www.thepeninsula.qa Thursday 14 May 2020 Volume 25 | Number 8257 21 Ramadan - 1441 2 Riyals

BUSINESS | 01 PENMAG | 06 SPORT | 11

Qatar encourages Classifieds England's Buttler digital transformation and Services hopes enforced virus in commercial section break prolongs transactions included cricket career

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Amir, German Chancellor discuss strategic ties, cooperation in combating COVID-19

QNA — DOHA (COVID-19 ) to curb its spread and prevent it. In this regard the German Chancellor Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani expressed her thanks and appreciation to H held last evening a telephone conversation H the Amir for the Qatar Airways’ role in with H E Dr. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the returning German nationals from different friendly Federal Republic of Germany. parts of the world to Germany during this During the phone call, they discussed the crisis. strategic relations between the two friendly Discussions also dealt with the most countries and the prospects for enhancing important developments, regionally and inter- them, besides the efforts made by both coun- nationally, particularly the latest develop- tries in combating the new coronavirus ments in Libya and Afghanistan. QA tickets to remain valid for 2 years Ramadan Timing Today's Iftar: SACHIN KUMAR 6:14pm THE PENINSULA extended ticket validity, now More choices and Travellers can extend validity of their valid for 2 years from the date greater flexibility ticket by calling Qatar Airways offices Qatar Airways announced of ticket issuance for greater Tomorrow's yesterday that its tickets will flexibility,” it added. or contact centres. remain valid for two years, Travellers can extend Imsak: giving much needed flexibility validity of their ticket by calling Travellers can make unlimited changes 03:14am to travellers to hold on to their Qatar Airways offices or contact to the date or destination free of charge. tickets for two years. This move centres. The airline said that will instil greater confidence travellers can make unlimited Option for swapping the ticket for among travellers as they will be changes to the dates. Qmiles and redeem them towards able to plan their travel dates “You can change your travel Residents as per evolving situation. date or destination free of reward flights, extra baggage or cabin “As we look forward, we are charge, as often as you need. upgrades when the time is right. welcome offering you more choices and You can change your origin to greater flexibility so you can another city within the same least three years, so that they demand evolution and the The gradual expansion will have the confidence to plan country or any other destination can have the flexibility to expected relaxation of entry focus initially on strengthening reopening now and travel when you are we fly to within a 5,000 mile choose how, when and for restrictions around the world. connections between the air- ready. Whether you have radius of your original desti- whom to redeem them. By the end of June, the line’s hub in Doha with the of money booked or are planning to book nation,” said the airline. Qatar Airways new initiative airline aims to have 80 desti- global hubs of its partner air- for travel up to 30 September The travellers can swap has come at the apt time as the nations in its schedule including lines around the world 2020, you can rely on us for the their ticket for Qmiles and airline has recently announced 23 in Europe, four in the including London, Chicago, exchange best travel solutions,” said Qatar redeem them towards reward decision to expand its network. Americas, 20 in Middle East/ Dallas and Hong Kong along Airways in a statement posted flights, extra baggage or cabin Last week, the airline said that Africa and 33 in Asia-Pacific. with reopening many major houses on its website, yesterday. upgrades when the time is right. it would begin a phased Many cities will be served with business and leisure destina- “Keep your ticket and use For every $1, travellers will earn approach to expanding its a strong schedule with daily or tions such as Madrid and SIDI MOHAMED it when you are ready with our 100 Qmiles that are valid for at network in line with passenger more frequencies. Mumbai. THE PENINSULA

Money exchange houses have resumed their operations Qatar opens 504-bed smoothly maintaining social Cabinet makes wearing distancing following the State’s preventive and precautionary field hospital to treat measures to curb the spread facemasks compulsory of COVID-19. People were spotted COVID-19 patients queuing in line wearing face- FAZEENA SALEEM tests. masks adhering to social dis- upon leaving house THE PENINSULA “The Libsear field hospital’s tancing waiting for their turn. QNA — DOHA main aim is to reduce pressure The money exchange houses (200,000) two hundred thousand , or one of Qatar has opened a new over and complement other hos- installed thermal screening to To contain COVID-19 pandemic, the Cabinet these two penalties. 500-bed-capacity field hospital pitals treating COVID-19 measure the temperature of yesterday made wearing facemasks compulsory 3- This decision is effective from Sunday to treat COVID-19 patients. The patients in the country. If a customers and deployed for all citizens and residents upon leaving house (May 17, 2020), until further notice. Libsear field hospital located patient is in stable condition security personnel to for any reason. After that, the Cabinet considered the topics near Al Shahaniya-Dukhan but still needs hospitalization, implement the preventive Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E on the agenda as follows: First - Approval of Road has already started they will be transferred here. measures. Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani the following draft decrees: A draft decree receiving patients. They will be still COVID-19 Residents have welcomed chaired the Cabinet regular meeting, held yes- approving the guarantee agreement of the gov- The hospital consists of positive but recovering or the restoration of money terday evening via video conference. ernment of the State of Qatar for Al Kharsaah three blocks; the first dedicated having virus in a mild way,” exchange services especially After the meeting, Minister of Justice and solar power plant project. A draft decree for administration while other said Dr. Al Naimi. ahead of Eid Al Fitr when large Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs H E approving the agreement to grant rights to Al two have a total of 504 single “Here every patient will be number of people used to send Dr. Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi stated the Kharsaah solar power plant project. A draft rooms with attached bath- accommodated in a separate money to their families to their following: At the beginning of the meeting, the decree approving the priority right agreement rooms. The field hospital is a room and kept for a minimum home countries. Cabinet listened to the explanation presented for Al Kharsaah solar power plant. joint collaboration between of 14 days. They will be dis- The Ministry of Commerce by HE the Minister of Public Health on the latest Second - Approving a draft law amending Ministry of Public Health and charged only when swab test and Industry had announced developments to reduce the spread of the coro- some provisions of Law No. (12) of 2006 Ministry of Defense, said Dr. results are negative,” he added. to reopen money exchange navirus (COVID-19), where the Cabinet affirmed regarding the canceled Mesaieed municipality, Abdula Rasheed Al Naimi, Libsear field hospital will service under strict precau- the continuation of the precautionary measures and referring it to the Shura Council. Third - Clinical Lead of the hospital mainly receive patients trans- tionary measures, from May taken to combat this pandemic, and decided Approving a draft cabinet decision to issue the during a media tour of the ferred from the Hazm 12, 2020. the following: executive regulations for the law regulating medical facility yesterday. Mebaireek General Hospital, The precautionary 1- To compel all citizens and residents medical treatment abroad. The hospital has the Mesaieed Hospital, and Ras measures include requiring upon leaving house for any reason to wear Fourth - Approving a draft memorandum capacity to triage 60 patients Laffan Hospital.The hospital visitors to wear facemasks, masks, except in the case when a person is of understanding (MoU0 between the dip- at a time and is manned by 70 will treat expatriates men. It following social distancing alone while driving a vehicle, and the Min- lomatic institute of the Ministry of Foreign staff members out of which 20 has started to receive patients guidelines, measuring tem- istry of Interior takes the necessary measures Affairs in the State of Qatar and the Uni- are doctors. It has all basic last week and already have perature, and allowing a in this regard. versity of Houston-Clearlake in the United required facilities of a field hos- around 100 patients who are certain number of customers 2- In case of non-compliance with this States. pital including a separate area recovering from COVID-19 and at the same time, among decision, the penalties stipulated in Decree Law Fifth - The Cabinet reviewed a report on to collect samples for swab are in stable condition. `P3 others. No. (17) of 1990 regarding the prevention of the activities of the Regulatory Authority of the The Peninsula visited a infectious diseases shall be applied to violator Qatar Financial Center, during the period from number of money exchange by imprisonment for a period not exceeding 1/4/2019 to 31/3/2020 and took the related houses which found following three years and a fine not exceeding QR appropriate decision. the preventive measures and procedures set by the Ministry. The visitors were wearing Qatar's Gaza Committee starts procedures to facemasks and gloves, fol- lowing social distancing distribute grants for facilitating marriage guidelines. Also their body temper- QNA — DOHA itate marriage of impoverished youth in Gaza Strip. ature was being checked by Chairman of Qatar Committee for the Recon- H E Ambassador Al Emadi said that the $2m staff of money exchanges. struction of Gaza H E Ambassador Mohammed grant will benefit 500 youth chosen according to There were also security staff Al Emadi said that the Committee, in coordi- the criteria established in cooperation with the Min- to allow only a certain number nation with Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD), istry of Youth and Sports in Gaza. Each person will The Libsear field hospital has over 500 single rooms with of customers at the same time. PIC: BAHER AMIN/THE PENINSULA has started procedures to distribute a grant to facil- get $4,000. `P3 attached bathrooms. `P3 02 HOME THURSDAY 14 MAY 2020

MoPH: More than 3,100 recover; 1,390 new cases OFFICIAL NEWS THE PENINSULA — DOHA The Ministry in a statement workplace or through visits and Al Muraikhi said that the new cases are due family gatherings. In this COVID-19 QATAR UPDATES ON 13 MAY 2020 The Ministry of Public Health to expatriate workers who were context, the Ministry affirmed receives call NEW (MoPH) yesterday announced infected with the virus as a that the high number of infec- RECOVERIES 124 GLOBALLY from UK Minister 1,390 new confirmed cases of result of contact with indi- tions among citizens and resi- COVID-19 and 124 recovered viduals who were previously dents is due to the lack of com- ACTIVE TOTAL POSITIVE of State CASES 23382 cases bringing the total number infected, in addition to pliance by some with precau- 4,308,055 of recovered cases in Qatar to recording new cases of infection tionary measures, the most NEW CASES DOHA: Minister of State for For- 3,143. among groups of workers in dif- important of which is physical ANNOUNCED 1,390 TOTAL DEATHS eign Affairs, H E Sultan bin Saad The total number of positive ferent regions. The new cases distancing and reducing the Al Muraikhi, received yesterday a COVID-19 cases recorded in have been identified after con- need to leaving home. All the TOTAL 294,155 phone call from British Minister RECOVERIES 3,143 Qatar to date stands at 26,539. ducting investigations by the new infected cases have been TOTAL RECOVERED of State for the Middle East and There are 23,382 active cases research and investigation quarantined where they are TOTAL North Africa, H E James Cleverly. under treatment. teams of the Ministry of Public receiving the necessary medical DEATHS 14 1,518,424 During the phone call, they So far, 14 people have died Health. care. reviewed cooperation and rela- from the coronavirus in Qatar. Cases of infection have also The Ministry noted that the tions between the two countries, The Ministry conducted increased among citizens and number of daily tests it conducts with the virus, as it conducts of tests performed daily is not and coordinated efforts to limit 3,833 tests yesterday taking the residents, as a result of contact depends primarily on the random checks in different linked to the number of cases the spread of the COVID-19, in total tests done so far to 139,127 with infected family members, number of contacts with indi- places of the country as a detected in terms of any rise or addition to issues of common con- tests. who had been infected in the viduals confirmed to be infected proactive measure. The number fall. cern. - QNA HMC's Rheumatology Division starts providing virtual consultation

FAZEENA SALEEM patients to maintain good THE PENINSULA hygiene and wash hands with water and soap for 20 seconds As part of measures taken to at least, avoid touching eyes or curb the spread of COVID-19, face especially if outside home, the Rheumatology Division at avoid going outside home unless Hamad Medical Corporation necessary, avoid sick people, do (HMC) has started to provide regular exercises and maintain virtual consultation for patients. good healthy diet. The division which cares for Rheumatic diseases are more than 2,000 patients with commonly classified as inflam- arthritis and rheumatic diseases matory and non-inflammatory, monthly, runs clinics with full with rheumatoid arthritis, staff capacity including physi- reactive arthritis, and con- cians and nurses, said Dr. Samar take it from the pharmacy or nective tissue diseases such as Qatar sends medical aid to Al Emadi (pictured), Head of through the new service by lupus, being among the most Rheumatology Division, Med- Qatar Post. common inflammatory rheu- icine Department at HMC. “According to American matic diseases. “We are calling our patients College of Rheumatology and Rheumatoid diseases can Albania, Congo and Angola daily and reviewing their files European League against Rheu- affect almost any part of the and their blood results, but we matological Diseases, patient body. Most of these conditions THE PENINSULA — DOHA to counter and contain the out- the great efforts made by the are avoiding bringing the should not stop or change doses happen when the immune break of the coronavirus pan- State of Qatar to combat the patients to the clinics for their of these medications including system attacks the body’s own The State of Qatar represented demic (COVID-19), said a spread of this pandemic glo- own benefit,” she said. biological medications unless tissues. Sometimes, it is in an by Qatar Fund for Development statement. bally, which comes as a matter “The doctor will call to check there are symptoms like fever affected person’s genes or is (QFFD) has sent urgent medical These 25-tonnes shipments, of joint global responsibility to on patients and will discuss or cough or any symptoms sug- caused by other risk factors such aid to several friendly countries which Qatar Airways delivered, try to contain the spread of this about any health problems gestive getting the infection,” as cigarette smoke, pollution, or through Qatar Airways. included medical equipment pandemic.” related to the condition and will said Dr. Al Emadi. an unhealthy and unbalanced Qatar Fund for Development and supplies such as masks and It is worth noting that QFFD update regarding test results and She also said that if the diet. The most common signs (QFFD) has shipped several personal protective equipment provided urgent medical aids to will give proper advice. Only if patient has symptoms like cough and symptoms of rheumatic dis- shipments of urgent medical aid for medical staff. several brotherly and friendly condition requires, a patient is or fever, they should advice of eases include joint swelling, to the Democratic Republic of Khalifa bin Jassim Al Kuwari, countries including Iran, Italy, asked t come to the clinic,” she a rheumatologist and contact the pain, prolonged early morning the Congo, the Republic of Director General of the Qatar Lebanon, Tunisia, Algeria, Nepal added. The doctor will order COVID-19 hotline. stiffness, and painful and Albania and the Republic of Fund for Development said: and Rwanda, total weight medication, and patients can Dr. Al Emadi advised all decreased range of motion. Angola to support their efforts “This medical assistance reflects reached to more than 85 tonnes. THURSDAY 14 MAY 2020 HOME 03 HMC Ambulance Service sees 30% increase in daily activity

THE PENINSULA — DOHA As early as the end of January, with COVID- 19 cases in China and only a small number of Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Ambulance Service has other countries, Qatar put in place screening been central to the imple- at Hamad International Airport for every mentation of measures put in place by Qatar’s healthcare passenger arriving in Doha. sector to protect the popu- lation from COVID-19. Throughout the COVID-19 As early as the end of equipment to keep them safe pandemic, ambulance service January, with COVID-19 cases from potential infection. All has seen a 30 percent in China and only a small ambulances carrying sus- Chief of Staff meets Commander of increase in daily activity. number of other countries, pected or confirmed “The COVID-19 pandemic Qatar put in place screening COVID-19 cases undergo a presents many challenges at Hamad International full deep clean in order to US Air Forces Central Command that we have not had to Airport for every passenger eliminate any risk of the virus manage before, yet it is some- arriving to Doha. being transferred to other Chief of Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces, H E Lieutenant-General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen Al thing that we have planned “With many thousands of passengers and I can assure Ghanem, has met with Commander of the US Air Forces Central Command, H E General Joseph and prepared for in recent passengers arriving into the public that all our Guastella. During the meeting, they reviewed cooperation and ties between the two sides, and years,” said Dr. Robert Owen, Qatar via the airport every response vehicles are safe to ways of developing and enhancing them with the US side and the allies at Al Udeid Air Base where Chief Executive Officer of the day, the screening procedures travel in,” added Darwish. forces from 18 ally countries are participating to maintain the security and stability of the region. Ambulance Service. enabled us to identify any In addition to its frontline The meeting was attended by a number of officers of the Qatari Armed Forces. “Throughout the past passenger with a fever, one role in COVID-19 measures, decade, we have not only of the key symptoms of the Ambulance Service con- expanded capacity across our COVID-19. Any passenger tinues to respond to hundreds Ambulance Service but also with fever and a travel history of non-COVID-19 emergency Crackdown on trucks parked in residential areas advanced the quality of care to affected countries was calls every day. we are able to provide to either transferred to a “The emergence of THE PENINSULA — DOHA The inspection campaign for long in the sun out of the Qatar’s population. Part of medical facility or taken to a COVID-19 in Qatar has tested will continue to put an end to store and stockpiling at the this transformation has been quarantine centre,” said Ali our ability to respond to an Al Khor and Al Zakhira Munic- the phenomenon of parking store. to ensure we have the Darwish, Assistant Executive increased number of emer- ipality in cooperation with the trucks inside the residential The violation was recorded equipment and expertise to Director of the Ambulance gency calls. Throughout the General Directorate of Traffic areas. for storing food items in manage a pandemic like Service. COVID-19 pandemic, we have has launched a joint inspection The Ministry urged people unhealthy condition in violation COVID-19. Our planning and “Our Ambulance Service seen a 30 percent increase in campaign against trucks parked to call the unified call center at of the law for regulating food preparation have meant we continues to provide safe daily activity. Before in the residential areas in the 184 for further information or items. have been able to fully deliver transportation of people with COVID-19, we would typically municipality. remarks in this regards. The municipal inspectors services including the safe suspected or confirmed receive around 700 calls a The traffic inspectors Meanwhile, Health Moni- recorded the violation, transportation of confirmed COVID-19. We have assigned day – this figure has risen to recorded a number of violations toring Section of Doha Munic- destroyed the seized food items or suspected COVID-19 ambulances exclusively to around 1,000 a day in recent during the campaign, said the ipality has closed an unloading and closed the unloading point patients, and medical services transport these patients and months,” said Brendon Ministry of Municipality and point of the commercial until the commercial complex within the Industrial Area,” our paramedics are fitted Morris, Executive Director of Environment in a statement. complex for leaving food items would rectify the situation. added Dr Owen. with full personal protective the Ambulance Service.

Residents HMC Tobacco Control Center warns against medwakh use welcome THE PENINSULA — DOHA coronary artery disease. One on tobacco packages. behavioural therapy and nic- medwakh session can be the Dr. Jamal Abdullah, a otine replacement therapy. reopening of Officials from Hamad Medical equivalent of smoking five to Smoking Cessation Specialist Dr. Ashour Ibrahim, Clinical money exchanges Corporation’s (HMC) Tobacco ten cigarettes in terms of nic- at HMC, said patients who seek Psychologist at HMC’s Tobacco Control Center have cautioned otine intake,” said Dr. Al Mulla. treatment from the Tobacco Control Center, said peer FROM PAGE 1 against the dangers of smoking Medwakh is the pipe used Control Center receive one- pressure is one of the most Moreover, there was police dokha with a medwakh pipe, to smoke dokha, a tobacco that on-one counselling and widespread causes cited by patrols monitoring the places saying it is more hazardous than is usually mixed with herbs and appropriate nicotine young people when asked why to protect people and to see smoking cigarettes. spices. Its name is Arabic for replacement or pharmaceu- they started smoking. how they are committed to the Dr. Ahmad Al Mulla, Head ‘dizziness’ and a leading cause tical support. He says all Dr. Ibrahim concluded that procedures. of the HMC’s Tobacco Control of the misconception that it is patients undergo a full smoking is one of the most dan- Money exchange houses Center said medwakh has much less harmful than cigarettes is assessment, including a com- gerous widespread phenomena witnessed a great turnout higher nicotine and tar levels because it is considered by plete medical history and threatening the health of young during the past two days. Offi- than cigarettes. some to be natural and without related evaluations, such as people in Qatar and it can affect cials at money exchange “Research has revealed that additives. Dr. Al Mulla said lung function tests. their learning productivity and service offices and clients have medwakh has much higher nic- because medwakh does not adopt healthy lifestyles. He said that psychological even lead to behavioural and expressed their commitment otine and tar levels than ciga- leave the odour that smoking The law also prohibits support is also a core part of psychological issues, including to the precautionary measures rettes, despite the widespread cigarettes do, it can cause advertising or promotion of treatment, as smoking is far stress, anxiety, introversion and against COVID-19. belief among many teenagers people to falsely believe it is not tobacco products, bans the use more addictive than many depression. On its Twitter account, the that medwakh and shisha are dangerous. of electronic cigarettes, sweika, drugs, and he notes that some For appointments or more Ministry of Commerce and safer than cigarettes. Medwakh In 2016, Qatar introduced and other chewing tobacco of the treatments provided are information on the Tobacco Industry yesterday clarified can cause many of the same the Tobacco Control Law as part products, prevents the sale of not suitable for those under the Control Center, people can call that the news about over- diseases as cigarettes, including of a campaign designed to urge tobacco products to people age of 17 years, and therefore, at 4025 4981 or 5080 0959, or crowding and lack of com- lung cancer, chronic obstructive people to stop consuming under the age of 18, and has the treatment provided for this contact the Center’s hotline at mitment of social distancing pulmonary disease (COPD), and tobacco and encourage them to seen warning pictures placed age group is mostly based on 5573 6025. at money exchange houses is incorrect. “These photos which were circulated on social sites 504-bed field hospital opened are old and have been circu- lated after the decision to reopen money exchange FROM PAGE 1 shops,” the Ministry tweeted. “We have the capacity to receive and triage at least 60 The Ministry also called patients at a time. Once they arrive here, will be directed to people to take the information their designated rooms and then a doctor will assess them. only from its official sources Required doctors and nurses will be available 24x7 to receive and to avoid spreading patients transferred from other hospitals,” said Dr. Abdula rumours. “The decision is good Rasheed Al Naimi, Clinical Lead of the hospital. as it mainly serves the “We provide patients with all required care. In case if they workers. They used to send have any other conditions they will be treated for that as well. their money through these Most importantly, we have mental health service for all patients money exchange houses to here. We have volunteers coming and speak to patients. Because their families back home,” said COVID-19 can have a huge effect on a person’s mental health an expatriate working with a and it is important to address it,” he added. restaurant in Bin Mahmoud. The field hospital has been constructed within three weeks He also said that but this in the Libsear military camp and has all modern facilities. reopening came at an appro- Libsear is the second field hospital Qatar has opened priate time, ten days before Eid recently. A 200-bed field hospital with a dedicated area for Al Fitr, so everyone will be able Dr. Abdula Rasheed Al Naimi, Clinical Lead, Libsear Field Hospital. RIGHT: The staff at the field hospital. COVID-19 care opened for the workers in Industrial Area, early to send money without creating It has around 70 staff including 20 doctors.PICS: BAHER AMIN/THE PENINSULA this week. crowds at the money changes. Education City Golf Club gets Service Excellence Award Qatar’s Gaza Committee starts procedures to THE PENINSULA — DOHA performance measurement pro- understand the requirements of their grammes for the golf, leisure, spa, roles, but can be measurement against distribute grants Education City Golf Club completed events, F&B and hotel industries. specific criteria and compare against FROM PAGE 1 its first year of operations with the Education City Golf Club within its facilities with similar products and 2020 European Tour event; The first year achieved an impressive mindset.” He noted that this project comes within Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, and 78.26% in overall rating just shy of the Mark Bull, Director 59club Middle the package of projects announced during subsequently has now announced a gold award. Considering all of the East and Africa, commented: “The his recent visit to Gaza Strip in February, and Silver Flag Award in Service Excel- team members were newly employed, Service Excellence Awards recognises it will be implemented in cooperation with lence Award by 59Club. orientated and trained in 2019, the the delivery of consistently high levels the competent authorities in Gaza, headed The Silver Flag Award for Service service achievement far surpasses the of customer service and facility by the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Excellence is a recognised award that quality of the golf course, which in standards throughout a venue. Our He also announced that the Committee, recognises facilities that deliver the itself achieved a superb 92.9% for golf non-subjective criteria assists clubs in coordination with Qatar Fund For Devel- most consistent golf experiences course presentation. to constantly review and evolve their opment, has started procedures to dis- throughout the year. The criteria was The golf clubs practice facilities customer journey experience. It is a tribute a grant for clearance of pending based on mystery service audits data, went one step further in achieving pleasure to have supported Rhys and certificates for needy university graduates A photo of Silver Flag Award for which was captured and bench- 100% for the year, showcasing the his team towards attaining a Silver flag in Gaza Strip. Service Excellence. marked across 18 golf venues that quality and depth of facilities available service excellence award, in only their Al Emadi noted that the $1m will benefit 59club MEA supports in the region at Education City Golf Club. 1st full year of working with us.” 6,512 graduates distributed over 20 educa- during 2019. Rhys Beecher, Director of Golf, was an important decision. What we “This reflects the dedication and tional institutions in Gaza Strip. The awards recognise the most Education City Golf Club, said, “We liked about 59Club, was not only the passion to not only the mystery He added that the project comes within successful venues across the region in are passionate about providing the experience and expertise in offering shopping process but how the team the package of projects announced during sales performance, staff attitude, best guest and member experience independent performance meas- have implemented the best practice his recent visit to Gaza Strip in February, and internal processes and facility and continuous review is a critical urement, but being able to select our criteria in their day to day operation to it will be implemented in cooperation with standards. 59club was established in aspect of improvement. As such, prior own competitors as an indicator. enhance the member and guest journey the competent authorities in Gaza, headed 2007, and is now a market leader in to opening our facility, partnering with "This is exceptionally useful for at every touch point. Congratulations by the Ministry of Education and Higher providing bespoke mystery shopper the right mystery shopper programme training, where our team not only to all at Education City Golf Club!” Education. 04 HOME THURSDAY 14 MAY 2020 Msheireb Properties GAC launches its new website launches live social THE PENINSULA — DOHA

The General Authority of media interview series Customs (GAC) has launched its new website, as part of its efforts to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of its elec- tronic services and bring it closer to the public. The new website includes the establishment of three main portals, which are business, individuals, travellers, and clearance companies, with the aim of ensuring easy access to the information and procedures required for each category in GAC Chairman, Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Jamal, during the launch of website. RIGHT: Home page of addition to developing the the new website of General Authority of Customs. search engine to include all the contents of the site as well as listing all Customs and legal by the Authority, and in line recommendations of the World Authority attaches great procedures, legislations and with its strategic plan 2018- Bank related to developing the importance to the society and Customs tariffs, and the services 2022, in line with the require- website as a window to Qatar’s its awareness of the important of the commission (services ments of a complete digital Customs to the world. role that Customs play in provided to the public, statistics, transformation, which aims to He pointed to the Author- facilitating the movement of electronic purchases, employee increase the efficiency and ity’s interest in developing the trade and supporting the self-services) and others. effectiveness of the services new website, to be more national economy, in addition Prominent personalities during the live session. Chairman of the General of the authority and bring it smooth in researching and dis- to its role in promoting the Authority of Customs, Ahmed closer to the public. playing information, and maintenance of community THE PENINSULA — DOHA The Msheireb Live bin Abdullah Al Jamal, said Al Jamal explained that this enhancing the Authority’s tools security and safety by Series running during that the work to renew the new website also comes within in disseminating Customs securing and inspecting ship- Msheireb Properties, the leading Authority’s website came in the direction of the wise gov- culture in a modern way that ments and verifying their sustainable real estate the holy Ramadan the framework of the con- ernment and Qatar e-gov- matches the development of the integrity and ensuring that developer in Qatar, has takes place every tinuous endeavour to develop ernment standards, and in State of Qatar. they are free of anything launched a new social media weekend focusing the technical aspects adopted implementation of the He also stressed that the harmful to society. series that features live inter- views with prominent Qatari on the social and figures from media, sports and cultural changes in culture to enhance social inter- Mental health at crossroads in COVID-19 world, say action with people in Qatar. Qatar and reviving The Msheireb Live Series memories of the past experts at QF’s Education City Speaker Series running during the holy Qatari life. Ramadan takes place every weekend focusing on the social FAZEENA SALEEM sesseekingeekekinng help,hheelplp, aanandnd alaalsolssoo rreinforceeiinfoorce and cultural changes in Qatar 2022 in Qatar. THE PENINSULA thtthehe iimimportancemppoortrtaannccee ooff tththehe faffamilymimilyly and reviving memories of the The second Msheireb Live unuunit.nitit. “P““PeoplePeopplle araarere wwoworkingorrkkinng frfromomom past Qatari life. Additionally, it session hosted Dr. Ilham Bader As the COVID-19 pandemic has hohhomeomeme atat thetthhe samesasameme timetiimme ass caringcarinng includes a competition that in a comprehensive conver- had a significant impact on the foforor theirththeieir family,ffaammiillyy, soso parentspaarreentsts havehaavve allows followers to participate sation moderated by Dr. Hafez mental health of communities too uunderstandnnddeerrssttanand tththeirheeiir children,cchillddrrenen, and win valuable prizes. Ali, Director of Msheireb around the world, experts tatalkallkk wwithitth tththem,heemm, aanandnd eexexplainxpplaiin ththehe Speaking about the series, Museums. Dr. Ilham Bader discuss fears and solutions rrerealityaalliti y ofof tthishhiis situationsisitutuaattiioon ttoo tthem,”hheemm,,” Ali Al Kuwari, Acting CEO of talked about her own profes- surrounding mental wellbeing shsshehe said.ssaaidid. Msheireb Properties, said: “In sional life experience’s, the during lockdown — and “But,““BBuutt, atat tthehhee ssameaamme tittimeimeme aass this exceptional situation, changes in the cultural and beyond, in a special online ggigivingivivinngg timetimime forffoor theirtthheeiir children,cchhiilldrdrenen, Msheireb Peoperties is using social landscape in Qatar, and edition of Qatar Foundation’s ppaparentsarerenntts hahhaveaveve ttoo mmamakeakeke ttimeimime foforor new and modern ways to reach the role of Qatari women these Education City Speaker Series tththemselves.hememsseelvlveses. AnAAndnd wwee mmustusust rrerec-ec- out to our community utilising days. The first Msheireb Live in collaboration with the World FROM LEFT: Dr. Sharifa Al Emadi, Dr. Devora Kestel and Paul Farmer technology that reaches con- session was moderated by Innovation Summit for Health, sumers at home where they are Khaled Jassim and featured yesterday. safe while providing a new gen- Saeed Al Misnad, a Technical The online event, “Global International; Paul Farmer, health services are available for eration with important infor- Advisor for the National Teams Perspectives: Mental Health in Chief Executive Officer of Mind, those who need them, and ognise that while we may be mation and memories of the Committee at the Qatar Football a COVID-19 World”, saw United Kingdom; Yasmin moving from institutionalized physically apart from each past. We hope Msheireb Live Association, and one of the most speakers from Qatar, the US, Mogahed, Author and Interna- care to community care,” Dr. other, we can still communicate Series will not only help our influential figures in the history Europe, and Africa and they tional Public Speaker; Dr. Janice Kestel told the webinar. with and protect each other,” community to stay connected of Qatar football. cautioned that COVID-19 has Cooper, Senior Project Advisor “We need to increase the she added. but also deepen their appreci- Msheireb Properties aims to left mental health services at a – Global Mental Health, The volume of advocacy for the Paul Farmer of UK-based ation of the expertise provided enhance social interaction and crossroads that could either Carter Center, Liberia/US. inclusion of mental health in mental health charity ‘Mind’ by the participating guests.” revive Qatari heritage for the lead to greater awareness and The session was moderated any COVID-19 recovery plan, said: “Leaving aside the psy- The third Msheireb Live current generation. Through its more community-based care, by Mishal Husain, global news building mental health systems chological consequences of this session next Saturday will host flagship project, Msheireb or see them being overlooked presenter, journalist, and and avenues of care for people crisis will store up financial Sheikh Dr. Mohammad bin Downtown Doha, the sus- with serious long-term documentary-maker. even in places where they were and health consequences, Hamad Al Thani, Director of tainable developer presents a consequences. The discussion shed light on previously not available. There potentially for years to come. Public Health at the Ministry of benchmark project which truly The panel featured Dr. stress that the pandemic and are more conversations gen- This is a real crossroads Public Health, and Associate represents Qatari architecture Dévora Kestel, Director of the lockdown of nations that it erally about the impact that moment in understanding how Professor of Clinical Healthcare and identity in the smartest city Mental Health and Substance has led to placing on people’s COVID-19 is having on people’s the progress made in recent Policy and Research at Weill district in the world. Msheireb Abuse at the World Health mental wellbeing, the risks and mental health, but it is not years about raising mental Cornell Medical College and Properties offers people a new Organisation; Dr. Sharifa Al the support that needs to be enough — we need to make health awareness will be con- Qatar University. Dr. Mohamed way to live, work, and entertain. Emadi, Executive Director at provided to those struggling to changes that ensure support is verted by governments and will talk about the progress Msheireb Live sessions can be Doha International Family cope. sustainable,” said Dr Kestel. populations, as we enter an achieved in the medical and watched by following Msheireb Institute, Qatar; Paola Bar- “We have to take this According to Dr. Al Emadi, extremely risky phase for the health sector, and the first properties Instagram account barino, Chief Executive Officer opportunity to build back the crisis may reduce the stigma mental health of our Public Health Strategy 2017- @msheirebproperties. of Alzheimer’s Disease better, making sure mental surrounding mental health and communities.” Talabat introduces pre-ordering QYH intensifies its during Ramadan enabling smoother remote activities preparation for Iftar and Suhoor QNA — DOHA Qatar Youth Hostels (QYH) are intensifying activities that they offer remotely through social media as they continue their efforts in their belief of the necessity of community partic- ipation under the current circumstances. QYH launched various activities during Ramadan, in addition to presenting a set of interactive ones through social media platforms, as it developed a new plan that is entirely dependent on electronic remote communication. Head of activities at QYH Abdullah Saeed said that QYH THE PENINSULA — DOHA times around Iftar and Suhoor. were keen to prepare a schedule Francisco De Sousa, Managing of activities and a time plan Talabat, the region’s leading food, and Director of Talabat Qatar, says that during the current period. He grocery delivery app, has launched Talabat, with a proud heritage as a added that among the most ‘schedule,’ its new feature allowing regional success story, continues to put prominent events that it cur- customers to pre-order food delivery. the local needs of customers and res- rently offers is a training Launched specifically for Ramadan, taurants at the forefront of new product program in tourist guidance, customers and restaurants now have features. which is a set of short episodes a smoother preparation for Iftar and ‘We understand that after a long that QYH began broadcasting via Suhoor thanks to this feature. day of fasting during the Holy Month, its Instagram platform, through Customers can select this new breaking the fast at the exact Iftar time, which a set of rules and basics option upon checkout, by tapping and also having suhoor at the right that must be available in the ‘schedule,’ which is located beside time, is of the utmost importance. tourist guide are presented. ‘order now’. Customers can then select We’re here to make that happen for The events also include a the time from the available options our customers. program that shows travellers listed. To use the schedule feature, cus- ‘With our new schedule feature, we in the time of the coronavirus, tomers need to have the latest version want to allow our customers to order which depends on recording a of the Talabat app. whatever they want at the time they series of episodes with Qatari The pre-order option also benefits want. This isn’t just limited to Iftar and travellers who tell their experi- restaurant partners, allowing the Suhoor, but can also be used to order ences in travel in order to opportunity for optimisation in kitchen food during other times, as well as promote tourism and encourage processing times around peak ordering groceries!’ people to enter this world. THURSDAY 14 MAY 2020 HOME 05 QNL provides knowledge that is accessible to everyone: Dr. Al Kuwari THE PENINSULA — DOHA 190 databases, more than 16,000 journals, and more than 465,000 H E Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al reports, theses, dissertations, and other Kuwari, who has been appointed Pres- This appointment is an honour for two documents,” said Dr. Al Kuwari. ident of the Qatar National Library Since QNL opened in 2017, it has (QNL), has emphasised the place that reasons: It brings me pride, and it also welcomed more than 1.2 million vis- reading holds in Qatar’s culture, and brings me responsibility. I am fully aware itors. In 2019 alone, it welcomed why libraries — and what they provide of the responsibility that comes with this 500,000 visitors. And since its inau- — are more important than ever in a guration, its programs and its impact COVID-19 world. role, of the trust that has been placed in have flourished. “This appointment is a honour for me, and of the expectations. “Despite the fact that the library two reasons: it brings me pride, and it building itself is currently closed due also brings me responsibility. I am fully to COVID-19, we have added more aware of the responsibility that comes I feel this has given me cultural insight and than 170,000 new members since it with this role, of the trust that has been knowledge that I can invest in helping QNL to closed, and this reflects QNL’s placed in me, and of the expectations,” important role as a modern destination he said. reach its goals. I also believe I can use cultural that enables permanent access to According to Dr. Al Kuwari, diplomacy to support QNL’s vision and mission, knowledge, including during times libraries act as a collective memory — as this is an area I am well-versed in, and I when people seek such knowledge to the memory of human heritage, help them deal with crises,” said Dr. Al including our Arab and Islamic her- understand how education and culture are pivotal Kuwari. itage — and, for such a long time, they in strengthening relations between countries. “We aim to strengthen our inter- have been a source of knowledge for H E Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari national partnerships through our the entire world. “The value of science commitment to providing lifelong and culture, and the power of books, learning opportunities. QNL has is rooted within our culture in Qatar.” Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar as well as to contribute to sharing knowledge, and interaction between developed partnerships and collabo- “Our country’s founder, Sheikh Foundation — into reality. Her Qatar’s culture with the world. civilizations. The vision that would rations with key institutions around Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, was Highness envisioned QNL to be one of “It brought home to me the impor- become QNL was present long before the world, including the British a poet who interacted with scholars the world’s pre-eminent centers of tance of cultural diversity. During my the library was established, and while Library, the Ottoman State Archives, and had a passion for knowledge and learning, research, and culture; a time as Qatar’s Minister of Culture, Arts, it may be a ‘young’ library that Bibliotheque National de France, the its dissemination. And the Father Amir guardian of our nation’s heritage; and and Heritage, as well as being a can- embraces modernity, its content and National Archives and the National H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al an institution that promotes the impor- didate for Unesco General Secretary, resources reflect our Arab and Islamic Library of the Netherlands, the Thani, the pioneer of Qatar’s modern- tance of imagination, discovery, and I also had the opportunity to visit many heritage and the continuous efforts of National Libraries of China, Turkey, day renaissance, has been the driving the nourishment of the human spirit,” cultural and heritage institutions, and our leadership to enable access to the and Azerbaijan, the Russian Presi- force behind many achievements and he added. meet experts from universities and richness of this heritage.” dential Library, New York University, initiatives in the sphere of culture, an He also said that in the role as academic institutions in more than 70 QNL is characterized by many fea- and Unesco. We are currently working approach now being taken forward by Ambassador of the State of Qatar to countries,” said Dr. Al Kuwari. tures, including its unique design by on further collaborations with India the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin several countries and institutions — “I feel this has given me cultural the renowned architect Rem Koolhaas. and Russia, as well as many different Hamad Al Thani,” he said. including France, the US, Lebanon, insight and knowledge that I can invest The library is also characterized by its organizations, and we are an active “As a member of QNL’s board of Syria, the United Nations, and Unesco, in helping QNL to reach its goals. I also use of innovative technologies, to an member of the Digital Library Feder- directors, I have been a member of its as well as several European countries believe I can use cultural diplomacy to extent not seen in many international ation, the World Digital Library — a family for some time, and have been — and being a non-resident ambas- support QNL’s vision and mission, as libraries. Unesco initiative — and the Library involved in transforming the vision for sador to Latin American countries has this is an area I am well-versed in, and Its Children’s and Young Adults’ of Congress, a digital portal for this library — the vision of H H Sheikha allowed him to explore many cultures I understand how education and Library has more than 150,000 books material from the world’s leading culture are pivotal in strengthening in its collections, in languages including libraries and institutions,” said Dr. Al relations between countries. Arabic, English, French, Spanish, Kuwari. “QNL — existing, as it does, in such German, Urdu, and Italian, as well as “Through all our partnerships and a diverse educational environment as many electronic resources. This reflects collaborations, we will strive to serve Education City — reflects cultural our commitment to building the future knowledge and research, whether diplomacy. I hope my experience in — because the future is built through through digitisation initiatives, direct the diplomatic and cultural field will our children. communication, or through our pro- help to enhance QNL’s role in radiating “And one of the most distinctive grams and activities. We want the knowledge and research, and elements of QNL is its focus on digiti- world to benefit from our resources,” strengthen its relationships with local zation. In light of the global COVID-19 he added. and international universities, and pandemic, where education, work, and In Qatar and across the Arab world, other institutions,” he said. communication have become remote, our culture has always drawn us Speaking about the important this is even more relevant. QNL was a toward reading and seeking knowledge aspect of QNL’s role, its greatest forerunner in providing such a wealth — this is illustrated by the first word in QNL’s children’s and young adults’ library has achievement to date, and its future of digital resources long before the the Qur’an, which translates as “read”. more than 150,000 books in its collections, in prospects, he said that, it’s important pandemic, and the current situation “Our great scholars who have languages including Arabic, English, French, Spanish, German, Urdu, and Italian, as well to recognize that libraries are not just that the world faces demonstrates how helped to build civilization did not gain as many electronic resources. a storage space for books. “They carry important this commitment to digiti- their knowledge from universities, but a message that supports culture, zation was. QNL now offers access to from books,” said Dr. Al Kuwari. 06 HOME THURSDAY 14 MAY 2020

Green Tent calls for CCQ launches Bachelor of Logistics and developing early warning systems to Supply Chain Management program predict future disasters THE PENINSULA — DOHA underscores the country’s unri- CCQ’s decision to expand valled position as a global aviation QNA — DOHA The Community College of Qatar the program comes in hub reinforcing the need for qual- (CCQ) announced, during an online line with Qatar’s national ified cadres, who can manage these Participants in a symposium held by the press conference held yesterday, the mega projects. Green Tent of the “A Flower Each Spring” expansion of Logistics and Supply strategy to become a CCQ aims to support the coun- program have called for the establishment Chain Management program by regional logistics hub. try’s economic and human capital of research centers in the Arab countries offering students holding CCQ’s Asso- Driven by preparations development by equipping graduates to help decision makers in managing crises ciate of Applied Science Diploma in with the knowledge and tools nec- and developing early warning systems to Logistics and Supply Chain for the 2022 FIFA World essary to operate and expand Qatar’s predict future disasters. Management the opportunity to Cup, Qatar has invested ever-growing logistics and supply The participants in the symposium pursue a Bachelor’s degree in the heavily in infrastructure chain infrastructure and effectively affirmed that the coronavirus (COVID-19) discipline through an additional two manage its transport and storage pandemic uncovered the necessity of max- years of study, with classes beginning projects, creating an services. The program will also imizing the role of science and scientists in the fall of the coming academic increasing need for enable the country and its institutions and developing the capabilities of scien- year 2020 – 2021. specialised national to provide products and services of tific research to address crises. The Bachelor of Logistics and the highest caliber. They said that experts, academics and Supply Chain Management program competencies in logistics Dr. Khalid Al Abdulqader, Vice- The Logistics and Supply Chain specialists from different Arab countries is expected to help supply the labor management. President, Community College of Qatar Management program is based on agree that tribulations that have afflicted market with a plethora of national international best-practices in the humans will continue to exist in contem- cadres that are extensively trained field. It was reviewed by a team of porary and subsequent nations, referring for management positions in trans- demanding ever-increasing CCQ’s decision to expand the international academic experts, who to earthquakes, hurricanes, droughts, portation, warehousing, distribution, standards of specialized knowledge program comes in line with Qatar’s provided positive reviews about the climate change, volcanoes and landslides, inventory control, purchasing, and and expertise. With this in mind, CCQ national strategy to become a program that will be taught in Arabic. floods and famines, storms and other epi- international logistics. Previously, the is committed to providing its students regional logistics hub. Driven by As part of the program, students will demics and viral and bacterial program was only available as a two- with everything required to empower preparations for the 2022 FIFA also have to complete 180 hours of diseases. year Associate degree and to date has them and thrive in this competitive World Cup, Qatar has invested practical training courses at elite The participants methods of managing attracted many members of various environment.” heavily in infrastructure projects, organizations in Qatar, putting what crises and avoiding their occurrence or public and private institutions. Dr. Al Abdulqader stressed the creating an increasing need for they learn in the classroom at CCQ severity, including forming a crisis man- Commenting on these develop- importance of offering Logistics and specialised national competencies into practice. There are a limited agement team, establishing early warning ments, Dr. Khalid Al Abdulqader, Vice Supply Chain Management program in logistics management. Over the number of Arab and non-Arab uni- systems, training workers in crisis man- -President, Community College of in providing a more qualified work- past years, the country has seen versities, whose educational pro- agement and analysis, and following up Qatar said: “The decision to expand force, who have significant expe- significant development in this grams include logistics, making CCQ’s the implementation of the plans set up to the Logistics and Supply Chain Man- rience in logistics and supply man- regard with the opening of offering an attractive one. face them, along with transparency and agement program was made after a agement, and who are able to absorb investment-friendly free zones, Across its campuses, CCQ pro- credibility in presenting the facts to the comprehensive study of Qatar’s labor steady developments in this field, such as Ras Bufontas and Umm vides a unique and flexible 2+2 learning public opinion. market and most sought-after skills, thus effectively contributing to AlHoul, Hamad Port, and the Doha model enabling students to graduate They stressed the importance of the as well as the country’s strategic achieving the goals of food security, Metro railway network, marking with an Associate degree in two years, academic and research side in facing epi- needs and objectives. The which is a strategic priority for the major milestones for Qatar. Fur- after which they can choose to enter demics and crises and how to manage economy is becoming increasingly State of Qatar that requires the thermore, the bustling Hamad the labor market, or continue studying them, in addition to maximizing the role more competitive with each expansion of warehouses and other International Airport, home to the for two more years towards earning of minds and scholars to solve problems passing day and companies are storage facilities. world-class airline Qatar Airways, their bachelor degree. and meet the needs of society, calling for the formulation of policies, setting prior- ities and focusing on what post-pandemic societies need and self-reliance in crisis Indonesian officials praise QC’s Ramadan projects management. The participants called for legis- THE PENINSULA — DOHA Haji Sami Weil, another local lation and laws appropriate to the official in Indonesia, has praised Qatar current stage and need that these laws Indonesian local officials and under- Charity for distributing 6,500 work to organize cities and achieve sus- privileged beneficiaries praised Qatar Ramadan baskets in his area to those tainability to avoid the negative effects Charity (QC) for distributing food affected by the coronavirus pandemic, of disasters or crises that may occur in baskets, thorough its office in Jakarta, noting that this aid from Qatar reflects the future, noting that handling risks as part of its Ramadan campaign. the deep brotherly ties between the and crises and managing them are one The beneficiaries extended Indonesian and Qatari people of the developments in the Arab thanks to benefactors in Qatar for For his part, the president of the national security system. their support that contributed to Cleaners Association Eddy in South Studying and predicting these risks meeting their food needs in the Jakarta expressed his thanks and before they occur require a unified Arab blessed month of Ramadan, espe- appreciation to the philanthropists or Gulf strategy for crisis management with cially at a time when the coronavirus in the State of Qatar for the food a proactive approach to cope with dis- (COVID-19) has brought further dif- baskets, adding that this assistance asters, they noted. ficulties to the vulnerable. will support the cleaners to meeting They pointed out that disasters and The mayor of Banda Aceh, their families’ food needs in crises come suddenly and in an unexpected Aminullah Usman, said: “On behalf of Ramadan. way, adding this why governments must the local authorities in the city of Banda Qatar Charity has distributed prepare and draw policies, form permanent Aceh, and in the name of its residents, 12,750 food baskets in many Indo- committees and design plans and strat- I thank the benefactors in Qatar for A Qatar Charity official providing aid to a beneficiary in Jakarta as part of nesian provinces and regions during egies to face future disasters, calling on their generous donations, and Qatar its Ramadan campaign. the holy month of Ramadan, bene- countries to have a mechanism to predict, Charity for distributing food baskets fiting nearly 70,000 people, and is diagnose and prepare for potential dis- in Ramadan, which have benefited The mayor noted that the coro- weaker sections of society, and they expected to distribute Zakat Al Fitr asters while studying their economic and 4,500 families of orphans and needy navirus pandemic has contributed to are need of more assistance to lighten and the Eid clothing to its sponsored environmental risks and the extent of their families in the city. increasing the suffering of these their hardship. children soon. threat to human life. QFBA-NU hosts interactive Galfar Al Misnad wins 2 International Safety Awards webinar to guide students’ THE PENINSULA — DOHA Galfar Al Misnad has won the Interna- tional Safety Award for 2020, with academic careers Distinction, from the British Safety Council for the Design and Build of Site THE PENINSULA — DOHA Works and Infrastructure for Al Wakrah Logistics Park Phase 1 (WLP-A Qatar Finance and & WLP-B), an important nation Business Academy in building project the contractor is partnership with North- executing for Manateq. umbria University The company has already achieved (QFBA-NU) hosted its 11.5 million safe man hours without latest interactive LTI at this ongoing project. webinar to guide high The leading construction company school students in in Qatar also won the International choosing their academic Safety Award 2020 for its overall oper- majors. The webinar ations, for “demonstrating their strong which was run under commitment towards good health and QFBA-NU’s latest safety management in 2019.” This is ‘Ramadan Show’ the sixth year Galfar Al Misnad is achieved this by receiving this prestigious award in the engaging students across Distinction/Merit categories. Qatar in insightful “These awards are a recognition of The leading construction company in Qatar also discussion on selecting A screenshot of the webinar. Galfar Al Misnad’s consistent efforts the right major. in enhancing HSE culture in the organ- won the International Safety Award 2020 for its QFBA-NU held the informed decision when it comes ization, reinforced by a staunch com- webinar as part of its social respon- to their future pathway.” mitment from the leadership team,” overall operations, for “demonstrating their strong sibility efforts during the holy In addition, he commented: “We explained Galfar’s HSE Manager, commitment towards good health and safety month of Ramadan to support stu- believe that raising awareness on Venkatesan Kulandaivelu. dents. The webinar, led by Khalifa the importance of higher education The International Safety Awards management in 2019”. This is the sixth year Galfar Al Yafei, Director of Student Affairs is a key step towards the devel- are health and safety’s most coveted Al Misnad is receiving this prestigious award in the at the university, offered advice and opment of our nation. We wish to awards. They recognise organisations guidance along with a compre- empower Qatar’s talented youth that have demonstrated commitment Distinction/Merit categories. hensive view of all the higher edu- to choose the university path that to occupational health, safety and cation opportunities that are will ultimately lead them to wellbeing. available in Qatar. The webinar success. In turn, we are investing The awards are a celebration of aimed to inspire today’s youth to in our nation’s human capital in health and safety excellence across all Satish G Pillai, Executive Director of legal requirements; welfare com- pursue their academic journey in line with achieving the 2030 Qatar industries in more than 50 countries Galfar Al Misnad. pliance programs; behavior safety spite of the current situation. National vision.” worldwide. Both of Galfar’s awards are Galfar Al Misnad, which com- programs; Health and Safety On this occasion, Khalifa Al QFBA-Northumbria’s webinar now candidates on the shortlist for pletes 25 years of operations in Qatar awareness campaigns and training Yafei, Director of Student Affairs at witnessed around 45 participants British Safety Council’s ‘Best in The this year, attributes its consistent programs; regular inspection and QFBA-Northumbria University said: from the public under its latest Country’ Award that will be announced performance at the International audits; and an active Health and “Choosing a university major is a Ramadan show premiering every at the end of this month. Safety Awards to the diligent imple- Safety review program. critical step for Qatar’s youth as it week on its social media platforms. “We are very proud of our exem- mentation of its comprehensive To encourage and motivate impacts their future professional The show aims to empower stu- plary performance at the Interna- Health and Safety Management employees to imbibe optimal health careers. We chose to hold the dents to continue learning during tional Safety Awards and it highlights System which includes: a Health & and safety practices at the workplace, webinar as a channel to offer the Holy month of Ramadan and Galfar Al Misnad’s commitment Safety plan and strategy; man- rewards and recognition are regularly Qatar’s youth guidance and coun- overcome the current challenging towards our motto: Safety First, agement programs to achieve HSE presented to those who uphold HSE selling so they can make an situation. Quality Plus, Reliability Ever,’’ said goals; compliance to all applicable values at the organization. THURSDAY 14 MAY 2020 MIDDLE EAST 07 Lebanon to reinstate total lockdown amid spike in infections AP — BEIRUT Restaurants will Lebanon began a phased- out plan to relax a national Lebanese rushed to food stores close down after they lockdown late last month that to stock up on vegetables and partially opened 10 allowed small businesses to basic items, hours before the reopen, and shortened a night- government was to reinstate a days ago, and food time curfew. four-day nationwide lockdown, deliveries will be But after a few days of following a spike in reported single-digit cases detected, coronavirus cases. halted altogether. there was a spike in reported The government called on The country’s top infections this week, including the public to stay home, starting among Lebanese returning yesterday evening and until Sunni Muslim cleric home during repatriation pro- dawn on Monday, reversing grams who did not observe measures earlier this month announced that Friday quarantine measures. that phased out restrictions prayers in mosques Lebanon, a country of just A view of traffic on the Zalka Jal El Dib highway an hour before the start of a four-day nationwide imposed since mid-March. over five million, has so far been lockdown, north of Beirut in Lebanon, yesterday. The new shutdown is a rare will also be halted. able to contain the virus, reversal and comes as many recording only 870 infections, - days marking the Eid Al Fitr continue to rise in the country. Iran so far. countries, seeking to balance including 117 repatriated Leb- holiday that comes at the end In Tehran, mosques tempo- “Obviously, everyone is economic and health care crisis, putting pressure on a anese, and 26 deaths after of Ramadan. That holiday typ- rarily reopened on Tuesday feeling great tonight. It has been needs, have started easing population that is seeing its imposing early lockdown ically sees families inviting night after about two months a tough time especially for restrictions despite grave con- savings erode. The currency, measures and strictly imple- loved ones over for meals or go closure, for a special night of mosque-goers and those who cerns of a setback. pegged at a fixed rate to the menting restriction on out to eat during the day. prayers in Ramadan. love praying, ” said Reza Abbasi, Restaurants will close down dollar since 1997, has lost 60 movement. And the United Arab A mosque at Tehran Uni- a worshipper who was praying after they partially opened 10 percent of its value in a few But over the last few days, Emirates said it will offer free versity campus in central along with his family on the days ago, and food deliveries weeks. government and health officials coronavirus testing for all cit- Tehran hosted worshippers for campus of Tehran university. will be halted altogether. The Unemployment had been criticised carelessness and lax izens, beginning next week. the “Laylatul Qadr”, or ‘‘Night Upon entering the campus, country’s top Sunni Muslim rising even before the corona- implementation of social dis- Foreigners in the country with of Destiny”, a special night of a group of medical students dis- cleric announced that Friday virus restrictions as economic tancing and other restrictions coronavirus symptoms, prayers during Ramadan. infected hands and shoes of prayers in mosques will also be growth and investment among the public, warning that pregnant women, those over 50 Officials in Iran had closed worshippers and gave away halted, only a week after they dropped. Officials say 45 the relaxation of restrictions and those in contact with those down all mosques and holy face masks. Worshippers also were allowed to resume at percent of the population now would be reconsidered. who fell ill with COVID-19 also sites across the country in mid- had their body temperatures limited capacity. lives in poverty. The gov- Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia will be among those able to be March, at the height of the taken by infrared The public health crisis ernment has asked the Interna- said yesterday it will go into a tested for free. coronavirus outbreak, to lower thermometers. comes at a particularly tur- tional Monetary Fund for full lockdown during Eid Al Fitr. Private beaches at hotels the risk of the contagion. The Spots were marked on the bulent period for Lebanon. The financial assistance, and talks The Interior Ministry said also are beginning to reopen in virus has killed more than mosque floor for worshippers country is facing an unprece- over the rescue plan are due to the lockdown would be in effect Dubai, even as the number of 6,700 people and infected to sit down while practicing dented economic and financial begin with the IMF soon. from May 23 through May 27 confirmed cases and deaths more than 110,000 people in proper physical distancing. Children let out to play briefly as Turkey eases restrictions

AP — ANKARA This was a great opportunity open on Monday. because we were so bored at Meanwhile, a lawyer said Parks filled with the sound of home,” said Zeyda Ozdemir, that he has filed a lawsuit against children yesterday as Turkey who brought her 8-year-old China on behalf of a private allowed kids ages 14 and under daughter, Zeynep, to the park. company that is seeking com- to leave homes for the first time She added, however, that pensation from the country for in 40 days. she felt “a little uneasy” because financial losses suffered because The country’s youngest pop- the park was more crowded of the coronavirus outbreak. ulation were allowed to venture than she had hoped it would be. Lawyer Melih Akkurt said out for four hours between 11am In the city’s Birlik Mahallesi the company was forced to and 3pm as Turkey eased some neighbourhood, two children suspend operations during lock- restrictions in place to fight the were seen riding their scooters downs. It is the first commercial coronavirus outbreak. Young- up and down a street while a lawsuit in Turkey against China, sters between the ages of 15 and voice from a loudspeaker on the where the coronavirus pan- 20 will be able to leave homes top of the minaret of a nearby demic began, Akkurt said. for a few hours on Friday, while mosque called on the public not The lawyer wouldn’t name senior citizens were briefly to be “fooled by the arrival of the company, saying it wanted allowed out for the first time in spring and good weather.” “The to remain anonymous. seven weeks on May 10. danger of infection is not over The lawsuit holds China In the capital Ankara’s main yet,” the announcement said. responsible for economic park, Kugulu Park, young The government set forth a losses, accusing it of among children wearing masks took “normalisation plan” as the other things, failing to provide turns going down slides and on number of confirmed corona- timely and accurate data to the Iftar amid war ruins swings. An adjacent street virus cases have dropped, but World Health Organization, of teemed with people and police warned of tougher measures if concealing information on the Men and children are seen seated together in the midst of ruins before Iftar as part of efforts by the called on the public to abide by infections go up again. Malls, virus’ infectiousness, of humanitarian non-governmental organisation Caravanes Solidaires, in the village of Kafr Nuran in social distancing practices. hairdressers, barber shops and silencing doctors and not pre- the western countryside of Syria’s northern Aleppo province, on Tuesday. “The weather is beautiful. hair salons were allowed to venting its spread. Despite virus, Pompeo in Israel Turkey quarantines to talk West Bank annexation expatriates from AP — JERUSALEM country largely shut its Iraq and Uzbekistan borders to halt the spread of US Secretary of State Mike the pandemic. ANATOLIA — TURKEY Pompeo met with Israeli Standing alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Pompeo in front of a row of Turkey yesterday evacuated at least 90 Turkish Netanyahu yesterday for talks American and Israeli flags, nationals from Iraq and others from Uzbekistan, that addressed Israel’s plans Netanyahu called the six-hour and placed all expats under a 14-day quarantine to annex parts of the West visit a “testament to the to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus. Bank, as a Palestinian teen strength of our alliance”. All 90 expats from Iraq, brought back to was killed by Israeli troops in Netanyahu and his new Turkey via buses, were sent to the southeastern a clash in the occupied coalition partner, Blue and Batman province for a 14-day quarantine in territory. Pompeo landed in White party leader Benny dormitories after health checks. Tel Aviv early yesterday and Gantz, postponed the Provincial Director of Youth and Sports Safi proceeded directly to Jeru- swearing-in of their gov- Ozperk said they are currently hosting 162 salem, receiving an exemption ernment until today to accom- expats from Kazakhstan and Iraq at the from Israel’s mandatory modate Pompeo’s visit. dormitory. two-week quarantine for Pompeo was scheduled later Ozperk added the country continues to arrivals due to the corona- to meet with Gantz and with bring back its citizens who wish to return home. virus outbreak. his fellow retired military In a separate operation, Turkey brought His visit is the first to chief Gabi Ashkenazi, the new back its citizens from Uzbekistan on Israel by any foreign official government’s incoming Wednesday. Expats, brought back to Turkey since January, before the foreign minister. via a charter plane, arrived in Istanbul and were sent to northwestern Yalova and Duzce prov- inces for a 14-day quarantine in dormitories following routine health examinations. Yemen reports first COVID-19 The Turkish government has repatriated nearly 70,000 of its nationals from various case in Marib province countries since the start of the outbreak. As of Tuesday, the country reported a total REUTERS — DUBAI of 141,475 coronavirus cases, 98,889 of which have fully recovered. The death toll stands at Yemen’s Saudi-backed government reported the first corona- 3,894. After originating in China last December, virus case in Marib province and four other infections elsewhere, COVID-19, the disease caused by the corona- taking the tally of cases in areas under its control to 70, including virus, has spread to 187 countries and regions 12 deaths. The Aden-based government’s coronavirus committee across the world. said two cases including one death were reported in Aden, and The pandemic has killed almost 292,000 two in Lahej, including one death. people, with total infections more than 4.26 Yemen is divided between the internationally recognised gov- million, while over 1.49 million people have ernment based in the south and the Iran-aligned Houthi movement recovered from the disease, according to headquartered in the north. The Houthis ousted the government figures compiled by the US-based Johns from power in the capital Sanaa in late 2014. Hopkins University. 08 VIEWS THURSDAY 14 MAY 2020

Established in 1996

CHAIRMAN DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI [email protected]

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected]

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI [email protected]

EDITORIAL Helping in global trade growth Health workers, wearing personal protective equipment, collecting swab samples from a man at a drive-thru testing service in Doha. QATAR Airways Cargo is playing a crucial role in ensuring continuity of global business and trade. The Effective contact tracking and tracing airline has introduced additional flights to and from Scandinavian cities Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm, offering freight capacity for local exports amidst the coronavirus pandemic. key to COVID-19 response in Qatar Five additional Airbus A350 freight only passenger aircraft have been introduced each week to the car- QNA — DOHA team has expanded from 20 to positive COVID-19 cases, the rier’s existing thrice-weekly belly-hold passenger flights 240 members over the past contact tracing team implements in Copenhagen, Denmark, bringing the total weekly Qatar’s strategy to respond to the weeks to meet the requirements random testing in numerous loca- cargo capacity to more than 500 tonnes each way. COVID-19 pandemic relies for extensive contact tracing. tions in Qatar. So far, they have On Sunday, the cargo carrier announced to introduce heavily on contact tracking and The team includes represent- conducted random testing in an air bridge between Vietnam and France. Through this tracing, which enables the early atives from the MoPH, Hamad supermarkets, private hospitals arrangement, eleven Boeing 777 freighters will operate identification of cases, including Medical Corporation, and and clinics, residential complexes, from Hanoi in the month of May and four weekly freight- those who do not show Primary Health Care Corpo- the airport, in addition to a only Boeing 777 passenger aircraft will operate from Ho symptoms. Contact tracing aims ration, as well as a number vol- number of other locations. Chi Minh City until June for its customer, Bollore Logistics. to reach positive cases as early as unteers. If someone tests positive When a large number of pos- In April, Qatar Airways Cargo had introduced freighter possible to help break the chains for the virus, a representative itive cases in close proximity are flights to Australia that brought the combined weekly of transmission and reduce the will speak to them to gather identified, for example in a capacity in and out of Australia to more than 550 tonnes. spread of the infection in the information on places they household or workplace, this gen- Qatar Airways Cargo, in April, also partnered with community. visited and people they have erates further investigation and the Australian Government to restore critical global Over 135,000 COVID-19 tests been in contact with. expansion of the contact tracing supply chains through the International Freight Over 135,000 have been conducted in Qatar so This information is used to efforts in that community. Assistance Mechanism (IFAM). The IFAM is an initiative COVID-19 tests far and intense contact tracing build up a detailed picture of the The MoPH contact tracing by the Australian Government that has been launched and case finding has allowed for people who could have been efforts are now strongly sup- to help restore critical global supply chains for high- have been the identification of a large infected, such as colleagues or ported by the Ehteraz Appli- value Australian agricultural and fisheries producers, conducted in number of cases. Approximately family members. Contacts are cation, which was launched who have been heavily impacted by COVID-19 con- Qatar so far and 25% of those tested by contact then tested and advised to home recently by the Ministry of tainment measures around the world. tracing are positive, most of isolate for 14 days, even if the test Interior. The application per- Through this initiative, the Australian Government intense contact which have no signs or results turn out to be negative. forms various services, including is partially offsetting the cost of airfreight – reducing air- tracing and symptoms. This high percentage People under home isolation are the profiling of users as healthy, freight and freight forwarding costs for exporters and reflects the effectiveness of the then advised to call 16000 if they suspected, under quarantine, or ensuring businesses and exporters in the country can case finding has contact tracing process and that develop any signs and symptoms. positive. The application also swiftly transport their produce on flights and to inter- allowed for the the right people are being tested. “It is of utmost importance that uses a GPS feature and Bluetooth national customers. The early detection of pos- the public cooperate with us. Pro- to help identify individuals who With global air freight capacity declining, Qatar identification of itive cases plays a key role in viding accurate information when have been in close proximity Airways Cargo has increased operations to ensure the a large number slowing the spread of the virus. It contacted and agreeing to get with positive cases. continuity of global trade and movement of essential also allows for early treatment, tested as soon as possible mini- In addition to contact tracing medical and aid supplies. The airline continues to operate of cases. when needed, to prevent mises the risk on both the contact and random testing, COVID-19 a significant cargo schedule with almost 175 flights per Approximately potential complications, which themselves and their families and testing in Qatar is also conducted day. Freight charters are being operated to multiple coun- 25% of those some patients may suffer from if colleagues,” said the Head of Vac- on people who come to a tries including China, India, Iran, Kuwait, Lebanon, France, they are identified at later stages, cination at MoPH and COVID-19 healthcare setting and display Spain, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Poland, United Kingdom, tested by especially if they suffer from Contact Track and Trace Lead, Dr. COVID-19 symptoms as well as the United States and Australia. contact tracing existing medical conditions. Soha Shawqi Albayat. people returning from abroad. To ensure the safety of its crew and cargo, the carrier This has helped Qatar “Even if a person seems The MoPH has advised all has implemented special procedures for ground han- are positive, maintain one of the lowest healthy, he may still be carrying residents of Qatar to adhere to all dling including adherence to social distancing guide- most of which COVID-19 mortality rates in the the virus and may cause for one infection control measures, lines to ensure there is minimum contact between staff. world. To date, the country has their family members who may including physical distancing, All of its freighters and passenger aircraft are equipped have no signs or recorded 14 deaths, with the be at a higher risk than them, due regular cleaning of hands using with face masks, gloves and hand sanitisers for crew symptoms. majority of these patients suf- to being older, pregnant, or suffer soap and water or alcohol-based and all the crew and staff are screened regularly. Qatar fering from co-morbidities and from a chronic condition, to get hand sanitizer for at least 20 Airways Cargo utilises its full freighter fleet as per sought medical care at a late stage. infected and possibly suffer com- seconds, avoiding the touching of schedule and operates belly-hold cargo flights to des- The Ministry of Public Health plications,” she added. nose, eyes, or mouth, and tinations where possible. (MoPH) has a dedicated team for In addition to tracking and wearing a mask when entering a contact tracking and tracing. The tracing contacts of existing crowded place.

D-RING ROAD, POST BOX: 3488, DOHA - QATAR COVID-19 is causing more than one health crisis EMAIL: [email protected] BLOOMBERG of “excess deaths” that have to avoid making the COVID-19 rural hospitals, the loss of happened in the past couple outbreak itself any worse, or income from elective surgery EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE: TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 So many ordinary activities of months in the US This is a exposing people with existing and non-COVID care stands FAX: +974 4455 7758 have been put on hold in the danger in any epidemic; conditions to a virus that’s to be disastrous. Yet the pan- time of coronavirus, but one during the Ebola outbreak in especially threatening to them. demic has demonstrated how MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4462 7505 stands out as an especially West Africa in 2014-16, The medical profession has essential it is to keep rural punishing loss: People have increased deaths from every incentive to move as hospitals in business. As DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4455 7769 sharply curtailed their non- measles, malaria, AIDS and quickly as possible, as doctors COVID-19 case numbers rise COVID health care - not just tuberculosis ultimately and hospitals are taking an in more rural states, the need LOCAL NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7743 easily postponed checkups, exceeded deaths from Ebola. enormous financial hit. With will grow ever more obvious. but also tumor removals, In the current situation, it’s income from day-to-day The trouble is, medical BUSINESS NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4462 7535 diabetes tests, prenatal visits, unlikely that indirect mortality health care and non-emer- offices and hospitals are kidney transplants, vaccines, will ever outpace deaths from gency surgery on hold, many among the most difficult busi- SPORT NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7745 even emergency care after COVID-19 itself. But the pause independent doctor offices face nesses to reopen in a pan- heart attacks. Since early in medicine is an urgent public a stark choice between closing demic environment in which ONLINE SECTION: TEL: 4462 7501 March, in-person doctor visits health challenge in its own and selling out to a larger testing and contact tracing are email: [email protected] have fallen about 60% in the right. Telehealth has helped fill medical enterprise. From mid- still not up to speed. Hospitals US Cancer screenings have the gap for many patients who February to mid-March, some shouldn’t even begin to con- PUBLIC RELATIONS: TEL: 4455 7613 dropped 86% to 94%. And until need advice, evaluations and 43,000 US health-care sider treating non-COVID email: [email protected] recently many hospitals were prescriptions more than hands- workers were laid off. Even the patients, the Centers for turning away all patients on care, but it can do only so biggest, most secure hospitals Medicare and Medicaid ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 except those with COVID-19, much. Meeting the need will are suffering. Stanford Hospital Services has warned, until FAX: 4455 7870, email: [email protected] often by order of state officials. require combined efforts by is temporarily cutting all they ensure they have the Epidemiologists assume doctors, health insurers, hos- employees’ pay by 20%. The capacity to respond to any CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7857 that the pause in non- pitals, and state and federal Mayo Clinic, anticipating a $3 new coronavirus surge, and email: [email protected] COVID health care accounts governments. Their goal must billion loss in revenue this year, until they are able to fully for an as-yet-unmeasured be to recommence health care is also imposing pay cuts. isolate COVID and non-COVID SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION: TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 share of the tens of thousands carefully and gradually enough For already struggling patients from each other. FAX: 44557819, email: [email protected]

www.thepeninsula.qa Quote of the day /PeninsulaQatar Any Israeli decision to annex settlements, the /ThePeninsulaQatar Jordan Valley and north of the Dead Sea in /Peninsula_Qatar occupied Palestine will be catastrophic and will kill any possibility to achieve just peace. /ThePeninsulaNewspaper

+974 6698 6188 Ayman Safadi, Jordanian Foreign Minister THURSDAY 14 MAY 2020 OPINION 09 Coronavirus hits world superpowers as some look to reopen

coronavirus. Prime Minister stamp out those sparks will As US states begin to Mikhail Mishustin revealed determine how bad the loosen stay-at-home restric- April 30 that he had tested rebound is, Fauci told a tions and businesses get up positive for the virus, as have Senate hearing on Tuesday. and running, an Associated two other government min- If there is a rush to reopen Press analysis shows thou- isters. Last month, British without following guidelines, sands of people are getting More COVID-19 Prime Minister Boris Johnson “my concern is we will start to sick from COVID-19 on the LISA MARIE PANE landed in the hospital and has see little spikes that might job. infections are AP since recovered, underscoring turn into outbreaks,” Fauci Recent figures show a inevitable as people There have been the reach and spread of the said. surge of infections in meat- again start gathering, more than 4.2 As health officials issued virus. Dr. Michael Ryan, the packing and poultry- processing plants. There’s but how prepared million confirmed warnings on Tuesday against There have been more emergencies chief for the reopening economies too than 4.2 million confirmed World Health Organization, been a spike of new cases communities are cases of the virus quickly, the coronavirus cases of the virus worldwide said Germany and South among construction workers to stamp out those worldwide and struck inside some of the and more than 287,000 Korea have good contact in Austin, Texas. Of the 15 US world’s superpowers, with a deaths. Russia has reported tracing that hopefully can counties with the highest per- sparks will determine more than 287,000 top aide to Russian President more than 232,000 confirmed detect and stop virus clusters capita infection rates between how bad the rebound deaths. Russia has Vladimir Putin diagnosed just coronavirus cases and more before they get out of control. April 28 and May 5, all have days after US Vice-President than 2,100 virus-related But he said other nations, meatpacking and poultry- is, Fauci told a Senate reported more than deaths as of Tuesday, figures which he did not name, have processing plants or state Mike Pence’s press secretary hearing on Tuesday. 232,000 confirmed also tested positive. experts say are likely signif- not effectively used investi- prisons, according to data Kremlin spokesman icant under counts. gators to contact people who compiled by the AP. If there is a rush coronavirus cases Dmitry Peskov was hospi- The climbing death tolls test positive, track down their Earlier in the pandemic, to reopen without and more than 2,100 talized with the coronavirus, come as Dr. Anthony Fauci, contacts and get them into many health workers were following guidelines, virus-related deaths the latest in a series of set- the US government’s top quarantine before they can testing positive and they con- backs for the Russian leader infectious disease expert, spread the virus. tinue to be infected in large “my concern is we as of Tuesday, figures as the country struggles to issued a warning that “the “Shutting your eyes and numbers. will start to see little experts say are likely contain the growing outbreak. consequences could be really trying to drive through this Gerard Brogan, director of The announcement of serious” if American cities and blind is about as silly an nursing practice for the Cali- spikes that might significant under Peskov’s hospitalization came states reopen the US economy equation as I’ve seen,” Ryan fornia Nurses Association, turn into outbreaks,” counts. a day after Putin announced too quickly. More than said. “Certain countries are says as many as 200 nurses a Monday that Russia was 80,000 people have died of setting themselves up for day tested positive in Cali- Fauci said. easing some of its nationwide the virus in the US some seriously blind driving fornia recently. Nationwide, lockdown restrictions. More COVID-19 infections over the next few months.” he says the National Nurses Peskov is not the only top are inevitable as people again Here is a look at COVID-19 United had tallied more than Russian government official start gathering, but how pre- developments around the 28,000 positive tests and to come down with the pared communities are to world. more than 230 deaths among deaths have occurred in Lom- health workers. bardy, where the country’s The developments provide outbreak began in late a cautionary note to commu- February. nities around the United Health officials are anx- States as they gradually iously awaiting daily case loosen restrictions on numbers later in the week to business. determine if a partial lifting of A big jump in confirmed lockdown restrictions on May COVID-19 cases in Italy’s 4 caused any rise in contagion hardest-hit region, Lombardy, rates. contributed to the country’s Counterfeit COVID-19 test highest day-to-day increase kits. Fake treatments. Fraud- in several days. ulent masks or cleaning According to Health Min- products. False promises of istry data, 1,033 cases were being able to deliver pro- confirmed in Lombardy since tective equipment. Monday evening, accounting Law enforcement officials for the majority of Italy’s say the virus has served as an 1,402 new cases. In contrast, invitation to people seeking to the last few days had seen perpetrate money-making Lombardy’s daily new schemes by pedaling fake or caseload running in the few non-existent goods. hundreds. Homeland Security Inves- Overall, Italy counts tigations, an arm of the 221,216 confirmed corona- Department of Homeland virus infections. Experts say Security, has opened over 370 the true number is doubtlessly cases and so far arrested 11 much higher, pointing out that people, as part of “Operation many people with mild Stolen Promise,” according to symptoms often don’t get Matthew Albence, acting tested. director of US Immigration Authorities registered 172 and Customs Enforcement. deaths in infected patients in “It’s incredibly rampant the 24-hour period ending and it’s growing by the day,” Tuesday evening, raising to Albence said. “We’re just MoveOn.org stages a protest against the handling of the coronavirus pandemic by US President Donald Trump with signs and white 30,911 the confirmed death scratching the surface of this roses to remember the people who died from the disease, near the US Capitol in Washington, DC, yesterday. toll. Nearly half of those criminal activity. ” Maternity ward massacre shakes Afghanistan and its peace process

OROOJ HAKIMI, ABDUL QADIR director of Ataturk Children’s saw that my grandson’s body the country vulnerable to clinics. At least 5,226 people SEDIQI & HAMID SHALIZI Hospital in Kabul. had fallen to the ground, such violence. have been infected by the REUTERS The raid, on the same day covered in blood,” she Pompeo also described the coronavirus and 132 have that at least 32 people died in recalled, as she wailed with stalled peace effort, which died, according to the health After struggling to get a suicide bomb attack on a grief. planned for intra-Afghan peace ministry. pregnant for years, Zainab, 27, funeral in the eastern The Kabul attack began in talks to begin on March 10, as The attack has shaken the gave birth to a baby boy on province of Nangarhar, the morning when gunmen “a critical opportunity for small medical community in Tuesday morning at a small threatens to derail progress entered the Dasht-e-Barchi Afghans to ... build a united Kabul to its core. hospital in the southwestern towards US-brokered peace hospital, throwing grenades front against the menace of ter- Nurses and doctors who corner of Kabul. She was talks between the Taliban and and shooting, government rorism”. Talks have yet to start. survived the hospital attack overjoyed and named the boy the Afghan government. officials said. Security forces The Pentagon declined to said they were in shock, and Omid, meaning ‘hope’ in Dari. President Ashraf Ghani had killed the attackers by the comment on Ghani’s stated resuming duties would be an At around 10am (0530 condemned the attacks and afternoon. intent to restart offensive emotional challenge on top of GMT), an hour before she and ordered the military to switch The 100-bed, gov- operations, saying only that the uncertainty caused by the her family were set to return to offensive mode rather than ernment-run hospital hosted the US military continued to pandemic. home to neighbouring the defensive tactics it a maternity clinic run by reserve the right to defend “Last night I could not Bamiyan province a three- adopted while US troops Doctors Without Borders, also Afghan security forces if they sleep, as scary scenes of the hour drive away, three withdraw from the country known by its French name are attacked by the Taliban. attack kept crossing my gunmen disguised as police after a long, inconclusive war. Médecins Sans Frontières Relations between the mind,” said Masouma Qur- burst into the hospital’s The Taliban, the main mil- (MSF). government in Kabul and the banzada, a midwife who saw maternity ward and started itant group, has denied Just hours before the Taliban movement, which the killings. shooting. involvement in both attacks, attack, MSF had tweeted a was ousted from power in “Since yesterday my family Zainab, who rushed back although trust among officials photo of a newborn in his 2001 by a US-backed assault has been telling me to stop from the washroom after and the broader public has mother’s arms at the clinic in response to the September working in the hospital, hearing the commotion, col- worn thin. An offshoot of after being delivered safely by 11 attacks, are already frayed, nothing is worth my life. But I lapsed as she took in the Islamic State is also among emergency caesarean section. and Tuesday’s events will told them ‘No, I will not stop scene. She spent seven years the suspects: it admitted it On Wednesday, the group make any rapprochement working as a health worker’.” Pompeo also trying to have a child, waited was behind the Nangarhar condemned the attack, calling harder. Officials at MSF said they were nine months to meet her son bloodshed. it “sickening” and “cowardly”. “There seems little point in working to try to normalise described the and had just four hours with Muhammadi, the mother- “Whilst fighting was continuing to engage Taliban operations and had received stalled peace effort, him before he was killed. in-law, said she saw one of ongoing, one woman gave in ‘peace talks’,” Afghan support from other hospitals to “I brought my daughter- the attackers firing at birth to her baby and both are National Security Advisor treat dozens of infants and which planned for in-law to Kabul so that she pregnant women and new doing well,” MSF said in a Hamdullah Mohib said in a adults wounded in the attack. intra-Afghan peace would not lose her baby,” said mothers, even as they statement. tweet. Some medics at the hos- Zahra Muhammadi, Zainab’s cowered under hospital beds. “More than ever, MSF For Afghanistan, the hos- pital, however, said it would talks to begin on mother-in-law, unable to “We gave him the name stands in solidarity with the pital attack also risks further be hard to move on. March 10, as “a contain her grief. “Today we’ll Omid. Hope for a better Afghan people.” Deborah disrupting a healthcare “The gunmen blew up a critical opportunity take his dead body to future, hope for a better Lyons, head of the UN mission network that is creaking amid water tank and then started Bamiyan.” No group has Afghanistan and hope for a in Afghanistan, condemned the challenges of dealing with shooting women. I saw a pool for Afghans to ... claimed responsibility for the mother who has been strug- the hospital assault in a tweet. the new coronavirus of water and blood from the build a united front massacre of 24 people, gling to have a child for “Who attacks newborn babies pandemic. small gap of a safe room including 16 women and two years,” she told Reuters by and new mothers? Who does More than a third of the where some of us managed to against the menace newborns. At least six babies telephone in Kabul. this? coronavirus cases in Kabul lock ourselves,” said a nurse of terrorism”. Talks lost their mothers in an attack The gunmen then turned The most innocent of have been among doctors and with MSF, who spoke on con- that has shaken even the war- to target the cradle where innocents, a baby! Why?” In a healthcare staff, Reuters dition of anonymity. have yet to start. torn nation numbed by years Omid had been asleep. As the statement, US Secretary of reported in early May. “I saw patients being of militant violence. sound of bullets reverberated State Mike Pompeo on The high rate of infection killed even as they begged “In my more than 20-year through the ward, Tuesday condemned the two among healthcare workers and pleaded for their life in career I have not witnessed Muhammadi said she fainted attacks, noted the Taliban had has already sparked alarm the holy month of Ramadan. such a horrific, brutal act,” in fear. denied responsibility and said among medics and some It is very hard for me to work said Dr. Hassan Kamel, “When I opened my eyes, I the lack of a peace deal left doctors have closed their now.” 10 AFRICA THURSDAY 14 MAY 2020 Lesotho PM ready to step down, but denies role in death of wife AFP — JOHANNESBURG “For me it is not fractured coalition government the best subject to on Monday. On the cusp of stepping down, Speaking in his first Lesotho’s embattled Prime deal with because interview following the coa- Minister has denied in an a woman who was lition collapse, Thabane interview any role in the sounded buoyant. “A new coa- murder of his estranged wife, my wife and who I lition is emerging and it is a a drama that has gripped the loved was killed and I good thing,” he said. tiny kingdom for months. He refused to give the exact The octogenarian Thomas don’t kill people and I date that he plans to clear his Thabane has been under wouldn’t kill my wife. desk and hand over the reins, pressure even from his own saying there were still some loose party to resign over the accu- No, no!” Thabane said ends to be to tied up — to make sations, and he has agreed to in an interview. his retirement “as smooth as pos- go — but only on the grounds sible”. But he said he intended to Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari presides over a Cabinet meeting and appoints Ibrahim of his old age. turn in his resignation letter to Gambari as his new chief of staff, in Abuja, Nigeria, yesterday. In a telephone interview, been seeking immunity from the king yesterday. Thabane vehemently denied he prosecution as part of a “dig- Parliament is due to meet was involved in the 2017 killing nified” exit from office that has on May 22 to appoint his suc- Buhari appoints new chief of staff of his 58-year-old wife Lipolelo, been mediated by South Africa. cessor and install a new who he was in the process of Sounding relaxed and con- government. AFP — ABUJA dent’s decision-making. He said unlike his prede- divorcing. templative in the interview, the Finance Minister Moeketsi Political analyst Dapo cessor Gambari “has never been Police have questioned but two-time prime minister said he Majoro, 58, has been nominated Nigerian President Thomas said the new chief of a businessman, having spent his not charged Thabane in the did not want to serve out his term to be the new premier. Muhammadu Buhari yesterday staff was seen as an “apolitical” entire career as a professor as case, which has triggered a pro- which is due to end in 2022. The saga has also sucked in named a former top UN veteran who would not “be well as a diplomat for his tracted political crisis in the “I have served enough in his new wife Maesaiah, 43, diplomat as his new chief of swayed by partisan politics, country and international mountainous southern African this... and other capacities and whom he married two months staff, replacing powerful aide ethnic and religious organisations like the UN.” nation, although his current the time has come for me to after the killing and who has Abba Kyari after he died last considerations”. Auge said this quality “should wife has been indicted. retire,” said Thabane, who turns been charged with murder. month of COVID-19. “Gambari is a seasoned and probably allow President “For me it is not the best 81 in two weeks’ time. “How they involve her in The presidency announced respected diplomat who has Buhari, who usually has very subject to deal with because a “All I look forward to... is for this, I don’t know, I don’t under- the appointment of Ibrahim played significant roles in the little focus on international woman who was my wife and me to be left alone,” he said. stand. All that rubbish they have Gambari, 75, on Twitter. international arena,” Thomas, issues, to develop a more who I loved was killed and I “All the other things that are been collecting to try and Gambari served as Buhari’s an academic at the University effective foreign policy.” He don’t kill people and I wouldn’t being said are just nonsense. involve her, is not working,” foreign minister when he was of Lagos, said. said Gambari should be ready kill my wife. No, no!” he said. “I don’t want to worry my Thabane said. Nigeria’s military ruler in the “He has very intimidating to face “strong pressure from The couple had been locked heart about that and I also don’t Thabane’s time in office had 1980s and later went on to credentials. His coming to gov- the various usual lobbies in a bitter divorce at the time and want to spoil my happiness by brought hopes of stability to become a UN under-secretary ernment will give more credi- Nigeria”. her death sent shock waves delving into things that just Lesotho. While no premier has general for Africa during Kofi bility, recognition and respect Nigeria, Africa’s most pop- through a country with a history make me feel very sad.” served out a full five-year term Annan’s tenure. ato the president.” Benjamin ulous nation, is facing major of political instability. In January, he set himself a in Lesotho, Thabane boasted Kyari’s death on April 17 has Auge, associate research fellow economic and social challenges Thabane admitted that they target to leave office by July 31 that he has set an example to rocked Nigerian politics. at the French Institute of Inter- from the coronavirus had “a bit of a disagreement” as the murder accusations fellow African leaders who A loyal lieutenant and long- national Relations shares a pandemic. just before she was killed — two swirled. But rivals in his own have the propensity to cling to time confidant of the president, similar view of Gambari. The continent’s biggest oil days before his inauguration. All Basotho Convention (ABC) power. Kyari was often viewed as the “He’ll play a more traditional producer has seen its revenues “This matter is not only a party and outside have been “I’m trying to set a prec- second most powerful person role as chief of staff to a president collapse with the drop in crude matter of great pain to me and pushing for his early departure. edent that leaders in Africa in the country. — compared to Kyari — with the prices. it came out as a huge embar- Mediation talks led by South must volunteer to leave when He played a vital role as added bonus of international Nigeria has so far officially rassment. And it’s painful, very Africa, and legal and parlia- they think it’s time to leave or gatekeeper to Buhari and had relations expertise thanks to his recorded 4,787 infections and painful,” he said. mentary processes, culminated at the very worst they must been accused of using his experience and extensive net- 158 deaths from the virus, but His political rivals say he has in the disbanding of his leave when their term ends.” influence to control the presi- works abroad,” he said. testing has been limited. South Africa amends arms export document after row Sudan presses Ethiopia to REUTERS — JOHANNESBURG governments in the Gulf and Minister Nosiviwe operations to a standstill. Denel resume talks over Nile dam North Africa, had refused to Mapisa-Nqakula. also has a local joint venture South Africa has made a subtle agree to the inspections because The previous wording of the with Germany’s Rheinmetall, change to arms export rules that they considered them a vio- clause had been: “It is agreed Rheinmetall Denel Munition, AP — CAIRO Hamdok said on Tuesday could unlock more than a lation of their sovereignty. that on-site verification of the that stands to benefit from the that he would refuse to sign a billion dollars of weapons sales A report in February said controlled items may be per- new wording. Sudan is pushing Ethiopia to “partial agreement” for the to countries including Saudi that the government was formed by an inspector desig- In the meantime, however, resume stalled US-brokered dam’s filling due to the absence Arabia and the United Arab planning to change the nated by the minister.” Defence South Africa’s defence sector negotiations over its disputed of coordinated planning and Emirates. inspection clause in an arms sources have said that countries has been upended by pro- $4.6bn dam on the Nile that outstanding “technical and A notice published in the export document following including the UAE are more duction and export disruptions officials say will start filling in legal issues” dealing with the government gazette on May 11 months of lobbying by defence comfortable with the new caused by the pandemic. July. dam’s “environmental and alters the circumstances under firms and trade unions who said wording, which should unlock South Africa, whose arms In a letter to his Ethiopian social impacts.” He urged the which South African officials thousands of jobs were at stake. the stalled weapons exports. industry traces its roots to the counterpart on Tuesday, parties to resume talks imme- can perform inspections to The clause will now read: That is a boost to state apartheid era, manufactures Sudanese Prime Minister diately, even if via video con- verify that customers are not “It is agreed that on-site verifi- defence firm Denel, which said defence products from ammu- Abdalla Hamdok stressed the ference because of the corona- transferring weapons to third cation of the controlled items last week that the COVID-19 nition to missiles and armoured need to reach agreement virus pandemic. Sudan has long parties. may be performed, through pandemic and the government’s vehicles for its own military among Egypt, Sudan and been caught between Egypt and Some of the main buyers of diplomatic process,” according subsequent lockdown of the and countries around the Ethiopia before the mega- Ethiopia, as each tries to per- South African arms, including to the notice signed by Defence economy had brought its world. project’s completion, according suade the fledgling civilian gov- to Sudan’s state-run news ernment to take its side. agency. Ethiopia has pledged Negotiations, deadlocked Lesotho becomes to start filling the reservoir for years, received a jolt last fall during the summer wet season. when the US and World Bank last country in The dispute over what will intervened. The White House be Africa’s largest hydroelectric had pushed for an agreement Africa to record dam pits Ethiopia’s desire to by the end of February. While pull millions out of poverty Egypt inked the draft COVID-19 case against Egypt’s concerns over agreement, Ethiopia skipped its critical water supply. out on the last round of nego- REUTERS — JOHANNESBURG Egyptian officials fear that tiations, stirring tension and the dam, if filled too quickly, throwing a settlement into Lesotho recorded its first case will constrict its main source of doubt. US Secretary of State of COVID-19 yesterday, the freshwater, already under Mike Pompeo cautioned that health ministry said, becoming strain from climate change and months of hard work remain. the last country in Africa to be rapid population growth. Last week, in Egypt’s latest afflicted by the virus. Ethiopia is banking on the bid to gain support from the The ministry said it had con- Grand Renaissance Dam to international community, ducted 81 tests for COVID-19 provide much-needed elec- Foreign Minister Sameh from travellers from South Africa tricity and income for Shoukry said he sent a letter to and Saudi Arabia, of which one development. the UN Security Council about was positive. It was awaiting for Bellicose rhetoric, the dam, raising alarm about results from 301 other tests. including the Ethiopian prime Ethiopia’s unilateral moves. He The remote, high-altitude Lockdown measures in Cape Town minister’s warnings of possible asked that Ethiopia reconsider kingdom, nestled in a South military action last year, have its rejection of the latest deal African mountain range, had Soldiers and police officers check documents of commuters at a minibus taxi rank during a nationwide turned the dam into an for the sake of “security and previously been spared the lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Cape Town, South Africa, yesterday. explosive issue. stability in the region.” coronavirus, although its bigger, more industrialised neighbour has recorded more than 10,000 cases. Niger says 75 Boko Haram ‘terrorists’ killed As at 1245 GMT, Africa had 69,764 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 2,421 deaths and AFP — NIAMEY region, in two operations by a comprising 25 combatants, was “Shelters and logistical an army camp following sus- 23,857 recoveries, according regional anti-militant force, the killed, it said, adding that two dumps” were also destroyed, it tained fighting and heavy to a tally based on government The Sahel state of Niger, which defence ministry said in a soldiers were lightly injured. said. Militants carried out a weapons fire. statements and World Health has been battling a bloody statement. A vehicle, four motorbikes, major attack against a Nigerien Boko Haram’s insurgency Organisation data. jihadist insurgency, said The figures could not be weapons, ammunitions and military camp outside Diffa on has claimed more than 36,000 The disease has struck at yesterday around 75 Boko verified independently. various material “for military use” May 3, killing two soldiers and lives since it began in north- a time of political uncertainty Haram combatants had been On Monday, troops from were seized, the statement said. wounding three others, eastern Nigeria in 2009 and dis- in Lesotho, with Prime Min- killed in the southeast and in Niger’s contingent in the regional The same day, around 50 according to the government. placed nearly two million from ister Thomas Thabane due to neighbouring Nigeria. force carried out “aggressive “enemy elements” were “neu- A propaganda video their homes. step down by the end of next Twenty-five “terrorists” reconnaissance” on the banks tralised” in coalition air strikes released by the Islamic State The violence spilt over into week after his coalition col- were killed on Monday south of of the Komadougou river and and artillery bombardment of West Africa Province (ISWAP), neighbouring Sahel countries lapsed in parliament. His exit Diffa, the main city in southeast clashed with Boko Haram Tombon-Fulani, an island in the a Boko Haram splinter group in 2015, especially in the Lake would clear the way for a Niger, while “about 50... were fighters at a locality 74km south marshy Lake Chad region in affiliated to the so-called Chad region, where the borders solution to a political crisis that neutralised” the same day on of Diffa, the ministry said. northeastern Nigeria, the Islamic State, purported to show of Cameroon, Chad, Niger and erupted late last year. Nigerian soil in the Lake Chad “All the terrorist group,” defence ministry added. heavily-armed insurgents storm Nigeria converge. THURSDAY 14 MAY 2020 ASIA 11 Myanmar army admits India offers $40bn loans to small businesses prisoner abuse after BLOOMBERG — NEW DELHI India will provide collateral- free loans worth $40bn to boost beating video emerges liquidity for small businesses and help the economy tide over AFP — YANGON Some security force the coronavirus outbreak. The loans will benefit up Myanmar’s military has members interrogated to 4.5 million small busi- conceded its troops abused the prisoners in a way nesses, Finance Minister prisoners in Rakhine State after Nirmala Sitharaman said in a video of soldiers battering “not in accordance with New Delhi yesterday. The pro- blindfolded detainees spread the law” and action gramme will be open until on social media—a rare October 31. admission of wrongdoing by a would be taken against “Essentially this is to spur force often accused of acting those responsible, growth and to build a very self- with impunity. reliant India,” Sitharaman said. The video, which emerged Myanmar’s military “It addresses ease of doing on Sunday, shows plain- said in a statement, business, compliance and due clothed men punching and without giving details diligence and the intention is kicking the heads of hand- also to build local brands.” cuffed and blindfolded on what punishments Prime Minister Narendra detainees. await. Modi on Tuesday said his gov- The five detainees had been ernment will spend an amount arrested on suspicion of being equivalent to 10% of the nation’s Arakan Army (AA) insurgents Lee last month warned Myan- gross domestic product to help and were being transferred to mar’s military should be inves- the economy get back on its feet Rakhine state capital Sittwe by tigated for possible “war crimes after weeks of stay-at-home boat on April 21 when the and crimes against humanity” restrictions to beat the incident occurred, according in the conflict. pandemic. to the army chief’s office Lee accused the military of The resultant halt to non- website. disappearing, torturing and essential consumption set up Myanmar’s armed forces killing dozens of AA suspects, Asia’s third-largest economy Migrant workers and their family members queue to board buses to reach their homes as they arrive are locked in an increasingly as well as blocking aid and for its first annual con- at Allahabad railway station by a special train from the Gujarat state after the government eased brutal war with the rebels, who stopping injured civilians from traction in four decades as the nationwide lockdown imposed as a preventive measure against the COVID-19, at the Madhya are fighting for more autonomy reaching hospitals. businesses collapsed and Pradesh-Uttar Pradesh border on the outskirts of Allahabad, yesterday. for ethnic Rakhine Buddhists. Myanmar has denied the jobs were lost. Some security force allegations, exchanging accu- Modi’s spending plan totaling members interrogated the pris- sations of abuse with the AA. 20 trillion rupees ($265bn) cash reserve ratio. pertaining to small businesses collateral-free automatic loans oners in a way “not in It is impossible to verify the includes measures already The details of the package and more will be announced for a four-year tenor with accordance with the law” and competing claims in northern unveiled by the government and will be shared in tranches, Sith- over the course of the next few 12-month freeze on principal action would be taken against Rakhine, which is under an also by the central bank such as araman said, adding that the days. repayments. The loans will be those responsible, the statement internet blackout and off-limits provision for cheap cash to announcement covers 15 dif- As part of the plan, small guaranteed by the said, without giving details on to journalists. banks and the reduction in its ferent measures, including six firms will be eligible to borrow government. what punishments await. The government has also The video, a rare window officially branded the AA a “ter- into the operations of an army rorist organisation”, meaning New Zealand routinely accused of abuses, was anyone who contacts them for Cambodian official says human rights shared tens of thousands of comment could be charged ends most times, splitting opinion between under Myanmar’s terrorism ‘need to be put aside’ in drug war those outraged and people laws. Human Rights Watch restrictions defending the soldiers. The fam- deputy Asia director Phil Rob- REUTERS — PHNOM PENH described arbitrary arrests by out of prison. ilies of the arrested men deny ertson called for the military’s police and torture in prison and Cambodia’s prison popu- AP — BANGKOK they have any links to the AA. “impunity” to be the focus of a A Cambodian official defended drug treatment centres. lation has soared by 78 percent “He just works in a rice UN Security Council discussion an anti-drug campaign that has Khieu Sopheak, a spokesman since 2017, and its largest prison, New Zealand has ended most shop. He doesn’t know any- on Myanmar this week. been decried as rife with for the Ministry of Interior, known as CC1, has 9,500 of its coronavirus lockdown thing about the AA,” Ni Ni, the Myanmar faces charges of abuses, saying human rights acknowledged that human rights inmates - nearly five times its restrictions as it prepares itself mother of 24-year-old detainee genocide at the UN’s top court, “need to be put aside” to fight may have been violated but estimated capacity, Amnesty for a new normal. Nyi Nyi Aung, said by phone. a case brought after some drugs that destroy families and defended the drug war. “When it said, calling the overcrowding Malls, retail stores and res- The video shows Nyi Nyi 740,000 Rohingya Muslims fuel violent crime. is an anti-drug campaign, there a dangerous breeding ground taurants are reopening today Aung’s interrogator yanking his fled to Bangladesh in a 2017 The comments came in is never a respect for human for disease such as COVID-19. in the South Pacific nation of head back by the hair as he bloody military crackdown in response to rights group Amnesty rights,” Khieu Sopheak said. Nearly 60 percent of all 5 million, and many people are punches him in the face, before Rakhine. The country denies International, which said in a “During the anti-drug cam- inmates in Cambodian prisons returning to their workplaces. another guard kicks him in the the charges. report that the campaign that has paign, human rights need be put are held on drug-related But most gatherings will be head. Scores have been killed, Seven soldiers sentenced seen 55,000 people arrested had aside, so it is clean,” he said. charges, the rights group said. limited to 10 people and social hundreds wounded and some for killing a group of Rohingya led to torture and caused dan- The spokesman denied, Chin Malin, a spokesman at the distancing guidelines will 150,000 people have fled their were freed from jail a year ago gerous prison overcrowding however, Amnesty’s assertion Ministry of Justice, said the gov- remain in place. homes since fighting erupted despite serving less time than while fuelling corruption. that police made arbitrary ernment planned to announce The reopening reflects the in January last year. two reporters imprisoned for Amnesty cited interviews arrests and solicited bribes measures to address prison success New Zealand has had UN rights expert Yanghee exposing the massacre. with dozens of people who from detainees to keep them overcrowding next week. in its bold goal of eliminating the virus. The country reported no new cases of the virus on Malaysian PM delays confidence Tuesday and Wednesday. More than 1,400 of the nearly 1,500 people who contracted vote, Mahathir cries foul COVID-19 have recovered, while 21 have died. But Prime REUTERS — KUALA LUMPUR Speaker Mohamad Ariff Minister Jacinda Ardern said Md Yusof last week approved the Southern Hemisphere Malaysian Prime Minister a motion brought by Mahathir nation faces the most chal- Muhyiddin Yassin will not face seeking a vote of no confi- lenging economic conditions a confidence vote on May 18 as dence in Muhyiddin’s since the Great Depression scheduled, the speaker of leadership. because of the virus. parliament said yesterday after But, in a statement, the the government said the battle speaker said Muhyiddin later against the coronavirus was a told him the government had Pregnant woman priority. decided to list only a single walks 196km for 6 His predecessor, 94-year- order of parliamentary old Mahathir Mohamad who business for the one-day days to reach home resigned in February after his sitting, the opening address by coalition collapsed due to the king, “as the COVID-19 IANS — JAIPUR, INDIA political wrangling, denounced pandemic has not been fully the decision as a possible sign cleared”. It was a tough trail for a of Muhyiddin lacking a parlia- Malaysia has so far 9-month pregnant woman mentary majority. reported 6,779 coronavirus who walked 196km on foot, People close to the ruling patients, with 111 dead. from Ahmedabad with her Sri Lanka ends lockdown coalition, however, said they The Southeast Asian husband, son (1-year-old) and had a majority among the 222 country has not held any daughter (2-year-old) for 6 A police personnel checks IDs of motorists after the government ended the lockdown which was elected members of parliamentary session this days to reach her native place imposed as a preventive measure against the COVID-19, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, yesterday. parliament. year. in Madhya Pradesh’s Ratlam. Surprisingly, no one took pity on her condition Freeport Indonesia throughout the way as she Facebook apologises for role in 2018 Sri Lanka unrest crossed district after district, ramps up virus checkpost after checkpost with testing as cases AFP — HONG KONG News after the findings were on the platform. Article One Facebook said in a statement an aim to reach her native place released on Tuesday. “We rec- said one civil society organi- accompanying reports, which at the earliest. It was her luck to near mine rise Facebook has apologised for ognize, and apologize for, the sation had tried to engage with also looked at Indonesia and get a few good samaritans at REUTERS — JAKARTA its role in the deadly communal very real human rights impacts the company on the misuse of Cambodia. Dungarpur checkpost, who unrest that shook Sri Lanka two that resulted.” Facebook as far back as 2009. It said it had also hired seeing her plight, stopped her Freeport Indonesia, operator of years ago after an investigation At least three people were In 2018, officials had said more staff, including Sinhala and offered her food and trans- the world’s second-biggest found that hate speech and killed and 20 injured in the mobs used Facebook to coor- speakers, and started using portation to help her reach her copper mine, is to conduct rumours spread on the 2018 unrest, during which dinate attacks, and that the detection technology to protect hometown. Dungarpur SDM “extensive testing” among its platform may have led to mosques and Muslim busi- platform had “only two vulnerable groups. Article One Rajeev Dwivedi said: “This employees after coronavirus violence against Muslims. nesses were burned, mainly in resource persons” to review also investigated the impact of woman, with her family, cases in the area where the The riots in early 2018 the central part of the Sinhalese content in Sinhala, the lan- Facebook’s services —including including husband and two kids, mine operates topped 100. erupted as anti-Muslim anger Buddhist-majority nation. guage of Sri Lanka’s ethnic WhatsApp, Messenger and reached Dungapur checkpost It said yesterday it had was whipped up on social The hate speech and majority whose members were Instagram — in Indonesia. on Monday evening. The staff at around 50,000 rapid and media, forcing the Sri Lankan rumours spread on Facebook behind the violence. It found that in addition to the location was stunned to see polymerase chain reaction test government to impose a state “may have led to ‘offline’ vio- Facebook has 4.4 million political attacks and attempts her feeble condition as she kits on site. COVID-19 infections of emergency and block access lence”, according to Article daily active users in Sri Lanka, to influence elections, vul- looked quite tired and lacked in Mimika Regency, where Free- to Facebook. One, the human rights consul- according to the report by nerable groups across the energy. When asked if she had port’s gold and copper Grasberg The tech giant commis- tancy hired to conduct the Article One. The firm said on sprawling archipelago faced food, she simply refused. It also mine is located on Papua island, sioned a probe into the part it investigation. Tuesday it had taken a number increased risks. seemed as if she was in pain.” reached 112 cases as of may have played, and investi- The consultants also sug- of steps in the last two years to The social media company The officials at the check- Sunday.“To help keep its over gators said incendiary content gested that before the unrest, better protect human rights. said that, like in Sri Lanka, it is point hence informed the SDM 25,000 employee and contractor on Facebook may have led to Facebook had failed to take “In Sri Lanka... we are ramping up efforts to protect and other officials. Soon a workforce safe, PT Freeport violence against Muslims. down such content, which reducing the distribution of fre- its users from harm, including team of doctors from nearby Indonesia’s medical providers are “We deplore the misuse of “resulted in hate speech and quently reshared messages, more staff and improved tech- medical checkpost arrived at doing extensive testing,” the our platform,” Facebook said other forms of harassment which are often associated with nology to identify hate speech the location to review her company said in the statement. in a statement to Bloomberg remaining and even spreading” clickbait and misinformation,” in Indonesian. medical condition. 12 ASIA THURSDAY 14 MAY 2020 Ghani orders army to resume anti-Taliban operations

BLOOMBERG — KABUL US Secretary of State, National Security Forces to Armed militants in army uni- condition of some of the the country’s interior ministry Mike Pompeo, called switch from an active defense forms attacked the maternity wounded was “quite critical,” said by phone. All the gunmen Afghan President Ashraf Ghani mode to an offensive one and ward of a Kabul hospital, killing he added. were killed after a five-hour- ordered government forces to on the Taliban and the to begin operations against the 16, including women and infants, “The United States condemns long battle with Afghan forces, resume operations against the Afghan government enemies,” Ghani said in a tele- Waheedullah Mayar, a in the strongest terms the two Arian added. Taliban and other insurgent vision address several hours spokesman from the country’s horrific terrorist attacks in Pompeo called on the groups after 40 people, to cooperate to bring after the attacks. health ministry, said over the Afghanistan today,” US Secretary Taliban and the Afghan gov- including newborn babies, were the perpetrators to The Afghan military had phone. Another 16 were of State Mike Pompeo said in an ernment to cooperate to bring killed when armed militants stopped operations against the wounded in that attack, he said. e-mailed statement. “During the the perpetrators to justice. opened fire inside a hospital justice. Taliban after the US signed a The ward is run with the support holy month of Ramadan and “As long as there is no sus- and at a funeral ceremony. peace deal with the group on of the international aid group amidst the threat of COVID-19, tained reduction in violence and The Taliban denied meant to reduce bloodshed and February 29. The deal was Médecins Sans Frontières. these dual attacks are particularly insufficient progress towards a involvement in Tuesday’s pave the way for the with- meant to lead the way for direct A separate attack on a appalling. We note the Taliban negotiated political settlement, attacks on the hospital in a Shia drawal of US troops and end 18 negotiations between the funeral ceremony in eastern have denied any responsibility Afghanistan will remain vul- neighbourhod of capital Kabul years of war in Afghanistan. Afghan government and mil- Nangarhar province killed at and condemned both attacks as nerable to terrorism,” he said. and on a funeral ceremony in “In order to ensure security itant group, who have least 24 people and wounded heinous.” Afghan Vice-President the eastern province of Nan- for the public areas and to repeatedly rebuffed Ghani’s about 70 others, provincial On Tuesday, three assailants Amrullah Saleh was less con- garhar. The violence cast thwart attacks and threats from peace calls. Since the signing of spokesman Attaullah Khogyani began shooting inside the ciliatory, saying in a tweet that further doubt on the longevity the Taliban and other terrorist the accord violence has surged said over the phone on Tuesday. maternity ward of the hospital, those who believed the Taliban of the US-Taliban deal that was groups, I am ordering Afghan killing hundreds. The death toll could rise as the Tariq Arian, a spokesman from were naive. New infections COVID-19 fuels end Hong Kong’s 24-day virus anti-Asian racism, clean sheet xenophobia: Report AFP — HONG KONG Two people in Hong Kong ANATOLIA — ANKARA promote tolerance, and counter tested positive for coronavirus, hate speech while aggressively officials said yesterday, ending Since the novel coronavirus investigating and prosecuting a 24-day run of no new local outbreak emerged in China, hate crimes,” John Sifton, Asia cases that saw the city begin Asians have become targets of advocacy director of the HRW, to ease social distancing regu- hate speech, the Human Rights said. lations. Watch (HRW) said, urging According to the report, US The financial hub was on governments for immediate President Donald Trump’s use course for 28-days of no local action. of the term “Chinese virus” may transmissions — a yardstick “Asians and people of Asian have encouraged the use of hate often used by epidemiologists descent have been targets of speech in the US, although he to judge if an outbreak has derogatory language in media stepped back from using the been defeated. reports and statements by pol- term and later posted a tweet But yesterday, officials said iticians as well as on social in support of Asian-American a 66-year-old woman and her media platforms, where hate community, saying it is not their People wearing face masks amid concerns of the coronavirus disease commute through a subway five-year-old granddaughter speech related to COVID-19 also fault. station in Beijing, yesterday. had tested positive for the appears to have spread exten- A coalition of Asian- virus. sively,” the US-based rights American groups named Stop his remarks. The watchdog added it also infected more than 4.28 million Investigators described group said in a statement. AAPI Hate, said it received Italian civil society group received similar reports from people and killed over 292,300, them as local transmission It said the governments — almost 1,500 reports of racism Lunaria has collected over 50 France, Australia, Spain, Russia, while recoveries exceeded 1.5 cases, saying they were still from the US to Europe, Africa incidents against Asians and reports and media accounts of Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, million, according to the data trying to work out how the and some Asian countries — Asian-Americans by late April. assaults, verbal harassment South Korea, Japan, and compiled by the US-based Johns older woman had become have directly or indirectly The governor of the Veneto against people of Asian roots Indonesia. Hopkins University. infected. encouraged hate crimes, region of Italy, an early epi- since February, the HRW Meanwhile, in Sri Lanka, Last week, the UN voiced “She has no travel history. racism, or xenophobia by using center of the pandemic, told noted. India, and Malaysia, Muslim concern over “a tsunami of hate Her family has no travel history anti-Chinese rhetoric and reporters in February that Citing Sky News’ early May minorities have been the targets and xenophobia” unleashed by and they have no contact advanced anti-immigration and “unlike Italians, the Chinese did report, the HRW said the UK of hate speech and held respon- the pandemic and urged gov- history with confirmed cases,” white supremacist. not have good standards of police forces showed at least sible for the spread of the virus. ernments to act to strengthen Dr. Chaung Shuk-kwan told “Governments should act to hygiene” and “eat mice live.” 267 anti-Asian hate crimes Spreading to at least 187 the immunity of their societies reporters, adding officials were expand public outreach, Luca Zaia later apologised for recorded across the country. countries globally, the virus against the virus of hate. planning to test neighbours. For the last three weeks the only new cases have been Philippine govt to in 24 people arriving from Pakistan reports 2,255 new cases in 24 hours overseas, who were placed in probe police chief quarantine. The new infec- INTERNEWS — ISLAMABAD The report showed that estimated 13,000 on May 9, According to the tions will raise fears that a new over birthday bash Balochistan had the highest rate according to the report. breakdown, 6,661 were con- outbreak could still occur. Pakistan reported a record of local transmission at 93 On May 10 and 11, the firmed cases of hospitalization, Despite its close proximity amid lockdown number of 2,255 coronavirus percent, and only 7 percent number of tests dropped, fluctu- with 281 reportedly in a critical and links to mainland China, cases over the past 24 hours were imported cases. ating between 11,000 to 10,000. condition. Hong Kong has kept infections REUTERS — MANILA yesterday, as the spread of the At second number was The report said that The report estimated that to around 1,000 people with infection through local trans- Sindh, where 92 percent were Pakistan had 1,140 new cases 16,159 were positive cases four deaths using intensive The Philippine government mission showed a dangerous local transmissions and 8 of the coronavirus on May 11, either at home or isolation testing and contract tracing. ordered a probe yesterday of upward trajectory in a recent percent imported cases. 2020, which showed a facilities. The city has avoided the the Manila police chief’s report published by the World In the worst-hit Punjab, 15 reduction in number from 1,991 It also said that 26.66 per kind of harsh lockdowns seen birthday celebrations after Health Organisation Pakistan percent were foreign cases cases reported on May 9 around cent of the total cases, which elsewhere. photographs posted online chapter. while 85 percent of the reported 42.71 percent. stands at 8,555, were dis- On Friday, authorities showed him and dozens of The report presented a cases had emerged through The number of cases charged after recovery. began easing many social dis- fellow officers flouting a ban dismal picture in terms of local local transmission. reported since the beginning of As of May 13, Pakistan tancing measures with the re- on social gatherings to curb the transmission cases in Pakistan, Pakistan’s testing capacity the outbreak was 32,081 with reported more than 34,000 opening of clubs, gyms and coronavirus outbreak. province by province, on a has faced a downward tra- 706 deaths (as per the report’s cases of the virus with more cinemas after a three-week Debold Sinas, the chief of weekly basis. jectory after peaking at an filing time). than 700 deaths. closure. the National Capital Region’s police office, apologised for “causing anxiety to the public”, but the national police chief Taiwan’s exclusion from WHO and justice minister ordered separate investigations into caused virus deaths: US panel the incident. Photographs posted on the REUTERS — TAIPEI said Taiwan’s exclusion con- force’s Facebook page on May tributed to “critical delays” in 8 had shown Sinas along with Lives have been lost in the coro- timely receipt and accurate dozens of people without navirus pandemic because of guidance for WHO members in masks sitting closely while the World Health Organization’s the early stages of the band entertained them. (WHO) exclusion of Taiwan and outbreak. The photographs were refusal to allow it to share best “Had the WHO allowed Tai- taken down as the backlash practices and information, a top wan’s health experts to share mounted on social media, but US government commission on information and best practices by yesterday the police chief’s China said. in early January, governments party had become the Philip- The United States has around the world could have pines’ second most trending repeatedly clashed with China had more complete infor- topic with more than 22,000 over its refusal to allow mation on which to base their tweets. non-WHO member Taiwan, public health policies,” it said. “It was never my intention claimed by China as one of its One of Taiwan’s main com- to disobey existing protocols provinces, full access to the plaints is that the WHO ignored relative to the implementation body, becoming another source its request for information in of the enhanced community of rising tensions between late December on the potential quarantine,” Sinas said in a Motorists pass a billboard reminding people to observe social distancing as a preventive measure Washington and Beijing. for human-to-human trans- statement. against the spread of the COVID-19 in Thailand’s southern province of Narathiwat, yesterday. Self-ruled Taiwan says mission. The WHO has said an Interior Minister Eduardo China and the WHO have con- email it received from Taiwan Año, a retired military general, spired for political purposes to made no mention of human- described the party as a “big Thailand reports no new coronavirus cases lock it out of key meetings, that to-human transmission. no, no” in violation of the the WHO has not responded to “In this respect, the WHO’s lockdown in the Philippines REUTERS — BANGKOK COVID-19 Situation Adminis- Thailand, where there has been its requests for coronavirus suppression of information capital. tration. “We need to continue a large number of cases in the information and that the WHO provided by Taiwan and the The Philippines has Thailand, the first country with the main measures ... wash past two weeks. has previously misreported delayed issuance of its own recorded 11,618 coronavirus outside China to discover a case hands, practice social dis- The last day Thailand Taiwan’s virus case numbers. guidance undermined the cases, including 772 deaths. of the new coronavirus, tancing and wear masks” . recorded no new cases was The WHO and China national security of the very Curbs on businesses and reported no new daily cases for Thailand detected its first March 9, but within two weeks strongly dispute this, saying member states trusting it for movement in Manila, home to the first time in two months coronavirus case, a tourist from the daily numbers jumped to Taiwan has been given all the authoritative public health 13 million people, were intro- yesterday as the government China on January 13. Since then double digits and then to more help it needs, but that only guidance,” the US commission duced in mid-March, and have considered easing more restric- it has recorded a total of 3,017 than 100 a day. That sharp China has the right to represent said. “The lives lost as a result since been extended up to the tions on businesses. infections and 56 deaths. escalation prompted the gov- the democratic island in the of these missteps offer a tragic end of May, though restrictions “We all can be relieved but Taweesin said areas that ernment to order the closure of WHO. reminder of how global health in so-called low-risk areas not complacent,” said Taweesin were still most at risk included shopping malls, restaurants, In a report, the US Con- is compromised by the WHO’s have been eased to jumpstart Wisanuyothin, a spokesman for Bangkok and surrounding gyms and other businesses and gress’ US-China Economic and politically-motivated exclusion the economy. the government’s Centre for provinces, as well as southern to impose a curfew. Security Review Commission of Taiwan”. THURSDAY 14 MAY 2020 EUROPE 13

Italy’s daily England tiptoes out of lockdown virus death

REUTERS — LONDON The worst-hit country toll rises, new in Europe with more England tentatively began easing cases fall its coronavirus lockdown than 40,000 deaths yesterday, with some people who from COVID-19, REUTERS — ROME cannot do their jobs at home urged to return to work. including 275 health Deaths from the COVID-19 The worst-hit country in and care workers, epidemic in Italy climbed by Europe with more than 40,000 195 yesterday, against 172 the deaths from COVID-19, including according to official day before, the Civil Protection 275 health and care workers, data, Britain has been Agency said, but the daily tally according to official data, Britain of new cases fell to 888 from has been in lockdown since in lockdown since 1,402 on Tuesday. March 23. March 23. The total death toll since The government is loosening the outbreak came to light on restrictions only gradually, for what can and can’t be done February 21 now stands at fear of triggering a second peak safely. People have struggled to 31,106 the agency said, the of infections. As of yesterday reconcile the advice to go to work third highest in the world after morning, people in manufac- with strong discouragement from those of the United States and turing and certain other sectors using public transport, and with Britain. were being asked to return to a lack of childcare while schools The number of confirmed work if they could not work from remain closed. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaking in the House of Commons, in London, yesterday. cases amounts to 222,104, the home. Many have also asked why fifth highest global tally behind Answering questions in par- people were not allowed to let than last week, but overall use of percent compared with pre- care homes of having neglected those of the United States, liament, Prime Minister Boris friends and relatives into their the “Tube” network was still coronavirus levels. the sector, said the homes were Spain, Britain and Russia. Johnson said it was “very homes, while they are now down 94 percent compared to The government has been experiencing an “appalling” epi- People registered as cur- notable” that in some countries authorised to allow prospective last year. under increasing pressure over demic but made no comment on rently carrying the illness fell where relaxations had been home buyers in to view their It said it had run about 70 its handling of the outbreak, Starmer’s figures. to 78,457 from 81,266 the day introduced, there were signs that properties. percent of its Tube services and which opposition leaders have “I was disappointed that the before, the agency said. the rate of contagion was rising “All those who talk about 82 percent of buses. Road traffic said was slower than in compa- prime minister doesn’t have an There were 893 people in again. confusion or mixed messages are into the city was steady, though rable European countries and answer to the pretty obvious intensive care yesterday, down “That is a very clear warning grossly overstating the position,” also well below traditional rush had been marred by insufficient question, ‘what are those 10,000 from 952 on Tuesday, main- to us not to proceed too fast or Johnson said. hour levels. Digital information testing and supplies of protective unexplained deaths?’,” said taining a long-running decline. too recklessly,” he said. “The common sense of the panels said: “Stay home, essential kit. Starmer. Of those originally infected, Johnson has described the British people is shining through.” travel only, save lives”. Opposition Labour Party The Labour leader also 112,541 were declared process as a “supremely difficult” During the morning rush Asked about video footage leader Keir Starmer grilled asked Johnson why the govern- recovered against 109,039 a balancing act between public hour in London, commuter trains showing commuters, not all Johnson about the situation in ment’s official advice until day earlier. The agency said health and the economy. appeared busier than in past wearing masks, squeezing on and care homes for the elderly, where March 12 was that “it remains 1.779 million people had been Scotland, Wales and weeks, though still far from pre- off crowded buses, Johnson said: the outbreak has been particu- unlikely that people receiving tested for the virus against Northern Ireland, which have pandemic overcrowding. Many “I don’t want to see crowding on larly deadly. care in a care home will become 1.742 million on Tuesday, out semi-autonomous governments, people wore face masks, and mass transit or public transport Starmer said there had been infected”. of a population of around 60 are sticking with a “stay at home” made noticeable efforts to in our capital or anywhere else.” 18,000 excess deaths in care Johnson said it was “not million. message for now, leaving observe distancing. Transport Minister Grant homes in April of which only true” that the advice said that. England, the most populous UK The capital’s transit operator, Shapps has warned that if trav- 8,000 were related to COVID-19, Labour later circulated the nation, to take the lead in sending Transport for London, said the ellers stick to the 2-metres social meaning there were 10,000 advice with the relevant wording some people back to work. number of underground train distancing rule, the capacity of unexplained excess deaths. and Starmer wrote to Johnson Germany to Johnson has been criticised journeys during the morning the public transport network Johnson, who has been demanding he return to par- for confusing the public about peak was about 7 percent higher would be reduced by about 90 accused by people working in liament to correct the record. relax border controls with Gerry Adams wins appeal against 1970s jailbreak convictions neighbours

AFP — LONDON original interim custody order involvement in spiralling unrest have been unlawful. ANATOLIA — BERLIN (ICO) should have been made over Britain’s control of Northern “I have no regrets about my Former Irish republican leader personally by the British minister Ireland, which became known imprisonment, except for the Germany announced Gerry Adams (pictured) for Northern Ireland at the time. as The Troubles. time I was separated from my yesterday that it will relax yesterday won an appeal at Brit- Instead, it was made by a He twice tried to escape, in family. However, we were not on border checks with several ain’s Supreme Court against two more junior minister. December 1973 and July 1974, our own,” he said in a statement. neighbouring countries convictions dating back to the “The making of the ICO in from the high-security Maze “There is an onus on the beginning from this weekend darkest days of the violence in respect of the appellant (Adams) prison near Belfast, which housed British government to identify amid a decline in the number Northern Ireland. was invalid. It follows that he was pro-British loyalist and repub- and inform other internees of new coronavirus infec- Adams, who as Sinn Fein not detained lawfully,” the lican paramilitaries. whose internment may also have tions. leader was for decades the judgement said. But the escape plans, been unlawful.” Interior Minister Horst political figurehead of the anti- “It further follows that he was reportedly orchestrated by the Between 1971 and 1975 nearly Seehofer told a news con- British movement in the wrongfully convicted of the Irish Republican Army, both 2,000 mainly republican pris- ference in Berlin that relax- province, received two jail terms offences of attempting to escape failed and he was jailed in 1975 oners were held without trial, ation of border checks with in 1975 for trying to escape from controversial “internment” pro- from lawful custody and his con- for a total of four and a half years. according to Ulster University. neighbouring countries prison. gramme of holding terror sus- victions for those offences must After the ruling, Adams, now The British government France, Austria and Swit- But he argued that his pects without trial, was invalid. be quashed.” Adams was 71, urged the British gov- allowed detention without trial zerland will begin on original detention in 1973, under The Supreme Court judges detained under an order issued ernment to identify others — internment — in Northern Saturday. the British government’s unanimously agreed, saying the on July 21, 1973, on suspicion of whose internment may also Ireland since 1922. “Our goal is to completely end border controls on June 15,” Seehofer said, but also underlined that lifting travel Swim and jog, but no restrictions with these coun- tries would depend on the evolution of the epidemio- sunbathing: France logical situation. Controls on border with the tiny European country of reopens some beaches Luxembourg will be lifted completely on Friday, he AFP — PARIS Walkers, swimmers, indi- noted. vidual watersports practitioners Talks were still underway Runners and swimmers redis- and anglers are welcome, pro- with Danish authorities for covered the sea air yesterday vided they respect the social- setting a date to reopen the as France opened a selection of distancing rule of one metre border with Denmark, See- Atlantic coast beaches closed between individuals, said a hofer also added. during the coronavirus tweet from the Loire-Atlantique In March, the German lockdown, while the Lourdes department. government announced sanctuary prepared to welcome Other beaches remain off- travel restrictions and intro- back Catholic pilgrims this limits, however, including duced border checks with weekend. Deauville in Normandy, a five neighboring countries — But the cautious relaxation favourite with Parisians, for Austria, France, Switzerland, of restrictions stipulated that whom it is a 2.5-hour train ride A customer deposits money in a box in front of a market stall in central Strasbourg, eastern France, Luxembourg and Denmark while beach-goers can swim or away. yesterday, on the third day of easing of lockdown measures. — in an effort to curb the go fishing, no sunbathing is “If we say we will open the spread of the virus. allowed. The Catholic shrine at beaches, everyone will descend Germany and all five Lourdes, meanwhile, will allow on them and it will be a terrible Monday from a two-month zones” — including Paris and In lower-risk areas, local neighbouring countries are in only a limited number of vis- crowd,” Deauville mayor lockdown, which the gov- the wider Ile-de-France region officials can apply for per- the Schengen area, Europe’s itors and keep some areas Philippe Augier told the France ernment credits with saving —where the virus remains mission to reopen beaches and border-free travel zone. off-limits. 3 broadcaster. tens of thousands of lives by active. lakes. Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Local officials have reo- Beaches on the Mediter- limiting the spread of the coro- Cafes, restaurants, many In France’s southwest coalition government decided pened a number of beaches on ranean coast and the North Sea navirus, but which has exacted schools, parks and gardens meanwhile, the Lourdes sanc- last week to ease strict coro- the west of France, banning any could reopen from this a heavy economic toll. remain shuttered in these areas, tuary, which receives millions navirus lockdown measures “static presence — seated or weekend for walks and sporting The country remains on on top of a nationwide ban on of visitors every year, said it in the country, amid decline lying down”, including activities, say local officials. high alert, with heightened pre- gatherings of more than 10 would start reopening from in the number of infections in picnicking. France started emerging on cautions in so-called “red people. Saturday. recent weeks. Spain reports 184 new deaths from virus, total rises to 27,104 ANATOLIA — OVIEDO chief epidemiologist, in a press body is now publishing the basic 3.3 million workers will be For the last three nights, street. Making it obligatory could conference yesterday said the reproduction rate of coronavirus extended until June 30. dozens of right-wing protestors be over-reacting a little bit, but For the third day in a row, Spain current trends are likely to con- in the country. As of Monday, it Spanish Labor Minister have gathered in the wealthy it could be fine, yet they can gen- reported less than 450 new tinue unless things change due was at 0.78, up slightly from a Yolanda Diaz admitted that some Madrid district of Salamanca, erate problems for people with COVID-19 infections and under to “improper use of the new con- low of 0.67 on May 5. 300,000 people who have calling for Sanchez’s breathing difficulties. The best 200 daily deaths yesterday, ditions of mobility that have been Early March, before the applied and qualify for these pay- resignation. mask is [keeping] two meters of confirming positive trends in the permitted.” lockdown was called in Spain, the ments have yet to receive any According to local media, the distance,” said Simon on outbreak’s evolution. Around half of Spain, rate was much higher - standing money, but added that they will Spanish government is consid- Tuesday. With 184 more fatalities, including big cities like Bar- at 4.31 — and one person with be paid within the next week. ering making masks obligatory After originating in China Spain’s official death toll now sits celona, and the capital Madrid, COVID-19 infected an average of Figures released by a Madrid in all public spaces. For the last December, COVID-19, the at 27,104. The country has also remains under a stricter at least four others, according to neighborhood association and moment, masks are only man- disease caused by the corona- counted a total of 228,691 infec- lockdown than other parts of the the study. the city council show more than datory on public virus, has spread to 187 coun- tions, for which nearly 124,000 country where outdoor terraces On Tuesday, government 100,000 people are now relying transportation. tries and regions across the people have been hospitalised. and small shops have opened. officials said the temporary layoff on daily help from food banks in “Now, masks are highly rec- world. Europe and the US are Fernando Simon, Spain’s Spain’s main epidemiological measure that currently supports the Spanish capital. ommended for anyone on the currently the worst-hit regions. 14 EUROPE / AMERICAS THURSDAY 14 MAY 2020 Russia reports 10,028 virus cases in 24 hours AFP — MOSCOW Health Minister Mikhail Murashko told Russia reported more than Parliament that more than 100,000 patients 10,000 new coronavirus cases are now hospitalised with confirmed or yesterday, continuing a grim suspected coronavirus, a jump from the figure trend that has seen the country register the world’s second- of 80,000 he gave on Friday. highest number of infections. Health officials reported regulator yesterday ordered a A majority of Russia’s new 10,028 new cases over the last halt to the use of ventilators cases were registered in the 24 hours, bringing Russia’s total believed to have caused two capital, a government virus tally number of infections to 242,271. fires at coronavirus hospitals in said, where Moscow Mayor Health Minister Mikhail Moscow and Saint Petersburg Sergei Sobyanin has extended Murashko told parliament more that left six people dead. a lockdown until the end of than 100,000 patients are now The blazes have been linked May. hospitalised with confirmed or to domestically-produced Prominent lawmaker suspected coronavirus, a jump Aventa-M breathing machines Oxana Pushkina said she tested from the figure of 80,000 he which were also part of a positive for the coronavirus, gave on Friday. Russian shipment to the United becoming the latest high-profile Nearly 1,500 patients are States on April 1. political figure to get infected. currently on ventilators, the A spokesman for the US She said she had no minister said. Federal Emergency Man- symptoms and added she hoped An unofficial list of deaths agement Agency said the to get back to work soon. among medics started by a equipment had been sent to President Vladimir Putin’s group of Russian doctors listed hospitals in US states New York spokesman Dmitry Peskov and 174 names as of yesterday, and New Jersey but had not Prime Minister Mikhail including some from neigh- been used. Mishustin earlier tested positive bouring Belarus. “Out of an abundance of and were hospitalised. Some medical workers have caution, the states are returning Peskov’s wife, Olympic ice complained of shortages of pro- the ventilators to FEMA” and dancer Tatiana Navka, who has National Guard servicemen detain a man for disobedience towards them in front of a supermarket tective gear and said medics are any future use will be decided also tested positive, wrote on in Moscow, yesterday, amid the outbreak of COVID-19. dying at a higher rate in Russia after the Russian probe con- Instagram that she was already than elsewhere. cludes, the spokesman added. recovering but “it’s a bit more from the coronavirus as of patients and launch a vast cam- But critics have cast doubt Murashko acknowledged The Kremlin this week complicated for my husband”. yesterday. paign to test and quarantine on the figures, accusing the ongoing “disruptions” in sup- began easing a national Despite the steady rise in Authorities say the low those infected. authorities of under-counting plies of personal protective lockdown to slow the spread of new cases, Russia’s reported mortality rate is because Russia Health Minister Murashko by blaming virus-related deaths equipment for medics, while he the virus, despite a steady rise mortality rate is significantly was able to learn lessons from said low fatalities were “thanks on other causes. said those working in “red in numbers that on Tuesday lower compared to other the experiences of western to our hero medics”. Murashko said that Russia zones” with infected patients brought Russia to second place European countries hit hard by Europe, moving quickly to Authorities on Monday said was working on developing now have enough. in a global tally of infections, the pandemic, with 96 new isolate travellers and people at they had carried out nearly six vaccines and clinical tests are Russia’s healthcare behind only the United States. deaths and a total of 2,212 dead risk, convert hospitals for virus million tests. planned to start in June.

Serbia protests Brazil’s Bolsonaro denies blocking police probe priests’ detention AFP — BRASÍLIA investigations. He said on Twitter that he As part of that probe, inves- Supreme Court justices and Bra- Bolsonaro acknowledged would have no problem publicly tigators viewed the cabinet zil’s biggest trading partner, in Montenegro Brazilian President Jair talking about his family at the releasing any part of the video meeting video on Tuesday at China. Police are reportedly Bolsonaro denied on Tuesday he April 22 Cabinet meeting, but pertaining to the investigation. federal police offices in Brasilia. investigating multiple cases AP — PODGORICA had top police officials fired to said he was referring to pro- The public saga goes back to They also questioned three Bol- involving Bolsonaro and his shield his family from investi- tecting their physical safety. He April 24, when popular justice sonaro cabinet ministers. inner circle, including allega- Serbia yesterday strongly gations, as potentially damning said that had been a top concern minister Sergio Moro resigned Moro says the president tions his son Carlos, a Rio de protested the detention of eight revelations continued to fly in a since he himself was stabbed over the firing of federal police pressured him at the meeting to Janeiro city councilor, oversaw Serbian Orthodox Church case that has hurt the far-right during his 2018 presidential chief Mauricio Valeixo. ensure the head of the federal a fake-news campaign to benefit priests in Montenegro after leader. campaign. Moro, an anti-corruption police in Rio de Janeiro was his father. thousands of people attended An obstruction of justice “I never said the word crusader, accused Bolsonaro of replaced, in order to protect his The scandal comes at a del- a religious procession despite probe opened after Bolsonaro ‘investigation.’ My concern since improper “political interference” family. Other parts of the video icate time for Bolsonaro, who is a ban on gatherings because of fired the federal police chief took the stabbing has always been for in the police’s work. threaten to hurt Bolsonaro, as already facing criticism over his the coronavirus. an explosive turn as investi- my family’s security,” he told Following Moro’s scathing well. downplaying of the coronavirus Montenegrin prosecutors gators viewed a video of a journalists outside the presi- departure, a Supreme Court According to a series of leaks pandemic. A new poll conducted said that the priests are facing cabinet meeting at which the dential palace. justice ordered an investigation to the Brazilian media, the pres- by the MDA institute found his charges of violating health reg- president allegedly indicated he “The tape was supposed to into whether the president com- ident and his cabinet used off- disapproval rating had risen ulations during the virus out- wanted changes to the police top be destroyed. I don’t know why mitted obstruction of justice or color language and insults in more than eight points since break by organising the pro- brass in order to muzzle ongoing it wasn’t,” he added. other crimes. talking about various politicians, January, to 55.4 percent. cession on Tuesday in the western town of Niksic. Most people participating in the procession didn’t wear Hungary social media face masks or keep a safe dis- tance from each other. Angry over the arrests, sup- ‘scaremongering’ porters of the Serbian Orthodox Church blocked a regional road in northern Montenegro yes- detentions spark alarm terday, according to the state AFP — BUDAPEST out of hospitals to make beds Montenegrin RTCG television. available for COVID-19 The report said that a long line A spate of Hungarian police sufferers. of blocked cars formed down detentions over alleged scare- “The silencing of critical the road. mongering on social media voices has begun, namely by The detentions heightened about the coronavirus pandemic police action intimidating people tensions between the small has alarmed opposition politi- who are writing or telling the Adriatic state and Serbia and cians who accuse Prime Minister truth,” said Akos Hadhazy, an its church which earlier this Viktor Orban of abusing the independent opposition MP, in year led weeks of protests special powers granted to him a Facebook message. against a religious law that it in March. A 64-year-old man in north- says would strip the church of According to police, some eastern Hungary was held for its property. Montenegrin offi- 86 criminal investigations into hours on Tuesday for allegedly cials have repeatedly denied scaremongering have been “publishing false facts on a social the allegations. launched since the definition of media site” last month, police Serbia’s president, Ale- the offence was widened as part said in a statement. ksandar Vucic, and Serbian of anti-coronavirus emergency “Police are continuously Orthodox Church Patriarch A nurse takes a sample from a man’s throat for the coronavirus test at one of the sampling points legislation adopted by par- monitoring the internet,” it said. Irinej said in a joint statement of the Pecs University, in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary, yesterday. liament on March 30. The man’s post criticised a yesterday that they hope the That law enables Orban to government decision about its arrests won’t spark any rule by decree until his gov- nationwide lockdown, and had been dropped. large an untrue fact or a fact media post that claimed several “unwanted unrest or clashes.” ernment decides the virus crisis included the remark: “You are a “In the post the man just distorted in such a way that health care institutions will The patriarch said the is over, while new rules set out merciless tyrant, but remember, expressed his opinion, he crit- may cause confusion or unrest soon close in Hungary. detentions “are only a proof jail terms of up to five years for until now dictators always fall”. icised the government, scare- in a larger group of people”. That could undermine con- that the Montenegrin state is spreading fake news about the He was later released and mongering is not about Under the new rules it is fidence in the public health conducting a purge of the pandemic or government told local news-site 444.hu that opinions,” Julia Kaputa, a now also considered scare- system, said the police Serbian Orthodox Church.” measures taken to combat it. police, who published a video of lawyer with the Hungarian mongering if such statements statement. Hungary’s anti- Vucic urged a peaceful reso- A member of the Momentum the man being taken for ques- Civil Liberties Union NGO, told “hinder or foil the effec- coronavirus emergency law has lution of the crisis and a quick opposition party was detained tioning, had asked him who he the website. tiveness” of anti-virus drawn fire in Brussels as well release of the priests. in southern Hungary yesterday was referring to by the word Prior to the March measures. as at home. The European Par- Montenegro, a country of after posting a message about a “dictator”. amendment, “scaremongering” Last week a 52-year-old liament will debate the legis- 620,000 people, split from controversial government policy Prosecutors told local meant “stating or dissemi- woman was also detained after lation and rule of law in much larger Serbia in a refer- of clearing non-virus patients media yeserday that the case nating before the public at police said she wrote a social Hungary today. endum in 2006. Coronavirus cases spike in second Colombian prison Poland to reopen restaurants REUTERS — BOGOTA is counted among 743 cases special containment measures State capital Manaus, a city reported in Amazonas, one of would be taken for the Leticia of 2 million people located in the and hairdressers on May 18 Half the prisoners at a jail in the the country’s most sparsely jail, though he did not give heart of Brazil’s Amazon, has REUTERS — WARSAW “At least to some extent we Colombian city Leticia, near the populated provinces. details. Colombia would further been hit particularly hard by the have contained the epidemic, Amazonian borders of Brazil At least 25 people in the militarise its closed border, virus, with mass burials needed Poland will reopen restaurants therefore we can gradually and Peru, have tested positive province have died from sending troops to crossing to keep up with soaring deaths. and hairdressers from next unfreeze the economy,” for the coronavirus, the latest COVID-19, the illness caused by points to prevent imported The outbreak at the Leticia Monday as it eases corona- Morawiecki told a news con- example of the threats facing the coronavirus, according to cases in Amazonas, Duque jail is the second major one in a virus-linked restrictions, Prime ference, a day after Poland saw the region’s prisons as they Colombia’s National Health added, as well as distribute Colombian prison. The prison in Minister Mateusz Morawiecki its largest rise in coronavirus confront the pandemic. Institute. additional medical supplies to the central city of Villavicencio, said yesterday. cases in a single day. Eighty-nine of 180 inmates Amazonas has a population the province. in Meta province, has also Poland, the largest Health Minister Lukasz Szu- and one staff member at the jail, of around 66,000 people. Across the border, Brazil’s reported high infections, with economy of the European mowski told reporters that the located in the capital of Colom- Colombian capital Bogota, identically named Amazonas some 838 inmates and staff Union’s eastern members, coronavirus reproduction rate bia’s Amazonas province, have which is home to more than 8 state said in April its health struck by the illness. started relaxing some of its had fallen below 1 in Poland, tested positive, the national million people, has reported system was overwhelmed by Infection numbers in the two curbs on public life in April. meaning that statistically prison agency INPEC said on 4,563 cases of the the pandemic, with all available prisons are higher than many of Earlier in May it allowed hotels, speaking one infected person Tuesday. coronavirus. intensive care beds and venti- the country’s medium-sized shopping centres and kinder- led to fewer than one new The outbreak in the prison President Ivan Duque said lators occupied. cities. gartens to reopen. infections in other people. THURSDAY 14 MAY 2020 AMERICAS 15 US governors seek Washington aid to fight ‘red, white and blue’ pandemic The University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation has steadily increased its projections for US deaths from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. On Tuesday, it revised its estimate to more than 147,000 deaths by early August, up nearly Paul Manafort 10,000. released from

REUTERS — NEW YORK people,” they said. prison due to The proposed legislation, Governors of the 50 US states more than doubling the congres- virus concerns yesterday urged leaders in sional financial response to the Washington to abandon parti- crisis, includes nearly $1 trillion AP — WASHINGTON sanship and deliver relief to in long-sought assistance for cities and states facing state and local governments Paul Manafort (pictured), economic disaster in their bearing the brunt of a pandemic Donald Trump’s onetime pres- efforts to battle what they that has infected nearly 1.4 idential campaign chairman called a “red, white and blue million people in the United who was convicted as part of pandemic.” States and killed more than the special counsel’s Russia The plea followed the 82,000. investigation, has been unveiling on Tuesday of a $3 Republicans in Congress released from federal prison trillion-plus coronavirus relief want to hold off on new coro- to serve the rest of his sentence package by Democrats in the navirus relief to assess the in home confinement due to US House of Representatives. impact of nearly $3 trillion in concerns about the corona- The proposal would provide assistance that Congress has virus, his lawyer said funding for states, businesses allocated since early March. yesterday. and families. “It’s dead on arrival here,” Manafort, 71, was let out Without specifically Republican Senator Lindsey yesterday morning from FCI mentioning Graham said of the House bill. Loretto, a low-security prison Tuesday’s bill, the bipartisan Federal Reserve Chair in Pennsylvania, according to National Governors Association Jerome Powell yesterday called Frontline hospital workers react during a programme, in New York, yesterday. his attorney, Todd Blanche. asked Congress to deliver the US response to date “par- Manafort, jailed since June “urgent state fiscal relief.” ticularly swift and forceful,” but additional funding. eased, the University of Wash- potential new outbreak that 2018, had been serving more “This is not a red state and also called for additional fiscal “The difference maker right ington’s Institute for Health would risk lives and set back than seven years in prison fol- blue state crisis... It does not spending. now... is obviously the pres- Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) economic recovery if they lowing his conviction. attack Democrats or Repub- “There is a sense, growing ident of the United States. And has steadily increased its pro- eased restrictions too soon. His release comes as prison licans. It attacks Americans,” sense I think, that the recovery I’ll say it simply today. Mr Pres- jections for US deaths from Governors have defended advocates and congressional the association’s chair, Mary- may come more slowly than ident, we’re looking to you. COVID-19, the disease caused their decisions to reopen and leaders have been pressing the land’s Larry Hogan, a Repub- we would like. But it will come, Your hometown is looking to by the virus. On Tuesday, it said they were meeting Fauci’s Justice Department for weeks lican, and its vice chair, New and that may mean that it’s you and cities and states all revised its estimate to more recommended metrics. to release at-risk inmates York’s Andrew Cuomo, a Dem- necessary for us to do more,” over the country,” de Blasio than 147,000 deaths by early “I really believe in this slow before a potential outbreak in ocrat, wrote in a statement Powell said in a webcast by the said at his daily briefing. August, up nearly 10,000. and steady reopening,” Rhode the system. His lawyers had citing colours applied to their Peterson Institute for Interna- States and cities are exper- In Congress on Tuesday, the Island Governor Gina Rai- asked the Bureau of Prisons to respective parties. tional Economics. imenting with ways to safely top US infectious disease mondo told MSNBC release him to home con- “The nation’s governors are Mayor Bill de Blasio of New reopen after the coronavirus expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, yesterday. finement, arguing that he was counting on our leaders in York, the city hardest hit by the outbreak shuttered businesses urged states to wait for clear “My goal of course is to at high risk for coronavirus Washington to come together, pandemic, appealed to US and forced tens of millions of signs of improvement, such as reopen once.” Companies facing because of his age and preex- put partisanship aside, and to President Donald Trump, a Americans out of work. a significant decline in new a precipitous loss in revenue are isting medical conditionsI get this done for the American native New Yorker, to back the But as the lockdowns have infections, and warned of a also anxious to re-open. Loretto. Canada, US California cancels fall may extend university classes as Fauci travel curbs warns of reopening too soon REUTERS — LOS ANGELES Barbara Ferrer added her own until June 21 grim forecast, saying stay-at- California’s state university home curbs for 10 million res- REUTERS — OTTAWA system, the largest in the United idents, including the city of Los Canada and the United States States, canceled classes on Angeles, would probably appear likely to extend a ban Tuesday for the fall semester remain in place, in some form, on non-essential travel until because of the coronavirus, through the summer. June 21 amid the ongoing novel while Los Angeles County said “While the Safer at Home coronavirus pandemic, sources its stay-at-home order was orders will remain in place over in both nations said yesterday. likely to be extended by three the next few months, restric- The two neighbours had months. tions will be gradually relaxed,” agreed on April 18 to extend The announcements on the under a planned reopening of border restrictions until May 21 West Coast came after the the local economy as the out- as cases of the disease continue nation’s top infectious disease break ebbs, she said. to rise in both nations. Canada expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, told Her remarks came after is now pressing for the Congress that lifting the California Governor Gavin measures to remain for another sweeping lockdowns could Newsom said restaurants in month. touch off new outbreaks of the parts of the state could again A respiratory therapist prepares to attend to a patient suffering from the coronavirus disease in the “It’s too early to lift the illness, which has killed nearly begin allowing diners inside intensive care unit at hospital in Chula Vista, California, on Tuesday. restrictions, so we’re working 81,000 Americans and devas- under modified conditions and toward an extension,” said one tated the economy. outdoor shopping malls could Canadian government source, In one of the first indications be permitted to open for prematurely ending restrictions death that could be avoided, to do away with restrictions. describing the talks with Wash- the pandemic will continue to curbside pickup. on commerce and social life but could even set you back on Republican Governor Doug ington as positive. have a significant impact into Offices in parts of California could have dire the road to try to get economic Ducey said stay-at-home orders In Washington, a US official autumn, the chancellor of Cal- can also open with some limi- consequences. recovery,” Fauci said. in place since March 31 will be confirmed the two sides were ifornia State University said tations, Newsom told a daily “I think we’re going in the The COVID-19 respiratory allowed to expire on Friday. set to agree on a 30-day classes at its 23 campuses news briefing. But his latest plan right direction, but the right disease caused by the new “This is not a green light to extension. On Tuesday, the would be canceled for the for restarting the world’s fifth- direction does not mean we virus has already infected more speed,” Ducey told a news con- chief Canadian public health semester that begins in Sep- largest economy keeps nail have by any means total than 1.3 million Americans and ference in Phoenix. “This is a officer said the United States — tember, with instruction moved salons, tattoo parlors and fitness control of this outbreak,” Fauci killed at least 80,976, according green light to proceed, and where cases are increasing online. clubs closed. said during the 3-1/2-hour to a Reuters tally. we’re going to proceed with steadily— presented a risk. “Our university, when open “It’s a mistake to over- hearing. That toll is projected to caution.” The sources requested ano- without restrictions and fully in promise what re-opening He urged states to follow climb significantly in coming In New York, the epicenter nymity given the sensitivity of person, as is the traditional means,” said Newsom, a Dem- health experts’ recommenda- months. The latest forecast from of the US outbreak, Governor the situation. News of the norm of the past, is a place ocrat who was the first gov- tions to wait for clear signs of the University of Washington’s Andrew Cuomo said his state request for a 30-day extension where over 500,000 people ernor to issue statewide stay- improvement, such as a signif- Institute for Health Metrics and needs $61bn in federal stimulus was first reported by the Globe come together in close and at-home orders and has been icant decline in new infections, Evaluation (IHME) is for more to help reopen its economy. He and Mail newspaper. vibrant proximity with each more cautious in relaxing them before reopening. than 147,000 deaths from called on Congress and US Pres- The agreement allows the other on a daily basis,” the than counterparts in other “There is a real risk that COVID-19 by early August, up ident Donald Trump to support flow of goods across a border chancellor, Timothy White, said states. you will trigger an outbreak nearly 10,000 from the last pro- legislation to plug funding gaps. that stretches 8,891km and is a in a statement. Earlier, Fauci, the director that you may not be able to jection, as social distancing is “This economy has been crossing point for one of the “That approach, sadly, just of the National Institute of control and, in fact, paradoxi- increasingly relaxed, damaged through no fault of world’s largest bilateral trading isn’t in the cards now.” Los Allergy and Infectious Diseases, cally, will set you back, not only researchers said. anyone,” said Cuomo, a relationships. Angeles County Health Director told a US Senate panel that leading to some suffering and Arizona was the latest state Democrat. Mexican nurse who appealed for respect now has virus Washington extends virus AP — MEXICO CITY In late April, Zepeda profession hard,” Zepeda said. Secretary Hugo López-Gatell said appeared at the government’s “We are giving our lives in the the dead included 66 doctors, 16 stay-at-home order till June 8 A Mexican nursing supervisor daily coronavirus press briefing. hospitals.” nurses and 29 other hospital staff, REUTERS — WASHINGTON who touched the hearts of the She said that, at the time, fellow The institute wrote in its including support personnel, nation when she made a tearful nurses had suffered 21 attacks or Twitter account on Tuesday that dentists and lab techs. The District of Columbia, seat of the US federal government, appeal for respect for health care instances of abuse since the pan- “we know that soon she will There are 8,544 confirmed extended its stay-at-home order through June 8, the mayor said professionals said on Tuesday demic began, apparently because show that her greatest strength COVID-19 cases among health yesterday. she has tested positive for the of fears they would spread the is never giving up, and we await professionals in Mexico, and The stay-at-home order, intended to curb the spread of the new coronavirus. virus. her return to direct the army of another 6,747 suspected cases, novel coronavirus, had been scheduled to end on May 15. Fabiana Zepeda is the head Zepeda’s voice broke as she nurses who form the heart of many of which are awaiting test Mayor Muriel Bowser left open the possibility that the US capital of nursing for the Mexican Social described how nurses have been Social Security.” results. The country’s total coro- could reopen sooner, telling reporters that if it hit certain metrics Security Institute. The institute told not to wear their uniforms The novel coronavirus has navirus case load has increased including a declining number of cases over 14 days and sustained republished a Tweet from her on the street to avoid being the killed 111 medical personnel in to 38,324 cases, with 3,926 low transmission rate, she could move to open sooner. account, saying she was self-iso- target of abuse or Mexico and the virus has infected deaths, though officials have Washington has reported 6,584 cases of the coronavirus and lating after testing positive for discrimination. between 8,500 and 15,000 hos- acknowledged the true number 350 deaths so far. Though Bowser said the data reflected some COVID-19. “These attacks have hit my pital staffers. Assistant Health is probably much higher. encouraging signs, she said, “We are not there yet.” 16 MORNING BREAK THURSDAY 14 MAY 2020

PRAYER TIMINGS WEATHER TODAY Hot daytime with some clouds and slight dust, mild by FAJR03.25 am SUNRISE 04.50 am o o night. ZUHR 11.30 am ASR 02.57 pm 28 C 37 C Minimum Maximum HIGH TIDE 13:21–22:47 LOW TIDE 06:22 – 00:00 MAGHRIB 06.14 pm ISHA 07.44 pm W ALRUWAIS: 27o↗30o W ALKHOR: 24o↗36o W DUKHAN: 26o↗32o W WAKRAH: 23o↗38o W MESAIEED 23o↗38o W ABUSAMRA 25o↗35o

Buzz off: Italian Europe promises start-up offers social distancing to reopen for bracelets summer tourism AFP — BARI, ITALY As the world embraces a new post-pandemic reality, an AFP — BRUSSELS for the many Europeans whose Italian start-up has come up livelihood depends on tourism with a novel way to maintain The EU yesterday set out plans and, of course, for those who social distancing: an electronic for a phased restart of travel this would like to travel this bracelet that informs users summer, hoping to save summer,” the EU commission’s when they are too close to millions of tourism jobs executive vice president Mar- others. threatened by the coronavirus grethe Vestager told reporters. The device also tells users pandemic across Europe, the In a stark sign of the crisis if they have come into contact world’s top holiday destination. facing the industry, the world’s with someone who later tests Travel restrictions to biggest tourism group TUI said positive — key to tracing cases combat the virus have already yesterday it planned to slash that have allowed some coun- had a devastating impact on the 8,000 jobs as it reported a net tries to keep their coronavirus sector, with airlines around the loss of over ¤750m for the first cases under control. Travel agency workers demonstrating in front of the landmark Brandenburg Gate in Berlin yesterday, continent forced to shed tens of three months of the year. The gadget has already in order to point to the economic plight of the tourism sector amid the COVID-19 pandemic. thousands of jobs. While decisions about reo- been adopted by some busi- Under new guidelines from pening borders fall to national nesses hoping it may prove Brussels, holidaymakers could governments, Brussels is urging demic, and where the health sit- Switzerland and France on June coronavirus look set to be handy as Italy emerges from be asked to wear facemasks on the 27 EU states to take a coor- uation is improving. 15, with family and business rather different than before, its months-long lockdown. planes, respect social distancing dinated approach to lifting In the final phase, all coro- trips permitted as soon as with measures in place to min- “We’ve already received on the beach and even book restrictions — after a haphazard navirus-related border controls Friday. imise the risk of infection. orders from seaside resorts, slots to use hotel pools. start to the crisis in which cap- would be lifted and travel per- Aside from the economic Travellers should wear hotel chains, schools and com- Tourism is vital to the EU as itals closed frontiers with little mitted throughout Europe once impact, the annual summer facemasks while on shared panies,” said Antonello Bar- a whole, accounting for 10 or no consultation. again. holiday is an important ritual transport such as planes, trains racane, manager of percent of GDP and supporting The EU is proposing a three- No timescale has been cherished by millions of and buses — as well as at hubs MetaWellness, the firm behind 23 million jobs. stage approach, starting with announced, with Brussels Europeans. such as airports and railway the bracelet. It is especially important to the current situation in which urging governments to consider “This is not going to be a stations, under the EU The Bari-based company southern countries already most non-essential travel across economic and social factors as normal summer... but when we recommendations. came up with the “Labby struggling with debt and the borders is banned. well as health when they weigh all do our part we don’t have to Fewer passengers may be Light” bracelet that vibrates impact of COVID-19 — notably In the next phase, the EU up reopening their borders. face a summer stuck at home allowed on board to allow them when another person comes Greece, Italy and Spain. wants border restrictions lifted Germany plans to end virus or completely lost for tourism to maintain safe distancing, and within a one metre (over three “Today’s guidance can be between countries and regions restrictions at its borders with industry,” Vestager said. buffet trolleys and dining cars foot) range. the chance of a better season at a similar stage of the pan- Luxembourg, Austria, Holidays in the time of will be shuttered. The device also tracks other bracelets around it, so if someone later tests positive for the virus it will alert those who Broadway to Netflix to adapt new, untranslated Elena Ferrante novel came in close contact with that user. The bracelet sells for ¤25 stay closed AFP — NEW YORK series by HBO in collaboration ($27) and traces contact via a with the Italian national broad- chip that can be removed and until early Netflix announced on Tuesday casting channel Rai. worn in a mask or an elec- it will adapt the new novel from At the end of April, HBO tronic key. Italian writer Elena Ferrante, ordered a third season of “My A similar bracelet has been September “The Lying Life of Adults,” into Brilliant Friend.” The novel on developed by the Belgian a television series, even though which it is based has sold more company Rombit, which said AFP/REUTERS — NEW YORK the book won’t be translated than 15 million copies in mid-April that workers at into English until September. worldwide. the port of Antwerp would test New York’s beloved Broadway “Netflix and Fandango are “The Lying Life of Adults” it. Both companies say their theatres will not reopen until joining forces to develop a (“La Vita bugiarda degli adulti”) devices guarantee privacy. at least early September, its series based on ‘The Lying Life follows the life of Giovanna Giuseppe Di Bari, a dentist, trade association announced of Adults,’ the latest novel by the from childhood to adolescence has started using the device at on Tuesday. beloved Italian novelist Elena in the 90s, with — as in Fer- his practice to ensure clients While the Broadway Ferrante,” the streaming giant rante’s previous novels — the don’t get too close to each League did not set a date for said in a statement. city of Naples as the backdrop. other. When patients arrive performances to resume, they The series will be produced Netflix’s statement implied they are equipped with a mask, said refunds and ticket in partnership with Italian pro- that the series will be shot in shoe coverings and an elec- A file photo shows books by Italian writer Elena Ferrante in a exchanges now are offered for duction company Fandango, Italy, in Italian — the book’s tronic bracelet. bookstore in Rome. performances through Sep- whose founder Domenico Pro- original language. The device could also tember 6. cacci worked on the television “The Lying Life of Adults” come in handy if a client falls The decision is not partic- adaptation of Ferrante’s series book was released in November Friend” novels, published put forward by Italian journalist ill later and suspects they may ularly surprising given that “My Brilliant Friend.” 2019 in Italian, and will be pub- between 2011 and 2014 in Italy, Claudio Gatti, is Roman trans- have caught the virus at the New York remains the US epi- The four-part saga “My Bril- lished in 25 languages in Sep- Ferrante has never made her lator Anita Raja. The theory has dentist. “I would be able to center of the coronavirus pan- liant Friend,” which sky- tember, according to the identity public and continues to neither been confirmed nor prove that he has not been in demic, with COVID-19 con- rocketed Ferrante to global statement. Despite the massive use a pen name. denied by Ferrante’s Italian contact with any positive tinuing to kill more than 150 fame, was also turned into a success of the “My Brilliant The most likely candidate, publisher, Edizioni E/O. person,” the dentist said. people a day in the state. Reopening the arts and entertainment sectors, a major feature of life in New York, is 100-year-old 113-year-old Spanish woman in the final phase of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s four-part Russian beats survives coronavirus disease plan to return economic and cultural activity to the state. COVID-19 AFP — MADRID In the video Branyas can be “While all Broadway heard calling the staff at the shows would love to resume AFP — MOSCOW A 113-year-old woman, residence “very kind, very performances as soon as pos- believed to be the oldest person attentive”. sible, we need to ensure the Russia celebrated a rare bit of living in Spain, has beaten the When an employee asks health and well-being of eve- good news yesterday as a coronavirus at a retirement her for the secret of her long ryone who comes to the 100-year-old woman left a home where several other resi- life, Branyas replies simply that theater before shows can Moscow hospital after fully dents died from the disease, the she is lucky to enjoy “good return,” said Charlotte St. recovering from the corona- residence said on Tuesday. health”. Martin, the Broadway League’s virus. Maria Branyas, who was The care home has president, in a statement. In the country’s first born in the US, became infected recorded “several” virus- Along with virtually all reported case of a survivor that in April at the Santa Maria del related deaths during the pan- events in the city Broadway’s old, the woman, Pelageya Tura care home in the eastern demic, the spokeswoman for theaters shut in mid-March, Poyarkova, was discharged on city of Olot, where she has lived the residence said. when 31 productions were her 100th birthday, the Moscow for the past 20 years, and Branyas’ daughter Rosa running and eight were in clinic treating her said. fought the respiratory illness Moret told the station that her rehearsals with spring opening Russian television showed off in isolation in her room. mother was “in shape, wanting dates. The shuttering of the the elderly woman wearing a “She survived the disease to talk, to explain, to reflect, she city’s most bankable tourist face mask and clutching a and is doing fine,” a spokes- has become herself again”. attraction is a major blow: in bouquet of red roses as she woman for the residence told Several articles have been normal times, those theaters exited in a wheelchair, sur- AFP, adding Branyas had only published in Spanish media in Pelageya Poyarkova, 100, wears a protective mask while leaving would be raking in $33m a rounded by doctors and displayed mild symptoms. recent years about Branyas, the Brain Centre in Moscow, yesterday. week in ticket sales. journalists. “She feels good now, she considered to be the oldest Producers are discussing Poyarkova had contracted took a test last week and the person in the country. staging shows with smaller the virus from a fellow patient The hospital said Poyarkova the elderly woman now lives result was negative,” the She was born on March 4, casts rather than big musicals, at another hospital where she was the first Russian cente- with her daughter and son-in- spokeswoman said without 1907 in San Francisco where and writers have been working had been receiving routine narian to have fully recovered law. Her husband was killed in giving further details. her father, who was from on stories that allow for social treatment. from the virus. World War II, leaving her to Branyas, a mother of three, northern Spain, worked as a distancing. After testing positive and “She turned out to be a care for her young child alone, was isolated in her room for journalist. Broadway closed its the- developing several symptoms tough old lady,” the hospital’s the hospital said. weeks, with only a single Branyas moved to Spain atres on March 12. Thirty-one she was transferred to the acting director Vsevolod Bel- Russia has now reported employee in protective gear with her family on a boat shows were playing at that Moscow Brain Centre, which ousov said on Russian tele- 242,271 cases of coronavirus allowed in to check on her, during World War I and also time including hits such as normally specialises in stroke vision. She did not require and is the world’s second according to Catalan regional lived through the Spanish flu "Hamilton,” "Harry Potter and victims but has been repur- intensive care and had standard worst-affected country after the television TV3, which pandemic that swept the world the Cursed Child” and "To Kill posed to treat coronavirus treatment with blood-thinning United States in terms of broadcast images of the in 1918-19 as well as Spain’s a Mockingbird.” patients. drugs, he said. Born in Moscow, number of infections. centenarian. 1936-39 civil war.