HONG KONG POLICE AG APPROVES HEALTH HUBRIS: ISRAEL'S THURSDAY ARREST NEARLY 200 IN GUIDELINES FOR ENDGAME IN JULY 02, 2020 FIRST PROTEST UNDER COVID- COLOURED PALESTINE VOL: 4 - ISSUE 389 NEW SECURITY LAW POLLING 30. PAGE 02 HOT TOPICS PAGE 03 GLOCAL PAGE 04 COMMENTARY

Registered in the Department of Posts of Sri Lanka under No: QD/146/News/2020

Coronavirus toll 511,312 deaths at 1100 GMT yesterday PARIS - The novel coronavirus has killed at least 511,312 peo- ple since the outbreak emerged in China last December, ac- cording to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP at 1100 GMT yesterday (July 1) At least 10,509,550 cases of coronavirus have been registered in 196 countries and territories. Of these, at least 5,302,100 are now considered recovered. The tallies, using data collected by AFP from national au- thorities and information from the World Health Organization (WHO), probably reflect only a fraction of the actual number of infections. Many countries are testing only symptomatic or the most serious cases. The United States is the worst-hit coun- try with 127,425 deaths from 2,636,538 cases. At least 720,631 people have been declared recovered. After the US, the hardest-hit countries are Brazil with 59,594 deaths from 1,402,041 cases, the United Kingdom with 43,730 deaths from 312,654 cases, Italy with 34,767 deaths from 240,578 cases, and France with 29,843 deaths from 201,208 cases. China - excluding Hong Kong and Macau - has to date declared 83,534 cases (3 new since Tuesday – June 30), includ- ing 4,634 deaths, and 78,479 recoveries. Europe overall has 197,257 deaths from 2,740,682 cases, the United States and Canada 136,060 deaths from 2,685,179 in- fections, Latin America and the Caribbean 116,459 deaths from 2,587,730 cases, Asia 35,023 deaths from 1,322,495 cases, Mid- dle East 16,278 deaths from 759,198 cases, Africa 10,102 deaths from 404,945 cases, and Oceania 133 deaths from 9,328 cases. -AFP In Sri Lanka Seven individuals were confirmed as COVID-19 positive by 9:30 p.m. yesterday (July 1), taking Sri Lanka’s tally of the novel coronavirus infection to 2054. Thirty seven patients were – theguardian.com deemed recovered and discharged from hospitals across the country, moving up the number of COVID-19 recovered cases Aerial images of some of the elephant carcasses seen “This is a mass die-off on a level that hasn’t been seen likely cause – has been ruled out. Local witnesses say to 1748. Two hundred and ninety five are now recorded as ac- in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. More than 350 el- in a very, very long time. Outside of drought, I don’t some elephants were seen walking around in circles, tive cases receiving treatment. ephants have died in northern Botswana in a mysteri- know of a die-off that has been this significant,” said which is an indication of neurological impairment. ous mass die-off described by scientists as a “conser- Dr Niall McCann, the director of conservation at UK- Elephants of all ages and both sexes have been dying, vation disaster.” A cluster of elephant deaths was first based charity National Park Rescue. The Botswana local reports found. Several live elephants appeared WHO says reported in the Okavango Delta in early May, with 169 government has not yet tested samples so there is weak and emaciated, suggesting more will die in the individuals dead by the end of the month. By mid- no information on what is causing the deaths or coming weeks. The true number of deaths is likely to June, the number had more than doubled, with 70% whether they could pose a risk to human health. The be even higher because carcasses can be difficult to Over 160,000 coronavirus cases of the deaths clustered around waterholes, accord- two main possibilities are poisoning or an unknown spot, say conservationists. There are about 15,000 el- ing to local sources who wish to remain anonymous. pathogen. Anthrax – initially considered the most ephants in the delta, 10% of the country’s total reported every day in past week GENEVA- The global coronavirus pandemic is accelerating, the World Health Organization (WHO) said yesterday (July 1), UN adopts resolution calling for pandemic-related pointing out that June saw more than half of all cases reported since the start of the pandemic. "For the past week, the number of the new cases has exceed- ed 160,000 on every single day," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom halt to conflicts Ghebreyesus told a virtual briefing. UNITED NATIONS - The UN Secu- pact and say the paralysis undermined The new text makes no reference to Assembly commitment to supporting "Sixty per cent of all cases so far have been reported just in rity Council yesterday (July 1) unani- the Council's credibility. WHO, which the US has criticized for the World Health Organization added the past month," he said. mously adopted a resolution calling Repeatedly blocked by China and its management of the crisis. Wash- to the preamble. With over 511,000 deaths and more than 10.5 million known for a halt to conflicts to facilitate the the United States, which opposed ington opposed any mention of WHO The vague reference was deemed infections worldwide, the coronavirus pandemic is "not even fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, a reference in the text to the World back in May. satisfactory to China, which wanted close to being over", the WHO warned earlier this week. after more than three months of pains- Health Organization (WHO), the reso- The body's paralysis for more than to emphasize the importance of WHO, Tedros reiterated that taking a "comprehensive approach" taking negotiations, diplomats said. lution aims to support an appeal in three months has been widely criti- and the US, which broke away from was the best way to rein in the virus. The resolution, drafted by France March by UN Secretary General Anto- cized, including by some members the UN body over its handling of the Countries that have implemented a wide range of measures, and Tunisia, calls for "an immediate nio Guterres for a global ceasefire. who have described their "shame" pandemic. including contact tracing, isolation, physical distancing and cessation of hostilities in all situations" It "calls upon all parties to armed over its inaction. Yesterday, Guterres welcomed the mask wearing "have suppressed transmission and saved lives", on the Security Council's agenda. conflicts to engage immediately in a During the negotiations, the United fact that his ceasefire request was sup- he said. The UN health agency was therefore very concerned, It is the Security Council's first state- durable humanitarian pause for at States and China, the two largest fi- ported by nearly 180 countries and he said, to see that a number of countries "have not used all the ment on the pandemic and its first real least 90 consecutive days, in order to nancial contributors to the UN, had more than 20 armed groups, but he tools at their disposal and have taken a fragmented approach. action since the outbreak started. enable the safe, unhindered and sus- both threatened to veto resolutions. acknowledged that it had not been fol- "These countries face a long, hard road ahead," he said. Tunisia's ambassador to the UN, tained delivery of humanitarian assis- According to diplomats, Indonesia, lowed up with concrete action. He stressed that while the pandemic posed a scientific chal- Kais Kabtani, hailed it as a "historic tance." a non-permanent member of the Secu- A second meeting on the pandemic lenge, "it's also a test of character." achievement" but experts questioned Fighting against jihadist insurgent rity Council, helped broker a compro- is scheduled for today (2). -Agencies whether the text would have any im- groups is excluded. mise that saw a reference to a General -AFP In landslide vote China announces new retaliation After new China law Russians grant Putin right to against US news outlets UK offers Hong Kongers immigration BEIJING – China yesterday most all of the American journal- extend his rule until 2036 (July 1) demanded that US news ists working for three of them: The rights organizations provide the gov- New York Times, The Wall Street MOSCOW - Russians ap- results were due at 1900 GMT. ernment with information about Journal and The Washington Post. LONDON- Britain yesterday (July 1) "And that is precisely what we will do peared to have paved the way Russians have been encour- their staffs, finances and real es- The expulsions followed a deci- extended Hong Kong residents immi- now," Johnson said. for Vladimir Putin to stay in aged to vote with prize draws tate holdings inside the country, sion by the Trump administration gration rights after calling China's new Britain's new offer applies to an es- power until 2036 by voting offering flats and an ad cam- in what the Ministry of Foreign in February to designate China’s security law for Hong Kong a "serious" timated three million Hong Kongers overwhelmingly for a package paign highlighting other con- Affairs said was retaliation for the five preeminent State-run news violation of the former UK territory's but Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab of constitutional changes which stitutional amendments in the Trump administration’s recent ac- organizations as foreign govern- autonomy. refused to be drawn about how many will also boost pensions, initial same reform bundle, such as tions against Chinese news outlets ment functionaries, subject to The legislation has been widely de- would take up the offer. results of a nationwide vote the pensions’ protection and a in the United States. rules similar to those that apply to nounced in the West since it was im- Hong Kong was under UK jurisdiction showed yesterday (July 1). de facto ban on same-sex mar- The Chinese government diplomatic missions. The adminis- posed on the former British colony on until Britain handed it to China in 1997 Partial results, announced riages. stopped short, however, of an- tration in March also reduced the Tuesday (June 30). with a guarantee that Beijing would pre- five hours before polls closed, One-off payments of 10,000 nouncing the expulsions of jour- number of Chinese State-media "We stand for rules and obligations," serve the city's judicial and legislative indicate the former KGB officer roubles ($141) were transferred nalists at any of the four Ameri- employees permitted to work in Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Par- autonomy for 50 years. who has ruled Russia for more to those with children at Putin’s can organizations: The Associated the United States from 160 to 100. liament. But critics say the new security law, than two decades as president order as people headed to poll- Press, CBS News, National Public Then, in June, the administra- "And we think that is the scientific passed by Beijing's rubber-stamp Par- or prime minister will win the ing stations yesterday, the last Radio and United Press Interna- tion listed four additional Chinese basis for our international relations and liament this week, tests the limits of a right to run for two more terms. day of the vote, held over seven tional. news agencies as foreign missions. the enactment, and deposition of this ‘One Country, Two Systems’ deal that That means he could remain days to try to limit the spread of The action is the latest in a series Yesterday’s move came as China national security law constitutes a clear formally signed into international law president for 16 more years. the coronavirus. of tit-for-tat clashes over the treat- began to enforce a new national and serious breach of the Sino-British in 1984. The Central Election Com- Turnout had reached nearly ment of journalists, part of an in- security law in Hong Kong that Joint Declaration." Raab said Hong Kongers with BNO mission said just over 70% of 60% by midday, election offi- tensifying rivalry between the two limits free expression in the semi- Johnson said London had warned Be- status and their dependents would be votes counted across the world’s cials said. The required turnout powers. autonomous territory, raising ijing that it would introduce a new route offered the right to work or study in largest country had supported is 50% and the amendments In March, China required five doubts about reporters’ ability to for those with British National Overseas Britain for five years. They would then changing the Constitution. Al- will pass if they are backed by a other US media organizations to effectively cover China from any- status to enter the UK, granting them have the right to apply for settled status most 29% had voted no of the simple majority of voters. submit information about their where in the country. the right to live and work in Britain and and then possible citizenship. 2.68% of ballots counted. Fuller -Agencies operations. It also expelled al- -NYT then to apply for citizenship. -AFP

Trending News Quote for Today The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody Ethiopia: Police say two days of in a normal year, for a rise of 18%. across the West Bank after total following a surge in cases in the re- else up. protests have left 81 dead, after the -New York City lawmakers approve confirmed coronavirus infections gion. -Mark Twain murder of a popular singer from the a disputed annual budget that pur- in the territory more than doubled Taiwan: The government an- Word for Today country's largest ethnic group stoked ports to slash $1 billion from the following the easing of previous re- nounces it is opening representative Staycation [steykeyshuhn] –noun – a vacation spent at tensions that threaten to derail the NYPD as calls by anti-racism pro- strictions. offices with the breakaway state of home or near home, doing enjoyable activities or visiting local country's democratic transition. testers to defund law enforcement Italy: Public officials in the central Somaliland, warming ties between attractions USA: The country records more sweep the country. commune of Arezzo call for better two de facto sovereign territories than 44,000 new coronavirus cas- France: The country suspends its surveillance of the feline population that are denied widespread interna- Today in History es, a new record one-day increase participation in a NATO Mediter- after a housecat contracted a rare tional recognition. 1990 - 1,426 pilgrims are trampled to death after a panic in a as it struggles with the pandemic, ranean maritime security operation rabies-like virus and began biting Myanmar: The election commis- tunnel in Mecca, Saudi Arabia while concerns mount over Donald owing to the behaviour of Turkey, in its owners. sion announces the country will Trump’s handling of the crisis. a new escalation of a growing dis- Middle East: The World Health hold its next general election on No- Today is... - A study reveals the coronavirus pute between the two alliance allies. Organization warns the Middle East vember 8, in a test for the country's I Forgot Day pandemic claimed at least 122,000 Palestine: The Palestinian Author- faces a "critical threshold" amid a fledgling democratic government An opportunity to get a jump on all the apologizing you’ll have more lives than would be expected ity announces a five-day lockdown relaxation of coronavirus measures, led by Aung San Suu Kyi. to do for the year, and make up for things already forgotten 2 THURSDAY, JULY 02, 2020 DAILY EXPRESS HOT TOPICS

By Ben Simon Riot police detain a By Javier C. Hernández man after they cleared Palestinians rally as global protesters taking part Harsh penalties, vaguely in a rally against a new opposition to Israeli national security law in Hong Kong yesterday defined crimes (July 1), on the 23rd annexation grows anniversary of the city's Hong Kong’s security law JERUSALE - Thousands of Palestinians protested in handover from Britain to explained Gaza yesterday (July 1) against Israel's West Bank an- China. Hong Kong police nexation plans, as premier Benjamin Netanyahu held made the first arrests HONG KONG - The sweeping new national se- off an announcement on the controversial project and under Beijing's new curity law that China imposed on Hong Kong, international opposition stiffened. national security law on aimed at stamping out opposition to the ruling Netanyahu's centre-right coalition government had July 1 as the anniversary Communist Party in the former British colony, is set July 1 as the date from which it could begin imple- of the city's handover as “devastating” as some critics feared, a human- menting US President Donald Trump's Middle East to China was met by rights activist said yesterday (July 1). peace proposal. With no announcement currently Conceived in secrecy and passed Tuesday (June scheduled on Israel's self-imposed kick-off date, op- thousands defying a ban on protests 30) without serious public input, the law, which ponents of the plan - notably Palestinians in the West includes 66 articles and more than 7,000 words, Bank and Gaza -- were mobilizing. -DALE DE LA REY / AFP sets up a vast security apparatus in Hong Kong Several thousand brandished Palestinian flags and By Scott Murdoch, Yanni Chow and gives Beijing broad powers to crack down on placards condemning Trump at a rally in Gaza City, a variety of political crimes, including separatism while demonstrations were building in the West Bank and collusion. cities of Ramallah and Jericho. It is likely to usher in a new era for Hong Kong, "The resistance must be revived," Gaza protester Ra- Hong Kong police arrest nearly 200 in first experts say, in which civil liberties are tightly con- feeqInaiah told AFP. "Israel is afraid of force." strained and loyalty to the party is paramount. The Trump plan, unveiled in January, offered a path “All in all, this is a takeover of Hong Kong,” said for Israel to annex territory and Jewish West Bank protest under new security law Jerome A. Cohen, a New York University law pro- settlements, communities considered illegal under in- fessor who specializes in the Chinese legal system. ternational law. Netanyahu has voiced enthusiastic HONG KONG - Hong Kong police offences under the ... national security mainland. He said the new office abided Here’s a guide to the new rules: support for the Trump plan - which has been roundly fired water cannon and tear gas and law,” police said in a message displayed by Chinese law and that Hong Kong’s rejected by the Palestinians - but the right-wing premier arrested nearly 200 people yesterday on a purple banner. legal system could not be expected to The law targets protesters with harsh has not revealed his intentions for enacting the US pro- (July 1) as protesters took to the streets Authorities in Beijing and Hong Kong implement the laws of the mainland. penalties, including life imprisonment posals. Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza, in defiance of sweeping security legisla- have repeatedly said the legislation is Article 55 of the law states that Beijing’s The security law takes direct aim at the spirited launched some 20 test rockets from the coastal Pales- tion introduced by China that critics say aimed at a few “troublemakers” and will security office in Hong Kong could exer- anti-government protests that have convulsed tinian enclave into the Mediterranean Sea on Wednes- is aimed at snuffing out dissent. not affect rights and freedoms, nor in- cise jurisdiction over “complex” or “seri- Hong Kong over the past year, prescribing harsh day, a move aimed at dissuading Israel from moving Beijing unveiled the details of the vestor interests. ous” cases. penalties for the tactics commonly used by dem- forward, Hamas sources told AFP. much-anticipated law late on Tuesday But critics fear it is aimed ending “The law is a birthday gift to (Hong onstrators. Hamas, which has fought three wars with Israel since after weeks of uncertainty, pushing the pro-democracy opposition and will Kong) and will show its precious value As they led a months-long campaign last year 2008, says that Israeli annexations in the West Bank, China’s freest city and one of the world’s crush the freedoms that are seen as key in the future,” Zhang said, adding the to resist what they called Beijing’s encroachment which borders Jordan, would be a "declaration of war". most glittering financial hubs onto a to Hong Kong’s success as a financial law would not be applied retroactively. on Hong Kong’s civil liberties, protesters worked The Ramallah-based Palestinians Authority has said more authoritarian path. centre. Speaking at a flag-raising ceremony to disrupt the city’s reputation for efficiency and it is willing to renew long-stalled talks with Israel -- but As thousands of protesters gathered The United States and its Asian and to mark the handover anniversary, the orderliness. Some groups attacked police stations, not on terms outlined by Trump. downtown for an annual rally marking Western allies have criticized the legis- city’s Beijing-backed leader, Carrie Lam, vandalized shops and restaurants and briefly par- While the US has offered tacit support for immediate the anniversary of the former British lation. said the law was the most important de- alyzed the airport. Under the new law, damaging annexation, most of the international community is vo- colony’s handover to China in 1997, riot Police fired water cannon to try to dis- velopment since the city’s return to Chi- government buildings would be considered an act cally opposed to the project. police used pepper spray and fired pel- perse the protesters and said they had nese rule. of subversion punishable by life imprisonment Writing in Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper on lets as they made arrests after crowds made more than 180 arrests for illegal “It is also an inevitable and prompt in “grave” cases. Sabotaging transport would be Wednesday, Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson spilled into the streets chanting “resist assembly and other offences, with some decision to restore stability,” Lam said deemed a terrorist activity punishable by life in said that although he was a "passionate defender of Is- till the end” and “Hong Kong independ- involving violations of the new law. at the harbour-front venue where 23 prison if it harms other people or causes signifi- rael," he viewed annexation as "contrary to Israel's own ence.” A game of cat-and-mouse reminiscent years ago the last colonial governor, cant damage to public or private property. long-term interests." “I’m scared of going to jail but for of last year’s often violent demonstra- Chris Patten, a staunch critic of the se- The four major offences in the law — separa- "Annexation would represent a violation of interna- justice I have to come out today, I have tions followed, with protesters blocking curity law, tearfully handed back Hong tism, subversion, terrorism and collusion with tional law," he said. In a rare criticism of Israel by Aus- to stand up,” said one 35-year-old man roads before running away from riot Kong to Chinese rule. foreign countries — are ambiguously worded and tralia, the latter's foreign ministry issued a statement who gave his name as Seth. police charging with batons, only to re- Some pro-Beijing officials and politi- give the authorities extensive power to target ac- Wednesday warning against "unilateral annexation or The new law will punish crimes of emerge elsewhere. cal commentators say the law is aimed tivists who criticize the party, activists say. change in status of territory on the West Bank". secession, subversion, terrorism and Police posted pictures on Twitter at sealing Hong Kong’s “second return” “The law is devastating in that it appears to have France, Germany along with several other European collusion with foreign forces with up to of an officer with a bleeding arm say- to the motherland after the first failed to no bounds,” said Sophie Richardson, the China di- states and the United Nations all oppose annexation, as life in prison, will see mainland security ing he was stabbed by “rioters holding bring residents to heel. rector at Human Rights Watch. “Hong Kong ac- do Gulf Arab states, with which Israel has increasingly agencies in Hong Kong for the first time sharp objects.” The suspects fled while Luo Huining, the head of Beijing’s top tivists, accustomed to operating in mostly rights- sought warmer ties. and allow for extradition to the main- bystanders offered no help, police said. representative office in Hong Kong, said respecting environment, now face a frightening Jordan, one of only two Arab nations that has dip- land for trial. On July 1 last year, hundreds of pro- at the ceremony the law was a “common void.” lomatic ties with Israel, has warned that annexation China’s Parliament adopted it in re- testers stormed and vandalised the aspiration” of Hong Kong citizens. could trigger a "massive conflict" and has not ruled out sponse to protests last year triggered by city’s legislature to protest against a bill Some pro-democracy activists gave Beijing now has broad authority to reviewing its 1994 peace treaty with the Jewish state. fears that Beijing was stifling the city’s that would have allowed extraditions to up membership of their groups just be- intervene in Hong Kong’s legal system Israel's defence minister and alternate prime minis- freedoms, guaranteed by a “one country, mainland China. fore the law came into force into force Hong Kong’s residents have long cherished the ter Benny Gantz has said annexation must wait until two systems” formula agreed when it re- Those protests evolved into calls for at 11:00 p.m. (1500 GMT) on Tuesday, city’s independent judiciary, a legacy of British co- the coronavirus crisis has been contained, amid a sharp turned to Chinese rule. greater democracy, paralysing parts of though they called for the campaign to lonial rule that stood in stark contrast to the secre- spike in new Israeli and Palestinian cases. Earlier yesterday, police cited the law the city and paving the way for Beijing’s go on from abroad. tive, party-controlled courts in mainland China. Gantz is due to take over as prime minister in Novem- for the first time in confronting protest- new law. “I saw this morning there are celebra- Under the security law, however, Beijing has ber 2021 under the terms of a coalition deal. ers. In Beijing, Zhang Xiaoming, executive tions for Hong Kong’s handover, but given itself wide latitude to interfere in Hong Israel annexed east Jerusalem following the 1967 Six “You are displaying flags or banners/ deputy director of Beijing’s Hong Kong to me it is a funeral, a funeral for ‘one Kong’s legal affairs. The legislation will install in Day War and then the Golan Heights on the Syrian bor- chanting slogans/or conducting your- and Macau Affairs Office, told report- country two systems’,” said pro-democ- Hong Kong a formidable network of security forc- der in 1981, in moves never recognized by most of the selves with an intent such as secession ers suspects arrested by a new Beijing- racy lawmaker Kwok Ka-ki. es controlled by Beijing, including a national se- international community. or subversion, which may constitute run security office could be tried on the -Agencies curity agency, a national security committee and a While some settlers have urged Netanyahu to take special prosecutorial office. similar action in the West Bank, other settlers oppose Under the legislation, the central government the Trump plan, as it envisions the creation of a Pales- By Richard Pérez Peña, Lara Jakes and Farnaz Fassihi in Beijing can intervene in national security cas- tinian state across roughly 70 percent of the West Bank. es, especially during crises or if a case is deemed "Trump's plan is to establish a Palestinian state in the No takers “complex.” The law says defendants in important land of Israel while leaving the Jews with little crumbs," cases could stand trial before courts in mainland Daniela Weiss, a settler movement leader, told AFP. US appeal for indefinite arms embargo of Iran falls flat China, where convictions are usually assured and "This thing will not happen. We will not eat this bait. penalties are often harsh. Trials involving state se- We will not fall into this trap." NEW YORK - Secretary of State Mike certain to fail in the UN Security Coun- negotiated in the framework of the 2015 crets could be closed to the news media and the Despite mounting headwinds against implementing Pompeo called on Tuesday (June 30) cil; it might not even collect enough agreement, not an action imposed by public. The law could bring to Hong Kong many the Trump plan, experts have stressed that Netanyahu for an arms embargo on Iran to be ex- support to be put to a vote, diplomats the Security Council. harsh legal practices common in mainland China, may still move forward in the coming days, noting that tended indefinitely, but his appeal fell said. The Trump administration has The arms embargo applies to Iran experts said. Broadly, the law says that the rights he is keenly watching the US presidential election and flat at the United Nations, where Russia threatened that if the embargo is not ex- importing or exporting most kinds of of suspects and defendants in national security may be eager to act if he fears the president will not win and China rejected it outright and close tended, the United States will try to in- weapons, including aircraft and tanks. cases should be respected. But apart from a pre- a second term. allies of the United States were ambiva- voke a ‘snapback’ provision of the 2015 Some limits on missile and nuclear sumption of innocence and the right to defend Presumptive US Democratic party nominee Joe Biden lent. deal to re-impose former UN sanctions technology will remain in place for a few oneself, it does not offer much clarity on those is opposed to any unilateral annexations by Israel. The embargo, which is set to expire on Iran — a move other nations said more years. protections, leaving open the danger that some of -Agence France-Presse on October 18, stems from the 2015 deal would be unwise and legally invalid. The resistance to Pompeo’s call — the harsh, unaccountable practices common on to curb Iran’s nuclear program. Presi- Representatives of Britain, France coming not only from only rivals like the mainland could spread to Hong Kong. dent Donald Trump withdrew from the and Germany voiced unease at both the China and Russia, but also from key al- “As a national security suspect, you can be agreement in 2018, and Iran has ex- expiration of the embargo and the US lies — illustrates the growing isolation locked up for as long as six months incommuni- US buys nearly all stocks ceeded the accord’s limits on uranium approach, particularly the snapback, and declining influence of the United cado, subject to torture, coerced confession, no enrichment since then, part of a steady which they flatly opposed. States, analysts said, even in dealing access to counsel or family or friends, before the escalation of tensions that have at times The European powers said they with an Iran that members see as a police decide whether to process you for a crime,” of coronavirus drug pushed the two countries dangerously hoped to find some way to limit Iranian rogue nation destabilizing the region. said Cohen, the law professor, speaking about close to war. The American bid is all but access to arms through a compromise -New York Times practices common in mainland China. remdesivir The law sends a warning to the US and WASHINGTON - The United States has bought near- By Miwa Suzuki other countries ly all the available global supplies for the next three No big deal Beijing has repeatedly sought to portray the un- months of anti-viral drug remdesivir, one of two drugs rest in Hong Kong as the work of foreign coun- that have proven to be effective against COVID-19. Walkie, no talkie China downplays potential new tries, especially the United States, accusing them The US Department of Health Services (HHS) an- of taking part in a plot to sow chaos in China and nounced on Monday (June 29) it had secured more Japan city launches pedestrian swine flu pandemic topple the Communist Party. Chinese officials than 500,000 treatment courses of remdesivir from have spread unfounded conspiracy theories sug- drug maker Gilead Sciences for US hospitals until Sep- smartphone ban BEIJING - China yesterday (July 1) played down the gesting that Western countries are funding and tember. The stocks make up 100% of Gilead's projected threat of a new swine flu strain with pandemic po- directing the activists. Several parts of the security production for July and 90% each for August and Sep- YAMATO- A Tokyo suburb yes- "Using a mobile phone is ad- tential that researchers discovered in pigs, saying the legislation take aim at the perceived role of for- tember. terday (July 1) imposed Japan's dictive... People seem to feel study is "not representative." eigners in political activism in Hong Kong. "President [Donald] Trump has struck an amazing first ban on a habit seen around they cannot stop looking at their The deadly COVID-19 pandemic, which has now The new rules apply even to those who are not deal to ensure Americans have access to the first au- the world: pedestrians glued to mobile and they have to feel con- infected more than 10 million people worldwide, first residents of Hong Kong, suggesting that foreign- thorised therapeutic for COVID-19," HHS Secretary their phone screens while walk- nected with friends all the time," emerged in China and is thought to have originated ers who support independence for Hong Kong or Alex Azar said in a statement. ing, sometimes dangerously he told AFP. Teenager Arika Ina in bats and jumped to humans through an unknown call for imposing sanctions on the Chinese gov- "To the extent possible, we want to ensure that any oblivious to their surroundings. said she often saw people look- intermediary animal. The new swine flu strain found ernment could be prosecuted upon entering Hong American patient who needs remdesivir can get it." Visitors arriving at the rail- ing at their screens while walk- in China, according to the study published Monday Kong or mainland China. The law also states that Remdesivir, which is administered intravenously way station in Yamato City ing and believed the habit was (June 29) in the US science journal PNAS, had "all the national security officials in Hong Kong will “take in hospital, is the first drug to show improvement in were greeted with banners an- dangerous. But she said people essential hallmarks" to infect humans and raised fears necessary measures to strengthen the manage- COVID-19 patients in formal clinical trials, and new nouncing the new prohibition, should be walking around with- over another potential pandemic. But China's foreign ment” of foreign nongovernmental organizations information about its efficacy is being closely watched which applies to all foot jour- out being in thrall to their phones ministry moved to downplay fears yesterday. and news outlets in the territory. And, the legisla- around the world, as nations battle the coronavirus neys around the neighbour- as a matter of common decency, "The G4 virus mentioned in the relevant report is a tion does not offer specifics. pandemic. In May, US regulators allowed the emer- hood's public roads, squares and and questioned the need for leg- subtype of the H1N1 virus," foreign ministry spokes- The legislation seems to be aimed at silenc- gency use of the experimental drug that appears to help parks. "Using smartphones while islation. man Zhao Lijian said in a routine briefing. ing criticism of the party’s policies in Hong Kong some patients recover faster. walking is banned. Please oper- "I don't think we need an ordi- "Experts have concluded that the sample size of the among rights activists, journalists and govern- The drug has received full approval by Japanese ate your smartphones after you nance to ban it. You can stop it report is small and not representative." ment officials outside China, experts said. health regulators. US approval requires a time-consum- stop walking," a recorded female by being a little bit more careful," Zhao added that "relevant departments and ex- “The law’s broad extraterritorial scope could ing Food and Drug Administration review, but Emer- voice cautioned travellers. the 17-year-old said. Research by perts" will continue to step up monitoring of the dis- well have a chilling effect on overseas NGOs, limit- gency Use Authorizations can be used in a health crisis There is no punishment for Japanese mobile giant NTT Doc- ease, send warnings and handle it in a timely manner. ing their ability to partner with Hong Kong groups when other options are not available. those unable to tear themselves omo in 2014 found that pedestri- The new G4 swine flu strain is genetically descended on sensitive issues like human rights and political There are currently no US approvals for treatments away from their screens in the ans lost 95 percent of their field from the H1N1 strain that caused a pandemic in 2009, reform,” said Thomas E. Kellogg, executive direc- or vaccines for the new coronavirus that has infected street but the suburb of 240,000 of vision while staring down at a according to the study, which was authored by scien- tor of the Centre for Asian Law at Georgetown more than 10 million people and killed nearly 500,000 wants to use the ordinance to smartphone. The company ran tists at Chinese universities and the Chinese Center for University. Kellogg said that more restrictions on worldwide, including more than 127,000 deaths in the highlight the dangers of scroll- a computer simulation of what Disease Control and Prevention. nongovernmental groups working on issues like US. Dozens of companies are working on a variety of ing while strolling. The unusual would occur if 1,500 people tra- G4 was observed to be highly infectious, they said, human rights, the rule of law and the democratic treatment and vaccine approaches. move appeared to have broad versed the road outside Tokyo's replicating in human cells and causing more serious development in Hong Kong were likely to emerge Remdesivir, which previously failed as a treatment support from citizens both young Shibuya station -- the busiest symptoms in ferrets than other viruses. in the coming months. for Ebola, is designed to disable the mechanism by and old, with very few people on pedestrian crossing in the world Researchers took 30,000 nasal swabs from slaugh- The provisions targeting foreigners will most which certain viruses, including the new coronavirus, the streets of Yamato spotted -- while all simultaneously look- terhouse pigs in 10 Chinese provinces, allowing them likely worsen tensions between China and the make copies of themselves and potentially overwhelm breaching the new rule. ing at their smartphones. The to isolate 179 swine flu viruses. According to the study, United States, with relations already at their low- their host's immune system. "I often see people using mo- results showed that two-thirds 10.4% of pig slaughterhouse workers tested had al- est point in decades. The Trump administration On Monday, Gilead said it would price remdesivir at biles while walking. They are would not make it to the other ready been infected. has promised a series of punishments in retalia- $2,340 per patient in the US and other wealthier na- not paying attention to things side without incident, with 446 So far, there has been no evidence of human-to-hu- tion for the national security legislation, including tions. In 127 poor or middle-income countries, Gilead is around them. Elderly people may person-to-person collisions and man transmission. China did not elaborate further on visa restrictions and limits on exporting defence allowing generic makers to supply the drug. not be able to dodge them," said 103 people being knocked over. how many had been infected by G4. technology. -Al Jazeera/Agencies 64-year-old Kenzo Mori. -AFP -Agence France-Presse -New York Times DAILY EXPRESS THURSDAY, JULY 02, 2020 3 GLOCAL

Express Newspapers (Cey) Pvt. Ltd., By Amal Jayasinghe 185, Grandpass Road, Colombo 14, Sri Lanka Telephone: 0117 322 705 (Editorial) 0117 322 731 (Advertising) Sri Lanka questions World 0117 322 789 (Circulation) Email – [email protected]/[email protected] Cup opener in fixing probe Epaper - http://epaper.newsexpress.lk COLOMBO - Sri Lanka opener Upul Tharanga Facebook –News Express Sri Lanka yesterday (July 1) became the first player to be grilled by detectives in a probe investigating claims that the 2011 Cricket World Cup final was fixed. AG approves health guidelines for COVID-coloured polling The 35-year-old batsman and wicketkeeper was questioned for two hours by the Special COLOMBO - Attorney General (AG) Dap- approved yesterday (July 1). The general to contest the elections this year. Among the distribution of polling cards will be com- Investigation Unit (SIU) examining the con- pula de Livera has approved regulations un- election 2020 is scheduled to be held on the 7452 candidates, 196 individuals will be pleted by July 29. Chairman, NEC, Mahinda duct of the final, which Sri Lanka lost to India. der which the parliamentary election will be August 5, with postal voting to be held from elected to Parliament, while the remaining Deshapriya, said the counting of ballot pa- "They asked a few questions in connection with held in August, amidst the COVID-19 pan- July 13 to 16. 29 seats will be filled through the National pers will commence at 8:00 a.m. on August the ongoing investigation. I gave my statement," demic. A total of 7452 candidates will be contest- List. 6, and that the Commission hopes to an- Tharanga told reporters without giving further Coordinating Officer to the AG State ing the elections, with 3652 candidates con- The National Election Commission (NEC) nounce the first results at around 4:00 p.m. details. Tharanga, who scored two runs off 20 Counsel Nishara Jayaratne said the Quar- testing from recognized political parties and has announced the official polling cards for the same day, and the final results by 8.00 deliveries in the match at Mumbai's Wankhede antine Health Regulations, which were 3800 representing independent groups. the election will be handed over to the De- p.m. Stadium, was called in after investigators quizzed forwarded by the Ministry of Health, were A total of 313 independent groups are set partment of Posts from July 11 to 13, while CG/ENCL chief selector Aravinda de Silva for nearly six hours on Tuesday (June 30). Police said they will next interview Kumar Magistrate orders police probe into how Sangakkara, the captain of the losing side and the current president of the Marylebone Cricket in-camera evidence by children was leaked to media Club in London, who was asked to report to the COLOMBO – The Fort Magistrate has or- bombers. The children in question are wit- SIU today (2). There was no immediate comment dered an investigation into how evidence nesses brought forth by the Criminal In- from the 42-year-old, who last month said the al- given to him in-camera by two children last vestigation Department (CID) and report- legations should be referred to the International week made its way into the following day’s edly gave evidence to support their case that Cricket Council (ICC). The Sri Lankan probe was newspapers. Hejaaz was a leading member of an Islamic launched after the then-sports minister claimed Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake yesterday school where young boys were radicalized. that Sri Lanka threw the April 2011 match. "I feel (July 1) ordered the Deputy Inspector Gen- Hejaaz is being held under the Prevention I can talk about it now," Mahindananda Aluthga- eral of the Western Province to investigate of Terrorism Act (PTA) and is yet to be pro- mage told a local TV network last month. "I am the incident and report to him. duced before a Magistrate. not connecting players, but some sections were Dissanayake told the court that only he Because he is being held under the dra- involved." Sri Lanka bat first and scored 274-6 and the Court Mudliyar were present in his conian PTA, the Magistrate has no power to off 50 overs. They appeared in a commanding chambers when the children gave evidence. order that he be produced before him. position when Indian superstar Sachin Ten- The Magistrate said he had locked up the Nawarathna Bandara PC, appearing with dulkar was out for 18. But India turned the game evidence given by the children in the court Harshana Nanayakkara and Hafeel Farisz around dramatically, thanks in part to poor field- locker after recording it. appeared for Hejaaz while IP Ranil Wimala- ing and bowling by Sri Lanka, who were led by The case being heard is into the bombing siri appeared for the CID. Kumar Sangakkara. of the Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo Hejaaz has challenged his detention in a India won the final by six wickets. Sangakkara during the Easter Sunday attacks and the Fundamental Rights petition before the Su- and his deputy Mahela Jayawardena quit their children’s testimony pertains to the arrest preme Court, which is coming up for hear- - LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI / AFP positions in the team after the stunning defeat. of leading lawyer Hejaaz Hisbullah. Police ing next week. The toss of the final was also controversial as it Upul Tharanga, a member of the 2011 Sri Lanka World Cup squad, leaves the Special allege Hejaaz aided and abetted the suicide -economynext.com was done twice. Match referee Jeff Crowe appar- Investigation Unit in Colombo yesterday (July 1). Tharanga became the first player to be ently did not hear "heads" called by Sangakkara grilled by detectives in a probe investigating claims that the 2011 Cricket World Cup final was Sri Lanka's withdrawal from UN resolution and asked Indian skipper M. S. Dhoni to toss fixed. Sri Lanka's chief cricket selector for the 2011 cricket World Cup, Aravinda de Silva, was again. Sangakkara won the toss and elected to grilled for six hours on Tuesday (June 30) bat, a decision that was criticised in local media Core Group reiterate ‘profound disappointment' because the Sri Lankans were considered to be GENEVA - Canada, Germany and the UK “We share the concerns of Sri Lankan hu- better at chasing at the time. Sri Lankan cricket Woman arrested with grenades and ammunition reiterated their "profound disappointment" man rights organizations over the targeting has been plagued by several corruption scandals, over Sri Lanka's withdrawal of co-sponsor- and marginalization of minority groups, the including claims of match-fixing ahead of a 2018 Said to be connected to largest haul recovered from underworld ship from United Nations Human Rights pardoning of Sergeant Sunil Ratnayake and Test against England. Last month the local crick- Council (UNHRC) resolutions promoting promotion of others accused of serious vio- et board said the ICC was investigating three un- gang accountability, reconciliation and human lations during the conflict, and the militari- named ex-players over corruption claims. COLOMBO – A woman from Pitipana, the National Intelligence Unit that the wom- rights. zation of a wide range of civilian functions Match-fixing was made a criminal offence in Homagama, said to be connected to the sus- an was involved with the suspect arrested Addressing the 44th Session of the and public initiatives." November. Offenders face fines of up to 100 mil- pect arrested with the largest haul of fire with a stock of weapons, including 12 T-56 UNHRC, the member states, alongside The Group called on Sri Lanka to ensure lion rupees ($555,000) and up to 10 years' jail. arms to be recovered from an underworld guns, in Homagama on Monday (June 29). North Macedonia and Montenegro, stressed that the country's democratic space remains -AFP gang in Sri Lanka earlier this week, was taken The weapons are said to belong to an un- that any "accountability mechanism must open and accountable. into custody with a cache of weapons yes- derworld gang connected to a convicted drug have the confidence of those affected." “We call for detentions and arrests to fol- terday (July1). The arrest followed a raid by lord identified as ‘Gagana.’ The STF had car- In a statement delivered by UK's Interna- low due process and be compliant with in- Veteran author Sybil the Special Task Force (STF) attached to the ried out Monday’s raid on a tip off that a stock tional Ambassador for Human Rights, Rita ternational norms and universal rights, for Sri Jayawardenapura Police, who also seized of weapons belonging to ‘Gagana’ had been French, the Core Group said, "Since March, example in the case of lawyer Hejaaz Hiz- Wettasinghe, dies aged 93 seven hand grenades, one repeater shotgun stashed at the suspect’s house in Homagama. Sri Lanka has been battling COVID-19, and bullah, who has now been detained for al- COLOMBO - Veteran children’s author, Kala and several rounds for ammunition. The suspect was later identified as an associ- has kept case numbers significantly lower most three months without charge or pres- Keerthi Sybil Wettasinghe passed away yester- According to police sources, the raid had ate of ‘Gagana.’ than the regional average. However, as stat- entation before the court. We call for an end day (July 1) while receiving treatment at the Sri been carried out based on information from -ENCL ed by the High Commissioner, extraordinary to impunity for the violations and abuses of Jayewardenepura Hospital. She was 93. Family measures to tackle the pandemic should not the past." sources said final rites will be conducted at 3:00 be used to roll back human rights. -ENCL p.m. on Friday (3). Import controls extended indefinitely amid Born in 1927, Wettasinghe spent the first six years of her childhood in Gintota, Galle, later Chiyo Kanda is WB’s new country manager for SL moving to Colombo to Study at Holy Family money printing COLOMBO –The World Bank (WB) yes- Lanka’s development. A Japanese national, Convent in Bambalapitiya. She was involved in COLOMBO– Sri Lanka has extended in- The controls which were originally set to terday (July 1) announced the appointment Kanda joined the World Bank in 1994 as creative writing for leading newspapers and definitely the sweeping import controls and expire in three months, will now be in place of Chiyo Kanda as its new Country Manager a Young Professional and has since held magazines since the age of 15. In 1952, she pro- licence regime introduced for three months “until further notice,” the new rules said. for Sri Lanka, saying she will oversee a to- various positions as Economist and Senior duced a narrative called ‘Kuda Hora’ for the from May 22, after unprecedented money The new rules introduced a series of regu- tal portfolio of around $2.3 billion and the Economist for Africa, Senior Operations Of- children’s page of a newspaper; and eventually printing triggered foreign exchange short- lations for exporters who need to import, al- development of a new country partnership ficer in Tanzania and Operations & Portfolio developed it into a book that was critically ac- ages. lowing some items to be imported, suspend- framework. Manager in the Philippines. Her most recent claimed both locally and internationally. The Excess liquidity in money markets was Rs ing some and allowing some others under a Chiyo Kanda will be based in Colombo, assignment was as Manager in the Opera- book was translated into seven languages in- 88 billion (representing the potential loss of licence regime. the World Bank said in a statement, add- tions Policy & Country Services Vice Presi- cluding English, Chinese, and Japanese. about US$ 470 million to keep the exchange Under the new regulations, freezing equip- ing that Faris Hadad-Zervos will be tak- dency’s results unit. Kanda said she looked Inspired by the success of ‘Kuda Hora’, Wet- rate stable when credit picks up or foreign ment (chest type freezer), tankers and bows- ing up the position of Country Director for forward to working closely with all develop- tasinghe applied herself to writing as well as il- loans are repaid) on May 22 when the regula- ers, have been taken off a temporarily sus- Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, and based ment partners, including the private sector lustrating and has published over 200 children’s tions were gazetted. pended list, as are washing machines over 10 in Nepal. Hadad-Zervos succeeds. Idah Z. and civil society groups, to promote sustain- books over the course of her career. The last book By June 26, excess liquidity had risen to kilograms and parts for the machines. Some Pswarayi-Riddihough, who will be taking on able growth and shared prosperity. released by Wettasinghe, the ‘Wonder Crystal’ Rs 209 billion, which will require about US$ spare parts for televisions, video displays and a new World Bank assignment. The World Bank is supporting the govern- achieved a world record for the most number of 1.1 billion in reserves to mop up, while poten- knocked down forms have also been allowed. Kanda’s appointment comes at a time ment’s COVID-19 response through a $215 alternate endings. The book was an initiative by tially also generating inflation if credit picks Knocked down items typically bring less rev- when the Government of Sri Lanka is work- million COVID-19 Emergency Response and Munchee and was launched with the objective of up. enue to the government, but will benefit se- ing to address both the immediate and long- Health Systems Preparedness Project to help encouraging children to use their imagination Sri Lanka is also giving central bank re- lected businesses. er-term health and economic impacts of the prevent, detect, and respond to the pandem- and explore their creativity and thus complete finance (printed money) to boost credit. The Some computer and electronic parts in- COVID-19 crisis. ic and to strengthen its public health system. the story by contributing through their writings, money is printed despite the country having cluding chips, and diodes, solar cells and “Sri Lanka has managed to limit the Additional financing of $87.24 million has drawings and poetry. to repay foreign loans. monitors, which were previously allowed in spread of COVID-19 quite effectively so far. also been provided through the same pro- -ENCL The government introduced sweeping im- under credit have been removed from the list. It is now critical to kick-start economic re- ject, to boost the country’s preparedness as port controls not seen since the 1970s, when Carbon brushes have also been removed. covery and protect people’s jobs and liveli- it resumes economic activities. There are 20 Pre-schools, Grades 1, 2 to Sri Lanka closed the entire economy, using Crude coconut oil, virgin coconut oil and hoods,” said Kanda, adding that her priority projects in the World Bank portfolio in Sri provisions of an import and export control jute sacks for packaging have also been re- was to build on the strong partnership with Lanka amounting to $2.3 billion in a variety law of 1969. moved, along with a series of vehicle parts for the Sri Lankan government and its people of sectors including transport, urban, water, reopen in August The current regulations are slapped using cars and motor cycles from the credit list. to work together to prepare the next coun- education and health. COLOMBO - Pre-schools, and Grades 1 and 2 the same law. -economynext.com try partnership framework to support Sri -ENCL in all schools will reopen in August, the Minis- try of Education announced yesterday (July 1), deferring an earlier decisions to re-open in early Foreign Secretary says Fujian firm joins Hambantota July. In a press release issued yesterday, the ministry said all pre-schools and Grades 1 and 2 will reopen from August 10. The release also Sri Lanka needs to rethink how it should train and manage port development noted all schools and pre-schools should strictly COLOMBO– China’s CMPorts said a Fujian-based logis- adhere to coronavirus prevention guidelines is- migrant workers tics group will take an indirect stake to join the develop- sued by the Ministry of Health. COLOMBO – The COVID-19 induced countries. They are also vulnerable to Colombo Process and the Abu Dhabi ment of the Hambantota port, in a move that will bring in Separately, Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Director Gen- crisis in migrant labour should prompt deportation if identified, he said, noting Dialogue – could together with the ILO new industries from the Chinese province to Sri Lanka and eral of Health announced that permission is a re-think in how Sri Lanka should train that many of them are not registering and IOM, also play a greater role in the reduce its debt. Fujian Provincial Communication Trans- granted to re-open theatres for stage plays and and manage its overseas workers, Sec- with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign post-COVID scenario for the benefit portation Group Co., Ltd (FJCT), will take a 23% stake in other concerts from July 15, subject to health retary, Ministry of Foreign Relations, Employment (SLBFE) was a matter of of the migrant workers, as well as the Gainpro Resources Limited, British Virgin Islands Com- restrictions, specifically 50% audience capacity Ravinatha Aryasinha told a group of concern. He urged all migrant workers sending and receiving countries. This pany that holds CM Ports’ 85% stake of Hambantota Port per show. professionals, noting that the present to register with the SLBFE so they could would include; International Group, the operating company of the port. A media statement said strict adherence to crisis in foreign labour “has been an enjoy the benefits of an expanded social • ensuring the outward flow of a bet- “FJCT will take this cooperation as an opportunity to health guidelines prescribed for the protection eye-opener” in many respects. safety net, as successfully practiced by ter trained and skilled migrant worker, deepen the cooperation between Hambantota port and against Covid-19 virus is compulsory during all Tens of thousands of migrant Sri Lan- migrant workers in countries like the one who will while able to earn more, Fujian ports as well as shipping enterprises,” Li Xinghu, shows. kan workers are facing a crisis in several Philippines, where the percentage of is less likely to face the vulnerabilities Chairman of FJCT said in a statement. -ENCL countries, particularly the Middle-East, registered migrant workers is 96.8%. presently encountered by the average ‘At the same time, FJCT will also strive to attract and en- and are seeking to return. He said, even for those who are legal, Sri Lankan migrant worker, particularly courage Fujian enterprises to participate in the construc- Aryasinha, in a speech to the Organi- a consequence of COVID-19 has been the unskilled workers, tion of Hambantota port, and strive to make Hambantota zation of Professional Associations over the shrinking of the employment mar- • combine market research platforms to Port a Homebase for Fujian enterprises to enter the South the weekend, observed that despite its ket, particularly with the increasing cas- generate vocational training programs Asia and overseas markets.” FJCT will pay US$ 268 mil- immediate gloom, the present situa- es of unemployment, loss of contracts, that will serve future job markets and lion to take a 23.52% stake in Gainpro Resources through tion has been an eye opener in many re- non-extension of work permits and economic demands in countries post a special purpose vehicle, Fujian Transportation Maritime spects that could help correct structural, halting of temporary freelance work, Covid-19, and recalibrate to inspire a Silk Road Investment and Management Co. Limited (Fu- procedural and human interface incon- which have left many of them largely work force that meets that demand, jian TMSR) and appoint directors to HIPG. gruities in Sri Lanka’s labour migration. destitute. • re-formulate our education systems, The money will be used to reduce CM Port debt. It also presents an opportunity for Sri He also noted that this could lead to a and re-orient students to be a rich hu- Gainpro has a US$ 976 million shareholder loan from Lanka to re-orient foreign employment serious shortfall in the numbers of mi- man resource pool for future labour the parent company. CMPorts paid Sri Lanka US$ 976 mil- in a post-COVID-19 world, sensitive to grant workers who will leave for work markets, lion to take an 85% stake in HIPG. In 2019, Hambantota the ground realities in both Sri Lanka this year and in turn a drop in worker • expedite action in enhancing cheaper, operations had lost US$ 20.1 million, and in 2018, US$ and the migrant labour receiving coun- remittances. In 2019, migrant worker’s safer and faster modes of remittance 21.39 million. CMPorts chairman Deng Renjie said FJCT tries, he said, adding, ‘So that the future remittances to foreign exchange earn- flows, and China Merchants groups had had a long history of col- footprint of Foreign Employment Sri ings was 25.5%, while its contribution to •ensure that ‘migrant health’ becomes a laboration and he expected the new partnership to expand Lanka will provide the world – though Sri Lanka’s GDP was approximately 8%. cornerstone in the management of mi- co-operation in port business and lead to the speeding up probably smaller, could be smarter and Aryasinha said, the present situation grant populations. of industries into the industrial park of Hambantota port. more sustainable.’ could help in building more forward Aryasinha said the recent crisis has Hambantota has been increasing its vehicle tranship- Aryasinha also revealed that the COV- looking and resilient policies and strat- helped break the silos and ensure bet- ment and is developing bunkering. In 2019 it had handled ID-19 crisis had exposed the significant egies that can ensure ‘sustainable and ter intra-governmental coordination in 410,000 vehicles. number of Sri Lankan migrant workers just economies.’ He also noted that Sri dealing with matters concerning mi- Sri Lanka sold a stake in Hambantota port to CM Ports as abroad who are undocumented/irregu- Lanka, which has had the opportunity grant workers – both in Colombo, as the state-run Sri Lanka Ports Authority could not develop lar, and as a result are ineligible to avail to design and provide input on certain well as in the destination countries. enough business to repay loans taken to build the port. medical and other benefits in their host crucial regional modalities within the -ENCL -economynext.com 4 THURSDAY, JULY 02, 2020 DAILY EXPRESS COMMENTARY

Mahinda Rajapaksa’s By P. K. Balachandran call What’s driving the Don’t be distracted by minor Baloch insurgency? Four well-armed terrorists, believed to be from issues; help defeat foreign the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), were conspiracies shot dead while attempting to storm the Kara- chi Stock Exchange (KSE) on Monday (June 29). COLOMBO - Prime Minister Mahinda Raja- While legitimately claiming credit for foiling the paksa has urged the electorate not to be dis- nefarious attempt to disrupt an already fragile tracted by “politically unimportant” matters and economy, Pakistani authorities, including Prime to instead focus on the big picture and vote for a Minister Imran Khan, promptly pointed an ac- party that has a proven track record of safeguard- cusing finger at an Indian intelligence agency. ing the country from foreign conspiracies. But by doing so, they had precluded any con- “If we allow ourselves to be distracted and for- sideration of the root cause of unrest, separa- get the broader picture even for a moment, the tism and terrorism in Balochistan, which have consequences could be disastrous,” Rajapaksa plagued the province for decades, virtually from said in a statement issued on Monday (June 29). independence in 1947, when the Khanate of Kalat “If people cast their votes on the basis of vari- was controversial annexed by the newly estab- ous minor distractions, we will lose everything, lished State of Pakistan without consulting the our country, our nationhood, our religion, our people of the Princely State. While the first revolt culture and the future of unborn generations,” he in 1948 was crushed quickly enough, the subse- added. quent insurgencies were more difficult to deal The minor distractions referred to by Raja- with, even with the use of superior force. paksa include the allegedly extravagant funeral The consistent failure of the Pakistani State of former minister ArumugamThondaman amid to acknowledge and address the root causes has a pandemic, the controversial statement made made the Balochistan insurgency the longest by former sports minister MahindanandaAluth- -Debbie Hill/Pool via Reuters lasting one in Pakistan. Its impact in the coming gamage that the 2011 Cricket World Cup final Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a statement overlooking the Israeli settlement of Har Homa, in Israeli- years will have a huge impact on the economic was fixed, and most recently, remarks made by occupied West Bank on February 20, 2020 and strategic situation in Pakistan because the LTTE-militant-turned-politician Vinayagamoor- Gwadar port, the end point of the multi-billion thyMuralitharan (alias Karuna Amman) alleged- By Marwan Bishara dollar China-funded and executed China-Paki- ly bragging about killing thousands of Sri Lankan stan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is located in Ba- troops. lochistan. And CPEC is part of China’s flagship “Given the threats we are up against, we will be international project the Belt and Road Initiative destroyed if we fail to distinguish between what Hubris: Israel's endgame in (BRI). The fact that India has serious issues with is politically important and politically unimpor- the CPEC and BRI adds to Pakistan’s insecurity. tant. Various things can be said about the ques- While interested outside forces might be fish- tion whether social distancing was observed in ing in troubled waters, the root cause of unrest the proper manner at ArumugamThondaman’s in Balochistan lie deep in the step-motherly Palestine treatment meted out to it and the Baloch people funeral or whether someone had been guilty of fixing a cricket match back in 2011. However, US President Donald Trump's Middle rejected the ridiculous unenforceable bling Israel to keep its military in, the over the last five decades. Wilful neglect of Balo- these are not politically important matters,” Ra- East "peace plan" is clearer in the origi- plan and war broke out, Israel occupied Palestinians down, and the refugees chistan by successive Pakistani governments has japaksa said. nal Hebrew. The Israeli version is bold the Galilee and imposed military rule out. been stressed in all the reports of human rights “We saw the manner in which the yahapalana on annexation, bleak on peace and low for almost two decades with three goals Meanwhile, the Israeli government organizations and writings by scholars, both cabal made a hue and cry about a comment made on diplomatic humbug. in mind. has signalled its willingness to com- within and outside Pakistan. by Karuna Amman to the effect that he had been And thanks to Israeli Prime Minis- First, confiscate large swaths of Pales- pensate the Palestinians for the loss of Tiffany Tanner, in her PhD thesis entitled: responsible for the deaths of thousands of sol- ter Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing tinian land, especially rich agricultural their national rights, with money and ‘Explaining the resilience of the Balochistan in- diers in attacks on army camps when he was in politics, the "peace process" has been land belonging to Palestinian refugees, autonomy - Gulf money and Israeli- surgency’ submitted to the University of Maine the LTTE. This shows how easy it is to obscure exposed for what it is - a colonization to settle Jews and eventually create a controlled autonomy. in 2019, notes that Balochistan is home to sub- the broader picture by bringing other issues to operation. This surreal process has long Jewish majority. Second, thwart the re- To do so, Israel and the US have been stantial energy and mineral reserves and meets the fore,” he said, recalling that it was Karuna served as a cover up for deep Israeli en- turn of Palestinians to their homes and pressuring rich Arab and European 36% of Pakistan’s energy needs. But the royalties who had formally identified LTTE leader Velu- trenchment in the West Bank and Jeru- towns. And third, break up Palestinian states to help turn their "peace into given to Balochistan are significantly less than pillaiPrabhakaran’s body at the end of the war in salem, rendering civilian and military contiguity to block Palestinian national prosperity". They convened a confer- those given to Punjab and Sindh, which, in 2009, 2009. withdrawal improbable if not unthink- unity and prevent a potential secession. ence in Bahrain especially for that pur- received $1.65 and $2.35 per thousand cubic feet The prime minister accused elements in what able for most Israelis. The plan worked. pose last year. of gas supplied respectively, while Balochistan he called the Yahapalana camp, opposition par- Having secured Trump's approval, After Israel's 1967 war and occupa- And they may attempt a similar re- got only $0.29. Also, only four out of 28 districts ties that comprised or supported the previous ad- Netanyahu will go forward with an- tion, Israel carried out similar confisca- gional initiative in the coming weeks in Balochistan were able to avail of the gas. ministration, of supplying “lorry loads of weap- nexation despite warnings of an inter- tions of Palestinian land to build Jewish to present the Palestinians with an ul- Tanner quotes Dr. Kaiser Bengali and Mahpar- ons and gunny bags full of cash” to the LTTE in national backlash, the demise of the settlements in the West Bank, including timatum: acquiesce to their plan or face aSadaqat to say that Balochistan’s share of Paki- 1989. two-state solution, and the erosion of in and around East Jerusalem. the consequences. stan’s GDP from 1973 to 2000 had declined to 4.5 “From the time Karuna Amman was murdering the "democratic Jewish state." In both regions, Israel established While Israel bets on weak Arab dic- %, while contribution from Punjab had increased people, and after he had given up doing so, and Netanyahu will likely once again re- three major Jewish centres in the south, tatorships to succumb to US pressure, to 52.7%, Sindh to 31% and the North Western right up to the present day, what has been right buff such warnings, relying on uncon- middle and north to break up Palestin- the Palestinians share the Arab masses' Frontier Province (NWFP) 11.7%. By 2000 Balo- at the top of the yahapalana agenda has been the ditional US support. ian contiguity of the newly occupied eagerness for freedom and rely on their chistan’s share had decreased to 3.7%. However, division of this country. Karuna may have given With Washington on its side, Israel territories: Nazareth Illit, Karmiel and sweeping rejection of Israel. it is important to note that Balochistan has only up murdering people, but the yahapalana cabal has long acted with impunity. Its an- Ma'alot in the Galilee, Gush Etzion, They overwhelmingly oppose the 5% of Pakistan’s population. has not given up trying to divide the country. nexation of East Jerusalem and the Syr- Ma'alehAdumim and Ariel in the West Trump-Netanyahu plans that facilitate As regards per capita GDP, Tanner says Balo- That is what we have to realize here,” he said. ian Golan Heights are a case in point. Bank. Israel's illegitimate control over their chistan started off in 1973 with a higher average In his statement, Rajapaksa highlighted a lita- International fretting and frowning To solidify the enlarged Jewish pres- lives, rendering them powerless guests than Punjab and NWFP, but essentially stagnat- ny of alleged international conspiracies facilitat- eventually subsided after the Trump ence in the Galilee and later in the oc- in their own homeland, utterly depend- ed by 2000 with only a marginal increase com- ed by the Yahapalana camp, including arresting administration recognised these an- cupied West Bank, Israel connected the ent on Israel's goodwill. paratively. and prosecuting Buddhist monks and war heroes nexations. Jewish settlements with bypass roads They wish the international commu- Another contention is over the Gwadar port, on “trumped up charges,” attempts to demoral- Israel has long opposed the estab- and outsourced regional development nity would stop pleading with Israel built by China as part of its BRI and the CPEC. ise and render ineffective the country’s military, lishment of a truly sovereign Palestin- to networks of exclusively Jewish coun- over annexation and start punishing it The agreement with China for CPEC was signed and a systematic persecution of nationalist poli- ian state in the occupied territories. cils at the expense of Palestinian locali- for all its military transgressions and in 2002 without taking the Balochis into confi- ticians. The governing Likud party supports ties. crimes in Palestine. dence. The Balochis have never felt the project Among other matters that came under his only limited autonomy for the Palestin- The newly erected apartheid system But if Israel goes ahead with an- has benefitted them. criticism were the establishment of the Office of ians, or at best, half a state on half of empowered new expansive and affluent nexation, the Palestinians will have no According to Tanner the land used for the pro- Missing Persons (OMP), passing legislation to the West Bank. Jewish settlements to the detriment of choice but to drop the goal of a mini- ject was “sold off at superficially low rates for make provisions in the International Convention Regardless of annexation, Netanyahu tightly controlled Palestinian peripher- state on one-fifth of their homeland, development under government land-grabbing Against Enforced Disappearances applicable in knows all too well that Israel is not in ies in all the regions under its control. and struggle for equal rights in the en- schemes that exploited residents’ inability to Sri Lanka, passing an amendment to the Mu- reality a "democratic Jewish state", not After five decades of occupation, Is- tirety of their homeland, seeking free- provide official land-ownership documentation.” tual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act and the when a quarter of its population are not rael has now decided the time has come dom from Israeli control and justice Tanner notes that within close proximity of pledge to bring in a new constitution. Jewish and mostly oppose its Zionist to extend its sovereignty to the illegal after decades of dispossession. the Gwadar port, there is a ‘parallel town’ with “The situation that prevailed in this country creed. Jewish settlements over a third of the Contrary to the hopes of the Israeli elite amenities intended for settlers and tour- following the assumption of power by the ya- In fact, for the Palestinians, Israel is West Bank territory. right, the Palestinians will not be bribed ists, blocked off by paramilitary checkpoints that hapalana government in 2015 was akin to hav- neither democratic, Jewish, nor a nor- Netanyahu reckons the Trump ad- or intimidated to pack and leave; they deny entrance to locals. She also adds that within ing been taken over by a hostile foreign invading mal state. It is a colonial occupation, a ministration is offering a once-in-a- will remain steadfast in their home- the city of Gwadar itself, there are signs of seri- force,” he charged. garrison state, always at war, expand- lifetime opportunity to go for the kill. land. If anything, it is the Israelis who ous underdevelopment, and the port has brought “If the Yahapalana cabal had won the 2019 ing its frontiers and deepening its dom- He aims for a gradual annexation. seemingly are leaving. more problems than success to the residents. presidential election, they would have imple- ination of Palestine. He could start with annexing the three According to Israel's embassy in the The Pakistan Stock Exchange was the tar- mented all this and finished off Sri Lanka. We For these reasons, annexation is only main settlement blocks followed by the US, 750,000-1 million Israelis live in get the BLA on Monday because, for the Baloch need a very strong mandate at this election to a matter of when, not if, it will happen. areas adjacent to the Jordan River. the US alone. Thousands still are mov- nationalists, it is a symbol of Chinese economic conclusively defeat these conspiracies,” he add- The more complicated question is, This will pave the way for overall per- ing to Europe and seeking EU citizen- and financial power and domination. Accord- ed. how and to what end? manent Israeli control over historical ship. ing to Ikram Sehgal, a leading Pakistani analyst, Reiterating that voters must always have the To understand where Israel is going Palestine. With an equal number of Jews and the Chinese secured management control after big picture in mind, Rajapaksa urged the people in the West Bank, which is home to But Netanyahu will not stop there. Palestinians living in very close prox- acquiring 40% of its shares in 2016. The shares to consider who can best protect the country. 60% of all Palestinians living under oc- Hoping to overcome his reputation, imity between the Mediterranean Sea are held by Shanghai Stock Exchange, Shenzhen “The people should always ask themselves who cupation, look at its record in the Gali- indeed his legacy of corruption, he is re- and Jordan River, political and physi- Stock Exchange and China Financial Futures Ex- can rule this country effectively, ensure econom- lee where some 60 percent of all Pales- inventing himself as a latter-day "King cal barriers will come down sooner or change. Another 5% is held by a local company ic development, eliminate terrorism and ensure tinian citizens of Israel live. of Israel", who fulfils the theological later, albeit after shedding much blood linked to the Chinese investment. the security of the nation? Who can safeguard The similarities between Israeli poli- fantasies of the Israeli and American and tears in the process. Monday’s attack on the KSE was not the first democracy by holding elections on time? Who cies towards these two predominantly evangelical right for full Israeli control If Israel devours all of Palestine, it Baloch insurgent attack on a Chinese target. In can build a Sri Lanka where future generations Palestinian regions are as disturbing as over Palestine. will be a matter of time before Israel 2018, the Chinese Consulate in Karachi was at- will be able to live freely and be proud of? I need they are instructive. In that way, Netanyahu aims to con- becomes Palestine. tacked. not spell it out, every Sri Lankan knows the an- In 1947, the UN Partition Plan allo- solidate and annex dozens of smaller -Marwan Bishara is the senior Tanner observes that the presence of China swer to those questions,” he said. cated much of the Galilee to a future settlements deep inside the West Bank political analyst at Al Jazeera where in Balochistan, coupled with Pakistan’s critical -economynext.com Palestinian state. After the Palestinians as Israel has done in the Galilee, ena- this article was originally featured need for Chinese investment, puts significant pressure on the Pakistani state to deal with the insurgency firmly. This internal security pressure elevates Pakistan’s threat perception vis-à-vis In- By Farhad Manjoo dia, which opposes the BRI and CPEC. India feels that CPEC violates its sovereignty in certain cru- cial parts of the project like Gilgit-Baltistan. Tanner quotes reports of human rights or- The world builds a wall to keep America out ganizations and watchdogs like the Crisis Group, You might call it poetic, if it weren’t so the coronavirus. How successfully a soci- ishes the notion that our country is better much more than 5% of the world’s best Human Rights Watch and others from Pakistan painful. Donald Trump won the White ety can fight a pandemic is as objective a off without people and ideas from beyond ideas. The only way to do that is to invite in itself, which say the security forces have often re- House largely on a campaign of shutting measure of national capacity, not to men- our borders. The last few months should the other 95%. I spent much of my career sorted to abductions and torture to quell the in- America’s borders to pretty much every- tion “greatness,” as one is likely to find — stick a fork in the absurd proposition that covering Silicon Valley. Some of the most surgency and dissent. These methods have only one other than people of European de- and on this, like so much else these days, the United States enjoys some kind of mo- innovative companies in the world — from exacerbated the situation instead of ensuring scent. “Why are we having all these people America ranks near the bottom. nopoly on brilliance. Clearly, we do not. Google to Intel to Instagram to Stripe — lasting peace. Over the years, the base of the Ba- from shithole countries come here?” he I have lived in the United States for more Rather than close ourselves off from the were founded by immigrants, and many in loch insurgency has shifted from the rural tradi- once asked, about Haitians, Salvadorans than 30 years, and I can’t think of any na- planet, we should be inviting others to join the industry say the whole place would not tional power structure comprising tribal chiefs to and Africans. “We should have more peo- tional failure as naked and complete as the urgent project of rebuilding America. work without immigration. the educated urban middle class. This has given a ple from places like Norway.” this one. When I look at the graphs show- I bang this drum often. As I’ve argued I am not one of those lefties who believe new kind of strength to the movement. The new So what should one conclude about ing American infections soaring while the before, I am in favour of throwing Amer- that Trump bears all of the blame for our insurgents use modern weapons and communi- America’s own proximity to Trump’s glob- virus abates in nearly every other affluent ica’s borders wide open to much of the flawed response to the virus. The break- cation technologies. al latrine now that “places like Norway” country, I feel the sting of defeat, misery world. My primary reasons are moral — I down here was so total that it lays bare Tanner points out that with the tribal chiefs have decided to keep their borders indefi- and embarrassment. don’t think a country founded on the idea larger and more persistent ailments: our losing their influence, tribalism or tribal rivalries nitely closed to us? As an immigrant from South Africa, I that everyone is equal should seal itself off creaking health care system, the ruthless- are no longer weakening factors. Among the list of nations to which find it hard to resist seeing Europe’s travel to the ambitious billions who live beyond ness of our economy, our Swiss-cheese Norway and the rest of Europe will soon distance as the ultimate comeuppance of our shores. safety net, and political polarization that reopen for travel are three from the conti- Trump’s xenophobia. Like a lot of Ameri- There are also powerful economic and poisons effective action but excels at whip- nent that Trump flushed down the toilet: cans, I sometimes find myself assuming strategic arguments for openness; Ameri- ping up nonsensical culture wars. Algeria, Morocco and Rwanda. Canada is American exceptionalism — the idea that can exceptionalism is impossible without The totality of our failure is precisely also on the list. So is China, assuming it America’s founding ideals make us mor- immigration. The only way that a country why we should look to the outside for suc- reciprocates. ally superior to “ordinary” nations and with less than 5% of the world’s population cess — yet Trump has used the virus as an But Trump’s America is not, because confer on us special credibility and insight can maintain the long-term economic and excuse to accelerate his restrictions on im- we are nowhere close to meeting Eu- when dealing with global crises. cultural superiority to which many Ameri- migration. rope’s criteria for reducing the spread of But America’s pandemic failure demol- cans feel entitled is to collectively produce -New York Times PUBLISHED BY EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS (CEY) PVT, LTD. NO - 267, RAJA MAWATHA, EKALA - JA - ELA