 18-25/34 the battle to contain Covid-19, care health community about the number as no surprise. Healthcare staff are reach the most vulnerable. KT for mothers-to-be has become a low of unnecessary and inappropriate overworked and underpaid, have The international community must Visibility : 4-8/3 KM priority. procedures. This troubling pattern inadequate training opportunities, support the female health workforce Midwives are vital to the health and suggests a weakening of women’s right and are subject to restrictive policies. and allocate funds directly to Offshore : 5-8/12 FT protection of women in childbirth. In to make informed decisions regarding For example, midwives often are not organisations that represent midwives 2017, an estimated 295,000 women childbirth and their overall health. recognised as frontline healthcare as front-line maternal healthcare Around the region worldwide died from causes related Where women are given the space to workers. providers. We must trust women at Weather Weather to pregnancy or childbirth – the vast decide, they are increasingly choosing These problems are still more acute the centre of health-service delivery today Max/min tomorrow Max/min majority of them in low-income and to give birth at home with the support in midwifery, which, even before to use funding as they see fi t, and to Baghdad Sunny 44/27 Sunny 45/27 lower-middle-income countries. Most of a midwife, or in a midwife-led unit, the pandemic, had long struggled to invest in the protection and resources Kuwait City Sunny 44/31 Sunny 47/33 of these deaths were preventable. rather than in a hospital. This shift gain recognition as an autonomous they need to ensure the continued Manama Cloudy 39/33 Sunny 41/33 Throughout this health emergency, we refl ects not only fear of Covid-19, but profession – and to secure access to safety of our communities. – Project Muscat P Cloudy 41/33 M Sunny 39/33 must ensure that midwife-led care is also many women’s realisation that the funding, resources, and training Syndicate Tehran Sunny 37/23 Sunny 36/23 maintained as far as possible. they can opt for more decentralised that goes with it. And now the failure As it stands, midwives in all regions services that cater to their needs. to invest in maternal health services, zSally Pairman is Chief Executive are facing acute shortages of personal In the case of low-risk pregnancies, and to pay women fairly for their of the International Confederation of protective equipment (PPE) and other national governments should support contributions to the health sector, Midwives. infection-control supplies, including this decision. has weakened the global response to zRoopa Dhatt is Founder of Women hand sanitiser, which means they must But decentralising childbirth poses Covid-19 and put women at greater in Global Health. Scientists to study sleep, or lack

Around the world of it, during Covid-19 pandemic Weather Weather Today Max/min Tomorrow Max/min Athens M Sunny 33/19 Sunny 31/18 Beirut Sunny 26/21 Sunny 26/22 Reuters professor of sleep medicine. Bangkok T Storms 32/26 T Storms 31/26 London The study will look at the impact of Berlin M Sunny 24/13 P Cloudy 26/15 social confi nement such as lockdowns Cairo Sunny 35/21 Sunny 37/24 or self-isolation on sleep. Cape Town Sunny 17/08 Sunny 19/10 n international group of It will also examine how risks of Colombo S T Storms 30/26 T Storms 30/27 neuroscientists will examine exposure to the virus and how psy- Dhaka T Storms 31/26 T Storms 30/26 how the world is sleep- chological symptoms such as anxiety, Hong Kong T Storms 28/26 T Storms 28/26 Aing, or failing to, during depression and post-traumatic stress Istanbul S Showers 27/19 P Cloudy 29/19 the Covid-19 pandemic, which has can aff ect, or be aff ected by, sleep. Jakarta T Storms 34/26 S T Storms 33/24 upended work, social and family life Researchers say their aim is to Karachi Sunny 35/29 P Cloudy 35/29 for countless people. understand how sleep problems have London S Showers 23/13 S Showers 22/13 Sleep is known to be critical to emerged and to investigate how sleep Manila T Storms 32/27 P Cloudy 34/27 physical and mental health — essential during Covid-19 has interacted with Moscow M Cloudy 24/16 P Cloudy 28/18 for tissue repair, cell regeneration, lifestyle, health and well-being. New Delhi Sunny 41/29 Sunny 41/29 immune function, memory, and for Data collected by the research New York P Cloudy 24/16 P Cloudy 24/16 regulating mood and emotions. teams will feed into an international Paris S Showers 23/14 S Showers 23/14 With many people anecdotally University will investigate their impact Norway and the United States. database. Sao Paulo P Cloudy 22/15 M Sunny 24/15 reporting sleep problems due to the on people’s health and daily rhythms. “Suffi cient good quality sleep helps The fi ndings, Espie said, should Seoul M Sunny 28/17 M Sunny 31/18 new coronavirus — including diffi culty The International Covid-19 Sleep us cope, so it’s worrying to see trends help scientists “understand the chal- Singapore T Storms 31/27 S T Storms 31/26 falling asleep, trouble staying asleep Study (ICOSS), will combine research of poor sleep during this pandemic. lenges, but also to fi gure out solutions Sydney Sunny 19/09 Sunny 19/10 and vivid dreams — the project co-led from Austria, Canada, China, Finland, We are hoping to study this in more to keep the population well-slept and Tokyo Clear 33/22 Clear 30/21 by neuroscientists at Britain’s Oxford France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, detail,” said Colin Espie, an Oxford healthy”. Gulf Times 20 Monday, June 15, 2020 QATAR 2nd and 3rd packages of Doha development projects launched Ashghal to begin work on the second and third packages of Doha Central Development and Beautification Projects

he Supervisory Commit- tee for the Beautifi cation Tof Roads and Public Plac- es in Qatar at the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) announced yesterday the start of implemen- tation works on the second and third packages of the Doha Cen- tral Development and Beautifi ca- tion Projects. Engineer Hassan al-Ghanim, assistant manager at Doha Cen- Engineer Hassan al-Ghanim Engineer Ahmed Ali al-Emadi tral Development Projects, said that the second and third pack- ages include the development of six main areas between Corniche Street and A-Ring Road. “They cover seven main streets where infrastructure develop- ment, construction of plazas, pe- destrian and cycle paths, install- ing street lighting network, new traffi c signals, road signage and pedestrian crossings will take place. Works are scheduled to be completed in the fi rst quarter of 2022,” he said. Project manager engineer Ahmed Ali al-Emadi said that the An artist’s impression of project includes developing the Engineer Layla Jassem Salem Engineer Fatema al-Zaraa Museum Street. areas surrounding the National Museum of Qatar and Museum of planting of about 3,250 trees, and the Islamic Art (MIA). about 30,000sq m of green areas “The works are divided into in addition to the construction of three sections, spread over an 35.3km of pedestrian and cycling area of 4.78sq km. The infra- paths. structure development works in The Ashghal offi cial said that this package include developing all the main streets will be cov- 8.5km of surface water drain- ered with granite to give a unique age network, 4.7km of foul sewer feature to this area, completely network, and 6.8km of electricity closing the street to vehicles and network. opening only to pedestrians dur- “These are in addition to in- ing celebrations and special oc- stalling 329 decorative light- casions. ing poles, planting about 1,400 Doha Central Development trees, developing 10,000sq m of and Beautifi cation Projects De- green areas, and construction of signs manager engineer Layla 22.6km long pedestrian and cy- Jassem Salem that the project Engineer Ali Mohamed Engineer Ahmad Abdulla cling paths,” al-Emadi said. creates a healthy socialising cul- al-Darwish al-Mahmeed Project manager engineer Ali tural environment that will en- Mohamed al-Darwish said that courage people to adopt a healthy Implementing the complete Grand Hamad Street, Al Asmakh the third package includes de- community lifestyle, besides re- vision of development of the area Street, Ali Bin Abdulla Street, velopment of areas around Grand routing destinations of their fun will contribute to enhancing the and Abdulla Bin Thani Street. Hamad Street, divided into three trips. identity of Qatar’s historical and In addition to the construction main areas spread along 8.24sq “The project is designed to cultural legacy, and recognising of multi-storey buildings, there km. provide pedestrian-friendly the country’s natural environ- would be roadside slots for car The works here cover the de- transportation, including foot- ment. parking to accommodate about velopment and beautifying of paths and crossings, to encourage The area was chosen as it con- 6,000 cars. the main streets and inner neigh- visitors using various modes of tains many tourist attractions, The car parking lots will be bourhoods of these areas, in ad- transportation, and to promote such as the Corniche, Al Bidda fi xed with meters to encour- dition to infrastructure develop- walking by connecting all lively Park, museums (the Museum of age the public to follow healthy ment works, including 10.2km of centres in the area,” she said. the Islamic Art, the Museum of means of transportation. surface water drainage network, It includes the development of Fine Arts, and the National Mu- The parking lots are designed 11.2km of foul sewer drainage seven main areas and seven main seum of Qatar), and shopping to benefi t people with special network, and 4.7km of electricity streets, and the works will cover and entertainment centres such needs, with pedestrian paths and network. the development of infrastruc- as Souq Waqif, Falcon Souq and connected paths that allow peo- Works also include the instal- ture, building plazas, pedestrian Dar Al Kutub library. ple with special needs to move Area, and Al Muntazah Street. include a cycling path and a jog- This experiment will be un- lation of 515 lighting poles, the and cycling tracks. The project also aims to de- freely. All the pedestrian bridges will ging path, and connecting it with rolled to many other areas of the velop public places and plazas in There would be dedicated have elevators to serve people tracks along Airport Road and state in future. the region to create attractive and parking lots for people with spe- with special needs. Ras Bu Abboud extending to Lu- Engineer Fatema al-Zaraa, lively places through the provi- cial needs. Also, they are designed with- sail Expressway. member of the committee, said sion of services and aesthetic Other highlights are: out air conditioners to protect It also includes the construc- that Grand Hamad Street, Souq elements, including rest areas, „ Pedestrian Bridges – The the health of users from the ef- tion of three pedestrian tunnels Area, Al Meena Street Intersec- benches, kiosks, display screens works include a project to con- fects of sudden changes in tem- namely Al Dafna, Al Corniche, tion, Abdullah Bin Thani Street, and visual art works, attracting struct pedestrian bridges. Work perature. and Al Bidaa tunnels. Al Mirqab Area, Al Najada Area, visitors to socialise and enjoy the has begun for the construction „ Rain Water Drainage Tun- These tunnels are aimed at en- Grand Hamad Intersection, and view. of some bridges, namely, a 63m nel – The project also includes a hancing pedestrian movement Al Rifaa Area have chosen to im- This is in addition to beautify- bridge across Doha Express- main surface water drainage tun- and connecting commuters to plement the artwork. ing the main and inner streets to way/22 February Street linking nel. Project manager Engineer neighbouring places. These artworks are scheduled raise the aesthetic value of the Al Nasr Commercial Street and Abdulla al-Nuaimi said that it The project also covers the to be completed in the fi rst quar- streets, residential areas and vital Al Soudan Area, and a 38m bridge has been designed with a length construction of three plazas on ter of 2022. centres, and to preserve the envi- across Suhaim Bin Hamad Street of 2.2km and 3m diameter to ac- Corniche, namely, Al Dafna, Al „ Modifying Building Facades ronmental balance. linking Fereej Bin Mahmoud and commodate up to 70,000 cu m of Corniche and Al Bidda plazas, – The project works include These projects will benefi t all Al Sadd Areas. storm water. to function as open exhibition the modifi cation and beautify- people and visitors of Qatar, es- Similarly, the design of other „ Electric Cars Charging spaces along the Corniche, with ing of the facades of architec- pecially the residents and busi- bridges has been completed, and Points – The project will provide several artworks. tural buildings to accomplish the ness stakeholders of the areas their implementation is sched- dedicated places for charging „ Artworks and Sculptures in comprehensive developmental covered within Doha central, in- uled to start this year. electric cars, encouraging peo- Doha Central Area – The Tech- vision of the area. cluding Al Hitmi, Al Rufaa, Al It includes a 60m bridge across ple to use environment-friendly nical Committee for Artwork Engineer Ahmad Abdulla Mirqab, Souk, Old Al Ghanim, Najma Street connecting Old cars, which do not cause harmful (a sub-committee comprising al-Mahmeed, of the Building Al Najada, Al Jasrah, Msheireb 4, Airport and Nuaija Areas, and Al carbon emissions. members of the main Commit- Projects Department at Ashghal, Fareej Bin Mahmoud, Fereej Ab- Istiqlal Street Bridge linking the „ Development of Doha Cor- tee, Qatar Museum Authority said that design and implemen- dul Aziz, and Al Doha Al Jadeeda. West Bay and Dafna. niche – The project works also and the Ministry of Culture and tation work has begun in the The works of Doha Central This is in addition to other pe- include development of Doha Sports) is studying a mechanism Souq and Museum Street areas Development and Beautifi cation destrian bridges under bidding. Corniche. Engineer Hassan al- to involve local artists in propos- to modify the facades of 55 build- Projects cover Al Safi ya Street, These pedestrian bridges are Ghanim, project manager of ing and developing some artwork ings. Sharaoh Street, Museum Street, located in various streets includ- Doha Corniche Development, in the area, utilising their exten- Work on those areas are to be Ali Bin Omar Al-Attiya Street, ing Al Jamiaa Street, 22 February said that the project is for devel- sive expertise to meet the needs completed in the second quarter An artist’s rendering of the rehabilitation of the inner zones. Jabr Bin Muhammad Street, Street, Khalifa Street, Al Sadd oping the Corniche walkway to in terms of idea and design. of 2021. First package of Doha development project 20% complete

he Supervisory Commit- This phase of the project cov- of Al Dostour Street, Al Sakhama lic parks, provision of dedicated tee for the Beautifi cation ers the installation of lightning Street, Ras Brouq Street, Dar Al pedestrian and cycling tracks, Tof Roads and Public Places poles, street furniture, traffi c Kutub Street, Bu Hasaya Street, provision of rest areas with street in Qatar at Ashghal has com- signals for vehicles and pedes- Al Ghous Street, and Ras Usheirej furniture, fancy street lighting, pleted 20% of the works on the trians, pedestrian crossings, and Street. developing the Doha Corniche fi rst package of the Doha Central shared paths for pedestrians and Abdullah Bin Thani Street will and some beaches, and the de- Development and Beautifi cation cyclists. be fully paved with granite slabs velopment of Doha Central area Projects, it was announced yes- The project also aims to re- and designed to make it possible by reviving some main roads and terday. duce traffi c volume by promoting in future to close it completely internal streets, vital places, resi- Project manager Engineer Ab- pedestrian movement besides for vehicles during celebrations. dential areas and open plazas. dullah al-Nuaimi said that infra- increasing tree plantation and The projects of the Supervi- The committee also aims to structure development works, landscaping. sory Committee for the Beau- contribute in creating a societal including the development of The fi rst package of the project tifi cation of Roads and Public environment with distinctive foul sewer drainage network, includes the development of Ab- Places in Qatar are aimed at cre- identity through the involvement surface water drainage network, dullah Bin Thani Street, which ating a sustainable environment of community members in art- the treated effl uent network, is one of the main streets in the through the implementation of works and tree plantation works, electricity network, and commu- Doha Central region. several main tasks, including in co-ordination with ministries Project manager engineer Another of view of work in progress in the first package of the Doha nication network, are in progress. It also covers the development the construction of central pub- and government entities. Abdullah al-Nuaimi. Central Development and Beautification Projects.