INDEX BUSINESS | Page 1 2-5, 20 COMMENT 18, 19 QATAR | Page 3 ARAB WORLD 6 BUSINESS 1-8 Qatar highest INTERNATIONAL 7-17 SPORTS 1-5 QSC makes ranking 100 face GCC country in DOW JONES QE NYMEX shields to help 2020 FM Global 25,742.65 9,067.28 36.81 reduce spread +267..63 +47.60 +1.37 Resilience Index +1.05% +0.53% +3.87% of virus Latest Figures

published in QATAR since 1978

WEDNESDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11568 June 3, 2020 Shawwal 11, 1441 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Crowds throng Paris eateries as curbs eased Qatar Airways becomes ‘largest’ global carrier

atar Airways has become the km to repatriate over 1.8mn passengers ly, been available non-stop for strand- largest global carrier fl ying more on over 15,000 fl ights. This has enabled ed passengers during the pandemic. Qthan 50mn kilometres to repat- us to accumulate unrivalled experience We have been here 24x7 during the riate in excess of 1.8mn passengers on of how to safely and reliably carry pas- darkest days and will continue to be a over 15,000 fl ights following the out- sengers during these uncertain times. friend in need as confi dence returns break of the Covid-19 pandemic. “Our wide network of fl ights during and people restart their travel plans.” The Covid-19 pandemic has created this period has ensured we have kept up Passenger and cargo operations: unprecedented challenges for the glo- to date with the latest in international While many airlines have been forced bal aviation industry, the national air- airport procedures and implemented or chosen to suspend operations, Qa- line said yesterday. the most advanced safety and hygiene tar Airways has maintained a robust Qatar Airways led the industry dur- measures on board our aircraft and in our and agile network helping to take more ing these challenging times taking award winning home and hub, Hamad than 1.8mn passengers home. The air- people home safely and reliably on International Airport, recently voted the line has also worked closely with gov- more fl ights to more destinations than Best Airport in the Middle East for the ernments, and companies around the any other airline, becoming the largest sixth consecutive year. This is why more world to operate over 220 charters and airline in the world over the past three people rely on us for international travel extra sector fl ights helping reunite over months. These eff orts have established than any other airline during this crisis 62,000 people with their loved ones. the carrier as the airline passengers, and why we will continue to ensure the As the global recovery from Cov- governments and industry partners safest and most reliable experience for id-19 begins, the airline recently an- can rely on and trust. our passengers as we resume fl ights to nounced plans to gradually rebuild its Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive more destinations over the summer. network in line with passenger demand HE Akbar al-Baker said: “During this “Qatar Airways is a carrier that has evolution and the expected relaxation crisis more passengers have chosen to been recognised as the ‘World’s Best of entry restrictions around the world. fl y with Qatar Airways than any other Airline’ on fi ve occasions by Skytrax, By the end of June, the airline plans to People eat on the terraces of food stalls on the banks of the river Seine in Paris yesterday, as cafes and restaurants airline, and we appreciate the trust they built signifi cant goodwill with govern- expand its network to 80 destinations reopen in France with the easing of lockdown measures taken to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, caused have placed in us. We have become the ments and embassies as we assisted with more to be added by the end of the by the novel coronavirus. largest global carrier fl ying over 50mn stranded citizens and most important- Summer Season. To Page 20 Amir sends greetings Ashghal opens new bridge to Italian president His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim Solve humanitarian issues: NHRC bin Hamad al-Thani and His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani sent yesterday z‘Blockade has resulted in immense human suff erings’ cables of congratulations to Italian President Sergio Mattarella on the anniversary of his country’s Republic QNA “The lack of responsiveness by the that disregarding the issue will inevi- Day. HE the Prime Minister and blockading countries to the Gulf me- tably lead to widening the gap, tear- Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin diation and rejection of any interna- ing the Gulf fabric and losing confi - Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani also tional and regional eff orts to resolve dence in the Gulf system. sent a similar cable to Prime Minister he National Human Rights the crisis is only a pretext to perpetu- Accordingly, the National Hu- Giuseppe Conte. Committee (NHRC) has under- ate violations and infl ict harm on man Rights Committee called upon Tscored that the continuation of their peoples,” the statement added. the Secretary-General of the Gulf FM: Qatar will continue the unjust blockade of Qatar and the In this regard, NHRC expressed its Co-operation Council to assume the to support Palestinians accompanying arbitrary measures for deep concern at the failure of all at- council’s responsibilities and expedi- the third year in a row have deepened tempts to discourage these countries tiously address the humanitarian im- HE the Deputy Prime Minister and the immense humanitarian suff ering from their violations or even urge plications of the crisis prior to initia- Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh being endured by citizens and resi- them to fi nd radical solutions to end tion of any political solutions. Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani dents of Qatar and the rest of the Gulf violations, to fulfi l the aspirations The NHRC noted with satisfaction aff irmed that Qatar will continue to Cooperation Council countries. of the peoples. The committee also the eff orts taken by Qatar to present support the brotherly Palestinian The number of complaints received strongly deplored the failure of the the matter before international or- people, noting that it has contributed by the National Human Rights Com- Gulf system to address the adverse ganisations. It also urged the State of in this regard more than $1.2bn in the mittee (NHRC) has reached 4,275, it impacts of the humanitarian crisis of Qatar to continue exerting more ef- past eight years. In a speech during said in a statement. the unjust blockade. forts in this regard. the virtual ministerial meeting of Emphasising that the blockading Reiterating its position, the com- The NHRC commended the posi- the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee to countries continue to target the peo- mittee called for the immediate ces- tions of international human rights co-ordinate international assistance ples and tear the Gulf social fabric, sation of grave violations and putting organisations in documenting viola- The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has partially opened a new 900m bridge to the Palestinian people yesterday, in fl agrant violation of international an end to the suff ering of the victims tions and condemning the blockad- along Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor in the Bu Hamour area. The new bridge provides the Foreign Minister pointed out and regional human rights conven- by initiating political solutions, in ing countries, particularly the United free-flowing traff ic bypassing the junction between Al Shehaimiya Street and Bu that Qatar has recently contributed tions, despite the appeals launched accordance with international hu- Nations High Commissioner for Hu- Hamour Street along Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor in front of Petrol more than $150mn in support to by international organisations, par- man rights agreements. The National man Rights and the European Parlia- Station, reducing travelling time through the junction by more than 90%. The the brotherly Palestinian people, liaments and governments. Human Rights Committee also noted ment . opening comes four months ahead of schedule, Ashghal has said. Page 20 part of which has been allocated to deal with the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis. Page 3 US ‘Floyd protests’ continue MoPH reports 36,036 Blockade of Qatar total Covid-19 recoveries Glucophage available in The Ministry of Public Health is a lose-lose (MoPH) yesterday announced the Qatar safe, says MoPH registration of 1,826 new confirmed cases of Covid-19, with 2,599 people situation: AlKhater having recovered from the virus in QNA all pharmaceutical prepara- the last 24 hours, bringing the total E the Assistant Foreign Minister Doha tions that contain metformin number of recovered people in and Spokesperson for the Ministry that come to Qatar, as well as Qatar to 36,036. The ministry also Hof Foreign Aff airs Lolwah AlKhater continuous communication announced three deaths due to participated in a virtual panel discussion ll pharmaceutical with international organisa- the virus. The reason for the large titled ‘A Gulf Apart -The Geopolitics of preparations contain- tions and regulatory bodies in increase in the number of recoveries European-Gulf Relations’ hosted by the Aing metformin available this regard. is due to the application of the latest European Council on Foreign Relations. in Qatar are safe for human “This comes in the frame- international recommendations In her opening remarks, HE AlKhater consumption and free of any work of the continuous follow- regarding criteria for recovering underscored Qatar’s global eff orts to re- harmful substance, the Min- up by the MoPH from what is from Covid-19 infection, approved by patriate stranded citizens and ship medical istry of Public Health (MoPH) issued by international organi- the MoPH. Page 2 and humanitarian aid during the Covid-19 yesterday said. sations and regulatory bodies, pandemic, despite the illegal airspace The ministry said that the as well as after receiving in- Black Lives Matter blockade. Qatar has provided urgent medi- results of laboratory analysis formation from the American cal shipments to 21 countries, and over conducted on samples of all Food and Drug Administration protest reaches Paris 1.8mn passengers were transported safely pharmaceutical preparations and the European Medicines Thousands of people in Paris defied to their homes by Qatar Airways. containing metformin available Agency stating that initial a ban to protest about the 2016 On the consequences of the blockade, in the public and private sec- analysis of drugs containing death of a young black man in she asserted that it is a lose-lose situation, tors in Qatar have proven to be metformin revealed that some police custody and alleged racism and while Qatar is able to sustain economi- safe and free from the N-Ni- of these drugs contain the by security forces. Many of the cally, it understands that the lack of com- trosodimethylamine (NDMA). NDMA substance at higher overwhelmingly young, racially mixed munication and cooperation will have a Metformin is a drug used to levels than the permitted rates, crowd bore slogans linked to the negative impact on other issues. treat diabetes and its trade name and that this substance is con- Black Lives Matter movement in the The Assistant Foreign Minister stated is registered as Glucophage, sidered among the potentially United States, which has seen large that the accumulated issues in the region while NDMA is present in nature carcinogenic substances.” protests in recent days after George require regional ownership and a holistic but in small and safe propor- The MoPH recommended that Floyd, a black man, was killed by approach, as the issues are interconnected tions. patients with diabetes continue police last week. The protest near the A man holds up his fist while hundreds of demonstrators march to protest in their nature. The ministry said it contin- to use these preparations and main Paris courts complex was called against police brutality and the death of George Floyd, on June 2, 2020 in HE AlKhater was joined by Alistair Burt, ues to take samples and con- not to drop them, as well as to by the sister of Adama Traore, who Washington, DC. Protests continue to be held in cities throughout the country Former Minister of State for the Middle ducts the necessary analysis in continue to monitor their health died in 2016 after his arrest by police over the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed in police custody in East at the Foreign and Commonwealth the drug control laboratories with doctors and healthcare pro- in a town north of Paris. Page 12 Minneapolis on May 25. Offi ce, and a number of ECFR members. affiliated with the ministry for viders. Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, June 3, 2020 QATAR

Show Green status on Ehteraz Qatar to witness lunar before entering: retail chains

etail chains in the country given in implementation of and solar eclipse in June are making it mandatory the precautionary measures Rfor customers to show the taken by Qatar to ensure a Green status on the Ehteraz ap- safer shopping experience, Al atar Centre for Space entering the ends of the earth’s phenomena everywhere in Qa- plication to be allowed entry into Meera said in a post on social Sciences and Astrono- shadow in the sky at 8:45pm, tar, adding that the eclipse will their outlets. media. Qmy has announced that reaches its peak at 10.24pm, with start at 7:12am, reach its peak at Yesterday, Al Meera Con- Monoprix Qatar made a simi- the Qatar will witness two as- the shadow of the moon dimin- 8:30am and end at 10:02am. sumer Goods Co announced that lar announcement on Facebook tronomical phenomena, solar ishing signifi cantly, and ends at He stressed that these two customers would be requested yesterday. eclipse and lunar eclipse, in June. 12:04 after midnight. astronomical phenomena are to show the Ehteraz app on their “As per government guid- In a statement, the President The president of Qatar Centre natural phenomena and cause no smartphone, and only those with ance, it is mandatory for of Qatar Centre for Space Sci- for Space Sciences and Astrono- harm to the globe. the Green code, which indicates all customers to show their ences and Astronomy Sheikh my added that the eclipse phe- He called for not paying atten- a healthy status, would be al- Ehteraz green tag before en- Salman bin Jabor al-Thani said nomenon will be followed by a tion to those who promote rumors lowed entry. tering the store,” it said, that the fi rst phenomenon will partial eclipse of the sun on Sun- about disasters and epidemics, This comes in the light of stressing this is for the safe- be a semi-shadow eclipse of day, June 21, as the moon blocks affi rming that these phenomena the spread of Covid-19 and ty of all customers and the the moon, and this falls on Fri- nearly 70% of the sun’s disk, are not a beginning or end of any based on the instructions Monoprix Qatar team. day, June 5, as the moon begins making it one of the observed epidemic or disaster. - QNA MoPH reports 36,036 total Covid-19 recoveries Qatar condemns QNA of contact with individuals who most important of which is stay- recorded daily, and therefore it Doha were previously infected, in ad- ing at home and maintaining so- is necessary to adhere to - more dition to recording new cases cial distance. than ever before - the preventive explosion in of infection among groups of The ministry said the new measures and social measures he Ministry of Public workers in diff erent regions. The deaths recorded yesterday are recommended. Health (MoPH) yesterday new cases have been identifi ed those of three individuals aged 24, It has also stressed the im- Afghanistan Tannounced the registra- after investigations by the re- 59 and 62 years, who were receiv- portance for the elderly or those tion of 1,826 new confi rmed cas- search and investigation teams ing the necessary medical care in suff ering from chronic diseases es of Covid-19, with 2,599 peo- of the MoPH that contributed to intensive care. “The Ministry of and their family members to fol- QNA ple having recovered from the the early detection of cases. Public Health off ers sincere con- low the strict measures to reduce Doha virus in the last 24 hours, bring- Cases of infection have also dolences and great sympathy to the chances of infection, includ- ing the total number of recov- increased among citizens and the families of the deceased,” the ing refraining from social visits. ered people in Qatar to 36,036. residents as a result of contact MoPH said in a statement. The MoPH said because the atar expressed yesterday The ministry also announced with infected family members The ministry encouraged any- coronavirus outbreak is at the its strong condemnation three deaths due to the virus. who had been infected in the one who has symptoms of Cov- peak stage in Qatar, it is impor- Qof an explosion that took The reason for the large in- workplace or through visits and id-19 to either quickly contact tant not to leave the house except place in Afghanistan’s northern crease in the number of recov- family gatherings. the 16000 helpline or go directly when it is absolutely essential. It Kunduz province, and led to in- eries is due to the application of The new confi rmed cases of to one of the designated health also stressed the importance of juries and deaths. the latest international recom- infection have been introduced centres for testing. This is im- adhering to all measures to pro- The Ministry of Foreign Af- mendations regarding criteria to complete isolation at various portant as the earlier the disease tect against infection, including fairs renewed, in a statement for recovering from Covid-19 in- medical facilities in the country, is detected, the easier it will be to maintaining social distancing yesterday, Qatar’s fi rm position fection, approved by the MoPH. where they receive the necessary receive the right treatment and both in the workplace and pub- rejecting violence and terrorism Over the last 24 hours, the min- healthcare depending on the recover from it. lic places, as well as wearing a regardless of their motives and istry also recorded 20 new pa- health status of each case. The four main testing cen- medical mask and avoiding so- reasons. tients being admitted to intensive The MoPH revealed that in- tres are the , Rawdat Al cial visits to reduce the risk of The statement of the Ministry care due to the virus, bringing the fections increased due to fam- Khail, Umm Slal and Al Gharra- contracting the virus. of Foreign Aff airs expressed Qa- total number of cases currently in ily gatherings and visits between fat health centres. The MoPH also encouraged tar’s condolences to the families intensive care to 239. friends and extended families, The ministry has said Qatar is the public to visit its website of the victims, the government, The MoPH said the new cases and people ignoring the preven- still in the peak phase of the vi- regularly to view the latest infor- and people of Afghanistan, are expatriate workers who were tive measures recommended by rus outbreak, which is seeing a mation and instructions related wishing the injured a speedy re- infected with the virus as a result the authorities concerned - the rise in the number of infections to Covid-19. covery. Gulf Times Wednesday, June 3, 2020 3 QATAR

FM: Qatar will continue to support Palestinian people

QNA important time, as the Palestinian brothers developments with great concern. negotiations since 2014 between the Israelis Doha suff er economically, socially, and from security HE the Foreign Minister stressed that Qatar and the Palestinians, stressing the need to see a troubles as a result of the occupation and the rejects any attempt to annex the occupied serious step towards this and a serious position additional pressure of the Covid-19 crisis. Palestinian territories, expecting logistical on the international community. HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister He underlined the importance of continuing challenges, especially with what is happening in HE Sheikh Mohamed expressed Qatar’s of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin to support the Palestinian people during this Gaza and the West Bank. encouragement to donor countries to continue Abdulrahman al-Thani aff irmed that Qatar will crisis, which represents a major challenge He warning that this would cause delays in the their support to UNRWA and the Palestinian continue to support the brotherly Palestinian for all of the world, noting that this challenge projects of donor countries in those areas. Authority to respond to these challenges. people, noting that it has contributed in this has become more diff icult for the Palestinians He stressed that Israel’s attempts to forcibly He explained that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict regard more than $1.2bn in the past eight years. because of the measures taken by the Israeli annex the occupied territories would dash any is not an economic struggle, but a political one In a speech during the virtual ministerial occupation. hopes about a just peace process between the that creates many economic challenges. meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee to He pointed to the failure of the international two parties, noting that the Arab countries took He expressed concern that the donor countries co-ordinate international assistance to the community during the past 70 years to end the a courageous step in 2002 by adopting the would lower this contribution to the Palestinian Palestinian people yesterday, the Foreign current occupation and find a just solution to Arab Peace Initiative, which stipulated building people in light of the economic challenges due Minister pointed out that Qatar has recently this crisis. bilateral relations between Israel and the Arab to the pandemic, warning that this poses an contributed more than $150mn in support to HE Sheikh Mohamed added that the measures countries in exchange for withdrawal from the additional challenge. the brotherly Palestinian people, part of which taken by the Israelis added additional burden, territories of 1967, the return of refugees, and the The Foreign Minister urged donor countries has been allocated to deal with the coronavirus which will cause a deterioration of the security establishment of an independent Palestinian state to continue their support to the Palestinian HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman (Covid-19) crisis. situation and can get things out of control, with East Jerusalem as its capital. people, saying that this would help in turn to al-Thani He added that this meeting comes at a very therefore, the whole world should view these He pointed out that there have been no enhance opportunities for peace and stability. QSC makes 100 face shields to help reduce spread of Covid-19

atar Scientifi c Club Sports, confi rmed that the ini- ture this product that suits the (QSC) has produced 100 tiative contributes to providing user’s need, as it was developed Qface shields in the club’s the required preventive sup- and piloted in several stages and digital manufacturing labora- port during the current circum- became better than the product tories in co-ordination with stance, stressing the ministry’s available in the market in terms Aspire Academy. keenness to work through all its of design and reuse, and was The club said that the face sector and in co-operation with submitted to several institu- shield, which will help reduce all state institutions in order tions, including Aspire Acad- the spread of coronavirus (Cov- to overcome the current crisis, emy, which was keen to provide id-19), is lightweight and reus- within the framework of en- the product for students. able after sterilisation, as it is hancing societal communica- For his part, Jassim Mohamed usually intended for medical and tion and co-operation between al-Jaber, director, Aspire Acad- security crews and can be used in all sides. emy, thanked Qatar Scientifi c cases of epidemics and pandem- On this initiative, Rashid al- Club for its eff orts in the manu- ics because it is easy to use and Rahimi, executive director, Qa- facture of the face shield and works an additional protection tar Scientifi c Club, said that in said that Aspire Academy will tool for the users. co-ordination with the medical provide the product to the 12th Hussein al-Kubaisi, direc- staff of Hamad Medical Cor- grade students and employ- tor, youth aff airs department poration (HMC), the club was ees to help them do the fi nal of the Ministry of Culture and able to design and manufac- examinations. (QNA) Off icials during an examination of the face shield. The face shield is lightweight and reusable after sterilisation. Vodafone partners with QNB to off er WCM-Q faculty publishes lessons instalment plan for new device odafone Qatar has part- for humanity after coronavirus nered with QNB to of- Vfer its new ‘Buy now pay aculty at Weill Cornell the social distancing measures The research team has docu- occurred, testing should be in- later’ instalment plan that lets Medicine – Qatar (WCM- that we have seen implemented mented the virus’s incubation troduced and immediate lock- customers purchase the latest FQ) has collated informa- across the world. period, its symptoms, its trans- down considered. devices, such as smartphones, tion about the novel coronavi- “In conjunction, of course, mission rates and how the very 4. If the spread of the infec- mobile Wi-Fi devices and acces- rus (Covid-19) – and suggested we must understand the pa- strict social distancing measures tion is wide, social distancing sories, and pay later with easy lessons that humanity could thology of the virus and how imposed by countries like China, and travel restrictions imposed monthly instalments. learn from the current crisis. this can be treated and, if possi- Vietnam and South Korea have along with restrictions on pub- Customers who have a QNB Led by Dr Ali Sultan profes- ble, prevented using a vaccine. been eff ective in curbing the vi- lic gatherings. This needs public credit card will be able to pur- sor of microbiology and immu- Often, this kind of informa- rus’s spread, unlike the slower support alongside enforcement. chase the device of their choice nology at WCM-Q, the team tion is fragmented but in this and more relaxed measures in- 5. The early genomic iden- under QNB’s FlexiPlan and have worked with colleagues at Qa- research paper we have tried troduced by Western nations, tifi cation of the pathogen is an option to pay back the credit tar’s Ministry of Public Health to collate the pertinent facts so particularly the UK and US. important and can help to de- card monthly instalments over to gather known facts about that they are all in one place. But perhaps the most im- termine and develop the best three or six months, Vodafone the virus’ epidemiology, indi- Our publication came about as portant section of the research treatment options. Qatar has said in a statement. later in aff ordable instalments.” this initiative, which will bring vidual countries’ responses to a result of ongoing scientifi c paper deals with the lessons 6. Vaccine development Their purchase should amount Heba al-Tamimi, QNB Group customers fl exibility and greater the outbreak and their success, collaborations with our col- that must be learned across the could be enhanced by pursu- to a minimum of QR500 per Retail general manager, added: choices to complement their as well as treatments and po- leagues at Qatar’s Ministry of world “if we are to manage po- ing any progress and clinical product. “QNB Group Cards and Pay- digital lifestyle.” tential vaccines. From this, the Public Health.” tential future pandemics”, the trials made with previously Diego Camberos, chief op- ments off ers the best-in-class Customers can get Vodafone’s researchers compiled a list of Another member of the team statement notes. developed vaccines. erating offi cer at Vodafone Qa- products and services and brings ‘Buy now pay later’ instalment actions that could help prevent at WCM-Q, Dr Chris Triggle, These are: 7. Drug development pro- tar, said: “Vodafone is always delight to our customers. The plan at the following Vodafone or mitigate future pandemics, professor of pharmacology, 1. Establishing a rapid re- grammes should be enhanced looking for ways to make our FlexiPlan is one such product stores: Villaggio, Landmark, City WCM-Q said in a statement. said: “Challenges in writing porting system for any unusual and serve to identify and test products and services more ac- that has been designed to allow Center, Mall of Qatar, Furrou- Dr Sultan said, “If we are to our paper included the speed in infectious outbreak, and notifi - compounds eff ective against cessible to people. Vodafone’s customers to purchase big ticket siya, , Wakra, LuLu D- combat the novel coronavirus, which the news of the pandem- cation of the WHO should be a coronaviruses and other ‘Buy now pay later’ is an easy sized items at 0% interest and Ring Road, LuLu Gharaff a, LuLu we have to understand it in its to- ic was changing daily combined high priority. zoonotic viruses. terms monthly instalment without any application fees. Al Khor, The Pearl, Mansoura, tality. This means understanding with the need to separate the 2. Immediately isolating the 8. A global network should plan in partnership with QNB, “Since its introduction, the Old Airport, Shafi , Al Nasr, Hyatt its transmission rates, whether science-based data from po- infected person(s) and identi- be established to ensure there which gives customers the fl ex- feature has benefi ted thousands Plaza, Dar Al Salam, Barwa City they can be reduced with meas- tentially misleading informa- fying and quarantining indi- is suffi cient personal protective ibility to purchase the best of customers across the Qatar and Mesaieed. ures like face masks, the benefi ts, tion that was appearing in the viduals who have been in con- equipment and hospital equip- devices and accessories from market. We are very pleased to To learn more, one can visit if any, of the currently available media as a result of the rush to tact with them. ment available to countries to Vodafone on the spot, and pay partner with Vodafone Qatar on vf.qa/buynowpaylater. drugs, and the eff ectiveness of publish and report.” 3. When a viral spread has deal with a pandemic. QC implements project to enhance food security in Syria

atar Charity (QC), in Syria, and surrounding areas of 50 tonnes of fl our per day. age the silos and mill, in addi- Al-Mutair added that this through its regional of- in addition to indirect benefi - To support the marketing of tion to training the local council project is the fi rst of its kind in Qfi ce in Turkey, contin- ciaries exceeding 267,000 peo- wheat, 1,050 tonnes of wheat to manage and continue operat- the region, especially as it fur- ues to implement a qualitative ple throughout the northern were purchased for milling and ing the silos and mill. ther enhances food security in project that is the “fi rst of its countryside of Aleppo. supporting the kiln with fl our, So far, support for wheat northern Syria using silos with kind” in the region, in part- It involves storing wheat, and 905 tonnes of bread were storage and marketing has been a storage capacity of 12,000 nership with international purchasing a mill, providing also distributed. provided, in addition to sup- tonnes of wheat. There will be humanitarian organisations. technical support to farmers QC has provided 200 ag- porting farmers with agricul- a strategic stockpile that will It is aimed at enhancing food and educating them, according ricultural baskets containing tural baskets, raising aware- meet the need of Marea for two security in northern Syria, es- to a need assessment made by fertilisers and pesticides to ness and providing relevant years in a row. pecially in the light of the re- Qatar Charity in 2019. 200 farmers, with each of them necessary information to them. For his part, the deputy head percussions of the crisis that The project, which sup- growing one hectare of wheat, “This is how Qatar Charity has of the local Marea Council, Omar Syria has been going through ports the wheat crop from seed totalling nearly 200 hectares, as completed 80% of the project. Kor Bilal, described the project for nine years, QC has said in a to bread and distributes it to part of the project. The mill is expected to be in- as huge because it involves statement. benefi ciaries for a period of 14 Qatar Charity also pro- stalled on the project site in the setting up a wheat mill with a The project, which is 80% months, comes at a time when vided technical support to eighth month,” the statement daily production capacity of complete, is being implemented agriculture is a source of liveli- farmers by holding aware- adds. 50 tonnes. in partnership with the United hood for 65% of the population ness-raising sessions and Zakaria al-Mutair, the food se- The farmers expressed hap- Nations Offi ce for the Co-or- in northern Syria, distributing awareness leaf- curity and livelihoods offi cial at piness with this project. One of dination of Humanitarian Af- The project works on stor- lets, in addition to delivering the regional offi ce of Qatar Char- them, Subhi al-Najjar, said he fairs and the World Food Pro- ing wheat in silos with a to- 278,000 litres of diesel to ben- ity in Turkey, said the project returned to cultivating his land, gramme. tal storage capacity of 12,000 efi ciaries for supplementary was designed to bridge the gap which is his only source of live- The initiative is expected tonnes of wheat, in addi- irrigation of wheat fi elds. and store wheat, in addition to lihood, after a four-year hiatus, To support the marketing of wheat, 1,050 tonnes of wheat were to provide food security for tion to purchasing a new mill In the meantime, the techni- producing fl our and distributing thanks to the support given to purchased for milling and supporting the kiln with flour, and 905 tonnes 24,510 people in Marea, a town with a production capacity cal staff is being trained to man- bread. him in this regard. of bread were also distributed. Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, June 3, 2020 QATAR

Crocs donates shoes to hospital healthcare workers

rocs, a world leader in innovative casual foot- Cwear, has donated shoes to healthcare workers at Hamad hospital who are on the front- lines of the ongoing situation. “As a pioneer in casual foot- wear, our goal as a brand has al- ways been to keep people com- fortable in their own shoes and now, in the face of adversity, there are certain individuals who need that comfort now more than ever. They are undoubt- edly the healthcare workers, who relentlessly serve humanity through the toughest of times,” according to a press statement issued by Apparel Group. “Healthcare workers have our deepest respect, and we to gift free pairs of shoes to the of a rubber-like moulded poly- up before they go home to their care workers at Hamad hospi- are humbled to be able to show healthcare workers of Hamad mer resin. They are waterproof families, the statement explains. tal comes in celebration of the them some love during this un- hospital, Qatar, on the frontlines and can be easily washed, which “This not only provides ease on spirit of being frontliners and precedented time,” the state- of the ongoing situation.” is an advantage for healthcare the feet, but also ease on the mind.” supporting the country, Apparel The donation to healthcare workers at Hamad hospital comes in celebra- ment continues. “Crocs is happy Crocs sandals are made out workers as they can easily clean The donation to health- Group adds. tion of the spirit of being frontliners and supporting the country. QU collaborates Covid-19 a challenge for with ministry on Al-Qabas Virtual us: new WCM-Q graduate Programme 2020 or health professionals of us, but our belief in the nobil- achievement – not only for us not really have all those life and the future who are gradu- ity of the message that we carry as graduates, but also to all the study skills that you need to get atar University (QU)’s versity life through a variety of Fating from Weill Cornell as doctors motivates us and in- people behind the scenes. through medical school,” he said. Foundation Programme educational and virtual sessions Medicine – Qatar (WCM-Q) creases our will and strength. “They worked hard to organ- “But you gain them, and in Q(FP), under the Deanship that are off ered in English and this year, their step into the next “Just by reading newspa- ise the graduation and to get addition to that, you gain some- of General Studies and in col- develop their English and math stage of their lives is being taken pers, watching TV, and check- us to where we are today. From thing more important: lifelong laboration with the Offi ce of the skills, thereby paving the way for in a world where the need for ing social media, I see health- all our professors at WCM-Q, friendships.” Assistant Undersecretary for Edu- enrolment in STEM colleges and highly skilled, and equally highly care workers around the world to the university’s administra- Dr al-Mulla explained that cational Aff airs at the Ministry of enhancing students’ chances for dedicated, healthcare workers risking their lives to save those tion, they were able to seam- WCM-Q has driven him to de- Education and Higher Education, success in their future colleges, the has been driven home by the im- of others, and how they have lessly transition all educational velop the skills to become a well- is organising the Al-Qabas Virtual statement notes. pact of the Covid-19 pandemic. turned into heroes in people`s activities from the classroom rounded physician, stretching Programme 2020 from June 7-11. The Al-Qabas Programme also The latest batch of graduates eyes, That gives me more mo- to the screens in our homes, in beyond medical capabilities and The student outreach initiative includes orientation sessions about from the Qatar Foundation (QF) tivation and enthusiasm to get the midst of a pandemic that into areas such as time manage- will be held under the theme, ‘To admission and STEM colleges, partner university has seen the onto the frontlines, and use the brought the world to a halt.” ment and studying effi ciently. prepare female high school stu- College of Medicine and QU serv- crisis bring home to them the re- knowledge and the moral prin- Dr al-Mulla, who will now “I also gained great insight dents for a successful university ices available. By introducing stu- sponsibilities that their chosen ciples I gained during my studies embark on a residency in pae- into diff erent areas of medicine, experience’, QU has said in a state- dents to study skills and test taking profession carries. at Weill Cornell Medicine – Qa- diatrics at Virginia Common- such as understanding human ment. strategies, students will be bet- Dr Abdullah al-Mulla, one of tar to help fi ght pandemic.” wealth Hospital in the US as the physiology and pathology,” he In the light of the novel coro- ter equipped for their educational the members of its Class of 2020, Dr Abdullah al-Mulla The Class of 2020’s achieve- next step in his medical career, said. navirus pandemic (Covid-19) and journey, the statement adds. says: “By seeing what is happen- ments at WCM-Q were cel- says his journey in WCM-Q “has “As I entered the clinical study QU’s decision to switch to distance Students who attend all pro- ing in the world as a result of the bility and great enthusiasm to ebrated through a recent online truly built me into the person I years of medical school, I started education in order to ensure the gramme sessions will be awarded spread of Covid-19 and the great contribute and play our role in graduation ceremony, and Dr am today”. to understand how doctors must safety of students, Al-Qabas Pro- certifi cates of participation. eff orts of healthcare workers on tackling this epidemic. al-Mulla says: ”Having gradu- “Going from high school to be understanding and empa- gramme 2020 will be held through The programme was launched the frontlines, we feel, as medi- “We realise the magnitude ated from medical school dur- WCM-Q is diffi cult, because thetic to a patient and have the virtual learning platforms for dis- in the 2018-2019 academic year cal graduates, a great responsi- of the challenges that will face ing a pandemic is, in itself, an as a high school student you do utmost professionalism.” tance learning. in collaboration with the ministry. The programme aims to raise Some 42 female Qatari high school awareness among female high students from grades 10 and 11 school students regarding the participated, along with 24 FP fac- various skills needed for uni- ulty and staff members. Temperature rises to 48C, scorching conditions expected today also

he temperature went up ing closely at 46C, according Meanwhile, the Qatar Met during the daytime - ranging while the wave height off shore to 48C in yes- to the forecast. department has said fresh to from 12-22 knots and gusting to is expected to rise, ranging from Tterday, with Doha and a The weather offi ce yesterday strong northwesterly winds, lo- 35 knots in some areas at times,” 4-7ft and reaching a high of 10ft number of other places record- tweeted that the temperature cally known as Al Bawarih, are the weather offi ce said in a re- in some areas at times, the report ing a high of 47C, weather charts would continue to rise in the expected to aff ect most areas of port yesterday. says. showed. country over the next two days the country from tomorrow until This will lead to blowing dust The Met department has Doha, Mesaieed and Wakra “as a result of winds, mostly Sunday (June 7). and low horizontal visibility, urged everyone to be cautious, are expected to see a maxi- southerly”, with the maximum “As the Indian monsoon low which may drop to 3km or less in avoid all marine activities and to By introducing students to study skills and test taking strategies, mum temperature of 47C to- expected to range from 37-47C deepens, the wind speed is ex- some places at times. The wind follow the latest update through students will be better equipped for their educational journey. day, with follow- in diff erent places. pected to increase, especially speed will decrease at night its offi cial accounts.

MoI reminder Galfar Al Misnad wins on national address two safety awards registration

alfar Al Misnad has won the he Ministry of Interior International Safety Award (MoI) has once again Gfor 2020, with Distinction, Turged HR/Admin manag- from the British Safety Council for ers of public and private com- the Design and Build of Site Works panies and establishments to and Infrastructure for Al Wakra remind all their employees, in- Logistics Park Phase 1 (WLP-A & cluding workers, who are yet to WLP-B), an important nation- register their national address to building project the contractor is do so before July 26. executing for Manateq. This should be done to pre- The company has already vent any violation of the relevant achieved 11.5mn safe man hours law and any legal consequences without LTI at this ongoing project, thereon, the ministry has said in according to a press statement. a statement. The construction company has The national address can be also won the International Safety registered through the Metrash2 Award 2020 for its overall opera- application or MoI website. tions, for “demonstrating a strong Registration of the national ad- commitment towards good health dress comes in implementation for and safety management in 2019”. the provisions of Law No 24 for 2017 This is the sixth year in which on the National Address, and HE Galfar Al Misnad has received this the Minister of Interior’s Decree No prestigious award in the Distinc- 96 of 2019 on implementing certain tion/Merit categories, the state- provisions of the above law. ment notes. For any query, one may con- “These awards are a recognition tact the ministry’s service cen- of Galfar Al Misnad’s consistent The awards won by Galfar Al Misnad. tres during the offi cial working efforts in enhancing HSE culture hours, from 6am-1pm, on the in the organisation, reinforced by excellence across all industries in Safety First, Quality Plus, Reli- following numbers: Wakra - a staunch commitment from the more than 50 countries worldwide. ability Ever,’’ said Satish G Pillai, 2351090; Mesaimeer - 2350888; leadership team,” explained Gal- Both of Galfar’s awards are now can- executive director of Galfar Al - 2353131; Daayen - far’s HSE manager, Venkatesan didates on the shortlist for British Misnad. 2351222; Rayyan - 2350333; In- Kulandaivelu. Safety Council’s ‘Best in the Coun- Galfar Al Misnad, which com- dustrial Area - 2351151; Mesaieed The International Safety Awards try’ Award that will be announced at pletes 25 years of operations in Qatar - 2351003; Al Khor - 2351299; are health and safety’s most coveted the end of this month. this year, attributes “its consistent - 2340608; Shamal awards. They recognise organisa- “We are very proud of our ex- performance at the International - 2351900; Onaiza - 2350444; tions that have demonstrated com- emplary performance at the In- Safety Awards to the diligent im- Hamad Medical Corporation mitment to occupational health, ternational Safety Awards and plementation of its comprehensive - 2350380; The Pearl-Qatar - safety and well-being. The awards it highlights Galfar Al Misnad’s Health and Safety Management 2340404; Sheehaniya - 2352888; are a celebration of health and safety commitment towards our motto: System”, the statement adds. and Umm Slal - 2351822. Gulf Times Wednesday, June 3, 2020 5 QATAR/AFRICA Medical journal publishes fi nd involving Sidra Medicine

cutting-edge immunodefi ciency infectious diseases. We are confi dent discovery involving Sidra Medi- our joint eff orts can improve healthcare, Acine, a Qatar Foundation entity, particularly for children,” concluded Dr has been published in the New England Marr. Journal of Medicine (NEJM), a leading In addition to Dr Marr, members of the peer-reviewed medical journal. Sidra Medicine research team who con- Inspections by Al Sheehaniya Municipality. The paper was part of a study that fo- tributed to this study include Dr Mahbu- cused on a previously healthy adult who ba Rahman, Dr Taushif Khan and Fatima succumbed to a cytomegalovirus (CMV) al-Ali. They are working closely with sev- infection due to a mutation in a gene eral doctors from Sidra Medicine’s clini- called NOS2. The case highlighted an im- cal and pathology teams and actively col- Municipal inspections portant link between the NOS2 gene and laborating with Dr Casanova’s group and increased susceptibility to lethal CMV other international researchers on several infection. other unsolved cases. continue in Sheehaniya CMV is one of several human herpes The focus of these investigations is to viruses transmitted by bodily fl uids and identify and dissect the molecular and commonly found throughout the world. immunological consequences of natu- l Sheehaniya Municipality Meanwhile, the technical The infection often occurs during child- rally occurring mutations in patients that conducted 648 inspec- control section intensified its hood but typically does not cause disease. have an immune defi ciency disorder. Ation tours in the fi eld of inspection efforts to spot any Also, healthy people are generally able to Team members involved in the discovery. Dr Khalid Fakhro, acting chief re- food health and general control encroachment on State prop- maintain suffi cient anti-CMV immunity search offi cer at Sidra Medicine, said: last month, during which 32 erty within Sheehaniya Mu- to stop it from becoming lethal. “We believe that severe infectious dis- ing using Phage Immunoprecipitation- “The current study is an example of an violations reports were issued nicipality. Led by Dr Jean-Laurent Casanova of eases are caused not only by the virulent Sequencing, established in collaboration outstanding team eff ort from Dr Marr and four of these were resolved Some 150 inspection tours The Rockefeller University, the study nature of an infectious agent but that our with Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and his collaborators, who are investi- through reconciliation. were carried out that resulted in included, among others, Dr Nico Marr, genes can also play a role. Our research Boston, and supported by Qatar National gating patients with immunodefi ciency In the fi eld of food health inspec- the issuance of 10 violation re- principal investigator, and group leader laboratory at Sidra Medicine uses a va- Research Fund.” continued Dr Marr. – a genetic condition where the immune tion, the department conducted ports. of the Systems Immunology and Immune riety of state-of-the-art technologies to “Innovative investigations like these system is impaired and patients become 458 tours that resulted in the issu- One of them was resolved by Defi ciency laboratory at Sidra Medicine. generate additional biological data for require a collaborative eff ort and a multi- highly susceptible to recurrent and often ance of seven violation reports in reconciliation while the others Dr Marr noted: “The discovery is unex- patients with severe and life-threatening disciplinary group, as we are essentially severe infections. In the coming years, accordance with Law No 8 of 1990 were referred to the security de- pected and important. Knowledge about infections, better positioning us to fi nd describing new diseases with each new we are aiming for even deeper integra- on the regulation of human food partment concerned. naturally occurring mutations that pre- and study disease-causing mutations, inborn error of immunity. Dr Casanova is tion between research and clinic at Sidra control, with three of these re- The department conducted dispose children and adults to potentially particularly in paediatric patients. Our one of the leading pioneers in this partic- Medicine, which will usher in an era of solved through reconciliation, the another 40 inspection tours fatal CMV infection is important from a group contributed to this case study by ular fi eld, and his group’s work has led to a Precision Medicine for the hospital and Ministry of Municipality and Envi- within the municipality, result- clinical point of view.” performing large-scale antibody profi l- paradigm shift about how we understand for Qatar.” ronment said in a statement. ing in the issuance of 15 violation In addition, 2,849 slaughtered reports. livestock carcasses were inspect- These were mostly regarding ed and three carcasses were fully throwing facemasks and gloves destroyed and 45 were destroyed in undesignated places outside partially. commercial outlets. HEC Paris in Qatar to host two online masterclass sessions

EC Paris in Qatar will be organis- and trustworthy relationships within com/register/8215446836189429520). ing two online masterclass ses- complex systems and using one’s lead- HEC Paris masterclass sessions are Hsions in June to support compa- ership skills to inspire people towards designed to strengthen leadership skills nies and their teams as they embrace and meaningful innovation. necessary for senior business managers prepare for a new tomorrow. Prof Gauthier, who was decorated as to fl ourish in their roles. These interactive The fi rst masterclass, scheduled for Knight of the National Order of the Legion discussions provide participants with an June 8, is titled ‘Leading with Sense’ and of Honour in 2010, served as dean of the insight into innovation topics such as will be hosted by Prof Valérie Gauthier. HEC MBA Programme from 2002-2010. becoming more creative in a professional Then, ‘Corporate Bovarism: What ered on June 23 by Prof Wolfgang Amann. Invitees are requested to confi rm their context; the levers to be a more innovative Leaders and Managers should do now to The ‘Leading with Sense’ masterclass attendance by registering themselves for individual; or creating a context for their ensure Strategic Success’ will be deliv- will discuss the building of sustainable the session (https://register.gotowebinar. immediate team to be more innovative. Al Jazeera Digital wins 35 wins Telly Awards

l Jazeera Digital earned a hosted by producers Joi Lee and Hyo- tual reality documentary boutique, record 35 medals, including Jin Park, won a gold medal in the On- ‘AJ Contrast’, emerged with two sil- Aseven gold medals, at the 41st line Documentary category for ‘Ko- ver Telly wins for ‘Still Here’, the annual Telly Awards on May 27. rea: a divided country, a united table’. virtual meets augmented reality Spanning 14 categories in the AJ+ English also scooped fi ve sil- immersive project that looks at the competition that honours “video ver medals, including for the ‘Untold challenges facing African American across all screens”, the awards sig- America’ episode ‘Life as a turban- women who, after years in prison, nalled the diversity of Al Jazeera’s wearing American Trucker’, hosted struggle to reintegrate into gentri- Inspections by Al Wakra Municipality. online off erings as video continues by Shreen Khan, and an episode fi ed New York City neighbourhoods. to drive innovation and fi nd new ex- from the multiple award-winning ‘Still Here’ premiered at the 2020 pression on digital platforms, a press ‘Direct From’ series hosted by Dena Sundance Film Festival and won statement noted. Takriri, ‘Why is the Navy Exploding B2C Editorial Team of the Year at the ‘AJ Close Up’, the documentary Bombs in Puerto Rico?’. 2020 Drum Online Media Awards. Food inspectors short fi lm boutique led by Andrew True to Al Jazeera Media Network’s “The playing fi eld for video- James Phillips, won a prize haul of core value of “giving a voice to the driven media has never been more fi ve gold and six silver medals, in- voiceless, the 35 wins spanned 14 competitive,” said Dr Yaser Bishr, fan out in Wakrah cluding a gold medal for best On- categories and from across the globe, executive director of Digital at Al line Webseries and four gold medals telling the stories of the underrepre- Jazeera Media Network. “I’m proud for ‘Mexico’s Missing Sons’, ‘’s sented, forgotten and misunderstood”. of our teams for demonstrating ex- l Wakra Off side Girls’, ‘Bolivia’s Fight Club’ Newsfeed’s recent Webby Award traordinary diversity and innova- Mu- and ‘Out of Sight in Kashmir’. audience award winner, ‘Rohingya tion and for continually pushing the Anicipal- The video explainer series ‘Start through the eyes of Al Jazeera’s jour- boundaries to create new shows that ity’s health Here’, hosted by Sandra Gathmann, nalists’, also emerged with a silver med- inform with heart. Our engagement control section also won in the News & Information al in the Social Video, Impact category numbers and awards across multiple conducted 838 category for its coronavirus series and a bronze medal in the Social Video, categories indicate that our cutting inspection tours while ‘Fork the System’, the online News and Information category. edge AJ Digital teams continue to at various food food meets current aff airs series The 2019 Emmy nominated vir- deliver news and information while establishments refl ecting the needs of our global in May, resulting audiences.” in the issuance Speaking to a diverse pool of 2020 of 16 violation entries against the backdrop of the reports in ac- Covid-19 pandemic, Telly Awards cordance with Law No 8 of 1990 on the regulation managing director Sabrina Dridje of human food control. echoed the need to tell the stories Of these, 11 violations were resolved through rec- Violations detected of the underrepresented. “Now is onciliation and fi ve were referred to the police for a more important time than ever necessary procedures, the Ministry of Municipality to give a platform to those creators and Environment said. bringing us global stories,” and to The section also received 11 related complaints, strive for “more equal playing fi elds which were dealt with immediately. for the marginalised,” she said. Meanwhile, veterinarians at the section inspect- Competitors in other catego- ed 18,893 carcasses of livestock at the automated ries included CBS Interactive (Telly slaughterhouse and 346 tonnes of fi sh at the fi shing Company of the Year), BBC Global, harbour during the same period. American PBS, Sony Music, Disney, Also, the director of Al Wakra Municipality issued The awards span 14 categories in the competition that honours “‘video ESPN Films, HBO Latin America, administrative decisions to shut down two restau- across all screens”. Conde Nast, Warner Bros and Nasa. rants for violations.

Equatorial Guinea accuses WHO of infl ating virus tally

AFP offi ce in Africa “to end the duties” of its speaking on condition of anonymity, ma has ruled with an iron fi st for 40 years. Malabo representative in Equatorial Guinea, Dr confi rmed the government’s request but The authorities say that as of June 1, Triphonie Nkurunziza, “and immediately declined to go into details. there were 1,306 recorded cases of coro- oversee her departure from Malabo.” “The government has asked her to go, navirus, 12 of them fatalities, in a popula- he central African state of Equa- Prime Minister Pascual Obama Asue, we have received a document — she is ac- tion of 1.3mn. Al Daayen Municipality’s health control section conducted torial Guinea has told the WHO’s appearing at the Senate last Friday, ac- cused of falsifying Covid-19 fi gures,” the The offi cial tally used to be updated 76 inspection tours at diff erent food establishments there Trepresentative to leave, accusing cused Nkurunziza of “falsifying the data source said. daily, but this practice stopped on April during the Eid al-Fitr holidays, which resulted in the issuance her of “falsifying” the country’s tally of of people contaminated” by Covid-19. However, Dr Nkurunziza is still in Mal- 28, and the update is now being published of eight violation reports in accordance with Law No 8 of coronavirus cases, according to the gov- “We don’t have a problem with the abo, Equatorial Guinea’s island capital, as only from time to time. 1990. In addition, the section received three complaints that ernment and the UN health agency. WHO, we have a problem with the there are no fl ights enabling her to leave, Figures put forward by the WHO have were addressed immediately, the Ministry of Municipality and In document dated May 26 seen by AFP WHO’s representative in Malabo,” he said the source said. sometimes been somewhat higher than Environment said. yesterday, the foreign ministry asked the in remarks broadcast on state television. Equatorial Guinea is an oil-rich coastal the national tally, although both tolls are World Health Organisation’s regional A source at the UN offi ce in Malabo, state that President Teodoro Obiang Ngue- the same right now. Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, June 3, 2020 REGION/ARAB WORLD Yemen donor summit raises about half of required $2.4bn: UN

AFP tens of thousands killed, an es- tion is widely blamed for civilian support. “We are increasingly Riyadh timated four million people dis- casualties in bombing raids that alarmed about the situation in placed by war and tens of thou- campaigners say have pushed Yemen,” offi cials from Unicef, sands affl icted by malnutrition the country deeper into crisis. the World Food Programme and he UN yesterday raised and disease. , a key A rebel spokesman dismissed the World Health Organisation only around half the re- player in the confl ict, emerged as the Saudi-led conference as a said in a joint statement.”We are Tquired $2.41bn in human- the biggest donor at the event, “silly attempt to (gloss over) running out of time.” itarian aid for Yemen, ravaged by pledging an aid package worth their crimes”, according to the International medical charity war and coronavirus, at a donor $500mn. Houthi-run Al-Masirah televi- Doctors Without Borders (MSF) conference hosted by Saudi Ara- Britain, a leading arms sup- sion. “Saudi Arabia keeps trying has warned that Yemen faces bia in the sixth year of its mili- plier to Saudi Arabia, stepped in to whitewash its coalition’s role a “catastrophe” from the pan- tary intervention. with a new aid package for Yem- in the deepening humanitarian demic. Some $1.35bn were raised at en worth £160mn ($200mn). catastrophe in Yemen, but co- The UN says Covid-19 has the emergency virtual confer- The United States, another hosting the funding event won’t likely already spread throughout Iranians shop in the capital Tehran yesterday during the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. ence, which came as aid groups weapons provider to the king- fool anyone,” said Afrah Nasser, most of Yemen, while the Yem- warned the virus could wreak dom, said it would off er $225mn, Yemen researcher at Human eni government has offi cially re- havoc in Yemen after years of while Germany announced Rights Watch. corded only a few hundred cases. confl ict and amid crippling 125mn euros ($139.8mn) in as- “The Saudi-led coalition, “Covid-19 has created new funding shortages. sistance to Yemen. along with Houthi forces that needs there, but (it) is just the Iran bemoans indiscipline “We are in a race against time,” Mark Lowcock, UN under- have brutalised civilians and latest challenge in an already de- United Nations Secretary-Gen- secretary-general for humani- obstructed aid, should immedi- teriorating situation,” said Ab- eral Guterres said in his opening tarian aff airs, said $180mn of the ately...put an end to the humani- dullah al-Rabeeah, supervisor speech. required funding was needed to tarian crisis in Yemen for which general of Saudi Arabia’s King as virus cases crest again “Aid agencies estimate they combat the fast-spreading virus. they’re all responsible.” Salman Humanitarian Aid and will need up to $2.41bn to cover Guterres said in the de facto The UN’s Jens Laerke has Relief Centre. essential aid from June until De- capital Aden, reports indicated warned that aid agencies are “Yemen needs a lot of help, AFP “They either have total con- two-month low on May 2. cember, including programmes the mortality rates from Cov- heading towards a “fi scal cliff ” not least because of its weak Tehran fi dence in us or think the coro- They were at their high- to counter Covid-19.” id-19 were “among the highest due to a lack of funding that health system.” navirus has gone. The latter is est on March 30 after hitting Without the required fund- in the world”. As the coronavirus threatens key UN programmes. The confl ict between Yem- not true at all,” the ISNA news 3,186. Jahanpour said the virus ing, more than 30 out of 41 major spreads, some 5.5mn people risk “Those who have given an in- eni government forces and the ran yesterday lamented agency quoted him as saying. had claimed another 64 lives in UN programmes in Yemen could losing access to food and clean dication of pledges (are urged) Houthis escalated in March 2015 that people were ignoring His remarks came as health the past day, raising the overall close in the next few weeks, Gu- water in Yemen this year, said a to actually pay early because when the coalition intervened Isocial distancing rules as it ministry spokesman Kianoush death toll to 7,942. terres warned, calling for “ur- survey by 24 international aid the operation in Yemen is se- against the rebels after they reported more than 3,000 new Jahanpour said 3,117 new cases The latest caseload was gent action”. But the pledging groups, including Save the Chil- verely, severely underfunded,” overran much of the country. coronavirus infections in a sec- were confi rmed in Iran in the close to the highest daily count event fell short of its objective, dren. said Laerke, a spokesman with Further muddying the wa- ond cresting wave. past 24 hours. for the Middle East’s deadliest raising just $1.35 billion from 30 “The largest humanitarian the UN’s humanitarian agency ters are tensions between two “The fact that people have This had brought the overall outbreak of Covid-19. The gov- donor countries. crisis in the world is now com- OCHA. anti-Houthi allies — the Yemeni become completely careless caseload to 157,562, he added. ernment has largely lifted the Yemen is already gripped by pounded by an unprecedented Top offi cials from other UN government and southern sepa- regarding this disease” was Infections have been on a restrictions it imposed to stem what the UN calls the world’s pandemic,” a statement said. agencies in Yemen have also ap- ratists, which declared self-rule of great concern, said Health rising trajectory in the Islamic the outbreak that fi rst emerged worst humanitarian crisis, with The Saudi Arabia-led coali- pealed for urgent international in southern Yemen on April 26. Minister Saeed Namaki. republic since hitting a near in mid-February.

HEALTH Kuwait reveals 887 virus cases, six deaths Assailants shoot dead Kuwait’s Ministry of Health declared yesterday the recording of 887 new Libya rivals ‘agree return coronavirus infection cases in the past 24 hours bringing the count of contaminations to 28,649 in addition to six deaths, QNA reported. journalist in Aden The ministry off icial spokesperson, Dr Abdullah al-Sanad, in his daily briefing about the pandemic in the country, said six deaths were also to ceasefi re dialogue’ reported during the same period, with the total number of fatalities amounting to 226 since the outbreak of the disease in Kuwait. AFP “We condemn this crime Meanwhile, the Omani Ministry of Health announced yesterday the reg- Dubai against Quaety, whose work AFP was to cover events and facts in Tripoli istration of 576 new positive cases. A total of 209 of the new cases were pictures. It seems that his work Omanis and 367 were non-Omanis. Yemeni journalist who has caused outrage among contributed to AFP, some extremist parties.” he United Nations’ Libya ANabil Hasan al-Quaety, Ghallab called for “a clear mission said yesterday POLITICS was gunned down and killed and transparent” investiga- Tthe country’s warring Algeria to release two protest leaders yesterday in Yemen’s southern tion into the killing, and for parties had agreed to restart city of Aden, prompting the the internationally recognised talks aimed at reaching a last- Two main figures of Algeria’s “Hirak” protest movement will soon be government to call for an in- government and the south- ing ceasefi re, after a three- freed at the president’s initiative, the leader of an opposition party said vestigation. ern separatists — who control month suspension. yesterday, AFP reported. “President Abdelmadjid Tebboune assured me The 34-year-old videogra- Aden — to collaborate in the In a statement, UNSMIL Fighters loyal to the internationally recognised Libyan Government of that he would use his constitutional prerogative to ensure that Karim pher and photographer, who probe. The secessionist South- “welcomed” moves by the National Accord (GNA) are pictured during clashes with forces loyal Tabbou and Samir Benlarbi regain their freedom,” Sosiane Djilali said. “It’s also worked for other major ern Transitional Council (STC) Government of National Ac- to Khalifa Haftar in an area south of the capital Tripoli. solemn commitment on his part,” said the Jil Jadid party leader after a news organisations in the re- also condemned the killing cord and forces backing east- meeting with Tebboune that he had requested to discuss the two cases. gion, was shot in his car by un- yesterday. ern-based military command- Haftar delegates held talks in In recent weeks, GNA forces “Tebboune pointed out that he will not interfere directly in what concerns known assailants shortly after “It is with great sadness and er Khalifa Haftar to accept February, but the dialogue was buoyed by Turkish drones and the judiciary,” Djilali said. In the Algerian judicial system, the president has leaving his home in Aden. pain that the STC mourns the “restarting negotiations on a suspended. air defence systems have taken the right to pardon prisoners. A security source said that martyrdom of the war photog- ceasefi re and the related secu- A January truce brokered by back a string of coastal towns the armed men escaped. rapher Quaety in a treacherous rity arrangements”. GNA backer Turkey and key and a key airbase, “Targeting journalist Nabil terrorist operation,” it said in a Pro-Haftar forces have been Haftar ally Russia has been re- The UN mission urged PEOPLE al-Quaety in an organised and statement, calling for a “trans- battling since April last year to peatedly violated. “states backing either of the New Sudan defence minister sworn in planned assassination is an parent” investigation. seize the capital Tripoli from Neither side immediately belligerents to respect what attack on the press in Yemen, Quaety, who also went by the UN-recognised GNA, in commented on the UN state- was agreed at the Berlin con- Yassin Ibrahim, a retired army general, was sworn in yesterday as Sudan’s new and it refl ects the failures and the name Nabil Hasan, began fi ghting that has left hundreds ment. ference” in late January, where defence minister after his predecessor died in March, state media reported, mistakes of all the warring working with AFP in 2015. dead and forced 200,000 to fl ee Haftar’s rapid advance on world leaders committed to AFP reported. Ibrahim, 62, replaces General Jamal al-Din Omar who died of an parties,” said Najib Ghallab, He was married with three their homes. Tripoli last year stalled to a ending all foreign meddling in unspecified illness while in neighbouring South Sudan for peace talks with the undersecretary at Yemen’s in- children and had a fourth on A military commission made bloody stalemate on the edges Libya and to uphold a much- country’s main rebel groups. His appointment came a year after long-time ruler formation ministry. the way. up of fi ve GNA loyalists and fi ve of the capital. violated arms embargo. Omar Bashir was toppled in mass protests in April 2019. Palestinian family mourns autistic son killed by police

AFP sipped tea made by his mother ages?” asked Hallak’s father, “The martyrdom of Iyad will Jerusalem Rana before heading out. tears welling up in his green only increase the level of the The family home is just a eyes. people’s anger,” said Odeh. 10-minute walk from the Old The images could prove as Israeli Defence Minister yad Hallak, a 32-year-old City, and until recently Rana explosive as those showing the Benny Gantz has offered his Palestinian man with au- had usually accompanied her police killing of George Floyd, condolences to the family and Itism, passed Israeli police son to school. an unarmed black man killed pushed for the incident to be every day to reach his special “I kept a close eye on where he by police in the US city of “investigated swiftly”. Pal- needs school in Jerusalem’s Old was, we were in touch on What- Minneapolis, whose death has estinian president Mahmoud City. sApp,” she said, now wearing a sparked protests nationwide Abbas labelled the killing a Last week a police offi cer who black mourning veil, her hands and beyond against racism and “war crime” while the Hamas believed Hallak was armed shot trembling as she spoke. police violence. warned of a new uprising. him dead, leaving his family On Saturday morning, he Thousands of people took to The coming weeks were al- searching for answers and ignit- walked with his teacher towards the streets for Hallak’s funeral ready expected to be tense, as ing widespread grief and anger. the Elwyn Al-Quds school, late Sunday in East Jerusalem, the Israeli government could Thousands of mourners close to the Al Aqsa mosque which was occupied by Israel take steps as soon as July 1 to massed for Hallak’s funeral compound, which he has at- in the 1967 Six-Day War and annex parts of the occupied while the social media hashtag tended for the past six years. later annexed. West Bank. #PalestinianLivesMatter ech- But when he stepped through In Jerusalem, Hallak’s case The move forms part of a oed the fury being seen at mass the stone arches of the Old is about “occupation, not ra- peace plan unveiled in Janu- protests against police violence City’s historic Lions’ Gate, po- An Arab-Israeli demonstrator, member of an Autism awareness group, gathers in the northern Israeli cial discrimination,” said the ary by US President Donald and racism in the United States. lice became suspicious when City of Tayyiba yesterday, to protest against the killing of Iyad Hallak. Right: The mother of Iyad Hallak, head of the Arab-Israeli Joint Trump which has been strong- Hallak, brown-haired, well- he reached for his phone in his mourns her son at their home in east Jerusalem. List, Ayman Odeh. ly rejected by the Palestinians. built and with broad shoulders, pocket. As Palestinian leaders are Planned protests will now cut an imposing fi gure but had Offi cers say they believed “They called upon him to stop two gunshots, according to the gued he “thought he was in real barred by Israel from travelling have the death of Iyad “at their the mental age of an eight-year- Hallak was carrying a weapon, and began to chase after him on family who recovered his body danger” according to his lawyer. to Jerusalem, only politicians heart”, a Joint List representa- old, according to his bereaved given that attacks against Israeli foot. During the chase offi cers on Sunday after the autopsy. Hallak’s relatives are de- from the Arab List were seen at tive said. family. forces are relatively common, also opened fi re at the suspect, The parents, who also have manding to see footage of the the mourning tents at the end But demonstrations will A polite man, according to his and ordered him to stop. But who was neutralised.” two daughters, now want an- killing, well aware that the Old of the family’s narrow street. not bring Hallak back to his uncle Oussama, Hallak was an Hallak seemed to panic. The man’s father, Kheiri, said swers about the death of their City is covered extensively by Bottles of hand sanitiser mother, who clutched a photo enthusiastic amateur gardener A police spokesman said that that “his teacher told police that son, who for years had crossed CCTV surveillance cameras. were placed on tables to pro- of him as if she were embrac- and adored his school. “police units on patrol there he was disabled and asked them their path peacefully. “Each pillar has three cam- tect mourners from Covid-19, ing her son himself. Early on Saturday morning in spotted a suspect with a suspi- to check his identity, but they Police have launched an in- eras. If a mosquito passes, the illness which at its peak “Iyad is now in the arms of the Wadi el-Joz neighbourhood cious object that looked like a kept their distance and...fi red vestigation while the main sus- they know that it passed. Why prompted the closure of Hal- God,” she said, “and I am sure of occupied East Jerusalem, he pistol. at Iyad”. Their son was killed by pect, a recent recruit, has ar- don’t they release the im- lak’s beloved school. he is happy”. Gulf Times Wednesday, June 3, 2020 7 AMERICAS

Eight states Tensions rise after cops shot; cast ballots

By John Whitesides, Reuters Trump pushes crackdown Washington ight states and the District of Columbia were yester- Eday holding primary elec- Reuters Four offi cers in St Louis were shot late tions, the biggest test yet of offi - Washington on Monday and taken to hospital with cials’ readiness to manage a surge non-life-threatening injuries. of mail ballots and the safety risks An emotional St Louis police com- of in-person voting during the resident Donald Trump yesterday missioner, John Hayden, said about 200 coronavirus outbreak. taunted state governors for not protesters were looting and hurling fi re- The largest day of balloting Pembracing his proposal to send in works and rocks at offi cers. since the pandemic began will the US military to quell unrest, hours af- “They had offi cers with gas poured on serve as a dry run for the No- ter fi ve offi cers were shot and wounded them. What is going on? How can this vember 3 general election, off er- in an escalation of tensions between law be? Mr Floyd was killed somewhere else ing a glimpse of the challenges enforcement and crowds protesting the and they are tearing up cities all across ahead on a national scale if that killing of a black man in police custody. the country,” he told reporters. vote is conducted under a linger- Demonstrators smashed windows A police offi cer was shot during pro- ing threat from Covid-19. and looted stores in New York City late tests in Las Vegas, police there said in a The voting in yesterday’s on Monday, including luxury retailers statement. elections could be complicated on Fifth Avenue, and set fi re to a Los Offi cers were injured in clashes else- in some areas by massive pro- Angeles strip mall. where, including one who was in critical tests following the death of an Four offi cers were shot and wounded condition after being hit by a car in the African-American man in police in St Louis and one in Las Vegas who was Bronx, police said. custody in Minnesota last week. critically wounded, authorities said. The protests have escalated racial Philadelphia’s mayor said a Trump has threatened to use the mil- tensions in a politically divided country city curfew would not be en- itary to crack down on the unrest, now that has been hit hard by the coronavi- forced until 30 minutes after in a second week, and has derided local rus pandemic, with African Americans polls close, and voters and poll authorities, including US governors, for accounting for a disproportionately workers in Washington will be their response to the violent protests. high number of cases. exempt from that city’s curfew, “New York was lost to the loot- Minnesota Attorney General Keith the mayor said. ers, thugs, Radical Left, and all others Ellison yesterday told ABC News he is Four of the states voting yes- forms of Lowlife & Scum. The Governor “considering all charges” against the terday — Pennsylvania, Indiana, refuses to accept my off er of a dominat- offi cers involved in the Floyd case and Maryland and Rhode Island — ing National Guard. NYC was ripped to that “all options are on the table.” delayed their nominating con- pieces,” tweeted Trump, a Republican, Trump, who is seeking re-election in tests from earlier in the year to in a reference to New York Democratic November, has condemned the killing avoid the worst of the corona- Governor Andrew Cuomo. Military police off icers restrain a protestor near the White Houseon Monday as demonstrations against George Floyd’s death of Floyd and promised justice, but he virus outbreak that has killed Trump has provided no evidence that continued. has vowed to take action to stop right- more than 104,000 people in the leftists are behind the violence that has ful protests from being hijacked by an United States. engulfed US cities. to address its unrest on its own. decreased across the United States on Derek Chauvin, the 44-year-old “angry mob,” deploying thousands of All of the states, which also Cuomo said he was outraged by the He said the president sought to blur Monday night, even as protest activity Minneapolis police offi cer who plant- armed soldiers and law enforcement include Iowa, Montana, New violence and looting in New York City the line between protesters with a le- was sustained or increased. He said no ed his knee on Floyd’s neck, has been in the US capital and vowing to do the Mexico and South Dakota, have on Monday, and that the city’s mayor gitimate cause and looters. Guard members were injured overnight. charged with third-degree murder and same elsewhere if mayors and governors encouraged or expanded mail-in and police force “did not do their job De Blasio poured cold water on the Lengyel said 18,000 Guard members second-degree manslaughter. Three fail to regain control. balloting as a safe voting alter- last night.” He said he believed Mayor idea of bringing the National Guard to were assisting local law enforcement in other offi cers involved have not been Democratic presidential candidate native. Bill de Blasio underestimated the scope America’s largest city. 29 states, a fi gure that was increasing. charged. Joe Biden pledged in a speech yesterday That has led to record num- of the problem. He said when forces not trained to The violent US protests were trig- Floyd’s death has reignited the explo- to try to heal the racial divide in Amer- bers of mail-in ballots requested The governor said he had off ered the handle New York City crowds inter- gered by the death of George Floyd, a sive issue of excessive police force, es- ica and blasted Trump’s response to the or cast in many states, along state’s mayors support from state police or vene, “still with loaded weapons and 46-year-old African American who pecially against African Americans, and protests. with an explosion of questions, 13,000 National Guard who are on stand- under stress, horrible things happen.” died after a white policeman pinned his raised tensions on the front lines where Dozens of cities are under curfews confusion and reports of ballot by and said that with a 38,000-strong The head of the National Guard, Gen- neck under a knee for nearly nine min- offi cers have faced off against some- not seen since riots after the 1968 as- applications delayed or lost. police force, New York City should be able eral Joseph Lengyel, said violence had utes in Minneapolis on May 25. times hostile crowds. sassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Most states also will sharply reduce the number of in-person polling places as offi cials strug- Tiger King star loses park to gle to recruit enough workers to nemesis he tried to kill run them. “We will have a lot of clarity The star of hit Netflix series Tiger King after today about what needs to will have to hand over the ownership of Trump traffi cking in resentment be fi xed for November, and we’re his famous zoo to the nemesis he tried to hoping we can come up with have murdered, a court has ruled. some clear practical solutions,” Joe Exotic, whose real name is Joseph said Suzanne Almeida, acting di- Maldonado-Passage, is in jail after he was rector of government watchdog sentenced to 22 years in prison in Janu- and fear, Democrat Biden says Common Cause Pennsylvania. ary for the attempted murder of Carole Counting the fl ood of mail- Baskin. in ballots could delay the an- His feud with Baskin, an animal sanctu- AFP country into a battlefi eld driven by old nouncement of results, offi cials ary owner, captivated millions in the Netf- Philadelphia resentments and fresh fears,” Biden said. lix documentary that became a sensation continued. In Pennsylvania, Governor when it was released in March as America “He thinks division helps him. His Tom Wolf extended the dead- went into coronavirus lockdown. resumptive Democratic presi- narcissism has become more impor- line for receiving mailed ballots Baskin had for years accused Exotic of dential nominee Joe Biden tant than the nation’s well-being that postmarked by yesterday to June abusing the animals, including tigers, in Pyesterday accused President he leads.” 9 in six counties, including Phil- his park. Donald Trump of turning the United Biden vowed to tackle “systemic adelphia. Exotic said Baskin was trying to States into a “battlefi eld riven by old racism” if he wins November’s presi- The primaries come amid a destroy his business, and their dispute resentments and fresh fears” and dential election by implementing partisan brawl over voting by ended up in a years-long legal battle. pledged to try to heal racial divisions “long overdue concrete changes” such mail, which Democrats support On Monday, a judge in Oklahoma ruled if elected to the White House in No- as police reform. as a safe way to cast a ballot and that the ownership of Exotic’s 16-acre vember. “The action will not be completed in Republican President Donald land in the state must be transferred “The moment has come for our na- the fi rst 100 days of my presidency if Trump condemns as ripe for to Baskin, who runs Big Cat Rescue in tion to deal with systemic racism,” I’m fortunate enough to be elected, or fraud. Florida. Biden said in Philadelphia in his fi rst even in my entire term,” he said. “It’s Numerous studies have found The Greater Wynnewood Exotic Ani- major speech outside his home state of going to take the work of a generation.” little evidence of voting fraud mal Park will have to vacate the premises, Delaware since the coronavirus pan- Biden met anti-racism protestors tied to mail-in ballots. “including removal of all zoo animals,” demic gripped the country in March. on Sunday as he seeks to reignite his Former vice president Joe Judge Scott Palk said in the decision. “We are in a battle for the soul of presidential campaign after weeks of Biden has essentially wrapped In 2013, a Florida court ordered Exotic this nation,” said the 77-year-old coronavirus sequestration. up the Democratic presiden- to pay Baskin $1mn because his company former vice president, who con- Yesterday’s speech in Philadelphia tial nomination to face Trump had used logos and images similar to demned the use of force by police on was just the third public appearance in November, but seven of the those of Big Cat Rescue. Monday evening against demonstra- by Biden, who served for eight years states also will have primaries Exotic tried to get off from paying tors outside the White House protest- as vice president to Barack Obama, for state and congressional of- by shielding his assets, leading to this ing last week’s killing of a black man, America’s only black president, since fi ces. second lawsuit, with the judge ruling in George Floyd, by a white police offi cer the Covid-19 pandemic began in mid- Among the top races to be de- Baskin’s favour. in Minneapolis. March. cided yesterday included a Re- Tiger King, a seven-part documentary, “When peaceful protestors are dis- Protesters demonstrate yesterday during a ‘Black Lives Matter’ protest in New Biden is popular among African- publican congressional primary was one of Netflix’s most-watched shows. persed by the order of the president York City. Americans, a key electorate for any in Iowa. The platform announced in late April from the doorstep of the people’s Democrat hoping to win the presi- US Representative Steve King, that in one month, 64mn subscribers had house, the White House, using tear lieving that the president is more in- “I just wish he opened it once in a dency, and his then-fl agging cam- who has a long history of making seen all or part of the series. gas and fl ash grenades, in order to terested in power than in principle,” while instead of brandishing it. If he paign for the Democratic presidential racially charged remarks, faces Exotic, 57, has requested a pardon stage a photo op, a photo op, at one Biden said. opened it he could have learned some- nomination was revived by black vot- a stiff re-election challenge af- from President Donald Trump. of the most historic churches in the “The president held up the Bible at thing.” ers in the South Carolina primary in ter being largely abandoned by country...we can be forgiven for be- St John’s Church yesterday,” he added. “Donald Trump has turned this late February. party leadership.

Trudeau, backed by rivals for now, has little chance to cash in on popularity boost

By David Ljunggren, Reuters between Ottawa and the regions open if there is another round of government and depends on op- Donald Trump, will never be able Canadians watching in ‘horror and consternation’ Ottawa is starting to fray as they begin to lockdowns, said a source in a sec- position parties to pass legislation. to cash in on his windfall in the reopen for business and a possi- ond province. But with more than three years polls. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, learn what injustices continue ble “second wave” of contagion It is unclear if the government left in his mandate, “the last “If this (outbreak) continues when asked about US President despite progress over years and anadian Prime Minister looms. has budgeted for this eventuality. thing anyone is thinking about” for two years, people are going to Donald Trump’s possibly calling decades.” Justin Trudeau is soaring Ottawa is already on track to A spokeswoman for Finance is an early election, a senior gov- be so fed they up they might be in the military to quell protests, Trudeau went on to talk Cin the polls amid wide- spend C$300bn, or 15% of gross Minister Bill Morneau, when ernment offi cial said. looking for a real change,” said a paused for more than 20 seconds about the need to fight racism spread approval of his handling domestic product, on wage sub- asked how much cash would be The reason a snap election is senior Liberal adviser. before answering that Canadians in Canada, as he has been doing of the coronavirus pandemic but sidies, monthly income support available, said Ottawa “will con- unlikely is that the Liberals would For now, the new political dy- were watching in horror what was since the killing of George Floyd has little chance of cashing in for the jobless, and other meas- tinue to constantly monitor eco- be seen as taking advantage of a namic has served Trudeau well. happening in the United States. in Minneapolis last week sparked soon on his popularity with vot- ures meant to help bridge the nomic developments and take crisis, Ekos pollster Frank Graves As the regional premiers de- During his daily news confer- protests. ers, insiders and analysts say. crisis. appropriate action.” said. livered the bad news on social ence yesterday, a reporter pressed When a reporter asked for fur- Trudeau — working with pow- “I heard from a federal offi cial Trudeau’s Liberals, who barely “The public would be very an- restrictions and shutting down Trudeau on Trump’s idea to use ther comment on Trump’s words erful Conservative provincial that...they are terrifi ed of the held onto power in an election gry at the idea that we need an businesses, Trudeau made an- soldiers against protesters and to and actions, Trudeau said: “My job premiers who usually oppose second wave because they will be last October, would crush their election right now,” said Graves, nouncements about federal help comment on the people who were as a Canadian prime minister is to him — avoided a US-style battle out of money to give away,” said federal Conservative Party rivals who added the Liberal bounce and funding. “tear-gassed yesterday to make stand up for Canadians.” over how to tackle the outbreak, a provincial source familiar with if another vote were held now, is ephemeral because the longer “He doesn’t wear the hard way for a presidential photo op”. Trudeau has long spoken about in part by promising hundreds of communications between the several polls show. the crisis goes on the more public decisions but he also gets to be “We all watch in horror and the need to end racism, but his billions in spending. two levels of government. An Angus Reid poll published unhappiness will mount. something of a saviour,” said the consternation what’s going on in re-election campaign was almost But six sources within the fed- The heavily indebted prov- on June 1 put the Liberals at 37%, Indeed, some Liberals are con- fi rst provincial source, predicting the United States,” Trudeau said. derailed last September after eral and provincial governments inces have more trouble raising a six-percentage point lead over cerned the 48-year-old Trudeau, there was little chance the new- “It is a time to pull people pictures of him in blackface from with direct knowledge of bilat- money than the federal govern- the Conservatives. a progressive leader viewed as a found camaraderie would be per- together...it is a time to listen, to years earlier emerged. eral relations say the consensus ment and will need the taps left Trudeau now has a minority counterweight to US President manent. Gulf Times 8 Wednesday, June 3, 2020 ASIA

Fashion app sells off unwanted stock to aid garment workers

Thomson Reuters Foundation - are sold for $44, with 37% Labour advocates in Bangla- rise brands and ensure that they ciation, said schemes like Lost tested on the streets last month. to begin the distribution of the Dhaka of the retail price donated to desh welcomed Mallzee’s eff orts pay up.” Stock were “imperative.” Since launching the pro- aid packages next month. a charity supplying food and but expressed concern that such Millions of Bangladeshi Last week, Bangladeshi gramme two weeks ago, Mal- “We’re in the process of mak- other goods to clothing work- initiatives could let big brands households depend on the manufacturers said they would lzee has sold 80,000 boxes of ing a list of garment workers British shopping app is ers hit by layoff s and unpaid off the hook over mass cancelled garment sector, which has blacklist Western fashion brands clothes, far exceeding its goal to who need the relief. It can sup- raising money to help wages. orders that are putting the live- been hit hard by the pandemic. that “exploit” them by failing to sell 10,000, Gray said. port them for two months,” said Ahard-pressed garment “We had the industry con- lihoods of thousands of workers Exports fell by 84% in the fi rst pay their bills due to the corona- She said the company had Muhymin Chowdhury, spokes- workers in Bangladesh by sell- tacts to be in the perfect position at risk. half of April as $3bn-worth of virus crisis, days after threaten- collected enough funds to sup- man for Sajida Foundation. ing off clothes ditched by glo- to connect consumers with the “I appreciate this. But why do orders were cancelled or sus- ing to sue a major British retailer ply parcels of food and sani- Researchers say charitable ef- bal fashion brands as the coro- cancelled stock supporting gar- our workers have to live on char- pended, according to factory over its debts. tary products to help 80,000 forts will not be enough to sup- navirus crisis decimated their ment workers and helping avoid ity?” Kalpona Akter, founder owners. Several manufacturers have garment workers and their port workers in the longer term, sales. the clothes ending up in landfi ll,” of the Bangladesh Centre for As the industry reels from the struggled to clear workers’ dues families. urging the government to work Under Mallzee’s Lost Stock Melanie Gray, a spokeswoman Worker Solidarity, said. blow, Rubana Huq, president of in the last two months due to Mallzee is working in partner- with factory owners to create initiative, boxes of clothes - for Edinburgh-based Mallzee, “It will be highly appreciated the Bangladesh garment manu- the cancellations, and hundreds ship with Sajida Foundation, a a social safety net for garment with brand labels removed said. if they (Mallzee) can pressu- facturers and exporters asso- of unpaid garment workers pro- Bangladeshi NGO, which plans industry employees. First Rohingya Loaded boats dies from virus in Bangladesh

AFP to get tested for coronavirus.” after testing positive and was Dhaka The fatality was in the Ku- found by police following a tupalong shelter in southeast four-hour hunt in the camps. Bangladesh - the biggest refugee He was believed to have been 71-year-old man has be- camp in the world - which alone infected at a hospital in a nearby come the fi rst Rohingya is home to roughly 600,000 town. Aliving in vast refugee people. Offi cials stepped up testing camps in Bangladesh to die from The man was among at least and blocked roads leading to the coronavirus, an offi cial said 29 Rohingya to have tested posi- several areas of the camps where yesterday. tive for the virus in the camps. most of the infections have been Health experts have long Bhuiyan said the victim died recorded. warned that the deadly virus in an isolation centre run by the Police used loud hailers to could race through the vast medical charity Doctors With- urge residents to follow social cramped network of bamboo out Borders and was buried in distancing rules. This aerial picture shows workers unloading goods on a cargo boat in Dhaka yesterday. shacks housing almost a million the camp the same day. Last week about 15,000 refu- refugees who have fl ed neigh- He said authorities were try- gees were placed in quarantine as bouring Myanmar since a mili- ing to fi nd people the deceased the number of cases increased. tary crackdown in 2017. had been in contact with. Nine Bangladesh and UN authori- Toha Bhuiyan, a senior health people have so far been placed in ties have prepared seven isola- offi cial in the Cox’s Bazar dis- isolation. tion centres with the capacity trict, said the man died on Sun- More than 740,000 Rohingya to treat more than 700 patients Indonesia cancels Haj pilgrimage over virus fears day and confi rmation of coro- fl ed a brutal 2017 military crack- inside the camps. navirus as the cause came on down in Myanmar to Cox’s Ba- Bhuiyan said that local of- Monday night. zar, where around 200,000 refu- fi cials - in the absence of in- AFP The global pandemic has to protect our pilgrims and Haj gion if millions fl ock to Makkah’s Mohamed Shafi , a Rohingya gees were already living. ternet access - would speak to Jakarta plunged the ritual into doubt, workers.” religious sites. school teacher and a neighbour In early April authorities im- camp administrators to spread but Riyadh has yet to announce a Last month, Indonesia pressed Indonesia’s decision was in the camps, said the man had posed a coronavirus lockdown awareness about the fatality. fi nal decision on whether it will Riyadh to announce its decision a disappointment for some long suff ered from high blood on the district - home to 3.4mn But ensuring the virus does ndonesia is pulling out of the go ahead with the end-of-July and President Joko Widodo later who have been on a pilgrimage pressure and a kidney complaint. people including the refugees - not spread is a major chal- annual Islamic pilgrimage to celebration. held a telephone call with Saudi waiting list for years. “Nobody realised that he was after a number of infections. lenge in the warren of narrow, IMakkah over coronavirus fears, Yesterday, Indonesia said it Arabia’s King Salman on the “I knew this was a possibility, suff ering from coronavirus. The Bangladesh has seen a sharp sometimes sewage-soaked the religious aff airs ministry said was pulling out of the pilgrim- matter, Razi said. but now that it’s offi cial I can’t news came as a shock to us,” rise in virus cases in recent alleys in the vast, teeming yesterday, removing the largest age, which last year drew about Jakarta had considered allow- help but be heartbroken - I’ve Shafi said. weeks, with more than 60,000 camps. contingent of worshippers. 2.5mn Muslims to Saudi Arabia ing half the usual number of pil- been waiting for years,” 37-year- “In recent weeks a lot of infections and around 700 “Some Rohingya have shared More than 220,000 people from across the globe. grims to travel in order to limit old civil servant Ria Taurisna- people in the camps are suff er- deaths nationwide. with us grave concerns about the from the world’s biggest Mus- “This was a very bitter and the risk, but instead opted to wati said as she sobbed. ing from fever, headache and The fi rst infection among poorly maintained social dis- lim-majority country were set diffi cult decision,” Religious Af- keep them all at home, he added. “All my preparations were done, body pain. But most think they Rohingya, also in Kutupalong, tancing inside the camps,” said to take part in this year’s Haj, fairs Minister Fachrul Razi told a The Haj is a key revenue earner the clothes were ready and I got got sick because of the change was reported in mid-May. The Saad Hammadi from Amnesty which all Muslims must perform televised press briefi ng. for the kingdom but risks be- the necessary vaccination. But of weather. They don’t bother 35-year-old man allegedly fl ed International. at least once in their lives if able. “But we have a responsibility coming a major source of conta- God has another plan,” she added. Visitors seek sun and Court rejects surf as some beaches plea seeking reopen in Thailand parliament’s

AFP Social distancing rules still all reopened on Monday. Pattaya applied, with local authorities Phuket, in the south, is still People enjoy the beach in Pattaya yesterday. ordering beachgoers to stay at off -limits, while sleepy Hua Hin return in Lanka least a metre (3ft) apart. remained open throughout. escaped the worst of the disease Tourism revenues dropped by eople returned to some of German expatriate Heidi Gle- Thailand has been under vari- relatively lightly, recording just 40% in the fi rst three months Thailand’s famed sandy meau, one of the fi rst people who ous lockdown restrictions since over 3,000 infections and 57 of the year, and the government DPA The constitution allows Pbeaches, keeping well took an early morning dip in the mid-March, when authorities deaths. has warned the virus’ impact Colombo for the dissolution of apart but enjoying the outdoors, water, said she stopped at the declared a state of emergency Some experts say, however, on the second quarter will be parliament aft er completion as authorities eased some coro- sight of the empty, open beach against the coronavirus - shut- a lack of testing may mask the more severe. of four and a half years of a navirus restrictions for the fi rst on her way to the bank. tering malls, leisure centres true toll. A major tourist destination, ri Lanka’s legislature fi ve-year term time in more than two months. “I couldn’t resist the tempta- and public spaces, including its Regardless, the exodus of for- Pattaya has turned into a virtual will remain dissolved, In Pattaya, visitors marvelled at tion,” she said. “It’s become a famed beaches. eigners and a ban on new arrivals ghost town. Spending fresh elections, of the public could not be rep- the clarity of the turquoise-blue paradise just like it was 30 years Despite recording the fi rst hit the economy hard - particu- Restaurants and clubs remain ruled the country’s top court resented due to the prolonged waters of the Gulf of Thailand, ago.” case of the virus outside epicen- larly as the country is so reliant shuttered, however, and it is not yesterday, brushing aside pe- closure. as pensioners eager for exercise Not all beaches were closed tre China as early as January, of- on tourist dollars in resorts such clear when normal activity will titions arguing that a lack of a They also urged the court promenaded along the beach. during the lockdown, and not fi cial records show the kingdom as Pattaya. resume. functional parliament violates to issue an order to recon- citizens’ rights. vene parliament, but one that Parliament was dissolved would not allow the country to on March 2 - six months ahead default to presidential rule. of completion of its term - by Fresh elections were President Gotabaya Rajapaksa scheduled for June 20. as his brother, Prime Minister But the elections commis- Nepal faces shortage of vital medical supplies Mahinda Rajapaksa, struggled sion informed the courts that with a minority government in elections would not be pos- IANS “We don’t have any ventilator rived, according to Adhikari. “As these facilities, particu- The Himalayan country has the 225-seat legislature. sible as scheduled due to the Kathmandu at our store at the moment. We “We also have not received larly impatient beds and venti- already witnessed eight deaths The constitution allows for Covid-19 crisis. are initiating the process of pro- ventilators from foreign donors lators, are being used for other from the pandemic. the dissolution of parliament Five Supreme Court judges curing 10 new ventilators,” Bho- who have supported us with conditions or impatient care As the number of cases is ris- after completion of four and a who heard arguments for and epal’s Department of gendra Raj Dotel, director, sup- surgical masks, personal protec- services, we assume only one ing rapidly, Adhikari said the half years of a fi ve-year term. against the delay eventually Health Services said it does ply management section at the tive equipment and Polymerase third of it could be available rise in serious cases that require But the petitioners claimed dismissed the petitions. Nnot have a single ventilator Department of Health Services Chain Reaction (PCR) test kits, for Covid-19 cases,” the Health ventilator support could not be that the inability to conduct Fresh dates for the elections in store for hospitals amid a rapid under the Ministry of Health and rapid test kits among others.” Emergency Response Plan ruled out. parliamentary elections as are expected to be announced surge in the number of Covid-19 Population, said. The ministry said in its Health states. In the worst case scenario, Ne- scheduled due to the Covid-19 today. cases in the Himalayan nation. According to the Nepal’s Min- Sector Emergency Response With a record-high 239 new pal expects over 10,000 cases of crisis - and the consequent Sri Lankan President Ra- Ventilator is the life-saving istry of Health and Population, Plan against the Covid-19 pan- cases on Monday, the total count Covid-19 with a requirement of postponement of the ses- japaksa is backing his brother equipment vital for the survival the nation currently has only 840 demic unveiled last month that of Covid-19 in Nepal has reached keeping over 500 patients at in- sions - is a violation of their - Prime Minister Mahinda of critically ill patients, which ventilators across the country. there are 840 ventilators, 26,930 1,811. After a slow start, almost tensive care units and over 1,500 fundamental rights. Rajapaksa - who hopes to gain the Himalayan country lacks in Although the Health Ministry hospital beds and 1,595 beds all cases had appeared in the at the hospitals with oxygen sup- The petitioners, including parliamentary power to help various hospitals, reports Xin- planned to buy 235 new ventila- with intensive care unit facilities last one month, according to the port, according to the Health Sec- former opposition parliamen- him run the country for the hua news agency. tors, hardly any of them have ar- in 194 hospitals. ministry. tor Emergency Response Plan. tarians, claimed that the views next fi ve years. Gulf Times Wednesday, June 3, 2020 9 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

Wuhan doctor dies from coronavirus A Wuhan doctor who worked with coronavirus whistleblower Li Wenliang Wuhan tests nearly 10mn people, fi nds only 300 infections died of the virus last week, state media reported yesterday, becoming China’s first Covid-19 fatality in weeks. Hu Weifeng, a urologist at Wuhan Central Hospital, died on Friday after being treated for Covid-19 and allied issues for more than four months, state broadcaster CCTV said. He is the AFP ter new infections emerged for Disease Control and Prevention. University of Science and Tech- The offi cial death toll in the Beijing the fi rst time since the city re- Residents queued up across the nology. The city found a handful country of 1.4bn people stands sixth doctor from Wuhan Central Hospital to have died from the virus, opened in April following more city at makeshift sites set up un- of asymptomatic cases on most at 4,634 - most in Wuhan, and which emerged in the central Chinese city late last year. than two months in lockdown. der tents in parking lots, parks days of the testing campaign, well below the number of fatali- Cases have dwindled dramatically from the peak in mid-February as the hina tested almost 10mn More than 9.8mn people and residential communities to which was initially described as ties in much smaller countries. country appears to have brought the outbreak largely under control. The people for coronavirus were tested in the city of 11mn give nucleic acid test samples - a 10-day “decisive battle,” but However, doubt has been cast on off icial death toll in the country of 1.4bn people stands at 4,634 - well be- Cin just over two weeks people between May 14 and with roughly half a million such reported zero asymptomatic the reliability of China’s num- low the number of fatalities in less populous nations. Wuhan Central Hos- in Wuhan, the city where the June 1, officials said at a press medical checks conducted every cases for the fi rst time on Mon- bers and the United States has pital has yet to give a formal statement on Hu’s death. In early February it pandemic began, offi cials said conference. day during the period. day. led the charge in questioning said some 68 staff members had contracted coronavirus. Hu’s condition yesterday, reporting only a few Offi cials added that the 300 China does not include The virus fi rst emerged in how much information Beijing became a national concern after Chinese media showed images of him hundred positive cases. positive results were among asymptomatic cases in its tally Wuhan late last year, but cases has shared with the internation- with his skin turned black due to liver damage. Chinese authorities claim to asymptomatic patients. of confi rmed infections. No have dwindled dramatically al community. Fellow doctor Yi Fan showed similar symptoms, but recovered and have largely brought the virus “These numbers show that asymptomatic people were from the peak in mid-Febru- Wuhan’s testing blitz cost the has since been discharged from hospital. The death of their colleague under control but Wuhan of- Wuhan is now the safest city,” found to have infected others, ary as China appears to have city government around 900mn Li Wenliang in February triggered a national outpouring of grief and fi cials - wary of a second wave said Feng Zijian, deputy director said Lu Zuxun, a public health brought the outbreak largely un- yuan ($127mn), vice mayor Hu rage against the government as he documented his final days on social - launched the programme af- of China’s national Center for expert from Wuhan’s Huazhong der control. Yabo said yesterday. media. HK leader accuses US of ‘double standards’

AFP 23 years failing to enact its own Hong Kong national security laws in the legislature, prompting Beijing to take the initiative. ong Kong’s leader ac- “There is simply no justifi ca- cused the United States tion whatsoever for any govern- A pro-democracy demonstrator raises his British National Overseas Hyesterday of applying ment, any economy, to impose (BNO) passports during a protest against new national security “double standards” in its re- sanctions on Hong Kong as a re- legislation in Hong Kong. sponse to violent protests as she sult of a very legitimate process warned Washington’s plan to of the central government, the Hong Kong sees rush to renew UK place trade restrictions on the central authorities, taking this fi nancial hub would “only hurt decision to enact laws for Hong passports as fears for future grow themselves”. Kong to better protect national Semi-autonomous Hong Kong security,” she said. When Ming Wong saw that Britain was prepared to off er extended visa has been rocked by months of “They will be hurting their rights and a “path to citizenship” for British National Overseas (BNO) huge and often violent pro- own interests in Hong Kong,” she passport holders in Hong Kong, she seized the moment and re-applied democracy protests over the added, referencing US threats to for her lost passport. Beijing’s push to impose national security laws past year, which riot police have restrict trade privileges. in the former British colony has stoked worry about its future and stamped out with more than Lam said some 1,300 Ameri- prompted Britain to off er refuge to almost 3mn Hong Kong residents 9,000 arrests. can businesses have a presence eligible for the passport. Washington has been critical in the fi nancial hub, which gen- “I started filling out the applications in December after the protests, but of Hong Kong’s response to the erates the largest trade surplus it’s the national security legislation now that really prompted me to fin- demonstrations with US Presi- for the US compared to any other ish the process,” said 39-year-old Wong who has two small children. Her dent Donald Trump last week country or territory, she added. husband, brother and parents are also applying, she said. vowing to end the city’s spe- She also said Hong Kong allows The BNO passport was created for Hong Kong people before Britain cial trading status after Beijing Americans to enter without a returned the territory to Chinese rule in 1997. Though they are British announced plans to impose a visa, a privilege that is not recip- passports that allow a holder to visit Britain for six months, they do not sweeping national security law rocated. Lam did not elaborate come with an automatic right to live and work there. on the business hub. on whether visa-free travel could But British foreign minister Dominic Raab said the six-month limit could Yesterday, Hong Kong’s Chief Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, wearing a mask due to the ongoing global outbreak of the be rescinded in response to any be removed if China imposed its national security legislation on the city. Executive Carrie Lam said such coronavirus, speaks during a news conference over the new national security legislation in Hong Kong. trade sanctions but Chinese of- Beijing and Hong Kong authorities reject criticism of the legislation, a move would be self-defeating fi cials have vowed to implement which they say is aimed at tackling sedition, secession, terrorism and as she took aim at the Trump ad- acted. And then in Hong Kong, for a law that would punish se- mainland-style political op- “counter measures” to any move foreign interference, and insist the city’s high degree of autonomy will ministration for its own response when we had similar riots, we cession, subversion of state pow- pression to a business hub sup- by the US. remain intact under the “one country, two systems” formula established to violent racial justice protests saw what position they adopted er, terrorism and acts that en- posedly guaranteed freedoms Under a 1992 law, the US treats in 1997. sweeping the United States. then.” danger national security - as well and autonomy for 50 years after Hong Kong as a separate trade The formula guarantees freedoms, including the right to protest and “We have seen most clearly in Both Chinese and Hong Kong as allow Chinese security agen- its 1997 handover from Britain entity to the more restricted and an independent judiciary, not seen on the mainland. But Beijing’s recent weeks the double stand- offi cials have seized on the unrest cies to operate openly in the city. to China. Lam’s offi ce said she authoritarian Chinese mainland insistence on its national security laws has thrown the future of those ards that are around,” Lam, who gripping the US in their propa- Beijing says the anti-sub- and key security offi cials will as long as the city retains key freedoms into question. was selected as city leader by a ganda drive to justify their own version law - which will bypass make a one day visit to Beijing freedoms and autonomy. Last “The national security law is about to be implemented but the details pro-Beijing committee, told re- crackdown on pro-democracy Hong Kong’s legislature - is to discuss the legislation with month the State Department have not yet been confirmed so I want to apply for it before anything porters. “You know there are ri- protests and the national secu- needed to tackle “terrorism” and central authorities. At yester- announced the territory was no happens,” said Don Wong, 35, who works in a government organisa- ots in the United States and we rity law plans. Last week, China’s “separatism”. day’s weekly press conference, longer suffi ciently autonomous tion, as he queued outside a courier company to send his BNO renewal see how local governments re- parliament approved the plans Opponents fear it will bring Lam said Hong Kong had spent to justify that special status. application to Britain. “I’m worried that I may not be able to use Facebook after the law is enacted ... I may get prosecuted due to my words.” But even before China announced its plan for the security law there was a surge of renewals of BNO passports, highlighting what many Hong Kong people see as an urgency to secure a back-up plan. Accord- Australia probes US police assault on its journalists ing to figures obtained by the Mingpao newspaper from the British Passport Off ice, BNO renewal applications increased in the second half of last year, amid sometimes violent anti-government protests, with AFP the journalists were slammed by police clearing Washington’s House for a photo opportunity. strictly enforced curfews. Payne the number totalling more than 120,000 in 2019 compared with about Sydney with a riot shield, punched and Lafayette Square of protesters on Trump has faced fi erce criticism steered clear of criticising Trump 14,000 in 2017 and 2018. hit with a baton while broad- Monday. The journalists said they for his handling of week-long directly, highlighting the delicate The Passport Off ice did not immediately respond to a request for com- casting from the protest. “I want were later shot with rubber bul- protests over the death in custody balancing act US allies face when ment. Immigration consultants have reported a rush of enquiries about ustralia is investigating a to get further advice on how we lets and tear-gassed, which Brace of an unarmed African-Ameri- registering unease with his ad- moving away from Hong Kong since China’s announcement on May 21. US police attack on two would go about registering Aus- said left the pair “a bit sore”. The can man in Minneapolis. George ministration. “Last week alone, the number of enquiries surged to about 100 a day,” AAustralian television jour- tralia’s strong concerns with the incident was widely broadcast in Floyd died after a white police of- “This is obviously a very trou- said Swing Wong, a director the Midland immigration consultancy, from nalists outside the White House, responsible local authorities in Australia, causing consternation fi cer knelt on his neck for nearly bling period in the United States about 50 a day earlier this year. the foreign minister said yes- Washington,” she said, indicating in a country that has been a close nine minutes. and a very tough period at so As well as Britain, people ask about the United States, Canada, Australia, terday, expressing “strong con- a formal complaint would follow. US ally. In several cities, the demon- many levels,” she told ABC ra- Taiwan and Malaysia, consultants said. “Most people who enquire about cerns” about the assault caught Footage showed 7NEWS re- US police - with support from strations have spiralled into riot- dio. “We are always supportive of the UK think it would be a safety net for their children,” said Ivan Yam, live on camera. “We have asked porter Amelia Brace being clubbed military personnel - had forci- ing, violent confrontations with people’s right to peaceful protest director of immigration consultant Golden Emperor Properties. “Many the Australian embassy in Wash- with a truncheon and cameraman bly cleared the square of peace- police and looting, prompting and we encourage all involved on people in Hong Kong are really interested in such a scheme,” he said of ington, DC to investigate this in- Tim Myers being hit with a riot ful protesters to allow President National Guard deployments to both sides to exercise restraint the possibility of extended visa rights for the BNO passport. “No coun- cident,” Marise Payne said after shield and punched in the face Donald Trump to leave the White around two dozen US states and and avoid violence.” try off ers a faster way of immigration.”

Japan allows saliva-based tests to boost coronavirus detection Back to school in masks as Singapore eases virus curbs Japan yesterday approved saliva-based tests for the coronavirus, off ering a safer, simpler way to diagnose infection than nasal swabs as it looks to boost its testing rates. Hours after the approval, the AFP outside dorms, the government Tokyo government issued a stay-at-home alert following an increase Singapore began easing measures yester- in infections. Currently, nasal swabs are the main source for tests in day, with certain age groups al- Japan, but these can expose medical workers to coughs and sneezes lowed back to school and some at the time of collection, making it necessary for them to wear full upils wearing face masks workplaces re-opening. Pupils protective gear. The saliva-based tests are able to be given to those returned to school in Sin- had their temperatures checked who have had symptoms for up to nine days, the health ministry Pgapore yesterday and some as they arrived at one pre-school said. It wasn’t immediately clear how much the change would boost workplaces reopened as corona- following the lengthy break. overall testing capacity. “This will vastly reduce burdens on patients virus restrictions were eased in Cheryl Chan, who was drop- as well as burdens that come with infection-prevention steps on the the hard-hit city-state. ping off her ve-year-oldfi son, part of sample-collecting institutions,” Health Minister Katsunobu Singapore initially kept infec- said he was “super-excited”. Kato told reporters. Japan falls well behind other industrialised na- tions low through a strict regime “He woke up early in the morn- tions in terms of its number of coronavirus tests. Critics say the low of testing and contact-tracing, ing telling me ‘Mama it’s time for rate of testing has made it diff icult to trace the virus, which has led only for major outbreaks to me to brush my teeth and go to to a series of in-hospital infection clusters. As of May 20, Japan con- emerge from crowded dormi- school’,” she said. Chan said she ducted 3.4 PCR tests per 1,000 people, far below Italy’s 52.5 and 39 in tories housing low-paid foreign felt “happy, defi nitely, a little re- the United States, according to Oxford University data. South Korea workers. lieved as well” by the loosening of has carried out tests on 15 people per 1,000 people. The country has recorded over restrictions. Japan, which lifted its state of emergency last week, has escaped an 35,000 cases — the highest of- In the fi rst phase of loosening explosive outbreak, with nearly 17,000 infections and 898 deaths fi cial tally in Southeast Asia — the lockdown, manufacturing so far, according to NHK public broadcaster. with the vast majority among fi rms, air conditioning mainte- The Tokyo government issued an alert urging people to stay at workers from the dorms. The nance businesses and pet shops home for non-essential business and to practise social distancing death toll stands at 24. are among those allowed to re- after 34 new infections yesterday, the most since May 9. The health Authorities imposed a partial open. Children wearing protective face masks sanitise their hands as they attend preschool classes at St James’ ministry said about two dozen diff erent test kits, including one lockdown in early April, with A third of the workforce is ex- Church Kindergarten as schools reopen amid the coronavirus disease outbreak in Singapore yesterday. from Takara Bio Inc, have been approved for saliva-based PCR tests. schools and most workplaces told pected to resume activity under Shares in Takara Bio jumped 4% yesterday. Musashino Central Hos- to close, and people only allowed yesterday’s easing, but the rest still only allowed out for essential remained relatively quiet. After would build new dormitories pital in western Tokyo said 12 patients and three hospital workers to leave home for essential pur- — including most offi ce staff — reasons. While there were more facing criticism over the migrant with improved standards, such had been confirmed with the virus, taking the total number of cases poses. But with new infections must continue from home if they people out and about yesterday worker outbreak, the govern- as reducing the number of people at the hospital to 31, forming the latest infection cluster. slowing and no major outbreaks can, and those not covered are morning, the subway and streets ment announced on Monday it per room. Gulf Times 10 Wednesday, June 3, 2020 BRITAIN

Covid-19 spilling out of hospitals and care homes, warns expert

Guardian News and Media care homes had been protected “I, like many people, am institutions. If you can drive the Prof Matt Keeling from War- ing. “With hindsight, it’s very under any scenario, the level of London from the virus and that infections shocked about how badly Europe- infection rates low in those insti- wick University, whose model- easy to say we know care homes transmission and number of cases in UK care homes and hospitals an – or countries around the world tutional settings, you drive the in- ling group is now providing the and hospitals are these huge col- will remain relatively fl at between were now feeding into the epidem- – have protected care home popu- fection low in the community as a government’s “worst case sce- lections of very vulnerable indi- now and September, short of very oronavirus infections in ic in the wider community. lations,” Ferguson told a hearing of whole,” Ferguson said. nario”, suggested that research- viduals, so maybe with hindsight big policy changes or behaviour hospitals and care homes Ferguson, who quit as a mem- the Lords science committee. With the virus still circulat- ers might have done more to un- we could have modelled those changes in the community,” he Care spilling into the com- ber of the government’s Scientifi c About 16,000 UK care home ing widely and restrictions being derstand the risks to care homes early on and thought about the said. munity and sustaining the out- Advisory Group on Emergencies residents are believed to have died eased, Ferguson said there was in particular. impacts there.” “The real uncertainty is if break to the point that cases will (Sage) after breaking social-dis- from Covid-19 in outbreaks that “limited room for manoeuvre.” “If the lockdown had been The researchers said it is still there are larger policy changes in remain steady until September, a tancing rules, said that infected have struck 38% of care homes in Lockdown reduced the spread very strict, if we’d have thought unclear what impact the recent September, as we move into the leading scientist has warned. staff carrying the virus out of the England and 59% in Scotland. of infection by about 80%, he said, more about what was happening easing of restrictions will have on time of year when respiratory Prof Neil Ferguson, the head of workplace explained why the R “The infections in care homes “but to maintain control, we need in care homes and hospitals early the spread of the virus, but Fergu- viruses tend to transmit slightly the outbreak infl uential modelling value, the average number of peo- and hospitals spill back into the to keep that transmission sup- on, maybe that was one of the son dampened any expectations better, what will happen then? group at Imperial College London, ple infected by a case, remained community, more commonly pressed by about 65% so we have a areas where modellers did drop that the epidemic might peter out And that remains very unclear,” said he was shocked at how poorly only marginally below one. through people who work in those little bit of wriggle room.” the ball,” Keeling told the hear- any time soon. “I suspect that he added.

Ministers ‘misleading Coronavirus public’ on virus tests death toll

Guardian News and Media London passes 50,000, he head of the UK Sta- tistics Authority has ac- Tcused the government of continuing to mislead the public over the numbers of tests carried out for Covid-19. reveals data “The aim seems to be to show the largest possible number of tests, even at the expense of understanding,” said Sir David Guardian News and Media to have died in care homes. England and Wales in that month Norgrove in a letter to the Health London Hospitals, while not over- was 88,153 – double the number Secretary, Matt Hancock. whelmed, have faced over two in 2019 and an increase of 38,430 He upbraids the government for months of severe pressure, with deaths in comparison with the mixing up tests carried out with he UK yesterday reached a staff handling tens of thousands previous month. testing kits sent out by post. “This grim milestone in its bat- of fatalities while most non-ur- The north-east and east of distinction is too often elided dur- Ttle with coronavirus as the gent treatment was suspended. England are the areas where the ing the presentation at the daily death toll surpassed 50,000 for The 50,000 death milestone disease is still having the great- press conference, where the rel- the fi rst time, according to offi cial comes as Boris Johnson contin- est impact, compared to normal, evant fi gure may misleadingly be fi gures. ues to loosen lockdown restric- with death tolls 30% and 40% described simply as the number of The tally comes 10 weeks after tions and will increase scrutiny of above the fi ve-year average re- tests carried out. the nation went into lockdown the government’s response to the spectively up to 22 May, according There are no data on how and confi rms Britain’s status pandemic, which has been ques- to the ONS fi gures. many of the tests posted out are as one of the world’s worst-hit tioned on several fronts. Between May 23 and May 29, in fact then successfully com- countries by a pandemic that has O The lockdown, introduced the period after the main ONS pleted,” he says in his letter. claimed about 375,000 lives glo- on March 23, was seen by many as data was gathered, care homes in Norgrove has a number of oth- bally. coming too late; the government’s England and Wales notifi ed their er criticisms of the way testing is The UK death toll is higher former chief scientifi c adviser, Sir regulators of 578 deaths related to carried out and the data present- than the worst aff ected coun- David King, said that “every day Covid-19. Scotland is set to pub- ed to the public. tries in Europe: Italy, France and cost lives”. lish more up-to-date death toll His letter is a second attempt Spain, according to researchers at O Medics and care workers fi gures today. to get more clarifi cation from the Johns Hopkins University, and the faced weeks of shortages of per- Scotland has recorded 3,779 government. number of people killed by coro- sonal protective equipment (PPE) deaths in all settings where coro- On May 11, he asked for more navirus in the UK since it emerged required to limit the spread of in- navirus was mentioned on the detail of the plans for 200,000 in China in January is only cur- fection. death certifi cate, according to tests to be carried out in England rently surpassed by America. O An early plan to contain the statistics published last week by every day. The number of deaths regis- virus with mass testing and trac- National Records of Scotland. It should be clear whether the tered in England and Wales with ing was ended on March 12 and The virus has hit 62% of care target referred to testing capac- confi rmed or suspected Covid-19 the Health Secretary, Matt Han- homes in Scotland and by May 26, ity, the tests that have been ad- reached 44,401 by May 22, ac- cock, only promised to increase 18 health and social care workers ministered, the test results re- cording to the Offi ce for National testing capacity to 100,000 a day had died from the virus, most of ceived or the number of people Statistics (ONS), but when more by the end of April. them working in care homes. tested, he wrote. recent fi gures from statistics au- O Black and minority ethnic There were also 716 Covid- Hancock replied, welcoming thorities in Scotland and North- (BAME) people have been dis- related deaths in all settings in Norgrove’s comments, saying ern Ireland and the NHS are add- proportionately aff ected and have Northern Ireland in 2020 up to he was publishing details of ed in, the tally hits 50,032. been two to three times more May 22, according to the North- how the 200,000 tests would It brings into view a predic- likely to die from Covid-19 than ern Ireland Statistics and Re- be counted. tion in April by disease analysts the general population, according search Agency. “The programme is commit- in the US that the UK could suff er to a UCL study. More up-to-date daily fi gures ted to being as transparent as 66,000 deaths by early August. While the fi gures confi rm the about deaths in hospitals in Eng- possible about its work,” said On March 17, early in the pan- death rate is continuing to fall and land show there were 931 con- Hancock. Dido Harding, who demic, the government’s chief reached its lowest level in the last fi rmed Covid-19 deaths from May had taken over its leadership, “is scientifi c adviser, Sir Patrick Val- seven weeks, overall mortality in 23 up to and including June 1, 105 keen to engage with you on how lance, had said that keeping the England and Wales so far this year further deaths in Scotland to date, we ensure the right statistical re- death toll below 20,000 would has been running at 22% above 78 in Wales and 22 in Northern porting of the test and trace pro- be “a good outcome in terms of the fi ve-year average. Ireland. gramme as it develops”, he wrote. where we hope to get to with this April, when the virus peaked, Deaths involving Covid-19 as But Norgrove’s latest letter to outbreak”. That 20,000 milestone was particularly bad and sepa- a proportion of all deaths in care the health secretary makes clear was reached in April. rate ONS fi gures, also published homes fell to 32.5%, but the fi g- that his doubts have not been al- Health Secretary Matt Hancock speaks during a daily briefing to update on the coronavirus outbreak, at Since the start of the epidemic, yesterday, showed the provisional ures showed the virus continues layed. 10 Downing Street in London yesterday. almost 15,000 people are known number of deaths registered in to have a hold in care settings.

BAME people more likely Travel fi rms cut prices by to die from Covid-19: study Black and Asian people in Those who are of Chinese, England are up to 50% more Indian, Pakistani or other 65% on holiday packages likely to die after being Asian ethnicity, as well as infected with Covid-19, an those who are Caribbean off icial study said yesterday, or other Black ethnicity, Daily Mail perate Britons to hold off booking really picking up. Spain, Greece, reinforcing previous reports had between a 10% to 50% London for now. Cyprus are likely to open up fi rst. which indicated ethnic higher risk of death than The Foreign Offi ce still advises The Canaries and Balearics are minority groups were more those in the white British against all but essential travel keen to welcome back tourists.” at risk from the virus. group, PHE said. ravel companies are of- and there will be a two-week Airlines are also heavily dis- The report by Public Health The findings echo a previous fering up to 65% off sum- quarantine for returning holi- counting fl ights. England (PHE) to examine study by the Office for Tmer holidays – but tour- daymakers from June 8. A Heathrow to Cancun return disparities in how the disease National Statistics (ONS) ism experts are warning Britons Rory Boland, editor of Which? with Air France in September, aff ected people, showed released last month, as the trips may not end up going Travel, said: “If consumers are which usually sells for around there was a significant well as other reports from ahead. keen to book something now £800, is being advertised for £312. disproportionate eff ect on Finland to the US. The bargain packages are being they should go into it with their And return fl ights from Man- ethnic minorities, while While disparities in how advertised on booking sites for as eyes open. If the FCO advice is chester to Reykjavik with Easyjet confirming death tolls among Covid-19 affects people by early as July in a bid to salvage the still in place when their holiday is in November are being sold for the elderly were far higher. age, gender and wealth season. due to take place, they will get a £41 (usually £150 plus), and The report comes as a reflect previous trends, PHE Tui, Britain’s biggest tour op- refund, but there’s a good chance Manchester to Dubrovnik with United Nations human said the disproportionate erator, is cutting three nights they will be waiting a long time. Jet2 from £30 one-way in late rights official highlighted mortality among Black, all-inclusive at the TUI SUNEO Holiday providers need to June (usually around £120). the “devastating impact” Asian and Minority Ethnic Odessos in Bulgaria on July 10 make it clear to their customers Emma Coulthurst from Travel of the disease on those (BAME) groups was the from £543 per person to £296. that these holidays may not take Supermarket, said: “The 14-day communities in Britain and opposite to what had been And a seven-night trip to place.” quarantine measure makes holi- other countries. seen in recent years. Gran Canaria on July 6 has been The UK quarantine will be re- days pretty impractical, although “Death rates from Covid-19 PHE said that the largest slashed from £606 to £394. viewed every three weeks. I have heard of some people will- were higher for Black and disparity in death rates was Travel Zoo is off ering two TUI spokesman Liz Edwards ing to do it to get a holiday. There Asian ethnic groups when in age, with people who nights in Paris in September for said they hope it will be lifted on is a risk booking now as there is compared to White ethnic were over 80 seventy times £79 – up to 64% cheaper than June 29 in time for summer trips. no guarantee the holiday will go groups,” the PHE report said. more likely to die than those usual. She added: “We believe we will ahead.” The report said that people under 40. And Easyjet Holidays is selling be having summer holidays this Research by TUI revealed the of Bangladeshi ethnicity had Men were also more likely to a week-long stay at Anseli Hotel year, hopefully from July. We most popular destinations for approximately twice the risk die than women, with death in Rhodes from July 8 for £195 hope the quarantine will be lift- trips this year are Spain, Greece of death than people who rates also higher in deprived with fl ights and transfers. ed, but air bridges are certainly a and Italy followed by Florida and People flock to the beach in Bournemouth yesterday as they enjoy were white British. areas. But experts have warned des- possibility. Bookings have been the Caribbean. the hot weather, following the outbreak of the coronavirus. Gulf Times Wednesday, June 3, 2020 11 BRITAIN

House prices fall at fastest rate since 2009 amid coronavirus crisis

Guardian News and Media the UK’s largest mortgage lend- cause of uncertainty around the down the housing market reo- ently about their home, especially ernment measures, while others He said: “It is too early to fore- London ers. Brexit process. pened in mid-May. the importance of a garden and will be worried that they may cast what the long-term eff ects This comes after April’s gain of The nationwide lockdown Data from HMRC showed the need for more indoor space. still end up losing theirs once the of the outbreak on the economy 0.9% and is the biggest monthly imposed by the government on residential property transactions But 22% of people were con- furlough scheme ends. and house prices will be. How- ouse prices across the fall since February 2009. March 23 to contain the Cov- were down 53% in April compared sidering improving their home “Additionally, many incomes ever, the raft of policies adopted UK fell at the fastest The annual growth rate slowed id-19 pandemic brought the with the same month in 2019. instead. have been aff ected. Consumer to support the economy should Hrate last month since to 1.8%, down from 3.7% in April housing market, and the wider Nationwide said potential The EY Item Club forecasting confi dence is currently at or near help ensure the impact on the the fi nancial crisis, as would-be and the slowest since December. economy, to an abrupt standstill. buyers were now planning to wait group predicts that house prices record low levels and many peo- housing market will ultimately buyers said they would wait six In early 2020, before the coro- House moves were banned six months on average before will fall by around 5% over the ple are likely to remain cautious be less than would normally be months before returning to the navirus pandemic struck the UK, apart from those that were “rea- looking to enter the market, and next few months. for some time to come when associated with an economic housing market. the housing market had been sonably necessary”, estate agents 12% of the population had put off Its chief economist adviser, making major spending decisions shock of this magnitude.” The average price of a gathering momentum following were banned from listing new moving because of the lockdown. Howard Archer, said: “Hous- such as buying or moving house.” Gardner said Nationwide’s home dropped by 1.7% in May the general election as confi - properties and househunters The lender said about 15% of ing market activity is likely to be Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s ability to generate the house price from the previous month, to dence returned to the market. were only allowed to conduct people were considering moving limited in the near term … Many chief economist, was forecasting index was unaff ected so far as £218,902, according to Nation- But the “Boris bounce” was virtual viewings. as a result of life in lockdown, with people have already lost their zero house price growth for 2020 sample sizes remained suffi ciently wide Building Society, one of expected to be short-lived be- After seven weeks of lock- a third stating they thought diff er- jobs, despite the supportive gov- before the pandemic. large to generate robust results. Govt accused of power-grab over redrawing of boundaries

Guardian News and Media This would, the Cabinet Of- London fi ce said, “provide certainty that the recommendations of the in- dependent boundary commis- abour has accused the sions – developed through a ro- government of attempt- bust and impartial process that Ling a power-grab for the is open to extensive consulta- executive by pushing through a tion – would then be imple- bill that strips parliament of its mented without interference”. role in approving the imminent The only way MPs could stop redrawing of UK parliamentary this would be to amend the rel- boundaries. evant laws to allow a vote. The decision to base the new Labour has previously ac- boundaries on the electoral cused the government of seek- register as it stands in Decem- ing to use the constituency ber this year would also greatly changes to its own advantage, skew the process, Labour is ar- and fears it could use the new guing, as the chaos caused by power to change boundaries coronavirus will depress num- without a vote in the future. Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi (centre) talks with other MPs as they are seen queuing in a courtyard on the parliamentary estate to vote on the motion of ‘Proceedings bers on electoral rolls, and many Analysis of the previous, during the pandemic’, in the socially-distanced House of Commons in London yesterday. students might not be regis- 600-seat system showed that in tered. the 2017 election it would have The parliamentary bounda- brought Theresa May an abso- ries bill, which sets the process lute majority, rather than a hung in motion, was scrutinised by parliament. the Commons for the fi rst time The party is also concerned yesterday. at the use of December 1 as the MPs abandon remote The initial plan had been electoral register on which to for boundaries to be redrawn gauge the boundaries. through reducing the size of Aside from the impact of the Commons from 650 seats to Covid, Labour says the lack of 600, but this element has been an election in 2020 would de- abandoned, in part due to un- press numbers. rest among Conservative MPs It is also possible students voting despite pandemic whose seats would have van- will not have returned to uni- ished. versities by then, meaning areas The revised plan will keep the with high student populations, 650-seat total, but there still which are often strongly pro- AFP break in April, the Commons Britain — the worst toll in Eu- that people like him were be- gravity of the choices involved, could be considerable changes, Labour, might be under-repre- London broke 700 years of convention rope and second-highest in the ing “denied their fundamental saying: “Voting while enjoying with the boundary commissions sented in the new boundaries. by allowing MPs to contribute world — and the number is still parliamentary duty, which is to a sunny walk or whilst watching for England, Scotland, Wales The Cabinet Offi ce is un- to debates via videolink and to rising by more than 100 a day. vote”. television does democracy an and Northern Ireland making derstood to still be examining he House of Commons vote remotely. Valerie Vaz, from the main MPs from Northern Ireland injustice.” recommendations to even up whether a register from another yesterday abandoned its But Prime Minister Boris opposition Labour party, ac- and Scotland also complained He said the existing pair- the constituency populations, date might work better, given Texperiment with remote Johnson’s government says cused ministers of “living in an- that continued restrictions on ing system remained available, given demographic changes the impact of coronavirus. voting, despite warnings the that as the nationwide stay- other universe” by forcing MPs travel made it hard for them to where MPs from opposite sides over time. Cat Smith, the shadow Cabi- move will disenfranchise vul- at-home order is eased, nor- to attend Westminster. be in London. agree both not to vote, to cancel Under previous plans, the net Offi ce minister whose brief nerable lawmakers still staying mal parliamentary service must The government’s own One Scot said it took him 18 out the eff ect of their absences. commissions’ plans would be covers voter engagement, said: at home because of coronavirus. now resume. Equality and Human Rights hours to get to Westminster for However, most MPs dislike scrutinised and voted on by the “The government’s decision to The decision was made in a Many MPs objected, includ- Commission warned it would yesterday’s vote. using this system because it Commons and Lords. end parliamentary oversight by lengthy physical vote, where ing a number from Johnson’s “place at signifi cant disadvan- But Jacob Rees-Mogg, the does not allow them to register But in a government update in denying MPs the chance to vote hundreds of MPs slowly fi led own Conservatives, but an tage” MPs unable to be there government’s minister in the their view. March, titled Strengthening De- on the boundary review proc- through the lower elected par- amendment seeking to retain whether because of their age, Commons, said parliament Rees-Mogg also said he mocracy, the Cabinet Offi ce said ess is yet another attempt to liamentary chamber to cast remote voting was defeated by disability, a health condition or could only function eff ectively would put forward plans to en- this would no longer be the case. diminish scrutiny and concen- their ballots while keeping apart 242 votes to 185. pregnancy. while being physically present. able MPs to take part remotely Instead the changes would trate power in the hands of the to avoid the spread of Covid-19. More than 39,000 people Disabled Conservative MP He also suggested that re- in certain proceedings, such as automatically become law. executive”. At the height of Britain’s out- with coronavirus have died in Robert Halfon told the BBC mote voting undermined the debates. Magazine snubs rare Labour abuse calls to helpline rise: charity royal legal complaint Thomson Reuters Foundation Britain is home to at least London 136,000 modern slaves, accord- ing to the Global Slavery Index Daily Mail statement, Tatler seemingly dis- given how time-consuming and by rights group Walk Free Foun- London missed the request, saying: ‘We costly it is likely to be. alls about labour abuse to dation, with labour exploitation can confi rm we have received Kensington Palace has not a helpline rose 42% last — such as people being forced to correspondence from lawyers gone into detail about their com- Cyear as workers at build- work to pay off a debt — being he Duchess of Cambridge acting for the Duke and the plaint but they are known to be ing sites, hotels and car washes the most common form. faces a showdown with Duchess of Cambridge and be- very unhappy about the maga- raised the alarm about unsafe A record 10,627 suspected TTatler after the magazine lieve it has no merit.’ zine’s claim that the duchess or exploitative conditions, a re- slaves were referred to the gov- dismissed a rare royal legal com- It had said previously that it feels “exhausted and trapped” port by an anti-slavery charity ernment for help in 2019, offi cial plaint as having ‘no merit’. stands by the journalist – who by the increased workload fol- showed yesterday. data shows, up by 52% in a year. Kensington Palace last week wrote the 1994 book Princess In lowing Harry and Meghan’s de- Unseen, which runs the hel- Unseen’s helpline data showed issued a furious public statement Love about Princess Diana’s af- cision to step back, which they pline to identify potential cases car washes, hotels, building sites about a front cover profi le of Kate, fair with James Hewitt – and her say is untrue. of modern slavery in the coun- and beauty and spa facilities which featured claims includ- sources. William is also believed to be try, said it will focus more closely were among the biggest sources ing that she fell out with Meghan The result of the stand-off upset by the suggestion that Ca- on labour abuse due to the sharp of labour abuse complaints, in a row over whether Princess means the ball is now fi rmly back role Middleton has become “the increase in calls. which totalled 1,112. Charlotte should wear tights as in the Cambridges’ court. mummy he’s always wanted”, Unseen’s director, Justine The biggest jump in calls re- a bridesmaid at her wedding and They have a number of options feeling it is incredibly disre- Currell, said labour abuse cases lated to building sites. that she consulted a psychic. but the most likely is to complain spectful to his late mother. could include inadequate pro- Britain’s labour exploita- It angrily dismissed the fea- to Ipso, the independent media Other parts of the article, in- tective equipment, failure to pay tion watchdog, the Gangmas- ture, written by author Anna regulator which Tatler, part of cluding references to Kate’s weight the minimum wage, long hours ters and Labour Abuse Author- Pasternak as containing “a the Conde Nast empire, is signed and choice of ‘Buckinghamshire and a lack of breaks — warning ity (GLAA), said investigating swathe of inaccuracies and false up to. fi ve-star hotel’ home decor, are that they could be a red fl ag for all reports of workplace abuse representations”. Ipso would then adjudicate on considered incredibly snobbish. modern slavery. protects vulnerable workers and It followed this with a legal the merits of William and Kate’s Kensington Palace declined to “It starts to tip itself into prevents more serious forms of letter to the magazine, which is complaint. comment on Tatler’s response. modern slavery when it has that exploitation such as forced la- considered to normally be very The couple could also take the Last week it said: “This story control element... When people bour. supportive of the royal family, issue to court, but it is unlikely contains a swathe of inaccura- feel like they can’t leave, where “Driving up compliance with demanding it remove the article that the Cambridges, who suc- cies and false misrepresenta- they’re debt bonded, when they regulations helps prevent the – entitled Catherine The Great – cessfully sued French magazine tions which were not put to have their passport taken,” she more serious forms of exploita- from its website. Closer for publishing pictures Kensington Palace prior to pub- told the Thomson Reuters Foun- tion from taking place,” a GLAA But in a pithy one-sentence of Kate, would be keen to do so, lication.” Kate and William: unhappy about the magazine’s claims. dation. spokesman said. Gulf Times 12 Wednesday, June 3, 2020 EUROPE

Spain to sue Paris police chief defends airlines over fl ight chaos force on ‘racism’ claims AFP Madrid

By Mariette Le Roux, AFP house where he hid after leading po- beria yesterday protested after the Paris lice on a 15-minute chase in 2016. Spanish government pledged to sue He lost consciousness in their vehi- I17 airlines for failing to inform trav- cle and died at a nearby police station. ellers about their right to a refund for he police chief of Paris yester- He was still handcuff ed when para- fl ights cancelled during the pandemic. day defended his forces against medics arrived. A day after the consumer aff airs min- Taccusations of brutality and One of the three arresting offi cers istry said it would take legal action, the racism as anger over alleged police told investigators that Traore had been Spanish carrier hit back. violence mounts in France as in the pinned down with their combined “Iberia and Iberia Express inform United States. bodyweight after his arrest. customers clearly about their rights,” it Following a string of complaints of The case sparked violent protests in said. alleged heavy-handedness, Didier Lal- the Paris suburbs and became a rally- Under European law, when a fl ight is lement wrote a letter sympathising with ing cry for police brutality in France, cancelled, passengers must be off ered an the “pain” offi cers must feel “faced with which young, black men say is often alternative fl ight or a refund. The refund accusations of violence and racism, re- targeted at them. may be voucher, but only if the customer peated endlessly by social networks and Last Friday, French medical experts consents, the European Commission certain activist groups”. exonerated the three police offi cers, clarifi ed last month. The Paris police force “is not vio- dismissing a medical report commis- “Shortcomings in the information lent, nor racist: it acts within the sioned by the young man’s family that provided on customers’ rights following framework of the right to liberty for said he had died of asphyxiation. the cancellation of fl ights,” led to the le- all,” he insisted in an e-mail to the It was the third offi cial report to gal action, the ministry said. city’s 27,500 law enforcers. clear the offi cers. “The misleading omission of infor- Lallement refused permission for Several French offi cers have been mation by airlines in off ering vouchers a rally yesterday outside a Paris court investigated for brutality against (as the only option) constitutes unfair later to call for justice for a young members of the public at long-run- trading involving a clear lack of consent black man, Adama Traore, who died in ning “yellow vests” anti-government as well as a breach of the law,” a state- police custody in 2016. rallies, and more recent anti-pension ment said. As thousands across the United reform strikes. Iberia said it was “bewildered” by the States protested the police killing last Scores of protesters were maimed allegations and denounced the “very week of George Floyd, an unarmed by rubber bullets or stun grenades, damaging eff ects” of such a move on black man, Lallement expressed con- some losing an eye or a hand. both its reputation and “fi nancial abil- cern that the “tone” of the call to rally On January 3 this year, a 42-year- ity to overcome the current paralysis”. in Paris could expose a “sensitive site” old man suff ocated to death after be- Companies to be named in the lawsuit to risk. ing pinned face down to the ground are Air Europa, Air France, Binter Ca- He also cited a nationwide ban on during an arrest in Paris. narias, EasyJet, Eurowings, Iberia (Iberia public gatherings of more than 10 Last week, a 14-year-old was badly Express and Air Nostrum), Jet 2, KLM, people designed to hamper coronavi- injured in one eye during a police opera- Latam Airlines, Lufthansa, Ryanair, rus spread, according to the Paris po- tion in Bondy, one of Paris’s less wealthy Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), Transavia, lice department. northern suburbs, sparking protests. Protesters hold placards during a demonstration outside the United States Embassy in Paris yesterday. Thomson Airways (TUI), United Air- Organisers have vowed to press Lallement insisted yesterday that lines, Volotea and Wizzair. ahead with the protest under the ban- any offi cer who erred would be appro- vidual actions throw into question the chaos and anarchy,” he wrote. ceptable, systematic questioning of “Refunds are always possible. This ner “Truth for Adama”. priately punished. republican bulwark that we are against The police department in a tweet police intervening in diffi cult contexts option has been clearly off ered to our Traore, 24 was apprehended in a “But I will not accept that indi- delinquency and those who dream of yesterday also denounced the “unac- with hostile crowds.” customers,” Germany’s Lufthansa told AFP. “But it must be understood that re- funds are not being paid out within the normal timeframe,” it said. The refund issue has become a politi- cal hot potato in the European Union. Hitler birthplace to be ‘neutralised’ with redesign Trump can’t change At the end of April, 12 European states including France — but not Spain — AFP future from the birth house of a dictator that Gerlinde Pommer, whose family asked the bloc to suspend the law re- Vienna and mass murderer,” Interior Minister owned the house for nearly a century, was G7 format, says EU quiring airlines to off er full refunds for Karl Nehammer said at a press conference entitled to some 810,000 euros in com- fl ights cancelled due to the crisis. announcing the plans. pensation, ending a lengthy legal battle. But the Commission said airlines ustrian offi cials yesterday unveiled Ministry offi cial Hermann Feiner add- Pommer had been renting the property AFP must off er refunds and cannot force plans to “neutralise” Adolf Hitler’s ed that by adjusting the architecture and to the interior ministry since the 1970s. Brussels passengers to accept vouchers, while Abirth house by turning it into a po- usage of the building the government The government paid her around 4,800 suggesting they incentivise vouchers as lice station, with the building receiving aimed to “neutralise the entire premises”. euros a month and used it as a centre for a way to support the hard-hit tourism some cosmetic changes in the process. Although Hitler only spent a short people with disabilities. he EU’s chief diplomat yesterday warned President Donald sector. The yellow corner house in the north- time at the property, it has continued to But this arrangement fell apart in 2011 Trump he did not have the power to change the format of French consumer rights group UFC- ern Austrian town of Braunau on the bor- draw Nazi sympathisers from around the when Pommer refused to carry out es- TG7 summit, after the US leader said he wanted to invite sev- Que Choisir also said in May it would fi le der with Germany, where Hitler was born world. sential renovation work and also declined eral other countries, including Russia. a legal complaint against 20 airlines for on April 20 1889, was taken into govern- Anti-fascist protesters have also or- to sell it. Moscow was expelled from the club of the world’s leading in- failing to reimburse customers for can- ment control in 2016. ganised rallies outside the building on Since then, the building has lain empty. dustrial nations in 2014 after annexing Crimea from Ukraine, but celled fl ights. The building’s fate was the subject of Hitler’s birthday. At one point, the interior ministry was Trump says the current membership is “outdated”. With the near freezing of internation- a lengthy legal battle with the house’s Offi cials said yesterday that the 800sq pushing to have it torn down but the plans Trump had said on Saturday he would delay the summit sched- al traffi c, airlines face an unprecedented owner, which only ended last year. m property — which also has several ga- ran into angry resistance from politicians uled for this month and invite other countries, including Russia, fi nancial crisis. Austrian architecture fi rm Marte. rages and parking spaces located behind and historians. to join the meeting. Industry body Airlines for Europe Marte, run by two brothers, has been the main building — would get two point- Germany annexed Austria in 1938, and But EU foreign aff airs high representative Josep Borrell said that (A4E) says 9.2bn euros ($10.3bn) had chosen from among 12 candidates to carry ed gables but that much of the original although many top henchmen from Hit- Russia had not changed course since 2014 and so should not be re- been lost in unused tickets by the end out the modifi cations to the property. structure would remain intact. ler downwards were Austrians, historians admitted. “The prerogative of the G7 chair, in this case the United of May. The International Air Transport The government expects the work to A commemorative plaque outside the say the small Alpine country was slow to States, is to issue guest invitations — guest invitations refl ect the Association (IATA) gave a similar esti- cost some 5mn euros ($5.6mn) and be building will also be removed and may be acknowledge for many years its shared host’s priorities,” Borrell said. “But changing membership, chang- mate, saying unused tickets amounted completed by early 2023. exhibited in a museum. responsibility for the Holocaust and the ing the format on a permanent basis, is not a prerogative of the G7 to some $10bn in Europe and $35bn glo- “A new chapter will be opened for the Austria’s highest court ruled last year other crimes of the Nazis. chair.” bally.

High risk of widespread Republic Day flypast Massive fuel leak wildfi res across Europe pollutes river Reuters Brussels AFP Moscow

he European Union expects dry weather to cause unusually widespread wildfi res in ocal authorities in Siberia have declared a state TEurope over the coming months, including of emergency after 20,000 litres of diesel fuel in the central and northern regions that tend to be Lseeped into a river sparking concerns from envi- less at risk, the EU’s crisis management commis- ronmentalists. sioner said yesterday. The World Wildlife Fund environmental group yes- After above-average European spring tempera- terday praised local eff orts to contain the spill with a tures, forest fi res have already broken out in recent fl oating dam, blocking dangerous pollutants from days in Sweden and northern France, data from fl owing into a lake near the Arctic city of Norilsk. the European Forest Fire Information System (EF- Satellite images published by the WWF showed FIS) show. large red spillages in the Ambarnaya river and residents This is in addition to fi res in Italy and Portugal, nearby posted videos on social media showing polluted which are vulnerable because of their warmer cli- water. mate. The spill was caused last week by a leaking diesel fuel The Commission, the EU executive arm, ex- tank at a thermal power plant several kilometres west pects the situation will get much worse over Eu- of Norilsk. rope’s summer. Russian mining conglomerate Norilsk Nickel, which “This fi re season is expected to be above the owns the facility, said the tank was damaged when ten-dozen-year average when it comes to the supporting pillars that had “held it in place for 30 years number of fi res and areas burned in Europe,” Jan- without diffi culty” began to sink. ez Lenarcic, the EU’s crisis commissioner, told a Norilsk is constructed on permafrost and its infra- news conference, referring to the period between structure is threatened by melting ice caused by cli- June and September, which is usually the warmest mate change. in Europe. Norilsk Nickel has been guilty of spillage in the past. He could not yet predict whether this year In 2016 it admitted pollutants from a “fi ltration dam” would be worse than last, when wildfi res brought at its plant washed into another local river, colouring record levels of devastation to Europe, but said the it bright red. It was fi ned less than $1,000 for the in- Commission estimated the risk of vast and multi- cident. ple wildfi res was high. The prosecutor of the Krasnoyarsk region said yes- Dry whether in usually wet regions is also terday a state of emergency had been declared locally spreading the risk beyond traditional hot spots. and opened an investigation into fuel leakage. “The areas that are prone to forest fi res are no The Investigative Committee, which probes serious longer only in the southern part of Europe, but crimes, said at least 20,000 litres of oil had spread over also in central Europe and even in the northern 350sq m. part of Europe,” Lenarcic said, citing recent fi res Norilsk Nickel company director Sergei Lipin said and projections from national authorities in EU 500cu m of pollutants had been removed by a team of states. 90 workers whose cleanup eff orts were ongoing. Belgium, in northwestern Europe, experienced The state environmental watchdog said groundwa- its driest May since the 19th century, with condi- Italian Air Force aerobatic unit Frecce Tricolori (Tricolored Arrows) performs over Rome as part of Republic Day ceremonies ter was not polluted and the WWF called on it to moni- tions that have stunted crop growth and cut yields yesterday. tor water quality downstream to prevent toxic prod- in the agricultural province of West Flanders. ucts from spreading to nature reserves. Gulf Times Wednesday, June 3, 2020 13 INDIA Girl’s suicide sparks protest over access to online classes

Agencies access to education. put the poor students under disperse protesters in northern and online channel for more than ternet, according to a 2018 report mitted suicide early yesterday by Kochi Among them was Devika stress and pressure,” said Ab- Malappuram district, where the 4mn students. by the Internet And Mobile Asso- hanging herself in a washroom Balakrishnan, the 14-year-old hijith K M, who heads the Kerala victim was from. The protesters accused the ciation of India. with her scarf. daughter of a daily wage labourer Students Union and was among One offi cer was injured when government of doing so without It also has among the highest “After the death, the report tudents protested in Kerala in the southern state who was the protesters. about 28 students tried to en- checking whether all students rates of Internet use by women, of the swab sample, which was yesterday after the suicide found dead near the family home “It should enable the poor ter the district education offi ce, had the means to attend them. the same report said. collected on Monday evening, Sof a teenage girl who was on Monday, the fi rst day of the students to obtain computers Malappuram superintendent of Kerala’s education minister A 50-year-old woman Cov- tested positive for Covid-19,” unable to attend online classes new school term, having appar- at interest-free loans to avoid police Abdul Kareem said. expressed grief over the teenag- id-19 patient allegedly com- he said. because she did not have a televi- ently taken her own life. similar cases in future,” he said in India has begun easing its er’s death and ordered an inves- mitted suicide at the Tripura A West Tripura District ad- sion or smartphone. Student activists in Kerala Kozhikode. coronavirus lockdown, which tigation. government-run Govind Ballabh ministration offi cial said the Schools have been shut across took to the streets to protest her He said the group had organ- was among the strictest in the He said online classes were be- Pant Medical College and Hospi- woman’s body, kept in an airtight India since the country locked death, which has highlighted the ised protests in all Kerala dis- world and left millions without ing conducted on a trial basis and tal yesterday, a minister said. three-layered plastic bag, was down its 1.3bn people on March inequalities of the lockdown, tricts, but limited the number of work. that students who missed them Education and Law Minister disinfected and taken to a cem- 25 to curb the spread of the coro- with pupils in poor, rural areas protesters to 50 in each place so But schools have not yet reo- would be given opportunities to Ratan Lal Nath said the woman, etery at South Ramnagar on the navirus, leaving millions of chil- far less likely to be able to learn that they could follow social dis- pened and Kerala began its aca- attend again. suff ering from kidney-related outskirts of Agartala and buried dren whose families cannot af- online. tancing rules. demic year on Monday with More than half of Kerala’s in- ailments, was admitted to the there in the presence of close ford expensive devices with no “The government action has Police said they used batons to classes broadcast on television habitants have access to the In- hospital on Monday and com- relatives and an imam. Govt approves emergency use of remdesivir in Covid cases

Agencies The regulator has decided patients have been cured,” the Bengaluru against extending the use of the ministry’s Joint Secretary Lav drug to 10 days, based on exist- Agrawal said. ing evidence presented to it at The recovery rate is now he government said yes- the time of approval, according 48.07%, up from 11.42% on April terday it has approved to the paper. 15.” Commuters board a public bus after authorities eased restrictions in Kolkata yesterday. TGilead Sciences Inc’s an- Gilead did not respond to an e- He said that the fatality rate tiviral drug remdesivir for emer- mail seeking further details. is also declining and stands at gency use for fi ve doses in treat- The company signed non- 2.82%, which he claims is the ing Covid-19 patients. exclusive licensing pacts last “lowest in the world”, com- Remdesivir, which is adminis- month with fi ve generic drug- pared to a global fatality rate of tered intravenously in hospital, is makers based in India and Pa- 6.13%. 200 migrant workers killed the fi rst drug to show improve- kistan, including Cipla Ltd and “Our case fatality rate per lakh ment in Covid-19 patients in Jubilant Life Sciences Ltd, to ex- population too is amongst the formal clinical trials and is at the pand supply of the drug. lowest in the world, while there forefront of the battle against the As yesterday, India has are countries with a fi gure as high disease, which has no approved 198,706 cases of coronavirus and as 62 and 82.” on roads during lockdown treatment or vaccine. has recorded 5,598 deaths, health “We have been able to achieve The drug was granted emer- ministry data showed. this due to timely identifi cation gency use authorisation by the US Ministry also said the corona- of cases and proper clinical man- Agencies The migrants lost their lives who carried her injured father day to catch a train to her native Food and Drug Administration last virus recovery rate is improving, agement,” he said. New Delhi while walking, cycling and travel- 1,200km across India by bike - place. month and has received approval while the fatality rate is on the Agrawal said 73% of the deaths ling in trucks and vans in intense the government is now running She said she would never re- by Japanese health regulators. decline and one of the lowest in in the nation have been of people heat, as well as in massive crashes trains and buses to help people turn as there was no work in The drug is being administered the world. with comorbidities such as dia- early 200 migrant work- involving state-organised buses, get home. Delhi. in some countries under com- “The recovery rate is continu- betes, hypertension, heart and ers died in road accidents it said, blaming speeding and Thousands of migrants packed “We don’t have any work here. passionate use rules. ously improving, a total of 95,527 respiratory diseases. Nin India while returning driver fatigue. into trains that resumed services And as there is no income we are “(Remdesivir) approved on to their village homes during the “With Covid-19 still very across the country on Monday, unable to pay the rent,” she said. June 1 under emergency use with world’s longest coronavirus lock- much around, we simply can’t af- raising fears about the pandemic “We are not going to come condition for fi ve dose admin- Priest dies of coronavirus in Kerala down, a charity said yesterday. ford to burden our already over- spreading through villages as back to Delhi and it is the reason istration,” the Drugs Controller Tens of thousands of people burdened healthcare system with new infections are increasing. why we are going back to our vil- General of India said in an e-mail A 76-year-old Christian priest, cases, 46 came from abroad and walked home from big cities after road crash related trauma,” Piy- The SaveLIFE Foundation lage with all our belongings,” she statement. who was admitted to the 26 from within the country,” she losing their jobs when one of the ush Tewari, head of the SaveLIFE said almost half of road accident said. The approval comes a day af- Medical College hospital in said. Shailaja also said 1,45,670 world’s strictest lockdowns was Foundation, said in a statement. fatalities - involving 94 mi- Rajkumari said her husband ter the US drugmaker reported Thiruvananthapuram after a people are in isolation at home introduced and all public trans- “It is critical that states en- grant workers - took place in the worked as a daily labourer and that remdesivir showed modest road accident and underwent or at corona care centres, while port was suspended to contain hance enforcement to prevent northern state of Uttar Pradesh, since they don’t have any work benefi t in patients with moder- surgery, died yesterday. He 1,340 people are in various the spread of the new coronavi- road crashes.” which is home to millions of mi- there is no need to stay back. ate Covid-19 given a fi ve-day was subsequently found to be hospitals in the state. Ever since rus in late March. A speeding bus ran over and grants, followed by central Mad- She said she will go back to her course, while those who received Covid-19 positive, taking the May 7, when the first international More than 1,400 road ac- killed six migrant workers as they hya Pradesh and eastern Bihar. village and will do farming in the it for 10 days in the study did not death toll in Kerala to 11. “(As flight arrived from the Middle cidents killed 750 people, in- walked home last month, days Meanwhile, several migrant fi elds as the season of sowing rice fare as well. many as) 774 people are under East, positive cases have been cluding 198 migrant workers, after a train crushed 16 migrants workers going back on trains is coming. The drug has been approved treatment in various hospitals rapidly increasing and by now between March 25 and May 31, who fell asleep on a railway line, vowed not to return. Similar is the condition of for the treatment of adults and in the state, while 19 people 25,832 people have come from according to the SaveLIFE Foun- sparking anger on social media. One of them is Rajkumari, Mukesh, a resident of Uttar children with severe Covid-19, turned negative taking the total abroad, while over 1.26 lakh have dation, a charity that works to- After weeks of criticism and a resident of Uttar Pradesh’s Pradesh’s Deoria district. the Indian Express newspaper tally of those who were cured of come by road and train from wards improving road safety and stories of hardship - includ- Gonda district who was at the He too said he will not return reported yesterday, citing sourc- the disease t 627. Of the 86 new elsewhere in the country. emergency care in India. ing that of a 15-year-old girl New Delhi railway station yester- to Delhi. es. Delhi launches app to track PM gets Trump invite hospital beds, ventilators to attend G7 summit Agencies mit to be held in USA,” the min- New Delhi istry said. IANS patients, only 8,000 got ad- availability of beds, and hospi- The leaders exchanged views New Delhi equate treatment because there tal-wise availability of beds in a on Covid-19 situation in the were no beds, ventilators and dashboard format and also pro- rime Minister Narendra two countries, the India-China ICUs. vides information about ventila- Modi got an invitation standoff at the border, and the he Delhi government “This led to these countries tors. Pfrom US President Donald need for reforms in the World yesterday launched a being severely impacted by coro- “The app shows the status of Trump to attend the next Group Health Organisation, it added. Tmobile application to navirus because there were more the total number of beds in the of Seven summit, the External US Secretary of State Mike help track hospital beds and deaths,” the chief minister said. hospitals in Delhi, and when you Aff airs Ministry said yesterday. Pompeo and a senior congres- ventilators for Covid-19 pa- “While we say that there is ad- click on the fi gure, you get infor- Over a telephone call, Modi sional leader have reprimanded tients in the city. equate health infrastructure such mation about bed availability in told Trump that New Delhi China for bullying behaviour Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as beds, ventilators and ICUs, we every hospital. There are 6,731 would be happy to work with the towards India during a military said the app is being launched to receive distress calls and mes- beds in hospitals, out of which United States and other coun- standoff on their disputed bor- bridge the gap in information. sages from people not getting 2,819 are occupied and 3,912 are tries to ensure the success of the der. He said there has been a surge beds for treatment in hospitals. vacant,” Kejriwal said. next G7 summit, the ministry Trump had off ered to mediate in coronavirus cases in Delhi, but There is a gap in information,” he The app also shows the availa- said in a statement. between the two Asian giants to there is no need to panic because said. bility of ventilators, and the chief Trump said on Saturday he resolve the stand-off , but neither the government has made suffi - The chief minister also said minister said out of 302 ventila- was postponing until Septem- country accepted the off er. cient arrangements. people are unable to gather in- tors available in hospitals, 92 are ber the summit that had been India and China are using dip- He said if a person gets infect- formation on where they will occupied and 210 are vacant. scheduled for late June in Camp lomatic channels to resolve the ed with the virus, the govern- receive adequate treatment and Kejriwal said that the app will David, the US president’s coun- issue. ment has made arrangements for about availability of beds and be updated with the latest fi gures try retreat, and that he wanted Last week, however, Trump the availability of beds, oxygen, other facilities. twice a day, at 10am and 6pm. to invite Australia, Russia, South had claimed that Modi was not ventilators and all health facili- “They have no idea what to “You can download the app Korea and India to the meeting. pleased with President Xi Jin- ties for their treatment. do if that happens. To bridge ‘Delhi Corona’ on Google Play Trump conveyed his desire ping’s government over the bor- “Many nations across the that gap in information, we have Store and access it on the web to expand participation beyond der confl ict. world have faced the issue of in- launched an app. You can down- on delhifi ghtscorona.in/beds, the members of the group of the During the call, Trump re- adequate health infrastructure load this app to avail informa- or call on 1031 to know the bed world’s most advanced econo- called his visit to India in Febru- due to coronavirus,” Kejriwal tion on bed availability in various availability status on SMS. mies. ary. said. government and private hospi- You can also WhatsApp on “In this context, he extended Modi said the historic visit had He said there were countries tals in Delhi,” Kejriwal said. 8800007722 to download the An auto-rickshaw driver wearing personal protective equipment an invitation to Prime Minister added new dynamism to the bi- where out of 20,000 Covid-19 He said the app shows the app,” Kejriwal said. (PPE) steps out of his vehicle in Chennai yesterday. Modi to attend the next G7 Sum- lateral relationship. Gulf Times 14 Wednesday, June 3, 2020 INDIA App highlights backlash against Chinese business

Reuters apps, a move he described as a Chinese ones, did not respond to “Previous boycott calls have that he was no longer using. US rebukes China for border ‘aggression’ New Delhi “national service”. a request for comment. focused on Chinese goods, Nupur Sharma, a spokes- Chinese companies have faced The company, based in Jaipur, whereas this one especially woman for the BJP, said it was US Secretary of State Mike that authoritarian regimes take,” occasional opposition for years describes the app as its fi rst initia- targets Chinese apps, which “great to see concerned citizens Pompeo and a senior he said. The chairman of the US ndia’s top trending free app in India, where some support- tive toward a “self reliant India”. could impact Chinese technol- setting an example”. congressional leader have House Committee on Foreign on Google’s mobile app store, ers of Prime Minister Narendra ByteDance and Alibaba did ogy companies who have seen “We ought to hit them where reprimanded China for bullying Aff airs, Eliot Engel, said China Iwith more than 5mn down- Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party not respond to Reuters requests India as a crucial market,” said it hurts most,” Sharma said behaviour towards India should respect norms and use loads since late May, is called advocate self reliance. for comment on the app. Tanvi Madan, a senior fellow at on Twitter, using the hashtag, during a military standoff diplomacy to settle the border “Remove China Apps” and does Remove China Apps, whose The Chinese Embassy in New the Brookings Institution who #BoycottChineseProducts. on their disputed border. In issue with India. “I am extremely exactly what it says on the label. logo contains a dragon’s head Delhi did not immediately re- closely tracks Indo-China rela- A senior executive working for comments released by the State concerned by the ongoing Its popularity comes amid with two brooms, scans a user’s spond. tions. a China-based company in In- Department, Pompeo told the Chinese aggression along the calls for a boycott of Chinese phone for apps such as ByteD- The protest against Chinese The stakes are high for fi rms dia, who spoke on condition of American Enterprise Institute Line of Actual Control,” he said. mobile apps in India as a border ance’s TikTok and Alibaba’s UC apps comes after India in April like ByteDance, which plans to anonymity, said Chinese fi rms think-tank that China’s moving “China is demonstrating once dispute fuels a backlash against Browser. said stricter screening rules will invest $1bn in India and has re- were contributing to the Indian of troops to the line of control again that it is willing to bully products from China. Once deleted, a message pops apply to foreign direct invest- cently ramped up hiring. economy, especially the manu- echoed similarly heavy-handed its neighbours rather than Popular yoga guru Baba Ram- up saying, “You are awesome, no ments from China, worrying in- India is the biggest driver of in- facturing sector. behaviour over the coronavirus, resolve conflicts according to dev posted a video on Twitter on China app found.” vestors there. stallations of ByteDance’s TikTok, He predicted the protests will South China Sea and Hong Kong. international law,” he added in a Sunday showing the step-by- OneTouch AppLabs, which China has said the policy is which Bollywood actor Milind be short-lived: “It hurts but (the “These are the kinds of actions statement on Monday. step deletion of several Chinese has developed the app to remove discriminatory. Soman said last week on Twitter boycott calls) are going to fade.” Cyclone in June ‘rarest of rare’ event: experts

IANS and all three occurred in October New Delhi and November. The latest was Phyan in 2009.” The number of cyclones and s a storm brewing in the severe cyclones in the Arabian Arabian Sea intensifi ed Sea has risen by 32% in the last Ainto the tropical cyclone fi ve years, according to the IMD. Nisarga yesterday, many experts Nisarga means nature and was believe its landfall would be a termed by Bangladesh. rarest of rare events on the Ma- The name was accorded in harashtra coastline. a list formulated by a group of The last cyclone to hit Mum- countries. bai was ‘Phyan’ on November 11, Bangladesh had also suggest- 2009. ed ‘Fani’, which made a landfall The Indian Meteorological in Odisha on May 3, 2019. Department (IMD) has predicted The extremely severe cyclone that Nisarga will cross Mahar- had caused extensive damage. ashtra and Gujarat coast between The naming of cyclones in the Harihareshwar and Daman, close Indian Ocean began in 2000 and Fishermen look at a crane lifting a boat from the shore for safety measures ahead of a cyclonic storm at the Madh fishing village, near yesterday. to today afternoon. a formula was agreed in 2004. According to IMD’s Cyclone The next few cyclones will be E-Atlas, no weather system has named Gati (named by India), turned into a cyclone and made Nivar (Iran), Burevi (Maldives), landfall along the Maharashtra Tauktae (Myanmar) and Yaas coast during June. (Oman). Cyclone E-Atlas has been Tropical cyclones are named Mumbai on high alert, tracking tropical cyclones and to help the scientifi c community depressions over the North In- and disaster managers identify dian Ocean since 1891. cyclones, create awareness and eff ectively disseminate warnings “Only three cyclonic storms to wider audiences. have made landfall over or The World Meteorological Or- near Mumbai since 1891, ganisation and the UN Economic thousands evacuated and all three occurred in and Social Commission for Asia October and November. and the Pacifi c at its 27th session The latest was Phyan in held in 2000, agreed to assign 2009” names to the tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea. zNisarga expected to bring heavy rains and winds gusting up to 120kmph According to Roxy Mathew Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Koll, a climate scientist at the In- Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Agencies battle with 41,000 infections. said Rakesh Minhas, a senior of- Thackeray, a leader of Mahar- coastal areas of Mumbai, Thane dian Institute of Tropical Meteor- Lanka and Thailand were part of Mumbai Offi cials have begun to evacu- fi cial in Daman. ashtra’s ruling Shiv Sena party, and Raigad districts, he said. ology (IITM), “it will be the fi rst the panel. ate people from vulnerable and Another 4,000 people were said on Twitter. Fishermen have been warned cyclone in the recorded history to Later in 2018 Iran, Qatar, Sau- low-lying areas in Maharashtra moved out of coastal villages in Authorities evacuated nearly not to venture out to sea. hit the Maharashtra coast in June.” di Arabia, the UAE and Yemen tropical storm over the state. Gujarat’s Valsad and Navsari dis- 150 Covid-19 patients from a re- The storm may cause major Another IITM researcher said were added to the list. Arabian Sea approaching Maharashtra Chief Minister tricts, offi cials said. cently built fi eld hospital to a fa- damage to power and commu- it would be the “second cyclone” Cyclones around the world are AIndia’s western coast near Uddhav Thackeray said people Extra care is being taken to cility with a concrete roof as a pre- nication lines, as well as huts, in the recorded history to hit the named by Regional Specialised Mumbai prompted authorities living in fl imsy homes near the prevent disruption to the power cautionary measure, offi cials said. thatched homes and crops, Mo- Maharashtra coast in the pre- Meteorological Centres and Trop- in the region to issue high alerts shore were being moved to safer supply as thousands of patients Mumbai, with a population of hapatra said. monsoon season (April-June). ical Cyclone Warning Centres. and evacuate thousands of peo- places. undergo treatment in hospitals 20mn, has faced relatively few The NDRF has mobilised 32 “The only cyclone that hit the There are a total of six RSMCs ple yesterday. “Slum-dwellers in low-lying throughout the region, National cyclones during the past hun- teams, and a total of 1,500 men Maharashtra coast in the pre- and fi ve TCWCs, including the is expected areas have been instructed to Disaster Response Force offi cials dred years. are ready in the two states to monsoon season was in May Indian Meteorological Depart- to make landfall close to Alibag, evacuate,” Thackeray said in a said. This is the fi rst major storm in help with evacuations and re- 1961,” Vineet Kumar said. ment. 100km south of Mumbai, today message posted by his offi ce on Hospitals not treating corona- decades. lief. According to the National Cy- The IMD has been mandated afternoon, the Indian Meteoro- Twitter. virus patients will be preparing Past storms weathered by the Nisarga is the second cyclone clone Risk Mitigation Project, to name cyclones that develop logical Department said. Nisarga is also expected to hit for those in need of medical as- city include Cyclone Phyan in to strike India in a little over a only 25% cyclones that develop over the North Indian ocean, in- The storm is expected to bring neighbouring Gujarat and the sistance, they said. 2009, with wind speeds up to week. in the Arabian Sea approach the cluding Arabian Sea and Bay of heavy rains and winds gusting coastal region of Daman, where “While we fi ght Covid, we are 85kmph, and another storm in On May 21, Cyclone Amphan west coast. Bengal, by following a standard up to 120kmph. authorities evacuated more than prepping ourselves to also deal 1961, according to IMD chief battered the country’s eastern Senior meteorologist Jason procedure. Mumbai is already strug- 10,000 people. with cyclone... We have to safe- Mrutyunjay Mohapatra. coast including Kolkata, and Nicholls said “only three cy- As suggested by the 13 coun- gling with the highest number “We have shifted more than guard our citizens and the city at The approaching storm could neighbouring Bangladesh, kill- clonic storms have made landfall tries, IMD released a list of cy- of coronavirus cases in the 6,000 people from low-lying large. All the wards have begun create waves as high as 2m, ing more than 100 people and over or near Mumbai since 1891, clone names in April 2020. country, as the authorities coastal areas to higher ground,” the pre cyclone preps,” Aaditya which could inundate low-lying leaving a trail of destruction. Jessica Lal’s murderer Landslides triggered by released from Tihar jail rains kill 21 in Assam Agencies ing landslides onto thatched vil- Guwahati lage homes. Rescue work is going IANS formalities inside the jail on June on. Seven villagers are injured,” New Delhi 1 he is now offi cially released.” Maibanbsa said over the tel- Along with Sharma, Baijal ap- t least 21 people were ephone. proved the release of 18 convicts killed in a series of land- Assam Forests Minister Par- essica Lal’s murderer Manu serving life sentence. Aslides triggered by inces- imal Suklabaidya said several Sharma walked out of the “In exercise of the powers con- sant rains in the northeastern homes were destroyed. JTihar Jail yesterday, a decade ferred by section 432 of the Code state of Assam yesterday, offi - Offi cials said rescue workers after he was sentenced to life im- of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of cials said. feared they may fi nd more bod- prisonment. Manu Sharma 1974) read with the Government Several villagers were injured ies trapped by the landslides and This came after Delhi Lieu- of India, Ministry of Home Af- in the landslides that were re- the toll could rise. tenant Governor Anil Baijal ap- area on the night of April 30, 1999. fairs, New Delhi Notifi cation… ported from districts in the Bar- Assam Chief Minister Sarba- proved his premature release late The ups and downs in the case dated 20 March, 1974, the Lt ak valley region. nanda Sonowal expressed grief last month. were made into a Bollywood Governor of the National Capi- Rescue teams had been rushed over the deaths and asked the Sharma, son of former fed- movie. Lal’s family was de- tal Territory of Delhi is pleased to aff ected areas, offi cials man- district administrations to take eral minister Venod Sharma, was stroyed by the tragedy and they to remit the un-expired portion ning the disaster control room all steps to help the aff ected convicted for killing Lal in 1999. fought a long hard battle. of the sentence of the follow- in the regional capital Guwahati families. A lower court acquitted him, The only surviving member in ing 19 (nineteen) life convicts said. He also asked the offi cials but the Delhi High Court re- Lal’s family is her sister Sabrina. on the recommendations of the Among those dead are seven to sanction fi nancial aid to the versed the verdict and sentenced Speaking to IANS, Sharma’s Sentence Reviewing Board in its people in Cachar district and six families of the victims. him to life imprisonment which lawyer Amit Sahni said, “It’s a meeting held on 11.05.20,” the or- in Karimganj district. Floods in India’s northeast are was upheld by the Supreme day of happiness as a long battle der dated May 28 said. Eight more were killed in the an annual phenomenon, but the Court in April 2010. of court and prolonged incar- The decision comes after the Hailakandi district, regional of- monsoon season there usually Lal, a model, was shot dead by ceration has come to an end. This Sentence Review Board recom- fi cial Rupjoy Maibanbsa said. falls between July and Septem- Sharma after she refused to serve is a result of his good behaviour mended the release of Sharma “The region has seen heavy ber. him drinks at the Tamarind Court inside the jail. He was already out for his “good conduct” inside pre-monsoon rains since last The hilly terrain in the region restaurant owned by socialite Bina of the jail as he was on emergency the jail and outside too while on People gather at a landslide site in Udarband village in Cachar week which loosened earth and makes it prone to landslides after Ramani in south Delhi’s Mehrauli parole but after completing all the paroles and furlough. district in the Barak Valley of Assam yesterday. dislodged boulders on hills caus- heavy rain. Gulf Times Wednesday, June 3, 2020 15 LATIN AMERICA

20 Peru journalists ‘have died of Covid-19 while covering pandemic’

Guardian News and Media try, which, after Brazil is Latin mate by the Swiss NGO the Press About half of the victims were covering from Covid-19 at home. a good guy,” said Jorge Carrillo, mask,” said his nephew Hertz Lima America’s worst-hit with more Emblem Club. working when they became infect- “None of us are staff , we do his colleague and friend of 25 Hemeryth, also a journalist. than 170,000 Covid-19 cases and “This pandemic has stripped ed, Lainez reported, and most were this because it’s a passion,” he years. Dozens of other colleagues The former president of Peru’s 4,600 deaths. bare the labour conditions for freelancers while just four worked said. “There wasn’t any protec- were recovering from the virus in public television and radio in- t least 20 journalists have Peru is not the only country in journalists in Peru,” said Zuliana for national media outlets. tive equipment here, we just Iquitos, which saw one of Peru’s stitute, Hugo Coya, said: “Jour- died from Covid-19 in the region to report the death of Lainez, secretary general of Pe- “Media companies have the went out and did our job.” worst outbreaks, Carrillo said. “I nalists are expected to go to the APeru as reporters, pho- journalists from Covid-19. ru’s National Journalists Asso- legal and moral obligation to pro- Peru’s public television and ra- know many of them didn’t take frontline but they weren’t trained tographers and camera operators At least 12 journalists have ciation, known as the ANP. vide personal protective equip- dio broadcaster ordered employ- the right precautions,” he added. how to protect themselves from raced to cover the pandemic’s reportedly died from the virus At least six journalists died in ment (PPE) for their personnel, ees over 60 to stay at home when The virus also killed a veteran points of contagion.” spread through the country, of- in Ecuador’s hard-hit city of Peru’s hard-hit Amazon city of especially those who do report- the pandemic struck. journalist, Victor Hemeryth del Others fell victim to a lack of ten without protective equip- Guayaquil, about eight in Brazil, Iquitos, four in the capital Lima, ing,” Lainez added. But Manuel Sánchez, the cor- Águila, 78, who worked with Ca- medical equipment. ment. and at least one in Nicaragua, and others on the country’s In Iquitos, most journalists respondent in Iquitos, was 59 nal 23, a local television station. Azucena Romaní, 59, a reporter The number throws into sharp among deaths in other countries. northern coast, a coronavirus had to bring their own PPE, just and kept working. He caught “Those that died, like my un- for the state news agency Andina, focus the risks and precari- Around the world, at least 117 hotspot, according to the ANP. as many fi nance their own air- Covid-19 and died in a public cle, died precisely because we died in one of Lima’s main coro- ous work conditions which face journalists have died as a result Dozens more journalists are time by drumming up advertising hospital. have to fi nance ourselves and navirus hospitals before her col- journalists covering the global of the coronavirus pandemic in 31 reportedly recovering from the for local radio stations, explained “I can’t believe he’s gone. He when the money runs out you leagues could get her a ventilator, pandemic in the Andean coun- countries, according to one esti- virus. Otoniel Vela, 55, a radio host re- was honest, helpful, noble; such don’t think of buying a new according to local reports. Misinformation fuels virus crisis in Ecuador

AFP ing reporting on the authorities’ Quito very real problem of how to dis- pose of an increasing number of dead in Guayaquil while the city’s y the time the coronavirus morgues and funeral services pandemic spiralled out of were overwhelmed during a 15- Bcontrol in Ecuador, misin- hour daily curfew. formation was already spreading But the real story quickly be- on the internet with reports of came clouded by misinformation, corpses being thrown into the sea, as photos of mass graves dug in bodies washing up on beaches open countryside were frantically and miracle cures aplenty. shared on social media. Misinformation was already However, of those checked by propagating in Latin America AFP Factual, one photo was taken several weeks before the virus it- in Mexico in 2018 and the other — self. while taken in Ecuador — dated By late January, videos were from 2016 and had no link to the being shared widely on social me- pandemic. dia purportedly showing the live “All the attacks were aimed at animal market that was the focus destabilising the government,” of the Chinese outbreak late last the Ecuador presidency’s com- year. munications offi ce said. However, the images were It gave as an example “the sup- not of Wuhan but of Indonesia, posed burning of bodies in the 3,200kms away. streets of Guayaquil, which was Then conspiracy theorists taken up by news services all over across Latin America accused the world, when in reality the im- Bill Gates and US scientists of ages were of burning furniture or being behind the coronavirus tyres.” Suzana Lisboa hugs her father Raul Lisboa, 89, through a plastic curtain at the 3i Bem-Estar — Residencial Senior nursing home, amid the coronavirus outbreak, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. outbreak. Fake stories snowballed on Fa- By the time China registered cebook, WhatsApp and Twitter. 80,000 infections and 250 deaths The government said it iden- on February 29, Ecuador was re- tifi ed 25 groups spreading mis- porting its fi rst case, Brazil still information via Telegram and had only one and Mexico three. WhatsApp, with hundreds of us- A month later, Ecuador’s ers. WHO warns of pressure on caseload had exploded to 2,800. The government began a cam- Health services, morgues and paign to clamp down on fake funeral homes collapsed under stories and expand corroborated the strain, and misinformation information on the virus and its spread like wildfi re, with tangible true eff ects on the country. Latin America health systems consequences for Ecuadorans. Among other things, it used “Don’t buy fi sh! Coronavirus federal departments to debunk dead are thrown into the sea in more than 300 pieces of false in- Ecuador and Peru,” said the cap- formation since March. AFP The march of the illness across Four of the 10 countries across Recently there have been pro- counting for more than half of tion on two videos shared tens of The government also used Fa- Rio de Janeiro the Americas comes as other the globe with the greatest number tests in Chile. To stop the virus those cases and close to 60% of thousands of times on social net- cebook and Google to publicise its parts of the world return to rela- of new Covid-19 cases were in from spreading, the greater San- the fatalities. works. own health information and en- tive normality after weeks of re- Latin America, WHO emergencies tiago area has been in quarantine Popular tourist city Rio de Ja- Factcheckers revealed that one sure it remained on top of search ealthcare systems across strictions on daily life that have director Michael Ryan said. for weeks. neiro, however, began gradually video was of the bodies of mi- engine results. Latin America risk be- wrecked economies and left mil- Brazil, Peru, Chile and Mexico In Chile, the medical associa- easing lockdown measures from grants washed ashore on a beach “During the Covid-19 health Hing overwhelmed by the lions jobless. are suff ering the highest daily tion had warned a few days ago yesterday, beginning with the re- in Libya in 2014. emergency, this disinformation coronavirus, the World Health Schools, swimming pools, increases but numbers are also about the onslaught on hospitals opening of places of worship and The other featured the trans- campaign grew,” the government Organisation has said, as the pubs and tourist sites have begun on the rise in Argentina, Bolivia, that means almost all intensive water sports. fer by boat of a corpse that the communications service said. death toll from the disease in to throw open their doors again Colombia and Haiti. care beds are occupied. Mexico began reopening on victim’s family said had not been According to data from the hard-hit Brazil nears 30,000. in Europe as the continent con- More than 100,000 peo- “Countries are having to work Monday, reactivating the au- taken from the sea. International Fact-Checking The warning from the global tinues easing lockdowns despite ple have already contracted the very, very hard to both understand tomotive industry, mining and “I’m a seafood merchant. The Network (IFCN), nearly 1,000 health body came as a sister UN the threat of a second wave of coronavirus in Chile, according the scale of infection but also construction even as the country lies and false videos have aff ected false stories circulating in Latin agency issued new guidelines for infections. to Johns Hopkins University in health systems are beginning to recorded more than virus 10,000 my sales,” a trader from Ecuador America have been debunked pandemic-hit airlines that reveal The pandemic has now killed the US. More than 1,100 people come under pressure,” said Ryan. deaths. told AFP Factual via WhatsApp. since January 24 — especially what fl ying might look like when more than 377,000 people and are reported to have died in the The region has logged 1mn Ryan warned that the region Legitimate stories about Ecua- stories from Brazil, Colombia and passenger planes take to the skies infected at least 6.3mn since South American country after cases and recorded more than faces a tough battle in the weeks dor’s crisis proliferated, includ- Mexico. again in earnest. erupting in China in late 2019. being infected with the virus. 50,000 deaths, with Brazil ac- ahead.

Storm cleanup Argentina extends debt Bolsonaro tries to rein in backers after protests restructure deadline again Reuters ings, said now was not the time Brasilia to “add more wood to the fi re.” Maia said during an online AFP was the country’s ninth default be redirected towards long-term event he would decide on im- Buenos Aires and fi rst since 2001, when it owed growth.” razil’s President Jair Bol- peachment requests at “the ap- $100bn, triggering a painful so- In April, Argentina asked bond- sonaro urged his sup- propriate time” but Brazil needed cial and economic crisis. holders for a three-year grace pe- Bporters to put off their to focus on uniting to fi ght an ac- rgentina has extended its Earlier, the International Mon- riod on debt repayment, a 62% protests against the country’s celerating coronavirus pandemic deadline to restructure a etary Fund gave its backing to a reduction on interest amounting Supreme Court next weekend to save lives and jobs. A$66bn debt for the third revised proposal by the Argentine to $37.9bn, and 5.4% on capital — after counter-demonstrations In rallies in Brasilia, Sao Paulo time until June 12 in a bid to im- government. or $3.6bn. triggered violent clashes on and other big cities on Sunday, prove its off er to creditors, the Argentina has been involved That was rejected by most Sunday. militant Bolsonaro supporters economy ministry said. in months of tough negotia- creditors, but the revised proposal “Leave things alone on Sunday,” urged the military to intervene and The previous deadline was due tions with creditors, but the IMF implied slightly more favourable the right-wing president said, re- close down Congress and the Su- to expire yesterday, but now Ar- warned that the government has terms, off ering creditors in the re- ferring to the protests. preme Court. gentina will seek to “introduce little scope for a better off er. gion of 45 cents on the dollar. He spoke at the gates of his of- Anti-Bolsonaro demonstra- additional adjustments with the Argentina’s revised off er pre- “I think there is still some way fi cial residence the day after he tors protesting against what they aim of maximising investor sup- sented to creditors last week to go, that the negotiation is not greeted supporters on horseback called “fascism” clashed with port, while preserving at the same “would be consistent with re- closed with this proposal,” Matias at a rally against the top court. police in a counter-demonstra- time its (Argentina’s) aim of a sus- storing debt sustainability with Rajnerman, chief economist of Bolsonaro’s critics say he has tion on Sao Paulo’s main avenue, tainable debt,” an offi cial state- high probability,” the IMF said in Buenos Aires consultancy Ecola- undermined democracy by en- hurling stones at riot police who ment said. a statement. tina, said. He said creditors were dorsing almost weekly protests responded with tear gas. “Argentina and its advisers However, it said that “analysis likely to accept a deal in the region against the top court, which au- Bolsonaro said he had no role intend to take advantage of this suggests that there is only lim- of 50 cents on the dollar. thorised an investigation into the in organising the protests against extension to continue the discus- ited scope to increase payments to “It seems to me that this is not president for allegedly interfering the Supreme Court. “I don’t co- sions and allow the investors to private creditors while still meet- the fi nal proposal, that the nego- with police appointments for per- ordinate anything...I just attend,” continue to contribute to a suc- ing the debt and debt service tar- tiations can still be extended for a sonal motives. he said. cessful restructuring of the debt.” gets.” couple of weeks,” he added. The judge heading that probe The confrontation between The news comes just 10 days Argentina said a successful The crisis-wracked South compared Bolsonaro’s approach to Bolsonaro and the court thrust after Argentina defaulted after negotiation would “stabilise the American country, which has Hitler’s Germany. Brazil into a political crisis in the failing to pay $500mn of interest economy, alleviating the medium been in recession for two years, But the speaker of the lower midst of the world’s second worst on its bond debt. and long-term restrictions” on currently owes $324bn, the Municipal workers collect debris and garbage caused by house of Congress, Rodrigo outbreak of coronavirus that has Though Argentina is one of the the economy, thus “allowing the equivalent of around 90% of its Tropical Storm Amanda in San Salvador. Maia, who would decide whether paralysed Latin America’s largest world leaders in food exports, it country’s economic trajectory to GDP. to open impeachment proceed- economy. Gulf Times 16 Wednesday, June 3, 2020 PAKISTAN

Balochistan PM vows to open more sectors extends lockdown akistani province of Balo- amid caution against Covid-19 chistan’s government has de- Pcided to extend ongoing smart lockdown in the province till June 16. According to notifi cation of Internews informal, unregistered economy. Home and Tribal Aff airs Depart- Islamabad “The virus spreads at a fast ment Balochistan, all shopping pace [and] imposing lockdown is malls, markets, shops, stores will not the cure to it only slows the open from 9am to 7pm six days of the akistan Prime Minister spread of the virus. The lock- week while there will be complete Imran Khan in a live tel- down helped reduce pressure on lockdown on every Friday. Pevised address apprised doctors and health workers in the nation on the decisions hospitals,” he said. made regarding the lockdown in “A lockdown is diff erent for the country to contain the novel diff erent people in Pakistan as coronavirus during the National well. There are people who live in Coordination Committee (NCC) palaces and there are those who Transport meeting. live in slums – their approaches Noting that the National Com- to the lockdown were diff erent. mand and Operation Center “Some 30-35% people in resumes (NCOC) met every morning and Karachi live in ‘katchi abadis’ consulted everyone, including [slums]. What eff ect would the health experts from Pakistan and lockdown have had on them? in Sindh around the world, on every step, On the one hand, we had the PM Imran spoke of the country’s wealthy elite, whose attitude akistani province of Sindh response and the current situation was completely diff erent and government has allowed re- regarding the coronavirus. who were demanding lockdown Psumption of inter-city public “Since day one when we got because there was a lockdown in transport in Karachi from today. to know that the coronavirus Europe. The decision in this regard has had started spreading in Paki- “On the other hand, we had been taken in a meeting between stan, we imposed a lockdown the poor people and house- transporters and Sindh govern- following a national security holds where seven, eight or 10 ment offi cials in Karachi yesterday. committee meeting. people live in one room, the Talking to media, Sindh Min- “We observed the conditions taxi- and rickshaw-drivers, the ister for Transport Awais Qa- in Chinese city of Wuhan and in daily-wagers. dir Shah said all transporters Europe when the virus started “I did not want a lockdown have been made bound to follow spreading and we were seeing like the one that was imposed standard operating procedure how the world was responding. in Pakistan [but] due to the 18th in this regard and warned that But at that time, when we had amendment, the provinces had in case of violation of standard discussions and meetings, I was the authority and took their own operating procedures (SOPs), very clear on the path Pakistan decisions due to pressure.” Commuters wait to fill their vehicles tanks at a gasoline station as government reduced prices of petroleum due a decrease of the global oil transport will be closed. had to take. PM Imran said doctors, elite, market, in Peshawar yesterday. “Pakistan’s situation is dif- and the poor all had diverse ferent than that in China or Eu- opinions but it was the down- wealthiest country of the world. PM Imran mentioned that the the lockdown as it has had an ad- bring Pakistanis back. We will Transport, tourism rope,” he said, noting that he had trodden ones of the society who “We have only given $8bn to government had prepared a ‘neg- verse eff ect our economy. Our ex- test them and those who test earlier informed the nation that did not have a voice. date Even if we keep people un- ative list’ of sectors that would ports have plunged and we fear that positive will be asked to self-iso- reopen in KP 25% of the country’s popula- “But in hindsight, I should der a lockdown, there’s no guar- remain shut down but “we have our remittances might fall as well. late at homes. Pakistani province of Khyber tion was below the poverty line, not have stopped businesses and antee that the virus will spread opened everything else”. “The government feels for you. Earlier, sources had said that Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister which “means that nearly 50mn construction because we had to again when the lockdown is lifted The list, he added, “will be Do not think that we do not take the NCC in its meeting had Mahmood Khan has said people in our country do not eat balance it. Coronavirus is not because the virus is there as is. shared later in the day as a debate your conditions into account. I decided to maintain a com- government is opening transport, two full meals a day. going away until a vaccine is not “Virus spreads. Virus will is being held over the resumption have decided to hold a meeting plete lockdown on weekends tourism and other sectors with “After doing calculations, we formulated. We have to live with spread. These deaths, I told you of tourism”. with their representatives as well. to curb the coronavirus and to implementation of proper standard fi gured out that there are 25mn it,” he said. all the fi rst day that this will rise “Several places only earn in “I want overseas Pakistanis – not change shop timings. It also operating procedures (SOPs). people who are daily wagers and “America where 100,000 and the virus will spread. three to four months of sum- especially labourers stranded in eased the restrictions for Fridays. In a media briefing in Peshawar who get paid weekly and whose people have died and which has “If we have to successfully live mers and if we do not open the the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and some The meeting had commenced yesterday, he urged the public to follow households had to remain hun- given a stimulus of $3,000bn with the virus, it is the responsi- tourism [industry], people will others in Europe – to know that under PM Imran’s leadership SOPs of the government to contain the gry if they did not earn for one has also decided to lift the lock- bility of the people. If they take be adversely aff ected due to no we are discussing how to bring and included the chief ministers spread of coronavirus in the province. day,” he added, saying those down as their economy would precautionary measures, we can income,” the premier said, not- them back. of all the four provinces, fed- The chief minister said the families comprised 12-15mn collapse because there is no tackle the virus and live with it. If ing that the governments of “Nearly 80-90% cases were eral ministers, National Disaster government will monitor people in total. guarantee that the virus will go we close specifi c areas, then the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit- imported and we closed off the Management Authority (NDMA) these sectors if coronavirus The labourers and daily- away if a lockdown persists,” businesses of those areas will be Baltistan were mulling over it. airspace due to such circum- chairperson, and the provincial cases reported it will be closed wagers, he added, were part of the he said, noting that it was the aff ected,” he added. “We are not in a state to extend stances. We have decided to health ministers. accordingly. Lawmaker Coronavirus compounds plane crash grief dies after AFP to funerals impossible and slightly diff erently than his platform on Friday showed “And you don’t know how to Investigators have uncov- Islamabad attendance dangerous. parents. a grid of grief-stricken faces recover from that,” he said. ered the Airbus’s black box and cardiac arrest The Rahmaans, mar- “Covid has stripped us from with the largest frame showing The family chose not to hold a cockpit voice recorder, and Pa- ried 53 years, were among that.” the funeral in Lahore, where an traditional large funeral because kistani authorities hope to re- ember of Pakistan’s athered together via 97 people killed when the Instead Rahman watched the imam with a mask over his long of Covid-19, in a country where lease initial fi ndings June 22. lower house Munir Zoom, friends and rela- Pakistan International Air- burial of his 80-year-old father beard recited the Qur’an as a the disease fi rst appeared slowly During the ill-fated fl ight, MOrakzai passed away Gtives of Wahida and lines Airbus plummeted and mother – who would have small group of mourners cov- but is now picking up pace. the pilots made a fi rst landing due to cardiac arrest yesterday. Fazal Rahmaan watched from into a Karachi neighbour- turned 75 on Friday – from his ered the Rahmaans’ graves in About 72,000 cases have attempt and the plane briefl y He was elected from NA-45 afar as the beloved couple were hood, killing all but two Missouri home in the US, where fl owers. been reported with more than touched the ground multi- constituency of District Kurram buried in Pakistan, days af- people on board. he works in IT. Rahman said the delay in 1,500 deaths – but the vi- ple times, before attempting a in the elections. ter they were killed in a plane “The most instinctual hu- Like many other nations Pa- identifying the bodies added to rus is now spreading at an second try. The funeral prayers of the de- crash. man response to grief is to kistan has closed its borders the family’s grief, discovering accelerating rate. Experts say pilots likely tried ceased will be off ered at 3pm For many who lost loved ones hold on to somebody and hug to international travellers in fi rst from local television that The Rahmaans took Flight to land the Airbus without low- in his native village Manduri in in the May 22 tragedy, grief has somebody,” said Adil Rah- an eff ort to contain the deadly their mother’s body had been 8303 to visit their son in Karachi ering the wheels, damaging Kurram. been compounded by the coro- man, one of the couple’s four disease. identifi ed, which he described at the end of the holy month of both engines so badly they soon President Arif Alvi has ex- navirus, which has made travel sons, who spells his name Zoom’s video-conferencing as a “gut punch”. Ramadan. failed. pressed grief and sorrow over the demise of JUI (F) leader and Na- tional Assembly member Munir Orakzai. The president prayed for the Waiting for customers departed soul and commiserated 162 healthcare workers in Punjab with the bereaved family. President Arif said the politi- cal services of the late leader will test positive for coronavirus be remembered. National Assembly Speaker Asad Internews The fi gure is a huge uptick However, the Young Doctors Qaiser and Deputy Speaker Qasim Lahore from the 400 healthcare work- Association disputes the fi g- Suri have expressed deep grief and ers in total who tested positive ures. The organisation’s media sorrow over the sad demise of JUI for the virus on May 31, accord- wing said that as per their cal- leader and MNA Orakzai. n alarming 162 health- ing to the daily situation report culations, 28 healthcare pro- In a condolence message, they said care workers in Punjab of the day. fessionals have died, of which that his social and political services Ahave tested positive for Separately, data from the 10 eight doctors and two nurses will be remembered and this vacuum Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, federal ministry of national were in Punjab alone. will not be fi lled for a long. an offi cial report reveals. health services and regula- In the same report, it is also Chief Minister Khyber Pa- On June 1, according to the tions states that till June 1, stated that 110 medical workers khtunkhwa Mahmood Khan has daily situation report of the three medics have died in have recovered and been dis- expressed grief and sorrow over Punjab government on coro- Punjab while a total of 23 charged to date. the sad demise of Orakzai. navirus, a total of 562 health- professional have died across This news comes at a time In his condolence message, the care workers have contracted Pakistan nine in Sindh, fi ve when medics across the coun- chief minister prayed for eter- the deadly disease in the prov- in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, one try are expressing fear of run- nal peace of the departed soul ince to date. That is 19.8% of in Islamabad, two in Gilgit ning short on staff as more and patience for the bereaved the 2,831 healthcare providers Baltistan and three in Balo- doctors, nurses and dispensers Shopkeepers wearing face masks wait for customers at a market in Rawalpindi yesterday. family. (Internews) sampled by the offi cials. chistan. are sickened by the virus. Supreme Court summons records of foreign remittances to dam fund

Internews by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed dam should be resolved. “Com- said the approval for the dam the Mohmand Dam was under- exchange, there would be a dan- chief justice said. “You will have Islamabad and comprising Justice Umar pletion of the dams on time is pending with the Central way as per schedule. He added ger of loss in expectation of a to talk on phone.” Ata Bandial, Justice Faisal Arab, would be a big achievement,” Development Working Party that the contract for the Diamer big profi t. Justice Ijazul Ahsan added Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Justice Gulzar remarked. (CDWP). Bhasha Dam has already been “Where the dam’s money if a Pakistani wants to send he Supreme Court of Muneeb Akhtar heard the case WAPDA authorities who The top judge further inquired awarded. has been invested, there is a money from a place where Pakistan has sought yesterday. were present during the hear- when the construction work “The fi rst unit of the Mohm- reasonable profi t as well as se- there is no Pakistani bank, Tdetails from the State During the hearing, the chief ing told the court the contrac- on the Bhasha Dam would be and Dam will be operational in curity,” they said, adding that the embassies concerned Bank of Pakistan about mon- justice said the court will not tor has started work on the complete. 2024,” he told the court. letters have been written to should be aware of money ey sent from abroad for the allow any injustice in the dam Mohmand Dam. When asked The WAPDA counsel said Moreover, State Bank offi - the embassies for submission transfers. dam fund. aff airs. about the latest situation, the work has been started on the Di- cials said if the money for the of donations. The court then adjourned the A fi ve-member bench, led He added the land issue for the additional attorney general amer Bhasha Dam and work on dams was invested in the stock “Letters won’t work,” the hearing for an indefi nite period. Gulf Times Wednesday, June 3, 2020 17 PHILIPPINES

Duterte’s Philippine exit from key US ‘draconian’ anti-terror military pact ‘suspended’ bill alarms activists AFP The tweet included his dip- the military pact was to have Manila lomatic note informing the US taken effect in August and was embassy that “in light of po- triggered by the cancellation Reuters litical and other developments of visa of Ronald Dela Rosa, a Manila he Philippines has told in the region, the termination current senator who served as the United States it is of the agreement...is hereby the main architect of Duterte’s Tsuspending its bid to suspended”. The note did not drug war. awyers and human rights break off a key military pact, elaborate on the regional de- US President Donald Trump activists in the Philippines the two allies said yesterday in velopments it referred to, and has dismissed concerns about Lhave raised the alarm over a sharp turnaround of Presi- Duterte’s spokesman did not Manila’s plan to abrogate the a new anti-terrorism bill pushed dent Rodrigo Duterte’s foreign immediately respond to AFP’s agreement. by President Rodrigo Duterte, policy. request for comment. “If they would like to do warning of draconian and arbi- Duterte in February gave no- The US embassy said it that, that’s fine, we’ll save a lot trary provisions that could be tice to Washington he was axing “welcomes” the decision, of money,” Trump added. abused to target his detractors. the Visiting Forces Agreement which it said was conveyed on The Philippine military re- Duterte, who has drawn in- (VFA) after accusing the US Monday. ceives significant American ternational criticism for his war of interference in his interna- “Our long-standing alliance training and equipment, ob- on drugs and his human rights tionally condemned narcotics has benefited both countries, taining $554.55mn in US secu- record, is trying to expedite the crackdown. and we look forward to contin- rity assistance in 2016-2019, passage of a law that expands the That began a 180-day count- ued close security and defence Locsin told a Philippine senate defi nition of terrorism and bol- down to ending the deal central co-operation with the Philip- hearing in February. sters police powers of surveil- to hundreds of joint military pines,” it added. Previous Philippine presi- lance, arrest and detention. exercises with the US per year Duterte has repeatedly dents had built up close ties Opponents of the bill fear it and a major component of their threatened to break away from with the US to deter China’s could be used to suppress free nearly 70-year-old alliance. long-standing security ties rival claims on South China speech and harass those who Philippine Foreign Secretary with the United States, the sea reefs and waters close to challenge Duterte, who com- Teodoro Locsin said yesterday former colonial power, in fa- the Philippine coast, as well mands a legislative majority and the plan has been put on hold vour of closer links with Chi- as training and advise to fight infl uence within the judiciary for at least six months. na, a rising superpower and militants. and state institutions. “The abrogation of the Visit- American rival. Duterte has set aside the “We think this is against ing Forces Agreement has been His stance has raised con- territorial dispute with Beijing File photo taken on May 8, 2017 show US Marines officer Lt General Lawrence Nicholson (centre) the constitution,” said hu- suspended upon the president’s cern that the regional balance in hopes of wooing billions of and his counterpart from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Lt General Oscar Lactao (left) unfurl man rights lawyer Jose Manuel instruction,” Locsin said in a of power would tilt in Beijing’s dollars of Chinese trade and the “Balikatan” flag, during the opening ceremony of Philippines and US military joint exercises Diokno.”Given the broader defi - tweet. favour.Manila’s termination of investment. called Balikatan (Shoulder to Shoulder) at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon city, Metro Manila. nition of terrorism, the adminis- tration’s critics could be tagged as suspected terrorists.” The bill authorises the gov- ernment to wiretap suspects, ar- rest them without warrants and hold them without charge for 14 Senator’s call to observe health protocols days, among others provisions. Opposition lawmaker Edcel Lagman criticised Duterte for By Javier J Ismael prioritising the passage of a bill Manila Times he described as “draconian” over an economic stimulus package pending congressional approval, enator Christopher Law- which aims to help mitigate the rence “Bong” Go has re- impact of the coronavirus pan- Sminded Filipinos to con- demic. tinue following health protocols Duterte was “tightening the and remain vigilant because the noose on suspected terrorists at coronavirus disease 2019 (Cov- the expense of the protection of id-19) remains a threat. human rights and civil liberties,” “We have to be careful. Do not said Lagman who is also a human be complacent. The fi ght is far rights lawyer. from over. Still follow protocols. There is no vaccine invented yet, and we do not want a spread RELIEF MISSION or make the situation worse in 175 OFWs repatriated the country,” the chairman of the Senate Health and Demog- from Kuwait raphy committee said. The Department of Foreign Aff airs The senator’s reminder came (DFA) repatriated 175 overseas as the National Capital Region, Filipino workers (OFWs) in Kuwait Baguio City, Pangasinan, Re- who were granted amnesty by gion 2 (Cagayan Valley) Region its government, Manila TImes 3 (Central Luzon) and Region 4A reported. The DFA on May 28 also (Calabarzon) shifted to general evacuated 146 distressed Filipinos community quarantine (GCQ) in Cambodia who lost their jobs on Monday. due to the coronavirus disease Iloilo City and Region 7 (Cen- 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. tral Visayas), as well as Zam- The repatriates from Kuwait boanga City and Davao City included seven infants, 14 children, were also placed under the same and several expectant mothers, quarantine classifi cation. the DFA said in a statement. Cebu City is the only area that A guard guides shoppers through a walkway, as part of social distancing measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 novel coronavirus, at a mall in Manila, yesterday. Meanwhile, the DFA said the remains under a modifi ed en- Right: Shoppers sit on chairs as they wait for their turn to enter a grocery store in a mall in Manila, yesterday, a day after the government eased up quarantine measures. May 28 evacuation of Filipinos hanced community quarantine. in Cambodia brought to 313 the “With the declaration of der the GCQ, you are free to go “Being under a modifi ed GCQ Balik Probinsya, Balik Pagasa Go explained. “The BP2 is for are also required to go through a number of Filipinos repatriated GCQ, many cities will open around. Health protocols are is not yet the new normal. We Programme (BP2).The senator residents of Metro Manila who mandatory 14-day quarantine. from the Southeast Asian king- businesses. There will be lim- still in place to ensure that we are still far from that. We have to explained that each programme want to start a new life in their “The co-ordination between dom. Unlike the first repatriation ited public transportation. Be- will overcome this crisis and co-operate and help each other addresses certain types of con- respective provinces,” the sena- the national government and on April 18, when the govern- cause of this, more people will put an end to the spread of Cov- for us to reach the new normal,” cerns of aff ected individuals tor added. the local government units is ment chartered a plane, this be allowed to go out of their id-19,” he added. he said. seeking help. Go said each batch being truly important. We have to be repatriation took advantage of a homes, however, I am asking my The senator called on the On the other hand, Go clari- “The Hatid Probinsya is for brought home goes through a sure that the host province has special commercial flight mount- fellow Filipinos to go out only public to co-operate with au- fi ed that the Hatid Probinsya stranded Filipinos, who are not rigorous health process to pre- the testing capacity and is ready ed by Cambodia Angkor Air to when necessary,” Go said. thorities so that the country can programme for stranded in- from Manila and who need to vent them from being carriers to accept the returnees,” the bring home Filipinos adversely “This doesn’t mean that un- transition to a new normal. dividuals is diff erent from the go home to their provinces,” of the coronavirus disease. They senator said. affected by the pandemic. Media giant’s offi cial reaffi rms chairman a Filipino

By Divina NJD Cruz Filipino parents. He said that in Calida maintained that ABS- holding companies. Meanwhile, memories that will last me a Manila Times 2001, the Department of Justice CBN violated its franchise, the the authors of the bills seeking to lifetime, but there is one thing granted Lopez’s request to be Constitution, and other laws. grant ABS-CBN a franchise for that I can never forget: ABS- recognised as a Filipino citizen The network allowed another another 25 years highlighted the CBN was not only interested BS-CBN President and by birth despite his being born in entity, ABS-CBN Convergence, network’s crucial role in deliver- in reporting the news, and a Chief Executive Offi cer Boston, USA. “to make use and abuse” its leg- ing information, entertainment, lot of them were bad news, but ACarlo Katigbak has main- “It is true that Lopez has a US islative franchise, he said. and public service to the Filipino it went above and beyond the tained hat Chairman Emeritus passport. This is because he was The network also charged fees people. obligations of a broadcast net- Eugenio Gabriel “Gabby” Lopez born in America and by its laws, on shows aired under the KBO “Just for the record, ABS- work by helping those in need, 3rd is a Filipino citizen despite you automatically become an channel without getting prior CBN is already an institution no matter how few they may be, having acquired a United States American if you are born there, approval from the NTC and con- when it comes to television, ra- no matter how far they may be.” passport. even if you do not have American tinued its pay-per-view services dio broadcasting, and other ar- Paranaque representative Joy Katigbak defended Lopez’s parents,” Katigbak said. despite a desist order. eas of communication and most Myra Tambunting said she has citizenship during the House Solicitor General Jose Calida, Calida also brought up the especially in the fi eld of public carried on the values she has hearing on the ABS-CBN fran- who had questioned Lopez’s network’s granting of Philip- service,” Deputy Speaker and learned from her experience as chise. citizenship before the Supreme pine Depository Receipts (PDR), Batangas Rep. a former producer at ABS-CBN The citizenship question has Court, attended the joint hearing which allowed foreigners to Vilma Santos-Recto, a multi- to her role as a public servant. been the lynchpin of arguments of the Committees on Legislative acquire shares in a media con- awarded actress, said. “My mentors in ABS-CBN that Lopez was technically an Franchises and Good Govern- ABS-CBN off icial Carlo Katigbak. glomerate that must be fully Santos Recto also underscored taught me a lot about work, the American citizen when he took ment and Public Accountability. Filipino-owned. ABS-CBN’s role in the economy value of work, hard work, re- charge of the giant media entity, Calida said he was not try- “I would like to take this op- judice rule or the principle of Katigbak however said a PDR and in providing employment to spect for work, accuracy at work, a violation of the constitutional ing to pick a fi ght with Congress portunity to say I am not at log- non-encroachment on the ex- is not a share in the network and 11,000 employees. love and respect for co-workers tenet that Philippine media cor- when he advised the National gerheads with Congress. clusive domain of judicial ju- that PDR holders cannot vote on Laguna representative Sol and most of all, the dignity of porations must be fully Filipino- Telecommunications Commis- In my letter to the NTC, I only risdiction prevented him from network matters. Aragones, a former ABS-CBN work from God. These lessons owned. sion (NTC) to issue an order to cautioned the NTC of its pos- attending Congress hearings, He said that the sale of PDRs reporter, said that in her 13 all helped mould me into what I Lopez will have a chance to close down ABS-CBN Corp He sible encroachment on the leg- citing pending cases before the to the public was approved by years as an employee of the am today. I will never ever forget personally defend his Filipino was invited to the hearing to ex- islative power if it issues a pro- Supreme Court involving ABS- the Securities and Exchange company, “I can remember that,” Tambunting said. citizenship at the next hearing plain why he gave such an advice visional authority without a law CBN. Commission (SEC) on October so many stories, of hopes and Makabayan lawmakers re- today. to the NTC, a move that Speaker authorising such action,” Calida He defended his motion for 4, 1999 and that other media dreams, of chances and choic- iterated that the ABS-CBN Katigbak said that Lopez is Alan Peter Cayetano had labelled said. a gag order in the quo warranto companies such as GMA Net- es, of struggles and triumphs, franchise is an issue of press a Filipino, having been born to as “unconstitutional meddling.” Calida explained that the sub petition he fi led in February. work also issued PDRs through of love and everything, as in freedom. Gulf Times 18 Wednesday, June 3, 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 Palestinian economy needs aid as pandemic worsens outlook

The devastating Israeli occupation for decades has brought down the Palestinian economy to its knees. Now the Palestinians will urgently need outside help to overcome a poor economic outlook and a widening budget defi cit worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the World Bank. Already facing a growth slowdown and sizeable defi cit, the West Bank and Gaza Strip could see output shrink between 7.6% and 11%, the World Bank said on Monday. President Mahmoud Abbas’s Palestinian Authority (PA) may watch its fi scal gap roughly double to more than $1.5bn this year, and will need signifi cant aid to restore growth and Saving the most vulnerable solve budgetary issues. Israel’s restrictions stifl e much of Palestinian economic life. It controls every access point, which enables it to oversee all imports and exports. It creates bureaucratic hurdles that Palestinians say kill entrepreneurship. from Covid-19 pandemic The widespread control on the movement of people and goods; destruction of water sources, homes, and other But simply noting whether antibodies a year, like infl uenza. To determine the disease. It generates reliable data that assets; and the expansion of Israeli settlements perpetuate By Simon Johnson, Galit Alter, Tess Cameron, and Michael Mina are present is not enough to gauge rate at which Covid-19 antibodies wane can readily be used to calculate the risk the economic crisis in West Bank and the Gaza strip, Cambridge future risk. For many infections, will require serological measurements of future outbreaks. It is cheap (perhaps according to a United Nations Conference on Trade and scientists determine antibody from infected people over months and one-tenth the full cost of a PCR test). Development (UNCTAD) report in September 2016. concentrations that are deemed to years. And the samples – a drop of blood on a “Without occupation, the economy of the Occupied n Massachusetts, which has a protect a person from future infection. In the meantime, we are working special card – can be collected at home population of close to 7mn, over A concentration below that value means out what the thresholds of and transported by mail. Palestinian Territory could produce twice the GDP it 6,000 people have died from a person may be positive for antibodies protection are so that quantitative A number of leading companies – currently generates,” the report said. ICovid-19 since the beginning of but not well protected. The scientifi c antibody measurements (serology) some of which we advise – are already Palestinian economic output could jump as high as 35% March. But one relatively small group – process of fi nding this “threshold of can be reliably used to guide using serology to monitor risk and if the biggest chunk of West Bank territory were opened including about 38,000 people, or 0.5% protection” for any given combination efficient allocation of scarce reduce the level of danger for their for development, the World Bank said in 2013. The 2016 of the state’s population – accounts for of infection and antibody test is resources. To accelerate this process, workers and customers. The use of this 60% of these deaths. known as determining a “correlate of hospitals, clinics, and public health technology is spreading fast. UNCTAD report also This group comprises everyone who protection.” programs should use quantitative Ideally, the near-real-time data from Poverty in the pointed to the dire lives in nursing homes, and protecting For Covid-19, we are still in the rather than qualitative (positive/ millions of blood tests – an incredible impact of Israel’s these people and the staff who care early days of fi nding good correlates of negative) antibody tests as much as archive of the body’s response to disease occupied West unjustifi ed grip over the for them, all of whom remain highly protection, so we have not yet worked possible, and report results directly – will be used to build a “weather land designated as “Area vulnerable to severe infection, must be out the best threshold of protection to to the public-health authorities. tracking system” for infectious disease. Bank may double a top priority everywhere as economies use. But scientists worldwide are hard That way, the data can be mined to As with meteorology, this system should C” in the 1993 Oslo peace reopen. at work doing just that: measuring determine accurate correlates of track “storms” of infection around as Palestinians accords, which covers According to pre-pandemic data, antibodies in people who have been protection that define the protective the world, helping us anticipate – and 61% of the West Bank the number of people in nursing infected with Sars-CoV-2, stratifying thresholds. suggest appropriate action – before are hit by the and 66% of its grazing homes typically averages around them by antibody concentration, and Pilot surveillance programmes at the next wave of Covid-19 (or another land. 1.3mn across the United States. These then monitoring them for second nursing homes in Massachusetts already deadly pathogen) hits nursing homes coronavirus, “It is estimated that older inhabitants are cared for by a infections. Ideally, we will fi nd that combine serology and PCR testing and everyone else. Over time, these workforce that numbers around 1mn. any concentration of antibody cuts to help facilities deploy “infection forecasts can become as reliable and warns the World the occupation of Area Fortunately, there is now a better way the risk of future infection. But if, as control” measures and understand risk. as important as hurricane or tornado C costs the Palestinian to reduce signifi cantly their risk of we expect, this virus acts like many Ahead of any potential second wave of warnings today. Bank economy the equivalent death: implement a focused public- other respiratory viruses we study, infection (for example, due to economic Once a vaccine for Covid-19 is of 35% of GDP” ($4.4bn health monitoring programme based then antibody concentrations above reopening or cooling weather), serology available, how will we allocate the in 2015), according to UNCTAD. on all available forms of testing – a certain threshold will be correlated tests can help place nursing home precious fi rst million doses? How will including the latest serology blood with greater protective immunity than residents into more protective social we know if the vaccine protects us from After Palestinian economic expansion cooled from 8.9% tests for antibodies – for people in and concentrations below this level. and eating groups. reinfection in 2022? With a scaled-up in 2016 to just 0.9% last year, the pandemic has now forced around nursing homes and the broader Antibody concentrations decrease Susceptible people (not previously serology programme, we can answer World Bank offi cials to cut their 2020 expectations from a population. over time. That’s why people can be exposed to Covid-19) would be mixed these questions and be prepared for previous 2.5% increase. Restraints on movement helped to Much emphasis has been placed on infected with seasonal coronaviruses with others who have a relatively future pathogen emergence. – Project contain the spread of the disease but also hurt activity and building lab capacity for polymerase more than once. But can they be re- high level of antibodies, presumably Syndicate chain reaction (PCR) tests, the gold infected with Sars-CoV-2 within the representing the development government revenue. standard for detecting the Covid-19 same season, or perhaps only years of immunity to Sars-CoV-2. zSimon Johnson is co-chair of the Poverty in the occupied West Bank may double, the World virus. PCR testing capacity is essential later? The answer partly depends on Surrounding susceptible people Covid-19 Policy Alliance and a professor Bank has warned, just weeks before Israel aims to kick-start to manage outbreaks. how quickly protective antibodies with others who can reasonably at MIT’s Sloan School of Management. plans to annex parts of the territory. In Massachusetts, heroic decay. be presumed to be more resistant zGalit Alter is a professor at Harvard The fallout is expected to see the number of households technological eff orts by the Broad While we can hope that Covid-19 to disease is a long-standing and Medical School and the Ragon Institute. Institute of MIT and Harvard (a antibodies decay very slowly (like successful public health strategy zTess Cameron is a consultant and living below the poverty line rise this year from 14% to 30% biomedical and genomic research measles antibodies, which people have for diseases such as smallpox and incoming principal at RA Capital. in the West Bank, largely due to Palestinians being unable to organisation) helped save many lives for many decades), our knowledge underpins herd immunity. zMichael Mina is a professor at cross into Israel for work. by greatly increasing the availability of of other coronaviruses suggests that There are three reasons why serology Harvard TH Chan School of Public The poverty rate was already 53% in Gaza before the testing for nursing homes and others Covid-19 antibodies may decay more forms the basis for all robust public- Health and a physician at Brigham and pandemic and the World Bank forecast it would jump to 64% early in the pandemic. We need more swiftly, possibly after only six months or health programs to monitor infectious Women’s Hospital. such leadership throughout the US and this year. The Palestinian government relies heavily on donor around the world. support to function. PCR tests tell us if someone Despite the increased fi nancial needs, support for this is currently infected – essential year’s PA budget is the lowest in two decades, according to information to contain outbreaks – the World Bank. and new guidelines on nursing homes issued by the Centers for Medicare The offi ce of the UN’s special Middle East envoy called for and Medicaid Services (CMS) advise “vast resources” to be deployed by the Palestinian and Israeli that staff be tested every week, with governments, as well as by foreign donors and the private residents to be tested weekly if any sector, in response to the pandemic. staff member or resident in the facility While humanitarian and development aid remains is positive. But, even assuming that all facilities in the US could fi nd the test important, the US said, “diff erent and bolder action is kits (swabs, test tubes, and transfer required to avert economic collapse.” media) and processing capacity needed to comply, the monthly bill could exceed $1bn, and many infections would not be To Advertise caught early enough to prevent onward transmission. Such a strategy is unlikely [email protected] to prove politically and fi nancially Display sustainable. And too many people would still die. 44466621 44418811 To make the CMS nursing home guidelines and related public-health Classified eff orts more eff ective, states must add 44466609 44418811 low-cost and easy-to-use serology tests to the mix. Serology tests measure Subscription blood samples for the presence and levels of antibodies to Sars-CoV-2, the [email protected] virus that causes Covid-19. Most people who survive Covid-19 will develop antibodies, providing a window into Coronavirus vaccine research: Senior technician Benoit Samson-Couterie, conducts research into antibodies against the © 2020 Gulf Times. All rights reserved past incidence and future risk. coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in a laboratory at Sanquin blood bank in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Gulf Times Wednesday, June 3, 2020 19 COMMENT The prehistory of Merkel’s latest coup

By Harold James that just any crisis can remove just three states with large German- Princeton obstacles to deeper integration. When speaking populations: the German the euro crisis erupted a decade Empire, the Austro-Hungarian ago, federalists hoped it would lend Empire, and the Swiss Confederation. hroughout her long momentum to the European project. In other words, the number of states chancellorship in Germany, Instead, northern and southern in central Europe fell by a factor of Angela Merkel has repeatedly member states became more deeply ten every century or so. This is not to Tshown that she is good for a divided over debt. In the ensuing suggest that there will soon be just surprise. Now, she’s outdone herself. years, both Russia and China have 0.3 states in central Europe – history In 2010, Merkel bucked expectations lured individual EU member states into does follow mathematical laws. by insisting that the International their orbits, the United Kingdom has Nonetheless, it is clear that old-style Monetary Fund (IMF) be included in formally withdrawn from the bloc, and nation-states are being forced to the eff ort to rescue Greece. US President Donald Trump has all but reconsider where they stand in the After 2011, she shut down Germany’s abandoned the transatlantic alliance. world. nuclear power plants, following the Like the debt and refugee crises, In fact, the recent ruling against Fukushima disaster in Japan. these geopolitical developments have the European Central Bank by Then, in 2015, she opened all deepened Europe’s north-south and Germany’s Federal Constitutional Germany’s borders to more than 1mn east-west divisions. The key historical Court represents the final push Syrian refugees. conditions that would have allowed for toward a deeper level of EU And now, she has agreed to a a bold push beyond the nation-state integration. Though it nominally proposal for a joint €500bn ($556bn) were always missing. The question, imposes a limit on the Bundesbank’s recovery fund to help the European then, is why Covid-19 should be participation in the ECB’s bond- Union’s hardest-hit national expected to do what Russian President buying programmes, its effect will economies through the Covid-19 Vladimir Putin, Trump, Brexit, and not be to arrest the European project, crisis. earlier debt feuds could not. but rather to force the creation of a Every one of these policy decisions There are two reasons to think legal and political foundation upon has provoked howls of outrage in that the current crisis is indeed which that project can be sustained. Germany, as well as hand-wringing by diff erent. For starters, the pandemic Moreover, no European country’s other Europeans who are reluctant to is fundamentally a crisis born of constitution places a greater emphasis allow Germany an outsize leadership globalisation, requiring a co-operative on the idea of Europe than Germany’s. role. But each time, Merkel has insisted global response. Second, comparisons The 1949 Basic Law states that the that there was no alternative. Still, this of mortality and infection rates German people are “inspired” by latest surprise is by far her boldest. between countries and regions, and “determination to promote world “The nation-state on its own has no the terrifying depth and scale of the peace as an equal partner in a future,” she declared during a recent pandemic’s economic fallout, have put united Europe.” Even more to the press conference with French President a premium on competent governance point, Article 24 of that document Emmanuel Macron. for much of the public. It is no secret explicitly provides for the abdication The prospect of a recovery fund why the United States, the UK, and of sovereign rights for the sake of “a has led many observers to wonder Brazil have such high case numbers and German Chancellor Angela Merkel peaceful and permanent order” in if the EU is fi nally approaching its death tolls. Each has an incompetent, Europe. “Hamiltonian moment.” In the early ideological, and unco-ordinated crisis at hand; the most immediate Each had its own rich sense of local In other words, the nation-state was In the 19th century, nation-states years of the American republic, the government. needs are either highly local or identity, but none was particularly driven forward as a practical matter. were forged from blood and iron. fi rst US treasury secretary, Alexander Unlike Trump or Brazilian President supranational. good at meeting the technical and Before the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, Today, something new is being created Hamilton, argued that the federal Jair Bolsonaro, Merkel and Macron are The question of “necessary economic challenges posed by a there were 3,000-4,000 independent out of medicine and economic policy. - government should “assume” the not inclined to deploy the politics of responses” is especially poignant world of growing markets, trade, and territorial units to account for – Project Syndicate debts incurred by the states during emotion. On the contrary, both pride in Germany, which, like Italy, was a new forms of communication and most subject only to a loose imperial the War of Independence. He won the themselves on being skillful managers creation of 19th-century nationalism. transportation. When these smaller jurisdiction. By the eighteenth century, z Harold James is professor of debate, because debt mutualisation who make evidence-based decisions. Before Otto von Bismarck (and his entities unifi ed, the liberal journalist that number had been reduced to 300- History and International Aff airs at seemed necessary to resolve the And the evidence from the Covid-19 Italian equivalent, Camillo Cavour), Ludwig August von Rochau observed, 400; and after 1815, all were members Princeton University and a senior emergency at hand. pandemic suggests that the nation- what we now call Germany was it was not out of a “sympathy of souls,” of the German Confederation. By the fellow at the Center for International But it would be a mistake to think state is indeed ill equipped for the comprised of multiple small states. but “purely” as a “matter of business.” end of the 19th century, there were Governance Innovation.

Three-day forecast The planet after the pandemic TODAY Maximum Temperature : 470c Minimum Temperature : 300c By André Hoff mann just how fundamentally linked per dollar as fossil-fuel investments. perform the worst in terms of human health and prosperity are Other priorities include investment economic impact, speed, and climate THURSDAY Basel Maximum Temperature : 440c with the well-being of our planet in natural capital, such as large-scale metrics. And yet billions are being Minimum Temperature : 330c – and how vulnerable that leaves restoration of forest ecosystems. This channelled toward airlines, often cientists have little doubt: us. Claims that protecting the would yield many valuable benefi ts, with few strings attached. FRIDAY the destruction of nature environment would crash economies ranging from bolstering biodiversity In fact, according to a recent Maximum Temperature : 420c makes humanity increasingly were not only shortsighted, but and mitigating fl oods to absorbing Green Stimulus Index report, more Minimum Temperature : 330c Svulnerable to disease out- also counterproductive. It is carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. than a quarter of the stimulus Fisherman's forecast breaks like the Covid-19 pandemic, environmental destruction that has To complement such eff orts, banks spending implemented so far which has sickened millions, killed ground the world economy to a halt. and other fi nancial entities should be in 16 major economies is likely WARNING hundreds of thousands, and devas- Moreover, unlike previous recent held responsible for lending practices to cause substantial and lasting tated countless livelihoods world- disease outbreaks, Covid-19 has that fuel the nature and climate environmental damage. Some, such Inshore : Nil wide. It also will impede long-term spurred unprecedented state crises. as US President Donald Trump’s Offshore : Nil economic recovery, because more intervention, with governments Some decision-makers recognise administration, have also relaxed than half of the world’s GDP depends worldwide developing and this imperative. The International existing environmental rules, in WEATHER Inshore : Very hot daytime with on nature in some way. Could the implementing comprehensive Monetary Fund has published broad order to help major polluters recover. slight dust at times and Covid-19 crisis be the wake-up call recovery strategies. This provides guidance for a green recovery, It is increasingly difficult to justify relatively hot by night – and, indeed, the opportunity – we a golden opportunity to entrench and IMF Managing Director this approach. Lest we forget, just WIND Kristalina Georgieva has called before the pandemic, countries need to change course? environmental protection and Inshore : Northwesterly-North- While some politicians have restoration in our economic systems. for environmental conditions to were experiencing unprecedented easterly 05-15 KT claimed that a pandemic of this Two principles should shape be attached to corporate bailouts. wildfires and devastating flooding. scale was unforeseen, many experts recovery strategies. First, The French government is already As climate change advances, the Offshore : Southwesterly-North- westerly 05-15/20 KT believed that it was all but inevitable, stimulus alone is not enough; pursuing such an approach. extreme weather events that produce given the proliferation of zoonotic better environmental regulations, Furthermore, the European such disasters will become more Visibility : 4-8 KM diseases (caused by pathogens that conceived with the active Union is drawing up a green frequent and severe. Offshore : 2-4/6 FT jump to humans from other animals). participation of business and Covid-19 recovery plan that Politicians and vested interests More than 60% of new infectious investors, are also crucial. Second, would complement its European can try to divert attention from the diseases now originate in animals. public spending should be allocated Green Deal, which aims to restore challenges ahead. But this will not Around the region This trend is linked directly to in ways that support a better balance biodiversity and accelerate the prevent future crises; it certainly Weather Weather human activities. From intensive between the health of societies, shift to a zero-carbon economy. A won’t make them wait until the today Max/min tomorrow Max/min farming and deforestation to mining economies, and the environment. group of 180 European politicians, Covid-19 recovery is complete. On Baghdad Sunny 41/24 Sunny 40/24 and the exploitation of wild animals, This means investing in green companies, trade unions, campaign the contrary, a return to business as Kuwait City Sunny 43/32 Sunny 46/32 destructive practices that we dismiss industries, especially those that groups, and think tanks recently usual could hasten their arrival. Manama Sunny 39/31 Sunny 40/32 as “business as usual” place us in move us closer to a circular economy. released a letter urging EU leaders to Rather than continue to stumble Muscat Sunny 41/34 Sunny 40/33 ever-closer contact with animals, Leading economists such as adopt green stimulus measures. from one crisis to the next, we must Tehran M Sunny 38/24 Sunny 38/24 creating the ideal conditions for Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz and But, to achieve a sustainable global build more resilient systems today. disease spillovers. In this sense, Nicholas Stern have found that green recovery, many more governments Putting environmental preservation and Ebola, HIV, severe acute respiratory recovery packages would offer much will have to embrace green-recovery restoration at the center of the Covid-19 syndrome (Sars), and Middle East higher rates of return, more short- policies. And, so far, many are doing recovery is the perfect place to start. - respiratory syndrome (Mers) – all of term jobs, and superior long-term the opposite, directing resources Project Syndicate zoonotic origin – were warnings the cost savings than traditional fiscal toward environmentally destructive world failed to heed. stimulus. For example, building industries and activities. z André Hoffmann, a businessman But Covid-19 could be different. clean-energy infrastructure – a For example, according to the and philanthropist, is president of the After all, it has demonstrated more particularly labour-intensive activity research involving Stiglitz and MAVA Foundation and Vice-Chair of starkly than any of its predecessors – would create twice as many jobs Stern, unconditional airline bailouts Hoffmann-La Roche.

Around the world Live issues Weather Weather Today Max/min Tomorrow Max/min Athens I T Storms 24/14 Sunny 25/15 Beirut P Cloudy 23/19 Sunny 24/19 Will adventure travel lead the way back to travel? Bangkok S T Storms 34/27 S T Storms 33/27 Berlin P Cloudy 25/13 Rain 26/13 Cairo Sunny 33/21 Sunny 35/20 Adventure trips tend to bring people trips to destinations ranging from in-country guides and hosts, even Cape Town P Cloudy 18/11 P Cloudy 22/12 By Kerri Westenberg P Cloudy 31/26 P Cloudy 31/27 Minneapolis to out-of-the-way destinations. They Uganda to the Apostle Islands, as trips have ceased. But he sees a Colombo also often require travellers to be self- though they are now focusing on bright future. Dhaka T Storms 31/25 T Storms 32/26 reliant, from carrying their own food regional overnight and day trips for The current pause in travel – and Hong Kong P Cloudy 29/26 S T Storms 29/26 In a post-Covid world, we’ll and gear, to hiking or paddling them- families and other small groups who the fears of contagion – will make Istanbul Showers 20/14 Sunny 23/16 be seeking purpose and selves to a destination. Some popular are sheltering together. people “really open to what is less Jakarta S T Storms 33/25 P Cloudy 34/25 growth and connection more stops for these kinds of trips, such as July 4 is their projected startup date. known and less travelled.” Karachi P Cloudy 34/28 P Cloudy 34/28 than ever, and travel is about the Galapagos Islands and Peru’s Inca Over the next several weeks, they plan Knowmad’s trips focus on sustain- London Showers 18/11 S Showers 16/09 “ Manila M Sunny 34/28 S T Storms 34/27 connection at a basic human level,” Trail, have quotas that limit visitors. to nail down best practices, such as ability, often with stays at lodges in said Jordan Harvey, co-founder These approaches could help travel- shelving gear for several weeks after remote places. Through July 1, the Moscow Rain 17/13 S T Storms 19/11 of Minneapolis-based Knowmad lers stay healthy by allowing space for a trip. company is offering bookings with New Delhi M Sunny 38/27 M Cloudy 36/25 Adventures. social distancing. Knowmad Adventures specialises a 10% deposit, refundable up to 95 New York S T Storms 30/20 M Cloudy 29/20 Adventure travel specialists discern “The outdoors is where people are in arranging trips to the Galapagos, days before departure. Despite the Paris P Cloudy 26/13 Showers 18/11 a silver lining to the current pause in turning right now,” said Greg Lais, Patagonia and other South Ameri- trying times, Harvey is bullish on the Sao Paulo S Showers 19/16 S Showers 21/16 travel. Theirs may be one of the fi rst founder of Wilderness Inquiry, a can destinations, earning national future. Seoul P Cloudy 27/18 P Cloudy 26/15 tourism sectors to rebound – and some nonprofit organisation that makes accolades from the likes of Travel “When it comes to travel, we have Singapore S T Storms 31/27 T Storms 31/27 of their practices could be adopted outdoor adventures accessible to + Leisure magazine. Harvey is also an insatiable, undeniable need to Sydney Cloudy 16/09 P Cloudy 16/07 more widely when the world opens to people of all abilities. Wilderness currently establishing safety pro- explore our world _ and ourselves.” - Tokyo Cloudy 29/20 Cloudy 27/20 travel again. Inquiry typically runs small-group tocols for his customers and their Tribune News Service Gulf Times 20 Wednesday, June 3, 2020 QATAR New bridge along Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor to cut travel time by 90%

„ Opening comes 4 months ahead of schedule „ Ensures free-flowing traff ic fro m HIA towards Al Maamoura, and cuts 90% of travel time „ Ashghal accomplishes 790km of expressway networks „ Ashghal projects ‘unaff ected by blockade due to dependence on local products and contractors’

he Public Works Author- ity (Ashghal) has partial- Tly opened a new 900m bridge along Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor in the Bu Hamour area. The new bridge provides free-flowing traffic bypassing the junction between Al She- haimiya Street and Bu Hamour Street along Sabah Al Ah- A section of the bridge. mad Corridor in front of Abu Hamour Petrol Station, reduc- Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor Project ing travelling time through the Traffic diversion junction by more than 90%, Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor will extend for approximately 25km from Ashghal has said in a statement. Hamad International Airport to Umm Lekhba Interchange (known as The opening has been exe- Youssef al-Emadi Landmark Interchange) on Doha Expressway. Its scope includes the cuted in co-ordination with the upgrade of seven main roads: E-Ring, F-Ring, Mesaimeer, Al Bustan, General Directorate of Traffic. Bu Erayyen, and sections of Al Markhiya Street. In addition, The new bridge connects Ashghal will enhance 12km of local and peripheral roads intersecting traffic along Sabah Al Ahmad with the corridor. Corridor from Hamad Interna- The total road works of the project span approximately 37km. tional Airport (HIA) towards Al “Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor, known as the ‘Lung of Doha’, is the first in Thumama, Mesaimeer, Whole- Qatar to be called a ‘corridor’ due to its great importance and specifi- sale Market Street through cations of its unique Construction. On completion in 2021, extending Haloul Intersection, Salwa Road for 25km and with total works of 37km, the road will have the first and up to Al Waab cable-stayed bridge in Qatar as well as the largest intersection, longest and Al Rayyan. The new bridge bridge, deepest and longest bi-directional tunnel,” Ashghal said. has been opened four months The corridor includes upgrading seven main roads that will off er ahead of the targeted comple- “huge relief” to commuters in Doha by providing an alternative route tion date, Ashghal has stressed. to the congested 22 February Street. It also doubles traff ic capacity The new bridge is “an artery with more than 16,000 vehicles per hours in both directions, after lying in the heart of a densely extending the existing road to four- and five-lane dual carriageways, populated area that contains Bader Darwish replacing the existing two and three lanes. many significant facilities” such as petrol stations, shop- ping malls and markets (such as als made in Qatar and engaging International Airport, the In- Wholesale Market), schools and local companies, achieving a dustrial Area and other vital fa- health institutions. tangible boom in the country’s cilities, he noted. The new bridge consists of infrastructure sector, he added. He added that the Sabah Al In order to enable completion of the remaining works of the bridge, Ashghal has temporarily a four-lane dual carriageway Engineer Bader Darwish, High- Ahmad Corridor has witnessed closed traff ic at the signalised junction between Al Shehaimiya Street and Bu Hamour Street while with a capacity of about 16,000 way Projects Department man- several openings since its in- maintaining right turns open from all directions, in addition to free-flowing traff ic along Sabah al vehicles per hour, and road us- ager, confirmed that Ashghal ception in 2019, and more than Ahmad Corridor, for two months starting from the evening of May 31. ers will be able to reach directly has completed the implementa- 70% of the vital road works have During this partial closure designed in co-ordination with the General Directorate of Traff ic, from Salwa Road and Haloul tion of about 790km of highway been completed. Once the en- commuters will be required to use alternative routes as shown on the attached map. Commuters Junction towards the Industrial network, which is considered a tire project is completed, it will from Bu Hamour Street heading to Al Shehaimiya Street or Haloul Intersection through Sabah Al Area road and HIA without us- “good testimony to the fact that link the southern and northern Ahmad Corridor will be required to take the right turn reaching Bu Hamour intersection, then take a ing the signallised intersection the construction process was parts of Doha without the need U-turn and continue straight towards Haloul Intersection or a right turn to Al Shehimiya Street. between Al Shehaimiya Street not affected by the unjust siege to pass through Doha Express- Commuters from Al Shehaimiya Street towards Bu Hamour Street on Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor and Bu Hamour Street on Sabah of about three years”. way and 22 February Street. will be required to take the right turn reaching Heenat Al Meashab Junction, then take a U-turn and Al Ahmad Corridor in front of Abdulla al-Naimi Ashghal has opened most of Engineer Abdulla al-Naimi continue straight towards Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor or take a right turn to Bu Hamour Street. the Bu Hamour petrol station. the highway network during from the Highway Projects De- Eng Youssef al-Emadi, direc- nearly three years ago - and the siege period, which caused partment at Ashghal confirmed tor of Projects Affairs at Ash- that the pace of work continued a “qualitative shift in the move- that the Bu Hamour bridge has involving the installation and pieces, each weighing about 90% for commuters from Me- ghal, stressed that the author- in accordance with the plans. ment of goods and people in all been designed and built with assembly of pre-cast concrete 200 tonnes. saimeer Bridge in the direction ity’s projects were not affected Ashghal relied heavily on the parts of the country”, especially the latest technologies used in parts using giant cranes. The He added that the bridge will of Halul Intersection and vice- by the unfair siege - that began local factor by using materi- strategic areas, ports, Hamad the construction of bridges, bridge consists of 100 concrete reduce travel time by more than versa.

Repatriation flight leaves for Kochi Qatar Airways becomes ‘largest’ global carrier Flight IX 1476 took off from Doha’s Hamad International Airport (HIA) for Kochi yesterday, marking the continuation of the Indian repatriation mission from Qatar. This will be the 15th flight from From Page 1 Doha under the Vande Bharat initiative, “bringing the total number of repatriated passengers to 2,500 plus 67 infants”, the Indian To ensure travellers can plan embassy tweeted. Pictured below are passengers at HIA yesterday, their travel with peace of mind, the courtesy of the embassy’s Twitter page. airline has extended its booking policies to off er even more choice to its passengers. The airline will allow unlimited date changes, and passengers can change their des- tination as often as they need if it is within 5,000 miles of the origi- nal destination. For full terms and conditions visit www.qatarai- rways.com/RelyOnUs. HIA is robustly minimising any risks to the health and safety of The airline’s cargo division has passengers and staff . signifi cantly increased opera- tions to support global trade and Qatar Airways has led the industry during these challenging times dition to enhanced hygienic take people home, and ensure the transport of essential medical taking people home safely and reliably on more flights to more measures already in place. The food security for Qatar through and aid supplies to impacted re- destinations than any other airline. airline now requires passengers air cargo. gions. The air freight carrier has to wear face coverings infl ight HIA has implemented strin- further established itself as the and recommends people bring gent cleaning procedures and industry leader operating around their own for fi t and comfort closed most of the non-essential 180 fl ights per day, utilising pas- purposes. passenger facilities. The airport senger aircraft to carry freight- As an airline, Qatar Airways is implementing innovative solu- only in addition to the airline’s maintains the highest possible tions to maintain the highest lev- fl eet of 28 freighters. hygiene standards, which in- els of hygiene including the use Working closely with gov- clude the regular disinfection of disinfection robots, advanced ernments and NGOs around of aircraft, the use of cleaning thermal temperature screening, the globe, Qatar Airways Cargo products recommended by the and ultraviolet luggage disinfec- transported over 175,000 tonnes International Air Transport As- tion. of medical and aid supplies to sociation (IATA) and the World All passenger touchpoints are impacted regions, the equivalent Health Organisation (WHO), and sanitised every 10-15 minutes of roughly 1,750 fully loaded Boe- thermal screening of crew. and every boarding gate and ing 777 freighters. In addition, Qatar Airways’ bus gate counter is cleaned after These unprecedented times aircraft feature the most ad- each fl ight. Staff working at the have seen the airline operate vanced air fi ltration systems, airport have been provided ad- services to many destinations for The airline has implemented several changes, including the equipped with industrial-size ditional training in terms of pro- the fi rst time, helping repatriate introduction of Personal Protective Equipment suits for cabin HEPA fi lters that remove 99.97% tecting themselves and others in stranded travellers and deliver crew while onboard. of viral and bacterial contami- light of the current situation and essential supplies to where they nants from re-circulated air, pro- implementing the highest health are needed. Qatar Airways said it has service that reduces interactions viding the most eff ective protec- and safety measurements. Some of the new destina- further enhanced its onboard between the passengers and the tion against infection. In addition, hand sanitisers tions Qatar Airways has touched safety measures for passengers crew infl ight. Hamad International Airport are provided at immigration and down in during this period in- and cabin crew. The airline has Cabin crew have already been (HIA) is also robustly minimising security screening points. A so- clude Brisbane, Christchurch, implemented several changes, wearing PPE suits during fl ights any risks to the health and safety cial distancing policy has been Port Moresby, Toronto, and Van- including the introduction of for a number of weeks in addi- of passengers and staff . As a vital implemented at the airport, and couver for passenger fl ights and Personal Protective Equipment tion to safety goggles, gloves and pillar to Qatar’s national econ- staff wear masks and disposable Perth, Valencia, and Warsaw for (PPE) suits for cabin crew while a mask to provide even greater omy, HIA’s doors remain open gloves to protect them from any freighter fl ights. onboard, as well as a modifi ed reassurance to customers in ad- as it continues its operations to infection.