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WEDNESDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11561 May 27, 2020 Shawwal 4, 1441 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Eid Mubarak

Amir, Indian PM review relations His Highness the Amir Sheikh Saudi behind Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday received a telephone call from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who congratulated the Amir and the Qatari people on pirate satellite the occasion of Eid al-Fitr. They also reviewed bilateral relations and means to enhance them, in addition to a discussion on the most prominent regional and TV beoutQ, international developments. PM gets phone call from Tunisian leader rules WTO HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani received a telephone call yesterday evening zRiyadh’s breach of international law from Tunisian Prime Minister threatens £300mn deal for Newcastle United Elyes Fakhfakh, during which they exchanged greetings on the occasion of the blessed Eid al-Fitr. By Sean Ingle tent of a Qatari company - beIN Media Relations between the two brotherly Guardian Group - in Saudi Arabia and beyond, Off icials mark the arrival of urgent medical assistance in Ethiopia. Page 16 countries and means of boosting including through the sale of beoutQ them were also reviewed, in addition subscriptions and set-top decoder to discussing the most prominent he controversial £300mn Saudi boxes at numerous retail outlets across regional and international issues. Arabia-funded takeover of New- Saudi Arabia. In addition to beIN’s Tcastle United appears to be in seri- proprietary and licensed content, the On Amir’s directives, aid sent to Qatar reports 11,844 ous doubt after the World Trade Organi- beoutQ boxes allow access to thou- Covid-19 recoveries sation (WTO) ruled that the country is sands of pirated movies, TV shows, and behind a pirate satellite TV and stream- TV channels from around the globe,” Ukraine, Moldova and Ethiopia The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) ing service that off ers illegal access to the report stressed. announced the registration of 1,742 sporting events. Previously FIFA, new confirmed cases of Covid-19 and While the WTO’s UEFA, the Premier 1,481 new recoveries and two new 130-page fi nal report League, La Liga and oth- n implementation of the direc- to Ethiopia Hamad bin Mohamed al- noting that the Qatari medical aid deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing will not be published ers have tried to take legal tives of His Highness the Amir Dosari. is directed to support the Moldovan the total number of recoveries in until mid-June, it is action against beoutQ in ISheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- A cargo plane loaded with 8.5 health sector in facing the Covid-19 Qatar to 11,844. Over the last 24 understood that the Saudi Arabia for illegally Thani, shipments of urgent medical tonnes of urgent medical assistance pandemic. hours, 19 people were admitted independent ruling streaming matches, but aid — provided by Qatar through the also arrived in Moldova, QNA added. Meanwhile, Khalifa bin Jassim al- to intensive care due to the virus, fi rmly establishes that nine local legal fi rms Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) The medical assistance was received Kuwari, director-general of QFFD, bringing the total number of cases in the Saudi government declined to take on the — were sent to Ukraine, Moldova and by the Minister of the Interior of said: “This medical assistance pro- intensive care to 205. Page 2 is behind beoutQ. copyright case. Ethiopia yesterday in support of the Moldova, Pavel Fico; State Secretary vided by the State of Qatar to friendly It can also be re- Subsequently the eff orts of the friendly countries to at the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs and countries comes within the frame- MoPH allays Ehteraz vealed that the Premier League, which case against Saudi Arabia was taken face the Covid-19 outbreak, the of- European Integration, Dumitru Soko- work of the eff orts made to combat received the WTO report this month, to the WTO, the highest judicial body fi cial Qatar News Agency (QNA) said. lan; Assistant Minister of Health, La- the spread of this pandemic, which privacy concerns made submissions against Saudi Ara- that could rule on the matter. In a statement, QFFD said the bour and Social Protection Alexandro represents a common threat facing The Ehteraz app’s user privacy bia as part of the legal process. It has now issued its ruling — fi nding shipments - weighing 27 tonnes - H; and acting charge d’aff aires at the the whole world, and in the context of and platform security are of the In April last year, Qatar’s Ministry that Saudi Arabia is in breach of inter- were delivered by Qatar Airways and embassy of Qatar to Moldova, Hamad joint international responsibility. utmost importance, the Ministry of of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) an- national law as a result of beoutQ. contained medical equipment and bin Rashid al-Athba. “This assistance confi rms the po- Public Health (MoPH) has stressed. nounced that it had fi led and published The development will raise funda- supplies such as masks, sterilisers On this occasion, Moldova’s Minis- sition of the State of Qatar in sup- A comprehensive update of the its fi rst written submission in its chal- mental questions about whether New- and medical disinfectants. ter of Interior expressed his thanks to porting friendly countries and its as- app was rolled out on May 24 with lenge to Saudi Arabia’s failure to pro- castle’s takeover — which would lead to QNA later reported that a cargo His Highness the Amir for providing sistance to overcome this crisis.” expanded security and privacy tect intellectual property in accord- Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund plane loaded with urgent medical aid medical assistance in this diffi cult time, Qatar has provided, through QFFD, features for all users, the ministry ance with its international obligations taking an 80% stake in the club, with arrived in Ethiopia. The aid shipment noting that it would help the Moldovan more than one air bridge of urgent tweeted yesterday. “These updates as a member of the WTO. PCP Capital Partners and the property was received by the Minister of La- government face the challenges of the medical assistance to sisterly and are part of the continuous work done “Of particular concern, a sophis- developers David and Simon Reuben bour and Social Aff airs of Ethiopia, novel coronavirus pandemic. friendly countries “during this un- to review and improve the app’s ticated Saudi-based broadcast pirate taking 10% each — will pass the Pre- Dr Ergoge Tesfaye; Minister of State For his part, al-Athba affi rmed precedented pandemic” in the past security, including issues brought named ‘beoutQ’ has been illegally mier League’s owners’ and directors’ in the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, that Qatar stands with the friendly few months, the QFFD statement to our attention by third party broadcasting copyrighted media con- test. To Page 16 Dr D Dujma; and Qatar’s ambassador Republic of Moldova and its people, added. groups,” the MoPH said. “Ehteraz is a vital component in our collective fight against Covid-19 and we thank Qatar’s citizens and residents for their co-operation,” it added. WHO urges Indonesia to Qatar focusing on mental health support during Covid-19: offi cial stop using malaria drugs By Joseph Varghese safeguarding mental health from day terms of personal safety and where they cope with the feelings of uncertainty isolated, but they also have speedy ac- The World Health Organisation has Staff Reporter one. The Ministry of Public Health can access the services they need. The that come with people wondering when cess to a support network to help them urged Indonesia, one of the world’s (MoPH) created a hotline staff ed by ministry is also co-ordinating with the all this is going to end. For instance, fi ght those feelings and stay mentally biggest advocates of two malaria psychologists who speak diff erent Primary Health Care Corporation and there are understandably high levels of healthy. HMC also has a dedicated men- drugs to treat the coronavirus, to atar has provided very strong languages and were available for help Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) to anxiety among labourers coming from tal health department that operates on suspend such treatment over safety mental health support for the and support,” Sultana Afdhal, CEO, provide the necessary services,” she said. poorer countries, who worry about los- a 24-hour basis, and some hospitals concerns, a source familiar with Qcommunity right from the early World Innovation Summit for Health The offi cial also noted that Qatar’s ing money and jobs if they are infected and clinics in Al Rayyan, Al Khor and the advice told Reuters yesterday. days of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) (WISH), told Gulf Times. Mental Health Friends Association and cannot work. They now have the Al Wakra are off ering personal services Any decision by Indonesia to halt outbreak in the country and will continue “MoPH has also produced and dis- (Weyak) has been in the frontline to assist information they need to get the right for people who don’t want to talk on the use of the drugs, chloroquine and to do so, a top offi cial of Qatar Founda- tributed mental health guides for con- people in distress during the pandemic. support,” Afdhal explained. phone. There are also services to support hydroxychloroquine, in coronavirus tion’s global healthcare initiative has said. struction workers in a variety of lan- “Weyak has been running pro- “Similarly, other people may be feel- the mental health of people in hospital as patients would mark a major global “Qatar took a strong approach to guages that advise them on what to do in grammes throughout to help people ing depressed or anxious about being well as in quarantine.” To Page 16 shift away from a treatment which has been touted for months by US President Donald Trump. Page 6 Katara’s virtual Eid festivities end today UK minister quits over Cummings lockdown trip Eid initiative wins British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government was hit by its first resignation yesterday over the communities’ praise controversy surrounding his top aide Dominic Cummings’ cross-country trip during the coronavirus lockdown. Undermining attempts by ministers By Shafeeq Alingal and distributed them to people in need. to try and move on from the crisis Staff Reporter “The ‘Let’s Celebrate Eid Together’ which has dominated British politics stands as a testimonial for Qatar’s keen- for days, Douglas Ross, a minister for ness towards ensuring the welfare of Scotland, quit in protest. Page 8 atar’s ‘Let’s Celebrate Eid Togeth- the expatriate communities, and leaves er’ initiative has won praise from a strong message of togetherness and Italy’s Pompeii reopens Qvarious communities in the coun- care,” the Indian Community Benevolent its ruins to the public try with their leaders expressing gratitude Forum president P N Baburajan said. to ministries and other partners. Riyaz Ahmed Bakali from Pakistani Italy’s world-famous archaeological More than 50,000 Eid food kits were Community said Qatar is actively en- site Pompeii reopened to the distributed to expatriates under a joint gaged in ensuring the welfare of all. public yesterday as the country’s initiative by several ministries and or- “Qatar pays special care to people coronavirus lockdown lifted -though ganisations with the involvement of in need and members of the expatriate guides outnumbered tourists expatriate forums. communities. We owe our gratitude to at the ancient Roman city. The The Ministry of Foreign Aff airs, the Qatar for helping us work here and have exceptionally-preserved remains Ministry of Interior (MoI), the Minis- a good life. Persons in need are given care of the city covered in volcanic ash try of Administrative Development, very well. We are obliged to give back by the eruption of nearby Mount Labour and Social Aff airs, Qatar Char- by supporting the country meet its re- Vesuvius nearly 2,000 years ity and Ooredoo joined hands for the quirements in various sectors,” he said, ago are usually the country’s noble gesture. adding that volunteers along with com- second-most visited site after the A view of the virtual fireworks organised by Katara as part of the Eid al-Fitr festivities hosted online. The festivities A total of 40 organisations co-ordi- munity leaders ensured the food kits Colosseum in Rome. Page 9 conclude today. Page 16 nated with the MoI, received food kits reached the right people. To Page 3 Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, May 27, 2020 QATAR

QRCS delivers medical gift Amir sends cable of congratulations to Gaziantep in Turkey to Georgia leader

is Highness the Amir atar Red Crescent So- Gaziantep, a Syria-adjacent trative procedures are strictly Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- ciety (QRCS) has deliv- border province located some applied at the multiple QRCS- H mad al-Thani and His Qered medical supplies as 96km from Aleppo city, hosts operated health facilities and Highness the Deputy Amir a gift to Gaziantep Province in many makeshift shelter centres services. Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad response to an invitation by the for Syrian refugees. Since 2011, “This gift refl ects the strong al-Thani yesterday sent ca- Department of Societies of the the province has received around relations between QRCS and bles of congratulations to southern Turkish province to 400,000 Syrians. Turkey’s public organisations President of Georgia Salome humanitarian providers involved QRCS’s representation mis- and NGOs, mainly the Turkish Zourabichvili on the anniver- in Syria. sion in Turkey is applying pre- Red Crescent. It builds upon the sary of her country’s Inde- The gift included 36,000 ventive measures in Syria, in historical bonds of friendship pendence Day. masks and 72,000 gloves, de- co-ordination with the World between the two countries at all HE the Prime Minister and livered in order to ensure the Health Organisation levels, which are capitalised on Minister of Interior Sheikh Kha- protection of medical and non- and other humanitarian peers and promoted by QRCS to al- lid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al- medical staff working at public working there, and developing leviate the suff ering of the Syr- Thani sent a cable of congratu- hospitals in Turkey and Syria preparedness, response and fol- ian brothers aff ected by the pro- lations to the Prime Minister of “This gift reflects the strong relations between QRCS and Turkey’s public organisations and NGOs, mainly against the novel coronavirus low-up plans. longed confl ict in their country,” Georgia Giorgi Gakharia on the the Turkish Red Crescent” (Covid-19). All preventive and adminis- QRCS has said in a statement. occasion. - QNA PSD eyes diverse Recovered Covid patients laud remote learning Qatar’s healthcare facilities

he Ministry of Public “I know that I am alive thanks toms. As a matter of fact, a a respiratory therapist assigned in schemes: principal Health (MoPH) has high- to the 5-star equipment and lifestyle of great-quality food, the Accident and Emergency area. Tlighted the experiences the amazing human team that plenty of water and sleep made My fi rst encounter with a suspect- of some of the people who have treated me, to whom I will be me feel even healthier than be- ed Covid-19 patient was on March recovered from Covid-19. eternally thankful. There are not fore. And yes, at the time I was 17. My own symptoms started By Peter Alagos ent point of view. These have been published enough words to describe this Covid-positive! from March 25 with dry cough and Business Reporter “Being incapable to connect in multiple languages on social feeling of gratitude towards the “The isolation facilities were then fever, so I called the infection virtual classes due to schedule media. health system of Qatar. great. We had plenty to eat and control and they told me to go to disparities is no longer a cause “I would like to give a big hug drink. I loved my time there. the staff clinic for a test. he Philippine School Doha to avoid a class. Students can ef- to all the doctors, nurses, clean- Amazing professionals, space to “I spent 13 days at Hazm Me- (PSD) has started to con- fortlessly catch up on simulated ers, caterers, etc, who took care run, walk, catch some sun - we baireek General Hospital, and Tsider various learning classes by viewing them on the of me and saved my life. were in a walled compound with then three days at Al Wakra Hos- strategies that could be adopted online platform of the school, From the bottom of my heart, around 100 houses. pital for monitoring. I want to once the school reopens, PSD as sessions can be recorded for thank you.” “All around an amazing expe- thank Dr Mohamed Katif, MICU principal Dr Alexander Acosta viewing at any point. Students rience. I felt well-cared for.” consultant, who was the one has said. can also watch the classes on taking care of me. The move, according to Acos- rerun to elucidate information “The treatment that I expe- ta, was in anticipation that the on the topics conferred,” Acosta 1. Borja Entrala Fabregas, rienced is really excellent. The impact of the novel coronavirus said. Spanish, 50 years old advanced healthcare facilities, (Covid-19) is expected to remain Similarly, the PSD principal the level of services, the quick even after the quarantine regula- said the teacher-to-student “After three days of treat- response and fast delivery of tions are relaxed. Dr Alexander Acosta: ratio is also not an issue with ment at Hazm Mebaireek Gen- services in treating patients are “Currently, PSD is work- “Being incapable remote learning. Aside from eral Hospital, my situation got extraordinary. ing on a framework on ways to to connect virtual virtual classrooms, he said PSD worse. So the medical team de- 2. Goncalo Fernandes, “My advice to the public is to fulfi l a learning continuity plan classes due to schedule faculty and staff can also re- cided to take me to the intensive Portuguese, 23 years old 3. Noli Madarang, Filipino, stay at home and always wash that would address challenges disparities is no longer a ceive inquiries through e-mail care unit, where I was intubated 49 years old your hands. Don’t touch your caused by the pandemic. There cause to avoid a class” and via the official school web- and sedated for one week. In to- “Since the fi rst day that I was mouth, nose and eyes, and con- is no defi nite ‘one-size-fi ts-all’ site, psd.sch.qa, where stu- tal, I spent 25 days at the hospi- classifi ed as positive right until “I have worked at Hamad Gen- tinue social distancing. The coro- programme on which the deliv- “Having competent and qual- dents can get the benefit of a tal. the last day, I had zero symp- eral Hospital for about 15 years as navirus is serious, don’t ignore it.” ery approach will be executed ifi ed educators, PSD assures to more targeted response to their during the learning continuity produce diff erent practical ac- queries. place. tivities for kinaesthetic learners “We will have numerous elec- “Further, a survey was con- who favour a more hands-on tronic instructional modules for Sun to align directly over Ka’aba ducted by the PSD’s Research type of scheme than just listen- each grade level and each subject Qatar-Somalia Development Accreditation Of- ing to lectures. area every week of the school today: Qatar Calandar House fi ce to determine the accessibil- “Thus, presentations and year. We estimate that we have ties reviewed ity of students to distance learn- videos to suit every kind of to produce several download- ing options, as well as potential learner will be added. The able instructional e-modules QNA enon will enable people all over the world who challenges that households school understands the need per week. E the Minister of State Doha can see the sun at that moment to determine the would face in the adjusted sys- to design instructional ma- “The decision on what learn- for Foreign Aff airs Sul- direction of the Qibla. tem,” said Acosta in a statement terials with different types of ing strategy to adopt would Htan bin Saad al-Muraikhi The alignment of the sun over the Ka’aba, to Gulf Times. learners in mind. The idea is also be highly dependent on the received yesterday a telephone n astronomer at Qatar Calendar House which happens twice a year in May and July, Training is on-going for PSD to really embolden students to health scenario. If the commu- call from the Minister of For- said yesterday the sun will pass directly means the faithful can fi nd the Qibla simply by faculty as part of their In-Serv- learn. Students can follow the nity quarantine remains until eign Aff airs and International Aover the top of the Ka’aba at the Grand facing the sun. However, a word of caution here. ice Training (INSET) for teach- modules that are intended to September and classes will re- Co-operation of Somalia Ahmed Mosque in the holy city of Makkah at 12.18pm lo- People should avoid looking directly at the sun ers to empower them to adjust to undertake information genu- quire strict social distancing, Isse Awad. cal time (9.18 UTC) today - coinciding with the even briefly. new methods of learning, which inely,” Acosta stressed. then PSD will defi nitely not re- The call focused on reviewing Dhuhr prayer at the mosque - and when it does, Qibla is the fi xed direction towards the Ka’aba is anticipated to become the new He said the other ancillary quire face-to-face classes and bilateral relations and issues of the Ka’aba will cast no shadow for a few moments. which all Muslims face when performing their normal even after the Covid-19 materials will also help develop will only allow distance learn- joint interest. Dr Bashir Marzouq said the celestial phenom- prayers, wherever they are in the world. pandemic. topics and give students a diff er- ing,” Acosta added. _ QNA How to protect house staff MoPH reports 11,844 Covid-19 recoveries

QNA The ministry also stressed Doha the importance for the elderly or those suff ering from chronic diseases and their family mem- he Ministry of Public bers to follow strict measures to Health (MoPH) announced reduce the chances of infection, Tthe registration of 1,742 including refraining from social new confi rmed cases of Covid-19 visits during Eid al-Fitr and be- and 1,481 new recoveries and two yond. new deaths in the last 24 hours, According to a tweet from the bringing the total number of re- MoPH, with a total of 3,927 peo- coveries in Qatar to 11,844. ple tested for Covid-19 in the Over the last 24 hours, 19 peo- last 24 hours, as many as 196,411 ple were admitted to intensive have been tested so far in Qatar. care due to the virus, bringing The total number of infected the total number of cases in in- people in Qatar since the start of tensive care to 205. the Covid-19 outbreak is 47,207. The MoPH said in a statement The total number of current that the new cases are expatri- active cases is 35,335. The total ate workers infected as a result number of people currently un- of contact with individuals who der acute hospital care is 1,859, were previously infected, in ad- including 257 acute hospital ad- dition to recording new cases missions in the last 24 hours. of infection among groups of The total number of Covid-19 workers in diff erent regions. deaths so far in Qatar is 28. Cases of infection have also Anyone with symptoms of increased among citizens and Covid-19 must either quickly residents as a result of contact contact the 16000 helpline or go with infected family members directly to one of the designated who had been infected in the health centres for testing for the workplace or through visits and virus. This is important as the family gatherings. country, where they receive the treatment in intensive care. The earlier the disease is detected The MoPH revealed that the necessary healthcare according MoPH extended its sincere con- the easier it will be to receive the number of positive cases be- to the health status of each case. dolences and great sympathy to right treatment and recover. tween citizens and residents The new cases have been the families of the deceased. The four main testing centres The country’s health authorities have listed five ways to support house staff during the Covid-19 witnessed a signifi cant rise, with identifi ed through investiga- The MoPH said that Qatar is are the Muaither Health Centre, pandemic. The advisory, which is in the form of a video, is available on the social media pages of the number of infections relat- tions by the research and inves- still in the peak phase of the vi- Rawdat Al Khail Health Centre, the Ministry of Public Health, Hamad Medical Corporation and Primary Health Care Corporation. ing to family gatherings, visits tigation teams of the MoPH that rus outbreak, which is seeing a Umm Slal Health Centre, and Al “Remind them to wash their hands regularly and avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth,” the and sharing meals together with contributed to early detection. rise in the number of infections Gharafa Health Centre. advisory says. “When around other people in the house, ensure that everyone maintains a 2m relatives and extended families. The ministry stated that the recorded daily, and therefore it The MoPH also encouraged distance.” “Encourage them to leave the house only if absolutely necessary and wear a mask if The new confi rmed cases of two new deaths recorded yester- is necessary to adhere to, more the public to visit its website they do,” it continues. “Help them download the Ehteraz application and check the status with infection have been introduced day were individuals aged 58 and than ever before, the preventive regularly to view the latest infor- them each day.” “Talk to them regularly about the situation and ensure they are aware of any new to complete isolation in the 60 years, respectively, suff ering measures and social measures mation and instructions related government notice,” the advisory further states. various medical facilities in the from chronic diseases and under recommended. to Covid-19. Gulf Times Wednesday, May 27, 2020 3 QATAR/REGION/ARAB WORLD Eid initiative wins communities’ praise Situation critical in Yemen, says UNHCR From Page 1

Filipino community leader Hen- Reuters many of our programmes and ry Dimaano said initiative benefit- Sanaa particularly our cash assist- ed thousands of his compatriots in ance programmes to internally the country. displaced Yemenis may have to “We received about 5,000 food he UN refugee agency stop,” said Charlie Yaxley, UN- kits from the Qatar government said yesterday its work HCR spokesman, at a virtual to be distributed to the commu- Tin Yemen was near a briefing. nity members who had registered “potential breaking point” “We are seeing a growing through the Eid Food Kit Registra- as coronavirus spreads in the number of families resorting tion circulated a couple of days ago. Mohamed Muktda Musalman P N Baburajan Anwar Hossain Akon war-damaged country, with to harmful coping mechanisms A number of Filipino community Henry Dimaano rising numbers of families re- such as begging, child labour leaders including the leadership of with the respective embassies. sorting to begging, child la- and marrying of children to Filipino Muslim community in Qa- “Since 2008, all communities in more for the community and we bour and marrying of children. survive,” he added. tar and some private entities vol- Qatar have been in co-ordination are thankful for what the govern- Around 80% of Yemen’s UNHCR provides cash as- unteered to help us distribute the with the Public Relations Depart- ment is doing for us,” he said. malnourished population re- sistance programmes to some food kits to qualified beneficiaries,” ment of the MoI for our peaceful “Pakistani community’s gen- lies on humanitarian assist- 1mn people who are inter- he said. life in Qatar. We have celebrated erous members are always on the ance, making it the world’s nally displaced and rely on the The kits were distributed to the several Eids with the ministry and front line in times of crisis with the biggest humanitarian crisis money for food, medicines and beneficiaries by making special ar- a lot of activities including sports, government,” said Janan Bangash even before coronavirus. shelter, he said. The country’s rangements, and volunteers along games, songs and shows were held from Pakistani community thank- Last week, the United Na- population has among the with drivers worked to implement as part of the celebrations. And ing the organisers for donating Eid tions said its healthcare system world’s lowest immunity levels the scheme. The organisations got this year, we celebrate Eid through gifts for thousands of needy per- “has in effect collapsed”, with to disease. applications from various parts this initiative,” said Anwar Hossain sons. the virus thought to be spread- The UN Office for the Coor- of the country and beneficiaries Akon, president of the Bangladesh Expatriate organisations from ing throughout the country, dination of Humanitarian Af- received the kits after they were Community - Qatar. India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the and appealed for urgent fund- fairs said it had received around identified. Transportation facilities Mohamed Muktada Sulaiman of Riyaz Ahmed Bakali Janan Bangash Philippines, Nepal, Sri Lanka, In- ing. 15% of the funding required for were arranged and the community the Non Resident Nepali Associa- donesia, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, “We are reaching a poten- the $3.38bn 2020 Humanitar- members received the kits at their tion, praised the MoI for taking up communities intact. “The govern- initiative has come as part of its ef- Tanzania, Uganda, Gambia, Niger- tial breaking point in our pro- ian Response Plan for Yemen doors. The organisations carried efforts to keep relations between ment is showing much interest in forts to address the woes of people ia, Tunisia, Ghana, and Kenya were grammes where if we don’t with the United States the top out the activities in co-ordination the Qatar government and the ensuring the welfare of all. And the in need. Such steps tempt us to do involved in the initiative. receive further funding soon, donor. Iran eases restaurant curbs as virus claims 57 more lives Algeria backs HCQ

AFP Tehran

ran further eased restric- for Covid treatment tions aimed at curbing the Ispread of the novel corona- AFP bulk buy -- despite several stud- fected with the Covid-19 illness or chloroquine, either alone or in virus yesterday by allowing res- Algiers ies showing it to be ineffective with a combination of hydroxy- combination with antibiotics. taurants to accept customers, as and even increasing Covid-19 chloroquine and azithromycin, At the end of the study, of it announced another 57 deaths hospital deaths. Bekkat’s com- an antibiotic. those treated with hydroxychlo- from the virus. lgeria will continue to use ments came days after medical “For confirmed cases, we use roquine or chloroquine alone, Since the first cases of Cov- the drug hydroxychloro- journal ‘The Lancet’ published a hydroxychloroquine and azi- 18% and 16.4% respectively had id-19 appeared on its soil in Aquine (HCQ) against the study of nearly 100,000 corona- thromycin. Then there is a whole died, compared with 9% in the mid-February, the Islamic re- novel coronavirus, a member of virus patients, showing no bene- protocol for serious cases,” a control group. Those given each public has sought to halt the its scientific committee said, de- fit in those treated with the drug, health ministry official told AFP drug in combination with anti- spread of the virus without im- spite the World Health Organisa- which is normally used against on Monday. Thousands of peo- biotics were even more likely to posing lockdowns. tion (WHO) suspending clinical arthritis. ple infected or suspected of be- die - 23.8% with hydroxychlo- A deputy health minister trials of such treatments. The study found that admin- ing infected with the virus have roquine. Bekkat argued that the signalled the easing of restric- A restaurant employee, wearing a protective face mask, waits for “We’ve treated thousands of istering the medicine or, sepa- received such treatments, said Lancet study had led to “con- tions on eateries. “Restaurants customers in Tehran. cases with this medicine, very rately, the related anti-malarial doctor Djamel Fourar, the scien- fusion” as it “seems to concern which before this decree were successfully so far,” said Moham- chloroquine, actually increased tific committee’s spokesman. serious cases in which hydroxy- only allowed to distribute food in the past 24 hours, bringing “red”, although the number of ed Bekkat, a member of the sci- Covid-19 patients’ risk of dying. The World Health Organisa- chloroquine is of no help”. will be allowed to accept cus- the total number of fatalities in infected cases was declining. entific committee on the North Both drugs can produce poten- tion said on Monday it had tem- “There is evidence that the tomers from today,” Mohsen the country to 7,508. Jahanpour Red is the highest level on the African country’s Covid-19 out- tially serious side effects, par- porarily suspended clinical trials use of chloroquine by Arab and Farhadi told state television. said 1,787 new cases of infection country’s colour-coded scale of break. “We haven’t noted any ticularly heart arrhythmia. of hydroxychloroquine as a po- African countries has proven to Farhadi called on restaurants over the same period brought risk in relation to its coronavi- undesirable reactions,” he told Bekkat, who is also head of the tential treatment for coronavi- be effective when used early,” he to respect health protocols the Islamic republic’s caseload rus outbreak - the deadliest in AFP. Order of Algerian Doctors, said rus, following the Lancet study. explained. Algeria’s coronavirus to ensure distancing of 2m, a to 139,511. the Middle East. Public figures including US the country had not registered That study looked at records from outbreak is one of the worst in measure he said would reduce “We are seeing a stable proc- Experts both at home and President Donald Trump have any deaths caused by hydroxy- hundreds of hospitals, compar- Africa, with a total of 8,503 cases client numbers by 50%. ess in the majority of prov- abroad have voiced scepticism backed the drug as a virus treat- chloroquine. Algeria decided in ing a control group with patients and 609 deaths officially record- Health ministry spokesman inces,” Jahanpour said, adding about Iran’s official figures, ment, prompting governments to late March to treat patients in- treated with hydroxychloroquine ed since February 25. Kianoush Jahanpour reported that the southwestern province saying the real toll could be 57 additional Covid-19 deaths of Khuzestan was still classified much higher. Jordan’s civil servants return to Syria work after two months break loosens virus Reuters Sameh al Nasser, the head of working to maintain essential Amman the civil service commission, services. The government said said that about 60% of civil at the end of last month it had lockdown servants were expected to show contained the coronavirus out- ordan’s public sector em- up for work under a gradual break, and many restrictions ployees began a phased plan involving social distanc- have of the lockdown restric- AFP Jreturn to work yesterday, ing. tions have been lifted, with Damascus more than two months after Schools, universities and most businesses and industries they were told to stay at home border crossings were closed now open again. under a coronavirus lockdown, and international flights were Jordan has reported 711 con- yrian authorities loosened officials said. Most of the coun- halted under the lockdown, but firmed coronavirus cases, with coronavirus lockdown re- try’s 250,000 civil servants had tens of thousands of state em- nine deaths. Some medical of- Sstrictions yesterday by not been working in their of- ployees in the medical services, ficials have warned there could cancelling a nighttime curfew, fices since a state of emergency civil defence, customs, secu- be a new rise in infections after allowing travel between provinc- was declared in mid-March. rity forces and army continued the easing of the restrictions. es and announcing a reopening of mosques, state media said. The Iranians pass by a restaurant in the capital city of Tehran, yesterday. decision comes as the war-torn country grapples with a crippling economic crisis and official cases of the Covid-19 respiratory dis- UN condemns use of IEDs ease continue to rise. Damascus has announced 121 Holy Land churches reopen, cases, including four deaths in government-held areas. against civilians in Libya In the Kurdish-run northeast, the United Nations has recorded but some restrictions remain six cases including one death. In AFP The battle for recognised Government of Na- March, the Syrian government Tripoli Tripoli has left tional Accord (GNA), based in introduced a series of confine- Reuters Prayers at Jerusalem’s Al out the Easter season because Tripoli, and those led by military ment measures to stem the spread Jerusalem Aqsa Mosque compound of the coronavirus, with only a hundreds dead, strongman Khalifa Haftar, who of the virus. On Monday night, are also expected to handful of clerics able to wor- he United Nations has backs a rival administration in the government said it would resume later this week ship inside. On Monday, Pal- deplored the “grotesque” including civilians, the east. Haftar’s forces have completely cancel nighttime he Holy Land churches after nearly a two-month estinian Prime Minister Mo- Tuse of improvised explo- led an offensive since April 2019 curfews starting Tuesday, allow revered as the sites of Je- pause hamed Shtayyeh said mosques, sive devices against civilians in and caused to capture the capital, but they travel between provinces and al- Tsus’ birth and death reo- churches and businesses would Libya’s capital Tripoli, the scene around 200,000 have suffered several setbacks low shops and malls to open from pened to worshippers and tour- were closed in March, in a blow reopen on Tuesday in an easing of more than a year of deadly in recent weeks and have been 8am-7pm during summer, state ists yesterday as Palestinian and to the local tourism industry. of curbs, given the slow pace of fighting. people to flee forced to withdraw from some news agency Sana said. church authorities eased coro- The town, just south of Je- infections. The UN mission in Libya said areas they held. Yesterday, the endow- navirus restrictions. rusalem, is among areas where The reopening of houses of it “strongly condemns these acts, or wounded by IEDs placed in or The battle for Tripoli has left ments ministry announced that Amid lingering pandemic Palestinians exercise limited worship, shops and factories co- which serve no military objective, near their homes. hundreds dead, including civil- mosques would be allowed to concerns, Bethlehem’s Church self-rule in the West Bank, un- incides with the last day of the provoke extreme fear among the “This grotesque transforma- ians, and caused around 200,000 fully reopen starting today after a of the Nativity is capping access der Israeli occupation since the Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the population, and violate the rights tion and deterioration of the people to flee. The GNA on Mon- temporary ban on public prayers at 50 people at a time and re- 1967 Middle East war. There end of the fasting month of Ra- of innocent civilians who must conflict, (which) has occurred day accused Haftar’s forces of because of Covid-19, according quires that they be free of fever have been 423 recorded coro- madan. Prayers at Jerusalem’s Al be protected under international while families were seeking planting mines in houses before to Sana. Syria’s borders, however, and wear protective masks. navirus cases and two deaths Aqsa Mosque compound are also humanitarian law.” the safety and comfort of their pulling back from their positions remain closed. Jerusalem’s Church of the in the West Bank. The Church expected to resume later this In a statement released late on homes for the Eid holiday, dem- in the south of the capital. It The government started to Holy Sepulchre also reopened of the Holy Sepulchre is in the week after nearly a two-month Monday, it voiced alarm about onstrates deliberate targeting of said two civilians were killed on gradually loosen restrictions last its doors, but worshippers will walled Old City of Jerusalem, pause, according to a statement reports that residents of the Ain innocent civilians.” Saturday as they returned home month to help salvage an econ- be required to co-ordinate their also captured by Israel in 1967. published last week by Palestin- Zara and Salaheddin districts in Libya is largely divided be- in Salaheddin, which has seen omy strangled by Western sanc- visit in advance. Both churches Its doors were closed through- ian religious officials. southern Tripoli had been killed tween forces backing the UN- some of the worst of the fighting. tions and nine years of war. Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, May 27, 2020 AFRICA

CIVIL STRIFE ROAD BLOCK JUSTICE MONEY MATTERS SILENCED Five militants, two soldiers Kenya to clear 50km traff ic Zimbabwe frees scribes Isabel dos Santos seeks to Mourners bid adieu to killed in Cameroon clash jam at Ugandan border after ‘coronavirus breach’ revoke asset freeze Guinean singer Kante

Five militants and two soldiers were killed The Kenyan government said yesterday a traff ic Two Zimbabwean journalists arrested last week Angola’s billionaire former first-daughter Isabel Hundreds of people gathered yesterday to mourn yesterday when extremists crossing from Nigeria jam that has been choking the flow of vehicles at as they were investigating the abduction of three dos Santos and her husband are seeking to the death of Guinean singer Mory Kante in his attacked a military position in northern Cameroon, the border into Uganda will be cleared as soon opposition party members have been released on revoke a court order that froze their assets last native country’s capital Conakry to the sound of sources said. The overnight attack took place at as possible. The 50km long traff ic jam has been bail, a lawyers’ association said yesterday. Frank year as part of a massive corruption probe, keening and traditional musical laments. Kante, Soueram, a village close to the Nigerian border in slowing down the movement of goods on one of Chikowore and Samuel Takawira, working for the their lawyer said yesterday. A court froze the who helped introduce African music to a world Cameroon’s Far North region, an army colonel and the most important transport corridors in the Great online news outlet 263Chat, had been held on bank accounts of dos Santos and her Congolese audience in the 1980s, died in Conakry on Friday a local off icial told AFP. “Two Cameroonian soldiers Lakes region for days. The country’s transport the grounds that they had breached Zimbabwe’s husband Sindika Dokolo last December. The at the age of 70 after succumbing to untreated were killed” in the assault, while five extremists minister blamed a group of disgruntled truck anti-coronavirus social distancing rules. “The couple’s lawyer Walter Tondela told AFP health problems. Restrictions related to the global died in the counter-attack, the colonel said. He drivers. “We had a few elements who came to incite magistrate granted them Z$500 bail each,” he had filed a case against Angola’s public coronavirus pandemic had prevented him from attributed the attack to Islamic State West Africa the other drivers,” James Macharia said on national Kumbirai Mafunda, a spokesman for the Zimbabwe prosecution for “presenting false documents”. travelling abroad to seek medical help. Some Province (ISWAP), a splinter group of Nigeria’s Boko television. Adan Mohamed, Secretary for the East Lawyers for Human Rights, told reporters. The pair “The magistrate...falsified the documents that 200 people — relatives, friends and government Haram. A local leader, who also asked not to be African Community and Regional Development, said were “ordered not to interfere with witnesses and deceived the court to the point of making this off icials — attended the ceremony, where identified, confirmed the attack and the toll, adding truck drivers have complained about hostility when continue to reside at the addresses they gave the decision illegal and unconstitutional,” Tondela Mandingo griots sang laments accompanied by that there were no civilian casualties. driving in Uganda since the coronavirus outbreak. police until the matter comes to an end.” said yesterday. kora and balofon music.

Testing times Opposition to challenge Burundi vote result AFP No foreign observers were al- on its supporters to refrain from Bujumbura lowed into Burundi to keep an “provocation” and to hold off a eye on the election, which went few days before celebrating its ahead with scant regard for the victory. urundi’s leading opposi- coronavirus outbreak following Yet the youth wing, known as tion party will start fi ling a tense campaign marked by vio- the Imbonerakure, has already A health worker takes the temperature of a person standing in line for mass testing in an eff ort to stop the spread of coronavirus in Bchallenges to election re- lence and arbitrary arrests. begun settling scores in the the Kibera slum of Nairobi. sults as early as today, a lawmak- “We feel that people are re- northwest province of Citiboke er told AFP as calm reigned in the signed. We also feel a deep dis- and elsewhere, witnesses told commercial capital a day after appointment because everyone AFP. the ruling party’s candidate was says their victory was stolen from “They tell us that we commit- named winner of the presidential them but they know they can’t do ted a grave error voting for (the contest. anything,” said a bank employee CNL), that we are going to pay Evariste Ndayishimiye, a who spoke to AFP on condition dearly and that we must not sub- Kenya forest people await rights to ancestral land former army general chosen by of anonymity. mit if we want to live in peace in the powerful CNDD-FDD gov- Nkurunziza has been in power this country,” a Citiboke resident By Nita Bhalla, Reuters on the grounds of environmental conserva- Ogiek’s removal was necessary to protect erning party as heir to outgoing since 2005, and his fi nal years in said. Nairobi tion. the Mau Forest, which is known as the east President Pierre Nkurunziza, offi ce have been wracked with Ndayishimiye is expected to be Daniel Kobei, executive director of the African nation’s “water tower” because it won the May 20 poll with 68.72% turmoil. sworn in for a seven-year term in Ogiek People’s Development Program, said channels rainwater into a dozen major rivers of the vote, according to results His third-term election run in late August, when Nkurunziza’s enya’s indigenous Ogiek people are the community was anxious and needed a and lakes. announced on Monday. 2015 sparked violence which left term ends. being harassed and threatened with resolution soon. Land has been an explosive issue in Kenya The strongest opposition can- at least 1,200 dead and pushed The 52-year-old is set to in- Keviction from the country’s largest “The judgment called for the government since the colonial era, with government re- didate, Agathon Rwasa, came in 400,000 to fl ee the country. herit a deeply isolated country, forest, despite a landmark court ruling three to respect our rights, formally recognise our ports showing corrupt offi cials have allo- a distant second with 24.19%, While some observers feared under sanctions and cut off by years ago recognising their right over their time-immemorial title, enhance our par- cated large parcels to reward supporters and but his National Freedom Council Rwasa would urge his sup- foreign donors, its economy and ancestral land, activists said. ticipation in the sustainable management win votes. (CNL) has rejected the results and porters to take in protest after national psyche damaged by the The African Court on Human and Peo- of the forests,” he said in a report released Since Kenya’s independence in 1963, the accused the CNDD-FDD of fraud. results were announced, he years of unrest. ple’s Rights — Africa’s highest human rights yesterday. Mau forest has lost almost 37% of its origi- CNL offi cials were still pre- appears committed to a legal It remains to be seen how body — had ruled on May 26, 2017 that “This renewed hope lies shattered as nal area to unchecked settlement, illegal paring appeals yesterday in polls challenge, said Richard Mon- much infl uence Nkurunziza will Kenya had violated the Ogiek’s right to live this task-force appears to have made no logging and the burning of charcoal — with which also involved legislative crieff of the International Crisis exert and how freely his succes- in the Mau Forest in the central Rift Valley, progress.” the greatest losses recorded in 2001/2, ac- and municipal contests, said a Group, a conflict-prevention sor can reign. by attempting to expel them from the area. About 45,000 Ogiek people depend on cording to the World Wide Fund for Nature. party lawmaker, who spoke to organisation. Nkurunziza was this year el- But three years on, attempts to resolve the Mau forest for their traditional liveli- Lucy Claridge, senior counsel at the For- AFP anonymously. Rwasa acted similarly during evated by Burundi’s parliament the issue through the appointment of vari- hoods, including hunting game and gather- est Peoples Programme, called on Kenyan The party has until tomorrow the unrest of 2015, unlike other to the rank of “supreme guide for ous government task-forces have failed, ing plants for foods and medicinal use. authorities to act quickly. to formally contest the presi- members of the opposition, patriotism” and he will continue said campaigners, leaving the Ogiek to face Since colonial times, they have faced re- “The Kenyan Government has declared dential outcome, although the Moncrieff noted. to be chairman of the ruling par- continued harassment and eviction threats peated evictions, while their land has been its commitment to the implementation of appeal will “probably” be ready “He did not choose exile or ty’s powerful council of elders. from forest offi cials. allocated to other communities for political the Ogiek judgment, but this will require a by today along with challenges in armed struggle. He obviously In a Twitter post yesterday The interior ministry did not immediate- rand used for commercial purposes, includ- systemic change in policy and practice to- lower-level races, the lawmaker made a personal choice,” Mon- morning, Nkurunziza congratu- ly respond to requests for comment but the ing logging. wards all its indigenous communities,” said said. crieff said. lated his hand-picked successor government has justifi ed previous evictions The Kenyan government has said the Claridge. “It requires action, not words.” Many shops and bistros closed The CNDD-FDD also defeated on a “large victory”. on Monday evening after the re- the CNL by a similar margin in “I warmly congratulate the sults were announced, but life the legislative elections. President-elect Gen Major Evar- Nine militia fighters arrested in Central Africa killings largely returned to normal yes- The constitution requires that iste Ndayishimiye for his large terday in Bujumbura, the com- ethnic Hutus make up 60% of victory which confi rms that the mercial capital, and elsewhere in the National Assembly and eth- great majority of Burundians ad- Nine fighters from an armed group which special criminal court said in a statement and systematic attacks on the civilian the country. nic Tutsis 40%, and 30% of the here to the projects and the val- launched a week-long attack last week in on Monday night. population”, the court said. Burundi is tightly controlled body must be women. ues he embodies,” the outgoing south-eastern Central African Republic The court is responsible for trying cases During the attacks on the town of Obo by the ruling party and its youth Some reshuffl ing will need to president wrote. have been arrested. of serious human rights violations in last week, government forces backed by wing has been implicated in a take place to honour the quotas. “We are privileged witnesses The assailants belong to a branch of the the country, which has been ravaged by UN troops killed around 10 fighters from forceful crackdown against the Wary of ratcheting up ten- to history. May God bless Bu- CAR’s biggest armed group, the Unity for conflict for more than 20 years. the rebel militia and captured others, a government’s critics. sions, the CNDD-FDD has called rundi!” Peace in Central Africa (UPC), the country’s The UPC has committed “widespread government spokesman had told AFP. Galaxy of African stars hold virtual coronavirus concert

By Patrick Fort, AFP “I am optimistic, culture is at also joined in. Benin-born Hollywood actor Abidjan the beginning and at the end of “Africa is a continent of rich Djimon Hounsou spoke about the everything,” said N’Dour, sponsor history, culture uniqueness and controversy over vaccine trials in of the evening, which aimed “fi rst dynamism. Africa must rise Africa. enegalese superstar Yous- to raise awareness of the fi ght above this as we have done with “Time for self-preservation, sou N’Dour and Grammy- against the pandemic, but also to every previous challenge,” said time to be attentive, time to stay Swinner Angelique Kidjo say that in many areas nothing Rawlings. vigilant from any Westerners were among a galaxy of African will ever be the same again”. “Together as one I know we coming to test their vaccine on talent brought together for a vir- Brazilian artist Carlinhos shall overcome and if music is the us,” said the Blood Diamond and tual concert to raise awareness of Brown, Guadeloupean band food of love let us play on.” Guardians of the Galaxy star. the coronavirus pandemic. Kassav’ and Jamaica’s The Wail- Africa is so far coping with “Deceit can be powerful but More than 100 artists and ce- ers Band, formed by the remain- the global health crisis better truth is even more powerful,” he lebrities from across the conti- ing members of Bob Marley’s than expected and has recorded said. nent and the diaspora took part in group, were among other stars around 115,000 Covid-19 cases British supermodel Naomi the WAN Show broadcast online taking part. and 3,500 deaths. Campbell called for Africans to by the Worldwide Afro Network Jamaican reggae and ska legend The pandemic has killed more come together. and carried by 200 African chan- Jimmy Cliff recorded “a message than 344,000 people world- “We face an extraordinary nels on Monday night to mark in these uncertain times”. wide. challenge but we cannot aff ord to Africa Day. “The time has come again for “How sad to be stuck in the be spectators. We must show our “After Covid-19, Africa will be us Africans to show the world land of joy and good humour,” resilience and share our commit- great, Africa will be strong. To- A mother and her child watches Malian artist Salif Keita perform on television at their home in Abidjan. who we are. Those in the con- joked French-born Tunisian co- ment as Africans to overcome gether we are unbeatable,” Mal- tinent and in the diaspora, it is median Samia Orosemane, who this and grow stronger from it,” ian kora star and hip-hop artist and the Rolling Stones playing Beninese singer Zeynab were Seconds star N’Dour and Cold- time to be together as one,” he is currently in Ivory Coast due she said. Sidiki Diabate said at the launch from their homes. among the stars performing from play’s Chris Martin, who sang A said. to the pandemic. “I would so “Use your voice to call our of the virtual concert. Malian Afro-pop star Salif their living rooms, studio or gar- Sky Full of Stars. Other celebrities and person- much have liked to return to Paris leaders in Africa to use this crisis The event was modelled af- Keita, Congolese singer Fally den, ending their songs with the “I never thought in a million alities including French actor where people are fi ghting for toi- as a moment to build our solidar- ter the ‘One World: Together Ipupa, Nigeria’s Wizkid, Femi line ‘Together as one’. years I’d see Youssou sing on a Omar Sy, former Ghanaian presi- let paper.” ity and deal with deep structural At Home’ concert in April that Kuti, Senegalese rapper Awadi, The highlight of the evening Coldplay track,” viewer Awach- dent Jerry Rawlings and UN Sec- However, the evening some- issues that aff ect our nations and brought together Taylor Swift Ivory Coast’s Magic System and was a remote duet between Seven am tweeted. retary-General Antonio Guterres times took a more political turn. their economies.” Gulf Times Wednesday, May 27, 2020 5 AMERICAS

NEW DUTIES POLITICS PANDEMIC JUSTICE GOVERNANCE John Ratcliff e sworn in as Three states off er to host Canada soldiers witnessed Top court refuses to block Pentagon deputy IG resigns top intelligence off icial Republican convention ‘deeply disturbing’ scenes at-risk prisoner transfers after presidential snub

John Ratcliff e, a former lawmaker from the Republicans in Georgia, Texas and Florida are Canadian soldiers helping to manage the The US Supreme Court yesterday declined The Defense Department’s deputy inspector Republican Party, was sworn in yesterday as off ering to host the party’s national convention coronavirus outbreak in seniors’ residences have to block a judge’s ruling that requires the US general resigned yesterday, more than a month the new director of national intelligence for if President Donald Trump makes good on his witnessed some “deeply disturbing” scenes, Prime government to evaluate moving up to 837 after President Donald Trump removed him as the US President Donald Trump, according to the threat to move the event from North Carolina Minister Justin Trudeau said yesterday, adding potentially at-risk prisoners out of a federal Pentagon’s acting inspector general, who was to agency’s website. Ratcliff e was confirmed over social distancing restrictions due to the he was shocked and angry. Long-term care prison in Ohio due to concerns about the also oversee the US government $2.3tn coronavirus for the posting by the Republican-controlled coronavirus. Trump tweeted on Monday that the homes account for around 80% of all the deaths health risks of the coronavirus. The justices response. Glenn Fine’s resignation comes after Senate last week, in a vote along party lines party would find another site for the Republican attributed to the new coronavirus in Canada. rejected a request by President Donald Trump’s the Trump administration has removed four and amid opposition by Democrats. Trump had National Convention if North Carolina Governor The situation is particularly bad in Ontario and administration to put the lower court ruling on government inspectors general, who seek to root already tried to get the legislator from Texas Roy Cooper, a Democrat, did not immediately Quebec, the two most populous provinces, where hold. The brief order noted that three of the out government waste, fraud and abuse, in recent into the position last year, but Ratcliff e withdrew say whether the convention space can be “fully around 1,400 soldiers are working. Trudeau nine-member court’s conservatives — Justices weeks. “I believe the time has come for me to step over concerns about his qualifications and occupied.” The convention is set to start on did not give details but said he had passed on Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch down and allow others to perform this vital role,” accusations that he exaggerated his resume. August 24 in Charlotte. There are concerns that the report to Ontario premier Doug Ford. Both — would have granted the administration’s Fine said. “Inspectors General provide independent The spy chief role has been filled in an acting the large formal nominating conventions typically Quebec and Ontario have asked that the soldiers request. The court noted that the administration oversight to help improve government operations capacity by Trump loyalist Richard Grenell. packed with delegates could create health risks. stay on for longer than initially planned. could renew its request at a later date. in a transparent way.” Trump now tweets murder conspiracy theory against critic A memorial in Minneapolis remembers George Floyd, who died in police custody AFP Trump’s current fi xation is on the “So many unanswered & obvious United States has taken something yesterday. An FBI investigation is underway following a fatal encounter on Monday Washington entirely evidence-free story that questions, but I won’t bring them up that does not belong to him — the between Minneapolis police and the unarmed black man. Police said the man had a Scarborough killed a woman in 2001 now! Law enforcement eventually memory of my dead wife and per- medical incident during an attempted arrest. However, video of the encounter shows when he was a Republican congress- will?” he wrote. verted it for perceived political gain,” an off icer with his knee on the man’s neck for at least seven minutes. Before the man resident Donald Trump yester- man and she was one of his staff ers. The deceased woman, Lori Klau- he wrote in a letter published by The lost consciousness, he repeatedly told off icers that he could not breathe. day tweeted a conspiracy the- According to the narrative, Scar- sutis, was found by investigators to New York Times. Pory, accusing one of his media borough was having an aff air with the have died after hitting her head dur- Fearing a clash with perhaps its critics of murder — and prompting woman. ing a fall in Scarborough’s offi ce, trig- most infl uential user, Twitter has re- a demand that Twitter block the Re- Trump, who faces US economic gered by an abnormal heart rhythm. sisted calls in the past to act against publican leader’s “vicious lie.” calamity and 100,000 deaths from Scarborough went on to become a Trump over his frequently abusive White woman apologises The president’s attempt at charac- coronavirus, as well as sinking re- prominent media personality, strong- and insulting tweets. ter assassination of MSNBC host Joe election polls, pushed the story over ly critical of Trump, and is co-host Asked about the fallout from Scarborough by spreading the base- the weekend. of the Morning Joe show on MSNBC the Scarborough tweets, a Twitter after calling cops over black less rumour to his nearly 80mn fol- He was at it again yesterday, tweet- with his wife Mika Brzezinski, whom spokesman said “we are deeply sorry lowers was only his latest foray into ing: “The opening of a Cold Case Trump has given the nickname on about the pain these statements, and conspiracy theory territory. against Psycho Joe Scarborough.” Twitter “low I.Q. Crazy Mika.” the attention they are drawing, are man in NY Central Park For years before being elected in Half an hour later, he sent two more Klausutis’ widower, Timothy causing the family.” 2016, Trump built his political brand tweets calling Scarborough “Psycho Klausutis, wrote to Twitter CEO Jack “We’ve been working to expand ex- By Barbara Goldberg, Reuters The US Justice Department is investi- by supporting the “birther” lie that Joe Scarborough” and saying that the Dorsey, pleading with him to delete isting product features and policies so New York gating as a hate crime a black jogger’s fa- Barack Obama, America’s fi rst black murder accusation was “not a Donald Trump’s “vicious lie.” we can more eff ectively address things tal shooting by white men in Georgia and president, was not born in the United Trump original thought,” but also be- “I’m asking you to intervene in this like this going forward, and we hope to captured on video. States and therefore was illegitimate. lieved by others. instance because the President of the have those changes in place shortly.” white woman has apologised af- Melody Cooper, Christian’s sister who ter a video went viral showing posted the latest video, called the dog Aher calling police to say she felt owner a Karen, slang used to describe a threatened by an African-American man middle-aged white woman perceived to who asked her politely to leash her dog in be entitled. New York’s Central Park. “Oh, when Karens take a walk with their Study fi nds many couples are happier The video drew outrage on social me- dogs off leash in the famous Bramble in dia where it was viewed more than 28mn NY’s Central Park, where it is clearly post- times, and the backlash prompted the ed on signs that dogs MUST be leashed at woman’s employer, global investment all times, and someone like my brother (an after months of coronavirus quarantine fi rm Franklin Templeton, to put her on avid birder) politely asks her to put her dog administrative leave. on the leash,” Melody Cooper wrote. Speaking to WNBC, the woman, Amy “I’m going to call the cops,” Amy DPA As people across the nation enter a The “extremely satisfi ed” percent- few forward, leaving us very close to Cooper, said she wanted to “sincerely and Cooper tells Christian Cooper on the Philadelphia third month of stay-at-home orders, age was consistent with pre-pan- where we started.” humbly apologize” to the man, Christian video, apparently shot with a cellphone cooped-up couples may take comfort demic polls, researchers said, but the While about a quarter of people Cooper, who is no relation. camera. in these fi ndings. “somewhat satisfi ed” and “not satis- said their relationship adds to the She turned over the dog to Abandoned “I’m going to tell them there’s an Afri- hile the stay-at-home or- As the United States was start- fi ed” responses were cut in half. daily stress of living through a glo- Angels Cocker Spaniel Rescue Inc. can-American man threatening my life.” ders may be testing peo- ing to shut down in March, they may While married people generally re- bal pandemic, most people are opti- It was the latest racially tense confron- “Please tell them whatever you like,” Wple’s patience with their have seen discouraging reports out of ported greater satisfaction with their mistic about how the experience will tation to go viral. Christian Cooper responds on the video. signifi cant others, most romantic re- China, where divorce rates were said relationships during this time, there aff ect the long-term success of their lationships are surviving and thriving to be skyrocketing as the nation came were no major diff erences by age, race union. in close quarters. out of its own weeks-long lockdown. or gender. Similar poll results were reported Police crack down on Toronto tow truck turf war That’s according to a new Mon- The new study, however, indicates The pandemic also hasn’t changed after 9/11, Lewandowski said. mouth University poll, which found the pandemic may not be as bad for the way people behave in their rela- That optimism is a promising sign, Police in Canada yesterday brought charges “stage collisions using drivers they recruited,” that half of couples in the United romantic relationships as originally tionship, the study found. researchers said. against 20 people linked to a turf war be- and later inflated costs charged to victims States predict they’ll come out of feared, researchers said. Seven in 10 people said they don’t “Although the results likely rep- tween tow truck companies that resulted in for towing their vehicles, he said. They also this coronavirus quarantine with a Of the people Monmouth sur- argue with their signifi cant other resent some overconfi dence by re- four murders and at least 30 arson attacks in partnered with auto repair shops and car stronger relationship. veyed — who were married, living more now than they used to. spondents, research shows that opti- the past three years. and truck rental companies to carry out the “It isn’t surprising that so many with a signifi cant other, or otherwise Lewandowski said those fi ndings mism benefi ts relationships,” he said. Organised crime groups behind rival frauds, according to a police statement. people are satisfi ed in their relation- in a romantic relationship — 59% make sense. “In fact, as long as couples have at towing companies in the Toronto area “used One local law firm hired by insurance ship,” Gary Lewandowski, professor said they were “extremely satisfi ed,” “The extra demands on the rela- least one optimist, both partners enjoy violence and property damage as a means companies to pursue legal action against of psychology at Monmouth, said in while 33% classifi ed themselves as tionship from managing work-life higher relationship satisfaction, even to gain control and territory,” York Regional several tow companies became the target of a statement. “very satisfi ed.” balance, home-schooling kids, and when one partner is less hopeful.” Police Superintendent Mike Slack said. violence and threats. “Our relationships are a key source Few reported more neutral or neg- generally dealing with a global pan- The poll was conducted from April The crimes alleged in the 191 charges Eleven tow trucks and a stockpile of guns of stability, and when the world feels ative feelings. Only 4% were “some- demic are balanced out by more quali- 30 to May 4 with 808 adults in the brought included extortion, fraud, murders and ammunition, as well as illicit drugs and uncertain, having your partner there what satisfi ed” and a measly 1% were ty time with the ones we love,” he said. US, and the results are based on the and the torching of tow trucks, he said. C$500,000 (US$360,000) in cash were to be your rock is assuring.” “not too or not at all satisfi ed.” “A couple steps back, another responses of the 556 respondents. Some of those charged went so far as to seized in the investigation. SpaceX readies for blast-off with Nasa astronauts aboard

By Ivan Couronne, AFP “This is a unique moment And a Nasa-commissioned available until 45 minutes before Cape Canaveral where all of America can take a Boeing spacecraftcalled the Star- the fl ight’s scheduled departure moment and look at our country liner, is even further delayed. at 4.33pm (2033 GMT). The next do something stunning again,” After a successful uncrewed potential windows for blast-off ray skies loomed yester- Nasa administrator Jim Bridens- test fl ight last year, a Crew Drag- are Saturday and Sunday. day over Florida’s Atlantic tine said. on capsule later exploded during After they reach orbit, it will Gcoast, just one day before In a nod to an earlier era of US a ground engine test. take Hurley and Behnken around two astronauts were set to blast space fl ight, Bridenstine resur- There were also issues devel- 19 hours to reach the ISS, where off aboard a SpaceX capsule on rected a vintage 1970s Nasa logo oping the capsule’s large para- Bridenstine says they could stay the most dangerous and prestig- nicknamed “the worm,” whose chutes. until early August. ious mission Nasa has ever en- distinctive red font will adorn the But after thousands of checks Their return will resemble the trusted to a private company. today’s rocket. and re-checks, Nasa is fi nally Apollo re-entries: a water land- There was a 60% chance for SpaceX made history in 2012 ready to go — or as ready as they ing in the Atlantic Ocean, off the favourable weather for today’s when it became the fi rst private can be to strap two people on top coast of Florida. fl ight, according to yesterday’s entity to dock a cargo capsule to of a 500-tonne rocket fi lled with If all goes well, the Crew latest Cape Canaveral forecast. the ISS. combustible fuel. Dragon could then begin regular US astronauts Bob Behnken Two years later, Nasa commis- “We never feel comfortable, fl ights from the United States to and Doug Hurley have been in sioned the company to modify because that’s when you’re not the ISS. strict quarantine for two weeks the Dragon to carry passengers. searching,” said Kathy Lueders, At the end of August, three ahead of their trip on the brand- That was already Musk’s origi- head of Nasa’s commercial crew other Americans and a Japanese new Crew Dragon capsule, which nal dream for the capsule any- program. astronaut are scheduled to fl y on will be propelled by a Falcon 9 way, according to SpaceX vice “We’re going to stay hungry the ship, and Europe, Canada and rocket. president Hans Koenigsmann. until Bob and Doug come home,” Russia have been invited to par- Both the capsule and the rock- “Cargo Dragon, we put a win- she said. ticipate in subsequent missions. et were manufactured by SpaceX, The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon spacecraft attached being prepared yesterday for liftoff dow on it so that people wouldn’t Now, the weather is the last The Russians, with whom the the start-up founded in 2002 by from launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Florida. forget about it,” he said of the unpredictable variable. US built the ISS, have agreed to the then-thirty-something Elon original ship design. But “the trend is in the right continue their space partnership, Musk, a brilliant and brash Mars- tional Space Station (ISS), which pended on Russian rockets to able to derail the launch, and “We (were) founded with the direction,” Bridenstine said, according to Bridenstine, though obsessive who made his fortune orbits the Earth about 400km reach space since its last crewed President Donald Trump will idea of human spacefl ight.” despite the rain that forced his they have not offi cially signed with PayPal and also created the above sea-level. fl ight in 2011. become only the third US leader The programme, into which press conference yesterday to be onto the new program. famous Tesla electric cars. The success of this mission is Neither the new coronavi- to watch the take-off of a human Nasa has invested more than moved indoors and away from “It’s really above terrestrial The Crew Dragon is to carry a point of national pride for the rus pandemic nor confi nement space fl ight in person, after Rich- $3bn, is three years behind the big countdown clock outside. geopolitics,” he said. “Literally — the astronauts to the Interna- United States, which has de- measures to stop its spread were ard Nixon and Bill Clinton. schedule. The option to delay remains above terrestrial geopolitics.” Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, May 27, 2020 ASIA

Stop using malaria Soldiers, police enforce drugs for Covid-19 treatment, WHO Indonesia’s virus curbs tells Indonesia Reuters About 340,000 off icers Jakarta will be deployed Reuters yet made public, said the WHO across four provinces Geneva/Jakarta had sent a notice to Indone- ndonesia’s military ordered sia’s health ministry advising the deployment of hundreds to ensure the that use of the drugs should be Iof thousands of soldiers and country’s transition he World Health Organi- suspended. police yesterday to enforce rules sation (WHO) has urged Erlina Burhan, a doctor who on wearing masks and safe dis- to the new normal TIndonesia, one of the helped draft coronavirus treat- tancing after reports of peo- world’s biggest advocates of two ment guidelines as a member of ple in the world’s fourth-most kets will be halved in terms of malaria drugs to treat the coro- the Indonesian Association of populous nation fl outing them. customers permitted. navirus, to suspend such treat- Pulmonologists, confi rmed that Even as cases of the corona- Indonesian President Joko ment over safety concerns, a the association had also received virus have continued to spike in Widodo said the measures would source familiar with the advice new advice from the WHO to the Southeast Asian nation, now help protect people’s health and told Reuters yesterday. suspend use of the drugs. reaching nearly 23,000 infec- the economy. Any decision by Indonesia to “We discussed the issues and tions and 1,391 deaths, people “We want to remain productive halt use of the drugs, chloro- there are still some disputes. have often been seen ignoring while still safe from Covid-19,” he quine and hydroxychloroquine, We have no conclusion yet,” measures to stop the spread of said, after inspecting a mall in the in coronavirus patients would she said. the pandemic. city of Bekasi. “In the new normal mark a major global shift away A spokesperson for the WHO From yesterday, about 340,000 the military and police will watch from a treatment which has mission in Indonesia did not offi cers will be deployed across crowds to ensure people become been touted for months by US immediately respond to a re- four provinces to ensure the more disciplined.” President Donald Trump. quest for comment. Indonesia’s country’s transition to the “new Offi cers will be deployed on Indonesia, the world’s fourth health ministry, Food and Drug normal”, Indonesian military streets, malls and other strate- most populous nation, had Monitoring Agency (BPOM) and chief Hadi Tjahjanto said. gic locations in the provinces told doctors to use the drugs to the spokesman for Indonesia’s “We will monitor people of Jakarta, West Java, Gorontalo treat all Covid-19 patients with Covid-19 taskforce were not im- to ensure people are wearing and West Sumatra, in a joint Indonesian President Joko Widodo (centre) wearing a face mask visits an MRT station in Jakarta yesterday, symptoms from mild to severe. mediately available to comment. masks, and are also maintain- operation between the Indone- to inspect measures the capital city is implementing amid concerns of the coronavirus outbreak. The country has ramped up pro- Last week, the Lancet medi- ing a safe distance from others,” sian military, police and local duction since March, granting cal journal published the most said Hadi. “What we want is that government. Eid, the celebration at the end of weeks a string of regulatory coming week, the government two dozen licenses to local man- comprehensive study to date people can do their activities, The enforcement measures the Islamic fasting month. backfl ips around social curbs, also announced on Tuesday its ufacturers who have churned on the drugs, which found that and at the same time stay safe come days after people fl ocked Indonesia has come under fi re work and travel has resulted in new “United Against Covid” out millions of doses. coronavirus patients prescribed from Covid-19.” to local markets in the capital from public health experts since widespread confusion. mobile app, which allows us- The source, who spoke on them were more likely to experi- Under the “new normal”, the and its surrounds, many un- March for its belated response As local governments prepare ers to identify areas of high condition of anonymity to dis- ence heart rhythm disturbances capacity of malls and supermar- masked, buying new clothes for to the infection, while in recent to ease social restrictions in the coronavirus risk. cuss a recommendation not and more likely to die.

Lanka relaxes curfew Village Thailand extends virus emergency torched powers amid opposition suspicion

amid Reuters have suggested the emergency success story among many Bangkok decree should be allowed to harder-hit Southeast Asian expire. neighbours. fi ghting in “The prime minister would Prayuth fi rst seized power in a hailand’s cabinet yes- like to say that since the begin- 2014 military coup, and disputed terday extended an ning of the emergency decree’s elections last year yielded a coa- Myanmar Temergency decree to usage and every extension, lition government led by his pro- fi ght the coronavirus to June we have based this on public army party. AFP 30, with a spokeswoman de- health reasons and not politi- The emergency decree Yangon nying opposition sugges- cal ones,” government spokes- grants broad authority to tions that the prime minister, woman Narumon Pinyosinwat limit gatherings, order busi- a onetime junta leader, was said after yesterday’s cabinet nesses closed, impose cur- t least 200 houses and seeking a return to unchecked meeting. fews and censor media, other buildings were de- powers. Thailand was the fi rst country many of the same powers the Astroyed by fi re in a con- The state of emergency outside to China to report a case former junta held. fl ict-ridden state in Myanmar declared in late March came of coronavirus, on January 13. Government spokeswoman in an incident that has “all the against the backdrop of stu- The new virus has since Narumon, however, said it is too hallmarks” of previous military dent protests against the spread around the world, in- early to declare the emergency A security man (right) checks the body temperature of commuters after arriving by train at Fort arson attacks on villages, a rights banning of a party opposed fecting 5.5mn people and killing over. Railway station in Colombo yesterday as authorities eased the 24-hour curfew as a preventive group said yesterday. to Prime Minister Prayuth 350,000. “We have to maintain the measure against the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus after 67 days. The 24-hour curfew first Let Kar village in the north- Chan-ocha. Thailand has had 3,045 emergency decree as a tool to imposed on March 20 was eased yesterday and turned into a night-time curfew as the authorities western state of Rakhine was With new cases now dwin- confi rmed cases and 57 fa- manage the situation so we can announced that the spread of the coronavirus was largely under control. mostly deserted when the build- dling, some opposition fi gures talities, making it so far a overcome this,” she said. ings went up in fl ames on May 16 after the population of mainly ethnic Rakhine Buddhists fl ed more than a year ago, Human Rights Watch said, citing satellite images and witnesses. Virus traps foreign workers in Maldives Myanmar’s military has been locked in an increasingly bru- tal war against the Arakan Army AFP up the capital, Male, are work- Outside, security forces stop spreads three times faster in mi- “We need money to survive. gressive Party of Maldives (PPM) (AA), insurgents fi ghting for Malé ers from Bangladesh, India and the labourers going out on the grant communities than in the We need our work,” said Hossain, has described the facilities as more autonomy for ethnic Ra- Sri Lanka living in teeming alleys streets. local population. who managed to send about 80% prisons. Labourers are barely al- khine Buddhists, since January that are a haven for the virus. Authorities acknowledge con- Fears are growing for the of his $180 a month wage back to lowed out and their rooms do not last year that has killed scores of ens of thousands of foreign “There is huge uncertainty ditions in Male for foreign work- health and welfare of these for- his wife and four children before even have fans in the peak sum- people and forced 150,000 to fl ee labourers have been left and panic,” said Zakir Hossain, ers are poor, and say they are eign workers, who are often the outbreak. mer heat, when temperatures their homes. Tstranded and ostracised in 39, who had worked in a Male moving thousands into better brought in to clear refuse, clean But others were not so climb above 30 degrees Celsius Both the military and the AA one of the world’s most dense- restaurant until March’s shut- housing out of the capital. dishes and do other essential fortunate. Anwar Hosain, a (86 Fahrenheit). deny responsibility for the de- ly packed cities as the tourist down. But opposition politicians jobs that locals reject. 42-year-old Bangladeshi car- “The treatment of these ex- struction in Let Kar in Mrauk U paradise of the Maldives battles He said he has not been paid have criticised the plans, label- Four coronavirus deaths have penter and father of fi ve, said patriates, mostly Bangladeshi township, accusing the other of coronavirus. for more than two months. ling the treatment of such work- been reported so far, including he was owed about $1,800 by nationals, is inhuman,” PPM committing what HRW warns The island country has been “We are worried about the ers as “inhuman”. one Bangladeshi, but rumours his employers. spokesman Mohamed Hussain could constitute a war crime. empty for weeks since a govern- disease. All the Bangladeshi The Maldives has recorded that hundreds of foreigners have “My wife calls me every day Shareef said. “The burning of Let Kar village ment order to close all resorts. workers live in congested nearly 1,400 coronavirus infec- the virus have compounded and cries. What can I do?” Government spokesman Ma- has all the hallmarks of Myanmar That has left an army of migrant conditions,” he said. tions among a population of concerns among migrants. The government has moved brook Azeez said authorities had military arson on Rohingya vil- workers jobless. Like many migrants – who 340,000. Many are also worried about 3,000 foreign workers to a tempo- built the housing in a bid to ease lages in recent years,” said Phil The Maldives is heavily de- share rooms and even beds be- Some experts have warned the their families back in Bangla- rary shelter on the industrial is- overcrowding in Male. Robertson, deputy Asia director pendent on foreign labour. tween shifts – Hossain lives in a Maldives risks thousands more desh, also in the grip of a pan- land of Gulhi Falhu outside Male. “This is not the condition we for HRW. About half of the 150,000 single room on a backstreet with cases unless action is taken. demic lockdown amid rising Thousands more are to follow want our labourers to live in,” he “A credible and impartial in- people in the 2 sq km that make four other Bangladeshis. Authorities say the infection deaths. but the main opposition Pro- said. vestigation is urgently needed to fi nd out what happened, pun- ish those responsible, and pro- vide compensation to villagers harmed.” Rakhine is the state where a Hanoi motorbike taxi drivers turn fi rst aiders 2017 military crackdown forced about 750,000 Rohingya Mus- AFP could do to help those I saw in- close to 50 volunteers. not stand up or walk, though. lims to fl ee to Bangladesh in vio- Hanoi jured in accidents,” said Viet, Two-thirds are ride-hailing “I hadn’t seen anything like lence that has led to Myanmar who moved to the city in 2017. drivers, but there are engineers, that before so I had to make a facing genocide charges at the The year before, he had been mechanics and students too who video call to Viet.” UN’s top court. n the tarmac of a dark involved in a serious motorbike form a network of eyes on the Viet and his team are cur- Robertson added that the Hanoi street, motorbike crash that saw him sprawled on ground and social media. rently helping around 100 peo- government should request UN Otaxi driver Pham Quoc the roadside, glimpsing passers- Many of the team have been ple a month, with each mem- assistance in the probe and not Viet mops the bloodied knee of a by too afraid to come to his aid. trained in fi rst aid, largely by ber spending up to $2 daily on leave it to the military. fellow rider, one of the hundreds “I remember that desperate Viet at weekly sessions, and they equipment such as bandages, The HRW analysis of the of traffi c victims he’s tended feeling when someone walks on keep each other up to date via usually around a 10th of their satellite images “most likely” to in the chaotically congested by... I didn’t want anyone else to Vietnamese messaging app Zalo. income. underestimates the scale of Vietnamese capital. get into the same situation and Nguyen Le Giang, 34, who Although Hanoi’s streets the destruction because inter- By day, Viet, 33, works for feel abandoned,” he said. worked in a textile workshop be- are once again bustling after nal damage to buildings is not South East Asian ride-hail- There are 6mn motorbikes in fore starting as a Grab bike driver a weeks-long social isolation visible, the group said. ing fi rm Grab, scooting along Hanoi, their dominance and num- three years ago, pushed her hus- order was lifted at the end of There have been no reports of the tree-lined boulevards and bers so great that pedestrians band and mother to help around April, ride-hailing drivers suf- any deaths. winding alleys of the city. struggle to cross roads. the house and with caring for her fered considerably during the Kyaw Zaw Hla, 46, who has But from 9.30pm until 1.30am, Accidents victims often face a two children so she could join pandemic. been living in a camp near the he is an unoffi cial emergency re- challenging wait for help as con- the nightly patrol. “We earnt much less money... village with his family since fl ee- sponder, a red fl ashing light se- gestion blocks the path of med- “The fi rst time I gave fi rst aid I it was very diffi cult but all of us ing, confi rmed his home was cured to his handlebars as he pa- ics and fear of litigation prevents was a bit scared,” she said. “The have overcome it,” said Viet, ex- among those razed. trols the streets on two wheels. onlookers from off ering a hand. man told me his foot was painful plaining that most continued to “We’ve lost everything,” he Grab motorcycle rider Pham Quoc Viet (left) teaching first aid to Grab “When I fi rst came to Hanoi After starting his rescue work but there was no blood and the patrol and buy supplies despite told AFP by phone. riders during his SOS Angels class in Hanoi. to work, I thought about what I alone, Viet now has a team of bone wasn’t broken. He could their reduced income. Gulf Times Wednesday, May 27, 2020 7 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

NZealand HK police issue warning amid hit by fresh quake in calls for new demonstrations two days Reuters Reuters terday on online forums for a Carrie Lam told a weekly news thronged the streets to protest Wellington Hong Kong general strike and protests to- conference. “In the last 23 years, against the proposed legislation. day against a national anthem whenever people worried about Almost 200 were arrested. law due for a second reading in Hong Kong’s freedom of speech It was the fi rst major protest ew Zealand’s capital ong Kong police issued the city’s Legislative Council. and freedom of expression and since pro-democracy demon- shook for a second con- a warning late yesterday Such calls do not always result protest, time and again, Hong strations rocked Hong Kong last Nsecutive day yesterday Hthat they would not tol- in protests. Police said gather- Kong has proven that we uphold year over an unsuccessful plan after a magnitude 5.2 magnitude erate disruptions to public order, ings must not disrupt traffi c and and preserve those values.” to introduce an extradition law earthquake hit Wellington, data after activists circulated calls warned of jail terms for those The United States has branded with China, Hong Kong’s worst from monitor GeoNet showed. online for fresh demonstrations who cause illegal disturbances. the security law a “death knell” crisis since its return to Chinese There were no initial reports today. The anthem law would require for the city’s autonomy. Britain, rule. of damage, according to news re- A new national security law schools to teach China’s national which ruled Hong Kong until re- More demonstrations are ports and a Reuters witness. proposed last week by Beijing anthem, organisations to play it turning it to China in 1997, said it expected in coming weeks as A slightly stronger 5.8 magni- has revived mass protests by and sing it, and anyone who dis- was deeply concerned by a law it residents grow more confi dent tude quake struck the capital on demonstrators who say China respects it to face jail or fi nes. said would undermine the “one about gathering with the coro- Monday while Prime Minister aims to curb the freedoms en- Protesters see it as a symbol of country, two systems” princi- navirus outbreak under control. Jacinda Ardern was doing a live joyed in Hong Kong, a global China’s encroachment on Hong ple under which Hong Kong is Investors’ concerns were clear Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam speaks during a news confer- TV interview. She calmly con- fi nancial centre with broad Kong’s way of life, as manifest governed. in a sell-off on the Hong Kong ence in Hong Kong yesterday. tinued with the programme and autonomy. in the security law fl oated last Hong Kong’s Bar Associa- bourse on Friday, though stocks later confi rmed there had been Thousands of protesters week, which could pave the way tion said the draft had “worry- regained some ground this week. toughened their rhetoric recent- protesters, an independent in- no damage. clashed with police on Sunday for mainland security agencies ing and problematic features”. “Medium-to-long term it will ly, describing some of the acts in quiry into against police han- New Zealand lies on the seis- in the fi rst big demonstrations to open up branches in Hong According to the draft proposal still depend on US-China rela- last year’s protests as terrorism dling of the demonstrations and mically active “Ring of Fire”, since a wave of violent protests Kong. last week, the legislation aims to tions and the political situation and attempts at secessionism. a request not to label the protests an arc of volcanoes and ocean last year. Financial markets have Hong Kong authorities insist tackle secession, subversion and in Hong Kong,” said Steven Le- While authorities scrapped riots. trenches girdling much of been alarmed by the prospect of there is no threat to the city’s terrorist activities. ung, executive director for insti- the extradition bill that sparked Opinion polls show only a the Pacifi c Ocean. The city of a dramatic assertion of Chinese autonomy. On Sunday, police fi red tear tutional sales at brokerage UOB that unrest, they dug in their minority of Hong Kong people Christchurch is still recovering control over the city. “There is no need for us to gas and water cannons to dis- Kay Hian. heels against calls for universal support independence, which is from a 6.3 magnitude quake in Calls were circulated yes- worry,” city’s Chief Executive perse thousands of people who Beijing and city offi cials have suff rage, amnesty for arrested anathema to Beijing. 2011 that killed 185 people. Proposed health code app sparks anger in China

AFP Beijing

Chinese local govern- ment’s proposal for a Apost-coronavirus health app that ranks citizens based on their smoking, drinking, exercise and sleep habits has sparked fury online over privacy concerns. China has already developed apps that indicate an individual’s People wearing face masks amid concerns of the coronavirus commute in Tokyo yesterday. likelihood of contracting coro- navirus based on their travel his- tory and whether they had come into contact with an infected case. Japanese face ‘new normal’ after Hangzhou, a high-tech hub and home to e-commerce gi- ant Alibaba, was among the fi rst coronavirus emergency lifted Chinese cities to adopt such an app, which gives people a green, Reuters seven weeks saw many people light of the Rainbow Bridge yellow or red code that deter- Tokyo returning to work or heading won’t turn red,” Koike said at mines if they can buy travel out, while observing social-dis- a coronavirus policy meeting tickets or enter public places. tancing and wearing masks. yesterday. But the health commission in Volunteers wearing protective clothing, amid concerns of the Covid-19 coronavirus, checking the body day after Japan ended its Naoto Furuki, 45, said his Many companies said they the eastern city of 10mn people temperature of a resident outside a residential area in Jilin in China’s northeastern Jilin province yesterday. state of emergency, To- morning commute had been would let staff keep working is now considering rolling out an Akyo residents took to the more crowded than usual, which from home, while railway opera- app that looks much deeper into steps taken and how many of gion and are often hosted on “What the hell do my smok- streets with a mixture of relief was slightly unsettling. tor Odakyu Electric Railway said the health of citizens. them suff er from chronic dis- the ubiquitous mobile payment ing, drinking and sleeping habits and trepidation as they prepared “I’m still a bit worried. There it would release usage data to The software monitors users ease, according to a screenshot. platforms AliPay and WeChat have to do with you?” read one for a “new normal” of living with maybe a second wave of the epi- help passengers avoid crowded in real-time and ranks them on Currently in development, the Pay, typically collect user loca- comment on Weibo. the novel coronavirus. demic so we still need to be on trains. a 100-point “health gradient” app could be completed as early tion data, transport routes and “We have no privacy left what- Prime Minister Shinzo Abe alert,” he said. Electronics giant Sony Corp scale, according to a post on the as June, but further details - such ID information. soever,” lamented another user. lifted the state of emergency in Many children are set to go said it would only let up to 30% commission’s website. as how data is collected - remain Chinese tech commentator Mass government collection of the capital and four remaining back to school next week under of its workforce back to the offi ce According to shots of the app unclear. and privacy advocate Lawrence data for epidemic-fi ghting purposes prefectures on Monday, claim- precautionary measures such as in June, while Hitachi Ltd is aim- shared in the post, it ranks citi- “The municipal health com- Li said that the new app should has sparked widespread concerns ing victory for managing to keep staggered classes. ing for half of its work to be done zens out of the entire population mission should grasp the op- ideally be an opt-in system to over data privacy and security. total infections relatively low, at Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike at home. of Hangzhou based on their health portunity to deepen the use of protect citizens’ rights. Last month, police in Shanxi about 16,600 cases. has warned against compla- “We won’t go back to our pre- score, which changes according to health codes... to ensure the full “In the case of COVID (data province announced that the “I want to go out drinking and cency and said everyone had to vious working style,” Hitachi the user’s daily actions. completion of various municipal collection) I think people will- personal information of over attend concerts,” offi ce worker get used to a “new normal” of Executive Offi cer Hidenobu Na- For example, drinking a glass health systems,” health commis- ingly participated, but it’s an- 6,000 people who entered a lo- Daisuke Tominaga told Reuters teleworking and staggered com- kahata told reporters. “We’ll ac- of white wine could set your sion member Sun Yongrong was other story if the government cal hospital had been leaked on in Shibuya, one of Tokyo’s busi- mutes until a vaccine or treat- celerate new working practices, score back by 1.5 points, while quoted as saying. wants to make it the ‘new nor- WeChat. est neighbourhoods. ment is developed. making working-from-home a sleeping for seven hours could Big data-powered health apps mal’,” he said. Baidu chief executive Robin Unlike strict lockdowns in On Monday evening, the Rain- new standard.” improve it by one point. developed by local governments The proposal, which was post- Li last week proposed legisla- other countries, Japan did not bow Bridge, which spans north- Bank of Japan Governor The app can also give compa- in collaboration with internet ed online last week, stoked major tion that would allow people to force businesses to close and ern Tokyo Bay, was illuminated in Haruhiko Kuroda said the coro- nies and residential communi- fi rms Alibaba and Tencent have discussions on the Twitter-like withdraw personal information some had reopened even before seven colours to mark the end of navirus could change countries’ ties an overall health score based become part of the fabric of life social network Weibo and ques- collected during the epidemic the emergency was lifted. the state of emergency. industrial structure and people’s on the scores of individuals, such in post-coronavirus China. tion-and-answer forum Zhihu and establish guidelines for data Still, its offi cial end after some “Let’s work together so the behaviour. as employees’ average sleep rate, The apps, which diff er by re- over the weekend. storage during ‘special periods’.

Malaysia reports 187 new virus cases UN says both Koreas broke Australian media to be tried for

Malaysia reported 187 new coronavirus cases yesterday, armistice in DMZ shooting contempt over Pell reporting with illegal migrants held at a detention centre An exchange of gunfire between The probe found the North’s most fortified places on earth, AFP gag to prevent news of the court ties groups say so-called sup- accounting for most of them, North and South Korean forces in Korean People’s Army fired four replete with minefields and Sydney proceedings from prejudicing pression orders are over-used by bringing the total number of the Demilitarised Zone dividing 14.5mm small-arms rounds, barbed-wire fences. jurors in what was expected to Australian courts and have failed infections in the country to the peninsula was a violation which were responded to by two The last time the two sides be a second trial against Pell over to take into account changes in 7,604. of the armistice agreement, the volleys from South Korea. exchanged fire on the border was ozens of Australian jour- his now-quashed conviction for the way news is disseminated The health ministry said United Nations Command (UNC) But the investigation was “unable in 2014. North Korean soldiers also nalists and news organi- child sex abuse. online and via social media. no new deaths were said yesterday. to definitively determine” shot at a defecting soldier in 2017, Dsations will go on trial in The order meant Pell’s De- The targeted news organisa- recorded. The total number The two sides remain technically whether the North’s gunshots but the South did not fire back. November for allegedly violating cember 2018 conviction for al- tions have vigorously disputed of coronavirus fatalities in at war, since fighting in the were fired “intentionally or by North Korean leader Kim Jong- a gag order barring coverage of legedly abusing two choirboys in the contempt of court charges. Malaysia currently stands at Korean War ended with an mistake”, the UNC said. un and the South’s President Cardinal George Pell’s sex crimes the 1990s could not be reported Some of the defendants were 115. armistice in 1953 that was never The North’s military did not off er Moon Jae-in agreed to ease case, a judge said yesterday. in Australia, including on the dropped from the case earlier Authorities said at the replaced with a peace treaty. a “formal response” when the military tensions on their border Rupert Murdoch’s Nation- internet. this year. weekend that a new cluster North Korean gunfire hit a UNC invited it to take part in the at a summit in Pyongyang in wide News and the former Local media then ran cryptic The gag order was lifted in of coronavirus infections had Southern guard post on May 3, investigation, it said, adding that September 2018, among other Fairfax group, now owned by articles complaining they were early 2019 when prosecutors broken out at a detention prompting Seoul’s soldiers to the South’s forces provided “full agreements. broadcaster Nine, are among being prevented from report- dropped further charges against centre for illegal migrants. return fire a few minutes later co-operation”. But most of the deals have 12 companies facing contempt ing on a story of major public Pell and the cleric was subse- Malaysia will deport all and broadcast warnings. Seoul’s defence ministry not been acted on, with the charges along with 18 leading interest. quently acquitted of all charges undocumented migrant The UNC - which monitors compliance expressed regret over the Pyongyang largely cutting off editors and reporters. But they were accused of by Australia’s top court in April workers who test negative with the ceasefire - opened an announcement of the findings contact with Seoul following the If convicted, the journalists breaching the order and “scan- this year. for the virus back to their investigation into the shooting and and said its troops were following collapse of the Hanoi summit face prison terms of up to fi ve dalising the court” with those Barrister Matt Collins, rep- home countries, senior concluded that “both sides committed their response manual. between Kim and US President years and the media organisa- reports, even though they did resenting the media, told the Security Minister Ismail Sabri Armistice Agreement violations”, it Despite its name, the Donald Trump, which left nuclear tions fi nes of up to A$500,000 not mention Pell or the charges court yesterday that the journal- Yaakob told a press briefing said in a statement. Demilitarized Zone is one of the talks at a standstill. (AFP) ($328,000). involved. ists “are very anxious for these earlier yesterday. (Reuters) The presiding judge issued the Press freedom and civil liber- matters to be resolved fi nally”. Gulf Times 8 Wednesday, May 27, 2020 BRITAIN

London ‘faces surge in rough sleepers as virus funding ends’

Guardian News and Media staying in hotels at the state’s ex- positive impact on homelessness steps in by the middle of June, But he said it was “vital that the in hotels under the emergency out what will happen to hotel resi- London pense. in the capital, allowing charities there will be a cliff -edge fall,” the government guarantees it will con- scheme are increasingly anxious dents once lockdown ends. “Unless we get support from the time to work to help fi nd longer- mayor said in an interview with tinue levels of support for rough about their future, many of them “Anxiety is starting to be more government, we haven’t got the term solutions for rough sleepers. the Guardian. sleepers right now, ensuring that monitoring the news as announce- prevalent. We don’t know when he mayor of London has money to continue literally to pay It could be “the one silver lining “That will be so heartbreaking we can continue to provide emer- ments are made about the easing this is going to be terminated, warned that funding for for the hotels past the middle of from this awful virus”, he added. because we have met people who gency accommodation to protect of lockdown. when are they going to be asked to Tthe coronavirus emergency June,” Sadiq Khan said. But he was increasingly con- have been on our streets for years them from this deadly pandemic”. Rising speculation about the leave and what is the exit strategy,” programme to house all rough Beyond that point, “I can’t hand cerned about whether central gov- and this is the fi rst time they have Since lockdown was announced resumption of summer holiday said Alex Norris, a case worker sleepers in hotels will run out in on heart tell you how we can fund ernment funding would stretch accepted help.” in March, more than 5,400 rough planning has triggered concern with the London charity. mid-June, and without new gov- the work we’re doing,” he added. to make this possible. “We could He welcomed a government sleepers have been placed in Holi- about when the hotels housing “Individuals are really worried, ernment money there could be a Khan said he wanted to be op- be the generation that ends rough announcement on Saturday that day Inns, Travelodges and Ibis ho- the homeless may need to open to asking us: have you heard about surge in homeless people returning timistic about the possibility that sleeping; we think we are on the funding would be brought forward tels all over of England. their regular clients. what will happen after the hotels to the streets. the drive to bring all rough sleep- cusp of something amazing, but it to make an extra 3,300 homes Similar schemes are in opera- Homelessness charities such as reopen? People who are sleeping About 1,400 of the capital’s ers into hotels to stop the spread of could go either way. I can’t sugar- available to prevent rough sleepers tion elsewhere in the UK. Glass Door are concerned about rough do not want to go back to homeless people are currently the virus could have a permanent coat it. Unless the government returning to the streets. Those who have been staying the absence of an exit plan setting that situation.” Outside socialising Minister quits may be relaxed in protest at very soon

Guardian News and Media London Cummings’ eople in England could be allowed to socialise in bigger Pgroups in gardens or parks in the coming weeks, a cabinet minister has confi rmed, but visit- ing friends and family indoors still lockdown trip appears to be some way off . Pressure is mounting on the AFP mings’ press conference found The main opposition Labour government to make clear its London that 59% of respondents thought party has stopped short of backing plans for easing restrictions on he should resign, up from 52%. that call but demanded an internal social contact, after Boris John- More than two-thirds — 71% — government inquiry. son announced outdoor markets rime Minister Boris John- thought he had broken the govern- Dozens of Conservative law- and car showrooms could open son’s government was hit ment’s lockdown rules. makers have also called on Cum- from next week and non-essen- Pby its fi rst resignation yes- Hours after Ross resigned, Jack- mings to quit. tial retail outlets from June 15. terday over the controversy sur- son Carlaw, the leader of Johnson’s Mark Pawsey said he had acted Speaking to broadcast media, rounding his top aide Dominic Conservatives in Scotland, said “against the spirit of the lock- Michael Gove, a Cabinet Offi ce Cummings’ cross-country trip the prime minister’s most trusted down” while William Wragg minister, acknowledged the re- during the coronavirus lockdown. adviser should think about quit- tweeted that the government was strictions on seeing family and Undermining attempts by min- ting. throwing away “political good- friends were “tough” and sug- isters to move on from a crisis that “Given the furore, given the will” over the scandal. gested rules on seeing only one has dominated British politics for distraction this is...if I were Cum- But cabinet heavyweight person from another household days, Douglas Ross, a minister for mings I would be considering my Michael Gove defended Cum- outdoors could soon be relaxed. Scotland, quit in protest. position,” he told STV News. mings, arguing the controversial He told BBC Radio 4’s Today “I have constituents who didn’t Meanwhile, a host of smaller aide had not broken the law. programme: “You can see mem- get to say goodbye to loved ones; opposition parties wrote to John- Gove said Cummings had acted bers of your family or friends out families who could not mourn to- son to call for Cummings to be reasonably in driving from London of doors, and we are looking at gether; people who didn’t visit sick fi red. to Durham and then taking a sepa- seeing how we can make it easier relatives because they followed the “There cannot be one rule for rate journey to a local beauty spot, to see, in particular, more family guidance of the government,” he those involved in formulating Barnard Castle, to — as Cummings members out of doors in a safe said in a statement. public health advice and another claimed — test his eyesight. way.” “I cannot in good faith tell them for the rest of us,” the Scottish Na- “What’s clear is that he didn’t However, Gove gave no hint they were all wrong and one sen- tional Party, Liberal Democrats, break the law, he didn’t break the when indoor visits to family and ior advisor to the government was Plaid Cymru and others said in the rules, he sought to protect his fam- friends may be allowed again. right.” letter. ily,” Gove told the BBC yesterday. The possibility of more out- The government said it regret- door meetings – discussed at ted his decision. cabinet – could pave the way for The resignation will pile more Govt to off er remdesivir to some Covid-19 patients barbecues, garden parties and pressure on Cummings, who held other forms of socialising, al- a press conference on Monday to Britain will provide the anti-viral “These are very early steps, but though it is likely the physical justify driving his wife and young drug remdesivir to certain we are determined to support distancing rules would still apply. son on a 425km trip from London Covid-19 patients that it is most the science and back the The government’s plan for to Durham in the northeast of likely to benefit as part of a projects that show promise.” easing the lockdown in England, England during the height of the collaboration with manufacturer The government said the Gilead Sciences, the health allocation of the drug would be published earlier this month, in- coronavirus crisis. ministry said yesterday. The determined by where it would cluded a commitment to consider Cummings said he had virus department of health said early have the greatest benefit, but “social bubbles”, whereby house- symptoms around the time of the data from clinical trials around did not say how many patients holds could mingle with one oth- trip and his wife was also suff ering the world showed that the drug would be treated. The US er household. from Covid-19. could shorten the recovery National Institutes of Health It said: “The intention of this The Brexit campaign master- time of Covid-19 patients by (NIH) said last week that data change would be to allow those mind explained he wanted to drop four days. “This is probably from its trial of remdesivir who are isolated some more social off his four-year-old son at his the biggest step forward in showed that the drug off ers contact, and to reduce the most parent’s house in case both he and the treatment of coronavirus the most benefit for Covid-19 harmful eff ects of the current so- his wife became incapacitated. since the crisis began,” Health patients who need extra oxygen cial restrictions, while continuing But many in Britain remain un- Minister Matt Hancock told a but do not require mechanical to limit the risk of chains of trans- convinced. government news conference. ventilation. mission.” Number 10 special adviser Dominic Cummings arrives at Downing Street in central London yesterday. A YouGov poll taken after Cum-

Training session Harry, Meghan’s Frogmore Court to re-examine deal ‘due to Charles help’ actor’s convictions Guardian News and Media ing Stones and Riff-Raff. London Tomlinson, was jailed in 1973 DailyMail former frontline army offi cer. protection around the same time. for two years during a strike after London But the issue became a politi- The Sussexes are said to be pay- he was convicted of conspiring to cal football after the authorities in ing monthly instalments of almost he criminal convictions intimidate and aff ray. Canada, where they were living at £18,000 – a combination of rent of actor Ricky Tomlinson, He had taken part in the fi rst na- he Duke and Duchess of the time, made clear they would no for the property and an unspeci- Twho starred in the TV com- tional building workers’ strike in Sussex could aff ord to start longer support Britain in providing fi ed payment towards the building edy the Royle Family, are to be re- 1972 to improve wages and safety Tpaying off their £2.4mn bill round-the-clock protection after costs. examined by appeal court judges regimes on sites. for Frogmore Cottage only after the couple stood down as working Shedding light on the deal, a after an offi cial body suggested he Months after the strike ended, Prince Charles agreed to foot their royals. source told the Daily Mail: “They may have been unjustly jailed. 24 trade unionists were arrested astronomical security costs in the The Sussexes’ decision to fl ee to had fully expected that British Tomlinson and other trade un- and prosecuted for off ences in- US. LA, which made the situation even taxpayers would continue to foot ionists have been campaigning cluding unlawful assembly, con- Harry and Meghan pledged to more complicated and costly, saw the bill for their protection but for years to clear their names after spiracy to intimidate, aff ray and reimburse taxpayers for renovat- the home secretary step in, forcing then the rug was pulled from un- they were jailed during a strike in threatening behaviour while pick- ing their briefl y lived-in Windsor them to back down. der their feet and they had to ask the 1970s. eting. home, which they have insisted on That meant hiring private secu- Prince Charles to step in. That’s The Criminal Cases Review After a series of three trials keeping as a British base despite rity guards at an estimated cost of the reason why they are now able Commission, the public body that at Shrewsbury crown court in their move to Los Angeles, as part up to £4mn a year, which had not to start paying back the Queen and scrutinises alleged miscarriages Shropshire, they were convicted of their deal to quit as working roy- been budgeted for by the couple. the Crown Estate, who met the of justice, yesterday announced of sentences ranging from three als. As a result, they had to ask cost of the building work out of it had asked the court of appeal to years’ to three months’ imprison- But they were left apparently Prince Charles to bear the cost of public funds.” review the cases of Tomlinson and ment suspended for two years. cash-strapped after being unex- their security if they were to have The source also claimed the others. For years, campaigners have pectedly stripped of their Metro- any chance of clearing their Frog- couple’s fi nal bills soared be- Tomlinson, 80, said it was “good been seeking to clear the names politan Police security team fol- more debt. cause they included costly de- news” and an opportunity to prove of the convicted – who became lowing their decision to relocate The couple are already being signs for work that wasn’t even that he and 23 other men were known as the Shrewsbury 24 – as to North America earlier this year, heavily funded by the future king carried out. prosecuted in what amounted to they believed that they were per- says a source. for the fi rst year of their new life “One of the biggest costs at a politically motivated attack on secuted in an attempt to suppress Harry, in particular, had be- until they start earning their own Frogmore was that they fl ew in a the trade union movement by the trade unionists at a time of in- lieved “up until the very last income. designer from the US to design the government, police and managers. creasing workers’ militancy. minute” that he would be al- Recently it was reported that garden,” the source revealed. Meg- He worked as a plasterer in The CCRC has decided to ask lowed to keep them because of the couple began paying back the han also wanted a tennis court. Mountain biker Bernard Kerr trains in the woods near his the construction industry be- the appeal court to re-examine the his position in the order of suc- money spent on Frogmore in April. There are already tennis courts home in Liphook, Britain, yesterday. fore becoming well-known as cases of 14 of those convicted after cession and the threat to him as a They gave up their Met Police nearby in Home Park. an actor in films such as Rain- investigating their claims. Gulf Times Wednesday, May 27, 2020 9 EUROPE

ART AUCTION PARLEY TECH SPEC TOURISM POLITICS Asterix creator leaves Kosovo rejects EU eff orts in Russia starts building Rome’s Colosseum Senate panel rejects new drawings to hospitals dialogue with Serbia first stealth bomber to reopen on June 1 migrant trial for Salvini

Four original drawings by the creator of Asterix Kosovo President Hashim Thaci said yesterday Russia has begun building a prototype of its first Italy’s most popular tourist attraction, the Italian far-right opposition leader Matteo the Gaul sold yesterday for nearly 400,000 euros he would not take part in talks on normalising stealth bomber which should be completed next Colosseum in Rome, will reopen on June 1 Salvini should not face a new trial on migrant to benefit Paris hospitals. Albert Uderzo, who ties with Serbia led by an European Union special year, the state-controlled TASS news agency after nearly three months of closure due to kidnapping charges, a Senate committee invented the plucky hero who gleefully took on mediator, calling instead for an increased US role in reported yesterday, citing two sources in the the novel coronavirus pandemic. The last few said yesterday in a non-binding vote. Seven Roman legions, died from heart failure linked to the dialogue. Kosovo declared independence from military-industrial complex. When completed and months, in which the Colosseum and the Roman senators voted for a trial, 13 against and three the coronavirus in March at the age of 92. His Serbia in 2008, almost a decade after a guerrilla operational, the new plane will be able to carry an Forum were “wrapped in a surreal silence, walked out before the vote, committee chair widow Ada said the charity auction was a way uprising by its ethnic Albanian majority, and agreed array of advanced missiles and bombs, including diff icult to accept,” have been “very diff icult,” Maurizio Gasparri, himself opposed to a trial, of thanking “our new heroes who have resisted to an EU-sponsored dialogue with Belgrade in hypersonic weapons, TASS said. The aircraft, known the Colosseum Archaeological Park said in a told reporters. The vote went Salvini’s way the invader,” a reference to the virus that has 2013 to resolve all outstanding issues. Thaci said as the PAK DA, will compete with the US B-2 strategic statement yesterday. Visitors to the Colosseum because three senators from Italy Alive, the killed more than 28,000 people in France. The he would join any meetings organised by German stealth bomber which entered service in 1997. China will now have to book in advance, wear a mask pro-government party of former premier Matteo four original cartoons sold for 390,000 euros Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President is also developing its own stealth bomber — the Xian and have their body temperature scanned at the Renzi, decided to abstain at the last minute. ($426,000), the auction house Artcurial told AFP. Emmanuel Macron. More than 110 countries have H-20. Russia has already developed its own stealth entrance, and will be admitted every 15 minutes, However, the full chamber has yet to vote on the The drawings were donated to the Paris hospitals recognised Kosovo’s statehood including its biggest fighter, the Sukhoi-57. It first flew in 2010 but has yet in groups of up to 14. The Colosseum and the case, and has no obligation to follow the opinion trust by the artist’s widow and daughter. political and financial backer the United States. to be manufactured in large numbers. Roman Forum closed on March 8. of the committee.

Swedes fret over curbs 10 days of mourning for in Nordic reopening

Reuters virus victims in Spain Stockholm AFP/Reuters ing the decision ignored the chain of xcluding Sweden from moves to Madrid command. open borders across the Nordic The opposition has called for the Eregion as it recovers from the resignation of Grande-Marlaska for coronavirus pandemic would be a po- pain is to hold 10 days of offi - interfering in the investigation. litical decision and not justifi able on cial mourning for victims of the They accused him of trying to paper health grounds, Foreign Minister Ann Scoronavirus epidemic that has so over the issue by announcing a pay rise Linde said yesterday. far claimed more than 27,000 lives, the for police at his news briefi ng. The pay With many European countries government said yesterday. rise had been approved by the previous looking to ease travel restrictions ahead The mourning period is to begin to- centre-right government. of the summer, there are concerns else- day when all fl ags on public buildings “It is an insult to the Guardia Civil where in the Nordic region that allow- will be lowered to half-mast in a coun- and to the rule of law that (Prime Min- ing Swedish tourists in could increase try that has suff ered one of the most ister Pedro) Sanchez covers the sack- the risk of new infections. More than deadly outbreaks of the virus. ing of the person responsible for the 4,000 Swedes have died from Cov- Writing on Twitter, Spanish Prime investigation of the alleged March 8 id-19, nearly four times the combined Minister Pedro Sanchez said it would off ences with that pay hike,” tweeted total of the other Nordic countries. be “10 days, the longest period of Pablo Casado, head of the conservative Still, Linde said the disease had mourning in our democracy, in which People’s Party. “We demand immedi- mostly hit the capital with border we will all express our sorrow and pay ate responsibility,” he wrote. areas such as Skane, in the far south, homage to those who have died.” Spain’s Labour Ministry yesterday much less aff ected. Sweden media The mourning period was approved said about 30,000 more pensioners have raised concerns that Swedes at yesterday’s cabinet meeting, and dropped off the state system in the first could be excluded as curbs on travel government spokeswoman Maria Jesus four months of this year than in the are relaxed, both in the Nordic region Montero said there would also be a cer- previous year as the coronavirus hit and elsewhere in Europe. emony to honour the victims presided the country. News that Cyprus will not permit over by King Felipe VI. A total of 205,638 pensioners left the direct fl ights from Sweden when it “Eight out of 10 victims were older state rolls from January through April opens up on June 9, but will allow in than 70, they were those who helped in 2020, ministry data showed. fl ights from Norway, Denmark and build the country that we know today. The ministry attributed the higher Finland, was widely reported with We will honour their lives as is fi tting number of people in part to the coro- public service broadcaster SVT run- with an offi cial ceremony,” she said, navirus epidemic. ning the headline “Swedes barred without specifying a date. “We have to take into account how when Cyprus opens up”. Spain said yesterday the virus had so Healthcare workers protest, calling for a reinforced healthcare system, outside the Gregorio Maranon hospital in Madrid. the Covid-19 pandemic has infl uenced Sweden, which has not closed its far claimed 27,117 lives in the country, the death rate of the overall population borders to neighbours, opted against out of more than 236,000 cases. Government spokeswoman punishment for criticising the gov- El Pais daily reported that the police and, most of all, the elders,” the minis- the hard lockdowns imposed by other The health ministry had on Monday Maria Jesus Montero said adjust- ernment during an investigation into force had sent a report to the court, try said in a statement. Nordic countries and has kept most revised down the death toll by nearly ing the methodology could distort a decision to approve a rally in March blaming government health emergen- The total fi gure was 30,000 more schools, bars and restaurants open. 2,000 following a change in the system statistical analyses, but that the that may have helped spread the coro- cy coordinator Fernando Simon for the than in the same period in 2019, and Linde said the European Union had of gathering data. new system was necessary to track navirus. decision to allow the rally. 25,000 more than the average between emphasised that countries should not Meanwhile, Spain’s Health Minis- the disease’s progress through the A court is looking into the decision Opposition parties have accused the 2015 and 2019, according to the Labour discriminate when opening borders. try yesterday defended changes to its population. to hold the March 8 Women’s Day rally government of fi ring Perez de los Co- Ministry’s data. “It is a very complicated issue, and methodology for recording coronavi- “It is absolutely essential for us to in Madrid, which was allowed to go bos in retaliation for that report. State pensioners statistics include I think that all politicians in every rus data that have led to wild fl uctua- know today how this disease is being ahead just days before Spain went into At a news briefi ng, Interior Minis- retired people as well as widows and country should also look at the long tions in daily statistics and provoked transmitted,” she told a news confer- lockdown to slow the spread of the vi- ter Fernando Grande-Marlaska denied orphans. Generally about 90% of those term eff ect before they take very po- sharp criticism by opposition parties. ence. rus. that the investigation played a role in who drop out of the system are retired litically motivated decisions,” she said. Health Emergency Co-ordinator Pablo Casado, leader of the main Some epidemiologists say the rally the decision to replace Perez de los Co- or widowed people who do so as they The Danish government is in talks Fernando Simon attributed the diff er- conservative opposition People’s Par- played a major role in spreading the vi- bos, which he described as a “a change die. with neighbouring countries about ence to old cases, which were included ty, accused the government of hiding rus, although the government disputes of teams, a natural replacement proc- At the same time fewer pensioners reopening borders and is scheduled retrospectively as authorities adjust to the true death toll and said the tweak- this. ess based on confi dence.” enrolled in the system during the peri- to announce a plan this week. a new tracking system and check back ing showed “an intolerable lack of re- On Monday, the minority left-wing Guardia Civil second-in-command od, though the ministry attributed that “I certainly don’t think that we over historical data provided by regions. spect.” administration removed the head of for all of Spain, Lt Gen Laurentino mostly to the lockdown that led to the should wait opening the border with “The process is going to continue for Earlier, the government denied that the Guardia Civil police in Madrid, Col Cena, yesterday quit in protest over closure of all pension system offi ces in Germany until we can justify opening several days,” he said. it had sacked a senior police offi cial as Diego Perez de los Cobos. the sacking of Perez de los Cobos, say- the country. the border with Sweden,” Jakob Elle- man-Jensen, the leader of the oppo- sition Liberal Party, said this month. “If it isn’t safe from a health per- spective to open the border with Sweden, Swedes should stay at home Fresh defections hit Macron parliamentary majority in pandemic while we let in the Germans.” Norway is considering whether to lift restrictions on travellers from AFP Macron’s Republic on the Move France’s National Assembly, a record with 314 MPs, following 2017 parlia- was not in opposition and would “sup- the Nordic region. Border controls in Paris (LREM) last week lost its parliamen- number in modern France. mentary elections in the wake of Ma- port the action of the president” and be Finland are in place until June 14. tary majority after 17 MPs defected, They said the new faction — while cron’s rise to power. a “third pillar of the majority” along- Interior Minister Maria Ohisalo although offi cials insisted the party remaining loyal to the LREM — would However, the majority has been side LREM and MoDem. said this month travel restrictions even French MPs yesterday quit will have no problem pushing through be “agile” and in a position to shake steadily eroded, a process that has A government source said the Act could be lifted for some of its neigh- President Emmanuel Macron’s legislation. things up after the coronavirus passes. sped up in recent weeks even though Together faction would be “absolutely bours, but called Sweden’s epidemic Sparty to join a new formation in The seven latest MPs to leave will The move lowers the number of the LREM still retains the support of loyal to the majority and a supplemen- situation “worrying”. The govern- parliament, dealing a fresh blow to the join a new faction called “Agir En- LREM MPs in the chamber to 281, the centrist MoDem faction. tary pillar”. Prime Minister Edouard ment has told Swedes not to travel majority after several other lawmakers semble” (Act Together), which will be short of the absolute majority of 289. The head of the new faction, Olivier Philippe had criticised the move at an abroad until at least July 15 unless ab- defected last week. the 10th parliamentary grouping in The party enjoyed a wide majority, Becht, insisted that the new formation online meeting with LREM MPs. solutely necessary. Putin orders WWII parade in June as Russia passes virus peak

By Maria Panina, AFP up. ple had recovered from the coro- II — will be held on July 26, Putin The government’s handling Moscow “We will do it on June 24, the navirus in the past 24 hours. said. of the virus crisis has come un- day the legendary historic vic- Russia has the third-highest Russian naval bases will also der fi re, with critics saying Putin tors’ parade took place in 1945,” number of cases after the United stage nautical displays for the initially appeared uninterested in ussia has passed its peak Putin said, referring to the fi rst States and Brazil, which offi cials public that day, he said. dealing with the pandemic. of coronavirus infections, victory parade in Red Square af- say is due in large part to a mas- Putin has made clear he be- Many slammed his govern- RPresident Vladimir Putin ter Germany’s surrender to So- sive testing campaign. lieves Russia has overcome the ment for refusing to provide said yesterday, ordering a World viet commanders on May 9. Authorities have been eas- worst of the epidemic. Russians with tangible support War II victory parade postponed With leaders including China’s ing lockdowns despite the high On Monday, he made a rare packages. by the pandemic to be held next Xi Jinping and Emmanuel Ma- number of infections, though re- Kremlin appearance during lock- One survey by independent month. cron of France set to attend, this strictions remain in place in hard- down, after working remotely pollster Levada showed Putin’s The postponement of the May year’s parade had been meant to hit Moscow until at least May 31. from his residence outside Mos- approval rating falling to a his- 9 Victory Day parade had been showcase Russia’s return to the Putin said “strict safety meas- cow for the past few weeks. toric low of 59% in April. a blow to Putin, who had hoped world stage. ures” would need to be put in The pandemic derailed Putin’s Critics said it was inappropri- to gather world leaders to watch Putin was forced to announce place for the parade. plans for a triumphant spring, ate for Russia to hold celebratory troops march on Red Square to its delay in mid-April as corona- “The risks for all participants with not only the parade post- parades in the current circum- celebrate 75 years since the defeat virus infections surged and of- should be minimised, or even poned but also an April vote on stances. of Nazi Germany. fi cials ordered lockdowns across better, eliminated,” he said. constitutional reforms that could “An upsurge (of infections) But with the number of new the country. The leaders of Kazakhstan and have paved the way for the long- A May 9, 2019 file photo of soldiers marching through Red Square after this is inevitable,” tweeted coronavirus cases declining After peaking in mid-May at Moldova confi rmed they will at- time leader to potentially stay in during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow. Anastasia Vasilyeva, the head of steadily, Putin told Defence Min- more than 11,000 new cases per tend the parade. power until 2036. the Doctors’ Alliance, an inde- ister Sergei Shoigu to reschedule day, the number of daily infec- Another popular event usually Offi cials have said they still Stanovaya suggested the Krem- “It would be logical to organise pendent medical workers’ union. the parade for June 24. tions has dropped below 9,000. held on May 9 — the Immortal hope the vote can be held this lin could stage the constitutional the constitutional referendum “And this comes as people “According to experts, the Yesterday, the country record- Regiment processions that see year but have yet to announce a vote soon after the parade to ben- immediately after the military don’t have enough money to feed peak can be considered passed,” ed its highest daily death toll of Russians carry photographs of date. efi t from a possible mood of pa- parade, that is on July 1 or 8,” said themselves and their children or Putin told Shoigu in a video link- 174 and said a record 12,000 peo- relatives who died in World War Political analyst Tatyana triotism. Stanovaya. to pay off loans.” Gulf Times 10 Wednesday, May 27, 2020 INDIA

POLITICS WEATHER FOOD POISONING CRIME PEOPLE Priyanka slams arrest of Ministry issues flood 40 children taken ill 10 out of 100 who looted Man who claimed to live Congress party leader alert for Assam after eating street food fish farm in Kerala arrested without food, water dies

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, The Central Water Commission (CWC) of the Jal As many as 40 children were taken ill after eating Ten people, including eight women, out of the A religious leader whose claims he spent yesterday termed the arrest of Uttar Pradesh Shakti ministry yesterday issued a flood alert street food in Adilabad town of Telangana, off icials 100 accused of looting a fish farm at Thuravoor decades without food or water earned him a Congress chief Ajay Kumar Lallu as “undemocratic for the Brahmaputra river in three districts of said. The children, aged 5-10 years, are undergoing near Alappuzha, Kerala, were arrested yesterday, band of devotees and the scepticism of doctors and a violation of humanitarian principle”. She Assam. The meteorological department had treatment at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical police said. The incident took place last died yesterday, his neighbour said. The long- demanded that he be released immediately. earlier yesterday also warned of extremely Sciences (RIMS) in the town, about 300km from Wednesday when about 100 people reached haired and bearded Prahlad Jani hailed from “Throwing him into prison on baseless charges heavy rainfall in Assam, Meghalaya and Hyderabad. RIMS director Balram Banoth said the paddy fields where the fish farm run by K Charada village in Gujarat, where he spent his life during a pandemic reveals the undemocratic and Arunachal Pradesh. Parts of Assam and the condition of two children was serious but J Michael was located. “Following a complaint, in a routine of yoga and mediation. He was 90 opportunistic mindset of the Yogi government,” neighbouring states have been receiving under control. According to police, the children we started a probe and yesterday arrested 10 based on his claim that he was born in August Priyanka tweeted. “We demand justice for him heavy rains since the super cyclone Amphan in Khurshid Nagar and Sundarayya Nagar areas people. A majority of those who took away the 1929. “He died early yesterday morning at his and will continue to fight until it’s delivered,” she weakened last week. According to the Central had the snack from a pushcart vendor. They soon fish were women,” a police off icer said. “The mob residence due to old age,” Sheetal Chaudhary, said and also tweeted a video clip showing Lallu Water Commission, flood warnings have been started vomiting and suff ered diarrhoea. They who did this are locals. Michael’s right hand was who lived next door to Jani, said. “He was rushed providing help to migrants. “Having lived a life of sounded in Jorhat, Sonitpur, and Baksa districts. were rushed to the hospital. By 11pm, the number paralysed following an accident and in 2018, he to hospital after midnight, but was declared dead struggle, Lallu knows well the suff ering of displaced Mahesh Palawat of Skymet Weather, a private of ill children increased to 40. The vendor was took to fish farming at a leased paddy field at on arrival by the doctors there.” Jani’s body was and marginalised people. He has fought for them weather forecasting agency, said that the threat selling the snacks in violation of the lockdown Thuravoor, which is basically a fishing hamlet,” taken to Ambaji, a town where he had built a steadfastly throughout his career,” tweeted Priyanka. will loom over Assam till May 28. restrictions, said municipal off icials. the off icer said. small ashram. Rahul looks to defl ect criticism over virus spike in Maharashtra

IANS eray had failed to handle the Cov- New Delhi id-19 pandemic crisis in the state. Rane’s demand came days af- ter opposition leader Devendra mid allegations of mis- Fadnavis called on Koshyari and handling the Covid crisis complained that the Thackeray Ain Maharashtra by op- government had bungled in han- position leaders who even de- dling the coronavirus crisis. manded dismissal of the state The governor followed it up government, Congress leader with a review meeting of the cri- Rahul Gandhi claimed his party sis in which Thackeray excused was not a key player in running himself but sent close confi dante the state government. Milind Narvekar. The Congress is part of “Maha A couple of days later, Ko- Vikas Aghadi” and holds key shyari raised strong objections ministries but Rahul said, “we to a letter written by Minister of are only supporting the govern- Higher and Technical Education, A migrant worker carrying his father on his back stands in a queue to get themselves registered for a train to their home state of Uttar Pradesh, during an extended lockdown to ment and are not a ‘key player’ in Uday Samant, to the UGC rec- slow the spreading of the coronavirus, in New Delhi yesterday. the state”. ommending cancellation of fi nal Rahul, however, defended year university examinations, the state government and said which the governor pointed out Mumbai being a well connected was against guidelines. state was the reason for Covid This was followed by Sena MP cases rising here. Sanjay Raut calling on the gover- Rahul asserted that the party nor, and a day later, Thackeray an- is doing better where ever it was nounced that the lockdown imple- running its own government. mented suddenly was not proper, Centre, states get court Rahul’s statement could be a and lifting it abruptly would be setback for the MVA government detrimental to the people. in Maharashtra where hectic po- Meanwhile, Union Com- litical parleys have been going on merce and Railway Minister in the past few days. Piyush Goyal yesterday once Nationalist Congress Party again urged the Maharashtra chief Sharad Pawar on Monday government to co-operate with notice on migrant crisis met the governor. Howvever, all the railways for operating the speculations were rejected by Shiv Shramik Special trains. Goyal’s IANS are required to redeem the situ- these migrant labourers,” said which they proceeded on foot, and all states/Union Territories, Sena MP Sanjay Raut yesterday. remarks came after only 13 trains New Delhi ation”, said a bench comprising the top court. cycles or other modes of trans- the top court asked them to sub- Tongues started wagging af- departed from the state due to a Justices Ashok Bhushan, S K The top court said it has also port”, said the apex court. mit their responses looking into ter Pawar met governor Bhagat lack of passengers. Kaul and M.R. Shah. received several letters and rep- Issuing notice to the Centre the urgency of the matter. Singh Koshyari at the Raj Bha- In a series of tweets, Goyal he Supreme Court yes- The bench posted the matter resentations from diff erent sec- van, in what was described by said, “On request of the Mahar- terday took suo motu for hearing on May 28, and asked tions of society highlighting the Kerala diaspora asked to pay for quarantine both sides as a “courtesy call”. ashtra government, we arranged Tcognizance of problems the registry to serve a copy to the problem of migrant labourers. Accompanied by NCP law- 145 Shramik Special Trains yes- of migrant labourers who were solicitor general Tushar Mehta, “The crisis of migrant labourers Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi at their home for another maker Praful Patel, this was Pa- terday. These trains have been stranded in diff erent parts of the as well states and Union Terri- is continuing even today with Vijayan yesterday sparked off week. Expressing his strong war’s fi rst-ever meeting with the ready since morning. Fifty trains country during the nationwide tories. large sections still stranded on a row as he announced that resentment was senior Lok governor who was appointed in were to leave till 3pm but only 13 lockdown to contain Covid-19 The cognizance has been tak- roads, highways, railway sta- with the number of Covid-19 Sabha member and RSP leader September 2019, crowning a se- trains have done so due to lack of outbreak. en after several petitions were tions and state borders”, said the cases witnessing an upswing N K Premachandran, who said ries of recent political develop- passengers.” The Supreme Court said the fi led in the top court highlight- bench. with arrivals of Keralaites from that no one must forget the state ments in the state. “I request the Maharash- media reports have been contin- ing the plight of migrant workers Adequate transport arrange- abroad, they will now have to government had told the Kerala Later on Monday afternoon, tra government to co-operate uously showing the unfortunate during the Covid-19 crisis. ment, food and shelters are to pay for the quarantine. “The High Court that adequate rooms it was the turn of BJP leader and in ensuring that the distressed and miserable conditions of mi- “In the present situation of be immediately provided by the rates will be aff ordable to all,” are ready to keep the returning former chief minister Narayan migrants are able to reach their grant labourers walking on foot a lockdown in the entire coun- Centre and State Governments Vijayan said adding this new diaspora in quarantine, once they Rane to meet the governor. homes. The state government or cycling for long distances. try, this section of society needs free of costs, added the bench. paid quarantine would begin come back. “Vijayan has done Rane reportedly demanded must ensure passengers reach “Although the government succour and help by govern- “They (migrants) have also from today. According to the a somersault. After just 11,000 the imposition of President’s the stations in time, and not of India and state governments ments, especially steps need to been complaining about not quarantine rules, all those who people have arrived things have rule in the state. cause further delays. Any delays have taken measures, there have be taken by the government of being provided food and water return from abroad have to gone haywire and was now Among other things, Rane will aff ect the entire network been inadequacies and certain India, state governments/union by the administration at places go for institutional quarantine asking the diaspora to pay,” said claimed the government headed and planning,” he said in another lapses. We are of the view that territories in this diffi cult situa- where they were stranded or for a week and then remain Premachandran. by Chief Minister Uddhav Thack- tweet. eff ective concentrated eff orts tion to extend a helping hand to on the way i.e. highways from

Locust attack New border roads, airstrips Snake carcass exhumed ‘sparked standoff with China’ in Kerala murder probe

IANS importance to circumstantial Reuters guarding the security of its na- “Xi Jinping’s China is the Thiruvananthapuram evidences and that’s a chal- New Delhi/Srinagar tional territorial sovereignty, as proponent of a hard line on lenge,” said Hari Sankar. well as safeguarding peace and all matters of territory, sover- The exhumed carcass of the stability in the China-India bor- eignty. India is no less when it Kerala Police team in- reptile will be examined by Himalayan border stand- der areas,” the Chinese foreign comes to these matters either,” vestigating the bizarre experienced veterinarians and off between India and ministry spokesperson’s offi ce she said. Amurder of a housewife forensic experts. AChina was triggered by said in a statement. After years of neglect Prime using a snake, exhumed the The one-year-old son of the former’s construction of “At present, the overall situ- Minister Narendra Modi’s gov- carcass of the reptile yesterday the couple was handed over to roads and airstrips in the re- ation in the border areas is sta- ernment has pushed for improv- and sent it for forensic exami- Uthara’s parents. gion as it competes with China’s ble and controllable. There are ing connectivity and by 2022, 66 nation. Suraj apparently had made spreading Belt and Road initia- sound mechanisms and chan- key roads along the Chinese bor- The incident took place several attempts using snakes tive, Indian observers said yes- nels of communication for bor- der will have been built. on May 6 when 25-year-old to kill Uthara. terday. der-related aff airs, and the two One of these roads is near the Uthara Suraj was killed. Her parents disclosed that Soldiers from both sides have sides are capable of properly re- Galwan valley that connects to On May 24, the police ar- the fi rst time she suff ered a been camped out in the Galwan solving relevant issues through Daulat Beg Oldi air base, which rested Uthara’s husband Suraj snake-bite was on March 2 at Valley in the high-altitude La- dialogue and consultation.” was inaugurated last October. and his associate Suresh, a her husband’s home in Adoor. dakh region, accusing each other There was no immediate In- “The road is very important professional snake catcher for After recovering, she had of trespassing over the disputed dian foreign ministry comment. because it runs parallel to the hatching a conspiracy to elimi- shifted to her parental home in border, the trigger of a brief but It said last week Chinese LAC and is linked at various nate her with a snake bite. Anchal. bloody war in 1962. troops had hindered regular In- points with the major supply The snake was later killed by Her parents fi led a com- About 80 to 100 tents have dian patrols along the Line of bases inland,” said Shyam Saran, Uthara’s parents. plaint on May 21 at the Anchal sprung up on the Chinese side Actual Control (LAC). another former foreign secre- Speaking to the media, Hari police station terming it an and about 60 on the Indian side But interviews with former tary. Sankar, Kollam (rural) super- unnatural death. where soldiers are billeted, of- Indian military offi cials and dip- “It remains within our side of intendent of police, said it was Last Saturday, the Crime fi cials briefed on the matter in lomats suggest the trigger for the the LAC. It is construction along a well-hatched plot and the Branch took Suraj, Suresh and a New Delhi and in Ladakh’s capi- fl are-up is India’s construction this new alignment which ap- case was a challenge for the relative of Uthara into custody. tal, Leh, said. of roads and airstrips. pears to have been challenged by probe team as could well be a According to the police, Both were digging defences “Today, with our infrastruc- the Chinese.” Swarms of locusts are seen atop a residential building in fi rst-of-its-kind case. Suresh had provided Suraj the and Chinese trucks have been ture reach slowly extending into China’s Belt and Road is a Jaipur, Rajasthan. Authorities are combating swarms of “There is no third person snakes. He fi rst provided a moving equipment into the area, areas along the LAC, the Chi- string of ports, railways, roads desert locusts that have been rampaging across parts involved at the place of the poisonous viper for Rs10,000. the offi cials said, raising con- nese threat perception is raised,” and bridges connecting China to of western and central India in the nation’s worst pest crime. Uthara died and then After the fi rst failed attempt, cerns of a long faceoff . said former foreign secretary Europe via central and southern infestation in nearly three decades, an official said. there is the accused. In cases Suresh supplied him a cobra “China is committed to safe- Nirupama Rao. Asia. like these there would be lot of for Rs10,000. Gulf Times Wednesday, May 27, 2020 11 LATIN AMERICA

8,000 more deaths in Mexico capital as coronavirus rages: study

Reuters They have also acknowledged Mexico City’s offi cial count “While studying excess deaths in April as both imports and ex- Imports other than oil, which Lopez Obrador said the novel Mexico City that the true death toll is higher, of deaths from the coronavirus allows us to identify a higher ports plummeted over the coro- account for 92% of the total, fell coronavirus could cost as many but diffi cult to estimate due to a represents just over 20% of the mortality rate during the Cov- navirus lockdown. by almost 28%. as a million jobs in the country as low testing rate. study’s “excess mortality” — a id-19 crisis, it is not suffi cient to Compared to April 2019, exports Oil-related imports were down many industries considered not exico’s capital regis- Software developer Mario term used by epidemiologists to attribute it directly or solely to fell by more than 40% to $23.4bn 53%. essential remain shut. tered 8,072 more deaths Romero Zavala and economic estimate the increase in deaths, the virus,” she said. with imports down 30% to Experts say the Mexican econ- The Mexican economy was Min the fi rst fi ve months consultant Laurianne Despeghel, versus normal conditions, at- A Reuters review of data from $26.5bn, the INEGI institute said. omy will suff er its worst contrac- already in recession before the this year than the average from whose analysis was published in tributable to a public health cri- 13 funeral homes in Mexico City Mexico declared a health tion in decades due to the coro- pandemic struck and diff erent the same period over the past Mexican magazine Nexos, tallied sis. showed that the excess mortality emergency at the end of March navirus pandemic. investment banks have forecast four years, an analysis by inde- 39,173 fatalities this year through Excess mortality is diffi cult to rate in the fi rst week of May could that suspended most commercial Central bank analysts expect contractions as large as 9% for pendent researchers showed, May 20 by extracting data from calculate in Mexico because the be at least 2.5 times higher than activity, except those deemed es- a GDP decline of 7.1% in 2020, this year with only a gradual re- suggesting a possible surge due Mexico City’s online database of most recent data on fatalities the government’s tally of deaths sential such as food production compared to a drop of 0.1% in covery next year. to the coronavirus. death certifi cates. from the national statistics insti- from the coronavirus during that and healthcare services. 2019. “My prediction is that with Health offi cials have reported Over the prior four years, they tute is from 2018. period. Exports of manufactured Mexico has recorded the sec- coronavirus, a million jobs will 1,655 deaths from the virus in calculated just 31,101 deaths on Despeghel said the analysis Earlier the state statistics in- goods, which normally make ond most deaths from Covid-19 be lost,” Lopez Obrador said in Mexico City, out of 7,394 deaths average during the same period, was only a fi rst step to measuring stitute said the country recorded up 96% of the total, fell by 39% in Latin America, after Brazil. a televised speech. “But we will nationwide. using the same database. the virus’ impact. a trade defi cit of more than $3bn while oil exports plunged 66%. President Andres Manuel create 2mn new jobs.” Medellin pushes ‘eco-city’ aims in coronavirus recovery

Thomson Reuters Foundation 1990s, when more than 100,000 Bogota young people lost their lives dur- ing the drug war,” said the mayor, who started his four-year term in s Colombia’s second city January. of Medellin prepares to But because of what Medellin Arevive its economy after has already lived through, he said the coronavirus pandemic, it si- he is “100% convinced” residents multaneously aims to cut carbon in the city of 2.5mn people will emissions by 20% by 2030 — and step up to dealing with the coro- it is focusing on transport. navirus — and climate change — City offi cials say they will ex- challenge. pand bike lanes by almost 50% “This crisis, and what’s been within three years, to 145kms, and happening, has been an urgent more than double the number of call for change once again,” the interconnected public transport 40-year-old said. lines, including overland trains, Covid-19 has exposed stark trams and cable car lines, to 26 by gaps between rich and poor in a 2030. city where half of residents work As well, the city is working in the informal sector earning to provide 50,000 electric bikes daily cash in hand, many as street that residents can rent cheaply — vendors and cleaners. Police off icers carrying seized evidence walk into the Federal Police headquarters in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, yesterday. and it aims to electrify all public “Today the virus is hitting low- transport by the end of the dec- income sectors, precisely those ade. that were hard hit by the violence “Medellin has a history of rein- of the 80’s and 90’s. And it’s for venting itself, of having deep re- this reason we understand this as silience,” mayor Daniel Quintero an urgent call for a new transfor- said. mation,” Quintero said. “I’m really convinced that in The transformation he envi- Police raid Rio governor’s 10 years time, it’s going to be very sions involves Medellin becoming unusual for someone to buy a die- an “eco-city” that is better con- sel car,” he said. nected, greener and more tech- Medellin is one of dozens of smart, Quintero said. cities around the world aiming to It’s an approach that builds on use a post-lockdown economic previous decades of experience residences amid virus probe restart to simultaneously boot- that have earned the mountain- strap environmental measures. fl anked city awards and a reputa- Reuters In a statement, Witzel said he The two have clashed in re- looking into alleged irregularities ministry document, the funds From using stimulus funds to tion as an urban innovation pio- Rio de Janeiro was innocent, and accused Bol- cent weeks over how to tackle the related to hospitals set up to treat would be used in part for an ex- install electric vehicle charging neer. Consecutive mayors have sonaro of “interference” in the pandemic, and Bolsonaro views patients with the Covid-19 respi- pansion of the Bolsa Familia con- stations to reserving space once focused on urban renewal to im- probe. the former judge as a re-election ratory disease. ditional cash transfer programme limited for cars to pedestrians and prove gang-ridden slums, which razilian federal police yes- He said he was “surprised and rival. The police raided the Palacio for low income families and to cycling, the cities hope to save now feature new schools, pub- terday raided the residences outraged” to see social media posts The probe into Witzel also Laranjeiras, the governor’s offi cial cover unemployment benefi ts for cash and build resilience by fi ght- lic libraries, open-air gyms and Bof Rio de Janeiro governor that suggested the president’s al- comes just weeks after Bolsonaro residence, and his personal home workers who have had their con- ing the climate and virus crises landscaped parks. Wilson Witzel as part of a Cov- lies in Congress had prior knowl- changed the top offi cial at the fed- in the neighbourhood of Grajau. tracts suspended or work hours together. The city also has built a much- id-19 corruption probe, targeting edge of the operation, suggesting eral police amid an ugly political The search and seizure warrants reduced. “What’s been happening is copied cable car transport sys- one of President Jair Bolsonaro’s leaks and the “construction” of a scrap with former justice minister were issued by the Superior Court Brazil will seek $1bn each from triggering huge transformations tem that ferries residents up and political foes as the pandemic false narrative against him. Sergio Moro. of Justice (STJ), Brazil’s second the Inter-American Development within people and institutions in down hillsides, connecting slum sweeps the nation. “Congratulations to the federal A popular graft-fi ghting activ- highest court. Bank, the World Bank and the New general,” Quintero said. dwellers with the rest of the city. Two sources and a statement police,” Bolsonaro said in Brasilia ist, Moro resigned after accusing Earlier the government said it Development Bank of the BRICS In Medellin, offi cials are draw- Medellin’s post-Covid trans- from the federal police said the to reporters. “I just heard about it the president of trying to install his hopes to borrow $4bn from mul- group of leading emerging econo- ing on their experience of battling formation will focus on education search warrants were part of an in- on the news.” pick as the top Rio cop in order to tilateral lending organisations my nations. a past “pandemic” of rampant as a key pillar to drive change, vestigation into alleged corruption The president’s offi ce declined protect his family from investiga- to fi nance expenses related to Another $420 million would drug violence to confront new with the aim of preparing stu- involving the use of public money to comment. tions. the coronavirus crisis, including be requested from the German challenges, Quintero said. dents for jobs with a digital and destined to fi ght the coronavirus The latest in a long line of Rio Police were serving 12 search emergency supplementary pay- development bank KfW, $350mn “We’ve had to lift ourselves tech focus, backed by “historic” pandemic in Rio de Janeiro state. state governors to be snared in cor- and seizure warrants, the police ments and other social support from the Andean Development up after the worst pandemic that levels of investment in schools, No arrest warrants were issued, ruption probes, Witzel is a former- statement said. programmes. Corporation and $240mn from the was the violence of the 1980s and Quintero said. a source said. ally-turned-foe of Bolsonaro. The sources said the probe is According to an economy French Development Agency. Virus forces LATAM Media to boycott airline into bankruptcy Bolsonaro residence Guardian News and Media decide that its professionals will Brasilia no longer work there,” Brazil’s largest media group said in a state- Reuters Latin American governments, as well. A source close to Latam’s ment. Santiago many under severe budget con- negotiations in Brazil said that ome of Brazil’s top news or- Bolsonaro’s third son, Eduardo, straints themselves, have been bailout talks were continuing. ganisations are to suspend who is the representative of Steve reluctant to bail out their key air- Delta Air Lines last year paid Sreporting from outside the Bannon’s far-right The Movement hile’s LATAM Airlines lines, in contrast to the US and $1.9bn for a 20% stake during bet- presidential residence. in South America – regularly at- Group fi led for US bank- Europe. ter times for the industry, becom- The decision follows months of tacks what he calls the “extrema Cruptcy protection yester- Most recently, Germany bailed ing one of the largest shareholders verbal attacks on reporters outside imprensa” (extreme press). On day, becoming the world’s largest out Lufthansa for a 20% stake. in the company. the Palacio da Alvorada in Brasília Monday, the president suggested carrier so far to seek an emergency Chile’s Economy Minister Lucas LATAM laid off 1,800 employ- by hardcore supporters of Presi- Brazil’s overseas image was be- reorganisation due to the corona- Palacios said yesterday he would ees out of over 40,000 in the lead- dent Jair Bolsonaro. ing damaged by a left-wing media virus pandemic. not rule out a bailout, although he up to its bankruptcy fi ling. The harassment reached new conspiracy, after the British Daily The fi ling highlights the fi nan- did not propose one. “This path represents the best heights on Monday as journalists Telegraph described him as “the cial weakness of Latin America’s “Lufthansa’s case is completely option,” chief executive Roberto were subjected to a vicious torrent man who broke Brazil” because of carriers and follows a similar diff erent,” Palacios said.”LATAM is Alvo said in a statement regarding of abuse from Bolsonaristas, with his handling of the Covid-19 crisis. bankruptcy reorganisation earlier an international airline, its shares bankruptcy. footage showing reporters being “Trump suff ers a lot with this,” this month by its main rival, Co- trade in the US.” LATAM is an instantly recognis- called scum, rats, extortionists, Bolsonaro said. lombia’s Avianca Holdings. In a separate statement, Chile’s able brand for South Americans, rogues and crooks. Politicians from across the po- But unlike Avianca, which ex- fi nance ministry said LATAM is a dominating international air travel “Communist, sellout media. litical spectrum condemned the perienced management turmoil “strategic company for Chile” and in the region, as well as a leading Bunch of crooks,” one man shout- Bolsonarian attacks on the media. and losses, Chile’s LATAM posted that the government would “con- domestic fl ight operator in Brazil, ed. The news organisations with- Alessandro Molon, a member of profi ts for the last four consecutive sider” how it could contribute to Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Peru drawing journalists include the the Brazilian Socialist party who years totalling more than $700mn. LATAM’s bankruptcy reorganisa- and Ecuador. television broadcasters Globo and is leader of the opposition in the LATAM, which has about $1.3bn tion. In addition to Brazil, subsidiar- Band, the radio station CBN, the chamber of deputies, told Folha of cash on hand, recently approved In Brazil, LATAM has been ne- ies in Argentina and Paraguay are websites G1 and Metropoles and a de Sao Paulo: “This just shows the a dividend payment, in contrast gotiating a bailout of up to 2bn also not part of the bankruptcy trio of leading newspapers – Valor extent to which Bolsonaro remain- to other carriers that have halted reais ($367.45mn) that has yet to process. Economico, O Globo and Folha de ing in the presidency threatens our payouts amid the crisis. materialise. LATAM said it raised up to Sao Paulo. democracy and our fundamental LATAM said it would continue LATAM’s Brazil unit is not part $900mn to support operations “The lack of security for its rights, such as freedom of expres- to fl y through its bankruptcy re- of the bankruptcy, and the compa- through its bankruptcy reorgani- People line up to enter a market amid the outbreak of the coronavirus journalists outside the Palacio da sion. What we are witnessing is structuring. ny said it might fi le for bankruptcy sation from major shareholders. disease in La Paz, Bolivia. Alvorada has led Grupo Globo to very serious.” Gulf Times 12 Wednesday, May 27, 2020 PAKISTAN

Airbus Minister assures transparent team arrives to assist in probe into PIA plane crash probe Internews have compiled the investigation Islamabad report in shortest possible time DPA and made the fi ndings public to Islamabad fi x the responsibility of loss of nterior Minister Ijaz Ah- precious human lives. mad Shah has assured that a He said the Prime Minis- team of experts from air- Itransparent investigation will ter believes that the entire na- craft manufacturer Airbus be conducted into Karachi plane tion is in a state of shock and in Ayesterday arrived in Paki- crash as per the instructions of such a situation, manoeuvring stan to assist authorities inves- Prime Minister Imran Khan. to safeguard personal interests tigating the plane crash in the He made the remarks during is tantamount to rub salt on the southern city of Karachi that killed his visit to the residence of late wounds of bereaved families. 97 people on Friday, offi cials said. pilot Sajjad Gul in Lahore where The PIA spokesperson urged the “Airbus has sent an 11-mem- he condoled with the bereaved public to stay away from the evils of ber team of experts to provide family. self-styled experts and rioters and technical assistance to aircraft The minister said the country not to believe the fake news spread accident investigation board,” lost national assets in the form of on social media. An investigative said Abdullah Hafeez Khan, precious lives in the plane crash. 11-member team of French experts spokesperson for the Pakistan He said the death of Captain Saj- visited the crash site of PIA fl ight International Airlines (PIA). jad Gul is a major loss not only to PK-8303 yesterday to ascertain the Khan said PIA would help “the the PIA but the entire country. causes of the incident. board and the Airbus team to as- The Aircraft Accident Investi- On this occasion, offi cials of Air- certain the real cause of crash.” gation Board has started investi- craft Accident Investigation Board The team will inspect the runway gation into the plane crash. gave a detailed briefi ng to the team. and visit the crash site from where According to the spokesper- authorities had already stopped re- son of PIA, the investigation moving the aircraft’s debris. team has started process of col- DNA samples of 52 Flight data recorder and black lecting evidences from the site victims collected box will also be handed over to of crash to ascertain the cause of the experts for examination. the crash. The Punjab Forensic Sci- An Airbus A320 operated by the He said out of 97 dead bod- ence Agency (PFSA) collected PIA crashed into a narrow resi- ies of the crash victims, 41 have DNA samples of 52 victims of dential street moments before its been handed over to their rela- the ill-fated PK8303 fl ight, scheduled landing at Jinnah Inter- tives for burial while identifi ca- a day after Sindh govern- national Airport on Friday. tion process of the rest of the ment refused to let the agency Two passengers survived and no dead bodies is underway. collect them. deaths were reported on ground, The spokesperson said survey PFSA director general Mu- A girl lights candle as other carry placards in Islamabad yesterday, during a vigil for the victims of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) though over two dozen houses has also been initiated to assess hamed Tahir Ashraf confi rmed plane crash in Karachi on May 22. were damaged in the crash. the damage caused to houses, that the agency had collected Survivor Muhamed Zubair vehicles and other property for DNA samples from Karachi and rachi University said that sam- chuho had said that Sindh had rived from Punjab had come to The PIA Airbus A-320 jet told a local TV station that the compensation purposes. returned to Lahore. ples from 67 victims of the PIA its own Forensic/Genome Lab investigate the aircraft specifi cs, with 99 people onboard, of plane’s fi rst attempt at land- The PIA spokesman said that “DNA samples of 52 de- plane crash have been provided at Karachi University where the not the bodies. whom two miraculously sur- ing failed and it crashed as it at- the prime minister wants utmost ceased individuals and their by their families. DNA sampling of all the uniden- “Sindh is capable of conduct- vived, had crashed into a tempted a second one. transparency into the investiga- families have been obtained,” The PFSA had reached Ka- tifi ed plane crash victims will ing the DNA sampling and the crowded residential area af- Pakistan resumed domestic tions of plane crash and will not he confi rmed. “We will start rachi to obtain DNA samples take place. Governor [Imran Ismail] should ter twice trying to land at the fl ights on May 15 after a corona- allow any group or organisation releasing DNA reports after after orders from the Punjab “We also have a lab at Liaquat not politicise such a tragedy by airport on Friday. The actual virus lockdown. to infl uence the probe. Wednesday.” government on Saturday University Jamshoro,” Pechuho giving out statements without reason for the crash remains International air travel re- In a statement, he said the On the other hand, Sindh Fo- Minister for Health and Popu- had said. having complete knowledge,” she unknown as investigations mains banned until the end of prime minister also wishes to rensic and DNA Laboratory Ka- lation Welfare Azra Fazal Pe- She said that the team that ar- said. remain underway. this month.

PM and Turkey Ready for ride president discuss Five virus patients die, virus situation

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has stressed on 573 new cases in Sindh the need for a comprehensive co-ordinated plan of action on debt relief and restructuring to stave off socio-economic Internews has risen to 374 as fi ve more per- the total tally to 8,515. “Our re- turbulence in the face of Karachi sons passed away due to the vi- covery ratio from coronavirus is economic repercussions due rus in a single day. Murad added 37%,” he disclosed. to Covid-19. that at present, 248 patients Giving the district-wise He expressed these views during ive Covid-19 patients died were in critical condition out break-up, CM Murad said that telephonic conversation with over the past 24 hours as of which 49 have been put on out of the 573 new cases, 467 Turkish President Recep Tayyip F573 new cases of the virus ventilators. belonged to Karachi. One hun- Erdogan. emerged across the Sindh prov- He said that at present 14,618 dred and thirty-fi ve cases had The prime minister briefed ince, Chief Minister Sindh Syed patients were under treatment emerged from district East, 109 the Turkish president on the Murad Ali Shah said yesterday. out of which 12,931 or 88% Central, 94 South, 77 Korangi, 31 steps taken to control the According to a statement from were in self-isolation at home. Malir and 21 West. spread of coronavirus in the the chief minister, 2,327 samples At least 794 or 6% of the pa- Hyderabad reported 24 new country. were tested for the virus over tients are being treated at iso- cases, Shikarpur 12, Jacobabad He thanked President Erdogan the past 24 hours out of which lation centres and 893 or 6% in 11, Kashmore fi ve, Larkana four, for providing valuable medical 573 results came back positive diff erent hospitals. Sukkur three, Umerkot three, equipment, which was reflective at 24.6%. “This shows that home iso- Kambar two, Khairpur two, of historic linkages between the The government has tested lation is being preferred by the Dadu two and Sanghar one. two countries to help each other 161,628 samples so far which patients where government doc- The chief minister once again in times of need. A boatman stands next to his boat along the shores of the Kabul river at the deserted Sarderyaab, a have produced 23,507 positives tors take care of them through urged people to stay at their The two leaders agreed popular picnic spot, during the Eid-al-Fitr festival marking the end of the Islamic holy fasting month cases. As per the breakdown, phone,” said the chief minister. homes, avoid shaking hands and to enhance bilateral co- of Ramadan, after the government eased nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the 14.6% of the samples have tested Murad said that 542 patients crowding. ‘This is the only way operation against Covid-19 coronavirus, on the outskirts of Peshawar yesterday. positive so far. had recovered from the virus to contain the coronavirus,” he pandemic to jointly address The death toll in the province during the last 24 hours, taking said. the situation.

8 killed in PM aide laments violation of Sindh rejects rumours two road Covid-19 preventive measures accidents of considering curfew Internews “As we promised Mirza stated that Covid-19 has t least, eight people were Islamabad when we eased the now infected more than 5.5mn killed in two separate road people globally and killed nearly nternews “People who had of doctors in Sindh,” she added. Aaccidents in Khushab and lockdown, 350,000. Karachi The minister said that the Pattoki areas of Punjab province pecial Assistant to Paki- “But the characteristic of this recovered from the process of the plasma dona- yesterday. stani Prime Minister on if this trend disease is that a huge majority coronavirus should tion was taking place with the According to details, four fam- SHealth Dr Zafar Mirza continues we of the patients recover from it, relevant SOPs in place under ily members of a same family in- said yesterday that coronavi- therefore the good news is that he Sindh government has not step forward and the supervision of the Blood cluding two women when their rus cases and deaths were on may reimpose millions have also recovered and taken any decision to impose help the Sindh Transfusion Authority. car collided with train at railways the rise and urged citizens to strict lockdowns are now healthy,” he said. Ta curfew across the province, Wahab’s denial came a crossing in Habibabad area of follow government mandated He clarifi ed that most of the said Syed Murtaza Wahab. government by day after Special Assist- Pattoki. standard operating procedures after Eid” active cases in the country were The adviser to the chief min- donating plasma” ant to the Prime Minister on In another accident, four peo- (SOPs) against the virus, warn- mild and those patients were ister and Sindh government Health Dr Zafar Mirza hint- ple of a same family including ing that “strict lockdowns” cases were rising continuously. quarantining at home. He re- spokesperson rejected rumours ed that the government may two women and a two months could be reimposed across “Unfortunately, there is now quested them to stay at home on social media that the pro- to venture out of their homes move towards reimposing the old baby were killed when their the country if the trajectory this thinking among us that this and recuperate until they are vincial government had decided unnecessarily so that they re- lockdown after Eid. motor bike fell into Shahpur continued. disease [Covid-19] was only here tested negative. to impose a curfew in a bid to mained safe within the confi nes Mirza had warned that any Sadder Canal in Bakhar area. Lamenting that the govern- till Eid and that somehow it’ll “Unfortunately, there are 112 contain the coronavirus from of their residences. further negligence over the im- Rescue-1122 have recovered ment’s instructions and SOPs disappear after Eid. This is a huge patients intubated in Pakistan spreading faster in the province. Sindh Health Minister Azra plementation of the standard op- the dead bodies. to control the spread of the vi- misunderstanding. right now. These patients are “News on social media about Pechuho said that Covid-19 was erating procedures (SOPs) could Meanwhile, Punjab Chief rus were not being followed, the “I want to warn Pakistanis critically ill and are fi ghting for [imposition of] curfew are spreading in the province at an worsen the situation as the daily Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar prime minister’s aide said, “As that if you don’t take precau- their lives at this very moment.” wrong,” he said. “People should alarming rate. She urged people who number of cases skyrocketed. has expressed deep sense of grief we promised when we eased the tionary measures, this crisis Mirza said, as he warned that the not lend an ear to misleading had recovered from the coronavirus He had said that the govern- and sorrow over loss of precious lockdown, if this trend contin- could turn into a huge tragedy. number of critically ill patients in news,” he added. to step forward and help Sindh gov- ment will assess the situation human lives in tragic accidents. ues we may reimpose strict lock- “I urge the nation to act with the country was also rising fast. He advised people to play ernment by donating plasma. after Eid and make a decision on Director General Rescue Pun- downs after Eid.” extreme responsibility to curb the He said the spread of the virus their part in stemming the “We urgently require plas- reimposing the lockdown, which jab Rizwan Naseer expressed Noting that there was this spread of the virus. The cases are could only be halted by staying at spread of the coronavirus and ma to save lives of Covid-19 was relaxed earlier this month. concern over 2, 818 road acci- perception amongst people rising very fast and we need to be home as much as possible, prac- appealed to masses to support patients,” she said. “Pakistanis are under the dents in Punjab on fi rst two days that the virus outbreak in the careful, more than ever.” tising social distancing, wearing the government in its eff orts to “We are receiving positive re- wrong impression that the prev- of Eid due to reckless driving country had ended, Mirza re- Enumerating coronavirus sta- masks and taking precautionary save citizens’ lives. sults of the passive immunisa- alence of the disease is reduc- after relaxation of lockdown. minded people that deaths and tistics from around the world, measures while going out. Wahab advised people not tion procedure due to the eff orts ing,” Mirza said. Gulf Times Wednesday, May 27, 2020 13 PHILIPPINES Senator Go pushes bills that will boost healthcare system

By Javier J Ismael mography fi led Senate Bill (SB) vide better medical services for country, as well as a bill seeking of infectious diseases. Local gov- composed of all persons who opment in all regions by ensuring Manila Times 1226, or the proposed “DoH the Filipinos,” Go said. If SB 1226 to strengthen eff orts in disease ernment units may also establish have degrees in medicine, nurs- that Filipinos in both urban and Hospital Bed Capacity and Serv- is enacted, the DoH must come up surveillance and epidemiologic their own laboratories and/or ing, medical technology and other rural areas are provided adequate ice Capability Rationalization with the Philippine Health Facil- investigation. SB 1528 aims to partner with private hospitals and health-related fi elds but have yet healthcare. s the country continues Act,” which aims to authorise ity Development Plan to guide the amend Republic Act 11332 or the laboratories in the conduct of in- to earn their licenses to practice. “Once we have well-equipped to battle the coronavirus the Department of Health (DoH) modernisation and development “Mandatory Reporting of Notifi - fectious disease surveillance pro- The members of the MRC can be hospitals with increased bed ca- Apandemic, Sen Christo- to increase the bed capacity plans of all government health fa- able Diseases and Health Events vided that the laboratories shall mobilised to assist the govern- pacities in the provinces, suffi - pher Lawrence “Bong” Go batted and service capability of its re- cilities. of Public Health Concern Act.” be duly accredited and approved ment during national emergen- cient medical workers, and prop- for legislation that will further tained hospitals and to allow it to Go also fi led SB 1259 or the The same bill also establishes by the DoH. cies. The four measures seek to er protocols in place for future strengthen the country’s health- draw up evaluation and approval “Mandatory Quarantine Facili- subnational laboratories in all Go also fi led SB 1451, or the complement the implementation health emergencies, we can assure care system. guidelines. ties Act of 2020,” which mandates DoH-run regional hospitals so “Medical Reserve Corps Act of of the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Filipinos that a better life is wait- The chairman of the Senate “We will help the DoH to im- the establishment of quarantine they can undertake testing, di- 2020,” which seeks to establish Pag-asa Program, which envi- ing for them wherever they are in Committee on Health and De- prove its hospitals so it could pro- facilities in every region in the agnosis, control and prevention a medical reserve corps (MRC) sions equitable economic devel- the country,” the senator said. Duterte wants schools closed until Covid-19 vaccine found

DPA Manila

hilippine President Ro- Police trainees wearing personal protective equipment maintain social distancing at a train station during a simulation exercise in preparation drigo Duterte said that for the resumption of train operations, amid the coronavirus disease outbreak, in Manila, Philippines. Pschools should remain closed until a vaccine for the novel coronavirus is ready. Without a vaccine, sending children to school “spells disas- Police hold transport test run to ter,” Duterte said during a late- night television address on Mon- day. “I will not allow the opening of classes where students will be near each other,” he said. “Unless prepare for commuter rush hour I am sure that they are really safe, it’s useless to be talking about opening of classes.” The Department of Education President Rodrigo Duterte Reuters had set the opening of the school Manila year for August 24 due to the dents, especially those in remote fi rmed cases of Covid-19 in the Covid-19 outbreak, three months areas. Philippines, bringing the nation- after its traditional start in June. As in many countries around al tally to 14,669. olice in the Philippine But the department stressed the world, many parents have An additional 13 deaths were capital did a dry run yes- that “school opening will not been home-schooling. Presiden- also recorded, making the death Pterday of measures to en- necessarily mean traditional tial spokesman Harry toll 886. force social distancing on public face-to-face learning in (the) Roque said yesterday that Metro Manila and high-risk transport and control the spread classroom.” “The physical open- learning should continue despite areas for infections are under of coronavirus, a tricky task in a ing of schools will depend on the pandemic, but Duterte did relaxed lockdown until May 31, densely populated city known for the risk severity grading or clas- not want schools to hold face- which has allowed some indus- its commuting chaos. sifi cation of a locality,” it added to-face classes. tries and establishments, such as More than 500 police train- when it announced the new “We have what we call blended malls, to resume limited opera- ees in Manila posed as rail pas- school calendar. learning,” Roque said. “We will tions. sengers in an exercise to manage Schools have been conducting use the television, the radio and Roque said authorities were hundreds of thousands of peo- online lessons for students who the internet to continue the edu- reviewing the situation in the ple once public transportation have access to computers and the cation of our children.” country to determine if restric- eventually resumes, having being Internet at home. However, this The Department of Health tions could be relaxed further at closed for nearly 11 weeks. option is not available to all stu- yesterday reported 350 new con- the end of the month. Cadets in jeans, white T-shirts and face visors marched up the stairs of a light rail transit (LRT) Philippines to join global testing of ASF vaccine station before joining orderly queues to platforms and fi ling The Philippines will take part in “We believe that this will provide from the ASF virus. In the Philip- slowly into spacious train car- Police trainees take position at a train station during the simulation exercise. an international collaboration that first-hand information on the eff ica- pines, the virus led to the death of riages. seeks to test a vaccine for African cy of the vaccine against the strain 280,000 pigs. “From early morning up to late nila, pushing transport networks coronavirus lockdowns. That distancing meant each train will swine fever (ASF), a contagious present in the Philippines. (The) DA The DA said the unavailability of at night there is always a line of to their limits. Commuters typi- was modifi ed 10 days ago to ease carry only 10% of its maximum viral hog disease that aff ected will be closely collaborating with a commercial vaccine called for passengers waiting to ride a train. cally use several diff erent modes some restrictions and the gov- passenger load, making it diffi - African, European and Asian the research institutions on this stricter biosecurity measures and We are doing this simulation to of transport to get to work, join- ernment will meet today to de- cult to managing the fl ow of peo- countries. matter,” it said in a statement. culling of susceptible animals. better prepare for the smooth ing long, snaking queues and be- cide whether to relax them fur- ple at stations. The Department of Agriculture A recent study of the Pirbright “However, if the said field trials will operations of the LRT,” said Met- fore packing tightly into buses, ther. “Only 160 passengers will be (DA) said the country would col- Institute in the United Kingdom be successful, we will be able to ropolitan Manila police chief De- passenger jeeps and trains. The Philippines has reported allowed. It’s a very big challenge laborate in the field trials of the showed that 100% of pigs im- save not only the lives of the pigs bold Sinas. Manila has been under com- 14,669 cases of the coronavirus for us to maintain and control the prospective ASF vaccine devel- munised with a vaccine developed but the livelihood of our swine On a normal day, millions are munity quarantine since March and 886 deaths. LRT spokesman crowd once operations begin,” he oped once available. at the institute were protected raisers as well,” it said. on the move in and around Ma- 16 in one of the world’s longest Hernando Cabrera said social said.

Freedom at last Metro Manila mayors favour GCQ

By Jan Arcilla virus disease 2019 (Covid-19). “Based sa usapan kanina, kai- Manila Times However, Garcia said that langang magbukas ng ekonomi- mayors were concerned about ya, mas maraming mamatay sa mass public transportation and gutom (Based on our talks, we etro Manila mayors wanted operations of buses and need to re-open the economy recommended placing jeepneys to stay suspended. because many will die of hun- Mthe National Capital “Wag muna kasi mahirap i- ger),” he said. Region (NCR) under general control (It is hard to control),” Garcia said that the IATF community quarantine (GCQ) he said. He said that taxis, will decide whether to adopt starting on June 1, an offi cial Transport Network Vehicle the recommendation of the lo- from the Metropolitan Ma- Services (TNVS), shuttle buses, cal chief executives. Should nila Development Authority point-to-point buses, tricycles, the government place Metro (MMDA) said yesterday. and pedicabs would be allowed Manila Under GCQ, Garcia re- The Metro Manila Council to operate under GCQ. minded residents to observe (MMC), composed of the may- With Metro Manila under health protocols set by the De- ors of 16 cities and one munici- GCQ, Garcia said that may- partment of Health (DoH). “As pality, will submit its recom- ors also wanted to implement long as yung Covid-19 nandy- mendation to the Inter-Agency a “modifi ed” number coding an, we need to limit the move- Task Force on Emerging Infec- scheme where motorists af- ments of the people (As long as tious Disease (IATF), according fected by the coding may be Covid-19 is there, we should to MMDA General Manager Jojo allowed to travel provided they limit the movement of the peo- Garcia. would not be alone to maximise ple),” he said. “I want to announce unani- the use of private vehicles on Interior Secretary Eduardo mously that NCR mayors (are the road. Ano said that the government in favour) of GCQ,” Garcia told Asked about the mood of the was eyeing the implementation reporters in a media briefi ng. meeting, Garcia said mayors of a barangay (village)-based He added that local chief ex- wanted to strike a balance be- lockdown after the end of the Repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers or OFWs wait for the provincial buses in a terminal after being allowed to go home following ecutives may still implement tween economy and health but modifi ed enhanced community weeks of quarantine amid the spread of the coronavirus disease, in Paranaque City, Metro Manila, Philippines. localised lockdown in areas stressed the need to jumpstart quarantine (MECQ) in Metro with high cases of the corona- the economy of Metro Manila. Manila on May 31. Gulf Times 14 Wednesday, May 27, 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 Signs of oil demand picking up; IEA says peak yet to come

The world consumed last year nearly 100mn barrels a day of oil, according to Bloomberg estimates. And some in the energy industry believe that could mark the peak for global demand. Their hypothesis is that the coronavirus outbreak will trigger changes, like widespread working-from-home and less overseas travel, reducing consumption permanently. For sure, the Covid-19 outbreak has ripped through the oil industry with a double whammy. Dawn of Asian century puts pressure The pandemic fi rst destroyed demand as lockdowns shut factories and kept drivers at home. Consequently, storage started fi lling up and traders resorted to ocean-going tankers to store crude in the hope of better prices ahead. on Europe to choose sides: diplomat But here’s a diff erent view. Global oil consumption hasn’t peaked, the head of the International Energy Agency has said, throwing cold water on predictions the coronavirus will cap demand and reduce zEU foreign aff airs chief says end of US-led global system climate-changing emissions. “A sustained economic recovery and low oil prices are likely to take global oil demand back to where it was, and may have arrived and Europe needs robust strategy for China beyond,” Fatih Birol said in an interview. For sure, there are signs of global oil demand picking up. Patrick Wintour that all of Europe’s supplies of alternative models of governance” in reputation had also suff ered, dropping From the Middle East to Siberia, the North Sea down to Guardian News and Media paracetamol derive from China. The a landmark strategy paper. Even now by a net 11%. In France, an Ifop/ Latin America, the prices of physical cargoes of crude oil are German cabinet has already approved it is used in evidence by the US state Reputation Squad poll conducted at the new laws to prevent foreign takeovers department for similarities to its own end of April found only 12% saw China rallying hard almost everywhere. he Asian century may have of medical companies. The French stance. as best placed to meet the challenges of Brent crude traded on the ICE Futures Europe exchange arrived marking the end of a fi nance minister, Bruno Le Maire, has Many factors prompted a change the next decade. has nearly doubled over the past month and is trading above US-led global system, the EU’s said “some companies are vulnerable, of heart. The expected bonanza from The key exception is Italy, but it has $36 a barrel, while America’s West Texas Intermediate – Tforeign aff airs chief has said some technologies are fragile and could China’s “belt and road” initiative had long been more sympathetic to China, which dipped into negative territory at one stage – has also amid a growing discussion in Europe on be bought by foreign competitors by and large failed to materialise as and opinion appears fl uid. how to weave a path between China and at a low cost. I won’t let it happen.” China’s own economy slowed down. The question for European politicians soared. the US. Sweden’s relations with China are close “The period of romantic optimism had now is how to harness this new All that’s happened “Analysts have long talked about the to breakdown. come to an end,” said Latvia’s foreign awareness to resist China, without Brent crude has because global producers end of an American-led system and Andrew Small, an associate senior minister, Edgars Rink vi s. “Four years tumbling into Trump’s cold war. The have slashed millions of the arrival of an Asian century. This is policy fellow at the European Council ago it was only about the economy, fi rst step is to compile what is being nearly doubled barrels of output, while now happening in front of our eyes,” on Foreign Relations thinktank, said about trade, about the ‘belt and road’, described as inventory of dependence demand has started to Josep Borrell told a group of German Beijing had been able until recently to about more investment. Now, it is more on China, and investment screening over the past diplomats on Monday, adding that the hide behind EU suspicions of Russia. balanced.” Emmanuel Macron, the reviews are now under way in France, recover, led by China. coronavirus pandemic could be seen as He wrote: “It benefi ted from the French president, in particular lobbied Germany, Italy and Spain. Le Maire month, while WTI Now, though, the a turning point and that the “pressure to contrast that many Europeans drew for the change, urging Europe to look to has promised “to strengthen our attention is turning choose sides is growing”. between China and Russia. In this Russia for an alliance. sovereignty in strategic value chains”, – which dipped toward just how In remarks that appear to confi rm view, whereas Russia was actively But it was not immediately clear how such as those of the automotive, sustainable the recovery that the European Union will speed hostile to the EU, China only sought much the 2019 strategy paper would aerospace and pharmaceutical into negative up a shift to a more independent and to stymie European unity on a set of translate at a nation-state level. In the industries. will really be. aggressive posture towards Beijing, he narrowly Sinocentric issues; whereas same month it was published, Italy The next test is China’s own territory at one Oil prices have surged said the 27-nation bloc “should follow Russia thrived on chaos, China could became the fi rst European country direction. Veteran offi cials and advisers more than 75% in the US our own interests and values and avoid be relied on as a status quo actor during to sign a “belt and road” investment are not enamoured by what has been stage – has also this month. But a quick being instrumentalised by one or the crises; and whereas Russia pumped memorandum with China. Many described as China’s “Sopranos school rebound in supply from other”. out disinformation, targeted European European countries individually gave of diplomacy”. The Chinese scholar soared “We need a more robust strategy citizens, and sought to bring populists Huawei the go-ahead to run their 5G Lanxin Xiang admits he has kicked shale explorers is unlikely. for China, which also requires better to power, China focused on positive networks. up quite a bit of dust by arguing it Shale explorers have been turning off rigs at a record pace relations with the rest of democratic image management and behind-the- Beijing itself wanted to halt the slide undermines China’s strategic objective because the oil rout has gutted cash fl ow needed to lease the Asia,” he added. scenes elite capture.” in relations, declaring 2020 would of turning the EU into a buff er zone machines and pay wages to crews. The EU has been reluctant to side China had after all helped Europe’s be the year of Europe with two large against the US. Overall production is seen falling by 197,000 barrels a day with Donald Trump’s confrontational economic recovery in 2007-8 by summits and many ceremonial signings. Similarly Long Yongtu, who stance towards China, but Beijing’s buying debts and failing assets after the China also continued courting eastern negotiated China’s passage to the next month to 7.822mn barrels, which would be the lowest assault on the independence of Hong fi nancial crash. It did not join Russia in Europe in what has been known as the World Trade Organisation in 2001, since late 2018. Kong, its growing willingness to side becoming part of Nigel Farage’s Brexit 17+1 group. which led to China’s astonishing Longer term, however, what’s in store for the oil industry? with Europe’s populists and its refusal chorus and it avoided support for Russia Philippe Le Corre, a nonresident economic growth, warned in May that The virus recession looks set to outstrip even the most to open its markets has led to a change over Ukraine. fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for China risked isolating itself from a pessimistic of early forecasts. Due to strict lockdowns across of heart, according to analysts. The EU’s natural desire to be International Peace, says Covid has new global economic order. “China Margrethe Vestager, the EU tougher on China has been held back been “the game-changer” in fi nally is also an important participant in major economies, and growing realisation that the path back competition commissioner and a key by revulsion at Trump’s methods and altering European perceptions of China. globalisation, so when somebody to normality will be long, Bloomberg Economics recently cut fi gure in how Europe will handle China a fear that if Europe jettisoned China China’s behaviour has also backfi red begins to talk about ‘deglobalisation’, the estimate for 2020 global growth to -4.0%, down from in the future, has recently noted what altogether, its chief partner would have with European public opinion. A poll of course, we need to be highly wary of -0.2% in the last forecast round, and 3.3% at the start of the she describes as a lack of reciprocity. “In to be Trump. published by the Körber-Stiftung that,” he said. year. the part of west Norway in which I grew A key change came in spring 2019 thinktank showed that 71% of Germans But with Trump seeking to rally up, we were taught that if you invite a when, frustrated by diffi culties believe “greater transparency by China the G7 – and specifically European The cost of lost output was seen more than $6tn. guest to dinner and they do not invite accessing the Chinese market and would have mitigated the corona powers – against China, using the fate The oil industry is also making sweeping changes in you back, you stop inviting them,” she alarmed by the nationalist direction of epidemic”. A net 68% of Germans said of Hong Kong as his cause, China may an eff ort to adapt itself to the Paris climate goals. Major explained. She said Europe needed “to Xi Jinping’s leadership, the EU labelled their opinion of the US had deteriorated find it is too late to get Europe to turn companies including BP, Royal Dutch Shell and Total have be more assertive and confi dent about China “a systemic rival promoting over the past year, but China’s back. promised to cut emissions signifi cantly and investing more who we are”. Borrell has previously admitted the into renewable energy as they come under pressure from EU has been naive about aspects of more ecologically conscious shareholders. China, but said this was now coming The IEA, which advises the world’s richest countries on to an end. In an article published this energy policy, is sticking to its longer-term view that global month in many European newspapers, oil demand will continue to increase over the next decade or he urged more collective discipline towards China. so, before reaching a plateau around 2030. Already a raft of senior politicians in France and Germany are becoming more vocal in their criticism of China, To Advertise seeing echoes of Russian eff orts to divide the bloc through a mixture of [email protected] disinformation or pandering to right- Display wing populists who ideologically should be anathema to Chinese communists. 44466621 44418811 No one knows yet how far this “new realism” will take the EU in altering its Classified economic relationship to China. Daily 44466609 44418811 EU imports from China amount to €1bn (£895mn), but economists say there Subscription are already signs that some trade is not returning. [email protected] On issues ranging from supply chains to telecoms security, diversifi cation has become the watchword. Borrell has © 2020 Gulf Times. All rights reserved spoken of his surprise at discovering Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign aff airs chief. Gulf Times Wednesday, May 27, 2020 15 COMMENT America’s delisting threat could pay off

By Shang-Jin Wei stores. Luckin’s bosses are now under New York criminal investigation in both China and the United States. Given that the US has a vibrant fter passing unanimously in short-selling industry to keep listed the US Senate on May 20, companies in line, it is understandable 2020, the Holding Foreign that some observers would object to ACompanies Accountable a forceful and disorderly delisting Act is heading for the House of that could infl ict big losses on those Representatives, and US President holding US-traded shares. But the Donald Trump is expected to sign choice is not between doing nothing it into law. The law requires that and delisting all Chinese fi rms. The all companies listed on US stock more likely outcome of the new US law exchanges submit to audits reviewable is that it will strengthen the PCAOB’s by the US Public Company Accounting bargaining position vis-à-vis foreign Oversight Board (PCAOB), and non- authorities. compliant fi rms can be delisted after Because many US-listed Chinese three years. This has generated talk fi rms are a dynamic part of China’s that all Chinese fi rms could disappear economy, one should not discount from US exchanges. the possibility that the country’s Some observers might question the regulators will accede to their US wisdom of such legislation, on the counterparts’ requests for accounting grounds that it could hurt returns on documents sometime over the next US household savings, fi nancial-sector three years, before the fi rst delisting profi ts, and the global competitiveness under the law could begin. China may of US stock exchanges. While these withdraw its majority state-owned are legitimate concerns, a US threat fi rms from the US market, but many to delist Chinese fi rms could be worth private-sector companies would the risk, leading not only to more The US Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). likely remain. Better yet, many more credible disclosures, but also, perhaps Chinese fi rms may opt for a US listing surprisingly, to more listings by high- not apply to other countries, some of In the past, the PCAOB has become even more attractive to US On the other hand, accounting fraud precisely because it enables them to quality Chinese private-sector fi rms. which have laws or regulations that presumably tried to negotiate with stock exchanges. is rather rare, and the risk of it tends signal the credibility of their fi nancial Truthful disclosure and severe prohibit local auditing fi rms from Chinese authorities for access to Similarly, US investment banks earn to be outweighed by the sustained, disclosures. punishment for noncompliance turning over accounting documents auditors’ work product in China. fat commissions by taking fi rms public, sometimes market-beating returns A US listing has always been constitute the bedrock of sound to foreign regulators like the PCAOB. But trying to compel China to grant and they have a home-fi eld advantage that many US-listed Chinese fi rms attractive to fi rms seeking visibility capital-market governance. The China is one of those countries. such access has not been a policy when those listings occur on a US off er investors. Delisting them and foreign currency. The new law US applies the same criteria to all Belgium and France also make it priority because US stock exchanges, stock exchange. Indeed, cajoling by US therefore could mean foregoing sound won’t diminish this. By enhancing firms that seek a listing on a US diffi cult for the PCAOB to audit their investment banks, and money- investment banks is the main reason investment opportunities for US the perceived quality of fi nancial stock exchange, and oversight by the local auditing fi rms, but the PCAOB management fi rms like to maximise why so many Chinese companies have investors. disclosures, listed fi rms may command PCAOB is a key element of enforcing expects to be able to resolve the access the US listing of Chinese fi rms. come to the US in the fi rst place. And, Moreover, PCAOB oversight is not a higher stock price, thereby reducing the rules. When a listed firm makes a problem by negotiation. After all, over the past 15 years, for their part, money-management the only way to discover accounting their costs of capital. When that questionable disclosure, the PCAOB There are about 150 US-listed fi rms Chinese fi rms have dominated global fi rms (or their clients) prefer – or, in problems. Many short-selling happens, US investors, fi nancial reserves the right under the 2002 that are headquartered or operate initial public off erings, and US stock some cases, are mandated – to hold companies specialise in investigating institutions, and Chinese private- Sarbanes-Oxley Act to inspect the principally in China. A few are majority exchanges have been competing US-listed stocks. and uncovering fake profits or bogus sector fi rms will all stand to gain. - underlying accounting documents of state-owned – including China Life, fi ercely with those in London, While one can see how delisting growth figures, and they sometimes Project Syndicate its auditing firm. If deficiencies are PetroChina, China Telecom, China Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Chinese companies could reduce are more thorough and creative found, the auditing firm must amend Unicom, and China Eastern Airlines – Shenzhen for these listings. As the these US entities’ profi ts or global than the PCAOB. For example, z Shang-Jin Wei, a former chief its report and take steps to improve but around 90% of them are private- number of IPOs by US-headquartered competitiveness, the potential impact the short seller Muddy Waters economist at the Asian Development its procedures and practices. This sector fi rms. Among these are dynamic companies declines steadily (from on American investor interests is less recently uncovered accounting fraud Bank, is Professor of Finance and enhances investors’ confidence in the and highly profi table companies such around 300 per year in the early clear-cut. On one hand, excluding committed by Luckin Coffee, a US- Economics at Columbia Business School listed firms’ disclosures. as Alibaba, Baidu, Bilibili, Jingdong, 1990s to fewer than 100 per year more fi rms that commit accounting fraud listed Chinese company, by sending and Columbia University’s School of But the Sarbanes-Oxley Act does and Ctrip. recently), Chinese companies have is obviously good for US investors. investigators to visit its physical International and Public Aff airs.

Smartphone data shows Three-day forecast TODAY Maximum Temperature : 390c Minimum Temperature : 270c

THURSDAY America’s cautious comeback Maximum Temperature : 390c Minimum Temperature : 280c

FRIDAY universities across the United States Maximum Temperature : 420c By Reade Levinson Minimum Temperature : 290c Reuters dropped by 88% in mid-March and remained down by 77% in mid-May. Fisherman's forecast The slight rise could be because ata from millions of mobile high schools and colleges in some WARNING phones shows varying states, including Alabama, Texas and behaviour across the United California, allowed modifi ed gradua- Inshore : Nil DStates in May as people tion ceremonies in mid-May. Offshore : Nil At the city level, the data shows how responded to the loosening of stay-at- WEATHER home orders, a Reuters analysis shows. nuances in lifestyle and government Inshore : Hot daytime with slight Americans returned to parks, res- policies can result in behaviour that dust and mild by night WIND taurants and gas stations fi rst. bucks national trends. Inshore : Northwesterly-North- In most of the country, though, For example, in San Francisco, easterly 05-15 KT people continued to stay away from where ride-sharing apps rule the Offshore : Northwesterly-South- westerly 04-14/18 KT restaurants, fi tness centres and streets, visits to gas stations remained religious institutions, which remain 22% below levels in the fi rst week of Visibility : 4-8 KM closed in many areas, according to the March. Offshore : 2-4/5 FT analysis of anonymised smartphone Foot traffi c to restaurants began data from SafeGraph. recovering in Houston and Brooklyn Visits to elementary and secondary Signs are placed on the beach to direct people on how to keep social distance sooner than the rest of the country af- schools and colleges were down nearly during Memorial Day weekend in Montauk, New York. ter some spots began off ering takeout 80% compared to early March. service. But grocery and speciality food tine-weary people went out to eat, but mid-May remained 22% higher than In New York City, where restrictions Around the region stores, where visits increased by 17% a signifi cant portion of the population pre-shutdown levels. on the number of customers allowed Weather Weather during peak panic buying in mid- remained cautious about dining out. But in Arizona and in Utah, where inside many grocery stores caused today Max/min tomorrow Max/min March, had another, albeit smaller, Foot traffi c to restaurants was down national parks including Grand Can- long lines, foot traffi c to grocery and Baghdad M Sunny 41/23 M Sunny 45/26 bump in May as stay-at-home restric- 20% in mid-May from early March yon, Arches and Canyonlands were food stores remained 44% lower than Kuwait City Sunny 42/29 Sunny 44/30 tions began lifting. levels, a rebound from its biggest drop closed, park visits remained 23% and in the fi rst week of March. Manama Cloudy 36/30 Sunny 37/30 Nationwide, foot traffi c at bars and of 54%. 26% lower, respectively, than in the Visits to religious institutions re- Muscat Sunny 39/32 Sunny 39/32 pubs in mid-May was 60% less than Meanwhile, in Washington, DC, fi rst week of March. covered slightly in St Louis after Mis- Tehran P Cloudy 34/24 M Sunny 34/23 in the fi rst week of March, before where the stay-at-home order re- Two aspects of life remained very souri Governor Mike Parson allowed widespread stay-at-home orders took mains in place until June 8, foot traffi c much the same nationwide: Ameri- religious services to resume on May 4. eff ect. to restaurants was down by 66%. cans were fi lling up on gasoline, and SafeGraph compiles anonymised However, in Alabama, visits to ea- Visits to nature parks in mid-May kids were still home from school. location data from mobile devices and teries surged 11% above pre-lockdown were up by 21% in Wisconsin, where Visits to gas stations were up 19% compares it with building footprints to levels after restaurants were allowed to 34 state parks and forests reopened on nationally in mid-May, compared to measure traffi c. open on May 11. May 1. the fi rst week of March. Reuters compared foot traffi c In Texas, where Governor Greg In Montana, where Governor Steve Meanwhile, most schools across the observed by SafeGraph from the fi rst Abbott loosened restrictions on retail Bullock exempted outdoor recreation country remained closed. week of March through mid-May, ad- stores, restaurants, movie theatres and from his stay-at-home order, park Foot traffi c to elementary, middle justing for the fl uctuating number of malls on May 1, millions of quaran- visits increased by 34% in April, and in and high schools and to colleges and devices SafeGraph recorded each day.

Around the world Disrupted vaccinations pose deadly threat to 80mn kids: UN Weather Weather Today Max/min Tomorrow Max/min Athens S Showers 21/12 S T Storms 22/13 Beirut M Sunny 26/20 Sunny 26/19 AFP of children — in rich and poor coun- Unicef, the UN children’s agency, “If we neglect the supply chains and Geneva tries — at risk of killer diseases like said measles vaccination campaigns immunisation infrastructure that keep Bangkok S T Storms 33/28 P Cloudy 34/28 diphtheria, measles and pneumonia.” had been suspended in 27 countries these programmes running, we also Berlin Cloudy 15/06 P Cloudy 22/08 He said that while the world was and polio campaigns in 38 states. risk harming our ability to roll our the Cairo Sunny 32/18 M Sunny 34/19 he coronavirus pandemic seeking a safe and eff ective vaccine Unicef executive director Henrietta Covid-19 vaccines that represent our Cape Town Rain 15/10 P Cloudy 14/09 is putting tens of millions for the new coronavirus, vaccines that Fore said countries have had to suspend best chance of defeating this pandem- Colombo S T Storms 29/27 T Storms 29/27 of children’s lives at risk by were already available to prevent other campaigns due to the need to maintain ic, when they are ready,” he said. Dhaka P Cloudy 34/27 P Cloudy 34/27 disrupting routine im- diseases still needed to be delivered. physical distancing, while some health He appealed for countries to dig Hong Kong S T Storms 28/25 T Storms 29/24 T Istanbul S Showers 19/11 P Cloudy 21/13 munisation programmes, the World “Initial analysis suggests the provi- centres have been overwhelmed by deep at a June 4 global vaccine donors’ Health Organisation and Unicef said sion of routine immunisation services coronavirus response eff orts. summit, hosted in London. Jakarta T Storms 32/24 S T Storms 32/25 on Friday. is substantially hindered in at least Meanwhile health workers have been The novel coronavirus has killed Karachi Sunny 33/29 Sunny 33/29 The United Nations agencies joined 68 countries and is likely to aff ect ap- redeployed to treat Covid-19 patients, at least 332,000 people since the London Sunny 25/12 P Cloudy 25/14 forces with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to proximately 80mn children under the and some parents have been unable to outbreak fi rst emerged in China last Manila I T Storms 33/28 I T Storms 33/28 warn that the pandemic has severely dis- age of one living in these countries,” get their children to vaccination sites December, according to a tally from Moscow P Cloudy 18/07 Cloudy 18/09 rupted vaccination programmes in dozens Tedros said. due to movement restrictions. offi cial sources compiled by AFP. New Delhi Sunny 44/31 Sunny 46/31 of countries, paving the way for a deadly “Any suspension of childhood vacci- She said countries needed to step up At least 5.1mn cases have been reg- New York P Cloudy 22/15 P Cloudy 24/17 resurgence of preventable diseases. nation services is a major threat to life.” eff orts to track unvaccinated children, istered in 196 countries and territories. Paris P Cloudy 24/13 M Sunny 26/13 “Covid-19 threatens to undermine Meanwhile, experts said it was vital and fi nd innovative solutions, as Laos “As the world passes 5mn recorded Sao Paulo Sunny 21/10 Sunny 20/08 life-saving immunisation services to maintain the structure of routine has done by immunising children in cases of Covid-19, we recognise the Seoul Cloudy 23/13 Rain 23/13 around the world,” WHO director- vaccination programmes in poorer supermarkets. importance of building national unity Singapore S T Storms 32/27 S T Storms 33/27 general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus countries, because those networks Gavi chief Seth Berkley said coun- and global solidarity to learn from Sydney Rain 16/14 Showers 17/12 told a virtual joint press conference. would be the same ones used to dis- tries had to do everything they could each other and suppress the virus Tokyo Cloudy 26/19 Clear 26/17 “This risks putting tens of millions tribute an eventual Covid-19 vaccine. to keep vaccinating. everywhere,” Tedros said. Gulf Times 16 Wednesday, May 27, 2020 QATAR

Qatar despatches urgent medical aid

Officials before the departure of urgent medical assistance for Ukraine. In implementation of the directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, a shipment of urgent medical aid — provided by Qatar through the Qatar Fund for Development — was sent to Ukraine.

Katara — the Cultural Village has been hosting a number of activities online as part of the Eid al-Fitr festivities. Katara’s virtual Eid festivities to conclude today atara – the Cultural Village is concluding its Eid al-Fitr Kfestivities today (Wednes- day), after four days of immense popular turnout on through its website and social media plat- forms. Katara was keen to strictly abide by the precautionary and preventive measures to curb any Officials mark the arrival of urgent medical assistance in Moldova. In implementation of the further spread of the novel coro- directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, a shipment of urgent navirus (Covid-19) and follow the medical aid — provided by Qatar through the Qatar Fund for Development — was sent to related strategy for the well-being Moldova yesterday. of the people. Accordingly, the festivities were organised creatively, with the website receiving more than 132,000 visits in the first two days of Eid as people eagerly followed the various activities and pro- Qatar focusing on mental health grammes of the Eid festival. The festivities included a number of surprises such as vir- support during Covid-19: official tual fireworks that simulated the fireworks that used to be con- Another view of the virtual fireworks hosted by Katara — the Cultural Village, as part of its Eid festivities. ducted by Katara during such From Page 1 of healthcare systems around occasions, and attracting large gifts or in-kind gifts through a through the accounts of some so- best dressed children during Eid mental health,” she said. numbers of spectators. The web- virtual queue or random e-draw cial media influencers. by sending a high quality photo or Afdhal feels that research- According to the WISH CEO, site visitors can follow the virtual that will be conducted through Katara will distribute Eid gifts video. The winning entries shall ing on the effects of the current Qatar’s healthcare system has fireworks today also at 8pm. the website. to the children of Dreama-Orphan be the property of Katara which pandemic on the nervous sys- an established infrastructure for The Eid gifts programme re- Winning participants will get Care Centre and those in health has the right to use them for any tem is a crucial part of the on- tackling communicable diseases ceived an unprecedented number an an e-voucher forwarded to quarantine, and other gifts will purpose. The deadline for receiv- going tradition of strengthen- as well as ensuring the mental of followers, as it was launched their WhatsApp. In addition, be delivered to the children who ing entries will be 8pm on May 30. ing future responses. She is also health of the population. twice a day, at 7pm and 9pm. Ka- the remotely given in-kind gifts placed orders at Katara’s restau- For participation, videos or pho- of the opinion that the health- “It is important to remember tara stressed the importance of will be delivered to the winners rants through Rafeeq Company. tos should be send to the What- care landscape will undoubt- that we have not faced an epi- registration on its website to ob- through the delivery sponsor Katara has been keen to introduce sApp No 66011303. Five winners edly change in response to the demic on this scale for a centu- tain the remotely granted gifts, Rafeeq Company after May 30. a number of innovative competi- will be selected for the most beau- turn of events that the epidemic ry, since the 1918 flu pandemic. where the spectators can get e- Other draws will be conducted tions such as the selection of the tiful Eid outfit. has wrought on the lives of the The speed and the spread of the people. Covid-19 virus was a shock to “Each experience has yielded global healthcare systems and important data and data collec- exposed several gaps in pre- tion methods that have shaped WISH CEO Sultana Afdhal paredness but Qatar took the the responses of future gen- decision early on to build tem- ‘Sketch at QM’ draws artists, art enthusiasts erations to similar outbreaks so provide specific mental health porary hospitals to provide the that they can be better man- therapy and treatment to those necessary capacity. Some of aged. Research outcomes will affected by the pandemic, as these will now remain to serve By Joey Aguilar play a vital role in building those well as informing policy mak- the country during any future Staff Reporter parts of the health system that ers’ decisions during the design needs,” added Afdhal.

atar Museums’ ‘Sketch at Saudi behind pirate satellite TV beoutQ, rules WTO QM’ programme contin- Ques to attract many local artists and art enthusiasts, pro- From Page 1 Liam Fox, the then secretary In January, Saudi Arabia was viding an opportunity to share of state at the Department for named in a European commis- their works on its digital plat- That test can be failed if a International Trade, wrote to sion report for its failure to forms. crime is committed overseas a colleague last July to say that crack down on the platform. This online initiative encourag- that would also be one in the he had “written to Dr Majed Al It also remains on a US gov- es people to sketch QM buildings, UK. Qasabi, the minister for com- ernment priority watch list as as well as public art pieces, such It is also made clear to pro- merce and investment in the one of the “notorious markets as the Museum of Islamic Art spective owners that false, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and for counterfeiting and piracy”. (MIA), National Museum of Qatar misleading or inaccurate in- [that] the Chancellor of the Recently, the president of La (NMoQ), Doha Fire Station, and formation cannot be submit- Exchequer [then Philip Ham- Liga, Javier Tebas, urged the Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern ted to the Premier League. mond] has recently raised Premier League to consider Art, among others, and share it on The WTO report also es- beoutQ with ministers in Sau- the damage that beoutQ’s Instagram (IG) with the hashtag tablishes a clear legal link be- di Arabia”. pirating of broadcasts had #SketchatQM. Apart from ‘Sketch at QM’, sev- identity and will be featured in ing Hadeer Omar (as she cre- tween the beoutQ piracy serv- Saudi Arabia had previously caused the sport before decid- QM features the latest sketches eral other online programmes and educational programmes, pub- ates projection maps), Ameera ice and the Saudi state. claimed beoutQ originated in ing on the Newcastle takeover. by participants on its IG page (@ activities also offer a wide range lications, our website and social al-Aji (paintings about house However, that link is de- Cuba and Colombia, prompt- Amnesty International has qatar_museums) every Monday. of opportunities to learn more media content, as well as in pro- number 10), Suzana Joumaa (sur- nied by the country as well ing the governments of both also asked the league to con- Some of these works included about art and culture, and how motional activities outside the real paintings) Amena al-Yousef as Newcastle’s prospective countries to issue firm deni- sider blocking the takeover, MIA and NMoQ by shouqalma- to become a successful entrepre- museum space.” Meanwhile, the (process of making mineral pig- Saudi majority owners. It is als. saying the Saudi govern- na, b_almuftah, @archtelligent, neur. Virtual tours, for example, Doha Fire Station, through its ments), Haytham Sharrouf (tack- now almost two months since It later emerged that beoutQ ment has been involved in a mbarak_althani and a_al-sulaiti, have become ‘the new normal’ for Instagram page, gives artists and les ideas of self-isolation with the consortium contacted the was being broadcast from the “sweeping crackdown on hu- among other artists; and fsakals’ many residents during these dif- enthusiasts the chance to see an fictional architectural forms), and Premier League for approval Arabsat satellite, which is man rights”. Hatice Cengiz, ‘Maman’ by Louise Bourgeois (lo- ficult times, exploring museums array of collections from Picasso’s Hind al-Saad (cloud training ex- — a process that was expected majority-owned by the Saudi the fiancee of the murdered cated at the Qatar National Con- and art galleries in Qatar while Studios exhibition installed at the periment). to take around 30 days. state and has its headquarters journalist Jamal Khashoggi, vention Centre). staying home. Garage Gallery. The exhibition of- Artists and enthusiasts can also When the Guardian report- in the country. who was killed in 2018 inside A number of artists also posted NMoQ marked its first anniver- fers mini tutorial videos on Picas- join several online activities of ed a fortnight ago that there BeoutQ has since been re- Saudi Arabia’s consulate in their drawings of the QM Gallery sary with an open call to local and so and printmaking, Picasso and MIA, Mathaf, Children’s Muse- was likely to be further delay, moved from Arabsat. Turkey, has also said the take- Al Riwaq, high-rise buildings at international artists, designers the art of collage, and Picasso and um, and 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and the consortium insisted it was However, beoutQ illegal over should be blocked over West Bay, monumental artworks and creatives to submit a design texture for children to explore and Sports Museum, ranging from “very hopeful” the deal would set-top boxes which allow the his death. by internationally-renowned art- for its museum mascot – the Dug- enhance their artistic skills. lantern-making at home, weekly be approved imminently. streaming of major broadcast- The Premier League refused ists such as Jean-Michel Othon- ong. Deadline is July 1. According Viewers will also be able to Thursday quizzes, storytelling, Meanwhile the British gov- ers, including Sky and BT, are to comment about the latest iel, and The Old Palace of Sheikh to QM, “the winning mascot de- witness artists in residence as cooking, and fitness workouts to ernment has taken the issue of still widely available widely developments when contacted Abdullah bin Jassim al-Thani. sign will be part of the museum’s they work from home, includ- stay healthy while staying home. Saudi piracy so seriously that across the region. by the Guardian.