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FRIDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11577 June 12, 2020 Shawwal 20, 1441 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Lebanese demand end to economic turmoil In brief Qatar tops Amir sends written message to president of Afghanistan His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mena region Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday sent a written message to Afghan President Dr Mohamed Ashraf Ghani, pertaining to bilateral ties, the in Global means to enhance and develop them, and Qatar’s support for the peace, stability, and national reconciliation process in Afghanistan. The message was delivered by Peace Index HE the Minister of Foreign Aff airs’ Special Envoy for Counterterrorism The Global Peace Index is based on and Mediation in Conflict QNA Doha three main criteria: the level of Soci- Resolution Dr Mutlaq bin Majed etal Safety and Security, the extent of al-Qahtani, during a meeting with Ongoing Domestic and International Protesters ride scooters past flaming tyres during a demonstration against dire economic conditions in the centre of the Ghani in Kabul. atar ranked the fi rst in the Conflict, and the degree of Militari- Lebanese capital Beirut yesterday. The Lebanese pound sank to a record low on the black market yesterday despite the Al-Qahtani conveyed the greetings Middle East and North Africa sation, in addition to a set of criteria authorities’ attempts to halt the plunge of the crisis-hit country’s currency, money changers said. Lebanon is in the grips of its of His Highness the Amir to Ghani, Q(Mena) region and 27th globally related to different fields, including worst economic turmoil in decades. and his wishes to the people of in Global Peace Index for 2020, which the internal and external affairs of Afghanistan of further progress is issued by the Institute for Economics states. and prosperity. and Peace in Sydney, Australia. The Index is an attempt to measure The Afghan president entrusted al- Of the 163 countries included in the the relative peacefulness of countries Qahtani to convey his greetings to Index, Qatar’s position this year im- and regions. the Amir, and his wishes of health proved by three ranks from last year, It is produced by the Australian in- and happiness, and the Qatari as it occupied advanced positions in stitute in consultation with an interna- people constant prosperity and 500 mosques to reopen a number of fi elds at the global level tional team of experts from institutes development. through achieving high evaluation and research centres and in co-oper- During the meeting, the Afghan rates that exceeded many developed ation with the Department of Peace president expressed thanks and countries. and Confl ict Studies appreciation for the continuous Qatar ranked fi rst at the University of eff orts of the Amir to mediate on June 15 in fi rst phase in the Arab world and Sydney. between the Afghan parties, and 16th globally in the The countries are Qatar’s endeavour to realise the Societal Safety and ranked on a scale of ya, Onaiza, Ain Khaled, Al Gharrafa, at home because the bathrooms and aspiration of the Afghan people for By Shafeeq Alingal Security index, mak- 1-5 degrees so that Staff Reporter Madinat Khalifa South, Legataifi ya, Al ablution place of the mosques will be peace. ing it one of the 20 the most stable are Mirqab, Al Meshaf, Muaither South, closed. Later, Chairman of the High Council safest countries in the those which achieve Al Wajba, Al Hilal, Al Wakrah and Al The Ministry has asked the faith- for National Reconciliation in world. 1, while the least sta- ive hundred mosques across Qa- Wukair. ful not to go early to the mosques as Afghanistan Dr Abdullah Abdullah, The Index also ble receive 5. tar will be reopened in the fi rst The Ministry has asked all to abide they will be opened only with prayer Second Vice President Sarwar ranked Qatar 161st It is important to Fphase on June 15, the Ministry of by the restrictions. calls. The worshippers should main- Danesh, Afghanistan’s Minister of globally (reverse in- note that Qatar has Awqaf (Endowments) and Islamic Af- “Precaution is obligatory and com- tain a distance of 2m between each Foreign Aff airs Mohammed Hanif dex), making it among continued to top fairs announced yesterday. mitment to precautionary measures other and should not gather inside the Atmar, National Security Adviser the Gulf, Arab and in- the Index among The ministry has published a list of helps us to win this epidemic. Do not mosque. Hamdullah Mohib, and several ternational economic the Mena countries the mosques and urged the faithful to shake hands even if you are wearing They should bring their own prayer off icials met separately with al- countries least aff ected by violence. in the past couple of years, along with follow the directives from the author- gloves,” the Ministry said in a tweet. mat and not share it with others or Qahtani. This classification reflects Qatar’s its high performance in many indi- ities to prevent the spread of the novel The worshippers, according to a leave it in the mosque. The faith- global position in security, which cators during the past year, the most coronavirus (Covid-19). circular by the Ministry, should cover ful can locate the nearest reopened FM receives calls was in line with the Qatar National important of which was obtaining the It was in March that the Ministry their mouth and nose while sneez- mosque by accessing the link https:// from Spanish and Vision 2030 and the Ministry of In- fi rst position globally in terms of se- ordered mosques to close and suspend ing, wear face masks as long as they www.islam.gov.qa/services/COVID- terior’s strategy to enhance security curity and safety among 118 countries the fi ve obligatory congregational are in the mosques and make ablution 19Mosques.aspx French ministers and safety. according to the annual report of 2019 prayers and Friday prayers for the HE the Deputy Prime Minister and On other levels in the Index, Qatar crime index issued by Numbeo and the safety and well-being of worshippers Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh achieved advanced ranks through get- second in the Arab world and the 29th and as a preventive and precaution- Mohamed bin Abdulrahman ting high evaluation rates in some of globally in the competitiveness index ary measure to limit the spread of the al-Thani yesterday received the most prominent indices including out of 141 countries. virus. telephone calls from Spanish low rates of homicides and violence, It also ranked fi rst in the Arab world Only the Imam Muhammad ibn Foreign Minister Arancha the extent of crime in society and and the seventh globally out of 118 Abdul-Wahhab Mosque was exempt- Gonzalez Laya and French the stability of political conditions, countries in the Global Finance Safety ed from this decision, where Friday Minister of Europe and Foreign a society free from terrorism and its Index and the second in the Arab world prayers were held exclusively in the Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian. During effect and the absence of threat of in- and the 10th globally in the Global presence of 40 worshippers, including the calls, they discussed Qatar’s ternal and external conflicts. Competitiveness Report 2019. the imam and the mosque’s employ- bilateral co-operation relations ees. with the two countries, in addition According to the ministry’s an- to key topics of mutual interest. Microsoft refuses to sell facial recognition tech to police nouncement yesterday, the mosques Microsoft Corp said yesterday it would not sell its facial-recognition technology will be reopened at various areas in- to police departments until there is a federal law regulating the technology. “We cluding Abal Heeran, Bin Omran, Bu Qatar reports 51,331 do not sell our facial recognition technology to US police departments today, and Sidra, Bu Hamour, Ezgava, Al Salata Covid-19 recoveries until there is a strong national law grounded in human rights, we will not sell this Al Jadeeda, Umm Saneem, Umm Al Qatar yesterday announced 1,476 technology to police departments,” the company said in a statement. This comes Amad, Umm Salal Ali, Umm Salal new confirmed cases of Covid-19, a day after Amazon.com Inc said it was implementing a one-year moratorium on Mohamed, Gharrafat Al Rayyan, Umm 1,918 recoveries and three deaths police use of its facial-recognition software, halting a business it long defended Qarn, Umm Lekhba, Al Luqta, Bane in the last 24 hours, bringing the as many protested law enforcement brutality against people of colour. The death Hajer, Bu Sidra, Al Khor, Al Kheesa, Al total number of recoveries to of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody last month, has fanned Ruwais, Al Rayyan Al Jadeed, Al Sadd, The Ministry of Awqaf (Endowments) and Islamic Aff airs has urged the faithful to 51,331. The Ministry of Public Health worries that facial recognition would be used unfairly against protesters. Al Sudan, Al Shahaniyya, Al Azeezi- follow directives from the authorities to prevent the spread of Covid-19. said during the last 24 hours, 17 new cases have been admitted to intensive care due to health complications resulting from French policemen protest reforms Covid-19, bringing the total number currently in intensive care to 230. Page 2 Europe faces coronavirus second

Turkey resumes some international fl ights wave after mass protests: experts Turkish Airlines yesterday resumed a limited number of international Reuters other, holding each other, then I don’t Most European countries have flights after more than two months, Brussels have a good feeling about that,” Jozef passed the peak of the outbreak and a company off icial said. The first Kesecioglu, who chairs the European are gradually reopening business and flights took off from Istanbul for Society of Intensive Care Medicine, borders, as infections went gingerly London and Dusseldorf. There urope could face a surge of Cov- told a conference. down in past weeks. were subsequent planes flying id-19 infections in the coming Asked whether there could be a Before recent protests, scientists to Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Berlin Eweeks caused by mass protests surge of infections in the coming two expected a second wave only after the and Munich, state news agency in the continent over the last days, weeks, he said: “Yes, but hopefully summer. Anadolu reported. politicians, European Union offi cials I’m wrong.” But mass gatherings might impact and experts said yesterday. British Health Minister Matt Han- this positive trend. Tens of thousands of protesters cock said people should not attend Having only recently emerged, it is Moderna’s vaccine to have crowded together in Europe’s big large gatherings of more than six peo- not yet clear how Covid-19 is aff ected enter fi nal trial stage cities in recent days to demonstrate ple, including demonstrations. by seasonal factors and people spend- A vaccine against Covid-19 against racism after the killing in the “I understand that people want to ing more time outdoors, where the developed by the US biotech firm United States of George Floyd while in show their passion for a cause that virus particles disperse faster, poten- Moderna will enter the third and A view shows a helmet, a shield and handcuff s during a protest of police off icers police custody. they care deeply about. But this is a tially helping limit its spread. final stage of its clinical trial in July against French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner’s reforms, including ditching a “If you advise everybody to keep virus that thrives on social contact, However, the positive impact of be- with 30,000 participants, the firm controversial chokehold method of arrest, in Nice, France, yesterday, following the one-and-half-metre from each other, regardless of what your cause may be,” ing outdoors could be counteracted if said yesterday. death in Minneapolis police custody of unarmed African-American George Floyd. and everybody just stands next to each he said at a daily news conference. social distancing is not adhered to. Gulf Times 2 Friday, June 12, 2020 QATAR

Shura Council takes CMU-Q research wins part in webinar on role of women 2019 Best Paper award political leaders QNA crease both the number and Doha the infl uence of women in po- zQNRF-funded project results in virtual toolbox for teaching analytical writing litical leadership positions. WPL members are women he Shura Council par- in political offi ce – minis- research team from Carn- ell notes they also created a sec- ticipated yesterday in ters, members of parliaments, egie Mellon University in tion for a wider audience: “We Ta global webinar or- mayors, and others in senior AQatar (CMU-Q), a Qatar distilled all we learned through- ganised by Women Political positions. Foundation (QF) partner uni- out the entire project into the Leaders (WPL) under the title WPL strives in all its activi- versity, received the Best Paper four or fi ve biggest challenges “Female leaders shaping the ties to demonstrate the impact award for 2019 from the Journal we saw students facing, and the world of the future: Building a of more women in political of Information Systems Educa- materials we created to address new normal.” leadership and to build new tion (JISE). The paper arose from them.” Discussions during webi- communities of knowledge for a multi-year research project Creating the website was itself nar focused on the unprec- women political leaders eve- called Scaff olding Literacy in an educational experience. The edented opportunities off ered rywhere. Academic and Tertiary Environ- students who built the origi- by the coronavirus (Covid-19) Meanwhile, the Services ments in Qatar (Slate-Q), which nal web framework – Mohamed pandemic to reform biased and Public Utilities Commit- was funded by Qatar National Taimur Rizwan, Rija Yoosufani, structures, legislation and tee of the Shura Council held Research Fund. and Masooma Zehra – did so as standards that shape socie- a meeting yesterday under Silvia Pessoa, Maria Pia part of their information sys- ties’ perceptions of women the chairmanship of its Rap- Gomez-Laich, Divakaran tems junior project course. and women’s access to equal porteur Mohamed bin Mahdi Liginlal, and Thomas Mitchell Liginlal taught the project opportunities. al-Ahbabi. authored the winning submis- course and guided the students Shura Council Member During the meeting, the sion. The paper is one of seven as they built the information Reem bint Mohamed al-Man- committee completed the published articles and 20 local portal. “During the course, the soori represented the Council study of a draft law amending and international presenta- students met with the Slate-Q in the webinar. some provisions of Law No tions to arise from the Slate-Q team to understand their needs, The WPL had earlier wel- 1 of 1986 regarding the reg- project. and then they organised the con- comed Speaker of the Shura istration of pharmaceutical Beginning in 2016, Slate-Q’s tent and provided the ability for Council Ahmed bin Abdul- companies and their products, goal was to work with informa- researchers and professors to ac- lah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud’s and decided to submit its rec- tion systems faculty members to cess relevant materials.” nomination of Reem bint ommendations thereon to the create clear and precise guide- Rizwan stayed on after the Mohamed al-Mansoori to be Shura Council. lines for writing assignments, The Slate-Q Team from Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar. course fi nished to further devel- the WPL ambassador in Qa- HE the Speaker of the Shura and to develop materials to use op the site. The team launched tar. Council Ahmed bin Abdul- in writing workshops to make the student through common (now at MIT), as well as prin- they learned in following semes- the website earlier this year. The Women Political Lead- lah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud had expectations explicit for stu- challenges so they can construct cipal investigators Liginlal, ters. Although the QNRF-funded ers (WPL) is the global net- referred the aforementioned dents. The team also worked stronger arguments.” Selma Limam Mansar and Su- As the Slate-Q project reached research has drawn to a close, work of female politicians. draft law to the committee for with the students, documenting The idea for Slate-Q arose san Hagan from CMU-Q, Ryan its conclusion in 2019, the team the team is planning to continue The mission of WPL is to in- study and a report. both successes and challenges, out of a previous QNRF re- Miller from Kent State Uni- decided to make their fi ndings their work. “The next logical and brought these fi ndings back search project, led by Pessoa, versity, Sally Humphrey from publicly available. step is to further develop this to the faculty members to fi ne- that documented the literacy the Australian Catholic Uni- “We don’t want Slate-Q to work into a book-length manu- tune subsequent writing assign- development of the CMU-Q versity, and Ahmar Mahboob be just a research project,” said script on teaching analytical and ments. Class of 2013 over four years. from the University of Sydney. Pessoa, associate professor of argumentative writing across Qatar condemns Pessoa said, “During the Pessoa found that students can In 2015, the project received a English at CMU-Q and the lead the curriculum,” said Pessoa. course of our project, we have face challenges understanding grant in Cycle 8 of QNRF’s Na- principal investigator of the Slate-Q’s materials, proc- developed a set of tools for fac- what the professors are looking tional Priorities Research Pro- project. “We want to help faculty ess and research outcomes are attack in Nigeria ulty members: Here’s a challenge for in analytical and argumenta- gram. On the second year of the members change the way they available at slateq3.wpengine. that students may face, and here tive writing assignments in dif- project, the team also worked guide students to develop their com. The journal article that are some materials that you can ferent disciplines. She believed with CMU-Q’s Cecile le Roux writing skills.” was named Best Paper of 2019 QNA use to help them overcome that that a clear, well-defi ned system to scaffold writing in her or- They recruited students to is titled “Scaff olding case analy- Doha challenge.” of communicating expectations ganisational behaviour course. build a website of tools and ma- sis writing: A collaboration be- Gomez-Laich describes how would enhance learning and Over the three-year project, terials based on the project’s tween information systems and atar expressed yesterday its condemnation of an armed Slate-Q’s scaff olding process writing development. the team worked with 11 faculty outcomes and on their work on writing faculty,” and is available attack that took place in Borno state in Northeast Nigeria, has helped students develop For the Slate-Q project, Pes- members to design scaff old- history writing with CMU-Q at JISE.org. Qwhich left dozens dead and injured. their writing skills: “In a case soa brought together a large ing materials that would clearly history professors Benjamin Pessoa, Mitchell, Gomez- The Ministry of Foreign Aff airs renewed, in a statement, Qatar’s study, for instance, students team of applied linguists and outline writing expectations. Reilly and Aaron Jacobson (for- Laich, Liginlal and le Roux fi rm position rejecting violence and terrorism regardless of their tend to summarise the case in- disciplinary faculty mem- They analysed student writing merly at CMU-Q). While the were also fi nalists for CMU’s motives and reasons. The statement expressed Qatar’s condo- stead of analysing what is hap- bers, including Gomez-Laich, post-intervention, refl ected on website includes materials spe- 2019-2020 Teaching Innovation lences to the families of the victims, the government, and people pening. The framework guides Mitchell, and Michael Maune the outcomes, and applied what cifi c to CMU-Q courses, Mitch- Award. of Nigeria, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

Doha Institute study exposes Qatar reports 51,331 total Covid-19 recoveries

anti-Muslim bias in coverage QNA risk of infection with them and work to pro- Doha tect them from infection by refraining from social visits, wearing the mask and cleansing the hands when near them. of terrorism by top US dailies he Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) The ministry said that, based on the exten- announced yesterday 1,476 new con- sive data and studies conducted by the au- Tfi rmed cases of Covid-19, as many as thorities concerned, Qatar will begin, start- indings from a new Doha average casualties. the identifi ed disparities were 1,918 new recoveries and three new deaths in ing June 15, to lift the restrictions imposed to Institute for Graduate Attacks in Western Europe ultimately larger than we ex- the last 24 hours, bringing the total number combat the epidemic gradually in four stages FStudies study suggest that were also more likely to be framed pected going in.” of recoveries in Qatar to 51,331. until September 1. elite American newspapers pay as acts of “terrorism,” while non- The study builds on previous The MoPH said in a statement that dur- In this context, it is stressed that the ap- comparatively more attention to Muslim victims of terror were research into alleged terrorism ing the last 24 hours, 17 new cases have been plication of preventive measures and meas- non-Muslim victims of terror- more likely to be “personalised” coverage double standards, but admitted to intensive care due to health com- ures must continue to be implemented in ism, and also employ diff erent and “humanised” than Muslim employs a coding scheme that plications resulting from Covid-19, bringing the stages of gradually lifting the imposed framing mechanisms depending and black victims. The study, goes farther than previous re- the total number currently in intensive care restrictions that were applied in the country on terrorism victim identity. which was published online this search focusing only on coverage to 230. as a result of the spread of the Covid-19, as Researchers Mohamed Ha- week in Journalism, a highly- totality and prominence. Exam- The ministry also said that there has been failure to adhere to precautionary measures mas Elmasry and Mohamed el- ranked peer-reviewed journal, of- ined newspapers included The a small decrease in the number of acute during the next stage will lead to a second Nawawy carried out a quantita- fers some structural explanations Chicago Tribune, The Cleveland Covid-19 positive patients being admitted to wave of infections in the country. tive content analysis on ten large for the coverage disparities. Plain-Dealer, The Denver Post, intensive care thanks to the measures it took The MoPH also pointed out that the meas- American dailies. Results showed “We selected terror attacks on The Houston Chronicle, The along with the authorities concerned to limit ures applied by the State in the early stages, in that terror attacks occurring in an apples-to-apples basis and Minneapolis Star-Tribune, The the spread of the virus, the most important of February, contributed greatly and eff ectively Western Europe received about also controlled for the religious Los Angeles Times, The New York which is early detection which can contrib- The MoPH also stated that Qatar has to controlling the extent of its spread. This nine times more coverage than identity of attackers, geography, Times, the USA Today, The Wall ute signifi cantly to reducing the severity of now started to overcome the phase of also helped in expanding the capacity of the attacks occurring in Turkey and and race,” said Elmasry. “We ex- Street Journal, and The Wash- infection. the peak of the virus outbreak, with the health system to deal with all cases contrary Africa, respectively, despite fewer pected to fi nd diff erences, but ington Post. The MoPH added that the new cases are beginning of its decline, thanks to the to what happened in some countries that expatriate workers infected as a result of measures taken by the state to address it, failed to implement precautionary measures contact with individuals who were previ- along with the commitment of the com- early enough, which led to the collapse of ously infected, in addition to recording new munity members to recommendations their health system and an inability to handle cases of infection among groups of workers and preventive instructions, the most the large numbers of cases. GCO responds to Amnesty report on in diff erent regions. The new cases have been important of which are social distancing, The ministry stressed that the gradual identifi ed by the track and trace team at the maintaining physical distancing, staying lifting of restrictions came after a thorough ministry. at home and not going out except for ne- study of the situation in Qatar and from salary payment violations by company Cases of infection have also increased sig- cessity as well as using masks. similar experiences in many countries that nifi cantly among citizens and residents as a According to a tweet from the MoPH, with have succeeded in limiting the spread of result of contact with infected family mem- a total of 4,829 people tested for Covid-19 the virus after gradually lifting the restric- he Government Commu- partially resolved and all salary legislation, incidents of non- bers who had been infected in the workplace in the last 24 hours, as many as 274,793 have tions. nications Offi ce (GCO) payments from February to May compliance will result in strict or through visits and family gatherings. been tested so far in Qatar. The total number The MoPH warned that lifting the re- Tissued a statement on were paid in full by the com- sanctions, including heavy fi nes, The new confi rmed cases of infection have of infected people in Qatar since the start of strictions gradually does not mean the dis- Wednesday in response to Am- pany. There are a small number shutting down worksites, black- been introduced to complete isolation in the Covid-19 outbreak is 75,071. appearance of Covid-19, pointing out that nesty International’s report re- of outstanding salary payments listing, and prosecuting individ- the various medical facilities in the country, The total number of current active cases is while planning the relaxation of restrictions, garding violations by a company preceding February, which will uals responsible for neglecting where they receive the necessary healthcare 23,671. The total number of people currently attention was given to priorities to ensure operating at Al Bayt Stadium. be resolved in the coming days,” the welfare of their workforce. according to the health status of each case. under acute hospital care is 1,380, including avoiding the resultant risks. Each stage will “In September 2019, the Min- it said. Qatar Meta Coats was “Furthermore, as part of our ef- The MoPH said that the three deaths re- 163 acute hospital admissions in the last 24 be subject to evaluation and review based on istry of Administrative Develop- recently sold and the MADLSA forts to tackle exploitative labour corded yesterday were of people aged 70, 52 hours. The total number of Covid-19 deaths the extent of the virus spread as the success ment, Labour and Social Aff airs is overseeing the activities of practices by companies, draft and 41, respectively. They suff ered from sev- so far in Qatar is 69. of each stage depends on the commitment of (MADLSA) was made aware, the new ownership to rectify the legislation was passed last week eral chronic diseases and received medical Anyone with symptoms of Covid-19 everyone to implement the required precau- by the Supreme Committee for neglect of the previous owner, to increase fi nancial and non- care in intensive care units. should either quickly contact the 16000 hel- tions. Delivery & Legacy, of delayed including renewing expired resi- fi nancial penalties for labour law The ministry off ered sincere condolences pline or go directly to one of the designated The ministry also stressed that the salary payments by Qatar Meta dence permits and health cards. violations, including those related and great sympathy to the families of the de- health centres for testing, the ministry said Covid-19 pandemic that swept the world Coats WLL. The company was The statement continued, to delayed salary payments. ceased. emphasising that the earlier the disease is posed a great challenge to all countries and fi nancially sanctioned and op- “Working with our international “The government has made The ministry confi rmed that eff orts to detected the easier it will be to receive the affected each country in a different way. erations were suspended until all partners, the government has signifi cant progress in recent tackle Covid-19 in Qatar have succeeded in right treatment and recover. Therefore, it is important to realise that all outstanding salaries were paid. bolstered legislative and opera- years to reform the country’s fl attening the trend and reducing the im- The main screening centres include the precautionary measures are aimed at Financial insecurity between tional frameworks to improve labour system. There are still pact of the virus by a large percentage thanks Muaither Health Centre, Rawdat Al Khail primarily to protecting public health and November 2019 and April 2020 and further protect the rights of issues to overcome, including to the decisions of the ban, the preventive Health Centre, Umm Slal Health Centre and individuals from this virus, taking into ac- meant that Qatar Meta Coats’ migrant workers, while clearly those related to the attitudes and measures taken, and the awareness and co- Al Gharafa Health Centre. count all other aspects of life, whether so- workforce received irregular setting out the legal obligations behaviours of a small minor- operation of all members of society, and that The MoPH reaffi rmed the necessity for cial or economic. salary payments during this pe- of all companies operating in ity. This will take time, but we there are relatively low average numbers in the elderly or those suff ering from chronic The MoPH recommended visiting its web- riod,” the statement said. Qatar. We have made it clear to remain fi rmly committed to the relation to the recorded cases of new hospital diseases and their family members to follow site regularly to view the latest information “In May 2020, the issue was all employers that, in line with task.” admissions. strict methods and precautions to reduce the and instructions related to Covid-19. Gulf Times Friday, June 12, 2020 3 REGION/ARAB WORLD

Over 50 dead in migrant Protest against racial inequality in Gaza shipwreck off Tunisia

AFP hope of eventually identifying recorded in the same period last Tunis the bodies before they were lain year”. “A growing number of to rest in numbered graves. One people engaging in sea crossing person is still missing. are from West African coun- ore than 50 people, The boat’s captain, a tries, followed by Tunisians, mostly from sub- 48-year-old Tunisian, was who constituted the majority MSaharan Africa, died among the dead, according to until last year,” it added. when a boat carrying migrants the authorities. Council trucks According to Tunisia’s inte- bound for Italy sank off Tunisia, were waiting in front of the rior ministry, 2,226 people have a health offi cial said yesterday hospital yesterday evening to been intercepted trying to leave in an updated toll. Another 17 transfer bodies to a cemetery on by sea over the fi rst fi ve months bodies were recovered, raising the outskirts of Sfax. of this year. Many sub-Saharan the total to 52 since the authori- Witnesses had told authori- Africans arrived in Tunisia ties were alerted by fi shermen ties the victims were believed from Libya in the months after near the port city of Sfax on to be passengers on a boat that April last year, when strongman Tuesday. At least 24 women set off for Italy a week ago with Khalifa Haftar launched a failed were among the victims. 53 people on board. An inves- campaign to take the capital The navy and coast guards tigation has been launched to Tripoli. used divers and a helicopter to identify the organisers of the “I am deeply saddened to search for bodies, most of which journey. hear of women and children were found in the same area, a UN refugee agency UNHCR losing their life in those perilous spokesman for a court in Sfax said in a statement yesterday journeys”, UNHCR’s Tunisia told AFP. Some burials were that between January and May representative Hanan Hamdan held yesterday, Sfax region’s this year, “sea departures from said in the statement, express- Palestinians gesture as others hold a banner with pictures of George Floyd, who died in Minneapolis police custody, and Iyad al-Halaq, an health director Ali Ayadi said, Tunisia to Europe have been ing concern about the new unarmed autistic Palestinian who was shot dead by Israeli police, during a protest against racial inequality, in Gaza City yesterday. with DNA samples taken in the four times more than the ones trend in departures.

Protests hit Druze city Assad sacks PM Khamis in Syria for fourth day

Reuters Amman

undreds of Syrians in the mainly Druze city of Sweida took to as economic crisis grows the streets for a fourth day on Wednesday, protesting wors- Hening economic conditions and demanding the downfall of AFP Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Residents said demonstrators near Damascus a main square of the southwestern city called for Assad’s overthrow, echoing chants at the start of pro-democracy protests in 2011 that were violently crushed by security forces and sparked a violent, nine- yrian President Bashar al- year confl ict. Assad yesterday sacked Syria is in the throes of a deep economic crisis that has seen its cur- Shis prime minister of four rency hit a record 3,000 Syrian pounds to the dollar earlier this week years, as the country grapples in a rapidly accelerating free-fall. It traded at 47 pounds to the dollar with a stinging economic crisis at the start of the confl ict. and renewed protests. Protests since Sunday have also called for an end to rampant cor- “President Assad issues de- ruption and the pullout of militias and Russian troops, whose support cree number 143 for year 2020, has helped Assad regain most of the territory once in hands of rebels which relieves the prime min- seeking to end his rule. “Protesters called for freedom and toppling ister Imad Muhammad Dib of the regime as a result of popular anger over the deteriorating eco- Khamis of his position,” the nomic, social, security and political situation,” said Noura al-Basha, a presidency said in a statement. resident and activist. Khamis, 58, had been Syria’s For the fi rst time since the protests began, dozens of government prime minister since 2016. supporters organised a counter demonstration in front of the provin- He is replaced by Water cial government offi ces, where they criticised a wave of new, tighter Resources Minister Hussein US sanctions, known as the Caesar Act, which takes eff ect later this Arnous for an interim period Hussein Arnous Imad Khamis month. Syrian authorities blame Western sanctions for widespread leading to legislative polls set hardship among ordinary residents, where the currency collapse has for next month. Like Khamis, incoming premier Arnous has for several in a country where most people led to soaring prices and people struggling to aff ord food and basic “Assad assigns... Hussein already live below the poverty supplies. State media made no mention of the opposition protest. Arnous the duties of prime years been the target of US and European Union sanctions. line means hunger could soon Sweida city had been spared the unrest seen in other parts of Syria minister as well as his (other) Parliamentary polls had been due in Syria earlier this year, spread. since the start of the confl ict and remained in government hands. duties,” the presidency said. “The WFP’s reference food The majority Druze population have long resisted being drawn into “The government is contin- but were postponed twice due to the novel coronavirus basket has already increased the Syrian confl ict that pits mainly Sunni rebels against Assad’s rule. uing with its work until a new pandemic by 11% between April and May parliament is elected.” 2020 and 133% since May 2019,” Like Khamis, incoming pre- compounded by a financial cri- 2011. The government has Prices of some basic goods the UN agency’s spokeswoman mier Arnous has for several sis in neighbouring Lebanon, blamed the unofficial devalu- are set to increase further af- Jessica Lawson told AFP. She years been the target of US and which had served as a conduit ation on US sanctions and ex- ter US legislation known as called that “a staggering in- European Union sanctions. to bring dollars into govern- change rate “manipulation”. the Caesar Act comes into ef- crease for families who were Parliamentary polls had been ment-held areas despite inter- But the rapid deterioration has fect later this month, targeting already struggling to purchase due in Syria earlier this year, national sanctions. sparked rare criticism in gov- companies dealing with Da- the food they need”. but were postponed twice due In recent days, the value of ernment-held areas, including mascus. Syrians have also felt the to the novel coronavirus pan- the Syrian pound on the black in the southern city of Sweida. At a protest yesterday in pinch as the cash-strapped demic. The new date set last market has tumbled from one “Revolution, freedom, social Damascus, dozens chanted in government has repeatedly cut month is July 19. Khamis’ sack- record low to the next. At one justice,” dozens of protesters support of Assad and against rations of subsidised fuel. In a ing follows sharp criticism of point this week it peaked at shouted, in slogans reminis- the US law. One held up a sign bid to replenish state coffers, his government over its han- 3,000 pounds to the dollar, cent of the 2011 uprising whose reading in English: “No to the government last month or- dling of the economic crisis. more than four times the of- repression sparked a civil America and its sanctions.” The dered assets seized from Syrian Syria’s economy has been ficial rate of around 700, and war that has killed more than World Food Programme says tycoon, Assad’s cousin Rami battered by nine years of war 60 times its pre-war rate from 380,000 people. the skyrocketing cost of living Makhlouf. A demonstration in the mainly Druze city of Sweida, Syria.

Iran challenges IAEA Pompeo calls for speedy ICC calls for more report on co-operation Libyan ceasefi re process Sudan war crimes AFP gagement with the agency during suspects to surrender Vienna the past two months, with a view Reuters ment of National Accord and northwest Libya back under its to reach a common understand- Washington the Libyan National Army, led control, dashing Haftar’s bid to ing... which would pave the way by eastern-based commander unite the country by force with AFP “I take this opportunity to call ran insists it is ready to re- for the resolution of concerned Khalifa Haftar. “Quick and help from Egypt, the United United Nations Abdallah Banda and all the ICC solve any issues with the UN issues.” S Secretary of State good-faith negotiations are Arab Emirates and Russia. suspects to surrender to the ICC Inuclear watchdog, express- Iran argues that the requests Mike Pompeo wel- now required to implement While the United States has and answer the charges against ing “disappointment” in a note for access are based on “fabri- Ucomed the resumption a ceasefi re and relaunch the said it opposes Haftar’s of- he International Criminal them through a fair, objective circulated yesterday over the cated information”, accusing the of talks led by the United Na- UN-led intra-Libyan politi- fensive, it has not thrown its Court called for Sudanese and independent judicial proc- IAEA’s latest report complaining United States and Israel of trying tions between Libya’s warring cal talks,” Pompeo told a news support behind the GNA. It Twar crimes suspects to ess.” of blocked access. to “exert pressure on the agency”. sides and urged speedy nego- conference. The United Na- has also lambasted Russian turn themselves in, just a day af- Kushayb has been wanted by The International Atomic En- Israel has claimed that its intel- tiations to achieve a ceasefi re. tions Support Mission in Libya involvement, a stance reiter- ter longtime fugitive militiaman international law enforcement ergy Agency (IAEA) said in a re- ligence services have new infor- “The agreement between the (UNSMIL) said on June 2 that ated on Wednesday by Pompeo. Ali Kushayb surrendered to The since 2007 for his role as head of port seen by AFP last Friday that mation on Iran’s alleged previous GNA and LNA to re-enter UN Libya’s warring parties had “It’s time ... for all Libyans and Hague. the Janjaweed militia. Iran has for months blocked in- nuclear weapons programme. security talks was a good fi rst agreed to restart ceasefi re talks. all sides to act so that neither ICC lawyer Fatou Bensouda He is also a former close ally of spections at two sites where nu- The IAEA has said previously step, very positive,” Pompeo In a series of rapid victories, Russia or any other country can said during a United Nations Se- ousted Sudanese president Omar clear activity may have occurred that its access requests were said, referring to the interna- the GNA has, with Turkish sup- interfere in Libya’s sovereignty curity Council videoconference al-Bashir, himself wanted by the in the past. The Vienna-based based on “concrete information” tionally recognised Govern- port, suddenly brought most of for its own game,” Pompeo said. that Kushayb —who is suspected ICC and currently detained in agency noted “with serious con- that had been validated. of crimes against humanity in Khartoum. cern that, for over four months, In its note, Iran expressed Darfur — “was transferred to the Abdallah Banda has been Iran has denied access to the “deep regret and disappoint- Israeli scientists produce energy from plants court following his surrender” in wanted for war crimes since 2019 agency... to two locations”. ment” at the IAEA’s latest report. the Central African Republic. by the ICC, which is also search- In a note to the IAEA dated The report is expected to be dis- Israeli scientists say they have connect to a power point. In believed that it had potential,” Bensouda congratulated ing for two other individuals re- June 8, Iran said it had held cussed at a meeting of the agen- produced hydrogen from plants the case of a plant, we didn’t said Yacoby during a laboratory Chad, France, the Netherlands lated to the case. meetings with agency represent- cy’s board of governors starting in a development that they know where to connect,” said visit. Findings of the study, a and the UN mission in the Cen- The Security Council mem- atives in Tehran on April 29 and next Monday. hope could eventually lead to Iftach Yacoby, who heads the collaborative project with Kevin tral African Republic but did bers who helped found the ICC May 16 to discuss the access is- In a separate report, also to using vegetation to produce university’s renewable energy Redding at the University of not off er any other details about (Belgium, Dominican Republic, sues, followed by written corre- be discussed during the board electricity. laboratory. Arizona, were published in April Kushayb’s arrest. Estonia, France, Germany, Ni- spondence and a fresh proposal meeting, the IAEA warned that The discovery was made by Researchers planted an enzyme in the Energy & Environmental “There should be no escape geria, St. Vincent and the Gren- to meet with IAEA representa- Iran’s enriched uranium stock- using microscopic algae, an into samples of the algae and Science journal. “From the from justice for perpetrators of adines, South Africa, Tunisia tives. In the note circulated by pile is now almost eight times aquatic plant, in research car- observed it producing hydro- moment we found how to use the world’s most serious crimes and Britain) in a joint statement Tehran’s mission to the UN in the limit set in the nuclear deal ried out at a Tel Aviv University gen, a source of energy already plants to produce a source of under international law,” she underlined their commitment to Vienna yesterday, Iran insisted it the country signed with world laboratory. “To link a device used to fuel vehicles. “We didn’t energy, the options were open,” said, calling on others to surren- fi ghting against impunity from “continued its constructive en- powers in 2015. to electricity, you just have to know if this would work but we said Yacoby. der themselves. war crimes. Gulf Times 4 Friday, June 12, 2020 AFRICA WHO warns pandemic is accelerating in Africa

By Robin Millard, AFP by the UN press association in the provinces,” Moeti said. fi ve countries: South Africa, Al- Asked by AFP how she saw the Geneva Geneva. She said that in most countries geria, Nigeria, Egypt and Sudan. pandemic developing in Africa, “Even though these cases in on the continent, the virus en- Moeti said that while it was Moeti said the continent had not Africa account for less than 3% of tered capitals through interna- possible that some asymptomat- seen the sustained exponential he speed the new coro- the global total, it’s clear that the tional fl ights from Europe. ic and mild cases were going un- rise in cases previously witnessed navirus jumped from pandemic is accelerating.” “Ten of the 54 countries in detected, WHO Africa believed in Europe and the United States. T100,000 to 200,000 con- The novel coronavirus has Africa are currently driving the that large numbers of severe “Until such time as we have fi rmed cases in Africa shows just infected nearly 7.4mn people numbers,” Moeti explained, with cases and deaths were not being access to an eff ective vaccine, how quickly the pandemic is ac- worldwide and killed at least those states accounting for 80% missed on the continent. I’m afraid we are probably going celerating on the continent, the 416,000 since the outbreak of cases. Africa’s relatively young pop- to have to live with a steady in- World Health Organization said emerged in China last December, South Africa accounts for ulation compared to other con- crease in the region, with some yesterday. according to a tally from offi cial nearly 25% of the continent’s to- tinents, and in-built experience hotspots having to be managed According to an AFP tally, Af- sources compiled by AFP. tal cases. of dealing with disease outbreaks in a number of countries, as is rica topped the 200,000 mark on Africa has reached 5,635 “The majority of countries still have been cited as reasons why happening now in South Africa, Tuesday. deaths from 210,519 confi rmed have fewer than 1,000 reported Africa has not so far seen the in Algeria, in Cameroon, which “It took 98 days to reach the cases, according to AFP’s count cases,” said Moeti. death rates experienced on other really require very strong public fi rst 100,000 cases, and only 18 at 1100 GMT yesterday. “There is community trans- continents. health measures,” she said. days to move to 200,000 cases,” In Africa, “the pandemic is still mission in more than 50% of Moeti said early action by Af- “We’re hoping very much Doctor Matshidiso Moeti, the concentrated in and around capi- countries, however.” rican countries had helped keep not to see health systems over- WHO’s regional director for Af- tal cities but we are seeing more Meanwhile more than 70% of the numbers low — but constant whelmed with large numbers of A man wears a protective mask as he shops for groceries at Bakan rica, told a video briefi ng hosted and more cases spread out into the deaths have occurred in just vigilance was still needed. people who are ill,” she said. Gizo supermarket in Abuja, Nigeria. Burundi cabinet meets on way 10 dead in attack on forward after president’s death

AFP “The government within the crisis committee Bujumbura seemed to be leaning that sits with the presiden- towards a swift cy,” the source said. swearing-in of the Nkurunziza, an evan- urundi yesterday held president-elect, but gelical who believed he was Ivorian border post an extraordinary cabi- things are changing chosen by God to rule the Bnet meeting to discuss because aft er intense East African nation, fostered By Aly Outtara, AFP “Investigations are under way to residents are normally in the fi elds countries, led to the death of eight a way forward after the sud- discussions they a personality cult around his Korhogo, Ivory Coast determine the nature, circumstanc- growing cotton and peanuts in the suspected militants, the capture den death of long-serving may fi nally opt for leadership. es and fi nal toll of this attack,” Dou- arid area. of 38 others and the destruction of ruler Pierre Nkurunziza left the strict respect of The ruling party declared mbia said in a statement. The attack, launched at around a “terrorist base” at Alidougou in many anxious over the fu- the constitution with him a “visionary” and “su- uspected extremists attacked “In the meantime, urgent steps 3am, was carried out by dozens of Burkina Faso, the Ivory Coast army ture of the troubled country. an interim led by the preme guide for patriotism”, an army-manned frontier have been taken in the area, in par- armed individuals believed to be had said on May 24. Nkurunziza, who died on speaker” and some offi cials likened Spost on Ivory Coast’s border ticular placing all troops on alert and from the Group to Support Islam The operation was launched af- Monday aged 55, had been his death to a catastrophe. with Burkina Faso overnight, killing carrying out search operations for and Muslims (GSIM), which has ter militants were spotted last year due to step down in August should take over in the event But he did not wield pow- around 10 people, the military said the assailants.” a hold on the area, according to a to the north of Ivory Coast’s Comoe after his surprise decision of the president dying. er alone, and analysts say his yesterday. Ivorian and Burkinabe sources source in Burkina Faso. national park. not to run in an election last However the country death could provoke a tussle It is the fi rst assault by Islam- earlier put the toll at 10 and 12 dead Security analysts have long wor- Security sources say they are ex- month won by the ruling fi nds itself in an unusual for power in the upper ech- ist extremists on Ivorian soil since respectively, and both said two peo- ried that a militancy in the Sahel tremists operating in Burkina Faso party’s handpicked succes- situation, as a newly-elect- elons of government. March 2016, when a raid on the ple were listed as missing and an as- that began in Mali in 2012 is spread- who hole up in Ivory Coast. sor. ed president is waiting to be Nkurunziza had wanted southeastern beach resort of Grand- sailant killed. ing towards coastal states on the The Grand-Bassam attack four But his death has raised sworn-in in August. Nyabenda to succeed him, Bassam had left 19 people dead. “There were sounds of rifl es to- Gulf of Guinea. years ago was claimed by Al Qaeda’s uncertainty and fears of a “The government seemed but the generals opted for Dozens of gunmen targeted the ward the river,” an anonymous Ka- Ivory Coast shares a 550km border North African affi liate, Al Qaeda in power struggle in a country to be leaning towards a swift Ndayishimiye who won the frontier post at Kafolo in northeast- folo resident said in a telephone in- with Burkina Faso, where violence the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). whose recent history has swearing-in of the presi- May 20 election. ern Ivory Coast in a pre-dawn op- terview. has claimed nearly 1,000 lives and It targeted civilians on hotel ter- been marked by violent po- dent-elect, but things are While also a general, eration, an Ivorian security source “There were sounds of military forced 860,000 people from their races in the resort, in contrast with litical upheaval, a refugee changing because after in- Ndayishimiye is not a regime said. cars speeding through the village. homes over the past fi ve years. the latest attack which aimed at a exodus and civil war. tense discussions they may hardliner and Nkurunziza Giving a provisional toll, armed We are afraid. The sounds of guns The latest attack took place in the border post manned by the military The government called a fi nally opt for the strict re- had been expected to con- forces chief of staff Lassina Doumbia have been going on since early this same zone where the two countries and police. ministerial meeting to dis- spect of the constitution tinue to play a signifi cant said “around 10” people were killed morning. And it’s still going on. last month launched a ground- Militancy, often intertwined with cuss “the management of with an interim led by the role in the background. at the post, which was manned by “We are hiding in the houses breaking joint operation to fl ush out inter-communal violence, resulted the situation following the speaker,” the presidential His 2015 run for a third army personnel and gendarmes, with our families. The military has the militants. in 4,000 deaths in Mali, Niger and unexpected death” of Nku- advisor said. term in offi ce sparked pro- while six were wounded and an at- forbidden us to go out. Everything Operation Comoe, named after Burkina Faso in 2019, according to runziza, who according to This was confi rmed by tests and a failed coup, with tacker was “neutralised”. is closed,” he said, adding that a river that fl ows through the two the United Nations. the government died of a another high-ranking party violence leaving at least heart attack after feeling un- member. 1,200 people dead while well for two days. The path forward will be some 400,000 fl ed the The meeting wrapped up ultimately be decided by a country. in the early afternoon, and “crisis committee” answer- A climate of fear marked Kenya cops drag woman behind motorbike, arrested the government is expected to ing to the president’s offi ce, by a crackdown on the op- give an offi cial statement on a ministerial source told AFP position and media settled By Katharine Houreld, Reuters yesterday arrested by @DCI_Kenya police for the death of George Floyd. for 15 deaths and 31 cases of injury its outcome later in the day. on condition of anonymity. over Burundi in the years Nairobi Detectives following circulation of Brutality allegations against the since March 27, when Kenya imposed “The two vice presidents This group comprises after. a video depicting a woman being Kenyan police are common and the a dawn-dusk curfew to help stem the and cabinet ministers have powerful generals like Nku- Rumours swirled on so- Kenyan detectives have arrested whipped & dragged on a motorbike in Independent Police Oversight Author- spread of Covid-19. already approached the con- runziza, who emerged from cial media about his death, three police off icers for allegedly Kuresoi South Sub-County,” the police ity, an independent government Among the dead was 13-year-old stitutional court to declare the ethnic Hutu rebellion with some suspecting he whipping a woman and dragging directorate tweeted yesterday. watchdog supported by donor funds, Yasin Hussein Moyo, shot by a stray the presidency vacant,” a during Burundi’s long civil had been infected by coro- her along behind a motorbike, the The video of police beating 21-year- has received thousands of complaints bullet as he stood on his balcony. presidential adviser told war and ruled for 15 often navirus. Directorate of Criminal Investigations old Mercy Cherono emerged after since it was set up in 2011. Director of Public Prosecutions AFP on condition of ano- tumultuous years. His wife Denise Bucumi, said yesterday, after footage of the several days of small protests in the Last week the watchdog said Noordin Haji has approved the arrest nymity. “In reality, it is not the who was recovering from incident went viral online. Kenyan capital over extrajudicial preliminary investigations showed and prosecution of a police off icer Under the constitution, council of ministers that will the coronavirus in a Nairobi “Three @PoliceKE off icers were police killings in Kenya and against US police appeared to be responsible over Moyo’s death. the speaker of the National decide what will happen... hospital, fl ew back to Bu- Assembly, Pascal Nyabenda, everything has been decided jumbura late on Tuesday.

SA electoral law is ‘unconstitutional’

AFP Johanneburg

outh Africa’s top court, in a landmark ruling yesterday, struck down a section of electoral law that bars candi- Sdates from running for parliament if they are not affi li- ated to a political party. The decision, in a case brought by civil society organisations, will see voters in post-apartheid South Africa directly electing their lawmakers for the fi rst time. “It is declared that the Electoral Act...is unconstitution- al to the extent that it requires that adult citizens will be elected to the National Assembly and provincial legislature only through their membership of political parties,” said Judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga. “Requiring citizens to exercise the right to contest elections and hold offi ce only through political parties subverts (the constitution).” “The defi ciency in the Electoral Act to the extent that it fails to enable adult South Africans to stand as individuals is inconsistent with the constitution,” he added. Members of the National Assembly, the powerful 400- seat lower house in parliament, are currently elected indi- rectly. Voters cast ballots for political parties, and the seats are then shared out for each party according to a system of proportional representation. Each party then distributes the seats according to a list of pre-selected members — a system that critics say promotes loyalty and patronage over commitment to a constituency. Among the major parties, the African National Congress (ANC), in power since the end of apartheid in 1994, won last year’s legislative elections with 57.5% of the ballots cast. The centre-right Democratic Alliance (DA) came sec- ond after it garnered 20.7%. The radical leftist Economic Freedom Fighters took the third largest number of seats af- ter winning 10.7% of the vote. Parliament has been given 24 months to amend the leg- islation. Independent Electoral Commission chief Glen Mashini- ni welcomed “the clarity the Court has provided to the interpretation of the rights of citizens to stand for public offi ce.” The Commission stands ready to provide technical assistance in the changes “to help enhance our electoral system,” he promised. The ANC said it was studying the judgement. Gulf Times Friday, June 12, 2020 5 AMERICAS Trump authorises sanctions over war crimes probe

Reuters of State Mike Pompeo said in an- and 2014, including alleged mass assets in the United States of der Trump taking aim at an inter- ing manipulated by Russia, but ened sanctions, especially in an Washington nouncing the move and warned killings of civilians by the Tali- ICC employees involved in the national body. did not elaborate on how. election year,” he said. other nations. ban, as well as the alleged torture probe, according to a letter sent Trump, who has promoted an Barr hinted that there could The Trump administration “I have a message to many of prisoners by Afghan authori- by Trump to US House of Repre- “America First” policy during be more actions against the ICC. imposed travel restrictions and resident Donald Trump has close allies in the world. Your ties and, to a lesser extent, by sentatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi his presidency, last month said “The measures announced to- other sanctions against ICC em- issued an executive order people could be next, especially US forces and the Central Intel- accompanying the order. he would end the US relationship day are an important fi rst step ployees a year ago. Pauthorising US sanctions those from North Atlantic Treaty ligence Agency (CIA). It also authorises Pompeo to with the World Health Organisa- in holding the ICC accountable The ICC decided to investigate against International Criminal Organisation (Nato) countries The ICC investigation was giv- block entry into the United States tion (WHO). for exceeding its mandate and after a preliminary examination Court (ICC) employees involved who fi ght terrorism in Afghani- en the go-ahead in March. of these individuals as well as Afghanistan is a member of the violating the sovereignty of the by prosecutors in 2017 found rea- in an investigation into whether stan right alongside us,” Pompeo Rights activists assailed their family members. ICC, though Kabul has argued United States.” sonable grounds to believe war American forces committed war said. Trump’s move. The ICC was established in that any war crimes should be John Bellinger, the State De- crimes were committed in Af- crimes in Afghanistan. Neither Pompeo nor any of the Andrea Prasow, the Washing- 2002 by the international com- prosecuted locally. partment’s former top lawyer ghanistan and that the court has In announcing the action, top offi cials who were present at ton director for Human Rights munity to prosecute war crimes, “The Department of Justice under Republican former presi- jurisdiction. Trump administration offi cials the announcement – Defence Watch, said that the action genocide and crimes against hu- has received substantial credible dent George W Bush, said the A senior Trump administra- said the Hague-based tribunal Secretary Mark Esper, national “demonstrates contempt for the manity. information that raises serious two sides could have avoided the tion offi cial, describing the order threatens to infringe on US na- security adviser Robert O’Brien global rule of law” and represents It has jurisdiction only if a concerns about a long history of confl ict but chose not to. to reporters on a conference call, tional sovereignty and accused and Attorney-General William a “blatant attempt at obstruc- member state is unable or un- fi nancial corruption and malfea- “It’s unfortunate that the said that the directive authorises Russia of manipulating it to serve Barr – took questions from the tion”. willing to prosecute atrocities sance at the highest levels in the long-running US dispute with sanctions against any individual Moscow’s ends. press. The Republican president’s itself. offi ce of the prosecutor,” said At- the ICC has reached this new low directly engaged in any eff ort by “We cannot, we will not stand ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensou- order authorises Pompeo, in The United States has never torney-General Barr, who did not point ... it’s not surprising that the ICC to investigate American by as our people are threatened da wants to investigate possible consultation with Treasury Sec- been a member of the court. off er evidence. the Trump administration has personnel without United States by a kangaroo court,” Secretary crimes committed between 2003 retary Steven Mnuchin, to block The US action is the latest un- He also said the court was be- reacted forcefully with threat- consent. US president reopens

This file photo taken on June 1, shows US President Donald re-election campaign Trump walking with US Attorney-General William Barr (left), US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper (centre), chairman of the Joint AFP/Reuters Trump former adviser Bolton’s book to come out June 23 ed for June 19 in Tulsa and that Chiefs of Staff General Milley (right), from the White House to St Washington others would follow in Florida, John’s Church after the area was cleared of people protesting the A book by former White House national security ad- Texas and Arizona. death of George Floyd. viser John Bolton will be published June 23 despite at- June 19 is known as Ju- S President Donald tempts by White House lawyers to block release of the neteenth, a day to commemorate Trump is due to address volume describing his time as a top aide to President the emancipation in 1865 of the Usearing anger over rac- Donald Trump, Bolton’s lawyer wrote on Wednesday. last remaining enslaved African ism and police brutality during a Bolton was abruptly fired by Trump last September 10 Americans in the Confederacy. Top general regrets trip to Texas, but his main focus amid disagreements over how to handle foreign policy Tulsa is where white resi- is rapidly shifting to a more per- challenges such as North Korea, Iran, Afghanistan and dents attacked black residents sonal problem – his re-election Russia. and businesses in 1921 in what joining Trump walk campaign. The hawkish conservative said that he had informa- is known as the Tulsa Race Mas- Trump also told reporters at tion about Trump’s dealings with Ukraine last summer, sacre. the White House that he would when Democrats accused the president of trying to Kamau Marshall, a spokes- Reuters the square, Trump delivered announce a new location soon for get Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investi- man for Biden’s presidential Washington a speech at the White House a speech in August accepting the gate Democrat Joe Biden. campaign, condemned Trump’s condemning “acts of domestic Republican Party’s nomination The book had to go through a clearance process by choice of venue as “racist” on terror” and saying the United for president. White House lawyers. Twitter. he top US military of- States was in the grips of pro- Campaign advisers say the site Bolton lawyer Charles Cooper, in an opinion article in The choice of Texas for the trip fi cer has said that he fessional anarchists, violent is expected to be Jacksonville, the Wall Street Journal, said that his client had gone Bolton: was a former national security adviser to yesterday is notable because this Tshould not have joined mobs, arsonists, looters, crim- Florida, although Trump said through multiple rewrites and edits as demanded by Trump. has been a Republican state for President Donald Trump as he inals and others. places in Texas and Georgia were the White House to make sure no classified informa- decades but things are changing. walked from the White House He promised the mobilisa- also in the mix. tion was revealed and thought he had final clearance “This is a transparent attempt to use national security Trump won narrowly in 2016 to a nearby church for a photo tion of thousands of US troops He has been eager to get back in May but never got a letter confirming it. as a pretext to censor Mr Bolton, in violation of his and a Quinnipiac poll last week opportunity after authorities and told US governors that on the road to promote his can- Cooper said that on June 8, John Eisenberg, the presi- constitutional right to speak on matters of the utmost put him only one percentage cleared the way of protesters same day he was putting Mil- didacy before the November 3 dent’s deputy counsel for national security, replied in a public import. This attempt will not succeed, and Mr point ahead of Biden. using tear gas and rubber bul- ley “in charge” of the protest election after a three-month letter that Bolton’s manuscript “contains classified in- Bolton’s book will be published June 23,” he said. In 2016, polls and politics lets. response. hiatus brought on by the corona- formation and that publishing the book would violate The White House did not immediately respond to a watchers in general got it wrong “I should not have been Milley later seemed to re- virus, which has killed more than his nondisclosure agreements”. request for comment. about Trump, who ran a chaotic there,” Joint Chiefs of Staff inforce Trump’s comments 112,000 people in the United campaign against the ultra-pro- chairman General Mark Mil- by appearing in downtown States, the most in the world. fessional Hillary Clinton yet still ley said of his appearance at Washington DC that evening in The Republican has struggled The theme announced by the “For weeks we’ve seen Presi- getting back on the campaign scored a famous electoral college the politically charged event on camoufl age fatigues. to fi nd the right tone to address White House – “Transition to dent Trump run away from a trail. win. June 1. The protests following the explosion of protests against Greatness: Restoring, Rebuild- meaningful conversation on sys- Immediately after his remarks This has left many election “My presence in that mo- Floyd’s killing in Minneapolis, years of police abuses and what ing, and Renewing” – promotes temic racism and police brutality. in Dallas, the president heads watchers gun-shy. ment and in that environment Minnesota, have been largely many African-American leaders, the image of Trump as an op- Instead, he’s further divided our to his fi rst campaign fundraiser Even so, current polls make created a perception of the peaceful. and others, say is systemic rac- timistic, can-do businessman country,” Democratic presiden- since the coronavirus lockdown grim reading for the Republican. military involved in domestic Floyd, who was black, died ism. president. tial candidate Joe Biden said yes- began – a $580,600 per couple The FiveThirtyEight.com av- politics,” he said in a prere- after a white police offi cer That crisis, coupled with the However, with anger in the terday. event. erage shows Trump’s approval corded video commencement knelt on his neck for almost economic devastation of the streets, nervousness across the “Today’s trip to Texas won’t Then he fl ies to his golf course rating at just 41%, having taken address to the National De- nine minutes on May 25. coronavirus shutdown – and the economic landscape, and fear of change any of that. President resort in New Jersey for the a big hit from his handling of the fense University. Milley has not appeared in fact that the pandemic continues the coronavirus lingering every- Trump is more interested in pho- weekend, another post-corona- pandemic and race crises. Milley’s remarks followed a public to answer questions to kill about 1,000 people a day where, living up to it will be a tall to-ops than off ering a healing virus fi rst. The realclearpolitics.com av- rare outpouring of condemna- since the walk with Trump. – has left the country crying out order. voice as our nation mourns.” Next Friday, he will restart erage for a presidential election tion from retired US generals His decision to deliver his for healing. Critics say that he is incapable, With his poll numbers under- his mothballed series of rallies match-up puts Biden at 49.8% to and even former defence sec- remarks in a prerecorded mes- Trump, whose political style pointing to the contrast between water fi ve months ahead of elec- – raucous, often two-hour love Trump’s 41.7%. retary Jim Mattis for taking sage, as opposed to a news is built largely on fi erce division shows of empathy from previ- tion day, Trump seems unlikely fests between Trump the enter- Worse for Trump – given his part in the event, given that the conference, precluded the and exciting his right-wing base, ous presidents during crises and to change tack. tainer-in-chief and thousands of hope of repeating his electoral US military is meant to be apo- possibility of taking questions, is due to address those national Trump’s instinct for fi ghting and Despite the extraordinary tur- his most loyal supporters – with college win, even if losing the litical and is sworn to defend including about any split with anxieties when he holds a round- insulting foes, even in the midst moil, his base remains loyal and an event in Oklahoma. overall popular vote – Biden the US constitution, which the Republican president. table meeting in Dallas. of calamity. he has made clear his priority is He said his fi rst rally is expect- leads in almost every swing state. protects the right to peaceful Esper told a Pentagon news protest. conference more than a week Milley and Defense Secre- ago that he regretted using the tary Mark Esper had joined word “battlespace” to describe Trump to pay a surprise visit protest sites around the United to the historic Saint John’s States and said he was unaware Canadians petition for removal of racist monuments Church, during which the that the church visit was going president held up a Bible for to be a “photo op”. photographers. He also publicly stated that AFP This comes after moves to re- His government has been ac- opportunity for “a dialogue be- the grounds of the British Co- Minutes before the visit, he did not support the use of Ottawa move statues honouring Confed- cused of seeking to assimilate tween what was the past and lumbia legislature in Victoria. law enforcement used tear the Insurrection Act, which erate generals and slave owners indigenous peoples through for- what was right then or what was In Toronto, mayor John Tory gas and rubber bullets to dis- would allow Trump to mobi- in the United States in response cible enrolment in residential acceptable then, where at one ordered a working group to study perse mostly peaceful pro- lise active duty troops to crack anadians have joined a to anti-racism protests sparked schools, for example, that led to point we’re like, as a society, the issue of renaming Dundas testers occupying the square down on protests. global push to strip public by the police killing of George a loss of language and culture – ‘enough’”. Street, taking into account “very between the White House and Reuters has reported that Cspaces of racist and colo- Floyd. described in a 2015 reconciliation In 2017, Prime Minister Justin important and relevant historical the church in a demonstra- Trump came closer to deploy- nial symbols, calling this week “It is time for Canadians too to commission report as “cultural Trudeau renamed the Langevin questions”. tion against the police killing ing active duty troops than for a statue of Canada’s fi rst pre- revise the meanings of our own genocide”. building that houses his Ottawa He noted, however, that re- of George Floyd, drawing con- thought and yelled at Esper af- mier to be taken down and the re- public monuments, and their ef- Centuries later, many Cana- offi ce The Offi ce of the Prime naming a major street creates demnation from Democrats ter that news conference. naming of a Toronto street. fect on the legacy we wish to cor- dian aboriginals continue to suf- Minister and Privy Council, cit- “practical challenges”. and some Republicans. In his address yesterday, Thousands signed petitions rect,” one of the petitions states. fer extreme poverty and violence. ing Sir Hector-Louis Langevin’s Henry Dundas, an 18th centu- The National Guard sup- Milley stressed the need for to remove John A MacDonald’s MacDonald’s statue, installed Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante involvement in the residential ry politician who opposed ending ported law enforcement at the members of the military to stay bronze likeness from Place du in 1895 in the heart of Montreal, has said that there were no plans schools policy. slavery, had eff ectively delayed site. out of politics. Canada Park in Montreal, and to has been repeatedly vandalised to remove the statue. The following year, a statue of its abolition in the British Em- “As a commissioned uni- “We who wear the cloth of rename Toronto’s Dundas Street. over the years. But she also welcomed the MacDonald was removed from pire. formed offi cer, it was a mis- our nation come from the peo- take that I have learned from, ple of our nation and we must and I sincerely hope we all can hold dear the principle of an learn from it,” Milley said, but apolitical military that is so stopped short of apologising deeply rooted in the very es- outright. sence of our republic,” the gen- Probe launched into death of black man while in custody As authorities were clearing eral said.

AFP not complete the investigation of crying out while being restrained lis said, ‘I can’t breathe’,” the at- The mayor of Tacoma, located Coachella music fest 2020 cancelled Los Angeles the death of Manuel Ellis and the by police on March 3. torney, James Bible, told a news about 35 miles south of Seattle, county prosecutor should not re- The video was taken from a conference on Tuesday. “What last week called for the police of- California’s premier desert music fest Coachella, which had been view the investigation and make home security camera across the we learned is he said, ‘I can’t fi cers involved in the arrest to be postponed until October because of the coronavirus pandemic, has he governor of the west- charging decisions,” Governor street of the intersection where breathe, sir. I can’t breathe, sir. I fi red and prosecuted. been cancelled for 2020, health off icials announced on Wednesday. ern US state of Washing- Jay Inslee said in a statement. he was being detained. can’t breathe, sir. Ellis died of respiratory arrest The festival, held annually in Indio, California, was initially set to Tton has announced a new “Instead, there must be a new In the nearly nine-minute “A clear sign that it’s not only due to hypoxia and physical re- take place over two weekends in April and was to be headlined by investigation into the death of a investigation and charging deci- clip released by the attorney a struggle for breath but an at- straint, according to the medical Rage Against the Machine, Travis Scott, and Frank Ocean. black man who died while in po- sion made independent of Pierce representing Ellis’s family, the tempt to still be respectful in examiner’s offi ce which added It was moved to October as the deadly coronavirus spread across lice custody as he pleaded that he County law enforcement.” 33-year-old Ellis is heard crying your last moments of life. A sign that methamphetamine in his the United States. couldn’t breathe. Inslee’s decision came in the out while handcuff ed. that he wasn’t the aggressive system and heart disease could However on Wednesday, Riverside County public health off icer “I have become convinced that wake of newly-obtained surveil- “What we learned from that person (that) law enforcement have also been contributing fac- Cameron Kaiser decided to scrap the Coachella Valley Music and the Pierce County Sheriff should lance video that showed Ellis video is not just that Manny El- claimed he was.” tors. Arts Festival and Stagecoach Country Music Festival. Gulf Times 6 Friday, June 12, 2020 ASIA

Train services resume in Thai province

Passengers sit next to empty seats with social distancing signs in a carriage during the return of train services in the region, following the lifting of travel restrictions to halt the spread of the coronavirus, at Tanyong Mat railway station in the A railway policeman puts up health poster during the return of train southern Thai province of Narathiwat yesterday. services in the southern Thai province of Narathiwat. A signal off icer holds a flag at Tanyong Mat railway station in Narathiwat.

Filipinos cautioned against Indonesia battles Independence Day protests

Manila DPA child virus deaths hilippine police have been ordered to break up any Reuters Health off icials in the world’s fourth most populous coun- Pprotests during the coun- Jakarta try’s Independence Day, with an try said the high number of child deaths from a disease eye on coronavirus restrictions, that mostly kills the elderly was due to underlying fac- an offi cial said yesterday. undreds of children in Activist groups and civic or- Indonesia are believed tors, in particular malnutrition, anaemia and inadequate ganisations have planned dif- Hto have died from Cov- child health facilities ferent mass gatherings to mark id-19, giving the Southeast Asian Independence Day (June 12), to country one of the world’s high- oppose a new anti-terrorism est rates of child deaths from the bill that Congress has passed. novel coronavirus that experts “Mass gatherings are not al- around the world say poses little lowed under the community President Rodrigo Duterte danger to the young. quarantine,” Interior Secretary Paediatricians and health of- Eduardo Ano said. “That is dan- political dissent, which could ing the national tally to 24,175. fi cials in the world’s fourth most gerous.” “If people hold a rally, be tagged as acts of terrorism The death toll also rose to 1,036 populous country said the high they will be dispersed by the under the wide defi nition of after nine more patients died number of child deaths from a police and advised to go home,” the crime. Rights groups also from the disease. disease that mostly kills the eld- he added.” warned the law could lead to The activists planning pro- erly was due to underlying fac- The police will exercise toler- more violations. tests on Independence Day have tors, in particular malnutrition, ance and calibrated response.” The Philippine government dubbed their demonstration as anaemia and inadequate child Ano said police may arrest pro- imposed a lockdown on the a “mananita” or a party on the health facilities. testers if they refuse to leave, capital Manila and other parts eve of a birthday, which a top “Covid-19 proves that we have attack police offi cers, or damage of the country in the middle of police offi cial held in May but to fi ght against malnutrition,” property, adding, “They really March in a bid to contain the for which he was not fi red from Achmad Yurianto, a senior health need to stop them (if that hap- spread of the coronavirus. The his post. Duterte had defend- ministry offi cial, told Reuters. pens). It’s a judgement call for restrictions have been gradually ed Debold Sinas, chief of the He said Indonesian children the police.” eased since June 1. police force in Metro Manila, were caught in a “devil’s circle”, The new anti-terrorism law Gatherings of up to 10 people from criticisms that the sur- a cycle of malnutrition and anae- is being reviewed by the legal are allowed in Metro Manila, prise party initiated by his staff mia that increased their vulner- advisers of President Rodrigo which is considered the epicen- on the eve of his birthday on ability to the coronavirus. He Duterte before he takes action. tre of the infections in the Phil- May 8 violated the restrictions compared malnourished children Duterte can sign or veto the bill, ippines. Yesterday, the Depart- on mass gatherings. A criminal to weak structures that “crumble or let it lapse into law. ment of Health reported 443 complaint has been fi led against after an earthquake”. Critics warned the new law additional confi rmed Covid-19 Sinas, but Duterte rejected calls Since Indonesia announced its Indonesia navy personnel stand guard in an isolation room for coronavirus disease victims at a shopping could stifl e free speech and cases in the Philippines, bring- for him to fi re the offi cial. fi rst coronavirus case in March mall building in Sidoarjo, East Java Province, Indonesia, yesterday. it has recorded 2,000 deaths, the highest in East Asia outside death, at 2.1% of its total. Diff er- children under fi ve is stunted, it dren and a senior offi cial said Facebook says no proof of malicious acts by fake accounts China. ent countries use diff erent age says. the system had not been over- A total of 715 people under 18 brackets in statistics but deaths “The nutrition status impacts whelmed. Equipment shortages Facebook has yet to find accounts engaging in co- who were among eight had contracted the coronavirus, for those under 24 in the United children’s immunity,” said Dr are more pronounced outside the evidence that user-reported ordinated or malicious activity people arrested at the protest. while 28 had died, according to a States are a little over 0.1% of its Nastiti Kaswandani, a paediatric capital. accounts that proliferated in focused on creating fake The country’s cybercrime health ministry document dated fatalities. In Brazil, the number pulmonologist in the capital, Ja- Paediatrician Dominicus Hu- the Philippines at the weekend accounts,” Facebook said in a department plans to dig deeper May 22 and reviewed by Reu- of suspected Covid deaths under karta. sada said a hospital he worked at had engaged in malicious and statement. into the issue and conduct a ters. It also recorded more than age 19 is 1.2%. “That’s important in miti- on Madura island, in East Java, co-ordinated acts, the world’s It saw no evidence of a joint investigation with law 380 deaths among 7,152 children In the Philippines, deaths of gating Covid infections.” Pae- did not have ventilators for chil- biggest social network said sudden surge in the creation enforcement agencies, Justice classifi ed as “patients under those under 19 are about 2.3% of diatricians said the ill-equipped dren. An 11-year-old died from yesterday. of accounts, but said reports Secretary Menardo Guevarra monitoring”, meaning people its coronavirus toll. Indonesia, a healthcare system was also a the coronavirus there in March. A deluge of impostor accounts on impersonation and fake told Reuters. with severe coronavirus symp- developing country of 270mn, problem. One father, Iyansyah, whose using the identities of students, accounts had spiked. The social media giant said it toms for which there is no other suff ers from a “triple burden of “The biggest discrepancy in nine-month old boy died from journalists and government The University of the Philippines would continue validating the explanation but whose tests have malnutrition,” which includes Indonesia is the availability of Covid-19 on Lombok island, told off icials alarmed social media first identified the accounts over authenticity of user accounts not confi rmed the infection. stunting, and anaemia among paediatric intensive care units,” Reuters the hospital did not have users and prompted an the weekend following a protest and prioritise the removal of Even the offi cial fi gure for chil- mothers, and obesity, according said Shela Putri Sundawa, a pae- care units for children. “Truth- investigation by government a week ago about a controversial those violating its policies. dren who have died of the coro- to the United Nations Children’s diatric doctor in Jakarta. The fully, if the hospital I went to had agencies. anti-terror bill approved by Filipinos top the world in time navirus, at 28 as of May 22, would Fund. health ministry declined to pro- complete facilities, he’d probably “At this time, we have not the legislature. Those spotted spent on social media, according give Indonesia a high rate of child Nearly one in three Indonesian vide data on care units for chil- have survived,” said Iyansyah. seen evidence of the reported had carried names of students to a recent study.

Rohingya boat spotted in Malaysia

A boat carrying hundreds of Rohingya tried to land in Malaysia this week but turned back after spotting patrol vessels seeking to Anti-racism campaign reaches Myanmar stop the entry of migrants over coronavirus fears, an off icial said yesterday. The boat is believed to have been at sea for three to four months and tried several times to enter the country’s waters AFP “The problem is privileged people don’t on Monday before giving up, Malaysian coastguard chief Zubil Mat Yangon see this as an issue,” he explains, adding Som told AFP. The country has long been a favoured destination that parents often threaten misbehaving for the persecuted Muslim minority from mostly Buddhist children saying that “big kalar” will come Myanmar, with thousands undertaking perilous sea crossings each yanmar activists inspired by the for them. Some supporters have posted year. They usually travel from Myanmar or Bangladesh, where Black Lives Matter movement “I don’t call someone Kalar” across their many live in squalid refugee camps, but Malaysia has strengthened Mhave launched their own anti- profi le pictures. The campaign has also at- maritime patrols in recent months over fears the refugees could be racism campaign in a country where many tracted a wave of largely indignant reaction, carrying the virus. Up to 300 Rohingya were on board the latest Muslims and people of Indian heritage are with thousands of comments, many laden vessel, Zubil said. “The presence of navy ships, coastguard vessels made to feel like outsiders. with obscenities against the activists. They and police boats at sea discouraged the migrant boat from entering Buddhist-majority Myanmar offi cially stand accused of stirring up racial hatred our waters,” Zubil said, adding the vessel was last spotted in Thai boasts a patchwork of 135 ethnic groups, and seeking self-publicity. waters not far from Malaysia. They were originally part of another but many have felt subjugated by the domi- “What should we call the Kalar if we group of 269 Rohingya that was allowed to land in northwest nant Bamar. don’t use the word Kalar?” challenged Nay Malaysia on Monday after off icials discovered their boat was too The “Don’t Call Me Kalar” campaign Lin, while another Facebook user asked if badly damaged to be turned back. Rights groups say the migrants launched on Facebook aims to stymie the they want “what is happening in the US” to set off from Bangladesh in one vessel but were later separated use of a term that historically refers to peo- happen in Myanmar. Aung Aung, who did into two. Malaysia has vowed to send the latest arrivals back to ple from the Indian subcontinent, but to- not want to give his real name for fear of re- Bangladesh. Zubil said people-smugglers have now resorted day is often intended as a slur. It has helped percussions, says he has been taunted with to trying to bring Rohingya into the country using speed boats, whip-up hatred against the Rohingya, a the term since he was a child. which are harder to detect than the rickety fishing trawlers they long-persecuted Muslim minority barred A girl holds a baby at the Aung Mingalar segregation quarter for Rohingya Muslims “It still makes me angry,” the 26-year- usually travel on. “These syndicates are making off ers to owners of from citizenship and forced out in droves Myanmar’s Rakhine State. old Hindu told AFP, adding he doesn’t dare speed boats to take the illegal migrants into the country,” he said. by the military. get involved in the debate. Activist Zay Countries across Southeast Asia have tightened border security But the term is also employed against Facebook after seeing the Black Lives Mat- describes how online trolls have used the Linn Mon knows the word will not disap- to stop the entry of migrants over virus concerns. Hundreds of supposedly accepted minorities, particu- ter protests reverberate globally following word synonymous with “interlopers” or pear overnight, but says the awareness Rohingya have in recent times been rescued off Bangladesh after larly those with darker skin. Zay Linn Mon the killing of an unarmed black man in the “invaders” – against him, saying he does campaign is a start. “When we say we don’t being stranded for long periods on boats, with scores dying on one and his friends started the campaign on US. The 24-year-old turban-wearing Sikh not belong in Myanmar. like it, respect that and don’t use it.” vessel after Malaysia and Thailand denied it entry. Gulf Times Friday, June 12, 2020 7 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

N Korea defectors push ahead with aid campaigns despite S Korea legal threats

Reuters accused the two groups – Kuen- tary confl icts”, South Korea’s Na- masks to North Korea by throw- reas traded fi re in 2014 after the them to the North, the ministry tion was failing to do to support Seoul saem Education Center and tional Security Council said in a ing them into the sea near the North’s military fi red machine said. Over the weekend some lo- human rights in North Korea. Fighters for a Free North Korea statement yesterday. For the past border next week. Fighters for a guns at balloons launched by de- cals stopped an eff ort by a sepa- US-based Human Rights – on Wednesday of violating the week, North Korean state media Free North Korea, run by Park’s fector activists. rate group to send bottles of rice Watch said it was “shameful how wo North Korean defector- Inter-Korean Exchange and Co- have carried reports and state- brother Park Sang-hak, has also This week, the ministry said it by sea. In a poll released yesterday President Moon and his gov- run groups targeted for operation Act by sending leafl ets ments from senior offi cials ex- said it plans to send more leafl ets was considering a law to ban the by South Korean pollster Realm- ernment are totally unwilling to Tlegal action by South Ko- and aid such as rice and medicine. pressing outrage over defectors, into North Korea by balloon over leafl ets and aid, saying they raise eter, 50% of those surveyed said stand up for the rights of North rean authorities say they intend Yesterday, the South’s Unifi - denouncing them as “mongrel the heavily fortifi ed border. tensions with North Korea, pose they would support a ban on such Koreans.” to continue sending propaganda cation Ministry said it had asked dogs” and “human scum little South Korean authorities have risks to South Koreans living near operations, while 41% were op- Engagement with North Korea leafl ets and humanitarian aid into Seoul police to investigate the short of wild animals”. occasionally moved to stop such the border, and cause environ- posed. can be worthwhile, but ditching North Korea, despite criticism groups. The government will be- Park Jung-oh, a defector who operations, including in 2018 mental damage. South Korean Heo Kwang-il, head of the democratic values to comply with from the governments of both gin strictly controlling activities heads Kuensaem, said the organi- during a series of summits be- residents near the border have defector-run Committee for the harsh threats from Pyongyang countries. such as leafl eting and sending sation was still planning to send tween South Korean President complained about the two de- Democratization of North Korea, sets a terrible precedent, said So- South Korea, which is trying goods to North Korea to prevent hundreds of bottles stuff ed with Moon Jae-in and North Korean fector groups, and they failed to said defector groups had been do- keel Park of Liberty in North Ko- to improve ties with the North, what it called “incidental mili- rice, medicine and medical face leader Kim Jong-un. The two Ko- register the goods before sending ing work the Moon administra- rea, which supports defectors.

Beijing China’s street vendors rush to lambastes Harvard virus sell despite mixed messages study AFP ing?” People’s Daily, a Commu- Beijing nist Party mouthpiece, called for stricter oversight of street trad- AFP ers, while the state-run Beijing Beijing nacks, underwear, jewellery Daily claimed that the stalls were and even rabbits – Chinese backward and “not suited” to the Shard-hit by this year’s eco- city. eijing yesterday criticised nomic turmoil are selling their “I only started selling grilled a preliminary study by US wares on the street after a top pancakes this week but cheng- Bresearchers suggesting the leader off ered support to hawkers guan have chased me off four coronavirus may have been cir- despite long-standing curbs on times already,” said a middle- culating in China since August the practice. aged woman, who refused to give 2019, calling it proof of a disin- Many are meeting stiff resist- her name, running a mobile food formation campaign. The virus ance from police, who have spent stall in the capital’s Chaoyang fi rst emerged late last year in the years trying to sweep such stalls district. central city of Wuhan, but the US off the streets to clean up their Outside Beijing though, some has repeatedly accused China of city’s image, and reviled urban cities and provincial capitals a lack of transparency about the management offi cers known as have loosened restrictions as the outbreak and its origins. “chengguan”, who have repeat- virus outbreak was brought un- The new paper by researchers edly and sometimes violently der control. at Boston University and Har- cracked down on street pedlars And there was online rejoicing vard -- which has not been peer- – usually low-income migrant of street vending with hashtags reviewed -- analysed photos of workers. including “If you were a street parking lots at Wuhan hospitals The mixed messaging began vendor, what would you sell?” and search trends on the Chinese when a government website re- and “Everyone is street sell- search engine Baidu. The team ported that Chinese Premier ing” getting millions of views on led by Elaine Nsoesie at Boston Li Keqiang had told street stall China’s Twitter-like Weibo plat- University said they found “a holders they were a key part of form. But in another confl icting steep increase in volume starting the economy during a visit to message, one of the most popular in August 2019” at Wuhan hos- northeast China last week. “The discussion threads on the topic pital parking lots, “culminating street vendor economy and the was censored on Wednesday, with a peak in December 2019.” small shop economy are impor- and the hashtag “street vending The authors said that while tant sources of employment... economy” was deleted. Even so, they could not defi nitively con- and are just as vital to China as photos of streets crammed with A street vendor selling merchandise waits for customers along a street in Beijing. fi rm that the data they docu- high-end luxury stores,” Li told stalls and car boot sales have mented was linked to the virus, traders, after asking how they been going viral on Weibo, where second-largest economy, which it supported conclusions reached had fared during the last few many fi rst-time stall holders – has seen unemployment soar this by other research suggesting that months of restrictions due to the often millennials – complained year. the virus began circulating earlier coronavirus epidemic. business was slow. Premier Li revealed last month than the fi rst reported cases at While not backed by any “Today’s my fi rst time... cus- that there are 600mn people the end of 2019. formal policy, Li’s comments tomers passed by and asked who earned 1,000 yuan ($140) or But China’s foreign ministry spurred people nationwide to set about the price but didn’t buy less per month in China – barely criticised the paper as “full of up street stalls, including on the since they thought it was too ex- enough for rent in one of the holes” and “crudely manufac- back of bikes and even on pave- pensive,” wrote one woman who country’s lower-tier cities. This tured.” Foreign ministry spokes- ments. But just as they took to photographed herself selling is despite President Xi Jinping’s woman Hua Chunying said yes- the streets after Li’s comments, toys on the street in Dongguan, high-profi le campaign to allevi- terday she believed the study was they were shooed out of central Guangdong province, on Tues- ate poverty. evidence of co-ordinated eff orts hotspots in Beijing as authorities day. “I’m hungry already, but “Although it seems sensi- in the US to “deliberately create vowed to step up scrutiny. Wang can I buy lunch if it will mean a ble to relax regulations on self- and disseminate disinformation Zhiping, a 72-year-old former greater loss?” employment activity in times against China.” “Some US poli- street cleaner originally from Tang Min, former chief econ- of recession... I am sceptical ticians and media acted like they central Henan province, took up omist of the Asian Development that promoting a street vendor found buried treasure and wan- street selling after hearing Li’s Bank’s mission in China, told economy will substantially boost tonly spread (the study), treating words of encouragement. a government-organised press consumption,” said Albert Park, it like new proof that China con- “I only started last week, but conference that street stalls can an economics professor at the cealed the epidemic,” Hua told business hasn’t been very good. create some new employment Hong Kong University of Science reporters at a regular briefi ng. I have no other source of income but “cannot replace the formal and Technology. According to China’s offi cial and my health is too poor to con- economy”. But no country would “Even if the demand for such chronology of the pandemic, tinue cleaning,” said Wang, who allow “street stalls everywhere, products is substantial in some the fi rst cases of Covid-19 were sells socks in a Beijing underpass. with disorder everywhere,” he locations, it is likely because spotted by doctors in Wuhan in “Li Keqiang is a senior Commu- added. Analysts also questioned street vendors are stealing busi- December and they shared the nist Party member. Why are the whether these traders can have ness from regular stores rather genome sequence with the World chengguan going against what much impact as Chinese author- than boosting total consump- Health Organisation (WHO) in the Communist Party is support- ities seek to revive the world’s tion.” A street vendor selling sweets waits for customers along a street in Beijing. early January.

Mining firm given nod to destroy Aboriginal sites

Mining giant BHP has been given Aboriginal cultural sites “limited to Australian PM calls for racism protesters to be charged government approval to destroy the practical extent possible”. up to 40 indigenous heritage sites, He said he was reforming herit- Australia’s Aboriginal Aff airs Minis- age legislation so miners would AFP as Victoria state reported one Victoria state offi cials con- ter said yesterday, just days after need to negotiate directly with Sydney demonstrator in Melbourne had fi rmed yesterday that one of Rio Tinto sparked outrage by dam- traditional owners over impacts tested positive for coronavirus. eight new cases of Covid-19 re- aging ancient rock shelters nearby. to sites in the future. “I am also a The Black Lives Matter move- ported yesterday was a man who Indigenous traditional owners great believer in self-determination lack Lives Matter protest- ment has resonated strongly with attended the Melbourne week- were left “deeply troubled and sad- for Aboriginal people and support ers should be punished many in Australia – a country end rally. More unauthorised dened” after mining firm Rio Tinto native title groups using their hard- Bfor ignoring coronavirus also wrestling with the legacy of protests are planned for today. destroyed a 46,000-year-old site won rights to make commercial lockdown rules Australia’s prime a racist past. “We will start writing tickets of last month to expand an iron ore agreements with land users,” he minister said yesterday, spark- During the interview, Morri- A$1,000 ($700) and we can use mine, following approval from the added. ing anger by also claiming slav- son praised British explorer Cap- all of our powers to move peo- Western Australian state govern- Wyatt said he had asked BHP to ery never existed in the country. tain James Cook and claimed, ple on,” New South Wales Police ment. Aboriginal Aff airs Minister work with traditional owners to Tens of thousands of Australians “there was no slavery in Aus- Commissioner Mick Fuller told Ben Wyatt said he approved BHP’s minimise the impact to one site demonstrated this week against tralia”. The remark was roundly 2GB Radio. “If you don’t move application to destroy up to 40 identified by as being of par- systemic racism at home and in rejected by historians and activ- on, well then you’ll be arrested.” Aboriginal sites in remote Pilbara ticular cultural significance to the the United States, and more pro- ists, who pointed to evidence of Morrison rejected growing on May 29 -- just three days after Banjima. “As with any agreement, tests are planned for the coming indentured Aboriginal workers calls to remove statues of white the Rio blasts were revealed. BHP some circumstances can change days. and thousands of slaves taken leaders, including one of the applied to destroy the sites last including the understanding of Critics have called for marches from the Pacifi c islands to work country’s fi rst prime minister, October as part of the South Flank heritage values of particular sites,” to be banned on health grounds, on Australian sugar cane planta- Edmund Barton, which is located iron ore mine’s A$4.5bn ($3.11bn) Wyatt said, and urged those in- sparking debate over freedom of tions. Prime Minister Scott Morrison near an Aboriginal burial site. expansion. volved to cooperate. BHP did not speech and the country’s colo- Aboriginal Australians con- Barton played a key role in draft- The mine is situated on the tradi- respond to requests for comment nial past. Conservative leader tinue to be vastly over-repre- handful of new cases now appear “Slavery of indigenous, men, ing the national constitution, tional land of the Banjima people, but the Sydney Morning Herald Scott Morrison said the protests sented in the prison population, daily. women and children is well doc- which negated Aboriginal rights. who signed a land-use agreement reported yesterday the miner violated social-distancing rules and there have been more than Restaurants, bars and schools umented,” said Sharman Stone, Morrison said the initial motives in 2015 that Wyatt said included planned to suspend its expansion and hampered lifting a corona- 400 indigenous deaths in custo- have reopened and many sports a former federal lawmaker and of protesters were “fair”, but the financial benefits and protected pending further scientific review virus shutdown, endangering dy in the last few decades alone. have restarted, though strict so- now politics professor at Monash push for removal of the statues 72 culturally significant sites. The and consultation with the tradition- the economy. Asked during a Morrison did not elaborate on cial distancing rules remain. University. “Slaves worked in was being driven by political Banjima did not file an off icial ob- al owners. Iron ore is Australia’s radio interview if demonstrators what charges protesters face, but Australian offi cials warned pearling, fi shing, the pastoral in- agendas. jection to BHP’s latest application, top export, worth more than A$77 should be charged, he said: “I authorities have warned they will Black Lives Matter supporters dustries and as domestic labour.” Australia on Tuesday recorded but under Western Australian law bn to the economy last year. think they should.” at least issue fi nes for violating they could be arrested if they The Black Lives Matter move- its fi rst day without any commu- they are essentially excluded from Much of it is extracted from the “I think people wanting to restrictions on public gatherings. breach coronavirus restrictions ment has refocused attention in nity transmissions of Covid-19 the government approvals process sparsely populated Pilbara, where take this further this weekend Australia has seen sustained to take part in public protests, as Australia on the mistreatment of since the crisis began. It has re- after signing such land-use agree- indigenous groups have owner- are showing a great disrespect to low levels of community trans- debate erupted over the coun- indigenous Australians, includ- corded 7,285 cases, including 102 ments. Wyatt, who is indigenous, ship rights over large swathes of their fellow Australians,” he said, mission of the virus and only a try’s own indigenous history. ing Aboriginal deaths in custody. deaths. said he wanted to see impacts to the region. Gulf Times 8 Friday, June 12, 2020 BRITAIN Probation services to return to public control: minister

Guardian News and Media Probation Service (NPS) manag- ices to the public sector. and fl exibility with these services Ian Lawrence, general secre- criticised by parliament and HM with taxpayers’ money. London ing high-risk criminals, and 21 About 2,000 workers at the which we would not have had were tary of the probation union Napo, Inspector of Probation. The justice committee de- private companies responsible for private providers, known as com- they delivered under 12 contracts said: “Our members across the “We will now be urgently en- scribed the overhaul as a “mess” the supervision of 150,000 low- to munity rehabilitation companies with a number of organisations.” whole of probation, and especially gaging with ministers and employ- and warned it might never work. robation services in England medium-risk off enders. (CRCs), are to be brought over to The NPS will take full respon- those who have been working tire- ers to ensure that all staff currently In 2017, the then chief inspector and Wales will be fully re- The ministry of justice previ- HM Prison and Probation Service. sibility for sentence management, lessly against the odds to maintain working in a CRC are guaranteed of probation, Dame Glenys Stacey, Pstored to public ownership ously announced that all off ender Robert Buckland told the House interventions and programme de- services in the private sector, will a future off er of employment in a revealed that the Grayling shakeup and control, the justice secretary management, about 80% of all of Commons: “The delivery of livery and will at some point in the breathe a huge sigh of relief that publicly owned probation service.” had led to tens of thousands of of- has announced, marking the fi nal probation work, would be brought unpaid work, behavioural change future be able to commission spe- Napo’s relentless campaigning has Grayling ignored signifi cant fenders – up to 40% of the total nail in the coffi n of Chris Gray- under the state-run NPS. programmes will be brought under cialist charities to off er additional at last helped to bring certainty warnings from within his depart- – being supervised by phone calls ling’s disastrous privatisation re- The remaining services, such as control of the NPS alongside of- support services for off enders. over the future of the service. ment to push through his reforms every six weeks instead of face-to- forms. rehabilitation and the provision fender supervision when current This broadly mirrors the ar- “Ministers have taken a coura- in 2014. face meetings. Under Grayling’s widely derided of unpaid work, will no longer be CRC contracts end in June next rangements that existed prior to geous decision to fully reverse the MPs on the public accounts Since the reforms were intro- shakeup in 2014, the probation off ered up for private tender, the year. Grayling’s so-called “transform- earlier reforms that we opposed committee said the changes were duced, the government has had to sector was separated into a public justice secretary said, marking the “This will give us a critical ing rehabilitation” reforms several from the start and which have also rushed through at breakneck bail out the private providers by sector organisation, the National complete return of probation serv- measure of control, resilience years ago. been widely and continuously speed, taking “unacceptable risks” more than half a billion pounds. Labour MPs accuse Patel of ‘silencing’ racism debate

Guardian News and Media nic minorities should behave.” London In a Commons debate on Mon- day, the Labour MP Florence Es- halomi suggested the government ore than 30 Labour MPs did not understand the anger felt from black, Asian and by people and the desire to tackle Mminority ethnic back- structural racism. grounds have accused the Home Patel told the Commons she Secretary, Priti Patel, of trying to was “really, really saddened” by silence debate by “using” her own Eshalomi’s criticism and added: experience of racism. “It must have been a very dif- The 32 MPs expressed their ferent home secretary who as a “dismay” after Patel said in a child was frequently called racist Commons debate that she would names in the playground, a very “not take lectures from the other diff erent home secretary who was side of the house” because she racially abused in the streets or Health Secretary Matt Hancock and head of NHS test and trace system, Dido Harding attending a remote press conference to update the nation on the pandemic inside 10 had been racially abused as a even advised to drop her surname Downing Street in central London yesterday. child. and use her husband’s in order to In a strongly worded letter, advance her career. the MPs told the home secretary “A diff erent home secretary they were disappointed “at the recently characterised … in the way you used your heritage and Guardian newspaper as a fat experiences of racism to gaslight cow with a ring through its nose, the very real racism faced by black something that was not only rac- people and communities across ist but off ensive, both culturally NHS ‘unable to trace contacts the UK”. and religiously. (Patel was refer- They added: “We all have our ring to a Steve Bell cartoon.) So personal stories of the racism when it comes to racism, sexism, that we have faced, whether it has tolerance or social justice, I will been being defi ned by the colour not take lectures from the other of our skin or the faith we choose side of the house.” of 33% of people with virus’ to believe in. In the letter, the Labour MPs “Our shared experiences allow tell Patel that “being a person Guardian News and Media for the people they had met in we reach everyone. “Interestingly, some people health improvement for Public us to feel the pain that communi- of colour does not automati- London the previous two days. “We’ve got a lot more to do to said to us: well, I’ve already told Health England, who heads the ties feel when they face racism, cally make you an authority on The tracers had reached 85% improve the speed of the entire my mates that I tested positive testing and tracing programme, they allow us to show solidarity all forms of racism” and that ex- of those contacts – 26,985 peo- service,” she said, “but actually we so I don’t need you to,” Harding said they had to ensure they had towards a common cause; they do periences should not be used to third of those who have ple – and asked them to self iso- have really signifi cant testing ca- said. the correct details for those peo- not allow us to defi ne, silence or “silence” others. They write: “In tested positive for coro- late. pacity and the single biggest thing Prof John Newton, director of ple with a positive test. impede on the feelings that other conclusion, we ask you to refl ect Anavirus in England have They failed to reach – or con- we can do to improve the process minority groups may face.” on your words and to consider the not provided details of people vince to stay home – a further is actually encourage anyone with The letter, co-ordinated by the impact it had towards black com- they have been close to and may 4,809. symptoms to get a test.” PM ‘to scrap two metres distancing rule by Sept’ shadow community cohesion munities in the UK trying to high- have infected, data from the fi rst But Lady Harding said the There were many reasons why minister, Naz Shah, was signed light their voices against racism. full week of the new contact- programme was in its very earli- the contacts of a third of those Prime Minister Boris Johnson government has been facing by several senior Labour MPs in- “Rest assured that Asian and tracing scheme has revealed. est stages and she accepted that who tested positive could not be is planning to scrap the two calls from Tory backbenchers cluding Diane Abbott, Tulip Sid- ethnic minority colleagues on Dido Harding, chair of the there was much still to do. tracked down, she said. metres distancing rule latest to drop the social distancing diq, Kate Osamor, Clive Lewis, Chi this side of the house will not NHS Test and Trace service, said “Tens of thousands of people Sometimes the phone num- by September for schools to rule in England. MPs, including Onwurah, Seema Malhotra, Dawn use their experiences to silence she was heartened by the pub- have engaged with NHS test and bers and e-mails that contact reopen fully for the start of the former cabinet ministers Sir Butler and Rosena Allin-Khan. our black colleagues, but will use lic’s willingness to co-operate, trace in its fi rst week either by tak- tracers had been given were new school year, the Telegraph Iain Duncan Smith and Damian Patel responded strongly to the our shared experiences to stand but would need to do better. ing a test if they’ve got symptoms wrong. newspaper reported. Johnson Green, say it is essential for the letter on Twitter, saying: “I will behind them and support their Of the 8,117 positive cases re- or sharing their contacts if they Sometimes people did not an- has indicated to ministers economy. The government has not be silenced by @UKLabour voices to lead us on standing up ferred to contact tracers, they test positive and then following swer their phones or e-mails and that he is prepared to change said it is constantly reviewing MPs who continue to dismiss the against the distinct form of rac- had succeeded in reaching 5,407 the advice to self-isolate if they’ve sometimes people refused to tell the rule within weeks, the its coronavirus lockdown contributions of those who don’t ism black communities in the UK who had been willing to give been contacted. We clearly have the contact tracers who they had newspaper reported. The guidance. conform to their view of how eth- and across the globe face.” them names and phone numbers got more to do to make sure that been spending time with. Bid to take down Scouts Queen takes part in founder’s statue opposed fi rst public video call AFP and grandmother, said it was a London “just unreal” to see the royals on Guardian News and Media disclosed, secure location. the statue so that we can properly the call. London On Wednesday, Bourne- involve all relevant communities “It hit me that I was sitting mouth, Christchurch and Poole and groups in discussions about ueen Elizabeth II has in my bedroom talking to the council announced the Baden- its future, including whether a kept up with technology Princess Royal (Anne) and the furious row has broken Powell statue would be removed more educational presentation Qthroughout her reign, Queen,” she said. out over moves by a coun- on Thursday and put into stor- of his life in a diff erent setting and yesterday made her debut The Queen’s eldest son and Acil to take down a statue age. might be more appropriate.” on a digital platform that has heir, Prince Charles, revealed of the Scout movement founder It said: “Recognising the inter- She added on Twitter that become ubiquitous during the last week he has been “doing the from a Dorset quayside after po- national issues around historical the decision was taken after a coronavirus outbreak — the vid- Facetime” to stay in touch with lice warned that it could be tar- fi gures brought to the forefront “threat”, adding: “It’s literally eo conference call. family and friends during the geted by anti-racist campaign- of our minds by the Black Lives less than 3 metres from the sea so The 94-year-old monarch coronavirus lockdown. ers. Matter movement, BCP council is at huge risk.” logged in from Windsor Castle, “But it isn’t the same is it? You The local authority announced is removing for now the statue of The statue was installed in where she has been staying dur- really want to give people a hug,” it planned to temporarily remove Robert Baden-Powell that cur- 2008 and faces Brownsea Is- ing the Covid-19 outbreak, to he told Sky News television. the statue of Robert Baden-Pow- rently sits on Poole Quay. land in Poole harbour, where the speak with carers and discuss The Queen has always shown ell, a divisive fi gure who has been “We acknowledge the diff er- Scout movement began. how they have been coping. an interest in new technology. accused of support for Adolf Hit- ing views of the life activities of In 2010, declassifi ed MI5 fi les “Interesting listening to all your She sent her fi rst e-mail long ler. Baden-Powell and want to create revealed that Baden-Powell was tales and stories,” she said, ac- before most people, from a com- Within hours of the an- time for all views to be aired, and invited to meet Hitler after hold- cording to an excerpt of the call puter at a British Army base in nouncement, thousands of peo- to minimise the risk of any public ing friendly talks about forming released by Buckingham Palace. 1976. In 2014, she sent her fi rst ple signed a petition demand- disorder or antisocial behaviour closer ties with the Hitler Youth “I’m very glad to have been tweet during a visit to London’s ing that it remain and local MPs that could arise were the statue organisation. able to join you today.” Science Museum, expressing her called for a proper discussion to remain in situ.” He is also accused of holding Her daughter Princess Anne, pleasure at opening a new gallery about it before action was taken. The leader of the council, racist and homophobic views. 69, also logged in for an engage- and signing it “Elizabeth R”. The The controversy came as the Vikki Slade, said: “While famed Contractors were lined up to ment marking a nationwide week “R” stands for “regina”, Latin for statue of the slave trader Edward for the creation of the Scouts, remove the statue but then the of events highlighting the work queen. Colston was retrieved from the we also recognise that there are council’s deputy leader, Mark of people who care for relatives More recently, she held a lock- harbour in Bristol, where it was some aspects of Robert Baden- Howell, said it would not be re- or friends with a disability, men- down weekly audience from dumped by Black Lives Matter Powell’s life that are considered moved because of the “circus” tal or physical illness. Windsor with Prime Minister protesters on Sunday. less worthy of commemoration. that the announcement had Queen Elizabeth speaks on a video call during the Carers Week Alexandra Atkins, 24, who Boris Johnson — but on an old- The statue was taken to an un- “Therefore, we are removing created. yesterday. looks after her mother, father fashioned rotary telephone. Gulf Times Friday, June 12, 2020 9 EUROPE

Teacher killed in attack at Coronavirus cases reach Slovakia school daily record in Sweden AFP Finland to reopen borders of mainly voluntary measures the opposition over a sluggish cluding Spain, Britain and Italy. visitors from Estonia, Latvia, visitors with a home or holiday Bratislava with neighbours – except and its chief epidemiologist ac- expansion of testing, the gov- Tests hit a record 49,200 last Lithuania, Norway, Denmark home in Finland, or who have Sweden knowledged last week it could ernment last week pledged a week, up from 36,500 the previ- and Iceland were from Monday family in Finland. have done more. further 5.9bn crowns ($639mn) ous week, the agency said. to be allowed to travel to Finland, People arriving from coun- teacher died in a stabbing Reuters/DPA Yesterday’s fi gure took the to increase testing and widen “For an accurate picture of and would not need to undergo a tries that are still subject to in- attack in an elementary Stockholm/Helsinki total number of infections to contact tracing across the coun- how the pandemic is developing, 14-day self-isolation period. ternal or external border control, Aschool in central Slovakia 48,300 – though the Public try. it is useful to look at the people The measures aff ected the such as Sweden, Germany and yesterday, police said, adding Health Agency said the number Deaths in Sweden caused by treated for Covid-19,” Health land border between Finland and Russia, were required to self- that offi cers responding to the weden announced its of deaths was slowing. the disease have gradually de- Minister Lena Hallengren told Norway, as well as air and ferry isolate, the government said. incident killed the assailant. highest daily tally of novel The rise in new cases “is a clined from peak levels in mid- a separate briefi ng. “We can see services between Finland and In general, the Finnish gov- Police identifi ed the killer as a Scoronavirus infections direct consequence of increas- April of about 100 per day with that the number of people treat- Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Es- ernment advised against non- 22-year-old male, a former stu- yesterday, a record 1,474 new ing testing in the regions and the seven-day rolling average ed in intensive care is decreasing tonia, Latvia and Lithuania. essential foreign travel. dent of the school in the town of cases that authorities said was catching cases with mild symp- hitting 37 per day at the begin- at a slow but steady rate.” “Unfortunately, the epidemic Ohisalo said that the deci- Vrutky, some 180km northeast due to a long-delayed surge in toms”, the head of microbiology ning of June, Tegmark-Wisell Meanwhile, Finland said yes- situation is so bad in Sweden sions are due to be approved by of the capital Bratislava. testing. at the agency, Karin Tegmark- said. terday that it is to reopen its bor- that we cannot yet ease the re- the cabinet today, and the situ- The assailant stabbed and The coronavirus causes the Wisell, told a news conference. The agency reported 19 new ders to travellers from six neigh- strictions,” Interior Minister ation will be reviewed during the killed the deputy principal and Covid-19 respiratory disease. “It has been a slow upturn, but deaths yesterday, taking the to- bouring states amid an easing of Maria Ohisalo told reporters. next two weeks. injured several others, including The country’s tactics to con- now it seems that the eff ect of tal to 4,814 – many times higher coronavirus measures, but did She added the government As of yesterday, Finland had a female teacher and two chil- tain the epidemic have come increased testing is becoming per capita than in neighbouring not include Sweden in the deci- hoped to lift the restrictions to recorded 325 deaths due to Cov- dren. under close scrutiny since it clear.” Nordic countries, but lower than sion. Sweden as soon as possible. id-19 and 7,064 cases. Finland Offi cers opened fi re on the eschewed a lockdown in favour Facing growing criticism from the worst-hit parts of Europe in- The government said that Exemptions would apply for has about 5.5mn people. man, killing him near the school as he attempted to escape. Ukraine reports The killing sent shock waves through Slovakia, a central Eu- ‘alarming’ record ropean eurozone country of rise in virus cases 5.4mn people, where the inci- Bordeaux adds info plaques to slave trader street names dent was the fi rst violent attack Ukraine said yesterday that there of its kind in a school. had been an “alarming” rise in “He broke the glass door to get AFP coronavirus cases after a daily in, the staff tried to stop him and Bordeaux record of 689 new infections he used a knife he had brought were reported as the country with him,” Slovak police chief eases lockdown measures. Milan Lucansky said on his of- s statues of slave trad- Cases have surged in Ukraine in fi cial Facebook page. ers and colonial fi gures recent days, with the total now “He dealt a lethal injury to a Atumble worldwide in a reaching more than 29,000, deputy principal and injured the wave of anger against racism, according to off icial figures. caretaker, then he got inside the Bordeaux wants to inform the Since last Friday, the number of building where he caused a se- public with a diff erent tactic. cases has risen by over 3,600, rious injury to a female teacher Streets named after slave 21% more than in the previous and then injured two kids with traders in the southwestern seven days. multiple stab wounds,” he said. French city, known for its red “Today we have very alarming “He then tried to escape with wine but also one with a colo- figures,” Health Minister Maksym the caretaker running after him. nial past, are getting additional Stepanov wrote on Facebook, A police offi cer chased him, but information plaques put up but saying that the tally for the last 24 he tried to defend himself with will not be renamed, a local of- hours was the highest since the the knife, so they used their guns fi cial said. outbreak began. and killed him.” Protesters against police Experts said the uptick was due Although he did not go into brutality and racism in the wake to an increase in testing rather detail about the attacker’s mo- of African American George than a second virus wave. tives, Lucansky said the young Floyd’s killing by a white police A close-up of the street plaque on the rue Gramont in Bordeaux. However, Stepanov berated man appeared to have “struggled offi cer have toppled statues of Ukrainians for failing to stick with mental health problems”. colonial fi gures in Britain, Bel- equality and diversity offi cer for its colonial history, by initiat- to safety rules after lockdown All the injured were conscious gium and the United States. the town hall. ing discussion groups, creat- restrictions were eased last and in a stable condition en route Bordeaux was France’s sec- “Racism was born to justify ing historical walking tours month with the reopening of to a hospital in the nearby city of ond largest slave port, and the trading of human beings on the city’s links with slavery outdoor cafes, beauty salons, Martin, an emergency services prospered off the lucrative and the hierarchy between su- and installing a statue of Mod- dental clinics and parks. spokesperson said. trade, deporting 150,000 Afri- perior and inferior beings,” Fe- este Testas, a slave deported to He promised to come up with Health Minister Marek Krajci can slaves to the Americas from touh told AFP. Santo Domingo by Bordeaux’s “urgent” steps to slow down the said the teacher and children had 1672 to 1837 and providing Eu- But Bordeaux preferred to inhabitants. spread of the virus. “severe stab wounds”. rope with goods such as cocoa, educate people who read the France’s largest slave port “The threat is still here, but take Prime Minister Igor Matovic sugar and cotton. signs rather than rebaptise Nantes installed a memorial to a look at the streets, take a look conveyed his “sincere condo- The city’s colonial past has streets named for the seven- the abolition of slavery in 2012. at what is happening around lences” to the victim’s family. left its mark on France’s ninth teenth and eighteenth century However, there has also been you,” he said. “We all came out of The interior minister was fl y- largest city and fi ve streets are slave traders, he said. backlash. isolation, we all decided that (the ing to the scene, Matovic told named after slave traders. The new sign for David A statue of a black slave com- virus) no longer exists.” journalists on the sidelines of From this week, their names Gradis (1665-1751) street ex- memorating the abolition of Prime Minister Denys Shmygal a meeting of central European will remain on the distinctive plains that he had 10 slave ships slavery was found covered in told a press conference yesterday leaders in the neighbouring blue street signs but will be and provided a plot of land that white paint in the southwestern that off icials could reimpose Czech Republic. accompanied by an additional became the city’s fi rst Jewish city of Pau on Thursday, next restrictions if there is a “critical President Zuzana Caputova plaque explaining the back- cemetery. to the inscription “white lives growth” in cases nationwide. off ered her condolences and ground. A website with more infor- matter”. Lockdown measures eased support for “all the teachers, po- “It defi nitely resonates at mation can be accessed through A French law in 2001 pro- A man looks at a street plaque on the rue Gramont in Bordeaux, further in late May and early lice offi cers, children and their a time where people are tear- a QR code. claimed slavery and the slave set up as part of new explanatory versions of street plaques June with a resumption of public parents aff ected by this diffi cult ing down statues around the For several years, Bordeaux trade as a crime against hu- bearing the names of city historical figures who took part in the transport, including metro and fearful time”. world,” said Malik Fetouh, has undertaken steps to address manity. slave trade. systems and long-distance and local train services. Banksy mural stolen from Bataclan More Italians embrace tracing app theatre found in Italian farmhouse Reuters Pisano told Reuters. Italy’s 60mn people. could later support a “roaming” Rome Italy was the fi rst European The authorities hope to sus- function for foreign travel. country to be hit hard by the tain the enthusiasm when it has France, meanwhile, launched Reuters coronavirus and has suff ered its countrywide launch later this an app last week that stores Rome taly, the fi rst major European more than 34,000 deaths. month. data on a central server – an ap- country to roll out a smart- A lockdown drove infection Called Immuni (immune), the proach which is not supported Iphone app to trace coronavi- rates sharply lower, but fears re- app uses Bluetooth short-range by Apple on privacy grounds mural by secretive British rus infections that does not rely main of a renewed fl are-up later radio based on a joint technol- and works poorly on iPhones. street artist Banksy stolen on a centralised database, has this year. ogy standard from Apple and Stefano Denicolai, a member Afrom the Bataclan theatre already seen 2.2mn downloads The government’s call for a Google to log close contacts se- of Italy’s Covid-19 task force, in Paris, where Islamist gunmen in 10 days, a sign Italians are tracing app originally met re- curely on the device. said that Immuni could help killed 90 people in 2015, has been setting aside privacy concerns. sistance from privacy advocates It was developed by a Milan break chains of infection if 25% found in a farmhouse in central The coronavirus causes the and opposition politicians, but tech start-up, Bending Spoons. of Italians download it, provid- Italy, police said yesterday. Covid-19 respiratory disease. many Italians are warming to it. In the case of a positive coro- ed they are concentrated in key The work, one of a series of The government, like those of “Even my in-laws download- navirus test, the doctor uploads locations and social sectors of murals painted in June 2018 in other European countries hit by ed it,” said Daniela Camozzi, 47, the result anonymously onto a the population. the French capital, shows a veiled the virus, is touting the software in Sarzana, a town in the north- server, and a notifi cation is sent It remains to be seen if the female fi gure staring mournfully as a vital tool to help avoid a sec- ern Liguria region, one of the to people the holder has en- app’s early popularity will be downwards. ond wave of infections. fi rst parts of the country where countered. sustained as it is rolled out more Thieves stole the mural in Germany launches its own the app went live. “I don’t get all It advises them to call a doc- widely. January last year, apparently us- version next week. this concern about privacy. Eve- tor, self-isolate and seek a test. Right-wing opposition leader ing portable grinders to remove “We want a summer in which ry time we use our smartphone Italy’s adoption of this “de- Matteo Salvini is still withhold- a fi re-exit door before carrying it tourism is as safe as possible. our data is profi led much more centralised” approach is in line ing support. off in a van, the daily La Repub- This app can help us resume massively than this app can.” with a growing number of Euro- “Until there is a total guaran- blica reported. activities after the lockdown,” The app has so far been pean countries, including Swit- tee on privacy protection I won’t Magistrates in the central city Technological Innovation and switched on in just four regions, zerland, Germany and Austria. download anything at all,” he of L’Aquila said the mural had Italian Carabinieri pose near a piece of art, attributed to Banksy, that Digitalisation Minister Paola accounting for about 8mn of Their common approach said. been recovered on Wednesday was stolen at the Bataclan in Paris in 2019, and found in Italy, during a morning from an attic. press conference in L’Aquila. Russia cancels final exam for graduating schoolchildren due to virus pandemic Emanuele Mazzotta, a police commander from the nearby attic,” he told a news conference. public places that mix street art Russian schoolchildren are allowed to 500,000 yesterday, with more than 8,700 expediting the dissolution of the Soviet town of Alba Adriatica, said the The Bataclan, one of Paris’s techniques with powerful politi- graduate this year without passing the final new cases recorded during the past day, Union. mural had been found in a house best-known rock venues, was cal points. state exam because of complications due to according to a federal monitoring service. Celebrations will be appropriately toned in the countryside but it ap- stormed by militants during a He has most recently reacted the coronavirus pandemic, the government Despite the rising caseload, Russia partially down, in comparison with previous years, peared that the occupants may concert in November 2015, as to the death of black American announced yesterday, citing a decree by reopened its border this week and ended due to the pandemic, state news outlets not have been aware of the value part of co-ordinated attacks George Floyd after a white police Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. certain mass quarantine measures as senior have reported, with Russians throughout the of the artwork or what it was. around the city that killed 130 offi cer knelt on his neck. “The usual procedure for the state final off icials look to reboot the devastated country advised to avoid large crowds. “The man who on the other people. He also proposed a new pres- certification and entrance tests had to economy. Russia has recorded 502,436 cases of the hand brought the Banksy mural Banksy, who keeps his real entation of the toppling of 17th be changed due to the spread of the new Today will be a test of the timeliness of the novel coronavirus, the world’s third-largest inside the house, had total con- identity secret, has become one century slave owner Edward coronavirus infection. The adjustment decisions to lift the quarantine measures as caseload, behind the United States and Brazil. trol over it, he had free access of the most distinctive person- Colston that was brought down will protect students and teachers,” the the country celebrates the national Russia More than half of those who have been to the house and the door was alities of the modern art scene by protesters in the artist’s home government said in a statement. Day holiday, marking three decades since infected in Russia have recovered, a total of placed in the upper part of the with a series of witty artworks in city of Bristol. Russia’s coronavirus caseload surpassed then-Soviet Russia declared sovereignty, 261,150 people, the federal monitor said. Gulf Times 10 Friday, June 12, 2020 INDIA

LEGAL DEMAND CRIME TRAGEDY VERDICT Top court to decide on Congress seeks probe into Groom kills bride, hangs Boy dies after biting Court rejects bail for lockdown wages order teacher recruitment scam self on wedding night into gelatine stick anti-CAA student activist

The Supreme Court will today pronounce an Upping the ante against the Uttar Pradesh What was supposed to have been a blissful A six-year-old boy died after a gelatine A Bengaluru court rejected the bail application order on a clutch of pleas by several companies government over the alleged irregularities in day for a newly-wed couple finally turned stick exploded in his mouth as he bit into of controversial student activist Amulya including MSMEs challenging a government the recruitment of 69,000 teachers and the out to be tragic. The newly married husband it thinking it was a snack. The police have Leona on the ground that she may abscond notification on full payment of wages to fake teacher issue, the Congress yesterday killed his wife on the wedding night and arrested three persons in this connection. if set free, a police official said yesterday. employees during the 54-day nationwide demanded a Supreme Court judge-monitored later committed suicide by hanging himself According to Trichy police, the boy’s uncle “The 60th city civil and sessions court judge lockdown to contain the outbreak of Covid-19. On probe and a job for the real Anamika Shukla, from a tree in Tiruvallur district. According had bought three gelatine sticks from a Vidyadhara Shirahatti rejected Amulya’s bail June 4, the Centre had informed the apex court who is still unemployed. Addressing a press to police, Neethivasan and Sandhya – both stone quarry manager to catch fish in the plea fearing she may flee if granted bail,” a that its March 29 notification on full payment of conference, Congress leader Rajeev Shukla said, related – got married on Wednesday morning. Cauvery river. The boy had visited his uncle’s police official dealing with the sedition case wages to workers by their employers during the “Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi During the night, the couple’s relatives heard home and mistook the gelatine for a snack against her said. The 19-year-old activist was lockdown was not unconstitutional. The Centre’s Vadra has been raising the issue of the teachers Sandhya screaming and on entering the and bit it. The gelatine exploded in the boy’s arrested on February 20 for shouting anti- counsel contended it was a measure taken to recruitment scam and she also spoke to the room they saw the woman lying in a pool of mouth, police said. The boy died on way to national slogans at an anti-CAA rally. Later, prevent perpetration of financial crisis within the people who appeared for the examination while blood. She had been hit on the head with a the hospital and fearing police, the family the police filed a sedition case against Amulya lower strata of the society, labourers and salaried the government has not paid heed to the issue.” crowbar. Neethivasan fled the house and later cremated the body without informing the for indulging in anti-national activities and employees. The Centre, in the aff idavit filed, said Shukla said, “we also witnessed the issue of was found hanging from a tree. The police authorities. However, on a tip-off the police instigating her friends to stage protest rallies the order was not a permanent measure, and it Anamika Shukla, as over 25 people were holding are probing the reason for the murder and arrested the boy’s uncle, his friend and the and demonstrations against the ruling BJP has already been withdrawn. jobs by impersonating her.” suicide. stone quarry manager. government in the state and at the Centre. Exhausted doctors fear virus crisis has only begun

AFP at the Max hospital, which like New Delhi other private facilities in the teeming city of 20mn people has been ordered by the government octors in one of India’s top to set aside 20% of its beds for private hospitals shuffl e coronavirus patients. Dthrough the intensive care With families not allowed to unit wearing full protective suits. see virus patients, Juneja has to Every bed is occupied by corona- double up as a caregiver, although virus patients, and fear is building he is unable to even hold his pa- that the worst is still to come. tients’ hands. “All of us are trying “We don’t know when this is to keep our morale up in these dif- going to peak,” Dr Deven Juneja fi cult times,” he said. said during a pause from his “We have to keep ourselves rounds at the Max Smart Su- motivated and keep going every per Speciality Hospital in New day.” Delhi, as heart monitors beeped Juneja said the surge had start- throughout the ward. ed to be felt over the past few days, A firefighter sprays disinfectant as a preventive measure against the spread of coronavirus in a containment zone in Chennai yesterday. “All of us are hoping for the with an increase in the number of best, but we are mentally and people looking for a bed. physically prepared for the “That has defi nitely increased worst.” the load on us. We want to get our Authorities have in recent days patients well as soon as possible been loosening their months- and try to create more beds for long lockdown on people move- our patients,” he said. ment that had been aimed at The hospital has had to trans- curbing the spread of the corona- form drastically, demarcating Demand for railways’ virus. green and red zones as well as However, they were forced converting the maternity section into the easing for economic rea- into a coronavirus care facility. sons and, while people across the Posters of Winnie the Pooh country of 1.3bn resume more and smiling babies greet anxious normal travel, the number of in- patients as staff in full protective fections is soaring. gear — their names hand-written isolation coaches rise There are almost 10,000 new in black marker pen on the front confi rmed cases every day and — screen all visitors for fever and IANS Indian Railways.” According to the railway min- yesterday said there is no commu- down measures helped in control- declared infections are now over other symptoms. New Delhi The offi cial said that the nation- istry, these coaches can be used nity transmission of Covid-19 at ling the spread of the deadly virus 275,000 — the fi fth highest in the “I think it defi nitely scares us al transporter has received request in areas where the state has ex- the national level, while the lock- until now. world. a bit, because you never know from Uttar Pradesh for stationing hausted the facilities and needs to Offi cially there have been near- from where the infection can en- inally, demand for isolation the isolation ward coaches at 24 augment capacities for isolation of ly 8,000 coronavirus deaths, al- ter your body,” said Jyoti Ester, an coaches prepared by the In- stations in the state. both suspect and confi rmed Cov- Piling corpses worry Mumbai health authorities though the true number is widely infection care nurse. Fdian Railways has started The offi cial said the railways has id-19 cases. believed to far higher. Vinita Thakur, a nurse in a gaining momentum as the national also received requests for 60 iso- The railway ministry offi cial The large number of Covid-19 to claim bodies, disposal Newspapers carry stories of Covid ward, said wearing the transporter has received requests lation coaches to be station at Se- said that out of 215 stations, the victims’ bodies – at least 10 without family’s consent and patients dying after being denied protective suits for long hours in from Uttar Pradesh, Telangana and cunderabad, Kachiguda and Adi- railways will provide healthcare times more than pre-Covid long queues at crematoria or care. The government is turning the hot Indian summer required Delhi for the same. labad stations in Telangana. facilities in 85 stations. “In the rest times – is fast turning into a cemeteries, off icials said. In cricket stadiums into fi eld hospi- immense “physical and mental The Indian Railways had trans- The offi cial further said that on 130 stations, states to requisition crisis for the Brihanmumbai response to reports alleging tals. Crematoriums are struggling courage”. formed 5,231 coaches into isola- the request of the Delhi govern- Covid-19 care coaches only if they Municipal Corporation health many bodies of Covid-19 to cope. “After putting on the PPE we tion wards for novel coronavirus ment, 10 isolation coaches have are able to provide staff and essen- authorities as it battles the victims lying unclaimed at the In New Delhi, the situation can’t drink water, can’t eat, can’t patients. In May this year, it was been stationed at the Shakurbasti tial medicines,” he said. pandemic. This has led to KEM Hospital, mayor Kishori is particularly dire with the city even go to the washroom,” Thakur decided that these coaches will be railway station. He said the railways has kept numerous other problems Pednekar clarified only seven government this week predicting said in between attending an eld- stationed at 215 stations across the On May 7, the Union health 158 stations ready with watering like dead bodies clogging bodies have not yet been the caseload will balloon 20-fold erly patient in the ICU. country. ministry had said that train coach- and charging facility and 57 sta- up Covid-19 wards and handed over as the relatives to more than half a million by the “There is a lot of sweating and A senior railway ministry offi cial es will be turned into coronavirus tions with watering facility for the corridors in the major public are not traceable. “Only one end of July, which the health care because of that we get burns and said yesterday, “as per the guide- care centres and parked at 215 sta- Covid-19 care centres. hospitals, morgues virtually body is lying there for three system appears woefully ill-pre- rashes. But we have to do it, we are lines of the ministry of health and tions across the country as part of Meanwhile, the Indian Council overflowing, disappearance weeks, the others are very pared for. on the frontline, we can’t make family welfare, few state govern- the preparation for a sudden spurt of Medical Research (ICMR) Di- of bodies, relatives reluctant recent.” Ambulances arrive constantly any excuses.” ments have sent requisitions to the in Covid-19 cases in the country. rector General Balram Bhargava Armed forces veterans Oil well blaze could fl ay Rahul’s Ladakh tweet last a month: offi cial IANS tinue till it is capped. Guwahati “Over 7,000 inhabitants ad- IANS caused huge casualties to China.” The veterans included air joining the fi re site have been New Delhi Recalling his controversial vice-marshal Sanjib Bordoloi, air shifted to 12 relief camps set up meeting with Chinese offi cials commodore S S Saxena, briga- round 7,000 people have by the OIL,” Hazarika said. during the Doklam face-off , the dier Dinkar Adeeb among others, been evacuated as fi re- A senior offi cial of the Tinsu- fter Congress leader Rahul veterans made a stinging attack goes on to state that “such twist- Afi ghters, NDRF, and engi- kia district administrations said Gandhi claimed the Chi- on Rahul. ing of issues of military impor- neers intensify eff orts to douse it would take at least four weeks Anese have taken posses- tance for petty political gains are an oil well fi re in Assam raging or a month to completely control sion of Indian territory in the La- “Whatever may be the highly deplorable.” for the third day yesterday. the blaze. dakh region, as many as 71 armed motivation of making such Earlier, Rahul Gandhi tweeted: At least two fi re fi ghters of Oil The massive fi re broke out at forces veterans issued a strong statements, it is apparent to “The Chinese have walked in and India Ltd (OIL) were killed and the leaking natural gas produc- statement against the former everyone that the same are taken our territory in Ladakh. four others including one from ing well of the state-owned OIL Congress president, questioning devoid of correct facts and Meanwhile, the PM is absolutely ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Cor- in Tinsukia district on Tuesday his “motivation” for making the are against national security, silent and has vanished from the poration) were injured near the even as an expert team from a controversial statement. which is our main concern” scene.” oil well blowout site in Assam’s Singapore-based emergency “At the outset, we wish to con- Calling it “petty politicisa- Tinsukia district on Wednesday. management fi rm was trying to demn such undesirable and de- “Whatever may be the mo- tion”, the veterans said, “We, The inferno was so intense plug the leakage of gas and oil plorable tweets/comments by a tivation of making such state- the veterans, who are party to that it could be seen from as far condensate for the past 16 days, person who has no idea as to how ments, it is apparent to everyone this statement have been in as 10km away. prompting the state government our soldiers work in the world’s that the same are devoid of cor- the field and have participated OIL spokesman Tridiv Haza- to seek the Indian Air Force’s most diffi cult and unfriendly ter- rect facts and are against national in several operations/ actions rika said Petroleum and Natu- help to douse the blaze. rain,” read the statement. security, which is our main con- and, therefore, we all feel in- ral Gas Minister Dharmendra Assam Chief Minister Sar- It added, “Rahul Gandhi cern. Everyone knows that Rahul sulted and humiliated by such Pradhan held a review meeting bananda Sonowal on Wednes- should never forget 1962, when Gandhi was hobnobbing with low level politics resorted to by with the crisis management day dialled Prime Minister the country was headed by none Chinese diplomats when there Rahul Gandhi.” team and OIL officials through Narendra Modi and apprised other than his great grandfather was a standoff between India and The Indian and Chinese army video conferencing. It has been him about the latest develop- Jawaharlal Nehru and we were China in 2017 in Doklam. have been in a standoff in the reported that except at the well ments regarding the “oil well not only caught totally unpre- “No sane Indian is expected eastern Ladakh area, where the plinth area, the fire around the explosion incident”. “The prime pared but had to suff er very hu- to make statements against his People’s Liberation Army (PLA) site has been largely extin- minister assured all help to- miliating defeat at the hands of own country and military, which has created a major military guished. wards the people in the affected China, despite the fact that our undoubtedly support the enemy buildup along the Line of Actual People watch flames and smoke coming out from a well run by However, the burning of gas at area,” an Assam government re- soldiers fought valiantly and countries,” the statement said. Control (LAC). state-owned Oil India in Tinsukia, Assam, yesterday. the mouth of the well would con- lease said. Gulf Times Friday, June 12, 2020 11 LATIN AMERICA

KEY SECTOR DIPLOMACY GORY SIGHT ASYLUM WOES DEMOCRACY Argentinians protest US sanctions suff ocating Killing, animal abuse in US-Guatemala migrant deal Bolivia House approves farm nationalisation Nicaragua, says Ortega Bogota bullfights to end ‘dead end’ for rights: report new date for delayed vote

Large crowds of people in cities across Argentina Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega said on Colombia’s capital Bogota, one of the oldest The immigration agreement between Guatemala Bolivia’s parliament on Wednesday approved came out in protest on Wednesday against Wednesday that the United States is trying to bullfighting cities in the Americas, is set to outlaw and the US, temporarily suspended due to the the new date of September 6 for the country’s nationalising the Vicentin agricultural company. “suff ocate” his country with economic sanctions the mistreatment and killing of the animals in a coronavirus, represents a “dead end” for human coronavirus-delayed general election, although At the company’s headquarters in Avellaneda, that were imposed following crackdowns on move aimed at eventually banning the events rights, according to a report published on the decision must still be ratified by interim the country’s capital Buenos Aires, and in opposition protests in 2018. The United States altogether. Bogota’s city council backed a draft law Wednesday. The agreement, signed last year, allows President Jeanine Anez. The new law was Rosario and Cordoba, demonstrators banged continues to impose “what they call sanctions, but that would prohibit the use of implements that asylum seekers from third countries — mainly approved by both chambers of Congress “with pots and pans together in protest, according which are no more than aggressions,” Ortega said “lacerate, cut, maim, injure, burn or hurt animals Honduras and El Salvador — to be sent to Guatemala more than two thirds of the votes,” said Senate to video from broadcaster TN. The Argentinian during a videoconference of the ALBA regional in any form whatsoever, as well as putting a bull while their applications are processed. “These President Eva Copa. Last week the Supreme government had previously announced it would bloc. “Why? To find out how to suff ocate, they to death,” Andrea Padilla, a Green Alliance Party vulnerable asylum seekers are not permitted access Electoral Tribunal came to an agreement with take over the insolvent company and appoint a have become experts in suff ocating, at killing via council member and the bill’s promoter, told to a lawyer, they have no ability to present evidence, political parties on the new date. “I believe manager. Vicentin is one of Argentina’s largest suff ocation,” he said. Ortega, who had not appeared reporters. While the power to ban bullfights remains and in some cases, no knowledge that the US this law...gives certainty over the date of an agricultural companies, producing and exporting before the press for several weeks, participated with Colombia’s legislature, the city council is hoping government is removing them to Guatemala,” said election that is crucial for the establishment of mainly grain, oilseed and meat. The company is in the video call which also included Venezuelan that removing the goriest part of the spectacle will the report, published by Georgetown University’s democracy in Bolivia,” said the electoral tribunal said to be owe $1.4bn to banks and suppliers. President Nicolas Maduro, according to organisers. lead to an eventual end to the bloodsport. Institute of Human Rights and titled Dead End. president Salvador Romero.

Brazil extends deployment of Latin America Covid-19 Amazon troops

Reuters Brasilia death toll tops 70,000 razil’s government has renewed for 30 days a presidential decree AFP/Reuters 180 days, would conclude with a vote Ballowing the deployment of the Sao Paulo/Mexico City on whether to remove him from offi ce armed forces to combat rising defor- defi nitively. estation in the Amazon and protect the Witzel, who backed Bolsonaro in world’s largest rainforest. ore than 70,000 people have the 2018 presidential election, has be- The extension, signed by President died from coronavirus in come one of the president’s most out- Jair Bolsonaro, was published late on MLatin America as the pan- spoken opponents. Wednesday in the offi cial gazette and demic sweeps through the region, The pair have notably clashed over gives the military authority over envi- putting growing pressure on an al- the response to the pandemic. ronmental agencies in the Amazon. ready stretched healthcare system. Bolsonaro is a fierce critic of the Brazil deployed thousands of soldiers As the number of cases in the Unit- stay-at-home measures adopted to protect the rainforest one month ago ed States soared past 2mn, Central by Witzel and other governors to as the government mounted an early re- and South America has emerged as the curb the spread of the virus, argu- sponse to a surge in deforestation ahead new hotspot for a disease that has in- ing they are needlessly wrecking the of the high season for forest fi res. fected 7.4mn people around the globe. economy. Destruction of the rainforest, which More than 415,000 of them have died. Police raided the governor’s offi cial traps vast amounts of greenhouse gases In Brazil, which accounts for well residence last month as part of an in- and is vital to slowing global climate over half of the deaths in the region, vestigation into the alleged embezzle- warming, has accelerated since Bol- hospitals were struggling to cope with ment of funds to build fi eld hospitals sonaro took offi ce last year vowing to the infl ux of sick and dying. for coronavirus patients, an emergen- ease environmental regulation to allow “Nursing was always an overworked cy measure to avoid the collapse of the economic development of the Amazon profession, and this pandemic has just state health system. region as a way to reduce poverty. Last made things worse,” nurse Hans Bos- Witzel, 52, again denied wrongdo- year, Bolsonaro waited until August to san told AFP. “Nurses deal directly ing. send troops into the Amazon, following with patients, with the virus, we’re on “I was elected with the fi ght against international outcry over a wave of fi res. the front lines of the war,” said Bos- corruption as my pillar, and I will Forest fi res are frequent in the dry sea- san, who is working 72 hours a week in never abandon that fl ag,” he said in a son and land grabbers often use them as a three diff erent jobs. statement. quick way to clear the forest. Nurses have been hit particularly Meanwhile, Mexico’s death toll Environmental advocates and scientif- hard as Brazil has rocketed up the glo- from the coronavirus passed 15,000, ic researchers blame the policies of right- bal charts to claim an unwanted third its government said on Wednesday, as wing Bolsonaro for emboldening illegal spot in the number of deaths, behind the country also recorded its highest loggers, ranchers and land speculators to the United States and Britain. Workers of the San Isidro Pantheon put on protective suits as they prepare for the burial of a Covid-19 victim in number of infections in one day. clear the forest. Around 18,000 nurses there have Azcapotzalco, Mexico City. Health offi cial Jose Luis Alomia told Deforestation of Brazil’s Amazon rain- been infected with Covid-19, and at a press conference that a further 708 forest was worse than previously report- least 181 have died — among the high- at fi rst to the beach resorts at the keys New cases have dropped to less Rio governor faces fatalities have been recorded in the ed in 2019, according to revised govern- est numbers in the world, according to of the Caribbean’s largest island, than 10 per day on average from a peak past 24 hours, bringing the total to ment data released on Tuesday. the International Council of Nurses. Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz of around 50, and two thirds of the is- impeachment 15,357. Brazil’s space research agency INPE Critics of Brazil’s populist Presi- said on Wednesday. land is virus-free, according to offi cial In addition, 4,833 new infections recorded 10,129sq km of deforestation dent Jair Bolsonaro say the epidemic Unveiling cautious plans for lift- data. The Rio de Janeiro state legislature were reported, bringing the total to for its benchmark annual period from has been worsened by a haphazard ing Cuba’s partial lockdown, Marrero A cluster of other Caribbean islands voted on Wednesday to open im- 129,184. August 2018 to July 2019. response that has seen the president Cruz said specialists would conduct have already opened to international peachment proceedings against Gov- During the same meeting, Health That’s an area about the size of Leba- repeatedly downplay the severity of epidemiological monitoring at hotels, tourism or will do so this month — ernor Wilson Witzel over accusations Undersecretary Hugo Lopez-Gatell, non and a 34.4% rise from the same pe- the disease. where occupation would be limited. with tests mandatory for some and he embezzled funds for fi ghting the heading the pandemic response, riod a year earlier. He has agitated against the lock- Excursions would be restricted to not for others. coronavirus pandemic. warned that case predictions for the The 2019 data remains the highest lev- downs that scientists say are neces- the keys. Marrero Cruz said public pools With 69 votes in favour and one country had been expanded. el of deforestation seen in Brazil’s Ama- sary to tamp down the infection, in- Visitors would not be able to visit would reopen for summer at 30% ca- abstention, legislators in the state — “We have close to 17 or 18 days in zon since 2008. sisting the economic cost is too high. Havana, the centre of Cuba’s out- pacity. Brazil’s second-hardest-hit in the which the decline of the (epidemic) Meanwhile, Bolsonaro has decided to On Wednesday, and with infection break, at fi rst. Beaches will also reopen, with local pandemic, after Sao Paulo — passed curve has stalled, (but) it has not gone recreate the defunct Ministry of Com- rates still soaring, the economic capi- In his presentation to the council of authorities ensuring social distanc- a motion to open an impeachment up,” he said, explaining the pattern of munications as he faces criticism for his tal Sao Paulo began reopening shops. ministers, reported by state-run me- ing, but summer carnivals will not commission to investigate the allega- infections and deaths. handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Malls were set to reopen in a slew of dia, Marrero Cruz did not give a time take place this year. tions. Lopez-Gatell had told AFP on May The right-wing leader announced on his other cities yesterday, the day before frame for the reopening to tourism, Schools will reopen in September It was one of 14 impeachment mo- 29 that Mexico would probably see Facebook account late on Wednesday that Brazilians celebrate Valentine’s Day. one of the cash-strapped country’s to fi nish the current year with the tions facing Witzel, a former ally of more than 30,000 deaths from coro- he was preparing a decree reopening the top sources of hard currency. new one starting in November, while Bolsonaro who denies the allegations navirus pandemic, but did not say ministry that had been closed by the previ- The prime minister said Cuba public and private transport will be and accuses the far-right leader of when the country could hit that mile- ous government in 2016 and placed under Cuba to test visitors, would open fi rst to domestic tour- restored gradually, he said. “political persecution.” stone. the science and technology portfolio. limit tourism to keys ism and further details would be an- Face masks will remain obligatory If the commission decides to go Mexico — with 127mn inhabitants The new ministry will be headed by nounced soon. in all public spaces in a fi rst phase, and ahead with impeachment proceed- — saw its highest number of daily a political ally, Fabio Faria, of the Social “There will not be a brusque opening then in spaces with a concentration of ings, the legislature will hold another Covid-19 deaths June 3, at 1,092. Democratic Party (PSD) party and son- Cuba will test all visitors for coro- in the fi rst phase,” Marrero Cruz was people. (Reporting by Sarah Marsh; vote on whether to suspend Witzel But authorities explained the fi g- in-law of billionaire television presenter navirus when it reopens to interna- quoted as saying, adding that avoiding Editing by Jacqueline Wong) from his job and put him on trial. ure included updates to months-old Silvio Santos, owner of Brazil’s third net- tional tourism, which will be limited a new outbreak was a priority. That process, which can last up to cases. work in audience. Pandemic threatens Latin America’s culinary scene

Reuters to keep the region’s vibrant gas- Now many are struggling just quickly revamped her multi- Mexico City/Buenos Aires tronomy culture alive. to stay alive. When Pujol does re- course dining experience. From combining kitchens to open in the coming months, Olv- “We are turning more towards converting sleek haute cuisine era expects it to off er just a third a friendly off er for the local pub- ans of his uniquely Mexican temples into produce delivery of its tables. lic, developing dishes that per- take on high-end dining operations, several are striving In economic crisis-stricken haps we did not make before, Fonce packed a months-long to pivot their reliance on for- Argentina, Mariano Ramon, who healthy, abundant, balanced and wait list for Enrique Olvera’s Pu- eign tourism and shifting to lo- helms Buenos Aires fusion hot aff ordable food, which is what jol but the restaurant is grappling cal comfort foods from gourmet spot Gran Dabbang, partnered people from La Paz need right with a tough new reality as the meals to survive the coronavirus with fellow chef Leo Lanussol of now,” Taha said, adding that the novel coronavirus haunts Latin crisis. neighbourhood favourite Prop- restaurant posts tutorials on so- America’s culinary upstarts. But it has not been easy, espe- er to off er a combined delivery cial media so clients can learn For now that reality means cially since much of the region is menu. how to prepare their meals. giving up on his tasting menu of still wrestling with surging cases By putting both staff s to work “The entire operating system intricate dishes priced at $95 in that make full re-opening of din- in single kitchen in shifts to ensure has changed 100%.” favour of selling “baskets” with ing rooms a distant dream. distancing protocol, the chefs — Technology is also playing a produce and ingredients like And it has seemed like a par- also longtime friends — were able role at Mexico City’s Rosetta, eggs, cheese and honey from his ticularly cruel blow given that the to cut costs and stay afl oat. whose chef Elena Reygadas said suppliers, whose protection in region’s high-end dining scene Orders are prepared at Proper her dining room is now full of tough fi nancial times has become was just coming of age. while Gran Dabbang, ranked as a staff ers on laptops coordinating a priority. In 2010 just two restaurants top 50 restaurant in Latin Amer- orders and deliveries. “We don’t have the size or the from Latin America made The ica, sells wine and products from When Reygadas fi nally reopens means to save the country. Or World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. local vendors. Rosetta, whose tall walls inside even the neighbourhood,” Olvera By 2019, eight had made the Flexibility, Ramon said, is the an early 20th century mansion said. cut, with two in the top 10, as ea- key to surviving in Argentina, are adorned with leafy vines, she “But we can take care of eve- teries started forging their own which recently marked its ninth plans to use tall palms to create rybody who works with us, with paths and takes on cuisine, said sovereign default. more distance between tables. Chef Elena Reygadas wears a face mask as she prepares desserts during an interview with Reuters at her our farmers and our employees. William Drew, director of con- “I think that in Argentina we But she worries that foreign- restaurant Rosetta in Mexico City. If everybody who can do that tent for the closely watched list. have an advantage, which is that ers, who comprised 60% to 70% commits to doing that, then we “There is a whole number of we have little memory and we are of her clientele, will be slow to re- just to spend a few days going on virtual cookery classes via cohorts across the region, a key have a better chance of not col- restaurants that are exploring very used to crises,” Ramon said. turn. “We were full of people try- from one restaurant to the other.” Zoom to accompany ingredients goal is protecting his suppliers. lapsing as a society.” their own indigenous produce Chef Marsia Taha of Gustu ing to understand what Mexican As Bogota’s El Chato’s dining ordered from the restaurant by “If we reopen and they aren’t Latin America’s top restau- and the traditional dishes of in- in La Paz, co-founded by Dan- food was,” said Reygadas. “Young room remains shuttered, its chef diners who are keen to cook com- around, we aren’t going to sur- rants are fi nding creative ways digenous people,” Drew said. ish celebrity chef Claus Meyer, people started coming to the city owner Alvaro Clavijo is putting plex dishes. As for many of his vive either,” he said. Gulf Times 12 Friday, June 12, 2020 PAKISTAN

Arrest warrant Experts urge action after issued for ex-PM surge in Covid-19 deaths Sharif Internews Another Lahore High Court judge tests positive for the coronavirus 476 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the ministry of national health Internews Lahore/Peshawar 425 in Punjab, 243 in Balu- services said that the coronavi- Islamabad The coronavirus pandemic continued to hit the La- positive for the coronavirus disease. chistan, 174 in Islamabad, 17 in rus had infected 3,328 healthcare hore High Court as another judge and members of his Following growing cases of the pandemic, the Gilgit-Baltistan, and 12 in Azad providers in the country, with xpressing concern over personal staff tested positive for the virus. disinfection process of the high court had also been Jammu and Kashmir. 1,037 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. n accountability court has the rapid increase in the The test results of Justice Jawad Hassan, his private increased. The number of countrywide Five of the deaths occurred issued a non-bailable ar- Enumber of reported cases secretary Zahoor Ahmad, driver Azmat, orderly Abdul Meanwhile, the off ice of the Punjab prosecutor-gen- nurses infected with the coro- in Peshawar where the number Arest warrant for former and deaths due to the coronavi- Wahab, and another staff member Ziaur Rehman, eral asked the secretary of primary and secondary navirus is 435: 168 from Khyber of fatalities due to coronavirus Pakistani prime minister Nawaz rus in Pakistan, health experts came back positive. health healthcare department to take necessary Pakhtunkhwa, 140 from Pun- reached 328, the highest number Sharif in the Toshakhana refer- have once again urged the public The judge and his staff members have quarantined actions following 13 suspected patients of the coro- jab, 67 from Sindh, 51 from Is- recorded by any district in the ence. to stay home and adopt protec- themselves at home. navirus. lamabad, four from Baluchistan, country. Nawaz, former prime minister tive measures. Last week, Justice Shahid Karim tested positive for A letter written by a human resource off icer of the three from Azad Jammu and The provincial capital also re- Yousuf Raza Gilani, and former The coronavirus causes the the coronavirus and went into isolation. prosecutor-general’s off ice stated that at least 13 of- Kashmir, and two from Gilgit- ported 227 new positive cases, president Asif Ali Zardari were Covid-19 respiratory disease. An off icial of the high court recently passed away ficials were having symptoms of fever, coughing, and Baltistan. which is also the highest number summoned to attend a hearing While addressing a media due to the Covid-19 respiratory disease caused by the diff iculty in breathing in the last few days. The number of infected para- of people infected with the sick- related to the Toshakhana refer- briefi ng at the University of coronavirus. It said that the suspected patients needed to undergo medics and Class-IV employees ness in a single day, taking the ence yesterday. Health Sciences (UHS), Vice- When contacted, a Lahore High Court spokesman Covid-19 tests. is 928: 393 from Khyber Pa- overall count of positive patients During the hearing, National Chancellor Prof Javed Akram declined to confirm the Covid-19 cases among the The letter also asked the health secretary to conduct khtunkhwa, 212 from Punjab, 123 to 5,516. Accountability Bureau (NAB) said that more than 100 people judges and staff . tests of the staff of the prosecutor-general’s off ice. from Sindh, 84 from Islamabad, Two patients died in Abbotta- prosecutor Muzaff ar Abbasi ap- had lost their lives due to the However, sources said that staff members of several The suspected patients, as per the letter, are two ad- 61 from Baluchistan, 44 Gilgit- bad, where tally of dead persons pealed to the court to issue a deadly virus in the last 24 hours, senior judges and dozens of employees working ditional prosecutors-general, one deputy prosecutor- Baltistan, and 11 from Azad Jam- reached 28, while Karak and Dir non-bailable arrest warrant for making it four deaths in one in other branches had been quarantined, mostly at general, one deputy district prosecutor-general, a mu and Kashmir. Upper reported one death each. Nawaz, saying that since he was hour. home, after being infected. personal assistant, seven junior clerks, and a dispatch The report said that 1,820 of Dir Lower confi rmed 67 more abroad, advertisements against Calling it a “black day” for the A female assistant law off icer had also been tested rider. the infected health profession- patients, raising its tally to 599, the Pakistan Muslim League – nation, the vice-chancellor said als were home quarantined, 241 while the adjacent Dir Upper re- Nawaz (PML-N) supremo can be that people are left with no op- were in hospital, and 235 of them corded 58 cases, making its total published in foreign newspapers. tion but to protect themselves He said that Pakistan needed in the current pandemic. idea of imposing a strict curfew were in stable condition while count 339. The prosecutor further in- by rigorously following standard to follow the precedent of China According to Shamsi, the of 15 days in the country to slow seven were on ventilation in Both districts have registered formed the accountability court operating procedures (SOPs) to in order to save its healthcare therapy is not new and had been down the spread of the virus. critical condition. 16 and four fatalities due to the that another co-accused in the prevent the spread of the virus. workers from the coronavirus. used to cure patients of diseases Meanwhile, fi gures released It said that 1,233 persons have virus so far. case, Anwar Majeed, was incar- Akram vehemently dispelled “We need better standard pro- like Sars, Ebola and infl uenza in by the Emergency Operation been recovered from the pan- Swat, another hard-hit dis- cerated in Karachi’s Malir jail for the misconception that eventu- tective equipment and necessary the recent past. Centre said that 34 healthcare demic and sent home from the trict, reported 42 cases. his alleged involvement in other ally everybody would fall victim training for our front line work- Lamenting the poor response providers died of Covid-19 in hospitals. It has a total of 1,409 cases, references. to the disease. ers, otherwise they will continue of the recovered patients with the country. Meanwhile, fatalities due to the second highest number after The hearing yesterday was at- “In any case, not more than to be infected,” he added. regards to donation of plasma, These are 12 in Sindh, seven Covid-19 reached 610 in Khy- Peshawar. tended by Gilani and fellow ac- 20% people would contract the National Institute of Blood he assured that plasma donation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, six in ber Pakhtunkhwa, as nine more The district has also reported cused Abdul Majid Ghani, while disease, and of those, only 5-7% Diseases (NIBD) head Dr Tahir to the patient is a safe and secure Punjab, fi ve in Baluchistan, two persons infected with the virus 54 deaths from the pandemic, Zardari’s application exempting would fall seriously ill,” he said. Shamsi said that convalescent procedure, as the donors had to each in Gilgit-Baltistan and Is- died. the most by any district of the him from appearing before the He urged the physicians not to plasma therapy is the safest undergo multiple checks before lamabad, it said. The province recorded 679 province except Peshawar. court was accepted. make haste in putting seriously method available and an early donating their blood plasma. A total of 3,328 doctors, nurses new confi rmed patients. Cases in Charsadda reached The court, while exempting ill coronavirus patients on ven- use of plasma is recommended Shamsi stressed that plasma and other health workers have It is the highest number of 418 with 49 new cases, and in Zardari from attending yester- tilator. in patients who are in moder- donation is so safe that a person contracted Covid-19 in the people aff ected by the pandemic Mardan 656 with 24 new pa- day’s proceedings, ordered that “This must be the last option ate- to severe stage of Covid-19, could donate it four times with country. in a single day since the onset of tients, according to the report. another notice for appearance be as 80-90% of those patients put to prevent disease progression to an interval of one week between These are 1,037 in Khyber Pa- the disease. It said that 140 people have sent to the former president. on ventilators would never come critical, requiring a ventilator. each donation without feeling khtunkhwa, 808 in Sindh, 777 The province’s scorecard recovered from the ailment, According to the NAB, Zardari back,” he warned. “We have treated 200 patients any weakness. in Punjab, 309 in Islamabad, of positive patients stands at raising overall count of recover- and Nawaz received cars from The vice-chancellor also by this procedure,” he said, add- He added that one plasma do- 308 in Baluchistan, 63 in Gilgit- 15,206, according to Covid-19 ies to 3,771 in the province. former prime minister Gilani il- stressed the need for trained ing that in the absence of any nation could save the lives of two Baltistan, and 26 in Azad Jammu report released by the health de- Buner recorded 22 new cases, legally. manpower to manage ventila- proven therapy, and the relative patients. and Kashmir. partment. Haripur 19, Nowshera 17, and Zardari had paid only 15% of tors and other equipment in the safety of convalescent plasma, it Akram said that as a health As of June 8, 1,965 doctors A report prepared by the Karak and Dera Ismail Khan 11 the total cost of the cars through hospitals. is recommended for wide usage expert, he would support the have been infected: 618 in Sindh, Emergency Operation Centre of cases each. fake accounts, according to the NAB. He also received the cars as a gift from Libya and the UAE Out in force when he was president, and uti- Punjab’s quarantine lised them in a personal capacity instead of depositing them in the treasury, the NAB alleged. centres being closed The anti-graft body further alleged that Abdul Ghani Majeed paid for the vehicles through Internews Expo Centre facility was a fi eld fake accounts, whereas Anwar Lahore hospital and not a quarantine Majeed made more than Rs20mn centre. through illegal transactions us- “It is open and functional, ing the Ansari Sugar Mills ac- he Punjab government has having Covid-19 patients,” he counts. started closing quarantine maintained. According to reports, Sharif Tcentres across Punjab, in- These quarantine centres had was not holding any public offi ce cluding six in Lahore, following a been set up to house the sus- in 2008 but was given a vehicle change in the policy under which pected virus patients in the city without any justifi cation. suspected coronavirus patients and the people returning from The NAB says the leaders have were earlier required to quaran- abroad. been charged with corruption tine at these centres. But now, as per new policy, under sub-sections 2, 4, 7 and 12 The coronavirus causes the all such persons, and even those of Section 9 (A) of the NAB Or- Covid-19 respiratory disease. testing positive are being allowed dinance. Under the new policy, those to go to their homes after a gen- A Toshakhana (gift deposi- arriving at Lahore and other air- eral screening, with instructions tory) gift from any country to ports from abroad are just being to isolate themselves at home. the head of the state remains the screened through thermal scan- “Initially, the core objective property of the government un- ners rather than tested on the of the quarantine centres was to less sold at an open auction. spot. isolate all suspected Covid-19 Rules allow offi cials to retain “It is really dangerous, as the patients at diff erent places so Members of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Corona Relief Tiger Force speak with a shopkeeper (left) as part of a coronavirus awareness gifts with a market value of less government is totally ignoring that they couldn’t infect others. campaign at Raja Bazar in Rawalpindi. than Rs10,000. the consequences of the action it So we quarantined around 1,800 is taking to handle the Covid-19 people at various centres,” the pandemic,” an offi cial source de- Afzaal explained. plored, adding the government Under the fi rst policy, sus- must stop implementing the new pected patients were not allowed policy that, if enforced, could be to go home until they receive Shehbaz Sharif tests positive for coronavirus disastrous. negative lab results, while those Under the new policy, sus- returning from abroad were also pected and even confi rmed Cov- being quarantined for 48 hours. Internews ter travelling with hundreds of fi ce lasted for a little over an hour. id-19 patients are being allowed Those testing positive were re- Lahore PML-N workers and not paying A large number of PML-N to isolate themselves at home. quired to be hospitalised. heed to social distancing proto- supporters had gathered outside However, if the number of Afzaal said that later a new cols, he said that he had appealed the offi ce to chant slogans in sup- such patients increases, the gov- policy was introduced under akistan Muslim League – to the party’s supporters to re- port of the party leader. ernment may revive these quar- which the 48-hour stay was Nawaz (PML-N) president main indoors and not gather at A day earlier, PML-N secre- antine centres. squeezed to 24 hours, and those Pand Leader of the Opposi- public places. tary-general Ahsan Iqbal tested The quarantine centres that returning from abroad were al- tion in the National Assembly “It wasn’t an offi cial call from positive for coronavirus. have been closed in Lahore lowed to go homes once they Shehbaz Sharif has tested posi- the party [for them to come out],” “I request my friends and well- alone are the ones at Kala Shah tested negative. tive for the coronavirus, party he said. “We wanted to avoid this wishers to pray for my quick re- Kaku, Punjab University, Lahore Later, he said, the policy was spokesperson Marriyum Au- situation. I want to say on record covery,” he had written on Twit- University, Thokar Niaz Baig, further modifi ed. rangzeb confi rmed yesterday. that if God forbid, anything were ter. “May God keep everyone safe Raiwind Tableeghi Markaz, and “Under this [changed policy], Sharif, 69, a cancer survivor, to happen to him, the NAB and from this pandemic.” Qaddafi Stadium (Nishtar Park). the passengers after immediate is isolating at home, she said, (Prime Minister Imran Khan) will PML-N spokesperson Au- However, the Johar Town Expo testing were allowed to go homes adding that the PML-N leader is be held responsible.” rangzeb has also tested positive Centre, having status of fi eld with instructions to isolate following his doctors’ advice on Tarar said that the party had for the coronavirus, along with Shehbaz Sharif: a cancer survivor. hospital, will continue treat- themselves until the test result is how to fi ght the infection. submitted in writing that the her mother. ing the confi rmed Covid-19 pa- released. PML-N representative Ata PML-N president was a cancer She joined a long list of law- ment’s focal person for corona- Saeed Ghani, National Assembly tients. “If they tested positive, they Tarar revealed that Sharif had survivor, hence his life was at risk makers who have tested positive virus in Hyderabad and also at- Speaker Asad Qaiser, and Punjab “Yes, we have closed the quar- were told to continue with self- himself tested for the Covid-19 from the infection. for the virus, including former tended the provincial assembly Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost antine centres. And it has been isolation at home. respiratory disease caused by the Reiterating that there was no prime minister Shahid Khaqan session a few days ago. Mohamed Mazari had tested done after reviewing the quar- “In such cases, the govern- coronavirus after showing mild need for Shehbaz to appear in Abbasi and Pakistan Tekreek-e- Last week, PML-N Punjab As- positive for coronavirus, after antine policy,” Lahore Deputy ment would also intimate the re- symptoms of the infection. person for the investigations, he Insaf (PTI) member of the Sindh sembly lawmaker Mian Naveed which they went into self-isola- Commissioner Danish Afzaal spective district administration He said that the result of the said that the party had requested Assembly Khurrum Sher Zaman. Ali from Pakpattan had tested tion and recovered. said. about the data of these persons,” test came back positive at 4pm that the PML-N leader be al- On Monday, Railways Minister positive for coronavirus. PTI member of Punjab Assem- “At present, we didn’t have he said. on June 10. lowed to answer questions via Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and PTI Minister of State for Narcotics bly Shaheen Raza was the fi rst any suspected Covid-19 patients When asked about the justi- “He was summoned on June 9 video link to ensure he remained member of the National Assem- Shehryar Afridi has also tested lawmaker in the country to suc- in these [now closed] quarantine fi cation for the policy shift amid by the National Accountability safe from the virus. bly (MNA) Jai Prakash contracted positive for the virus. cumb to the virus, on May 20. centres,” he added, saying that exponential increase in virus Bureau (NAB). We kept saying Sharif had appeared on June 9 the infection. The PTI’s chief whip in the PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the centres were no more re- cases and related deaths, he said: he is a cancer survivor, and even at the NAB Lahore after he was On Sunday, Pakistan Peoples National Assembly, Aamir Dogar, (KP) Assembly member Mian quired since the home isolation “I think at this stage it doesn’t if you do want to conduct the in- summoned by the anti-graft Party (PPP) member of the Sindh has also been infected. Jamsheduddin Kakakhel from policy is now being followed. matter if someone returns home vestigation, then do so via video body to answer questions related Assembly Sharjeel Memon an- Previously, many politicians Nowshera and PML-N Pun- Afzaal, however, clarifi ed that from abroad without being test- link. However, this is blind po- to the assets beyond means and nounced that he had tested posi- including the Awami National jab Assembly member Shaukat the closed centres could be re- ed, as our local population is al- litical vendetta,” Tarar said. money laundering case. tive for coronavirus and had gone Party (ANP)’s Ghulam Ahmad Manzoor Cheema from Gujran- vived if needed. ready facing a fast spread of the In response to a question about The opposition leader’s ap- into self-isolation. Bilour, Sindh Governor Imran Is- wala also passed away earlier this He further clarifi ed that the virus.” the former Punjab chief minis- pearance at the NAB Lahore of- Memon is the Sindh govern- mail, Sindh Education Minister month. Gulf Times Friday, June 12, 2020 13 THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH Remember the destroyer of pleasures

Khutbah by Shaykh ibn Humayd for things that they will never achieve. that which is vanishing - this is indeed Allah says (which means): “Let them eat the wise and clever one. and enjoy themselves and be diverted by So fear Allah, may Allah have mercy on People! I advise myself and (false) hope, for they are going to know.” you, and be aware of Allah, and watchful you to fear Allah, for he who (Al-Hijr: 3) of that which He entrusted you with. does not fear Allah will go One who wishes to live long, builds Remember that you will be standing astray. Allah says (which and demolishes and estimates but with before your Lord, being judged according O to your deeds and you will regret your means): “O you who have believed, a wrong estimation. He says something if you fear Allah, He will grant you a but does not do it, plans but does not negligence. Allah says (which means): criterion,” (Al-Anfaal: 29), to judge implement them, and things happen “Every soul will taste death, and you will between right and wrong. which are the opposite to that which only be given your (full) compensation Servants of Allah! He who fears has been planned. He does wrong and on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is punishment, then the furthest thing to delays repentance, then death comes and drawn away from the Fire and admitted him becomes within his reach and he then he will not benefi t from his deeds; to Paradise has attained (his desire). And who harbours false hopes and wishes to his family and friends leave him and what is the life of this world except the live long, his performance and actions there are no longer any excuses. Allah enjoyment of delusion.” (Aal ‘Imraan: become weak. Indeed, the future is near. says (which means): “Then have you 185) Your Lord did not create you in vain and considered if We gave them enjoyment O Muslims, repent to Allah before will not leave you unavailing, so take for years. And then there came to them death. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi provision from this life by which you can that which they were promised? They wa sallam, said: “Hasten to do good protect yourself tomorrow. would not be availed by the enjoyment deeds before you become busy. Are you The time of death is concealed and which they were provided.” (Ash- waiting for such penury which will make wishes are deceiving. Funerals pass by Shu’araa’: 205 - 207) you unmindful of devotion? Or such people, and they prepare them, pray Oh people of heedlessness! O Muslim prosperity which will make you corrupt? over the deceased, accompany them brothers and sisters! The Prophet, Or such disease which will disable you? and carry them to their fi nal abode. You sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said in a Or such senility which will make you see people viewing them casually and Hadith: “Abundantly remember the mentally unstable? Or sudden death? perhaps they might get slightly saddened destroyer of pleasures (meaning death)” Or the Dajjaal (Anti-Christ), who is the or grieved, but very soon they become (An-Nasaa’i). This is the advice of your worst apprehended (sign of the hour)? overwhelmed again with the ravishment Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alaihi Or (are you waiting) for the Hour? - that of this life and the heedlessness of living. wa sallam, which consists of a few will be most grievous and bitter”. (At- Respected brothers! Life is evidence words but is concise; short but eff ective. Tirmidhi) against those who are heedless and Indeed, he who remembers death as it Now that you are aware of the their days lead them to wretchedness. should be remembered will hold himself suddenness of death, do not be like How can one hope for the reward in the accountable and question himself those who hoped for the reward of the Hereafter without righteous deeds? How about his deeds and aspirations. But Hereafter without performing righteous can someone wish to repent while being one who has a heedless heart, as Imaam deeds, and who delayed repentance, due heedless and hoping to live longer? al-Qurtubi, may Allah have mercy upon to the false hope of living longer. Woe to the people of heedlessness! him, said: “Needs long speeches and Visit the graveyards frequently for it When they are given something, they are embellished statements.” Abundantly reminds one of the Hereafter, and take not satisfi ed and when they are deprived remember the destroyer of pleasures, a lesson from those who are under the of anything, they become discontent. which will separate those who are united: earth and have lost connection with their They enjoin that which they do not do “None will remember it (meaning death) families and loved ones; death came to themselves and forbid what they do not while in hardship but will feel ease and them at a time which they did not expect refrain from. They continuously criticise while at ease but will feel disturbed”. him, said: “Death has exposed the reality footed, naked and alone. The grave is and makes one feel ease at the time of and horror came to them in a way which others and compromise with themselves. (Tabaraani) of life and left no reason for one with a their dwelling, dust is their shroud, and hardships. Remember death so that you they did not anticipate. Let he who O people of heedlessness! How many I swear by Allah! Each one of us will sound mind to be happy in it.” Yunus Ibn mortal remains are their neighbours, may be saved at the time of regret. Al visits the graves ponder and think of the people trusted life but it betrayed them come to an end, and each soul will die. ‘Ubayd said: “The remembrance of death who cannot hear a call nor respond to it. Hasan, may Allah have mercy on him, situation of those who have passed away and how many were assured by it, that The earth will eat our fl esh and drink our deprived us from enjoying our families They lived long and owned much, but it said: “O son of Aadam! Fear Allah, and from his friends. They gathered money were let down? How many swindlers blood - just as we walk over it, eat from and wealth.” Also, Mutarrif said: “Death did not benefi t them when the command let two things not happen to you at the and had a high hopes, but suddenly they got deceived in it? And, how many its fruits and drink from its water. Then it spoils for the people of pleasure, their of their Lord came. So their homes same time: the hardships and agony of lost all their wishes and their wealth did arrogant people became degraded and becomes like Allah says (which means): enjoyment. So look for pleasure in which became graves and what they collected death, plus sorrow and regret. Beware of not benefi t them. The soil of the earth honorable ones humiliated by it? Power “And the Horn will be blown, and there is no death. The people of Paradise was lost. Their money went to their agonies and regrets, for death will come changed the nice appearance of their in this life alternates, it is never stable. whoever is in the heavens and whoever do not die, so their lives will become inheritors, their wives re-married and to you suddenly and no one can describe faces and their bodies became scattered Its sweetness soon becomes bitter and is on the earth will fall dead except comfortable, and they do not become what they were promised came to them. to you what you will face and see. in their graves. Their wives became its bitterness sweet. People of might whom Allah wills. Then it will be blown sick, so they live a pleasant, eternal life.” Allah says (which means): “Then did you Beware, so as not to die while in a state of widows and their wealth and homes become overpowered. Life is short, again, and at once they will be standing, O Muslims! Remember death and think that We created you uselessly and disobedience, otherwise you will meet were all distributed. the great things in it are few in number looking on.” (Az- Zumar: 68). all its hardships, the rattling of one’s that to Us you would not be returned?” Allah with no excuse.” Allah says (which means): “(It will be and this life very soon turns out to be Your Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa soul in the throat and remember the (Al-Mu’minoon: 115) Respected brothers! Where are said to them), “And you have certainly as though it never even existed. Its sallam, stood at the edge of a grave and terrifying screams one will give; for he Have you ever thought, O servant those who are afraid of not having come to Us alone (i.e., individually) as happiness eventually turns into sorrow, cried as related in a Hadith; he then who remembers death often, Allah will of Allah, about the day that you will enough provision? Where is he who We created you the fi rst time, and you health into sickness, and wealth into said: “O my brothers! For this, prepare bless him with three things: immediate die? - The day that you cannot delay is terrifi ed of the lengthy distance have left whatever We bestowed upon poverty. Its days are deceiving and it yourselves”. (Ibn Maajah) A man asked repentance, contentment of the heart, and in which regret will not benefi t you? of the journey and hostility of the you behind you.”(Al-An’aam: 94) commands people with evil. It consists the Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa and vigour for worship. Moreover, Remove the cover of heedlessness from road? All he took from this life is an So, fear Allah, and work for the of vanishing pleasures, affl icting sallam: “Who is the most wise of people he who forgets death will be affl icted your heart for you will soon be standing old garment and a morsel of food. Hereafter, for it is a dwelling in which adversities or death. Its structure is O Messenger of Allah?” He replied: “The with three things: delay in repentance, before the One who knows the whims He was chaste through life, guided, there is no death for its inhabitants. Its soon destroyed, people unite but soon one who remembers death most often discontentment, and laziness in worship. and whispers of the hearts, Who asks and so little provision suffi ced him. structure does not wear out, youth does separate, and everything on earth turns and the one who is well-prepared to Death is enough of a reason to break about the actions of the eyes and holds He was ashamed of himself in front not age and its pleasure is never-ending. into dust. meet it; these are the wise; honourable hearts, shed tears, destroy pleasures, one accountable for what he hears. of his Lord, remembered death, and Its beauty, enjoyment, and women do People of heedlessness are never in this life and dignifi ed in the Hereafter.” divide people and ruin all hopes. The Allah says that which means: “That Day, therefore preserved his head (meaning not change and its people live under the satisfi ed, regardless of how much they (Ibn Maajah & Tabaraani). In another dead are made to be lonely after having you will be exhibited (for judgment); his senses: eyes, ears and tongue) and mercy of the Most Merciful. Allah says may accumulate. They do not achieve Hadith, he, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, lived with their families; they live in not hidden among you is anything stomach (meaning did not eat or drink (which means): “Their call therein will all they wish for and are not prepared said: “The wise one is he who reproaches darkness after having been in the light; concealed..” (Al-Haaqqah: 18) except that which is lawful). He sought be, “Exalted are You, O Allah,” and their for what they are approaching. They himself and acts in preparation for what in tightness after having lived in wide Contemplate death, for it prevents the reward of the Hereafter and gave up greeting therein will be, “Peace.” And the collect but do not benefi t from it, build is after death.” (Ahmad) space, and under the soil after having one from disobedience, softens a hard the adornments of this worldly life. He last of their call will be, “Praise to Allah, that which they will not live in and hope Al-Hasan, may Allah have mercy on walked the earth. They become bare- heart, stops one from trusting this life favoured that which is everlasting over Lord of the worlds!” (Yunus: 10) Keeping up the good work What causes behavioural problems in children here are several causes of they exchange abuse, insults and an incubator-like environment and behavioural problems and accusations. Moreover, the father never let them leave it. Rather, they n Ramadan, people pray, fast, He Says (which means): {Certainly of deeds – as if they have bestowed psychological disorders that might beat, drive away or divorce bring them everything they want or perform ‘Umrah (the minor will the believers have succeeded: They a favour on Allah The Almighty by Tbefall our children, some of the mother. All of this will lead ask for, and such children turn into pilgrimage), spend in charity, who are during their prayer humbly doing them? With this verse, Allah which affl ict them throughout their to psychological and behavioural distorted characters who are indecisive Isupplicate and recite the Qur’an, submissive. And they who turn away The Almighty addressed the Prophet, lives - such as introversion, aggres- distortion in the children’s character, and feel afraid of all that surrounds yet the question remains: have any of from ill speech. And they who are sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, warning sion and lying. Some of the following particularly if a child loses the sense them, besides being excessively timid, these good deeds been accepted? Allah observant of Zakaah. And they who him from being deceived with the causes are fundamental to most of of security that his peers, who have telling lies and harboring feelings of The Almighty Says (which means): {… guard their private parts.} [Qur’an 23: worship he was performing, so that the problems: happy parents and quiet homes, enjoy. inferiority. The spoiled child’s failure Indeed Allah only accepts from the 1-5] he would not become arrogant. If This loss makes it easy for the child to to bear any responsibility (since all his righteous [who fear Him].} [Qur’an 3: Muslims are commanded to be one should ever feel that they have zBad role models: steal, tell lies, and act aggressively. A demands are answered); subjugating 27] devout worshippers until death. Allah performed plentiful acts of worship, A child could fall into the habit of child who lives with feuding parents his parents (who, in turn, submit Fudhaalah Ibn ‘Ubayd, may Allah The Almighty Says (whic means): {And then they should compare their deeds telling lies if he fi nds one of the adults feels inferior, resents and hates others. to him); his feeling of haughtiness have mercy upon him, would say, “If I worship your Lord until there comes to with those of the Prophet, . In order to telling him a lie or telling a lie to anyone and arrogance, as evidenced by his knew that Allah had accepted from me you the certainty [i.e., death].} [Qur’an 15: clarify the matter in people’s minds, the else. A child could learn to cheat and zExcessive cruelty repeating the phrase ‘My parents (something) as minor as a seed’s weight 99] One must persevere in worshipping Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, steal when he gives his mother the sum Some fathers and teachers have never say no to me’; his rebellion of good deeds, then that would be more Allah The Almighty and being obedient to said: “If a man was to be dragged on of money that remains after buying the misconception that they will only against the authority of his parents, beloved to me than possessing this world Him. This may be the reason why it was his face from the day he was born until bread, for example, and when she fi nds be respected if they beat the child and disrespect for them or refusal to and all that it contains, because Allah legislated for us to fast six optional days in he died, for the sake of pleasing Allah, an extra pound or loaf, she neither severely, or if they appear stern, and comply with their commands: all turn Says: {…Indeed Allah only accepts from the month of Shawwaal (which directly he would belittle his deeds on the Day rejects the child’s behaviour nor orders gloomy, staring and frowning all the the spoiled child into a person who is the righteous [who fear Him].}.” Our follows the month of Ramadan) and this of Resurrection.” This means that one him to return it to the seller. time. A father may feel that he will incapable of social adjustment, since righteous Salaf (predecessors) would was made equivalent in reward to fasting would fi nd all he did insignifi cant and What does a smoking father not inspire awe and obedience in the he always expects his friends and exert extra eff orts in worship and then for the whole year, because the reward is worthless in comparison to a single favor expect from his child when he grows house unless he slaps his children fellows to comply with his arrogance rebuke themselves and doubt that their multiplied tenfold. Therefore, the 30 days bestowed upon him from his Lord, like, up? How could he order him not severely on their soft cheeks, even and demands. This is why he is always deeds were even accepted by Allah The in Ramadan are equal to three hundred for example, the favor of eyesight. to smoke if he has been smoking for the most trifl ing mistakes, and alone without friends. Almighty. They were described by Allah days, while the six that follow in Shawwaal Therefore, we should realise that in front of him for many years? do not contend themselves with The Almighty as (which means): {And are equal to 60 more days – which people are not granted Paradise due to Thus, a bad example is among the maintaining absolute abstention zDomination they who give what they give while their constitutes a full year, in terms of reward. their own good deeds, but because of the greatest causes of psychological and from kissing and embracing them. The direct exaggerated observation hearts are fearful} [Qur’an 23: 60] They Many people are deceived by the mercy of Allah The Almighty. People’s behavioral problems from which our He does this under the pretext that assumed by the parents and caregivers would be far more concerned about the acts of worship they perform during deeds are not the price for Paradise; they children suff er. this might reduce his awe in the to the child deprives him of a sense acceptance of the deeds than the amount Ramadan. They exert great eff orts in are a means to gain the mercy of Allah sight of his children. However, this of security and independence, gives of good deeds they performed. completing the whole Qur’an once in The Almighty, by which one is admitted zContempt and humiliation reminds us of the man who saw him a false feeling of inferiority, and What good is left for those who Ramadan – with some even completing into Paradise. To conclude this point, To beat a child with a shoe, to kick the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu may, sometimes, force him to tell miss out on the virtue of Ramadan? it several times – and praying the we remind the Muslims that despite the him, slap him on the face, abuse ‘alaihi wa sallam (may Allah exalt his lies. A child must be observed, but in What greater disaster is there for them, Taraweeh (voluntary night prayers). obligation of continuing upon obedience him with the foulest words, criticise mention), kissing Al-Hasan and Al- an indirect, moderate way without than being deprived of the mercy and However, although they perform all and the performance of good deeds after him, or humiliate him all lead to the Husayn, may Allah be pleased with interference in all that the child says forgiveness of Allah The Almighty in these deeds, they are not inwardly Ramadan, one should not overburden same result: i.e., behavioural and them, thereupon he said, “I have ten and does. Excessively domineering the blessed month? Moreover, the pious sincere and their intentions may become himself by attempting to do more good psychological troubles. It will become children and I have never kissed any parents and caregivers may ask the people from whom Allah The Almighty corrupted and impure. Shaytaan (Satan) deeds than he can bear. easy for the child to tell lies, steal, of them.” On that the Messenger of child, “Why are you looking out of accepts righteous deeds have one may whisper to them, making them There are great benefi ts for those transgress against others, abuse, curse Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, the window? What are you doing in distinctive trait, which is refraining from feel that, having performed all these constantly striving in obedience and and take what he is suff ering from replied decisively to this cruelty: the kitchen? Why are you wearing sinning after the end of Ramadan. good deeds, they have accumulated worship. One cannot necessarily be his parents out on other children. “Whoever does not show mercy will that shirt?” And other similar Many people think that since they mountains of rewards, and that their as keen in doing acts of worship after Humiliation also includes exaggerated not be shown mercy.” Such excessive questions which only indicate the have performed scores of good deeds balance is therefore very high. This Ramadan as they were during it, blaming and reproaching, and cruelty with children develops clear domination of such parents and they can rely on these deeds, believing makes them become arrogant and they because, Ramadan is a magnifi cent misusing the reward-and-punishment within them a lot of behavioural caregivers, since their children are not that they have enough good deeds in may start slackening in their worship. and unique period, and there is none approach: all of these lead to most disorders and psychological troubles in need of that, and its contribution to their record. However, the genuine However, if one recalls a single verse other like it. However, one should have behavioural troubles. in the future. Enuresis (involuntary the upbringing process is negative. pious people are those who continue to from the Qur’an, such thoughts and acquired suffi cient training during urination), fear, introversion, telling Dear parents and caregivers: let us be devout worshippers even after the feelings would immediately cease. It is Ramadan to carry on the good work. zFamily problems lies, and other problems are mainly contemplate the real causes of these conclusion of the month. When Allah the Saying of Allah The Almighty (which Article source: http://www.islamweb. What should we expect from caused by cruelty. problems, given that almost no house The Almighty describes the devout means): {And do not confer favor to net/emainpage/ children whose fathers and mothers is free of them and that they have a believers and worshippers, He does not acquire more.} [Qur’an 74: 6] quarrel day and night and probably zSpoiling children negative impact on the upbringing restrict their devotion and obedience to a How can anyone possibly confer for the most trivial reasons? Instead Spoiled children are the ones process. limited period; rather, He describes them favours upon Allah The Almighty? of mutual understanding and making whose parents are over-protective, Article source: http://www. to be this way always, not only during How can one dare feel this way, simply arrangements to rear their children, closely guard them, place them in islamweb.net/emainpage/ Ramadan. because they performed a good number Gulf Times 14 Friday, June 12, 2020 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES View social media sceptically during national crises The crises confronting America have spawned their own information ecosystems as a nation scrambles online to learn the latest on street protests and coronavirus. But the defect of these light-speed communications poses its own peril. Now more than any time in history, bad information – some intentionally planted – can reach millions of minds instantly. Some information is truly invaluable. But anyone logging in to get a sense of real-world events must verify what they see. US companies vow to fi ght racism Appearances deceive, and image manipulation is a constant threat. A consumer must put in work to stay informed with accurate facts. This means looking for trustworthy reporting to verify social media claims. Valuable guidance on how to vet information is available via the Center for an Informed Public, but face critics on diversity which is a joint project by the University of Washington and Washington State University, and a website run by two UW professors. By Ross Kerber, Helen Coster and Arriana McLymore People aggrieved Reuters enough to exercise their “What you need constitutional freedom of assembly have n the past, US corporations have for these kinds of largely remained silent as protests benefi ted greatly from erupted over killings of African- messages is for the ability to publicly IAmericans by police offi cers. organise, encourage That changed with the May 25 someone to go in safe behaviour and death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, co-ordinate resources which has set off a fl urry of corporate and debunk it” statements of solidarity with the black via Facebook in Seattle community — along with pledges of and across the nation. more than $1.7bn to advance racial Videos streamed there and on Twitter and Instagram, like the justice and equity. live-activity map on Snapchat, have conveyed information The unprecedented outpouring from the front lines in real time. of support, however, has stirred up criticism along with praise. Participants have learned which areas are crowded or where Many social justice advocates, conditions have grown unsafe, as have authorities. corporate diversity experts and Even more crucially, the nation has been able to watch investors say companies also need to events unfold from an unmoderated perspective, and people focus on equity in their own ranks, have demanded accountability in real time. especially by hiring and promoting minority workers. However, the real-time spread of information has also The tensions show the diffi culty infl amed people under false pretense. In Snohomish, executives face in aligning their fi rms Wash.; Klamath Falls, Ore.; and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, with popular social causes at a time of people carrying guns turned out on streets ostensibly to soaring wealth and inequality – and guard against supposedly inbound “antifa” mobs that never growing pressure from some investors to show leadership on societal problems. FILE PHOTO: Demonstrators march across Brooklyn Bridge in protest against the death in Minneapolis police custody of George materialised. Activists, along with some business Floyd in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, New York, US, on June 4. (Antifa stands for anti-fascism, and the name comes leaders, also see an opportunity amid from early 1930s Germany, where socialist “anti-fa” groups global protests to push reform on O Diff erent this time median pay gaps by gender and race. extend to the senior management ranks attempted to stand up to the rise of Adolf Hitler’s Nazis. Over social justice issues well beyond police Companies were mostly silent during Facebook opposed the measure, of either retailer and remain well below the past two decades anti-fascist groups in the United States brutality. protests in 2014 following the death saying it already discloses data showing the level of the US population, the The rush of corporate concern belies of Michael Brown, who was shot by a that women and men are equally paid disclosures show. have campaigned on a range of social justice issues). the reality of workforce inequity, said Ferguson, Missouri policeman, and Eric for similar work. A Walmart spokeswoman cited recent This is dangerous territory, as the recent past shows. An Natasha Lamb, managing partner of Garner, who died after being put in a A spokesman did not comment comments from its CEO Doug McMillon onslaught of Russian-generated social media falsehoods Arjuna Capital. chokehold by a New York City offi cer. on whether it might add more pay that its recruiting and development of infl amed the country leading up to the 2016 election. The Arjuna is a Boston-based investment Today the demonstrations are bigger disclosures but said the company is African-American employees and other Internet’s power to disrupt the American psyche has only adviser and frequent fi ler of shareholder and more racially diverse. committed to workplace equity. people of colour will be “even more of a resolutions pressing companies – with Companies also face increasing African-Americans make up less than priority” going forward. grown as more Americans log on and stay there. The vast mixed success – to disclose more data pressure from investors, consumers and 4% of Facebook’s workforce and about Amazon says in a workforce report reach of social media gives hoaxes a perfect – and barely on pay equity. workers to lead on issues from climate 3% of its senior leadership, compared that it strives “for better representation regulated – vector. “If you take an honest look at change to gun control to immigration to 13% of the US populace, according to across our various businesses.” “What you need for these kinds of messages is for someone corporate America, outside their glossy policy and racial inequity. company disclosures. When Amazon expressed its to go in and debunk it,” said Jevin West, a UW Information diversity reports, structural bias for “It’s good for their own employees to Other major technology fi rms, concern in a May 31 tweet over what it women and people of color remains as hear this, because especially their younger including Google, Twitter Inc, described as the “brutal” treatment of School professor and director of the Center for an Informed entrenched as ever,” she said. employees are part of a generational Intel Corporation and Microsoft black Americans, it faced immediate Public, “But you can’t do it at the scale at which they’re Floyd’s death has sparked a group that cares more about these issues,” Corporation, have disclosed similarly blowback over facial-recognition posted.” movement with wide-ranging goals, said Francis Byrd, a corporate governance low proportions of African-American technologies it sells to police agencies. West and his colleagues are conducting urgently needed said Fiona Ma, California state treasurer consultant in New York. workers and senior managers, relative to Amazon has defended Rekognition research to help regulators and social media platforms come and a director for systems managing The growing corporate involvement the population. and said all users must follow laws about $650bn in state retirement assets. may also refl ect a shift in public Twitter, Intel and Microsoft limiting its use. together to tame this Wild West of information without “It’s not just law enforcement” at issue, attitudes on race, said R Paul Herman, representatives said the fi rms have An Amazon spokeswoman did not impinging on free speech. That long-term goal can’t happen she said, calling the protests “a greater chief executive of sustainable ratings set ambitious goals to increase the directly address the criticism and soon enough to create trustable communication about statement of today’s values and holding agency HIP Investor. proportion of underrepresented pointed to Amazon’s pledge of $10mn to Covid-19 treatments or antifa. Falsehoods about each people and companies accountable.” In the past, he said, companies minorities in their ranks. social justice causes. emanate from the White House and malefactors worldwide. Leaders of major companies including avoided weighing in on racial Google spokeswoman Jennifer Some of that money will go to the Comcast Corporation, Nike Inc and controversies for fear of alienating Rodstrom said the company would ACLU Foundation. In this era of national tumult, every social media consumer Warner Music Group Corporation have customers. need to “work to expand the talent O Few African-Americans in should seek confi rmation from well-vetted information announced major gifts to advance racial A Monmouth University poll released pool externally, and improve our management sources before acting on – or amplifying – the images or justice amid the protests over Floyd’s on June 2 showed the proportion culture internally, if we want to create Reuters reviewed available data bulletins drifting across their screens. Verify, then trust. death. of Americans who consider racial equitable outcomes and inclusion for on workplace diversity from 27 large – Tribune News Service Bank of America pledged $1bn over discrimination to be a big problem has everyone.” corporations that made statements four years to address economic and increased from about half in 2015 to Monica Hawkins, a Washington, about race in the wake of Floyd’s death. racial inequality. about 3 in 4 now. DC-based management consultant, The data is spotty, however, because At least a dozen other big companies On June 1, Facebook Inc Chief said many executives struggle to raise companies are not legally required to To Advertise announced gifts between $1mn and Executive Offi cer Mark Zuckerberg diversity in senior management because release it and their disclosures can be $100mn for similar eff orts. wrote on his personal Facebook page: they know too few minorities. selective. [email protected] “Our Black community is hurting, “To help in this fi ght, I know Facebook Leaders need to expand their social The percentage of black board Display and many of us are searching for ways needs to do more to support equality and business circles, she said, because members often mirrors or surpasses to stand up for what we believe,” said and safety.” referrals are a key source of important that of the broader US population, the 44466621 44418811 Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google parent Facebook committed $10mn to hires. company disclosures showed. Alphabet Inc. groups working on racial justice, and “They need to open their network,” But the percentage of black Classified Companies’ willingness to take strong Zuckerberg’s private philanthropy has she said. “That’s the work. You can’t cut employees in senior management is 44466609 44418811 stands could signal a substantive shift in donated far more to the cause. a check for that.” typically much lower. the attitudes of corporate leaders, said But the fi rm still faces pressure on Proportions of African-American More than half of the 27 companies Subscription Jim Paulsen, chief investment strategist workplace diversity. workers are much higher at fi rms with disclosed percentages of African- for Leuthold Group, a research and asset At its May 27 annual meeting, large numbers of relatively low-paid Americans in their top ranks that [email protected] management fi rm. “Some is probably lip investors cast about 28% of votes, workers, such as retailers Walmart Inc were less than half the percentage service, but I think it goes beyond that, excluding shares held by insiders, in and Amazon.com Inc, according to in the broader population, and and there’s a realisation that something favour of a resolution sponsored by company disclosures. many companies disclosed no racial © 2020 Gulf Times. All rights reserved needs to change,” Paulsen said. Arjuna that called for a breakdown of its But the higher percentages don’t breakdown for managers at all. Gulf Times Friday, June 12, 2020 15 COMMENT For virus-tamer Merkel, global alliances trumped nationalism

By Andreas Rinke Merkel, who said in October 2018 of discussion shifted back from Berlin she would not seek re-election inward-looking debates. as chairwoman of her Christian Several German regions opened their Democrats party, saw her approval intensive care beds to Italian and French ravelling in convoy through ratings shoot above 80%. Mass- patients. the Chinese city of Wuhan selling daily Bild asked on April 3 With the export ban, Merkel later told last September, Angela Mer- whether she could run for a fifth parliament, “We shot ourselves in the Tkel called a halt. term — speculation she has since foot” by erecting barriers to supplies As her party crossed a bridge repeatedly dismissed. between EU partners. over the Yangtze river, the German “In the past three months I have Since then, her focus has been fi rmly Chancellor wanted to hear about a learned a lot from Merkel about how on beefi ng up alliances — up to a point. grand gesture by revolutionary leader to act in crises,” said one state premier In April, her government told a Mao Zedong. who is not generally a fan of the German member of parliament it had She posed for a picture on the bridge chancellor. not complied with requests by Chinese over the river where, in 1966, Mao Nevertheless, as countries worldwide diplomats for Germany to make joined an annual swim down the river realised the risks of infection, many — “positive public statements” on China’s in a symbolic demonstration of his including Germany — joined a self- coronavirus management. vigour and leadership. interested scramble for protective gear. In May, in a departure from decades It was only a quick photo On March 4, Germany’s economic of frugality, Merkel agreed with Macron opportunity, but Merkel and her and health ministries were among on a plan to create an additional 500bn delegation were visiting what was to those banning the export of protective euros of spending power, via EU-level become ground zero of a pandemic equipment such as masks, gloves, and borrowing, as economic relief for that has killed more than 400,000 suits, to try to stem panic and take countries most hit by the crisis. worldwide. control of supplies. She also set out Germany’s support That Wuhan visit helped shape When Italy fi rst asked for urgent for global cooperation through the Merkel’s response to Covid-19, three medical supplies, no EU country would WHO, the international health body people close to the chancellor told help. that Trump dumped. Reuters. This ran counter to the On May 4, she co-hosted with the To many in the West, Wuhan is a internationalist principles Merkel had WHO and the EU a conference pledging remote place, renowned for an open- stressed. funds to develop a vaccine to be air market where the new coronavirus Politicians across Europe started available to the world. may have crossed into humans. calling on each other to be less selfi sh — Germany said it would contribute Merkel saw at fi rst hand a major German Chancellor Angela Merkel poses for pictures on a bridge crossing the Yangtze River in Wuhan, China, in this France’s President Emmanuel Macron 525mn euros to a global fund to search thoroughfare and busy hub of China’s September 7, 2019, file photo. said the European Union risked collapse for vaccines and a treatment. industrial power. as a political project. “The WHO is the legitimate If the disease was serious enough supplies, but then reversed that. two dozen CEOs of small and large statement to Reuters. As these protests mounted, the international organisation (to combine to force a metropolis of 11mn people Merkel, while agreeing the WHO companies — understand the potential In early March, an explosion in European Commission, the EU’s all these eff orts),” she told a May 18 to quarantine itself and come to a needs to be reformed, spoke out to consequences of the disease, said Joe Covid-19 cases strained Italy’s health governing body, stepped in, pressing teleconference of its governing body, complete stop, people close to her defend international alliances which Kaeser, CEO of manufacturing group service and prompted a nationwide countries to lift bans and trying to the World Health Assembly, in a direct said, she saw it must be serious. are working to develop a vaccine. Siemens AG, who was among them. lockdown. organise supplies for smaller member contradiction of the US position. Merkel — unlike leaders including “The diff erence between these He said that as early as Jan 12, on the German infections were growing states. “This crisis can’t be solved by one British Prime Minister Boris Johnson approaches is stark,” said Thomas top fl oor of the Axel Springer high-rise more slowly and there was no Germany and France dropped country alone,” she said. “We have to and US President Donald Trump Kleine-Brockhoff , Vice-President in Berlin, the subject came up in talks consensus for dramatic action. their export bans, and the direction act together.” – Reuters — supported a quick lockdown and at the German Marshall Fund of the on the sidelines of a meeting among The German media criticised Merkel widespread testing. United States, which promotes US- business leaders and politicians. “We as slow to speak out about the virus These are two elements that European ties. were mentally prepared because we while her health minister and chief- have been widely credited by “It represents the diff erence deal with China more intensively than, of-staff took the lead. epidemiologists for keeping between nationalism and say, the US or many of our European Regional leaders were at odds Germany’s reported fatalities lower internationalism.” partners,” he told Reuters. over how seriously to respond, those than many countries, especially Asked for comment, a senior US On Jan 22, a day before Wuhan involved told Reuters. Three-day forecast outside Asia. administration offi cial said the WHO shut down completely, Merkel had a Eastern states wanted stricter Germany has reported almost cannot credibly carry out its mission phone call with China’s President Xi measures than the others. TODAY 9,000 Covid-19 deaths, versus more until it reforms. “The United States Jinping to discuss Germany’s coming Then on March 11, the WHO Maximum Temperature : 460c Minimum Temperature : 320c than 110,000 in the United States and remains committed to working with presidency of the European Union and declared the disease a pandemic. over 40,000 in the United Kingdom, our strong ally Germany across the trade issues. The next day, Merkel called SATURDAY according to a Reuters tally. range (of) important global and Days later, its fi rst known cases of the heads of Germany’s regions Maximum Temperature : 420c On a per capita basis, the German bilateral issues of mutual concern, Covid-19 arose in a Bavaria-based to a meeting in the international Minimum Temperature : 330c toll is one-third that of America and including coordination on anti- company that Merkel had visited in conference room on the fi rst fl oor of SUNDAY one-sixth that of the UK. pandemic eff orts,” the offi cial said. Wuhan. the chancellery. Maximum Temperature : 420c Her response boosted her image: As a scientist with a doctorate On Jan 27, German car parts maker She also invited Germany’s top virus Minimum Temperature : 320c Webasto Group, whose Wuhan offi ce Around 66% of Americans think in quantum chemistry, Merkel was experts, asking them to present their Fisherman's forecast Germany has done a good job of already concerned about pandemic Merkel had opened, went into full views fi rst, people who were at the tackling the virus, according to a risk: In 2014, she and her chief- containment mode after a visiting meeting said. WARNING survey from late April and early May of-staff , Helge Braun, were closely Chinese colleague tested positive. Three scientists warned that even Inshore : Nil by the Pew Research Center. involved in trying to help West Africa She inquired about how many Germany’s well-supplied hospitals Offshore : Expected strong wind At home, support for her contain an outbreak of Ebola, those people in Webasto were infected and could be overburdened as early as with high sea from conservative bloc has risen from 26% close to her said. how, the people close to her said. June if the pace of new infections noon time WEATHER in early March to 40% now, surveys by They worked then with the In February, Merkel met privately continued. Inshore : Very hot daytime with pollster Forsa show. United States, Norway and others to with China’s foreign minister in Berlin. “When the three gave their lectures, slight dust at some The ecologist Greens have been the strengthen the WHO to handle such He informed her of the measures the others in the room were quiet as places and realtively hot by night main casualty. a crisis. China had taken, sources close to her mice,” recalled one participant. WIND The nationalist Alternative for When the virus hit Europe, its early said. After the presentation, all 16 state Inshore : Northwesterly-Norther- Germany (AfD) has also slipped back, outbreaks were in Italy and France. Germany sent protective gear and leaders agreed that only restrictions to ly 08-18/22 KT Offshore : Northwesterly 08-18/25 to 8%. “The virus did not come unnoticed clothing and disinfectant to China. public life could contain the virus. KT Merkel declined to comment for this to Germany,” said Braun. “We could Berlin kept up this dialogue. Merkel and the leaders announced story. prepare ourselves.” Meanwhile, as America’s outbreak steps including bans on travelling in Visibility : 4-8 KM But accounts from business leaders, To fi ght the virus at home, though, intensifi ed and the White House came coaches, religious meetings, visiting Offshore : 3-5/8 FT regional heads and those close to the Merkel had to calibrate her actions under fi re over its response, Trump playgrounds and tourism. chancellor give a rare inside view of with the interests and views of the ramped up criticism of Beijing, calling Those close to Merkel said she how she handled the pandemic. leaders of 16 regions. the disease “the China virus” and had waited to step in publicly until It’s a story that shows how, in This is because under Germany’s threatening new tariff s. the problem justifi ed a nationwide Around the region Germany as in the United States and federal system, almost all responsibility Asked to comment, China’s response. Weather Weather elsewhere, Covid-19 is exposing deep — and power — in a health crisis is held foreign ministry said it and Germany On March 18, she hit hard. today Max/min tomorrow Max/min tensions between states’ nationalist at state or municipal level. had worked together and helped For the fi rst time in 15 years in offi ce, Baghdad Sunny 39/22 Sunny 38/22 and collaborative styles of leadership. Everyone was concerned about the each other in the fight against the she made a TV address other than her Kuwait City Sunny 44/30 Sunny 43/29 Trump, after initially praising economy. coronavirus, adding that the WHO as traditional New Year’s Eve speech. Manama Sunny 40/32 Cloudy 38/32 China’s reactions, changed tack as China is Germany’s biggest trading an international institution cannot Some 25mn viewers tuned in to hear Muscat Sunny 40/33 Sunny 39/33 the pandemic progressed and said he partner, and goods worth 206bn euros serve only one country.”At present, her defend the measures. Tehran M Sunny 36/23 Sunny 35/22 would cut ties with the World Health ($230bn) were traded between the two the suppression or even blackmail “Since German reunifi cation, Organisation (WHO), which he said countries in 2019, German Statistics of the WHO by some countries lacks actually, since World War Two, there was unduly pressured by Beijing. Offi ce fi gures show. the minimum humanitarian spirit has never been a challenge for our Germany also briefl y turned Merkel’s recent state visit to Wuhan and will not be accepted by the country in which acting in solidarity inwards, banning exports of medical helped those who were with her — international community,” it said in a was so very crucial,” she told them.

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Widespread mask-wearing could prevent Around the world Weather Weather Today Max/min Tomorrow Max/min Covid-19 second waves: study Athens M Sunny 29/18 M Sunny 30/18 Beirut Sunny 26/21 Sunny 26/22 Bangkok P Cloudy 34/26 P Cloudy 34/27 By Kate Kelland immediate and universal adoption since it was a previously unknown is twice as eff ective at reducing the R Berlin Showers 23/15 P Cloudy 27/18 London of face masks by the public,” said disease. value than if masks are only worn after Cairo Sunny 37/22 Sunny 37/24 Richard Stutt, who co-led the study at But, prompted by some new symptoms appear. Cape Town T Storm 13/09 P Cloudy 15/09 Cambridge. research in recent weeks, the World In all scenarios the study looked at, Colombo T Storm 29/26 T Storm 29/26 opulation-wide face mask use He said combining widespread Health Organisation said on Friday it routine face mask use by 50% or more Dhaka T Storm 31/27 T Storm 30/26 could push Covid-19 trans- mask use with social distancing and now recommends that everyone wear of the population reduced Covid-19 Hong Kong P Cloudy 29/26 M Sunny 29/26 mission down to controllable some lockdown measures, could be fabric face masks in public to try to spread to an R of less than 1.0, Istanbul M Sunny 28/19 P Cloudy 26/18 Plevels for national epidemics, “an acceptable way of managing the reduce disease spread. fl attening future disease waves and Jakarta S T Storms 33/25 P Cloudy 33/24 and could prevent further waves of pandemic and re-opening economic In this study, researchers linked allowing for less stringent lockdowns. Karachi P Cloudy 34/29 P Cloudy 34/28 the pandemic disease when combined activity” before the development of the dynamics of spread between Experts not directly involved in the London Rain 19/13 Rain 20/14 with lockdowns, according to a British an eff ective vaccine against Covid-19, people with population-level models latest British study were divided over Manila T Storm 31/26 T Storm 28/27 study on Wednesday. the respiratory illness caused by the to assess the eff ect on the disease’s its conclusions. Moscow P Cloudy 29/19 T Storm 24/13 The research, led by scientists at the coronavirus. reproduction rate, or R value, of Brooks Pollock, a Bristol University New Delhi M Sunny 41/30 M Sunny 41/30 Britain’s Cambridge and Greenwich The study’s fi ndings were published diff erent scenarios of mask adoption infectious disease modelling expert, New York T Storm 26/19 M Sunny 28/19 Universities, suggests lockdowns in the Proceedings of the Royal Society combined with periods of lockdown. said the likely impact of masks could Paris S Showers 22/16 Rain 19/14 alone will not stop the resurgence of A scientifi c journal. The R value measures the average be much smaller than predicted. Trish Sao Paulo M Sunny 28/16 M Sunny 29/16 the new Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus, At the onset of the pandemic, number of people that one infected person Greenhalgh, an Oxford University Seoul P Cloudy 32/19 Cloudy 30/21 but that even homemade masks can scientifi c evidence on the eff ectiveness will pass the disease on to. An R value professor, said the fi ndings were Singapore S T Storms 31/27 S T Storms 31/28 dramatically reduce transmission rates of face masks in slowing transmission above 1 can lead to exponential growth. encouraging and suggested masks “are Sydney Showers 17/10 M Cloudy 18/13 if enough people wear them in public. of respiratory diseases was limited, The study found that if people wear likely to be an eff ective population Tokyo Cloudy 31/24 Cloudy 26/22 “Our analyses support the and there was no data on Covid-19 masks whenever they are in public it measure”. – Reuters Gulf Times 16 Friday, June 12, 2020 QATAR QLA hosts virtual graduation ceremony

atar Leadership Acad- emy (QLA) has held a vir- Qtual ceremony to honour the accomplishments of its 20 graduates, bringing together stu- dents, parents, and teachers, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Defence and Qatar Foundation. Mohamed Abdulla Mahmoud, this year’s Academic Excellence Award recipient and Valedicto- rian, said: “Many thanks to my teachers, who were excellent role models for values, ethics, and morals, they continuously helped and supported me. I want to thank the school administration for creating this supportive and inspiring environment, which makes me proud on the day of my graduation.” For the fi rst time, QLA also an- nounced three Leadership Excel- lence Awards, instead of one earlier. They were presented to Falah Ali al- Badi, Nasser Saheem al-Sheraim, and Saoud Abdulaziz Alzeyara. Al-Badi, who won fi rst place, Graduates from QLA’s Class of 2020 said: “I want to express my sin- cere gratitude to all the staff at for teaching and learning. Thank succeed. You are ambassadors of and your sons. You are worthy of they’d participated in, their stud- Qatar Leadership Academy for you to all the staff , including ad- your country. And now it is time this honour. You protected them, ies, and boarding school life. the eff orts in educating and pre- ministrators, teachers, and su- for you to harvest the fruits of and strengthened their resolve. QLA is part of Qatar Founda- paring us for our future. pervisors.” your success, and for us to com- Blessed be their successes to your tion’s Pre-University Education. “We benefi tted immensely Speaking to the students, QLA memorate your incredible ac- families, and congratulations to It’s Class of 2020 includes 15 Qa- from the academy’s programmes director Jameel al-Shammari, complishments.” your nation.” taris, two Kuwaitis, one Omani, one and activities. Qatar Leadership said: “Over the years, we have Al-Shammari spoke to the The virtual ceremony also fea- Yemeni, and one American, with Academy has always been and worked to equip you with the parents of the graduates, say- tured a video with highlights of the three graduates gaining acceptance QLA director Jameel al-Shammari will remain an outstanding place tools, skills, and knowledge to ing: “Congratulations to you students, including programmes to international universities.

India’s Vande Bharat Mission takes more QU Foundation Programme holds than 4,000 people back home till date 3,537 workers also return to India on company-chartered fl ights virtual Academic Excellence Week

QNA Doha

atar University’s Qatar University (QU) Foun- Qdation Programme (FP), Deanship of General Studies or- ganised its periodic event, ‘Aca- demic Excellence Week’, through Zoom platform. Dr Hezam al-Awah – Director The four-day long event was of Qatar University Foundation held from May 11 to May 14, un- Programme der the supervision of the FP Academic Excellence and Profes- are in line with the Qatar Univer- sional Development (PD) Com- sity strategy, where excellence in Unpacking a Text by Scott Thornbury — Qarar University Foundation mittee. education is an important pillar Program Academic Excellence Week — Zoom The event aimed to highlight designed to achieve the desired the most important techno- transformative education model logical educational tools and the at Qatar University, he added. skills teachers need during the The event addressed topics on Covid-19 pandemic. Unpacking a Text, Best-Practice The event brought together Approaches for Teaching On- over 4,000 participants, 85% of line While Preserving Mental Kozhikode- and Trichy-bound passengers at Hamad International Airport yesterday (Image them from Qatar and 15% from Health, Staying Grounded in courtesy: Indian embassy’s Twitter page). Two more flights were operated yesterday from Qatar 30 countries around the world. Diffi cult Times: a psychologi- as part of the Indian repatriation mission. Flight IX 1374 took off from Doha for Kozhikode with 177 FP Director Dr Hezam al- cally intelligent guide to keeping passengers and seven infants, the Indian embassy tweeted. Then, flight IX 1676 took off for Trichy Awah said that ‘The Academic calm, Making the Most of Online with 176 passengers and three infants. These marked the 23rd and 24th flights, respectively, from Excellence Week’ event is one Teaching, Perceived Levels of Doha under the Vande Bharat Mission, “bringing the total number of repatriated passengers to of the most important activities Critical Thinking Competence 4,036 plus 120 infants”, the embassy said. In addition to the 24 Vande Bharat Mission flights, the that the programme is keen to and Preference of Learning Plat- Qatar University Foundation Program building Indian embassy also tweeted yesterday that it has been able to facilitate 20 company-chartered hold continuously for its faculty forms, Where Arabic and English flights from Doha till date, for workers to return to India. A total of 3,537 workers were able to members. Intersect, Five Digital Classroom modeling analysis” presented by been organised, semiannually and return to India on such company-chartered flights, the tweet explained. The ‘Academic Excellence Tools for Innovative Teachers, Dr Hussein Ayoub from Qatar periodically, for many years, aim- Week’ as it includes topics and Intercultural communication: University. ing to provide specialised training training workshops for innova- Teaching and Learning Prag- The talk discussed the chang- for the FP faculty members to en- tive methods of excellence that matics Using Movies, Principles ing epidemiological pathways sure keeping pace with develop- enhance the education, with the for Designing Blended Language of Covid-19 around the world ments in the fi eld of language and participation of researchers and Courses, Cognitive Disabilities through mathematical modeling mathematics education. experts from a number of universi- in Education: How the brain analysis. It is also open for other QU ties inside and outside the country. works, Creating a 21st Century Participation exceeded expec- members. Dr al-Awah added: “The pro- Skills Learning Experience, Math tations as there were very posi- Moreover, conducting the fessional and academic develop- Games: Fun Fridays, and Teach- tive feedback from both speakers ‘Academic Excellence Week’ vir- ment of faculty members, aims to ing Math Beyond the Facts. and attendees on the quality of tually, this year, allowed interna- ensure that faculty are up to date One of the highlights of the the eff ectiveness in terms of the tional participation for the fi rst with the latest methods of dis- math talks was the presentation topics presented and the profes- time. tance education”. titled “Age could be driving vari- sionalism of the organisation. This results in eff ective aca- The eff orts of the FP to ad- able Covid-19 epidemic trajec- It is worth noting that the FP demic interaction among the vance the educational process tories worldwide: Mathematical ‘Academic Excellence Week’ has participants during the sessions.

Temporary R/A on B-Ring Road Inspections continue The Public Works Authority, Ashghal, expansion and upgrading works on The Umm Slal announced the conversion of Al Al Doha Al Jadeeda Intersection and Municipality’s Health Doha Al Jadeeda Intersection on B- installation of new traff ic lights, as Control Department, Ring Road into a temporary rounda- part of the B Ring Road Development carried out 866 inspection bout while keeping two lanes open Project. Ashghal will install road tours at various food in all directions. In co-ordination with signs advising motorists of the clo- establishments within its the General Directorate of Traff ic, sure and requested all road users to jurisdiction during May. this change will be implemented abide by the speed limit, and follow The drive, according tomorrow for six months to enable the signs to ensure safety. to a statement by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME), Umm Slal municipality clears abandoned vehicles in area resulted in closing two shops for seven days and The General Supervision correcting 20 violations. Department of the The department received Municipal Control 14 complaints which were Department at Umm dealt immediately. Slal Municipality, in The drives also co-operation with included checking the Department of slaughterhouses. Mechanical Equipment, As many as 7,721 animal carried out a campaign carcasses were checked during May to remove and 21 were found abandoned vehicles. unsuitable for human The drive resulted in the consumption and removal of 23 vehicles subsequently destroyed. from various places within the municipal limits.