SRI LANKA TO PAY 2% INTEREST PREMIUM EMERGING GOVERNANCE ISSUES ON CORONAVIRUS FOREX ACCOUNT AMID COVID-19 THE APRIL COUNTER- 10 - 12, 2020 CULTURE ICON VOL: 4- ISSUE 190 . WORLD SEEKS ECONOMIC REMEDY 30 AS VIRUS DEATH TOLL MOUNTS BUSINESS PAGE 02 HOT TOPICS PAGE 04 COMMENTARY PAGE 06 LITERARY LIVES PAGE 08

Registered in the Department of Posts of Sri Lanka under No: QD/144/News/2020 COVID-19 and curfew in Sri Lanka • A single patient was confirmed as COVID-19 positive yester- day (9) taking the tally of the novel coronavirus infection to 190. Over 250 individuals suspected to have contracted the vi- rus under observations at selected hospitals across the coun- try, 134 are receiving treatment and 49 have been deemed completely recovered. • The districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Puttalam, Kandy and Jaffna, identified as high risk zones continue to be under indefinite police curfew, while curfew in most district lifted at 6:00 a.m. yesterday was re-imposed at 4:00 p.m. un- til 6:00 a.m. on April 14. • DIG AjithRohana warned that effective today (10) any per- son who crosses district borders in violation of curfew will be compulsorily sent to quarantine centres for a 14-day quaran- tine process. • At least 67 people from the Ratnapura and Pelmadulla areas are sent to the Diyatalawa quarantine centre after two more family members of the gem businessman of Ratnapura are found positive for COVID-19. These include the relatives of a gem businessman and employees of a gem mine belonging to him, and their families. • Cabinet approval is given to bring down 33 Sri Lankans stranded at airports overseas due to coronavirus pandemic. The Sri Lankans will have to undergo 21-day quarantine once they arrive in the country. • Those with suspected COVID-19 symptoms urged to call 1390 - emergency hotline, for set up for free medical advice on COVID-19 and assistance, if they need to be admitted to hospital • Areas declared as ‘isolated’ in the districts of Colombo, Kalu- tara and Kandy remain in the same category with no one al- lowed to enter or leave until further notice. -Pharmacies in all districts will remain open from 9:00 a.m. onwards.

- Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Coronavirus toll Rev Stuart Elliott blesses a fire as part of his Easter Eve holiday started Wednesday (8) evening and runs to attending his UrbietOrbi blessing in Saint Peter's Square, service on the shore of LlynMymbyr in Snowdonia, Capel April 16 but families are being strictly urged to mark a case of addressing the city and the confined world. 88,981 deaths at 1100 GMT Curig, Wales, yesterday (9).Without his parishioners to the festival at home for their own protection against Predominantly Catholic countries would normally see accompany him because of the coronavirus lockdown COVID-19. Christians celebrating Easter will see the huge gatherings on Sunday (Orthodox Easter falls on yesterday he has filmed various outdoor ceremonies which will COVID-19 confinement crimp celebrations with Holy April 19) - but not this year, not even in the Mexican be broadcast online to celebrate Easter. Christians will Week services generally taking place behind closed municipality of Iztapalapa, which usually hosts a Passion PARIS- The worldwide number of fatalities from the novel be obliged to turn to services broadcast on television doors. The Vatican will be no exception, where Pope procession that sees participants lug crosses through coronavirus pandemic rose to 88,981 yesterday (9), according or over social media this year owing to the coronavirus Francis last Sunday (5) celebrated Palm Sunday at the streets. Television and internet are stepping into to a tally compiled by AFP at 1100 GMT from official sources. and Jews will mark the Passover holiday in their own a deserted Saint Peter's Basilica. His audience will the breach, however, to allow believers to participate More than 1,519,260 declared cases have been registered in homes rather than as communities. The major Jewish likewise be watching on screens rather than physically remotely in one of Christianity's most important festivals 192 countries and territories since the epidemic first emerged in China in December. Of these cases, at least 312,100 are now considered recovered. The tallies, using data collected by AFP from national au- UN warns thorities and information from the World Health Organiza- tion (WHO), probably reflect only a fraction of the actual number of infections. Many countries are only testing the most serious cases. Italy, which recorded its first death in late February, has Pandemic no ‘blank cheque' to had the most fatalities with 17,669 from 139,422 infections. Spain has recorded 15,238 fatalities from 152,446 infec- tions. The death toll in the United States is the third highest, at 14,817 from 432,132 infections - the highest number of cases flout human rights in the world. France has reported 10,869 deaths and 112,950 infections followed by Britain with 7,097 deaths and 60,733 cases. GENEVA- The coronavirus crisis "Emergency measures should be which will remain in force long after Some countries, organizations and China - excluding Hong Kong and Macau - has to date de- is not a "blank cheque" to flout civil necessary and proportionate," she the emergency is over," said Bache- leaders - including US President clared 3,335 deaths and 81,865 cases, with 77,279 recoveries. liberties, the UN human rights com- said. "I am profoundly concerned by let. "In some countries we have al- Donald Trump - have voiced doubts Since 1900 GMT on Wednesday (8), Somalia announced its missioner warned yesterday (9) as certain countries' adoption of emer- ready seen reports of journalists be- about the figures from China on the first coronavirus-linked death. she criticized some states' adoption gency powers that are unlimited." ing penalized for reporting a lack of numbers of deaths and infections. Europe has listed 787,744 cases and 62,402 deaths to date, of "unlimited" emergency powers. Many countries have adopted ex- masks, health-workers reprimanded Bachelet also urged countries to the US and Canada together have 451,315 cases with 15,273 "Emergency measures may well traordinary measures to deal with for saying they lack protection, and protect their most vulnerable citi- deaths, Asia 127,727 cases and 4,504 deaths, the Middle East be needed to respond to this pub- the pandemic, which has killed near- ordinary people arrested for social zens during the pandemic, including 88,295 cases and 4,354 deaths, Latin America and the Carib- lic health emergency. But an emer- ly 100,000 people worldwide since it media postings about the pandemic. detainees, the poor, women and mi- bean 45,523 cases with 1,814 deaths, Africa 11,519 cases with gency situation is not a blank cheque emerged in China in December. "Criticism is not a crime." grants. "Unchecked, the pandemic is 577 deaths and Oceania 7,146 cases with 57 deaths. to disregard human rights obliga- In Hungary, Prime Minister Vik- Bachelet also called on govern- likely to create even wider inequali- tions," said Michelle Bachelet. tor Orban is now ruling by decree ments to "greatly increase access to ties, amid extensive suffering," she -AFP The former Chilean president until his government says the crisis accurate information and statistics" said, reiterating her call for a relaxa- was addressing the first-ever virtual has passed. "In a few cases, the epi- on the pandemic, stressing that tion of international sanctions on meeting of the United Nations Hu- demic is being used to justify repres- "transparency is paramount and countries like Iran. World’s biggest food man Rights Council in Geneva. sive changes to regular legislation, can be life-saving in a health crisis." -AFP companies warn Coronavirus could More than 16 million US workers lose jobs double number of people WASHINGTON- Another 6.6 mil- leaving veteran workers and recent US financial economist at Oxford Given the current information, lion people filed for unemployment hires in nearly every type of indus- Economics. Many Wall Street ana- though, several economists expect benefits last week as the coronavi- try without a paycheque. In just lysts concede that at this point, that by the end of the month more going hungry rus outbreak continued its devastat- three weeks, more than 16 million forecasts are not much more than than 20 million people will have ing march through the US economy, US workers have lost their jobs — gussied-up guesses: The purpose- been thrown out of work, pushing LONDON- Food supplies across the world will be “massively the Labour Department reported more losses than the most recent ful and sudden halt in economic the unemployment rate toward 15%. disrupted” by the coronavirus, and unless governments act yesterday (9). recession produced over two years. activity has no precedent, and no In February, it was 3.5%, a result of the number of people suffering chronic hunger could double, With astonishing swiftness, the It’s as if “the economy as a whole one knows when the restrictions on 113 straight months of job growth. some of the world’s biggest food companies have warned. pandemic has shut down both has fallen into some sudden black movement and commerce will be -NYT Unilever, Nestlé and PepsiCo, along with farmers’ organiza- long-standing and new businesses, hole,” said Kathy Bostjancic, chief lifted. tions, the UN Foundation, academics, and civil society groups, have written to world leaders, calling on them to keep borders open to trade in order to help society’s most vulnerable, and to invest in environmentally sustainable food production. Trending News They urge governments to “take urgent coordinated action Quote for Today to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic turning into a global food Find something you're passionate about and and humanitarian crisis.” Maintaining open trade will be key, Bangladesh: Authorities im- Tonga: A resurgent Tropical era atrocities in areas occupied by as will investing in food supply chains and protecting farmers keep tremendously interested in it. pose a "complete lockdown" in Cyclone Harold flattens tourist Nazi forces. in the developed and developing world, they say. -Julia ChildEinstein Cox's Bazar district - home to resorts in the country, extending France: A projection by general The G20 is coming under increasing pressure to act: a over a million Rohingya refugees a week-long trail of destruction practitioners' union, based on doc- group of Nobel prize-winning economists and former senior Word for Today from neighbouring Myanmar - to across four South Pacific island tors' reports, warns more than 1.6 development bank officials wrote to the forum advising that Force majeure [French fawrs ma-zhœr ] halt the spread of coronavirus. nations and claimed more than million of the country’s 67 million trillions of dollars would be needed to help the developing – noun- Law, an unexpected and disruptive USA: The Federal Reserve an- two dozen lives. people may have been infected world cope with the Covid-19 pandemic. This week more than event that may operate to excuse a party from nounces it would pump $2.3 tril- Global: Experts believe a phe- with the new coronavirus to date. 100 former heads of government, including Tony Blair, Gor- a contract lion into the economy through nomenon known as a "cytokine don Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy, also called on the G20 to act United Nations: The world new and expanded programs, storm" - a rapid overreaction urgently or risk recurrent outbreaks. body calls for women to be at the Today in History ramping up its already extensive of the immune system - may However, little coordinated action has been agreed. The UN heart of economic reconstruc- efforts to help companies and explain the severe reaction to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is increasingly wor- tion efforts as the world grapples state and local governments suf- the coronavirus that can lead to ried that, although harvests are good and enough food is being 1998 - The Good Friday/Belfast Agreement with fallout from the coronavirus fering financially amid the coro- death in the most severe cases. produced to feed the world, export restrictions or tariffs by for Northern Ireland is signed by the British pandemic, warning that most navirus. - The oil market jumps as OPEC some governments could create shortages. and Irish governments women face a greater risk of pov- and its allies begin discussing The urgent warning from food industry leaders comes as UK: Boris Johnson’s spokesman erty. Today is... says the prime minister had a good output cuts after a collapse in de- some countries have begun to restrict certain foods. Curbs on Canada: The government pro- the movement of people, because of lockdowns, also threatens Sibling Day night and continues to improve in mand due to the coronavirus and intensive care, but he still receiv- a Saudi-Russian price war. jects the coronavirus pandemic to create shortages of farm labour at a crucial time of year for A day to celebrate the bonds of life-long rela- Russia: Moscow launches a could kill between 11,000 and many crops. tionships that usually last from cradle to grave ing oxygen support, although he has not been put on a ventilator. probe into three World War II- 22,000 people in the country. -The Guardian 2 APRIL 10 - 12, 2020 WEEKEND EXPRESS BUSINESS

Editorial of The NYT In coronavirus response Sri Lanka to pay 2% interest premium Europe poised to repeat austerity mistakes on coronavirus forex account The European Union is ill suited for crisis. Its COLOMBO - Sri Lanka will pay an extra A Sri Lankan individual resident in or Renminbi or New Zealand Dollars and des- thorized Dealer in Sri Lanka can remit funds 27 members are happy to feed at the common 2% interest for foreign exchange remitted outside Sri Lanka, a dual citizen, citizens of ignated currencies. Sri Lanka has seen a through the said accounts to the credit of trough in sunny times, but storms tend to turn to the country and kept for 12 months in other states with Sri Lankan origin, a non- large drawdown of cash from the banking SDA. Describing SDA as a Fixed Deposit with them into squabbling rivals. The financial col- dedicated accounts, as the country fights off national resident in or outside Sri Lanka, system amid a coronavirus crisis but money a minimum tenure of six months, the state- lapse of 2008 and the following refugee crisis coronavirus, with the rupee under pressure funds, corporate bodies, associations in- has been issued to create excess liquidity of ment said the accounts can also be opened are memorable for their bitter recriminations from liquidity injections. The Central Bank corporated/registered outside Sri Lanka around Rs100 billion. as a joint account and in any the designated and disunity. It’s all happening again over of Sri Lanka (CBSL) in a notice said foreign or “any other well-wisher” could send the The statement said the SDAs need to be foreign currencies or Sri Lankan rupees, and COVID-19, this time amplified by fear and exchange in a Special Deposit Account (SDA) money, the Central Bank said. It identified opened with inward remittances through that the deposits are freely convertible and death on a continent struggling with half of will be paid a premium of 1% above the mar- United States Dollars (USD), Euro, Sterling banking system during the six months pe- remittable outside Sri Lanka upon maturity. the world’s 1.4 million confirmed cases. ket rate. Deposits for 12 months will be paid Pound, Australian Dollars, Singapore Dol- riod from the date of the relevant Regulation It will also not be subject to any Foreign Ex- Borders are being thrown back up. Italy 2% above the standard rate of the bank. lars, Swedish Kroner, Swiss Franc, Canadian and that any person who has an Inward In- change Regulations published in Gazette No- and Spain, Europe’s hardest-hit countries, The accounts could be opened at any com- Dollars, Hong Kong Dollars, Japanese Yen, vestment Account (IIA) or an account at the tification No 2045/56 dated 17.11.2017 mercial bank or the National Savings Bank. Danish Kroner, Norwegian Kroner, Chinese Offshore Banking Unit (OBU) with an Au- facing economic collapse on a grand scale, -economynext.com/ENCL accuse the prosperous north of being deaf to their cries for help. The north sees itself once more called on to bail out a profligate south. Hungary sheds a few more vestiges of its de- Rupee makes dizzy gains in Govt. to offer coronavirus incentive mocracy. China and Russia, quick to seize on an opportunity to demonstrate the fickleness of democracy, bring in medical supplies that intra-day trade towards 190 to dollar package for foreign exchange remitted in the European Union is purportedly failing COLOMBO– Sri Lanka rupee made steep In the secondary government securities COLOMBO – Sri Lanka will give an in- As a result the gap between dollar and ru- to share. This week, the head of the EU’s top gains in intra-day trade yesterday (9) amid market, yields fell in moderate trade, while centive package to anyone who repatriates pee interest rates has narrowed and swap scientific research body, Mauro Ferrari, quit selling by a State name that usually acts for 2023 and 2024 maturities remained more dollars held abroad to the island in the next premiums have thinned out in forward after just three months on the job in a storm the monetary authority, dealers said, while liquid, dealers said, ahead of a bond auc- three months, Deputy Central Bank Gover- markets. of mutual recriminations. As in crises past, bond yields edged up. tion. nor NandalalWeerasinghe said as the rupee Sri Lanka has a non-credible peg with old enmities surfaced. A group of Italian The rupee gained to 194.50/195.00 levels A bond maturing on 01.05.2021 was came under pressure in forex markets. the US dollar which becomes easily de- politicians bought an ad in a German paper in the one week forward market after falling quoted 8.80/90% yesterday, up 8.75/85% “If anyone has dollar deposits abroad, it stablized due to excess liquidity and nar- to remind the Germans that they were not as low as 200.50 a day earlier, dealers said. at Wednesday’s (8) close, while a 2-year may be an exporter or someone who had row targeting of a call money rate, analysts compelled to pay off their debts after World The spot US dollar also traded at differ- bond maturing on 01.10.2022 was quot- worked abroad, if he brings in the dollar have said. War II. And once again, a chorus of com- ent rates some at 192/193.00 levels and ed at 8.45/55%, up from 8.35/55% at we will give concessions in this period,” Since the latest spate of liquidity injec- mentators questioned whether the union can even stronger dealers said. Wednesday’s close and a bond maturing on Weerasinghe told during a television show. tions the rupee has fallen from 182 to the survive. Part of the problem with this picture, The spot market had been inactive after 01.09.2023 was quoted at 8.85/95%, from “That will help the domestic banking sec- US dollar to 200 as the country is fighting as in the past, is a misunderstanding of what liquidity injections pressured the rupee 8.70/90% at the previous close. tor.” off a coronavirus crisis. the European Union is and what it is capable amid a coronavirus crisis. Sri Lanka’s rupee A bond maturing on 15.09.2024 was Sri Lanka’s central bank had earlier pub- Sri Lanka is also seeking swap lines from of doing. The bloc is an alliance of sovereign had come under pressure from liquidity in- quoted at 9.00/9.10% yesterday, climbing lished an appeal for dollars to be brought to India and China to bolster reserves. countries, not a central government, and jections in the past even when there was no from 8.90/9.10%, while a bond maturing the country with no questions asked as the The rupee has fallen from 4.70 to 200 to Brussels has control only over external trade external turmoil. Analysts have called for on 15.10.2027 was quoted at 9.30/40% up rupee fell amid a coronavirus crisis. the US dollar since the soft-peg was creat- and competition. For the rest, its executive central bank reform to maintain monetary from 9.25/40% at Wednesday’s close and Dollar interest rates in Sri Lanka’s bank- ed, which is the worst performance among branch, the European Commission, can only stability and avoid multiple notch down- a bond maturing on 15.05.2030 was not ing system has been elevated amid higher South Asian monetary authorities which all seek cooperation, not order it. The states that grades. quoted. Neither was a bond maturing on counterparty risk perception analysts said started at the same level at independence share the euro do not have true fiscal union, The rupee has come under pressure amid 15.09.2034, which closed at 10.00/40% in as the rupee came under pressure from li- from British rule. under which wealthier parts of the bloc would large liquidity injections made from late its last close last Friday (3). quidity injections. prop up the poorer. February. -economynext.com Most notably in the current crisis, public -economynext.com health is left entirely to national govern- ments. That does not make for efficient crisis response. Within its limitations, the union Sri Lanka to seek US$ 400mn in swap has managed to do quite a bit. Rules have been loosened to enable national govern- lines from India, mulls China request ments to prop up suffering businesses, and limits on government debt have been COLOMBO– Sri Lanka has requested a also being considered, he said. suspended. The European Central Bank has US$ 400 million swap line from the Re- Sri Lanka has about US$ 7.5 billion in announced a 750 billion-euro ($800 billion) serve Bank of India under an arrangement forex reserves, but the country is seeking rescue package. Austria, France and Germany available for South Asia while another re- more funds to repay debt, Weerasinghe sent protective masks to Italy; Germany, quest for a billion US dollars may be made said. faring better than its neighbors, has taken in at head of state level, an official said, as the Sri Lanka’s central bank has made large patients from Italy and France; the common country fought off a coronavirus crisis. liquidity injections from February 2020 border has been sealed. And there are more Deputy Governor of Sri Lanka’s central and the rupee had fallen from 182 to 200 tools available, most notably the European bank NandalalWeerasinghe in an inter- to the US dollar. Stability Mechanism, a bailout fund created view with a local television channel said In March real money demand had risen after the 2008 financial crisis that has more there was capital flight in all countries amid coronavirus crisis, but the central than 400 billion euros to help countries in due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis and bank, which runs a soft-pegged monetary crisis. added, “In times like these there are facili- has over-issued cash and there is over 100 But Europe could do better. Much better. ties that central banks give to others on the billion dollars in excess cash in money A virtual meeting of EU leaders two weeks short term to help repay foreign debt.” markets. ago that was supposed to issue a joint state- He said there was US$ 400 million fa- The central bank has tightened exchange ment showing unity and resolve turned into cility for each SAARC country (South Asia controls and import controls as the rupee hours of often rancorous debate on whether Association for Regional Co-operation) at came under pressure and politicians have to issue a special “coronabond” underwrit- the Reserve Bank of India, and added, “We warned of more controls and asked people ten by rich and poor countries to share the have requested it.” to grow vegetables. massive economic damage wreaked by the Sri Lanka in 2015/2016 also received an- The central bank has appealed for dollar other billion dollars following a request at inflows. coronavirus. To the champions of the bond -Oli SCARFF / AFP — France, Spain and Italy — this would repre- head of State level from India, which was The Colombo stock market is also closed. sent a common European response to an Shoppers queue using social distancing outside an Asda supermarket in Gateshead, north- also being considered, he said. A swap line unprecedented crisis. For Germany and the east England yesterday (9) as Britain continued to battle the outbreak of new coronavirus request with the People’s Bank of China is -economynext.com Netherlands, among others in the north, the and the government prepared to extend the nationwide lockdown. The disease has struck at bond smacked of the fiscal unity they reject, the heart of the British government, infected more than 60,000 people nationwide and killed and they argued, with some justice, that the over 7,000, with another record daily death toll of 938 reported on Wednesday (8). A testing As US resists action union already has the ESM bailout fund. In centre opened in Gateshead as the government ramped up its testing of NHS staff for the the end, in classic EU style, the leaders kicked new coronavirus the problem down the road, tasking finance Saudi, Russia debate record oil cut ministers to come up with some ideas in DUBAI/MOSCOW/LONDON - OPEC cuts was "hardly possible" without oth- two weeks’ time. On Monday, they were said and Russia were set to discuss record oil ers participating. Ministers from OPEC+, to be preparing a “strong package,” but no EU grants Euro 22 million for output cuts yesterday (9) to support prices which groups the Organization of the Pe- “coronabond”. hammered by the coronavirus crisis but troleum Exporting Countries, Russia and That pace may have been palatable, or at ‘impressive’ coronavirus fight talks are complicated by internal disagree- other oil producers, as well as additional least justifiable, during the Greek economic ments and the reluctance of the United participants, were set to discuss the issue crisis a decade ago, when fortunes, but not COLOMBO– The European Union has population,” the EU said, adding, “This States to join in any action. in a video conference at 1400 GMT. The lives, were at stake. It’s cruel for Italians or given Sri Lanka a grant of euro 22 million funding will take into account the impact of Global fuel demand has plunged as much United States was invited. Spaniards confronted with death and eco- to fight coronavirus in the island saying the COVID-19 by mobilizing more private capi- as 30% as measures to fight the virus have Riyadh and Moscow, who fell out when nomic catastrophe. They aren’t in a bind due country’s efforts to keep numbers down is tal in rural areas and by assisting small busi- a previous pact on curbing supplies col- to profligate spending; they’re in the throes grounded aircraft, reduced vehicle usage impressive. nesses and workers in the Uva and Central and curbed economic activity. lapsed in March, have signalled that a deal of a plague for which they bear no more re- “Sri Lanka’s very low number of con- Provinces. sponsibility than any other EU member. The Benchmark Brent crude oil prices hit on cuts would depend on the United States firmed cases of COVID-19 so far is impres- The Euro 3.5 million grant it said was to an 18-year low last month and are trading reducing output too. question is not whether the European Union sive,” the EU said in a statement. support smaller operators and their employ- will survive; it will. The question to ask is around $34 a barrel, half their level at the Trump has been reluctant to mandate “To support Sri Lankan efforts further, the ees. end of 2019, dealing a severe blow to budg- cuts in domestic supply so far, saying what’s the point of any union if it cannot find European Union is targeting three sectors: The statement said some of the assistance ets of oil producing nations and high-cost production had been falling naturally be- unity when it is needed most, when what it health, agriculture and tourism,” it said. will be provided immediately and the rest does, or fails to do, will shape its identity for a The EU will provide Euro 2 million for will be delivered later in the year and will US shale oil industry. cause of low prices anyway. Russia said on long time to come, and possibly its fate. equipment and medical supplies bought continue thereafter. US President Donald Trump said last Wednesday (8) that such declines would The question is not only for Europeans. At by the World Health Organization and to The EU Delegation, the Ambassadors of week a deal he had brokered with OPEC not count as a proper cut. a time when every instinct drives families, strengthen laboratory networks in the coun- France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands leader Saudi Arabia and Russia could lead Moscow and Riyadh are also struggling communities and countries to protect them- try, 16.5 million for the agricultural sector and Romania met Basil Rajapaksa who to cuts of 10 million to 15 million barrels between themselves to agree on the levels selves and their own, true leadership requires and 3.5 million to tourism sector. chairs a logistics task force Wednesday (8). per day (bpd), or 10% to 15% of global sup- from which output should be cut with the knowing that we’re all in this together and “In these trying times, maintaining open The EU also commended Sri Lanka for plies, an unprecedented reduction. kingdom insisting on April, the first month can only conquer it together. The EU has trade and safeguarding the supply chains, ensuring the safety and well-being of EU But Washington has yet to show it is of a large hike in its output, while Moscow made a slow start, but it still has a chance, especially agricultural and health supply citizens. ready to take part. Kremlin spokesman insists on the first quarter. and the means, to live up to its name. chains, is essential to the well-being of the -economynext.com Dmitry Peskov said a new deal on output -Agencies French regulator orders Google pay copyright fees to media groups PARIS - France's competition regula- work is shown on websites, search en- sector." Google said that since the new questioned Google's position that gener- Google to publish material via methods tor said yesterday (9) Google must start gines and social media platforms. European copyright law came into force ally no remuneration would be paid for chosen by publishers, will help provide paying media groups for displaying their But Google, which effectively has a lock in France last year it had been "engaging the display of any protected content. for balanced negotiations and ensure neu- content, ordering it to begin negotiations on internet searches in Europe, refused to with publishers to increase our support It said: "this choice seems difficult to trality for how information is indexed and after refusing for months to comply with comply, saying that articles, pictures and and investment in news." reconcile with the purpose and scope of classified for readers to find. Europe's new digital copyright law. videos would be shown in search results Google's Vice President for News, Rich- the law, which aimed to redefine the shar- It added the interim measures would The agency said it "requires Google, only if media groups consent to let the ard Gingras, said in a statement seen by ing of value in favour of press publishers remain in force until it reaches a decision within three months, to conduct nego- tech giant use them at no cost. AFP: "We will comply with the (French vis-à-vis platforms, by assigning a neigh- on the merits of the case, and that Google tiations in good faith with publishers and If they refuse, only a headline and a competition regulator's) order while we bouring right which must give rise to re- is required to submit monthly reports on news agencies on the remuneration for bare link to the content will appear, Goog- review it and continue those negotia- muneration..." procedures for implementing the injunc- the re-use of their protected contents". le said, almost certainly resulting in a loss tions." Furthermore, the regulator said by im- tion. "This injunction requires that the ne- of visibility and potential ad revenue for Google had previously said that the posing a principle of zero remuneration France's culture ministry, which subsi- gotiations effectively result in a proposal the publisher. neighbouring rights law does not impose on all publishers without examining their dises much of the media sector, welcomed for remuneration from Google" that must Media groups and news agency Agence a fee for posting links, and that Europe- respective situations and the protected the injunction. be applied retroactively to October 2019, France-Presse lodged a complaint with an news publishers already derived sig- content, Google may have engaged in dis- "Google now has to propose news pub- when France became the first country to the competition regulator last November. nificant value from the eight billion visits criminatory practices that would likely lishers a fair remuneration commensu- ratify the EU law. The regulator said yesterday, "Google's they receive each month from internet us- constitute an abuse of a dominant posi- rate with the value that the search engine The new rule on so-called "neighbour- practices... were likely to constitute an ers who do searches on Google. tion. derives from the content," Culture Minis- ing rights" is designed to ensure news abuse of a dominant position, and caused While the law does include the option The competition regulator said that ter Franck Riester said in a statement. publishers are compensated when their serious and immediate harm to the press of free licences, the competition regulator the interim measures, which will require -AFP WEEKEND EXPRESS APRIL 10 - 12, 2020 3 GLOCAL

Ere Neaer e t td ra aaaa 185, Grandpass Road, Colombo 14, Sri Lanka Telephone: 0117 322 705 (Editorial) 0117 322 731 (Advertising) 0117 322 789 (Circulation) For all, it’s a Email – [email protected]/[email protected] Epaper - http://epaper.newsexpress.lk struggle to get the Facebook –News Express Sri Lanka Amidst coronavirus threats essentials of life COLOMBO - Across the districts des- ignated as the most affected by the COVID-19 threat, the fear of the disease is tinged by the concern that the pro- longed curfew will deprive families of Thousands of drug offenders the essentials of life. The districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, and Puttalam have been un- der a blanket curfew since March 24, to- tal of 16 days with no end in sight.Kandy to be released from prisons and Jaffna are also under the same cur- few regime although they began later COLOMBO– Sri Lanka’s judicial system is opened fire on inmates who rioted at the Anu- bated already tense conditions in the prisons. existence of the narcotic. According to the cur- than the hot spots in the Western Prov- poised to release thousands of remand prison- radhapura jail protesting restrictions on family The President’s Secretary P. B. Jayasundera rent law, cases of anyone caught with 0.5 grams ince.Well-placed government sources ers accused of minor narcotic offences in a bid visits enforced on the jails following the COV- in a letter to the Attorney-General released of a substance suspected to be heroin have to be said these regions are also looking at to reduce chronic overcrowding in the coun- ID-19 threat on March 21. to the media yesterday (9) asked him to take referred to the AG for prosecution. least two weeks more of curfews and try’s prison system in the face of the COVID -19 Since them the prisons has released several steps to release “deserving remandees after an Remand prisoners who are detained over the restrictions as the authorities are keen threat. thousands of inmates from the jails in the past assessment of the seriousness of the charges possession of more than 5kg and been in re- to prevent community transmission of The move comes as tensions in the prisons few weeks using existing regulations to offer levelled against them.” Subsequently, AG, Dap- mand for more than a month and those who are the virus. are growing over the threat of the pandemic. detainees “leave” or on humanitarian grounds pula de Livera in a letter to the acting Inspector detained for having less than that amount are In most homes, particularly the mid- The release is recommended for those seen as depending on age and health conditions. This General of Police stipulated he would not object also recommended for release. Jayasundera’s dle-class salaried, anxiety levels are high dealing in small quantities of heroin and can- follows recommendations made by a commit- to bail being granted to remand prisoners who letter pointed out that an estimated 8,000 out as many private companies slash wages nabis, and not those who are addicted as the tee appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa are detained for being in possession of less than of the country’s 13,000 remand prisoners are and see little prospect of short-term and habitual users are sent for rehabilitation. to look into the overcrowding of the jails three 10 grams of heroin, and are yet to receive the detained due to these offences. even medium term recovery.Getting the Three prisoners died as jail guards allegedly weeks ago after the threat of COVID-19 exacer- Government Analyst’s report confirming the -economynext.com daily supplies, erratic in some areas, sporadic in most, and smooth and well- functioning in rare cases is dependent on having ready cash.Up and down the Apparel industry appeals for re-opening, US donates $1.3 million to help income scales people are digging into savings with the lower-income groups salary support over coronavirus crisis crowding the pawn shops when it is pos- fight COVID-19 sible to get to those. COLOMBO - Sri Lanka’s apparel industry rary relief requested to increase worker in- COLOMBO - The United States has given US$ identify additional priority areas for assistance, it has asked for early re-opening of factories to come plus aid in the current working capital At the meeting of the political party 1.3 million to help Sri Lanka protect healthcare added. For more than 60 years, the United States leaders held with President Gotabaya avoid competitors taking their business, sus- dilemma of companies,” JAAF said. workers in the fight against the novel coronavirus has worked to ensure Sri Lankans are healthy pension of provident fund contributions and Vietnam, while actively tracing contacts Rajapaksa on Monday (6), the Samagi with an assurance more support will be given to and resilient through times of health and disas- Jana Balavegaya (SJB) called on the support and more credit without collateral to is largely operating its factories. It has also boost laboratory testing. The US embassy in Co- ter-related crises, the statement noted, adding pay 400,000 direct workers. suspended social security contributions for government to improve the distribution lombo in a statement issued yesterday (9) said the assistance has helped eliminate malaria; saved of food and medicines to citizens unable The industry is expecting to lose US$ 1.5 all workers. assistance was provided through the US Agency thousands of lives during the dengue epidemic billion of order in the next quarter, hitting JAAF said there was no substance for to move because of curfews, “as there for International Development (USAID), and was through state-of-the-art equipment; and support- are serious issues with these supplies.” 400,000 workers and over 2.0 million in- workers especially small firms. While export- aimed at slowing the spread of the virus with in- ed individuals to know their HIV status as well as direct workers, Sri Lanka’s Joint Apparel ers have lost markets, apparel firms catering Anecdotal evidence and the bulk of fection prevention and control support. other HIV-related innovations. the social media chatter in the past two Association Forum (JAAF) said in a state- to domestic market was also hit with no sales. The statement quoted US Ambassador to Sri The statement also noted that the US has been ment, cautioning that unless factories are The central bank is re-financing loans which weeks has moved from the fears of the Lanka Alaina B. Teplitz as saying, “Through the world's largest provider of bilateral assistance spread of COVID-19 to serious concern re-opened “a very serious trade shift that have been limited Rs 25 million per com- even the most difficult times, Americans and Sri in public health and that since 2009, American may take place in favour of our competitor pany, the JAAF said, urging the loan limit be about the availability of food, medicine Lankans support one another as partners and taxpayers have generously made available more and general hygiene products such as countries.” Competitors like Vietnam and relaxed for smaller forms to enable them to friends,” and that donation reflects the enduring than $100 billion in health assistance and nearly Cambodia are open, the group pointed out. pay a two month basic salary to workers. soap, detergents, insecticides and femi- relationship between the two countries, resilient $70 billion in humanitarian assistance globally. nine sanitary ware.The decision by the “Suspension of EPF/ ETF for six months for even in the face of this global pandemic and the The generosity, it said was underscored by US’ employers and employees is another tempo- -economynext.com/ENCL government to keep pharmacies con- country was proud to provide critical support to contributions to several crucial multilateral part- tinuously open from yesterday (9) will help Sri Lanka combat COVID-19. ners in 2019, including contributions to the World bring much relief. Funding will provide Sri Lanka support to ac- Health Organization (WHO), which exceeded Prof.CharithaHerath, who is a key tivate case finding and event-based surveillance, $400 million, almost double the second larg- part of the Presidential Task Force for technical experts for response and prepared- est member state contribution; support to the UN Essential Services, said consumers can- ness, risk communication, infection prevention Refugee Agency (UNHCR) of nearly $1.7 billion, not expect normal services.“These are and control, and more, it said, assuring that the critical going forward, as refugee populations are not normal times, and this is also not a United States will help prepare Sri Lankan labo- uniquely vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic; situation where there is an armed con- ratory systems for large-scale COVID-19 testing. and to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) which flict,” he pointed out. The United States is coordinating with the Gov- totalled more than $700 million. Former Governor and Human Rights ernment of Sri Lanka, and other stakeholders to -ENCL activist RajithaKeerthiTennekoon said the government needs to “loosen up and allow the markets to function as ITJP says they were.” In most areas local groups from Welfare Associations to the ubiquitous Militarized COVID-19 response raises Death Donation Societies have stepped up. But almost everywhere it appears serious human rights concerns the local “corner shops” and their mod- COLOMBO - “The lack of civilian oversight ing threatened with arrest. This crisis shouldn’t ern equivalents are doing well. Many of over Sri Lanka’s militarized COVID-19 response become an excuse to erode civil liberties yet fur- them have been given permits by the raises some very serious human rights concerns,” ther,” Sooka cautioned. The press release also authorities to purchase in bulk and are the International Truth and Justice Project highlighted that the legal basis for Silva’s ap- serving their regular customers. (ITJP) said in a press release yesterday (9). pointment was unclear “as there is no gazette Police have warned them not to allow It said, appointing military personnel to man- notification establishing the COVID-19 National too many shoppers to crowd their shops age the crisis without any civilian oversight does Operation Centre, as for other COVID-19 entities. and to only let in one person at a time. - ISHARA S. KODIKARA / AFP not bode well for Sri Lanka, and quoted Executive “This raises the question of who in the civilian In a few places residents we spoke to Director YasminSooka, as saying, “Sri Lanka has administration holds Shavendra Silva account- said local traders were running their Residents watch a music band performed by Sri Lankan Navy personnel as they play an alleged war criminal heading its COVID-19 able, other than the president who is himself ex- own telephone order system and ac- outside a housing complex in Colombo yesterday (9), during a government-imposed response, who served in the same army regiment military,” the release said. ITJP has called on the cepting payment electronically. nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus as the president, raising questions about trans- Sri Lankan government to “establish a civilian, While the middle-classes appear to parency, accountability and oversight. It also non-partisan, independent response committee be functioning at some level people on faulted Lt. Gen. Silva for specifically identifying that has oversight of the government’s response,” government assistance are scrambling COVID-19 patients who are Muslims in public noting the military and police should not be al- for cash and supplies, opposition politi- OMP urges Govt. statements. lowed to simply do whatever they want to combat cians said. “Experienced professionals from the civil ser- the pandemic. COVID-19 should not be used an Herath said the government has set vice should be in charge of coordinating complex excuse to impose military control through stealth aside over Rs. seven billion to service Ensure families of disappeared public health and distribution issues, not the especially by officials already discredited, the or- these people on Samurdhi and other as- army... It is essential that the public be allowed ganization cautioned. sistance schemes. included in COVID-19 relief measures to question the response operation without be- -TG/ENCL -economynext.com COLOMBO - The Office on Missing Per- ing an “extremely vulnerable” group. OMP sons (OMP), has urged the Sri Lankan gov- cited the Gazette No 2168/8 dated March ernment to ensure families of the missing 6, 2020, issued for the Presidential office In Brief and disappeared are included as beneficiar- Task Force to “take steps to focus special Plugging gaps in COVID-19 contact Former MPs urge, reconvene slapped to contain COVID-19 entered its third ies for rations and other state assistance attention on women, low-income families tracing Parliament week. With a blanket ban on the manufacture schemes, to help with the difficulties of the and persons directly at risk when undertak- and sale, there were reports of illicit distilleries Authorities began quarantining all close Select members of Sri Lanka’s dissolved coronavirus crisis. ing above measures” and emphasized “the mushrooming across the island to fill the void contacts (F1) of the confirmed coronavirus Parliament in an unofficial “online parliamen- In a letter addressed to the president, prevailing situation in the country has had left by the ban on legitimate spirits, police and (index case or F0) and aim to test all quaran- tary session” hosted by a Colombo-based pri- prime minister and chairman of the Presi- dire consequences on the families of the excise officials said. dential Task Force on Tuesday (7), OMP disappeared, as they are no longer able to tined persons before release amid mounting vate think tank yesterday (9), called for parlia- chairman, SaliyaPieris, outlined the threat earn their wages and they have limited or evidence that incubation of SARS-Cov-2 virus ment to be reconvened immediately with one Help for women and girls posed by COVID-19 in Sri Lanka and ac- no assets.” incubation may take up to 20 days or more in of the former MPs saying, given that there is The United Nations Population Fund (UNF- knowledged how the measures taken to The letter recommended “that families a minority of cases. no guarantee general elections can be held be- PA) has handed over prepositioned maternity manage the virus have “created difficulties, of the missing and disappeared be included This follows a Sri Lankan returnee from fore at least June 2, it was imperative the in- and dignity kits worth more than Rs 3 million particularly for the more vulnerable sec- in any proposed relief measures, including Italy, being confirmed as COVID-19 positive stitution that passes laws and oversees public (USD 36,000) to the government in response tions of Sri Lankan society.” the provision of food and financial assis- after completing14 days of quarantine. Direc- finance is allowed to continue. to the COVID-19 pandemic. The kits contain- The letter detailed the necessity to in- tance in response to the current crisis”. tor General Health Service said health officials Hooch on the high ing hygiene and sanitary items, as well as oth- clude the families of the missing and disap- will test all persons who are placed in quaran- Officials said the manufacture of moonshine er items are explicitly tailored to the needs of peared in relief measures due to them be- -TG tine, and 7 and 13 days after. has spiked as a nation-wide indefinite curfew mothers, women and girls of reproductive age in local communities, the UNFPA said. It is all a lie Claim Muslims ignored COVID-19 curfew at mosque misleading COLOMBO - A claim shared on Facebook persons who don't heed orders, to be shot on increase the risk of COVID-19 infection in the published by a local television channel on April and several Sri Lankan news websites that sight, as they are risking the lives of all the area. “This was due to a misunderstanding," 3, 2020, villagers can be seen objecting to the Muslims at a mosque in Sri Lanka reacted citizens of this country.” Beruwala is a coastal he said. "The villagers had feared the disease mosque being used as a COVID-19 test site. violently after authorities told them their gath- town in southern Sri Lanka where five villages would spread as they thought the individuals At the video’s 20-minute two-second mark, a ering was in violation of the country's novel were recently placed on lockdown after a per- who were being tested were actually infected voice can be heard suggesting an alternative coronavirus curfew is misleading. Police and son tested positive for COVID-19 in the area. with the virus. They had locked the medi- location: “Go there and do it, don’t do it here. public health officials said locals were in fact A similar claim was also shared on Facebook cal team in the mosque as a result. We were Those people can also be checked there. There asked to gather at the mosque to receive tests and on various Sri Lankan news websites. But informed of the incident and I immediately is a ground there, go check there...” to detect COVID-19, the disease caused by the the claim is misleading. deployed a team to settle the situation. Tests Additionally, at the 26-minute 36-second novel coronavirus. The scuffle that occurred at JanakaVithanage, the officer-in-charge at were successfully concluded after it was ex- mark, the video shows the public health in- the event was sparked over fears that the test- Beruwala Police Station, told AFP the villag- plained that the tests were performed to en- spector for the Mahagoda area of Beruwala, ing site would make the village more suscepti- ers were summoned to the mosque by medical sure their safety by preventing community Madura Shalika, giving a rundown of the April ble to infections, they said. professionals to receive COVID-19 tests. transmissions." Dr.WarunaSenevirathne, the 2 event. His comments translate to English in The claim was published on Facebook on “This incident occurred on April 2, 2020 at Medical Officer of Health for Beruwala, also part as: “Yesterday a team of medical offic- April 3 and shared in a group with more than the Kuttimala mosque when a team compris- said that the event on April 2 was a medical ers visited from the Nagoda General hospital. 71,000 followers and has been shared more ing a doctor from the Kalutara hospital and gathering. “The medical team had performed There is a group of individuals who evaded than 9,300 times. The Sinhala-language text several Public Health Inspectors visited the about six tests when a group of agitated villag- testing the day before. Therefore, we needed overlaid on the image posted translates to area and convened several individuals to con- ers expressed their objection to the mosque to get samples from them. At that point there English as: “At a time when an island-wide duct sample tests to identify if there were more being used for the purpose as they were wor- was a fear in the minds of the people but we curfew has been imposed to contain the spread COVID-19 infections in the area," he said by ried the disease would spread in their village," explained and settled doubts. Otherwise, there of coronavirus, a Beruwala mosque convenes phone on Monday (6). Vithanage added that he said. was no other issue; the Muslim community people. Yells at officers who went to disperse minor scuffles arose after a few residents ex- The tests at the mosque in Beruwala was has been very supportive of the work we do.” the crowd. Dear President, please order these pressed concern that the testing site would also covered by local media. In the news clip, -AFP 4 APRIL 10 - 12, 2020 WEEKEND EXPRESS HOT TOPICS

or arroll ad ardia orreodet aid iratri ad e ard From blocked-off Coronavirus invades beaches to bench bans Saudi inner sanctum Easter lockdowns RIYADH - The senior Saudi prince who is governor of Riyadh is in intensive care with the coronavirus. Several dozen other mem- around the world bers of the royal family have been sickened as well. And doctors at the elite hospital that DUBLIN treats al-Saud clan members are preparing Authorities around the world are preparing to use curfews, as many as 500 beds for an expected influx roadblocks, travel bans, surveillance technology and threats of of other royals and those closest to them, ac- fines and arrests to deter people from travelling and congre- cording to an internal “high alert” sent out by gating over Easter. Here is a look at Easter lockdowns around hospital officials. the world: “Directives are to be ready for VIPs from Australia around the country,” the operators of the elite Police will use cameras and number-plate recognition tech- facility, the King Faisal Specialist Hospital, nology to monitor traffic and patrol caravan parks and other wrote in the alert, sent electronically Tuesday holiday spots. “People will be given one opportunity to pack (7) night to senior doctors. A copy was ob- up, go back to your home state and go back home. Otherwise tained by The New York Times. we will, unfortunately, have to issue tickets,” said Mick Fuller, “We don’t know how many cases we will get the New South Wales police commissioner. “We will be using but high alert,” the message stated, instruct- all of our powers and all of our technology to try and identify ing that “all chronic patients to be moved out those people who shouldn’t be in NSW.” ASAP” and that only “top urgent cases” will be accepted. It said any sick staff members Brazil would now be treated at a less elite hospital to Beach towns along Brazil’s south-eastern coast are sealing - Aamir QURESHI / AFP make room for the royals. themselves off to prevent an influx of tourists. At least seven Women queue to collect cash of financial assistance through a mobile wallet under the governmental Ehsaas Emergency More than six weeks after Saudi Arabia re- towns along the São Paulo coastline have reportedly banned Cash Programme for families in need during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure ported its first case, the coronavirus is strik- outsiders from entering in the lead up to Easter Sunday, and against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Islamabad yesterday (9) ing terror into the heart of the kingdom’s anyone who disobeys the order faces having their cars towed ae lar ith rea royal family. or being expelled. Police in Rio de Janeiro state are reportedly As many as 150 royals in the kingdom are reinforcing roadblocks to stop tourists hitting the beaches east now believed to have contracted the virus, of Rio. In Búzios, a resort town 100 miles east of the capital, including members of its lesser branches, ac- authorities have created a hotline for locals to report hotels or World seeks economic remedy cording to a person close to the family. guesthouses offering Easter accommodation to tourists in defi- King Salman, 84, has secluded himself ance of the lockdown. Access to beaches is banned, even for for his safety in an island palace near the locals. as virus death toll mounts city of Jeddah on the Red Sea, while Crown France Prince Mohammed bin Salman, his son and About 160,000 police and gendarmes have been deployed BELGIUM -World powers scram- day before, while its total passed Security Council was the first on the 34-year-old de facto ruler, has retreated across the country to make sure people stay home during what bled yesterday (9) to build a global 15,000. the crisis since it began. Led by Ger- with many of his ministers to the remote site is normally the weekend of the Grand Départ. In Paris, the city response to the human tragedy and In Italy, the country's youngest many, nine of the council's 10 non- on the same coast where he has promised to hall and police prefecture tightened the city’s lockdown in an- once-in-a-century economic catas- COVID-19 patient, a two-month-old permanent members requested the build a futuristic city known as Neom. ticipation of sunny weather. Parisians were told they could not trophe caused by the coronavirus baby girl, was reportedly released closed-door meeting last week, fed Like the hospitalization this week of the do “individual physical activity” on the streets between 10:00 epidemic, as death tolls in the US from hospital, a bright moment of up with the body's inaction over the British prime minister or the deaths last a.m. and 7:00 p.m. There was confusion about whether this and Europe soared higher. hope in a country with 17,669 dead. unprecedented global crisis. month of several top Iranian officials, the af- included walking, until authorities clarified they meant jogging In a locked-down New York, the Madrid and Rome are seeking as- Talks are moving in the right di- fliction of the al-Saud royal clan is the latest and running. UN Security Council was to meet on sistance from EU partners to rebuild rection, diplomats said, and Wash- evidence of the pandemic’s egalitarianism. Local mayors are taking matters into their own hands. Peo- the pandemic for the first time. And, their economies in the wake of the ington is no longer insisting UN The virus afflicts the richest princes and the ple in Biarritz were told there was to be no strolling and “no by video conference, EU finance min- disaster, but Germany has rejected language refer to the virus as coming poorest migrant workers with no discrimina- sitting on local benches or seats unless waiting for public trans- isters were wrangling over how to the idea of joint borrowing and the from China, which had infuriated Be- tion — at least, until the moment they begin to port or for urgent health reasons for more than two minutes.” bail out their worst hit members Italy Netherlands is blocking a compro- ijing. Despite the pandemic's origins, seek testing or treatment. The announcement was rescinded after an outcry. and Spain. mise solution. EU finance ministers the United States is now the country The sickness in the royal family, though, "We anticipate the worst economic were to meet later yesterday by vide- hardest hit and UN host city New may also shed new light on the motivation Germany fallout since the Great Depression," oconference for the second late-night York is now America's most infected. behind the speed and scale of the kingdom’s Authorities in many of the 16 states have said police will pa- said International Monetary Fund crisis talks of the week to try to agree On Wednesday (8), for the second response to the pandemic. trol autobahns and check whether vehicle number plates cor- chief Kristalina Georgieva, warning terms to allow hard-hit members to straight day, the US recorded nearly Its rulers began restricting travel to Saudi respond to the local area. Exceptions will be made for parents that all but a handful of countries will access funds. 2,000 deaths. There has also been a Arabia and shut down pilgrimages to the who do not live with their children or couples who live apart. see incomes fall and urging govern- "If we do not seize the opportunity week of record tolls in Britain, where Muslim holy sites of Mecca and Medina even Churches are closed for services, which are being lives- ments to provide "lifelines" to busi- to put new life into the European pro- Prime Minister Boris Johnson spent before the kingdom had reported its first case, treamed, but can be visited at other times for prayers and to nesses and households alike. ject, the risk of failure is real," Italian a fourth night in intensive care, his on March 2. Authorities have now cut off all light candles. Parks are open but not sports grounds, play- On the spiritual front, Pope Fran- Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte told condition said to be improving. air and land travel into or out of its borders grounds or camping grounds. In theory, Easter egg hunts – a cis celebrated Maundy Thursday the BBC, suggesting the very future "The prime minister had a good and between internal provinces. They have German tradition for centuries – can go ahead in public places with The Mass of the Lord's Sup- of the EU was at stake. night and continues to improve in placed all of its biggest cities under a strict as long as physical distancing rules are observed. per, but he was unable to perform Christine Lagarde, the head of the intensive care at St Thomas' Hospi- 24-hour lockdown, allowing only short trips Sailors can take out their boats, and kayaking, canoeing the tradition of washing the feet of European Central Bank, said it was tal. He's in good spirits," a Downing to the closest grocery or drugstores, and they and stand-up paddle-boarding are also allowed. Day trips are the faithful in case of infection. And "vital" that ministers hatch a plan big Street spokesman said. have indicated that they are likely to cancel not explicitly forbidden but most tourist spots and nearby car Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali enough to meet the challenge, warn- And the pandemic is marching into the annual haj pilgrimage scheduled for this parks will be closed. Barbecues on balconies and in gardens are Khamenei warned Muslim worship- ing: "If not all countries are cured, areas previously only lightly affected: summer. A pillar of the Islamic faith that allowed under certain conditions. Some fines and rules vary pers to pray at home rather than in the others will suffer." European in Africa, Ethiopia declared a state draws 2.5 million Muslims to Mecca, the haj across regions. In Lower Saxony it is forbidden to buy cut flow- crowded mosques, even when the companies are also suffering under of emergency and Liberia said it was has taken place every year without inter- ers from an open-air market but you may visit a carwash. In holy month of Ramadan begins later a public lockdown, which health ex- locking down its capital Monrovia. ruption since 1798, when Napoleon invaded Brandenburg the opposite is the case. this month. perts say is vital to slow the virus' The continent also faces vast eco- Egypt. Ireland Meanwhile, the number of world- spread but has effectively frozen nomic damage, with the World Bank “If it is reaching into the family, then it be- comes an urgent issue,” said Kristian Coates After weeks of relying on persuasion to keep people indoors, wide cases of the novel coronavirus economic life. In one example, Ger- warning that sub-Saharan Africa since it spread from China earlier this man airline Lufthansa warned it was could slip into its first recession in a Ulrichsen, a professor at Rice University who the government has given gardaí new powers to restrict peo- studies the kingdom. ple’s movements and gatherings over the next five days. Penal- year topped 1.5 million, according to losing one million euros ($1.08 mil- quarter of a century. an AFP tally. More than 88,981 peo- lion) an hour and would need state At the global level, the World Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil ex- ties for violations include fines of up to €2,500 and up to six porter, so far has reported 41 deaths from the months in prison. A person cannot leave home without a rea- ple have died. Alongside the personal aid. The coronavirus slump has also Health Organization and US Presi- tragedies and the pressure on over- exacerbated the instability in world dent Donald Trump are embroiled coronavirus and 2,795 confirmed cases. But sonable excuse such as legal, medical and family obligations, while imploring residents to stay home, Saudi accessing essential services or exercising within 2km of home. burdened hospitals, there has been energy markets, and on Thursday top in an ugly war of words, with Trump a stark economic toll, with the World oil producers from OPEC like Saudi accusing the UN body of "blowing it" health officials warned Tuesday that the epi- Israel Trade Organization warning of the Arabia and its OPEC+ partners, in- and of being too close to China. WHO demic was just getting started. The number of The government imposed a full curfew on Wednesday (8) af- "worst recession of our lifetimes." cluding Russia, met to discuss cut- chief TedrosAdhanom Ghebreyesus infections over the next few weeks “will range ternoon lasting until yesterday (9) morning to cover the Jewish The worst-hit countries in Europe ting production to boost prices. urged unity at a time of global crisis, from a minimum of 10,000 to a maximum Passover holiday, traditionally a gathering of friends and fam- -- the worst hit continent -- are Italy The virus has travelled around the saying: "If you don't want many more of 200,000,” the health minister, Tawfiq al- ily to eat, drink and commemorate the Israelites’ flight from and Spain, where daily death tolls whole world, and confined more than body bags, then you refrain from po- Rabiah, said, according to the official Saudi Egyptian slavery. Several rabbis have made an exemption for are now down from their peaks but a third of humanity to their homes, liticizing it." Press Agency. the feast, ruling that people do not have to gather around a still running high, despite strict lock- but there has been a marked lack of "It's like playing with fire." Exactly how far the virus may already have single table and can instead convene via video conferencing. downs. Spain's daily fatalities fell to international solidarity. Yesterday’s spread inside the kingdom, though, is impos- -The Guardian 683 yesterday, down from 757 the videoconference meeting of the UN -Agence France-Presse sible to determine. As in many jurisdictions, Saudi Arabia has been able to conduct only limited testing, with its principal medical eter iella laboratory working around the clock to try In Yemen to keep up with the demand. “This has been Taliban protest a challenge for everyone, and Saudi Arabia US, Russian is not an exception,” Joanna Gaines, a senior As Kabul releases another epidemiologist with the US Centres for Dis- Saudi-UAE unilateral spacefarers blast ease Control and Prevention, who works with the Saudi government as part of a longstand- 100 insurgents ing training program, said in an interview ceasefire begins off for International from Riyadh. KABUL - The Afghan government said it would release another A spokesman for the Saudi Embassy in BEIRUT - A two-week ceasefire declared by the Saudi-UAE coa- 100 Taliban inmates yesterday (9), even though the insurgents Space Station Washington did not respond to a request for lition fighting Yemen's Houthi rebels came into effect yesterday have walked out of talks over a comprehensive prisoner swap comment. (9), but the armed group says it will not abide unless a year-long and dismissed Kabul's piecemeal freeing of captives as "unac- MOSCOW - A trio of US and Russian space- The infection and treatment of the governor siege on the impoverished nation is lifted. ceptable." farers blasted off for the International Space of Riyadh, Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Ab- The suspension of hostilities by the alliance took hold at 12:00 The administration of President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday Station (ISS) from the Russian-operated Bai- dulaziz Al Saud, was confirmed by two doc- noon local time (09:00 GMT), Saudi Arabia's state-run news agen- (8) released 100 low-risk Taliban prisoners who had vowed never konur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan yesterday tors with ties to the elite hospital and two oth- cy SPA quoted coalition spokesperson Colonel Turki al-Malki as to return to the battlefield, and officials said the same number of (9). ers close to the royal family. A former military saying. insurgents with similar profiles would be set free Thursday. US astronaut Christopher Cassidy and Rus- officer believed to be in his late 70s, he is a The announcement came days after the United Nations called The releases come as Ghani faces an ongoing political crisis, US sian cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan nephew of King Salman and a grandson of the for a halt in fighting amid the coronavirus pandemic. fury over a floundering peace process and a growing coronavirus Vagner travelled aboard a Russian Soyuz founder of the modern kingdom. As governor SPA said the ceasefire was intended to help prevent a coronavi- epidemic in Afghanistan, where officials fear the disease could spacecraft and were scheduled to dock with of Riyadh, the capital, Prince Faisal holds a rus outbreak in Yemen, while also allowing for a de-escalation in run riot through the country's prisons. the ISS's Poisk module after about six hours post previously occupied by a favourite son the fighting. It was also aimed at giving the Houthis an opportunity Kabul "will release 100 Taliban prisoners today based on their of spaceflight. The space station orbits about of the former King Abdullah and before that to join UN-sponsored talks on a settlement to the five-year conflict health condition, age and length of remaining sentence as part of 400 kilometres above Earth and has been a by King Salman himself. The royal family in- that has killed tens of thousands of people. our efforts for peace and containment of COVID-19," Javid Faisal, collaboration of mostly US and Russian crews. cludes thousands of princes, many of whom Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a Houthi spokesman, said the Saudi- spokesman for the Office of the National Security Council (NSC), The laboratory is tasked with conducting sci- travel routinely to Europe. Some are believed UAE coalition was still using their air power to impose the block- said on Twitter. entific experiments that would be impossible to have brought back the virus, according to ade. "We will continue to fight and target their military installa- Taliban spokesman ZabihullahMujahid told AFP the step was on Earth's surface. doctors and people close to the family. tions and industrial sites since they continue with the siege. So we inadequate. A small Taliban team came to Kabul last week to meet "All that we're learning is going to help us The first case the kingdom acknowledged don't consider it to be a ceasefire," he said. the government to discuss a comprehensive prisoner swap that go to the Moon and to Mars," Cassidy said in a was a Saudi who had returned home after "There has to be total end of the siege or else the war will con- was initially supposed to see 5,000 Taliban released in return for statement that US space agency NASA posted visiting Iran, a regional epicentre of the virus. tinue." 1,000 Afghan security forces. on Twitter yesterday. The three men spent a After a handful of similar cases were detected, The conflict, widely seen in the region as a proxy war between But they abandoned the "fruitless" meetings on Tuesday and month in quarantine ahead of the launch amid Saudi authorities responded by locking down Saudi Arabia and Iran, has been in a military deadlock for years. returned to the southern province of Kandahar. "Our stance has concerns over the highly infectious novel coro- areas of the kingdom’s eastern province that Riyadh last year took over most of the costly and unpopular cam- been very clear on prisoners swap," Mujahid said. navirus, which has caused a global pandemic are home to many members of the Shiite paign after key coalition partner the United Arab Emirates (UAE) "Now, hundreds of prisoners are released on a daily basis. This in recent months. Muslim minority, deemed more likely to have significantly scaled down its presence. Earlier, Mohammed Abdul- is not part of our process and it is unacceptable to us." "We feel fantastic," Cassidy told a televised visited Shiite holy sites or seminaries in Iran. salam, spokesman of the Houthi movement, said the group sent When asked why the government was still releasing Taliban in- press conference a day before the launch. Jour- Three doctors with ties to hospitals in the to the UN a comprehensive plan to end the war. "[Our proposal] mates even though the prisoner swap appeared to have collapsed, nalists were not allowed to enter Baikonur as a kingdom said the biggest outbreaks of the vi- will lay the foundation for a political dialogue and a transitional Faisal said: "We need to push the peace process forward." The precaution. The spacefarers, who are scheduled rus were taking place among non-Saudis. Mi- period," Abdulsalam said in a Twitter post on Wednesday (8). United States signed a withdrawal deal with the Taliban in late to spend 196 days aboard the space station, grant workers from Southeast Asia or poorer Last week, UN special envoy Martin Griffiths sent a proposal to February that required the Afghan government -- which was not a were as an additional precaution not allowed Arab countries make up about a third of the the internationally-recognised government, the Saudi-UAE mili- signatory to the accord -- to participate in the prisoner exchange. to say goodbye to their families in person. The kingdom’s population of roughly 33 million. tary coalition that supports it, and the Houthi movement that con- That step was supposed to have led to "intra-Afghan" peace talks new additions to the ISS crew were to join US Most live crowded together in large camps trols the capital, Sanaa, and most of northern Yemen. starting on March 10. astronauts Andrew Morgan and Jessica Meir outside the major cities, sleeping several to a The proposal called for a nationwide ceasefire, including halting No one knows when, or if, they may now start. and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka. Next room and riding to work crammed into buses all air, ground and naval hostilities, and for the parties to ensure In the agreement, the US and other foreign forces will withdraw week, on April 17, Morgan, Meir and Skripoch- — ideal conditions for the transmission of a compliance by forces on the front lines. from Afghanistan in 13 months, and the Taliban must talk to Ka- ka are scheduled to return to Earth. virus. -Al Jazeera/Agencies bul and stick to several security guarantees. -New York Times -AFP -dpa WEEKEND EXPRESS APRIL 10 - 12, 2020 5 REALITY CHECK

o ara e arera effre ettlea ad atol raae Glimpse into A pure blue sky pandemic’s India is savouring impact on a rare upside to coronavirus Latin America NEW DELHI — There are countless downsides to the world’s getting walloped by the coronavirus QUITO— Bodies left out on sidewalks. Authori- and being put under severe lockdown. ties struggling to keep track of deaths. Funeral par- But here in one of the most polluted cities on lours, out of coffins, using cardboard boxes made earth, where many people routinely wear face by companies that usually package bananas and masks to filter out the filth, something very rare shrimp. and wonderful has recently emerged: a pure blue The calamity unfolding in Ecuador’s business sky. capital, Guayaquil, offers an ominous look at how Because there are so few cars on the road, few officials’ ability to respond to the coronavirus pan- factories belching out black smoke and almost no demic in Latin America can be dangerously ham- active construction sites to create clouds of chok- strung by the inequality, weak public services and ing dust, pollution levels in New Delhi, India’s fragile economies that mark much of the region. megalopolis capital, have dropped to remarkably “What we’re seeing in Guayaquil is what can low levels. happen in most of South America’s large cities, At night there are stars. During the day the air where pockets of cosmopolitan richness coexist is so clean that, for once, you can’t taste it, free with widespread poverty,” said Alexandra Mon- of the usual smoky metallic tang. One cruelty of cada, who directs activities in Ecuador for interna- the coronavirus is to be under a tight lockdown tional aid organization CARE. right now, with parks bolted shut, ordered to stay A country of 17 million, Ecuador has one of the - Handout via The New York Times indoors unless vitally necessary, only to look out highest official rates of coronavirus infections, and Dr.Adil el-Tayar, a transplant surgeon from Sudan, who died on March 25, 2020, from the coronavirus while practicing your windows and see this. deaths, per capita in Latin America. Old-timers say Delhi’s air hasn’t been this clear It is still unclear why it has been affected so medicine in Britain. In a country where anti-immigrant sentiment gave rise to the Brexit movement, Britain’s health care system depends heavily on foreign doctors, who are now on the front lines fighting the epidemic for decades. deeply. Some experts believe the virus may have “I look at the sky quite often and enjoy its blue- travelled along the country’s deep migratory links ness from my balcony,” said Sudhir Kumar Bose, with hard-hit Spain and Italy, then spread as Ecua- eai eller 80, a retired English professor. dor lagged in adopting social distancing measures. “I don’t know how long this will last,” he added. Ecuador’s official coronavirus death count rose Eight UK doctors died from coronavirus “But right now I feel much better.” to 220 on Tuesday (7), the latest number available, It’s not just Delhi, but Chennai, Ahmadabad, with 182 other cases listed as “probable” but un- Bengaluru and Ghaziabad. All across India, cit- confirmed — higher than its larger and more popu- ies can suddenly breathe. Los Angeles, New York, lous neighbours Peru and Colombia. Beijing, Seoul and Milan — they have experienced Ecuador’s president, Lenín Moreno, has warned They were all immigrants less pollution, too, hit hard by the virus and re- that the real figure is much higher but that because strictions on people’s movement. testing is limited the true extent of infections is im- LONDON — The eight men moved long waits for green cards, New York Britain saves the roughly $270,000 in But those places aren’t nearly as polluted as possible to determine. to Britain from different corners of its and New Jersey have already cleared taxpayer money that it costs to train India. Nowhere is. Last year, once again, India Most deaths have occurred in Guayaquil, a dy- former empire, all of them doctors or the way for graduates of overseas med- doctors locally, a boon to a system topped the charts of the worst polluted as home namic port city of three million on the Pacific, doctors-to-be, becoming foot soldiers ical schools to suit up in the coronavi- that does not spend enough on medi- to 14 of the 20 cities with the most hazardous air. which became the first major metropolis in the re- in the effort to build a free universal rus response. cal education to staff its own hospitals. Delhi is among them, but last week it recorded gion to see its public services break down. health service after World War II. But Britain, where nearly a third That effectively leaves Britain depend- a pollution reading of 38 on the Air Quality In- Since the start of the crisis in late March, the Now their names have become of doctors in National Health Service ing on the largess of countries with dex, about as good as anywhere in the world and government has recovered 1,350 bodies from stacked atop a grim list: the first, and hospitals are immigrants, has especial- weaker health care systems to train its stunning to Delhiites who have become steeled to Guayaquil’s homes, according to the office of Jorge so far only, doctors publicly reported ly strong links to the medical school own workforce. Even so, the doctors a reading of 150 AQI — on a good day. Wated, who heads the task force responsible for to have died after catching the coro- systems of its former colonies, making are hampered by thousands of dollars Sometimes, especially in the winter, as cold air picking up the dead in the city. About 60 bodies navirus in Britain’s aching National it a natural landing place. in annual visa fees and, on top of that, condenses car exhaust and factory smoke and are collected daily, his office said. Health Service. For a country ripped That was true for el-Tayar, 64, the a $500 surcharge for using the very wind speeds drop, Delhi’s AQI (which measures The virus tore through luxurious gated commu- apart in recent years by Brexit and oldest son of a government clerk and a health service they work for. different airborne pollutants) can shoot up to 500 nities and poor hillside neighbourhoods. Within the anti-immigrant movement that housewife from Atbara, Sudan, a rail- Excluded from the most prestigious or more. That gives many people chronic coughs days, the explosion of mortality overwhelmed au- birthed it, the deaths of the eight doc- way city on the Nile. disciplines, immigrant doctors have and more serious lung disease. thorities, and hundreds of bodies began to accu- tors — from Egypt, India, Nigeria, Pa- He had 11 siblings, and one left a come to dominate so-called Cinder- But now sick people are savouring the reprieve. mulate in hospitals, morgues and homes. kistan, Sri Lanka and Sudan — attest special impression: Osman, a brother, ella specialties, like family and elderly “My old patients say they can’t believe it,” said Lourdes Frías said she spent five days trying to to the extraordinary dependence of who became ill as a child and died medicine, turning them into pillars of Dr. Arvind Kumar, a Delhi chest surgeon who get someone to collect the body of an elderly neigh- Britain’s treasured health service on without suitable medical treatment. Britain’s health system. And unlike has been studying the consequences of living in a bour who died last week after having respiratory workers from abroad. Though el-Tayar rarely spoke of his choosier Britain-born doctors, they place with bad air. “They are feeling lighter, they problems. Emergency phone lines were constantly It is a story tinged with racism, as brother’s death, he gave the same have historically gone to work in what are using their inhalers less frequentlyand most busy, she said; on the rare occasions when she got white, British doctors have largely name to his oldest son. “In my mind, I one lawmaker in 1961 called “the rotte- of them are feeling better.” through, she was told no one was available to help. dominated the prestigious disciplines think that’s what led him to medicine,” nest, worst hospitals in the country,” Of course, everyone knows this is not sus- As the days went on, others in her building in the while foreign doctors have typically el-Khidir said. “He didn’t want anyone the very ones that most needed a doc- tainable. The clear skies are a consequence of a Socio Vivienda neighbourhood of Guayaquil began found work in places and practices else in his family to feel that.” tor. When el-Tayar moved to Britain in tight lockdown — the world’s biggest and one of to clamour for the body to be taken to the street. that are apparently putting them on After graduating from the University the 1990s, he was following a pipeline the most severe — that has shuttered factories, Police eventually removed the remains. the dangerous front lines of the coro- of Khartoum, el-Tayar decided to help laid by the family of another doctor grounded flights, evicted taxis, rickshaws and “Our situation is a nightmare from which we are navirus pandemic. address a tide of kidney disease sweep- who has now died after contracting the crowded buses from the roads and brought the unable to wake up,” Frías said. “When people were standing on ing across sub-Saharan Africa. So he coronavirus: Dr.Amged el-Hawrani, economy to a screeching halt. Many Indians are The surge in deaths in Guayaquil — and the im- the street clapping for NHS workers, moved to Britain in the early 1990s 55. obeying the orders to stay indoors in a lockdown ages circulating on social media of bodies wrapped I thought, ‘A year and a half ago, they to train as a specialist transplant sur- An ear, nose and throat specialist, that has become a national house arrest for a na- in plastic and left on doorsteps — has exposed the were talking about Brexit and how geon. He returned to Sudan around el-Hawrani was about 11 when his fa- tion of 1.3 billion people. pandemic’s potential effects on the poor in devel- these immigrants have come into our 2010 and helped set up a transplant ther, a radiologist, brought the family Environmentalists are using these strange oping countries, where access to health care and country and want to take our jobs,” program there. in 1975 from Khartoum to Taunton, times to make a point. One of the most outspo- other resources is faulty even in the best of times. said Dr.Hisham el-Khidir, whose But the deteriorating political situ- a town in southwestern England, and ken, Jai Dhar Gupta, an Ivy League-educated en- Like many Guayaquil residents who work in cousin Dr.Adil el-Tayar, a transplant ation in Sudan and the recent birth then Bristol, a bigger city nearby. vironmental activist and entrepreneur, has been the informal economy, without benefits or job surgeon, died March 25 from the coro- of a son persuaded el-Tayar to settle Many Sudanese doctors at the time fighting for years against the widely held belief security, Frías, a house cleaner, lost her ability to navirus in western London. back in Britain, where he went to work were burnishing their skills in Brit- that India is somehow doomed to suffer bad air earn a living when the quarantine was imposed. At “Now today, it’s the same immi- once again for the health service. Hav- ain before returning home or moving because of its geography and climate. the same time, shortages caused by the lockdown grants that are trying to work with the ing lost his status as a senior doctor to Persian Gulf countries for higher “Clearly,” he said, “this is not something that made food prices shoot up. locals,” said el-Khidir, a surgeon in when he left for Sudan, he had taken wages. But el-Hawrani’s family turned can’t be reversed. We’ve just reversed it.” Residents say the price of potatoes, a national Norwich, “and they are dying on the up work filling in at a surgical assess- their home into a staging post for Su- Towns more than a hundred miles from the staple, has soared in Guayaquil in recent weeks: front lines.” By Tuesday (7), 7,097 peo- ment unit in Herefordshire, northwest danese doctors interested in longer- Himalayas can now see snow peaks. Some peo- A dollar used to fetch 5 pounds of potatoes. Now ple had died in British hospitals from of London, examining patients coming term stays, hosting their families dur- ple joked that they could see Canada from Punjab it buys just 1. To alleviate the economic pain, the coronavirus, the government said through the emergency room. ing exams or house hunts. state. Others said the air was so clear they would last week the government began paying informal Wednesday (8), a leap of 938 from the It was there that his family believes “The more the merrier,” said Amal soon be able to see God. workers a $60 monthly stipend to stay home. The day before, the largest daily rise in the el-Tayar, working with only rudimen- el-Hawrani, a younger brother of el- The sky over Delhi is usually smudge gray, day amount is about a quarter of what a housekeeper death toll. tary protective gear, contracted the Hawrani. “My mum always liked that.” or night. The gauze never lifts. The sun sets mildly like Frías typically earns in a month. And the victims have included not virus. Sequestered in the western Lon- The coronavirus has taken a devas- behind it. “I always liked to have my things: my beans, my just the eight doctors but a number of don home where he loved sitting next tating toll on migrant doctors across Across much of China, too, air pollutants rice,” she said. “Now I’m living on God’s grace.” nurses who worked alongside them, at to his 12-year-old son, he became so Britain, leaving at least six others plunged after a lockdown to stifle the epidemic The pandemic has left Ecuador’s already trou- least one from overseas. Health work- short of breath recently that he could dead: Dr. Habib Zaidi, 76, a long time closed factories, cut road traffic and drastically bled economy with few options beyond the hand- ers are stretched thin as hospitals not string together a sentence. While general practitioner from Pakistan; reduced air travel. outs. The collapse of oil prices has decimated the across the country are filled with pa- on a ventilator, his heart failed him. Dr. Alfa Sa’adu, 68, a geriatric doctor China’s restrictions from January helped cut government’s main source of revenue. An ill-timed tients, including Prime Minister Boris Analysts warn that doctor short- from Nigeria; Dr.JitendraRathod, 62, small, health-threatening pollutants called PM austerity package pushed by Moreno, the presi- Johnson, who this week was moved ages across countries ravaged by the a heart surgeon from India; Dr. Anton 2.5 — for being less than 2.5 micrometres in di- dent, to assuage international creditors led to the into intensive care with the corona- coronavirus will worsen as the virus Sebastianpillai, in his 70s, a geriatric ameter, the smallest and most dangerous par- firing of up to 3,500 public health workers last virus. Britain is not the only coun- spreads. While ventilators may be the doctor from Sri Lanka; Dr. Mohamed ticles that are monitored — by as much as 30% year. And Ecuador’s decision to use US dollars as try reckoning with its debt to foreign scarcest resource for now, a shortage Sami Shousha, 79, a breast tissue spe- below normal levels, according to the Copernicus its official currency, made during a financial crisis doctors amid the terror and chaos of of doctors and nurses trained to oper- cialist from Egypt; and Dr. Syed Haid- Atmosphere Monitoring Service. Levels of nitro- in 2000, means Moreno cannot print more money the pandemic. In the United States, ate them could leave hospitals strug- er, in his 80s, a general practitioner gen dioxide, a pollutant caused by motor vehicles to compensate the affected workers. where immigrants make up more than gling to make use even of what they from Pakistan. and industry, also fell between 10% and 20%. -New York Times a quarter of all doctors but often face have. By recruiting foreign doctors, -New York Times “This is the first time I have seen such a dra- matic drop-off over such a wide area for a specific event,” said Fei Liu, an air quality researcher at lrie o ei te eel ad ihael ieffer the NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre, accord- ing to a report from NASA. But in China the near-pristine skies are already Bored, indifferent, lonely passing. There have been more bad days recently, as factories have restarted and more vehicles have returned to the roads. Zoo animals sit out the pandemic In India, the lockdown is still in full effect, and it is unclear when it will be lifted. Narendra Modi, BERLIN - The way some of the animals when he makes his daily rounds through second main source of income. But at the a forced vacation, their caretakers are a India’s prime minister, imposed the strictures peer out from their cages, it is almost the park these days, the animals look moment, there's neither. different story. at the end of March, saying they would be for 21 as though they're looking around to see stunned to see him. Germany's zoo association is calling Many zoos are looking at ways to cut days. But many people fear he was just low-ball- where all the visitors have gone. "They're excited when a visitor is there," on the government to sign off on a US$ back on staff costs: "We're focused on ing to keep the public from becoming too dispir- Zoos around the world have been he says, adding that it enriches their day. 109-million aid package to help its 56 saving, saving and saving," says Marcus ited. forced to close over the coronavirus pan- After all, at the end of the day, people and members. In a letter, association head Ruegamer, who's in charge of a zoo in the With some of the world’s poorest, most densely demic, leaving some long-term residents animals are really observing each other at JoergJunhold made a plea for immediate south-western German state of Baden- packed slums, India has a huge risk of a corona- scratching their heads at the lack of visi- the zoo, says Baban. financial help: "Unlike other facilities, we Wuerttemberg. virus crisis. Health officials are racing to contain tors. Others seem to have barely noticed At the Berlin Zoo's bird sanctuary, cannot simply shut down our business - Half of the zoo's animal keepers have the highly contagious disease, which could rip the change. caretakers have noticed that, without the our animals still need to be fed and taken had their hours cut back along with all of through areas where millions live face to face. At the Berlin Zoo in the German capi- distraction of visitors, the birds are much care of." the food servers. With India’s reported cases doubling around eve- tal, the apes' entire world view has been more engaged with one another. MirkoThiel, director of the biggest zoo The zoo in Karlsruhe staggers its care- ry four days and now topping 4,000, many people shaken by the silence in front of their en- And, given that it is spring, this might in the German state of Rhineland-Palat- takers' schedules so that they start at are bracing for a long lockdown. closures. "Some of the animals miss the end up being a blessing. "Maybe after the inate, has a similar message. "Even in different times and avoid meeting in the At least there will be some dispensations. visitors a bit," says spokeswoman Philine- coronavirus crisis it won't only be the zoos these times, the lions need their daily por- canteen. Despite all the problems, howev- There’s almost no honking, no shouting, no jos- Hachmeister. that see a big baby boom," Hachmeister tion of meat, the tapirs their alfalfa hay, er, Berlin's panda twins, which in normal tling. Roads and public spaces are wide open and "The monkeys especially enjoy watch- says, with a wink. and each seal eats three to four kilograms times would be drawing in the crowds, empty, perfect to see — and hear — birds. Delhi- ing people" - as do the seals and parrots, Yet without visitors, finances are get- of fish a day." are keeping spirits up. ites are now spotting rare birds like gray hornbills for example, who are fascinated by the ting a bit tight. In addition to food costs, there's also "The panda twins are adorable," says and red-throated flycatchers. constant stream of visitors walking by "It can't really get any worse," says Ba- energy costs to consider, he continues. Hachmeister. "Every time we think to The other evening, after sunset, another rare their cages. "For them, it's all a bit boring ban. He is estimating losses of about US$ "The animals in the reptile house also ourselves [that] visitors should get to see delight showed itself: Venus, shining crisp and now," Hachmeister says. 2.1 million after having to close for five need to be kept at an average temperature this live. It would be a shame if we were bright and steady with nothing to obscure it. The RasemBaban, head of the Hellabrunn weeks at the start of spring, when zoos' of 21 degrees Celsius, so there's no pos- to open again and the little cubs were all pure black sky was bursting with stars, wrapping Zoo in Munich, agrees. Many animals high season begins. "You can't make that sible ways to find a bit of extra savings in grown up." around us, endless but somehow consoling. are showing heightened interest in inter- back up." Besides the entry tickets, the that area," says Thiel. While the animals acting with their caretakers. Baban says leases for the restaurants are the zoo's cannot have their hours cut or be sent on -dpa -New York Times 6 APRIL 10 - 12, 2020 WEEKEND EXPRESS COMMENTARY

ithi idarhaa Social media and rising social discontent Sri Lankan police have arrested more than seven individuals, including several university students on allegations of publishing “false” information on their Facebook accounts and “maliciously” criticizing public officials involved in COVID-19 prevention programs. Authorities claim that such news “impedes” the work of officials attempting to contain the pandemic. The crackdown follows an April 1 directive by the acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) ordering the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and all police stations to arrest accused individuals. Deputy Inspector General of Police AjithRohana later told the media that anyone sharing “false” information would also be charged. It is yet another sign that President Gotabaya Raja- paksa’s government is preparing even more repressive attacks on freedom of expression in response to rising social discontent. Peradeniya University student TharinduAvishka was arrested for allegedly making false claims on his Facebook account that the hospital affiliated to the Kotalawala Defence University had been reserved as a coronavirus quarantine centre for VIPs. ari eiri It is no secret that while the general public is being held in quarantine centres with minimal facilities, wealthy layers returning from overseas are allowed to quarantine themselves in their homes or other com- fortable places of their own choice. Emerging governance issues By contrast, thousands of workers and poor people confront immence hardship because the government’s lockdown and curfew measures fail to provide any real plan for ordinary people to obtain daily food essentials and medicines or safe conditions for health workers. Police also raided the home of another university amid COVID-19 student in Maharagama, near Colombo, following though, as the lockdown curfew contin- allegations that he criticized the appointment of As Sri Lanka heads towards completing that the state of public health does not government expenditure by the execu- ues in the most densely populated of Sri Basil Rajapaksa—the Sri Lankan president’s young- nearly a month of lockdown, with first allow for the mass socialization and in- tive is done by the legislature, in the tra- Lanka’s districts namely the Colombo, est brother—to head the Presidential Task Force on the special public holiday route adopted ternal migration which a general elec- dition of the separation of powers and Gampaha, Kandy, Jaffna and Kalutara, COVID-19, on his Facebook account. from March 16 and then curfew from tion necessarily entails. In the alternate the checks and balances, inherent and is the livelihood and income require- According to media reports, a dance teacher was March 20 onwards, there are emerging a others have called for summoning of the essential in a democratic society under ments of the self-employed and the cas- arrested on Sunday (5) for reportedly claiming on set of medium to long term issues, in ad- dissolved parliament as permitted in the law. ual labourer, mostly found in the popu- Facebook that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was dition to the short term measures being Constitution, for the purpose of a na- Both the former finance and state fi- lated urban areas of the above districts. “infected with the coronavirus.” A youth has also been adopted to “flatten the curve” or reduce tional emergency. nance ministers, Mangala Samaraweera The government proposes aRs 5000 a arrested by Uppuweli police in Trincomalee on claims and stretch out the time of the spread of The rationale for the recall of Parlia- and Eran Wickramaratne respectively month stipend or supplies of that value that he criticized on his Facebook the area’s divisional the COVID-19 virus in the country. ment or the rescinding of the gazette have highlighted variously, the need to to them, which relief has not yet com- secretariat for injustices that occurred during the The immediate short-term measures dissolving parliament, is that Parliament extend the Vote on Account passed by menced and the adequacy of which for coronavirus eradication and quarantine program. recommended by the health authorities has a further period in its term and the the new Sri Lanka PodujanaPeramuna say a typical family of four or more, is Police Media Spokesman, Superintendent of Police, and eventually adopted by the govern- early dissolution was a discretionary po- (SLPP) Administration upon its as- questionable. JaliyaSeneviratne, said the accused were arrested ment, perhaps after some hesitation, has litical move, a presidential prerogative sumption of office, raise the debt ceiling In the medium term, managing the under Section 6 of the Computer Crimes Act and the certainly resulted in the spread of the under the constitution after the lapse of to continue borrowing and also create economy, especially on the production Penal Code, but gave no specific details. According COVID-19 virus being contained in Sri four and a half years after a parliamen- a legal basis for various public safety and supply side becomes crucial, espe- to media accounts, many of those arrested have not Lanka. However, as it becomes clearer tary election, but now impractical under measures being adopted including the cially given our skewed income distribu- received any legal assistance. Anyone arrested under now that the risk of the spread of the the existing public health situation and ongoing curfew, which is a “police cur- tion in society. Quite quickly the urban this law must be tried by a High Court. virus of epidemic proportions, will be hence should be withdrawn, as it is im- few” rather than a nationally declared poor can become destitute and vulner- The new directive can be used, not just against so- around and not actually totally abate, practical and not implementable. one possible under several laws, but able, with food security and scarcity an cial media activists but any internet publishers and to until a vaccine and other new medi- Several analysts and government which would then require Parliament’s issue. witch-hunt journalists. The clear message is, “Do not cal therapies and treatments are found, voices have argued that the government concurrence. The pressure on Sri Lanka’s exchange criticize the government!” there are some emerging medium-term is handling the coronavirus situation In real politic terms, complicating rate has also been acute, with the Sri The IGP’s directive and these latest arrests are il- governance and longer-term economic satisfactorily and there is no need to matters for the government, is that it is Lankan Rupee depreciating over 8% legal and undemocratic. The publication of so-called issues which are emerging and have summon Parliament. However, several a minority government in Parliament, since end February to mid-April. In the “false” news and defamation, however, are not crimi- been flagged by the relevant parties con- compelling arguments to the contrary popular in the country through its man- medium term, there is a need to move nal offences in Sri Lanka and, according to records, cerned. exist. Firstly Sri Lanka, like any other date in last November’s presidential from complete lockdown, to a partial no one has previously been arrested for allegedly Last week, the Chairman of the Elec- civilized nation on earth, is not fighting election, but cautious almost pessimistic lockdown and then life style changes publishing such information. Last year, the Sirisena- tions Commission wrote to the Secretary the virus with its constitution suspended about its ability to get parliamentary ap- to maintain social distancing until the Wickremesinge government attempted to introduce to the President, effectively the head of and under an emergency. Other civilized proval for any of its initiatives. However, threat of a fresh outbreak of the virus re- legislation criminalizing “fake news” with fines of up the civil service, to apprise the president, nations in the world have not done so a legal limbo over State finance does not cedes through new medical treatments, to one million rupees and a maximum prison sentence that a general election to Parliament either. This global pandemic is being augur well for our long-term attractive- therapies and vaccines. The complex and of five years. The bill was not passed in the face of could not be held as per his gazette noti- fought by nations as civilized societies ness as an investment destination, our challenging governance issues facing us, widespread opposition by civil rights groups. fication of March 2, prematurely dissolv- under the rule of law. international credit ratings and abil- during these unprecedented times, is Successive governments and extreme-right forma- ing the Parliament of Sri Lanka, four and Accordingly, under law basic and cru- ity to tap global financial markets. Sri- best dealt with in a bi-partisan manner, tions have frequently launched anti-democratic at- a half years into its five-year term. cial public finance issues exist. It is a Lanka will require to tap global financial with consultation and consensus. tacks on the media and individual journalists. Under Hard on the heels of this missive well-founded principle in most demo- markets to refinance that portion of its -Harim Peiris served as Advisor, former president Mahinda Rajapaks -many journal- from the Elections Commission, sev- cratic governance norms, including in public debt maturing in 2020, a not in- Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2016- ists were singled out and targeted, including Sunday eral smaller political party leaders, have Sri Lanka, that the control of public fi- considerable billion dollars or so and in 17 and this article was originally fea- Leader editor LasanthaWickrematunge, who was shot called for the recall by the president of nance, through the approval of the an- an environment when global recession tured on groundviews.org and killed, and PrageethEknaligoda who disappeared. his gazette notification on the grounds nual state budget and the oversight of may occur. Of more immediate concern These assaults continued under the Sirisena- Wickremesinghe administration. One year ago, on April 1, police arrested and remanded well-known alahadra writer ShakthikaSathkumara, falsely accusing him of insulting the Buddha in a short story published on his Facebook account. The latest anti-democratic attacks on social media are occurring amid rising criticism of Preference for guns over butter the government’s refusal to introduce mass testing to trace and contain the highly-contagious coronavirus or provide sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) to medical workers and basic healthcare and Why the US has become a happy hunting ground for the coronavirus daily necessities to the masses. Public health inspectors, nurses, officials provid- COLOMBO- The absence of a State- my travel ban at the time I did it. They chronic disease outcomes do not exist Among the dead were 195,000 Ameri- ing Samurdhi welfare assistance, and village officers funded or backed general healthcare were wrong. They’ve been wrong about in the country. It is because of all these cans. have threatened to withdraw their services unless system, huge expenditures on weap- a lot of things. They had a lot of infor- factors that life expectancy has been go- Koblentz and Hunzeker point out authorities provide them with enough PPEs and other onry for wars which will not be fought, mation early and they didn’t want to ing down in the US as compared to the that the Trump administration was facilities. and neglect of new sources of threat —they’re very — they seem to be very 1960s, Khazan points out. not interested in fighting threats from Hundreds of thousands of workers and the self-em- like viruses have combined to make the China-centric,” Trump charged during Gregory D. Koblentz and Michael viruses. It raided the Defence Threat ployed in urban areas have been pushed back to their American population a happy hunting a press conference. Hunzeker of the George Mason Uni- Reduction Agency’s budget for work- home villages, many without any means of financial ground of the novel coronavirus, re- But informed critics of the American versity, experts in biological threats to ing with other countries on bio-security support while the rural poor confront major difficul- ports say. system have been pointing out the un- national security, wrote in The Atlan- threats to pay for more research on hy- ties cultivating and selling their crops. The United States, the world’s only healthy state of the US healthcare sys- tic that the US Establishment has been personic missiles. The National Nuclear After Colombo’s three-decade war against the super power in political, military and tem. In an article in The Atlantic, Olga consistently ignoring threats from vi- Security Administration saw its budget separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and years economic terms -a power which has not Khazan quoted the Commonwealth ruses and has been spending heavily on increased by 20% to pay for new nucle- of successive government attacks on jobs and social been humbled by any other country, has Fund (which regularly ranks the health weapon systems. ar weapons, even as the administration conditions, the current Rajapaksa regime is sitting on now been severely mauled and humbled systems of a group of developed coun- Testament to this is the manner in slashed the budget for the Centres for a social and political tinderbox. by the invisible COVID-19 virus. The vi- tries) to that of the best countries for which the Trump administration re- Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Currently there are almost six million social media rus may have originated in Wuhan, Chi- healthcare are the UK, the Netherlands sponded to the COVID-19 outbreak by 15%. users among the island’s 21 million-strong popula- na, but it has wrought havoc in the US. and Australia. The US is not among the on the aircraft carrier USS Theodore The entire 2019 federal budget for all tion, many of them young people who recognize that The US now accounts for a third of top, even though it spends a lot. Roosevelt, on duty in the Pacific. health security-related programs was mainstream capitalist media function as mouthpieces the ‘active cases’ of COVID-19 infection There are a few recognizable reasons Narrating the sequence of events about $13.6 billion. In contrast, the of the government. in the world. According to the latest why the US lags behind its peers in the relating to the carrier, Koblentz and Trump administration has requested Sensitive to this fact, and the rising anti-govern- figures put out by the World Health Or- Western world. Firstly, the high cost Hunzeker say that on March 30, with almost $46 billion in funding for nucle- ment denunciations, Rajapaksa issued a tweet last ganization (WHO), there were 1,101,497 of health insurance coverage, which 100 confirmed cases on board, the ship’s ar weapons programs in its 2021 budget weekend warning the public to “beware of fake news active cases in the world as a whole yes- led more than 27 million, accounting a commander, Captain Brett Crozier, had proposal, the authors point out. & messages being circulated” under his name on terday (9) of which 397,472 were in the tenth of the US population, being un- sent an urgent four-page letter to the They quote Nobel laureate Joshua social media platforms. All of his announcements, US. In contrast, China today has only insured in 2016. America has no subsi- Navy requesting emergency measures Lederberg who said that the single big- he declared, “will be published only through official 1,160 active cases. dized Medicare system like the National to halt the outbreak. He warned that gest threat to humanity’s continued channels of the President’s Media Division.” Of the 88,565 global deaths due to Health Service in the UK. normal shipboard operating conditions dominance on this planet is the virus. The Sri Lankan government’s actions against social COVID-19, the US accounts for 14,797 Secondly, the US wastes a lot on ad- made social distancing impossible. Biomedical research, public health pre- media users coincide with the increasing attacks on and China 3,335. The US stands at the ministrative overheads. Time and en- Crozier ultimately decided the only paredness, and international coopera- the media internationally. Last week, the Indian gov- top of the pile in terms of active and ergy are spent in billing and insurance way to protect his sailors’ health was tion are the keys to global health secu- ernment secured a legal mandate from the country’s critical cases, though in terms of the claims. Other countries which rely on to temporarily sacrifice the ship’s con- rity. Supreme Court to crack down on the media over number of deaths, the toll is more in private health insurers, like the Neth- siderable war-fighting capabilities by But what Trump is doing is just the “false” news. The court ruled that media outlets could Spain and Italy. erlands, minimize some of these prob- pulling into port in Guam and evacuat- opposite. He is going to cut funding for only report what it termed “the official version” of de- President Donald Trump is blaming lems by standardizing basic benefit ing most of the crew until the outbreak WHO and cripple the only international velopments. The Rajapakse government’s increasing China and WHO for the plight of his packages, which can reduce the admin- could be eradicated. In doing so, he de- organization thinking and working for censorship is in line with the expanding militarization country. On Tuesday (7) he accused istrative burden for providers. fied the Navy Secretary Thomas Mod- disease control and health across the of its administration and the appointment of retired WHO of soft pedalling the threat in the Thirdly, the US system is inefficient. ly’s order not to put the ship to port. globe. military generals to key positions, including Army initial stages under the influence of Chi- In 2014, the Commonwealth Fund Modly then sacked Crozier, who later Commander Lt. General Shavendra Silva to head Na- na. He alleged that China had hidden found that “many primary-care physi- contracted COVID-19 himself. Drawing tional Task Force on prevention of COVID-19. from the world, the situation in Wuhan cians struggle to receive relevant clini- heavy flak, Navy Secretary Modly was None of the parliamentary parties of Sri Lanka’s rul- when the depredations of the virus first cal information from specialists and later compelled to hand in his papers. ing elite, including the United National Party (UNP), came to light and has now threatened to hospitals, complicating efforts to pro- The American Establishment had Tamil National Alliance and the JanathaVimukthiP- cut funding for WHO to cripple the or- vide seamless, coordinated care.” forgotten that viruses could kill more eramuna (JVP), has raised any objection to the recent ganization. WHO survives on US fund- Lastly, the emphasis in the US is not Americans than weapons in war. The arrest of social media users and, notwithstanding ing. on primary care. The US doesn’t invest 1918 Spanish flu pandemic killed at various tactical differences, have backed Rajapaksz’s “We pay for a majority or the biggest in social services. Things like home least 40 million people—roughly four militarization of its administration. portion of their money. They (WHO) visiting, better housing, and subsi- times as many as soldiers who perished - wsws.org actually criticized and disagreed with dized healthy food that could improve in the World War raging at the time. WEEKEND EXPRESS APRIL 10 - 12, 2020 7 RETHINKING AMERICA

arl ier ra ri Genomes show Most New York Has anyone coronavirus cases found Trump’s came from Europe soul, anyone? NEW YORK - New research indicates that the coronavirus began to circulate in the New York Do you remember President George W. Bush’s area by mid-February, weeks before the first remarks at ground zero in Manhattan after the confirmed case, and that travellers brought in Sept. 11 terrorist attacks? I can still hear him the virus mainly from Europe, not Asia. speaking of national grief and national pride. “The majority is clearly European,” said This was before all the awful judgment calls Harm van Bakel, a geneticist at Icahn School of and fatal mistakes, and it doesn’t excuse them. Medicine at Mount Sinai, who co-wrote a study But it mattered, because it reassured us that awaiting peer review. our country’s leader was navigating some of A separate team at NYU Grossman School of the same emotional currents that we were. Medicine came to strikingly similar conclusions, Do you remember President Barack despite studying a different group of cases. Both Obama’s news conference after the school teams analyzed genomes from coronaviruses shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, that left taken from New Yorkers starting in mid-March. 28 people, including 20 children, dead? I do. The research revealed a previously hidden Freshest in my memory is how he fought back spread of the virus that might have been de- tears. He was hurting. He cared. And while we tected if aggressive testing programs had been couldn’t bank on new laws to prevent the next put in place. On January 31, President Donald massacre, we could at least hold on to that. Trump barred foreign nationals from entering One more question: Do you remember the the country if they had been in China during the moment when President Donald Trump’s prior two weeks. -Doug Mills/The New York Times bearing and words made clear that he grasped It would not be until late February that Ita- President Donald Trump at a coronavirus news briefing at the White House in Washington, Tuesday (7). In the course of his not only the magnitude of this rapidly metas- ly would begin locking down towns and cities, daily briefings on the coronavirus pandemic, the president has routinely contradicted himself without ever acknowledging tasizing pandemic but also our terror in the and March 11 when Trump said he would block that he does so – sending confusing signals that other politicians, public health officials and the rest of the country are left face of it? travellers from most European countries. But to sort out It passed me by, maybe because it never New Yorkers had already been travelling home happened. with the virus. “People were just oblivious,” said In Trump’s predecessors, for all their im- Adriana Heguy, a member of the NYU team. eter aer perfections, I could sense the beat of a heart Heguy and van Bakel belong to an interna- and see the glimmer of a soul. In him I can’t, tional guild of viral historians. They ferret out and that fills me with a sorrow and a rage that the history of outbreaks by poring over clues In Trump’s marathon briefings I quite frankly don’t know what to do with. embedded in the genetic material of viruses tak- Americans are dying by the thousands, and en from thousands of patients. he gloats about what a huge, rapt television Viruses invade a cell and take over its molecu- audience he has. They’re confronting finan- lar machinery, causing it to make new viruses. The answers and the message cial ruin and not sure how they’ll continue to The process is quick and sloppy. As a result, pay for food and shelter, and he reprimands new viruses can gain a new mutation that wasn’t governors for not treating him with adequate present in their ancestor. If a new virus manages adulation. He’s not rising to the challenge be- to escape its host and infect other people, its de- are often contradictory fore him, not even a millimetre. He’s shrivel- scendants will inherit that mutation. ling into nothingness. Tracking viral mutations demands sequenc- Last Friday (3), when Trump relayed a new ing all the genetic material in a virus — its ge- WASHINGTON — President Don- has probably ever seen” and de- Xi Jinping of China and afterward recommendation by the Centres for Disease nome. Once researchers have gathered the ge- ald Trump left little room for doubt. clared “war” against the virus. Then praised him as “strong, sharp and Control and Prevention that all Americans nomes from a number of virus samples, they can “We’re going to put a hold on money he aimed to reopen the country by powerfully focused on leading the wear face masks in public places, he went so compare their mutations. spent to the WHO,” he said, refer- Easter, before retreating and declar- counterattack on the coronavirus.” far out of his way to stress that the coverings Sophisticated computer programs can then ring to the World Health Organiza- ing “hard days” ahead. But then in mid-March, after were voluntary and that he himself wouldn’t figure out how all of those mutations arose as tion. “We’re going to put a very pow- The crossed signals over cutting a Chinese official floated a con- be going anywhere near one that he might as viruses descended from a common ancestor. If erful hold on it.” finances for the WHO, however, spiracy theory that “it might be US well have branded them Apparel for Skittish they get enough data, they can make rough esti- But when he was asked a bit later showed that his contradictions can army who brought the epidemic” to Losers. I’ve finally settled on his epitaph: mates about how long ago those ancestors lived. whether it was the right time to de- take place over the course of days or China, Trump lashed out, referring “Donald J. Trump, too cool for the coronavi- That’s because mutations arise at a roughly reg- lay money for the health agency in even within the same briefing. Only to the “Chinese virus” and blaming rus.” This is more than a failure of empathy, ular pace, like a molecular clock. the middle of a pandemic, he denied five days before vowing to review the Beijing for not being transparent, as which is how many observers have described MaciejBoni of Penn State University and his that he said he would. “I’m not say- health organization’s response to he had previously said it was. his deficiency. It’s more than a failure of de- colleagues recently used this method to see ing that I’m going to do it,” he said the pandemic, he blasted Congress “It could have been stopped in its cency, which has been my go-to lament. It’s a where the coronavirus, designated SARS-CoV-2, during his news briefing Tuesday for setting up a panel to review his tracks,” Trump said of the virus at failure of basic humanity. came from in the first place. While conspiracy (7). “But we’re going to look at it.” own administration’s response to it, the White House briefing on March In The Washington Post a few days ago, theories might falsely claim the virus was con- “You did say you were going to do saying such investigations “during 19. “Unfortunately, they didn’t de- Michael Gerson, a conservative who worked cocted in a lab, the virus’s genome makes clear it,” a reporter pointed out. a pandemic is really a big waste of cide to make it public. But the whole in Bush’s White House, wrote that Trump’s that it arose in bats. “No, I didn’t,” he said. “I said vital resources, time and attention.” world is suffering because of it.” spirit is “a vast, trackless wasteland.” Not Copying mistakes aren’t the only way for new we’re going to look at it.” What remains unclear is whether His team echoed the theme, from exactly trackless. There are gaudy outposts of viruses to arise. Sometimes two kinds of coro- Trump does not need adversaries Trump does not remember saying his secretary of state to his family. ego all along the horizon. When the direness naviruses will infect the same cell. Their genetic to dispute his statements — he does things that he later denies saying or “Anyone praising China’s ‘leader- of this global health crisis began to be appar- material gets mixed up in new viruses. that all by himself. In the course of is trying to impose his own reality. ship’ in responding that the virus ent, I was braced for the falsehoods and mis- It’s entirely possible, Boni said, in the past 10 his daily briefings on the corona- During a telephone interview last should be scorned for being the au- information that are Trump’s trademarks. I or 20 years, a hybrid virus arose in some bats virus pandemic, the president has month with Sean Hannity on Fox thoritarian/communist propagan- was girded for the incompetence that defines that were well-suited to infect humans, too. routinely contradicted himself with- News, Trump assailed Gov. Andrew dist that they are,” Donald Trump an administration with such contempt for Later, that virus somehow managed to cross the out ever acknowledging that he does M. Cuomo of New York for saying Jr., the president’s eldest son, wrote proper procedure and for true expertise. species barrier. “Once in a while, one of these vi- so. In the process, he sends confus- he needed 30,000 to 40,000 venti- on Twitter on March 26. But what has taken me by surprise and torn ruses wins the lottery,” he said. ing signals that other politicians, lators, suggesting that was exagger- Late that same night, however, me up inside are the aloofness, arrogance, In January, a team of Chinese and Australian public health officials and the rest of ated. his father spoke by telephone with pettiness, meanness, narcissism and solip- researchers published the first genome of the the country are left to sort out. “I have a feeling that a lot of the Xi and then praised China’s leader- sism that persist in Trump — that flourish in new virus. Since then, researchers around the Trump has always been a presi- numbers that are being said in some ship. him — even during a once-in-a-lifetime emer- world have sequenced over 3,000 more. Some dent of contradictions: a New York areas are just bigger than they’re “Just finished a very good conver- gency that demands something nobler. Under are genetically identical to each other, while oth- mogul fond of ostentatious shows of going to be,” the president said. “I sation with President Xi of China,” normal circumstances, these traits are galling. ers carry distinctive mutations. That’s just a tiny wealth who appeals to rural work- don’t believe you need 40,000 or Trump wrote on Twitter an hour Under the current ones, they’re gutting. sampling of the full diversity of the virus. As of ing-class voters. A populist whose 30,000 ventilators.” after midnight. “Discussed in great “I don’t take responsibility at all.” “Did you April 8, there were 1.5 million confirmed cases of main recreation is golfing at one of When a reporter at a briefing detail the Coronavirus that is ravag- know I was number one on Facebook?” To COVID-19, and the true total is probably many his exclusive clubs. A self-avowed three days later started a question ing large parts of our Planet. China bother with just one of those sentences while millions more. But already, the genomes of the deal-maker who ends up mired in by noting that “you’ve said repeat- has been through much & has de- a nation trembles is disgusting. To bother virus are revealing previously hidden outlines of gridlock. A publicity hound who edly that you think that some of the veloped a strong understanding of with both, as Trump did, is perverse. its history over the past few months. cannot get enough of the news me- equipment that governors are re- the Virus. We are working closely He continues to bash the media, as if the vi- As new genomes come to light, research- dia even as he denounces it as the questing, they don’t actually need,” together. Much respect!” rus were cooked up in the bowels of CNN. He ers upload them to an online database called “enemy of the people.” Trump cut her off. By Tuesday, though, China was continues to play blame games and to lord his GISAID. A team of virus evolution experts are The president’s words matter be- “I didn’t say that,” he insisted. “I the foil again as Trump assailed the station over those of a lesser political caste, analyzing the growing collection of genomes in cause, as he himself likes to note, didn’t say that.” World Health Organization (WHO) turning governors into grovelers and suggest- a project called Nextstrain. They continually up- the ratings for his briefings have He has also pivoted back and for its handling of the pandemic ing that they’re whiny piggies at the federal date the virus family tree. The deepest branches been high, and for many Americans, forth in his view of China’s handling — the first time he had raised the trough. He continues his one-man orgy of of the tree all belong to lineages from China. The they are the main source of their in- of the virus, which broke out there WHO on his own in all of the coro- self-congratulation, so that in the same breath Nextstrain team has also used the mutation rate formation about the pandemic. before coming to the United States. navirus briefings. The WHO’s main recently he speculated about a toll of 100,000 to determine that the virus probably first moved His shifting assessments of the At first, he praised Beijing. “China sin, in his view, was that it was too deaths in America from COVID-19 and into humans from an animal host in late 2019. seriousness of the virus over re- has been working very hard to con- “China-centric.” crowed about what a great job he’s doing. On December 31, China announced that doc- cent months have been well docu- tain the Coronavirus,” he wrote on “Everything seems to be very bi- At those beloved daily briefings of his, tors in the city of Wuhan were treating dozens mented. Initially, he likened it to Twitter on January 24. “The United ased toward China,” Trump said. where he talks and talks and talks, he some- of cases of a mysterious new respiratory illness. an ordinary flu that would “miracu- States greatly appreciates their ef- “That’s not right.” times seems to regard what’s happening less lously” go away, then he later called forts and transparency.” A couple of At least as of Tuesday. as a devastating scourge than as a star- -New York Times it “the worst thing that the country weeks later, he spoke with President -New York Times studded event. Just look at the nifty degree of prominence it’s conferring on everyone effer a ad d Nea and everything involved! He has mused aloud about how well known Anthony Fauci has become. He has marvelled at the disease’s Racial Disparity celebrity profile. “Become a very famous term — C-O-V-I-D,” he said last Thursday (2). Was that envy in his voice? Virus is killing black and Latino people at twice the rate He leaps from tone deafness to some realm of complete sensory and moral deprivation. It’s an extraordinary thing: To fill the air with so many words and have none of them of whites in New York City carry any genuine sadness or stirring resolve. NEW YORK — The coronavirus is kill- population. Another 779 people in New equipment at hospitals. people may also be disproportionately I can hear his admirers grumble that he ing black and Latino people in New York York state died of the virus, Gov. Andrew In New York City, Latinos represent represented on the front lines of workers doesn’t do camera-perfect emotions, that City at twice the rate that it is killing white Cuomo reported Wednesday, the second 34% of the people who have died of the who are at high risk. A study from Scott Obama was just a better actor, that Trump is people, according to preliminary data re- straight day that deaths spiked to new coronavirus but make up 29% of the city’s Stringer, the city comptroller, found that the more authentic man. To which I answer: leased Wednesday (8) by the city. highs — even as the mayor acknowledged population, according to preliminary 75% of front-line workers in the city — What’s the point of having a showman for a The disparity reflected long-standing that the death toll may be higher than the data from the city’s Health Department. grocery clerks, bus and train operators, president if he can’t put on the right kind of and persistent economic inequalities and reported figures. Black people represent 28% of deaths but janitors and child care staff — are minori- show? Performances count, even if they’re differences in access to health care, May- De Blasio said there are “100 to 200 make up 22% of the population. ties. More than 60% of people who work just performances. And Trump clearly isn’t or Bill de Blasio said Wednesday morn- people per day” in the city who die at New York City’s racial disparity in as cleaners are Latino, and more than averse to artifice. Just look at his hair. A ing. home and are presumed to be virus vic- deaths is similar to that in other parts of 40% of transit employees are black. cheap shot? I’m feeling cheap. A loss of life “There are clear inequalities, clear dis- tims but who are not tested and are left the state but is actually less pronounced If New York City is the epicentre of the and livelihoods on this scale will do that to parities in how this disease is affecting the out of the virus death toll. than in other states and cities that have coronavirus outbreak in the country, mi- you. As of Wednesday (8), at least 14,817 people of our city,” de Blasio said. “The De Blasio swept into office in 2013 on released racial breakdowns of coronavi- norities and people in the city’s poorest people with the coronavirus have died in the truth is that in so many ways the negative a wave of rhetoric about how New York rus cases and deaths. neighbourhoods reside at the core. United States. New York State alone reported effects of coronavirus — the pain it’s caus- had become a bastion of inequality. Over In Chicago, for example, black people Data from the Health Department 799 new deaths on Wednesday (8). No school ing, the death it’s causing — tracks with the last six years of his administration, account for 72% of virus-related fatali- shows that emergency room visits for shooting has taken even a small fraction of as other profound health care disparities the mayor has set out to repair that im- ties, even though they make up a little less flulike symptoms have surged in neigh- many lives. that we have seen for years and decades.” balance with universal prekindergarten, than one-third of the population. bourhoods where the typical household And while I’m not looking to Trump for The preliminary death rate for His- increases in the minimum wage for city Cuomo said Wednesday that some income is less than the city’s median of any panacea, is it too much to ask for some panic people in the city is about 22 people workers and paid sick leave. of the difference could be attributed to $60,000, according to an analysis of data sign that the dying has made an impression per 100,000; the rate for black people is The coronavirus outbreak has now il- poorer people having more untreated by The New York Times. All but one of on him, that the crying has penetrated his 20 per 100,000; the rate for white peo- luminated other gaps between the haves chronic health problems than more afflu- the top 20 neighbourhoods with the low- carapace and that he’s thinking about some- ple is 10 per 100,000; and the rate for and have-nots in New York City, from the ent individuals, making them more likely est percentages of positive tests are in thing other than his ratings? I watch. I wait. I Asian people is 8 per 100,000. The rates availability of testing sites to the avail- to die if they contract the virus. wealthy ZIP codes. suspect I’ll be doing that forever. are adjusted for the size and age of the ability of beds and personal protective But he said that black and Hispanic -New York Times -New York Times 8 APRIL 10 - 12, 2020 WEEKEND EXPRESS LITERARY LIVES

William S. Burroughs – 1914-1997 The counter-culture icon Sir Christopher Ondaatje delves into the incredulous life and times of the American writer, and sometime visual artiste, a primary figure of the ‘Beat Generation’ dubbed the literary outlaw who had a major influence on post-modernist literature and culture

- famousauthors.org - theodysseyonline.com W S , A -

William Burroughs was born on February tact with the invader, the Ugly Spirit, and ter the 1962 publication in the US ‘Naked cultural celebrities like Andy Warhol, John 5, 1914 into a wealthy St. Louis, Missouri manoeuvred me into a lifelong struggle, in Lunch’ was prosecuted as obscene in Mas- Giorno and Susan Sontag – entertaining family. His grandfather was the inventor which I have no choice except to write my sachusetts, followed by other states, but them at his flat in “The Bunker”. and founder of the Burroughs adding ma- way out. later ruled “not obscene” in 1966 by the Burroughs’ son Billy died in 1980 in Flor- N L chine and Burroughs Corporation. Bur- Massachusetts Judicial Court, because of ida. He had published two novels ‘Speed roughs’ parents sold the rights to his grand- Before Vollmer died Burroughs had al- evidence received to defend the book. It and Kentucky Ham’, and survived a liver father’s invention before the 1929 stock most finished his first novel ‘Junkie: Con- had received support from not just mem- transplant in 1976. But he was a heavy market crash for $200,000 – equivalent to fessions of a Unredeemed Drug Addict’ bers of the counter-culture of the 1960s, drinker and suffered complications after he approximately $3 million in today’s funds. (later published as ‘Junkie’) – written at the but also literary critics like Mary McCarthy stopped taking transplant rejection drugs. In 1932 he left home to attend Harvard Uni- urging of Allen Ginsberg and published in – the American novelist (The Group) and His body was found near the side of a Flor- versity, studying English and graduating in 1953 under Burroughs’ pen name William critic. The case remains the last obscenity ida highway. 1936. He continued studying archaeology Lee. trial in the United States against a work of Burroughs became addicted to heroin and ethnology as a postgraduate, and later In 1953 Burroughs seemed to leave an literature. again in 1979. Cheap heroin was easily attended medical school in Vienna. aimless life. He spent some time with his The collection of manuscripts that pro- obtainable on the Lower East Side in New On graduation his parents gave him a parents in Palm Beach, and with Allen duced ‘Naked Lunch’ also contributed to York, and he was helped by well-inten- monthly allowance of $200 – out of pro- Ginsberg in New York City. Ginsberg re- parts of Burroughs’ later works: ‘The Soft tioned admirers and fans who visited him ceeds from the sale of the Burroughs add- fused Burroughs’ amorous advances, so Machine’ (1961); ‘The Ticket That Explod- in his ‘Bunker’ flat. He remained addicted ing machine. It was a substantial sum in instead he travelled to Rome to meet an- ed’ (1962); ‘The Wild Boys’ (1971); ‘Exter- to the drug until he died while on a metha- those days and guaranteed his survival for other friend Alan Ansen on a trip financed minator!’ (1973); ‘Cities of the Red Night’ done maintenance program in 1997. In the next twenty-five years. It allowed him by his parents’ continuing support. Bored (1981); ‘Place of Dead Roads’ (1983); an introduction to ‘Last Words: The Final the freedom to live where he wanted and with Rome and Ansen, and inspired by Paul ‘Queer’ (1985); ‘The Western Lands’ (1987); Journals of William S. Burroughs’, James not to have a regular job. Becoming bored Bowles’ writings, he headed for the Tangier and ‘My Education: A Book of Dreams’ Grauerholz states that part of his job man- with educational studies he moved in a cir- International Zone where he rented a room (1995). These novels make extensive use of aging Burroughs’ reading tours was to deal cle of exiles and homosexuals and travelled and started writing a book he labelled ‘In- the “cut-up” technique that influenced all of with New York’s underworld to secure in Europe. He met Ilse Klapper – a Jewish terzone’. Burroughs’ subsequent fiction. drugs for the author. woman fleeing Austria’s Nazi government. In Tangier and the Moroccan culture Bur- William S. Burroughs spent his final Burroughs married her, allowing her to roughs found a city where drugs were freely This “cut-up” method, because of its years in Lawrence, Kansas. get a visa to the United States, after which available and he could pursue his other random or mechanical basis for text gen- she divorced Burroughs. They remained amorous adventures legally. He spent 1954 eration, combined with the possibilities “The thing I like about Kansas is that it’s - blogger.com friends. and the next four years writing the fictional of mixing in text written by other writers, not nearly as violent, and it’s a helluva lot K - A His parents worried about his mental work that would become ‘Naked Lunch’, deemphasises the traditional role of the cheaper.” W health – especially after he severed the joint as well as other articles – which he sent to writer as creator or originator of a string -William S. Burroughs of his little left finger to impress a man with his literary agent Allen Ginsberg. Nothing of words, while simultaneously exalting whom he had become infatuated. was published until 1989 when ‘Interzone’, the importance of the writer’s sensibility as By the early 1980s he was a counter- He enlisted in the US Army in 1942 to a collection of short stories, was published. an editor. In this sense, the “cut-up” meth- culture icon. He was inducted into The serve during World War II, but was turned Heavily under the influence of a mari- od may be considered as analogous to the American Academy and Institute of Arts down by the Office of Strategic Services juana confection known as ‘majoun’ and collage method in the visual arts. and Letters in 1983, and in 1984 he signed and Navy. He then held a variety of jobs a German-made opioid called ‘Eukodol’, -The Nova Trilogy a seven-book literary contract with Viking eventually moving to New York City in 1943 Burroughs immersed himself in his writ- (or Cut-Up Trilogy), 2004 Press. He collaborated with an entourage where he became friends with Jack Ker- ings – which eventually were sorted, res- Edited by Oliver Harris, of several 1980 performers, and played a ouac and Allen Ginsberg – two writers who cued, and typed by Ginsberg and Kerouac, President, European Beat Studies character based on a short story he pub- would become principal figures in the Beat who had travelled to Tangier in 1957, and Network lished in Exterminator! (1973) called ‘The Movement. who helped edit and arrange what became Priest’. In 1991 David Cronenberg adapted In 1944 Burroughs began living with ‘The Naked Lunch ‘(Paris, 1959), and the In 1960 Burroughs left Paris for London ‘Naked Lunch’ into a feature film to criti- Joan Vollmer Adams in an apartment they US ‘Naked Lunch’ (1962). Excerpts from to visit Dr. Dent, a well-known English doc- cal acclaim. He also developed a painting shared with Jack Kerouac and Kerouac’s ‘Naked Lunch’ were first published in the tor who headed a reputedly painless heroin technique where he created abstract com- first wife, Edie Parker. Kerouac and Bur- United States in 1958. withdrawal treatment using the drug apo- positions by shooting paint cans in front roughs got into serious trouble with the After realizing that Tangier, because of morphine. This apomorphine cure was of blank surfaces with a shotgun. Until his law for failing to report a murder involv- its political unrest, and the criminals with also used to treat alcoholism, although it last years he prolifically created visual art, ing their friend Lucien Carr who had killed whom he had become involved, had become was criticized as being nothing more than a since featured in more than fifty interna- David Kammerer, repelling Kammerer’s dangerous in 1959, Burroughs moved to a straightforward aversion therapy. Follow- tional galleries including the Royal Acade- constant sexual advances. The situation small rundown hotel in the Latin Quarter ing his first cure Burroughs wrote a detailed my of Arts, Pompidou Centre, Guggenheim inspired Burroughs and Kerouac to write of Paris. He was still looking for a publisher appreciation of apomorphine to The British Museum, Los Angeles County Museum, a fictional novel titled ‘And the Hippos for ‘Naked Lunch’. He went to Paris to have Journal of Addiction. The letter is append- and Whitney Museum of American Art. Were Boiled in Their Tanks’ – which they talks with Ginsberg and with Maurice Giro- ed to some editions of ‘The Naked Lunch’. In June 1991 Burroughs underwent triple finished in 1945. They found no publisher dias of Olympia Press. However, a criminal Burroughs worked in London for six bypass surgery. and the manuscript was not published until charge implicating Burroughs for importing years, travelling to the United States sev- In the final decade of his life Burroughs November 2008 by Grove Press and Pen- narcotics into France, caught up with him eral times – once taking his son Billy to became heavily involved in the chaos magic guin Books. in Paris. This made ‘Naked Lunch’ interest- the Lexington Narcotics Farm and Prison movement. He had a longstanding preoc- Burroughs began using morphine at this ing to Girodias who had published contro- after Burroughs’ son had been convicted cupation with magic and the occult dating time. His addiction would last, on and off, versial English language novels in France. of prescription fraud in Florida. When from his earliest childhood. for the rest of his life. He became emotion- It was during the impending narcotics case Burroughs left London he thought he had ally involved with Joan Vollmer who was that Girodias published ‘Naked Lunch’. Its only a small drug habit, leaving without “In the magical universe there are no also addicted to Benzedrine. Burroughs publication helped Burroughs get a sus- any narcotics because he knew he would be coincidences and there are no accidents. sold heroin in Greenwich Village to sup- pended sentence, since a literary was a searched thoroughly by the US customs on Nothing happens unless someone wills it port his habit and was arrested for forging a respected profession in France. In haste, arrival. He recalled that he went through to happen ... I believe that if you run into narcotics prescription. He was released but Girodias only gave Burroughs ten days to the most painful two months of opiate somebody in the street it’s for a reason. had to return to St. Louis under his parents’ prepare his manuscript, and he received withdrawal while accompanying his son Among primitive people they say that if care. Burroughs and Vollmer lived togeth- the manuscript piecemeal – in sections through trial and sentencing, and making someone was bitten by a snake he was er but never married. Their son William S. of no particular order. When Burroughs sure he entered a reputable rehabilitation murdered. I believe that. Burroughs Jr. was born in 1947. saw the print galleys he liked them better hospital. To escape possible detention, Burroughs, than his original, and it was published in Burroughs supported himself and his ad- “There are no accidents in the world of Vollmer and their son (together with this random manner. Burroughs received diction by writing for small literary presses. magic.” Vollmer’s daughter from her first marriage) a $3,000 advance from Grove Press, and He also covered the 1968 Democratic Na- -William S. Burroughs fled to Mexico in 1949. Their relationship used the money (equivalent to $26,000 in tional Convention for Esquire magazine floundered. Burroughs began to pursue today’s funds) to buy drugs. Life magazine with Jean Genet, John Sack, and Terry Burroughs was unwavering in his insist- other men, and Vollmer began to drink published a cover story as part of a feature Southern. Despite his personal turmoil he heavily. Burroughs then boasted that he on the growing Beat literary movement. ence that his writing had a magical pur- managed to complete ‘The Last Words of pose. Norman Mailer declared him to be and Vollmer had ‘A William Tell’ act. She ‘Naked Lunch’ was Burroughs’ first ven- Dutch Shultz’ (1969) and ‘The Wild Boys’ put a highball glass on her head, and Bur- ture into a nonlinear style. After the pub- “the only American writer who may be con- (1971). ceivably possessed by genius.” roughs, aiming at the glass, shot Vollmer in lication Burroughs was exposed to Brion In 1974 Allen Ginsberg, worried about the head, killing her immediately. Gysin’s “cut-up” technique at the Beat Ho- Burroughs died on August 2, 1997 in Burroughs, got a contract for his friend to Lawrence, Kansas from complications of The killing in was ruled “culpable homi- tel in Paris. Gysin was a restless multifac- teach creative writing at the City College in cide”, and Burroughs was jailed. Two wit- eted English artist who worked in painting, a heart attack he had suffered the previous New York. Burroughs battled through the day. He was interred in the family plot in nesses however agreed to testify that the sound, and poetry. Thereafter Burroughs withdrawal pains from heroin and accepted gun had fired accidentally while Burroughs began slicing up phrases and works to cre- Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis, Mis- the job. But he hated the work and only souri, with a marker bearing his full name was checking to see if it was loaded. The ate new sentences. lasted one semester. He rented an apart- selenachambers.com trial was continuously delayed, and Bur- and the epitaph “American Writer”. His ment nicknamed “The Bunker” on the Low- grave lies to the right of the white gran- - roughs spent his time writing the novel “I didn’t think I had ever seen a painting er East Side of Manhattan and lived there ‘Queer’. In the end Burroughs fled Mexico until I saw the painting of Brion Gysin.” ite obelisk of William Seward Burrough I - until 1981 when the affordable rents were (1857-1895). illegally and returned to the US. He was - William S. Burroughs doubled. Although needing funds desper- convicted in absentia and given a two year ately he turned down a teaching job at the suspended sentence. Burroughs and Gysin would develop a University of Buffalo for $15,000 a semes- Burroughs described Vollmer’s death as long relationship that revolved around ter – a lot of money in those days. Luckily pivotal in his life. artworks and ‘cut-up’ techniques. ‘Naked for Burroughs he met the young twenty- Lunch’ was in fact described as a book that one-year-old James Grauerholz – a book- I would never have become a writer but could be cut into at any point – although seller and Beat Generation devotee, who for Joan’s death ... I live with the constant not considered to be science fiction. organized reading tours for Burroughs that threat of possession, and a constant need ‘Naked Lunch’ slowly became notorious helped finance him and raised his public to escape from possession, from control across Europe and the United States. Af- profile. He began to associate with leading ... the death of Joan brought me in con- PRINED AND PLISED EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS E P, LD N - 2, RAA AWAA, EKALA - A - ELA