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published in QATAR since 1978

SATURDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11599 July 4, 2020 Dhul-Qa’da 13, 1441 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

AAmirmir makesmakes inspectioninspection visitvisit toto SSalwaalwa BBeacheach RResortesort

QNA Doha

is Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani Hyesterday made an inspec- tion visit to the Salwa Beach Re- sort, located in the southwest of the country on an area of 3.2mn sq m, during which he was briefed on the developments and stages of the project’s progress. The Amir also inspected the re- sort’s facilities, which include 115 villas and chalets; a 246-room fi ve- star hotel; aquatic theme park; con- ference centre; ball room; spa; yacht club and marina; diving centre and a shopping centre. He also viewed the green areas of the resort. His Highness the Amir thanked those in charge of the project for their eff orts in constructing this tourist facility, and instructed them to expedite its completion and open- ing in order to meet the marine tour- ism and leisure needs in Qatar and to support the tourism sector in it. The Amir was accompanied by a number of senior offi cials. Page 16

Amir sends greetings to Belarus president His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His Highness Coronavirus surge casts pall the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani sent yesterday cables of congratulations to Belarus President over US Independence Day Alexander Lukashenko on his Online learning country’s Independence Day. HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior AFP Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, in- Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Washington stead of hosting a professional baseball al-Thani also sent a similar cable to game, has been turned into a Covid-19 Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko. testing site. eaches are closed, parades and Many beaches in Florida and Cali- Qatar reports 88,583 fi reworks displays cancelled and fornia, normally packed with sun- platform on way Covid-19 recoveries Bfamily reunions put on hold as seeking vacationers, have been shut the coronavirus pandemic casts a grim down after the coastal states expe- The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) pall over US Independence Day cel- rienced an alarming surge in virus reported yesterday 756 new confirmed ebrations. cases. cases of novel coronavirus (Covid-19), With new Covid-19 cases surging to Scores of towns and cities across the as many as 1,986 recoveries and three more than 40,000 a day and the virus United States have dropped their tra- deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing the death toll topping 127,000, this July 4th ditional parades and fi reworks displays for autistic kids total number of people recovered from weekend is shaping up to be like none to avoid bringing together the crowds the disease in Qatar to 88,583. Page 2 in recent memory. which spread the virus. Page 5 By Joseph Varghese use specifi c technology that we have Staff Reporter developed at College of Science and Engineering. This is the continuation of what we have been engaged in. We Lusail Stadium rising up from the desert! n what could be a fi rst-of-its- have been working on such technolo- kind internationally, a team of re- gies for the past four years and have Isearchers led by a Qatari professor published various research papers,” is developing a bilingual online plat- explained Dr Dena. form to provide remote learning ac- “Our idea is to develop a highly cess for children with autism, espe- functional prototype and we have al- cially during the Covid-19 pandemic, ready started the project. We have the Gulf Times has learnt. capacity to complete the prototype by “We are working to develop tech- the end of three months and we have nologies within three months to help Dr Dena Ahmed S al-Thani the team ready and working on it,” she children with autism in their learning continued. process,” disclosed Dr Dena Ahmed S under the Rapid Response Call (RRC) The academic also revealed that al-Thani, the project lead and assist- by Qatar National Research Fund the idea is to take it internationally. ant professor in the College of Sci- (QNRF), a Qatar Foundation entity to “It will be an application both in Ara- ence and Engineering at Hamad Bin complete the project in three months’ bic and English. We want to take it Khalifa University (HBKU). time. RRC enables researchers to de- beyond Qatar and the region. No such “It is an online education platform velop rapid solutions to mitigate the technology is available now interna- and it is important now as children impact that Covid-19 on diff erent tionally and we see the gap and want are forced to stay home due to Cov- sectors in Qatar. to make use of the potential for such id-19 and learn online. Such a tech- Dr Dena said that children with au- a technology in the market,” pointed nology will help children with autism tism used to have one-to-one access out the offi cial. learn, understand and engage better,” with their therapists but it is not pos- The research grant under RRC will she explained. sible in the present situation as there contribute to the development of this The project ‘Mixed-Reality Inter- are no physical classes. platform on a fast-track basis, so it The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy tweeted yesterday that “Our 80,000-capacity Lusail Stadium is rising active Educational Platform to Sup- “Now we are developing technolo- can be deployed on an urgent basis in up from the desert! “The design of this magnificent stadium, where the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will both open and port Remote Learning for Children gies to help them access education schools and other centres that off er conclude, is inspired by the interplay of light and shadow that characterises the fanar lantern,” according to www.qatar2022. with Autism’ by Dr Dena and her remotely using virtual reality, mixed educational services for autistic chil- qa. Located 15km north of central Doha, Lusail is a pioneer among cities. team was recently awarded a grant reality and augmented reality. We dren. To Page 2 Qatari women at the forefront of fi ghting Covid-19 pandemic

QNA areas in the state is no longer a little or ment of the role of women in the Qatari represents the driving force behind a high-quality healthcare to women and Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Doha negligible, but in Qatar, women have society has been greatly contributed by group of innovative and creative pro- children in Qatar, provided by many Mohamed al-Kuwari, who assumed been able to have a prominent eff ect Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, grammes in Qatar and the world. Qatari women cadres. her position in 2016 and previously in all vital positions, whether they are Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for The promotion of active citizenship The coronavirus (Covid-19) pandem- held the position of Director General atari women have always prov- employees, leaders, or offi cials, to pro- Education, Science, and Community has also been at the heart of the work of ic has swept the world and Qatar was of HMC. en their worth in all fi elds, and vide a qualitative addition to all tasks. Development, as Her Highness launched Her Highness Sheikha Moza, as it en- not immune from it, however, it show- Besides the health minister’s ef- Qthat they are worthy of the The role of Qatari women through- over the past years many initiatives and courages initiatives that develop skills, cased a good example of the ability of forts to tackle the coronavirus, Qatari confi dence placed by the wise leader- out history has been prominent, programmes that motivated and encour- teamwork, self-reliance, and social Qatari women to lead national eff orts to women are at the forefront to over- ship of the State of Qatar to contribute whether in the family or practical life. aged Qatari women through a qualitative participation. tackle the virus from various positions, come the pandemic crisis, whether signifi cantly to the path of develop- In the pre-oil era, the economic shift in the level of education and quali- Her Highness Sheikha Moza has whether minister, doctor or nurse. in the health sector through working ment and the overall renaissance in the situation of many families required fi cation of a new generation to meet the launched many initiatives, pro- Qatar has many Qatari women cad- in the hospitals and health centres or country and to stand alongside men the participation of women in a lot requirement for development. grammes, and institutions aimed at res working in the health fi eld, whether through the Supreme Committee for in the front rows exerting all eff orts to of work, especially during the diving Her Highness Sheikha Moza is a role enhancing the role of women in so- as doctors or nurses and leaders in im- Crisis Management, as HE Lolwah achieve the state’s accomplishments in season, and they are continuing their model for Qatari women, where she ciety, including the establishment portant medical specialisations, where Rashid AlKhater is the Committee’s all fi elds. eff orts as a housewife or in various de- played multiple and varied roles that of Sidra Medicine, affi liated to Qatar they all formed a qualitative addition Offi cial Spokesperson, or as volun- There is no doubt that the contri- velopmental areas. extend beyond the borders of Qatar, as Foundation, which is a state-of-the- to the eff orts made to combat the virus. teers, and through her social respon- bution of Qatari women in many vital There is no doubt that the enhance- Her Highness is a social activist who art facility committed to providing These eff orts are led ably by HE the sibilities in her family. To Page 14 Gulf Times 2 Saturday, July 4, 2020 QATAR QF expert discusses ways for shift towards electric vehicles Dr Marcello Contestabile atar’s aim of making 3-5% Energy Institute. The special- the government mandating car tricity that is produced by burn- to have 400 charging stations by of its total car population ist in technology transitions and manufacturers to provide EV ing natural gas, as is the case in 2022. “Range anxiety is valid in Qgreen by 2022 is led by its innovation policy, particularly buyers with free or discounted Qatar, essentially cancels out any some cases, such as in cars with pledge to switch as much as 25% in road transport, was speaking installation of a charging point at environmental benefi t brought a small battery pack being driven of its fl eet of public transport at a webinar on Electric Vehicle their home, saving buyers an ad- about by electric cars. in very hot weather where a large buses to electric buses by 2022, (EV) Transition, hosted by QF’s ditional expense that comes with This is not entirely correct, ac- chunk of the battery power is a Qatar Foundation (QF) expert Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s buying an EV.” cording to Dr Contestabile, as he consumed by the air conditioner. has said. research institute – Qeeri. He It is also important to cre- says, “even if EVs are charged us- These vehicles will require “Qatar intends to deploy elec- discussed various aspects related ate awareness among people ing electricity produced by burn- some adaptation on the part of tric buses in the main services to EVs, including how Qatar’s ac- – to help them understand how ing natural gas, they still produce the drivers but can be dealt with during the FIFA World Cup 2022 ceptance of EVs can be boosted. individual choices shape the lower emissions than the average by choosing the right EV model, to make it the fi rst World Cup to In a region where fuel is inex- country’s carbon footprint. Dr gasoline-powered vehicle.” one that has a battery pack suit- use electric mass transit buses,” pensive, it is hard to point to one Contestabile said, “There needs To fully benefi t from the en- able for their particular travel stated Dr Marcello Contestabile, specifi c reason for the lack of EVs to be a dialogue with the pub- vironmental benefi t of EVs, in range requirements,” Dr Con- Principal Economist at QF’s Qa- on Qatar’s roads; it is more likely lic to introduce them to EVs. A 2019, Qatar unveiled its fi rst so- testabile said. tar Environment and Energy In- to be a combination of several large portion of the population is lar-powered charging stations – “We are lucky in the sense – stitute (Qeeri). factors, according to Dr Contest- completely unaware of how EVs currently 28 of these stations are Qatar is a small country by area – “These steps are important in abile. Higher purchase price, lack An EV charging station in Qatar. can be benefi cial for the environ- operational with plans of several which means we don’t travel long gaining the public’s confi dence in of charging infrastructure and ment.” more being added by 2022. distances on an everyday basis. Electric Vehicles (EVs). The shift- poor public awareness, are some of government subsidies are one its EV policy is designed bearing Several myths surrounding One more common concern is And once the country’s planned ing of bus fl eets will be an im- of the other main reasons for the way to make the switch more at- in mind the local needs and mar- electric vehicles also discourage “range anxiety” – a fear that the 400 charging stations are op- portant step in communicating lack of popularity of EVs. tractive. “For Qatar to overcome ket conditions,” Dr Contestabile people from purchasing them. battery might run out before you erational, it will mean availability the government’s commitment While the high purchase price the existing barriers at a cost that said. “Another approach would “These need to be addressed to can get to a charging point. The of charging stations at every few towards EVs,” said Dr Marcello of EVs can be discouraging for is commensurate to the benefi ts be to start taxing both conven- initiate a change in attitudes to- good news is that Qatar is mak- miles, making the likelihood of Contestabile, Principal Econo- most people, Dr Contestabile that EVs can bring, it is impera- tional cars and fuel. Additional wards EVs,” Dr Contestabile said. ing active progress in developing being stranded due to a dead bat- mist at Qatar Environment and suggests incentives in the form tive that the government ensures incentives can be in the form of One such myth is that using elec- charging infrastructure – it aims tery quite low.”

Encroachments Online learning platform removed PHCC provides health tips on way for autistic kids to avoid summer illnesses From Page 1 subjectively. It is hard for someone to know if a child with autism is giving attention. “We hope this can be used as the schools Only trained people can understand this as he Primary Health Care also advises people to decrease resume for the next academic session. This children with autism do not look at people Corporation (PHCC) has their consumption of fried foods is an e-platform for students, teachers and directly. We are making use of eye tracking Tissued advice on healthy as much as possible to avoid be- the parents. We will be using innovative and facial expression using a web cam to practices and nutrition during ing lethargic and any potential ideas such as 3D objects to engage stu- assess a child. This project has been in the the summer to avoid contract- weight gain. dents. A recent study has revealed that use for the past three years and we have re- ing a number of diseases in this Similarly, consumption of one out of 86 children in Qatar suff er from ceived a provisional patent for the use of the season. pickles, salty foods and very hot Autism Spectrum Disorder and this tool technology from the US,” she concluded. Al Rayyan Municipality, in co-operation Mouhdi al-Hajri, head of Nu- chillis should be kept to the min- would be highly useful for all the educa- Dr Dena along and her team of faculty with the State Property Protection trition Department at PHCC, imum and meals should be had tional institutes dealing with children with members, PhD students and post-doc- Committee and State Property Authority, has shared insights into what only when a person is really hun- autism. Shafallah Centre alone has over toral researchers including Dr Kamaran demolished an unlicensed building in constitutes suitable food during gry as the digestive system often 800 such students,” noted the professor. Khawaja, Dr Marwa Qaraqe and Bilikis West Umm Qarn during a drive to remove the summer and what should be slows down in the summer. Dr Dena also said that her team is looking Banire and others, work closely with end encroachments on state property. The avoided in high temperatures. Further, the head of Nutri- into ways of detecting the attention of an users. They are supported in this project operation was carried out in the presence She advises people to drink tion at PHCC says having fast autistic child. “The idea is to detect the at- by Mada Assistive Technology Centre and of the security authorities. plenty of fl uids during this sea- Mouhdi al-Hajri food is an unhealthy practice tention of the child objectively rather than Shafallah Centre. son. Those who are not too fond and should be avoided. It is also of water can add some lemon, addition to other fruits such as recommended that one sleeps mint, slices of orange or cucum- strawberries and apricots. These for at least seven hours in the ber to water to make it more to should ideally be eaten as whole night as this will have a positive their liking. fruits rather than as juice to ben- impact on appetite in the morn- Al-Hajri recommends drink- efi t from their fi bre content. ing. It is also important to en- Qatar wastewater reuse sees robust expansion ing at least 12 cups of water a day Besides, eating whole fruits gage in sports activities such as to make up for the body fl uids gives a better feeling of the taste jogging, walking and swimming lost through excessive sweating. and is also more wholesome. for one hour a day most days of By Santhosh V Perumal year, said the fi gures released by country’s Green initiatives, a tres or 11% of the total treated She also noted that sweets, cold Healthy persons should eat at the week. Business Reporter the Planning and Statistics Au- key parameter of sustainability. wastewater. Such discharge beverages such as carbonated least three portions of fruits a If this is not possible, she says thority. Hassad Food subsidiary Ma- saw more than 91% increase drinks that contain sugar, and day. people should engage in physical The treated wastewater saw haseel for Marketing and Agri year-on-year but fell 42.3% on foods such as ice cream are not Al-Hajri says low-fat milk activities for at least 30 minutes atar’s eff orts to be self- a 9.9% and 0.8% year-on-year Services has undertaken various monthly basis. There was no healthy options. and other dairy products ease a day thrice a week, in addition reliant in agriculture got and month-on-month growth measures to improve and ex- discharge of treated wastewater She also recommends eat- the digestion process and help to increasing movement by us- Qa shot in the arm with respectively in May 2020. There pand the output in the farm sec- into sea in May 2020. ing seasonal fruits such as wa- avoid the issues faced by some ing stairs instead of escalators or the reuse of treated wastewater, has been a robust reuse of treat- tor with its far-sighted market- The Water Centre at the Qatar termelons and sweet melons, in people during the summer. She lifts. especially in the farm and for ed wastewater in agriculture, a ing and other support measures. Environment and Energy Re- the irrigation of green-spaces, sector whose prominence has The treated wastewater reused search Institute, part of Hamad witnessing robust expansion been increasing as part of the for irrigation of green spaces Bin Khalifa University, has been both year-on-year and month- self-suffi ciency initiatives, es- saw a 9.6% jump year-on-year helping Qatar in tackling its wa- on-month this May, according pecially after the country came and 21.3% month-on-month to ter security challenges by con- to the offi cial fi gures. under unjust economic and 6.95mn cubic metres, which ac- ducting research, development Virtual community meet-up today The rising reuse of treated trade embargo. counted for 28% of total treated and innovation to enhance every wastewater comes amidst 10mn The treated wastewater re- wastewater in May 2020. step of the water cycle in Qatar. kg of local vegetables being pro- used in agriculture increased by The treated wastewater re- Multiple projects are cur- he 13th edition of #big- participate. Diana, author of the 2004–2007 while her husband cured internally during the cur- 4.1% year-on-year to 8.39mn used in deep injection into aq- rently underway at the Water bmeetup, described as book Qatar: Sand, Sea, and Sky, served as US ambassador. The rent crop season. The country cubic metres, constituting more uifers registered 2.1% yearly Centre, including water treat- TQatar’s only weekly vir- published in December 2011, initiative ‘bigbmeetup’ is run uses the most modern mem- than one-third of the total treat- expansion to 7.05mn cubic me- ment for agricultural irrigation tual community meet-up, will will be talking about her journey by Menezes, Qatar-based event brane ultra-fi ltration system ed wastewater this May (com- tres or 28% of the total treated in desert climates, development be held today at 8pm as a prelude as a writer and on equine, while planner, photographer and artist. that helps in recycling of treated pared to 28% in April 2020). On wastewater in May 2020. On a of physical fi ltration systems to the QatarUSA year of culture her husband will talk about his The aim is to inspire, inform, wastewater. a monthly basis, it witnessed an monthly basis, it however fell such as membranes and fi lters, 2021, organiser Bosco Menezes experiences in Qatar as a diplo- educate and spread the news of Qatar’s treated wastewater even higher 18.4% growth. The 3.7%. brine management, ballast wa- informed. mat. the good deeds individuals and stood at 25.17mn cubic metres growth in the re-usage of treat- The treated wastewater dis- ter, characterisation of the sub- Former ambassador of the US Diana is a former cultural ad- groups of people perform in their out of 25.48mn cubic metres of ed wastewater for agriculture charged into lagoons in May surface and soils, and strategies to Qatar, Chase Untermeyer and visor to the Qatar-America Insti- everyday lives for the betterment wastewater received in May this hints at the hydrocarbons-rich 2020 stood at 2.78mn cubic me- for managed aquifer recharge. wife Diana Untermeyer, are to tute and she lived in Qatar, from of humankind. Qatar reports 88,583 Covid-19 recoveries Warning for beachgoers

QNA der acute hospital care is 765, in- we must be careful and protect Doha cluding 91 acute hospital admis- the most vulnerable. sions in the last 24 hours. The “While the restrictions of total number of Covid-19 deaths Covid-19 are gradually being he Ministry of Public so far in Qatar is 121. lifted in Qatar, it is important Health (MoPH) reported All new cases have been in- for everyone to play their role in Tyesterday 756 new con- troduced to isolation and are controlling the virus by follow- fi rmed cases of novel coronavi- receiving necessary healthcare ing precautionary measures: ad- rus (Covid-19), as many as 1,986 according to their health status. herence to physical distancing, recoveries and three deaths in The MoPH pointed out that wearing a face mask and wash- the last 24 hours, bringing the the measures to tackle Covid-19 ing your hands regularly. total number of people recov- in Qatar have succeeded in fl at- “Most importantly, it is vital ered from the disease in Qatar to tening the curve and limiting the that we continue to protect the 88,583. spread of the virus. The number elderly and those with chronic In a statement the MoPH ex- of new daily cases and hospital medical conditions. plained that the new deaths are admissions has gradually de- “Anyone suff ering from Cov- of Covid-19 patients aged 42, clined over the past few weeks. id-19 symptoms should either 77, and 77, respectively, and all “We are seeing a rise in the contact 16000 helpline or go of them received the necessary number of deaths in recent directly to one of the designated medical care. weeks and this is due to the health centres to undergo the According to a tweet from the people who were infected at the necessary checks: Muaither, The Ministry of Municipality and Environment yesterday MoPH, a total of 5,910 people height of the virus several weeks Rawdat Al Khail, Umm Slal, or cautioned beachgoers by quoting a weather report from the tested for Covid-19 in the last 24 ago,” the MoPH statement said Al Gharrafa Health Centres. This Civil Aviation Authority about the dangers of the rip current, hours, as many as 372,005 have while highlighting that there has is important as the earlier the a natural phenomenon that may cause drowning. The narrow been tested so far in Qatar. The been an increase in cases among disease is detected the easier it water current causes water to flow very fast from the beach total number of infected people families. will be to receive the right treat- towards the sea. The rip current usually has a dark colour and in Qatar since the start of the “This is of great concern as ment and recover.” does not have waves, making it a tempting place to swim. Tips Covid-19 outbreak is 98,653. this population group includes The MoPH also urged every- to survive if caught in a rip current include staying calm, not to The total number of current the highest percentage of the one to visit the website covid19. swim against it, or try to float calmly while yelling or waving for active cases is 9,949. The total elderly and people with chronic moph.gov.qa for regular updates help. number of people currently un- conditions. Now more than ever, and new information. Gulf Times Saturday, July 4, 2020 3 QATAR/REGION/ARAB WORLD Qatar reaffi rms QU welcomes back 50% staff in sanitised environment importance atar University (QU) has ures. Security personnel will welcomed 50% employ- check employees’ tempera- Qees in a clean and sani- tures upon entry. Employees tised environment in line with with temperatures of 38C and the implementation of the de- above will not be permitted to cisions issued by the adminis- enter. Everyone should wear of education tration and pursuant to the di- mask, gloves and practice social rectives issued by the Supreme distancing. Activation of the Committee for Crisis Manage- Ehteraz mobile application is ment. also a must before entering the To commence the second campus as security personnel phase of the plan to gradually will check employees’ health at all levels lift the restrictions imposed to status.” reduce the spread of the novel “Meetings will be held re- „The state has welcomed the praise of Special Rapporteur on the coronavirus (Covid-19), the motely via audio or visual right to education Koumba Boly Barry and her congratulations to percentage of employees in the A view of the QU campus. platforms. If it is not possible workplace will be increased to to hold a meeting remotely, Qatar for giving priority to provide quality education for all 50% of the total number. co-operation with the Ministry centres, as well as the library in-person meetings must not The rest of the employees of Municipality and Environ- and all car parks. include more than fi ve peo- QNA at the national and international it was emphasised to ensure should carry out the tasks as- ment, represented by the Mu- Commenting on this, en- ple, while taking the necessary Geneva levels. the provision of equitable, di- signed to them remotely. nicipality of Doha (Department gineer Mai Fetais, director of precautions prescribed by the With reference to the viola- versified, and quality educa- Employees who suff er from of Gardens), had sanitised and Facilities and General Services Ministry of Public Health. We tions resulting from the block- tion for learners, regardless of chronic diseases, pregnant disinfected all buildings and fa- at Department of Facilities and are taking the necessary steps atar reiterated the great ade and the coercive measures their gender, nationalities, and women, and the elderly over the cilities in April. General Services, QU, said: to clean offi ces after offi cial importance it attaches to imposed on Qatar and its citi- abilities.He continued by say- age of 60 years will continue to The sanitisation, spraying “The department is sterilising working hours and disinfect Qeducation at the nation- zens since June 5, 2017, espe- ing that Qatar is proud to be work remotely. and disinfection work included buildings frequently and pe- frequently touched surfaces al, regional and international cially for Qatari students who one of the countries that has As a precaution and pre- the internal streets of the cam- riodically to maintain utmost such as desks, door handles, levels. were forced to leave school and adopted a distinguished edu- ventive measure against the pus, administrative buildings, safety. We are implementing telephones and keyboards,” she The state also welcomed the were deprived of their right to cational system that has been Covid-19 pandemic, QU, in various colleges and research several precautionary meas- added. praise of Special Rapporteur on education as a result of these occupying advanced positions the right to education Koumba measures, and in light of what in international and regional Boly Barry and her congratula- the government of Qatar has indicators concerned with tions to Qatar for giving priority done to address these violations, the quality of education, for a to provide quality education for we welcome the special rappor- number of years. Within the all, and its strong participation in teur’s praise for the eff orts of the framework of this educational Qatar says international community must not regional and international co-op- government of Qatar to receive system, Qatar has been keen eration to promote the right to ed- and fi nd solutions for these 531 on promoting the principle of ucation, especially in the frame- students, he said. equality and preventing dis- overlook confl ict resolution amid Covid-19 fi ght work of the work undertaken by He urged the special rap- crimination, including gender- the Education Above All Founda- porteur to continue to give this based discrimination. tion and Qatar Foundation, which subject the necessary atten- As a result, the Qatari fe- QNA nor should confl ict resolution camps around the world, where the most vulnerable groups to has had a real impact, as indicated tion, especially with regard to males have gained a promi- New York eff orts be delayed or postponed. fresh water is scarce, sanitation confront and recover and to re- by the special rapporteur, on the the right of these students to nent place in obtaining quality This came in Qatar’s state- is unavailable, malnutrition is build better,” she said. lives of many people inside and redress the damage inflicted as education and progress in all its ment delivered by HE Per- widespread, and healthcare in- She expressed Qatar’s pride outside Qatar. a result of the violations, ex- stages. Owing to this turnout in atar affi rmed that the manent Representative of the frastructure is aff ected by on- in intensifying its support for This came in the State of Qa- plaining that Qatar has taken higher education, the percent- international commu- State of Qatar to the United going war and violence. humanitarian relief efforts, as tar’s statement delivered by HE note of the recommendations age of Qatari women partici- Qnity should not only fo- Nations ambassador Sheikha She also affi rmed Qatar’s it made just two days ago, a Permanent Representative of of the special rapporteur and pating in the labour market has cus on current fi ght against the Alya Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani at support to the call for a global new pledge to donate $100mn the State of Qatar to the United is pleased to indicate that work increased, and Qatari women coronavirus (Covid-19) pan- the virtual high-level meeting ceasefi re made by Secretary- in humanitarian aid to Syria, Nations Offi ce at Geneva ambas- is already underway to imple- have the greatest percentage in demic and overlook eff orts to of the United Nations Security General of the United Nations in addition to a contribution sador Ali Khalfan al-Mansouri ment a number of these recom- the sectors of education, health resolve existing confl icts in the Council on “pandemics and se- Antonio Guterres last March, of $10mn to the World Health during an interactive dialogue mendations. and social work. regions of the world. curity”. Her Excellency said that and his call to stand together Organisation, and a contribu- with the Special Rapporteur on This includes joining the Al-Mansouri stated that with The State of Qatar said that this discussion comes at the in the face of the global threat tion of $10mn to the Global the right to education regarding Convention against Discrimi- regard to training expat workers, strong global co-operation is right time and as Covid-19 “af- posed by the Covid-19 pan- Alliance for Vaccines and Im- her report, on her visit to Qatar. nation in Education adopted building their skills and literacy, necessary and that work must fects the world in a way we have demic. munisation. HE the ambassador al-Man- by Unesco, providing more the second National Development be done together to confront not seen before, and aff ects the She noted that at a time when Concluding the statement, souri extended his thanks to the government, community and Strategy 2018-2022 stipulated the the Covid-19 pandemic, but three main pillars of the United the world is celebrating the Her Excellency stressed that special rapporteur for her visit to private schools, and promoting need to focus on raising the ef- nonetheless, common and ef- Nations, namely “peace, secu- seventy-fi fth anniversary of with the assumption of Qatar to Qatar, which comes within the the right to education at the in- fi ciency of skilled workers in the fective solutions must be found rity, development and human the establishment of the United chair the Donor Support Group framework of the open invitation ternational level. Qatari labour market, where the to the current crises and ten- rights.” Nations, Covid-19 sounded the for the Offi ce for the Co-ordi- submitted by Qatar to the own- Al-Mansouri said that the Ministry of Administrative De- sions in the world in order to The ambassador also ex- alarm in order to fi nd eff ective nation of Humanitarian Aff airs, ers of special procedures. Qatari constitution guaranteed velopment, Labour and Social stop hostilities and facilitate pressed concern about the im- multilateral co-operation. the impact of this pandemic on Al-Mansouri praised the the right to education, as laws Aff airs, in co-operation with the greater access to humanitarian pact of Covid-19 on the most “There should be no doubt the current humanitarian crises constructive and transparent obligated all groups of soci- other government authorities relief. vulnerable groups, including that it is only through solidarity and its immediate consequenc- discussions held by the special ety to education without dis- and in partnership with the pri- The coronavirus epidemic women and children, and on and international co-operation es on vulnerable populations in rapporteur during the visit and crimination, and Law No 25 of vate sector, took many initiatives should not be allowed to create the millions of displaced peo- we can overcome this threat confl ict-aff ected environments her eff ort in preparing the report 2001 stipulated that education to eradicate illiteracy and build incentives to escalate violence, ple in confl ict areas and refugee that aff ects us all, and enable will remain strongly present. that included many important is compulsory and free for all the capacity of migrant workers, issues that would contribute to children. bearing in mind that these initia- supporting the eff orts of Qa- Within the framework of the tives are directed to expat workers DIPLOMACY tar in providing, promoting and strategic goals of education and of all nationalities without dis- Campaign against abandoned vehicles Russian govt protecting the right to education higher education 2017-2020, crimination. to reopen embassy in Libya Russia has decided to reopen its embassy in Libya although Turkish minister in Libya for its head will temporarily be based in neighbouring Tunisia, Interfax news agency cited Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov defence co-operation talks as saying yesterday. Russia evacuated its diplomats from Libya in October 2013 AFP after an armed faction attacked Tripoli its embassy in Tripoli. Lavrov, speaking at a meeting with the speaker of Libya’s urkey’s defence minister pro-Haftar eastern parliament and military chief visited Aguila Saleh, reiterated Russia’s Twar-torn Libya’s capital desire for a cessation of hostili- yesterday, the country’s UN- ties in Libya and the beginning recognised government said, the The Public Control Section of Al Daayen Municipality’s Municipal Control Department, in of political dialogue. second visit in weeks by a min- co-ordination with the competent authorities, carried out a campaign to remove abandoned “We took a decision to reopen ister from its main international vehicles from various areas under its jurisdiction. The campaign resulted in removing 15 the Russian embassy in Libya, backer. vehicles to designated areas. which will at this stage be Defence Minister Hulusi Akar headed by Charge d’Aff aires and Chief of General Staff Yasar Jamshed Boltaev,” he said. “He Guler discussed “military and will temporarily be based in security co-operation” with the Fayez al-Sarraj, Prime Minister of Libya’s UN-recognised Government Tunisia, but I want to empha- head of the Government of Na- of National Accord (GNA) receives Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi sise that his functions include tional Accord Fayez al-Sarraj Akar (left), in Tripoli, yesterday. representing Russia across all and military offi cials, the GNA Hundreds protest in Central Darfur Libya’s territory.” said. On June 17, Turkeys’ foreign grammes under a deal signed by The visit comes a month after and fi nance ministers Mevlut Tripoli and Ankara in November CONFLICT GNA forces declared they were Cavusoglu and Berat Albayrak, last year, a statement said. AFP killings and looting, witnesses met,” protester Adam Haroun back in full control of Tripoli along with intelligence chief “Turkish support for (the Khartoum said. Last week, unidentifi ed said yesterday at a sit-in out- Coalition and its suburbs following a year- Hakan Fidan, visited Tripoli for GNA) continues in the areas of armed men killed three farmers side a government office in long off ensive by eastern mili- talks with Sarraj. military and security co-opera- near the town of Nertiti in Cen- Nertiti. destroys four tary strongman Khalifa Haftar to Yesterday’s talks covered de- tion,” said GNA deputy defence undreds of Sudanese tral Darfur, triggering the ire of Mohamed Eissa, another Houthi drones seize the capital. fence and security training pro- minister Salah Namrush. held a protest yesterday residents who long complained protester, slammed the inac- Hin the Central Darfur of lack of security in the area. tion of security forces saying The military coalition battling state calling on the govern- “We have been here for four “they are not carrying out the Houthis in Yemen said DIPLOMACY ment to secure their properties days and we will continue our their role to protect the area yesterday it had destroyed France returns following recent incidents of protest until our demands are from gangs”. four explosive-laden drones skulls of Algerian launched by the group in the Iran identifi es cause direction of Saudi Arabia, the resistance fighters off icial Saudi Press Agency Lebanon suicides spark outrage at govt over economic crisis reported. The drones were Algeria yesterday received the of nuclear ‘accident’ intercepted over territory skulls of 24 resistance fighters Two suicides in Lebanon yesterday, apparently been ravaging livelihoods across the country. controlled by the Houthis in decapitated during France’s linked to the country’s deepening economic down- “He killed himself because of hunger,” the man’s Yemen, the agency said. Houthi colonial occupation of the North AFP bodies have accurately deter- turn, have sparked a new wave of criticism over cousin screamed as the security forces carried military spokesman Yahya Saria African country, and which had Tehran mined the cause of the accident the government’s mishandling of the crisis, AFP away the body. “Curse the government!” The Leba- tweeted that Houthi forces been stored for decades in a at...Natanz nuclear complex,” reported from Beirut. nese pound, off icially pegged at 1,507 pounds to the had in fact hit their targets — a Paris museum. UN human rights said a spokesman for Iran’s Su- A 61-year-old man from the eastern region of greenback, reached more than 9,000 to the dollar control room at Najran airport, chief Michelle Bachelet has urged ran’s top security body preme National Security Coun- Hermel shot himself on the sidewalk of a bustling this week on the black market in a dizzying devalu- weapons storages in King Kha- countries to make amends for said yesterday it had de- cil. Beirut shopping street in broad daylight, leaving a ation. A second suicide, by a van driver near the lid air base and other military “centuries of violence and discrim- Itermined the cause of an “Due to certain security con- note and his clean criminal record at the scene. southern city of Sidon, was also apparently linked to targets — “with high accuracy”. ination”. The skulls, once viewed “accident” at a nuclear site but cerns the cause and details of The note referenced a popular revolutionary the economic crisis, a local off icial said. The 37-year- The coalition on Wednesday as war trophies, were flown into declined to release details, cit- this accident will be announced song that mentions hunger, suggesting his old van driver hung himself in his home in the town announced the launch of a Algiers airport on a Hercules C-130 ing security reasons.” at the proper time,” IRNA quot- suicide was linked to the economic crisis that has of Jadra, said municipality head Joseph al-Azzi. new military operation against transport plane. Investigations by relevant ed Keyvan Khosravi as saying. the Houthis. Gulf Times 4 Saturday, July 4, 2020 ARAB WORLD/AFRICA Russian minister welcomes Palestinian unity pledge

AFP Moscow

ussia welcomed yesterday a pledge of unity between RPalestinian factions Fatah and Hamas against Israel’s West Bank annexation plans. In a rare joint press confer- ence on Thursday, the factions pledged a united campaign against Israel’s prospective plans to annex territory in the occu- pied West Bank. “We noted with satisfaction the joint press conference held yesterday by representatives of Fatah and Hamas during which a decision was announced to Palestinian demonstrators gather in front of Israeli forces during a protest against the plan to annex parts A teargas canister fired by Israeli troops lands on Palestinian protesters during a demonstration in the jointly defend the interests of the of the occupied West Bank, in Asira ash-Shamaliya near Nablus, yesterday. village of Kfar Qaddum in the occupied West Bank, yesterday. Palestinian government based on the platform of the Palestini- key questions that needs to be speaker of Libya’s elected parlia- opposition to US President Don- international law. In a formal and to agree to “minor” territo- with the active participation of an Liberation Organisation,” said resolved.” ment based in the country’s east. ald Trump’s Middle East plan. counter-proposal presented to rial concessions. Arab states.” Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. He said Moscow was counting Fatah controls the Ramallah- The plan paves the way for Is- the international peacemak- Lavrov stressed the need to Russia has close ties both with Speaking at a meeting with a on “all Arab representatives to based Palestinian Authority, and rael to annex roughly 30% of the ing Quartet including Russia, “immediately renew, relaunch Israel and the Palestinians and top Libyan offi cial, Lavrov added actively support this trend.” Hamas runs the Gaza Strip. occupied West Bank, including the Palestinian leadership said direct Israeli-Palestinians talks has said it is ready to host direct that the “restoration of Pales- Lavrov spoke at a meeting The joint press conference Jewish settlements in the ter- they are prepared to renew long- under the aegis of the quartet of talks between the two sides to tinian unity” was “one of the in Moscow with Aguila Saleh, was spurred by their common ritory considered illegal under stalled peace talks with Israel international peace brokers and resolve the diff erences. 30 villagers dead in Mali attacks

AFP confl ict, with regular militant dead, including women, chil- Mali’s war erupted in 2012 Bamako assaults and intercommunal dren, the elderly while others when Tuareg rebels supported fi ghting between ethnic groups. were missing, local offi cials by armed hardliners took over Armed uniformed men trav- said. the desert north of the West rmed men have killed elling in pick-up trucks at- A senior government offi - African country. at least 30 villagers in tacked four villages populated cial also speaking on condition The rebels were then out- AMali in simultaneous by Dogon ethnic groups, one of anonymity confi rmed the manoeuvred by their hard- attacks on several villages in local offi cial said by telephone, deaths of around 30 civilians, liner allies and the French the confl ict-riven centre of the speaking on condition of ano- killed by gunmen in several vil- military intervened to force country, local offi cials said yes- nymity for security reasons. lages. them back. terday. “From 3 to 9pm, nobody Unrest in central Mali has The confl ict has since swept The attacks took place on came to our rescue. killed nearly 600 civilians this into the centre of Mali and Wednesday in the Bankass re- I deplore the inaction of the year, the United Nations said spilled into neighbouring gion, but were not immediately army. last month. Burkina Faso and Niger, infl am- confi rmed because of the diffi - It is always late and never Clashes between the eth- ing ethnic tensions. culty in accessing information confronts the bandits even if we nic Fulani and Dogon com- More than 5,000 French from the area. tell them where they are,” said munities have increased in troops, a regional G5 Sahel Offi cials did not immediately Youssouf Tiessogue, an elder recent months, with commu- military co-operation deal and German-Ghanaian artist Zohra Opoku sits in front of her project at the studio in Kehinde Wiley’s artist blame any group, but central from Gouari, one the villages nity-based militias — initially a UN peacekeeper mission in residence during the interview in Dakar, Senegal. Mali has become one of the attacked. formed for defence — now Mali have not been enough to fl ashpoints of the country’s The attack left at least 30 launching attacks. contain the violence.

Mysterious elephant deaths ‘Black Lives Matter’ Ghana movement stirs Ghanaian minister resigns artist in Covid-19 limbo

Reuters racial injustice and oppression, people in communist East Ger- AFP Dakar the 44-year-old stitched a new many, the daughter of a Ghana- Accra piece in tribute to the move- ian father and German mother. ment. “I was always standing out too tear slipped down the ‘Say Their Names’ is a white much,” recalled Opoku, who now Ghanaian junior minis- cheek of Ghanaian-Ger- and indigo-dyed canvas onto calls Accra home. “I learned to ter resigned yesterday for Aman artist Zohra Opoku which Opoku has sewn dozens resist the racist energy and hate Afailing to self-isolate after as she recalled how the global of images of an unidentifi ed face against coloured people in East testing positive for coronavirus, Black Lives Matter had kindled from ancient Egyptian art. Germany, especially after the the presidency said. her pain and anger while she was Some are printed in red and wall came down.” Deputy Minister of Trade and stranded away from home due to tumble from a screenprint of The quest for identity is a cen- Industry Carlos Kingsley Ahenko- coronavirus lockdowns. Opoku’s face like teardrops. tral theme in her work. rah’s resignation has been accept- After Senegal closed its bor- The protests “have shaken In earlier self-portraits, ed by President Nana Akufo-Addo ders in March, the internation- us and awakened us and sharp- Opoku obscured her face with with “immediate eff ect”, his offi ce ally renowned visual artist had ened our senses about what kind plants. In her latest series, she said in a statement. no option but to remain at a resi- of world we want to live in,” she combines images of bare tree “This follows the admission by This image provided yesterday courtesy of the National Park Rescue charity shows the dency in Dakar, where she had said, standing in front of the branches from her native Ger- the deputy minister of his breach carcass of one of the many elephants which have died mysteriously in the Okavango Delta been creating large textile col- work-in-progress in her studio many with dissected photos of of the protocols, when, as a person in Botswana. Hundreds of elephants have died in the famed Okavango Delta, the wildlife lages to explore her self-image at the Black Rock Senegal resi- herself. certifi ed to be positive, he visited a department said, ruling out poaching as the tusks were found intact. The landlocked after a cancer diagnosis. dency. “I’ve always been interested in registration centre in his constitu- southern African country has the world’s largest elephant population, estimated to be When the death of George She has a rare perspective on disappearing in an environment ency before the period of self-iso- around 130,000. Floyd in US police custody the Black experience after grow- because of my upbringing,” she lation was complete,” it said. sparked a global reckoning over ing up surrounded by White said.

Homemade bomb Djibouti ramps up eff orts to get Nigeria’s Kano lifts explosion injures four seafarers stranded by virus off ships Covid-19 lockdown

AFP the bottom of a pole fi tted with Reuters world. Some 400,000 seafarers “The main asset is not the AFP under lockdown in April after Yaounde a video surveillance camera at London are aff ected on land or on ships ships, it’s the people manning Kano medics and cemetery work- a roundabout in the Rond Point — with many at sea for longer the ships,” Hadi told Reuters this ers reported a spike in “unex- Damase neighbourhood. than an 11-month limit laid out week. plained” deaths. our people were wound- Pictures of the explosion’s jibouti has carried out the in a maritime labour convention. “Any ship going through the uthorities in northern A team of health experts ed by the explosion of a aftermath, verifi ed by witnesses fi rst crew change of mer- Shipping industry offi cials say strait of Bab al-Mandab we are Nigeria’s biggest city from the central government Fhomemade bomb in an of the blast, were shared widely Dchant sailors in its ter- many are at breaking point, in prepared to welcome if they have AKano have lifted a three- found that up to 600 fatali- English-speaking neighbour- on social media. ritory and is ready to get home a situation the United Nations a need for a crew change.” month lockdown imposed to ties may have been linked to hood of Cameroon’s capital “I was taking care of a patient more seafarers who have been has described as a “humanitar- Neighbouring countries in- contain a coronavirus outbreak the virus, but local offi cials Yaounde, witnesses and a po- in the early evening when I heard stranded by the coronavirus, a ian crisis”. The fi rst crew change clude Yemen and Somalia, which linked to hundreds of deaths. put the fi gure at under half lice offi cer said yesterday. a loud noise: ‘boom’,” said Sime- senior port offi cial said. operation took place in recent have been battered by confl ict. State governor Abdullahi that number. The research was The blast in Yaounde, which on Awoiakia, who works at a Lying on the Bab al-Mandab days in Djibouti and involved 19 Hadi said its jurisdiction pro- Umar Ganduje announced based on interviews with rela- has been mostly spared the healthcare centre near the blast strait, which is one of the world’s seafarers who had been at sea on vided the “safety and security the lifting of the curfew in a tives of the deceased and med- violence of the anglophone site. “It was a panic. Shortly af- busiest shipping chokepoints, a merchant ship for over a year. required” for merchant ships. broadcast, insisting the key ics but the fi gures were never revolt in the country’s west ter, I saw people rescuing a burnt Djibouti is a critical transit hub. Aboubaker Omar Hadi, chair- Crews onboard merchant ships trading hub had seen a sharp added to the offi cial tally as no and the insurgency in its woman,” he added. More than 2,500 ships transit man of the government’s Dji- vary and include Filipino, Indian drop in infections. tests were conducted. north, took place on Thursday There was a heavy security and call at its ports annually. bouti Ports and Free Zones Au- and eastern European nationals. “We can beat our chest and The lockdown was later eased evening. presence at the roundabout yes- Continued complications with thority, said the crew transfer Djibouti also is home to Chi- say we are winning the case to only three days in a week after The bomb was made from a terday, an AFP journalist said. changing over ship crews due to — which included sailors replac- nese and US naval bases. Its and there is no longer any need a drop in deaths and infection. motorcycle battery, a pressure Dozens of people were loaded coronavirus restrictions in some ing them who had arrived by air strategic position on the Gulf for the lockdown,” Ganduje Ganduje ordered senior govern- cooker and nails, the police of- onto three police trucks, while jurisdictions is still aff ecting — took less than two days. of Aden means it overlooks the said late Thursday. ment employees to resume work fi cer said on condition of ano- witnesses said that more arrests supply chains despite an easing The country was ready for world’s critical waterways for “There will be free move- and said the state would enforce nymity. It had been placed at had been made earlier. of lockdown in many parts of the more changeovers, he said. commodities. ment for all.” Kano was put the wearing of face masks. Gulf Times Saturday, July 4, 2020 5 AMERICAS Canada ends military exports, extradition treaty with Hong Kong

DPA told reporters in Gatineau, Que- to Beijing’s moves in Hong Kong, The enforcement of the leg- In response to the statement, mediate end of extradition pro- Michaels” in Canada, have lan- Montreal bec, yesterday that Canada will he said. islation this week in Hong Kong a spokesperson for the Chinese ceedings against Meng and has guished in jail without access consider additional measures in Foreign Minister Francois- has provoked fresh protests and embassy in Canada accused Ot- repeatedly warned Ottawa of to lawyers and with no consular the days and weeks to come, in- Philippe Champagne said yester- arrests, as well as international tawa of “irresponsible remarks” “grave consequences” if Meng is visits since the beginning of the anada is ending the ex- cluding regarding immigration. day that “sensitive goods” being criticism. and “a gross interference in Chi- extradited to the US where she pandemic, while Meng is under port of sensitive military About 300,000 Canadians live exported to Hong Kong would Canada also joined 26 coun- na’s internal aff airs”. could be jailed for up to 30 years house arrest in one of her luxury Citems to Hong Kong and in Hong Kong, he said. “We are now face the same restrictions as tries at the United Nation’s Hu- Canada in particular is facing if convicted. mansions in Vancouver. suspending an extradition treaty extremely concerned about the items going to mainland China. man Rights Council on Tuesday diplomatic tensions with China. Nine days after Meng was ar- Trudeau has repeatedly said with the territory after Beijing situation in Hong Kong.” “This legislation was enacted to express “deep and growing Canada arrested Huawei chief rested in Vancouver on the US that Chinese offi cials have linked imposed its new national secu- Ottawa will be working with in a secretive process, without concerns” regarding China’s fi nancial offi cer Meng Wanzhou arrest warrant, Chinese offi cials the arrests of Kovrig and Spavor rity law on the city. its allies, including members of the participation of Hong Kong’s treatment of the Uighur and and she is facing possible extra- arrested two Canadians, former to Meng’s case, but he has stead- The government is also updat- the Five Eyes alliance, which is legislature, judiciary or people, other Muslim minority groups in dition to the US, where she faces diplomat Michael Kovrig and en- fastly refused to short-circuit the ing its travel advisory for Hong made up Australia, Canada, New and in violation of international Xinjiang and Beijing’s national charges of fraud and other eco- trepreneur Michael Spavor. extradition process and exchange Kong, Zealand, the UK and the United obligations,” Champagne said in security law targeting dissent in nomic crimes. Kovrig and Spavor, who have the Huawei executive for the two Prime Minister Justin Trudeau States, for “further responses” a statement. Hong Kong. Beijing is demanding the im- become known as the “Two Canadians. Apex court blocks US president heads Alabama order to ease voting rules

Reuters between former US attor- Washington ney-general Jeff Sessions and to Mount Rushmore former college football coach Tommy Tuberville. AFP he United States Su- President Donald Trump has Washington preme Court has previously clashed with Ses- Tblocked a lower-court sions, and has endorsed Tu- ruling that would have relaxed berville. nder fi re for his response voting restrictions in Alabama Democrats and Republi- to America’s spiralling state during the coronavirus cans are fi ghting nationwide Ucoronavirus caseload, pandemic. over how to manage the vot- President Donald Trump was Alabama requires voters to ing process during a pandem- heading to Mount Rushmore yes- submit photo identifi cation ic ahead of the November 3 terday for a night of holiday fi re- when they apply for an absen- elections that will determine works that he hopes will provide tee ballot. control of the White House, a much-needed distraction. The state also requires that Congress and state legislatures On the eve of the country’s ballot to be returned along across the country. Independence Day, the Repub- with the signature of two wit- Trump and Republican al- lican leader was to speak in the nesses or a notary. lies have attacked the idea of shadow of four of his notable A US district court judge in expanding mail balloting, ar- predecessors: George Washing- Trump: has long expressed his Birmingham, Alabama’s larg- guing that it is vulnerable to ton, Thomas Jeff erson, Theodore fascination for the imposing est city, issued a ruling last fraud and worrying that easier Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln, Mount Rushmore monument. month that would have ef- voting would hurt their party’s whose heads are carved into a fectively freed voters from the chances. granite cliff in South Dakota’s and that the virus danger is real. photo identifi cation require- Democrats and voting- Black Hills. The event, he told CNN, “is a ment, in some counties, if they rights groups say it is a way Trump has had little to say recipe for disaster”. are 65 or older or have a dis- to protect voters from the about the shocking increase in Trump has long expressed ability. coronavirus, and that a fail- the number of virus cases in the his fascination for the imposing Under that ruling, voters ure to guarantee that option US, though in a tweet on late The Mount Rushmore National Monument is seen at night in Keystone, South Dakota late on Thursday. US Mount Rushmore monument, with medical conditions that amid a pandemic will prevent Thursday, he said that the rise President Donald Trump was headed to the monument yesterday to watch the first fireworks display at which was sculpted from 1927 to put them at risk of Covid-19 poor and African Americans was because “our testing is so the monument in nearly a decade. 1941. could sidestep the requirement from voting because they are massive and so good, far bigger In 2017, he even joked about to have their ballots signed by deemed more vulnerable to the and better than any other coun- “We’re going to have a tre- The Covid-19 respiratory dis- and beaches. someday seeing his face joining a witness. virus. try”, calling that “great news”. mendous evening. It’s going to be ease is caused by the coronavirus. Trump, however, expect a those of his four predecessors, The Covid-19 respiratory According to studies, those He added: “Even better news is a fi reworks display like few peo- Trump has been sticking with warm welcome in South Dakota, though National Park offi cials disease is caused by the coro- voters tended to lean Demo- that death, and the death rate, is ple have seen,” the president said one tried-and-true message, a state he won easily in 2016 with say the site is not amenable to navirus. cratic. DOWN.” on Thursday. that he conveyed on Thursday: more than 60% of the vote. expansion. The judge also would have Alabama’s Republican sec- US testing has risen sharply, The pandemic has claimed the coronavirus crisis is being The state’s Republican gov- “The National Park Service blocked the Alabama govern- retary of state, John Mer- but health experts say that it still nearly 130,000 American lives, “handled”, the US economy is ernor, Kristi Noem, told Fox takes the position that ... the ment from restricting counties rill, welcomed the Supreme lags, on a per-capita basis, be- amid a sharp resurgence of cas- “roaring back”, and 2021 will be a news: “We told those folks that work is complete in its present that wished to establish curb- Court’s ruling as consistent hind many other countries; they es, particularly in the country’s “phenomenal” year. have concerns that they can stay form,” said National Park Service side voting. with state law. say testing does not fully explain south and west, which top in- The data don’t necessar- home. Those who want to come spokeswoman Dana Soehn. However, the Supreme He said in an interview that the case rise; and they note that fectious disease expert Anthony ily agree: while much of Europe and join us, we’ll be giving out The Lincoln Project, a group of Court blocked the district “many liberals have tried to deaths tend to increase only a few Fauci has said “puts the entire brings the virus under control, free face masks, if they choose to anti-Trump Republicans, took on court ruling in a 5-4 decision use this pandemic to advance weeks after cases rise. country at risk”. some US states are beating their wear one. But we will not be so- the president’s Rushmore trip in along ideological lines, at least causes” through courts after Amid the spate of bad virus Vice-President Mike Pence own grim records nearly every cial distancing.” its own way. until an appeals process is re- failing to do so through legis- news, Trump has been openly had to postpone a trip to Arizona day. Randy Seiler, who heads the In a video released on Thurs- solved. lation. exuberant about the Rushmore this week after members of his The number of cases nation- state Democratic party, strongly day, the group highlighted in- The case deals with Ala- Benard Simelton, who is event. Secret Service detail reportedly wide recently topped 50,000 a opposes the planned festivities, spiring quotes from Washington, bama’s July 14 run-off elec- president of the state chapter Some 7,500 people are expect- showed signs of Covid-19, and day for the fi rst time. he told CNN. Jeff erson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln. tion, which was postponed of National Association for ed to attend. pressure has grown, even from Many states have paused ef- He said they are off ensive to As for Trump, the group said: from March due to the corona- the Advancement of Coloured There are no plans for social several leaders of Trump’s Re- forts to reopen their economies. Native Americans in the area, “America’s worst president will virus pandemic. People (NAACP), said that the distancing, however, and masks publican party, for more wide- Some have even reimposed who consider the land sacred; neither be remembered nor re- The election includes a Supreme Court ruling would will be available but not required. spread wearing of masks. restrictions on bars, restaurants that the fi reworks pose a fi re risk; vered.” Republican Senate primary disenfranchise voters. Intruder at Canada Texas now mandates mask wearing PM residence faces Reuters authorities the ability to ban out- “We must do more to slow the Lubbock, Texas door gatherings of more than 10 spread without locking Texas multiple charges people. back down,” Abbott said. “We are On Sunday, a far-right an- now at a point where the virus is exas Governor Greg Ab- ti-mask rally was held on the spreading so fast, there is little AFP/Reuters Rideau Hall is the home of bott has decreed that face grounds of the Texas Capitol at- margin for error.” Montreal Governor-General Julie Pay- Tmasks must be worn in all tended by about 150 people. ette, Queen Elizabeth II’s rep- counties with more than 20 coro- After avoiding major outbreaks Right: A healthcare worker is resentative in Canada, a Com- navirus cases, billing the measure in April and May, Texas has be- reflected in a screen as she helps Canadian army reserv- monwealth country. as a requirement to avoid another come a coronavirus hotspot. a patient eat in the Covid-19 Unit ist who forced his way Trudeau, his wife and three economic shutdown. It reported nearly 8,000 new at the United Memorial Aonto the estate where kids are staying at Rideau Cot- The wearing of face coverings infections on Thursday. Medical Centre in Houston. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tage on that estate because to slow the spread of the coro- The rate of people testing pos- Despite its renowned medical lives was carrying multiple work is being done on his offi - navirus is unpopular among Ab- itive for the virus has gone from centre with the largest weapons and is facing several cial residence. bott’s conservative Republican 4.5% in late May to 14%, Abbott agglomeration of hospitals and charges, police said yesterday. “I want to stress that there base in Texas, but he said in a said. research laboratories in the The suspect, who has not was never any danger of the video released on Thursday that Hospitalisations averaged less world, Houston is on the verge of been formally named, was due prime minister and his family, the action is now absolutely nec- than 1,700 per day in late May. being overwhelmed. on court to hear the charges nor to the governor-general, as essary. By Thursday it was about against him over Thursday’s neither were on the grounds at “In the past few weeks, there 5,700 daily. Below: An aerial view from a intrusion at Rideau Hall, Roy- the time of the incident,” said has been a swift and substantial “These spikes are not just drone shows people waiting al Canadian Mounted Police Duheme. spike in coronavirus cases,” Ab- limited to the big cities,” Abbott in line at the drive-through spokesman Mike Duheme said. “There is no risk to the pub- bott said. “We need to refocus on said. “Ninety-one counties had Covid-19 testing centre at the The man drove his pick- lic and from what (informa- slowing the spread. record high numbers (of cases) in Ellis Davis Field House, Dallas. up truck into the main gate tion) we have, he was acting “But this time, we want to do the past three days.” of the estate, walked onto alone,” he added. it without closing down Texas Abbott’s order marks a major the grounds and was arrested The suspect is a member of again.” reversal. without incident. the Rangers, a reserve unit of Face masks must be used in For over two months, he ig- Duheme did not reveal the the Canadian army, news re- all public buildings and outside nored calls by the Democratic man’s motive. ports said. when social distancing of at least leaders of Texas’ metropolitan six feet (2m) cannot be main- areas to mandate mask wearing. tained, the governor said. He refused to allow leaders in Canadian arrested in Egypt is home Those violating the order will Houston to enforce their own be given one warning. face-covering mandate with Yasser Albaz, a Canadian engineer who was arrested at Cairo After that, they can be issued a penalties, undercutting their airport at the end of a business trip in February 2019, has been fi ne of up to $250. ability to slow the spread of the released and is back in Canada, his family said on Thursday. Nobody can be jailed for defy- virus. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in February that he ing the order, he said. Hospital offi cials in Houston had raised the case of Albaz during a meeting in Addis Ababa with About one-third of the 254 have said intensive care beds Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. counties in Texas have reported there are now in short supply. “We are happy to announce that Yasser Albaz has been released fewer than 20 coronavirus cases Abbott said that he is not issu- by Egyptian authorities and has arrived this morning at Toronto – making them exempt from the ing a stay-at-home order, but is Pearson International Airport,” his daughter Amal Ahmed Albaz said order. asking people to remain home if in a statement. The governor also gave local at all possible. Gulf Times 6 Saturday, July 4, 2020 ASIA

Covid-19 death toll rises to 1,968 in Bangladesh The Covid-19 death toll in Bangladesh increased to 1,968 Thai airport off ers rapid Covid after another 42 fatalities were reported, health off icials said yesterday. The tally of infections surged to 156,391 on the back of 3,114 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the 24 hours to 8am yesterday, test for international arrivals off icials said. Another 1,606 infected patients Reuters baht ($96) each, is one require- recovered from the disease in Samut Prakan ment for fast-track entry with- the same period, raising the out spending 14 days in quar- total to 68,048, DGHS additional antine, and is required of other director general Nasima Sultana hailand’s main interna- foreigners recently allowed in, said in a media briefing. tional airport unveiled ranging from those with resident The recovery rate currently Trapid coronavirus tests status or family in the country, stands at 43.51% while the yesterday for some overseas ar- as well as international students. mortality rate is 1.26%, she added. rivals after a three-month ban About 1,700 foreigners have The latest fatalities include 32 on foreign visitors was partially applied to visit Thailand for men and 10 women. In terms of lifted this month. medical treatment such as cos- their ages, one was between 11 All foreigners, except those metic surgery or fertility treat- and 20, three between 21 and with work permits, have been ment after a ban on medical 30, one between 31 and 40, five barred since March, but after tourism was lifted this month, between 41 and 50, 22 between more than fi ve weeks with no re- said Taweesin Wisanuyothin, a 51 and 70, seven between 71 and corded community transmission spokesman for the task force on 80 while three were over the age of the virus, Thailand is allowing the disease. of 81, according to government in some groups of foreigners. The government is consider- data. Business travellers, diplomats ing a plan to open more inter- As many as 14,650 samples and government guests staying national travel with a “travel were tested at 63 authorised for less than 14 days are consid- bubble” arrangement with some labs across the country in the ered “fast track travellers” who countries in September, he last 24 hours with 21.26 of these will be swab tested for the dis- added. returning positive results, said ease at Suvarnabhumi airport to As the pandemic hits travel, Sultana. make ensure they are infection- Thailand is expected to draw at Globally, over 10.87mn people free before entry. most 8mn foreign tourists this have been infected by the novel “The test itself takes around year, down 80% from a year coronavirus and 521,355 have one hour and a half,” said Su- earlier, the Tourism Council of died, according to a tally by Johns wich Thammapalo, an offi cial Thailand estimates, although Hopkins University. of Thailand’s disease control the sector is expected to recover Infections have been reported department, adding that its use in 2021. in more than 210 countries and could be expanded in future for Last year, spending by a territories since the first cases other arrivals and tourists. record 39.8mn foreign tourists A doctor and medical staff wearing personnel protective equipment (PPE) demonstrate the lab workflow at the Covid-19 testing laboratory at were identified in China in The airport test, costing 3,000 accounted for about 11% of GDP. Suvarnabhumi International airport amid the spread of the coronavirus disease in Bangkok yesterday. December 2019. (IANS)

Lanka’s active coronavirus cases down to 227 More bodies found at Myanmar mine disaster Sri Lanka’s active Covid-19 cases reduced to 227 yesterday as 79 more patients recovered and were AFP year in Hpakant, an area is close in landslides and other accidents It said the landslide should serve $31bn in 2014, although very ethnic Kachin insurgents and the discharged from hospital, according Hpakant to the Chinese border in Kachin on unstable, over-excavated as a “wake-up call” for Myanmar’s little reaches state coff ers. military. to health ministry’s statistics. state, where billions of dollars mountainsides. government led by Aung San Suu Northern Myanmar’s abun- The fi ght to control the mines The country has to date detected of the precious stone is believed They are often from impov- Kyi – whose party vowed to reform dant natural resources – includ- and the revenues frequently traps 2,054 cases of the Covid-19 escuers yesterday pulled to be scoured each year from erished ethnic minority com- and stamp out corruption. ing jade, timber, gold and amber local civilians in the middle, with since the first local patient was several bodies from the bare hillsides by poor migrant munities, looking for scraps left The watchdog estimated that – help fi nance both sides of a a rampant drug and arms trade detected in March but as of Rscene of a landslide which workers seeking to strike it rich. behind by big fi rms. the industry was worth some decades-long civil war between further curdling the confl ict. Thursday morning, 1,827 patients killed over 170 jade miners in As photos of the dead circu- Low-quality stones can be ex- had been successfully treated northern Myanmar, many of lated on social media Facebook changed for food or sold for $20 and released, Xinhua reported them migrant workers seek- users began to identify workers to waiting brokers. citing off icials. ing their fortune in treacherous hundreds of miles from home, “Many of them (the dead) are Eleven deaths have been open-cast mines near the China leaving moving tributes to Rakhine,” Phon Graing, a Hpa- reported from the virus. border. friends and family members. kant township offi cial told AFP, Sri Lanka’s Army Commander, Lt. Women wept by the open ply- “Please bring my father back,” referring to the ethnic group who General Shavendra Silva, who is wood caskets, some marked with said Hnin Wati. “A daughter’s live hundreds of kilometres away heading the national operation just a name, a few with a solitary heart is breaking.” at the other end of the country, centre for the prevention of photo, before the bodies were Another, from a former miner, and who are among Myanmar’s Covid-19, told a local media outlet carried into a huge grave gouged aff ectionately remembered one poorest communities. earlier this week that the country from the red earth by a mechani- of the dead for his “kind-heart” “But we don’t have specifi c had successfully been able to halt cal digger near the scene of the and generosity with his food numbers yet.” a public transmission of the virus landslide. during tough shared times on the Police say victims had appar- as no new cases were reported It was the worst accident in mountainside. ently defi ed a warning not to from the society since April 30. memory to befall Myanmar’s no- The mechanical digger sealed work the mines during the mon- New cases were now reported toriously dangerous jade mines. the grave, several metres deep, soon, which loosens the bare among those who were being The tragedy occurred on with earth yesterday. hillsides. repatriated from overseas but Thursday when a hillside col- The bloodied bodies – United Nations Secretary- they had no contact with society lapsed in heavy monsoon rains, stripped by the force of the sea General Antonio Guterres said as they were directly transported sending a deluge of smothering of mud which entombed them – he was “deeply saddened” by the to quarantine centres. mud over the workers who were were yet to be identifi ed. deaths, as environmental groups Silva said Sri Lanka’s containment scouring the land for fragments Myanmar is one of the world’s called for an end to an illegal of the Covid-19 was a success story of jade. biggest sources of jadeite and trade dynamised by Chinese to share with the world and post- “The search and rescue mis- the industry is supercharged by demand. Covid-19 Sri Lanka would have a sions continued today... 172 demand for the green gem from Ownership and operations of new place on the global map. bodies were found by midday,” neighbouring China. the mines are mired in secrecy, Local authorities, since last the Myanmar Fire Services De- Some jade brokers suspended although environmental watch- week, have started opening up partment said in a Facebook online auctions on Thursday, dog Global Witness alleges op- archaeological sites, museums, post, raising the overnight toll and promised to donate money erators are linked to former junta parks, and cinemas after nearly by 10. to their friends who were killed. fi gures, the military elite and three months. (IANS) They join scores killed each Scores of miners die every year their cronies. Family members grieve over bodies during a funeral ceremony near Hpakant in Kachin state yesterday. World’s ‘fi rst’ Indonesia’s plan for giant farm gold-plated hotel opens kindles ‘ecological chaos’ fears Thomson Reuters Foundation forests on Borneo and proved of years, and provides nutrients Widodo set up an agency in 2016 in Vietnam Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia disastrous due to the ill-suited for plant growth. to restore about 2mn hectares peat soil. When drained or cleared by of damaged peatland. Arie Rompas, a forest cam- fi re, the carbon is released into To avoid more land degrada- AFP n Indonesian govern- paigner at Greenpeace Indo- the atmosphere where it traps tion and fi res, environmental- Hanoi ment plan to develop a nesia, said the new, expanded heat, driving climate change. ists this week urged the govern- Ahuge farm on Borneo is- farm, if established, would lead “If the government contin- ment to invest in restoring the land would likely increase plan- to further peat damage and ues to push this project, they farm project area on Borneo by or guests at the “Dolce et-warming carbon emissions drying, boosting emissions and are building a bleak future,” replanting trees and crops to Hanoi Golden Lake” cof- A view of the newly-inaugurated Dolce Hanoi Golden Lake hotel, in and forest-fi re risks, while fi re risks. Rompas said. keep the peatland wet – instead Ffee comes in a gold cup Hanoi yesterday. missing its goal to improve food “The government is simply Over the past two decades, of trying to grow more rice. and bath time is taken in gilded security, environmentalists repeating old mistakes, and will the peat forest cleared for the “Planting unsuitable com- splendour. The hotel wants “ordinary atmosphere,” added Vietnamese warned yesterday. trigger a new round of ecologi- abandoned mega rice project modities on carbon-rich peat- The world’s fi rst self-pro- people to the super rich... to guest Luong Van Thuan, saying To avoid predicted food cal chaos,” he told the Thomson was largely left fallow, turning land that require draining would claimed gold-plated hotel is check-in” both physically he felt his status had automati- shortages caused by restric- Reuters Foundation. into degraded scrubland, said exacerbate the already massive open for business – and the Vi- and on social media, said cally been “raised”. tions to curb the spread of Cov- Home to the world’s third- climate scientist David Gaveau. health and climate crisis,” said etnamese owners insist they Nguyen Huu Duong, chair- The relatively modest con- id-19, Indonesia’s agriculture largest tropical forests, Indone- Rice cultivation is not pos- Tezza Napitupulu, an environ- have the Midas touch despite the man of Hoa Binh group that struction price tag was achieved ministry last week announced sia has more than 15mn hectares sible on peatland more than mental economist at World Re- cramping of global travel during owns the hotel. by sourcing the gold plating lo- plans for an estate covering of peatland – an area twice the 2m deep – like most of the land sources Institute Indonesia. the coronavirus pandemic. A gold-plated infi nity pool cally – signifi cantly reducing more than 164,000 hectares size of Ireland – mostly on the cleared for the rice project – “Ensuring food security and The hotel cost $200mn to overlooks the city, while meals at costs. (405,000 acres) in Central islands of Sumatra and Borneo he said, while growing other access to nutritious food can construct with a 24-carat plat- the 25-storey hotel in downtown “Our group has a factory that Kalimantan province. and in its easternmost province food crops has largely proven be done without further jeop- ing across lobbies, an infi nity Hanoi may be mixed with a mys- can do gold-plated stuff , so The farm will grow rice, fruit of Papua. unsuccessful. ardising the environment,” she pool and rooms with even cut- terious “gold substance”, accord- the cost for our equipment and and vegetables, and keep ani- Ancient peat soils are par- “This region is the epicentre added. lery, cups, shower heads and ing to the owners. furniture here is quite cheap,” mals, a ministry spokesman said. ticularly fl ammable when dry for almost all of the really big Sustainable agriculture could toilet seats receiving the golden So far, the smattering of cus- Duong said. The targeted area includes and are a major site of the an- uncontrolled peatland fi res,” involve growing native species treatment. tomers appears to be delighted And the pandemic which has land already cleared as part of a nual fi res that send toxic haze said Gaveau, adding that the like bitter melon, horse mango, While expensive for Vietnam, with Hanoi’s fl ashiest new digs. strafed global tourism has not high-profi le attempt by former across Southeast Asia, causing land needed to be restored to sago and water spinach, which at $250 a night it is not prohibi- “When I arrived here... I felt put him off opening, with Viet- president Suharto to achieve respiratory and other health prevent fi res breaking out. are suited to wet peat conditions tive for wealthy locals craving like a king, you know, the Phar- nam winning praise for its swift rice self-suffi ciency in the problems. Following particularly in- and do not require land drain- a few nights living like Donald aoh... the king of Egypt,” joked lockdown which has contained 1990s, according to local media Peatland contains huge tense peat fi res in 2015 – which age, climate researchers said. Trump, the US President re- Phillip Park, a South Korean the coronavirus spread. reports. quantities of carbon in the form researchers say caused up to Indonesia’s environment and nowned for his love of all things guest. “For sure next year, we will The leader’s mega project of organic matter, which has 100,000 premature deaths forestry ministry did not re- that glitter. “I really enjoyed the luxury make money,” he added. decimated swathes of peat accumulated over thousands – Indonesian President Joko spond to requests for comment. Gulf Times Saturday, July 4, 2020 7 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

Taiwan expels two Chinese journalists over political shows violating regulations

AFP porters between China and the extend (their permits)... they think it’s very strange that there belittle and degrade our country heavier restrictions than other Tsai, who views Taiwan as de Taipei United States, as the two super- are scheduled to leave on July were no problems in the past but and people... we have to ask you journalists. Some outlets are vo- facto independent, won a land- powers spar over trade and the 3,” MAC spokesman Chiu Chui- now there is this kind of situa- to leave because Taiwanese peo- cally pro-Beijing, others deeply slide re-election in January in coronavirus pandemic. cheng told reporters. tion,” she said. ple will not welcome you,” Chen critical. what was seen as a strong rebuke aiwan expelled two main- The reporters with China Ai Kezhu, one of the deported The channel has routinely Ting-fei, a lawmaker with the Beijing views Taiwan as its to Beijing’s campaign to isolate land Chinese journal- Southeast TV were ordered to journalists involved in produc- aired pro-Beijing content, but a ruling Democratic Progressive own territory and has vowed to the island. Tists yesterday after a talk leave by yesterday for violating ing the shows, told local media recent series of shows produced Party, wrote on Facebook. one day seize it, by force if nec- Beijing has ramped up dip- show on their channel pushed for regulations covering mainland at Taoyuan international airport in Taiwan provoked public an- Unlike authoritarian China, essary. lomatic and economic pressure Beijing “unifying” with the self- journalists, according to the before her departure that they ger for featuring guests espe- which only permits heavily Tensions between the sides on Taiwan as well as increasing ruled island, in the latest sign of Mainland Aff airs Council (MAC), were puzzled by the order. cially vocal in their criticism of censored state media and rou- have grown since Tsai came to military drills near the island, in- deteriorating ties between the Taiwan’s top China policy body. “We have reported our activi- Taiwan’s government and who tinely harasses foreign reporters, power in 2016, as she has refused cluding its military jets breaching two rivals. They “are suspected of vio- ties in Taiwan and work content pushed for Beijing “unifying” democratic Taiwan has a ram- to acknowledge Beijing’s idea Taiwan’s air defence zone with The move comes after a spate lating the regulations and the to relevant departments. We have with the island. “If you enjoy bunctious free press – although that the self-ruled democratic unprecedented frequency in re- of tit-for-tat expulsions of re- authorities have decided not to done that in the past 12 years. We the powers Taiwan has given to mainland reporters work under island is part of “one China”. cent weeks.

China names head of ‘Liberate Hong Kong ...’ new national security offi ce in Hong Kong

Reuters slogan is illegal: govt Beijing

Reuters take enforcement action beyond eijing has appointed an offi cial who became prominent during Hong Kong pre-existing local laws in the a clampdown on protests in a Chinese village as director of its most serious cases. Bnew national security offi ce in Hong Kong, the official Xinhua The legislation allows agents news agency reported yesterday. he popular protest slo- to take suspects across the border Zheng Yanxiong, 56, most recently served as the secretary general gan ‘Liberate Hong Kong, for trials in communist-control- of the Communist Party committee of Guangdong province, an eco- Trevolution of our times’ led courts and specifi es special nomic powerhouse bordering Hong Kong. He is among a host of offi - connotes separatism or subver- privileges for the agents, includ- cials appointed by Beijing in recent months as it tightens control over sion, the city’s government said, ing that local authorities cannot the former British colony. pointing to crimes that are cov- inspect their vehicles. The new security agency was established under national security ered under the new national se- “The slogan “Liberate Hong legislation imposed by China this week on Hong Kong that will pun- curity law imposed by Beijing. Kong, the revolution of our ish crimes of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with for- The rallying cry appears on times” nowadays connotes eign forces with up to life in prison, heralding a more authoritarian era placards at rallies, is printed on “Hong Kong independence”, or for China’s freest city. Under the legislation, the new agency in Hong clothes and accessories and scrib- separating the Hong Kong Spe- Kong can take enforcement action beyond pre-existing local laws in bled on post-it notes on walls cial Administrative Region (HK- the most serious cases. The legislation allows agents to take suspects across the Chinese-ruled city. SAR) from the People’s Republic across the border for trials in Communist Party-controlled courts and The government statement on of China, altering the legal status specifi es special privileges for the agents, including that local author- the slogan will exacerbate fears of the HKSAR, or subverting the ities cannot inspect their vehicles. about an abrupt crushing of the state power,” the government During Zheng’s tenure as party chief of the Guangdong city of global fi nance hub’s freedoms. said in a statement late on Thurs- Shanwei, authorities clamped down on protesters in 2011 in a village Raising further alarm that free- day. under its jurisdiction, named Wukan. Thousands of residents had dom of speech in Hong Kong will It was unclear whether inde- sought compensation for land requisitioned by the government and be trampled, the offi cial Xinhua pendent courts would uphold the elected a committee to represent their rights. They also aired their news agency said a Communist government’s view on the slogan. grievances to foreign media. Video clips that were leaked from an in- cadre who became prominent In one tweet on the sub- ternal government meeting at the time showed Zheng harshly criticis- during a 2011 clampdown on ject, public broadcaster RTHK ing the villagers and calling foreign media “rotten”. protesters in a southern Chinese censored the wording as Zheng has never held a post outside Guangdong and has extensive village will head the new national “L*******#HongKong.” One experience in propaganda, having worked at the Communist Party’s security offi ce created in Hong Twitter user ridiculed it, reply- Journalists wait outside West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts, after a motorcyclist accused of riding into a offi cial People’s Daily in its southern regional bureau for four years. Kong under the new law. ing “People L********* Army,” in group of policemen during the protest, while carrying a flag calling for the liberation of Hong Kong, has He was vice minister in charge of propaganda for Guangdong prov- Zheng Yanxiong, 57, most re- a reference to the Chinese army, been charged under the newly passed national security law, in Hong Kong. ince from 2013 to 2018. Li Jiangzhou and Sun Qingye were appointed cently served as the secretary which has a garrison in the city. as Zheng’s deputies, Xinhua said. general of the Communist Party The government has repeat- of those involving violations of agreed when it returned to China. after the legislation was passed, Hong Kong was rocked by months of sometimes-violent anti- committee of Guangdong prov- edly said the security law won’t the new law. China’s parliament Beijing denies the accusa- while prominent group member government protests last year, prompting Beijing to impose the secu- ince, an economic powerhouse aff ect freedom of speech, of the adopted the security law, dubbed tion. The law has triggered alarm Nathan Law said on Thursday he rity legislation that Hong Kong democracy activists and some foreign bordering Hong Kong. media, and other rights in the in state media as “the second re- among democracy activists and had left the global fi nancial hub. governments say further erodes the autonomy promised under the Videos leaked from an inter- city not seen in mainland China. turn”, in response to protests last rights groups, as well as lawyers, “The protests in Hong Kong have “one country, two systems” formula. Early this year, China replaced nal government meeting in 2011 On Wednesday, the 23rd anni- year triggered by fears Beijing business leaders and Western been a window for the world to two top Hong Kong-focused offi cials, appointing Luo Huining as head showed Zheng calling foreign versary of Hong Kong’s return was stifl ing the city’s freedoms governments. recognise that China is getting of the Liaison Offi ce and Xia Baolong as director of the Hong Kong and media “rotten”. to Chinese rule, police arrested and threatening its judicial inde- Demosisto, a pro-democracy more and more authoritarian,” Macau Aff airs Offi ce (HKMAO) in Beijing. Under the security legislation, around 370 people during pro- pendence, guaranteed by a “one group led by Hong Kong activist Law told Reuters in an interview Yesterday, Luo was named as an adviser to Hong Kong’s national the new agency in Hong Kong can tests over the legislation, with 10 country, two systems” formula Joshua Wong, disbanded hours via internet video. security committee, Xinhua said. Former MP named Singapore’s ruling party S Korea’s spy chief takes punt on early poll AFP legacy and Park was sentenced to Seoul three years in prison. He later re- DPA Undefeated since 1965, Singapore’s turned to parliament and served Bangkok three more terms before losing ruling People’s Action Party faces outh Korea appointed a his seat in April’s legislative elec- elections on July 10 with a strong hand. former lawmaker who was tion. t is almost election time in Sjailed for sending $450mn Political heavyweight Lee In- Singapore, and in a city- But grumblings over the government’s to the North as its new spy chief young, who earned his spurs as Istate about one-third the handling of the pandemic could yet spur yesterday, as President Moon a student democracy activist in size of Luxembourg, it is almost Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and secretary-general Jae-in seeks to improve ties with the 1980s and rose to become inevitable that candidates’ the opposition to score a few upsets of the People’s Action Party poses for a selfie with a resident during a Pyongyang. Moon, who has been the parliamentary fl oor leader of paths will cross on the cam- walkabout, ahead of the general election, in Singapore yesterday. on the receiving end of vitri- the ruling Democratic Party, was paign trail. So it was on July 2 during the brief and loveless But then the caseload spiked, olic criticism from the nuclear- named unifi cation minister. An- for Darryl David of Singapore’s marriage with neighbouring climbing from 1,000 on April armed North, reshuffl ed his se- alysts say Lee’s appointment will ruling People’s Action Party Malaysia in the 1960s. 1 to just under 45,000 on July curity team and top offi cials at give the ministry more sway in (PAP) and opposition candidate There the ruling National 2. As cases surged, the gov- the unifi cation ministry, which policy towards the North. Moon Andy Zhu. Front coalition enjoyed a simi- ernment imposed its “circuit Singapore opposition handles inter-Korean relations. has promoted engagement with Swapping campaign leaflets larly unblemished electoral breaker” on April 7. Park Jie-won is a former four- the North and was instrumental as their encounter was caught record until Mahathir Moham- Lasting almost two months, term lawmaker and confi dante in arranging the fi rst US-North on camera by local television, ed, its longest-serving premier, the lockdown sharpened the hit with misinfo law of the late Nobel Prize-winning Korea summit in Singapore two they could be heard saying: defected to the opposition to economic pain inflicted on the president Kim Dae-jung. He years ago. “I take yours, you take mine.” drive a historic 2018 electoral trade and investment-depend- played a crucial role in organising The reshuffl e comes after his David and Zhu are two of the upset. ent city-state by lockdowns AFP at debunking untrue information the fi rst inter-Korean summit in call for another meeting between 191 candidates representing 11 But there seems little chance elsewhere. Singapore said the video contained “a false 2000, was named to lead the Na- US President Donald Trump and political parties fighting it out of a reprise in Singapore, which Almost all of Singapore’s and misleading statement”, as a tional Intelligence Service. Kim Jong-un before the US pres- over nine days of campaigning despite a shared history and cases have been among male signifi cant majority of such stu- Park is known to have a net- idential election in November — ahead of a snap parliamentary land border with Malaysia, es- migrant workers, who are typi- ingapore’s government has dents have to pay fees higher than work of contacts in the North as even though the process is cur- vote set for July 10. chews the fractiousness and cally housed in close quarters in used a controversial online local students. The large number a result of his role in Kim’s “Sun- rently deadlocked. “South Korea The election comes a little intrigue of politics north of the residences and dormitories. Smisinformation law to or- of foreigners in the city-state has shine Policy” of engaging with will be making its utmost eff orts over a month after the end of a Strait of Johor. Most Singaporeans have der an opposition party to correct become a hot-button issue ahead Pyongyang. to arrange a meeting between coronavirus lockdown dubbed In Singapore’s most recent been unaffected, prompting a social media post, days after of the election, with the opposi- But it later emerged that Park the North and US before the US a “circuit breaker” by the PAP national elections in 2015, the National Development Minis- campaigning got underway for an tion pressing the government to played a key role in secretly fun- election,” Moon said Tuesday. government. PAP cruised to a twelfth suc- ter and PAP heavyweight Law- election next week. put Singaporeans fi rst when it nelling $450mn from South Ko- The South’s outgoing spy agency The vote looks unlikely to cessive post-independence rence Wong to describe the vi- Under the law, ministers can comes to job opportunities. rea’s Hyundai group to the North chief Suh Hoon was named na- break the circuit of PAP’s six triumph, sweeping up 69.9% rus as “under control,” despite order social media sites to put People’s Voice is among a ahead of the meeting between tional security adviser, replacing decades of electoral success, of the vote in a typically facile the country reporting 188 new warnings next to posts the gov- handful of small opposition the former president and Kim Chung Eui-yong — who fi rst told despite disaffection from none contest. cases on July 2. ernment considers false and order groups taking on the long-ruling Jong-il, the father of current Trump in March 2018 that Kim other than Prime Minister Lee This year’s election was But Tan Cheng Bock, 80, a pages be blocked, but critics fear People’s Action Party (PAP) at leader Kim Jong-un. The revela- wanted to meet and was willing Hsien Loong’s own brother. called nine months ahead of former PAP stalwart who heads it is being used to suppress dis- the July 10 vote. While the PAP tion tarnished Kim Dae-jung’s to denuclearise. Although he is supporting the schedule, with the PAP govern- the Progress Singapore Party, sent. is expected to remain in power, new Progress Singapore Party ment hedging its bets on the was unconvinced. On Thursday the government the opposition hopes to win more (PSP) in the upcoming vote, future course of the coronavi- The PAP’s “boasting in Janu- ordered Peoples Voice to cor- seats in parliament. Australian mountains ditch Leopold name sibling Lee Hsien Yang will not rus pandemic ahead of the April ary,” Tan said on July 2, “failed rect a video posted on Facebook Since the misinformation law run for a seat – as “Singapore 2021 voting deadline. How- to prepare Singapore for the and YouTube and the opposition came into force last year, several An Australian mountain range named after Belgium’s notorious King does not need another Lee.” All ever the PAP’s pandemic track explosion of dormitory cases in party complied, putting up ban- opposition fi gures and activists Leopold II was re-christened yesterday, as off icials moved to shed the the same, Lee Hsien Yang has record could yet undermine its April.” Tan and the rest of Sin- ners saying it contains inaccurate have been ordered to correct posts connection to an “evil tyrant”. Authorities in Western Australia said the called for change, saying the apparent invincibility. gapore’s opposition are hop- information. In the video, party while Facebook has been forced to 600-km King Leopold Ranges in the remote Kimberley region – named PAP “has lost its way.” Until the end of March, Sin- ing to at least reduce the PAP’s chief Lim Tean said the govern- block pages on several occasions. after the monarch in 1879 – would now be known as the Wunaamin The PAP juggernaut has gapore was widely lauded for huge majority and curb its leg- ment spends a quarter of a billion The tech giant said last month Miliwundi Ranges. romped to victory in every vote having relatively few cases, islative freedom. Singapore dollars (US$180mn) the use of the law is “severe” and “It has troubled me for years that an extraordinary area of Western Aus- since independence in 1965. It despite being one of the first The ruling party leaders “do “providing free education for for- risks stifl ing free speech, while tralia should be named in honour of a person who is widely regarded as also won those held in the city- countries outside China to be not have all the answers,” Tan eigners every year”. Google and Twitter have also ex- an evil tyrant,” state lands minister Ben Wyatt said. state before then, including affected. said. A government website aimed pressed concerns. Gulf Times 8 Saturday, July 4, 2020 BRITAIN Unions call for early pay rise for NHS staff

Guardian News and Media give thanks to the NHS on its 72nd (RCN), the Royal College of Mid- weekend for the NHS’s birthday, servatives came to power in 2010. there were 40,000 nursing vacan- Katie Hodgson, a mental London birthday, the 14 unions say the wives (RCM), GMB and Unite, ministers can show how much The RCN’s Hannah Reed, the cies in health and care settings in health fi rst aider for NHS Shef- government should build on the stress that the increase should also they value health staff by commit- acting secretary to the health un- England alone. fi eld clinical commissioning huge public support for staff dur- include support for private con- ting to an early pay rise that the en- ions’ group, said the praise lav- The unions say that as well as group, has worked throughout nions representing more ing the Covid-19 crisis and deliver tractors, such as domestic workers tire country supports.” ished on staff was “already begin- making staff feel more valued, the pandemic dealing with NHS than 1.3mn NHS workers an early pay rise. and security guards. Before the three-year pay deal ning to feel hollow. An earlier pay a pay rise would help boost the and care staff arriving for drive- Uhave written to the govern- Health workers are nearing the Unison’s head of health, Sara agreed in 2018, which was worth at rise will go some way to showing fl agging economy by increasing through swab tests and anti- ment calling for talks to begin on end of a three-year pay deal and Gorton, who chairs the NHS group least 6.5% and excluded doctors, the government values all they do, spending power. body blood tests. “Everyone has a pay rise to take eff ect before the the unions say a fair increase would of unions, said: “Throughout lock- NHS workers had gone through not just this year but day in, day Jon Skewes, the executive di- stepped up during the pandemic end of the year to refl ect the eff orts show how much nurses, clean- down the public has seen the im- seven years of 1% rises or pay out. rector for external relations at the from porters to admin staff ,” she of staff during the coronavirus ers, physiotherapists, healthcare mense dedication, commitment freezes under David Cameron’s “Proper recognition and pay to RCM and treasurer for the NHS said. “Pay is predominantly low pandemic. assistants, porters and other em- and compassion shown by NHS government. match it will go some way to ad- group of unions, said: “To truly in the NHS and many struggle. In letters sent to the prime ployees are valued. staff , and now expects them to be The RCN has calculated that the dressing the number of unfi lled value the contribution of NHS It can mean choosing between minister and the chancellor yes- The unions, including Uni- rewarded. average salary for a nurse has fallen jobs.” staff , their pay must be restored in putting the heating on or having terday, as the nation prepares to son, the Royal College of Nursing “As the clapping returns this by 8% in real terms since the Con- The RCN said in March that real terms. your tea.”

Reduced GCSE Quarantine-free courses for pupils likely list of countries Guardian News and Media London

upils in England who are due to sit their GCSEs next sum- travellers can Pmer will be taught a reduced curriculum in a small number of subjects and will have their exams delayed by a few weeks, under new proposals drawn up by the exams regulator, Ofqual. visit published The changes have been drawn up to try to mitigate the impact Guardian News and Media need not quarantine on arrival or dressers will open their doors for of learning time lost due to school London return. the fi rst time in three months. closures during the Covid-19 pan- English travellers arriving in In controversial rules imposed demic, which has meant that stu- “green” countries, which have on June 8, travellers returning to dents will not have enough time to host of popular European low levels of infection such as New England have been forced to quar- cover the entire curriculum. tourist destinations are Zealand, may still face quarantine antine for 14 days upon arrival. However, headteachers said Aon a confi rmed list of 59 restriction upon arrival but not Shapps had hoped to announce the measures failed to address countries and territories English when they return home to the UK. the list of countries on the air the scale of the learning loss and holidaymakers will be able to visit Upon publishing the list of bridge scheme earlier this week, called for an urgent “plan B” in in so-called “air bridge” arrange- countries and territories included but behind-the-scenes negotia- case of continuing major disrup- ments without having to quaran- on the scheme, the DfT did not tions with devolved administra- tion due to the coronavirus made tine for a fortnight on their return. provide a breakdown for which tions caused delays. it impossible to hold a full exam Passengers arriving from countries are in the green or amber Scotland, Wales and Northern series next year. France, Spain, Germany, Italy and categories. Ireland have not yet signed up to Ofqual has asked exam boards Greece are among those who will The US, which is grappling with the new plans. to draw up plans for GCSE exams be exempt from rules that require a a series of severe Covid-19 out- Shapps has pointed the fi nger to start after the summer half 14-day period of isolation in Eng- breaks, is not included on the list, at Holyrood over delays in the an- term next year – moving the exam land under measures introduced meaning the quarantine exemp- nouncement but yesterday, Scot- series back from May to a start- on July 10. The 14 British overseas tions do not apply. land’s fi rst minister, Nicola Stur- ing date of June 7 2021, running territories will also be exempt from Portugal, China and Thailand geon, issued a broadside against into July – in order to allow more quarantine requirements, mean- are similarly not included. Downing Street’s approach, ac- teaching time. ing there are 73 countries or ter- Publication of the list came as cusing its decision-making of be- This could delay results. ritories in total. ministers hope to revitalise the ing “shambolic”. Delaying A-levels is also un- The government said the list UK’s ailing tourism and airline in- Speaking at the Scottish gov- der consideration but this may may be added to in the com- dustries that have been crippled by ernment’s coronavirus briefi ng, be more complicated because ing days. Amid accusations that the coronavirus pandemic. the SNP leader said: “When so of the pressure to deliver results Downing Street’s handling of the The Foreign Offi ce is today much is at stake as it is right now, promptly so students can secure measures had been “shambolic” changing its advice against all but we can’t allow ourselves to be places in further and higher edu- and concerns over the announce- essential overseas travel, coincid- dragged along in the wake of, to cation. ment being beset by delays, the ing with the relaxation of lock- be quite frank about it, another “We are also seeking views on department for transport (DfT) down measures across England in government’s shambolic decision whether such a change would be yesterday fi nally unveiled a full list which pubs, restaurants and hair- process.” appropriate for the AS/A-level of countries that were part of the exam timetable, and the impact of “travel corridor” scheme. any delay in issuing results,” Of- In addition, the DfT said Ireland Airlines end legal challenge qual said. was already exempt from quarantine Three of Europe’s biggest arriving from abroad must The regulator has also drawn up restrictions as it is part of the com- airlines yesterday said they self-isolate for 14 days on June proposals to reduce the amount mon travel area, as are the Channel would end a legal challenge 8, saying it jeopardised the taught in some subjects including Islands and the Isle of Man. against the government after industry’s recovery from the GCSE history and geography, with Other locations on the list in- it scrapped its quarantine rule crisis. However, they agreed to more optional questions in some clude Barbados, Hong Kong, Ja- for travellers coming from end the legal challenge after exams, so teachers have the free- pan, New Zealand and Vietnam. some of the most popular the government said it would dom to choose topics to concen- Under a “traffi c light” system, tourist destinations. The policy publish a list of countries to trate on, rather than being required the Transport Secretary, Grant announcement coincided which the rules would not to teach the entire curriculum. Shapps, has indicated the list will with a planned court hearing apply. “The blanket quarantine GCSE English, maths and sci- be split into “amber” countries – for a legal challenge to the introduced by the government ence are seen as essential, how- including most major European measures by British Airways, on everyone entering into ever, and will be unchanged, and countries – which have medium easyJet and Ryanair. The England was irrational and has – under the current plans – there risk of coronavirus infections. airlines heavily criticised the seriously damaged the economy are no proposals to reduce what’s A woman buys an ice-cream at Gabriel’s Wharf beside the River Thames in London yesterday. The Amber-rated countries are like- government’s introduction of and the travel industry,” the taught at A and AS-level in any government has been easing stay-at-home orders imposed in late March with pubs, restaurants and ly to have reciprocal arrangements a blanket rule that all travellers airlines said in a statement. subject. museums reopening today. in place meaning English travellers Downing Street plans Message of support Bomb-plotter gets life sentence

Guardian News and Media terwards on the underground. daily televised briefi ngs London Although in mitigation it was argued that she had got “cold feet” about going through with the plot Guardian News and Media Street, will in eff ect be a relaunch have adopted increasingly strong supporter of the Islamic because she did not want to dis- London of the daily coronavirus press con- tactics against the media, pushing State, who plotted to bomb appoint the co-conspirators, that ferences. back on stories by issuing lengthy ASt Paul’s Cathedral at East- position was undermined by a These attracted large audiences blogs and using departmental er, has been sentenced to life in phone call she made from prison owning Street is to host at times but were recently binned, Twitter accounts to tell people prison. that was intercepted. White House-style daily with Downing Street blaming de- sharing critical stories that they Safi yya Amira Shaikh, 37, from The transcript of the call was Dtelevised press brief- clining viewing fi gures. allegedly contain errors. Hayes, west London, admitted read out in court. ings and will hire an experienced The BBC dedicated substantial The decision to hold a daily tel- preparing terrorist acts and dis- During the call she told a friend broadcaster to act as spokesperson airtime on both BBC One and its evised briefi ng also chips away at seminating terrorist publications she had wanted to “go through and become the face of the gov- rolling news channel to the pan- the lobby system. that encouraged others to launch with it” and had only been delayed ernment. demic briefi ngs, but broadcast- Before the pandemic, members similar attacks. because she was “doing drugs”. The successful candidate will ers could face a conundrum over of the lobby – the group of accred- She had been under police and Earlier, her defence counsel, be a political appointment and whether to show every daily press ited political journalists who cover MI5 surveillance. Ben Newton, said: “This particu- is likely to become a household conference as government begins parliament and Downing Street During the sentencing yester- lar terrorist act would never have name. to return to normal. – received twice-daily briefi ngs day, Shaikh sat in the dock with actually happened. Three people Their responses to journalists’ There could be objections from from a civil service press offi cer, her head bowed, but as she was were involved in this plot, and the questions could feature promi- Labour if the government is seen to whose comments were largely sent down she gave an Isis salute other two were undercover police nently on the evening news and gain a disproportionate amount of made on the record. to journalists present in the court- offi cers.” any mistakes might be covered in airtime from broadcasters without At these lengthy briefi ngs, the room. Delivering sentence, the judge, detail. including any opposition voices. government spokesperson is often Shaikh will have to serve a mini- judge Sweeney, acknowledged that The recruitment process will The plan is part of a wider repeatedly asked the same ques- mum term of 14 years before being Shaikh had suff ered from men- start this month with the intention shake-up of Whitehall press offi c- tion by diff erent journalists in an considered for release by the pa- tal health issues, but said: “There of the system being up and run- es, under which government com- attempt to elicit an answer on a key role board. are a number of aggravating fac- ning by the autumn. munications will be centralised topic. Until recently these brief- Volunteers from the #MissingLiveTheatre initiative wrap pink The court heard that Sheikh tors – communication with known Downing Street hopes the suc- and the number of departmental ings took place in a secretive room tape reading “missing live theatre” on the National Theatre had discussed online, with extremists, deliberate use of en- cessful candidate will be a wom- press offi cers reduced, according high up in a tower in the Palace of in south east London yesterday. Venues around the country, co-conspirators who she later crypted communications, use of an, according to individuals with to the FT, which fi rst reported the Westminster but they were moved from the National Theatre to Manchester’s Royal Exchange, discovered were undercover of- multiple social media platforms, knowledge of the plan. changes. to Downing Street without con- will be wrapped in pink tape reading “missing live theatre” as fi cers, plans to target a nearby signifi cant volumes of terrorist The briefi ngs, which will be In recent months, Downing sultation this year, to the objection part of a campaign to “bring joy and colour” to the buildings. hotel in the City of London and publications published and at- held every afternoon in 9 Downing Street and individual departments of newspaper editors. her desire to blow herself up af- tempting to disguise your identity.” Gulf Times Saturday, July 4, 2020 9 EUROPE Gilead’s Remdesivir gets conditional EU clearance

Reuters The Covid-19 respiratory dis- the company allocated nearly all Wednesday that it was in nego- the steroid dexamethasone. Japan, Taiwan, India, Singapore The approval is valid for one Brussels ease is caused by the highly-con- of its supply of remdesivir to the tiations with Gilead to obtain Still, because remdesivir is and the United Arab Emirates, year in the bloc and can be ex- tagious coronavirus. United States over the next three doses of remdesivir for the 27 given intravenously over at least Gilead said yesterday. tended or converted into an un- The move comes just a week months, stirring concerns about European Union countries. a fi ve-day period, it is gener- A conditional marketing au- conditional marketing authori- he European Commission after the European Medicines availability elsewhere. Remdesivir is in high demand ally being used on patients sick thorisation is one of the EU sation if all necessary data are said yesterday that it had Agency (EMA) gave its go-ahead “We will leave no stone un- after the intravenously-adminis- enough to require hospitalisa- regulatory mechanisms created available on its effi cacy and side Tgiven conditional approval for the drug, produced by Gilead turned in our eff orts to secure tered medicine helped to shorten tion. to facilitate early access to medi- eff ects. for the use of antiviral remdesi- Sciences, to be used in adults effi cient treatments or vaccine hospital recovery times in a clini- The European Union’s green cines that fulfi l an unmet medical The agency reviews data as vir in severe Covid-19 patients and adolescents from 12 years of against the coronavirus,” said cal trial. light broadens the use of rem- need, including those for emer- they become available on a roll- following an accelerated review age who are also suff ering from Stella Kyriakides, EU Commis- It is believed to be most eff ec- desivir around the world – the gency situations in response to ing basis, while development is process, making it the region’s pneumonia and require oxygen sioner for Health and Food Safe- tive in treating Covid-19 patients United States has cleared it for public health threats such as the still ongoing. fi rst authorised therapy to treat support. ty, in a statement. earlier in the course of disease emergency use and it is also ap- current pandemic, the Commis- The EMA’s rolling review be- the virus. It also comes just days after The Commission said on than other therapies like that of proved as a Covid-19 therapy in sion said. gan at the end of April. Merkel snapped wearing a mask Macron replaces PM DPA Berlin

he wait is over: Angela Merkel has appeared for Tthe fi rst time wearing a after local polls rout mask in an offi cial photograph. The German chancellor, who AFP France, already has a wary eye after all, not least after he praised sported a black mask complete Paris on his 2022 re-election bid after his work as “remarkable” in an with the logo for her country’s months of protests and strikes interview with regional newspa- current EU presidency, had that preceded the coronavirus pers published on Thursday. been quizzed earlier in the week rench President Emmanuel outbreak. Nonetheless, “we have to chart on why she hadn’t been seen Macron has named a senior A wider cabinet overhaul is a new course” with “a new team”, more often with her mouth and Fbut low-profi le bureaucrat expected to be announced in the Macron said. nose covered as required under as prime minister to replace Ed- coming days. Analysts say that Macron has a coronavirus rules. ouard Philippe, the fi rst move in a Speculation that Philippe was thin bench of potential replace- The picture of masked Mer- widely expected cabinet reshuffl e on the way out mounted this ments, not least because his kel was taken on Thursday Merkel: had been quizzed after dismal local election show- week after Macron’s centrist young party has failed to produce evening. earlier in the week on why ings for the ruling party. party was routed in municipal any standouts from its parlia- She is standing alongside the she hadn’t been seen more The new premier, Jean Castex, elections on Sunday, which saw mentary ranks. state premier of Saxony-An- often with her mouth and nose was totally unknown to many in the Greens take control of several Other top ministers could also halt, Reiner Haselhoff , a fellow covered as required under France until now and is offi cially major cities. be on the way out. member of the conservative coronavirus rules. a member of the right-wing op- Philippe, a popular right-wing Under particular pressure is Christian Democrats (CDU). position to Macron’s centrists. politician who never joined Ma- Interior Minister Christophe On Monday, Merkel de- of the Bundestag parliament However, Castex has been in cron’s Republic on the Move Castaner, who has been assailed fended the fact that she is set a poorer example while vot- charge of the country’s progres- (LREM) party, nonetheless eas- Philippe with Castex on the steps of Paris’s Matignon Hotel prior to by critics over the failure to con- rarely seen wearing a mask in ing on a key bill for Germany’s sive emergence from the corona- ily won his bid to be mayor of Le the handover ceremony. tain the rioting and looting that response to a journalist’s ques- coal phase-out yesterday. virus lockdown, a policy greeted Havre. marred the “yellow vest” pro- tion at a press conference with Because the fi rst vote had as a relative success by experts. His approval ratings have political shift, but this is a tech- vest” anti-government revolt. tests of 2018-2019. French President Emmanuel not delivered a clear majority, “I am aware of the immense surged over his handling of the nocrat,” Christian Jacob, head of At a meeting on Thursday, More recently, Castaner has Macron. lawmakers had to fi le into three task that awaits me,” Castex said coronavirus crisis, while those of The Republicans, told AFP, indi- Macron and Philippe “agreed on drawn the ire of police who say “If I follow the distancing rooms – for yes, no, and ab- in a statement ahead of the offi - Macron, who has pursued ambi- cating that Castex would be cast the need for a new government he has failed to support them rules, I don’t need a mask. And stain – in order to approve the cial handover ceremony this af- tious economic reforms since out of the party. to embody a new phase for this against renewed claims of vio- if I’m not following the dis- legislation. ternoon. coming to offi ce in 2017, have Castex is virtually unknown term”, an offi cial in the Elysee lence and racism in the wake of tancing rules and, for example, Vice-chairman of the Bun- Macron has promised a “new fallen. to the general public outside the Palace said yesterday. the Black Lives Matter move- am going grocery shopping, destag Wolfgang Kubicki had course” for France to deal with While many analysts thought Pyrenees village of Prades where Sources close to Philippe said ment. then we don’t run into each to repeatedly urge his col- the crisis, which has plunged Macron would tack left or look he was recently re-elected may- that he would help Macron “con- Since the start of Macron’s other, obviously,” she replied. leagues to keep the required 1.5 France into its worst recession farther afi eld for his new prime or. solidate” his majority in parlia- presidency, a total of 17 minis- The chancellor then said: distance from each other, and since World War II and left mil- minister, Castex is a pure prod- Serving Macron from the start ment, after an embarrassing se- ters have quit the government, “There will be other occa- many – including members of lions of people facing unemploy- uct of the French administrative of his presidency, Philippe has ries of defections in recent weeks most recently Agnes Buzyn, who sions where I will surely still be the CDU and the far-right Al- ment. elite, having attended the same pushed through a series of con- by lawmakers unhappy with the stepped down as health minister wearing a mask.” ternative for Germany (AfD) The former investment bank- ENA managerial university as troversial overhauls that sparked president’s policies. in a doomed bid to wrest the Par- While Merkel appeared to be party – were seen without er, who swept to power in 2017 Macron and Philippe. massive strikes and demonstra- Press reports had suggested is mayor job from Socialist Anne sticking to the rules, members masks on. on pledges to radically reform “We might have expected a tions as well as the fi erce “yellow that Macron might keep Philippe Hidalgo. Putin signs decree to amend the Russian constitution

President says Russians of national signifi cance.” voted ‘with their hearts’ to The referendum was not let him extend rule independently observed by the Organisation for Security DPA/Reuters and Co-operation in Europe Moscow (OSCE), which has traditionally monitored Russian elections. The European Union de- ussian President Vladimir manded that Russia investigate Putin signed a decree yes- allegations of irregularities in Rterday to enact a package the voting, including voter co- of amendments to the country’s ercion and multiple voting. constitution that will enable Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry him to stay in power until 2036. Peskov, responded such alle- “Citizens of Russia have gations by saying that Russia made their choice, and in ac- would ignore foreign criticism cordance with this decision, I of the amendments. have signed a decree to offi cially “Russia has been and will re- publish the constitution to in- main committed, fi rst and fore- clude the amendments,” Putin most, to national sovereignty,” A woman walks past the monument in Moscow honouring delivery couriers who continued to work told a televised meeting of sen- Peskov said in comments car- Putin: People felt with their hearts that what was on off er (the throughout the coronavirus outbreak, helping people cope with the stringent self-isolation regime. ior offi cials. ried by state news agency Tass. amendments) .... was in demand and what the country needed. He received landslide ap- “We are not ready to take these proval for the package in a na- so-called concerns into account the next 15 years, as every presi- about who is working there. But tionwide referendum earlier this and will not do it.” dential candidate now must never mind ... our position is week, with more than three- The amendments enable Pu- have lived in Russia for the past understood,” said Putin, who Monument to couriers who ‘fed’ quarters of the votes in favour, tin to run for re-election twice quarter-century. has sought to distance Russia according to the offi cial tally. more and bolster the power of Other changes in the reform from liberal Western values and “People felt with their hearts the government’s legislative package grant former presidents aligned himself with the Rus- Moscow through virus lockdown that what was on off er (the branch, dominated by the Pu- immunity from prosecution, sian Orthodox Church. amendments) ... was in demand tin-loyal United Russia party. and enshrine a reference in the Putin said during the cam- and what the country needed,” They also instate a consti- constitution to God. paign to change the constitu- Reuters works for the Azbuka Vkusa su- seek emergency medical atten- Putin said in his fi rst pub- tutional a ban on gay marriage Putin poked fun at the US tion that he would not let the Moscow permarket chain. “I have never in tion, walk the dog or take out the lic comments on the vote. “In and make it so that Putin’s fi erc- embassy in Moscow for fl ying traditional notion of a mother my life seen or heard of the open- garbage. general, the results of the vote est challenger, Alexei Navalny, the rainbow fl ag as part of LGBT and father be subverted by what ing of a monument to couriers. Commissioned by fi ve retailers showed a high level of unity in cannot attempt to run for the pride celebrations. he called “parent number 1” and octors and nurses have It’s quite cool.” – Ozon, Perekrestok.ru, Azbuka society on key questions that are nation’s top political offi ce for “They have shown something “parent number 2”. won praise for their ef- A strict self-isolation regime Vkusa, Dodo Pizza and Delivery Dforts to contain Moscow’s in the Russian capital saw Mus- Club – the statue honours the coronavirus crisis, but a monu- covites confi ned to their homes, more than 60,000 couriers who Denmark’s Little Mermaid vandalised Trial on Khashoggi killing opens ment unveiled yesterday cel- with many using supermarket worked during lockdown as de- ebrates diff erent frontline work- and restaurant deliveries to re- mand for deliveries skyrocketed. The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, the city’s most A Turkish court put 20 Saudi off icials on trial in absentia yesterday ers: delivery men and women. duce their exposure to the virus. Perekrestok.ru, part of the X5 famous monument, was vandalised yesterday but police and for the gruesome killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi which Designed by artist Alexei Ga- They relied on couriers, who retail group, said it received four commentators were puzzled as to who might have done it and sparked international outrage and tarnished the image of Saudi rikovich, it is around 3m tall and delivered food, parcels and take- times as many orders in May than what their message really is. Arabia’s de facto ruler. features the form of a standing away meals despite the risks. the same period a year earlier, “We can confirm that The Little Mermaid has been vandalised Khashoggi was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October man hollowed out from a thick Moscow was the epicentre of while online retailer Ozon said its some time before 9am this morning,” Copenhagen police said in 2018 when he went there seeking papers for his marriage. sheet of rusting metal. Russia’s coronavirus outbreak, in purchases volume grew by 200% a statement to AFP. “An unknown person has written the words The indictment accuses two top Saudi off icials, former deputy head Its inscription reads: “Dedi- a country where almost 670,000 in April. ‘Racist Fish’ on it. We are investigating the case.” of Saudi Arabia’s general intelligence Ahmed al-Asiri and former cated to those who made self- people have been infected and “Every day they go to work, The Little Mermaid, inspired by a character in Danish poet and royal court adviser Saud al-Qahtani, of instigating “premeditated isolation possible.” close to 10,000 have died. they don’t just deliver goods. author Hans Christian Andersen’s 1837 fairytale of the same name, murder with monstrous intent”. “The monument makes me At the peak of the lockdown, They deliver comfort and peace is a 175kg (385-pound) statue by sculptor Edvard Eriksen. It says 18 other defendants were flown to Turkey to kill Khashoggi, proud of course,” said 27-year- most residents were only allowed of mind,” the companies said in a The statue has been vandalised numerous times over the years, a prominent and well-connected journalist who had grown old courier Sergei Gorekov, who out of their homes to buy food, joint statement. including when the mermaid’s head was stolen in 1964 and 1998. increasingly critical of the Saudi crown prince. Gulf Times 10 Saturday, July 4, 2020 INDIA

DECISION OBITUARY DISASTER PEOPLE POLITICS International flights to stay Choreographer Saroj Khan Earthquake rocks Kerala baby injured ‘Name Priyanka as CM suspended till July 31 dies of cardiac arrest Alwar district by father recovers candidate’ for Uttar Pradesh

The directorate general of civil aviation yesterday Bollywood’s first female choreographer Saroj Khan, An earthquake measuring 4.7 on the Richter A two-month-old baby girl, who was thrown Amid the row over the eviction notice served extended the suspension on scheduled whose sizzling dance routines breathed life into scale hit Rajasthan yesterday evening. The by her father last month, has recovered and by the Centre to Congress general secretary commercial international flight operations to hundreds of films, died yesterday, triggering further epicentre of the earthquake was Alwar district will be discharged today. The incident took Priyanka Gandhi, party MP Karti Chidambaram and from India till July 31. The development heartbreak in an industry already reeling from a of Rajasthan. The earthquake struck at a depth place on June 17, when 40-year-old Shaiju has suggested that Priyanka Gandhi be made comes exactly a week after the suspension on string of recent deaths. Khan choreographed more of 35km from the surface. Meanwhile, in the Thomas, injured his 54-day-old daughter by the chief ministerial candidate in Uttar Pradesh. oversees air services was extended till July 15. than 2,000 numbers during a 40-year career that backdrop of 17 earthquakes hitting Delhi- hitting her on the head and flinging her on In a tweet, Karti Chidnbaram said, “The path for “However, international scheduled flights may saw her work with superstars like Madhuri Dixit NCR in the last three months and Gurugram to the bed. The baby underwent surgery for a national revival of the @INCIndia is via Uttar be allowed on selected routes by the competent and Anil Kapoor to create dazzling song-and-dance being sighted as the most unsafe, the local injury to her head. Thomas, who hails from Pradesh. The clearest statement of intent will authority on case to case basis,” a circular read. routines that are a distinctive feature of Hindi films. administration and disaster management Kannur, was living with his Nepalese wife be to declare @priyankagandhi as the chief Last month, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh A spokeswoman for Guru Nanak hospital in Mumbai authority is emphasising on earthquake- in Angamaly. His wife said that once her ministerial candidate of the Congress in UP. Puri said that re-commencement of international said Khan, 71, was admitted to the facility on Thursday resistant structures. Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind child gets better she wishes to return to her PGV must be primarily based in Lucknow and flight services will depend on factors like ‘border evening after complaining of respiratory problems. Kejriwal tweeted: “Mild earthquake tremors country. Thomas was said to be a drinker lead the charge.” Sources close to Priyanka acceptance’ norms in the arriving country and She “was declared dead at approximately 2.30am” were felt in Delhi some time ago. Hope you are and had differences with his wife after she Gandhi have said that she is likely to shift base to the traff ic demand. after suff ering cardiac arrest, the spokeswoman said. all safe, take care of yourself.” delivered the girl child. Lucknow once the Covid-19 pandemic subsides. Govt accused of foul play in Italian marines case

IANS “The strong position taken by Thiruvananthapuram my government and the Centre led by Manmohan Singh enabled the positive judgement from the tate Congress president apex court of our country and Mullapally Ramachan- the Italian marines did not get Sdran yesterday accused the any respite in the criminal case. Prime Minister Narendra Modi But it was after Modi took over led government of foul play over things started to go in favour of the way the independent court the Italians. of the United Nations came out “None will forget the canards with its judgment in the case of then spread against UPA chair- two Indian fi shermen who were person Sonia Gandhi on this is- allegedly shot dead by two Ital- sue. We demand that India go in ian marines who were on board for an appeal against this ver- the Italian tanker ‘Enrica Lexie’ dict,” said Chandy and asked the off the coast of Kerala. Pinarayi Vijayan government to The Congress party said the put maximum pressure on the case was reviewed only under Modi government to go in for an the rules of navigation, while the appeal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits an army hospital in Ladakh. criminal case was not looked into Meanwhile, the Centre has in- and this was a huge lapse on the formed the Supreme Court that part of the Modi government. it has accepted the international The incident took place on tribunal ruling and asked it to February 15, 2012. close the matter pending before The Indian Navy intercepted it for eight years. the Italian tanker and detained the The Centre, in the application two marines, triggering an inter- fi led in the top court, said: “The national confl ict over legal juris- applicant (Union of India) states Age of expansionism diction and functional immunity. and submits that the Republic The two marines were re- of India has taken a decision to leased and returned to Italy after accept and abide by the award two and four years, respectively. passed by the tribunal which The Arbitral Tribunal of the would have the bearing on the United Nations was tasked to continuance of present proceed- resolve the confl ict over juris- ings before this court.” over, Modi tells troops diction. In March 2017, the apex court Ramachandran in a statement had passed an order where it Reuters month, said his country’s com- Modi also referred to expan- on India’s side of the de facto ther side should take actions wondered why this particular directed the parties to place on New Delhi mitment to peace should not be sionism in his speech to sol- border. that might complicate the bor- judgement surfaced only after a record the award passed by the seen as a sign of weakness. diers, saying it caused prob- China says the whole of the der situation,” he said at a daily month since it was announced. Arbitral Tribunal constituted “Today India is becoming lems. Galwan valley where the clash news briefi ng in Beijing. “This delay is purposefully under the United Nations Con- rime Minister Narendra stronger, be it in naval might, “(The) prime minister said occurred is its territory and that The most serious crisis on done to escape the ire of the vention on the Law of the Sea Modi yesterday fl ew into air power, space power and the that the time for expansionism it was frontline Indian troops the India-China border in years people and is also against the (Unclos). The Centre submitted Pthe northern border re- strength of our army. Moderni- is over. This is the era of devel- that had breached the border, has erupted while Beijing is directive of the Supreme Court. that on August 24, 2015, the In- gion where Indian and Chinese sation of weapons and upgrada- opment,” the government quot- which is not demarcated. embroiled in disputes over the The then UPA government and ternational Tribunal on Law of troops are locked in a stand- tion of infrastructure has en- ed Modi as saying, in a press re- China’s foreign ministry said South China Sea, Taiwan and its also then Kerala chief minister the Sea (ITLOS), on the request off , and said the military stood hanced our defence capabilities lease. “He recalled that it is this yesterday the two countries tightening grip over Hong Kong, Oommen Chandy did their best of Italy, rendered an order pre- ready to defend the country. multifold,” he said in a speech to mindset of expansionism that were holding talks to reduce which have all fanned fears of an to ensure justice for the victims. scribing provisional measures, His comments prompted soldiers near Leh, the regional did great harm.” tensions. expansionist policy. But ever since Modi took over the which stated that Italy and India Beijing to call for restraint at the capital. India says Chinese troops Spokesman Zhao Lijian, re- In a separate development, reins, things went in the wrong shall both suspend all court pro- tense border area in the north- “India has always pursued have intruded across the Line of sponding to a question about the power ministry stipulated direction as he and the Italian ceedings. ern Himalayan region of La- the path of peace in the world Actual Control, or the ceasefi re Modi’s visit to the border re- that Indian companies will need government had a secret under- On August 26, 2015, the apex dakh. but at the same time, those who line separating the two armies gion, said both sides were in government permission to im- standing,” said Ramachandran. court, in view of the pendency Modi, making his fi rst trip to are weak can never initiate steps in the high altitude Ladakh communications through dip- port power supply equipment Chandy too stated that justice of the issue before ITLOS, stayed the Ladakh region since the In- for peace. Bravery and courage region, and the clash on June lomatic and military channels and components from China, has been denied to the two fi sh- the proceedings pending before dian army lost 20 soldiers in a is a prerequisite for peace,” he 15 occurred because Chinese to ease the situation. amid rising military tensions ermen. it and before any other court. clash with Chinese soldiers last added. troops sought to erect defences “In these circumstances, nei- between the two countries.

Rain-hit Mumbai Health experts cast doubt Vijayan has let down on timeline for virus jab diaspora: Congress IANS received a few replies. I was sur- Thiruvananthapuram prised in the latest ‘Dream Kera- Reuters fore it enters phase III trials that said the letter was a private com- la’ project announced just a few New Delhi test its effi cacy. munication and was being mis- days back, the same thing has Each phase can last months, interpreted. enior Congress legislator been repeated,” said 74-year-old if not years, and although regu- The offi cial said the aim was to and former state minis- Joseph, who has been represent- he chief of India’s top clin- lators globally have been fast- complete all trials on the vaccine Ster for diaspora K C Joseph ing the Irikkur Assembly con- ical research agency said in tracking trials on medicines and candidate by August 15, and did yesterday said Chief Minister Pi- stituency in the Kannur district Ta leaked letter circulated vaccines to treat the novel coro- not say when he thought it might narayi Vijayan has badly let down since 1982. yesterday it envisaged launching navirus, the timeline envisaged be launched for public use. the Kerala diaspora on all fronts. Joseph pointed out that the a novel coronavirus vaccine by in the letter would be unprec- A Bharat Biotech spokesman Joseph, who headed the di- Norka-Roots department, set August 15, prompting scepticism edented. declined to comment on the let- aspora ministry for fi ve years up for the diaspora has been rel- from some health experts who “To my knowledge, such an ter. from 2011-16 said Vijayan has egated to just a web portal and questioned the short timeline. accelerated development path- But in an e-mailed statement done nothing but make state- the only job they did during the Dozens of vaccine candidates way has not been done EVER to Reuters, Bharat Biotech’s ments and when the time came pandemic was to open a portal, are at various stages of develop- for any kind of vaccine, even for managing director Krishna Ella to act, he has badly faltered, es- “where all our diaspora, who ment around the world to tackle the ones being tried out in other said the company had a target pecially the way the diaspora wished to return from abroad, the coronavirus pandemic. countries,” Anant Bhan, a doc- to produce up to 300mn doses was being handled when the had to register.” One, from India’s Bharat Bio- tor and public health researcher, of the vaccine per year if it suc- pandemic struck. “Just look into the budget al- tech and being developed with said on Twitter. ceeds in clinical trials. “A few days back Vijayan had location for them. Though it the Indian Council of Medical “Even with accelerated time- “Enrolment of the cohort for announced a ‘Dream Kerala’ amounted to a few crores, there Research (ICMR), was this week lines, this seems really rushed, the phase I is underway,” Ella project for the returning diaspora. were funds at the government’s approved for phase I and phase II and hence with potential risks, said, adding the company was If one looks back, a few years ago disposal which they could have clinical trials. inadequate attention to process.” awaiting approvals for human Vijayan held the much publicised used to provide subsidy to our “It is envisaged to launch the Several other health experts clinical trial vaccine batches Loka Kerala Sabha (LKS), fi rst in people who had to return after vaccine for public health use also questioned the launch date from the Indian regulator. 2018 and then its second edition they lost their jobs, to buy their latest by August 15, 2020, after proposed in the letter, which was Separately yesterday, Indian earlier this year and the only thing tickets and even provide a basic completion of all clinical trials,” widely shared on social media. drugmaker Zydus Cadila said it that happened was a grandiose subsistence allowance. ICMR director general Balram A spokesman for ICMR did had secured regulatory approval event, nothing has happened after “But nothing has been done Bhargava said in the letter, dated not respond to phone calls and to start human trials on its own that,” Joseph claimed. and at one point, Vijayan even July 2 and addressed to institu- text messages seeking comment Covid-19 vaccine contender. “During the Assembly ses- announced the diaspora might tions involved in the trials. yesterday. It plans to start trials this A woman walks through a flooded street after heavy rains sion in May 2019, in reply to the have to bear the expenses for Phase I and phase II trials typ- However, an ICMR offi cial, month in over 1,000 subjects in in Mumbai yesterday. question about the follow up of their mandatory isolation, after ically test the safety of a drug be- who asked not to be identifi ed, India. the fi rst edition of the LKS, I had they return,” added Joseph. Gulf Times Saturday, July 4, 2020 11

LATIN AMERICA

Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina top Latin America pandemic response list: poll Bolivia in danger Uruguay, Paraguay and against the pandemic had 77.8% worst against the pandemic, Meanwhile, people who someone else have a little bit Argentina are the Latin approval in his own country; respondents put Brazil at the recovered from coronavirus better of a time, I welcome it.” American countries that that of Paraguayan Mario Abdo, bottom. infections in Argentina have In order to donate, a person earned the best grades for their 76.7%; and that of Argentina’s “The countries surveyed volunteered to donate plasma has to be well for at least 14 of squandering response to the coronavirus, Alberto Fernandez, 68%. were clear on which model as part of a national clinical trial days and test negative twice for according to a poll conducted As of Thursday, Uruguay not to follow: Brazil,” Shila to test its eff ectiveness as a coronavirus. in the region and released registered 947 cases with 28 Vilker, director of the Buenos treatment for patients who are The treatment proved crucial for yesterday, while Brazil was deaths, according to the Reuters Aires-based consultancy still sick with Covid-19. patients like Barbara Piccardi, its head start tagged as the worst performer. count, Argentina 69,941 cases Trespuntozero, told Reuters. Recovered people came to a 31-year-old administrative The survey by the consulting with 1,385 deaths and Brazil Brazil has more confirmed centres across the country to employee, who was hospitalised firm Trespuntozero, to which 1,495,628 with 61,862 deaths. coronavirus cases and deaths donate, even as winter settles for a month with respiratory Reuters had exclusive access, The survey was carried than anywhere outside the US. on the South American nation, complications due to over coronavirus shows that in eight of the 10 out among 10,000 people President Jair Bolsonaro has bringing cold temperatures and coronavirus. countries in which the study distributed equally in Argentina, criticised lockdown and social- rainy weather. When she struggled to breathe was conducted, the respondents Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Peru, distancing orders issued by “It doesn’t cost a thing and you on her own, her doctors opted Guardian News and Media frontier posts. considered Uruguay one of the Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico, governors and mayors. know you can do good, that’s for plasma treatment and she La Paz “This gave us a magnifi cent best controllers of the pandemic. Costa Rica and the Dominican Echoing US President Donald what’s important in all of this,” recovered. result for a while,” said Virgilio According to the poll, the Republic. Trump, he has recommended Daiana Woloszczuk, 34, said “Thanks to (the donor) and her Prieto, the national epidemiol- performance of Uruguayan Asked about which countries unproven anti-malarial drugs to while donating plasma in the blood, I am alive here at home hen Pedro Flores and ogy chief.“We had great success President Luis Lacalle Pou in the region had done the treat the virus. city of La Plata.”If I can help today,” Piccardi said. a group of fellow doc- until the end of April.” Wtors arrived in the Daily new cases remained Beni, Bolivia’s tropical northern in the low dozens and clinics, province, at the end of May, they scrambling to secure protective knew the crisis caused by coro- clothing and supplies, could just navirus would be severe. about cope. But what they found still left Some scientists hypothesised them shaken. “The health sys- that western Bolivia’s harsh An- tem, public and private, col- dean environment helped kill the lapsed,” said Flores. Many doc- virus, and that the physiological tors in the regional capital of eff ects of altitude inoculated lo- Trinidad fell ill. Other medical cals against the worst eff ects of staff , terrifi ed, locked themselves Covid-19. in at home or fl ed to remote “It’s like having taken a pre- farmhouses. ventative pill against this in- As critically ill patients mul- fection,” said Jorge Soliz, a tiplied, the death toll began to professor at Laval University, climb. Quebec, and co-author of a re- “There were no medical sup- cent study.“High-altitude re- plies, there were no ventilators, gions in Bolivia are 10 times no oxygen,” explained Flores, more protected than the regions who was initially hired by a lo- located closer to sea level,” Soliz cal cattle ranchers’ associa- argued, pointing to 1,900 cases tion and has since returned as to date in La Paz compared with a volunteer.“Here in Trinidad 15,000 in Santa Cruz, a lowland most people have a relative, a city also home to about 1.5mn friend, a neighbour who has people. died. We’re in a health disaster.” But cracks soon began to show Since then, Covid-19 infec- in Bolivia’s defences. tions and deaths have prolifer- Government grants for shel- ated – even in Bolivia’s western, tering families took weeks to ar- highland half, which had been rive – if at all. relatively unscathed. Many informal workers, who A regional human rights body make up more than 60% of the expressed its “alarm” at hospi- workforce, started to fl out the tals leaving at least six patients quarantine in order to put food to die in the street and fearful on the table. gravediggers turning away griev- The interim Ánez government ing families. “failed to understand the day- Latin America is now the glo- to-day reality of many in the bal centre of the pandemic, with country”, said Ximena Velasco, a more than 2mn cases, at least Bolivian political scientist at the 100,000 dead, and little sign of University of Essex.“A lot of low- the regional curve fl attening. income families don’t even have Indigenous Ye’kuana pose in front of a helicopter at the 5th Special Frontier Platoon in Auari, Roraima state, Brazil, amid the coronavirus pandemic. Bolivia’s 33,000 confi rmed the documents necessary to col- cases and over 1,100 deaths to lect the money from the banks.” date are still dwarfed by neigh- As in Mexico and Peru, Bo- bouring Brazil – where the same livia’s bustling street markets number are perishing from Cov- and cramped commuter mini- id-19 daily, and 1.4mn people buses soon became Covid-19 have been infected. hotspots.“People who are work- But an underprepared health ing in markets and transporta- system, poverty and a bitter po- tion appear to be getting the Brazilian military visit litical standoff have worsened virus at much higher rates and Bolivia’s belated encounter with are passing it on to their clients,” coronavirus. agreed Calla Hummel, a profes- The six intensive care beds sor of political science at the at La Portada hospital in La Paz University of Miami. – the seat of government – are A deeply polarised politi- angers indigenous leaders all full, said a doctor work- cal situation has also weakened ing there, who asked not to be public willingness to obey the Reuters lated from society, violating rules visit took us by surprise.” painted black with dye from the tested for Covid-19 beforehand named.“There’s not enough lockdown. Anez has reluctantly Boa Vista, Brazil of social distancing and distrib- The Yanomami are the last ma- fruit of the genipapo tree. and that chloroquine has been spaces and the patients die wait- agreed to hold a rerun of last uting chloroquine to indigenous jor tribe to live in relative isolation Heading the mission on used for more than 70 years for ing.” November’s cancelled elections, people. on a vast reservation about the Wednesday, Defence Minister malaria, prevalent in the Amazon Bolivia, one of Latin America’s originally scheduled for May, on eaders of an isolated in- On Tuesday and Wednesday, size of the US state of Indiana and Fernando Azevedo told reporters region. poorest countries, was among September 6 – and is running as digenous Yanomami com- soldiers brought medical supplies have been invaded for decades the pandemic was under control The council asked the public the region’s earliest countries a candidate herself. Lmunity in Brazil have com- by helicopter to outposts on the by gold miners who have brought among the Yanomami as medics prosecutor to investigate the visit to impose a strict lockdown, on Politicians loyal to Morales’s plained that a military mission border with Venezuela and as- diseases fatal to their people. had detected no cases. and the delivery of chloroquine, March 17. Movement towards Socialism to protect them from the coro- sembled Yanomami families to be Roberto Yanomami, head of a His comment was rejected by the anti-malarial drug of contro- Jeanine Ánez – who assumed (Mas) have organised demon- navirus brought greater risk of tested for the novel coronavirus, community at Surucucu, said the the Yanomami health council versial use in treating Covid-19 power last November after the strations to demand elections infection to their people through an outreach eff ort recorded by a government organised the trip CONDISI which says there have patients. leftist president, Evo Morales, sooner and protest against the contact with outsiders including contingent of journalists. without consulting tribal leaders. been more than 160 confi rmed The prosecutor’s offi ce said the was forced out of office – de- lockdown. journalists. “We don’t want to be used as “We are worried strangers came cases and fi ve deaths among the military was not protecting the ployed soldiers in the street This may have driven up Federal prosecutors said they government propaganda,” said here and left the Covid-19. The tribe of about 27,000 people. Yanomami from their main risk and along Bolivia’s high-alti- the infection rate in places like were investigating the visit for Parana Yanomami.”We don’t Yanomami people were called into In a statement to Reuters, Bra- of contagion — the more than tude borders, leaving returning Cochabamba, a highland Mas ignoring the wishes of Yanoma- want outsiders coming here to the garrison with no explanation,” zil’s defence ministry said all 20,000 gold miners illegally on emigrants stranded at desert stronghold, Velasco suggested. mi communities to remain iso- take photos of our children. The he said in a video message, his face members of the mission were duly their land.

Frozen Deforestation ‘linked to Bogota to fi ght court lower Brazil corn yields’ order over US troops Reuters “There aren’t troop move- Bogota ments here, it is important to Reuters scientist with the University of peratures can hinder corn’s de- point out it’s about issues related Brasilia Richmond.”We’re messing with velopment. to military international co-op- the system so much that we ac- The researchers also looked olombia’s government eration,” Trujillo said in a virtual tually might not be able to con- into future possible scenarios, in- yesterday said it will press conference. eforestation of the Brazil- tinue to cultivate agriculture, cluding having the entire savanna Cchallenge a court order “The government will con- ian Amazon and neigh- specifi cally corn.” or southeast Amazon cleared and to suspend the activities of a US test this ruling and continue Dbouring savannah may be The researchers linked the converted to cropland. army unit advising its military carrying out, for reasons of na- hurting regional corn yields, ac- deforestation to a 5%-10% drop In those cases, corn yields in the fight against drug traf- tional security, all of the work cording to a new study. in corn yields across most of were predicted to fall up to 20% ficking. of bi-national co-operation Roughly one-fi fth of Brazil’s the west-central state of Mato in some areas of Mato Grosso. The decision by the adminis- with the US, which includes the Amazon has been cleared in the Grosso, Brazil’s largest grains The same deforestation that trative tribunal of Cundinamarca betterment of our capacities last 50 years, as the country went producer. hurts crops could also harm the province, came after opposition through training and technical from being a food importer to a Soybean crops, which tend remaining forest as well. lawmakers alleged the senate advice,” Trujillo added. global farming powerhouse. to be more heat-resilient, were Tree loss can reduce the should have authorised the pres- While the nation’s highest ad- In terms of corn, Brazil is now not signifi cantly aff ected, Spera amount of moisture available to ence of the Security Force As- ministrative tribunal, the Coun- the world’s second largest ex- said. the rain cycle. sistance Brigade (SFAB), which cil of State, hears the challenge, porter, after the US. Spera and her colleagues used Some scientists estimate that arrived in June for a four-month the government will analyse with But that forest-clearing, computer simulations to see how if just 20%-25% of the original stay. the US embassy how to comply which also included more than various deforestation scenarios total rainforest that spans parts Opposition lawmakers in- with the lower tribunal’s ruling, half of the natural vegetation in impacted local climate condi- of nine countries is destroyed, volved in the suit argue the con- Trujillo said. the vast Cerrado savanna south- tions and crop yields, and com- the Amazon could go into a stitution requires any movement He would not clarify whether east of the Amazon, has made the pared those cases with how crops death spiral, without enough of foreign troops within Colom- the SFAB would leave the coun- region warmer. might have fared had no trees rainfall and moisture to keep it bia be approved by the senate. try in the meantime. That heat is associated with been cut down. from drying out and becoming a They hailed the court ruling. The embassy directed all lower corn yields, researchers The study found that condi- savanna. Defence Minister Carlos Hol- questions to the Colombian gov- reported in the science journal tions in 2016 included eight more “Deforestation interferes with mes Trujillo said the SFAB’s ernment. Nature Sustainability. “hot nights” a year, with night- rains and agricultural productiv- presence does not require au- Despite decades of anti-nar- “The landscape is getting a time temperatures above 24 de- ity,” said Raoni Rajao, a professor thorisation by lawmakers, and cotics eff orts, Colombia is one of lot hotter than it should be,” grees, than if the forest had re- at the Federal University of Mi- Seawater off the coast of Puerto Williams, Navino Island, Chile, that the 53 members of the unit the world’s top cocaine produc- said study co-author Steph- mained intact. nas Gerais who studies agricul- is frozen due to the cold weather. are assisting and advising four ers and faces constant US pres- anie Spera, an environmental Those higher nighttime tem- ture and environmental policy. Colombian units. sure to reduce cultivation. Gulf Times 12 Saturday, July 4, 2020 PAKISTAN

Smart lockdown Umar: SOP compliance ends in 89 northwest keeping virus in check localities Virus situation improving Foreign minister tests positive for Covid-19 Gulshan-e-Hadeed will be Internews across country except in sealed and all commercial mar- Peshawar Sindh, especially Karachi Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said yesterday that he had kets, shopping malls and super- tested positive for Covid-19, days after holding high-profile meetings stores and markets in the main Internews including one with US special representative on Afghanistan Zalmay streets of the area will remain dviser to the Khyber Pa- Islamabad Khalilzad in Islamabad. closed, a notifi cation said. khtunkhwa (KP) chief “This afternoon I felt a slight fever and immediately quarantined myself Another notifi cation an- Aminister Ajmal Khan at home,” he said on Twitter. nounced that certain areas of Wazir has said that a “smart inister for Planning The minister said he felt healthy and would carry on his duties from Karachi’s South District will un- lockdown” has been enforced in and Development Asad home. dergo a lockdown until July 16. 214 areas in diff erent districts as MUmar has expressed In the last few days, Qureshi has had contact with Prime Minister Imran The areas identifi ed for the part of a policy to stem spread of satisfaction that better compli- Khan in parliament and in a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. lockdown include Clifton, De- the coronavirus in the province. ance of standard operating pro- Qureshi also met Khalilzad on Wednesday when the US special repre- fence, Lyari, Kharadar and Gar- Speaking with journalists, he cedures (SOPs) by the people has sentative travelled to Pakistan to discuss progress on the Afghan peace den. said that 805,877 people were helped check the spread of the process. Moreover, all commercial ar- confi ned to their homes in the coronavirus in the country. Pictures released from those meetings showed Qureshi and others eas of Khayaban-e-Rahat in province. Briefi ng media persons at wearing face masks. Defence will remain completely He said that Chief Secretary National Co-ordination and closed, whereas, as are business Dr Kazim Niaz is supervising the Operation Centre (NCOC) in centres in Clifton Block 4 and 5. areas where the smart lockdown Islamabad yesterday, he pointed a meeting with the provincial or follow preventive measures. The Bath Island area will un- is imposed. out that the number of Covid-19 chief secretary and the provin- But because people are follow- dergo a complete lockdown. Lockdown ended in 89 areas, patients in hospitals yesterday cial health minister and is work- ing precautionary measures and The areas of Kharadar un- including 15 in Nowshera, 12 in were less than those which were ing on a way to replicate the re- the administration is also taking der lockdown include include Bajaur, and eight in Abbotta- in the midst of June. sults from the rest of the country action, this number may be less Machhi Miani Market and Khori bad, two in Bannu, four each in The Covid-19 respiratory dis- in Sindh. than 400,000.” Garden. Buner, Charsadda and Peshawar, ease is caused by the coronavi- He also urged citizens to re- He concluded the press con- Dolly Khata, Shoe Market, two in Chitral Upper, and fi ve in rus. main mindful of the fact that an ference by urging the public to Hari Masjid and Jilani Masjid ar- Mardan. Similarly, there is reduction in improvement is only being seen follow doctors’ advice. eas in Garden West and Bazarta Similarly, the smart lock- the number of deaths as well as because the people are following In light of the recommenda- line in Saddar will also be locked down has also been ended in the patients on ventilators and precautionary measures. tions made by the district health down. one area each of South Waziris- oxygen. “Don’t take this to mean that offi cer, certain areas in Kara- Under the imposition of the tan, Hangu, Dera Ismail Khan, The minister stressed that the the pandemic is going away on chi were placed under a “smart complete lockdown, people will Khyber, Kurram, Tank, three situation could further improve People attend Friday prayers yesterday along a road in Karachi, after its own and you can do what- lockdown” yesterday to curb the not be allowed to leave their in Swat, six in Mansehra, three if the people continue to follow the authorities re-imposed lockdowns in selected areas in an eff ort ever you want,” the minister spread of the coronavirus. house or roam outdoors without in Malakand, fi ve in Lower Dir, the precautionary measures. to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease. cautioned, adding that a lapse in The deputy commissioner of a mask, and will not be permit- two in Upper Dir, and three in He appreciated the eff orts following preventative measures Karachi’s Malir district ordered a ted to leave the house without a Haripur. put in by the administration and rus situation is getting better, we are not seeing that much im- could cause the number of cases lockdown of fi ve days, from July legitimate reason. Wazir said that for the fi rst provincial governments to en- there is a signifi cant lack of im- provement, which is in Sindh, to rise again. 3-7 in “the large(r) public inter- Only one person in each time in the history of country, sure compliance of the SOPs. provement in Sindh, particularly especially Karachi,” he said. “I had earlier warned that est and to prevent/slowdown the household will be allowed to buy deprivation of tribal people was Umar said however that while in the provincial capital Karachi. Umar maintained that to ad- our cases could reach 1.2mn by spread of deadly coronavirus”. items for daily use, the notifi ca- being addressed. the country’s overall coronavi- “There is only one area where dress this, the NCOC team held end July if we don’t take action Phases I and II of UC-06, tion said. “The merger process was dif- fi cult, but under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, our government completed it,” he added. Wazir said that for the fi rst time transparent elections were 22 Sikh pilgrims die in railway crossing crash held in the merged districts and the tribal people were given rep- resentation in the provincial as- AFP/Reuters/DPA/Internews No train passengers were in- sembly. Lahore/Islamabad jured in the crash that occurred He added that health facilities around 1.30pm. are being provided to the people Sheikhupura district police in the tribal districts through the t least 22 Sikh pilgrims offi cer Salahuddin said that Sehat Sahulat Programme. – 19 from the same fam- there were two more coaches Wazir said that the Khasadar Aily – were killed yesterday that took a diff erent route and Force has been merged into the when a train smashed into a van are safely on their way. police force. in the east of Pakistan, authori- Following the crash, the divi- He added that for the fi rst ties said. sional engineer was suspended, time, the tribal people got the The vehicle’s driver was a railways ministry statement right to a lawyer, argument, and crossing an unmanned level said. appeal. crossing when it was hit by an The pilgrims were returning Wazir explained that the oncoming train near the small from a visit to Nankana Sahib, Sindh government had not been city of Farooqabad. the birthplace of Sikhism found- giving the agreed 3% share under “The crossing was unmanned er Guru Nanak, near the megac- the National Finance Commis- and the driver of the van took a ity of Lahore. sion Award (NFC) for the devel- hasty decision by driving onto Prime Minister Imran Khan opment of the merged districts, the tracks,” Pakistan Railways tweeted that he was “deeply while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was spokeswoman Quratul Ain told saddened” by the deaths. using all its resources for the AFP, adding that the passengers As prime minister, Khan has development of erstwhile Fed- were all Sikh pilgrims. overseen the construction of a erally-Administered Tribal Area The Shah Hussain Express special border crossing, called (Fata). train was heading to the city of the “Kartarpur corridor”, allow- He said that steps are also be- Lahore from the southern me- ing Sikhs from India to visit holy ing taken for the education of tropolis of Karachi, the spokes- sites in Pakistan, despite con- special children in the province. man added. tinued hostile relations between Wazir added that secondary “Around 20 people lost their the two countries. and higher secondary examina- lives in [the] tragic collision. Images broadcast on local tel- tions for the next academic ses- Two injured succumbed to inju- evision showed the mangled van sion of special children would be ries later, raising the death toll to on the train tracks. conducted by Peshawar board. 22,” Pakistan’s ministry of inte- Pakistan’s minister of interior He revealed that at present rior said in a statement. vowed to “reach to the root cause 3,300 special children are study- According to police, the dead of the incident and hold the ones ing in government institutions. were all residents of Peshawar, responsible for this account- A steering committee has home to most of Pakistan’s near- able”. Residents gather around the wreckage of the van alongside the railway track in Farooqabad area of Punjab’s Sheikhupura district. been constituted to conduct ex- ly 40,000 Sikhs. “Investigations are underway aminations for special children. Earlier, local police spokes- to fi gure out negligence behind unmanned railway crossings in lack of investment. Car plunges into ditch, killing seven in Murree Wazir said that the govern- man Wajid Abbas confi rmed it,” a district police offi cer Ghazi Pakistan which frequently lack Last October at least 74 peo- ment would provide psycho- that at least 19 dead were from Salahuddin told Reuters. barriers and sometimes signals. ple were killed and dozens in- Seven people were killed and 10 others sustained injuries when a Jeep logical training to teachers in 34 the same family. Pakistan Railways also said an The railway network has seen jured after cooking gas cylinders plunged into a deep ditch near Murree yesterday. According to rescue government schools, to provide In total, there were 30 pil- inquiry had been ordered. decades of decline due to cor- exploded on a train packed with sources, the incident occurred due to the negligence of the driver. psychological support to chil- grims in the van. Accidents often happen at ruption, mismanagement and pilgrims in Punjab province. dren.

PM announces Lahore High Court chief justice dismisses establishment of accountability judge Arshad Malik 15 national parks PIA suspends employees with fake degrees The Lahore High Court (LHC) chief justice has terminated the services of accountability judge Arshad Malik, local media Prime Minister Imran Khan has reported. announced the establishment Internews out of which 25 employees were been suspended for being absent The minister said that the pi- According to sources, the decision was announced by the of 15 national parks in all the Islamabad suspended for having dubious from duty. lots included 141 from the PIA, administration committee presided over by the high court’s chief federating units as part of eff orts degrees. On the other hand, eleven PIA nine from Air Blue, 10 from Se- justice. to protect the nature. Twenty-one employees were employees were awarded cer- rene Airline, and 17 from Shaheen Justices Mohamed Ameer Bhatti, Ahmad Khan, Ayesha Malik, Launching the “Protected Area he Pakistan International suspended for persistent ab- tifi cates of appreciation for their Airlines. Shahid Waeed, and Ali Baqir took part in the committee meeting. Initiative” in Islamabad on Airlines (PIA) has taken senteeism, and one for violating good performance. The action on the “dubious” Malik had convicted former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the Thursday, he said that guidelines Taction against 52 of its em- standard operating procedures The national airline is in the licences was prompted by the Al-Azizia reference. will be given to the provinces to ployees in one month. (SOPs). news these days after Aviation preliminary report on an airliner The judge, in a complaint filed with the Federal Investigation preserve these national parks. According to details, a letter Two employees were suspend- Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan crash in Karachi that killed 97 Agency (FIA)’s cyber-crime wing, had claimed that he had been Khan said this is a major initiative issued by the national carrier’s ed for leaking offi cial information announced last week the ground- people last month. blackmailed by Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) sup- for our future generationsm and Human Resource Department on social media, two employees ing of 262 airline pilots suspected It found the plane’s pilots failed porters. expressed satisfaction that all the detailed the action against 52 were demoted for violating appli- of dodging their exams, a move to follow standard procedures PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif has hailed the LHC’s decision provinces are participating. employees in the month of June, cable rules, and one employee has that caused global concern. and disregarded alarms. to dismiss Malik, saying that this proves his brother Nawaz is The prime minister pointed out innocent. that global warming and climate Malaysia suspends Pakistan pilots following licence fraud revelation The former Punjab chief minister added that this proves the change pose serious threat to three-time elected prime minister was handed an unjust verdict. Pakistan, adding that this is the Malaysia’s aviation regulator has temporarily than 20 Pakistani pilots in the country. work for foreign airlines. Shehbaz said that following the LHC the decision, Nawaz’s con- reason the 10bn tree tsunami suspended pilots employed by domestic National carrier Malaysia Airlines said it does The European Union Aviation Safety Agency viction should also be repealed. programme was launched, to airlines who hold Pakistani licences, after the not have any Pakistani pilot, Malindo Air, the has also suspended the PIA’s authorisation to PML-N vice-president Maryam Nawaz had alleged last year that counter this threat. Pakistan government revealed that many pilots Malaysian arm of Indonesia’s Lion Air, said it fly to the bloc for six months. Malik had contacted Nasir Butt, a PML-N worker, and told him Protecting green areas and parks had dubious qualifications. does not have any foreign pilots, and AirAsia The CAAM said it is making eff orts with its that he was feeling guilty and having nightmares ever since he will also help in this endeavour. The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) said it does not have any Pakistani pilot. Pakistani counterpart to verify the authenticity announced the verdict that led to her father’s imprisonment. Khan directed the provinces to said in a statement on Thursday that the The CAAM said the pilots were employed with of the licence holders. The judge was “blackmailed” into handing down the sentence take the threat seriously and decision came after an evaluation of all foreign “local operators”, such as flying schools, flying “Licence holders that are verified as valid by against Nawaz Sharif after some people threatened that they undertake the requisite steps for pilots in Malaysia. clubs, and training organisations. (the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority) will be would release a private video of his, she had alleged. the protection of green areas. The regulator told Reuters that there are less Pakistan has a total of 860 pilots, 107 of whom reinstated immediately,” it said. Gulf Times Saturday, July 4, 2020 13 PHILIPPINES

Coast guard Duterte signs contentious searches for boat accident anti-terrorism bill into law victims AFP 24 days without charge, which Manila opponents allege violates a three- day limit set by the Philippine AFP constitution. Manila hilippine President Rod- Critics allege the legislation rigo Duterte signed a con- also strips away old safeguards, Ptentious anti-terrorism such as penalties against law en- he search for 14 people bill into law yesterday that crit- forcers for wrongful detention of missing after their fi sh- ics fear will be used to silence suspects. Ting boat and a cargo ship dissent and give the govern- “By signing the anti-terrorism collided off the Philippines has ment a new weapon to target bill into law, President Duterte turned into a retrieval operation opponents. has pushed Philippines democ- with little hope of fi nding them The legislation, which was racy into an abyss,” said Phil Rob- alive, the coast guard said yes- approved by Congress last ertson, deputy Asia director for terday. month and has been criticised Human Rights Watch. The vessels crashed last Sat- by rights groups, enables Du- “The law threatens to signifi - urday night in waters southwest terte to appoint a council that cantly worsen the human rights of Manila, capsizing the Philip- could order warrantless arrests situation in the Philippines, pine fi shing boat Liberty 5 off of people it deems are terrorists. which has nosedived since the the coast of Occidental Mindoro It also allows for weeks of catastrophic ‘war on drugs’ be- province. detention without charge, gan four years ago,” Robertson The crew of the Hong Kong- which the government argues added. registered cargo ship MV Vienna is necessary to combat long- In a report last month, the UN Wood has been detained as in- running communist and other human rights offi ce said at least vestigators prepare to lay crimi- insurgencies.“The signing of 8,663 people have been killed in nal charges over the incident. the...law demonstrates our se- the drug war with “near impu- “There is a very slim chance rious commitment to stamp nity” for off enders. that we may still fi nd them out terrorism, which has long Government offi cials say alarm alive,” Philippine coast guard plagued the country and has about the law is overblown, citing chief George Ursabia told a lo- caused unimaginable grief and provisions that exempt “advo- cal radio station, as the search horror to many of our people,” cacy, protest, dissent, stoppage shifts to retrieving the bodies of Duterte’s spokesman Harry of work...not intended to cause the missing men in the next two Roque said. File photo taken on June 4, 2020 shows mask-clad protesters marching against an anti-terrorism bill at a university campus in Manila. death or serious physical harm”. days. But activists say the defi ni- President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a contentious anti-terrorism bill into law that critics fear will be used to silence dissent. Roque said Duterte signed the bill “Eventually we will terminate tion of terrorism in the leg- without making any changes. our eff orts on this.” islation is vague and could including his drug war that has Asia director Nicholas Beque- mate of impunity, a law so vague ry, damage government or private Since its passage through Philippine authorities have strengthen Duterte’s campaign killed thousands. lin said. “This administration on the defi nition of ‘terrorism’ property or use weapons of mass Congress, prominent Philippine deployed aircraft and ships in against critics. “Under Duterte’s presidency, has eff ectively crafted a new can only worsen attacks against destruction to “spread a message business leaders, Muslims in the the hunt for the 12 missing Fili- Some are already serving even the mildest government weapon to brand and hound any human rights defenders.” of fear” or intimidate the govern- country, and UN human rights pino crew members and their prison sentences or facing jail critics can be labelled terror- perceived enemies of the state,” The law defi nes terrorism as ment. chief Michelle Bachelet have lob- two passengers. time after attacking his policies ists,” Amnesty International’s he added. “In the prevailing cli- intending to cause death or inju- Suspects could be held up to bied Duterte to veto the bill. The coast guard initially said strong ocean currents may have caused the collision, but investi- gators are looking at whether the crew of the cargo ship was also at fault. The coast guard is “prepar- Health dept reports daily high of over 1,500 virus cases ing the evidence and fi nalising the criminal charges to be fi led against MV Vienna Wood”, said DPA The death toll from Covid-19 also said the spike could have been caused The “worrying phenomena” could inces,” he said. “These particular spokesman Commodore Ar- Manila rose to 1,280, with six additional by a shift to a new data extraction sys- have been the result of people re- challenges had also in, some respect, mando Balilo. deaths, the Department of Health said. tem that now allows 24-hour reporting turning home from areas with active contributed to the large number of China had off ered to help in Of the additional cases, 688 were re- by facilities that conduct tests. transmissions, including those com- cases we are seeing in the Philip- the search. The Philippines has he Philippines yesterday re- cently confi rmed, while 843 were con- Rabindra Abeyasinghe, country rep- ing from overseas, Abeyasinghe said. pines,” he added. a poor shipping safety record, ported a daily high of 1,531 coro- sidered “late cases” or had been con- resentative of the World Health Or- “Bringing these people back should Some 63,000 Filipino migrant with scores dying in mishaps Tnavirus infections, bringing the fi rmed previously but only added now ganisation, expressed concern over in- require quarantining them, testing workers have returned home amid the at sea each year, usually aboard national tally to over 40,000 since the to the tally, the department said. creasing infections outside the capital, them and managing them so that they pandemic, while 90,000 are stranded wooden-hulled outriggers that fi rst case was confi rmed six months The country’s total was at 40,336 as which accounts for nearly half of the will not introduce new infections into abroad, waiting for repatriation, the move people from one small is- ago. of yesterday, it added. The department national total. the country and in their home prov- labour department said. land to another. Baguio ‘King of the road’ rules again as lockdown eased backs Reuters cashless Manila housands of jeepneys, transactions fl amboyantly deco- Trated jeeps that serve as cheap public transport across in PUVs the Philippines, were back on the streets of Manila yesterday, bringing relief to companies and Manila Times commuters who have struggled Baguio City with coronavirus curbs. Dubbed “the king of the road”, an estimated 55,000 of ashless or contactless these large, multi-coloured public utility vehicle trucks, used to crawl through C(PUV) transactions will Manila’s gridlocked roads on a soon be the thing in the Summer typical day before being forced Capital. to a halt 15 weeks ago when the Mayor Benjamin Magalong is government imposed a corona- pursuing the alternative pay- virus lockdown. ment system for PUVs in the Just 6,000 were back in busi- city as part of the “new normal” ness yesterday, operating at half Passengers wearing masks for protection against Covid-19 are seated in between plastic barriers to maintain social distancing in a jeepney, in Quezon City, Metro Manila, lifestyle in view of the continu- capacity under strict social dis- yesterday. Right: Passengers wearing masks for protection against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) wait for a jeepney, in Quezon City. ing threat of coronavirus disease tancing rules. 2019 (Covid-19) and the city’s In pre-pandemic times, jeep- only source of income,” said checks before boarding and return.”Our expenses are too back on the road a month ago vide suffi cient private trans- digital transformation. neys routinely carried up to 15 driver Celo Cabangon, whose shield themselves from one an- much without jeepneys. We can when authorities started easing port. A memorandum of agree- passengers who sat knee-to- truck is decorated with Japa- other with face masks and plas- save much more now that the one of the world’s longest and The fi rst jeepneys were sur- ment will soon be forged be- knee on twin benches in the nese and Philippine fl ags, reli- tic sheets. The Philippines has jeepneys are back.” strictest lockdowns. plus army jeeps left behind by tween the city government windowless vehicles, choked by gious verses and the logo of US recorded 40,000 coronavirus A jeepney fare is typically A phased return to work has the US military after World War and SquidPay, a payment so- exhaust fumes. sci-fi fi lm Transformers. Un- cases, and 1,280 deaths. about 9 pesos ($0.18), cheaper been chaotic without jeepneys, Two. Most are festooned with lutions company that offered “I’m very happy we are now der the new rules, passengers Commuter Alejandra Cara- than trains, taxis or motorised with commuters stranded and religious slogans or horoscope a fare collection system that back on the road. This is our must also undergo temperature ble welcomed the jeepney’s tricycles, which were allowed some companies unable to pro- signs and are in poor shape. uses “cashless, contactless and seamless payment transactions through tap cards, near-field communication (NFC) or QR codes.” The city accepted the offer Senator calls for more quarantine facilities across nation because it will be free of charge and the company has the ready facility to implement the sys- By Javier J Ismael health of our fellow Filipinos. forts by Deputy Speaker and Ca- ning, the country would have tem, according to executive as- Manila Times The proposed measure fi led marines Sur Second District Rep. “avoided the over-saturation of sistant Philip Puzon. aims to address this need and Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr to returning OFWs in Metro Manila Moreover, the system does establish quarantine facilities gather support for the counter- and the delays they encountered.” not impose charges for its enator Christopher Law- all throughout the country,” part bill, House Bill 7005 or the Quezon City Second District transactions and for the device rence “Bong” Go has said Go, chairman of the Senate “Mandatory Quarantine Facili- Rep. Precious Hipolito-Castelo to be used by the PUVs. Scalled anew for more Health and Demography com- ties Act of 2020.” and Muntinlupa Rep. Ruff y Bia- The system was presented to quarantine facilities in every mittee, during a public hearing. On June 29, Cagayan de Oro zon also voiced their support. public utility jeepney and taxi region of the country as he “By isolating infected people Second District Rep. Rufus Rod- Go earlier recommended ad- operators last June 24. urged fellow lawmakers to sup- in proper quarantine facilities, riguez, Surigao del Norte Second ditional action be taken to im- Individual walk-through port Senate Bill (SB) 1529, or the we will help prevent the further District Rep. Robert Ace Bar- prove the country’s pandemic sessions were scheduled by the “Mandatory Quarantine Facili- spread of any infectious dis- Health workers wearing protective suits are seen inside the Delpan bers and Kalinga Rep. Allen Jesse response. He fi led SB 1226, also company beginning last Friday ties Act of 2020,” which he fi led ease,” he added. quarantine facility in Tondo Manila. Mangaoang expressed support known as the “DoH Hospital Bed to acquaint the operators and in May. The bill will direct the De- for the measure. Bataan First Dis- Capacity and Service Capability their drivers on the system. “If we have ready facilities partment of Health (DoH) to (DPWH) and local government the facilities, which in turn will trict Rep. Geraldine Roman said Rationalisation Act,” which aims The system is targeted for for this kind of crisis or disas- identify locations in co-ordi- units (LGUs). be equipped with a competent the measure was “long overdue,” to provide a more effi cient proc- implementation from this ter, it would be faster and we nation with the Department The Health department will medical staff , adequate food adding that had the system been ess to improve the service capa- month, according to the mayor. could eff ectively protect the of Public Works and Highways operate, supervise and manage and clothing. Go welcomed ef- implemented from the begin- bility of public hospitals. Gulf Times 14 Saturday, July 4, 2020 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Qatari women at forefront of EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko combating Covid-19 pandemic Production Editor Amjad Khan

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 After vote extending his rule, Putin risks HE Lolwah Rashid AlKhater HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari era of ‘stagnation’ From Page 1 The role played by Qatari women in tackling the coronavirus pandemic was President Vladimir Putin urged Russians to envisage the well known and was appreciated and country they wanted to leave behind for their children and praised by UN and internationally. grandchildren during a historic vote this week to extend his rule. HE the Minister of Public Health Dr But experts say that by pushing back the crucial question of Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari reviewed who could someday replace him, Putin risks years of political in a high-level international meeting stagnation that could fuel frustration with the Kremlin. held through video conference recently, the important role played by women in It was just such an era of stagnation — the infamous “period Qatar in the fi ght against the Covid-19 zastoya” between the mid-1960s and mid-1980s mainly under pandemic. Leonid Brezhnev — that precipitated the end of the Soviet Union At that event, she pointed out that and threw Russia into chaos for years. women constitute a high percentage And like then, leaving Russians without the hope of change of healthcare workers at the frontline could be dangerous. fi ghting against the pandemic and “The regime’s weakness is that it doesn’t have a mechanism to protecting the society. Dr Muna al-Maslamani Dr Jameela al-Ajmi Dr Hanadi al-Hamad transfer power,” says Maxim Trudolyubov, editor-at-large of the The minister also underlined the women. education they have received, she said. Meduza news website. signifi cant role carried out by Her multiple locations and diff erent tasks. Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser In fact, Qatar is the fi rst Gulf Dr Hanadi stressed that the Qatari In this regard, the Qatari woman did The president’s cohort “strongly mistrusts” free and fair at the local and international levels, country where women hold ministerial woman was able in this period to not hesitate to participate alongside elections as a way to decide who may one day rule after Putin, he noting that she has joined the global positions. prove a great ability to work hard in her brother man when the Qatar Red says. initiative “Rise for All” which includes In 2003, HE Sheikha al-Mahmoud such crises, and was even able to fi nd Crescent Society (QRCS) launched “They simply pretend they will never die.” a group of women leaders, launched in was appointed as Minister of Education, innovative solutions to new ways the “Volunteer with us for Qatar” Putin, already in power for 20 years as president or prime support of the UN secretary-general’s followed by the appointment of the in providing medical care to society initiative, which was a great success minister, proposed a package of sweeping changes to the call for solidarity and collective action Minister of Health in 2008. despite the pandemic. and attracted a large number of young constitution in January that included populist measures to boost to address the social and economic There are many examples of Qataris Since the beginning of the pandemic, men and women of diff erent ages and pensions and the minimum wage. impacts of the pandemic. women leaders’ eff orts in tackling the the heroes have formed a strong line experiences. The contribution of women and their coronavirus and their contribution to protect society from the virus, The tasks of the Qatari volunteers They also enshrined eff ective participation in the eff orts to combating it, as this role has been and Qatari women have always been range from providing psychological conversative values long touted to combat the coronavirus was not by clearly demonstrated through the in the front ranks with men in doing support, health education and services “This is a way by the Kremlin. chance or the result of a temporary contribution of Qatari female doctors, everything possible to confront it. in quarantine sites, to health inspection Then Putin, 67, backed a last- need, but rather it was due to the nurses, volunteers and administrators In this context, Executive Director of restaurants and commercial to cement minute amendment that would strategic planning undertaken by Qatar in the fi ght against the pandemic by of Corporate Infection Prevention and establishments in co-operation with zero his presidential terms limits which believes in the ability of Qatari using their knowledge and working hard Control at HMC Dr Jameela al-Ajmi the Ministry of Municipality and Russia as it is, and allow him to potentially women and placed full confi dence in as a national shield that protects all said that over the years, Qatari women Environment, in addition to supervising remain in power until 2036, a them. members of society. have proven their ability to withstand, community awareness operations the current This was refl ected in the great In remarks to Qatar News Agency sacrifi ce and do all that possible in order and distributing medical supplies move critics denounced as a ploy educational capabilities provided by the (QNA), Qatari women leaders to advance their country. in cooperation with the community regime to for him to become “president state to them either by attracting Qatari working in the frontline to combat the She explained that the coronavirus police. for life”. females to study medicine at Qatar coronavirus pandemic affi rmed their pandemic crisis posed a challenge CEO of the Volunteer and Local institutionalise For political analyst Tatiana University and Weill Cornell College great role in the current situation, for the Qatari women, who was able Development Sector at QRCS Mona Stanovaya, the changes went Medicine – Qatar in Education City or whether they were as housewives or in to prove her scientifi c and practical Fadel al-Sulaiti said that emanating Putin’s legacy” beyond just resetting Putin’s the nursing and pharmacy specialities the frontline to confront the pandemic. capabilities as she stood fi rmly and was from humanitarian principles and presidential term limits. at Qatar University and also nursing at Communicable Diseases Center in the front ranks in the health sector to the general orientation of the State to “We shouldn’t underestimate the reforms, all these Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar. (CDC) Medical Director at HMC Dr combat this virus, pointing out that the empower women and enhance their Muna al-Maslamani said that the role in society, the QRCS pays great amendments concerning traditional values, social rights,” she Interest in the education, training health system in Qatar is full of Qatari and empowerment of Qatari women Qatari woman has always demonstrated female youth and women who work in attention to women, as it is at the heart says. could be a direct reason for their her ability to do the best and overcome several medical, technical and nursing of all its activities, both as benefi ciaries “This is a way to cement Russia as it is, the current regime to excellence in the positions and tasks all challenges thanks to the social and fi elds and do everything in their power of development programs and social institutionalise Putin’s legacy.” they currently assume within the health educational training she received. to protect society from the risks of the assistance, or as a primary contributor Russians backed the reforms in a week-long vote that ended sector in the country and have had a She also affi rmed that the State’s virus. to the implementation of these Wednesday, with 77.92% voting in favour. direct impact on their practical and interest in female staff and their For her part, Chair of the programs and aid. Yet the overwhelming “yes” vote comes at a diffi cult time for professional success. training had a profound impact on Department of Laboratory Medicine She added that QRCS’s young and Putin and does not refl ect unbridled popularity for the Russian Figures highlight this trend, as the women’s occupation of a prominent and Pathology at HMC Dr Enas al- ambitious women volunteers continue leader. distinguished educational system in position in the Qatari society, and the Kuwari emphasised that the Qatari the journey of giving and excellence, as Qatar has been credited with building Qatari woman works alongside man woman has always excelled in all they stand shoulder to shoulder with Putin’s approval rating has plummeted to historic lows of 59% the capabilities of Qatari women. to give more and to excel in her fi eld of the posts she occupies, and that young volunteers in all the work of the in recent months, partly over the government’s early handling of Contemporary educational work. the pandemic highlighted the great QRCS that needs their eff ort and giving. the coronavirus pandemic but also over longstanding economic infrastructure and international Al-Maslamani pointed out that the role played by Qatari women in the She emphasised that the female malaise. competition have contributed to pandemic highlighted the important health field, pointing out that HMC volunteers demonstrated their high Analysts say Putin wanted to get the vote over with before pushing the role of Qatari women role that Qatari women play and their laboratories include many Qatari efficiency in carrying out all the Russians — already suff ering from several years of falling incomes forward on the path of development and ability to provide qualitative addition women who are physicians and lab tasks assigned to them, especially in — were hit by the full economic impact of the pandemic. modernisation. within the health cadres working specialists and who are working light of the coronavirus pandemic, in But long term, observers say, the Kremlin may not be up to Qatar has achieved unprecedented in providing treatment for infected around the clock in efforts to tackle terms of participation in distributing success in the region after it managed patients. the pandemic through many tests food and social assistance to families the task of overhauling the economy and introducing the much- to bridge the gender gap with regard to She explained that the CDC is full of conducted or being conducted by affected by the closure of shops and needed changes that would win the president back some of his enrolment in the various educational many Qatari energies, including female laboratories to detect the virus. workshops, and being in consumer shrinking popularity. stages, as indicated in the World doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, She stressed that the wise leadership complexes to organise the operations Putin “is not capable of introducing fundamental economic Economic Forum (Davos) report. and administrators, all of them have has relied on Qatari women from the of entering and leaving these reforms,” says Alexander Titov, a political analyst and professor at The rates of female enrolment contributed to the eff orts to tackle the beginning and the government provided complexes, measuring temperature, Queen’s University in Belfast. in higher education in Qatar are coronavirus. all support to them. “Today, we are distributing health protection “And if he doesn’t do it, then there will be a gradual decline like proceeding at a steady pace in favour She underscored that the support and reaping the fruits of this investment in means to consumers, and providing stagnated Brezhnev, with decreasing popularity and legitimacy of females signifi cantly, according to encouragement Qatari women receive the Qatari female component and we specialised training courses for from the wise leadership were behind volunteers and new female volunteers among the population.” various offi cial statistics. fi nd Qatari women working alongside The percentage of female graduates their brilliance and excellence in all their male brothers in the frontline on how to deal psychologically with Stanovaya agrees, saying Putin’s administration in the coming from Qatar University, for example, posts they held. in eff orts to tackle the coronavirus different individuals and support years will not be able to improve the effi ciency of the economy or constitutes about 70% of all graduates For her part, Medical Director of pandemic.” them morally in light of the spread of protect business. from various colleges, and enrolment Rumailah Hospital and the Qatar They take the lead in dealing with the the virus. “For Putin, the most important thing now is at least to avoid rates in Education City universities Rehabilitation Institute at HMC coronavirus, despite overworking with a In Mekaines quarantine facility, fi nancial and social crises.” affi liated with Qatar Foundation for Dr Hanadi al-Hamad said that the smile. They are working hard to provide which is managed by the QRCS and The frustration is particularly felt among younger voters, who Education, Science and Community pandemic highlighted many new nursing care for patients with Covid-19 commissioned by the Ministry of Public independent polls showed were largely opposed to the reforms. Development tend to favour females. solutions to provide medical care to at designated medical facilities. Health to receive and care for infected As a result of this turnout on higher patients, especially the elderly, as health Assistant Executive Director of workers, the female volunteers made education and according to diff erent cadres worked on creating new models Nursing at the HMC Dr Asma Mousa active contribution in the aspects that statistics, the percentage of Qatari to provide care for community members said that over the past years the commensurate with the experiences To Advertise women in the workforce has increased, in their homes without the need to visit HMC has attracted many nurses who and specialities on which they were reaching about 37% for women aged medical facilities to protect against the specialise in the health sector and trained since joining the QRCS. [email protected] 25-29 years, and approaching 49% for risk of transmission. who have been able to demonstrate A team of volunteers who specialise Display the age group 30-34 years, where Qatari Dr Hanadi, who is also National their great capabilities in providing in the fi eld of psychosocial support was women represent the largest proportion Health Strategy Lead for Healthy compassionate care to all patients. formed and they communicate with 44466621 44418811 in the sectors of education, health and Ageing, explained that the health teams She stressed that nurses stand today occupants to raise their morale and social work. that work in providing healthcare in the frontline to provide high-quality provide them with a set of positive ideas Classified In terms of empowering women include a large number of Qatari female medical care for all patients, based on and suggestions useful to spend the 44466609 44418811 from leadership positions, offi cial cadres who work tirelessly to provide the values of the noble profession that period of isolation. statistical reports indicate that the the best medical care for patients. they occupy, as they have proven a high The team is also concerned with Subscription representation of Qatari women in The medical teams include Qatari ability to adapt to all circumstances. supporting the teams in the Mekaines decision-making positions amounts to female doctors, nurses and specialists For their part, Qatari volunteers have quarantine facility in order to reduce [email protected] 30%. The Qatar National Vision 2030 in various fi elds, and they provide high- contributed greatly to eff orts aimed at the pressure of work on them, and and Population Policy 2017-2022 seek quality specialised care to community confronting the coronavirus pandemic, renew their energies and motivations to to raise this percentage while increasing members during this pandemic as they volunteered in order to protect continue their eff orts with enthusiasm © 2020 Gulf Times. All rights reserved the political representation of Qatari thanks to the training and continuing society from the dangers of infection in and positivity. Gulf Times Saturday, July 4, 2020 15 COMMENT Strengthening co-operation against Covid-19 to build a community with a shared future for China and Arab states

staunch supporter of their just cause to restore the Palestinian people’s eff orts to restore their other in times of diffi culty. As we continue to lawful rights. To help with their battle against lawful rights and establish an independent help and support each other in this joint battle Covid-19, China has made special arrangements sovereign state. Arab states, on their part, have against Covid-19, we must oppose attempts at to send assistance in medical supplies and a team fi rmly stood with China on matters related to politicisation or stigmatisation, support the of medical experts, and off ered donations to the Taiwan, Xinjiang and China’s latest eff orts to essential role of WHO in leading the global United Nations Relief and Works Agency for safeguard national security in Hong Kong in response, and contribute our share to the cause Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). accordance with the law. of global public health. Like-minded in vision, partners in action. Second, the greater complementarity of our China and Arab states should be promoters of China and Arab states share similar views on development strategies has brought us closer as enduring peace and universal security. We need how the world can overcome Covid-19. At the we pursue our dreams of rejuvenation. To date, to stand together in upholding multilateralism opening of the 73rd World Health Assembly, 19 Arab states and the League of Arab States have and the basic norms governing international President Xi called for making a collective signed Belt and Road co-operation documents relations and in pushing for political settlement response by all countries, exerting the leading with China. This has made our eff orts to of regional hotspots to restore peace and role of the World Health Organisation (WHO) synergise development strategies more eff ective tranquillity to the Middle East at an early date. and updating global governance on public and effi cient. In 2019 alone, more than 2,300 China will always remain by the side of the health. Leaders of Arab states and the Council Chinese and Arab representatives of various Palestinian people and continue to support and of Arab Ministers of Health also underlined sectors took part in CASCF events, sharing help their cause. closer cooperation with WHO. Our unifi ed voice governance experience with and learning from China and Arab states should be good against politicisation and name-calling plays each other. partners pursuing mutually benefi cial co- an important role in galvanising global eff orts to Third, the ever-deepening practical co- operation and shared development. We need defeat Covid-19. operation has delivered substantial mutual to enhance Belt and Road co-operation, and With our joint fi ght against Covid-19, China benefi ts to both sides. In 2019, two-way trade broaden co-operation in infrastructure, energy, and Arab states have again shown the world between China and Arab states grew by 9% telecommunications and aerospace, among our time-tested partnership for mutual benefi t year on year, with Arab states maintaining their others. Under the current circumstances, it is and our brotherly relations sharing weal and position as the largest source of crude oil imports especially important that we tap co-operation woe. Our strategic partnership has been further for China. Two-way investment also climbed potential in new areas and business forms Wang Yi China. On the Internet, our Arab brothers and upgraded in this process. At the opening steadily. Multiple cooperation projects in low- burgeoning under Covid-19 restrictions. This State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Aff airs of sisters have posted videos and songs, sending ceremony of the eighth Ministerial Conference carbon energy have come to fruition. Chinese way, we will be able to further enrich and China their best wishes. Such acts of kindness have of the China-Arab States Co-operation Forum technology has catalysed the space dreams of improve the CASCF mechanisms. deeply touched the 1.4bn Chinese people. (CASCF) in 2018, President Xi proposed a Sino- more Arab states. The successful launch of SRSS- China and Arab states should be advocates of One good turn deserves another. When Arab Arab strategic partnership in the new era and a 1, Sudan’s fi rst satellite, is a case in point. openness, inclusiveness and exchanges among ovid-19 is aff ecting each and everyone states were hit by Covid-19, our hearts go out to community with a shared future for China and Fourth, our closer people-to-people ties diff erent cultures. We must remain steadfast in of us. In the face of this raging virus, them. In his phone calls and letters with leaders Arab states, which was warmly received by Arab have facilitated more mutual learning. Over the promoting dialogue to dispel misunderstanding, China and Arab states have stood by of Arab states, President Xi Jinping expressed states. Over the past two years, co-operation past two years, more than 6,000 professional and reject attempts to link terrorism to any Ceach other, fought in solidarity, and solidarity, support and the resolve to tide over between China and Arab states in wide-ranging personnel from Arab states have attended particular nationality or religion. We should extended a helping hand to each other. Our the trying times together. Batch after batch of areas have gained strong momentum and borne training sessions in China. The Chinese language explore the potential of mutual learning between relations have been further strengthened and Chinese supplies have been sent to Arab states, much fruits. courses are popular in the Arab states. When Chinese and Arab civilisations, and encourage elevated. which contributed to their fi ght against the First, stronger political trust has solidifi ed some people in the world spread fallacies about a more people-to-people exchanges to forge a Just as gold stands the test of fi re, true disease. our mutual support on issues concerning our “clash of civilisations”, Chinese and Arab friends closer bond of friendship and co-operation friendship endures adversity. At the most China has shared its containment experience respective core interests and major concerns. have joined forces to advocate harmony and between our peoples. diffi cult moment in China’s fight against and medical technologies with Arab states We have maintained frequent high-level speak up for what is right. With its roots deep in the fertile ground of Covid-19, leaders of Arab states gave us strong unreservedly, holding video conferences of engagement. Leaders of many Arab states In a world ravaged by Covid-19, the future of mutual respect and mutual benefi t, the Sino-Arab political support with heartwarming messages health experts with 21 Arab states, and sending visited China. With such top-level guidance, countries is closely entwined like never before. friendship has grown into a towering tree that and phone calls. medical teams to eight Arab states. In addition, China-Arab relations have been moving forward Now is the time to further deepen the Sino-Arab no force could ever shake, come rain or shine. The Council of Arab Ministers of Health, in China facilitated Arab states’ purchases of steadily. China fi rmly supports Arab states strategic partnership and build a community As long as China and Arab states pull together in its 53rd session, issued a statement of solidarity. medical supplies from China and supported the in maintaining security and stability and in with a shared future for China and Arab states. solidarity, our community with a shared future Together, Arab states donated more than 10mn phased reopening of their economy. pursuing development paths suited to their China and Arab states should be true friends will prove impregnable, and the Sino-Arab masks and much needed medical supplies to For the Palestinian people, China has been a national conditions. China fi rmly supports who off er solidarity and co-operation to each relations will embrace a better future!

Late Soviet America Three-day forecast TODAY collapse of the Soviet empire, statues currency; and that the dollar would to move from poverty and institutional Maximum Temperature : 450c By Harold James Minimum Temperature : 340c Princetn of Confederate leaders are being retain its status as the dominant underdevelopment to institutional toppled just about everywhere. international currency. Considering complexity and the chance of SUNDAY Another parallel concerns the that the par-value system (gold innovation and prosperity. Maximum Temperature : 450c he Soviet Union was fertile economy. The Soviet Union had a standard) collapsed soon thereafter, The dollar’s longstanding Minimum Temperature : 330c triggering a depreciation of the dollar, centrality reflected global demand ground for political jokes, large, complicated planning and MONDAY which featured as promi- resource-allocation apparatus these looked like wild predictions. But for a deep, liquid safe asset. But Maximum Temperature : 440c Tnently in the culture as that attracted the society’s best- Mundell turned out to be right on all that condition will disappear when Minimum Temperature : 320c late-night comedy does in the United educated people, only to consign three counts. alternative safe assets emerge, States. According to one popular them to unproductive and frequently But the circumstances to which particularly if they are backed by Fisherman's forecast story, a young man who shouted in destructive tasks. The US has Wall the dollar owes its longstanding non-state providers. More to the Red Square that the decrepit Soviet Street. To be sure, America’s vast hegemony are now changing. The point, the dollar’s long reign over WARNING Inshore : Strong wind expected leader Leonid Brezhnev was an idiot fi nancial-services sector is not the Covid-19 pandemic is driving a more the international financial system at some places during ended up being sentenced to 25.5 years equivalent of Gosplan (the Soviet State digitalised form of globalisation. depended on the US remaining daytime in prison – six months for insulting Planning Commission), but it does While the cross-border movement economically stable, financially Offshore : Expected strong wind frequently extract value rather than of people and goods plummets, credible, and culturally open. Now and high sea till night the Chairman of the Presidium of WEATHER the Supreme Soviet, and 25 years for create it, and thus will inevitably be information is flowing like never that the US system’s dysfunctions Inshore : Very hot daytime with revealing state secrets. part of any debate about the allocation before, ushering in an increasingly are being laid bare, the rest of the slight dust to blowing weightless economy. world may start to question its basic dust at places at The Trump administration’s furious of resources. times,relatively hot by reaction to a new book by former Up until the moment the Soviet Moreover, for the past three and a competence and state effectiveness. night National Security Adviser John Bolton system collapsed, very few thought it half years, the Trump administration The Covid-19 crisis is a case in WIND has followed a similar script. The could actually happen. In assessing has been inviting an eventual point. In terms of the number of cases Inshore : Northwesterly 12-22/30 KT book is considered dangerous not the state of the American system, backlash against its weaponisation and deaths, and the eff ectiveness so much because it insults Donald it is important to remember that of the dollar for political ends. of containing the virus, the US has Offshore : Northwesterly-Norther- Trump as because it reveals that the economists are not very good at Financial and secondary sanctions performed poorly relative to most ly 12-22/32 KT president is deeply incompetent and prediction. The entire discipline relies were highly eff ective in their original other countries – and all other Visibility : 4-8/3 KM “stunningly uninformed.” If it wasn’t on extrapolating from contemporary form, when they were directed developed countries. Under President obvious already, the whole world now conditions on the assumption that against small, isolated bad actors Donald Trump, America has become Offshore : 3-7/12 FT knows that the US lacks any strategic the underlying fundamentals of what like North Korea. But their more an international embarrassment. orientation or coherent executive is being analysed will not change. extensive deployment against Iran, Under these conditions, the Around the region leadership. Knowing full well that this is an Russia, and Chinese companies dollar won’t be able to buy as much Weather Weather In fact, many aspects of America’s unrealistic and absurd assumption, has proved counterproductive. internationally as it once did, and Today Max/min Tomorrow Max/min Baghdad current annus horribilis recall the economists often emulate medieval Not only Russia and China but also it may even start to look like the Sunny 47/29 Sunny 48/29 Kuwait City fi nal years of the Soviet Union, theologians by dressing up their Europe have quickly taken steps to old Soviet rouble, even if there is a Cloudy 47/34 Cloudy 48/34 Manama starting with the intensifi cation of prognoses in arcane language and develop alternative mechanisms dramatic change in leadership and Sunny 39/33 Sunny 42/33 Muscat social and political confl ict. In the jargon. One doesn’t need to know for international payments and strategy. After all, Mikhail Gorbachev Sunny 38/32 Sunny 38/33 Tehran Soviet case, long-suppressed ethnic Latin to invoke ceteris paribus (“other settlement. did not immediately succeed Sunny 35/23 M Sunny 33/23 rivalries and competing national things being equal”) as the premise of Non-state digital payments Brezhnev, and by the time he came to aspirations quickly bubbled to the one’s forecasts. systems are also undergoing rapid power and introduced perestroika, it surface, pushing the entire country Given this standard practice, we development, particularly in places was too late. The malaise had become toward violence, secession, and should pay close attention to long- where the state is weak, distrusted, terminal. – Project Syndicate disintegration. In the US, Trump’s run counter-intuitive forecasts that or otherwise lacking credibility. response to nationwide protests actually are borne out. In the late The payments revolution will likely O Harold James is Professor of against racism, police brutality, and 1960s, the economist Robert A. occur fastest in poor countries, such History and International Aff airs at inequality has been to stoke further Mundell made three predictions: that as in Africa or some former Soviet Princeton University and a senior the country’s historic racial divide. the Soviet Union would disintegrate; republics. New digital technologies fellow at the Center for International And, like statues of Lenin during the that Europe would adopt a single already off er these societies the means Governance Innovation.

Around the world Live issues Weather Weather Today Max/min Tomorrow Max/min Athens M Sunny 36/24 M Sunny 34/23 Beirut Sunny 29/25 Sunny 29/25 Going viral: Why Canadian sparrows have changed their tune Bangkok S T Storms 32/26 S T Storms 33/26 Berlin M Cloudy 24/18 M Cloudy 28/17 Cairo Sunny 39/23 Sunny 39/23 AFP century, biologists began noticing that of Northern British Columbia, and his geographic scale, said Otter. Cape Town P Cloudy 17/13 S Showers 17/11 Washington members of the species in western colleague Scott Ramsay from Wilfrid So how did it happen? Colombo S T Storms 29/26 S T Storms 29/27 Canada were innovating. Laurier University, described the Probably in the same way that Dhaka T Storms 31/27 T Storms 31/27 Instead of a triplet, the new dizzying pace of this transformation in children return from summer camp Hong Kong T Storms 29/26 S T Storms 29/26 embers of a Canadian song ended in a doublet and a new the journal Current Biology. humming new tunes: songbirds from Istanbul P Cloudy 31/23 P Cloudy 31/23 sparrow species famous syncopation pattern. “What we’re seeing is like somebody diff erent parts of Canada winter in the Jakarta P Cloudy 32/24 P Cloudy 33/24 for their jaunty signature The new ending sounded like “Ca- moving from Quebec to Paris, and all same parts of the United States, then Karachi P Cloudy 35/31 P Cloudy 34/31 Msong are changing their na, Ca-na, Ca-na.” the people around them saying, ‘Wow, return to their own homes in spring. London Cloudy 21/17 Cloudy 21/12 tune, a curious example of a “viral Over the course of the next two that’s a cool accent’ and start adopting a The researchers verifi ed this theory Manila T Storms 33/26 T Storms 33/26 phenomenon” in the animal kingdom, decades, this new cadence became Quebec accent,” Otter said. by tagging a few of the birds. Moscow S T Storms 27/18 P Cloudy 27/18 a study showed on Thursday. a big hit, moving eastward and The males of the species sing to So it was that in the plains of New Delhi P Cloudy 38/29 S T Storms 34/28 Bird enthusiasts fi rst recorded the conquering Alberta, then Ontario. mark their territory, and their songs all Texas and Kansas, the new song’s New York P Cloudy 29/22 M Sunny 32/23 white-throated sparrow’s original It began entering Quebec last year. share a common structure. fi rst adopters from western Canada Paris Cloudy 24/19 M Cloudy 28/13 song, with its distinctive triplet hook, It’s now the dominant version Usually, if a variation appears, it — avian infl uencers, if you will — Sao Paulo P Cloudy 23/13 Sunny 27/16 in the 1950s. across more than 2,000 miles of remains regional and doesn’t make popularised the trend among their Seoul P Cloudy 29/19 P Cloudy 27/19 Canadians even invented lyrics to territory, in an extremely rare example headway in neighbouring territories. eastern brethren. Singapore S T Storms 30/26 S T Storms 30/27 accompany the ditty: “Oh my sweet, of the total replacement of historic The study represents the first Previous work has shown that Sydney P Cloudy 14/09 M Sunny 16/08 Ca-na-da, Ca-na-da, Ca-na-da.” bird dialect by another. time scientists have been able young birds can pick up a foreign song Tokyo Rain 27/20 Cloudy 30/24 But starting from the late 20th Scientist Ken Otter at the University to show this kind spread at huge after listening to a recording. Gulf Times 16 Saturday, July 4, 2020 QATAR

Amir tours Salwa Beach Resort

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday made an inspection visit to the Salwa Beach Resort. During the visit, His Highness the Amir was briefed on the developments and stages of the project’s progress. He also inspected the resort’s facilities, which include 115 villas and chalets; a 246-room five-star hotel; aquatic theme park; conference centre; ball room; spa; yacht club and marina; diving centre and a shopping centre. His Highness the Amir also viewed the green areas of the resort and was accompanied by a line-up of senior off icials.

Customers praise preventive measures at Al Sailiya Central Market

reventive and precaution- and children under 12 are not al- ary measures to curb the lowed. Besides, sellers and work- Pspread of the novel coro- ers at the market are checked on navirus (Covid-19) have been daily basis before being allowed strictly implemented at Al Sailiya to start their work and wear face Central Market which reopened masks and gloves all time. Each on Wednesday after nearly three shop has sanitisers at its entrance months of closure. for the use of customers. Local Arabic daily Arrayah The market is kept under the reported that both sellers and strict control of the authorities customers have shown consider- concerned to check the safety able commitment to such proce- of the products on display regu- dures and expressed confi dence larly. There are also an adequate that they feel more secure when number of volunteers who assist shopping. and guide customers and help Stickers were placed on the them maintain proper physical People queue up to enter Al Sailiya Central Market. fl oor of the market to indicate distance. proper physical distance be- A number of customers and tween individual shoppers and sellers highlighted their satisfac- every shop designated two selling tion at such procedures during points to avoid any unsafe prox- the past few days and said that imity among customers. the volunteers immediately in- The body temperature of each terfere at the slightest hint of any customer is checked before be- crowding and people are asked to Entry to Al Sailiya Central Market is blocked until the parking slots become vacant again. ing allowed into the market and follow the rules and avoid such each one has to display the green conduct. in co-operation with the Minis- both customers and workers at crowds. When the parking slots healthy code on the Ehteraz app Prices were reasonable for try of Public Health, the Minis- the market. He pointed out that at the market are full, entry is on their smartphones, and wear many customers and the quality try of Commerce and Industry, workers too have to display the blocked until some of them are face mask and gloves. of the goods excellent too. and the Ministry of Municipality green healthy code in the Ehter- available again. The market is be- There is also a thermal cam- Speaking to the daily, Mubarak and Environment all the appli- az app before being allowed to ing cleaned and sanitised twice a era at the entrance of the mar- Rashed al-Sahouti, executive cable precautionary and preven- enter. He said that the market day before the goods are allowed ket to detect any abnormal rise director of external relations at tive measures have been taken works currently with only 30% in and after the end of the busi- in temperature of the shoppers Hassad Food Company, said that for the protection and safety of of its total capacity to avoid any ness day. A worker wearing face shield and mask at Al Sailiya Central Market.